"If I have to read anymore about this I think my eyes are going to melt out of my head." Sokka groaned, leaning back on his bed and dramatically flailing his arms to the side.
The two were sitting in Sokka's room, Zuko at the desk and Sokka on his bed. A few hours had passed since the great Zuko and Katara face off (as it came to be known in future years) and it was almost 3pm. "We haven't even been working that long." Zuko said plainly, not looking up from his laptop.
Sokka smiled and flipped on his side to look at him. This was how their work sessions usually went. They worked in silence for a bit and then all too soon Sokka would dramatically exclaim that he was tired and Zuko would chastise him. Adorable annoying prick.
"So when are we going to the mall?" He asked after a moment.
"Hmm?" Zuko was only half paying attention to him, his fingers still poised over his laptop jotting down some notes about the tokugawa shogunate or the yoshiwara.
"The mall. You said if I was awake by the time you get here you would go Christmas shopping at the mall with me." Sokka pulled his pillow under his head, not breaking his gaze on the other.
"You're not serious." Zuko finally sat back and turned to face him, his signature look of annoyance seared on his features.
"Dead serious sweetheart."
"Don't call me that. And why do I have to go to the mall with you, can't someone else go?" He crossed his arms, glowering.
"I want you to come with me!" Sokka protested. There was no way Zuko was weaseling out of this one.
Zuko seemed to realize this fact as well and gave a disheartened sigh. "Fine. You get one hour at the mall." He said, glaring. "And you have to buy me lunch."
Sokka beamed and jumped up. "Deal! How about tomorrow?"
"I work tomorrow." He said grimly, turning back to his laptop.
"Awww come on. I'm sure Iroh would give you the day off!"
Zuko shook his head. "No."
Sokka sat back down and fixed him with a devious grin. "Im sure if I asked he would be more than happy to -"
"Stop. Fine. I'll ask him. Stop telling my uncle thinks! I'm still annoyed at you for telling him about game night."
Sokka smiled and tossed a pillow at his partner. "I'm just trying to get you out of that apartment!"
Zuko rolled his eyes but Sokka could see a hint of a smile on his face. Just then they heard a shout from outside the door and someone threw their fist violently against his door. "SOKKA! SECRET SANTA! GET YOUR LAZY ASS OUT OF THERE."
Toph's voice cut through the wood loud and clear and Sokka winced. "I guess we'll have to take a break from the outline, sorry."
Zuko looked at him then shrugged. "It's fine. I should go too, I work soon."
He stood up and began gathering his things. When he was finished, the two made their way out of Sokka's bedroom and into the living room where the gang was all gathered around the TV. "Alright captain boomerang, no peeking like last year!" Toph was sitting in the armchair facing the door and holding a long santa hat, swishing the papers inside around.
"I didn't peak!" Sokka protested, glaring at her.
"Stop accusing people of that every year Toph!" Katara scolded, snatching the hat away from her, then looked up at Zuko.
"Do you want to join our secret santa Zuko?" She asked.
Everyone fell silent and stared at her in disbelief, including Zuko. "I...I don't want to impose that's okay." He stuttered, obviously caught off guard.
She shook her head. "It's not an imposition. Besides, you've been hanging out with us so much this semester you might as well join. Consider it your official initiation." She smiled.
Sokka could tell she must feel guilty for being so hostile towards him this semester.
"I'm always down for another person to boss around!" Toph chirped after a second.
"Yeah! Come on Zuko it will be fun! We have a little party and exchange gifts! You can bring your cookies!"
"Yeah and maybe you can convince Sokka to not make anything this year." Suki said, laughing.
"Hey! I'm a good baker!" He glared at her.
"Barbeque fishsticks and gummy bears are not a side dish!" She shot back.
"What do you say Zuko? Are you in?" Katara asked, shaking the hat at him.
He looked between the expectant faces all staring up at him then looked at Sokka. "Umm….sure." He said awkwardly.
"Yes!" Sokka cheered. He grabbed a hold of Zuko's sleeve, leading him towards the sofa.
Katara bent over and scratched his name on a slip of paper then added it to the hat and shook it. "Okay, now no redraws unless you get your own name, spending limit 50 dollars, and no telling people who you got!" She shot a particularly accusatory glare towards Sokka.
She drew a name first, then passed the hat clockwise around the circle. Sokka was second to last and he internally groaned when he drew Toph. She was the most difficult to shop for out of everyone. Zuko was the last one to go so he got the last person by default. "Alright, the party is next weekend! So have your gifts by then." Katara said, putting the hat back on the table.
"Who did you get?" Sokka whispered to Zuko.
"I dont think I'm supposed to tell you." He said, elbowing Sokka away from him.
"Come onnnn just give me a hint!" He whined.
"No. You'll have to wait and see."
"Come onnnn."
"Sokka! Stop begging for Zuko to tell you who he got!" Katara scolded.
He sat back and crossed his arms, glaring. "Aww man. Noy you guys are friends you're going to be ganging up against me aren't you."
Katara and Zuko exchanged bemused smiles. "Get used to it mister." She said, standing up and making her way to the kitchen.
"Okay now she's gone you can tell me." Sokka whispered, leaning his head closer to Zuko.
Zuko turned his head and rolled his eyes. "You're an idiot." he muttered, a smile biting at his lips.
The next morning Sokka woke up early again (10am, early for him…). He rolled over, shielding his eyes from the bright winter light streaming in through the window and grabbed his phone.
Sokka: Hey buddy! What time do you want to go to the mall?
Zuko - History Partner: Never.
Sokka: Not an option mister! :P
Zuko - History Partner: Fine. How about 11:30?
Sokka: Sounds like a plan stan! I'll pick you up :)
Zuko - History Partner: You don't have a car.
Sokka: I didn't mean in a car! I mean I'll meet you at your place and we can walk to the mall. It's only a few blocks away I think.
Zuko - History Partner: fine. See you then.
Sokka tapped his fingers nervously against the pole of the bus. He seemed to find himself here a lot. Commuting between campus and Zuko, nervously perched on a seat or hands wrapped around a pole counting the minutes until the bus makes its sluggish halt by the jasmine dragon. He knew it wasn't really a date, but this was the first time they had ever hung out outside of the project. Well...the first time they had hung out alone. Well….alone with hundreds of strangers around….but still! It was enough to make his nerves ten fold.
The clang of busy christmas shoppers echoed throughout the streets and sidewalks of downtown. Sokka almost had to shove an old man carrying an armful of cabbages (seriously who needs that many cabbages?) into the street to get through the throng of people. When he finally stepped inside the tea shop, he didn't see any sign of Zuko. Iroh was busy behind the counter stocking the front display, and the other waitress, Jin, was busy carrying tea at the speed of light to the packed tables. Sokka waved to Iroh as he stepped inside and made his way to the counter.
"Sokka! How are you?" he boomed, his voice somehow managing to travel clearly through the loud cafe.
"Trying to survive finals!" Sokka joked, leaning against the counter to peak at what Iroh was stocking.
He laughed and continued placing the muffins into their respective baskets. "Come to fetch my nephew for a date?"
"Not a date." Sokka corrected hastily. "In fact, I think he would rather walk across hot tar then come with me to the mall." He smiled, tapping his fingers on the counter and letting his eyes dart around, still searching for Zuko.
Iroh chuckled at his quip and straightened up. "He seems awfully excited for someone who's supposed to be so disgruntled with today's activities."
Sokka tried his best to ignore the comment, and the way it made his ears turn red and hot. "Ahh. Are you guys doing anything special for christmas?"
"Christmas is a dull affair here." Iroh said, taking another tray of muffins from the counter to transfer to the display. "Zuko and I usually stay here."
Sokka mentally cursed himself for forgetting yet again about Zuko's turmoil with his family. "Oh, right."
Just then the aforementioned Zuko appeared from upstairs and stopped when he saw the two chatting. "Hey man! Ready for shopping?"
Zuko's eyes flitted between the two suspiciously. "If I have to. What are you two talking about?"
"How you're the late one for once!" Sokka laughed, hoping his question dodge was satisfactory.
Zuko seemed to hesitate for a second before letting it go, but he shot his uncle a disapproving look that just made Iroh laugh under his breath.
"I thought we could start at the end with the big snail statue and then work our way down!" Sokka said excitedly.
The two had made their way out of the shop and were now only a block away from the large shopping mall in the downtown district. Zuko grunted unenthusiastically. "You mean the north side?" He corrected.
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Fine Mr. Technical. The north side." He said, mocking Zuko's serious tone.
"Now will you tell me who you drew for secret santa?" Sokka begged as they pushed through the large glass doors at the entrance to the mall.
Zuko rolled his eyes. "No. Stop asking me!"
"Pleeeeeaseeee." He whined. "How will you know what to get them if I don't help!"
Zuko snorted. "You? Help? I'd like to see the day when that happens."
"Hey!" Sokka glared at him, but then smiled. "Well I got Toph. And I have no clue what to get her."
The other boy shrugged and continued to pretend to look uninterested in the stores around him. "A prescription for xanax?"
Sokka stopped and stared at him. "What? I'm not serious." Zuko said, pausing and turning around.
"I didn't think you knew how to joke Mr. I only punctuate my sentences with periods." Sokka said, laughing.
Zuko rolled his eyes. "At least I'm not overly enthusiastic about every little thing Mr I only know how to use exclamation points."
"Hey!"
"Case in point." Zuko smirked.
Now it was Sokka's turn to roll his eyes. "Okay fine. You MAY have a point!"
The two continued on their journey deeper into the mall and spent about an hour scouring various stores looking for something Toph worthy. Sokka did find a gift for his dad, some new mittens for Katara, and a little enamel pin for Suki, but nothing that screamed Toph. By now it was almost 12:30 and Sokka's stomach was starting to rumble. "Where do you want to eat?" he asked as they paused outside an odorous bath and bodyworks shop.
Zuko shrugged. "Doesn't matter."
"Come on Zuko, you have to have an opinion about something!"
"Mall food is mall food. It's all just subpar stuff with the prices jacked up."
"Ugh. You're impossible." Sokka complained, stalking forward to the mall directory that sat a few paces away.
"Hmmm…..something tells me you're not much of a pizza guy…." Sokka said, browsing through the list.
Zuko wrinkled his nose.
"I'll take that as an affirmation." Sokka laughed and kept searching. "Ooh! Yamato! Its a really good sushi place over at that end! Hows sushi sound?"
Zuko shrugged. "I like sushi. Even if it's mall sushi. Isn't yamato kind of expensive though?"
"Yeah but they usually have some type of discount going on during the holidays! Lets just hope we qualify." Sokka said as he turned and swiftly started walking towards the restaurant.
It only took a minute to get there, and when they arrived outside their eyes were affronted by a sea of red. "What's the deal?" Zuko asked, cringing at the gaudy seafood themed christmas decorations before them.
"Ummm...usually it's somewhere outfront." Sokka searched the numerous signs and things plastered outside of the door while they waited in line. Suddenly, just before they reached the hostess, he spotted it.
"You're my boyfriend." He whispered quickly to Zuko.
"What?!" Zuko said extremely loudly. His face began to flush and he pulled away, staring at Sokka.
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Not really! That's the special today! Couples! Just pretend to be my boyfriend for an hour and we can get half priced sushi rolls! Come on it can't be that painful."
Zuko spluttered and seemed to be incapable of forming words at the moment. "Hello boys!" the cheery woman behind the podium greeted them as they stepped forward in line. "Just the two today?"
Sokka nodded. "Alright, and will you two be using the couples discount today?" She asked, smiling at them.
"Ah, yes!" Sokka said, reaching out and taking Zuko's hand.
The other boy was starting to match the red of the decorations and still seemed too overcome with embarrassment and shock to speak. Sokka just internally chuckled at his adorable awkwardness and tried not to let his heart get too carried away by the fact that they were currently holding hands. The lady led them to a booth near the back and they took their seat. "Alright I'll be right back with your menus" She said smiling and vanishing back into the restaurant.
Sokka let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Are you going to survive?" He laughed, looking at Zuko.
"Yes!" He snapped, still red as ever. "You just can't spring that on me two seconds before!"
He let out a huff and a few pieces of his black hair propelled upwards. Fuck hes cute. Sokka bit his tongue to keep from grinning too widely. "Half priced meals will be worth it!"
He reached his hand out and brushed it across Zuko's which was sitting on the table. The other jumped and started to recoil but Sokka held his hand there. "Zuko just calm down." He laughed. "Look they're really strict with people faking stuff for their discount so if they think we're not a couple they won't give us half off."
"How do you even prove you're a couple that doesn't seem fair." Zuko groaned.
"Well we can pay full price if pretending to date me for an hour is so painful for you" Sokka quipped with an amused expression.
"No! I mean, it's not that I just, how do you even pretend to be a couple?"
"How do you pretend to be a couple?"
Zuko flushed again and looked away. "I wasn't good at it during the real thing. I don't know what people do!" He protested.
Sokka fixed him with an adoring grin. "Aww don't worry, I'll show you the ropes of being a good fake boyfriend." He laughed and intertwined Zuko's fingers with his own. "I've done this plenty of times with other friends. Suki and I used to pretend to get engaged at fancy restaurants for free food."
Zuko's eyes darted to their interlaced fingers and his hand twitched for a second then relaxed into Sokka's. "Just pretend I'm the coolest most interesting person in the world." Sokka said. "Which won't be hard because I am."
Zuko rolled his eyes, the color in his cheeks dying down a bit. "Oh right. I guess I must have missed when they handed out the totally self absorbed awards."
"Hey! Its not being self absorbed its called being self aware"
Just then the waitress came back over and Sokka went to let Zuko's hand fall away but the other tightened his grip, keeping it in place. "Here are your menu's, and can I get you anything to drink? Our special today is a wonderful red wine from-"
"No no no no thats okay! No red wine for us!" Sokka said hastily.
He heard Zuko laugh from across the table. "You're not going to make me choke again?"
"I'll save that for after dinner." Sokka winked, making Zuko's crimson face return even stronger than before.
"Just water then." The waitress laughed. "I'll be back in a bit to take your order."
"I hate you." Zuko hissed as soon as she walked away.
"Baby, baby baby. Don't hate your boyfriend." Sokka teased.
"Stop. You're not really my...my boyfriend."
Sokka sighed dramatically. "What can I say, I prefer method acting."
Zuko rolled his eyes. "Do people really do that?" He asked after a second.
Sokka raised his eyebrows inquisitively. "Do what?"
"What you...what you were talking about."
"What? Choke each other during sex?"
"Shh!" Zuko glared at him and glanced nervously around.
Sokka smirked. "Hmm? You don't want me to say sex?"
"Stop! There are people around."
"I don't think they seem to care…" Sokka laughed, looking around at the other couples, half of whom were deeply entwined in themselves and immersed in a sea of interlocked lips.
Zuko pushed his hand away and shifted awkwardly in his seat. "I told you. I'm not good at PDA couple stuff."
Sokka smiled and reached out to brush his face. "Its okay, it's kind of cute in its own awkward duck way."
Zuko smacked his hand away but Sokka could tell he was smiling. "What do people even do on dates anyways?"
"Have you never been on a date before?"
Zuko shrugged and Sokka could see a sad look cross his face. "Not an official one I guess. Mai, my ex girlfriend, was never big on going out. Or really anything relationship-y."
"Ahh, that's too bad! Dates are fun!"
"So people say." He said glumly.
Just then the waitress returned to drop off their water glasses. They sat in silence for a few minutes, sipping the drinks. "So, why didn't she like dates?" Sokka asked after a second.
Zuko shrugged, looking down into his water. "I dunno. Probably didn't help that she was a lesbian and I was well...we just didn't fit well and it made everything awkward." He said trailing off.
"Hey one of my ex's was a lesbian too!" Sokka laughed. "Another random thing in common."
Zuko smiled slightly. "We both dated gay girls and we also have dead moms?"
Sokka nodded and laughed. "Yes! Cheers to the queers!" he held out his glass to Zuko.
He just rolled his eyes but begrudgingly clinked his glass. "You're an idiot." he muttered under his breath with a smile.
"So what's your dream first date?" Sokka asked, setting his glass down.
Zuko shrugged again. "Don't know. Don't have one."
"Come on! You have to think of something."
Zuko tapped his fingers on the table contemplating. "The duck pond. In the park."
"The duck pond?"
"What? Ducks are fucking cute."
Sokka grinned. "You're adorable."
Zuko quirked his eyebrow at the statement.
"Ah...method acting." Sokka joked weakly, suddenly realizing what he had said.
Zuko blushed and looked down. "What about you?"
Sokka shrugged. "I know it's cliche but I think a picnic under the stars would be fun!"
"Of course yours involves food."
"Hey!" Sokka was about to retaliate when the waitress returned again with her notepad.
"Ready to order?"
"Oh umm...yeah one second, you can go first!" he said, nodding to Zuko. He had been so preoccupied with their conversation he forgot to look.
Zuko's eyes darted up and down the menu quickly and then he looked up at the waitress. "I'll take a tray of the spicy tuna rolls." He said, handing her the menu.
"You like spicy food?" Sokka said, peering over his own menu.
"Haven't been together long then?" The waitress chuckled.
"Umm no, just a few months!" Sokka said, trying not to blush.
"How did you guys meet?" She asked.
"Uhh…" Sokka stumbled to come up with a believable lie.
He looked across the table at Zuko for help but Zuko just fixed him with a grin and said. "Yeah tell her how we met sweetie."
Sokka tried to glare covertly at him. You'll pay for this. He thought. "Alright honey. We met at the aquarium. I rescued him from a fish tank he had fallen into. My boyfriend is very clumsy."
Sokka smiled and looked back at Zuko, who was now definitely not as amused as before. "They had an uncovered tank at the aquarium?" The waitress asked, confused.
"Uhh...it was a special feeding time. He tripped back into the tank and my arms encircled him, saving him from the perilous waters and it's been eight months of love since then." Sokka waxed dramatically.
He could feel Zuko's eyes burning him from across the table but he just smiled mischievously. "We're actually celebrating his birthday today!" Sokka said, grinning wider.
If looks could kill Sokka would be the deadest man in the world at that moment. "Oh how cute! We'll have to give you guys the special birthday treatment then! Happy birthday!" She said.
"Thanks." Zuko said, deadpan.
She walked away with their menu's and Zuko whirled to face Sokka, fire in his eyes. "I am going to KILL YOU!" He hissed.
"Why's that sweetie?" Sokka asked, doing his best to give Zuko an innocent look.
"Why did you tell her it's my birthday!" He spluttered.
"Because I think it's hilarious and I want free cake."
"I actually hate you."
Just then the sound of cheering could be heard from the kitchen and a crowd of staff emerged from the back, making their way towards the table. Heads began to turn and Zuko looked like he wanted nothing more than to disappear in that moment. "HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY IT IS YOUR SPECIAL DAY HAPPy HAPPY BIRTHDAY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO SAY HEY!" They chanted as they stampeded towards the two.
A small chocolate cake was set in front of them and one of the waiters plopped a cone shaped birthday hat on Zuko's head. Zuko of course had to be difficult and snuff out the candles with his fingers the second they were lit. "I can take a picture of the two of you! So you can remember your first birthday as a couple!" Their waitress, who was leading the group, said, motioning for Sokka to move next to Zuko.
He slipped over and threw his arm around Zuko's shoulder and pressed tight against him. "Say cheese!" He whispered, turning to press his lips against his cheek.
"I want to murder you" He whispered back as the waitress snapped the photo.
"Thats no way to treat your boyfriend!" Sokka said as the crowd dispersed, leaving them with their cake and sushi.
Zuko shrugged. "I wouldn't know. Never had one." He said, rolling his eyes and pulling his tray towards them.
"Once you find someone who can tolerate your royal grumpiness I'm sure you'll have a wonderful relationship. Full of…..ducks and…..insults."
Zuko rolled his eyes again. "Is that what you think of me? Ducks and insults? I'm so glad those are my trademarks." He said dryly.
"No, I think you're adorably stubborn and a secret giant softy hidden beneath a cute tough guy exterior." Sokka said, smiling.
His arm was still situated across the back of the booth so when Zuko turned to face him his hair brushed his hand. He looked at Sokka for a second, then smiled softly. "You're method acting is getting stronger." He said in a low hushed voice.
Their faces were close together due to their proximity, and Zuko's lips were only an inch or two a way. Sokka desperately wanted to lean in, wanted to kiss his stupid cute stubborn face and run his hands through his deshevled hair. But instead he just brushed his cheek with his thumb and whispered. "Gotta get that half priced meal."
Zuko shook his head and turned back to his food. "You're an absolute idiot." he muttered for the second time that day.
**MINI BONUS SPECIAL SCENE FROM ZUKO'S POV**
The waitress cleared the dishes and handed them the bill and their couples discount coupon then walked back to the front, instructing them to pay at the bar when they were done.
Zuko reached into his pocket to pull out his card but Sokka shook his head and batted his hand away. "My treat. I did promise you lunch in exchange for shopping."
Zuko tried to protest but Sokka had already put his card in the folder and shut it tight. "Consider it an apology for the embarrassment I caused you today."
Zuko blushed just thinking about the horrible birthday singing. If he was honest with himself though, it was all worth it to spend the day with Sokka. He still wasn't entirely sure how this bumbling idiot had wormed his way into his life, but he was glad he did.
"Consider the debt not paid. That was horrible." He grumbled back.
Sokka just laughed and stood up. "Im going to run to the bathroom then I'll be ready to go!" he bounced off in the direction of the back of the restaurant, leaving Zuko alone.
He tapped his fingers half haphazardly on the table and looked around. He thought of his few dreary attempts of dates with Mai. None of them had even compared to this. Even though it wasn't a real date, and he was still reeling from all the embarrassment Sokka had caused, he couldn't help but have a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Stupid emotions. He thought.
Just the their waitress walked by the table and paused. "I can take this to the front for you!" She said, grabbing the bill.
"Oh I thought we were supposed to take it to the bar?" He said, confused.
She just waved her hand. "Its no trouble! I hope you don't mind me saying but you and your boyfriend are really cute together. I know a lot of people come in here and fake dating just for the discount but I could tell from the start you guys were the real thing."
Zuko smiled awkwardly. Well at least we were convincing I guess. "Uh..thanks."
"I just see the way you two look at each other and it's so cute. That's all I want ya know? Someone to look at me the way he looks at you. I would kill to find a guy like that." She laughed and walked away, carrying the bill.
Zuko sighed and looked over to the restroom where Sokka was emerging. That makes two of us. He thought to himself.