[FIC] Basic- ATLA Modern military AU

[squirrellysemantics]

Title: Basic
Modern day AU - Basic training
Fandom ATLA
Inspired by the saucy dog tag pic by luco_millian . Please head over there and let her know how great an artist she is. I didn't ask for permission for this one because it was eating my brain. My apologies.
Rated R for swearing,
Pairing eventual Sokka/Zuko

Warnings: This fic is more of a snapshot of a much bigger picture in my head from red phase of basic to eventual deployment. What this is not is a political or moral exploration of the nature of the military.

I only know stuff second hand about service in the armed forces so excuse any errors. Positive and/or negative, comments of a constructive nature are always welcome so let 'er rip. If folks are interested I'd be happy to share more.

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Sokka figured it was just like the Army to have long lines at the showers when they only got about two minutes each to actually do anything. Hurry up and wait. Hurry up and wait. At it wasn’t like any of them had any hair to deal with. His medium reg cut still felt odd under his hand. He hadn’t had short hair in, well, ever. At least being last in meant he could sneak in a few extra seconds before chow, so he didn’t mind.

Zuko finally turned up, uncharacteristically late. He secured the towel a little tighter around his hips and joined the end of the line.

“Man, where have you been?” Sokka asked, teasing gently.

“Couldn’t find my razor,” The other man looked a little bashful as he took a swipe at the sparse stubble on his chin.

Sokka had almost shat bricks when he found out this pasty white, stand-offish dude was going to be his battle buddy. /This/ was the guy who was supposed to look out for him? Once the guy had warmed up though, it had been great. The camaraderie provided them both some relief since Basic sucked big hairy donkey balls. Their drill sergeant didn't make anything easier since he had decided he hated Sokka's guts from day one. ‘You think too much’ the cockbag had said. Like it was supposed to be a bad thing. Either way, if he got in trouble again he was probably going to get recycled. He wasn't sure he'd be able to take going through Basic again.

“Attention!” The room fell in automatically at the order from outside the room, looking pretty ridiculous clad only in their standard issue towels.

Eyes forward, you didn’t need to be able to look to know something was up. Their DS was on the prowl and he was eager to make a kill.

“One of you boys must think that you’re real smart.” Zhao padded silently in front of them, a lion toying with its prey. “Contraband!” The glee was obvious as the bastard stuck the offending item in the air in front of them.

Well, fuck.

It was a small chocolate bar. Katara, bless her sweet little ignorant heart, had snuck the offending item into the care package he had just received. Sokka had tried to hide the offending item in his laundry bag, knowing he would be in for a world of hurt if it was found. There had been simply no time to find a better hiding place or wolf it down before they had been sent to the showers.

Sokka didn’t dare look anywhere but straight ahead as the massive man loomed over him. He tried not to flinch as Zhao leaned in between the last two privates in line.

“Do you think you’re smart, Zuko?” Sokka had taken a breath to holler his answer before it sank in that for once he wasn’t the target of ire. What had Zuko done?

“No, Drill Sergeant!” The redness on Zuko’s face was the only indication that anything was wrong.

“You’d have been smart if you had tried to find a better hiding place than under your bunk.” The ominous whisper that fell from Zhao’s lips would have made normal men wet themselves. He prodded Zuko in the face with the candybar, tracing the ridge of scar that no one dared talk about. “If I catch you with contraband again, you’re gonna wish you had died in that house fire.”

Fucking dirtbag motherfucker.

Zhao straightened to his full height to use his bellow more effectively. “Isn’t that right, Private?”

“Yes, Drill Sergeant!”

“Once you’re done here, report to me. Your off-duty ass is mine for the next two weeks.” The fucker turned and paused. Almost as if an afterthought, he murmured “No wonder your father thinks you’re a disappointment.”

Sokka ground his teeth in sympathy. He would have been facing a general court martial if that sadistic son of a bitch had said anything like that to him.

Turning on his heel, their DS stood up straight and barked. “Dismissed!” He didn’t even wait for their salute before he vanished.

The chatter of the other recruits filled the room. “You took the fall for me.” Sokka’s mind was officially blown. “Why’d you try to hide it?”

“That son of a bitch is gunning for you all the time. It didn’t seem fair for you to get recycled for a fucking piece of candy." Zuko shrugged, finally letting himself scowl at the DS’s cheap shots. "At least he didn't punish everyone for it.”

That went above and beyond, man. Above and beyond. “I can't believe I'm lucky enough to have you watching my back. I’ll pay you back somehow.”

The flush that blossomed across Zuko’s chest was impressive.

Comments

[rowzen.livejournal.com]

Saving Private Sokka!

Thank-you.

[alexb49.livejournal.com]

I lol'd

[zempasuchil.livejournal.com]

this is TOO CUTE. which is odd to say for military boys, but it IS. thank you for writing it :DDD

[alexb49.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Hopefully I'll get more of this story written.

[undisclosable.livejournal.com]

Omg. You. I think I am in love with you and your amazingly written works.

No, seriously. If you don't share more, I think I'll have to resort to HUNTING YOU DOWN DD:

[alexb49.livejournal.com]

Ha! Thanks! Don't whip out the hunting party just yet. There's plenty more where that came from.

[hakuryu08.livejournal.com]

This is adorable! And I actually did a double take when I realized Zhao was talking to Zuko (just like Sokka did, lol)

[alexb49.livejournal.com]

glad you liked it!

[permetaform]

omg! <33333333 love it!

[alexb49.livejournal.com]

Ha! Thanks so much. Hope to have more out soon