You have Han (scorchedtrees) to thank for this one. Prompt was "um. zuko. and appa. and haircuts. Idk." Needless to say, I couldn't resist.
The Problem with Hair
Appa had always had an affinity for Zuko. Sneak-attack slobber kisses were a common occurrence for the banished prince, as were tackle-hugs that looked more like the air bison was trying to flatten his supposed favourite. Each of the team of adventurers had their own opinion regarding this inexplicable affection. Katara (along with Haru and Teo) figured it was just because Zuko had rescued Appa from Ba Sing Se's underground Evil Brainwashing Lair. Toph said that so long as no one expected her to give Zuko slobbery kisses, she didn't care either way. The Duke also wasn't concerned, but he would really like it if he could play with those awesome looking swords Zuko carried around on his back. Sokka still clung to the "rolled in honey" theory, while Aang just said that Appa had good taste, cause Zuko was actually kind of cool (and smart!), and he liked it when they did dragon dancing together. Oh, wait. He wasn't supposed to call it a dance, and—
Ahem. Anyway, the point was that Appa's love for Zuko was quite a remarkable thing, until, almost several weeks later, Sokka thought he had finally found the answer.
They had lost three members of their group (though gained one more, which Sokka didn't mind at all since Suki was gorgeous, could kick butt, and wasn't opposed to snuggles and kisses). In any case, the "Gaang" were now taking up residence at the Fire Lord's summer home, courtesy of Zuko. Toph was lazing on a hammock, wriggling her grubby toes and having what looked like a 'How Far Can I Flick My Snot' competition with herself ( it was kind of amusing to see Suki just sit there staring at Toph in disgusted fascination). Zuko and Aang were practicing firebending, as usual, while Katara fussed over Appa, measuring shaggy tufts of white hair in her hands and making tutting noises. Sokka simply observed them all with Momo perched on his shoulder, thoughts drifting and scattering as the heat of the day got to him.
"Your fur is getting way too long, Appa," Katara said with a frown. She grabbed a fistful of his fur and held it up at him. "Look, you can barely see when you're wearing your armour. This shaggy white stuff you call hair is all in the way."
Appa made a rumbling sound and shook off his helmet, letting it clatter to the ground. Katara just made another tutting noise and kept fussing about his fur. Sokka was about to close his eyes and shut all of them out when Momo made a chittering sound and flew off towards Aang, who was now walking towards them from the courtyard. Judging by the young boy's downcast eyes and drooping bottom lip, his firebending session hadn't gone well. One look at Zuko confirmed Sokka's suspicion; the prince looked merely tired and resigned, running a hand through his shaggy black hair and—
"I've got it!" Sokka exclaimed, standing bolt upright.
Everyone stared at him. Even Toph deigned to stop flicking her snot so she could listen.
"Got what?" Suki asked, staring at her boyfriend as if he had grown a second head.
"I figured out why Appa likes Zuko so much," Sokka explained with a teeth-flashing grin. "They both have shaggy hair!"
There was a long pause.
"That makes no sense," Zuko said, scrunching his face in confusion … or possibly irritation. "Besides, my hair isn't shaggy."
Aang let out a snort of laughter. "Um, I dunno about that. Sokka kind of has a point."
He pointed at each of them in turn, directing everyone's gaze to the bison and boy with the long hair that fell in their eyes in loose strands. Suki giggled, seeing the similarity and even Katara cracked a smile. Zuko just stood there self-consciously, folding his arms across his chest in a sign that he was not impressed.
"This is ridiculous," Zuko muttered, going a bit red in the face. "Appa does not like me because of my hair, and our hair is not the same. I mean, look at him—" he pointed at the bison, who stared back through soulful brown eyes. "Appa is just a big fluffball. He might as well be a cloud with all that fur."
Toph leapt off her hammock and marched towards the prince. Suddenly, she was creating a rock elevator for herself and tugging on Zuko's hair. "Oh, you're right," she said placidly, ignoring Zuko's choked sounds of pain and the hands that tried to snatch hers away. "His hair really is long."
"Quit it!" Zuko snapped, finally grabbing hold of Toph's wrists and then swung her up over his shoulder so that she couldn't torment him.
"Hey, that's cheating!" Toph cried, though she didn't seem overly troubled. In fact, she sent a pointed bit of earth at his backside, causing him to yelp and release her.
Zuko rubbed his bruised backside and glowered at the earthbender, who simply laughed and made one of her usual cocky remarks (Sokka was losing track of the number of times Toph one-upped a member of the group; the little blind demon had a knack for it). In any case, while all of this scuffling and teasing was going on, Katara began to look rather pensive.
"You know, Sokka does have a point," she observed, tilting her head to the side as she stared at the prince.
Zuko swung round to face her, his eyes wide with disappointment. "Not you too, Katara! I expected better from you."
She laughed. "Not the Appa theory, but that your hair is getting pretty long." She gave his fringe a light tug. "Doesn't it get in the way?"
Zuko's cheeks dusted with pink and he brushed her hands away from his face. "It's fine."
Katara pursed her lips. "Don't be ridiculous. I could give it a trim, you know. Then you'd be able to see better."
Sokka grinned. "Here we go. You're in for it now."
Zuko looked a bit confused, but Katara was already turning to give orders to the others. Suki needed to find something they could use to cut hair, Aang had to take the rest of Appa's armour off and give him a bath so that she could give the bison a haircut too (cause both of them needed it), and Sokka and Toph—
"Just don't get in the way," she said flatly.
"Hey, I resent that!" Sokka retorted. "Just what are you saying?"
"Yeah!" Toph chimed in.
Katara raised an eyebrow. "You know exactly what I'm saying. I don't want any fighting, no fake wigs or moustaches or anything else that involves using hair for silly things. Just don't."
"Yes, Mum," Sokka and Toph muttered in unison.
Katara's eyes narrowed a fraction, but she seemed to feel her little Team Mum rant had still done the trick and moved onto tormenting other unfortunate souls. Namely, Zuko and Appa. It didn't matter how much Zuko protested that his hair was fine and that he didn't need a haircut, Katara was not taking no for an answer and forcibly pressed the older boy onto a stool, where she proceeded to snip at the black strands that veiled his face before he could even contemplate fleeing. Zuko had no choice but to stay put unless he wanted to be stabbed with a pair of scissors or have his hair mutilated.
Sokka almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
"How about you really go for the Appa look and give him a nice bowl cut?" Sokka suggested innocently.
Zuko's eyes flashed. "Don't you dare—and stop giving her ideas," he added, throwing a scowl at the younger boy.
Katara gripped Zuko's jaw with her fingers, holding his head in place. "Stop moving."
"Sorry," he muttered, going a bit red in the cheeks.
Sokka just laughed and took a bite of his apple. "That's right, Zuko. Be a good hair model and sit still."
The prince ignored him.
Sokka suddenly sucked in an exaggerated breath. "Oooh, that was a bit short. Better fix that one, Katara. Don't want him to look lopsided."
"I'll make you lopsided in a minute—" Zuko began in a threatening growl.
And was promptly scolded for moving again.
Sokka sniggered and was about to take another bite of his apple when Katara flicked her hand back, whacking it out of his grasp with a water whip. The apple rolled on the ground and fell in a patch of dirt, making it quite inedible.
"Hey!" Sokka exclaimed, standing up in indignation.
"What did I tell you?" Katara asked coolly, not even looking at him.
Sokka's shoulders drooped. "Not to get in the way."
Katara just continued snipping at Zuko's hair, having made her point. Sokka sighed and rested his chin on his hands. Well, this was no fun. Watching Zuko get a haircut wasn't entertaining if he couldn't tease the prince at the same time. Though it was still funny to watch the older boy blush and stutter as Katara got all up in his space and fussed over him.
"There," she said, stepping back and lowering the scissors.
Zuko felt his hair, tugging at the strands to test the length. He sighed in relief. No lopsidedness there (much to Sokka's disappointment). "Thanks," he said, giving Katara a crooked grin. "This does make it easier."
She smiled in response. "See, I told you there was no reason to kick up a fuss."
Zuko's smile widened a fraction. "Yeah, I guess."
A crease formed on Sokka's brow. Were those two having a moment? Judging by Toph's fake-gagging motions, it seemed she thought this was the case. Well, call him seal-turtle in sandals! He'd had no idea there was something going on between those two. Poor Aang.
"Hey, Katara," Sokka called, and inclined his head to where Aang was drying Appa with gusts of wind. "You gonna do the big fluff ball now?"
"Right," she said, distracted from her moment.
Sokka watched her give one last smile at Zuko and then head over to Aang and Appa. He folded his arms and frowned down at the prince. "How do you do it?"
"Huh?"
Sokka just shook his head. He didn't think he would ever understand the appeal Zuko had for girls (or bisons, for that matter). The guy was scarred, awkward, waaaaay too broody, and couldn't tell a joke to save himself, but apparently there was something there since females seemed to sigh versus to his eyebrow and fawn all over the prince wherever the Gaang went. Even Katara wasn't immune.
"Must be the hair," Sokka decided.
