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

Chapter Ten

    "Is this really necessary?" Zuko sighed as Sokka pulled him into the office.

    "It's the only way to guarantee he won't attack you again." The other boy assured.

    Zuko sighed again, unable to reason with that. The secretary was looking at him now and the urge to get out of there spiked.

    "How can I help you?" She asked.

    "Hi, there's a group of guys who keep picking on my friend Lee, I want you to do something about it." Sokka piped up, his tone rather harsh.

    "Sokka..." Zuko uttered, hiding behind the other and grabbing the back of his shirt.

    "Oh dear, what are their names?" The secretary opened a notebook and took out a pen.

    "Do you know?" Sokka looked back at Zuko, realizing that he wasn't sure.

    "Uh.. the main guy is Jet... I dunno about the others." Zuko replied quietly.

    "The main guy is Jet and we're not sure about the others but I can describe them for you." Sokka turned back to the secretary.

    With a soft nod, Sokka begun explaining the others to the lady.

_

    "Are you going to be okay?" Sokka queried as he walked with Zuko to go work on their project.

    "I'll be fine..." Zuko nodded, still embarrassed.

    "How long have they been bothering you anyways?"

    "Since the first day of school..."

    "Seriously?! Wait..," Sokka frowned. "Were they behind the nosebleed?"

    Zuko didn't reply, he only pursed his lips and looked away. Sokka grumbled something under his breath. But he didn't say anything else.

_

    "So, do you think we'll be able to finish the project by tomorrow?" Zuko asked.

    They'd sat down in the library and were working in a soft silence for a few minutes now.

    "Well, we have what, two more questions? I'd say we're good." Sokka shrugged.

    "Great, if we run out of time, I can finish it when I get home tonight."

     "Oh, okay," Sokka smiled. "We still on for milkshakes then?"

    Zuko smiled in response before looking back down at his work, hiding the slight flush that had just filled his cheeks.

_

    "I've got a history project due next week," Aang sighed. "Sokka, do you think you can help me?"

    "Yeah of course, but not tonight. I have plans." Sokka nodded, looking around.

    "What are you doing?"

    "I'm going for milkshakes with Lee."

    "Lee? Who..?" Aang frowned.

    "The guy who came over yesterday?" Sokka hinted.

    "Ohhhhh! Right! Okay have fun!" Aang nodded.

     "Pfft, thanks Aang." Sokka chuckled.

    "Sokka!" A voice called from behind the duo.

    They turned to see Lee walking up to them, a soft smile on his face. Sokka met him half way, his hand moving to rest on the other's shoulder.

    "Are you doing okay?" Sokka asked softly.

    "Yeah... I have a few bruises and I don't think I'll be able to stretch for a little bit... But other than that I'll be fine." Zuko chuckled.

    Sokka nodded, keeping his expression light, he still felt guilty. He should've been there sooner to help him. His hand lifted off his shoulder, wanting to caress Zuko's cheek... But he didn't.

    "R-ready for those milkshakes?" He uttered, grasping at a different train of thought to forget the other.

    "Yeah!" Zuko nodded, oblivious.

_

    They sat across from one another, Zuko sipping on a strawberry shake while Sokka enjoyed a chocolate one. Zuko talked about the project for a little bit before segwaying onto a particularly crummy day at the tea shop. Sokka wasn't entirely paying attention, he was considering asking about Zuko's current status with his soulmate. But there really wasn't a natural way to bring it up.

    "I must say, you two are absolutely adorable together," Their waitress bustled, setting down a napkin replacer. "And so lucky too, most people don't find their soulmate until they're adults."

   With that she walked away again, leaving both boys to simmer in utter silence.

    "S-soulmates..." Sokka echoed awkwardly.

    "Wait? You don't think-?" Zuko looked up at him.

    "I mean... It's possible," Sokka shrugged, trying to hide the panic he was now feeling. "We both got the nosebleed and I got sudden pains all over when you were being beat up."

    Zuko stared at the table for a minute. He tapped his fingers on the surface at an inconsistent rhythm. Biting his lower lip he looked away, obviously conflicted. Before Sokka could say anything else, he stood up.

    "I'm... Thank you for the milkshake. I have... I have to go." He said softly before leaving.

_

    Kicking a pebble on the sidewalk, it flew out and disappeared into the grass. Sokka frowned at himself. What happened back there? He had the perfect opportunity to start up the long awaited conversation and he blew it.

    The conflicted expression on Lee's face flashed in his mind. That didn't look like a face that was happy to have possibly found it's soulmate.

    Dragging a hand through his hair, he groaned and kicked another pebble.

_

    Zuko stared at his phone. He wanted to message Sokka and apologize but he didn't want that topic to come up again. After what had happened last time when the subject was introduced, he didn't want anything to do with it.

    Why did soulmates have to exist anyways? And if his soulmate was Sokka, what was he supposed to do? It wasn't fair to just abandon him and make him live his life without a soulmate just so Zuko could please someone else.

    His thoughts were interrupted by movement on his screen. A message from Sokka.

S: "Hey, about what happened at the milkshake place... Are you okay?"

Z: "yeah I'm fine. I'm just uncomfortable with the topic."
Z: Sorry.

S: Don't apologize for how you feel. It's okay. I won't bring it up again :).

Z: Okay.

    He turned off his phone and tossed around to the other side. Staring at the wall he felt his eyes start to water. Why was he sad?

    A low sob escaped his throat.

    "What the fuck?" He uttered, wiping his eyes meekly.

_

    "I just... Want to be happy," Sokka sighed, tears rolling down the sides of his face. "Two times, I thought I found the one and they broke my heart. Now, I think I might have the real deal and he wants nothing to do with me."

    He sobbed, digging his face into his pillow. Why did soulmates have to exist?