Chapter Text

Skipped Beat

Zuko stared at the glittery reunion invitation in his hand. He blinked then blinked again. Since when were reunions themed? "A Sparkling Night in Paris", Zuko snorted. He hadn't realized it had been ten-years since he finished medical school. He didn't know whether to be offended or happy that the invitation had arrived two days before the designated event. His name hadn't changed since then, although he had moved around often.

Zuko was currently in-between assignments as a pediatric surgeon for Doctors without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières. He had been home less than a week but already felt suffocated in his family's house. Zuko had gotten used to spartan living quarters and this house was immense and too gaudy, flaunting all the money his father had made as a lawyer. The last village he was in could have fit on the first floor and still have room for the children's makeshift soccer field.

Zuko sighed and he put the invitation down on the side table. He wasn't going to go. Why would he? Being a traveling doctor gave him a great reason for not staying in contact with Kat- people. Shit, the only person he told he was coming home was his sister Azula because he didn't want to walk into the house to her having sex with her girlfriend...again. He shuddered at the thought. Once had taught him his lesson; call ahead so she can stay with Ty Lee for however long (short) he was home.

This time Azula was even kind enough to pick him up from the airport. Years, distance, and lots of therapy had helped the siblings. The pair had had lunch earlier in the day, far from the hospital, of course. Zuko didn't want to run into anyone he knew and Azula said she'd already been to the nearby good restaurants for work events. (The struggle of being a hospital lawyer.) His stomach growled and he wandered into the kitchen. Zuko could eat his leftovers, but he had seen a box of mac' n cheese in the pantry. There was nothing like fake neon orange cheese.

Brringgg Brrinng

Zuko paused hearing the doorbell, wooden spoon not moving in the pot. Who could that be? MSF would call him and Azula would just let herself in. Before he could think, his doorbell buzzed louder than before.

BRRRIINNNGGGGGG

"Okay! Damn I hear you. Just a minute," Zuko yelled, turning off the stove top. He marched towards the front door. Girl Scouts didn't come this late did they? Was it even cookie season? Zuko could just make out the shape of someone tall on the other side of the glazed glass door. A feeling of dread came over him as he opened the door.

"Dude! I almost didn't believe Ty Lee when she mentioned you were back!" Sokka stood in front of Zuko, a big smile on his face with a six-pack in each hand. Sokka pushed past his still shocked friend into the house, "Zuko, man, it's good to see you're still alive outside of those commercials. Mmmmm what are you cooking? Is that mac' n cheese? Yes!"

And with that his old roommate was back in his life.

Zuko surprised himself by actually enjoying Sokka's company. He had forgotten that Sokka's positive attitude was infectious. And of course it helped that after they finished the beer (and two boxes of mac 'n cheese) that they tackled the liquor cabinet.

It had been at least four years since Zuko and Sokka really hung out. They had been friends in undergrad and decided to room together when both were accepted to the health-care centered Dante University. Sokka studied physical therapy while Zuko was in medical school. When Zuko's pediatric residency took him to rural Fire Nation, Sokka occasionally visited with his sister since Zuko and Katara had started dating in medical school. At first it grossed Sokka out, but he was happy for them. Then Ozai died and Zuko ran away joined Médecins Sans Frontières.

Zuko was lucky to be hired right out of residency; he was determined and consistently proved his worth. Children who hardly ever received medical care quickly fell in love with him across the nations. Parents either accepted him quicker because of his facial scar or slower but they always trusted his judgement in the end. Zuko worked his way up over the almost seven years he had been with the MSF. More recently, his supervisors had been pushing Zuko more to the front end, visibly fundraising and recruiting other medical professionals. Hence Zuko appearing in a few recruitment videos.

When Zuko had broken up with his sister, Sokka had been angry ("A freaking text?! Zuko, are you fucking kidding me?") but Katara seemed to move on so he let it go. Sokka tried to stay in touch but, hey, life happens. He got a job at a rehabilitation center ("Dude, old people are hilarious"), met someone ("There's this cute nurse here who terrifies me"), and most recently, married said nurse (Remember that picture of the ring I sent you? Suki said yes!).

Over the hours, the pair had caught each other on their lives then Sokka filled Zuko in on their friends. The only person he hadn't mentioned was Katara and while Zuko was drunk he still couldn't bring himself to ask about his ex. It was nearing midnight when Sokka's phone rang. The man looked at it, winced, and shoved the phone into Zuko's hands, telling him to answer. Drunk, but still weary, Zuko did so, "Hello, Sokka's phone."

An exasperated sigh was heard on the other side, "Hey Zuko, it's Suki. You two done drinking and gossiping?"

"Ahhhh, I think the right answer is yes."

"Yep," Suki responded, "You're a smart man. I'll be there soon to pick my drunken husband who thought drinking on a Thursday night was a good idea. Tell him to get ready, thanks!" With that Suki hung up and Zuko passed the phone back over to his friend.

"I like her. Sounds like she keeps you on your toes"

"Dude, she's the best thing that ever happened to me."

The men slipped into a comfortable silence, each lost in their thoughts, slowly finishing their drinks. Sokka thought about what to say to his boss tomorrow and Zuko wondered how to ask about Katara. About 15 minutes later, Sokka's phone buzzed with a text. "Suki's out front."

Sokka stood, cracking his back, "Thanks for inviting me over."

"Ha," Zuko chuckled and walked Sokka to the entryway, "I can't believe Ty Lee tattled on me."

"Yeah, well we see each other 40 hours a week. I'm just surprised it took her until today to crack."

Zuko hummed in agreement. He grabbed the sparkly invitation thinking he would trash it in the main bin after he greeted Suki in the car. Sokka opened the front door and turned to Zuko. Seeing the invitation in his hand, Sokka said, "Oh you got the reunion invite too!"

"This thing?" Zuko asked, waving it in the air, "I thought it was my med school reunion only. I wasn't going to go."

"Nah it's some big event this year for all programs who graduated in a certain time frame." Sokka said, stumbling outside without Zuko. Zuko huffed from the doorway, "I'm still not going."

Sokka shrugged and opened the car door. From the other side Suki waved and Zuko waved back. Just as Suki was reversing out, Sokka rolled down the window and shouted, "My sister is going to be there!" With that gem of information, the couple was off and Zuko stood there vaguely shocked.

Well fuck, was that supposed to change his mind about going to the reunion? (Hint: it did)