Disclaimer: GroggyRae owns this like she owns a bachelor's degree. Hopeless dreams
CHAPTER 2
What are you, my mother? Zuko mentally rolled his eyes. He was extremely tempted sigh, but thought better of it. You deserve this, remember? Penance. Redemption.
"Suddenly mute?" A clipped voice disrupted his internal monologue. "Perhaps I could freeze your tongue in your mouth. That might help." She crossed her arms beneath her chest.
"Actually Katara," Aang started with a finger feebly raised in the air, "I don't think-"
"It would be a learning experience wouldn't it?" Her eyes seemed to smolder from a crystal blue to deep cerulean. "I think you need to be shown what happens to those that betray us, only as a preventive measure." She stalked even closer to him.
"You are not the only one that has doubts about Hotman Ka-tar-a" Toph enunciated every syllable of the other girl's name, "but you are the only one constantly voicing them." The bold child hopped down from a stone pillar but did not face her.
"Well I apologize for being the only one sensible enough to.." here she redirected her heated gaze to the firebender.
"So Aang's not sensible." Sokka interrupted his sister. Katara glanced at the airbender's now sullen face.
"Well, he-"
"Toph's not sensible." Both siblings piqued their brows at each other. The response to that statement was best left unsaid.
The earthbender smirked.
"How's come you didn't ask about yourself, Sokka?" The Duke innocently piped up.
"Because he already knew the answer to that," Haru answered before the addressed could. Sokka's serious face faulted and he slowly turned to face Haru.
"C'mon guys, not you too," Aang backtracked to the unfolding feud. Teo laughed as the boy's reached for each other's heads.
"You didn't answer the question." Katara again drew Zuko's attention. Is she STILL on that? He turned back to the female with a relaxed face and slightly pouted lips. She merely quirked a brow at his expression. And then, he couldn't help it- the brawl unfolding behind them (that he was regrettably missing) Toph's cackling and Aang's fussing- he rolled his eyes.
Katara was aghast.
"I went topside for my morning meditation," so I could deal with you he sighed in resignation.
"Don't you 'mediate' with Aang as some part of your training?" She made quotation marks with her hands.
He pursed his lips.
"It's not the same," he ground out. Then, as if realizing his mistake, he spoke calmer, "I still need to practice alone. I covered my trail, so one should be able to track me here."
"Or maybe you decided to play turncoat again, and you're secretly leading someone here!" Her voice raised with each word.
The person in question raised his only eyebrow- the couple again the center of attention- and inhaled deeply. Penance. Redemption. Distraction! He scratched his neck with closed eyes, and exhaled,
"Aren't you supposed to be making breakfast or something?"
The group –sans Toph- as a whole gasped and Zuko began to doubt his choice of words.
"Are you saying that because I'm the only girl-" a pebble flew swiftly between the teenagers "-who knows how to cook, that I am expected to?" Her eyes were as stormy as the sea during a typhoon. Inches separated their bodies.
"Well…uh, what I really meant was.."
"What! That just because I'm a girl I'm automatically supposed to cook and clean because that's the only thing-"
"NO!" Zuko's sudden outburst shocked even Katara. He seemed to be frantic.
"Could you imagine Azula cooking?"
Everything seemed to freeze. And simultaneously, the group burst out laughing. Even the waterbender forsook her anger, and bent double, and squeals of mirth fell from her mouth. Sokka clutched his sides, and rolled onto his back, as the earth kingdom boys chuckled lightly. Aang's shoulders shook as he leant on his staff, while Toph howled and smacked her hands on the ground.
"This guy is classic!"
"What?" Zuko looked at them confused. "Don't you realize how dangerous that would be?" This only resulted in another huge bout of laughter. The firebender shifted his weight and folded his arms across his chest. They clearly don't see the seriousness of the situation.
Katara opened her eyes, saw his stance and tried to hide her smile behind her hand. Then she frowned, as she was supposed to be upset at him, and turned about.
"Aang we need more firewood." At his name, the boy straightened and nodded.
"Sure thing, Katara." With a flip of his wrist, he was on his glider and off.
"Sokka, Haru- try and see what you can scrounge up in the way of protein this morning." Her brother scratched his head, and the earthbender thoughfully stroked his goatee.
"Meat. Eggs. No nuts."
Sokka opened his mouth wide to respond.
"So you want me to lose him?" Haru grinned.
She smirked.
Sokka glowered.
"On it," he bit out, and brandished his boomerang. "C'mon fuzz-face." He began walking away. Haru furrowed his brow.
"What?"
"Fine. Caterpillar lip. Better?" The reaction was a growl, as Haru also stood ad walked away.
Teo shook his head at the retreating pair. "Would you like any help setting up for the meal?" he nodded to Katara.
"If you and the Duke would just clean up this area, I'll take care of everything else" she smiled at the two boys. He nodded again and got to work with his younger companion. Zuko glanced warily at the diminished group.
"As for you Hotman," his head snapped to her still turned figure. She walked from him to Toph, who had plopped on the ground.
"You can collect some fruit, if you will, since you're so fond of going topside every day, " she smiled at Toph as she spoke.
"Hey, I never-"
"Go!" She still didn't look at him, and instead continued her nonverbal conversation with her friend. Zuko grimaced, but did as he was told, and stalked off the way he came.
"Payback is going to be delicious," the blind girl spoke.
"Oh, we will see that" Katara responded gleefully. If she were paying attention she'd have noticed the smug expression Toph's smug face.
"I can't wait."
A/N : So yeah, I was sorely lacking in inspiration. This chapter is the result. If there are any ideas on jazzing this thing up, let me know please. I guess I should work on that POTC too… I just have the worst habit of not finishing ANY writing projects I start. shrugs Drop me a line, let me know what improvements need to be made. Or some suggestions for songs that could get the creative juices flowing. Okay, I should get back to work now. Ciao!
Oh hey, I'm getting tons of hits. Thanks. But you know what would be even better? Reviews. Yeah, reviews. If you hate it, let me know what I should work on
