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Suki had known Sokka for many years. Never once had she wanted him to change. Sure, at first, he wasn't exactly the most morally intelligent person, he had these beliefs and stupid morals, proven to be incorrect by Suki herself. She'll never forget the look on his face the day when he had challenged her and lost with a harsh slam to the ground. Sokka had pouted and brushed himself off to stand once more. He insisted that he wasn't prepared. Liar. They had multiple rematches after that. He lost once. Twice. A third time and he was on his knees, begging for her to train him in her ways, looking up at her with his pathetic blue eyes. Although she'd never admit it to anyone, she found it rather attractive to have him at her feet, begging for mercy. She had found herself falling, falling into a pit of emotions. Love to be more precise. She'd never been in love before, it was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. She liked the feeling of being in love. She liked Sokka, she liked Sokka alot.
Then the fire nation attacked Kyoshi Island.
Men on rhinos flooded into the village. Sokka had been there to fight alongside Suki and the other Kyoshi Warriors, because of course he was. They had fought together, hand in hand, dancing their way through the flames. Even with the ash on their heels and the soot in their lungs, Sokka had lead the way. She had pulled him behind a burning house to shield them from all the violence.
"I'm sorry. ", Sokka had blurted out randomly.
"For what?", She questioned.
"I treated you like a girl, when I should've treated you like a warrior."
Something clicked in Suki's mind. Well. That sold it for her.
"I am a warrior.", She planted a small kiss on his cheek, her lipstick leaving a faint stain where her soft lips had met his rough skin.
"But I'm a girl too"
He had gawked at her. Eyes wide, as pathetic as ever. Before he could say anything back, a voice called out his name. His sister, Suki realised. Although she had not remembered her name, she definitely remembered her jealousy when her Avatar friend had gotten attention from the other women in the village. Rather entertaining if you asked Suki. Anyways, where were we? Ah yes. Sokka's departure. After Aang had shooed away the remaining fire nation soldiers, Sokka and his friends had to leave. He had too. He had a mission. Unfortunately, that mission did not include her, nor did it need to. She couldn't have left anyway. Her people needed her and she needed them too.
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Months later, Sokka had never changed. He was still the same guy she had fallen for a while ago. He had never lost hope in her and she had never lost hope in him. That was the best part about their relationship. The praise and appreciation. Both of the things that she had yearned for her entire life. She had gotten praise here and there but never from someone she craved it from. What would've been better than being called a warrior by the guy who once thought that women couldn't be effective fighters? Lush, am I right? She was snapped out of her haze by chatter in the distance of the beach.
"No! It's Suki!", She had heard Sokka yell in the distance. He seemed agitated and she could've sworn that she saw steam coming out of his ears. She watched as Aang and Toph laughed at his masterpiece as he pouted angrily at them. Considering that both Aang and Toph had large titles for themselves, it was rather disappointing to see that they had chosen to cackle like a pair of hyenas at a sweet gesture made by a dear friend in order to impress the one he loved. Yes, the sand sculpture was horrendous, she would admit that. It looked nothing like her, but he tried. That's all that mattered, really.
"I think it's sweet!", She had chirped. He slid across the sand, likely getting burnt from the friction in his way, to capture her in a warm embrace and kissed her on the cheek with a hum.
She had hoped he would never change.
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Even now, 12 years later, he was still the same.
"I present to you, Sokka's cycle!"
It was sweet how he had been so excited to show her his silly invention. He raved on an on about it for about half an hour before he asked her if she wanted him to take her for a ride. Suki hesitated and examined the cycle. It was rackety and extremely dangerous. But hey, she'd been in worse danger before. When Sokka had left to make some finishing touches, one of the children that he had shooed out of his workshop approached her.
"What do you see in him?", The child asked her, eyes narrow.
Suki laughed and patted the child on their head.
"That's a story for another da–"
"No! I want to know!", The child insisted. "Please, Miss Suki!" They pleaded.
She sighed. "Fine.", The child cheered and jumped around as if they were on a pogo stick.
"Where do I start?", She sat both herself and the child in a pile of pillows. "Well–" She was interrupted by a clash, accompanied by a yelp and a small–squeak? Sokka rushed in, panting, eyes wide.
This can't be good.
"Sokka! What happened!?", She sat up, concern in her voice.
Sokka stuttered and panted, his hands on his head, gripping his hair as if it was his only lifeline.
"Well", he huffed. "I was just fixing up my cycle, you know as you d–"
"Oh just get to the point!", Suki rushed.
He flinched and swallowed thickly before continuing.
"Yes, yes right. I then spun one of the wheels, didn't realise that Momo was sat on my work bench and his tail got caught in the gears!", His voice was raised several octaves as he recalled the event.
"SOKKA!" an angry voice boomed, Aang she noticed, she also heard who she presumed to be Katara spiralling somewhere in the backround, probably rushing to get poor Momo free. Sokka rushed back into his workshop where more muffled yells followed. Suki heard Katara curse him out as Aang now probably took the role of tending to Momo.
Sokka poked his head though the door once more.
"I didn't realise that he was there, right Love?" She opened her mouth to defend him but was cut of by Katara.
"SHE WASN'T EVEN THERE YOU IDIOT!", Katara's fist gripped Sokka's shirt and dragged him back into the workshop. The door slammed behind him.
"That's your man?", The child raised an eyebrow ar her.
A silly idiot of a man, sure.
"Yes, that's my man", She loved him all the same.
She would never change a thing.