Suki's hand was small and delicate, but it didn't feel like Zuko's. Her skin wasn't as warm, and she didn't feel the same. They walked far through the forest until they reached a small stream at the end of the woods. There they sat down.
"You wanted to talk to me, Sokka?"
Sokka looked at the girl next to him. He loved her like a friend, a best friend, but he didn't love her as a partner. He had found Zuko, and Zuko was who he wanted. She still thought they were together. How would he ever explain to her? "Um, Suki, I don't know how else to tell you this…but I…we can't be together."
Suki looked up at him, her eyes wide. "What?"
"Look, I like you a lot, and you're an amazing person, and you're strong and brave and beautiful, but I…"
She hung her head down, tears brimming in her eyes. "You've found someone else?"
"Yes," he admitted, defeated. The warrior somehow could always overpower him, not only in combat, but in speech too. He had always liked that about the girl.
She breathed deeply, but didn't burst into a fit of emotions. She was composed. "Who is it?"
Sokka found that she was looking right at him, waiting for his answer. "I can't tell you."
"What do you mean you can't tell me?"
"It's embarrassing, not embarrassing, but it could cause a lot of problems…"
"Just tell me, Sokka. If you're going to break up with me, the least you could do is tell me who for."
Suki was right. "Zuko."
"You're gay?" she asked, widening her eyes even more.
"I…I guess…yes."
"Oh, well then I guess you were never attracted to me…"
"I was, Suki! Please, I was. You're an amazing woman, and you deserve much better than what I could have ever given you. It's just that Zuko and I…we…You can't tell anyone, okay?"
"Why aren't you telling anyone?"
"It's not exactly acceptable in either the Water Tribes or the Fire Nation. Only Toph knows, and that's because she kinda forced it out of me…"
"I'll keep quiet, I promise." She was very quiet. For the first time, Suki didn't have anything bold or brave to say. Sokka felt terrible for breaking her heart the way he had.
"Suki?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"How bad would it be to…" Sokka sighed; he was asking a lot of the warrior beside him. "How bad would it be for us to still pretend we're together?"
Much to his surprise, she stood up, crossing her arms. "You want me to pretend like we're still together after you just broke up with me?"
"I…" Sokka was speechless. She was right and there was no way to make it sound any better. "Yes."
"I can't believe you would ask me that!"
Sokka stood as well, holding her arms. "Suki, I know this is unfair, but please. If anyone suspects anything about Zuko and I being together…"
Silence surrounding them for a few moments until she spoke again. "You really care about him, don't you?"
"I do. Suki, I do care about him."
"And I care about you, Sokka," she replied, looking away. "I'll do it."
