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Sokka never thought he’d get used to the humidity of Caldera, but after a few months living in the city as the Ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe to the Fire Nation, he was starting to, even if he only spent just enough time in the city at a time for the conditions to get to him a little each time he returned.
Most dignitaries in the Fire Nation were housed in elegant estates near the palace for their stays in the Fire Nation. Sokka, however, had the unique pleasure of living inside the Fire Nation Royal Palace itself, and sleeping in the same bed as the Fire Lord himself. It was a no-brainer for Zuko to ask Sokka to be the ambassador of his tribe. It meant that they could almost always be together, with Sokka living in the Fire Nation for longer than the usual week at a time that other ambassadors stayed, and it gave them a good excuse for Sokka to take Zuko with him whenever he went home. It also meant they needed no permission to see each other in the palace, as their relationship had become public knowledge and the staff of the palace had become used to seeing Sokka often, so he wouldn’t have to try sneaking past a dozen guards every time he wanted to go make out with the Fire Lord.
Sokka and Zuko had been dating for a few months now, after Sokka’s somewhat bittersweet confession to Zuko on the anniversary of the Siege of the North. Sokka had been sitting alone, grieving the loss of Princess Yue on the same night years ago, and Zuko joined him in silence, sitting beside him and offering his unconditional support. That made Sokka break, knowing that he would never be alone, and solidified how much Zuko meant to him, as a friend and now as something more.
Sokka was pulled the trance he was in while admiring the new portrait of Fire Lord Zuko by the sound of heavy footsteps echoing down the corridor. He looked up to see Admiral Jee walking towards him. The old sailor had come a long way from his days arguing with a young Zuko on a run-down ship and was how one of the most trusted members of the Fire Lord’s council.
When he got to Sokka he stopped and started to speak, concern written all over his face. “Ambassador. You might want to check on the Fire Lord.”
Sokka immediately straightened up a bit. “What happened? Is there a threat?”
“Not physically.” Jee replied. “Lord Zuko stormed out of today’s council meeting halfway through. I’ve not seen him look like that before. I’ve seen him angry more times than I can count in his youth, but that wasn’t anger. He looked… shaken. I think it would be best if you went to him as soon as possible.”
Sokka nodded. “Thanks, Jee.”
Sokka moved quickly through the halls of the palace, taking the stairs up to the bedroom he now shared with Zuko. He knocked quickly and pushed the door open. Zuko was standing on the small, private balcony attached to the room, slouched over the railing with his back to the room with the door to the balcony still wide open, and appearing to breathe heavily.
“Zuko?” Sokka called softly, stepping out onto the balcony.
Zuko didn’t turn around. “I’m… sorry you have to see me like this.”
“Zuko… no. I’m your boyfriend, I’m here for you the same as you are for me, that’s how this works.” Sokka replied, gently laying a hand on Zuko’s shoulder and feeling the tension in his muscles. “Talk to me. What happened?”
Zuko turned to look at Sokka, and the fact Sokka could see the distress on Zuko’s face made him already feel angry. Someone did this, and he wanted to know who.
“We were just talking about taxation.” Zuko started, his voice trembling a little. “One of the Generals wanted to raise taxes for farmers. I told him it was cruel and shut it down.” Zuko swallowed hard, looking away from Sokka. “He looked me dead in the eyes and… told me… told me that… I was ruling with the same ruthless iron fist as my father.”
Sokka’s eyes widened. He was furious now. “He compared you to Ozai.”
“What if he’s right?” Zuko asked, his voice cracking. “Sokka, what if I’m just lying to myself? What if it’s just in my blood to use my power over people like that? I was so angry when he suggested it… that’s how… how my father… would’ve acted.”
Sokka cupped Zuko’s face, forcing the Fire Lord to meet his eyes. “Baby… look at me and listen to me. Ozai wanted to use his power to conquer, to crush anyone beneath him. You wanted to use your power to protect farmers from going hungry because of some greedy old guy. Wanting to use your power to protect people like that is just part of why you’re like… the best Fire Lord there’s ever been. I mean it baby, you helped end the war and found Republic City. Your whole thing is peace and unity. That General only said what he did because he knew he couldn’t manipulate you. He used your biggest insecurity and trauma against you.”
Zuko let out a long, shaky breath. “I hate how much I let it hurt me.”
“Who said it?” Sokka asked.
“General Ukan.” Zuko answered. “You don’t need to-”
“Yes, I do.” Sokka interjected. “Isn’t he the one that like nobody else in the council likes?
Zuko sighed. “I… believe so.”
Sokka turned to walk away. “Cool, so no one’s gonna complain if I go tell him he’s never working here again?”
Zuko started walking after Sokka. “No, he’s a General, you can’t just let him go like it’s a job Sokka.”
Sokka approached the bedroom door. “Watch me. Where would he be now?”
“Probably still in the throne room.” Zuko responded, sighing.
“Stay here, I’ll be right back.” Sokka smirked.
Sokka closed the bedroom door behind him, nodded to the guard standing by it and paced away in determination. He marched down the grand staircase that led to the Fire Lord’s throne room, intent on dragging out the General who wronged his beloved if he had to. Before he could reach the bottom of the stairs however, he crossed paths with the Grand Chamberlain, who held his hands out to Sokka in a signal for him to stop.
“Ambassador Sokka, where are you off to in such a rush?” The Chamberlain asked.
“Oh, y’know, just off to give a General his marching orders.” Sokka replied flatly.
The Grand Chamberlain scoffed. “Ambassador, you have no authority to interfere in the affairs of the Fire Lord’s council like that. You are a foreign diplomat. You do not have the jurisdiction here to confront a General about-”
Sokka cut the Chamberlain off, locking eyes with him. “I know this might be hard to believe but I actually like you, Chamberlain. Please, don’t give me a reason not to.” Sokka dropped his voice a touch. “The Fire Lord is currently in his quarters wondering if he’s a monster because a bitter old man couldn’t handle being told ‘no’. I don’t care about my jurisdiction here. Get. Out. Of. My. Way.”
The Chamberlain’s eyes widened, looking at Sokka in disbelief at what he just heard. He took a moment, swallowed, and gestured down the stairs to Sokka.
“Very well then.” The Grand Chamberlain said quietly.
Sokka didn’t waste another second. He bolted down the stairs and shoved open the double doors that led to the throne room. A handful of guards members of the council remained inside, including Ukan, who sat with a smirk on his face that Sokka wanted to go and wipe off himself.
“General Ukan!” Sokka’s voice boomed, halting all conversation in the room.
Ukan turned, scowling. “Ambassador Sokka, you have no right to be here without the Fire Lord accompanying-”
“Shut. Up.” Sokka snapped, walking right up to Ukan to look at him face to face. “You are leaving this room and this palace. Right now. You are packing your things, getting out of here, and never setting foot in these halls again.”
Ukan laughed mockingly. “You insolent boy. You don’t have the power to banish a General here! You have no such authority!”
“I am not speaking with my own power as an ambassador.” Sokka snarled, leaning in closer but raising his voice a bit to make sure the whole room could hear. “I am speaking with the direct authority of the Fire Lord. I am speaking on his behalf. Get out of his palace, and get out of his sight, before I pick you up myself and throw you out.”
Ukan opened his mouth to argue, but the sheer rage in Sokka’s eyes, and the dead silence of the room around him, made him think again. Realising he did not have the favour of the room, and certainly not of Sokka, he got up and fled the throne room without another word.
Sokka nodded to the other council members and marched out of the room and back upstairs.
When he re-entered the bedroom, Zuko was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking up at him anxiously. Sokka walked over, sat down beside him, and immediately pulled Zuko into a firm hug, pulling him down onto the bed behind them.”
“He’s gone.” Sokka whispered, rubbing circles on Zuko’s back. “He’s not gonna question you or anyone else in that room ever again.”
Zuko stayed quiet, burying his face into the crook of Sokka’s neck. Sokka could feel the tension slowly ease out of Zuko, as he started taking deep, calming breaths. After a few minutes, Zuko spoke up.
“Sokka?” Zuko asked, his voice muffled by Sokka’s body.
“Yeah?” Sokka replied.
“Can I say something that might be a bit… out of place right now?”
Sokka smiled into Zuko’s hair, curious as to where he could be going with this. “Sure baby, go for it.”
Zuko pulled away to look at Sokka, and while his expression was deadpan, his face began to redden. “I heard you shout at the Grand Chamberlain from here. That was… one of the hottest things you’ve ever done.”
Sokka froze, before beginning to laugh. He rolled his eyes and shook his head fondly. “That was your takeaway from all of that?”
“Just… making an observation.” Zuko said, a smirk appearing on his lips.
“I love you.” Sokka replied softly, chuckling. “Come here.”
Sokka reached up, cupped the back of Zuko’s next, and pulled the Fire Lord into a deep, slow kiss on their bed.