Chapter 231: Twilight (1)
Sokka and Katara looked at each other nervously. They sat alongside their partners— Rena and Nik and across one another with only a lone figure sitting on the side adjacent to both of them. The woman had dusky skin similar to the siblings and she resembled Katara quite a bit. Or to be exact, Katara resembled this woman a lot. Although the woman managed to suppress her sadness for this was a joyous occasion, the siblings still looked a bit concerned.
"M- Mother," Sokka felt his throat clench. Still not used to it.
Who would have known that one of Reaper's victims in its hunt during the war would be the mother of Sokka and Katara— Kya?
The woman wore a thin light blue kimono with her dark brown hair wrapped loosely behind her shoulders. She looked at Sokka and then smiled, "Ah, forgive me... I just cannot be prouder of seeing the two of you so accomplished. And I also feel blessed... but I wish I had seen the two of you grow up."
Her words made Katara lower her head while Sokka grit his teeth, this time, causing Rena and Nik to look at one another awkwardly.
"So?" Kya continued, "Would you not reintroduce me to the one who saved me from a death that seemed like an eternity and the woman who really has her teeth sunk into your back?"
If Sokka felt sad, that changed, and he promptly blushed while Rena's lips parted.
"I didn't say that, Mother!" Sokka shuffled uncomfortably while Kya nodded and looked at Nik pointedly, "You didn't. But he did. You were the one who asked Michi to help me understand more about my children... and share a few of their secrets, Nik, right?"
Feeling Sokka's and Rena's betrayed stares, Nik snickered under his breath and shook his head, "I didn't ask Michi, Mother-in-Law. She is always happy to share embarrassing secrets of children to their parents since her own kids are a handful... at least, one of them really does fill one's hands."
The trio who knew Nik rolled their eyes and Katara's hand discreetly pinched his thigh severely to make such a crass joke about Mai in front of her mother. However, Kya merely gave a reserved smile and nodded, "I see... it's only been two days. And... I can't say I have still adapted to the situation. Sleeping comes to me even harder as I would relive those desolate days."
Since everyone around the table had been in Reaper's stomach once, they could empathize with Kya but not help her in any way.
"But," Katara interjected with a wide smile, "I am sure father will be happy to see you! We leave for Fire Nation in a few days after completely checking all the prisons now that Iroh is commanding the force for the time being and helping with settling many issues."
Sokka nodded, "Katara is right, M- Mom... Ehm, In fact, you should really come to watch us practice. I'm practically the strongest warrior of our village!"
Katara scoffed under her breath.
"What? Something to add to that?" Sokka raised his brow and questioned as Katara leaned back, "No... but you do realize that I could freeze you anytime when we're in the south, right?"
"I'm a warrior," Sokka smirked, "And I've beaten benders like you with just weapons."
"Not anyone near my level," She remarked with a smug hum. Both of their glares sharpened while Kya interjected, "Now, now, did you two really grow up? Always up into each other's noses and ready to fight any time of the day." She sighed and shook her head, "And here I thought you wanted us to know more about one another. To be precise, me meeting your partners."
"Sorry..." Katara lowered her head as Nik shook his head and sighed, too, "Kya, I can call you Kya, right? You should see how they are after drinking."
Kya blinked in surprise as Rena supplanted, "Exactly. Kya, did Sokka tell you how easy he is when he's drunk? Easier than Nik! Spirits know how much else I have had to keep it sunk into him or else he'd be a mess!"
"Hey... you're calling me a mess?" Nik narrowed his eyes with a smirk.
"Have you seen yourself?" Rena smiled, too, "Nobody's messier than you."
"It requires expertise and skills to be like me. You're... eh?" He shrugged as Rena's smirk twitched and she giggled, "There's no expertise to be easy."
"That's what you think. Ask others. On the other hand, your niche is just... being around."
Both of their glares sharpened equally as the partners now sought Kya's attention instead, making Sokka and Katara speechless.
"I bet five vats of the royal wine we just divided you wouldn't be able to keep it in your pants until a week!" Rena's words made Sokka's and Katara's expression drop while Kya still tried to make sense of the situation.
"I'll take that bet, sister," Nik chuckled coldly.
"Enough! Nobody is sleeping with my mom!"
Sokka slammed his hands on the table as Kya's expression froze and she glared at her son, "Sokka, have you no shame! What kind of things are you speaking?!"
"No— But, Nik, he—"
"Lalalalala," Katara hurriedly cut Sokka off and shouted, "Sokka meant that Nik is an exhibitionist who streaks naked!"
Everyone's expression froze and then it dawned on Nik...
Katara had yet to tell her mother that she was part of something much larger and grand.
Can't blame Katara for that, he realized. After all, every mother had wanted to get a piece of him after knowing of their daughter's situation... sometimes even before he got it on with the said daughter.
"I- Is that true?" Kya looked at Nik with a somewhat awkward expression.
"There's... just something about the night's cold air," Nik muttered and played along while his hand this time pinched the shit out of Katara's thigh as she almost jumped up and yelped.
The rest of this get-together was cut short due to how strange things got but Kya did remark how she would like to sit down with the siblings and with their partners alone the next time so that the situation isn't hectic once again. For the time being, Kya naturally found herself more familiar with Michi and a few tribal men and women who had decided to stay in their personal world. Many of these men had already left and were being arranged to return to their respective tribes by Iroh.
---
With the intended meeting already over within an hour itself. For the past two days, Nik did nothing but tried to figure out the clue that the squirrel left him and he finally realized that it was most likely talking about the ancient Sun Warriors who revered Ra and were known to be the first Firebenders. And Nik knew of their last known ruins so that would be a good place to try looking.
Aside from that, he finally buckled down and focused on Lavabending and Metalbending. With Aang focusing on the Stormbenders, Hina, and Niwan, Nik lost an airbending partner temporarily. But that meant Nik could focus on the advanced bending skills that troubled him the most— Lava and Lightning. He chose the former because he had a good grasp of it and wanted to bank on his expertise. As for Lightningbending... Iroh definitely knew it and Nik also had the written material in his library so it was just a box waiting to be checked in time.
But two days weren't enough. Nik made sure to keep his expectations more grounded and just wanted to get a little more proficient in Lavabending to the point he could even bend metal into lava. He'll proceed to Lightningbending after that.
While he was happy doing his own thing, there was one thing that caused a lot of concern...
His steps soon found him led to a youth sitting by the lake with his legs dipped within. It was rare for him to be alone these days but Ursa did need her rest and his safety was more assured within this personal world.
"Feeling better?" Nik questioned and sat down beside Zuko with an audible huff as the cold water of the lake around their feet warmed up the slightest bit for more comfort.
Still looking idle and dazed, Zuko grunted, "I'm tired of saying that I'm fine... If I was truly out of my mind, I would have attacked my mother's imposter."
The fact that Ozai tried to use Ursa's imposter to break Zuko's will... was chilling. And that's the only thing many saw. A few, however, like Azula and Iroh who knew Zuko's tendencies were pleasantly surprised instead.
Zuko didn't break.
It wasn't just tough will that needed this but... an open mind, too.
"Don't worry," Nik chuckled, "That was just a formality. It's a nice spot, right? Calms me down in an instant, too."
"Why are you here?" Zuko went straight to the point, "I... we may have gotten better along but... it's awkward around you most of the time."
Nik looked at him and blinked in surprise, "I wanted to ask if you'd like to go on a trip with me."
"Why?" He frowned.
"You just got fucked over by the person you arguably trusted the most and almost saw death," Nik smirked, "Strangely... I know what you're going through."
"Do you?" Zuko sneered, "Thanks... and I don't mean to be rude after you've done so much for my family. But... no. I want to be alone."
Patting Zuko's shoulder, Nik added with a smile, "I can tell you one thing... I'm sure you believe right now that you'll never trust anyone. But for that to happen, I'd reckon, you'd have to get your trust broken a few more times. The better way is to just try and trust the right person—"
"I knew Kei Lo from when we were children!" Zuko growled, "I trusted right!"
"Hmm, again, I get it," Nik emphasized with a smile, "And I'm not here because Ursa or Iroh asked me, mind you. I'll tell you something... when I got my trust betrayed, I didn't get a choice to really sulk about it. It remained in the back of my mind for a month or two... but I am grateful I never dived too deep into it."
"Oh, you keep saying this, but—" Before Zuko could speak, Nik interjected with a nod, "Yeah. And not just any best friend. My mother."
The youth's expression froze as Nik continued, "And like Kei Lo, my mother died, too. I'm here only for you, I'll be honest. We didn't get off well and that's because of Jin and others, I get that. And I'd do it all again. But... that never meant I wanted to hurt you. I'll be leaving for what I want tomorrow morning. If you want to come, have the balls to assure Ursa you're fine and that, too, by not sulking. It takes guts to smile in your position... and strangely, you've got 'em after everything you've been through."
As Nik stood up and walked away, he came to a pause, "Or you know. You could spend more time trying to find a better mate. It's crass but adventures and sex are at the top of my list when I need cheering up. Not that I have anything to feel sad about this time."
Zuko stared at Nik's back with a conflicted expression and then lay down on the ground while exerting a tired groan.
---
"I'd like some more," Zuko's request surprised Ursa and Azula as they were having their dinner. Zuko barely ate these days and as he realized how even Azula reacted... he understood that just telling others he was fine was barely effective, as Nik suggested, he had to SHOW it. His mind needed time. He needed time... but he also didn't want his mother to fuss over him or Azula to cast strangely, but almost concealed concerned glances.
Everyone around him including Iroh treated him like a... pitiable person. Even Aang. But Zuko argued that Aang must be feeling more guilty about indirectly causing Kei Lo's death. Not that Zuko blamed the boy. He wasn't touched in the head and understood that Kei Lo's situation was only to be blamed on Ozai.
And he was pitiful... but for more grounded reasons. For instance, his love life... but this. Him being controlled but not breaking apart... this was a cause of celebration! He won! Against Ozai, no less!
And only Nik saw that.
As they continued to eat, Zuko gathered his courage and spoke, "Mother... I plan to leave with Nik tomorrow. A trip, he says. He feels that an outing would do me good instead of cooping here."
Before Ursa could question with a frown, Zuko looked up and smiled, "Please... I also think that an outing will be good for me. And, I want to thank Nik for all he did."
"Oh?" Azula smirked and nothing good ever did come from that smile of hers as she snickered, "An outing with him, hmm... Mother, do check Zuko's knees when he returns to see if they're scuffed or not."
Zuko snorted and bit back, "Oh, give it a rest! Make fun of me all you want but we all know that Ty Lee's got you wrapped, too. Maybe you'd be the one on her knees apologizing for the way you spoke to her."
Azula's eyes widened, "Who the hell told you—"
She quickly realized the 'traitor' while Zuko shrugged, "Jin did. She came by to check on me yesterday when you were out sulking."
"Training," Azula corrected coldly.
"Hmm..." A low hum from Ursa brought the duo's attention and they looked at her only to find her finally smiling with somewhat watery eyes, "I already missed you two bickering, come here!"
She leaned forward and pulled Azula and Zuko to herself, hugging them tightly until both Zuko and Azula blushed in embarrassment and squirmed under her hug but didn't break free.
"Mother..." Zuko groaned.
"Spirits... this is unsightly. A good thing we chose to eat in our room tonight."
It was inevitable, after all. The mansion now hosted Michi's, Poppy's, Kya's, and Ursa's families. Not to mention other 'singles' that ate in the common area alongside Nik most of the time. In fact, with Ozai dealt, many who planned to take the 'role' of living in the mansion or anywhere around Nik had started to turn their gazes towards their more common needs such as separate kitchens for their own families and whatnot.
After Ursa had her fill, she pulled back and the duo saw a few tears escaping the corner of her eyes as she smiled, "You can, of course, go with Nik. Why would I stop you? And young lady... if you don't apologize to Ty-Lee... I'll have to punish you!"
Ursa's remark and her somewhat devious stare... gave Azula a reason NOT to apologize Ty-Lee instead. But Zuko smiled, "I'll be safe."
Ursa nodded.
***
Alternate Title: Nobody Sleeps With Sokka's Mom
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