Chapter Text
ROKU’S POV:
___________
Strange.
Really, REALLY strange.
Roku had no idea on what to think about all this. Him, the AVATAR? Roku, the boy who could lose to a 2 year old on pai sho? Okay that was an exaggeration. He wasn’t stupid. But you knew what I meant brain!
Yes. Roku was going crazy. The fire sages were lying right? Couldn’t be him. He wasn’t skilled enough. He wasn’t in any shape or form courageous. He wasn’t like Kyoshi.
__________________________________________
“Roku, you’re weak. But You’ll be fine. So Don’t cry, people would hate you if they saw the new avatar cry. Let’s make sure to stay in touch. You’ll need me and the fire nations support.”
That’s what Sozin told him.
It had sounded so forced, so unnatural. It was too..diminishing.
But Roku didn’t call out the visible tension in Sozins shoulders. He didn’t point out on how Sozin looked away in shame.
No matter how badly Roku wanted to ask, he wasn’t going to. He respected his friend far too much.
__________________________________________
Roku was gifted about one week to prepare before he went to live with the air nation for what could become years.
That wasn’t nearly enough time to deal with the existential dread.
__________________________________________
SOZIN’S POV:
One week. The air wackos and his father had ‘gifted’ them just seven measly days. Just Seven days to spend time with Roku and beat him in sparring. Only seven days to tell Roku how much of a pain his father was. for Roku to depend on Sozin.
It was unfair. Roku was his friend. Not some savior. He should stay in the nation. It’s where Roku’s loyalty should be. It was the only thing he could agree with fire lord Taiso on.
___________________________________________
ROKU’S POV:
Ta min had passed by the palace, it was to schedule when she could start training for diplomatic matters, but Roku had freaked.
He had begun to avoid Ta min like the plague. Hiding behind bushes, rushing inside closets, running to a random direction when he hear her footsteps.
Sozin had teased Roku greatly for it.
Which was totally unfair. Sozin knew just how much he admired ta min! He had absolutely no right to judge him.
Well perhaps he did. Roku was acting ridiculous. He saw the way how nation officials would pause whenever they walk passed to see Roku holding onto dear life onto anything he could hide on.
Roku couldn’t help the way his heart would beat for Ta min. He couldn’t shut off the way his face would melt when she was talking to him. It was always so embarrassing.
Hell, he couldn’t even breathe that one time their class went to the beach. More specifically when Ta min had lifted her shirt off to reveal a one piece bathing suit. God she was beautiful in everything and anything. Still is, and always will be.
And Roku was just a nobody.
It didn’t matter if he was the avatar.
He was nobody before, and he’ll stay as a nobody
Roku wasn’t confident that he will become to be a good avatar. It should’ve been Sozin instead. At least he was strong. Brave. Determined.
Yes. Roku was going crazy. The fire sages were lying right? Couldn’t be him. Roku? Nuh uh, no siree hotman.
Mister avatar on the other hand was absolutely sure that he had no chance with ta min. And that being the main thing on his mind should already be warning enough to the work on exactly how good of an avatar Roku will be.
That reserved page in the legends of the avatar for Roku, will only have a couple lines.
__________________________________________
Ta min had left two days before Rokus eventual departure.
Roku didn’t have to courage to say bye.
__________________________________________
Avatar Roku, the cowardly avatar.
The impulsive avatar.
Perhaps even the foolish avatar would be his title.
Sozin had thought Roku to be dramatic for that.
__________________________________________
Roku was so fucking scared. He didn’t want to go. He didn’t want to leave home. Well, not his actual home life, he couldn’t stand his father. But he meant more so his homeland. It was where he grew up with his Brother. With Sozin. With the neighborhood kids. With the Fox-lion dances, the festivals, the spicy street vendor food, the- well everything that made him happy and comfortable.
But most of all, he’ll miss Sozin.
What if the monks didn’t allow Roku to send Sozin messenger hawks? What if tomorrow will be the last time Sozin and Roku laughed together?
__________________________________________
Roku was in the middle of packing when Sozin barged in unannounced.
Sozin seemed different the past week. Sozin teased Roku more aggressively, was more tense around him too. It was strange.
*No. Don’t make up random scenarios in your head. Of course Sozin was tense. His best friend was going to leave for years. It was understandable.*
“Roku…your packing.” *Sozin said, as if tasting the words in his mouth and finding it to need less salt.
“Yeah. Well it’s more like I’m packing some dust particles for the trip.” *roku couldn’t look at Sozin.* “the monks don’t want me bringing any belongings that could ‘hold me back’. So I’m only bringing essentials.”
“essentials? Like what?” *Sozin asked curiously.*
“Undergarments. That’s it.” *Roku frowned seriously at Sozin. Making the Fire Prince burst out laughing.*
“Okay it wasn’t even funny” *Roku scrunched up his nose in a disgusted wrinkle of pure offense.*
“Oh shush you overgrown weed. Your pathetic.” *Sozin chuckled playfully out, as he wiped an empty tear from his eye. Roku had rolled his own eyes in response.*
“Okay…anyways. Back to business Roku. I want to give you this.” *Sozin handed out a small black box to Roku. Smirking as he saw Roku hesitantly grab and open it.*
Inside the box was something that absolutely should not be given away. Sozins hairpiece. More specifically, the fire princes Hair piece. It was black and gold with a tint of scarlet red painted over it like glittery stars.
Being Sozins closest friend, Roku has of course taken a couple good looks on the hairpiece before. It was always here and there, but never unreachable.
But this was different. It was in his hands. A complete commoner compared to Sozin. Not just holding it, but being *Gifted* it.
Roku could barely let a comprehensible words out.
“Wha- bu- you- he- huh?”
”Pfft- don’t give me that look, just take it.” *Sozin rolled his eyes.*
*Roku was finally able to say something understandable enough.* “but this is the royal princes crown!! Your dad will be furious!”
“Oh when have I ever cared about that.” *Sozin teased.*
“I’m serious Sozin.”
*Sozin had stared blankly at the pouty yet serious expression on Rokus face for a good minute before smirking softly.*
“Sozin.”
“Yes Roku?”
“Stop playing around and give me a decent answer?”
*Sozin sighed* “so demanding. Fine. Yes, I asked him. It’s okay with him somehow. Was even excited about the idea.”
*Rokus face snapped into bewilderment.* “really? Fire lord taiso-“
“No. Cut it out.” *Sozin frowned.*
“-your father,…” *Roku said almost unbearably slow as Sozin told him to stop again.*
“-agreed? He agreed?”
*Sozin groaned.* “yes he did. Now let’s stop talking about it! Are you going to take the hairpiece or not.”
*roku had smiled a bit too softly at Sozin.*
___________________________________________
SOZINS POV:
Sozin had almost died right then and there when Roku smiled at him while putting on the royal crown. It was too vulnerable.
Sozin hated that. Hated the thought of Roku going with those air monks, learning to let everything go; His nation, his beautiful fire nation culture, Sozin.
It wasn’t going to be okay. Roku depended on him. Sozin led the way. It’s always been like that.
He didn’t want Roku to go, but he had to keep telling himself that this was good for Roku.
Which was why he didn’t appreciate his father trying to use their friendship as some manipulation tactic. Sozin felt guilty for doing as Fire lord taiso said. For giving Roku, his closest friend, the Fire princes crown in order to ‘remind the avatar of where his priorities landed.’
Taiso had called Sozin in yesterday, telling him to do this. To give Roku the hairpiece-crown- whatever it is to Roku. Giving it as a ‘memento’ when it was actually something to hold Roku down. Yes it was still technically a memento, but it was one with bad intentions. Sozin felt guilty, but not enough to question orders.
___________________________________________
ROKU’S POV:
Roku still couldn’t process it. Not when the fire sages told the palace, not when he slept on it, not when he packed, not when Sozin gifted him the fire prince's hairpiece, not even when Sozin and Roku hugged for what seemed to be the last time.
Even when he was being taken away from his homeland by a group of air monks and nuns, he just couldn’t fathom it. Couldn’t grasp onto the fact that he missed his chance to confess to ta min.