Note: References that time Suki saved Toph from drowning in Book 2...and Toph kissed her on the cheek thinking it was Sokka. You know Suki couldn't keep that to herself forever :)

Stomach Cramps

"NO SHE DIDN'T."

"She did! Right on my cheek!" Suki insisted. "And th-then once I told her it was m-me," she continued, fighting to calm her giggles so she could finish the story, "she said…You can go ahead and let me drown now."

By this point, Zuko had fallen off the couch in his office and onto the hard stone floor, laughing silently while tears streamed down his face. "Oh…oh, Agni…" he gasped. "I can't—I can't believe I have this kind of dirt on Toph! This is so good!"

"Zuko! You p-promised not to t-tell anyone if I told you!" Suki exclaimed, still trying to tame her laughter.

"Are you kidding me? Toph's always giving me grief. This is my ticket to freedom!"

"Zuko!"

"Spirits, I love you so much for telling me that," he continued, grinning widely as he ignored her protests.

Suki sighed, shaking her head. It might be worth the wrath she'd get from Toph over this just to see Zuko so happy right now. He'd barely had a moment's rest all week due to the conference he was hosting to help repair relations with the North.

Suddenly, Zuko's face fell as he grabbed his middle. "Ow…what in Agni's name?" he muttered.

"What's wrong?"

"My abs—they're suddenly killing me. Like after a long workout," he explained, looking up at her sheepishly, "…and we both know I've been skipping those all week."

Suki looked down at his puzzled expression, realization sweeping over her. "Zuko…" she started, sliding off the couch to sit beside him. "Have you never laughed so much your stomach hurt?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Suki's mouth dropped open. "Oh—oh my gosh! That's so sad!" she cried, throwing her arms around him so his arms were pinned to his sides.

"What are you talking about?!" he asked, blushing self-consciously. He tried to wiggle out of her grip, but she only tightened her hold, eyes squeezed shut and lower lip puckering out.

"Suki!"

"Don't worry," she said quietly, patting Zuko's stomach. "We're going to make you hurt every day from here on out."

Zuko broke out in a sweat. "W-w-what?!"

Suki released him suddenly and jumped to her feet. She tapped her chin with one finger, holding her elbow in her other hand. "I just need to ask everyone for the funniest thing they've ever heard," she muttered to herself. "Yes…yes, that'd be a good start." She started moving towards the door when Zuko reached up and grabbed her wrist.

He held her there for a minute, brows furrowed as something slowly clicked in his mind.

"…I know a good way to make someone laugh," he said finally, pulling her down so they were at eye level.

"Oh, really?" she asked, chuckling at his sober expression.

"Uh-huh."

Suki raised her eyebrows at him, looking amused. "Well, what is—" She gasped as he stood and pushed her onto the couch, pinning her down. "Z-Zuko…" she started, cheeks burning as his hands rested on her stomach. "...W-what are you—OH SPIRITS," she cried as he started tickling her. He grinned widely as she roared with laughter.

A couple minutes later she finally gasped, "Zuko! I was supposed…to make…you laugh!"

"This is making me laugh," he grinned, his deep chuckles rolling into her own violent giggles.

"That's…not…what I—" she stopped abruptly as the door to his office swung open. They stared at each other wide-eyed, trying to untangle themselves as General Mak stepped into the room.

"FOR AGNI'S SAKE MAK, can't you knock?!" Zuko bellowed, standing up and awkwardly flattening out the front of his robes.

"I did knock, my lord," Mak said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Several times, in fact," he added quietly.

"…Oh," Zuko said, flushing brightly.

Meanwhile, Suki had escaped behind the general. "Oops!" she mouthed, grinning guiltily at Zuko as she practically ran out of the room.

Traitor, he thought. He turned back to Mak. "That wasn't…I mean, you didn't see that," he ordered.

"See what, Fire Lord?"

[end]