Hello, and welcome to a series of oneshots focused on Avatar's two most adorable characters: Hope and Tom-Tom! The prompts may consist of dictionary [dot] com's word of the day, random vocabulary I come across, and words that sound funny to me, because I love funny words.

These may or may not have any real connection, depending on my mood.


Summary:In which Hope and Tom-Tom are stuck in a tight spot.

Characters/pairings:Hom-Tom; implied Maiko

Prompt: Effluvium (n.) - a slight or invisible exhalation or vapor, especially one that is disagreeable or noxious (2/4/11 dictionary [dot] com word of the day)

Word count:220

Rating:T

Disclaimer:Don't own, so don't sue pl0x. Any characterization is merely opinion and should not be taken seriously.

Author's note:Set twelve years after canon. Hope is twelve and Tom-Tom is fourteen.

1337 $P34k pwns 4LL.


"Stop breathing."

Hope squirmed in her hiding place next to her companion, a short, slight teen with shaggy hair that fell over his grey-gold eyes. The two were squished next to each other in the extremely confined space of an alcove on the wintry spectacle that was the campus of Ba Sing Se University. Elbowing the boy in the stomach, she wriggled out from behind the statue of a long-dead Avatar that obstructed the opening of the niche.

"What are you doing?" hissed the boy. Hope simply smirked.

"I wasn't the one who threw that stink bomb at General Fong, Tom. Let's see if your sister the Fire Lady can get you out of this mess. Last I heard, Fong challenged someone on the street to a duel just for getting in his way. It would be a shame if he found out it was you." She grinned slyly.

"You wouldn't–" Tom-Tom began, wide-eyed in fear.

"Oh yes, I would," Hope interrupted. "By the way, get a breath mint." And with that she spun around and bolted down the cobblestone street with her dark, messy braid flapping out from beneath her jade green knit cap and the heels of her boots resonating against the pavement with every hurried stride.

Meanwhile, Tom-Tom scowled in frustration. "Damn little squirt," he muttered.


END.