Song Of A Free Heart: Mermaids! Who doesn't love them? :)
Guest: I feel like it was AGES ago that I wrote that drabble XD And yes, it was inspired by how my abrother and I always bicker, haha.
NollasBlack: I'm doing fine today! You? :)
"I just don't get why she hates him so much!" Sokka would say. But she knew better.
Suki saw the things that her boyfriend just couldn't. She observed how Katara acted around the firebender, especially when Aang wasn't around to scold her, and she saw through her façade right away.
She may not have known Katara for the longest time, but she knew enough about the girl to see that Katara didn't really hate Zuko. At least, not in the intense, direct way that she proclaimed. After hearing what truly went down in Ba Sing Se from Sokka, or as much as he himself knew, Suki could tell that Katara's anger stemmed from something deeper than betrayal. It came from fear and hurt.
She didn't know what exactly happened in those catacombs, but she was observant enough to piece together most of it. Somehow, Katara had been lulled into a sense of security and friendship, which was unsurprising to the Kyoshi warrior considering how naïve she was- had been- before. That trust must have been deep enough that Katara felt that she was personally betrayed by Zuko later when he joined forces with his sister.
But Suki still knew that that 'betrayal' couldn't possibly have been the main source of her bitterness, no matter what the girl claimed. Most likely, it was from the trauma of almost losing Aang. His would-be death had shocked her, forced her into growing up, made her see that maybe he wasn't invincible, that she just caring would never be enough to protect him, and she needed an outlet- someone who could bear the blame. So when Zuko showed up at their doorstep, seeking penance, she found her scapegoat. Part of it was also stress from the comet's approach. Suki knew she didn't have the heart to take out her frustration on the others, so she focused everything on Zuko instead.
So Suki knew that Katara didn't hate Zuko. On the contrary, Katara needed Zuko as support. But because she would never admit that to anyone, let alone herself, she resolved to make it seem like she did hate him. When in reality, she was relieved to have him around.
And Suki also knew that Zuko wasn't ignorant. She could see what Katara just couldn't. That he understood her anger and worry, and that he wasn't necessarily okay with her brutality towards him, but if that was what helped her, then he would allow it. So long as he wasn't bringing anymore destruction or pain, he was okay. She could see that he was working this out in his head, trying to discover the root of her anger so that maybe this could end, maybe they could be friends.
If only he knew what she knew; that Katara wanted to be friends too.
Suki didn't worry about the issue as much as Sokka and Aang did. Right off the bat, she could tell this wouldn't last for long. It was only a matter of time before Katara became too exhausted of all the fighting, and cruelty. She was just too sugar-sweet to keep up the 'bad guy' act. And soon, Zuko would discover just how to make up for his wrongs, just how to show he was the 'good guy.' After all, he never gave up. Both were equally stubborn, good-hearted, and determined. They were more of kindred spirits than they had originally thought.
It was only a matter of time.
...
"Two weeks."
Twin smirks.
A twinkle within pale, foggy eyes - an exchange of coins from her dirty hands to calloused, nimble ones.
"One."
Suki raised an eyebrow at the daring word. Toph huffed, a wicked grin spreading on her face.
"You just watch, Fan-girl. Don't underestimate the power of teenage hormones and 'love-deprivation.' I give them one week, tops."
If only Suki could see Sokka's face if he found out what they were betting at. She smiled. "You're on."
Author's Note: Not my best drabble, and honestly, I wrote it kinda fast, but hopefully you enjoy it anyways! Kinda lost inspiration for this series... But I'm sure it's only temporary!
MI3