MfWAT - Interlude to the Comet
Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter Title: Interlude to the Comet
Characters: Aang, Zuko, Sokka
Arc: Comet Arc
Setting: after Call of Reality
Rating: K
Warnings: the usual
Summary: And then they were off.
How Zuko managed to rise early every morning even after staying up until late after sunset was a mystery to Aang. The two boys had stayed on the beach until the moon had risen high up into the sky but still by the time Aang dragged himself out of bed, Zuko was already up and outside on the yard with Sokka. The two were leaning over a map that was spread out on the ground and Zuko was pointing out different spots while saying something Aang could not hear with the distance between him and the two teens.
“I think the most likely place would be here”, Aang could hear Zuko say once he had walked over to the two. Golden eyes glanced up and a tender smile was given as a greeting. Aang’s cheeks flushed and he grinned back.
“Really? That place seems really dingy”, Sokka commented and Zuko and Aang both directed their attention to the map and teen. “I mean, it’s called ‘Fat Khomodo’. That doesn’t sound like a nice place to hang around.”
“Exactly”, Zuko replied with a smirk. “It’s the place most likely to host the scum of the Fire Nation. Jun loves excitement.”
“Jun?” Aang questioned, wondering about the bang he felt when Zuko spoke in that amused tone of voice. Who was Jun? It was certainly a girl’s name…
“Jun’s a bounty hunter with a bit of a speciality up her sleeve”, Zuko explained and looked at Aang again. “Remember how easily she found you and your friends with just a scent?”
Oh, now Aang remembered. Jun was that bounty hunter girl who liked whips and the colour black. Why would Zuko and Sokka be looking for her?
“We’re going to need help if we’re going to stop the Fire Lord’s invasion”, Sokka started, as if knowing what Aang was thinking. “Zuko here suggested we find his uncle, since he has friends all around the world that could help us.”
“We can only hope that we can gather them all on time”, Zuko grumbled with displeasure. “The last thing we need is for this to turn out to be nothing more than a wild frog-goose chase.”
“When will we be leaving then?” Aang questioned.
“As soon as possible”, Sokka replied, rolling up the map. “We can’t waste any more time or we’ll be too late to stop the attack.”
“Right”, Aang agreed with a nod. Still, he wondered if Jun would be willing to help them.
&
“Bull’s eye”, Zuko spoke out and smirked in satisfaction. He had managed to catch sight of Jun immediately after opening the door to the shady tavern. Just as he had suspected, Jun was right in the middle of engaging in a bar fight and was in clear sight for all people entering to see. The firebender noticed the other members of the group hesitate and started making his way further in on his own. He dodged a couple of tumbling forms that reeked of sweat, and finally came close enough to Jun for the girl to notice him. A look of confusion crossed the woman’s face for a moment, followed closely by recognition. There was one blurry movement from Jun, after which the last thug fell to the floor in a dead faint. Then Jun directed her full attention to Zuko.
“Prince boy”, the woman drawled in an amused manner. “Did you work things out with your girlfriend?” She shot a pointed look over Zuko’s shoulder to the doorway. The firebender glared at the female, who seemed to get the idea as she waved a hand dismissively and assured the other: “I was just joking with you. And besides…” The woman smirked in a manner that promised nothing good before continuing: “You did say that you were more interested in the monk she was travelling with.” The dark eyes glanced over Zuko’s shoulder once more. “So, you worked things out with your boyfriend then?”
A groan came from Zuko and the prince could feel his cheeks beginning to heat up as he heard the rest of their mismatched group nearing them. He guessed it had to be Aang and the others from the simple fact that none of the pub’s patrons were likely to have the guts to come near Jun again.
“I came here because I need your assistance”, Zuko spoke out and Jun actually looked vaguely interested. “I trust you remember the man I was travelling with previously. I need you to help me find him.”
“That creepy grandpa?” Jun questioned with a lifted eyebrow, but quieted down once she saw the glare Zuko was giving her. “How did you manage to lose him?”
“Long story”, Zuko replied and crossed his arms. “Will you help me or not?”
“Nah”, the woman spoke with a shrug. “Doesn’t sound too interesting.”
“Hey, whip lady”, Sokka suddenly joined in on the conversation, stepping next to Zuko to point an accusing finger at Jun. “We’re on a mission to save the world here.”
“Save the world?” Jun questioned and smiled in a manner that could have been described as seductive if it were not for the wrong atmosphere in the room. “That sounds like there will be a big fight.”
“Oh no, we were going to have a tea party”, Sokka drawled sarcastically. “Of course there will be a fight!”
“Count me in”, Jun spoke with a grin, managing to surprise both Zuko and Sokka. “That sounds really interesting.”
“Good”, Zuko said and turned around. “Let’s go then.” He started to walk out of the tavern. Jun immediately fell into step beside him and questioned: “So, you have anything of your grandpa's that I can use to track him down?”
This was the part where things were going to get awkward, Zuko guessed. There was no way for it to be normal for a person to save another person’s smelly sandals but, to be truthful, Zuko was not what one would call ‘normal’.
&
Ending Notes: Yeah, I know. This chapter really doesn't make up for the time I've spent off the radar. I'll do better next time.
More Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter Title: Interlude to the Comet
Characters: Aang, Zuko, Sokka
Arc: Comet Arc
Setting: after Call of Reality
Rating: K
Warnings: the usual
Summary: And then they were off.
How Zuko managed to rise early every morning even after staying up until late after sunset was a mystery to Aang. The two boys had stayed on the beach until the moon had risen high up into the sky but still by the time Aang dragged himself out of bed, Zuko was already up and outside on the yard with Sokka. The two were leaning over a map that was spread out on the ground and Zuko was pointing out different spots while saying something Aang could not hear with the distance between him and the two teens.
“I think the most likely place would be here”, Aang could hear Zuko say once he had walked over to the two. Golden eyes glanced up and a tender smile was given as a greeting. Aang’s cheeks flushed and he grinned back.
“Really? That place seems really dingy”, Sokka commented and Zuko and Aang both directed their attention to the map and teen. “I mean, it’s called ‘Fat Khomodo’. That doesn’t sound like a nice place to hang around.”
“Exactly”, Zuko replied with a smirk. “It’s the place most likely to host the scum of the Fire Nation. Jun loves excitement.”
“Jun?” Aang questioned, wondering about the bang he felt when Zuko spoke in that amused tone of voice. Who was Jun? It was certainly a girl’s name…
“Jun’s a bounty hunter with a bit of a speciality up her sleeve”, Zuko explained and looked at Aang again. “Remember how easily she found you and your friends with just a scent?”
Oh, now Aang remembered. Jun was that bounty hunter girl who liked whips and the colour black. Why would Zuko and Sokka be looking for her?
“We’re going to need help if we’re going to stop the Fire Lord’s invasion”, Sokka started, as if knowing what Aang was thinking. “Zuko here suggested we find his uncle, since he has friends all around the world that could help us.”
“We can only hope that we can gather them all on time”, Zuko grumbled with displeasure. “The last thing we need is for this to turn out to be nothing more than a wild frog-goose chase.”
“When will we be leaving then?” Aang questioned.
“As soon as possible”, Sokka replied, rolling up the map. “We can’t waste any more time or we’ll be too late to stop the attack.”
“Right”, Aang agreed with a nod. Still, he wondered if Jun would be willing to help them.
&
“Bull’s eye”, Zuko spoke out and smirked in satisfaction. He had managed to catch sight of Jun immediately after opening the door to the shady tavern. Just as he had suspected, Jun was right in the middle of engaging in a bar fight and was in clear sight for all people entering to see. The firebender noticed the other members of the group hesitate and started making his way further in on his own. He dodged a couple of tumbling forms that reeked of sweat, and finally came close enough to Jun for the girl to notice him. A look of confusion crossed the woman’s face for a moment, followed closely by recognition. There was one blurry movement from Jun, after which the last thug fell to the floor in a dead faint. Then Jun directed her full attention to Zuko.
“Prince boy”, the woman drawled in an amused manner. “Did you work things out with your girlfriend?” She shot a pointed look over Zuko’s shoulder to the doorway. The firebender glared at the female, who seemed to get the idea as she waved a hand dismissively and assured the other: “I was just joking with you. And besides…” The woman smirked in a manner that promised nothing good before continuing: “You did say that you were more interested in the monk she was travelling with.” The dark eyes glanced over Zuko’s shoulder once more. “So, you worked things out with your boyfriend then?”
A groan came from Zuko and the prince could feel his cheeks beginning to heat up as he heard the rest of their mismatched group nearing them. He guessed it had to be Aang and the others from the simple fact that none of the pub’s patrons were likely to have the guts to come near Jun again.
“I came here because I need your assistance”, Zuko spoke out and Jun actually looked vaguely interested. “I trust you remember the man I was travelling with previously. I need you to help me find him.”
“That creepy grandpa?” Jun questioned with a lifted eyebrow, but quieted down once she saw the glare Zuko was giving her. “How did you manage to lose him?”
“Long story”, Zuko replied and crossed his arms. “Will you help me or not?”
“Nah”, the woman spoke with a shrug. “Doesn’t sound too interesting.”
“Hey, whip lady”, Sokka suddenly joined in on the conversation, stepping next to Zuko to point an accusing finger at Jun. “We’re on a mission to save the world here.”
“Save the world?” Jun questioned and smiled in a manner that could have been described as seductive if it were not for the wrong atmosphere in the room. “That sounds like there will be a big fight.”
“Oh no, we were going to have a tea party”, Sokka drawled sarcastically. “Of course there will be a fight!”
“Count me in”, Jun spoke with a grin, managing to surprise both Zuko and Sokka. “That sounds really interesting.”
“Good”, Zuko said and turned around. “Let’s go then.” He started to walk out of the tavern. Jun immediately fell into step beside him and questioned: “So, you have anything of your grandpa's that I can use to track him down?”
This was the part where things were going to get awkward, Zuko guessed. There was no way for it to be normal for a person to save another person’s smelly sandals but, to be truthful, Zuko was not what one would call ‘normal’.
&
Ending Notes: Yeah, I know. This chapter really doesn't make up for the time I've spent off the radar. I'll do better next time.
More Memories from Western Air Temple