A Whole New World
The weather couldn't have been clearer in Middleton. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. And what made it even better to the kids was that it was a Sunday. No school meant lots of fun and the park was full of laughter and flying balls as the kids, both young and old, enjoyed the warm light bathing their skin. And the Possible Twins were no exception.
"Come on, it's not like we use that disruptor anymore. It hasn't been activated since the day we finished it." Jim said exasperatedly, waving a rectangular, blue, electronic device in the air. The pair were sitting under a tree in a secluded area, fiddling with a few of their old inventions. They wanted to make a new laser, but unfortunately they'd run out of parts and were trying to decide what old toys they didn't need anymore.
"True, but who knows when we might need it again. Or do you want to stay permanently under Kim's mind control chips the next time we annoy her?" Tim asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What? She doesn't have them anymore, Mom took them." Jim responded, shaking his head.
Yeah, like Kim didn't sneak them into her bag before going to college in London. Tim thought sarcastically, rolling his eyes at his twin.
"Wait, what? She stole them back?" Jim cried right as Tim was about to open his mouth. "I would have thought Mom would've had them destroyed."
"Huh?" Tim gaped, staring dumbstruck at his green and white clad twin. "How did you know that? I didn't say anything yet."
"What?" Jim asked confusedly, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah you did. I heard you clear as day...but your lips weren't moving." He added slowly, his eyes wide in realisation. Somehow, he'd known exactly what his brother was thinking. But how? I mean, sure, they literally spoke the same language, but this was taking twin telepathy a little too far. "Then how the heck did I..."
However, the conversation was quickly forgotten as an explosive flash of red and white light burst to life in the sky before crashing into the ground, the resulting tremors causing the ground to shake so much that the rising twins fell down.
"Whoa, what was that?" Tim shouted, looking back in the crash's direction, only to scream a second later. Heralded by what sounded like the screech of a bird of prey, what looked light red fired burst from whatever had crashed into the ground and was surging like a rocket right at them. Unable to get away in time, the boys screamed again and closed their eyes tight. However, Tim never felt any more than a warming sensation, like a heater was passing by him. Opening his eyes, he stared on in wonder and confusion. No matter where he looked, he couldn't find a single thing that was even singed. It was like the flames never existed. "That was just weird. Who's ever heard of flames that don't burn stuff?" He asked, turning his perplexed face to Jim's. "Are you ok bro?"
"Yeah. Although, for a second there I felt kinda weird. Like something was going in...hey, look!" He cried, pointing towards the crash site. The white ball of light was quickly dulling and a humanoid figure could be seen within. The twins watched on in amazement, ideas of aliens crossing their minds, as the light completely faded. However, instead of seeing a little green man from Mars, they found themselves staring at a boy a little taller than themselves, with dark brown, almost black hair. Although the dominantly black and grey outfit was very unusual, he was still clearly human.
"Wow. Do you think that it was a teleportation device that brought him here or is that he's a mutant? Think he's alright, he's not moving?" Jim asked, quickly switching from excitement to concern halfway through, noticing that the boy didn't look conscious.
"I don't know, but we need to get him out of here before the cops show up." Tim replied, dropping down into the crater next to the boy. "You know after that bang they'll be here soon."
"Yeah, good point. He looks innocent enough." Jim nodded, dropping in on the boy's other side. Each slinging one of the boy's arms over their shoulders, noticing right away that he was a bit light than most people his height should be despite his healthy looking form, they quickly, but carefully carried him off to the other side of the park, stopping only long enough for Jim to grab his back pack and put all of their devices back into it.
...
"Augh! What happened?" Aang's groggy mind couldn't help noting that he'd used the same question when he woke up on the fire nation warship as he scrunched his closed eyelids, the sun causing large red spots behind them.
"Well you see, we were actually hoping that you could tell us." Two nearly identical voices asked simultaneously. Voices that he'd never heard...
Aang's eyes whipped open as the realisation struck him and in his panic, he quickly jumped to his feet, only to groan as the resulting dizzy spell forced him back down.
"Whoa, easy there, you're perfectly safe." The boy in white and green said reassuringly, raising his unarmed hands.
"Just take a few breaths and calm down." The other boy, clad in red and blue continued, his tone and movements perfectly matching his twin's. Aang chuckled at that. He couldn't help it, it was like these two shared a single mind.
Doing as they said, he took a deep breath and relaxed, sighing as his head cleared. Looking up at the boys before him again, his grey eyes frowned confusedly as he took them in. While they were definitely twins, they were dressed very unusual looking clothes and as if they were from different nations, one boy wearing an open green shirt over white one and cream pants, looking like a member of the Earth Kingdom, while the other was wearing a red shirt with white sleeves and blue pants, the colours of the Fire Nation and the Water Tribes respectively. But neither sets of clothes looked like the style of any of the four nations. That made him confused and nervous. Without at least knowing their nationality, he could be in great danger. They could be firebenders, or members of the Dai Li.
At least my arrows are all covered. He thought, relief filling him as he rubbed the headband covering his arrow. I can find out who's side they're on without getting attacked unprepared.
"Do you mind telling me where I am? And how I got here?" Aang asked, looking hopefully from one twin to the other. "Last I checked, I was on an uninhabited island."
"Well, you're now in Middleton Park and you got here inside a ball of white light surrounded by fire." The boy in red answered. "We pulled you away from the crater before anyone else saw you there. Didn't want the cops or any mutant haters giving you a hard time."
"Mutant haters?" Aang asked, staring bewilderedly at the boy. What did he mean by that and why would they hate Aang? Was that some new name of a group of Fire Nation soldiers or something? And while he was on the subject of new names, where in the world was Middleton? He couldn't think of anywhere in the Fire Nation or the Earth Kingdom with names even close to Middleton. The Air Nomads only placed Northern, through Western before Air Temple and the Water Tribes were either in snow or swamp filled territory. One thing at a time. He decided, continuing his first question. "Just who are they?"
"Huh? You know, people who don't like and abuse mutants?" The one in green said with a raised eyebrow, sharing a look with his twin. "The people who either scared or jealous of them because of their powers?"
"Some people attack other people just because they're benders?" Aang cried, everything else forgotten in the face of such a horrid idea. "Even if they were jealous, why? Bending is the basis of all the different cultures."
"Ok, you have completely lost us." The twins said simultaneously, giving each other weird looks, confusion Aang in turn. "Mutant powers aren't important to cultures. The bulk of the world only just found out they even exist less than two years ago." The one in red stated, causing the incredulous look to grow on Aang's face.
"That can't be right. Benders have been well known, dominant power of each of the nations for thousands of years. What nation are we in anyway?" He asked, running his hands through his hair before turning back to the twins.
"The USA. United States of America?" The red one added, noticing the completely lost look on Aang's face. "Are you even from Earth? Or did you come from another planet?" He asked when Aang's look only grew more lost.
"I'm from planet Earth. But I've never heard of any of this." Aang said softly, rubbing his head as a headache started to form. "The nations I know of are the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom, the Water Tribes and the Air Temples, and everyone with powers was a bender, someone who could bend the element of their nation to their will. Have you ever heard of anything like that?"
"Well, there are some mutants who can create and manipulate an element or two, but other than that, no." The boy in red responded, shaking his head. "It sounds like you're either insane, or from another world."
"One easy way to find out which is right." The one in green stated, looking Aang right in the eye. "Are you one of these benders? Can you show us a power?"
Aang stiffened at that. If he was in the Fire Nation, and this was all some weird trick, then any bending would get him attacked. Airbending was definitely out, as that would alert them that the Avatar was alive. But if this was all real, then he'd need these boy to believe him. if it was all real, he'd either need their help or for them to find someone who could help him understand this world, how he came here and how to go back.
There's no way of knowing unless I play this along. He sighed mentally, taking in a deep breath as he made his decision. Their confusion in what I've been saying looks too genuine for inexperienced kids and neither of them look like soldiers. I think I can trust them. Nodding his head, he quickly glanced around the area to ensure that no one else was around and stood up.
"Give me a little room." He said firmly, dropping into an unyielding stance. The twins were quick to comply and backed off from him, giving him plenty of leg room. Deciding that earthbending was the best way to go, he stomped his foot hard on the ground and swung his bent arm up before him. The twins gaped and stumbled as a slight tremor in the ground heralded a wall of earth rising with impressive speed right before their eyes.
"I can do a lot more than that." Aang said with a small smile as he turned back to the twins, making the earth wall sink back into the ground with a casual wave of his arm. "But I still have more to learn. My earthbending teacher has said more than once that I'm still a little ways off from being a master. But that being said, she would have to be the greatest earthbender in the world. She's the first person to manage to bend metal by using the earth within it! So of course I'm less impressive in comparison, only having started learning how to do this a few months back."
"Wow, that was so cool!" The green clad boy cried, his smiling face quickly turning back and forth between where the earth rose and Aang stood. "So how did you do the white light and the fire?"
"And what was with those flames anyway?" The boy in red continued right as his brother stopped. "They flew right by and didn't burn a thing."
"The white light was cosmic energy. I'm not sure how it appeared actually." I thought it was locked up. And I can't feel my connection to it now either. He added silently, subconsciously rubbing the scar on his back. However, his hand instantly dropped and his face turned terrified as the rest of what they said registered. "Wait, fire? Tell me, was it shaped like a bird? And it actually didn't destroy everything in its path?" He cried, his voice getting louder as he hyperventilated.
"Um, no, it wasn't shaped like a bird. Though we did hear a bird screech as it flew at us." The twin in red said slowly. "And yeah, we felt warm as it reached us, but we weren't burned. Nothing was. The grass was still green and the trees were still standing. Why, what was it?"
"The Phoenix. It was the only fire related thing for miles." Aang said shakily, sitting back down. "A creature made of cosmic flames bent on destroying everything it touches. I was trying to keep it away from my friends before I ended up here. I guess the mixing cosmic energies brought us here. Well, at least my friends are safe."
"But if you're right, then you and here aren't." The boy in green stated a little nervously.
"Maybe, but if it didn't hurt anything when you saw it, and the flames didn't take the form of a bird, maybe however we got here drained it of all its power." Aang suggested. After all, the power it took to come...wherever here was left him exhausted and the Phoenix' body was made solely out of energy. Maybe it used it all up. "Anyway, I can worry about it if it ever shows up again. But I just realised that I haven't introduced myself. I'm Aang. Nice to meet you."
"Oh yeah. I'm Tim and this is Jim." The boy in red responded as the two offered their hands, which Aang happily accepted with a firm handshake each. "Why don't you come home with us? If you're really from a different world, than we want to hear everything about it-"
"And since you would know nothing of our world, we can tell you all about it." Jim continued, again amusing Aang with the near creepy synchronisation. "Our parents won't mind. After all, our dad is a rocket scientist,-"
"He would be really interested in alternate universes." Tim finished.
"Thank you. I could really use the help." Aang nodded, smiling gratefully at the twins. Getting up from the bench, he followed the twins out of the park, thanking the spirits that he'd had the good fortune to meet such caring people.
...
To say that Aang was amazed as they made their way through the streets was the understatement of the century. The twins were quick to deduce that Aang came from a much more traditional and primitive world as he gaped at the cars, motorcycles, street lights, even the cement. It took them a number of times to make Aang understand that their world's machines were powered by non-living energy sources and explain how they worked, most of which went over the overly excited boy's head.
"Amazing. Simply amazing. Those...cars?" He said questioningly, getting nods from the twins. "The only things I've ever seen like them was the Fire Nation's tanks and the Earth Kingdom's trains and they ran on the driver's firebending and earthbending respectively."
"Well, we didn't have the ability to make fire or throw large rocks with the click of our fingers, so we mastered science." Tim responded tiredly. He could understand Aang's excitement and wonder at what he was seeing, after all, Aang might as well be someone from two hundred years ago getting dragged into the present. Hell, he and Jim still got that way sometimes when they first saw a new machine. But he was getting a little tired of going over even the simplest pieces of technology they came across two or three times over. Still, the bits of knowledge from his world have been interesting so far. He had to concede.
"Hey look! Mom's already finished shopping." Jim said happily, pointing to the driveway just as Ann Possible picked up one of the last few bags.
"Oh boys, I wasn't expecting you two home until dinner time." She smiled as she stood up. It grew warmer as she turned to face them and found Aang's grey eyes "Oh, hello. I didn't realise that they brought a friend home. I'm Mrs Possible."
"I'm Aang. It's nice to meet you ma'am." Aang responded, smiling right back as he nodded his head.
"Mom, we really need to talk to you and Dad." Tim stated, grabbing a couple of bags from the trunk, his brother doing the same. Aang couldn't help raising his eyebrow as Mrs Possible sighed at that, rubbing her face exasperatedly.
"I don't need a hazmat suit to go near the dryer again do I?" She groaned, leading the way towards the front door, only to stop short of opening it. "Or has the living room been turned into a swamp this time? Please don't tell me that the fire fighters are going to be complaining about yet another cold fusion experiment."
"No, no, we haven't done any knew experiments today." Jim said reassuringly, moving past her and opening the door to prove his point. "It's actually about Aang."
"WHAT?" Mrs Possible cried, dropping the bags in her arms as she spun around, quickly going into doctor mode and checking what skin was visible on him for injuries. "Please don't tell me they used you as a guinea pig!"
"Huh, no, not at all. They've only been helping me." Aang said confusedly, not sure what to make of this. he was suddenly very curious as to what these boys got up to.
"Thank God." Mrs Possible sighed, her relief evident as she bent down to pick up the groceries spilling out of her bags, Aang giving her a hand. "So what is going on exactly? And how are they helping you?"
"I think we should wait until Dad's with us and you're sitting down. It's not a bad story, but it promises to be long and may be hard to believe." Tim butted in, Jim nodding at his side before they ran into the kitchen. Sighing and a little nervous as to what was going on, Ann gave in and followed them, just hoping that she didn't feel the urge to collapse when this was all over.
"Honey, can you come in here please?" She called as she placed the bags on the counter and started putting things away. "The boys say they need to talk to both of us about their friend and I would really like to get this surprise over with so I can get over the disaster sooner."
"What did they do?" Timothy asked, instantly appearing in the doorway. When someone said the twins did something, you tended to move fast.
"Nothing this time Dad." Tim smiled before pointing to Aang. "This is Aang. He's...very lost and you're the best person we can ask to help him."
"Hello there son, I'm Dr James Possible." Dr Possible said warmly, which Aang quickly shook.
"A pleasure to meet you sir." Aang responded, taking the seat Dr Possible offered him.
"So why am I the person you think can help you?" James asked, rubbing his chin as he inspected the boy. "Lost people usually go to the police."
"Not when they crash into the Earth from another dimension in a white ball." Jim exclaimed excitedly, startling his parents.
"What do you mean a white ball? And another dimension?" James asked, his eyebrows rising right up to his hairline.
Feeling much more comfortable in the knowledge that this wasn't a Fire Nation plot, Aang told the Possibles all about his world. The adults were forever growing more amazed while the twins grew more excited as he told them about the four nations and how they came to be. He told them about people of each nation learning how to bend the elements by watching the dragons, sky bison, badger moles and the moon. He told them about the war against the Fire Nation and the Avatar, noting that all four grew much more interested at learning of a being able to control not only all four of the elements, but also be able to connect to the spirit world. And with great hesitancy, he bit the bullet and told them that he was the Avatar, astounding all four of them as he demonstrated his control over air, water and earth, though shying away from the idea of using even the little firebending he knew. As his audience calmed down, he went on to tell them about his life, his friends and the adventures he'd had before finally getting to the part of the Phoenix.
"Everything Roku said about the Phoenix was right." He sighed, staring sadly at the table. "It was far more powerful than anything I could imagine and effortlessly took me down. It was about to kill me when my back injury slammed into a rock and cosmic energy was released from me that mixed with the Phoenix'. The next thing I know, I'm waking up with Jim and Tim in front of me."
"He definitely doesn't know a thing about our world." Tim piped up, feeling the need to back the alternate dimension claim. "Cars, planes, street lights, even concrete was new and amazing to him."
"Well, I wasn't expecting this when I woke up this morning." James commented, running a hand through his hair as he stared sadly at the displaced Avatar. He believed his story, there was no doubt in his mind that it wasn't the work of fiction. Alternate dimensions had definitely been proven real, first by Kim's science partner's interdimensional portal and then by the discovery of mutants a couple of years back, particularly the ones that had been discovered to cross dimensions. And it was clear just what his situation was had just impacted very hardly on Aang. He was stranded in an unknown, strange world while all of his friends were stuck in his, fighting a war that they'd hoped that he'd be able to help end. That being, if the Phoenix wasn't turning everything to rubble as they spoke. He felt for the boy, and his wife clearly did too. It was obvious that she was barely holding back tears, but whether it was his current situation of his life story that caused them, he wasn't sure. Considering how full of tragedy the twelve or thirteen year olds life had been, probably both.
"Is there anything you can do to get him home?" Jim asked, his voice carrying both hope and sadness. Neither he or Tim wanted Aang to leave. Or at least not without taking them to see his world.
"No, I'm sorry Aang." James sighed sadly, giving Aang an apologetic look as tears started falling down the boy's eyes. "Unfortunately, interdimensional portals are extremely tricky. Whether they're created by technology or mutant powers, the dimension they connect to is a factor that has yet to be controlled. I could have a portal created, but it could lead to any one of possibly thousands of dimensions and any place in them. Even if we lucked out and got your world, you could end up coming out in outer space or the heart of a volcano."
"We'll keep an ear out for any possible ways though." Ann said reassuringly, pulling the distraught boy into a comforting hug. "And you can stay with us until we find one. We'll take care of you, I promise." Aang just buried his head into her shoulder and cried as Ann rubbed his back, not stopping until he cried himself to sleep.
As Ann and the twins watched James pick Aang up and carry him to the couch, her thoughts, for the first time ever, were exactly the same as her sons'. Aang needed them and they were going to make him happy again, whether they found him a way back home or not.
...
It wasn't until the smell of cooking food hit his nose that Aang finally woke up. His belly grumbled with desire as the delicious aroma filled his nose and he blindly followed it to find Ann leaning over a large pot on the stove, mixing the food inside.
"That smells really good." Aang said softly, moving closer to the pot.
"Oh Aang, you're awake. How are you feeling honey?" Ann asked, putting down the wooden spoon as she turned to him with a warm smile.
"I'm ok. Well, I'm sad, but there's nothing I can really do about that." Aang muttered, scrunching his face uncomfortably. Nodding understandingly, Ann offered his a damp towel to wipe the tear stains off of his face. "So what are you making ma'am?"
"Just call me Ann, honey." Ann smiled before turning back to the pot. "It's just a nice and easy soup. I didn't want to cook anything special since I don't know any of your possible allergies or preferences. I hope soup sounds good to you."
"As long as I don't get any meat." Aang said a little apologetically. "I'm a vegetarian."
"Oh. Well, that fine, I'll just make sure no meat goes into your bowl. It's chunky enough to find." Ann responded before taste testing the food. "And I'd say it's ready to serve."
"Great, I'm starved." Aang said, his face lighting up. "Do you want any help?"
"No, no, it's fine honey. The boys already got the bowls out and Timothy set up the table." Ann shook her head as she grabbed a bowl and the ladle, checking to ensure no meat went into the bowel as she filled it up. "Here you go. Why don't you just call out to the others and take a seat in the dining room. Everyone will be in there in a second."
"Ok. Thank you ma...Ann." Aang said gratefully, walking towards the door. Not sure where everyone was, Aang took a deep breath and used one of airbending's lesser known powers: soundwave enhancement. "Mr Possible, Jim, Tim, dinner's ready."
Needless to say, no one was expecting a voice shouting as loud as a megaphone to go off inside the house. Ann in particular, being so close, was so startled that she almost knocked the soup pot right over.
"Oops, sorry Ann." Aang said sheepishly as the loud clattering caught his attention. "Guess I should have warned you about that."
"No worries. But yes, a little warning next time I'm up close is a good idea." She sighed, taking a few deep breaths. "But don't do it outside or when we have guests." She added just as the rest of her family rushed in. "It'll mark you as a mutant and I don't want to risk them discriminating you."
"I still need to find out about this mutant thing. Actually, I need to find out about everything in this world." Aang muttered as he turned back to the door.
"We'll explain everything about our world after dinner." Jim promised, following him out of the kitchen before leading him to the dining room when Aang turned a little lost.
Dinner went by quick enough. Aang found a liking to Ann's cooking, making her quite pleased. And after the dishes were emptied and cleaned, the Possibles told Aang everything he'd need to know. They told him about the advancements in technology. They told him about the seven continents and the many countries in most, all of which Aang found quite interesting. But what really caught Aang's attention was the mutants. They told him about the advanced mutant X gene being the source of a possibly limitless number of powers, from elementals like his own, to psychics, to beastly forms. It sounded amazing to him. An enormous variety of powers. He couldn't wait to meet some of them and see what they could do.
But how the world treated them was definitely enough to burst his bubble. The discrimination, harassment and abuse that had occurred in only a couple years of the world in general even knowing that they exist was astounding.
"People turning on other people, even their families, just because they can grow claws and fly? How can people be so heartless?" Aang muttered, frowning at the table.
"People fear mutants because they are more powerful than humans. Whenever humans find a creature that isn't under their control, they tend to try and destroy it. They're a threat to the humans' belief of superiority." James said distastefully, clearly not liking it any more than Aang.
"Others are jealous that they can't do what the mutants can too. And some want to turn mutants into their slaves to use their powers for their own desires. Greed and hate are very powerful and far too common in humanity." Ann added with a sigh.
"I just can't understand it." Aang muttered, creating and fiddling with a ball of air in his hand. "Where I'm from, benders are treated as normal people in their own nations and usually looked on to with wonder by people from the others. No one hates them for having powers that they don't."
"But your society developed along with these bending powers right?" Tim asked. "They've had thousands of years to adapt to them being there and have decided long ago that they are beneficial to your world and cultures."
"Mutants haven't helped develop our world and they've only been discovered very recently." Jim continued where Tim left off. "So people have no idea of just what they're capable of and in their fear and jealousy, expect the worst of them."
"That's just so messed up." Aang groaned, resting his head on the table. "Is anything going to change that? Help these people?"
"Some mutants, like our daughter Kim, are able to blend in easily enough as long as they don't use their powers. Kim actually uses hers openly everyday and no one knows that she's a mutant. Some people help them hide and cover up what they do." James started with a nod. "But the only really noticeable person fighting for mutant rights is Professor Charles Xavier, a mutant who runs a school for mutants. He keeps the children safe and teaches them how to control their powers while also throwing himself into the political debates as a well educated mind, both in politics and the nature of mutant abilities. But of course, as a mutant himself, his...audiences aren't generally very keen to listen to him."
"Oh. So, what can...Kim do?" Aang asked, deciding that it would be best to change the subject before they all became thoroughly depressed.
"Kim has two abilities." Ann responded, understanding his intent instantly. "The first is beyond human flexibility. She can twist her body in ways that would injure, strain or even break the bones of a normal person. The other is mimicry. If she sees someone doing something, from as simple a jump rope to as complex as playing the most difficult song on a piano, she can do it as well as the person she watched did it. Fortunately, she's able to hide it all behind her years as a cheerleader. People just assume that she put in enough work to be a world class gymnast."
"So, are there any other powers in your world besides controlling the four elements?" Jim asked curiously.
"Well, there are the spirits. Their powers vary probably as much as the mutants. But with the humans, all powers lead back to the elements." Aang answered. "Although, each element seems to come with the possibility of another trick or two. Firebenders, if their amazingly skilled, can use lightning. Waterbenders can use the water to bend and regenerate plants and if the full moon's out even use bloodbending. Controlling animals. Humans included. Obviously not many are comfortable with it, taking away someone's free will." He stated, his voice turning distasteful at the idea of such an action. "They can even develop healing powers. Earthbenders have never done anything outside earth before, but my friend and earth teacher, Toph, discovered a way to bend metal. As for airbenders, we can also enhance soundwaves, as you would have noticed earlier."
With that, the topic of powers was put to rest, exchanged for hobbies and adventure stories. Aang listened intently as the Possibles told him of some of the things they'd been dragged into, though admittedly willingly, when Kim went around saving the world, while Jim and Tim begged him to help them fly on the wind sometime. It wasn't until it was very late that the adults decided it was time for the twins to go to bed, having school tomorrow, and offered Aang use of the bath, which he gratefully accepted.
"Um, where does the water come from?" Aang asked, looking around confusedly as he took off his bandanna. "From the tap. Just turn the knobs on either side to the left when it's full enough for you." James stated as he turned the water on and turned around, only to gasp as he saw Aang's forehead. "Whoa, you have a tattoo on your head?"
"Yeah. And down my back and limbs." Aang said slowly, a little confused by the shocked look crossing the man's face. "In the Air temples, you get the arrow tattoos when you become an Airbending master." He added, pulling off his boots and pulling his sleeves up to show off the arrows on his hands and feet.
"Hmm, we'll have to cover them when you go out in public." James muttered before giving Aang an apologetic look when he noticed the confusion on his face. "You see, it's illegal for kids to have tattoos in our world. You could get into trouble. At the very least, you'll draw a lot of attention you probably won't want to yourself."
"I see." He muttered, looking down. He didn't like having to hide his arrows. But it seemed even in this world they could cause too much trouble.
"But we can worry about that tomorrow." James said comfortingly, resting a hand on the upset boy's shoulder. "For now, just get cleaned up. I'll get you some of the boys' clothes to change into and set you up for a good night's sleep."
Nodding, Aang checked the water was warm enough as James left before turning it off as the tub got half full. Placing the change of clothes James brought him on the bench, finished undressing and jumped into the water, sighing as the warm liquid relaxed his sore muscles.
"This world is going to take a lot of getting used to." Aang sighed, closing his eyes as he leaned back. "But I'm stuck here, so I'll have to deal with it. Oh well, at least the people who found me are nice and generous."
...
"The guest bedroom is...currently a danger zone, thanks to my dear boys. So you can stay in Kim's room." Ann said, her tone a mix of exasperation and fondness as she opened the door and led Aang into the room.
"But isn't your daughter going to need it?" Aang asked, picking at the white fabric of his shirt. It felt different to all his old clothes. Not uncomfortable, just unusual. Though, he had to admit, the black flannel pants were really soft and warm.
"Not for a while. She's in London, a city in Europe." Ann responded, shaking her head. "She only just left a couple of weeks ago and won't be back until the Christmas holidays."
"Oh, ok then. Thank you by the way. For taking me in and everything." He said appreciatively, offering her a thankful grin.
"It's no problem at all Aang." Ann smiled, giving him a hug. "I only wish that we can do more for you. Now get some sleep. I'm sure you're tired and tomorrow you and I will go get you some new clothes and essentials. Let you see the world a bit more."
"Alright. Goodnight Ann." Aang nodded, covering his mouth as he yawned and heading over to the bed.
"Goodnight Aang." Ann said softly, turning off the light as Aang snuggled under the blankets and closing the door behind her. Walking back to her husband, she couldn't help the frown that grew on her face. The poor boy was lost, confused and worried about his friends. She really felt for him, she couldn't imagine what he was going through. But I am going to make him feel accepted and happy as long as he's with us. She thought firmly. You might as well add Possible to his name.
Up in Kim's room, Aang had already managed to fall asleep. Though his dreams were plagued with memories of his friends, some good, some bad, he still slept on soundly. His tattoos flashed a couple of times throughout the night, whenever a worry was making it to his dreams, and when it did he always got this reassuring feeling that everyone was ok, soothing him once again.
"Fear not Aang." Roku whispered softly into his mind. "Those you love are fine and the Phoenix has disappeared from our world once again. You need not worry about them now. Besides, a whole new set of adventures are right around the corner. Ones that I know will one day lead you home."