AtLA Modern: Year 1, Gen. 1

Chapter 13

Soon enough, the waitress brought them their food. Sokka and Aang both indulged in it, eating with pleased looks on their faces. Athlea grabbed her chopsticks, parting them and starting to eat her noodles. "Look at us, so cute, all together, friends. We need a picture!" Sokka announced.

Katara shrugged a shoulder, finishing a bite of her salad. "They have a flower wall over there for pictures. We'll take one when we're done eating."

"Great! Because I'll be framing that one! Our family picture, 'cause we are family," Sokka said with a big grin.

After a few minutes, the waitress came back and Dai paid for them. She shook her head, standing. "Flower wall photo?" She tilted her head, grinning at Athlea.

The firebender smiled. "Sure."

"I'm paying next!" Sokka announced, rising and walking to the flower wall.

Aang gave him a look. "Do you even have money?"

"Pfft, of course I do!"

"I-I find that kind of hard to believe."

Dai rolled her eyes. "Athlea doesn't like the rich. Might as well punish Zuko and I by making us pay." She tapped Athlea's nose as she walked by.

Athlea crossed her arms, blinking. "I'm not that much of a bitch," she grumbled.

Sokka glanced the flower wall from top to bottom. "Looks cute."

The Avatar smiled mischievously. "You know what would be cute? You and Zuko taking a couple picture."

"Stop that!" Sokka's eye twitched.

"What are they bickering about again?" Athlea muttered.

Aang turned toward Dai. "Hey, hey! Zuko and Sokka, flower wall picture. Couple goals."

"Ooo, ooo, Sokka, sit on his lap!" Dai bounced forward, grabbing Katara by the waist and pulling her onto the bench. Katara yelped, smiling and grabbing Dai's arm. Toph smiled and settled next to them, her hands in her lap.

"What?! No!" Sokka protested, taking a seat on the bench. "I ain't sitting on nobody's lap!" He crossed his arm, pouting.

Zuko and Athlea were still on the bench. "I guess we should go," Zuko told her.

Athlea sighed. "What choice do we have?" She shook her head, walking over to the bench. "So... who will take the picture?"

"We could."

Athlea turned, looking up the three boys standing behind her. "Who are you?" One of the boys had bleached white hair, golden eyes, and sun-kissed skin, clearly Fire Nation. The one that had spoke had brown eyes and hair with fair skin--Earth Nation--and the third had black hair and eyes, possibly from either of the Nations his friend was. They all looked to be around Zuko's, Athlea's, and Sokka's ages.

"That isn't a problem. Come on, you look like you want a picture," the boy said, grinning.

Zuko glanced at the boys, shrugging and handing them his phone. "Sure." He turned and sat between Sokka and Athlea. Dai glared at Sokka, but Toph slid closer, forcing her next to him, and Dai's brow furrowed.

The moment before the boys took the picture, Toph stomped, and a pillar of earth hit Zuko's feet. He yelped, landing half on Sokka's lap. Athlea's eyes widened and she reached a hand over to grab his arm.

"Toph!" Zuko protested.

Sokka's eyes went wide, his jaw dropping. "G-get off!"

Dai was laughing so hard she couldn't breath. The boy with white hair was standing behind his friends, chuckling quietly. "Let me see let me see," Dai said, running to grab Zuko's phone.

"O-oh..." the black-haired boy stammered. "Now, that's an interesting picture." He was looking over the brown-haired boy's shoulder, grinning.

Sokka came to a stop next to Dai. "Oh, man, look at my face," he whined.

Dai giggled, nudging Sokka. "What do you mean? You look very in love with Zuko."

He glared at her. "We're not! Just have some... friendly appreciation!"

The boy with black hair chuckled. "Sounds like true love to me."

Sokka pushed Zuko off of himself and Aang stood. "Thanks, guys!" the Avatar said with a bright smile.

The brown-haired boy smiled. "No problem. Looks like your group is something."

Athlea frowned and glanced at Zuko. "You okay?"

Zuko glanced down at his feet, pulling one onto his other knee and glaring at Toph. "Fine," he muttered. Toph slammed a fist down on the bench and hit the foot he had on the ground, knocking him over. He yelled and fell over again, while Toph stood, giggling. Athlea's eyes widened.

Athlae took his hands gently and pulled Zuko up. "Come on, let's get you back on your feet." Once he was up, she asked if he was okay again.

Zuko rubbed his head, glaring after Toph and taking Athlea's hand. "I'm good," he said, smiling a little.

She tilted her head. "Are you sure?"

"Look, look, see?" Sokka pointed. "Zuko is already in love!"

"Aw." Dai pinched Sokka's cheek. "He's upset!" She faked a frown.

Sokka blinked, pouting and touching his face. "Hey!" he protested, rubbing his cheek.

Zuko smiled, nodding, then glared at Sokka. "At least I get girls," he pointed out.

"Yeah? Well... I do too!" Sokka snapped unconvincingly. Athlea shook her head.

Katara nodded. "We just met on Monday. Do you guys go to school here?"

"What else would an earth bender be doing here?" The white-haired boy tilted his head at the others.

Aang made his way over to Dai and Sokka. "We're framing it!" he announced.

Sokka's eyes went wide. "What?!"

"We have to frame it!" Dai agreed.

The boy with brown hair glanced over at Katara and he grinned. "I'm Dagi, he's Xilah--" he nodded at the white-haired boy, then the black-haired boy, adding, "and Sahel."

"Hi," Sahel said with a friendly smile.

Katara blinked. "Katara. This is my brother Sokka, and Dai. We're Water Nation. This is Toph. She's Earth Nation." She glanced back at Athlea and Zuko. "That's Athlea and Zuko. Fire Nation." She nudged Aang, grinning. "And, of course, the Avatar, Aang."

Xilah raised his eyebrows. "Impressive little group."

Dagi nodded. "I'm Earth Nation. These two are Fire."

Sahel blinked. "The Avatar," he said, grinning.

"Hi!" Aang said with a bright smile.

"I'm following you on social media. No way am I meeting you!" the boy responded.

Xilah raised an eyebrow, watching Aang without speaking. Dai laughed. "Come on. I wanna go skating." She glanced at Dagi. "Are you guys gonna come with?"

Dagi turned to Dai. "It wouldn't hurt." He glanced at his friends. "We're not doing anything important. We could tag along, right?"

Sahel nodded. "Oh, for sure! I'm more curious about our Avatar, here."

Dai snickered and started heading out the door with Toph and Katara.

Xilah shrugged a shoulder. "I don't mind either way." He followed the girls.

Zuko rolled his eyes and messed up Sokka's hair. "Let's go."

***

A/N there's smth so inviting about messing up Sokka's hair... get used to the boys; Sahel, Dagi, and Xilah! more OCs - Dai is still my only OC thus far but that'll change