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It wasn't like they had planned it.
If he was being completely honest, Zuko would say they had no idea what they were doing half the time. Perhaps even more than that.
Each and every time they ended up in each other's bed (or closets, washrooms, etcetera), they didn't know their actions would lead to that very moment. But every time, without fail, they did.
The very first time Zuko saw Sokka naked was absolutely not sexual... At first. It's been years, but even right now, he could remember that day so clearly, as if it had happened only yesterday, because that exact moment is what made their complex and, honestly, very chaotic relationship snowball.
Zuko would love to say that the reason he travelled to the South Pole that time was for one diplomatic mission or another, considering he was a relatively newly-crowned Fire Lord of a nation that knew nothing but war and violence for over a hundred years now. The truth is, it was grueling work, rebuilding what has been broken for so long, and helping an entire people unlearn what they had thought was reality. The Fire Nation wasn't stronger or more special than the others, they weren't meant to rule the world, and yes, committing mass murder over a peaceful people of Air Nomads was absolutely, completely wrong.
He had given it his best. By that point, he's been a ruler of his nation for about four years, and Zuko wasn't a fool. He knew that what had to be done could never be realized in a single lifetime. It took him a while to reconcile with that fact. Back then, Zuko was committing his every waking moment to this sisyphean goal. That is, of course, until his friends finally talked him into, as Toph has so eloquently put it, taking a fucking break.
So, there he was. Half a world away from his palace once more... but then again, finally home. At that point, Zuko believed everyone was used to the fact that the Gaang would only be able to get together every few months. Rebuilding the world is more than a full time job, and every single one of them was absolutely committed to that end. But oh, when they got together...
This time around, when the ship of the Royal Fire Nation Navy docked on the shores of the Southern Water Tribe, Zuko was met with cheers of excitement.
"Fire Lord Zuko! Welcome back!" Surely enough, the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe, Hakoda, was waiting to greet him in front of the newly built walls of the Tribe. Since when were those around? Zuko could swear, every time he came back around to the South Pole, it grew just a little bit bigger. The Northern Tribe truly kept to their word, they did help their sister tribe heal, and grow again.
More people. More children. Waterbenders all around. Walls and huts, ice towers that served as observation posts. Definitely Sokka's contribution. Zuko smiled at the thought.
"Chief Hakoda! Good to see you, sir." Zuko walked down the metal walkway into the snow that crunched under his feet. The older of the two men bear-hugged the Fire Lord and then swiflty pulled away, a suspicious look in his eyes.
"Weren't you shorter the last time I saw you?" Zuko laughed, because that would probably be the case. His growth spurt was basically already over by the time he turned eighteen, but every now and then... he still enjoyed when he surprised Hakoda like this. "I swear, you kids never stop growing. Aren't you twenty? You're supposed to stop at some point, you know."
Once again, the Chief made Zuko laugh. "Well, I've kind of bet your son that I would be the tallest memeber of our group, so..." he sheepishly joked, before remembering what Aang has grown into. "So, I'm still fighting him for the second place." Mission accomplished, the Chief almost doubled-over laughing.
It wasn't long before his eyes started scanning the crowd for his friends.
The Chief caught on quickly. He scrathed his graying beard. "You're actually the last to arrive, you know. Everyone's already deep in preparing for the Winter Festival." Oh, now Zuko felt his heart rate pick up. He was so excited to see everyone. It's been so long... how long, though? Aang and Katara... he saw them about a month ago in a meeting concerning the newly-realizing Republic City. He didn't see Toph for even longer, since she's been busy with her new project, the one and only metalbending academy. And Sokka...
When was the last time he's seen Sokka? The Chief's son wasn't present at that last meeting because he was off with his father on the North Pole. Perhaps the meeting before that? Or was it the one before? Sokka was particularly busy, having many projects and setting many goals to accomplish in order to make the world a better place.
But that would mean... Zuko and Sokka didn't see each other in over five months. Five months! Was that the longest the two have ever been apart? Even before they were friends, since the first time they had ever laid eyes on each other (in this same place, but under drastically different circumstances) they had never been apart for longer than a few weeks. Of course, as Zuko has already established, a couple of months was the new norm. But almost half a year?
A new wave of excitement washed over the Fire Lord. As it turns out, Zuko really, really missed Sokka. He never laughed as hard as when he was around him, he never found himself in such ridiculous situations. And that's exactly what he came here for, what he was invited here for! To laugh, relax, and be a dumb twenty-year-old for once.
The whole village (could he even call it that anymore, considering its significant growth?) was dressed in lanterns, the everlasting sunset bringing an ethereal glow to the white of ice and snow around him. The new streets were filled with vendors selling toys and drinks and food, music was playing from three different directions, and by now, two children have bumped into him while playing tag and using him as a shield. Beautiful.
Hakoda took him to the Center and pointed to a mid-sized hut. "Here's where I leave you to your friends. They're in that hut, over there. Have fun!" He smiled cheekily as he smacked him on the back.
"Uh, wait, didn't you say they were preparing for the festival? What are they doing inside?" Zuko spluttered.
Hakoda turned as someone called him, before backing away from Zuko. "I meant, they've been drinking for like an hour already. You're gonna have to catch up!" He gave him two thumbs up and went on his way. Sokka truly is his father's son.
Zuko huffed out a laugh and turned his head.
The glowing hut looked like the most inviting place on Earth at that point. He was getting cold and a bit hungry at this point, but more than anything, he was ready to meet his friends again.
He stepped through the first curtain of fur and immediately the sound of his friends yelling drowned out the music from the outside. He stepped through the short hallway and carefully pushed the heavy inner curtain aside.
"I'm not drinking that Toph, you stirred it with your finger!" Sokka whined as if it was the end of the world.
"Oh, so when Katara does it, it's fine! But when I–"
Katara flicked her forehead. "I'm a waterbender, idiot!"
"Also, you never wash your hands, so..." Aang so carefully added, trying avoid a cup to the head.
"No, that's her feet, she never washes her feet, dude." Sokka corrected him.
Zuko smiled warmly, sincerely, and finally offered his input. "So what are you complaining about, then?"
In a blink of an eye, the room erupted with laughter, and turned into a competition of who would get to hug Zuko first. It was a tie. Sokka grabbed him by his arm and pulled him down by the firepit. "About time! Where the hell were you! We thought you got frozen somewhere on the way."
"Hey, it's a long way from the Fire Nation, okay?" Zuko smirked as he defended himself, shedding his thick overcoat. It was quite warm in here, around the small fire in the ground. The floor was covered in furs, so he let himself sprawl on his side.
One would think that being separated from his friends would maybe make the conversation a bit more awkward, their personalities and relatioships shifting as they grew up.
But growing up didn't mean growing apart, not for them. So quickly, so easily, they fell back into their usual banter, as if they had been together only yesterday. It was always this way. And even though Zuko's friends are maturing, evolving, becoming more incredible people by the day... to him, they never change. The only thing that changes is the amount of amusing anecdotes to share by the fire.
A couple of hours have passed, and with them, food and drinks. The whole Gaang easily fell into the same rhythm that carried them all those years, and laughter and stories filled up the hut. While Toph and Katara had some amazing stories about their endeavours and all the obstacles they had to overcome in their respective journeys, Aang had some pretty constructive advice to share in that manner. It amazed Zuko what a talented avatar his friend was growing into each day.
But all of these stories, however incredible, didn't hold a candle to everything Sokka had to share. Zuko understood that this was mostly due to the fact that they didn't see each other this long. But still... Sokka told him of his adventures on the North Pole, where he attended numerous diplomatic meetings with his father and made such contributions that were apparently crucial to how much the Southern Tribe has expanded. He went all over the world, again, to the Earth Kingdom where he helped establish legislature due to the previous Earth King leaving his throne. He was buried in paperwork and blueprints concerning the Republic City, and even then, he made time for his inventions and studying.
"And so, you know, I thought it might make sense for me," Sokka finished, taking another sip of his drink.
Zuko watched him in awe. "Sokka, that's amazing!" Sokka told him of his plans concerning the Ba Sing Se University. By far the most prestigious academic unit in the world, and Sokka not only plans to attend it, but better it and rebuild it after decades of censorship and propaganda diluted its original purpose. "You'll do great, I'm sure of it."
Sokka chuckled and scratched the back of his neck, almost embarrassed. "Yeah, yeah... keep the flattery for when I actually graduate, your highness."
Zuko laughs and smacks his friend on the arm. Only then did he notice that Sokka and himself have been engaged in a conversation of their own for so long, that their friends had otherwise occupied themselves. In other words, tipsy Katara was teaching much tipsier Toph how to braid her hair while talking about something or another (Toph protested, but it turned out she's pretty good at braiding hair), while apparently Aang stopped fighting sleep at some point, softly snoring covered in blankets.
What a perfect night.
"Hey."
Sokka caught Zuko's attention. "Yeah?"
"Wanna see something cool?" Sokka inquired, a devious twinkle in his eye.
Zuko furrowed his eyebrows curiously. "See what?"
Swiftly, Sokka stood up and picked up his overcoat. "Come on." He pulled Zuko from his comfortable spot in the furs and the Fire Lord immediately regretted letting Sokka sway him. Were they about to go outside? But it's so nice in here! "Hey, we'll be back soon. Don't let Toph drink anymore," he cackled, and just as they slipped past the inner curtains, Zuko heard a thud behind himself that he could only guess was another cup used as a projectile.
Sokka led him away from the hut, through the glowing, crowded streets and back to the shores of the village.
"Where are we going?" Zuko asked when Sokka took him to a much smaller dock than the one where his ship rested. This one was much further away, and it wasn't big enough for a single ship. Instead, Zuko noticed, a few fishing boats were tied to their respective poles.
"First, it's very close, only a few minutes ride. Second, it's a surprise! I'm not gonna spoil it for you." Sokka said as he bent to untie one of the boats. "And third, you should let loose a bit, or you'll go gray before you turn thirty."
Zuko lifted his eyebrow. "We going fishing, Sokka? You probably shouldn't man a boat after drinking, you know."
Sokka made quick work of untying the boat and loading a bag Zuko didn't even notice up until now. He shot him with a look. "Dude, I've manned this boat drunk, sick, lost, armed and unarmed, and with zero experience since I was ten, okay? Trust me, there's no place safer than in a boat manned by this guy." Sokka grinned at him and outstretched his arm as an invitation. "C'mon, you'll love this!"
Zuko frowned at his friend for a split second and tried to think of a good reason to refuse. But then it occurred to him, wasn't this the exact point of his vacation?
He sighed, finally defeated, and took Sokka's hand.
As it turned out, Sokka was right. Not that Zuko would ever admit it, of course, but the man knows how to row a boat. Though, Zuko didn't know exactly where they were going, he could by now guess that the mountainside with a small crack in the middle was probably their destination, judging by Sokka's increasingly excited rowing.
"Sokka, why are you taking me to a cave in the middle of nowhere?" Zuko whined, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Still, Sokka kept the surprise for himself.
"Here we are!" Sokka grinned as he pulled the boat deeper into the shore, behind a large boulder, and covering it with a cloth against the snow. Zuko only stepped closer to the tall but narrow, ominous entrance to a cave. He eyed it up and down.
"Well? Come on in!" Sokka rushed passed him with that same bag slung over his shoulder and made way through the crack.
Zuko puffed, but still obliged him. The entrance wasn't so narrow that he would be afraid of getting stuck, but he did have to move sideways through it to pass comfortably. The long passage weaved and twisted for a while, and Zuko was about to call out to Sokka and ask him what the hell were they doing here exactly.
And then, he saw it.
Before he even left the narrow hallway, blue and green lights illuminated the walls around him. Zuko looked up and saw the glow dance on the ceiling of the cave. But only as he made his way through the passage and into the wide and tall opening did he get to witness the full glory of the space.
In the corner of the cave, there was a large pool of steaming spring water, flowing freely from what could only be described as a waterfall. Zuko stepped closer, completely entranced by the beauty of glowing crystals hanging from the ceiling and peeking from far corners of the room. The whole place was illuminated by the aquamarine ripples of the pool; it was swaying and moving and Zuko was getting dizzy just thinking about it. Only then did he notice his jaw was slack, so he unceremoniously closed his mouth like a fish.
"Woah."
He heard a thud to his left. "Woah is right. What did I tell you!" Sokka quipped. Zuko was still fixed on the view.
"Sokka, this is... it's just amazing," he stepped closer to the pool, marveling how warm he immediately became as soon as he entered the cave. He shrugged off his coat. "How did you find this place?"
Sokka spoke somewhere behind him. "As you could probably imagine, it was a complete coincidence," he chuckled, making Zuko laugh as well. "I was maybe fourteen? Something like that. I went fishing on my own and lost one of the oars in the water, so... I kind of couldn't really steer where I wanted to go, and the current kind of just... took me here." Zuko could hear a proud smile in his voice. His eyes tracked the way the waterfall made bubbles in the pool. "Obviously when I saw that it was a cave, I had to investigate. There's not much you can do in a village of maybe twenty residents, half of which are children younger than twelve, and the other half is elderly people." Sokka chuckled, and Zuko felt for him. But it was true, Zuko expected nothing less from Sokka's curious nature. He smiled, and finally turned to look at his friend.
Who was taking off his underwear.
"Sokka, what– oh my god!" He covered his eyes, probably overreacting a bit. "How about you warn a guy next time!"
Sokka sighed and, knowing him, probably rolled his eyes as Zuko heard him walk past.
"Zuko come on, I know you're not that stuck up." He heard Sokka enter the pool. "I mean, you're definitely stuck up, but I would've thought after all this time you would have loosened up a little." The sound of water splashing around ricocheted off the stone walls.
"Are you decent yet? Can I open my eyes?" Zuko grumbled.
"Yeah, yeah, princess, nothing for you to see." Sokka teased him. Zuko finally dropped his hands to find Sokka wearing nothing but his necklace, sitting in the pool, arms spread over its stone edge. "Come on in, the water's perfect!"
It did look perfect.
"I didn't bring my swimming trunks," Zuko sarcastically prodded.
"Neither did I. Do you see that stopping me?" Sokka was always too quick with his remarks.
"Sokka, I'm not skinny-dipping with you." He decided out loud, taking his clothes off layer by layer, until he was left in his underwear. He stepped one foot into the water. Man, that's hot.
"Woah, woah, dude, come on! Are you serious? Look, if you didn't bring any spare underwear, which I seriously doubt, you'll either be going back to the village with those completely wet, or you'll be going without any underwear." Sokka made a point. "Just take 'em off and put them over there," he pointed to his own pile of clothes. "They'll be nice and dry for you later, and I promise I won't tell anyone we went on a romantic swim together."
Zuko debated taking his underwear off and smacking Sokka over his head with it.
Sokka was looking at him intently. Zuko was looking back. It felt like they were playing chicken.
Finally, Zuko sighed, once again defeated.
"Fine."
"Yay! You won't regret it, this place is–"
"Yeah, yeah, just shut up and turn around." Zuko grumbled, waving his hand.
"Ugh, fine, just hurry up." Sokka obliged, turning around for a moment. When Zuko made his way into the hot pool, he let himself sink all the way to his chest.
"There." Zuko called, and Sokka turned back around.
"No, no wait, don't wet your hair!" Sokka flailed his hands in urgency. Zuko's hair now reached down beneath his shoulders, grazing his shoulder blades. "You'll never dry it here and it's cold as all hell out there. You should tie it up."
"Oh, yeah, good call," Zuko agreed resting his back against the wall of the pool. The hot, steaming water warmed him all the way to his bones and Zuko felt like he could fall asleep on the spot. The fact that he was comfortably tipsy definitely added to the sensation.
Zuko took his hands out of water to tie his hair, but was momentarily distracted by Sokka approaching him through the water.
"What?" He asked.
"Turn around, let me tie your hair."
Zuko... well. He won't lie, now. For some reason, his stomach did a nasty flip as soon as the words left Sokka's mouth.
"What? No."
Sokka deflated. "Dumbass, your hands are completely wet. It kind of ruins the purpose of, you know, keeping your hair dry?" He argued, then waved his hands in front of him. "And see? Mine are dry. Come on, why are you being so difficult?"
Zuko hated to admit it, but he was making a good point. He licked his lips in thought, before turning away. "Go on, then."
For some, to him completely unknown reason, Zuko closed his eyes. He breathed in the hot steam wafting from the pool.
Sokka's hands quickly made their way into Zuko's hair. Right hand, brushing his hair back into his palm. Left hand, brushing from the left. Then the right one again. Rough fingertips grazing his scalp slowly, gently, collecting every last strand of hair lost; from his face, behind his ears, from the back of his neck. Zuko could have purred.
"There you go," Sokka quipped, waking Zuko from his daydream.
"Yeah, thanks," he said, and suppressed the urge to cringe at the weakness of his voice. But, as he turned around, his attention was drawn by Sokka's own hair.
"Yeah, don't worry about it. My hair is much shorter than yours," he assured him, since he apparently used his own hairtie to help Zuko out.
Zuko was still fixed on his hair.
"Yeah, it's... it— it's nice," he spluttered. Then, it came to him that that's not what they were talking about.
Sokka did seem taken aback by the clumsy compliment for a moment, but came back to his senses quickly, and with a cocky smile. "Oh, yeah? You think so?"
Zuko felt his face grow warm, but thankfully, he could blame both the hot spring and alcohol for the fact, even though he was obviously flustered like a little girl.
He cocked his head to the side to avoid answering, and asked the spirits why couldn't he, at least this once, be as sharp as Sokka? What would Sokka even do if the roles were reversed?
"Well aparently, you think so too, since you couldn't get your hands out of my hair for quite a while."
Oh, okay.
Thank you, spirits?
Sokka was close. Really, really close to his face. As close as he had to be for Zuko to pick up on the surprise Sokka felt at the quick, suggestive remark. As close as he had to be to tie Zuko's hair, only now, looking him in the eye. And also his shoulders, peeking above the surface. And the bangs framing his face. And his lips, parting around his tongue in a desperate attempt to wet them. But Zuko's throat was going dry. Like, desert dry. He swallowed.
Sokka's roaming eyes didn't help this situation either. Zuko's eyes were glued to this man, who was wearing the most insufferable smirk Zuko has ever witnessed, as if he had won some game. Zuko, apparently liked that insufferable smirk, if his increasingly fast heart rate was to be trusted. He liked how sharp Sokka's teeth looked from this angle. He liked his tan skin glowing under a layer of hot spring water. He liked that necklace, hugging his throat.
He liked the way Sokka was looking at him, too.
The water of the pool swirled as Sokka moved closer to him. Zuko felt his fingers tease along his ribs, and he almost jumped in surprise.
What the hell is this? How did this happen? How is it still happening? How much did they have to drink?
Zuko pushed aside the avalanche of questions in his head, and welcomed the feeling of Sokka's fingers on his body. He stepped closer. Sokka did too.
There was nothing in the world separating them from each other, save for maybe an inch of space between them. That problem was quickly solved, as Zuko leaned in until they were pressed together.
Zuko saw fireworks behind his eyes, and his flesh was tingling where his skin was touching Sokka's. His mind was already hazy before, and now, it was just fog. Before he knew it, he was kissing the softest pair of lips on the planet. His wet hands were gripping Sokka's neck, enjoying the feeling of his sharp undercut. He squeezed his shoulders and opened his mouth as an invitation to be devoured. Sokka pressed his tongue against Zuko's, and nothing could have stopped Zuko from making that noise in his throat. Sokka was pulling him closer, so impossibly closer, by a tight grip on his hips. Zuko surprisingly found himself hoping at least some trace of that grip could be found tomorrow.
Screw tomorrow.
Sokka pushed one of his thighs between Zuko's own, making him almost pass out from the sensation. It's not enough, nothing is enough. He needed more.
"Sokka," he pleaded, one of his hands sliding down the broad expanse of the other man's back. Sokka kissed him even deeper, pressing him against the wall of the pool. Zuko's feet were no longer touching the rough bottom, instead his legs were entangled around Sokka's waist, holding on for dear life. He was floating, his mind was somewhere else, up in the clouds, on the ceiling of this beautiful hidden cave, ground be damned. The only thing anchoring him to this world was the man making him see stars.
Sokka was grinding his hips into Zuko's own, and there definitely wasn't enough oxygen in this cave for the large, deep breaths Zuko was taking whenever he caught the chance, in between wet, smacking kisses.
He finally caught his breath when Sokka's lips derailed down, behind his ear, then down the line of his jaw, stopping on his neck. He sucked on the pulsing point hiding beneath hot skin, holding Zuko up by his thighs and squeezing in sheer need when he found the sensitive spot.
Zuko threw his head back, at least trying to offer more than Sokka was already taking. He heard his own voice echo off the walls of the cave, where he became aware of the deep moans Sokka was dragging out of him with every swirl of his tongue, every graze of teeth against burning skin, every thrust of his hips against Zuko's own. Even if he tried to hold himself back, he couldn't. Sokka was hard against him, rubbing directly over his own sensitive cock and the soft insides of his thighs. With every stroke, Zuko found himself becoming more frustrated, more impatient.
"Sokka– come on..." he pleaded as the man in question kissed a line over his collarbone. Sokka wasn't doing much better either; his movements became almost erratic with desperation when he looked up again, into Zuko's eyes. Zuko's whole face felt like it was on fire, and Sokka could attest to it, considering how red it grew – from his cheeks, down to his neck and chest.
Sokka straightened up and kissed him again, deep and fast and rough, like this would be the last time he ever got to taste his lips. He pulled back and took a long look at Zuko through hooded eyes.
"You... wanna...?" He lifted his eyebrow in question, but the adrenaline rushing through his veins pulled a wicked grin on his face. Zuko felt it too. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't stop the smirk that emerged. He nodded hastily.
"Yes, please."
Sokka let out a little broken laugh at Zuko's politeness in this lewd situation. But after that, he wasted no time lining up against Zuko's entrance.
"Wait, are you gonna be okay like this?" He remembered asking before his mind was left devoid of all reason. "Or do you want me to start with fingers first?"
Zuko's cock throbbed at the thought of Sokka's fingers deep inside him, slowly teasing the most sensitive spot within his gut until he physically couldn't take it anymore. Definitely yes, but some other time.
"I'll be okay, please just– I can't wait anymore," he assured him, squeezing his legs around Sokka's waist. He stole another kiss from him, then another, gently pulling Sokka's bottom lip between his teeth.
"Okay," Sokka promised him in between kisses. "Just– tell me if it's too much." Zuko nodded, but he wasn't even aware of doing so.
Sokka's right hand left Zuko's thigh, but he could hold him up without a problem with the help of the pool. He lined up against Zuko's hole again, and this time, he pressed forward.
He felt some resistance, but not nearly as much as he had expected. Zuko relaxed as much as he could have, but he couldn't help his hole pulsing at the sensation of being stretched around Sokka's cock. He rested his forehead on Sokka's shoulder and took deep breaths, concentrating on relaxing for him. Goosebumps washed all over his back. His fingers were bruising where they dug into the skin of Sokka's neck and shoulder.
Sokka kissed the nearest patch of skin he could find to comfort him, before pushing even deeper inside.
"Oh– Sokka, fuck..."
"Did I hurt you?" Sokka turned his head into Zuko's neck, pressing his lips to the sensitive point once again for good measure.
Zuko's head still hung heavy on Sokka's shoulder, his body adjusting to Sokka's admirable size. He wasn't even inside completely yet.
Zuko's hole squeezed around Sokka's girth.
Sokka groaned at the sensation, his eyes rolling back as he felt his cock pulse against Zuko's walls.
"Fuck, Zuko–"
"It's okay, I'm– I'm okay. Keep moving." Zuko was gasping for air, and the need bubbling in his gut compelled him to start driving his hips down, since Sokka wanted to be so considerate.
"Oh my– Zuko, slow down," Sokka's voice betrayed him, cracking as he held Zuko's thighs tight once again, contradicting his own words as he helped Zuko move up and down on his length.
Zuko used Sokka's shoulders as leverage as he rolled his hips, only mildly aware of the rough wall of the pool against his back. Though, if he wasn't going to be careful when it came to preventing bruises, Sokka definitely will. His grip on Zuko's shaking thighs tightened as he started driving his cock inside, deeper, ever so deeper inside, then pulling almost all the way out, and repeating the fluid motion. Zuko was still tight, but the glide was smooth and easy, as if his body was built with Sokka's own in mind.
"Ah, ah, Sokka–"
Sokka was reaching every sensitive spot deep within Zuko's body, making his skin tingle and his toes curl. Zuko felt his fingertips grow numb. It felt so good, so fucking good, everywhere, on every inch of his skin, in every fiber of his being.
His body temperature spiked.
Sokka slowed down. "Hey, are you alright? You're–" he drew away, looking at Zuko like he just grew another head. "I think you're– uh, steaming?" Sokka didn't exactly sound like he was informing Zuko on the matter... actually it came out as more of a question. It made no sense; he never saw Zuko do this before. But then again, it was right there, big as day. For some reason, Zuko was steaming.
"Should I stop?" He finally asked, the look of confusion still strong on his face.
Zuko let out a frustrated groan, "No, don't you dare. I'm fine." He started moving his hips again, before Sokka stopped him with a rough grip to his thighs.
"Woah, hold on. Zuko, seriously, you're steaming. Are you going to catch on fire or something?" Sokka chuckled, almost nervously. "I don't think you should be ignoring that. It could be something serious."
Zuko licked his lips. He wanted to keep moving, to feel Sokka grind inside him again, his cock massaging his insides just the way he liked it. He didn't want to waste time talking about a weird side-effect of his sexual endeavours. But, if it will make Sokka feel better...
"It's fine," he said, giving off an air of confidence and sobriety he didn't know he was capable of at the moment. "It happens sometimes..." He felt a pinch of embarrassment in his gut admiting something like this, so he chuckled. "I won't burst in flames, I promise."
Sokka lifted his eyebrow. "So, this happened before? When you're..." he nudged his head in their general direction to get his point across.
Zuko rolled his eyes and sighed, not at him, more so at the situation, and his cheeks grew hotter. "Yeah, it's... I mean it's not the first time, okay? It happens when I'm..." He trailed off, hoping that Sokka would get the jist. When Sokka just kept scanning his face as if he would find the end of that sentence on there, Zuko surrendered, in hopes of moving things along.
"When I'm close, okay?" He finally looked Sokka in the eye, and refused to feel embarrassed about it any longer.
Sokka's eyes grew wide and his lips parted, and he looked like he discovered something world-changing.
That's when Zuko felt his cock throb against his walls.
"Sokka–?"
Sokka swallowed and moved closer to him again, pressing deeper inside. Zuko moaned at the sensation and noted that Sokka wasn't looking away from him this time. He was mapping down every expression Zuko made, the way his eyebrows furrowed and his throat bobbed with every swallow.
"Let me make you steam again," he said, his voice so low Zuko almost didn't hear it, but he felt it vibrate in his chest, where they were pressed together. His hips rolled sensually, each and every movement precise and calculated to the end of making Zuko lose his entire mind.
"Sokka– yes–" Zuko gasped, throwing his head back again, letting himself be carried and swayed by Sokka's tide.
Sokka left a wet kiss on Zuko's throat, but other than that, he didn't let himself look away. His thrusts grew rougher, almost mean each time he rolled his head over Zuko's prostate.
"Ah, ah, fuck–" Zuko's moans were getting Sokka more drunk by the second, he started shaking in anticipation and need. He wanted to see it again. To make Zuko feel like that again, to drive him crazy to the point of steaming.
"Come on, let me see it," he whispered, almost to himself. He couldn't hold out much longer, he was so aroused it almost made him nauseous. But if it was the last thing he ever did, he will see Zuko steam again.
Zuko was looking back at him, his face grew red again and Sokka knew he was almost there. So he took the matter in his own hands. Sokka lifted Zuko just a bit more, changing his angle, before speeding up to a point that shouldn't be possible while held back by the resistance of water.
"Ah, Sokka– Sokka!"
When he accomplished the angle he was reaching for, he lowered Zuko again for maximum depth.
Zuko's eyes rolled back as his scent filled the air around them, and Sokka was on the top of the world – because Zuko was steaming again.
"Yes, fuck yes," Sokka rambled, his eyes scanning every inch of the other man's body. Swirls of steam twisted where they arose from Zuko's skin, and Sokka could have sworn the water got even hotter. Fuck it, even if he boiled right then and there in that pool, it would have been worth it. "Yeah, that's it, come on–"
Zuko was completely lost, his eyes rolled to the back of his skull, his fingernails leaving marks in Sokka's back.
"Come on, give it to me."
And the sounds he was making... Sokka prayed the next time he came back here, Zuko's voice would still be echoing through the cave. The throaty moans that came from deep within his gut, spilling Sokka's name in between gasps. His skin grew so hot, Sokka almost had trouble keeping his hands in place, and being inside him felt like walking through a firepit. It drove Sokka mad.
Zuko seemed to regain some sense for a brief moment. "Sokka, I'm– I'm gonna–"
Sokka's head was spinning to the point where he thought he was about to lose consciousness. Instead, he gritted his teeth, looked Zuko directly in the eyes with no sign of backing down, and rammed into him in quick, deep bursts that hit his prostate head-on every single time.
"Sokka– oh, yes–!"
Zuko felt his orgasm build, from his stomach where Sokka was buried deep, to his chest, to the tips of his toes; it was ringing through his head, threatening to make him burst. He was painfully hard, and when he felt his cock throb, he gasped, loud and deep.
"Oh, oh– oh– fuck!" Sokka felt him squeeze down on his cock, over and over, and he was gone.
"Fuck, fuck–" he dropped his head on Zuko's shoulder and bit down, his movements still precise and bruising, as Zuko came with a long, desperate moan. Sokka finally, finally let go, allowing himself to feel every inch of Zuko's hot, quivering walls, to feel him squeeze and throb around his cock.
Zuko held onto Sokka's shoulders. "Inside– come inside me," he almost begged. "Please, I wanna feel you–"
As soon as he did, the white, hot feeling pooling low in Sokka's stomach bursted, and pleasure filled his entire body. White spots were blasting behind his eyelids as he swore, moaning long and deep as he obliged Zuko, and came inside of him. Zuko squeezed him and pulsed until he milked every last drop of Sokka's release, sighing at the feeling of his every last need being fulfilled.
Sokka took a deep breath, but it didn't help his gasping. Luckily for him, Zuko didn't seem to be doing any better. Their panting was all that filled the cave – that, and Zuko's steam, slowly dispersing in the air, mixing with that of the hot pool.
Sokka finally straightened up, his knees buckling beneath them. He had trouble holding Zuko now that all of his strength was drained from his body.
"Come on," Zuko panted, "you should sit down." He pat him on the shoulder as a sign that it's okay to let him go. Sokka nodded, pulling away and out slowly, gently, knowing how sensitive Zuko must be right now. Zuko took it like a champ, only slightly wincing as Sokka retreated. Zuko was placed down gingerly to sit, leaning against the wall of the pool, and only then did Sokka take a seat next to him. He groaned in relief and threw his head back against the rocky headrest.
Sokka breathed deeply, trying to get his bearings. He was faintly aware of Zuko's breath mirroring his own. He peeked one of his eyes open.
Zuko was already looking at him. And he was smirking.
Sokka felt his own lips stretch into a dopey, tired smile, and a chuckle escaped his chest.
"Thanks for tying my hair."
Against his exhaustion, Sokka burst out laughing. He rubbed his face, droplets of water gliding down to his neck.
"Yeah, no problem. Thanks for steaming."
Zuko splashed him with an outrageous amount of water.
Sokka choked up, but only because he was busy chuckling at his own joke. "What? I'm serious!"
That was a wrong answer, apparently, since another wave of hot water washed over him.
Sokka's stomach hurt from laughing. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry! Quit it with the tsunamis."
Zuko wanted to be such a mysterious and brooding guy, Sokka thought, but he looked the most like himself when he was laughing.
When they finally calmed down for a moment, Zuko looked him up and down. "Now your hair's all wet... sorry about that." Zuko really was sorry, somewhere deep down, but all he could really feel right now was his entire body buzzing in pleasure.
Sokka shook his head like a madman, spraying Zuko with water until he made him stop.
"Oh no, we'll have to stay here until my hair dries? What a nightmare," Sokka whined dramatically, making Zuko chuckle. He looked him in the eye, in a way that reminded Zuko what they just did. It made his stomach flutter furiously again.
"Luckily, I always bring some furs and towels here... we could bear to stay a little longer. Don't you think?" He gestured towards the mysterious bag Zuko had all but forgotten about, and spared him with a wink.
Zuko shook his head in disbelief. Always prepared for anything, wasn't he?
For a moment, Zuko thought about going back to the village. What if their friends ask them where they've been? Or what they've been doing? Should they lie? Did they owe it to them to tell the truth?
No matter what they decided in the end... it all felt so far away.
The village, their friends, the next day.
All Zuko knew is that he'd do anything for another five minutes with Sokka in that cave.
Zuko straightened up, moving through the water until he reached his friend. He dove down and kissed that dazed look right off Sokka's face. They shared a wicked smile.
The night was still young.
"I'll make a fire."