Huge thanks to Nerdy J Fics on FanFiction here for reading over this and helping me! I highly recommend you check out her own stories, especially her excellent work on some of the recent Zutara Week prompts.
Sokka peered over the edge of Appa's saddle, looking at the great statue of Azulon in the evening light, smirking as he remembered how simple it had been to think up a plan to bypass it. He looked over to Katara, who had her arms wrapped around Aang's waist. Whatever their conversation was, the wind whipped it away before he could hear it, not that he exactly wanted to hear it. He reached into a small bag by his side, searching for something.
"Hey, where's my seal jerky?!" Sokka yelled, flipping his bag upside and shaking it. He shot Katara and Aang an accusing look.
"I didn't take it, and Aang's a vegetarian," Katara called back to him, not turning around to him. Sokka thought for a moment, until his eyes narrowed.
"Momo," Sokka said, his gaze snapping to the small lemur, "did you steal my jerky?" Momo looked up at him, head tilting to one side. He jumped up and flew to Katara's side as Sokka made a leap for him. Sokka sighed, having played this game may times, and simply sat back down. They were passing over the Royal Plaza, Fire Nation soldiers were lining up along the red street in the middle, with crowds of people beginning to come out of the lower city.
"What's going on down there?" Aang asked the group as they made their way to the upper city, the Royal Caldera.
"Looks like some sort of welcoming committee," Katara noted. They gasped as they rose above the volcano. In the many open squares of the city bright flames lit up the area and stages where set up. The streets were lined with stalls and people. The smell of Fire Nation food wafted upward, and Sokka happily took in deep breaths. Sounds of laughter and cheering filled the air as Appa lowered into one of the less populated squares.
"Well this is a surprise," Sokka stated as he followed Aang and Katara off Appa. They watched two actors preform acrobatics on a stage, wearing masks and throwing fake fire at each other. "I've always liked how the Fire Nation does plays," Sokka said, moving towards the small crowd by the stage, "We should get one of them to come to the South Pole sometime."
"Avatar Aang, it is a pleasure," came a voice from their side. They looked over and saw an official, flanked by two Fire Nation guards. The man bowed to the group, who returned his bow. "I am Atsushi, an advisor to Fire Lord Zuko, allow me to escort you to your rooms." The man turned and began to walk towards the Royal Palace. Aang and Katara looked to Sokka, who shrugged and followed after him.
"Where is Zuko?" Sokka asked as they walked.
"He is returning from a trip to the Earth Kingdom, you may have seen the crowds down in the forum. He should be with you shortly." Atsushi explained. "I was told there would be a fourth member of your group, Toph Beifong?"
"Last time we saw her she was travelling back to Yu Dao from the South Pole," Katara said, walking arm in arm with Aang. "If she's expected though she'll probably be here."
"Thank Tui and La!," Sokka said loudly, "I won't have to deal with you two being all oogie all night." Katara shot an annoyed look at her brother, while Aang simply laughed.
"I didn't complain at all while you were off having fun with Suki in your tent," Katara hissed, which simply made Sokka grin at her. He walked in-between them and threw his arms around their shoulders.
"That's because I'm you big brother," Sokka told her, "You however are my little sister, so of course I'm going to complain seeing you being all lovey dovey with any boy." Katara simply rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the stomach.
"Can you believe these kids defeated us?" one of the Fire Nation guards whispered to the other.
"Well that kid," the other guard whispered back, "could kill you with a flick of his wrist, so shut up." The first guard looked back at the bald monk, who smiled kindly at him. He quickly looked straight ahead and kept walking.
"Here we are," Atsushi announced as they stopped by a three story house with an over hanging top floor, only a short distance from the Royal Palace. "You will sleep here for the duration of your stay." He glanced at Aang and Katara. "There are four rooms, however the Fire Lord said that two may share one room if they wish," Aang felt someone grip him by his robe and found himself looking up into the narrowed eyes of the Water Tribe warrior.
"Under no circumstances are you and my sister sharing a room," Sokka told him. Katara slapped his hand away from Aang and glowered at him. "Not budging on this, I'm not having a a fourteen year old boy staying in the same room as you."
"In a few years you won't be able to decide that," Katara told him, turning around and leading Aang towards the house.
"We'll see about that," Sokka laughed, following them in.
"Avatar Aang, I actually need you to come with me. I need to show you were your bison will be kept," Atsushi said, looking back at the huge animal. "I'm not sure how co-operative he would be if you were to leave." Aang nodded and walked with the advisor.
"Come on buddy," Aang called to Appa, who lumbered after him. After a couple of minutes of packing away clothes, Sokka and Katara were on the balcony, looking out across the lively city.
"You're not sharing a room with him," Sokka muttered after a few minutes of silence. Katara groaned and looked at him.
"Why, what's so wrong with it?" Katara questioned, noticing an odd, serious look on Sokka's face.
"In fairness little sister, I know guys better than you," Sokka said, a small grin coming to his face.
"What do you think is going to happen?" Katara said, crossing her arms. "I'm not stupid Sokka, you have to accept that I'm growing up."
"I know you're growing up Katara," Sokka sighed. She was about to respond when he turned and put his hands on her shoulders. "I just don't want you to rush into things too hastily."
"Oh so you can rush into things with Suki, is that it?" Katara retorted, raising her eyebrow at him. Sokka sighed again. "I'm not planning on doing that anyway."
"I wish I hadn't. At the time I thought it was the greatest thing in my life, but neither of us had really been ready. We all acted older because of the war, but we were still just teenagers, you'd be surprised how strained that made my relationship with Suki for a while." Katara looked into her brother's eyes and felt him grip a bit harder on her shoulders. "I just don't want to see you and Aang make the same mistake," Sokka finished, letting go of her and turning back to the city. He felt her arm wrap around his back.
"Usually I'd never think taking advice from you is a good idea," Katara said, smiling at him. "However I'll listen to you this time." Before Sokka could respond, Katara spotted a group of people walking underneath their balcony. "Zuko, Suki, up here!" Katara shouted, leaning out over the railing. Zuko and Suki looked up, smiling, and Zuko gave a small wave to dismiss his guards. Sokka got a huge grin on his face as he raced downstairs, Katara close behind him. Zuko took a step back as Sokka ran out of the entrance and pulled Suki into a bear hug. Zuko looked at them, trying his best to keep a simple smile.
"It's so good to see you again!" Sokka said excitedly, releasing Suki and giving her light kiss.
"It's been ages, how was the trip?" Katara asked, hugging Zuko. Zuko's eyes met Suki's for a moment and he could feel his face beginning to heat up.
"It was great, It's nice to not be surrounded by volcanoes for a while," Suki told them, shifting out of the hug and standing arm in arm with Sokka. "Although no one does a festival like the Fire Nation."
"I don't know," Sokka argued, leading her into the house and up the stairs, "There was one a few months back in the Southern Water Tribe that was pretty good." Katara and Zuko glanced at each other and shared a laugh, following them upstairs.
"Would any of you like some tea?" Zuko said, heading for the kitchen.
"You're turning into Iroh," Sokka told him, as he led Suki towards the balcony.
"Don't mind him, I'd love a cup," Katara said, following him into the kitchen. Sokka smiled softly up at the moon.
"She's beautiful tonight," Suki whispered to him, and Sokka turned towards her, his deep blue eyes locked onto her's.
"So are you," Sokka said, leaning in slowly.
"Sokka I have to tell you something," Suki said, her mind still debating what to say. Sokka leaned back, still smiling. "I... During the trip... Zuko..." Suki kept stuttering as she tried to tell him.
"What's wrong?" Sokka said, tilting his head at her, but still smiling. Suki laughed and shook her head.
"It's nothing, just that Zuko was drunk on cactus juice at the Beifong's, it was pretty funny," she said, deciding that it was best to if he didn't know. Sokka started laughing.
"Zuko on cactus juice? You'll have to tell me all about it," Sokka told her, leaning in again. Suki was about to close her own eyes and lean in, when a loud and familiar voice came from inside.
"Sparky, Sugar Queen, you two should really learn to lock the front door, I waltzed right in," the voice shouted.
"Toph!" Sokka exclaimed. A huge grin spread across his face, his eyes snapped open and he turned and ran back into the room. Toph laughed as Sokka wrapped her in a big hug, lifting her off her feet.
"Now this is a proper welcome," Toph said, hugging Sokka back. Suki watched them, a slightly angry look on her face. Sokka put Toph back on her feet and looked her up and down.
"Have you gotten shorter since we last saw you in the South Pole?" Sokka asked, receiving a punch in his arm for the question.
"I'm not wearing boots anymore, so yeah I guess," Toph said with a small shrug, giving Sokka a cheeky smile, "Which means I can see properly now." Sokka rubbed his arm and laughed. Katara and Zuko walked into the room, laughing at something Zuko had said.
"Where's Twinkle Toes?" Toph said, looking around the room.
"Putting Appa in the Palace pen I had built for him," Zuko said as he sat cross-legged at the table. "He'll be back soon I imagine." Toph gave a small nod and turned back to Sokka.
"Did you see the big festival going on? I bet there is a bunch of suckers just waiting for us to take their money." Zuko looked at her questioningly. "Oh don't worry Sparky, we'll be cheating cheaters, it's completely fair." `Zuko simply shrugged and went back to sipping his tea.
"That a fantastic idea Toph, you guys going to come along?" Sokka said, turning to the rest of them.
"The festival will be going on for another few days, I need some rest after the journey," Zuko said, shaking his head.
"I'm going to wait here until Aang gets back, then I might head out with him," Katara told him, sitting down across from Zuko. Sokka smiled at Suki, who bit her lip and looked away.
"I'm okay, I need some rest too. You two go and have fun," Suki said, hoping her voice didn't betray her actual feelings. Sokka shrugged and gave Toph a thumbs up.
"What's the festival about?" Katara asked, looking at Zuko.
"It's for the founding of the this city. It's actually quite an interesting story, you see-" Zuko began.
"I'm sure listening to you drone on about Fire Nation History is great and all Lord Sparky," Toph said sarcastically, "but we're going to go before we fall asleep." She grabbed Sokka by the wrist and pulled him downstairs and out of the house. Zuko let out a small chuckle.
"It's cute seeing them go on little dates," he said to no one in particular. He looked up and saw Katara glaring at him. He frowned at her and she jerked her head violently in the direction of Suki, who was standing out on the balcony, She watched as Sokka and Toph walked towards to sounds of the festival. Sokka had one arm wrapped around Toph's shoulders, while his free hand moved in sporadic directions as he talked. She turned and Zuko saw she had a sad look on her face. She glanced up at him, and gave him a small smile. He smiled back and looked back at Katara, who was still glaring at him. "My bad," Zuko muttered as he went back to sipping his tea.
If you're interested in seeing what happened between Zuko and Suki, check out Repaying A Debt and The Gaoling Party. These stories occur after North and South, so there are a few references to characters and events that happen in all the comics.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar The Last Airbender or its character, they were created by Bryan Konietzko and Mike Dante Dimartino, and belong to Viacom.