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Dragon's prey	By : ajj77sunhawk Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Slash - Male/Male > Sokka/Zuko Views: 20843 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Caitriona, Kireania : Thanks , wow that is a great compliment – I love converting people.

Blue Tiger : As always your reviews are sooooo amazing, thanks. One thing though, the Red Dragon is more integrated into Zuko, Sokka is only just accepting his – so it at the moment it is very much only one way – which is why the Red Dragon is very insecure. :D Read for the affect of this.

Kuragari : I didn't just like the picture I LOVED IT, You kindda inspired the last imagery in this chappie, did it extra visual with you in mind. Hehehe, not a hint as a thanks to you.

Shades22 : Wow thanks for the support, its nice when deets are noted. Aslo nicew suggestion

yeaya56 : Secret – I cry too when I reread some chappies – and Kindda go I wrote that??

Lady Hoshi, Infinity's Daughter, Tellnoone_Noonetells, Ray, Xmenjeanpaul, : Thanks for all the kind words and support, you are all so wonderful.

Robert : The rest of the Gaang make appearances more often now.. :)

Mega Thanks to BrukleFlesch for Beta-ing the Chappie – so fast and effective. Hugs.

Chapter 12 : The Insecure Dragon

Ostrich-horse feathers! It was infuriating!! First the upheaval in the spirit world, now a strange peace, BUT still none of the spirits was willing to tell him what was going on. Granted, most did not seem to know, but the animal spirits seemed to know something was up, only they weren't or more accurately couldn't talk. Aang spent a whole two hours trying to mime questions to the Panda Spirit that just blinked rather calmly at him. Arrrggghhhh… he was the Avatar – Master of the Four Elements – and BAH!!! NOT a mind reader. The frustrated Avatar Spirit was practically dancing around the Spirit World in frustration. He was the bridge – he needed to know – okay, okay – he WANTED to know what was happening. Having the Spirit World snub him and basically shout the silent message “None Of Your Business” was soooo frustrating.

Aang left the Spirit World pouting. Momo climbed on his shoulder and chirped in concern. Aang stroked the long ears. “It’s okay, Momo, it’s just frustrating,” Aang muttered as he stood up. “But I should be used to frustration by now; jeez, I think we need to go and apologize to Zuko and congratulate him. We flew and he found us all the time, but Sokka...Sokka is on foot, and we don't have even a clue as to where he is.” Aang sighed. In between the tremendous amount of work that he and Katara did, they had searched fruitlessly for their missing brother. In a sudden move, Aang spun and sent a blast of fire into the inoffensive wall. “Where is he, Momo?!”

Tears of frustration leaked out of Aang's tightly closed eyes; he leaned into the wall and slammed his fist against the unyielding surface over and over. “He's my friend, my brother...and I can't even find him.” Aang had thought back to all the times he had seen Sokka after the war. They had only contacted the warrior when they had needed his input and advice. Aang could not remember even once, not once, asking Sokka if he was happy, if everything was alright in his life. He had just seen the big goofy smile, and would unload all his problems on Sokka's strong shoulders. Always, always – Sokka had made Aang feel better, made the life of the Avatar so much easier. And now, when Sokka finally needed him, he could not even find his heart brother to offer help.

Aang heard Katara stirring in the next room, wiped his tears away quickly, and took calming breaths. Katara was holding together with tiny bits of string. He was her rock, he would look after her and hide his own fears and worries, and he would support her as Sokka had supported him. He would not let Sokka down.

Katara was coming. Aang needed to improve his mood, fast. His mind flashed back to the last visit he and Katara had paid to the Southern Water Tribe. He imagined Sokka's reaction to that tale and almost immediately his lips twisted in a smug smile. Yeah, he could not wait to tell Sokka; now all he had to do was find him.

Aang greeted Katara with a wide grin plastered almost painfully on his face.

**

There was silence on the high battlements. It had been more than 20 minutes since the Spirits had made their appearance and vanished, and still no one moved. All eyes were riveted on the couple locked in an almost desperate embrace.

Both stressed for different reasons, the two stood holding each other tight, each needing the other’s touch, each holding on, feeling, healing, and breathing in the other. Tight muscles slowly began to relax as the energy danced and flowed between the two of them, heat was exchanged with comfort, and cold gave way to delicious warmth.

Zuko leaned down just a little—Sokka was slightly less than two inches shorted than his 6’2” frame—and pressed his face to Sokka's neck, breathing in the slight tangy scent of the warrior. He could hardly believe his prey was back in his arms, and this time willingly. He wanted to crow in victory, but that would mean raising his head away from the addictive form in his arms, and he could not find the will to move.

Suddenly a scent assaulted Zuko's nose, so sharp, it was like piercing ice shards in his brain. His head jerked up in affront and his hand tightened around Sokka to the point of pain. His words were an infuriated growl. “Explain yourself!!” he demanded.

Sokka raised his head and blinked, totally confused, “What climbed up your ass and died all of a sudden?” he replied in a lazy voice, the warmth and feeling of Zuko too damn comforting, even the too tight embrace was good. Sokka just could not find the energy to move, the stress of the ordeal catching up to him. He just wanted to eat and then sleep for a few days.

The soldiers within hearing range were caught between affront and amusement at the lazy disrespect and arrogance of their Lord's prey. Savin was just amused.

Zuko shook Sokka just a little. Hardly feeling it, Sokka rolled his eyes in response and tried to find the comfortable spot on Zuko's shoulder once again. Growling, Zuko jerked Sokka's head up, and this time Sokka growled back in response. He was going to smack the jerk bender if he did not stop spoiling Sokka's good mood.

“You smell of another male! Explain yourself!!” Zuko snapped out, flames flashing in his eyes. Sokka blinked innocently at him; then, as comprehension darned, Sokka chuckled and relaxed again. Not amused in the least, jealousy boiling in his gut, Zuko glared and ground his teeth.

The soldiers prudently stepped back. An enraged Fire Lord was not be trifled with...by anyone except his prey, that is. They watched in awe as the warrior looked appraisingly at the almost blazing Fire Lord, mumbled something that sounded like “You're cute”—“Did he just call Lord Zuko cute?”—“when you're mad,” and cuddled closer into the Lord's arms. Some of the soldiers began to fear for the seemingly self-destructive warrior.

“Sooookkaaaaaaaaa…” The word was long and drawn out. The Dragon Spirit began to stir in displeasure.

“Oh relax already, it’s just these clothes I borrowed. The scent is from whoever wore it last, it was probably some old grandpa, so chill – Fire Lord. Chill – Fire Lord, that's a good one, I still got it.” Sokka chuckled, suddenly feeling rather smug.

“Get it OFF!” Zuko snapped unreasonably. “I can't stand that stench so close to your skin, it’s unacceptable. Remove it at once.”

Sokka's head jerked up in surprise. He was going to snap back at Zuko for being foolish, but then he saw the stress lines around Zuko's mouth and good eye, and the scar tissue seemed to burn an ugly color. Everything in Sokka softened. The separation had been harder on Zuko than he would have imagined. A different kind of fire began to ignite in Sokka as his hand rose to cup Zuko's face and his thumb ran gently along the edge of the scar.

“Even for you I am not getting naked in front of the Fire Nation army, but if you want to remove the shirt, feel free to do so. My hands are busy right now,” Sokka said and his hands began a firm massage of the stressed muscles on Zuko's face and neck. The first few strokes were firm, and then the heat caught and Sokka's movements subtly changed. It was totally unconscious on his part, but his movements became languid and sensual, calling to the heat.

The sharp sound of tearing cloth echoed through the battlements. Zuko, needing no other encouragement, ripped the offending shirt in two and contemptuously let the shredded pieces fall to the ground. Possessively he ran his hands over the exposed beautifully tanned skin, first down Sokka's back, then his arms and torso, almost as if to replace the touch of the cloth with his own. Sokka’s skin ignited at the contact, he had *hungered* for this. Forgetting everything, he arched into the caress, his lips parting as his breath got heavier and the blue in his eyes deepened and shone with rising desire.

A responding desire rose in Zuko, and he bent down to almost take Sokka's lips in another kiss, almost... because a sound arrested the movement. There was a loud gasp from the soldiers, not a single gasp, but a chorus of them, the sound strengthened due to the sheer numbers who echoed it. Zuko turned sharply and stared in shock at his men.

With jaws slack and eyes bulging were soldiers who had never known sex, those with long-term partners, happily married men and women, straight and homosexual, it did not matter. All of them stared at the Dragon's Prey; there was an air about Sokka, a budding power, sensual, sensuous, natural, unconscious, and utterly alluring. They may never act on the pull, on the attraction, but all that watched the shirtless warrior writhe in the Fire Lord's arms in such innocent abandonment were entranced.

A multitude of emotions pulled Zuko in so many ways, but Sokka was not yet truly his, the warrior did not even carry Zuko's mark and the unification ceremony had not been done. Possessiveness and jealousy took primacy, his eyes began to glow, and the Dragon Spirit awoke to the unwitting threat to his claim. Focused on the soldiers who had unintentionally awoken the already stressed Dragon, Zuko lost control, the reasoning Fire Lord gave way to the primal Spirit within, and the Red Dragon roared.

Unthinking, without warning, consumed by primitive emotions, the Dragon lashed out and flames roared out of the Lord. Like a tidal wave the flames advanced on the soldiers, who, suddenly seeing the danger, were frozen at the advancing wall of fire. They had no hope of outrunning it.

Savin braced himself. As the only other Bender of power and the General, he created a fire barrier, one he knew would be overwhelmed in seconds. He only hoped that in his death he would give at least some of the soldiers a chance to get to safety. The advancing wall met his barrier, and Savin felt his body and will collapsing under the force, steam rising from him as his sweat evaporated, even as it left his body. The pressure was enormous. His knees buckled and then he fell forward as the pressure disappeared abruptly.

Savin, panting hard, raised his head, expecting to see Zuko back in control, but instead he saw a sight that would be imprinted in his head and would become a new symbol for the Fire Nation. The Spirit of the Wolf Hawk, its shimmering silver fur surrounded by a glowing sea-blue nimbus, its golden wings outstretched protectively, stood between the wall of fire and the men. The Wolf Hawk was not burned by the fire, instead he bathed in it, absorbed it, and the more fire that poured into the proud creature, the more powerful it seemed to become.

Sokka caught Zuko's face and pulled him down for a long kiss, soaking up the excess heat and replacing it with cool, tantalizing desire, breaking though the primal force that had taken the Firebender. “Enough, Zuko, we need to return to the training rooms and get away from these distractions. There’s no need for such displays. You’ve claimed me. Come on, let’s go. Do you want to be alone with me, or do you want to waste time showing off to your guards?” Sokka said firmly.

Sanity returned to Zuko, and his face paled as he raised his head to see the damage he had wrought. His jaw dropped as he saw the glowing Wolf Hawk watching him, the translucent form seeming to block him from those that had caused his loss of control. There was an understanding and determined look in the familiar blue eyes of the Spirit. It nodded regally at Zuko, then turned and cast a protective look at the guards gathered in awe behind him. The Spirit nodded in acknowledgement as the soldiers sank to their knees in respect, then as silently as it had appeared, the Spirit was gone.

Zuko turned to look into Sokka's eyes to see the same understanding and stubbornly protective look. “Come on,” Sokka said again. He looked at the soldiers and unwittingly accepted his position as a co-leader of the Fire Nation as he addressed its soldiers: “You are Fire Nation, and are aware of the volatility of the Fire Spirit. It is my error that caused this whole mess, and I humbly ask that you forgive me for putting you in danger. That you stayed and accepted the risk is a mark of your bravery and loyalty to your Fire Lord, and we thank you for it. We will be returning to the palace now, so please clear a path.”

The soldiers were touched by the small speech. Savin quickly stood, his legs still shaky, and snapped a command. “Step back! At ease! Eyes DOWN!” His voice clearly carried to all the soldiers, who immediately made way and stood at ease, keeping their heads lowered and effectively reducing the threat they had become to the aggressive Dragon Spirit, and allowed the royal pair to move without incident to the awaiting closed carriage.

Sokka, with one arm around Zuko's waist, had basically hauled the still edgy Fire Lord – who seemed to want to glare and challenge the soldiers to dare look up – off the battlements away from those that may be seen as a threat. As soon as they were in the privacy of the carriage, however, Zuko relaxed, and it was his turn to yank Sokka, who had sat opposite him, onto his lap and into his arms. Holding Sokka safe, with no possible threat around, Zuko finally calmed down completely.

It seemed to Sokka that one minute Zuko had been all possessive and hot, and the next second the Fire Lord's head was tucked into his neck, snoring. He tried to ease off Zuko's lap, in case he was heavy, but Zuko immediately protested. Fast asleep, his arms tightened possessively around Sokka as he muttered in discontent. Sokka felt himself blush. Darn…Zuko was so cute like this, vulnerable in sleep and yet still so Fire Lord-y.

Even as he settled comfortably on Zuko's lap, Sokka's thoughts chased in his head. He had accepted it, accepted the position of Prey, and after that last incident – there was no way he would attempt to leave again. Zuko had said he loved him, loved Sokka, and not the Prey. What did Sokka feel for Zuko? Sokka was just not sure, things were just moving too fast. He couldn't answer that question at the moment. And the silver Wolf Hawk, Sokka knew it was that it was somehow a part of himself – he was the meat and plan guy, how the hell did HE of all people end up with a Wolf Hawk that freaking powerful as a manifestation of his Spirit? It was not scientific – seriously cool and waaaayyy ALRIGHT, SOKKA – but still so not scientific. Arrghh, his head hurt. He needed to ask Aang all this stuff. Sokka pressed closer to Zuko. …if Aang was still talking to him, that is.

Being excommunicated from the tribe meant no contact with the southerners, and he figured that was why Aang and Katara had not bothered to find him. It still hurt, but somehow with Zuko's arms around him, the pain was not so sharp and did not feel so important anymore. Hopefully they would be able to acknowledge him now that he was part of the Fire Nation. Wow – that sounded strange – Sokka of the Fire Nation – hmmm…maybe he should permanently change his name to Warrior Fire. That would probably make diplomatic matters between the Fire Nation and the Southern Water Tribe much easier. As simply Sokka he might cause more problems. Sokka's active brain whirled with practical plans to improve the Fire Nation and, rocked by the movements of the carriage, warm and held secure, Sokka matched his breathing to Zuko's and he, too, fell asleep before they reached the palace.

The little carriage was generating a powerful aura of contentment, and in all the areas it passed, people found themselves relaxing and smiling unconsciously. Finally, all was right in the Fire Nation.

--tbc
- 11
- 12
- 13
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Dragon's prey