"You have got to be fucking kidding me," Sokka breathed into his phone.

"I'm sorry, man," came Haru's evasive reply. "My girlfriend found a place that's closer to campus."

Sokka pulled the phone away, pressing the receiver into his chest and growling his frustration. "You flake. How am I supposed to afford the rent on a place this big?"

"I don't know," Haru admitted. "You could put an ad up on 'Classifieds'? It's late summer... there's bound to be somebody looking for a place to live before the semester starts."

"When I get evicted, I need you to understand that I will be crashing on your couch for the rest of my life, do you hear me? There will be pizza boxes everywhere. You know the robe?"

"No, not the robe-"

"The robe will be back with a vengeance," Sokka threatened. "And you know I've never washed it."

"That is so gross," Haru complained. "But I'll help you find a roommate, if it means I never have to see the robe again."

"Are you sure he's not, like, a murderer?" Suki asked again.

Song nodded. "Haru says he's a nice guy, just in a tight spot."

"He sounds irresponsible."

Song leaned forward, targeting Suki with the full force of her devastatingly large brown eyes. She peered through the dark fan of her lashes. "Please, Suki? I need Haru to stay with me so that I can afford this house. It has a yard, Suki. A yard."

Suki snorted derisively. "How domestic. You're willing to let me potentially get murdered so that you can carry on your little fantasy dream world with Haru?"

"Yea, alright, Aikido master," Song said, rolling her eyes. "But, speaking of domestication... Sokka's pretty cute, you know."

"Oh, well, that changes everything," Suki said sarcastically. "And how am I supposed to domesticate him, exactly? Besides paying half his rent?"

"Not him," Song sighed. "You. Anyway, you're missing out. He's... ugh, so handsome."

"Then why don't you date him?" Suki asked, buffing her nails on her shirt.

Song glared at her. "You can't stay single forever, Suki."

"I haven't found stimulating company, yet."

"Sokka could be the one."

"I highly doubt that," Suki scoffed. "But, you do have me at a disadvantage here. I may not be interested in a relationship, but I am basically homeless right now... I'll check it out."

Song clapped her hands together excitedly. "You're going to love it, Suki. The place is gorgeous."

Damn her, Suki thought angrily. Song was right. The apartment was gorgeous; top level, with elevators, real wood floors, brick walls, and huge windows facing the east. It was a bit of a walk from the university, but she didn't mind that too much. Winters in Ba Sing Se were bearable. Nothing like home, where winter lasted from October to April and drifts of snow four feet high were as common as old shoes. She wandered from room to room, shaking her head in begrudging delight. The kitchen was massive and flowed smoothly into an open common area.

"See?" Song said, nudging her in the arm. "I told you this place was amazing."

"There's only one bathroom," Suki said offhandedly.

Song grinned wickedly. "You love it."

Suki pushed her shoulder, and Song skittered a step sideways, laughing. "I love it," Suki admitted. "It's so light-"

"Ooh, here comes Sokka," Song interrupted, hissing under her breath. "Be nice, be nice, be nice."

"I know how to interact with other people-"

Sokka stepped into the apartment, Haru a few steps behind him, both of them laden with groceries and twenty-four packs of beer. As Sokka wandered into the kitchen to set his bags on the concrete countertop, Suki eyed him speculatively. Unfortunately, it appeared Song was right about Sokka, too. He was tall, over half a foot taller than her, easily. Lean muscles stood out in sharp relief on his dark skin. He had a handsome face, too, complete with a sharp jawline and dazzling blue eyes. Her eyes moved up to the thick locks of dark hair, pulled back into a short ponytail. She almost snorted; guys with ponytails weren't really her thing, but somehow, the look suited him. Her eyes flicked back to his, and she saw that he was eyeing her, too.

Suki lifted her chin, and stuck her hand out in greeting. "I'm Suki; you must be Sokka."

He smiled, and her palm started sweating. "Nice to meet you, Suki. How do you like the place?" He took her hand in his, giving her one firm shake, and distantly she wondered if he noticed how wet her palm was.

"I love it," she breathed. "It's so gorgeous."

He waggled one dark brow. "Gorgeous enough to move in?"

"Gorgeous enough to consider it."

He laughed, and out of the corner of her eye, Suki caught Song and Haru nudging each other excitedly. She stuck her tongue out at them, ignoring Sokka's look of confusion.

"What's rent?" she asked, all business.

"High," Sokka admitted, his hand going up to nervously brush the spiky tip of his ponytail. "I'll be looking for more roommates."

Suki didn't love the idea of more roommates, but she wasn't a fan of high rent, either. "And utilities?"

"We can split internet; trash, water, and electric are included in rent."

Suki crossed her arms and wandered slowly away as Sokka leaned casually against the counter top. A sepia haze of light spilled from the corner of one window, staining the wooden floor with warmth and the smell of old lacquer and sawdust. She stepped into the sunbeam, reveling quietly for a moment in the thought of spending early mornings here, curled up on a couch with a cup of coffee, or practicing Aikido in the late evenings, when the luxury of sleep eluded her.

Sokka seemed nice enough, too, and Haru and Sokka had known each other since high school. If nothing else, they had mutual friends. That could ease the growing pains of a burgeoning friendship- if friendship was where they were headed. She sighed. Roommates could be weird.

She watched Sokka as he chatted animatedly with Haru, and Song sidled up to her. "I told you he's cute," Song whispered.

"You didn't lie," Suki admitted. "But he's going to be my roommate, so I'm not trying to dive headfirst into a relationship with him."

Song heaved a long-suffering sigh. "You are so emotionally stable, it causes me physical pain."

"I'm sorry that your relationship with Haru is mutually beneficial enough that you don't have any drama in your life anymore."

Song laughed. "Me, too... So? What do you think?"

Suki smiled, tucking Song's arm affectionately under hers. "I'll take it."

A/N: I'm kind of stalled with The Minister right now and I needed to get this off my chest. Unlike TM, I do not have a plan for this outside of a vague outline, and I therefore probably won't update with any regularity. Maybe two or three in one week, or none for a week or two. Depends on how I'm feeling.

Think New Girl, with the rest of the Gaang joining as we go. Kataang, Sukka, Toph and whoever the F she wants, Zuko and Mai. Maybe fluffy, probably not too angsty. Leave a review if you like, I always appreciate it!