𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 || 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐀 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜 ✔️

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕

omg how could I forget this gif? 

*writing this chapter while blasting 7 nation army*

why does my house smell like rice?

─✧─

"Hello?" Toph asked, but they were only greeted by darkness.

"Still think they're taking a nap?" Aang asked.

Toph stepped inside her home, flipping on the lights. Her friends followed suit, and began to roam around the first floor.

"Is anyone home?" Toph asked, meeting with everyone else in the living room. They shook their heads.

The front door swung shut, and the lights flickered.

"Hey! It's just like a horror movie!" Sokka exclaimed.

"What the fuck, Sokka," Zuko said, fumbling for his phone in his pockets. He pulled it out and turned on the flashlight.

"It was probably just the wind," Aang said, reassuring his friends.

"Yeah, because the wind can slam shut an iron door," Toph said, pulling out her phone.

"What are you doing?" Suki asked.

"Calling my parents," Toph said, lifting her phone to her ear. "None of this makes any sense."

Katara stood up, "While Toph's going to try to contact her parents, we should go check out the rest of the house for any information."

Everyone else nodded, standing up and exploring the rest of the house. Sokka went to the kitchen, searching the contents of the counter drawer. Zuko popped his head in each bedroom, searching for any signs of leaving abruptly.

Aang searched the file cabinets in their second study, filing through several papers. He froze when he saw a certain file in specific. He pulled it out and flipped through it.

"Guys...? You might want to see this," Aang said, bringing the file to the living room and handing it to Katara, who rifled through it in the same manner.

Everyone met back in the living room.

"The whole house is empty," Zuko said. "No signs of leaving suddenly or an infiltration."

"According to these files, they've gone to Ba Sing Se. Everything is here, their hotel and travel bookings," Katara explained.

Toph pocketed her phone, "They're not picking up."

"Right now, they should be on a ferry in Full Moon Bay," Katara said, closing the file and tossing on the coffee table. "They might not be getting any signal, that's why."

"So Toph's parents are on their way to Ba Sing Se," Suki concluded. "Why?"

Zuko shrugged, "I mean, they could be looking for Toph. I don't see any scheduled business meetings then."

"Should we go to Ba Sing Se then?" Aang suggested. "I mean, I don't want to have another false lead."

"Aang's right," Sokka said. "Someone's messing with us, pretending to be Toph's parents."

"Well then, what should we do? Someone's been toying with us, pretending to be Toph's parents and leading us here. I don't want to go to Ba Sing Se to find another false lead," Zuko said. 

"So you're asking for an incentive to go to Ba Sing Se, right?" Toph said, heading to the kitchen and grabbing a bag of cheese puffs. "I've been accepted into a chess competition in Ba Sing Se."

Zuko's eyebrows shot up, "Are you serious?"

"As serious as it gets. I could show you my application if you want."

"When is it?"

"Next weekend."

"But Toph's parents might leave Ba Sing Se by the time we get there," Katara pointed out.

"As much as I hate to say this, but I agree with Katara," Sokka said. "But it doesn't hurt to try. While we're there, we can visit our old school and see Uncle Iroh."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

─✧─

"Do you think we can smuggle in some totally not illegal fireworks into Ba Sing Se?" Sokka asked, catching up with his friends, with some very full bags.

"I lost you at illegal, Sokka," Aang said. "You know very well those won't make it past security."

He pouted, "Dang it."

"We're here to shop for our weekend trip, Sokka," Zuko reminded them. It was the day before their trip, and they'd just finished school. Katara and Aang were walking at the front of the group, who were checking things off the list.

"Did someone say illegal fireworks?" Toph asked, stuffing her mouth with a bunch of mochi.

"Sure did," Sokka said. "Sparky Sparky Boom man did a little demo for me, even."

"Sparky Sparky Boom man?" Suki asked.

"You're right, it's too long. How about combustion man?"

"Why are you giving a nickname to someone who sold you illegal fireworks?" Toph questioned, handing Suki some mochi.

"He didn't give his name."

"Well, if they had a brain they sure as hell wouldn't give their name," Katara pointed out from the front.

"Are we done with shopping yet?" Sokka asked.

"No, we still need to grab a few things," Aang said.

"I'm going to head out. This is boring," Toph said, dragging Sokka along with her.

The four of them continued roaming around the store, picking up whatever they needed. Suki's phone began to ring.

She pulled her phone out of the back pocket of her cargo pants, and answered the call.

"Hello?" Suki said. After a moment, she nodded and replied, "Okay, I'll be there."

"What's going on?" Zuko asked.

"My martial arts instructor is calling us over to the studio again for practice," Suki explained.

"Where? I could drop you off," he offered.

"Not too far from here. We call ourselves the Kyoshi Warriors."

"Okay, see you later Suki," Katara said, giving her friend a quick hug. "Remember, Friday immediately after school."

"Got it," Suki said. "You two don't take a detour, either," she said with a wink.

Zuko and Suki walked to the parking lot, leaving the couple to finish the shopping by themselves.

─✧─

I got to see Yue in her beautiful glowing celestial body last night while on a car ride with my fam. I mean, my parents were bickering the entire time but that's not the point. 

I started sobbing when I watched the finale of Romeo and Juliet today. Not okay, Shakespeare. 

Imma need another bucket of cookies now.