(fic) Basic- part 5
Dec. 22nd, 2009 09:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
squirrellysemanticsModern day AU - Basic training
Fandom ATLA-
I do not own ATLA and make no money from this. Inspired by
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
luco_millian 's dog tag pic. Here's the colored version. that's available for sale through her LJ.Rated R for now mostly for swearing.
Pairing eventual Sokka/Zuko
Needs to be read in order to make ANY sense whatsoever. Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3 and Part 4
Author’s note: This is NOT ‘A Very Special ATLA Christmas”.
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Bloodshot eyes pored over the face in the mirror. Sokka knew he was looking pretty pale for a brown kid. The lack of color made the the dark circles under his eyes stand out even more. Basic wasn’t supposed to be a walk in the park but… damn. He waved his straight razor with a flashy little flutter to get at that final bit of shaving cream under his nose.
“I don’t know how you can use that ancient thing,” Zuko teased gently as he briskly ran his disposable razor along the line of his throat.
“You’re just jealous!” Sokka caressed the smooth ivory handle. “My dad gave this to me. It's been in my family for generations. I couldn't not use it. Besides…” He brandished his blade with a pretty flourish. “It makes me feel like a total badass.”
They had gotten their morning routine down to a precise science. Making it on time for chow was critical for maximum calorie consumption.
“I can’t wait! A whole week off for Christmas.” Sokka tried to contain the bounce in his step as they navigated the hallway to breakfast. “This is my favorite time of year. Presents, food and family! That’s all you need, really.” Zuko offered up a bemused smile at the infectious enthusiasm.
"Oh c'mon!" Sokka elbowed the much less excited man in the ribs. "You can't tell me you're not happy to get out of here at least for a little while!"
Zuko ducked his head and shrugged. "I'm stuck here for Christmas Exodus. I don't have anywhere to go."
Sokka froze in mid stride, jaw hanging. "You can't be serious! This place will be a ghost town!"
With a sigh, Zuko held up a hand and counted down on his fingers. "My uncle's overseas. Sister's at university and usually just stays with her friends. Father's god knows where, probably getting ready to close on some huge deal." His mouth turned into a grim line. "It's been a long time since we celebrated anything as a family."
"That settles it then. You're coming to my house!" Zuko staggered forward as Sokka furiously pounded on his back. "No way am I letting you get stuck all alone behind a desk for the holidays! I'll call 'em tonight to give 'em a heads up." He resumed walking with at a brisk pace, not bothering to check if Zuko was following. "This is gonna be a blast!"
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Katara stood on tiptoes, straining to see any signs of her brother through the sea of green. There were a rainbow of skin tones among the young soldiers but they still all looked almost identical. She was proud that she had been trusted to make the hours long drive to the training facility on her own and it vaguely annoyed her that she had worked hard to be on time, only get stuck waiting an extra few hours. The men were already an hour overdue when the grumpy sergeant with great big side burns made the platoon do a ton of pushups out on the parade grounds before letting any of them leave.
Two weary figures carrying massive duffel bags were making a beeline to her car. She broke into a huge grin when she recognized Sokka but remembered the warnings: No huggy kissy stuff in front of Sergeant Side Burns.
And then there was the other guy. Her brother’s friend was cute in a dorky kind of way. His short spiky hair multiplied the dork factor a fair bit. Katara wondered what the story was behind the scar but there was no way in hell she would be impolite enough to just ask.
Sokka hurried through introductions as he levered the station wagon’s hatch open and flipped both bags inside. “Let’s get out of here.”
Katara arched an eyebrow in surprise when her brother slid into the seat behind her, letting Zuko sit up front. Sokka pretty much never gave up riding shotgun.
Katara navigated around the long line of cars waiting for their loved ones, happy to finally be on the move. Her brother wasn’t content to remain in back for the trip, jamming his torso in between the front seats to smooch her on the cheek.
"Dad still stuck in DC?" Sokka asked somberly.
Katara nodded with a hint of sadness. She flinched slightly as her brother fingered the little plait of hair that hung by her ear curiously. “What’s going on over here?” he asked, flicking at it like a buzzing fly.
With aim that came from much practice, Katara nailed him hard in the chest with an elbow without taking her eyes off the road. “It's something new I'm trying out." She hesitated, knowing her next words would prompt some sort of comment. "Haru likes them.”
“Haru!” Sokka used the disapproving tone most brothers saved for sisters’ new boyfriends. “Isn’t that the one who looks like a chick?”
“I am never going to do your laundry ever again.” The involuntary flush on her cheeks annoyed her. She needed to go for her standard technique of getting her brother off of topics she didn’t wish to discuss. “Do you want to grab something to eat?”
“Absolutely!” Sokka rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Anywhere is good. And if we can hit the mall for a little bit I’ll be happy.”
Katara rolled her eyes and made herself focus on her driving. “You are such a girl.” She let out a squawk of indignation when she felt a retaliatory saliva-soaked finger poke her in the ear.
Her brother’s friend pretended to be intent on the passing scenery as he tried to hide his laughter.
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“Welcome home!” The old woman shuffled to her grandson and lovingly touched his cheek. “Oh! You’re as thin as a rail!” Gran gran patted him reassuringly on the arm. “We’ll have to fatten you up while you’re here.”
Sokka shot Zuko a blazing smile over the top of her silver-grey head.
“And you!” Zuko startled as the elder turned her piercing gaze on him. “So pale and scrawny! Do they not feed you boys over there?” She shooed both of them into the living room. “I have some stew that will be ready to serve in another hour or two. Go unwind. Don’t get into too much trouble.”
“So what would you like to do first? You’re the guest, so you get to pick.” Throwing himself onto the worn fabric sofa, Sokka took up the entire length with a huge sprawl. “We can do inside stuff or go sledding. There’s a great hill a little ways from here.”
Zuko perched himself on the sofa’s armrest. “I’ve never been sledding before.”
“What?” Sokka contorted in disbelief to face him. “This is an outrage! Where’d you grow up?”
“Sort of all over the place. Overseas mostly. I had a bunch of skiing lessons once but never really got much chance to just play in the snow.”
“Well, we are going to have to remedy that situation!” Bolting upright, Sokka sprang to the hallway closet and began rummaging furiously for supplies.
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When Sokka had said ‘hill’, he hadn't been kidding. There was a huge expanse of pristine snow ringed by trees that rolled in waves in some places and precipitous down hills in others. Not a house in sight.
They had dropped Katara off at one of the higher spots. She made a great silhouette against the untouched blanket of white as she made her way along one of her favorite trails, snowboard strapped to her back.
“Aren’t you worried about her taking off on her own?” Zuko asked in wonder as he unloaded a sled from the car.
“Nah! She can handle herself. She’s really good at riding the backcountry.” Sokka flipped the plastic sleds and pulled out a rusty can of furniture polish. “She has some sick moves on a half-pipe, too.“ He applied a liberal layer of polish to the sleds’ undersides. “Gets you a little more speed,” he explained apologetically as Zuko coughed at the cloud of lemon scented vapor that drifted his away.
Satisfied with his work, Sokka took a running start and flung himself headfirst down the hill on his beat up hunk of plastic. Zuko marveled as the man-child disappeared into a cloud of white, floundering to a stop at the bottom of his run. “It’s perfect!” The snow covered man pumped his mittens into the air. “Your turn!”
The sled left for him had clearly been abused to within an inch of its life. With more than a little trepidation, Zuko placed the battered thing on the ground and carefully sat down. Paddling to gain some momentum, he gripped the edges tightly once gravity took over. The speed was exhilarating. Everything blurred past as he picked up speed, cold making his eyes tear up.
“Watch out for trees! Bail! Bail!” Sokka’s warning made him peel out, sending him tumbling into a snow drift. He swam out of the soft powder, feeling like the eyelashes on his good side were frozen shut. Zuko sputtered as a Sokka's mittened hand helped brush the snow from his face.
“That was a great first run!” Sokka was positively exultant. “But you have got to work on your steering.”
Zuko looked highly skeptical. “You’re supposed to steer these things?”
Sokka shook his head in disappointment. “There is so much for you to learn.”
After a few more trips down the hill, they packed powder to build a jump ramp. It had taken a few test runs and more than a few new bruises to get it just right. Once they each made a successful run with the added jump, Sokka declared that Zuko was ready.
“I’m not going to like this, am I?” He watched Sokka dig through the rear of the station wagon.
“No! Trust me! It’ll be great!”
Prouder than Zuko had ever seen him, Sokka yanked a long polished something out of the hatch. It looked like a highly polished length of wood, almost like a surf board. "This was my dad’s old windsurfing board. It’s fast as hell. Once I got to do some modifications of course.“ Placing the board at the top of the run, Sokka hopped aboard. “C'mon! We can both fit on here." Zuko took a seat.
Sokka began kicking to get them moving. "Make sure you hold on!" From what Zuko could see there were no handholds of any kind. With a sense of foreboding, Zuko latched on to Sokka's waist as they lurched forward.
Wind tore at them as they zipped down the hill. The board was a thing of beauty, near frictionless as it made its way down the hill. Faster and faster they went.
“Prepare for liftoff!” Sokka hollered at the top of his lungs. Zuko could only squeeze tighter. They hit the ramp at full speed, sending them flying through the air. Their hoots of delight echoed through the narrow valley. The half second of weightlessness at the top of their arc seemed to stretch out into a terrifying and spectacular forever. The exhilarating moment ended with a spine jarring thump as they came back down to earth. With nothing to grab on to, the boys parted ways with the board, the landing sending them both tumbling as the board completed its journey to the bottom of the hill alone.
Sokka let out a howl of glee as he began shaking off the snow that cushioned his fall. “See! What did I tell you?” His chuckling died away when he heard no response. On alert, he scanned the blinding white hillside. Zuko lay spread-eagled in the snow, unmoving.
Slowed down, sinking though the loose powder, Sokka flailed wildly as he struggled to get to the downed man. He dropped to his knees once he got there, little bells of alarm ringing in his ears when he saw the supine figure had his eyes closed. “Talk to me!”
The slow smile that spread across Zuko’s face sent his heart racing. “Damn, that was awesome.”
“Asshole!” Sokka punched Zuko in the shoulder. Relieved laughter bubbled from his chest. “I thought you were hurt!”
“This ‘playing in the snow’ business is pretty fun.” Zuko was trying very hard to look super casual as he hid something with his hand.
Sokka let out a little squeak, cold-freezing burn on bare skin from a fistful of snow that got shoved up the front of his jacket. “So! I welcome you into my home and this is how you repay me?” They wrestled for control of the second snowball that magically appeared in Zuko’s hand.
Managing to pin the other man’s arms to his sides, Sokka straddled him with a maniacal laugh. “You shall rue the day you betrayed me!” The cheeks flushed with exertion and secret little smile on Zuko’s face sent a jolt of heat straight from Sokka’s belly right into his groin. “You hardly ever get to use the word ‘rue’ in conversation.” His words trailed off into nothing, his tongue continuing to babble well after his brain started to shut down.
God, those eyes. Those eyes were fucking criminal. How did this guy not have the world at his feet with eyes like that? The body under him held very, very still, amber/gold/everything eyes a mix of hope and fear and goddamn heat-heat-hot.
No booze to blame it on this time.
He really wanted to know what his friend tasted like without the whiskey.
It was tentative at first, with a fair bit of fumbling as they tried to figure out how their faces fit together with all their winter gear. Then it just kind of sorted itself out.
Zuko was near frantic, trying to yield to and explore every part of the mouth kissing him all at the same time, like he was worried it would disappear at any second. Sokka held back, trying to memorize every detail. Sweet and slow, they took their time and it was several minutes before they had to come up for air. They stayed close, not wanting to end the moment, eyes closed, simply breathing each other in.
“Are you guys hurt or something? Do you need help?” Katara’s note of alarm pierced the fog surrounding them.
Sokka rolled over onto his back, hoping for the cold to chill the feverish storm that blasted into in his head. No regrets, none at all but… The freedom to do this was only temporary. They were going to have to return to duty. And that meant the future just got a whole lot more complicated.
“We’re fine!” he called out.. “Everything’s fine.”
Dear God. He hoped he was right.
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no subject
Date: 2009-12-23 06:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-23 01:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-23 08:07 am (UTC)oh man this was so good. perfect blend of being BEST BUDS and also some sexual tension. this series is just so much fun to read!
no subject
Date: 2009-12-23 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-24 05:11 am (UTC)I. I HAVE NO WORDS, I JUST love you so much for this, crying ;__; why are you like this. why are you so good ):
no subject
Date: 2009-12-24 01:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-27 05:22 am (UTC)Can't wait for more! <3
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Date: 2009-12-27 07:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-27 09:11 am (UTC)::FLAILS AT YOU::
and the kiss was WHOO! and omg! AND YAY.
I has no words of usefulness, clearly. D=
no subject
Date: 2009-12-27 07:26 pm (UTC)The boys make it easy to keep them cute.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-05 11:38 pm (UTC)There is no disappoint to you, is there?
TY!