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It has been the tradition of the Fire Nation royal family for generations to arrange marriages. By matching members of the royal family with upper class spouses it ensures that the royal bloodline remains strong.
Lu Ten, Zuko and Azula were all the products of arranged marriages.
Though the three were all powerful benders, they knew that their accomplishments were gained through hard work and not through a blatantly false myth that the Fire Sages still perpetuated. The Fire Sages loved to credit their 'well chosen' matches for creating such powerful members of the royal family. As if Ozai hadn't abused Ursa throughout the entirety of their marriage.
With Iroh's ascension to the throne many things in the Fire Nation changed for the better, unjust laws were overturned, the people were given more freedom and school curriculums were changed to reflect real world history.
Things within the palace changed as well, Lu Ten became the first member of the royal family to marry a commoner.
The Fire Sages fought the marriage with everything they had, but Iroh prioritized his children's happiness above all else.
With the Crown Prince out of their grasp, the Fire Sages set their sight on the next in line and as Zuko approached the age of 21 the pressure from the Fire Sages increased.
They began gathering a list of matches they saw fit for Zuko, bringing up the fact that Zuko was still single when meetings with the Fire Lords were held. They also attempted to put a positive spin on it, telling the Fire Lord that by marrying off Zuko to another world leader or a world leaders child it would help heal rifts caused by the Fire Nation.
Uncle made sure he knew that it was his choice, if he didn't want to get married he didn't have to.
Zuko knew that his chances of getting married were not high, his father had assured that. If he didn't allow the Fire Sages to arrange a match for him, they would focus their efforts on Azula. Their need for control was a burden, but a burden he was willing to bear. Zuko had resigned himself to this fate years ago.
"Uncle, I assure you I know what I'm getting into. If it's not me who the Sages marry off, they'll try to force Azula to marry."
"While I appreciate your noble purpose Nephew, are you sure? What if you were to fall in love later in life?"
"I have no interest in marriage Uncle." A lie and they both knew it. "If this will help heal our ties with another nation and shut the Fire Sages up for the time being, I don't see why I shouldn't be able to do this for our nation and our family."
"Okay Nephew, I will speak with the Sages and let them know of your preferences so that they may seek an appropriate match for you."
His preferences being men.
He was gay, he had known that for a long time before he'd privately told Uncle, Lu Ten and Azula years ago. He was met with nothing but support from his family and it made him feel a little better about this whole arrangement. If he was going to be married off he prefer it be with someone he could realistically see himself with.
The Sages brought him a list and when he was done looking through that one they brought him another and so on and so forth. He met a few men, but they were mostly assholes wanting to marry into the royal family for the notoriety. The one nice guy he did meet was in a serious relationship and had just attended the meeting to please his parents.
He was ranting to Uncle about a meeting he'd just returned from where the potential match had thought it'd be a good idea to make an unsavory comment about Azula, Zuko had left the meeting completely enraged and the man left with a broken nose.
"Where are they even finding the men I mean honestly!"
"Perhaps my news may be able to ease your mind then Nephew."
"What is it Uncle?"
"I've received a letter from Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe, he is a dear friend and his son Sokka is interested in accepting your hand in marriage."
On the outside the match seemed perfect, the Southern Water Tribe had been devastated during the war. Through this marriage they would be able to gain access to certain Fire Nation resources, resources that could help the South return to their former glory.
"Uncle, write back. I'd like to have a meeting with Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe."
"So what is it that you do in the South?"
"Oh! I'm actually not living there currently."
"You're not?"
"No, I'm actually going to the university in Ba Sing Se."
"What are you studying?"
"I'm a double major, studying science and engineering."
"That's impressive."
"Thanks."
The meeting had started of well, but after pleasantries had been exchanged it'd started to become awkward. He was terrible at small talk and Sokka was very attractive, Zuko couldn't help but be flustered. He racked his brain trying to come up with something to say.
"This is awkward isn't it?" Sokka said.
"Yes, I'm sorry. I'm just not very good at-" Zuko gestured between them. "this."
"Am I the first match you've met with?"
"No, there were others. They were unpleasant to say the least." As Zuko went into his stories they started laughing and talking more, finding out the things they had in common.
Sokka was a really nice guy, he was kind, funny and Zuko appreciated his honesty when it came to why he wanted to marry him.
"Whenever talks are had involving the nations the South is never given a proper place. All decisions involving us are just deferred to the North and we don't get a proper say. With the support of the Fire Nation, the Southern Water Tribe will finally have a seat at the table"
By the end of the meeting they had a mutual agreement for marriage
It'd taken a few more weeks to iron out the details before the marriage went through, it was a small ceremony with only family and friends in attendance. Seeing as Zuko was second in line a place that would only be pushed further back as Lu Ten had children, the palace didn't feel the need to throw an extravagant over the top ceremony.
They moved to Ba Sing Se soon after, Sokka had a cozy two bedroom apartment that he had been living in since he started university. It was a welcoming environment, Zuko never felt like he was living in a strangers house, it quickly became their home.
He started classes at the university, began hanging out with classmates, just enjoying life and living his life in a way he'd never been able to before.
It was nice, he'd never lived outside the palace before, never had so much freedom.
He got to do simple things with Sokka like make dinner or loung around the house and as time passed Zuko fell a little more for the man he called his husband.
He explained his troubles to Azula when she came to visit for a week.
"So, let me get this straight. Your big problem is that you've fallen in love with the guy you married?"
"Yes."
"And how is that a problem? You're married to the guy, I'm pretty sure being in love goes hand in hand with that."
"Azula, you know as well as I do that this was a political marriage, feelings just complicate things."
"I don't know, ZuZu. I've seen the way Sokka acts around you and there is nothing straight about that."
"You're seeing things."
"You two are literally sleeping in the same bed!"
"We don't have a third bedroom and I didn't want you sleeping on the couch, so Sokka suggested I stay in his room while you're here!"
"I can't with you I just-" She threw up her hand hands in defeat. "I can't! The guy clearly likes you."
He doesn't, Zuko knows he doesn't. But he can't help asking him about it later that night when they're in bed.
"Do you like me?"
Sokka gives him a confused look. "Of course I do."
"I meant- oh Agni this sounds so childish- do you like me like me?" He looked up to see Sokka staring right at him before quickly looking down and tapping his hands on his thigh.
"Yeah, I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I just- I know that you don't like me like that way and I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable."
""Who said I'm uncomfortable?"
"I mean, that's why you asked if I like you right? My flirting made you uncomfortable and you want me to stop."
"You've been flirting!?"
"Um, yes? I haven't been very subtle about it."
"I thought you were just being nice."
"We're literally in the same bed!"
What Zuko thought was going to turn into an argument actually turned into kissing, a lot of kissing for a lot of time, at least it felt like a lot of time.
When they finally came up for air he looked Sokka right in the eye.
"I like you too."
"You do?"
"Yes, was that not obvious from all the kissing?"
Sokka looks like he's about to say something when the door to the room swings open.
"Dear Agni, it's about time you two got your shit together! Which is great for me because I met a very nice girl at a tea shop, so Zuko I'm going to be staying a little longer than I'd planned."