Note: Thanks to someone's very insightful review, I am positing another chapter. I realized after a few days of thinking about this in the back of my mind that I had been very inconsiderate of the reader and left something hanging when I had alluded to it more than once. My sincerest apologies; I regret to say it was poor judgement on my part. Let this be a lesson then, that good reviews are definitely worth your time. Sandra Evans, this is for you.
"—somewhere exciting, I hope, because I've lost so much time."
The sun was falling now; winter would soon arrive. The Chief of the Southern Water tribe was waiting with the Fire's Ambassador as his attendants loaded his vessel for his voyage. Both men were silently contemplating all that had transpired during the diplomatic visit. Things were changing, again, and preparation was needed.
"Ambassador," Sokka began smoothly, "as much as I'm sure you've enjoyed our frigid hospitality, I trust next spring will bring an invitation from your uncle?" Zuko nodded. He was neither smiling nor frowning. Sokka took it for what it was worth: a token of good will. Sokka smiled to himself, pleased with his sense of humor, even if Zuko wasn't. Katara would laugh (she laughed now) at him later and complain his sense of humor was almost as bad as their father's (because they could talk about him again). He turned serious, however, because he wanted to share some of that gratitude he felt out loud.
"Thank you, Zuko, for your help." Zuko nodded yet again, though a ghost of smile made this one a little more than the last.
"Your sister offered to help me once, and it's the least I could do to repay her, even if I didn't accept her offer then." Sokka made a note to himself to ask Katara what he was talking about later. Sokka grinned at Zuko.
"I'm sure she'll want to come with me next spring." Zuko's phantom smile threatened to become more tangible, but he hid it with a half bow.
"I take my leave of you, Chief Sokka." Sokka inclined his head, ever loathe of the formalities inflicted on him by the Fire Nation's code of court conduct that never seemed to abandon its members (except perhaps Iroh). Zuko straightened and boarded his ship, looking back once, though Sokka was sure it wasn't for him. He didn't dwell on it, however, but turned back to his village with renewed vigor.