Holidays are too busy T.T Sorry this took so long…
Disclaimer: I don't own A:tLA
Play
"Do we have to, Uncle Zuzu?"
"Ya, Zuko, this is cruel and unusual punishment, even for you…"
"Stop complaining. The theatrical arts are good for the soul."
"And when did you start caring about having a healthy soul?" The Firelord smirked.
"Since your husband lost our bet." The waterbender glared at the Avatar, who was looking very sheepish.
"I underestimated his cherry-tying skills," he replied going slightly red. Sighing, Katara turned back to the Firelord.
"What play is it?" With an uncharacteristic eyebrow wiggle, Zuko told them to simply go get ready; that it was a surprise.
---
"Uh uh. No way. There's absolutely no way that I'm going to sit through that again."
"You've no choice. Our agreement – "
"Aang's agreement. The girls and I shouldn't have to suffer." The waterbender glared at the two men. The Firelady sighed, taking her friend's arm.
"Please, Katara, if not for those two knuckle heads, at least for me. And the play isn't really that bad…" Katara gave her a look, questioning the truth of that statement. "Okay, maybe it is, but really. It's kind of fun looking back and laughing at it all."
"See, Katara? If Mai can tolerate it civilly without skewering someone, you'll survive it just fine." Katara threw her husband a dirty look. Rolling his eyes, the Avatar began whispering in her ear. She took on a look of consideration and grunted out an agreement.
"It better be the chocolate one too or else…"
Looking up at the adults in confusion, Tian Mi stated optimistically, "It can't be that bad, can it?"
---
"Oh Jet, you're so bad."
"Mama, who's Jet?" Tian Mi whispered innocently.
"Just someone I knew a long time ago, baby. Don't worry about it," Katara replied through terse lips.
"But, Mama, if he's bad, why did you go all cuddly with him? That's gross! I thought you and Papa – "
"Tian Mi, it's just a play." Aang laughed beside her quietly.
"That doesn't mean it isn't true. You were all over Jet, my love." His wife elbowed him, but he only shook harder with suppressed mirth. "Mai's right; this isn't so bad at all!"
---
"I had eyes for you since the day you first captured me." Tian Mi sprang up from her seat, startling her dozing sister, and marched over in front of the Firelord. With her hands on her hips and a fierce glare, she looked for all the world like a miniature version of her mother.
She even had the tone of voice down: "Uncle Zuzu, you have some eggsplanning to do!" she yelled quietly.
"EXplAIning, sweetie," Aang corrected with a smirk.
"'Explaining' then!"
Zuko blanched, looking ever so intimidated by the six-year-old. "Tian Mi, I swear that nothing ever happened between your mother and I!"
"So you two weren't alone in a cave together?"
"Well, that happened but - "
"Guilty!"
"No, no! It wasn't like that! We never were together like that. I would never do anything to split your parents up."
"That better be true, or else…" Marching back to her chair, Tian Mi stopped in front of her mother. "And you! We'll talk later, missy!" And with a huff, she returned to her seat. Aang laughed at the surprised looks on the faces of his wife and friend, grateful for the privacy the royal box provided.
---
"Well now, that wasn't so bad, not bad at all!" Aang proclaimed as they left the theater. In one arm, he held his sleeping daughter and with the other he grasped Tian Mi's small hand with his own.
"Aang, never bet with Zuko ever again, understand?" Katara said, still obviously in a fowl mood.
"There's just one thing I don't get though, Papa."
"What's that, baby?"
"… You weren't ever a girl, were you?"