Chapter Text
The next week or two goes as per-usual, wake up, get driven to school, see Sokka a few times, go home, eat, sleep.
But on particular day, when Zuko us struggling with one of the subjects they share lessons or teachers with, Sokka suggests he come back to his house after school to work on the assignment, task, whatever. "Why not at lunch?"
"We'll have more time, snacks, you know, better stuff," Sokka supplied.
"I'll have to check with my uncle or he'll just be driving here for no reason."
"Fine by me."
--
Zuko 2:03pm
hey uncle, friend from school is going to help me with schoolwork at their house after school today, no need to pick me up
Iroh 2:06pm
Ok nephew, text me if you need a lift back
Zuko 2:07pm
okay
--
Zuko wasn't sure how he felt about going to Sokkas house, it's stupid but he just felt off about it. It was a weird feeling in his chest a feeling similar to butterfles in his stomach but more intense. He brushed it off, walking towards the front gates to wait for Sokka.
Once Zuko saw the blue flash that is Sokka, he pushed himself off the black fence and went over to where the other boy was walking.
"Hey."
"'Sup! Car's just over there," Sokka looked in the direction of his car, pointing towards the Bunnings car park. "My dad just messaged, said he's driving the truck."
Zuko nodded, following Sokka across the crossing, towards the black truck. He opened the back door, greeting Sokka's dad as politely as he could, putting his bag on the floor and sat down. Sokka, on the other hand, basically threw his bag down on the floor, dapped up his dad and sat down aggressively next to Zuko in the back-seat. How his laptop isn't broken yet? Zuko doesn't know.
Zuko could barely see the girl in the front seat, but he presumed it might've been either the girl that was standing next to Sokka a few days ago, or his mum. He didn't bother asking, seeing how she looked preoccupied with her phone in her hand.
"Hey dad!"
"Sokka," His dad said, smiling widely. "You are?"
"Zuko."
"Welcome aboard Zuko, I'm Hakoda," he said smiling, body half turned towards the back-seat. "Well then, let's hit the road and get out of here before traffic gets too hectic." Hakoda reached for the radio turning it up as he reversed out of the car park, "BIRDS OF A FEATHER" playing in the background.
Sokka cheered somewhat quietly and started to dance goofily to the melodies and beat of the song.
^^^^^^^^^^
Once the four of them pulled up infront of Sokka's house, Hakoda winded up the windows, turning the radio down and hopped out of the car, along with the two boys in the back.
Sokka grabbed his bag, shutting the car door behind him and walking towards the front door of his house. Hakoda chucked him the keys over Zuko's head, Sokka catching them and giggling at the mildly frightened look on his friends' face.
"Dad!" Sokka shouted, looking down the hallway.
Zuko looked back at Hakoda, searching his expression aswell as seeing if he was still behind him and didn't magically make his way through the door before Sokka had unlocked it.
"Sokka, my boy." The man Sokka must've been talking to smiled, wrapping Sokka in a hug.
Zuko probably looked heavily confused, Hakoda spoke behind him
"That's Bato, my husband." He said, patting Zuko's shoulder as they both walked throught the front door towars the living room. Zuko nodded slowly, loving the fact that not only does Sokka support the LGBT, his parents are a part of the community and are a clear example of the type of love Zuko wants when he is older.
The identical-to-Sokka girl pushed past them once they got to a wider doorway, still on her phone, into another hallway till he heard a door shut.
"Alright, let's get this work done." Sokka said, dropping down on their couch, bag in hand.
"Ughh," Zuko sighed, sitting down aswell, pulling his laptop out. "Why can't Mr. Piandao just explain topics better."
"As much as I agree with you, this time he actually explained it pretty well, might just be you." Sokka smiled boyishly, poking Zuko's shoulder
"Ah, rude!" Zuko exclaimed, dragging the word out.
Sokka laughed, clicking his password into his laptop and pulling up the work from their lesson.
^^^^^^^^^^
Sokka slumped against the back of the couch, humming to the music playing from the kitchen.
"Finally!" He said, opening his eyes to stare at the ceiling. "We're done!"
Sokka pulled a chip from the bag on the coffee table, declaring it a 'celebratory snack'.
"Have I said how much I hate schoolwork yet?" Zuko said, also slumped limply against the cushions of the couch.
"One or two times, yeah." Sokka said around a mouthful of potato chips. "Mario Kart?"
"Why not." Zuko flashed a small smile, sitting up again, Sokka handing him a Nintendo controller as he set up the console an the game.
Laptops and books pushed to the side, Sokka's legs up on the coffee table, contollers in hand, Sokka picks the match style, how many rounds and power ups.
'3... 2... 1.. GO!' Flashes across the 2 player split screen, Sokka immediately revving his engines and setting off down the map while Zuko stalls at the starting line.
"For fucks sake." Zuko scowls once he starts moving again, gaining speed.
Sokka laughed, rushing through a rainbow lucky block, the melody of the item selecting coming from the TV.
Zuko grumbled, running into a banana causing his character to spin in place as he came to a stop before speeding up again.
Crossing the finish line for the third time, Sokka threw his hands in the air, cheering as he came first.
Zuko, still driving his kart through bends and twists, grumbles again. He too crosses the checkered line, coming sixth.
"Why did I agree to this," Zuko mumbled, watching Sokka celebrate his victory.
"We'll go again. Rainbow Road?"
"Sure, I kick ass at Rainbow Road, just so you know," Zuko smirked, sitting up and resting his elbows on his knees.
Zuko moves down the colourful track, pushing past the other characters.
Sokka sticks the tip of his lounge through his lips, concentrating.
Zuko uses his power up, a red shell, shooting it behind him and hitting Sokka.
Sokka groaned as karts whizzed past him.
^^^^^^^^^^
Overall, Sokka won 2-1. Zuko ate the rest of the snacks while scrolling through his phone as he laid back against the cushions. Sokka tapping at his laptop again.
They workers together on their work, played games and had a good time.
On Zuko's way out, Iroh just outside Sokka's house waiting for him in the driver's seat of his car, Sokka said he should hang out with him again along with his friend group that he called the gaang. -"It's 'gang' with two a's because Aang brought us all together, making us get along." Sokka smiled, giving Zuko a useless but wholesome fact.- Zuko agreed cautiously, saying maybe he will, maybe he won't.
Even though Zuko didn't fully agree, he still looked forward to spending time with Sokka, thinking it will do him some good to have someone to stick with, other than his sisters' friends.