Chapter Text
Sokka was eight the first time he heard about soulmarks.
He caught a glimpse of his mother's soulmark one evening. He pointed at it, "What's that, Mom?"
Kya smiled, her eyes sparkling. She chuckled before answering, "It's called a soulmark." She rolled up her sleeve and sat down with Sokka, wrapping an arm around her son and showing her mark. It was the silhouette of a wolf surrounded by gorgeous blue flowers. Sokka ran his fingers against the mark in fascination, "Pretty." He said, "What does it mean?"
"Well, everyone gets one when they turn ten-years-old." Kya began to explain, "It means you have a soulmate. Someone who's going to love you forever."
"Like you and Dad?" Sokka asked.
"Exactly." Kya said, kissing the side of his head, "Your dad has one, too."
"What will my soulmark look like?" Sokka asked.
"I don't know, sweetheart." Kya said, "But I know it will be beautiful."
Sokka beamed at his mother, "I hope I have blue flowers. Like yours."
"We'll have to wait and see. How would you feel if they turned out to be green?" Kya asked.
"That'd be okay." Sokka decided. He paused, then asked, "What if they're red?"
Kya froze for a moment, but plastered on a smile, "Everything will work out the way the spirits intended." She said carefully.
"Okay, Mom." Sokka said, "I can't wait to be ten."
-
Sokka was nine when his mother was killed.
His father's soulmark had turned grey when she died. Hers was still vibrant, even in death.
Sokka didn't want a soulmark anymore.
Yet, a few months later, his tenth birthday rolled around. His wrist began to itch a little while after his bedtime. He thought it was simply frostbite or a rash. He got out of bed. It was still rather early in the evening so he knew Gran Gran would still be awake.
"Sokka, what are you doing awake, young man?" Gran Gran asked when she noticed him.
"My wrist hurts." Sokka shrugged. The faint itching had become stronger. It was becoming a burning sensation.
"Oh dear, let me see." Kanna said, gesturing for her grandson to come closer. She began rolling up his sleeve, "Let's see what the trouble is-" She broke off with a gasp.
"What? Is my arm gonna be okay?" Sokka asked, rubbing his eyes with his free hand.
Kanna stammered for a moment before responding, "I'm going to get your father."
She stood and rushed to the back of the iglu where Hakoda was.
Sokka was immediately filled with a sense of dread. He looked down at his wrist.
Two swords crossed over each other, surrounded by an intricate design of lilies. Red lilies.
Sokka gasped, rubbing at his mark in an attempt to wipe it off. It had to be some kind of mistake. There was no way his soulmark was red. It couldn't be.
Hakoda rushed into the main area and beckoned for Sokka to give him his arm. Hakoda held Sokka's wrist after Sokka obliged. He was silent for a long time, just staring at the mark, searching for something to say. Anything to say.
"It's a mistake." Sokka said, "It has to be a mistake!"
"Sokka, everything will be fine." Hakoda said calmly. Too calmly.
"The Fire Nation is evil!" Sokka exclaimed. He didn't care if he woke Katara. He was terrified and upset, "They killed Mom! I hate them!"
"I know, son. I know." Hakoda said, his strong voice wavering.
Sokka began to cry. His father pulled him in for a tight hug.
Ever since that day, Sokka kept his arm covered.
-----
Zuko was nine the first time he heard about soulmarks.
He was sitting at the pond with his mother, feeding the turtleducks. Ursa held back her sleeve so as not to get it wet as she gently placed some bread into the pond.
Zuko noticed a small flash of red on her arm.
"Are you okay, Mom?" Zuko asked, concerned.
"Of course, Zuko. Why wouldn't I be?" Ursa asked.
"Your arm is red." Zuko said.
Ursa followed his gaze to her left arm. She gasped and tugged down her sleeve.
"What's wrong?" Zuko demanded.
Ursa looked around. Seeing that they were alone, she scooted closer to her son and carefully pulled up her sleeve.
On her arm was a red theatre mask, surrounded by red roses.
"It's beautiful." Zuko said, gently touching it, "What is it?"
Ursa covered her arm as soon as Zuko pulled his hand away, "It's called a soulmark. We don't discuss them here."
"Why not? What do they mean?" Zuko asked, full of curiosity.
"Zuko, listen to me, you must never mention them to anyone. Do you understand?" Ursa pleaded.
Zuko, though he still felt utterly confused, nodded, "Yes, Mom."
-
The next day he asked his tutor during his lesson, "What are soulmarks? Why aren't we allowed to talk about them?" Zuko couldn't resist.
His tutor looked taken aback for a moment, then his eyebrows furrowed together in annoyance, "The Royal Family does not have soulmarks. The Dragon Throne comes first, the bloodline knows this. There is no need to concern yourself with such matters."
"But what do they mean?" Zuko asked.
"It is simply a sign that you are given a soulmate. One you are destined to be with." The tutor sighed, "But as I said, the Royal Family does not concern itself with such civilian ideologies. It is not something to discuss."
"Why not?" Zuko pressed.
"Enough." The tutor barked.
Zuko sat up straighter and nodded.
"May we proceed?" The tutor said.
"Yes, sir."
-
Zuko was nearly ten when his mother left.
Some time after Ozai was appointed Firelord, the Winter Solstice rolled around. Zuko's birthday. Another reason his father hated him.
It was late. He tossed and turned in his too-big bed when he felt a burning sensation on his wrist. He sat up and groggily rubbed his eyes. He scratched at his wrist absentmindedly until the burning became stronger and stronger.
Zuko got out of bed and lit the candle on the nearby dresser. He must have burned his wrist while training earlier that afternoon and hadn't noticed until now.
He held his arm to the candlelight and looked to see what the issue was. When he laid his eyes on the sight, he gasped and stumbled back, falling onto his bedpost.
Zuko took a few deep breaths, leaning against the post. He was simply imagining things. His tutors always said he had an overactive imagination. That's all it was.
Slowly, he lifted his arm into his eyesight again, looking closer this time.
Yeah. That was definitely a soulmark. And it was blue.
Zuko rubbed at the mark. He hated to admit that it looked beautiful. It was a boomerang, surrounded by blue scorpion grasses.
He had a soulmark. It was a curse.
Zuko shook his head and a few tears fell without warning, but he didn't cry.
Zuko told no one of his mark.
Since that day, Zuko kept his arm covered.