There were many things that irritated Zuko. Overcrowded cafeterias, megalomaniacal sisters, self-righteous omnipresent female authority figures, wobbly stools, fruit baskets, fangirls. The list goes on into several volumes.
But the one thing that irks him to no end is his roommate Sokka, and his not-girlfriend, Toph Bei Fong.
"Hey! That was the last piece of beef jerky! My last piece of beef jerky!"
"Yeah!? Well, the needs of my gastrointestinal organs beg to differ!"
STOMP! STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!
"Get back here, ya alien dirt midget!"
"Who you callin' a midget, jackrabbit brains!?"
Zuko sighed and pulled a chair out of the way as the two knuckleheads stampeded across the room, fighting viciously over a piece of sun-dried meat.
Most who have witnessed such a violent display of squabbling were concerned. Some were justifiably amused. Zuko was just annoyed.
The dark-haired young man picked up the daily newspaper just as Sokka managed to pin the smaller girl down on the couch and entered a struggle for the prize in her hand.
He unfolded the newspaper, and his attention was immediately drawn to a particular title: Scientists Predict When World Will End.
He lowered the paper just in time to see Toph pull her head back.
"HEAD BUTT GALORE!!"
"OW!! MY GALLBLADDER!!"
He began reading the article earnestly.
Mai walked into the apartment with her spare key as Zuko was diligently trying to discover the exact date of doomsday (salvation).
"Hey, Zuko. Did you—" the young woman paused due to the outrageously inconspicuous act of human violence displayed before her.
"Are they going to be okay?" she asked, unable to restrain the sliver of concern that slipped into her voice.
"They'll be fine," Zuko grunted, disgruntled that the apocalypse wasn't arriving soon enough, "just don't get close. It might be contagious."
The magnitude of annoyance only managed to increase tenfold when they weren't arguing or fighting, for when they joined forces, others are usually the targets for ridicule at their expense.
"Dammit!" Zuko swore, "Toph! How many times do I have to tell you to wipe your feet before you come in!?"
The vile criminal and her apparent accomplice were both sitting on the couch, their legs lifted to their chest, and chuckling like the demonic troublemakers they were.
"There's dirt everywhere!! And who's going to end up cleaning it up!? ME!! You two really need to—what the hell is so funny!?"
Sokka smirked through his chuckles. "What's wrong, Zuko? Can't you—heheh—read?"
Toph cackled into her knees.
Zuko glared at his roommate. "What are you—" He stopped as he then noticed that the mud and dirt paths were actually deliberately made as they formed words. "I AM NOT GAY!!"
The two on the couch laughed hysterically.
Zuko glowered at them, seemingly ready to breathe fire.
"HAHAHAHahaha—c'mon, Zuko!! It's just a—hahaha—just a joke, man! Lighten up!"
"Heheheheheh! Yeah! Don't be such a sourpuss, Mister Hotbuns!"
Zuko's face managed to get even redder with the combination of anger and embarrassment at the memory of how he achieved the nickname in the first place.
Sokka rolled to his side, holding his abdomen, laughing until tears came out.
Having had enough, Zuko threw his backpack at his roommate, who just blocked it with his foot, and stormed into his room, slamming the door purposefully.
"Hahahahaha—woo! Th-that was awesome…! Hehehe……"
"Heheheheh……haaaa…! It sure was…"
"Hey, um, do you really think Zuko has a—you know…"
"Why, are you jealous, Sokka?"
"N-no! I was j-just curious…"
"Don't worry. I think your ass is way hotter than Zuko's."
"Oh, th-thanks—Hey! Stop doing that!!"
Zuko groaned miserably into his pillow.
The group project had required more work than he anticipated, and thus Zuko found himself entering the apartment late into the night.
After turning on the lights, he was greeted to the sight of his roommate and his not-girlfriend sprawled on the couch together. The girl was practically in the young man's lap and he in turn had his hand resting on her back, under her shirt. And to make matters weirder (to those unfamiliar with the two), they both had vanilla frosting smudges and cake crumbs smeared randomly over their faces and clothes.
Using his accumulated experiences in dealings with the two, Zuko deduced that they must have gotten drunk at a bar, may or may not have gotten kicked out, miraculously made it back to his and Sokka's apartment, began arguing in their drunken stupor, decided to blame everything on the innocent cake stored in the fridge, began administrating punishment by smashing the cake, remembered halfway that they loved cake, started to eat the cake instead, fought over the last piece of said cake, ended up on the couch, and then both passed out due to fatigue and alcoholic effects.
Zuko heaved a heavy, exasperated sigh, for this was the most annoying part about the two.
Despite both of them vehemently denying any romantic entanglements and the current indecent, crude manner they unintentionally presented themselves in, they looked good together.
Carefully, Zuko covered them with a spare blanket.
When Sokka woke up in the morning, it is to the smell of Zuko cooking eggs. He began to move, but then remembered that he had a bundle of vanilla-smelling girl snuggled against him, and paused to decide how to maneuver without waking her up.
Apparently there wasn't need for worry as Toph was already awake, as he saw she grin at him with her ivory-white eyes and a spot of frosting on her nose.
Before he could stop himself—he kissed her nose, tasting the delicious frosting and what he decided was the aroma of her skin.
Her eyes widened in surprise, and Sokka suddenly felt like he needed to explain himself.
"Ah—um—sorry, th-there was some frosting…o-on your nose."
She blushed, looking impossibly adorable.
He wanted to tease her, but couldn't as she leaned toward him and pressed her lips to his.
She quickly pulled back, but to him, it felt as if time had stopped due to being crippled by a steamroller.
Toph's blush intensified. "Sorry! B-but there was some, um, f-frosting, um…"
He grinned. "On my lips?"
In an act of uncharacteristic shyness, the girl ducked her head.
His grin widened. "Well, I have to say it was a most enjoyable method of cleansing. Thanks."
She raised her head back up with the same blush, but slowly, the look of uncertainty was replaced with a gorgeous smile and he couldn't help but feel dazed and drunk as he basked in the afterglow of that smile.
Then Zuko popped his head in from the kitchen. "Gawd," he exclaimed smugly, "I know you two are totally in love and everything, but seriously: Get a room."
Sokka was about to protest when the girl in his arms answered for him.
"Mind your own business." Toph told the imposer off, and pressed a soft kiss against Sokka's lips once more before nestling her head in his shoulders.
Sokka smiled euphorically.
Zuko frowned, discontent at being unable to bring a rise out of the annoying couple even given the perfect opportunity and rushed back into kitchen as the eggs were beginning to burn.
AN: Just a little something I hope brightens your day. Feel free to tell me what you think, thanks!