Title: Return
Rating: K
Pairings: Song/Suki friendship, hinted SongxZuko

"No animals!" The bureaucrat cried, glaring at the ostrich-horse. Frightened, it shuffled behind Zuko. "You may not board this ship until that thing is gone!"

"But please Miss, we need this pet for our travel," Iroh tried to plead, chancing a glance at his nephew. His grip was tightening around the animal's reins. It was bad enough they had lost it in the desert; now he had to get rid of it? He couldn't just abandon her—it. It needed to be returned.

"No!"

Exasperated, Iroh turned to Zuko. "Zuko, we must sell him."

"But—" Zuko trailed off with Iroh's headshake. "I…" He sighed, but reluctantly nodded. "Alright. I'll sell it."

"You don't want me to?" Iroh asked. His concern was hidden poorly; nor did it look like he was making any attempt to. With his back turned to Iroh, he shook his head with a soft, "Uh-uh."

He returned twenty minutes later with a small bag hanging on his waist. It jingled when he walked. Eyes shut closed, he walked straight up to the ticket-manager. "May we have our tickets now?" He growled. The lady harrumphed, but stamped the green and gold passes nonetheless.

---

Braid swinging behind her, a calming humming coming out of her mouth, and a content smile on her face, a young woman stepped off the ferry. It was rare to see anyone getting off the boats, as opposed to going into the boats, like most of the refugees would, but anyone who worked at the terminal was used to this one.

"Afternoon, Song!" A pretty security guard called out to her. Song waved back with her free hand, the other wrapped around and empty box used for supplies.

"Hello Suki," she greeted while passing.

"See you next month?" Suki's grin was undeniable.

"Of course," Song giggled back.

"Are you traveling on foot now?" Glancing around, it was plain to see that Song's beloved ostrich-horse was not in its usual spot. And now that she was thinking back to it, she didn't recall Song entering on it.

Song sighed. "Unfortunately. He was stolen by these t—well, let's just say he was stolen." Suki nodded, adding her condolences. Song was too polite to drop her shoulders, slightly angry and sad that her missing pet had been brought up.

Suddenly, as if she were a little girl just given a brand new doll, her eyes lit up. The empty box clattered to the floor.

And then she was running—it had to be. It was him; he was here, of all places! Suki's amazed gaze quickly melted into a smile. Her healer friend pressed her neck into the nape of the animal and held it tight. At first the ostrich-horse looked awkward, but upon recognizing the person hugging him, relaxed and let out a merry chirp.

The man holding his reins, surprisingly, was not angry, more like surprised. "You like this beast, yes?" He rubbed his hands together greedily.

Taken of guard, Song pulled her head out of the animal's fur with wide eyes. "Oh, I don't have any—"

"She'll take it," a female voice said from behind. Song whirled around to see Suki with one hand on her hip and smiling.

"Suki, I don't have any money," Song whispered at her friend. Pretending not to hear her, Suki stepped in front of Song. The smile was gone, replaced with a fierce, determined look.

"Twenty silver pieces," the man said.

"Fifteen," Suki barked back.

"Eighteen."

"Deal." The money was handed over, and the reins slipped into the healer's hands. Suki demanded nothing else be said, and with a smile, returned to her post. Song stared at the reins for a few minutes, and with a soft smile, harnessed the ostrich-horse.

At the very moment that doors were being built for her departure, a ferry was leaving its dock. A young man with a prominent scar stood by the railing, watching her ride into the dark tunnel. He was doing his best not to smile, but his spirits were bursting with energy. The wind ruffled his hair; he gave into the smile, and closed his eyes.

Nothing could bring him down right now.

Uncle returned moments later, carrying two bowls. One was for himself, the other for his nephew. Zuko stared down at the mucky meal; his temple began to pulse.

Well, almost nothing.

Another Soko oneshot/drabble/thing. -sigh- I'm hopeless.