Day 2: Jokes and Sarcasm/Laughter

Genres: Humor/Friendship

Rating: K+

Setting: Southern Water Tribe (after North and South)

Jokes and Sarcasm/Laughter

"Here's your tea, oh mighty Sniffle Lord." Sokka sat on the edge of Zuko's mattress, presenting the tea to his pale-faced friend after the firebender struggled to sit up. "Drink it while it's hot."

"Thank you," he croaked. "Ugh! This smells disgusting!"

"Yeah, well it's good for you, so drink up!"

Zuko took a timid sip. "Blech."

"You know what tea is really hard to swallow?"

The Fire Lord braced himself for a bad joke.

"Reality!"

He stared at his blue-eyed buddy, unamused.

"Get it?! Reali-TEA!"

"Yeah, I get it."

Sokka grinned.

Zuko took another small sip and shuddered. "Did I ever mention how much I hate being sick?"

"Guess your delicate Fire Nation body can't handle the brutal cold of the Southern Water Tribe," he laughed. "For me, it's no big deal." He smiled pompously.

The firebender rolled his eyes. "Can't you get your sister to wave her magical hands over me and make my horrid illness go away?"

"You mean your sniffles?"

Zuko glared at his caretaker.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. And besides, Katara is plenty busy healing our dad after he was, you know, stabbed."

"Yeah, yeah. I guess that's slightly more urgent." He sloppily rubbed his face in an attempt to relieve the pain in his sinuses, seemingly displeased when he reached his nose.

"What?" the warrior asked patronizingly.

"I hate facial hair." He rubbed his chin, looking repulsed.

"You know, I used to hate it too. But then it grew on me!" Another wide grin spread across his cheeks.

"Har, har, har." The sniffling boy's sarcasm was oppressive.

"Come on. Laughter is the very best medicine."

"But you're not funny."

Sokka gasped, offended.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, groaning. "You are funny. I'm just grumpy because everything hurts right now."

"Okay. Then what can I do to make you feel better?"

"Hm…" Zuko thought long and hard. "Well, it would almost certainly make me laugh if you dressed up as an actual nurse."

"You know, if you had asked me to do this before the war, I would have been completely opposed to crossdressing. But now I know how awesome I look in a Kyoshi warrior uniform, so… I'll be right back!"

The wolf-tailed warrior dashed out of the bedroom. When he returned several minutes later, he was clad in full nurses' attire. His hair was down and his blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

The firebender's golden eyes went wide.

"So, what do you think?!"

"Uhhhhh…" His cheeks burned crimson red.

"You're not laughing."

He mustered up some fake laughter, feeling uncomfortable and oddly intrigued all at once.

"Now, Fire Lord Zuko, let me check your temperature." Sokka leaned over his sick friend and placed his hand on his forehead. "Ooh, you're burning up! Don't worry. Nurse Sokka knows just what to do."

His pulse rushing, Zuko stared into his buddy's sea blue eyes, more confused than he'd ever been in his entire life.