Since getting the memmo Toph was actually excited to sit down with the group to chat, she wouldn't admit it outloud but she missed hanging out with them on a daily basis. It was the closest she had as a tight family who sometimes worshiped her and sometimes she could fight and win against.
As much as Katara played the role of a mother (to her annoyance), opening up to her meant she would need to actually be civil and well mannered, only in extreme circumstances they would rely on a fight: either with their bending or their mouth.
But with Suki she could actually do that first, go straight to it. So it was a shock to her when Suki suggested the right thing to do and not the fun one as she might have thought. It irked her how everybody seemed to be moving on from their former selves, in a boring way of course.
She hoped talking about Electra's drugged love confession wouldn't gather a smirk on her face -She couldn't see the warrior but the tone of her voice meant she was smirking as she talked- unsure of admitting any kind of feeling towards the ambassador.
She was pretty (or at least what she remembered in her drugged state) and had a backbone of steel, features she liked in the men she used to date and screw around. It almost felt like a forbidden fruit the moment Electra confessed to her.
She was really tempted to taste it, only if she wasn't dating Sokka. Or pretending to. Or if Sokka wasn't already with her first because she was sure she heard things in that office years ago and that gave her oogies.
"So remind me again about the passages" Suki said as she pointed to the table the routes "they should be interconnected, but how are we going to make them…"
"You can't" Toph replied "There will be earthbenders in the assault, if it happens, my police should send you a signal to evacuate Electra"
"It seems risky, they can use it as shortcuts to ambush us" Suki explained, frustrated, sitting down as she reorganized the use of those passages.
A knock on the door made the warrior turn her head with a remarkable frown, Toph opened it with the duo of the fire nation walking towards them, the earthbender paid attention to the trio; she could feel how Suki's heartbeat quickened and then went back to her usual, cool, everything in control demeanor.
Interesting
"Hi! What's your motive?" Suki asked straightforwardly, saving the chit chat as tweaking the last parts of the plan were usually the stressful ones. She regretted spending way too much of her energy on the ball and the political issues, now that the holes kept opening under the final draft.
"Well hello! Nice to see you too" Ty lee replied a bit hurt, Suki noticed it and relaxed her face. "We didn't have anything to do so we decided to drop by Zuko's office. We thought he would be here"
"No, do you need anything? talk with him?" Suki asked rushedly "We are in the last parts of the plan and we are a bit busy"
"A few things, actually" Mai replied bored "can we peek at the drawing on the desk?"
"No" Suki turned it upside down "I do invite you to mingle with the other guests of honor"
"C'mon Suki, you already know us" Ty Lee smirked as she jumped and hugged both girls "Those parties are boring to us! Don't you want to go out and do something else? Haven't you had enough of fighting?"
"That's why I can't go out, I have had enough of fighting" Suki murmured as she focused on the passages, she could have some of her agents merged in the walls waiting, but it risked then to be buried alive if the attackers could focus and feel them.
"At least let us help, four heads think better than two" Mai smirked as Suki passed her the paper, sitting down on the chair beside the earthbender who was annoyed at the interruption.
"Well?" Suki tapped her foot impatiently, annoying Toph even more, coughing at her to stop her for being so apprehensive
"Well this looks fine…except this" she gestured towards the escape points underground "considering someone might just…collapse everything"
"Not on my watch" Toph smirked "That's why I am here"
"Yes, but how are you going to keep watch on everything? Weren't you going to be with Zuko and Aang?" Mai asked with a hint of boredom
"And us" Ty Lee added with a small tap on the table "or do you have a twin somewhere?" She asked looking around the room
"We already have guards and designated places, you were a decoy to help fly the archers without being noticed" Suki explained putting a hand on her temple, deciding to plan it with Sokka and Toph alone
Mai and Ty Lee looked at each other and then towards the girls, whom stared -In Suki's case- frustrated
"Are we going to fight?" Ty Lee asked humbly, palping the tension on her former friend
"No. Well, we have it planned for you to be safe" Suki paraphrased "In case anything goes wrong you'll have backup to retreat. You are our guests"
"Suki, we need to talk alone" Mai demanded making the leader frown "preferably alone but if you don't mind having Toph as a lying detector be my guest"
Ty Lee took the cue and walked outside, trying to ignore the demi black aura that surrounded her former friend, one more look she took, closing the door startled
"I am really busy Mai, and Toph's service shouldn't be required less than 24 hours of the day we will actually need her" Suki dismissed as she began packing to meet with Sokka, dialing his number in the process. Toph frowned but decided to let them squash whatever had been bubbling up since her party.
"You will need to modify the plan Suki" Mai interrupted as Sokka answered, Suki fought the urge to roll her eyes and replied to Sokka
"I'll be there in a minute" she hung up and stared down at her "why are you so insistent in helping out?"
Mai gazed with surprise, relaxing her face again until her anger bubbled up, confusing the warrior and earthbender
"He hasn't talked to you, that jerk" Mai murmured sitting down, her frown matching to the tone of her voice "You should talk to Zuko first, to…your husband"
Suki listened until her heart stopped briefly, dropping down her guard to fully grasp what Mai had inferred with that
"I'll tell Sokka about the modifications, you'll be safe" Suki replied in between teeth, walking fast and gripping tightly her shoulder before leaving, Toph's voice fading away.
She hadn't meant to do it with the purpose of hurting her, the strength she displayed was the first thing she learned to control in her training back when she was 10 years old. They weren't even friends anymore so the interruption to the office while making modifications was valid enough to nudge her shoulder when walking past the acrobat.
Reading so much the past month made her want to hurt her fiance with words, especially after hearing Onika congratulate the firelord about something early when she passed him in the hall.
She stopped her way to Sokka's office and glanced with bubbling anger as she remembered the ambassador shaking his hand, she didn't wait for him to notice her, jogging to his office.
Sokka was easily scared, everyone in the office would try to play him jokes with hard sounds or loud sounds most of the times he slept or wasn't paying much attention to the meetings
As the door swung open and crashed closed again, Sokka glanced annoyed at the intruder, figuring Toph tried it again after catching him off guard once
"What happened?" immediately jumping out of his sea he reached for Suki: she sat down instead and opened the scroll with trembling hands, ignoring the worry he displayed
"We need to add Mai to this area" she circled with her finger, breathing unevenly "and her own guard squad"
Sokka wanted to know what was happening, but his years knowing her made him second thought confronting her
"Sure, I'll ask Ty Lee also to be there, sitting on each side of Zuko" He replied as he sat on the other chair, writing down the modifications, again "we can make two of Toph's students guard them"
"They are high profile" Suki scolded as she played with a strand of her hair. "They are to be treated just like Aang and Zuko will be"
"And they'll be by Aang's side….besides…I think they'll help in case anything breaks out" Sokka smiled "problem solved"
"That's it?" Suki asked annoyed as Sokka shrugged "wait, the tunnels are not a great great idea, they can ambush us"
"No they won't" Sokka reminded her, endeared by her stutter "We would trap them the moment one would try to infiltrate, we have Toph's students patrolling the undergrounds so they would give us a heads up"
"When were all those changes made?" Suki asked, annoyed "why I was not there?"
Sokka gulped under her hard gaze, moving the page on his notebook "You were training with Electra, we just made them like hours ago"
"Oh" Suki laughed, uncaringly, putting both hands on her stomach "Sorry, Mai and Ty Lee's arrival made everything complicated"
"I figured" Sokka laughed too, handing her his book "this were the plans Aang and I modificated, everything will be alright"
Suki knew that last sentence wasn't directed to her situation or feelings regarding Zuko, after all Sokka was oblivious to what Mai confirmed her minutes ago, she liked to think Sokka knew about it.
"I hope so" her voice came out shakily, his eyes narrowing in worry as she ignored his accusing stare. "We should have dedicated more time to planning"
"Seems like someone is rusty and nervous" Sokka playfully accused, standing up to rub her shoulders "Worst case scenario, we all die"
"That was a real motivational talk, tearjerker" Suki mocked as she relaxed under his hands
"Exactly! Being so close to death makes us motivated" Sokka agreed missing the snark in her remark, ignoring it, trying to cheer her up
"It won't go down to it, so save the speech" Suki tapped his hand, holding it gently before letting it go. Satisfied, Sokka leaned on his desk, arms crossed as he modeled to her
"Anything else I can help you with?" Sokka asked, the air inside him hurting as he inspected her, failing to not look lovestruck towards the woman
Suki's heart was confused, the more she stared into his ocean the more her heart jumped, her logic getting thrown out of the window. Especially with those arms, so bulked up and tanned…
"No, yes! I-I need to see Karina" Suki contradicted herself with her own thoughts, needing her friend for help, help her focus on whatever Zuko had decided.
Sokka smiled "She should be with Zuko…do you want me to help you search for them?"
"Yes-No!" Suki quickly replied, making Sokka nod "Please just tell me where they are, Mai and Ty Lee where searching for him too"
"They should be in the room with the words "conference room" " Sokka explained with a smirk, earning an eye roll from Suki
"Thank you Sokka" She smiled, preparing to leave, rethinking the idea of meeting Zuko this late.
"Welcome Suks, you can ask me anything" He smiled back, waiting for her rant, he was sure something was going up
"Actually, there is something" She stopped putting her hand on her face to think "My nickname sounds like "sucks" "
Sokka was bewildered, struggling to contain his embarrassment as Suki laughed at the reaction.
"You are telling me that right now? After five years?" Sokka asked, shocked with Suki's laughter increasing. He then saw she was pulling his tail and decided to laugh along, thinking fast a nickname "From now on, I'll call you daisuki"
Suki blushed, gulping a giggle that wanted to come out.
"I'm not that large" she rolled her eyes smirking, closing the door with a blush that rivaled her anger as she walked towards the conference room. That's why they were forbidden to be alone, good thing he respected her boundaries.
"Hanging around earlier than usual?" Electra asked unfazed as she looked up to the earthbender, who fidgeted her fingers hidden in her back.
"I thought the day was about to end?" Toph asked confused, Electra glanced at the clock and sighed "Yeah, I was sure I would catch up to you at the end of the day"
"I thought it would be our first drink of the day, today was really busy" Electra said as she stood up, her legs and arms sore as she walked slower than usual to pour a drink, Toph's favorite and her own.
"I…actually won't drink right now" Toph said as Electra continued making the drink, ignoring her petition "I came here to clarify something….I should have before"
"Go on" Electra said handing her the drink "I think you need this more than I do"
Toph did drink it, the subtle spice and cinnamon mixing evenly in her throat as she struggled to not cough. She loved the way she made it supercharged for her, today it seemed even extra charged.
"I am not sure if you forgot how to write in uh…"
"No, I have taken tuzi classes since I was five years old" Electra confirmed, shivers running on her body as she was confessing to Toph…again, not intoxicated.
Toph nodded, feeling extremely flattered, proud even. But she could not respond to her, to anyone in that serious matter. She wasn't even sure how attracted she was towards her, she didn't know her that much.
"So…you meant it? Back at the palace…" Toph divagged, not wanting to say it out loud in case she was still in the wrong, something not possible as she was never wrong.
"I meant what?" Electra pushed, walking towards the earthbender, stopping in front of her with her heart in her hand, almost literally as she drowned in the feeling of rejection. Electra could see it in the woman's body language.
"That…you fancy me" Toph recovered her voice and said it pointedly "What are you playing?"
Electra's heart stopped for a minute, the uneasiness in Toph growing.
"I-I don't get what you are implying with that?" Electra questioned
"You dated Sokka…you inserted yourself into our lives dating one of my closests friends and…now you say you…you like me?" Toph interrogated as Electra stared shocked, of course the way she introduced herself to the group was with a very selfish and different motive.
She glanced at the clock, by this hour Sokka was close to arriving, the conversation still felt incomplete. Her sense of survival was telling her to scream at the bender, show her what she meant to her.
She needed to be in control
"I don't like you" She lied, Toph smirked and frowned, confused. "I don't…I did it for a reason but with the years I have come to enjoy your presence more than I imagined"
"Is that your way of saying I love you?" Toph joked trying to fight her amazement, the more Electra denied the more her heart gave her away. "I wonder if your beauty is really as amazing as I have been imagining it"
"You have…thought of me?" Electra asked shyly, her hands cupping her vase to avoid touching her. Toph crimson face turned away, huffing heavily
"You have annoyed my mind for a while, starting the day you confused me with writing that" Toph explained unsure of what she was feeling, ignoring Suki's advice of rejecting her. The warrior would know better than her the consequences of playing with people's feelings.
Deep inside Toph was curious of what could happen, what she was feeling. Did she like her like that? Was she lonely? Was she just another dear deep friend?
She didn't feel this way about Katara or Suki and she loved them, even if that made her want to smash her brain for admitting it.
"Sorry to annoy you that much, thank the spirits after this mission you won't see me" Electra joked with dread, anticipating the rejection, after all, she would now try to focus on bigger things like the firelord, instead of following Sokka's…Mr Wang advice.
"Don't say that, Sokka annoys me too, and I still like to be around him," Toph turned around, slightly annoyed as she gently slapped her arm. Electra caught her hand and interlaced their fingers, surprising the bender.
"I've either developed quick reflexes or just enjoyed being stomped by you. Choose the story you like most," Electra joked, releasing her hand. However, Toph didn't let go. The icy tension between them thawed as Electra nervously clasped Toph's hand and moved closer, placing her other hand on Toph's shoulder.
Toph hadn't felt this nervous in a long time – it reminded her of her first kiss but with a different sense of desire. This too was an experiment but with more significant consequences.
"Can I?" Toph asked for consent; Electra was too nervous to speak and instead moved even closer. Toph lowered her head and placed her hands on Electra's cheeks, taking control of the situation. "I asked you a question; remember, I can't see anything."
Electra giggled and put her trembling hands on Toph's waist uncertainly. She felt elated, anticipating the kiss so much she became lightheaded.
Toph closed her eyes – not because she had to but because she remembered how strange it seemed to kiss with one's eyes open – and continued speaking.
"Electra, I'm uncertain about my feelings for you. But I am certain that I will protect you tomorrow...and every day if I could." The bender felt embarrassed admitting this out loud; it was the type of thing Sokka would rhapsodize about during their chaotic early years.
Electra couldn't believe what was happening after having been such a terrible person before. She closed the remaining distance between them and let herself become overwhelmed by love–a sensation she had longed to feel for a long time.
The moment ended quickly as Electra pulled away and Toph's knees threatened to buckle. Was she not standing properly?
"Sokka will be here any minute. Thank you for your words," Electra said as composed as she could manage, leaving Toph puzzled.
"Thank me? What are we?" Toph wanted to clarify. "Because I don't want a relationship."
Toph regretted how she had phrased it and felt the familiar pang of heartache associated with a breakup. However, Electra recovered faster than anyone she had dated before, walking towards her and kissing her passionately.
Toph responded immediately, their grip on each other's waists tightening as they explored one another's mouths. Once again, Electra pulled away to shower Toph's neck with eager kisses, causing her to moan.
If Toph weren't blind, she would have been at that very moment – struggling to maintain balance while holding onto the ambassador and taking deep breaths in silence. Electra kissed her mouth for the last time as she pulled out her handkerchief, cleaning her lips and the benders.
"Why do you keep stopping like this?" Toph exclaimed annoyed as the door swung open
"There you are my favorite drinking buddies!" Sokka screamed, opening the door, as Toph blushed at being that distracted. "I'm starving, let's go to my sis place"
"For the first time in a while, me too" Electra said as she walked past the master, ignoring her presence and recent activity "Coming Toph?"
"I think I'll wait for Suki, she just ran out of the room earlier and I haven't seen her" Toph excused herself
"I think she left with Zuko" Electra deduced as they were a couple "wasn't she searching for him earlier?"
"Actually…I am not sure if Suki left with him" Sokka thought as Electra nudged him "Hey! She doesn't know the city"
"Well let's bounce to her area, if she is not there then she is with Zuko" The ambassador led the way as the friends followed behind her, Sokka could notice something troubling Toph's head, just with that frown alone anyone could notice.
"Are you worried too?" Sokka whispered to Toph who frowned more "That's why Suki talked to me briefly, she was worried about the plan"
"Yes" Toph lied "We have to be precise otherwise we are an easy prey"
"Suki!" Sokka's attention immediately changed the moment he saw the red hair, his smile flashing as Electra stepped to the side.
"Buckle up because it's time for dinner" Toph joked, wanting to talk to her about what she was doing, about what was happening. "Let's go before these two eat each other"
"What?!" Sokka and Electra exclaimed, shocked, forgetting they were still a couple.
"Perverts" Suki smirked walking past them, catching up to Toph "Let's go, I have missed Katara's cooking"
As Zuko hung up the phone, he knew Mai had talked to Suki first. Which meant drama for them and…whatever else would happen. He needed an escape as Onika took charge of everything, writing a raise on her payment for that.
"I didn't know you actually cooked pastries really well" Katara complimented as she smelled the desserts "Back at ember island you could barely make good tea"
"The resources weren't the correct ones, that's why over there the food was not good" Zuko defended himself as Aang nodded, grabbing the plates to prepare the table.
"Yeah, I do remember struggling to drink your tea…but it was better than eating that meat" The avatar smiled at the firelord who rolled his eyes
"You needed protein to survive, we are glad those herbs actually served that purpose and weren't poisonous"
"Thank you Suki" Katara said to the ceiling laughing "The moment she saw me cooking with those herbs I remember her smacking my hand so they wouldn't fall to the soup we would all eat"
"I couldn't believe you didn't know that" Aang said amazed "Good thing there were enough bathrooms for us"
"Can I defend myself saying it was the first time in my life seeing something that green? Give me a break" Katara laughed with the boys, making the finishing touches on the meat.
"Or when Zuko-"
The door opened intrusively as the guests arrived, Sokka running straight to the kitchen only to moan.
"What?" Katara asked annoyed
"You didn't do any mooselion meat today?" Sokka complained as he looked at the other plates, drooling a bit at the roasted turtleduck in the tray.
Zuko's smile faded a bit when catching up with Suki, leaving the kitchen to be by her side. Toph could smell the trouble and moved away, grabbing Electra's hand in the process. For the sake of fakeness, Suki welcomed him with a kiss, feeling a piercing blue glance from the kitchen as she stepped away, it reminded her why she was angry.
But she couldn't let them know that. Not after Sokka knows the reason behind marrying him.
"I am sorry I didn't wait for you" Zuko apologized as Suki could hear the regret in his voice. Not enough for her but it was not the moment. "I heard you wanted to talk to me"
"We will talk about it later" Suki smiled abnormally sweetly, kissing his cheek as she walked with his hand on hers to greet her friends. She couldn't let them see they were having troubles right now.
That would have to wait until a few more hours, after all they would just eat and then everyone would go off to sleep.
"Are we ready to sit down?" Katara asked at the arrival "Because if yes, I need all of you to take a place and let me and Aang serve you, this room is getting too crowded"
"Let us help Kat" Suki replied, trying to enter, as Katara smiled gently and gestured to the table.
"Finally some royal treatment!" Sokka exclaimed sitting down by Electra, Toph sat by her too, unsure on why. She felt she was being too obvious;Sokka's empty seat was taken by Suki who sat next to Zuko, who was next to Katara's chair.
"Sokka, come here and pick up the meat" Katara asked, annoyed so he would just shut up, he groaned standing up, already starving. Aang began pouring them water with an octopus move, wowing Electra and earning a smile from the royal couple.
Zuko tried to pick her hand, meeting with a cold grasp instead of her usual confort. He was now sure she was angry, even if her face was calm and mesmerized by the moment in front of them.
Katara, Sokka and Aang finally sat down, the circular table letting them be as close as possible.
"I am so glad to have all of you here today at this intimate dinner that my wife," Aang said, looking lovingly towards Katara, "and I organized to reunite everyone tonight.
The past six years have been beyond anything I could have ever imagined. It all began with this guy's bad manners," he said, pointing towards Sokka who raised his glass, smirking and waving at the table as everyone laughed.
"His manners and ugly sexism were put to an end when this strong, incredible lady knocked some sense into him," he gestured towards Suki who smiled proudly as Sokka admired her. She couldn't help but smile back at him and continue to pay attention to the Avatar.
"Only for her efforts to be repaid with a burning village, courtesy of my sifu hotman, Zuko, who seemed to enjoy playing chase with me and my friends," Aang continued as Zuko smirked and rolled his eyes at the nickname. "This made it quite difficult for us to find a master earthbender until we crashed and received a vision that said, 'You must search for this adorable, amazing, and playful earthbender,' who, mind you, didn't want to teach me in order to maintain her cute persona with her parents."
"Hey!" Toph interrupted, annoyed. "Rewrite your speech and say something better!"
Everyone chuckled at the introduction as Aang continued. "In the end, everything fell into place and we all became one. We shared joyful nights that signified the beginning of the end of a war whose outcome was uncertain...
All our efforts and struggles have flourished like a tree in the desert: resilient, tenacious, and above all, grand. This tree has grown branches that bear new fruits - friends, in our case - strengthening the foundation as much as the ever-changing leaves.
If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing it with all of our hearts. The bond we've forged at this table has withstood many trials. So please, let's raise our glasses in honor and respect for this union, for the love we share in the face of darkness, despair, pain, and trauma; for a future filled with many more nights like this, where we nurture and leave a better world for all.
As for myself, I cannot express enough gratitude for your presence as both guests and friends. May the spirits and gods bless these unions and the friendship we cherish. Cheers!"
"Cheers!" The group clinked their cups together, a mix of joyous emotions filling the room as Aang sat down and bowed to them. Katara bit her lips with a big smile, waiting for the room to quiet down.
"Let's eat!" Katara opened the table as they all began to exchange plates and cut pieces from the feast in front of them, her brother hungrier than usual grabbed a full plate where it almost spilled the table, earning a yell from her and a laugh from the northerner.
"Great speech Avatar Aang" Electra congratulated, smiling at the people around the room "Thank you for including me in your family"
"There is nothing to thank for! You will always be welcome" Katara interrupted, her smile freezing "Even when you take reckless decisions that costs us a lot to deal with"
"But it's all in the past now" Suki chimed in, smiling fondly at the blonde. "We all learnt from it and now we will leave it behind, tomorrow"
"Make sure to make more mistakes like that" Toph snickered "When everything is serene is boring"
"Not everything has to be an action movie crankymole" Sokka rolled his eyes "but I agree, I love when we all sit together to eat"
Zuko stopped for a minute, grateful for the silence in the room as they all continued eating. Taking a deep breath, he enjoyed the last peaceful moments with his fiance.
Even holding hands changed the tone of everything around him, hyperfocusing on how she engaged with their friends who listened to the new memories created.
"Poor Electra was so tired I swore her knees would break any minute" she let go off his hand to gesture with a crazy smile, plastering one in his own face. As her hand searched his, the touch felt as cold as the air in the night.
"Is anybody cold?" He asked to the surprise of his friends
"Are you feeling ill?" Suki asked, clearly surprised as it is not usual for a firebender to feel cold in any room that is not located in the Water Tribes.
"No" He slapped the hand away from his forehead, earning a frown from her. "Katara is not necessary"
"You can't be sick a day before the whole event" She said bending water, light emanating from her hands as she stood behind him "Try not to move"
"I guess the drink was too cold?" Aang asked Suki who shrugged, unsure of why he was suddenly feeling ill. Sokka inspected the dishes, poking at the roasted turtleduck.
"What are you doing?" Electra whispered disgusted "Your chopsticks have all your-"
"You already have them" Sokka kissed her cheek as Electra screeched disgustedly, the warrior raised an eyebrow. "Kat! This turtleduck is undercooked! Who else has eaten from this dish?"
Sokka's head turned from side to side so fast it appeared he was unscrewing it, a giggle escaped the warrior, covering her hand to hide it. He grinned, paying attention to the firelord who looked suspicious at the couple by his side.
Suki focused on Katara's glowing hands, blinking to erase the flashbacks the calming light reminded her of. The whole situation where she puked the darkness and let into a physical fight with her.
"You have a cold, sifu hotman" Aang smiled "Do you want to take a nap? It should help you feel better"
"I'll make some tea" Suki stood up, walking to the kitchen with Aang by her side to indicate where they had all the ingredients.
Sokka, Electra and Toph bobbed along to the music Katara had on the radio, waiting for their two friends back at the table. Sokka wouldn't have had the courtesy but anytime he reached for a plate Toph moved his chair.
Suki waited for the water to boil, anthropomorphizing the kettle pot. Was she always screaming in pain or in anger? Why was she the chosen one to unite all the ingredients? Did she chose it?
Shaking her head, and, ignoring the feelings she deflected on the inanimate object, she hummed along to the song on the radio, distracting herself again as the southern lullaby rhymed with the music.
"Who is singing?" Toph asked, putting an end to Suki's career in music. "Who stopped? I didn't say it was terrible, it's just…"
"Maybe it was me" Katara smiled as she patted Zuko's shoulder "It's a traditional water tribe lullaby. As for you, come with me so you can lay down for a bit. Not before drinking the tea"
"Here is it" Suki stepped faster towards the table, placing it next to his hands for a faster reach. He thanked the girls who waited with very different expressions:
Suki looked slightly annoyed and tired while Katara compassionately waited for him to finish the cup.
"Can we resume eating if you are going to be all over the sickly flameo man?" Toph moaned annoyed, earning cold stares from the room. "Or at least can we play while we wait? Do anything?"
"Actually, I believe I need it more than sleep." Zuko smiled as Suki grabbed the cup to wash it, sighing annoyed. He didn't want to leave the house as they had already finished their food.
"Well…I think I have some games-"
"Not those lame ones! We need brewing, drug-"
"NO" Sokka angrily interrupted "In less then 24 hours we will be doing a very VERY important mission, we can't be irresponsible"
"It's a relaxation party" Electra corrected with glee, liking what Toph might want to do "In Zuko's lifestyle is really normal and helpful with nerves and bad omens"
"Did I miss the relaxation parties in the early years too?" Suki asked sarcastically. "Because I don't remember attending any while I was serving as a bodyguard."
"You weren't allowed" Zuko defended it, really needing a dose of Mai, or the jenamite "But Sokka's right"
Katara asked, shocked, "Do you use recreational drugs? I thought it was forbidden to talk about or consume them since that incident."
"But if it really is a tradition," she continued, "I can ask two of my students to help with the aftermath so we can all feel rejuvenated. However, we would have to wake up early to avoid any potential rumors about drug abuse." added Katara, slightly pouting. Suki gently tapped Sokka's chin to close his gaping mouth.
Toph's mouth dropped in amazement "You do drugs?"
"They help you be active and, with all the paper you left us to do, thanks to your recruitment trip, I found one that wasn't strong or dangerous" Katara explained, Suki tapped again Sokka's chin.
"What?!" Sokka could barely reclaim as Electra closed his mouth with a piece of the turtleduck, he chewed it with a frown directed to the monk who was unaware of the conversation.
"We don't have the comfort of a royal bed but I managed to pill up enough sheets so it's fluffy" Aang said as Sokka chewed aggressively "What?"
"Sokka's being a jerk" Suki confirmed as Sokka elbowed her, staring her down playfully until the friends giggled.
"We are having a relaxation party" Electra informed as Aang's ears perked up, biting his lip excitedly. Sokka's chin was tapped a third time, hard
"Stop it" he whispered angry as he gently slapped her hand, looking up and down at the annoyed woman.
"She is married, leave her alone" Suki defied with a frown, tilting her head to where the couple giggled like crazy "Don't do anything"
"I know, benders react different" he whispered "good luck carrying Zuko home" grinning, her eyes followed his as Aang got out a box of recreative drugs, with the rest of the table getting closer to take a look
"How has this been happening all the time and I was not informed? We would have spent less days drinking!" Toph said excited as she looked at the Avatar's collection
"We don't have jenamite" he coughed looking sideways at Suki, who looked down ashamed. "That's the only one we don't do"
Zuko did want some Rhino, to his displeasure, there was none
"Searching for something stronger?" Electra asked "I wished there was Rhino too"
"Oh" Aang looked surprised at the desire for something that strong. "Well, I only use love ducks, snow, flowerbomb and firemoth. Sorry"
"Guys, this is the worst idea" Sokka tried to sober them, as much as he was tempted to chew some love ducks "we should all just head home, brush our teeth, rest and be prepared"
"I agree" Suki supported looking furiously to Zuko, who avoided looking at the girl, convinced he needed the Rhino, he decided to do the dumbest move he has acted on
"You can head home to rest, or stay with us and hang out" Electra smiled at them, hoping Sokka would take the hint and grab the woman.
"I won't be excluded of funny shenanigans, specially with Toph already using the duck" Sokka grinned crossing his arms, as Suki sighed annoyed
" Is it alright? " She could see Zuko mouth to Katara who nodded, happy and unaware she was currently beefing with both girls. For different reasons, but the same motive
Suki poured herself more of Aang's brew, drowning it quickly as she hoped it was enough for let her live through the night.
"Wooaaaaah woaaah" Sokka screamed "easy on there, you didn't eat that much"
"Mind your own drink", she replied, annoyed, trying not to vomit her feelings to him. He was right, as the drink was making her want to feel as euphoric as her friends were.
"You don't look too happy…is it because…?" Sokka discreetly pointed at himself, Suki dismissed it with her hand, standing up to smoke a bit of the flowerbomb "Hey! You were on my team"
The look she gave him was enough for Sokka to stand up and follow her trail, asking Aang for the same dose.
"You know how to turn it?" Aang asked, watching Suki fold Sokka's first, handing it to him. "Seems you got it" he smiled with a thumbs up.
"I thought you didn't do any more drugs" Sokka asked amazed and worried in equal manner, as Suki shrugged
"It is medicine in the fire nation, so it's not considered a drug. It relaxes you" Suki explained putting the roll on her mouth " just what I need" she mouthed, he nodded and smiled, placing it between his fingers
"You are a bad influence to me" He acted innocently, as he tried lighting it with a bad posture and position. Suki smiled and took the liberty to place it on his mouth, grabbing the small piece of fire Sokka kept safe in the tube, igniting it
Something in Sokka burned inside with how easy she made it look, hers still unburnt. He wanted to repair the favor until a finger appeared in between them, their comfort zone disappearing as Zuko looked upset at the couple.
"Your welcome" he said towards Suki who took a big hit "Careful"
She raised an eyebrow, surprised at his protectiveness over a cigarette. She has bad trips resulting in her doctor prohibiting her to smoke them, that wouldn't stop her now as she wanted an excuse to act irrational
"It's flowerbomb" she reassured. Sokka tried to escape the awkward conversation by looking at the couples laying by the couch, talking and to his disgust, kissing. "You won't use anything today?"
"I'm waiting for it to arrive" Zuko informed, as Sokka took another puff, doing his best to fake ignorance at the growing tension between the couple. "Sokka, can you give us some space to talk?"
"Uh" He muttered, trying to not look too involved "Sure, I'll be over there if you want to chat" he walked with half a smile to convince him. The daggers in his back were evident the more steps he took away from the couple
"Jealousy much?" Suki sarcastically asked, standing in front of Zuko "You couldn't be left behind and decided to bring your own?"
Zuko was surprised at how quickly Suki began fighting, opting to be the calm one in the situation.
"No, you know I like to do Rhino" Zuko explained, grabbing her coarse hand, who stiffened at his touch. "But I did want to talk about…that"
"Is that how you will refer to her, from now on?" The warrior led him to Aang's extra room to talk more privately, already feeling humiliated of Mai knowing the deal. "At least be courteous, she was your long term girlfriend"
Zuko slid the door, unable to look at the warrior who anxiously took hits at the cigarette in her hand, waiting for the conversation to start.
"We shouldn't be talking about it here" Zuko began, tensing his posture, prepared for something to explode "I owe you an apology for that"
"I accept it, seeing you didn't want to leave the dinner without relaxing" she pointedly spoke "I wished I had known earlier the deal you managed to close with our friend"
"She hasn't accepted" her face stared in disbelief, the effect had begun to take place in her body or had she expected this all the time? "She said she would think about it, did she talk to you first?"
"She was looking for you, she found me in your office" Suki said gazing at the bed on the floor "She even lamented how slow you were to bring up the topic to me, seems that's something recurrent"
"Suki, you should put away the cigarette" Zuko looked at her, intimidated by the growing frown on his fiance's face. "I don't want you to do something you might lament"
"What would the flowerbomb make me do?" Suki asked dangerously stepping closer to him, taking a long hit. "It relaxes the body"
"Not your body, you can be…" Zuko stopped talking, coughing a bit as the cloud hit his face. Suki looked upset. He realized he had made two big mistakes this night
"How do you know that? I never told you" She asked rhetorically, connecting the dots. "Who told you?"
He grabbed the cigarette and burnt the remains of it in his hand, walking away from her to throw the dust outside the window. "Zuko" her annoyed tone was evident, arms crossed as he turned around to face her.
"We need to talk when you are not relaxed" Zuko wanted to walk away and Suki blocked his path "Suki"
"How long have you known about it?" Zuko's guilty eyes looked down at his feet
"Which topic would you like to handle first?" Zuko asked, his eyes at hers, tensed at the result of tonight's confrontation. "I would suggest you to ask about Mai first, she is close to arriving"
"Thank you for your kind suggestion" she aggressively replied, clenching her teeth"I can deduce that she said yes by her wanting me to talk to you, she will be sitting close to you tomorrow"
Zuko sighed, wanting to grab her only to be rejected "Suki, it doesn't mean that I don't love you. I love you, a lot. Both of you"
"Did I just hear right?" Suki looked astonished at the declaration "Did you just said that out loud?"
"Is not like is different of what are you are going through" his temper began to fluctuate, upset at the hypocrisy"I wouldn't be one to judge"
"I am just making sure I heard right, besides, I chose you. I could have gone back and do a lot of things different and…it doesn't matter right now" Suki divagated, trying to shift her focus on the issue of why he was so concerned on her smoking, had Mai told Zuko about their chat at the palace?
"You still love him, you can't fool anyone" Zuko exclaimed angry "I thought working with him was helping you get over it and that at the party I was imagining things….but no!"
"Lower your voice, we don't want to make more of a scene already" Suki warned "And…it's a different type of love"
"The same way I love Mai in a different manner, the only small difference is that my love to her is not as passionate and strong as yours to Sokka" Zuko explained, frustrated at the anger he was trying to let go, failing.
To his knowledge, she hasn't kissed Sokka…he was close to kissing Mai and it pained him to admit it. Maybe he was deflecting everything to make her feel the same as he was feeling?
"I don't get where are you going with this" She walked around him to grab some air "You said you wanted to have kids that were benders, then that she could help us fake everything, now that you love her? Which excuse is the real reason? Zuko?"
"I want…" Zuko was trapped, as Suki stopped her pacing, holding her breath at his answer "I want you, I want her. I chose you over her, but…but I cannot choose you over my people"
Suki turned away from him, nodding her head in a knowing manner. Of course he was doing this for his people, she was a part of his people too, he said she had pure blood.
"Suki" he continued "Try to understand, we need to be careful about them hurting you…our future baby…"
"Will there be any kids?" Suki tiredly said "It seems you want the perfect royal image, I do understand that. But Mai? Are you trying to cover the sun with your hand?"
Zuko nodded along, Mai was safe, Suki was danger. He couldn't leave her alone, not after knowing all what she has endured.
"This is for us, if…if you are not comfortable you can always…break up" Zuko whispered, hugging her. "I won't hold you back"
"I don't think it's fair" She resumed talking, ignoring his proposal "for you to have multiple partners, might as well just have my own donor too"
He unclasped himself angered, she was pushing his buttons, as her diction was similar to his sisters. He breathed in and out, trying to calm himself.
"You can be with Mai if I can be with anyone I want, anyone" Suki pointed angrily at the hypocrisy of him being mad "It won't matter if it is my ex lover"
"You are just conveniently making this in your favor, can you let me make a decision, for the best of our future, once? just once?" frustration exudated for all of the people involved, as a knock came from the door, getting out of the topic.
"Please!" Zuko screamed at the door angered, whoever tried to enter was now gone. "Listen to me-"
"You have been seeing my records, have you?" She whispered, realizing why he knew so much, feeling betrayed. Zuko grimaced, she furiously made her way towards him, grabbing his robes tightly. "Why?!"
"Calm down!" Zuko grabbed her wrists unsuccessfully, as she tightened it and yanked him to the wall "Suki!"
"Is this why you have known information I have told no one?" She asked angrily "Why do I sing? Why do I get overly aggressive when I smoke flowerbomb? What else do you know about me that I don't?"
Zuko felt cornered and ashamed, nodding his head to confirm her suspicion. She let go and hugged herself, betrayed.
"Why did you feel the need to invade my privacy?" Suki asked hurt "Zuko…I thought we had enough trust to-"
"It's not the same, I had to! I had to know how was the treatment going, how were you feeling, why were you always acting those ways, I needed to know you" Zuko explained panicked "You were changing and we weren't spending time for me to actually take care"
"You are not my doctor Zuko! You shouldn't know half of the shit I said" Suki explained with tears in her eyes "is this where you are getting the idea I'm still in love with him? What else do you need to know?"
Zuko looked at her ashamed but inside, he did not regret reading her expedient, her sessions, everything that had gone with the classes. He had to know how to manage her and control the relationship, he couldn't lose her like he did Mai.
Mai, was she the one banging at the door? Probably, as the person immediately went away. Or maybe it was Aang?
"I thought us were…real. And I punished myself all this time for not corresponding to you as fully as I could, of loving you blindly…and right now you just confirmed I was right. You have been…spying on me…"She continued hugging herself, exposed, feeling vulnerable "You knew what shitty things your sister had done to me, had said to me, and still decided it was a good idea for me to be trained by her? I shouldn't have said I love you that first time. This seems…I don't know what are we doing together"
"It is not…not like that. I…you didn't love me? What?" Zuko was confused about sidetracking, wanting to know about that day "You didn't mean it?"
"Thanks for your take" Suki rolled her eyes, cleaning some tears that had fallen "I…I was not fully in love. Right now…I…well, do I have to say it out loud?" she shied away, distraught at everything.
"However…I…I don't feel comfortable enough…with this revelation" Suki's teeth clattered, letting go of all the previous etiquette and court manners "So go on with your plan with Mai"
Zuko hugged her, the need for air increased the longer he held the hug while Suki hugged him back lightly.
"Suki I'm so sorry…please…I didn't mean to invade your privacy…I was desperate and I…I wanted to show you how much I cared for you….I want to gift you everything I can including peace and stability…just like you wan-"
Suki kissed Zuko, a normal way to hush him whenever he overthought everything. He wanted to pull apart to keep talking and she continued it, placing both of her hands on his face to deepen it.
He reciprocated it, his heart happy but wary with everything that had gone down, it was too soon and too easy the forgiveness displayed and it scared him. The warrior tried to wrap herself around the gentle gesture of love, the warmth of his touch and softness of his lips.
To her bad luck, her heart didn't want to start, it felt mechanical and not even the drug doing the effect made her wish for more.
"Just remember" She said looking up to him, fresh tears wanting to fall down her cheeks "I don't want Azula making decisions anywhere in the palace"
Zuko pulled apart, surprised she still remembered that petition, in a sentimental and sensible moment like this.
"That's my condition, you can tell our friends you are with Mai and everyone else, you can be affectionate , i i will be your lover under that condition" Suki bargained as Zuko looked in disbelief.
"You just hate her guts don't you?" Zuko asked hurt, understandably "I will stop her from making decisions"
She nodded and grabbed his hand, the familiar love he used to feel coming back as she smiled, stringing him again as they walked out of the room. His anxiety rised with his overthinking on Suki's mood swings, wanting to point it towards the drugs she had taken.
But he knew that was a lie, sitting down by the table as Suki smiled and greeted his friends and future wife. What had made her change? Just the fact that Azula won't be making choices in court anymore?
"Rhino room is over here" Electra whispered as Mai walked by them, earning a small glare from Suki who went to Aang's box and placed a love duck in her tongue. He followed the girls to the room where he previously fought with Suki, unsure if the drug would help him relax
Electra helped her fix as she nodded her head side to side, a wide smile appearing on her face as her heartbeat began to slow down. Mai tapped Zuko's shoulder, her face stoic and haunting as she looked down at him.
"I almost told her earlier. Sorry for causing the fight" she apologized kneeling down by his side, Zuko denied it
"It was not the first fight we had about it…don't feel guilty or pressured to do it" he said, exposing his arm "I…I would really like one. Katara said she was going to cure us for tomorrows event"
Mai prepared it, the herbs mixing in the little spoon she used to carry close to her knives. Both knew how blessed they were whenever they got the chance to be alone and relax with it.
"Remember, I am the one who will control it" Mai reminded as he pressed it to Zuko, whose eyelids were already closed, tasting que liquid poured. "Now let's get out before it hits you harder, Electra"
"Yes" Electra said with a big smile, clumsily tripping as she reached the door. "Are you behind me?"
"We are" Mai replied bored "Open it"
Electra obeyed as they all walked to the main room, where Suki and Sokka sat in silence. He had his dose of duck following the promise he had made on the beach regarding drugs. There was some nervousness around it but he decided to let go of it to favor Suki's disrupted state.
Aang and Katara kissed non stop, annoying Toph and making Ty Lee jealous of the scene. Mai sat beside Ty Lee, while Electra took place beside Toph whose nervousness increased as the ambassador laid down on her shoulder.
Zuko clumsily made it to the couch, sitting in between Mai and Aang who moved slightly to give him more space.
"Why are we doing this?" Suki asked looking at the starry night above them "We are going to regret it so much tomorrow"
"I wanted to watch dumb benders doing dumb stuff, you decided to grab a pill" Sokka reminded looking at her, the gray around her increasing as she exhaled
"You're right. I…I just need to tell you something" Suki whispered scooting closer to Sokka, who nodded and put his ear close to her.
"I will give you a little of context…if you…care? If not-"
"Of course I care for you" Sokka placed a hand on hers, gripping it for support "You can always vent to me…I wished this didn't give you the last push but if it helps you…we can make something out of it"
Sokka swore he saw a tint of pink mixed with the gray, smiling as he waited to listen
"I found myself in a shit position" She vented as Sokka winced a bit, nodding along to made her know he was still in the conversation, remembering their last conversation "That guy told me it was officially over"
"What?!" Sokka loudly asked, earning a glare from her and Zuko, who wanted to move his sit but felt too heavy. He was feeling colder too.
"Shut up" Suki clamped his mouth, frowning "Not "officially" but the exclusivity, I'll be back in the shadows"
"Back in th-" he managed to mumble as Suki put finger on his lips, the touch arousing both of them. "Why?"
"Bending, that's why" Suki reclined again in the couch, her aura turning darker "Not enough to hold a nation or to have bending, or babi-"
Sokka felt nauseous, turning his annoyed face into a serious one. She stopped talking to avoid fueling more fire to the ever growing pit of anger
"I am still on that mission, so I can't complain. I am doing my job, even if I lost both cakes" She laughed out loud, extending it until tears came out of her eyes, unsure if it was from the laughs or the pain. "I need another one"
"You really shouldn't" Sokka grabbed her hand, glaring at Zuko who currently rested in Mai's lap. "It's not worth it"
"Who are you to tell me what is worth? I am doing this mission to help your girlfriend be safe, to help you. Had I listened to the advisors and doctors, we wouldn't be sitting this close and touching each other like this" Suki rambled as she began playing with Sokka's hair, it soothed him and distracted him enough to close his eyes, laying on her chest.
"Suki I love you" He whispered, relaxed at the way her fingers played with his hair. "Be safe"
"I am safe with you, that's why I only touch you like…this" She whispered back, her hand slowly lowering to his features, remembering each edge in her heart. "I do love you too"
"You'll come back to me…."He looked up from his position, hearing her heartbeat fluster excitedly as his eyes posed into hers, the color gone from the drugs taken "You are my boomerang"
Suki giggled at the metaphor, lowering her face to steal a quick peck on his cheek. "I am honored that your love for me equals your favorite object"
"I will always choose you, I learnt my lesson" he hid his face on her chest, lulling himself with the giggles that escaped her. He hugged her hips and breathed slower
"Thank you" She said, closing her eyes to sleep, melting in his hug as she hugged his back and face. "I want to choose you… i do"
"Don't worry…" he whispered, falling asleep with her
Screams in the room woke up the cuddling couple, who first looked around the room to prepare for a fight, only to see Mai and Katara stopped by Aang who pleaded at everyone to help him.
Toph was too high to bend accordingly, Electra hid behind her. Zuko couldn't grab Mai as his arms failed him everytime he tried to put them up, groaning at the screaming.
Sokka couldn't figure out what they were saying, his ears numb by the drugs. Suki was already on her feet and dragging her own body force to Katara, also screaming. He stepped up in the middle with Aang, as he talked to him exasperated, signaling him to sit down
"Huh?" Sokka barely managed to speak before the sound hit his ear all at once.
"It is all consensual my fucking-"
"Katara stop!" Suki continued to manhandle her towards the table "She is telling the truth! Ty Lee!"
The acrobat was laying on the floor unconscious, barely speaking.
"What the-" Sokka was pushed out of the way by a gust of wind, knocking him down on his face. "dude!"
"You are not helping much here" Aang groaned as he held Mai in her place
"Aang put me down! I won't do anything to her, I was protecting myself" She explained "Zuko!"
"Can't we all sit down to talk about this, there is a motive" Zuko dragged his words, earning a scream from Katara.
"Kat! Listen to me!" Suki shook her shoulders, managing to gain her attention "We are not dating anymore!"
"What!?" Everyone in the room was shocked, including Zuko who shook his head to remember their previous conversation.
"Can you all sit down and forget about this? We will explain it shallowly and then you mind your business again" Zuko implored as the waterbender calmed down, walking behind Suki who wanted to puke everything. Sokka scrambled to his sit shocked at what he was hearing from Electra
Mai and Zuko were back together? They KISSED thinking no one would see them? He thought incredulously, face plastered with skepticism.
"I am her girlfriend to safe face" Mai explained annoyed "Suki is still her fiance, I will be her doxie"
"Suki will be the doxie" Zuko coughed making Suki breath heavily, frowning "I don't want a civil war, no more Agni Kai's and specially no more exposing my fiance to assesination attempts"
"That's fucking stupid" Toph talked without thinking, as usual "Why are you still together like that? You are the firelord you can just snap your fingers and they need to do what you order"
"We love each other" Suki's voice was barely heard by her friends, unconvinced about the situation. "It is the best solution we could come up without being assholes. Besides…I don't know if I can have children of my own"
Katara sensed she didn't tell Zuko her reproductive organs were good, so instead of blurting sensible information she kept it to herself, taking a mental note to talk about it with Suki and discover if there was a way of knowing if the baby would be or not a bender.
It would be useful to Aang and herself, in the future.
"You don't have to kiss and do displays of affection to fake a relationship" Katara said instead, angry "It is disrespectful for Suki who is YOUR fiance"
"It's…an open relationship" Suki mumbled as Katara huffed angry "You can love two people at the same time, it's pretty normal"
"Yes, it is" Electra backed her up, repaying her debt "The water tribes are more conservative about it, but polygamy is something really normal in the fire nation and earth kingdom. You can read it everywhere"
"Of course" Katara grumbled annoyed "Well, anything else you want to talk about that we don't know of? You know, to not be caught off guard"
"We don't have to explain ourselves to you" Zuko defended his posture, it was a good plan and it did help him have his nation under control, maybe displaying affection was too soon but he needed it to get off of his chest, she was intoxicating to him.
"We know Zuko, thank you for clarifying this event, sorry to bug you with it" Aang mediated "Congratulations"
"Thanks" Mai smiled at the Avatar "It's a good thing we are all civil and respectful of each others culture" she sarcastically said, sitting by Zuko who looked paler than usual
"Do we continue this or are we going to keep nagging for information?" the ambassador steered away the focus on them, opening the box Aang had left on the table "I think we should talk about other things before heading off to sleep"
"I think I had enough, but thank you" the warrior replied, sitting by her "Toph?"
"I do need it, you guys can't be a good family and not fight for stupid shit" angrily she took the duck and popped it in her mouth, leaning on Suki.
"I am sorry, for misinterpreting your relationship" Katara sat in between Aang and Mai, offering her hand. Mai shook it with small smile "I am still adapting to change"
"We all are, no hard feelings" Zuko agreed, tugging at Mai's dress for an extra dose. As he was served, Aang kept an eye on Suki who fidgeted with the box and Sokka who glared at Zuko and Suki.
"Do any of you feel like tomorrow it's going to be…the last time we are like this?" Toph's sensible fibers were ruffled with everything that happened, Suki looked up from the box worried
"I hope so, I don't enjoy that everytime we meet there is a new fight" Sokka's annoyance was evident in his tone, making the earthbender smirk
"If you meant being together, I don't think so. We are friends, I believe we will be together in all of the different universes and lives we endure" The avatar reassured, hugging close Katara who nodded to his statement.
"I do feel it will be the last time" Electra countered with sorrow "All the good things fade away fast"
"Leave the nervousness to us Electra" Suki posed a hand reassuringly on her shoulder "We will have more nights and fights like this" she looked playfully at Sokka who snickered, resting his back on the couch.
"Is anyone going to pick up Ty Lee?" Mai asked as everyone looked at the girl who peacefully slept on the floor
"She looks pretty comfortable down there" Aang giggled "Tomorrow there will be healers, in case she needs it we can carry her, right Sokka?"
Sokka groaned "Why us?"
"Seems like somebody is slacking" the earthbender mocked with a laugh "those arms are pure fat"
Sokka rolled his eyes "Fine! I always have to pick up stuff anyway, just another work day"
"I'll do it if he can't, she is my friend" Suki mumbled, closing her eyes to resume her sleeping
"We should all sleep, it's pretty dark outside" Mai looked at the dark window, a dim light from the street visible
"Follow me! I have prepared our beds" Aang smiled untangling himself from Katara "As we all need to leave together, I prepared a room similar to our traveling days. There are enough sheets for us and space to roll around"
The group moved slower due to their intoxicated state, plopping into the ground once inside the room. Electra spooned Toph, sure that no one would pay attention to them due to the news about their friends
Zuko laid down in the middle of Mai and Suki, the warrior covering her whole body, ashamed of the sudden confirmation. Hours ago she was sleeping peacefully and then they confirmed the status
Back at the shadows, at least her plan worked. She wasn't sure how long it would be held as he seemed more interested in Mai
Sokka, ignoring his good judge, laid down by Suki and next to Ty Lee, taking care of the girl as she laid her down and covered her with the sheet
"Good night! I'll wake up all of you later" Katara whispered to no one in particular, cuddling with aang as they faded to sleep quickly
Suki turned away from the couple, Zuko's arm still positioned as her pillow. The familiar blue looked to her
" Are you having trouble sleeping?" She mouthed as silently as she could, scooting closer when he nodded "why?"
"I don't know, I worry too much" He mouthed scooting even closer "I…maybe we should try to sleep"
"Do you think we will get them?" Suki whispered to his ear, Sokka nodded
"We must. We can't fail" he whispered back, feeling tingles as he smelled the perfume on Suki " Stop worrying"
"You worried first, or is there something else bothering you?" Concerned she asked, as Sokka glanced at the firelord " Oh…yeah"
"I won't tell you what to do, but maybe we should trust Mai…" Sokka whispered, Suki frowned "Don't make that face"
"We can't trust anybody, she is still looking for her own benefit" Suki reminded him, he sighed
"Aren't we all? Why are you dealing with this situation?" Sokka asked a question he knew the answer already " You even said it at your ball"
Suki listened, regretting briefly what she wrote on his hand
I remember the promise
"It's too late, we have our duties" She mouthed, her eyes dropping " in another life"
"Talk to Mai" He mouthed, grabbing her hand to write with his language a lot of things he couldn't express
Suki did her best to translate it and reply in his hand
What are you standing for?
Peace and to block Azula from power
Does he know?
He will, after this mission. He promised me to do it
Are you okay?
Why wouldn't I be?
He will flaunt Mai and marry both of you, you were crushed by the idea of people not choosing you
Was i?
You told me hours ago
Oh
I am with you, you have me and
" I don't understand" she mouthed, trying to form the sentence, Sokka grinned as he whispered at her ear " I need to teach you more slang words of my tribe"
Suki nodded smiling, making a fake phone with her fingers; she grabbed his hand again
We should sleep
Good idea, but I can't
I still don't understand what you wrote, can you simplify it?
Nope
Why?
I want to keep touching your skin
Well genius, if you use more syllables it will be more touching
True, are you comfortable with this?
Sure
I said that i am with you and I lament the day my hormones won
She giggled, he hushed her with his finger, looking around to see if anyone woke up; Zuko removed his arm. After the silence fell, he sighed relaxed
Careful daisuki
You were serious with that nickname?
I am always serious
Sure and I'm a firebender
You wished
I am a bit glad about that
That you are a non bender?
Yes
Interesting
I know it was hard for you
It still is sometimes, that's why I try to create more and more things to level up
Like that gauntlet? It was amazing how fast you created it
Stop it or I'll kiss you
And you are so smart and funny, tall, handsome
Okay, this is daisuki speaking, not Suki
I am daring you to kiss me
I won't fall for it
Your loss
She rolled to Zuko's side with a smile, it faded as soon as she saw his chest. She had to get her priorities in check and keep more to herself
Maybe she should talk to Aang about it, to Zuko, to end it and return to Kyoshi Island, rethink what she wanted
Daisuki
She rolled to see him, finding a pleading stare
Can I kiss you?
Her heart started again, flushing intensely as he was already close to her face, his hand caressing her arm.
No, but I really want to
Okay, no problem, had to try it after you daring me
You are making this very difficult, I can't afford you
Ouch, I don't describe myself as super expensive
You know what I mean
I know I know, I just can't pull myself away from you
Fate? A god making fun of us?
I don't believe in destiny anymore, I have chosen you, you have chosen him
Sokka
If destiny was real, we would be married
I would have loved it
Have cute little kyoshi warriors?
We should stop
What I'm saying is, we forge our destiny
Okay, I can see your point of view
Sorry, it was uncool to say all of that
It lets me daydream, don't worry
Daisuki
Sokka
I love you
I still love you too
Then choose me, pick me, love me
Suki looked pained, caressing his arm. He stopped it
Think about it
I would sleep it off if I could
Try it
They leaned towards each other, stopping by Sokka rolling to watch Ty Lee
"Night" he mouthed looking back, earning a smile before rolling again to catch sleep
"Medicine has come a long way, I love it" Sokka exclaimed enjoying the pond in the building "i have the best sister in the world"
"Honestly, yeah" Ty Lee said briefly lifting her veil "We love you so much Katara"
"Don't abuse it" Katara replied with a grin "We should thank the fire nation for the donation, as these pools were created by investors"
"Good thing I fought for it" Zuko exudes happiness, laying with Mai by his side
"We would be all groggy and weak if not for this" Aang added with a bright smile, looking at Suki briefly as the girl slept in the pool.
Electra was the first to wake up and notice the emotional barrier the firelord and Suki had, she intended to exploit it, owing Sokka the favor. She couldn't get close to the warrior without feeling like her lungs couldn't have more room for air, so she turned and whispered to Toph who tried really hard to not blush.
"Toph" Electra whispered "I need your help"
"Everybody does, I should be named the Avatar already" she sarcastically replied, scooting closer
"Can you check on Suki? She looks…sad" Electra exagerated Suki's body language, as the warrior had become unreadable to her friends, except her and Sokka because of course the man would obsess over her.
"Really? I thought she was fine with it" she sat on the small pool, putting a hand out of the water to try and locate her
"Did that really convince you? After her ball and everything suddenly she is not the firelady anymore? I would be hysterical" she explained with sorrow, looking briefly at her who continued sleeping.
"She will help me with the kyoshi warrior armor and paint, I can ask her there" she laid down again, sighing until Sokka began rambling about wanting food, frowning annoyed
"How much longer do we need to stay here?" the annoyance and desperation increased the more Katara ignored him, laying down as her water glowed "SIS"
"Just fifteen minutes more councilman Sokka" the lady told him, making Sokka nod and splashing Ty lee as he fell on the water again
"Hey!" She slapped his arm annoyed "Now I have to get up and grab another mask"
"I'll get it for you" the lady ran across the room to find the box in the acrobat's bag, coming back with it.
"Thank you sweetheart" she thanked, looking annoyed at Sokka. "What?"
"Are they really as soothing as you brag all the time?" He asked inspecting the sheet
"Haven't you touched my face?" She asked lifting her cheek, he smiled pinching it "see! it's soft as silk"
"Cool" he replied, laying down on the pool again, waiting for the fifteen minutes to pass. The nervousness of the event was weighing on him, but, being in the pool let him relax and think…but think a little too much for his liking.
He didn't want to think after his chat with Suki. He was bleeding with her and nothing he said or did would make her change her mind, especially her rational mind. He hated the honesty flowing with the amount of drugs ingested.
"Can you lend me one? I'll pay for another box" he asked as Ty lee squealed excited, pulling one out of the box and placing it in his face. "wow"
"How does it feel?" the question was more an affirmation to the good feeling the mask gave her
"...it is kinda nice" he admitted
Mai and Zuko were as close as possible, their time already done as they picked up their stuff to leave the facility and head to their chambers. She looked at Suki, one way or another their friends would have to know about it.
It all felt surreal and wrong. Of course she had the boy she had dreamed of since they were kids, he was again showing her emotion, trusting her with something so delicate. Now that it was official, now the she had him it made her realize she wasn't feeling happy or excited
She was feeling like an object, used, ordered around, the same way she felt with her parents, with Azula
Now she was feeling this way with Zuko, whom looked at her with curiosity.
"Are you ready to go?" He asked her with a brief smile "we must get the last sew and then get dressed"
His eyes shone differently than those other times they were more friendly, something she hadn't seen in a long time shown towards her. But what did all of this mean to him? Was he happy with not having to choose?
"I have to wait for Ty lee, I'm rooming with her" She snapped out of her thoughts, Zuko took her hand and kissed it.
"She already has her outfit, you are using a new one" faking a gag Zuko smiled, leading her to where Katara and one of the nurses talked.
"Zuko, I am needed in a part of the plan" She stopped walking, letting go of his hand. "I'll be close to you but not as a firelady"
"Really? Why didn't you say anything last night when we talked about it?" He questioned "Mai, are you-"
"I was with a fix, of course I forgot" she dead paned him "Sorry"
He sighed and nodded, glimpsing briefly at Suki who was shook by one of the nurses to wake her up. "Okay, then I'll see you…after?"
"Of course" a hint of a smile showed in her face, before returning to her neutral position. "Careful"
"You too" He kissed her hand again, walking past her to talk to Suki and apologize, mostly apologize again.
Suki saw it from a mile away and got out of the water, ready to take a cold shower and move on from everything. She would deal with this in the fire nation
"I thought you had left already" he forced a smile, frozen "Well…I'll see you later, try to focus on your duty today"
"Yes of course" he replied quickly as she stared him down, patting his head "Are you alright?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" she fluttered her eyelashes, a glimpse of the old Suki coming back, he let out a breath he held all this time. She pecked him in the cheek, resentful but not willing to show it in front of everyone.
She needed them to focus too.
"Be careful Suki" the worry turned into an order, annoying Suki a bit "I know you are more than capable but you can exceed yourself"
"I won't need to if you focus on you job and let me do mine" the cockiness in her tone made him grin "now let me get a shower"
She walked to the common girls area, ready to let out some two or four tears that wanted to get out of her system, she jogged briefly until she had to stop abruptly at seeing the pair of arms pushing each other away as the curtain moved.
She was sure she saw some blonde hair, she smirked, thankful for the distraction as she took the other shower, biting her lip to suppress her urge to pick on Toph.
Sokka felt prepared to confront most of the public but he did not anticipate it would be as many people gathered in every corner and building surrounding the area. It was an enormous parade like the ones Katara would write to him that followed years after the southern tribe was renewed.
Electra never let people touch her hair or face, this time she struggled to brush it properly as her hands trembled the lower she brushed it. The mission was simple, stand, wave, stand, move, and be gone in less than four hours.
She drank the glass of water by her mirror, struggling to maintain it still.
"It will all be done in a few minutes, you will even laugh at how you are acting" He grabbed the brush and combed first with his hand the long hair, separating strands to brush it.
"I know, I just don't feel ready to fight. Retaking the class today with your sister, Toph and Suki reconfirmed that I am good with fishing, not fighting" she admitted disappointed "and it was just forms, not even a full fight"
"I sucked too the first time Suki taught me, to my advantage I had previous physical endurance, you didn't; yet, you remember all the forms in less than a day, I would say you make a better student" her smiled faded even more, passing him the hairtie "How will you wear it today?"
"I need something practical, or that's what Suki told me" She tried to remember the hairstyle Suki used for training the day before, her memory foggy from the events after training. "A low bun? Can you help me?"
"Of course, I just put on some perfume and massage my face, you still need to do your makeup" He started to do the hairstyle, moving the hair gently to avoid moving her face and staling her more.
"Sokka, how do you feel about…the new arrangement?" She asked to move her mind away from the event, he glared at the mirror and continued tying her braids. "I saw you sleeping by her side…nothing happened?"
"No" he lied, pulling a bit of her hair. She glared back, thankful the brush was not on her cheek "Yes we talked, and I don't like it. But Suki chose him, I can't do anything"
"You can always do something more, you just need to figure it out" she smiled trying to help him "No one likes being a doxie"
"She deserves the entire world, I wanted to give it to her…It pains her when I beg" He admitted hurt "I will not anymore, unless she gives me a clear ground"
"She is giving you everything, Mai added to the mix is making my suspicion a reality" Electra explained, getting in Sokka's head "I shouldn't tell you as I am risking my security here"
"You have to finish your talk…and makeup" He finished her bun, proud of how neatly it was.
"OKay, everything for my favorite ex lover" Electra smiled, applying her lipstick as Sokka watched. "help her get out of the darkness, that's the only way of her going back to you"
"I would.. if I was out of it. There is no cure-"
"the cure is support, patience, love. You now have the three of them, you don't need to save her. Just give her the therapist she found here, schedule her a visit. She will come back to her senses and leave Zuko" Electra smiled, now standing up to put on her dress
"She is marrying him to avoid Azula surge in power again" He declared unwillingly, sighing "Can't blame her for not trusting her sister in law…even if she let me see that letter Suki kept hidden"
"Well well…if she wants to get rid of her, there is some truth in it, We must be careful" Electra brainstormed "That even means that Mai is either looking out for Zuko or she is under Azula's manipulation"
"Oh no, so Suki must marry him. Hooray" Sokka faked the excitement, spreading himself in the sofa
"Not necessarily, but I might convince Suki now with this information" Electra grinned "We will all get what we want"
"NO" Sokka stood up crossing his arms "NO. I promised her nobody else would know before Zuko, she said she would talk to him"
"Of course I won't tell her that you told me" She rolled her eyes, going to the closet "After her reaction at the ball, I'm pretty sure she is still suspicious of us working and dating"
"That's why you won't do anything, right?" hopefully he asked, raising his eyebrows and waiting for her confirmation. Electra undressed not saying anything, his face worrying "right?"
Suki hadn't been this excited in months
Helping her friends and Toph's students get the uniform and armor were in the right position, specifically after seeing the adaptations Sokka and Aang had worked on.
The green and gold with a new metallic glow, seeing for the first time Katara and Toph was heartwarming to her. Dressing Toph especially was adorable to her, as the girl stood still waiting for the armor to close.
"Well well well, you look gorgeous Miss Beifong" Katara complimented applying her own makeup, smiling at Toph who blushed. The metalbender sighed
"You do, the green looks amazing in you" Suki reassured as she continued painting her eyes "And you look fiercer than ever"
"Good, that's the point" she replied trying to not emote on her face -after being bumped several times by Suki- at the compliments "I thank that you made my uniform lighter, the city under all this lights is burning hot"
"It will also help us move faster," Katara added as she played with the hairstyle,avoiding the traditional hair loops. Karina walked towards her offering her hands, which the waterbender thanked "and the armor is super light! I tried to hit myself with a spike and it barely scratched it, how did you manage to make it?"
"Sokka and Aang engineered it with the help of this designer…taki? making tests with dummies from the training grounds, I honestly like it. Wish he could have made more" Suki lamented as she finished painting Toph's lips
The earthbender tugged Suki's shirt, gathering her attention.
"Suki I-"
"They do feel light" Ty lee said with Karina side eyeing her, a bit annoyed "I missed using the uniform!"
"It's a change" Mai added boredly, fidgeting with the knives in her hands "lighter than the last time I used it"
"That was the purpose, no need to repeat it" Toph scolded annoyed at being interrupted "You shouldn't have exchanged places with my students"
"We just offered them our roles and they gladly accepted it!" Ty lee smiled "I didn't know you had us sitting next to Zuko"
"He will have more than enough protection, so it's not a totally bad thing" Katara tried to defuse the situation as Suki finished Toph's hair, looking at the women in the room.
"It is a good thing for the plan to have both of you here" she admitted, raising a hand to gather close all of them "We are going to go over the plan again, alright? First stay close to your designated personality: Katara with Electra specially"
"Got it" She winked, fanning herself. "We will blend"
"Second of all, before the third hour, Sokka won't be able to join us to patrol, Mai and Ty Lee you will be patrolling with Tanya, she is a metalbender so she can sense any type of unwanted presence: You will be covering Sokka, the moment he patrol with us you'll go back to guarding Zuko" she explained as the girls nodded "Go all out in case someone is suspicious and hold hostages, we don't want to kill anybody"
"I can't promise you that, but we will do our best" Mai replied slyly, grinning
"Toph and Aimi, dense crowd control" She re explained as both nodded along the order "Koralin and aria you'll do this too"
"I will be signaling you with this" Karina lifted two fingers that made a twirl explode "In case we need you to patrol somewhere, Toph you will need to trust Aimi"
"My girl is the almost the top of her class, or that's what she brags about" She mocked as Aimi sighed annoyed
"In case any of us need support, you will lift one finger up and down three times" Suki showed the gesture "Yuyan archers already know this is their signal to locate danger and pin them down"
"Are they allowed to…you know…"Ty lee faked a dead face
"No, unless they see you are in grave danger, other than that they will have poison to tranquilize and take hostages" Suki explained as the girls nodded along "Any questions?"
"Noope" Katara smiled "We are ready"
Suki smiled at them, still proud of how they looked in the uniforms even if they were benders from other places. In the end, the Kyoshi attire really suited everyone.
"Let's go then. Time to install ourselves before the twilight appears" Suki ordered as they all walked out of the room, leaving Karina and Suki time to chat before taking their designated positions too.
"No motivational speech today?" She asked with a nudge, making Suki sigh "You don't have to be nervous"
"More than nervous, I'm worried I might get…the logistic wrong for being distracted" Suki admitted, Karina groaned
"It's…Mai, isn't it?" Karina didn't stop to listen to her "Zuko has been courting her but I THOUGHT it was part of your deal with him while roaming in the city? He tried to talk to me but was pulled away by the other politicians"
"No, we have a deal, Zuko and I at least. But…I talked to Mai before leaving" She reminded her ,Karina listened closely "When I told you to leave the room I asked her…if she was still in love with him"
"You asked a rhetorical question then" Karina sighed, underwhelmed by the confession
"I know she loves him, but we talked about…other stuff. Like polygamy, she said it was fairly normal in the fire nation to have different wives, not supported or normalized in recent times, but it had happened. She said she wouldn't want to be a concubine or doxie as they lovely describe it as" explaining the terms she researched briefly, Suki involuntarily touched her neck
"Are you really okay with that?" Karina asked, shocked "Is she okay with that?"
"Now she is, when we talked about it at first she seemed…well," Suki rethought the description "rather annoyed by the suggestion. Now she is the new firelady"
"What?" the surprise in her face couldn't be hidden under her hand "Suki! What a sh-"
"It's okay with me. I mean, Aang and I talked about it before. I like, love, Zuko. But-"
"I can't believe you are justifying it to keep crushing on Sokka" Karina interrupted annoyed, reading her immediately the more Suki touched her neck "Do your move or move on already, be alone for Kyoshis sake"
Suki looked perplexed, annoyed at hearing her "I mean, I wished I could break up with him but I need to prevent Azula from taking the throne"
"Weren't you hanging out with her all the time before coming here?" Karina questioned with sarcasm, putting both hands on her hips "Was all of that part of your plan?"
"Yes, actually" Suki bit back upset "I managed to strike a deal with Zuko to prevent her from taking decisions"
"Or you can just simply put her in a room again, everyone goes to their respectives partners and you can stop faking the happiness and open mindedness you suddenly now have" Karina replied angered, upsetting Suki more
"Okay, someone seems resentful" She rolled her eyes, taking her fan. Karina snatched out of her hands
"See this fan? Sokka gave it to you because this is our old model. Suki come on! You can't expect me to be happy for you when you are doing this out of your own will to keep suffering," she scolded her, the leader handed it back to her "You can leave the room, but you and I know what's happening here"
"Do we?" Suki dared, dangerously close to cursing her "I am not suffering because I like it"
"No, but you can just pack everything and come home with us" Karina tried to convince her, she looked tearfully "You are not…the Suki I know. Do you mean to tell me that being around Sokka doesn't make you happy? I can notice these things! Is nowhere near how bright and serene you look when just talking about him.
Yes, Zuko deserves better than how you have been playing with him, I know it was not on purpose, but you are not doing him any favor, especially after he knows everything!"
"Wait" Suki stopped her, shocked "You were telling him everything?"
"Under his orders, yes. You have been living in this golden palace where yes, Kyoshi Island has grown and got a lot of funds thanks to it, but at what cost? Ever thought of doing what you want?" Karina tried to reason with her, Suki frowned more about the part of her friend snitching on her
"That wasn't the only time I was spied, when I caught you" She confronted her, crossing her arms
"No! I already told you it was under-"
"You are supposed to be my friend," Suki pointed offended "best friend! My sister, why did you concede?"
"We are warriors serving, I must tell him. And I didn't even say some things, maybe I should have so you could be happy!" Karina doubled her point down "The first step of getting better is admitting that you are not happy"
"Karina, I know I am not happy. Not how I used to," Suki explained, scratching her neck "I can't be calm but it's my choice! If I just give up on my objective…all of these promises, sacrifices I have made would be for nothing! I would kill myself if that happened," Suki panted, the darkening quickly overwhelming her to the point where her view fogged
"that would mean all of this 'good' damage, collateral damage, was just damage and I could have been happy and not sorrowful and sad all the time" She kneeled hugging herself, panting harder as images of her breakups, losing her parents, torture and sorrowfull eyes flashed quickly in her mind.
"Suki, your faults don't define you" she kneeled by her side, hugging her tightly as the warrior calmed down, grounding herself when a warm tear fell on her cheek "neither your intrusive thoughts. Let it happen, flow. You'll eventually feel better"
"I can't seem to get better, I am a new person but I keep doing the same mistakes" Suki admitted, shivering under her hug "I don't recognize what I am doing but I know I must do it"
"You can try to superficially change that and leave all of this behind," Karina continued, stroking her back "But we both know it won't be successful in the long run"
She helped the warrior stand to her feet, positioning herself to do a kata, Suki placed herself by her side, following her movements, focusing.
"You are not alone" Karina reminded her, finishing the kata. "You will always have us to help you or fall with you"
Suki hugged her tightly, patting her back to finally let go, taking a deep breath.
"Let's finish this first, afterwards…I'll come clean" Suki promised, lifting her pinky finger, Karina took it with a comprehensive look.
"Do whatever makes you happy"