A/N: Inspired by A Zerochan Picture. Enjoy
Warning: This story contains Male/Male attractions, and the whole nine yard.
Contains: Fluff, Drama, Suspense, Romance, Humor, (coughs) Lemons! Just getting it out there.
Summary: After several refusals by Sokka to go the fire nation to settle down for the fire nation festival that lasted one week; Iroh and Aang's secret plan of action, he finally affirmed the invitation and brought his son and daughter, Maikel and Tamar on one condition. And that condition was not tell a soul, mainly Zuko of his arrival and departure. Little did he know, things are going to unravel into heart-warming events.
Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Avatar: Last Airbender. If I did...(let's end that thought there)
Memo: My ff's will consist of 2,000 or more words since the intro takes up the page.
Chapter 1: The Day Before The Festival Part 1/3
A wind whistling sound filled and echoed a water tribesman's eardrums and the land of fire drew near. The clear blue water rippled back and forth from the boat surfacing the sea and the aroma from being outside too long wafted his nostrils. He counted numerous times of how many ripples he's seen today. 'Over 26,000' he thought, as he laid his chin on the ledge. The sunlight beamed every so gently upon his blue eyes, causing it to resonate against his reflection and shortly he smiled at the beautiful scenery he intook. It was one of those peaceful days where nothing seemed to go wrong and the atmosphere was somber with a pinch of enchantment. The water tribesman, Sokka never thought those type of thoughts would flood his mind about the fire nation. Then again, he never thought he'd fall in love and share a night with one of them either. He felt incredibly stupid about the fact of putting his guard down and falling love.
All it did was create heartache and cause a choice he sorely regretted...
Shaking his head on the deck of these balky thoughts, he heard footsteps approach from behind and a soft voice articulate, "Daddy, can I ask you a question?" Sokka's face lit up at hearing his daughter, Tamar; Has the natural appearance of a water tribemans, the shoulder length brown hair tied in pigtails yet the golden eyes says another story, but kept his back to her. "And that would be?" "What's the festival about?" "I honestly don't-" he said interrupted by the big horn, announcing they were about to get to land. "Ask Uncle Aang or Iroh about that, okay?" " 'Kay." "Go get your brother." Sokka ordered. "I have already graced you with my presence." Maikel; Identical to Sokka at a young age, fair skinned with the normal blue eyes, boasted dramatically. "Why are you into speaking formally?" Sokka sighed rubbing his temples. This sort of behaviour was constant and it drove Sokka up the wall. What teen in years to come, wanted to speak like this? Even Zuko once told him it was tiring speaking proper, and spoke the way he wanted anyways. "Why? We're in the Fire Nation, and I am practically royalty." "Shhhhh! Don't say that so loudly MaiMai." "I thought by now you would've given up on that goofy name, predecessor." "MaiMai, don't make me discipline you in public." Sokka threatened, and Maikel nervously laughed, then cleared his throat. "Alright...Alright, I'm done until we meet up with Uncle Aang, and Uncle Iroh." "I honestly don't know where you get that from." Sokka sighed, walking with his two children behind him off the ship. "Auntie Katara said I get my dramatic traits and exaggerated behaviour from you." "I resent that." Sokka huffed, and felt Tamar wrap her hand around his. Sokka smiled and said, "Hold hands with your sister MaiMai." "What? Are you kidding? It's utterly embarrassing holding your sister's hand. It's practically a death wish." "What did I just say?" Sokka fatheratively spoke. Maikel quickly grabbed ahold of his sister's hand while sheepishly murmuring how troublesome this was.
"Do you guys remember the rule?" "If you see the Fire Lord, run and hide." two children said in unison. "Good."
"Hey!" a voice shouted, and the three water tribefolk looked to see one of the two people they were looking for. "Uncle Iroh!" Tamar shouted, running towards the plump old man, who seemed to look the same as he did years ago. "Ahh!" Iroh shouted cheerfully, as he scooped Tamar in his arms, twirling. "Oh my, how you've grown my little fireflower." Iroh spoke, before kissing and sucking on her cheek that made a "whack" sound, from his lips parting from her face.
Tamar giggled and held onto Iroh as he held her. "I'm 6!" she exclaimed holding up five fingers, then Iroh corrected her by raising her other hand up, straightening up her thumb.
"Hello Your Grace." Maikel bowed and smiled. "Uh...are you feeling okay Maikel?" Iroh asked, with his usual slitted eyes smile. "Of course, my body is in perfect condition." Maikel answered. Iroh continued to smile and looked towards the now slightly bearded Sokka, on his chin saying, "Is there something wrong?" Sokka simply replied with his eyes, "This royal blood has gone to his head again." Iroh nodded. "So what is your age Maikel?" "Thirteen." "Oh, so you have entered your teen years," Iroh looked at Sokka a little troubled. "I wonder which of his teen years he's inherited, yours or Zuko's?"
Sokka and Iroh stood there for a few moments reminiscing about Zuko's behaviour as a teen. Especially when he was chasing after Aang...
Not a pretty sight.
"Let us not waste much time, my nephew will be arriving shortly to greet those who boarded the ship." Iroh muttered with a smile, breaking the awkward atmosphere.
Sokka nodded in agreement, and the tribesfolk and plump cheerful man began exiting the port.
"Uncle Iroh?" Tamar excitedly asked. "Yes my little fireflower?" "What is the fire festival about?" "Ohhhh. I will explain that once I fix you some of my famous Oolong tea." he spoke poking her nose. "With shugurr!" Tamar exclaimed. Iroh chuckled and patted her head. "Yes, three sugar cubes."
"Hey dad." Maikel whispered. "Yes MaiMai?" "Do you think I would fit in with the rest of kids?" he asked, trying to hide the sadness he had from the bullying back at the north pole. Sokka wrapped his arm around Maikel's shoulder and kept his gape on the little display in front of him. Which was Tamar yanking on Iroh's beard several times, and Iroh politely telling her "No no no". "I know being in the North Pole was hard, and I'm sorry I wasn't there to make it better. But...Never let the negative obstacles of life break your spirit. What's a rock in a hard place when mountains are moving it?" "Sturdy." Maikel said smiling up at his father. "Exactly. Also, what do I always tell you?" Sokka said, now looking down at his son. "If you are willing to do only what's easy, life will be hard. But if you are willing to do what's hard, life will be easy." "There you go." "Thanks dad." "Of course."
"General Iroh!" A firenation solidier shouted and stood before the family panting. "I gave up that title long ago," Iroh tittered. "Is there something you need me for?" "Yes, the Firelord was looking for you." the soldier panted out. Once he regained full control of breathing normally, he flickered fire up in the air signaling the location of the found person before leaving. "I need a day off." the soldier murmured as he swayed tiredly away.
Sokka's eyes widened at hearing footsteps beginning to draw near and Iroh quickly acted and told Sokka and Maikel to hide over in the alley. Which they did but...Tamar wouldn't cooperate and stood in Iroh's arms. Reluctantly, Sokka and Maikel hid and watched as a tall, mature and familiar faced man advanced towards Iroh.
Sokka's breath hitched and his heart sped up, pounding hard in his chest as he observed the new Firelord. His hair had grown longer as he saw it was pinned into a ponytail and his scar was faded a bit. The part of Sokka that loved Zuko wanted to announce his arrival and throw his arms around him. And the part of Sokka of common sense showcased that night in the garden, showing that his desire was unrequited. With questions that came along the lines of, "Did you really want to experience your heart fragmentized?" "Is the pain you felt for all these years worth forbearing again?" Honestly, the answer was yes. 'Am I some sort of masochist?' But he remembered his children came first and pushed away those thoughts until it was the right time.
"There you are uncle, where...why is there a little brat in your hand?" Zuko asked. "Number of reasons that I cannot share." Iroh countered smiling. "Whatever, I'm not in the mood right now. Are you coming or what?" "Sorry nephew, but this little girl needs my love." "You can bring her with you, since she's already in your custody at the moment." "I don't think I can do that Nephew." "Why?" "Because you don't like children in your presence when you are stressed out." "As long as you keep its mouth shut, it will be fine."
"Why don't you keep yurr mouth shut." Tamar said, scowling at Zuko. Zuko felt an angry mark coming on and his left eye began to twitch. "What did you just say?" "Are yurr ears plugged?" Tamar cooed sticking her tongue out. "Why don't you keep your mouth shut you little insignificant, crass, stupid, little brat!?" Zuko shouted. "Why should I? Yurr not my daddy? Infact, yurr nothing more than a bitter old poopy head with nothing better to do than pick on a innocent little girl." Tamar answered. "Quite a mouth you have there for a brat." "Thank you for pointing out the obvious, poopy head."
'Zuko calm down, she's a kid. She doesn't know any better. Why does the word poopyhead bother me?' "Since I'm a good guy, I will look over this." "That's what they all say, until someone finds out how much of a pervert you are." "I am not a pervert!" "If the shoe fits!" "Oh really?!" Zuko shouted with his skin turning red from both his elemental fire and his anger. "Yes really?!" "Oh really?!" "Yes really!" "Oh really!?" "Yes really!"
"That is enough!" Iroh raised his voice. "Nephew, I will see you later." Iroh said, before bowing and walking away with Tamar sticking her tongue out triumphantly at getting the last word in.
Zuko's nostrils flared with steam and he let his fire bolt skywards as he let out anger onto the air above.
Formerly sufficed, he moved his index finger down and the fire dissipated into thin air precendently, ambulating to the docks.
Once the coast was clear, Sokka and Maikel come out of hiding. "And that's my other dad?" Maikel asked. "It seems his temper hasn't changed." Sokka said sheepishly at how Zuko showed his colours, instead of hiding them like every normal person in the world. "What are you talking about? That was so cool." "Huh?" "My other dad is the most coolest person ever." Sokka was utterly confused. "Mind explaining to me what you mean MaiMai?" "He fire bended in the air and then made it disappear with a move a finger!" Maikel said excitedly. "Oh...yeah..." Sokka said smiling not really interested. "Dad?" "Hm?" "When will we be able to meet him?"
That question hit a nerve and before Sokka reacted by yelling, he thought that his children did have a right to meet him. He knew what it was like to have only one parent...it was the most horrible feeling in the world. But he got through it with his friends and the only family he had. Maikel didn't have friends, but...He did have family...But he knew he couldn't hurt Maikel anymore. He needed a role-model...a fire bending role-model. At first he thought Iroh would take Zuko's place, but Iroh is very old...And didn't need needy children bothering him since his health was wearing thin; Something Iroh asked him not to tell anyone about. "If you see him, but don't tell him who your immediate family is." "Yes! Thanks dad!" Maikel hugged Sokka tightly as his face lit up with so much emotions he couldn't contain.
'Finally! I'll get to meet my other dad!'
Is it good? Is It bad? Reviews are appreciated. (^~^)