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“Zuko, could you check up on table three please?”, Uncle Iroh called from outside, while Zuko was in the kitchen, washing the used teacups. “Coming!”, he yelled back. He quickly washed the soap off his hands and grabbed his notebook and a serving plate before speedwalking through the Jasmine Dragon.
As he often did, Zuko was visiting his uncle in Ba Sing Se, which always meant that he was willingly helping him at his teashop. At first, people were confused to see the Firelord serving tea, but eventually connected the dots. Though even now it occasionally happened that customers called him “Firelord Lee”, which didn’t bother Zuko the slightest. Thanks to Uncle Iroh, his days as “Lee” had been a breath of fresh air, and he liked remembering them. Also, the atmosphere of the Jasmine Dragon was just so calm and relaxing, which helped him when he needed to think something important through, or if he was trying to outrun his duties back home.
Zuko arrived at the loud table three and smiled at the familiar faces in front of him. “Ah, Firelord Zuko”, Piandao greeted him. King Bumi next to him just grinned back at him, while Uncle Iroh grabbed the serving plate and notebook out of Zuko’s hands. “Nephew”, he said, “You should take a break. How about joining our conversation for a minute?”
Despite it sounding like a question, it wasn’t one, so Zuko grabbed one of the chairs and sat beside him. Apparently the previous topic had ended, because King Bumi suddenly turned towards him and questioned “Did you know that Aang and Katara recently got engaged?”
That made Zuko tense up, but he nodded. “I actually knew when it was going to happen”, he murmured. The White Lotus members looked at him expectantly, obviously wanting to know more, as customers immediately perked up after hearing the Waterbending Master’s and the Avatar’s name, deciding to listen in. With all eyes on him, he started scratching the skin from his thumb away, both hands hidden underneath the table, explaining “Well, the last time Sokka visited, he sleep talked… And he obviously knew because Aang had asked him to help with the proposal. Also, Aang isn’t the best at hiding secrets, especially when it’s about Katara.”
They all nodded as they took another sip from their teacups, obviously knowing how smitten the Avatar was.
Suddenly, Piandao rested his elbows on the table, placing his head on top of his intertwined fingers and asked in a calm voice “How is Sokka doing, by the way.”
Zuko’s nail slipped, and a sharp burn went through his thumb, already knowing he needed a bandage before continuing work.
“Ah, he’s… fine”, he pressed out. Talking about his boyfriend was not what he had expected.
“He came by a few days ago!”, King Bumi continued, “Saying he was going to spend the next few months in the Fire Nation. But I assumed he was going there to be with you?”
“About that…” Zuko really wanted to leave. Stand up and run away. “He is at the palace, yes. I just suggested that he stays and rests up because I left for Ba Sing Se the day he arrived. I… didn’t plan on staying for long anyway.”
It seemed like the King of Omashu wanted to continue the conversation about Sokka, but thankfully a group had entered the teashop, greeting everyone loudly and asking for a table.
“Excuse me, I should go”, Zuko quickly apologized and ran to attend to the customers. After that, he decided to hide in the kitchen again, cleaning all the dishes he had left earlier, as well as new ones Uncle Iroh silently brought in. It wasn’t until after closing time when
he placed his hand onto his shoulder.
“Zuko”, he said worryingly, “Let’s talk?”
He carefully guided his nephew back into the shop, stopping in front of one of the tables with two steaming hot tea cups. If Zuko’s nose wasn’t mistaken, it was lavender tea. They sat down, and Iroh immediately clarified “You seem to not wanna talk about Sokka. Why is that?”
Zuko didn’t reply, so he just continued “You also seem to avoid him.”
“I don’t avoid him, Uncle!”, Zuko protested. That made his uncle laugh.
“So he’s not the reason you spontaneously came to visit me?”
The Firelord pouted, but clammed up again, meaning Uncle Iroh was right.
“I’m really glad your friends got engaged. They’re lovely together”, he suddenly changed the topic, making Zuko tense up again. Then he realized that he was doing it on purpose. Uncle Iroh wasn’t stupid, so he already knew why Zuko was here, so there was no point of trying to go around it.
“I’ve done some thinking”, he quietly whispered as he awkwardly squirmed in his seat, “And I guess I’ve come to the conclusion that I too… want to get engaged.”
That was an incredibly stupid way to say it, because that made his uncle ask “Do you want me to set you up with someone?”
“What? No! Uncle!”
Uncle Iroh laughed again, before he sat up straight and grabbed Zuko’s hand. He squeezed it once and smiled at him softly.
“I think it would be wonderful”, he said, “But I see something else is on your mind?”
It made Zuko sigh. “I’m not sure about how to carve a betrothal necklace. I don’t even know how to start!”, he admitted. Iroh nodded, and thought for a moment. He took a sip from his teacup, and then suggested “What about asking the Avatar? He had to have carved one, didn’t he?”
Zuko mentally hit himself. How did he not think of that?
“How about this, nephew.” Uncle Iroh put his teacup back down and smiled at him. “What if you go pay him a visit as well?”
Despite the stereotype that firebenders disliked the cold, Zuko didn’t really mind. Sometimes, the cold breeze was refreshing and helped him clear his mind. And thanks to his Uncle’s teachings, he knew how to warm his body up by using his bending.
He waved at the kids playing in the snow, as he walked towards the newly built house of the Southern Water Tribe Chief. Though before he could reach it, he was hit on the neck by a sudden wind blast.
“Zuko!”, a voice called out, and when he turned towards it, Aang was suddenly in his arms, squeezing him tightly. “Oh, I missed you, Flameo Hotman! How are you?”, he immediately babbled without letting go.
“I’m pretty okay, how about you?”, he replied, not even mentioning the nickname anymore. After a while, he realized that Aang was not going to stop calling him that, so he just accepted his fate.
“I’m great! Hey, let’s go inside, Katara made some hot chocolate!”
When they finally walked into the house, Aang shouted for Katara, telling her that she “won’t believe who decided to show up.”
And she indeed didn’t, because when she saw Zuko at the door, she immediately growled “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Surprised at his fiancée’s reaction, Aang stepped aside and let his friend be grabbed and shaken by her. “Sokka is all alone in the Fire Nation, bored out of his mind because your uncle needed a little more help at the teashop, but now you’re here?!”, she yelled. Zuko felt like he was hit by another lightning as she revealed that he had lied to his boyfriend, but what else was he supposed to do? He needed help for the surprise, and telling him the truth that he was going to his very home for a little bit without telling him why was out of the question.
Aang at some point placed his hands onto Katara’s shoulders, and calmly said “Darling, I’m sure he has a good reason. Let him go.”
Katara actually did, but then crossed her arms and scoffed.
“Well, come in.”
They eventually sat down at the table, all of them actually holding a cup of hot chocolate. The couple watched him closely, Aang more out of curiosity while Katara was just waiting for a good reason to murder him.
“So…”, Zuko tried to start, but his voice cracked, making Katara grin for a second. He took a deep breath and then finally choked out “I need help to make a necklace.”
And with that, Katara’s murderous glare disappeared and was replaced by her eyes widened in both surprise. Her partner was copying her, before he threw his arms up and yelled “I knew it!”
“You knew?”, Katara and Zuko asked simultaneously, making Aang nod happily. “I don’t know why though, I just had the feeling. Anyways…”
The two of them slid closer to Zuko,
“Anyways”, Katara repeated, her surprise quickly gone and replaced by a cheeky grin. “A Betrothal Necklace for Sokka? Hm, that’s a good idea.”
A smile appeared on Zuko’s face, and he nodded. “I already have a design in mind and all, but I don’t know how to actually make one. Can you guys help?”
Aang put a finger against his chin and thought about it for a second, before saying “Well, I could… But I don’t think I would be a big help. I needed a lot of help when I made one for Katara, so-”
“Hey, Katara! Aang! I’m home!”, another voice suddenly joined from the front door.
“We’re in the kitchen, dad!”, Katara yelled back, and a moment later the owner of the house stood in front of them, making Zuko quickly stand up and bow lightly. “Chief Hakoda, I’m sorry for the intrusion”, he said. Hakoda just placed his hand on Zuko’s shoulder and shook his head.
“Son”, he sighed before smiling at him, “I’ve told you more than once that you can just call me Hakoda! And you don’t have to apologize for visiting, you’re family after all.”
Despite having heard that almost every time they met, it still made Zuko choke on his tears. Hakoda then asked “So, what are you doing here? And is Sokka with you?”
But before Zuko could reply, Aang jumped from his seat and explained “He needs help making a Betrothal Necklace for Sokka, so he came alone!”
“A Betrothal Necklace, hm?”
Zuko could feel the tension in his voice and began to sweat. “Even the Avatar asked for permission to ask for my daughter’s hand in marriage”, Hakoda mumbled in a deep voice.
“I… uh…”, Zuko started to stammer, unsure about what to say or do in this situation. Then Hakoda suddenly burst out in laughter.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t not do this”, he laughed as he squeezed Zuko’s shoulder. He laughed a little more when Zuko’s legs gave out and forced him to sit back down. Even Katara and Aang tried to hold in a laugh, but ultimately failed.
After being laughed at for a while, Hakoda cleared his throat and grinned at his son’s boyfriend. “So, you need help?”, he questioned, to which Zuko nodded.
“Well, I know the perfect person for that!”, he announced before pointing at himself. Having thought for some reason that he had been talking about someone who didn’t have any connection to Sokka, Zuko didn’t get to control his facial expressions as his face just fell, making Hakoda laugh once more.
Working with him had not been planned at all, but it was his best bet. But while doing so, he realized he kind of needed that. Sure, Zuko and Sokka had been together for a while now, but Zuko obviously still wasn’t completely comfortable with being in the same room as his boyfriend’s father.
And after a very short time, where Hakoda had taught him all he could and they even started on the final product together, Zuko actually initiated a hug as he got ready to leave for the Fire Nation.
“If you need any help”, Hakoda patted his back and squeezed Zuko a little tighter for a second, “Don’t shy away from writing a letter. And not only regarding the necklace.”
He pushed Zuko away from him to give him a confidence boosting nod and smile.
“You’re my future son in law, after all.”
As he was waving goodbyes to the Southern Water Tribe, his mind went back to the almost finished picture of dual swords and a normal one, carved into a soapstone. He just really hoped Sokka was going to like it.