zukka, bitches! (oneshots)

terrified, feeling pt. 2

"I think I'm in love with you and I'm terrified."

in which zuko tells sokka he's afraid of being vulnerable, and exactly why that is. 

plus, love confessions were never easy, especially with cute boys such as sokka. 

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it was drawing closer and closer to sozin's comet, and it was clear that everyone was some level of anxious. even toph, with her carefree and nonchalant nature, was on edge. not that she'd ever admit it, of course. 

sokka and zuko had taken some time from preparing for the battle, and sat together alone far away from camp. every once in a while, they would have private chats, talking about anything and everything, from lighthearted topics such as who was their first kiss, to heavy and emotional topics, such as how they both missed their deceased mothers. this time, this chat was initiated by zuko. 

they had been talking about the usual stuff, nothing out of the ordinary, then sat in silence, looking up at the moon. 

"i.. think i'm in love with you," zuko said softly, breaking the silence. he couldn't bear looking at sokka as he told him this, eyes still fixated on the sky. 

"what?" sokka asked, looking over at the firebender. 

"i.. think i'm in love with you," zuko repeated, "and i'm terrified." he had initially been so confident about confessing to sokka, but now.. nothing but fear. 

"zuko.. bud," sokka consoled, placing his hand on zuko's forearm, "hey, no need to be afraid. it's perfectly normal to love someone--" 

"that's.. not what i'm terrified about," zuko interjected, voice just as gentle and soft as before, "it's.. i.. i've never been honest with how i've felt. about anything. i've always had to bottle it up, so i didn't look weak to others.. to father.. love.. it's weakness. and i'm afraid that i'll lose you.. and uncle.. and everyone else." 

"what if we die?" zuko continued, clearly still very upset despite his soft and calm voice, "i don't want to die, sokka. my father.. he'd never have mercy for me. he never has. i'm just a disgusting bug, a nothing to him. i can't show him i'm weak anymore.. i can't." 

sokka sat and listened to zuko, his own heart shattering. how could he never know about what zuko, his own friend, was going through? how could he know that it was this bad? 

"i.. wanted to tell you, before the comet," zuko said, finally looking over at sokka, "just in case if i couldn't confess after. i.. don't know if it's love, but it feels like i'm dying whenever i'm near you. i can't stand the thought of losing you, sokka." he built up the courage to grasp sokka's hand, holding it to his chest, "you're a very important person to me." 

"zuko.." sokka said quietly, taking in everything his friend had said. "i'm glad that you told me. we'll win this, i promise. love is stronger than any army."

zuko smiled at this, clearly amused, "where'd you read that? so damn cheesy."

"doesn't matter if it's cheesy," sokka replied, a wide smile spreading on his face, "it's true. i'll kick your dad's ass if i have to, just so he gets not to mess with you anymore."

"i appreciate the offer," zuko chuckled, now in a much better mood, "my shining hero." 

"damn right," sokka grinned, "all yours, lover boy." he leaned forward, kissing zuko's cheek gently. 

"for the record, you're a very important person to me, too."

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why does my comfort character have to be mayor damien from WKM and why does he have to be dead, i--