//Chapter Two// - Beginnings
{Beginning Note}
Well, like it or not, here's chapter two. I'm not gonna get many opinions on things unless I have enough chapters for this story to get recognized. So.. without babbling on too much in the note that probably no one reads, I'll let you get onto reading. Also, update, I'm finishing one season a day, so I'll probably catch up soon—
———————————
Chapter Two - Beginnings
—
With a skip in your step, you had basically jogged your whole way home, heart bursting and a wide grin plastered, almost painfully, across your face. The grocery bag you had with you swayed at your side, in which you had to hold with one of your arms to keep from flying open and spilling out all of the fresh fruits and vegetables.
At last seeing the driveway of your home, you practically launched yourself through the front door, throwing off your shoes and slipping the bag off of your shoulder. "Nana Nauza! Papa Kaan! I've got the groceries!" You practically sang out, turning on your heel to face the elderly woman peacefully sitting in the recliner, her knitting needles quickly coming to a stop.
"(Y/n)? What's got you in such a good mood today? I haven't seen you like this since your grandfather took you to see your first Pro Bending match." She laughed, setting her supplies down onto the arm rest beside her.
Holding the grocery bag by its strap, you giddily turned towards her, that previous smile never fading, as you began to explain what happened earlier at the market. "I get to play as a Pro Bender, Nana! I met one of the teams at the market, and they need a replacement Waterbender! I'm in!" You exclaimed, seeing out of the corner of your eye, your grandpa walk carefully into the room.
"Well, isn't that such a great opportunity for you, then?" He chuckled, making his way over to you with a sincere smile that you hadn't seen in quite a while. He always understood why you enjoyed the sport so much, so seeing you finally be able to be a part of something that made you happy again, he felt the same joy. "Honor your team well, got it?" He instructed, taking hold of the bag filled with produce.
You bowed your head to him, doing your best to reel back your excitement. "I will, grandpa, don't worry." You nodded; no way you'd go against that word, especially since they were kind enough to offer the position to a complete stranger of a Waterbender.
Chiming in, your grandma soon stood from her chair, a gentle smile gracing her face as she rested a firm hand onto your shoulder. "Just be rational, and stay safe, alright? Remember the healing techniques I taught you, practice your forms often, don't stay out too late by yourself, and never—" she would have continued on forever if you hadn't piped up.
"Nana, I'm not moving." You humored, "I just hopefully made some new friends.." You trailed off a bit, before regaining yourself. "I'll be safe, alright? I've actually got a practice meet later today, so they'll show me the ropes before our match tomorrow. So I won't be heading in completely blind." You noted in reassurance for her.
Removing her hand and sitting back down, she agreed, and was content with your reply. Taking that into account, your grandpa stepped in and folded his arms across his chest. "So.. which team you going to be playing for? Asides from the one tomorrow, I'd like to be able to attend more of your matches.. that is, if you decide to stick with it." He snickered in a somewhat teasing manor that grandparents had.
You couldn't help but roll your eyes at his remark, but threw your arms up at his question. "Do you remember that one team that was interviewed by Future Industries because two of the members needed prosthetic limbs?" You quizzed.
It took him a moment, but he soon perked up in recognition. "The Templed River Bats? Yes, I do vageuly remember them." He admitted, thinking back to what he could recall about the rather short interview. "But they aren't half bad of a team! I'm glad that you found your opening, (Y/n). To see you now, your mother and father would be proud." He stated mildly, his eyes filled with the soft reminder of your parents, and more importantly, his daughter and her husband.
"Thanks, Papa.. I appreciate it." You returned the somber expression, before soon shaking your head to release yourself from the daunting memories of the North Pole. "But I won't let you down! I'll start making money from our winnings, and finally be able to pay you back for letting me live with you, even after I'm already almost eighteen..." You muttered, shuffling your foot and scuffing it across the floor.
"Oh, nonsense, (Y/n). You don't owe us anything, you're our grandchild, you could stay with us until we're dead for all we care." Your grandma joked, tapping your arm in a loving manor. "We're just happy to see that you're finally getting out and about again." She inquired lightly.
You nodded, thankfully, as you wrapped your arm around her shoulders in a small embrace of appreciation. "You guys are the best.. now, I've only got a few hours to get ready to meet Lilly and Jennicah for practice!" You cheered, breaking the small hold and rushing upstairs to your bedroom in order to gather a few things you considered bringing with you to your first official Pro Bending meetup with an actual team; no way you'd risk being underprepared.
Grabbing a satchel from off your nightstand, you stuffed it with a small notebook, a pencil, and the few pieces of paper filled with strategies and plans that you had mentioned earlier. Even though you were rather new to the whole idea of being on an actual team, you wanted to provide as much proof as you could to show your dedication that you had to helping them. You didn't know what it was, but you could tell this was a big step into something further.. That, and if you remembered correctly from keeping up with match winnings, the River Bats would be going against the Fire Ferrets tomorrow; and with Avatar Korra on their team, you weren't quite posotive about your chances in victory. That wouldn't keep ou from trying, though, that was for sure.
— —
Enough hours passed to where you were both physically and mentally prepared to attend your first practice, and you were currently racing to the address that Jennicah had given you. As you ran, you pulled out the grocery list and flipped it around to read the address, along with the note that was written to grant you access to their training gym. Glancing it over, it read,
'To Mr. Taiyang,
This is (Y/n), (he/she) is our new Waterbender for the River Bats, so if you catch (him/her) in the halls, and you're reading this, (he's/she's) with Lilly and I. Thanks again,
Signed, and sincere apologies for the sudden change, Jennicah Kanashimi.'
It was a short note, but you appreciated that she remembered to write it ahead of time. Sighing and at last making your way to the building in which was written down, you mentally debated for about five minutes whether you should knock or just walk in. Figuring since that it was a rather large building, you didn't know if anyone would be nearby in order to greet you in, anyways, so you just slowly creaked the large door open and peered inside.
Not seeing anyone immediately, you shut the door behind you, and took a few lingering steps inside, before you were met with a somewhat middleaged man with hazel eyes and slightly tanned skin. "Who are you and do you have a membership?" He questioned skeptically, getting rather close to your face with a puffed lip and raised brow.
"I, uh..." You sputtered out, stumbling over your words before holding up the note for him. "Sort of..? Jennicah told me to give you this, in case I met you.. are you.. Mr. Taiyang?" You asked, as you felt him pluck the paper from your fingertips.
"Hm.." He hummed, glistening it over and aquireing the details. "Yes, that's me. So, you're the new River Bat that bumbling Earthbender kept praising about." He sighed, crumpling up the parchment and stuffing it into his coat pocket. "You can head on back.. try to keep quiet, will you? Their last Waterbender was a bit of a.. showboat with a loud mouth." His face fell in distaste, clearly glad that Kai was no longer in the picture.
With him backing out of your face and walking back to presumably his office, you released the breath you weren't even aware you were holding, and piqued your own brow at the way he referred to Jennicah as a "bumbling Earthbender." Not really catching the drift of the team of Benders' relationship with him, you shrugged it off and grinned, as you jogged off in the direction that you heard crubling rocks and fire blasts.
Peeking your head around the corner, you peered into the next room with a widened smile, at the sight of the two sisters throwing earth disks and hitting targets with fire fists. By standing there and taking the fact that you were basically backstage to a Pro Bending competition, you completely forgot that you were supposed to be a part of it. Feeling your heart drop at the sudden clearing of throat, the blonde Firebender girl halted her practices and turned towards you monotonely. "You know you can come in, right?" She proclaimed, sounding lightly amused.
Sharply inhaling, you quickly spoke within the same breath. "Right! Sorry, my bad." You coughed, practically choking on air as you shuffled your feet over to the two of them. "Hi, um.. I hope I'm not late?" You quarreled hopefully.
The short brunette girl just shook her head and waddled over to you. "N-Not at all, y-you're actually r-right on time." She acknowledged, turning on her heel as she gestured to the taller female Firebender stalking over to the both of you. "A-As I'm sure you know.. th-this is Lilly, m-my sister, a-and our team's Firebender." She introduced.
Lilly just smiled lightly and nodded towards you, waving, but not extending a hand. "Nice to meet you, sorry for the quick transfer. But from the sounds of it, you were pretty pumped to join the team." She snickered, obviously taking a quick liking to your eagerness.
She was a tall, somewhat lean girl with a light build and not much bust. Her long, blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail with a few loose strands, as free from training. She had a mild tan to her skin and a few burn scars that were showing due to the tank top and shorts she was wearing. Her eyes were a deep brown shade, as well as sharp and perceptive; she was intimidating just to be within her presence, if it weren't for the smile she put on you might actually hold a slight fear. Another thing about her was, just like Jennicah, she had a prosthetic, though for her it was only her left leg. Over her eyes were a pair of black-framed rectangular glasses that gave her a more "nerd that'll kick your ass" type of girl.
You took that moment to look back at Jennicah; she was also in a gym-suited outfit of a tank top and shorts. She had just as many scars as Lilly did, also clearly from being burned, and one rather noticeable one that you didn't realize before that crept up from her left shoulder all the way up to the base of her collarbone. Just looking at the two of them,with their smiling faces and tattered bodies, you couldn't help but wonder what happened.
"Oh, right! Yeah, I'm so excited and honored for this chance to play for your team! I promise to train just as hard to catch up to you both; I won't let you down." You grinned back, pumping your fist a bit, releasing some of that newfound determination from earlier.
Lilly bobbed her head, a content expression across her face. "You're exactly the type of Waterbender we were looking for." She admitted bluntly, a hand making its way up to her hip.
After that, you were a bit concerned, as you laughed awkwardly and tugged at the collar of your shirt. "And what type is that, exactly?"
The blonde couldn't help but let out another beam of amusement as both her arms soon folded upward and across her chest. "The malleable kind." Was all she said as she shifted and gave you a hearty thumbs up.
All around, you were confused. But, you were also content; it was a nice feeling.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top