A/N: I first wanted to do something with the necklace scene, but then realised betrothal necklaces are actually more of a northern thing, considering Katara didn't know about them, which she probably would if they were southern. So this just kind showed up in my head and it just...Did...Something? I actually kind of like it, but am pretty sure everybody's very OOC.
Disclaimer: I do not own AtlA, it belongs to Bryke and Nickelodeon.
Zuko liked his girlfriend's grandmother. He really did. Yes, really.
But when she started trying to force-feed him stewed sea prunes - which he wasn't allto fond of - he disliked her. A lot. And for all of Kanna's disapproving looks and muttering to Katara that she needed to rethink her love life and her boyfriend was much too spoilt (Hah!), Hakoda and Sokka's over-dramatic disbelief and even Katara's beautiful cobalt eyes, he could not grow fond of them. And Suki was no help. Kyoshi Island had too big of a fishing community for her to not like them. He had to proclaim his distaste of sea prunes, stewed, fried or otherwise (now if they let him cover them in Fire Flakes, then...), every time he visited, and such a case was now.
"I'm sorry, Kanna, but I have to say - again - I don't really like sea prunes. Too much salt for my taste buds."
Kanna gave him a hard and disappointed look. And even though she scared him more than he liked to admit, he stubbornly held his ground.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," he apologized yet again.
"But I would like more five-flavour soup? Please?", he finished lamely. For all his Fire Lordliness, Zuko was still awful at actual social interactions that didn't have a firm protocol.
Kanna made a sound that maybe sounded a little like a grunt, and filled him a bowl with sea prunes with a smug look on her face, much to Sokka's obvious delight. Even Katara may have giggled, and Hakoda and Suki's lips had quirked up into amused little smiles. Zuko sighed and picked up his spoon
"I guess that's a 'no'. Now can anyone tell me why I'm even marrying into this family?"
"Because we're awesome!" Sokka exclaimed agitatedly, high-fiving his father, sister and grandmother. Suki's grin had widened almost up to her ears and she winked at Zuko, before saying: "So, the only remaining question is: Whose going to join that 'awesome family' first? You, who actually has money-"
"-not really, we're really low on cash because of compensatory and repair payments, actually," the Fire Lord interjected.
"- and you have a big house for cool parties, and it's not mostly destroyed, unlike most of ours still are" she finished, obviously referencing the time Zuko set fire to end village.
Said firebender really wanted to sink into a hole.
"Suki, whilst words cannot comprehend how sorry I am about that, you do know that some of that compoensatiom money is going to Kyoshi Village?" He replied, rubbing his temples. Katara leaned over and wrapped her arm around him.
"We know that. You know that. Just please, don't do it again," she told him sweetly, fully aware her boyfriend knew her hidden meaning - Don't burn down this hut even if you really don't like sea prunes. An unnecessary request. His burning-stuff-down days were over.
Annoyed, he slapped the table and banged his head on it.
"Oh come on! Not you too!"