lok: Ransom 3

"Don't make a scene or try to run away," Val warned. Val and Zysonne were standing outside the Triple Threat's gala in downtown Republic City. "If I lose sight of you for even a second, Jionni is going to freeze his butt off alone down in the South Pole."

"Okay, okay… can we get on with this?" Zysonne urged.  

It had taken them almost the whole ten days leading up to this event to get back to Republic City via boat. Val had dressed Zysonne up in a traditional fire nation suit and was wearing a silk dress to match him. The dress went down to the top of her brown knee-high boots. She also wore a large black wrap that covered her shoulders.
Val let Zysonne lead her into the gala.  He walked by several booths then up an alleyway obviously looking for Bolt or some other Triple Threat. Val could feel the glare of the Triple Threat's since she walked into the gala, but Zysonne was clueless.

"Where are they?" Zysonne muttered.

"I thought you were the Triple Threat heir," Val laughed. "But you can't even find your own gang… Follow me." Val led him behind a few booths and into the back of a building.  A few Triple Threats were lounging around in the room playing pool. One of them looked up but went right back to the game.

"Bolt's office is through that door," one of the men said. Zysonne walked up to the door confidently, but Val pulled him back.

"Let me go in first," Val said. She opened the door and led Zysonne through. Behind her she could hear a scuffle of a few men trying to put a bag over Zysonne's head. "You've got the wrong one," she called back to them. "Sooo… how have things been without me, Bolty?" Val asked leaning over Bolt's desk.

"Why don't you rejoin me and see?" Bolt asked.

"Umm… no. Now, why don't you tell me what I came here for?" Val demanded. "Or I might just leave Jionni all alone-"

"In the South Pole?" Bolt finished. "I don't think so. I've always known about your little hiding place. Jionni is outside enjoying the festival right now, why don't you go join him, Zysonne?" Bolt suggested. "The rest of you are dismissed too."

"So… what was the real reason my mother died?" Val asked.

"Oh, Val, where have your manners gone?" Bolt tsked. "We haven't seen each other in nearly three years and you just show up with my kidnapped grandson and question me. Val, Val, Val… you'll learn some day."
***
"Where's Val?" Zysonne asked as Bolt walked out of his office. "Did she slip out the window or something?"

"I'm right here," Val called in a sing song voice from the doorway of Bolt's office.

"What's wrong with her?" Zysonne whispered into Bolt's ear.

"I think its denial," Bolt whispered back.  

"Hey, Zysonne, let's go have some fun," Val giggled. She grabbed Zysonne's arm and ran out.

"Are… you okay?" Zysonne questioned.

"Never better."