Chapter Text
The world was weird after the war ended. The Fire Nation was sending out diplomacy missions all around the globe, they provided funding and aid to those in the Earth Kingdom, they were in the early stages of planning with Aang to rebuild the Air Temples as sanctuaries and memorial sites, and they'd been working with Fire Nation public education to help combat the century of propaganda that flooded the streets.
Zuko was still learning how to be Firelord, and legally he wasn't of age to rule yet. So he had a dozen advisors and Iroh to make decisions for him. Zuko was usually involved, or at least made aware of possible plans. However, they had yet to make peace with the Water Tribes.
Zuko hadn't spent a lot of time with either tribe, but he was close friends with two people from the South Pole. Two people he grew to love like his family. Katara was the caring mother to the group with Zuko as her authoritative counterpart. A lot of people expected Mom and Dad to become more than friends, but she always felt too much like a sister. And Zuko would be lying if he said he hadn't considered Sokka for a moment.
He was a perfect complement to Zuko. He was kind, sweet, funny, strong, relaxed, a real man's man. Everything Zuko wished he could be. But his infatuation was nothing more than a passing thought. He had a lot of passing thoughts.
The one that stood out in his mind was Jet. He ended up being a dick that tries to kill him and his uncle, but Zuko couldn't deny how pretty he was. After their fight in the square died down, part of him wanted to find Jet and use that passion a little more pleasurably. He never did, but it lead him to tell his uncle something he'd never really spoken aloud before.
Iroh had kept teasing Zuko about inviting over a nice "lady friend" and Zuko was getting progressively more uncomfortable. So he sat his uncle down, sparks flitting between his fingertips, stomach boiling, and heart racing.
"Uncle, I think I might be gay." Zuko nearly choked on tears, but crying wasn't an option right now. It was time to be strong and powerful and stand his ground.
Iroh stood up and wrapped his arms around his nephew, "I am sorry, dear nephew. I should not have made assumptions about your heart."
Zuko remembered that hug all that time ago in the tea shop. He remembered feeling like a weight of bricks had been lifted from his shoulders. Iroh began teasing him about all the nice boys they passed in the street instead of nudging him when they saw a girl his age. Maybe that's why he felt so betrayed at the next meeting.
"Firelord Zuko, we have a proposal for you." The head advisor announced, "We believe it to be in the world's best interest to unite the Fire Nation and the Water Tribes. We suggest-
"I will not colonize anymore. It's off the table." Zuko sat back in his chair.
"We were thinking of something a little more civil. A civil union in fact, to bring out Nations tog-"
"We can't. I have no heir, and neither does the North. The South has one princess, and she's in love with the Avatar." Zuko shrugged. This seemed like a silly train of thought for them to follow.
"Yes, my Lord. But you see, you are still only an heir by law. General Iroh is acting as an invisible regent until you are of age. And at his suggestion, we thought perhaps a male companion would be sufficient for our diplomatic needs." The advisor stood politely, his head gently bowed.
"My uncle told you this?" Zuko felt the metal arm rests of his chair grow hot and brittle under his hands.
"Yes. The General said that considering the absence of a princess, a prince may suffice. The marriage is only ceremonial, you may have as many mistresses are you please, Firelord." The advisor vowed deeper.
"And if I say no?"
"I'm afraid we can't allow that. This is crucial to our relationship with the Water Tribes." He shook his head.
"I need to go for a walk." Zuko stood and stormed out of the room as politely as he could. He hurried to the arena so he could scream and force his feelings out in big, burning balls of flame and anger. His blood burned in his body.
He felt a hand touch his shoulder and he whipped around to see who dared to do such a thing.
"Firelord Zuko, I see that you are angry." Iroh turned him around.
"Of course I'm angry. You told them." Zuko pushed Iroh away and continued walking.
"You misunderstand. I only mentioned that a prince could be an alternative, I made no indication that a prince may be preferable to you." Iroh bowed slightly. Zuko swallowed, "Please consider the possibility that this will turn out alright in the end."
"The prince you had in mind was Sokka, correct?" Zuko sighed.
"Yes. You appeared to be valuable friends to each other during the Avatar's training." Iroh smiled.
"I suppose." Zuko thought back to their time on Boiling Rock. He remembered relaxing for the first time after everything ended. Up in the sky, a few miles away from camp. Zuko had grabbed his shirt and pulled him in for a deep, powerful kiss. Thinking back on it, he couldn't figure out why he would do such a thing, especially because he immediately pushed Sokka away and spent the rest of the trip silent. They hadn't talked about it since.
"We will be sending word for the Prince. He should arrive in a few weeks." Iroh nodded. Zuko bit his lip.
~*~
He arrived on time. Zuko was there to greet him. Sokka waved and smiled awkwardly. Assistants rushed to gather his bags for him.
"Hey." He kept an appropriate distance between the two.
"Hi." Zuko squeaked.
"So, we're getting married?" Sokka asked. Zuko nodded, "I, uh, made you something."
Sokka dug through his backpack and held out a red ribbon with a small alabaster hanging from the center.
"A betrothal necklace?" Zuko felt his face burning bright red.
"Yeah, well, we're engaged or whatever. And it's supposed to unite our kingdoms or something. So I figured, we, you know, include both customs. I guess if it's just for show, you can just wear it in public, or not at all. I kinda just made it to make it seem more real. You know?" Sokka took a half step forward.
"Yeah, I know." Zuko stared at the floor, "I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"I don't know. It's just weird and stupid. Do you want me to wear it?" Zuko asked.
"If you wanna make sure it fits. I got the ribbon on the way here, and your neck is thicker than mine, so I wasn't sure." Sokka admitted. There was an awkward tangle of hands trying to decide who should tie it around his neck. It was a little snug, but Zuko could get used to it.
"Do you want to see around the castle?" Zuko asked, "Since you'll live here half the time?"
"Yeah. Sure." Sokka shrugged and followed him around the palace. He looked in complete awe of the building, "It's a lot different when I'm not fighting for my life."
"It's different without my father here. Would you like to see the turtleduck pond?" Zuko asked.
"You have a turtleduck pond?" Sokka smiles for the first time since he came. Zuko felt his stomach twist.
"In the courtyard. My mother and I used to feed them when I was a kid." Zuko said quietly. He kept his hands in his sleeves, picking at his nails discreetly. He walked over to the little pond and watched the turtleducklings following their Mother.
"Still weird seeing you in like, royal clothes. And your hair is up. And you just look so, I don't know-"
"Intimidating?" Zuko finished his sentence. He knew how scary the robes were. He knew how much is terrified him to see his father wearing the same clothes.
"I was gonna say regal, but I mean I guess. A little." Sokka shrugged and crouched down to see the turtleducklings, "It's weird, for sure. You don't look like how I'm used to, but it's nice."
"Oh." Zuko blinked. He didn't expect a compliment, "Thank you. You look nice too."
"Nah, I'm just the same. The South Pole isn't much different, other than some of the kids meeting their dads for the first time. And everyone is pregnant again." Sokka shrugged.
"Some of the kids have never met their dads?" Zuko knelt next to him.
"Well, some of the kids were babies when they left for war, some of them never came back. But this batch will have all their dads, so that's good." Sokka smiled and waved at the turtleducks.
"I'm sorry. I forget what I did to you sometimes." Zuko looked at the birds. Their lives were so easy.
"You didn't do shit. You did scare Gran Gran that one time, but we're cool now." Sokka sat in the grass, "Who's idea was it that we get married?"
"Good question. It was a decision my advisors made without me. But my uncle suggested marrying me to a prince." Zuko scratched at his thumb under his sleeves.
"Why? Because you're gay?" Sokka teased. Zuko frowned, "Is that a thing here? Seems weird to have a gay wedding for the Firelord if it's a whole thing."
"It wasn't a thing, as you so eloquently put it, until my grandfather started the war and my father outlawed same-sex marriage." Zuko clenched his jaw tightly.
"Shitty of him." Sokka scoffed, "Did you happen to change that law?"
"One of the first I abolished." Zuko said.
"So, are you gay? You never answered my question. And if we're supposed to get married, don't I have a right to know?" Sokka looked over to him.
"It's late. I'll show you to your room to freshen up before dinner." Zuko stood and brushed of his knees. Sokka sighed and followed him inside.