Yue shines down in all her glory upon the newly rebuilt walls of the Northern Water Tribe. Katara leans forward focusing on the nasty slice on Aang's back as he sits on the window ledge. Even in the Avatar state, stopping the Fire Nation wasn't without incident. When the wound is pink and healing, she sighs and leans forward again, wrapping her arms around him from behind and leans her chin on his shoulder.
His hand rests on her arm across his stomach as he murmurs "Thanks, Katara,"
She burrows into the nape of his neck and just breathes him in. His scent is at least familiar even if nothing else about him is anymore. There is so much she doesn't understand about the Spirit World, so much she doesn't understand about the Avatar. Once, Katara thought she, at least, knew Aang. She quickly learned she was wrong.
When Zhao killed the Moon Spirit and the moon itself disappeared from the sky, Katara held faith that the Avatar would make it right. In the end, Yue gave up her life so the Moon may live and the Avatar exacted retribution on Zhao. Katara swallows at the memory of the man's screams as he was dragged into the icy depths, trapped in tendrils of water under the command of the Avatar himself. She remembers how Zuko of all people made a plea for the Admiral's life. It made little difference and later, as the Water Benders pulled Zhao's frozen corpse from the water, it was Zuko that stood with sad eyes.
As if summoned by her thoughts, a soft raspy voice cuts through the fog of her memories.
"Hey." Zuko stands just inside the doorway of the ice palace, looking as out of place as the Fire Nation red of his clothes itself. "Can we talk?"
Katara doesn't miss how his eyes narrow as he takes in her arms around Aang's waist or how she is pressed against his back. She feels Aang nod and she pulls back.
"I'll just go see how Sokka is holding up." She lets her fingers slide across Aang's stomach as she walks away.
Zuko raises an eyebrow at her as she passes him but she doesn't bother to acknowledge him. She shoulders past him and leaves out the door.
"I suppose this is the part where you tell me that Azula really loves me and wants to stop the Fire Lord so we can be together." Aang's voice is sharp and sarcastic.
Zuko shakes his head. "No, I'm not sure Azula even has a heart."
Aang half laughs at this. "Then what?"
"Azula came to me and told me that I should help you, that you needed a Fire Bending teacher."
Aang nods. "I do."
"She also told me that the Fire Lord is up to something and she had to go back to Caldera to find out what it was. That was why she turned on us then she helped me escape."
There is a flicker of something on Aang's face that Zuko can't quite identify. "She did?"
Zuko nods. "I know she's the reason you killed Zhao."
"I killed Zhao because he tampered with the spirits."
"You killed Zhao because he was engaged to Azula and you want her."
White light flickers in stormy gray eyes. "I had Azula but I want nothing more to do with her."
Despite the danger he is in, Zuko laughs. "You can't expect me to believe that?"
Aang scowls. "She used me. She lied to me and in a heartbeat she would gladly kill me. Why would I want that?"
"I don't know but apparently there was something about her you liked for you to be…" Zuko growls in frustration. "I can't even say it!"
Aang shakes his head. "Your sister is very attractive but that was it. That's all it was." He steps around Zuko, heading towards the door.
"So what, you screw her, she screws you, and then we get to see which one of you kills the other?"
Aang slows and turns to face him. "Something like that."
Zuko scowls at the Avatar's back as it disappears through the doorway and mutters, "Dammit, Azula."
Ooooo
Chief Hakoda observes the smoky haze of the battlefield with the sort of detachment required of war. The air has the metallic taste of blood, the burnt smell of flesh. The Fire Nation outpost lies in a smoldering ruin.
Shaking his head, Bato draws a cover over a fallen warrior. "That makes five."
Another life lost. Another family shattered.
Hakoda gives a brisk nod of acknowledgment but nothing more. There will be time to mourn later. The battle is over but the war looms ahead.
The survivors are rounded up. Hakoda's practiced eye tells him these are fresh recruits, soldiers barely out of childhood. The glassy-eyed look is one he is quite familiar with. The Chief shakes his head in disgust, and not for the first time, for the enemy that sends children to their deaths in his name.
Ozai.
The very name brings bile to the back of his throat.
Hakoda tries to not hate. He must set a good example for the others. Be a good leader. Show his children how a true warrior behaves. It is difficult to maintain honor when faced with an enemy that has none. He has heard tales of the Fire Lord, stories of the man's cruelty and callousness. A man such as that does not deserve to rule.
Whoops and hollers draw his attention to their allies as they swarm through the ruins of the building, plundering what is left behind. The group calls itself the Freedom Fighters. Hakoda considers them children lost in the machinations of war. Not for the first time his thoughts drift to his own two children that he has not seen in years.
Bato shakes his head and Hakoda resists the urge to scowl. Joining forces with the rag tag group had made sense at the time, but their leader, Jet, has a less than respectable way of waging war.
"Be sure the female soldiers are kept away from them and under guard." Hakoda says to Bato in low tones. The guard is more for the women's protection from these allies than anything else. It would not be the first time the Water Tribesmen have been all that stood between Fire nation women and the attention Jet and his men would pay to them.
Pulled between two warriors, a man twists and fights, screaming curses as he is dragged forward, hands bound in chains. The commander of the outpost is thrown at Hakoda's feet.
"Water Tribe scum!" Spittle falls from the man's mouth with the words.
It is a common insult from the enemy.
Hakoda is unaffected as he eyes the man kneeling before him.
Bato speaks for him. "This scum just won. How about you tell your Fire Lord how you lost to a bunch of savages?"
The man glares but doesn't dare speak. Hakoda knows why. The loss, while small in the overall scheme of things, will be a blow for the Fire Nation morale. An outpost of Fire Benders defeated by non benders armed with sticks, swords, and a desire to win. Ozai will punish and punish severely.
With a quick nod of his head, the warriors drag the commander out of his presence.
His blue eyes fall over the field before him as he watches his men restore order to the chaos and offer drinks to the prisoners who gratefully take the water with curious eyes. Jet has not understood Hakoda's insistence on treating the Fire Nation soldiers with respect and compassion and they have nearly come to blows over this difference of opinion.
It isn't until Jet's triumphant voice rings out that Hakoda has the sense that something is wrong. The Freedom Fighters are literally swarming as they emerge from the smoking hole in the wall of the building. The shouts are deafening as they drag whatever it is they have found out of the ruins and into the open.
Hakoda makes his way across the field quickly. Bato and the other men fall into place behind their Chief; wherever Hakoda leads they follow. Pushing his way through the throng of adolescents, Hakoda makes his way to the center of the group. The sight that greets him draws him short.
The woman struggles against the multitude of hands holding her as they force her to her knees in front of Jet. The yellow eyes are a contrast to the porcelain skin but there is such a power behind them that Hakoda forgets himself and can only stare. Her long hair is loose and in disarray around her shoulders. The silk dress hangs torn and dirty. A shiny red line visible beneath the tangle of hair.
"She had this." One of the teens holds out a hand. The fading sun reflects off the small piece of metal.
Jet picks it up, turning it over in his hands. The woman's golden eyes watches cautiously as he smiles.
"Do you know what we have here, men?" Jet asks loudly as he holds the glinting flame above his head. "This is the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai!"
Loud shouts go up at this revelation and they jostle the woman in their grasp. With a shriek of rage, blue fire erupts from her lips. Jet dodges the flames in time and just as quickly cuts in close grabbing a handful of hair and pulling her head back sharply. The metal of the knife gleams at her throat.
"I ought to slit your throat for that." Jet sneers at the yellow eyed woman.
She laughs, pressing the blade into the soft skin of her neck. "Do it and you may live to regret it."
Jet narrows his eyes. "I suppose the Fire Nation will make me suffer, Princess." He mocks as he kneels in front of her, eyes dropping to the ample cleavage the silk dress reveals.
Crimson lips hiss. "The Fire Nation will be the least of your concerns, peasant."
The situation is escalating and Hakoda's curiosity is piqued so he steps forward. "Who should we be concerned about then, Your Highness?"
Her amber eyes flick to him and a flash of recognition shines in them. "Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe." There is a lightness in her voice that belies the seriousness of the occasion of a knife at her throat and grubby hands holding her down.
"Yes." Hakoda answers simply. Jet glares up at him but Hakoda ignores him and focuses instead on this strange woman. "And you are?"
Red lips smirk at him in a way that says she is mocking him but she doesn't answer his question. "Katara's father."
Mention of his daughter's name, clenches something in his stomach, and even draws a look of surprise from Jet. "You know Katara?"
"And Sokka." The group of men stills around them watching with curiosity. "You should be proud. For peasants they are quite capable of getting in the way."
The insult to the Chief's children draws grumbles from the Water Tribe men who have slowly encircled the Freedom Fighters.
Hakoda stares her down with icy blue eyes. This woman can't be much older than his daughter yet there is an air about her that sets his nerves on edge. A different approach is needed.
"Jet, let her up." He orders.
Jet scowls at the older man as he stands. "We found her. She's ours."
Hakoda meets his cold gaze. "She is a person. You don't own her. She is a prisoner and will be treated with due respect."
Stepping closer, Jet doesn't look away. "You just want her for yourself. This is the daughter of the Fire Lord, Princess Azula of the Fire Nation and I'm not giving her up." He looks around with a smirk at the other men. "Don't you think the Fire Nation owes us a bit of fun and who better than the Fire Lord's own daughter to give it to us?"
Jet means to have what he thinks he is due from the Fire Nation Princess.
Hakoda does not look away from the fury in the younger man's eyes as he addresses Azula."Princess, no harm will come to you while I have breath left in my body."
Around him words of assent can be heard from the Water Tribe men who stand tense and ready to fight their own allies, if necessary, for honor.
Azula's rich laugh startles them. Hakoda and Jet both look at her smirking face. "I do thank you Chief Hakoda for your vow of protection but Ozai is the last person this scum has to worry about. Death at the Fire Lord's hand would be too merciful compared to the fate that would await him if harm came to me." The boys around her are so shocked at the lofty pronouncement that she shakes off their hands as she stands.
"Who should he worry about then?" Bato asks curiously from his position behind Jet.
Azula smooths the fabric of her dress down with her hands as she stares Jet down. "The Avatar will have an interest in my well being."
Ooooo
Hakoda regards the woman across him with a curious eye. The daughter of Ozai is not what he imagined. Seated in his tent she daintily sips at a cup of tea as if she were sitting in some grand room at the palace rather than in a cramped Water Tribe tent on the shore of the sea. Her golden eyes peruse the map spread on the table before her.
"Your strategy is unique, Chief Hakoda." Azula's voice has an amused quality as she glances at him from the corner of her eye.
"We can hardly afford to wage traditional warfare." He answers simply, refusing to volunteer more than necessary. He is still unsure just how much she can be trusted.
Azula hums as she sits back in her chair, raising the steaming cup to her lips. "How true." For a moment her eyes lock with his. "Tell me, Hakoda, was it worth it?"
Hakoda blinks at her in confusion. "Was what worth it?"
Her eyes are cold and hard. "Leaving your children behind to play at war. Do you really think you have made a difference in the overall scheme of things?" There is slight accusation in her voice as she puts in words the same question he has asked himself a million times since leaving the South Pole.
Is he really making a difference or has he only sacrificed more of his family for nothing?
Hakoda doesn't look away from her though. "I hope my children understand that I had to stand and fight. Even if I never made a difference to the Fire Nation, I at least made a difference to my family."
Azula sips her tea with a smile. "Oh, I'm sure you made quite a difference to the children that grew up while you were away. Now they are off fighting the same war and doing a better job of it as well."
She is trying to get at him, push him and see just how far he will go. Hakoda returns the smile. "If that is true, Princess, then a father could not have more pride." Knowing his children are in the heart of the war strikes fear in Hakoda like he has not felt in some time but he also knows that some things are necessary. Maybe Katara and Sokka can make a difference even if he hasn't.
With a thoughtful tilt of her head, Azula sits her cup down on the table between them. "They truly are a credit to you, Chief. If it were not for them, then the Avatar would not have made it as far as he has. They are loyal and true friends and have the makings of great warriors. You should be proud." Her words are genuine and her expression honest.
It is not what he expects and he feels a tightness in his throat. "Thank you, Your Highness." It's all he trusts himself to say.
Azula smile is warmer this time. "You are welcome." Her look turns serious as she leans forward placing a warm hand on his arm and her voice drops to a playful tone. "Now, let's see if saving my neck was really worth your time, Hakoda."
Oooo
Jet stands outside watching Hakoda's tent. He can only imagine what is going on inside. Hakoda presents himself as an honorable man, a respectable leader, but underneath it all he isn't any different. Jealousy burns inside of him. The Fire Nation took Hakoda's wife but they took Jet's parents, that alone has to mean something. His last attempt to exact vengeance on the Fire Nation was thwarted by Hakoda's own children, but that is something he has never let slip to the older man. Now, when the perfect opportunity presents itself to get his due, it is Hakoda himself that stands in his way.
He has heard stories about the Princess. Not only does she have a reputation for cruelty and cunning but she is also startlingly beautiful. Jet could spend a fortnight exploring what she has to offer and he would be sure Azula would suffer every moment of it. It would only be fair for the daughter of the nation that has brought so much misery upon the rest of the world.
Jet scowls when he hears Azula's musical laugh. Those red lips should be screaming not laughing. There should be tears of pain and fear, not of mirth and laughter. Shaking his head, Jet turns his back and walks away.
Oooo
There are times that Toph feels left out of the rest of the Gang. Sokka and Katara have the whole brother-sister thing going which is great if you like that sort of thing; Toph doesn't. Zuko, she gets. He's awkward in social situations but really tries hard. There must be some sort of backstory between Sparky and Sugar Queen though because Katara spends most of her time freezing him out and Zuko keeps setting himself up for the fall. It would be sad if it weren't so funny. Sometimes Toph wishes she could see because she is sure the kicked puppy expression on his face would be worth a few laughs.
It's Aang that is the mystery. The others don't think she hears their whispered conversations when the Avatar is off meditating or whatever brooding Air Benders do in their spare time but Toph does hear. How could she not when they aren't exactly subtle in their gossiping?
Even now as she sits by the fire, they are huddled a few paces away. There is mention of someone named Azula. This makes sense to Toph. Of course he would be all moody if there was a girl involved. Isn't that commonplace for teenagers? Just look at Zuko. It's couldn't be more obvious he is interested in Katara but her constant dismissal of him is really starting to wear on the Fire Bender's patience. The Loser Lord would be rolling with the knowledge that his heir is lovesick over a commoner of all things.
Katara must not have made the connection though if the increased heart rate when certain physical embodiments of the world are around is anything to go by. Poor Sparky is barking up the wrong tree and Sugar Queen is setting herself up for disappointment if she were to put two and two together.
Toph snickers just loud enough to catch their attention. She knows they are all staring at her trying to figure out if she heard or not. She just smiles and begins the evening's round of toe picking. Eventually they relent and break up their little powwow about the same time the object of their speculation rejoins them.
"I was thinking tomorrow we would finally get you started on the fun stuff." Toph says brashly.
"That would be good. The sooner I learn Earth Bending the sooner I can get through Fire Bending."
"Exactly." Toph gives a sharp nod of her head.
The others wonder off, most likely to continue their intrigue, and Toph finds she can't resist the opening.
"Who is Azula?"
There is a slight choking sound as Aang sputters around the water he was drinking. "Azula?"
Toph keeps her face carefully neutral. "Yeah, Azula. From what I hear she's crazy psycho and out to kill you all. I'm just curious about her since she's likely to take a shot at me sometime."
The Air Bender's heart rate is sky high but she has to give him props for how he manages to sound calm and controlled.
"Azula is Zuko's sister. She was chasing us."
Toph scrunches her nose up at this. "Wait, So Sparky is helping you but Princess is trying to stop you?"
"Yeah, something like that."
She doesn't know why Aang is trying to lie to her. It's not like she hasn't told him all about her seismic sense.
"Seems to me there is more to it than that."
"Like what?" There is an edge to Aang's voice and Toph can tell he's starting to get irritated.
She wants to mention how she has "overheard" more than a few disagreements between him and Sparky concerning said psycho. The fact they make a point to keep it between them and not include Snoozles and Sugar Queen tells Toph there is more to it.
"Let me guess, she's hot, right?"
The spike in body temperature is a dead giveaway. "What makes you say that?" It must be the meditation that lets him try to at least appear collected.
Toph plays her trump card. "You talk in your sleep."
Everything in the Air Bender comes to a screeching halt. "What?" His voice is low, quiet and just for her ears.
"Did I stutter?" Toph snaps, inwardly smiling. "You talk in your sleep." She carefully emphasizes every word.
The crackling fire is the only sound as he contemplates this.
"What do I say?"
Toph snorts. "Her name for one thing and I can tell you aren't exactly having tea in those dreams of yours, Twinkletoes."
The ground vibrates as he shifts uncomfortably beside her.
"Do me a favor and do not say anything about it to anyone okay?"
Toph laughs. "Who are you afraid of upsetting? Seems like Sparky already knows more than you would like for him to."
She can smell the smoke that practically rises from Sparky when he corners Twinkletoes about Princess.
"I just…I don't want to have to talk to them about her. It's very complicated."
'Complicated' being an understatement.
"Oh, I get it. You want to let Sugar Queen down easy, eh?" Toph teases.
Sugar Queen couldn't be more transparent with her not too subtle attempts to make progress with Twinkles.
Aang lets out a groan of frustration. "I don't want to talk about it, Toph."
Feeling she is pushing the limits enough for the night, she shrugs. "Whatever. So if we happen to meet Her Royal Psycho should I leave her to you or take her out?"
His heart rate slows again, beating at its usual calm pace. "Don't give Azula the opportunity to get anywhere near us. Take her out your first chance."
Toph is not one to be surprised but this does take her off guard. "You want me to kill your girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend." He answers softly.
"She was obviously something to you." Toph argues back.
"Was but not anymore. Take her out." Aang bites back and Toph flinches at the venom in his voice. "And if you can't then get out of the way so I can."
With a soft movement of air he's gone, like he was never there to begin with, leaving Toph to wonder just what she has got herself into.