Archive of Our Own

It was raining. 

There wasn’t any lightning or anything, just classic rain. 

Maybe that was the problem, maybe the lack of the buzz of electricity in the air, the emptiness without the distinct smell of ozone. Maybe that’s why everything decided to come crashing down. 

Zuko was his own lightning storm in a way, his tension made up for the lack of tension in the air. 

****************

It was raining, and Katara loved it. 

Since there was no lightning, she was free to run out into the rain and just sit there, letting the cool water run over her arms and drip down her legs. 

It was refreshing, like renewal. 

Maybe that’s why she felt so assured, so confident in herself when things finally approached her. 

****************

It was raining. 

Just rain, not enough to knock out the power or anything. The calm background noise aided Sokka’s concentration on his newest project.

Sometimes, a steady background noise helped calm the chaos in Sokka’s brain. He was barely a junior in high school and he was just so wired all the time. It never stopped, but when it rained, it calmed. 

Maybe that’s why when everything came to a crescendo, a performative peak of drama, he already had multiple courses of action. 

All involving some risk, and hopefully, some reward. 

****************

He moved up off of the floor where he had been curled up for the past five agonizing minutes. Time was a fragile thing anyway.

It wasn’t Azula, it was his father again. He didn’t defend himself anymore, he never did. Zuko lost the ability to stand up for himself the day he lost his hearing and some sight on his left side. Self preservation wasn’t something he had attempted in a long time, but he was tired of just sitting there and taking it. Letting the abuse roll over him in waves, letting his grave diggers mine into the crust of the earth on his behalf.

Azula had been sent off to a boarding school, far away from their father. Zuko was barely a junior in high school, and now, he needed to leave. 

It was time. 

He balanced himself, finding purchase against the wall. A couple minutes prior, he had heard his father slam the door to his room, he had a few minutes before his father would appear again. 

He hobbled–as quickly as he could–to his own bedroom, ripping his backpack from the door hook and dumping out the old school papers and notebooks from last year. 

Backpack empty, he threw some clothes together, shoving whatever he could find into the largest pouch with little regard to coherency or cleanliness. It was hard for a bit, to ignore the pain shooting down his leg, he must’ve landed on it wrong earlier. Eventually though, the pain went away, and all Zuko could feel was the urgency and need to run. 

Within the minute, he moved towards his closet, digging underneath a pile of pristinely sorted shoes and a container of socks. He shoved everything out of the way before reaching into the depths of his closet for an envelope and a ziploc bag. 

He threw both into his bag, along with a handful of socks, quickly grabbed his charger and computer, before zipping up his backpack partially and quietly closing his bedroom door, only wincing slightly. 

He assessed himself as he ran towards the kitchen, the bruises on his arms were mottled and coloring quickly, but he would manage. The cuts created by Ozai’s rings were deep and painful. (Sometimes Zuko thinks his father only wears the rings for that purpose alone.) Luckily, the bleeding was manageable, and hopefully most of it would wash off in the rain outside. 

He opens the pantry door and shovels whatever food he could see into the small opening of his backpack, not much fits, but it’s better than nothing. 

He zips the remaining part of the backpack and heads to the door, slipping quickly into his shoes and opening the door before pausing. 

He glances towards the entryway table, There. 

He snatches a watch, a nice watch, an expensive watch, not his watch, and stuffs it into his pocket for safekeeping. 

It’ll be nice to pawn later. 

Abandoning any sense of rationality, he slams the front door shut, likely alerting his dad to his escape. 

The rain floods his senses, drowning out his own thoughts and cleaning him of the smell of his father, no, Ozai. 

He had lost the title of Father long ago. 

He wants to just leave, to run north until he can’t anymore. But there’s one person he can’t leave without seeing first. The only person who made any of it worth it in the first place. 

He bolts down the road, until he finds a well-worn bike trail and takes off towards Sokka’s house. 

Thinking of nothing but his best friend, he runs. His legs already aching from the beating he took just minutes ago, he runs. His breath already short from adrenaline, he runs. 

****************

It isn’t until the rain starts to lighten up that Katara sees a figure in the distance running towards her. Frightened, she opened the passenger door of the family car sitting in the driveway and picked up the first-aid box off the floor to use as a weapon. 

Eventually, she recognizes the figure running towards her, and suddenly, the first-aid box has an entirely different purpose. 

Zuko calls out, “Is Sokka home?” He’s just out of the clearing now and onto the actual sidewalk. Katara scans his whole body as the rain begins to pick up again, he looks like hell. 

There’s mud covering his shoes and socks and flecks of mud all the way up to his knees. His clothes are drenched and the water that made his shirt transparent reveals patterns of bruising along his torso. His arms are similarly bruised, with long, jagged cuts trailing around his biceps and forearms. 

She yells back over the rain, “Yeah! Come inside!” It’s not the time to ask what happened, she tells herself. He needs Sokka, and Sokka needs him. She can ask questions later. 

Although, she might already know what’s going on. 

He shakes his head as he approaches the driveway, “Can’t– stay–” he huffs, trying to catch his breath. 

His hands bracing his knees, he looks up at her through his wet, tangled hair, “Can you– please get Sokka?” Katara thinks she sees tears running down his face, but with the rain, she can’t tell for sure. (Yes she can).

“You can get him yourself when you go inside. Zuko, please. Just for a bit,” She aims for a curt rudeness, hopefully conveying her stubborn tone, but she can’t help the worry that seeps through her voice instead, “I’ll leave you alone once we go inside, my dad’s on a date with Bato, it’s just us. Please.”

He picks himself up and looks at her, nodding resolutely. 

Thank La Herself, Katara sighs into what she knows will be a long day. 

****************

When Sokka hears the door open, he figures it’s Katara. 

In a way, he’s right. But what he doesn’t expect is for Katara to bust down his door with Zuko in tandem. 

“Wha– Zuko!” He yelps as he sees Zuko’s wet and wrecked body. His beautiful hair was a mess and his arms and legs were covered in bruises and cuts, not to mention–

“Zuko, was this Ozai?” He growled out, unable to keep in his disdain. 

But Zuko doesn’t speak, he looks to Katara who throws the first-aid box into Sokka’s lap and just says, “Let me know if you need help.” 

She’s trying to sound nonchalant, but Sokka can hear the fear and worry in his little sister’s voice. 

Reassessing the situation, he stands up, thinking it best to approach Zuko and not the other way around. He keeps his actions clear and visible, he knows the drill by now.

He’s known for years. 

Ozai, and sometimes Azula, liked to take their anger out on Zuko. Him and the amber-eyed boy have had many discussions about it, but Zuko won’t let Sokka help besides administering basic first-aid. 

It took about a dozen times for Sokka to stop threatening to do something about it, it only made Zuko not reach out to him for help. 

It took a couple dozen more times after that for Sokka to be used to it enough to not have to throw up in disgust of Ozai and Azula. Zuko never left then. 

He used to feel guilty, getting so sick whenever something else happened to Zuko. It wasn’t him getting hurt, so why did he get sick? But Zuko never told him off, he stayed through it. Like a routine, Sokka would patch up Zuko and Zuko would hold Sokka’s hair whenever he inevitably found himself over a toilet minutes later. 

Routine. 

Mapping each other out until they know the other like themselves, maybe even more. 

As he continues to approach, he sees Zuko tense. 

“I can’t stay.” Zuko manages to mumble out. 

“Okay,” Sokka concedes, “Just let me–”

“No. I just wanted to say bye,” he looks up through the wet locks of hair covering his face. 

Sokka pauses, What? He looks at Zuko’s body again, he’s a flighty person, but even this is a little much. 

“Zuko, what’s going on?” Sokka slowly makes his way closer towards Zuko, but he’s no longer aiming for the boy. He’s walking to block the door, first-aid box in one hand. 

It’s an asshole move, he knows. But he won’t let Zuko leave without helping his injuries… or at least having the other boy explain what’s going on. 

“Nothing Sokka, I just– I just have to go now, so…” Zuko reaches for the door handle. 

Sokka makes a quick reach and lightly puts his hand in the way of Zuko’s. He feels bad for making Zuko feel trapped. He knows it’s not right. But how else am I supposed to help? 

“Sorry,” Sokka starts, “I need you to stay. I want to help. Are you in trouble?”

It’s a sorry excuse for redirection, but in Zuko’s panic and adrenaline filled head, it seems to work. 

Sokka moves his hand to rest gently on the other boy’s wrist, lightly guiding him to sit on the floor. He lets Zuko settle, before making an obvious show at opening the first-aid box. 

“I’m not in trouble, yet. I’m leaving Sokka. I can’t stay anymore.” 

Even as Zuko says that, he leans into Sokka’s hand, still around his wrist. Sokka can see the environment for what it is, Zuko is afraid. 

Methodically, he starts guaging what he’ll need. This kit was from the car, and it doesn’t have the extra supplies that Sokka usually keeps for Zuko, but he’ll manage. It’s not worth trying to move and risk Zuko attempting to flee again. 

He lets go of Zuko’s wrist, and sees a dark bruise forming already, he can see the print of a hand that belongs to a man better off dead. 

It’s times like these that make Sokka want to kill a man. 

“So, where do you plan on going?” Sokka sees behind Zuko for the first time, noting the sopping wet, but full backpack. It looks like Zuko’s serious. But when is he not?

Zuko mumbles, “I dunno,” before shaking his head, letting the watter drip from his hair, “But I can’t be there anymore, Sokka– It’s too much. I can’t, I can’t. I–”

“Hey, hey. I’m here, look,” Sokka waits for Zuko to meet his eyes before leaning forward and giving Zuko a hug. It’s important that Zuko sees the point of contact, and it’s important to Sokka to give Zuko the ability to say no. 

Zuko doesn’t say no though, he leans into the touch and lets the tension flow from his body.

A moment or two go by before Sokka leans out of the hug, knowing Zuko’s too awkward to lean out first. He begins taking care of the worst of Zuko’s cuts as he waits for someone to break first. 

Zuko was never particularly patient. 

“I have cash with me and I’m old enough to work now. I’m going north I think, gonna get a job.”

Sokka can hear the far-fetched, half-baked idea from a mile away. But it’s difficult to get Zuko out of a resolve once he’s formed it. 

Thinking quickly, Sokka thinks about his options

I have about $500 in my checking account, if I bring the cash I got for my birthday that’s like 800 bucks. I can get dad to give me the car and it has a full tank– but Katara needs it tomorrow. School doesn’t start for another month. The public bus is like a mile walk, but if it stops raining soon then–

“Let me come with you.” Sokka says confidently. He makes no move to gather his things, allowing himself to continue addressing Zuko’s wounds. But he does mentally think about where all of his essential items are. 

“No.” Zuko rasps out, after waiting a beat too long to reply. Sokka acknowledges he said no, it wasn’t a hard no though. 

“Yes,” Sokka begins, “I can come with you, I don’t have anything else to do–”

“No, Sokka you don’t understand. I’m leaving forever.”

“Yeah, as long as I can visit home every so often I’m good, you don’t even have to come with me. And I’ll want to graduate high school so I should enroll at wherever we end up but I guess you don’t have to–”

“Sokka!” Zuko shouts, before lowering his voice to only a slightly above-average volume, “I can’t let you come with me. You have people here who love you and–”

“Zuko,” Sokka says with all the comfort he can muster, “You have people here who love you too.” Sokka blushes. He continues, “I want to go wherever you go. Please.”

Sokka doesn’t say please. He believes if he can’t convince someone off facts alone, then it wasn’t worth it. Zuko knows this. So for Sokka to let his usual guard down to plead with Zuko, maybe it’ll convince the other boy for good. 

Zuko stares at him. His eyes trace over the outline of Sokka’s unkempt hair, trail over his clothes and around his room, before pulling back up and meeting his brilliantly amber eyes to Sokka’s blue ones. He nods once, resolute and full of trust. 

Sokka makes quick work of the rest of Zuko’s injuries, taking the rest of the good first-aid and standing up to put it in Sokka’s usual box. He tells Zuko to stay on the floor as Sokka flies through his room, gathering everything he needs for his departure. Mentally, he doesn’t pack for forever, but he does pack for a decent couple weeks. 

Forever is a long time. And although Sokka thinks he can get away with running away from his family for a couple weeks, forever is a bit more of a bargain. 

Zuko doesn’t need to know that.

Instead of Zuko’s backpack, he puts his things in a duffle bag. Clothes, socks, a pair of slides, chargers, coupons, his birthday cash, his computer, a notebook, pens, his toothbrush, the toothbrush Zuko keeps at his house, soaps, and anything else he can think of. 

“We can go after I say goodbye to Kat,” he reaches out to grab Zuko’s hand, carefully pulling the other boy up. He opens his drawer and throws some clothes at the other boy, “Go put this on, I think the rain’s mostly stopped. While you're in the bathroom, wipe off your shoes, they’re all muddy.” They walk out of Sokka’s bedroom door.

Zuko nods again, before disappearing into the bathroom. 

Sokka watches the door close before he beelines to Katara’s room to explain the situation. 

“Kat–” Katara stumbles back as Sokka opens the door, clearly attempting to listen in on what was happening. Sokka decides to ignore the little sister like intrusion by explaining, “I’m leaving with Zuko, I don’t know when I’ll be back but I have to go, he’s trying to go by himself and I can’t just–” 

Katara interrupts him with a hug. She holds tight until Sokka breathes out his wound-up emotions. 

“It’s okay. Go. Dad’ll be mad but, there’s not much he can do. You know he’ll support you. He always has,” Katara thinks for a moment before adding, “You know, didn’t dad run away with mom when he was like our age? Maybe this is your chance to–”

“Stop, stop, stop. You know Zuko doesn’t feel the same way!” Sokka replies stubbornly. 

“Mhm, sure,” Katara looks at her brother again, with nothing but fondness in her eyes, “Now, go. Be safe, and remember to text.”

There’s a questioning look behind her eyes now, like she realized something she hadn’t thought of before. To be fair, Sokka never told Katara the extent of Zuko’s family troubles, and she’s a bit too young still to fully grasp the idea of running away forever. 

As Sokka turns to leave, he hears his sister say, “Come back and keep Zuko safe.”

Smart, he thinks as he closes the door behind him, opting for silence as his response, knowing that if he turned around, he would never want to leave. 

By the time he reaches the front door, Zuko is already waiting for him. He’s carrying his backpack with one arm, awkwardly picking at the bandages Sokka forced onto his arms. There was only one spot that was bad enough for gauze and a wrap, and unfortunately, that’s a win in Sokka’s book. 

“Are you ready?” Zuko asks wearily. Sokka can tell the other boy feels guilty. They have forever to quell that unreasonable guilt, this was Sokka’s decision. 

Zuko may not have thought this through, but Sokka has. It isn’t the first time he’s thought about helping Zuko leave, and although this isn’t the particular method Sokka would’ve chosen, it’s too much to propose his other ideas. 

“Yep, I got everything I need, let’s raid the pantry before we leave, could always use more snacks.” He sees Zuko roll his eyes in fake-annoyance, good, Sokka thinks. Any emotion that wasn’t fear would help Zuko’s freedom-tinted glasses fade. Hopefully fade enough to see how crazy running away forever sounded. 

Sokka lets Zuko lead the way to the pantry, not fully trusting the other boy to stay behind him and not wander off. Once they get there they shove as much as they can into Sokka’s duffle bag, jerky, granola bars, some random cans, anything with a decent shelf-life. 

Satisfied, they zip everything up and turn to leave, Sokka decides, “We’re going to the bus, from there we can figure out where to go.” He makes a visible reach for Zuko’s wrist, “Are you okay with that?” It’s important to Sokka for Zuko to have control, to veto if he needs to. He doesn’t want to be like Zuko’s father, he wants to make sure Zuko understands this is a partnership and he has autonomy over what they decide to do too. 

Zuko looks at him for a second, ears reddening slightly at the acknowledgement that Sokka was holding his wrist, before responding, “Sounds good. I don’t actually know how much money I have on me, but once we get to where we end up, I can pawn off a watch I took from the house, should be enough for a shoddy motel until I can get a job.” He clearly knows what Sokka was trying to give him, but he also clearly appreciates it nonetheless. 

“Good, good. I’ll get a job too. Can’t have me being a freeloader, ya’know?” Sokka lets go of Zuko’s wrist reluctantly, and opens the front door. 

They nod at eachother before lightly jogging down the sidewalk and towards the intersection and the end of the neighborhood. Zuko was still too injured to fully run since his adrenaline wore off and Sokka didn’t feel like running anyway. 

This was enough. Even if it came to, forever, could be enough. As long as Zuko was still there, still by his side, it would always be enough. 

And that was all it needed to be. 

****************

Zuko shouldn’t have let Sokka throw his life away, but he couldn’t help it. Zuko was a selfish person, with selfish desires. 

Sokka could’ve been great, and now only his family and Zuko will ever see that greatness. 

He needed to figure out a way to make enough money so that Sokka could finish high school and not have to worry about working for the rent. If he could work more than one job, he could filter in more hours, now he just needed to find a semi-decent job for high school dropouts. 

Luckily he had a long bus ride to figure everything out. 

Zuko didn’t talk much as he watched Sokka look for the upcoming bus routes, simply nodding or shaking his head when Sokka pointed at certain options. Sometimes, it was easier for Zuko to stay silent, he never let himself fully indulge in that ease unless he was with Sokka.

Sokka always let him be silent, and always gave him so much time to gather his thoughts. It was a small mercy, but one Zuko rarely saw. 

Eventually, they decide on a route that would take them about a hundred miles north, and from there they could catch a train that would take them about three hundred miles east. It was going to suck, but they would be in a town of roughly fifty-thousand people, just enough to blend in, without too many to make living expensive. 

They hopped on the bus, paying their fare and sitting side-by-side in the very back. Sokka turned to Zuko, saying, “Hey, when we get off the bus, we have like two hours before the train arrives,” he pauses, gathering his thoughts, “We should probably scrap your phone so your dad doesn’t find it, we can pick up a burner if we need to and transfer all your phone numbers to my phone.”

Zuko knew it was coming, and he didn’t really feel some type of way about it. He would probably give his burner number to Azula and just pray she doesn’t give it to Father. 

“Sounds good,” Zuko matches Sokka’s pause before continuing, “I’m sorry you had to come with me, if you want to go back after dropping me off–”

“Zuko. You’re not forcing me. I want to be here, with you. I’ll follow you pretty much anywhere, even prison,” he laughs, “Let’s maybe not aim for prison though, my good looks would be wasted there.” 

Zuko knows he can take care of himself. Zuko knows Sokka knows that, and believes that. There could be another reason why Sokka’s so willing to throw his life away to stick by his side but for now, it was going to be okay. 

He sags back into his set in relief as Sokka gives him one of his headphones so they could listen to something on they’re long ride ahead. Zuko takes it and plucks Sokka’s phone too, careful to not yank the wired buds out of their ears. He opens his own phone and starts writing down all of his important usernames and passwords into Sokka’s Notes app. It was a calming busywork as he settled in for the long-haul. 

Until he stumbled across an old address he saved years ago. Quickly, and without trying to think too hard about it, he writes it into Sokka’s phone and moves on. He probably wouldn’t ever use it, but, you never know. 

About an hour goes by before Zuko can feel Sokka’s head hit his shoulder, it’s a comforting weight, warm and soft. Zuko breathes out, and thinks that maybe everything might work out after all. 

****************

Once their bus arrived they walked 10 minutes to the nearest store to try and pawn off Zuko’s phone. The walk was harder on Zuko than he was letting on, but it was easier to make the walk now rather than later. He had wiped the phone and they were praying to get enough to secure a week long stay at a motel once they took the train. 

The store they entered was definitely aged beyond belief, Sokka let his finger make a trail in the dust on the shelves before sneezing and getting elbowed by Zuko. 

The lady at the register looked soft, aged with a wisdom Sokka could only ever hope of achieving. Sokka let Zuko approach and do the talking. 

“I have this phone, I was wondering if I could sell it to you? I have my I.D. with me too,” Zuko reaches down to pull out his I.D. and hand it to the lady.

She smiles at the two boys and says, “You know, I don’t want to assume, but when I was your age, I ran away too.”

Zuko watches Sokka stutter for a moment before saying, “Sorry ma’am but we’re not runaways we’re just– sightseeing. See, our families are just around the corner getting groceries.” It was a horrible excuse but whatever. Sokka doesn’t even think there’s a grocery store within 10 miles of here. 

She chuckles, clearly seeing through his lie, “Well I suppose not then. Can I tell you a story anyway?”

“Of course,” Zuko answers politely. 

She hums fondly, “I ran away right before finishing high school. I was never a school person anyway, but I suppose I was really athletic, not that they let women play many sports back then,” She looks at a pictureframe out of Sokka’s vision and smiles. “It wasn’t legal back then, but I loved this woman. She was fiery and compassionate to a fault, and she was tired of living in a town where no one accepted us. So we ran, had nothing but the clothes on our back and every heirloom she never wanted.”

She finally takes Zuko’s I.D. and phone from him, appraising the value as she continues, “We went north, farther than this. It was dangerous for us, but we found some nice people who saw us for who we were,” she opens her cash drawer, counting out money. “My love passed a couple years ago and I settled down here with my little shop. Not without going on some pretty crazy adventures with her though, if you're wondering why it’s illegal to swim in Lake Laogai, blame us.” 

She finished counting out her money, writing down her offer on a napkin and sliding it to Sokka, $600. More than the phone was worth– he could see the knowing glint in her eye. 

“I never did get to marry my Izumi, but we lived a very fulfilling life. So, even though you boys aren’t running away, don’t worry, things will work out,” She chuckles to herself, “Does my offer work?” 

Zuko takes a moment to snap himself out of her story to see her offer. It would get them a motel for at least a week and his burner phone. “It’s perfect, thank you so much.” 

They finalize everything before thanking the old lady again. Right before they go to leave the shop, they hear her call out, “Good luck boys.” 

Luck huh? Sokka knew they would need it. 

****************

Boarding the train made everything start to feel real. 

Zuko had run away from home. He effectively quit school, and he wasn’t planning on going back. He was going to, what? Live with Sokka forever? 

Zuko could never be that lucky. 

He gives it 2 months max before Sokka wants to move back home. Then Zuko will actually be all alone. 

But he appreciates Sokka’s company nonetheless. It’ll be nice to have while Zuko settles down, and maybe Sokka will come visit. 

Without a phone, Zuko asked to borrow Sokka’s in order to scope out some jobs. 

They both scroll various job boards, hoping to find something they could both do together. 

Zuko pretends he doesn’t see the exasperated texts flooding in from Sokka’s friends. It’s a shame really, Zuko liked Sokka’s friends. They were loud and fun, a brightness Zuko usually didn’t see. 

And now they probably all hate him for stealing Sokka. 

They search for about an hour, compiling a small list of potential jobs. Eventually, they get tired and put the phone away, hoping to save the battery for as long as possible. 

Zuko lets Sokka doze off, content to ‘keep watch’. He knows they're probably safe, but something about the people watching them throws Zuko off. 

It’s better for everyone if Zuko waits to take his nap once Sokka wakes up. 

To keep himself busy, he positions himself as far behind Sokka as he possibly can, turning into the pocket of space between them to pull out his envelope of cash. 

He was avoiding it earlier, worried that he wouldn’t have nearly as much as he needed to sustain himself. 

But he needed to do it now. Putting it off would just make things worse. 

He counted out, 40, 50, 70, 120, 220, until he reached the end of his stack of mismatched bills. $735, which was much more than Zuko expected. He’s not even sure how he got all that money in the first place.

With the $600 he got from the nice lady, Sokka’s $800, and now his $735, it should definitely be enough to get a motel for a week or two before they’re in trouble for not having a stable income. 

Zuko looks over to Sokka, who was peacefully dozing next to him, slumped over, only slightly drooling. 

He can’t believe this is his life right now. He’s bruised and battered, he’s run away from home, and his best friend decided to join him on this new whatever-he’s-doing. 

****************

Zuko never got his nap.

Sokka slept the whole way through, but it was fine. Zuko was too hyped on adrenaline to really care. The last hour of their train ride was simple, but Zuko couldn’t stop thinking about trying to live as an adult. 

He was barely even 17, and Sokka was 16. They could get a job, sure, but a motel? They were still underage. 

He found a map of the city they were going to underneath his seat. He practically memorized the layout in an hour, tracking all the places they might be able to get a motel at, and some places they could sleep if they couldn’t find anything. 

He feels horrible. He should’ve thought about the motel problem before the two boys found themselves in a completely different environment. 

So adrenaline. Maybe some fear too. 

When Sokka finally wakes up, it’s because Zuko is shaking. 

Zuko doesn’t mean to, really. His body has other plans. 

“Good morning,” Sokka yawns, “We there yet?”

Zuko nods, not trusting his words to be anything more than incoherent. 

He found some motels in the area that should maybe take them in. The reviews mention each motel as shady, dirty, and sleazy. 

Even if they found an adult to book them a motel, they could get kicked out for being the only occupants with no guardian. If they could figure out how to get a motel, they would be forced to live in the bad part of town anyway. 

Hopefully it works out. 

Eventually the train stops, and they gather their meager things to get off. 

Sokka suggests that they go to a library nearby to charge Sokka’s phone. 

****************

The walk to the library really helps with Zuko’s shaking. It does not, however, help with Zuko’s limp. He tried getting the other boy to rest for a bit– he had replied by saying that delays have dangerous ends. (Sokka could only snort at the Shakespearean response)

If Sokka weren’t concerned (about the shaking and the limp), he would probably compare the other boy to one of those little tiny expensive dogs, but like the ones that have really sharp teeth. 

Zuko was caged for the longest time, unable to even breathe without acquiring at least some sort of verbal abuse. Now he was free. And limping. And shaking. 

“Zuko, what’s up?”

Zuko flinches at the question and Sokka isn’t sure if it’s from the question itself, or the answer. 

Both boys continue walking as Sokka moves his duffle bag to his other shoulder, allowing him to walk closer to Zuko. 

“I’m not sure if we can get a motel, we’re underage.” Zuko admits. 

Ah. A problem indeed. But not one that Sokka didn’t think about, “I can ask my dad to book us one, then all we have to do is check in,” Sokka looks at the anxious face Zuko’s making, “Or we could actually call the runaway help line. I’m not sure what they’d have us do though.”

He lets Zuko weigh his options. Sokka might be good at plans, but Zuko’s good at finding holes in them. Sokka knows that Zuko is afraid of Sokka’s dad, but they might not have a choice. 

Survival over fear, fear over survival. 

“Will he say yes?” Zuko asks, overly polite. 

Will he? Sokka wants to say yes, point-blank. But Sokka’s seen the messages that his dad’s sent him. They consist of Where are you? to Be safe. to Come home now.

If Sokka asks the favor, his dad will know where he is and that he’s safe. 

But his dad will know where he is. What if he comes to get them? Is there another adult Sokka can ask?

Oh. 

There is. 

“I could call Suki.” He states plainly. His response doesn’t really answer Zuko’s question, but they’ve been friends long enough that Zuko should get the idea. 

Zuko looks at him, “You don’t have to, I know that you guys didn’t end on the best of terms but we can figure something else out–”

“She’s 18. She doesn’t hate me or anything, it just ended. She’d do it.”

Zuko stares into Sokka’s eyes. Stares hard. Trying to find any hint of distaste or nervousness or–

“Zuko it’s okay.” 

“Okay. Let’s practice what we’re gonna ask.”

****************

They spend 30 minutes in the library just scripting out exactly what they’re going to tell Suki. 

No one except for Katara and probably their dad know where the boys are. Sokka’s friends are mad that Sokka went missing, but Katara would wait a little while longer before telling any of them what happened, it’s just how she operates. 

Figuring out if they should tell Suki the whole truth was tricky. 

For one they broke up months ago and it was Sokka’s fault. Kind of. 

Suki told him that she knows he likes someone else. Suki promised not to out him, but she knew. 

Sokka told Zuko that they broke up because Suki wasn’t sure if she ever liked Sokka romantically. 

So no, they didn’t end on exactly bad terms, but it wasn’t great either. Sokka felt bad, but Suki was right. 

He liked Zuko. 

And Zuko couldn’t know. 

It wouldn’t be fair. They’ve been friends for ages, they’ve laughed together, cried together. If Zuko found out, he might think that every one of those moments was fake, just a game to get Zuko to reciprocate. 

It wouldn’t be fair, because Zuko just ran away from home. He was, is, dealing with so much. Adding Sokka into this mix would just create new emotions. New pathways Zuko would have to navigate and it wasn’t fair. 

So Sokka didn’t, won’t, tell Zuko. So that they can stay friends forever, because Sokka likes that. He doesn’t really want it to change right now. 

They’re telling Suki. 

Well, Sokka’s telling Suki. Withholding all of the actual abuse, because both Sokka and Zuko agree that Zuko isn’t ready for that information to be shared quite yet. 

Zuko won’t be there for the phone call, for numerous reasons. For one, Sokka knows that the other boy wants to give him some space, to not interfere. For another, Zuko doesn’t want his own trauma told back to him, even not having the full story, Suki knowing anything makes him nervous. 

It’s perfect, Suki will do it because she’s a good person. She’ll understand Sokka’s plea and even though it sucks and he shouldn’t have to ask her, she’ll do it. 

Sokka makes a mental note to apologize to her for everything. 

After they finished laying out what Sokka could say and what he probably shouldn’t, Zuko walked to the movie section. 

Sokka fished out his phone out of his pocket, scrolled through his, and now some of Zuko’s, contacts to find Suki’s name, and then hovered over the call icon. 

Well, it was now or never. 

It rang. 

And then rang again. 

And finally, she picked up. 

“Sokka?” her voice crackles over the speaker. 

“Hey Suki, I’m kind of dealing with a situation and I need your help.”

“Are you okay? Do I need to pick you up or…”

“No nothing like that, but I was wondering if you could book a motel for us. Don’t worry we’d pay you back it’s just–”

“Who’s us?”

“Uhm, me and Zuko– but it’s not what you’re thinking!”

Their conversation was longwinded, but after Suki was completely filled in, she agreed to book it. She was a lifesaver, and Sokka would have to properly thank her at some point with, like, a nice necklace or sword or something. 

“Okay Sokka, I’m sending you the motel information now. Just be safe please, and do what you think is right.”

“Thank you. Bye.”

Motel secured. Two weeks until they actually had to worry about where they were living. If they made enough money, they could get a proper apartment. But that would mean needing Sokka’s dad to cosign. 

Suki could keep booking them a stay at the motel for two weeks at a time, but after a while, that would be even less fair than it already was. 

One step at a time, Sokka, he reassured himself, You have time to worry about that later. 

For now, they just had to get into the motel. And maybe sleep for 24 hours. 

****************

The motel was, in fact, shoddy, just as Zuko had said. 

It was perfect. 

There was a little desk with no chair, a microwave, and a working fridge. They had a bathroom too, with a standing shower. They would probably have to go shopping for some toiletries, and some food. Sokka’s snacks and quick packing would only cover so much. 

They settled in, with both of them lying sideways on the bed. 

With little else to do, Zuko found himself with his arms crossed underneath his head, covered with a scratchy excuse for a bedsheet. 

After everything that had happened, Zuko should’ve probably showered, he should’ve at least brushed his teeth or eaten something. But instead, he dozed off. Completely content to have Sokka by his side, to worry about everything important later. 

He fell asleep. 

****************

Sokka could understand why Zuko fell asleep so quickly, the day was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions. 

It didn’t help that the other boy had refused to sleep on the train, letting the last trickle of adrenaline fuel the journey. Sokka tried to think about the coming days, he knew that Zuko was looking at job postings already and that he probably had some for them both to apply to. 

Sokka opted to pull out his phone to see about any cheap stores nearby where they could restock. 

Instead of opening the search bar, Sokka’s eyes were pulled to the numerous text notifications he’d received. 

From Katara, ‘Dad’s really mad. I tried explaining everything and he said that you should’ve done things differently. Gran told me she was proud of you though, something about finding yourself or whatever. Stay safe.’

From Aang, ‘Katara kinda filled us in, wasn’t much. Something about Zuko and his dad. Let me know if there’s anything we can do.’

And a voicenote from Toph, ‘Hey blockheads, Katara said y’all ran away. You’re supposed to leave the running away to me. Not sure where you ended up but let me know if you guys need cash or fake ID’s, I know some people. Don’t die!’

Sokka smiled to himself. Along weith the individual messages were some ones in their groupchat. They sent updates about how things were on their end. Aang said that one of the girls he knew from class said that she hadn’t been able to get in contact with Azula in awhile. Toph said that the police were called to the rich part of town, apparently some of the neighbors were tipped off to whatever happened at Zuko’s house. 

Sokka grimaced, Zuko wouldn’t take the news lightly. 

He turned off his phone after finding a little convenience store down the road. Tomorrow would be a new day and everything would work out. It just had to. 

****************

Whoever told Zuko that a good night’s rest would leave you feeling refreshed in the morning  was a dirty liar. 

He woke up abruptly, a side effect of living in a household where even living silently wasn’t enough. He looked over, Sokka still sleeping soundly by his side. He tried to breathe, only accomplishing a shallow inhale, the rest of his lungs filling with anxiety. 

He and Sokka survived one day, but how would they survive the next? What happens if someone reports them for being minors? What if– 

“Zuko?” Sokka whispered, his voice grovely with dissuse, “Sun’s not’ e’en out yet, I can hear you thinkin’ from here,” He throws his arms around Zuko to push him back down. Zuko lets himself fall, letting his fear melt out of him. 

Sokka was right, one day at a time. 

They could do this. 

****************

After spending what Sokka knows Zuko would consider an egregious amount of time in bed, they both decided that the store would be their first priority. 

It was also quickly decided that Sokka would be in charge of their funds. 

For all of the hardship Zuko endured, he had no concept of money. He was never allowed to have a job or spend money, and was never given an allowance. His idea of money came from Azula, who threw Ozai’s card at every problem she couldn’t solve with wrath. 

He told Sokka that he wanted to spend ten dollars on all of their expenses, like total. 

Sokka told him they would be lucky if they could stay under thirty. 

Somehow, at the end of it all, they were lucky. 

Sokka found a deal on toiletries, so they had proper shampoo and conditioner. He also found a pack of sample spices, which would go great on the various canned goods they found on sale. 

At the end of the trip, they had about a week’s worth of groceries and then some. 

Sokka would miss his beef jerky, but anything for survival. 

When Sokka and Zuko got back to the room, Sokka’s phone rang. 

Sokka’s phone had been ringing a lot recently. 

But it was Gran Gran’s caller ID this time, and she hadn’t called yet. 

He looked to Zuko, who nodded once, firm and resolute, before accepting the call.

“My boys, how’ve you both been? No one’s been giving you trouble, right?”

“No Gran, we’re doing okay. Is Dad still mad?”

“You know him, he just wants to make sure you guys are safe. It’s a big world out there. He’s coming back now but let me know if we can do anything for you.”

“Thanks Gran!”

“Also tell your friend that you boys are welcome back to our house at any time, I’ll even kick Hakoda out to make some room.”

The call ended with Sokka feeling better than before. He hadn’t realized how hard it was being by yourself with no adult approval until he heard the soft reassurance from Gran Gran. He looked over to Zuko blushing faintly, probably sharing the same sentiment. 

With that settled, the boys took to the floor, avoiding any mysterious stains, to start finding and filling out job applications online. 

Eventually, they also looked to see what school district they’d be in. Zuko reaffirmed his refusal to go back, all the while encouraging Sokka to look at the options. 

He finally decided on the school that seemed better adapted to unique learning experiences, he hoped that would allow him some leeway when it came to being in-person. He would still need his transcript from his old high school, but Katara and Toph could probably pull some strings. 

****************

With another day over they settled for the night. Instead of the agonzing dread Zuko had felt in the morning, he went to sleep with a calm sense of acceptance. He knows that eventually, Sokka would need to go back home. Eventually, Ozai would find him. Eventually, the peace he and Sokka built for themselves would dissolve into the flood of reality. 

But for now, he could sleep in their small bed, with his best friend next to him, and not tremble in panic about the next day. 

He could sleep knowing that they had people supporting them. They had resources and they could survive. Eventually, Sokka would go home, and Zuko might be able to survive that too. 

****************

Sokka ended up being able to enroll in school. 

He won’t question how Toph got ahold of his transcripts, but she made it happen. Sokka would attend junior year. 

Unfortunately, the situation with work was another story. Zuko was able to find a job. He would be working at a tea shop for now. Apparently, Zuko wanted to find a second job to supplement the other hours he would have available, Sokka wanted to object but finances weren’t looking good. 

Sokka couldn’t find a job. 

He was looking everywhere, but no one wanted to hire a 16 year old who had to go back to school in less than a month. 

In the week that Zuko and Sokka had been living in the motel, Sokka had gone to 6 interviews, all of which ended with no promise to be in contact. 

It was horrible. 

Along witht he fact that Sokka couldn’t find a job, he noticed that Zuko almost anticipated it. It didn’t feel as though Zuko wanted Sokka to leave, rather that he felt it was an inevitable consequence of life. 

Not that Sokka can really blame the other boy. When they had first run away, Sokka did plan on returning home. He figured Zuko would give up, that it would be too much for the both of them to live on their own for so long. But since Zuko found a job and was still searching for more, Sokka should’ve known better.

Zuko never gives up. 

And maybe Sokka was okay with that. 

He missed his friends, sure. He missed his dad and the banter between them– his dad wass finally starting to come home again. He missed Gran Gran and her steady presence. Even Katara and her brash kindness. 

But he wouldn’t leave without Zuko. He couldn’t. 

Zuko was home too. 

He decided he needed to tell Zuko that. He knew the other boy was waiting for the other shoe to drop– for their attempt at domestication to come crumbling down. 

He needed to affirm his autonomy in the situation, and he needed to be direct. 

He wanted to be here. He wanted to be by Zuko’s side. He wasn’t going anywhere without the other boy. 

Zuko would be home from his first day of work soon, an 8 hour shift. Sokka could make dinner and then he could profess his commitment to staying. 

****************

Zuko’s first day of work was… strange. 

It felt like everyone was in on a joke that he didn’t know the punchline for. Agni, he didn’t even feel like he knew the set-up for. 

Jin, the girl who hired him and also seemed to be the manager of the store, was always watching him. Zuko didn’t think that he was doing that horrible– was he? 

The other employees, of which there were 2, gave him a wide berth. Towards the end of his shift and about 30 odd looks in, Zuko had had enough. 

He needed to ask what was up and he needed to do so without being rude and insubordinate.

“Hey, Jin, is there… something I’m doing wrong?”

Jin stares at him for a moment, blatantly caught off guard by the statement, before recovering, “No! You’re doing quite well for your first day. How come?”

“Because everyone keeps  looking at me like I threatened the customers within an inch of their lives or something.” It was blunt, perhaps too blunt for his first day of work, but Zuko was never one to beat around the metaphorical bush. 

Jin blushed, almost ashamed that she had been caught along with the other coworkers, “Oh, no it’s nothing like that. It’s just that this shop is quite new, and we already are fully staffed. The only reason we saw your application and really looked at it was because the boss told us to. I think everyone is just a little on edge considering you gained his attention so fast, he’s hard to please sometimes.”

Curious, he thought. 

Getting the attention of a higher up was usually bad news. Usually. Jin made it seem like it was a positive thing– Zuko knew better. 

Attention meant ridicule. Ridicule meant a threat to his and Sokka’s new lives. 

He should quit. 

He should. 

However… The job pays extremely well, and it’s light work. It’s methodical. And right now, it’s their only source of income. 

At the first sign of real danger, he’ll quit. 

He thanks Jin and apologizes. She was nice, young too, no older than 20. 

It would be nice if Zuko could stay civil around her, they might be able to use her age to their benefit. 

Maybe. 

For now, it was time to go home, something Zuko was looking forward to. 

Something Zuko had never looked forward to before. 

Strange. 

****************

Sokka was relieved when Zuko came home. He had finished making a meager dinner out of whatever they had left (which consisted of some questionable beef, canned corn, and steamed broccoli) around 10 minutes ago, and he was worried everything would go cold before Zuko got back. 

He was also just kind of worried in general. It was a weird feeling, but this was the longest amount of time he and Zuko had spent apart since running away. 

Sometimes, he even found himself turning to talk to the other boy–a habit he picked up to make sure Zuko could read his lips if his hearing was particularly acting up that day–before realizing Zuko wasn’t home. 

So Sokka was relieved when Zuko came home, but he was also a bit wary of the look on the other boy’s face. 

“Hey, how was work?” he inquired casually. 

Zuko’s frown deepend, “It was easy, Jin told me that the boss is interested in me though, not sure what that means.”

Sokka nodded. Zuko probably already ran through the risks of quitting and finding another job, if he didn’t quit, it probably meant working there would be okay for now. 

Zuko’s frown disappeared when he realized Sokka made dinner, “Oh, sorry I could’ve cooked.”

Truth be told, Zuko was a better cook out of the two of them. Sokka liked directions, he liked methodically being able to do things, especially because he got distracted easily, so adlibing recipes usually created a disaster. 

Zuko was better at cooking, but it didn’t feel fair to make him work and cook. Sokka could survive the mental strain that cooking took as long as it meant Zuko would have an easier time. 

“It’s no big, I was getting kind of bored anyway.”

Another unfortunate side effect of being hyperactive. Sokka had run through just about everything he could think of to keep himself entertained, but after organizing the remaining bit of their groceries and fixing the outlet by the bed that wouldn’t work quite right, he was out of things to do. 

They ate on the floor, their lack of table became apparent quickly, talking about the interviews Sokka has lined up and the customers Zuko had. 

Eventually they fell into a soft silence, and Sokka took the opportunity to apologize.

“Zuko,” the other boy hummed in acknowledgement, “I want to say sorry.”

He let his words hang in the air. It was harder than he thought to be vulnerable. 

“I know you think that I’m going to leave but I’m not going anywhere without you, I promise.”

Zuko choked on his food a bit, obviously not ready for the conversation, after drinking some water to recover, he confides, “I just don’t want you to feel trapped because of me.”

It feels raw and exposed to hear Zuko admit something so freely. It makes sense, for Zuko to feel as though he’s a burden. It doesn’t really surprise Sokka that this is how the other boy feels.

“Zuko, I just want to be able to help you understand that no one is forcing me to stay. I’m here because I want to be. I want to be here with you.”

Zuko concedes, “Okay,” he breathes deeply, “I believe you. I’m sorry.”

It’s awkward for all of one second before Sokka laughs, “Don’t apologize ya’ goof. I’m the one who made you worry.”

Zuko smiles into his food, covering the slight blush that’s spread across his cheek.

Sokka exhales all the doubt he was holding before. 

One step at a time. If Sokka could do this, maybe one day he could confess his other feelings too. 

Maybe. 

****************

Zuko really needs to quit his job. It’s been two-and-a-half weeks since he started and Jin informed him yesterday that the boss was going to be at this location within the next couple of days to meet Zuko personally. 

Zuko knew that was strange. Sokka knew what was strange. Even Jin was weirded out. 

Nevertheless, Zuko needed the money, Sokka had to start school soon and they still needed to buy his supplies. Luckily, Sokka had a laptop and some basics, but he still needed an abhorrent amount of little things to supplement some of his classes. 

Like, who needs a physical copy of Les Mis? 

The day before Zuko was set to meet the boss, and four days before Sokka was set to start school, Sokka got sick. 

It wasn’t world-ending sickness. But medicine costs money. Money they don’t really have. 

Zuko grabbed some Ibuprofen and a Gatorade the night they found out Sokka was actually sick. They only had a rough estimate of his temperature, a glaringly obvious fever. 

Zuko spent all night awake, covering Sokka when he kicked the blanket off and running his hands through the other boy’s hair. 

At one point, Sokka had woken himself out of a nightmare, still delirious, and had thought Zuko was an angel. Zuko would’ve laughed if he wasn’t terrified out of his mind. Zuko calmed the other boy down by singing low lullabies and carding through his hair. He spent the rest of the night with Sokka half-curled in his lap. 

When Sokka’s fever finally broke, it was already about six in the morning. 

Zuko tried to get some sleep, he did, really. He was just preoccupied worrying about Sokka. 

They can’t make an appointment without parental consent. They only have $50 before they’re in the red. With no thermometer, they can’t even tell if Sokka’s fever is E.R. worthy. 

If Sokka’s fever hadn’t broken, Zuko would’ve called out of work. Unfortunately, Sokka was coherent enough to force him to go to work. 

****************

Sokka probably shouldn’t have told Zuko to go to work. Sokka definitely had a fever by the time he could actually force Zuko out the door, and the other boy really has no clue how sick Sokka gets when he has fevers. 

Ever since Sokka was little, he seldom was sick in any real capacity. The first time he really got sick he was already in elementary school and his fever spiked at 105. Then his fever dropped dramatically and sent his body into a seizure. 

Safe to say, it was not a fun experience and although Sokka isn’t really at risk for seizures–unless he has epilepsy and doesn’t know it–he retained the habit of getting extremely high fevers. 

As soon as Zuko closed the door, Sokka was cradling himself in a mound of itchy blankets. He also threw a hoodie on and covered his head with a pillow. 

He was just so cold. 

But Zuko had to go to work. Sokka couldn’t continue to be a burden. It wasn’t fair. 

He could do this. He could fix himself. He could at least wait for Zuko to get back before he becomes delirious from fever again. 

Hopefully he didn’t tell anything too revealing to Zuko last night. 

****************

For the entire walk to work, Zuko finds himself on edge. He can’t help feeling like leaving Sokka ill was the wrong decision. 

His paranoia only strengthened when he walked through the door to find someone he never thought he would see again waiting for him. 

Someone who, as far as Zuko knew, hated his guts. Someone who should’ve banned Zuko from the store the moment his application came in. 

Someone who might disturb the delicate balance he has with Sokka. The scale already tipping into the chaos that Zuko can never seem to escape from. 

Uncle. 

****************

Sokka knew his fever was bad the moment he saw Yue watching over him from the corner of their sorry excuse for a home. 

Likewise, Sokka knew his fever was really bad when he started talking to her. 

It wasn’t a real conversation, no, Sokka was too sick for a meaningful conversation with the girl he never got to love.

He murmured about his time with Zuko, about life away from home and his brief conversations with his friends since then. 

Sokka knew he was dangerously sick when Yue responded. 

It was simple, her voice waving through velvet curtains, sickly sweet and painful to hear. 

Sokka listened anyway. 

“Sokka, you need to call Zuko,” she smiled softly at him, “You need his help.”

Sokka nodded. It sounded like a good plan. 

But… there was a reason he wasn’t supposed to call, right?

He was supposed to figure it out by himself. 

His eyes fluttered under the weight of the decision. Could he ask for help when he so blatantly didn’t deserve it? Could he burden someone else?

****************

Zuko froze, unable to move from the doorway of the shop. 

His uncle had no such reservation, he let a smooth smile coat his features. He walked towards Zuko and threw his arms around the younger boy. 

And for that moment, for that small indescribable moment, Zuko was all of thirteen again, crying for someone to love him. 

“My boy,” Uncle started, “I’ve found you.”

Zuko wouldn’t cry. He wouldn’t. 

“I didn’t know I was lost,” He allowed himself to tentatively hug Uncle back. 

Eventually, they broke apart. Zuko took in the features of his uncle. He looked older, more tired. 

He looked relieved. 

And then everything came rushing back to Zuko. Everything he had ever done to push away the only family member who loved him wholeheartedly. Everything that was now threatened by his presence. 

Sokka.

He couldn’t abandon him, even if it meant losing Uncle again. Sokka was too important. 

“I can’t stay.”

Uncle gave him a considerate look, as though it wasn’t the answer he expected but it was one he was willing to hear, “I’m only asking you if I can help.”

Even after Zuko pushed him away, even after he threatened to tell Ozai of Uncle’s weakness, Uncle still wanted him.

Uncle continued, “Your father is in custody right now. Azula is safe but doesn’t want to see me. You’ve been declared missing for a while. I believed it was best to seek you out. My prodigal son.”

Prodigal son. I was lost. I don’t want to return yet, I can’t. Not without Sokka. I don’t– I can’t. 

But he could go back home. His family would pull Sokka back. 

Everything would be right again. 

I don’t want to leave Sokka. 

The phone rang. 

****************

It took Sokka a while to convince himself that it was okay to call Zuko. 

Zuko was always there for him.

That’s why Sokka loved him. 

****************

“Zuko?”

He sounded wrong, sick, but more than that. 

He sounded… terrified.

“Sokka? Are you okay?”

“Zuko, where are you? Yue said I should call but I wasn’t sure and then–”

Yue? That’s… not right. 

“Sokka?” 

“Yea?” The warble in his voice sent a wave of anxiety through Zuko. 

“I’ll be right there.”

Zuko stole a glance at his uncle. Abandoning Sokka wasn’t worth getting his uncle back. It hurt– to see someone so close and universes away simultaneously. 

He mouthed an apology before turning to walk out the door, listening to Sokka ramble on. 

Sokka was awake enough to talk but not coherent enough to make sense. It was extremely concerning, but Zuko didn’t really know what to do. 

He could give Sokka more Ibruprofen, but Sokka probably needed more than that. They could go to the E.R. but they definitely do not have enough money for that–

“Zuko, is your friend sick? I have a car, we can take him to the E.R.” Uncle had followed him to the door.

A beat of silence. 

“I’ll pay.”

Zuko nodded, unable to even think about the consequences of what this would mean. Being indebted to Uncle could go wrong. 

But if it would save Sokka, it would be worth it. 

****************

Sokka doesn’t know if he’s talking to Zuko or Yue anymore. The mirage of Yue had changed into something more mystical. Sokka couldn’t tell if it was Yue or Mom or Zuko but they encouraged Sokka to stay on the phone. 

Sokka would never disobey the ghost, especially if it was his mom. 

He kept talking. 

Mostly nonsense, even he knew that, but he couldn’t form any sensical speech without the pounding in his head amplifying tenfold. 

Zuko said he was coming. 

Zuko never breaks his promises. 

****************

They arrived before Zuko could really think of the implications of his uncle discovering he was living in a rundown moteel with his best friend. 

As soon as Uncle pulled over he ran out, desperate to hear Sokka’s voice in person. He had gotten Sokka to stay on the phone, but as the minutes ticked by his speech was becoming more slurred with delirium. 

The door opened without fanfare, Zuko was almost expecting Sokka to be perfectly fine once he arrived. 

Sokka looked like a dead man walking. 

His face was flushed, his hands shaking, and his voice cracking at the appearance of Zuko. 

Sokka turned to a spot in the corner of their tiny room before turning back to Zuko and smiling. 

“You came.”

It was the last thing Sokka said before letting himself drift off into a sickly sleep. 

“Sokka? Hey, I need you to wake up. Sokka?” 

He lifted the other boy up. They both had lost some weight since running away, nothing dangerous, but it was noticeable in the way Zuko struggled to carry Sokka underneath him. 

He locked the door behind him somehow, moving Sokka into a bridal carry. It was monumentally harder than some other holds, but it felt fitting. It felt the most humane for the situation. 

Zuko would treat Sokka witht he utmost care, even at the cost of his own comfort. 

Uncle was still waiting outside of the motel, assisting Zuko in situating Sokka in the backseat. Zuko slid in next to him, laying Sokka’s unconscious head against his own shoulders and moving his hand to comb through Sokka’s tangled locks. 

It was methodic and grounding, until Zuko realized he needed to tell everyone. 

He needed to break their bubble of sanctity. 

Sokka needed his family. 

He pulled out Sokka’s phone, thanking himself for grabbing it before leaving the room, and called Katara. 

She picked it up before it could ring. 

“Sokka, is everything okay?”

“Hey, sorry, it’s Zuko. I’m taking Sokka to the emergency room right now, his fever is really high. I’ll send you the address. Should I tell the others or–”

“I got it. Thank you Zuko, just focus on him for now. I’ll see you both soon.”

The call ended and Zuko was left in silence again.

He sent Katara the address, if she drove, it would still take upwards of five hours to reach the E.R. 

He was sure that Hakoda would come, along with Aang and Toph probably. 

Could he face them when it was time? Could he stand and look at the people he stole Sokka away from, people who deserved Sokka so much more than he did?

He would have to leave before they arrived. 

****************

A field of lavenders surrounded him. 

The moon shone brightly above him, not inviting, but not turning him away either. 

Guiding him. 

He walked towards the brightest part of the field. In the clearance he saw the patch of fire lilies, undisturbed by the lavender. 

Zuko sat, cradling his head. 

“Why are you crying?”

Zuko shouldn’t be crying. It was okay. Everything was okay. 

“I have to leave you.”

Zuko didn’t have to leave. Sokka would follow him. He would follow Zuko everywhere. 

That’s what you do for the people you love. 

He knelt down, eye level with the boy he loved. 

“Don’t leave,” he commanded, “If you leave, I’ll leave too. I love you.”

Zuko met his eyes, the moonlight highlighting the amber shining back at him. Zuko nodded, burying his head into Sokka’s shoulders. 

They would stay together. No matter what.

****************

The thing about being delirious is that Zuko should understand that whatever Sokka is saying shouldn’t make sense. Sokka was in and out of consciousness as he was wheeled into a room. Zuko wasn’t technically allowed in the room, but he used the nurse's pitiful glances as an excuse to play the role of Sokka’s concerned boyfriend. 

It was cruel, and Zuko would apologize later. He just couldn’t bear to leave Sokka alone, not until his family came. 

Uncle was doing paperwork at the front, how he could fill any of it out accurately Zuko had no idea. 

That wasn’t important right now. 

What was important was that Sokka’s small fits of consciousness resulted in him telling Zuko to stay, almost as if he knew Zuko was going to leave the moment his real family arrived. 

Zuko was almost convinced by it too.

What actually convinced him to stay was what Sokka said after that. He whispered, “I’ll leave too. I love you.”

And that’s all Zuko could hone in on. 

He wasn’t even sure if Sokka was talking to him, but the small chance that Sokka could mean that. That Sokka could admit to liking and caring about Zuko even when he was sick. 

Zuko needed to know if it were true. 

He needed to know if his feelings were reciprocated. 

So he promised to stay and when Katara burst through the door hours later, once Sokka was stabilized and just regularly asleep, he only partially wanted to get up and bolt. 

When Katara turned and hugged Zuko with a ferocity only matched by his uncle, who had remained in the waiting room for the most part, Zuko wanted to melt. 

He released her first and met her head on, “I’m sorry.”

Her eyes watered, “Don’t apologize for saving my brother. I’m glad you were with him.”

The door was pushed open for a second time and with Katara taking a defensive step in front of him, he froze. 

Hakoda. 

Sokka’s dad walked towards Sokka, taking his boy’s hand in his and whispering a phrase of protection. 

Then he met Zuko’s eyes, the same striking blue of Sokka’s own, and nodded. 

Zuko relaxed. 

Even if he had to leave with Iroh. It would be okay. 

Sokka’s family didn’t hate him. 

It was okay. 

****************

Sokka was not admitted into a hospital. 

His fever had spiked at 106.4, just below hyperpyexia but still dangerously high. He was on an I.V. drip and would need a prescription, but once his fever dropped, he would be allowed to leave. 

He woke up right before his fever broke, panicked and shaking. 

The heartrate spiked on the screen and he asked, “Where’s Zuko?”

He saw his dad, Katara, even Toph. Zuko was gone, where was he? Where was–

“Sokka?” The door was pushed open, revealing a very tired looking Zuko with Aang in tandem. 

Aang spoke, “Sorry, we were just getting water.”

Zuko approached the bed and let Sokka grab his hand. Sokka’s heartrate went back to normal and remained that way as Zuko rubbed soft circles onto the back of Sokka’s hand with his thumb. 

Hakoda broke the silence, “So… How long has this been going on?”

It was an innocent question. Katara and Aang blushed as Toph hid a laugh. 

Sokka’s crush on Zuko was the world’s worst kept secret, but it didn’t mean that Zuko knew… right?

In some twisted miracle, Zuko responded, “Well, Sokka told me he loved me today but technically–”

“What?!” Sokka interrupted, shell-shocked, “I said that out loud?”

Zuko smirked, “Yes, didn’t even ask how I felt.” He teased playfully. 

Hakoda smiled, “Well I’m glad someone can keep him in line now. When you’re out going to have some explaining to do though.” he grumbled at Sokka. 

Sokka grimaced. Unaware that Zuko was nodding contently by his side. 

Sokka didn’t really want to explain why they had run away in the first place, especially since Zuko was still unsafe. He should–

“Okay,” Zuko spoke on his behalf.

What?

****************

Explaining to Sokka what happened in the short amount of time that he was out of commission didn’t take as long as Zuko thought. 

While Zuko was waiting for Sokka to wake up, Uncle had explained that Zuko could go back home and Uncle would get an apartment there for the both of them. Uncle said he had been traveling for a while, but that it was probably time to settle down.

Sokka could go home and Zuko would follow. Zuko could re-enroll in school and they could graduate together. 

Upon hearing the news, Sokka was ecstatic. It wasn’t everyday that you found out your best friend, who you kind of admitted loving, would stay by your side and plan a future with you. 

Sokka would follow Zuko anywhere, and Zuko would do the same. 

Zuko made a mental note to actually confirm to Sokka that he reciprocated his feelings, as soon as they weren’t surrounded by family and friends. 

Zuko also made a mental note to pay the lady from the pawn shop a visit and thank her. They truly ended up needing her luck. 

****************

By the time they gathered their things from the motel and made it back home (Sokka decided to ride back with Zuko and Iroh. He wouldn’t leave the other boy out of his sight that easily.) It was well into the next day. 

Iroh had promised to go apartment shopping and Zuko was encouraged by Hakoda–and Gran Gran– to crash at Sokka’s house. 

They fell asleep in Sokka’s bed like they had done every night for the past month, except much more willing to lean into the other’s warmth. 

Sokka could only think of how different Zuko’s life was from this hell he was living before. 

He pulled Zuko in closer and tucked his head into the other boy’s shoulders. 

It would be okay.