Avatar, The Storm Book 2: Blood Drifts

Chapter 6 No Promises

A day passed and things seemed to calm down. The cavern that Toph had sensed was in fact where Kivruk had taken the civilians he had kidnapped. They were slightly dehydrated and malnourished, but alive. And they were all safe in their own homes at last. Once Aang got back, he took away Kivruk's bending so he wouldn't give them any more issues, and had sent him off to the prison of Ba Sing Se. The Gaang had spent the rest of their free time lounging around the house, resting from the chaos of the week. Iroh was playing his Tsungi horn and Toril was lightly strumming at the Liuqin as everyone talked amongst each other.

"I knew this all sounded familiar. We dealt with a Waterbender who had a permeant grudge against the Fire Nation. She was the one who invented Blood Bending." Aang was saying.

"An older woman? Before he started trying to kill me, Kivruk told me after he escaped the Fire Nation soldiers, another Waterbender took him in, taught him how to Blood bend." Toril remarked.

"Hama." Katara said quietly. "Every full moon she would take control of people, force them down into the caves where they all stayed until we found them. She taught me how to Blood bend too. Well, forced would be a better word. I had to do it to save Aang and Sokka." She closed her eyes and the memory. Aang wrapped his arm around her shoulders, planting a kiss on the side of her head, trying to comfort her. Toril paused from her strumming for a moment to tune the instrument before continuing with the song.

"And I'd like to point out it was me and my boomerang that saved the day in the end." Sokka remarked, waving his boomerang in the air.

"Oh, yeah, sure, it wasn't Toril who figured out it was Kivruk in the first place, or Uncle Iroh for sending us after her, or Toph who sensed the cavern." Katara spoke up, glancing at her brother. Sokka raised his hands in surrender. Iroh continued to play the Tsungi horn, but Aang could see it in his eyes that he was enjoying this. That's when Aang looked over at the door to the hallway and saw Zuko leaning in the doorway, watching everyone with the slightest of smile. Aang's entire face lit up.

"HE'S AWAKE!" Aang cried out joyfully, running at Zuko full force and jumping at him, wrapping himself around Zuko in a really tight hug, the rest of the group following suit.

"It's about time." Toph remarked.

"You had us so worried." Katara added.

"I take it you almost dying from your own stupidity is a normal day thing then?" Toril spoke up, being the last in the room to join the hug. Zuko chuckled weakly, being suffocated by everyone.

"Yeah basically. And you know, there was a time I hated these hugs. I'm starting to remember why." Zuko remarked.

"Well, maybe next time you won't do anything stupid." Aang stated, hugging him tighter. Zuko let out another chuckle, knowing he could make no such promises.

"Okay, but seriously guys, I can't breathe." Everyone slowly pulled away, Toph punching him lightly in the shoulder, causing Zuko to recoil slightly, but he was smiling still.

"What happened to the missing people?" He asked.

"All safe and in their own homes." Iroh reassured him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Zuko nodded.

"It feels like I've been asleep for a week."

"It's only been a day. But it's felt like so much longer." Aang replied.

"Yeah, and even though you've been asleep for this long, you still need rest. Healer's orders." Katara added, pointing at him. Zuko raised his hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright, but what about Firelord stuff?"

"I can take over for a bit, while you recover." Toril offered. There was an uncomfortable pause. "Oh my- is me as Firelord really that scary of a thought?!" She exclaimed in exasperation. Everyone laughed, dispersing around the room. "I'm serious, guys, is it?!" No one bothered to answer her and Toril just shook her head, settling back down in her chair with her Liuqin. Sokka sat down right next to Zuko and started talking, no doubt bragging about how he took out Kivruk. Zuko looked very amused as Sokka gestured wildly, clearly exaggerating the story out of proportion. Then, Sokka whispered something in Zuko's ear and both started laughing, Zuko dipping his head and Sokka wrapping his arms around Zuko's shoulders, both wheezing for breath. Aang looked at them for a moment before whispering to Toril.

"Are... Are they flirting?" He asked. Toril looked at him in boredom.

"Honestly, at this point I think the only people who don't realize it yet are them." Aang nodded, watching Zuko and Sokka with a smile as Toril started playing again. The sounds of the group of rowdy teenagers enjoying themselves, laughing, telling stories, dancing wildly , and singing purposely offkey was so loud some people claimed they could hear it all the way at the Fighting Cliffs. But what else were they to expect from old friends? For that one night they were free. Free from the weights of their travels. Free from the choices they've made. Their mistakes. Their regrets. And their trauma. For that one night, they were just kids.

To Be Continued.......