Day 21- Question (Band AU)

Unless you're living off the grid with no access to the internet, no phone, no tv, and no radio, you already know of the once little band who has been taking over the world one continent at a time: Avatar. So if you've heard them play or follow their antics online, you're probably hooked. If you haven't, get ready to be obsessed.

For this interview, the members of Avatar have invited us to their house in Los Angeles (Malibu to be exact). They share another in Tokyo and one in London.

Reporter: Let's start with the question all your fans want answered. [There's a short silence where they shift uncomfortably in their seats] Are the rumors true?

Toph Drums: Which ones? [laughing]

[The others join in her laughter. Yes, even Zuko.]

Sokka Lead guitar, backing vocals: People are always saying stuff about us. We've been lucky that it's usually been positive, but the other 15-20 percent, there's nothing you can do about it. Honestly, we don't pay attention to any of it.

"Have you seen twitter today?! Someone posted a picture of me eating! Look! LOOK! It's so...so unflattering!"

"Hate to break it to you, Snoozles, but that's what we get to see on a daily basis."

"Toph, that's not helping," Katara admonished, but she was fighting back her own smile.

"I hate all of you!" Sokka cried.

"At least no one made a meme about you," Aang muttered, sullenly.

"A what?"

Suki nodded, "Yeah, I saw that. Sorry, Aang. It's all over tumblr."

"All over what?"

"Ugh, here!" Suki shoved her tablet at Sokka, who immediately proceeded to laugh until his sides hurt.

.

Zuko stormed into the house.

"Who told!?"

In the living room, Toph and Aang were playing video games.

"Something bothering you, Sparky?"

"It's all over! Everywhere!"

"What is?" Aang asked, checking his phone. Suki would've sent a text if anything was up.

"Me. Mai. Our breakup."

Toph paused the game. "You two broke up? When?"

That seemed to calm him a bit. "So, I guess it wasn't you."

"You really think I'd rat you out? To the media?"

No, she wouldn't. He knew that. Zuko massaged the bridge of his nose to fight the oncoming headache he felt forming.

"You know, I should kick your ass just for thinking it," Toph growled, tossing the controller aside.

Aang watched as she jumped over the back of the couch to approach the newest member. She said something in a low tone and they talked in hushed voices. Something in Aang's chest tightened as he fought the urge to walk over and shove Zuko away from Toph. He turned from them and shut down the PS4 instead.

They knew each other from before. Aang didn't know how Toph and Zuko knew each other, he never asked. But since the moment Zuko wanted in, Toph had been the first to say, "Go ahead and let him join."

When Aang looked up, the older man was suddenly standing in front of him. "If it was that always-eating peasant friend of yours," Zuko pointed an accusing finger at him, "I swear I'll-"

"Hey, it wasn't Sokka!" Aang defended.

"Aang's right," Suki assured them as she walked in. "It wasn't Sokka." After that comment he made about Aang and Katara's split, he learned his lesson. Suki made sure of it. "And, Zuko, it's being handled."

With a curt nod, Zuko sat down. "Thank you," he told Suki.

Toph glared at Zuko like he was an idiot. "Maybe she leaked it. Ever think of that?"

Zuko stared back at her. "She who?"

If it had been anyone else, Toph would've smacked him, but she'd known Sparky since she was little and had come to look at him like a big brother. There was a respect for him that she held for few others. Plus she knew his relationship with Mai had always been tumultuous at best.

"Who do you think I mean?"

"We said we'd keep it to ourselves. You don't suppose...? She wouldn't!" Zuko insisted.

"But your crazy sister would."

When Suki and Toph gave him a poignant look, he faltered. "Fuck."

.

"So now we can't go anywhere together because we're suddenly dating again!?" Katara screeched, flipping though the most recent copy of US Weekly. There was a picture of her and Aang taken about two weeks ago. They were both in jeans, he wore an orange hoodie, while she wore the blue jacket Gran Gran gave her for her birthday. As they were leaving the movie theater through the back door, they walked side by side with their heads down looking totally guilty.

"Guess not," Aang shrugged, then hopped on the counter top. "Sorry, Katara, it's my fault. I should've known someone would see us."

She sighed. She wasn't mad at him. After their somewhat messy breakup, and the very painful months that followed, their friendship had survived and only grown stronger. No one outside the band seemed to understand that though.

"Hey, I wanted to see Guardians of the Galaxy, too," she said, smiling at him.

"No you didn't," he laughed. But the only two people who would have actually wanted to go with him, Toph and Sokka, were out of town promoting their second album.

"Sweet pic," Toph said, walking into the kitchen and picking up the magazine Katara had tossed on the counter. He could see the large headline from where he sat: 'At It Again?' The look that crossed her face told Aang she didn't think it was a 'sweet pic' at all. In fact, she looked to be grinding her teeth together, willing herself not to snap.

"Oh, no! My yoga class starts in half an hour!" Katara cried, realizing how late it was. "I'll see you guys later," she called from down the hall.

"Movie any good?" Toph asked, leaving the magazine where she found it and grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Yeah, it was cool. I wouldn't mind seeing it again," he said.

"Then you should."

"I might. Wanna come?"

A hint of a smile appeared on her face.

"Why, so we can end up in the next issue? No thanks."

"Well, if you change your mind..." he smiled, jumping off the counter. "...next showing starts at four."

Reporter: So, none of the rumors are true? Avatar is not breaking up?

Katara Lead vocals, piano: We've discussed pursuing other projects, individually and with other people. I think that as artists, it helps us grow. But let me assure you—and our fans—we are not breaking up.

Suki Manager: Katara and Sokka started out as Water Tribe, then Aang joined and they changed the name to Avatar. I came on board that winter as a drummer, but after the accident... [Editor's note: Suki and Sokka were in an automobile collision that left her with two broken arms, he suffered minor cuts and bruises. Her recovery was long, but she has regained complete use of both limbs.] I became manager shortly after and my first job as manager was getting Toph to join.

Aang Bass guitar, backing vocals: Hey, I helped!

Toph: You really didn't.

Toph knew something was up the moment she saw the bald guy walk into her parents' home. She'd seen him at the last few gigs she played. The girl with two arm casts had been at a few too. It was their fault dinner was such a disaster.

"It's wonderful to have you all visit us."

"Thank you for having us, Mrs. Beifong," Arm casts replied. "We know how valuable your time is."

"In your opinion, how much longer do think it will be before you go on tour again?"

Baldy spoke up, "We'd like to start by the end of summer, but we can't do that without finding another drummer first."

The guy was an idiot and Toph couldn't help give him an annoyed look. No one else seemed to notice.

"Well, Yu is the finest drummer I know," Mr. Beifong said and they had a feeling he knew them all. "He's been teaching Toph since she was little."

"Then she must be a great drummer!" Baldy exclaimed. "Probably good enough to teach someone else!" He had just said the words when someone kicked him under the table. "Ow!"

Mr. Beifong sent an odd glance at his daughter who was sitting directly across from Aang. However, she continued to eat her soup, seemingly oblivious to anything going on at the table.

"Toph is still learning the basics," Yu explained.

Mr. Beifong nodded, "Yes, and sadly, because of her busy schedule, I don't think she'll ever have the time to completely master the instrument."

Aang smiled. "Oh, I'm sure she's better than you think she is."

Toph kicked his leg again, harder that time, making him jump in place and spilling his soup. Everybody at the table stopped eating. Aang looked down at the soup on his clothes and wiped some off his face. He then flicked his hand, so the soup flew across the table to Toph's side.

Then all hell broke loose. Food fight didn't even begin to describe the mess Toph and Aang started.

[Aang glares at Toph until she punches his arm, then he looks like he's trying not to smile]

Suki: Anyway, after Toph swooped in and became the awesome drummer we needed, I was the one who got Zuko to join. So all you Zukoheads can thank me! [They all laugh, while Zuko tries to hide his blush] I'm telling you, Avatar's not breaking up, if anything we'll be adding more members!

Reporter: What about the infighting? [Zuko and Aang exchange a meaningful look]

Zuko Rhythm guitar, backing vocals: That was a long time ago. Before I joined Avatar.

"Katara, what are you doing with...with him?"

Katara's face was crimson. "Aang, it's not what you think!"

"It looks like you're writing music with Zuko!"

"Okay, it is what you think, but...you and me...we haven't been clicking like we used to. The other day, we couldn't come up with anything. No lyrics, no music..."

"So you found another writing partner? One in another band!?"

"Aang, no. We're still writing partners! Our first album is full of songs we wrote. You and me," she smiled. "I just wanted to try something new."

He was heartbroken, Katara could see it in his gray eyes.

"Then continue trying new stuff without me!" Aang snapped and left with the full intention of quitting the band.

Aang: Yeah, we were just starting out, we were kids, really. I was only sixteen when I first joined. Seventeen when our first album debuted. Now, looking back, it was inevitable.

Sokka: Actually, I'm surprised we don't fight more.

Sokka looked over at Suki, both her arms still in casts, and kissed her cheek. After the accident they stopped beating around the bush and hooked up almost immediately. They kept it secret, however, only the band was made aware of it.

"Babe, you know I love you, but I don't know about this," he said, wide eyes taking in the huge gates they had just passed to get into the house.

"Trust me," Suki said, shifting in her seat, trying to get comfortable. "You guys need a drummer and she's the best there is."

"How can you possibly know that?" Katara asked. "And is it just me or does this limo have a funny smell?"

"It's you," Aang replied. "And we know she's the best drummer because we've heard her play."

"When?" Sokka and Katara asked at the same time.

"When you two went to visit your grandmother last month."

The siblings looked at each other, then shrugged.

"Okay, so what's our reason for being here again?" Sokka asked, munching on a bag of chips.

"We're going to ask her to join us," Suki replied. "But we could only get in to see her by pretending to want to audition for this huge party her parents are throwing for her eighteen birthday."

"Hey, she's my age," Aang pointed out.

"Yes, that's amazing," Sokka droned, then his head snapped up. "Wait! We have to try out!?" he screeched, choking on the chips.

"Tell me you've heard of the Beifongs?" Suki mumbled, watching as Katara patted her brother's back. "They might be the richest family in the country. They can afford to hire anyone they want."

"I still don't see why we have to audition!"

Katara: Trust me, we get along just fine most of the time, but we've all had our moments.

After trying to be nice about the continued mess Toph left everywhere, Katara had had enough of their new drummer.

"Ever since you joined us, you've been nothing but selfish and unhelpful!"

"What?" Toph looked ready to kill someone. "Look here, Sugar Queen, I gave up everything I had so that I could help you guys out! So don't you talk to me about being selfish!"

"Sugar Queen?!" Katara yelled as she followed Toph down the hall, where the younger girl stormed into one of the bedrooms and shut the door violently. "Did you just slam the door in my face? How can you be so infuriating?"

Toph: Yup, good times.

Katara: It's not always easy. [She looks at each one of her band mates] But nothing worth it is. Look, four of us made the first album.

Sokka: Toph was there for the second.

Suki: Zuko came in for the third.

Zuko: That's six of us. We're not always going to agree on everything.

Aang: But that's what keeps it interesting.

Toph: ...

Aang: What?

Toph: I can't believe you just said that!

Aang: But it's true!

[continued on page 206]