Archive of Our Own ^beta

Toph was in high spirits. That was the first thing they noticed that morning.

Haru, The Duke, and Teo were also brighter than normal.

Zuko hadn’t woken up yet, despite the sun being well risen.

They glossed over the last one.

Toph was earthbending everywhere ( being carefully directed by Aang so that she didn’t break anything sacred ) with a smile and- why was she bending stone sculptures of the Wall of Ba Sing Se?

Katara walked into the mess of rocks and- okay they were putting decorations up?

“Hey… guys. Uh, is it someone’s birthday or something?”

“Oh! Hey Katara! Apparently in the Earth Kingdom, today is a holiday! Something to do with Ba Sing Se, I think?”

Aang gestured at the fresh decorations, making the area they were camping out in feel a little bit more like Ba Sing Se. Katara really wanted to know where they got these decorations from in the first place.

“Toph? Care to explain?”

The small blind girl launched herself upwards and stomped through a few more moves, perfecting her Ba Sing Se transformation.

“It’s the anniversary of when the Dragon of the West was driven out of Ba Sing Se,” Haru supplied, passing a bowl of something that was distinctly Earth Kingdom for breakfast.

“You really celebrate that?”

“Of course!” The Duke dropped down from where he’d been putting up little banners, the green fabric still held in his hands. “Even though it’s fallen now, the Siege was Ba Sing Se’s greatest victory! The Earth Kingdom’s greatest victory!”

Katara let herself grin, taking a sip of the weird soup that... wasn’t bad. Though it didn’t have quite enough salt in it for her tastes.

Sokka took that moment to walk in, and everything was repeated for his sake.

Aang wasn’t concerned, per se. Just curious.

He hadn’t seen Zuko all day, which, while it wasn’t completely unusual: Zuko loved his lonely Sifu Hotman Brooding Time. Breakfast had come and gone, as well as lunch, and the firebending ex-Prince still hadn’t shown himself.

Was it because of the holiday?

The failed Siege had been a great occasion in proving just how impenetrable their great walls were.

(Were.)

But to the Fire Nation, it was a great defeat.

Aang never learnt much about how the royal blame game worked; Kuzon didn’t really talk about the topic much, and things change in a hundred years anyways.

Maybe, since Iroh had been defeated, that meant that the whole royal family was defeated? And Zuko was quite possibly the most honour-serious person on the planet, so maybe he felt ashamed for his uncle’s defeat?

It made sense in a way, but Aang was on the Earth Kingdom’s side. It was weird to think that someone on his team, his friend and his teacher, was... mourning a victory.

...Or Zuko was just having some Sifu Hotman Brooding Time.

Aang liked that theory better.

“Hey, has anyone seen Zuko?”

Sokka lifted his head from where he was whittling a stick for spearfishing. His sword, it turned out, didn’t quite work for the task.

“Last time I saw the jerkbender was last night when he stomped off to his room.” He sliced another strip of wood off. The thin shaving tumbled through the air, landing gently on the growing pile on the floor.

“Sokka, I know you don’t like him, but I’m starting to worry. He hasn’t yelled at me to do hot squats and breathe yet today!”

“Aang,” Sokka looked up. “I thought that you despised hot squats and breathing. Which, for an airbender, an Avatar, and a human, it’s a bit weird to not want to breathe.”

“I do like breathing, but Zuko always makes me do weird firebending breathing. Every day; without fail.” The young monk flopped down onto a raised stone Toph had made as a seat when they first came here.

Sokka put down his knife, a nice and friendly smile moving across his face. “Maybe he’s giving you the day off, it being a holiday and all!” Aang made a face that Sokka definitely understood as, ‘really? Zuko?’. “Come on, Aang, I’m sure he’s fine. Maybe he’s sleeping in because he’s allergic to happiness and festivities?”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“See! I’m always right; I’m the plan guy.”

“Yep, and we always trust your instincts.”

“Exactl- wait, nevermind I hate you.”

Aang laughed, a full belly thing that Sokka swore to Tui and La he airbent out, because one too many times their campfire was blown out by that child’s joy.

“Anyways. He’s probably sulking or sleeping, and if you interrupt him then he’ll definitely make you breathe and squat and stuff.”

Aang breathed out a sigh. “Yeah, I guess.” He looked thoughtful for a moment, before turning back to Sokka with a smile. “Considering he hasn’t had a day off since he got here, then it’s a good thing!”

“That’s the spirit!”

Actually... it probably was a really good thing.

Sokka didn’t like Zuko ( as was painfully obvious and had been said many times ), but he knew as well as anyone that if you don’t rest, you burn out. He didn’t know if it could be literal for Zuko, being a firebender and all.

Jerkbenders and their jerkbender ways were a mystery to Sokka.

Aang zoomed off a few seconds later on his air scooter.

It was Sokka’s turn to sigh, subtle headshake included.

He returned to his whittling.

“It’s been a while since we talked,” Zuko whispered to the portrait. “Sorry I missed your birthday.”

The smiling face didn’t change, obviously. It was just ink hastily drawn over cheap parchment. A gift sent by messenger hawk on the eve of battle.

“You’re uh, twenty-four now, right?” A pause. “Yeah, that sounds about right…”

“I think you’d be proud of me… at least, I hope you would be. You always said that this war was unnecessary.” The smell of the incense sticks was stuffy and choking, but Zuko didn’t know if that was why his throat was clogging up.

“I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner. I’m sorry I didn’t beg you to stay.”

A lone tear ran down an unscarred cheek. “I miss you so much. I’m sorry I never got to say how much you’ve meant to me, Lu Ten.”

Being in Ba Sing Se had been hard, and especially so on his cousin’s birthday. Zuko couldn’t understand how Uncle had kept himself together. Zuko had spent the day dissociating or crying.

“I, uh, I made some friends. I think. Maybe. Katara doesn’t like me- though she has no reason to, I guess. More the opposite, really. You would’ve liked Sokka, you both tell terrible jokes.”

A soft smile graced his features as he remembered all the times when Lu Ten had told the most Agni-damned awful joke at family dinner. Zuko, Uncle and Mother would always laugh, if only to feed some life into Lu Ten’s poor self esteem. Or, in Zuko’s case because he actually did think they were funny, in his eight year old self’s way.

“Toph would probably beat the crap out of you. She is the greatest earthbender in the world, after all. She’s funny though.”

“You would definitely adopt The Duke on sight. I’m pretty sure he’s ten years old at most, either that or just really small.”

Everyone always thought Zuko was the one who smuggled the baby turtleducks into the palace, but in truth it was always Lu Ten. Zuko continued it after Lu Ten had left for the siege. Especially Lu Ten’s favourite: Gingersnap. She often ended up tucked into his side at night. And after the siege the shelled balls of downy fluff had been a way to feel closer to him.

(And closer to Mom. And the uncle who was so sad and distant, even when he was right there in the palace. And a memory of the good times when Father would sit with him, and when Azula would play with theatre masks and props instead of his then-fragile feelings.)

“I don’t really know how well you’d get along with everyone else. But you’d like them.”

After a little longer talking with the portrait, Zuko said his goodbyes.

Packing away his cousin’s makeshift shrine back into his bag felt a little brighter than all those previous years.

Zuko pulled out a fresh white tunic from his bag, the ends of the sleeves ended in a golden yellow, and it went down to his thighs. Then he switched out the currently adorned dark red trousers for similarly white ones.

They would probably get dirty through Toph or just hanging around the temple, but he’d only need them this once. His mother’s disappearance anniversary was in a few days but… after what Father said, Zuko wanted to believe she was alive and okay.

It was traditional to fast during a day of remembrance, especially ones dedicated to loved ones who had joined with Agni above, but Lu Ten would probably force feed him if he were here.

Zuko was skinny enough already.

So he made his decision. He stood, held a flame in his palm for a degree ( about fifteen minutes in earth kingdom time ), and walked to where Katara would by now be making dinner.

Whether anybody knew the significance of his clothing wasn’t important, and the only person who logically would know would be Aang. And Aang had too much respect for the dead and tradition to mention it around the others.

The first thing Katara noticed when Zuko finally decided to show himself was the robes.

The only colour she’d ever really seen him wear was red, so the soft white was a surprise. It was a curious outfit, with golden embroidery wrapped around the base of the shirt, the collar, and rings of gold at the ends of the sleeves.

“Well, look who’s all dressed up for the holiday,” she said, an appropriate amount of scorn dribbling into her tone.

Zuko just glared harshly back at her, which seemed unfounded. Then again, Zuko glared at whatever was in front of him whether it had actually offended him or not.

“Haru made a traditional Earth Kingdom dish, if food is why you finally decided to show your face out here.”

Zuko only gave a nod in reply. Katara begrudgingly gave him a bowl of the stew-like food.

Haru, Teo, and of course Sokka, had already come by for food. Toph and The Duke would probably come by soon, and then Aang for a vegetarian option.

Zuko was the quietest she’d ever seen him. He seemed calm, almost… sad.

Sokka came around the corner, a bag giving a distinctly fishy scent slung over his shoulder.

“Hey Katara. Hey Jerk,” Sokka greeted on his approach. Zuko’s eye twitched, but he didn’t move to growl at the insult like he normally would.

If she was being honest, Katara was creeped out by his silence. It wasn’t... Zuko.

Sokka was there to hand Katara the fish and ask for seconds, which wasn’t surprising in the least. He tried to start up a conversation with Zuko, but the Firebender was set on keeping silent.

With a last glance, Katara decided to go and cool her temper with some waterbending practise.

Aang was heading to go get some food, and probably some to take to Zuko, when he ran into a Sokka again.

“Oh, hey Sokka!”

“Hey Aang. You still looking for Zuko?”

Aang nodded a little tiredly. “Yeah. I haven’t checked his room, but I was gonna get him some food, assuming that’s where he is.”

“He’s already got some,” Sokka dismissed. “He’s sitting by the food over there.” Sokka pointed a thumb over his shoulder.

“Oh! Thanks, Sokka!”

Aang rushed past, wanting to talk to Zuko about one of the katas he’d made sure to practice, even with his Sifu making himself scarce.

“Hey, Zu…”

The aforementioned firebending teacher turned his head, watching as Aang froze where he stood.

White robes.

Aang didn’t know much about Fire Nation tradition, not anymore, but what Zuko wore was still a familiar thing.

Full white robes were symbolic of mourning, something to do with reflecting Agni’s light to help guide spirits of lost loved ones.

Today was the anniversary of the end of the siege of Ba Sing Se. A siege led by Zuko’s uncle.

Something had happened during the siege. Something that wasn’t common enough knowledge for Toph, or even Haru, The Duke or Teo to know to mention.

Aang walked over slowly, sitting down cross-legged on the stone next to Zuko.

“Hi, Aang. Uh… how are you?” Zuko‘s awkward question was quiet, but Aang was surprised he asked at all. Usually mourning time was spent in silence.

They were also usually fasted through, but Aang supposed that may have changed.

“I’m fine. Are… are you okay, Zuko?”

Zuko wasn't stupid by any means, so he clearly knew at that point that Aang was familiar with this sacred Fire Nation tradition.

“I… yeah. Just not a good day.”

Aang nodded, bumping his shoulder into Zuko’s arm in what he hoped was comfort.

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“Why are you apologising?”

“Well… everyone’s been celebrating the- the victory, and we’ve kind of… ignored you? Just, maybe it would’ve been a nice distraction for you?”

“Not really.” Zuko countered sharply, poking at the food in his bowl he was glaring. “It wasn’t a victory.”

“If not... then what?”

Zuko turned that sullen glare onto Aang, molten gold and pale sunlight meeting stormy grey. “That pointless battle was a two-year long tragedy. Six-hundred days of unnecessary heartbreak.”

Aang nodded again, looking away into the campfire, letting a moment of silence sink back. Zuko let out a sigh before going back to staring at the food he was slowly moving around the bowl but not actually eating.

“Can… can I ask who they were?”

Zuko slumped a little, pushing the food around a little more.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked—“

“No!” Zuko interrupted. “I mean, it’s fine. I just.” Another frustrated sigh passed Zuko’s lips. “I haven’t really talked about it before.”

Aang frowned at that. “Why not?”

“Never had anyone to talk to about it… aside from Uncle, but… I wouldn’t do that to him.”

The Ex-Prince finally set his bowl aside, leaning his head on his hands.

“When… when I was nine, my uncle started the siege… and my cousin went with him.” Aang nodded along, an inkling of where this was going running through his mind. “I almost begged him to stay, but he wanted to prove himself.”

“Prove himself?”

“My cousin- Lu Ten, wasn’t a firebender. He was the oldest grandchild of the Fire Lord, and second in line to the throne, so it was… frowned upon. His self image wasn’t very good, because of that.” Zuko took a deep breath. “He saw going to fight in the war as a way of showing that he was just as capable.”

In a bold move, Aang took Zuko’s hand in his own.

He also pretended not to notice the glossy sheen on Zuko’s eye.

“He, uh, he wrote. At first. Saying how he’d be back soon, and to- to keep the turtleducks happy while he was gone.” The tiny and sad smile Aang saw was heartbreaking.

“Oh, Zuko…”

A tear slid down Zuko’s cheek, a shaky breath escaping his lips. “He- he was what kept o-our family together, I-I think. Azula and I always- always played with him when he had free time. H-he taught me how to sword fight.”

Aang wrapped an arm around Zuko, which was returned with the Firebender collapsing into his side.

“Dad hated him, but that- that was normal. Mom loved him, he was funny and polite and- and it was the worst part of my life.” Zuko let out a full sob into Aang’s shoulder.

“Hey, hey. I’m here, Zuko,” Aang cooed, running a hand up and down Zuko’s back.

It was quite possibly the most awkward and odd interaction in Aang’s life.

“He died- and then Uncle was gone, and Grandfather died, an-and Mom was gone and Dad was Fire Lord, Azula hated me for real- and I was so alone. ”

Aang could feel his heart’s hairline fractures. Zuko pulled away, standing up and pacing the open room with frustration written so clearly it was an obtrusive declaration.

“And thus was the start of the absolute failure that is my life!” Flickers of smoke and fire were rising from Zuko’s fists, tears ruinning down and falling from his chin. “And then the only person still alive who cares about me- I go and betray him!?”

“I mean, I get that I’m an idiot, but seriously!? My uncle stays, right by my side, for three long years of me being the most worthless nephew in Koh-damned existence! And- and he treats me like I’m his son after Lu Ten— after Lu Ten…”

Aang rushed forward the moment when he saw Zuko stumble. The Firebender fell to his knees, tears running down the right side of his face and occasionally a tear down the left ( Aang hadn’t thought that the scarring was bad enough that Zuko could barely even cry through it. In hindsight, it should’ve been obvious ).

Choked sobs escaped with every other breath, and somehow the most painful part was that Aang couldn’t hear it.

Zuko’s body was nearly seizing, but he didn’t make a sound other than the occasional sharp breath.

Aang wrapped his arms around Zuko, steadying him; they were far too close to the edge of a cliff for this kind of mental instability.

“Hey guys, do you— oh Tui and La.”

Sokka would admit, had admitted, and still admits that he doesn’t like Zuko.

That didn’t mean he was going to be an asshole about it. And Zuko was still a person who, while he had done some Not Cool things, didn’t deserve to be treated like a monster.

Sokka had never really cared for the guy, and never really thought he would care for him either— but then seeing Zuko crying- no, full blown sobbing into Aang’s shoulder? Well, that had set off his protective older brother instincts just a little too much.

Was Zuko technically older? Yeah, no.

Sokka ran forward when Zuko lurched, that tear-ridden face meeting eyes with Sokka.

It was… heartbreaking.

Aang looked like he was about ready to- nevermind, he had already started crying.

How had a great day of celebrating kicking Fire Nation to the curb escalated to a sobbing Zuko? Sokka hadn’t the slightest idea. Honestly, he didn’t care.

“C’mon, Zuko, let's get you to your room, man,” Sokka whispered with the same tone he’d many a time used with Katara and other kids.

Sokka wrapped his arms around the Prince (Ex-Prince) and pulled him up into his arms. Zuko fought it for a moment, probably feeling embarrassed about it, before giving in and latching onto him like a koalacat, burrowing his head into Sokka’s shoulder.

He didn’t care about the damp spot slowly growing from the crook of his neck as the three of them walked to Zuko’s room.

( Sokka didn’t think about how Zuko was so easy to carry. How he was light and thin, and his ribs could be felt through the material of their shirts. How he could feel the guy’s spine as he rubbed his hand up and down Zuko’s back. Sokka would leave force feeding meat into this guy until after the emotions had died down. )

Sokka gently put Zuko down in the bed, and then pulled a blanket around those too-shaky shoulders.

Aang was quick to take the firebender’s hand into his own, softly gripping the warm, calloused flesh.

Sokka was quick to take his big brother role. Gently humming an old water tribe lullaby his father had taught him, with a hand held at the back of Zuko’s head.

Tears still oozed from Zuko’s eye, but the silent sobs had stopped, and he wasn’t doing that ragged, jerking movement, folding over in two where every held-in breath should’ve been.

Sokka didn’t like the thought of having to hide when you were crying like that. Like you knew that nobody will know so long as you’re silent. Like if someone knew it wouldn’t be glossed over with comforting words and a warm embrace.

And Zuko’s pained, heartbroken expression had no right to be on a teenager’s face.

( Sokka ignored that he too was a teenager who had worn that expression. )

“‘M sorry.”

Sokka let out a sigh, running a hand through the sniffling firebender’s hair. “You’ve got nothing to apologise for here, buddy.” Aang nodded in agreement. The tears in the young monk’s eyes had dried up too.

Another set of tears sprang up from Zuko’s eyes, and Sokka was about to start worrying, before a last mumbled phrase came out. “You really would’ve liked each other…”

And then Zuko was asleep.

Sokka had so many questions.

Aang explained things.

Sokka wished he could turn back time.

Sokka swore that Zuko was his little brother, right then and there. When he got Dad back they’d talk about adoption.

He had a bigger priority right then; Zuko needed him.

Damn their past with Zuko to Koh and every other dark spirit. He was a human too, for Tui and La’s sake

The world slowly came into his senses, and Zuko resisted the urge to whine at the pain in his eye.

The first thing Zuko remembered when he woke up was Lu Ten. That poured a bucket of grief over his body, sinking back into his mind and pulling him down into his bed.

It was only a few seconds later that Zuko registered the soft pillow he was resting on. The air temple didn’t have any actually usable pillows, let alone soft ones.

Then there were other things: a hand was in his hair, gently brushing through it like Mom used to do when Father had been angry. And there was another pair of hands holding one of his own.

“Hey, I think he’s waking up.”

It sounded like Sokka. Why was Sokka in his room? Did his moping around cross a line because it was a holiday? Was he no longer welcome?

“Hey, Zuko Buddy, can you hear me?”

The hand that was in his hair moved to his shoulder giving it a shake.

Wait… was that Sokka?

“You’re loud,” Zuko settled on saying, deciding not to mention the weird sudden possible-friend-interaction.

The undignified squawk was most definitely Sokka, and it came from pretty much directly above him.

Wait…

Zuko wrenched his eye open, “Okay, well that hurts like a spiderwasp sting,” Zuko complained to himself at the grainy dryness of his eyes.

His theory was unfortunately confirmed; his head was resting in Sokka’s lap.

Oh, Agni, strike him down.

And Aang was holding his hand.

Had Katara finally done away with him? Was this whatever part of the Spirit World Agni sent their unfavourable children? Had Zuko died and Koh stolen away his body?

He sat up, hoping dearly that he could slap himself in the face and find out this was all a dream.

All he ended up with was a tiny Avatar burrowing into his side, a pair of tattooed arms wrapping around his torso. Sokka also threw an arm around Zuko’s shoulders, giving him a gentle squeeze and an even gentler expression.

Zuko was beyond confused.

“Hey there, Buddy. How you feeling?”

A lump was growing deep in the back of Zuko’s throat, and his eye still stung.

“I’m fine.”

Zuko was never a good liar.

Sokka’s expression turned to something almost pained, and Zuko wondered why. Aang clung to him tighter, a presence that normally would’ve been annoying, but was instead oddly comforting.

“Listen, Buddy,” Sokka started, closing his eyes for a moment in thought. “People who are ‘fine’, don’t collapse and then go unconscious after way too much crying to be mentally healthy. So, do you wanna talk about it? Or are you just gonna get some rest and we don’t have to talk about it again?”

Zuko licked his lips, trying to get the dry and crusty feeling out of them. It didn’t work.

“I…” The ugly feeling of weakness rose inside Zuko when he felt his eyes prick with tears again. Again damnit. “I’m sorry.” A tear slipped down his cheek.

“C’mere, Buddy.”

Sokka pulled Zuko into his shoulder, even with the airbender still clinging to him.

“I don’t understand.”

The water tribe warrior’s hand was on his back, and Zuko hadn’t felt as safe since he’d had his mother holding him in her arms. He wasn’t able to bring himself to be ashamed of the tears soaking the blue fabric his face was planted in.

“Don’t understand what?”

“Why you care.”

Aang jolted, springing up so that Zuko could see his face when he had turned to allow his good eye to see his room. “Because you’re our friend!” The young monk seemed convinced that those four words made sense of the dilemma. They didn’t.

“Because you deserve to have someone who cares, Zuko. Based on today’s experience, I don’t even know if you’ve ever had a hug before, so…” Sokka pulled him away to half-arm’s length and looked him dead in the eyes. “You’re stuck with us now.”

“What if I did something? What if I attacked you again?” Zuko challenged, his brow furrowing.

“Nope. We’re gonna stick to you like a bunch of stubborn little pentapi.”

Sokka was grinning, and Aang was laughing.

How could they say that so easily?

“Pentapi are only found in sewers and polluted water,” Zuko muttered instead.

“Yes, well the Pentapox incident was Aang’s fault. I had red marks covering my skin for a week.” What?

The Avatar looked sheepish as Sokka threw him a mock-glare. “I don’t think it was a week!”

“Oh, like with the frogs?”

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Zuko remembered something about Aang making his friends suck on frozen frogs, at Pouhai.

“Even Katara said it was nothing!”

“It was my mouth!”

Tuning out the conversation, Zuko leaned back on Sokka, letting his still-burning eyes close.

It was easy to fall asleep again.

Sokka soon noticed the even-breaths of the body wrapped around his own.

Aang noticed a few moments later.

“So… what do we do now?” Aang asked, resting his head on Zuko’s shoulder.

Sokka ran his hand through Zuko’s surprisingly soft hair ( seriously, whatever royal hair magic they had in the Fire Nation, Sokka wanted it ).

It had felt like the whole ordeal had been a major invasion of Zuko’s privacy. Sokka never wanted to see Zuko cry again. Well, Sokka never wanted to see anyone cry again, but definitely not with the level of heartbreak Zuko still held over his cousin’s death.

Even Katara, with all the grief she still dragged along with her over their mother’s death, would never break down like that.

“I guess we just… act normal? Zuko doesn’t seem like exactly the type to want this brought up again.”

Slowly, Aang pulled away, before he grabbed the blanket that had fallen aside earlier and draped it across Zuko’s shoulders.

“I’m gonna go see what Toph and Katara are doing,” Aang mumbled, walking out of the room.

Now alone, Sokka gently laid Zuko down in the bed again, tucking the blanket up to the Firebender’s chin.

It made Zuko seem unreasonably small. And so… human. Now, with the side of Zuko he’d seen today, Sokka wondered how any of them could have ever considered Zuko scary.

Shifting in his sleep, Zuko grasped an arm around Sokka, pulling him down onto the bed. Before Sokka had time to think, the Prince was wrapping arms around him in proper koalacat formation, settling back into sleep with a contented sigh.

Pulling Zuko closer to his side with a small huff, Sokka settled down in next to the Firebender, who had wrapped himself tight around Sokka like a human pytherret.

Dad was definitely not getting out of adopting Zuko. That much was final.

Zuko melted further into his sleep, the smallest smile softening his features as he smooshed his face into Sokka’s shoulder.

There were few things Sokka would protect with his life.

The smile of a fully-traumatised ex-Prince Firebender, who was in desperate need of a good family was the newest addition to that list.

Aang had been found, still nearly crying, by Katara after he’d left Sokka and Zuko.

“Hey Aang- oh no, what’s wrong?” The waterbender worried over him, and Aang was thankful.

Until he mentioned Zuko’s name.

Suddenly, what was lovely comfort was trying to appease Katara from hurting Zuko, who had immediately jumped to the worst-case scenario.

“He’s sick!” He blurted, quickly making up a cover story. “Uhh- yeah! He had an— allergic reaction! And now he’s sick, and Sokka’s taking care of him! I’m just worried about him, that's all!”

Katara seemed slightly sceptical, but she dropped it and went to go check up on everyone else.

Toph was standing a little off, staring at him in a way that clearly said ‘you’re a very bad liar, Aang, I’ll beat what I need to know out of you later’. She walked off though, her footsteps heavier than usual.

Aang was about to go see Appa, a very impartial third party who had very soft, comfortable fur, when a hand tugged lightly at his robe.

“Is Zuko okay?” came the small voice of The Duke. “I saw him earlier, when you and Sokka took him to his room. That wasn’t allergies. Is he okay?”

Aang really wished he could go back in time and stop this war from ever having started. Then Zuko’s cousin would be alive. Katara and Sokka’s Mom would too. And so many others would be okay, and their families would be okay.

“He… he will be fine. He’s just… not doing so well today.”

The Duke nodded, looking crestfallen.

Aang hadn’t even known the two got along.

They both went their separate ways into the temple, Aang to Appa, and The Duke to Haru and Teo.

Maybe one day they could all be okay.

Nobody bothered Sokka and Zuko, and Aang found them asleep the next morning, Zuko buried comfortably in Sokka’s side.

They both had a lie-in that day.

A few days later, Zuko and Sokka broke into the boiling rock, leaving with family and friends both new and old.

The day after, Azula showed up and drove them apart again.

Sokka realised, while Zuko was off with Katara getting justice for their mom… he’d never talked to Dad about Zuko. Not really.

When they stayed in the Fire Lord’s old house, it was the first time most of them had thought about Zuko’s family in depth. Sokka and Aang couldn’t find a single portrait of Lu Ten.

The Ember Island Players made them all sad and angry, and that night Sokka once again ended up with a crying Prince smothered in his shoulder.

When Sokka saw Ozai on the day of the comet, he finally discovered what kind of disgusting, rancid pond-scum of a monster had made Zuko wake up screaming some nights.

At Zuko’s coronation, Sokka finally called Zuko his little brother out loud, and to his face no less.

That was a time Sokka didn’t mind having the Fire Lord crying into his shoulder.