Not About Angels

Come to a Party

Sokka was heading to the grill to meet a friend. When he opened the door, however, he was surprised to see Zuko standing there.

"Oh," Sokka said, startled. He wasn't expecting anyone to be there, especially not the guy he'd only just met earlier that day.

"Sorry, I️ was about to knock. I️ wanted to apologize for my disappearing act earlier. I️ know it was...strange," Zuko explained.

Sokka nodded.

"No worries. I️ get it, blood makes you squeamish," he said.

Zuko looked down awkwardly at his hands before looking up again.

"Um, something like that," he said. "How's your leg?"

"Oh, it's fine. Just a scratch, barely," Sokka said dismissively. "How did you know where I️ lived?"

"It's a small town. I️ asked the first person I️ saw. Sorry, were you going somewhere?" Zuko asked.

Sokka nodded.

"Yeah, I'm meeting a friend. Do you wanna come?"

—

When they arrived at the grill, Sokka walked over to his friend, Suki, who was talking to Jet and Ty Lee by the pool table.

"Hey, I'm Jet, nice to meet you," said Jet, approaching Zuko.

"Zuko," Zuko replied simply.

"So, you were born in Mystic Falls?" asked Ty Lee.

Zuko nodded.

"I️ moved away when I️ was still young," he explained.

"Parents?" Suki asked.

Zuko sighed, not necessarily wanting to speak on the subject of family too in depth.

"My parents passed away," he replied.

"I'm sorry," Sokka offered sympathetically. Losing his mother had weighed so heavily on his family, he couldn't even imagine the pain of losing both parents. "Any siblings?"

"None that I️ talk to. I️ live with my uncle," Zuko explained.

Ty Lee spoke next, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

"So, Zuko, if you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow," she said.

"It's a back to school thing at the falls," Suki explained.

Zuko's eyes flashed over to Sokka.

"Are you going?" he asked.

"Of course he is," Suki said, sharing a knowing look with Sokka.

—

When Zuko arrived at the party, he searched through the woods to find Sokka. He listened closely, trying to find his voice.

"Just admit it, Sokka," he heard Suki say.

"Oh, okay, so he's a little pretty," Sokka replied, which made Zuko smile.

"He has that romantic novel stare," Suki said, trying to imitate Zuko's face which made both of them laugh.

"Hey, you made it!" Ty Lee said, excitedly.

"I️ did," Zuko replied flatly.

"Well, let's get you a drink," she said.

"Well, I️'m-" Zuko started.