written for starianprincess, 2013 hentai_contest winter break
Zuko reclined into the edge of the pool. He dunked his hands on to his lap and they opened. He thrust his heat out of his grips and those waters steamed. Fog clung at the surface where the vapor was shocked by the air. It wafted to the ripple scattered through the pool.
Sokka emerged from where he explored the deep.
"So, you find anything?" Zuko asked.
"Nah, it's too tough to see," Sokka replied.
"The monks didn't keep any physical treasure," he explained. He smiled as he eyed that tribesman. That skin so tanned and smooth; water trickled through channels between muscles. That front so ripe with strength. That back so wont to tease the start of the crack. "Hey, Sokka, you cold?"
"It's summer," he said - then - wrapped his arms around his chest - all of a sudden he became aware of his shiver. "Can't you jerk-bend it hotter?"
"Heat the water you mean? I got a better idea." He switched to where the warrior lounged. "Give me your hand." Sokka raised an eyebrow as if to ask why. "Just give it over." Under the surface their palms met and their knuckles zippered apprehensively. Then Zuko gave their other free hands that treatment. "It's OK ... yeah, I've held plenty of boys by the hand, well, by both hands. It's OK. How does it feel?"
"Feel?" A bead of sweat formed at his brow and traced the contour of his face. "Weird ... but kind of nice. Yes, it's actually kind of nice. So you aren't always a jerk-bender, Zuko?" Sokka teased then smiled at the flash of Zuko's smile. Although he wondered if the exile even realized he smiled. Warmth that came out of Zuko's grips worked its way into Sokka's hands, arms, then, chest. Zuko let go only to place his palms against Sokka's chest. Before he objected (beyond an 'um') he, again, felt that warmth penetrate his core. It was gentle almost like the effect of tea. Zuko swirled his palms brushing his skin and tweaking a shiver through his spin. "Zuko, is this something, I mean, is this something boys do in the Fire Nation?"
"Yes ... well ... we gotta keep warm, right? It's just like Katara using water to heal. Uncle said fire and water were a lot alike. What are you feeling now? Is it too hot?"
"No. No."
"Not too bad for a little jerk-bending," Zuko teased.
Sokka grinned: "Hey, no, I don't mind a little manly fire, er, jerk-bending, if it's like this. But, you know, we got another way to keep warm down south."
Zuko raised an eyebrow.
After a while Sokka popped out of the deep to splash the edge of the pool where Zuko reclined. The exile's hands trembled as they rubbed his eyes. The tribesman smiled as he settled into the nook beside his friend. Their arms and legs and sides freely touched then entwined.
"I got to admit, Sokka, I prefer what you boys do in the Water Tribe."