Ba Sing Se Boarding High

Familiar (Faces)

*Sokka POV*

I was sitting in the office. This is really good tea, but it's hot. I'm trying to finish it. Plus, I'm absorbing that story. Someone comes crashing through the door.
"Iroh, we need to talk," 
"Ms. Noriko, that is a little informal. Would you like some tea?" Iroh says to her. 
"Sure, we can talk over tea," She says with her eyes narrowed. Yellow eyes. 
"I should get going," I say.
"No, you can hear this too. I know you hang out with Zuko. You can tell him," She stops me. What?
"What about my nephew?" Uncle- I mean Iroh says. He places the tea in front of her.
"How'd he get that scar? Was it Ozai?" She asks.
"You know an awful lot about the family dynamic of my nephew for a teacher he's never had," There's a glint in his eye as if he knows what's going on.
"Iroh, both you and I know you aren't stupid. I'm sorry I was gone when you came back. I'm very sorry about Lu Ten," Oh. My. Tui and La. No. WAY. It can't be.
"Yes, Ursa. But perhaps you should talk to him yourself. He is very upset that you left,"
"I realize that. But I tried and I couldn't bring myself to,"
"We were just talking about you. He misses you terribly. He thought you were dead. That my brother-"
"I realize that. But Ozai would have if I had told him I was alive,"
"Ozai always finds excuses. He blamed it on homosexuality this time,"
"WHAT! That's horrible!"

*Zuko POV* 

She's alive she's alive she's alive she's alive and SHE'S RIGHT HERE!

*Sokka POV*

I sit there extremely uncomfortably. I feel like I'm third-wheeling.
"Ozai. I hate him. I can't believe he DID that," She's pacing back and forth.
"It's sadly more believable than you would think. Azula is also coming to the school in a few months. I'm afraid that she would be much less happy to see you,"
"I'll worry about Azula later. Come with me. I can't do this alone, and you probably know where he hangs out," Ursa grabs my arm and drags me. I think she's closer related to Toph.
"I guess we should check the dorm first?" I suggest.
"Lead the way,"

I open the door.
"Zuko, stop pacing. You're making my head hurt," Now I can see the relation.
"She's alive Aang. And she's at the school!"
"Yeah, your ex Mai is at the school. We never thought she died. Did you kindle feelings for her or something?"
"Not MAI!"
"Then who? I don't understand. I don't know if I want to," Aang groans and falls back into bed.
"Zuko?" Ursa says. He whips around. Zuko backs up and sits on his bed.
"No. I swear I'm going nuts. I'm probably hallucinating. I did for the longest time after it happened. Maybe I'm tired. Don't give me hope," The tears in his eye are heartbreaking. I throw myself on him. I slap his good side.
"Snap out of it. It's really. Get yourself together," I shake him.
"Right. Thanks, Sokka. You're a good friend," Ouch. I can feel bad later. We've been dating for almost two days now. Maybe it's because family is right there. 
"Are you really here?" He asks hopefully.
"Zuko stop yelling," Aang groans. I throw a pillow at him. "Ow," 
"Yes. Zuko. I am. I'm so sorry I left you-" She gets cut off by Zuko throwing himself into her arms.
"I don't care. You're here now. That's all that matters," Zuko says before sobbing. My eyes well with tears at the sight. When they pull away, Ursa tries to run her hand over his scar, but he flinched away.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you Zuko,"
"It still hurts sometimes, especially when people touch it. I hate it," 
"I'm sorry I let Ozai hurt you in this way. I should have gotten you out a long time ago," They talk for a while. I climb up to Aang's bunk and sit down.
"You're on top of my feet Sokka,"
"Stop being a wuss for five minutes. Aren't you happy for him?"
"Yeah. He gets to see her again," Aang looks at his hands. 
"Hey, I know the feeling. I'd given anything to see my mother again for just one day," 

Zuko and Ursa talk for the longest time. I guess they have a lot to catch up on.
"There is one last thing mom. Please don't judge me. Or hurt me for it," 
"I would never hurt you,"
"I guess the best way to say this is that Sokka and I are dating,"
"YOU ARE!? SINCE WHEN?! SOKKA, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!? I THOUGHT WE WERE BEST FRIENDS!" Aang screams in my ear.
"Since no meat day,"
"Oh, well. I guess no meat day was good for you after all😏," I punch him.
"I hated no meat day,"
"No meat day?" Ursa asks,
"Sokka has a meat obsession," Aang started.
"So we would only hang out with him if ate no meat for a day," Zuko finished.
"Creative," She says.
"I blame it on Mr. Vegetarian over here," I poke Aang in the side.
"Only Toph can use nicknames on me," Aang replies cooly.
"Jerk. You let Zuko do it two days ago,"
"He was copying Toph,"
"I was, Captain Boomerang," Zuko says.
"At least it wasn't Snoozles. Anyway, Ms. Zuko's Mom, would you like a tour of the dorm?" I say.
"A gentleman. I'd love the tour,"
"STAY OUT OF MY SCRAPBOOK!" Aang says.
"What's even in there?" Zuko asks. 
"None of your business. It's my way of journaling," Hmmm. I grab the book. 
"This is Aang's scrapbook, which we don't open because he has secrets in there,"
"All my secrets are gone. The last one got extinguished by the Earth King's impatience," 
"Sorry again," 
"It's not your fault," He says. 
"Anyway! This is Aang's bed, which can be told by the pan flag, with space for an ace flag,"
"I give up,"
"Just admit it," Zuko says.
"No,"
"And this is Zuko's bed, which has rainbow curtains for when he wants privacy,"
"Curtains? Really Zuko?"
"It's not my fault I have the nosiest roommate in existence. Who also happens to be my boyfriend,"
"I just realized! We haven't done your coming out party!" Aang says.
"My what now?"
"We made a deal that you would have a coming-out party once I got you and Sokka to be friends. I've more than succeeded. I'll bake the cake,"
"You bake?"
"Contrary to popular belief, I am a really great baker. Though, the lemurs were the only ones who tasted them, because Gyatso and I threw the cakes at the older monks,"
"Gyatso is an older monk," I say plainly.
"Gyatso is cool," He says. 
"This is my bed. Which has a massive bi flag above it. Zuko wanted the bunk bed by the way,"
"Yeah! And Aang, we're due for a bunk switch,"
"Can we wait until after I'm not as pissed at the Earth King?"
"After the party,"
"Deal,"
"Aaand this is the desk. Which has three drawers. Aang's has way more stuff in it than it should,"
"It's the law books. And the politics books. And like 50 of Kuruk's poems,"
"You hate him for the broken spirit stuff, why do you have his poems?"
"I could also hate Yangchen for that. All Avatars have their flaws,"
"Some of them have avoidance issues,"
"I can't... ShUt iT SokKA," Hahaha. Voice cracks. I get a death glare. 
"And here is the closet. Everyone is out of it except for maybe Aang. We keep our nicer clothes in here. Basically, it has Aang's flannels,"
"Don't hate on my flannels,"
"Nothing against your flannels," I put my hands in the air. "This is the dresser, where the rest of the clothes go,"
"Sokka needs to put his away,"  Zuko says.
"Actually, I bought drawers for under my bed. I keep my clothes there,"
"Are they organized?" Aang asks. 
"None of your business,"
"Well, that's everything except the washroom, which needs to be swept," Zuko says.
"Just be glad I don't shave my head still," Aang says. "Besides, Sokka is the one who leaves the most hair,"
"We rotate duties. We're not that good at it," I say pushing her out the door.
"FINE! I'll go sweep," Aang says grumpily. 
"Bye! I hope you enjoyed the tour," I say while waving her away. "Looks like Zuko is the only one of us with a living mom,"
"To be fair, my dad's also a dick, so it's fair,"
"Yeah. I get the feeling," Aang says. We still have a few things to learn about Aang. Maybe I should check out that scrapbook. "I'm going back to bed," Perfect.