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Sokka was being stupid.
At least, that's what his sister told him.
When Zuko had came to them, he expected another stupid and pointless fight. He had figured out, by now, that Zuko's fights were usually not very long. It usually started with the prince shouting angrily at them, and ended with Aang sticking his tongue out at Zuko in victory. However, when he saw Zuko this time.. well, it was weird. He couldn't explain the weird feeling in his stomach at the sight of the boy with the scar. He knew Aang had gone to the Fire Nation to go see Avatar Roku.
"You guys stay here!" Aang said. "Why? We wanna go with you." Katara said, frowning. Aang frowned now too, at Katara's face. "Yeah but- .. It's probably dangerous. And, I'm the Avatar! I can defend myself. I need to learn." Sokka couldn't exactly argue with that, but.. "But Aang, you might need backup, and Katara's amazing at waterbending now, so.." Aang only shook his head. "Can't risk losing you guys." He muttered, before flying away with his glider.
Aang went alone. And although he was.. annoying and reckless at times, he and Katara were confused at how stubborn he was to not let them come. Maybe he had talked to someone in the spirit world? He didn't know. But now he and Katara were basically alone (Appa and Momo didn't count. They were animals.. and also asleep). So, sue him for being annoyed at the fire Nation prince for disturbing their little peace. Sokka crossed his arms, leaning on a statue. Katara stood there defensively, and Sokka knew she could use her skills at any time.
Zuko stood there at first. Awkwardly. Sokka raised an eyebrow. "What do you want? As you can see, Aa- the Avatar isn't here." He said, annoyed. Zuko looked at him, wide golden eyes staring. He coughed. "..This is.. Zuko here." He said, "Uhm. This is.. just as awkward as it is for me as for-- wait- it's..." He sighed, "Listen. I wouldn't be talking to you water tribe people if I didn't need something from you." Zuko walked over to a rock in the center of the clearing, and laid down a map. "This is a map of the prison the Avatar is being held in." He said. Katara gasped. "What do you mean, 'being held' in? What happened?!" She asked. Zuko sighed. "Admiral Zhao. I had.. taken the Avatar, but they cornered me and my uncle, and took him from us." He said, "And.. some of the things the Avatar said made me rethink some things." Sokka.. didn't trust this guy. All of the sudden, he shows up, saying something about Aang being captured? So fishy. Katara seemed a bit skeptical, but Sokka guessed her feelings about Aang were a higher priority.
"So they took him here?" She asked. Zuko merely nodded. "I want to rescue him. I know it sounds bad, like I'll take him again, but I promise I won't." He said. Sokka just rolled his eyes. Katara seemed more trusting now. "Okay.. and you want us with you, why? You're literally the prince of the Fire Nation. You can firebend. You can do martial arts, me and Sokka have seen it!" She said, "Can't you handle yourself?" She asked, glaring at him. Zuko sighed loudly. "I would go myself, but I have a feeling your Avatar friend won't trust me if I go alone. He won't want to come with me. I'm sure having one of you with me would be.. helpful. I only have two masks, so.." He said.
Sokka and Katara looked at each other. "Sokka, you should go." Katara said, before Sokka could even open his mouth to say she should. "What?! Why me? I literally- listen, Katara, I love you and all, but this whole thing seems fishy! He sounds like he's lying and.." His voice trailed off when he saw Katara frown. "..Then, what if it's true?" She asked, "What if Aang is captured, and you are just standing here doing nothing instead of going with the prince and helping?! We could lose him!" She said, throwing her hands up in anger. Sokka internally groaned. He realized he wasn't going to win this fight.. So with a sigh, he spoke.
"Just hand me the mask. Let's make this quick."
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Zuko and Sokka hid behind a wall, waiting for the best moment to enter the prison. Sokka had a blue dragon mask on (fitting, if he did say so himself), while Zuko had this red dragon one. All black clothing, they basically looked like.. crazy people. Sokka sighed. "Is this even gonna work?" He whisper-yelled, "Cause I don't want to die in a dragon mask!" He said. Zuko shushed him, as he started stealthily walking to the entrance, before ducking under a cart of wine. Sure. Sokka can be stealthy! He "stealthily" did the same as Zuko.. luckily, all the guards were drunk. "..Is that your way of being stealthy?" Zuko asked. Sokka just tilted his head in confusion. What did he do wrong? Sokka rolled his eyes as he heard Zuko mutter something about them getting killed. They successfully got into the prison, and that's all that mattered!
As they got to the cells, Sokka could see tiny cells, and if he looked more, he'd notice a large cell. "That one, is the one that the Avatar is in." Zuko whispered. "But.. there's so many guards!" Sokka said. There were about 7 guards, talking to each other as they guarded the cell. "..So what? You have that weird boomerang thing with you, right?" Zuko asked, and Sokka nodded. "We just have to.. fight together." Zuko said, before running out of his hiding spot to kick a guard in his face, his whole leg on fire as he did so. Sokka just stared in shock. What was he meant to do?! He ran out, clutching his boomerang. Right. Be stealthy. Be quick. Be a warrior! He thought back to Kyoshi Island, how he defended Suki and the others. He just had to channel that inner Sokka charm! "Come here, you fire-people!" He said. Okay. Maybe not that way.
He ran at one of the guards, throwing his boomerang at his head. The guard, not expecting that, fell to the ground. Sokka stepped on his chest quickly, not realizing the guard caught a hold of his leg. Sokka yelled as he was pulled to the ground, and yelped at the fire in the guard's hand. "Water tribe scum." The fire Nation guard spoke, but before he could light Sokka's face on fire, Sokka gained strength and pushed the guard to the ground, stabbing him with his boomerang. "Ha! Serves you right." He said, pulling out his weapon to help Zuko. Zuko was currently fending off 2 guards, the rest were on the ground, either knocked out or.. Sokka didn't wanna think about it. He ran to Zuko's side, pushing one of the guards out of the way. "Isn't hurting princes a crime, or do you guards not care?" He asked, with a smirk. He bonked the guard on the head with his boomerang, effectively knocking him out. He didn't see the other guard, with a small dagger in hand. The guard stabbed Sokka's side, making Sokka cry out in pain. "Agh!" Zuko gently pushed Sokka to the side. "Go get Aang. I'll hold them off." Zuko said, concern in his voice at Sokka's injured state. Sokka nodded, clutching his side as he opened the big door to the cell.
It was just as Zuko said. Aang was chained up in the middle of the room like some animal. "Aang!" He said, using his boomerang to swiftly cut the chains. "Sokka! You.. you came for me?" He asked, "Sure did. Well.. not alone." He said. "I'll explain later. We gotta go!" He said, grabbing Aang's arm and tugging him out of the room. When he came back, Zuko had finished off the guard, and had put his mask back on. "Katara?" Aang said, and Zuko surely rolled his eyes under the mask. He shook his head no. "We gotta go." Zuko said, grabbing Sokka's arm. And maybe it was the adrenaline of this whole situation, but he swore his heart started to beat a little faster. And why would it?! Sokka just shook away the silly feelings. There wasn't any chance. They eventually made it outside, but Zhao had somehow found out (Well, it wasn't that hard, with the guards being laid out for all to see). Sokka sighed. "How are we going to get through this?!" He asked. They had made it up the wall, but even despite Aang's air-bending, Zuko's fire, and Sokka's charm, they were cornered. Aang noticed the sticks the soldiers were using to get up the wall. "Get one of those!" He shouted, and the older two quickly agreed.
The sticks made it so easy! They basically walked on stilts right out of the danger. Sokka thought they won! Surely, they had won. The fire Nation soldiers would just give up, right? Of course, he had to jinx it. He screamed as he saw Zhao throw a fireball right at them. The sticks caught on fire, broke, and they fell to the ground. Aang thankfully swept them on a wind wave thing, breaking the fall. But now, they were definitely cornered with no chance of escape. "Hold your fire," Zhao said, "I want the Avatar alive." Zuko, Sokka, and Aang huddled close to each other. That was, until Zuko pulled out a knife and held it to Aang's throat. "W-What- what are you doing?" Aang asked. Sokka stared. Zuko was some sort of genius or something.. or just plain crazy. He stood next to Zuko, not saying a word as Zhao let them go. The hostage situation worked! Sokka wanted to cheer in excitement. "You're a genius, Zuko." Sokka said, with a smile on his face. Zuko looked at him, but before he could say a word, he was shot with an arrow. Right in the head. Thankfully, the mask made it so he was just knocked out, but Sokka still gasped. "Zu-!" He exclaimed, but looked up at the wall to see some sort of archer. "Aang! Make some fog!" He said, and Aang listened quickly. "Let's go, Sokka!" He said, turning to run. But Sokka stayed. He stared down at Zuko's seemingly lifeless body. He knew he should hate him. He tried to capture Aang all the time! Katara would kill him for this..
"..We can't just leave him here." He said, hoisting Zuko onto his shoulder. "Let's go." He ran, letting Aang follow with confusion on his small face.
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Sokka let out a sigh of relief as he saw Zuko's eyes open. Well, one eye open partially. Zuko sighed, "Where.." Sokka stood over him. "That archer.. shot you in the head? It injured you, but you were lucky. The mask kinda.. helped." Sokka said, sitting next to Zuko now. "..I.. I had a boat somewhere over here. Used it to.. to get here and get you." Zuko said. "Well, you gotta wait. Those soldiers are still looking for us." Sokka looked around. They were lucky Aang found a cave over here that was deep enough. He rolled his eyes at said boy, on the ground snoring. "Aan-- I mean, the Avatar found a cave for us. We were resting-- well, you and Aang were. I was keeping watch." Sokka said proudly. Zuko didn't say anything, he just sighed.
"..Can I ask you something?" Sokka asked. Zuko just let out a hum. Sokka took it as a yes. "It's a little.. personal. I'm just curious. You don't have to answer if you don't want to.. Uhm." He twiddled his thumbs. Was this too direct? Screw it. "Your scar. It's.. how did you get it?" Zuko sat up a little straighter at this. He didn't hear an answer. "I'm asking, cause, you know. We all have our own scars." He said, "And yours is.. it's proud. It's cool, to me at least. It shows how.. strong you had to be to get it." He said. "I have my own scars. Like this one, on my back. I got it from this bear looking thing. My dad said I was lucky I didn't die but.. I've always been clumsy." He said, with a grin.
"..Scars aren't proud." Zuko said, in nearly a whisper. "..At least, mine isn't." He said. Sokka frowned. "Why do you say that?" Zuko furrowed his eyebrows. "It clearly shows how.. weak I am. I.. I showed compassion, and it resulted in this." He said. Sokka didn't know what Zuko was talking about. "But showing compassion is.. is a huge thing. I mean, you never show any towards us, but.. but everyone has it." Zuko glared. "Real Fire Nation soldiers do not show compassion. My father said it is a weakness. I agree." Sokka shook his head. "No. Your father isn't-- your father is a liar. He's the fire lord, and he's turned everything here into complete shit! This war has gone on for, how long? And your father is too much of a coward to admit he is wro-" He grunted as Zuko shot up, grabbing Sokka's collar and pushing him against the wall. "You don't talk about my father like that!" He yelled. "You do not get to talk about him like that. He is- He's a great father!" Sokka glared back at Zuko. "If he's such a great father, then why did he send you on a impossible quest?" Sokka asked.
"It is not impossible, you dimwit. I found the Avatar. And once I bring him back, I can- I can finally go home, and take my place as the rightful heir to the Fire Lord throne." He said. Sokka scoffed. "Is that really all you want to do? Being Fire Lord isn't some big, great, thing. Hell, even being in charge of just my small village made me constantly stressed. I can't even imagine a whole Nation." He said. "I was trained for this. I live for this. My father tells me I was lucky to be born. I am lucky to be born into a family like this. He will- He will be so proud of me, I know it!" Zuko said, "And he'll-- maybe he'll.." Sokka widened his eyes, as he saw Zuko's eyes slowly fill with tears. Zuko's grip loosened, letting Sokka back onto his feet. Sokka looked at Zuko, concern on his face. "..Zuko?" He asked. Zuko didn't say anything, only turning away with a sniffle. "..It's okay to cry. Katara told me it's healthy."
Sokka watched as Zuko sat down on a rock across from him, his sniffles and soft jerking of the shoulders a tell-tale sign of sobbing. Sokka sighed. "Look. I know we're enemies, but.. you can talk to me. I swear, I'm not that shitty. I wouldn't just out your deepest secrets to hold them against you or something.. somehow, I.. I know deep down you're like me. Had to grow up.. too quick. I trust you Zuko. I truly do. I know it's foolish, but I do." Sokka said, letting his feelings slip out. "We don't-- we don't have to be enemies! Did you see how we fought those fire Nation soldiers?!" He asked, "We were badass!" Sokka grinned. "We could be a.. a really good team I think, and.." Sokka's face turned a slight shade of pink. "Maybe even friends?" Sokka frowned as Zuko slowly turned his head to him. "..How could you ever be friends with me? I try to capture your friend every day. It's my goal. I haven't even apologized.. you really are foolish." Zuko said, but he didn't seem condescending. No, he just seemed to be in disbelief that Sokka wanted to be his friend.
Sokka held one of Zuko's hands. "..I used to think fire Nation were scum. I used to think that I should just stay in my place at my small village. But Katara and Aang have taught me.. so, so much. So had Suki, and so many others, and.." He frowned. "I don't want to think of you like that. You're just.. you're my age. You don't deserve to be banished by your father. You don't deserve our hate. And.. and others hate." He said. Zuko just stared at him like he was crazy, before sniffling once more, wiping his eyes. "..My father." He spoke slowly, uncertain. "..My scar, it.. me and my father got into an arguement. I didn't want our people-- our soldiers to be sacrificed for one fight. He declared agni Kai, and we fought against each other. A duel. Whoever gets burned, loses.. I swear I tried, but.." Zuko sniffed, looking away. "I couldn't burn my father. Not like that... he called it my weakness. My compassion. He pinned me to the ground, and held fire against my eye. All I can remember was.. was hearing my flesh being melted away, smelling it, and the pain." He said, shuddering. "I.. he banished me. Saying I couldn't return unless it was with the Avatar. I didn't.. I swear, I don't want to hurt any of you, I just.. I wanna go home."
Sokka felt like crying. This is what the prince had to endure? Sokka quickly pulled the other into a hug. "Zuko, you.. you're worth so much more. I swear. Please, just stay with me and Aang and Katara. We can.. we can help you realize how your father wronged you. We can support you. You can help us with so much." And Sokka didn't want to admit it, but he couldn't bare to leave Zuko like this. Zuko was broken, all alone except for his crew and uncle, and Sokka didn't even know if they supported Zuko at all. He couldn't see Zuko in pain like this, and he especially couldn't let Zuko go back to that horrible man. Zuko's answer was clear, as he laid his head on Sokka's shoulder, and muttered,
"You might want to pack jasmine tea. It's my uncles favorite." And Sokka couldn't say no. After all, tea sounded good after this.