Chapter Text
Sokka hated reparations meetings. He appreciated what Zuko was doing, he truly did. The Fire Nation was trying its best to repay what they did to the other nations. But if he had to hear one more comment from the Earth Kingdom about how Ba Sing Se was struggling so much, or the Northern Water Tribe complaining about the destruction of their city during the invasion.
It has been 6 months since the war ended and Zuko assumed the throne. It has been just over 5 months since the reparation council was formed. Sokka was serving on the council as a representative of the Southern Water Tribe, alongside Tulok, who was one of his fathers high ranking warriors.
“The Earth Kingdom is very grateful for the funds the Fire Nation has provided so far, but the citizens of our great cities of Omashu and Ba Sing Se are still struggling after spending so much time being under Fire Nation rule,” explained Rhen.
Sokka could see Zuko’s good eye twitching from across the table.
“We are in need of more funds to help our citizens get back to normal,”
Rhen was from the upper ring of Ba Sing Se, whose family ranks high in the Earth Kingdoms diplomatic circle. He was always advocating for Ba Sing Se, and the Earth Kingdoms upper class in general. Rhen was Sokka's least favorite person on the council.
“You can’t be serious right now?” Sokka asked. He knew he shouldn’t interrupt, but it was such a ridiculous request that he couldn't fathom even spending the time discussing it.
“Ba Sing Se and Omashu were barely even under Fire Nation control. What about your smaller villages that were under Fire Nation rule for years? You never mention them? Are your cities your only concern?”
Sokka could see the tips of Rhen’s ear turning red, and Toluk smirking out of the corner of his eye.
“Well I wouldn’t expect an adolescent Water Tribe savage like you to understand the complexities of our case,” Rhen sneered.
There it was, the insults. A lot of the council members looked down on him for being young, and “inexperienced”. They looked down on him even more for being Water Tribe, especially being from the South. Because being from a small tribe must mean that he has less value then everybody else.
Sokka could see Toluk getting ready to rise and engage with Rhen. The man was typically reserved, stone faced and calm. But when his switch was flipped he was a force to be reckoned with.
Before Toluk could respond, Zuko rose. “I believe that it would be best if we adjourned our meeting for today. We will continue this discussion at our next meeting. And Representative Rhen, I would like to remind you to keep your remarks civil, this council is for peace, not aggression. You are all dismissed.”
Sokka was grateful for the early dismissal, as much as he would have loved to argue with Rhen, these meetings were getting to him.
As Sokka began to stand from the table, he caught Zuko’s eye. Zuko tilted his head slightly in a “stay behind” motion. Sokka sat back down. Toluk patted Sokas shoulder as he left, he’d catch up with him later.
He could also see Rhen’s glare as he walked out of the room.
As soon as all of the council members left the room Sokka took the chair closest to Zuko.
“I’m not going to give them more funding, Sokka. Not unless they can give me an actual reason that they need it.”
Sokka let out a long breath. “I figured. I just feel like everything that Rhen and his earth buddies suggest just directly benefits themselves.”
Zuko rubbed his hands over his face. Sokka could tell that his Fire Lord responsibilities took a toll on him. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he started going grey by the time he was 20.
“I know,” Zuko sighed. “Rhen’s term is coming to an end soon, I hope the next representative that the Earth King sends is better.”
Council representatives are only there for a limited amount of time. There were four Water Tribe representatives, four Earth Kingdom representatives, and three Fire Nation advisors, along with Zuko. Aang occasionally attended meetings on behalf of the Air Nomads, however he was so busy with his Avatar duties, he rarely had the time to attend. Every 6 months two of each nation's representatives were replaced by new people. Sokka and one of the Northern representatives' terms would be up in 27 days… not that he was counting. Rhen is also going to be one of the first to be replaced as well.
“Zuko, do you ever miss it?”
“Sokka, I'm sorry but you are going to have to be a little bit more specific.”
Sokka hesitated. “I mean the war. And I don't mean the constantly being in danger part. But everything was so simple. We had a goal and we did whatever we could to achieve it. But now…” He trailed off.
“It just feels like we are running in circles without making any progress.” Zuko finished. “Yeah I know what you mean.” Zuko hesitated. “Sokka are you doing okay? I know you're frustrated but it is not typically like you to interrupt like you did today.”
“I’m fine Zuko, I just think the Fire Nation heat is getting to me.” Sokka stood from his seat. He didn’t feel like having this conversation now. “I’ll see you tomorrow Zuko. Have a good night.”
When Sokka exited the meeting room he was surprised to see Toluk waiting outside the door.
“Walk with me,” Toluk stated with a slight nod of his head, as he turned to start walking. Toluk has always been a man of few words. Sokka walked with him.
“I never would have thought that the Fire Nation would be the peaceful one, and that we would be facing threats from the Earth Kingdom and even our own Northern Brothers,” said Tulok.
Neither could Sokka. The Northern tribe has not been quiet about their ideas to colonize the South and “unite” the two tribes. The Earth Kingdom has also not been exactly a neutral party about the idea either.
“The Earth Kingdom has always thought less of many outsiders, especially us,” Tulok continued. “They do not approve of the way that we live our lives, at least the rich and powerful Earth citizens don't like that we do not have a class system like they do. Even when we were allies during the war, they treated us like we were beneath them.”
Tulok stilled and turned to him, face serious.
“Your term is coming to an end soon,” stated Tulok. “What are you going to do after?”
“I planned on going home,” Sokka answered.
Where else would he go?
“You know, it is nearly a guarantee that you will become Chief eventually. You are going to be forced to deal with people like Rhen for the rest of your life. Forced to deal with people who think less of you because of where you came from. You will have to work hard for the respect that you already deserve,” Toluk stated.
Sokka hesitated, “What are you getting at here, Toluk?” He asked. Toluk wasn’t the type of man to give a pep talk.
“Sokka you are a warrior, but the world doesn't need warriors anymore, not like it used to. They need diplomats. You’re young, but you have good ideas, and it may not be fair, but your generation will have to pick up the pieces that our forefathers smashed the world into.” Toluk took a breath before continuing again.
Sokka didn’t think that Toluk had ever said this many words in one sitting.
“The University of Ba Sing Se has announced a new program they are starting in the fall. A political science program. I think it would be a good opportunity for you to enroll. You are smart and you could learn a lot. And as a bonus, how are the Earth Kingdom diplomats going to argue with someone with more education from their own nation?”
Toluk thought that he should go to college? He’s never even been to a real school before. The Southern Water Tribe doesn’t exactly have a big education system. And Ba Sing Se? Sokka hasn’t exactly had the best of experiences there. A million other things were running through his head, but the only thing that Sokka could manage to force out was,
“I don’t think that politics counts as a science.”
Toluk shook his head and started walking again. Sokka followed, walking beside him again.
“That’s really all you have to say? About all of that?” Toluk asked.
No, it wasn’t all he had to say about it. Sokka had never considered college as an option before. There were only 2 universities in the entire world. One in the Earth Kingdom, the other in the Fire Nation. But now that he was thinking about it… the chance to get away from everything for a while, maybe even be a normal teenager before he had to step up and be a world leader, like Zuko or Aang? Maybe it was something worth considering.
Sokka looked to Toluk, “I’ll think about it.”
Toluk nodded, seemingly satisfied. He put his hand on Sokka's shoulder, “That’s all I ask.” Toluk turned back in the direction they had come from. “I will see you tomorrow Sokka,” He said over his shoulder.
Sokka looked around at his surroundings. He was only a few doors away from his room. Had Toluk done that on purpose?
Sokka opened his door and found his favorite part of being in the Fire Nation sitting right there on his bed.
Suki.