Huge thanks to Nerdy J Fics on FanFiction here for reading over this and helping me! I highly recommend you check out her own stories, especially her excellent work on some of the recent Zutara Week prompts.

Suki looked up at the flying bison as she stepped through the gates to the Royal Palace, onto the barren, rocky perimeter surrounding it. She gave a wave to a group of Kyoshi Warriors who were sparring with members of the Royal Procession in a small training courtyard they had built once they arrived.

"Suki, I thought Fire Lord Zuko said you're meant to be off for the festival?" a Kyoshi Warrior asked as she reached the entrance to the palace.

"I decided to cut my break short, I hadn't finished planning guard positions and patrols for during the last night of celebrations," Suki told them, stopping and narrowing her eyes at the Kyoshi Warrior on guard. "Maiko, where are your fans?" Maiko shifted nervously as her leader waited for her answer.

"She-" the first warrior began, but Suki shot out her hand, signaling for her to be quiet.

"Ami, she can explain herself," Suki said authoritatively, without looking away from Maiko.

"I kind of lost them," Maiko said slowly, staring at her feet. "When we arrived last night Ami and I spent sometime around the lower city. I may have put them up as a bet for a game."

"You put your war fans, probably the most important thing about being a Kyoshi Warrior, up as a bet?" Suki repeated, dumbfounded. "First, take this to my office," Suki ordered, handing the koi fish to Maiko. "Second, You and Ami are on cleaning duty in the barracks for a month. Before you even argue Ami, you should have stopped her from doing something so idiotic." The two guardswomen pouted as Suki walked past them in the Royal Palace. She could hear the two bickering even as she closed the door. She made her way towards the throne room, receiving slight nods and smiles from the many guards she past, and even a few from the politicians going about their business. She saw Zuko, off of his throne and on the ground speaking with Ty Lee. He looked over and frowned as she strode over.

"Toph told you that you have the next couple days off right?" Zuko asked as she reached him.

"Yeah, but I had some things I needed to take care of first. I had a lovely afternoon with Sokka though." Suki told him. She looked over to Ty Lee, who had an uncertain look on her face. "Is everything okay?"

"Zuko was just telling me something, and I don't like it, so I know you'll hate it," Ty Lee explained, "He wants to go into the city without any security detail, I've been trying to tell him we can't exactly leave him do that."

"He wants to go into the city, during the time when the largest amount of people are here, completely unguarded?" Suki said, turning to Zuko. "That's not happening." Zuko sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"It'll be okay, I'll won't even be in my normal clothing, no one will no it's me," he tried to explain to Suki, who had now folded her arms across her chest.

"Zuko, you remember why we were brought here in the first place right?" Suki asked him, and he went back to pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Yes, multiple assassination attempts on my life," Zuko admitted. "However there hasn't been one in nearly half a year."

"Nearly half a year since the last attempt on your life, you're saying that like it's something to be happy about. Aren't you forgetting about Azula and her band of crazies a couple months ago?" Ty Lee said.

"That doesn't count, those were kidnappings, not an assassination attempt," Zuko , causing Ty Lee and Suki to share a glance and roll their eyes.

"Either way, I'm not leaving you go unprotected, Fire Lord or not," Suki said defiantly. Zuko was about to give up when a thought came to him.

"Alright, but would you change into more normal clothing, rather than your uniform and meet me here in about an hour? Now if you'll excuse me," he said, looking to Suki. He turned and walked towards one of his advisors, who had been waiting to speak to him. "Make sure it isn't anything too fancy by the way, just simple civilian clothing," he called to her without turning back to her.

"Two dates in one day, lucky you," Ty Lee said, giving Suki a light elbow into the ribs. Suki had a surprised look as Ty Lee began to walk away.

"What are you on about?" Suki asked, her voice telling Ty Lee she knew exactly what she had meant.

"You're so lucky with guys Suki," Ty Lee stated, grinning back at her. "Have some chi blocking classes to teach, got to go." Suki looked around the throne room, thankful that there was no one else there to see her flushed face. She kept her gaze low as she walked to her office.

An hour later

Suki entered the throne room, looking around for Zuko. As she neared the raised platform she heard a sharp whistle. She spotted someone in a long plain hooded rob and a curved scabbard at their hip, standing in a side corridor, leading to a secondary exit of the Royal Palace.

"Zuko?" Suki asked cautiously, her hand close to the hilt of her katana. The person raised his head, and she relaxed as she spotted his scarred eye.

"Good, the hood works pretty well," Zuko said to himself, lowering it. "Let's get going." He began to walk down the corridor.

"Why aren't we leaving through the main entrance?" Suki asked, catching up and walking next to him.

"Avoids all the people who might want to talk to me, this morning was pretty busy after getting back from the trip," Zuko explained. He opened a door to the barren perimeter and stood aside.

"So you're escaping from your duty as Fire Lord by going to the festival?" Suki said teasingly, giving a small nod of thanks as she stepped through the door.

"Of course not," Zuko retorted, "I'm simply taking a well earned break." They walked around the palace to the main gate, and with a wave of Zuko's hand the gates were opened. He pulled his hood up as they headed into the city.

"If you had wanted to take a break you wouldn't have to hide that you're the Fire Lord," Suki muttered to him.

"Everyone would be freaking out as we pass, bowing, and I wouldn't be able to properly just enjoy the festival," Zuko explained as they walked along a road full of stands.

"Poor you, having to deal with all the commoners," Suki joked, nudging Zuko in the side. Zuko let out a small chuckle. Before he could respond he spotted a large circus tent. He gestured towards it, but Suki shook her head. "I went there with Sokka today, I'd rather not be confused by the Flying Ty Sisters again."

"The Flying Ty Sisters?" Zuko repeated, spotting a painted sign with that name written across it.

"All of Ty Lee's sisters decided to join the circus, she's obviously the trend setter of the family," Suki told him, remembering how confusing it was when they came out.

"Must not be very good if you don't want to see them again," Zuko noted as they continued past it.

"They're excellent actually, but when you have to deal with the original Ty Lee all day, they aren't all that impressive, and Ty Lee is better than them anyway." Suki and Zuko walked together for a few minutes, stopping every now and again when one of them saw something interesting in a stand. "Wait, are we heading down to the lower city?" Suki asked as Zuko walked towards the exit of the Royal Caldera.

"Of course, what's the matter Suki, don't want to deal with the commoners?" Zuko said, laughing as as he stepped into the gondola and lowered his hood.

"You're an idiot," Suki said, smiling as she sat down next to him.

"You know," Zuko began, looking down on the city and harbour in the evening light slowly coming towards them, "I'm not doing this to get away from all the attention of the citizenry right?" Suki furrowed her brow as she watched him.

"Obviously I know that Zuko," Suki told him, placing her hand on his shoulder. Zuko stared out the window for another few seconds, until his head dropped and he started chuckling.

"Sorry, I'm doing it again," Zuko said through his laugh. "Getting all serious about ridiculous stuff," he explained when he saw the puzzled look on her face.

"I've gotten used to to it by now," Suki joked, giving his shoulder a light shove. "Although you might as well tell me instead of acting all brooding." Zuko gave another laugh as he stood up and faced the city.

"Remember when we visited Song, the woman I stole the ostrich horse from?"

"Yeah, still not feeling okay about that?" Suki asked, getting up and standing next to him.

"No I'm fine, no sleepless nights or anything," Zuko dismissed with a wave of his hand. "When I returned to the Fire Nation, I wasn't happy, or excited to be back and I couldn't place my finger on it, for a while at least." Zuko pulled his hood back up as the other cable car began to come close. "Uncle and I spent a good couple months as peasants in the Earth Kingdom, and I despised it. I was royalty, yet close to starving nearly every other day. When we reached Ba Sing Se however, something changed. For the first time since I was banished I was actually, maybe not happy, but content. It took a while of course, but I was enjoying just working in Uncle's tea shop."

"Yet you still went back to the Fire Nation with Azula," Suki stated in a non accusatory way.

"Yes I did, when the one thing you've been trying to do for the last three years is just sitting right in front of you, you'd be surprised how hard it is to turn away from it," Zuko finished, pushing his hand through his hair.

"I can imagine..." Suki trailed off, leaning against the window and facing him. "Still doesn't explain why you're all dressed like that." She gestured towards his robe.

"The time I spent with the people of the Earth Kingdom made me see what the war is really doing to normal people, how it destroyed their lives and tore families apart." Zuko stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath. "It also showed me how they lived, some of the simple struggles they go through. I'm thinking that maybe if I simple spend some time in my city as a normal person, I might see some things that I normally wouldn't, and I can try and change those things for the better," Zuko pulled his hood further over his face as they neared the bottom of the volcano.

"That's not a bad idea Zuko, although maybe doing that when a festival isn't on would be better to get a view of the average day," Suki told him. Zuko dropped his head again and let out a small laugh. "Now come on." She gave a small tug on his sleeve as the door to the gondola opened. The two walked into the lower city, heading for the residential area. They eventually came to an open square, similar to the ones in the Royal Caldera, but much smaller. There was a single stage in the middle and two actors, a man and a woman, in each other arms. A painting of a single foggy mountain stood as their background.

"We can't keep meeting up like, our tribes would never allow us to be together," the woman said, pushing the man gently out of their embrace as Zuko and Suki stood at the back of the crowd.

"Know which play it is?" Suki asked as the woman began to walk away from the man.

"Not sure, if a name comes up then I should know it," Zuko told her as the man suddenly grabbed the woman by the wrist and twisted her around to face him.

"On my last patrol with my platoon, we found something that I think we could use. Just come with me, I promise you'll be safe," the man pleaded, and the woman nodded reluctantly and the stage curtains closed as they walked off stage into the small tent joined at the back. Zuko leaned over to say something to Suki when the curtains opened once more. Small rocks and boulders now littered the stage and the foggy mountain was replaced with a stone wall. The two actors slowly crept onto the stage, when the woman stopped and pulled the man back.

"Surely you aren't talking about in there?!" the woman exclaimed, pointing to a place off stage.

"You have to trust me, I promised you it was safe. I wouldn't bring you in there if I had even a little doubt," the man tried to reassure her.

"Do you not have any torches?" the woman asked and the man shook his head.

"We won't need any." They slowly walked towards the other end of the stage and left. Suddenly there was movement around the crowd, a group of four jumped from the roof of the stage past Zuko and Suki, bringing a large black tarp right over them and enveloping them in darkness. At the same time more people ran out from behind the stage, grabbing and pulling the tarp outwards to cover the full crowds. Suki, out of instinct, gripped the hilt of her katana and was about to slide it out of its scabbard, when she felt Zuko's hand on hers.

"Calm down, it's just part of the play," Zuko whispered to her, and he felt Suki relax and loosen her grip, but not release it.

"What's that sound?" came the scared voice of the woman from the darkness. Zuko could make out a faint sound, like rocks scraping against each other.

"You'll see," the man's calm voice replied. Pale green lights began to glow from the ceiling, allowing people to make out an outline of each other. Zuko made out new people, holding poles keeping the tarp up. The pale green lights glowed the brightest above the stage, and the crowd could easily see what was happening. "They won't hurt you Oma, hold onto my arm." A large badgermole made it's way through the crowd, the scraping sound becoming much louder. It lumbered onto the stage and Oma gripped tighter onto the man's robe. Suki's eyes went wide as the realisation hit her.

"Of course, I should have known it sooner," Suki whispered, leaning close to Zuko.

"The Cave of Two Lovers," Zuko said, smiling as he watched Shu bring Oma close to the badgermole.

"You know it?" Suki asked, surprised at him.

"Of course, I'm well taught of the history of the four nations, for the most part anyway," Zuko explained. "A lot of the stories and myths I know come from my mother taking me and Azula to plays." He had a large smile as he thought back to those times. "I would spend all night talking to her about those stories, she had books which she would read to me." He watched Oma and the crowd laugh as Shu tripped over the paw of the badgermole. "Although I've always questioned the historical accuracy of these plays." Zuko breathed hot air into his hands and gave them a small rub. "I also learned a lot during my travels with Uncle. He regularly taught me about the four nations. He developed the firebreathing technique from studying the airbenders... well what he could find on them."

"Will you for Agni's sake shut up?" hissed someone in front of them. Zuko dropped his gaze to the floor while Suki gave an apologetic smile to the glaring man. He turned around and grumbled to the woman beside him. Zuko and Suki glanced at each other and couldn't help but smirk. They stayed at the play until the sun had just set behind the Royal Caldera. Oma and Shu took a bow in front of a painting of Omashu, and the rest of the cast followed suit. As they slowly walked away from the stage, Suki began to sing, swaying as she walked and lightly bouncing off Zuko.

"Two lovers...

Forbidden from one anotherrr...

A war divides their peoplellll..."

Zuko started to lean into her as she did this and joined in, albeit quieter than her.

"and a mountain divides them aparrrt...

"build a path to beee togetherrr..."

Zuko and Suki continued to sing together as they walked along the small road. As They finished with one more chorus of "Secret tunnel" they came to a fountain in another square. This square however didn't have anything on, and was completely empty. The fountain itself was lit up by floating candles on each of it's three levels, while the rest of the square was illuminated by the fountain.

"It's beautiful," Suki said absently, leaning on the edge of the fountain and letting her hand glide through the water. Zuko stood in front of her, looking at the fountain, and lowered his hood.

"It reminds of a place in the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se," Zuko mused. "Was brought there by this Earth Kingdom girl." Suki looked away from the water and raised her eyebrow at Zuko.

"An Earth Kingdom girl?" Suki repeated, grinning at him. Zuko chuckled as looked away to hide his blush.

"Jin, her name was Jin," Zuko muttered. "She always came to the tea shop me and Uncle were working in. I had thought she was some Fire Nation spy but she ended up asking me out."

"She asked you out?" Suki asked, still grinning as she watched him give a slight nod in embarrassment.

"She was... persistent," Zuko eventually said. "We went for dinner and by the end of it she dragged me through the streets to a fountain."

"Sound quite romantic," Suki teased. "Anything happen?" Another embarrassed nod.

""She kissed me, after I blocked her first attempt with a coupon for free tea Uncle gave me, and I went to kiss her but..." he trailed off, looking to the floating candles.

"You were still with Mai at the time weren't you?" Suki said understandingly, straightening up. A third nod from Zuko. "I could set up a trip to Ba Sing Se in a couple months if you'd like. That is if you'd like to visit her." Zuko's eyes snapped from the candles to Suki.

"Yeah I would like that, that would be great," Zuko said, his eyes slightly wide at the thought of seeing Jin again. "Can't see my advisors being happy about scheduling a trip so I can see an old flame but what are they going to do."

"You are the Fire Lord," Suki stated with a shrug. She looked over her shoulder to the fountain, then back at Zuko. "So you walked me to this lovely fountain and told me, an Earth Kingdom girl, the story about how your little Earth Kingdom girlfriend brought you to a similar one..." Suki stopped, a big mischievous smirk on her face, "to make out with you?" Zuko's face went a deep red and began stammering as he tried to come up with an answer. Suki couldn't help teasing him just a bit more. "Especially after you kissed me in Gaoling, I'd say you're trying to send me a message."

"N...no wait I... I didn't..." Zuko continued to stammer until Suki burst out laughing and shoved him playfully.

"You're such an idiot," Suki said through her laugh. Zuko stopped talking and just sighed.

"You know I'm still sorry about that," Zuko mumbled as they walked away from the fountain.

"I told you before, you don't need to keep apologising for that, we may as well laugh about it," Suki told him, rolling her eyes in the process.

I suppose you're right," Zuko admitted, smiling weakly as they strolled back along the streets. A family glanced at the pair walking towards them, and the parents shared a smile between each other. Zuko glanced up at them as they neared.

"Remember when we used to sneak down to the fountain together?" the husband asked, looking back at his wife. His wife was about to respond when her eyes went as wide as possible and she hurriedly dropped to her knees and bowed until her forehead touched the ground. The husband whipped his head around to the shocked pair, his eyes focused on the scarred face of the Fire Lord and he quickly adopted the same posture as his wife, with his two children doing the same. Zuko quickly looked around for anyone else before pulling his hood back up. He gave a small gesture for them to rise and him and Suki walked over to them.

"Fire Lord, it is an honour," the wife said, bowing deeply to Zuko and the family once again followed her lead.

"A pleasure to meet all of you," Zuko said, glancing up and down the street. He and Suki bowed to the family. Zuko made sure to bow deeper than the rest and raised his hand to stop them from bowing again. They stood in silence for a few moments.

"Would you like to join us Fire Lord?" the husband asked nervously, beckoning to his house. "We would love to have you." Zuko glanced at Suki, who gave a small smile.

"We would love to, as long as it's okay with you of course," Zuko responded, sitting across from the husband.

"Of course," the husband said warmly as Suki sat next to Zuko. He began to pour them tea while his wife went to grab some extra bowls. "If I may ask Fire Lord Zuko-" The husband began.

"Just Zuko is fine."

"Zuko, what brings you to the lower city?" the man asked.

"I wanted to get away from my bodyguards for a bit, they're a bit suffocating, and decided a trip to the lower city might be enjoyable, especially during the festival," Zuko explained, and received a glare from Suki. The man laughed as his wife returned with bowls of rice and placed them in front of their guests.

"Thank you. I'm Suki, personal bodyguard of the Fire Lord," she told them cheerfully, before frowning and slowly turning her gaze towards Zuko.

"I'm Tadao, and this here is my wife, Kyoko," Tadoa told them through his laugh. "This is Aya and this is Jian." He pointed to his daughter and son, who bowed once more to Zuko. He gave a polite nod to them. As they talked Zuko had noticed something that he had wanted to ask.

"Excuse me Kyoko," Zuko cut in when the conversation went quiet for a moment. "I mean no disrespect, but you're not Fire Nation are you?" Kyoko smiled warmly at him and shook her head.

"No I am not, well not genetically. My mother and father were Earth Kingdom, but they were from the colony of Yu Dao. They moved here a few years before I was born, and I've lived here all my life," Kyoko explained, she entwined her fingers with Tadao's. "I had always planned on moving back if the war ever ended, but then I met Tadao and that plan went out the window. We still visit my relatives from time to time." Zuko smiled at the little story as he took a sip of his tea. "I was actually going to ask the same of you Suki, your blue eyes are certainly an uncommon sight here. Although you don't look as dark as someone from the water tribes."

"I'm from Kyoshi Island actually, before the war there was a lot of trade between us and the Southern Water Tribe, so they had a large influence on us when we separated from mainland," Suki said, trying her best to remember the history lessons back home.

"I should have guessed, I forgot the Kyoshi Warriors guard the Fire Lord these days," Kyoko said, looking at Zuko and Suki together. Zuko finished his tea and looked to the black, starry sky.

"It was a pleasure meeting you and your family Tadao, and I thank you for your hospitality but we must be on our way," Zuko announced, standing up from the table.

"Anytime Fire Lo-," Tadao caught himself. "Anytime Zuko, if you or Suki are in the lower city again make sure you come by." Zuko and Suki shared one final bow with the family. Zuko made sure to pull his hood up as they left.

"What do you think about an Earth Kingdom Fire Lady?" Kyoko asked her husband as they watched the pair stroll away.

"I like it, although I might be a bit biased," he told her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her in for a kiss.

"Maybe just a little," she added right before they kissed. Zuko and Suki walked through the streets in a comfortable silence, watching the few plays and games still on as they past. They reached the station and waited.

"Zuko?" Suki whispered, keeping quiet as two other families stood next to them.

"Yeah?" he whispered back. Suki was silent for a moment as the cable car reached the bottom.

"Talking with Tadao and Kyoko, it reminded me of something," Suki told him as they sat together. "It has been over a year since me or any of the girls were back home."

"Feeling homesick?" Zuko asked as he watched Suki pull out her fans.

"A little I guess, I never really thought much of it until Kyoko mentioned going back to the Earth Kingdom, it didn't even cross my mind during our trip," Suki said, looking at the symbols inscribed into the side.

"Well you said you were going to set up a trip to Ba Sing Se in a few months. We can stop off at Kyoshi Island for a few days on the way back, that way we won't be in any hurry. I haven't been there since I..." Zuko let his sentence trail off.

"Burned down our village," Suki finished it for him, giving him a light elbow in the ribs. "That sounds nice though, when it's all prepared I'll let the girls know." She put her fans back and sat with Zuko staring out at the flame lit city below them, and the bright full moon above it. "Thanks Zuko." She rested her head on his shoulder as they continued upwards. Zuko would have responded, but his body had tensed up.

Why do I keep getting myself into these situations?! Zuko berated himself in his mind as he glanced down at Suki. I'm certain she knows what she's doing. Zuko's mind told him. Zuko managed to relax as they neared the top, but now he didn't exactly want to get up. The cable car came to a stop and the families left. Zuko reluctantly stood and stepped onto the platform, offering his hand to Suki, who took it. She must just be messing with me, getting back at me for kissing her. Zuko thought to himself.

"Zuko, you can let go now," came Suki's voice, interrupting his thoughts. He looked back at her, confused, until he realised he was still holding her hand.

"Sorry, got distracted," he muttered as he let go, looking down on the city to hide his blush. They walked silently back to the Royal Palace, there was hardly anyone on the streets at this time in the Royal Caldera, except for guards. Zuko had lowered his hood now, and any guard that spotted them immediately let them pass without questioning. A wave of Zuko's hand opened the gates to the barren perimeter around the Royal Palace

"We should do this again," Suki said as they reached the entrance. "Was nice to just get away from everything." Before Zuko could respond, another voice cut him off as they entered the palace.

"There you guys are!" Ty Lee yelled exasperatedly as she stormed towards them. "It's nearly midnight, we were about to send search parties out for you two." She stood with her arms crossed.

"Sorry, time kind of got away from us," Zuko told her, looking at the other Kyoshi Warriors and Royal Procession guards standing in the hall.

"I'm sure it did," Ty Lee said, stealing a glance from Suki. A few muffled giggles came from the other guards but Zuko and Suki didn't notice. "At least you guys are safe." She began to walk away when she stopped. "Oh yeah, Sokka's in your room, was looking for you."

"Sokka's here?" Suki asked, unsure how to feel. "I'll see all of you tomorrow, remember Ami and Maiko are on cleaning duty in the barracks, don't let them try and wiggle out of it."

"You got it boss," one of the Royal Procession said to her as she hurried to her room.

"Suki!" Sokka exclaimed when she rushed into the room, he quickly moved to hug her. "Are you okay?" he asked as they let go of each other.

"I'm fine Sokka, don't worry," Suki told him as she let her hair down.

"Where were you? Ty Lee told me you were with Zuko or something," Sokka said, trying his best to hide the annoyance in his voice.

"Zuko wanted to go into town with no bodyguards, we convinced him that he had to have someone with him, so I ended up going with him," Suki explained as she unstrapped her katana.

"You went with him." Sokka repeated slowly. "You pretty much spent the entire night with him." He made no effort this time. Suki turned around and looked at her boyfriend.

"Sokka I'm his personal bodyguard. It's my job to be around him nearly all the time, you know that," Suki told him, grabbing hold of his hands and looking up into his eyes.

"You spent all night with him Suki, away from everyone! What do you think I'm going to conclude from that?" Sokka argued, tempted to pull his hands away from her.

"As a Kyoshi Warrior I swear to you nothing happened tonight, Zuko and I are good friends. That's it." Suki kept looking into his blue eyes, almost able to see the gears in his head spinning. "It's like you and Toph," Suki said after a few quiet seconds.

"What?" Sokka asked, shocked at the comparison.

"You two are best friends, you practically sprinted away from me when she arrived," Suki explained. "Both of you are close friends, it's the same with me and Zuko!" Sokka stopped for a moment, remembering the thoughts that had reared their ugly head in the alleyway last night, and refused to go away. Although he could see that Suki was being honest with him.

"I'm sorry, it looked kind of bad from my end. I'm sure if Ty Lee dragged me off alone somewhere you'd react the same way," Sokka joked, smiling at her.

"Oh come on, that's way different," Suki protested. "It's Ty Lee, I'd have well than enough reason to be suspicious." Sokka laughed as he pulled her into a hug.

"I should get going, don't know if they would be okay with loud noises at this time," Sokka said, a sly grin on his face. Suki simply rolled her eyes and kissed him. "I'll see you tomorrow." She gave him a small wave as he closed her door. Suki quickly stripped and climbed into her bed.

"Maybe Sokka has a point, I've been spending a lot of time with Zuko recently, maybe more than my job requires me to," Suki mumbled to herself as she stared at the ceiling.

Oh so Sokka can spend time with Toph but I can't do the same with Zuko? Suki's mind argued.

"Yeah but when he's out with Toph he isn't flirting with her," Suki countered.

You don't know that, but you do know Toph has a crush on Sokka. Besides, it's not flirting, it's just a bit of friendly teasing over a silly incident. her mind shot back.

"She had a crush on Sokka!" Suki snapped, running her hands through her hair. "That wasn't just teasing either, I suggested he wanted to make out with me, what was I thinking?!" Suki covered her face with her hands as she listened to the voice in her head.

Has a crush. You were thinking if that was his plan, what would have happened, and what would you have done. He's certainly not a bad kisser! Suki buried her face into her pillow and tried to push as many of those thoughts away as possible. She sat up, leaving her pillow fall to her lap.

"I shouldn't even be thinking about this, I'm with Sokka," she told herself. She jumped as she heard a knock at her door.

"Is everything okay in there Suki?" came a voice of one of the Royal Procession guards.

"Yeah I'm fine, just talking a bit too loudly too myself," Suki said. She heard the man laugh from behind her door.

"Alright, just try not to wake anyone with your ramblings," his voice got more muffled as he walked away. She focused on her breathing for a few minutes, clearing her head.

Okay, so I know Zuko likes me, Suki thought to herself, and maybe a bit of harmless flirting is okay, as long as it stays that, harmless.

"Not while I'm with Sokka, it wouldn't be right," Suki said quietly as she lay back down.

I like him too though, that's the big problem. Suki sighed at the self confession, wanting to deny it but knowing full well it was true. She winded up on her back again, staring at the ceiling. She had accepted it was going to be a long night before sleep knocked on her door.

Important: Two sequels to this has been written. Three's Company continues on the storyline of Sokka and Toph's relationship. An Old Flame focuses on the Zuko and Suki side of things. Three's Company was written first, and I would suggest reading through that one first. However, if you're just interested in Zuki, then read the very first part of the first chapter of Three's Company, as An Old Flame jumps starts off right where that part left off.

A pretty long chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. Really enjoyed writing this chapter, especially once I got into the Lower City, writing about the play and everything else was a lot of fun.

I've decided that this will be the last chapter of this story, some of you may be disappointed, but I felt like this pretty much wrapped everything up, there isn't much more to do. The story developing between Sokka, Toph, Suki and Zuko will continue in another. I already have quite a few ideas in my head. Sokka and Toph going off together to try and find Space Sword and Boomerang. Don't know when I'll start writing again as it's almost time for school! :(

I hope you enjoyed my first chaptered Avatar story, and I would love to hear you opinion on it. Constructive criticism is always welcomed. Thanks for reading!