AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 12

Zuko's smile disappeared and his normal unhappy facial expression returned. "What?" He scowled at Aang. "Are we going to the festival or not?"

Aang raised his hands in defense, eyes wide. "Y--YES!" he said immediately and walked forward to head back inside the house.

Katara muttered to Aang. "I don't think we missed anything." She gave Zuko a glare, then began walking to the house. "I want to change if we're going out." She gasped, excited, and bounced over to Athlea. "Let's go do our makeup." She grabbed her hand and ran off with her.

Zuko turned and watched them run off, grinning. He coughed and the smile faded. He turned back to the other three. "What is this, just a typical fire festival? I hope that they have some good food. I'm sick of food that isn't spicy." He waited for the others to catch up, then walked toward the house. "You definitely won," he told Toph, glancing down at her.

Toph looked at him. "From what the others said, yes... Food, drinks, and I think activities too." She walked next to Zuko, arms crossed. "And yeah, of course I did." She nodded.

Inside, Aang plopped down on the couch next to Sokka, who had just woken up. "So who won?" he asked, yawning.

"Toph did," Aang responded with a smile.

Zuko rolled his eyes, grabbing a glass of water. He leaned onto his elbows, one hand holding the cup of water as he leaned onto the counter. "Of course Toph won. She's blind. Why is everyone surprised? She's already a master bender. Being surprised about that was reasonable, but the fact that she sees through touch? That's kind of a blind person thing." He snorted, taking another drink.

Eventually Toph joined the other women, getting dressed in Athlea's room. Athlea was the first to return to the living room, wearing a red-striped black long-sleeved shirt, an black pencil skirt with a belt over it, fishnets, and black sneakers. She crossed one leg over as she waited, crossing her arms. She gazed forward at the TV, though it was off. Zuko glanced at her and let out a slow breath.

Finally Katara and Toph joined them . Katara was wearing a red dress with golden branches around it, a golden branch crown in her hair. Toph was wearing a long pale green dress herself.

"Why are you so dressed up Katara, going on a date?" Sokka asked, teasing his sister as per usual.

Katara raised an eyebrow at Sokka. "You clearly don't have one," she pointed out, looking his typical baggy outfit up and down.

Aang smiled, then glanced down at his own casual outfit. "I think you look good, Katara," he complimented her as they all headed outside.

Katara smiled shyly at Aang, brushing her hair behind her ear, despite the fact that it immediately fell back into her face because of her crown. "Thanks, Aang," she said quietly.

Athlea was the last out. She closed the door after her. "Let's just go. I think the festival has started by now." She took the lead, heading to the bus, where they waited for a few good minutes before they arrived in the capital. Guards stood on either side of a square red and gold arch. There, the music could already be heard loudly, as well as the people, laughing, smiling, and talking. The smell of food was in the air, too. Some people were dressed casually, some more formally. Katara glanced around, excited. One of the guards followed the group with his eyes. She pulled her skirt close, eyeing him before letting it go and facing forward again.

Athlea came to a stop and faced the others. "I think we could separate from here--each can go and look for themselves and do what they want. We can meet back here at the end of it." Katara smiled, and it grew into a smirk. She locked yes with Athlea, letting her gaze flit from Zuko to Athlea.

"Yeah... the festival," Zuko muttered, looking forward.

"Sounds good! I'm taking Toph!" Sokka announced, grabbing a hold of her arm gently and walking away. Aang chuckled.

Aang's eyes moved to Katara. "Shall we go? I really wanna see the games!" he said with a bright smile.

"I guess the firebenders should stick together," Katara said, giving Athlea a look before linking arms with Aang and walking to the left, the opposite direction of Sokka and Toph. The games were flashing on the left side of the field that the festival was held in.

Athlea followed Katara and Aang, and she smiled softly. "Enjoy," she said with a nod. Athlea's icy gaze moved to Zuko. "Wanna accompany me?" she asked as she took a step closer, approaching him, a smile adorning her features.

Zuko smiled softly. "I suppose I don't have another choice," he pointed out. "I wanted to go with Sokka, but I think you'll do." He took her hand. "Where should we go?"

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A/N BRRR i love these two... also, do you think they're gonna get away from the festival without any drama? idk, this team, man. they always manage something somehow.