The Avatar's Advisor (HIATUS)

Jet

TW: brief mention of child bartering, internalized transphobia, implied transphobia

Polu watches as Aang jumps into the trees to save their pet lemur. He snorts when, as soon as Momo is freed from his cage, he bites into his fruit.

"All right, you too." Aang leaps again to free the other hanging animals.

"This is going to take forever," Sokka complains. He grabs his boomerang from its carrier and throws it at the ropes. He and Polu walk over to inspect the traps once the animals are gone.

Sokka groans. "These are Fire Nation traps. You can tell from the metalwork."

"We'd better get moving," Polu adds with a shiver. He ignores the pitying glances Aang and Katara shoot him.

The four return to camp and quickly tie their belongings to Appa's saddle.

"No flying this time." Sokka walks over to Aang and takes the sleeping bag from his hands.

"What? Why wouldn't we fly?" Aang turns to Polu, who sighs.

"Think about it," the oldest starts. "Hairless Wonder and the Fire Nation keep finding us." He pauses long enough for Sokka to pick up the rest.

"It's because they spot Appa. He's just too noticeable."

Katara rests her hands on her hips. "What? Appa's not too noticeable!"

Sokka rolls his eyes. "He's a gigantic, fluffy monster with an arrow on his head! It's kind of hard to miss him!"

From his place leaning against Appa, Polu nods. "Woah!" He stumbles forward as the bison growls.

Aang smiles at Appa. "Sokka's just jealous that he doesn't have an arrow."

Sokka sighs loudly. "I know you all want to fly-" Polu interrupts with a quiet, "No, thanks." "But my instincts tell me we should play it safe and walk."

"Who made you the boss?" Katara leans close to her brother's face.

The boy frowns. "I'm not the boss, I'm the leader."

The waterbender smirks. "You're the leader? But your voice still cracks."

Polu snorts when Sokka protests and his voice does, in fact, crack.

"I'm the oldest and I'm a warrior, so I'm the leader."

The Advisor lets out an indignant laugh. "Uh, I'm right here, you know. The guy who's both older and stronger than you? Ring a bell at all?"

Sokka's face heats up in embarrassment and annoyance. "I'm the one who's had practice running a nation, then!"

I practiced running three. Polu scoffs loudly but doesn't speak his mind. Instead, he toys with the blue necklace he wears while Sokka and Katara bicker.

"I bet you wouldn't be so bossy if you'd kissed someone," Katara teases.

Sokka turns back to his sister. "I've kissed someone! You just haven't met them."

Katara smirks mockingly. "Who, Polu? I've met Polu."

As both boys' faces redden in embarrassment, Katara hums proudly.

"No! Not Polu!" Sokka swings his arms wildly as he tries to distract himself from his flaring cheeks. "Look, my instincts are telling me we have a better chance of slipping through on foot, and a leader has to trust his instincts."

Polu glances at Aang and raises an eyebrow. He mouths, 'Bumi would love this'. Aang struggles to contain his giggle.

~~~~~