Candrala: This story could go in so many ways now... But being the sap I am, I better mend Sokka's little heart.

Chapter 11: I'm on the Edge

Things had been a little more than awkward in their house since that night. Zuko began sleeping with Katara. He refused to leave her room unless she was the only one home. Sokka moped around and snapped at every customer that walked into their store. Katara was very, very tired.

Jet refused to talk to Zuko. He had made the mistake of thinking Zuko had been unhappy with Sokka, which clearly had not been the case. He would have stopped his pursuits, had Zuko told him that. Still, something told Jet that Zuko hadn't said anything for a reason. What that reason was, well... Zuko probably didn't even know.

Katara sighed, running her hands over her face as her bedroom door clicked behind her. She stayed in this position for a while, her hands covering her eyes, before letting out a long breath. She jumped when Sokka was standing in front of her, just... staring.

"Hey, Sokka," She attempted to smile. "Are you hungry?" Her brother loved to eat and she was hoping if he gourged himself, he would cheer up a little. Her brother had completely changed since Jet showed up.

She had a feeling, too, after Sokka's retelling of the night, Zuko hadn't been 100% honest with Jet.

Sokka nodded lamely, finally blinking his brightly colored eyes. "Sure," He said, turning towards the stairs.

In the kitchen, Katara opened the fridge and all the cabinets, offering Sokka everything she saw. He declined everything though, murmuring something about needing to go shopping. Katara's eyes widened slightly. More food?

"Well, then what do you want?" She asked, leaning her elbows onto the counter. She was hoping he would stick specifically to his food-wants and not dive into his Zuko-wants.

Sokka shrugged, spinning himself idly on the barstool. What did he want? He wanted to mend things with Zuko. He knew since Jet came around, or since Zuko had sent that text, he had been very different. He didn't have fun with anything anymore. Maybe that's why Zuko had pulled away. Sokka had gotten too serious.

"Maybe..." He started. "Maybe we can go out to eat. I'll go see if Zuko wants to go." Slowly, he lifted himself from the chair.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Katara questioned, her eyebrow lifting in concern.

Sokka nodded, waving his hand towards her in dismissal. He wasn't very sure at all but he figured things couldn't get much worse.

Sokka ran his fingers through his hair rapidly, before clutching at it and groaning. He had been in front of Katara's door for at least 5 minutes now. 'Okay!' He thought, puffing out his chest and a very serious frown setting on his lips.

He knocked rapidly on the door, praying that if he kept moving quickly things would work out as he was planning.

"Come in."

Sokka cracked the door open, assessing the environment before exposing himself. Zuko was sitting on Katara's bed, his book placed beside him. He stared blankly at her wall.

"Uh, hey, Zuko." Sokka said, scratching the back of his neck as he entered the room.

Zuko shot a glare towards him. "What do you want?" Zuko didn't want to talk to Sokka. He didn't want to talk to anyone, except for Katara. She was funny and always knew what to say.

Sokka gulped slightly, pulling at the collar of his shirt. He sat on the foot of Katara's bed, allowing Zuko the space he was asking for. "I just wanted to know if you wanted to come to dinner. You haven't eaten much."

Zuko stared at him, his arms crossed across his chest. Had Sokka really come up here just to ask about food? He shook his head.

Sokka's face fell a little but he had to regain his composure. "Oh, okay." He leaned onto his legs, resting his arm across his knees. He looked at Zuko, trailing his eyes over Zuko's face. He looked for a long while at Zuko's scar, feeling even worse about the fact he had tried to hit him. He glanced away when Zuko caught him staring.

Zuko sighed, sitting up and crossing his legs underneath him. He patted the space in front of him. Reluctantly, Sokka scooted towards Zuko. He was terrified Zuko would hit him or something. He knew how the kid's temper could get.

Zuko placed his hand on Sokka's knee, staring down at the quilt on Katara's bed. He could apologize, but he couldn't do it looking at Sokka. It had always been a problem of his.

"I'm sorry," Sokka cut him off, Zuko's mouth open with the same words on his lips. "I way over reacted and I know I deserve you ignoring me for it. I just... it really hurt. Seeing you giving yourself to him like that... after everything he had put you through." Sokka studied Zuko's face, searching for the fire in those golden eyes he had come to love so much.

Zuko's lips turned up in a half smile, his way of saying he understood. "I didn't... mean for you to see any of it. Hell," Zuko threw his arms up a little, "I didn't ever expect for that to even happen." His arms rested back in his lap now and he steadily gazed at Sokka, gaining his confidence. "I would never hurt you like that on purpose."

Sokka nodded, his teeth worrying his bottom lip. "So, what did you mean by me being too good?" Sokka lifted his hands up when he saw Zuko get ready to defend himself. "I'm not asking out of hoping to change myself so you'll want me. I just really want to know."

Zuko smiled slightly, scooting a little closer. "Don't think I don't find you attractive. You have the complexion I love, the style... and your eyes are just..." He cut himself off, when he realized he was inflating Sokka's ego, who was happily grinning in front of him. "I've walked a very different road than you."

Sokka rolled his eyes, resting his chin against his hand. "Zuko, I know. You aren't that person anymore though. Even if you were, I would do anything I could to help you again and again."

It was quiet for a few moments as Zuko let that sink in. Jet... was a very easy portal to a life he didn't want anymore. Sokka... was a door wide open to a better life. Someone his uncle would be happy was in his nephew's life.

"I'm not asking for you to love me, anymore." Sokka said, his voice low and sure. "But I'm not going to stop loving you." He looked up at Zuko, his azure eyes glittering with his feelings. Sokka would never stop loving Zuko.

Zuko sighed out of his nose, shifting his legs. What the hell was he supposed to do?

"How did your date with Yue go?" Zuko asked, trying to lighten up their conversation. He had actually been wanting to ask Sokka for days, but his pride wouldn't let him.

Sokka chuckled, standing up and stretching his arms over his head. He pretended he didn't notice Zuko looking at his slightly exposed stomach. "She dumped me." He said, his arms now by his side.

"What?" Zuko blinked.

Sokka nodded. "She wanted one last fancy dinner, and then bam. Dumped me." He scratched his stomach. "So are you hungry or what?"

"Starving." Zuko smiled.

"Hey man," Smellerbee said, her hands on her much fuller hips. "Are you sure about this?" She asked as she handed over an envelope.

Jet nodded, taking the envelope from her. "Yeah, it's been a while."

Smellerbee cocked her hip to the side. "Dude, don't let Zuko bring you back down to this. You've been doing really good."

Jet snickered, his eyes fluidly moving up to Smellerbee's face. "Have is the key word there, lovely lady." He dumped the contents of the envelope into his hand.

Smellerbee crouched down next to him, her hands on his knees. "Jet, there are plenty of other people out there. Maybe someone's right in front of you." She didn't want to see him back here, in this state of mind, after he had come so far.

"You mean you?" He asked coolly before popping the pills into his mouth.

Smellerbee blushed. Yeah, okay, she liked Jet. A lot. Which is why she couldn't stand Zuko.

"I know much better than that," She said, standing back up. "You do what you want, Jet. I'm outta here."

Jet cracked his neck as he watched her leave, the pills kicking just as fast as he was hoping. Things were going to be just fine. Just fine indeed.

Candrala: I still can't decide which pairing I prefer...