Hey, I haven't written anything in a few years now, but I try very hard to keep the characters as true to themselves as I can while adding my little yaoi/slash spin on things.

This chapter suggests what could have happened when Zuko left to join Team Avatar. The main pairing is Zuko and Sokka in no particular order. Future chapters will also be aimed at a Zuko and Sokka pairing ultimately but may include other suggested or temporary pairings that should relate to the fic's ultimate plot as a whole. Each chapter will take place in a different time period on the greater timeline of the series, but not necessarily in any particular order, meaning this chapter happens in season 3, but the next chapter is told during season 1. The idea is to tell a whole story like pieces of a puzzle that come together when all of the chapters are complete.

This is a yaoi/slash fic. If you don't like that please don't read it.

Betaed by the lovely Ritsu-chan.

I hope you enjoy my story. I am open to any questions, comments, or well thought out criticisms.

I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender, Nickelodeon studios does. If I owned it we wouldn't have had to wait months/years between new episodes. Please don't sue me.

___________________________________________________________________

The Troubles In Being Zuko or Sokka

Chapter 1 (Season3) Location: Airbending Temple

Sokka stalked his prey slowly, waiting for the perfect moment to make a move and pounce. Oh yes, there would be no more plain rice with tofu-sprouts for him tonight. His mouth watered as he crawled after the cute badger-frog. Unfortunately for Sokka this would not be his day for trying new meat based cuisine. . .

Zuko paced back and forth deep in frustrated thought; each idea for begging to join Team Avatar sounding worse than the first. . .

"I uh… I'm not so good at cooking and… er… hanging out, but I c-can make fire and erm… f-fight good… and y-you should let me join your team cause… I'm sort of useful and eh… I'm good now… I mean… I want to h-help… AH! This is never going to work! That sounds terrible! What do you think I should say, Froggie? …Froggie?!"

Zuko's head turned quickly to the left and right, but there was no sign of his only friend. A large frown formed as he realized how important to his sanity the badger-frog had become. A certain franticness set in as Zuko's heart began to race and a bit of panic set in. This was a man who had carried an unconscious child Avatar miles through frozen tundra but was terrified at the thought of loosing a simple badger-frog.

Excitement flowed through the Water-Tribesman's body. Oh, this was going to be the best meal he'd had since they'd arrived at this desolate little piece of Airbender history they were hiding at. As visions of frog leg delicacies with badger-frog jerky danced through Sokka's head he lost focus on all else around aside from his prey. Drool started to drip from his mouth as he readied for the pounce.

Zuko saw him, Froggie, Zuko's only companion on this insane quest of his to somehow convince the Avatar he was worth having as a teammate. In Zuko's mind stars and sparkles lit around Froggie as the young fire bender was so relieved and happy to see him, as if he couldn't do any of this on his own. In reality, the badger-frog was sitting on a rock by the lake eating flies off of some sort of scat, but Zuko didn't really notice that. Zuko was so distracted he didn't even notice the teenaged Water-Tribe warrior closing in on dinner. Zuko prepared to jump, hoping to grab Froggy before he disappeared into the lake and this chase and rescue became a whole lot messier.

Timing and luck had never been Sokka's strong suit. He'd recently learned not to talk to his prey so much while closing in, but to just pounce which was exactly what he did, just as Froggie jumped into the lake and Zuko lunged to grab Froggie which unfortunately resulted in a Zuko, Sokka, and scat sandwich, with poor Sokka in the middle on his stomach.

Sokka's eyes widened as the air was knocked out of him by what felt like another person? on top of him. He squirmed and squeaked, struggling to figure out exactly what had happened as his eyes caught the sight of his food prey hopping calmly out of the water to land just out of his reach. That's also when he caught sight of red fabric hanging from the body atop him. The young warrior gasped. He had to be pinned by someone from the Fire Nation!

Zuko was quite confused. He caught sight of Froggie hopping out of the water and realized he was lying atop something or someone much larger than a badger-frog. As the figure began to squirm and squeak Zuko's eyes focused in horror on blue fabric. The Water-Tribe boy! He had just tackled the Water-Tribe boy! He knew this couldn't bode well at all for trying to show the Avatar he was harmless and trying to get in the group's good graces. At this realization Zuko quickly jumped off of Sokka as if he'd been burned and reached out to help the other teen boy up off the rock/ground.

Sokka felt slight relief as the weight from the figure above him dissipated, but began to panic as a strong warm hand wrapped itself around his arm. Eager not to get captured Sokka shoved himself away, hard, freeing himself of the captive hand, only to awkwardly fall face first into the lake.

Zuko smacked himself on the forehead. If he wasn't tackling the Water-Tribe boy he was dropping him in the lake! He felt like he just couldn't win today as he continued to panic, irrationally jumping into the waist deep water to 'save' the other teen.

Sokka was struggling to swim/get away as the red clad figure grabbed him tight and began to swim him towards the shore rather forcefully.

Froggie just sat and watched as the two strange non-bug/non-badger-frog life forms fought and wrestled in the water. Froggie's head tilted towards the side. He didn't see any food near by. What could the two of them be fighting over?

Zuko struggled with Sokka, still trying to 'help' him out of the water, but all he seemed to be getting were punches jabs and struggling.

"S-stop! I-I didn't mean to… are you ok?! …Uh… Water-Tribe b…" Zuko cut off as an elbow connected with his jaw and knocked him back slightly. He hadn't been trying to fight so much as help, but this had just turned into a total disaster. As it was he had to grab the other boy's hand midair to keep from being beamed in the head with a boomerang.

Sokka recognized Zuko's oddly lisped voice immediately. Not again, oh not again! Sokka was far more than sick of being chased to all corners of the world by the fire nation prince, and his breath caught as he came to the realization of just how much more dangerous this was than an encounter with a regular fire nation soldier. Zuko was actually smart and very good with battle tactics not to mention fighting which made Sokka wonder why exactly the battle thus far had been so awkward and slow on Zuko's part. Maybe being in the water weakened Zuko… No, that didn't make any sense as the snow hadn't even weakened him this much. Sokka struggled harder as Zuko caught his boomerang wielding arm and forced it to stop mid-motion. Before he could struggle too much more he found both of his wrists held tight by Zuko.

Zuko was hard pressed to determine just how temporarily holding the Water-Tribe boy captive was going to help his case any when later pleading to join the Avatar, but he certainly didn't want the teen to hit him in the head with that boomerang again. He still had a little scar from the last time and he had been wearing a helmet then. The teen struggled in his grasp and even tried to kick and head butt him as he attempted to calm the boy down.

"Ah… H-hey... Stop! I'm-I'm not going to hurt you, er…"

Sokka struggled hard, kicking and twisting, determined not to let himself become captured by Zuko. Zuko's grip seemed to tighten the more he struggled.

"Yeah, sure you won't! You'll just capture me and Aang and take us as war prisoners. Well, I've got news for you, creepy stalker guy…"

"Hey! Calm down! I-I'm not stalking you anymo… well, maybe just a little… err… I'm no longer trying to capture the Ava…err… Aang?...err…" Zuko stammered, trying hard to communicate as best he could.

Sokka's struggles slowed for a second as he wondered what sort of plan THIS was. Large confused blue eyes looked towards Zuko to meet up with oddly sincere looking golden ones. Sokka blinked a few times wondering where all the anger and malice had gone in Zuko's gaze. This was a trick. This had to be a trick. If Zuko meant him no harm then why was he holding onto him tight enough to bruise, and why had he pounced on him earlier?

"Yeah… Whatever you say, Stalker! Just because you have a cute new haircut going on there doesn't mean you've changed one bit! What next, are the royal guards going to give you highlights?!" Sokka chided, sticking out his tongue as if he thought he was being so funny.

"H-Hey… that's not… err…"

A deep blush crept over Zuko's face. He had never been very good at this sort of thing, talking to others his own age and whatnot, especially when the others didn't particularly like him. His mouth dropped open with sort of a confused look as he struggled for just the right thing to say. It never dawned on him just how tight his grip had gotten.

Sokka peered back at Zuko in complete confusion now. Was the other boy blushing? What the hell?! Was this all part of his act? What was he trying to accomplish? Sokka began to struggle once again, his wrists really starting to hurt now from the other teen's tight warm grip.

"Let me go! I thought you were busy stalking Aang! Shouldn't you be back in your own nation getting your hair restyled again or something?!"

Zuko gasped as he realized he was still holding on and rather tight. His grip began to loosen, but the boy in his grasp began to struggle more, once again trying to club him in the head with the boomerang forcing him to tighten his grip once again.

"S-Stop!"

"Oh you'd like that wouldn't you?!"

"N-No… I mean yes… err… I mean… I can't let go if you keep trying to hit me in the head."

Both men's gazes were drawn from one another rather suddenly as Froggie made a large "croak!" and bounded onto Zuko's head from his place on the shore.

Sokka's brows lowered and mouth dropped open for a moment in complete perplexity before he suddenly bit his bottom lip trying hard not to laugh despite the recent situation's lack of jubilation. Zuko just looked too hilarious with a huge badger-frog on his head.

Zuko's eyes widened and his face turned three shades of tomato. Was the other boy actually laughing at him? His eyes looked up to try and pinpoint the badger-frog now positioned on his head and the Water-Tribe boy just lost it, laughing out loud. Zuko quickly let go of the teen and reached up to grab his beloved friend, bringing him down from his head to clutch him at his chest as he ducked to dodge Sokka's boomerang. Unfortunately for Zuko, Sokka's boomerang always came back…

Zuko was knocked forward pretty hard as the force knocked Froggie out of Zuko's arms and onto Sokka's face. The fire warrior shook his head a few times, trying hard to remain conscious as white stars crackled before his eyes. It wasn't at all like Zuko to be so careless, but he had been too busy trying not to fight while protecting his badger-frog friend. A little trickle of blood dripped down Zuko's neck from the back of his head and he spat out a little blood as he grabbed blindly for the other boy, catching his tunic.

Sokka squeaked as Zuko's hand caught the cloth on the front of his tunic and held tight just as Sokka had finally managed to pry what he'd intended to be his food for the day from his face. The badger-frog took advantage of Sokka's shock and wiggled its slick way out of his damp arms, jumping back into the water only to swim back to shore and hop back onto the initial rock it had been sitting on. Sokka just yelped and grabbed Zuko's wrist, trying to pry his tunic free of Zuko's hand.

Zuko reached out with his other hand, desperately trying to brace himself as his vision began to double. Misfortune smiled upon the injured warrior once again as he reached for the wrong Sokka (out of the two he saw) and completely shifted his weight to the arm, grabbing at air and falling forward onto Sokka in what resembled a hugging position.

Sokka squeaked loud and flailed a bit as all of Zuko's weight was suddenly on him in a rather awkward looking position for someone he was supposed to be battling. Sokka's flailing slowed as he struggled to hold the two of them in a still standing position above water.

Zuko came slightly more to his senses and struggled to regain his footing, as he brought his arms up to squeeze the other teen in attempt to gain something to support himself on. The thought never graced Zuko's throbbing brain that this would seem like a large tight hug to the other boy.

Sokka gasped and struggled for a good sarcastic quip to force out. All he really managed was a high pitched "Ha! Ha! Boomerang always comes back! Ha!"

His eyes seemed to pop out of his head as the other man's answer was bringing his arms up around Sokka in a tight hug. What the hell was he doing?!

More of Sokka's flailing ensued due to the social discomfort of the situation which only forced Zuko to squeeze tighter as he struggled for balance.

Zuko forced whispered words from his mouth as a little blood dripped from the corner.

"W-Water-Tribe boy… d-don't"

Sokka's whole body shivered as Zuko's hot breath caressed his ear.

"Sokka! My name is Sokka," he managed to squeak out.

Zuko's grip tightened a minute as the warrior began to shake a little, still feeling dizzy, but he soon forced himself to his own feet, letting go of Sokka, but rocking a bit in the water. He wiped at his mouth and tried to speak again, as Sokka used this opportunity to quickly go for his boomerang which had bounced off of Zuko's head into the water. Zuko grabbed Sokka around the waist with one arm in attempt to stop him.

"S-Sokka… please… stop. I don't want to hurt you."

"Is that so?! Then, what are you doing here, baking cookies?!"

Sokka squirmed and struggled hard which prompted Zuko to try and get him away from the boomerang before he got free. Sokka struggled even more as Zuko drug him towards the shore, and Zuko began to wonder if he would ever get his point through to the crazed warrior.

As Zuko reached the shore he shoved Sokka onto the dry land and lunged to grab him before he ran away. This led to more awkwardness as Zuko landed on Sokka in a straddling position, pinning his hands to the ground.

Sokka did not respond well. He almost looked panicked for a moment, his eyes wide as if Zuko were really hurting him. His jaw clamped shut and he grit his teeth, his large blue eyes met Zuko's once again and the younger boy almost looked terrified. Sokka shook his head hard and squeezed his eyes shut tight but was brought out of his panicked state by Zuko's soft words.

"P-please stop attacking me. I didn't mean to land on you. I… err… I was trying to catch Froggie."

Zuko bit at his lip as a blush once again crept across his cheeks and his eyes moved to his rock-sitting friend.

Sokka's gaze followed Zuko's and his eyebrows rose in complete bewilderment. Was Zuko actually referring to the badger-frog?

"What are you TALKING about? What ARE you doing here if not to capture Aang?"

Zuko took a deep breath. This was his chance.

"I came to join the Avatar and help him to defeat the fire nation."

With each moment of this insane encounter Sokka thought that he couldn't become any more shocked and surprised. He was proven wrong.

"W-What?! Why?"

*sigh* "Because it's the right thing to do."

"That never stopped you before."

*sigh* "Well… I've changed now… I… I want to do the right thing. I mean, I thought I was doing the right thing before, but now I know I really wasn't. I now know my destiny is to help the Avat… is to help Aang."

Sokka wasn't sure what to say to that. What could he say? He had no idea if Zuko's words were true or if this was another plot to kidnap Aang. Then, it dawned on Sokka that he was still being pinned, the weight of the other man straddling him sank deep into his stomach and made his whole body tremble slightly.

"Uh… If you're such a great guy now, get off of me!"

Zuko quickly scrambled to comply and held up his hands once he was on his feet again.

"P-please don't attack me again."

Sokka's eyebrows raised and as Zuko offered him a hand to get up he sort of ignored it, pushing himself up off of the ground. Zuko frowned.

"I guess you still really don't trust me… not that you'd really have any reason to… About before, I'm really sorry… especially that time I paralyzed you and your sister and carried you on that giant rodent and well… that time in Ba Sing S…"

It was Sokka's turn to wave his arms in the air.

"Woah Woah Woah! I… You should really be telling this stuff to Aang… well, except that thing about Katara. If you ever hurt my sister again I'll come after you."

Sokka tried to look menacing with that last part, but he realized it was Zuko he was talking to after all so he was pretty sure he just looked silly.

Zuko frowned, looked down at the ground in shame, and gave a soft nod.

"I was preparing to apologize to the A… to Aang when all of this happened… I mean, when I went looking for Froggie… He's a really good listen… You… You must think I'm insane." *sigh*

"…Yeah… a little bit." *sweatdrop*

Sokka couldn't deny the weirdness that Zuko had demonstrated.

"Well, I guess, you have your frog and I can grab Boomerang out of the lake… Sooooo… As long as you come work things out with Aang soon and don't attack anyone I guess we could… forget this whole thing happened?"

Sokka was praying for a "yes" as this whole thing was rather embarrassing and a small part of him wondered if Zuko held a grudge over the boomerang to the head Sokka had delivered.

Zuko smiled, which was more than weird for Sokka.

"I-I'd like that… I mean, I don't want to start things off on the wrong foot."

"RRRRright… um… maybe I should apply a little first aid to your head first."

Zuko didn't know what to say. He hadn't imagined any form of offered help. He wanted to ask Sokka for help with what to say to Aang and the others, but he was way too embarrassed. He just stayed silent as Sokka quickly pulled out a small first aid pouch and used it to quickly clean and dress his wound. When Sokka was all finished Zuko offered a soft "Thanks."

Sokka felt a small pang of worry. If Zuko really was on their side he'd just injured him pretty badly. So, he went in the lake to fish out his boomerang and picked up Zuko's little pet on his way out.

Zuko looked a little worried when Sokka picked up Froggie, but Sokka calmed him by handing Froggie to Zuko and helping the young injured warrior to his feet. That's when it occurred to Zuko that he had also been quite rough in their earlier scuffle.

"A-are your wrists ok?"

Sokka appeared to shake/write off any pain.

"Feh… I'm fine. My arm bandages will cover any residual bruises or anything… I guess it was sort of my own fault." *sweatdrop* "Just don't do it again or I'll have to boomerang your head again."

Zuko shook his head a little.

"D-Don't do THAT… I just got you to stop."

Sokka smirked and told Zuko to go get some rest since he was expected to come see Aang by the end of the next day or Sokka was going to tell everyone he'd seen him.

Zuko nodded a few times and headed off into the woods with a wave, another soft smile, and another "Thanks Sokka."

As soon as Zuko was entirely out of sight Sokka let out a huge gasp of air relieved he'd made it out of this mess somehow. For a while he was almost sure he'd be captured or worse so this was all a huge relief. Then, he frowned, realizing he'd have to eat rice and tofu-sprouts for dinner once again.

~~~Back at the Airbending Temple~~~

Katara's nose twitched in the air and she slowly followed the scent to her brother.

"Sokka, do you smell like poo?! Did you fall in poo again?! Sokka who do you think has to do your laundry?!"

___________________________________________________________________

TBC…

plude