AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 58

Katara glanced at Aang and Sokka now that the idea of bringing Avitus to Athlea's uncle had been shot down. "What should we do?" she asked.

Avitus ran a hand through his hair. "Oh, come on, we can go see Uncle Laetius," he said with a charming smile.

"Train me," Sokka said, looking at Avitus with puppy eyes.

Avitus glanced awkwardly at him. "Train you?" Aang chimed in.

"Shush, Aang! This man is the definition of charm. I need to know his secrets!" Aang face palmed. Dai returned, her face red but her chin high. She adjusted her crown as she rejoined them. The group's attention turned back to her as she rejoined them. "What's with the red face, Your Majesty?" Sokka asked, leaning forward, grinning.

Dai's face went from red to redder. She grabbed an arrow from the bag on her back and pressed the icy tip against his throat, pulling him closer by the collar. She looked up at him, a smirk on her face. "I'm going to kill you," she announced sweetly.

Katara raised her eyebrows, leaning back against the table. "Hm."

Sokka glanced up at the ceiling, tugging on his collar with a finger and swallowing hard. "Right..."

Avitus blinked. "Violence aside... Let's go!"

Dai smirked, her face inches from Sokka's. She held him there for a moment, her eyes locked on his, before stepping back.

"Great!" Katara finally said. "We know where he's living now, just off of the Palace grounds." She gave the man a serious look. "No fighting. Dai's already fired up, so she'd be happy to kick both of your asses." Dai grinned.

Avitus chuckled. "Right, no fighting. Don't blame me if he starts it." He took the lead, then stopped, turning around. "Where does he live, again?" he asked, scratching the back of his head.

"I like this man," Sokka said with a big grin.

Aang nodded. "Me too," he agreed.

"Avitus, do you game?" Sokka asked suddenly. Aang facepalmed.

Dai followed the others as Katara led them through the palace and out of the back entrance. The bridge arched in front of the door. Katara pointed through the garden. "There's a trail back there that leads to his house," she told the man. "It's easier going through the side entrance than the main entrance; a shorter path." She kept talking, trying to distract him from the idiots behind them.

A pleased smile adorned Avitus' face. "Have you met the man?"

Katara shrugged a shoulder. "We have, but we didn't talk to him much. He wasn't on great terms with Thea when we met them, so it was awkward. They're doing much better now, since he broke up with his ex-girlfriend." She smiled. "Here it is," she said, gesturing to a pale green house with yellow shutters and a vibrant garden surrounding it.

Dai knocked on the door. Avitus glanced around. "Well, wow. He truly does love gardening," he said chuckling. Katara nodded.

Two minutes later, the door opened, and Laetius stood there wearing gardening gloves, his hair in a low bun. "Team Avatar," he greeted with a pleased smile. Katara dipped her head before his gaze stopped on his brother-in-law. "HOW ARE YOU ALIVE?!" he suddenly shouted. Dai flinched.

"Loud as always Laetius," Avitus said, covering one of his ears. He uncovered it and gave him a smile. "Hi," he said innocently.

She watched Katara lead the rest of them into the house, following them at the rear. "He didn't bow," she muttered. "Nobody bows."

They entered the small, cozy house, sitting around a low table in the living room. Avitus explained what had happened to his in-law.

"Your daughter is a hell of a woman to care after," Athlea's uncle pointed out. "I don't even know how Zuko handles her. She took after your stubbornness and Irene's kindness... but, more so, your determination and hard-hardheadedness." He rolled his eyes.