Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or its characters.
65
Katara discretely wiped at the sweat on her forehead. Being a barista was harder work than she had anticipated.
"Two chai teas," Mai called in a monotone voice. "Order sixteen."
"Coming right up," she answered, before getting to work.
Balancing the two mugs on a tray, she glided into the seating area, eyes scanning the busy cafe area for the little plastic number. She found it on a table occupied by an older couple, leaning into one another with a comfort that only comes from years of companionship.
"Here you go," she said with a sweet smile as she gently set the mugs on the table. "Let us know if you need anything else."
After a warm 'thank you' from the couple, she made her way back to Mai, who leaned casually against the wooden counter top, eyeing the older couple with marked interest.
"What are you looking at?" Katara asked curiously, leaning down next to her.
Mai nodded towards the pair. "Them."
"What about them?"
"I'm just... wondering if all that is real," the pale girl sighed.
"What are you talking about?" Katara asked with a light laugh. "Of course its real. Look at them."
"I see them."
"They look happy."
Mai frowned. "I can't remember ever being that comfortable in a relationship. I've been in my fair share, and I've never once wanted to sit in a café, sipping tea and literally rubbing shoulders."
"That's just what they're comfortable with," Katara answered, feeling a need to defend the unsuspecting couple. "But it's not weird... or unattainable, if that's what you're worried about." Her eyes were still trained on the couple, now laughing quietly, heads leaned together, at something on the man's phone. "I think they're sweet."
"They are sweet," Mai admitted begrudgingly.
Katara practically had to bite back her smile. In the two years that she'd known Mai, her dry-witted friend had never once displayed an interest in long-term romantic relationships like that. While Mai had, in no unclear terms, made it apparent that she was pursuing Zuko, this seemed a bit more serious. "What's made you think about this?"
"They're sitting directly in front of me."
"Yea, so was that younger couple earlier, and I didn't see you letting out dreamy sighs and experiencing relationship-based existentialism," Katara snipped at her.
Mai turned her head slowly to Katara, mirth alight in her golden eyes. "You've been getting a lot better with your insults, and I know you're not getting it from Aang. He's too... sweet."
"Aang can be a smart ass when he wants to be," Katara retorted. "But, you're right. It's Suki. That's also unrelated. Why are you asking me if love is real?"
"That is not what I asked you."
Katara waved her hand dismissively. "That's what you meant." Mai opened her mouth to let out a sharp reply, but Katara cut her off. "Uh-uh. Just answer. Stop deflecting."
There was a moment of silence, where Mai's eyes bored into Katara's like a drill, and Katara wondered if perhaps she'd looked too hard into Mai's line of questioning. But after another short moment, Mai folded, her shoulders almost slumping with defeat. "I like Zuko a lot. But, like I said, I've been in my fair share of relationships." She gestured discretely toward the older couple. "They've never been like that. I want that."
"You just haven't found the right person," Katara said comfortingly. "Or... it's possible that you're just not a 'café date' kind of girl. And that's okay. It doesn't mean you won't find a meaningful relationship. Possibly with Zuko."
"You're suggesting that I'm not a 'café date' kind of girl while I'm actively pursuing a guy who co-owns a café," Mai sighed.
"Actually, I think his uncle owns it outright-"
"He's still a café guy," Mai said with a note of finality.
Katara leaned into her, nudging Mai's shoulder with hers. "But, you like him."
"Yea. I like him." Mai looked down at her hands. "A lot."
"Then you can learn to be a café girl," Katara said. "And, he'll do things you like to do, too. Shopping for umbrellas to use on sunny days. Feasting on the souls of the living. Whatever you do."
"Funny." Mai turned to her slowly. "Thanks, though," she mumbled. "You helped. A bit."
Katara gave her a warm smile. "I'm rooting for you two, Mai."
Mai's solemn expression widened into an impish grin. "He has no idea what's coming." Her smile faded a bit. "I guess I don't really know, either."
Sokka approached Suki slowly as she sipped at her coffee, her elbows resting on the counter top.
"Hey," she greeted with a warm smile. "What are you up to?"
He bit his lower lip. "There's something I want to talk to you about," he said, sounding a lot more confident than he felt. In his ears, he could hear each beat of his heart.
Her eyebrows raised in surprise, and she set her coffee back on the table. "Oh? What about?"
"It's about... what Song and Haru are doing," he said lamely.
"Do you mean getting married?"
He nodded, unable to speak.
"What about it?"
"Do you... like it?"
She gave him a confused look. "Do I like that Song and Haru are getting married?"
His heart gave a tight squeeze. Tighten up, he commanded himself. This wasn't the time to be wishy-washy. This was the time to be confident. Succinct. Clear in his intentions. But despite the internal pep-talk, all that came out was a squeaky, "Yea."
"I guess I do," she laughed. "I'm excited for them. Aren't you?"
"I am," he said honestly.
She smiled. "Good. I can't wait for their wedding. You know what they say about the Best Man and the Maid of Honor."
"What do they say?"
Her smile widened. "Maybe I should just show you."
"Ouch," Sokka complained breathily. "Don't bite so hard."
"I can't help it," Suki sighed, "especially not when you do that."
He grinned against her mouth. "What? This?" His grin grew wider when she shuddered beneath him, hips rocking against him in a way that he knew would be his undoing.
"Yes, that," she moaned into his ear.
"I'll stop when you do," he panted as she moved again.
"Then we'll just keep on going, I guess. Forever."
He froze for a split second to look into her eyes, one hand cupping her cheek gently as he murmured back to her, "Yea. Forever."
A/N: It's been a while since I've mentioned how much I appreciate your reviews! You guys are genuinely what is keeping me going. I'm so glad we're on this ride together. I treasure literally every one of them.