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When Sokka proposed that he and Zuko take a vacation to Ember Island, Zuko was unsure if it’d be a good idea. He hadn’t been back since before the war ended, and despite being a beautiful place, the island was filled with nothing but melancholic childhood memories.
But Sokka convinced Zuko, insisted that he needed a break from work, even pulled the “do it for me?” card which Zuko has always been very weak for.
Today’s their last day of their 5-day-vacation on Ember Island, and Zuko has actually really enjoyed it. Though that might be more due to Sokka than the island. Zuko loves his boyfriend’s company in and of itself, but Sokka has also been pulling out all the stops for their vacation. Everything from spa days to shopping sprees, serene walks to fancy dinners—one of which they’re about to head over to right now.
Zuko makes it downstairs once he’s all dressed up, pulling at his loose sleeves. He’s wearing a red tunic with a deep v-neck that plunges over halfway down his chest. Along with the loose pants and gold sun-shaped necklace resting on his lightning scar, it’s all very classic Ember Island.
Zuko finds Sokka sitting in the living room, looking out the window and rubbing his thumb over a shell Zuko found for him at the beach. He looks over once he hears Zuko, lips shifting into a grin as he takes in the other man.
“Look at you, handsome,” Sokka stands and looks Zuko up and down, making his way over to him. Sokka drops a kiss onto Zuko’s smiling lips, resting his hands on Zuko’s almost-bare chest. “Don’t you look nice.”
“Mm, so do you,” Zuko hums, taking in Sokka’s outfit. He’s wearing a red tunic similar to Zuko but sleeveless, which is doing wonders for Sokka’s tattoos and toned arms. His braids are fixed with his usual red and blue beads, hair tied up nicely.
“Ready to go?” Sokka smiles and Zuko nods, feeling for the hair tie he usually keeps on his wrist and coming up short. He frowns.
“I’m just gonna get a hair tie, I’ll be right back,” Zuko says before heading up the stairs.
He gets to his and Sokka’s bedroom, glancing at both their bedside tables for a stray hair tie. No luck.
Zuko sees Sokka’s bag on the edge of the bed and starts digging through it, sure his boyfriend has an extra hair tie inside. Zuko sifts through papers and brushes and random gadgets, finding nothing.
His eyes then catch on something he immediately recognizes.
A betrothal necklace.
A betrothal necklace. In Sokka’s bag.
Zuko quickly shoves the necklace back under a notebook and blinks rapidly, as if trying to erase what he just saw. But no, he saw it, and that sure as hell isn’t something he’s going to forget.
He takes a breath and stares at the bag. Sokka’s insistence on them taking this trip, everything he’s done to make the week so special—it’s because he’s going to propose. Here. On Ember Island.
And Zuko just found out.
Sokka’s proposing. Sokka’s proposing—they’re about to be engaged. Zuko grins and sorta feels like he can’t breathe because what the fuck—how is this happening?
Should Zuko tell Sokka that he knows? He wants to be honest, but he also knows how much effort Sokka has put into this whole week, and he doesn’t want to ruin it. He wants to let Sokka have what Zuko’s sure will be a grand proposal. Zuko runs a hand through his hair, pulling at it slightly.
So… he won’t tell Sokka he found out. But then he’ll be lying.
“Hey, babe?” Zuko hears from downstairs, kicking him out of his thoughts.
“Yeah?” Zuko shouts back, still staring down at the bag.
“Can you grab my bag for me? I left it up there,” Sokka replies.
“Yeah, one… one sec!”
Zuko inhales, attempting to still his heartbeat. He shakes out his hands until he feels semi-composed, grabbing Sokka’s bag and heading back downstairs.
Zuko tries for a calm smile when he sees Sokka, handing the bag off.
“Thank you! Did you find a hair tie?” Sokka looks up at Zuko’s hair which is still down, flowing across his shoulders.
Zuko swallows. Nice going. “Uh, I decided to wear it down.”
Sokka shrugs. “Okay. Looks pretty either way. Ready?”
Zuko nods, slipping his hand into Sokka’s.
Zuko is distracted throughout their very nice dinner and Sokka notices. He asks if Zuko’s okay a few times, to which Zuko replies that he’s just tired. And when he’s not distracted, he can’t stop smiling, which is confusing Sokka as well.
Zuko decides not to tell Sokka about the necklace, not wanting to ruin the proposal. He wants them to have their grand moment and he’ll tell Sokka afterwards, and then they can laugh about it for the rest of their lives together.
Sokka and Zuko have been together for 5 years now. And it’s not like marriage is something they haven’t talked about, especially with Zuko being the Fire Lord. Zuko knows he has to get married and have kids, which he made sure Sokka knew once they started to get more serious. But Sokka’s always wanted kids, and he’s always wanted to get married, so there was never any issue.
Thinking back, it all makes sense. Sokka’s nerves recently, his proactivity when planning things this week. His random trip to Ba Sing Se a few weeks ago (a “political trip”, he called it) was probably to talk to Uncle Iroh.
Zuko’s just a little bit in disbelief. Because he’s honestly always thought that he’d have an arranged marriage, he’s only dreamed of marrying for love. He knew that marrying Sokka could happen, it just… never seemed like it would. Zuko never thought he’d get so lucky.
But now Zuko can actually live his whole life with a love like this. A love so bright and so soft—slowly, sweetly seeping into every part of his life like honey.
Zuko and Sokka finish dinner and Sokka, almost shyly, asks if Zuko wants to take a walk. Zuko swallows and nods because this has to be it. He was losing his mind with anticipation all dinner and this has to be it.
Sokka pulls him to the beach and they toe their shoes off, stepping into the warm black sand. They walk over to where the waves meet the shore, water lapping at their feet. Sokka’s still holding Zuko’s hand, and Zuko’s heart is beating out of his chest.
Sokka’s uncharacteristically quiet, taking in the beach with a small smile on his face, and Zuko realizes that Sokka’s trying to commit this all to memory. Zuko wants to remember today as well, so he walks in silence, watching Sokka more than he does the beach.
Sokka swings their hands, bathed in moonlight, and Zuko thinks he has to be the most beautiful person in the world.
“Let’s go this way!” Sokka says with a grin, pointing to a small path leading off the beach. Zuko nods, not trusting himself to say anything.
The two put their shoes back on and walk up a stone path, covered in trees and lit with lanterns. It’s incredibly romantic and Zuko thinks Sokka’s going to stop them with every step they take, but he doesn’t, he just keeps walking.
Oh Agni, Zuko is losing his mind with anticipation. He’s about to get on his knee himself at this rate.
They walk uphill for a bit until Sokka sees a smaller path that breaks off from the first one. He smiles with those bright blue eyes, pulling Zuko down the path, whispering, “This way.”
They turn onto a small cliff outcropping and Zuko inhales, blinking. The whole space is decorated with lanterns and fire lilies and Zuko lets out a watery laugh because of course Sokka has to do something grand and dramatic and so romantic.
Zuko walks closer to the edge and they're looking out at the most gorgeous view of Ember Island, the outcropping overlooking the neighborhood and the beach. The scene is lit perfectly, the stars and moon hanging brightly in the sky.
“Sokka—” Zuko turns around quickly, and Sokka’s on his knee.
Sokka. On his knee.
Okay fuck this is really happening.
Sokka smiles up at Zuko like he’s the only thing in the world and Zuko can’t help the tears already pricking at his eyes. “Zuko—”
“Yes, I will,” Zuko cuts him off without thinking, nodding quickly.
Sokka blinks in surprise before he whines with a grin, standing up. “I had a whole speech ready.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, do your speech,” Zuko laughs, wiping at his eyes. His chest is so light and full of love and Sokka’s here looking beautiful and he can’t believe that any of this is happening.
Sokka inhales, reaching out and taking Zuko’s hand. “Zuko,” He blinks, furrows his eyebrows in confusion, and shakes his head. “Fuck, I forgot my whole speech.”
Zuko huffs a laugh, reaching out to cup the side of Sokka’s face. Sokka laughs in return, moving his face into Zuko’s hand.
Sokka takes another breath, grinning ear-to-ear. “You—You’re my best friend in the whole wide world, Zuko, and I-I want you to be my best friend for the rest of our lives. Was that good enough?”
Zuko wipes at his eyes, nodding vigorously with what he knows is an incredibly stupid smile.
“Okay,” Sokka inhales, reaching into his pocket and pulling the betrothal necklace out. He looks at Zuko with hopeful eyes, and Zuko thinks it’s stupid if Sokka ever thought that he wouldn’t say yes.
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” Zuko says as soon as Sokka finishes, both men grinning and laughing breathlessly, like they can’t quite believe it.
Zuko holds his hair up as Sokka puts the necklace on and moves his hands around to the back of Zuko’s neck, struggling with the clasp. Zuko presses a kiss to Sokka’s lips as he works on the clasp, Sokka laughing against him.
“Hey, I’m trying to put this on!” Sokka grins, pulling away.
“Sorry,” Zuko smiles as Sokka finally hooks the necklace, staring at the freckles dotted over Sokka’s nose.
The betrothal necklace is gorgeous, and longer than a traditional one, with the white pendant sitting on Zuko’s chest. He holds the pendant up to see both the fire and water symbols masterfully carved into the bone, swirling into each other.
Zuko drops the pendant and pulls Sokka into a hug, nuzzling into his neck. Sokka laughs against his skin, arms wrapped around Zuko’s waist.
They barely pull away before Sokka meets Zuko in a kiss, holding the sides of his face like he’s precious. All his.
“I love you so much,” Zuko chokes out once they pull away, Sokka pressing another quick kiss to his lips.
Sokka grins, eyes sparkling. “I love you. We’re getting married!”
He jumps on the balls of his feet, voice all giddy. Zuko grins back, shaking his head with a laugh. They’re getting married.
Sokka throws his head back to say it louder. “We’re getting married!”
Zuko huffs a laugh. “What, you want the whole island to know?”
“Yeah I fucking do!” Sokka moves away from Zuko and to the edge of the cliff, raising his arms up as he yells, far louder than before, “We’re getting married! I’m marrying Fire Lord Zuko!”
“Sokka,” Zuko laughs, walking over and grabbing his hand. Sokka turns, grinning.
“Yes, fiancé?” Sokka wags his eyebrows.
Zuko pulls him into another hug, swaying them slightly. “Thank you, sweetheart. I love you.”
Sokka presses a kiss to Zuko’s temple. “Love you so much, baby. Anything for you.”