We probably get along better than we should,
Sokka mused, eyes darting to Zuko next to him. They were gutting and scaling the fishes that Sokka had caught for dinner, and Sokka was slowly teaching the prince how to use the side of the knife to scale the fins, and how to make slits so sticks could be slotted in to cook. It surprised him to see Zuko watching him so patiently, quietly learning and gutting the fish without complaint. In fact, Zuko tended to surprise him a lot, and the more time Sokka spent with the firebender, the more he was forced to re-evaluate his assumptions.
Sokka also ignored his sister. Katara was currently glaring at them, and he could hear the sound of grinding molars as she turned back to Aang and waterbending, placing herself firmly between Zuko and the Avatar. Honestly. He knew Katara had problems, but even Sokka knew when to give up and quit. (Then again, Katara had loved that necklace more than anything and she had a very good memory.)
The fact was Sokka hadn't spoken to a boy his age for a while now. With Aang and Katara as company, he had been the responsible one, the practical one. Now, with Zuko almost a year older than him, he felt the pressure relieved; even though he knew he couldn't trust him.
"So…" Sokka began, and Zuko raised an eyebrow. "What did my sister say to you after I left?"
He watched Zuko's gaze flicker in Aang's direction, and was taken aback as Zuko smiled ruefully.
"…Your sister is one scary girl." He said, and Sokka tried to hide his burst of strangled laughter. Katara's sharp gaze fell on the two again, and as she looked away, Zuko continued again. "I mean, I thought I was the only brother unlucky enough to have Azula as a sister…"
And Sokka watched as Zuko trailed off there, his eyes looking lost and lonely again. It was hard not to feel sorry for the prince, and Sokka turned back to his fish scaling, not wanting to intrude on the private moment. That was another thing he noticed about Zuko – the guy showed emotion way too easily. Whether it was rage, anger or anything else, Zuko was thoroughly incapable of hiding his emotions. (Zuko might think otherwise, but really, who was he trying to kid?)
They threaded the sticks into the fishes, and stuck them next to the fire, waiting for the meat to cook.
Watching the crackling flames, the lost look on Zuko's face suddenly disappeared and the self-deprecating expression returned, a look of one thoroughly repentant and full of regret. It only just hit Sokka.
"Zuko," he blurted out, "Where is your uncle?"
Zuko just looked back at him, expression shuttered.
"Gone." He replied, looking utterly dejected.
And that was when Sokka realised something.
He could finally start to forgive.
tbc