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

Chapter One

    It was the first day of the school year. The air was hot and humid, but everyone seemed lively as usual. The bubbling excitement of a new day and a fresh start was a welcoming feeling to the four misfits of Whale Tail road. They made their way to school, one of them was making the trip for the first day of their last year...

    Sokka was usually giddy and nervous. Stomach quenching and hands shaking were common symptoms he usually experienced on the first day of school. However, he didn't feel much as he dragged his feet along the hot sidewalk to school. It was less of an excited feeling, and more of a thick, weighted pit of dread in his core that made his legs feel like boulders.

    "I'm so excited to finally start psychology!" Katara bubbled, bouncing in her step.

    "No kidding," Toph sighed. "You've been going on about that all summer."

    "What can I say? I like school." Katara shrugged, bumping up her backpack.

    "Barf." Sokka commented, rolling his eyes.

    Normally he'd be going on about his classes as well, but school had just stopped doing it for him ever since...

    "Why do they make all the boring classes mandatory?" Toph complained, bringing Sokka out of his depressed trance.

    "I don't know," Sokka shook his head. "It's dumb."

~

    Four Nation high was in the center of the four cities. The four kids lived in South city, all of them living in a four room house together. Their house was on Whale Tail road which was only a block away from the school, so it didn't take long to get there... But if Sokka's reluctant shuffling was taken into account, it was about an extra 7 minutes.

    All of the cities were fairly big, but the largest was Terra city. Terra city was on the other side of Four Nation high. The group went there fairly often, Sokka used to go very frequently but lately he had just wanted to stay home. It wasn't like there was really a point in going there anymore.

    "Hey, Sokka," Aang piped up softly for the first time since they left home. "Are you doing okay? You seem kind of down."

    The other boy frowned a little. Maybe opening up about it to Aang wasn't such a bad idea? He was pretty good at advice.

    "Well... You know this whole... Soulmate thing?" Sokka started.

    "Aang! Look at this!" Katara called pointing to something on the sidewalk.

    He immediately sped up to look at what she was referring to. Leaving Sokka to mope again.

__

    A low groan left Zuko's throat as Iroh opened his curtains to bathe his nephew in unwelcomed sunlight. The teen mumbled something incoherent before turning to cover his right side with the pillow. He heard the low muffled demands of Iroh telling him to get up, but he didn't care anymore. What was the point of doing anything but sleeping.

    "Leave me alone Uncle..." He made an effort to make his words audible this time.

    With a sigh, Iroh sat on the edge of his bed and rested a hand on Zuko's shoulder. He smelled like tea and his hand was warm.

    "Zuko, I know that you are reluctant to experience this new beginning, but I promise that it will be better than you imagine it to be." Iroh sighed, patting his shoulder.

    He didn't reply. But he did sit up and rub his eyes. For a moment he was distracted by the smooth yet rough feeling of the scar, he frowned subconsciously, holding his hand to his face.