Sorry the chapters have slowed down, but life happens, and I also got carried away with another story. It's called Four Days on a Train and it's another Kataang AU that started out as a tumblr prompt. Anyway, that's almost done, one chapter left.
I'm still on these bridge building chapters, trying to cover some time. I think one or two more and I can get to the juicy stuff.
Little Bits
The snow had just started when Ursa got back from the store. She thanked Ginny for giving her a ride and took her bags into the kitchen. As she unloaded her purchase she noticed movement outside.
She went to the door "Who are you?" She asked as forcefully as she could.
A young man had an ax mid-swing and he turned with it in his hand "Ma'am. I'm sorry. We didn't know someone was here." He put the ax down. "We knocked but no one answered." he stepped toward her but noticed she flinched a bit "My name is Hasook, I took over Katara's class." he motioned to the children piling wood on the side of the house. "They thought it would be nice if we came and made sure Chief Hakoda had enough wood since Sokka and Katara aren't around and he's out helping everyone else."
Ursa smiled at the young man "Well that was a very nice thought."
She went back into the kitchen and to the cabinet where she'd seen the cocoa and made hot chocolate for the young wood gatherers outside. By the time they'd loaded the wood boxes in the mudroom she had little white styrofoam cups filled with steaming warm liquid and marshmallows floating on the top. As he sipped from the mug Ursa gave them, Hasook told her about how much he'd enjoyed performing with the children, and how in the days after the performance he'd realized he needed to change his life. He'd started volunteering at the school once a week and after about a month Ms. Hamma asked him to take on the class until Katara returned.
Hasook and the children thanked Ursa for the chocolate and started to leave. On the way out the littlest one stopped.
"Hi."
"Hello little one."
"You're Mr. Aang's mommy."
She looked at the little girl with confusion "Uh, I suppose I'm something like that."
"Can you tell him I said Hi."
"I'll do that."
"Thanks" the little girl smiled and started to skip out then she stopped "And your girl is going to be okay, it's just gonna be hard for a while."
"Come on Kyon," Hasook called from the van "I gotta get you guys home."
"Bye." the girl said with a wave and ran out the door.
.~.
As much as Ezra loved Katara his mother noticed he was getting more and more attached to someone else. Everything had become about Zuzu.
Ever since Halloween the two of them had taken to watching movies together. Zuko tried to say that the child insisted on the two of them watching television together, but Suki saw that Zuko was just as interested in the movies as her son.
"Ezra really likes watching TV with you," Suki said after a couple of weeks "I appreciate the way you take up so much time with him."
He shrugged "It's no big deal. He's a good kid."
She smiled at him "You know, if you wanted to you can come up to the apartment and watch them, that way you can pick the movie sometimes."
Zuko blinked at her "You don't have to do that."
"I insist. Besides, your sister and Sokka teasing you everyday can't be all that fun."
"It would be nice to be able to watch them in peace."
"Good, then it's settled." She grinned at him "You'll come up in the morning."
He couldn't help but smile back at her "Okay. Thanks."
"This is some nice material," Sokka marveled as his he glided his hand across Toph's behind.
She held her head up from where it was laying on her folded arms "It's called cotton genius."
"My cotton stuff doesn't feel like this." he commented, hand still skating across the panties.
"Cause I don't wear that cheap shit you do."
"My clothes are not cheap." he said, popping his head up from its resting place on the small of her back.
"Please. My mother would give your boxers to the maid to us as cleaning rags."
He raised an eyebrow "Your mother wants my underwear?" he cradled his chin in his hand. "That's an interesting idea. She's a little old for my taste. Cute though."
She turned over and swatted his shoulder "Very funny." She tucked her hands under her head "Where'd everybody go anyway?"
"The kid's with his dad, Katara, Aang, Suki and Kuzon went to the store and the Emo Fire Twins are in the dojo doing some weird fight bonding."
Toph laughed at the comment, " So that's how we got to be all alone."
"That's about the size of it."
"They should leave more often."
He nodded "Agreed. So, wanna go check out a movie tonight?"
"Naw, I'm going to work with Honey tonight. Some big muckaty muck is having a party for the folks at the factory and I'm going to see what this work thing is all about."
He rolled over and propped himself over her "Awww. It's little Rock Head's first day of work."
She cut her eyes "I work you pretty well."
"That is very true." he said before he leaned down and kissed her.
By the time Hakoda made it home it was late. He'd spent his birthday delivering firewood, filling propane tanks and checking generators and now he had to get his supplies up to snuff. He gathered his Wal-Co bags and went inside. He was sure this would be Ursa's first snow storm and he hoped that it wasn't too bad.
At least now they were friends. Being with her had not only been bearable, it was actually enjoyable. He didn't mind the idea of being trapped in the house with her. With the kids away it would of been so lonely, but his houseguests was good company.
He walked in and the aroma of arctic hen wafted past his nose. As he walked on he caught a whiff of something sweet. Ursa came out of the kitchen "Happy Birthday!" she said happily as she wiped her hands with a dish towel.
A smile and an embarrassed blush crossed his face. "Thank you. I guess the kids called."
"Katara called this morning." she answered and went to take some of the bags "Come on and have some dinner, you've had a long day."
He followed her into the kitchen " I'd love to, but I still need to chop some wood."
She grinned "No you don't. Hasook and the children came and handled that."
He blinked at her "They did?"
"Yes. It was the children's idea. Your people truly love you."
"I suppose they do." the grin nearly covered his entire face.
She took the rest of the bags from him "Sit. Eat. Katara told me what you liked. I hope I did it justice."
Hakoda sat at the table and basked in the aromas of artic hen, seaweed noodles, sticky buns, mixed vegetables and the richest looking cake he'd seen in a long time. He looked around the table, then up at his new friend "Thank you."
She whispered his name harshly into his ear and she clung to the back of his head for dear life. His long fingers and broad palm pressed into her back and guided her as she lifted herself away from his lap and slowly slid down again, totally engulfing him.
Her legs wrapped tighter around his waist and her arms pulled him closer as he drove her toward to the edge she craved. All she could feel was him. All she could hear were the chorus of guttural moans escaping his lips as he approached the same goal. She was totally lost in him and there was nowhere else she'd rather be.
Katara smiled to herself as she gave the drabble one last look before she posted it. No sooner than she'd clicked over to check her dash did she receive a message alert. She smiled when she saw it.
Crazy Air - Writing about me again, I see.
TheWaterTribeGirl - Still vain, I see
Crazy Air - That's a nice story. Gives me ideas.
TheWaterTribeGirl - Oh yeah? Like what.
Crazy Air - IDK. Maybe we can act that scene out.
TheWaterTribeGirl - That sounds like a good idea.
Toph walked up to Suki, smile spread across her face and a red, plastic cup clutched in her hand "If this is what work is, sign me up."
Suki shook her head with a smile as Toph took a sip "Well, you're usually not allowed to drink at work."
"It's just plain old punch," Toph said holding the cup out for Suki "you should be ashamed for thinking I would be drinking alcoholic beverages on the job." Toph felt the Kyoshi Warrior cross her arms and tilt her hip "Okay, I couldn't find anything else." she admitted and took another sip.
"Excuse me Miss." A smooth voice said from behind Toph "I saw you walk across the room and I just had to ask. Are you Toph Beifong?"
She tilted her head slightly in the direction of the voice "Yeah, that's me."
"I knew it." he said excitedly before he walked around so he could look into her face "I saw you and I just had to come and say hello. You were amazing at the Avatar announcement. I watched your part of the performance at least five times."
She grinned "Only five?"
"Okay, maybe more than five." he confessed. She could hear the embarrassed chuckle in his voice. "What brings you to our little party?"
"Ah, I'm just here with my friend Suki, seeing what this work thing is all about."
He turned to Suki "Well thank you for bringing her. You've made my night." Suki smiled and nodded and he turned back to Toph "I hope you're enjoying yourself."
"It's a pretty good party. The lack of boos is a bit concerning though."
He laughed again "Well I'm, sorry about that, but I'm afraid my uncle would have a fit if we had libations here."
She shrugged "Oh well, still a good party."
She felt his attention turn to something behind her and then back to her "I see someone I need to talk to. You will be here later, won't you."
"I'm working. I'll be here all night."
"Good. I'll come find you later." he took a step and the stopped "Oh, by the way," he took her hand into both of his and shook it "I'm Satoru."
