Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had to be done.

Whether or not he wanted to do it didn't matter.

This was for the best, the best for both of them.

No matter how much it was going to hurt.

So he knocked on the door and waited for an all too happy voice to say “Come in.”

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“What the fuck does ‘I am releasing you from your promise’ supposed to mean,” Sokka snarled.

“It means you no longer have to keep coming back here,” Zuko responded “back to me.”

Sokka walked around the bed to stand in front of Zuko “Wha-where is this even coming from Zuko?”

Zuko rolled his eyes “Oh please Sokka it's no secret you're not happy here, always going off whenever you can.”

Sokka's face started to shift from confusion to anger so Zuko hurried on before he could speak.

“And I am happy for you, Sokka! So happy that you have found things that you want to do and are excited for! I just don't want to keep you trapped here-”

“I’m not trapped here Zuko,” Sokka said, frowning.

“-and I know you hate all the glances and constant whispering whenever we are in public together and dealing with all the political pressure that comes with me.”

“Those things do suck Zuko. I won't lie and say they don't, but being with you is worth it.”

“Please you and I both know I am far from easy to be with.” Zuko knew he wasn't. The mood swings and the missed signals. The constant bullshit that came from his past that held him back.

“Like I am any better?”

“Of course you're better and you should be with someone who is good to you.” Someone who doesn't bog you down and just uses you. Someone who doesn't take and take because they know you will always give no matter what.

Sokka threw his arms out to the side “And you think that person isn't you?”

Zuko looked down, unable to meet his eyes. “No, maybe at one point I was but not anymore.”

“Why are you so set on letting me go?” Sokka yelled.

“I’m letting you so you can be happy, Sokka!”

“You make me happy!”

Zuko turned away and started to walk away. He had done what he had come here to do and knew it was time to leave. If he stayed any longer he wouldn't be able to keep his resolve much longer.

“So that's it? You're just gonna come in here and dump me and leave?”

“Yes”

As Zuko left the room and walked down the hallway every thought in his mind screamed at him to turn around and run back into the room. To throw his arms around Sokka and apologize, to take it all back and he was sorry that he would never ever leave him.

But this was for the best.

It had to be .

Chapter Text

Zuko rubbed his eyes which only caused them to hurt more. Ever since he left Sokka he hadn't been able to do anything. His mind just kept circling back to the hurt look of Sokka's face as he left. Try as he might to read the pile of scrolls on his desk his mind just came back to those blue eyes. So he ended up just lying on his bed definitely not crying

Spirits Zuko loved him but he couldn't-

“ALRIGHT!”

Zuko sat up immediately as the doors to his room were kicked in. He looked over and saw Sokka walking towards him.

“What the-Sokka what are you doing-”

“After careful consideration of your proposal I have rejected it.” Sokka said, climbing onto the bed.

Zuko stared at him “What? There was nothing to reject Sokka.”

Sokka sat crossed legged in front of him “Too bad I reject it anyways” he said smiling.

Why was he smiling? “Sokka I can't-”

Sokka moved forward and hauled Zuko into his arms which was easier than normal since he didn't put up any fight. Gods he couldn't even stick to his decisions for even a day. It took a bit of finagling and tangling of limbs but eventually Sokka was situated with his back to the headboard and a bundle of Zuko in his arms.

“Sokka what are you doing?” Zuko asked quietly.

“Gonna hold my boyfriend until he stops being a idiot

He is still calling me his boyfriend.

“I’m not being an idiot”

He felt lips press against his temple and a small whine escaped him as he melted further into Sokka’s arms. This only resulted in Sokka’s smile growing much larger.

“Hmmm I disagree.”

“I-I was just trying to protect and make you happy Sokka”

Sokka tucked his face into his hair and said “I know and appreciate the thought baby but did you consider what I wanted?”

“I-”

“Ask me what I want, Zuko.”

“What do you want Sokka?”

“I want to keep being with you Zuko cause no matter what the world or you throw at me, I can handle it. Because all of that is nothing compared to how happy you make me Zuko.”

Zuko's heart was definitely going to burst at this point and a few stray tears had already started to slip down his cheeks once more.

Sokka lifted a finger to wipe away tears before continuing “And even when I travel, I will always always come back to you Zuko. There is nothing in the world that could keep me away from you

Zuko let out a small sob “What if I'm not enough for you to come back?”

“Did you not hear what I just said? You are always enough babe, you think I’m gonna let something as perfect as you out of my life?”

“I don't deserve you Sokka,” Zuko said, burying himself in Sokka’s chest completely.

“Well too bad cause you got me,” Sokka kissed him once again, “spirits love have you got me.”

He had tried to push Sokka away, to tell him to leave. But Sokka had said no, had come back, told him he loved him and would never let him go. Zuko didn't deserve him in the slightest and Sokka had rejected that nation too.

“I'm sorry Sokka, I’m so fucking sorry.” Zuko’s words came out strangled as he started to hyperventilate.

“I know babe I know.”

“I just wanted-” He could barely choke the words out as he tried his best to breathe and talk at the same time.

“It's okay love I understand, now just breath for me love”

“See once again your putting up with my weird shit and-”

Zuko felt a hand press to his chest “It aint a one sided thing love I help you and you help me, but for now just breathe for me okay?”

They stayed curled up together for a while, Sokka kissing him every now and then and whispering all sorts of sweet things in his ear. Zuko didn't know how long they stayed like this but eventually his mind had stopped racing enough for him to speak once more.

“I love you Sokka”

“I love you too, you big idiot.”

Zuko chuckled, “Yeah I deserve that.”

Sokka smiled “So do I get to be your boyfriend officially again?”

“If you want to.”

“Zuko,” Sokka said with a warning look.

“Yes, yes I know.”

“Then?”

“Of course you can be my boyfriend again Sokka”

Sokka shifted to kiss him fully on the lips and Zuko let himself get lost in it.

“Thank you for not giving up on this Sokka.”

“I am never gonna give up on us Zuko, I will always be yours”

“And you will always be mine.”