Chapter 10: Thanksgiving Blues

In which Aang hypes Zuko to Sokka's family and emo Zuko just wants cuddles.

*Also, sorry for taking so long to upload this chapter! Finals are kicking my ass right now. Luckily the 18th I should be done and can return to posting more regularly!

"Zuuuukooooo." Sokka whined, and tossed his pencil at his partner.

The two were sitting in the library, and they had been for the past 3 hours. It was the monday before Thanksgiving break and they were attempting to crank out the essay they were supposed to have done the night they had their cookie dough fight. "What?" Zuko snapped, not looking up.

"Im tireeeeeed. Can't we take a break?"

"No."

"C'monnnnn. We've been at this for hours!" Sokka begged.

"And you've been begging for a break for hours. We have to finish this."

Sokka groaned and slumped back in his chair. He may be slightly in love with the dude but sometimes he could be a real jerk. Suddenly Sokka had an idea, and a smirk spread across his mouth. "Are you sure you put together the slides for the restoration, Zuko? I don't see them."

"Yes. I did them an hour ago while you were whining about being hungry."

"Are you sure? They're not here."

"What do you mean they're not there?" He looked up for the first time, concerned and annoyed.

"Here, come look." Sokka beckoned him to his side of the table.

As Zuko stood up and walked around, Sokka lunged forward and slammed his laptop shut and pulled it across the table. "Hey! What the hell!" Zuko shouted and lunged, trying to grab it before Sokka shoved it into his bag and jumped up, dancing away.

"Too slow! Now you have to take a break with me."

"This isn't funny Sokka." Zuko hissed through gritted teeth.

"I think it's hilarious."

Zuko looked like he was heavily debating between punching Sokka in the face and taking his laptop back or giving in to his incessant demands. He chose the latter with a sigh. "Fine. 10 minutes. That's all you get."

"Yay! Lets go to the vending machines!" Sokka hurried out the door, backpack safely in hand away from the other.

They both retrieved their respective snacks and sat down on the bench by the elevator. "You know...this is the same bench we sat at during our first meeting." Sokka smiled and looked over at his friend.

"Yeah. And you're just as insufferable now as you were then." Zuko glared at him.

Sokka rolled his eyes and kicked his ankle. "But now you tolerate it better."

"I guess. Don't really have a choice." Zuko shrugged, but he could see a faint smile on the boy's lips.

"What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year?" Sokka asked casually.

As soon as he spoke, he felt Zuko tense beside him and felt guilty. He always forgets how he feels about his family. "I don't know." He mumbled.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Sokka asked, curiously.

"My family and I aren't exactly….on the best terms." he said grimly.

Sokka raised his eyebrows. "Oh? So just staying home?"

"I have the last few years. But this year Azula, my sister, said Dad wanted me home." He looked conflicted about this statement.

"You don't seem so keen."

He shrugged and looked down. "Yeah. It just seems…..fishy."

Sokka nodded, not sure if he should keep asking or just change the subject. The two sat there in silence for a few moments. "What…..are you doing?" Zuko asked.

He was still awkward as ever when it came to attempting normal social interactions.

"Katara, Aang and I are flying back to Alaska! We always have a big family Thanksgiving with my dad and his friend, Bato, and Gran Gran and a few other people!" He said excitedly.

"Oh….sounds….fun."

"Yeah! Until Bato gets drunk and Dad pulls out the baby photos of Katara and I." He grimaced remembering last year when they had projected a photo of one year old Sokka on his birthday, butt naked and a face full of cake.

Zuko smiled. "I can only imagine you were just as annoying a baby as you are an adult."

"Hey!" Sokka smiled and elbowed him in the ribs. "I'm a perfectly lovely adult."

"Oh yeah. Perfectly lovely. Just like a…... racoon."

"A raccoon? What the hell kind of analogy is that?" Sokka stared at him.

Zuko flushed. "I don't know! You eat food all the time! So do racoons! And you have racoon fingers!"

"Racoon fingers?!" Sokka spluttered. "What does that mean!"

"I don't know!" Zuko was now becoming extremely flustered. "They're long and graceful and nice and- stop laughing!"

Sokka was wheezing beside him, trying to contain his laughter for fear of being scolded by the library aids. "I'm sorry, I just didn't know you cared so much about my fingers!" he giggled.

Zuko crossed his arms and turned away. "I don't! They're just hard not to notice when they're always bumbling into things."

"Bumbling into things?" Sokka laughed again.

"Yes. Always knocking things over and deleting things on our powerpoint! It's annoying."

Zuko trying to regain his tough guy attitude while still thoroughly blushing from embarrassment was the most adorable thing Sokka had ever seen. He waggled his fingers near his face and the other slapped them away with a death glare. "Your 10 minutes are up." He huffed, and stomped back to the study room.

Sokka smiled as he watched him walk away. This boy is going to be the death of me. He thought to himself.

The airport was even more packed than usual this year. Business men in their fancy suits were crawling everywhere like a damn plague and there were so many screaming babies Sokka thought he was going to explode with annoyance. "Sokka hurry up! If we miss the plane I will never EVER forgive you!" Katara yelled back at him through the throng of people pushing away from the departure board.

"I'm HURRYING! But all these idiots keep getting in the way!" He yelled back, gaining a few glances from some passersby.

They made it to their gate just in time for boarding, and squeezed onto the packed plane. Katara had been smart enough to book them three seats together early this year before everything filled up and Sokka was grateful to be sitting next to them instead of a random dude like last year.

Made it to the plane! I now understand why you're so annoyed all the time. People can be so fucking dumb. Sokka's finger hovered over the send button for a few moments, then finally bit his lip and pressed down. He and Zuko had been talking a bit more lately, but given Sokka's track record of making a fool out of himself it made him second guess everything he said. Luckily, the reply came only a minute later.

Zuko - History Partner: I'm not annoyed all the time.

Sokka: Yes. You are :P

Zuko - History Partner: Only with you.

Zuko - History Partner: How do you make those faces?

Sokka stared at his phone. Does Zuko not know how to use….emoji's? In 2020?

Sokka: you're kidding right?

Zuko - History Partner: What? I never text.

Sokka: You really are an old man in a kids body. You have to add the emoji keyboard.

Zuko - History Partner: Where do I do that?

Sokka: Go to settings then keyboard and add keyboard.

He waited a few minutes and got no response.

Sokka: Did you find it?

Zuko - History Partner: I think so…

Zuko - History Partner: :P

Sokka laughed. He was wrong. Zuko learning how to use emojis was the most adorable thing he'd ever seen.

Sokka: Way to go buddy! Welcome to the 21st century :) :P ;)

Zuko - History Partner: Why are there so many.

Sokka: Believe it or not most people have more emotions than annoyed, angry, and emo.

Zuko - History Partner: Says the man who's only emotions are hunger and golden retriever.

Sokka: First a racoon and now a golden retriever? Decide what animal I am already and stick with it! :P

Zuko - History Partner: no.

Zuko - History Partner: Aren't you in a plane? Shouldn't your phone be off?

Just as he got the ping of Zuko's message, he saw the flight attendants start to emerge from the cabin to signal they were about to take off.

Sokka: Yes ): Talk to you later man!

Zuko sent back a thumbs up emoji and Sokka chuckled. "What are you so smiley about?" Katara asked, leaning over.

"The fact that this year it's your turn to be embarrassed at dinner!" He said, quickly stashing his phone back in his bag away from prying eyes.

Katara groaned and slumped down in her seat. "I will kill Dad if he shows even one picture of me learning to swim. I hate those arm floaties to this day."

Sokka rolled his eyes and leaned back into his chair as they began to take off.

The rest of the flight passed by uneventfully and when they landed in Alaska, they were met by the entire crew. After dinner everyone was so exhausted from traveling they went back to their rooms and fell asleep immediately.

Sokka slept about 12 hours and when he finally woke up Wednesday, everyone was already in the kitchen ready for the day. "I see college hasn't changed you yet!" Bato smiled and waved good morning, or rather afternoon, to him as he shuffled in.

"Sokka will NEVER be an early riser." Katara smiled from where she and Gran Gran were peeling potatoes by the sink.

"Hey, saves me from having to deal with you lot over breakfast!" He shot back.

"Sokka's awake!" Aang bounced in just then, snow falling off his shoulders and cheeks bright red. "That means we can go sledding right!?"

"Sledding? I just woke up!" Sokka groaned, looking longingly at the coffee pot.

"Come on! Hakoda made a big hill just outside with the extra snow from the driveway! You have to help me make the rest of the obstacles Sokka!"

"He's been waiting hours for you to wake up Sokka." His dad grinned at him from over his coffee mug. "I'm not sure if he can wait any longer."

Sokka groaned again as Aang grabbed his arm and dragged him over to the coat rack.

Three hours later, the three of them (Katara had joined an hour later) came trudging back inside, snow covered and fingers like icicles. "That's not where those go" his dad chided him as Sokka threw his coat and mittens on the coach and got snow everywhere.

"Fineeee I'll put them in the CLOSET" Sokka sighed and threw them in.

"How was sledding?"

"It was awesome! Sokka totally wiped out on the jump we made" Aang hopped over the back of the couch and settled next to Hakoda.

"Hey! You fell more times than me!" Sokka glared at him and poked him to move over.

"Yeah but you fell on your face more than me."

Sokka rolled his eyes and the chatter slowly turned back to school and how the semester was going. Sokka tuned them out and fished his phone out from his pocket. As Aang and his dad talked, he scrolled through the photos he had taken of the three of them out in the snow and decided to send one to Zuko. He selected the photo he looked best in (One of Aang, Katara, and Sokka with snow covered faces and pink cheeks sticking their tongues out with the trees in the background.)

Sokka: Fell on my face hard today. You would have enjoyed watching it.

Zuko's reply came after only a minute.

Zuko - History Partner: Sad I missed it.

Sokka: How's your first day off classes treating ya buddy?

Zuko - History Partner: Fine. Working later today.

Zuko - History Partner: I showed Iroh how to use emojis.

Zuko - History Partner: He won't stop sending me texts now.

Zuko - History Partner sent a screenshot

Sokka giggled slightly at the picture Zuko had sent. Iroh indeed had taken a liking to emojis. The image consisted of four separate texts from Iroh to Zuko, all with the most obscure emojis and no words, followed by an irate reply from Zuko. "Who are you texting?" Aang's voice broke him out of his daydream of Zuko.

"What? Oh no one important." He said, trying and failing to pull his screen away before Aang could see.

"Oh is that Zuko?"

"Who's Zuko?" His dad looked over at him, eyebrows raised.

"No one! Just a friend." He said defensively.

His dad just raised his eyebrow higher. "Just a friend?" He looked at Aang, a small smile across his face that made Sokka blush.

Having Aang or Suki know about his stupid crush was one thing but Sokka didn't think he could handle his entire family knowing about it. Luckily Aang came to his rescue. "Yeah he's Sokka's project partner this semester! He came over for game night once. He's awesome! He beat Toph and also makes really good cookies!"

Hakoda smiled at his son. "Sounds like a wonderful boy."

Sokka blushed and looked down. "Yeah he's cool." he shrugged, trying his best to sound indifferent.

"Zuko's uncle owns the tea place we go to all the time. He got Sokka to start drinking tea!" Aang continued his hype of Zuko.

"Someone got Sokka to drink tea?" Bato had just entered from the kitchen. "Was he drunk? Or holding a gun to your head?"

"No! I can like tea!"

"Zuko's uncle makes the best tea!"

"Who's Zuko?" Bato asked, leaning against the couch and fixing Sokka with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Just a friend I'm working on a project for school with!" This was so much worse than the baby pictures.

"Sounds like quite a man if he can get you to give up your coffee addiction." Bato smiled knowingly.

"I'll never give that up!" Sokka grinned.

"You'll have to introduce us next time we come to visit." His dad said, turning back to the game he and Bato had been playing before the others came in.

"Yeah maybe. We'll see." Sokka grumbled.

The conversation thankfully turned back to Aang's internship for the summer and Sokka was left with his face boiling from embarrassment. The rest of the day passed without any more mentions of Zuko.

Thanksgiving morning was a blur of yelling, flying utensils and only a few minor fires, and by the time dinner was over everyone just tossed the dishes in the kitchen and gathered in the livingroom to watch the traditional first christmas movie of the season. Sokka sat in the arm chair away from the rest of his family, but wasn't paying much attention to the movie. He scrolled listlessly through his messages with Zuko, a gnawing feeling beginning to creep into his stomach. Zuko hadn't responded to any of his messages since last night. He was probably busy with his own family or working at the tea shop. Sokka was sure he would respond tomorrow. However, Friday came and went and still no response. Sokka was beginning to get worried.

"Hey Aang, have you heard from Zuko?" Sokka pulled Aang into the bathroom Saturday morning, away from the curious ears of his family.

Aang shook his head, and looked concerned. "Nope, why? Is everything okay?"

"I don't know, he hasn't responded to any of my messages since Wednesday and I'm getting worried."

"Did you say something to make him vanish?"

Sokka shook his head. "I don't think so. These are my last messages." He leaned over to show Aang his phone.

The last texts he had sent had just been photos of some trees and a happy thanksgiving text. "I don't know, seems fine to me."

Sokka bit his lip and continued to stare at the messages. "Sokka, Zuko is usually a sporadic texter isn't he? I'm sure he just isn't feeling like talking to anyone. He'll respond eventually!"

Sokka shrugged, a concerned look still etched across his face. "We'll be back tonight anyways, maybe tomorrow morning if you're really concerned you can stop by the Jasmine Dragon and see if he's working." Aang suggested.

"Yeah…. Good idea Aang." He said, still not entirely comforted.

All throughout packing all he could think about was the look on Zuko's face when he had been talking about going home, and the worry that had seemed to be infused throughout his body. After lunch, the three finished packing their bags and Hakoda dropped them off at the airport with lots of hugs and plans for next month when they were home for longer.

"Are you still worried about Zuko?" Aang whispered. They had just landed and were waiting at the bus stop to head back to the apartment.

The sun had sunk down below the horizon while they were flying and it was now pitch black outside. Sokka nodded and checked his phone again. "He still hasn't responded. I'm just worried something happened."

Aang scrunched his face. He always hated it when Sokka or Katara were worried about things. "If you really want to go check on him, I can take your bag back."

"Are you sure?" He whispered back.

Normally he hated people doing things like that for him, but he was slowly being consumed with anxiety. Aang nodded. "Don't worry Sokka, I'll tell Katara you went to go pick up Toph."

He gave Aang a grateful look and rushed off. The Jasmine Dragon was only a few minute bus ride away from the airport, but the Thanksgiving returners made the traffic horrible and he didn't arrive until after their closing hours. Sokka cursed under his breath and prayed Iroh would still be down cleaning the tables. Luckily when he rounded the corner he saw his prayers had been answered and a light was still on behind the counter. Sokka tapped on the door and waved when Iroh looked up and smiled. He made his way to the door and swung it open. "Sokka!" his voice boomed across the noise of the street.

"Hi! Happy late Thanksgiving!" Sokka smiled and stepped in.

"What brings you here?" Iroh asked, closing the door and turning the lock again.

"I just came to check on Zuko. He….uh...he didn't respond to any of my texts and...uh...we have something due tomorrow." Sokka lied. He knew Iroh was probably past the point of needing Sokka to give him an excuse to come see Zuko, but he felt weird telling him it was just because he was worried.

Suddenly Iroh's jovial manner faltered and he saw a look surge through his eyes. "My nephew is….feeling a little under the weather this weekend."

"Oh. Can I see him? I just wanted to give him this." Sokka pulled a little trinket out of his pocket he had bought at the airport. It was a little key chain bottle of sriracha, Zuko's favorite condiment.

Iroh's face clouded over for a second, and he took a few moments to answer. "I'm not sure if that's wise. I don't think Zuko wants to get you sick."

Iroh must have noticed the saddened expression that came over Sokka's face when he said that, because a few seconds later he sighed and turned around, beckoning Sokka to follow. "I guess it would be alright if you were to bring some tea up to him. I still have a few more chores to do down here."

"Yeah! I can do that!" Sokka said, his heart beating faster.

A few minutes later Iroh returned with a mug of jasmine tea. "He's in his room. Just remember he's not feeling well. He might not be the most….cheerful."

Sokka laughed. "Is he ever cheerful?"

Iroh smiled at his remark and then shooed him up the stairs. Sokka had only been in Zuko's room once, but there were only two doors coming off their living room, and he remembered Zuko's by the fact that it was gray and dreary with chipped paint, unlike Iroh's green ornate door. He knocked softly, if Zuko was sick he might be sleeping. No response came. He knocked again a bit louder. "Go away." A hoarse voice came from inside.

Zuko sounds like shit. He knocked again. "I have tea!" He called softly.

"I don't want tea Uncle. Leave me alone." His voice was raspy and low.

"It's Sokka."

His words were met with an icy silence. He knocked again. "Zuko? The tea is getting cold."

More silence. "Zuko!"

"Zuko I just wanted to make sure you're okay, you weren't answering my texts and I got worried! Can I just come in and drop the tea off?"

Still no response. Sokka sighed. He was getting annoyed now. "Fine. Now you don't have a choice. I'm coming in."

He paused for a second, then slowly opened the door. Inside, the room was pitch black. It took a second for Sokka's eyes to adjust to the dim light, and when they came around he looked over and saw Zuko huddled in a gray mass on his bed. Sokka set the tea down on his desk and walked over to his bed. "Are you okay? You didn't answer any of my messages."

Zuko curled up tighter, hiding his face in his blankets. "Go away."

"Zuko….how many times do we have to do this before you realize I care about your well being. I'm not leaving until you at least give me some sign you're not dying." Sokka reached out to place a hand on his shoulder but Zuko slapped it away.

"Don't touch me."

"Then tell me whats wrong?" Sokka sat down on the edge of his bed tentatively.

"No."

Then a few seconds later he spoke again, this time Sokka could hear his voice start to waiver. "I don't want to pull you into my pathetic family drama."

"It's not pathetic."

He heard a stifled sniff from under the blankets. "Will you pull the blanket down and tell me about it?"

Zuko sniffed again but didn't respond. Tentatively, Sokka reached out his hand again and placed it on what he thought was his shoulder. "Did something happen with your family on Thanksgiving?"

He felt the other tense under his touch, but he didn't slap his hand away this time. Zuko took a minute to talk, but after a bit when he realized Sokka was insistent on staying, he began to speak. "Azula said they wanted me there." His voice caught and Sokka could tell he was trying to hide that he was crying.

"She...she….she said my dad wanted to put aside everything that happened and move on but she…" His voice broke and his body shook with a sob.

Sokka felt like his heart was breaking into a million pieces for the boy laying beside him. He leaned over and put his arm around Zuko. They sat there for a minute until Zuko pulled himself together again and continued speaking. "She was just playing with me. They didn't want me there. Dad was screaming, and she was laughing, and ...and" Sokka could sense he was about to lose it again.

"You don't have to continue if you don't want to. I think I understand the gist." He said quietly.

Zuko curled up tighter into a ball and nodded. They sat there for a few more minutes until finally Zuko hesitantly pulled the blanket away from his face. Even in the dark Sokka could see his eyes were red and puffy, and his face was pale and splotchy. "Zuko….I'm sorry you have to deal with such a shitty family." Sokka said awkwardly. He was really, really bad at comforting people.

Zuko shrugged, not making eye contact. "I mean it. You don't deserve that. You're amazing. And smart. You're so fucking smart. I mean hell I would be failing art history if it wasn't for you." He laughed quietly. "But seriously. You're a wonderful person Zuko. Those idiots are just….well...idiots if they don't appreciate you."

They sat in silence a bit longer, Sokka feeling particularly embarrassed at his shit attempt to comfort the other. Just as he was starting to feel self conscious and draw back, he heard Zuko mumble something. "What?" He asked.

"I said….will you….can you….stay? Just for a bit?" Zuko whispered weakly.

"Stay...here? On your bed?" Sokka's heart began to thump.

"You dont have to if you don't want to you probably want to go home sorry it was dumb I-"

"No no i want to stay." Sokka cut off his nervous babbling and smiled.

A few moments later he felt Zuko scoot forward on the bed, opening up a space behind him. Sokka bit his lip nervously. Zuko was still laying down, and Sokka definitely could not fit in that spot sitting….Hoping he wasn't making another fool out of himself he hesitantly crawled over Zuko and layed down behind him. Zuko didn't move. Slowly, Sokka slipped his arms around the boy in front of him and drew closer, hoping Zuko couldn't feel his heart going wild in his chest, which was currently pressed against his back. He felt Zuko let out a slow exhale and relax into his embrace. Sokka pulled his arms tighter around him and pressed his face into the back of Zuko's head, letting his hair fall around him and tickle his nose. He knew this was only because Zuko was feeling vulnerable and spent the entire weekend alone and probably just wanted comfort, but he was going to savor this moment as much as he could. His arm wrapped tighter around his waist, and his arm underneath Zuko curled up against his chest. A few seconds later he felt Zuko's fingers brush against his, and slowly he opened his hand and slid it into Zuko's, their fingers intertwining softly. "Sleep here with me?" Zuko's voice sounded so small and so unlike his normal self.

Sokka smiled and reached up with his free hand to brush Zuko's hair out of his face gently. "Of course" he whispered.

After a few minutes, he felt Zuko's breath begin to slow as he drifted off to sleep in his arms. It took Sokka a bit longer to fall asleep, but eventually, he drifted off too, mind solely focused on the boy wrapped up in his arms and pressed against his body.