A/N: hesfifthlazarus wanted to know what Sokka had said to freak Zuko out so much. So, without further ado, I give you Sokka's master manipulation!
Sokka thought he was being stealthy. The night before, he had carefully hidden all the materials he would need in the woods near Zuko's beach house – he still couldn't believe Zuko had a beach house – and now he was sitting in that very spot, carving away. He was pretty sure no one knew where he was. In fact, he was positive of it. Heck, no one had even bothered to ask where he was going. They probably think I'm out in town shopping. Maybe I should do that later, just in case. He began to hum to himself, secretly pleased with his master plan. Take that, world! No one messes with the Plan Guy!
No one, that is, except Zuko himself.
"Sokka, what are you doing in the middle of the woods by yourself?" Sokka jumped three feet in the air at the question, nearly skewering himself with his carving knife in the process. He whirled around to admonish the other boy for intruding on a private moment when he realized that for all his efforts, he'd forgotten to create a believable excuse. Well, here's to winging it.
"I was, uh, gathering berries for Appa? Yeah, that's it! Gathering berries!" Sokka began frantically hacking at the nearest bush, praying to Tui and La that something edible existed within it.
"Right…"
Crap, he doesn't believe me. Need a distraction, need a distraction. He followed Zuko's gaze and landed on the necklace he'd been carving for Suki. BAM!
"What, you thinking about making one for Katara or something?" Ohh, this is gonna be good.
Sokka wasn't disappointed. Zuko immediately tensed up. "What?! How could you say such a thing?! I don't – I wasn't – You're the one with the necklace!"
If Sokka had been in any other situation, he would've laughed and let the poor guy go at this point. Seriously, the kid was just too easy. But as it was, he needed a way to make sure Zuko wouldn't say anything, and that meant he had to keep going.
"Oh, c'mon Zuko," Sokka drawled. "It's okay; you don't have to hide it. We all know you have a thing for Katara. If you were anyone else, I'd have to kill you, but you're not, so we're good." He watched with silent glee as Zuko's face reddened, expression switching every few seconds between indignation and panic."How long would you say it's been now? Since our little run-in with the pirates a few months back? You certainly did have Mom's necklace for a while, and that's bound to give a guy ideas…"
"WHAT?!" Without another word, Zuko turned on the spot and darted back toward the house. Sokka simply began to gather his things, shaking his head at how easily riled his friend was. Yup, he thought, I am just that good.