Chapter 11: Freedom Fighters
It was a shock to Smellerbee to learn that she was fitting in to Ba Sing Sa far better than she ever had at Yu Dao, even when she still had her sight. Even though she wasn't a part of the F.N.S just yet – she wanted to adjust before she joined any groups – they had taken her under their wing and they all got on surprisingly well.
Of course, having Longshot at Ba Sing Sa made things so much easier. Longshot always made her feel connected to the world, even through the simplest of gestures. Smellerbee was slowly getting used to using her cane around the school and she had finally managed to open her locker without help from anyone, having memorized how many twists on her lock it took.
It was Friday afternoon and school had just let out. Longshot was coming over to spend the weekend – a common occurrence as of late – and was driving the two of them back to Orshamu. They made their way to Longshot's car and slid in, Longshot putting their bags on the back seat. He slid into the front and waited until Smellerbee had buckled herself up before starting the engine and pulling out.
"Ralli and Aang are coming tonight too," Smellerbee said as Longshot drove.
"Cool," he beamed. "I like Ralli, she seems nice."
"She is," Smellerbee nodded. "She makes my dad happy."
"Do you and Aang get along?" Longshot asked.
"Now we do, I guess," Smellerbee answered.
"You didn't use to?"
"Not really," Smellerbee shrugged. "Aang was a football player, I was the freaky kid. There's not really much mood to bond there."
Longshot frowned and gripped the steering wheel tightly.
"Longshot?" Smellerbee asked when her boyfriend stayed silent. "Did I say something wrong?"
"Was he one of the ones who bullied you?" Longshot asked.
"Sort of. He never did anything to stop it. Most of the kids in the club had been a part of the bullying, all the boys have been on the football team and all girls part of the cheerleading squad," Smellerbee told him.
"Were you?" Longshot asked curiously.
"I was for one game," Smellerbee blushed. "It was the only game they won that season."
"You never cease to amaze me," Longshot chuckled and Smellerbee grinned. Longshot continued to ask Smellerbee questions about her time as a cheerleader until they reached the house.
He pulled up and parked on the edge of the road before shutting off the engine. He jumped out and grabbed their bags, closing the door with his spare hand.
Smellerbee slid out and shut the door firmly. She tripped as she stepped away from the car and landed on the grass with an oomph.
"Bee! Are you OK?" Longshot gasped, crouching beside his girlfriend.
"Fine," Smellerbee mumbled. "Bugger."
"Here," Longshot said, taking Smellerbee's hand gently and pulling her up. "Are you hurt?"
"Just my pride," Smellerbee sighed and Longshot gently stroked her cheek, smiling when Smellerbee leant into the touch.
"Come on," Longshot smiled. "Before your dad thinks I'm up to no good."
Smellerbee sniggered and let Longshot help her to the house. "Dad, we're home," Smellerbee called and Korra came bounding up to her. "Hey girl," she smiled, patting Korra's head.
"Hey kids," Cris greeted them as they came into the living room.
"Hi Cris," Longshot beamed.
"Good day?" Cris asked. Smellerbee nodded and Cris was happy to see a smile on her face. "Ralli and Aang should be here soon," Cris told them and Smellerbee nodded.
"I'm going to change," Smellerbee announced and made her way downstairs, Longshot following. When they were downstairs, Longshot watched as Smellerbee moved to her wardrobe and chose an outfit with ease.
"How do you know what you're choosing?" Longshot asked, curiosity overtaking him.
Smellerbee smirked. "I can picture everything in my wardrobe. Organization is one of my passions and I always know where I put my clothes."
Longshot chuckled, impressed. Smellerbee fumbled to the bathroom and slipped inside, shutting the door. Longshot took this opportunity to change out of his uniform also. He was dressed by the time Smellerbee came out of the bathroom, in well-fitting clothes as always.
"Ralli and Aang are here," Smellerbee said, head cocked to one side as she listened intently. Longshot listened hard and could hear heavy footsteps on the floor above them.
Longshot chuckled, shaking his head and moved to Smellerbee, pulling his girlfriend into his arms and kissing her. Smellerbee gasped but melted into the kiss, moving her lips against Longshot's. Smellerbee knew she would never tire of the taste of Longshot. Her boyfriend moved back and Smellerbee panted softly, hand coming up to Longshot's face and trailing a thumb over his lips. Longshot let Smellerbee explore his face with her fingers. Smellerbee leant forward and caught the side of Longshot's lips in a kiss.
"You're so beautiful," Longshot murmured and Smellerbee blushed.
"You are, too. Handsome I mean. "
Longshot smiled and took Smellerbee's hands in his. "Are you ready?"
Smellerbee nodded and let Longshot lead her up the stairs and to the living room.
Dinner was going well up until Aang mentioned glee club.
"Dude, The Freedom Fighters misses you," Aang said and Smellerbee dropped her fork. She blushed and Longshot leant down to pick it up for her, placing it in her hand. "We have something we want to share with you."
"What?" Smellerbee asked curiously.
"Just, can you come to Yu Dao?" Aang asked, not wanting to give anything way.
"No," Cris said firmly and Aang looked up in shock. "You want to talk to Smellerbee, you do it anywhere other than that school. They're more than welcome here."
"OK, we'll come here," Aang nodded. "Is tomorrow cool?"
"I guess," Smellerbee shrugged.
Aang looked to Longshot and bit his lip slightly. "It's kind of just for Smellerbee," he said, raising his eyebrows and Longshot frowned.
"Longshot stays," Smellerbee said firmly. "He's here for the weekend."
"Oh, OK then," Aang shrugged and went back to eating.
Ralli smiled and looked back down at her food but Cris was watching Smellerbee carefully.
After dinner, the Eisen's didn't stay long and left with a cheerful goodbye. Cris shooed Smellerbee and Longshot away when they tried to help clean up and they went to a living room. Longshot slipped in a movie that Smellerbee had seen before – so she could visualize it in her mind while listening to the dialogue – and cuddled up next to her.
Longshot spent the movie watching Smellerbee as she played with the hair on the back of her neck, twirling a stray curl around her finger. When Smellerbee started yawning, Cris called it a night. Smellerbee kissed Longshot goodnight before taking Korra downstairs with her to bed.
It was early when The Freedom Fighters rocked up at the Futtermen home. Aang was leading the group with Katara by his side. Cris answered the door and grunted, pulling it wide so they could come in.
"You can use the backyard, I'll get Bee." Cris said, indicating to the back door. The group nodded and headed outside, getting ready.
The door slid open and they gave a confused look to Longshot, who they had yet to meet.
"Hey hot stuff," Azula leered and Longshot shifted uncomfortably.
"Longshot," Katara greeted, stepping forward. "I hope you won't use this performance as a basis of our talent and relay this to your fellow Fire Nation members."
Longshot shifted again, a pained expression on his face. "The F.N.S doesn't condone spying. We work hard for the chance to compete."
Katara huffed but nodded. The group turned as they heard footsteps and Bee emerged. She had her shades on and was holding on to Korra's reign as she led her outside.
"Longshot, I couldn't find my cane," Smellerbee frowned and Longshot came to her, slipping his hand to his girlfriends.
Longshot looked at the group and saw they had all turned eerily pale. Suki had tears in her eyes, mouth opening and closing in shock, no words able to come to her. Toph had her hands clapped to her own mouth, Zuko's arm around her tightly. Even Azula and Pipsqueak looked horrified.
"I – I can't do this," Suki stammered, tears spilling down her cheeks and she started backing away.
"What? Suki?" Smellerbee asked, confused. Suki dashed past them, into the house and was gone. Everyone was looking at her with pity and Longshot's jaw hardened.
"Holy shiz," Jet breathed and Smellerbee bit her lip.
"What's going on?" Smellerbee asked, clutching Longshot's hand tightly. "Longshot? I don't understand."
"We – we didn't think it was this bad," Cinnamon breathed, taking in the sight of Smellerbee and Korra.
"What did you expect?" Longshot asked coldly, unable to keep his mouth closed any longer. "Didn't Aang and Katara tell you that Smellerbee is now blind?"
"But it's, like, a temporary thing right?" Aang asked.
Longshots jaw dropped and Smellerbee scowled. "No it's not temporary," she hissed. "Really, Aang?"
"I – I think we should go," Katara stammered, her confidence starting to fade.
The group agreed and quickly bade Smellerbee goodbye and Longshot watched with a furious gaze as they bolted, unable to handle the fact their friend was now blind. All except two for three.
"It's good to see you… well sorta see you, Smellerbee," Toph smiled shakily, gently squeezing Smellerbee's arm. "It's nice to have someone else who understands the… how to say this nicely… Oh I don't… Who understands the dark. So welcome to the Dark Side; we lied about the cookies."
"You look good, Smellerbee," Zuko smiled, gently giving her a one armed hug. "I'm sorry about the others."
"I miss you Bed Head," Ty Lee pouted, kissing Smellerbee's cheek. Longshot made a mental note to ask about that later.
"I – I don't understand," Smellerbee muttered, obviously distressed.
"Do you want us to go?" Toph asked softly. "We didn't mean to make you upset."
"I – I don't know," Smellerbee mumbled.
"We'll come back," Zuko decided. "Just let us know when you're ready." Zuko turned to Longshot with a smile. "It was nice to meet you. Maybe we could get together soon?"
"Yeah, of course," Longshot nodded, grinning. At least Smellerbee had some real friends amongst all her other, clearly incompetent ones.
"Do we have to go?" Ty Lee pouted.
"Come on, Ty Lee," Toph said.
"Bye Bed Head," Ty Lee pouted.
"Bye boo," Smellerbee said softly.
The three of the left and Smellerbee reached out for Longshot, tucking herself into his chest. "Longshot? Why did they leave? I don't understand?" She whimpered. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Of course not Bed Head," Longshot soothed and he laughed at the pet name he called her; it had slipped out without warning. "They weren't ready to accept that your life had changed and they could have done something to help."
"Weren't ready to accept it?" Smellerbee hissed. "What? They thought this was a choice?"
"Don't think about it," Longshot instructed. "You don't need them."
Cris was furious. They had wanted to see Smellerbee but had barely stayed two minutes before bolting. What kind of a 'family' did that? The Freedom Fighters went on and on about commitment and love but at the first sign of trouble, they upped and left. Well, Cris thought, family my ass. It was certainly not a family that Smellerbee would have any further association with.