Katara sat in the main room with the wash tub in front of her. It was a thankless task, doing everyone's laundry, but someone had to do it. She sighed as she scrubbed at a stubborn clay stain on Toph's shorts.

Just as she was about to change the water, a stampede of boys charged into the room.

"Katara! Can you lick your elbow?" they all chorused excitedly. Katara took in the sight they made, all panting and sweating, but with excited faces that gleamed with a little bit of mischief. The duke sat on Aang's shoulders, Haru stood behind Teo's glider chair, and Zuko, who was trying to look nonchalant and failing at it, stood behind them. Sokka stumbled into the room and pushed his way to the front.

"What did she say?" Sokka demanded, very out of breath.

"She hasn't said anything yet, she's just kinda looking at us funny. Hey Katara? Anyone home?" Aang asked, waving his hands around.

Katara just smiled. "Yeah, sorry. I'm just trying to get some laundry done. What about my elbows?"

"Can you lick them?" Teo asked.

"Why would I want to lick my elbows?"

"Toph said she'd give 5 gold pieces from her 'The Runaway' fund to anyone that can lick their elbows. We've been trying for ages." Aang told her.

"Well I've never really tried. But for 5 gold pieces, why not?" Katara wiped the laundry water off her hands and began attempting to lick her elbow.

She was unsuccessful. Her brows knit stubbornly, she tried again, twisting her arm as much as she could and reaching with her tongue. She was so concentrated on her task she didn't notice that the boys were holding in their laughter.

Katara was sure she looked ridiculous, but she really wanted those 5 pieces. It must have been worse than she thought because when Toph marched into the room and asked "Well, did she buy it?" all the boys burst into hysterics.

She instantly stopped trying to lick her elbow and her face flushed. Suddenly angry, she lashed out. "Oh ha-ha. Very funny guys. Here I am, doing your laundry so you don't have to run around in dirty clothes, and how do you thank me? By making me look like an idiot."

The crowd, minus Toph, who had already left, was startled by her biting tone and guiltily apologized, shuffling out the door.

Katara turned back to her wash, fighting back embarrassed tears.

"Don't be upset Katara, they were just joking around."

Katara looked up, surprised. She thought everyone had left, but Zuko stood casually in the middle of the room, like it was a natural thing for him to be there.

Katara sighed, pulled her knees to her chest and stared at the floor. "I know. Toph can be so infuriating sometimes."

"Well," Zuko looked to the door uncomfortably"she's definitely her own person."

"How was I supposed to know that you cant lick your own elbows?"

When Katara looked up, Zuko was kneeling right in front of her, staring into her eyes with a predatory look. She hadn't even heard him move. "I guess you'll just have to get someone else to do it next time." he said in a low voice as he grabbed her arm. Katara watched, frozen as he slowly touched his tongue to her elbow. She had goosebumps, despite the heat of his breath.

Utterly flustered, Katara tried to think of something to say. "...Well, I can lick your elbows too you know"

Very smooth.

Zuko grinned crookedly and stood up. "Anytime you want" he said over his shoulder as he walked out of the room.

Katara sat in stunned silence. Holy hogmonkies. Had they really just been talking about elbows?