:D You get a complementary chapter because I got the first Avatar DVD. second ep there's Sokka and Zuko fighting, and the interaction is cute :), and Sokka in a dress over -Rewinds DVD- and over -rewinds- and over -rewinds- and over -rewinds- and over...
Awaking in the sensation of warmth, Zuko wasn't all that shocked to find Sokka curled up next to him, their arms around each other, both stripped of any clothing they'd been wearing. Any stressed muscle in his body relaxed after seeing Sokka's face, the darker skinned teen was peaceful, a pleasant smile upon his lips as he still slept on.
Zuko was slightly puzzled by a strange sensation that coursed through him. He wondered if Sokka really enjoyed his presence; not many did after all. His uncle was probably the only person who understood him enough to care about him.
Sokka shifted in his sleep, his arms being pulled to his body, an incoherent mumble coming from him. Zuko's arms instantly tightened around the other and he supported himself with his elbows over Sokka. He wondered if he could wake up like this every morning, or maybe just every once in a while. It was like he wasn't away from his home country anymore; he was somewhere solid; somewhere where he could stop surviving and start living again.
Sokka shifted again, though this time it was not in his sleep, his blue eyes opening to meet Zuko's yellow and a blush almost immediately crossed his face, realizing Zuko had been watching him.
"Morning." Sokka mumbled; voice groggy from sleep, a subtle hint of déjà vu in the greeting. There was only a split moment of hesitation before Zuko leaned down and placed quick kiss on the other's lips. Sokka was surprised by the gesture of care, but accepted it none the less.
"Morning." Zuko replied after their lips broke contact, leaving a slightly stunned water tribe teen. He watched as Sokka gingerly touched his bottom lip with his fingers, a curious look upon his face.
"What was that for?" he asked, really having not expected any sort of affection after the night; not saying that he didn't like it, in fact he welcomed the gestures, but it still seemed odd coming from the prince.
"No reason." Zuko replied off handedly, not really having any other reason besides he just did it spontaneously. They lingered like that a while, both comfortable in their present situation, though both were haunted with questions. Sokka took a calming breath, finding it a little easier to say something now that they were close, last night, they were unsure, wondering if the other felt anything their first night; but now it was just a bit clearer.
"What-what is this?" Sokka asked, gesturing with his hand that he meant them. What were they, lovers? Were they still enemies? What about Aang, was the fire bender still going to chase his friend? Again Zuko had no answers. He himself had asked himself those very questions. Could they continue these meetings and be lovers, or was this just two chance meetings of fate. Maybe it was the last time they would meet on a non-hostile basis, who knew?
"I don't know." Zuko replied after a good moment of thought. That's when it grew uncomfortable between them, because neither knew. Zuko drew back from the other teen, a sound of loss coming from Sokka as their body heat no longer mingled into that lovely warmth that seemed so much stronger than his own bending. He forced himself to sit up and stand, finding his clothes scattered on the floor.
Sokka watched him dress, supporting himself up with his elbows. Zuko was going to leave and they still hadn't found out what this was. He suddenly grew frustrated; he didn't want to be confused for another long trip with his sister and his friend. Why did Zuko have to chase Aang, why was he trying to catch the avatar when he wasn't like the other fire benders?
"Why do you want Aang?" Sokka nearly exploded, causing Zuko to look at him, only half dressed; his pants were on already, his shirt in hand. "What has he ever done to you?" Zuko frowned and his eyes narrowed ever so slightly at the subject at hand; it had always been one of the silent rifts between them, and Sokka had decided to make it audible.
"I have my reasons." The fire bender said as he put on his shirt, hoping Sokka would leave it at that.
"But you're not like other fire benders," Sokka stated, pulling together all he knew about the prince's motives, though it was difficult since Zuko had never explained all of his motives, "Zhao is a fire bender and you're against him, why?" He wanted Zuko to be different than the other fire benders; the other benders of his kind were savages, killing people for a pointless war that didn't need to happen. Zuko wasn't like that, he'd been caring and passionate, and he'd been shown that twice now. He watched Zuko finish dressing him self, seeming to ignore Sokka's words; it only made him more frustrated and he spoke where he probably shouldn't have. "Why would you want to help those savages destroy the world?"
That had pushed a button he really hadn't been intending to push; Zuko whirled around angrily and Sokka it was the wrong thing to say as soon as it left his lips. Zuko was back to the bed in 3 long strides and before Sokka could react, Zuko's hand reaching out, grasping Sokka's mouth and jaw, shoving him back against the wall. Sokka's eyes widened in fear and slightly pain, feeling venerable without any coverings or weapons; Zuko didn't need any physical weapon, Zuko could easily kill him with his bending.
Zuko didn't want to be different from his fellow benders; he'd been chasing the avatar so that he could finally go home. He didn't like sleeping on a ship; he'd rather be home in his room, in his own bed. He wanted to be accepted by his people again, he wanted to belong again.
"Those 'savages' are my people," Zuko said though gritted teeth, "I'm not any different from them for the exception that I was banished for my naive care for their sake. I didn't choose to chase the avatar, but it's the only way I can regain my honor and go home. I hate living a sea and would rather stop this war then be in it." He stopped there in his anger induced speech, realizing Sokka looked terrified of him. His hand immediately loosened from Sokka's mouth, fingers then caressing Sokka's cheek before pulling away; he felt he had no more right to touch the other after being violent like that, but the fact that he'd been surviving out at sea for two years, hoping for a chance to catch the avatar... it made him think that everything he'd been raised to believe in his country was wrong.
He gathered up Sokka's clothes and balled them up, pressing them to Sokka's chest; hinting that Sokka should get dressed, he felt he'd already messed up things for the day.
Sokka was taking this all in as quick as anyone could; Zuko wasn't doing this all by choice, he was only doing this for one reason; he was only chasing Aang so that he could go home. He suddenly felt stupid; it wasn't his place to say who savages were and weren't. And he hadn't known the prince was banished; he couldn't comprehend fully how that must be, but he knew he could never stand being shunned from his village it would be... so lonely.
Sokka drew up his hands and rested them on Zuko's, which was still on the bundle of clothes, stopping Zuko from pulling away and leaving him.
"I'm sorry," Sokka said sincerely, "I didn't... know." He didn't want to leave on a bad note again
Zuko's hand twisted in Sokka's grasp, fingers entwining with the other's. He really didn't understand the affection he held for the other, and he wasn't sure if it was good or bad, but it was defiantly something of value to him. Sokka's opinion now mattered to him when he couldn't give a damn about anyone else's. He leaned down and kissed the darker teen's soft lips. He wanted the other to see it was complicated matter for him, for both of them. There were many risks they were taking by getting attached to one another that lingered in their subconscious. What would people think? What would Aang and Katara think? What would Iroh think? What were they going to do if they had to fight again? Though those matters were pushed aside while they were together, those things could be dwelled on later. The kiss trailed on, neither having been this caring before, for the exception of Zuko's brief morning kiss, the rest of the touches had been hungry and desperate. The kiss seemed more real now; more meaningful. When they finally drew apart, they were quiet, mulling things over in their minds.
"If you don't want to fight…" Sokka spoke slowly, choosing his words more carefully, his arms around Zuko's shoulders, his clothes having fallen to his lap, and Zuko had one arm around Sokka's lean middle, his other hand on the bed to support him, their faces merely inches apart, "Why don't you stop? Aang is going to balance out the elements again, it will all stop. Can't you come with us?" He wanted so badly for Zuko to say yes, he didn't want to fight anymore and he didn't want Zuko hurt. Zuko didn't get angry this time, but he was a prince, banished or no, he had responsibilities; he knew Sokka was only putting the offer on the table.
"I can't betray my people or my father." Zuko said clearly, in a way that let Sokka know he had made his decision concrete. Sokka just nodded, not agreeing with the decision, but he knew it was not to be talked about anymore.
There was a soft knock on the door and both boys were startled, "Room cleaning." A soft feminine voice came from beyond the door. Zuko sighed in relief and replied quickly.
"Occupied." He said and the cleaning lady gave an apology and they heard her leave. Zuko sat up and Sokka finally started to dress, wincing slightly, still a tad tender from the night's activities, but not so much as the first time. Sokka blushed, remembering the night; it'd been slower, more passionate; it was more like they'd made love instead of having sex. When Sokka was finished dressing, Zuko was waiting by the door for him, ready to leave. Zuko could have already left, but his reasonable mind told him Sokka would raise suspicion if he walked about a fire nation hotel; a water tribe teen in a place like this would look unusual, at least that is what he reasoned out.
Sokka knew they were parting again, and for how long, he didn't know. He approached the prince and it seemed Zuko had the same train of thought as his eyes were on him. Sokka came close to Zuko and pressed a soft kiss to Zuko's lips. Zuko responded calmly, one hand reaching out to hold Sokka's face, touching skin to skin one more time. It was an undeniable good-bye kiss, and after they broke apart, Zuko opened the door and they left when no one was in sight, and then they parted ways when they exited the building
Yup a little violence, but everything smoothed out this time, which I think is a big step for them; I would imagine that Zuko would be very defensive of his people since he got banished trying to save a fleet of them. And I might have found the reason as to why I like this pairing so much :D Sokka as an uke would help Zuko calm down, and Zuko would help Sokka get rid of his stereotypical thoughts; I believe love should be mutually beneficial in the emotional way. :D I figured that out today!
