Hello! Guess who is back?
The morning after is silent, almost as if everyone on the palace knew the internal turmoil inside each of the war heroes.
Aang waited outside Katara's room, unsure of entering. He decided knocking twice. Soon footsteps could be heard coming towards the door. He gulped, nervous of the chat they would have.
"Oh! Good morning Sweetie!" Katara said approaching him with a hug, warm and full of love. Aang returned it smiling, easing him a bit.
"Good morning" Katara broke the hug and looked at him, taking his hand to walk towards the dinning table. Aang took her hand but stood still, stopping Katara. She turned around with a confused expression.
"We have a pending conversation" He said nervously, approaching her cautiously. She nodded and entered her room, inviting him too.
Her room, as expected, was tidy and well organized. A small table on the side of the room where tea used to be drank was the best place he thought the conversation could take place without being improper on her own room, she sat across him and smiled.
Oh how he melted seeing her so happy. After all, she deserved it.
The only worry resurfacing, is if he is fit to make her the happiest she could ever be.
"I'm sorry" Katara said, her gaze saddening. Aang's heart ran superfast, his worries visibly on his face.
"Why?" He managed to say before hearing her.
"I should have told you the moment I saw Sokka was acting this way, now, everything seems to be way worse than the morning after Suki visited us"
Aang concentrated on her voice but today, he seemed to have problem focusing on what she was trying to explain.
"Sweetie, is not your fault how Sokka manages his relationships. He is older than us." The monk tried reasoning with her, acknowledging how her maternal instinct flows naturally.
The waterbender blinked, her hands from being visible she put them on her skirt.
"I said that three sentences ago and was saying how Suki was irresponsible on her choice of…men I guess. It smelled like a mess since the beginning."
His name reminded him the way Suki talked to her girlfriend, the insinuation that maybe…maybe ..
"Katara" Her face turned as serious as his voice, waiting for his answer. "Is there something between you and Zuko?"
"Of course not. I thought we already solved that" The avatar's face was unconvinced, an eyebrow rising.
"I thought so too." He replied mentally calming himself. "Focus on the problem, not on the feeling" He thought to himself, awaiting her answer.
"Are you implying something? Have I not been clear enough of how I feel toward you?" Her anger was visibly on her voice. Of course, she was doubting her.
"Katara" He said again, with a neutral tone "Are old feelings resurfacing again? Between Zuko and you?"
She opened her mouth for a split second and then her frown grew, ready to fight for her honor.
"Is this because of what Suki said?" She said angered.
"Yes" Aang replied with a bit of resentment on his voice.
Her fist trembled of anger, turning away from him with fresh tears on her eyes.
In truth, Katara felt jealous. What did Suki had that made Zuko go crazy on her? Was it that she was close to him? How fearless she is? She felt he understood Zuko better than anyone, they even confided in each other and he saved her life.
"I'm waiting" His voice sounded defeated.
She was happy with Aang, she was in love with him. Maybe the brief spark she felt between her and Zuko was imagination or the adrenaline of her trip with him. Would she have made the same mess Suki was doing in their small friendship?
"Not old feelings." She finally said, a weight falling of her shoulders. Turning around to face him, she could see his guard up.
"Since when?" He said breathing louder then he normally would. She knew what this was, he was controlling his anger.
"Aang, it's…it's stupid. I put myself in Suki's shoes and…"
"And your realized you could choose him?" He finished, standing up and wiping the tears from his eyes.
"NO. No, no." She answered fast, getting close to him and placing a hand on his.
"Then? What is all of this?" He asked with confusing on his voice, lowering his guard again, trying to see the bright side of the situation.
"I…My ego felt hurt at how..how he didn't even fought for me. We are in this situation where his crush or love, still not totally convinced, made him fight my own brother for her."
"Our friend, Suki, sure" Aang completed her sentence, frowning.
"Yes. Suki. I would have already shot down Zuko so this situation hadn't escalate as how it did with them" she finished, her own insecurity showing.
Aang looked at her for a long time, at her vulnerability of wanting to feel like a teenager in love, unable to do being at war since she was a child. He saw this need of her to feel loved and nurtured.
It was similar at how he felt towards her, but, he didn't want her only for that. And now, he didn't knew how he needed to feel.
Katara kept her gaze, waiting for an answer. It was stupid and something she wouldn't admit it, jealousy of having the option to turn down someone else. In this same moment she recognized the issue at hand.
She felt secure on her relationship, as if pinning for someone else wouldn't have consequences. She could see it on his face too.
Deception.
"The watertribe seems to be full of players huh?" She thought with shame.
Aang looked at their hands, placed her hand to the original place and bowed, signaling he was departing.
"I'll see you at the dining room" Aang said roughly, suppressing his sadness. Walking towards the door and leaving Katara alone with her thoughts.
She sat again at the table, nervously playing with her hair. "I should have told him what he meant to me" she thought, wiping a tear off and standing up, grabbing her pouch in the process of running at the door.
He opened his eyes and immediately grunted. His arm had fallen asleep.
Trying to move his arm caused someone to moan annoyed. He looked at his companion and blinked hard. Suki was at his bed again because Sokka made something…again. With his free arm he subtly shook her by the arm, trying to wake her up.
Her eyes slowly opened, still a bit bloated from last night. Blue and gold meeting, with their pupils dilatating.
"Uh…it's morning" he said, making her muffle a laugh.
"I think so. Sorry about your arm" Her tired voice made him notice she didn't sleep as well as he thought.
"Are you still tired?" He asked sitting on the bed, trying to give her space.
"A little bit" her tone didn't change "Is more mental than physical the exhaustion" she continued seeing his face.
Zuko looked at his bodyguard with sadness. Of course she would run to him, destiny pulling it's strings to mock at the situation of having a forbidden desire with her. At least, he felt happy she could feel safe in their place.
Coming out of his thoughts, he saw how lost she seemed in hers, also looking at him. He didn't shy away from her, smirking. She continued like this until Zuko booped her nose with his finger. She blushed and sighed, sitting on the bed.
"Aren't you thirsty?" He asked with concern, remembering the headaches he used to get after being banished.
"Maybe, I'm not sure. I just feel dizzy" she answered, searching for her hair tie. Zuko handed it to her, watching as she prepared herself for breakfast. She lazily stood up and glanced at him, making a slight reverence.
"I can send you to another part of the palace if you don't want to see them" He said looking at her. She shrugged.
"I'll see you at the table" Smiling, she walked towards the door before stopping and redirecting her steps to the painting. He sighed, asking himself how lost and vulnerable she had to be to realize maybe, she would be better without his friend. Standing up to place the portait back to it's place, he started his morning routine.
Toph sensed Katara down the hallway, running towards her.
"Morning Sugar queen! Where's twinkle toes?" She asked focusing on the lack of the avatar in sight, knowing how they were bonded by the hip.
"He tried to search for Suki" She lied, and Toph punched her for it, making her clear she knew. "HEY! Alright…we had a fight. I'm giving him space"
Toph mumbled, making Katara roll her eyes. As both girls walked towards the main dinning room, a cheerful scream made both of them stop. Ty Lee cartwheeled her way to them while Suki ran after her.
"Morning!" An enthusiastic hug from Ty Lee towards both girls was well received by Katara and reluctantly by Toph. Suki giggled and nudged them to walk at the table, as they were already late.
"Seems everybody woke up late today" Katara said chatting her way with Ty Lee. Toph and Suki walking side to side without saying a word to each other.
Suki still felt heavy and hurt by their actions, but figured could be a karma as that was what Sokka might have felt the moment he found out. She crossed both arms behind her with her hands grappling, as to suppress the urge to punch Toph. Of course she would lose that fight, but none less, she would fight.
Toph could feel how erratic Suki's heart was and how mad she could probably be at her. She also felt bittersweet at the events of the day before, sure, one of her most impossible dreams came true...but the rush and adrenaline quickly faded, not worth the anger of her almost big sister figure.
"Morning Suki" Toph said in her normal tone, not showing remorse and feigning ignorance.
"Morning" the warrior replied, discipline favored the older girl in this political matters. Her will enough to calm her and not show any emotion towards her.
As they entered the room, Sokka and Aang were already playing with some of the napkins laid on the tables, trying to make figures and a fortress. Both stopped and greeted them, Sokka's forehead sweating from seeing Toph and Suki close.
Each one sat on their sits, funnily, Suki and Toph sat side to side of him. Talk about awkward. Katara and Ty Lee continued chatting while Aang looked at the trio suspiciously, trying to solve the riddle of why Sokka suddenly was a shade lighter, Toph being too focused on the fine dinnerware and Suki inspecting him too.
"How did you sleep Sokka?" Suki turned to face him, making her best to control her anger and deception.
This however, unnerved him more.
"Not so well, if I'm honest. Want to hear it later?" He said looking at her guiltily, trying to reach for her hand below the table.
"Something happened between them" Aang thought. "I'm sure it has to do with yesterdays intervention"
"Sure" Suki answered, taking his hand and gripping a bit too tight for comfort. Sokka yelped and Suki let go of his hand, turning to face Aang.
"Hello" she smiled. Aang's topic seemed a bit controversial, deciding instead to steal her from Sokka to properly chat and hopefully, guide her to a conclusion. He disliked how Katara seemed so harsh with her, without knowing completely Suki's side.
"Hello Suki" he replied with a little bow, returning the smile. Zuko hurriedly entered and sat on the table.
"I'm sorry for my delay, as you can see, time flies and I got distracted" He admitted while raising a hand to the servants, their signal to start serving the dishes.
A loud growl came from Sokka's stomach, making everybody in the table laugh, a small giggle coming from Suki's mouth, her guard down for a second, a second both admirers saw. A sad smile could be seen in her eyes as she started eating, knowing the more she had in her mouth the less she could talk or be asked answers.
Zuko saw all the dynamics in the table: The bittering between bending techniques with Aang and Toph, tips and stories of their cultures between Katara and Ty Lee and the silent tension between Suki and Sokka. This made him a bit sad, how those two at times, would serve as an example of a healthy relationship.
After eating their desserts, Toph's head turned towards Suki, addressing her openly at the table.
"Suki, may I talk to you after we finish eating?" the teenager said, trying her best to be neutral. Suki's mouth full of the dessert mirrored Sokka's own, a giggle escaping Ty Lee who was not informed yet of the events that occurred the day before.
Both warriors gulped and looked at each other, almost as if they talked in their own minds.
"Sure? Are you okay?" Suki also asked with a neutral voice, trying to keep at least one problem to herself. Toph could sense this and continued their little plan.
"Yeah, it's the battle plan we said would do, remember?"
Of course, the battle plan they made in less than 3 hours in case an assassin infiltrated on the palace. Nobody but them knew that in fact, it was already done.
"Right, we should finish it" She said with determination, standing up and excusing herself from the table, while Toph only raised her hand to say goodbye. Zuko and Sokka exchanged confused looks, something that alerted Aang and Katara too.
As the girls walked out of the room, Sokka spoke first to the fire lord.
"Zuko, can we…."
Silence filled the room. For the first time, without shouting, both boys were awkwardly looking at each other. Zuko knew this, standing up to go with him towards the pond. Sokka smiled towards Katara, mouthing a "I'll be okay" while walking away, worrying her.
Ty Lee, Aang and Katara only looked to each other, unsure if they should continue.
Dismissing his servants, Zuko and Sokka sat underneath the tree, their favorite place to talk it seemed to the watertribe boy.
"So…how are you doing?" Zuko asked remembering his condition. Sokka smiled, remembering the first time they talked like this. On the way to the boiling rock to save his father.
"I'm a bit better, the only setback seems that I make horrible decisions" He answered playing with a leaf on his hand, showing his nervousness. Seriously, how could you tell a friend what he was about to do?
"I'm glad about that…I mean, of course talking about your health, not your decisions" The firebender corrected himself, not wanting to show just how much he knew about his relationship with her….her friend.
Suki still made his heart light and his mind fuzzy, a soft spot that perhaps, he would never get over it.
"I'm here to talk about you and…and Suki" Sokka said, properly facing him. Zuko nodded in affirmation, waiting for him to keep talking. "I'm sure she has told you our problems and mostly, the mistakes that caused them"
"You caused" Zuko thought. He nodded in affirmation, listening to him.
"Yesterday was chaotic and…I want to apologize. From punching you in the ball room, for screaming that you'll never be my friend…I'm sorry."
"I forgive you, I shouldn't have done that either. You were with Suki and I should have respected that. There's no excuse for my actions. I'm sorry too" Zuko finished, his golden eyes filled of regret and sadness, similar to his friends sapphire eyes.
They stared at each other, a small smile forming in the dark skin of his while opening his arms. The older boy obliged, hugging him. Friendships with lasting bonds are scarce in their times. Pulling away, Zuko couldn't let the opportunity slip out, waiting for a proper explanation to intercede by him,
"So…are we…friends?" A hint of hope hid as Sokka spoke those words. Zuko nodded and raised a fist, which Sokka happily mimicked.
"Now…can you explain why, while on a break, you were making out with Toph?" Zuko imposed, a tingle of bitterness on his tone.
Sokka's expression fell to happiness to shame, lowering his head.
"I'll explain" He started, preparing himself to another chat similar to the one he had with Aang.
Suki leaned on a wall while Toph played with her meteorite bracelet.
"Toph, if you want to say something I recommend you say it, I don't have a lot of time before having to go back to guard Zuko" the warrior said unable to face her, they were friends but right now, she doubted it. How do you react at watching your weareonabreak boyfriend and your younger friend making out?
The prodigee gulped loudly, showing a vulnerability she doesn't often show. A sign of regret it seemed to Suki.
"Suki…I'm sorry about yesterday" Toph said in a low voice, lowering her head. Seeing her so…expressive made Suki paid more attention to her.
"I knew you liked him…but I didn't knew you would do something like that"
Toph's heart felt as if had been punched. She wasn't so sure of why, Suki and her weren't so close as Katara and her were. The deception in her voice hurt her more.
"I'm not good at apologies but…please, listen to me without interrupting" Toph tried to compose herself to explain, Suki was not so pleased with her order.
"Sure Ms. Beifong, anything else you want me to do?" She replied with sarcasm. Toph's young features saddened, remembering how in the social events older ladies used to pass by their tips to steal husbands and how unconsciously she used them.
"Suki, I'm your friend, please"
She could feel Suki's heart racing, probably of grief. Both of them were similar at hiding their emotions and dealing with them. Suki's frown was present but inside she felt betrayed by both.
"Alright" she managed to say, sitting on the ground.
Toph explained all the journey of how she met Sokka and the gaang and the moment her crush grew to yesterdays events.
Suki listened to her. They were all teenagers, hormones, of course one day everything would blew. She felt bad for her, thinking her crush was gone. She was younger than them and when talking about love, was even more noticeable.
"So…I'm swallowing my pride. Suki, please, forgive me. Forgive us" Toph said with her eyes full of tears.
Seeing Toph cry was as rare as seeing a fox. Close to impossible. Suki closed her own eyes, trying not to cry. She could understand her, her reasons and why she did it, but Sokka? Who took advantage of who?
"If…If I could change anything, I would have and…and not be another barrier between you and Sokka and…"
Suki hugged her, a bit to tight. Toph cried on her chest, the guilt of her small experiment and it's consequences were present in her mind, making her unable to sleep. The older girl patted her on the back and let her be.
"I forgive you" Suki roughly said, fighting her tears and wails of pain from inside. She would have time to process all of this after. Toph could feel the truth, calming herself. "You're not the only one who has fucked up"
Toph cleaned her face and listened to the older girl, a small smirk forming at the part where Zuko seemingly saved her from the Avatar.
"Nothing happened" Suki finished "In the morning, seeing him I thought very hard of what you told me….what if Sokka never came back? Would I have something with Zuko?"
"And what you concluded?" Toph asked concerned about it.
"That no, I would not be in a relationship with him. He is…really handsome, I can't deny that. Did I have a crush? Yes. But a crush and love is not the same for me and…Sokka is still the one who I love."
"Then it's set" Toph said "Tell Sokka that, I will act as a lie detector for both of you"
Suki laughed at her suggestion, patting Toph's head, receiving in exchange a punch on the arm.
"The problem is, I don't know if I could forgive him…he hasn't even apologized"
"But you did the same with him and…Of course he doesn't love me and I don't either" Toph interrupted.
"Well, how do you know? It was not the first kiss you both shared when I entered. You are really pretty and also the best earthbender in the world." Suki admitted a bit hurt. Toph grinned and blushed, sensing she was telling the truth.
"I'm sorry? The leader of the kyoshi warriors, the only one who has ever escaped the boiling rock alive and who now guards the fire lord is jealous of a Beifong?"Toph said with sarcasm, punching her again.
"Ouch! What's that for?" Suki yelped at the second one, a bruise probably in her arm already.
"It's how I and life shows love. Sure, Sokka's is pushing you away to be with Zuko, but, you are not letting him because? You love him and he needs you more than you need him. Why are you a mess when he rejects you? Because you care, not because you are weak, the harder the challenge the bigger the reward, am I right?"
Suki reflected at her friend's words.
"How are you so wise? You are only fifteen!" Suki hugged her, a quirk she was starting to show more and more.
"I'm the greatest, after all" She replied with a smirk.
"You want me to what?!" Zuko exclaimed shocked.
"Hey! I know you love her as much as I do and… she would be safe and loved like I would do. I can count on you on that" Sokka finished, his teary eyes telling him he was saying the truth.
"No. Sokka, stop. Listen to yourself" Zuko placed both hands on the boys shoulders "Listen to your words. You and Suki are meant to be together. Stop this nonsense. I'm sure you want to get better but…pushing her away is not the right path"
"Then what it is?! You tried to fight me for her, she runs to you when something goes sour, how can I beat that? She doesn't trust me anymore…"
He cried. He stood up and ran away from Zuko, Zuko closely trying to follow, but his armor slowed him more than the furs Sokka wore.
"Fuck" he breathed, calling a servant who hurriedly ran towards him.
Aang escorted Katara to the training grounds, where both saw Suki and Toph happily talking, unaware of the reasons they both were laughing.
Katara reached for Aang's hand, he let her take it, facing her.
"Aang, I love you" Katara said, her eyes bright as the sky reflecting the warmness and love she possessed towards him.
He smiled, raising their enterlaced hands and kissing hers.
"You are my forever girl" He cheekily said, making her giggle. "It was…hard to understand how you felt like that. It was similar to how I felt of the acolytes and all those fangirls that arose"
Katara laughed remembering their first fights after the fan group surged.
"Thank you, Aang" the waterbender said wrapping her arms on his neck. The times were he was her Aang and not the avatar were precious to both of them, enjoying their love and the travels around the world.
He caringly put both hands on her waist, pulling her close to kiss her. Sounds of cheers and "Go girl!" were heard on the back, turning around blushing to their friends who cheered on the background.
"If you let me" Aang said "I would like to have a date with you, drink testing some of the creations I remember from the temple"
Katara's face lit up, knowing more about his culture was some of the things she enjoyed. The joy was cut short the moment a servant ran towards them, panting and sweating.
"Avatar…my apologies for interrupting….Fire lord needs you and your friends at the room…"
The lack of breath on the servant made both of them nervous, Katara already signaling Suki and Toph to come close to them. The girls obliging with Toph launching them.
"What room miss?" Aang asked, worried.
"The watertribe representant, Mr. Sokka. It's urgent"
Suki's face went pale and was the first to run towards the room, scared of Sokka's wellbeing. The gaang followed closely, scared and unsure of how the chat between Zuko and him ended.
Oof. This darkening sure is a bitch. A bit of Toph/Suki bonding because I think they are one of the most underrated characters out together as friends.
Happy new year!