Zuko stares at the very small knife Sokka is holding out to him. "Huh?" It seems like an ineffectual weapon in comparison to his swords, the hunting knife he had seen Sokka use to skin animals, even just throwing a rock would be better. "Are you threatening me with that?" He rather thinks the dramatic rescue and escape from Boiling Rock has created a friendship between them. "How are you going to threaten me with that? It is the size of a baby's hand."
"Yeah, I know that, I have eyes." Eyes that Sokka rolls as he pulls Zuko's foot into his lap. "Uh huh, yup up, right there."
"Right there what?" He desperately is not going to think of where the heel of his foot is resting, not with Suki sitting there watching them as she mends a shirt.
"Suki, can I have that needle and thread?" Sokka holds out his hand and the items are placed in it. He then does something inside Zuko's boot.
"I can take it off?" Sokka's head is bent over in the way, and he can't see what is going on.
"Nah, already done." He tosses the supplies back to Suki, and the very small and flat blade slides into his boot. "There you go! Boot knife!" Sokka looks so pleased with himself. "Got it off one of the inmates on Boiling Rock, realized never seen you with boot or sleeve knife, which is crazy, so I fixed it."
"I mean I guess it could kill someone?" It feels odd against his leg, like it will eventually leave a mark, but his pants will keep it from chafing the skin too much. "But -"
"Not all knives are for killing Zuko. Well, I mean I guess all knives can kill if you use them right, but no, this is more for if you are tied up, need to jam a mechanism without having to run after a gondola already in the air, fishing debris out of wounds that sort of thing."
"Do you have a boot knife?"
"No, wrap knife," Sokka explains, and pulls an impossibly thin blade out from under his wrist wraps. It is almost more a wire than a blade. "Always good to have. And now you do!" There is a pat on his leg and it is put down. "Katara, is food almost ready?"
"No," she huffed, "or it was ready five minutes ago. Is this overdone?"
Zuko doesn't even need to look to know the answer will be yes. He flexes his calf and feels the small knife resting there. He frowns a bit, lost that Sokka has done that for him. He looks to Suki for an explanation, but she just smiles and goes over to the food disaster as well. Mai had never even given him a knife. He almost smiles, and it is neat that after an almost suicide run, he and Sokka might be friends.
Zuko stares at the small pot that Sokka is holding out. "Huh?" is all he can come up with. They have sneaked into a city to find out any information they can, and Sokka had disappeared for a bit.
"I ran into Cabbage Guy, and he knew a guy who knew a guy who had a Gran who needed a table moved and a couple other things."
"Aren't we supposed to be finding out about my sister's plans?"
"Well, sure, but you know, we also need supplies, and here." The pot is thrust at him. "Chili paste, made by the Gran. She says it will either burn the hair off your chest, or put some on there. You'd look weird with chest hair so I hope that is an exaggeration."
"You think about me with chest hair?" Zuko's keeps staring at the small pot. "You got me chili paste." He is at sea. "Why?"
"We eat a lot of fish, which Katara and I are used to, and we don't get a lot of spices back home. End of the world, no money, war blah blah. You mentioned missing the spices of home. That firebenders need it spicy to taste it. So chili paste."
"That you got by moving furniture."
"Yup!" Zuko is tossed the jar, and he catches it carefully. "It smells like pain. No clue how it doesn't burn your mouth."
"I breathe fire, Sokka," he reminds the boy.
"Wait…" Sokka's eyes widen. "You aren't fire proof on the outside because you know," Sokka gestures at his face.
"Yeah, I know, Sokka," Zuko sighs a bit. He honestly appreciates that Sokka is so very direct about all his thoughts and doesn't tip toe around the scar.
"But you breathe fire, and it doesn't hurt you. Are you fire proof on the inside?"
"Sokka, that is a stupid question." Zuko opens the small jar and breathes in, and it smells amazing. He carefully screws the lid back on. "What?" Sokka is giving him that look, the one he has learned to be a bit scared of just like the rest of the group. Well, Suki never looks scared by it, she just smiles back.
"You are saying it is stupid because you don't know. But we could find out." Sokka is almost bouncing, "Come on, we need a bit of fire and you like lick it, then we'll know."
"I am not licking fire!" Zuko clutches the small jar, and hurries away from the crazy man.
"I licked ice all the time back home. I am not ice proof on the inside or outside."
Zuko decides to move a little faster away from the crazy man. "Of course you aren't, no one is." The rest have to be around somewhere. "Why would you even lick ice?"
"I'll lick just about anything."
Zuko stops abruptly, and Sokka bounces off of him. "Why? Why would you lick just about anything?"
Sokka actually holds up fingers. "One, lets you know if it is worth licking again. Two, Katara dared me. Three, someone offered a good trade or money to lick it. Four, and I cannot emphasize this enough Katara said I was a weenie penguin sea lion if I didn't. Which is a bit crazy, because trust me, those creatures not weenies. Stole my boot knife, why I switched to a wrist knife."
"I -" Zuko looks around. "Lick that wall." He points, and he had no idea his burned eye could open that wide when Sokka goes over and licks the wall. And then licks it again. "Once would have been enough!" Then he licks a different part of the wall. "Agni save me, he's lost his damn mind. Stop licking the wall."
"Zuko, taste this."
"I am not tasting a wall!"
"There is ash on it, and oil?" Sokka smiles slowly. "This is a black market shop."
"It is a noodle shop."
"Noodle oil tastes different. Let's see!" And the Sokka just disappears. He is completely insane and it turns out completely right and they discover a huge cache of oil and supplies, and maybe end up exploding the place and when they are running for their lives, Sokka is laughing, "Look I scored you some fancy spice powder too! And you think it is a bad idea to lick things."
"It is!" Zuko accepts the spice powder though.
And no he is not fire proof on the inside, but he is not admitting to Sokka that, especially when he sees Katara dare him to lick a frog, and he does.
Sokka is holding out his hand and Zuko automatically holds his out as well, and a rock is dropped into it. No, not a rock, a really old arrowhead. "Here you go, Zuko."
"Why?" Zuko has used a bow but is rubbish at it with his depth perception problems because of the bad eye. He is fairly certain he's never expressed an interest in bows, and he's never seen Sokka touch one. It is pitted and rough, the tip dulled. "I don't get it." He never does at first with the stuff that Sokka gives him, but each item is wrapped carefully in some scrap fabric and put into his pack. He even has the empty jar of chili paste in there. He used it up too quickly and is back to bland food. When he finished it, he may have whimpered and Sokka had shouted 'that's rough buddy' across the fire and Zuko debated turning him into chili paste. Instead he had dared Sokka to lick the lid and his reaction was worth it.
"Isn't it obvious?" Sokka sits next to him, and starts to sharpen his boomerang.
"No?" He stares at the arrowhead, tries to figure it out. "Is it like a metaphor about aiming true? Follow a direct path, never missing my target?"
"Your firebending can get sucky in the dark, being tied to the sun and all, and nights are getting longer. It is flint, so you can always start a fire just in case."
"Because I'm weak," Zuko freezes a bit, that Sokka is just like everyone else. Because everyone always hurts you.
"What, no?" Sokka snorts. "I mean, sure, I can kick your ass in a straight fight."
"No you can't," Zuko frowns at him. "I win twice as much as you."
"But I win a bunch, which means in a straight fight I can kick your ass."
"Why are you always technically right like that?" Zuko kicks him a bit. "I will stab you with boot knife."
"Be nice to knifey, he's going to save your life one day. You'll see. Anyways, you are plenty strong, but what if there are ever very particular circumstances where you can't firebend? It could happen Zuko, I've seen Katara not able to waterbend, and she gets scared."
"Does she have a knifey too?"
"No, she is pretty anti knife that isn't for cutting food. But taught her a few things. So, you'll have back up for fire, just in case. Not because you are weak, because anyone who thinks that is an idiot, but because having back up is never bad."
Zuko looks at the small arrowhead, "My father thinks I'm weak."
"Your father is a genocidal, evil maniac with bad hair."
"How do you know he has bad hair?"
"He's on a lot of posters, Zuko. You have much better hair."
"Oh, uh thanks," Zuko is glad it is dark and Sokka can't see that he is a bit flushed. Not that he is blushing, it is just awkwardness. "And thanks for the arrowhead."
"Not a problem, now let me teach you how to do this." Sokka's arms go around him, and Zuko lets Sokka guide his fingers.
When he and Katara need a fire, too emotionally exhausting from everything they've just seen and done, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the arrowhead, finds a rock. Takes a couple tries but he lights the fire. It is sort of nice to be able to do it like anyone, and not because he is a bender.
He hears Sokka approach and then stop, Zuko automatically holds out his hand. It is a bit heavier than the usual things that Sokka hands him. He takes a look. "It's a rock."
"Yeah," Sokka huffs, "clearly."
It is a nice rock. He thinks. It is a rock. He moves it and there is a thread of quartz in it, glinting almost red in the sun. It is a nice rock and he looks at Sokka with a raised brow, waits for the explanation, but there isn't one. "A rock."
"Do you like it?" Sokka sounds a bit different. "I know a rock is a lot different than everything else, but I thought we were at the place where I should give you a rock. Just in case."
"Just in case?" Zuko looks at him, and remembers what they face soon. What just in case means. Things they never say to the others, they never speak aloud, because they are so young to be trying to save the world. Because just in case. "Ah." He looks at it and Sokka looks so earnest, solemn. "So, a just in case rock."
"Hey," Sokka looks offended and oh fuck, is this a Southern Water Tribe thing? "That is a really great rock. But fine, jerkbender, if you don't want it -"
Fuck, he has insulted Sokka about the rock. He stands and puts a hand on Sokka's shoulder, holds the rock with the other. "It is a great rock. The best rock, ever."
"So you accept it?" Sokka looks so eager and hopeful, and Zuko is terrified because this is a look on Sokka's face that he has never seen before.
"I…gotta go…pee." Zuko hurries away before Sokka can say anything. He searches and finds Katara easily enough, practicing her bending. "Katara," he whispers. "Katara," he has to be a little louder because she is so focused. "Katara!" he shouts, and all the water hits him in the face.
"What?"
"Sokka gave me a rock?" He hopes that she'll explain it, that it is a sign of friendship, or a luck in battle thing. Only her jaw drops, and her eyes seem to double in size. "He said it was a really great rock, and asked if I accepted. Am I disrespectful if I don't?" Maybe this was a sign, like he was being accepted as a fellow warrior of the water nation. She is looking horrified. She clearly hates that Sokka gave him a rock. "Katara?"
Then her hands are on his shoulders. "Don't accept, you cannot accept Zuko." She is pleading, every inch of her beseeching. "You don't understand what accepting that rock means. Zuko, please, think very very carefully about accepting that rock." She is now cupping his face and Katara has never touched him like this before. This caring, this worried. "Zuko, that is not just a rock."
He knew it. She couldn't seem to put into words exactly what it meant, but clearly this was a big deal, Sokka was saying something. Zuko looks down at the rock. Whatever he is saying with the rock is important, matters. And if it matters to Sokka, it matters to Zuko. "I'm going to accept the rock," he says softly, and Katara groans. "What?"
"Zuko, just be careful alright? Accepting a rock from Sokka, if we live, it will change your life forever."
He takes a deep breath, "Katara do you object to me accepting the rock?" He doesn't want to come between the siblings, he knows their bond is so strong and important to them both.
"Only in that, you really don't understand what you are getting into."
"I think I do." He doesn't, not really, but he thinks maybe he has a glimmer of understanding.
"Then of course accept, and deal with the consequences, but when he drives you crazy I will not help you." Katara is laughing a bit now, and he is relieved.
Zuko hurries back to Sokka, who is now training with his sword. Zuko puts the rock down carefully, picks up his dao, and moves with Sokka. They go through their paces and spar a bit. At the end he bows to Sokka, "I accept your rock." He flinches, and then relaxes as Sokka gives him the strongest hug he's had since his mother. He hugs back. "It is a great rock."
"I know!" Sokka is grinning. "I knew you would like the rock." Another squeeze. "I am so glad you accepted the rock."
"I am too," Zuko says after a moment. "Just in case."
"What? Nah, we're going to totally defeat a whole superior army, your fuckface dad and batshit insane sister. Easy for a handful of kids to do what no one else has been able to in a hundred years. We got this."
"And I have your rock."
Another squeeze and when he lets go, Zuko wants to tell him not to. "Hell yeah, you have my rock," Sokka looks so happy, and Zuko is the reason for that. Nothing has ever felt better. "Knew you would get it."
"I absolutely get it."
(that night by the fire, Katara sees Sokka going on and on about the rock and Zuko sitting there holding it carefully and winces. She tried to warn him, everyone in the whole of the southern tribe had been subject to Sokka's weird here have a rock thing. She had a dozen in her room back home, because he just couldn't help himself, if he found an even vaguely interesting rock he would grab it and give it to someone. There were concerns about his mental state but Gran Gran as she took a twenty fifth rock said Sokka really just liked rocks. But at least this was Zuko's problem now and not hers. And to be fair, it was a great rock Sokka had found. But she wouldn't have to carry it, so it was all fine.)
Zuko clutches the rock and wonders when it will be fine for him to touch Sokka around the fire. He stares over at Suki, and wonders if Sokka has given her a rock to. He would be okay with it, if Sokka has. He just wants Sokka to be happy. He hopes he'll be happy. That they'll all get to be happy one day.
Zuko is going to protect the rock with his life.
"Here you go, jerkbender!" Sokka throws something to him, and Zuko doesn't laugh as the guards all scream, and try to intercept the small thing.
"Bomb!" One shouts and is ready to release his fire, burn Sokka alive.
"If it was a bomb, why would I announce I was throwing it in the first place?" Sokka asks the guards as Zuko catches the small parcel. "And why would I just walk into his most royal fancy pants office with the super big fancy pants doors. I'd wait until the moon just passed the north tower by three degrees because it the light of it then has shifted enough that there is an extra dark spot along the wall. I'd then scale the wall don't even need rope because there are four cracks in the wall there, that if you are patient and reckless can be grabbed, haul myself up onto the balcony below Zuko's then jump up to his, because on crescent moon nights he sleeps with them open just a crack. Then I wouldn't even have to go into the room much because he always sleeps on his left side, bad ear down so that he can hear little noises wake up quickly, but he wouldn't even hear the poisoned blow dart. Then I'd dress in his robes once I was sure he was dead, hood up, and walk out telling the guards I remembered an important task. I would just walk right out the from door."
"I -" the guards were looking at Sokka, "did you just tell us how you would assassinate Fire Lord Zuko?"
Zuko will not giggle at his poor guards. Because they are so confused. He unwraps the package and it is a small bottle. "He is not going to assassinate me, he is letting you know a massive breach in security."
"Yeah, if I was going to kill Zuko, I would have done it when he was trying to kill us? Hello, what's the point in killing him now, when I had months of sharing a tent and could have killed him in his sleep. Just woosh." Sokka mimes strangling himself. "Or pushed him off Appa." Mimes pushing. "Left him in the Boiling Rock prison. Oh, stabbed him with Wristy."
"Wristy?"
"Cousin to knifey," Zuko says and tilts the bottle. He thinks about Sokka, "poison antidote?"
"Broad spectrum protection. Won't make you impervious, but a couple drops in your tea every day will at least give you a fighting chance, since I won't be here to keep you alive."
Zuko's heart grows cold. "You're leaving?" He knew all his friends would have to, it was the nature of their lives and the world, they couldn't all just magically move into the royal palace and never leave. Never ever leave. Toph had already left, Aang and Katara were soon. Suki is staying with the Kyoshi warriors to train with his guards, mutual fighting knowledge exchange, but Suki was the one he was least close with, just because. Not because of Sokka, just personalities is all.
"Yeah, Dad says I need to come home for a bit. Rebuilding, planning. I told him I was gonna stay with you, because hello, you clearly need me SINCE YOUR GUARDS MISSED SUCH AN OBVIOUS FLAW IN YOUR SECURITY -" Sokka pauses talking to glare at the guards who are double his age, but look chastened, and he nods satisfied, "But Dad says I'm not allowed to just move into the palace."
"Yes you are," Zuko blurts out. "Royal decree. My fifth. Sokka, son of the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe has freedom of the palace and the royal name." He hears one of the guards choke on his own breath that Sokka has been given such a sacred and rare honour. But Sokka is just grinning, unaware that a fire lord can only give that promise thrice in their rule.
"Thanks, and I tried to explain to my dad, hey ended a hundred year war, think I can make my own decisions, but then he gave me that dad look you know the one," Sokka gestures and then winces, "right you don't actually know the stern but loving look, because your dad is a complete shit head and you really should have let Appa pee on him. That bison can pee forever. But anyways most dads who aren't genocidal warmongering racist fascists taint stench -" Zuko hears the guard snicker at that before he can collect himself, and Zuko is making sure that one is in his personal guard rotation, "have this look. It is the all stern and I know what is best for you, and yes you might have saved the world and destroyed an army, but you aren't all the way grown up yet mister, not even seventeen yet so you are coming home and being a kid for a little while before you commit to your plans."
"Commit?" Zuko swallows. "So he knows, and doesn't mind. He just wants us to wait, to make sure it wasn't all just because of everything?"
Sokka shrugs, "Yeah, I guess, who can know from dads. Again, real ones, not your asshole after eating a jar of extreme chili paste one," Sokka smiles. "So I gotta go, for like a year. Two tops. Then I'll come back and you'll get sick of me."
"Yeah, right," Zuko snorts, but he nods. He can understand where Hakoda is coming from. They are young, and there is a lot they need to take care of to make the world better before they can focus on them. He throws his arms around Sokka. "I'm going to miss you."
"Of course you are," Sokka agrees. "But you'll be busy and not like we can't send word even if it takes a long time to reach." Sokka gives him a soft smile, "I'll send you a rock from home to let you know I got there safe."
"A rock," Zuko smiles slowly, "from home." That definitely is a sign of commitment and promise. "I will accept."
"Of course, it will be -"
"A really great rock," Zuko finishes for him.
"Exactly. Now then, I need to have a talk with your guards about keeping you alive while I'm gone."
"Sir, we understand the importance of the fire lord to you, but I assure you being he is our, you know, king, we will do a good job of protecting him."
"You know about the way into the palace via the aqueduct?"
Zuko snickers at the blind panic on their faces as Sokka starts pointing out every single exploitable flaw in the palace security. Most of which were only exploitable if you have an air or waterbender, but still. It is fun to watch Sokka be all Sokka-y. As Sokka is just getting warmed up, Zuko notices Hakoda in the doorway. Zuko goes over, and bows to the man. "Chief Hakoda," he says formally.
"Fire Lord Zuko," he doesn't bow but tilts his head, which is more than enough for Zuko, "I hope you understand about Sokka coming home for a time."
"I do," Zuko is very earnest, he and Hakoda have gotten along well, but it is different than warriors for a same cause, and being Sokka's father. "It has been a lot and very quick, and you are making sure everything is real. You've been away from him for so long, you want a bit of time before he leaves for what comes next."
Hakoda looks a bit puzzled, "sure," he says finally. "Sokka is always impulsive, I just want to make sure he gets what moving here will mean for him."
"His impulsiveness saved your life," Zuko says, not wanting Hakoda to say anything bad about Sokka.
"It did, and yours two I bet a time or two."
"A time or two," Zuko agrees. "But when it is right, you have no objections to Sokka and I?" He wants to be absolutely sure of this. And he wonders if Sokka has actually told him. "Sokka gave me a rock and I accepted." He waits for Hakoda's reaction to this news. He is scared that now Hakoda will object.
He doesn't quite expect the Chief of the Water Tribe to giggle like that. "He gave you a rock, and Katara didn't warn you?"
"She did, I chose to accept," Zuko is really worried now. "Do you have concerns that I am unworthy of the rock, that I didn't mean my acceptance." More giggles and he wonders how mad Sokka would be if he likely singes the boy's father.
"On your head, be it," Hakoda laughs a bit more. "He can't move here yet, but one day."
Zuko bows again. He has Hakoda's blessing. They leave three days later, and Zuko gathers a few guards, an architect, and a decorator, and Uncle Iroh. "We might as well get started on the changes to make Sokka welcome in the palace. We need to gut the rooms next to mine, so he has his own space. And he'll want an area he can invent things in, that should be lightly blast proof." He thinks about Sokka. "Really blast proof. We'll need blue, lots of blue. He likes blue."
"He likes you," one of the guards, the same guard who had laughed at Sokka's insults to Ozai, "could just wrap you in blue when he returns."
"You. You are my personal guard now, because you understand."
The man bows at the esteemed honour.
"Lord Zuko," Iroh is clearly trying not to laugh at him, "you have some time before your…friend returns, maybe getting rooms ready for him is not your highest priority?"
"I'm fueling the local economy and trade by working on this," Zuko replies, and ignores the smiles of everyone. "Just, he is going to be giving up everything for me. I don't want him to regret it."
"He would never," Iroh swears, serious again. "I have seen the looks you two exchange. Time will not change hearts like that."
"Thank you, Uncle. And you approve?"
"Anyone who can lighten your heart like this, meets with my full approval."
"Good," Zuko explains exactly what he wants.
A month later, a package arrives.
Hey Fire Lord Hotman,
Here's your rock. It's a beaut.
Sokka.
They'd have to work on the letters Sokka sends it seems, but he unwraps the rock and smiles. Zuko has commissioned a cabinet for his rooms and everything Sokka has ever given him is place carefully in the cabinet. He takes the two drops of the poison protection that Sokka made him, and marks another day off the calendar. Another day closer to Sokka coming home to him.
"Right so, you staff your kitchen only with terrifying people? Because seriously forget your army, just unleash the guy with the butcher knife out there and you are safe." A bowl of noodles is put in front of him. They look amazing. And different than he recognizes. "Recipe from the earth kingdom with a little flare from the my people, and boop, the kick of yours." He watches a swirl of chili paste go around the top. "Old lady needed furniture moved again. Got you a jar. Oh and this." A rock is put next to the bowl. "Found it in this swamp."
"It is great," Zuko says. Sokka's voice is a bit deeper than he remembers. He focuses on the noodles, and doesn't look over to where Sokka is settling in next to him. "Seems your letter writing skills abandoned you. Again."
"Hey, they didn't abandon me."
"Really, aHey I'm coming homeletter couldn't be sent?"
"Then where is the surprise? Eat your noodles."
Zuko eats and it is so good. He is half way through the bowl when he finally looks over. Sokka looks the same and different. Bit taller, shoulders broader, but same hair, same grin, same eyes. "When'd you learn to cook this well?"
"Last year? Exchanged lessons for fixing some roofs in the earth kingdom."
"Why?"
"Come on, like I sure you have the world's best chefs in the palace but they are probably stuck in cooking fire nation food mindset, and you really liked some of the different stuff we discovered on the run. Wanted to make sure you would have it." Sokka has his own bowl without chili paste. "Pretty good," he talks with his mouth full, and it is clear somethings haven't changed. "Like the new rock?"
Zuko looks at it. "It is good," he agrees. He runs a finger over it. "Why didn't you really tell me you were coming?"
"One, see if your guards were on their toes since the Kyoshi warriors left. They are not, and I am going to have a talk with Iroh about that."
"He is in Ba Sing Se," Zuko explains. Sokka is frowning, "what?"
"Suki and Ty Lee left, Iroh left, Mai still here?" Zuko shook his head. "Who do you have?"
"You, I hope."
"Of course you have me, but you should have written said everyone was gone, I woulda got here sooner."
"I've become friends with Huan," Zuko offers and points to his personal guard. "The guy who let you in here without stabbing you?" Huan gives Sokka a wave. "And a few others. It hasn't been that lonely."
"Uh-huh. Right well the point is, I got in way too easily. Fixing that. And the other reason is you would have fussed and then couldn't have really seen you right away. It would have been bowing and formal, and presenting of honours and a dinner with old guys who never shut up. So sneaked in to see you first. I can sneak out later, and arrive tomorrow if you want to fuss."
"You deserve some fuss."
"Fine, I'll sneak out after we finish eating." Sokka starts to eat very slowly, "so how's being lord of all this going?"
"It's…going." Zuko thinks he is doing good, all in all, and there have only been a handful of assassination attempts in the last year. "There are long days sometimes." He hears Huan snort and he ignores it, but Sokka doesn't.
"You, guardman, spill the details on how much of a martyr to restoring the world Zuko is being."
"I order you as your Fire Lord not to tell Sokka anything," Zuko shouts.
"Think your majesty, you sort of ratted yourself out there," Huan says. "You see -"
Zuko growls and Sokka jams a piece of komodo chicken in his mouth. Sokka then gives his bowl to Huan, who sits and tells Sokka things he didn't need to know about yet. Like the late nights, skipped meals, those minor assassination attempts, the food poisoning that yes his daily doses of the stuff Sokka had given him saving his life.
"You are fired," Zuko scowls.
"No he isn't, he is going to write up a full report for me of everything you didn't tell me in your letters, and then I am fixing it." Sokka crosses his arms, and Zuko winces at the glare he gets. "What the hell, man?"
"Look ruling is really hard. And you left! Everyone left because I was the oldest, and I could handle it. And I am handling it." Zuko slumps a bit, and Sokka's arm is around him. "I am trying to handle it."
"I'm home now, buddy. Dad, everyone knows, I'm not leaving you again anytime soon. And if I leave, you are beside me. Now finish your noodles, and then I'll disappear so you can fuss tomorrow."
"You have rooms here waiting for you. You could stay, and just sneak out in the morning."
"Nah, I'll wait. Make the fuss extra special."
Sokka is gone too quickly, and Huan gives him the dopiest smile. "He got even handsomer."
"I noticed," Zuko replies.
"You gonna fuss?"
"Formal uniforms for the whole guard," Zuko agrees. He is going to fuss so hard, enough that Sokka will be insanely embarrassed by it. Fuss so much that Sokka really will never leave just to avoid the fuss of his return.
Zuko takes the rock to the cabinet and carefully puts it with the dozen and a half he was sent over the last two years.
So much fuss to be done.
Zuko peaks into the room in horror. "No," he says firmly, and Aang and Toph push him in. "No! This is wrong." The tables along the wall are covered in gifts, some are just on the floor too big to fit on the tables. It is an excess that he can't even fully comprehend. He tries to back out, but Sokka and Katara are right there. "It is insane!"
"The piles grew since I last peeked," Sokka whistles a bit. "Your poor secretary who has to write your thank you notes for all this." He pokes at a gift. "You know, it is technically after the high moon. Means it is your birthday so…"
Zuko sighs as all his friends, as his beloved shout, "Happy Birthday!" Aang throws confetti.
"Thanks," he groans. "It is so much."
"You said you didn't want the tributes Ozai did, but people didn't listen, because they want to honour twenty first birthday. It is nice Zuko."
"Katara, you really don't understand royal gifts."
"I do though, I remember last year, and twenty one is a big deal to the fire nation, so these are gonna be extra horrible." Sokka claps his hands. "Shall we all dive in? Dibs on the one that is a statue there!" He runs without double checking it is fine, because Zuko has seldom denied Sokka anything since he moved in fifteen months ago.
"Go on," he tells his friends and soon they are diving into the gifts were are all just the worst. Bad paintings, and ostentatious jewelry. Tea sets made out of gold, which makes no sense at all. The statue which is he thinks of him. Nothing suggests that any of the gifts were sent with actual knowledge of Zuko, but just to impress the Fire Lord.
"Hey, why'd they send you a statue of wrestlers?" Sokka holds up a bronze, and Zuko turns bright red.
"That's not a very good grapple hold," Aang agrees. He and Sokka both tilt their heads.
"Ohhhhh," they both say, and Sokka puts it down.
Katara giggles and whispers to Toph what the statue was about, and Toph falls over laughing.
"Yes, well, that one will go in the special vault, so it can be preserved," Zuko says.
"Special vault?" Katara asks.
"Storage room," Sokka is laughing. "Where we put all the weird ass shit that is ugly that people send Zuko. Just don't get why they would send sex stuff."
"I suppose they thought it would be inspiring, a Fire Lord usually announces their royal consort when they are twenty one." Sokka is unwrapping something, and misses the hitch in Zuko's voice as he says that. Like he has no concerns at all, which is a relief. "Not that I will ever take a consort. I will be faithful to my marriage."
"Sure, it's you, you couldn't be anything else." Sokka nods and opens another hey. "Hey, this one isn't garbage, Zuko." He looks at the tag. "Well that explains it - from Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors." He tosses it over and Zuko catches it. Zuko smiles a bit at the throwing stars, they are fine quality, a good weight in his hand, and a reminder he needs to train his martial skills as thoroughly as his firebending. He puts them carefully next to him and opens a few more of the absurd gifts before Katara passes him a box with a kiss on his cheek.
"Happy birthday."
He opens it and inside is a small statue, perfectly carved of Druk and Appa sleeping together. "It is lovely, thank you."
"I got you front row tickets to my next house show," Toph offers.
"I give you the gift of friendship," Aang grins, "and some tea."
Everyone is looking to Sokka who is poking at one of the gifts that may be a statue or food, or something, but it jiggles when it moves.
"Lick it," Katara shouts.
"Katara, I am personal advisor to the fire lord, ambassador of the southern water tribe, he who has use of the -"
"Lick it," Zuko calls out, not wanting their friends to know just how important Sokka is in terms of his status in the fire nation. Not until they are betrothed in the southern way like how Sokka probably wants.
Sokka shrugs and licks it, "Ugh, it tastes like sadness. And lychee." He pokes it, "And I still don't know what it actually is."
Katara laughs and Zuko sees how Aang looks at her like she was the moon - no offense to Yue - and he knew sometimes he looks at Sokka the same way. "Come on, Sokka, give Zuko your gift already."
"Huh?" Sokka is clearly about to lick it again. "Oh, I didn't get him anything."
"What?" Katara is running over and hitting him. "How couldn't you get him anything. Twenty one is super important in the fire nation!"
"I know! Ow, Katara, your fists are pointy!"
"My rocks are pointier," Toph shouts and is clearly ready to bend. Zuko should stop it because it hurts unbearably that Sokka didn't get him a birthday gift. But Aang is smiling happily. A little too happily.
"Aang, do it already! Save me," Sokka shouts.
Zuko looks between them and then he finds himself in a ball of air, and Aang is running outside. "Sokka, just jump on in," Aang shouts and then Sokka is next to him in the ball of air and they are at the bottom of the pond looking up. The moon is super bright, and seems to be almost smiling at them. He talks to it sometimes, reassures Yue he loves Sokka, and that he'll take good care of the man.
Zuko opens his mouth and it doesn't fill with water, because of the air bubble. "I don't get it."
"Watch," he says and then above them the turtle ducks are swimming. "You always said you wanted to see what their feet were doing, but you can only hold your breath for a few seconds, not long enough to get below and have them be fine enough with the disturbance to swim around." Sokka points at the feet, and Zuko had no idea they moved so fast, their bodies so calm above the surface. "I know how much everything wears on you. So for about two and a half minutes, there is no world, there is just turtle duck feet."
Zuko swallows back the tears. "Thank you."
They are quiet after that and he just watches the feet. The bubble eventually pulls out of the water and when it pops, they are perfectly dry. Zuko hugs Sokka, and has no intention of letting go for a while. When he does the others have gone back. "That was better than any other gift I'll have gotten."
"I dunno, that sex statue was pretty great, even if I question a man could be that bendy." He reaches down and picks up a pebble. "Here you go, to remember it."
"As if I'd ever forget," Zuko scoffs.
He commissions a setting for the cheap garden pebble and wears it under his robes.
"Sokka," Zuko pinches his nose, "that is a child."
"Yup, it is, well done," Sokka snickers. He looks at the girl, "can you confirm you are a child for me?"
"Are you insane?" she scowls a bit.
"A lot of the fire counsel think so yeah."
"Sokka, why is there a child?"
"Well, because all people start off as children, Zuko. Was your childhood that bad, that you don't remember? I mean I know it was bad, because of gross abusive, warmongering jerkwad lamebrain father, but still all people were once children, Zuko. You see them when we go to the market all the time."
This is one of the days where he reminds himself that he loves Sokka. He really loves Sokka. And the man loves him. He is up to thirty nine rocks in the cabinet. Even if Sokka hasn't officially proposed, they are clearly betrothed. His government has written up all the contracts, they have just been waiting for a signature for nine months. "Why are you giving me a child, Sokka?"
"Well see, now you made it sound creepy."
"You walked in with a four year old, with a bow on her head and said, ta-da child!" Zuko looks down at her. "Did he tell you why he was doing this?"
"He came by the orphanage and talked to all the kids a lot. They kept trying to get him to look at the babies, he said no, he wanted one older. He talked to everyone. He never stops talking. And did you know if you dare him, he'll lick things?"
"Yeah, I know that," Zuko agrees. "And?"
"He kept asking everyone what we thought of this rock? Only a couple of us thought it was neat. Then after more talking where he called you jerkbender, Fire Lord Zuko, I kicked him as hard as I could, and he picked me."
"Do you know what he picked you for?" She shook her head and when she kicked her foot a bit, there were a few small sparks. "Were you the only firebender at the orphanage?" There is a nod, and he wonders if Sokka had been there learning about the system and found the girl. "Huan, how about you take -"
"Izumi," she whispers.
"Izumi," Zuko nods, "to the kitchens for some cake."
Once they are gone he turns to Sokka. "She likes rocks?"
"Yeah, and she kicked me when I insulted you. So, she is the best. And needs you. She's going to be the perfect heir to the throne." Sokka is looking so proud of himself.
"Heir?" Zuko feels a bit faint. "She is my heir?"
"I mean maybe? If you two get along as well as I think you will. Look I've seen the letters, heard the whispers. The ministers are getting a little tetchy about you not having an heir. Which is weird, because you aren't even married yet, so why would their be an heir? But I could see it was getting to you. It was a worry you didn't need, and I fix all the worries you don't need. So I fixed this. Got you an heir. Ta-da!"
"Ta-da!" Zuko agrees, "but an heir has to be -"
"Of your name, of your blood, but never in the royal laws does it say of your junk." Sokka snickers, "they really dropped the ball on that one. Hehe get it?"
"She isn't of my blood."
"Izumi is a firebender," Sokka says, "technically since all firebenders are descended from the first, no matter how many hundreds of years ago it was, she is of your blood."
"You can't even read the language the royal laws are in."
"Didn't need to learn it all just enough to recognize words like heir, progeny, that sort of stuff. Once I found it, had Huan translate. If you and Izumi bond, she takes your family name, is of your blood, boom heir! And the ministers shut up."
"People give me airships, the rarest gems, the finest art," Zuko looks at him. "You've never given me a anything that that is worth a single coin."
"Hey, at least three of the rocks I gave you are cool enough to get a few coins," Sokka protests, "and anyone who would give you money for a kid needs to meet Mr. Boomerang."
"No, you don't get it," Zuko frowns, because it is so hard to say. "But you will." He hurries out of the room.
"What about the kid?"
"Thank you," Zuko shouts back. He runs to the kitchens and check on her. She is eating cakes and already has the cook wrapped around her finger, a maid is braiding her hair, and Huan is explaining the importance of boot knives to her. "Izumi, would you like to live at the palace, be heir to the throne of the fire nation?"
"I can't even tie my boots, I can't rule a country." Her eyes are huge. "It wasn't that great a rock!"
"I bet it was the best rock, and you won't have to rule until way into the future."
"Is Sokka gonna be here?"
"Always," Zuko promises.
"And you two will adopt me, and you'll teach me fire bending?"
"Yes," Zuko promises again.
"But you've barely talked to me, maybe you'll hate me."
"I've never hated a single thing that Sokka has ever brought to me. We'll figure it out. If you want to."
"Sure," she agrees.
"Now your first task, as future Fire Lord, is help me pick out the perfect rock for Sokka."
"Yes!" Huan shouts, "Finally!" There is much cheering among the staff and Zuko holds out his hand to Izumi, and after a moment she takes it.
"Wow, this is looking all fancy," Sokka says as the guard lets him into the small dining room. Yes, Zuko had gone a little over the top, but they would only get engaged once. Well they had been engaged for years, but still, this was making it really real. "Glad your secretary told me to get dressed up. I was coming down in the clothes with the jelly stain on them."
"Playing with Izumi?"
"Hide and seek. We missed you."
"I was getting all of this ready."
"Worth it, though what's the occasion?" Sokka was poking about, looking for some signal as to what was going on, but it wasn't readily apparent. It wouldn't be until the last course.
"Just thought it was time for an official dinner of the anniversary."
"What anniversary?" Sokka asks as he sits down.
"First rock I accepted from you," Zuko says and he loves the way Sokka lights up. He loves everything about Sokka, his best friend, his confidant, his co-parent, and soon his husband.
"You remember that?"
"It was the best rock ever," Zuko says.
"I dunno, rock number five, thirteen, twenty seven, and thirty four are pretty great too."
They are all great rocks, Zuko thinks. They talk of everything and anything as they always do and then a servant brings in the last course, a bounce in their step and they put the plate in front of Sokka and with a nod of Zuko's permission they take the lid off and Zuko doesn't laugh, he's too nervous to laugh, at the way they are slowly backing out of the room, trying to get the reaction to tell the rest of the staff who will tell the rest of the nation.
Sokka pokes at the rock on his plate. "Volcanic?" he asks.
Zuko nods, "Izumi and I went to find it. Took a few weeks to find the exact right one. Do you…like it?"
"Uhh, yeah, that is a great fucking rock, Zuko." Sokka is beaming at him, and his eyes look like they are ready to cry. "You got me a rock?"
"I did. If you accept." Zuko knows he is holding his breath and that is bad, but he can't not.
"Of course I accept. Holy shit, do I accept. You got me a rock!" Sokka runs around the table and knocks them over to the ground in the enthusiasm of the hug. Zuko glances over at the servant who is clearly giddy and off to run to tell everyone that the fire lord and the guardian of the palace hearth were engaged. Zuko wishes they hadn't remembered such an ancient turn of phrase for the fire lord's betrothed, but it also sort of suited Sokka better than most of the other titles that would come with being his husband. "No one has ever given me a rock back before!"
Zuko is horrified that his Sokka before had offered rocks, and no one had returned the favour. "Their loss, my gain," he says as he hugs Sokka back. "There is actual dessert too," he promises.
"Oh good, not that I don't love the rock, but I'm really into that chocolate with chili thing the kitchens make."
"I know," Zuko reassures him. "What I tried to tell you a few weeks ago."
"About the rice inflation situation?"
"No."
"About Izumi riding ostrich horses?"
"No, Sokka," he sighs a bit because he will just keep guessing the wrong thing. "About how everyone else gives me untold riches and you give me nothing of financial value."
"Oh yeah, that was weird and kinda sucky. What's that about?" Sokka moves back to the table, hauling Zuko up. They are brought the cakes that Sokka has become addicted to, and the servants squeal a bit before running out.
"I just mean, they spend obscene money and you seldom spend a dime."
"Hey!"
"They matter more," Zuko explains, shouts really. "They don't get me anything that suggests they know me. You know me. You see me."
"Well I have to do the seeing for us, you are down an eye."
Zuko groans a bit. "Sokka." He looks at Sokka is wiggling his brows, and clearly playing stupid. "Shut up."
"Of course I know you, you are my best friend, receiver of rocks, bearer of knifey, and like you know lord of all laid before us." Sokka begins to eat. "Not hard to know someone as great as you." He eats the cake and starts tossing the rock between his hands. "You got me a rock," he keeps saying over and over.
Zuko smiles, "I did."
"Hey, I've barely seen you the last few days!" Sokka is coming down the hall, Izumi on his back. "We miss Papa, don't we?"
"We do," she agrees. "But he's working hard to make the day all special. I am going to have new clothes."
"I know, me too. The royal tailors getting a work out," Sokka agrees. "Heck of a party that everyone is being awfully secretive about." He winks at Zuko, "Fancy clothes for the three of us. Zuko and I been signing a lot of papers. Can't imagine what we'll be celebrating."
Zuko smiles in return, "No, I can't imagine at all." Because the whole of the fire nation had known they were in love for years and that Sokka had the freedom of the palace, the counsel and Zuko had agreed they could skip the formal betrothal period and go straight to the wedding. It had to be bigger than he knew Sokka would want, but he had been ruthless about keeping it as small as he could. He managed to convince the counsel that the wedding could be only one hundred people, with the promise of a huge week long celebration after the honeymoon. "I do have a few free minutes though, now," he offers. Literally a few, because inevitably someone has something else they want to discuss about the wedding next week. Sure enough they start walking to the gardens, when a runner comes up to them and hands Zuko a scroll.
He reads it and is relieved because it isn't something that needs to be taken care of now. "Your father, Katara and Aang are picking up Toph and will be here day after tomorrow."
"You invited them?" Sokka looks so happy.
"Of course," Zuko is puzzled but he supposes Sokka assumed that there were some weird fire nation rules about who could be at the wedding. Historically, these things tended to be rigid. But he is upended a lot of tradition to make Sokka happy at their nuptials. "And you like the flower plans?"
"Zuko, when have I ever cared about flowers?" That was true.
"I like them, Papa," Izumi reassures.
"Good enough," Zuko says.
"I was wondering though. There is a water tribe tradition of drinking from the same cup, to show the joining of family. Could we do that?" Sokka looks so nervous about asking, and Zuko is eager to reassure him.
"Of course, anything else?" He will make it happen.
"Nope, that is good enough for me. Anything you want, Iz at the shindig, your big day too."
Zuko will not cry at the way that Sokka is treating the wedding not just as the binding of them, but the creation of their whole family. Azula was always right about one thing, he is definitely an emotional sap.
"Cake."
"There will be tons of cake," Sokka reassures her. "The best thing about your Papa, is that he always makes sure there is tons of cake for after the boring stuff is done."
"That's the best thing about me?"
"Well maybe fourth best," Sokka teases. "Here you go, by the way." He reaches into a pocket and Zuko catches as he has for years. It is an old key, really old. Tarnished, broken, an odd gift even for Sokka. He waits and Sokka just smiles back. Seems this time he won't be saying, Zuko has to figure it out on his own.
"Lick it," Zuko holds out the key and Sokka licks it.
"Ewwwwww, I'm telling Auntie Suki you are gross," Izumi whines.
"Little one, trust me, Suki knows how gross I can be. Licked her once or twice."
Zuko would not banish her from the wedding for something that was done well before the first rock that Sokka had given him. But he is tempted to.
"Why would you lick Auntie Suki?"
"Yes, Sokka, how about you tell Izumi exactly why you licked Suki." He focuses on the key, trying to figure it out. Faintly he can see water tribe symbols along the length.
"Curious about the Kyoshi makeup, even the rain, sweat after a fight, it doesn't move. Hard to lick my own face when they were training me. And it has properties that change on the skin, so licking it on the pot wouldn't make sense. So licked Suki."
"Oh, she said you used to kiss her, so I thought that was maybe why you licked her. Because I saw Huan put his tongue in Teo's mouth. Right in his mouth!"
"Right in there, huh?" Zuko snickers but controls it at how fake shocked Sokka sounds. "Well, my goodness."
"Huan says I'll see that eventually from you and Papa once you are married. They do it without being married."
Zuko really wishes that his tongue had been in Sokka's mouth but due to their positions, they have had to be above reproach from the gossip. But soon, that wouldn't matter anymore.
"You are right, once you are married that is when you can put a tongue in someone's mouth. And I will be having a stern talk with Huan about where he's putting his tongue." Zuko figures that stern talk will also include a lot of elbow nudges and wiggling eyebrows. "But you need to get to your reading lessons, missy."
"No, the party is soon, and company will be coming, learning should be banned," she declares, "Papa, save me from the learning."
"If you behave, and go to lesson, we'll wake you up in the morning so you can watch Sokka and I spare at dawn."
"Alright, but I get to do forms too," she demands and just like how he can never say no to Sokka, he cannot say no to Izumi.
She runs and Huan catches her to take her to Zuko's secretary for her lessons, and Sokka flops on the ground. Zuko flops next to him. "Dad is going to yell at us you know," Sokka says. "You are too young, have you really thought this through, it could have waited a few more years. No matter that it is right, he's going to fuss."
"It is understandable, but it is the right thing for us," Zuko says. He lays down in the grass and holds the key up to the sky. "Nope, I don't get it."
"It was Gran Gran's. Carried her most treasured positions to the southern tribe, when she left everything she knew behind, it held all she took. It got lost at sea, all she had left from her previous life was that key. She gave it to my grandfather to show she was trusting him with everything she held dear of her past. Who she was. Everything changes next week, so figured, best way to show you I trust you with what we are doing."
"I think the promises you are going to make that day convey a high level of trust."
"Yeah, but that's the show, for the paper pushers, for everyone. This is for us." Sokka's eyes are closed and he starts to hum a bit. It is dreadful and lovely because it is from Zuko's favourite opera that he knows Sokka hates. But he is still humming it.
Zuko attaches the key to his belt. "I trust you too," he says and wishes he had something to give back to Sokka. He had given the man an unlimited financial account, the best suites redecorated in the palace, weapons, close, but somehow what Sokka did was always better.
"I know that, let me sit on your bad side don't you? Good enough for me." Sokka is clearly drifting off, settling into a nap as he always did the second he lays down.
Zuko watches over him until he is needed to solve issues with the wedding music.
Everything goes well as Team Avatar is formally welcomed to the palace. They kept Izumi inside with Suki who had arrived the day before, the crowds would have been too overwhelming for her. To be fair, it was a bit overwhelming for him too. "Here," Sokka whispers and presses something into his hand. Zuko doesn't even need to look to know it is a rock. He feels his shoulders relax and he is almost smiling as the party approaches.
Formal greetings are exchanged and the Avatar says he brings blessings and joy for the upcoming event which causes a swell of applause. Not that anyone thought the avatar would object but still, it is a relief. They go inside where there are more protocols to be seen to. All told it takes just under two hours before they are in Zuko's private suites.
Which means it is just over two hours before everyone starts yelling at Zuko and Sokka. It is clear that they are going to be at it for a while, so Zuko pours tea but isn't surprised that he and Sokka are the only ones drinking. Hakoda looks around the room. "Why aren't Iroh and Suki in here yelling at you two idiots as well?"
"That's a bit harsh," Zuko says. They are still fairly young, but certainly not idiots. "And Suki is waiting for the yelling to stop before she comes in, and Iroh is arguing with the chef about the third course. Or maybe the fourth, I can't remember."
"And they are both fine with this?" Katara is almost shaking with rage, and that hurts. He knew Hakoda would have concerns, but he would have thought she would be on Sokka's side.
"Of course," Sokka stands and goes over to her. "I know it is a shock, and we are young, but they've seen us together, they know that this was destiny, the right thing for everyone."
"Destiny? He tried to kill us?"
"That was forever ago," Sokka growls a bit, "come on, Katara that was mean and you know it."
"I know, but I am just in shock."
"Is it really that big a shock, I didn't think it was that big a shock. Zuko, is it that big a shock?"
"The whole of the fire nation knew long before you moved in. It is why were are skipping to the final step instead of another year of formalities."
"Damn that long, really should have read those laws and contracts more. But yeah, glad we can skip that."
"I will not allow this to happen," Hakoda shouts.
There is a door slam, and Izumi runs in, putting herself between Zuko and Sokka and the rest. She takes a firebender protective stance, and there are almost three whole sparks from her hand. "No yelling at my fathers!" she yells in her own mighty shout. She sweeps her foot, and there is actual flame. She falls down in shock. "Papa!" Zuko's hand easily draws the flame and snuffs it before anyone is hurt, and Sokka has her immediately bundled in his arms. "Dad, I did fire!"
"I know you did, Iz, haven't I said you are as strong as your Papa? True firebender," Sokka is rocking her a bit, "But, bet that was still scary as heck."
"Uh-huh," she sniffles, and curls into him. "They were yelling really loudly. And we protect the fire lord."
"I protect the fire lord, Auntie Suki does, Huan does, all the guards, the whole army. Then the avatar, team avatar, and then if all of us are out of commission, you can protect your papa. Sound fair?"
"I can kick real good."
"I know gave me a scar didn't you?" Sokka is kissing her head. "You always make a hell of an introduction." He tilts her chin up. "Ready to meet your grandfather, and Aunt Katara?"
"No. They were mean to you and Papa."
"Just surprised, I maybe didn't do a good job at keeping them up to date about changes in my life."
"You are supposed to get Papa to write your letters home, because you are so bad at it."
"Fire nation propaganda, I write great letters. Look at all the notes I've written to get you out of your lessons to teach you how to fish and punch and stuff?"
Zuko crouches down next to them and smiles at Izumi before he puts on a ferocious scowl. "Oh really. You write those sorts of letter do you?" Izumi giggles, and Sokka pretends to be scared. "I fear that a fierce and terrifying punishment must come down for Sokka Ambassador of the Southern Tribe, Hearth Keeper, barer of the Freedom of the Palace."
"Dad, he used all your titles, that means no dessert!"
"I know, harsh but fair," Sokka agrees. "Now, I want you to go off with Auntie Suki, so they can finish yelling at us. And then you'll meet your extended family, alright?"
"Alright." Izumi stands, and gives a very formal bow. "We welcome you guests to our home on this blessed occasion, and if you don't treat it as blessed, I'll have Auntie Suki and Uncle Iroh make you understand it is blessed."
Zuko accepts her hug and sends her off with Suki who is clearly laughing at them. "Now then, tea? Or do you want to yell some more?" He helps Sokka up, and moves over to the tea, warming a cup for Sokka with his hands. He finds it disgusting to drink rewarmed tea, but Sokka doesn't ever notice the ruined taste.
He looks over and they are all just staring. He thinks he might prefer the yelling. He turns and looks at Sokka. "Didn't tell them about Izumi, at all, did you?"
"I was going to, but then we got wrapped up in everything, and besides I wasn't even sure I was allowed to until it was all official."
"Why wouldn't it be fine to tell your family?" Zuko is a loss for that one.
"In case you changed your mind," Sokka winces a bit. And Zuko waits for more explanation. "I mean I never thought you'd send her back to the orphanage, I knew she was meant to be your kid, just more the whole me being her other guardian. I'm sure you've gotten flack for that."
"No," Zuko is honest, "Sokka, I know you think the counsel hate you, but they don't. They trust your advice, and know that while you carry your people in your heart and mind, that you carry us too. A heart as big as yours has room for everyone. They had those papers written up before I could even request them."
"Oh," Sokka sinks into the couch. "Good. Hey Dad, congratulations it is a very smart and tough little firebender girl!" He laughs. "Katara, I have a daughter! She is five and a holy terror! I have a lil baby Toph!"
Toph has been standing to the side listening with her feet. "I know. She wasn't lying, and neither were either of you. You are a family."
The whole room is quiet for a moment and then everyone starts yelling about that too, though this is about not bringing gifts for the new family member, and what sort of grandfather name Hakoda wants, and it is chaos.
"Well, at least with them yelling at us about Izumi, they aren't yelling at us about the wedding anymore," Zuko says and sits on the chaise to wait for it to quiet down. He picks up a scroll and starts to read.
"Yeah, that's a relief," Sokka agrees. "Wait, what wedding?"
"Haha," Zuko says.
"No seriously, what wedding? Is there a wedding going on at Izumi's official heir ceremony happening in a couple days?"
Zuko is spinning with his swords, Huan standing guard in the corner, silent, trying to be invisible. He moves not with grace but in short angry bursts. Eventually he just throws the swords into a dummy across the room. He shouts but doesn't release any fire. He turns to Huan but the man has disappeared. He hears a bit of movement and doesn't turn. "Get out," he says and picks up a towel to dry the sweat off.
"Have something for you."
"I don't want it," Zuko snaps. He goes to sit on a bench and reaches into his boot. He throws knifey at Sokka. "Here have this back. And the rocks. Oh my god, all those fucking rocks, I need to go throw them in the pond, have Toph send them far away." He cannot believe he has been a fool for years.
"Don't say that," Sokka begs. He starts to come forward but when Zuko looks up, he stops. Instead he sits on the ground. "I love rocks," Sokka explains. "We live in the tundra, Zuko, even in summer we have to travel to find places with green. Rocks are rare. And finding them always made me happy. So I thought they'd make everyone else happy too. Every time I managed to find a cool rock, I brought it home to give to Dad, to Katara, Gran Gran, and they always took them but they did it because they loved me, not because they thought the rocks were neat. The rocks eventually were annoying to them, and Dad went to war, and I just…stopped. Then you were there, and we were friends and I saw this rock that reminded me of you. Held onto it for a few days, embarrassed because I was sure you would think it was so stupid. A rock, I mean come on, you were a guy who had grown up in luxury, and I thought a rock would make you smile. Then I gave it to you, and you ran off to pee, and it hurt. Because they were right that the rocks thing was stupid and annoyed people. But you came back, and were smiling."
"And I accepted the rock," Zuko says.
"You accepted the rock. I just like giving people rocks, because they are neat."
"And Katara was so sick of getting them, that she was trying to warn me, only she was tired and annoyed because I interrupted her practice, that she phrased it wrong. And I thought it was a huge cultural meaning thing, and it was just that you like giving people rocks."
"Yeah."
Zuko buries his head in his hands. "I fell in love with you because of those stupid rocks you kept sending me."
"I love you too," Sokka says.
Zuko is so enraged that he doesn't need the sun to shoot fire, he just does. But Sokka doesn't flinch, and of course Zuko makes sure the fire doesn't touch him, but he knows the man feels the heat of it. "I'm going to have Izumi kick you in the shin, again."
"I deserve it," Sokka agrees, "but for being a clueless idiot, not for not loving you."
"Let me guess, you've been secretly pining for me, loving me from afar and blah blah blah, and I magically fall in your arms and we kiss and -"
"I am definitely fine with the thought of kissing you, Zuko. I 100% want to stick my tongue in your mouth. Even before marriage," he swears. "I wasn't pining or moping, or anything that makes this dramatic. You were my best friend, and I was yours. And those two years we were apart, I didn't think of you constantly because I was so busy rebuilding my home, learning to be a man from my dad. But when I did think of you I wrote you, sent you a rock. Because I had made you smile with one, and hoped they would make you smile again."
"They did."
"I learned how to make noodles you would enjoy, I found a million ways to show you how you were the most important person in the world, not to the world, but to me. To make you smile."
"That sounds like love," Zuko whispers.
"It does, but I just didn't think in those terms," Sokka explains. "And then I found you Izumi, and you gave me a rock. No one ever gave me a rock back, Zuko. Not once. Do you get it?"
"Not really, they don't carry any cultural significance your father was very clear on that." And that had stung almost more than his sister's lightning. Not really, but still.
"But they carry significance to me. Because everyone back home thought it was just a weird Sokka thing, I knew they got annoyed by it. But you never did. You have that whole cabinet of them! And then you gave me one back. Because you got it, you got me."
"That rocks are neat," Zuko says.
"Because rocks are neat. And you weren't just tolerating me. Do you know how much I've been tolerated in my life? You were supporting me, encouraging me, you were you. Zuko I haven't pictured my life without you, not once, not since I gave you that rock. I never thought of it as love. I just thought of it as us."
"But what does that mean, Sokka. You love me as a friend, a brother in arms, what?"
"I don't know. I just know that the thought of not being near you, I start to breathe funny. When Katara told me, after you ran, that she hoped you kicked me out of the palace and refused to see me, I couldn't breathe, I almost blacked out. Aang said it was a panic attack. The world started to go black, Zuko at the thought of you not being in my world, being the star I revolve around."
He couldn't melt, not at just a few words. No matter how they made him feel. Zuko saw Sokka pick something up, and then put it down closer to Zuko. "I'm going to love you forever, Zuko, no matter what happens next." He starts to leave the training room, and Zuko looks at the object.
Of course it is a rock. He hurries over, picks it up and throws it at Sokka's head. "Idiot!"
"Ow, that hurt!"
"Gee, what do I know about pain right now?" Zuko went over, and picked up his swords. "Come on then," he mutters.
"Great, you're going to kill me. Well, I do deserve it, though I would like to point out before I die that the west tower looks too long in one direction, easy to sneak passed their gaze." He goes over to his weapons in the room, and grabs a sword. "Also -"
Zuko goes on the attack, presses, but he never fully unleashes and they move together in harmony, around the training floor.
"I do love dancing with you," Sokka says.
"Shut up!" Zuko spins and Sokka spins with him. "They weren't even that great the rocks."
"Yeah they were, they were all awesome rocks."
"They are," Zuko can't lie. "Why did you have to be so perfect, and know me like that?"
"Clearly not perfect that I sort of missed I loved you for years, and that you thought we were in a relationship. Though, I don't know, maybe if you had ever told me you loved me I might have noticed."
"You have Freedom of the Palace. A fire lord can only give that status three times in their whole reign! I didn't even give it to the Avatar."
"Well sure, give Aang free roam of the place and chaos will happen." Their weapons clashed and Sokka leans forward. "What do I have to lick to prove I love you?" They are both silent for a moment, and then Zuko drops his swords because he is laughing so hard he has to clutch his stomach. He collapses to the ground in a ball and it takes a few moments to control himself. "You thought a dirty thought. An actual dirty thought."
Zuko sprawls on the ground. "It was not exactly a hard dirty thought to have." More quiet and more laughter. "Sokka, no one ever makes me laugh like you do."
"Marry me, and I'll make you laugh every day." Fingers brush his, and Zuko brushes back. "Marry me, and I'll find you every cool rock there is to find. And I'll make you noodles and when we're old we'll put Izumi in charge and retire to a beach, do nothing but sit around all day holding hands, laughing." Sokka's lips brush his cheek. "Marry me, and I will lick anything, anywhere, at your command."
Zuko reaches over and the rock is there. "Lick the rock." Sokka licks it. "Lick the sword," and he does that too. "Lick the ground," and Sokka is clearly about to and Zuko stops him. "Don't, this floor is disgusting." He uses his sleeve to clean Sokka's tongue. "You are such an idiot."
"I know, but maybe if you want you could give me a few decades to make it up to you." Sokka brushes his nose against Zuko's. "That's a kiss you know."
"You've done that to me a hundred times."
Sokka grins, "what can I say, I'm the affectionate sort."
"Seriously, Sokka, you cannot infect our daughter with this level of idiocy."
"I'll let her find her own."
"The best rocks ever, in the history of the planet," Zuko demands.
"Best of the best," Sokka swears.
"And you have to eat some chili paste. And no wedding cake for you!"
"Now that is just mean." He rubs his nose against Zuko's again. "What do I get if I give up the wedding cake, because that is a bridge too far in punishment."
"You get a wedding," Zuko smiles at him.
"I'll never eat cake again."
Zuko leans forward and kisses Sokka. His lips are dry, but soft, and it is a bit awkward and a lot great. "I will never let you forget that you didn't read the contracts and notice that it was all about us getting married."
"I can live with that."
"Good," Zuko says and kisses him again.
"Hey, catch," Sokka calls and Zuko catches what is flung at him. He looks and it is a rock still wet from the ocean. It is beautiful, glittering white, with parts that shine like a rainbow when it catches the sun. Sokka is breathing heavily, he must have dove deep to find it. They smile at each other and Zuko puts it carefully on his blanket.
"Dad, Grandpa says you used to get two fish hooks stuck in your thumb!"
"Lies, Iz, lies and slander!" Sokka is jogging over to the family, and tosses him a wink. "Let me tell you about the biggest fish I ever caught."
"Avatar save us, not this story." Katara is moving water in fun shapes, swirling them around Izumi.
"I can't save us Katara, I like this story," Aang is rolling around on his air ball. Toph is snoring on a blanket. So was Iroh.
"Zuko, please, I beg you, I will babysit Izumi however long you want, if you just drag Sokka away, and stop this story in its tracks."
Zuko stands up and goes over to Sokka, and smiles at him. "Lick," he says right next to Sokka's ear.
"And we're going for a walk. Iz, mind your aunt. We need to go find more rocks. Bye," Sokka's voice cracks, and they start to head up towards the house.
"Dad is definitely gonna put his tongue in Papa's mouth," they hear Izumi say.
"Oh, is he?" Hakoda replies loudly. "What else have you seen them do?"
"Run, because I do not want to hear the answer to that," Sokka moves a lot quicker, and Zuko has to agree with him.
In their room, the window ledge is covered with shells and rocks, the sun has made the space warm.
And Zuko is smiling as Sokka definitely puts his tongue in Zuko's mouth.