DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN AVATAR THE LAST AIR BENDER

"Brother"

1.) a male offspring having both parents in common with another offspring; a male sibling.

Sokka wasn't as stupid as many people believed. He could see though his friends' lies and masks. There were cracks in their facades and Sokka took it upon himself to try and steer them on the right path, one where they wouldn't have the need of wearing those masks.

Like Toph. The blind girl claimed to be unbreakable, unable to be hurt… by anything. Well, if that was the case, why did she look at Aang with those unseeing, sad eyes? And Katara with those alight, fiery eyes begging for a challenge? He really didn't want his baby sister fighting with the girl, she could really pack a punch… and he knew this from experience.

And Aang. It was obvious to everyone that something was up with Katara and him. He had heard the young avatar complaining about it at dinner, claiming that he didn't know what the problem could be.

Well Sokka couldn't squash the feeling of smugness that overtook him. He felt like happy dancing around the camp fire while yelling "HA! I knew something you didn't know!"

Because it was absolutely obvious that Katara wasn't interested in Aang anymore (if she ever really was in that way). Sokka had seen the way her eyes had followed Zuko around camp. And her useless lying didn't sway his opinion that she harbored hidden feelings for the fire bender. And no matter how much Sokka wanted to throttle the fire bending jerk for being so "irresistible" that he was attracting Katara, he couldn't really stand in the way of her happiness.

She was, technically, allowed to make her own decisions, no matter how much Sokka may object.

With a sigh, the water tribe warrior stomped off to his tent. Dirt billowed around his ankles as he kicked at it, lost in thought. That was when he heard the whispering… and giggling? right inside his baby sister's tent?!

Looking absolutely horrified, he pulled his swords out of the sheaths and, with a warrior's cry, bounded into the tent.

Katara emitted a screech of surprise and annoyance. "SOKKA!! What are you doing?!"

He looked around the tent and only saw Toph staring in his general direction with her hazy eyes, a grin stretching from ear to ear. He looked sheepish and confused when he finally got the nerve up to look back up at his enraged sister.

Her arms were crossed across her chest, lips were pursed, and her eyes looked positively terrifying.

"What. Are . You doing?" she demanded.

He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "So… there wasn't a boy in your tent?"

She raised an eyebrow. "And how did you come to the conclusion that a boy was in my tent?"

"Ummm…" he glanced around at Toph for help but she simply shook her head.

"I'm going to quite enjoy the punishment Sugar Queen dishes out for you Snoozles."

He glared at her, but turned around when Katara smacked him in the back of the head.

"Ow! Katara! That was hardly necessary!" he whined.

"You attack my tent because you thought a boy was in here robbing me of my innocence when it was simply Toph and me discussing…." She trailed off as a suspicious blush rose to her cheeks.

Sokka narrowed his eyes. "What exactly were you two discussing Katara?"

She laughed nervously and scratched the back of her head. "Oh… you know. Girl things?"

"What kind of girl things?"

She glared at him. "Is that any of your business?" he opened his mouth to speak but she beat him to it. "No, I do not believe it is. So, if you don't mind Sokka, we would like to get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow."

Before he could say anything, Toph had earthbended him out of the tent.

He landed face- first in the mud a few yards away from his sister's tent. Grumbling about disrespectful sisters and painful earthbenders, he rose to his feet and wiped his face as clean as he could.

When he could finally see again, the sight before him shocked the warrior more than it should have. Zuko, exiled fire prince Zuko was eavesdropping outside Katara's tent.

"What are you doing?!" Sokka demanded, eyes bulging.

Zuko jumped, startled and turned around, golden eyes going wide.

"Oh… uhh… nothing, Sokka. Just wanted to ask your sister a question about Aang's training."

Sokka stared him down for a moment then finally nodded. "Okay. Fine with me."

Zuko looked visibly relieved.

Sokka turned on his heel and began to walk back to his tent before he spoke again, not turning around.

"Oh and Zuko. I know good and well that you aren't standing outside my sister's tent so that you can ask her about Aang's training. But," he sighed. "As long as you're not trying to seduce her… then I guess I'm okay with you two."

He didn't turn around, but he could feel Zuko gaping at him. "Oh… uh… o—kay?"

Sokka nodded his approval and, exhausted, went to his tent where, hopefully, he could get some shut- eye.

Yep, Sokka wasn't a complete idiot.

Of course, it didn't cross his mind until it was too late that Katara was perfectly capable of seducing Zuko.

*****I don't really like this one, at all really.

But it would help me tremendously if someone would review! Help me improve my stories!
~Moonlit- Silhouette