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Zuko is not my boyfriend!

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We looked everywhere! All through the house and the gardens. I could hear everyone shouting Aang's name but he didn't respond. I felt a rising dread. Where could he have gone? After we checked the house, we checked the beach and found his foot prints leading into the water. But none leading back out and it was all very mysterious. I was worried that he would have been captured but Sokka nixed that idea and said there was no sign of a struggle. Sokka assumed his sleuth role and tried to deduct what had happened to Aang. Toph assumed he'd run away again but Sokka reminded her that he'd left Appa and his glider, so he couldn't have gotten too far. And he couldn't have gone on a spirit world journey because his body wasn't here.

It seemed like there was only one solution. He had to be somewhere on Ember Island. I proposed we split up to look for him- that way we could cover more ground. I gave Zuko a meaningful look as I said this and he nodded back at me in confirmation. I had a vague, unformed hope that we might be able to pick up where we left off in the attic-after finding Aang (and finding some privacy far away from Sokka of course). I guess I just assumed that we would be paired together because we do so much together. We're team liquidy-hot for goodness sake.

But Toph had other ideas.

Boo Toph.

Suddenly, she glommed on to Zuko with great enthusiasm (which gave him a big surprise). She announced she was going with him quite happily. He blushed and looked really awkward about being suddenly and affectionately hugged by Toph (who is not prone to displaying affection except in the form of punches and kicks). I think Toph could sense my raised eyebrow and my questioning/disapproving look because she shrugged and said that everyone else had a life changing field trip with Zuko and it was now her turn to have a go with him.

There was a pause and Zuko didn't seem to know quite what to say to that. Sokka delegated (and he calls me bossy!) and said that because Zuko knew the terrain the best, he should take Toph on a big loop around the house and look for signs of Aanng. He assigned me and Suki the town to search and declared that he'd fly overhead and have a search on Appa.

Zuko opened his mouth, shut it, sighed in a resigned fashion and then said come on Toph. She said Yay fieldtrip with Zuko! They started walking down the beach and began to bicker in a friendly manner about the nature of their fieldtrip. Zuko was adamant that it wasn't a happy fieldtrip but a Very Important Search and Toph cheekily disagreed. I felt a twinge of jealousy for her small self but I pushed it away because I am a mature person. Being jealous in a situation like this when we have to find Aang urgently is ridiculous.

And I am not ridiculous.

-?-

I very quickly changed back into my firenation clothes and went with Suki into the town. We had no luck finding Aang. The closest we came was when we heard crowds chanting Aang's name and I will confess that I got my hopes up, but it was just those stupid actors from that stupid play. After an hour of fruitless searching we turned to go back. As we were walking through the main square everyone was muttering darkly. Suki and I paused for a bit when we heard strains of conversation about Firelord Azula.

What the hell?

Had Ozai already died? And Azula taken over? Because that would drastically change things. We looked around and found a guy who was putting up posters with the details. We asked him if we could have a poster to take back home and he handed it over. The poster claimed that from Sozin's Comet – the firenation would have complete control over the whole world. On the day of Sozin's comet, Ozai would ascend to the position of Pheonix King and have dominion over everything and his position as firelord would be ceded to his daughter. She would, from that day henceforth be referred to as Firelord Azula.

Oh this was bad.

We raced back home to show the others.

-?-

We were the first ones to arrive back and we waited anxiously for the others. I went and changed back into my water tribe clothes – and I once again felt ready for battle. Despite that poster, I still held out hope that we had a chance. We would find Aang. Zuko and Toph, or Sokka would be back with him any moment now. He'd be sheepish and apologetic and we'd all forgive him and then everything would be back on track. I kept trying to convince myself of this and so I felt acutely disappointed when Zuko and Toph appeared without Aang.

I knew I had to tell Zuko about finding the poster, but I also knew he was going to hate reading it. I told him that there'd been and announcement in town and he really wasn't going to like it – to give him a bit of warning– and then I handed the poster over so he could read it. His eyes widened in shock and then narrowed in anger. Toph got curious and wanted to know what it was and he read it out to her. She made a low whistle and commented that it was ballsy to announce victory before the battle had even been fought (I agree). And when Aang showed up and it all when pear shaped for the Phoenix King (she said Phoenix King very sarcastically) he was going to feel silly. Zuko was very derisive about the fact that his dad had made up his own title and position. They made many sarcastic comments along this train of thought and I think they were trying to cheer each other up. But a somber mood had settled over us.

When Sokka landed without Aang, I felt my stomach plummet further with that feeling of dread I'd had ever since we first discovered Aang was missing. The boys talked about how weird it was and how it was like he had just vanished. It was a tense discussion. Toph tried to change the mood and she pointed out something that she had only just noticed. Momo was missing too.

Sometimes, when Sokka is really nervous, he plays the fool. Humour is how he copes when he's really scared or worried. I know this. I know this, but it was still surprising when he turned around and declared that Appa must have eaten Momo. Umm no Sokka. Just no. He then climbed into Appa's mouth in an attempt to "save momo." I think he was trying to break the tension, lift the mood and make us laugh with his antics. But I wasn't in a laughing mood and I got a bit fed up. I didn't have much patience for his shenanigans right then. So I told him bluntly that Appa didn't eat Momo and Momo was probably with Aang. He turned around and said that was what Appa wanted us to think.

Zuko was in a similar frame of mind. He said get out of the bison's mouth Sokka in a very bossy tone. He went on that we had a real problem on our hands, what with Aang missing and the comet only two days away, doom and gloom fast approaching etc. I asked him what he thought we should do. I didn't need to say it but our situation had changed drastically now that Aang had vanished. I didn't even know anymore. I never thought Aang would leave. I never thought we'd be in this situation.

Zuko wasn't sure what to do either and he gave me an apologetic shrug. Then he seemed to notice that we were all looking at him. I pointed out that he was our expert on tracking Aang. I hoped Zuko would have some crazy idea up his sleeve about how to find Aang. He'd found us and followed us and tracked us so many times when we didn't want him too, surely he could find Aang now that we needed him to. Toph agreed with me and pointed out that just yesterday Zuko had told her he could track Aang anywhere. Zuko huffed back at her that he didn't expect that Aang would up and disappear on us when he said that.

Sokka piped up that if anyone had a solution it would be Katara's boyfriend (meaning Zuko). Me and Zuko both looked at him in surprise/anger. Zuko made a confused noise and Sokka shrugged and said teasingly, there was no point denying it and he knew what he had walked in on this morning. He wasn't that stupid. That got Suki and Toph's attention and they both turned to look at me and Zuko. They were most curious as to what happened this morning. (He didn't interrupt us doing THAT Toph!)

Sokka I will kill you for real this time! As soon as the fate of the world isn't hanging in the balance – Sokka will feel the full force of my wrath!

Ages ago, Toph had advised Aang when he was feeling sad to just find some other way to feel. I had dismissed this as terrible advice but now I must acquiesce that it is useful. Just a few seconds ago I was full of worry and dread. Now I was full of cranky (and embarrassment!) I stood up and put my hands on my hips and gave Sokka my best Look and shouted at him to Shut Up and then I announced that Zuko Wasn't My Boyfriend! I wanted to nip this thing in the bud. I could forsee that Sokka had much teasing planned and I wasn't going to stand for it right now.

Look, I wouldn't mind the teasing – had something actually happened! But it didn't! It didn't because my stupid, annoying, bossy, rude, sarcastic big brother interrupted. If me and Zuko had gone uninterrupted and had actually kissed properly and then had a conversation and had decided to maybe…you know…give being boyfriend and girlfriend a try – well then I would accept my teasing graciously. I am actually quite sure that if Zuko and I ever gave it a try – I would hear no end of teasing regarding this from Sokka, especially in light of how I carried on at the Western Air Temple. I have resigned myself to many bad jokes regarding this. I have not resigned myself to being teased before we've even kissed properly!

After I shouted that Zuko wasn't my boyfriend etc he shot me a quick look before he joined in the chorus and said most irately that I wasn't his girlfriend and Sokka was an idiot. Sokka smiled benignly and said whatever you say future-brother-in-law. Zuko said that as soon as Sokka wasn't covered in bison grime, he was going to smack him. Sokka put on a mock hurt face and said Hey brothers-in-law shouldn't fight. Zuko made an exceptionally grumpy face, said that's it! and then he jumped down the stairs and proceeded to chase Sokka around Appa.

It was a most humorous and undignified display. There was much chasing an affectionate insults from Sokka and get back here Sokka-s from Zuko. Eventually Zuko caught Sokka and there was inelegant struggling that ended with Sokka in a headlock. He was being given the worst noogie of his life. He shouted up at me Katara, call your boyfriend off!– however this only intensified the noogie. I did not come to his aid and merely shrugged and said he brought this on himself. I knew Zuko wouldn't actually hurt Sokka, he'd just mess up his hair (Sokka hates that) and somebody had to discourage Sokka from this particular line of teasing.

While I had been watching the inelegant display with Toph (who was enjoying it far too much and laughing her arse off) Suki had turned and got into the house. She emerged, commonsense stick in hand and proceeded to whack the boys with it until they desisted in their struggling. All the while she said variations on guys cut it out! We have to find Aang!

Zuko relented and he released Sokka who (unwisely) said Tell that to Katara's boyfriend. He's the one that had to get his Aang-finding-mojo on. Zuko literally growled at him like a friggin polardog before saying that he would only do this if Sokka would stop calling him Katara's boyfriend, future-brother-in-law or any variation on that theme. Sokka said well what am I meant to call you then? still with an exceptionally cheeky smile on his face and Zuko shouted Just call me Zuko, you berk!

Sokka has agreed to this condition.

I know that we all deal with stress differently. Sokka likes to play the clown and make jokes. Zuko likes to go on the offensive and find something to fight. I like to mother people (well I do that all the time, I know. But something about taking charge and taking care of people is soothing to me.) So in a weird way, stupid Sokka's stupid teasing was good. Since Zuko and Sokka had both proved that they had the maturity level of two-year-olds and had both gotten very dirty (Zuko was now also covered in bison grime from his inelegant struggle with Sokka) I could get scoldy with them. Getting scoldy with them has relaxed me somewhat.

I was in a better frame of mind when Zuko announced that he had an idea, but it wasn't a fantastic one. It might even be a stupid one. I announced that we'd take any ideas at this point. He said his idea was in the earth kingdom. Well, umm. Okay. The Earth Kingdom was pretty far away. Was Zuko sure about this? He said as far as he could see there was only one way to find Aang and we'd have to go to the earth kingdom to do that. I said okay and then I climbed onto Appa and encouraged everyone to join me.

Earth Kingdom it is!

-?-

Ride to the Earth Kingdom was full of very similar squabbles that went something like this: Sokka did not call Zuko my boyfriend or future brother in law. Instead he would cheekily insinuate things (about me and Zuko) with very transparent and rude double entendres. Either Zuko or myself or both of us would tell him to shut up.

Toph would also make comments and she would call Zuko Katara's boyfriend at every single given opportunity. Zuko and myself would get cross in response. She argued that she had never agreed to not call Zuko that, only Sokka had. Zuko would make that frustrated growly noise in response (I actually find the growly noise somewhat sexy. Maybe very sexy. Am I weird for thinking this?)

Periodically Suki would step in and try to play mediator. These attempts were unsuccessful because she would unfailing describe our imaginary coupledom as sweet/cute/lovely. Eg: I think it's so sweet that they're together and they make a really cute couple and you guys are embarrassing them and should stop giving them a hard time. Even though I know she meant well, I would get a bit stroppy and would say something like –for the last time, we are not a couple.

There were a few notable occasions when Zuko got exceptionally fed up and announce that if there wasn't quiet in the saddle/the others didn't cease and desist their teasing – then he would turn this bison around! Sokka would point out that Zuko wouldn't actually do this because he knew how much we needed to find Aang.

There would always be a few moments of silence following these pronouncements while we all contemplated our missing friend. My mind would fill with questions. Where was he? What had happened? How could he just disappear? Was he okay? Was it something I said yesterday? If I had gone after him following his tantrum at dinner-would that have made a difference? My stomach would churn up in knots and I'd feel anxious.

As the sun set over the horizon, Sokka pointed out that the original plan we had wouldn't work now. The parade was over. The Airship fleet would have taken off by now. It was probably on the move to the rendezvous point. The plan we had spent all day yesterday practicing was useless and our one best shot at defeating Ozai was gone and we didn't even know where Aang was.

It was an accurate, if depressing summary of our situation. I felt my breath catch in my throat and I tried to think of something positive to say. We'll find Aang, you can make more plans etc. but at that point, I didn't feel positive and I couldn't find the words that didn't feel false. Toph piped up that Sokka was depressing her and it was much more fun when they were making fun of the two lovebirds (meaning Zuko and myself). She made a sly, teasing comment re: me and Zuko again. The squabbling was back on and I was strangely grateful for it. I was be sufficiently distracted by it and it stopped me thinking extremely negative thoughts. I think we were all in the same boat. The squabbling and the teasing, as annoying as it was, helped take our minds off our very real problem.

-?-

Zuko and Toph just had this following exchange. Toph said something like Hey, Katara's boyfriend, do you have any fireflakes because I'm feeling peckish. Zuko actually answers to Katara's boyfriend now unthinkingly. He denied having any fireflakes, and Toph said she was sure he had some because he always had some. Zuko said that even if he did, he wouldn't give them to Toph because she was being really annoying right now. Toph said he was just cranky because Sokka had interrupted our…err what she presumed was torrid lovemaking…this morning. She said this quite crudely, in language I didn't even know Toph knew. Zuko blushed bright red and said that if the teasing didn't stop he'd just…he'd just…do something really bad to all of us. He turned around to say this and I made a face at him and he said not you Katara. I smiled.

Toph said aaaawww because you luuurve her! Zuko made his frustrated growl (we have now heard it many times today. Oh so many times) and asked if she would shut up if he gave her the fireflakes. Toph said she would. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a packet and unceremoniously threw it at her.

But he didn't deny it.

I am elated.

-?-

Many, many squabbles later we landed near a seedy looking pub about an hour in from the coast. It looked like it was full of people who had a very loose relationship with hygiene and personal grooming (smelled like it too). I imagine this could be a place where much debauchery and shenanigans would take place. This was Zuko idea? He's right, I'm sure whatever this idea was – it would be a stupid one. I crossed my arms and asked why on earth Zuko had taken us to this squalid, sleazy tavern. He seemed to be scanning the crowd and then his eyes lit up in recognition. He pointed across the tavern to a tattooed and fierce looking lady and simply said Jun.

I looked over and saw a tall lady with perfect hair smacking a big burly man in the face like she was a swatting a fly, before she turned around and clonked some other guy over the noggin with a perfectly executed roundhouse kick. She looked familiar. I tried to place her. Sokka and I seemed to recognize her at the exact same moment. I suddenly remembered her from the abbey. Sokka cried out oh her? That lady with the huge mole. Suki was perplexed by this and pointed out that her skin was flawless- and it was. Even when she was kicking people literally in the arse, her skinned gleamed but didn't look at all sweaty. She must use a fabulous scrub and moisturizer. Zuko corrected Sokka and said that it wasn't a mole, it was a shirshu – and the shirshu would be the best chance we'd have at finding Aang. I had to agree. That giant mole thing, sorry shirshu, was an incredible (and scary and freaky-looking) tracker.

Just at that point Jun threw her tea in the air, flipped a dude twice her size over her shoulder in one smooth movement and then caught her cup again without spilling a drop. Suki whistled in an impressed way and Toph announced that she didn't know who Jun was, but already she liked her.

Sometimes I worry about Toph.

Sokka pointed out a little crossly that Jun had helped Zuko attack us. Zuko said something sarcastic like ah yes, those were the good old days. Zuko is still cranky at Sokka for all his various comments/teasing. Sokka made a sarcastic remark about how Zuko's use of sarcasm made him sooo proud. We wandered over. Jun looked up and smirked in recognition when she saw Zuko, but she greeted him in a friendly tone (even though she calls him prince pouty, which irritates him no end).

She glanced over at us like she was looking for someone and then turned back to Zuko and asked where his creepy grandpa was. It took me a second to figure out that she meant Uncle Iroh. I glanced at Zuko with some concern-because I know talking/thinking about his uncle makes him sad. He gave a little sigh and corrected her and said he was his uncle, but he wasn't here. She shrugged and said bummer and turned back to her drink. When she looked up again, she caught my eye, smirked even wider and then she winked at me and said I see you worked things out with your girlfriend.

Not again!

What is it with everyone today! Really now! Sokka must have put her up to this somehow! I am getting very sick of being teased about this! I am being teased about being Zuko's girlfriend and I haven't even kissed him properly yet. The world is v. unfair. Sokka and Toph thought that this was the most hilarious thing that anyone had ever said, ever – judging from the sheer amount of laughter, guffaws and chuckles coming from them. Sokka was laughing so hard he had to lean on the table for support. Zuko and I both very irately told her that we were not going out. Seriously! Jun told us to simmer down and she was only teasing. (I hate it when people tell me to simmer down. There is nothing worse that being told to calm down when you are cross and have every right to be.)

Jun asked what she could do for us and Zuko said we needed her help finding the Avatar. She put her cup down and said again! I already found him for you once! Zuko said it was really important this time and she shrugged and said it didn't sound like too much fun. Zuko got shouty and asked her if the end of the world sounded like more fun to her. She told him to chill out again and pointed out that she hadn't said no yet. If he got her a drink and filled her in on the details, she'd consider it. Zuko sighed and said fine and asked her what she wanted. She shrugged and said the usual. Zuko nodded and asked if we wanted anything. Sokka, Suki and I decided to share a pot of tea.

Zuko turned to Toph and she asked what Jun's usual was. Zuko told her it was a whiskey sour. Toph wanted a whiskey sour too. Jun smiled at her and said ooh I like you – which made Toph smile wider that I have ever seen her smile before. Zuko crossed his arms and said in a long suffering voice I'm not getting you a whiskey sour Toph. Toph huffed and eventually hopped on the tea bandwagon with me and Sokka and Suki.

Zuko went off to the bar and Jun patted the seat next to her and said sit by me tiny to Toph and Toph happily complied (she can't see how dirty the seats are here). She then looked up and me and Sokka and Suki and invited us to sit down as well and said she wanted to hear all the tawdry details of me and pouty's love affair.

Gah!

And really now!

I have once again corrected Jun (irately) and told her that Zuko is not my boyfriend. But she doesn't seem to believe me.

-?-

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Authors notes: Not as rambly, for once.

Lovely readers! Big thank you for all your lovely comments and reviews! You guys are awesome. I hope you have enjoyed reading Zuko is not my boyfriend. This chapter is more short and sweet and I actually don't have excessive rambles about it. But what rambles I do have are here.

So in this chapter I have Suki and Katara finding posters that announce the ascension of the Phoenix king. In previous chapters, I had the colonials mention how pervasive propaganda was on the main island. I think for an announcement dealing with a big change in leadership, the propaganda would be everywhere. These posters are put up on the day of Ozai's Phoenix King shenanigan. Look, that Pheonix king announcement had a lot of pomp and ceremony going on, what with the extra flags and the fire-y pillars etc. He had obviously planned it well and knew even before hand that he was going to be leaving Azula behind. (Why didn't he tell her before he left on the airships? It seemed a bit weird to publicly tell her something that he would know was going to upset her. In my head canon I assume he did it this way because she would be less likely to argue/make a scene in public.) Anyway Ozai thinks it is a forgone conclusion that they will succeed in destroying the earth kingdom on the day of the comet. He does not think there is any way the firenation can lose. So he rather cockily wants his phoenix king-ery announced to the entire firenation.

Also I needed to explain for myself how the Gaang knows so much about the Phoenix King-ery and Azula's coronation etc. Zuko and Katara know exactly when and where to go on the day of the comet, when they need to face her. I imagine the white lotus, theoretically, could have told them, but most of their information would have to come from spies because none of the key members are in the firenation at that point. To me it made more sense if Katara and Suki saw an announcement with the details and maybe the order of the white lotus just reconfirms what they have already discovered.

This chapter also contains my justification for why Zuko and Katara act so irately when Jun alleges that they are going out in the episode. It is because they have been teased mercilessly all day and are feeling very embarrassed and pissed off about the whole thing (and possibly very frustrated as well because they cam so close last chapter.)

Sokka found them in a compromising position, there is no way he is going to keep that juicy bit of gossip to himself. Sokka and Katara also frequently tease eachother about their love lives in canon, so I don't think it would be out of character for him to do so here. Sokka also loves to use humour to alleviate tension and when his little display with Appa didn't make anybody laugh, he would have tried the next best thing. An irate Zuko and Katara. I imagine both their reactions to the teasing would be hilarious. Toph would hop on the teasing bandwagon, because it's how she rolls. She is also acting like a genuine (if annoying) little sister to Zuko. Suki tries to play mediator, but she also doesn't believe Zuko and Katara's assertions that they are not going out. She thinks it's sweet.

So Katara is very embarrassed the first time Sokka calls Zuko Katara's boyfriend. she knows she has to squash the teasing quickly or it will get out of hand (no such luck in my fic). So she very promptly declares that Zuko is not her boyfriend. Zuko on the other hand, waits for Katara and follows her lead in the matter. As soon as she (irately) declares they are not going out. He takes the hint and does the same. They both fancy each other, but now they will feel super self conscious about that, especially after a full day of teasing on the subject. So by the time Jun alleges that they are going out, they react with angry denials.

Zuko knows Jun's usual. I have many ideas for this, which may make their way into this fic, or may become their own one shot. After Bato of the watertribe, we don't see Zuko and Iroh again until the Siege of the North and Zhao takes over as chief pursuer (love Jason Isaacs, but I did miss Zuko and Iroh in these eps.) In my headcanon, that abbey is far from anywhere and Nyla was their only transport. After the perfume incident, I imagine Nyla would have been out of commission for a few days, leaving Zuko, Iroh and Jun stranded together. Shenanigans would have been had, Iroh would have flirted shamelessly with every female in the vicinity, Jun would have introduced Zuko to the fine art of drinking away his sorrows when everything goes all fruit-shaped and much fun would have been had by all.

But we will hear at least a few anecdotes from these few days in the next chapter in which the Gaang will spend all day with Jun and Nyla.

Til then lovely readers...