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Zuko was so fucking tired it wasn’t even funny at this point. He’d gone in early to work a shift at the tutoring center, before going to his Calculus 2 class, then running a few DoorDash orders nearby campus until it was time for a very long and kinda triggering Early Childhood Development course. In all of this, he’d just eaten the PB&J sandwich that had gotten mangled in the bottom of his satchel. He was tired, sore, hungry and his head was pounding with a migraine.
It had been some time since the scar cutting across the side of his face, and down the length of his neck had caused him such physical pain. It usually only acted up if he’d been out in the sun too long, or if the biting cold had blown against him; however the lack of sleep he’d been getting the last week and his tendency to forget to eat a proper meal, on top of a class that had dealt with childhood trauma care, was a good mix to bring the years old pain burning through his face.
He’d struggled to unlock the door to their shitty little apartment as the migraine started to create bright sparks in the usually dulled edges of his left eye’s vision. As his key finally clicked, Zuko threw the door open and bolted towards his bed.
He didn’t get to the sanctuary of his bedroom, as the sight of his naked boyfriend struggling with the pole of a cat toy stopped him in his tracks. Sokka was leaning against the kitchen counter, seemingly trying desperately to scratch an itch inside his leg cast with the neon green pole. The fluffy ball dangling at the other end of the toy bounced about, drawing the attention of their black cat who jumped to attack. Of course, little Panic missed, clawing Sokka in the ass before jumping back.
“What are you doing?” Zuko's remaining brow was cocked high against his forehead.
Sokka tossed the toy down the hallway. Panic shot out, grabbing the fluffy ball and running away with the toy. She was living up to her name. Running a hand through his messy hair, Sokka turned those too bright blue eyes onto him. “Like the view?”
Of course, Zuko very much enjoyed the view of his naked boyfriend of four years standing in their tiny little kitchen (he was choosing to ignore the sink full of dirty dishes just behind him). Sokka had always been built well, a plus side to years of playing soccer, but he’d really filled out as they finished high school. It had seemed overnight, he’d been given an extra foot in height, and another inch around her biceps. He couldn’t be too distracted about that though, as the pulsating pain in his temple was growing.
Sokka narrowed his gaze at the flinch Zuko gave. “Hey, babe are you okay?”
Waving him off, Zuko finally shut the door behind him. “Just a little headache. Nothing to worry. What are you doing?”
“Was trying to shower, but once I got in there, realized I’d forgotten a bag for the cast. Came out here to get one, but I’d already stepped in the shower, so my only good foot was wet and like a dumbass, I left my crutches in the bathroom. So I ended up falling, thankfully no one saw because I looked stupid as hell. And when I got out here, my stupid leg started itching, and of course the cast is in the way, so was trying to scratch the itch. Panic has attacked me twice for her toy back.”
Zuko chuckled at the retelling. “The doctor told you that you should be taking baths.”
“Baths are stupid.”
“We could take a bath together.”
Sokka immediately perked up at that. He held a hand out, needing Zuko’s help to hobble down the hall to their bathroom. The room was already small, trying to shove all the bathroom matters into the cramped space left very little room to fit two freshly nineteen year old's. They managed, albeit getting an excuse to cling to each other as Zuko threw his dirty clothes into the hamper.
The tub water was running warm as the pair climbed in. They were careful to keep Sokka’s leg dangled over the edge of the tub, his cast heel resting on the closed toilet seat. The heat from the water felt really good on both of their bodies. Zuko leaned his weight against Sokka’s chest, letting his head rest on his shoulder. The plan for getting clean cleared from their mind as Sokka started peppering kisses down Zuko’s neck. The older man moaned into the feeling.
The pain behind his eye returned. The moan of pleasure on his lips was replaced with a painful hiss. He lurched forward, pressing his closed fist into the scarred tissue trying to usher the pain away. Sokka leaned forward, placing comforting hands on Zuko’s shoulders.
“Okay, tell me what’s up? Is your scar hurting again?”
He had known Sokka for just about how long he’d had that scar. He’d gone to live with Uncle after his father had shoved his face into the burning flame of the stove, and his absolute fear of having to face a new school after such an injury had been calmed when a lanky teenage boy had come up to him, offering horrible jokes and the pack of jerky he’d made with his dad. He’d fallen for Sokka almost immediately, and he might not have recovered from what had happened, had it not been for the blue eyed boy.
Leaning his weight back onto Sokka, Zuko grimaced through the pain. “It’s nothing really. I’ve had worst. You’re leg feeling better?”
“My leg is fine, we’re talking about your face.”
Zuko shifted to give a slightly irritated glare at his boyfriend. “Wow.”
Sokka took a second to rephrase his words. “Alright, bad word chose. However, if its hurting you, you know you can tell me. I can help you with it.”
With a heavy sigh on his lips, Zuko leaned his weight back onto Sokka’s chest, being careful to not bother the bandaged leg. “It just started about an hour ago. Think I gave myself a migraine and there was a rough class today dealing with trauma responses. Think it was just too much for the day.”
He’d known taking classes to work in child therapy would be a hard path to take, but he knew it was the one he was meant for. The women who’d worked his case had been a life savor for a thirteen year old boy terrified of everything around him. Despite how rough it was some days, he wanted to be that safety for other kids like he’d been.
Sokka rubbed his shoulders, working his fingers against Zuko’s sore muscles. “If you grab some of our ointment, I can put some of for you. Let me help you.”
The pain was getting too much for him to argue. He climbed out of the tub – earning a whistle in response for the view – grabbing the nearly empty bottle of cream and dry swallowing a pair of pain meds before moving back into the warm tub. Sitting face to face now, Zuko closed his eyes as Sokka began to rub the cream carefully into the folds of Zuko’s years old scar. He was so careful when he did it, and Zuko leaned into the safety being provided.
“Tell me about your day,” Zuko said, melting into the circular motions pressing against his ruined skin.
“Well, after you left this morning Suki blew up my phone. Apparently the water main by the gym broke and flooded the place. She was stuck spending the morning mopping up all the water, and I thankfully had a good excuse for why I couldn’t help.” Sokka tapped against the cast on his leg. “I’m still on medical leave after all. Class went fine; my coding project got an A and my physics partner is even more of a dumbass than I already knew. Spent most of the day here, got dinner in the fridge. Nothing fancy, some potato salad and leftover BBQ. How’s that feeling for you?”
“It’s much better, thank you.” The cream was peeling away the pain slowly. When Sokka withdrew his hand, Zuko almost wanted to drag that point of contact back. “How has your leg been? No problems getting around.”
“Nah. Gotten kinda used to it. It’s a great sympathy play, got an extension on an assignment cause of it. I need to remember to break my leg when finals come up.” It had only taken him about a month of having his ankle and lower leg bandaged for him to adjust to the limited mobility. It was still annoying though, and when the cast came off, he was going to lord it over Suki’s head for years about the hike she’d dragged them on that had ended with him falling off the side of a small cliff and breaking his ankle.
They hadn’t really gotten much of themselves cleaned before the water turned cold. With neither of them wanting to stay in the chilly water, they clambered out. The thick sweatpants slipping over their body was cozy, and a good combat to the chill of their apartment.
“What do you think about dinner in bed?” Zuko asked, knotting the string of his sweatpants.
“Oh, that sounds like heaven.”
Zuko pressed a kiss to his lips, savoring how their lips felt together. “I can go reheat dinner. Do you need a hand getting to bed.”
“Nah, I think I can make it. I’ll get the bed warm.”
Sokka took the opportunity to squeeze his boyfriend’s ass, before he crossed the hallway and entered into the bedroom. Zuko slipped into the kitchen, popping the left over pork-chops into the microwaves. It only took a few minutes for the food to heat up. Gathering it and the potato salad onto a large plate, he went to join in the bedroom.
Sokka was sprawled out on top of the covers. Panic was on his chest, rolling around and purring loudly at the attention she was finally being given. When Zuko joined onto the bed, he grabbed a treat from off the nightstand, and tossed it at the end of the bed. The cat gave a bright meow, rushing off to snag the food.
“What are we watching?”
“Thinking a scary movie? I heard Talk To Me was good. Wanna watch?”
On Zuko’s agreement, the horror movie was switched on. The two of them leaned against each other, enjoying the quick meal they were sharing. Panic chowed down on her snack, before curling up against her catnip carrot and doing her best to rip it apart. It didn’t take long for Sokka to fall fast asleep.
Once he heard the snores gracing the air, Zuko turned the volume of the TV down. He slide out of the bed, placing the dishes into the sink always full of them. When he got back into the bed, Sokka was further into his sleep, with Panic curled against his cast asleep as well. He was careful as he climbed back onto the mattress. It was too early for bed, but as the migraine beating through his skull finally started to melt away, Zuko curled himself against Sokka’s side and decided to let slumber take him as well.