I've been neglecting this work. I'm sorry about that, but I'm back now, and I'm committed. I hope this chapter reinvigorates you and me. I am definitely not giving this up, especially the political angles.


Friday, October 12th, 1900, Zuko's Bedchamber 7:30

They were awake, but had not gotten out of bed. They were saying sweet nothings to each other. Well, some of those things were sweet nothings. Most of them were not fit to be repeated outside of their presence, and most people would be appalled to know that the Fire Lord was capable of such lewdness. They both had dirty minds, and they both knew it. Sokka was the big spoon, and he held Zuko in his arms. He brushed his hands over Zuko's bare chest from time to time. A part of him still could not believe that he was the Fire Lord's lover. He wanted only to be able to love him more openly, almost as a civil right. The right had been extended to the common people, but the status of the Fire Lord always demanded steadiness. Zuko's coming out would be entirely too much in that moment. People could and would change, but the adjustments had to be incremental. In the meantime, at least, they could stay together and enjoy the closet with some semblance of coziness and safety.

"Zuko," Sokka called his lover's name during one of the chaste interludes of their conversation, his voice still husky.

"Yes." Zuko was awake, but in a sleepy cloud of Sokka's warmth.

"Promise me something."

"Anything, Sokka." Zuko answered, mind awake, eyes closed. Somehow, in Sokka's presence, Zuko could be relaxed and at complete attention. He could be alert yet carefree.

"Promise me, that the second we can, we can live openly. I want people to know I love you."

"I promise. Can you promise me something?" Zuko managed to get even deeper into Sokka's embrace. He wished he could disappear into that hug forever.

"Yes." Sokka answered, "Anything."

"Promise me you'll never stop loving me."

"Are you kidding? I could never stop loving you." Sokka answered, "And I promise that I won't."

"Why can't we live in simpler times. Why do we have to be princes? Why can't we just be normal?"

"It's the hand we were dealt." Sokka said, "But I'm supposed to be the pessimist. Let me show you the bright side of things. Outside of these walls, there are millions and millions of people who love you, look to you for comfort, and praise you. They love you all over these islands Zuko. You're the Fire Lord, their Fire Lord. Without you, this nation and all the good that I see in it, all the good I see in its people, would be lost. And Zuko, you get to live like a king, being waited on hand and foot, commanding armies, ensuring the welfare of your people. You've been doing a good job. You're like the sun that lights up the world right now. People look all over and see peace and harmony, or, at least, they see the chance of peace in our time."

"And what do you see when you look at me?" Zuko asked.

"I see my best friend, my one and only lover. And he's a good lover, an excellent lover at that. I would go on, but you're more to me than just the warmest bed on the planet. I see my best friend, the only one who knows everything there is to know about me and encourages me to be a better Sokka everyday. I see the only person, man or woman, who can make me smile on the inside, who can me giggle from nerves, who can set my nerves on fire from one look, one touch, one word. I see the only man who can command me, thrill me, and fill me with emotions and sensations I never felt before. He happens to be the Fire Lord and I'm okay with that. I love you, no matter if you're a king or a commoner. I love you because of the beautiful soul you share more and more with me every day. I'm complete when I'm around you, and you just happen to be the Fire Lord. I can't continue without you. That's what I think about you, and I'm thinking about how I want people to know these things,"

"Thank you." Zuko said, flattered.

"You're welcome." The tribesman answered.

"Sokka." Zuko called out.

"Yes," He answered.

"Do you think we should just come clean to all our friends? I mean, Aang knows, I'm sure Toph suspects, but your sister. I… I don't want to lie to her anymore. Every time I see her, I just think of what we're not telling her and I'm ashamed. Not of what we have and what we are but that she doesn't know. You mean too much to me to remain just whispers and kisses in the night. I… uh, it's your call if you want to. I mean, every time I see you, I see what my life can be, what happiness actually means in a miserable, miserable world."

"Oh," Sokka stuttered out, "I wasn't expecting that only because I- Actually, Zuko, do you want the truth?"

"What is it?" Zuko asked.

"Well, over the last few weeks, I've been thinking long and hard about it, wrestling with myself. I was working up the nerve to ask you if I could tell her about us."

"Yes, I would like that," The Fire Lord replied, pleased that Sokka and he had been thinking along the same lines.

"I didn't think that I would be able to a few weeks ago, but I've grown up about it. You're not my dirty little secret. But I can on one, and only one condition."

"Anything." Zuko answered.

"You have to be by my side when I tell them. You have to sit with me and hold my hand." Sokka's request was simple, but certainly was not easy.

"Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way, Sokka. I mean, I know it's not fair at all. I don't have anyone to confess to, but I'll support you anyway I can. I hope you don't feel like I'm forcing you into this, Sokka. If you really don't want to do this, please don't let me force you into this."

"No, Zuko, I can't have Katara leaving to go back someplace without her knowing me, the real me. I kept denying myself and my attraction to you, to men for the longest, it's time to tell the truth. I… I was actually trying to work up the guts to tell her. I don't know how she'll react. On the one hand, I think that she'll be fine because she's so into preaching about the meaning of love. But, on the other hand, she'spreaching, and spirits only know what a preacher actually thinks when their beliefs are put to the test. Whatever the case, tonight we're sleeping in the same bed, and we're doing more than just sleeping." Sokka's hand reached lower down his lover's body, stopping on Zuko's abs.

"Oh really?" Zuko, laughing, ground his hips into Sokka. "I think I'd like that. My mind and body has been craving you for a long time, water prince. The fire that burns inside me needs to be put out."

"Nothing can put that out." Sokka spoke the truth, "Your sexual appetite is so voracious, man. Those rumors about Fire Nationals being horny all the time and great in bed was true. I mean, you just don't quit. You know what the good thing is, though, Zuko?"

"What?"

"You're horniness is contagious, and it's catching. You're bringing something out of me Zuko. I am much more… I don't have a word for it."

"Well, what we have is beyond words, physicality, intellect, and emotion." Zuko said. "I don't have any words for it either. I just call it love."

"I think that's about right, Zuko." Sokka replied.


They got dressed, and Sokka put on some new Water Tribe clothes fashioned for him in the Fire Nation. Basically, it consisted of Fire Nation attire, but dyed blue with natural indigo. Sokka loved it. It was the best of both worlds. He liked the look of Fire Nation clothing, how modern it was, and how smooth and wonderful it felt in his skin. He did love his national colors, however. He hoped very much for a world where people moved away from wearing their nation's color and moved on to a place where people wore what they wanted, when they wanted (within reason of course). Hopefully his new ensemble would be a first step. He also thought that the new country forming on the Earth continent's west coast would bring about wearing whatever color one wanted.

He met with Zuko in the Fire Lord's Quarters and greeted his boyfriend, fully dressed in his new blue suit.

"You look marvelous, absolutely marvelous." Zuko started, "I'm serious, you are looking very handsome in those clothes. Enough for me to want you to take them off again, but we have work to do, don't we." Zuko reacted, walking towards him. "The tailor did me a service." Zuko drew closer and circled his boyfriend in particular inspection. The Fire Lord took a serious look at every possible angle, his own robes looking and feeling regal.

"Did you a service?" Sokka raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"Oh yes," Zuko said from behind him, "You're perfectly decent, but I can still see how very toned and chiseled you keep yourself."

"Well, I have someone to impress," Sokka said, "Somehow I think he wouldn't like me too flabby so I keep in shape. I practice my swordsmanship as much as I practice my statecraft. Day and night I exercise my mind and body to meet the challenges of the world, but more to live up to all the things you need."

"Well, I'm grateful," Zuko said coming back to Sonja's front. He grabbed both of Sokka's hands in his own, "I need some brains and brawn behind me, and inside me from time to time."

"Oh, don't I know it."

"Sokka?" Zuko asked as he was still in handlocks with his boyf.

"Yes."

"I want to try Ember Island again, soon. I owe you something for the rocky start to our relationship. Not tomorrow but maybe in a few weeks. I want to do something for you. Show you how much I appreciate you."

"Thanks, but you don't have to." Sokka resisted.

"No, I want to and I will." Zuko said. "I'm the Fire Lord and it's my will."

"Yes, milord." Sokka answered, wanting to assuage whatever it was in Zuko that made him so hellbent on serving. Zuko had been so humbled in his life that Sokka wanted to remind him of the respect he commanded. Zuko was the only person capable of distilling some very powerful emotions from the brewing stewing mess called Sokka. Zuko's unparalleled power to burn away all the superfluous ideas, cognitive dissonances, self-defeating thoughts only proved to be another reason he found their whole secret arrangement attractive. Sokka was in love not only with who Zuko was, but he found himself falling for what Zuko meant. Zuko was a person, and growing to be an idea. Sokka's mind needed to justify and classify everything. When he considered all of his current circumstances and when he contemplated the strange string of events that guided him from a modest igloo to living in the Fire Lord's palace–he came to the conclusion that this palace, this relationship, this time, place, and love was his rightful, truthful place.

Without a doubt, and, if he were being frank, urgently, he needed to tell his sister what the truth had always been. He had heard before that the truth sets one free. He agreed. Despite, her possible reaction, Sokka felt the need to let her know. He was tired of sneaking and hiding from his family. As far as he was concerned, the world did not need to know anything. It would keep turning and revolving around the sun. But his family needed to know. He wasn't dying, but a newly discovered part of him, a facet which had always been there but was ignored, needed to be acknowledged, or, at the very least, revealed. He steeled his nerves to tell them altogether what he liked, what the true nature of Zuko and his relationship was, how it happened, and why.

Breakfast was in the State Dining Room because the Avatar was in town. So Sokka would wait until they were alone again, in one of the private rooms. It would be a distraction away from the talks of world peace. If things went his way, and they did from time to time, the disruption would be short. It would last for a few minutes rather than hours or days.


10:25

Breakfast passed and the time to meet came. Sokka's confidence had faded while he was eating. He managed to keep the food all down, but nothing was going to make this easy. He felt a bit selfish for the blindsiding he was about to give his sister, but it was better that he was in control of the news lest it get into the press somehow. They each took a seat in the room, this time Sokka sitting next to Zuko on one of the red couches. The wood table obscured the important fact that Sokka was holding Zuko's hand on top of one of the cushions. As a result, Zuko's heart was racing, his cheeks were warm and red, he had butterflies in his stomach, and his toes were wiggling in his toes, a result of the tension that had been building. All of these things were obscure to the seeing, but Toph could feel all of the physiological signals. She attempted to go for a knowing smirk, but her smile kept growing too wide to maintain aloofness. You see, she was actually happy for them. She had known the energy between them for months, and she wanted for them to be happy. She would have gone to the grave with their secret, but never wanted them to. She knew that they knew, and it made her happy, sappily happy.

Katara was simple staring at the clothing that Sokka wore because it suited him, literally. She was a bit jealous of the tailoring that Sokka's clothes had. She had resolved to herself, while she sipped her coffee that morning, that she would ask Zuko's to let her get some new clothes from his tailor. She would have definitely liked to have an appointment with him or her.

There was one thing that strange about this whole situation, though. Someone was absent, and that mattered a great deal to Sokka. The person's absence concerned him so much now that he noticed. He spoke and asked,

"Where's Suki?"

"She left late last night," Katara stated matter-of-factly, "We argued about you last night. She was convinced that- Well, never mind. She said that Zuko had broken you up to have you all to himself. She basically said that Zuko sort of imperialized you. She said she going to find her way back to Kyoshi last night and never wants to see any of us again."

"I don't miss her." Toph declared.

"She gave me this," Katara reached into her pocket and pulled out a sealed envelope, "I tried to give it to you last night, but I couldn't find you anywhere. I looked all over the place, but I stopped before I got turned around in all these hallways."

Sokka took the letter in his hand and opened it. The room grew silent as he opened the envelope, unfolded the letter, and let his eyes find the beginning. The paper felt like a ton in his hands, the words he had imagined her saying were playing through his head on a constant loop. He stopped himself from panicking complete and committed his eyes to the sheet before him. He read it aloud:

Sokka, I have decided to leave. I have decided to let go of you. And, for the benefit of my sanity, I have decided, once and for all to be done in this enterprise of living you and these enterprises of keeping peace. You have insulted me on multiple occasions, called our love and relationship meaningless, and so disregarded any and all things I have done not only for you, but for us. You have so insultingly said that we were nothing. You have so dismissively cleared your mind of any affection that we shared. And, it is YOU who have so destroyed anything that we could have built. I had been kind, gentle, patient, and above all steadfast to you. My life, purity, modesty, and virginity were all staked upon my love for you and only you. The reward for my femininity was abuse, lies, deceit, and a casual end to what had meant something to us. I also leave you now because I know that you are conniving at the end to my kingdom. Your commitment to the cause of the Fire Nation astounds and ashames me. For ten decades, the Nation you now serve so loyally and unctuously, waged war against all the civilized people of the Earth. For one hundred years, the World has suffered at the hands of the imperialists that sat on the throne to which you now kowtow and grovel so obediently. For an entire bloody century, your master's ancestors have ordered directly and been so grievously complicit in the wanton deaths of millions, including your own mother. Time after time, you set me aside as unimportant, but setting me aside callously to be an errand boy for the Fire Lord is the ultimate insult, and I, for one, will not be made into a eunuch's whore. I will go home and speak to His Majesty the Earth King about what looks like a trap set up for him. Responding is futile. I don't care to acknowledge your existence ever again. Let our relationship, like the common trash you serve never go down in history. Let what we had be no more. Good riddance, Suki

"That fucking bitch." Katara spat out. Everyone in the room was lucky that Katara was not a firebender because if she was, the entire palace would have burned down. "How dare she speak to you that way. And then, she doesn't even say it to your face. She just ups and leaves." She looked at her brother and noted his lack of reaction. "You sure are taking this a lot better that I am, Sokka."

"There's nothing more I can do. What's done is done, and I'm happy that's over now," Sokka admitted. "I never, and we never have to see her again. If I can be so calm about it, you can too Katara."

"Fine," Katara stated, "I'll calm down." She proceeded to do some of the calming breathing exercises Aang had taught her to put Suki's nonsense out of her mind.

"I don't know what got into her." Toph started, realizing the depth of moment, "It's like when the War ended, she snapped. Something about that last battle, something about the time she was separated from us, Sokka, tells me that something happened that she never told us about. I mean, since then, she has been in constant fight or flight mode. Whatever happened in those ten minutes changed her from the Suki we know into this monster we've been dealing with lately. Something's the matter with her. Seriously, even when she was sleeping, all she did was toss and turn. To me, it was like something got into her. It's like some demon took her over and is writing some crazy stuff into her head."

They fell into a knowing silence. Toph had not thought of Suki being strange from that moment forward. Nor had Aang or Katara. By the time Suki came back into Sokka's life after those couple of days, he was already hooked on Zuko (even if he didn't know it). By that point, Sokka wouldn't have noticed if she had gained the ability to fly. Zuko had so enraptured and distracted him that Suki's strange attitude only made the emotional separation easier. Whatever drove her insane would have to wait. Sokka was going to take this moment to… you know.

"Well, Sokka," Katara added, "I'm glad that that is over, and you can move on big brother."

"Well, um, that's kinda what I wanted to talk to you about today." Sokka said, speaking. A lump was forming in his throat and he felt like the word was upon his shoulders. He grabbed Zuko's hand again, and looked over to his right at Zuko. The Fire Lord turned his head to look his boyfriend in the eye. Zuko gave a nod as if to say "it's okay." They both looked forward again and looked across the table at the Avatar. The monk gave a small smile of approval.

"What is it Sokka?" Katara asked, a look of innocence on her face.

"Well, um… You obviously know that I took the job as an advisor to Zuko here in the Fire Nation. I took it because I wanted to help my friend try to establish a new, lasting peace the best way he could. I took the job because I knew that if I did not, I would be leaving Zuko alone, with no verifiable allies to run the most powerful country on the planet. I stayed here because I knew it was the right thing to do and because I liked him."

Sokka stopped there hoping that those words would be enough for Katara to catch his drift. She did not, so he continued.

"Well, the more I have worked with him, the more I have liked him. And I realized he liked me back. Katara, Zuko and I… Zuko and I…" Sokka's throat felt like someone was forcing him to swallow a gallon of sand. He fought through and finally managed to put the sentence together, "Zuko and I have been dating for about a week now. Well if I'm honest, we've been together since I took that job."

"Wait, what?" Katara asked, astonished "Dating? You two?"

"Yeah," Sokka confirmed it.

"Wow," She said, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"Well, um, how do you feel about it, Katara? And you can be honest with me." Sokka said, looking at his sister.

"I'm happy for you two." Katara said truthfully. Toph verified that Katara was happy. The Tribeswoman spoke again, "I'm happy, just surprised. I mean…" Katara stopped and thought quickly about all of the experiences she had gone through with her brother, "Actually, now that I think about it," her hand was resting on her chin, now that she was all wistful, "Now that I actually think about it, it all does make sense. You always have been more open than any other man I've met. You're not overly emotional, but you were always more open and exploratory than any person I knew. You always had strong feelings towards things you liked and loved and if Zuko is one of those things, I'm not going to stop you. You're my big brother, my protector, and my hero, and this changes nothing."

"Thank you, Katara. That means a lot." Sokka said, fighting back tears.

Katara addressed the Fire Lord now, "Zuko are you treating my brother right?"

"Yes, of course I am." Zuko whispered, blushing in an interesting mixture of embarrassment and joy.

"Good," Katara responded, her voice turned to ice, "You better keep treating him right or I will kill you. Understood?"

"Understood." Zuko believed her because, after all, she was telling the truth. He remembered the fear he felt when she threatened him about hurting Aang. This time, the feeling was multiplied ten times. When he considered that she had the power to stop someone's heart beating, it became abundantly clear that no matter how high he was, no matter how many people called him 'Your Majesty', no matter how many guards her had, she could and would end him.

"So," Toph barged into the conversation again, mercifully ending the awkwardness for Zuko, "Who made the first move?"

"What?" Zuko asked, now embarrassed beyond his wildest dreams.

"Who made the first move?" Toph reiterated.

"Zuko did," Sokka answered, "He thought that I was asleep, well kind of passed out, and he sorta confessed."

"Yeah." Zuko answered, blushing,

"HA!" Toph pointed at Aang, "You owe me 10 gold pieces. Pay up Twinkletoes."

"Fine, but let's get everything answered first." Aang said, "I might still come out on top. Who says I don't want some Beifong bullion?

"What? You two had a bet about them?" Katara asked, "Why didn't you tell me that you had known?"

"It wasn't our place to tell." Aang said genuinely.

"Well," Zuko said, chuckling, feeling all the tension in both of them melting away "Fine, but it's not fair. It concerns us, but I'm not getting any money out of it."

Toph remarked sarcastically, "Well, sorry, Your Majesty , but this bet is between internationals."

"Using Fire Nation coin." Zuko reminded, "And I'll have you know that the tax on betting in the Fire Nation is thirty percent."

"Since when?" Toph asked, sensing that he was lying.

"Since, right now. I am the Law, Toph." Zuko reminded her, giving her a piece, the most important piece, of the Fire Nation's unwritten Constitution. "If I say it, it's the law."

"Wh-"

"I'll make an exception for my friends." Zuko joked, "I almost don't want to know what else you two have been wagering on. At least, not right now."

"Fine," Toph answered, "We'll tease it out of you, Zuko, but not the same way Sokka does. I'm not capable of it, and Aang isn't interested in trying."

The gay couple blushed, still holding hands, beneath the table, on the couch.

"Sokka," Katara's face turned to one of complete horror, "I… You don't think Suki knows, do you?"

"I-" Sokka struggled to answer.

"I mean from the tone of the letter. You know, the whole calling you a 'whore' thing. It sounded like maybe she was putting it together." She continued.

"No, I never said or did anything to suggest that I was with Zuko. I mean, for most of this time, I wasn't really completely involved. I don't think she knows anything…" The Tribesman answered.

"You sound unsure, Sokka." Katara replied. "I mean, if we were regular kids, this would mean nothing, but Fate forbid she knows about you two…"

Zuko spoke, putting it all together, "Fuck...If she knows, and if she goes to Ba Sing Se and speaks to Kuei, the Earth King could use this as leverage to extort me, or worse, extort the Fire Nation." Zuko got up and walked to the desk on the opposite side of the room. Sitting on that desk was a special telephone, one that connected straight to Hashi's office.

"This isn't good at all," Sokka said, "Who would think that Zuko would be my boyfriend and that Suki would be the antagonist of my life?" He was not asking anyone in particular, and he knew any answers he would receive would be wholly insufficient to dissipate any of the negative emotions running through his head. He felt guilty for putting Zuko in this position, ashamed, for having to remain the Fire Lord's secret, and a bit disillusioned. He was disillusioned that after a century of War, who Zuko was dating became nothing more than leverage.

They all turned their attention to Zuko. Zuko had finally gotten a hold of Hashi and they listened to his half of the conversation.

"Yes, I need to see you immediately… It is urgent… Yes, come right away… Thank you."


Hashi arrived a couple of minutes later, holding some of the files he thought would be pertinent to any emergency that may have arisen.

He bowed to Zuko, who was still standing. The Sage rose again and looked his Master in the eyes. He did not like the concern he saw. "My Lord, is there an emergency?"

"Not an emergency as such, but an urgent concern."

"Sire?" The Sage was thoroughly confused.

"Suki left here last night, and she's no longer on our side as far as these negotiations with the Earth King are concerned. As I say, I don't believe this to be an emergency, but I need some assurance that she is not going to compromise the Fire Nation's negotiating position in these talks."

"My Liege," Hashi started, "Do You know how much information she knows about our positions?"

"No, but some of the details she knows are very sensitive. " Zuko stated.

"My Lord," He started, if you do not mind my asking, are they treasonable details? National security level?"

"Yes, High Treasonable." The Sovereign responded.

"Goodness me." Hashi said, only because he could not swear in front of his Sovereign.

"Yes."

"How long ago did she leave?"

"Why?" Zuko asked.

"Well, how long ago she left determines what options are viable. If she did not leave that long ago, and could still be the country, we could have her arrested and bring her back to you. If, on the other hand, she's not in the Fire Nation, the best we can offer is to have someone follow her and report her movements to us. If she goes home, then we can be assured that she is not sharing any secrets. If she goes to Ba Sing Se, then maybe we can have cause for concern. The Fire Nation's size aids us. The quickest way out of here is on sky bison or on one of the dirigibles."

"Well, she only left about eight hours ago." Toph answered.

"And Appa was there as of an hour ago, so she doesn't have a sky bison." Aang added.

"I can check, Milord, if any Fire Nation aircraft are missing. If any were, we would have gotten a report about it."

"Good," Zuko replied, sitting down again. To use a colonial term, he dodged a bullet. If they could get her back to the palace and dissuade her from saying anything.

"And is she only left at about 0200 hours on foot, she may still be on this island. If she took a train and a ferry. She could only be two or three islands away at most."

"Good, we need to find her," Zuko replied.


TO BE CONTINUED...