Chapter 22- Ex? Who Says Y'all Are Exes? Not Me That's For Sure

"Look Momo, when tiger monkeys reach adulthood, their fangs grow larger and claws sharper, then males fight in order to become leader," You told the lemur as you showed him the scroll you took from the library. It's been a few days after the desert incident, and you still haven't been fully yourself since Twig went missing, but you were getting better.

You and the Gaang camped near a waterfall, with Aang, Katara, and Toph playing in the water while you and Sokka were looking at the scrolls.
"Waterbending bomb!" Katara shouted from the cliff and jumped down
"Sure, five thousand year-old maps from the spirit library. Just splash some water on 'em," Sokka said sarcastically, making you smile a little as Katara took the water out of the paper.

Sokka started to explained the route, but you were too busy reading off features and skills a tiger monkey could do, wanting to see if there was any way to call a tiger monkey.
"Besides, if there's anyone to worry about, it's (Y/N)," You looked up from your scroll to see them looking at you, a little startled at the sudden attention but gave them a small wave off.

"Hey, it's okay for the both of us. I'm feeling better, and Aang is too," You said as they still had a worried look.
"Are you sure?" Sokka asked.
"I'm fine guys, really," You gave them a small smile, making them hesitant, which made you sigh and set down your scroll.

"Look, it's hard to explain, but I hate being alone, everyone leaving me and it makes me very anxious and I freeze every time. Twig was always there to comfort me, always nuzzling me and cooing at me whenever I feel like freezing up or when I can't breathe," You explained and traced a finger against the dirt.

"I don't know what it's called, but I don't want people leaving me alone, that I panic when I do. Twig was there to never make me feel like that... but I have you guys, and I know Twig is not alone either he has Appa, so there's still hope for the both of us," You said as Aang gave you a small smile.
"Well, I'm glad you're both doing better," Katara smiled as Sokka picked up his things.

"Then to Ba Sing Se we go. No more distractions," He said, but then you heard people behind you all.
"Hello there, fellow refugees!" A man said with two woman behind him. They introduced himself as Than and his wife Ying and their daughter.

"So, you guys are headed to Ba Sing Se, too?" You asked as you placed your scrolls on your belt strap.
"Sure are. We're trying to get there before my wife Ying has her baby," Than explained as you popped open your water pouch to drink.
"Great! We can travel through the Serpent's Pass together," The moment Katara said that, your eyes widen and you spat out your water.

"The Serpent's Pass? Only the truly desperate take that deadly route!" Ying said with slight fear.
"Really?! Even I don't go there," You mangaged to say through your coughing.
"Well, we are desperate," Sokka groaned as Toph punched him in the arm.
"You should come with us to Full Moon Bay. Ferries take refugees across the lake. It's the fastest way to Ba Sing Se," Than suggested.

"And it's hidden, so the Fire Nation can't find it," Ying piped in.
"Oh yeah, I couldn't really go considering I was 8 and no money," You mumbled.

"Hmm... peaceful ferry ride or deadly pass?"

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"I can't believe how many people's lives have been uprooted by the Fire Nation," Katara mumbled as you all made it to Full Moon Bay.
"We're all looking for a better life, safe behind the walls of Ba Sing Se," Than said, and the two groups separated to get into ferries.

You and the Gaang walked through crowds of people, going up to a ticket booth with a familiar man with a cart of cabbages.
"I told you already, no vegetables on the ferry! One cabbage slug could destroy the entire ecosystem of Ba Sing Se! Security!" The ticket lady yelled at the man, and a platypus bear showed up to destroy the cart.

"My cabbages!!" The man yelled in disparity as he was taken away.
"Next!" You poured one out for the cabbage man as Aang sheepishly walked up to the booth.
"Um, five tickets for the ferry to Ba Sing Se, please," He said with playing with his fingers.
"Passports?" She asked.

"Uh... no one told us we had to have passports," Aang said as Sokka walked up with his arm over Aang.
"Don't you know who this is? He's the Avatar!" He pointed to his arrow.
"Ah, I see fifty Avatars a day and, by the way, not a very impressive costume," Motioning to the group of Avatar imposters, making you appreciate their costume designs.

"Besides, no animals allowed. Do I need to call security?" The platypus bear that attacked the cart chomped on a cabbage, making Momo hide in fear.
"That won't be necessary," Aang said and tuned back to us with a shake to his head.
"Next!" Just then, Toph walked up to the booth.
"I'll take care of this. My name is Toph Beifong, and I'll need five tickets," She said while handing over a golden stamp with her family's symbol.

"Ah, the golden seal of the flying boar! It is my pleasure to help anyone of the Beifong family," The ticket bowed.
"It is your pleasure. As you can see, I am blind and these three imbeciles are my valets, with my bodyguard of course," Toph pointed at you, making you awkwardly wave.

"But, the animal-"
"is my seeing-eye lemur," Momo hopped on her shoulder to prove it.
"Well, normally it's only one ticket per passport, but this document is so official... I guess it's worth five tickets. Thank you very much," The lady stamped the tickets and Toph grabbed them.

You all walked off as Sokka fist pumped.
"All right, we scammed that lady good!" He said, making you smile a little, but then he was grabbed from behind. You didn't really acknowledge his danger as he was talking to someone, but then you heard a familiar voice.
"I've seen your type before. Probably sarcastic, think you're hilarious and let me guess, you're traveling with the Avatar," The voice scolded.

Eyes widening, you stopped dead in your tracks and turned your head to see a girl talking to Sokka, but you know that face anywhere, because no matter what she wore, your ex still had that beautiful face.
"SUKKKIIIII!!!!" You yelled, running in to tackle her while hugging her.
"(Y/N)! Sokka! It's good to see you all!" She laughed and hugged you too, but you were about to breakdown.

"Suki! I'm sorry! Please don't go, I'm sorry for leaving you!" You cried, nuzzling your head against her.
"U-uh... is (Y/N), okay?" Suki stammered, blushing at your sudden affection, which made you to let go, but still held onto her sleeve.

"Not really! I've been through a lot and I just need a hug,"

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"You look so different without your makeup! And the new outfit," Katara said with a smile as you and the gaang sat at a rest station.
"That crabby lady makes all the security guards wear them. (Y/N) and Sokka, did you guys gain muscle?" Suki asked as you were sitting with Aang.

"You need muscles if you wanna take down your psychotic brother," You shrugged, but you were very happy to see Suki again. If you had a tail like Twig, it would've been wagging a lot.
"Are the other Kyoshi Warriors around?" Aang asked her.

"Yeah. After you left Kyoshi, we wanted to find a way to help people. We ended up escorting some refugees and we've been here ever since," Suki explained, as Momo jumped on a wall.
"So why are you guys getting tickets for the ferry? Wouldn't you just fly across on Appa?" Suki asked with a little head tilt.

That made everyone quiet as you cough slightly.
"Appa and Twig are missing. We hope to find them in Ba Sing Se," Suki's eyes widen as she looked over to you and Aang, but mainly to you as you were hugging your arms.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. Are you two doing okay?" She asked, and you felt a little small at the eyes on you, so Aang spoke up for you both.
"We're doing fine. Would everybody stop worrying about us?" Aang said defensively, and you were about to say something until you heard Ying call out for Aang.

"Avatar Aang, you have to help us! Someone took all of our belongings; our passports, our tickets, everything's gone!" Ying cried out while hugging her husband.

"I'll talk to the lady for you,"

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"No passports, no tickets!"

"Wow, bastard,"

"(Y/N)!"
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More art from the beloved poder_patata

(Y/N) was this close to snap someone's neck. 👌