How could someone be so loyal to one lady when there was so many beautiful girls all over the continent?
Flirting never hurt anybody, tip toing but never crossing the line just to feel...something. That feeling you would only get whenever you opened a fresh beef jerky or saw the moon was full in the night. Sometimes sertonine, sometimes adrenaline he missed since the war ended.
After all, he would never act on his impulses until he couldn't. Breaking up, having this innocent fun and going back to her wasn't a bad plan in his head. Right?
The problem? You might ask. She is no regular woman.
Women are difficult aren't they? Love, courting and attention was what most of them wanted all the time, and, even if she was one of the most fearsome warriors in the nation, it wouldn't change the way she is.
He sighed with a sheepishly smile. How many times he used to replay that last kiss they had. After all that has happened due to his egoistical choices, he hoped it still made her heart beat fast for him. Being in two different places made things harder as girls finessed him everywhere and he thought it would save her the heartbreak of cheating.
In the end, he was as heartbroken as she was.
"Finally! we're getting close to the palace, I can't wait to catch up with our friends, right Sokka?"
His mind came back to earth while the Avatar just stared at him, expecting some reply. Sometimes he forgets how fast time goes when you travel in a flying bison. The monk continued to stare at him with a smile that became to fade away slowly.
"Yeah..." He dragged the fake enthusiasm, hearing a scoff from Toph "Hey, I need to grab something to eat so I don't get more grumpy than I already am"
"You forgot the point of this trip was because Zuko prepared a whole feast for us?" Katara asked faked shocked "I thought you fancied his dinners"
Toph snickered and Sokka rolled his eyes "Well, I want to walk a little bit to clear my head"
Aang just shrugged and went back to cuddling with his sister, who wanted to say something but bit her tongue. Unfortunately, to Sokka the whole gesture just triggered more pitiful feelings that began to surface. "How I wish Suki would travel with me"
Parking downtown, the trio waved goodbye to Sokka, resuming the last of the journey to complete. With clody eyes and melancholy, his sight and mind began to fade away while he was consumed by a thick dark fog.
He walked mindlessly, taking it's time to get there. He admired how the capital looked at night. Vivid and full of lights with people going out in dates, family spending time looking at the shining stars above them. Most of the time that seemed boring to him, why would anyone spend all their days doing the exact same thing when you can travel and continue to learn new things and cultures?
He could see that point of view now, whenever he felt ready, he would mostly certainly love to do all the boring things couples do on Friday nights.
Entering the store, the smell of all the flowers hit at once, his mind coming back to the annoyed seller behind the counter.
Stuttering at first, Sokka was unable to form a sentence. So he just waved.
"Oh… What do you want?" A bored voice asked, annoyed to be working that late.
Mai looked at him with her usual expression, showing no emotion nor interest in the motive behind the surprise visit.
"I wanted some flowers, well, to buy them obviously." He looked at the different bouquets on display, fancy bright flowers that didn't seem to grow on the nation.
"Wow" She opened her arms, annoyed at the vague reply.
"I hadn't finished….Those behind you." He abruptly cut, unsure why he was that rude with her.
"Why would you give some flowers to the new firel-, Oh, Right…your giving them to his girlfriend" Mai mocked as she placed the bouquet on the counter. Of course Mai would know about the royal gossip.
Sokka just stared at her, unamused to her comments, taking his money out with almost one foot out the store.
"Your flowers" She said sitting on the chair, taking out a knife to play with after picking the money.
Looking at the floor,he began to speed up to arrive at the palace, his mood beginning to sour. "Why would she even insinuate something like that is true? Maybe she was just venting because SOMEONE broke up with Zuko and now is regretting it"
He chuckled at the irony.
The warm wind began to caress his skin, bringing him back to earth. He wished it was cold, but not as cold as his home.
Where is home anyway if your lady isn't by your side.
He looked up to the lights hanging by the street and fire on the lightposts, shining brighter as he started to disassociate. Memories of him running away from enemies and spectating the final fight reminded him the only person that invaded his thoughts lately.
Arriving at the palace, the guards immediately blocked his path. Glaring at them was the only way they knew he could not be stopped to enter the palace, at least not without a fight.
He wasn't in the mood to wait for his friends to open anyway.
"Excuse me sir, I need to deliver this flowers to my beau inside the palace, would you kindly get out of my way before I have to take out my boomerang?" He sarcastically said as the guard rolled his eyes.
"Scram away, you're not the first one trying to impersonate captain boomerang"
"I'm really not in the mood, I'm hungry and I haven't seen my girl. Move. Is an order." Sokka demanded angry, clenching the bouquet as he reached for his bag.
Exchanging nasty stares, the guards took their stance and prepared to fight him. Instead of focusing on their movements, he could only see lights. Numbing his view, a flash of the pleasure of two beautiful violet eyes, glaring amazed at him. Angry.
Was it his mind?
"What are you doing? I thought you wouldn't come."
A small hand touched his shoulder. His face softened and his arms gave away the pressure he was feeling inside. Blinking rapidly, Sokka came back to his senses to see a concerned Ty Lee staring at him.
"They didn't told you I would come? Damn" Sokka faked pain in his chest as Ty Lee smiled awkwardly.
"No…sorry. Today was my day off duty. I just came back from the circus. Some of my friends where there" She explained with a warm smile "Come inside with me! I'm sure those flowers need to breathe in a nice vase with water, away from your grip. "
Sokka gave her the flowers, smiling sheepishly as she tried to rearrange them, and followed her inside to the palace. The lights inside flashed hard at his face, making him walk at times with his eyes semi closed. Ty Lee kept talking about her act and her public, which he just listened without conversating too much, answering with shorts "wow" "really?"
Entering the main hall, he heard people stopping their movements to stare at the pairing. Searching around he didn't seem to find those eyes he yearned so much. "Seems like she skipped dinner today."
"Hey pal! What took you so long?" Aang asked as he grinned looking at the bouquet, loving to see his friends in love and happy. Or he hoped so, worried for both of them.
"Got some flowers for…where's Suki?" He asked before the topic would stray too far from his objective. He was hungry but he was also in a mission.
Zuko stared uncomfortable at Sokka, standing up to get close to him. He gestured a sign for him to follow and he obliged, not without taking the flowers out of Ty Lee hands, thanking her for watching them. The group waved away, staring exchanges with a mixture of worry and nervousness.
The corridor seemed eternal and the awkwardness felt unusual after all they've been through.
"So… You really missed her to skip the feast" Zuko small talked, unable to make eye contact. Sokka mirrored him.
"Yeah… I guess so. It's been some time" He replied, not wanting to go into details he probaly aready knew.
"You should respect her a lot more. Your newfound...fame, is well known over here. She likes to read the paper a lot" Zuko advised with disappointment, relaxing his shoulders as he said it.
Sokka stopped in his steps, glaring hard at the fire lord. He had known they were close, but he wasn't the best in relationships to give any kind of advice or judge him.
"You're the one to talk. You know I would never do that to her, I didn't even tried to get that far when we weren't a couple" Sokka said covering for his past, lying to himself to believeing it.
Zuko turned to face him, finding Sokka with a somber look. Zuko knew that he already heard something about them. It was never meant to happen but it did, forever souring the relationship between them, tension increasing as the boys tried to ignore it for the sake of the group each time they wrote or visited.
Zuko was the first to swallow his pride but replying with a little snark "Mhmm. Make sure she knows that too. Her bedroom is four doors to the left."
Sokka fastened his pace with the feeling of...something rising up again in his body. "How he dared to say that" He though clenching his jaw.
The feeling faded away, replacing it immediately with the bright lights he used to stare at the South Pole. The beauty of them only rivaling the one he was about to face.
He knocked twice. Waiting for any movement or a sound.
Finally footsteps near the door. His heart fastened and his pupils dilated. He needed her. To see how she was.
The door gently opened. Dark, Violet eyes staring right at him, beginning to dilate too. "How gorgeous she is" Her eyes mixed perfectly with the aurora boreal in his head.
Was she even real?
"Sokka?...You really came this time…" She said shocked, scanning him rapidly. Opening the door a bit more to step out.
Her hand reached his cheek, caressing him with the gentleness of silk. He flew to heaven with that small touch from her. Lightheaded, he cupped both sides of her face, taking her by surprise.
"Sokka your flowe-"
Their lips met. Giving in to his impulses. He felt Sukis body tense and relax easily, hugging him from the waist. They moved inside her bedroom, caring less what impression they would give to their friends.
He missed her this whole time. He missed the intoxicating feeling he always tasted when they kissed. The warriors slowly closed the door without breaking too far from each other, continuing the dancing to the side of her bed.
Heat, he could feel it. "Is this how love feels?"
The kissing stopped thanks to Suki falling to her mattress. Her eyes closed, lips partly open, face blushing and erratic breathing.
She was just beggining to change out of her uniform, judging by her clean face. Her frame was concealed with the kimono but not her curves. So visibly in her position, yet, her face always got the most attention from him.
Her eyes slowly opened, fixating on his bright blue eyes with a glee he knew too well.
"I missed you too, chief"
He smiled, feeling renewed and happy. He climbed up on top of her. The kyoshi warrior looked at him surprised, blushing brighter then he could remember she ever has blushed. She began to inspect his face, guiding herself with two fingers.
He closed his eyes and softly gasped. Just being like this aroused him, and she knew that. She knew his weak points. The heat began to rise again inside of him, his instincts guiding him through Suki's face and neck. Softly biting, licking and kissing, hungry from her.
His hand began exploring her torso, carefully avoiding her breast, instead, searching for a way to remove her clothes. She followed grabbing the lower part of his vest, helping him undress. Suki stared at his chiseled body, that dark tanned skin covered in some scars.
Just the sight of him slowed her mind, reaching to one of his pectorals to grasp it. He grinned, resuming to find the way to undo her clothes, asking for permission with just a sight.
She smiled, hiding part of her face with shame. He undid her upper part, exposing her binds. His breath stopped at the sight of her bright and oh so soft skin. His eyes wandered between her breasts and her lips, debating which one to go for first.
"Don't shy away …oh...how gorgeous you look babe…" He whispered under a spell only she could pull on him.
She faced him again, red and with a shy smile. She placed both hands on the back of the binds and began to slowly slide them down to expose her. Sokka was livid, his face changing shades as he admired her.
She stopped just mere centimeters from revealing her breasts. His body with urges began kissing and biting again the side of her neck. Slowly trailing to the center of her torso. Small moans escaped her mouth, arousing him. He grabbed the last of her bands and removed it, moaning into her skin.
Suki's eyes opened briefly, moaning his name, placing her hands on his head to remove his hair tie and caress his hair freely. His hand traveled to her right breast and softly gripped it, making her moan louder. His mouth was already occupied with her left breast, tasting it. What started into slow, soft touching fast forwarded to more intense kissing, gripping and exploring.
His mind was completely lost in the pleasure he was giving and receiving, ignoring all the problems they faced before and should be talking. They just skipped straight to the reconcilation.
"Oh Sukki…How much I missed you."
Those words triggered a switch inside of her, the one who had not forgotten the problems that led them to this situation, opening her eyes and making Sokka sit down with her arm and body.
To say shocked was nothing to describe his face. Her legs wrapped around his hips, feeling his bulge grow bigger and their bodies produce more heat from their torsos almost touching.
"Then why you didn't come for me sooner? You were the one that wanted to explore."
Her expression was of pain and anger. His face of sadness and regret. He gulped, thinking of an answer.
"I… I am stupid. I know I am since the day I left the palace and you…"
Her eyes revealed everything to him. Showing regret and remorse only to shift back to dissapointment. His eyes began to cloud. How he wished he could waterbend to stop them from showing.
Sokka kissed her. He was blind. Blind for her. He couldn't care anymore what had happened. Suki eyes widened, parting from his lips to resume the conversation.
"Sokka, listen, I-"
Again, he kissed her. Shutting her words and gripping her waist harder to his body. Tears began to come down his face, not allowing her to see them. Suki gave in the embrace and kissed him back, moaning his name his mouth repeatedly. They stayed in that position taking their time to feel the mood again.
"Let's let it go, I rather be with you and… I… let's start a clean state?"
Her eyes stared at him, with pain and a lingering of excitedness showing. He lost himself deciphering all the feelings she has bottled up since he left her. Sending her a card four months later begging to be taken back. How lucky he was to even get a chance to be this intimate to her.
Not only with her body, but being able to be that close to her face staring at those beautiful violet eyes. He grabbed her, with shame covering his own "I shouldn't have never let you go. I looked everywhere all this time but your eyes… those beautiful enchanting eyes…"
He couldn't bare to loose her again. His mind had been already made up the moment he kissed her tonight.
Her excitement began to fade, pain and tears instead covered her face. Her mind guilt tripping her for past actions.
"I love you Suki"
Her mouth parted in shock and her eyes brightened.
"Do you really love me Sokka? I haven't even told you … I'm so sorry…"
"It doesn't define you… It's okay…That doesn't change that I love you." Sokka tried to sound convinced, even if he wasn't sure why he felt something unpleasing on his stomach.
Suki looked perplexed. Trying to find words to describe how she felt. Sokka was a proud man. That had to be soul crushing, just like her heart was when all those rumors came back to haunt her from the cities he had been.
He stared at her cautiously, not letting go of the proximity. "If I pull back she'll probably cry"
But this was the leader of the kyoshi warriors. She would not let things go that easily. She got off from his grip. Still sitting on him.
"I want to talk about this. We need to get a real clean slot for us to be in peace."
He sighed. This was something he would skip over if it was in his power, but what she wanted, she would have.
"Alright, let's talk. Want to cover up?" Sokka said pulling her to the side, searching for her clothes.
Suki blushed and grabbed her clothes. He just appreciated having this conversation if it meant for her to just get over the past.
Could they keep up with being a long distance couple? Probably not. But he would rather turn an eye blind to it at this moment, they could talk about it afterwards. Clouds began to fill his safe space, making him shake his head to forget about that topic.
"So… where do we start?" He asked with genuine interest. Wanting it to be over.
"Have you been intimate with any girl?" Suki answered with a hurt smile, almost as if knowing something.
Sokka was taken by surprise, but his face relaxed. He has never thought to do that, as much as he selfishly tried to before.
"No, you know I…. I did try to… to find you somewhere else. But I was so…so stupid for even thinking someone was going to be as great as you and couldn't do it"
"I thought I knew you before. So I'm...taking my time to discover you again" Suki sighted heavily, turning away. She wanted to punch herself too. Taking time? With him half naked?
Yeah right. The conversation
He grabbed her hand, turning her around again.
He was curious of her answer, so she continued.
"Those times everyone came to visit, sometimes you weren't there even if you were here. You only gave half assed answers to my letters, almost as if I was annoying you. And…yet…when we met you were so charming to me"
His eyebrows raised. Her mind was not completely clear of her feelings towards him throughout all this time, it was valid, didn't mean it hurt less. "Danmit Suki. Get it together." She thought to herself
"I cried a lot. No man has impacted me as much as you have. I see you and I...see the man I would love to be by my side. Be right here." She pointed her last word, she knew it was egoistical, but she had to start seeing for herself. She, after all, loved her duty.
Speaking those last words triggered her mind to think about how Zuko replaced him that time she was uncontrollable.
"What have I done… Playing with fire really burned me. I should be less harsh towards him" With the images collapsing in her mind, she was staring hard at Sokka, almost as if he could see what was going on inside her brain.
"Have you?" He asked, the topic shifting to her own question, but not really wanting her to answer. Her mind crashed back to earth as she was facing him, making him know it was probably further then what people have murmured. Her eyes were burning with guilt again, almost as if asking him to not feel as guilty as she was due to that happening.
Sokka could feel his heart dropping. His pride beginning to rise too as the clouds he had seen moths ago began to rise.
She couldn't even smile halfhearted as she used to in the tough topics they usually talked about before. She hated feeling like this. She thought doing that would make her feel empowered and better. "I love you too Sokka… so damn much".
"Did you…. him?" asked Sokka bluntly, unable to say it. Hurt, angry, and mostly, furiuous at himself.
Her eyes widened in shame.
"I did not Sokka. It was-"
"It was what? Just pure fun?" Sokka's voice raised blinded by his temper. He didn't meant to take it out on her, but controlling his emotions was hard with her admitting it.
"I did not do anything with him! We were close but I couldn't because I was thinking about you! I looked like an idiot..."
She explained, her frame shaking from the anger. He began to control of his mind and emotions. Shame and guilt starting to appear when he realized he was shaming her for trying to get over him. After he left her. "Great way to go dumbass"
"I'm sorry Suki… I-"
"I did cry that night for you. A lot. We ended cuddling because I couldn't even focus to just get through the motions" She said hugging herself, as Sokka looked like an outsider. Close but not enough to comfort her.
She was only using Zuko as an emotional bag to get over him. No wonder Zuko looked pissed. Unsure, he tried to get close to her, grabbing both of her hands.
But she pulled away.
"What? Wait I haven't finished…hold on… How long have we been here?" She glanced everywhere in the room except him. She was not ready for this conversation. "We need to get to the diner room or-"
Now he felt frustrated. They had disappeared from everyone's sight a long time and her way from dodging the conversation is getting out with their friends again?
"As much as I love showing you off to people…"Sokka got close to her, not breaking eye contact. "You can't use that excuse right now. Lets finish this conversation so we can define our relationship"
Suki gulped. "I mean I guess… I wanted this. As I was saying…" She closed her eyes, breaking the distance "Yes, I'm also not proud of what I did with him that night, even if I didn't conclude it. I'm sorry"
Even if she felt guilty, those days were hard for her. All the future plans trashed for short lived romances he wanted to experience. Why was she still worse than him for doing the same exact thing?
"But please, stop lying to me. I saw you almost banging someone"
"Almost. Just like you… I tried to imagine it was you. I felt sorry for her thought…. Yeah, I flirted and saw other girls, and I know it sounds really hypocritical of me. But… can we just let it in the past?"
Her eyes still showed something, this time Sokka couldn't manage to describe the feeling those eyes were giving him. She did not feel guilty nor angry, she was just staring, in a blank slot.
He laid down on the bed, exhaling heavily. This night was not going to end well. But… He was still hers. That only time they made love to each other… those horrid times made wonderfull thanks to her presence. Thanks to her. He was beyond an ass to just throw that out to filp new skirts.
"I truly do love you Suki. Since that day at the camp" He whispered but in her ears it was loud and clear.
The bed moved as Suki laid beside him. Her breath making him sleepy as he faced her.
"Since that day I been yours entirely. I just… didn't know it till the moment I let you go"
She turned her face and body to face him, listening carefully.
"I had finally found my soulmate and… how I regret the way I found out. The news flew fast because villages are boring, not yours of course, but you know what I mean." She smiled a little bit, before it turning to a more somber look. "They don't have anything else to do than keep their noses in other people business.
So of course, them bothering me was delightful to them. Quoting a supposed insider that said Zuko and you were dating… Of course I lost my wits. I had no right to but...It hit me like a blizzard in the middle of spring"
His heavy blue began to dominate most of Suki's mind, she distracted herself gazing at his lips while listening to his feelings, trying not to negate them but also for her to not guilt trip more about what she did, they had done.
"I needed to see you since that day. I ran away as fast as I could to a mountain and screamed till my voice broke. I… I felt so stupid. I still feel stupid. Haven't I said that already too many times? I will never think is enough"
She broke a little smile, this time staying. He sighed in satisfaction. "She looks so pretty smiling…" He adventured to touch her cheek, noticing her gaze was still fixated in his mouth. This made him smile, gaining confidence.
"The point is… this why I came here as soon as I could. I have even made a plan for us to-"
"For us?" Suki interrupted with a curious look. Still looking at his lips.
"Yes" He answered, his face maroon. The way he phrased it could be misrepresented and he didn't want to go too fast, he would dive off a cliff for her but he didn't want to scare her "For us… well for me to be close to you and around. Remember the idea we had in mind for a better future?
Since I'm the avatar's friend and all of that stuff… I asked to be the representative of my city when we start the project."
Her eyes met his again. He saw the shock and happiness as Suki covered her mouth trying to hide it.
"You really did that…for me? But what about your father and-"
"It's time to live my life. We can always visit them in free days am I right?" He had just came to the realization that this might save them in the short term. He would be more time around her so it wouldn't be too many months apart from each other.
Her eyes watered with tears of joy, letting a small cry of happiness come out of her mouth, rolling over Sokka to start laughing. "Wonder if she knows how cute she looks when she acts like that… all girly" he thought smiling so hard his face hurt, embracing her.
She stopped her celebration to kiss him. Still crying from happiness of having him again close to her. She didn't know, but how she had yearned to hear him say those words.
"I love you too Sokka."
His eyes opened just to see her staring at him, smiling devilishly. Lust and fire filling her eyes. So this was the reconcilation part of the fight.
"I will not let you go this time"
As Sokka finished his sentence, she launched to keep kissing him. His mind full of the lights in the city but with Suki in there. Walking on the street by her hand, smiling and pointing at all the beautiful forms the light was creating in his mind. The future looking as bright as the lights.
Embraced, they continued dancing with their bodies and mouth, not wanting to let go. His hands exploring her body again, carefully and slowly, as if one rough movement would hurt her. Of course this was not the case, she is even stronger than him. But he loved to do that, she knew she drooled when being treated so delicate.
The moment was just as intense and lovely as their first time, moaning their names and looking at each other with passion and love. At their ecstasy, their eyes locked, making him see the southern lights in the sky mixed with her face.
Restless nights before reuniting with her warrior were the least of the worries for him. Not breaking the hug, the feel of her skin made him feel at home. How easy was to plan everything for the future.
Unfortunately, this night, although lovely for them, was the last one the two would sleep peacefully in a long time.