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“Still nothing?” Sokka asked, watching Zuko from where he was currently leaning against a tree. Some weird creepy spirit world tree. But a tree no less.
“No.” Zuko growled back, his frustration biting into his words and his face turned into a grimace. “Sorry.” He apologized, and Sokka knew he meant it.
Ever since the run in with the spirit that Aang had been chasing they were somehow stuck wherever it was they were. Zuko unable to bend and a chill settling over the field they had decided to camp by. They didn’t dare move any further from where they were deposited, hoping that whenever Aang could get them back they’d be ready for it.
Thankfully they had been tossed over with the supplies that Sokka had been holding. A sleep roll and some food, not much but more than enough to last them for a few days before they would be forced to forge in the spirit world.
They had been trying to start a fire for what seemed like hours, but in Zuko's ever increasing frustration it appeared that the spirit world did not allow him to produce even the tiniest spark.
Which had led to the awkward conversation that, without a fire, they would have to share the sleep roll. A suggestion that had led to both boys blushing and turning away from each other as Zuko furiously began attempting to bend.
It hadn’t helped that there was an ever growing amount of side stepping and dancing around the other as certain feelings became more focused and bright. Hotter than any fire that Zuko, or even Azula, could dare to achieve.
“It won’t be so bad.” Sokka attempted as he laid out the roll, trying desperately to avoid Zuko’s gaze lest he turn a deep shade of red. The unspoken words hanging heavy in his lungs almost seemed to suffocate him. The feelings of longing and the desperate urge to just touch him overpowered every singular thought Sokka had.
“Are you. Uh. Sure?” Zuko asked, and he could cringe at the embarrassment he felt course through his blood. He was royalty. He was the Firelord. He shouldn’t have even been here but the urge to spend time with Sokka outside the palace walls was overwhelming. And the spirit wrecking havoc was on fire nation land, so he said to himself that it was his duty at Firelord to see to the manner personally. Especially if it resulted from anything his family had done in the past 100 years.
“Yeah yeah.” Sokka spoke, the memory of too close lips and hot breath filled his mind. The last time they were in a confined space. The spar session that ended with Zuko pinned to the floor, Sokka’s face mere centimeters away from his, Sokka’s labored breath turned shallow as Zuko looked up at him with wide eyes. Sokka only had to lean down, to press their lips together and allow himself the one thing he truly desired in that moment.
And Zuko wanted it too. His hand coming up at his own accord, calloused flesh now resting against Sokka’s cheek. His name falling from Sokka’s lips like a prayer from the most devout follower. What was stopping them? Zuko’s name ghosting from Sokka’s lips, their moment interrupted by a guard pounding on the door. Separating the two instantly as Zuko gave permission to enter.
That was last week. The tension grew thick between them as shoulders brushed against the other. Fingers so close that they could hold hands.
“Okay.” Zuko had responded, breaking Sokka out of his trance. “Okay.” He repeated, hoping to create some illusion of resolve and professionalism.
The night had grown dark when they decided to sleep, the two crammed into the bedroll but they were warm, and that’s what mattered. Their chests flushed together as Zuko struggled to find a comfortable position.
He squirmed, their feet bumping together and legs intertwined and Sokka couldn’t help but let out a broken gasp.
“Sorry.” Zuko responded as he stilled, Sokka’s eyes shut as he struggled to remember to breathe.
“It’s. It’s okay.” Sokka stammered in response, willing his body to behave but it didn’t seem to listen to him. He opened his eyes and was faced with the beautiful sight of Zuko in front of him. Face red as he struggled to avert his gaze. And Sokka could only stare at him and smile.
“You’re cute when you blush.” Sokka blurted out, and he could have kicked himself from the way Zuko’s face deepened. “Not that uh. I think you’re cute. I mean you are but like. Not like a polar bear dog or a fire ferret cute. I mean.” He stopped, Sokka knew better than to continue to speak lest he make more of a fool of himself. That’s all he was. A fool. And Zuko the prince.
“It’s okay.” Zuko replied, a soft smile on his lips and Sokka could get lost in the way his face seemed to glow. “You’re cute, too.” He couldn’t help but add on. As if that would make the conversation less awkward.
Sokka laughed, a sound so infectious that Zuko couldn’t help but join in. The two giggling under spirit world stars and for once they forgot who they truly were.
And just like that sparring session all those days ago, their faces so close their foreheads touched. Shallow breathing as a shaky hand came to rest on Zuko’s hip without much thought.
“S-Sokka.” Zuko couldn’t help but whisper out. The singular word heavy on his tongue as he leaned impossibly closer to the other man. “What.” He attempted, the words getting stuck in his throat. “What are we doing?” He finally voiced, his eyes falling shut. Almost afraid of opening them and finding a look of disgust on Sokka’s face. “What do you want?” He could help but ask, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sokka could cry, Zuko closer to him than ever before asking him what he wanted. Putting himself on display for only an audience of one and still, he was nervous of messing it up.
“I want…” Sokka began, Zuko’s lips like a siren call, begging to be pressed against. Sokka wanted to run his hands through inky silk hair and know what it was like to have Zuko beneath him. “I want to kiss you.” He said, the words cementing in the air around them, unable to be taken and shoved down the throat they betrayed.
And Zuko didn’t respond. A silence so loud it was deafening. Until Zuko’s hand came out, fingers tangled in Sokka’s hair as Zuko’s heart skipped a beat. “I want to kiss you, too.” He confessed, pulling Sokka closer as their lips met and their world turned a blinding white.
The two were unsure for how long they kissed. It felt like hours. And Sokka was powerless to not deepen the kiss and taste just how divine Zuko was. Until-
“Ew, gross you two.” The sound of Katara’s voice caused them to jump apart and become aware of their surroundings once more. No longer trapped in the spirit world and were now deposited in the same place they vanished from.
“Hey it worked!” Aang's cheerful voice chimed in as he opened his eyes and air bended to his feet from where he had been sitting to meditate. “We were worried about you guys!”
“Looks like they were perfectly fine.” Katara replied, turning away from them.
“Yeah, we were.” Sokka replied, sticking his tongue out at his sister’s back before turning back to Zuko and kissing his lips once more. And when he pulled back to look at Zuko’s blushing face once more he realized he wanted to make him blush every day for the rest of their lives.