a/n: Chapter's kinda short, sorry. Mentions of sex in the last paragraph, but nothing explicit. Mostly fluff. 3
"I'm going to get some water, do you two need anything?" Zuko said, already standing.
"I'm good, thanks," Aang replied, shooting a quick smile in the fire-bender's direction.
Sokka barely looked up, "I could do with a drink."
The sun was high. The autumn breeze soothing against legs stiff from kneeling. The sound of the camp rose and fell around him like the sea. Snatches of conversation drifted to him from groups gathered around tents. Refugee children tumbled and dashed around him, weaving in and out of tents and rebels. The more serious, those with scars and blank eyes, sharpened weapons and cleaned armor.
He was nearly invisible here. Unlike the palace, or the war camp, there were no servants bowing as he walked past. No viscous rumors following him. No hurriedly cut of sentences or rushed whispers. Still the occasional insult, but nothing like the palace. He almost reveled in the anonymity.
He filled two cups with water and began to weave his way back to the Avatar's tent. Suddenly, there was a tug on the back of his shirt, and he was being pulled into an out of the way corner. The cups hit the dirt as he whirled around, ready to defend himself.
Zuko deflated quickly. It was only Kya.
The woman glared at him. In spite of himself, a chill ran down his spine. She was one of the hardened ones. There was ice and steel in her blue eyes. Cold, dangerous depths. Slaves like her were put to death at the palace. He wondered why Azula kept her.
Instead of asking, Zuko relaxed into a more casual position, "What do you want?"
"There's nothing I want from you, fire-bender," there was so much venom in that one phrase, it sounded a curse, "That you can give me. You're going to listen to what I have to say, and then I'm going to walk away."
Zuko widened his amber eyes slightly, as if to say, I'm listening.
Kya's nostril's flared angrily, but she bridles her anger, "Sokka told me that you were a better man. I heard from palace servant's that you let him go. And yet, somehow, I find you at a rebel camp, and Sokka's been cast out from our tribe.
"The only reason," she pauses, her hand flexing as if she was about to attack him, "Only reason I haven't said anything to the Avatar, or, spirits-forbid, Katara, is that Sokka asked me to keep you a secret. He trusts you. He may even believe he loves you, and turning you in could cause him more harm than good."
She takes a step closer, and Zuko has to fight to keep himself still, "But I feel it my duty to tell do something for him, so I'm talking to you. You've ruined his life. He's lost everything because of your selfish, ignorant, greed. Sokka, while a brilliant strategist, doesn't have even a hint of common sense when it comes to things of the heart. He's still suffering because of that, because of you."
She turns around, stiff with contained rage, "Just think about him for a change."
When alone again, he bends down and collects the cups. The camp loses it's simple magic for him, as he walks back through, cups refilled. As the sound swirls around him, all he can do is imagine how it is for Sokka. The way the conversation stalls around him, and parents pull their children away like he's a monster.
He pushes back the tent flap and pauses, just watching.
Sokka leans over the table. Lines crease his forehead, his mouth, normally turned up, is set in a determined frown. All his energy is focused on the problem at hand. So young, to have such responsibility. Not that anyone remains young for long, in a war.
Sokka arches his back, stretching. He turns his head and catches sight of Zuko in the tent opening. His face relaxes, eyes sparkling with welcome, though all that comes from his mouth is a sarcastic, "Finally."
Zuko hands over the cup. Sokka's fingers brush over his, before he tosses back the water. He swipes a hand roughly over his mouth, then grins at Aang, "I need to stretch my legs."
Aang nods, "I've got training with Toph soon, we'll meet back up after that?"
"Super," the tribesman drawls, before turning to Zuko, "You up for another walk?"
The fire-bender remains silent, ducking his head in consent.
Sokka smiles and heads out. They reach the edge of camp quickly, once again passing into the forest. The boy laughed, "This is sort of becoming our place, you know?"
"Yeah," Zuko mumbled.
"Okay," Sokka halts, hands on hips, head tilted and frowning, "What's going on with you?"
"I've been thinking."
"About?" he draws out the word, trying to hide his anxiety.
"I've ruined your life," Zuko says bluntly, "I should just leave."
"First off; Aang needs you too much for you to leave," Sokka barely has to think before he begins to talk. Something close to desperation colors his tone, "Second; I don't want you to leave. Third; where would you go? And fourth; I think I'm old enough to decide whether or not someone's good for me. And you're good for me."
Those are all the words that Zuko wants to hear, but the nagging feeling remains. He tries again, "I'm not good for you. It's because of me that you were kicked out of the Water Tribe, and if I stay with you, and they find out, it'll all go to hell."
"More than it already has?" the joke is weak, and Sokka winces after saying it, "That's not what I meant."
He reaches out, cradling Zuko's face, "Look. It may not be easy, and I may lose a lot because of what we have, but I wouldn't trade you for anything."
"I don't want to make you miserable," it sounds weak, and Zuko almost hates himself for that, but he can't help it.
"You don't," Sokka reassures him, and pulls him in for a kiss. The water-tribe's lips curl into a smile against the fire-bender's, and when they pull away, his smile widens as he says, "See?"
In the silence that follows, a longing creeps into the air between them. Sokka pulls him farther into the trees, to their haven by the pool. He begins to pull off his shirt and leggings. Zuko follows suit.
When Sokka begins to lay down, Zuko stops him. He lies down on the moss, and pulls Sokka down on top of him. Startled, the tan boy blinks down at him, "Are you sure?"
Warmth blossoms in Zuko's stomach, and he smiles softly, "Yes."
After, they lay together in the moss, enveloped in warmth. Languidly, they partially redress, before falling asleep, curled into each other's warmth. The world falls away from them, as if reluctant to disturb the lovers. Almost as if, it could see the future, and wanted to allow them one more moment of peace.