Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the first part! Reviews are greatly appreciated! Author's Note at end.
Warnings: Slight Water Tribe sexism.
Sokka awoke to the feel of someone prodding his side none too gently. He smacked the hand away and curled the warm blankets tighter around himself, ignoring the growl of frustration he heard. The blankets were pulled roughly away, and he was vaguely aware that he was naked, and now cold. Sleepily, he blinked his eyes open until he could focus on Zuko leaning over him, a slight scowl of annoyance on his face.
"You should go get dressed," he said. "Breakfast is soon." He sat on the end of the bed and started to pull on his boots. As Sokka focused on him, he saw that he was dressed in his casual clothes – a burgundy shirt and black pants under a dark red tunic lined with gold, a burgundy sash around the waist of the tunic, and arm guards that matched his tunic. His black mop of hair had yet to be put into its topknot.
"Good morning to you, too, Fire Lord Zuko," Sokka mumbled. He couldn't help the sarcastic remark as it left his lips, though his words held no malice. He rose from the bed and pulled on his discarded pants, making his way to the door, but stopped half way between it and the bed. He swallowed and could feel the comfortable weight of the betrothal necklace, one hand coming up to brush his fingers across it as he turned.
He looked down at Zuko, who looked up at him with curious golden eyes. Sokka ran his hand through the black hair, smiling when the firebender leaned into his touch. He leaned down and kissed him, soft and quick. Zuko moved towards him with a sound of disapproval as he pulled away, grinning like he just won a game. "I'll see you at breakfast," he laughed.
As he made his way through the hallways now lit with light from the sun streaming in from the large windows, he hoped he wouldn't have to explain to anyone why he wasn't in his room the night before. He figured he'd have to explain to everyone why he had a necklace that meant he was engaged, which seemed hard enough. He couldn't help but be worried about what they would think – he just hoped that they loved him enough to accept him.
He shook his head from these thoughts and pushed his way into his room, quickly discarding his dirty pants. He fixed his loin cloth for under his clothes, pulled on a new pair of dark blue pants, and picked up his dark blue tunic with fur around the edges. After he slipped it on with an even darker belt, he held the warrior cape between his fingers, debating whether to wear it or not. He knew he wasn't returning home with the other Water Tribe men, and he wasn't going with Katara and Aang. He decided to pull it on, fully knowing the risk that his father might demand him to give it back.
Removing the negative thoughts from his head, he stood in front of the mirror to pull the longer strands of his hair back into the Warrior Wolf's Tail. He quickly re-tied the bandages around his forearms and slipped his fingerless gloves on, skipping the arm guards. He shoved his feet into his boots, looking over himself once more before making his way to the door.
Going to breakfast started to make him nervous. He gulped roughly and let out a long sigh of worry. What would they think of him? What would his father say? What if he hated him for being in love with another man? I'm his son, Sokka told himself, he'll accept me. He loves me. The walk to the dining hall was much too short; he stood outside of the doors and could hear everyone already talking amongst themselves.
With one last calming breath, he pushed the doors open, as ready as he knew he'd ever be to face everyone. A smile came across his face looking over everyone seated at the expansive table talking over each other to be heard in their separate conversations. It created a comforting buzz and he saw where he was supposed to sit: to the left of his father, while Katara was on the right. He squeezed Aang's shoulder as he passed in friendly greeting. He curled his legs under him when he sat, and then noticed there was an empty space next to him. Looking over the vast amount people, he realized that Zuko hadn't appeared yet.
His father handed him a plate topped with different fruits including pink berries, watermelon, and a small bowl of sea prune stew. He shoved his spoon into the latter, looking at his father with a questioning gaze. "It's not really a breakfast food, but we figured you and Katara would like some."
"We haven't had this since we saw Bato," Sokka replied. He began eating the stew rather slowly, trying to savor it. He knew that he could make it, but he had no idea where he would get sea prunes.
He was half way through the bowl, biting into the watermelon and talking to Katara and Aang about where they were going when the doors opened again. Everyone hastily rose to their feet and bowed to Zuko, who bowed back promptly before quickly taking his seat at the head of the table, right next to Sokka. They subtly smiled at each other, before they both tuned back into what Katara was saying.
"We're going to travel the world and let the new peace be known," she finished.
"I hope you still come home to visit," Hakoda joked to her. She laughed and Hakoda began speaking to Aang, probably about taking care of his little girl; whatever it was, it made Katara blush.
Zuko lightly tapped Sokka's shoulder to gain his attention. "Can you hand me the bowl of cherries?" He had busied himself with watermelon, so the tribesman leaned across the table, reaching with his left hand.
His fingers were just able to wrap around the lip of the bowl, and he sat back, handing the bowl to Zuko. His father was looking at him with a confused and curious stare. He was about to ask what was wrong, but Hakoda's calloused fingers pulled the collar of the cape down to reveal the choker. The boy could have kicked himself; he had leaned on his right arm, fully exposing his neck to his father, showing him the necklace.
"Sokka, what is that?" His voice was louder than necessary, and some people around them halted their conversations to watch the confrontation. "It looks like a betrothal necklace." He said it in a way that held a perplexed tone, one hundred questions behind the one statement.
Sokka swallowed the lump in his throat and felt the diamond move against his neck. "Dad, I'm…" he took a deep breath, "I'm engaged." He couldn't meet the matching blue eyes, instead looking at the plate of food that was still full. He could hear the clear gasp from his sister, and could feel even more eyes settle on him.
"I think you're a little young to be getting married," his father replied. His son curled his hands into tight fists on the table, keeping himself from striking out at someone and from ripping the necklace off of his neck. "You know you're supposed to give the necklace to the girl, right? Is she coming home with us?"
The young warrior slammed his fists against the tabletop, knocking over a few plates and cups that seemed to echo in the silence. His eyes filled with stinging water, and he blinked hard against it, willing himself to not let the tears fall. Not in front of all of these people. "I'm almost sixteen – I can make my own decisions, like how I might not be going home!" he screamed. "I accepted it, I didn't make it! And maybe it's not a girl!"
"If that's a joke, it isn't funny. How are you going to have a son?" The room audibly gasped, staring with wide open mouths and even wider eyes. Sokka rose, roughly pushing Zuko's outstretched arm away from him and ran as fast as he could from the room.
He ran from all of the prying eyes, all of the allies he knew would start to talk about him. He ran from his father, from all of the questions he wanted to ask and all of the disappointment that rested in his eyes. This wasn't how he wanted to see his father before they left for the Southern Water Tribe. He just wanted his father to be proud of him and support him, just like any other boy wanted. Maybe he was young, but he'd taken care of his village for years. He knew he was right; he could make his own decisions and deal with the consequences.
He slammed his room's door behind him, gripping his hair in frustration as he let out a growl that was wet with a sob. Tears finally leaked from his eyes, dripping from his chin to the wooden floor. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, scowled, and ripped the blue cape off, throwing it as hard as he could against the wall. He didn't need to be reminded of his father and the things he stood for. Tears made steady lines down his cheeks as he slumped to his knees, head in his hands.
"Sokka?" The familiar voice was worried and concerned, just like a mother would be. "Are you okay?" She took her delicate steps into the room until she was kneeling next to her brother.
Simply, he shrugged. He had no words for how he was feeling. He wiped some of his tears away, then let his arms fall limply to his lap. "I thought that maybe he would get it, or just accept it." He let out another growl of frustration. "I feel like an idiot. He probably doesn't even want to talk to me now."
"That's not true," Katara assured him. "I talked to Dad, and he regrets what he said; about everything. It was just so much for him to take in at one time." Sokka still looked away, shaking his head in disbelief. His sister laid a hand softly on his shoulder. "He wants to see you before he leaves. He's going to miss you, he said."
Slowly, he met her eyes. "Are you sure? He wasn't lying?" There was actually a spark of hope deep within his heart, and he hoped that he could just be accepted.
She nodded excitedly, a sly smile coming across her face. "Toph even said so."
Sokka couldn't stop the smile that came across his mouth. "Everyone leaves at noon, don't they?" When he said it, it sounded more like a statement, like he was just verifying what he already knew. Everybody wanted to be traveling before nightfall.
Katara nodded again, wiping away the few stray tears left on her brother's face. "So, who made the necklace?" Mischievousness filled her eyes and mixed with fun curiosity. It was his sister, she deserved to know; they'd all find out soon anyways.
"Zuko." He smiled even wider as he said his name, loving the way it felt as it left his tongue. His sister squealed in delight and tackled him in playfulness.
"You two are perfect!" She stood and offered her hand to him when there was a gentle knock on the door. It was pushed open, revealing Zuko, who hesitantly stood in the doorway. Katara ran to him, jumping on him and squeezing his torso. "Welcome to the family!"
He looked shocked, but hugged her back for just a second. "Oh, thank you." It game out begrudgingly, like he didn't want to be happy about it. Over her shoulder, he gave Sokka a questioning look that meant, you told her? He shrugged nonchalantly.
She let him go, then started to leave the room. "I've got to go help Aang pack – you two should come say goodbye soon." With that she left, knowing that the couple needed time with each other before they faced everyone.
Zuko had replaced his Fire Lord robe and headpiece, surely for the purpose of seeing off the different nations. The Water Tribe warrior had so much he wanted to say, but not the right words. They merely stared at each other, unknowing of what exactly the situation needed to make it relaxed. The only sound heard was the light breathing and slight shuffle of clothes when one of them would move.
Finally, Sokka took the few steps to his fiancée and wrapped his arms tightly around him. Zuko hugged him back as tightly as he could, pressing his lips to the dark skinned temple in a way to comfort him. They stood just like that, just enjoying each other's presence and love. Sokka wished he could stay like that, wrapped in the Fire Lord's arms, but he knew that they both had their lives to live, and they couldn't always be there.
"I love you," Zuko whispered against his skin. He said nothing about what happened, and for that Sokka was grateful.
"I love you, too," he returned. And he meant it, from the bottom of his heart.
The firebender pulled away slowly, only to hold one arm out in a silent welcoming. The warrior put his arm under his and allowed himself to be walked through the long halls of the gorgeous palace. The second they pushed through the soundproof doors, they were battered with the sounds of friends as they packed and said goodbyes. Everyone wanted to be remembered, to have a letter sent to talk about the changes in life as they occurred.
The walk to the docks was quaint and passed fairly quickly. When the boats finally came into view, very few people stood on the decks; instead, they all mingled together in a large group of diverse colors. Everyone was trying to speak, even for a second, to the Avatar on how he defeated Ozai, or to Katara about defeating Azula. When everyone could see them, they wanted to speak with Zuko about what happened to his father and sister, and some even wanted to know how Sokka, Toph, and Suki took down so many Fire Nation air ships. It took at least an hour and a half before the captains of ships wanted to be setting sail, the sun just reaching the point of noon.
A light breeze began and made the sails quiver and the ropes keeping the vessels docked pulled taught. The last three people that Zuko and Sokka hadn't spoken to waited patiently by a Water Tribe ship. They needed no story, because they had lived through it; they just wanted goodbyes.
"Sokka," Hakoda said as his son and the Fire Lord approached, arms still laced together. "I want to apologize for what I said. Marriage isn't about having children, it's about being with the one you love. If you two love each other, then I support you." He held his arms open, and Sokka all but threw himself into his arms, tears once again filling his eyes, but this time because his father was leaving him again, but it was his own decision.
"Thanks, Dad," he muttered. "I'll miss you." He let go of his father, moving to stand again beside the firebender.
Hakoda turned to Zuko, "Fire Lord Zuko, I expect you to take good care of my son." He winked afterwards, even though his voice already held a large quantity of sarcasm. "And I'll look forward to your visits."
"Of course," Zuko replied with a genuine smile. "I'd love to come to the Southern Water Tribe and see your home." They bowed to each other before Hakoda turned to Katara and hugged her, bowed to Aang, and then made his way onto his ship.
The couple turned to Katara. She hugged her brother tightly and he hugged her back, knowing that they wouldn't be able to see each other for some time. "Write every day," Katara told him. "We'll be coming back before the year is over."
"I will," he told her. He didn't make a promise because he wouldn't write to her every day, but he knew he would write at least once every week. "Promise me you'll stay out of trouble." He was just kidding, so she smiled and lightly punched his shoulder. He turned to the Avatar. "Aang, I'm going to miss you. Please, take care of my little sister." She rolled her eyes and brushed him off.
"I promise," Aang joked, and pulled him into a hug. "Just be sure that he keeps his word as Fire Lord." He laughed, his high-pitched infectious laughter to lighten the mood of what he said.
Zuko glared good naturedly. "I just hope you don't get too distracted by entertainment to perform your duties," he retaliated. They all laughed at that, knowing Aang loved to take a break and have fun. They hugged, as well as Zuko and Katara before they both climbed on top of Appa.
Sokka's hand found Zuko's, and they intertwined their fingers. Aang let out the infamous call of "Yip yip!", and Appa let out a roar of approval before jumping into the air. The couple on the ground waved, to every ship and crew, to their allies. The comfortable breeze pulled them away, still cheering and celebrating about a new Fire Lord and an era of peace. Zuko turned to Sokka and pulled him in for a soft kiss. They had reason to celebrate their new life that would start together.
The Water Tribe warrior looked at Zuko suddenly. "Where's Iroh?" he asked. Looking at all of their allies, he realized that he hadn't seen the retired general anywhere. Had he left before everyone to go to Ba Sing Se?
"Before you woke up," the Fire Lord began, "I gave my uncle a very important task." At his fiancée's curious look, he turned his head and met blue eyes with his gold. "He's going to find my mother."
Author's Note: I hope that the fight between Sokka and Hakoda doesn't seem too sappy or fake. And the son comment comes from the fact that only men in the Southern and Northern Water Tribes are warriors. Also, I figured fruits were a breakfast in any nation, and I got the information for the food from the Avatar: The Last Airbender Wiki. (I'm not good at fancy links.)