(fic) Basic- part 6

[squirrellysemantics]

Title: Basic - part 6
Modern day AU - Basic training
Fandom ATLA-
I do not own ATLA and make no money from this. Inspired byluco_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 and Part 5

 

 

A/N:  Thanks so much to those who commented after the last chapter. It is greatly appreciated. 

Sorry if this seems like a dull chapter.  It does have bearing on future events, I swear.  I believe having them jump back into training would have seemed way too disjointed as well.

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The scene was a wasteland.  Abandoned cars and random bits of trash littered the landscape as far as the eye could see.  From the sounds in the distance the enemy was near and there was a metric ass load of 'em.  Sokka used the brief respite to reload his semi-automatic and checked in with his teammate with a sideways glance.  "It's about to get ugly. You ready?"

Zuko kept his focus straight ahead, a flash of tongue barely visible as it flicked out to wet his lips. He gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Gritting his teeth, Sokka kicked open the door. "Here goes nothing!"

Guns blazing, they blasted their way through overwhelming numbers.  They pressed relentlessly onward, amazingly gaining ground.  When one of them was about to fall to overwhelming numbers, the other was there to help, bodies falling before them. 

A way-too-close explosion blasted Sokka with shrapnel. "Shit! I'm getting hammered here. You got any first aid kits left?"

At first he thought Zuko didn't hear him, too intent on swinging his machete like mad but when he saw the much needed boost get tossed his way Sokka grinned with relief.  "That's the last of what I have so you'd better be more careful," his savior said, not evening pausing as he continued to slash away. "I'll be pissed if you get yourself killed."

Katara's voice filtered through the screams and explosions. "Do you guys want to get going anytime soon?"

"In a minute!" Sokka called out automatically, refusing to take his eyes from the action on the tv screen.

"You said that half an hour ago!"  Katara poked her head into the living room, more than a little irritated. "Don't you guys use guns enough in real life to not want to play 'shoot-em ups' the rest of the time?"

"This is different!" Sokka answered without looking, voice full of indignation.  "We're trying to deal with a zombie apocalypse here!" He let out a grumble. "Damnit, woman! Look what you made me do!"  He watched in annoyance as his game character was flayed to death by the witch he accidentally startled, creepy violins screeching over the television's speakers. 

"You asked me to sneak you into the track at school!" His sister stomped away, fed up with waiting. "Why did I even buy you this stupid game?"

"Because you love me!" he hollered at her retreating back.

"Whatever!" The slam of Katara's bedroom door shook the whole house.

Giving up on escaping the zombie horde, Zuko wound up the cord on his controller and set it carefully on top of the game console.  "We should probably get going before we get her even more upset."

"Jeez!" Sokka frowned in disappointment. "Are you sure you're older than your sister? 'Cause torturing your younger sibling is kind of a legal requirement or you have to turn in your Brother card."

Zuko took the proffered controller from Sokka's hand and stared at it for a while.  "My sister and I don't exactly get along." 

The note of sadness might have been subtle to some but rang out loud and clear to Sokka’s ears.  "C'mon," he said cheerily, hoping to change the mood.  "We should go do that track workout or we're going to be in a world of hurt when we get back on post."

They gathered their things to ward off the impending fury of Hurricane Katara.

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Adjusting his pillow, Zuko stared at the ceiling once more, feeling every minute of the hour as it ticked away.  He couldn’t believe how fast the week had gone.  There was almost no time left in this great little respite and duty called. 

This family's generosity of spirit had been amazing, putting his own familial dysfunction into stark relief. Gran Gran was determined to get Zuko at least ten pounds heavier before he left.   He had felt like a complete ass the first night when Katara showed him to Sokka's old room.  It got worse when he saw Sokka take the couch in the living room but they all seemed to find his protests confusing. This was how this family treated its guests and that was that. 

Resigning himself to another sleepless night, Zuko reached for the tiny lamp on the nightstand. Light spilled across the patchwork of action and sci-fi movie posters covering the walls.  He tucked a hand behind his head to peruse the shelves around his head, piled high with battered textbooks and repair manuals. A warm burst of affection filled his chest as he took it all in, feeling honored to be trusted with this piece of a younger Sokka’s life.  

The first night of sleeplessness Zuko had tried to fire up the massive old beast of a PC with its hulking great big monitor that took up an acre of desk space.  Sokka had warned him the creaky thing wasn’t useful beyond checking email but that was all he intended on using it for.  Reaching for various power switches he unseated a tattered book on cartography from its perch on the tower, sending a slip of something fluttering to the floor.

It was an old photograph, creased and worn at the edges.  The colors were faded but the bright blue eyes of a much younger pair of siblings still came through.  The children hung from broad shoulders of a ruggedly handsome man that was more than happy to be used as a jungle gym.  A serene, beautiful woman looked on from her perch on the same couch that sat in the living room, face filled with love.

The snapshot held joy so open, so natural, so foreign to Zuko that he had quickly replaced everything and refused to go near the desk again, feeling like a peeping tom.   There was no way he could deprive Sokka of any time with his family just to deal with Zuko’s fumbling attempts at romance.

That kiss.  It still burned him to think of it. So much passion in such a little thing.

Sokka was the last thing he expected to find at basic.  It was like being inches from a bright bundle of energy and Zuko couldn't help but be drawn to it.

The harsh realities of their situation weighed heavily on his mind but there was one tiny, little problem.  He had been given a glimpse, just a taste, of something he wanted. Wanted more than anything.   And for that he would press on even in the face of the most impossible of odds.

Little wonder he couldn’t sleep.   Perhaps a small snack was in order.

Lights turned off, he eased the door open and mentally reviewed the path to the kitchen.  No need to wake the rest of the house. He trailed his hand along the wall to navigate.  Bathroom door then small closet on the right, left at the hallway. 

His focus was fully on counting his steps when he turned into the hallway, at least that’s what he told himself after he failed to notice the warm body approaching him before it plowed into him at full speed.

There was a hiss of “Shit!” and the lights came on without warning. Sokka looked totally crestfallen at the sight of remains of his sandwich strewn across the floor.

Zuko dropped to his haunches to gather the debris. “Damnit! I’m sorry!” 

“No, no! My fault! I shouldn’t have been stomping around in the dark.” Sokka kneeled to finish the task. “C’mon.  We can resupply pretty easily.”

They attacked the tiny kitchen, layering slices of meat into a massive tower, sandwiches piled so high that normal humans would have had to unhinge their jaws to get a bite.  Satisfied with their giant creations they retreated to the living room to devour them.

“Couldn’t sleep, huh?” With the edge off of his hunger, something as simple as eating was not going to stop Sokka from striking up a conversation.

Zuko shook his head to the negative and tried to look very interested in the shape of the coffee table.

“Me neither. It’s been getting worse throughout the week. A little antsy about going back, I suppose.”  The slight frown that crossed the man’s face was brief but still noticeable. “And I’ve been thinking about the other thing.”

That sent Zuko’s heart racing.  “Other thing?” he parroted dumbly.

Sokka looked at him askance. “Yeah.  You know.  Me. You. This… thing.” Wolfing down the last bite, he leaned back, looking serious. “You mean a lot to me.  I want you to know that no matter what happens.” Unconsciously he rubbed at the short hair on the back of his neck. “The military’s official policy on gayness is pretty fucked up but I’m pretty sure they don’t want anybody getting laid in the barracks.” His eyes narrowed in suspicion.  “That doesn’t seem to stop Jeter from getting more ass than a toilet seat from the ladies who work the chow line, though.”

Shielding his face with his napkin, Zuko had to cough violently after the comment made him inhale a piece of crust.

Too intent on his train of thought, Sokka continued unaware of Zuko’s distress. “Anyway, I’m willing to give this a shot if you are. It’ll be tough. I mean, it’s not like we’ll be able to hold hands and put flowers in each other’s hair or anything. I totally understand if you want to keep things simple and friendly instead.” His face went red, suddenly bashful.  “And you would still want me as a friend, right?”

Zuko smiled. “What about more than just friends?”

Hesitant, Sokka looked up. “It’s going to be a huge gamble.”

With a deep breath, Zuko let the words flow out of him. “I’m willing to risk it.”

“Good.”  There was a pause after the simple reply.  “There’s one more thing.” 

The large meal must have slowed his brain down more than he thought because Sokka was somehow a whole lot closer all of a sudden.  Blue eyes filled his field of vision, making it difficult for Zuko to breathe.  “Whuh.. what’s that?” he stuttered, too dazed to think straight.

“You’ve got a little something.  Right there.”  Zuko couldn’t stop the sigh that escaped when a finger traced his bottom lip. “Here. Let me help you.”

A hand pressed him- insistent but gentle- back against the couch’s armrest.  Sokka chased after with his tongue, lapping at a tiny stain of mustard at the corner of Zuko’s mouth.  

It felt good. The weight of the lean body wrapping around him pleased Zuko to no end. Finally getting to hold the wiry, too-skinny frame, letting his hands wander over every bit of Sokka he could reach as they kissed in earnest, hot and wet, teasing and slow.

Sokka broke off the kiss and smiled against the other man’s ear. “I think I got it.”  He sounded drowsy, almost drunk.

Slumping bonelessly under the other man’s weight, Zuko felt relaxed for the first time in ages. He managed to mumble a response. “Yeah, I think you did.”

Within minutes, they were fast asleep.