Day One: Family

Today was a good day. Sun in the sky, no clouds, warm weather, light jacket kind of day. The kind of day where all you want to do is lay in the grass and bathe in the warm light. Or go searching for the kitchen in the Fire Nation palace. The latter, of which, Sokka was going to do. Hey! Don't start getting all judgmental, a man had to eat!

So, there he was. Trying to navigate his way through the Palace (a.k.a the Fire Labyrinth) to find a decent meal. And, however simple that may seem, Sokka had gotten lost several times already. It was like the Cave of Two Lovers, for crying out loud. He half expected a giant badger mole to pop out, or Chad to appear down one of the corridors and start singing. Man, he missed that guy.

But that wasn't the point. No. Sokka was hungry. Bite your nails, eat a few leaves, bugs are starting to look appetizing kind of hungry. So he really, really needed to find the kitchen. But it was like the world was conspiracing against him. This was this millionth (an exaggeration) red hallway he had turned down with a dead end. Sokka sighed heavily upon hearing his stomach grumble. He needed food. Now.

This time, unlike the other times where Sokka begrudgingly turned around, he stomped down to one of the rooms and banged on the door. No guards were stationed outside of it. Hmm. Interesting. Though not interesting enough to get Sokka to worry about it. Apparently the Fire Palace's walls were sound proof. A good invention if Sokka would say so himself. He grinned mischievously thinking of Suki. Then he frowned. Suki was not going to get him a sandwich. Actually, if she was there she might be able to.

…Alas, she was not. So, for now, Sokka was screwed. He took a deep breath and nudged the door handle. No, he did not die. So far, so good. Sokka wrapped his fingers around it, screwing his eyes shut and turning his head away incase something came at him. He turned the handle and the door…didn't budge. This made Sokka a little miffed. Here was a perfect opportunity to get directions and this…this…door was going to ruin it. Frustrated, he pushed on it. Nothing.

Sokka pushed harder. Still nothing. He slid his foot on the door for leverage to try to get it. Still nothing. He stopped trying. Sokka's eyes narrowed as he sized the door up and down. It didn't look that heavy; he could probably ram it down. With a quick nod of the head, he was off. He ran to the door and slammed his shoulder up against it to soften the blow. Still nothing. He tried again, a little angry that 1. He was still hungry. 2. He couldn't get the door freaking open. 3. He was still hungry. And 4. That door hurt.

Sokka tried again, with a warrior's yell he ran towards the door, full speed and barely made a dent. In defeat, he slid to the floor, his back against the door. Well, in the process, his shirt got stuck on the handle. Oh, so now the door was mocking him. Full blown mad, Sokka stood up and pulled away fro the door. …And…miraculously…the door opened. Oh. So it was pull not push. For a split second, Sokka was a little embarrassed. But only for a split second because then he realized what was happening behind the door. And he did not like it. Not one bit.

"OH MY YUE! KATARA? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

There behind the (Evil! EVIL!) door, was his baby sister Katara. And who else was there? None other than fire lord zuko. And, no. They were not just talking, or playing pai sho, or having a friendly cup of tea. They were canoodling. Legit, canoodling! Like, Zuko's hand was up his baby sister's shirt and they were kissing and…and…and oh La. There were things in life that Sokka would never want to see, ever. 1. Jet's face. He was still bad, still bad! 2. Ozai's face. 3. Azula's face. And 4. Katara and Zuko sucking face. Well, anyone and Katara sucking face. Ew.

Katara humphed, looking a little peeved that her kissing was being interrupted. Well, Sokka thought, too darn bad. She stuck out her bottom lip and crossed her arms. "Well, I was kissing Zuko. But I'm not now that you're here."

"But you–and he–and we all–when did this–ughhh!"

"Whatch you blubbering about Snoozles?" Toph appeared magically next to Sokka. How was it that she could find this room but not him? Sokka sked himself sadly. THhen he remembered. Blind earthbender. Duh. He mentally face palmed himself. Then he remembered the matter at hand. Wow, was he distracted easily.

"Toph! Did you know about…this?" He asked franctially, gesturing his arms wildly to Katara and Zuko.

Toph smirked, tossing her hair over her shoulder. " Cha, 'course I did."

Sokka gaped. "But, how?"

"Snoozles, you could slice their sexual tension with Space Sword." The earthbender made a chopping motion with her hand to emphasize her point.

Katara looked up from Zuko (they had gone back to kissing) at her older brother, "Hey, Sokka, what ever happened to Space Sword?"

Sokka gazed at the floor solemnly, "Lost him in the fight."

"What's the Space Sword?" Zuko raised an eyebrow questioningly, finally entering the conversation. He looked like he had just tackled a Platypus Bear…and lost. Sokka shuddered thinking of how dominant his sister was. Ew, again.

"It's this sword Sokka had that was black metal." Katara intervened.

Zuko nodded his head, showing that he was intrigued. "Oh, really, that's very interesting."

Katara's eyes lit up with no doubt, a plan. "Hey, Sokka, why don't you tell Zuko all about it?"

"Hey! Why don't I tell you all about it, Zuko?"

Katara's eyebrows furrowed. "That's what I just–never mind." She shook her head quickly, trying to understand Sokka was like…there wasn't even a metaphor for it. She sighed and stood up to go next to Toph against the door way.

"Okay, well, you see, I was studying under Master Pi–wait a minute! No changing the subject!"

Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes tightly. "Agni."

Sokka narrowed his eyes and put his hands on his hips, threateningly. "Give me one reason as to why I shouldn't get out boomerang."

"That would make Katara very unhappy."

"I second that!" She piped up.

"Hey, Katara! Stay out of it!"

"Men." Katara spat out bitterly.

"Ooh! Which men we talking about?" Suki appeared out of nowhere, dressed in normal attire.

"Stupid men."

The warrior sighed, and tilted her head apologetically. "What'd Sokka do this time?"

"He found out about Zuko and me."

"Well it's about time! I thought he'd never get it." She said, relieved.

"He is pretty slow." Katara agreed.

Sokka heard this and defended his smartness. "I am not slow!"

"Yeah, honey, you are."

Zuko rolled his eyes. "So does this mean you're not going to kill me?"

Sokka looked at the ceiling for a few moments, in thought before he decided. "I guess not."

"There you go, Sparky, you're off the hook." Toph walked over to clap him on the back. Zuko winced.

Katara ran over and threw her arms arund her super, duper, amazingly, awesomely, nice brother. "Thank you Sokka!" she squealed into his neck.

"Yeah, yeah…so."

She looked up from his shoulder. "What?"

"Nothing. Nothing."

"Sokka. What is it?"

"No! It's nothing."

"Fine, whatever."

"Okay, okay. I'll tell you. Does this mean that…Zuko is part of our gang now?"

Katara let go of Sokka and backed up, putting her hands on her hips in her I-mean-business way. "He's been a part of the gang Sokka."

"No, no. I meant, like, our family."

Thwack.

"Spirits, Sokka. You're such an idiot."

"What? What'd I say? Suki, what'd I say?" The bewildered warrior turned to his girlfriend, eyes wide.

"Sokka, you really are an idiot. Zuko's already a part of our family."

"Well, I just meant like, does this make it official?"

"Official, what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about me having to call him a…a…a brother."

"You already call me 'brother', Sokka." Zuko crossed his arms, now sitting on his bed. (So, that's why everyone knew where it was!)

"Zuko!" Sokka turned to the Fire Lord. "When'd you get here?"

"I've been standing here this whole time, brother." He deadpanned.

"Oh, right, right. Well, I guess this means you're part of the family now."

"Now?"

"What? I had to formally accept you."

"Formally?"

"Without the hazing and all that jazz. Though, if you think about it, we really got all of that junk outta the way a while back now."

Zuko scoffed, and said sarcastically, "If you think about it."

"Snoozles, I never got formally invited into the family." Toph said, still standing off to the side.

Suki glowered. "Yeah, me neither, snoozles."

"Uh, well you see…"

Toph waved a hand in front of her eyes. "No, no. I can't see."

"Err–I mean. Toph, you practically bullied your way into the family."

Toph grinned smugly. "True, true."

"And Suki, uh, you were always part of my family." Sokka said, his voice sweet.

Suki smirked but walked over to her boyfriend. "That was a sucky excuse, but I'll let it slide."

[Insert make out scene here]

"Hey guys, what's–argh! Sokka! It burns!"

"Aang! What're you doing here?" Sokka asked, bewildered that everyone could find that freaking room beside him.

Aang still had a face of mortification and was standing frozen in the hallway. Toph burst out laughing, slaing her knee with her palm.

"Hahahahahahahahahaha!"

Zuko stood up suddenly. "You guys are morons, I'm leaving." Which really meant, "You guys are morons. I'm finding Katara." Who had left once Sokka and Suki started to lock lips.

Toph trailed after him. "I'm coming with ya, Sparky."

"Me too, Zuko, let's leave them be." Aang gave one last disgusted look to the couple before following his friends.

Toph beamed suddenly, an idea in her head. "Hey! Who knows, maybe there'll be a little Snoozles running around soon?"

Suki heard from inside and hollered after them. "Hey! If anything she'd be a little Fan Girl!"

"What? What's wrong with a little Snoozles?" Sokka shrieked, in outrage.

The trio sniggered at Suki's reply. "Everything, Sokka, everything."

Toph slapped the firebender on the back. "Well, Zuko, welcome to the family."

Aang laughed. "You guys make it sound like a mob."

[Hears Sokka screaming and running from Suki in the background."

"It pretty much is."

A/N: So there you have it. Zutara Week Day One. Family. This one didn't have a ton of Zutara goodness, more like gaang goodness. But that's what family is, so, yeah. Happy Zutara Week Everybody!