Author notes: Whoot! First action sequence/fight I've ever written! I think Sokka and Zuko would probably get along very well once they quit bashing heads over being alpha male. After all, they both have the whole honor and duty thing that's very important to them. And they both have younger sisters who are better benders than they are. Also, this is the longest story-type thing I've ever written and is sure to have at least a few errors in characterization, not to mention spelling and grammar. Poor Sokka. I think he's my favorite character, excluding the various animals.
How Sokka Lost His Hair
One of Sokka's greatest strengths was that he was becoming trained in all possible bending katas. From the strong, powerful earthbending Tiger and Crane style to the light, free Circle Walking of airbending, he was getting the whole perspective. Add in his teaching on Kyoshi Island (it is very, very difficult for someone not used to a dress to attempt to fight in one) and random training from any and all strangers the Avatar seemed to attract. He was becoming a terrific fighter, even if he couldn't bend any element.
Yet he always managed to trip himself up at the last possible moment. What was up with that, anyway?
Today he was practicing the firebending katas with Zuko. The sun was shining, the day was warm, and Sokka had found at least three mud puddles to land or fall in, while Zuko was still spotless and annoying.
"You need to control your breathing." Zuko commented for the sixth time (not like Sokka had been counting or anything). "For that matter, control yourself and your emotions while you're at it." He gracefully punched the air twice, not actually bending fire but showing he could, and sidestepped Sokka's return kick easily. "Focus! Maybe you need some more of Uncle's calming tea?"
Sokka went pale and ducked behind Zuko as Iroh stuck his head out of the tent. "Did somebody mention tea? I was just putting a pot on the fire if anyone would like to join me."
"No, thank you, Uncle." Zuko said. "Coward." He added to Sokka, turning his head to smirk over his shoulder. Sokka shuddered and stuck out his tongue, and was only mildly surprised when Zuko backhanded him in the chest.
"Ow! I need those bones intact, you know!"
"What for? Even if I did hurt you, it couldn't possibly make your fighting any worse."
"Oh yeah? Bet tonight's chores you can't touch me for five minutes." Sokka grinned and put a finger on the middle of Zuko's back, between his shoulder blades. It was getting easier and easier to turn with him, always just out of reach behind- until Zuko tripped him. Sokka retaliated with a single punch that probably hurt him more than he hurt Zuko and twisted away from the retaliatory kick. He then slipped in another mud puddle and landed flat on his face.
"...ow." Sokka muttered, and rolled over to stare blankly at Zuko, who had jumped away to avoid the spray of mud. Zuko stared back, looking faintly disgusted. "Well, I guess I get to cook dinner, wash the dishes, and-"
Zuko interrupted with an expression that was as close to panic as he ever got. "No! I didn't touch you; you can't cook dinner! I'm going to eat something edible for once and you're not going to ruin it! You get to wash the dishes, find something for the various herbivores and do whatever other chores come up. I get to cook."
Sokka slowly, slowly started to snicker. Too bad being a great warrior didn't save him from clumsiness, like falling all over the place, or from stupidity, like laughing at an upset firebender. He was still trying to regrow his wolf-tail haircut two months later.