I figured I'd get the next chapter up quick for the squeamish out there. And remember, it's a sex then emotional turmoil, then love story. Yeah, I added a stage, but that's the thing with love, it is turmoil.
Sokka woke up in the enveloped warmth of body heat between him and Zuko. He sleepily opened his eyed halfway and found Zuko to still be sleeping peacefully, his breathing slow and steady. He watched Zuko for a while, just watched him, like he'd never seen the other teenager before. He had never seen Zuko with his defenses down, not like this. His face was usually hardened in bitter anger, a strong fiery spirit in his eyes. Sure Zuko had been unconscious when he'd gotten him to this hut, but he didn't have that sense of ease to him like he did now.
Sokka supported himself with his elbows and folded his arms under him, then lifted his one arm and rested his chin on the palm of his hand, eyes still locked on the sleeping prince. Prince, Sokka mused, Zuko didn't act like any prince, not with the boiling anger and the way he fought; not with that scar on his left eye...
Sokka's gaze rested on that mentioned scar; the one that resembled Zuko's bending element. He stared at it for a long time it seemed, examining and taking notice of every wrinkle and line of the imperfect skin. He couldn't help his curiosity as his hand fell from supporting his chin and reached out, his fingers sliding along Zuko's jaw line and drawing back, his thumb tracing the edge of the scar, where the pale skin met lilac pigment. The scar felt strange under his fingertips, like a callused sheet over his real skin. His thumb trailed forward again, more under the burned eye that was still closed in sleep. Normally Sokka only caught glimpses of the scar, though he remembered when he first saw the deformity in the South Pole when Zuko had attacked his village. His first reaction and thought was that the scar disgusted him; he hadn't seen anything like it before. However… now it just fascinated him, now that he could actually look at it, touch it, and explore it freely while the fire bender was sleeping.
Though he didn't get to examine the scar long because Zuko's eyes opened and his hand grasped Sokka's wrist firmly, though not enough to hurt, and pushed it away from his deformity. Their eyes met; Zuko with a guarded fierceness and Sokka with a mild curiosity. Then Zuko was surprised again that morning, on top of waking up to find his scar being caressed, Sokka gave him a small, but genuine smile.
"Morning." Sokka greeted; his voice still a little groggy from waking up. Zuko hesitated, and then replied.
"Morning." Zuko sat up. Sokka watched him, eyes resting on Zuko's strong back where he could see the fire bender's shoulder blades move as Zuko stretched his well toned arms. Sokka felt his cheeks heat up again, but he didn't tear his eyes away, not feeling ashamed of his attraction, not after last night. Sokka smiled lazily as he remembered last night; it was more than spectacular, he couldn't form words for it, especially not so early in the morning.
Speaking of morning; the storm was over, disappearing with the night. Light poured in through the little window of the hut, signaling to both that they were free to go their separate ways. Neither boy wanted to acknowledge the fact though, neither one wanted to really leave the night they'd been together, a small hope that it could all work out some how. Zuko sat and stared at the hut wall while Sokka gazed at another wall, not moving from his spot in bed.
Zuko was the first to leave the bed, realizing that it couldn't work, it would never work. Sokka was with the avatar and as was his sister. It was like his dream to make the nations at peace; it was just a dream that could never be achieved. He walked over to the simmered fire, now reduced to orange embers, and took his now dry clothes from over it, then collected his underwear before starting to redress.
Sokka watched Zuko dress and his heart settled uneasily into his gut; watching Zuko's clear body language that he was going to leave with no regrets, fully confident in his actions. Sokka sighed a bit heavily and went to sit up, feeling a dull ache in his nether regions. He decided rolling off the bed would be better than facing any pain of sitting up. He did so, landing on his feet, but he underestimated how wobbly his legs would be, and he lost balance, stumbling back a couple steps. But then again, Zuko was a couple steps away and he heard the shuffle of feet and turned to see Sokka about to fall on his butt. It wouldn't have hurt Sokka, Zuko was sure, but it would be embarrassing for Sokka at most if he fell; though those was the thoughts after he reacted, arms reaching out and softened Sokka's fall.
Sokka was surprised when Zuko bothered to catch him, use to getting no help when he did a few stupid things. His found himself cradled in Zuko's arms loosely and felt his face heat up for the second time that day, shoulders against Zuko's strong chest, arms around him.
Zuko's face softened slightly without realizing it, too focused on the amusing thought that Sokka was such a complete klutz at times. Regrettably, he forced himself to push Sokka to his feet, though steadied him by grasping Sokka's arm, trying to force any concern out of his voice.
"Be more careful." Zuko said in a commanding tone, maybe a little more harshly than he intended, Sokka facing him. Sokka's expression hardened slightly at being told to what to do.
"Well sorry for not being use to getting something shoved up my ass." Sokka bit out bitterly and Zuko's own face hardened at the remark. It just seemed more natural for both of them to be angry with one another than confused and attracted to each other.
"Well it's not like you'll have to get use to it." Zuko snapped and Sokka yanked his arm out of Zuko's grasp, not wanting to be touching the other while Zuko was mad, subconscious mind calling on the knowledge that Zuko was a fire bender. Zuko growled angrily and gathered Sokka's clothes in a ball, throwing them at the water tribe teen, Sokka getting his own clothes in his face. Sokka pulled his clothes away from his eyes and glared at Zuko, turning to dress on the other side of the hut.
Zuko himself dressed the rest of the way and when he was done, glanced back to Sokka who was just finishing pulling up his pants. He knew it was better to leave on a sour note; he couldn't start harboring feelings for Sokka, not while he was trying to capture the avatar. He wondered now how he could even think of there being something between them, it was only a one night thing after all, and that was it.
Sokka fumed quietly as he dressed, angry at Zuko for ordering him to be careful. It wasn't like he tried to be the one that fell all the time; he was just prone to things like that. His anger quickly died away though, an empty feeling forming in his gut as he faced fact. He liked Zuko, he really did. Despite Zuko being a fire bender, despite Zuko was trying to catch Aang... last night had meant something. He'd never had any one show him compassion like Zuko had then. And it wasn't all just sex; Zuko had shown care before by trying to warm him up. He was mad at himself for feeling the ache for Zuko's arms around him again.
Once they were dressed in their now dry clothes, they left the hut and that is where they parted ways. They exchanged looks, partly to just see the other that one last time on good terms, partly in hope that the other would speak up and say something. But no words were spoken. To any on looker, it would seem that they were back on bad terms, but the boys themselves, really had no clue what terms they wanted to be on; but both knew something was between them now, so that either good or bad term, they were connected.
Then they physically parted, Sokka to the west; going back to Aang and Katara to tell them that Zuko would be there for Aang, so they would have to move. Zuko went east; to his ship and to tell his uncle he knew where the avatar was.
You may think me evil for making them leave on bad terms, but they both have that temper that is hard to get around, and I don't do the lovey dovey stuff, too awkward for two warriors. Besides, the desperate love me or die drama really doesn't impress me, I always want to tell them to suck it up and grow some back bone.
Sorry, there I go ranting again, I have the tendency to do that, but that stuff has been building up since English class and I had to type it at one point or another to get it out. Thank you for reading, please leave a nice review. Don't worry; this story isn't finished yet, not by a long shot.
