Distractions (Sokka x Zuko) [COMPLETED]

Chapter Eleven

    Sokka kept on missing his chances. Every time the war room doors opened, he had to hide to avoid the generals seeing him and then they'd just stand in front of the doors talking about nonsense. 

    Cutting his losses, he went back to the training hall. He didn't go into the rooms though, they felt empty when he was by himself. Instead he just wandered the halls, looking at paintings and the architecture of the area. Strange how having no one that knew his real identity around made him more relaxed.  

    He'd found some paper the other day and a paintbrush so he'd been practising his art for fun. But that could only hold his attention for so long. 

    Going down the hall with all the Firelords, he looked up at the portrait of Ozai. All of the portraits were done in a specific style. If Zuko became Firelord would he get one, too? Trying to picture it, Sokka decided that he could probably draw him better than that would look. 

    He had time... maybe he could try?

_

    Old lady smell was preferred over the party. Being around teenagers who were going about like there wasn't a care in the world and chattering with one another. Mai was once again distanced from him on their shared bench and turned away. She also seemed uninterested in the party but she hadn't said anything about leaving.

    "I'm hungry." She stated plainly.

    "So what." He sighed back, done with it all.

    "So, get me some food."

    "Fine." He got up, making his way over to the buffet table. 

    Azula and Ty Lee were a little ways away chatting about something. Then Azula laughed really loudly and awkwardly, causing a good chunk of the people to turn and stare. Ignoring that, Zuko gathered up a plate and turned around, immediately crashing into someone.

    "Hey!" Nothing was going right... "That was for my cranky girlfriend!" 

    He pointed over to Mai, holding the guy by the front of his shirt. The teen followed the point to see Mai getting chatted up by one of the guys who'd invited them. Well- invited Mai and Ty Lee... 

    Oh so you can look all happy talking to some random guy but not me? 

    Zuko stomped over and spun the guy away, taking his place and seeing the pleasant expression on Mai change to one of anger. 

    "Stop talking to my girlfriend!" He shouted at the guy.

    "Man what's your problem? It's a party!" The guy retorted, walking back over.

    "You need to cool off." Mai got up and stood in front of the guy. "You're out of control. You blow up at every little thing!"

    "Well at least I care about something! Unlike you, you're just a big blah!" He gestured to her.

    "We're done." She looked away, her eyes hardening.

    Suddenly the rage and anger in Zuko just dissipated. He figured maybe he'd end up feeling sad or upset but strangely he just felt... relief?

    "Ok." He said softly before making his way out of the building.

    "See you never loser boy!" The guy called after him, earning a few snickers from the crowd.

    But he couldn't care less. It wasn't worth his time... The only thing he wanted to do was leave.

    The beach was cold at night. The moon shining brightly and shimmering along the water. He kicked the sand that was more like dirt in the humidity of the night, not even glancing at the sky.

    For what felt like the millionth time, he felt like sparring. Though he was angry, he still felt like it. Somehow he knew that if Sokka were here right now, he wouldn't be as confused and frustrated. He'd say something stupid and they would laugh and then they'd spar and Zuko would knock him on his ass. Just the thought of it made him smile...

    Eventually when he did look up, his eyes landed on a certain beach house atop the hill. And almost subconsciously, he walked towards it. 

    Each room and hallway was full of memories. Of his Uncle, of his Mother, of his Father... The house was nearly barren and covered with dust but apart from that it had barely changed. In the corner of one of the rooms, he found a little clay disc with a handprint in the center. Zuko brushed the dust off of it and stared at the little indent for a while.

    His hand had been so small when he made it. The little hand barely fit into his palm now. It was strange. He'd moved to the porch as the memories had begun to overwhelm him and was now basking in the moonlight and thinking.

    "I thought I'd find you up here." Azula's voice echoed up the barren pathway and he looked up at her.

    Strangely, her face was soft. She seemed unnaturally caring in that fragment of a moment when they'd met gazes.

    "It feels like those summers we spent here were so long ago." Zuko said softly, wanting to reminisce about the past with her.

    Did she miss it too? Their family being whole? Being happy?

    "Come down to the beach with me," She said instead, ignoring the statement. "Come on, this place is depressing."

    Accepting the outcome, Zuko put the handprint down next to him and followed his sister down to the beach. The beach where Ty Lee and his now ex-girlfriend were sitting. Side by side. Smiling at each other.

    Azula didn't seem to notice or care but Zuko felt his eyebrow twitch. It was strange... They were friends but there was something else there... And yet, he didn't really feel bothered about it. 

    "Hey." Mai looked up at Zuko as he sat down on the rock adjacent to her.

    "Hey." He said back, softly but not soft enough.

    A soft silence ensued between the four of them for a moment before Ty Lee spoke up.

    "It's pretty cold, isn't it?"

    "I'll start a fire," Zuko offered, looking into the barren firepit at the center of the rock circle. He turned to look at the beach house, his expression growing dark. "There's plenty of stuff to burn in there."