Chapter Text
A wise man once said that one never knew what they had until it was taken away. To Sokka, that just meant fate had a terrible sense of humor. Life could just take and give without so much as a warning, toying with individuals as though they were nothing more than bugs. Sokka had felt that way more than once, being pulled back and forth like two kids fighting over a stuffed platypus bear. Yet out of everything that has happened in his chaotic life this absolutely took the cake.
“S-Sokka! Just keep your eyes open! You're going to be ok!” Katara’s mature and determined features crossed his blurry gaze. Her blue eyes held a spark to them that burned brighter than any fire. It honestly made her look more like a war torn general then his baby sister, but deep down Sokka could see the nuances in her expression. Tiny cracks that showed what she was thinking, yet remained hidden to people on the outside. The way Katara bit her bottom lip, the wobble in her voice, and how her brown locks seemed to refuse to stay in place told the man more than words ever could. Despite the way that familiar water enveloped the gaping wound in his stomach he knew the truth of his situation. This was the end of the line.
Sokka felt like he was breathing in through a straw. Thin strands of air barely filled his lungs as he choked and sputtered on his own warm blood. The metallic twang being the only thing he could focus on as his vision quickly began to blur, and his mind raced with thoughts.
Was there an afterlife, or was he just going to be chilling in the spirit world? Did others reincarnate or was that just an Avatar thing? Did (involuntarily) drinking his own blood make him a cannibal? That last one made a chuckle tear through his lips, yet it only sounded like a laugh to Sokka. To the others it was probably reminiscent of what a dying penguin seal sounded like……wait, that probably wasn't the best ana-
“Damn it, Snoozles! Stop laughing and focus on staying alive!” Sokka couldn't see Toph, but by the way her voice cracked he could tell she was crying. Little salty droplets that fell against the back of his hand like gentle rain droplets. They were colder, and more crisp than the water Katara was frantically pressing against his wound in an attempt to heal him. Each little tear pricking him like a needle, and filled with too many emotions that not even a dying man could decipher. Sokka tried to tease the girl, but no noise left his moving lips.
“Don't talk! Just-I can heal you! D-Don't worry, I'll save you!” Katara was crying now. Her voice cracking and breaking with each word as her hands began to quicken their pace in a panic. Her warrior mask broke to show just how desperate she felt. Sokka wanted to tell her to stop. To save her energy. Though even now he couldn't find the strength to make her upset.
Spirits, how the tides have turned! It was the job of the older brother to protect his little sister, yet with time it had turned into Katara always keeping Sokka safe. Even now, as she pushed herself to her limit just for his sake.
“Ka-Katara.” Sokka had so much he wanted to tell his sister. How proud he was, and the excitement he felt about his soon to be newest niece or nephew. So many things needed to be said, but as his vision blurred he knew the clock was ticking. And soon it would tick for the very last time.
“N-No! Don't speak! Just focus on-” “SOKKA!” A new voice broke through the barrier. This one filled with passion like a burning flame. There was only one person who had a voice like that, a voice he would brave any hurricane just to hear again. Smooth just like the man’s beautiful long dark hair, yet just bitter enough to tickle his eardrums in the right way.
The moment Zuko's face appeared in front of him it was like a rush of energy pushed through his veins. The swell of pure, unconditional love reminding him of his best memories; running into his moms arms after hunting with his dad, Katara's fingers running through his hair, the moon's rays tickling his skin, a soft kiss against his lips, and a familiar nose buried within his neck. The memories flashing through Sokka’s mind like a broken record as newfound strength helped him break through the fog.
“F-Fire lily.” The nickname slipped out of Sokkas's throat like a whispered prayer. Even when he was delirious it just felt so right, so perfect from his lips. A bloodied hand creeped into his view, wobbling like a thin twig in the wind as it desperately reached towards the man in front of him. Who did that belong to? Was someone else injured in the attack?
“S-Sokka.” Tears pricked in Zuko’s eyes, and quickly he grabbed the hand in order to rest it against his cheek. Oh….that was his hand. The broken and beaten appendage was so unfamiliar, yet there was no denying the way Zuko squeezed him tightly.
“Zu-” Sokka choked on more blood. Unable to get the word out as his traitorous body wracked with coughs.
No. He couldn't go out like this. Not with Zuko staring at him as though the world was ending right in front of his eyes. Not when tears poured down his pale cheeks like tiny rivers. Zuko just lost Iroh! They had a daughter together! He couldn't leave him now!
“Please, I'm begging you, don't leave me alone.” For the first time since they met Zuko sounded desperate. His voice cracking and breaking like ice has he tried to contain his pain. “I-I can't do this by myself! Katara is going to heal you, and then we'll be back to feeding the turtle ducks together! Ok? It's going to be ok-” The mighty firelord was now reduced to a shivering and rambling mess. His emotions on full display as he begged the universe to be kind to him just this once.
“Izumi needs you! We need you! So please don't die! You need to see Izumi grow up, ok?” Zuko had lost all control at this point, falling forward until his face was pressed against Sokka’s chest. His husband’s tears wetting his blue tunic, and mixing with the blood that poured out. Sokka just wanted to wipe his tears away, he wanted to hold his daughter one last time, but he knew neither would be possible.
Oh. Fate was so unfair.
“So-sorry.” It happened so fast. The moment the words left his lips his eyesight turned dark. Splotches of inky black covering up everything he knew and loved until only amber eyes were left. In his mind he screamed everything he wished he could say.
Please take care of Izumi and Katara for me! Don't let Aang do stupid shit while I'm gone! And all he wanted was to tell Zuko how much he loved him yet no matter how hard he tried he couldn't say the words, and his husband's face was disappearing quicker than he can handle, and the sound of wails were fading as his entire soul died alongside his body until……
Well, until he woke up.