Affection
–-
Velvet Ring
“Love is a gentle thing”
There was something so surreal about Spirit.
In the chilling air of the night he stood out like a gem, shining across the dark atmosphere of the alley, and despite his desperate need to know, Sokka couldn’t understand why he felt so drawn to him.
It felt like there was an invisible line of affinity that connected the two.
Perhaps Sokka admired him.
“How long have you been out here?” Sokka inquired.
He was constantly nervous about others seeing the cracks of his otherwise perfect relationship. If others doubted their happiness, he thought he might start doubting it too.
“Just for a bit.” Spirit stammered over his words as though he didn’t mean to be saying them.
“I heard you… But I wasn’t eavesdropping or anything– I only heard a bit.”
Sokka shut his eyes tightly in embarrassment, taking a big breath.
“It’s- It’s fine. It’s my fault for speaking loudly.”
“I mean, don’t worry about it too much. Everyone gets into arguments y’know.”
Spirits' words comforted Sokka in a way, and in a sensitive state he felt like all he needed in the moment was to talk. He hadn’t remembered the last time he sat and just talked to somebody about his thoughts.
If he were to say anything insane, it’s not like Sokka would ever see Spirit anywhere else.
“Could I talk to you about something? I feel like you won’t have any bias.”
Spirit pondered to himself for a moment before answering.
“Yeah, we can talk.”
The two both sat next to each other on the asphalt. Feeling the cement wall against his back, Sokka centered his body and mind, thinking about what he wanted to say.
“So… I was on the phone with my boyfriend just now and–”
There were so many different ways that Sokka could verbalize his feelings. So many different thoughts that ran through his head.
The problem was acknowledging them.
“Sometimes I wonder when I stopped thinking for myself. It feels like everything I do has him in mind.” He started, “But it’s like that because… when I’m with him, I feel needed .”
When he finally managed to struggle the words out Sokka watched Spirit for some sort of confirmation.
There was an imperceptible dim in Spirits eyes before he responded. And when he talked, it sounded like he was speaking to himself.
“When you spend your whole life living for someone else, you lose the power to recognize your own suffering.”
As he finished, Spirit turned his gaze over to meet Sokka’s.
It was like a glass wall stood between them. The deafening silence stilled Sokka’s breathing as he tried to keep himself from saying something that could shatter the barrier.
The words Spirit delivered hit Sokka harder than he realized. Even more so as it felt like Spirit was speaking from experience.
“More than anyone else in this world. You need yourself.” Spirit breathed.
“Are you always this deep?”
Finally breaking eye contact, Spirit turned his head away, giving a small chuckle.
A rose colour creeped up his neck and ears lightly, complementing Spirits pale skin.
Feeling the wind blow across both of them, Sokka assumed it was the cold.
“Sokka… You’ll be fine. I can tell.”
–-
Sokka walked back down to the venue by himself, Spirit saying that he was going to stay out for a bit longer.
A burden of weight had been casted off from his shoulders after releasing his otherwise kept feelings.
Instead of the doubt he was so fearful of, he was assured.
Everything was going to be alright.
Sokka noticed the band stood around in a circle. From the distance he was at, he could tell they were making plans.
“What are you guys up to?” He queried.
“It’s starting to get late so we were planning on leaving. We were just waiting for you.” Yue spoke with her usual elegance.
Sokka felt bad making them wait.
He could tell from their weary expressions that they had tired themselves out talking to others and having fun, but while they were all partying, he had spent all of his time on the phone with Jet.
He even missed Ashen’s performance which was the main reason he came in the first place.
He wanted to reclaim his night out.
“I actually think I’m gonna stay a bit longer. You guys should head out though, I'll be fine by myself.”
“And how are you getting home? We took Appa today.” Toph’s brash voice was laced with concern, she could probably tell that Sokka wasn’t really sure about anything he was doing.
“I can figure it out myself. You kids need to get home before bedtime.” He jested.
Sokka drove away the four, who were both concerned and amused by Sokka’s behaviour. It wasn’t like him to go off on his own.
Everything he had been doing recently was unlike himself.
--
Cool With You
“Is that cool with you
That I want to call your name”
The time passed by rapidly, with Sokka spending most of his time hanging by the bar area and speaking to other musicians. It was almost 4am. And as much as he grew attached to this place throughout the night. They were closing.
He tried remembering the route home. Knowing that he was going to have to walk.
Sokka didn’t hate the cold, after all he came from the south pole. There was just something about Ba Sing Se weather that threw him off balance.
He didn’t even bring a jacket.
Making his way out of the venue he paused when he saw Ashen Dawn, who were all carrying their equipment from the green room.
He noticed that Ty Lee had a habit of noticing his presence first.
“Hey Sokka! You heading home?”
A mischievous glint ran through her pupils as she spoke calculatingly.
“Yeah, you?”
“We're all heading out right now. How far is your car?”
Sokka appreciated the concerned questions. He was weirded out by the fact that she didn’t look concerned.
“I don’t have a car, I’m walking home.” He divulged.
His words were stagnant and monotone. For some reason he felt like a pawn in a piece of chess. Only Ty Lee was playing checkers.
She pushed against Kuzon to grab his ear, whispering to him in an excited hush.
Kuzon looked at her wide eyed as if she had made a genius observation.
He then turned to stare at Sokka and whipped his head back to look for someone.
“Hey Zu! Do you have to get home quick tonight?”
Spirit followed out of the green room with all of his equipment. He was heavily preoccupied with keeping track of his things.
“No? It’s the weekend.” He trailed along, “Jasmine’s closed tomorrow.”
A bright smile ran across Kuzon’s face. Both him and Ty Lee mumbling incoherent words to each other.
Sokka was… confused to say the least.
“That’s great! You can give…” He stopped to mumble to Ty Lee, “You can give Sokka a ride!”
Kuzon spoke his name with a heavy tone. Evidently giving the word some sort of deeper meaning.
Did Ashen Dawn have some sort of inside joke about him? All he said was that he was walking home, and now they were trying to get him a ride.
Spirit broke his focus on his things when he heard Sokka’s name.
“I wasn’t trying to ask for a ride home. I actually live pretty close.” Sokka stammered.
“It’s too late for you to be walking by yourself. Safety is always the first priority!” Ty Lee countered.
Looking back at Spirit he stood frozen, shooting a betrayed glare at Ty and Kuzon.
“It’s really okay! I don't want to be a burden.” He asserted.
Suddenly Mai, who had been watching the whole ordeal go down from the stairs piped in.
“Just take the ride. Spirit hates driving alone, you’ll be doing him a favour.”
Somehow her words were hard for Sokka to believe, but they sounded like the only ones he could really count on.
“Mai’s right… I can take you– just give me a second.”
Spirit urged his words with a strong determination.
Why he needed determination? Sokka had no clue.
–-
Sokka waited approximately 8 minutes outside before Spirit made his way up the stairs.
The first thing he wanted to ask the singer was, ‘what the hell was that?’, but his attention was taken by the large black coat that Spirit held in his one free hand.
“Take it. It’s pretty cold out.”
Sokka received it hesitantly, swooping it over himself without question.
“Thanks, do you need help with your stuff?”
Spirit carried his guitar on his back, a school bag halfway down his forearm, and a kit which Sokka assumed were his guitar pedals.
In short, he was holding a lot of things.
“It’s fine I got–”
Before spirit could finish, Sokka already slung the school bag over his shoulder and slowly grabbed the kit out of his hand.
Lightly brushing fingers , Sokka noticed how cozily warm spirit was.
A sign of a fire bender.
“It's the least I can do if you're taking me home.”
Sokka didn’t get a verbal response, but rather a defeated nod, before Spirit led him over to where his car was parked.
–-
The first half of the car drive was soundless, both of them not daring to speak a word out of shared awkwardness. The only words spoken were the directions to Sokka’s apartment.
Eventually, Sokka broke.
“So I was carrying your school bag…”
“...”
Sokka was surprised to figure out that the car could somehow get quieter.
“Are you in highschool?” He pushed on.
“...Yeah, I had to get some homework done, so I brought my bag with me.”
They were finally getting somewhere.
“What school do you go to? Probably one around here right?”
“...” Spirits jaw clenched as he thought.
“I go to R.F.”
“Republic Fundamental?!” Sokka almost jumped out of his seat.
There was no way Spirit went to the same school as him.
Sokka would’ve noticed him somewhere.
Anywhere!
This was the same guy he had just spilled his guts to, for the sole reason of not seeing him anywhere else.
And he goes to his school??
Not even the band recognized him.
Unless they did but just decided to not tell him.
Trying to calm himself down he asked Spirit another question.
“Okay then… What’s your real name then? I heard Kuzon call you Zu.”
Spirit’s face had turned bright red now, and he kept his gaze strictly on the empty road. Not daring to move his viewline towards Sokka.
“That’s- a secret.”
“You can’t do that! I trusted you with some really important thoughts today.”
With a defeated sigh and breathy laugh, Spirit spoke.
“My name’s Zuko.”
Oh.
From his nervous reaction Sokka assumed he had some crazy name like Tyranno or something.
Zuko was almost too normal.
Before Sokka could realize it, they had made it to his house.
Making his way out of the car, he rested his arms and chin on the passenger windowsill.
“Thanks for the ride.”
Still avoiding eye contact, Spirit responded with a genuine constitution.
“You don’t have to thank me.” He assured, “It was nice talking to you.”
In awkward steps Sokka led himself farther and farther from the car, making his way towards the stairs that led to his house.
Abruptly turning back he waved Spirit goodbye.
“I’ll see you at school… Zuko!”
With a small wave and a clumsy smile, Zuko drove off.
–-
Closing the door behind him, Sokka recalled the entire night with a pleasant lens.
And while shifting his hands in the pockets of the coat he was given, Zuko’s face popped into his head continuously.
What an affectionate experience.