Chapter Text
“Sokka.”
“Excuse me?”
Zuko had barely finished asking for their order when he gets this response. He’s already annoyed that someone had come in two minutes before closing and now they’re saying nonsense, but that annoyance disappears instantly when he looks up. He cannot believe his eyes and studies the customer more closely. It’s the annoyingly attractive frat boy from before. The one he told himself he was going to no longer interact with and stop thinking about. Except he cannot stop staring. He could feel his resolve crumbling with every passing second.
“My name, it’s Sokka.”
The customer, Sokka, looks down sheepishly. Is that a blush across his face? Sokka is dressed in a white button-down and jeans, and his hair (his hair! Zuko may be falling in love) is down, no longer in the usual ponytail. No wonder Zuko didn’t recognize him at first.
“Oh, okay…” Zuko actually does not know how to respond. Because while Sokka did look extra hot, the last time they had spoken a week ago, Zuko was convinced Sokka had no intentions of being friendly with him.
“May I have an americano?”
“Yeah sure, iced or hot?” Zuko couldn’t help but feel a wave of disappointment. Was he really here just for an americano?
Sokka looks up at Zuko in shock, like he can’t believe what he had just said. He starts waving his arms and sputters out, “No, no, sorry, that’s not why I’m here, sorry,”
“It’s- it’s okay, though I do need to close up really soon,” he responds, eyeing the potted plant that had appeared in Sokka’s left hand.
“Yeah, of course! I just was, uh, wondering if you could give me five minutes of your time please?”
Sorry Azula, sorry Uncle.
“Sure.”
...
Turns out the potted plant was a gift for Zuko and he was here to apologize for all of their previous encounters. Sokka uses his five minutes to throw every single detail possible at Zuko at an impressive speed - how his sleep deprivation and nerves caused his inability to have a single, normal conversation with Zuko and how he's dressed up today because he requires Zuko to have a better impression of him as he most certainly is not an annoying frat boy. He just happens to hang out with a few of them occasionally for basketball. Zuko can’t help but find Sokka’s explanations for his actions endearing, but he’s mostly just relieved that Sokka was not a frat boy with bad intentions. The one time Sokka hesitates is before explaining why he ordered such a bizarre drink during their first interaction.
“I knew it! I knew there was some kind of meaning behind that monstrous drink!” Zuko exclaims triumphantly once Sokka explains the story behind their first meeting.
Sokka has his head in his hands, embarrassed. His ears are bright red and Zuko reaches out to touch them, almost instinctively.
Sokka yelps. “Oh god, are they super red? This is so embarrassing.”
“You have very honest ears,” Zuko laughs, “It’s cute.”
Zuko’s laugh fades when he sees Sokka staring at him intently. Did he make a mistake? The intense eye contact was stressing him out.
Luckily, Sokka speaks before Zuko has a breakdown. “Can we go on a date?”
“Yes,” Zuko responds immediately. Kind of embarrassing.
“Cool.”
Sokka’s ears turn even redder.
…
“Good morning, what can I get for you today?”
“One strawberry frappe, please.”
“It’ll be out in just a few minutes.” Zuko flashes his boyfriend a smile before turning around to start working on the frappe.
Turns out Sokka does like strawberry frappes and Zuko loves that about him, along with everything else he’s fallen in love with the past 2 months. The way Sokka still kisses him like it’s their first, gentle and earnest, all while brushing the edge of his scar with his thumb (he knows how to be passionate and a little rough, too). The way he styles his hair down even though he dislikes the way the hair tickles his face because he knows Zuko likes it. The way he makes Zuko feel loved and special every single day, extinguishing all of his doubts and insecurities.
“Look what I added to your frappe.”
Sokka looks down at the rainbow sprinkles that Zuko had purchased the other day sitting on his drink.
“Why that’s mighty romantic of you, Barista Man,”
…
“Hey, I’ve always wondered… why did you suddenly ask me out on a date that night?”
“Because it was the first time I had heard you laugh and it sounded prettier than what I had been imagining. Plus, you called me cute.”
“You are ridiculous.”
