Chapter 9 – Homecoming
Disclaimer: I own nothing
(Republic City, Tosako – the United Nations Academy; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 11:23 AM)
Haru's green coupe entered the parking lot and stopped at a parking space. He and Suki stepped out. Haru was carrying a coat hanger with his suit on it, and he looked slightly unhappy. "I'll see you later, cuz?" Suki grinned rather guiltily.
Haru just grunted, throwing her his keys.
A silver SUV arrived shortly after, stopping at the Jasmine Dragon across the street. Gyatso and Aang stepped out. "I'll be in the teashop when you are ready to go home, Aang", Gyatso said cheerfully. "Iroh and I have a lot to talk about."
Grinning widely, Aang waved his goodbye and ran across the street. Though the Air Nomad boy was wearing his dark red bandana, covering the tattoo on his forehead, and a bright orange jacket with the picture of banana on the back, he was wearing Bermuda jeans and the blue lines on his legs were visible.
Aang chuckled to himself as he remembered how his empathic power had led him to Toph at day 1. He had thought it was because Toph was blind and she would not be bothered by his tattoo. When Katara had managed to persuade Aang to be less self-conscious about his tattoo, he had to admit that it had been quite awkward in the first few days. Many people stared and there was a school bully who made him his target.
Toph had beaten them all up.
All in all, his new life in Republic City had been good. He had made tons of good friends at school, at Master Piandao's, and among the heroes. Most Air Nomad still clung to their monastic ways and most of them who domiciled in Republic City lived in the Air Temple Island, under the care of Abbot Tenzin. There, the monks received spiritual and martial training of their culture, and they were homeschooled.
Aang knew Gyatso still kept contact with the Air Temples, by extension, Abbot Tenzin, despite the fact that the senior monk had resumed his secular life since the slaughter of his people in the Southern Air Temple. However, Aang also knew that Gyatso had not abandoned his Air Nomad ways; the senior monk still refused to grow his hair, although he had shed off his monk robes, and it was Gyatso who awarded Aang his tattoos during their vagabond days after he declared he had nothing left to teach Aang.
—BOOM—
A cloud of smoke appeared from afar, following the explosion. Aang looked around; pedestrians and students and guests who lingered outside and around the school had stopped and were looking at the direction of the smoke, pointing and murmuring, taking shots with their cellphones.
Aang took the advantage of their distracted attention to run, normally run, to the security post at the gate of the Academy; the security guard had come out of the post, calling the police with his cellphone. After successfully sneaking inside, he tapped into his power, feeling the world slowing down around him, and changed into his uniform that he carried in his bags.
Arrow Boy sped out of the post, hiding his bag in a nearby bush, and ran towards the direction of the smoke; he ran across a bully sticking up a geekish boy, and mischievously freed the geek's collar from the bully's grip and set up the geek behind the bully where, as time normalized for the two, the geek gave the bully the most painful wedgie ever. For good measure, he picked up littered trash too and stuffed them in the shirt of a boy who was in the middle of throwing away a sandwich wrap.
Arrow Boy was already halfway when the bully screamed a wonderful soprano at the hand of the bewildered geek, who grinned guiltily at the downed bully, and the confused look of the young man with a bunch of trash spilling down his shirt, and the laughter he suffered at the hands of nearby people.
The building that was caught on fire, Arrow Boy recognized it as a clothing store run by a nice Earth Kingdom lady. Gyatso had brought him there once on their way home from Aang's first day visiting the Academy before the orientation; they had purchased the bandana he was still wearing there, along with a warm coat for Gyatso. The flame was big and some citizens were around it, at a safe distance, holding on to the Earth Kingdom lady who was positively bawling, crying out a girl's name, and being held back by the citizens.
Arrow Boy sped inside the burning building and did a quick exploratory, finding a little crying girl in her room upstairs, curling in the corner of the room. "Hello", Arrow boy grinned, making it as real as possible so that his smile would reach his eyes; the girl could not see his mouth anyway. "It's okay, everything's gonna be okay", Arrow Boy reassured the girl, crouching down and picking her up in his protective arms. "What's your name?"
The little girl looked up to him and sniffed. "M-mey", she hiccupped.
"Alright, Mey", Arrow Boy tried to sound cheery and steady. "Close your eyes now", he said, embracing the girl tighter. Arrow Boy felt the crack under his feet and decided to press the girl's head onto his chest, and sped ahead. Arrow Boy dodged the licks of flame and exited the establishment, aiming straight for the Earth Kingdom lady.
The Earth Kingdom lady was surprised indeed when she suddenly found her daughter and a strange boy in yellow and orange garb in front of her. "Mey!" she exclaimed and hugged her child.
"Is there anyone else?" Arrow Boy asked quickly.
Mey's eyes widened and she suddenly screamed. "My little sister!"
Without hesitation, Arrow Boy tapped into his power and raced back in. Two steps past the threshold, he was blasted back by a sudden explosion from inside. Arrow Boy grunted as he landed harshly in front of the building; his gray eyes went wide as he saw part of the building crumbling and falling towards him.
A blast of frost hit the crumbling wall and held it in place, buying him enough time to superspeed away. Arrow Boy stopped by the Painted Lady for a moment, chirping. "I owe you one", before he reentered the building and explored the empty second floor. He could not find the little sister anywhere.
"Where are you…?" Arrow Boy muttered, wiping his sweaty forehead. He supersped and explored the whole floor once again more carefully.
Then, his commlink buzzed. "Bzztt… Aang! There's no little sister!" the Painted Lady said urgently. "It's a doll!"
Arrow Boy stopped and was caught between a gawk and a facepalm. He reentered Mey's room and snatched the only doll he could find; a slightly singed Barbie doll. Arrow Boy exited the burning building and stopped right in front of Mey who squealed and leaped into his arms, and the appreciative applause from the citizens.
Grinning, he waved a little at them. The citizens then moved closer to him and Painted Lady, ready with their adoration. "Umm… Aang?" Painted Lady laughed nervously, eyes fixed on the mob. Understanding the situation, Arrow Boy tapped into his powers and the world slowed down again. He picked up Painted Lady, bridal style, and sped ahead, making a run for it.
For a second, the Painted Lady was wary about the mob, considering her rather minimalist disguise; the next second, she was off his feet and staring at the ceiling of Iroh's apartment. "Whoa!" she exclaimed, instinctively jolting herself. Almost falling, she gripped tighter onto Arrow Boy. "You are… surprisingly strong", Painted Lady said to the boy who was smaller, shorter, and two years younger than her.
Arrow Boy laughed nervously, wisely opting against the honest response of. "You are surprisingly heavy."
-W-A-T-E-R-
Heroes of the Republic City
-W-A-T-E-R-
(Republic City, Tosako – the United Nations Academy; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 01:22 PM)
"I don't know", Katara washed her hands on the sink in the bathroom. "Aang's pretty cute."
"You should totally ask him out", Suki giggled. "He's a freshman, so I think it's okay for you to ask him out."
"You do realize that he and Toph have been spending a lot of time together, right?" Katara asked the other girl dryly, freezing the water on her hands with her power and dusted it off like powder.
"I thought it's because Toph's… you know", Suki waved her hand in front of her eyes awkwardly. "Aang's basically a bodyguard. Or a guard dog. A cute Chihuahua guard dog."
Katara laughed.
"Anyway, Toph said she won't be coming to the homecoming", Suki shrugged. "Something about house arrest. Her parents are finally coming to town."
The bathroom door opened and Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee walked in. Naturally, Azula turned on her heels and tried to run away; Mai and Ty Le caught her and pushed her back in, Suki made a grab for Katara who tried to flee into a bathroom stall.
"Stop it, you two!" Ty Lee stomped her foot down. "You two need to talk."
"Alright", Azula straightened up, regaining her prideful look. "Mai, how are you doing this fine day?"
Mai simply looked at her.
"You two used to be so close", Suki sighed. "Now, you two barely talk to each other. None of you are leaving this bathroom until you fix things up", she declared before she, Mai, and Ty Lee exited the bathroom and locked the door behind them; Mai had somehow acquired the key.
Azula and Katara could barely look at each other.
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Qing Yang District – Deep Forest Industry Compound; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 01:26 PM)
The Fire Nation boy gasped sharply, surprising Teo, the Boulder, and the three scientists who were Teo's assistants, all of who were only inches away from his face. His amber eyes turned to their multicolor ones. "What's up?" he asked with mouth still full of fries.
"You just… froze", Teo said slowly.
The Fire Nation boy waved it off and resumed his eating. "Don't worry about it", he said. "Just a little condition I have."
They kept staring at him.
"So…" he chewed slowly. "How did the testing go?"
Suddenly, Teo and the scientists sprung to life. "Well, it worked with rubber bullets", Teo said.
The Boulder grinned. "The Boulder felt absolutely nothing", he said proudly, pounding his broad chest.
"Autumn is coming", Teo added. "We're going to need to move indoors, due to the rain", Teo said. "But, we don't have any devices for the walls in any of our indoors facilities."
"Just put up a tent to cover the equipment", the Fire Nation boy took another bite of his sandwich, then he turned to the Boulder. "It'd be good to see if rain and cold weather could disrupt your power. Or have you any experience in this area?"
The Boulder scratched his head. "Not that I know of."
"Aha!" Teo pulled out a jar; a piece of paper with a cartoony face of the Boulder was stuck on it and it contained several bills and coins.
The Boulder facepalmed and reached for his back pocket; then again, he was wearing his rubbery suit and his wallet was in his locker. The Fire Nation boy pulled out his wallet and gave it to Teo. "I'll take it out of your salary", he grinned at the Boulder while Teo took out a five yuans bill to add to the ever-growing content of the jar.
-R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C-
(Republic City, Central Plain District – the Satos' Mansion; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 01:27 PM)
Central Plains District, despite the name, was located in the northeast part of the Republic City, and it was a large area that could be its own city. The District had been a very profitable real estate project by the City where they provided a lush green area, where the richest had purchased part of the land and built their luxurious estates, separated from the rest of the populace.
Satos' Mansion was a large establishment, built in the unique baroque architectural design of Republic City's origin, and Hiroshi Sato was quite pleased with his dwelling. The Satos used to live in the Goldenbell, but since the incident that cost them his wife's life, Hiroshi had relocated to Central Plains although he still retained ownership to his old house.
He knew that at the anniversary of his wife's death, Asami snuck into the house and placed flowers at the spot where his wife had died. Hiroshi never talked to Asami about it. No, there were a lot of things Asami would never know.
She smiled as she buttoned the last on his suit. "There you go", Asami stood up. "You look handsome, Daddy. Are you going with someone to the homecoming?"
Hiroshi chuckled. "I am too old for the romance game, honey", he ran his finger through his hair, the part where gray had trumped the dark.
"Don't be silly", Asami smiled kindly, helping her father with his tie. "I'm sure there are a lot of nice middle-aged lady out there, looking forward to the homecoming with a man like you."
Hiroshi laughed. "Speaking of men…"
"Yes, Daddy", Asami sighed but still smiling. "I am going with someone. And no, I do not want to take the limo", she added rather sharply.
"How are you going to the homecoming then?" Hiroshi asked incredulously.
"In a van, believe it or not", Asami chuckled. "He waits table at the teashop across the street from the Academy and his boss lends him the van for the night."
"I shall very much like to meet this boy", Hiroshi said as Asami finished with his tie and moved behind him so he could see himself in the tall mirror.
"Alright, but be nice", Asami said, resting her chin on her father's shoulder. "I have to go get ready. The new satomobile racer report is ready on your desk", she pecked the man's cheek.
"You're a godsend", Hiroshi smiled and meant it, watching his daughter exiting his study on the mirror.
Hiroshi Sato got up and moved to his desk. There was a small table ornament, a bust of himself that Asami had commissioned as his birthday gift five years ago; only Hiroshi had made a major change on the bust. He pushed the forehead of the bust, flipping the top half open. There was a red button and he pressed it.
The blinds of his windows slid down, his door and windows locked themselves, and, above the fireplace, the large painting of Makapu Mountain slipped up, revealing a large screen behind it. The screen blinked and a dark silhouette of a hooded man in a dark room appeared.
"I trust everything is in order", the silhouette began.
"Yes", Hiroshi said.
"Good", the silhouette said. "Varrick has proven himself to be a liability. Measures will be taken to remove him… permanently", the silhouette said icily. "I trust your loyalty will not be an issue. I'd hate to see a particular tragedy repeat itself on another female member of your family."
Hiroshi gripped his fist. "Whatever business you have is with me!" he roared at the screen. "You leave my daughter out of this!"
"I will", the silhouette said calmly. "If you make yourself useful."
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Tosako – the United Nations Academy; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 01:32 PM)
Azula did not like awkwardness. She loved awkwardness when it happens to other people, as she always found it so entertaining, but when awkwardness happened to her, she did not like it. There she was, chewing her lip, standing in front of the mirror with Katara by her side.
It was awkward.
As usual, Katara was the first to crack. "How did I not know that you are Phoenix?!"
"Well…" Azula tugged on one of the two flocks of hair framing the side of her face. "We always do out superhero duties at night—"
"It was rhetorical!" Katara snapped.
"Why ask if you don't want answer?" Azula asked dryly. "And what about you?! You never told me you were a metahuman!"
"Yeah?! You never told me you were one too!"
"That's because I'm Phoenix! How many girls you know can shoot blue flame out of her fingertips?!"
Both girls were panting, red around the face, with anger.
Then, as usual, Katara relented first. "Don't you trust me?" she asked quietly.
Azula's jaw hardened for a second. "What's your excuse?" she said, almost growly.
Katara nearly flinched. She turned to the mirror and kept her eyes gazing at the reflection of her mother's chocker. "Ten years ago, some men broke into our house in the South Pole", she began, a single hot tear dropped. "Armed men", she gripped her fists and frost began to form where she made contact with the sink and drops of water around her froze. "They killed my mother", she finished, feeling the old anger and hate, and the slight but very welcomed feeling of… lightness, as she unloaded her burden on Azula.
Azula did not know what to say; she preferred to deal with logic. This touchy-feely stuff was far from being her expertise and she had never been accused of being emotional.
"My dad…" she began but her voice cracked; clearing her throat, she tried again. "When I was a kid, my parents said my power went out of control and I burnt my dad and a bunch of other people", she said. "I don't remember myself… I don't remember anything about Fire Nation", she said, summoning an unburning flame on her palm. "They never said it out loud, but I think the reason why we left Fire Nation, is because of that", she balled her hand, extinguishing her flame. "I suppose, they don't want anyone to know just in case my power gets out of control again. It will be much easier for us to move again."
"Don't say that", Katara muttered. "I've seen you in action. I think you can control your flame pretty well. I mean, you can hit people with it without harming them."
"True", Azula replied coolly. "But who can say what's gonna happen in the future", she exhaled loudly.
"It's gonna be okay", Katara moved to her and embraced her shoulder. "I'm sorry."
Azula swallowed hard and dragged those words out. "Me too."
They turned to each other and embraced.
Five seconds later… "Katara?"
"Yeah?"
"I have to pee."
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Dragon Flats Borough – Manawe Park; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 03:25 PM)
The Blue Spirit dashed and dodged the throwing knives; his opponent, a man in dark tactical suit and the mask of a lynx, pulled out his ninjato and clashed with the Blue Spirit's blades. They pushed each other away, none losing footing, and clashed again. Nearby, the Dark One leaped backward and landed gracefully in a crouch; he pushed himself to the side with his feet and threw a single throwing knife at another man in tactical suit that evaded his throwing knife with a simple jerk of his head. The knife embedded itself on a lamppost a few feet behind the man and exploded. The lamppost fell down and hit the man on the head.
Grinning, the Dark One pulled out his gun and fired at two more who rushed towards him; the two men dodged the red plasma bolts and began firing back with their handguns which contains real bullets. Calmly, the Dark One pulled one foot back and repositioned himself ever so slightly that the bullets sailed past him. He dashed sideways and began zigzagging towards the men who kept firing and missing.
The Dark One lunged at the nearest one with an uppercut, sending him flying; the other one moved for close-quarter with a knife to support his gun. The Dark One evaded the slash of the knife, held up an arm to deflect the man's arm that fired his gun at him, and launched a side kick that scored the man's chest. He caught the man's arm as he staggered backward, the one with the gun-wielding hand, and twisted it by the wrist hard, disarming the man. The man wrenched his arm free and came at the Dark One with a thrust of his knife; the Dark one stepped into his attack, bumping his shoulder on the man's chest, catching his arm, and launching the man over his shoulder with a judo slam.
The man fell hard on his back, having the breath knocked out of him. The Dark One finished with a punch on his face, knocking him out. The Blue Spirit, having finished with his opponent earlier, walked to the Dark One, sheathing his dial saber.
All around the two heroes, about two dozens of unconscious men in dark tactical suits were lying around, all unconscious.
Fifteen minutes later, the two vigilantes were standing on the roof of a building nearby, watching the cops arresting those men in dark suits. The Blue Spirit stood like a sentinel, arms crossed, not saying a word; the Dark One half-sat on the railing, reloading his gun. The Dark One carried at least three guns with him. His main gun, the one he was reloading, he carried holstered to his front waist; it had the shape and look that were similar to a flintlock pistol with futuristic touch, with curve back and long barrel, and he was loading bullets of red plasma crystals into the opening on the barrel, above the trigger. The two guns he had strapped on his thighs had the appearance of a futuristic gun with extra part in front of the trigger, making them look like boxes.
The Dark One finished with his gun and holstered it back. "You are still worried?" he asked the Blue Spirit who remained impassive. "About Azula?"
The Blue Spirit did not respond.
"Then stay", the Dark One said simply. "Stay and help us. You can keep an eye on her personally."
The Blue Spirit's arms fell. He turned back and walked to the other end of the rooftop. The Dark One's calling him stopped him. "She will be alright", he said reassuringly. "You won't be; you'll die", the Dark One stood up and shrugged. "But, then again, so will I."
The Blue Spirit turned his head a fraction.
"Azula will be alright", the Dark One smiled genuinely. "It's a possibility, yes, but it's one of those that shines so very brightly, it trumps all other possibilities. I promise you that."
With that, the Blue Spirit nodded a little and jumped off the building.
-A-I-R-
(Republic City, Tosako – the United Nations Academy; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 03:58 PM)
Aang tugged on his collar a bit, gray eyes fixed on his target: the girl with tanned skin and brown hair, looking very pretty in her blue frilly blouse and jean shorts, with that crinkle on her blues eyes as the sunlight fell upon her and she laughed at whatever it was Suki was telling her.
Aang had to admit, Katara was… very attractive. He had begun to think that the attraction he felt when he first laid eyes on her in that classroom during orientation had nothing to do with his empathic power at all.
Gulping, Aang instinctively tugged on his collar again…
-0-0-few minutes ago-0-0-
Aang was at his locker, piling up the relatively empty space with his new books. He also put in a Frisbee and stuck a picture of a group of Air Nomad monks on the door. Smiling at the photographs of his old life and old friends and mentors, Aang closed the door… and came face to face with Azula.
Aang yelped like a little girl.
"You still find me scary?"
He somehow knew Azula did not mean for that to be rhetorical.
"Umm… yes?" …very much so.
"Good", Azula simply said before he grabbed the boy by the scruff of his collar and, with surprising strength, stuff him in his locker and locked the door.
"Heeeeeyyy! Lemme outttt!" Aang banged on the door, feeling quite claustrophobic.
"I'll let you out if you ask Katara to homecoming dance", Azula bargained, leaning on the locker while checking her fingernails.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Aang took in a deep breath (deeper than normal people would since he did have larger than average lung capacity, which was part of his mutation) and strode to the group of girls (Katara, Suki, Ty Lee, a girl who was a freshman like him, and three other girls Aang did not recognize). It would be super embarrassing, he knew, but part of Azula's deal was that he had to do that in public.
"…or else…" Azula could sound very very scary if she wanted to.
Finally, he arrived. His raised a shaky hand and tapped Katara on the shoulder. "K-katara?"
Katara turned to him. "Oh, hi, Aang", she greeted brightly. "You're coming to the homecoming dance, right? Suki's Aunt runs a catering business and she's taking care of the dessert. We're gonna have Ba Sing Se egg custard! You'd love it."
"Uh… haha… yeah, about that", Aang laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck and seemed to have shrunken. "Umm…"
"Are you alright?" Katara frowned. "You're sweating and pale", with all the good intention of the mother hen that she was, Katara pressed the back of her hand on the boy's forehead, turning his pale face crimson so fast.
Aang decided to just go for it… by practically screaming. "WOULD YOU GO TO THE HOMECOMING DANCE WITH ME?!"
Naturally, Katara flinched. And the other students lingering around the hallway sniggered.
Katara, however, smiled kindly at the boy who wished he could disappeared right now (which he, with his superspeed, practically could). "Of course I'd go to the homecoming dance with you", she said. "Pick me up at Jasmine Dragon at six? I have to be at school before seven since I'm with the committee."
Aang's wide-opened mouth curved. "Sure!" he beamed.
The hallway broke into a slow but appreciative applause.
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Jawwa District – Abandoned Wang King Paint Factory; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 04:12 PM)
Taking cover behind a metal control panel that used to operate the giant machine that poured paint into the cans, Probationary Detective Takamichi Mori reloaded his Glock. Upon his acceptance to the RCPD, Taka was issued a Glock, like June, who was also taking cover beside her, was. He himself preferred an M1911, which was his sidearm of choice during his active days with the Yu Yan, and still it was part of his arsenal as a member of the Black Rider. The shorter barrel and stockier built of a Glock made his shot felt… duller to him.
"You look nervous", June chirped almost happily, sitting with her back on the console and patting Nyla's head. Like him, she also wore a body armor over her outfit, black and with a yellow RCPD on the back and chest.
"No, not at all", Taka tried to peek over their cover but the rain of bullets renewed itself. "Just another day at the office. Have I told you that, one time, I was blown up? I mean, literally blown up! C4 planted in our camp and I was caught in the explosion."
"Oh, yeah", June frowned. "I keep forgetting that you used to be a soldier."
"Well, sniper", Taka shrugged, waiting for the shooting to let up. "Didn't get shot at as much as you think, but still…"
The sound of bullets pinging off metal stopped, prompting the two cops to disperse and go two different directions; June and Nyla moved to the left and took cover behind a steel cart while Taka leaped over a conveyor and ran behind a forklift. The rain of bullets came again, only this time, it spread from side to side, forcing Taka and June to get low.
Turning to Taka, June made some hand gesture; a thumb jabbing at the direction of the target, finger pointing Taka, her index finger shot out, then she pointed at herself, and her index and middle finger shot up. Taka nodded as he understood the hand sign; he was to provide covering fire and June would take the target down.
The large obese trafficker was aimed with an AK-47 though -well, several of them- and endless supply of ammo it seemed.
Still, waiting for the pause in between him dropping his empty rifle and picking up new loaded one from the crate near him, Taka steeled himself. As the shooting stopped, he emerged from his hiding place and fired slow but steady series of shots that hit the cover where the criminal was hiding, forcing him on the defensive. Taka counted his shots as he stepped out and moved to another cover ahead slowly.
…*bang*… 14… *bang*…15… *bang*…16… *bang*…17! And he was out.
Taka quickly ran ahead to the steel pillar that he had been eying earlier, hastily reloading his gun behind it. He heard the sound of slow even shooting like he had done earlier from June's direction and wondered if he had misread June's signs, although, admittedly, June was already far ahead of him.
An angry beastly roar echoed inside the abandoned building, followed by the scream of pain. Taka quickly emerged from his hiding place, noticing June had done the same, and together they dashed towards the criminal while still keeping low just in case they got shot at again.
Behind a steel cart that was carrying a crate of illegal rifles and that ran on a rail, the large man was struggling with Nyla with the latter winning. June whistled and Nyla retreated, still growling and baring her row of sharp fangs. Panting, the large man raised his arms above his face, still recoiling from the fight with the Doberman.
Taka grinned. "When someone said you're under arrest…" he kicked the man's side hard, forcing the man to roll to his stomach. "…you surrender quietly", he stored his gun and handcuffed the large man while June called for backup.
With quite a struggle, he hauled the obese man up. Turning to his partner, Taka grinned. "Nice job, girl."
June smirked and said. "Thanks", while Nyla barked once.
Few minutes later, they found themselves outside the perimeter of the factory where half a dozen cop cruisers had come and secured the area, putting on yellow tapes. Leaning on their SUV bumper, Taka watched Jee and Chit Sang coordinating the cops in the factory. Nyla ran up to him and jumped a little, pushing his leg with her front paws as a greeting. Taka noticed the strong womanly floral scent that he would one day learn to be black orchid, and saw June's shadow falling on the ground in front of him before he noticed the girl's presence.
"You did a good job", June said, handing Taka a bottle of water. "You know, despite being a rookie to a real gunfight."
"You've been in a lot?" Taka asked, watching June taking off her armor and silently admiring her curves under her very flattering black sleeveless blouse.
"I've been in some", June hummed, climbing on top of the SUV's hood and sat there; she then lifted the hemp of her blouse and showed Taka her side. "I got this few months ago", she said, rubbing and pulling the skin near the gunshot scar. "Nasty guy with a revolver caught me off guard."
Taka liked what he saw; not the scar, but June's taut stomach.
"I hate that snub-nosed revolver", June griped, stretching her arms. "So small, you can never know if someone is concealing it when they pretended to surrender to you."
Taka sniggered, taking a sip of his water. "Then you won't like what I have on my ankle holster", he grinned. "Although, if you're into scars, you might like what you see when I take off my shirt. Have I told you that, one time, I was run over by a tank?"
June chuckled. "Psh, yeah…"
"I'm serious", Taka said. "I have the scar to prove it."
June smirked. "Prove it."
Taka, had already taken off his armor and now was in his shirt, unbuttoned the top button. "I'll prove it."
"Go ahead", challenged June.
"I'll do it."
"Okay."
"I'll strip right here!"
"Go for it."
Taka relented. "Yeah… let's keep this partnership PG-13 for now, shall we?"
June laughed and ruffled his hair.
-W-A-T-E-R-
(Republic City, Tosako – Jasmine Dragon Teashop, Team Avatar HQ; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 05:32 PM)
Aang and Sokka were already there, each in their rented suit. On Ji, with her glasses on, still in her T shirt and jeans, was happily typing away on the console with Song by her side, also in her daily clothes of T shirt under a thin purple jacket and a pair of trainers, reading a thick book silently, and quickly, flipping page after page as if she was merely skimming through them.
The elevator door slid open and in walked Mako and Bolin, looking sharp with oiled hair and tailored suits, courtesy of Asami, who looked nothing short of gorgeous in her maroon Eastern Fire Nation (or Western Earth Kingdom, depending on who you ask) sleeveless cheongsam dress, with her wavy hair adorned so tastefully by a single golden leaf hairpin that held the side of her hair. Mako was wearing his red scarf, tucked inside his suit.
"He-hey!" Sokka wolf whistled. "Looking good there."
"Why, thank you, Sokka", Bolin gracefully accepted the praise.
"Uh…"
The elevator slid open again and the girls came in; Ty Lee and her very flattering pink dress linked her arms with a sour looking Mai, her hair down for once, wearing a long wine red dress, and Suki, grinning wide at Sokka, looking pretty and sunny in her bright yellow dress. Behind them, Azula was positively sulking, despite wearing her red dress, walking by Katara who was in her frilly blue dress. Both girls had their hair done (by Ursa); Azula had her hair partially tied in a ponytail, and Katara's brown was bunched in an elegant bun. Azula had fought valiantly against her mother and had won some ground, in which she, unlike Katara, was wearing very little makeup. Not that she needed it, Asami had to admit. She had seen Azula before, although never had the pleasure of being her acquaintance, both were part of the high society, and she had seen Azula in this formal shell before.
"H-hi…" Aang's mouth felt dry all of a sudden as Katara approached her.
"Hi—", Katara began but Azula (not so) subtly nudged her towards Aang; scowling a little at the girl, Katara tried again with Aang. "Hi, Aang", she smiled. "You look handsome", she said, rubbing Aang's brow with her thumb.
Sokka, upon seeing his little sister and Aang, having been told by Suki of how Aang had asked Katara to the dance, stood up from his seat and began approaching the two. He had planned to give the traditional big brother's 'you better treat her well or else' speech. Unluckily for him, Azula caught on to him. Azula had been a rather odd friend of the Waters siblings since they were little kids and she knew Sokka well enough to know how his mind worked. A faithful wingwoman that she was, she strode purposefully to Sokka, grateful for her flat strapped sandals, and intercepted the big brother, pulling him away by the ear.
The elevator door slid open the third time and the Fire Nation boy walked in, accompanied by the Dark One. The Fire Nation boy, much to their surprise, looked pretty casual despite his suit. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top and he was not wearing a tie, and his hair was as messy as always.
"Well, Team", he began, smiling at the lot. "I have good news, he has bad news", he titled his head at the Dark One. "Good news is, you girls are looking good", he grinned; Ty Lee, Suki, and Katara went 'awwww' at his remark.
"The bad news is…" the Dark One sounded somber, even with his voice masking device. "…the Blue Spirit is off the team."
The Team did not respond… at all.
"You guys are taking it well", the Fire Nation boy chuckled, raising his left arm a little; still kinda pouty, Azula grabbed his arm by the bend of his elbow. "The Blue Spirit will still assist, maybe, of freelance capacity. Now, if you'll excuse me, me and my date have to talk to the Principal before the dance. And you, young lady!" he aimed the last part at On Ji. "Why are you not in your dress?"
"Ng…" On Ji swiveled a little in her chair. "I'm… not feeling good?"
"Take an aspirin", the Fire Nation boy said flatly. "I've prepared a dress and a makeup crew for you upstairs. Go."
"But… but…"
"Go."
Groaning like a spoilt child, On Ji got up and dragged her feet to the elevator, followed by the Fire Nation boy and Azula. Inside the elevator, Azula asked. "How come you get to order her around like that?"
The Fire Nation boy simply shrugged. "I'm her uncle."
In the HQ, Sokka was happily inspecting the Dark One's weapons. "Wooww…why is this one bigger?" he asked excitedly, holding the Dark One's main gun.
"It fires plasma bullets", the Dark One said. "It packs more punch but requires the bullet to be individually loaded, only holds eight shots", he pulled out one his sidearm strapped to his thigh, the 'box gun'. "Now, this is an improved version… ish", he took out the magazine from the compartment and handed it to Sokka; a box with a luminescent red substance in it. "Plasma cell. Less firepower, but it has over a hundred shots."
"Whoa…" Sokka nearly drooled at the toys.
"Your rifle has the same mechanism, yes?" the Dark One asked.
"Yeah…" Sokka winced and took a closer look at the power cell. "But, I never actually fire it in any of our mission yet. And Iroh said it only fires some kind of concussive energy plasma. Can't kill."
"And your sidearms?"
"Oh, regular handguns", Sokka returned the weapons to the Dark One. "But, you know, rubber bullets", he sounded grumbly.
The Dark One flashed one of his smirks. "I'm in the middle of a negotiation with the Industry to develop more plasma weapons for the Team", he said. "It would be much more of a reassurance if our weapons come from the same suppliers. Maintenance and resupplying will be easier that way."
"You know, I could use sidearm", Sokka said, smirking. "But, if that's okay, I would very much like to improve my rifle on my own. Maybe I can even build a new one."
"Alright, with one condition", the Dark One said with a knowing smile. "You are not to dismantle any weapons we give you."
Sokka grumbled, his plan busted.
"I will hook you up with some people in the Industry", the Dark One laughed. "They will teach you the basics of plasma weaponries."
At the command console, Song was talking into the comm. "Alright, you guys are online. Head count and sitrep."
"Torrent, here. Patrolling Rose Garden."
"Archer, still in civilian skin."
"Ghost, en route to Jawwa. Rock with me."
"No words on Blind Bandit?" Song asked.
"Nope", Torrent replied. "I tried but she doesn't respond. Maybe she's going to the dance after all."
Bolin excitedly occupied On Ji's seat. "Oh, hi, Korra! Korra! Hey, are you sure you don't wanna come?" he then turned his voice sad. "I still need a date, you know."
"Yeah… I'd just step on your toe", Torrent drawled.
"Ahem!" Song cleared her throat loudly, tapping at a large jar they had put on the table; the jar had a paper stuck on it, a circle with a diagonal line, with 'names!' in the middle. "And, Katara", Song turned to the Water Tribe girl. "You do know that we monitor everybody's commlink, right?"
Grimacing, Katara took out five yuans from her purse and reluctantly handed it over; she did call Arrow Boy by name during the fire rescue that morning.
Upstairs in Iroh's apartment, Azula and the Fire Nation boy were sitting on the couch, waiting for On Ji. "Can the four of them handle patrol tonight?" Azula asked, flipping channel randomly.
"I have a couple Riders on plain clothes on standby", he said.
"Oh, please", Azula snickered. "Knowing you, by now, you've had your Riders assimilated among the civilians, all ready to take over the Republic City if you need to."
The Fire Nation boy laughed. "Now, how do you know that?"
"I know you", Azula replied smugly. "You're… your style of strategy is all about using overwhelming power."
"I do love smart girls", the Fire Nation boy smiled, pressing Azula's head carefully to his shoulder. Azula tried not to react so much to that comment.
On Ji appeared later from the guestroom they had borrowed from Iroh in an elegant red dress that complimented her Fire Nation pale complexion, with her long hair up in a bun, and modest looking thin gold chain with a small diamond as a center piece around her neck, and a gold bracelet on her left wrist. She was positively pouting.
"Tell you what?" the Fire Nation boy got up and walked up to her. "Since I'm an awesome uncle, I'll let you borrow my credit card this weekend", he grinned, tapping the girl's nose.
"I'll hold you up on that", On Ji grumbled, taking a small box from her purse and handing it to the boy.
"Right", the boy said. The three of them walked down the stairs and the boy took from the box a chain bracelet with twelve zodiac animals around it, and a centerpiece of a small tear-shaped amber. "You were born in the Year of Monkey, if I remember correctly?" he asked Azula, putting the bracelet on Azula's right wrist. "I'm four years older than you, that'd mean I was born in the Year of Dragon."
"Dragon?" Azula smirked, admiring her new bracelet. "Why am I not surprised?"
-R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C-
(Republic City, Rose Garden – Weller Street; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 07:23 PM)
Torrent solidified her water into a pair of sticks, one in each hand. The thugs rushed at her, five of them, all wearing balaclava and all armed with baseball bats. She countered their hits expertly, thanking her father for forcing her to learn Eskrima from Master Piandao ("You're already good with many forms of hand-to-hand combat", the man had once said through the phone. "Now, learn how to handle a weapon! Or we will stop sending money to you!").
She swung her water-sticks fast, defending against all the hits the five thugs sent her way. So fast she could barely think. Leaping back, she drew distance and, molding her water into a ball; she sent the ball of water at the thugs hard and the concussive force knocked them out.
Happy with her work, Torrent dusted her hands, grinning inside her mask. She was just about to exit the alley and asked the HQ to notify the cops when she heard a clicking sound behind her; the distinct sound of a gun being cocked. Before she could turn, she heard the ominous sound of metal which she had come to associate with the metal wire of Blind Bandit.
Turning, she saw the smaller girl standing on top of a downed thug; her metal whip slithered back into the coil, tied around a handgun. Blind Bandit caught the gun and crunched it in her hands like it was made of paper.
-F-I-R-E-
(Republic City, Tosako – the United Nations Academy; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 08:00 PM)
In the gym turned ballroom, the guests clapped their hands as they crowned Star as Homecoming Queen. The perky girl was about to go on her long-ranting of a speech of which quality foreshadowed by her starting it so eloquently with a high-pitched scream of excitement and a rapid 'ohmygodohmygodohmygod!'; Principal Umma luckily took the microphone away and herded the girl to the dance floor where she, as Homecoming Queen, had the duty to start the dance.
The Fire Nation boy, standing with Azula, On Ji, and Aang at the refreshment table, picked up a cheese cube. "What if I am to tell you that with this cheese cube, I can destroy that girl's social life forever?"
Azula smirked and seemed very interested in the idea; Aang's empathic power told him that the boy was not kidding. "Please don't?" he grimaced at the boy.
"You're no fun", the Fire Nation boy almost pouted, popping the cheese cube into his mouth. "A dance?" he asked Azula.
Aang scanned the room quickly as the crowd began to dance; Katara was still talking to Principal Umma at the side of the stage. On Ji looked at him hopefully, Aang noticed, but he had never attended an event such as this before and he kind of wanted his first dance to be with…well, Katara.
"Come on", the Fire Nation boy grabbed On Ji's wrist as he and Azula eased into the dance floor. "I even got you a date. Am I an awesome uncle of what?" he gently pushed On Ji into Haru's arms. "You kids have fun now."
With a sly smirk, he waltzed away with Azula, leaving the two blushing kids alone.
"Well, this is awkward", Haru cleared his throat, tugging the collar of his shirt under his old suit.
"Yeah…" On Ji concurred. "Should I just step you on the toe now so we can skip the dancing?"
On the other side of the room, Mai and Zuko sat at the rows of chairs, both looking dour, so nothing unusual there. Bolin was at another refreshment table, accompanied by Sokka and Suki. Mako and Asami were dancing; Asami giggled at Mako's awkward move. "Sorry", Mako smiled nervously. "I never really learnt how to dance. Never thought I'd need the skill."
"Well, now you do", Asami said kindly. "Just follow my lead."
Azula danced with her Fire Nation boy elegantly. "Fascinating", she commented.
"What is?" the Fire Nation boy arched a brow.
"Your strategy", Azula said. "You anticipated everything, didn't you? Which is not the most terrifying thing about your strategy; that'd be the fact that you take advantage of everything."
"Hmm…" the Fire Nation boy narrowed his eyes and there was a thin smile on his face. "Clarify."
"You want me and my team to join the Riders, and my dad is okay with it", Azula began, twirling as that part of the dance came. "At the same time, you manipulated the formation of the other two teams, and then you formed Team Avatar with the secret provision that your Riders and me and my girls would be the more… antihero members of Team Avatar."
"Mmm-hmm", the boy smirked.
"Your being elected team leader ruined everything since it now restricts your movement", Azula continued. "What intrigues me is that Team Avatar's birth is so close to the International Pro-Heroes Law", she said. "Why do I get the feeling that, at this very moment, your Riders are attacking the Shadow Society with extreme prejudice?"
"And why would they do that?" the Fire Nation boy asked interestedly.
Azula shrugged. "The Pro-Heroes Law will ensure cooperation from the World Council, but restrict any heroes from the use of lethal force; a fact that many villains will take advantage of. Your Riders are not above using violence and you could have them unleash their righteous fury at the Shadow Society to warn them that, Pro-Heroes Law or not, the Riders are not to be trifled with. I can clearly picture some execution and assassination being carried out right now by the Riders."
"Impressive", the boy smiled broader. "They are not, by the way, and nor will they. I…" he frowned a bit, still smiling. "I decided to put my trust in Team Avatar", his bright amber eyes scanned around, registering the members of the Team among the crowd: Sokka and Bolin who were busy stuffing their faces, encouraged by Suki; Katara and Aang dancing with slight blush on their faces; Mako and Asami, laughing together while dancing; Mai, sitting with Zuko, looking bored; Ty Lee, sitting with On Ji and Haru, talking animatedly with them.
The Fire Nation boy let a little sad bitterness taint his smile. "I've seen glimpses of the lowest and the worst men can be", he returned his soft gentle gaze back at Azula's amber orbs. "I'm tired of it all", he said sincerely, sounding fifty years older than he was. "Team Avatar is my shot of redemption."
"Your shot?" Azula narrowed her eyes.
"I was gonna say 'the universe's shot of redemption to me' but I don't wanna sound so high and mighty", the boy snickered.
Azula let a small smile slip.
The music smoothly transitioned to the slow melodic guitar opening of Lifehouse's Everything.
"Slow dance's coming", Azula said, pulling away.
The boy gripped her slipping hand gently. "Do you care?"
Azula seemed to ponder over it a little. True, she had been feeling all sort of unfamiliar but strangely exhilarating feeling since she stepped foot in the gym, holding the boy's arm. She had not missed the whispers, gestures, and staring directed at them and she could no longer fool herself that it was because the boy was quite a famous name.
…Find me here… Speak to me…
"People are still staring", the boy smiled. "But, do you care?"
Azula did like it when boys treated her like he did: with respect.
…You are the light that's leading me… to the place where I find peace again…
She moved her hand from his grasp and his shoulder, and joined them behind his neck, arms linking his neck. "No", she smiled softly.
The boy stepped closer and held her gently by the waist.
"You know what would impress me more?" Azula said, looking up to the taller boy, her face so close to his.
She felt the burst of breath on her face when the boy snickered. "If I'm in a band?" the boy guessed.
Azula's mouth parted slightly. "Now, how do you know that?" she tugged on the boy a little, acting a little miff despite her strained smile.
The boy lowered down and whispered to her ear. "I'm magic."
Azula chuckled. She returned her eyes on his and said through the wave of comfort she felt running through her. "You're a dummy."
How can I stand here with you, and not be moved by you…? Would you tell me how could it be any better than this…?
They swayed gently, feeling each other where they were close; Azula felt strength from his hands on her waist and, at the same time, gentleness. She felt age and wisdom, like he was an old man… she felt his burden, his lethargy… Azula felt the pain he was holding in and had hidden behind his brave dependable front.
…Would you take me in…? Take me deeper now…
She nearly gasped. The boy's brows flickered and Azula felt his hands moved a fraction, holding her gentler. She smiled at this and, deciding not to care, stepped closer, circling her arms on his neck and resting the side of her head on his chest as she pressed herself on him.
…Cause you're all I want, you're all I need… You're everything… everything…
Azula closed her eyes and let the world disappeared; there was no one else in this world but her and the boy. She felt his breath on top of her head where he had pressed his face lightly, feeling him taking in the scent of her hair. Azula smiled and gripped him a tad tighter.
She felt him pecking her head and she slowly opened her eyes, catching Katara's eyes; the Water Tribe girl had stopped dancing and stood at the sideline, watching the dancers, and she let a strained smile blossom on her face but she politely looked away. Azula fought a losing battle against her own dawning smile and emerged slowly from the boy's chest. Looking up, she once again found those bright amber eyes of his. So many things she wanted to say and, at the same time, she could not utter a word. The first thing that came was: "Don't…" and she could not bring herself to add anything to the premature sentence.
The boy smiled softly. "I won't", he whispered as the music approached the climax. "I promise you I won't; I will never hurt you."
…And how can I stand here with you, and not be moved by you…?
She closed her eyes as he leaned down and their lips met ever so gently, and they melted into the kiss.
…Would you tell me how could it be any better than this…?
A pair of mismatched amber eyes looked at the two giggling teens and they looked rather apprehensive. Zuko sighed and turned to Mai. "Wanna dance?"
"No."
-R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C-
(Republic City, Tosako – Jasmine Dragon Teashop; Saturday, 21 September 2013, 10:09 PM)
Iroh almost dozed off when the bell above the door of his teashop rang; Ty Lee and Katara led the group, followed by Aang, Sokka, and Suki. Haru and On Ji came next, laughing with each other, then Mako and Asami, comforting Bolin who was not successful in asking anyone for a dance. Mai and Zuko entered next, hand-in-hand. Azula, hugging the Fire Nation boy's arm, entered last.
"Hey, Korra!" Bolin excited ran to the girl who was sitting at the center table with Iroh and Toph. "Korra! You really missed out! The dance was awesome… although it would be awesomer if I could have a dance partner, which I didn't, so it wasn't really so awesome, although it was still awesome. Azula has a boyfriend now."
Azula whipped her head towards the annoying boy and short him a sharp glare.
"Uh…guys", Korra began with no trace of mirth on her face. "There's a… bad news", she turned to Toph uneasily. "Toph's parents arrived a few hours ago. They're taking her home to Earth Kingdom tomorrow."
Their smiles slowly disappeared.