"Merits" for the vamp Zutara challenge. Part Eight.
Fandom: Avatar: TLA
Pairing: Zutara
Length: 1400 words, approx.
Rating: T
Disclaimer : “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and all related rights belong to their original creators… I am not among their ranks.
AN: In response to
hyper_roo' s vampire/Zutara challenge, I present…
"Merits" -- Part Eight:
Amidst the wandering crowds, Toph and Sokka made their way to Gate 42. Their coats were open in the stifling heat of the building, and they bumped along trying not to trip over the luggage trailing after the departing and arriving passengers.
“So he’s coming in today? You’re sure this time?”
“Yes, I’m sure. He called when he was leaving the departure gates to wake me up,” groused Sokka, blowing his long bangs out of his eyes. He hadn’t been able to find an elastic before he left, and refused the barrette Toph had graciously offered him in the car.
From beside him, the blind girl chuckled. “And you’re sure it’s 2:00 pm, not am, right?”
“You’re never going to let that go, are you? Look, I already apologized to you three times for that!”
“I had to close my show early that night and everything!” she complained, poking him mercilessly. “And had you checked the schedule? Noooo….”
Hmph-ing grumpily, Sokka looked up at the signs above the luggage carousels to see which one was to expect their friend.
“Come on, over here,” he said, tugging on Toph’s sleeve to keep her close. Had he looked back at his companion, he may have noticed the faint blush on her cheeks - however he was too stubborn and so continued unawares.
The pair spent a short time seated on some uncomfortable plastic chairs before Toph jumped to her feet, pointing directly to a handsome young man with a rucksack. “It’s him! It’s Aang! AANG! HEY AANG!” She waved wildly. “What took you so long, huh?”
“Yeah, she’s been driving me crazy!” Added Sokka, giving a playful jab at Toph. The young woman shoved him hard enough to send him flying backwards in retaliation. Several chairs fell over, clattering to the ground. Toph ignored them, and Sokka’s surprised squawk of protest, and made her way to reunite with the clean-shaven, though obviously happy traveler. “Hurry up, we’ve got a welcome-home party ready and waiting for you!” yelled Toph with her hands to her mouth as a megaphone (not that everyone in the airport hadn’t heard her already).
Collecting his things, he turned toward his two friends and smiled warmly. He’d been away far too long.
xXx
Spices, herbs, vegetable cuttings - the work of a master displayed on every surface; coupled with tempting cooking smells to waft through the apartment.
Katara wiped the sweat off her brow with the back of her hand, and straightened up with her other hand against the small of her back. It had taken all morning, but the salads, hors d’oeuvres, and main dishes were ready. Toph had promised to collect some cakes from the bakery, so all that was left was setting the table - and a batch of snacks just finishing up in the oven. She’d even finished whipping the chip-dip.
Martha Stewart, eat your heart out, she thought to herself triumphantly.
“Jet, could you bring out those plates now, please?” she called, and her boyfriend popped through a moment later with a stack of dishware from the cupboard.
“This enough?”
“I think so - Toph told me it was only for one more person. I wish she’d told me what kind of food to prepare, but she ran off with Sokka like it was some big ‘secret’ I wasn’t supposed to know about. I swear, they better not be bringing home one of their latest ‘friends’ from the drunk-tank again… ugh…” Wrinkling her face in apprehension, Katara appraised the table one last time. Layout out the chopsticks and silverware, she started mimicking her friends’ voices mockingly. “’Katara, we’re having a party - make lots of food!’ ‘Katara, we’ll be back around 3:00pm, make sure everything’s ready!’ ‘Katara, we have a big surprise for you, but you can’t peek!’ Argh, and yet they leave me to do all the preparation for it! I feel like I’m throwing myself this party!”
“It sounds like they depend on you a lot,” remarked Jet, wandering over to her and placing his hands on her shoulders. “Just wait; they’ll bring you something fantastic, and then you’ll have the worst guilt-trip for doubting them. They’re your friends, aren’t they?” he asked, and massaged her knotted back. She sighed and knew she’d already forgiven them. She just didn’t like feeling like she was being abused for her skills.
“Yeah… and they wouldn’t have asked without good reason, you’re right. Thanks for coming over to help, by the way,” she smiled and leaned into his warm hands. “I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone.”
“My pleasure,” he grinned. Just then, the oven timer went off, as sounds of approaching footsteps in the hallway trundled to her apartment door… accompanied by Toph’s bellowing laughter. Jet arched an eyebrow and looked down at her.
“You get the food, I’ll get the door,” she decided aloud. He nodded, kissed the top of her head, and returned to the kitchen.
“Coming!” called Katara, and she left the kitchen.
“-and this one time, when we were at the club and her students found her, she was--,” Toph was talking loudly as she entered without knocking, followed by Sokka who was wisecracking as usual. Katara shook her head, amazed at how often loud noise always seemed to follow her brother and friend. It was like they came with their very own background settings…
Determined not to let the pair off the hook for her entire morning spent shackled to her kitchen, Katara crossed her arms and waited for them to take their boots off. She schooled her face into a mock-scowl, though she couldn’t help the corners of her mouth twisting up into a smile. It wasn’t often enough, in her opinion, that they all got together like this anymore, and she was happy to see them. ”Well, finally! Welcome…,” her voice caught in her throat at the last face through the door.
”… home,” said Aang softly, gazing back at her.
In the back of her mind, Katara thought it was a good thing Toph had been carrying the cake, since she knew she would have dropped it had it been left in her care at that moment.
The entryway became very quiet as the two long-separated friends looked at each other. Even the raucous duo of Sokka-and-Toph calmed at the tension that had iced the air.
From behind the Water Tribe girl, a pair of masculine, confident footsteps calmly approached - and immediately drew everyone’s attention, in part due to the apron he wore over his shirt and jeans.
Sliding an arm around his girlfriend’s shoulders, Jet gave Katara a quick squeeze and nodded to the newcomers. “Hey, welcome to the party. Is this the big surprise?” he asked, looking everyone over. His eyes rested suspiciously on Aang for a moment before moving on to Katara’s brother and girl friend. He put out his hand to Sokka first.
“Yeah, you could say that,” Aang replied a bit coolly. The young man hadn’t missed Jet’s appraisal, and he thrust his hand out to grasp Jet’s before Sokka could. His tone changed and warmed however. “Hi, I’m Aang. I’m a friend of --,” Toph cut him off.
“Everybody,” her voice dripped with sarcasm and she waved her hand dismissively. Her boots landed with staccato slaps on the floor, and she tossed her jacket on the couch as she made her way through the apartment, leading the pack. The cake-bearer does tend to decide the course of action.
“That is true,” added Sokka sagely, following her and leaving Aang, Katara, and Jet in the hallway. The tallest among them, the big brother’s nose picked up the warm scent of the fresh goodies and his mood jumped ten points on the happy-scale. “Is that--.”
“Yes, it’s everything you guys asked for - who’s hungry?” Katara forced herself to smile cheerily as she hustled everyone to the kitchen where her hostess talents were praised to the rafters. Most audibly by her brother; most loudly-chewed by her girl friend; most frequently by her boyfriend and her ex-fiancé.
Late that night, after everyone had left.
In her bedroom, Katara sat curled up in her blanket, her phone to her ear as she spoke to Toph.
In the loft above Sokka’s garage, Aang sat on a spare futon, staring at the floor while Sokka lay down nearby in his own bed.
No one slept.
The distance didn’t matter anymore, though, as the lonely pair channeled the same thoughts, and spoke the same words:
“You could have told me, you know…”
************
TBC?
AN: Yeah, I know, 'needs more Zuko', right? ^_^;
Will post to comm later... Tired. ^^;
Pairing: Zutara
Length: 1400 words, approx.
Rating: T
Disclaimer : “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and all related rights belong to their original creators… I am not among their ranks.
AN: In response to
hyper_roo' s vampire/Zutara challenge, I present…
"Merits" -- Part Eight:
Amidst the wandering crowds, Toph and Sokka made their way to Gate 42. Their coats were open in the stifling heat of the building, and they bumped along trying not to trip over the luggage trailing after the departing and arriving passengers.
“So he’s coming in today? You’re sure this time?”
“Yes, I’m sure. He called when he was leaving the departure gates to wake me up,” groused Sokka, blowing his long bangs out of his eyes. He hadn’t been able to find an elastic before he left, and refused the barrette Toph had graciously offered him in the car.
From beside him, the blind girl chuckled. “And you’re sure it’s 2:00 pm, not am, right?”
“You’re never going to let that go, are you? Look, I already apologized to you three times for that!”
“I had to close my show early that night and everything!” she complained, poking him mercilessly. “And had you checked the schedule? Noooo….”
Hmph-ing grumpily, Sokka looked up at the signs above the luggage carousels to see which one was to expect their friend.
“Come on, over here,” he said, tugging on Toph’s sleeve to keep her close. Had he looked back at his companion, he may have noticed the faint blush on her cheeks - however he was too stubborn and so continued unawares.
The pair spent a short time seated on some uncomfortable plastic chairs before Toph jumped to her feet, pointing directly to a handsome young man with a rucksack. “It’s him! It’s Aang! AANG! HEY AANG!” She waved wildly. “What took you so long, huh?”
“Yeah, she’s been driving me crazy!” Added Sokka, giving a playful jab at Toph. The young woman shoved him hard enough to send him flying backwards in retaliation. Several chairs fell over, clattering to the ground. Toph ignored them, and Sokka’s surprised squawk of protest, and made her way to reunite with the clean-shaven, though obviously happy traveler. “Hurry up, we’ve got a welcome-home party ready and waiting for you!” yelled Toph with her hands to her mouth as a megaphone (not that everyone in the airport hadn’t heard her already).
Collecting his things, he turned toward his two friends and smiled warmly. He’d been away far too long.
xXx
Spices, herbs, vegetable cuttings - the work of a master displayed on every surface; coupled with tempting cooking smells to waft through the apartment.
Katara wiped the sweat off her brow with the back of her hand, and straightened up with her other hand against the small of her back. It had taken all morning, but the salads, hors d’oeuvres, and main dishes were ready. Toph had promised to collect some cakes from the bakery, so all that was left was setting the table - and a batch of snacks just finishing up in the oven. She’d even finished whipping the chip-dip.
Martha Stewart, eat your heart out, she thought to herself triumphantly.
“Jet, could you bring out those plates now, please?” she called, and her boyfriend popped through a moment later with a stack of dishware from the cupboard.
“This enough?”
“I think so - Toph told me it was only for one more person. I wish she’d told me what kind of food to prepare, but she ran off with Sokka like it was some big ‘secret’ I wasn’t supposed to know about. I swear, they better not be bringing home one of their latest ‘friends’ from the drunk-tank again… ugh…” Wrinkling her face in apprehension, Katara appraised the table one last time. Layout out the chopsticks and silverware, she started mimicking her friends’ voices mockingly. “’Katara, we’re having a party - make lots of food!’ ‘Katara, we’ll be back around 3:00pm, make sure everything’s ready!’ ‘Katara, we have a big surprise for you, but you can’t peek!’ Argh, and yet they leave me to do all the preparation for it! I feel like I’m throwing myself this party!”
“It sounds like they depend on you a lot,” remarked Jet, wandering over to her and placing his hands on her shoulders. “Just wait; they’ll bring you something fantastic, and then you’ll have the worst guilt-trip for doubting them. They’re your friends, aren’t they?” he asked, and massaged her knotted back. She sighed and knew she’d already forgiven them. She just didn’t like feeling like she was being abused for her skills.
“Yeah… and they wouldn’t have asked without good reason, you’re right. Thanks for coming over to help, by the way,” she smiled and leaned into his warm hands. “I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone.”
“My pleasure,” he grinned. Just then, the oven timer went off, as sounds of approaching footsteps in the hallway trundled to her apartment door… accompanied by Toph’s bellowing laughter. Jet arched an eyebrow and looked down at her.
“You get the food, I’ll get the door,” she decided aloud. He nodded, kissed the top of her head, and returned to the kitchen.
“Coming!” called Katara, and she left the kitchen.
“-and this one time, when we were at the club and her students found her, she was--,” Toph was talking loudly as she entered without knocking, followed by Sokka who was wisecracking as usual. Katara shook her head, amazed at how often loud noise always seemed to follow her brother and friend. It was like they came with their very own background settings…
Determined not to let the pair off the hook for her entire morning spent shackled to her kitchen, Katara crossed her arms and waited for them to take their boots off. She schooled her face into a mock-scowl, though she couldn’t help the corners of her mouth twisting up into a smile. It wasn’t often enough, in her opinion, that they all got together like this anymore, and she was happy to see them. ”Well, finally! Welcome…,” her voice caught in her throat at the last face through the door.
”… home,” said Aang softly, gazing back at her.
In the back of her mind, Katara thought it was a good thing Toph had been carrying the cake, since she knew she would have dropped it had it been left in her care at that moment.
The entryway became very quiet as the two long-separated friends looked at each other. Even the raucous duo of Sokka-and-Toph calmed at the tension that had iced the air.
From behind the Water Tribe girl, a pair of masculine, confident footsteps calmly approached - and immediately drew everyone’s attention, in part due to the apron he wore over his shirt and jeans.
Sliding an arm around his girlfriend’s shoulders, Jet gave Katara a quick squeeze and nodded to the newcomers. “Hey, welcome to the party. Is this the big surprise?” he asked, looking everyone over. His eyes rested suspiciously on Aang for a moment before moving on to Katara’s brother and girl friend. He put out his hand to Sokka first.
“Yeah, you could say that,” Aang replied a bit coolly. The young man hadn’t missed Jet’s appraisal, and he thrust his hand out to grasp Jet’s before Sokka could. His tone changed and warmed however. “Hi, I’m Aang. I’m a friend of --,” Toph cut him off.
“Everybody,” her voice dripped with sarcasm and she waved her hand dismissively. Her boots landed with staccato slaps on the floor, and she tossed her jacket on the couch as she made her way through the apartment, leading the pack. The cake-bearer does tend to decide the course of action.
“That is true,” added Sokka sagely, following her and leaving Aang, Katara, and Jet in the hallway. The tallest among them, the big brother’s nose picked up the warm scent of the fresh goodies and his mood jumped ten points on the happy-scale. “Is that--.”
“Yes, it’s everything you guys asked for - who’s hungry?” Katara forced herself to smile cheerily as she hustled everyone to the kitchen where her hostess talents were praised to the rafters. Most audibly by her brother; most loudly-chewed by her girl friend; most frequently by her boyfriend and her ex-fiancé.
Late that night, after everyone had left.
In her bedroom, Katara sat curled up in her blanket, her phone to her ear as she spoke to Toph.
In the loft above Sokka’s garage, Aang sat on a spare futon, staring at the floor while Sokka lay down nearby in his own bed.
No one slept.
The distance didn’t matter anymore, though, as the lonely pair channeled the same thoughts, and spoke the same words:
“You could have told me, you know…”
************
TBC?
AN: Yeah, I know, 'needs more Zuko', right? ^_^;
Will post to comm later... Tired. ^^;