Charred //ZUTARA

Chapter 19 - ''Tell me who did that to her.''

''What's up, buddy?'' the corner of Zuko's mouth curved up nervously. Sokka was walking back and forth in front of him for good few moments now. Mumbling something under his nose that the Fire Lord couldn't quite make out. 

''Buddy? Buddy?!'' Sokka threw his hands in the air, stopping for a split second to glance at his friend. Zuko rubbed his neck while leaning against the wall. Then the Water Tribe Warrior continued on with his walk. ''Of course! It all makes sense now! How have I not noticed it before...''

''Sokka, slow down,'' Zuko rolled his eyes. He truly had no idea what's gotten into his friend. ''Just tell me what you wanted to talk about.''

''UGH! I can't even say it without cringing,'' Sokka stuck out his tongue. Finally, he stood still in front of Zuko. The firebender raised an eyebrow, noticing how his friend's shoulders dropped. How his hands were limp now as he looked down on the floor. ''I never thought I'd be having this conversation with you.''

''What conversation?''

Zuko moved away from the wall. Sokka did not look up. ''You know, when our mother died and our father was still lost to us, I often wondered what the future would be like,'' there was such sadness hidden in his voice that Zuko barely heard from the young nonbender. ''Katara basically raised me. She would stitch up my clothes, cook my favorite dinners when I felt bad or even remind me to brush my teeth, ''Sokka chuckled. 

''How old were you?'' Zuko asked quietly.

''I was nine. Katara was eight.'' Zuko never heard that story. He knew the siblings took care of each other, with the help from their grandmother, of course. But he never imagined Katara had so much on her shoulders at such a young age. Sokka sighted. ''As we grew up, Katara started being interested in guys,'' an actual shudder of disgust went through Zuko's best friend. As if he couldn't even imagine his sister getting close to a man. ''I knew what my duty would have to be one day.''

''What?''

''I would have to give her away,'' Sokka shrugged. His body language told Zuko enough about how unwilling he'd be to do that. How much he actually cared about Katara. But the thought of the waterbender getting married? Zuko could barely breathe. ''To another man. I would make sure that this man doesn't hurt her. Ever. That he loves her more than anything in this world. As I love Suki.''

Zuko felt sick. He did not want to think about Katara that way but the mere mention of someone loving her like that... loving her like Aang probably does...

The Fire Lord cleared his throat. ''Will you still? With Hakoda back, will you still make sure the man she chooses loves her?''

Sokka raised his eyebrows, finally meeting Zuko's eyes. ''Wouldn't you do that for your sister, too?''

Zuko was sure his heart stopped dead in his chest. He did not expect that kind of question. Especially since his relationship to Azula was entirely different than what these two siblings from the Water Tribe had. 

His sister hated him. His sister was mentally ill. His sister was a monster. 

Yet, he would himself saying: ''Of course I would.''

Azula was his blood. They might have never been close as he wished it to be but Zuko did not entirely blame her for her actions. 

It was Ozai who created such a creature. Who fueled the same hate young firebender felt for many years while chasing after the Avatar. It was never about the honor. It was always about his father's approval. 

Shame of how many people he had to hurt in order to find out he never needed it in the first place would always haunt him. Till the end of his days.

Sokka put his hand on Zuko's shoulder. ''Then I need to ask you a question.''