Is it just a coincidence? (Sokka x Zuko) [COMPLETED]

Chapter Four

    Zuko finished work early. He had some chemistry to finish up so Iroh let him off early. Taking off his apron and his shirt, he tossed both in the laundry basket before walking into the bathroom to freshen up. 

    Washing his face, he let his hand linger over the rugged flesh around his left eye. Closing his right, he tried to see out of his left. Only making out some light and shapes, he sighed. Touching his scar again, he felt the sinking feeling return. Would he ever be able to see well out of this eye again?

    Stretching, he shook his head, shaking the little bit of water in his dark hair out. Letting his gaze fall, he stared into the sink. The thought of doing school work suddenly felt boring. He knew he should do it, but he really didn't want to. Looking at the drain, he wondered where the pipe went. How far did it stretch? A long tube... Like a snake. Could a snake fit down there?

    Snake...

   A light ding from his back pocket caught his attention and he tore his gaze away from the silver disk at the base of the sink. Reaching into his jeans, he pulled out his phone where a notification popped back at him, contrasting against his bland background.

    Unknown number: Hey! It'...

    He frowned. Who was messaging him at this time? Running his hand through his thick hair, he pondered the question. Was it Jet? Had he somehow gotten his phone number? Was he going to get cyberbullied now too? With a deeper scowl, he opened his messages, reading the actual text.

    "Sokka?" He blanked for a second before remembering who that was. "Sokka!"

    Clicking on the caller ID, he changed the name to Sokka before returning to the chat. His thumb hovered over the text bubble. Casting a glance at Sokka's message again, he started to type. 

    "Hey Sokka, yeah it's me..." He muttered, reading the message over. "Is that too frigid?"

    He backspaced the message, thinking it over again. Wasn't he trying to keep as low a profile as possible? Why bother being nice? 

    "Yeah" He deleted the message again. The image of Sokka's bright blue eyes looking into his... He didn't want  to be mean... It couldn't hurt to have one friend, right?

    "Yeah. Hi Sokka, how are you?" He mumbled to himself as he typed it out.

    Once again his thumb hovered over the send button. There wasn't anything there that would offend him.. right? Biting his lip, he pressed send. Once it delivered, it was read immediately and Zuko panicked. Now he had no time to delete it if he wanted to.

    Sokka was typing. Zuko felt all his muscles contract in worry and anticipation. His mind so clouded over that he couldn't even question why he cared so much.

S: Oh great! I was afraid some stranger would message me back. 

S: I'm good, how are you?

    Zuko relaxed immediately. Raising his eyebrow he read the messages over again, smiling a little at the first. 

Z: I'm doing good. I just finished work.

S: Where do you work? If you don't mid me asking.

Z: Mid?

S: mind* oops

Z: Oh my Uncle owns a teashop. I'm a waiter.

S: Oh that's cool! I wish I had a job...

    There was a pause. Zuko didn't know how to respond to that... 

S: Do you work every day of the week?