Sokka couldn't remember being so warm. Oh, he remembered being too warm. The Fire Nation had a climate not necessarily suited for a Water Tribe boy and he had spent more than his fair share of nights stretched out on the bare dirt dressed only in his underwear in a vain attempt to stay even a tiny bit cooler.

But this? This was perfect. This was curling up in a pool of sunlight on a cold spring day buried in a mound of thick polar furs kind of perfect. Plus this had the added benefit of being naked and certain parts of his anatomy not suffering rather humiliating consequences because of it.

Sokka groaned happily and snuggled closer to that wonderful source of sun-like heat. He felt as much as he heard a chuckle of amusement as he wrapped his limbs around that delightfully cozy body. Warm hands brushed through his loose hair and a strong arm pulled him nearer—though if they got much closer they would simply melt into one being…which they had done rather successfully last night.

"Eventually, Sokka, you will have to detangle yourself." Sokka could hear the grin in Zuko's voice.

"What? You're not as comfortable as I am?" Sokka asked, his voice muffled as his face was pressed into the smooth plane of Zuko's chest.

"Sokka, I don't think anyone could be as comfortable as you look right now." Zuko told him, turning his face a bit so he could look down at the darker body pressed tight against him. He was telling the truth, too. With his dark hair falling loosely across his face, his blue eyes half-closed with drowsy contentment and his lean limbs wrapped pentapus-like around the Fire Lord he looked like he had just found his happiest place in the world. And Zuko certainly wasn't complaining. He continued to brush his fingers through Sokka's hair, relishing being able to do such a simple action.

Zuko had been half-convinced that the previous evening had been nothing but a dream stimulated by Sokka marching around as the faux-Fire Lord. He had been quickly corrected when he had awoken in the middle of the night, briefly, to discover Sokka huddled tight against his back—quite naked and obviously, though pleasantly, exhausted. Zuko was rather relieved that the teen hadn't seen the ridiculous grin that had spread across Zuko's face when he discovered it had all been very, very real.

Sokka mumbled something intangible as he snuggled into Zuko's touch. He looked like he was falling asleep again. Who knew the sarcasm-loving warrior was such a cuddler? Zuko had known he was the type of person who loved to touch—he was always putting his hands on shoulders, arms, backs, hugging someone—but this was bordering the absurd. If Zuko let Sokka have his way, the current ruler of the Fire Nation would have a new function as body pillow for a certain Water Tribe teen.

Again—he wasn't complaining. But that role would probably conflict with his other duties and it was his job to inform the already half-asleep Sokka of that fact.

"As much as I love this," Zuko brushed back Sokka's hair so he could see that handsome face, "and I do love this…we can't stay in bed all day."

"Why not?" Sokka mumbled into Zuko's chest. "You're the Fire Lord. If someone comes looking for you jus' tell 'em to fuck off."

Zuko grinned.

"Don't fall asleep on me, here, Sokka." Zuko poked at a bare shoulder. Sokka grumbled and tightened his full-body embrace. Zuko poked again. To his amazement the boy somehow managed to wriggle even closer. Sokka really was a pentapus. Zuko was quite sure that there wasn't an inch of space left between them and yet…Sokka had managed to find it in some non-existent dimension and fill it.

Zuko gave up. He enjoyed this super-cuddle version of Sokka—he really, really did. And he would have loved to spend an entire day in bed with him—he really, really would. However, the demands of the day probably would not allow it. Perhaps he would simply relish this while he could.

After all, how long was this thing between them going to last? Zuko had hoped for...well, time wasn't something he was allowing himself to dwell on. But he suspected Sokka had duties to his tribe as much as Zuko did to his nation. What would happen then? Since Zuko had no idea, that part of his brain was begging him to just enjoy this while he could. Zuko really wanted to listen to that part because he didn't want to give this up. He would admit it to himself, at least. Waking up with Sokka in his arms, purring—despite Sokka's protests that he did no such thing. Manly snoring was one thing, but he did not purr—against the natural heat of Zuko's body, looking both sweet and thoroughly debauched at the same time…it made Zuko ache with the want of it.

And yet the other part of him whispered how much more it would hurt when he finally had to let Sokka go. Whispered that if he drew this out much longer, the ache would just grow and grow until, when Sokka finally returned to the Southern Water Tribe, it would tear Zuko apart. Whispered that the pain would be unbearable…so why risk it? Tear loose now and the scar would heal—eventually. Wait much longer, however, and Zuko risked being wounded for life…

Dammit. Why can't I just enjoy this? Just once? Just for a little while…?

Zuko was horrified when he realized he could feel tears welling up behind his eyes. He blinked madly to fight them back. Why the hell was he crying? Just because his damned over-active imagination wouldn't leave him the hell alone so he could enjoy one fucking morning with the man he loved?

Zuko yelped in surprise when Sokka sat up so fast that Zuko hadn't even realized he'd moved. The Water Tribe teen turned so he could face Zuko, his cerulean eyes piercing as he stared down at the Fire Lord.

"What the hell just happened?" Sokka demanded, his blue eyes wide with concern. Zuko frowned, trying to cram his emotions back into some dark corner while trying to figure out what Sokka was talking about.

"What do you—?"

"You!" Sokka shouted. Zuko flinched away from the sudden anger he heard in the boy's voice. The concern in his eyes was still there, but he could see the anger rising to match it. "And don't lie to me, Zuko. I can tell when you're slipping into one of your I'm-thinking-too-much-about-this-and-it's-making-me-unhappy moods. And when you do that you block people off—you push them away. And I don't want to be pushed away, Zuko."

Zuko was stunned. He could only lie motionless while he stared up at Sokka, struggling to think of something to say. He had not been prepared for Sokka to go from dozing in his arms to shouting at him for something he hadn't even been fully aware he had been doing. Damn the guy for being overly-perceptive.

"Just tell me what's got you so worried all of the sudden." The anger was gone from Sokka's voice, leaving behind only concern. "I can tell something's bothering you."

Zuko was also unprepared to the rush of emotions that fell upon him like a storm surge. They burst into his chest and filled him with so many different feelings that it made him dizzy. He forced himself to sit up, letting his hair fall across his face like a shield. There was the usual, of course—the confusion and fear that he was so used to by now. But beneath all that and rising swiftly to overwhelm them both was a deep sense of love and belonging and friendship and the desperate need to be wanted by another person.

He couldn't see Sokka, but he could feel him sitting patiently. He could feel his eyes on him. Could feel the tenderness radiating off the younger teen, the support. Outside of his uncle, Zuko wasn't used to receiving such things from another person. Hell, he wasn't used to them from himself.

"I…" Zuko swallowed past the lump in his throat. He felt like an idiot. Why was he making this so hard for himself? So hard for Sokka? Why couldn't he just say what he was thinking? That he was afraid none of this would last? That he knew he had to give Sokka up eventually and that the loss of him would tear a hole inside him so why start anything at all? That he wanted Sokka so badly, not just for the nights but for everything? How could he say all that?

Reasonably, he couldn't. There was just too much to be said and no matter how hard he tried, Zuko knew he just wouldn't get it right. Sokka would understand if he tried, he knew that. Sokka would accept it when he failed…but Sokka deserved to know what Zuko meant.

Zuko pushed his hair out of his face and looked up. It was a simple gesture—coming from anyone else it would hardly be construed as a gesture of any kind at all. But Zuko trusted that Sokka would understand. Would see that Zuko was exposing himself in a way that meant so much more than simply lying naked in bed with your best friend… Zuko knew he would see every emotion surging behind Zuko's face, every fear and hope and desire. All the love that his pathetically wounded self could muster. Would see every thought and doubt.

"Sokka…" Zuko swallowed and tried again. He had to say something. This was Sokka, after all. Sokka was a talk kind of guy. "I just…don't know what to do." Forcing the words passed his lips felt like a battle. He closed his eyes. Having given up his mask, he couldn't force himself to look at Sokka. He was too afraid of what he'd see there. "I'm afraid."

Zuko didn't look up when he felt the mattress dip slightly as Sokka shifted. He opened his mouth to struggle with more words—pathetic, useless words—when he felt arms reach around from behind. Sokka pressed himself against Zuko's back and hugged him so hard Zuko thought he would be pressed into the skin of the darker boy. Sokka rested his forehead against the back of Zuko's shoulder. He didn't say a word; he just held him as tightly as he could.

"I don't want to lose you, Sokka." The words tumbled out of Zuko before he could stop them. He leaned back against the Water Tribe boy. "I don't want to see you go. I feel…so much stronger when you're with me. I don't know…what I'll do."

Inwardly, Zuko winced. He sounded like a scared child trying to hang onto his blanket in the middle of the night.

There was a long silence wherein Sokka simply held Zuko and Zuko let himself be held. Zuko felt his tension slowly leak out of him. Once again Sokka managed to defy physics and press himself even tighter against his back.

"That's what you were so upset about, huh?" Sokka asked softly. He lifted his face and rested his chin on Zuko's shoulder so he was cheek-to-cheek with him. Zuko nodded. Despite feeling better after getting his fears out in the open, Zuko still felt the betraying pressure of tears building behind his eyes. He didn't dare try to speak now.

Sokka reached down and found Zuko's hands. He laced his fingers with the Firebender's, pulling their joined hands against Zuko's stomach. He placed a gentle kiss on the back of Zuko's neck. He sighed against his skin and squeezed Zuko's fingers.

"I guess now is as good a time as any." Sokka said, more to himself than to Zuko. "Ever since your coronation, Zuko, I've been talking to the others. We agree—and we know you know—that this world is all sorts of messed up right now. Try as you might…I just don't think you and Aang can put it together by yourself."

Zuko stiffened, but Sokka squeezed his hand again.

"Just hear me out." He said softly. "You two are going to need help. Ambassador kind of help."

Zuko turned his face a bit to look at Sokka. The Water Tribe boy continued in the half-interested tone Zuko was so used to hearing when Sokka was saying something important, but was trying to play it off as perfectly routine.

"Aang wants to start looking for more Air Nomads, but being the Avatar and all he'll be in and out of the Fire Nation enough to make Appa dizzy. Toph wants to travel—I think she means show off, but who can blame her—but she says she wants to help. If you need her, she'll be here to help. Plus she's got that family-pull thing going for her, which will go a long way, I think.

"As for the Water Tribe…well, there's Pakku…but I think he's gonna be pretty busy looking for new Waterbenders to train. Dad hasn't seen our whole tribe in years. He's going back and it sounds like he's staying. Bato, too. Katara's pretty much splitting her time between going with Aang and helping Pakku. You know, that whole "teaching our culture" thing…but not in that creepy Hama way." Sokka shuddered, but then continued nonchalantly. "Anyway…that pretty much just leaves me. Master Piandao has offered to continue my training if I stay, plus he says he has enough of the meteorite left to make a new Space Sword. Besides, someone's going to have to keep Toph in line when she's here. I want to go back for a little while—I need a new boomerang and, no offense, no one makes them like the Southern Water Tribe. But really… I don't think there's much of a place for me there, anymore. I'm not the same person I was when I left."

Sokka cleared his throat, apparently just realizing he had been rambling.

"So…I guess the question is…is that gonna work? For you, I mean."

Zuko turned so he was facing Sokka, his right eye wide with disbelief.

"You're kidding me, right?" Zuko couldn't fight back the grin. "I…really? And this was your idea? This wasn't me…"

Sokka released Zuko so he could shift into a position more suitable for talking. He took Zuko's hands back and looked him straight in the eye, his own of cerulean serious and calm.

"Zuko, I never wanted to leave you. The moment the war ended I was trying to think of ways to get you to let me stay. Katara and Toph thought up all sorts of ideas—Toph's was that I be your bodyguard, but I think that would have gotten in the way of your not wanting the guards to be seen thing, now that I think about it… though I would have looked hot in a uniform." Sokka shook his head. "Anyway, offering to be the ambassador for the Water Tribe seemed like the best idea. For everyone. Not only would I get to stay here, but then the world would see a member of a tribe nearly decimated by the Fire Nation eager and willing to help the new Fire Lord." Sokka coughed. "Though… maybe they wouldn't see all the ways I was eager and willing. That would probably just get awkward."

Sokka looked like he was ready to ramble on some more, but he was cut short when Zuko tackled him with a hug that forced the air he needed for talking out of his lungs. Sokka laughed and squeezed his arms around him in return. When the Fire Lord pulled back he didn't try to hide the tears in his eyes.

"Spirits, Sokka." Zuko's voice cracked, but he didn't care. He reached up and gently took Sokka's face in both hands. He stared at him, trying to memorize every line of the younger man's face. Trying to cement this moment in his memory. "I don't…This is…"

Sokka smiled and pulled Zuko's hands away from his face. He leaned forward and kissed him gently. When he pulled back his smile had shifted into that wonderfully dirty smirk Zuko loved so much.

"You never were really good with words, Zuko. Your appreciation may require a demonstration."

Zuko grinned. Sokka was right. He was the Fire Lord. The world could wait one more day.