Fic: Kama Sokka 1/?
What's this, a new fic? Actually, no. I started writing this aaaaaages ago ... maybe as long as a year ago. It was intended as a sequel to Reach For Me Now, but seeing as how I haven't worked on that one in such a long time ... well. So. With no further ado.
Title: Kama Sokka
Author: Me!
Rating: Up to NC17, this chapter R
Pairing: Zuko/Sokka
Warnings: None for this chapter.
Summary: Who would have thought Fire Lord Zuko would be such a workaholic? Sokka plots to get him to unwind.
Bored. Bored, bored, bored. Sokka played with his sword, waiting outside the council chambers for Zuko - strike that, Fire Lord Zuko - to come out of his current meeting. It had been nothing but meetings for the past month, it seemed like. Gone were the days of sleeping out under the stars, or in the old Fire Lord’s beach house, or in the abandoned Air Temple. Their little group had dispersed - Sokka stayed with Zuko in the Fire Nation Capitol, Toph had gone back to her parents before going to help rebuild Ba Sing Se, and Katara and Aang had returned with Hakoda to the Southern Water Tribe.
Sokka stayed in the Fire Nation because he was fucking Zuko - strike that, Fire Lord Zuko. He could admit it, even if no one else in the country would. He was officially (and in polite company) an ambassador from the Southern Water Tribe, though if what he had been required to do so far was any indication, the Fire Nation liked to keep their foreign ambassadors behind locked doors. He hadn’t been involved in any ambassador-ing since he had signed up for the job. This was because, in less polite company, Sokka was a consort. He still laughed whenever he heard that word. It didn’t say anything about what he did, just the fact that Zuko fucked him. He privately thought that it made him sound like a girl, like someone who would make little baby Fire Lords. It was enough to make him prefer his even more unofficial title, uttered only in the rudest company where Zuko wouldn’t hear of it: Zuko’s whore. That, at least, was direct and to the point, no messing around with euphemisms or anything. Not that Sokka didn’t enjoy a good naughty euphemism as much as the next guy. He just hated the way the other members of the court beat around the bush, pretending he was something he wasn’t and all the while whispering behind his back.
And it wasn’t as if he had been doing much whoring either. Zuko was gone before he woke up in the mornings, away all day in those tedious meetings, trying to get his country back in working order again. He never returned until late in the evening, looking like he had just fought another few rounds with his crazy sister. Sokka managed to get him to eat a bit, but then he just crashed, totally unconscious until the next day when the whole thing started all over again.
It was nothing like Sokka had expected. He’d expected sleeping until noon, being served by beautiful girls (or Zuko, that would work too, oh yes, that would work just fine), and just rolling around in bed all day long with his boyfriend. Maybe having beautiful girls (or Zuko) drop grapes into his mouth and fan him, or rub oil all over him and do naughty things. There had to be cool perks like that to being a Fire Lord and a Fire Lord’s ambassador/consort/fucktoy, right?
Well, he’d been wrong about that. There was a severe lack of beautiful girls (and Zuko), for one thing. And for another, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the whole Fire Nation court just plain didn’t like him. They were polite enough, especially when Zuko was around, but they weren’t warm and cuddly and friendly. Not that Sokka wanted to cuddle with anyone but his firebender, but he did miss having friends. It pretty much left him alone all day, wandering through the palace or taking hikes or practicing with his sword. And that was fine for a little bit, but damn it, he missed Zuko. He’d been getting daily doses before the final showdown, but ever since Zuko had become the new Fire Lord, the best he’d gotten was a good-night kiss. If he’d ever thought that life after the war would be all sea-plums and flowers, he’d been proven wrong.
He sighed, drawing patterns in the sand of the courtyard outside the chambers with the tip of his sword. More than anything, he just wanted Zuko to himself again. What was the good of having the Fire Lord for a boyfriend if you never got to see him?
“You look very thoughtful.”
Sokka turned, recognizing Zuko’s uncle, Iroh. The old man smiled and sat next to him on the bench, looking out over the courtyard. Of course, he still ran that tea shop in Ba Sing Se, but he made frequent visits to the Fire Nation capitol to help Zuko with the whole Fire Lord thing. Sokka liked the guy. He was pretty cool, not nearly as uptight as the rest of the Fire Nation. Plus, he was part of the White Lotus, and Piandao liked him, so he was automatically awesome in Sokka’s book. And, just in case he weren’t cool enough, he made the best tea Sokka had ever tasted.
“Hey, Iroh,” Sokka said, grinning back. “Why aren’t you in there with all the fiery stiffs?”
“I don’t like politics very much,” Iroh said with a conspiratorial wink. “Too many people to please, and all of them disagree. I think I will leave that to my nephew.”
Sokka looked away, feeling down again with the mention of Zuko. It was still hours until sundown, and Zuko wouldn’t be out for a long time. He sighed again, drawing more patterns in the sand.
“Come have some tea with me,” Iroh said, placing a gentle hand on Sokka’s shoulder. “It is always nice to have someone to share tea with.”
Sokka glanced at him, then nodded slowly, standing and sheathing his sword. “Yeah, I guess.” He followed Iroh back to the older man’s room, which was a little smaller and less opulent than Zuko’s, but nice and cozy. The walls were decorated with, what else, scrolls about tea and peace and all that stuff. Iroh had him sit at a small table, going to heat the water for the tea before joining him again.
“You seem troubled,” Iroh said, leaving it open-ended so Sokka could fill in the rest.
Sokka bent, giving into the need to speak to someone. “I’ve barely seen Zuko in a month,” he blurted, looking down at the smoothly polished table. “And I know he’s busy, like with really important stuff, but I really miss him, and I thought that now that he’s, y’know, Fire Lord and all, that we’d have time to hang out or something.” Because no way was he admitting out loud to Zuko’s uncle, of all people, that they were having sex. “But he’s always busy, and I never see him. I know that makes me bad, I mean he’s busy fixing his country and I know that’s important, but I just … wish I could see the guy once in a while.”
“Hmm,” Iroh said, calmly and unhelpfully, as he poured the water for the tea.
“And honestly, it’s kind of boring just wandering around all by myself,” Sokka continued. “If I had something to do, then maybe just waiting around for Zuko to get out of all his meetings wouldn’t be so bad. But there’s nothing for me to do. They won’t let me do any ambassador stuff.”
Iroh nodded, still unhelpful, and passed over Sokka’s cup. “My nephew is very busy. He has always taken himself too seriously, and has not allowed himself room for mistakes. He rarely takes time for the simple pleasures in life. Like tea.”
Sokka blew lightly on his cup, pushing away the steam, and sipped. The tea was perfect, light and fragrant and just slightly sweet. He glanced up at the old man, who was still focused on his teapot. It looked like a proverb was brewing, just steeping until it was the proper potency to be passed on.
“Zuko has just discovered his new responsibilities, and like I expected, he is not allowing any time for himself,” Iroh went on. “He feels obligated to repair the damages his forefathers created, and rightly so. He will make a good Fire Lord.” Iroh paused, taking a sip of his tea and sighing contentedly. “But he still needs to learn that he is only human, and that even the Fire Lord must take a break.”
“Yeah, I know,” Sokka said, taking another swallow of tea. “But the guy is like a machine. He never doesn’t work, now. And it’s not like I can ask him to take a day off.”
Iroh nodded thoughtfully, still being enigmatic. He bent a small flame into the palm of his hand. “Zuko is like a little flame, just starting to grow into a huge fire. But he is burning too hot and too fast. Soon, he will burn out, and there will be nothing left for him to burn.” The flame slowly grew larger and hotter until Iroh finally snuffed it out, closing and opening his hand and starting a new flame. “If he can learn that the best fires burn long and slow, however, then he will last and last.”
Sokka blinked, then frowned. “So, what does that mean? He has to set himself on fire?”
Iroh smiled and shook his head. “Zuko needs to learn to slow down and take time for himself. He is working so hard that he will soon break under the pressure.”
“So why can’t you help him?” Sokka pressed. “You’re his uncle, you’re supposed to be here to help him.”
“There is only so much I can do,” Iroh said, chuckling. “I am his uncle. Why should he listen to me? I think perhaps such a suggestion would be better received if it came from someone closer to his own age.”
“You mean me?” Sokka squawked, almost dropping his tea. “But … I don’t see him, and he’ll never listen to me, he’ll just want to keep working…”
Iroh shrugged. “I never said it was bound to work. You are one of the few people he will listen to, I think. It’s worth a try!”
Sokka grumbled, looking away and finishing his tea. He’d hoped that the old guy would have some better advice - like how to keep Zuko from melting his face when he suggested taking a day off. Iroh didn’t seem to realize just how dedicated Zuko had been for the past few weeks.
“I think I might have an idea for how you can spend your time, anyway,” Iroh said, breaking the silence and climbing to his feet.
Sokka sighed and got up too, stretching a little. “Scrubbing royal bathrooms sounds better than what I’ve been doing,” he said. “Not like that’s my first choice, I’m just sayin’.”
Iroh gave a full, round laugh, leading Sokka out of the room and down another hallway. “Hopefully nothing that tedious!” he said. “And I doubt my nephew would like that much.”
Sokka smiled slightly. “So where are we going?”
“My private library,” Iroh explained, taking out a key and unlocking an unadorned door along the hallway.
Okay. Iroh had instantly become about ten times cooler in Sokka’s book. Eyes wide and jaw gaping, he looked around. He hadn’t seen so many books since that amazing Earth Kingdom library. “This is fantastic,” he said, still in shock.
Iroh gave that knowing little smile again. “I thought you might like it. I have collected lots of books while I was traveling, but I never have anyone to share them with. Do you like to read?”
Sokka hardly paid attention to the question, already nose-deep in the first book that had caught his eye - something about dragons. “This is fantastic,” he repeated, totally absorbed in the book.
Iroh chuckled again, patting his shoulder lightly. “I will leave you to the books, then.” He left quietly, shutting the door behind him.
Sokka still barely noticed, somehow finding his way to a chair and devouring his book. Hours passed before he moved again, looking up from the book to see the sun setting in the window to the library. Zuko was bound to get out soon, and then he could try what Iroh suggested and see if he could get Zuko to take a day off to indulge in the little things in life, which really, really included getting naked and having hot firebender sex. Sokka set his book down and jumped out of his seat, locking the door to the library behind him, and rushed off to meet Zuko.
His timing was perfect; the Fire Nation stiffs were just coming out of the chamber, looking constipated and disgruntled as usual. “Hotman,” Sokka greeted each one, nodding at them and unable to keep the smile off his face. “Hotman. Hotman. Oh, hellooooo, Hotman.”
He sidled up to Zuko, wrapping an arm around his waist. Ah, that was better, right where he belonged. He helped Zuko back to their room and sat him on the bed, kneeling to get his shoes off. He gently unlaced them and pulled them off, stroking down Zuko’s legs as he did so.
“Long day again?” he asked quietly.
“Pretty much,” Zuko said, sounding tired.
Sokka looked up, watching him take his hair down. He was of the personal opinion that Zuko looked really damn hot with longer hair (or hair, period). It was nice and shaggy and got in his eyes, and that was sexy. And then, when they were fucking, it provided a really nice handle, and it got all tangled and sweaty, and it kept flopping in his eyes … Sokka shook himself a little. Now was not a good time to let his hormones take over. Sexy though his hair might be, Zuko looked really tired. There was a ring of darkness under his good eye. Sokka could feel the tension, even in his legs.
He sighed, standing to help Zuko off with the rest of the Fire Lord finery. Now that was one thing he really didn’t get … how come the traditional Fire Nation stuff was so heavy and hot? Their country was hot enough on its own. It seemed useless and uncomfortable to just add to it. And even worse, it made Zuko look bulky and weird, not at all like the slender, good-looking guy Sokka knew and loved. Not to mention it was probably weighing down Zuko’s mood even worse than usual.
At last, he got Zuko down to just his pants and brought the food in. Zuko was too stressed to have enough appetite, but Sokka made him eat, just like every night. They fed Zuko well, which also meant feeding Sokka well, so Sokka shoveled down his food with appropriate vigor. He had quickly gotten used to the spicy Fire Nation cuisine, though he still occasionally craved his Gran-Gran’s stewed sea-prunes. And he watched Zuko eat what he was served, not letting him go until the food was gone.
At last, food gone and lights dimmed for the evening, Sokka let Zuko flop back in bed to rest. He curled up behind his firebender, breathing in the smoky smell of his hair and feeling the large starburst scar in the middle of his chest. It was faded, not nearly as violent as the scar on his face, thanks mostly to Katara’s healing water. The skin was still a little uneven, slightly smoother than the rest of his skin, and Sokka knew it ached a bit when the weather was particularly damp.
“Take a day off with me,” he said quietly, lips brushing Zuko’s neck. “You’re so stressed and tired. You need some time off.”
“Sokka,” Zuko said, in that tired, irritated voice he sometimes used.
“I’ve barely seen you the past couple of weeks, and when I do see you you’re always wiped out. Come on, just a day. Sleep in and relax with me.”
“Sokka,” Zuko said again, a little sharper. “You know I can’t. I have a country to run. I can’t afford to take a day off.”
Sokka got a little quieter, but didn’t back down. “Your country can survive one day without you. But if you work yourself to death, your country won’t have you.”
Zuko was silent for a moment, and Sokka almost thought he had won. But then … “I’m tired, and I have to get up early. Let me sleep.”
“Fine,” Sokka said, still quiet. He nuzzled deeper into Zuko’s hair. “Good night.”
Zuko didn’t respond, breathing already deeply and evenly as he slept. Sokka sighed and shut his eyes, letting himself drift to sleep as well.
Title: Kama Sokka
Author: Me!
Rating: Up to NC17, this chapter R
Pairing: Zuko/Sokka
Warnings: None for this chapter.
Summary: Who would have thought Fire Lord Zuko would be such a workaholic? Sokka plots to get him to unwind.
Bored. Bored, bored, bored. Sokka played with his sword, waiting outside the council chambers for Zuko - strike that, Fire Lord Zuko - to come out of his current meeting. It had been nothing but meetings for the past month, it seemed like. Gone were the days of sleeping out under the stars, or in the old Fire Lord’s beach house, or in the abandoned Air Temple. Their little group had dispersed - Sokka stayed with Zuko in the Fire Nation Capitol, Toph had gone back to her parents before going to help rebuild Ba Sing Se, and Katara and Aang had returned with Hakoda to the Southern Water Tribe.
Sokka stayed in the Fire Nation because he was fucking Zuko - strike that, Fire Lord Zuko. He could admit it, even if no one else in the country would. He was officially (and in polite company) an ambassador from the Southern Water Tribe, though if what he had been required to do so far was any indication, the Fire Nation liked to keep their foreign ambassadors behind locked doors. He hadn’t been involved in any ambassador-ing since he had signed up for the job. This was because, in less polite company, Sokka was a consort. He still laughed whenever he heard that word. It didn’t say anything about what he did, just the fact that Zuko fucked him. He privately thought that it made him sound like a girl, like someone who would make little baby Fire Lords. It was enough to make him prefer his even more unofficial title, uttered only in the rudest company where Zuko wouldn’t hear of it: Zuko’s whore. That, at least, was direct and to the point, no messing around with euphemisms or anything. Not that Sokka didn’t enjoy a good naughty euphemism as much as the next guy. He just hated the way the other members of the court beat around the bush, pretending he was something he wasn’t and all the while whispering behind his back.
And it wasn’t as if he had been doing much whoring either. Zuko was gone before he woke up in the mornings, away all day in those tedious meetings, trying to get his country back in working order again. He never returned until late in the evening, looking like he had just fought another few rounds with his crazy sister. Sokka managed to get him to eat a bit, but then he just crashed, totally unconscious until the next day when the whole thing started all over again.
It was nothing like Sokka had expected. He’d expected sleeping until noon, being served by beautiful girls (or Zuko, that would work too, oh yes, that would work just fine), and just rolling around in bed all day long with his boyfriend. Maybe having beautiful girls (or Zuko) drop grapes into his mouth and fan him, or rub oil all over him and do naughty things. There had to be cool perks like that to being a Fire Lord and a Fire Lord’s ambassador/consort/fucktoy, right?
Well, he’d been wrong about that. There was a severe lack of beautiful girls (and Zuko), for one thing. And for another, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the whole Fire Nation court just plain didn’t like him. They were polite enough, especially when Zuko was around, but they weren’t warm and cuddly and friendly. Not that Sokka wanted to cuddle with anyone but his firebender, but he did miss having friends. It pretty much left him alone all day, wandering through the palace or taking hikes or practicing with his sword. And that was fine for a little bit, but damn it, he missed Zuko. He’d been getting daily doses before the final showdown, but ever since Zuko had become the new Fire Lord, the best he’d gotten was a good-night kiss. If he’d ever thought that life after the war would be all sea-plums and flowers, he’d been proven wrong.
He sighed, drawing patterns in the sand of the courtyard outside the chambers with the tip of his sword. More than anything, he just wanted Zuko to himself again. What was the good of having the Fire Lord for a boyfriend if you never got to see him?
“You look very thoughtful.”
Sokka turned, recognizing Zuko’s uncle, Iroh. The old man smiled and sat next to him on the bench, looking out over the courtyard. Of course, he still ran that tea shop in Ba Sing Se, but he made frequent visits to the Fire Nation capitol to help Zuko with the whole Fire Lord thing. Sokka liked the guy. He was pretty cool, not nearly as uptight as the rest of the Fire Nation. Plus, he was part of the White Lotus, and Piandao liked him, so he was automatically awesome in Sokka’s book. And, just in case he weren’t cool enough, he made the best tea Sokka had ever tasted.
“Hey, Iroh,” Sokka said, grinning back. “Why aren’t you in there with all the fiery stiffs?”
“I don’t like politics very much,” Iroh said with a conspiratorial wink. “Too many people to please, and all of them disagree. I think I will leave that to my nephew.”
Sokka looked away, feeling down again with the mention of Zuko. It was still hours until sundown, and Zuko wouldn’t be out for a long time. He sighed again, drawing more patterns in the sand.
“Come have some tea with me,” Iroh said, placing a gentle hand on Sokka’s shoulder. “It is always nice to have someone to share tea with.”
Sokka glanced at him, then nodded slowly, standing and sheathing his sword. “Yeah, I guess.” He followed Iroh back to the older man’s room, which was a little smaller and less opulent than Zuko’s, but nice and cozy. The walls were decorated with, what else, scrolls about tea and peace and all that stuff. Iroh had him sit at a small table, going to heat the water for the tea before joining him again.
“You seem troubled,” Iroh said, leaving it open-ended so Sokka could fill in the rest.
Sokka bent, giving into the need to speak to someone. “I’ve barely seen Zuko in a month,” he blurted, looking down at the smoothly polished table. “And I know he’s busy, like with really important stuff, but I really miss him, and I thought that now that he’s, y’know, Fire Lord and all, that we’d have time to hang out or something.” Because no way was he admitting out loud to Zuko’s uncle, of all people, that they were having sex. “But he’s always busy, and I never see him. I know that makes me bad, I mean he’s busy fixing his country and I know that’s important, but I just … wish I could see the guy once in a while.”
“Hmm,” Iroh said, calmly and unhelpfully, as he poured the water for the tea.
“And honestly, it’s kind of boring just wandering around all by myself,” Sokka continued. “If I had something to do, then maybe just waiting around for Zuko to get out of all his meetings wouldn’t be so bad. But there’s nothing for me to do. They won’t let me do any ambassador stuff.”
Iroh nodded, still unhelpful, and passed over Sokka’s cup. “My nephew is very busy. He has always taken himself too seriously, and has not allowed himself room for mistakes. He rarely takes time for the simple pleasures in life. Like tea.”
Sokka blew lightly on his cup, pushing away the steam, and sipped. The tea was perfect, light and fragrant and just slightly sweet. He glanced up at the old man, who was still focused on his teapot. It looked like a proverb was brewing, just steeping until it was the proper potency to be passed on.
“Zuko has just discovered his new responsibilities, and like I expected, he is not allowing any time for himself,” Iroh went on. “He feels obligated to repair the damages his forefathers created, and rightly so. He will make a good Fire Lord.” Iroh paused, taking a sip of his tea and sighing contentedly. “But he still needs to learn that he is only human, and that even the Fire Lord must take a break.”
“Yeah, I know,” Sokka said, taking another swallow of tea. “But the guy is like a machine. He never doesn’t work, now. And it’s not like I can ask him to take a day off.”
Iroh nodded thoughtfully, still being enigmatic. He bent a small flame into the palm of his hand. “Zuko is like a little flame, just starting to grow into a huge fire. But he is burning too hot and too fast. Soon, he will burn out, and there will be nothing left for him to burn.” The flame slowly grew larger and hotter until Iroh finally snuffed it out, closing and opening his hand and starting a new flame. “If he can learn that the best fires burn long and slow, however, then he will last and last.”
Sokka blinked, then frowned. “So, what does that mean? He has to set himself on fire?”
Iroh smiled and shook his head. “Zuko needs to learn to slow down and take time for himself. He is working so hard that he will soon break under the pressure.”
“So why can’t you help him?” Sokka pressed. “You’re his uncle, you’re supposed to be here to help him.”
“There is only so much I can do,” Iroh said, chuckling. “I am his uncle. Why should he listen to me? I think perhaps such a suggestion would be better received if it came from someone closer to his own age.”
“You mean me?” Sokka squawked, almost dropping his tea. “But … I don’t see him, and he’ll never listen to me, he’ll just want to keep working…”
Iroh shrugged. “I never said it was bound to work. You are one of the few people he will listen to, I think. It’s worth a try!”
Sokka grumbled, looking away and finishing his tea. He’d hoped that the old guy would have some better advice - like how to keep Zuko from melting his face when he suggested taking a day off. Iroh didn’t seem to realize just how dedicated Zuko had been for the past few weeks.
“I think I might have an idea for how you can spend your time, anyway,” Iroh said, breaking the silence and climbing to his feet.
Sokka sighed and got up too, stretching a little. “Scrubbing royal bathrooms sounds better than what I’ve been doing,” he said. “Not like that’s my first choice, I’m just sayin’.”
Iroh gave a full, round laugh, leading Sokka out of the room and down another hallway. “Hopefully nothing that tedious!” he said. “And I doubt my nephew would like that much.”
Sokka smiled slightly. “So where are we going?”
“My private library,” Iroh explained, taking out a key and unlocking an unadorned door along the hallway.
Okay. Iroh had instantly become about ten times cooler in Sokka’s book. Eyes wide and jaw gaping, he looked around. He hadn’t seen so many books since that amazing Earth Kingdom library. “This is fantastic,” he said, still in shock.
Iroh gave that knowing little smile again. “I thought you might like it. I have collected lots of books while I was traveling, but I never have anyone to share them with. Do you like to read?”
Sokka hardly paid attention to the question, already nose-deep in the first book that had caught his eye - something about dragons. “This is fantastic,” he repeated, totally absorbed in the book.
Iroh chuckled again, patting his shoulder lightly. “I will leave you to the books, then.” He left quietly, shutting the door behind him.
Sokka still barely noticed, somehow finding his way to a chair and devouring his book. Hours passed before he moved again, looking up from the book to see the sun setting in the window to the library. Zuko was bound to get out soon, and then he could try what Iroh suggested and see if he could get Zuko to take a day off to indulge in the little things in life, which really, really included getting naked and having hot firebender sex. Sokka set his book down and jumped out of his seat, locking the door to the library behind him, and rushed off to meet Zuko.
His timing was perfect; the Fire Nation stiffs were just coming out of the chamber, looking constipated and disgruntled as usual. “Hotman,” Sokka greeted each one, nodding at them and unable to keep the smile off his face. “Hotman. Hotman. Oh, hellooooo, Hotman.”
He sidled up to Zuko, wrapping an arm around his waist. Ah, that was better, right where he belonged. He helped Zuko back to their room and sat him on the bed, kneeling to get his shoes off. He gently unlaced them and pulled them off, stroking down Zuko’s legs as he did so.
“Long day again?” he asked quietly.
“Pretty much,” Zuko said, sounding tired.
Sokka looked up, watching him take his hair down. He was of the personal opinion that Zuko looked really damn hot with longer hair (or hair, period). It was nice and shaggy and got in his eyes, and that was sexy. And then, when they were fucking, it provided a really nice handle, and it got all tangled and sweaty, and it kept flopping in his eyes … Sokka shook himself a little. Now was not a good time to let his hormones take over. Sexy though his hair might be, Zuko looked really tired. There was a ring of darkness under his good eye. Sokka could feel the tension, even in his legs.
He sighed, standing to help Zuko off with the rest of the Fire Lord finery. Now that was one thing he really didn’t get … how come the traditional Fire Nation stuff was so heavy and hot? Their country was hot enough on its own. It seemed useless and uncomfortable to just add to it. And even worse, it made Zuko look bulky and weird, not at all like the slender, good-looking guy Sokka knew and loved. Not to mention it was probably weighing down Zuko’s mood even worse than usual.
At last, he got Zuko down to just his pants and brought the food in. Zuko was too stressed to have enough appetite, but Sokka made him eat, just like every night. They fed Zuko well, which also meant feeding Sokka well, so Sokka shoveled down his food with appropriate vigor. He had quickly gotten used to the spicy Fire Nation cuisine, though he still occasionally craved his Gran-Gran’s stewed sea-prunes. And he watched Zuko eat what he was served, not letting him go until the food was gone.
At last, food gone and lights dimmed for the evening, Sokka let Zuko flop back in bed to rest. He curled up behind his firebender, breathing in the smoky smell of his hair and feeling the large starburst scar in the middle of his chest. It was faded, not nearly as violent as the scar on his face, thanks mostly to Katara’s healing water. The skin was still a little uneven, slightly smoother than the rest of his skin, and Sokka knew it ached a bit when the weather was particularly damp.
“Take a day off with me,” he said quietly, lips brushing Zuko’s neck. “You’re so stressed and tired. You need some time off.”
“Sokka,” Zuko said, in that tired, irritated voice he sometimes used.
“I’ve barely seen you the past couple of weeks, and when I do see you you’re always wiped out. Come on, just a day. Sleep in and relax with me.”
“Sokka,” Zuko said again, a little sharper. “You know I can’t. I have a country to run. I can’t afford to take a day off.”
Sokka got a little quieter, but didn’t back down. “Your country can survive one day without you. But if you work yourself to death, your country won’t have you.”
Zuko was silent for a moment, and Sokka almost thought he had won. But then … “I’m tired, and I have to get up early. Let me sleep.”
“Fine,” Sokka said, still quiet. He nuzzled deeper into Zuko’s hair. “Good night.”
Zuko didn’t respond, breathing already deeply and evenly as he slept. Sokka sighed and shut his eyes, letting himself drift to sleep as well.