"How much time do we need to wait?" Sokka asked angry to Electra, who had her serious political posture.
"Sokka, this is not a thing that in a few hours is resolved. Katara is turning around something big. Don't expect to go back home in the next week" She sipped her tea.
"There is nothing left to discuss! They just need to agree and that's it"
"As much as I would love them to only agree" Electra said rolling her eyes "They are proud and dumb, they don't want them to admit they messed up. Leave it to Pakku and Chief Arnook to make them admit it" She said kicking the chair beside him, startling him.
"Okay okay don't get too aggressive! I'll sit down" Sokka said finally sitting down and grabbing the cup in the table. "What will we do today?"
Electra looked confused "MM? Did I heard right?"
"Well yeah, I have nothing to do. Katara is with grandpa training. Want to do…an activity?" He asked grinning, Electra smiled back.
"Alright, what should we do first?" She asked, happy to spent the day at doing something else than freezing.
"Want to go on a ship and do the test?" Sokka asked excited, while Electra denied the request
"Not planning to puke on this particular coat, thank you. What about fishing?" She asked
"Please no, that was my job on the south and let me tell you how hard it is to catch" Sokka grumbled, leaning his head on the table.
"What about kissing?"
His head lifted up from the table, Suki looking lustful to him. "It's been a long time since I have done it" He blinked numerous times, cleaning his eyes to see if his mind was playing tricks on him. She was still there.
"Am I dreaming?" He asked to her, Suki tilted her head confused, serving him more warm tea. He sipped it immediately, burning his tongue. Looking back he saw Electra startled.
"Are you alright? You zoned out" She asked "Are you that afraid of heights?"
"Heights?" He asked with more confusion
"That's the point of skiing, you slide down similar with the penguins, but with two pieces of wood, finding balance" She said standing up and demonstrating the action.
"Oh, alright. Let's go, I thought you said something else" He replied standing up and getting out of the room, with Electra on his heels.
The road back from the market was heavier than she anticipated, after all, having the avatar by her side would probably meant that more people were inclined on giving them free stuff. Aang made a carrier for the food from earth and slid it until they had to get the train, were he lifted all of their bags.
They sat in silence, tired from walking around with all the stuff.
"How does it feels being in uniform again?" Aang asked breaking the ice.
"Amazing, I missed it like crazy" Suki replied as they both sat in silence again, unsure of how to continue talking. "Any word on Katara and the wedding?" She asked smiling.
"Oh, not yet. In these days a letter from them is to come back. Do you miss her too? I thought you both wrote to each other" He asked grinning, Suki looked suspiciously to him. "I already know you talk to Sokka too"
And her stomach dropped the moment the train stopped to their destination, the upper ring. Suki walked immediately grabbing as much bags as she could on her way outside. Aang giggled following behind.
"It's alright! That's why I'm the one giving you the letters. Maybe we were both wrong. If it makes both of you feel better…than at least we tried it" He said in front of her, while Suki blushed.
"You could say that. It's just…I don't know. So many conflicted emotions. The love for him doesn't seem to fade, ever, I think of him, I dream of him and…it makes me feel so so weak." She admitted, the frowning accentuated by the make up.
"Why? Love makes us vulnerable in some aspects of our life. It's normal to feel that way" Aang tried calming her down, while Suki anxiety increased.
"No, I used to feel like that until we broke up. Than… than everything changed for a worse turn. I used to think of him coming back, until he didn't. Then when we met on Ba sing se, and…all my emotions started to take control of me. Not like I used to be and that makes me angry" Suki reflected looking away from Aang just listened, sensing her heart rate who was crazy.
"It makes you mad that you lost control of your emotions after dating Sokka? Don't you think the war had something to do with it too?" He questioned, while sitting on the grass with her.
"Both of them. I expected to rot in the boiling rock, the day the word came by that the avatar perished…I thought Katara and Sokka did too. No more daydreaming, no more damsel in distress…until suddenly he showed up again, and the rest is history" Suki said contemplating a flower by their sides.
"So the answer is to take control of your emotions isn't it? It's not necessarily a bad thing, with bending it makes the attacks more powerful"
"When you do it properly, otherwise you doom yourself and leaves you exposed like me" She hugged her knees, looking sad "Maybe it is for the best not to think or hear about Sokka"
"Avoiding him won't make it go away either and you know it, I don't like to do it either, but sometimes the problems have to be faced straight on"
"How do you face something you don't know? I am needy, I am in love with him and I think he is not the only boy I might love" She said out loud before turning away, ashamed of herself.
"Hold on, Zuko? You like him too?" Aang questioned further "Hey don't run!"
Aang caught up quickly with Suki, dragging her to sit on the grass with their supplies to talk.
"I…I am not sure. He is so attractive to me and…he cares. He makes me feel an equal to him and doesn't let me babysit him until he really needs it. So…so sometimes I just…just feel a lot of connection with him. My tough girl cover is blown when he shows up"
"And Sokka?"
"Sokka…where do I start with that boy? He is so cocky, had this big boy attitude since the first time we met. After humbling him …the humorous, yet, dedicated part of him, complete with his big brain and goofy smile made me adore him, to the point where I completely fell in love…hard. Then I hated him, for making me lower my guard, for expecting him to show up again and pick up the broken pieces…for loving him and wanting to wait for him"
Aang only reflected on how she described his friends. Their attitudes and personalities were very different from each other and he could see how Suki would have liked them.
"I am going to tell you something Suki" Aang said grinning "Katara and I fought the other day because of Zuko, too"
"What?" Suki said shocked "Katara what?"
"Mhm. It came up because of what happened between you two. She acknowledged it, and moved on. Or at least I trust her to. Maybe that's what you need to do with both boys"
"I am sorry I caused that" Suki apologized, feeling more ashamed of the situation.
"I think it would have come up sooner or later, Monk Gyatso used to say that love is not usually exclusive and can vary in intensities" Aang explained calmly.
Suki looked puzzled, trying to still look what was happening inside her and her feelings "You can't love two people at the same time. It's impossible"
"I know. But you can love them in very different ways. Love is not always romantic, love can be ugly, lustful, taking care for the wellbeing of your friend, protecting. I know other cultures tend to be monogamous in how they form a relationship, so try your hardest to see the future, see how your relationship is, and maybe you can discover the nameless feeling"
Suki laid down on the grass, feeling the breeze hitting on her face as she recapped everything she had lived with Zuko. While shorter than the time she had spent with Sokka, it wasn't meaningless.
"Let's go, they will think something happened and Zuko is going to be panicking" Suki said standing up, putting her feelings aside as she picked up the groceries.
Aang smiled, noticing the concentration on his friend face. He made the muddy car to place the bags again and strolled along side her in silence, so she could acknowledge better her feelings.
The hours passed and Suki didn't have the mood to either cook or train, so she laid down on the bed waiting for Zuko and Aang to finish cooking for the evening. She first reflected on the firebender, closing her eyes and remembering the intensity and chemistry she felt hours earlier, to the point of almost kissing.
"He is hot, of course, he is a firebender" She smiled at the dumb joke, something that would made Sokka proud if he heard it out loud "But what else does he makes me feel?"
Her hands roamed against her skin, now visibly thanks to being on her kimono. The trails she made left a burning sensation, exciting her more than she would like to admit. The fierceness of how they touched, kissed and talked that night was something she didn't want to remember….and for good reasons.
It aroused her, the fingers touching every sensible part available to them. She stopped and sat instead, breathing heavily. "Lust. I like Zuko but…not in that way. I desire him but not for long term. That's shitty" Suki said feeling immediately bad for having thoughts naughtier than usual for him.
But yet, when was the last time she eyed a boy built like that. His ears always listened to her, maybe even paying back the favor of her listening to him every night when he had insomnia. "He is so wise, so centered. Yet…even if it's something more stable…my heart doesn't jump"
She laid down again, this time thinking of Sokka. He was gentler, more calculated and passionate. At least at first until she got used to him. Sweet talking and whispers in the whole time they danced, joking afterwards and adoring her body like a muse.
Even if Sokka was extremely handsome too, with his dark hair and skin, striking blue eyes and charming smile, the way he screams her name whenever they meet makes her heart jump and giggle. His charisma is unmatched and will to change for the better is something outstanding.
Her hands touched her neck, tracing the line where her betrothal necklace would be.
"Sokka…." She whispered feeling warm inside, familiar and comfortable. Then she frowned. "This is the same guy who left me to be sleep around and hope I waited for him to come back, how in Kyoshi I still love him?"
Frustrated, she hated how he evoked every good and bad emotion inside her: Love, pain, hurt, happiness, trust, anger. "He was even the reason I threw myself at Zuko, to forget him"
She opened her eyes not confused but disappointed. "The crabby lady was right, I love the boy who cheers himself of having tamed the girl who kicked his butt…and is witty, lovable and tries to protect everyone."
"Good decision Suki" She whispered sitting up, rolling her eyes. "Good one"
"Good what bombshell?" Toph asked smirking, startling Suki
"The door is there for a reason!" Suki screamed standing up
"You are dirty miss! I bet you thought about the muscular Zuko or the handsome Sokka" She mocked closing the door and launching herself on the bed, searching for Suki's legs to kiss them while the older girls rolled her eyes.
"Shut up!" She blushed, smacking the hands away from her legs.
"Seriously, what were you thinking of?" The earthbender asked, sitting down. "Sokka?"
"Yes, him. I think I will say yes" She smiled, touching her neck.
Toph's mouth and eyes opened, after smiling. "You will marry him?"
"I will. I am sure. No matter how hard it gets or how much destiny tries to play with us" Suki said proud, opening where her headpiece was, to it's side Sokka's necklace.
"Double wedding is it then! I don't want to dress fancier more than I need" Toph reprimanded, sticking her tongue out.
"You wish" Suki said sitting by Toph "You searched me for something?"
"Actually yes, I'm bored. Want to train your reflexes again? Your hand is getting better right?" Toph asked searching for her arm to hold. Suki gave it to her as Toph touched the scar that was still sensible.
"Sure, I could shake some dust off before returning. Seriously, I won the challenge against you only to be burned by a firebender"
"Even to the best of us happen" Toph tried cheering her up, gaining a smile "Of course it hasn't happened to me, as I'm the greatest earthbender ever, but it happens"
Suki punched her on the arm laughing. "Alright, let's go train outside, Aang will go full Katara mode if we break something in the upper ring"
"I am more than glad to break things up here, some makeovers could be of use on this ugly houses"
Sokka finally sat down on his table after skiing the whole day, his legs numb of pain from falling down numerous times. He ate a piece of beef jerky while reading other reports sent to him concerning the new city they would made and who would be the southern water tribe representant.
"Katara and I need to discuss both of this things" he said separating more letters already read, taking up the space for tomorrow to be brought to his sister just across the room. It was already dark and both needed to sleep in case they would be called again to the trial.
He eyed the weird seal in the last letter, his heart racing at the thought of being from Suki. He sighed, dismissing it and smiling thinking of Toph trying to write alone again.
The bad calligraphy and kiss at the end of the paper said other thing, feeling infatuated and missing her much more than before. He never thought the whole trip would really take him six months. They hadn't been completely without contact, but small things like this made him appreciate the time they had together.
But what he said earlier to her, the first time they reunited, he meant it. "I will follow her so both can be together, either representing the tribe on the Fire Nation or in this new city….and I want to marry her"
He goofily smiled at the last section of the letter, where her lips had sneaked a kiss. He pressed his own lips to that area, feeling better and an idea coming up to him. She had a proposal but no a betrothal necklace.
This letter was the sign he needed from above to do it. He stood up grabbing his boots, furs, a bag and his cub, dashing through the hall and stairs to get out of the place. The air in the night was calm, occasional breezes of air touched his cold face as he walked towards the outer side of the city.
He finally arrived to his safe place, where once he shared a timid kiss with his first love, Yue. He needed to do this, even if it was a lighthearted note of her acknowledging him, it also said that her hand was burned, and that woke up again his urge of protect her.
To care for her in the way he should have since the beginning. He knew marrying her wouldn't change much in the dynamic, but it would help him feel less anxious of losing her at all.
"I need to tell her I'm being serious about this" He thought as he entered the cave. A number of wonderful blue gems shone, similar to the one attached to his cub. Suki was not from the tribe, so he maybe could find, with luck, something that is not as blue.
He started hitting a side where blue/grey stones were attached to the wall. Sokka wasn't sure if it was a venting mechanism to something repressed or if he was really searching for something. He hit harder each time as more crystals fell down.
His eyes shone at the sight of another color inside: Turquoise. He carefully started picking it, so he could extract a great chunk and mold it as his will. He would also need some leftover, knowing he wasn't the best crafting or drawing.
He slipped the rocks in his bag, hiding under his coat, closing it quickly again to prevent a pulmonia.
"Uh hello? What are you doing?"
"Tui and La you scared the crap out of me!" Sokka said on guard already, relaxing at the sight of Electra standing in the cave.
"Imagine how I felt when I suddenly heard the smashing sound of your cub in the wall" She said getting closer, both hands on her pockets. "What where you picking up? A stone for Suki?" She asked grinning, making him blush.
"Probably, yeah…why are you here?" He asked incriminating her.
"Doing a favor for my dad, he wants me to pick some stones so he can start crafting right now" She said gesturing the gems she picked up. Sokka looked at the perfect chunk she got out as she laid out on the floor with he bag fully opened.
"Great picking, who would have thought! You look so petite…Sorry, I talked without thinking." He apologized, looking at her annoyed face.
"I'm sure you mean it, I forgive you. You do look…tired" She said gently. "Have you had any sleep since we arrived from skiing?"
Sokka looked in silence "No. I can't yet. That's why I came here" He said helping pack up the gems Electra laid on the floor.
"Are you okay? Trying to up the boards you ski in?" Electra tried to keep the tone playful, until she noticed the forced smile in his face "Okay, either you fought with Katara or Suki. What happened?"
Sokka now genuinely smiled. "Neither. Since I talked to Yue it made me realize things and…it didn't help me as much as I thought" His eyes were soul crushing, ready to crumble at any minute.
"What happened?..."Electra sat and gestured him to do the same. Sokka laid down instead, looking at the few stones who shone.
"….we talked about me, how I deal with my emotions and how that affects my relationships"
"What did she said?" She asked laying down by his side, looking at his face.
"I haven't help Suki the way I should have, that's why when I gave her the chance she ran to Zuko." He stopped talking, thinking through this time. "Should I trust her with this? I was supposed to not lean on that much on anyone"
"Weren't we talking about you?" Electra asked, her gaze still fixed in him.
He decided to continue, not looking at her. "It is clear that…Electra. Suki has done so much for me, she has pushed away all her troubles and worries to focus on mine. Even after I had hurt her, she would only talk to me of one of her triggers…the war. But there is something more, and I can't help her if she doesn't let me in again…"
"Sokka…"
"And how do I help then? I can't force her, and I would never ever think about doing that. That's a sure beating. I can't find a solution to something I don't even know"
"Sokka, I asked about you and your feelings, not hers" Sokka looked at her hurt, Electra grabbed his face with both hands. "You worry too much. Things will sort out or they won't, but worrying too much about doing-saying-thinking things about the one you love is not something healthy"
Sokka placed his hands on Electra's wrists, for a moment mixing her face with Yue's. He now couldn't help but study her in more depth, as the closeness of the moment let him do it. She looked beautiful without make up, and even more under the dim lights on the cave.
He focused on the chat again "I know I worry too much, is what I'm trying to get over with. I just learned that you can't expect me to change in half a night" He said annoyed
"I do not expect you to change to whatever person she wants you to be. That's my point. You are not just the boy with the boomerang and Suki is not only the leader of the Kyoshi warriors. I think both of you are afraid to let go of that part of you to fully flesh your identities." Electra said sitting up, helping him to do the same.
"I think I have a great personality, we all need to change, not too drastically" Sokka tried to counter her.
She rolled her eyes at the stubbornness "Alright, I just suggested that this thing you have, will hurt you further in your life as you are repressing your whole personality to fit a mold you already have. Grow up, mature emotionally and see if you are fitted to this person in particular. Otherwise, you are not different than an arranged marriage"
Sokka went silent at the suggestion of a hell in a marriage. It was supposed to be when two people were fully committed to each other, why would it be hell?
Then he comprehended the words of the politician. They are still shallow. And it's fault of both of them. He can't take care of Suki while she is trying to take care of him. They are staling their freedom of experimenting in their feelings and emotions, leaning on unhealthy coping mechanism.
They both need to understand their own selfs before re committing.
"You are really wise, have they told you that?" He said looking at her.
"Not really, there is not a lot of people I talk in a heart to heart that are my age" She said sadly smiling.
Both stared at each other wordless, the only sound in the cave being their cold breathing. Sokka studied her again, feeling tempted to try… to taste her. He leaned in without breaking the contact, she followed but slowly closed her eyes, too focused on his lips.
His heartbeat was crazy. "I know this is wrong but…but why am I doing this? I'm running again from Suki aren't I?" He thought not stopping.
Her glove was in his face and he already held her close to his chest, as they leaned slowly to kiss. Their warm air in each other faces as the build up was finally concluding. Their lips brushed lightly, until they didn't.
"I am sorry' She said, leaning away from him, blushing. "If I had met you under other circumstances…I don't go after man with their hearts already taken"
"No! Don't think that I…Well…" It didn't made sense to him. He loved Suki but he was easy to fall into temptation with her?
She giggled seeing him mess up his words, Sokka's heart jumped at the sound of her giggle, similar to how it felt when he heard her crack up with one of his ugliest jokes.
"It's okay. Suki is a great girl for you. Just be sure to touch bottom to know your limits in a relationship" She stood up grabbing her bag and walking outside the cave, leaving a heavy breathing Sokka on the floor.
The smell of lilacs and strawberries lingered in his coat. It made his heart fuzzy and his head heavy.
Panic set in again. "Am I crushing on her?" Sokka thought panicking and pulling out the stone he had just search with Suki in mind.
"What is wrong with me?" He said out loud standing up, his heart aching at the thought of potentially be cheating, even if by their standards they weren't together.
Katara heard Sokka entering to his room, late again. She was sure to check up on him, as it was not unusual this days to see him walking at nights and that sure would mess up his sleeping routine again.
She decided to write to Aang, as she was just noticed that finally, after 5 days of doing nothing but waiting, the session will resume tomorrow, so having him in the next 2-3 days would be a good move from them to put pressure.
"Well then it's set" Katara said stretching, standing up to grab a coat and tell his brother about it. He would ecstatic as that would mean one thing: Seeing Suki again. She wasn't sure of how their relationship would develop after that, but he won't mess up like the first time she tried to help both of them.
The waterbending sessions and training had helped her mind and how her feelings where directed towards people. It was evident a side of her was lost to war too, the more innocent and passive side of her.
This built up anger and her way of letting things built up in her was changing with this new phase in her life. After all, being a councilman is speaking above everyone to show your thoughts.
She walked outside and knocked and Sokka's room, waiting for an answer as she knew he had just arrived. She opened the door and saw him laying face down on the bed, wondering if he had just fell asleep.
"I told you I was not in the mood" Sokka said looking up to her, a bit teary.
"What happened?" She closed the door and walked to sit beside him, as Sokka buried his head in the pillows again.
"Nothing, that was the problem. I am frustrated, I want to go home and…and move on" he said looking at the wall of the room, his eyes closing a bit.
"Well, don't worry that much for that then! I have amazing news. I already contacted Aang so he picks us up in three to four days, tomorrow we will resume the session and get out of here"
"Katara! You don't know how much that means to me" He said hugging her sister, the siblings laughing for a little bit. "Ready to take them from the horns? I bet they will try to excuse themselves before admitting you are a genius"
"I already planned an strategy for that" Katara said "I just need you to keep this serious face you do on all the time, don't bend or show any type of emotion to anything they said. They try to make us as the less intelligent people of the room, not anymore"
"Yes maam" Sokka said smiling, a new hope in him of leaving the place so he wouldn't think of Electra or Yue.
"So sleep now, we need to have all the energy we have for tomorrow" Katara waved goodbye to Sokka, who put himself under the covers, thinking about her. "This is different to all the girls I have met" He thought worried, closing his eyes to unsuccessfully sleep.
The next day he was up earlier than usual, the tiredness visibly in the bag under his eyes who slightly protruded from not sleeping. He was up with all the scrolls waiting for Katara outside her room. This time they both would have time to grab something to drink or eat before heading to the main show.
Or so he thought, because Katara was taking a long time getting out of the room. He knocked again, annoyed of missing lunch again after being used to eat the delicious food in the palace.
"Katara we are running late! Hurry up"
"You never waited for me to eat! What's with the change of heart?" She asked opening the door, she was almost ready to go but saw she was organizing something.
"I…Today's special" He said turning away "Go on, I'll keep waiting"
Katara closed the door and kept searching for the gloves, she had already packed most of the stuff in her room. She was getting used to more warmer climate.
She got out and smiled to Sokka, who looked a bit annoyed. They headed down the stairs only to see Electra waiting for them by the front door, cheering up her stoic face at seeing them. Sokka consciously moved away his eyes from her, tripping on the last set of stairs.
"Good morning councilman from the Southern Water tribe, my apologies to the carrier who told you the hour yesterday Katara, the session was moved earlier"
The soul dropped out of the water tribe sibling after hearing that
"I already covered up for both, but, I warn you, the elders are not that happy and want something in exchange to cover the payment"
"Whatever, let's hear what this grannies want" Katara said already with a sour mood, launching the three of them in the snow, travelling faster. Electra held onto Katara's waist, scared at the sudden speed they were all traveling.
As they arrived, Sokka helped Electra with her own hair, as some braids got out of place before storming inside, a fuming Katara on the head of the line.
"My apologies for being late" She said with a smile "I am ready to hear the decision"
Electra and Sokka stood by her, he kept his stoic face but saw Electra a bit worried, something he never thought would show in front of all the elders "This is not right" He thought without emoting.
"I am glad both of you made it. We will agree on all of the three remaining points. We accept as a payment that you teach the waterbenders that will travel to the south" Chief Arnook said happy
"I am assuming there is a but for the last reform, am I right?" Katara asked still smiling, with a calm demeanor.
"Not at all, we all agreed on letting the girls and boys be trialed to show their real potential. Under one condition" General Aput said smirking "I want to unite even more the sister tribes. With the blessing of Chief Arnook" The general said towards the chief, who sighed and let him go on.
"Alright, we are all ears" Sokka chimed in, unsettled by his smirk.
"Councilman Sokka, we want you to marry my daughter, Electra. So this way both would represent and heir a new princess or prince to the throne"
Sokka felt he was dreaming, a look of shock on his face.
"You what?" He could her Electra fighting, looking at all the mannerisms she was making towards her dad. Katara was by Electra's side talking too, but he couldn't hear anything. "Me marrying her? What about Suki"
He wanted to talk and say he was engaged. However nothing came out of his mouth, the more he forced himself to talk the less he actually did it.
"I am no princess from the tribe, that's Princess Yue place, how dare you even suggest that!" Electra said heated
"Needless to say is an outdated idea" Katara added angrily "There is no need of this, that's why there is a council, to decide"
"I don't think is that bad of an idea" Sokka said, weighing his options, remembering the promise he made to Suki. "Thought, if Electra is against it, then nothing can be done. Only for you to approve the reform as using a marriage to political gains won't help you that much sir"
"I am sure Electra will come to terms of it" The general said smirking
"I am not asking you, I am asking her" Sokka said again looking at Electra. He was scared she would say yes and doom both of them. But he also acknowledged that she was smart.
Electra pierced his blue eyes, his nervousness increasing. If she said yes then it was done, he wouldn't put Suki through more pain and she could be with whomever she wanted without feeling bad about it. If she said no, he escaped the pressure and won for them.
"Electra?" He said walking towards her, taking both hands in his. He needed to convince them that he, was okay with that, hoping Electra knew that was not him talking. The gloves made it hard for him to hold her right, but through them he could feel the sweat.
She was nervous too, because maybe she actually wanted it. Sokka panicked briefly, as she gripped harder his hands, still not answering.
"I am the reformer of the law and do NOT agree on the way is sealed." Katara said after what felt like an eternity. The couple turned to her, as she calmly smiled and removed the scrolls from the board.
"What?" Both the general and Sokka said
"You heard me, and we don't need your waterbenders or food either. We will manage as we had a hundred years ago, with help from the other nations who don't use their daughters as objects"
"Katara" Pakku said trying to intervene, shutting up as she looked at him.
"Then, what other payment you can give us? Even if we appreciate that you saved the world…it will not be enough for our people" General Aput said panicked, he had shoot his own foot.
"Not a marriage, that's for sure" She replied, gesturing Sokka to come to her side, in which he obliged.
"Then goodbye, I hope the ride for both of you is soon as we concluded nothing and will not under the way she is treating us" The general said angered
"I agree with them" Electra found her own voice, walking to stand by Katara "You might not agree on what we already agreed on, but you don't matter. What it matters is the people in the North, who I am representing"
"Shut…"
"No. I agree on Katara's update on the law. And I, as the representant, say it is done. A failure to follow the verdict will result in punishment"
The room was in silence, at the sudden burst of fight spirit Electra managed, staring down on her dad who didn't seem to back down.
"You were always deemed a failure, remember that" The general said walking past them "I am out of the council, good luck training troops"
"That won't be much of a problem then" Katara said smirking "Anyone else wants to refuse too?"
The room cheered on and passed the ink for the three of them to sign. Electra was the first one to do it, Sokka following. Katara smiled at the scroll in front of her as she signed it "I made it gran gran, the girls will fight too"
The session ended and the Chief announced a new feast to the new age. Sokka looked shaken and Katara noticed it, staring at him angry. As the room cleared and Electra apologized in the name of her dad, the siblings walked back to the palace to keep packing.
"Care to explain that?" Katara asked bothered, while Sokka breathed loudly.
"Is not what you think…"
"Then what is it? You want to marry just like that?" Katara spat, frowning more.
"I thought she would say no, I was acting, you know my mind is not there and not with her" Sokka reasoned "I panicked after she went mute, I thought she would immediately say no"
"And why you thought that? Hadn't you noticed dumb loaf?" Katara stopped walking, judging him. Sokka stopped confused and annoyed.
"Noticed what? That we are friends and she was under pressure too? I froze the moment he suggested that" He said excusing himself, ignoring what Katara was suggesting.
"You are acting around her the same way you did with Yue" She said and a dagger stabbed his heart
"What?"
"You spend all the day doing activities, you stroll at night "Alone"" she gestured with her fingers "And I know you and Suki keep talking, so what are you doing?"
Sokka then realized his sister was right, he felt guilty of doing it and getting caught.
"Katara…I'm s.."
"Don't apologize to me. Suki is the one you should be doing that" She said walking alone, leaving Sokka alone.
"Five months, and I still have not changed a bit. I am still selfish, dumb and overthinking everything. Suki deserves better, even if I still love her like crazy" He remembered his necklace and it crushed him. "I hope I don't break your heart again Suki. I am so sorry"
He arrived hours later than Katara, his room didn't have much things to pack. The scrolls were still in it's place and he had free paper in the table. He sat down with a heavy heart, looking at Hawky by the fireplace, warming himself.
"It is better for you…" He thought, as he wrote the next letter. "I might even be more useful as a friend than a lover"
The more he wrote his mistakes the more he repressed himself, stopping for a moment to sob. He knew he had to do it, he couldn't show himself to her after doing what he had.
"Hawky, come" He said as the bird flew towards him. "Suki only, please"
He saw the bird soar and with it, the last pieces of his heart, as he thought of how dependent of a woman he was: Either Yue, Suki or now, Electra. "Isn't Youth meant to be beautiful?" He thought burying his head in his arms, not feeling hungry or thirsty in a lot of time until the feast for them arrived.
Hello sweetie!
Tomorrow we will finally seal the new reform, I bet it's going to be approved as we had already waited 5 days before hearing an answer. You can come here as soon as you receive this letter (Poor birds! I wonder how they keep their wings warm when flying) so you pick us up and continue the tour over there with you.
Suki and Sokka are definitely talking to each other, yey I guess. Hope is not worsening their sympthons, since I have seen Sokka lately in a great shape. I am so sorry about Suki's wounds, as soon as I arrive I'll take care of her, see if I can help her heal with whatever remains she has of that poison and the scar.
I already have a date: Winter. The sky lits so pretty in the night, so the show will be amazing!
Thanks for letting me find my voice and go back to you stronger.
With love, Katara.
"You won't pack anything?" Toph asked worried as Aang immediately climbed to Appa
"Nope, does any of you want to tag along?" Aang asked as the trio declined the request "Yip yip! Don't break anything!"
And then, Suki and Zuko saw them get away. Suki smiled at the possibility of seeing Sokka again, but that also meant she needed to talk to Zuko. She gathered some courage and tapped him.
"Mm?"
"I need to talk to you, alone" She said gesturing at Toph. She sticked her tongue out and walked away from the house
"Bye jerks! I'll see what I can do for this ugly city" She said drowning on the earth, startling Zuko.
"I didn't know she could do that" He said a bit shocked
'She can do anything she puts her mind too" She said laughing "Let's go inside"
They sat on the table, looking comfortable. He smiled and she couldn't help and copy him, as if it will help soften the blow.
"I..wanted to talk to you about…us" She gestured, grabbing his hand in the process. Zuko gripped it, sending electricity in Suki's body.
"Sure, what's up?" He said more naturally, his eyes looking happily at hers.
"I…I made up my mind, about what I want I my future" Suki said guilty, looking pained. Zuko's smile never faded "I want to be with Sokka"
"I know" He answered, his sincere smile and happiness still showing
"Huh? I thought…you had…you know a shot" She finished saying blushing, as Zuko grabbed her hand with both of his.
"I..I knew I never had a chance of being a partner to you since the incident in the dance hall. Then we talked again I knew it was over" Zuko said looking down at their conjoined hands "So I like being a friend to you. It is even a honor for me, as I know I caused deep trouble in your relationship"
Suki kept quiet at seeing him display so much affection towards her, even if she didn't deserve it.
"But..What we felt…I…"
"You were clear from the start" Zuko kept talking "You told me you'll always love Sokka. I was the only one who falsely hoped for a change in heart from you. When I see you happy…it makes me even happier. If it's with Sokka or with whomever you want, then so be it"
"I don't deserve you" Suki said, feeling relief and more love towards him…perhaps not romantic, but it was love "I am so sorry for playing with your feelings"
"You didn't do that, it's okay" He said standing up to hug her from behind, as Suki tried to control how her tears fell, both laughing. "Are you alright?"
"Yes" She replied, laughing harder "I am just happy of having such a wonderful person with me"
He smiled and squished her, enjoying holding her that close to him.
"We should start making dinner for us, Toph will come back hungrier than other days" Zuko said pulling away
"How do you know that? We didn't even chat for more than an hour" Suki asked with curiosity, looking outside for the earthbender
"Because she runs away to fight in the underground arena, I followed her once" He said in a matter of a fact tone. Suki laughed
"And here I talked to you thinking you loved me" she joked, moving away from the windows and towards the kitchen. Zuko forced a laugh, not trying to show how miserable he was feeling from having feelings towards his bodyguard.
Perhaps one day they would disappear, but until then, he had to remind himself that is she was happy so would he be. Hopefully when she reunites with Sokka, the darkening would have decreased or at least be gone.
"Sokka? The feast has already started, everybody is asking for you"
Sokka opened his swollen eyes, wondering is he cried sleeping as he didn't remember crying, stretching his strained back. He had fell asleep writing his last letter to Suki. He remembered the last twenty four hours and his heart slowly cracked more.
"Sorry, I fell asleep. Let me change" He said excusing himself, if he managed to dodge her seeing him the night would go on normally. Sokka forgot his sibling had excellent maternal instincts.
"And your eyes are swollen…I am guessing the reason but you can share if it helps your burden" Katara said stepping closer, putting a plate of warm meat on the desk where minutes ago his face was.
He eyed the food with urgency, for the first time eating for obligation and not from starvation.
"You are guessing right…I think it's time" He murmured, grabbing the piece of meat and stuffing it into his mouth.
"Time for what?" Katara asked, trying to make him elaborate his cryptic sentences. "Since when he has this gloomy mood?"
"How much time will Aang take until he arrives?" Sokka asked finishing the piece "I want to see Suki as soon as possible"
"Maybe 3 to 4 days more, and you can't actually see Suki. You still have 4 months left to finish the year without contact" Katara stated with a tone of annoyance.
"Right. I don't care about that. The no contact thing? Is not working. It won't work and I am not trying to see if it will work later" He said angrier, staring at the pens in the table.
"Then what are you going to do? Just ignore when you puke this dark liquid? Die?" Katara asked worried
"No. I will get help, professional help. Maybe not from the fire nation, maybe somewhere in the earth kingdom or here in the poles will have a cure" He said with hope, looking at her directly to show his intentions.
"Alright, you are an adult already. Suit yourself. Are you coming down or do I cover for you?" Katara asked, her face still showing worry even if her voice was the absolute opposite.
"Could you cover? I am not in the mood. I just want to go home" Sokka said looking sad, reaching out to her for a hug.
Katara got closer and hugged him, sighing loudly. She untied his wolf tail, placing the hairtie in the desk.
"Get some rest, I'll tell you at breakfast how the night went" She said pulling away and helping him go towards his bed. He laid down with a soft groan, his back relaxing from the previous position.
"I love you so much sis" Sokka said, his eyes still closed.
"I love you too" Katara said, feeling bittersweet. "I hope you know what you are doing Sokka"
"What it felt being on Jenamite?" Toph asked directly with an evil smile, dodging a pillow thrown to her.
"What kind of question is that? You saw her!" Zuko said before correcting himself "You know what I meant with that!"
Suki giggled at the interaction, the two of them bickering whether it was appropriate to talk about drugs.
"If she tells me how it felt then I don't have to try them!" Toph replied, not giving up the fight.
"But what if she doesn't want to tell you?" Zuko said "That doesn't mean you have to go and do them!"
"Stop you old couple" Suki said laughing "Toph, it sucked."
"I guessed, since you know, I saved you later" She replied smirking
"Don't do them really" Zuko said to both girls "They hurt everything inside you and mess up more than the high they offer"
"Have you done some yourself prince Zuko?" Toph mock-polite said, making him roll his eyes.
"No. I was exiled. No time to do anything most of the royals would do" Zuko confided, stopping his story to look at the window.
"Did the royals do…hard drugs? What do you eat over there? A chile?" Suki asked before following Zuko's eyes.
"Can someone tell me what's happening?" Toph asked at the sudden silence.
"There is something trying to enter the window" He said standing up, getting closer to it on guard. Suki followed him too, not being stopped by him.
"I don't feel anyone outside" Toph said lifting the hand from the floor "Maybe it's an animal"
Now Suki's face cheered, running towards it and stretching her arm. The hawk raven landed on her, chirping for the mail. Zuko sat back again where they where talking, waiting for Suki to return.
"Well, the letter says it's for me" She said goofily
"Someone doesn't want to share something" Toph pressed the topic, wanting to see what the letter said.
"There is one for you too! And for Zuko. Probably late arrival from Katara's replies" Suki reasoned, even if her heart fluttered at the thought of Sokka writing. "He is coming home"
She passed the letters after tucking hers in her kimono, walking towards the kitchen to grab some water and meat for Hawky. As she set the plates, she walked towards her room ignoring the groans from Zuko and Toph, locking the door.
She broke the wax and smiled
Suki
We promised ourselves to be honest and try to change our hardest. I have a multitude of things to talk to you when we meet again (That will be soon, maybe in the next two or three days, I am not sure when will this letter arrive)
I want you to know this from me first. Katara managed to reform again the outdated law that girls can't bend for offense
Suki smiled more, feeling proud of her friend at finally modernizing to a basic ground the teachings of the benders.
Unfortunately, one of the elders insisted for a type of retribution so the law would be reformed. He demanded that her daughter and I marry, so a new bond between the South and North could be held.
She felt cold.
"Sokka would never agree to marry her…" Suki thought, her heart stopping as she continued reading
As I am a great friend of this girl present on the meeting, I acted on the best interest of the two, showing a consideration to this. I miscalculated and the girl didn't outright refuse the idea, being Katara the savior. I am a bad liar, and you have seen it in action. I do have an attraction to this girl and it affected my actions several days that we spent doing activities.
It doesn't mean I didn't think of you. It doesn't mean that I don't love you, but maybe, it means we both need to talk about the future, about the necklace you have as a token from my love (Still very much present in my heart)
The walking contradiction, Sokka.
PS: I know by this point, nothing that I write or say would change the way you feel towards this incident, but the little note you sent with your kiss made me felt touched by the spirits.
She didn't notice when she had dropped the letter, as her heart suddenly beat faster, anxiety building up on the confusing words. "He loves me or not? It happened again…he set eyes on another girl and acted out on it"
She dropped to the bed, feeling stupid at admitting to Zuko that she preferred Sokka over him. "Zuko will probably laugh at my fortune…What does he want to talk about? Is he coming home to tell me his is marrying her?"
No, she couldn't think of that, that would mean doom. Maybe he is coming down to talk about them and marriage. No, that wouldn't solve any of the problems they both have at the moment, the treatment doesn't seem to work because they both don't follow the list.
She looked at the dark window, not exactly concentrated on the sight outside until the moon showed up. Her eyes followed it, feeling watched. "she has to be there right? Yue?"
Then she remembered how Electra looked: She looks like a princess. Blonde-silver hair, purple eyes, white skin that was considered odd on the Northern tribe, plump lips, cute personality and a proper lady.
A lady, someone Sokka would manage and like, they shared customs and traditions after all. And she looks like Yue.
She grabbed the letter and tried to remember if it ever stated that the "girl" was Electra. None of the sentences said it but she could guess it would be her. "Why wouldn't it be? She is as pretty as the moon and I…I am ordinary…a fallen warrior"
She bit her lips as the tears, who she managed to suppress easily a day before, were nowhere to be found. She felt the heaviness, the feeling of getting ready to cry. But nothing came out of her.
She was more tired then sad, feeling stuck in a loop that wouldn't end. They weren't like this, they used to be loyal and patient with their heart. They used to be something.
Now she wasn't so sure, now she didn't know if she made the right decision of backing him up. As much as it hurt her, Suki was in love and her heart pained even harder from that. It meant that she cared.
But not this night, were she stared at the company of the moon until her lids gave up.
The next morning she opened her eyes, feeling as if she was struck by lightning, she couldn't feel sorry for herself, that would spell doom.
A knock came from the door, it was soft so it meant that was Zuko. He opened it and checked on her, half of his body outside.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, looking at the paper on the bed.
"You read it?" She asked feeling violated, it was private after all. Ripping someone's heart.
"No, but you didn't come out for dinner…and when I came to check you you were unresponsive. You just..stared…" Zuko stopped talking, focusing on her silhouette. This made Suki more nervous, trying to stand up, crushing the paper.
"I am fine, I was just tired. I don't even remember the minute I fell asleep" She admitted. She walked to him and saw he was eyeing her oddly. "What?"
Zuko looked at her, sending chills down her spine. "You are showing the darkness. You must have talked to Sokka then"
Oops. Everyone new except him and she blew her cover. She stared back quietly, her eyes falling in sadness at disappointing him. He frowned and left the room without saying anything. A heavy sight followed, as Toph asked him how she was.
Suki came up to the table, seeing that Zuko already prepared the dishes for the trio to sit.
"Good morning candy! I bet you are starving" Toph said already eating. Suki didn't say anything and sat, putting a small portion of food on her own plate. She ate quietly, not in the mood to discuss anything. The younger girl caught that up, but decided not to speak on it.
Hours already passed and Suki decided to stop being moody and actually train. She sat in front of the mirror, the last step of her ritual. The difficult part would begin again, having the precision to paint her eyelids without messing up.
Zuko saw this but decided not to interrupt her, letting her learn again how to do them. He stepped outside to keep training, dancing so he wouldn't burn the grass and flowers on their backyard. "I can't believe they have keep in touch, the fricking deal was no contact" he thought angry.
That was the reason she was so far away from them, that was the reason she chose him over having any other guy, not necessarily him. He unsheathed his double swords, furiously twirling and practicing with them
He hadn't felt this angry since the day he knew his mother was still alive, hiding somewhere away from them.
Suki walked outside and saw Zuko, distracting herself with him. Not because he was shirtless and sweaty, but because he looked angry, his movements were harsh and fast. She sat on the porch, looking at the sunset behind him. He noticed her and stopped training.
"Go on" She said, opening up her fan to cool down. "I'm over here so I don't get caught" she gestured to his swords. He walked up to her and yanked her up from her arm, as she looked startled.
"Get caught in what? You breaking the only treatment we searched for your wellbeing?" He spoke fiercely, not letting go from her.
"Zuko, I'm warming you." Suki simply said, matching his tone. He let her go, walking away to the other side. Suki stood there, ignoring the pit on her stomach and focusing on gripping the right way her fans, training and incorporing the dance of the dragon Zuko showed her months ago.
Now she had time to focus on anything but Sokka or Zuko. "Was about time anyway" She thought taking a deep breath before starting.
Sokka sat on the cave, as in the day the light it shone inside made the crystals and gems even prettier. It gave him a sense of peace and comfort.
3 days had already passed and the Avatar and his bison still hadn't arrived. He looked at the carving half done in the gem, a fan. Her fan. He had managed to start it before loosing all inspiration, thanks to knowing himself better.
"I'm a mess Yue" He said outloud, sure no one was inside with him minutes earlier. "I can't get trust or love correctly, after all. Only one thing was asked…"
Did he thrived from the excitement from seeing and having something new each time? Maybe. Would he be a mess after his chat with Suki? If it didn't end well, probably. He can't escape the past, only confront it and see what happens in the future.
The snow crunched under the foot of someone in the entrance "Katara or Electra" he thought before seeing a pair of shy set of purple gazing at him.
"Can I join you? I think…"
"We need to talk? Yes" Sokka finished, tapping his hand on the floor, in front of him. She followed and hunched over, relaxing.
"What happened? You have been evading me like the flu" She asked, the awkwardness present. Sokka decided he would stop evading so much and just say what he thought.
"Ain't it obvious? I asked you to marry me and you though about it" He said, keeping a straight face. Electra on the contrary, was flushed, remembering the scene.
"Well, it was something I certainly didn't expect nor was giving previous information" She replied frowning.
"Me neither, and a part of me wanted you to say yes" He said firmly as Electra's eyebrows grew surprised, her blush fading a bit as her eyes met his.
"But you thought I would immediately say no, right? Yeez, I did thought about that in the moment. You could say a part of me acted with the heart, not the mind" She answered, her eyes softening.
Sokka wasn't entirely caught off guard, as he acknowledged the attraction he had on her. But seeing her flirt with only her eyes was something it marveled him.
"I still need to talk to Suki and…try to find how would I work with you" He said briefly looking at her red lips, while she smiled.
"Hold your bisons, work with me? As a couple?" She said smirking, holding a laugh. Sokka was now caught, blinking briefly. "My life is a mess, why would I marry you?"
"Because we like each other and…understand each other a bit? I didn't say marry…"
"Hard to evade the topic because you literally did propose"
"But not right now!" The goofynes came out and made Electra giggle, posing a hand on his shoulder. "…I need to think clear for Suki's sake"
"Or maybe never" She coldly said, now making Sokka flush. "I don't belong to anyone"
"W-what? I never said I wanted to owe you…" He replied staring at her grin. "Maybe…I don't know. If things don't work with Suki…"
Her other hand touched his shoulder, almost embracing him. "Dear Sokka, remember this: We both cannot escape the past. So you and I will never last"
He felt played. Was she just toying with his feelings? A spike of hatred grew on him, as Electra's grin grew.
"You don't know that, will you even give it a try?" He replied angered at her lack of faith.
"I am not a consolation prize darling" She said now scooting closer, pressing their heads together as Sokka closed his eyes, nervous. "So don't think because you are "single" something further will happen than this.."
And they kissed.
Sokka came back to his senses the moment he had her pinned on the floor, furiously kissing her back. Both of her hands were under his, as they made out. A foot sneaked and set Sokka to the wall with a loud bump, Electra standing up, cleaning her lipstick with a napkin.
"You will need this too" She said offering it, flushed. Sokka felt dizzy, grabbing it and cleaning his face absentmindedly. Shame…shame…shame..
"Don't look to sad. You don't have to tell her this" Electra replied, taking out of his loop "Find yourself first and then find someone else"
She walked away leaving the napkin with him, almost dashing away until Sokka grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Why? Why do I seem so fond of you?" He asked concerned. She didn't even faced him, not wanting to give in on her own new feelings towards him.
"Because we are the kind of people who loves being with a void in their hearts" She said, pulling away from him. "That's why we will never last"
She now dashed away, turning over her shoulder to watch him. Their eyes connected for a few minutes, before she walked away, out of sight.
Sokka walked behind, loosing her track after a few minutes. He stared at the entrance of the city, his heart pumping fast as he debated if she was right…again.
Did Suki had to know everything that happened? No. Will she found out? Eventually, will it soften the blow? No.
He didn't want to be the reason for her to be sad, to feel weak, to be distracted. He had thought about it on their visit, but most of the time he tried to be logical with his feelings, the heart won against them.
He frowned at himself before he screamed. He felt cornered and lost on what to do. "Even if I knew what to do…Look how far that's gotten you" he thought entering the city. He walked towards the palace so he could pick up some food and drown himself on the bed.
"There are an awful amount of people outside…" He thought pushing himself through the crowd, searching for the commotion.
"Aang!" He screamed at the monk, who was currently chatting with Chief Arnok. He looked at him and smiled.
"Hi Sokka! Where were you?" He asked with glee, opening his arms to hug him. He hugged him back and decided not to answer that.
"It took you a bit of time" He said as Katara huffed annoyed
"Three days to arrive here seems fairly short. With the three of us up there it will take him 2 weeks"
"two weeks?!" Sokka said exasperated. "Great, more time without Suki"
"Maybe a week if we don't stop flying, we are going to the Earth Kingdom, not the Southern Water tribe" Aang reminded Katara, she agreed smiling.
"Oh great, I will be the third wheel the whole ride" He thought facepalming himself. He saw the Chief getting close to him, Electra behind him with a devious smile.
"We were already saying our goodbyes to Katara. I hope your visit here helped you with our loss" He exclaimed reaching for his arm, Sokka extended it and they shook it.
"I am glad too, I think I cleared my mind" He said, his eyes turning towards her mid-sentence. She extended her arm too, shaking his.
"Choose wisely councilman, happiness is rare…even after war" She said smiling. "Say hi to miss Suki for me"
Aang looked suspiciously at the interaction, noticing how tense he was with Electra.
"Did something happened between them?" Aang asked his fiancée, boarding Appa.
"He seemed to have a crush on her, similarly to Yue. I hope it didn't go beyond a crush. If Suki doesn't kill him I will" She answered sitting on the saddle. Aang flew to her side, waiting for Sokka to say his final goodbyes.
"Uhm…guys! Can someone help me board?" Sokka screamed below, making Appa lower his tail to climb him. "thanks buddy, such a gentleman"
He climbed up and saw the couple cuddling, feeling disgusted and a bit envious. He sighed and walked to the rider's seat, not even bothering to ask them if it was alright with them.
"Visit us again whenever you have the chance brave heroes" Chief Arnok exclaimed to Sokka, while he smiled to him.
"We will. Appa, Let's go. Yip Yip" He said with a bittersweet taste on his mouth.
It was finally time to speak clearly.
3 days already had passed since the letter arrived at the upper ring, making Suki fall into a broken state again. Zuko had been watching over her, not wanting to talk fearing he would burst out in anger.
Toph and Zuko currently were sprawled out in the living room as Suki trained outside, getting better at grabbing her fan again. He looked to see how far she was and decided to scoot close to Toph on the floor.
"What's up sparky? My life changing trip is up?" She asked winking, making Zuko blush.
"No. I actually wanted to talk to you about Suki and…her current state"
"Oh. What can I say? You don't talk to her, she doesn't open up to me, I wonder why she feels lonely" She said sarcastically, making Zuko roll his eyes. "You should just approach her"
"I…can't. I am mad at her still" He said "He has been keeping in touch with Sokka recently"
Toph kept suspiciously quiet. Zuko groaned loudly, feeling stupid.
"Agni, you knew this? Why did you let her?"
"I didn't know! I was informed she always thought about him and never got her attachment over him this seven months. And after h..after all, I caught her the other day just thinking on the bed" Toph lied, not wanting to be the one spoiling the engagement between them.
"Well, she received a letter yesterday and has been in this state of eating-training-sleeping" Zuko explained, his frustration rising.
"That sounds like Suki to me if you ask me" She replied "But I do get your point"
"Can you both stop talking about me? I can hear you" Suki screamed angered at the window, startling them. Zuko didn't look at her, feeling guilty of talking behind her back.
"Well we need to do another intervention it seems! What's with you?" Toph replied back, as Suki complained and walked away to keep training.
"Great effort Toph" Zuko said sarcastically while Toph frowned.
"Hey! I tried my best lovebird, I want to see you do better" She replied walking outside.
"Where are you going?" Zuko asked panicked
"Somewhere were I don't see you still pinning over Suki" She said disappearing in the earth, out of his sight.
Zuko felt unsure of how to proceed with Suki's mood, walking on the porch to see her train. Her movements were fueled by her emotions, as shown on the accuracy and force she was putting on them. Her flexibility with her fan and legs vastly improved, shown at the kicks and punches she threw at the tree.
He knew better than punching and kicking a tree into oblivion, so he cautiously walked to her, trying to not startle her as she seemed to into her mind. It didn't work as a fan flew towards him, evading it unsheathing his sword and sparring it.
Suki breathed heavily, looking angry at him before calming down. Her stoic face came back as she walked towards her fan, Zuko stood there with his sword unsheathed, he reached for the second one, being on guard.
"What are you doing?" She asked emotionless, as Zuko drew closer to her.
"I'm helping you fight better, I see you have added my techniques" He said leaving 5 foot's of distance. Suki sighed
"Can we not? I am not in the…"
And her reflexes helped her open the shield to protect against the fast blow, making her grit her teeth with renewed passion. "It's on" she thought opening her fan again, ready for him to strike. He attacked changing his swinging side, as Suki tried to read him and disarm one of his swords so she could incapacitate him more easily.
Their fight dragged on as Suki kept on guard and Zuko kept slashing, an opening made him loose his left sword as suki closed two fans between it and threw it away, now effectively getting closer to punch him.
Her fist made contact with his chest but left an opening to her, Zuko kicked her legs making her taste the ground. She rolled out of his reach more angered, barely dodging his sword as he attacked again.
She let him try to directly attack him, stepping aside and immediately punching his arm, disabling it as the sword fell to the ground. Zuko smirked and bowed, acknowledging his defeat. Both of them were out of breath, as the stars were already on sight.
"Great job…general…"Zuko said breathless, cleaning the sweat out of his eyes as he stood straight. Suki looked at him with bitternes and sadness, bowing down too before walking inside, not saying a word.
He wouldn't be left wondering what was happening inside of her. Three days similar of how she acted the day Sokka broke up with her.
"Suki you can't dodge me forever" He said hot on her heels, while Suki speeded up towards her room.
"And you can't keep on following! That's harassment" She said upset, almost effectively closing the door on him, but he managed to get inside her room and lock the door. "Get. Out. Now"
"I won't. Something happened" Zuko said imposing his authority
"I just want to be left alone Zuko, I don't want to see or talk to anybody! I am training can't you see? I used to do this all the time" She replied angered, throwing her armor to the floor.
"You are not that Suki anymore. You are in that cycle again, you know which one" Zuko exclaimed stepping closer as she drew open a fan. The fan he gifted her on the day of the ball, he looked at it with mixed feelings, looking up towards her.
"What's wrong with staying inside all day?" She asked with more vulnerability, his gaze still moved things in her.
Zuko stepped closer, her fan touching his chest firmly as he drew closer. Suki slowly lost her grip on it, her hand already burning from fighting and training. She trembled as he stood in front of her.
"I want to take care for you, just this night" He said, placing both hands on hers. "Let me, please"
A wall on her heart fell down, like the day she disclosed the recent break up with Sokka. This time she didn't even had the energy to cry, she was angry. At herself, at Sokka. A shaky breath came out from her as she dropped to the floor, Zuko barely descending her fall.
"Can you pass me that wooden box?" She asked, ready to disclose her most guarded secret. He immediately followed and put the box in her hands, sitting down besides her. "This happened before we boarded the ship"
She opened it and showed him, Zuko didn't show any emotion, thanking his political training as much as he was shocked.
"He…offered me his necklace, until he had the proper one." She explained, the war paint doing nothing to hide her blush "I was starstruck, I mean…Sokka? Compromising to be with me?"
She laughed, feeling a burning sensation on her stomach. Zuko kept looking at the necklace.
"Then, just…just when I made up my mind…that fucking letter arrived" She pointed towards the desk, were a folded paper was.
"What did it said?" He asked with curiosity, starting to become angry at Sokka's probably screw up. Suki unleashed the leather from her headpiece to put it down in the box, a weigh coming off her.
"That he almost married someone over there" She said pointing at the sky, Zuko clearly putting two and two together.
"But Yue…"
"Not Yue. That supposed stiff Northern Tribe councilman" She mimicked Sokka's voice laughing for some minutes, Zuko began to feel uncomfortable until her pained face made him hold her hands.
"You mean Electra?" He asked, as Suki only nodded. "He even had the guts…"
"He didn't write it. But who else? A perfect blonde, ladylike for him…" She said feeling inferior "Why would I thought I…"
"You would marry him? That's completely normal and was even expected before…everything." Zuko tried comforting her, Suki only hung her head.
"I thought…I could be normal. I dreamed about it some days: I am married, have some pretty mini-me's who would come home after training at the smell of fish and cooked rice" She talked, looking at Zuko with a glint of hope.
"You will have it" He gripped tighter her hands "I am sure of it"
"With who? Sokka won't be.." She said forcefully, her last word with her tone growing a pitch higher. "That pitch, she is scared" Zuko thought trying to find more words of reassurance. "This didn't mean anything to him!"
She threw the collar to the other side of the room. Zuko put himself in front of her, trying to make her focus.
"Don't jump to conclusions. Maybe you can both talked it out and manage to find a middle point" He said grabbing her face, so she would gaze into him. Her own eyes showed how depressed and tired she was on the situation.
"Really? What middle point? Pretending?" Suki answered back, her pitch getting higher "No…"
"Suki. Listen to yourself, we are talking about Sokka" He said, as much as he hated him for not giving her the respect she deserved.
"Lies. I am not that…bottle blonde he seems to adore" She said with the tears finally showing "I am not enough to him"
"Don't…."
Suki pushed him off her, hugging herself for comfort. "I just…feel so tired from this" She thought controlling her urge to cry in front of Zuko. He crawled closer again and lifted her chin up.
"Don't talk to yourself like that again, understand?" He asked, irritated at seeing her belittle herself.
"Zuko. I am terrified of dying alone" She admitted, a single tear dramatically rolling down her cheek. Zuko cleaned it with his finger, not thinking enough before doing it, he placed a kiss where the tear once was, distracting her.
"You won't ever be alone, remember? You have us…." He corrected his sentence, a faint blush appearing on his cheeks "You have me. As a friend, as a lover, as a confident, as whatever you need me to be"
A surprised Suki touched her cheek, just were the kiss was placed. "Is that why he is still helping me..? He is really…honorable" She smiled at the irony, making him smile back.
"I am sorry" Suki apologized, her usual pitch coming back.
"Don't be, I reached out to you so you could ta…"
"I mean" Suki interrupted, embarrassed "For making you listen, to my woes, again"
"As I said, don't be. I love you enough to listen to you and see you happy with another person" He smiled, showing his confidence on the feeling. Inside he wasn't that sure about it, but he did love enough for the both of them.
Suki lowered her eyes in shame, not being able to reciprocate the feeling. She was attracted to him, but as much as she tried to see a working future with him, nothing ever showed up. "It's not like I'm the best at making decision anyway" She mocked herself.
"Well, I should probably put this to the laundry and wash my face" She said blushing, still moved by his former boss words. Zuko nodded and helped her up, brushing a loose hair behind her ear.
"Take care, I'll search for Toph again" He said turning at the door, leaving the door open so he could see him putting on a shirt.
"Be careful" She said watching him go out, feeling less anxious about meeting Sokka in a few days. It could lead to them talking it over and not splitting at all, he admitted the feeling and that's a good lead…she hoped.