Walking into the backyard, I was immediately tackled by Naga, who licked my face, then laid her muzzle on my shoulder as I hugged her neck. I stroked her muzzle then kissed her nose.
"Naga! I missed you so much!" I laughed as she licked me again. She then trotted over to Turk and Jace.
"Runa!" Korra jumped of the porch and ran to hug me. "you've gotten so big!" I laughed, hugging her back, Korra was like my aunt, and I had missed her allot.
"I missed soo much you Korra!"
She laughed, squeezed me again and said, "we all missed you, Lou and Jace always asked if you were ever coming to visit, and they missed having you as a sparring partner. Mako's been having trouble getting Lou to concentrate on lessons without you there. And Jace just won't shut up about how much he missed you." we turned to face Jace, who was playing with Turks ears as Naga lay beside them. Jace herd what his mom said and blushed a little. "he claims to have missed your baking the most." she raised an eyebrow at her son, who turned to pat Naga's back.
"well my cookies are famous!" i laugh.
My mom walked down the porch steps and joined Korra and I.
"that they are" she agreed, hugging me, "I'm very proud of my baby girl."
"mom I'm not a baby!" I look down at the ground embarrassed. My mom giggles, then I hear Jace laugh.
He leads Turk and Naga over to us. My mom turns towards them.
"is this Turk?" she asks, Korra nods, then walks over to pet the cub.
"Turk whats this in your mouth?" she asks, tugging the twisted metal out of his mouth, mom gasps.
"Runa, is that your scooter?" she asks me angrily. I sigh and nod.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I kinda got in an accident." mom looks me over looking for cuts, scrapes, or bruises.
"are you alright? What happened?" she asks.
Jace walks over and squeezes my shoulder, "that's my fault, Turk was kind of excited, because there was so many people, he kinda crashed into Runa, we wrecked her scooter." My mom looks over at Turk, then at Jace.
She sighs, "and your all alright? No ones hurt?" we both nod, then Jace smirks.
"unless you count the cabbages she knocked over when I tried to teach her how to ride" Korra and my mom chuckle.
"so how was practice?" asks Mom.
"yeah how are the Dancing Dragons doing?" asks Korra excitedly.
"we're okay, but our waterbender Rei, quit on us.." I said, Jace nodded.
"but," he continued for me, "they offered me a place on the team, and I practiced with them today, and I really liked it, I told them I'd ask you and dad for permission first" Korra nodded. I looked at her hopefully, I really wanted Jace on our team
Jace looks hopeful too, Korra looks at us.
"as long as it's okay with your dad," she shrugs, "it's okay with me" I jumped up excitedly and Jace hugged me, we laughed. Korra and my mom laughed. My mom seemed to remember something, she placed finger on her chin thoughtfully.
"oh yea! We're having dinner with everyone tonight at that new restaurant, so Runa go get on some nicer clothes"
I looked at my mom, "what? No! My outfit presentable!" I say, fingering my dark purple vest and red shirt.
Mom looked exasperated, "Runa please! Lou's going to be wearing nice clothes! Bolin, Korra and Mako are too! Please just do it!" I sighed and nodded in agreement.
"we'll meet you back her in a half hour, okay? Say goodbye Jace!" Jace waved silently,
I could tell he didn't like "nice" clothing either.
I walked down from my room, in a long sleeved mulberry blouse, black dress pants, my nicest pair of boots (to my mothers dismay)
My mom walked down after me in a pretty black dress, she had tried to get me in a similar one, but I wouldn't touch any dress with a 10 foot pole, unless I HAD too.
My father looked at us adoringly, "my beautiful girls" he sighed then hugged us, he was still in his uniform which was appropriate, according to mom.
I sighed and pulled my dark purple dress jacket off it's hook, it was a bit dusty. I hadn't worn it in awhile. I looked down at my left hand, on my ring finger was my great grandmother Mai's ring my great grandfather Zuko had gotten her, I had gotten it from my grandmother Honora, before she passed. I always wore the ring except during practices, matches and at work (I work at the power plant) I twisted it around my finger nervously.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, "Runa, be a dear and get that" my mom yelled form the kitchen, she and dad were probably making out, ewww. I opened the door hesitantly.
"Runa? Is that you? Your so BIG!" exclaimed Bolin. I put my hands on my hips.
"why does everyone keep saying that? I'm not that big!" Bolin laughed, then hugged me. I hugged him back.
"I missed your attitude most!" he laughed, after Korra, Mako and the twins left for the poles, Bolin had gone on a long trip around the nations with Bumi, avatar Aang's son, i still had no idea what they did but they had just gotten back last week.
"I missed you too, Bolin" I laughed
"so where's the General?" Bolin asked.
"in the kitchen, but he's in there with mom, soo.." I left him t imagine the rest.
I walked onto the front porch and saw Pabu, Bolin's fire ferret stretched out on the railing, I giggled, picked him up gingerly, and hugged in gently.
"hi Pabu! I missed you, little buddy" Pabu made a noise then rubbed his head against my cheek, I stroked his back, and giggled, tickled by his fur.
Bolin walked out and said, "I'd rather not interrupt them, we'll let Korra and my brother do that" he winked and I laughed.
"UNCLE BOLIN!" I laugh as Lou jumps over the railing and lands on Bolin. She hugs him, "I missed you so so so so sooooo, much!" Jace walks up the steps and chuckles.
"nice to see you again, Uncle Bolin" he sits up on the railing, "what's up, Runa?"
"oh nothing much just, waiting for you guys, and being bored and all" I twist my ring on my finger nervously.
I hear Jace move and suddenly he's in front of me, tipping my head up with a finger.
"your hair, it's...different" he brushes a few strands behind my ear.
"umm, y-yeah, mom tried to straighten it." I stuttered, more nervous than before, why? I don't know. He looked at me strangely.
"I like it, it's Not as wild in a braid" he gently tugged my braid and smiled. My nerves melted away when he smiled. I smiled back. He looked like he wanted to say more but Lou interrupted.
"oh my spirits! RUNA!" Lou exclaimed hugging me tightly. I look at Jace but he just smiles sweetly and turns to his uncle.
"Lou, I missed you!" I hug her back, giving her my full attention.
"I missed you too, Rue! We always wanted you to visit! And lessons are boring without you! Also Jace wouldn't shut up about you! 5 YEARS, Runa, five years apart, I thought I'd die without you!" Lou tended to chatter, but it was fine with me, I was glad to listen, I had missed her so much.
"I know, 5 years! How did I survive?" I asked jokingly. Lou laughed.
"MAGIC!" she exclaims, "or aliens"
"Definitely aliens" says Korra walking up the steps, Mako just behind her. When she reaches us she smiles and hugs us. "it's nice to see you two together again! I can feel it, the world's balanced once again" she jokes Mako nods and hugs me quickly.
"it's nice to see you again, maybe now the twins'll shut up for awhile"
Lou laughed, "never" she jumps up on the rail balancing like a tight top walker.
"be careful, Lou" Mako warned, shaking his head. Korra snickers, and pushes him through the front door. Lou sits on the rail and I join her.
"Ohh did Jace tell you what dad said? About the probending team?"
"no, he didn't, what'd he say?" I ask excitedly.
Lou starts but Jace interrupts her, "LOU! You promised you'd let ME tell her! It doesn't concern you anyway" he crosses his arms over his chest.
Lou drums her fingers on the rail.
"well, then when were you going to tell her? You should've already" I looked back from Lou to Jace, they sure knew how to push each other's buttons. But I also knew what was really bothering them, they always used to fight over my attention, now it was just starting up again.
"I was going to tell her before, but you interrupted me!" I hopped off the rail pressing a hand to his chest, he calmed down a little, and shook his head. I gave him a look. He sighed, "I'm sorry Lou"
Lou nodded, "you were right, I doesn't concern me, I shouldn't have tried to tell her before you" she jumped of the rail, squeezed his shoulder, then went to talk with Bolin, chuckling as she went. I look at Jace expectantly, he catches my gaze,
"what?"
"oh you know what!" I lightly punch his arm, "what do your dad say?" Jace laughs, I push him play fully, "come on ,Jace! Spit it out!"
"he said yes!" Jace exclaims, I jump up and down happily.
YAY! now we don't have to cancel our match next week!" I jumped up and hugged him tightly, he hugged me back laughing.
"I'm glad your so happy! Hey, and I get to be your sparring partner again!"
"yup! Just like the old days, I missed sparring with you, your much more fun than Kai"
"i bet" he pulls back and smiles at me, I swear his smile could stop traffic. My legs started to feel like Jell-O.
Jace dips his head and kisses my cheek, he pulls away and smiles.
"hello everyone, sorry we made you wait" my mom exits the house followed by my dad, Korra, and Mako. My dad sees us and gives us a look, Jace blushes and I feel a blush spread across my cheeks as well. We break apart, embarrassed.
I hear Lou giggling and I whip around to give her a look.
"okay kiddies let's get to it" Korra says racing down the steps, tailed by a nervous Mako.
We decided to take the Polar bear dogs and my mom's small satomobile to the restaurant, Jace assured me that Turk could handle the weight if Lou, him and I. We were well on our way, when Lou and I started to small talk.
She told me about a boy she had a thing with up at the poles, she also asked me if I had had any boyfriends since they left.
"umm no, boys don't usually ask me out or anything" I look at Jace quickly then back at my feet. Lou laughs.. I look at her, puzzled.
"really? Because I met up with some of my friends this afternoon, and they said a majority of the boys in class are head over heels for you!" I blush furiously and duck my head in embarrassment.
"well, I've never been asked out or anything!" I counter, Lou snorts.
"well I heard you get quite the amount of anonymous love letters" I blush even more
"don't believe everything you hear, Lou, besides I burn most of the ones I do get"
Lou pouts, "poor boys, head over heels for a girl who burns their letters, and their hearts" I kick her. "OW! Runa" she rubs her knee.
"suck it up, I'm done with this topic"
Lou laughs, "Do just not want to date," she smiles wickedly, "or have you been waiting for someone" she whispers, looking at her brother implyingly.
I make a displeased sound, "you sound like my mom, Lou, spirits, just drop it" she gives me a we'll talk later look, I shake my head and scoot closer to Jace.
He gives me a look, "getting grilled by Lou?" I nod, he chuckles. "don't worry just play dead and she'll get bored and leave you alone." Lou throws a brown bag she found at his head. "ow" Jace complains, I pick up the bag.
"what's this?" I shake the bag, sniffing it cautiously, I smells like sugar and butter cream. "wait are these some of my cookies?!" I ask, Jace nods bashfully.
"my mom asked your mom for some earlier, so I could have them" I laugh
"you could've asked for me to bake fresh ones! These ones are about a week old!"
"I don't know, week old cookies are pretty good" Jace laughs.
"JACE! stop! We're here!" Lou yells. Jace jerks the rein-thingys back and Turk stops, making an annoyed sound.
"sorry buddy, I wasn't paying attention" Jace pats Turks neck. I jump off, and pat Turk's side.
When Lou try's to slide off Turk's back, she slips landing on her butt. I laugh, but stick out a hand fir her to grab.
"smooth Lou, real smooth" Jace jumps down, laughing as Lou brushes dirt off skirt. I tug her extremely long ponytail, realizing a could of dirt, Jace waves a hand in front of his face.
"jeez Lou, what'd you do? Roll around a bit after ya fell?" Lou shot us a look, shooting up a little ball if fire and looking at Jace threateningly.
"hey, where's everybody?" I ask already distracted. Lou and Jace turn to examine the parking lot with me.
"maybe they already went in?" Lou shrugs.
I sigh, "let's wait" I say, Turk lays down, head on paws, and I go lean against his side, Jace joins me and Lou huffs, then twirls around and sits in the grass.-
Not more than 10 minutes later Naga came trotting up the street with Korra and Mako and Bolin on her back. Followed by my parents in the satomobile.
"Mom!" called Jace, running over to meet them, Turk got up and nudged me towards his mom, then followed me.
Lou ran up to scold the adults, "where were you guys?! We've been waiting FORVER!" I snorted
"more like 10 minutes, Lou"
she waved her hand at me, "whatever," Jace helps my mother off Naga, then turns to me,
"I'm STARVING!" he exclaims, draping an arm over my shoulders,
"me too! Let's go eat!" I giggle.
- About a hour later-
mom must have noticed how bored Jace, Lou and I looked (not Lou really), because she said, "Jace, Runa, Lou, why don't you go for a walk or something, while we finish up?" I shot right out of my seat, followed by Jace. I picked up my jacket, and Jace took my arm, I giggled, which earned a look from Dad, Jace and I had been CASUALLY flirting all throughout the meal and it started to bug my dad about 10 minutes into dinner. We started to walk away, Followed by a annoyed Lou.
"thanks mom" I called back,
"be back in a hour" she called I nodded and we walked out of the restaurant.