Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or it's characters.

Warning: This story also involves non-con, only in the first chapter, and mpreg so you have been warned. Some shady stuff in later chapters, mainly confusing feelings.

Author's note 2009: I in no way condone non-con or rape and am only using the situation of that in this chapter alone in the story. This is also my first…and probably only mpreg story I'll ever write so please be gently. I just had the idea in my head and had to do it.

AUTHOR'S NOTE 2020: I am back and I am officially going to finish this story. It's been a decade, but now that I have easier access to the episodes via Netflix, my plan it to watch the tar out of it and finis this story this summer. If a chapter is updated, it will have an AUHTOR'S NOTE 2020 on it and that means it's part of the final stretch. If it does not, then that means I haven't gotten to that chapter yet. Keep in mind, that as I update more 2020 chapters, the older chapters will make less sense because I am changing some things to help with the pacing - like this chapter I ended up taking two scenes out of that I will move to chapter two, but this still ended up being 6 pages longer than the original so I'm not too upset about moving things around.

Without further ado, the 2020 Chapter One!

/

Chapter One: Control

/

Life just wasn't fair.

Sokka groaned as he felt the ground move under his back. The rocks bit against his skin through his tunic and for once he was glad that his hands hadn't been tied behind his back. He opened his eyes to see the stars smiling down at him. His head was pounding and his vision swam for a moment reminding him that he had been knocked out.

He took a deep breath and was before he was able to glance towards where his arms and legs were tied to see the back of three komodo-rhinos. That's right….he had gotten captured….

"Ouch!" Sokka groaned after he went over a particularly sharp rock.

His feet and hands were tied and then connected to a chain that was hooked around one of the beast's saddles where he had fallen off on his third attempt to escape the soldiers. The fire benders had decided to leave him on the ground after that, since he seemed so desperate to escape, they figured it would be just less work to drag him.

Sokka's back was never going to forgive him.

The avatar gang had landed in a small port city only that morning before they were spotted by the soldiers. The group of three had decided to split up, making it harder for the fire nation soldiers to follow them but then Sokka had heard Katara scream a few streets away from him.

Aang already had Appa in the air by the time Sokka had found the soldiers trying to drag his sister away and he did what any older brother would do. He attacked the soldier holding his sister and told Katara to run.

At first she had tried to stay and get him back but between Aang pulling her away and Sokka promising to catch up with them, they were able to get away.

Sokka wondered if Katara would be able to forgive him, it had been a promise he wasn't sure he would be able to keep but what mattered most is that she was safe and the Avatar was safe. Their mission could continue.

He was almost satisfied with that thought until the dragging stopped. Sokka blinked before turning his head to stare at a very big and very familiar fire nation ship.

"Just great…." The water tribe teen muttered before he was pulled to his feet.

/

"FOR THE LAST TIME UNCLE!" Prince Zuko turned around and snarled at his overly-friendly relative. "I DO NOT NEED ANY OF YOUR TEA!"

"But nephew…" Iroh was about to go into an anecdote about patience when a helmsman walked into the room with a small bow.

"We are making port now Prince Zuko…" The helmsman started but left his sentence unfinished to test the prince's mood. Iroh sighed at the pause, worried about his nephew's relationship with the crew.

"And?" Zuko snapped before he heard his uncle cough and the teen took a long calming breath.

"It appears Admiral Zhao is already at the port and he would like to board as soon as we are docked." The helmsman spoke quickly before bowing at the end.

The temperature in the room raised a few degrees letting the helmsman know he was dismissed before Zuko turned to his uncle in aggravation. "Why is he here?"

"Even his ships need to make port for supplies, Prince Zuko." Iroh said with wisdom but the look on the older man's face told his nephew Iroh was just as unhappy about Zhao's presence. "But keep your eyes open my nephew, a man like Zhao is always up to something."

"Don't worry uncle." Zuko stated before he made his way to the deck. His ship had started to slow down drastically and that meant it was only a matter of time before the bastard Zhao was going to be there.

The search for the Avatar had been filled with nothing but headaches. Zuko needed to put an end to this quest and return home. He was so tired of being angry, of this shame he couldn't let go of. He knew it would be better when it made it back home.

When he was back where he belonged.

It was pretty late into the night when Zuko walked out to the deck; viewing the small port town at dark would have made an almost beautiful sight if it hadn't been greeted with Zhao walking onto the banished prince's ship. "What do you want?"

"You really have a way with manners, Prince Zuko." Zhao almost purred as he walked across the deck so that he was next to the teen. "I just thought I would come tell you in person that you already missed the avatar, he ran away from this town hours ago."

"WHAT?" Zuko turned so that he was face to face with Zhao. The prince opened his mouth to continue screaming before his mind suddenly caught up, the gold eyes flashing back and forth in thought as he regarded the older man. "And you are not chasing him because?"

"Me?" Zhao stated in mock disinterest. "I just happened to find something interesting in the town so I was taking my time leaving. I came up here to let you know it looked like he was heading west, in case you wanted to try and get a head start."

Zuko stayed silent as Iroh walked out and started a meaningless conversation with the bastard. Zuko wasn't going to be fooled by this for even a moment.

Found something interesting?

In a small port town?

More interesting than chasing after the Avatar?

Zuko watched as Zhao and Iroh insulted each other without actually saying anything mean. Whatever the Admiral had, it had to deal with the Avatar. Zhao would never give up a chance to beat Zuko and win all the glory for himself.

Zuko was sure of it.

"Do you have something you need to say to me?" Zhao turned smugly to the banished prince and Zuko's nostrils flared. Maybe the prince had been glaring too hard as he started at the grown men while they were talking.

"No." Zuko's ponytail whipped behind him as he went back into the ship and made his way to his own personal cabin, not caring that he was being rude. He knew Iroh would dismiss Zhao soon enough and while the admiral was out of his sight he was going to plan.

Zuko needed to find out what Zhao wasn't telling him.

/

Zhao couldn't hide the smirk on his face as he made his way down to the bottom of his ship. He had yet to see his prisoner but he had felt obligated to harass Zuko first, after all they were fire nation brethren.

Once Zhao took care of the Avatar problem, he was going to make sure that weak-willed prince and his coward of an uncle never set foot in front of him again.

He had a prisoner.

And it was one of the Avatar's little friends.

If Zhao had been prone to bursts of useless emotion, he would have been whistling.

"What?" Zhao stopped as he looked at an empty cell, he glared at the guards who were on either side of him and they quickly ran to the cell, swinging the door open and running in to inspect where the prisoner had ran.

They didn't want to be the ones to suffer Zhao's wrath.

Sokka held his breath as he tried to hold onto the metal beam as the guards ran in underneath him, it was really hard to get a sturdy hold when his hands were chained together but luckily they hadn't chained his feet. He took a deep and silent breath as one guard stood right beneath him, he could do this.

Zhao watched with mild interest as the water tribe peasant dropped onto the guards, sending them both to the ground before he kicked his feet up in the air, hopping to his feet just in time to duck and roll under the bout of fire the other guard sent. The guards tried to grab the teen but knocked into each other.

Sokka rolled and ran for the open cell door, slamming it shut behind him before backing into something solid, and it definitely wasn't a wall.

'Oh, man….' Sokka thought as he looked up into the face of Zhao.

Zhao was the worst.

"Well what do we have here?" Zhao reached down to place his hand on the smaller teen when Sokka slid away from the older man. There was a beat where they stared at each other, Zhao smirking, curious about where the kid would go next.

Sokka spared him a second glance before he took off running down the hall, hoping fate would finally be on his side this time.

Zhao just smirked before he headed in the opposite direction, telling the guards who ran over to see what the commotion was to not worry. The two idiots who had gotten themselves locked into the cell could stay there for a night; the boy however, would not escape this ship.

Zhao always got his way.

Sokka turned down another hall and another…then another. He could feel the sweat slide down his skin as he made yet another turn in the unnatural warm ship.

He was so lost.

He kicked open a door to find stairs and took another deep breath. It was hard enough to not make a sound with the medal chains around his hands! There was a commotion not too far from Sokka forcing the teen to make the decision to go up the steps. Down would just take him deeper into the shop but up might give him a chance.

He had to get out.

Sokka could do this.

He paused as he found a door with a small window in it that peered into a hallway, he peeked over it to see the coast was clear before he pushed it open and rolled on the floor into a hiding place between two boxes. The chains were heavy around his wrists but as long as he held onto them he could keep them from clanking together too much.

He just needed to find an exit.

Any exit!

Sokka heard footsteps again, they seemed to be getting closer, it forced the teen up before he ducked into another hallway. A dead end! Why couldn't anything ever be easy for him!

There was a door but nowhere else to go, the teen looked around quickly as the steps got closer before pushing the door open and shutting it behind him. He tried to find a lever to lock it but nothing would budge when he pulled on it and he didn't have time to keep guessing. Sokka turned to take a look at where he was.

The room was huge, it had fire nation banners decorating the walls in a huge display. There was a fire in the middle of the room, a table on one side and then a bed on the other. Sokka released the breath he had been holding as the steps passed by and he looked again at the bed.

Clearly private quarters...but that meant a window!

Sokka didn't waste anytime as he jumped onto the bed and ran to the window; he pushed the covering open and managed to poke his head out to see…

He was very high up.

So high up.

Sokka groaned as he felt any chance of escape slowly leave him. There was no way he could survive a drop like, especially since the ship was still docked, if he hit the dock from this height he would be lucky if he just got two broken legs. He might be able to survive if he hit the water but then where would he go? This wasn't Zhao's only ship, the whole fleet was here.

The air was cool from the window and Sokka took a deep breath.

He would have to find another way out; he could just go back out there and get on a lower floor. There had to be other windows in this ship. It seemed like the ship didn't have it's full crew yet so he could make it down until he was closer to the water...or maybe he could find the way to the deck. No matter what, he was getting off this ship.

He could do this.

Sokka jumped as he heard the distinct noise of the metal locks working. He turned around quickly to see Zhao locking the door, the older man sighed as if he hadn't even noticed Sokka yet and the water tribe teen didn't move. He had to think of a way out.

And now.

"If you had wanted to talk privately with me, all you had to do was ask." Zhao smirked at Sokka as the teen's eyes widened. "Or did you want to jump out of that window?"

Sokka tensed, there had been no fire yet, maybe he should chance the jump, at least that way he had a small chance of getting out unscathed. Almost as if on instinct, before he had even made up his mind his body was already scrambling for the window. He scraped his arm against the harsh metal but he was almost half way out when he felt a hot hand on his ankle.

Sokka yelped as he was pulled roughly back inside, hitting his chin on the way down before he rolled over. The chain holding his wrist was grabbed before he could hit his attacker, the metal heating up to the point where it burned his skin and the water tribe teen screamed. He should have jumped as soon as he had seen the window. He should have escaped.

He was an idiot.

"I'm beginning to think that you don't like me." Zhao let go of the chains and was about to hit the teen when he received a quick kick in the stomach.

"I hate firebenders!" Sokka rolled out from under the older man, hitting the floor with a thud. He tried to scramble up but suddenly there was a hand grabbing him by his hair and pulling him back up. The teen turned to elbow his attacker but was pulled forward. Sokka tried to force himself up but then there was a strong blow to his back. Each hit felt like fire but Sokka knew Zhao hasn't used his firebending yet, this was just the man's strength.

"Gaah!" Sokka coughed, his ribs were screaming at him as much as he wanted to fight, his body was going limp as he tried to catch his breath.

"That's better." Zhao smirked as he flipped the body over on his mattress to see piercing blue eyes glaring up at him.

Zhao shuddered at that expression. Oh, how he relished in defiance, especially when his prey wouldn't be able to get away. He trailed one of his pale fingers down the tan skin with a smirk. The prisoner wasn't a bad looker either, young for what Zhao normally went for but those eyes reminded him so much of a certain prince. He stroked the cheek earning a surprised look from the boy beneath him and smiled.

"I demand you release me!" Sokka yelled.

There was a swift slap and Zhao enjoyed the slight sting in his hand as he stared down at the teen that seemed shocked.

Zhao couldn't hold back his smile now. He had seen this kid in action, an untrained warrior but a warrior nonetheless. The teen knew how to fight but had no idea what kind of situation he was in now. Zhao stared at the teen who was looking definitely away from him. "I expect your cooperation, peasant."

"I will not help you." Sokka muttered quietly before a hand gripped his chin tightly turning his face so he had to look at the dark cold eyes. The finger dug into Sokka's skin forcing tears into Sokka's eyes.

"It is not an option." Zhao's fingers burned his skin.

Sokka tried not to give the bastard any pleasure from his pain by remaining silent. He closed his eyes trying to think of a way out of this situation. The grip on his face loosened as his head was pushed to the side but Sokka could still feel the heat in his skin.

He was screwed.

"I plan on keeping you here until that Avatar comes to rescue you." Zhao traced his hand down Sokka's cheek, feeling a bit of pride in the marks that were already appearing on the kids skin. His fingers dipped down the chin, sliding across a thin neck neck before moving the tunic that showed some of the teen's chest. "And when he comes, I will capture him."

Sokka froze as the hand continued to push the fabric apart.

What was happening?

What was this firebender doing?

Zhao stopped his hand on the teen's stomach. His body was warming up without any order to but Zhao could admit that he was enjoying this. He would definitely enjoy this. The Admiral smiled as he looked at the teen's face to see that the peasant was now staring straight at him in confusion.

"I don't see why I can't have my fun before I get my prize." Zhao spoke his thoughts out loud and enjoyed watching as the teen seemed to finally understand what he was getting at.

He always preferred a flight.

"Stop touching me!" Sokka yelled before there was a calloused hand around his throat, silencing any further protest. He couldn't breathe but that wasn't what he was suddenly afraid of. He needed to get out here and fast. Even being back in a cell would be better than this.

Zhao's hand released his throat letting Sokka finally take in a big breath. He needed to get out. He needed to get away. Then the hands were back, both of them grabbing Sokka's tunic as they tugged and pulled, forcing Sokka to turn over so that he was on his stomach. His mind was racing but it wasn't long before Sokka's face was forced down onto the mattress.

"Don't wear yourself out too soon; I would hate to do all the work." Zhao pulled Sokka's arms, smirked at the chains that helped hold the teen's hands behind him. Zhao grabbed the metal, enjoying how the smaller teen tense as he prepared to be burned again. He twisted the chains instead and pulled causing the teen's arms to pull back and the teen hissed in discomfort. Zhao was almost feeling giddy, he was going to enjoy this...then he eyed the teen's tunic. "What an awful blue color."

Zhao smirked as he grabbed the tunic and watched the fabric catch fire, ignoring the muffled screams of the teen underneath him. The water tribe peasant was clearly trying to not make noise, maybe it was instinct that the teen knew Zhao would get more enjoyment with noises.

He watched how the young muscles twitch before they were burned, with a quick flick of his wrist the fire was out and the tunic was almost prisoner's skin was red from the assault and Zhao found pleasure as he heard something like a broken gasping.

Zhao hadn't even gotten to the fun part.

"I would like to warn you, since I am a kind man, that what I am about to do might hurt." Zhao smiled as the body trembled under him, he grabbed the kid's pants and was about to pull them down when suddenly he found a foot in his face.

Sokka shoved as hard as he could. The teen toppled forward, and he was prepared to hit the floor and roll away, make another break but before he could even hit the ground there was a hand on his ankle pulling him back.

Zhao growled as he squeezed, burning the ankle as his temper flared.

"Get off of me you psycho, you pervert, you fire nation scum!" Sokka made another attempt at a kick before it was dodged and suddenly there was a heavy body on top of his.

"I changed my mind, this IS going to hurt." Zhao promised as he shoved the teen down. He kept his hand that was now holding down the chained hands hot. He pushed down what was left of Sokka's clothes and positioned himself over the kid. "And you should consider yourself lucky that I am doing this to you, I don't choose to do this with anyone."

Sokka tried to shove the man again, he wanted to kick out but the older man was just too strong, he felt something thick and hard pressing against him. Into him. Sokka didn't realize how hard he had been biting his lip until the taste of blood filled his mouth.

It hurt.

It hurt so much.

"AHHH!" Sokka screamed, his chained hands tried to scratch the other man that was on top of him but Zhao was just far enough away and he couldn't reach. His body was in pain, he was being split open.

He couldn't take this.

"Get off of me!" Sokka sobbed as he felt another thrust. "AHHHH!"

"You're doing so well. I'm all the way, that wasn't so hard now was it?" Zhao pulled the peasant's hips up towards him, making the teen do some of the work. He glanced up to see that the peasant's hair was down, must have lost the hair tie in the scuffle which was too bad. Zhao wanted to see the teen's face. "You know, from this angle you almost look like a girl."

Zhao didn't get to enjoy things like this often, he wasn't one for taking prisoners in the first place but he had to admit, this was giving him more pleasure than one of those establishments he would frequent back at the capital. He kept his pace consistent, never faltering, only stuttering when he realized how quiet the prisoner had gotten.

He was so close, he wasn't going to let the teen ruin it now by passing out.

He would just have to teach his prisoner some manners.

Sokka woke with a great pain and a burning smell as his back was being seared. He felt the older man move in him and he gasped for air but the pain was too much. He couldn't breath, his body was screaming at him, or was that screaming coming from him?

"That's more like it." Zhao grunted. He was going to make this last as long as possible. Zhao found himself smiling. "And now, let's see if I can get you to enjoy this."

/

Sokka felt like he was going to be sick.

His hands were free.

Sokka opened his eyes slowly, unsure of what to expect. Maybe he was back in the prison cell, or maybe they had thrown his body overboard and he was dead now...but as the fire nation banners came into focus Sokka's stomach turned and he found himself dry heaving over the side of the bed, all the aches and pains in his body screaming at him.

"Oh you're finally awake?" Zhao smirked as he watched the teen before frowning. "I expect you to clean up while I'm gone. I have to leave you for a few moments, but I will be back."

Sokka wanted to say something but his throat begged him to remain silent; all he could do was watch the sick man leave the room. He forced himself up and realized there was a bath set up in the middle of the room. It must have been brought in while Sokka was out which meant that Zhao wasn't hiding his actions from his crew.

Damn Firebenders.

Scum.

Sokka glanced at his body; he was covered in burns, bruises, blood, and another substance that he did not want to consider. His hands were free but Sokka didn't think he could get very far. His hair was loose and he had a moment of being completely lost, his mind felt blank and Sokka didn't know what to do. He didn't-

He should take a bath.

The teen bit his lip before hissing as he bit into an already opened wound. He should take a bath and clean himself.

And plan.

He needed to get out of here.

He tried to make his way over to the bath only to collapse helplessly to the floor.

"Gyyaah!" Sokka sobbed at the pain. No wonder his hands were free, after everything that had happened, Sokka didn't have the strength to even stand. He took a shuddering breath before he forced himself on his knees. He felt something slide down his thigh, blood or semen, he didn't want to check and see.

He managed to crawl slowly over to the bath, gasping as he touched the warm water. He could do this.

He could clean himself.

He tried to find the easiest way into the water but even thinking about lifting his legs over the side was painful, he managed to almost slide into the tub, but thankfully movement got much easier after he was submerged in the water.

There was a rag on the side of the tub but Sokka knew it was Zhao's and refused to touch it, part of him know it wouldn't matter but he couldn't bring himself to scrub his skin with the same cloth. He instead reached for a blue cloth that was on the side of the tub. Clearly a burnt scrap from his tunic.

Sokka scrubbed hard. He didn't know if the tears were from the pain or from something deeper inside him breaking but he couldn't think about that now.

As soon as he felt like his skin was as clean as he could get it, Sokka glanced around the room. Everything was the same, aside from remnants of his clothes and the chains on the floor. The window was shut, where it had been open yesterday and Sokka wondered if it was now locked.

He needed to check.

Even if the fall killed him, he was going to get out of here.

He wasn't going to let Zhao-

He wasn't going to-

Sokka needed to get out of here.

Zhao hadn't even asked him questions. If this was a form of torture, there was no benefit from it...except maybe that was the point. The fire nation was clearly deprived and filled with monsters. Monsters like Zhao.

Sokka choked back a pained noise as he forced himself out of the water.

Window first.

The water made a mess on the floor but Sokka didn't care. He wasn't going to look for some fire nation robes to put on, he wouldn't.

He couldn't.

He wasn't going to stay prisoner. He would get out and find Katara and Aang. They would be together again and then they would stop the fire nation and Sokka would go back home and be with his tribe once again.

Home.

Sokka made it over to the window and tried to push it open but it wouldn't move. He eyed the edges to find the latch, it wouldn't be as complicated as the door and Sokka knew that there had to be guards outside.

The window was the only way out.

"I see you managed to get out of bed." Zhao's cold voice made Sokka realize the older man had returned.

The teen felt his knees buckle as he heard the other man approach closer. He couldn't turn around, Sokka took a shaky breath and found himself filled with fear. True fear.

"You must be cold." Zhao's hand landed heavily on Sokka's shoulder and the teen felt frozen to the core. "How about we heat you up? Hm."

/

Zuko climbed up the side ladder of Zhao's ship, water from the ocean dripping off of him and his mask. He'd had to swim under the dock in order to get by the guards unnoticed.

But like usual, it seemed like Zhao wasn't taking Zuko seriously. No additional guards at all.

He heard from one of the merchants that Zhao was planning on leaving the dock the next day at first light and Zuko knew he had to get a head start on the admiral by stealing whatever the admiral had. He wouldn't let Zhao get ahead of him, Zuko was going to be the one to capture the Avatar.

No one else.

His crew had already made any necessary work on the ship and restocked the hold, he had told them to be ready to sail in an hour. Things had been going easier with the crew and Zuko was glad they seemed to find some sort of understanding.

Zuko peaked over the side of the deck to see only one guard on the other side of the ship. Too easy.

Without wasting another second Zuko made his way to the door and slipped in before the guard even turned around. Once inside the ship Zuko only had two options. Up or down. Up would be Zhao's quarters where Zuko was sure the Admiral would keep anything he felt valuable but then again, down meant the prisoner cells and cargo holds.

The security was light but Zuko knew the longer he was on the ship, the more likely he was going to get caught. He had to choose one direction. Before Zuko could come to a decision though voices were heard around the corner, and getting closer.

"I heard the prisoner is in pretty bad shape."

"What shape do you expect it to be in after the Admiral got a hold of him?"

So it was a prisoner! Zuko slid behind a door and waited for the two soldiers to pass by him before he made his way down. He barely made it three steps before he heard more.

"The Admiral is at the helm, he wanted me to take the prisoner food in his quarters..."

Now he had to head up!

Zuko swore under his breath as the conversation faded away, not bothering to follow to see if the prisoner was at a different location. He would find it.

Zuko found his way to Zhao's quarters without much disruption. It appeared the gracious Admiral let his crew have the night on the town in order to celebrate his prize. Zuko smirked as he imagined the look on Zhao's face after the prisoner was taken out right from under his nose.

"Consider the water a present." The cruel sounds of Zhao's voice stopped Zuko in his tracks as he peaked around the corner to see the door to the Admiral's room was open and there were two guards standing outside. "Food will be coming for you in a few minutes; I expect you to be clean and fed by the time I return."

Zhao turned to his two guards outside the door. "No one is allowed in there and he is certainly not allowed out."

Zuko jumped up so that he was holding onto the bars above the hallway. He held his breath as the Admiral walked by before he smirked over at the two guards.

This was too easy.

The guards knocked out quickly after he jumped on both of them and Zuko had to remind himself that another one would be coming with food in only a matter of minutes as he unlocked the door and swung in open.

Sokka hadn't moved from the bed when he looked up to see the blue spirit staring back at him.

This had to be a joke.

It had to be a very sick joke.

"Stay away!" Sokka yelled as he jumped on the floor to fight whoever this was only to have his knees give out from underneath him. He tried to hold back the broken sob as he felt pain overtake his body.

He also realized how naked he was in that moment when the masked person threw a guards shirt at him. Sokka couldn't put it on; he couldn't.

Whatever Zuko had been expecting to find, it certainly wasn't the water tribe boy to be naked in Zhao's room. He stood frozen for a second before he realized the teen was just standing there and not dressing. He didn't have time for whatever was going through the other teen's head. They needed to get out and now. The other teen visibly tensed at Zuko approached him but Zuko didn't bother explaining as he pointed his sword at the teen and then pointed at the cloak.

Sokka took a deep breath and lifted the cloak over his head and covered himself with it. He made it this far, he didn't need to get stabbed just cause he didn't want to wear red.

"What's going on?" There was a yell in the hallway and Zuko cursed as he realized the food was probably already there. Zuko didn't waste any time as he grabbed the lever for the window and swung it open. He looked at the water tribe peasant before grabbing onto the other teen, ignoring any protest he received as he hefted and tossed the teen out of the window before jumping out himself.

"AAAHHHHH!" Sokka screamed as he slid down the side of the boat, his hands trying to desperately grab onto anything only to be grabbed by the blue spirit again. Zuko's feet touched the side of the boat and he started to run, using the momentum of their fall to run off the side and into the water instead of onto the ground.

Sokka choked as he was surrounded by the freezing water, a hand grabbed his wrist and jerked him away from the boat under water. Sokka found himself near another boat that was moving away from the harbor before he was pulled out of the water. He choked and coughed as he tried to fight off the blue spirit, not caring that it had saved him from another encounter with Zhao.

"Will you stop struggling?" The familiar angry voice startled Sokka as he looked at the spirit that threw him down on the deck after they made it up the ladder. The teen didn't have a chance to scream out before everything went black.

/

Everything was so soft.

Sokka groaned as he snuggled into the warmth blankets. He opened his eyes and was immediately blinded by light that seemed to be set on destroying his retinas so early in the morning. He hissed at the light before all the aches and pains made their own grievances known and Sokka had to clench his teeth to keep from crying out.

Day two of his separation from the group.

"I see you are awake."

Sokka jumped up and immediately regretted it as he cried out in pain. He curled onto his side; he gasped as he opened his eyes and stared at the old man across the room that was looking at him in surprise. "Are you okay?"

Sokka forced himself up as he tried to get off the bed.

He needed to get out of here before prince psycho came back. It hurt to stand but he would get out, the fire guard's shirt he was wearing made it past his knees as he finally stood. His knees didn't give out which Sokka would count as a victory. The old man made no motion to stand from the table he was sitting at, even as Sokka gave him a glance.

"Care for some tea?" Iroh tried a different approach as the young water tribe teen looked around the room.

"I…" Sokka started, his hair falling in front of his face making him realize he had left his hair tie on Zhao's ship. His clothes too…they were gone…Sokka didn't realize he was crying until a tear ran down his cheek.

He was free from Zhao but now what!

It was always one thing after another for him! He had just wanted to protect his sister, he had just wanted to keep her away from the fire benders; was that so wrong? And now this! First he had been forced to endure Zhao and just when he thought, no matter how briefly, that he was free he had ended up not only on another fire nation ship but the bastard Zuko's?

Karma really did hate him.

Iroh just sat and watched quietly as the young man broke down. Sokka fell on his knees and gave off a muffled scream as he shook on the floor. Iroh had heard about how Zuko had found Sokka and while he was unsure if his nephew knew what that most likely meant, he knew how sick and distorted Zhao was.

The burns on the water tribe teen had been treated while he was asleep but there was only so much their medic could fix.

The teen finally stilled and Iroh got up from the floor and made his way over. He sighed as he lifted the teen and placed him back on the bed, tucking him back underneath the blankets.

Maybe he should talk to his nephew about letting the boy go at the next port.

/

When Sokka awoke the second time, not only was his body still hurting but now his head was pounding. The window beside the bed informed him that he had slept in and that it was now night. He rolled over, half expecting the old man to still be there but instead he found Zuko sitting on the floor.

The prince was sitting with his legs crossed on the floor and had his hands iin front of him as if in deep meditation. The candles in front of the other teen moved with each breath Zuko made and Sokka just stared, trying to keep his breath low and even as if he was still asleep.

Was he in the prince's personal rooms?

Sokka felt the warmth of the flames and despite himself, sighed.

"You're awake." It wasn't a question from the prince.

"Yeah…" Sokka muttered, ignoring how raw his throat felt at that second. He sat up, his body feeling better after the day of rest it had, he made sure he was covered by the shirt he was wearing before he looked back up at the prince. He knew what was coming.

"Where is the Avatar?"

"I don't know."

Zuko clenched his fists, the candles behind him flaring a bit before the teen took a deep breath. His uncle had instructed him to be calm when questioning the other teen, truthfully his uncle had asked that he didn't question the water tribe peasant but Zuko wasn't going to let the peasant go without asking any questions.

He honestly wasn't sure why he should let the teen go at all. This peasant would be perfect bait for the Avatar.

"Tell me where the Avatar is, which way were you heading?"

"Why should I tell you?" Sokka yelled before visible flinching as the flames behind Zuko flared. He didn't want to get burned again but he wouldn't say anything.

"Because I saved you from Zhao!" Zuko yelled grabbing the front of the peasants borrowed shirt but then he was suddenly kicked up in the air, flipping over the younger teen, until his back hit the wall and he stared at the now wide eyed water tribe teen.

He hadn't meant to do that.

And now Zuko was too close.

Way too close.

Sokka scooted away, realizing he had just flipped Zuko on the bed but before he could fall off, he was suddenly grabbed. Sokka flinched at the heat in the grip but it was not as burning as Zhao's had been. The teen tried to push back but his body screamed at him, his injuries forcing him to gasp out as Zuko climbed on top of him.

Not again.

He couldn't let this happen again.

The fight started suddenly enough, both struggling to stop the other before Zuko was rolled on his back. He grabbed the other teen's wrist, temporarily forgetting his uncle's words to tread carefully as he lifted his legs causing Sokka to hit his head against the metal wall making the other teen go limp on top of him.

Sokka groaned as he felt the hands around his wrist, he sat up panting as he looked down at Zuko who was underneath him. The other teen glaring up at him as his grip tightened as if daring Sokka to try something else.

Sokka watched as a bead of sweat rolled down Zuko's throat.

"I want you to-" Zuko was suddenly cut off when the water tribe teen placed their foreheads together, a clouded look in those blue eyes.

Sokka didn't know what was happening. He felt like he was having an out of body experience but at same time. It was his hands grabbing on to Zuko's robes. He could feel the coarse fabric under his fingers.

What was he doing?

What was he-

"Is this what you want?" Sokka's voice broke as he spoke, his body pressed against Zuko's suggestively. "Is this what you want from me?"

This is what Zhao wanted wasn't it, why should Zuko be looking for anything else?

Zuko let go of Sokka immediately as if he himself was scorched.

He stared as the other teen sat up on top of him; Sokka's hands were shaking as he grabbed the fire benders robe. He parted it slightly exposing the pale chest of the prince, Zuko watched Sokka place his trembling hands on the exposed chest causing both of them to flinch.

"What are you doing?" Zuko hated how surprised his voice was but he had no idea what was happening.

Sokka froze as he stared at his own hands, Zuko was staring at him and Sokka realized where his hands really were. Sokka's hands pushed Zuko's robes further apart.

"What are you trying to do?" Zuko didn't understand.

Was he really trying to seduce Zuko? Sokka's felt like they were on fire. Was he crying? He didn't think he was but it felt like he could.

"I-I…" Blue eyes regarded the gold ones and before Sokka suddenly found himself on his back.

"What were you-" Zuko's voice wavered suddenly as lips brushed against each other.

Sokka needed this.

He didn't know why, he didn't really understand but he knew one thing, he needed this. He needed to do this with someone else, needed to be in control for a few minutes of his life before it was taken away from him.

He didn't know why he had the sudden urge to apologize to the bastard that had been chasing him and his friends for weeks but he did. Sokka opened his mouth before realizing he didn't want to explain himself before he pulled Zuko down into a kiss. The other teen was tense and seemingly lost in the whole encounter as Sokka arched up against him.

Zuko felt hot.

His lips felt sore as he pulled away from the teen before he forced their mouths together another time, forcing his tongue into the others mouth as hands pushed away the robe he was wearing. Zuko felt like his body was on fire as he kissed the other teen harder. The water tribe peasant kept making small painful noises as they kissed, most likely pain from his still healing lips.

Zuko hissed as he felt himself press against the body beneath him.

He was hard.

The water tribe peasant had made him hard.

Clothes came off easier than they should have been between two enemies. Zuko stared in horror at the marks across the younger teen's skin, burns and bruises. What was going on?

He couldn't touch the teen without pressing against some sort of bruise.

Zuko had no idea what he was doing.

The only advice he had ever gotten was about girls, even if it had been so embarrassingly painful to get that talk from his uncle, it had been about girls. This peasant beneath him was obviously a boy.

Sokka felt Zuko hesitate and grabbed the other teen, flipping him down so that the prince was on his back. It was obvious that the prince did not like being beneath the peasant but Sokka changed his expression as he positioned Zuko under him.

It hurt.

It hurt just the same.

But this time Sokka was in control, he watched as the prince gasped beneath him. Zuko grabbed Sokka's hips and the teen almost grinned as he slid down the rest of the way making them both moan. Sokka gasped as he eyed the warm body beneath him, they were both panting and Zuko arched back exposing his neck to the teen on top of him.

It hurt but this was different.

Sokka felt different.

Sokka trembled as he moved up and then down again. He couldn't go on like this. He couldn't keep his body moving like this but he didn't want to be on his stomach. He didn't want to be attacked from behind, didn't want to be forced down.

Never again.

He fell forward enjoying how Zuko thrust into him and placed a kiss on the other's neck. Muttering exactly what he needed the other to do as they breathed. Zuko moved slow as he turned them over, his knowledge of Sokka's injuries in the situation still evident until Sokka smirked at him. The teen wrapped his legs around the others waist and laid back.

Zuko's breath hitched as he found a steady rhythm and it wasn't long before they both finished. Sokka had to stroke himself to catch up to the prince before they finally separated. Sokka took a deep breath before he closed his eyes.

Zuko panted as he stared at the ceiling. He felt like his heart was going to break out of his chest, he almost turned to the other teen to yell at him but then he heard a faint snore.

What the hell just happened?

The prince sat up and stared at the now sleeping boy next to him. He quickly stumbled out of the bed and grabbed his clothes, putting them on with a sense of urgency before he turned back to the other teen.

Uncle would most likely be here in the morning.

He couldn't leave him like that. Zuko left the room and returned shortly with a bowl of water and a rag before he quickly cleaned off Sokka, not bothering to linger too long in certain areas before he basically shoving the borrowed shirt over the teen and then throwing the blankets over the water tribe peasant.

He…

He...he had just slept with a peasant.

A friend of the avatar.

His enemy.

Zuko almost ran out of the room. It definitely wasn't a full sprint but it was close. The prince needed to take a bath, then go to the helm to see when they were going to be on land again.

But most of all, he needed to get away from the water tribe peasant.

/

Sokka awoke to see that the sun was just starting to rise. He heard a small chinking noise and turned to see the old man was back sipping his tea.

"I assume you and my nephew had a good talk yesterday?" Iroh asked as he placed his delicious jasmine tea down. He had assumed that the talk went well when he had mentioned to Zuko the need to get more tea at the next stop and his nephew had just agreed.

Sokka blushed as he looked away from the older man.

Iroh took notice of this but said nothing about it, instead he mentioned the news he heard that morning. "We will make port in a few hours."

Sokka visibly perked up at that, not sure why he felt like he was going to be able to walk off the ship but Sokka was always an optimist. Okay so he wasn't an optimist but for some reason Sokka felt like it wasn't going to be hard to get off this ship.

"I brought clothes for you to change into, I know they're not what you are used to but…" Sokka listened to the old man's ramble as he went to the clothes, flinching as his feet hit the floor but it hadn't been as bad as it had been the first time.

Sokka's step faltered but he kept moving forward.

He wasn't going to think about that.

Sokka picked up the red clothing assuming it belonged to one of the men on the ship before he glanced around the room for a place to change but saw there was none. He looked at the old man skeptically before Iroh laughed and picked up his tea, "I will be out on the deck, will you come and join me for a game of Pai Sho after you are done changing?"

"Uh…..sure?" Sokka watched the older man leave the room before he changed, flinching as he moved his sore muscles but he finished soon enough and opened the door to his…..holding room? Sokka didn't really know what to call it but he poked his head out to see that there was a guard waiting for him.

"Follow me." The guard stated coldly and Sokka did, glancing around as he went just in case something funny was up and he would need to run. The guard stopped in front of a door and Sokka bumped into him, he smiled sheepishly before the guard opened the door and Sokka was greeted with a terrible amount of sunlight. Sokka blinked a few times before he glanced over to see the old man smiling at him.

"What is he doing out here?" Sokka jumped before he looked over towards the cold prince who was glaring near him.

Near him?

Prince Zuko was not looking him in the eye? Sokka felt his face warm up before he shook his head and made his way to the older man.

"I invited him for a friendly game of Pai Sho." Iroh stated, he looked like he was about to start saying something else when his nephew came and stood beside the water tribe teen.

"As soon as we get to dock I expect you to leave." Zuko's voice was cold but the statement surprised both Iroh and Sokka.

"What? But nephew..."

"I can go? No 'where's the avatar?' no death threats?" Sokka's eye met Zuko's and for the first time in Sokka's life he saw prince Zuko embarrassed.

"I see land, captain!"

Zuko turned to nod at the helmsman before he grabbed Sokka by the arm dragging the other teen away from his uncle. "I need to talk to you before we get there."

"I'm so glad my nephew is making friends." Iroh laughed as the boys disappeared behind the door.

Sokka was pulled into the closest room which appeared to hold documents of some kind before the younger teen was thrown against the wall closest to them. Zuko slammed his fist on either side of him and they both regarded each other with frowns.

"About yesterday….." The prince started and both teens looked away then.

"I-well you know…" Sokka laughed. "The past is the past so let's not dwell on it."

"Shut up!" Zuko hit the wall causing Sokka to go silent. Zuko took a deep calming breath…or a deep breath anyway. "I just wanted to say don't think that you mean anything to me because of that, next time I see you, I will attack you."

The water tribe teen didn't know why, but in that second, with threats spilling out of his mouth, Zuko looked cute.

Sokka regarded the other boy for a second before he grabbed the front of Zuko's robes and pulled the prince into a quick kiss before releasing him. The prince's face heated up as he regarded Sokka in surprise.

It was only a second before Sokka was shoved firmly against the wall, Zuko's mouth over his as Sokka pulled the other teen's ponytail before both of his wrists were shoved against the wall.

Sokka opened his mouth willingly as the kiss was deepened and then Zuko pulled away, he let go of Sokka and backed away quickly as if he had been burned.

The ship lurched suddenly as it slowed down to make port, causing Zuko to fall forward again so that they were almost touching. Zuko growled and Sokka smiled sheepishly.

"Enemies, will attack, nothing confusing about this." Sokka repeated quickly before Zuko opened the door and left Sokka by himself.

The other teen took a deep breath before he followed the other teen out.

He needed to go find his friends.

/

And that's it for the new chapter.

Hope you enjoy this story. Definitely feel free to review and keep in mind that if you want newer stories by me, check out my AO3 account - theARTboss - when I tend to throw things up more consistently. That said, I will make sure to finish this story here because so many of you have continued to hit me up over the years from this website for me to finish this story.

Reviews always welcome. Looking forward to updating the rest.