hurt/comfort afficionate

However, allow me to propose:

What if the council does want Zuko to marry Sokka? What if the Southern Water Tribe rises after the war and grows into a respectable state that they want to establish a strong diplomatic relationship with?

Like, let's imagine there's no homophobia (because honestly I don't care to write it). Sure, being the son of the Chief doesn't actually grant him any political power, but still. It's the closest equivalent to an heir, and with how Zuko quickly rejects any Fire Nation candidates, and how neither the Earth Kingdom nor the Northern Water Tribe have any available princesses, and how Katara is already with Aang, the son of the Chief of the rising Water Tribe is the best candidate they can find.

So they start pushing for Zuko to court Sokka for diplomatic reasons and Zuko is absolutely miserable because why would they try to force him to marry his unrequited crush? That's just rude. Not cool at all.

And then he's awkward as fuck around Sokka because he can't stop thinking about it and when Sokka finally hears what's been stressing him out so much, he just. He kinda goes through it. Because obviously, he can't agree to marry his friend whom he's been hopelessly in love with for years just because said friend's council thinks it'll be a good political move, right? That's like. The least smooth flirting move possible, probably. And totally a bad idea and a sure way to get his heartbroken. And no, Sokka is absolutely not considering it, not at all, it would be ridiculous.

(Meanwhile Zuko is bawling his eyes out every night because the council keeps bringing it up and now Sokka knows and he probably thinks Zuko is pathetic and embarrassing for even considering the possibility that Sokka might want to marry him and why would they even suggest it, can they not see Zuko is just a man? Are they purposely trying to make him suffer?)