Sokka wrapped his arms around his knees, drawing both his legs up to his chin.

Suki was happy, he knew. But was he?

He knew that she cared about him. He cared about her as well.

So why had she done it?

He'd seen her. Walking with that guy. Sokka couldn't remember his name, it ended in a 'roo' sound.

She'd liked him for weeks, had only held back because of Sokka.

Sokka snorted. How nice of Suki, to consider his feelings like that.

She'd come up to him, later that day, and apologize. It means nothing, she'd say. He knew he wouldn't care.

A few droplets splattered across his cheeks. It must be raining, he thought.

He stuck his tongue out, tasted them. How odd. Salty.

He was getting cold now, in the middle of some grass.

His clothes clung to him, as though, they too, despaired.

The sky rumbled ominously, sounding as though it was cracking in two.

Sokka knew how it felt.

xxxxxxxxx

Zuko was shivering. The rain was beginning to get to him, being a firebender wouldn't help much in this weather. He kept on though, striding through the long grass.

Where was he?

Sokka had been missing for two hours, the rain had started not long ago.

Zuko sniffed, hoping he wouldn't have to stay in this dreadful town and its wet weather. Kyoshi village was nice and all but honestly, Zuko felt like he'd never be dry again.

He blew on his cold fingers, cursing Sokka.

His yellow eyes caught a flash of blue in some grass, and knew he'd found him. He snuck up quietly, his boots for once making no sound in the wet grass.

He pounced not long after, earning a girly shriek from the other boy.

Sokka gasped and rubbed at his chest, trying to control his heartbeat. Was that a smile, he saw on Zuko's face? Prim, proper, always gloomy, Zuko?

Zuko's fingers had somehow found Sokka's sides and he began to tickle him.

Choked laughter escaped from Sokka as he tried to escape those pale, determined fingers.

What seemed like hours later, they both lay, side by side, too tired to declare anyone victorious. Sokka found himself grinning, and could not find the reason why.

Zuko was panting, wet through but happy. Sokka had been punished, thoroughly, and hoped that he wasn't bruised anywhere.

"So...peasant. What were you doing here, anyway? Your sister's been doing her nut looking for you."

Sokka found it difficult to turn his head but had a retort ready.

"My name is SOKKA, OK? Sokka. And it's none of your business."

Zuko chuckled. "Oh, I doubt that."

Sokka sat up sharply, though immediately wished he hadn't. "What do you mean by that?" He asked, heart pounding.

Zuko was silent for a while, shredding some grass between his fingers.

"Well, since I've joined the Avatar-"

"Aang, not the Avatar." Sokka corrected.

"Since I've joined Aang, I think I've earned some right to know why you're upset, peasant."

Sokka made a face. Stuck up bastard.

"Well, Suki...she...likes another guy. She's holding back for me but..." Sokka found it hard to describe his feelings to someone who had fought him on several occasions.

"You don't think you can carry on with her." Zuko finished for him, also sitting up.

"Yeah..." Sokka sighed. Bloody Zuko and his princely intuition.

They both fell silent for a while, watching the clouds empty their burden.

"Have you ever loved someone?" Sokka suddenly piped up, thinking that it was Zuko's turn to be embarrassed.

Zuko shifted in the wet grass, trying to find the words.

He thought of Mai, Jin, Song.

"No." He answered shortly, turning on his side so he didn't have to face Sokka.

Sokka felt bad for bringing up an awkward subject for the prince.

"Well, I think I've loved two girls, and liked one." Sokka said to Zuko's back.

"Oh?" Zuko said in a nonchalant tone, though Sokka could tell he was curious.

"Yeah...I loved this girl, a princess. I didn't know her for long, but I knew she was perfect." He said, smiling slightly at the memory.

"What happened?" Zuko asked, still studying the grass like it was interesting.

"She died." Sokka said simply, shivering.

Zuko winced. Shit...

"I'm sorry." He said in a rush, stumbling over his words.

Sokka smiled sadly. "Me too. But I'd already met this other girl."

"Suki." Zuko quickly deduced, remembering the Kyoshi warriors gossiping.

"I thought that I could finally be happy again, since Yue died."

"But...?" Zuko egged him on.

"It wasn't the same." Sokka's words were cold.

Knowing he'd hit a sore spot, Zuko quickly changed the subject. "So who was this girl you liked?"

"You know her."

Zuko realised. "Toph..."

Sokka nodded. "She doesn't like me though. She doesn't seem to like anyone."

Zuko understood. Toph was hard, unrelenting and cold. Sokka was none of these things.

"You must have liked someone. What about..." Sokka swallowed, "Katara?"

Zuko laughed mirthlessly.

"She's a peasant. I'm a prince. It would never work out."

Sokka was hurt. "I'm a peasant too!"

Zuko finally turned, hard yellow eyes boring into Sokka's soft blue ones.

"What, you think we would work out?" He asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

"No! I just meant...I'm a peasant, and Yue was a princess. We were OK."

"But it didn't work out." Zuko reminded him gently. Sokka flinched.

"I guess..." Sokka lay back once more.

Zuko sighed irritably. Sokka was upset again.

Sokka's eyes closed. He felt limp against the wet grass, and realised why. Hard fingers were pressed against his wrists, holding him down.

Blue eyes shot open, startled. Yellow eyes mocked him, and a sudden weight pressed on his body.

Looking up at Zuko's face, he knew.

The prince smiled. He knew.

xxxxxxxxx

Well, my first boyxboy story, and my first Avatar story.

If you don't understand the ending, Sokka has been pinned down by Zuko.

If you don't understand why I kept putting 'he knew', I can't help you there

Read and review please!

Ja!