AN: First "Avatar" fanfic. Something I thought of while watching "The Headband." I think more kids would have questions about Aang and where he came from because they're, well, kids.
Disclaimer: Don't own "Avatar: The Last Airbender." That includes characters, dialog, plot, everything. I, however, do own this story as it came from my imagination. Except for the first few paragraphs. Those are from "The Headband."
Aang walked out of the classroom, glad to be let out. The teachers in the Fire Nation were much stricter than those he had had at the Air Temples.
"We made it through the day, Momo," Aang whispered to the lemur hiding in his vest. "And it was pretty fun," he added, surprised at all the things he had learned in just one day about the past one hundred years.
"You better not let the headmaster see you with that monkey."
Aang turned around to see one of the girls from his class. He quickly hid Momo and said, "What monkey?"
The girl laughed and replied, "Don't worry. I'm not a tattletale. My name's On Ji. I like your headband, by the way."
He smiled. "Thanks."
On Ji and Aang stood for a few awkward moments before she spoke. "So, you're from the Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom?"
Aang, recalling his cover story, answered, "Yeah. My parents wanted to leave the Earth Kingdom."
On Ji looked confused. "Why?"
The confidence in his lie faltered. "Why? Uh… They wanted to see the Fire Nation. They've never been here before, and we were just here to visit, then they liked it so they bought a house, and-"
"So where did you live in the Earth Kingdom?" She sounded genuinely curious. "I know you were in the colonies, but were you born in one, or did the Fire Nation take over where you were living?" On Ji suddenly flushed and looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry. Those are personal questions. You don't have to answer them."
Aang thought quickly and responded, "It's okay. My parents were born as Earth Kingdom citizens, but I'm a Fire Nation citizen, and my parents are too, now."
On Ji nodded and asked, "So if your parents were members of the Earth Kingdom, were they Earthbenders? Are you an Earthbender?"
Continuing his "life story," Aang said, "I don't know. My village has been occupied by the Fire Nation since my parents were kids. And neither of them are benders, so I guess I'm not, either. The only Bending I've seen is Firebending. The soldiers use it to keep order."
"Oh. I thought, being in the Earth Kingdom, you might have seen some Earthbending. I've never seen it, either, but it sounds fascinating," On Ji said, disappointment coloring her voice.
Just then, a tall boy pushed past Aang and stood next to On Ji. He put his arm around her shoulder and said, "On Ji, you don't have to babysit the new kid."
"Wow," Aang said, and then he bowed as he had been taught earlier in the day. "You must be one of those popular kids I've been hearing about." Never having gone to a school like this one, Aang was constantly finding out new things about how kids his age interacted with each other.
"That's right. Now listen, friend, I know you're from the colonies, so I'll say this slowly. On Ji is my girlfriend." He put emphasis on each word of the final sentence. "Don't forget it." As he said this, he poked Aang's chest and Momo stirred from his resting place, disturbed by the poke. Aang smiled nervously and On Ji and her boyfriend walked away.
As they walked back towards the classrooms, Aang called out, "It was nice meeting you!"
