Day 6: The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

Genres: Humor/Romance

Rating: T

Setting: Earth Kingdom forest (after North and South)

The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

"Yeah… I'm pretty sure he's dead."

"You said it was – "

"I know what I said. But the more I think about it, the clearer it becomes." Sokka noticed the firebender's incredulous stare. "What?! You didn't see the rock that hit him! He kinda went… splat."

"If you're so sure he's dead, then why even come out with me all the way to the Earth Kingdom to help find him?!"

"Boredom?"

Zuko groaned.

"And because we haven't hung out in a while," he quickly added. "Just the two of us."

"Sure…"

"Besides. We especially need this bro time now that we're both single men out on the – WATCH OUT!" Sokka tackled Zuko to the ground.

"What the hell was that for?!"

He rolled off the firebender and helped him up. "This forest is riddled with boobytraps." He pointed to the tripwire near the ground.

Zuko nodded.

"Gotta watch your step." Sokka grinned smugly. "Fortunately for you, I know all of the tricks of the AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" The ground beneath his feet disappeared as he tumbled into a giant pit.

Zuko fell in right after him. "Oof." His face twisted with pain. "What was that about knowing all the tricks?"

"Well gee, sorry!" Sokka began rubbing his own sore back. "Whose bright idea was it to come here at night?!"

"Because it's so much smarter to hunt down a derelict during broad daylight, right?!"

"Derelict?" Sokka laughed. "Now those are fighting words."

"Shut up."

He smiled. "No need to be grumpy, Grump Lord. We're gonna be stuck down here for a while, so we may as well make the most of it."

"SERIOUSLY?!"

"Do you see anything we can climb?!"

"No…"

"If we're gonna figure a way out of here, we're going to need light, which unfortunately we won't see for several more hours."

Zuko ignited his hand with flames.

"No offense, but we'd need more than that."

"You're right," he huffed, extinguishing the fire. "So then… what should we do?"

Sokka shrugged. "Stargaze? It's a beautiful night."

"Is it? I'm freezing."

"You Fire Nation folk are weak."

Zuko chuckled.

"Here." He removed his outermost layer and placed it on his friend's shoulders. "Better?"

"A little."

Sokka smiled softly. "Hey… why are you so eager to find Jet anyway?"

"I figured he could be useful in tracking down my runaway sister."

"I don't buy it. We could have tracked her down if that was your end goal. There must be another reason."

"Maybe I just want to know if he's really dead or not!"

"Or maybe it's because you had a crush on him…"

"W-WHAT?! NO! Don't be ridiculous!"

"I'm not! I think you met a ruggedly handsome guy on a boat years ago and you haven't been able to get him out of your head."

"Ruggedly handsome?" Zuko taunted. "Now who had the crush?"

He laughed. "Hey, I can admit when I see an attractive guy."

"Oh yeah? Then… what about me?"

"What about you?"

"Can you admit you find me attractive?"

"I could… if that were true."

Zuko's face fell.

"I'm just kidding! Geez, can't you take a joke?"

"No."

"Oh, that's right, Grump Lord. Well then if I really need to straighten it out for you, Zuko, you are one good-looking guy."

"You're just saying that."

"No, I mean it! Really."

Zuko smiled.

"Okay, now it's your turn."

"What?! No, I'm not doing that."

"Why not?!"

"Because it's pointless."

Sokka raised an eyebrow.

"I-It's so obvious! Everyone finds you attractive!"

His blue eyes went wide.

"Suki loved you, Ty Lee and Toph had huge crushes on you, I've seen the creepy way Azula looks at you, and I'm willing to bet even Mai's considered it!"

"W-Well that is flattering. But I don't care what they think. I want to know what you think."

"W-Why?"

"Because… I… well…" He looked into Zuko's yellow eyes. "Ah, fuck it." Taking a very bold step, he gently pressed his lips to the firebender's.

Zuko's eyes flew open. "W-Why did you do that?!"

"I don't know…" He paused. "Did you… like it?"

"Did you?!"

"I asked you first."

"I – w-well," Zuko stammered. "Ugh." He grabbed Sokka by the shirt collar and pulled him close, capturing his lips with another kiss.

Beneath the starry night's sky, their kisses grew hotter and hungrier with every passing moment.

"Zuko," Sokka panted. "Before we take things further, I need to know that you're not… ashamed."

"N-No, not at all! Sokka, if we get out of here, I swear to the sun, the moon, and the stars, I'll tell everyone about us!"

He blushed. "Well… okay then." He leaned in for another kiss but was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Hey boys."

Panicked, they looked up to find that someone was watching them.

Jet smirked. "Room for one more?"