Pairing: Zuko and Suki
Rating: K+
Note: If anyone has any prompts or anything that they would like for me to write, please feel free to send those to me and i ill be more than happy to do so.

Zuko dipped his bare feet into the river, the cool water slipping over and around his tired skin. It was good to relax by the roaring river despite baking sun high over him. He reached down and undid the belt that held his robe in place, undoing it from his waist before throwing it on the shore. He followed suit with his robe and shirt, throwing it to the side.

Now shirtless, Zuko walked further into the water, letting it come up above his hips, soaking his pants in the process. He laid down in the water stomach first, letting himself go under water for a moment before pulling himself up. He swam upstream to a deeper area, his eyes scanning his surroundings.

He did not think about anything as he swam. He half wanted to just swim away and leave this all behind. His sister, the truth about his father, his search for his mother, everything. He dunked his head and body under the water and ran his fingers though his hair that swirled around his head.

Zuko opened his eyes under water looking at the world that surrounded him. It was during this survey of his surroundings that a rock at the bottom of the river caught his eye. He could only see its unusual color and the one side of it. He knew that he had to have it. He swam to the crest of the water, looking down at the into the river as he pushed his hair out of his eyes.

He took a deep breath and submerged himself again, swimming towards the bottom of the river. He reached out and moved some of the rocks around it, then wrapped his strong hand around the rock, pulling it up to the surface with him. He swam to the shore, lifting himself up onto the rocks there. It was then that he could take a look at his prize from the bottom of the river.

The rock was a little larger than the palm of his hand and held a very strange yellow color to it. He could see what looked like veins of gold snaking though it. The truly remarkable thing about it was the shape. The one side was curved and the edges tapered together to one point. To most people it would look like a curved triangle. When he looked at it he just saw something else.

"Suki." Zuko smiled, thinking that the fan shaped gold rock was something that she would like. He bit his lip as he turned it over in his hand, doubting his plan. He recalled the last time he had presented a girl with a found object. Mai had rejected his gift on the beach that one time, making him not really sure if he should give this small gift to Suki or not.

"She will like it." He mumbled, "She is not the same as Mai." He smiled a little bit, standing up and placing rock into his pocket. He walked back to his clothing at the bank, picking them up and walking back to came where his friend were waiting.

Several days later

Zuko walked up to Suki and TyLee standing in the hall way together in the palace. They both acknowledged his presence, a smile on their faces. "Its good to see you happy." Suki said with a sigh, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I'm happy?" Zuko raised an eye brow, "I had not noticed."

TyLee nodded, "Your aura is so much better now!"

"Good to know." Zuko scratched the back of his neck rolling his eyes. He did feel better, even though he would likely never admit it. He spoke to TyLee. "Can I talk to Suki for a second?"

TyLee just nodded, looking to Suki. "I'll be back." She left, leaving Zuko and Suki alone.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

"No." The one side of his mouth curled into a smile as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the gold rock he had carried with him during his journey. "I found this while I was gone. I thought of you." He extended his meager gift to her, a blush covering his cheeks.

"For me?" Suki's voice shook ever so lightly as she looked at the gift with wide eyes.

He frowned heavily and wrapped his long hand around the rock, pulling it back towards him. "Sorry. It's dumb."

Suki laughed, reaching out for the rock, "No." She took it into her gloved hand, looking it over with her big blue eyes.

He was feeling very unsure about him self as she started turning the rock over in her hand and inspecting it carefully. Zuko watched her intently, still unable to read her reaction.

"Like I said, its dumb."

"Its wonderful." She whispered to him, pulling it close to her body. "Thank you, Zuko."

His ears perked up, a smile on his face. "You like it?"

Her blue eyes shone as she looked into his eyes, a wide smile on her face. "It looks just like a fan."

Zuko nodded, his hear blood red. "Thats why I wanted to give it to you." He ran his fingers though his hair with a soft smile. "I'm glad you don't think its dumb."

"Why would I think it's dumb?" Suki ran her thumb one of the veins of gold. "I mean you went out of your way to give me something that made you think of me? Why would I not think it was sweet?"

Zuko frowned softly, watching her look over the stone. She was right of course; it was sweet. Just like it had been sweet last time. His eyes went to her face, looking over every detail of it that he could pick up.

This was hardly the first time he had seen beauty in Suki's appearance, those big eyes being the anchor of her fair face. It was not just her appearance or kindness or strength that drew his attention to her now though.

He could not put his finger on what it was though.

"I love it Zuko."

That word, that was it: Love. It hit him like a large boulder, sending his brain stumbling back in his head. It sent shock waves though his body, making him shiver and sweat.

Zuko was in love with her: with Suki.

"Are you ok?" She could obviously see the shock in his face.

He tried to stop his voice from shaking before he talked, taking a deep breath. "Yes. I'm fine." His eyes were wide as he looked at her; the girl he was in love with, the girl who was his friend's girlfriend. "Just… tired." His shoulders raised and lowered in a soft shrug.

Suki gave him a warm smile, "You should go to bed then."

He nodded softly, biting his lip. "I will." He spoke softly, "I will see you later." He went to leave, his eyes still wide.

"Are you sure you're ok?"

He nodded, looking back at her, "I missed you…" He whispered, "While I was gone."

The look in her eyes made his heart hurt. He had never wanted anything more in his life than to rush to her, his arms going around her waist and his lips to hers. His heart told him to go, but his mind fought to keep his feet planted on the ground.

"I missed you too." She breathed, holding the yellow rock over her heart.

He knew that if he did not walk away now he would do something he would regret. He nodded at her softly and turned on his heels, walking away from her.

Suki watched him go, lifting the rock up to her mouth. She pressed her motionless lips to the rock as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

"That went well." Ty Lee pulled herself from her hiding place amongst some curtains.

Suki glared at her, removing the rock from her lips.

"No really, it did." Ty Lee laughed a little bit, reaching out and taking the rock from her. "Very sweet of him." She turned it over in her hands, inspecting it, "That's how he is you know, always sweet in his own strange way."

Suki reached out and took the stone from Ty Lee. "Yeah." She held it close to her body, thinking that she would never hold anything as dear as she did this simple yellow stone.