Chapter 3:
The Stakes Have Been Raised
~3 weeks later…~"BODHI!!" Aang yelled, throwing his brother off of him and raising his fists defensively. "I swear to God, I'm gonna kick your ass one of these days. I have to get ready, Sokka's gonna be here soon". Aang said, then Jinora walked in.
"Bodhi, leave Aang alone or next time I may let him," she told her son. Bodhi's face went pale and he left the room. Aang packed his guitar and grabbed his amp then got ready to leave. He went to the kitchen to fix lunch before Sokka arrived, and made the same thing he always did; a nice, refreshing salad. He didn't eat meat.
Sokka pulled up and Aang grabbed his gear on his way out the door.
"I'm out, see ya guys later" Aang yelled as he closed the door. Nylah ran up and gave him a hug before he did.
"Bye Aangy" she said, then letting him go. He walked out, put his stuff in the trunk and got in the car.
"Hey man," Sokka greeted him.
"Hey Sokka, hey Kat," Aang replied.
"Hi Aang, how are you?" Katara said to him.
"I'm good, how 'bout you?"
"Could be better," she said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"What's up?" Aang asked her. She didn't answer right away.
"Rough morning" she lied.
Oh, well if there's anything I can do to help-" Aang replied. She smiled.
"Thanks"
They made it to the hospital and Aang got out. He walked to the doors and when he was out of earshot, Sokka started talking.
"What's wrong Kat?" Sokka asked.
"Nothing, why?" she said defensively.
"Katara- tell me, please" Sokka pleaded. She lowered her head.
"I don't know Sokka, I think I'm just jealous of Aang," she said, following up with a sigh.
"Jealous of what?"
"Well I mean, we've spent every day for the past three weeks together and I think I might-" she stopped. "But he has Suki and I'm happy for them but- I dunno…"
Sokka put his arm around his sister to comfort her.
"Hey, it's okay," he assured her. "I know it's been hard since mom died and with dad away. But you'll find your someone. Maybe one day even-" he stopped. He didn't want to wish misfortune on his friend's new relationship but Sokka also felt that there was something between Aang and his sister. He perished the thought from his mind. He put on some music as they waited for Aang.
Aang entered the hospital.
"Hi, I'm here for an appointment." He would finally be getting his cast off today.
The woman at the desk looked at him and told him to sit and wait. About 30 minutes later the doctor walked in and called for Aang.
"Aang Sōma?" the doctor called out. Aang stood and walked up to the doctor.
The doctor led Aang to a room and Aang sat.
"Alright Aang, I'm Dr. Pao. You're getting your cast removed today?"
"Yes sir" Aang replied.
Dr. Pao nodded and grabbed the machine to have the cast removed. Five minutes later, Aang's arm was freed.
Aang was released but the day's trip hadn't finished there. He went back to the counter and talked to the woman at the desk.
"Hi again, I'm looking for Suki Liu," he told the woman.
"Liu, Liu, Liu… Aah, Suki. She's in room one fifty-three, discharging today actually. Relationship?" she asked. Aang answered the question the same way he did each day for the past three weeks.
"I'm her boyfriend" he answered, then the woman handed him the guest pass. He thanked her and walked to the elevator.
He got off the elevator and walked to her room. He entered and was greeted by Suki, sitting in a wheelchair waiting for him.
Her arm was in a full cast, but she was smiling nonetheless.
"Hey babe" she said sweetly. He walked up and kissed her cheek, which then turned red.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"Absolutely, get me outta here" she said. Aang chuckled and rolled her chair out to Sokka's car then helped her get in. After that he folded her wheelchair and put it inside the trunk. Finally, he got in the car.
"Soooo, Aang told me about this battle of the bands thing you guys were talking about," Suki said, breaking the uneasy silence.
"Yeah, what about it?" Katara asked, semi bitterly.
"Well… he said the three of you were starting a band. He also mentioned that you guys need a second guitar" Suki said.
""Why, you know another guitarist?" Sokka and Katara replied in unison. Suki laughed but Sokka and Katara looked at her with a puzzled look.
The light turned green.
"Oh, Aang didn't tell you then?" She playfully smacked Aang. "I also play guitar, so if you need that spot filled, I'd be happy to" she said… "Well when my arms healed that is" she chuckled.
"Actually yeah, that'd be great. Look at us!! We're a band!!!" Katara celebrated… then she stopped. "I feel like we're missing something though," she said.
"Well what do you all play?" Suki asked.
"I'm a singer and Sokka's a bassist" Katara answered.
"So no drummer then?" Suki filled in.
"CRAP!! We don't have a drummer…" Katara said, embarrassed.
They were all quiet for a moment.
"Well my mother is taking Aang and I to Ba Sing-Se this weekend. I've heard there's lots of musicians to be found there, chances are I'll find a drummer." Suki said.
"Wow, Ba Sing-Se… that's so cool. Hopefully you find someone-" Katara paused. "-for us," Katara said, then laughed. Sokka looked at her disapprovingly.
Sokka pulled into his driveway a few minutes later.
They got out and Aang helped Suki into her wheelchair while Katara and Sokka took Aang's equipment inside and to their basement. Aang noticed they were the only ones at the house, that there were no adults.
He helped Suki inside and then downstairs. He set her on the couch and stared in awe at the basement. It was filled with vinyls and posters and all kinds of music related items. Sokka had an extensive collection of basses that filled nearly a whole wall.
The group got ready to play and Aang plugged in his gear. He slung his sinister black V over his shoulder and felt the fingerboard for the first time in close to a month. He started off running some scales, practicing his triplets and it was almost as if he never stopped playing.
"Damn that feels good," Aang said with a blissful voice. Suki clapped a little and Aang blushed.
"So, what are we gonna play?" Sokka asked.
"Whatever you guys want," Aang said.
"Alright then, little bit of thrash work?" Katara suggested.
"Yea!! How about that new Nomads song… what's it called again?" Sokka replied.
"Rising of the Wind" said both Aang and Suki in unison. They smiled at each other.
"Yeah, that's it. Lemme get the backing track for it" Sokka said as he grabbed his phone and pulled up the song. He then grabbed a shiny green five string bass from the wall.
Katara stood in front of her microphone and Sokka plugged in, they were ready. Katara counted them in and pressed play. The song started with a thunderous bass part, which Sokka played perfectly. Aang stared in amazement as Sokka played, the tone, the accuracy… it was as if he was at a live show. He was so awestruck that he missed the part where the guitar kicked in.
"SHIT!!" he yelled before picking up, playing along to the song. They started bobbing their heads as Aang chugged along to the heavy riff. He looked to Katara, since the singing was about to start. Taishi, the singer of the Nomads had a deeper voice than Katara and typically sang in scream vocals.
To Aang's surprise, Katara emulated his sound, her screams matched his to the best of her ability but it sounded good nonetheless. The three musicians were totally in sync, and Suki tapped her free foot along, enjoying the free concert.
The song was being flown through, all three hit every note perfectly and the solo quickly approached. Aang repositioned himself as he came out of the fast main riff into the solo. He started it out okay but it was clear he wasn't ready for it. He played what he could but eventually had to stop, his wrist was sore. Sokka and Katara paused as well.
"You okay Aang?" Katara said, worried.
"I'm alright, just… shouldn't have gotten back into it so hard yet" he said with a laugh. "You guys have any ice?" he asked.
"Yea, lets go upstairs," Sokka said. The two went upstairs and Sokka went into the freezer. "Wow, we don't have ice packs-" Sokka said. The two laughed. "C'mon, let's go grab some ice for ya" he said, bringing him outside. "Kat, we're taking a quick ride, be back in a minute" he yelled.
"Alright" Katara yelled back. She heard Sokka drive off and she was now alone with Suki in the basement.
"So…" Katara said.
"So...?" Suki replied.
Sokka pulled up to the local pharmacy and the two went inside. They made their way into the area with the ice packs and picked up two of them. They then walked their way over to the wrist braces, as Aang could benefit from wearing one.
The two weren't out for very long. When they got the items, the two left.. Sokka drove Aang back to his house, not knowing of the chaos that awaited them upon their return. About ten minutes later, they arrived.
Sokka and Aang got out of the car and walked into the house, met with screaming.
"...I HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT NICE TO YOU, AND FOR WHAT?!? IT'S CLEAR YOU DON'T WANT TO BE MY FRIEND-" there was pain in her voice, evident even in the yelling. "FIND YOUR OWN GUITARIST, YOU HACK!!"
Aang and Sokka looked at each other then went downstairs. They were met with Katara practically fuming and Suki in tears. Aang ran over to Suki and realized it was time for them to leave. He helped Suki upstairs and Sokka offered to drive them. Aang loaded his equipment into Sokka's car and got Suki in. Sokka drove off.
Aang tried to comfort Suki and helped make her feel a bit better. The ride home was quiet at was was long.
Roughly fifteen minutes later, they arrived at Aang's house. Sokka brought Aang's equipment in the house while Aang helped Suki get into her wheelchair. Suki went inside while Sokka and Aang shook hands.
"Keep me updated I guess…" Aang said.
"Will do. See you in school" Sokka replied before driving off.
Aang went inside and unpacked his gear. He put his amp back in it's spot and hung his V on the wall once more. He then joined Suki in the living room.
"What happened while I was out?" Aang asked, sitting next to her on the couch.
"Nothing…" Suki replied unconvincingly.
"Su- you can tell me you know," he said, putting a comforting arm around her. She leaned her head on his shoulder, smiling slightly.
"... Katara likes you babe" she said.
"Well she is a great friend so i suppose it's not weird for a friend to like me" he said trying to lighten the mood. Suki chuckled slightly.
"No, I mean likes you likes you," she told him. Obviously he knew what she meant initially, but didn't want her to feel any worse.
"Ooh, wow umm… why do you say that?" he asked her.
"Well-" there was a knock on the door.
Aang got up to open it and saw a semi-familiar face, but he didn't recognize him.
"You," he pointed at Aang, walking up to him.
"What- who are you and why are you at my house?" Aang asked.
"You don't know?" the boy said aggressively. "You stay away from Katara, you mouth-breather-" he said, holding a fist up to the unfazed Aang. Aang inhaled deeply through his nose.
"I don't even know who you are-" Aang told him. The boy scoffed.
"I'm Jet you troglodyte, and this is your last warning. Stay. Away. From. Her… or next time you won't be so lucky." he told Aang.
"What do you mean? " Aang asked Jet, confused. "I have a girlfriend, but honestly, YOU should stay away from Katara- you're crazy!! Threatening someone fresh out of a car accident" Aang said with rising aggravation.
"Hmpf" scoffed Jet, then he started muttering quietly. "I should've went for the back"
"What was that?" said a furious Aang.
"YOU HEARD ME, VEGGIE-HEAD" yelled Jet as he charged at Aang. Aang was able to evade Jet's foolhardy attack, ducking down and ramming himself into Jet as he came at him.
Jet fell over but got right back up, no intention of giving up. Aang took a few punches before finally landing a solid kick to Jet's gut, knocking the wind out of him. Jet backed up and grabbed a glass vase. He limped up to the recovering Aang and slammed the vase over Aang's head. Aang fell over and Suki rolled herself in to see what all the calamity was.
She saw Jet standing over Aang with the vase in hand, but something awoke in Aang. He shot upright. Jet got scared.
"Y-you just won't stay down, will you?" he said to Aang.
Fueled by adrenaline and innate instinct, Aang decided the fight was over. He stood up and hurled himself forward, throwing a punch to Jet's face that ended up breaking his jaw. Jet fell and did not get back up. Aang too, fell over from exhaustion and his head littered with glass fell over, bleeding.
A minute or two later, Jinora pulled up and yelped at the sight. Suki sat there pale and paralyzed.
"Suki, what happened??" Jinora asked, frenzied at the scene. Suki couldn't answer.
Jinora called the police and the ambulance along with it. They paramedics took the boys to the hospital. Aang woke up after two hours, in a hospital bed with Suki at his side. His head was bandaged and he was in pain, but he was okay.
"Aang baby, you're awake" she said, then kissed him. "I'm sorry, I have to make a call quick." Aang nodded and she rolled out.
"Hello?" Katara said over the phone.
"D-do you know a kid named Jet?" Suki asked with a breaking voice.
"Suki? Yeah I do, why?" Katara replied. She never got a response, all she heard was the quiet weeps of Suki. "Where are you?" Katara asked with worry.
"...hospital…" was all Suki could say before ultimately hanging up. She felt bad because she couldn't do anything and now Aang was back in a hospital bed.
They were out of the hospital by morning.
The next few days were rough, Aang had school but was in pain. The only good thing to come out of what happened is Jet was charged for assault and battery, hit and run and attempted murder. The group wouldn't be seeing any more of him.
That day at school, however, he would meet someone new, yet someone he knew all too well. That Friday morning, Sokka picked Aang and Suki up and they all rode to school together. Aang and Katara hung out during first period and then, second period he had songwriting with Suki.
He made it to the classroom and was confronted.
"You, airhead, what did you do to Jet?" The boy asked him. The boy was older, intimidating and tough as nails.
"You mean what did Jet do to me- to Suki…" Aang retorted with evident anger.
"I ought to kill you" The boy grumbled, raising his fists. "And just who do you think you are, talking to me like that?"
"Zuko, why are you torturing this poor freshman?" Said a girl, walking up behind him and draping her arms over his shoulders. Aang stared blankly.
"This kid took out Jet. Just making sure he knows his place. Let's go Mai, we can't keep Azula waiting." He said to the girl, then turned his attention back to Aang. "Don't get any ideas kid" said Zuko, turning to walk away. Him turning revealed a massive burn mark surrounding his left eye.
There were rumors about how Zuko's crazy father burned his face with a torch when he was younger. He knew now that those rumors were true.
Zuko walked away with Mai, taking one of her hands in his own. With her free hand, Mai waved to Aang, knowing she saved the already distraught Aang from more trouble. Aang smiled.
"She seems nice" Aang said to Suki when she walked over.
"Eh, more or less," said Suki. "She isn't really the ray of sunshine that I am," she said with a laugh. They went into class and relaxed for a while. Their heads were completely checked out and they just waited for the day to end.
The day dragged on but eventually it ended. Sokka drove them home and they went their separate ways.
Tomorrow, Aang and Suki will be going to Ba Sing-Se. He was very excited for his first real date with Suki. That evening, they went to the hospital. Suki's casts would be coming off and the final limiting factor would be removed.
Aang hardly slept that night, but when he woke up he'd truly be dreaming
A/N: Hellooo yall, sorry I haven't updated recently but 3k words later its finally up. I've been dealing with some crap recently and haven't really felt the desire to type (bc I write these chapters on paper first then type them up for you all) but here it is!! I hope you enjoy :). leave theories as for what you think zukos role will be or whos the drummer for katara aang and sokkas band. will suki be their second guitarist? find out in chapter 4!!!