Sokka, Agent of O.W.L.

a story based upon the Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender

by Storywriter1id

Disclaimer: The characters herein are the property of the creators of the Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender. I claim nothing.

A/N This is a slightly AU story that basically ignores canon beyond The Search.

Chpater 1 – The Summons

Sokka, Son of Hakoda, Ambassador-at-Large of the Southern Water Tribe, hated this time of year. Today was the seventh anniversary of the end of the 100 year war, and of the ascension of his friend Zuko to Fire Lord. Everywhere else in the world, this was an occasion for massive celebrations, but not here in the Fire Nation where Ambassador Sokka currently found himself. By proclamation of the Fire Lord, instead of the "Ascension Day" that his ancestors had honored themselves with, this day would forever be known as "Remembrance and Reconciliation Day", a day for Fire Nationals to remember their own war dead and perhaps atone for their own actions during the century long conflict. While his ambassadorial duties required him to be here, as a witness for his tribe to the various ceremonies and rituals Zuko and the Fire Sages performed today, he really wasn't comfortable remembering the Fire Nation's war dead, considering he'd caused a great number of those deaths himself on the last day of the war. So he'd quietly excused himself from the palace reception, changed from his formal ambassadorial uniform to a less conspicuous and more comfortable outfit, and set out to Caldera City in search of the seediest tavern he could find in order to get gloriously, mind-numbingly drunk.

Near the docks he found the right kind of place. Light from not enough oil lamps cast shadows on the red Fire Nation Army and Navy banners that festooned the walls. Three big, rough looking men sat drinking at a table near a makeshift stage, enthralled by a past her prime courtesan in a silken shift that showed both too much leg and too much cleavage, strumming an out of tune pipa and singing a soft ballad about her lost love. Two old men, fishermen by their look, occupied one end of the bar, quietly sipped leechee beers. Sokka took a seat near the center of the bar and ordered a whiskey. The barkeep served Sokka his drink as the lady finished her song. The three toughs clapped and hooted loudly. The loudest (and ugliest, Sokka thought) stood up and announced to the entire bar, "I, uh...have something to say."

"Yeah, yeah!" his friends egged him on. Sokka decided he'd call them 'Unibrow Guy', and 'Bucktooth Guy'.

Ugly Guy continued, "Today, today is a solemn day. Seven years ago today, a dishonored- pretender- took the title of Fire Lord and shamefully surrendered to those filthy Earth Kingdomers and stupid, backward Water Savages. But, this ain't about him. It's about our brothers and sisters that died for the glory of the Fire Nation. So, I propose a toast, to the honored dead of the Fire Nation!"

Sokka's blood ran cold. He downed the rest of his drink, and reached in his pocket for some silver coins to pay for his tab. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and slowly turned around, coming face to face with Loud Ugly Guy, who was flanked by his not much better looking friends.

"You want to drink the glory of the Fire Nation with me, friend?" Ugly Guy asked, threateningly.

"No thanks, I was just leaving," Sokka smiled.

"You too good to drink with us? Wait, your shirt looks kinda...bluish. I'm thinking you must be one them ignorant, backwards, inbred Water savages!" Ugly Guy realized.

Sokka couldn't help himself, "Well, I'm thinking you're not burdened with an overabundance of education."

Ugly Guy was incensed and lit a flame in his right hand. "Let's see how smart that mouth of yours is after I burn off your lips!"

"Hey!" the barkeep yelled. Pointing to a sign above the bar that clearly said 'No Firebending', he ordered Sokka, "Get out of here boy. Won, next round is on the house."

Sokka squeezed past Ugly Guy and Unibrow Guy and made for the door. He'd gotten ten steps down the street when he heard behind him, "Hey, Water Savage, I ain't done talkin' at you yet!" Sokka ignored the threat and took another step when he felt a fireball land behind his feet. Sokka slowly turned around and saw Ugly Guy, flanked by his buddies, in a firebending stance about 20 feet away.

Most people would think that an unarmed non-bender would be at a distinct disadvantage in a fight where 1) he's outnumbered 3-to-1 and 2) at least one of those opponents is a drunk, pissed off firebender. Most people would be right; however, most people don't know Sokka. Sokka assessed his situation and took into account that most benders favor ranged attacks and lack hand to hand combat or grappling skills. Firebenders do have some techniques for close in fighting, but Sokka had learned some chi blocking blows that could neutralize that. If he couldn't get a shot at the chi points, a firebender can't bend if he can't breathe. The other two guys were problematic, but the firebender was was the most dangerous known threat. Sokka decided on his plan of attack.

Like a bolt, Sokka closed the distance between him and Ugly Guy. Dodging one fireball, Sokka ended his charge with a powerful kick to Ugly Guy's crotch, causing him to double over breathless and extinguishing his flame. Before Sokka could enjoy this temporary victrory, Unibrow Guy pinned his arms from behind, and forced him around to face Bucktooth Guy, who was winding up a punch that was aimed for Sokka's gut. Sokka brought up right heel and drove it into the top of his captor's foot, causing Unibrow to loosen his grip enough for Sokka to get his left elbow free and drive it into Unibrow's temple, knocking him out. Bucktooth tried to tackle Sokka, but Sokka sidestepped him and, using the larger man's own momentum against him and threw him headfirst into the wall. Sokka grinned at his handiwork and said to no one, "Drunks are funny." Unfortunately, he miscalculated how long it would take Ugly Guy to catch his breath.

Ugly Guy got up. Hunched over, with murder in his eyes, he formed two fire whips and was advancing menacingly on Sokka, when a black cable whipped out from the night pinning Ugly Guy's arms to his sides, then pulled him to the ground, which in turn seemed to swallow him into a stone cocoon.

Sokka smiled. "Hey, Toph! I didn't know you were in town."

Toph Bei Fong stepped from the shadows, and lazily bent her cable back into a coil she hung on her hip.

"Good thing I was, once again, here to save you from an ass-kicking," Toph drawled.

"What are talking about, I had that guy right where I wanted him!" Sokka protested.

"Oh, so you were planning on getting roasted tonight. I see," Toph snarked.

"No, you don't," Sokka deadpanned.

Toph punched him in the shoulder, "I'm the only one allowed to make blind jokes, Meathead."

"Seriously, last I heard you were in Omashu teaching metalbending to Bumi's city guard, and I know you didn't come for the, uh, celebrations, so, why are you here?" Sokka asked.

"I came to find you. I thought you'd be at the palace but Zuko said he hadn't seen you all evening, so I started looking in all the dive bars and geisha houses. I figured I'd either find you passed out with some floozy or beat up in some alley," Toph smirked.

"You know me so well. Anyway, what's so important?" Sokka asked.

Toph handed him a stone disk, a white lotus tile. "You've been summoned. A transport leaves tomorrow morning for Shu Jing. Be on it."

A/N The dialogue for the fight scene is inspired by the Firefly episode "The Train Job"