Breath quickening, he tried to convince himself the charing sensation running along his calf was only a product of his imagination.
Gripping the sheet until his knuckles whitened, he still failed to clear his mind. Helpless, he witnessed his carefully built shelter reduced to ashes by the eager blaze of burning memories.
Paralyzed, he could only grit his teeth as invisible flames licked at his calf. Sparking searing pain upon the slightly scarred skin, they sought revenge for the affront Katara made by healing his leg.
Chest heaving, he shuddered suddenly feeling long nails scrape against his throat. Closing his eyes, he inwardly battled with the sensation, shouting at his mind to rid his skin from the unwanted touch.
Surprised by the immediate disappearance of the ghostly contact, he didn't have the luxury to attempt to free his calf of its scorching hold. Deafening, an all too familiar delirious laughter submerged him as air suddenly stopped reaching his lungs.
Panic coursing through his veins, he wrestled with his mind in a last attempt to tame the pain.
Rewarded with the remembrance of his wrist yielding under a vengeful heel, he finally recovered enough air to scream.
Shooting upright, he ran after his breath as the sheets pooled around his waist. Although no flames devoured the textile, his skin still felt on fire. Blinking at the dark veins of his right arm, he couldn't rid the patterns of the buzzing pain flowing through his flesh
Fat wet pearls cascaded down his face, soaking his shirt. Biting his lower lip, he forced himself to keep his whimpers trapped behind his teeth.
"Sokka."
Closing his eyes, he trembled under the feather-light touch of Zuko's hand against his back.
"You're safe."
Fingertips hovered above his lower back before gripping the hem of his shirt to gently strip the sweaty fabric off him.
Comforting whispers by the shell of his ear gradually calmed his erratic heartbeat and familiar hands chased away the fire ensnaring his flesh.
Body eased from the trouble of his mind, Sokka gratefully accepted the glass of fresh water his partner served him.
Feeling as drained as the empty glass he gave back to Zuko, he knew he couldn't stall any longer. Waiting for his partner to sit by him, he then finally asked the question that had been hanging off the tip of his tongue since the encounter with Azula.
"You killed her, didn't you?"
Strong arms wrapped around his middle as the Fire Lord seated himself behind Sokka.
"I did."
Exhaling a shaky breath, tears pricked around azure eyes.
"Azula stopped being my sister a long time ago, and she crossed a line." Pressing a kiss below the betrothal necklace, he then rested his head on Sokka's lightning scarred shoulder. "She hurt you. I won't forgive anyone who dares to harm you, former relative included."
Pulling his consort flushed against him, Zuko leaned back against the headboard of their bed.
"Your heart is my sun, Sokka," reminded the bender as he gently brushed the tears rolling down tanned cheeks.
"And your love my moon," recited Sokka, the shadow of a smile brushing against his lips hearing their union's vows.
Tilting his lover's face toward him, Zuko softly claimed his lips, melting the anxiety binding his consort's mind away with a comforting warmth only he could provide.
"I don't regret doing what I did." Pressing a kiss on the fading bruise ornating his partner's jaw, he added, "Actually, I am proud of you for standing your ground against her, Sokka. She was one of the most dangerous benders we know of but you kept fighting with all you had and that bought us the time we needed to act."
Feeling Sokka's breathing growing steadier, he kept talking.
"Azula was a threat to everyone but I didn't kill her as Fire Lord, I killed her as Zuko because she came after what is most precious to me. I can't, and I won't let anyone take you from me, Sokka."
Punctuating his statement with a soft nose-nudge to the betrothal necklace, Zuko exhaled in relief sensing that his partner had finally completely overcome the emotional turmoil his nightmare stirred up.
"I love you," breathed Sokka before shifting in his lover's arms to lay more comfortably against him.
"I know, I love you too."
