Chapter Text
It was the day his mother died, the day of the Fire Nation raid. He had just dumped snow down an enemy soldier's back. All in all, he was feeling pretty good about himself. Until that is, his younger sister comes crying for their father. Something about a man in their igloo, and he was THREATENING THEIR MOTHER!! WHAT!?! He couldn't let that happen!!
Once they got back to the hut, it was too late. Their mom was dead, and the man was gone. He could not believe it. He just couldn't. How could he have been so useless!! So he did what any 10-year-old would do and collapsed, crying, into his father.
Sokka woke up crying into the back of his fiancé, Zuko. It was ok. There was peace now. The Fire Nation wasn't attacking him. The attack was years ago. Things were different in these times. He was engaged to the Firelady's elder brother by his choice, for the gods' sake! "Babe, you good?" Zuko asked, still half asleep. "Yeah, just a nightmare," Sokka replied, still drying his tears. "The raid?" "Mhmm." They awkwardly lay in silence until Zuko wrapped his arms around Sokka, and they just cuddled until he could fall asleep again.
The following morning, Zuko woke up with the sun's rise. Same as every day! It was so annoying! Why did firebenders have to rise so early, anyway? Zuko tried to go back to sleep, though he knew it was hopeless. He never could fall back asleep once the sun was up. Zuko rolled over and started whispering sweet nothings into Sokka's back. "Time to get up, my love." "Just five more minutes," Sokka complained, still mostly asleep. "Ok, my little turtleduck, but just five more."
Zuko eventually allowed Sokka to sleep for an extra fifteen minutes rather than just the promised five. By then, Zuko had already accepted that he would have to person that day and had gotten ready for breakfast. Then, he woke up Sokka. Sokka, however, seemed to be making it his life's purpose to prevent Zuko from succeeding. That is until Zuko started talking about going off to eat a hearty, MEAT-filled breakfast. That got Sokka up instantly.
Once Sokka was up, Zuko convinced him to get ready before going to breakfast. While this was another challenge, Zuko managed. He WASN'T going to give his little sisters, or their partners, ANOTHER reason to tease and torment him. They already had too many.
Once they arrived in the breakfast hall, Sokka went straight for the meat buffet. He always did. Meat was his favorite food. He saw Zuko go over to the pancake and waffle line. He loved his fiancé dearly, but Sokka couldn't understand Zuko's taste. He just couldn't.
After they both had their meals ordered, they went to sit down. Zuko sat next to his sister-in-law, Firelady Mei Hatsume. Sokka sat next to Zuko. He saw his sister, Crown Princess Azula, sit beside their second youngest and by far most politically powerful sibling, Firelady Vivienne. Zuko knew that Sokka was still scared of both of them, that is, both Fireladys, and if Zuko was telling the truth, he was also terrified of them, though for separate reasons. Even though Vivienne was his blood sister, he was somewhat more scared of her fiancée, as he knew that her standards, for both chaos and intellect, in a partner were very high. After all, his sister had easily defeated their late father, the Ex-Firelord, in an Agni Kai three years ago, even going so far as to force him to pronounce her Firelady before she ended his life with a final lightning strike. She had been only thirteen years old.
Once the food arrived, Sokka focused only on eating, his favorite activity. He didn't understand how other people did other things with food in front of them. FOOD should be the only thing on their minds. He never understood how Zuko could be having a diplomatic conversation with one of the Fireladies while still eating. It was inconceivable.
Sokka inhaled his breakfast, occasionally glancing up to see Zuko effortlessly navigating the conversation with Mei. The way Zuko could seamlessly blend food and diplomacy was a constant source of admiration for Sokka, though it also baffled him. How could anyone keep their thoughts organized enough to discuss politics with a mouthful of pancakes? Sokka shrugged it off, diving back into the mountain of meat piled on his plate. His mind briefly wandered back to the raid, a shadow flickering at the edges of his consciousness. Still, he quickly pushed it away, focusing instead on savoring the delicious flavors. After all, it was a new day, and today was about cherishing moments and making memories.
As they continued their breakfast, the chatter around the table turned to the upcoming festival celebrating the peace treaty. Vivienne began outlining her plans for the festivities, her excitement palpable. Sokka looked at her, impressed by her enthusiasm and leadership. Zuko chimed in, suggesting a competition involving both bending and non-bending events. Sokka perked up at the idea; competitions were always a blast. "As long as there's a meat-eating contest involved!" he chuckled. Laughter erupted around the table, lightening the mood further. For a moment, Sokka felt the warmth of family and camaraderie, reminding him that while the past was a part of him, it didn't have to define his present or future.
And Sokka couldn’t help but grin at the warmth that enveloped the room. The laughter floated like the sweet aroma of pancakes and bacon that filled the air. Ideas flowed freely as they discussed various events, from tug-of-war to relay races, with Sokka enthusiastically pitching the concept of a water-splashing contest, much to Zuko’s amusement. "You just want to get everyone soaked so you can watch them panic," Zuko teased, a smirk playing on his lips. Sokka laughed, acknowledging the truth in his fiancé’s words. "Hey, it’s all in good fun! Besides, who wouldn’t love a little chaos?"
As the conversation continued, the atmosphere brimming with joy and camaraderie, Sokka felt a flicker of gratitude. He glanced at Zuko, who animatedly discussed ideas with Mei, his eyes sparkling with passion. Moments like these reminded Sokka just how far they had come from the tumultuous past. The ghosts of yesterday still lingered in the corners of his mind, but today was for celebrating life, growth, and the bonds they had forged. With a hearty laugh, he raised his juice cup, calling for attention. "Alright, everyone! Let’s toast peace, good food, and the epic festival ahead!" Laughter and cheers erupted, and for a moment, Sokka felt a profound sense of belonging—one that reminded him that even in the shadow of past losses, joy could be found in the present.