Love Without War

Chapter 3

"I can't believe I rejected him," Sokka groaned, burying his face in a pillow.

Suki gave him an unimpressed look and patted him gently on the shoulder. "There, there, you big baby," she said rolling her eyes. "Now quit crying and let's figure out how to fix this, okay?"

"I wasn't crying," Sokka grumbled but sat up anyway. He hugged the pillow close to himself and sighed. "I'm such an idiot."

---

"You're not an idiot," Mai sighed. "You just got tripped up with your words. You do that a lot."

"I do, don't I?" Zuko sighed.

Mai actually laughed at that, "Yeah you do. I can't help but remember the eloquence with which you attempted to break up with me the first time."

"You don't have to keep bringing it up," Zuko frowned. "I was young and stupid back then."

Mai raised an eyebrow. "I'm not going to say anything but think about what you just said for more than half a second, please." She paused to give him some time before continuing, "Anyway, you're right, let's focus on the now. What do you want to do about it?"

"What can I do about it?" Zuko asked, tossing a chunk of bread to a turtleduck. "He already said no to me."

"Did he actually say the word no?"

---

Sokka bit his lip, "Well, no. I didn't really say anything. He just left."

"Exactly, so you didn't technically reject him. Just go tell him you thought it over and that you do want to date him."

When Sokka didn't reply right away, Suki sighed and reached out to squeeze his hand. "Come on, you can do this," she said, "You're a big boy."

Sokka narrowed his eyes at her, "Are you making fun of me?"

Suki tried and failed to hide a smile, "What? No, of course not."

He threw his pillow at her with a huff, "Don't be mean. This is weird."

She caught the pillow and put it aside. "How so?"

---

"It just is, okay? It's confusing and complicated."

Mai rolled her eyes, "It wasn't nearly this hard when I asked Ty Lee out. What's the big deal? Just go talk to him and ask for a proper answer this time."

"It's different with you and Ty Lee," Zuko frowned. "We've all known each other since we were little kids. Sokka hated me for a really long time before we became friends. And once we did become friends, things were always really tense because of all the Avatar business."

He sighed heavily and picked at what remained of his bread. "I mean obviously the war was going on when we were kids but we weren't as involved yet. We still had fun, we did normal life stuff. I think. I know I never did that with Sokka."

Mai reached out and put a comforting hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Listen, Zuko. I know you, and I know you can do this. You just have to try. So stop moping around here and feeling sorry for yourself. Go talk to him again."

"What if he actually says no this time?"

"Then at least you'll know."

---

Sokka took a deep breath, "You're right. He was the one who asked me last time. Now it's my turn. And what am I so worried about anyway? He's not going to say no." He paused and glanced at Suki. "He wouldn't, right?"

Suki gave him an encouraging smile, "Why would he? You're going to be fine."

"Thanks Suki," Sokka said, getting to his feet. "You're the best."

"I know," Suki laughed, "Now go. Hurry."

Sokka didn't need to be told twice and he was already halfway out the door before he remembered to say goodbye. "I'll tell you how it goes afterwards," he said.

"I believe in you."