Chapter Text
Fire Lord Zuko has a problem.
Today was supposed to be easy, simple now that his found family surrounds him, listening to his council discuss different treaties and laws for the Avatar and his team's approval. He had heard these plans hundreds of times, fine tuned them into something he thought was worthy of his favorite people's approval, but now he could tell this was a bad idea. Not one of his friends were paying attention the way he wanted them to and he knew because each time he glanced into their eyes, their thoughts flooded into his mind.
While most not of Fire Nation birth scoffed at the idea that the royal bloodline was truly descended of Agni, Zuko knew it to be true. Those of Agni's blood carried special gifts with their bending and Zuko had been able to read the thoughts of any person he could see the eyes of, sometimes even without if the person's thoughts or imagination was loud enough. Azula was able to use simple suggestion, something she wielded rarely, confident that she could be successful with only her words, but Zuko suspected she let it slip into most words she said to get what she wanted easier. Their father had the gift of telepathic speaking, able to give an order to as many as he wanted without uttering a word.
Zuko had learned at a young age to use his gift rarely. His father had hated that his son knew exactly what he was thinking when he looked at him and Zuko had learned that it was best to keep his eyes away from a person's eyes when he wanted to ensure they kept their privacy. Slowly, Iroh had guided him to use his gift sparingly to his benefit, to anticipate movements in fights and ensure he wasn't being lied to. Iroh's gift was simple foresight, which was one of the reasons Zuko had trusted him so implicitly.
Nowadays Zuko's gift was put to excellent use, sniffing out Ozai sympathizers in the years following the war and ensuring that the people he put in power had the same goals as he did. Today he had only meant to check in that his friends were following properly and see if they had any questions they weren't voicing, but one man's thoughts were loud enough that Zuko only had to glance in his direction to hear them. He let his eyes drift over his friends, attempting to drown out the noise.
First was Aang, who was doing a poor job of even looking like he was paying attention. When Zuko found his eyes, he heard Aang planning a date with Katara loud and clear. They hadn't been back to the Fire Nation in a year, the longest they'd ever managed to stay away, and Aang wanted to take advantage of the warm beaches and relax with his soon to be wife. Zuko couldn't blame him, knowing this was the one place where he wasn't the absolute top of leadership. At the least, Aang was chiding himself in his head, attempting to focus time and time again before his thoughts went back to Katara.
Zuko's eyes shifted to Katara and he forced himself to remain impassive. Katara had been listening closely, her notebook filled with questions and thoughts about the plans, but one of the councilmen had mispronounced 'Agna Qel'a' and it was now all she could think about. She refocused, pushing the thoughts away, but there it was again and she was fighting the want to speak out and correct him. Annoyance rose in her quickly, but she held her tongue. Zuko on the other hand had no such qualms with voicing the correction.
"-that is why we think that an embassy should be established in Agni Qel'a-"
"Councilman, I apologize for the interruption, but you are mispronouncing the capitol city's name. Agna Qel'a is the name. Not 'Agni.' Please continue."
The councilman sputtered before he bowed his head and blurted out an apology. Zuko glanced to Katara and offered a small smile as she relaxed and her thoughts turned back to focusing on the proposal at hand. That was at least one of his friends on track.
Toph was bending her space rock absentmindedly, having told Zuko that it helped her focus, but her mind was on her metalbending academy. She was putting her students through drills in her head and thinking over new moves she wanted to try. Zuko decided he didn't want to push for her to pay more attention, especially because this proposal in particular didn't really apply to her. He'd attempt to pull her into conversation later, when it pertained more to her.
Finally there was Sokka, who outwardly was writing notes diligently, a small frown on his face as he nodded along to what the councilman was saying, but his mind was on something else. Sure he was paying attention, a small part of his mind putting together the proposal carefully, but the bigger, louder part of his mind was focused on something else.
Zuko.
Ever since Sokka had taken his seat at the end of the table, furthest away from the Fire Lord, Zuko could hear the scenes Sokka was imagining in his head. Originally it had been quite tame, Sokka imaging that it was just he and Zuko in the room, looking over scrolls together instead of having them presented by councilmen Sokka had decided were dull and annoying, but soon things had taken a sharp turn. Zuko had spoken up for the first time to correct a councilman on the location of a port and Sokka's mind had focused on that. Soon Zuko could hear his own voice from Sokka's mind, correcting parts of the scrolls Sokka had imagined and then Sokka was quieting him with a kiss.
The noise had been loud in Zuko's head and he'd almost thought it had been someone in the room making the moaning sound, but no one else seemed alarmed. He hadn't even been looking at Sokka, focusing on what Aang thought of the plan, but Sokka's thoughts were louder. When he tuned back in curiously, he could see what Sokka was imaging.
Zuko was sprawled out on his scrolls, Sokka standing between his thighs as he leaned over the Fire Lord and kissed him breathless. They weren't alone anymore, faceless councilmen watching as Zuko's face flushed and Sokka grinned down at him.
"Sokka, they'll see."
"Good. I want them to watch."
Blinking, Zuko had tried to pry himself from Sokka's thoughts, focusing on the proposal in front of him, but Sokka's thoughts were louder. He could hear himself moaning Sokka's name, listening to the way the scrolls rustled under him, and then the murmuring of the imagined councilmen. It was loud, but Zuko was finally able to tune him out somewhat when one of the councilmen asked him to explain a portion of one of the laws to his friends.
Sokka had listened closely, pausing his lewd thoughts to hang on Zuko's every word, which was a blessing for Zuko, but that had soured the moment the councilman had picked up where Zuko left off. An accidental glance at Sokka had new images rushing into his mind.
Zuko's robes were hanging open in the front, the back of them hiked up so Sokka could see his ass as he fucked the Fire Lord in front of his council. Sokka pushed a hand against Zuko's back, pressing him further against the table and Zuko stumbled through a continued reading of the proposal until his head fell forward, resting on the wood. Sokka tsked and pulled Zuko's head up by his hair. He looked debauched, red faced and jaw hanging open in unrestrained moans. Sokka didn't let up as he scolded him.
"Don't let me stop you, baby. Tell them all about your ideas."
Zuko's eyes rolled back as Sokka shifted his weight over top of Zuko and his pace slowed, each thrust forcing Zuko against the table so hard the noise rang out in the room and the heavy table scrapped forward. Sokka grit his teeth, concentrating completely on making Zuko fall apart. Zuko moaned out Sokka's name like a prayer.
"My Lord?"
Zuko snapped back to reality, realizing the whole table was looking at him. He blinked quickly, attempting to find where they had stopped.
"My apologies, I seem to have missed the question?"
The councilman to Zuko's left sighed like he was exasperated and Zuko bit back a grimace.
"I asked if you had anything to add to the proposal report regarding Agna Qel'a before we move on?"
Zuko relaxed, knowing he didn't. He hadn't missed that much, then.
"No, unless one of our esteemed guests has any further comments?"
Carefully, Zuko met each of their eyes except for Sokka, who he knew hadn't faltered from his daydreaming if the sound of scraping table legs ringing in Zuko's mind was anything to go by. When he was sure there was nothing else, Zuko motioned for the councilman to move to the next proposal.
Now Zuko was pointedly trying to ignore the moans and cries that Sokka had running through his head. He refused to look over, even as curiosity burned at the new noises he could hear. That didn't sound like him anymore and his curiosity peaked as he heard Sokka speak breathlessly in his head.
"That's it. Give them a show."
Zuko was leaning over Sokka, their foreheads almost pressed together as Zuko eased himself into Sokka. His face was a mask of pleasure and Sokka was grinning as he held Zuko's cheek in one hand and urged him deeper with his other. Sokka looked down at where they were joined and then tossed his head back, pulling Zuko further onto him so they were chest to chest.
"You feel so good."
"All for you, gorgeous. Come on, fuck me. I know you can do it."
"Of course I can do it."
Sokka surged forward and kissed Zuko hard, using his teeth to pull on Zuko's bottom lip until he looked close to snapping.
"Then fuck me hard, pretty boy."
Zuko's hips surged forward and Sokka let his head fall back again, loud moans falling from his lips as Zuko did as told.
"I think we should adjourn for the day, my Lord."
Zuko blinked and nodded dumbly. That was enough for the other councilmen gathered to begin picking up their things. After a moment, Zuko stood as well and rubbed a hand over his face, checking to see if his his cheeks were as warm as they felt. The councilman gently placed a hand on Zuko's arm and their eyes met.
Whatever is troubling the Fire Lord must be something of great importance. I've never seen him so distracted.
"Are you alright, my Lord? I can request that your assistant clears the rest of your day for you."
Sokka's thoughts were quieter now and it was easier to think, but Zuko knew he needed to get away from the noises to concentrate. And maybe to relieve the growing furnace in his stomach. Sokka was an attractive man, one that Zuko had watched for years as he had grown into himself, but Zuko didn't want to ruin what they had. They were easy friends now, Sokka being someone Zuko felt he could tell almost anything. His only closer confidant was Aang.
Zuko needed to speak to Aang immediately.
"Yes, please do. I think I've missed my family more than I anticipated. Please clear our combined schedule for the next three days and then we will work twice as hard when we reconvene. I will propose the rest of our plans myself and bring back their notes. Thank you."
The councilman nodded and one glance at his eyes told Zuko that he was pleased the Fire Lord had confided in him even this tiny bit of information and he was already thinking of ways to invite the others back. Once he was gone, Zuko ran a hand through his hair and immediately there were new thoughts bombarding him.
Gorgeous. I bet he'd love if I pulled it.
Zuko's eyes snapped to Sokka's and the man gave him a warm smile as his mind pictured Zuko over the table again, pulling his hair back as Zuko let a ragged moan fall from his lips. Zuko pointedly looked away and Sokka's thoughts stuttered to a halt all at once, no longer loud enough for Zuko to hear without looking.
"That was a lot shorter than it was supposed to be, wasn't it?"
Aang smiled a bit sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck and Zuko focused on his nose to not have to listen to anything he was thinking about. He didn't think he could take anyone else's thoughts at the moment.
"It was, but my mind isn't where it should be. Could I borrow you for a while?"
Katara leaned on Aang and frowned, but the airbender gave her cheek a gentle kiss to placate her. It didn't seem to work well as Katara's frown deepened.
"Sure. We'll meet up with you guys later?"
"What are you two going off alone to do? I'd rather no more field trips where either of you disappear."
Zuko laughed loudly, shaking his head a bit and Katara relaxed.
"No, nothing like that. I'd just like to discuss a few things with my best friend. I promise we won't be away for long."
With a nod and a kiss for Aang later, Katara was stepping away and taking Toph's arm. The girls wondered off, Katara already whispering something to Toph that made the earthbender grin. A heavy arm wrapped around Zuko's shoulder and immediately his head was filled again as Zuko glanced over instinctively.
He's so warm. I bet he'd burn around my-
Zuko looked away and shrugged out of Sokka's arms, a tentative smile on his face. Sokka frowned, an eyebrow raising as Zuko refused to look anywhere near his face.
"What, am I not invited either? Aren't I your best friend, too?"
Searching for words, Zuko found himself looking at the table Sokka had imagined fucking him against and he scowled.
"You are…but I'd like to just talk to Aang for now."
Aang's eyes went wide before he looked to Sokka shrugged.
"Pretty serious stuff, then. Don't worry about it, Sokka! It'll probably be boring Avatar advice stuff."
"I give pretty solid advice, too."
Zuko sighed and moved his hand to run through his hair, but stopped just short, not wanting to hear whatever new sexual thing Sokka was going to think of.
"Fine, fine. I know when I'm not wanted. Whatever. I'll go…somewhere."
As Sokka turned, Zuko dared to catch a glance at his face and the thoughts hit him once again.
At least this gives me some time alone to rub one out.
Zuko closed his eyes and breathed out one deep sigh before he was giving Aang a half-assed smile. Aang returned it with a bright grin and Zuko didn't need to hear his thoughts to know he was ready to listen to whatever Zuko had to say.
~*~*~
"Wait, wait, wait. You can read minds?!"
"I've told you this before, Aang."
"No you didn't!"
Zuko scoffed as he looked out at Caldera, remembering distinctly the day he had confessed to Aang his gift. The young Avatar had stared at him like he'd grown a second head and then made Zuko answer random questions for a half hour before he accepted it. Aang met Zuko's eyes and Zuko chuckled as the memory finally resurfaced for Aang.
"Wait, you did. Back on Ember Island. How did I forget that?"
"You were under a lot of stress when I told you and it hasn't come up since. It's no big deal."
"That's a huge deal, Zuko! Wait…can you like…always hear people's thoughts?"
A chuckle left Zuko's lips and he smiled, shaking his head.
"Not always, usually just when I look in someone's eyes."
"You haven't like…heard anything weird from me?"
"Nothing I can think of off the top of my head. I did notice you weren't paying much attention earlier, though."
Aang's cheeks colored and he rubbed the back of his neck with a nervous chuckle.
"Sorry about that…I was really trying to."
"I know."
Zuko went quiet for a few moments before he turned to Aang, though he didn't meet his eye. Aang pressed a kind hand to Zuko's shoulder, the encouragement soothing Zuko as he took a deep breath.
"Let's just say…hypothetically speaking…"
Aang lifted an eyebrow.
"Sure, hypothetically…"
"If you could read minds and you learned that someone you care for was thinking about you…"
Zuko struggled to find the words he wanted to use. It wasn't like he and Aang hadn't spoken about things like this before. Aang had asked for his advice on a few occasions about his relationship with Katara, but they hadn't ever really wondered past romance and into sex besides a few awkward times Zuko had accidentally misunderstood what Aang was asking about.
"You heard something you didn't want to?"
"I…don't know."
"What was it?"
Aang tilted his head to the side curiously and Zuko sighed heavily before he rubbed his hands over his face.
"Someone was having wet daydreams…about me and them."
"Really?! Not to be crude, but what could they have been imagining in such a boring meeting?""
"Quite a lot, actually."
For a moment they were both quiet and then Aang was leaning back, clearly thinking hard about this.
"Can't you just tune them out by not looking at them? I mean sure it's not comfortable, but it is their mind. They're not acting on it, are they?"
"That's the issue. Their thoughts are loud. So loud that I didn't even need to look at them to hear it. But no, they aren't acting on it."
Zuko's face morphed to a scowl again and he stared down at his hands. Aang blinked owlishly before he was gaping at Zuko.
"Wait, do you want them to act on it? Listen, the air nomads are all for love in any form but most of your councilmen are like old."
"I'm not talking about a councilman."
"Then who- Toph?!"
Running an agonized hand down his face again, Zuko forced himself to swallow his anxiety before he was gritting out his words.
"No, not Toph! It was…Sokka."
Aang looked surprised for only a moment before he pressed a hand to his chin, thinking deeply before he was nodding, like that made perfect sense.
"He's not dating anyone right now."
"That's not what I want to talk about."
"I'm just saying! He's not doing anything wrong technically. Again, it's his mind."
Zuko scrunched his nose as Aang put his hands up placatingly.
"What do you want to talk about then? How to get him to stop? I think you just need to talk to him."
"I'd have to tell him, then. And trust me, it wasn't anything I really want to think about again."
"So you don't like Sokka, not even a little."
Zuko went quiet and his eyes trailed back to Caldera and its many ornate buildings. He did like Sokka, but he'd thought it was more often an aesthetic thing than a true attraction. He didn't really think about anyone else sexually, usually only getting himself off when it was truly bothersome. There were a few times with Mai he'd tried and they had been overwhelmingly successful on his side, but she hadn't enjoyed it nearly as much. That had been one of the reasons she broke up with him. They weren't compatible like that, no matter how hard Zuko tried.
He didn't know if he could handle a repeat.
"No…"
"You're a really lousy liar."
"I don't know what to do. It's not like you and Katara who were pretty much born for one another. Sokka's almost as close to me as you are and I don't want to mess that up."
"Who says you'll mess anything up?"
Zuko met Aang's gaze and all of his thoughts were centered on Zuko. He thought Zuko was being stupid. Aang thought there was an obvious answer. Zuko narrowed his eyes.
"I'm not going to 'just try it out.' You can't seriously think that'll work."
"I do! You can literally hear me thinking it'll work. Besides, you know Sokka's into you now! You'd literally be making his dreams come true."
"You don't know that."
Aang gave Zuko a flat, unamused look and Zuko scowled down again, unwilling to hear Aang's thoughts anymore.
"I don't know about you, but I don't daydream about that sort of stuff with just anyone. I think you're doing that self-destructive thing you always do. The one where you try to ruin things before anything good can happen. Besides, what's the worst that can happen? He gets embarrassed and stops thinking about that sort of thing around you and you don't have to hear it anymore?"
"I could ruin our friendship."
"It seriously sounds like he doesn't want to just be friends with you. Just try it. And if he doesn't want to be your friend anymore, you've still got me and Katara and Toph."
Zuko frowned, but he nodded resolutely. Aang was right. The only way to figure this out was to work through it. He'd talk to Sokka and see what came of it.
"You've really grown up a lot since we met."
"You have too!"
Glancing over at Aang for a moment, Zuko studied his features, though he pointedly didn't look into his eyes. Aang wasn't the kid that Zuko had chased all over the world anymore. The years of training had built him into a handsome young man and Zuko wondered if Aang felt the same pride Zuko did when he looked at Aang. He didn't look into his eyes to check. The airbender stood and brushed off his robe, offering a hand to Zuko.
"Come on, let's go get you a boyfriend!"
Zuko scoffed, almost a laugh, before he was taking Aang's hand and letting his friend pull him upright.
"I'm just going to talk with him."
"Sure. Let me know how it goes later! For now, I'm going see if a beach day sounds good to Katara."
"I'm sure she'll like anything, as long as it's with you."
~*~*~
The morning had bled into evening and Zuko was pointedly not ignoring Sokka. At least that was what he kept telling himself. Even when he cleared his schedule, things popped up that had to be dealt with immediately. It just so happened that when those things came up was about the same time that Zuko had built up the nerve to talk with Sokka.
It didn't help that every time he glanced in Sokka's direction he could tell Sokka was still thinking about him. At the least his thoughts had turned slightly less debauched, now imaging Zuko dressed in Water Tribe blues before Sokka was picking them off of his chest slowly, all except a ribbon at Zuko's neck, which Sokka seemed fixated on.
Aang and Katara were discussing beach trip plans for the next day with Sokka, but Zuko couldn't concentrate. He didn't understand how Sokka could be focused on two things at once the way he was. Zuko found Sokka's eyes and could see himself on a dais, Sokka kneeling beside where he lay, rough hands drawing breaths from Zuko as Sokka just touched him. Then he could hear his own raspy voice.
"Is this really what you want to be doing?"
"Yes."
Sokka sounded breathless as he looked up at Zuko, catching his eyes and pressing a kiss to Zuko's chest absently. Zuko's eyes softened and he reached down for Sokka, pulling him up and guiding him to Zuko's face.
"I don't know that I like you like this. It's…"
"You can just say it turns you on."
"I don't know that it does."
Sokka leaned back and laid his head on Zuko's stomach, trailing his hand down until he was pushing his fingers past the waistband of Zuko's blue pants. His fingers were gentle as he touched the skin above Zuko's member, neglecting it entirely to just touch where he wanted, light as lightning bug kisses.
"Can't I want to worship the son of Agni?"
"I don't…you don't have to."
Sokka sat up, light touches abandoned as he leaned forward and pressed their lips together in a loving kiss. His hand went to Zuko's neck, his thumb rubbing gently over the line of his jaw.
"You're right. I don't have to. You know I don't believe in all that spirit stuff, but sometimes I look at you and I reconsider."
Zuko took a deep breath in and looked away from Sokka, closing his eyes and pushing his face into his hands. A warm hand came to his shoulder and Zuko stiffened before glancing up and seeing exactly who he didn't want to right now. Sokka looked worried, rubbing a thumb over Zuko's shoulder affectionately, like he'd done a million times in the past, but now it was as if Zuko could feel the touch elsewhere and he felt like a pervert.
"You okay, buddy?"
"Yeah. I should let you guys enjoy some time off. I'll met you all in the foyers tomorrow morning and we can head out to Ember Island together."
Nodding to himself, Zuko stood and stretched out, closing his eyes completely to not hear anything Sokka thought about that, before he turned away from his friends.
"Good night. Don't hesitate to ask for anything you need."
"Great, I'm in need of the Fire Lord's attention."
Zuko stifled a groan as Sokka leaned on him, a grin gracing his face as he winked. This couldn't go any worse, could it?
"What can I do for you?"
More than you know, gorgeous.
"We haven't caught up in forever and I'm feeling a bit neglected considering you called Aang your best friend and all. How about a drink?"
A drink? If Sokka's thoughts were this loud sober, how unbearable would they be drunk?
"Let's have that drink tomorrow on the beach."
Sokka frowned, narrowing his eyes before he pulled away from Zuko and now his thoughts were quiet enough that Zuko could escape them by just avoiding Sokka's eyes.
"Are you avoiding me?"
Zuko was at a loss for words. The truth was yes, he absolutely was. He couldn't concentrate around Sokka anymore, wether it be hearing his criminally loud lusting over Zuko or thinking about if Sokka was thinking up some new way to explore his imaginary body. He couldn't concentrate and therefore he couldn't decide what he wanted to do about it. Aang was right, that he should just talk with Sokka, but a small, indulgent part of him didn't want to talk about it.
That part of him liked the way Sokka's mind stayed focused on him, on wanting nothing but him. He tried to push it to the back of his head, to shake it away, but the second he heard another one of Sokka's thoughts he was back there listening, watching, like a creep. Sokka's mind was his own and Zuko was the one doing the intruding, even if he was only really seeing thoughts about Zuko.
Sighing dramatically, Zuko shook his head and offered a tired smile to Sokka, which seemed to soothe him a bit.
"Maybe a little. I'm excited to not be anywhere near court tomorrow, so I can genuinely spend time with all of you without interruptions. But that's not possible if I don't finish what I have to today. Today has been…exhausting."
Zuko watched as Sokka stood down, his face softening to something so fond that Zuko ached when Sokka gave a soft squeeze to his shoulder. Sokka wasn't thinking anything lewd now, he was focused solely on Zuko. It was a balm to his tired mind.
"Sorry, I guess I'm just bummed I couldn't join earlier. I've missed you, buddy."
"I know. I missed you too. We'll have that drink tomorrow, I promise."
Sokka nodded brightly and let Zuko go. Finally, he could have some time alone. With a final bid goodnight, Zuko turned and retreated to his blissfully quiet rooms.