Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender; Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko have me beat in that area.

Author's Note: Due to the plethora of spoilers being posted for A:TLA from NYCC, as well as the actual episodes of "The Boiling Rock", I've been bit by the inspiration bug for Suki and Sokka and felt like participating in a LiveJournal challenge dedicated to them. This challenge is from the 10(underscore)themes community, and there (as the community name suggests) are ten prompts. So, basically, these will all be ten one-shots dedicated to Suki and Sokka!

Please, review when you're done and tell me what you think! Enjoy!

There aren't any serious spoilers other than the obvious of the two of them being together. I had to tone this one down greatly from the original idea due to the rating, but... yeah, it still has the right gist.


07 : Jagged

Rating : PG

Theme : 08. Jagged

June 1, 2008


As she mentally cursed at herself for being so dumb as to go outside without shoes on, Sokka came into view. Standing upright instead of nursing her foot, she attempted to put on a normal expression–she didn't want him to make fun of her, albeit he had ample opportunities to. She knew she acted stupidly when she went outside without even so much as sandals on, but... she didn't really have an argument to try and justify herself.

Despite how she wanted that scenario to go, after three steps she couldn't help but limp slightly. He picked up on it right away.

"Are you okay?" he asked, an eyebrow raised by concern in his expression. "Did you hurt yourself?"

"No," she grumbled softly. "I'm fine, don't worry about it."

"If you're limping, it's something a little more than something I shouldn't worry about. Let me see," he said, holding his arms out to her to pull her down with him as he sat on the front steps of their home.

Despite the fact that she enjoyed being pulled down into his lap, she sighed. He always made a fuss over her.

As he lifted her foot, he sucked in a sharp hiss of breath. "Suki, you're bleeding! What'd you do?"

"I stepped on a jagged rock when I wasn't watching where I was going. I wanted to come outside for a couple minutes, and I wound up hurting myself. It felt like glass, but it was just a sharp rock."

"Why didn't you wear shoes?"

Shew knew that one was coming.

"I forgot," she replied, heaving a sigh. Glancing up at him, she shrugged, "It doesn't hurt that much, really."

"You were limping."

"Yes, I was," she agreed.

"It has to hurt, then," he frowned. "You don't have to put up a tough front up with me, you know. Playing the mighty, strong Kyoshi Warrior works in front of opponents, sure, but it doesn't work that well against me. Just so we're clear."

Still looking at him, she frowned, as well. "I don't like being that person that whines and complains about every little thing since I'm uncomfortable with what happens. I just try and suck it up and move on, hoping I don't get ridiculed by my betrothed for going outside without shoes on since he gets a kick out of it when I step out of line."

"Hey, now," he said, furrowing his eyebrows. "I wouldn't have made fun of you if you were hurt, that's just mean."

"You made fun of me when I tripped!"

"That's because you weren't bleeding," Sokka said, sighing. "I don't mean to come off that way, Suki. I shouldn't tease you about everything. I'm sorry. I just want you to be able to let your guard down with me and trust me–"

"This isn't about trust, Sokka. I trust you with every ounce of my being and know you'd be there for me in a heartbeat if I were hurt or in trouble. I just... I don't know, I've never felt this way about anyone, and it's hard to let my guard down with another person after having it up and strong for so long, you know?" she averted her eyes, biting her bottom lip nervously.

"It's okay to cry and complain," he stated soothingly. "It's okay to yell and curse when you cut your foot outside when, even though you should've worn shoes, you hurt yourself. It's okay to be a woman, to freak out once a month–since I know you try and restrain yourself around me–and just... be free. The war is over, the world is at peace, so you should be at peace with yourself–and me. I know you know how to get mad at me, but we haven't sparred in a while, and I miss that. You're feisty, you fight for what you believe in, and somehow you love me. I love you, and I just want you to be completely comfortable around me."

"I didn't realize you felt that way," she mumbled, leaning her head against his shoulder, facing his neck.

"I didn't say that to make you feel bad, either," he mumbled, nuzzling her and tightening his grip on her.

She smiled softly at his actions and made a noise of understanding. She kissed his neck, then nuzzled against him, as well. "I'll make a more conscious effort not to school myself into holding back what I'm feeling."

"That's all I ask is that you try. Imagine: I'm already in love with you, now, imagine how much more in love with you I'm going to be..."

"I'm probably going to scare you away," she chuckled.

"I'm hard to scare away, I'll tell you that."

"Sokka, you fainted when Ying gave birth to Hope after a glimpse at what–"

"You're like a woman giving birth? I'm going to have to take back what I said, then," he smirked, leaning back to see her face. "I know I sometimes get squeamish when it comes to girly things, Katara can vouch for that, but I've gotten better."

"I just mean, when the time comes, and we have children... I don't want you fainting on me."

"I may faint right about now if you're trying to tell me something."

"No, no," she chuckled. "One medical issue at a time. Right now, I think I should clean out this wound on my foot and bandage it up. Care to watch? Or does blood make you squeamish?"

He rolled his eyes, "I think I can manage the blood bath." Standing up, he still held her in his arms bridal-style. "Let's go, your Highness."

"Sokka!" she gasped and held onto him tightly. "Warn me before you do that!" she punched his chest with a frown. "I could've fallen!"

"Wouldn't want you to scratch that beautiful behi–"

"Sokka."

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled with a smile before twirling her around and entering their home. "I'm a pain in that behind, but you love it."

"Oh, hush, funny man, or I'll kick yours."

"Feisty, I tell you."