A/N: Okay, after a millennium here's my second chapter-- don't ask why I didn't upload before... . My parents are evil... shivers Not only they took my precious pc away on Kataang week and left me isolated from civilization, but I couldn't keep writing the chapter, I was like NoOoOo tears hair So my lack of time at the laptop in the end made this thing lose consistence- and sense for that matter, but whatever. Here it is and I hope you like it, personally it's not one of my favorites but oh well, I'll have to top it with the following and probably last chapter.
Disclaimer: Yes, I own nothing.
Chapter 2: Advice
Right after Aang had fully assumed that he had a date with Katara another thought hit him hard on his head; he had no clue on how to plan a date.
"What am I going to do?!" He exclaimed to Momo who recently had perched on his master's shoulder as Aang rubbed his face recalling the longing days of nervousness that came before a so called invasion. "Momo, I am done for!" Aang stated to the little flying lemur.
Chirping noises and Momo tilting his head was the only response the anxious air nomad got. "I know, but I really wanted it to be special…" Aang said as more chirping sounds came from the lemur, "HAVE YOU GONE MAD?! IT'S OUR FIRST DATE!" Aang exclaimed to what seemed to be an obscene remark from the little animal, Aang quickly ot grip of himself noticing some people passing by staring at him strangely.
"Ugh… Sorry for that, he does understand… really!!" Aang justified to the people, but this only made them walk faster,
"The war really affected that child" Aang heard a fat cranky woman said as she hurried her kids
"Look mom, it's the Avatar!" The younger one said,
"Don't talk to him, Ging, that poor kid has gone crazy!" Aang looked troubled as the little passing child waved at him.
Momo chirped again, "I know, Momo; I'm going to need some real help." He said entering the house to reveal a really content Zuko- Aang dared to say almost happy, and a really pissed Sokka; this only could mean Sokka had challenged Zuko on Pai Sho for the hundredth time in a week.
"THAT'S NOT FAIR!!" Sokka yelled obviously frustrated, Zuko chuckled,
"What's the matter? Such a great strategist like you shouldn't have any problem beating a… what was what you called me? Oh yeah, A ROASTED LEECHY NUT BRAIN!" Zuko burst on his last phrase.
"But… but… YOU CHEATED!!" Sokka complained,
"I'm better at Pai Sho, deal with it." Zuko said simply enjoying each millimeter of Sokka's expression of agony in his face.
"Hey guys…" Aang greeted the other two with a downcast tone.
"Well, but if it isn't lover boy," Sokka said apprehensively instantaneously forgetting his defeat at the Pai Sho match.
"I'm not in the mood, Sokka." Aang said casting his hand as if scaring away a bug,
"Well, you're certainly in the mood to kiss my sister. Don't think I didn't hear Toph yelling!" Sokka said scolding the young Avatar,
"Pff! Please" Zuko intervened, "As if you don't do the same with Suki" the Firelord backed up Aang.
"Not in public, for that matter!"The water tribe warrior backfired. The Avatar just plopped himself in a cushion nearby the table in which Zuko and Sokka had been playing.
"What's the matter?" Zuko asked roughly, "Did Katara break up with you already?" he continued trying to loosen Aang up a little, but it had the wrong effect on the airbender, for he just looked at him with an I-hope-you-die look, yet he regained his composure and sighted,
"Ugh… No she hasn't… yet." He finally replied,
"What do you mean not yet?" Sokka said somehow interested, but at the same time concerned.
"I… kinda… sorta… invited Katara to a date?" Aang said in an expectant questioning tone; as if waiting for Sokka to tell him that it was all right for him to have asked Katara on a date. He knew it was silly for him to still wait on Sokka's approval regarding being Katara's boyfriend, but there was something that made the socializing with Sokka unnerving lately.
"Well…" Aang said fighting the never ending blush vainly as he scratched the back of his neck, "Ugh…" He sighted letting his shoulders down "I thought it would be a good idea going on a date with her, I asked and she said yes." Aang said with a tone that implied a worldwide catastrophe,
"And what's the matter?" Zuko said quite dully "She said yes, didn't she? Why are you acting like this?" he continued crossing his arms having absolutely no hint- or tact for that matter, about what Aang felt upset about,
"Well that's exactly the issue!" Aang said putting his arms in the air alarmingly, "She said yes, Zuko! I have NO idea on how to… well… go on a date with someone!" the monk said ashamed of his still present innocence and inexperience. Aang looked from Zuko to Sokka, kind of annoyed by their looks; which far from concern or comradeship looked like amuse and humor, Zuko chuckled almost laughing not able to believe the recently initiated teen, while Sokka on the other hand burst completely and immediately into a roaring laughter.
"I knew I shouldn't have told you!" Aang said annoyed and kind of hurt by his friends' behavior,
"Wait up, Aang" Zuko rapidly said assuming his seriousness back again, "We didn't mean to laugh at you it's just that…" he cut off making an over human effort to suppress the need to laugh- he still had a reputation to care of. "Well, you've got to admit it's kind of funny… that you don't know… well..." Zuko really tried his best choosing the words to not give the wrong message to the sensible air nomad, since talking has never been his strongest; much less referring to such compromising topics. Despise of this, Sokka interrupted still rather amused,
"That you don't even know how to be your own girlfriend's boyfriend!" Sokka managed to word out in between gasps for air due to his unstopping laughing, Zuko looked darkly at him, and then back to his younger-brother-like friend.
"It's a good thing you find it funny, Sokka" Zuko said drawing a mischievous smile in his face, "Funny? Hilarious is more like it!" the water tribe warrior continued, "Because we're going to help Aang planning his date with your sister" the firebender finished crossing his arms waiting to see the reaction in the swordsman.
"What?" Sokka answered turning down his laughter,
"As you heard it.", "You want me to help him to plan a date with my baby sister?" Sokka said outraged
"Yep." Zuko said. Sokka looked at Aang, whom fondly wished in that moment Zuko had shut up. Sokka took a good deep breath and raised his index finger preparing to lecture Aang on some serious business about dating Katara, Aang on the other hand prepared for it showing the lingering anxiousness in his expressive eyes,
"Okay" Sokka simply said with eagerness in his tone, Aang relaxed his face,
"You will?" he asked curiously raising his eyebrows in awe.
"Hey, it's not like I've minded you guys being all fluffy around each other ever since we met you. I'm cool with it," The swordsman stated, "I just like teasing you." He continued attempting to maintain his manliness,
Aang chuckled "Thanks, Sokka",
"Yeah, besides you're more trustworthy than any of the other guys Katara has ever laid her eyes on."
Aang smiled proudly at his friend's statement, but then faded away rapidly, "Wait… what other guys?" Aang said revealing a little hint of protective jealousy towards the waterbender.
"Never mind." Sokka said scaring away Aang's worry. "Whatever," Zuko said drily; efficiently hiding his inner contentment for the picture before him.
"So, when's your date with Katara?" Zuko said,
"This afternoon." Aang said simply,
"WHAT? This afternoon? Aang you don't invite your girlfriend on a date the same day you ask her!" Sokka said slapping his forehead in frustration,
"I'm sorry! It's just that I wasn't really thinking on what I was saying while I was talking to her!" Aang said apologetically
"Well we better hurry up before she comes back with the rest of the girls." said Zuko,
"Knowing Katara, she'll sleep there!" Sokka said mockingly, Aang looked at Sokka unable to argue, for it was true; last time Toph and she went to that place they spent their whole day there.
"You have any ideas on what you want to do? I mean you must have something figured out by now, right?" Zuko said ignoring his water tribe friend unnecessary remarks.
"I guess… I… no… well…um… go… out… for dinner?" Aang said completely ignorant to the right procedures of courting.
Both Zuko and Sokka looked at the young boy shocked, "And you call me roasted leechy nut brain." Zuko told Sokka simply unable to believe so much clumsiness in one guy. "So what do you want to do?" Zuko said. Aang took a few moments to think about it, he frowned in concentration,
"I don't know" Aang finally stated, with this he managed to make both Sokka and Zuko slap their foreheads, "What? You guys are supposed to be the know-it-alls about this kind of stuff!" Aang said raising his arms complaining,
"You're right" said Zuko standing up secretly proud of being Aang's role model.
"You need experienced advice" Sokka said forgetting any meaning he knew for the word modesty,
"Where are we going?" Aang said,
"We'll show you how a real date is done" Zuko said irritated by Sokka's ego, Aang raised an eyebrow curiously glaring from Zuko to Sokka,
"What? You're going to perform one for me?" Sokka and Zuko stared at the thirteen-year-old with disgust, jar opened.
"NO!" Zuko said on the verge of his short temper, "We're going for a visit." Zuko said.
The girls were laughing as Toph for the second time had managed to scare the heck out of the lady in the mud baths making her face monster-like with the coating of mud.
--
"Ha ha, oh man… I never get tired of that!" Toph said grinning deviously "I wish I could see her face!"
"It's not as funny as when you threw that poor girl for scrubbing your feet, though." Suki complimented her,
"That was just playing rude, Toph." Katara told her feeling sorry for the girl who got earthbent out of the building.
"Hey, I warned you guys, and the women there, no one touches my feet. But no…. ignore the blind girl…" She said harshly. All of them laughed with Toph, Katara, nevertheless seem a little too distracted and it didn't take too long for Toph to notice. "Say, sugar queen… what's up with you?" Toph said straightforwardly.
"Huh?" She snapped back to reality,
"Yeah, Toph's right; you seem a little out today Katara, are you feeling okay?" Suki seconded her blind friend,
"She's alright." Mai said sighting nonplussed, "She's just thinking about the Avatar…again" she said feeling she was pointing out the obvious. Mai's naked statement made Katara blush instantaneously,
"What? No, pff… I wasn't thinking of Aang!" she denied in a high pitched voice trying her hardest in convincing her friends, Mai raised an eyebrow smirking smartly.
"Right…"
"I can tell you're lying!" Toph said in a chant-like tone.
"Ugh! You girls are…" Katara said loosing it,
Suki smiled "Relax, Katara; It's okay."Suki told her, "As matter of fact… you never told us why Aang called you back to talk…on private" Suki said grinned slightly as the other two showed interest in the freshly planted subject. Katara didn't know whether it was a good idea or not to share the ups and downs of her relationship with Aang with the girls, but on the other hand if she didn't; she'd basically keep everything to herself, plus she had never had the opportunity to gossip, for Toph wasn't the girly kind of girl. 'Girls never stop being girls, do we?' Katara thought deciding it was okay to tell them about the date that awaited her at night, after all those girls are her friends.
Suki, Mai, and Toph-not literally, though, stared at her waiting for her friend to spit it out, the feeling of gossip at bay,
"Alright" Katara said unable to hold it any longer. "He invited me on a date tonight!" Katara informed happily
"Ow… that's so sweet!" Suki exclaimed, as Mai looked at Toph untouched by the other two's squeeing and giggling, as the earthbender stared in the fire nation girl's direction with a little disgust. Toph knew what this was all about, she had heard it herself, but now that she discovered that Suki was just as sugary as her sister resembling friend, she wished Suki hadn't brought the subject about. Mai however, understood Katara's position, after all even her knows what it is to be on your first date with the guy you've been secretly crushing on for so many years, but that wasn't an excuse for her to show
her emotion publicly- at least for Mai, her most heartedly laughs, blushes and kind words were reserved for the young Fire Lord solely. She still wasn't used to be that open, for she refused to get on Ty Lee's level of exaggerated joy while her time with Azula.
"Katara, you must be so exited!" Suki said,
"Actually, nervous more than anything else." Katara said smiling awkwardly,
"But why? I mean, Aang is a nice kid, plus you both have been waiting for this, haven't you?" reassured Suki,
"Yep, twinkletoes finally got the pants to ask her on a date, actually… to make sugar queen his girlfriend." Toph said smirking proud of her student's bravery, she had taught him well.
"Well, yeah but I mean, a first date is a first date and I can't help but being clumsy around him! I like him a little too much, what if I screw things up? Or if I don't know how to react? What if something goes wrong?" Katara kept on playing vivaciously with her fingers in an attempt to find an outlet to her stress, Mai yawned,
"Katara, everything will go alright." She stated Katara looked at Mai, who had a firm look; this brought a little more confidence for Katara.
"But…" She was preparing to argue,
"Sugar queen; relax! We're talking about Aang, you guys literally drool for each other; you've got nothing to worry about!" Toph said pulling Katara's feet back on the ground rather rudely,
"I guess you're right, but I want to cause a good impression on Aang, I mean as a girlfriend." Katara said,
"Well, you happen to be on your luck, Katara." Suki said as a marvelous idea popped on her head, "I don't follow." Katara said frowning confused,
"Well, are on a spa! Where better to get ready for your date than here?" Suki said eagerly, "Come on, we're going to make Aang go crazy about you." She spoke up,
"Even more?" Mai remarked, Toph grinned at the pale girl,
"You know Mai, to be a recently-turned-to-the-good-side-girl, you're not that bad." The earthbender complimented Mai punching her left arm,
"Ouch! Why'd you punch me?" She said angrily,
"'Cause I like you!" Toph explained smirking; Mai raised an eyebrow losing the thread of how to understand the Bei Fong girl- if that's how she shows affection, she felt sorry for the poor guy who is to become her boyfriend.
--
"Sorry… excuse me… OUCH! Watch it!" Zuko kept repeating getting sick of the same words as the three teenagers tried to make it in one piece through a crowded Ba Sing Se street .
"Zuko?" Aang shouted, "Sokka? Where are you?!" He'd lost their trace for the fifth time in the same street, this were the times when Aang wished being older already so he could get rid of his seemingly permanent short height 'When am I going to grow up! I hate being short!' Aang thought as he made apologizing gestures for having stepped on an old man's foot.
"There you are!" Zuko said catching Aang out of ward as he pulled him by the collar. The airbender made a muffled sound and gasped for air, then coughed
"Where were you?" Aang asked Zuko apprehensively,
"Looking for you" He spat, "And where's Sokka?" the bald kid asked as he noticed his missing friend. "Looking for us." He explained, as if on cue; from a bunch of people, Sokka got out struggling for air.
"What do you two think you're doing?!" Sokka exclaimed "I almost got squashed back there looking for you guys!"
"We're almost there," Zuko said gladly now looking for a specific place, narrowing his sight and standing on his tip toes, the firebender found what he looked for, "There it is!" Zuko signaled with his index finger, "Kyoshi's Hall".
Eventually the guys managed to get out of the crowd and made it into Kyoshi's Hall,
"What is this place?" Aang asked curiously raising his head to admire the building's great height, "This is one of the best restaurants around here." Zuko said proud of having learned so well Ba Sing Se's grounds during his residence there.
"Whoa…" Aang gasped in awe.
"It looks…shiny" Sokka added not really impressed- if he wanted to see shiny stuff; he'd go to the North Pole.
"Let's go in." suggested Zuko. If the outside view was worth staring at, the inside was just amazing, Aang decided, for it was one of the most astonishingly decorated places he had ever seen, 'It's almost as beautiful as the air temples' He thought to himself, "If anything, this will do; hopefully." Zuko added handy.
"I must admit, you've really have proven yourself this time, Zuko." Sokka said admiring the wondrous place regretting he ever qualified this place as boring. Its walls were hundreds of feet tall, and
the candelabrums in the ceiling emitted a beautiful golden glow that made the paintings of Kyoshi and the Earth Kingdom outstand even in daylight, huge windows with silk curtains, and a soft music was played which really gave a feeling of romanticism to the environment. It was a beautiful place; and after all, Katara deserves nothing better than the best, Aang decided, though something didn't feel exactly quite right, something about this place gave him a slight intuition that this wasn't what he needed for Katara's date, it might be the best restaurant in Ba Sing Se, but it was too flashy for him.
"I don't know about it, Zuko…" Aang said slightly lingering,
"What do you mean?" asked Zuko bluntly,
"Well, it is a great place and everything; and I'm absolutely sure Katara'd love this, but don't you think it calls too much attention? I mean, I expected something a little more private; like just-the-two-of-us kind of thing." Aang explained apologetically.
"What, are you crazy? Girls love this kind of stuff, Aang!" Sokka chimed in,
"Yeah but…"
"You don't know a thing about ladies," Sokka complained, "Katara will totally fall for this! I know my sister well enough."
"Isn't it too expensive?" Aang asked somehow concerned to keep his humble monk reputation intact.
"Who cares?" Sokka said, "You're the Avatar! You get to have all these kind of stuff free!"
"I don't think…" Aang prepared to comment back only to be interrupted by Zuko,
"Don't worry about that, I'm sure that people around here would love to make you this one favor, plus it's just for a night- once in a while it's no harm." Zuko said,
"If you say so" said Aang shrugging his shoulders still not quite convinced.
"I can't believe Katara fell for such a cheap guy…" The firelord said rolling his eyes "Let's go and make the reservation, I have other places you might find interesting."
"Hem hem…" Sokka cleared his throat to call the manager's attention, which seem to be enjoying a nice midday nap.
"Ah! What, no… who, where?" The manager waked alarmed, "Who dares to…" About to complain he stopped realizing who these trio of teenagers were. "Avatar Aang..." He said wide open eyed, then turned to the other two, "Fire Lord Zuko, Sokka of the Water Tribe… it's such an honor to have you here in my humble restaurant." He said bowing with respect, 'Humble? The richest people in Ba Sing Se come and eat here… that's humble…' Aang thought to himself; still, grateful to the man's cordiality. "What can I do for you, young men?" The manager said eagerly,
"Well… we- I mean, he wanted to make a reservation for tonight." Said Zuko nudging Aang encouraging the young man- as the manager referred to him, who blushed in crimson quickly.
"Oh…I see, it is a 'special occasion' " The manager said blinking an eye towards Aang smiling in a friendly way, Aang only looked to his feet and replied smiling shyly "It is my honor to have you as a guest, Avatar Aang. I won't charge any costs as my way to thank you for the end of war" the middle aged man said opening his big costumer record.
"Wait, you don't have to do that, I'll pay." Aang said nobly, Sokka whispered to him
"Aang, what are you doing?! You can't pay any of the things in the menu! Not even water!"
"I don't care, I'll pay somehow; I told you, Sokka; I don't like taking advantage of my label as the Avatar! It just doesn't seem right to me!"
"Ugh… you know what, suit yourself…" Sokka said bored of Aang's persistent stubbornness. Aang did want to bring Katara here for their date; but he wouldn't let another citizen give him special treatment just because he had fulfilled his destiny.
"No, sir." Aang said, "Thank you, but really; I'd feel better if I pay." Despise of how much Aang tried to stay humble and simple, the situation would always turn back against him,
"Oh, no; Aang- sir. I won't permit that; it would be dishonorable of me, the Earth Kingdom owes you its wellbeing, the least I can do is to offer my services free of charge.",
"But…" Aang argued,
"Not another word, I beg you. Don't you worry Master Aang, I'll make sure your companion and you have the best table in the whole restaurant." He said grinning a little untrustworthy for Aang's taste,
"Okay, sir." Aang finally had to agree, the man insisted so much that it would have been pretty rude from Aang to still drop his offer,
"Please, call me Jun Li" He said to the guys as he booked 'Avatar Aang' for 8.30. The guys thanked Jun Li and were off on their way. 'For an Avatar who just defeated the evilest firebender in the world, I really lack authority.' Aang thought being a little annoyed for his word wasn't taken too seriously lately; it was his date after all. He wondered how Katara was doing in her day with the other girls, since he wasn't having the time of his life, precisely. 'I just want to get through this already, I hope Katara likes it.'
--
"So that's the whole Unagi story…" Toph said in awe. The girls were now hanging out at the pool where the mud was washed out, "Ha ha… poor Snoozles got his butt kicked by a bunch of girls!" She immediately felt the irritated glance Suki threw her, Toph might be blind, but not stupid. "Okay, okay… sorry… A bunch of 'warriors trained for years in the art of stealth.'" Toph air quoted the Kyoshi warrior; she kept quiet but then inquired, "So you say you made him wear a dress?" Toph asked Suki raising an eyebrow in amusement. All the girls laughed.
"Yep," said Suki proudly,
"I gotta say, you really know how to get a handle over Sokka." Toph complimented her
"I think he kept the uniform" Katara said diverted, making an effort to remember whether the garments had survived the multiple chases, attacks, combats, and sieges.
"He did?" Suki said touched by Sokka's well-hidden tenderness.
"I think so. I mean, he lost his boomerang until the very end of our journey, I'm sure he kept it." Katara said
"That's so sweet of him!" said Suki, Mai smiled dimly to herself as she flashbacked to her childhood back at the Fire Lord's Palace, when once Zuko had gave her a little sea shell he had found on a family trip to Ember Island. He said he remembered how much Mai wanted to meet Ember Island, and he figured since she couldn't go with him, he would be sure to pick the prettiest sea shell he could find. Not even Zuko knows this, but she has kept the little ornament ever since.
"Now, look at you; is that a smile?" Katara lightly teased Mai, now this was Mai's turn to be caught off guard 'Gotcha! Awkward, isn't it, Mai? ' Katara thought pleased.
"No." She said trying vainly to sound monotone, yep she was losing it.
"She's thinking about Zuko… again" Katara quoted her, faking innocence. "I'm just teasing." Mai looked annoyed but kind of amused for this strange feeling of acceptance from the other girls, she liked it.
--
"Can we rest now?" Sokka complained for the thousandth time,
"NO!" Aang and Zuko replied irritated since both of them were also tired of walking.
"Where are we?" Aang asked as they approached to what seemed a stable.
"Well, I don't think you guys would want to travel on foot from place to place in the biggest city in the world!" Zuko said bursting hotheadedly.
"Well, I can always take Appa…" Aang said, Sokka looked at him shaking his head in disapproval, "What?"Aang asked clueless,
"You have no use…" Sokka said,
"You won't need Appa tonight, Aang; we'll ask for a carriage." Zuko explained as they passed by a group of three giggling teenage girls. The guys looked at each other puzzled, and smiled meekly to them. Oh, what a great mistake they had done,
"Hey there," One of them said blocking Aang's way through, "I'm Star." All three girls started following them,
"Em… nice to meet you, Star." Aang replied avoiding, wishing the stable could come faster to them.
"You're the Avatar, aren't you?" Other said as she walked closer to Aang,
"Em…" He blushed, but not at all in the good sense, he was freaked out; the only girls he had ever talked to were Katara, Toph, Suki, and Mai. He knew not one spirit-damned thing about girls!
"Yeah… that's me" He said smiling goofily, and the girls giggled flirty as the third one joined in, all too close to Aang. He desperately glanced with horror to his two friends silently begging for assistance. The warrior and the firebender just shrugged.
"What's your name?" Star asked, Sokka narrowed his eyes in disbelief, for he found this a really stupid question since Ba Sing Se had hung a huge banner at downtown which said 'Thank You Avatar Aang' and he was absolutely sure everyone in Ba Sing Se had spotted it at least once.
"Em… Gaan, I mean Aang…" He said shaking his head, these girls made him nervous but he did not feel at all as the kind of nervous he felt with Katara, he felt desperate and caught in a dead end as they stared grabbing his Air Nomad pendant and play with it,
"Sorry, ladies; but I've got things to do," He said dodging and avoiding as a well trained airbending master.
"Wait!" Said one of them, Can we go along with you?" Sokka looked alarmed at Zuko and he returned the glance equally,
"Sorry, girls but it's Avatar confidential stuff…" Sokka intervened,
"And who are you for that matter?" The third one snapped at him
"Oh, come on… don't tell me you don't know who I am…" He said, proudly wearing his ego again,
Zuko whispered at him "Sokka, this is not time for this!" They both noticed the three girls staring at them viciously, "He, he…" Zuko giggled anxious. "Right, gotta go…" He said pulling Sokka with him, "Come on Aang,"
"But wait! We wanted to…" The trio of teenage girls replied
Zuko annoyed and longing to arrive to the carriage stable he lost his temper.
"HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND ALREADY!" He shouted in frustration. The girls immediately repelled from the monk looked at him pissed, as if he had told them how ugly looking they were. They marched away whispering among themselves, looking back to the guys.
"Those girls were crazy!" Aang said adjusting his pendant, "What were they thinking!" He continued outraged by such vileness displayed,
"Good thing Katara wasn't here." Sokka said amused by the troubled monk. Rapidly Aang turned dying of concern to look at his water tribe friend,
"Please, Sokka; don't tell Katara any of this!", "He won't" Zuko said throwing a menacing look to Sokka who was about to take advantage of the situation.
"Welcome, gentlemen; how can I help you?" An old tiny lady asked with big round spectacles which made her tiny black eyes look as big as the moon asked behind the counter standing on her tiptoes to have a good look at the three young men. Sokka studied her thoroughly with an analytical expression on his blue eyes.
"Xeng-Xeng… right?" Zuko said, "Oh no dear, I'm afraid Xeng-Xeng is on a ride right now." The old lady said sweetly. Zuko gave her a messed smile; it resembled him a sweeter and more adorable version of Lo and Ming, Azula's assistants. She walked with little ant-fly steps to get from behind the counter, "What can I do for you, darlings?" She asked again, Aang looked to Zuko raising an eyebrow with a "didn't she ask that already?" look. Zuko shrugged, and noticed the old lady staring at him smiling kindly,
"I want to rent a carriage," Aang said, preventing ahead Sokka; who would probably try to have this too paid with an Avatar immunity credit.
"Oh, let me see what we've got here," She said grinning with her missing teeth grin. She returned to the counter and with a great effort opened a book titled 'Service Rentals', she adjusted her glasses and narrowed her sight,
"Alright, when should we book it?" She said grabbing ink and a stick with a crooked black end which Aang assumed was used for writing instead of a brush.
"Tonight at 8.00" Aang said, the lady disposed to write down but then stopped looking disappointed,
"What's the matter?" Zuko said,
"I'm afraid there are no drivers left at that time," She said, Aang felt on the verge of collapsing, he couldn't take Appa! Sokka and Zuko said it themselves; Katara would label him as stingy, before his breakdown though, tried again.
"Isn't there any left?" Aang asked concerned.
"Can't you ask for Xeng-Xeng?" Zuko asked hopefully, the old lady was lightened by the firebender's sharpness and looked on the book; she smiled happily,
"You're on your luck, darlings." She said,
"He's the only available."
"We'll take him." Zuko said letting no other obstacle in his way.
"Name?" The lady asked. The three looked at each other before responding; Sokka and Zuko knew Aang wanted to stay as anonymous as possible, and Firelord Zuko would also be kind of a flashy name, Sokka took the turn now, since he was the 'nobody' in the group, as Toph would sometimes tease him due to his inability to bend.
"Sokka," said the swordsman.
"Address?"
"Upper Ring, in the Xunyi Cao Lu Street." Sokka added. The lady scribbled down the address and inked a period for 8.00,
"All good to go," The old lady said,
"Wait, what about the money?" Sokka asked puzzled,
"Oh, no; you get to pay by the end of your trip, it's the business policy." The woman said,
"But why?" asked Sokka intrigued, forgetting his own 'accept all free stuff' policy.
"We like to call it the guarantee." She said smiling innocently as she leaded the kids to the exit. "Have a good day, darlings." With that she returned to back of the counter.
"Who's Xeng-Xeng, anyway, Zuko?" asked Sokka skeptically, "He's a good man, he owed me a favor." Zuko simply said,
"I told you, I don't want to rely on favors anymore, Zuko!" Aang scolded,
"Relax, take it as a gift from me; besides, he said he would do a favor for me in his honor's name" Zuko explained,
"Why? What did you do?" Sokka asked thrilled by Zuko's dark past, Zuko blinked and looked down a bit hesitant,
"I- I saved his life once." He said rather meekly, now he knew how Aang felt; having people ask your good deeds feels awkward,
"You did?" Aang asked exited,
"Yeah... it wasn't such a big deal, really." Zuko said still looking down scratching his neck,
"From what? An armadillo bear, or your sister?" Sokka said joking, Aang nudged him- Zuko was still a little disturbed by how half of his family end up encaged and banned as crazy people.
"Oh, sorry…" Sokka rapidly apologized,
"It's okay…" He replied, but then filled the quietness' gap with an explanation, "I convinced the Dai Lee to let him keep his business; he owed a lot to them, but I convinced them letting him keep his work was the only way in which he could eventually pay them. The Dai Lee acceded and the old man told me that if I ever needed something I should let him know; of course what kind of favor could a refugee like me use in that moment, especially in Ba Sing Se…" He finished.
"Talk about saving the day." Aang congratulated him, "I should make you my assistant, Zuko." He joked,
"I don't do sidekick…" He said with a small playful smirk. "He said he should honor me in any way… Well, this is the way." Zuko said, as the three guys started walking towards their final stop.
"You had a lot of free time, didn't you?" Sokka inquired, "I mean, how come you know so many places in Ba Sing Se, and we don't?! We practically spent a whole month here!", "I should ask you that, lifeless…" Zuko teased,
"What did you guys do all that time here, anyway?"
"We would have time to explore more around if we wouldn't have been looking for Appa…" Aang remembered Zuko grimly regretting having asked,
"Oh…"
"Anyway; where are we going now? My feet are killing me!" Sokka complained again, Zuko chuckled,
"Somewhere…" Zuko said rolling his eyes,
"Are we there yet?" Asked Sokka resembling Zuko's memory five-year-old annoying Ty Lee.
"You guys will like it, especially you Aang; for what I've heard" The Firelord said drawing a diverted smile on his face, to ease his friends' longing he disposed to explain "It's a ballroom."
"What would you be doing in a ballroom as a refugee, Zuko? You can't even dance!" Sokka joked. Zuko; on the other hand, decided to keep quiet and let Sokka have the benefit of doubt.
"I really am not the complaining type, but crossing Ba Sing Se on foot is exhausting!" Aang said letting a tired sight, luckily; this part of the city wasn't as crowded; in fact it was quite peaceful, considering the large population of this Earth Kingdom city.
"Is it still too far? Because I'm about to open my glider and leave you too walking" Aang protested,
"You two sissy ladies stop whining! See that huge building over there? Yeah, that's it." Zuko replied annoyed pointing out another astonishing large building.
"Seriously, what's with you and big places?" Sokka asked crankily due to his worn out feet. As they approached, a feeling of relief and rest filled their bodies.
"Finally…" Sokka sighted Aang and Zuko looked at each other mocking Sokka.
"But I won't accept any more free stuff, alright?" Aang asked as if saying 'it's not a question, it's an order'.
"You won't need to; I figured you'd like this mainly because it's free. People come here at nights for fun, musicians and everything; and just for the sake of it." Zuko stated "You think you can remember the name? It's getting kind of late",
"Yeah, 'The White Garden', not hard to forget" Aang said optimistically,
"Good, then this is all I can help you with. Picture well the place; you'll have to tell Xeng- Xeng right where it is." Zuko advised,
"Okay," Aang said frowning goofily "Yep, I got it." Zuko rolled his eyes as he helped stand exaggerated Sokka which was impersonating a really lame fake death while he lied on the floor trying to convince his friends he was in pain,
"Come on," Zuko said.
"I really had a good time," Suki admitted,
"Yeah, this is what we had been missing," Katara said in contentment,
"Sure, nothing better than spending a whole day in a spa full to the brim with old women." Mai sarcastically commented, "I somehow pictured this a lot more differently, oh well. A day in the spa is more than enough for a whole lifetime." She continued,
"Welcome to my world, shuriken girl." Toph said. "Seriously you guys, how can you find that relaxing?" Toph said as they walked enjoying the quiet afternoon that reined the street. The sound of peace danced along with the arriving autumn wind.
"All I know is that I want to get to the house quickly, it's getting late; the sun is almost setting already," Katara said worried,
"Yeah…" Toph mocked a concerned voice, "We defenseless pro kick-butt benders- and warriors" Toph added as she made the distinction "Wouldn't want to be attacked by some amateur robber."
Katara looked nonplused, "I meant Aang must be impatient."
"Whatever."Toph said, Suki and Mai smiled to each other for both had insisted that they acted exactly as if they were sisters, although obviously both benders denied this deep down it was true.
--
They were getting nearer to the house walking slowly due to their exhausted feet,
"Aren't those the girls?" Sokka abruptly signaled. He was right, Aang could spot Katara miles away, and it was definitely her; no doubt.
"Oh no," Aang said, "Hurry up!" He said sprinting towards the each time nearer the house; everything had to be perfect that night. Aang abruptly stopped and returned remembering his other two friends were unable to airbend "Come on you guys," Aang said hurrying them up convincing them to run. The girls were closer to the house than they were so they should go through the back door; the guys could already hear their chatting and joking,
"Quick, quick!" Aang said getting through a narrow corridor that led to the backyard followed by the Fire Lord and the water tribe warrior. Sokka opened the door and ran towards the living room, him and Zuko threw themselves into their cushions and arranged the Pai Sho table to make the illusion they had been playing, Aang slapped his forehead for the pieces were arranged in impossible ways,
"Just sit down" Zuko said, just in time the girls opened the door. Faking a big smile and recovering their breath discreetly; Aang, Sokka, and Zuko greeted the girls,
"Hey…" Zuko sighted due to the lack of breath,
"Hey…" Mai answered, immediately she knew he was up to something; she knows this guy ever since they were toddlers- Zuko is up to something, no doubt.
"So, how was your day?" Mai asked quizzically,
"Eh… good." Zuko said,
"Hmm hmm…" Mai said. Mai looked back to her friends looking suspicious holding a smirk of enjoyment. All of the four girls looked outstandingly beautiful today, they sure always are but their make -up made look even prettier. They seated around the floor-leveled Pai Sho table, Katara placing a tiny greeting peck on Aang's cheek.
"What kind of game were you guys playing?" Suki asked puzzled raising an eyebrow as she studied the impossible plays on the board. Zuko and Sokka looked at each other guiltily; getting no answer Suki just smiled assuming it was one more of Sokka's crazy inventions.
"Did you do anything in particular today?" Katara asked the boys, the accomplices looked at each other doubtfully.
"Nah…" Sokka said avoiding. It was noon already, the Sun had set already, as everyone begun minding their own business Katara departed to her room nervously. Aang followed her with his sight; as well with a hint of happy anxiousness as soon as she disappeared he turned to the guys,
"Are you sure this will work?" Aang asked with concern.
"Absolutely." Zuko said,
"Besides" Sokka seconded, "When have we've been wrong?" He grinned. The Avatar's expression went blank, he had lost record of how many screwed crazy plans that pair had done. Asking advice probably wasn't the brightest idea. 'Yep, I'm screwed.'
A/N: Tadaa! A pretty long chapter- the longest I've written, but not one of the bests though. I will repeat myself on this, PLEASE COMMENT!! I loved you guys' support on last chapter, keep it up! You know I'll always answer back to any reply. That's it for the chapter, keep tuned to see how this date turns out on the following chapter. :D Peace out.