Suki wasn't sure which was worse – the endless prattle Aang deployed when he was trying to distract himself from the heartbreak, or the sullen silence he was now engaging in.
Aang, three steps behind her and ambling, let out a theatrical sigh and the half-whispered words "...is so wonderful..."
She whirled around in irritation, fingers twitching for her fans, "What," she demanded, "was so wonderful about Katara? We have a Kyoshi council meeting about trade agreements in two minutes, and it is important to me and to this island. For the love of Tui, pull yourself together!"
Aang stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening and shining with tears, as he quietly defended himself, aware only of her initial question. He sniffed, "Katara is the most beautiful woman I've ever met, the most beautiful woman in the whole world. And her eyes are the bluest, and her smile is the nicest, and— " His gaze focused on Suki's enraged face and he began to step backwards, "I don't think I can do this, Suki, I'm just going to go hang out with Sokka." Stuttering at the end, he turned and air-scootered towards the village.
Suki, suddenly alone on the dusty trail, did what any rational person would do after three weeks of playing the unwilling hostess to the sulky Avatar.
She screamed.
.::.
"Well, I think we've laid a good foundation here. Thank you, Fire Lord, for your attendance, and thank you, Suki, for your island's hospitality." The leader of the earth nation's textile union concluded the meeting, and both leaders nodded curtly. As the attendees began to disperse, Suki leaned over to Zuko and said, "Can you handle the finalizing of the agreement? I need to get things ready for Katara's return. Tui knows it's not going to be an easy visit with Aang here, but I can at least get a room ready."
Zuko returned her gaze with steady eyes as he said, "Before you go, I should advise that Katara has decided to prolong her stay as ambassador in the Fire Nation, at my request. This is, of course, contingent on her tribe's approval. She asked me to bring this letter to you and express her regret at not being able to come in person." Withdrawing a scroll from his robe he handed it to her, "You understand that with only landing this morning, I did not have a chance earlier to notify you."
Suki's eyes narrowed and, with clenched teeth, forced out the question, "And what is so wonderful about Katara that you need her as ambassador? A lot of people need her right now."
Zuko's eyes narrowed in return as he icily outlined, "She thinks well on her feet; she gets along well with my councilors, and she cares about the peace of the world. With the current strained relations between my country and the Northern Water Tribe, she is one of the only people capable of placating both. She is a skilled warrior and an accomplished healer, which garners her respect from my people that we can ultimately leverage into respect for her people. I hope you can respect her decision."
Suki glared back at him and then let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The venom gone, she said, "You win her this round, Sparky. But I'm not the one telling Sokka. That's all you." And she hurried out of the meeting room leaving a mildly irritated Fire Lord behind.