#with gaang bonding and dadkoda on the side

[sokkastyles]

Zutara Week 2023 Day One: Home

The night was stretching thin, and the popcorn bowl was down to kernels. Everyone was too tired to take the initiative to make another bag by the time the credits rolled across the screen in Sokka and Katara's living room. Aang finished off his soda bottle and stood up when Suki switched off the television.

"Well, I'd better get home," he said. "Gyatso is expecting me for temple in the morning."

"I'd better go, too," Suki said, disentangling herself from Sokka's goodbye kiss. He made a small whining sound as she left his arms, but Katara made a face at her brother to remind him of dad's rules in the house. She loved Suki, but sometimes she thought it would be a blessing when the lovebirds went to college.

"Hey," Toph said, pointing a little to the left of the couch where a lumpy shape was sprawled out beneath a blanket. "Zuko fell asleep!"

"He missed the part where the Emulsifier emulsified the soldiers who were trying to prevent him from going back to his home planet!" said Sokka, put out. "That was the coolest part!"

"Well, Toph said, standing up and stretching her arms above her head with a yawn. "I'm not waking him. Mr. Grouchy Pants can stay there."

Katara wondered if they should wake him. Zuko didn't usually stay this late, even on movie nights. But she also knew that Zuko didn't sleep much. He always seemed to be awake whenever she would text him in the middle of the night with whatever stray thought was keeping her awake. He spent a lot of his time sleeping in class, too, to the consternation of their teachers.

"Let him sleep," Hakoda said, coming into the room and helping Katara pick up the popcorn and soda bottles.

Katara bit her lip. "But his dad..."

"I'll talk to Ozai in the morning," her dad said gently. "Let the boy be for now. I might be wrong, but I don't think he gets much sleep at home."

Katara was the last to leave the living room, lighting a small nightlight so that Zuko could find his way in the dark if he woke during the night. She took one last look at his peaceful, sleeping form on the couch before heading up the stairs to her own bedroom. If she woke in the night, she wouldn't wake him, but it would be a comfort to know that he was there in the living room, home with her.