Chapter Text
When Sokka gets home he's expecting soft lamplight and the obnoxious jazz music that Zuko insists on blasting no matter how much he complains about how terrible it is.
He gets nothing except the faint blue light from their shitty television and stale silence. Usually Zuko is up and in his arms the minute Sokka chucks his keys into the bowl they keep by the door. There's no one to greet him today although he has a sneaking suspicion the black blob curled under a pile of fluffy blankets is Zuko.
"Honey?" Sokka took off his jacket and rounded the couch to give the blanket cocoon a few experimental pokes.
Zuko shuffles and sticks out his blotchy, red face, "Leave me alone, I'm pretending I don't exist."
"Is that so?" Sokka lifted Zuko's head and sat and positioned Zuko's head in his lap. "Is it disassociation Tuesday already babe?"
"I'll show you disassociation Tuesday."
The words didn't have any bite. Sokka saw right through them to the underlying sadness underneath. He softened his voice, "Why are you upset honey?"
"I'm not upset."
Ah, avoidance tactic number one, denial.
"Clearly you're not happy."
"Well, no one is happy all the time."
Avoidance tactic number two, deflection.
"We're talking about you."
"It doesn't matter."
Avoidance tactic number three, despondence.
Sokka pulled Zuko out of his protective shell and settled him into his lap for better contact. "You're sad about something. The soulful sax of Kenny G isn't torturing me, you were crying, and you're watching Bee Movie. You only watch the Bee Movie when you're upset. What's wrong? You can talk about it." He nuzzled the side of Zuko's face hoping it helped get him to talk.
"I visited my dad today."
Zuko felt Sokka's hands dig into his sides.
"Sorry, sorry. I'd just like to kill him is all."
Zuko brought a hand to Sokka's face, softly rubbing at the skin under his eye, "He didn't say anything to me, but it hurts." He paused to take a breath when he felt his voice crack, "I just want to know where my mother is. It's the least he could give to me after all that he's put me through."
"Baby, I'm sorry you have to go through this." Sokka brought their foreheads together and looked him in the eyes. "I'll never understand the pain you're going through, but I love you. I'll even watch the Bee Movie again and pretend to laugh with you when they disaster land the plane."
"The Bee Movie is a God Tier masterpiece and I feel like you don't appreciate it for the superior cinema that it is. Shrek could never." Zuko flipped them so that they were laying down and he could rest against Sokka's chest and listen to the steady beat of his heart. "Hold me, I'm emotionally distraught."
Sokka rolled his eyes, wrapping his arms around him and pressing a kiss into his hair, "Want me to call in dinner?"
"No need. I made your favorite."
Sokka immediately perked up. "Coconut shrimp curry?"
"Yep."
"With egg rolls?" He asked gleefully.
"Uh-huh."
"And what's the occasion?"
Zuko curled into the crook of Sokka's neck and teased him with a few featherlight kisses, "The season premiere of Grey's Anatomy is tonight. Your favorite."
Sokka squealed, pulling Zuko closer in a bone-crushing hug, "You remembered! I love you so much! Keep it up, and I just might make you my husband."
"We're already married honey," sighed Zuko.
"Good. Now you have to put up with me forever. Hang on, I'll go get the food." He untangled himself and made to leave, but stopped when he felt Zuko pull on his hand. He turned back, "What is it, baby?"
"You always make me feel better." Zuko kissed the knuckles of Sokka's hand and brought it to his face, "Thank you."
Sokka felt his heart soften. He really, truly loved his husband with everything he had. "Of course. I want you to be happy." He tilted Zuko's face up, pulling him in for a deep kiss. Kissing Zuko was one of Sokka's favorite things. He enjoyed it more than even meat and ice hockey. He pulled away when he felt his stomach growl. "Instead of Netflix and Chill, I guess we're gonna have Disease and Drama."
Zuko groaned. "That's the best you could come up with? Terrible. Go reheat the food and then stand in a corner and reflect on your horrible jokes."
Sokka winked, "Anything for you, hater."