Aang escorted Katara to her room too, as she was still upset on how she acted. She had not only slapped Zuko and spilled irrational anger towards Suki, but also bloodbended her. Something she promised herself would never do again. If Iroh was right, she needed to address this to someone she knew she could count on.
Aang.
Katara opened her room and indicated him to go inside, which he followed immediately, sitting on the tea table.
"Do you want some tea?" He asked, fire from his hands already. She agreed and he started warming the teapot. Katara grabbed two cups and placed it on the table, readying herself to talk. She could also sense that Aang was not his usual self, unsure if it was because of the state he saw Suki in or because her actions, as multiple times during the day he looked beyond disappointed.
As the tea was made, Aang poured the water in the cups, sitting a bit tense and staring at Katara, both of them waiting silently for the other to speak.
"Katara, we need to talk" Aang said, putting down the cup of tea. Katara mimicked him, now rigidly sitting.
"I will answer everything" She said with humility, knowing for sure where this was headed.
"I know Sokka is your brother and care deeply for him, but I refuse to still be seeing as a stupid child by you" He said angered, something Katara hadn't seen in a year.
"Excuse me?" She asked feeling put on the spot.
"You like Zuko don't you? It's not only a crush or your ego trying to feel desired. It's Zuko" Aang said frowning, not tip toeing the issue. Katara gasped slightly before denying.
"I don't like Zuko! I used to.."
"Today didn't look like an used to, to be fair." He said crossing his arms in his chest. "Are you following into Sokka's path?"
"I will not tolerate you to disrespect me like this Aang! That was rude" She said standing up.
Aang sighed loudly, flushing his eyes. "I know, but you are not leaving me any choice Katara. Why are you stringing me along? I know you are not afraid of being alone."
Katara thought about it for a moment. She felt connected to a big loss with Zuko, both of their mothers were lost to the fire nation. He understood how revenge and hatred can blind one to the point of losing their core values and she didn't feel as a mother to him, a role she constantly played with most of her friends.
So she confessed.
"Aang, I'm tired of acting like a mother to you" She said looking at him, mad. "I…I don't want to hurt you, and I'm really angry right now"
"Why do you think you are babysitting me? Katara, I haven't ask you to do anything. I thought that was how you decided to show love." He said hurt, visible in his face as Katara got closer to him.
"All our travels before the fight…I always took care of you, I loved doing it. As I knew you trusted me and felt close to me. But sometimes…I just couldn't believe I..I tolerated it. Specially when all these girls were behind your toes" Katara said looking sorrowfull. Aang wasn't amused and kept angered.
"Yes, all the ones I rejected and they genuinely wanted to know about my culture. The dead culture I'm trying to revive" He said feeling upset as to why Katara shielded herself.
"Yes, and when Zuko showed interest in me I…I don't know Aang. I didn't feel the same as it did when I first met you. I constantly looked at you as my little brother…"
"But you didn't want me gone. You wanted everything for you." Aang said standing up too.
Katara noticed how his growth spurt was active, as he was now the same size as Sokka. It still made her angry how he dismissed her feelings. And it was not the first time.
"Aang. Stop, seeing me, as, your, property" She said, keeping her angry face in front of his. This took him by surprise.
"What?" He now asked, confused "I've never…"
"Of course you wouldn't see it! I am Katara. I am not only the avatar's girlfriend. Or first girlfriend to some. I am a person, I have necessities. You want to know what attracted me to Zuko? He listened to me, that is probably what Suki likes about him too!" She screamed, suddenly feeling more and more angered.
Aang looked at her in shock, but somehow, he had feel it was bound to happen. He sensed all of them were stuck in a certain state in life, him being the Avatar wrapped him in a whole where everybody has to listen to him, needs to do what they are told and respect him.
A romantic relationship was not like that, and that was why Katara tried to get more alone time with him. To be with him and not the Avatar.
"Katara… Why didn't you told me earlier?" He said surprised and ashamed.
"Would you have listened? You were to busy with the fanclub, the politics and trying to keep Suki and Sokka together" Katara said tearing.
"I…I'm sorry. But that doesn't justify you pinning for our friend. You should just…" Aang stopped unable to continuing talking.
"Just what? Broke up with you? Of course I want to make our relationship work Aang!, but you don't believe me. You rather keep thinking I'm pinning for Zuko" She said, while Aang frowned.
"You are lying. I can feel it" He said looking at her tearfully. "Stop lying Katara. Be honest with me and yourself"
Katara frowned, crying of impotence.
"Okay Aang! What do you want me to do to fix this?" Her voice was broken and she was shivering, Aang felt angered and didn't know what he wanted her to do.
"Hear yourself Katara. You can't like two people at the same time. Not with the same intensity. There is nothing wrong if you actually come clean" He tells her breathing heavily, again, controlling his anger.
"Aang, I'm telling you: I did have a crush on Zuko. There is a soft spot in me for him, it's the truth. I don't think it'll go away. Maybe I would have chosen him, maybe not. I don't dwell in it because…"
"Because what?" Aang asked crying, feeling as a second choice, as a prize for trying.
"Because I love you, you idiot!" Katara screamed at him, feeling dizzy and angry at him for doubting her. Aang cleaned his tears, unable to say the same towards her. He loved her, yes, but it was hard to ignore her crush sitting in the back. Zuko wasn't even pinning for her.
"I..I will see you tomorrow. I need to think" The avatar said walking away, not bothering to say goodbye.
"Aang wait" Katara plead, running to the door with him. He was unable to face her.
"It's not fair Katara, to be treated like a second option." He said gushing air towards her and gently pulling her on the floor so he could open the door. He got out and left her alone.
"Fuck" Katara said upset, crying. "I don't like Zuko anymore….How do I prove it…"
"I'm just not being myself Aang…I will always love you" She thought standing up and locking the door, opening a drawer to pull out a stone.
It had an air symbol in it, specifically made for his birthday. She knew it was uncharacteristic for a woman to ask for a man, but she couldn't care less. She did want to spend her life with him. She grabbed it and searched for paper and ink in her room, writing a letter to him.
Their kissing was slow and passionate, her hands carefully playing with his hair. Hours ago if you have asked Sokka about sharing the night with her on/off girlfriend, Suki, he would have flipped you off. Now he seemed more secure of what he wanted, unsure if this new determination was because of Katara's intervention or his own near-death experience.
They parted to take some air, both making long slow pants. The shot of adrenaline Suki is feeling makes her eyes harder to open, opting to stay that way until her armor starts hurting her hip. Moments ago she was washing her teeth and face, still repulsed with what she vomited, moments later they were kissing, ignoring her dirty clothes.
"Can I change now?" She asks, blushing of the position they ended up. He rolled to her side and sat up, a grin spreading on his face.
"May I help?" He said breathless, his chest heaving up and down.
Shivers went down her spine, involuntary holding a breath. Doing it made the armor pierce a side of her hip, so she relaxed, consenting with her head. She sat down with her back towards him, heavily blushing.
"Suks…" He said with more confidence "Are you shy about me…helping you?" He asked while unfastening part of the armor. She blushed harder, instead of answering she opted to put off her arms protectors and gloves. Sokka giggled.
"There, I can wait in the bathroom, or outside" He kissed her cheek and got off the bed, walking towards the door. Suki removed her chest armor and grabbed his hand. He turned around and saw the most adorable view: A timid Suki half dressed.
"Her kimono alone makes her look even prettier" He thought, blushing a bit. She got close to him and gave him a kiss. Just as fast a it started it ended, making him pout. Suki giggled at his reaction, prompting a smile from him.
"I'll tell you when I'm done" Suki answered, forming a small smile. Sokka's own got bigger, dramatically bowing down and standing up to leaving the room. As he closed the door behind him he exhaled, a dreamy look on his face.
Suki laid down on the bed and rolled around, madly giggling. She then exhaled, standing up to get her nightgown.
She grabbed her usual one, a silk blue kimono. It made her feel at home, and it was the most "royal" one she had back at home, being a gift passed from her grandmother to her.
Home. What was home now? She involuntary thought of Sokka, both of them playing in the morning and spending way too much money on the food. Sparring in the backyard and stargaze, even dance a little bit!
"Better get ready before Sokka falls asleep outside" Suki thought getting out of her chest binding, carefully rolling it on her hands.
Sokka outside walked side to side of the aisle, feeling a bit guilty of his hormones.
"Should I say something romantic? No! She might feel is a bit too soon" He thought while walking "Or maybe should we… do a Haiku? I'm sure she will love it? It's a custom of earth kingdom citizens after all"
Bump. His trail of thoughts was interrupted by Zuko. Both boys composed themselves and coughed.
"So… what keeps you up at night Zuko?" Sokka casually asked.
"I was at the library. What are yo…" The fire lord interrupted himself after recognizing the door. A strained smile appeared at his face.
"I-I'm just waiting for her to chat!" Sokka explained himself, not trying to make even worse the situation. Zuko rolled his eyes and smirked. This made his brown skin a pretty pink, his protective side coming out. "Why are you by this side of the palace?"
"Because my room is on the end" He stated, the obvious to everyone but Sokka.
"Right" He uncomfortably said, looking down at the floor. Zuko walked by his side and placed a hand on his shoulder, taping it before continuing walking. Sokka exhaled, while watching his friend walk down the corridor.
Zuko walked with both eyes closed, biting his lip. It didn't feel right to him, he really wanted to visit her and talk it out but of course Sokka would be waiting for her. She pinned for the watertribe boy, for his friend.
Opening so he wouldn't fall, he saw the two kyoshi warriors waiting by the door, briefly greeting him. He returned the gesture, opening the door and getting as quick as he could without raising suspect.
He was supposed to be happy. Suki seemed to be happier with him, that was what he intended the first time he saw her break down. To see her smile.
"Maybe I should try it a last time" Zuko thought, immediately regretting thinking about it.
"Focus" He spoke to himself, opening the letter he had in his pocket. "Finish this and…then…we see. One step at the time" He said, walking to his table and sitting down.
Suki finally opted to let all her hair down, a bold choice for her. She showered and forgot for a moment that Sokka was tired too, from all the ordeal that happened. Approaching the door and gently opening it, she saw how he looked at the window, turning to greet her.
The moonlight that entered made the color of his eyes shine brighter than before in this lighting, she blushed at how starstruck his face looked.
"Come in" She said, completely opening the door. He sheepishly walked inside, standing by her side after the door closed. Suki smiled at him and took his hand, leading him to the bed. He followed without talking.
She pulled the sheets off and laid down, not putting off her kimono, and made space for him to lay with her. Sokka did it and turned to see her face, his own with a bright red. She lifted an eyebrow, curious of why he acted so surprised.
"Good night" She said, kissing the corner of his lips. He broke his trail of thoughts trying to kiss her back before realizing she had moved away, turning her back to him.
"Good night.." He answered whispering, slowly moving closer to her to spoon her. His arms surrounded her slender waist, a gesture that made Suki blush.
Afterwards the room was silent, but they could hear each other's heartbeats. Even if she felt tired, her mind was active at how close Sokka's body was to her own and Sokka tried controlling his imagination so he wouldn't be caught by his own body.
He still, pulled her closer. It was a while since they could sleep so peacefully, without something happening or someone interrupting them.
Hours passed and both fell asleep.
He woke up first, the glee of an amazing night by her side. With a new insight of what was off with both, he felt ready to go against anything. He saw her chest go up and down, her mouth slightly open and her messy hair and still, looked perfect for her.
Not wanting to be rude, he sat at the other part of the bed, smiling to himself. Sharing a night made wonders to his humor. As he reached for a hair tie, he accidentally push a book, waking her up.
She stretched on the bed, loudly yawning. Her blue shone brighter than the purple in her eyes with her kimono, who was now semi loose. Sokka looked with and adoring look on his face. She smiled, standing up too.
"I can wait" He offered, sitting down again on the bed.
"Thanks" Suki said going to the bathroom, closing the door.
He felt butterflies on his stomach. Were there actual butterflies? "That's stupid. No way I'm feeling all nervous and gidity after knowing her for a year and a half" he thought to himself, trying to comb his hair and style it.
The door opening startle him, looking through the mirror at Suki approaching him. She hugged him form behind, taking a deep breath.
"Are you okay?" He asked with worry, placing his hands on hers. She let out the air, showing her face at the side of her arm.
"I'm fine. I'm just…" She paused, thinking about the choice of words. "Calm"
He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue talking. She just stared at him. Staring at him was easy for her, he grew to be a really handsome boy. All the meat and fighting was showing on his body, the innocence and calm demeanor could be seen on his eyes.
He let go off her hands and turned around, hugging her.
"I was scared. I thought I lost you…" he whispered in her ear. She shallowed, hugging him tighter.
"I was too. Why did you wrote those letters? Mysteriously leave us and tell Zuko he was going to take care of me?" She couldn't hide how hurt she felt after hearing, again, about his suicide attempt in Katara's letter.
Sokka sighed, only hugging her tighter. "I…" he couldn't think of any reasonable reason he would take all the time to plan his suicide attempt. She felt it, and continued talking.
"How could you be so okay with leaving us? You said forever, in the tent. We promised it." Her voice was firm until she talked about their promise, her pitch going higher and her body trembling, betraying her determination of knowing his intentions.
"Suki….I should have leaned on you. But… you didn't trust me. I didn't want to bother you with my guilt and feelings." He said, pulling her apart from his chest. She was biting her lip and her eyes were wider than usual, her signal of nervousness.
"I would rather have you here, talking to me, than…than seeing you again like that" She emphasized the last word, her eyes looking at the floor rather than his face. He cupped her cheeks and made her look him at his eyes.
"I promise that won't happen again. Never. Not by my own hand." He said, determined to make her feel safe.
"I can deal with it, with all of you, not only the goofy, sarcastic, meat lover Sokka. Also the darkened, broken and sad Sokka. It is still you and I love you." She said touching his waist, a hint in her tone of compassion.
He gazed in her eyes, now glossy from all the emotions that were ignored. He felt bad for scaring her like that, he was speechless, unable to thank her for all the effort.
"I really do…I want to protect you. Help you, I'd do anything for…"
He stopped her in the old fashioned way, with a kiss. She pulled him closer, repressed tears falling down her cheeks. They indulge in the passion the kiss conveys, pulling apart to keep talking.
"Thank you" He said, caressing her cheek. "I was afraid of losing you too…Everything I tried to do didn't work until we apologized" he said, pressing quick pecks on her lips. She responded to his brief kisses, instead of talking.
Until the pecks turned into kisses, and the kisses took longer turns before breaking apart. The bed wasn't too far from them, they both made small steps towards it, Suki falling on her back and Sokka on top of her. Last night he only had a small make out session, building more desire to pleasure her.
What better way to pleasure her than to focus only on her?. He smiled in the kiss, making Suki grunt in curiosity. His tongue slipped in her mouth, yearning for more intimacy. She consented, throwing her own arms behind his back, not wanting him to pull apart. They spend minutes over there, the desire that flooded both making their bodies warm…so warm Sokka tried to pull off his shirt. Suki momentarily broke the kiss to help him, admiring his physique in the process.
He grinned, flexing and winking at her. She laughed slapping lightly his arm. His eyes went to playful to hungry, attacking her again. Kissing the corners of her mouth to her neck, biting and sucking without a care.
"S-sokka!" Suki moaned, her pale face red. He went to one side of her neck to the other, she helped him moving her head to the opposite direction he desired.
"Yes?" He said between kisses, licking lightly where he had just sucked.
"Don't make it too obvious" The warrior told him, her blush increasing.
"They already know, besides, your armor covers it" He continued giving her hickeys, turning Suki on even more. She moaned huskily, turning him on.
One of his hands slowly went to open her Kimono while the other one firmly grabbed her breast. She yelped at his touch, but kept still, waiting to be naked for him. Opening it, his mouth immediately went to her breasts, her body responding to his stimulus.
She wanted him, badly. She wasn't sure if she was ready for a full relationship, but her body didn't lie, it had already remembered how he touched her and how good it feels when it's him the one who does it.
Sokka traveled down, from her breast to her stomach, stopping just before her mount of venus. He blushed brighter at seeing she wasn't wearing any type of undergarment. She seductively smiled at him, winking. He giggled, feeling lucky. He completely kneeled in front of her, making her sit with a dazed look, observing every movement he did.
He opened her legs slowly, his member wanting to explode at how slow the process was taking. They locked eyes, their breaths hitching at the intimacy. After Suki feeling completely exposed, she shivered, seeing how he got closer to her without breaking eye contact.
Soft kisses in her legs, going up slowly there. He licked and sucked softly, in contrast of how he attacked her neck moments before. She only notices that her mouth was briefly opened when he saw Sokka lick his lips.
Than she couldn't hold her voice for her dear life. His mouth was slow and tempting all around her vulva, unable to close her legs as Sokka held them open.
Multiples "Sss" and "Kss" left her mouth, as the time passed her breath kept getting more rushed. He was so happy to please her, help her relieve the stress and obviously enjoy hearing her say his name. He hugged her legs and buried himself deeper, longer and louder moans coming from her mouth.
In her mind, a flash of guilt made her stop her high as memories of Zuko doing something similar. She bit her lip and opened her eyes, looking at her lover. His eyes were closed, enjoying his work. She stroked his hair, his blue eyes looking up to her. He pulled apart and deviously smiled.
"Hold on" he said before running to the bathroom. Suki meanwhile laid down on her back, ignoring the last image and controlling her hormones. She heard how Sokka moved something from the cold container, unable to ask him until he kneeled again and forcefully pulled her towards his face.
"Sokka? Why did you…Hey!..OH…"
It felt weird at first, than the pleasure crashed down hard. The hot and cold contrast made her even more sensitive, also helping he knew how she liked to be pleasured. This new combination made her see stars, moaning without control.
He felt proud of it, as her reaction was even better than what he expected. Her hands grabbed chunks of his hair and pulling them, a bit awkward but enjoyable to him.
"Sss..k…a…" she tried to speak, the glee in her voice notable. He continued doing that.
"S….a…Sokka!" Her legs trembled, pulling him harder with a loud moan after it. He succeeded, smiling before cleaning her. She focus on controlling her breath, post sex bliss very present in her thoughts about his wolf warrior.
She opened her eyes to see his lovely set of blue eyes admiring her. The redness in her face didn't help her feel less nervous about it, smiling.
"You look so beautiful" Sokka said, admiring her.
"You're not that bad either" She answered, a hand roaming trough his chest until a bulge got her attention. Her smile turned into a smirk, touching him with his clothes. His breath stopped, eyes barely open.
"Ssuki" He dragged her name, making her play with the elastic of his pants. He stopped her hand, opening his eyes again. "You don't have to if you don't want to…"
She hushed him, giving him a passionate kiss (and tasting herself in him) while her hand fully entered his pants, stroking him. Sokka moaned in her mouth, liking how her grip was always strong on his member.
He separated to grasp air, moaning. Suki tore his pants out, getting down on her knees. He observed in bliss, his heart beating so fast he thought would die from heart failure.
This was a good morning for both of them. As she took him in her mouth and sucked, he caressed her hair, trying to control himself from melting under her control. The obscene sounds in the room only made his head feel lighter, thanking the spirits for having her.
Suki's hands grabbed his hips, indicating him to go a this pace.
"Mm?" He wondered out loud as her eyes seductively answered for him. She wanted to play rougher.
Spirits, he wanted to marry her already.
Aang was still heartbroken about how their conversation ended. He couldn't believe Katara anymore, not without feeling played. He decided against to talk it with Zuko as involving him wouldn't serve for a insight.
"At least she didn't said she was confused" He thought as he prepared himself to go out to the dinner room. He opened the door and saw a blue garment in the floor. It had a ribbon carefully adorned around the box. He grabbed it and entered his room again, taking time to check it.
"I'm asumming this is from Katara" He thought opening the box, seeing a lone scroll next to a black bag. He read the scroll first.
Aang.
I'm sorry my feelings for you hadn't been as secure and firm as I should have let you feel. Never in my own sane condition I would have thought of pinning for somebody else while being with you. You have always been my first choice. The moment I noticed was back on Kyoshi Island, where a ton of little girls adored you. I have never felt jealous until that moment. Even if I felt more as a mother figure than a partner to you, I understand some of that comes to my own insecurities and our differences showing. We were both robed of something so precious: A childhood. A happy home. I understand you are properly upset after all my erratic acting, but even if I felt safe or as if my actions didn't have consequences (After all, when would you noticed if you didn't payed enough attention?) I want to deeply apologize.
This gift is a material way to make you feel my love anywhere you are. I would have asked you when you were a bit more older, but right now it fits as I fear of losing you.
I love you, Aang.
Katara.
Happy tears where on the Avatar, as he proceded to open the black bag and confirm his suspicions: It was an engagement stone. His air symbol carved in a beautiful amber stone.
"I do believe you know. Katara" He said to himself, his heart feeling hopeful for a new beginning in their relationship. Momo climbed in his friend shoulder and chirped, sensing this new hope in his heart.
"He does love me Momo!" Aang said to him while his furry friend only snuggled against him.
Aang walked along the halls before sensing the young earthbender behind him. He stopped to wait for her as she catched up, punching him in the arm as a morning greet.
"How did you sleep twinkle toes? I saw you entering Katara's room" She said laughing at him, in which he laughed at how dirty that might looked.
"Wish it was for that" He said blushing while Toph giggled. "We actually fought for what happened in the room between Zuko, Suki and her"
Toph suddenly coughed as if she was dying and shut up, unable to tell him something.
"I'm sorry" She only said awkwardly.
"It's alright. It was bound to happen, it was not the first time" He said to her with a smile, believing on what Katara wrote to him earlier.
"I mean, Katara was always attracted to mope boys, not a surprise. But hey, even I can see she is head over heel for you! So I wouldn't worry too much, maybe is just a platonic crush. I had one for Sokka" Toph casually said it, while Aang dropped his mouth shocked.
"Sokka? Our sokka?" He double asked while Toph giggled.
"Yup, that one" She said with easy.
"Aren't you hurt because…"
"Suki? Nah. Since I confessed to him about how I feel I realized it was more of a platonic crush, not love. You know? We are all attracted to people for different reasons. Not necessarily for a full blown relationship" She told him unlocking a memory he shared with Monk Gyatso.
An 5 year old Aang was sitting in a tree, looking below at the couple in the yard, two boys and a girl, who happily shared food in each others mouth. It was weird to him, even forbidden to think about people in other way that was not monogamous. Monk Gyatso noticed it and got closer to the tree to peek at what was keeping Aang so distracted.
"Why are they doing that? Shouldn't couples are…well, two people?" Aang asked confused, as that was one of the first things they told him.
"In other places perhaps. Love can come from anywhere and in different intensity. Sometimes, people can love more than one person without feeling envious of them" Gyatso explained, helping Aang get down from the tree.
"What?! I don't think I would like to share my future wife or husband" Aang said confused. Gyatso laughed.
"You can't choose who to love. You can only accept the feeling and work on it, constantly choosing to keep loving her o him once you found them. Some romantic relationships are not exclusive to two people, three or even four can live in harmony, as long as all the parties involved consent and share the feeling" Gyatso explained, opening his eyes at how diverse love could be.
"At least in my case, I don't think I would do it" He stood firm in his belief. Gyatso patted his head.
"And that's alright, you know what you want. Just make sure to always inform your partner, as they might share or not your points of view, and that's okay as long as everybody is informed and accepted it." Gyatso finished while Aang nooded.
"I'm sure I will present to you my future wife and babies!" He said happily hugging him, Gyatso laughed with him, hugging him back.
"Yoo hoo? Aang?" Toph said putting both hands in front of his back, which made Aang realized he had stopped walking.
"Toph, I'm an hypocrite. I should totally apologize" He said speeding up to meet Katara.
"Jeez, wait at least for me to watch you!" Toph said running, as both entered the door.
They got in the room and saw Katara and Zuko chatting with a book between them, Aang didn't want to keep making Katara feel as he was jealous of Zuko, so he sat next to Toph and resumed their chat.
"I wanted to try those flameo chips I saw on the street the other day" He recalled gesturing the size of the bag.
"Oh no! Good thing you are with a waterbender, those made Sokka cry the last time we ate them!" Toph said laughing, her laugh was contagious and soon Aang followed. Katara and Zuko sat down and looked at them with curiosity.
"So…I guess two specific people are missing today" Katara awkwardly said. Zuko laughed and reached over to drink water, imagining why they were late.
"Sweetie" Aang said to her, which make Katara's heart flutter. He smiled at her and flushed, feeling dumb and in love. Katara smiled back too. "Morning, I got your message" He said winking. Katara giggled and flushed more, making Zuko a bit uncomfortable, as he and Toph where forth wheeling.
"Can we already start eating? Please?" Zuko asked, waiting for the approval of his friends.
That was until Suki hurriedly entered the room alone, already ready to do her rounds of the day.
"I'm sorry, I overslept this morning" Suki lied through her teeth and Toph smirked, Katara already inviting her to sit next to her. Suki was still sore and cautelous of her. Not wanting to make a big scene she sat next to her and Zuko with a smile.
"Shall we wait for Sokka?" Aang asked her, not reading Katara's faces of not asking. Suki looked at them and laughed.
"I'm not sure, I have not seen him" Suki said with a smile. "It is weird, food is his life"
Toph suppressed a laugh with water, knowing well she was lying. Suki purposefully dropped a fork, while pulling it up she calculated how far her feet was from Toph's legs. It wasn't long.
"Ouch!" Toph screamed. Zuko's eyebrow rose at their attitudes, signaling instead for them to start eating as their meetings were going to be starting soon.
As the table around them served them food, Katara decided to make small talk with her friend, trying to get pass the bad blood they both had the day before.
"So…Sokka heh?" She awkwardly said, with a smile and big eyes. Suki gulped, with a forced smile.
"Yeah…" She just answered, trying to bring up something "Crazy right?"
"Totally. I mean, not. You both are so…compatible" Katara said now focusing to her plate, nervous and wanting to finish the conversation.
"…Thanks?" Suki said thinking out loud, before quickly correcting herself "Aang and you… I could totally see you in a few years with babies" Suki smiled at her, trying to form a new bond, even if she was still shaken of the bending.
"You did NOT say "Katara" and "babies" on the same sentence?" Sokka screamed from the doors, getting closer to the table. Suki laughed.
"B..babies?" Aang stuttered blushing, looking at Katara who was now standing up to fight with his brother.
"WHY are you snooping in other people's conversations?" The waterbender claimed angered, while Suki ate laughing. Toph decided to give a taste of her own medicine to Suki while the sibling argued.
"So Suki"
"Yes?" She replied with a part of the fruit already on her mouth.
"Did you and Sokka had make up sex?" She grinned while speaking, unable to hide her excitement in blackmailing people.
Suki almost chocked on her papaya, while Sokka shut completely up, pink creeping on his face. Katara looked at both of them and got even angrier.
"WHY is it okay for you to try and make babies and not for me? Double Standard!" She continued her point, while Sokka blabbered.
"We did NOT have sex, right Suki?" Sokka roughly slapped her back so the fruit would go out, which worked.
"N..no!" Suki said with her paint barely containing her blush.
"But did you do something sexual, right? Why were you so late this morning?" Toph pressed, while Aang just looked at the chaos laughing and Zuko kept eating.
"Why are you so interested in my sex life? Again?" Sokka decided to step in for Suki so she wouldn't die choking.
"So is that a yes?"
"Is not a no"
Suki shot daggers at Sokka, while he realized he clued them to their recent activities. Sokka blabbered and Toph laughed harder.
"I got ya! Dunderhead!"
Sokka sat down instead and ate his food, not looking up from his plate while Suki killed him with her stare. Zuko finished first, as he was not paying attention (or doing his best to ignore them) to their bickering.
"I am excusing myself. Suki, please come with us as soon as you finish. Take your time, we don't want you with half papaya still in your throat" Zuko joked winking, making her blush through her war paint and Katara scream laughing.
"I'm bout to go to prison" Suki muttered while eating her fruit, Katara making gagging noises by her side.
Aang escorted Katara to the library, where most of the past from the water tribe could be learned, the walk towards it was a bit tense until Aang decided to grab her hand, breaking the tension.
"Thanks for that" Aang said smiling, still not looking at Katara. Katara gripped his hand.
"It's my pleasure, I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too. You keep choosing me above everyone and everything, since the first time I met you." He said stopping the walk and facing her. "It's unforgivable of me to treat you as my property. I apologize"
"Apologize accepted." Katara said with glossy eyes, leaning in to hug him. He hugged her back, his heart feeling ready to take a next step, now knowing where they stood as a couple.
"Let's keep working for a better future" He said to her ear, spinning her around in circles. Katara giggled, feeling dreamy.
"I'm sure we will do" She said as he let her down. Aang's mind brainstormed until he remembered what day it was today. Spring festival, one of the main reasons they visited the fire nation.
"Sweetie, can you meet me later in the main room?" Aang asked her as he backtracked "I forgot I had that meeting" He said with an apologetic look. Katara nodded and kissed his cheek.
"See you later sweetie!" She said and kept walking to the library.
"I feel ready. This is my sign from above" Aang thought playing with the stone in his pants.
Ty Lee and Suki walked towards the meeting room, looking at any sign of spies or assassins inside, as they had opted to do it while they were protecting him on the court. Suki always laughed at their attempts, how could they had the world almost at their ruins but have such stupid ideas to reach the fire lord?
As they cleared the cost again, they made their last round before stepping inside by the backdoor, opting to follow the route at their secret passages. Ty Lee was happier than the day before, talking about how her "aura" was orange.
"So…yesterday Sokka escorted you to your room" She said wiggling her eyebrows, making Suki roll her eyes.
"Seriously, before anything was known nobody cared for us. Not at this rate" Suki said trying to brush her off. Ty Lee grinned and stepped in front of her.
"Your aura is orange Suki, do you know what does that mean?" She said seductively
Suki could imagine what it meant, but decided to let Ty explain it to her.
"Orange is a color close to sexuality" She continued talking with a smirk "And that could only mean one thing.."
"We did not have sex" Suki said immediately, knowing well that Ty Lee in that type of chats doesn't spill all the beans.
"But…?" She continued wiggling her eyebrows. Her stare was too much for Suki to handle, as if continuing to look at her might give away what they did so she decided to stare at the torch she had on her hand, blushing. Ty Lee gasped and then made a wide smile
"No!..." She said excited, grabbing her by the shoulder. This confused Suki as she tried to avoid burning her.
"No what?!" Suki answered confused. Ty Lee's grin only got bigger.
"He went down south didn't he?"
Suki's face went extremely red, even making her sweat. Ty Lee laughed and begged her to give her details of what they did in the morning. Suki walked faster trying to avoid the whole conversation.
"Fuck!" Suki said cornered, as she took the wrong turn.
"I bet that's what you yelled at him" Ty Lee said smuttily, grinning. Suki just shrugged, trying to ignore her insinuations.
Aang was preparing everything in his own head for his date with Katara. The necklace in his pocket was obvious of the direction he wanted to go for. It was time to make her know his love for her was real and that he respected her customs.
Fifteen was the legal age in the Water tribe civilization to marry. So months after he finally had the age, he decided to plan the design on the piece of jewelry. A date night in the city where the festival would take was perfect for him.
After meditating, he thought of probably asking her brother for approval, but that could upset her, after all she was not a little girl anymore. She can make her own decisions. Still, he wanted to share a happy moment with him. "He could use something happy in his mind after all the madness that went yesterday". Aang thought, walking outside his room and going towards Sokka's.
He almost flew for the eagerness to share the news. He knocked twice, hoping he was already hungry so they would grab lunch together. After minutes the monk worried, knocking again and calling him out.
"No answer…" He worried, forcing the door handle. His bed was as if he didn't slept on it. Everything was as the same as before searching for him, making him worry a bit.
"Why did you barge in twinkle toes?" Tophs startled him, making turn around and laugh nervously.
"I..I thought Sokka could be in danger, but it seems the room is untouched"
"Duh, he probably is in the reunion" She stated the obvious, smirking.
"Right…" Aang laughed, exiting the room with Toph. Both walked towards the main room, chatting about what their future plans where.
"I think I will stay here" Toph said smiling "I could use some free time from my own city, and I can train the Kyoshi Warriors even better"
"Well, sure you can aid them, and that can help you to avoid chi blockers" Aang continued, smiling at seeing his friend happier.
"What about you? We have 3 days left before leaving the palace and you going to the Northern tribe" Toph asked a bit curious, wondering if his invasion to Sokka's room had to do something with other plans he had.
It was obvious he was crazy for Katara, and she was too for him. He already has fifteen years, so it's a matter of time for him to propose.
"I… might ask Katara out" He blushed with a big dreamy smile on his face.
Toph laughed out loud. "You were already getting behind! When?" She asked as they reached the corner of the main room. "Good luck twinkletoes!" She screamed at him as he ran so he would be in time.
Aang was already waiting in the main room for Katara, not expecting to be out of the conversations this early but happy that Sokka opted to take the turn so he could go out on a date with his sister. He had forgotten he asked him before going to their own rooms the night before. As Katara approached him, he smiled and got closer, receiving her with a kiss.
"Hi sweetie, I thought you would be in the meeting?" Katara asked, her smile brighter as moments where they were alone are always welcome.
"Well, actually, your brother offered to stay in representation of the Southern Water Tribe and me, so I got off earlier" Aang replied, already wanting to ask her to the date.
"Oh, I forgot Sokka recently got involved in politics. So, where are we going today?" Katara asked clinging in Aang's arm. He blushed and replied before being too obvious he was excited.
"To the Spring festival. In about 3 hours. Might as well want to go off until we meet again at this exact point?" Aang asked while pulling away strands of hair from Katara's face. Katara lit up as he mentioned the Spring festival, something they missed last year as war was still in it's prime.
"Sure sweetie. I'll meet you here then" Katara replied kissing his forehead, making his thumbs play within themselves.
Katara walked away from him, giving him enough time to admire the strong woman who was considerate enough to let him be her partner. He sighed, fully in love. "I love you so much" he thought walking away, ready to box his offering to her.
The reunion got boring to him after a while, not respecting the authority Aang left him with. So he opted to wait until the topic of the Southern Water tribe was brought up. He played with his hands under the table until Zuko declared to move on from the fire nation. He looked up and saw a stunning blonde girl standing up.
Her eyes were that exotic shade: Bright blue-purple. Her pale skin resembled the snow on the north and her blonde hair was almost as white as the moon. He heard some of the people in the court snickering of how "the north tribe could let a girl come and talk for them" but Sokka smiled, after all, Katara knocking some sense paid off in the end.
"I'm here to discuss the agreement peace and pick up our broken relationship with our sister tribe, the southern water tribe" She elegantly said, and for a moment, Sokka stood up determined to represent his people and made them respect it.
"My name is Sokka, son of chief Hakoda. What's your name?" "And how did I not see you before?" he thought.
The girl repressed a smile as he paid attention to how she tensed her jaw. She stood even more straight than before and her eyes screamed determination to him: To be the strongest between the two.
"My name is Electra. Daughter of the first great commander of the North. Pleasure to meet you" She finished stretching her hand across the table to shake his. As they saluted, he noticed how tall she was, almost as him. They both sat down, the rivalry for dominance still present in the stiffness both showed to everyone.
Zuko saw how tense seemed the ambience after Electra talked. He couldn't really be drifting off thinking on how to break the news to Suki about their disease, so the exchange between those two was a good thing for him. He knew after all, that this was Sokka's first real political reunion.
Sokka prepared his priorities: Health, Food and Modernization. They both needed to be equal.
"Miss…"
"Call me only Electra" She interrupted, already asserting her desire to be seen as equal. "I like that" Sokka thought, continuing.
"Alright Electra. We have three topics to discuss. First and foremost, we need health supplies and healers down in the south. The raids the last war inflicted upon us affected most of the man, that are in urgent need for rehabilitation and medicine" He talked looking up from his paper, in which those striking eyes never left his face.
"Alright, under one condition: You need to let the people in the north patrol most of the goods that will be sent and our people be the one to distribute them in the South" She smiled.
Sokka thought it for a second, he even felt outmatched. "That doesn't seem too bad, I guess they are in their right"
"Sure" He replied vaguely. A royal servant passed them the agreement and the black pot of ink for them to sign it, making Sokka stand up and go close to where the scroll was put on.
Electra got first so she signed up the agreement, while Sokka waited he looked up to Zuko for some type of telepathic advice, feeling nervous of how he was being perceived. "This is going better than the war presentation" Sokka thought to himself.
Zuko mouthed a "Stay there" to him, in which Sokka agreed standing beside Electra as she finished her signature. Now being his turn he realized he doesn't have a formal signature at all. "Time to improvise" he thought mimicking the cursive Electra made.
As soon as he finished the scroll was taking of the table and the leaders from their cities stood face to face: Electra's eyes didn't have a drop of makeup, her eyelashes were as long as Appas fur. Her lips are painted in red, making the contrast in her eyes even more visual and she wore a perfume that Sokka thought was a bit too much for him. It was starting to make him feel sick.
"What's your second topic?" She asked without hesitating, the royal service already writing the treatment.
"We want.. food." He coughed at how strong the perfume smelled "Other types of food that is not meat."
"And how do you think we have managed in the North?" She said attacking him, already knowing how to perceive when her political adversaries wanted something. "We offer help but not paying for necessities that can be covered by a better organization in your resources"
This hit a nerve in Sokka, how dare she insult the way the tribe has hold itself after being shuned away from the north?
"That. That makes us go to point number three: We order more resources so our modernization can be faster. As you might know, the strongest waterbender in this time is my sister and war hero: Katara." He proudly said. Electra subtly raised an eyebrow, composing herself.
"And?" She said unimpressed. "We will not give you money."
"We do not ask for money, we ask for waterbenders so the city can come to life without spending money" He said wiggling his eyebrows and a smirk in his face. She was unphased, talking with sarcasm.
"And how do you plan to thank those waterbenders?" She asked, as Sokka oblivious to her sarcasm, answered.
"Well, of course we will thank them with a free stay and classes with my sister! The one and only Katara"
It was Electra's time to smirk.
"We refuse to cooperate with those conditions" She coldly said.
"What? Why?"
"That's not enough payment for my people and I will not expose them as cheap labor for the sister tribe" She replied crossing her arms across her chest. Sokka was fuming, noticeable on his frown. He was being outsmarted by a girl. Not that it hadn't happen before, but he liked to think he learned from them.
Zuko saw this and decided to intervene.
"I'm sorry Electra" Zuko said, earning a glare from her. "I know I'm not from the North. But I do know how my own country has had to do the impossible to repair the hundred years we hurt the others. If you wish to retain a bond and even be as one, I suggest listening to the Southern councilman so the agreements can come faster."
Electra turned back to Sokka, who was trying not to smirk.
"Thanks firelord Zuko for your suggestion on how to handle civil relationships. We still decline the agreement the Southern councilman is trying to come to" She replied without breaking eye contact with him.
"I guess is time to pull the "My sister revived the avatar" card" Sokka thought.
"Electra, have you been back from the dead?" He asked with a smile. She looked at him as if he was crazy, but replied.
"No"
"And, do you know princess Yue was only saved because she was touched by the moon spirit, right?" Sokka said with his heart in pain, remembering how sad it was that she had to return the favor.
"Yes. Princess Yue was brave and did her duty. Why is this relevant to the matter in question Sokka?" Electra asked, her hands on both hips.
"Katara revived Avatar Aang from the dead after being shot by lightning in the Avatar state"
Electra's mouth dropped before composing herself rather quick. She coughed and reconsidered his agreement.
"So are you saying Katara can teach our waterbenders how to revive people?" She asked with curiosity.
"If they are good enough to work and learn, than sure" He said stretching his hand to her, knowing it was an offer she wouldn't refuse. She smiled, admiring his skills and stories and stretched his, the scroll soon coming to the table as he signed first.
As the scroll was taken away from the table, one of the servants announced how soon the Spring festival will start. The reunion was called off by Zuko and soon they all left. Sokka noticed then how from the shadows Suki and Ty Lee followed the firelord, her beau not noticing him at all.
"Bummer" he thought following behind. A finger tapped his shoulder and he turned around to see Electra.
"Yes?" He asked, his political mask still on. She instead warmly smiled and did a small bow.
"Sokka. May we talk about your adventures as the Avatar companion?" She asked with a completely different tone, but still elegant talk.
"Uh, sure? What about tomorrow?" He asked warming a bit to her. He was so used to seeing the girls from below that seeing someone his size was new.
"Alright, is a date then" She said kissing his cheek. Sokka blushed as bright as he did when certain islander did that. He blinked several times before being able to mutter a word.
"Sorry I'm…"
But no one else was in the room. Electra was already gone.
"Suki is going to kill me" He thought after erasing the image of a beauty like Electra kissing him full on the lips. Sure, it was the cheek, but it was still too close to him!
He ran out of the room to get ready and get Suki out to enjoy the festival, maybe today wouldn't be the right moment to tell her the situation.
He waited for her outside her room, not bothering to change that much as his finest clothes were the ones he was already wearing. Bored he started thinking of why Electra was so attractive to him… and soon realized that her hair was almost as white as Yue's and her eyes were close to how Suki's looked.
"Exotic huh?" He said out loud to no one in particular.
More minutes passed before a shadow appeared at the other side of the room. He stretched out his arms and screamed happily
"Suki!"
And indeed, Suki rushed her pace to hug him pulling apart to plant him a kiss on the lips.
"Let me change real quick so we can go in time to the festival" She said before running to her room, closing the door and making him wait a few more minutes.
"So all of that was the only relevant part? Electra seems a bit stiff" Suki said while walking at the main entrance with Sokka. Sokka only nodded.
"She deemed Katara's classes as not worthy of a payment to waterbenders" He said sticking out his tongue mocking her, to which Suki laughed.
"It was going to be a bad decision if she didn't accept it" Suki said taking his hand in hers, making Sokka feel nervous.
"Yeah…" he only concluded, waiting for Toph to go off.
"So…North huh?" Suki said remembering Sokka's history with the princess. Sokka only nodded, not wanting to dig in deeper.
"Sokka?" A deep feminine voice talked.
The couple turned backwards to see Electra approaching them. The colors od her garments resembled Princess Yue in the play but in a shade of blue much darker. Her lips were still red but now her eyes got black eyeliner, making the purple pop out. Her blonde hair was in an elaborated braid that went down her lower back.
Suki was shocked at how pretty was, and saw Sokka was too, shocked to see her.
"Electra, are you waiting for someone too?" Sokka asked nervously, Suki only watched the interaction.
"Yes, but my interruption of your conversation. Sorry for interrupting it" She said addressing Suki "Was to tell you that a visit to the North Pole is going to be necessary to seal the deal between us sister tribes"
Sokka almost turned white at the thought of returning to the north pole again. Sure, it was bound to happen at some point, but it still felt too son for him, and he couldn't bear to leave Suki again alone.
"When are we going?" He asked
"In 3 days" She said with a smile. "We didn't have time to discuss it in the meeting, but as the travel is far from here, it is a requirement for you to come back and make an official statement"
Sokka gulped, Suki gripped his hand tighter and smiled at him.
"Okay. Thanks for the information. By the way! She is Suki, my girlfriend" He said without second thought, which make Suki blush too.
Electra looked at Suki and smiled.
"A pleasure to meet you, Suki" She said approaching her. Suki realized a second after it happened that Electra gave her a peck on the lips, making Sokka's face as bright as a tomato. "See you in three days than!" Electra finished kissing his cheek again, and leaving the couple confused.
They stood in silence for a while, processing what had happened.
"Is she…into girls?" Suki asked, still red.
"I…We don't ask those things" Sokka replied red face too. "Not fair she kissed you in that dress!"
"Why?" Suki asked skeptical "She kissed you in the cheek too. Is this a Water tribe custom?"
"Uh… not in the south, and not that I remember in the north. Maybe a new one?" He answered to her question, oblivious of the sarcasm.
"Right" She replied a bit annoyed.
"Oh! I mean, she kissed you first, before I got a chance to do it" He said gripping her from the waist and making her look up to him. Now that is a view he loves, Suki with her lovely cheeks blushing and her eyes big from the shock.
He kissed her before Suki got to speak, being interrupted by a loud "Oogies"
"Shut up Toph" Sokka said annoyed, while the earthbender flipped him.
"Hi Suki!" She saluted. Suki replied back and saw Aang and Katara approach them too.
"So… ready for the night?" Katara asked excited, not noticing how Aang was gazing at her.
"Yes, yes we are" Sokka said hugging her tighter, ready to finish a real date without disaster interrupting them.