Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the previous parts! Reviews are greatly appreciated!
Author's Note (1): I honestly don't like this part; it was hard to write and I just feel like it could be so much better. It's very slow, but I promise things pick up. (Cont.)
When Sokka blinked his eyes open, he was still in the large bed. He smiled slightly to himself in happiness that he no longer had to sneak around the palace in fear someone would see him. Even better, they could be open about their engagement, and soon marriage. He pushed himself into a sitting position, not surprised to see that Zuko was already gone. Some Fire Lord business, Sokka was sure.
He stretched his arms up until his back cracked before he stood from the warm bed to pull on new trousers, a new tunic, fixed the wrappings on his forearms, and pulled on his gloves. In the mirror, he brushed back his hair with his fingers and tied it. A questioning thought filled his head. When he married the Fire Lord, would he have to wear a topknot every day, like Zuko? He supposed it didn't matter, as long as they were happy.
He sat on the end of the bed to pull his boots on, as quickly as he could so he could look for Zuko. He swung the door open, taking a small step back in surprise when one of the servants stood directly in front of him. "Prince Sokka," he said as he bowed, "Fire Lord Zuko has requested your presence in the War Room." Sokka nodded, so he turned and started down the hall. Prince Sokka, he thought to himself, I could get used to that.
The servant stood to the side of the curtains holding the Fire Nation emblem, bowing as the Water Tribe warrior pushed them aside and made his way into the War Room. High-ranked Fire Nation generals and admirals were seated around the rectangular flat diagram of the world. He could feel them all looking him over, judging him as just a peasant boy from a defeated tribe, but he still held his head high and took a seat next to Zuko at the head of the map. From his new perspective, he could see small mannequins of vessels in different locations, signifying where fleets of ships were; Earth Kingdom colonies had the flame insignia as an indication of conquered territories.
As if they weren't interrupted, they started where they left off. "Destroy all Fire Nation control of Earth Kingdom territory," Zuko said. "Return all of the troops and fleets home." The man sitting on the left side of the table used the flat end of a stick to push all of the mini-ships back into Fire Nation waters, past the blockade. "How long will all of this take?"
"The last ships will arrive, at latest, in two weeks," the same man said.
Zuko seemed pleased with this answer, nodding his consent. "Dismissed," he said with a wave of his hand. Everyone at the table stood and bowed before walking quickly from the room. He turned to Sokka. "We have some things to discuss with the Fire Sages." He waved his hand again and stood, stepping up onto the throne pedestal, through the flames.
He must have seen the warrior's hesitation and disdain for the flames, because he laughed gently and smothered them in one spot so his fiancée could step through. Sokka sat on the pillow to the right of Zuko, watching as the flames filled the gap and created comforting warmth. The firebender turned to him and kissed his cheek quickly, stroking the dark cheek with his pale thumb. Their eyes met, about to lean in for a kiss, before footsteps could be heard on the stone floor.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Fire Lord," the Sage at the top of the triangle apologized. They were all bowing, an organized group of matching red robes. When he straightened, Zuko nodded for them to continue. "Have you planned a date for your wedding?"
Sokka was only slightly surprised at their bluntness. He guessed that they were expected to be straight to the point and only ask what knowledge was needed. He looked at his hands, though, when he realized that he and Zuko had no time to discuss when the wedding would be held. The firebender probably already decided it, knowing that the Fire Sages would need an answer – one that fit their standards, he was sure.
"Two weeks," Zuko told them. "I'm going to send a letter to the Avatar requesting him to take Sokka and me down to the Southern Water Tribe to bring back his father." He took a deep breath before continuing. "It should also give my uncle more than enough time to find my mother and return her to the palace."
The Water Tribe warrior turned his head to stare at his fiancée in shock; they were actually going to get his father and sister? He wanted to thank him, but didn't want to get in trouble for speaking out.
The head sage nodded his head, but his face held signs of apprehension. "We understand why you would want to wait, but there are consequences of being unmarried. If something were to happen to you, Prince Sokka could not take the throne. It would be given to Iroh, but he has no children, and he could also deny his place. Then, the line would be broken."
"Nothing will happen to me within fourteen days," he snapped, obviously frustrated that the sages wanted them to be rushed. He wanted to get Sokka's family members so that he'd have someone there for him, and he desperately wanted his mother to be there, returned after so long of being apart. Their marriage could wait a short time. He just wanted it to be perfect. He wanted to be able to remember it for as long as they both lived.
Gold eyes glared past the rising flames, daring the head sage to defy him once again. Beside the Fire Lord, Sokka squirmed slightly where he sat, looking away from everyone in the room. He watched out of the corner of his eye as the Fire Sages looked discontented with the decision, but bowed and left the room quickly. An awkward silence filled the room; the only sounds came from the minor rustling of fabric when one of them would shift.
When no one entered the War Room and the Water Tribe boy could be sure they wouldn't be interrupted, he stood in front of Zuko, looking him over before kneeling and hugging him tightly. "Did you mean it? Are we really getting my father and Katara?" He doubted the firebender would lie, but it was the only thing he could think of to say.
"Of course," Zuko assured him. He turned his head to kiss the dark cheek and rest his forehead against the sharp jaw bone. "Even if they're not at the Water Tribe, we'll find the ships."
"Thank you, Zuko," Sokka gushed. He left small pecks from his lips all over his fiancée's face, stopping only when their mouths met. "I love you," he muttered. They melted into a kiss, sliding their tongues smoothly against each other in a practiced rhythm.
Zuko's arms sat low on the warrior's hips, pulling him closer so that he was straddling his crossed legs. Their clothing was the only thing between them creating friction, and the Fire Lord wanted it out of the way. He slipped pale hands under the blue tunic, skimming his fingers across the top of the blue pants. Sokka chuckled into their kiss before reaching down and pulling the pale hands away.
He shook his head, smirking playfully, just out of reach of the firebender's searching lips. "I'm hungry," he stated. He pushed himself up and nonchalantly hopped over the flames and shook his hips as he walked just enough to purposefully bother the Fire Lord.
Zuko rolled his eyes before extinguishing the flames and following him out of the War Room. He caught up with him easily and laced their fingers together. As if nothing had happened, Sokka smiled at him; the Fire Lord shook his head in amusement.
Dear Aang and Katara,
Before our wedding, I'd like to travel to the Southern Water Tribe and get Chief Hakoda. I think it would be important for you two and Sokka's father to be present. Obviously, the fastest way there would be on Appa. Please respond as soon as possible.
Sincerely, Zuko.
Zuko rolled up the paper, tied it with a small ribbon, then handed it to the servant to his left. The servant bowed before turning and quickly leaving the room. The Fire Lord stood from the chair and turned towards the bed. Sokka was sitting cross-legged with a bowl of purple grapes in his lap, the blankets pushed down to the end of the bed. Zuko rubbed his face with one hand; it was late, and he was getting tired.
He dismissed the servants with a wave of his hand and a request for peace. As soon as they were all out of the room and his door was closed tightly, he gently took the bowl from the warrior and set it on the table he was writing at. He stood over Sokka, who leaned back into the pillows with his arms behind his head. He smirked as Zuko removed his robe and let it fall to the floor in a heap. The pale body slowly crawled on top of the warrior, smiling as he teasingly kissed around the collar of his tunic.
Sokka tilted his head down to capture his fiancée's lips, starting right where they left off earlier. He wrapped his arms around the strong chest, hands reaching up to remove the headpiece and band from the black hair so that it fell around his face. The Fire Lord's hands were busy pulling the blue tunic over Sokka's head, breaking the kiss just long enough to toss it over the side of the bed.
The firebender broke the kiss to suck his way down to the middle of the dark chest, sucking and nipping as he went. The warrior let out a low moan and buried his hand in the soft black hair, slowly coaxing him lower. He made a slow trail of wet kisses towards the stomach, around the belly button, and finally to the hem of the pants that he couldn't convince off earlier. He slipped his fingers under the fabric and began to slowly pull them down. He could feel Sokka's ragged breathing from his arousal and wanted to see it.
Just as he was about to get the pants down, a knock sounded at the door. He looked up to Sokka, who let his head fall back to the pillows dramatically as he made a whining sound. Zuko pushed himself from the bed and angrily threw open the door, coming to face with the same servant that took his letter.
"I thought I said no interruptions," he growled impatiently.
The servant looked almost scared now, shying away slightly from the Fire Lord. "You did, sir…" he muttered. He gulped audibly and tried his best to avert his eyes from looking into the room, straight t the boy lying half naked on the bed. "But this came for you." He held up a small scroll, just like the one he had written earlier.
Zuko snatched it away from the man, glaring. He opened it and scanned its contents quickly. He lowered it from his line of view and couldn't mask the look of shock that came over his face. "Dismissed," he muttered.
The man bowed and apologized before walking away hastily from the room. The Fire Lord turned back to Sokka and started to smile.
"What'd it say?" The warrior on the bed asked.
Zuko scanned it over once again, as if he didn't believe what he read the first time. "He found my mother. He's bringing her back."
Author's Note (2): I have no idea how to write "War-speak." I figured that Sokka would be called "Prince Sokka" since he was going to become royalty and because it's a sign of respect. I hope it didn't seem too fast that the fleets would get back, and all the other traveling things. It might just be me, but doesn't it seem like they travel insanely fast sometimes?