they can’t run forever. behind them the footsteps seem to be falling away, but with no clear exit they’re going to run into a dead end sooner rather then later. somewhere behind them suki can make out a gruff voice, that she assumes belongs to their leader, shouting to keep going, don’t let them get away! they need to find somewhere to hide, to make a plan. she grabs sokka’s hand, pulling him through a slightly open door. there was no time to debate the variables. whether there would be more dai li waiting behind that door, if they would be sitting ducks. she just had to trust her gut.
it seems to be some kind of storage cupboard. plenty of helmets and uniforms, items that would be an escape so much easier. suki makes sure to close the door behind them, leaving a small gap so they can see them run by. it doesn’t take long, soon enough there’s the familiar pounding of footsteps on the earth as the group sprints past. it’s suki who laughs first, a small chuckle born from relief. she can’t believe that actually worked. his own laugh draws her attention. it’s only then that she realises just how small the cupboard is. they’re stood so close their chests are almost touching, and a blush blooms across her cheeks. ❝ shh! ❞ she reaches out, pressing a finger against his lips. a beat passes before she drops it again. yet, her gaze remains on his lips. her heart race quickening, her breathing still heavy. her voice is only a whisper when she speaks. ❝ i think the coast is clear. ❞
there’s something thrilling about it, sokka has to admit, even as his heart hammers in his chest. he didn’t want the two of them to be caught . they were both good fighters, she was one of the best he knew . but even the avatar himself might struggle to hold their own against a group of dai li agents . so when she grabs his hand, drags him into safety of a cupboard, he’s glad. it could still exciting, them being on a mission together, even if they weren’t running for their lives through the city .
he can’t help the laugh . it’s the absurdity of their situation, hiding in a storage cupboard because they were wanted to by government agents . and sokka had not failed to notice how tiny the space was between them. they were closer than they needed to be , close enough it was impossible to move without brushing up against her. the laugh is borne half from relief , half from nerves .
eyes widen as she places her fingers on his lips, body stilling under her touch. it has the desired affect, if not for her shushing him, the shock of it, the huge leap his heart took in his chest would have been enough to silence him anyway . ❝ oh, so you get to laugh and I don't ? ❞ words whispered quickly in response , but sokka’s mind was hardly on the reply . it was on suki, on her eyes flickering to his lips, the way the cupboard and the distance between them had seemed to shrink . the way the air was charged . ❝ maybe we should stay a bit longer -- just to be sure ❞
