Afterward Adventures (ATLA Zuko X OC)

Chapter Two - The Promise Pt. 2

Many Earth Kingdom protesters had gathered around the locked gates of Yu Dao. The Fire Lord was inside. It's been almost a year Iris hadn't seen him, still the thought of meeting up again, made the pit in her stomach worse.

"Fire Nation out! Harmony now! Fire Nation out! Harmony now!" The protesters shouted angrily.

Toph and Aang hugged each other tightly while Iris followed Sokka and Katara towards the big crowd.

"Is that Smellerbee?" Katara asked.

"Yeah, he's with the Freedom Fighters," Sokka said.

"You mean: 'she' is with the Freedom Fighters," Iris corrected him as they stopped in front of the crowd.

"Yeah, that's what I said," Sokka said smiling nervously at her and lying.

Iris gave him an unconvinced look and then she turned her attention on the Freedom Fighters as Smellerbee said excitedly...

"Look, everybody! It's the Avatar and the Defender!"

"Yeeah! Avatar Aang! Defender Iris! Avatar Aang! Defender Iris!" They all shouted excitedly.

Aang smiled excitedly at them and Iris smiled firmly, both raising their hands trying to stop them.

"Aang! Iris! We were hoping you two would come! So what's the plan of attack? The Freedom Fighters are at your service!" Smellerbee said looking at the two air bending siblings.

"We appreciate your confidence, Smellerbee, but we really just want to talk to Zuko," Aang said.

"What?!" Smellerbee shouted, "The time for talking was over as soon as the Fire Lord broke the Harmony Restoration Movement!" She said angrily "Besides you're not getting into that City without a fight. Fire Nation troops are everywhere,"

"Oh, don't worry about them," Iris said hitting the fist of her one hand in the other and she tried to walk towards them and kick their ass.

But Aang stopped her placing his hand on her shoulder.

"We'll break open a new Gate just for you two! Just give us the word," Sneers said.

"That won't be necessary, Sneers. We'll find a way in," Aang said.

Iris sighed boringly "Always the peacekeeper," she said and she took her staff from her back twisting it a couple of times around.

"You ready, sweetie?" Aang asked smiling at his girlfriend.

"I'm ready, sweetie," Katara answered smiling back at him.

Aang wrapped his one hand around Katara's waist, supporting her on the air with him as they flew above the gates with his glider.

"Sweetie'? Seriously?" Toph asked boringly.

Iris sighed "Don't ask," she said and she took off with her glider, following from behind.

"I know, right? Sooo Oogie!" Sokka commented.

They reached the other side really quickly. Katara got immediately in her stance as they came face to face with almost six Fire Nation soldiers.

"Flamio, hotmen!" Aang said kindly.

Iris face-palmed her forehead "Enough with this 'flamio', I told you, the slang has changed!"

"Common, Iris, we don't want a fight," Aang whispered at her and then he turned again at the soldier in front of him.

"This City is under the protection of the Fire Lord himself! No one may enter without his express permission, not even the Avatar and the Defender. Leave now!" One of the soldiers said.