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It was music night on the ship, and Zuko's prisoner was being even louder than Uncle Iroh's singing. Zuko was hoping that when he took a prisoner, it would be the Avatar himself, not a loud, disruptive idiot from the southern water tribe.
Sokka was standing, slightly immobile from the chains around his feet and hands, by the edge of the ship, watching Iroh sing. "The old man's got some pipes on him!"
Zuko leaned against the ship's railing, trying to ignore the chattering from the tied-up Sokka beside him. He would like to be alone, but he had to watch over the prisoner.
"If you guys weren't, like, super evil, living on this ship would actually be fun," Sokka said, watching the horn player with an appreciative look on his face. "I mean, who else has music nights?"
Zuko scoffed. Even in captivity, this non-bender never stopped talking. The only nice thing about him was that he was kind of cute, but Zuko would never admit that.
"If only I wasn't tied up," Sokka tried to tug his hands apart, the rope wrapped tightly around them digging into his wrists. "I have such a good dance move that would work perfectly-"
"Would you shut up?!" Zuko yelled, smacking his palm into his forehead. "Music nights are bad enough, and now I have to listen to you talk your ponytail off! I would rather throw you overboard than keep you as a prisoner."
"It's only fair!" Sokka shot back. "You're always shouting off your ponytail! You tell me which is better."
"Shouting! Definitely shouting!" Zuko said, turning to Sokka. "There's a time and a place for talking, but yelling is a universal language!"
Sokka looked back at him with a slightly pitying expression that only served to infuriate Zuko. "Having the Firelord as your dad must suck if that's what he's taught you."
"I am this close to gagging you," Zuko held up his fingers a millimeter apart.
"Oh yeah?" Sokka waggled his eyebrows, smirking.
Zuko shook with anger. "Ughh!" He groaned, fire shooting from his hands and sizzling the deck as he stormed away.
Iroh strolled over, sighing. "Anything will upset my nephew these days," He said, shaking his head. "If only there were a tea strong enough to calm that storm."
Sokka watched Zuko slam the door to the living quarters. "No kidding."
---
Zuko had been gone for hours, and Sokka had to admit that he was getting lonely. He had already gone through all his possible escape ideas, and none of them were successful. He was currently tied to a support pole by the door in Zuko's bedroom; Zuko had grumbled something about 'keeping him close' so he couldn't escape. There wasn't even anything interesting to look at in the room, it was just a bed, a desk, and the Fire Nation tapestry on the wall. The swords that Sokka usually liked to stare at were missing. The only sounds were the waves lightly lapping against the side of the boat, and the old man playing a spirited game of Pai Sho above deck. Sokka hoped that Aang and Katara had continued to the North Pole as scheduled, and, since they hadn't come for him yet, he figured that's what they were doing. Zuko would just follow them there anyway, and, by extension, so would Sokka.
His main form of entertainment while in captivity had been making fun of Zuko and, every once in a while, Sokka would get a stabbing of guilt for it. Despite everything Zuko had done, Sokka couldn't help but feel like he had a good reason, something that was justifying his actions in his head. It most likely had something to do with his burn scar and the person who gave it to him. Sokka could understand having to prove yourself- he'd always felt like he wasn't good enough when his Father didn't take him on missions- and maybe Zuko was going through something similar.
Something about the firebender made Sokka so curious about him. Too curious. As much as Sokka didn't want to, he found himself watching Zuko, trying to gain any information he could. He told himself he was taking notes so they could have an edge against him later, but Sokka knew that wasn't it. He was trying to find the source of Zuko's anger, trying to find something deeper than it. The longer Sokka watched him, the more he realized: The stuffy, proud Zuko that Sokka knew was nothing more than a defense mechanism. And Sokka, for some reason he couldn't explain, wanted to break through it.
A commotion sounded above deck, and a few seconds later, Zuko burst through the door, ignoring Sokka as usual. Sokka eyed him as he unsheathed the dual swords and placed them back on the wall. What had he needed them for? Why didn't he just fight with his firebending? Did he run into Aang? Sokka had a hundred questions to ask him, but instead, he settled for some light insulting.
Sokka cleared his throat, getting a side glare in response. "Are your sparks not working, Prince?" He asked casually, gesturing with his head at the swords.
Zuko leaned over his desk, his back to Sokka. "In case you haven't noticed, peasant, we aren't in the Fire Nation. Maybe I don't want the whole world to know who I am."
"If you wanna be secretive, you should control your temper," Sokka said. "Your stomping was shaking the whole ship."
Zuko spun around, and Sokka could practically see steam flooding out his nostrils. "I don't have the energy for this right now," He said. "Your Avatar friend has put me in a bad mood."
So he had seen Aang. "You're always in a bad mood," Sokka said incredulously. "Would you rather I kiss your wounds and tell you everything is gonna be okay?"
"I'm going to bed," Zuko spat, turning again.
Sokka scoffed, looking down at his shackled feet. Then the guilt came.
Why can't I just hate him?
Sokka looked up. Zuko was pulling off his shirt, climbing into bed. His shoulder had a fresh cut that hadn't been tended to. It looked as if he had fallen backward onto a sharp rock.
Zuko saw Sokka looking at him, and he scowled. "What?"
"You're bleeding," Sokka said gently.
"I'm fine," Zuko frowned.
"You're not about to get into bed with an open wound, are you?" Sokka asked, raising an eyebrow. "That's extremely unsanitary!"
Zuko stood up forcefully. "I didn't ask for your opinion."
"If you don't go treat that cut," Sokka warned. "I'm gonna scream that you're letting me escape."
Zuko approached him, shoving a finger at his chest. "What's your deal?! Why do you even care?"
Sokka looked at him as if it were obvious, a small genuine smile on his lips. "I'm just trying to help."
"I don't need your help," Zuko said, trudging to the door.
"Yes," Sokka said quietly. "I think you do."
Zuko hesitated, his hand on the doorknob. Then he left, slamming the door behind him.
---
Uncle Iroh had gone for a walk, and Zuko was alone with Sokka on the ship. Zuko had taken to bringing Sokka everywhere with him, saying it would be easier to keep an eye on him that way. Sokka had commented that it 'better be his right eye', and Zuko had nearly punched him. When Zuko heard a sound from above deck, he considered leaving his prisoner in his room, just to get some much-needed time away from him while he investigated the sound, but he ultimately decided against it. He was begrudgingly grateful for that decision when Sokka saved his life. He had bodychecked Zuko over the side of the ship just as it blew up, sending them both into the water and away from their doom.
Zuko dragged them both onto the shore, panting and coughing up salty water.
"What was that?!" Sokka shouted over the sound of fire consuming the boat.
Zuko laid his head on the sand, catching his breath. "Zhao," He growled. Zuko looked sideways at the idiot who had just saved his life, and the only thing he could think was... why?
Sokka stared back at him. "Hold on, Zhao is after you?" He said, running his hands through his loose, dripping hair. "I thought you were working together!"
"Definitely not."
Sokka got shakily to his feet, holding out his tied-up hands to help Zuko up. "Come on, we need to get out of here."
Zuko stood up on his own, grabbing Sokka's hands to keep hold of him. "Why did you save me?" He asked, his mind racing as he studied Sokka's face, waiting for the answer.
"Well, I wasn't just gonna let you get blown up!" He said indignantly.
"I think I would've preferred that," Zuko said under his breath, turning and dragging Sokka by his ropes up the beach.
Uncle Iroh ran onto the pier, spotting them and sighing in relief, his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. "Prince Zuko, I am sorry to say that we'll have to travel on foot from here on out."
Zuko rolled his eyes. "Yes, Uncle. I know."
"Travel where, though?" Sokka said, trudging along behind Zuko as they approached Iroh. "Think about it. Aang is already days ahead of you, and now you don't have a boat."
Zuko tugged hard on Sokka's ropes, pulling him to a stop on the pier. But he had to admit that he was right. Zuko groaned, his hands balled into shaky fists as he watched his boat burn and sink in front of him.
Iroh placed a gentle hand on his Nephew's shoulder. "It's alright, Prince Zuko. We will move North, find somewhere to stay, and hope to catch The Avatar on his way out of the North Pole."
Zuko looked up and saw the same worried expression on two faces. What did he have to worry about? Zuko eyed Sokka, thinking whether he should've just killed him to save the trouble. But- as Zuko watched him, the person who had just saved his life, his expression softened. Despite everything, the whole time he'd been imprisoned, Sokka had tried to help him. It was both infuriating and... kind.
"We should probably rest after nearly being blown up, too," Sokka said, pulling slightly at his ropes to alert Zuko. "You okay? You're staring."
Zuko blinked. "Oh. Yeah," He cleared his throat and started following his Uncle into the town, Sokka behind him. "Rest sounds good."
They found an Inn in town and got two rooms. Zuko insisted on staying with Sokka, even though Sokka pointed out that even if he did escape, he was in rough shape from the explosion and his friends were probably across an ocean by now. Zuko had his Uncle lock their room door from the outside and asked the Innkeeper to post a guard in the hallway, but Sokka didn't mind so much since it meant he could be untied. His wrists were red and slightly blistered, so he searched the room- much to Zuko's dismay at the noise he made- and found a pack of weird-smelling salves and bandages.
Sokka turned to Zuko, who sat slumped against the wall on his bed, his arm crossed and knees tucked to his chest. "Hey, you. Get over here."
Zuko didn't look at him. "No."
Sokka sighed, frustrated. "Your face is covered in scrapes," He said, approaching Zuko with his hands on his hips. "If you don't let me treat them, they'll get infected."
"Stop helping me," Zuko half-shouted, sitting up. "I don't know what you're trying to pull, what game you're playing, but I don't want any part of it!"
Sokka raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay."
Zuko turned to look at him, surprised. Sokka sat down on a blanket on the floor and put his head in his hands, his wrists newly bandaged. Zuko stared at him, unsure of what to do. He hadn't expected him to actually stop. Zuko tried to lay back down, to just go to sleep, but-
"Fine," Zuko said, sitting down next to Sokka.
Sokka looked up, a small smile twitching the corner of his mouth. "I knew you couldn't resist," He said smugly. "You like being taken care of."
Zuko glared at him, his face slightly red. "Don't push it, or I'll give you a scar to match mine."
"Well, that would just be cute," Sokka said, opening a salve and sniffing it. "Matching scars."
"Shut up."
Sokka grinned but obeyed, silently dipping a finger into the ointment. Zuko flinched at first, but he soon got used to Sokka's touch and, to his surprise, began enjoying it. Sokka was gentle, and the feeling of his fingertips skimming the skin of Zuko's forehead was calming, pleasant. Sokka paused before touching the cut beside Zuko's left eye.
Zuko met his gaze and saw his hesitancy. "It's alright," He said. Sokka nodded nervously and began rubbing the salve into the burnt and cut skin, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Zuko watched him, amazed by the care he took to do it right, to be respectful. He took a deep breath, savoring Sokka's touch before he spoke. "...Thanks."
Smiling, Sokka moved to get bandages. "You know, I never really believed in it, but Aang likes to talk about this monk thing, 'the illusion of separation' or something like that."
"I'm familiar," Zuko said, remembering his Uncle's lectures and proverbs.
"Right," Sokka continued. "It basically just means that, no matter where people come from, the color of their skin, benders or non-benders," Sokka ran his fingers softly down Zuko's cheek, their gazes locking.
"Fire Nation or Water Tribe," Zuko said quietly.
Sokka nodded. "We're all the same."
There was a pause, Sokka's hand cradling Zuko's cheek, his thumb gently stroking the scar.
Sokka's eyes widened, and he jumped, taking back his hand. "O-of course, that's all just seal blubber," He said, scratching his neck.
"Right," Zuko shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Seal blubber."
---
Sokka never knew what to expect from his captors- he wasn't very well-educated on Fire Nation customs- but he certainly hadn't expected... haircuts. Sokka stared as Zuko and the old man entered the abandoned hut they'd taken as their temporary base. Zuko's ponytail was gone, and small hairs had started to grow, giving him a buzzcut look.
Zuko knelt down in front of Sokka, who was cross-legged on the floor. "I'm letting you go," He said, his expression unreadable as he untied the ropes around Sokka's wrists.
"Wh- what?!" Sokka's breath was uneven, panicking for a reason he couldn't explain.
"I'm done chasing your Avatar friend," Zuko said, his face pale.
Sokka didn't have time to react. Before he could say anything, Zuko collapsed forward into his arms, sweat beading his forehead, his breathing labored. Sokka caught him, laying him face-up in his lap. "What's happening?!" Sokka touched Zuko's face, his skin burning hot.
Iroh stepped forward with a worried expression. "It was his critical decision to set you free," He said, taking a pail of water and a rag from the table in the house. "That decision was so at odds with his vision of himself that he will have to undergo a metamorphosis."
"What does that even mean?!" Sokka held the panting Zuko close to his chest, wondering why he wasn't running back to his sister and Aang. Why can't I hate him? He knew the answer, the extremely inconvenient answer, as he ran his hand down Zuko's scarred cheek. He wished he could do more, do anything to help him, but all he had was a cold rag to wipe away the sweat.
"It will not be easy," Iroh said softly, leaving the water pail beside Sokka and turning toward the door. "But once he sweats out this fever, he will emerge a new man. I will give you some privacy."
Sokka heard the door close, but he couldn't bring himself to look away from the pained expression twisting Zuko's features. Sokka could feel that pain, that anguish eminating from the firebenders burning skin in the form of heat waves, as if Sozin's comet were soaring through the cosmos in Zuko's mind. Sokka felt helpless, as if Zuko was drowning in his own grief and all Sokka could do was watch. He bent over Zuko, pulling a blanket over his shoulders and wrapping his arms around him.
A tear fell softly onto Zuko's cheek.
Just let me hate him.
But he couldn't. Sokka sobbed into Zuko's shoulder, pulling him closer as if he could meld with him, never leave his side.
Zuko blinked his eyes open, looking down at the man crying into his neck. "...Sokka?"
Sokka looked up. Zuko was still hopelessly pale, his skin still burning. But he was awake. "Zuko," Sokka sighed gently.
"What's happening to me?" Zuko's face twisted again, and he groaned in pain.
"Oh, you know," Sokka smiled through his tears. "Just a case of 'I did something good' fever."
Zuko clutched at his chest, leaning into Sokka and wrapping his arms around his waist. "What did I do?"
Sokka laughed quietly. "You let me go," He said, knowing he would never be free from the hold Zuko had on him, the way he looked at him, as if Sokka, his prisoner and captor, was his only source of kindness in the world.
"I did," Zuko said, his voice impossibly quiet. "But... please don't leave me," He held the back of Sokka's shirt in the death grip, leaning his forehead against Sokka's chest.
Sokka held him tight, his tears falling onto his new, short hair. "I'm here," He whispered, the words from his heart drowned in affection. He lifted Zuko's chin, placing a soft kiss on his scarred cheek. "It'll be okay."
---
Zuko woke suddenly, gasping air into his lungs as if he had been drowning. He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. It was night, and he was laying in a sleeping bag on the floor of the hut. Someone next to him stirred wrapped an arm around his bare waist. He startled, turning to see a peacfully sleeping face framed by soft, dark hair. Zuko sighed. He stayed. Zuko reached out, his face inches from Sokka's, and tucked his hair behind his ear.
Sokka peaked an eye open, gently grabbing Zuko's hand and entwining their fingers on the blankets between them. "Hey," He said.
"Hi," Zuko said, his breath mingling with Sokka's.
"You're awake."
"So are you." Their voices were barely whispers, the night sounds almost drowning them out.
Sokka sat up suddenly, leaning over Zuko and examining his face, turning it side to side. "Your fevers down. How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?!"
Zuko raised his hands in surrender, turning onto his back under Sokka. "I'm fine."
"Hmmm..." Sokka mused, running his hand through Zuko's buzzcut.
"...What?" Zuko asked, raising his eyebrow.
Sokka leaned closer. "I like this haircut on you."
Zuko went red, avoiding the eyes of the man leaning over him, his hands on either side of Zuko's face. Zuko felt refreshed, new, but mostly thankful to be out of his nightmares and- he had to admit- to be with Sokka. Under Sokka, he realized with a skip of his heartbeat.
"Hey, uh," Sokka began quietly, cupping Zuko's cheek and leaning closer. "Please feel free to punch me in the chest if this is weird, but..." He took a deep breath, going red as Zuko placed tentative hands on his waist. "Can I-"
"Yes," Zuko breathed.
Sokka raised an eyebrow. "But I didn't even-"
"I know." Zuko interrupted again, smiling slightly. The look in Sokka's eyes was melting Zuko into the floor, turning him into a pile of fire goo. Something must be wrong with him if The Avatars friend could effect him like this, but Zuko didn't care. He couldn't care anymore, not when Sokka was this close to him, so close that his hair was tickling Zuko's forehead. Sokka's touched reformed him, his gentle fingers lifting Zuko's chin, his soft lips landing on Zuko's.
His eyes fluttered closed, his arms wrapped around Sokka, his hands tangled in his hair, his mind ran wild. The moment felt like an eternity, a lifetime full of sensations Zuko never knew he could feel, never realized could devour him. And they did. Sokka pulled him up into him, chest-chest, their heartbeats rough but in sync, a rythym that was music only to them.
It felt like forever, and yet it was over too soon. They broke apart to catch their breath, still pressed together, sitting up in their sleeping bag. Zuko dropped his head onto Sokka's shoulder, breathing heavily through a smile. Sokka went still against him, and Zuko looked up.
Sokka's eyes were wide as he looked at Zuko. "Holy sky bison..." He mumbled. "I just... I just kissed the Fire Prince!" His eyes lit up, and he grinned. "Does this mean I'm a princess?!"
Zuko blinked, frowning. "In what world would that mean that?"
"In my world!" He said, placing his hands on either side of Zuko's face. "I'm a princess!"
Before Zuko could respond, Sokka leaned into him again, their lips meeting. Zuko laughed softly against Sokka's mouth, realizing how lucky he was. He would never be able to repay Sokka for his kindness, his stubborness in believing that Zuko could change. Everything he needed now was in the man he held against him, in his Fire Princess.
Sokka pulled away, looking at Zuko in such a way that would've made him melt again, but Sokka's arms held him together, held him up to the new person he had the chance to be, the new life he could live with Sokka. The sun started to shine through the small window, painting the house in orange.
"Come with me," Sokka said. "To find Aang."
Zuko raised his eyebrow. "But I'm done chasing-"
"I know," Sokka skimmed his hands across Zuko's bare shoulders. "But the Avatar needs a firebending teacher."
The door opened, and the morning sunlight flooded in before being blocked by the figure of Iroh. Zuko's eyes widened, and he and Sokka scrambled to their feet, stepping away from each other.
"Good morning, Uncle," Zuko said, scratching his neck innocently.
"Ah, good morning, lovebirds," Iroh said, smiling. "I am glad to see you've worked out all that tension between you. And that you are awake, of course, Prince Zuko."
Sokka grinned. Zuko looked at his Uncle nervously. "Uncle, I..." He took a deep breath. "I'm going to leave with Sokka. To teach the Avatar firebending."
Iroh place a hand on his Nephew's shoulder. "I understand, Prince Zuko. I've been wanting to settle down, anyway," He said cheerfully. "I'm getting to old for all this walking and fighting."
It was harder to say goodbye than Zuko thought it would be. His Uncle reassured him that he would be alright on his own, and promised him that once he had opened up his own tea shop, he would write to Zuko with a coupon. And then, they were on their way. They decided to head to Ba Sing Se, figuring they could hire a messenger crow to find Appa.
Sokka swung his backpack over his shoulder and stretched, breathing in the morning air. "It feels nice to not be tied up," He said, watching a bird flutter from tree to tree.
Zuko looked down. "I'm sorry."
"What?! No!" Sokka said, taking Zuko by the waist. "It's not your fault."
"It is," Zuko said, raising his eyebrow. "I took you prisoner."
Sokka sighed. "Okay, yes, that parts your fault. But I don't blame you!"
Zuko laughed softly, touching Sokka's cheeks and pulling him into a kiss. "You're so cute," He mumbled between kisses.
Sokka pulled away, stroking his thumb against Zuko's scar. "You ready to find the Avatar and restore your honor by teaching him firebending?"
Zuko took his hand, entwining their fingers. "I am, Princess."