I know I don't usually write shout-outs to every reviewer up top, but not for a lack of appreciation. I just know ya'll don't like big blocks of author's notes, so I try to keep them at a minimum. I really do appreciate the reviews and PMs, though. It's good motivation to keep moving the story along and I respond well to pressure. Thank you so much for taking the time.

CH 18 | The White Lotus

"Oh shit, guys. I think I broke Sokka…" Toph muttered, taking in the sound of her three friends laughing hysterically. The Water Tribe boy was nearly wretching on his own words—the heady mixture of alcohol and incredulous declarations had finally taken its toll.

He started to snap after the first handful of Toph's admissions.

The White Lotus is a real society.

A tea shop owner from Ba Sing Se is actually the disinherited brother of Fire Lord Ozai.

Toph is an underground cage fighter discovered by the White Lotus at an Earth Rumble competition. Presumably because that's something the White Lotus does…watch underground earthbending fights.

The thought made Sokka start laughing and then he just couldn't stop. "I'm sorry…sorry…" he wheezed. "It's just…I saw this girl trying to earthbend her boogers yesterday and when I called her out on it, she said she thought it might work because, her words, "there was some sand up there"". "And now…" Sokka was slapping his knee as he continued, "Now she's our liaison to a near-mythical secret society who protects the integrity of the Avatar position…"

The rest of the friends had started to laugh at how ridiculous it all was. "And my roommate who named that ugly ass plant over there Gladys…" he dissolved into a fit again, unable to continue for a while as the girls toppled in response to Aang's offended expression. "Gladys' daddy is the freakin Avatar…"

"She's a ribbon-winning Anthurium, Sokka. And her name is Gladys because she's a classy lady, so show some respect!" Aang turned to face Gladys. "He didn't mean that, baby. You're beautiful…"

Katara took a deep swig before entering the fray. They were out of liquor, but someone had rooted out a case of tepid beer. She was quite drunk. "TO GLADYS! WELCOME TO TEAM AVATAR!"

"TEAM AVATAR!" they hurrahed.

Aang laid back, taking a calming breath. "I always imagined this decision being a lot…lonelier. Are you really going to be my waterbending sifu?" he looked over at Katara, who returned a listless smile. "Well, 'parently you need to be all realizing of things like right now, yea?"

"I couldn't understand a word of that. You're asking if I need to become a fully realized Avatar as soon as possible? I guess, yeah." He sipped his beer thoughtfully. "I actually feel…okay with this. Guys, you make me want to fight to do better. I haven't felt connected to this world since the last time I saw my people…just…" he looked over at Katara, whose eyes were brimming with tears. "You make me want to be a better man."

"BLEECHHHH" Sokka bellowed. "You two are a couple of sappy drunks and I hate it. Now I can't punch your dumb face until you're sober" Sokka complained.

"Why are you going to punch me?" Aang mused, a flutter of a grin ghosting his face for a moment before Sokka's response brought him back down.

"Because you've been my roommate for two years, Aang! You're my best friend, but you kept all this from me? All this crap with stupid Azula because you wouldn't just ask for help? What the hell, dude?" Sokka's previously angry demeanor returned as he knit his brows in disappointment.

Aang nodded glumly. "I know. I'm stupid. I'm sorry, Sokka."

"—and THEN you get all slutty with my sister after I EXPRESSELY instructed you not to. And now Katara's in the newspaper and Azula is probably going to go after her, and it's all your FAULT! You JERK!" he spat.

"Wait, what? What paper?" Aang said, sitting up.

"WE DIDN'T GET SLUTTY." Katara roared at her brother, and then added in a quieter roar to Aang, "You and me in the Yammer. I'm in your DMs, apparently. Which I am told implies we are sexting? I don't know, I'm just a stupid village girl."

O0o0ooo0o0o0oo00o0oo

Dawn was approaching when Aang realized Katara was going to need help getting put to bed. Sokka and Toph had already passed out at the dining table after a drunken attempt at a tactics session where they discussed the next steps in the Lotus' plan.

Katara, he knew, had mid-morning classes and was going to hate herself in a couple hours. Carefully gathering her in his arms, he used the banister to slide down to the first level where She and Toph's room was. "Mmmm" Katara hummed into his chest as she nuzzled into the warm folds of his shirt. She tried to wrap her hands around the back of his neck coyly as he laid her down on her bed, but he caught her in time. "Uh uh. Not make it weird. You are super drunk and need to sleep." He told her. He helped her remove her shoes and then retreated momentarily before returning with a large glass of water and some ibuprofen. "Drink all of it and take these. It'll help with the headache."

Katara complied while eyeing him suspiciously. "Why aren't you all dizzy and 'tellectually stunted?" Aang chuckled deeply. "Katara, my people invented beer. My alcohol tolerance is practically genetic."

"Seems like Avatar mischief to me." She responded.

"Maybe some of that too, yeah." He agreed. "Okay. You have a class at ten. Do you want me to make sure you're awake?"

"Will you stay here?" she asked him through fluttering eyelashes.

"NOPE." Aang laughed, tucking her in. "You're on the warpath right now, and I'm not going near it until you're sober."

"Aw MAN. You're so HOT right now." Katara complained, dramatically stretching her face with her hands.

"Hey. We're FRIENDS, remember? We talked about this." Aang reminded her, standing to leave. "Besides, you're just saying that because you know I'm a sexy waterbender, now."

"Nope." She said resolutely. "I don't even like the other stuff. Just the Aang stuff. Aang stuff heh…" she chuckled softly, already half asleep.

Aang smiled, full of warmth. "Goodnight, Katara."