A/N: OH, thank you all who read my story!!!! I love you! Okay, so this might take me awhile to put into rolling action, so I'm starting off like they are just coming back from a mission for the Earth King. So, we're up to date with the show. This will explain why Zuko and his Uncle are at the tea shop instead of camped out somewhere.
Dislclaimer: If I owned Avatar, my story would be three episodes in the last season….
Chapter 2: Aftermath
He was a blur, jumping through trees and launching himself in the air, not stopping until he was far from the glade. He had gone into a Fire Nation camp intent on finding more ways to undermine his father's attempts to capture the Avatar. None but he would gain that honor, and he was prepared to do anything to make sure no one got in his way. However, the girl would pose a problem. She had helped him, and his honor demanded he pay her back somehow. He forced the thought from his mind, and concentrated on getting back to his Uncle and the tea shop. As he neared the city walls, He reached for his mask to find that it was gone! He cursed softly, looking around to see no traces of it. He'd slipped it off earlier because it was easier to see in the growing darkness without it. Now he would have to backtrack to find it again. However, he needed to find Uncle and get some food before venturing off again. The old man would die of laughter if he heard about this.
Zuko slid from the tree branch where he was perched and strode out to the path that led to the Eastern gate of Ba Sing Sei. He nodded to the two guards as he passed through the wide opening in the mile-thick walls, and then sighed as the Earth Kingdom city came into view. He wasn't fond of Ba Sing Sei in the least, but Uncle had promised this would not be a permanent residence, and that they needed time to gather rebels against the Fire Lord. Zuko was not a patient young man, but he valued his Uncle's wisdom and decided to lay low. However, the day would come when he would repay the man who had fathered him for the disfiguring mark on his face.
Katara could not pay attention as Sokka reprimanded her for leaving camp without someone to go with her.
"Ya know, you could have been killed, Katara! Do you realize the danger you've put yourself in?! Do you know how worried I was?"
"You should have seen him, Princess," said Toph as she stirred the stew. "He was moaning and groaning because you were nowhere to be found."
"Hey, Katara?" Katara turned to see Aang looking at her arm with interest and confusion.
"Yes, Aang?"
"How did you get that gash? Did you get into a fight?" before she could answer, Sokka poked her chest with a finger and glared at her.
"Hey, Yeah! How did you get hurt? I've been wondering that myself. There was no one around when we found you bleeding like a stuck pig, nearly at death's door."
"Oh, shut up, Sokka! It wasn't like that and you know it. She hadn't even fainted and her heart rate was only slightly elevated! You worry too much about her." Toph threw a rock at him, hitting him in the head.
"She could have died, if the wound got infected!"
"She would have healed herself!"
"Not if she was unconscious!"
"She would have woken up!"
"What if she hadn't? Then what?" Toph snorted and turned back to the stew. Sokka made a face at her and turned back to Katara.
"Well, there was someone, but I…. didn't see his face. He was obviously pretty roughed up himself, so I think I startled him and he attacked me in self defense." Sokka looked at her with skeptical eyes. Katara stared back, trying her best not to look guilty. She didn't quite know why she wasn't telling them about the Blue Spirit, but she decided not to worry them, telling herself it wasn't a big deal. Aang took her arm.
"Katara, are you sure you're okay? I would feel really bad if you got hurt again." Katara smiled down at the Avatar, feeling love bubble up inside her. He was like a younger brother, sweet and loving. His gentle brown eyes were innocent and kind, and Katara wished she could go back to the time when she was innocent like him. At that moment, Momo decided to make a nest of Katara's head. The little animal loved to lie on Katara's hair, which was soft and warm.
"Hi, Momo! I haven't seen you in awhile!" the little Lemur-Bat purred and snuggled down into Katara's hair. She giggled and plucked him out of the nest he'd made, cuddling him like a baby. The Lemur trilled and grabbed at her face with glee. Aang stood up and stretched, his ability to sit still having reached its limit.
"Well, I'd better go make sure Appa is rested for tonight. See you later, Katara!" Aang stood up and went in search of his Flying Bison. Katara smiled as she watched Toph and Sokka begin yet another argument.
"Oh, Momo. It was scary for a moment. I didn't kow what would happen if the others had seen him. From what I can tell, he's pretty strong. Besides… he seemed rather unwell." The Lemur-Bat purred in agreement, not really knowing what she was saying but happy to have her attention.
Not far off, in the small room above the tea shop, Zuko looked out into the darkening sky wondering where the Avatar was tonight, and if that girl's arm was healing. He could not wait to be able to finally bring down that bald headed brat and return to his rightful place as the Prince of the Fire Nation. He was tired of the running and the fighting. He waited until Uncle's snores rumbled loudly in the quiet of the room. He had an idea as the where he'd dropped the mask, so it shouldn't be more than an hour or two to retrieve it. He sighed deeply and slipped out of the room.
There would be no sleep tonight.
