Alright, boys and girls! I'm back for the next installment of Homecoming and Parties! Yes...so I wanted to get this out a little sooner than I promised. But I finally got settled into college (I think I've repeated this like ten times on other fanfictions, so pardon me if I sound repetitive), and it's been keeping me super busy! But it's finally friday! So I made some time to go through and finish this up to publish! YAY! I'll address any reviews at the bottom, so please enjoy!
Note: Just a quick note before I jump in. I said something about Aang being a vegetarian in here somewhere and a previous chapter Aang ate chicken at the Chinese Restaurant. Yes, he is a vegetarian, I for some reason wanted Aang to eat chicken that chapter. I must have really been in the mood for Sweet and Sour Chicken...BUT, YES, he's a vegetarian. Before I get reviews saying 'HOMG FIVE CHAPTERS AGO, TEN PARAGRAPHS DOWN, THREE SENTENCES AND TWO WORDS IN IT SAYS HE ATE CHICKEN. IS HE A VEGETARIAN OR WHAT?' I should go back and edit these things...
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"All right, guys! Food!" Sokka announced to the room as he and Suki came in through the front door. "What the hell is up with…this?" Sokka asked nearly dropping the sacks of food as he reached the battle planning that Zuko had set up in their kitchen.
"Sergeant. The army wants you! WE HAVE A TOP SECRET MISSION FOR YOU TOMORROW AND THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING DOWN." Zuko shouted at Sokka.
"WHAT THE HELL? Okay, guys. Who thought it was a good idea to give Zuko a Risk board?" Sokka dumped his fast food bags on the board. The small pieces that had been picked up after Zuko's reenactment earlier were once again tossed to the floor.
"NOT COOL, MAJOR!" Zuko shouted as he dove for the pieces.
"I was just a sergeant! And today I was a lieutenant." Sokka rolled his eyes.
"Do not talk back, private or I'll keep demoting you!" Zuko shouted.
"Is a sergeant above or below a lieutenant?" Sokka asked as he grabbed his Big n' Tasty and large fries from the bag.
"It doesn't matter. YOU ARE DEMOTED." Zuko declared.
"Okay. I'm still on the mission tomorrow, right? I mean…coming to get Appa and all that?" Sokka sucked down some Coke from his large drink he had ordered.
"I don't know. It sounds like you were demoted. You may have to scrub the barracks or something like that." Mai shrugged.
"You stay out of this, he's the leader." Sokka snapped at Mai.
"Well, she's second in command." Zuko put his hands on his hips.
"Way to be prejudiced and giving your girlfriend top ranks!" Sokka growled. "I don't have to give you food!"
"I paid for it." Zuko grabbed for the bag.
"Come on you two!" Katara slapped the back of Sokka's hand.
"But, Katara!" Sokka exclaimed, "Zuko—!"
"Isn't doing anything but being stupid, grow up." Katara rolled her eyes. Aang giggled as he grabbed the salad Sokka ordered for him.
"Damn vegetarians." Sokka rolled his eyes.
"So can we have a real discussion about Appa without the game board?" Katara asked grabbing a fork to share Aang's salad.
"Yeah, well what is there to discuss?" Sokka asked. "We go to Iroh's place ask him what he thinks and then head over to this guys store and confront him about it."
"Shouldn't we get the police involved?" Katara asked.
"We can't unless we have proof, can we?" Toph asked.
"Well, what if we get there and he pulls a gun on us and threatens us?" Katara asked.
"What is it with you and your imagination! People don't just 'pull guns' on people." Sokka groaned.
"This guy sounds crazy." Katara tried to clarify her statement.
"An old antique dealer, who on weekends steals dogs. If anything he has mental issues." Zuko shrugged.
"Yeah, he could go mental and SHOOT us all!" Katara screamed.
"What the fuck, Katara? Settle down! You're freaking Aang out." Sokka gestured towards the freshman that hadn't said anything all conversation.
"I'm just enjoying my meal, that's why I haven't joined in the conversation. I do think that's a little absurd Katara. People don't just shoot people." Aang shrugged.
"Crazy antique dealers who steal dogs might." Katara rolled her eyes.
"Just relax, we'll have my uncle." Zuko tried to calm her.
"And is he some acting force field against everything that's bad?" Katara demanded.
"Basically, yeah." Zuko shrugged without much further explanation.
"Iroh knows how to deal with situations…is what I think he's trying to say." Mai translated.
"Well, will he be able to deal with a bullet through our head?" Katara screeched.
"Katara! The paranoia is a little much! Cool it. Don't come if you don't want." Sokka rolled his eyes.
"I have to protect Aang through!" Katara cried.
"Then come, for God's sake." Toph sighed, "But you better not be doing this the entire time and hyperventilating and all that shit or I swear to cheese I will punch you so hard you won't remember who Aang is."
"All right, all right." Katara growled.
x
All day the next day Aang waited anxiously for the end of school. At the last bell he rushed to the front of the school. He had left everything he didn't need in his locker the period before school let out. Aang hurried out of the school to the parking lot and rushed to find Zuko's car.
"Where's the fire?" Zuko appeared behind Aang.
"How—?" Aang stuttered.
"I had free period at the end of the day and I hung around outside until the end of the day." Zuko shrugged.
"You and your useless classes! TA and free period…what else are you taking? Into to Drawing?" Aang rolled his eyes.
"Hey, that is a very important class. First of all it gets out a lot of anxiety. You don't know how well drawing relieves stress. And now I can properly shade and draw still life!" Zuko explained. Aang gave him a skeptical look. "I would expect you to be taking something like freshman drawing."
"I took it last semester." Aang shrugged.
"Of course you did. Technically I already have all the credits I need to graduate…" Zuko shrugged. "So did you seriously run from your last class?"
"Yeah? So? I wanted to get out of here so we can get to Appa!" Aang exclaimed. "Let's go!"
"Settle down there, we have to wait for everyone else." Zuko sighed. "There's Mai!" Zuko called as he waved to her, forgetting about Aang completely, who looked like he was about to say something.
"I thought we were meeting at your car." Mai sighed drably as he kissed her cheek with a grin.
"We were, Freshman over here got antsy and was down here as the bell was ringing." Zuko explained with a shrug.
"Ah. Well we told everyone the car." Mai explained. "Let's go."
"All right." Zuko agreed. "So you didn't even wait for your girlfriend after class?" Zuko asked Aang.
"I don't see you waiting for your girlfriend outside of class." Aang retorted, harshly.
"He has a point, Zuko. You had a free period." Mai shrugged her backpack up her shoulder.
"Really? Do you need me to walk you out to the car? It looks pathetic when boys follow girls around all the time holding their hand and waiting outside their classrooms." Zuko argued.
"Well, why did you ask Aang, then?" Mai asked, seeming to agree with Zuko. Aang seemed uncomfortable since he considered himself, at least on the verge, of being 'one of those boys'. He liked spending time with Katara! So what? He was allowed to carry her books or walk her to class or hold her hand.
"Because he was out here so damn fast! I was expecting he'd wait for his little friends!" Zuko mumbled. "Guess not."
They found Zuko's car and Katara was waiting for them already.
"Katara!" Aang hurried forward and kissed her cheek.
"There you are!" Katara grinned.
"What? Did YOU run from your last class?" Zuko asked.
"I wanted to get going as soon as possible! Also…our class was let out like five minutes early." Katara shrugged.
"Where's Sokka and Toph?" Zuko asked.
"I don't know! I'm not their keeper!" Katara sighed.
"I think I see Toph and Sokka." Mai interrupted. Zuko, Katara and Aang snapped their heads in the direction of the school. Toph appeared to be dragging Sokka towards the car.
"Sorry we took so long!" Toph declared, with a smug look on her face.
"Toph!" Sokka exclaimed, trying to peel her firm grip off of him.
"That wasn't that long…" Zuko shrugged eying the two suspiciously.
"Sokka had to say goodbye to his girlfriend like it was the last time he was going to see her." Toph rolled her eyes.
"Of course." Katara rolled her eyes.
"We're going on a top secret, high class mission! I had to say goodbye in case…well you know." Sokka glanced around the group with a loud gulp.
"Oh, come on Sokka." Katara rolled her eyes. "Nothing is going to happen!"
"You're the one with the paranoia…" Sokka grumbled, continuing to rub his ear.
"All right, everyone in the car." Zuko rolled his eyes. "Mai, Toph…in the front. Everyone else—in the back." Zuko turned and opened the door to his car.
"Why do you treat us like…like…you're using favoritism!" Katara exclaimed as she reached for the car door.
"Toph, fits better on the bench seat up here. Also, Mai's my girl so she rides shotgun." Zuko explained as if Katara were stupid. Mai rolled her eyes at Zuko with a smirk as she got in after Toph.
x
Before long they were on the road again. Zuko wasn't sure why he let all these idiots come along. They were just distractions. If anything it should just be he and Aang. It was the kid's dog. Even Mai, who was usually on Zuko's side, was not helping things as she fueled the back seat's stupidity. Luckily, Toph had brought her iPod that she used on rare occasion when she really wanted to shut herself off from the world. Zuko was jealous of the girl sitting next to him. The hysteria occurring in the car was about to drive him up the wall.
"If you guys don't shut up, I'm not getting the damn dog back!" Zuko eventually shouted.
"We're sorry! Keep driving!" Aang pleaded grabbing a hold of the driver's seat.
"Okay, settle down!" Zuko gripped the steering wheel. "It'll be amazing if we get there without getting in an accident, the way all of you are acting!" After a little bit longer of this tense driving, they pulled off the highway.
"Mai, find my Uncle's number and dial it." Zuko handed his phone over. Mai sighed with a shrug as she took the phone. Her painted-black fingernails stroked the keys and within a couple seconds she handed it back. Zuko maintained focus on the road as he held the phone to his ear.
"Hey, Uncle, we just got into town—yeah, that's what…Okay." Zuko's neck craned over his left shoulder as he whipped into the left lane. "We'll be there in ten minutes then. See you then." Zuko hung up. "We're meeting at Jeong Jeong's place." The light gave them an arrow and Zuko turned left. Katara squeezed Aang's hand tightly as she noted his anxious glances out the window. He smiled lightly back at her before returning his glance out the window.
"We're almost there, right? I hate long car rides…" Toph mumbled, clutching her head.
"I told you, you didn't have to come if you didn't want to." Zuko rolled his eyes as he got into another turn lane to go right. He made sure it was clear before turning.
"I just hate not being on solid ground for this long, I like to feel solid earth beneath me." Toph folded her arms.
"Well, not my problem that you're blind. We're like three minutes away, can you hold on that long?" Zuko asked.
"Yeah, yeah…" Toph sighed. Zuko finally pulled into the restaurants parking lot and found a parking spot. Everyone hurried out of the car to stretch.
"Come on, inside!" Zuko commanded the group. When they entered a host greeted them.
"How many in your party?" he asked.
"We're here to see the owner's old man club." Zuko told the host. The host only replied with an odd look. "You're going to make me say it aren't you? We're here to meet with the Order of the White Lotus…" Zuko mumbled.
"Ah, very well. This way." The host nodded, finally understanding. The host guided them to a back private room. He knocked three times on the door and said, "Sir, there's a group of children out here to see you."
"We aren't children! Jeong Jeong, it's me Zuko! Is my Uncle in there?" Zuko called, pushing his way to the door. The host looked a little upset at being pushed out of the way.
"What is going on out here?" Jeong Jeong snapped the door opened. Zuko jumped away, in shock.
"W-we're here…and we were wondering if…we-well is my Uncle in there…" Zuko tried to peek behind Jeong Jeong.
"Iroh! You're idiot nephew is here." Jeong Jeong turned around.
"Hey!" Zuko shouted. Iroh appeared at the door.
"Come, nephew…" Iroh smirked.
"Why, can't we discuss it in the secret club room? Aren't they helping us?" Zuko asked.
"They already have…" Iroh led them to an unoccupied table that had been reserved for them.
"So, what's going on? Where's Appa?" Aang asked, anxiously.
"That's right…this is your dog. Why is Zuko being the impatient one?" Iroh chuckled. The entire group looked at Iroh, waiting for him to tell them about Appa. He sensed that it was not the right atmosphere to be telling jokes.
"All right. This is what I've collected so far." Iroh started. "I told you last night that I saw the van pull into the alley across the street, right? There hasn't been any activity all day, we've been watching."
"So what? Do they have Appa or not?" Sokka asked.
"Well, they're not doing any business today…so they must be concentrated on doing something else…like Appa?" Katara suggested.
"Why would anyone want Appa?" Aang sighed.
"They're dog collectors? I don't know! But we'll get him back!" Sokka punched Aang on the shoulder. Aang tenderly rubbed his arm.
"Sokka!" Katara scolded Sokka.
"Look, if the lights are off it won't hurt to go take a look around." Zuko shrugged.
"That's trespassing, Zuko!" Katara hissed.
"It's a store and it's closed. I can walk around the building. I never said I was breaking in, so relax." Zuko shrugged.
"Well, if you're going then I'm going!" Sokka called.
"Me, too! Appa's my dog!" Aang shouted.
"You can't all go at once! You'll get caught!" Katara folded her arms.
"You're just worried about your boyfriend." Zuko rolled his eyes.
"No, she is right. You can't all charge over to take a look, it'll look suspicious." Iroh explained.
"So what? We can't let one person go over by themselves!" Katara threw her arms up.
"You are so irrational! Dear, God! One person goes and looks and another is a look out. We have a signal in case things get dangerous. We don't do anything…just look. Good enough for you?" Zuko asked, exasperatedly.
"Okay, I can accept that." Katara sighed, rolling her eyes at him. "Who's going?"
"I will. Who's the lookout?" Zuko volunteered. Aang's arm shot up immediately.
"Me!" Aang declared. "It's my dog," he clarified. Katara automatically looked concerned.
"Aang!" Katara exclaimed, "You don't have to go! What if you guys get caught? What if the owner has a gun and shoots you or something?"
"Katara! Again with the guns! Let the kid go. Zuko's the one looking around and Aang's the lookout, if anyone's going to get hurt it'll be Zuko." Sokka tried to comfort Katara.
"All right, that makes me feel better I suppose." Katara sighed before hugging Aang.
"Yep, I think that makes everyone feel better," Zuko rolled his eyes.
"That made me feel so much better, knowing you'll be the one in the face of danger." Mai agreed with Zuko, her eyes traveling towards the ceiling.
"Don't tell me you're worried too?" Zuko smirked at Mai.
"I have faith in your ninja skills. It's not like your vandalizing the place." Mai sighed. Zuko grinned at her, placing a kiss on her lips before standing up.
"All right, Aang. Let's move out." Zuko commanded.
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Okay, then! ALMOST TO APPA GUYS. Review tiem!
Katsumara, lol I think a long time ago you reviewed about naming Jet's cronies...I always go through and answer/reread everyone's reviews before posting a new update to make sure I address any issues so I saw probably saw it from like YEARS ago and included it. Soo...that may be why you don't remember that review...or this review, since it's been like three months lol
Kataang-is-MYLIFE, I love doing text talk! I totally forgot about it...hmm maybe I should include some in soon. Hmm...thanks for that reminder...hahaha...that was a good Avatar-filled Christmas! That really reminds me how old this fic is...that Christmas was so long ago!
Taanglover, its cute when brothers are protective. :) I have a younger brother and sometimes I have to remind myself he's not my twin or my older brother. He's taller than me and SOMETIMES can act more mature. SOMETIMES. And I'd like to think he'd be protective of me if there were ever a situation where it came to it...hahah;D
Master Arrowhead, thanks! I know, about the emphasis on Zuko! It's something my inner-fangirl does subconsciously! I have to try to beat her down with a good dose of Kataang...but sometimes Zuko still triumphs.
libowiekitty, thanks! First of all the movie. I was sorely disappointed. I was one of the fans who was really excited for it from the beginning and even more so when the trailer was released, and after the bad acting/writing/casting/overall directing I was pretty upset with it. I still liked it for what it was, Avatar and I'm glad the franchise finally is big enough for them to get a major motion picture made. But meh. When it gets released I'll put it on my Christmas list and see if someone will buy it for me. Hope there's a blooper reel on it or something. AS FOR THE NEW SERIES. *FOAMS AT MOUTH* Who can't be excited for this? I just can't wait to get more pictures/more information than we have. I'm really excited it's more Steampunk based/more mature. I feel like this is going to be a GREAT series. I just hope they sign on for more than just 12 episodes!
KataangDieHard, lol! I don't even think I intended Aang being 'a big boy' to be funny! Well, maybe I did. I definitely intended the 'Gay Thongs' to be! I should bring those 'Gay Thongs' back too...
cpdx, (sorry about the typo...) sorry! I know I go crazy with Zuko...I just CAN'T HELP IT! (see response to Master Arrowhead above).
The Confused Airbender, How can you not get emotional when he does? I love the depth to the show...it makes it so much more real...GAH. I want to go watch the show so much now!
andreskataang, if I understood you correctly...maybe someday, but they're still in high school for now! Marriage is a long way a way. We'll see how long this fic manages to last ;D
If I didn't mention your review, I definitely saw it! These are just the reviews I had an 'OMG I NEED TO REPLY TO THIS' urge. Other than that, thank you to everyone who reviews. Every single review is appreciated!