Distractions (Sokka x Zuko) [COMPLETED]

Chapter Thirteen

    The only thing Zuko felt like doing was flopping down and overthinking in the comfort of his bed. But the scroll at the foot of it apparently had other ideas. He initially wanted to toss it on the floor and collapse on his bed regardless but curiosity got the best of him. 

    "My great grandfather?" He muttered to himself. What for?

    Deciding that the bed moping could wait, Zuko left his room again. He walked the halls, only seeing the occasional guard here and there. And he was reminded of what had happened...

    What had happened between him and Sokka wasn't something he could easily explain. Before he'd just wanted to spend time with him and spar and talk about their lives and such. But now? Now he wanted to touch him, feel his warmth. He wanted Sokka to smile and laugh with only him. What that meant though he had no idea. He'd never felt that way about anyone before. Maybe it was normal to feel like that about guy friends?

_

    Nothing was distracting enough to get Sokka's mind off of what happened. He tried going over the invasion plan a million times and drawing and practising but everything somehow linked back to Zuko. Plaguing his mind with the images of Zuko's blank expression as he stared at his mouth with his hands on his chest. What would have happened if he hadn't snapped out of it? 

     Why did he kind of want to find out...?

    Sure, he'd experienced that mood before. It was the mood that usually occurred before Yue or Suki moved in for a kiss. But that was different wasn't it? Zuko couldn't possibly have wanted to do that with him... Right? Sure, there were relationships between the same gender in the water tribe but he'd never seen anyone from the Fire Nation in a same sex relationship. He'd never put much thought into it but when he did, it kind of seemed like it was taboo... But that didn't mean he wasn't still trying to... It was possible right? Was he going to try to do that again?

    Slapping his own face, Sokka yelled at himself in his mind. No. No. No! He's your enemy. If you weren't in disguise he wouldn't be trying to kiss you- he'd be trying to kill you. It's bad enough that we're this close. Any closer would be way too dangerous. 

    "Plus I'm out of here in two weeks anyways..." He mumbled, sharpening his sword.

_

    Gazing up at the portrait of Firelord Sozin, Zuko barely noticed Azula approach him.

    "How did he die again?" He asked her nonchalantly.

    "Hmm," She hummed, raising a brow at him but she didn't ask. "He started the war with the power of the Comet, soon renamed 'Sozin's comet' and lived to be a great Firelord. He was ancient. He died in his sleep."

    So why am I supposed to learn about that?

    That night Zuko made his way to the catacombs. He hid behind a pillar and watched a fire sage bend into the floor below and open a passage. After the sage emerged once more, Zuko waited until he was out of sight before going down himself.

    The catacombs were dark, dry and dusty. Dragon skulls and bones lined the walls along with the memorial plates for the Firelords after Sozin and before Ozai. Reaching the end of the hall, Zuko found scrolls that looked like the one on his bed placed in a holder next to Sozin's resting place. They were out of order but thankfully numbered so the Prince got comfortable at the foot of Sozin's grave and unraveled the first scroll.

_

    A few days passed by without Zuko coming to train. It gave Sokka time to cool off and process what did and didn't happen but he was still bummed out by it nonetheless. His own mind was a pain to deal with so having someone to talk to and hang out with was a good distraction.