Chapter Text
Sokka hadn’t slept for three days, but it was worth it. He created a string of code that was able to bypass the Dai Li security monitors and make their information available to the public. It was set to release the information that night. Now all they had to do was successfully arrest The Phoenix King.
That would be no small task.
Team Avatar all agreed that they had to find a time in which The Fire League would not be around to protect him. While Toph and Blade Witch’s respective powers undeniably gave Team Avatar the advantage, their last encounter with The Fire Princess only served to solidify the fact that she was not to be messed with.
So Sokka did some digging. It wasn’t hard; he didn’t have to metaphorically dig to any depth. The Fire League was currently dealing with some issues in Omashu--presumably related to The Phoenix King’s attempts at starting new business there. It was incredibly unusual for The Fire League to take their business outside of Ba Sing Se, so Team Avatar seized the moment to strike.
Which was why Sokka found himself with the rest of Team Avatar and the Kyoshi Warriors, breaking down the door to The Phoenix King’s home. The task sounded harder than it actually was: Toph simply tore the door off the hinges with a thought.
The front door opened into a lavishly decorated sitting room, which The Phoenix King ran into presumably as soon as he heard the door being ripped from the wall. He sneered at them. “You again.”
“You’re under arrest,” Aang said authoritatively.
The Phoenix King’s reaction was immediate. He sent out a powerful blast of fire that filled the room.
Zuko and Aang jumped in front of the group, using their own powers to shield the rest of them from the worst of it. Katara and Toph snuffed out any fire that made it past the other two members of Team Avatar.
Sokka looked at Suki. “Circle around. We can’t let him escape.”
Suki nodded at Sokka, then gestured to the other Kyoshi Warriors. Sokka followed them as they snuck behind The Phoenix King, who was distracted by the other members of Team Avatar.
They watched silently as The Phoenix King exchanged blows with Team Avatar. In theory, it should have been a simple fight for them to win. The Phoenix King was horribly outnumbered, and all the members of Team Avatar (excluding Sokka) were heroes with extremely powerful powers. In theory.
In practice, The Phoenix King was desperate. He was well aware of what was at stake. The ferocious way he fought made that clear. He fought like a cornered animal. He fought like he was fighting for his life.
Sokka held his breath as fire passed by Katara’s face too close for comfort, as it licked at Toph’s ankles and grazed Aang’s hands. He decided he had enough of waiting.
Sokka unclipped his boomerang from his side. “Don’t fail me now,” he whispered, giving it a kiss.
Sokka eyed his target, and aimed. Then, Sokka let his boomerang sail across the room.
He watched anxiously as it flew towards The Phoenix King.
His boomerang crashed into The Phoenix King’s head, and knocked him clean out.
Every stared stunned at his body, vulnerable on the ground. Toph was the first to get her senses back, creating metal cuffs for his arms and legs.
“Well,” Aang said, “let’s bring him in.”
***
The Jasmine Dragon may not have been the most romantic location for a first date, but Sokka would concede that there was some form of romance in going to one of the first places the two had ever hung out.
It was Zuko’s choice anyways, as he claimed he was too exhausted by the events of the past few days to contemplate doing anything more intensive. Sokka agreed enthusiastically. He was just glad to be able to spend time with Zuko.
Besides, Zuko promised they could go somewhere more romantic on their next date.
“Nephew!” Iroh exclaimed, and pulled Zuko into a hug as soon as he walked through the door.
Sokka smiled and waved at him, then moved to grab a table for the two of them. He watched Zuko interact with his uncle with a fond smile, something tender rising up within him at the affection that was clear on Zuko’s face.
Iroh looked pointedly at Sokka, nudging Zuko and whispering something to him that Sokka couldn’t hear. Zuko immediately turned bright red, the color obvious against his pale complexion.
Sokka let loose a doopy grin. Adorable, he thought.
Zuko and Iroh made their way over to the table that Sokka had chosen, where Iroh quickly took their order and then left the couple on their own. As Zuko sat down at the table, he let out a small groan.
“Are you alright?” Sokka asked.
Zuko let out a small smile. “A little achy, but overall good. Your sister’s a talented healer.”
“That’s good, I’m glad. But I was also wondering...I mean with your dad…” Sokka cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Yeah. I got over most of it a long time ago. I’m going to be so glad to see him behind bars though.”
A silence descended over the table. “Sorry to bring down the mood,” Sokka chuckled anxiously.
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Zuko said, “next time we can only talk about light-hearted things.”
“Yeah,” Sokka said with a grin, “next time.”
With that, the tense atmosphere was broken. Conversation flowed as naturally as ever, and they only set to head out once an employee shuffled over to tell them that they were closing.
Sokka bowed with a flourish in Zuko’s direction, then presented him with his elbow. “Walk you home?”
“We literally live together,” Zuko replied with a smile, “I don’t have much of a choice.”
Zuko wrapped his hand around Sokka’s arm and the two set off. Sokka felt electric at every point of contact between the two.
If both of them were walking slower than usual, neither of them pointed it out.
When they arrived at the door to their apartment, Zuko turned to Sokka and smiled teasingly at him. “Aren’t you going to kiss me goodbye?”
“Well, as you pointed out, we do live together, so it wouldn’t be much of a goodbye,” Sokka said with a smile.
“Consider this,” Zuko said, “I don’t care.”
Their faces inched closer together.
“You do make a strong argument,” Sokka said.
Later, each would argue that he had been the first to kiss the other. In the moment though, Sokka could only focus on the softness of Zuko’s lips against his own.
Zuko pulled away, face flushed, and mumbled something under his breath before disappearing into their apartment.
Sokka stood for a moment out in the hall, knees shaky. I just kissed Zuko, he thought, somewhat hysterically.
After giving himself a moment to compose himself, Sokka walked through the door, already ready to join Zuko’s company again.
***
Nearly nine months later, Team Avatar (Suki and Yue included) gathered around the television in Sokka and Zuko’s apartment. (Despite Sokka and Zuko’s contract having ended previously, the couple chose to renew it and to continue living together).
Team Avatar’s mission had succeeded. The information they had released and the subsequent public outcry made it clear to the Dai Li and the Ba Sing Se justice system that The Phoenix King’s case could not simply be swept under the rug. A full investigation and trial were launched.
Team Avatar’s job wasn’t done completely of course. There would always be criminals making trouble in the city, and as long as they were able Team Avatar would be around to help. But everything that happened with The Phoenix King was finally drawing to a close.
The seven friends sat together and watched anxiously as they waited for the final verdict on The Phoenix King’s trial. On screen, the judge cleared his throat. In a clear voice he declared that The Phoenix King would be receiving three life sentences.
The shift in atmosphere, from anxious to joyful, was so pronounced it seemed as if it could be touched.
“We did it!” Aang cheered as Katara hugged him fiercely.
“It’s over,” Sokka said, stunned.
Grinning, Zuko repeated the phrase. “It’s over.”