Day 15, Friday

Zuko

"So I've been thinking," Sokka said, breaking the silence. Him and Zuko were the ones who had shopping duty for the day, and they were almost halfway there already.

"Oh?"

"Regarding what we talked about. The other day."

"About distance?"

"That, yes... And about things in common." Zuko kept quiet, letting his friend take the time to formulate his next thought. "I mean, do you really need that much in common to have a good relationship?"

Zuko thought about the question for a while before replying, then shook his head. "I think... as long as you're happy and can have fun together, it doesn't really matter. Right?"

"Right. It's just that Suki's the first girl to actually have shown interest in me. Way, way back at the start of our adventure. During the war. It feels like we've been drifting apart, now that we live so far from each other and aren't working together to bring down... Well, your dad."

"Sokka, it's normal to have doubts. Me and Mai have had several fights because of it, and even broken up a couple of times. If you're meant to be together, you overcome those doubts and be stronger for it. If not... Well, at least you know."

Silence fell over them again, interrupted only by the crunching of their feet on the gravel path they were following. Is this something he started thinking about only after we spoke of it? Zuko thought to himself. Or does it go back much further than that?

He mentally shook his head. These were not two day old musings, unless Sokka was a much, much quicker and more focused thinker than Zuko had ever realised. He must have had some doubts even before their conversation, which meant that Zuko's comments might have seemed like a confirmation of those problems existing.

"Have you talked to Suki about this?"

"I wouldn't even know how to start," Sokka sighed, looking miserable.

"Just... Tell her what you're worried about, I guess? Easier said than done, I know, but..."

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right. Better than to ignore it."

"Right."

Sokka was quiet only for a few seconds this time, before clearing his throat. "Do you think Aang and Katara ever have these problems? I mean, Aang has never said anything about it, and I'm not about to start asking my sister about her love life..."

"Those kinds of problems?" Zuko replied, tilting his head back, contemplating. "No, don't think so. Other problems, sure. Katara's older, more mature... Even though she usually laughs at Aang's antics, there's bound to be some conflict now and then."

"Yeah, but-"

"Sokka!" Zuko interrupted, stopping. "There are no easy answers, you know that. You can't figure this out by thinking about it, like you do with your inventions and such. At some point, you're gonna have to talk to Suki about it. Sooner, rather than later."

Sokka stared at the ground, flexing his fingers. He knew, of course, that Zuko was right. Him and Suki were happy together, and the time they spent never felt wasted. However, he was not sure that the future they envisioned was the same. Would it be better to talk about it? Even if the result was that they realised that they had no future together?

"You know, sometimes I really hate admitting you're right," he sighed.

"Sorry," Zuko replied, giving him a sympathetic smile, "wish I could be more help."

"Just... Don't mention this to anyone. I've got enough to think about without Aang or Katara trying to 'help'. And Toph'd probably punch me for being indecisive."

"Alright, deal."