The siblings fell asleep on the shared bed, as they used to when feeling sad after their father left them. The sun streaks on his face made him remember the unusual wave of heat that was in the room, yawning as he opened his eyes.
Katara was already gone, the smell of her perfume made it evident some type of reunion would happen later on the day.
As his usual morning routine, Sokka walked confidently towards the door until he heard two pair of giggles, making his heart jump briefly. Two days in with the break up and as much as he tried to play it cool at being friends, he was a terrible one.
"It's alright…just flow" he whispered sighing, opening the door. He would be caught dead first before making another scene.
The living room was turned into a training ground, as a free for all match was held with Suki and Zuko winning against Toph and Aang. As he inspected the area, he noticed none of them where using any type of bending, only force.
He sat on the small table, pouring himself some warm tea he would normally not reach for and tried to ignore the situation.
"Someone is grumpy today" Toph screamed as she dodged Zuko's fist, counter attacking. Sokka rolled his eyes and decided to focus on the weird flavor he smelled on the cup. He chugged, feeling fresh as the mint refreshed him.
Aang stopped to salute him until strong hands tapped his shoulder, making him move the rest of his body.
"Hey! I was saying hi!" Aang said frowning, before smiling at seeing the energetic leader go towards him.
"Your bad! Morning Sokka!" Suki said towards him smiling briefly before concentrating against the Avatar, both dodging each other, dancing as their styles were evenly matched without bending.
He would lie if he didn't feel his stomach drop with a small dose of butterflies.
"Morning" He replied following her figure, knowing she was way too focused to notice he replied.
"We have some business to finish in 3 days, so get ready to pamper yourself and be normal" Toph mocked as she evaded a kick Zuko launched "Topic: Our new city!"
Sokka grabbed his face thoughtfully, a small smile growing on him as he could focus on something other than seeing himself being replaced by the firelord.
"It will be in the King's hall" Zuko said finally neutralizing Toph, as she grumbled and stomped in defeat. He turned to him with a serious face, his usual sour. "All of the nations representants must be there"
Sokka wasn't sure if he said it to put more pressure or as a warming with what might happen: Electra would be present in the same room as Suki. Not that Suki wasn't professional, but it would be a kick to the guts.
"Sure, I don't have anything else to do" Sokka said walking to the kitchen and search for Katara, his mood was souring as fast as his hunger grew. "Where's Tara?"
Aang and Suki stopped fighting, being a tie as both were starting to get tired. No one answered Sokka and it annoyed him, as he unsuccessfully tried to find some leftovers. He hear the bickering between Zuko and Toph and his friends laughs who halted from time to time.
He had no idea how to cook something that wasn't meat, and to his luck, his beef jerky had expired. Something burnt was on the trash and he could imagine he wasn't the only one with bad luck on the kitchen.
He pulled some rice out of the bag, trying to remember how his sister made it on their traveling days. He saw plenty of spices and wasn't sure if the fire should be that high, but he would be the only one to eat it so it couldn't be that bad.
"Let me help"
Suki nudged him away from the spices and grabbed two that to him, where exactly the same. She got close to the cauldron and smiled, reaching for more water that was nearby before putting the spices.
"Can you lend me a spoon?" She asked without looking, as he almost tumbled to give it to her. She effortlessly started mixing all of it, and the rice finally smelled of how he liked it. His stomach growled making her giggle.
"Thanks, I was…a bit lost" He said staring at the pot, unsure if the motive was his hunger or shyness around her.
"I thought so, you spent too much time here alone. We all already ate" She replied as she kept blending the rice. "Watch it for 3 to 5 minutes and then it's ready to serve"
Sokka noticed she was looking at his face, timidly pulling up his eyes to meet hers. He couldn't tell this time is she was nervous or the heat on the kitchen was too high, as her cheeks were tinted red.
"Good luck" She finally said placing the spoon in his hand and walking away, his heartbeat fluttering as their hands touched. Something he would be dead admitting, as much as everybody knew.
"Wait… You know were Katara is?" He asked, trying to spend more time alone with her. She froze, coughing a bit.
"She went to the North to bring here the last members missing on the table" Suki said as neutral as she could, walking away into the living room.
Sokka was sure that his rice was now burnt, as the delicious smell moments before was now replaced with an ashy one.
"You did great" Suki thought to herself, trying to look as neutral as she could while sitting beside Zuko, who chilled on the floor.
"You kind of forgot about the tea" Zuko mocked with a small smile, as Suki replied with expertise.
"There are no more leafs in the kitchen, so no more mint tea" She said with a fake sad voice as Zuko closed his eyes, enjoying the perks of not doing anything at all.
His uncle was right that day, when he advised him to just enjoy doing nothing. Suki played with a piece of paper on her hand, trying to make some type of figurine with it. The noise it made soothed him, a reason that made his meetings too boring.
The smell of burnt rice filled his nose, smirking.
"You didn't help Sokka, did you?" He asked not bothering to look at her, knowing well that her answer was a big no.
"If I helped him his rice wouldn't be burnt right now" She said laying down on the floor, gazing at the ceiling. Being close to him relaxed her, not completely as she had to stay on guard, but being in the upper ring had it's perks. She laid the small penguin on her stomach.
If the other three people on the house were, at least outside, Zuko would call this a date. As much as his feelings were being buried under, he couldn't help to keep pinning down on her. After all, they hadn't had a proper date and what better place to experience a first time than Ba Sing Se?
He frowned and sighed, remembering his own promise. She would let him know, Suki would made that decision. If not, being her shoulder to cry on was enough. "I lied to myself for so long with other dumb things, this can't be that hard" He thought. His heart, however, could not control itself as he heard Suki's breathing pattern.
Similar to how peaceful she would look sleeping. He opened one eye to peek at her, who was still looking at the ceiling, lost in thoughts. He looked at the penguin who was moving.
"What is that?" He asked, stretching an arm to hold it close to his face. Suki turned around, a brief smile gracing her mouth before closing her eyes.
"A penguin. I…I used to do this figurines as a girl…" She said with a hint of nostalgia, making Zuko roll his body to put more attention. She opened her blue violet eyes, blinking softly and killing his seriousness, charmed by her face.
"Mhmm?" He muttered, trying to distract his thoughts with the figurine. "I only saw them on the books. Do they swim to Kyoshi for fish?" He talked, trying to keep the topic as Suki grabbed the penguin from him.
"No, I have never seen one. I made it with how Sokka described them" She smiled as she put the penguin back on her stomach. "He said they would mount them, sliding."
Zuko looked at her mid riff, where the penguin laid. He blushed at some flashbacks of her views, as Suki coughed.
"Are you feeling well?" Zuko asked looking back at her, his blush not dying at all.
"Are you? Your face is red" She mocked, he smirked and rolled his eyes, flirting a bit.
"My face is always red, remember?" He said gesturing to his scar, feeling comfortable to joke about it with her, only.
"Fair point" She said, looking again at the ceiling. "What are we going to do today, firelord Zuko?" She asked as he lost himself on her face, trying to treasure as much as he could these moments.
"Just, stay here, the next days will be busy" He replied, not trying to be more obvious, rolling to his initial position, his arms behind his neck to relax.
Suki couldn't help but peak at his physique, he had to know what he was doing with that. After all, the arms were one of her favorite male body parts. She would have wanted to concentrate on him, but the thought of her dear friend, Electra, coming to Ba sing Se was keeping her a bit on edge.
Sokka, feeling nauseous at having to eat burnt rice, saw the pair on the floor, a spike of jealousy shot him as he remembered how close he used to be with her. He rolled his eyes and walked towards Toph's room, he felt her stare but ignored it.
He knocked twice, as Toph didn't bother to open it, he let himself in. The girl was already playing with some Jenamite on her table, sighing.
"What? Can't you see I'm busy?" She said not turning around, still playing with the candy.
"I am bored and hungry, can I have some?" He asked, walking to grab one until Toph punched him in the gut, hurting him.
"What the hell?! You could have just said no" Toph huffed, pulling away the candy.
"This is not the Jenamite you know. It has poison in it" Toph said showing him various fragments in a container. "I found it and have been inspecting it"
Sokka looked at the container with curiosity, his inspector hat and monocycle already on him. He smiled at having something else to focus, trying to ignore the whole scene in the main room.
"Where did you find it? It is amazing! For us to investigate of course. You're like a vigilante" He said jokingly, kneeling beside her. An uncomfortable look in Toph face appeared, he was unsure if it was from the closeness or the topic.
He sat instead on her bed, watching her separate the metal from the candy. He was intrigued on how they managed to get towards the daofei and it's business. It had to be an Earth Kingdomn citizen…or a refugee. So he could ask her or Zuko.
He rather ask her.
"Where did you get it?" He said more seriously, Toph let out a frustrated sigh, pouring the last of the metal in the container.
"I found it, I didn't seek out of my way to get it" She explained, biting her lip. Sokka was clumsy, but not oblivious.
"Who tried it?" He asked more seriously, Aang's letter of how Suki leaned heavily on alcohol had worried him that time, now the situation seemed more serious. "Tell me"
Toph stood up and walked out of the room, annoyed and unsure on how to keep the conversation. She didn't want to be, again, the one spilling out the beans in what Suki does or doesn't do. She is her big sister, feminine,yet, a skilled warrior. She had loyalties.
Suki and Zuko were laying on the floor, perfect for her. As she levitated a rock and threw it to her sisters face, she opened a fan and let it crash over there. She sat half way up and squinched her eyes annoyed, until she saw Sokka right behind her.
Suki did her best to ignore his sight on her, mouthing to Toph. She almost face palmed herself, Toph can't see her mouthing.
"Jenamite" That's the only thing Toph told her, suspecting Suki's shocked face. Sokka's disappointed face would be the last ugly thing she would see before dying, or so she felt in that moment. Zuko sat by her side and whispered if she felt alright. It was a kept secret between all of those involved.
"What with it?" She feigned innocence, something that wasn't well trained, as her eyes tended to get big and her pitch a bit lower. Sokka walked towards them, his face showing compassion.
She didn't want any of it, she didn't ask for him.
"You tried it?" He asked sitting in front of her, also doing his best to ignore the other wheels in the room. His tone didn't show hurt or anger, but rather sadness at the situation.
If the answer was yes, Sokka knew then that his decision was the best for both of them.
"Why are we talking about this?" Suki deflected standing up and grabbing her fan, not bothering to put any armor. She ran out of the house, forgetting her duty, as fast as she could, her heartbeat through the skies as the memories of what she hallucinated came back.
Sokka this time, didn't follow her. He looked at the boy who was about to.
"Tell me, please" He begged, stopping him. His face sincere and worried. "What happened in those days"
Zuko gulped, feeling as a traitor. His crush ran away from the conversation for a reason, feeling cornered. He couldn't deny he felt worried since the day she drunkenly told him that she wanted to die.
"We should go somewhere more private" He said standing up and walking outside, Sokka followed right behind him, determined to find out all the misadventures they dealt with.
The tea arrived sooner than she expected. She wasn't a big fan of tea that wasn't mint for the sole reason that her father loved all of them, except her mint tea. It became her safe space while brewing leafs, cooking, cleaning and playing the happy family.
Being the less known member of the gaang had her benefits. None of her friends would be left alone at this hour, and she had a lot to think about.
It felt the right moment to put her life into perspective. As much as she loved being carefree and just binging into whatever drug she could, that would break her vows as a Kyoshi warrior, a big part in her personality.
"I think we need to search for ourselves first before being together again" She remembered how his eyes died a little bit when saying that. She drank it, having second thoughts about who she was and what she wanted.
Her thumbs caressed the sides of the cup, unsure of how to deal with her needs and wants. How could she be so sure she wanted a family?
She didn't have one as a child, as much as she tried it and it crumbled.
She couldn't promise the same thing wouldn't happen to her own children. Is she even capable of bearing one?
Does Sokka want children?
She shook her head at Sokka's name. "Now is not the time for him, is for me" She thought drinking again. The warm liquid oddly reminded her of alcohol, and if it didn't cure how she felt, it did made her forget momentarily.
About all. The war, the balloons, Sokka, her family.
"I don't think I'll have the pleasure to call the gaang my friends, again" She thought feeling sad about losing Toph's and Aang company. Katara still scared her, even if the girl had apologized.
She let out a heavy sight. At least she had her sisters.
But again, what would she have if one day she couldn't keep being a warrior?
She watched the busy streets in the lower ring, where her face full of misery was a common one, all of them buried in their thoughts. She somehow thought this time she would be celebrating with him, how their ideas helped build a new city. A new beginning, just like they talked that day he came back for her.
Now it felt as if she was tolerating everything, going with the flow, the norm: You're a warrior, stay a warrior, be on duty, try to keep your relationships, ignore the dreading feeling, train.
She leaned on her chair, looking at the small puddle in the floor.
"You look like shit"
Suki looked upwards and saw Karina, sitting in her off duty armor. She was tight on how a Kyoshi warrior should act and be, always being on edge. A year older than her and yet, she personally gave the title up.
"I feel like one" Suki replied smiling, inviting her to sit down. "Did something happen?"
"Yes, that's why I am here" Karina said sitting down, opening her fan to cool herself "You seem so out of yourself, since that incident"
Suki chugged the last of the tea, making Karina open her eyes barely before putting a straight face again.
"Right" She only managed to reply, a nervous smile plastered on her face.
"Boys, I know. They break your hearts" Karina said smiling "I used to have my fair amount of fans"
Suki giggled at the ugly joke, remembering how most of the boys in the town would die for her. Karina was the hot thing in Kyoshi, normally, when the new leader was announced to be her, most of the boys flipped over.
Not that the group cared, as they were an exclusive elite team of girls. Until, of course, Sokka was taught their ways.
"Look at me, drinking tea at the lower ring with my old pal" Karina continued, flicking her eyes. "Tell me your woes"
"You don't have to act like a mother figure, I think I can figure myself out"
"I didn't say you couldn't do that" Karina replied, eyeing her with glee. She had read her, again.
Suki crossed her arms and looked at her fan, unwillingly frowning.
"I…am just not sure who I am, after all" Suki whispered, feeling odd. Karina got closer, putting both of her hands on her chin for support. "This past year my life was a rollercoaster, emotionally talking. I even failed that time on duty"
Suki looked at her gentle eyes, feeling secure to tell her about retiring a bit earlier than usual. Because she was a leader, she could do that.
"I have been told something that has my mind racing: What if I am more than this?" She said scared, her voice breaking. Karina raised and eyebrow with curiosity. Suki could tell she already knew what she meant, but didn't voice it.
"Maybe I…need something else" She concluded, her voice trailed off as she looked at the straight face of her friend, who had rearranged her position.
"Maybe you should stop listening to what everyone tells you" Karina easily concluded, ordering a tea for herself. Suki looked perplexed, feeling stupid at confiding.
"What?"
"Are you hearing yourself? This is obviously not the same girl who trained all of her breathing moments with her fans, building herself and gaining enough courage to move towards the war" She continued, putting her arm in the table to lean on.
"Of cour.."
"I am not finished" She interrupted, with seriousness. Suki bowed apologizing, the eight year old in herself feeling terrified of how Karina looked when angered. "As much as I have expected you to be different after all that has happened to you, I don't think leaving the lead of the Kyoshi warriors would be something you or Sokka want"
"What does he…"
A simple stare was enough to shush her, frowning harder.
"Sokka is the guy who has been a big influence on how you act. Not only because you are a dork and obviously fell hard for him" Karina continued with a smile, still feeling giddy about her leader being boy crazy "But because you admired something in him"
"Perhaps"
"Now, if he doesn't know who he actually is, it doesn't mean you are lost too. Everyone has issues to work on themselves, that doesn't mean we have to turn our lives in a different direction to appreciate what we have right now"
Now that sparked some thoughts inside Suki. Was he gaslighting her?
"Sokka might mean no harm, but you can't stop your life for someone who is not sure what he is. Maybe you are meant to be a warrior, maybe not, but it's not something he determines. You do, whenever you are alone and want to do something…what you run to?"
"Trainning, of course. I need to be sharp" Suki replied immediately, thinking through how maybe she wasn't that bad. Of course, Karina didn't know about the darkening, at least not yet.
"But, if you do something to fill a void, that's the way directly to failure" Karina reminded, as Suki though on how hard she tried to play a docile girlfriend, at least she thought in retrospective.
Always caring about him, cooking, cleaning, not confiding enough in him to the point where the support was one sided. He wasn't selfish, maybe young and thoughtless.
It still didn't made sense why seeing other girls would fill his void.
Her eyes grew in knowledge as Karina smiled.
"Sokka is trying to replace his mom, that's why he is like he is?" She questioned in her mind.
"I think your brain started working again" Karina said sipping her tea "Now, do you really want to give up being a warrior?"
"Of course not" Suki said more cheerfully "It's my dream and duty to protect my island and family"
Both girls smiled, standing up and rushing outside the teahouse. Suki already paying for both teas as she was the one with the money.
The balcony in the kings room was enough privacy for the two young adults. Crossing his arms on his chest, the water tribe boy waited for the fire lord to speak, anxious of the story that might unleash on his imagination.
"The days on the ship were hard for all of us, as the boredom was enormous. Now, I don't know what was the last impression you left on her, but it wasn't a happy one. She chugged like a lot of the most experienced sailors"
Sokka would have laughed and screamed -That's my girl!- in other occasion. Now was not the time.
"One incident in particular left me thinking that, you, were really a weight on her" Zuko said with his golden eyes looked at the view in front of them. "She was carefree, smiling and seconds later, she was on the decks, alone, just with her eyes closed, by the edge"
His mind made a hundred tragic scenarios, he tensed his knuckles trying to hold back his own bad thoughts.
"She told me she was blue and that she would die happily…if she imagined I was you" Zuko said upset, not liking being compared to his companion. Sokka's face was different, his straight look dropped to a sad one.
"She did miss me a lot, huh?" Sokka though out loud while Zuko frowned.
"Of course she did, she is in love with you. Still. She begged me to kiss her, a lot of times, so she would imagine you were with her"
Sokka's cheeks flushed red with anger, at the thought of Zuko and Suki sharing more than a simple kiss in their state. Who would have stopped them of happening? Zuko coughed, looking more annoyed than him.
"Nothing happened, but it worried me of what she thought of doing alone. I promised you I would take care of her, and as much as I tried to get closer, she would push me away"
His blue eyes burned with anger, unsure if it was towards his friend or himself. He was the catalyst, even if he wasn't centered around all of her problems. But he could have helped too.
"One day she just asked me to retire earlier, that she didn't feel well. My duties forbid me to go with her but I should have insisted on one of her friends to go with her" Zuko said disappointed, as Sokka leaned again on the wall.
"She would have been angry if you or someone else followed her" Sokka reminded with a sour smile.
"Still, when we arrived home…on Agni, it was the scariest day of my life" Zuko said vividly, pushing both hands towards his sleeves, nervous. Sokka got closer to him, the curiosity and dread of knowing how much it affected her.
He placed a hand on his shoulder, taking Zuko out of his thoughts. He gulped and continued talking.
"She was dying. Toph barely kept her alive. I broke several ribs as I performed the only technique I was taught to keep her breathing. When she came back she was so tired and lifeless, as if another person was inside her" Zuko recalled, closing his eyes at the image of her laying still on the bed flashed in his mind.
Sokka licked his lips, a sign of his nervousness. He suddenly felt the urge to cough loudly, almost to puke. He knew better, as it was another sign of the darkness appearing from all the events that lead to a broken girl.
One he made sure to do, unfortunately.
"For days she couldn't talk, she was so sore from screaming in her drugged state, her broken ribs didn't help either. Toph was the one who didn't let us check up on her frequently, as she still tried to feel if any of that poison was inside her. She bowed to never do it again but it still scared us"
Zuko finished talking, moving out of Sokka's grip. He had omitted some details Suki confided in her, such as her encountering her dead father, Yue and his carcass. Sokka sensed this but decided he had heard enough of the story, he wanted to throw the book out and move on.
But as all the events in one's life, this was another lesson to him. Not only he failed to protect those he loved but he also made them hurt themselves.
"Man, I am lost on what to do with my life" Sokka confided again, his shoulders dropping at disappointment. Zuko was shocked but quickly recovered his expression, inviting him to sit on the table.
He sat and kept staring at the table and not the firelord, unsure on how to continue talking in his incapacity to grow up. Zuko already knew some of the problem, but couldn't pin point what went wrong in his friend since the war ended.
They were just different people, in better or worse ways.
"I just…know it. That I love her but I don't feel okay if she loves me back" Sokka admitted, his heart on his sleeve as he gulped. Zuko raised an eyebrow, trying hard to not judge him.
"Why?" He asked, composing his face.
"I…I don't want to disappoint any more people. At first it was just excuses to not meet each other, if you lower your expectations anything you do is great" Sokka said timidly, not his best tactic to date. "Then I tried to get her out of my mind. I thought breaking up would be good for both of us: I'll get to hang around as she waited for me and I know that was the dumbest ever thing I have ever planned so let me finish"
Sokka warned him, knowing how much Zuko loathed him for pulling that trick on their friend. His new feelings didn't help lower the urge of crisping him for only that, but he hated that Suki still wanted him, so Zuko tolerated it.
"Then when we separated, I proposed to her, I didn't want to completely lose her again" He said as Zuko's eyes grew in amazement. "But in the North…I talked to Yue, and she made me realize that maybe, the person I am isn't my complete form"
"Of course it isn't, you need help" Zuko said missing entirely that Yue showed up to him "Both of you"
"And I will try to get it at republic city but…whenever Suki is out of sight is out of heart. This girl from the North…it just clicked. I felt as an equal to her but then she said something…"
Zuko tried his hardest not to roll his eyes. Typical Sokka being a heartbreaker, player and more obscene adjectives he didn't have the time to dwell in.
"That both of us had holes in our hearts and that's the reason we would never last. As if stating that was my problem" He concluded "Then I broke up with Suki and here I am, feeling worse than before because I miss her and wish I could hold her and…be better"
"Wishing isn't enough" Zuko replied looking tired "You had what…a year? To change, to prove your honor and yet… a girl bats her eyelashes and you fall?"
It stinged the way Zuko worded it, but it was the truth. It wasn't the first time he heard it after all. "I just don't know how to control it"
"You have to. Otherwise, any relationship is doomed" He stated looking away, his posture firm. Sokka couldn't reply, specially after knowing Electra was coming back.
"You're lucky to have your uncle, that time we talked it helped me until…this darkness took over me. He told me something after I was chained…I used to just shove down my emotions and that…made me a highly emotional guy. Even if I don't properly explore it"
Zuko was curious about that
"How could you explore it?" Zuko asked, looking at him again. Sokka's blue eyes were vulnerable, as the first time he talked about his mother passing away.
"Letting myself go in my emotions, whether they be love, hate, happiness, sadness…I guess to feel. That's why it was hard for me to break up with Suki. I love her, even if I let myself go. And I know she deserves better, that's why I don't have enough aspiration to be in the future with her"
"I think you are giving up" Zuko replied
"Why? You haven't mess up with her as much as I have. She was such a nice, optimistic, strong girl. I feel like a ruined her" Sokka said closing his eyes "It is for the best"
"I think the same thing, but…She still loves you. You should make a decision with her, not for her" Zuko replied trying to put himself in Suki's shoes.
"See? I am selfish. I am a jerk and an ass. Maybe hanging out as a friend is a better option"
"She won't wait for you"
"You have been active in making me know that, bust a move then" Sokka answered bitter, he knew better than anyone that Zuko could easily replace him.
But that decision would be left for Suki to choose. Zuko gulped, unsure of that statement.
"Are you really giving up? Just pushing her away?" The firelord asked curiously. Puzzled, but curious.
"She's not my property" Sokka replied "If I have to charm her again, I will"
It seemed as a war declaration, but Zuko decided to let it go. After all, they would all return to their own duties. Signing the new country was due and Suki would go back to the Earth Kingdom or Kyoshi Island.
Nothing to look forward.
"And Electra? Are you going to date her?" Zuko asked, trying to prepare for a future heartbreak.
Sokka was quiet, thinking about it. His hands roamed at the edge of the balcony, until he hit the marmol.
"I will not, at least not for love" He said "I will not" he repeated, trying more to convince himself than Zuko, who sighed, wishing they would just get over with.
Katara was on her way back to Ba Sing Se with Electra, who had tried several times to break the ice, failing each time harder.
Family? Alright, Boyfriend? Can we talk about anything but boys?! Work? That is to be discussed on the table, tomorrow
She was unusually unpolite with the woman, and the more she tried to ignore her, the harder she would try to get on her good side.
La, someone have mercy on the younger sibling, who wanted to read the heck out of her.
"So Katara, how is your brother doing? He was…lost the last time we talked" She asked, fetching her notebook to draw Appa's Tail.
Katara shifted her position, annoyed at having to answer her.
"He is doing better, you could ask him yourself when we arrive" She bluntly answered, hearing a sigh from the older girl.
"Did I do something to you? You are unusually cold" Electra asked, her voice neutral.
"Maybe not to me" Katara whispered as she took a deep breath to answer "You didn't do anything, I'm just focused on riding Appa"
She heard her carefully stroll towards her, holding onto Appa's fur to be closer to her. Katara was now frowning, not wanting to be upfront of being angry at her for breaking her brother's relationship.
"You are not. Is this about your brother? Are you overprotective too?" Electra asked teasing until the younger girl shot her a dirty look, straightening her.
"I am not overprotective. You know what you did" She replied, looking towards her side, not to her.
"I didn't do anything he didn't want to. Why is this so important? Is this about your friend…"
"Yes Electra, he was in a relationship, it doesn't mean anything to you?" Katara replied angry, turning around completely to see the girl smirking.
"It doesn't. I don't love him, he doesn't love me either. A kiss is not more than that" She said smiling "And he is too inmature"
"That's part of his charm! Don't be too cocky or I'll throw you out of Appa" Katara said angry, trying to defend his brother's honor.
"Whatever, if we are talking about a friendship, Sokka really is the best. As a partner? Oof"
Water hit her face and mouth, making her gag and spit it. She coughed, making Katara giggle.
"You were saying?" She teased with more water in her hand
"Whatever, I like Suki too you know? She is really cute" Electra said drying herself with her blanket. "But I don't think they are meant to be together"
"So you helped him realize that? How benevolent of you" Katara mocked rolling her eyes, stroking Appa's fur to calm herself. More time alone and she might actually like her!
"You know it too. They need to grow, specially Sokka"
Katara didn't reply anything about that, stating it, apart of being obvious, was a waste of breath. It was Sokka's own decision in what to do and love. Only if his path became increasingly dark, she would intervene.
But with the information Aang gave her, Suki would be the one to be on the watch list.
Electra laid down annoyed, trying to catch some sleep before arriving at the big city. The reunion with her crush and Suki was going to be rough, to say the least. She had two options: Hide behind the avatar or confront a broken hearted Kyoshi warrior.
Both were incredibly humiliating, but in physical combat she had the losing point.
And she didn't hate Suki, on the contrary she admired her: Being someone strong and feminine was something so unique in the North that the moment she met her, she had to taste her. Something she would be dead for in her tribe.
But if she had to choose her cards, she would have to play it safely: An arranged marriage or a successful career in politics. That included having a nice relationship with both councilmans in charge that arranged themselves to her plan.
Love doesn't win wars, but strategy does.
Zuko and Sokka were planning to train the day after the confrontation. Sokka felt out of shape with his sword skills and Zuko was feeling benevolent at the house, as they walked towards the main room, a smell filled them. Suki was cooking something with a recipe, it seemed, a long book scattered on the floor where a page was marked. Sokka with his natural curiosity, took the book and read what was she trying to do.
Sea Prunes Watertribe Style
List of Ingredients
"What? I don't remember this having any spice" Sokka whispered as Zuko entered the kitchen to help. Sokka felt useless, and if he was honest, envious of the time they spent as friends.
La, he wanted to be that friend too!
So he opted to enter the kitchen with Zuko and Suki, who calmly chatted about their duties and what would they be doing at home in this same moment.
"Hello jerks, what are you doing?" Sokka joked as Zuko frowned and Suki looked at him with curiosity.
"Fetching us some new dinner, I hope you don't mind being a part of it" Suki played back with a wink as she grabbed a dangerously sharped knife.
"I thought that dish you are following had some spice, something hot as…this dance-bender" He joked poking Zuko, the older boy grunting.
"You will never let that go will you?" Zuko asked a bit annoyed, but happy to interact with the three of them, normally, as friends.
"Let go of what?" Suki asked looking at both boys "Dance-bender as if the form you showed me the other day?"
Oh no
Sokka laughed until he noticed both were blushing, quickly putting two and two together. That day probably something had happened? He gazed at both who just ignored each other, Suki focusing on the food and Zuko trying to hide his face.
"Yeah, the dragon dance" Zuko awkwardly replied, grabbing Suki's fan to cool himself. "Is the spice too hot? Or is it getting hot in here?"
"I thought benders could control their body temperature" Sokka said grimly, gulping some darkness.
"No, it is getting hot" Suki said lowering the fire from the cauldron in the room "Spices makes you rise your body temperature, I'm sure by your reaction you have never been in the kitchen Zuko"
Sokka still eyed the two of them, trying his best to ignore whatever the dragon dance had reminded them of. He got close to where Suki and the food was, looking at the sea prunes who where now in a light purple.
"This doesn't look like the ones Gran Gran does….but I'm sure it's worth trying" Sokka said smiling, trying to grab a spoon until Suki's hand smacked him. "Ouch! What was that for?"
"It's not done yet! Haven't you seen those prunes are still raw?" Suki scolded him, as Zuko leaned too.
"I think that's the normal way to eat them" Zuko said pulling one out of the soup, inspecting the prune. "Right Sokka?"
"Yeah, they are usually that color and…" He reached to Zuko's spoon, squishing the sea prune "This texture"
He quickly munched it as Suki saw in horror, Sokka's face quickly flushing red as the spice hit a sensible part of his palate. Zuko smirked already fetching some water.
"That was absolutely disgusting to watch" Suki said gagging, "Those were still raw!"
"Watahhh" Sokka said fanning himself with his hand, Suki got a clue and grabbed her own fan to help Sokka's mouth. Zuko came back with ice and water, lending it to him. He chugged it and it still felt hot!
"This is not working!" Sokka said almost tip toing from the heat. "How in earth do you eat this kind of spice?"
"It's not that hot" Zuko said grabbing a bit of the soup and sipping it, a mild sensation of burning in his throat. "Yeah, you still missed a bit of that Paprika" He told Suki who looked clueless at the exchange.
"Let me fetch you some milk" Suki said running outside the house where a milkman used to go by, quickly coming back with a fresh bottle.
"You run fast" Zuko stated watching Sokka chug the milk
"Don't chug it or you will puke!" Suki scolded him as she tried to focus on what Zuko said. "Of course I run fast, without me you wouldn't even be here"
As Sokka's palate died down, he laughed at her sassiness. Remembering how dumbstruck he felt at seeing her fly above the walls of the Boiling Rock.
"Yeah, you looked so…" He stopped his daydreaming in front of them, trying to think in another adjective that wasn't as suggestive as the original "athletic?"
"Thanks Sokka" Suki smiled back, looking at his blushed face. "Now let's eat some sea prunes, it's my first time!"
"Oh you are going to have an…"
"-Awesome time!"
"-Horrible time"
Both boys stared at each other in competition, Sokka casually smirking at Zuko, who stared back annoyed.
"Let's sit down and see how it tastes"
Sokka helped Suki set the table as Zuko prepared some tea, courtesy of the house, to calm his friends hotness. As they sat and thanked for the food, both boys watched expectantly how her pale face would turn red, or gag in the case she chewed the sea prune.
Suki finally put one sea prune in her mouth, when a loud crunch was heard, her blue-violet eyes grew enormous. Both boys smiled, not knowing what caused the reaction at all. She tried to play it cool.
She had eaten a lot of more disgusting and squirmish things back at home and on the road to Ba Sing Se, how can a single sea prune taste so so disgusting? It didn't help she had mixed the recipe with a spicyness from the fire nation.
Needless to say, Suki was jumping on her toes as both boys held their laughs, trying to make her drink the tea without throwing up all the food at them. The night went on with Zuko gagging, Sokka drinking a lot more than usual and Suki making amusing faces as she tried not to gag or scream.
As they finished the serving, they stared blankly at their plates, Sokka laughing first at how stupid they all had looked. Suki followed, grabbing her tummy in pain as Zuko mimicked her.
"How about some shots?" Suki suggested with a sincere smile. She had missed her friends. The three of them interacting without drama. If the boys weren't so stupidly in love with her, they would have agreed.
Until Toph heard it and came running to the table.
"Yes! Let's get wasted! This house was getting boring anyway" She said sitting beside Sokka. Suki grinning and going to the kitchen to fetch the glasses and the liquor.
Sake. "That is a strong one" Sokka thought looking lost at Suki's face. The woman was oblivious at him gazing, as she told the rules from the game she played with her friends back at Kyoshi.
"You lie, triple shot. You dodge, two shots. You accept the dare, you give the shot to someone else. Simple" She said proudly, as Toph clapped in excitement.
"Oh man, Ty Lee would be really fun to play this with" Toph said already thinking about the dares and questions she would said.
"Who starts?" Zuko asked, spinning a bit the liquid in his shot.
"The newbie first" Suki said gesturing towards Sokka, who stopped daydreaming and looked at Toph.
"Truth or Dare?" He asked, as Toph grinned.
"Truth" She smirked, as Suki rolled her eyes.
"Do you like that guy from the festival?" He innocently asked, until he realized they couldn't know for sure if Toph was telling the truth.
"Nope" She replied with a light tint in her cheeks, making the trio grin.
"I hope my sight is not failing me" Suki mocked as Toph's blush grew "But is the great Beifong blushing?"
"I am not!" She replied annoyed, frowning and trying her best to hide behind her hair.
"Oh, I get it. You put on some make up then?" Sokka continued as he received a punch in his stomach. "Oof, you are still strong"
"Of course jackass, my turn!" Toph said grinning, "Payback idiots"
They waited patiently for her to speak. The mind and experiences of Toph made her an interesting drinking buddy.
"Zuko, truth or dare!"
"Shit" Zuko muttered, not wanting to get that wasted before the big day "Dare I guess"
He knew she would dare him to either kiss Suki, say his love for Suki, made a dumb of himself or said something idiotic.
"Sure. I dare you to kiss Sokka and Suki on the lips, at the same time" She smirked
Toph wished she could have seen their faces, as their hearts halted at the mention of a threeway kiss.
"W-what?" Suki asked red in her face, drowning in her shot. Sokka followed and coughed, the burning sensation not helping him relax.
"I am not doing that" Zuko said drinking fast his first shot, grabbing the bottle and chugging it. "There! I drank"
"You are boring" Toph said laughing out loud. "I am sure if the dare was either with Ty Lee or…"
"Anyways! Sokka, truth or dare?" Suki interrupted blushing, not thinking about anything in particular for her to ask or dare. Sokka shrugged.
"Dare, let's make this fun" He said grinning. Suki thought quickly what she could make him do.
"I dare you to land a punch in Toph"
"He wishes" Toph said immediately dodging one towards her stomach, Sokka blinked in amusement.
"You really have been training" He said still trying to land one, Toph immediately bended him on the floor.
"I guess you will have to drink Mr. Councilman" She said grabbing more sake and giving it to him. Sokka rolled his eyes, chugging it.
It was a strong liquor. He had eaten and the alcohol started doing it's own thing, the tipsiness showing in how loud he laughed at some jokes or how easy going he seemed to be with the group.
Suki wasn't far behind, being far more wasted as she started dancing and at times, trying to do stunts in her state. Zuko was quieter than usual, his eyelids wanting to close the less he paid attention to the group.
Toph was loud and funny, grabbing all the attention, following Suki with her dancing or telling the amazing stories.
"There was one time this idiot said Avatar Kyoshi appeared, but I honestly don't believe him" Toph said pouring more drinks.
"No way! How is this the first time I am being told this?!" Suki exclaimed grabbing Sokka by his collar. Sokka blushed and did a big, goofy smile.
"You didn't ask! She was terrifying" He admitted, too comfortable of the closeness. Even if he could smell the alcohol in Suki's breath.
"Make her appear!" She screamed in his face, tugging harder his shirt. Too hard actually, as she ripped a part of it. Sokka laughed, grabbing the sides of her head and shacking her.
"We. Need. . .Appear" He said slowly as a ditzy Suki sat. She faked a pout and crossed her hands.
"You sure are boring, too boring that Zuko fell asleep already!" She said waking him up, already on guard by the look of his eyes.
"I am not sleepy"
"You sure are" Sokka said laughing, changing sits. He pulled him closer and poured a shot. "Truth or dare?"
"Turth" He said with no emotion, too tired to care for the question or answer. Suki and Toph ears caught it and immediately paid attention to whatever Sokka would ask.
"When did you started liking Suki?" He asked without filter. Realizing it as his blue eyes opened and he babbled, trying to stop him for answering.
Zuko started thinking with a smile. The ex-couple sobered a bit until realizing he didn't care at all sharing it.
"I think it was when we came back from the war. I knew Suki was an excellent fighter after the prison riot. But wooosh" He dreamily said leaning back his head "She literally controlled a ship to save both of you and to fight for her sisters"
Suki blushed crimson, blocking out the blood bath she did to gain control of the ship. Sokka continued listening.
"It wasn't a strong, passionate love until you left. Something still pulled me towards her and…why are we talking about this?" Zuko changed his tone suddenly frowning, a well known face of feeling his privacy breached.
"It is a game" Toph said sobering. "We should sleep, the reunion is tomorrow"
"I do want to keep drinking" Suki whined, her flushed face stating she was beyond her limit "We can't let the open bottle go to waste!"
"I'll help you, common" Sokka said grabbing the bottle and carrying Suki, who let herself be pampered. Zuko's eyes were already closed by the time Toph fake gagged.
"Sparky, are you going to sleep here?" She asked poking him with a nearby fork. Zuko opened his dizzy eyes and walked towards the floor, laying face down and gently snoring. Toph shrugged and walked towards her room, not bothering to change her dirty clothes.
Sokka chugged the rest of the bottle, with Suki stopping him to drink some herself. They giggled like crazy before crashing on her bed, some of the content of the bottle falling into the bed.
"No! My precious!" She said laughing, filling her ears with Sokka's hearty laugh.
"I see you are fine! Nothing to worry about" He said pulling his hair out form the hair tie, gazing at Suki who seemed to be mimicking him. He auburn hair fell framing her face, the color on her cheeks deepening.
"I am your precious?" She asked smiling, her hand instinctively touching his lips. Sokka couldn't help but stare at her: Her face, the way her eyes narrowed as she focused on something, the paleness of her skin and how her muscles could be seen with her clothes.
"You are" He said in a whisper, the alcohol in his body not letting him filter anything. Suki rolled to sit on him, pinning both of his arms above his head. Sokka let her, both of their alcoholic breaths filling the air.
Suki's sight was glorious. His dark skin contrasted amazingly with his eyes, the blue silk sheets making it show even more. She could imagine he was some other water tribe boy, but it wouldn't sit well with her. He was the only one she could want or love.
She pulled her face closer to his, licking the side of his neck up towards his face. The long stroke made Sokka unvoluntary moan in pleasure, shivering. Their state made it hard for them to stop how they reacted to each other. He tried moving his hands to feel her but the grip tightened.
"No" She said before resuming to kiss his neck. Sokka couldn't control his voice, trying only to be as muted as he could, grunting and holding breaths as Suki worked on him. She came back to his face, kissing and licking around his lips to ask for permission. He launched himself, as they desperately kissed each other.
The grinding was taking the pleasure to another level in Sokka, not being able to touch her was something different, feeling close as their motion continued, just having her above her was a good incentive. As he was about to let himself go, something made him sober, freezing him.
Suki noticed how stiff he had become and she rolled by his side, tired and drunk. She drifted to sleep, thinking he had already fell exhausted. Sokka on the contrary, was fighting his urge to sleep because of the situation, slouching himself off the bed.
He looked back at Suki who laid on her side, peacefully sleeping with her lipstick brushed. He smiled and continued walking, bumping into the frames of the house until he reached Katara's room, opening it and collapsing into the floor after closing the door.
"I kissed her.." He said dreamily before finally relaxing, unaware of the day he will have next morning.