Chapter 2 – New Players
Disclaimer: I own nothing
The Blue Spirit stalked the night, leaping from one rooftop to another.
(Republic City, Dragon Flats Borough – Fernwood Park; Tuesday, 23 July 2013, 11:05 PM)
The delinquents were burning the statue of the Mayor, dancing and shouting around the bonfire like maniacs, with some rap music blaring from their boomboxes. Some were waving guns that they fired to the sky. One gangster, a man of average built, clad in baggy jacket and jeans and a cap he wore slanted, fired at the Mayor's nose and the crowd cheered as they directed all their firepower at the statue, chipping away the marble with bullets.
The flames on the statue flared suddenly, getting more and more violent, until it finally drew the attentions of the thugs and they stopped and marveled at the swirling flame tornado in silence. The flame turned blue and soared higher before it died down and three figures swooped in and started kicking butts.
Phoenix soared high with the burst of flame from her feet and landed in a crouch, directly beneath the gun that was fired at her; she grabbed the wrist of the gunner and punched a stream of fire from her other hand at the gunner's gut, sending him flying ten feet away.
Acro weaved through the crowd like an acrobat, twirling and summersaulting, miraculously avoiding bullets; she landed low delivered lighting fast jabs at the torso of a nearby gangster, sparking blue electric from her knuckles each time she made contact.
Stealth was cornered by a semi-circle of gangsters and she took small measured steps back until she fell on the shadow of a large oak tree behind her, melting herself into the shadow. The gangsters and their guns waited and one of them gulped loudly even from such distance the Blue Spirit noticed his Adam's apple shifting. Then, out of nowhere, knives flew and darted themselves on the screaming thugs, scoring hits on their joints –shoulders, knees, thighs-, sending them all to the ground, writhing and hurting.
The Blue Spirit watched the event in silence up on the roof across the street.
A footfall ever so slightly, he caught from behind him; the Blue Spirit turned and drew his blades strapped on his back at the same time, stance ready as he faced the smirking dark hooded robed man. The Blue Spirit took a few seconds before he eased up and relaxed his stance, sheathing his blades back and turning back to the battle as the hooded man joined him in watching the girls taking care of the last of the thugs.
"Are you not joining them?" the hooded man asked, almost sounded gleeful, not using his voice masking device.
The Blue Spirit, of course, did not say anything back.
Phoenix delivered a double leg sweeps, sending low arcs of blue flame that tripped her opponents and burnt them enough to cause pain that stopped them from fighting. An opponent dashed from behind her with a knife ready but Phoenix did not even react since she knew that Acro would jump in and interfere; and that Acro did as she pounced at the thug's back and jabbed ten times. Phoenix kinda liked the chirpy sound of the taser Acro's punches made. It reminded her of potato chips.
-F-I-R-E-
Heroes of Republic City
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Goldenbell – the Kais' Residence; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 01:34 AM)
Azula opened the fridge and leaned down, looking for something to eat and found nothing that struck her fancy. She closed it and started rummaging cabinet above the wall counter where they put the microwave and toaster for cereals.
"Azula?" a voice called from behind her and the light was turned on.
Azula cursed mentally. "Hi, Mom", she grumbled, not turning around, tiptoeing and trying to reach the box of Ginger Flakes in the frigging tall cabinet.
"Azula", Ursa came closer. "Cereal in the middle of the night", she chided.
"What? I'm hungry", Azula stretched higher, grazing the box with her fingers. "I don't have the obligation to starve myself. I'm not a model."
"Here", Ursa reached up, having the tall gene like her husband that skipped Azula over (Azula and Iroh were the only ones who inherited the short gene of Iroh's mother), and closed the cabinet. "If you're hungry, let me fix something up for you."
Grumbling, Azula moved to the stool around the kitchen counter and rested her head on her folded arms while her mother moved to the fridge and took out a bowl of last dinner leftover stew. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the smell of beef stew simmering on the pot and the sound of the fan sucking in the smoke.
Azula sat there in silence, sulking, biting the inside of her lip. Ursa came five minutes later with a bowl of brown stew. "Bread", Azula said curtly as she picked up her spoon.
Ursa sighed fondly and returned with a plate of sliced breakfast bread. She sat down and watched her daughter eat… like a boy, with her large gulp and stuffing two or more spoonful of stew into her mouth that was already filled with bread. Wow… even Zuko had a more civilized table manner.
The woman tucked the girl's hair behind her ear and Azula twitched at the touch. She shot her mother an annoyed look but could not force herself to move from the woman's touch.
"Azula", Ursa started patiently. "Have you been using your ability?" because she knew that Azula's ability ate up a lot of calories and she had not missed how Azula's sneaking into the kitchen in the middle of the night for snacks and coming home from school with bags of chips had been an everyday occurrence.
Azula did not show any sign of being perturbed by her mother's question. "You said it like it's a bad thing to be a metahuman."
"I didn't say it like that", Ursa said softly, ignoring the jolt in her stomach. "I just want you to be careful."
Azula continued eating in silence. "I'm fine", she said finally as she scooped the last of her stew.
Ursa opened her mouth but words could not come out. She just watched her daughter drink her glass of water and dab her mouth with a napkin before she got up and left. As Azula reached the stairs, Ursa forced her voice out. "Azula", she called, gasped actually; Azula stopped but did not turn back. "Happy birthday and… I love you", she said with wavering voice and an ache in her heart that she could not explain.
Azula's jaw hardened as she made her way up to the second floor.
-R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C-
"Some say metagene is a gift…"
…
"…some other say it is a curse…"
…
"…that metahumans are cursed existence, born with devils in them…"
…
"…but I say… they were wrong!"
"YEAH!"
"… I say we are special!"
"YEAH!"
"And I say… Welcome to the Pro-…Meta… Humans… TOURNAMENT!"
(Republic City, Underground Pro-Metahumans Tournament; Wednesday, 24 July 2103, 01:45 AM)
Light fell upon the dark circular ring where a man stood in his glossy training pants, bare-chested, and he looked fit. Skin slightly tanned, hair brown and straight, parted in the middle, eyes green, jaw and cheekbones defined.
More lights turned on and the whole view of the ring; a hexagonal ring with dark floor and red ropes around except for the two opposing sides of the ring, and the whole contraption stood twenty feet above a pool, and the announcer was standing in the middle with a hanging microphone in his hand.
"And noooow… the main event of tonight's matches… for the right to enter the Summer Fest Tournament, Team Battle Division!" the announcer called. "Introducing… the contenders of the Spring Slammer who had just avenged their lost on the ones who cost them their place in the Slammer… the Golden Temple Tigerdillos!"
A moving platform rose from the water, from the small opening where fighters entered, carrying three men in padded body armors and head protectors.
"Aaaanndd…" the announcer paused for a dramatic effect. "…a newcomer who shock everyone with their elementals manipulation and strength… the Fire Ferrets!"
Mako stepped forward first, Bolin was next, waving to the crowd, and Korra cracked her knuckle.
"Let the match… begiiiiiin!" the announcer leaped off the ring and soared high to the box where the side announcer was.
Overhead, on the big screen, a line separated the shuffling portraits of the teams; the screen blinked and came back with the matchup. Mako would go first, followed by Korra, and Bolin.
Mako stepped into the middle of the ring while Korra and Bolin took their position behind the ropes, one on each side. The two fighters moved and stared down at each other, waiting for the bell.
The bell rang once…
The Tigerdillo and Mako leaped backward and Mako wasted no time to send a barrage of flames from his fists and kicks; the Tigerdillo put up a force field and advanced step by step under Mako's flame. He broke the shield in between the interval of the flames and lunged forward, aiming for Mako's midsection. Smirking, Mako spun and, like a matador, let the Tigerdillo rushed past him; he added a fire kick at the back of the Tigerdillo to help smoothen his way out of the ring.
The crowd cheered and the portrait of the downed Tigerdillo on the screen blackened.
Grinning, Mako moved to the side and traded places with Korra.
The bell rang and Korra's onslaught of water blasts from the pool below the ring ended the match and blasted the Tigerdillo off the ring before he could even show his power; that earned her the almost fastest knock out record of 3.56 seconds, one second something shy from the still standing record.
Korra whooped loudly and bounced her way to Bolin. The boy took his sweet time getting to the middle, and took his stance a fraction second too long after the bell rang. Bolin was blasted by a wave of light energy and landed on his back, skidding and almost falling off the edge of the ring.
"Get up, Bo!" Mako shouted.
Bolin sprung to his feet and ducked low as a wave of energy flew to his direction. The Tigerdillo switched his spot and charged up another blast; Bolin took the opportunity to scrambled up and dashed ahead, charging for a close quarter.
The Tigerdillo shot a stream of light energy but Bolin charged through it and tackled the man down with his shoulder, sending him all the way to the edge of the ring. The Tigerdillo got up and charged another blast frantically but Bolin beat him to it, lifting the man off his feet with ease and throwing him to the water below.
"And a flawless victory for the Fire Ferrets!"
Mako and Korra joined Bolin in the ring. Bolin scooped them in a hug and lifted them off their feet. Groaning inwardly, Korra and Mako exchanged pained look as Bolin threw them a few feet to the air and caught them.
"Next time", Korra growled as Bolin caught them again and squeezed them together, not noticing the two's discomfort. "Fire your bother and get someone who has any powers other than super strength."
-A-I-R-
(Republic City, North Plain – the Storms' Residence; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 02:43 AM)
Gyatso put down his cup of tea on the nearby table and shifted the candle on it. He opened his old chest and smiled at his old Lotus uniform in it. His old hand traced softly on the fabric and old trained ears noticed the sound of pebble outside.
Aang tugged on to Toph's hand as they snuck into the compound filled with old junked cars, walking towards the large old retired airplane in the middle; weathered and green, covered with moss and vines, Gyatso Storms had lived here since his retirement and though Aang had been in an orphanage before Gyatso found him and they had travelled a lot in his earlier childhood, the airplane had always been a home.
"Wow…" Toph stopped in his trek as they reached the flat land in front of the compound, right before the maze of junked cars. "You live in an airplane? Cool!"
Aang grinned, trying not to stare too much at the girl whose dark hair was now in a short spiky pixie cut. It was strange when Toph asked him to bring her to a salon, and then across the city where they visited places and hit like six different ice creams stores -Toph liked ice cream-, and just when Aang started to think that it was a bad idea to indulge Toph in the first place, it was already ten and Toph had dragged him to the Underground Metahumans Tournament. Keywords: Underground…
Aang had never been so scared in his life, despite his adventurous side, but at least, Toph had paid for everything and Aang had no need to confess that he had only ten yuans to his name.
But… wait a minute…
"Uh… Toph?" Aang tugged on his collar a bit. "I thought you were blind."
"Oh", Toph smirked. "Well, I am", she retracted her cane and threw it to Aang. "I'm metahuman", she said, striding forward without hesitation.
"Wait", Aang frowned, catching up to her. "So, you can… uh… see?"
"More like sense", Toph snickered. "I see with my feet", she explained. "I can feel vibration around me."
"Wow", Aang commented. "Do you always have this ability?"
"Well, maybe, I don't know", Toph shrugged. "I noticed this when my parents called in some experts to teach me how to use echolocation devices", she said. "Then, one day, I realized that I don't need them at all."
"That's amazing", Aang said earnestly. "Um, since you told me that, I should tell you this; I have abilities too."
"You do?" Toph laughed. "And what's that? Because it's certainly not stealth. Your Toes are not that Twinkly", she blurted out laughing. "Get it? Twinkle Toes."
Aang groaned as they made their way to the airplane.
"So, what's your power?" Toph asked as her laughter died down.
"I'm kinda hoping immortality; my dad's gonna kill me", Aang gulped, so not looking forward to explaining to Gyatso why he was home at two in the morning with a girl he had just met. "Well, I kinda get this feeling, you know, when I saw you."
"Whoa, Twinkles", Toph shoved a hand a few inches to the side of Aang's face. "Look, you're great and all, but we've just met."
"N-no, no!" Aang spluttered, getting hot around the cheeks. "It's not that. It's not funny!" he almost yelled at Toph who was laughing too hard.
"Okay", Toph's laughter died down and she wiped her teary eyes. "Okay, you have feelings; you mean like an empath?"
"Yeah", Aang turned to the distant barking of a dog and inwardly cringed.
"Is that all you can do?" Toph asked, picking on her nose. Aang left for a fraction of second, leaving nothing but a blurry yellow as he supersped ahead to intercept Appa before the giant mastiff could jump on Toph and him, and returned before Toph suspected anything, grinning awkwardly.
"Uh… yeah", Aang did not know why he lied. "That's the only big thing…"
"Oh, and um…" Toph smiled quaintly. "I think your dad's awake."
Aang groaned and facepalmed.
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Dragon Flats Borough; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 03:02 AM)
The Blue Spirit kicked the rushing thug on the face. The dark robed figure descended from nowhere, making no sound as he made contact with the ground, his robe fluttering, and he threw several knives at the incoming group, scoring hits on all but two; one got lucky and evaded in time, the other punched the flying knife away and roared as he sped ahead.
The dark figure lunged ahead, keeping low like a wolf lunging at a prey. The large muscular thug punched downward but the dark figure swerved and dashed past the thug to get to the one behind him, taking the startled baddie down in one strike. The Blue Spirit followed up with a mean punch on the large thug's face.
The thug staggered backward and the hooded man leg-swept him down; the Blue Spirit pounced at him for good measure, landing on the thug's gut.
"So", the hooded figure started, getting up while the Blue Spirit fought another thug. "You really want to recruit the girls to your side?"
The Blue Spirit spin-kicked a thug on the face and froze momentarily as another thug a distance away aimed a semi-automatic at him; the hooded figure drew a futuristic looking black gun and fired a bolt of red energy at the thug's gun and another at his chest.
"Plasma bolt", the hooded figure said. "Leaves no slugs, nothing to trace back", he could feel the Blue Spirit's condescending look behind his mask. "What? I set it to stun."
The Blue Spirit straightened up and, as he was about to break his code of silence, a group of armed thugs appeared from the corner of the street.
A sedan with blaring siren skidded and drifted into the scene from the turn and two cops in casual clothes dropped down, screaming. "Republic City Police! Hands in the air", and it was met by a volley of bullets. The two policemen dove behind their car and one of them noticed the two vigilantes behind them. "Hey, Jee! Look!"
The two cops turned to the spot where the Blue Spirit and his companion were no longer; Jee scowled and smacked Chit Sang upside the head. "This' no time for games", he growled as he returned fire with his handgun.
The two cops were completely outgunned as most of the thugs employed submachine guns. They ducked back behind their car, evading the bullets. Jee scrambled to get the radio from inside the car and called for help. "HQ! This is Sergeant Jee! Dragon Flats Borough, armed gangbangers! Requesting backup!"
"Jee… Jee!"
"WHAT?!"
Chit Sang simply pointed at the direction of the thugs where a puff of thick smoke and the grunting sound of people and occasional gunshots. The two cops turned to each other and Chit Sang shrugged. As the smoke cleared out, the thugs were all downed, either writhing or unconscious, none were able to put up a fight.
"Uh… also, send some ambulances", Jee added to the radio.
"Wow… last night, it was that group of girls", Chit Sang said as he pulled out his handcuffs. "Tonight, it's a couple of weirdos. We're going to need more handcuffs."
Above, on the rooftop, the Blue Spirit stepped back from the edge of the building, satisfied with the result as the two cops apprehended the thugs.
"So", the hooded figure, leaning on a wall, arms crossed, smirked. "My men and I will move in within two days and get ourselves set up by the end of next week."
The Blue Spirit tilted his head to his direction ever so slightly. On the ground level, Chit Sang noticed something on the floor and bent down to reach for it; it was a purple nightshade flower.
"Don't look at me like that", the hooded figure sighed. "The order is clear: I am to set—", the Blue Spirit was more interested on the incoming small missile and the fact that it was aiming for them. The masked vigilante dashed forward and dragged the hooded one down with him as the missile hit the rooftop.
"Ok, what was that?" the hooded man grimaced, looking around; the Blue Spirit dashed and made a run for it. "Oh, okay… run before the police found us. Good idea", the hooded one shouted. "Well, talk to you later!"
"There's someone on the roof!" Jee shouted.
"Oy… me and my big mouth", the hooded figure lamented as he got up and disappeared into the night.
A distance away, a large bald man with well-trimmed beard and a tattoo of the Third Eye on his forehead lowered his robotic arm and stashed away the built-in rocket launcher. He tapped the forearm of the prosthetic and a holographic display came up, displaying a silhouette of a man in the comlink.
"That should be enough", the chilly voice said. "Retreat until further order."
The bald cyborg switched the device off and stared at the two policemen who were suddenly alerted by the explosion. His face was impassive and uncaring.
-W-A-T-E-R-
(Republic City, Tosako – United Nations Academy; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 11:46 AM)
Katara walked to her locker with books in her arms, so not looking forward for the summer vacation homework. She dumped her load in her locker haphazardly and closed the door to find a grinning face of her cousin.
"Korra!" she exclaimed, leaping into the taller girl's arms.
"Been awhile, shorty", Korra grinned, ruffling Katara's hair much to the latter's dismay. "Do you see Bolin anywhere? We're supposed to meet up with Mako today."
Katara's face fell; while she liked her cousin well enough, despite Korra's uncanny resemblance to Sokka, she was largely indifferent to Mako and Bolin, Katara disliked the idea of Korra being involved with the two in an underground fighting tournament.
"I don't know where he is", Katara said dryly, walking away towards the entrance. "But, it's about time for Mako's shift. Why don't you wait at the Jasmine Dragon?"
"Good idea", Korra smiled. "Have you had your lunch yet? Come on, let's have lunch there. We can catch up."
"Yeah, su— whoa!" Katara halted as Aang and Toph appeared from the classroom they were passing through and her blue eyes registered Toph as the 'cute girl with pigtails from yesterday'. "N-nice hair", she blurted out, grinning awkwardly at Toph's new spunky hairdo.
"Nice save", Toph narrowed her eyes a little at Katara's general direction before walking away with Aang, who flashed an apologetic smile, on tow.
"Hmm…" Korra smirked while Katara raked her brain and wondered if Toph really did have a cane with her since Katara was sure that she did. "I like her", Korra decided.
Toph walked without a care in the world; her classes were not as bothersome as she thought it would be. The teachers were all sweet and sickeningly so at first until she snapped her cane in two and proclaimed that she was a metahuman who could navigate without help and could go to the bathroom without a classmate escorting her.
It was good, Toph had to admit. If only she were in her own clothes, instead of the oversized shirt and sweatpants she had borrowed from Aang, she would be super; Toph hated clothes that did not fit. Gyatso had been surprisingly understanding and accepting when Aang brought her to his place and explained everything that had happened. Toph had the impression that the old man was simply glad that Aang had a friend at all. Then again, from Aang's stories, he had spent a portion of his childhood in places where metahumans were not as accepted.
Still, Toph was not looking forward to see her guardian again; and if the distinctive footsteps and the sudden silence and low whisper that were spreading from one point from the direction of the entrance towards her were any indication, her aunt was coming her way.
"Toph", Lin Beifong called icily. "Where have you been? And what monstrosity had you let happen to your hair?!"
"Nowhere, nothing", Toph replied impudently.
Aang just had to step in. "Hi, Mrs. Beifong…" Toph snorted at the honorific and Lin Beifong's lips tightened at the 'Mrs.' part. "Um, I'm Aang. It's… uh, it's my fault. We were—"
"Stuff it, Twinkle Toes!" Toph interrupted; turning to Lin, she looked furious. "Look, I can take care of myself. You just tell my mom and dad that—"
"They're coming", Lin cut in.
Toph clenched her fists. "What?"
"You went missing for the entire day", Lin replied gruffly. "I called your phone but you wouldn't pick up. What was I supposed to do? I thought you were kidnapped!"
"You're the Chief of Police", Toph screamed back. "And you think my parents can do better than your goons!"
"I will not suffer this impudence, young lady!" Lin yanked the girl by the arm. "You are coming home with me!"
"W-wait—", Aang tried but Toph stopped him
"I'll see you later, Aang", Toph said, evading the gray eyes of the boy, and Aang noticed a small waver in her voice.
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Tosako – Jasmine Dragon Teashop; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 12:02 PM)
Iroh brought a box filled with party supplies into the teashop where Mako was taking care of some receipts and Zuko was having a sandwich with Lu Ten sipping tea at his table. Lu Ten gulped down his tea and rose to meet his father and the box. Together, the two unloaded the content onto an empty table. Around that time, Katara entered with Korra and Ty Lee.
Korra greeted Mako quite loudly while Katara openly glared at the boy.
When Mako arrived at their table with the menu, Katara wasted no time to scold him. "Must you involve my cousin in that brutish underground fight?"
Mako quickly shushed the girl, casting a wary glance at Iroh. "What? We need a replacement for Hashook. Besides, we won't have to fight for awhile after last night's win", Mako took a wad of yuan from his pocket and threw it to Korra.
"Thank you, kindly", Korra grinned, placing her money into her jacket pocket, ignoring Katara's intense glare.
"I don't like you risking your life for this kind of thing!" Katara snapped; Mako wisely crept away.
"Well, mom…" Korra leaned back nonchalantly. "I know what I'm doing and it's completely safe."
Not far, Iroh and Lu Ten were in a little argument of their own.
"I'm telling you, Dad, Azula prefers red", Lu Ten said, grabbing a bunch of red decoration.
"And I'm telling you, gold and pink are better", Iroh argued. "Besides, these colors don't clash with my décor."
Two Fire Nation boys eyed those two with a distant smile; Zuko sighed and ate the rest of his sandwich while Mako busied himself with cutting more lettuce for the salad bar.
Azula dragged her feet to the teashop but Lu Ten saw her and ran to intercept the girl, barring her entrance. "Hi, baby cousin", Lu Ten grinned widely, slipping out through the entrance. "Uh… you can't enter yet."
"But, I'm hungry", Azula whined.
"I'll buy you lunch somewhere else", Lu Ten dragged her by the wrist to the parking lot for his bike.
"I hate riding on that thing", Azula scowled at the bike.
"Alright, then", Lu Ten laughed, letting his baby cousin grab the bend of his arm as they made their way to the sidewalk. "I know a place nearby where I usually get my burritos."
Azula simply shrugged as they walked down the side of the road.
"So", Lu Ten said quaintly. "How are you doing lately?"
"The usual", Azula muttered, feeling heavy on the eyelids. "Do they have coffee?"
"Aren't you too young to drink coffee?" Lu Ten joked.
"I will hit you", Azula huffed.
They walked several blocks and found a small diner lodged between a bookshop and a small convenient store; brick building painted bright green, with a traditional style sign board with bamboo frame and dark green writing of 'Shinrin Diner'.
"You never took me here", Azula said as Lu Ten led her into the comfy looking diner with green walls and bamboo furniture, lots of indoor plants, and a row of booths at the window seats.
"I have, once", Lu Ten smirked as they sat in their booth. "You just got here for a few days. You were still a kid then."
"Really?" Azula looked around, scanning the room and its patron, the common folks of Republic City. One table on the other side of the room caught her eyes; the one occupied by a boy around Zuko's age, whose jet black hair was tied into a simple ponytail, whose body was lean and muscular, much like Zuko, but he sat with three other people who were all clearly in their twenties.
The boy was smirking at what the only female in the table was saying, an attractive but tough looking woman in black leather jacket and baggy cargo trousers of dark, and a pair of low heeled boots. Her eyes were amber like the boy's, but of darker color, and she wore no makeup and her dark wavy hair was up in a practical ponytail. The man sitting next to her was muscular but rather thin, tall and had his ponytailed hair and eyes, and general face contour, similar to the woman enough to be her brother. Like the other man who was sitting on the outside of the booth, the big muscular one with short military haircut, bearded face, and a pair of emerald green eyes, the thin amber-eyed man was wearing nondescript outfit of thin jacket and trousers, all colored dark.
The boy however, wore something more casual; long-sleeved t-shirt of dark brown with the sleeves rolled up, cargo pants of light khaki, black sneakers, and, Azula noticed around his left wrist, a bracelet of white beads and black beads. The boy's skin was pale and, along with his bright amber eyes, it convinced Azula that he was Fire Nation. Also, unlike the other three, the boy did not give off the feel that he was a trained fighter; the other three looked like they could take on even Phoenix.
"If I were here a long time ago, what did I have here?" Azula asked Lu Ten, deciding to ignore the boy and his companions despite a little tug she felt in her chest; she felt like she knew that boy somehow.
"I can't really remember", Lu Ten frowned as he flipped open the menu. "Cherry pie, I think. I remember wiping your mouth and there was something red sticking on your face."
Azula smirked. "I'll have that."
-E-A-R-T-H-
(Location Unknown; 24 July 2013, 12:45 PM)
In the dark room, five large floating screens blinked to life, showing five dark silhouettes: one was obviously a female with a hair bun, one man in a hood, two men with round shape head, and a man with combed hair. The cyborg with third eye tattoo on his forehead was in audience with them.
"This does not bode well", one of the men with round shape head, the one directly on the middle screen, said with automated voice. "These new players will prove to be disadvantageous."
"We have enough problems with those girls and the Blue Spirit", the female spoke. "But, at least, they are easy to contain. We have also taken steps to neutralize the Blue Spirit."
"True", the man with a neatly combed hair added. "But, he seems to have allied himself with this newcomer", another screen blinked to life and it showed a surveillance photograph of the Blue Spirit and the hooded man from last night's event. "We still don't know what this man is capable of."
"He is undoubtedly an expert hand-to-hand combatant", the hooded silhouette assessed. "And he employs guns. Plasma gun, a high-tech weapon. We have to assume that he is well-funded."
The man in the middle screen made a sound that sounded like a thoughtful hum. "There's one Deep Forest Industry based in the Fire Nation. They are developing plasma weapons."
"His fighting style also looks like of Fire Nation origin. Definitely not Republic City; it's traditional and rather orthodox", the other man with round head silhouette finally spoke. "It almost looks like a combination of Wing Chun and Chang Quan; old styles."
"But, he doesn't fight like a traditionalist", the hooded silhouette said as the extra screen showed the video recording from last night's fight. "I also see traces of Eagle Claw, Eight Direction Fist, Tiger Claw, Xing Yi… and even the rare Diao Ling form."
"All ancient military styles", a figure emerged from the shadow of the room, a female figure of slender built in dark hood, black metal armor with breastplate and shoulder plates, engraved with the pattern of silver cloudy flame around the edges, and a mask with curved cloudy flames on the surface, forming the artistic face of a lynx. "He's not a traditionalist", the female assessed, her voice lilting like a temptress' as she watched the recording of the hooded man fighting the thugs alongside the Blue Spirit.
"Traditionalists don't mix styles", the hooded silhouette concurred. "Out of principles, especially one of Fire Nation blood."
"But, he's not a contemporary mixed stylist, either", the masked female added, fingerless-gloved hand touched her chin as she pondered. "He's using one of the old forms of mixed martial art, the first ever mixed martial art style in history. It's Shi Shen Mo."
The female was expected some sort of a reaction but the silhouettes remained calm.
The hooded silhouette whispered. "Death's Touch."
"So, the Fire Nation has made their move", the man in the middle screen spoke with a well-masked contempt. "Strange, considering that we have not heard anything from our contacts in the Nation. And now, we have a practitioner of the Fire Nation Royal Assassins martial art style aiding our opponents."
"He's not a Royal Assassin", the masked female's voice went icy. "His skills are impressive", she said fairly, watching the hooded figure on the screen sweeping down a thug with a spin kick and locked the thug's head with his leg as he crouched, drawing his gun and fire at two incoming thugs in less than two seconds. "But, he is far from the level of mastery. And I see traces of improvisation."
"Do you know who he is?" the female silhouette asked sharply.
"Well, I have a hunch", the masked female smirked under her mask.
"Lynx", the man in the middle screen said firmly. "If we find that you are withholding any information—"
Lynx raised a hand and interrupted. "I simply need time to verify my hunches", she said.
"Fair enough", the man said. "I expect you to report your result."
"Will do", Lynx hummed airily. "But, what about the girls and the Blue Spirit?"
"They are inconsequential for now", the man in the middle said; four more screens blinked to life, showing Phoenix, Acro, Stealth, and the Blue Spirit in battles. "We have studied their abilities and are almost ready with the countermeasures."
"Cool", Lynx sounded nonchalant but the cyborg, who had remained silent so far, leered at her, noticing the blue eyes behind the mask fixing themselves on Stealth. "Well, if there isn't anything else, I think I'll go back to my work now."
"Of course", the man in the middle screen said. "Soon, the Shadow Society will emerge and the Republic City will be ours."
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Rose Garden – Shinrin Diner; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 12:54 PM)
"Are you excited about your birthday party?" Lu Ten asked, sipping his hot tea.
Azula shrugged, playing with the foam on the surface of her latte. "What are you giving me this year?" she asked, glancing from the corner of her eyes at the table that the boy now occupied alone, where he appeared to be sketching something on a notepad.
"You'll see", Lu Ten grinned.
"Shall we go?" Azula asked, checking her phone. "It's almost one."
"Why don't you wear that wristwatch I gave you for Christmas?" Lu Ten frowned, calling for the check.
"I don't like wearing accessories. I have my phone for the purpose of telling me the time", Azula said flatly, sipping her coffee.
A plump and short middle-aged woman arrived with the check on a small bamboo tray. She was clad in a peculiar gypsy-ish loose outfit and a bandana that was adorned with small colorful beads, a soft looking scarf that made Azula think of flowing water, all colored sandy brown, and an awkward but friendly smile on her face. She spoke to Lu Ten in a language that Azula did not recognize and Lu Ten replied in the same tongue; from the way their eyes darted to her direction every now and then, and Lu Ten openly pointing at her, Azula guessed they were talking about her.
"Azula?" the woman looked surprise as she gave the girl a scrutinizing look. "Azula, Lu Ten? Your little cousin from years ago? The cute little girl who ate a whole cherry pie all by herself?"
"That's the one, Baba", Lu Ten laughed.
"Oh, my…" Baba smiled wider, letting it reached her grass green eyes. "Look at you now, Azula", she reached out and invaded Azula's space; the girl tensed up as the woman stroked her hair and cheek like a mother would her child. "You are so big now", Baba leaned a little to get a closer look at the slightly bewildered girl. "So beautiful now…"
"Yeah, you were hideous then", Lu Ten smirked at Azula, earning himself a kick under the table. Baba chuckled and walked back to the counter with the money.
A little girl approached them as Baba left, wearing the Diner's uniform of dark green shirt with a picture bamboo trees on the left side, and holding a piece of sketch paper she gave to Azula, saying that the 'nice man' who was sitting 'over there' (the girl pointed at the table where the amber-eyed boy was sitting and it was now empty) wanted Azula to have it.
Frowning, Azula cast another quick glance at the now empty table and took a look at the paper; it was a sketch of her face from the side angle, wearing her hair in the partial ponytail she was wearing at the moment.
"Oh, he's gone?" Lu Ten whined childishly at the little girl. "I saw him when we entered but he seemed busy so I didn't want to disturb him."
"Do you know him?" Azula asked, still admiring the sketch, noticing a small drawing of a flower at the bottom and a sleek calligraphy of 林 above it.
"Uh… yeah", Lu Ten raised a brow at Azula as he paid the little girl for the information in candies. "You know him too. Remember how he used to come to our place when we were living in the Fire Nation?"
Azula took her eyes off the sketch and eyed her cousin sharply. "I don't even remember the first time we moved here", she said dryly; her tone and face grew distant and she felt a little frustrated of how little she remembered of her home country. "For all I care, I was born here."
"Well", Lu Ten tapped the girl's nose fondly. "One day, we'll go to Ember Island. We have a summer house there."
"Promise?" Azula pouted cutely.
Lu Ten laughed and got up, taking his baby cousin's hand in his arm as they walked back to school.
"Why did we move here?" Azula asked, feeling that tug again in her chest, the one she felt whenever the subject about their old life in the Fire Nation came up.
"Well, first of all, me and my dad moved here first", Lu Ten smiled. "You were two when we moved. Aunt Ursa called us after we arrived; she told us that you were crying your eyes out every day because you couldn't find us."
"That is a big fat lie", Azula grumble, feeling warm around the cheeks.
Lu Ten laughed. "Aww, look at you; you're cute when you're in denial."
Azula huffed and pinched his arm.
"My dad has always been fascinated with the Republic City", Lu Ten said, still smiling. "As for me? Well, they have better science program here than in the Fire Nation."
He glanced at his baby cousin and searched her face. "You mom and dad brought you two here about a few months after you turned four. It was winter, your first time seeing snow", he smiled fondly.
Azula bit her lip to prevent the smile from forming, unrolling the paper she held in her free hand to distract himself. "What about this guy?"
"He's pretty cool", Lu Ten snickered. "I invited him to your birthday party", Lu Ten added.
"You, Uncle…" Azula grumbled. "Why do people keep inviting strangers to my birthday party?"
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, South City – South City Animal Shelter; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 01:00 PM)
Zuko bandaged the front leg of the golden retriever gently and tied the knot. He finished with patting the dog's head, earning himself a lick on the face.
"Wow, that is amazing Zuko", Jin praised, standing nearby while Zuko helped the golden retriever down. "You have ways with animals. He won't stay still when I did it."
"He's just anxious", Zuko said, patting the dog on the head. "Is there anything else?"
"No", Jin smiled. "Sorry for calling you when you are at school."
"That's cool", Zuko replied. "I have no class after lunch anyway."
"Oh?" Jin's eyes sparked. "Um, would you like to go on a lunch with me? You know, as a thank you."
"No, thanks", Zuko pushed the door behind the counter open and let the golden retriever slip through it. "I have to go back to my uncle's teashop. We're decorating it for my sister's birthday party this evening."
"Oh…" Jin looked visibly sullen.
"Would you, uh, like to come?" Zuko offered as he noticed Jin's downed expression, thinking that it was his fault.
"Sure", Jin took it, beaming.
Giving away a small smile, Zuko nodded his goodbye and got out; Jin waved and smiled brightly.
Wincing at the beginning of bright summer sunlight, Zuko got in his car and drove back to Tosako. A teenager around his age, wearing a dark brown long-sleeved t-shirt and khaki cargo trousers, got up from the sidewalk bench across the street from the shelter and dumped his empty coffee cup in the nearby trash can. He put on the earbuds of his IPod and crossed the street with hands in his pocket. He walked to the front door of the shelter, watching Jin brushing a long-haired Persian cat. He halted as his hand was about to push the door and his expression went blank.
Five seconds later, he moved as abruptly as he stopped, and rounded to the narrow alleyway between the shelter and the pastry shop at its right side. His pace quickened until he reached the corner that joined the alley to another one that framed the other side of the block. He leaned on the wall, hiding himself at the corner.
Few seconds after he did, a burly man wearing dark jackets and pants, and a balaclava on top of his head, walked through the corner and was startled by the boy. Without waiting for any response or taking off his earbuds, the boy delivered a lightning fast side chop at the bigger man's throat. As the man choked, the boy kicked low at his kneecaps, eliciting a choked scream, and a downward punch at the back of the man's head as he doubled over from pain.
The man bounced his face on the ground hard and was knocked out by the blow. The boy dusted his hands and dialed his phone as he walked away.
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Tosako – Jasmine Dragon Teashop; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 05:43 PM)
Azula slouched on her uncle's apartment above the teashop. The place was tidy and cozy, despite its size. The living room had beige walls and red rug on the floor, with a large flat screen TV on a short cabinet, framed on both sides by knee-height vase housing thin bamboos. A short-legged wide coffee table was in the middle of the room, in front of a set of long couch on which Azula was hugging her legs, pouting.
She turned to her right, to the glass panels leading to the balcony, through which the setting sun was shining. The golden of the ray mocked her. She lit a small flame on her palm and was tempted to throw it to one of the many bonsai pots aligned on the long table at the balcony.
The front door clicked and Iroh walked in. He frowned at Azula's small blue flame but resumed his walk to the couch.
"You're missing your party", Iroh said nonchalantly, turning on the TV with the remote he found on the table.
"Is Dad here yet?" Azula grumbled, watching Iroh flicking channels.
"No", Iroh said.
"Is Zuko here yet?"
"I'm sorry, no."
They stayed in silence for the next few minutes while watching the news. A live report on a local carnival met an unexpected attack by a gang of robbers and the Blue Spirit appeared to stop them; the camera got the whole thing but Azula did not care. Iroh said nothing.
Finally, as the commercials came, Iroh turned off the TV. "Come, Princess", he said kindly, putting his hands gently on the girl's shoulders. "Let's go to your party."
"I don't want to", Azula sulked. "My dad's not here yet."
"We can start without him. We'll save a slice of cake for him", Iroh smiled. "Come", he got up, pulling the girl up gently with him.
Downstairs, Ty Lee, Suki, and Katara were holding the line, trying to keep the guests entertained; not that many turned up. Only half of the new students Iroh invited came. Jin looked awkward as she sat alone with her drink, not knowing anyone there; Aang had given up looking for Toph; Mako sat with Korra and Bolin; Mai was sloshing her half empty glass of lemonade at the table next to them; and, strangely, there were three old men sitting at a table with four cups of tea.
The room had been decorated with golden ribbons and colorful balloons, with a large Happy Birthday on the wall behind the counter. A large square cake with white vanilla frosting, pink flowers around the corner, and bright red writing of 'Happy 14th Birthday Azula' was put on a trolley behind the counter.
"I'm hungry", one of the students said.
"I know, we all are", Katara sighed. "But, just be patient, okay. Azula will be here soon."
The bell above the front door rang and everyone turned to it hopefully; they actually grunted as Lu Ten, Sokka, and a boy with amber eyes walked in.
"Ouch", Lu Ten said to the whole room as he led his friends in and settled at a table.
Aang, who was hoping it was Toph, sighed and turned back to his drink. A girl, one of the new students, sat on the seat in front of him; her skin was pale and her eyes as brown as her hair, her hair that was tied into a ponytail, with a fringe above her eyes.
"Hi", she greeted. "I'm On Ji."
"Hi", Aang smiled back, happy for the distraction from Toph's absence and his gift that had been drawing her to Katara. "I'm Aang", he said with a smile, casting a quick glance at Katara, trying to calm his mind.
"Nice to meet you", she smiled sweetly. "Hey, Haru, come meet Aang", she called a boy from the group that was with Katara and the girls over. The longhaired green-eyed tanned-skinned boy who was wearing a green bandana and baggy shirt and trousers grinned and walked to their table.
Outside, Ozai parked his dark sedan in the parking lot. He stepped down, resplendent in his suit, and opened the door for Ursa who was clad in a flattering but modest red dress. Taking her husband's hand offering to help her up, Ursa asked. "Did you bring Azula's present?"
"Iroh has it", Ozai simply said as they walked to the teashop.
Ursa sighed. "You asked Iroh to buy it for you, didn't you?"
"I'm busy with work", Ozai frowned. "Besides", he added, pushing the door open. "Iroh is better at this than me."
"I could have done it", Ursa hissed from the corner of her mouth as she smiled at the guests inside. "Thank you all for coming", she smiled to the room.
As if on cue, Iroh appeared from the backroom with Azula on tow; the girl's disappointed look sparked to a happier one at the sight of her parents.
Mako, now behind the counter, turned on the music and brought out the cake. Azula, hugging her father, smiled at the cake and her eyes fell on the boy that she had seen at the diner with Lu Ten. He was talking on the phone and said something to Sokka and Lu Ten, fist-bumped Lu Ten before he got up.
It was not like her, she did not like strangers, but she felt like she wanted to go to him and talk; luckily, Katara and Suki hugged her and congratulated her, stopping her from doing that. Ty Lee came next, bringing the other girls with her, and by the time they were done with the hugging, Azula had to blow the candles, and by the time she was done, Azula looked around the room subtly while cutting the cake, and found that the boy was gone.
She presented the first slice to her dad, earning a kiss on the forehead, and let Katara did the rest of the cutting as she weaved through the crowd to check again, only to run into Lu Ten's crushing hug.
Grinning, Lu Ten let go and took something from the nearest table. "I am not wearing that", Azula narrowed her eyes at the paper crown. "And if you hug me, I'll stab you in the eye", she warned Sokka who approached with his arms wide open. "Where did your friend go?" she asked Lu Ten.
"Something came up", Lu Ten smiled apologetically, pulling a small box wrapped in light purple glossy paper. "His present for you."
Azula took it and the rest of the party went on boringly to her; everybody else seemed to be having a good time though, especially after Uncle Iroh set up the karaoke machine. Then, it turned slightly horrible when Katara and Ty Lee dragged Azula to the center and made her sing.
Iroh grinned as Azula finished with her song and the sulky girl dragged her feet to the old people table, occupying Iroh's seat as the old man moved to the microphone next. Piandao smirked as Azula folded her arms on the table and bury her face on it. "That wasn't so bad", he tried, grinning.
"I hate singing", Azula grumbled, resting her chin on her arms and moving Iroh's Pai Sho tile.
Jeong Jeong, Iroh's opponent, was quite impressed by how quickly Azula grasped the complexity of Iroh's four-point gambits in just a glance, and how expertly the girl resumed her uncle's gambit.
Pakku, sitting beside the girl in the booth, snickered loudly at Jeong Jeong's look of incredulity.
Azula turned to her and narrowed her eyes. "What are you giving me for my birthday?"
"Priceless wisdom", Pakku countered slyly. "Look right and left before you cross a road."
Azula blew a tiny raspberry.
"I bought you a nice book", Piandao said kindly; he had always been fond of the girl, one of his best students.
"Why do you sit here with us, instead of with your friends?" Pakku frowned.
"What friends?" Azula asked back dryly. "How many people here who are not my family?"
"Twenty… thirty…" Jeong Jeong guessed, placing a tile to counter his opponent's gambit.
"And I only know about seven of them", Azula grunted and returned her chin on her folded arms, looking bored as she placed a rose tile to patch up her gambit, completing her unbreakable Sixth Mountain Gambit. And it was boring, up to the time it was over and she and Lu Ten hitched a ride home with Zuko.
By the time they arrived at her house, Azula was dead tired. She collapsed face first on her bed and felt comfortable for what seemed like a long time. Zuko and Lu Ten came in after her, carrying her boxes of presents for her.
While Zuko begrudgingly put his load on the floor at the side of the bed and got out, Lu Ten hung around and scanned the red painted room. There were two bookcases standing side by side, filled with various types of books, from comic books to college level science textbooks. The queen-sized bed was littered by fluffy pillows and some stuffed animals; Lu Ten felt a little pride as he recognized some of them as the ones that he had gifted his baby cousin. A vanity table was at the wall next to the door, and at the end table at the foot of the bed, stood a two-tier sword stand housing a blue long jian and a red short sword. At the window, stood Azula's study desk that housed three computer screens and one keyboard, and around the room, numerous stuffed animals littered around. At the side of the vanity mirror, there was console with a flat screen TV on it.
Azula felt Lu Ten plopping down on her bed and turned to him. Lu Ten lay down on his back and netted his fingers under his head, smiling at the several small toy planes that Azula got from the cereal box and hung on the ceiling. "So, I like the cake", Lu Ten said, rubbing his belly.
Azula snorted and snuggled into his arms. Lu Ten squeezed her once and kissed the top of her head. "Wanna open your gifts?"
Azula let out a noncommittal grunt. Lu Ten disentangled himself and sat up, grinning. He took out the biggest one from the bunch. "This one from your mom and dad", he declared.
"It's from Uncle", Azula said dryly, sitting up.
"It's from your mom and dad", Lu Ten said again cheerfully, with a winning smile.
"Uncle's the one who got it."
"Yes, he did. But, it's from your mom and dad", Lu Ten's grin did not falter as he unwrapped the box and pulled out a big brown stuffed bear.
Azula took it and threw it over her shoulder.
"Ouch", Lu Ten pouted. "I picked that one."
Azula picked out a tiny box and opened it; a small porcelain figurine of a rabbit from Zuko. Azula crawled to the foot of her bed and placed it at the end table near her sword with the others, completing her collection of the twelve zodiac animals.
"Here's one from me", Lu Ten said, handing the girl his gift. Azula unwrapped the small box and found a thin golden chain bracelet with a small metal 'A' dangling on it.
"And this is from Ty Lee", he picked up a pink box that had yet another stuffed animal in it.
"Why do people insist on giving me girl toys?" Azula griped. "Have I not given them enough reasons to give up?"
"People can be thick sometimes", Lu Ten said, unwrapping a handmade woolen scarf from Katara and Sokka.
"I wanna sleep", Azula said, plopping back down onto the bed.
"It's still early", Lu Ten lay back down and let the girl snuggled into his arms. "Let's talk."
"No", Azula grunted and nuzzled into Lu Ten's arms.
"Night", Lu Ten smiled, pecking the top of girl's head.
It took less than five minutes for the girl to sleep and let out a soft purr. Lu Ten smiled as he disentangled himself gently and picked the girl up slowly to set her straight on the bed. In so many ways, Azula was still that little girl who liked to be carried around. He tucked his baby cousin in the cover and felt a certain kind of sadness as he tucked her hair behind her ear. How he loved his baby cousin, like a sister he had never had. Gently, he leaned down and kissed the girl on the forehead before he got out of the room.
Closing the door behind him softly, he made a detour to Zuko's room. Avi woke up and raised its head as Lu Ten opened the door. He put his finger on his lips at the dog and tiptoed in; a bit hard to do considering the numbers of items littering the floor. Zuko was lying sprawled like some bad graffiti on the bed. The boy had always been a restless sleeper.
Gently, Lu Ten picked up the discarded blanket on the floor –he had to wrestle it from Avi who had decided to make it its bed-, put his little cousin's limbs to a more respectable position, and put the blanket over the boy.
Sighing, Lu Ten cast a long look at his cousin's face. Zuko, he knew, like Azula, barely remembered their lives in the Fire Nation. It was for the best, Lu Ten convinced himself as he found himself at the guest room, lying on the bed, looking out the window at the moon.
The Republic City had its own… charm. Zuko was talented despite the lack of encouragement and appreciation he received (well, from the people who mattered to the boy) and Lu Ten had made plans to take him under his wings; like he had, with greater success, with Azula. Azula had great beauty and wonderful mind, qualities that the City was so ready to suck dry, and Lu Ten felt compelled to protect her the best he could.
Azula had shown quite an aptitude in computer science and she got along with Sokka; Sokka often said that Azula was a more fun sister than Katara. Lu Ten was sure he could convince Azula to resume her education to the United Nations University where he and Sokka could keep a watchful eye on her. Zuko had quite an excellent achievement in his academics although he was not outstanding like his sister; Lu Ten was sure that Zuko could still fit in.
Sighing, Lu Ten turned away from the moon outside the window and closed his eyes.
"Trouble for another day", he muttered to himself.
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Dragon Flats Borough; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 10:23 PM)
Chit Sang led Jee down the dark alley, walking with confidence despite Jee's visible wariness. Alleyway in the dark at the Borough; they were asking to get mugged.
"Listen, Chit Sang", Jee growled. "I change my mind", he stopped and Chit Sang turned to him, just in time to see the dark shadow jumped down from nowhere with a flair of his cloak. "I don't think I want to meet this contact of yours anymore."
"Too late", Chit Sang grinned, taking out a cigarette from the pack in his pocket and lighting it. "He's here", he nudged his chin at the figure behind Jee, blowing a puff.
Jee turned around and startled. "Whoa!" he exclaimed, pulling out his handgun quickly.
An arrow flew from nowhere and knocked his gun off his hand.
"Hey, hey!" Chit Sang quickly stepped in between them, raising his hands in a peaceful manner. "We're friendly here!"
"Good evening", the hooded figure smirked, his voice masked by an electronic device, making it rough and angry. "Detectives Jee and Chit Sang."
"Who are you?" Jee demanded, eyes darting between him and Chit Sang. "You know this creep?!" he accused Chit Sang.
"Sort of", Chit Sang shrugged. "He's here to help."
"He's a vigilante!" Jee spat.
"Who took down a group of armed gangsters", Chit Sang explained calmly. "Like it or not, Jee, two of them took care of a trouble two of us could not; heck, two of them took care of a trouble ten of us could not!"
"But, this… this is wrong!" Jee shouted, pointing his finger sharply at the figure.
"You think I don't know that", Chit Sang snarled. "But, guess what: I don't care!" he pulled out a folder from his coat and shoved it to Jee's chest. "These people don't fight fair", Chit Sang's jaw hardened as Jee gaped a little at the content of the folder. "I don't see why we should fight fair."
Jee inhaled deeply. "Alright", he said with great effort, turning to the hooded figure. "What's your plan?"
"I have a proposal", the hooded figure raised his hand and made several hand signs; Jee, a former Navy Lieutenant, recognized the dexterity and traces of military hand sign though the signs were none he recognized.
"What proposal?" Jee asked warily, noticing from the corner of his eyes another hooded figure, one that was not wearing a robe and wearing a mask that covered his lower face like a ninja, dropped behind the first hooded figure, wearing bow and arrows on his back.
"One that benefits us all", the hooded figure nodded humbly; a hooded woman appeared at his side, offering his gun back, and another hooded figure, a tall, large, muscular man stood straight, crossing his arms on his chest like a sentinel, framing them from three sides with the robed man.
"And one that benefits the people of the Republic City", Chit Sang added.
The Blue Spirit, not joining the meeting, stalked from the dark shadow on the roof above.
-E-A-R-T-H-
(Republic City, Rose Garden – Lin Beifong's Apartment; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 11:00 PM)
Toph genuinely despised the heavily padded and carpeted room of hers; thick rug covering the walls, carpet on every inch of the floor, paddings on every furniture. She knew that, despite her aunt's protest, her parents had the whole room and a part of the house refurbished, adding carpets and child-proofing the apartment.
Lin Beifong had been rather unhappy, she herself knew of Toph's meta-ability and that Toph could function like a sighted person, but Lao Beifong was incorrigible in his ways. Lin had never told her brother of his daughter's gift, believing that Toph had the sole privilege of that, but she had never spoilt or given the girl any special treatment either.
Against her brother's instruction and her own better judgment, Lin had let Toph go to school on her own, since the place was only a few blocks away, but Toph had failed to return that day, return any of her call, and Lin found her at her school with her hair in that weird young people style. Lin honestly did not care if Toph lived her life normally, like the way girls her age should be; Lin, however, took issue if Toph's action left visible marks on her. Lin could not even begin how she would explain Toph's hair to Lao.
Toph did not care, of course, sitting on her bed, grasping her feet on the bed. She could feel the vibration from living room where her aunt was pacing the room, speaking in hushed voice on the phone. She heard the muffled voice of her father, saying that their flight had been cancelled.
A little respite before she had to be shipped out back to Gaoling, back to her cage, to private tutors and home school. Back to being a helpless little girl. She closed her eyes and plopped down sideways, drifting off to sleep. Trouble for another day, she convinced herself.
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Goldenbell – the Kais' Residence; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 11:43 PM)
Ozai, genius inventor and the CEO of Phoenix King Tech, was proud of his achievement. He was particularly proud of his basement, located under his… basement; he had two basements, one was a regular basement where they stored barrels of wine and preserved food for emergency, and some old furniture, and the second one, accessible through an elevator disguised inside one of those giant barrels with the diameter of two meters, was his crown jewel.
The basement was geared with the latest of technologies, computers, and gadgets, and where he worked on the gears and equipment used by Phoenix, Acro, and Stealth. He kept the existence of the place close to his chest; even Ursa and Zuko, who knew about the basement but not the superheroes he had under his command, were not allowed in the basement.
Azula was nonchalant in her special privilege of entering the basement anytime she wanted. Ozai, when he built the place, had told his family that he would be training Azula to control her power in the basement ("It's safer that way", Ozai had reasoned) and part of the high-tech basement was dedicated into a well-equipped gym, with a partition of bulletproof glass panels between the two halves of the vast room that, in total, was as big as a basketball court.
The lab in the basement was fitted by a large tabletop computer in the middle, surrounded by panels of screen fitted on the surrounding walls, and metal tables that housed numerous scientific equipment. The tabletop computer was capable of holographic projection and, when Ozai entered the room, wearing his reading glasses and reading from his tablet, he found his little girl, still in her day clothes that she was wearing in her birthday party, sleeping on top of it.
Sighing, Ozai took off his glasses and put them away with his tablet on the nearest table. Gently, he carried his daughter up like she was a little girl once more, and moved her to the couch. Halfway there, in a rare wave of sentimentality, he decided to sit down on the couch with his little girl latching onto him, sleeping in his arms.
"I'm tired", Azula muttered, not opening her eyes.
"I know", Ozai held her tighter. "I've called Acro and Stealth. You can take a break tonight."
Azula simply grunted and nuzzled deeper onto her father's chest, gripping the front of his shirt with her small hand; her other hand was holding something in it. Opening her eyes slowly, Azula cast a tired look at it; a small pecan pie made of marble, the birthday present from that boy who, according to Lu Ten, she knew from Fire Nation, from another life.
"Daddy?" she called with a small voice that, much to Ozai's secret pride, she never let out on anyone but him.
"Yes?" Ozai slouched for a more comfortable position, holding his little girl carefully so she would not fall.
"Why did we leave Fire Nation?" Azula asked quietly.
Ozai's jaw hardened but he did not say anything. Quietly, he buried his mouth onto the top of the girl's head and he kissed her there. "Sleep", he said. "And happy birthday", he added, pulling a long wrapped box from the table near him and slipped it onto the girl's lap.
Safe and warm, Azula smiled a little and drifted off to sleep, accompanied by the flood of colors of bright red and sunny gold, and flaring fire that burn them all.
-F-I-R-E-
(Fire Nation, Capital City – Fire Nation Royal Palace; Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 11:53 PM)
The old man was wearing the traditional robe of royalty and his snow white hair was long and tied into a topknot as per the ancient tradition of Fire Nation, and, sitting in a padded chair at the side of a small round table, he eyed the small cube he held in his hand with contempt; his old but sharp aquiline eyes glared at the symbol of a phoenix wearing a flame as a crown on the cube icily.
"Phoenix King", he snarled. "And he has begun to deliberately distribute his products into my nation. That brat has finally grown a spine."
"Oh, hush now", the old lady in an equally elaborate robe of red and gold, sitting at the other side of the table, huffed. "He got it from you. You can't complain."
Still looking upset, the old man threw the cube on the table. A group of servant appeared and entered the room; one was in the middle while two walked a few steps behind him at his right and left, carrying a tray bearing a teapot and empty glasses respectively. They bowed and the one in the middle began preparing the cup, putting three upturned cups on the table and filled the fourth one for the old man.
Done with their work, they bowed once more and began walking backward, still bowing in reverence. The old man though stopped them with one single word. "Wait", he said icily. "Why have you not poured a cup for my Fire Lady?"
Gulping and sweating nervously, the servant in the middle glanced around at his companions. Bowing deeper, he led the two forward and filled a second cup for the Fire Lady. They bowed again and, got out as fast as permitted.
"Insolent peasants", Fire Lord Azulon cursed under his breath.
"Oh, come now", Fire Lady Illah picked up her cup and took a sip. "You know full well why this happen, why you lost your sons and your grandchildren: you lack discipline."
Azulon snorted bitterly and gulped down his cup in one go. He clapped his hands and four figures in dark hooded armor and lynx masks appeared before him, kneeling. Azulon threw the cube to one of them and said. "You know what to do."
The Royal Assassins bowed once and disappeared in a puff of shadow.
Illah, sipping her tea still, jabbed. "This is not going to end well."