AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 57

Over the next two weeks, Zuko and Athlea spent their time on the festival. Things were going rather smoothly. Azula had been returned to the mental facility and its news guards, and thus the Fire Nation was safe once more. There was no news about Athlea's mother, but Dai had healed fully, and the Team was throwing her a little celebration.

One day before the festival took place, the Palace was fully decorated, especially the ballroom and public dining room. However, Athlea and Zuko were still running errands.

Sokka and the rest of the Team were at the restaurant he's taken Dai to, happy that she had healed. Food was laid out on their table, as well as drinks. "Great recovery, Dai!" Sokka's voice could be heard, hyper and happy.

"Glad you're doing better, Dai," Aang agreed with a nod.

Toph giggled. "Of course she's okay. She is one of the toughest cookies we have." She grinned, elbowing Dai's arm.

"Thanks, guys," Dai responded, nudging Toph back. She had a small scar on her ribs from the injury, but she could work on healing it herself now, and it would soon be gone. "I have to be tough to deal with all of you." She smirked, taking a sip of her tea.

Katara leaned forward. "I've been meaning to ask you: how did you blood bend when it wasn't a full moon? That's impossible."

Dai put her glass down. "I taught myself," she said simply, shrugging. Her eyes went dark for a moment before she perked up again. "I don't want to talk about blood bending or fighting. Let's just leave my injury behind us and find something else to talk about." She stretched, taking a bite of her salad. "What do you think of the food?"

"I'm actually surprised they have foods that don't include meat," Aang admitted.

"I am surprised about the Earth Kingdom meals. It feels like they're better here than in the actual Earth Kingdom," Toph admitted.

"At home?" Dai scoffed. "In the Fire Nation? Not quite. The salad does make up for it, a little bit, though. Sorta." She smiled at Toph.

"See guys, I told you! This place is great," Sokka said as he took a bite.

"Hate to admit it, but Sokka, you found a gem," Toph said with a small smile. Aang chuckled.

"I think Athlea did that all intentionally, to make us feel at home when we visit," Katara added.

"If anyone could find some good food, it's Sokka. Not that he's picky or anything." Dai smiled at Sokka, her eyes glinting teasingly before she returned her gaze to her food.

Sokka blinked, smirking. He rested his elbow on the table, his chin in his hand. "Heh... I'm a food lover. Of course I'll find something worthy of eating."

"Don't flatter yourself." Toph rolled her eyes.

Aang glanced between Dai and Sokka. "Are you two seeing one another?" he asked suddenly.

Dai slammed her cup down on the table. "We're not," she said sharply, her eyes cold. Katara's smile was wiped off of her face and she looked down, playing with her fork. Aang chuckled. Dai cleared her throat after a moment, forcing a small smile. "Uh, do you guys prefer Fire Nation or Water Nation alcohol?" Sokka's grin grew and he took a drink, eyes closed.

"Mhmmmmm, sure," Toph said, giggling. "Your reaction proves it all," she pointed out.

Aang shrugged and he took a bite from his own salad. His eyes moved to Katara for a second and then back at Sokka. "He seems rather content with himself," he said.

Sokka blinked his eyes opened. "Riiiight..." He looked aside, then back at Dai, still smirking.

She glanced down at her cup, her face bright red. "Alcohol?" she asked quietly.

"I like alcohol in general," Toph responded to Dai's question with a shrug.

Aang smiled innocently. "I-I don't drink," he admitted calmly.

Katara was making a face. "I don't care for any but the Water Tribe's," she put in. "Fire Nation's burns, and Earth Nation's is... well, earthy." After a while, Dai finished her food. She leaned back, watching everyone but Sokka. Katara leaned back as well, groaning. "Their portions are so big."

Dai laughed softly. "You realized we can all afford to leave a little on the plate, right?" she teased. She lowered her voice to mock Aang. "Yeah, but the planet can't afford our waste, Dai!"

"Oh, indeed they are," Aang pointed out.

"Right! Huge portions! You can come here when you're starving--you'll be full and then you'll have the best nap in your entire life," Sokka said with a chuckle, his eyes moving to Dai and his smirk returning.

"Do you ever eat and not nap afterwards?" Katara pointed out, teasing her brother. Dai smiled a bit but kept her eyes on the table, playing with the edge of a napkin.

"Shall we pay then?" Toph asked. Sokka nodded as he called the waitress over. "Sokka is paying!" Toph suddenly said.

His eyes widened. "HUH!? Why me!?" he exclaimed loudly.

Dai finally glanced up, tilting her head and smiling. "You're always so eager to pay," she teased. She glanced away again, biting her lip.

Aang smiled. "It's fine, I've got it," he said, pulling out his wallet and paying. The waitress bowed and turned away again. "There, done," he said with a nod.

Dai glanced at Aang. "Thanks, Avatar."

"Thank you," Katara chimed in, patting Aang's head.

Dai stood, leading the others out of the restaurant. Katara passed her, Aang at her side, as Dai glanced at the lights in the square, crossing her arms against the night's chill. Sokka closed the door behind him.

"Are you guys excited for tomorrow?" Aang asked as they started to walk through the square and towards the palace once more.

"What? The festival?" Toph asked.

Aang nodded. "Yeah," he said.

"Yeah," Katara echoed him. "It should be fun!" She smiled.

"Maybe someone will recognize me as Royalty when I'm sitting at the Royals' table," Dai muttered.

Sokka moved next to Dai and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Oh, come on, Dai..." he started with a grin and looked forward. "You'll be seated with us, which means close to the Royals! Which means, obviously, you'll be recognized." He was quiet for a moment. "Though you're already recognized."

Dai glanced at Sokka, her eyes round and her cheeks getting red again. "Yeah," she said softly.

Sokka moved his arm away and grinned. Dai took a deep breath, looking at her shoes again. "I've got myself the greatest outfit ever!" he said confidently. "I ordered it and they brought it to me yesterday," he said. "Now all the ladies will look at me and melt."

"Melt from embarrassment, maybe," Toph muttered.

Sokka glared at her. "Hey! For your own information, Toph, there's a lot of fire women interested in this... Water Tribe man." Dai raised her eyebrows, her cheeks turning pink yet again, and looked down at her boots. "Zuko mentioned dancers or, wait... No, Athlea!" he continued, grinning.

"You pervert," Toph said, rolling her eyes.

"Shush! We appreciate art. Dancing is art Toph. And of course the women, women are a gift given to us!" he said with a nod.

Dai rolled her eyes and whipped around, jabbing his neck, then his back, a few times each, quickly. "You're acting like a teenager again," she said, lifting her chin and walking gracefully past him as he collapsed backward, squawking.

Katara put a hand over her mouth. "Should we help him, or...?"

Dai smiled, shrugging. "He can face his own demise. It'll wear off in a minute."

***

A/N GAHHHH okay. so we get to see them all hang out together for the first time in a while! also in this part THE TENSION BETWEEN DAI AND SOKKA... she's so clearly trying not to fall for him gahhh