Hi, guys! Sorry for the delay, chapters are really packed nowadays. Thank you so much for every review, follow and favorite. It means a lot to me.
First I wanted to ask for someone's help, I'm not a native English speaker and I feel like I'm not the best at describing facial expressions conveying emotions, so if anyone could give me some tips about that, I would be really grateful. Thank you!
Warning: This chapter contains cursing and some sexual insinuations.
In this new chapter, things are starting to relax a little bit for both girls but we reveal some of the drama for both of them and the beginnings of the Gaang are on the horizon.
Response to reviews:
wil02 - Thank you very much, at the beginning I was really doubting my sense of humor but It seems like people like it. Yeah, that introduction and his life as a monk were my way of saying, it is almost impossible to trigger this guy. Hope you like the combo.
TheQuietReader23 - Ha. It is, Azula is a really fun character to write, and you'll see something new in this chapter about that. Exactly, good guy Aang. I wanted to convey that they have a Sokka who has always been there for her. Well, I hope today's chapters answers your question. Then you will be ecstatic about this chapter too, and all the ones to come, they are kinda long too.
sebitodea122 - Thanks, man! You'll get your answer today. Aang is a really good guy and Katara does need him. And Azula is hilarious haha. Thank you for all of your input in our chats man!
Bay45220 - I know, right?! lol. When I thought about this story I didn't know I would have this much fun writing her.
Ashley Barbosa - New chapter coming right up. With some drama too. Glad you like it! haha! Azula into cats it's really fucking funny and it's like her most treasured secret too. Thank airbender117 for that idea. I'm glad you are enjoying it!
WT Aids - Something will happen between both Katara and Aang and Azula and Aang, don't worry, but I don't think they will be a three-way mutual love between them. Sorry man! Don't worry, when the time comes you'll see how they fit together. Thanks for the review!
Again, thank you so much for the reviews, they are really important to me, so thank you! If you have any suggestion that would be too long for a review or something don't doubt messaging me.
Enjoy the chapter and review, please!
I don't own ATLA or anything else mentioned here!
Confusion and revelations.
A night's sleep did little to clear up his mind. He dreamed and relived some of the experiences of his first day of school. The moment he first saw Azula. The couple of smiles she gave him at 2nd period. Katara's cuteness in her every action. Her laughs. The way she turned from playful to concerned and caring in an instant. Her body when they left the locker rooms. The sparkle in her eyes when she was learning about the things she deeply cared for. Then at Azula's house, her casual and equally beautiful looks, the way her body was pressed to his in the floor, the way she was looking at him at that moment, her elegant hands tracing his collarbone and his lips, her breath on his.
But then also, Azula's mean words towards Teo. The angry tone of her voice when she threatened him after history class. Her concern with perfection and the way she reacted when she involuntarily showed her soft side. And then when she screamed at him after their little fall and how terrified she was of what had happened. Together with the complete look of anguish Katara was making when he decided to go talk to her and the distant and hurt look in her eyes he experienced a couple of times during their conversation.
"AHH! This is so confusing. I have nothing to work with here but I don't want to push them or learn about their stories from other people." He said exasperated.
"Also, what is wrong with me?" He asked repugnantly recognizing something he hadn't thought of as of yet.
"I can't have feelings towards both of them! That is so wrong!" But is it?
"I won't do anything about my feelings until I help them get past her problems." He said decisively, but then he thought. But what if doing something about them is the key to helping them?
"Ugh! I need to clear my head!" He said, feeling extremely confused with a preoccupied look on his face.
He then proceeded to get out of bed and continue with the rest of his mourning routine. After readying himself for school he went downstairs to the kitchen, where he found Iroh drinking a cup of tea and eating some brownies. When Uncle noticed he smiled and signaled to an adjacent cup of tea and patted the chair, but then he looked at Aang's expression and questioned.
"Good morning, Aang! You seem troubled, what´s the problem?" Iroh asked gently.
"Good morning, Uncle! Thank you very much for making breakfast" He said as he bowed respectfully and Iroh smiled at his clear gratefulness and manners. Then Aang sighed profoundly. "It's about yesterday...you know, about those two friends I told you about." Then he shook is head and continued. "Gyatso used to tell me that sometimes before you help others you have to take care of yourself, and I feel this is the case, but I can't get the confusion out of my head, not even meditating." Then he remembered another way he used at the temple to reach some measure of calmness. "I wished they played Airball in the Earth Kingdom, it always used to help me when meditation couldn't" He finished his thoughts.
"I see" Iroh said in understanding while stroking his beard deliberately and then an idea occurred to him "Well...why don't you try soccer?" He suggested, and when Aang looked at him incredulously he added. "It's a sport that is really similar to AirBall if you think about it. There is a goal you have to get the ball through and there is a lot of bouncing from player to player, instead of between posts" He concluded smoothly.
Aang's eyes widened as he caught up on what Iroh was implying. "Now that I come to think about it, you're right" He agreed looking like he was trying to remember something, and then it clicked, an Instagram post from Ba Sing Se Social Networks. He took his phone out from his pocket and went straight for the post.
Instagram.
Ba Sing Se High School.
[A photo of students passing the round ball between them]
Liked by Ty Lee, Sokka, and 1996 others.
Ba Sing Se High School. The Kyoshi Warriors soccer team is taking new players to try to conquer the Earth Ball Trophy. If you are interested please call the Soccer General Captain of the Warriors, Suki. Her number: *********.
He looked at the post, the back at Iroh, and smiled gratefully. "You are the best, Uncle." Iroh just laughed in response.
Once he finished his breakfast, helped Uncle clean up and went one last time to the bathroom, he made his way outside to the backyard, where Appa was sleeping under a tree. He woke up at the sound of his master's feet and grunted happily in a welcoming gesture. Aang smiled at his best friend and patted his nose, scratched his head and neck, and behind his horns - Appa's weak spot. "Guess what buddy?" Aang said cheerily and when the bison looked at him he said. "We've got an old friend coming here to visit." Then he resumed his scratching and whispered in his ear. "Momo is coming". At said words the bison's eyes widened and he made a little happy dance with his big feet, Aang just laughed at his excitement. "Okay, pal. I'm air scooting to school today, so get your rest, boy".
Aang took his backpack and jumped the fence, then he commanded the winds to make the air scooter and traveled happily to school, enjoying the wind in his face and the fun of speed. Once he made it tho, he realized he was really early, and decided to give a call to this Captain. He typed the number on his phone and heard it ring a couple of times while he walked around the parking lot, then a cool modulated voice of a girl rang through his speakers.
"Hi! Who's this?" The girl asked.
"Hi! I'm Aang and I was thinking about joining the Kyoshi Warriors. Sorry for disturbing you so early but I guessed you'd be up by now...because we have school and all of that." He explained.
"Hey, no problem, man! I'm Suki! Are you at school yet?" Suki asked.
"Yeah, I'm at the parking lot, why?" Aang asked raising an eyebrow.
"Okay, come to the back, to the bleachers near the pitch. We can talk there" Suki concluded and ended the call before Aang could respond. Alright. He thought.
He made his way there, while some girls stole glances his way and waved at him, making him wave back in courtesy and not flirtatiously. When he arrived he looked around and saw a girl with auburn hair, and light skin, she was really pretty and fit, her face had gentle features, and she was looking at her phone. She had some brown cargo shorts and an Avatar Kyoshi green shirt, that looked good on her.
As he approached the girl looked up and her mouth went a little agape while her cheeks tinted red a little, but then she composed. "Are you Aang?" She asked incredulously.
"Hi! Yeah, nice to meet you, Suki!" He said while giving her his hand for a shake, Suki just looked at it for a second and then shook it.
"Nice to meet you too, Aang" She said smiling, to which Aang reciprocated.
"So...you want to join the team? We are still looking for a captain for the male team" Suki asked with a smirk and some honey in her voice.
"Yeah, I'd like to join but I've only played it a couple of times a long time ago, I don't think I'll make captain." He said honestly, Suki smiled at his humility.
"Well...you never know! Meet me here after school and we'll complete the forms, practice doesn't start until next week." Suki concluded. Aang nodded and thanked her. But Sukki wanted to get to know him better, so she continued. "So...why soccer? You're pretty tall, could have gone for basketball, and you're pretty muscular, football is a lot more popular here between boys." She said while looking him up and down. He was at least 6 feet tall. Good job, Suki! I complimented him in a really smooth way. She recognizes with a proud smile.
Aang blushed a little at her pointers and Suki smiled slyly in return. "Well, basketball could well be but soccer seems more familiar to me" When Sukki's face contorted to one of confusion he added. "We played AirBall in the Southern Air Temple, and it's kinda similar to soccer, only using airbending instead of your feet. And I'm not a fan o violence so football is out of the conversation" He said remembering his teachings, she nodded in understanding and he kept it going. "I see you are a fan of Avatar Kyoshi" He said with a smile nodding at her t-shirt.
"Yeah. I'm from Kyoshi Island, so we learned a lot about her in our youth. She was so badass" She said narrowing her eyes and fisting her hand and putting it in front of her chest. Aang laughed at her gesture.
"Yeah. She was pretty cool, but the monks at the temple didn't like her very much...for...obvious reasons" He concluded and Suki again was made conscious of his non-violent nature. Then an idea struck Aang and before Suki could say something else, he added expectantly. "Hey, Suki! Do you want to hang out with me and a friend at lunch?"
"Y-Yeah, that'd be cool!" She said immediately, wanting to know more of him. Aang smiled at her and thinking about lunch he remembered something very important, and his eyes widened.
"Alright. Thanks, Suki. See you at lunch" And he hastily made his way back inside the school.
The bench was really uncomfortable against her butt, and the number of people that were roaming the halls was making her very nervous. Where are you, Aang?
Then she heard some snickering and a group of boys pointing at her. Then one of them approached her and sat at her side. "Are the rumors, true?" He asked her with a perverted stare once over. "That you're a feisty one?" He finished with a smirk. She turned red in anger, almost fuming, she fixed him with a menacing look and they all laughed. Her temper was at the last straw and she was looking for water to freeze them to the lockers. Another one said. "Look at her face". "It must be true then" And they continued on their way before Katara could do anything.
Katara's eyes were glazed, and her lower lip was trembling, thinking of how she ended in this situation. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? She asked looking up as she once again remembered her loneliness and all the rumors and difficulties that made it almost impossible to make new friends.
Pressure in the bench startled her and she looked at her side with her scowl and furrowed eyebrows, thinking that the same boy had come to pick on her again, but was surprised when he saw Aang's apologetic expression looking back at her with a smile. "I'm sorry! I've got caught up in something. How it's going?" He asked her but Katara's face hadn't changed and he added in concern. "Is something wrong?"
She ignored the question and put on a fake smile to conceal her internal anguish, which was quickly dissipating due to Aang just being there with her. "I'm fine. And you?" Then she remembered. "Sorry about my brother and dad. They get really nosy with my new friends. Are you sure you can come on Saturday?" She asked hopefully.
He laughed lightly. "No problem, Kat. I understand. Yeah, I'm free this Saturday. Apparently, Iroh has some nephew that is going to come to help him" He said with a smile, Katara smiled at his new nickname for her. Kat, I love it.
"Great!" She said enthusiastically. They stared at each other's eyes for a couple of seconds, taking in each other's looks, which for today was very casual, some black sweats and a blue loose t-shirt for Aang and some black jeans and a dark blue t-shirt for Katara. They blushed and coughed and looked away at the same time, drawing a smile to both of their faces again.
"How was the Healing class, yesterday?" Aang tried to make some more conversation before the bell.
"It was really cool. Yagoda taught us how to heal second-degree burns." She said with a proud smile and Aang smiled, having caught another of her passions.
"You really like healing, don't you?" He said smiling.
"Yeah. I want to be a doctor" She said confidently.
"Really? Wow. That's really neat. I'm sure you'll always have work" Then he coughed "Sokka-" and continued coughing. She laughed in response and nodded.
"I swear, he was the worst luck, something always happens to him" Katara squeezed while she continued laughing. After a while, they both calmed down and Katara asked curiously. "And what about you?" She asked but when Aang raised an eyebrow she elaborated. "What would you like to do when you finish High School?"
"Oh! I haven't' thought about it yet but...I really like geography and traveling." He said with a shrug.
"Maybe you could-" She started but was interrupted by a loud bell.
"We'll finish it later" Aang said with a smile as he stood up.
"Alright. See you at lunch" She said hopefully and with a little desperation, but Aang didn't notice.
Katara watched him go with a sigh and prepared herself to go to class. Her first one of the day. English class. She made it to the classroom without a problem and sat at the front and right and looked straight down at her desk, not wanting to experience the looks of judgment in her classmates as they came in and then a book was tossed at her desk. Fahrenheit 451. "Basically, Sometime in the near future, Guy Montag works as a fireman - starting fires, rather than putting them out, burning the last few books in a society that views reading as dangerous. After his wife, half-heartedly attempts suicide and an inquisitive young neighbor is killed, Montag begins to-" The English teacher started while continuing to deliver the books. She paid attention and scribbled some notes while he talked.
Nearing the end of the class the teacher assigned them "I want you to read a couple of chapters and then tell me what does it mean to you a dystopian future and what does it mean to the general public, alright" When the class nodded. "Dismissed". Katara packed up and made her way to the next class.
She was again sitting alone at the launch table, waiting, again, for Aang, again. He is really not the most punctual guy. But as she finished her remark he saw him walking towards her table with...a girl at his side?! A frown quickly found herself in Katara's face, but then again when she saw Aang blush as he looked at her it was replaced by a thin line formed by her lips, neutral.
Suki noticed who Aang's friend was and surprise and worry quickly washed over her face. Then she contemplated. The comments say she is really pushy and motherly. That's not too bad I guess. You could debate if it was a downer really. But she understood that most people didn't like that kind of commitment and wanted more space for themselves. And the rumors about her and Jet? I can't and won't believe that this girl slept with him. She's just too good for that asshole. There is no way. She affirmed. So then, the only thing I'm worried about is being paired with an outcast. Then she looked at her side at Aang and thought. It's worth it.
They both sat in front of Katara, much to Katara's displeasure because yesterday Aang sat beside her. And Aang made the introductions with a smile. "Hey Kat! This is Suki. Suki this is Katara!" Doing the proper motions with his hands.
"Hi, I don't think we've met before, so, nice to meet you, Suki" Katara said with a kind of fake smile while she went for a handshake.
"Hi! I don't think so. Nice to meet you too, Katara" She said with a smile as she took her hand.
Everyone sat comfortably with their respective trays and dove right in while trying to make conversation. Katara was first because she was really intrigued. "So, how did you two meet?" Trying really hard to sound casual.
"Aang wants to join the soccer team, so we met before school started" Suki said with a smile and Aang nodded.
"Oh! Cool!" Katara said already thinking of going to cheer him for his matches.
"What about you, Katara? Would you like to play for the Kyoshi Warriors?" Suki offered with a smirk.
"I really like the sport but...It's not for me." Katara responded and then followed with. "I despise running fast" She clarified with disgust, to which both Aang and Suki laughed. "Like I can enjoy a jog, but sprinting and that stuff. Ugh!"
"Yeah...I get you, and it's even worse now in summer" Suki supported.
"Right?! It's like...like- It's suffocating. No, thanks!" Katara asserted. "I'm more of a swimmer" Katara revealed with a sad smile.
"Nice! Are you joining the swimming team?" Aang said hopefully thinking of the friends she could make there. He had already noticed - if it wasn't obvious by her sitting alone at the launch table - that she didn't have any friends. Something that saddened Aang deeply and made him wonder about the reasons. Katara is a really nice girl. He thought. I wonder what's the story.
But before he could think any further Katara responded. "Mmmm...no, I don't think so. It's been a while since I've swum." She said remembering her mother like yesterday. It seemed like now with Aang in her life he was making resurface all the things she used to like to do with her mother. And she welcomed the repercussions eagerly, so she decided. "Maybe I will. Who knows" She said cryptically.
"That's the spirit!" Aang said enthusiastically. "I promise if you go for it I will go to your meets" He added as if trying to negotiate.
She nodded in response and said "That'd be gre-" before being interrupted by her brother sitting down beside her.
"What's up, Sis? Hey, Aang!" Sokka said smoothly trying to convey the fact that he was here because he saw them with his crush. He looked at Suki and then at Aang expectantly and Aang responded.
"Hey, Sokka! How are you? Have you met Suki?" He said, Sokka shook his head. "Sokka, this is Suki. Suki this is Sokka, Katara's brother". He finished with a smile at the chance of pronouncing Katara's name again.
They shook hands and looked at each other before saying at the same time "Hi! Nice...to...meet...you" And they both ended with a smile at their coordination. Aang noticed them blush a little and understood the situation.
"Hey! You are a junior, right?" Suki asked remembering his face from somewhere. Sokka nodded with a smile. "You seemed familiar, I think we have some classes together" She said in affirmation.
Sokka tried to play his aloofness and raised an eyebrow "Oh, maybe...I didn't notice" He said looking at his sides as if conveying disinterest. Suki frowned because he seemed to not have remembered her when she clearly did.
They continued to eat from their respective trays in silence for a while when Sokka noticed that Aang didn't have any meat with his food, so he asked intrigued expecting some plausible explanation for not having literally the most delicious food in existence. "Where is your meat, Aang?" He said pointing to Aang's tray.
Before Aang could respond Katara cut in. "He's an Air Nomad, Sokka. They are vegetarians" She said as if it was common knowledge, which it was.
Sokka just blinked incredulously and then looked at Aang with disgust, and then almost religious zealousness about his beloved meat. Like he had to convert a non-believer. "WHAT?!" He actually screamed making some of the people near their table look at them curiously. Katara just tried to cover herself from the embarrassment. "How can you NOT eat meat? The most delicious and perfect eatable there is. Are you kidding me?!" Sokka finished with conviction, which amused Suki to the point of almost making her laugh, though he couldn't cover the smile on her face.
"I believe that all life is sacred, Sokka" Aang responded calmly as if Sokka hadn't just yelled at him. Sokka just shook his head and let it go, not before muttering an "unbelievable" under his breath as Suki snorted a bit looking at Sokka, and he smiled in response.
Katara saw this interaction and the perfect idea emerged from her head, something that would kill three birds with one bullet. Help her make a friend, help Sokka with his crush and most importantly be able to have Aang all for herself. At the thought, she smiled slyly and then raised her voice sweetly. "Hey, Suki! Do you want to go Ice Skating with us today?" The question first startled Aang, but then he nodded with a smirk seeing that Katara was ready to make a friend and her brother was ecstatic at the notion but didn't show it at all.
Suki considered everything for a second. She wanted to get to know more about both boys and maybe even make new friends. Aang seems perfect and Sokka is good-looking too, and kinda funny. It was a no-brainer for Suki at that point and she said. "I'd love to! What time?" She said with a genuine smile.
Before the boys could say anything Katara said while looking at the two with a coy smile. "About that...could we go a little sooner, like 6 PM? I have a lot of homework and-"
"Of course" Aang said simply while smiling at her.
"Alright. So 6 PM? We can use my car." Said Sokka and everyone nodded. At that moment - perfect timing - the bell rang and everyone cleaned up and said goodbye.
Katara and Aang had to go to Geography, but Aang had forgotten some of his notebooks and told Katara to go wait for him in the classroom while he got his things. While he walked through the hall he remembered the situation with Azula and the tension in History class.
He was walking towards the History classroom when he saw Azula enter it, he went right behind her and sat at her right. "Hi!" He said while waving at her. No response. "I'm sorry about yesterday!" He tried to apologize for something. No response. Alright, her problem. I didn't do anything wrong. He thought.
As the class started and continued she didn't even look at him once, and when the teacher asked about the project she answered every question before he could even open his mouth.
He shook his head out of his flashback and continued walking.
"... and then it was just a question of getting used to it." Toph concluded as she walked with Azula down the hall while Azula played with some sort of quadrangular chip in her hands.
"So you just put this in the back of your neck and depending on where the pressure is experienced and the different intensity of it you can understand how the terrain of the map is like and where the other players are on the screen?" Azula concluded which Toph only nodded in response.
"Cool!" Azula said with an impressed smile that then turned mischievous. "And what if it - for some unknown reason - fell out of my hand and broke?"
"Bitch! Don't you dar-" THUMP. And Toph was sent back a couple of steps before she assumed her horse stance.
"I'm so sorry I didn't see you" A boy quickly apologized.
"Watch where you are going, idiot!" Toph said while she rolled her arms. "What's up with your fancy feet? I couldn't even see you" She then added curiously and trying to defend her ego. Aang just looked at her with an unreadable expression and thought. What? Then by looking at her eyes he noticed she was blind and... it still didn't make any sense, but before he could question her, Azula spoke.
"I see you're still keeping that hobby of yours of tripping people!" She accused while glaring at Aang, then she smirked and directed her next words to Toph. "He is an air pussy, that's why you couldn't see his monkiness approaching. They train in the pussy temples to walk like pussies and not disturb each other during their spiritual ANALysi-" She couldn't finish the sentence because Aang had pushed her hard against the lockers - thump - and was pressed against him from the other side. He had both hands on her shoulders and was glaring at her from above.
She gasped and looked at his serious expression, he had hurt in his eyes that was impossible to hide but she could only focus on their proximity and how close their lips were. She shivered and realized she was kind of...turned on by his forcefulness. Then he started with a really deep voice. "You can say anything you want about me" He paused and narrowed his eyes. "But don't disrespect my people" He finished and let her go, while he turned to his side and continued on his way.
The only thing that prevented Azula from swooning straight to the floor was that she was inclined against the lockers still, she had her hands sprawled on them at her sides below her waist, she was sweating and breathing heavily. Her eyes were half-lidded and mouth agape, she was shaking slightly and to her surprise, she was wet.
That was. So. Fucking. Hot.
Y-Yeah. It was. Her usual voice of reason agreed.
"Some balls that kid has to stand up to you." Toph commented, and then she smirked. "Was he handsome or something?" She asked mischievously. After a moment she received her response.
"Y-yeah...Why?" Azula asked while trying to recover.
Toph laughed and said. "Because your heart is going nuts" And then she laughed some more. "What I would give to see your face right now" She continued while her laughing intensified. Azula didn't care for the teasing, she was too preoccupied trying to calm herself.
Not receiving a response at her teasing Toph said. "Well, I have to go, but see you tonight at COD, alright?"
Azula heard that and reacted before Toph started walking away. "Umm...I don't think so. My father comes back tonight from a political meeting and he won't let me play" Azula finished sadly.
Toph nodded in understanding. "I know the feeling! At least mine lets me play. Oh well, sucks to be you!" She said cheerily while walking away leaving Azula to her thoughts.
Azula remembered that she had a class to go to, so she made her way there. She was late but the teacher couldn't tell her anything because of her family name. So she went to the double benches and sat next to Ty Lee who was not looking at her with a pout.
Her previous experience had softened her somehow temporarily and she looked at Ty Lee and toucher her arm gently. "I'm sorry Ty Lee. I don't want to fight with you. I'll try to be better" She said with a smile. Ty Lee instantly hugged her and smiled.
"Thanks, Azula!" She said cheerily and as if nothing had happened from the last day and half that they didn't talk because of their fight, she asked. "So...what's up?"
They didn't really have to pay attention to the class, because from Azula's part she had already read the book they were going to talk about in this English class and for Ty Lee, she could make any boy in the classroom make her homework.
"Nothing much, you?"
Ty sighed. "Not much also, I saw Aang today but he seemed to be in a hurry and didn't even look at me" She finished with a cute pout.
"Oh! Don't worry, I'm sure it was important." She said trying to reassure her and it worked because her friend smiled and then smirked.
"Some bird told me you have a class project with him" She said slyly.
"Yeah...It didn't go well" She said cringing at the memory.
"What? Why?"
"W-Well...He-" She sighed. "I kinda trip and ended on top of him but I freaked out and kicked him out"
"But why? don't you like him?" Ty asked incredulously.
"Of course not!" Azula said immediately trying to sound confident. "And plus, my father won't allow that kind of thing".
"...It is important to follow the chi paths and draw the energy from them to heal the wounds that are not on top of the paths." The teacher finished. "Well, that all for today, tomorrow we'll learn what to do if the burn is on top of the paths. Dismissed" Said Yagoda.
Katara sighed and looked at her phone. 4:30 P.M. She had a lot of energy still and was really excited about the evening. So she decided to put that extra energy to good use and went for the locker room, changed in some running shoes, shorts, and a t-shirt, and then went home while jogging.
In the way, she contemplated the last two days of school. She had made at least a friend and was possibly in the way of making another. Things were looking good she thought with a smile. Maybe I'm finally going to get out of this dark place. She said while thinking about her depression but shaking and coming back to her happy thoughts about Aang.
While gently running she noticed an alley, and her eyes widened at what it contained. Jet's Gang. She stopped and gasped. And all she tried to forget came back.
She was curled into a ball in the bathroom sobbing while talking with her brother on the phone. The door was locked and there was banging from the other side and the sound of music coming from Jet's living room where they were having a party.
"... I-I'm re-really s-scared, S-Sokka. Please, hurry!" She whispered at her phone while her sobs intensified.
A couple of minutes later there were some loud sounds coming from downstairs and the voice of her father revered through the house. "WHERE IS SHE?!" When he repeated the phrase and came closer to the bathroom she opened the door and when her father saw her he embraced her and she cried.
"It's ok, princess. It's ok" He consoled her while rubbing circles in her back and cradling her head. "What did he do?" His tone changed from caring to serious.
Katara did her best to speak clearly through her sobs. "H-he tried t-to...tried to-"
Hakoda didn't need to hear anything else, he already knew, but then the voice of Sokka asked. "But he didn't, right?" he asked desperately.
"N-No. I-I run a-and locked m-myself there." She responded while hiccuping and pointing to the bathroom.
Then they went down the stairs and her father's voice was heard again, and again, every time more harshly. "WHERE IS HE?!" He asked every one of the party-goers, that consisted of most of his gang but nobody responded, when he grew tired of questioning he threw a punch to a wall and made a hole in it. Then took a big boy by the shirt and shook him. "WHERE IS HE!" He screamed at him but when he didn't answer he let him go and his anger made him want to break some more. He went to the living room and kicked the T.V. breaking it in the process. "Tell him that he better not cross my way" He threatened sternly, and then they made their way home.
Katara shivered uncomfortably at the awful memory and how badly she had read things, how badly she treated Sokka when he warned her, and how it all culminated in Jet's Gang making rumors about the night to get revenge.
The old Katara would have faced them, but this one was too scared, so she crossed the street and ran home, while all the way trying to forget again. When she made it home she tried to calm herself, she stretched, took a bath, did some chores for Malina, and tried to occupy herself. She even put on Netflix and continued Dark where she left it the last time, but she couldn't watch much because Sokka was telling her it was time to go, but there was no hiding the frown on her face.
Sokka opened the door of the back seat for Suki to get out, while Aang did the same for Katara in the passenger seat. "After you, my laddie" Sokka said in a gentlemanly deep voice while bowing. Suki laughed and responded "Follow me, my lord" And made her way to the entrance of the place.
Aang and Katara just shook their heads at their antics and smiled at each other for a second, before Katara looked away with an unreadable expression, Aang found it weird but didn't say anything before following the other pair. When they entered the coldness hit, and they were grateful to have brought sweats and hoodies to the ring.
They made it to the counter, asked for their skates, and made their way to the entrance. Aang was really nervous and finally admitted. "I have something to confess" Everyone looked at him. "I've never done this before." He said with a frown and looking away. He was aangxious.
"You never skated?" Sokka said with some disbelief while rising one eyebrow. Aang shook his head. And you invited my sister here anyway, you player!. Sokka growled inside. "Well, it seems I'm not going to be the one who falls today" He said with a smirk.
They were all inside except Aang, relearning the art, remembering the techniques. Aang was genuinely scared and didn't want to fall, so both girls looked at each other and smirked, made their way to the entrance, and grabbed him. "Come on you scaredy-cat!" Suki teased. Aang started panicking when they pulled him inside, one arm on Katara and the other on Suki. They skated slowly while Aang made his best to not look like a fool while Katara and Suki were laughing their lungs out. Sokka was glaring at him because not only he had the attention of his sister but also of Suki.
Sokka wanted Suki's attention, so he took a couple of deep breaths, visualized what he was going to do, and put himself in the correct position, then started moving. This trick could go really really bad, as it was usual for him, or extremely good, a little twirl is what he was going for. When he had sufficient speed and was close enough to the girls, he went for a jump, impulsing himself up with his right foot and going for the turning motion, but the force of both movements was far too powerful for the simple movement. Katara and Suki both gasped in horror. All in or nothing. Sokka thought and continued, he did instead of the one twist, multiples ones, and miraculously landed and didn't fall. The people on the ring applauded and he approached the girls with a smug smile and a little bow.
"That was really impressive, Sokka! I didn't know you were this good." Suki said amazed and adding a little flirt to some words while letting go of Aang's hand to get closer to Sokka. "Maybe you could teach me" She said slyly and Sokka nodded with a smirk to follow him.
In their little flirtatious moment, they left Katara alone with Aang, but he wasn't ready yet, so he started slipping as if in limbo, not standing but not falling also, Katara was at first concerned for him but the goofy movements were too much and she started laughing really hard but managed to give him some advice in between laughs. "It's all about balance" She said while smiling widely.
Something clicked inside Aang's head and the slipping motion diminished enough that he was able to stand still for a second. "I did it!" He said happily like a child learning to do some new trick, Katara smiled at his antics.
Aang continued learning for a while until he got the hang of it and was skating decently. That's when he took Katara's hand and she blushed. "Let's skate together!" He said cheerily, Katara nodded with her pink-tinted head. And they started circling the ring while talking, then Aang got an idea. "What if I use airbending to go faster?" He questioned more to himself than to Katara.
"No! You could get hurt, it's extra dangerous" Katara's motherly instinct kicked instantly. But when Aang didn't pay attention she added. "And it's not permitted, you could bump into someone and really hurt them" She said sternly, that was enough to deter Aang, he didn't want any hurting and his head dropped at the prospect of not trying the feat that had gotten him pumped a little, Katara noticed and tried consoling him. "But...we could go for some ice cream?... What do you say?" She asked gently, and Aang smiled and nodded at her.
When they arrived at the benches Suki and Sokka were already there, about to buy the ice cream, they got Aang's and Katara's flavors and went on their way. Leaving Katara and Aang alone again, he used the time to pry something out of her. Aang asked gently. "Hey, are you feeling better?" He said with a smile.
"Umm..yeah. Why?" Katara said quizically.
"Oh, it's nothing. It's just that you seemed kind of down during the trip here". Aang said nonchalantly trying to be really casual.
Katara stiffened and said. "Oh, must have been your imagination" She said with an unreadable expression and monotone voice, Aang caught on and decided to at least give her some reassurance.
"Sorry! Just know that you can tell me anything, just in case" He responded with a slight smile while looking at her in the eyes, Katara appreciated his concern and nodded.
"Thanks, Aang!" I'm not ready yet. She thought.
Right then Sokka and Suki came back with the 'food', they got down to it and chatted a little while, but about an hour had passed and the time was up, they put the skates back on place and put their shoewear again and went right to the parking lot, that's when Sokka remembered something. "Hey Suki, I haven't got your number" He said casually with a smile directed at her.
"Oh, here, give me your phone" She responded.
While this was happening Katara noticed something. "Hey, Sokka" She said curiously. "You didn't fall today...nothing happened to you today now that I think of it...your luck must be changing" She concluded, but at the instant, the words left her mouth a huge Pigeon turd collided with Sokka's shoulder splashing everywhere. "EWWW" The girls said and Aang laughed.
Sokka sighed and said "Thanks, Sis!" and then he started doing some funny movements, kinda like a stupid dance. Aang and Suki stopped laughing and looked at him like he was crazy, Katara just snorted and explained.
"It's his misery dance, for when something bad happens to him, it's his way of cheering up" She concluded while smiling at her idiot brother. A couple of oohhs were heard and Suki shook her head with a smile and little snickering, while Aang pondered on the usefulness of the little weird habit.
"We should do this some other time again" Suki suggested and they all nodded to her, the little hang out was fun for all of them, although it didn't end on the best note for Sokka, he had the number of the girl she liked and she seemed to be into him.
After a while - and some cleaning on Sokka's shoulder - they made it to the car and the turd master got them to their respective homes.
The dinner was silent at the huge table. "Pass me the salt, Zuko" Azula demanded.
"Ask me nicely" He responded while continuing eating his spicy stake, but a little smirk found himself in his chewing mouth at the prospect of Azula being nice.
"Ugh!" She grunted and got up and took it herself, making Zuko snicker at the process.
Then Ozai spoke and got both their attentions. "So...Azula, why did the servants inform me that they let a boy in on the house yesterday?" He said with a raised eyebrow and a scowl on his face.
"It was nothing, father. We have a class project together and he came to work on it" She responded.
"What? I thought I made it clear to the teachers not to pair you with any boys. I don't want them corrupting you, you have to stay pure for your future husband. We are still looking for the right opportunity" He concluded sternly, already thinking that he had to make some calls later to set the school straight.
"I was told your partner is the new Airbender kid" Zuko added while looking at Azula.
"An Airbender? Ha. Then we have nothing to worry about, those weaklings won't do anything to get something for themselves!" He said while laughing. "Anyway, don't go giving the boy any ideas, Azula" He finished while looking straight at her.
"Yes, father!" She said mechanically, that's when she remembered the look of hurt on Aang's face earlier that day, and some guilt consumed her.
Later that evening when she was all alone in her room she took her phone and thought about apologizing to Aang.
Apologizing?! Again? You already apologized to Ty Lee, I can't take any more. You are becoming a softie.
And with that thought, she receded on her intentions and went to sleep.
"...So, for the record, you wrote this? The Fire Nation Capital is the seat of the government for the Fire Nation. It is home to the Fire Lord, the royal family, and nobles of the Fire Nation. The capital is located on the Capital Island, a larger island in the western region of the Fire Nation. Right?" Katara asked Aang while they were on a call of homework duty.
"Well, yeah, basically...I have some other details because I went there a couple of times, I have a friend that lives there" He said and added. "But that should be enough for Zhao" He asserted.
"Alright! Thanks, Aang!" She said while closing her notebook and yawning. "Alright, I'm beat. I'm turning in for tonight. Thanks again, Aang!" She said with a smile looking at her phone where Aang was looking straight at her and smiling.
"No problem, Kat. See you tomorrow!" He said happily.
"See you tomorrow, bye!" Katara answered before ending the call.
She was about to make her way to the desk to write on her diary when her father knocked and entered her room. "Hey, sweetheart" He said sweetly while sitting next to her.
"Hey, dad" She responded with a small smile.
"How was your day?" He asked.
"It was really good, dad. I'm making new friends" She said with a smile.
"We'll see about that boy. I don't want anyth-" Hakoda said in a neutral expression before getting interrupted.
"I know. I know. You don't have to remind me" She said while looking somewhere else with a frown on her face.
"I'm sorry." He apologized. "You know how much I care about you" He said with a smile while looking at her but she was still not reciprocating it. "You sure you're ok? Malina told me that you were a little out of it today when you came back from school" Hakoda prodded.
"Yeah, I'm ok. It was nothing" She responded monotonously. Only that probably the revenge I'm experiencing now comes from your anger issues. She thought bitterly in her head.
"Okay, sweetie. Goodnight, love you!" He said while he kissed her temple and went for the door.
Katara said a weak "Goodnight!" and continued with what she was doing. Once everything was set up she started writing.
August 18th. Tuesday.
Hi, mom! I'm really sorry about how I just treated dad, it's that sometimes it really gets to me and I blame him when the fault was all mine. I shouldn't have been so trusting, but I learned my mistakes and that will never happen again.
I'm doing so good now mom! I have two new friends and today I had a lot of fun, in spite of the picking and that near encounter with those idiots.
I feel like Aang is trying to help but I can't tell him yet. He seems like a great guy but I want to be sure, Mom! I hope he understands. I really like him, he is so sweet and caring and calm, always happy and trying to cheer me on, a gentleman too.
She snickered coyly then.
And his looks aren't that bad either, mom.
She laughed then.
But I was too trusting last time, I won't be now, I want to give it time, although I'm starting to notice that Aang gets a lot of girl attention. I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with that, Mom! Any suggestions?
Well...anyway. I'm really feeling a lot better, mom. I don't feel so numb anymore and old me is starting to come out. I still get a little sad remembering all the things we used to do together, but Aang is starting to lead me back to the things we liked doing together so much. The future is bright! And I never thought I would be saying this, but, thank you for Sokka mom, he's been so understanding lately in spite of his stupidity, but I wouldn't change him for anything.
Tomorrow is a new day, and nothing is going to stop me from enjoying it. That's the spirit. Thank you for listening mom. I miss you so, so much! I miss your hugs. I miss your laugh and the way you would calm me down.
She laughed remembering some of the times when she was young and her temper almost resulted in homicide against Sokka.
Your advice. Your smile.
She sighed
I miss everything about you mom. I love you so much and I know you are looking out for me. Thank you! Goodnight!
