Schmoop Bingo -- Daddy Two
Title: Daddy Two
Prompt: Pregnancy - First Ultrasound
Medium: fic
Rating: K
Pairing: Sokka/Zuko
Summary: Bronzerider Z'ko weathers yet another trial the weyrling master never warned him of. Written for avocado_love in her Queen Flight universe, an Avatar: The Last Airbender/Dragonriders of Pern crossover. Part of schmoop_bingo .
Hurry, Z'ko.
Z'ko scowled as he worked the flight harness off Honorath, one strap and buckle at a time. "This would go faster if you would sit still." Honorath rumbled in response but stopped shifting from one foot to another.
Aquariath -
"I know. 'Aquariath is irritable.' Her rider is irritable, too, and I'd just as soon avoid her until she's cleared for flight again." Z'ko released the final buckle and slid the harness from Honorath's neck, then slapped the great bronze dragon affectionately. "Go see your mate, you great beast." This time, Honorath's rumble held approval and apology as he lumbered down the weyr towards the ledge and Aquariath beyond. Z'ko watched him go, then turned to the harness and sighed.
Sokka found him as he rubbed oil into a newer strap that Honorath had accused of chafing. He dropped a kiss atop Z'ko's head, then moved to sit opposite him. "Any problems this time?" he asked as he took up another strap.
Z'ko shook his head and leaned back on his hands. "Honorath said that this one -" he held up the offending strap "- needed to be oiled, but it worked well otherwise."
"Well? Only well?"
Z'ko snorted. "It was the paradigm of perfection, Journeyman."
"That's right, Bronzerider." Sokka finished his inspection and helped Z'ko set the flight harness on its rack. "And don't you forget it. Now." He turned to Z'ko, worked his hands under the heavy wherhide jacket to slide it off Z'ko's shoulders. "If you're done being a big damn hero, I can think of ways to reward a big damn hero." He leaned in for a kiss, then wrinkled his nose. "But first, a bath."
As afternoon deepened into evening, they descended the stairs together to search out Honorath, who of course lay twined with Aquariath on her sunny ledge. He rumbled a greeting to both men as they approached, but Z'ko steeled himself. Katara had been increasingly foul-tempered as first Aquariath's latest clutch and then her own pregnancy prevented them from flying with the Queen's wing. She now sat between Aquariath's forelegs, a book forgotten beside her as blue Appath gently nosed her rounded stomach. A'ang perched beside her, an exultant grin on his face that only grew larger as he saw Z'ko and Sokka.
"The baby started kicking, and Appath says he can hear it!" he called.
Beside Z'ko, Sokka whooped and broke into a run, almost shoving A'ang aside to place his hands on Katara's belly. All three dragons rumbled in protest, but Sokka ignored them and overhead Goldie shrieked with excitement. Katara rolled her eyes but Z'ko saw the smile as Sokka gushed, once again, over his "niece-nephew."
"Can Appath tell if he's a boy or a girl? Have you thought more about names? Because I really think that -"
"Sokka!" Katara's protest held laughter. "He only just started listening, and now you're in the way."
"Really? Because I think -"
"Sit down." She dragged him down to sit beside her.
Z'ko hid his smile and leaned against Honorath's smooth flank, watching the newest weyrlings scrub and oil their dragons beside the weyr's lake. After the first time Honorath caught Aquariath in flight, when Sokka had left the weyr without even a goodbye, Z'ko had vowed never again, but after two more flights he'd become resigned to Honorath's attachment to the great queen. He still held his breath, every time the subject arose, but Sokka seemed to have truly accepted the duties Z'ko held as a bronze rider.
Z'ko slid down Honorath to sit on the sun-warmed stone. The last weyrlings emerged from the lake, shaking themselves and spreading their wings to dry. A herdbeast shrieked, then fell silent as a brown dragon lazily carried it aloft to the heights.
Z'ko.
The voice was low and deep and resonant, like Honorath but unfamiliar. He looked up to see Appath staring at him as Sokka and A'ang fussed over Katara. Before he could articulate his surprise - dragons rarely spoke to other riders - Appath continued.
The child is yours.
Hours later, Appath's voice still sounded in Z'ko's mind.
The child is yours.
He tossed the rest of his drink back, fumbled to pour another. He'd nearly lost Sokka once - what would this do? How would Sokka ever forgive him for this - for not only sleeping with Katara, but fathering her child. Their child. Their child.
You have sired a clutch, Honorath said carefully, resting his great head on his foreclaws and peering at Z'ko through the narrow doorway. A very small clutch, to be sure, but still one to be proud of.
Z'ko groaned and pressed the glass against his cheek. "It's not the same. Sokka is going to kill me. Katara is going to kill me." His head throbbed and the room swam about him as he closed his eyes. "A'ang will either kill me, or cry, and I'd frankly rather be killed."
"You'd rather be killed than what?"
Z'ko staggered to his feet as Sokka came through the doorway. Goldie perched on his shoulder, her eyes streaked with yellow worry. "Um."
"Honorath spoke to me, he said -" Sokka looked at the table, the empty wine-skin and half-empty bottle. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
The concern in his voice made Z'ko feel nauseous, guilt tearing at him. He struggled for an explanation, his head aching and his legs weak. "Don't go," he blurted.
Sokka was at his side as he staggered again and Honorath rumbled in distress. "Z'ko, what's wrong?" He caught Z'ko under the arm and guided him back to the bench. "What's wrong?"
Don't tell him! Z'ko thought, but his mouth was already moving. "Katara's child - Appath said - I should have known, why didn't I know?"
"Slow down, buddy. What about Katara's child? Is something wrong with her child?" The fear in his voice made Z'ko want to retch.
"It's mine."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Katara's child. The flight, I - I didn't mean to, Sokka, don't go, please don't go..." His breath hitched in a sob and Z'ko squeezed his eyes closed and turned away.
"Shhh…" Z'ko felt the terror ebb, slightly, as Sokka draped an arm around his shoulders. His other hand found Z'ko's. "Katara's child - you're the father? Not A'ang?"
Z'ko nodded, another sob shuddering through him. "That's what Appath said."
"And A'ang is mad?"
Z'ko blinked. "I… I don't know."
"Is Katara?"
"I don't know."
Sokka squeezed his shoulders again. "Then what's wrong?"
Z'ko stared at him, the motion making his head throb anew. Sokka watched him carefully, brows lifted in concern, not drawn together with anger. "You're mad."
"I am?"
"You're mad, and you'll leave, and - don't go, please don't go, I need you, I love you, I can't -"
"Z'ko." Sokka caught his chin and forced Z'ko to look at him again. "I'm not mad."
"But -"
"I told you ages ago that after Honorath does the bronze thing, you come home to me. And you always have."
"But -"
"Z'ko, did you really not think about the chance that you might knock up my sister?"
"I…"
"Right. Of course you didn't." Sokka heaved a deep sigh and leaned back against the table, pulling Z'ko against him. "You stupid dragonrider, you think I'd leave now?"
"I thought… I worried -"
"And you drank."
"I had a drink."
"A drink."
"… maybe two drinks."
Sokka laughed, then, and stood. Z'ko looked up at him, still afraid to hope - but Sokka wore a tolerant smile as he extended his hands. "Come on. Let's get you to bed, before you pass out here."
"You're not leaving?"
"No. I'm not leaving you." He took Z'ko's hands, then grinned. "Besides, it looks like I'll be Uncle Sokka and Daddy Two. Or Daddy Three, since A'ang probably gets to be Daddy One."
"You're not mad?"
"I'm not mad. But I will be, if you pass out at the table like a damned harper."
Z'ko let out his breath in relief and allowed Sokka to guide him to their sleeping quarters. Honorath rumbled and Z'ko heard his claws against the stone as he retreated to his weyr. "I love you," he blurted, then stumbled.
"I love you too. Now get in bed."
Z'ko obeyed, curling against Sokka and letting the last of the worry drain away as Sokka stroked his back. Daddy Two, he thought, then sleep claimed him.
Prompt: Pregnancy - First Ultrasound
Medium: fic
Rating: K
Pairing: Sokka/Zuko
Summary: Bronzerider Z'ko weathers yet another trial the weyrling master never warned him of. Written for avocado_love in her Queen Flight universe, an Avatar: The Last Airbender/Dragonriders of Pern crossover. Part of schmoop_bingo .
Hurry, Z'ko.
Z'ko scowled as he worked the flight harness off Honorath, one strap and buckle at a time. "This would go faster if you would sit still." Honorath rumbled in response but stopped shifting from one foot to another.
Aquariath -
"I know. 'Aquariath is irritable.' Her rider is irritable, too, and I'd just as soon avoid her until she's cleared for flight again." Z'ko released the final buckle and slid the harness from Honorath's neck, then slapped the great bronze dragon affectionately. "Go see your mate, you great beast." This time, Honorath's rumble held approval and apology as he lumbered down the weyr towards the ledge and Aquariath beyond. Z'ko watched him go, then turned to the harness and sighed.
Sokka found him as he rubbed oil into a newer strap that Honorath had accused of chafing. He dropped a kiss atop Z'ko's head, then moved to sit opposite him. "Any problems this time?" he asked as he took up another strap.
Z'ko shook his head and leaned back on his hands. "Honorath said that this one -" he held up the offending strap "- needed to be oiled, but it worked well otherwise."
"Well? Only well?"
Z'ko snorted. "It was the paradigm of perfection, Journeyman."
"That's right, Bronzerider." Sokka finished his inspection and helped Z'ko set the flight harness on its rack. "And don't you forget it. Now." He turned to Z'ko, worked his hands under the heavy wherhide jacket to slide it off Z'ko's shoulders. "If you're done being a big damn hero, I can think of ways to reward a big damn hero." He leaned in for a kiss, then wrinkled his nose. "But first, a bath."
As afternoon deepened into evening, they descended the stairs together to search out Honorath, who of course lay twined with Aquariath on her sunny ledge. He rumbled a greeting to both men as they approached, but Z'ko steeled himself. Katara had been increasingly foul-tempered as first Aquariath's latest clutch and then her own pregnancy prevented them from flying with the Queen's wing. She now sat between Aquariath's forelegs, a book forgotten beside her as blue Appath gently nosed her rounded stomach. A'ang perched beside her, an exultant grin on his face that only grew larger as he saw Z'ko and Sokka.
"The baby started kicking, and Appath says he can hear it!" he called.
Beside Z'ko, Sokka whooped and broke into a run, almost shoving A'ang aside to place his hands on Katara's belly. All three dragons rumbled in protest, but Sokka ignored them and overhead Goldie shrieked with excitement. Katara rolled her eyes but Z'ko saw the smile as Sokka gushed, once again, over his "niece-nephew."
"Can Appath tell if he's a boy or a girl? Have you thought more about names? Because I really think that -"
"Sokka!" Katara's protest held laughter. "He only just started listening, and now you're in the way."
"Really? Because I think -"
"Sit down." She dragged him down to sit beside her.
Z'ko hid his smile and leaned against Honorath's smooth flank, watching the newest weyrlings scrub and oil their dragons beside the weyr's lake. After the first time Honorath caught Aquariath in flight, when Sokka had left the weyr without even a goodbye, Z'ko had vowed never again, but after two more flights he'd become resigned to Honorath's attachment to the great queen. He still held his breath, every time the subject arose, but Sokka seemed to have truly accepted the duties Z'ko held as a bronze rider.
Z'ko slid down Honorath to sit on the sun-warmed stone. The last weyrlings emerged from the lake, shaking themselves and spreading their wings to dry. A herdbeast shrieked, then fell silent as a brown dragon lazily carried it aloft to the heights.
Z'ko.
The voice was low and deep and resonant, like Honorath but unfamiliar. He looked up to see Appath staring at him as Sokka and A'ang fussed over Katara. Before he could articulate his surprise - dragons rarely spoke to other riders - Appath continued.
The child is yours.
Hours later, Appath's voice still sounded in Z'ko's mind.
The child is yours.
He tossed the rest of his drink back, fumbled to pour another. He'd nearly lost Sokka once - what would this do? How would Sokka ever forgive him for this - for not only sleeping with Katara, but fathering her child. Their child. Their child.
You have sired a clutch, Honorath said carefully, resting his great head on his foreclaws and peering at Z'ko through the narrow doorway. A very small clutch, to be sure, but still one to be proud of.
Z'ko groaned and pressed the glass against his cheek. "It's not the same. Sokka is going to kill me. Katara is going to kill me." His head throbbed and the room swam about him as he closed his eyes. "A'ang will either kill me, or cry, and I'd frankly rather be killed."
"You'd rather be killed than what?"
Z'ko staggered to his feet as Sokka came through the doorway. Goldie perched on his shoulder, her eyes streaked with yellow worry. "Um."
"Honorath spoke to me, he said -" Sokka looked at the table, the empty wine-skin and half-empty bottle. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
The concern in his voice made Z'ko feel nauseous, guilt tearing at him. He struggled for an explanation, his head aching and his legs weak. "Don't go," he blurted.
Sokka was at his side as he staggered again and Honorath rumbled in distress. "Z'ko, what's wrong?" He caught Z'ko under the arm and guided him back to the bench. "What's wrong?"
Don't tell him! Z'ko thought, but his mouth was already moving. "Katara's child - Appath said - I should have known, why didn't I know?"
"Slow down, buddy. What about Katara's child? Is something wrong with her child?" The fear in his voice made Z'ko want to retch.
"It's mine."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Katara's child. The flight, I - I didn't mean to, Sokka, don't go, please don't go..." His breath hitched in a sob and Z'ko squeezed his eyes closed and turned away.
"Shhh…" Z'ko felt the terror ebb, slightly, as Sokka draped an arm around his shoulders. His other hand found Z'ko's. "Katara's child - you're the father? Not A'ang?"
Z'ko nodded, another sob shuddering through him. "That's what Appath said."
"And A'ang is mad?"
Z'ko blinked. "I… I don't know."
"Is Katara?"
"I don't know."
Sokka squeezed his shoulders again. "Then what's wrong?"
Z'ko stared at him, the motion making his head throb anew. Sokka watched him carefully, brows lifted in concern, not drawn together with anger. "You're mad."
"I am?"
"You're mad, and you'll leave, and - don't go, please don't go, I need you, I love you, I can't -"
"Z'ko." Sokka caught his chin and forced Z'ko to look at him again. "I'm not mad."
"But -"
"I told you ages ago that after Honorath does the bronze thing, you come home to me. And you always have."
"But -"
"Z'ko, did you really not think about the chance that you might knock up my sister?"
"I…"
"Right. Of course you didn't." Sokka heaved a deep sigh and leaned back against the table, pulling Z'ko against him. "You stupid dragonrider, you think I'd leave now?"
"I thought… I worried -"
"And you drank."
"I had a drink."
"A drink."
"… maybe two drinks."
Sokka laughed, then, and stood. Z'ko looked up at him, still afraid to hope - but Sokka wore a tolerant smile as he extended his hands. "Come on. Let's get you to bed, before you pass out here."
"You're not leaving?"
"No. I'm not leaving you." He took Z'ko's hands, then grinned. "Besides, it looks like I'll be Uncle Sokka and Daddy Two. Or Daddy Three, since A'ang probably gets to be Daddy One."
"You're not mad?"
"I'm not mad. But I will be, if you pass out at the table like a damned harper."
Z'ko let out his breath in relief and allowed Sokka to guide him to their sleeping quarters. Honorath rumbled and Z'ko heard his claws against the stone as he retreated to his weyr. "I love you," he blurted, then stumbled.
"I love you too. Now get in bed."
Z'ko obeyed, curling against Sokka and letting the last of the worry drain away as Sokka stroked his back. Daddy Two, he thought, then sleep claimed him.