Hi. I meant to get this to you guys earlier, but I got sick, so I've been in bed for a few days. Anyway, here it finally is.
And I've seen your concerns about length, and I'm sorry to say its going to be like that sometime. You see, I write as it come to me and I get some ides across in less words than others. This and probably the next few chapters will probably be longer, but I usually average around 1500 words per.
Also, since I'm going to have quite a bit of music in this I made a YouTube play list and I'll add songs as they show up in the story. The link is on my profile.
Party Time pt 1
Hakoda found himself standing at the pier again early the next morning, but this time he was wearing a nice black suit and accompanied by the Fire Lord and Prince Zuko.
"Chief Hakoda, I appreciate you joining us in welcoming my sister-in-law and niece." the older man said as he placed his gloved hands into his coat pocket.
Hakoda smiled at the man. The two of them had become fast friends the night before, staying up late into the night talking, laughing and drinking. "It's my pleasure." he said clasping a hand on Iroh's shoulder as the yacht stopped at the end of the plank. "Well it seems they're here."
The two women made their way down the walkway followed by a young man. It was quite obvious to anyone who could see that the two were mother and daughter, long dark brown hair, amber eyes, pale skin and delicate features.. The young man who followed them wasn't much taller than the women and solidly built with short black hair and deep tan skin. The group stopped when they reached the three men.
"Chief Hakoda," Iroh said with a grin "This is my sister-in-law, Lady Ursa and her daughter, Princess Azula."
Ursa smiled and gave a slight bow "It is an honor to meet you Chief Hakoda."
The chief had to stop himself from staring "Lady Ursa, the honor is mine." he said returning the bow then he turned to the younger woman "Princess Azula. Your uncle has told me much about you."
Ursa nudged her daughter knowing full well that the girl was engrossed in her phone. "It is wonderful to meet you Chief Kakoka." Azula huffed, half heatedly looking up from her text.
Ursa sighed "That's Hakoda dear. Pay attention." and took the phone from her daughter's hand.
Hakoda laughed "That's alright. I have a daughter that age too. They get so caught up in those things."
"Exactly." she said. She turned to her brother-in-law and chuckled "Iroh, you look…warm."
"Very funny. I'm an old man you know. I have to keep warm."
She turned to her son and smiled "Zuko, how was the trip?"
"It was fine mother." he answered with a smile as he and his mother embraces.
"And where is Aang? I'm surprised the two of you aren't together.'
"Gyatso needed him to do some things this morning."
"Understandable. You tell my little boy I expect to see him as soon as he's done." she attempted to brush his hair away from his face but he gently caught her hand to stop her. "Have you been taking care of yourself?" she said, doing a small nod toward his face.
"I have." he answered adjusting his hair back the way he had it, not knowing Hakoda had already caught a glimpse of what he was attempting to hide.
Azula, who had been talking to her uncle, turned to her brother "Hi Zuzu."
He cut his eye at her "I told you to stop calling me that."
Iroh turned to the young man and changed the subject quickly "So young Kuzon, you are Azula's newest assistant."
"Yes sire." the young man said bowing to the king.
"Assistant, psh, more like babysitter." Azula rolled her eyes.
"Excuse me Princess, but how can I be your babysitter when you are older than I am." the young man said with a smooth deep voice and suppressing a smirk.
"Whatever." she huffed "Go make sure my room's ready to my liking and then go ask your little friend what time his gathering is tonight."
"Yes Princess." Kuzon answered and started to walk away.
"And tell him this thing had better be fun."
"Yes Princess." he paused as he passed Zuko "'Sup man?"
"Cold" Zuko answered with a smile and Kuzon went on his way.
Toph snatched the door open "Well it's about damn time. I thought you were going to leave me hanging.
Sokka pushed a pair of boots into her hands "It's good to see you too Toph."
"I'm going to fire you as my shoe guy if you can't deliver on time." she said as she placed a hand on the bottom of the boots "I have to admit though, these are perfect."
"Exactly. And perfection takes time. How many people can say they have an engineer making their shoes?"
"And how many engineers can say that not only do they have a lifelong job working for a Beifong, but they also make things for the world's only blind earth bending master."
Sokka shrugged "Yeah, we're lucky to have each other. I just need you to compress the soil into rock. That's the only thing I couldn't do myself."
Toph pulled the long boots on excitedly and smiled grandly as she wiggled her toes in the soil, then she compacted it down into a tight layer at the bottom of the shoe "They're really perfect Snoozles."
"Of course they are. I made them."
Toph walked around in the boots for a minute and then stopped "So where's Girly? I was expecting her to come with you. We gotta get this thing together."
"She's coming. She said she had to do something before she came by." he answered as he plopped down at the table "Hey, you gonna eat this?" he asked gesturing at the plates of food The Boulder had just finished setting on the table.
"Go at it, but The Pebble didn't make all that for you. The rest of us would like to eat too."
Sokka grabbed a roll and took a bite "So, I saw the kid."
"I heard. I also heard you gave Sweetness a hard time about it."
"I'm just trying to look out for my sister." he mumbled.
"Yep," Toph said as she sat at the table "In the same way that my parents are always trying to look out for me."
He stopped mid-bite "I'm not that overbearing."
"Wanna bet?" Katara chimed as she walked toward the table. She scooped an omlette onto a plate and sat down.
"Look, Sis, I thought about what happened and you're right, I do need to back off. But that doesn't mean I'll ever stop looking out for you."
She half smiled at him "I know."
"And I promise I'll keep my opinions about the air bender kid too myself… but if he steps out of line-"
"I know, I know. His ass is grass." Katara rolled her eyes.
"It's about time." Toph said as she got up.
"We always make up." Sokka said filling up a plate.
"Not you two nuts." she opened the door "them."
"Hi Toph." Yue said as she hugged the girl "It's been so long."
"Sure has. So, who're the chicks?"
"This is Xing Ying and Xing Yee. They're going to help us out."
Azula sat on the couch in her suite "Princess, your brother and cousin are here to see you." Kuzon announced as the Fire Nation Princes entered.
"Man, would you stop kissing her ass." Zuko growled.
Kuzon leaned over to him and whispered "Dude, I'm going to be the first person to keep this job for more than a week." he stood up strait "Princess, will that be all."
"Yeah, whatever." she said waiving her hand, then she looked at him "You're going to this thing tonight right?"
"Yes Princess, I am."
"And what are you wearing?"
"This Princess."
Azula recoiled "Ah, no, you're not."
"This is how I dress when I'm working Princess."
"Well not anymore. It's bad enough they have you following me around, you could at least not look like an old man. Go put on some regular clothes…I mean this is supposed to be your friend's birthday party."
"Yes Princess." he answered then turned to his room to go change.
Azula turned her attention to her brother and cousin "Very nice Zuzu, but LuTen, really?"
LuTen looked down at himself, then at her "What's wrong with me?"
Azula exhaled "I've learned to deal with the season five Sam Winchester hair, but must you dress like him?"
"I am not dressed like Sam…and if I was, so what? He's pretty cool."
Azula picked up her phone and started texting "Dean's hotter. Anyway, is it time to go yet, I want to get this over with."
"You know, you don't have to go." Zuko grumbled.
"And miss Baby Boy's birthday party, I don't think so. Besides, I want to see this girl he's so hung up on."
"Aww, you care." LuTen giggled.
"I just don't want him ending with another lunatic, that's all."
"That's called caring, Azula." Zuko deadpanned.
"Whatev-" she stopped short when Kuzon reentered the living area.
He was wearing a white button down shirt, a pair of jeans cuffed at the bottom and a pair of bronze boots that perfectly matched his belt buckle.
"Is this too your liking Princess?" he asked in his smooth baritone.
It took a second for her to answer and everyone noticed "Yes. T-that's much better." she stood up, grabbed her coat and headed to the door "Well, lets go." she snapped.
The boys smiled at each other "Yes Princess." they answered in unison.
"Sorry I turned you out (you out)
Guess I didn't know that a man could be so soft
Well I guess I have to give you back the flowers(what?)
The candy.(huh) The diamond(no, not the diamonds) Hell no, I'm keeping that.(you better keep that)
Hope that you don't mind, I'm not the mushy kind (not the mushy kind)"
Katara, Yue and Sokka walked in to see, and hear, the twins singing TLC. Everyone else had already arrived, but Katara was only interested in the guest of honor. She spotted him, sitting at the large round booth between Toph and that crazy King Bumi.
"Katara!" he called out when he caught sight of her "Over here!"
"Hi" she said as she walked up and slid in next to Toph.
"Sweetness, do you see this shit?" Toph complained "There's carpet on this damn floor. I can't see shit. It's not fair."
Katara couldn't help smiling at Aang "I'm sorry Toph, At least the stage is tiled."
"Yeah, yeah. Is everyone here yet?"
Katara counted heads "Yep, that's twelve."
"Good." Toph grabbed her hand "Lets get this over with."
"No, no." Aang said as he airbent himself across the table landing beside Sokka "Let us go first. Come on Bumi." he turned to the Water Tribesman "Nice to meet you Your Wolfyness."
Sokka wanted to be rude, but the kid's smile was down right infectious "Yeah, same here." he muttered.
Aang smiled and he turned to the other table "C'mon Kuzon. Lets do this."
The three young men got up to the stage and Aang found the song they wanted in the computer. The three were quite the image to look at, but one stood out far more than the others.
"What the hell is he wearing?" Azula asked looking at the odd mixture of a long sleeved, tight lime green turtleneck, a extremely ugly sweater vest and a pair of pants that defied explanation.
"I can kinda deal with that, but what's with that crazy hair? Is that supposed to be a Mohawk?" LuTen asked.
"Ah Ooooo" Bumi and Kuzon took everone's attention
Aang- "I took my troubles down to Madame Rue(Ah Oooooo)
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She's got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Sellin' little bottles of (Love Potion No. 9)"
Katara was entranced by the way Aang sung and danced across the stage, smiling at her the whole time. He was obviously having a good time with his friends. She'd remembered him telling her about them. They'd all met at young ages and been friends almost all of their lives. Her attention to Aang was only taken away by Kuzon singing "I took a drink."
Almost all of the girls in the room swooned or screamed, but Azula rolled her eyes. Kuzon looked at her and smirked.
"I held my nose, I closed my eyes (I took a drink)"
There they went again. Azula rolled her eyes again, but inside she was doing the same. Who know stiff 'Yes Princess' Kuzon was actually kind of…well, sexy.
The song faded out and the guys stepped down to applause from the room. Katara and Toph met them half way between the stage and their booth. "That was okay," Toph said "for amateurs."
Yue came and took Toph's hand, leading her the rest of the way to the stage. "You never said you could sing." Katara said as her friends left her standing with the tall air bender.
"Oh, I didn't?" he asked, a wicked smile crossed his face "I guess I just figured you knew all about me on your own." he looked over at the twins joining Toph and Yue the stage "So, is this the song you promised me?"
She blushed "I guess you can call it that." and headed toward the stage.
"I can't wait." he said as he went to the table with his friends.
The unmistakable beat came up catching the attention of all the guys in the room, they all sat at attention as the girls began to harmonize.
Yue "Many say
That I'm too young
(To let you know just where I'm coming from)
But you will see
It's just a matter of time
My love surely make you mine"
LuTen smiled broadly, fighting the urge to proclaim that she was singing for him.
Toph Well, i'm
(Livin' in a world of ghetto life)
Everyone seems so uptight
(Nothin's wrong), it's alright,(alright) my man (my man)
I like the way we carry on
His love will send me on and on
With my man
(People out there can understand)
The guys all hooted as the girls went into the chorus, mimicking the moves directly from the video. Then Katara stepped out
So much joy for us it seems
So much hope for material things
Are they only in my dreams?
(hey, oh yeah)
And that's exactly why I'm singing this song to you
To let you know that real dreams do come true.
You tell me what does it mean.
Aang was mesmerized. He'd already known that he liked her speaking voice, but he'd never heard her sound like that. She sounded like ecstasy. He wanted to hear her sound like that again, and alone, only for him.
Songs
I'm Good at Being Bad by TLC
Love Potion #9 by The Clovers
Giving Him Something He Can Feel by EnVough
