A/N
I watched the newest Avatar episodes (which would be Boiling Rock Parts 1 and 2- out on DVD before released in the US on television… wonderful) and became inspired. I can't say how great these last chapters will be. The plot is good, but the writing may be rushed.
Characters, setting belong to Avatar the Last Airbender, Nickelodeon Studios.
xxx
With the cash Iroh had earned in tips that day, he booked a room at the village inn for the night. The group tumbled into the room after their respective jobs and collapsed.
"I'm exhausted," Zuko muttered, his eyes half closed.
"You got a job!" Katara cried. "What is it?"
"I'm an assistant to an ostrich-horse trainer. Those stupid animals have more ferocity than you'd give them credit for."
Sokka snorted. "Zuko, that's pathetic."
"Says the one who smells like fish."
"You're going to have to clean up." Katara announced.
Sokka whined, "Why?"
"My coworker invited us all to dinner at her house."
"Oh, that sounds good," Iroh said. He patted his stomach. "I haven't eaten anything since lunch."
"She said we could come over whenever we were ready, so let's go!" Katara handed Sokka a damp towel.
"I'll just stay here." Zuko answered groggily.
"You can sleep walk, can't you?" Sokka asked, slapping Zuko's head with the towel.
xxx
As the sun settled into the horizon, a blanket of darkness was cast over the town, obscuring the otherwise recognizable landscape; however Iroh recognized the path through the shadows as the drowsy group stumbled towards Song's house. Sheer hunger inhibited him from toying with the thought of de-ja-vous for too long. Zuko, on the other hand, was clutching Katara's shoulder with one hand as he shuffled along so he could keep his eyes closed.
"What do you think she'll have?" Sokka asked. "I hope there's some meat involved."
"Shh," Zuko mumbled. "I'm sleeping."
"Perhaps roast duck…" Iroh added.
Katara warned, "Just remember to thank her, and don't scarf everything down. At least pretend to be courteous. And Zuko, you might want to wake up. We're here."
The darkness was so thick that the only things they could see were the flickering lanterns lining the porch.
Iroh blinked. "Katara… What was the name of your coworker?"
"Hm? Oh she's-."
"Please let me sleep." Zuko growled. His eyes were still shut.
Sokka led the way up to the house, and he boldly knocked on the door. His stomach gurgled all the while.
"I can smell it… It's gonna be good." He purred.
"Zuko," Iroh shook his nephew awake. "I think you should wake up now…."
"Uncle, please. I don't-."
"Oh, hello!" Song called out to them. "It's nice to see you again, Katara. And you must be Katara's brother! You two look so much alike: same eyes."
"Sokka," he said, taking her hand. "Nice to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine. My name is Song."
Zuko finally jerked to attention. "Song?"
"Li?" Song peered from past Katara and Sokka. "Mushi?"
"Good evening," Iroh bowed politely.
Zuko was still gaping, trying to ignore both Song and Katara's pointed stares. "I… uh…"
"I think I dropped something back on the road!" Katara said suddenly. "Excuse me, Song. Z-… Li and I will go look for it. We'll be right back."
"Oh! Would you like a lantern?"
"No, no." Katara grabbed Zuko's arm. "It won't take long; I'm sure. Why don't you all go inside and get settled? We'll catch up." She pushed him forcefully towards the lane.
Zuko began stuttering as soon as they were out of earshot, "I-I-I'm… I didn't… She didn't seem too upset! Why are you so c-concerned?"
"Is this the Song you stole from?" Katara demanded.
"I…" Zuko glanced around him and found the item in question tied to the shed. "I borrowed from her. Look, the ostrich-horse is right back where I found it."
"That is not the point!" She hissed. "You stole from her! Now how are we supposed to face her?"
"Listen, this isn't a problem. If Song didn't want us here, she would have pushed us away. Believe me; I know how people react to someone unwanted. Let's just go back inside, eat, and then see how it goes, okay?"
"This… this is wrong…" Katara cradled her head. "I can't believe this. Of all the stupid luck!"
Zuko smirked and impersonated his uncle, "Fate has a strange way of bringing us to strange places-."
"This isn't a time to joke! Okay… After dinner, I want you to personally apologize to both Song and her mother."
"What! Katara, no."
"Why not?"
"Look, this isn't even your battle to fight, so-."
"She invited me here, you spineless, inconsiderate-."
"You're not going to drop this are you?"
"No!"
Zuko sighed heavily. "Fine, then I'll apologize to her."
"Promise me."
"I promise. Can we go now?"
Katara shot one last regretful glance at the unfortunate ostrich-horse before leading Zuko back into the porch light.
xxx
"Did you find what you lost?" Song asked sweetly as they stepped inside.
"Yeah…" Katara nodded. "We found it, thank you."
Song beamed at them. "So."
Zuko pulled his collar. Was it just him, or was the room stifling? "So…"
"You two are boyfriend and girlfriend, huh?"
Katara nodded again. "Yup, happy as a pair of overstuffed penguins." She laughed softly. No one joined her.
"Well, everyone's in the dining room."
"Thanks so much for inviting us," Katara forced her mouth into a smile.
Song grinned back and ushered them into the dining room.
"Seems okay," Zuko muttered to Katara.
Song's mother, on the hand, did not seem okay. She stood at the head of the table, frowning and throwing accusing glances at Iroh. As soon as Zuko entered, she turned her attentions to him.
"Li," she addressed shortly. "What a delight to have you back."
"Uh… Thank you, ma'am. I… am…" He coughed as Katara elbowed him. "I'm very hungry."
xxx
Sokka set down his second empty bowl. Katara shook her head.
"How long will you be staying here?" Song's mother asked.
"We'll probably only stay a few more weeks, just enough to make enough money to get us back on the road again." Katara said politely.
Song dished Sokka more noodles. "Where are you traveling to?"
"Well…" Sokka glanced at Katara.
"We're kind of…"
"We're just sight-seeing." Zuko finished. "After we met in Ba Sing Se, we just decided that… we were… tired of all the war stuff, so we wanted to travel."
Song nodded. "It must be quite the life. And you met in Ba Sing Se, huh?"
"Yes," Katara replied. "We got along so well, we just thought we'd all go together."
"It's a unique friendship we share," Iroh stated.
"So where are you staying now? Somewhere in town?" Song inquired.
"We found a comfortable lodge to stay: The Blooming Lotus." Iroh answered.
"The Lotus?" Song frowned. "I've heard awful things about that place. You should stay here with us!"
The food in Zuko's mouth was suddenly stuck in his throat. He sputtered violently. The other occupants at the table stared until he finally managed to choke out, "We… can't… stay."
"He's right. We've already…" Katara looked desperately to Iroh.
He took his cue. "We've paid for the next few nights in advance."
"No matter. You can get refunds." Song smiled. "Please, stay here as our guests."
"We don't want to be a burden," Katara admonished.
Song shook her head, "No, no. You won't be a burden at all! And I'm sure we could find some chores you could help with if it would put your minds at ease."
Sokka polished off his third bowl. "This is great food." He tossed Katara a meaningful glance.
"That's… very kind of you, Song." Katara smiled through defeat. "We appreciate the gesture."
xxx
"Absolutely…insane," Zuko mumbled.
Song and her mother waved to the group as they faded back into the dark. Zuko noticed that they stayed on the porch until they were well out of sight: thief prevention.
"I don't know what'd more crazy. She lets some past thief stay in her house, and we accept it." Zuko seethed. He shook his finger. "No, wait. You accepted, Katara."
"It'll be fine." Sokka arched his back in a stretch. "It's worth it just for the food, you know. And besides, we can save money on lodgings and get out of here sooner."
Iroh sighed and rubbed his chin. "Perhaps they wish to keep a closer eye on you, nephew."
"Yeah. A 'keep your enemies closer' kind of thing." Sokka added.
"Great." Zuko huffed.
"You brought this on yourself." Katara snapped. "If you had just done the right thing in the first place-."
Zuko narrowed his eyes. "Then I never would have met up with you. Have you thought about that?"
"Ugh," Sokka pushed Katara and Zuko apart. "Just stop it. No one gets to argue with Zuko but me. And Zuko, stop complaining. We're staying with Song, so just shut up about it, okay?"
"This'll be interesting." Zuko muttered to himself.
A/N
So… this only took five months to write, I suppose. That isn't so bad. But it's pretty short. :) Ah well. I want to get to the exciting parts.