#sokka talking about his duty again who clapped!!

[hella1975]

episode 2 time!

[bubble-tea-bunny]

pretty please

[zuko x reader]

author’s note: wowowow it’s been a minute. until this story, i literally hadn’t written anything since april. i really don’t like to write unless i’m in the correct headspace and it took about 4 months to get back into one ^^’ anyway, i’d been sitting on this idea since july, and i’m glad to have written it. hope you enjoy

word count: 3,341

The doors of the Jasmine Dragon are always open to welcome patrons and a cool breeze. Zuko marks the beginning and end of each day by the size of the crowd—which grows in the early hours and keeps him and Uncle Iroh decently busy until finally it begins to shrink—and by the crisp air which greets him in the morning and again in the evening, both instances when the sun is hidden by the horizon. Heavy rain has been pouring over Ba Sing Se as of late, but today is the first day where the clouds have cleared, and Zuko is once again able to gauge the time by the color of the sky: at opening, a wash of indigo with strips of pale yellow at the horizon like the sands of a faraway land, and at closing, reds and oranges like fire.

Dusk paints the rug in the center of the shop in a warm-toned light, the jasmine dragons embroidered upon it more like crimson dragons now. Zuko gently sets the tray with its empty pot and teacups down on the counter before turning around to wave at the last customers of the evening. They’d lingered to chat with Uncle Iroh, and Zuko had spent the time tidying the rest of the shop, so that once it’s just the two of them left, most of the cleaning is done.

Zuko yawns, feeling the fatigue catching up to him now that the place is silent but for the quiet clinking of ceramic dishes. Uncle Iroh chuckles.

“Tired?” he asks.

Zuko shrugs, a noncommittal answer. “A little, but I think I’d rather eat dinner than go to sleep right now.” As if on cue, his stomach growls. It had been busier than usual today, and as consequence, he’d decided to work through lunch.

“Did someone say ‘dinner’?”

A loud voice carries from all the way across the threshold, prompting Zuko and Uncle Iroh to see who it is. Sokka leans against the doorframe, arms crossed and crooked smile on his face. “Because I could do with some food right about now.”

Upon realizing who is standing there, Zuko smiles widely. “Sokka! You didn’t mention you’d be in Ba Sing Se.”

“To be honest, I didn’t really plan on it, but I was in the area, and you know how the saying goes: spontaneity is the spice of life, and yada yada.” Sokka waves a hand dismissively.

Catching up with a friend he hasn’t seen in a while makes Zuko look forward to dinner even more, but he stops short and glances to his right, where Uncle Iroh is already watching him.

“Go,” he encourages with a nod. “I’ll clean up here.”

“Thank you, Uncle.” Zuko gives a respectful bow, and then he’s traipsing across the teashop to join Sokka, and they descend the steps together into a dark and brilliant night.

The first subject of conversation is figuring out where to eat, and after tossing a few suggestions back and forth, they settle on a noodle bar that stays open late. If they get caught up talking for too long, they could remain there a while. The rest of the walk, then, is spent swapping stories of what they’ve been up to since last they saw each other. Zuko listens attentively, smiling absentmindedly, truly interested in the adventures his friend has been on.

It’s when the tables are turned and Sokka asks What about you? that Zuko heaves a sigh, shoulders sagging. He’d been so busy back in the Fire Nation with diplomatic affairs, talking to this person and then that person, visiting other regions and welcoming ambassadors to his own. By now, he handles his position as Fire Lord with grace and respectability, but he’s still human and gets worn out too.

“That’s why I came to Ba Sing Se,” he explains. “To get away from all that and just spend time with Uncle.” And sure, he gets tired after working at the Jasmine Dragon all day, but it’s mostly from being on his feet, going from the back of the shop to the front to serve customers, a route he repeats for hours. It’s a different sort of tired from fulfilling his duties as the Fire Lord, and is entirely worth it to him, to take a moment to be no one but Zuko, a guy who works at a teashop.

Sokka smiles sympathetically. “I’m glad I chose to stop by Ba Sing Se. I was wondering how you’d been doing.”

The stress slowly melts away as Zuko smiles back, his shoulders not feeling nearly as heavy as when he’d first arrived in the city. He misses his friends whenever they’re all apart, and he too has lingering thoughts about their wellbeing always in the back of his mind as he goes about his days, and now that he’s finally reunited with one, he’s beginning to feel more like himself again, pulled back down to the ground.

As they turn the corner, the Firelight Fountain comes into full view, yellow lanterns illuminating the ground and the nearby buildings. Though it’s dark, there are still people here, either passing through on the way to their destinations or choosing to congregate on the benches and the edge of the fountain itself. It’s in the latter location that Zuko spots you.

You’re seated a little farther away from the only other two people who have chosen the fountain as a place to rest, perhaps to afford you some quiet as you read a book. The gurgle of the water behind you serves as a perfect white noise, enough to fill the silence but not to pull your attention away.

“Ah… She’s pretty cute.”

Zuko blinks and glances at Sokka. “What?”

Sokka tilts his head in your direction. “I saw you looking at her.”

“Wha—I was not.” But Zuko’s avoiding eye contact and his cheeks feel warm, embarrassed to have been caught (even if he hadn’t exactly been attempting subtly to begin with).

“Hey, come on, nothing to be shy about!” Sokka playfully nudges him with his elbow, and they slow to a complete stop, finding themselves now under the lights of all the lanterns, stopped just on the inside edge of where the light meets the darkness it couldn’t quite reach. Zuko’s still not looking at him, and Sokka’s grin grows. He is thoroughly amused. “You should go talk to her.”

Zuko shakes his head. “No!” he replies hastily. And then, more slowly, “She looks busy anyway.”

Sokka raises a brow. “I bet she’d make time for you. Any girl would.”

The matter-of-fact way in which Sokka says this is flattering, truly, but it doesn’t convince Zuko that approaching you would be anything but a bad idea. “Forget about it. Let’s just get food.” He tries to continue walking but Sokka is quick to clap him on the shoulder, halting his steps, and he just barely keeps from stumbling backwards from the sudden stop in momentum.

“Oh no you don’t,” Sokka declares. Zuko brushes his hand off with a groan and twists around, a silent plea to let the subject drop inherent in his eyes, but Sokka easily ignores it. “What if she’s your soulmate? You can’t just keep walking!”

“My… soulmate?” Okay, now Sokka is starting to blow this out of proportion. He’d spared a glance your way because you were pretty and that was it. “There’s no such thing—”

“You don’t know that!” Sokka exclaims.

“And you do?” Zuko counters.

Sokka shrugs but it’s not a sign of defeat. “I’m just saying, when the soul knows, it knows. You didn’t pick her out of the crowd for no reason.”

It’s awfully dramatic and Zuko opens his mouth to respond but then closes it, deciding he wouldn’t win this debate. Sokka is persistent when he wants to be, and when it comes to the topic of love, Zuko’s on the losing side every time. He knows, however, that if he were really insistent, Sokka would let it drop and they would resume their walk to the noodle bar, but it wouldn’t be without a warning that Zuko was making a huge mistake and that he’d regret it, going to bed thinking about you and then dreaming about you but he’d never be able to find you again—

Even imaginary Sokka is hard to handle and Zuko takes a deep breath, momentarily diverting his gaze from the real Sokka in front of him over to you, and back again.

“So…” Sokka trails off, watching him expectantly.

“I’d mess it up,” Zuko offers weakly in the way of an excuse.

“You’re the Fire Lord,” Sokka says as if that solves the issue. “You got this!”

“I don’t… really see how that’s supposed to help me…” Zuko tilts his head, confused.

Sokka rolls his eyes. “Just go!” He gives Zuko an encouraging shove.

With a quiet huff, Zuko ambles in the direction of the fountain, where you still sit reading, none the wiser to the fact you were the subject of their conversation. Halfway through the walk, he looks over his shoulder at Sokka, who gestures enthusiastically for him to keep going and to stop looking over here because you’re over there and you’re what’s important.

Is it too late to turn around? Zuko thinks begrudgingly to himself as he sets his sights on you. He ruminates on the question with every step he takes, reasoning that perhaps he could deal with Sokka talking off his ear about how he will regret not doing anything, because surely Sokka couldn’t keep it up for that long, right? (The immediate doubt Zuko feels upon considering this point speaks for the contrary.)

But before he can make up his mind, suddenly he’s in front of you and though he’s said nothing, you sense his presence and your eyes slide up from the pages of your novel to him, the lower half of your face concealed by the hardcover. The few seconds of silence that follow feel instead like a few years, panic filling Zuko as he fails to say anything. Your eyes flicker to the side, which he assumes you do to check if he’d actually meant to approach someone else because, well, why would he be talking to you? You don’t know each other.

“That book seems really interesting,” he says finally, and he wants to crawl into a hole and hide. Five words in and it is already not going well. What kind of opening was that?

You blink and lower the book, using a finger to mark your place before closing it to get a better view of the cover. It’s blank.

“W-Well, I just thought it was really interesting there’s nothing on the cover!” Zuko rushes out. “Since, you know, you usually don’t see that, and… and…” His intention was to segue into asking you what it was about, having decided that to be his way into a longer interaction with you, but the words die in his throat the longer he looks at you now that your face isn’t hidden because you’re a lot prettier up close and he learns tonight that you’re what all those love stories must be talking about when they extol the levels of beauty which render a lovesick heart speechless.

If you’re bothered by the bouts of silence, this most recent one stretching longer than the first, you don’t say anything. In contrast, you continue to sit there, watching him steadily, waiting patiently, and Zuko feels bad that he’s so bad at this. Never has the act of talking come less easily than it does now, in a situation where the stakes are lower than any dialogues he has with diplomats or government officials. It really shouldn’t be this difficult talking to a girl, but maybe he has it backwards and the stakes here are higher, because if he entertains Sokka’s admittedly outrageous claim just a few minutes previous about what you could possibly mean to Zuko, and if in fact the hands which keep the world turning are also those which keep hearts beating with purpose to seek out their companion, then the stakes as he stands here are the highest of all.

He’s still scrambling for what to say next, entirely unsure how to salvage a conversation that hasn’t even taken off yet. Nervously he rubs the back of his neck. Sokka must be observing the whole situation unfolding with equal parts stress and exasperation because even if Zuko isn’t actually flailing his arms, helpless and drowning in an open sea called love, his awkward posture and anxious spluttering are enough of a metaphorical signal. Sokka’s on the shore, too far to come to his rescue right away, but maybe this will go the way of those romantic tales and it will be you who holds a hand out to save him instead.

However, you’re beaten to the punch by those aforementioned invisible hands of destiny as they, quite literally, push Zuko closer to his own. A couple of kids dash past the fountain, laughing loudly as they chase each other in a game, and one of them checks Zuko in the back, which causes him to stumble forward.

He manages to catch himself with a hand braced on the edge of the fountain, and luckily too, because if he hadn’t, he would’ve fallen on you and knocked both of you back into the water. But now the two of you are face-to-face, mere inches away, and your eyes are wide in surprise and he is mortified. This entire conversation (if one could call it that) he had been plagued with the urge to apologize for being so skittish and acting so strange and the urge multiplies now because he could’ve accidentally kissed you and he’s honestly not sure what would be worse—that, or the two of you tumbling into the fountain.

This close up, the top half of your face takes up most of his field of vision, but in his peripherals he notices the curl of your mouth, and his gaze briefly drops down to it, to the smile which has found its way there.

“Looks like you just fell for me,” you remark teasingly, the quip slipping from your lips so easily and in this moment he can think only of two things: one, that your voice is incredibly soft, like the first warm light of morning settling on his skin, and two, that you have no idea how right you are.

Zuko’s wrist begins to feel slightly sore from bearing the brunt of his weight and that’s when he realizes he’s stayed that way for too long, and he clears his throat and stands back up straight. “S-Sorry…” he says quietly. For being skittish and acting strange and, now, for almost falling on you.

Your smile widens and it reaches your eyes and in their depths are the reflection of the lanterns surrounding you both and Zuko can’t help but liken them to stars strung across the sky. “It’s okay.”

The tension has slowly ebbed away, your almost-collision the perfect ice breaker. It had been a shocking one, certainly, but that was what Zuko needed. Anything more subtle and he probably wouldn’t have felt relaxed enough to think clearly. From the few words you’ve said, he knows you’re far from bothered by him approaching you, and he’s able to calm down a little bit.

“So as I was saying, that book of yours…” Internally he cringes. Why did he have to go back to the book? This was the perfect chance to steer the topic elsewhere! What was he supposed to follow up to that?

“It is interesting,” you comment. Zuko’s cheeks heat up. You’d noticed his struggle. But he is grateful nonetheless that you’re helping carry the conversation along. The fact you’re seemingly in no rush to end it must be a good sign.

“I could explain it to you, the plot, since there’s no summary or even title on it or anything, so…” You trail off and he wonders if he’s imagining the nervousness suddenly inherent in your amiable grin, as you go quiet and look up at him and—oh. Oh.

This is the opening he’d been looking for, the one he’d been unable to find himself because he is completely helpless in scenarios like these. If the universe and its mysterious machinations had been the hand to keep him from drowning, you’re on the lifeboat checking to make sure he’s okay, the sun behind your head a halo and maybe heaven feels like a warm day and smells like salt in the ocean. And maybe it looks like you.

“That sounds like a great idea,” Zuko states. “Maybe over some tea?”

“I’d like that.”

Then, before he has the chance to change his mind, “Are you free right now?”

The question stops you short, and he’d completely understand if you said no. This is incredibly short notice, and there was no issue with making plans for another day. But you have no qualms about the sudden invitation, for you place your bookmark to save the page then stand, clutching your book close to your chest. “I am.”

Zuko grins lopsidedly. “Great.”

He guides you in the direction of the Jasmine Dragon, and as you begin to walk, while your focus is on the path in front of you, he glances quickly over at Sokka. He wouldn’t have made the split second decision to ask you out right now if he didn’t think Sokka would be fine with it. But he knows his friend well and Sokka is, indeed, perfectly okay with the unexpected turn in the evening. From across the way, by the lanterns farthest from you two, he is smiling proudly and giving a thumbs up. They would have time to catch up tomorrow (and Zuko is sure Sokka will want him to recount everything about his time with you).

At the teashop, he tells you to pick any table you’d like while he goes to prepare a pot of tea. You both lose track of time as you talk, for the conversation opens up to other avenues aside from your novel, and Zuko notes that the tea he’s drinking has never tasted so good. It reminds him of something he heard a while ago, hazy in his mind currently, and he wracks his brain trying to recall it. What was it that Uncle said?

The best thing to have with tea is a good friend. Yes, that sounds correct. Zuko can envision him as he says that, a teacup clutched in his hands and wise grin on his face, and at the thought, Zuko hides his smile behind his own as he takes another sip. But the move doesn’t escape you, and you catch the small smile. It makes you halt in the middle of your sentence to address it.

“What?” you ask, amused and curious.

Zuko shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”

Your eyes are sparkling and he knows that you know he’s lying, but for his sake you drop the subject, instead returning to your original topic. And he continues to listen and hang on all your words and he is the luckiest man in the world because he’s sharing tea with someone who is beginning to feel like so much more.

He’s left wondering if this is the feeling of finding the one, the right one, the one for him. He doesn’t want to give this to Sokka, to admit that okay, perhaps there had been substance to what Sokka had claimed and maybe the idea of soulmates is real, and not just written about in stories for the lovestruck and the romantic. But then you dazzle him with a large smile in response to something he says, and he doesn’t dwell on the question for long as he comes to the conclusion that honestly, the answer doesn’t really matter to him.

[guiltysecretpasttime]

Happenstance

(title edited)

Note: Heads up – this is end game Linumi with a side of Tokka. With very very slight Pema / Tenzin bashing. Zuko and Katara will feature as well but will not be Zutara (nothing against it though haha). This is def not proofread. This is also definitely not my usual so let’s see. 🤓

---

One-shot, Linumi (Lin / Bumi II), pre-LOK AU

__________

Air Temple Island was lit up tonight and the noise level was way beyond its usual.

A slender woman sat at one of the tables set up across the courtyard, clad in a gray and cream hanfu, hair piled up in a bun. While her attire allowed her to blend in among the other guests, the surly expression indicated that she clearly wanted to be somewhere else.

Someone commented to her earlier about the decorations and how exquisite they look; the couple getting married was tasteful in their choices. She simply stared back blankly without responding until the person excused themselves, getting embarrassed.

Ha. That would teach them.

The lady sniffed at the glass that one of tonight’s waiting staff placed at the table. Their dinner plates have been cleared (not that there was anything she found substantial enough of the dishes served to them).

She threw back the glass, an ugly grimace on her face.

As expected, the drinks were bad.

She groaned, leaning back in her seat. When they had planned this day, she envisioned it going differently. For starters, there would have been meat.

Something has to be said about old friends and loyalty. If it weren’t for that, she would not have deigned attending today’s festivities.

She snorted.

Yeah, right. Politics and majority of her adult life spent on civil service practically ensured her attendance.

Most of the attendees were hypocritical brown-nosers. A while back, they had been clamoring and clapping for the union of an airbender and an earthbender. Today, they all stood by and cheered for the same airbender and his young bride.

A clatter and a huff from her side told her that she was not the only one not enjoying dinner.

“I’m going to find my sister.” Her companion announced, pulling back her chair.

She could distinctly feel the emptiness of the other seat at the table. The ceremonies were over and even dinner was nearly over, but the seat remained empty.

“She was not supposed to be on duty today.” Was all she could respond to that. “There were other people who can easily take the job; she insisted leading today’s security team.”

The younger woman simply shrugged. “Of course.”

Toph Beifong could only close her unseeing eyes as Suyin went off to find her eldest, who they last saw briefing the officers on duty some time before the start of the wedding ceremony of the last airbender.

The scraping of the chair and a thunk signaled her to the presence of another person joining their table.

“The food is a bust and the drinks are a flop. Wanna leave before they start dragging people to the dance floor?” The man nudged her shoulder. “I’d have you know that I smuggled in high quality booze on the island; I have bottles that my sister did not confiscate.”

She wanted to ignore the man but the promise of alcohol got her attention. “What kind of booze are you talking about, Sokka?”

The Water Tribe man told her what he had brought over; it was enough to convince her.

“Let’s go.” And she allowed herself to be dragged away.

 ---

Suyin Beifong had gone down to the docks and back up to the welcoming arc. Yet, she has not found any trace of her sister. All of Lin’s colleagues had told her that she had already gotten to the main courtyard an hour or so ago.

She was about to go back and report to her mother that Lin was missing when she saw that the table was empty.

Great, even Mom has escaped.

Truth be told, Su did not really have to go this hard in searching for her sister. A few months ago, they had not even been on speaking terms (her fault, of course, she admitted to Lin years late).

 ---

When she opened the newspaper weeks ago and saw the wedding banns announcing Tenzin’s marriage to someone who was not her sister, Su took the first ride to Republic City and boarded the ferry to Air Temple Island…

And promptly punched the airbender on his large and crooked nose.

Before leaving, Su, in true Beifong fashion, let all her power and anger loose and managed to wreck a sizable section of the island.

As she went her merry way in Republic City, towards the familiar path to the Republic City Police Headquarters, with the intent to seek an audience with her sister (hoping against hope that the usually irate metalbender will not throw her out), she spotted her unsuspecting target.

A young (too young! She thought) woman clad in orange and yellow was browsing some produce in one of the market stalls.

Without even looking around and without even a moment of indecision, Su slid her foot on the ground, commanding an almost imperceptible piece of earth to jut out in the direction of the woman.

The next moments of chaos would forever be imprinted in Su’s memory.

The woman she knew from the photos as Pema tripped as she moved to the next stall. Su quickly flattened the earth to avoid detection.

Pema attempted to regain her balance and ended up grabbing the nearest thing she could – which was a chopping board from the fruit stall. This resulted in the fruit on it (sliced watermelons) being flung off and hitting the stall owner across the street. Unbeknownst to them, the two stall owners (both selling fruit) already had an on-going and long-standing dispute.

The flying fruit was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Chaos broke lose.

Fruits, vegetables, feathers and even animal blood started flying around.

Whistles and sirens permeated the air.

With a sense of schadenfreude, Su found herself paralyzed at the edge of the commotion, watching what she intended to be an inconvenience to an individual turn into a full-fledged market fight.

Before long, members of the Republic City Police Department started swarming the area and arrests were happening right and left.

“Little Suyin, is that you?”

Su stiffened, recognizing one of her mother’s captains approach her (Lin’s captain now, she supposed).

“Heeeeeeey, Captain Ryou.” It was all she could say with a smile too innocent to be believed.

“I don’t know why you’re back in Republic City but I have a strong feeling that you’re somewhat involved in this.” The metalbender shook his head.

Su froze her smile on her face.

“Can’t prove it though.” Captain Ryou gave instructions to his second-in-command before continuing the conversation with the youngest Beifong. “What brings you to Republic City?”

“Can you bring me to meet my sister – I mean – Chief Beifong?”

 ---

“Where is she?”

The door slid open revealing Chief Lin Beifong.

Su immediately stood up and quickly held up a hand to stop the older Beifong from talking. She offered her sincere apologies and she practically grovelled (grovelled! No Beifong has ever grovelled and here she was grovelling) at her sister. She even offered to participate in community service *and* shell out money to pay for damages and/or bail.

Lin looked stunned. It was apparent that it was not what she had expected of their first interaction since her sister was sent away to Gaoling.

To Su's surprise, Lin was quick to forgive. Then again, Lin always was the mature daughter of Toph Beifong (even more mature than she is). She was taken aback.

“But wait -there is something that you should know about what I did earlier today -.”

“I heard and I saw - I'll take you up on covering the damages of Air Temple Island. Tenzin was not pleased when he arrived at the station earlier to report you." Lin frowned. "Then we were both surprised to hear that his bride was in holding."

"Ah." This was Su's opening. "About that -."

"What on earth did you hit him on the face with?"

 ---

Earthbending.

Right. Kicking herself mentally, Su used seismic sense to look for her sister and quickly found her at the kitchen that the caterers had set up for the event.

Su was relieved to see Lin garbed in the form-fitting dress that she bought the other week specifically for the wedding (eat your heart out, Airhead).

“Finally found me, have you?” Lin lazily spoke, twirling a goblet of what could be that horrible wine being served earlier.

"Enjoying yourself?" Su thought it was a pity that Lin was all dressed up and there was no one to appreciate it.

A shrug. "No security breaches, no gate crashers - I'll say it was a job well-done for RCPD today."

Su rolled her eyes. "Well, of course, they practically hired the Chief of Police to provide security for their miserable wedding."

Another shrug.

“Oh come on.” Su petulantly pulled at Lin's arm, effectively sloshing the rest of her drink on the floor.

"Watch it!" Lin grumbled. "Is the party that good that you want me to share in their joy?"

"No, don't be daft. When was the last time did we have fun at a party that Tenzin threw?" Remembering that maybe her sister and the airbender actually had an engagement party in her absence, Su quickly added. "We are going to have our own beach party."

 ---

"We didn't do well, did we?"

"Excuse me?" The waterbender was startled from her passive people-watching, uninterested to join the festivities.

"This is the second wedding among our children that seemed to be under duress."

Katara did not deign to reply to the Fire Lord because she agreed.

"Izumi," Zuko nodded towards his daughter who was seated with other Fire Nation dignitaries and her husband, a Fire Nation nobleman who had a position in one of the older colonies. "At least seems to be getting along better with her husband."

Indeed, Katara noticed the difference in body language of the Crown Princess and her husband compared to how they were during their own wedding.

"Enough about my child -what about yours?" Zuko could not miss how stiff Tenzin was on the dance floor as he led his wife for their first dance.

Katara could only shake her head. "He has embarked on his own family life now - all I can do is support him."

They watched as Izumi laughed delicately while her husband whispered something in her ear and gently offered his hand before leading her to the dance floor.

Both of them sat in comfortable silence now when the waterbender's attention was caught by her brother leaving the head table from the other end.

"Are they going public tonight?" Zuko asked, surprise tainting his question as Sokka sat beside Toph and appearing to be wheedling her to stand up with him.

She sighed. "I don't know who they think they are fooling." When they were younger, she struggled to understand how her brother's mind works. Now that they were older, Katara simply gave up.

"Here's hoping they finally get their happy ending tonight." Was all she could say as Sokka was successful in prying Toph from being disapproving at her seat.

 ---

"I could have sworn there were more bottles of cactus juice." Sokka scratched his head when he got to their meeting place.

They parted ways when they left the reception. Toph had gone off in search for actual sustenance and had returned, clutching several pouches of jerky and fireflakes ("Where did you-?" "Don't ask. Can't tell you.")

"Meh." Toph tore open a packet of jerky, popping a piece into her mouth before grabbing one of the bottles and taking a swig out of it.

Sokka made himself comfortable at the stone bench that was situated at far from the courtyard, a slope semi-hidden by trees. Their seat provided them an excellent view of the bay and the shore below them.

There were well within the private area of the island where only family and close friends are allowed. Most guests probably did not know about the area itself.

…Which made it unusual for two individuals to be walking at the shore at this time.

Sokka struggled to identify them in the dark but snippets of conversation floated up to them.

"Lin -it's okay to be mad. This is the perfect time to let loose!"

"My daughters are down there, aren't they?" Toph's uncharacteristically whispered, holding Sokka's forearm.

Sokka swallowed a lump in his throat. "Yes, your daughters."

 ---

The older metalbender glared her sister, who sat down on a nearby rock.

Lin curled her bare feet on the sand, one hand holding her shoes and the other hand a bottle of the swill that airhead deemed to serve as wine.

It barely had alcohol in it.

Today was supposed to be her wedding.

But shit happens.

No one really knew the main reason of their falling out - except for her and Tenzin.

Good riddance.

She took another sip.

"Why are you forcing yourself with that? We got the good ones!"

Bumi and Kya arrived from beyond the greenery that hid the path to the beach.

Lin shot scowl at her sister looked as surprised as she did.

"I didn't invite them!"

Bumi guffawed. "No one invited us - we used to live here, you know."

He got a punch to his arm, care of his sister. "What he meant was we saw that the Beifongs had deserted their table and had correctly assumed that you would be here."

Here meant this short stretch of the shore which was inaccessible or unknown to most. Even acolytes who might have lived their entire life on the island were not aware how to get there. This became their go-to place when they were younger, a respite of sorts from their life. It seemed fitting now.

"Wouldn't you be missed?" Su accepted the bottle that Kya offered.

The waterbender snorted. "They're all enthralled by the program."

Lin tossed aside her empty bottle and Bumi handed her a newly opened bottle of cactus juice. "Fancy that."

 ---

"So that's where my drinks have gone!"

"Well, Snoozles, you probably did not hide them properly."

 ---

"Come on Lin, be petty! You get a free pass today!"

A cheer was heard from above, where the party was still on-going.

"Damn right you do."

Lin took another gulp. The more she drank, the more she felt relaxed.

The bickering of Bumi and Kya and Suyin goading her… It harkened to their childhood days.

The only one missing was, well, her best friend.

Ex-best friend.

Bumi tossed her a pack of fire flakes.

 ---

"So that's where you got the fire flakes!"

"I didn't steal it if that's what you think." A sniff. "I ordered boxes of it from Bumi; he did say they were docking at the Fire Nation before heading here."

 ---

"That's the spirit!"

"You're welcome!" Lin shouted to the bay. "You're welcome for planning all this," She waved vaguely around. "For the past months! This is the thanks I get for your instant wedding and reception!"

"What! No way." Kya's eyes widened. She thought her younger brother was full of it but this was beyond what she expected (and she had low expectations).

"What - why do you think that the color palette?"

"Tenzin said it's because Pema came from the Earth Kingdom…" Bumi said slowly.

Su snorted. "Earth Kingdom colors would not exactly match the Beifong family colors though. But they're quite close."

"The menu, of course, they had to scrap." Lin leaned on her sister as they had all now sat on the sand, facing the water.

"Mom was most disappointed at that; she took all the food tasting seriously."

"I told her we can still order our choices as a set menu one of these days."

"I heard Uncle Sokka griping about meat to Mom earlier as well." Kya added. "So, what else did they repurpose from your wedding plans?"

As if on cue, music was carried over to their spot.

Bumi saw Lin's lip twitch. "Your playlist, huh?"

Lin looked away, eyes glassy.

 ---

The military man knew what he needed to do. He usually worked on impulse and tonight was no different.

He got up, patted his hands on his pants to brush off the sand that had stuck to his sticky palms.

Bumi extended his hand to the still seated earthbender.

”May I have this dance?"

 ---

“What if the Chief of Police was never meant to be with the councilman?”

Toph remained silent. She sat straight, bare feet firmly on the ground, sensing with clarity how her eldest slowly stood up to accept the offer of the eldest of the previous Avatar.

What if indeed…

Had they all been blind blind?

Sokka was probably reading too much into the scene below them.

To her surprise, Lin and Bumi began to move in time with the music, more in sync with each other than they had ever been with anyone else. And that was saying something – both had been at the top of their respective classes in their academies. Both had passed team tactical tests with flying colors, where working flawlessly with their colleagues is imperative.

And yet…

“What if she was meant to be with the easily overlooked non-bender?” Sokka’s whisper was now much closer to her ear than it was earlier.

Toph's breath caught in her throat.

Was he still talking about her daughter and his nephew?

 ---

“I never knew Bumi was a dancer.”

“He isn’t.” Bumi’s sister confirmed. “He probably learned his fancy footwork from the military.”

“Lin always was graceful,” Su leaned forward, enthralled by the movements the pair did on the sand. “Grandma forced us to go to dance class."

 ---

“You know, Aunt Toph used to call Uncle Aang fancy dancer.”

“Excuse me?” Tenzin unwittingly echoed his mother’s words as he was caught unawares. He quickly faced the person who interrupted his solitude.

“There you are.” Izumi was leaning on the railing of the path that led to the shore. “Hiding out during your own wedding banquet?”

“I needed air.”

“You can create your own air.” The Crown Princess rolled her eyes. “Lin was right, you are an airhead.” She nodded to the group of four dancing, laughing and drinking by the bay.

The airbender let out a sound that was a cross between a snort and a scoff.

The two of them simply watched the group below, unmindful and unaware of their observers.

Izumi heard the man beside her gasp as Bumi suddenly dipped Lin and then lifted her up. “Don’t look like a kicked turtleduck. It's your wedding night. You made your bed and so you better lie in it." With that, she left the brooding groom.

With one last look at the group by the way, Tenzin soon followed, ready to plaster on a smile as he made his way back to the courtyard and guests.

 ---

Heaving in exertion of the dance, Lin found herself leaning forward, trying to catch her breath. “Where's Kya and Su?”

"They got bored. Maybe." Bumi noticed their sisters were nowhere to be found.

Before Lin could even respond, he let out a loud belch before excusing himself.

She laughed.

He reddened with embarrassment but quickly recovered. He scrambled to the pile of food that he and Kya had smuggled earlier.

Plopping beside him, sand disturbed, she took a drink and rummaged through the junk food (some of which she had vowed never to even touch, an influence of having a vegetarian partner for a long time).

She racked her memory as to the last time she felt this carefree and impulsive; she came up empty-handed.

Lin decided she liked the feeling.

 ---

"What do you have to lose, Lin Beifong?" He breathed against her lips.

"We don't do commitment well." As though that explained it all.

"You wore it well but he didn't. You would not need to worry about that with me - no strings attached."

That she could live with.

Sometimes things happen because they had to.

But maybe sometimes there was no reason why.

 ---

The next day had the makings of an auspicious beginning.

Tenzin felt he barely slept when Pema (his wife) began rousing.

Whenever the Fire Lord stays over, his father used to have meditation with him. The years had passed so did his father (and the Fire Lady). The children sought to continue traditions.

Each family would be represented during morning meditation. It just was their custom.

Tenzin thought this would be the best opportunity to introduce his wife to their family traditions.

Surely they'll remember that he would be bringing Pema over?

 Apparently not.

When they reached the family pavilion, everyone was in place - Izumi beside her father and the two Beifong sisters.

The Beifong sisters who were bickering at this early hour.

“What are you doing here?” Su’s voice rang clean in the air, almost accusingly at her sister. Said sister simply shrugged.

“Hi Uncle Zuko.” Lin bowed before the Fire Lord.

“Ah, Lin, Suyin.” The old Fire Lord’s eyes twinkled happily. “Two Beifongs for the price of one.”

The older Beifong finally turned to her sister. “Mom told me.”

Su rolled eyes.

Izumi clicked her tongue. “Well, she tricked you both and just wanted to make sure that the House of Beifong is present this morning.”

Tenzin cleared his throat, diverting the attention to him. “Good morning.”

“Ah, the newly-weds.” Zuko remarked, inclining his head.

“I suppose you’re here because we can hardly expect Kya to be up.” Izumi observed.

“Same goes for Bumi.” Tenzin cannot help but quip, observing Lin’s reaction.

“Tenzin, we weren’t expecting you.” Zuko said not unkindly. “Specially for Pema to wake up this early. But it is appreciated. Let us begin.”

 Tenzin’s mind wandered.

 Pema was fidgeting beside him.

Had she always been fidgety during meditation?

 At the opposite end, Lin looked calm and unbothered. He had supposed that she would be bothered by their presence but, she barely batted an eyelash.

And where was Bumi?

Maybe nothing happened…

He knew Lin would have taken the chance to sleep in if ever.

 ---

To Tenzin’s irritation, the first person they encountered upon reaching the dining area was his brother.

“I’m surprised you’re awake.” He bit out.

Bumi threw him an amused look as he placed a large platter on the long table. “Of course – were you expecting me to be hungover?” He smiled and greeted his sister-in-law.

“You cooked!” Pema exclaimed in astonishment.

Bumi blinked while other people started to filter into the room. “Someone had to help mom, and, no offense, I don’t fancy eating meatless grub.”

“I knew I liked you better.” Toph Beifong entered the room, punching Bumi’s arm, her hair all puffed up from being in bed. “Well done.” She yawned, walking towards the seat in front of her daughters.

Sokka lazily slid beside her, rubbing his eyes and pulling out the chair for Toph.

 “Someone had a rough night.” Su snickered at the pair.

A smirk and a blush were exchanged.

“Did not.”

“Please, I sensed what you were up to.” Lin smirked at her mother. “Wanna bet?”

“No, thanks.” Toph ignored her daughter’s dare and reached over to get a cream bun.

 Everyone started to dig in when Katara sat at the head of the table.

Bumi hesitated before sitting down at Lin’s other side.

Tenzin looked around the table to see if people noticed it.

No one was reacting.

Then again, he realized it was usually Bumi who picked up on undercurrents like that, being observant himself.

Well, Tenzin considered, Bumi, Toph and Lin.

He had fully expected either Bumi or Lin to give more credence to the night’s romp.

Neither seemed worse for wear though.

Unless…

He frowned.

 Kya nudged him and whispered. “You’re a newly-wed, why do you look far too displeased?”

Tenzin then became a little bit more conscious and focused on his plate.

Pema was no help, who was simply quiet and seemingly in awe.

Belatedly, Tenzin remembered that this was the first meal that his wife would have with the entire extended family.

 Just then, several acolytes entered the dining room, carrying trays of food.

Katara beckoned them over and asked them to place the food on the table. She turned to Tenzin and Pema almost apologetically.

“We didn’t expect you to be up and I had asked the acolytes to prepare food for you in bed.”

“That was thoughtful of you, Master Katara. Thank you.” Pema meekly responded, dipping her head in deference.

 Something twisted in Tenzin’s chest.

It was not a well-kept secret that when Lin was over, they tend to eat breakfast in bed.

 ---

Tenzin felt everyone was waiting with bated breath.

Every time Pema would shake her head as her courses arrived – well, the airbender could only nod back.

They better try harder.

 Tenzin did not know what else to do.

 ---

The first time was fun.

The second time was on a whim because why not?

The succeeding ones – they barely thought about it, making no more excuses other than that they enjoyed each other’s company.

They could live with this, they reckoned.

Two misfits, Bumi had said. Failures in the eyes of their parents.

Unfit to continue a legacy.

 ---

One night, Lin had opened up to him – to both of their incredulity.

It was painful to share but at the same time, there was something cathartic about having a non-judging listening ear.

It has been a long time since she had someone like that, Lin mused.

“You’re better off without him.”

The metalbender had looked up in wonder at that statement.

No one had ever told her that before. It was always in the vein of her deficiencies and how she did not measure up to expectations.

Surrounded by air acolytes and the White Lotus, their patriarchal stance and beliefs had woven its way into her previous relationship. Motherhood, apparently, was one of the few things that they see a woman’s way of self-actualizing. Never mind that the wife of the previously last airbender was a master healer and warrior in her own right.

 “You’d think growing up under Mom’s parenting would disabuse him of those misconceptions.”

As much as he thought that his brother was spineless, Bumi would not dare disparage him in public. Blood is blood and truth be told, he would never know the pressures of being the last airbender (and the non-bender was forever thankful of that).

Family is family, just as Lin and Su fell into an easy kinship despite years of estrangement.

Nonetheless, the disgust he felt at his brother’s treatment of Lin was propelling him to head on to Air Temple Island to knock sense into him (albeit it would be too late). Lin managed to dissuade him stating that this was why she did not feel comfortable about sharing why it all ended.

“I know you don’t need protecting or saving.” Bumi scooted over the bed, tightening his arm around her. “But I want you to know that someone’s always got your back here.” He placed her palm on his chest (his heart, though he was not about to reveal that to her any time soon).

 “I do want kids. I did. I probably still do.” It was a whisper. “I guess it wasn't meant to be.”

She held her knees to her chest.

Bumi moved closer, hugging her unmindful of the tears.

“Hey,” He gently tilted her chin up. “We can always be the cool uncle and aunt these brats have ever seen.”

Lin managed a weak laugh.

“After all, where else can they find an aunt who can rappel down a skyscraper without a safety net?”

 ---

He wondered.

When had it all changed to something more, something beyond friendship?

 She certainly enjoyed his company, at least behind closed doors.

He let her be herself. And vice versa.

It wasn't meant to be a secret. He understood she was burned.

And so he let it be.

He admitted her one time that they were watching the dawn that he liked their arrangement - the thrill in hiding, of being caught.

He wondered if it was just the daredevil in him that sought this excitement in his life.

 ---

Slowly the press left her alone outside her capacity of being chief of police.

All focus was on the council and its youngest councilman.

 She used to see his name on the papers and feel a stab of regret.

Then it dissolved into a twinge.

Then simply a phantom pulse of hurt.

Until it was nothing.

 ---

“You’re looking at the United Forces new liaison officer!”

It had taken a while but the powers that be had surmised that the overall situation has stabilized. No more pirates and, definitely (to his immense relief), no more cannibals.

 “Seriously?” An arched eyebrow was the disbelieving response to his announcement.

He felt hurt but masked it with a grin. “Yes.”

“It wasn’t a jab at your capabilities.” Lin rolled her eyes. His façade did not fool her. Not one bit. “It’s just that – is this what you wanted?”

Bumi was taken aback. It has been a while since anyone cared to ask or know what he wanted.

“Yes, of course.” It was surprisingly sincere.

He didn’t mind that he would be staying put in Republic City for the time being.

He did not mind at all.

---

It has all hushed up.

The public relations guy that Lin hired at Bumi’s suggestion was wonderful at his job.

 One of Lin’s trusted staff at her home placed a call to the Bumi’s direct line.

Bumi’s heart caught in his throat and he hurried home to the Beifong manor.

 “I'm good.” Lin did what she did best – downplay her injuries or illness.

Leave it to a Beifong to hire a private nurse and doctor to see to her after a fainting spell at work.

Bumi approved of this. None of that hospital stuff – Lin’s reputation as the Chief of Police would suffer and the criminal underbelly might see it as an opportunity to wreak havoc.

Seeking to lighten the air and shake off his concern, “You may be good now, but after I'm done with you I don’t know if you’ll still be good.” He waggled his eyebrows, hinting at a naughty past time.

“Oh, I’m all yours – be as bad as you want to be.” To his delight, Lin quipped back. “I’ll have you know though that that’s what got us into this predicament.”

His jaw slackened, he noticed Lin’s eyes shining.

Could it be?

He gently placed his shaking hands on Lin’s still flat abdomen. He gazed at Lin’s face, a question unspoken.

She nodded, placing her hand over his, smiling.

“I’m going to be a father!”

The man’s howl echoed throughout the manor.

 ---

Bumi was a superstitious man.

Having encountered various peoples and learned different cultures in travels through the course of his military career, he had picked up practices and folklore along the way. He was adamant that where necessary, they will practice them if only for the health and safety of mother and child.

 For the most part, Lin let him do what he wished. She understood at some level the trepidation that the man felt regarding their impending parenthood.

However, after the boisterous man had frightened yet another one of her household staff as he crept into the manor in the wee hours of the morning, carrying yet another exotic fruit for her, Lin had invited him to stay in.

 She leaned at her windowsill, enjoying the breeze.

Bumi was chatting with her gardener, a kind old man hired by Toph when she first had the manor constructed years ago.

He had readily assimilated into the life at the manor.

And she, meanwhile, was contented, oddly enough.

 ---

From Su

It’s your ex’s birthday (Lin looked heavenward at her sister’s juvenile terms) next week and I received this gaudy invitation for his party.

I’d expect you’d be going too? As a family friend, I mean, and don’t you dare use the police card.

Anyway, sending you this book – it’s a good read. It helped me understand Baatar a little bit more.

 ---

From Lin

I intended to attend in my professional capacity, of course.

But some snitch sent a letter to Aunt Katara to request that I should not be part of the security detail.

And, Su – what is this garbage? This is not going to help me in any way.

 ---

 The Five Love Languages

 ---

From Su

Oh come on. I’m sure there is someone special in your life. And before you even accuse me of sending spies (not that I didn’t think about that), it’s how you’ve been writing back to me.

You’re less acerbic. And the point is – you have been writing back!

Sweet Agni, even Tenzin wasn’t able to induce you to respond to any of my letters.

 ---

From Lin

Su: Mind your own business.

 ---

Nonetheless, she read the book.

 ---

“Whoa there! What was that?” Everyone paused to pay attention to the blind earthbender who raised a hand, requesting silence. “Who else is there? How many are we in the room?” She volunteered a number to be confirmed.

Sokka counted each individual.

Toph Beifong was off by one count.

---

Katara eyed Tenzin and nodded towards Pema.

The airbender shook his head.

 ---

Lin gripped Bumi’s arm in alarm.

This was not how she wanted it to be revealed. Not here, not now, not yet.

Not on Tenzin’s birthday.

 Toph quickly shot a look at her daughter, no doubt feeling the increased (and additional) heartbeats. Her eyes widened subtly.

 Lin and Bumi held their breath.

 “I might have been mistaken.” She raised her glass. “Tipsy, you know.”

“Yeah, dear that's likely it.” Sokka laughed. “You must be getting old.”

 Bumi saw his mother look shrewdly at their joined hands.

Of course. Mothers knew best.

And mothers knew all.

He caught her eye and nodded – a promise to speak later.

 ---

Then came the toast.

Drinks were provided around to the guests, save for the birthday celebrant and the air acolytes who were given another set of drinks.

“To good health!”

“Cheers!”

 “Lin, why aren’t you drinking?”

Lin froze.

They had not counted on their uncle.

“You never passed up the chance for wine.” Sokka was oblivious to Toph pinching his arm to stop talking. “Is there something wrong with the selection?” He was taking offense at it since he was the one who provided the libation for the celebration.

“Uncle…” Bumi attempted to intervene.

“You took after your mama here – the only time she stopped was when she was carrying you or Su.”

There was a palpable shift in the room when comprehension dawned on all the guests.

Bumi’s proprietary and protective posture beside Lin did not go unnoticed.

 All eyes turned to the airbender who had slowly approached Lin.

Tenzin suddenly hugged her and slid down, kneeling in front of her, causing the metalbender to gasp.

He shook as he had his arms around Lin’s legs.

 “Leave us.”

 Pema’s stony countenance clearly expressed her displeasure at the request but left nonetheless.

Bumi looked like he wanted to argue but he recognized wordless plea on Lin's face.

His heart sank.

 ---

I’m sorry.

It’s all my fault.

I was too weak.

I’m sorry Lin.

You did not deserve all that.

Not at all.

I’m the one who was not enough – I’m the one who failed you.

 ---

I know that now, Tenzin.

  I must go.

 ---

Bumi tossed a rock into the bay.

This was where it all started. How fitting.

On the night of his brother’s wedding.

 And maybe, as his hearing picked up the unique steps of Lin, this was where it will end as well.

And on the night of his brother’s birthday.

 He sighed. It was good while it lasted.

He supposed he would always be the Avatar’s screw-up son.

 “I thought I'd find you here.”

 Before he could even form the words to ask how soon he needed to move out, Lin’s lips were on his.

 Well, maybe Sokka was right - the Chief of Police was meant for the non-bender.

--

What do you think? 🤔💭

[112aang]

Kataang Week 2021: Day 4- Bending

Hello, my lovelies, and welcome to day 4 of Kataang Week. Today’s prompt is Bending, and I actually decided to take it a different direction than most probably would. 

Words: 1,816

You can find my ff.net page here, where the entirety of my Kataang Week submissions will be, as well as my other stories.

---------------

Before getting married, Aang and Katara had talked endlessly about having children. Being the last airbender, he knew well the duty he had to his lost nation and to the world.

The world leaders had been pressuring him since he turned 16, the marrying age. By the age of 13, Aang knew that he wanted to marry Katara, and therefore would have children with her. During world leader meetings, the topic of rebuilding the Air Nation was often a popular one, and each leader felt it necessary to hold the duty over Aang’s head like a dark cloud.

At one particular meeting, after the airbender’s 16th birthday, Chief Arnook of the Northern Water Tribe had suggested the use of surrogates for the Avatar. He argued that with the use of multiple women, many of which being nonbenders, there would be a better chance of producing an airbending child.

Upon hearing this, Aang had jumped from his seat with anger and shot down the Chief’s proposal. His usual passive attitude had vanished, and he had to be held back by Zuko. After conveying his message, the Avatar angrily stormed out of the meeting room, using his airbending to slam the door shut behind him.

Aang hadn’t told Katara much about what the world leaders said, aside from the main points. At this point, they were only still just dating, and the airbender hadn’t planned on proposing yet. Plus, he knew that in the Water Tribes, having children out of wedlock would be begging for banishment. Katara wouldn’t have been able to visit her home, and her grandmother would never get to meet her great grandchild. This was not an option, and Aang knew it.

Over the years following the meeting, the topic had come up occasionally at the round table, but was never discussed at length.

After Aang and Katara’s wedding, however, the world leaders cautiously approached the subject of rebuilding the Air Nation to both benders.

***

“Aang, Katara,” Earth King Kuei said. “Now that you have been wed, when can we expect offspring? The balance of the world depends on the restoration of the Air Nation.”

The newlywed couple looked at one another before Katara spoke.

“King Kuei, with all due respect, it really is none of your business when Aang and I have children. That goes for the rest of you as well.”

She looked around the table at the other world leaders, “we know what is expected of him, being the last airbender, but we will not have children just for the sake of rebuilding an entire nation.”

Zuko’s eyes met hers and he nodded in agreement, as did her father and King Kuei.

Chief Arnook was the only member at the table who hadn’t spoken a word, and Aang looked to him.

“Chief Arnook,” he said. “Anything you would like to say?”

The Water Tribe man glanced between the couple with an unreadable look on his face and sighed loudly.

“My proposal stands. As a married couple, you may share in having children together. But for the sake of the world, I suggest multiple surrogates to ensure the repopulation of the Air Nation.”

Katara was fuming, steam practically shooting from her ears, and Aang was no different. Before his wife could speak, he stood abruptly and pulled her to the exit.

Before leaving the meeting room, the airbender turned to the round table and gave them a look full of anguish and resentment. Katara pulled open the door and they stormed out of the room.

***

Nearly a year had passed since the meeting, and Aang and Katara had just welcomed their first-born son into the world. The waterbender had given birth at the Southern Air Temple, where they had been living, and Aang couldn’t keep a smile off of his face.

The baby’s skin was a shade darker than his father’s, but not quite as pigmented as Katara’s. His hair was a dark brown, almost black, and he had grey eyes- just like Aang.

The couple smiled at the newborn, then each other.

“He’s beautiful, Katara.”

She smiled as tears slowly fell from her eyes, before tilting her head and kissing her husband softly.

“What should we name him?”

Aang thought for a moment, before coming up with the perfect name. His best and oldest friend had passed away just a year and a half prior to his son’s birth; the name was perfect.

“How about Bumi?”

Katara pondered this name for only a second, before casting her gaze upon the child in her arms. She smiled and kissed his forehead gently, before rubbing his cheek with her thumb.

“That’s a perfect name.”

The new parents shared a gentle kiss, hopeful that maybe, the world leaders would finally get off their backs.

***

After Bumi’s 5th birthday, he had shown no signs of bending abilities, which the world leaders had taken note of. They had called a meeting with Aang and Katara to discuss the future of the Air Nation once again, to which the couple reluctantly attended.

“Avatar Aang,” King Kuei said. “Has your son displayed any signs of bending abilities since his most recent birthday?”

Katara looked at her husband, worry sketched on her face. Aang caught her eyes and smiled sadly, the same nervousness on his own face.

“No, King Kuei. He has not.”

The airbender watched as the Earth King and the other members whispered among themselves. His chest felt tight, and his stomach was turning in 100 different directions. From beside him, Katara placed her hand on his thigh reassuringly, and he started to calm down.

Chief Arnook was the next to speak, making both parents’ blood begin to boil.

“We have given you a chance to do this your way, but it seems as though it hasn’t worked in your favor.” He sighed, “we have decided that unless you wish to use surrogates, you and Master Katara must conceive another child within the next year; preferably an airbending child.”

The couple gave each other a knowing look before Katara placed a shaky hand on her lower abdomen. Zuko noticed this from his place across the table and raised his eyebrows.

“Aang, Katara,” he said, incredulously. “Is there something you two would like to share?”

The airbender smiled delicately and placed a hand over his wife’s on his leg.

“Actually,” he turned his head to face Katara. “We do; Katara is pregnant.”

The world leaders surrounding the round table perked up at the sound of this and clapped, bringing a slight blush to the couples’ cheeks.

***

Over the years, Bumi had become saddened at the fact that he was unable to bend an element. Being the first-born son of the Avatar and a world-renowned healer and master waterbender, he felt as though he was a disgrace to his parents.

One evening, at their home on Air Temple Island, Bumi was near the water’s edge with his little sister, Kya. She had just discovered her ability to waterbend, and he was as proud as he could be of her. He would often take her down to the water when their parents were busy and watch her play with her element. Their Uncle Sokka had carved a boomerang just for him, and he would throw it around for Kya to watch.

As the two siblings sat in the sand, the youngest was moving her hand in circles, creating a small whirlpool in the water. Bumi watched with slight jealousy and wondered if his parents thought he was a disgrace- a burden on their shoulders.

Aang and Katara hadn’t spoken to Bumi about bending in months, and he had begun to worry that they were ashamed of him. As the son of the Avatar, he should have been able to bend something. But alas, no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t.

Bumi pulled his knees to his chest and sighed. Him and Kya had been on the beach for an hour or so and the sun was beginning to set. He stood from the ground slowly and walked over to his sister, placing a hand on her shoulder softly.

Before he could speak, to tell her to follow him inside, he felt a large hand on his own shoulder. Bumi turned his head to see his father smiling down at him.

“Kya, honey,” his father said. “Why don’t you head inside? Your mother is almost finished with dinner.”

His daughter smiled and nodded, before running up the path towards their home. Bumi started to turn in the same direction that his sister had gone, but Aang stopped him.

“Bumi, can we talk?”

The boy nodded and Aang led him closer to the water. He turned so that he was face to face with his son and smiled.

“Is there something wrong, dad?”

Bumi looked confused, as his father hadn’t had a small chat with him in a while. Aang would try to do things with his son as often as he could, but lately he had been pulled away for meetings more than he would have liked.

He smiled down at his son before crouching down to his level.

“Nothing’s wrong,” he said as he placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I just wanted to see how you were doing. We haven’t talked in a while, just you and me.”

Bumi was almost 12 and was quite smart for his young age. He took after Aang with his honesty, and didn’t hide anything from his parents.

The boy looked into his father’s eyes woefully and sighed.

“Actually, dad,” he began, turning his face away. “I was wondering… Do you think I will ever be able to bend?”

Aang tilted his head slightly at his son’s question, “I’m not entirely sure, Bumi. Why do you ask?”

“I hear you and mom talking sometimes. I know that the other leaders are upset that I can’t bend and… I don’t want to let you down.”

His eyes gathered with tears and Aang wiped them away, placing both hands on his son’s shoulders.

His father looked him in the eyes and said firmly, “Bumi, it doesn’t matter whether you can bend all four elements or none at all. Your mother and I love you with everything that we are, and we wouldn’t change anything about you.”

“I am so proud of everything you have accomplished so far, and it has all been without bending. You are perfect just the way you are.

Bumi’s eyes met his father’s and they smiled at each other.

“Thanks, dad.”

Aang pulled his son into a hug and held him tightly, “I love you, son. Don’t ever think that you aren’t good enough, and never let anyone tell you that you aren’t, either.”

Bumi smiled into his father’s neck and cried, thankful that his family loved him, despite not being able to bend an element.

---------------

Next up is Hurt/Comfort.

[miyuki-scourgeofthefirenation]

Bop to the Top

Oh boy what have I done? I wrote fanfic, that’s what I done. Basically, I was just chilling, minding my business, when I came across this YouTube video:

I then had an idea for a fanfic that would not let me go until I wrote it. So I wrote it. Please be nice, this is my first time writing fanfic ever. It also became longer than I anticipated so here it is in all its unedited glory. Enjoy! Story begins under the cut, because yikes, why is this over 2000 words?!?

(Set roughly five years after the end of the war. Zuko brought in a special team to help with Azula and her situation, because Zuko is a sweet boy who still loves his sister and wants her to be okay. The comics? I don’t know her.)

Sokka was spending a perfectly pleasant afternoon strolling around the gardens at the palace when he was unexpectedly tackled by someone sneaking up on him. Actually, make that two someones sneaking up on him.

“Ooof,” he grunts as his body makes contact with the ground. Any hope he might have had for regaining his breath is dashed when the two someones who tackled him promptly fall right on top of him as well.

“Sokka!” a giddy voice shouts, followed by peals of laughter. Sokka opens his eyes to find himself face to face with a chirping lemur. The pressure on his back disappears as his two attackers stand up.

“Sorry, sorry!” another voice rings out, reaching down to help Sokka to his feet. “We were just so excited to surprise you!” Sokka turns around to see his sister Katara, and Aang standing there.

“Guess we got a little carried away!” Aang adds with a sheepish tone in his voice that somehow doesn’t match up with the light in his eyes or wide grin on his face. Sokka doesn’t say anything, just reaches out to scoop Katara and Aang into a hug as Momo scurries up to perch on his shoulder.

“I had no idea you were coming for a visit,” Sokka says, releasing the others from the hug after a few moments.

“It was a last minute decision,” Katara explains. “We were charting our course to the next destination on our itinerary, and realized that it wasn’t that far out of our way to stop by here en route. Thought it would be nice to come see you and Zuko for a day or two.”

“And I thought ‘What would be more fun than making this visit?’ Making this a ‘Surprise visit!’” Aang crowed happily. “Hope that’s okay,” he said then, a bit more tentatively, as if it was just occurring to him that maybe advance warning of their arrival would have been a good thing.

“Of course it is!” Sokka beams, “You know I’m always excited to get to see you two!” A slightly angry chirp comes from the direction of his shoulder. “And you too Momo. I couldn’t forget about my favorite flying lemur.”

It is at this moment that two palace guards come running up to the group out of breath. “Master Sokka,” one pants, “Your sister and the Avatar have arrived unexpectedly and wish to see you immediately.” 

Sokka exchanges a brief look with Aang and Katara at this obvious statement, but decides not to comment on it out loud.

“We apologize for not leading them here for a proper greeting,” the other guard says, looking somewhat miffed as well as quite sweaty. “But…” He trails off looking at the two visitors, neatly conveying the hesitance of the guards to attempt to stop the waterbending master and Avatar from going anywhere they might want.

“That’s quite alright,” Sokka states, addressing the red-faced guards. “If you could please see to it that appropriate arrangements are made for my sister and Aang to stay here for the next few days. Thank you.” With that the two guards make their bows to the group and depart.

Katara and Aang loop their arms through Sokka’s as they begin to walk towards the far end of the garden. “So,” Katara begins, “how have you been? How’s that Fire Lord fiancé of yours?”

Sokka grins at this. “I’m good, he’s good. Been keeping busy with Ambassador duties, and Fire Lord duties for him. There have been a couple of small uprising plans discovered recently, but nothing like the turmoil of the early days…” he said trailing off. He still didn’t like to remember those difficult months after Zuko assumed the throne, which featured a steady influx of plots to remove him from power and resume the war. Based on the looks on Katara and Aang’s faces, they didn’t like this reminder either. The three quickly shook themselves out of their momentary gloom, focusing back on the present. “I know he’ll want to see you as well, he’ll be so thrilled you’re here!”

“Where is he?” Aang questions.

“He’s spending some time with Azula,” Sokka explains. “She’s been doing really well recently,” he adds after seeing the dubious expressions on their faces. “Ever since we got those new healers in and the new chambers in the hospital wing set up specially for her she’s been showing a lot of improvement. Way fewer rants about taking back her rightful place as Fire Lord!” Katara and Aang still don’t look convinced, and he supposes he can’t blame them for that. If he didn’t live here and see the daily workings of the situation he probably wouldn’t believe it either. “It’s just about time for Zuko to be finishing up with his visit to her,” Sokka says somewhat hastily, eager to move past this particular subject. “I’ll go over and get him, let him know you’re here. Then we can all have dinner together, properly catch up.”

“Great!” Aang exclaims. “Me and Katara should go see about getting Appa settled in, he can be very picky about how he wants things you know!” Katara gave a slight roll of her eyes as Aang bounded off with Momo flying behind him. 

“We’ll see you at dinner!” she calls with a wave as she follows her boyfriend. Sokka smiles at their retreating backs. He’s so happy that they’re here, and he knows Zuko will be as well. With that thought in mind he heads off for the hospital wing of the palace.

As he rounds the corner leading to Azula’s chambers he hears something extremely unexpected. Typical noises that can be found in the hallway are soft talking, loud screams about Azula finally breaking free and reclaiming her place, tears, or silence. This is none of those things. This seems to be… music? Sokka is confused, and quietly pushes open the door to the room. He learned the hard way that making his presence known immediately was not necessarily a smart idea. Who knew a hairbrush could be such a powerful projectile weapon? 

Sokka instantly freezes at the sight that meets his eyes. Zuko and Azula are in the center of the room and they seem to be doing some sort of… choreographed dance routine? There is an entirely unnecessary amount of jazz hands and shimmying that seems to be happening and Sokka is absolutely thrilled. He breaks out into an unbelieving and slightly wicked smile. This is good, this is just the sort of low level embarrassing incident he can use to tease Zuko for ages. The two dancing firebenders haven’t yet noticed Sokka’s presence, they’re too focused on the dance. The song continues to play in the background, something about bopping and glory. Sokka isn’t paying close attention to the words of the song, the sight in front of him is far more entertaining and deserves his full attention. The song comes to an end, and Zuko and Azula make their grand finale on a ladder (where did they get a ladder from? Sokka muses briefly). It is only then that Sokka makes his presence known, by beginning to clap. He knew that they would instantly stop dancing if they were aware of him earlier, and he was not about to sacrifice seeing this for anything. The two whirl around at the sound of his clapping, as well as the muffled laughter he’s been holding in this entire time and is starting to lose control of.

Zuko flushes red. “How long have you been standing there?” he asks, a slightly panicked look in his eyes. He knows his fiancé, and he knows full well the amount of teasing he can expect to get from this sort of situation. At this point he can only hope for the damage to be minimal, and that Sokka didn’t see too much of the routine. He knows he’s lost when he sees the evil gleam in Sokka’s eyes.

“Oh,” Sokka laughs, “I’m pretty sure I caught most of that, and let me say I am very happy I did. When can we expect to see performances of it in the theaters around town? Personally, I think all Fire Nation citizens should have a chance to witness that. It would probably be very good for morale.” He crosses his arms and grins at the siblings, who have since come down off of the ladder. Surprisingly Azula hasn’t said anything yet, and has kept her face aimed downwards towards the floor. Both Sokka and Zuko dart their gaze to her, somewhat nervously gauging her reaction.

She looks up abruptly, her gaze moving back and forth between the two. A small smile spread across her lips. “What do you think Zuzu? A couple more months of practice before our grand debut?” Zuko looks shocked for a minute before getting his expression back under control. She turns to Sokka. “You know,” she drawls to him, “I could be ready to perform for the masses tomorrow, but you know Zuzu, he’s not as fast a learner as I am. He needs more time to practice, and I refuse to perform if the routine is not perfected! But, alas, it is now time for dinner, and so perfection shall have to wait another day at least. We can pick up with practice again another day Zuzu,” she states imperiously, laying a hand on his arm as she walks into the small dining area off of the main room. When she gets to the doorway she turns her head slightly to look at him. “Thank you,” she murmurs softly, “I had fun.” Then she sweeps into the other room and out of their sight.

Wordlessly, Zuko and Sokka exit her chambers and begin walking back towards the main part of the palace. “Wow,” Zuko mutters.

“I know,” Sokka says, “She was actually… nice for once. Glad to see the new environment and healers are helping her so much.”

“Me too,” Zuko says quietly, lost in his own thoughts.

“And you,” Sokka blurts out. Zuko looks up at him questioningly. “You’re really helping her too. Clearly,” Sokka rambles. “She seems to be coming around to trusting you a lot more. I know that’s important to you.”

Zuko smiles a bit at that. “Yeah, yeah it is.”

“Sooooooo, about that dance….” Sokka grins at him

“Oh no. No, no, no,” Zuko whines. “I just had a major breakthrough with my sister, can’t I get a pass on the mocking for once?”

Sokka looks vaguely affronted. “Do you know me at all? I am very happy about the whole ‘Breakthrough with formerly evil sister thing,’ but if you think you’re gonna be able to get out of this on the strength of that alone…” he scoffs. “That dance routine is the best material that has fallen into my lap in years, there’s no way I’m about to pass it up!”

Zuko groans affectionately, he knew that was gonna be the answer, and despite his embarrassment he can’t find it in himself to be too upset. He goodnaturedly puts up with Sokka’s shrieking about it as they begin to make their way to dinner. He’s only half paying attention when Sokka says “Oh man, Katara and Aang are gonna love this! Dinner just got so much better!” That snaps Zuko out of his trance right away.

“What do you mean ‘Katara’ and ‘Aang’ and ‘Dinner’?” He demands.

“Oh,” Sokka says slyly, looking at him out of the corner of his eye, “Did I forget to mention? Katara and Aang have dropped in for a surprise visit. We’re headed to dinner with them right now. And trust me, this story, is gonna be the highlight of the evening!” With that Sokka gives him a quick kiss on the cheek, flashes a wicked grin and runs away down the hall and into the dining room. Zuko huffs indignantly, realizing Sokka had run away before he had a chance to respond. Grumbling, but still smiling slightly, he follows his fiancé into the dining room, looking forward to seeing his friends.

[snake-house]

Sokka X Male!Reader - adventure.

Sokka X Male!Reader warnings: none really he/him pronouns used for reader *no i am still not over avatar **set after the series aye ___ When Suki left to go back to Kyoshi Island, Sokka was left to himself. He wasn’t sure what the future held, where he was going or what he was going to do from this day forward. The easiest thing to do would be to follow his sister and her new avatar-boyfriend, but was that really what he wanted? To follow his baby sister wherever she went? No, not really.

He knew Katara wanted to rebuild the Southern Water Tribe to it's former glory, but she also knew that Aang had a duty to travel the nations and bring harmony back to the world that only knew chaos and destruction. She knew this chaos had to be tamed, and she was willing to set back her want to reclaim her homeland to travel with Aang. Sokka could go with Toph, to that metal bending school she had started up, but then again, he would be in her shadow as well. Maybe it was time for him to make something for himself? He was confused and a little scared of what his future held, but, he would push forward. He decided to set corse for home. The Southern Water Tribe. His dad was down there, so he knew that there was something there for him. Plus not only would his dad need some help, but his tribe needed help, and that’s all the motivation he needed to go back to the snowy landscape of his childhood. The moment Sokka stepped off the boat he was engulfed by his father's arms in a crushing hug which he immediately returned. “I'm so happy to see you,” Hakoda beamed at his son, letting go of him and clapping him on the shoulder, "It will be good to have you back." “Thanks, I'm excited to be back,” He replied, a smile sprawled across his face. Since his father was the chief of the tribe, he wanted to throw Sokka into some work, but ultimately let Sokka take a break for the rest of the day. Sokka put his stuff into his father’s tent before he started really taking in the differences of his childhood home to what it had become. He wandered around, looking at the new buildings coming to life, as well as the growing port he had just come off of. The tribe had grown in the time the Avatar had defeated the Fire Lord. The village was at least two, maybe three times as large as it was before. Hadoka said that many people from their sister tribe have moved down here to help in the rebuilding process, so that was the main cause of the influx of people, but still. It was a start. That also meant there were finally benders down here besides his sister, there was more life to his home. Sokka smiled and took in a deep breath, the sent of fires and roasting fish filled his nostrils, filling him with warmth. But his happiness was cut short when something ran into him, hard. The brunet stumbled a little from the impact, he was ready to give a snarky remark, but the person who ran into him started spurting apologies, “I’m so so so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going, I was so careless! I’m sorry! Please forgive me!” And the person bowed their head towards him. Sokka could only stare at your deep blue parka in slight confusion as you apologized so fiercely, you would have thought you injured him with how regretful you sounded. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly at your bowed head, “Hey, uh, it’s alright, honest mistake. Right?” He tried to sound lighthearted so you would stand up. When you finally stood up to your full height to face him, he was shocked. You were maybe two inches shorter than him, same height as Katara, but you were breath taking. Your soft [color] hair laid against your [skin tone] skin perfectly, framing your face to bring out those beautiful [color] eyes that were looking at him with worry. He didn’t know what to say, and he couldn’t help but take in every detail of your being. From the way you twisted and fidgeted with your glove-clad hands, and how soft your pink-tinted lips looked, and your long eyelashes, you were beautiful. Wait, when did he think guys were beautiful again? In a brief panic, Sokka's eyes widened at his own thoughts. He was 100 percent sure he was straight... Right? “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Your voice had the same worry your eyes held. The question brought him out of his thoughts, “No, I’m fine. Are you ok?” You smiled at his slight concern, making Sokka’s cheeks tinge pink. “I’m fine thank you.” He smiled at you and nodded, “Um, do you happen to know where Chief Hadoka is? I’ve just arrived from the Northern Water Tribe, my brothers are benders, and are here to help get things up and running again.” You stated with a bright smile that could melt Sokka right there if he let himself. Great, again with the girlish thoughts. “Yeah, I know where he is, follow me?” He suggested, to which you nodded, and the two of you started walking, “I just arrived myself, I didn’t see you on the boat.” He commented. You easily matched his pace as he lead the way, “Oh, well, I get sea sick easily. So I was mainly vomiting my guts out the whole trip,” you admitted sheepishly. “Funny thing to say as a Water Tribe native, thankfully I have the excuse of being a non-bender.” You said with a smile. You were never envious of your siblings for being benders and you being the only non-bender out of them, you actually liked your simple life. While they had hours of bending practice, you had hours of lessons you personally picked and enjoyed. “Non-bender you say?” You nod, “Well I’m on the same boat, my younger sis is a bender, a master water bender,” Sokka loved his sister, but there was always a small hint of jealously there because of how amazing she was at waterbending. “That’s amazing!” You commented, "You must be very proud," He looked around your age, and his younger sister was a master bender? That must have been quite the feat. “Yeah, she’s quite something,” he looked over at you to see your bright smile, “Mind if I get your name?” You blushed at your forgetfulness of simple introductions, “Right!” You stuck your hand out to him, “I’m [Name], nice to meet you.” Sokka shook your hand gently, surprised by the strong grip you had as you shook his hand, he expected it to be soft, like your face, “I’m Sokka, nice to meet you too.” “Wait, your the Chief’s son?” You asked slowly, and he nodded just as slowly, unsure by your comment, “I’m so sorry for my actions!” You apologized again, once again stopping to bow your head regretfully. The horror on your face made him laugh lightly, “Like I said, don’t worry about it. And you really don’t need to worry. The Southern Tribe isn’t as formal as our sister tribe, so no need to bow or anything [Name].” He teased, taking note of how he liked the way your name rolled of his tongue. Ok, he was 90 percent sure he was straight. With a crooked smile you nodded, “If you say so.” Sokka smiled back at you and lead you to his and his father’s tent. Hadoka was sitting by the fire he had going and was talking to two other men which looked like layout plans. He heard a sigh come from you, “What’s a matter?” A smile still on your face despite your dejected sigh, “My brothers beat me to it.” You pointed at the men, “I was going to try and get to the chief first so that they would notice me, but I have fallen short again.” You weren’t being serious when you said that. Your brothers noticed you plenty, but they mainly just teased and messed with you. They also had a habit of taking you for advantage because of the pushover you could often be, you just wanted to prove you could do more than be the butt of the joke all the time. There was no doubt you loved them, but you just wanted something more from the one-sided relationship. Sokka stared at your pouting face as you gazed at your siblings that had yet to notice the two of you. He nudged your arm slightly, gesturing to follow him back outside. “Since your brothers seem busy, want me to show you around a little? I mean, there isn’t much to show yet, and I haven't been here long to but-” you cut him off with a laugh. “I’d like that Sokka, thank you,” You replied with your sweet and happy smile back on your face. So that’s exactly what he did. He showed you all the different places you could go, as well as promising you that he would take you penguin sledding sometime in the near future. Sokka was even proud enough to show you the watch tower he built a while back, the same one Aang destroyed when he signaled the Fire nation by accident. It was skill slightly caved in, but still standing nonetheless! As the two of you just walked and talked, for the first time in a while, he didn’t feel the pressure of being someone or something he wasn’t, he didn’t feel like he needed to impress anyone. It was nice. Your heartfelt smiles and sweet voice made his whole body want to melt, if only you knew you already had the pour boy wrapped around your finger. Now it was 80 percent sure he was mostly straight. As the sun started to set, Sokka and you headed back to his tent to see if your brothers were still there or not. And just as the two of you approached, your siblings as well as his father stepped out of the tent. “[Name]?” One of them called with a slight smirk on his face when he saw Sokka, “What have you been up to?” You smiled at your older brothers, “Oh, well Sokka was just showing me around since you both were busy.” The older boy pursed his lips, he and his brother looked around maybe 20 years old? Maybe even younger, but they were for sure older than Sokka and yourself. “Ah yes, Sokka, this is my son,” Hadoka cut in, coming up beside Sokka to clap him on the soldier yet again, “I’m glad to see you’re being kind and showing [Name] here around, I hope you treated him right.” You smiled at his words while a pink stained Sokka’s cheeks. Both of your brothers knew what was up with Sokka, and they knew how dense you were, it was quite amusing for them. The two had smirks plastered on their faces. They knew their little brother was breathtaking. In the Northern Tribe you already had suitors of both men and women lined up at your door at just 16 years old. At the look in Sokka’s face they knew he was smitten by you. “Well, we better get going [Name],” your eldest brother started, “It’s getting late.” You nodded. “Right,” you turned to Sokka, “Thank you for showing me around and I again apologize for literally running into you,” you beamed a bright smile at him before bidding a goodbye to Chief Hadoka and running to catch up with your brothers. Sokka watched you walk away with your siblings, a goofy smile on his face, but there was still a pang of sadness for missing his own sister. “He’s a strange choice for you, but I can see why you like him,” his dad butted into his thoughts, “Not that I disapprove or anything. His parents are the advisors to the chief in the Northern Water Tribe.” Does that mean you knew Yue? Sokka didn’t want to think about it. So Sokka just nodded, "H-He is something, I don't why but.. uh I guess I do kind of like him?” He stated his words as a question more for himself than anything. "Where are his parents?" “They stayed behind, they had a job there, but [Name] and his siblings came here to help anyways.” Hadoka responded. “Oh, that’s cool, I guess.” Sokka replied nonchalantly. He was trying to maintain a cool front, but really, he was really curious about you, as well as freaking out inside that his father was alright with him having a thing for another guy. It was all too weird for him. -- Over the next few weeks, you and Sokka had become close. He always found a reason to be around you, not that you minded, and suddenly the two of you became inseparable. Your brothers thought it was funny as hell by how oblivious you were to Sokka’s feelings towards you, and Hadoka was already secretly planning your wedding despite his son not completely understanding his own sexuality. From the outside, it was all very amusing. Your brothers bent an igloo for your home, much like everyone else, and very similar to the way the homes were built before the Fire Nation attacked all that time ago. All the tents were being turned into these igloos, even his own home was replaced with one, not that he minded, it was good change seeing as it was better for the weather they usually got. Sokka and you have become so familiar with each other, neither on of you bothered to knock when you went over to one another’s home, but when he was about to walk into yours your eldest brother walked out, followed by the younger one, “Is [Name] home?” He asked, only because he was there and it would be the polite thing to do. “Yeah he is, he said he wasn’t feeling well though, maybe you could cheer him up. He’s in his room.” He stated before walking off. Sokka walked in and went straight to your room. You were bundled up under various hides and blankets, your back facing him, “Hey [Name]? It’s me, Sokka, how are you feeling?” He asked gently as he approached your bed side. You turned towards him when you heard his voice, “Hey Sokka.” Your voice cracked slightly with the simple greeting A frown took over the boy’s face, you looked and sounded sick. Your face was pale, eyes were puffy, he felt an ache of sadness for you in this state, “Oh man, you’re sick.” He said as he knelt beside you. You smiled weakly, “I like to think of it like my body is getting rid of all the negative energy.” He smiled at the sweet words, “Will you keep me company?” You asked. “Of course I will,” With a smile he crossed his legs and took off the boomerang that was attached to his back and set it aside, as well as shedding off his huge parka to make himself comfortable. The two of you talked for what seemed like forever, not really about anything. You both learned more about one another. Sokka told you about his adventures with the Avatar, about his travels, and you found it to be the most interesting thing in the world. You could listen to him talk all day if he wanted to. After a long while of talking though, your eyes started to droop with the sleep that was signaling you to fall into dreamland. Sokka stopped talking when he noticed you drifting into sleep, “n…no keep going.” You urged him with a sleepy smile, which made a small one tug at his lips. “No, you need sleep to get better.” He urged. A pout settled on your face, “Sooookkaaaaaa,” you drawled out, jutting your bottom lip out at him. “Nope, not happening, you’re going to sleep and get better, and when that happens, you’ll hear the end of the story.” He reasoned with you, trying to strike a deal, "I'll even bring you some soup when you wake." There was a pause of silence from you, not sure if you should listen or not, “…on one condition,” you said slowly. Sokka raised and eyebrow, “What is that?” You reached your arms out from under the blankets towards him like a child, “Lay with me please.” His face was immediately taken over with a blush. Being the hormonal teenager he was, his mind dropped down into the gutter. You looked so innocent right now, pouting and waiting for you to join him, he didn’t know what to do, “I-I can’t do that [Name], your brothers would kill me.” He said awkwardly before rubbing the back of his head and looking away from you. “Please, I’m cold.” You mumbled, crossing your arms lightly over your chest. You were staring at him with those puppy dog eyes that always won your brother's favor, and his, waiting for him to look back at you instead of at the opposite end of the room. When he did finally decide to look back at you, he was sucked into those deep [color] irises of yours like the first day he met you, and he knew he was in for it. With a sigh, he lazily took off his boots and pulled back the covers of you bed before climbing in with you, “Better?” You smiled and nodded, “Very much, thank you.” A sigh left his mouth as well as his eyes shutting for a moment. Sokka’s eyes shot open with a sharp intake of breath when you curled up beside him, putting his arm around you, laying your head against his chest, “W-What are y-you doing?” He sputtered out, now believe he was never going to get rid of his blush. A sleepy giggle left you, “You’re warm, I’m cold.” You replied like it was obvious what you were doing. His face was still a deep shade of red as he laid there, your form laying against him. He was also vaguely afraid his body would react to you and you would figure it out and freak and he would never see you again. Yeah, he was panicking again. You were oblivious at first with Sokka’s feelings, but, the constant out of character blushing and stuttering started to hint to you about them as of recent. Oh, and you were going to use your ignorant facade to your advantage. You were innocent for the most part, but you were still a teenager just like him and had the same hormones as the next guy, and truth be told, you sorta felt the same way about Sokka. Except you were sure about your sexuality and he wasn't. It took a while, but as soon as you felt Sokka starting to relax, you spoke up, even though you were half asleep, “Sokka, would you take me on an adventure one day? Like the ones you were telling me about?” His heart melted at your words, “Of course I will, I couldn’t think of anything better.” He replied, absently stroking your hair. “Thank you.” You said with a sleepy tone, and before you and Sokka knew it, you were out like a light. Sokka knew he could be facing a beating from your brothers by being in the same bed as you, but right now, he could care less about it. You were content and happy about it, and that’s all that mattered, you were all that mattered to him. Even if the next week he was as sick as you were right now. It would be worth it.