Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or its characters.
35
"Don't you think it's so sweet that they're going on a date?" Katara asked, leaning into him as they watched TV on the couch. In the background, Sokka idled in the kitchen, cool and mysterious in a black leather jacket atop slim-fitting dark jeans. He leaned down to adjust the laces of his leather boot, and Katara smiled to herself. Despite Sokka's effortlessly chic appearance, Katara herself had lent a great deal of assistance in picking out what to wear. "They spend so much time in the apartment, it's nice to see them go out."
"It is," Aang agreed, dropping a casual arm over her shoulder.
Katara gave him a pointed look, made a little less sharp by the amused tilt of her head. "Maybe that's something we could try."
"Me go on a date with a girl that looks like you?" Aang joked. "I'd get stopped every five minutes for random men to ask me what my secret is- we'd never get a moment to ourselves."
"Honestly," she snorted mirthfully, "you'd think I was a supermodel, the way you talk about me. Haven't you seen me in the morning?"
Aang grinned and waggled his eyebrows, a move he'd seen Sokka do to Suki a hundred times. "Yes. I have. The stuff of daydreams."
She leaned forward to press a kiss to the corner of his lips, before settling comfortably against him. "What did you think of the 'town hall' meeting?" she asked, changing the subject. "I'm really excited about the prospect of a new job. I love animals, but a lady brought in a parrot the other day and, I swear, it bit me so hard that I saw all the Spirits, and then promptly shit all over the paperwork I was doing for Ms. Nguyen's cat."
Aang laughed. "Did you have to do the paperwork again? Or did it wipe off?"
"How on earth was I supposed to give Ms. Nguyen paperwork with a shit stain on it?" Katara demanded. "Obviously, I had to start it again. Fortunately, most of the fields were already filled out on the computer, but, still... It's the principle of the matter."
"That bird had some nerve," Aang agreed in a somber tone. He dodged to avoid the swat she sent at his shoulder, laughing. "But, to answer your question, yes, I am excited at the prospect of a new job."
"Are you quitting the gym?" Katara asked in surprise. "Mrs. Morishita will be heartbroken."
"I'm not quitting the gym," he answered. "I just... it'll be nice to have a little extra money. I'm getting by, but... well, you know." He stared down at his hands, embarrassed.
Katara kissed him again, her hand going to his chin to tilt his face towards hers. "I understand completely. Plus, it'll be fun to work together. And with Suki, too."
He smiled. "It will. And, Iroh said there were a couple other spots available... I was thinking, maybe Toph could apply there. She's struggling for money right now."
"Oh, that's right; I forgot you said that her parents kicked her out. I'm sure she'll appreciate the offer."
"I'm not," Aang grumbled. "She's not a fan of any job that requires customer service."
"Then she would have been a terrible hotel manager," Katara laughed. She shook her head, thinking of Toph's situation. "I still can't believe her parents kicked her out just because she didn't want to go to school for a degree she didn't even get to choose. I mean... what year is it? I'm surprised they didn't arrange a marriage for her or something," she said derisively.
Aang shifted away from her, his hands twisting with the hem of his shirt. "Yea. It's pretty crappy."
Katara rested a hand against his shoulder. "It's nice that you're looking out for her."
He flushed. "Thanks."
She frowned at his obvious discomfort. "Are you alright?"
"Oh, yea," he mumbled. "Just... she said some stuff the other day that bothered me."
"You have mentioned that she's a bit- well, rough around the edges," Katara reminded him. "Maybe she didn't mean it."
"No, I don't think she meant it," he agreed under his breath. "But, still. It was... insensitive."
Katara sighed. "Would you like to talk about it?"
He looked up at her, finally meeting her eyes, and a reticent smile crossed his lips. Gradually, he leaned back toward her, kissing her softly and sighing against her lips. "I'd rather not- at least, not right now," he said finally.
"Suit yourself," Katara murmured against his lips. "I can think of a different activity that appeals to me more right now, anyway."
"What's that?"
She grinned, standing and dragging him by the hand from the couch to her bedroom. "Take one guess."
Sokka grumbled irritably to himself as he watched his sister lead Aang, who sported a dopey-looking grin, to her bedroom, the door shutting firmly behind them. He didn't begrudge them alone time, but it was disquieting to watch his sister enjoy the fruits borne of a new relationship. Especially after Aang's admission to him earlier that afternoon.
"Toph did the stupidest thing last night," Aang had complained when they had a moment alone.
Sokka had blinked in surprise. "That's the meanest thing I've ever heard you say. What did she do?"
"She told her parents that she and I are dating in order to piss them off. I don't know what to tell Katara about it." Aang had run his hand along the tattoo that began at his forehead, following its path backwards, and then let out a groan of despair. "Toph helped me when I was homeless. And I want to help her, I really do- but how am I supposed to tell Katara about it? After that nonsense with Jet, I'm worried she'll see it as a sign that we shouldn't be together."
"Spirits, what a dick move," Sokka had agreed blithely. "But... how many people did she tell?"
"Just her parents."
"Then what's the big deal?" he asked. "Is she into you?"
"No," was Aang's firm reply.
"Are you into her?"
A hard glint radiated through the gray of his eyes. "No." He had sighed then, almost dreamily. "Only your sister. There isn't even room for anyone else."
Sokka had frowned. "That's an intense thing to say. But we're going to move on," he added at Aang's look of guilt. "Look, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'm not a proponent of keeping things from your significant other, but this doesn't seem like a big deal to me. If you're that worried about it, don't mention it- unless Toph starts spreading it around to other people."
Aang had reluctantly agreed, and they had parted ways. Sokka's next hour was spent in front of the mirror Suki had bought for his room, mixing and matching the few articles of clothing he owned that weren't casual jeans and t-shirts. Suki considered this their first date- that meant she wanted it to be special, and he wanted it to be special for her.
He glanced down at his watch. 7:56. Any minute now.
Was it ordinary to have your heart pound this heavily for a date with a girl you're already dating? he wondered. He'd always considered himself a planner, and he'd planned this date down to the minute. But, it had been years since he'd had to think of things like this, outside of very casual flings here and there, when loneliness was too much of a burden to bear. The evening ahead of them was one that he had planned to very nearly the minute, and he could already see the amused look that would gleam in the browns and golds of Suki's eyes when she discovered he had an itinerary.
Suki's bedroom door opened, and his idle musing fell away, replaced instead with awe and a kind of hopelessness, a longing and disbelief for the woman who stood before him.
She looked fierce and feminine, a dark blouse that parted in the center, a swath of creamy-looking skin bared, the barest hint of the curve of her breasts. Light trousers hugged the curves of her hips and legs, legs that begged to have his hands glide over them. Suki raised one expectant eyebrow at him, almost smirking. His heart pounded in his chest; drawing breath was a challenge. And when her lips curved into a self-satisfied little smile, he was lost.
A/N: these might be a little slow again. Sorry, can't be helped. Breaks my heart.