Chapter Twenty seven
"The chi blockers are coming." Aang called.
Zuko gave Sokka's hand a squeeze before letting go. Both of their hands getting colder.
Thod whacked Aang while his disciples chi blocked Toph and Katara. Then Thod moved over to Zuko.
"I must say, I really enjoy this, Ash maker," He sneered, jabbing Zuko. "After all the pain you caused our people, I can't believe Hakoda let you set foot in our land."
"Hey! He's not like that. And don't call him that, his name's Firelord Zuko." Sokka growled.
"I don't care." Thod waved him off.
The girl who'd stolen the briefcase before moved over to Sokka. Whacking him, his expression turned confused.
"Hey what are you doing? I'm not a bender!" He frowned.
"You're still a threat." She scowled back.
"Oof!" He hit the snow. "Gotta admit, I'm kinda flattered!"
"Are you kids okay?" Hakoda asked as Thod started walking him towards the bridge.
"Oh yeah, the snow is really soft, we're fine." Sokka smiled.
Hakoda started walking across the bridge, the earth king on his way over as well. Once they'd reached the middle, what Zuko had said before came to life and Gilak swung his sword down on the bridge supports.
Before they could be cut however, the blade was knocked away and out of Gilak's hand by a shard of ice. Malina stood beside him in a stance. Toph's metalbending students behind her.
"Malina and the netalbenders have come out of hiding!" Sokka cheered.
"Our turn." Toph said, getting up.
"What is this trickery?!" Thod exclaimed as Katara and Aang bent a swirl of ice around him, blocking his movements.
"See this chainmail armour?" Sokka boasted, opening his shirt to reveal metal between him and the fabric. "Invented by myself and the students of the Beifong metalbending academy!"
After taking down Gilak's soldiers, Malina and the three students turned to Gilak himself.
"Surrender, Gilak." She commanded.
"To foreigners like you? Never!" He started running down the bridge, torch in hand. "For the tribe!"
"What do you think you're doing!?" Malina exclaimed, running after him.
"You won't win today Hakoda!" Gilak shouted, lighting the bridge ropes on fire.
"Zuko!" Katara turned to the Firelord, pointing to the bridge.
"I'm on it!" He nodded, racing down the bridge.
Malina struggled, trying to keep Gilak from burning more if the bridge. Suddenly the torch and the burning part of the bridge went out, they turned to see Zuko.
"Just in time."
However, the now weak rope snapped and the bridge broke, swinging down with the group clinging on.
"Dad!" Katara shouted.
"Zuko!" Sokka yelled, running to the edge and looking down.
Zuko flew up, earth king Kuuei holding onto him for dear life. He plopped him on the edge and turned back to the cliff.
"One down, three to go." He breathed.
"You can't go back down there," Sokka protested, grabbing his arm. "That bridge isn't going to hold for very long and your weight will only make it worse."
"I can hold it but it won't be for long." Toph said, bending the rock supports to stay rigid.
"Come on sweetie," Katara called to Aang, bending an ice ladder. "We can climb down this way."
They climbed down the ladder, Aang held his hand out for Hakoda to grab. Opening his glider, they got off the bridge just as it crumbled.
Hakoda held onto Aang and Malina and she held onto Gilak.
"I told you Hakoda," Gilak grunted. "Even if I have to lose," He swung at Malina. "You won't-" He slipped out of Malina's grasp and he fell. "-Win!"
Aang grunted, his own grip slipping.
"Hakoda, we're too heavy for the Avatar." Malina spoke up.
"Just hold on a little longer." Hakoda told her.
"Then all three of us will die," She said softly, letting go. "Goodbye, Hakoda."
She fell. "No! No!" Hakoda yelled.
"I love you!" She called.
Katara bent out a ice slide and caught her, the ice cracked under her but she bent it back to the ladder. Malina clung to her, still processing what had happened.
"I'm alive! Katara," Malina looked to her. "Thank you."
_
They returned to the city, feeling lighter than before. Sokka held Zuko's hand, they leaned into one another. Both exhausted from all the excitement. After the adrenaline wore off, the late hour of the night got to them and they both felt like collapsing.
Entering Zuko's room, they were embraced by the sudden warmth and Sokka felt the feeling regain in his nose and fingertips.
"You doing alright?" Zuko asked him after Sokka stretched and groaned.
The water tribe boy looked over to his boyfriend, the face he hadn't seen in what felt like forever, the person he so desperately wanted to be alone with, the guy with the beautiful gold eyes and the warmest gaze on the planet. He smiled, his chest filling with warmth.
"I've never felt better." He sighed, moving over to sink into Zuko's arms.
They both stripped down to their undergarments, both trying not to stare too hard at each other's abs (and failing) and lay down in the bed.
Zuko ran his fingers through Sokka's hair. Sokka snuggled into his chest, listening to the soft heartbeat in his chest. He smiled, slowly drifting off into a light sleep.
When they woke up, Sokka sat up slowly, Zuko moving with him as he'd woken up earlier but had let Sokka stay sleeping on his chest. A smile grew on both their faces as they looked at one another.
"Good morning." Zuko murmured, pulling Sokka in.
"Mm," Sokka hummed sleepily, melting into the kiss. "Morning..."
Seemingly in unison, they both realized that it had been the first kiss they'd had in weeks. Sokka pressed into him again, focusing on remembering the feeling again but losing himself in the warmth of Zuko's lips. It was sweet and soft, perfect. But the lack of touch from one another quickly got to them and they both decided to get a little rougher.
Zuko pulled Sokka onto his lap, his hands holding onto Sokka's bare waist. Sokka ran his hand over Zuko's chest, up his neck and to the back of his head; pulling him closer. They pressed against each other, Zuko parting his lips to lick Sokka's lower lip. Getting the message, he opened his mouth and let Zuko in.
Kissing messily, they pressed harder against each other, Zuko's hand moving a little lower to squeeze Sokka, earning a low groan from the water tribe boy. Man, he hadn't heard him moan since that night in the forest. Zuko hummed in satisfaction, squeezing him again.
Sokka grinded his groin down into Zuko's, both of them humming in unison. He was going to get rougher, one of Zuko's fingers playing with the edge of his underwear when-
"Firelord Zuko?" A voice called from outside, knocking at the door.
They pulled apart, Sokka sinking his head down into the crane of Zuko's neck and groaning.
"Yes?" Zuko uttered out, his voice hoarse.
"Breakfast is being served soon."
"Okay, I'll be out in a minute." Zuko responded quickly.
Footsteps echoed back down the hall and both of the boys started laughing.
"Think we got a little carried away? Firelord?" Sokka teased, finally leaning back to look at Zuko.
"I don't think we got carried away far enough." Zuko replied without hesitation, leaning in again.
Sokka smiled, leaning in to kiss him again. He had to grasp onto his thoughts again so they wouldn't get too carried away and ended up pulling away again.
"Come on, let's get dressed." Sokka cooed, caressing his boyfriend's cheek.
"Ugh," Now it was Zuko's turn to sink into Sokka's shoulder. "Why can't it just be night time again..."
Sokka giggled, patting his head. He went to get off Zuko and the bed when he was hugged suddenly. Zuko picked a spot and sucked lightly on his neck.
"Mm! Hey! What-" Sokka uttered, his face flushing as he was interrupted by a soft moan.
He held tightly onto Zuko's back, breathing heavily to stifle the noises he knew he'd make.
When Zuko finished, he gave Sokka a cocky grin.
"The one from last time faded away so I thought I'd better replace it," He grinned. "And, there's more where that came from."
Sokka flushed harder, unable to come up with something to say back. All he could do was scramble to get off of Zuko and onto the floor.
"Let's just... Go get breakfast..."