Chapter 4: Very Different

"Aang, tell me that story again."

"Sokka, please. You need to sleep."

"No I don't. Just tell me that story."

The airbender sighed. Sokka could care less about Aang's past lives, but when the warrior himself was asking for the story of Avatar Kuruk and his tragic love story, it saddened and even irritated the Avatar in a way. "Why do you want that story now?"

The warrior shrugged, gazing at the moon. It had always been a habit of his to stare at the moon whenever he was down. Now, he felt like if he didn't stare at the moon, his mood will plummet from there. "I just feel like listening to a tragedy. You know, something that will make me think my life's not that bad."

Aang didn't know what to say. He didn't think Sokka would get that emotional from the meeting. Sure, the Avatar was aware of how sensitive Yue's topic was to Sokka, but he didn't realize that after all these long years, Sokka's feelings for Yue were still intact, and the influence of her sacrifice was strong on him.

"They say time heals." Aang glanced at the councilman, watching his reaction.

"It didn't heal me," Sokka answered abruptly, his gaze not leaving the sky.

"Look… you have to understand that what happened is for the best."

"I do understand, Aang. I don't know why you're getting so upset about telling me a story of your past life. You know what? Tell me another story if you're not comfortable with it."

After tucking Bumi in, Katara peeked outside and glanced at Aang questioningly. The Avatar shrugged, motioning for her to come join them. The waterbender ambled over to the two and placed her hand on her brother's.

"Sokka, you know you can talk to us."

"Katara, you know this is normal for me. It's just that time of the year again."

"I don't know. You seem more detached than you normally are," Aang said.

"You two are worrying about me too much. I'm almost forty years old."

"But you're still a kid at heart."

Aang rubbed his forehead. "Maybe it's not a good idea to send you as a diplomat."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean… you're not over Yue."

Sokka breathed brokenly. "I don't know if you've realized, Aang, but I'll never get over her."

"I didn't mean it that way." Aang softened his eyes. "I just thought you accepted what happened and…"

"Moved on? I've already tried that."

Aang and Katara grew silent for a moment. They knew he was referring to Suki.

"Sokka, I know you need some time to let these feelings pass. I know you're also upset by the situation in the North Pole. I can't tell you how important it is to clear your mind before solving these issues."

"Emotional turmoil will only get on the way," Katara said gently.

"So I think it's best if you attended the Earth King's birthday celebration with us tomorrow. Just for a change. You need a distraction."

Sokka knew they were right. As unimportant as the party seemed, it may shift his mind back to food.

"Fine, but tell me that Kuruk story."

The couple shared a look of concern. Katara's grip on her brother's hand tightened. Aang began rather hesitantly.

"Avatar Kuruk was from the Northern Water Tribe…"

As Sokka leaned back in his chair and listened, his thoughts began shuffling. Before he knew it, he was drifting in memories.

"White marble. That should be the best material."

Suki looked up from her scroll. "For what?"

"The Moon Spirit statue," the warrior said as if it was obvious. "White marble is simple but grand at the same time. It perfectly resembles her."

"Oh." The Kyoshi warrior tried holding back her irritation. Ever since Sokka came up with the idea of designing a commemoration statue of Princess Yue, the very little contact he had with Suki changed completely. They were bickering more than usual. It had gotten to the point where almost every topic they had to talk about was redirected to Yue. He spent an entire month alone thinking about how big the statue should be and everything. An additional week was spent on what material the statue should be made of.

"What do you think, Suki?"

He looked like a little kid who was given all he could ever ask for as he rummaged through the papers and researched different types of emeralds. In his eyes was a kind of happiness she never saw in him before, and it kind of bothered her that she wasn't the cause for that happiness.

"Sounds...great…"

"Ooh! She should have a pendant made with lapis lazuli. We can have the stones imported from Ba Sing Se...but she doesn't wear a pendant..."

Suki was well aware how Sokka was in a relationship with the Moon Spirit before, but she had always shrugged off her jealousy because Yue was just that: a spirit. She understood how important Yue was to helping restore balance with her sacrifice, and she had immense respect for the princess. Now that Sokka was starting to dive back into his previous feelings and starting to make a big deal out of every little thing that deals with the spirit, she wasn't just going to sit there.

"Hey, Sokka."

"Hm?"

She grew slightly annoyed. "Can you please look at me for a second?

He looked up from his papers. "Yeah?"

The Kyoshi warrior gestured to her scroll. "You know what this is, right?"

Sokka raised his eyebrows.

"It's from Ty Lee. She wants me back at Kyoshi Island."

"If it's important, you should go." He went back to what he was doing. Suki sighed.

"I meant permanently."

He paused. "What?"

Suki stood up, brushing her hair away from her face. "I've been thinking about my future, Sokka. It's time I decided what I want for myself."

"You're saying you want to go back home." His voice was quiet.

"I was hoping you would join me. We've been a couple and…"

"And?"

"I was thinking...maybe it's time we settled down."

"Marriage?" The warrior grew slightly uncomfortable for no apparent reason.

"You're not happy?"

"It's not that. What's the rush?"

"What do you mean by rush? It has been over five years since the war ended."

Sokka didn't want to answer. There was nothing wrong with what Suki wanted. This was technically supposed to be the next step in their relationship. Everyone was starting to talk about it.

Then again, what was this detached feeling? Sure they were attracted to each other five years before, but had they truly been a couple in the recent years? They had their own duties to care for.

"I…"

Suki frowned. "You sound like you don't like the idea."

"I was thinking about my position," the warrior said rationally. "I am needed in the Southern Water Tribe as much as you are needed at Kyoshi Island."

"You're still thinking about your position when we've been separated all this time?"

Sokka glanced at her as if to repeat her words.

Suki felt her last hope of reviving their relationship wither. "I can't abandon my people."

"I can't abandon mine, either."

"But if we wanted to, we could make this work out."

Yue's presence was strongly felt with the moonlight that peaked in through the nearby window. It crushed him.

"It's just… I don't know how we would..."

"It's Yue, isn't it?"

Sokka frowned. "Yue has nothing to do with this."

"That's a lie, and you know it. When was the last time we had a genuine conversation without discussing the Moon Spirit?"

"Suki, I told you about-"

"Yes, I'm aware. I know you loved her first and how you're still attached to her, but...wasn't there something between us, Sokka? Did you ever feel anything for me without involving the Moon Spirit? "

"Yue is not your competitor," Sokka said rather irritably. Something began tearing at his chest. "She… she's gone."

Suki sighed in frustration. "When are you going to let her go, Sokka?"

Let her go? Last time he checked, he never decided on anything like that.

"I-"

"Just think about it. You knew me longer. We have more in common. We are a couple. We're both leaders and warriors. We were meant to be."

"Suki, I'm not saying I don't love you."

The Kyoshi warrior dismissed her glare. "But you're not saying you love me, either." She looked at him in the eyes questioningly.

Sokka felt horrible. He was supposed to love Suki. But the more he felt like he loved her, the more miserable he involuntarily became. Yue's memories had not bothered him to this extent before. Maybe it was about time he realized that continuing the relationship with only hurt Suki in the end. He just didn't see her the same way anymore. And she realized this in his silence. She, too, felt that her duty to her people was her priority now.

And with that, Sokka uttered the words:

"I'm sorry."

"It's getting late, Sokka. Let's go."

The councilman opened his eyes, unmoved. Yeah, it's too late. We were very different people.