Chapter 24

Everyone stayed that night at Aang's house, afraid to leave anyone behind even after Smellerbee had reasurred them they were safe for now. They weren't taking any chances in case Jet decided to come after them in the night, when they were most vulerable. Smellerbee and her gang of Freedom Fighters, as they started calling themselves, had left around five o'clock.

The Gaang had sat in silence after they were gone, thinking about everything they had heard. The world was counting on them? Talk about pressure. As if the stakes weren't high already. The teenagers had tried to eat a light dinner consisted of noodles, chicken Alfredo sauce, and in Aang's case vegetables. But it was pretty halfhearted, since no one was really hungry.

They had taken up the guest rooms upstairs, all of them having a hard time sleeping.

The next morning had everyone jittery. Even Appa knew something was wrong. He understood everything Smellerbee had said. The dog knew his human friends were in danger of being assassinated. Today was the day Jet's plan unfolds. They knew of the dangers, but can they resist the temptation to fall into them? They hoped they did, because they were never going to separate, and they were not going to let anyone try.

They didn't eat very much; even Sokka didn't have his usual gusto. And when he is like that, people know something is wrong, very out of place. Nobody spoke for a long time, worried beyond anything and everything they know. Toph looked uneasy as she tapped her fingers on the table; Zuko and Mai were on alert; Sokka and Suki held hands under the table; and Aang was holding Katara closer than usual.

Then Toph sighed, stopping her fingers and said, "Well, we can't hide forever. We have to face these guys sooner or later."

Sokka shook his head slowly. "Why us?" he asked, not really expecting an answer. He looked at his quiet friends who had been through so much. "Why can't we have normal lives like everybody else? Why are we the ones who have to stop these guys?"

Aang looked at him. "Maybe because the Spirits knew the Black Mamba had to be stopped," he said.

The blue eyed boy sighed. "Maybe. But why does it have to be us?" he repeated, becoming agitated. "Why not someone who has more fighting experience?"

Katara spoke. "Maybe it's because we have something that most people never knew about."

"Like what?" Mai asked, her voice sounding bored when really she was curious.

"A bond stronger than a family's," Aang replied, reading Katara's mind, and everyone stared at him. He took a deep breath before saying, "After everything we've been through, no one understands us better than each other. And no one understands the threat better than we do. It was destiny that brought us to where we are now; to bring peace."

Some of his friends, mainly Sokka, gaped while the rest thought about his words. Zuko thought of something and sighed. His friends looked at him as he said, "My uncle Iroh used to tell me 'Destiny is a funny thing. It has many mysteries, but it can be one of the most powerful creations in history. I always thought he was crazy thinking that; but now I see what he means. Fate brought us here, and destiny has written our path to create peace."

Toph nodded appreciatively. "Well said, Sparky." Zuko grinned despite himself. Good old Toph and her silly nicknames.

Suki placed her head on Sokka's shoulder, the words pasting themselves into her heart and mind. "Fate and Destiny brought us together," she murmured. Sokka gave her a gentle squeeze.

Katara snuggled into Aang with a smile. "A bond stronger than a family's," she said quietly, looking up at him. Aang kissed her head tenderly.

Mai gave Zuko a small grin. "A friendship that can transend lifetimes." There was actual emotion in her voice, showing that she meant what she said. Zuko kissed her cheek.

Toph gave a full blown smile and placed her hand in the center of the table. "We're a team. No one can match us, no one can beat us. But most importantly, no one can tear us apart. And if they try to, they would have to go through me."

Her friends smiled for real now as each member placed their hands on top of one another, a sign of promise that they will be there for one another. When they all had a hand in, Aang said, "To our family."

"To our family!" everyone repeated, then laughed as they released their hands. They felt their spirits lifting as they looked at one another, feeling confident about their strength in each other growing.

Then Sokka, grinning like the lunatic that he was, said, "Let's go show those Snakeheads they messed with the wrong team!" Everyone cheered as they left the house, got in the cars, and drove off to school, ready to show that no one can sever their spiritual bond.

The school day went by very fast. It was great, despite what the Gaang knew of the dangers lurking in every corner of the halls. They knew that after school, the spy would call out Toph's name and mock her about how her blindness made her weak.

Sure enough, when the final bell rang and all of the students made it to the front of the building, a boy no older than seventeen with dark hair and green eyes called, "Hey, Beifong!"

The Blind Bandit took a deep breath as everyone stopped what they were doing, reading herself for what she knew was coming, then turned in the direction of the voice and said, "What?"

The guy smirked. "It's a beautiful day, don't you think? The sky is so blue and there are no puffy clouds obscuring it." Then he seemed to rethink about his answer, but Toph knew he was pretending. "Oh, wait. You wouldn't know, since you can't see!" There was some laughter from the onlookers as they looked at that said blind girl, wondering what she'd do.

Toph's face remained impassive as she shrugged and said, "So I'm blind. What else is new?" There was indifference in her voice, letting him know that she was bored. But even though Smellerbee had warned then about this, she could feel the indignation and anger under her cool facade, wanting to boil over. She had to work hard to keep her face neutral.

The stranger looked a little taken aback, not expecting her to respond like that. Jet had said it was going to take a little work; but the spy was hoping to get this done quicker than was expected. He composed himself and said, "Well, sometimes I feel bad that you can't see. I heard that your parents were loaded. What; not rich enough to get your eyes replaced?"

Toph's jaw clench, but she snorted and responded, "Only a complete moron would waste money like that." She looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "Are you one of those money grubbing morons who can't find something better to do than get people laid?"

The laughter after Toph's joke was so loud the whole town could probably hear it for miles around. The spy gaped at her as she and her friends left the school grounds, got in Suki's van with Aang and Katara while Sokka, Zuko, and Mai went into their own cars, and drove away, Zuko leading the little team out. Once they were away, heading to Mai's place for once, all of the members laughed loudly. Katara tried to breathe, but the joke remained in her mind. That was so like Toph to respond the way she did. Suki was shaking her head, laughing like the others, finding it incredible that the blind girl would think something like that. Aang was clutching his sides, having a hard time breathing. Usually making fun of people was never his thing, he would even discourage it; but even he had to laugh at his friend's quick thinking.

When the laughing died down, though a few chuckles were still sounding, Katara regained enough breath to say, "You should not be saying that to people." She tried to sound stern but failed as the words repeated in her head, causing her to laugh a little.

Toph shrugged from the front seat, grinning like she was planning a prank. Maybe she was; people never know when it comes to her. "He had it coming," she said simply.

Katara shook her head, striving to be serious. "Still, even though it was funny, you're only fifteen, so you need to be careful with comments like that."

Toph turned around in her seat and said, "Actually, Sweetness, I'm sixteen."

Katara's eyes went huge, and Aang's grin became larger by her expression. Toph had told him when her birthday was when he had asked during one of their training breaks. Katara had been talking to Zuko and Mai at the time. "When?" she asked.

The Blind Bandit turned back around and shrugged. "This Spring. We haven't met then, so you missed it. My parents went crazy with the party and decorations and whatnot. I didn't care because I didn't have friends then." Then she grinned and added, "Now that I do, you guys get to hear more jokes like I gave that idiot."

Aang laughed again before choking out, "I… " He had to pause to breathe for a moment. "Even I thought it was funny." He looked at her with admiration, even though she couldn't see it. "You did good, Toph. You didn't fall into the trap. It seems Jet will have a harder time getting to us now."

"Don't let your guard down yet," Suki warned, her smile having disappeared and replaced with a frown. "The spy will go back to Jet and tell him what had happened. He could be planning something else as we speak."

That sobered everyone pretty quickly. She was right: it's not over yet, not by a long shot. Jet's devious mind will work out something new, something more deadly if it comes to that. He will do anything to tear the Gaang apart.

The Gaang sat in the livng room as they watched TV. Mai's parents had gone out when she and her friends had come in. Her mother had welcomed them warmly; but her father had scrutinized the team as if they were experiments he couldn't wait to dissect. Even Zuko got the treatment. Aang got the feeling that the man wanted Mai to break up with Zuko, as if she could do better than him. His feeling being proved right when Mai lifted her chin defiantly and grabbed Zuko's hand and they went to the couch.

Now everyone on the couches and chairs, watching, and/or listening, to an episode of Criminal Minds. Well, five of them are. The only ones not watching are the psychic teens. Aang had brought his Greek Mythology book, and was showing Katara the different gods and goddesses that had helped shaped the world. They were communicating with their minds, so as not to annoy their friends.

'Zeus, the God of Lightning, is also the King of the Gods,' Aang said. 'Poseidon is the God of the Sea, Earthquakes, and Creator of Horses. Hades, God of the Underworld, King of the Dead. Although he is one of the gods, he was not considered an Olympian for he lives in the World of the Dead. All three gods are the eldest brothers, each one owning their domain. '

'That's interesting,' Katara commented, fingering a picture of the three gods in their natural elements. She touched something on top of Hades' head. 'What's that?'

Aang looked in the book, and said 'That's the Healm of Darkness. Hades uses it to strike fear into his enemies, causing their darkest fears to erupt in their minds against their will.'

Katara shuddered with the thought. If Hades exists, she hoped he will stay away from them. 'That's just creepy. Let's move on.' She looked into the book to find the Goddesses: Artemis, Athena, Hestia, Persephone, Demeter, and… 'Look, it's Aphrodite: Goddess of Love.'

Aang looked and saw she was right. He smiled and studied the beautiful Goddess. 'So it is. It says here that she had erupted out of sea foam and salt. She is the personification of beauty and grace.' He grinned at her. 'Something tells me she might have had something to do with us finding each other.'

Katara blushed and hit his shoulder with hers. 'Stop that, you nut,' she said, acting annoyed but secretly wondering if he was right. Aphrodite was the Love Goddess. It might be possible for her to bring them together, and a part of her hoped the the Goddess did just that.

Aang shrugged, grinning like an idiot. 'It might have happened. You never know. Maybe these Gods and Goddesses are real and are watching us right now.'

Katara looked thoughtful; then she rested her head on his shoulder as she, absent minded, started tracing patterns on his shirt, touching his necklace and looking at the pictures in the book. There was a picture of a three headed dog, Cerberus, guarding the gates to the Underworld, the Fields of Asphodel, Punishment, and Elysium, a kind of paradise in the otherwise Hell. She wondered, if the place does exist, if they would end up there when it was their time to go. She also knew that if anyone deserved a paradise in the Afterlife, it was Aang. She glanced up at her soul mate to see him watching her, the book forgotten on his lap.

They stared into their souls, not saying anything. Aang had seen the Elysium in the book, and hoped that his friends would make it there. There was nothing corrupted about this group of teenagers who had seen and done so much. Katara touched his face, felling the smooth skin under her fingertips. He closed his eyes as he pressed his cheek into her warm palm. Then unable to help himself, the boy kissed his other half, feeling her lips move with his. He moved the book away from his lap and pulled her onto it, not breaking the kiss yet. They completely forgot about their audience, but the other teenagers decided to leave them alone for once; even Sokka was giving them space.

When they finally pulled apart, they smiled and cuddled before Katara said 'Maybe you're right. If it did happen that way, I'm glad it did.'

He pulled her closer, burying his beaming face into her sweet hair. 'Me too' he answered. After a few more moments of cuddling, the two of them went back to reading about the Greeks and their Myths.

Later on, everyone decided to stay at Zuko's place after he asked his mother. Ursa was a bit confused, but she had agreed wholeheartedly, since she could see how close these teenagers were. After stopping at varius homes to get nightware and what else was necessary, Zuko and his friends were eating dinner with his mother, chatting the night away. Afterward, Ursa had urged everyone to get to sleep. They had school tomorrow, and the Gaang was positive that Jet had planned something for them to either continue to try getting rid of Toph, or to try something else to split them up.

Mai and Zuko were lying on his bed, not really tired; bored more likely. She sighed. "This is stupid," she stated in her monotonous voice.

He looked at her. "What is?" he asked.

She fingered a white scar mark on his chest that was made by one of her knives when they were practicing back in San Francisco. She hadn't particularly happy that day. "The fact that we have to fight these morons."

Zuko didn't need to ask who she was referring to. He had been thinking about the Black Mamba gang as well. If there was a time he wished he were normal, that time would be now. He sighed, running his along her spine, feeling the bumps beneath her skin and loose black shirt. "Yeah. Sometimes it seems like the world is against us, isn't it?"

Mai nodded against him. "It sucks. Why does it have to be us though? Why couldn't it be someone who does crime fighting for a living?"

He shook his head. "Like Aang said: we understand these people better than anyone else. We know what they're capable of. He believes we can do this, bringing back the peace that had been severed from fear. Even you thought we had a chance. 'A friendship that can transend lifetimes,' you had said. And I belive it. We were brought here for a reason, and now have to fulfill our destinies. We can stop them; I know we can. But you have to believe it too, Mai. Or we don't have a chance."

The young woman looked up into his warm golden eyes and sighed through her nose, feeling her heart met. She wasn't a mushy person to begin with; but looking at the young man holding her oh so protective like made her feel a little girly and safe. Her father had had told her that Zuko was nothing but a rebel, a troublemaker. But the man didn't bother to get to know him. Zuko was so much more than what his hard exterior told. He had a soft but dangerous heart, a cunning mind for tiny details, and his love and care was large enough to engulf the world in fire.

She frowned as she thought about his words before giving a small smile. "You always know what to say," she said quietly.

Zuko shrugged, grinning at her. "I try." He brought her closer, feeling her nuzzle his chest. "What do you wanna do now?" he then asked, grinning.

Mai, knowing what he really wanted, smirked and kissed his chest lightly before looking at him, her eyes on fire. "I think I have an idea."

Zuko smirked back before bringing her face close to his and kissed her. She might not think herself beautiful; but to Zuko, she was exquisite, a rare flower that blooms only at night. But if he told her as much, being compared to a delicate flower, he knew she would punch his lights out.

He flipped them so she was top, since he knew she liked to be the dominant one when they do their make out sessions. As their kisses got hotter, they subconsciously started getting louder. And Toph, who was trying to sleep, was right next door to them. She couldn't feel them; but judging from the sounds the two older teenagers were making, the were having a blast. The Blind Bandit groaned and placed a pillow on top of her head, over her ears. And here she thought Aang and Katara, or Sokka and Suki were bad. This was going to be a long night.

I know; it's short compared to my other chapters, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway. The next few chapters will have action, so be prepared. I'll get to work. Poor Toph; curse her extraordinary hearing. Now she had to listen as Mai and Zuko make out. Now she wishes that she had moved to a different room. I debated about giving details for Maiko, but I'm more Kataang, so sorry. Stay tuned for more!