Standing on her balcony as she wiped the make up of the Kyoshi Warriors off of her face, Suki sighed as she looked over the courtyard, children playing a game of ball, people walking in and out of the Palace. She kept looking for one familiar face, but she never saw him. She looked over the sea of red shades, looking for a lone blue, but she never found the person she thought she loved.

"Sokka..." Suki sighed, shaking her head as she pulled her headband off, letting it fall onto the table inside the door. "Why won't you come?" She looked over as a knock on the main door of her bedroom rapped out into the early evening, and she sighed. "Enter."

Walking in, one of her other Warriors came in with an envelope. "This just arrived for you by Messanger, Captain," she said. She held out the envelope and smiled grimly.

"Thank you, Phuong," Suki said. "Who's on guard duty tonight outside of the Fire Lord's chamber?"

"Han Li and Jin. I'm taking over at first light," Phuong said, bowing her head.

"Then get some sleep," Suki said, smiling softly before turning away, dismissing Phuong and getting the room back to herself. She sat down on the bed and drew her knees up under her, turning the envelope over and biting her lip. "It's from Sokka..."

She broke the seal on the back, taking out the letter inside. It felt thicker then most other paper she'd ever felt. Unfolding it, she started to read.

Suki,

I know I haven't come to see you in the four months since you left out from here after your small vacation. And I'm sorry about that. I've been busy, and trying to come to grips with something I'd been toying with since you left.

Suki, I don't think this is working out anymore. You're in the Fire Nation and basically Zuko's right hand woman, the person he trusts more then Iroh, and I'm working on helping start Republic City, dealing with the pressures here. We're never together, I can't drop everything at a moment's notice to come running if you want me there, just like you can't. We've both got obligations that we need to focus on, and I think it's best if we stop.

You're probably looking at the last paragraph and getting angry, and you'd have a right to do so. I wanted to do this in person, but I couldn't find the right words. I'm sorry it has to end, Suki. You're the best girl I've ever known, but our jobs and our distance apart isn't going to let us do this anymore.

Sokka

Suki's heart sank. She clenched her hands, anger in her eyes. She knew it might happen, but she had hoped Sokka had the balls to tell her in person. She looked to her desk, sighing as she noticed the stack of unfinished letters to Sokka stating the same thing. Shaking her head, she sat down at the desk and threw the unfinished letters onto the floor before taking her last peice of parchment and flattening it out, biting the inside of her lip slightly.

Sokka

I can't say I was surprised by your letter and what you said. Spirits, I've started over a dozen of the same ones. I thought we'd be able to make this long distance thing work, but like you said, we're both busy. In all honesty, I think I've known this was coming for a long time, especially after the night we shared in Ba Sing Se.

To be entirely honest, I've started finding myself falling for someone else, and my heart has been torn in trying to make heads and tails of this situation. You'll always be the first person I've loved, Sokka, even if things didn't work out. I know you, and I know you won't stay single for long. Just promise to take care of yourself in the meantime.

Goodbye, Sokka.

Suki

She nodded lightly as she read the letter over again, sealing it an envelope and addressing it for Sokka before she put a seal over it. She walked into the hallway, spotting Phuong. Suki motioned her friend over, smiling grimly.

"Captain?" Phuong asked.

"Can you make sure this gets to Republic City? It's urgent, and...it's in response to the letter from Sokka," Suki said, being blunt.

"Of course," Phuong said. "I'll make sure it meets the letter caravan myself."

"Thank you," Suki said, walking back into her room and closing the door. She undid her Warriors robes, hanging them beside the bed before pulling on a silken nightgown, a gift from the Fire Lord on her birthday. She sat back on her bed once again, looking out at the balcony, hearing the last sounds of the day fading away into the distance. A knock on the door broke her out of her thoughts, and she sighed. "Enter."

As the door opened, Suki stood up. "Suki, you don't have to be so strick and at attention every time I walk into a room," Zuko said as he closed the door. "Relax. You're off the clock, and so am I."

Suki nodded, sighing as she sank back onto the bed. "Zuko...I don't mean to offend you, but right now I'd like to just be left alone," she said, turning away and looking down.

"What's wrong?" Zuko asked, noting a change in Suki's usually upbeat demeanor. "You're never wanting to just be left alone, Suki. What happened?"

Cursing in an old Earth Kingdom way, Suki sighed. "I finally got a letter from Sokka today."

"Yeah?" Zuko asked, having a good idea where this was going, since Mai left him a note in the same way about her and Ty Lee.

"He broke up with me," Suki flatly said, her voice emotionless despite the tears in her eyes. "Not like I didn't see it coming, but the asshole could have at least had the decency to say it to my face instead of on a peice of paper."

Zuko nodded, giving Suki's arm a squeeze as he sat down beside her on the bed. "Suki, it'll be ok. Everyone goes through this. At least you didn't have happen to you what Sokka's first girlfriend did."

"Yue, I know," Suki sighed. "I just...wanted it to last, Zuko."

"I know, Suki," Zuko said. "I know."

The two sat in silence for a while, and Zuko looked out as the last lights of dusk faded and gave way to the stars and moon, hearing Suki sniffle every few minutes. "Come on," the Fire Lord said, giving Suki's hand a squeeze. "Get dressed, and meet me down by the stables in half an hour. I want to show you something."

Suki cocked an eyebrow and nodded, watching Zuko leave. "What could he want to show me?" she asked, her voice low.