Artwork: Thank you so much to jhoca for the gorgeous Zukka artwork!

Modern

Unlike most college freshmen, Sokka was a man of certainty. He was sure about many things in life. For starters, he was sure about his major, electrical engineering, knowing one day he'd be a successful inventor with his name on several patents. He was sure about his love for poetry and confident in his ability to create haikus on the fly. Although he was a novice, he was sure he had a knack for fencing and would leave college highly ranked in sabre. He was sure he was a talented artist, even if others vehemently disagreed. And despite being a gifted guitar player, he was sure he'd never be able to carry a tune. Sokka was also sure he liked girls, a lot, particularly athletically shaped brunettes.

But if Sokka was sure about one thing and one thing alone, it would have to be his unadulterated hatred for modern dance. It made absolutely zero sense to him, how people could contort their bodies this way and that without looking like total idiots. He knew he for one looked like a complete moron, lying there on the floor after falling ungracefully out of a bent-kneed flex-footed cartwheel while the rest of the class finished the choreography. If his fencing coach, Piandao, hadn't recommended it, he never would have signed up. Easy A his ass. There was nothing easy about this. He could just hear Coach Piandao now, babbling about how dance would improve their balance, flexibility, coordination, endurance, blah, blah, blah. The only things Sokka was gaining from this class were bruises and humiliation. At least the company was good.

His more limber friend, Zuko, offered him a hand. "Don't hurt yourself, buddy."

"Too late." Sokka took the boy's hand and stood, rubbing his sore back when he was up on two feet.

"Ready to hit the showers?" Zuko threw a towel at his sweaty friend.

"Yeah. I reek," Sokka laughed, grabbing the rest of his belongings.

"Well I wasn't going to say it…"

Sokka usually enjoyed taking long, hot showers, but on modern dance days, he showered quickly, and not because he was eager to get to his next class. No, it was the hot part-time barista that motivated his speedy showers. The pale-skinned, smoky-eyed woman with long black hair and a distinct tattoo on her upper arm was the only girl who piqued his interest since he started college. He had never been much of a coffee drinker before, but she had turned him into quite the addict, even if he only ordered double chocolaty chip frappuccinos. Although she was in her mid-twenties and Sokka had just turned nineteen, he was still confident in his ability to get her to go out with him. After all, he had already managed to make two incredible women fall in love with him during high school. First there was the beautiful and kindhearted Yue, but she unfortunately moved away in their sophomore year of high school. Then there was the feisty yet compassionate Suki, to whom Sokka had lost his virginity, but they broke up when Sokka moved across the country for college. Alas, Sokka was single and ready to mingle.

He finished showering and began drying himself off with a towel.

"There's no way you're clean," Zuko teased.

"Smell check?" Sokka teased back, sticking his armpit into his friend's shower stall.

"Hard pass."

"Suit yourself." He crossed over to the lockers, grabbed his clothes, and began dressing. He had made it into his boxers and just finished zipping his jeans when suddenly his whole world changed. He watched Zuko emerge from the shower, shrouded in mist and steam, a towel tied loosely around his lower waist. The boy's messy black hair dripped water down his fair, muscular shoulders. Sokka's lips parted as he watched a bead of water trickle slowly down Zuko's toned chest and defined stomach, falling into the towel that hugged him just below his v-line. He felt his pants tighten.

"Ummm, Sokka? Are you feeling okay?"

"Huh, what?!" He snapped out of his daze and stared abruptly into his friend's eyes. Had Zuko's eyes always been so yellow? Why was he even noticing this?!

"You zoned out for a moment. Your cheeks are flushed. Are you getting sick?"

"No! No, I'm fine." Sokka quickly turned his back to his concerned friend, realizing that he was fully erect. Thinking quickly, he reached for his socks on the bench and began putting them on, having an excuse to bend over and let his excitement wane. "I was just staring at your ridiculous flip flops."

"You're the one who's ridiculous for going barefoot in this disgusting locker room! Seriously Sokka, this place is crawling with foot fungus."

Fortunately hearing the words 'foot fungus' helped ease his tension. He finished tying his sneakers and turned back around. "Nah, you're just too prissy for your own good."

"Then don't come crying to me when you get ringworm and need to be carted off to Student Health," he chuckled, running his hand through his mop of black hair.

Sokka laughed as he threw a clean shirt up over his head. "I gotta run."

"Enjoy your frappucino." Zuko smirked. "Maybe she'll even get your name right this time."

"And maybe you'll stop being a jerk one day!" he grinned, grabbing his gym bag and heading toward the exit.

"Sokka, wait!"

"What?" He spun around to find the still scantily clad Zuko walking deliberately toward him.

"You left your phone." Zuko offered him the device.

"T-Thanks," Sokka stuttered, looking into his friend's very yellow eyes. As he reached for it, his hand brushed the other boy's. The unexpected softness of his skin caused him to drop his phone hard on the locker room floor. "Shit." He fumbled to pick it up. "Eh, still works."

"Are you sure you're feeling okay? You seem… off."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I-I'll see you tomorrow." Sokka darted out of the locker room wondering what the hell just happened.