You Make Life So Hard

Looks

I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or anything else you recognize. disclaimer: absolutely no hate towards people who ship katara and aang, but this may not be the greatest thing for you to read.

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If you had asked him a year ago, Sokka would've told you Katara and Aang were perfect together. Both were overly optimistic and hopeful, both had weird savior complexes, both were very protective, and both believed in stupid things like fortune-telling. But he was a little older now, a little smarter, and he had seen a lot more of the world. And he wasn't so sure they were perfect together.

Because when Sokka saw the way Katara looked at Aang, he saw the same look she gave him. The look of a young girl who was forced to grow up too fast, forced to become a pseudo-mother far earlier than anyone should have to. The look of a girl who felt maternal, protective love for her charge. And he wasn't so sure he wanted her looking at her significant other that way for the rest of her life.

Because when Sokka saw the way Katara looked at Zuko...it was different. It was a look of adoration, yes, but also respect and understanding. There was no motherly affection in that gaze. In fact, it faintly reminded Sokka of the way his mom had looked at his dad every time he had come home from a sailing trip, and the way he imagined he looked at Suki whenever she whipped out her fans. It was the look of a girl who saw endless possibilities for her future and was drawn in. And he knew that Zuko looked at her the same way.

And so if you asked him now, Sokka would tell you that maybe, just maybe, Katara and ex-Angry Jerk with a Ponytail would be perfect together. Sokka is scientific to a point; he knows that when water and fire mix, all you get is steam. But sometimes they can coexist - like when he sees them sparring. He sees blue and red dancing around each other, far enough to not evaporate, but close enough to push each other to be better and stronger. Both never gave up without a fight, both were stupidly and bravely impulsive, both were selfless to a fault, and both could not tell a joke to save their lives. And because he's older, and smarter, and has seen a lot more of the world, he's pretty sure they would be perfect together.

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AN: I gotta be honest - I have no idea what this is. not thrilled about it but I have this huge Google Doc of Zutara drabbles and little stories that I just want to get out there. so here. hope you enjoyed it!

also, new chapter of You Knew It Was Me is up! it's a zutara arranged marriage fic with twists and turns, so if you're into that or like my writing style, feel free to check it out.