Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or its characters.
94
As Katara strode from the Dean's office, she felt herself split in two. One half of her could have spun down the sidewalk, her arms outstretched and a grin on her lips like the star of a musical about to break into joyous song. She felt herself standing at a trail head, the path long and winding before her, a desirable destination at the end. A job in her career of choice, alongside the man she was going to marry, and a big move to a new place, mysterious and distant. Katara had never been to the Fire Nation, but she'd heard enough stories to fuel the imagination. A place for dreamers and achievers alike, a far cry from Ba Sing Se, where the heavy weight of the tired city seemed to collapse in on itself.
And yet, she'd have to leave her life behind, the comfort of stepping from her apartment and knowing exactly where to go, the luxury of staying in and knowing exactly what she was missing. Her brother by her side, her friends, her familiar classes, familiar faces that lined the pathways of her choices. She'd barely spoken to Sokka about it, outside of a quick little conversation that had been marred by the turmoil taking place in his life. There was no avoiding it now, though. With any luck, he'd be home tonight, the course of his talk with Suki both clarifying and healing.
Her phone rang, and a little frown quirked the corner of her lips. It was Toph, and for the second time in mere minutes, she felt herself evenly split. Regret at giving Toph her number; gratitude that Toph had cleared the path for her.
"Hello, Toph," she said, her voice raising into a sweeter register than she really felt.
"Sugar Queen," Toph greeted perfunctorily. "How did your meeting with Thanh go?"
Katara sighed. "It went well, thank you for asking. Thanh agreed to do the transfer at the end of the semester, four weeks from now. I'll finish out the year here, and then Aang and I will move."
"So, everything is going according to plan," Toph said. "Excellently done."
"Thanks," Katara smiled, preening.
"I was talking to myself."
Another sigh burst noisily past Katara's lips. "Of course you were."
"Have you called Aang yet?"
"No," Katara grumbled. "I literally just walked out of Thanh's office."
There was a shuffling at the other end of the line, as if Toph were preparing to leave. "Great. I'll call him myself."
"Don't you think that's maybe overstepping a bit?"
Toph snorted. "This wouldn't be happening without me."
"And we're very appreciative," Katara said through gritted teeth. "In fact, I'll be sure to remind Aang how appreciative we are of everything you've done, when I tell him. Me, Toph. Not you."
The silence at the other end of the line spoke volumes, but Toph relented. "Fine. Call me when he knows. I've got some alcohol; we can celebrate."
"Okay, Toph," Katara said, shaking her head in exasperation. "Yea, we'll call you."
"Is this awkward, or is this uncomfortable?" Sokka asked after the silence in the car became unbearable.
"I think... awkward," Suki said thoughtfully. "Awkward is, like, 'I can't wait to get to an easier topic of conversation'. Uncomfortable is, like, 'please get me out of here'."
Sokka tilted his head toward her teasingly. "There's a distinction."
"Well, as much as I'd love to have everything immediately return to sunshine and roses, this is the real world," Suki sighed. "And it doesn't help that Song fussed at me when we went to pick up your stuff from their house."
"She's defending my honor."
Suki scowled lightly. "You seemed more than capable of defending your honor yourself."
"I'm glad you think so," Sokka grumbled. "I get the impression that Song thinks I'm a love-struck idiot who lets you walk all over me."
"I'm sure I've stepped on your toes once or twice."
"I do seem to recall something like that happening, now that you mention it," he said with a little chuckle. "Song's like a mama bear. As you well know."
Suki rolled her head toward him. "And you're her innocent little cub?"
"I think we both are."
"Yea, well, you got the protective mother. I got the disappointed one." Suki huffed a frustrated breath, before looking down at her hands, folded neatly in her lap. "I know I've made mistakes, and I know it takes time to heal from the damage. I just... I'm impatient. I want us to be there."
Sokka took one of her hands in his. "What do you mean?"
"I want my friends back. Song- she and I have barely spoken in days. I know things will get better, but I missed her. And Katara... I'm looking forward to a point in time where she doesn't have this gentle, patient tone with me- you know the one?"
"The one where you know that she knows that you did something wrong, so she's trying to be kind and understanding while still letting you know that you have to atone for your mistakes?" Sokka recited, clearly familiar.
Suki nodded. "Yea, that one."
Sokka smiled encouragingly. "And Aang? Was his disappointment just as challenging?"
"No, he barely changed at all around me, and that was almost worse. Like he was trying to ignore my fuck up, or trying to understand it from my point of view." Suki chewed her lower lip.
Sokka laughed again.
"And then there's you..." Suki murmured.
"You know, I always pegged our relationship as something a little more serious than 'friends'," Sokka said dryly.
The pointed look that Suki gave him was so familiar, he felt his heart surge in his chest. He'd seen that look a thousand times. "We are, obviously. You think I apologize like that to just anyone? Try to understand what I mean. I love you because you're my best friend. Not just my boyfriend. And I want things to be how they were before. Not exactly how they were before," she added quickly when Sokka opened his mouth to reply. "You know what I mean."
"I do," he said after a moment. "And they will be again. We're in this together, now, Suki. We're in the same book. We might even be on the same page."
"Ha ha."
He snickered at her dark tone as he pulled into their parking spot. "One step at a time, Suki. Before you know it, things will be as they were. Only, better."
Her eyes softened. "What's step one, then? Since you seem to know the way."
"I'm not entirely sure," he admitted. "But, I'd be willing to bet step one is getting out of this car."
The moment the door swung open, Aang practically ran from the couch, dropping an arm over both Suki and Sokka's shoulders as he ushered them inside. Although Katara was ecstatic to have them both living in the same house again, her reaction was not nearly as exuberant. Their scars were healing. Now, Katara was worried she'd open a new wound entirely.
"Welcome home," she greeted them, forcing out the warmth that hid under a layer of apprehension. "Sokka, I'm so glad you're back."
"Me, too," Sokka said. "If for no other reason than I was tired of sleeping in Song's guest room. I never understood doilies. I understand them even less, now that I've had to live among them."
Aang snorted with laughter. "I think they're decorative."
"You can't even put a glass of water on a table with a doily. I tried and it fell over because the lace was all uneven." Sokka shook his head. "And then Song yelled at me for spilling a wine spritzer all over her stuff."
"Toss your stuff in your room, Sokka," Katara interrupted, more abrupt than she really intended. "There's some stuff I'd like to talk to you two about."
Sokka eyed her, but did as she bid, throwing his bags forcefully through the open door to his room. Suki settled herself on the couch, her eyes darting between Katara and Aang. "What's going on?" she asked as Sokka made his way over to sit down next to her.
"We have some exciting news," Katara explained, trying to force enthusiasm into her voice.
Sokka blinked. "Oh, Spirits, you're pregnant."
Aang choked, stuttering out an unintelligible reply as Suki swatted Sokka in the stomach. "She's not pregnant," Suki hissed. She turned back to Katara. "Right?"
"No," Katara replied, shaking her head. "I'm not."
She could physically see the tension drain from his body. Maybe this was good- he'd be so relieved that she wasn't pregnant that it might soften the blow.
"So, what's going on, then?" her brother asked.
"We're, ah... we're moving," Katara said.
A/N: hey all. I'm trying to wrap this up but life is continuously knocking me off my path for completion. I hope to finish this story this week. I'm so sorry and thank you to all of you who are waiting so patiently.