Lovers in a Dangerous Time

A/N: This one is for all the deprived Zukka fans out there! I can't be the only fan... right?? This story takes place after the "Blue Spirit" episode. It's slightly AU bit I think it could easily be fit in to the series. Super awesome thanks to my betas Empress and Aurora Atantaqui !! Please read and review! I love to hear what people think of my stuff. Oh and last warning! This is a Slash fic. Boys kissing Boys. If you don't like it... why the hell are you reading it? All flames will be bended and used to warm Uncle Iroh's tea.
Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Anything from avatar. If I did my awesomeness would be unmatched!


- Lovers in a Dangerous Time -


This campsite was just like all the others. A little forest to one side and a babbling brook to the other, and just like all the other campsites they were leaving it's safety all too soon for Sokka.

Well, here we go again! Sokka thought as he finished the last of the packing for the teenage trio.

"Come on Sokka, we're never gonna get to the North Pole if you keep going this slow!!" Katara yelled to him as she climbed up Appa's tail.

The Water Tribe warrior glared at his sister. "Come on Sokka, na-na-na-naaaaaa. Phththththththth!!!!" He mocked then stuck his tongue out in a raspberry.

The Air Bender bounced over to his friend, Momo close behind him. "Don't get upset. Katara just wants to get to were there are more Water Benders. I mean, we lost a lot of time while you were sick." Aang flashed his friend a smile.

"Ugh. Don't remind me about the sick thing." Sokka grumbled. "I hope that bison can land quickly if I have another puke attack. I don't think Appa quite forgives me for last time."

The large beast roared in agreement.

Sokka crossed his arms over his chest. "See! He agrees and I don't wanna wash his fur again."

"Enough talk you two!! Let's go!!" Katara called from her seat on the bison.

"Coming!" Aang answered as, with the help of the air around him, he jumped onto Appa's shoulders and grabbed the reins.

Sokka picked up his camping bundle and trudged towards their fuzzy mode of transportation. He watched the leamer run ahead of him. "This sucks. I'm a warrior. I should be standing beside Dad fighting the Fire Nation!!!" He threw down his bundle in a huff.

A twig snapped in the forest close to were their camp had been. Sokka turned to look in that direction. Maybe it was an animal... he said to himself but something nagged at the back of his mind. He was concentrating so hard he almost missed what Aang said to him.

"Sokka, a warrior doesn't just fight. He protects those who need him most. He has wisdom and strength and morals and he knows how to use them for good." He gave Sokka one of his brightest smiles.

The Warrior sighed. "Whatever." He turned around and collected his camping bundle. As he started to turn back to Appa and the others, he saw something that made his heart stop.

A Fire Nation solider ducking behind a near by tree.

Sokka dropped the bundle and rushed to Appa. "Ambush!!" He yelled, "This place is surrounded! We have to go!"

Sokka heard a scuffle behind him. The boy reached for his boomerang, But a heavy weight encircled his knees and he was dropped to the ground. The air rushed out of his lungs.

After regaining his breath, Sokka struggled with the weighted ropes wrapped around his legs. He felt his arms being pinned behind his back by a large solider as more soldiers rushed past him towards the bison and his friends.

"GO! Get out of here!!! I'll get to you later!" The captured boy screamed.

"Sokka! I - We can't leave you." Katara yelled to him.

Sokka tried to throw the solider off of him. "Go! I'll be fine!"

Aang looked back at his friend one last time then grabbed the reins. "Yip-yip!" They took off with Katara looking forlornly back at her brother.

"Take that, you Fire Nation jerks." Sokka grumbled from the ground.

The boy felt a pressure on the back of his head. "So you think you've out smarted me do you, boy?" A deep voice said. The owner of the voice pushed the boys face into the ground with his foot.

Sokka angled his head so he could see who it was. His eyes met one of the great leaders of the fire nation army, Admiral Zhao. He began struggling again. "It's easy to beat a Fire Bending bastard like you!"

Zhao smirked at the boy. "I may not have caught the avatar, but I now have the next best thing... bait."

Sokka's eyes widened in realization. He had screwed up again! Before he could lash out at the Admiral he felt a hard whack on the back of his head, and everything went black.

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His breathing was even. His mind was blank. He could feel the heat from the candles increase and decrease with the expansion and contraction of his lungs.

A knock at his chamber door caused a falter in his concentration. "Come in." he said in a calm even voice.

The solider nervously opened the door and stuck his head in "Um... Prince Zuko?... A ship is docking with us."

The prince never turned but concentrated on his meditation. "And why are they doing that?"

The solider became visibly more nervous. "Your highness... It's Admiral Zhao... He's boarding now."

The flames blazed brighter. The solider pulled most of his head back out of the room.

"What does that pompous fool want?" The boy-prince growled.

"H-he didn't say."

There was silence for a moment then Zuko said, "Keep him were he is, I'll be there in a moment."

"Yes, Sire." The solider left quickly and with some relief. He had seen Prince Zuko throw hissy fits when things were not going his way before... and he did not want to be on the receiving end of one of those ever again.

Zuko opened his eyes and realized how bright the candles were blazing. "He will not ruin everything I've worked so hard for."

The prince took a deep breath and brought the flames back to a natural burn. When he was satisfied, he readied himself for his meeting with the admiral.

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"This morning is finding you well, Prince Zuko." the Admiral admonished as the prince walked onto the deck.

Zuko scowled at the older man. "What do you want, Zhao?" he growled.

Zhao chuckled at the boys impertinence, "Now is that anyway to talk to a high ranking officer?"

"Why, Admiral Zhao!" Iroh exclaimed, joining the others on the deck, "What can we owe the pleasure of your company?"

Zhao herumphed and glared at Zuko, "At least your uncle knows how to be polite."

Zuko grumbled low in his throat and started toward the admiral but was stopped when his uncle got between them. "You'll have to excuse my nephew. He has been at sea so long he has forgotten his manners. Please, let me make it up to you by offering you a cup of tea. I have just acquired a very rare and delicious Darjeeling."

Zhao smirked like he always did when it seemed like he had won over Zuko. "Thank you for your generous offer, General Iroh, But it will have to be another time." The smarmy man rooted through the pouch at his side. "You see, I was recently in the Fire Nation capitol and Fire Lord Ozai asked me to deliver this letter to you. He said it was of some importance and didn't trust a lowly solider with something so significant."

Zhao handed Iroh a scroll marked with the king's emblem, unbroken, blazing red wax keeping the scroll closed. Iroh excitedly opened the letter.

"My thanks to you are fathom less, I owe you much more than a simple cup of tea the next time we have the time and pleasure of meeting." The old man started to read quickly.

The admiral bowed shallowly, "You're very welcome, General. Now I have to be returning to the capitol."

"What? Didn't you just say you were in our homeland a short time ago. Have you been reduced to my father's personal messenger?" Zuko spat crossing his arms over his chest.

He glared at the Prince. "Though it does not concern you, I have captured someone very close to the avatar."

The prince rolled his eyes in an unimpressed way. "Let me guess, the girl."

"Actually I captured the boy. I figured without a warrior to back him up, it will be easier to capture the avatar." Zhao grumbled at the prince. He was starting to lose his patience with the boy.

"How wonderful!!" Iroh broke in. "That means you not only brought me my letter but you have also brought a gift for my nephew."

Zhao looked at the old man in disbelief, "What are you talking about?"

Iroh handed the admiral his letter. "That is what this was about. I wrote my brother a few months ago and he has just written me back saying that he will allow me my request. All prisoners taken in regards to the avatar, excluding the avatar himself of course, will be put under Prince Zuko's jurisdiction."

"B-but this can't be." Zhao read the letter to himself in utter disbelief and bewilderment.

"It's all there, with my brother's seal on it." Iroh said, smiling at his nephew, who was giving him a rather surprised look.

Zuko shook off the surprise. "I would appreciate it if you brought out my prisoner, Admiral." he smirked.

The Admiral gritted his teeth then threw the letter to the deck of the ship. He grabbed the closest solider to him and growled some orders at him. As the subordinate rushed to do as he was commanded, Admiral Zhao quickly composed himself. Then he turned back to the two before him. "I am so sorry for all this trouble." He said with a reassured chuckle.

"Don't worry about anything, Admiral... It's no trouble at all." Iroh smiled widely knowing his age and wisdom had won once again. "Isn't that right, Prince Zuko?'

"No... None at all, Uncle." Zuko smiled a self-satisfied grin.

The boy was thrown at Zuko's feet before Zhao could send back a biting remark.

Iroh didn't like how the boy looked. He had a large burn on his cheek, smaller burns on his arms, chest, and back, a blackened eye and bloody lip. His breathing was shallow and irregular and he was very pale. "Why is this boy in such a ragged state? Surly he was not that much trouble to restrain?"

"We were trying to obtain some idea of were the avatar was headed. He kept saying he didn't know so we tried to... persuade the boy into telling us. He's got a strong will. He never said a word to contradict that he didn't know.... Well, he did scream enough, but no intelligible words." Zhao smiled sadistically.

"He will not be harmed again." Iroh stated sternly, giving his crew a warning glare.

"As you wish. He's your problem now." Zhao bowed and left with his own crew.

Zuko smiled at his captive. "Take him to the holding cell." he commanded.

A gurgling sound emitted from the curled up boy on the floor of the deck. "Uuuuuhgh!!! Tummy!!" and with that Sokka heaved the meager contents of his stomach onto himself... and Zuko's boots.

The prince grimaced in discussed. "And bring me some clean boots!" he growled.

Two men rushed forward and each grabbed one of the injured boys arms and started to drag the boy away.

As Iroh watched he remembered the last time he saw a battered and broken boy dragged away from him. He looked at his nephew, who was more interested in the mess his boots were in than the pain of another human being. Iroh swore to himself he would help the Water Tribe boy.

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Sokka hung from the chains on his wrists that connected to the wall. He had never felt so horrible. He was in pain, exhausted, starving, thirsty and so cold.

The water tribe warrior tensed when he heard the door to his cell squeak open. He kept his guard up but never raised his head. Sokka heard the footsteps drawing closer and closer. He felt panicked suddenly. "Don't come any closer!" he croaked. His throat felt so dry.

"I'm not here to harm you, young one." It was an old man's voice. Sokka remembered that voice from when he was on deck. "I'm very upset about what Zhao did to you. I promise you, he will pay and I will try to make this better." The old man crouched next to Sokka. The boy felt something blessedly cold pressed to his face. He leaned his burnt cheek into it. "You're thirsty, I can tell from your voice." the old man said and pressed the spout of the cold water bag to the boy's lips.

Sokka gulped the water down quickly and greedily. Water had never tasted so good! Even Sokka's overly suspicious mind didn't try to think of a reason that a Fire Bender would be giving him water, it just urged him to drink more.

When the water bag was empty, Sokka released it and the man took it from him. "I will return soon with food for you. Just hold on and I shall try to make everything all right." The old man began to leave.

"Wait." Sokka called before he heard the cell door open. He looked up wanting to see who his rescuer was. Though he couldn't see very well, the room was dark and his left eye was swollen shut, he made out the form of a short, pudgy man with a beard. "What's your name?"

The man smiled. "You may call me Iroh."

"Thank you, Iroh." Sokka said simply.

Iroh looked away. The boy looked a little too much like Zuko in that moment, and it pained the General to see yet another young man hurt so badly. "Do not thank me yet. There is more I can do to help you." With that he left Sokka alone once more.

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As Iroh left the galley with a bowl full of streamed rice and vegetables, a servant came up to him and told him that Zuko was waiting for the General in his quarters.

Reluctantly, the man changed his course and in a few moments, found himself in Zuko's room.

"I hope this will be quick, Prince Zuko. I have a pressing matter to attend to." Iroh was still holding the bowl and worrying that the food was getting cold.

Zuko gave his uncle a very small smile. This was big for the prince. "I wanted to thank you, uncle. You have no idea how much this means to me. I will do anything I can to repay you."

Iroh perked up at this. "Anything?"

"Anything within my power." Zuko answered a little unsettled by the way his uncle was acting. Sure, he was odd on a regular basis but he was acting odder than usually.

"Here, hold this but do not eat it." he thrust the bowl in to his nephew's hands then rushed out of the room.

Zuko looked after his uncle quizzically. He placed the bowl on a table and went about his business in the room. With in a few minutes there was a knock.

"Open the door." Iroh's voice yelled from behind the door.

Zuko rushed over and opened it. There was his uncle with the water tribe boy. The boy had his arm over the other man's shoulder and was leaning on him. "Uncle? What is the meaning of this?" the prince inquired as the two brushed past him.

Iroh sat the boy against the wall and started taking out Zuko's bedding. "You said you would do anything to repay me. This is my 'anything'. This boy will stay as your guest. You will treat him kindly and with civility."

"I am not letting that... thing stay in my room!!" Zuko yoweled indignantly as Iroh sat the boy in the bed and Sokka started struggling.

"I am not a thing!!" The Water Tribe boy argued, "And I'm not staying in the same room as this murderer!!"

Iroh wagged his finger at Zuko. "You will be nice and you will treat him like a fellow warrior, with respect and honor." From the bed there was a quiet chuckle, Iroh turned to the other boy. "And you young man, will except this gift I have given with grace. It is very rude to not except something you really need from someone who is offering it!"

Both boys were stunned into silence by the older man. They couldn't believe such chastisement would come out of such a happy go lucky man.

"That's better." the General said, "Now, forgive my rudeness but what is your name young man?"

"S-Sokka." the Water Tribe boy answered.

Iroh smiled. "Prince Zuko, you will feed Sokka. Sokka, you will stay in bed and let Prince Zuko tend to you. I am going to inform someone to bring another futon and more bedding. I will return soon. Play nice." With that the old man left.

The boys glared at each other for a moment. Then Zuko broke the stare by walking to the low table were he had set the bowl of rice earlier. The prince noticed his addle-brained uncle had forgotten to bring chopsticks. He grabbed his own personal chopsticks out of a nearby drawer and resolved to wash them in scalding hot water after feeding the Water Tribe brat.

Zuko sat next to the reclined boy on his bed and picked up some of the food. The problem was that Sokka refused to open his mouth.

Zuko was getting frustrated really fast. "Will you just eat! You heard my uncle, he brought the food in and, for some inane reason, he likes you so of course it's not poisoned. Why are you making this so difficult for me?!"

"'Cause I don't like you." Sokka stuck out his tongue and crossed his arms as comfortably as he could over his burnt chest.

Zuko breathed an exasperated sigh. "If you don't eat, uncle is going to be very angry with me."

Sokka was unmoveable in that moment. "You're a prince, what should you care if your uncle is mad at you?"

Zuko looked away from the other. He thought of the time he had saved the avatar from Zhao. He thought of what that boy with so much power had said to him. In that moment he chose to trust this Water Tribe enemy with a small bit of his past. "I am banished from my homeland, My uncle Iroh is all I have left."

Sokka blinked a few times. He never knew that about the prince. He just thought Zuko liked tormenting their little group and he had some kind of ego complex that made him chase the avatar.

With a look that said "I have to do everything around here!" He opened his mouth and excepted the food.

They were very quiet through the whole thing. Sokka ate. Zuko fed. Nothing was said. Though both boys were surprised at how comfortable the silence was. Yet both pondered why Zuko had bared so much to Sokka.

"Full." Sokka mumbled a third of the way through the bowl. He felt sleepy now. His hunger and thirst were taken care of. He was still a little sore but the change in atmosphere was helping that. He still felt cold though and he shivered and Zuko's good eye caught the minute movement.

The Water Tribe boy jumped when the Fire Nation prince's hand came towards him. "What are you doing?!" he asked panicked.

"I am going to check your temperature, you jumpy idiot. Only a sick person would be shivering in this room and with how you vomited on my boots when they first brought you on bord, you are most likely ill. Now, hold still." Zuko grumbled. Sokka did as he was told. Zuko felt the flesh of his forehead. "You're running a low grade fever. I'm not going to hurt you so don't move."

Sokka once again did as he was told, yet he jumped when he felt Zuko place the palms of his hands flat on the other boys chest. Zuko leaned his face so close to Sokka's that their foreheads touched.

The prince took two deep breathes and began to draw out Sokka's excess heat. In the process he felt as though he was drawing a little bit of Sokka into himself along with the heat.

The experience was different for Sokka. The boy gasped at the feelings of comfort and loss twined into one almost inseparable feeling. He felt some of himself go into Zuko and his rival replaced those bits with pieces of himself.

When the transfer was complete Zuko quickly moved away and stood.

Sokka felt almost absolutely comfortable. He started to drift off to sleep. Zuko's footsteps were the only noise made in the room. The moved away from the futon then returned.

"Boy." Zuko's voice entoned.

"I have a name." Sokka grumbled back. There was a long silence in which he almost fell asleep.

"...Sokka." He heard the prince say reluctantly.

Sokka opened his eyes and saw Zuko with a small purple vial in his hand. He was about to say something about not trusting the prince but didn't have a chance.

"It's not poison. I sensed you were in pain when I was breaking your fever. This is a pain reliever. You can take it or I can put it away and use it on someone worth saving. It's your choice." Zuko stated gruffly.

Sokka's eyes flicked from the vial to the scarred boy. "Give it to me." he said finally.

Zuko put his hand behind Sokka's head to angle him so the liquid wouldn't spill.

The reclined boy drank it and started to get even more drowsy as soon as his head hit the pillow.

He was almost asleep when he heard Zuko ask, "Will you answer a question for me?"

"Matters what the question is." Sokka mumbled.

Zuko was silent for a moment. "Do the avatar and the girl know where you are?"

It was Sokka's turn to be quiet. "...No."

There was another long silence then "You never know where you're going next do you?" Zuko finally said. It was more of a statement than a question.

"Only 'cause stupid Aang has the stupid map." Sokka's half asleep mumbling was almost completely unintelligible.

"Zhao shouldn't have had you beat. You really don't know where they're going." Zuko offered to the boy, but the words fell on sleeping ears.

Zuko sat and watched the boy sleep for a moment longer, then he collected the bowl and chopsticks. He quietly left the room to bring the utensils to be washed.