Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or it's characters.
74
"Are you fucking serious?" Song asked.
Katara nodded. "Yes, unfortunately."
"And you're willing to be cordial with this woman?"
"She's not as bad as all that," Suki interjected. "She's just a bit lost. It seems like Aang was her only friend, and losing him made her lonely. Lonely, and a little... well..."
"Crazy?" Song suggested.
Katara snorted into her wine glass.
"Maybe a little," Suki agreed. "But, I actually kind of like her. Say what you will about her, but she's a boss bitch. Doesn't take any shit."
"Because she's too busy giving it," Song scoffed. "Katara, you're literally the single most fabulous thing walking around Ba Sing Se, with the possible exception of Suki, here. If you wanted to, you could tell Aang to never see her again."
"I can't," Katara sighed. "Like Suki said, she's super lonely. So lonely that she even came to me to create this strange little truce."
Song poured herself another glass of wine. "So, when's the next time you're going to see her?"
"I don't know." Katara shrugged. "She came along with Aang and I for lunch the other day and it wasn't terrible. I mean, she only mortally offended everyone in the diner once, so I'd consider that an improvement from last time."
"Yea, which diner was that, again?" Suki asked, eager to bring the subject back to the actual reason for this meeting. "I had this idea about your rehearsal dinner, Song; that maybe we could go to a park and do something really low key and casual, and have a diner cater."
Song gave her a skeptical look. "Low-key and casual? That doesn't really sound like me."
"You're on a budget," Suki reminded her. "Go easy on the rehearsal dinner so that you can go big on your wedding reception. You have to make cuts somewhere. You're not an heiress."
"Ugh, you're so pragmatic," Song complained, her head rolling back theatrically. "For once, can't you let me act like a Ba Sing Se socialite? I want to pretend that Haru is some high-roller who changed his playboy ways because of his deep and abiding love for me."
Katara openly laughed. "Haru?"
"He won the cookie-baking competition for his chess club, Song," Suki said, laughing with Katara. "A rich bad-boy he is not."
"That's why I said 'pretend'," Song replied loftily. "I love the man to death, but I need a coping mechanism to reconcile myself to the fact that I am marrying a man who color-codes his underwear."
Peals of laughter filled the air. "You've got yourself a winner, there," Suki said, grinning as she leaned back into her chair.
Song pouted. "Speak for yourself, love. Your man has a closeted obsession with weddings. I'm ninety percent sure he's living vicariously through Haru and I."
Katara pursed her lips quietly, suddenly becoming very interested in the ring on her middle finger. Suki set her glass down.
"What's happened?" Song asked immediately, and Suki frowned. Sometimes, she forgot how observant Song was.
"Sokka and I got into an argument the other day," Suki admitted. "We've made up, but it was uncomfortable for a while."
Katara nodded her agreement. "They barely spoke for, like, three days. It sucked."
"What was the argument about?" Song demanded.
"It was sort of about our future together and our thoughts about marriage," Suki explained, sighing. "I told him that the idea of marriage makes me nervous, and he got a little upset. He feels differently."
Song set her wine glass on the coffee table to drop her head into her hands. "Oh, Suki," she sighed. "You're absolutely committed to being as difficult as possible every waking moment of your relationship, aren't you?"
"No," Suki snapped, crossing her arms.
"He must really love you to put up with your bullshit," Song muttered, shaking her head.
"So, you didn't mention the ring to Suki?" Aang asked, leaning over to wipe down the table that Sokka sat at. "Spirits, I'm glad I didn't bring it up when she and I talked about it before the dinner with Toph. Can you imagine how disastrous that would have been?"
"I don't even want to imagine it," Sokka grumbled. "The reason I didn't mention it to her was because you told me that even if our discussion goes well, I shouldn't propose."
Aang nodded, tossing his wet rag onto his shoulder and bringing his hands to his hips. "I'm glad I said that, then. It really felt like good advice when I was giving it."
"Almost as good advice as not hanging a soaking wet rag on your dry shirt," Sokka replied, nodding towards Aang's now-soaked shoulder.
"Ah, crap," Aang muttered.
"I'm headed out," Mai called to Aang as she strode from the kitchen, now apron free, her bag slung over her shoulder.
"Bye, Mai!" Aang replied, waving to her.
Sokka gave Aang a confused look. "Isn't your shift over, too?"
"No, I traded this afternoon with Suki to get tomorrow evening off. Katara and I are going on a date."
"Oh."
Movement at the door drew their attention. As Mai exited, Zuko entered, his eyes on the floor as he struggled to right the decent-sized pile of folders under one of his arms. When he looked up to see the solemn girl staring at him, he blushed bright red to the very roots of his hair. There was a moment of heightened silence as they watched each other, both of their lips slightly parted as if they were about to speak. But the moment passed, and instead, the pair edged awkwardly around one another, keeping an arm's length apart as they switched places in the doorway. Zuko practically darted into the break room the moment he passed Mai, but the pale girl hovered at the door for a moment longer, a knowing little smile quirking one corner of her lips. A moment later, and she was gone.
"Spirits," Sokka said. "What in the world was that about?"
Aang snickered quietly. "They're in love with one another, but they don't know it yet."
"It looks like they know it just fine," Sokka replied. "But don't know what to do with it."
"They're a strange pair," Aang admitted. "But, I think they fit well together. Once they get past this awkward phase."
Sokka turned his head back to the doorway, now empty. "I think they're permanently stuck in their awkward phase."
"Well, then they'll be awkward together." Aang flashed a crooked grin. "I'm actually super excited about it. Suki, Katara, and I have a bet on how long it will take. I bet another week. Katara lost already. She thought for sure they'd already be together."
"What did Suki bet?"
Aang's grin faded. "She bet another two months. Said they needed time to really get to know one another."
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Typical."
A/N: nothing tickles me more than when people review. I can't even express how much I appreciate this readership, and how much I appreciate these reviews.
Yes! I am working on the Minister's sequel. Title to be released soon like its a fucking movie or some shit lmao or maybe im just a dramatic bitch. But I'm doing it anyway.