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“Sokka!”
Shit, that sounded a bit strident. Sokka looked up from the latest picture that Izumi had added to the bottom of Zuko’s scroll. He had almost figured out what it was. Maybe. He definitely had it down to four creatures.
Or the palace.
Or Zuko.
He definitely had it down to less than ten options. “Yeah?”
“I’ve been calling you, for a while,” the words got more pointed after each one. “We leave tomorrow at first light, you need to pack tonight.”
“I need one bag. I have enough stuff at my home there.” He went back to the scroll, reading Zuko’s words this time instead of the ink blobs from Izumi. “I’m good.”
“Then you can help us pack, Dad is freaking out about how formal this event will be.”
“Why?” Sokka put the scroll into his bag. Pretty much the only things he was packing was seal jerky and his correspondence. “It’s just a few boring events. Trust me.” He thought of all the stuff he had had to go to in the last ten years. “We stand around say peace is great, Zuko cuts a ribbon on a statue or building. Aang makes a speech, maybe a parade. The formal royal dinner will be brutal, but they have good cake. The street party will be fun though, we’ll sneak away from the boring stuff to go hang with real people.” Sokka already had seven different plans for sneaking Zuko out for actual fun.
“Sokka, this is important, it is the tenth anniversary of the end of the war. You need to take it seriously.”
“I am!” Sokka protested. He had organized at least three of those boring things to make them as not boring as possible. Katara was about to ramble when Bumi stumbled in. “Hey buddy, perfect timing! You ready for your first trip to the fire nation?”
“Yeah, fie whoosh.” Bumi gestured dramatically enough he fell over. “Whoosh?” He looked so hopeful, and Sokka had to go pick him up.
“Promise, in the fire nation you’ll see all the whoosh, Zuko will do all the whoosh you could ever want. And you’ll get to make a friend!” He was so excited for Bumi and Izumi to meet. Izumi was only a few months older than Bumi, and he could picture them taking naps together, running around the house - it would be amazing. “Her name is Izumi, and you’ll love her.”
“Who’s Izumi?” Katara was fussing, trying to pack him more than he needed.
“Zum, Zuko’s daughter?” Sokka wondered if packing and fretting had made his sister forget. She forgot stuff when she focused. “You know, the one he adopted six months ago?”
Katara was slowly standing and gave him a look. “Eyebow of doom!” Bumi yelled and kicked to be put down. He bolted out of the house, which yeah their dad sometimes joked about Bumi not being the smartest toddler Tui and La had ever blessed, but that was some damned good survival instincts there. Sokka wondered if he could run too. He doubted it. He went to finish the packing, doing more in hopes to appease the eyebrow of doom as Aang had jokingly dubbed Katara’s angry face years ago.
“Daughter?” Fuck, that eyebrow was crazy high. “What daughter?”
“He didn’t write to you about Zum,” Sokka winced. “He didn’t tell you about Zum.” He sat on his bed. “You know Zuko, he gets super protective over people he loves, and I know he was going to formally announce her as his heir at the big shindig. He probably wanted to tell you in person. He is so scared about being a dad, Katara.”
“Why, he’ll be a great father.” That got the eyebrow down a bit.
“Sure, we know that, but he just keeps thinking about his dad, and grandpa, and great grandfather, and how they were all jerks. Sure that he’ll screw up. But you should see him with Izumi, he just lights up so much.” Sokka remembered this important meeting and Izumi had slipped away from her nanny and tore in to show him the picture she had drawn. A couple of the ministers frowned and muttered about how Zuko needed to tame the child, and remind her her place. Zuko hadn’t raised his voice, because Izumi hated yelling and had swooped her up and said, “Her place is in my arms” and sat back down, finished the meeting holding her.
Spirits, they had been a picture.
“What is she like?”
“Fire cracker,” Sokka giggled a bit. “Almost three, already shooting sparks. When she stomps her foot, it is so funny. She stomps so hard, she falls over. She and Bumi will get along great. Or destroy the palace. Either way, it will be fun!”
“Have you spent a lot of time with her?”
Sokka frowned a bit, “Of course? I mean work keeps me busy, but not that busy.” Why wouldn’t he spend time with Zum? Wait, Katara was a mom. She might now. “Actually. Help. She drew me a picture at the bottom of Zuko’s letter. Use your mom powers to tell me what it is.” He held it out. “Don’t read the message, or your hair meets tuna squid ink.” He tried to hold his hand over the writing. “I’m down to like ten things.”
“Turtleducks.”
“Ha! That’s what I thought!” He was relieved, he was getting the hang of this parenting thing. He had been worried because he had had to return to the southern pole only a couple months after they adopted her, and was worried it wasn’t enough to activate those parenting muscles. But turtleducks had been on the list. “Spirits, can’t wait to be home.”
“You are home,” Katara sighed a bit. “But you aren’t, are you?” Sokka hugged her. “I know it is stupid to what you here all the time, that you’ve built a life in Caldera. But Bumi needs Uncle Sokka.”
“You know you three could make more trips to the fire nation. Just saying. How often have you visited us? Hmm?” Sokka poked her a bit. “You were building a life, I was too.”
“You don’t actually talk about your home much, like the physical space.”
“I moved about a couple times,” Sokka said. He hadn’t found the right spot in the palace to make him happy, and luckily Zuko didn’t care where he slept so long as it was next to Sokka. Then they had made the big move. “Finally found the perfect spot - right above the kitchens.”
Katara giggled. “Of course you live above a restaurant.”
He supposed that yeah in comparison to the homes in the water tribe you could metaphor your way to calling the size of kitchen at their new home a restaurant. “Why are you really nervous?”
“Memories,” she said after a moment. “I should visit you more. Aang wants us to visit more, but it…no matter how hard I try, no matter that I know different. It is hard, Sokka. I can’t let go as much as you. I hate that about myself.”
“Hey, shh,” he soothed and pulled her into a hug. “I get it. And besides you belong here. I belong there. Doing good work, Katara, and I can’t wait to show it all to you.” He beamed thinking of everything that he had done in the last ten years, and getting to show it off to his family. “Wait until you see this one park in the city centre.”
“You worked on a park?” That got a laugh. “What’d you build?”
“This playground, Bumi will go nuts.” It had taken so many meetings and insane hours to get the permits and plans approved, but he was determined that a public interactive garden and outdoor physical rehabilitation space be built, for orphans, people permanently injured in the war. It was now considered a favoured spot in the whole city. His first major public works project. After that the ministers had started taking his ideas a lot more seriously.
“I can’t wait to see it. And anything else you helped build. I’m so happy you are being able to create and build. Use your hands like that.”
“You’re telling me.” The ministers were so annoying about whenever Sokka left the offices and actually worked on the crews implementing all his ideas. Which was crazy because he’d only know if stuff was actually working by being a part of the making of it. Zuko had had to explain to all of them for like the fiftieth time whatever Sokka wants to do, he’s allowed to do so long as it doesn’t blow up the palace. “I’m all packed.”
“It will be nice to see everyone,” Katara smiled. “And meet this Izumi.”
“You’ll love her,” Sokka swore. “Can’t wait to hold her again. Been four months, they grow a lot in that time don’t they?”
“So much,” Katara was about to say more only they both heard a crash and Aang shouting for Katara and their dad laughing hysterically, because the man adored the chaos that was Bumi. “How are we going to fly across the continent?” Katara groaned.
“Don’t worry, I have a plan,” Sokka said.
And luckily Katara was a great mom, but sometimes not a good one, and didn’t have a problem with lightly drugging her son so he didn’t fall off the flying bison.
*
He could smell it. It was stupid to think, but he didn’t care. He could smell home. And it was close. “We’re almost at the fire lord’s home,” he told everyone aboard Appa. They were in the clouds and couldn’t see a thing. “Get ready.” He flicked, and Appa started to descend.
“Are you sure?” Aang called. “It feels too quick.”
“Trust me,” Sokka answered and when they broke through, there it was. He smiled. “Appa, look, it’s home.”
“Sokka, that’s not the palace. We’re supposed to go see Zuko right away.”
“We are!” Sokka pointed. “That’s the official residence of the fire lord and his family.” He should know - he helped design and build it.
“Son,” Hakoda was leaning over, a tight hold on Bumi, who had started to wake up. “That’s not the palace. Remember, stairs, big rectangle place, courtyard that hundreds can fill. That’s a huge manor house, but -“
“You mean the government seat?” Sokka groaned. “And Zuko didn’t tell you this either.”
“Eyebow,” Bumi yawned. “Mama bow go whoosh.”
“Yeah, it really is my guy.” Sokka urged Appa down to the park he had built, that at the end of stood a large manor house, which was home now to the Firelord. “He was having nightmares, every single night. The place was destroying him. When this park was built, we also built this house, it was a healing place, the park, full of life, meant to be the heart of the city. And Zuko said, that he should be there in the middle of it all, not held away and above his people. The old palace became the formal seat of the government, and he moved the library and national archives into it, museum, the university holds a lot of talks and seminars there now.”
“Why didn’t he tell us?” Katara sounded sad. “Are we such bad friends he didn’t think he could tell us about all these changes?”
Sokka winced because Zuko probably had expected him to explain this to the family, but well, when he was visiting he sort of forgot to share details so wrapped up in catching up on all their lives. He was sure though he mentioned them moving. He knew he said lived above the kitchen.
“Zuko probably wanted it to be a surprise when we were supposed to visit before but -“ Aang ran a hand over Bumi’s hair, “But the end of your pregnancy, you were rough and we canceled.”
“Oh, right,” Katara nodded. “Well, it looks beautiful.”
“It is, I helped build it,” Sokka was ready to tell them about the architect he had spent months designing the house with, but the front door opened and there was Iroh holding Izumi.
And there was Zuko.
He forgot everything else as he slid off of Appa and ran to his family. He would have grabbed Zuko, kissed him like mad, but Izumi squealed and reached for him. Zuko could wait. “Zum,” Sokka breathed out and took their daughter. He buried his face against her neck. “My Zum, Daddy missed you so much.”
“Da!” she cried. “High!”
She remembered.
Sokka immediately raised her in the air let her fly, stretched as tall as she could and ignored Zuko’s fussing about how she might be dropped. She weighed nothing. Sokka flew her through the air as she screamed in happiness. He let go, let her drop a bit, caught her at his chest and held her close.
“I hate you,” Zuko muttered.
“Nu-uh,” Sokka and Izumi both said, and stuck out their tongues. “You remember me.”
“Showed her your official portrait every night,” Zuko swore.
“Ew, that picture? I’m way prettier than that.”
“Me prettiest. Then ducks, then Ty Lee, then Daddy.”
“Honestly, that’s a fair list ZumZum. Daddy respects that.” He kissed her tiny button nose. “So it seems you forgot to tell them we moved?”
“I forgot?” Zuko didn’t have an eyebrow of doom, but he sure as hell had a frown.
“The Daddy is bad frown. Uncle Iroh!” Izumi held out her hands and was swept away, abandoning her father to save herself. Sokka could see Zuko had been talking military strategy with her.
“I told them, sort of. Maybe. I talked about moving.” Sokka knew that. He was sure of it. He smiled. “Missed you.” He watched Zuko melt just a bit. “I was scared she wouldn’t remember me.” That got rid of the frown entirely.
“Sokka, how could she forget her father who makes her fly?” Zuko started to reach out, but saw everyone approaching. “I can’t. Not…”
“Hey, shh, it’s fine,” Sokka swore. He knew how hard it was for Zuko to make public romantic gestures. Their wedding had had three people at it and they had bowed to each other at the end. He was getting better though, and Sokka would never push him on this as long as he gave Izumi every hug she ever wanted. And Zuko did. “You’ll properly welcome me home later. After everyone is asleep.” He grinned, winked, and enjoyed the huff that got him. And he saw the small nod of agreement as well.
Zuko stepped forward. “Aang,” he smiled and bowed. Laughed as his arms were full of avatar hugging him. “Hello, Katara, Chief Hakoda,” he said over Aang’s head. “And Bumi.”
“You do whoosh! Sokka says. Go whoosh! Big whoosh! Da never whoosh. Whoooosh.”
“Bumi!” Katara chided.
“Peease.”
“I didn’t mean manners, I meant don’t ask people you just meet to bend.”
Bumi squealed and did his little happy dance, as Zuko called his fire and spun it, around himself. “Whoosh!”
“Papa makes fire!” Izumi came running over. “Me too! I whoosh!” She stomped her foot and reached out. There was the barest flicker and she scowled at it. “Whoosh or I boom you.” She tried again and almost held the flame for two seconds. “Papa!”
“Very good, Izumi, but we don’t boom anything. Ever. Booms are bad.”
“Hey,” Sokka protested. “Booms are great.” Izumi nodded in agreement.
“Peas in a damn pod,” Zuko shook his head. “Welcome to the new palace.”
“Why didn’t you tell us you made such a big change?” Katara fussed.
“I had wanted to surprise you.”
“Guessed that!”
“And then I assumed Sokka would tell you.”
“The frown,” Izumi nodded.
“Mama eyebrow.” Bumi nodded as well.
“Uncle Iroh has cookies.”
“Bye,” Bumi shouted and let himself be dragged along by Izumi. He was right that they’d be the cutest together. Iroh gave everyone a polite bow and took the children inside to spoil rotten, Sokka was sure.
They all stood there. And there was a hesitation, a moment realizing just how separate all their lives had become. Sokka should have been clearer when he said he moved about a bunch that it was about them building a new royal home. And that perhaps the reason wasn’t just all Zuko. “I couldn’t handle the stairs at the palace during the rainy season,” Sokka blurted out. “My leg. I couldn’t. It couldn’t. It wasn’t just Zuko’s nightmares and panic attacks that drove us to build a new royal home. It was because I needed a place with less stairs. Here I can choose to stay on the main level on bad days, bedroom is above the kitchen, only a dozen stairs.”
“Sokka,” Katara was almost crying. “You have to leave here, if it causes you pain.”
“NO!” Zuko shouted. He winced. “My apologies. We should go inside. You can freshen up, and we’ll have food in the courtyard.”
As they walked inside he brushed his fingers against Zuko to reassure him. No amount of pain would take him away. And he knew with this last visit he was done. He couldn’t be apart from his family that long ever again. He missed the south pole, all the time, but it was the whole family going or he’d live without.
He breathed in as he looked around his home. It was as perfect as he remembered. Still large, huge to him, but still a house - a home.
They walked through and showed everyone the space and when they were went to the courtyard, they saw Toph, Suki and Ty Lee already drinking and enjoying cakes.
“Hey, starting the party without us?”
“You were late Snoozles,” Toph called out. “Not waiting on yummy snacks for a house tour.”
Suki came over and Sokka hugged her. It was annoying she had grown so much to be the same height as him. And he said it, as he did every time he saw her again. That got him a punch.
Ty Lee blew him a kiss. “Mai sends her love. Well she sends her, fine tell him I suppose I am glad he is still alive, greetings. She decided to go to Azula for the anniversary, that she deserved someone. My wife is a good woman.”
“Eh, she’s okay I suppose.” Sokka wasn’t occasionally still a bit jealous about those first few years where Mai and Zuko kept trying to make it work for the sake of the future of the kingdom. That got him a gentle look from his husband that he ignored. He dove towards the snacks and began to stuff his face. “I missed this food so much.” He could have wept as he ate.
“I made you sea prunes once a week!” Katara was scowling. “Your favourite.”
“Yeah, I know, but chili flakes, Katara, ginger. Spirits, I did not bring enough candied ginger with me.” Sokka beamed when a small jar filled with the stuff was put in front of him, with a knowing look from Zuko. He rested his ankle against Zuko’s under the table as he dove into his favourite treat. “Right, so the next few days, busy busy busy. Lots of events and I want time to show you, Dad, everything I’ve built over the last few years.” He still couldn’t believe sometimes how accepted he had been here and yeah he wanted to show off a bit, because back home it was all about Katara and Aang, which was good it should be. But he wanted them to know he hadn’t exactly been goofing off. Well, he goofed off every once in a while.
“I look forward to it, son,” Hakoda swore.
Luckily there was nothing that needed doing that day, so they all just stayed in the courtyard catching up. Izumi and Bumi regularly tore through being chased by the dragon Iroh, stopping only to eat and get hugs. Fireflies filled the sky as dusk fell, and Sokka saw Aang yawn. “Assume you claimed the main floor room there, Toph?” it had a door that opened onto the courtyard, let her smell the soil and earth. There was a grunt of agreement. Suki and Ty Lee made their goodbyes and headed not far away to where quarters were established for the Kyoshi warriors when they visited Caldera.
Izumi was in Zuko’s lap whispering that she was awake and wanted to catch the sparks as she called fireflies. Bumi was snoring against Katara.
“There are rooms on the third floor for you,” Sokka said in a soft voice. “Let’s show you.”
He guided them up, to the guest suite, a large and soothing space. “Aang, Katara, will this do?”
“It’s wonderful,” Aang looked around. “I like it so much more than the palace.”
“Us too,” Sokka agreed.
“Wait, you live here, Sokka?”
“Yeah, above the kitchens I told you.”
Katara looked confused. “But it doesn’t bother Zuko to have a roommate like that?”
“Roommate, funny,” Sokka giggled. “Come on, Dad, you’re just across the hall. Sleep well, tomorrow, I got a hell of a thing to show you Aang.”
He let the family be, and took his dad to his room. “There are always a few servants awake if you need anything.” Sokka was trying to not look antsy, anxious to get to Zuko.
“I appreciate that. Actually, Son, do you have a few minutes. I’d love to talk to you about -“ Sokka could feel his face fall for just a moment, and his dad laughed. “Sorry, I wanted to tease but look at you. Go to your husband, my room isn’t right above yours is it? I don’t need to hear that sort of reunion.”
“No, it isn’t.” Dear spirits, but he had made sure of that.
“My granddaughter is beautiful. Bato is so sorry he couldn’t come to meet her, but we will come again, to spoil her rotten.”
“Yeah,” Sokka smiled, and hugged his dad. “If I’m half as good a dad as you, I’m going to be great.”
“You’ll be far better than me.” He was squeezed tightly and let go. “Go, kiss your husband, Sokka.”
“Right.” Sokka didn’t run, but it was close.
In their room, right above the kitchens so that it always smelled of spices, sat Zuko brushing out his hair. Sokka walked over and took the brush from him and began to do it. “This is one of the things I missed most of all.” Long strokes, soothing, comforting to them both. “Never again,” Sokka swore.
“You can’t promise that. You were needed for the summit between the tribes.”
“Never again, not without you and my Zum beside me. I can’t miss it. She grew so much. And she has bangs now!”
“There was an incident.” Zuko got a faraway stare. “That was not the best three days of my life.”
“See, anything that haunts you like that? You shouldn’t be alone.” He drew the brush through, one last time. He wrapped his arms around Zuko, just held as Zuko leaned back against him. “Never again,” he repeated.
“Alright,” was said with a bit of a chuckle. Sokka’s hand was brought to Zuko’s mouth and kissed. He shivered a bit. Teeth grazed at his wrist’s pulse point and Sokka gasped. “Miss me?”
“You have no idea.” He hauled Zuko up and they were kissing. He wanted to go slowly, savour his husband, but four freaking months of being away from the fire that always kept him warm. Sokka had his hands inside Zuko’s robes, was pulling it open when he heard their door creak open, slowly. Light footsteps.
Assassin.
He began to reach for the knife at his hip, but Zuko’s hand stilled him.
“Daddy!”
“Oh fuck no,” Sokka whispered against Zuko’s neck. Zuko’s skin was right there.
“Daddy needs hugs. All night, not just from Papa — me too.”
“Are you supposed to walk the halls in the dark alone?” Zuko asked. Sokka didn’t turn from Zuko, willing his cock to soften.
“Wasn’t lone, had Momo.”
“I know you love him, but a stuffed animal isn’t people, sweet one. It doesn’t count.”
“Have Appa too.”
“Two stuffed animals is the same as one.”
“Oh.” There was quiet. “Bye.”
“Can it be that easy, shouldn’t one of us go with her?”
Zuko laughed. “Wait for it.”
Sokka went to sit on the bed and Zuko sat next to him, leaned against him and a few minutes later there was a polite knock on the door. “Come in,” Sokka called and laughed when he saw Iroh carrying Izumi, who was cradling her stuffed animals.
“Got a people,” she said proudly. “Now I stay and hug Daddy all night long!”
Iroh’s look of unholy glee at the situation was truly a sight to behold.
Sokka went over and took Izumi from Iroh, glared at him which only increased the look, and kissed Izumi’s head. “All night long,” he agreed.
Iroh left with a sympathetic squeeze to Sokka’s shoulder and Sokka lightly tossed Izumi onto the bed. He went behind the screen in the corner and changed into pajama pants that he had rather hoped he wouldn’t be wearing that night.
“Daddy’s home, Papa,” he heard and stayed very still.
“He is.”
“He stay?”
“Promise. Into the bed with you, sweet one.”
“Daddy tuck me in,” was said in a fierce tone.
“Very well. You missed him so much.”
“Love Daddy. Love Papa.”
Sokka moved from behind the screen and Izumi was standing on the bed, scowling at where Zuko had folded back the covers. He held out his arms and she ran and leapt. He took Momo to the face and for a moment it brought back a hundred memories. But this was just a stuffed animal and Momo was running around the spirit realm after a good life. Sokka sat on the bed and they moved about until Izumi was happy and basically flopped on top of him. Zuko’s hand was on his on Izumi’s back.
“I love you Zum, more than you will ever know.”
“Uh-huh. Love Momo too.” It was jammed in his face and he professed his love to the stuffed animal. And then Appa too. “I gets to ride real Appa, Bumi says. Fly super high.”
“We shall see,” Zuko was clearly going to fret.
“Daddy will let me fly.”
“Daddy and I will talk about it.”
Sokka tickled Izumi before she could start to strop and began to recite a story of Tui and La. The story he had told her every night before he had left. And like those times before she was asleep before the end. He’d wake up covered in toddler drool.
Nothing could make him happier. He turned his head and Zuko was lying on his side, smiling at them. Well, he would have been rather happy fucking his husband, but they could do that in the morning, before the day got really going.
“I love you something stupid,” Sokka had to tell Zuko.
“I love you too. There isn’t anything else you’ve forgotten to tell your sister is there?”
Sokka thought about it. “No, don’t think so? Maybe some small stuff, but she knows all the big stuff.”
“Good.”
*
There was no time to have sex in the morning, because Aang was sometimes still twelve and burst into the room at dawn. “Zuko, can we firebend together, I’ve missed firebending with - whaaaaaa? Sokka? Zuko? Whaaaa?”
“By Yue’s glowing locks Aang, I will strangle you, the sun is barely up.” Sokka groaned and Zuko was burying his face in the pillow, Sokka having trained him out of the stupid sun’s up, fire lord’s up mentality.
Izumi yawned, “Sun up? Park, Daddy! We go your park if sun is up!” A hand was patting his face. “Up, Daddy. Park! Park! I need to pee.”
“Training on that been going well?” He asked her and got a strong nod yes. A look to Zuko showed it was a bit more hit and miss than she was suggesting. Sokka sat up and took her to the bathroom, praised her and then in the hallway passed her off to the housekeeper who adored her. Izumi began to babble about what she wanted to wear to the park and waved to him.
Sokka waved back and returned to the bedroom, which had Aang still sort of standing there. “Buddy?”
“You were sharing a bed. And Izumi called you Daddy.” Aang was kind of just pointing between them. “Why?”
Sokka yawned and crawled back into bed. “Look Daiya will buy us like an hour and I plan to mostly sleep during it. Come back then.”
“Really, sleep?” Zuko asked, and Sokka was wide awake.
“Bye, Aang.” Sokka tried to dismiss the holy avatar. “See you in an hour.”
“Aang, Bumi is asking for his new ZumZum, do you know where her room is?”
“Come the fuck on,” Sokka cursed. He willed with all his might that Katara not walk through the door, but of course she did Bumi chanting for Zum in her arms. “Zum went with the housekeeper,” he told them. “All three of you should be able to find them if you hurry far away.” Bumi slithered out of Katara’s arms and was gone down the hallway. That was one at least.
“Hey, Sokka, you’re awake, before you take everyone on a tour, I’d love to spar with you.” Suki appeared and Sokka whimpered. She was looking at them and smirking a bit. “Unless you were up too late.”
“Izumi decided to welcome Sokka home by spending the night with us,” Zuko said.
Sokka watched Suki braced herself against the wall because she was laughing so hard. “Yeah, I’m frustrated Suki, real frustrated, you sure you want to spar?”
“Well you won’t get any time alone right now, so might as well.”
“Not the worst idea,” Zuko said.
“You too?” Sokka stared at him but Zuko was always the realist of the two of them, and he was right. There’d be no privacy now. “Ugh.” He went behind the screen, and threw on some rough clothes. “Let’s go.”
Aang was still staring at them and pointing, but seemed almost catatonic so he’d let Katara deal with that. As he reached the door, he held out an arm and Suki immediately tossed herself onto his back. They went downstairs and he saw the courtyard was set up beautifully for breakfast. Luckily they lived at the park, and he had built in a training ring.
They walked to it, talking quietly about their last few months, Suki having hopped off his back, just walking hand in hand, enjoying each other’s company. The park wasn’t busy yet, but a few people waved and called welcome home to him, which he appreciated. He used to worry water tribe being the husband of the fire lord, but generally the people were cool. The few that tried to kill him, well Zuko hadn’t exactly been merciful. They reached the public training grounds and there were a couple people working out.
“Sir, you join us this fine morning?”
“Yeah, I could be in bed with Zuko, but family familied.”
“My in laws are here for the festivals, your lordship, trust me I well understand.” The man bowed. “We are honoured that you are here.”
“Thanks,” Sokka began to move his arms a bit and turned to Suki. “Hand to hand, sword to fan, what up?”
“Sword,” she said and went on the attack, not giving him another moment, “which you forgot to bring.”
“Spirits I hate you,” he growled and dropped, rolled away. “Why didn’t you tell me to grab my sword?”
“A warrior should never be without his weapon! Should be aware and await any threat, it isn’t my fault you have gotten complacent.”
“I have a toddler! Toddlers and swords don’t mix!” Sokka kept dodging and she was relentless. “A little help anyone?” Someone threw him a bo staff - literally the weapon he was the worst with on the entire planet. “Gee thanks,” he called and heard laughter, because apparently all of Caldera remembered that incident. But worst weapon ever was better than no weapon.
He spun it, and hit his own head.
“Right,” Sokka grabbed a bit of the sand they were fighting on and when Suki was distracted tackled her. “I’m changing it to hand to hand,” he said, “because an opponent should remember the battle field can change in an instant.” The few others who had been using the grounds were cheering them on, and Sokka tried his hardest for his people.
He got his ass handed to him.
But it at least took her a while and that was almost a win. “Being a prince has made you lazy,” she teased.
“Do you know how busy I am?” He squawked. “You do all the work I do and see how much time you have to practice fighting.”
“You held your own credibly, sir,” one of the people swore.
“Thanks,” Sokka got up. “I need food.”
“We could go back, or the food carts should be setting up near the playgrounds,” Suki pointed out.
“Oh hell yes,” Sokka agreed. He ignored the way everyone bowed to him as they left, because the formality even after years still made him feel awkward. He and Suki talked the whole way over to the playgrounds and sure enough he could smell a couple carts, grills already wafting heavenly scents. They grabbed some food and went to a bench.
And he finally clued in. “Aang was shocked Zuko and I were in bed together.” He thought about that. “Why would he be shocked Zuko and I were in our bedroom?”
“That weird knowledge that your friend, a family member has sex?”
“Not like he caught us middle of anything.”
“Sure, but hey how’d Katara get pregnant, Sokka?”
“Yue blessed her with a moonbeam,” Sokka said, and waved a hand at Suki’s laughter. “Honestly it is the thought of Aang having sex that bugs me more than Katara.”
“Yeah, me too,” Suki had to agree. “But maybe he was having that sort of response?”
“No, it was something else, but I cannot figure it out.” Sokka frowned. “Well, if it matters he’ll talk about it. We should go back, lots of tours and events and stuff.”
“Actually, looks like the park tour might be happening right now,” Suki pointed and Sokka turned, saw everyone headed in their direction. He finished his food, threw out the trash, and headed over.
“So what do you think about my park?” He called to them. Izumi came running and he caught her up. “Hello, love, want to go to the play zone?”
“Show Bumi the hide cave!”
“You got it. Zuko mind if I lead the tour?”
Zuko was smiling that little smile. “Of course, this is all yours after all.”
“Not mine, it is for our people,” Sokka blushed a bit, snuggled Zum. “Start with the playground?”
“YES!!!”
Sokka walked them over to an area that already had a bunch of children at it. He waved to a couple parents they recognized, including Zuko’s secretary. “Hey, man,” he approached, “taking a moment before all the madness?”
“Indeed, your worship,” Lee replied with a grin and Sokka likely kicked him. “Lady Izumi, Zhang and Mei Mei are in there, somewhere.”
“Bumi, friends,” Izumi shouted and Sokka put her down. He watched them run into the jungle gym where many children’s shouts could be heard.
“I trust you are wanting to show them the bending parks?” Lee smiled and bowed to everyone gathered. “I sat in on many of the meetings and struggles his lordship had to endure to get financing for this approved. You must be very proud of all the work he did to bring this slice of unity to Caldera.”
“I am always so proud of my son,” Hakoda agreed.
“I will watch the children,” Lee swore.
Katara looked ready to protest, but Sokka gave her a shoulder squeeze. “Hey it’s Lee, he’d die for Zum, so Bumi is in safe hands. I want you to see this Katara.”
“I know the parks, well, I’ll stay too,” Suki reassured. “Hey Lee, wanna hear about how I kicked Sokka’s ass over in the training rings?”
“Commander Suki, you know nothing gives me more pleasure than tales of his worship getting knocked on his posterior.”
“Haha,” Sokka stuck his tongue out at them. “Lee, you’ll be enjoying the paperwork I generate after the celebrations.”
“Indeed, I will,” Lee grinned unrepentant, but a watchful eye on the playground.
Zuko’s hand brushed his and Sokka nodded. Not one of the times for his and Lee’s infamous fake fights. He had parks to show off, a legacy he made that he wanted his family to appreciate. Sokka lead the way explained a bunch about the park and its design incorporating natural growth and space to work. They stopped at an area that had tables that were all Pai Sho boards and a few of the old men who gathered there begged him to stay and play.
“Fire lord, please insist he plays,” one called. “You can stand along and look pretty, inspire him.”
That got a lot of chuckles from the old men and Sokka too, because he always said that when they had a break and walked over to this part of the park.
“Sorry, need to show the avatar the elements park,” Sokka said. “After all the festivities are done, I’ll be here. And I’ll kick your butt to the spirit realm.”
There was more laughter and they continued the games.
“Sokka?” Katara sounded small that was weird. “What is going on?”
“Huh?”
“You know a lot of people. Like a lot a lot.”
“Sure,” Sokka shrugged, “you know me, I’m a people person. I held so many town halls when building this park, to make sure it actually had what people needed, plus the fundraising events, spirits, those were a nightmare until I made them better.”
“The first two were with the nobility and ministry, very traditional and formal events,” Zuko chimed in. “That raised the bulk of the funds that the government wouldn’t cover since Sokka’s plan was a bit…over ambitious.”
“Yeah, doing something right is over ambitious,” Sokka snorted. “But then I clued in, this park was for everyone, so we had a food night in the heart of caldera, all the restaurants cooked amazing dishes - a challenge who made the best noodles? To vote you donated money to build the park, and it was a huge success. Plus I was in a food coma for days. And now I know where the best noodle place is.”
“Second best,” Zuko said. “He also ran an event called a dunking booth? He sat on this stool and you could pay money to throw balls that would hit a trigger and dunk him in the water. It raised a truly tremendous amount of money. Particularly from women who said they just liked seeing him wet.”
Sokka laughed, “Yeah that was fun.” He lead them down a wooded path and right when it would start to open up, he stopped. He couldn’t breathe, because this was his heart and what if they thought it was stupid. Sokka blinked and looked down.
Zuko was holding his hand in public. Oh boy, if he could do that he could show his family the park.
“May I present to you, the elements in harmony,” Sokka moved forward and the woods opened up to a huge area, where there were statues and play areas that smoothly blended into each other.
“What is -“ Aang was crying.
“Air ball, like at your temple. I don’t have airbenders to play here, but the fire nation has adapted a few versions of the game.”
The air area, slid into the water area with cool colours centered around a pool of water, which bled into fire rings, metal structures for fire benders to work out on, which moved into a rocky area earth benders could build and create. Toph’s head twitched. “Lao is bending there. Need to show him up. Bye!” She was running to the area already moving the earth in it.
“Son,” Hakoda was squeezing his shoulder. “You built this?”
“Yeah, aside from playing, it is educational - classes come here to explain the four elements and the history of the avatar and bending, and each area is designed to help with physical therapy too. People were taught a lot of bullshit for a long time. Try to jam it down their throats that they were lied to, they won’t listen, but if they can come to a park, see what it is all about, well maybe it will open minds a bit.”
“It’s beautiful,” Aang had dove at him, hugged him tightly. “I can’t believe you worked on this.”
Sokka hugged him just as tightly. “Well, you know, I had a lot of help.”
“It’s beautiful, Sokka,” Katara was smiling at him. “I bet you built the water bending section.” They were moving forward to look more closely, and it was clear she was itching to go play, but trying for more dignity than Toph. “How long did this take?”
“Eight years from my first shouted ramble to Zuko to completion what three months before I went back south this time? Park and Izumi happened about the same time.” Sokka looked around. “Sections of the park opened up as we completed them, bit here bit there over the last few years. House was done two years ago, spirits that took so many meetings. Ministers convinced we’d have people knocking on our door trying to kill us.”
Zuko laughed, “we do have people knocking on our door - turns out though they just want Sokka to come play pai sho, train with them, kids wanting Sokka to come out and play. I think they forget I live there too.”
“Not true, who leads story time at the picnic area once a week?” Sokka was almost bouncing. “Katara, he is so cute at it! The kids love him and it helps the nation doesn’t it, that their fire lord does something as simple as reading a story to the kids in the park once a week.”
Zuko was ducking his head a bit, embarrassed because he still ten years on struggled with his role as fire lord, but Sokka was so fucking proud of him.
“Come on!” Aang shouted and was running to the air section, reminding Sokka of when they found him and he wanted to play with the penguin otters. They spent an hour exploring and playing in the elements park.
They would have stayed longer but Suki came carrying Zum, and holding Bumi’s hand. “They won the playground, defeating the evil hordes that attempted to invade,” she explained. Bumi was covered in grime and dust and had a slight scrape on his knee. Zum’s clothes were just so filthy and she was beaming.
“Daddy, fly! Up!” she shouted reaching for him. “Bumi and me are good team! We won!”
Sokka picked her up and held her aloft, let her fly as she squealed. Dust and grass fell on his head and he didn’t care. “ZumZum coming in for a landing!” He spun and spun until he was next to Zuko who had his arms out and he gently dropped Izumi into them. “There you go.”
“Papa!” Zum snuggled in and yawned. “No nap, too much to play and do.”
“Of course, no napping at all,” Zuko agreed and rubbed a hand up and down her back. She was asleep and drooling on him seconds later. “We should get her home to the nanny, we have the afternoon ceremony.”
“Bumi, maybe you feel like a nap like your friend Izumi?” Katara sounded so hopeful.
Sokka was truly impressed with the way Bumi just laughed at her. That kid hadn’t taken a nap since he was fourteen months old. But Hakoda swung Bumi up onto his shoulders and started walking back to the house. Sokka whistled and Toph joined them. “So this afternoon, is the big opening ceremony for all the anniversary stuff, right?”
“Yeah,” Zuko agreed, “you know what that means.” His lips were quirked just a bit.
Sokka knew that smile, it was the evil smile. It was the formal robes smiles. “No.”
“Yes.”
“I hate them.”
“Everyone knows that, rumour is that a large swath of the people in attendance only enjoy the formal ceremonies because how much you dislike them. And yes you also have to wear it.”
“Zuko,” Sokka was whining and he did not care. “I don’t wanna. I hate it even more than I hate the formal robes.”
“Sokka, you look so handsome in the royal consort clothes,” Suki hugged his arm. “And didn’t Zuko make you that new crown?”
“Yeah,” Sokka muttered. “Still is so stupid. I don’t want a crown, I’m not a big deal.”
Zuko stopped dead and turned to look at him with a serious glower, that actually was made more intense by Izumi’s perfect head looking beatific in sleep against his shoulder. “We talked about this. A lot. You designed and funded and built this park. You turned all the weapons factories into shipyards and other things so that unemployment never went above 4%. The foster care system you overhauled? Suppose that isn’t a big deal. Changing the laws on who can marry not a big deal either, I suppose. Being the husband of the fire lord, father to the heir of the kingdom, not a big deal.” Zuko was breathing smoke, something he only did when truly angry, such as when Sokka undervalued himself.
“I know,” Sokka said softly. He reached out but didn’t touch until Zuko moved his head, into the touch and then he caressed his husband’s jaw. “Just still sometimes throws me, that I matter to anyone at all here. Always thought it would stay like that first couple years.”
Spirits those first few years had been shit, watching Zuko and Mai break up and get back together three different times, the hostility of the ministers, the minor assassination attempt. He had debated going home to the water tribe a million times, but knew he had to be there. For Zuko. And then one day they were walking in the gardens and Sokka had shouted about Caldera needing a park, and Zuko kissed him. In public, even if no one was around, it was still in public.
And it still sucked but it sucked less and then it hardly sucked at all. He mattered to the fire nation, to Zuko.
Didn’t mean he had to like the formal ceremonial crap, because to be fair he would have hated that stuff back home too. “Fine,” he sighed, “robes and crown and only complaining four more times.”
“Two,” Zuko said.
Sokka nodded. “Two,” he agreed. He smiled at his husband. “And besides you look so gorgeous in your formal I’m the fire lord gear, it will distract me.” That got him an eye roll and they resumed walking. He turned and smiled at Katara, “you want the nanny to watch Bumi too? This part of the anniversary going to be boring. The ministers tried to insist Zum be there, but we are making sure any royal stuff she attends is age appropriate. So she’ll be at the parade and the street festival, clearly the new orphanage and family centre unveiling.”
“Yeah, that would be good?” Katara looked confused. “Sokka?”
He would have answered but he spied home. And Iroh waiting. “Oh shit, I think we were at the park longer than we should have been,” Sokka cursed and looked up to the sun. Yeah they weren’t late late, but just late enough. “We need to hustle.” They all went into the house and Izumi was handed over to the nanny and fussed a bit, which Sokka stayed a couple minutes to cuddle her.
He ran to their room and saw his robes already laid out by the servants. He grabbed a wash cloth and gave a quick wipe down with scented water. “Okay so formal lighting, dance thing, you saying words, we drink the ceremonial drink and - what am I forgetting?” He was naked and looked around. “Am I free balling?” He couldn’t see underwear. There was a laugh and Zuko began to hand him layers and Sokka dressed.
“You are doing the formal welcome of the avatar and heroes of the war.”
“Oh shit, yeah,” Sokka held his arms out as layer after layer was put on. He went to the table and began to brush his hair, tied it into the wolf’s knot and sat still as Zuko slid the crown into place. The newer consort crown that looked like waves instead of flame. “I can do this.”
“You can,” Zuko reassured.
“You can do this,” Sokka told his husband because he knew the formal stuff still sometimes made Zuko nervous. He kissed Zuko. “They liked the park.”
“How could they not?”
“I know, but just, I get scared that they will be mad I do everything for the fire nation and not for home.”
“And how many schematics and plans and ideas have you sent over the years? The trade agreements that I see your fingerprints all over?”
Sokka whistled innocently. “I didn’t do much.”
“Of course, as you always say.”
Sokka touched Zuko’s hair, so long now that it was only cut to keep it healthy. He had joked once that Zuko should grow it as long as the one princess in the children’s story, but Zuko said elbow length was appropriate enough. He’d look good though. Headache would suck but worth it. “Ready?”
There was a nod and they went outside, slowly, stately. The others were there also in formal clothes and they took the carriages to the royal palace. A vast crowd was gathered and they walked through the centre of it, up those stupid stairs that Sokka was so glad he didn’t have to climb every day anymore. The crowd all bowed as they walked past, and Sokka couldn’t help himself, gave a small wave to a few people.
Once they were standing above everyone the formal stuff began and he tried not to get restless, to behave. It was easier once the priests were done and Zuko stepped forward to speak.
“Ten years. Ten years of peace, of rebuilding, of hope. It has not been easy, and the world was forever scarred by the actions of the fire nation, of my family.” Zuko closed his eyes for a moment. Sokka wanted to reach out but didn’t because Zuko would hate it. He watched Zuko collect himself. “Ten years ago, I was not strong enough.” Sokka stopped giving a fuck about the rules because Zuko had gone off script. He stood and went next to his husband. He didn’t touch but stood there, giving strength. “Sorry, I was given a very specific speech to read for this moment. But to borrow a phrase, it’s stupid and I don’t wanna.” The crowd laughed having heard Sokka say those words at almost every formal event he has ever been in charge of. “What I want to say is this. The truth about ten years ago. We were children. I look at my daughter, a baby, but one day she won’t be, and I think of how the world betrayed children when it was at war, I have nightmares that she’ll go through what we did. Every day I remember how wrong I was, how much I had to learn about the world and how my family broke it. And that one the day the world was saved, I did the least of everyone standing up here. I faltered.”
Sokka brushed his fingers against Zuko’s, didn’t clutch but then Zuko clutched him. “I stand here today, knowing I didn’t do enough that day, that it was the bravery and might of the water tribe, of the avatar, the plans of my husband that won the day. And for the last ten years I have worked tirelessly to make up for falling that day, for everything my family did that brought us to that day. And now I work to make sure my daughter never knows the pain that we suffered through. Today marks ten years of peace and change. Growth, and I swear the next ten years will bring even more.” Sokka watched his husband kneel and bow to all the people gathered. “I will be strong for you.” Sokka wiped a tear away, and helped Zuko stand.
Zuko gave him a nod and Sokka stepped forward. “Right, so I’ll be having a talk with him later about understanding he’s never faltered or failed you, or himself, but that’s husband talk.” He grinned at the crowd. “Looks like I’ve infected him with going off book - you know the ministers will also be having a talk with me too.” That got laughs and cheers and Sokka let it bolster him. “It is my honour and privilege as royal consort, and as one of those there that day, who played a small part in ending the war to present to you, the heroes of the war.” He did the formal introductions and the ceremonial stuff continued and then it was done.
But it wasn’t because then all the ministers wanted to talk to them, and there were dignitaries to greet and it was long passed dinner when they finally returned to the house. The second he stepped through the door, he was stripping out of the crown and a lot of the layers. Servants told them food was in the garden and he didn’t care he ran. He was halfway through a bowl of noodles before the rest joined him. “Always, every time there is a formal thing it goes twice as long as you expect.”
“I know,” Zuko began to eat as well though at a slower rate. The nanny brought Bumi and Zum down and they were full of confusing stories about what they had done and it was great. Sokka ate and asked Zum questions that had insane answers returned to him and she crawled onto his lap and leaned against him.
Sokka gave her some gyoza which she jammed happily into her mouth. He laughed at how her cheeks bulged. “Chew, slowly,” he reminded her and watched carefully to make sure she didn’t choke. “Excited for the parade tomorrow?” She nodded happily, “Yeah it should be fun.” He was finally full and could properly wrap his arms around her. “So Papa didn’t do his speech proper,” he told her.
There was a gasp of shock and a giggle. “Daddy lying, Papa always behave.”
“Nope, he said his own thing, and it was amazing.”
“Nu-uh, you.”
“Sorry, Zum, but Daddy behaved almost completely. Papa was the one who made it different.”
“Papa!” Zum looked shocked. “You were Daddy?”
“Suppose I was,” Zuko laughed, “promised to make a good world. For you, my daughter.”
“Have Daddy and Papa now, world is the best. And a Bumi too! If Daddy stay, then all good.”
Sokka kissed her head, “Daddy stays, promise.” He looked to his dad who was watching with a soft gaze. “Dad, I can’t come back that long again. I can’t leave her.”
“I know, I’ve known for years it would be less and less. You belong here, but you all will visit. My granddaughter will know her heritage on our side of the family.”
Zum left Sokka and he watched her go to Hakoda who lifted her easily onto his lap. She was looking up at him. “I’m fire,” she told him. “Daddy and Papa kept me. I’m all fire.” She nodded to emphasize her explanation.
“You call Sokka, Daddy, do you believe that with your whole heart?”
“YES!” Zum shouted and Sokka felt his eyes well. “My Daddy!”
“And he calls you his daughter with everything in him. And if my son calls you such, you are my granddaughter and a child of the water tribe just the same as those born to it. Tui and La bless you, just the same.”
“Yue smile on me, protect me!”
Sokka rubbed a hand over his heart at Zum repeating some of what he whispered at night, begging Yue to watch his little girl in her sleep.
“Zum come visit and play?” Bumi actually stopped shoveling sweets into his mouth and cheered at that.
“Izumi will come,” Hakoda said, “with her fathers, so that I can show her our ways.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I love my grandchildren so much and want to spoil her just as much as Bumi.” Hakoda smiled when Zum hugged him and gave him a very wet kiss.
“Dad? Can you take Bumi and Zum upstairs?” Katara asked. “They could use baths.”
“I think I can handle that. Come on you two,” Hakoda held Zum in one arm and grabbed Bumi with the other. “Let’s go splash about.”
“Daddy splashes lots in the bath, to make Papa make grumpy sounds.”
“I bet, he always has been like that,” Hakoda laughed and it warmed Sokka’s heart to watch his dad carting about Izumi.
“Sokka?”
“Yeah?” He looked at Katara. Who had the eyebrow. Shit. “What’s wrong?” He looked around the roof line, couldn’t see anything. “Suki, assassins?”
Suki shook her head. “Guards are doubled around the house, nothing feels wrong. Toph?”
Toph was listening. “No, I can’t hear anyone.”
That eases something in Sokka. “Okay, good, yeah.” He realized that he had been more concerned about that than he knew. The anniversary would be a good time for some asshole to try something.
“It’s fine, Sokka,” Zuko reassured. “Been years.”
“Going to worry about you until the day you die,” Sokka snapped.
“Technically more people have tried to assassinate you than me,” Zuko pointed out and Sokka waved off that minor detail. “Katara, what’s wrong?”
“The two of you,” Aang said. “That’s what’s wrong.”
“Huh?” Sokka looked at Zuko who seemed lost. “What’d we do?”
“All of this!” Katara stood up and water began to circle her. “Zum calling you Daddy, the crown, the speeches. Everything, Sokka!”
“You’re mad because I’m not being hyper traditional? What the fuck Katara?”
“I’m mad because you didn’t tell me about any of this!” She shouted. She waved her hands and the water swirled around. “Sokka!” she looked so mad. “Sokka are you and Zuko married?”
Wait, what? “Yeah,” Sokka looked at her. “For like years now. What are you freaking out seeing it in person?” His eyes widened. “Katara, are you mad because we’re both guys?” He would kill her if that was the case.
“I’m mad because I wasn’t there! I’m mad because you never told me.”
“I did!” Sokka stood up. “What the fuck do you think, spirits I can’t believe I’m going to spend the rest of my life with Zuko meant?”
“That isn’t saying married!” Katara looked ready to pull her hair out. “You told me you built a park, you didn’t say all of everything. Why haven’t you told us all about your life?”
“Dad knew, Toph, Suki know,” he looked and they were nodding. “I said, I told you everything.”
“No you didn’t!”
“You didn’t, Sokka,” Aang chimed in. “I’m sorry but you never told us. And it hurts that you kept us out of your life so much.”
There was a disappointed and chiding tone and Sokka felt years of frustration explode out of him. “You’re the avatar and you visit everywhere but here! You did at the start and then it stopped! How many visits did the two of you cancel? How many times did you say you were settled at home and expect me to come to you?” He felt Zuko grab his hand, try to tug him down, but no it was being said. “You built a life and are shocked I built one too? How fucking bullshit is that?”
“Sokka, you never told me you were in love with Zuko!”
“I did!” Sokka looked at her. “I told you a million times, in a thousand ways, but you stopped listening to me. You decided you knew everything there was to know about me and stopped listening, caring about the tribe and Aang and having Bumi. All of that is great, but it is not my fault that you decided in there, you didn’t need to hear what I was saying.”
“A thousand ways isn’t telling her I love Zuko, we’ve been dating, we’re married, we have a child, Sokka,” Zuko pointed out.
“Are you fucking taking her side?” Sokka glared at him.
“A bit,” Zuko answered calmly. “Because you built a life too, and just assumed she would be able to read you like she used to, even though she has barely seen you the last few years.”
Sokka collapsed back into his chair, pouted a bit, because fine he had a minor point. “Dad knew,” he said. “Dad saw me even less than her and he put it all together.”
“Yeah,” Zuko had to agree.
“I’m sorry,” Aang said. “You’re right. We did stop trying to come here, to be involved in your lives. Zuko was my best friend, and now he isn’t, and I don’t like that.”
“I don’t like it either,” Zuko said. “I miss your guidance. But I get it.”
Sokka turned and looked at his husband. “He didn’t stop coming because you were weak or less or undeserving or whatever you are thinking.”
Aang stared in horror. “No, it isn’t that at all. How could you think that? We stopped because -“ He didn’t even have an answer.
“Ugh, because we all grew up and things were going to change,” Toph said. “It happens. We had responsibilities, demands on us that we had to deal with, people we had to become. Couldn’t become those people if we stayed in each other’s pockets, doesn’t mean we don’t still love each other. Sokka should have told Katara, but Katara also should have realized that in ten years maybe Sokka would change a bit. You both get super self involved but in different ways.” Toph huffed and crossed her arms.
Sokka shook his head, because she was right as always. “Katara?”
“Yes?”
“I fell in love with Zuko when we were recovering after the war. It sucked because he was still trying to make it work with Mai because he believed he had to sacrifice his heart to the kingdom to make up for everything his family had done. And then one day he stopped. He courted me - all formal and shit. We got married. We built a new house while he ruled the kingdom and I built a park, and we adopted the most perfect girl in the whole world.” Sokka didn’t care that he was crying a bit.
“That sounds really nice. I wish I could have been there for some of that.” Katara was crying too. “I wish I had paid more attention to what you were saying to me. But we were rebuilding home and Bumi, and -“
Sokka pulled her over for a hug, “It’s fine. It’s fine,” he swore. “Spirits, who wants to get a bit drunk?”
“You know I’m in,” Toph said.
Zuko called for plum wine, and they spent hours talking, telling each other about their lives, stupid little things and big things, stuff that needed to be said and hadn’t been. They eventually all went to bed, and Sokka was tipsy, warm, but not drunk. His tolerance after dealing with situations down at the dock was impressive and Zuko had never had more than two drinks not liking being out of control.
Sokka looked at his husband. “It will be better, but it won’t be what it used to be, will it?”
“No,” Zuko was there hugging him. “It will never be a group of teenagers on the run for their lives, huddled together by a small fire sharing everything because that was the only way to survive. You’ll be better about telling Katara things, but you won’t be close like you used to be. The distance and our lives mean that.”
“Yeah,” Sokka pressed his forehead to Zuko’s. “Hate it. Going to try hard.”
“You will, I know you will.” Zuko was scratching his head in the way that always soothed Sokka. “It will change things. It will be what it will be, Sokka. And it isn’t wrong that your priority, your sister’s priority is your own family. That’s just life.”
Sokka was really tired of thinking about how stupid growing up was. Especially when one of the good things about it was in his arms. He picked up Zuko and Zuko’s legs were around his waist. He kissed his husband, walked them to the bed and fell onto it. “You know what my priority right now is?”
Zuko was laughing. “I think I have an idea.” He was tugging at Sokka’s clothes. Sokka worked at Zuko’s but even if he had been completely sober the formal fire lord robes always defeated him. But eventually they were naked and pressed against each other, kissing, giving each other everything, every touch, every word against skin that had been missing for their months apart. Sokka was finally properly home.
When he collapsed next to Zuko after, he began to laugh. “Hey, do you think I should tell Katara about -“ He couldn’t finish the sentence because Zuko was there fake smothering him with a pillow. When it lifted off his face, Sokka looked up at his husband, his everything. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Zuko replied and kissed his nose. They slept cuddled together, woken up by the shouts of Zum and Bumi playing in the courtyard, getting ready for a busy day in the anniversary events.
It went too fast and then his family was leaving, with promises of more visits and staying involved and maybe they would happen, or maybe they wouldn’t, only time would tell.
He watched Appa fly away, Katara waving furiously until she was a speck. Sokka’s heart ached.
“Daddy, fly me!”
Sokka smiled and picked Izumi up. “Of course, my girl. Let’s get you in the air.” He tossed her up, reveling in her squeals of delight, and Zuko’s shouts to be cautious. His favourite sounds in the world.
*
“Katara, a scroll from the fire nation came for you,” Hakoda said ducking into their home. “A hefty one.”
Katara sat up, exhausted from being sick. The first trimester of this pregnancy was brutal. “Trade agreements?”
“Or something, must be important with the weight of it.” Hakoda handed it to her, curious.
Katara opened it and stared. “Everything I have done this month, by Sokka Royal Consort of the Fire Lord.” She began to giggle. “On the first I began my day with a breakfast of -“ she read some out loud, and Hakoda laughed at how thorough it was. He drifted away, leaving Katara to it.
Katara was crying and laughing when she hit the sixth time Sokka stubbed his toe on his night stand. She read every word.
It took quite a while.
The scroll she sent back was simple. Idiot - move the night stand.