Author's Note: Okay I'll have to admit I didn't expect to write about Azula and Aang at the end, but I found the state of affairs to be interesting and amusing. So, please review and tell me what you think.

Red N' Black

Chapter Two- A Horrible Start

Katara could not believe she was late. She had spent far too long writing a term paper that wasn't even due till next week and overslept for work. Well, at least it was done, she thought to herself. She may be a resident in Hai Hospital, having already received her Medical Degree, but she also wanted to further her education in the medical field in the hopes of possibly becoming a pediatric neural surgeon. This often left her with little to no time for herself, as she often juggled between school and labor. Katara wasn't too happy with the fact that she had to pick up another resident's dayshift, when she only worked nights. Damn Chan. It was so nice of him to take the day off and leave her to cover his shift. Doctor Zhao was the Clinical Director of the Emergency Department and Katara's boss; he wasn't the kindest of men and neither was he the most lenient with his employees. Katara knew she would have to answer to him about her tardiness and could only imagine how severely she would be penalized and degraded by him.

Katara sighed as she peddled as fast as she could on her bike. She really had picked a bad day to cycle to work. She was already tired from not sleeping too well and biking wouldn't help her to much. The humid weather didn't benefit her either. She had put her hair up in a bun and wore her lavender scrub pants and a black tank top with a backpack strapped to her back. She didn't want to wear her scrub shirt as she cycled. She didn't want to get any sweat on it –that would leave her to be forced into feeling disgusting and sticky for the rest of the day and she just wouldn't have that. Katara didn't own a car as she didn't see the advantages of one, or so she told herself (in actuality she couldn't afford one). But Katara did find biking to be a healthy habit. But yet, it wasn't the best solution for this day. I should've taken the bus, Katara complained to herself as she groaned aloud in frustration. Katara peddled as hard as she could, trying to at least make up for lost time.

So, she was starting off her day badly; she only hoped it would at least better itself in some way. Maybe it would rain, Katara told herself in a gleeful manner; she was probably the only nutcase to hope for rain when she had a bad day. She peddled along the bike line which ran along the street. Katara, trying to get her mind of how horrible her day was beginning started to wonder about her brother, Sokka. She already had her own stress to worry about, but she had realized her brother hadn't been around much lately. No one, except maybe his co-workers, had seen him for some time now. Even his girlfriend, Suki was uninformed of his whereabouts and that downright wasn't like Sokka. Katara knew his job was hard, as he was a detective, but it was something he loved. He was out to make good of his hometown; sadly, in this city, things didn't always go according to plan, probably because of how corrupt and vial Hai City's court system was. Katara knew her brother wanted to be some big hero and save the day, but she felt that would only put him in harm's way. She would never admit it to Sokka, but she didn't want to lose him like they had already lost their mother. Maybe she was just overreacting about Sokka's wellbeing but it was just in her nature to be concerned.

Speaking of the city's defender, there was the fact that Hai City had its weirdoes, as Sokka put it, a statement she would have to agree with to some degree. This city actually had its own superheroes. To start, there was the ever-so-famous "Avatar," some orange-spandex-wearing superhuman who could somehow control the elements around him. Then there was the infamous Blue Spirit. Katara had to admit that she didn't know too much about this character, since the he often left little to no evidence at a scene and had few eyewitness accounts to his name. The Avatar, however, was bold and out in the open about his heroic acts and almost everyone knew about him. This was all she knew and this was information her brother and co-worker Aang gave her and had seemingly obsessed about when she had last visited her brother at work.

Katara continued to peddle along on her bike as fast as she could, trying to hopefully make it to work on time –if not a just few minutes late.

…

Zuko was having his own problems to worry about. He didn't want to admit it, but he was exhausted and it was making it hard to focus on the road as he drove through the Hai City streets. Maybe his uncle was right. He needed more sleep, but that meant less time tracking down his father, Ozai's trail. Zuko refused to allow that; he had worked too long and hard to get as close as he had to finding solid evidence to link his father to the black market and funding gang organizations. He just need more time, but this run-in with Jet last night had proven to be a bust. Or, was it, Zuko pondered. Maybe he needed to look more into this Jet guy and the Freedom Fighters. His gang could have some link to Ozai, though why would his father want someone to deface government property as a threat? He was already in control of the city's officials. Why would Ozai want such a thing? Perhaps there was no connection at all? Zuko needed to find this out for himself. He would need to investigate as the Blue Spirit.

Zuko was too distracted by his own thoughts to notice he had run a red light. It wasn't until a brunette woman with a tan complexion came out in front of Zuko on her bike as she tried to cross the street. Zuko quickly snapped back into reality. Realizing what he was doing, he slammed hard on his Anti Lock breaks, breaking the peddle quiver under his foot. The woman stopped dead in her tracks as she locked at the driver out of shock. She stood in the road on her bike like a deer in front of headlight. The car's tires screeched against the pavement until the car came to a complete stop just a few inches away from hitting her.

…

Katara's heart was pounding ferociously. She could hear the heavy pumping of blood in her ears. Catching her breath, her expression completely changed from shock and fear to total irritation. Her eyebrows furrowed; one twitched slightly from how tense the muscle was as she glared at the driver through the windshield of his car.

"What the hell is wrong with you, moron?" Katara cried out at Zuko. She didn't know who this bastard was nor did she care. All she knew was that this idiot had almost killed her.

Zuko couldn't believe he had almost caused an accident; it was unlike him to be irresponsible like this. He had almost killed someone and he felt horrible about it, well that was until she opened her mouth and offended him. Taking offense by her insult, Zuko took off his seatbelt, opened his side door, and stepped out. Snarling at the cyclist, Zuko glared at her from behind his sunglass; he didn't care to remove them from his face.

"Who are you calling a moron? I wasn't the imbecile who stopped in the middle of the street in front of traffic!" Zuko complained as he held up traffic; the driver stuck behind him began to honk and shout.

The nerve of that asshole, Katara thought to herself as stood, holding her bike up, clutching the handlebars tightly. She had a strange familiarity of this man but she wasn't sure as to why. Ignoring it, Katara snapped back at the man in the suit: "Are you kidding me?" Bystanders and passersby were trying hopelessly to avoid the confrontation. "I had the right of way; I wasn't in the wrong, sir, and I didn't run a run light, asshole!" She yelled this at the top of her lungs, trying to emphasize her point, though she knew the situation was partly her fault. She hadn't been looking where she was going and maybe if she had she wouldn't have gotten into this mess, but he just as much the fault as she was and he couldn't take an insult, it seemed.

Zuko scowled at the cyclist, enraged by her accusations.

"You know what? You could go fuck yourself, miss!" Zuko snarled as he let the insult roll of his tongue, he was unable to come up with anything else and he usually didn't curse like this.

He was doing a lot of things today he usually didn't do, it seemed.

The brunette stood with her mouth agape as she drew a blank trying to come up with at least a comeback.

Before she could think, she found her self speaking: "Yeah… well… I think I will!" She hopped back on her bike and peddled away out of frustration. Katara mumbled to herself, being still irritated by the driver, until she let the words she had said before settle in. She hung her head in shame as she blushed. She must've looked like an idiot for saying that, plus what it implied didn't help. She continued to peddle on, trying to forget the situation and her embarrassment –even if she had left a stunned Zuko behind standing in the road.

…

Zuko had to confess, he hadn't expected her to say such a thing. She may have looked like the fool in the end, but he somehow felt more involved. As the traffic stuck behind Zuko's car began to be more outraged and impatient, the honking and shouting became more forceful. Sighing to himself, Zuko sat back into the driver seat and closed the side door. Zuko rubbed his sore leg before he put on his seat belt and started the car. Driving off, Zuko decided what was to be anticipated from this woman. He presumed she would give him more of a fight, but he was glad their little scrap in the street didn't escalate into something more.

He himself was already late and knew he would have to answer for this at the meeting he had now delayed. Taking out his cell phone as he drove, Zuko began to dial his secretary, Mai. He then held the phone between his shoulder and ear as it rang. Keeping both hands on the wheel, Zuko tried to multitask and not cause any more problems today. After the dial tone rang a few times Mai's voice message picked up. Cursing under his breath, Zuko snarled as he hung up the phone and flung it onto the passenger seat next to him.

Driving through the city, Zuko found himself slowing up as he passed the city hall. Zuko did this not because it was what everyone else was doing, but he found him self curious as to what was going on at the scene of the so-called crime. He could have easily bypassed the traffic, but felt he needed to see what was going on –even if it took up a bit more of his time, since he already was late after all.

Zuko quickly glanced out of his passenger window to see the stairway and street clustered by police and investigators. The perimeter was surrounded by yellow caution tape. Zuko held his glance as he felt a bit uneasy; he wasn't sure as to why just yet. He hoped he hadn't left any traces last night; he usually was more careful, or maybe it was the strange look a bald-headed man wearing a sweater vest and glasses gave him as he passed. Shaking his head, Zuko decided not to worry too much about it and put his focus on making it to work once more.

…

Watching as the black car passed by with a suspicious figure driving, Aang ran his hand over his bald head and tried to figure out why this one man had left him with an uneasy feeling. He wasn't able to see much of the man, with the windows tinted and all, but he could feel the man's glare as he passed. Aang made sure to take a good long look at the driver's license plate to make sure he knew it if it ever came up later in the case.

Bringing his attention back to the case, Aang turned and faced his partner with a wide grin. He chuckled as he watched the brown-haired man, harassing the new portal officers that had been given the task of keeping the area secure.

"Do you know who I' am, I'm Detective Xiongshui! Do you know that that means? I outrank you!" Sokka called out, emphasizing the word 'you' at the end of his sentence. He was trying to prove his authority to the few baffled officers who stood around him.

"Sokka, leave the portal officers alone. We have work to do." Aang shouted after Sokka. The pair had only been there for a few minutes and hadn't found much.

Aang held his forensics kit in a metal briefcase. Though it wasn't an entire lab, it was enough to get some answers if needed. Placing the brief case down, Aang kneeled down and unbuckled the clasps on the top end of the brief case and opened it up onto the ground.

"Sokka, come on," Aang grunted as he pulled out a few cotton swabs, veils, plastic bags, orange florescent magnetic powder, and a small brush out of the briefcase This wasn't too much but these where a few of the items he would need to find and test evidence.

"Oh, Aang, we both know that today I'm only here to stand around and look good." Sokka grinned at his younger partner.

Aang chuckled as he stood up and put on a pair of latex gloves and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Aang then picked up a spray-paint can and dusted for prints. As the orange powder coated the entire can, he used his small black flashlight to see if any prints appeared; to his dismay, none appeared. Sighing, Aang knew he would have to test the can back at the precinct lab for materials that came in contact with it, seeing as the vandals used gloves of some sort. Placing the object into a plastic bag, Aang sealed it and placed into his briefcase.

Aang was a bit annoyed at the fact he couldn't find anything. He had looked early for obvious evidence with no luck. Walking into the part of the street that had been closed off, he looked up at City Hall and scratched his head. Finding nothing out of place, Aang wanted to call it a day considering that everything so far was pointing to teenage vandals trying to be funny. Taking a step forward, Aang saw something gleam in the sunlight. Crouching down, he was able to find a small spot of blood that had been missed. He would defiantly test this at the lab. Using a cotton swab, he took a sample of the blood and placed it into a plastic bag as well. Standing up and sealing the bag, Aang walked over to his briefcase and was about to pack up and leave when he heard a deafening shriek.

Aang turned his head toward the noisy tying to find out if he can see anything. It was too far for him and that would mean he would need to get a better view. But this also meant he would have to slip away from work for while, scrambling to put his brief case together Aang closed it tight before picking it up. Running over to Sokka, Aang shoved the briefcase into his partner's chest.

"Umph! What the hell, Aang?" Sokka shouted as gripped the briefcase Aang had forcefully handed to him. Glaring at the bald man, Sokka wanted answers for what was going on.

"Uh… Sokka, look, I need to go. Could you please take this back to the lab for me?" Aang's eyes pleaded with his partner.

Sokka frowned slightly, as if not sure if he should let Aang leave a crime scene but he then figured if Aang had to leave it was for a good reason. "All right, buddy but don't think I'm going to cover for you back at the precinct." Sokka nodded as he agreed to let Aang go.

"Thanks, Sokka." Aang smiled at Sokka before bolting down the stairs and leaping over the caution tape. This left Sokka a little suspicious, but he shrugged it off, as he was quite used to Aang leaving in a hurry.

Aang had ran down the block and looked around for a dark alleyway or someplace to hide; he needed to change and quick. Aang stopped as he spotted a decent place. He took his opportunity and stood in the shadows as he took of his glasses and pulled his sweater over his head. Aang then pulled open his button-down shirt to reveal a little blue 'A' printed on his chest. He wore orange spandex with little blue arrows running along his arms, leg and back.

Removing his clothes, Aang then set them on fire and stepped on his glasses, breaking them. Manipulating the air around him, Aang lifted himself in the air as the Avatar.

People in the streets pointed high in the air in awe as Hai City's great hero appeared into the sky above them. Aang listened and looked for the distress call. As if on cue, the loud scream was heard once more. Aang was able to spot a woman in a red dress on a rooftop, and seemed to be backing away from a man cloaked in black.

She was in obvious distress and a hero as himself would be shamed if he stood by and watched as the innocent were harmed. Spinning in a circle as fast as he could, Aang created a tornado and began to travel through the city without causing any damage.

The poor woman found herself pinned against the edge of the building as the man who held her hostage came closer. This black-haired woman knew she shouldn't have trusted the bastard to hold up his end of the bargain. She sneered as she glared at the man intently with her gold eyes. She reached for her gun that was strapped to her thigh under her dress.

"You shouldn't cross my father and I know you that." Azula smirked as she tried to appear helpless waiting for her opportunity to act.

"Help me, please someone!" Azula cried out pretending to be afraid. She was about to grab her gun when the wind around them picked up. Shielding her eyes, Azula held on to the edge of the building, the wind had become rough as it whipped around her.

Before Azula knew it, the wind died down and she heard a loud thud and her father's associate groaning in pain. Opening her eyes and moving her arm from her line of sight, she blinked a few times and saw a man levitating a few inches of the roof top as he pinned the scoundrel against the wall of the penthouse. The felon was gripping onto Aang's arm, struggling free himself as he was held in the air.

"Please, let me go!" the criminal begged Aang.

Aang growled as he held the man, "What gives you to right to beg?" His voice boomed as he made himself sound tougher than he was.

"I –I –I –uh, I uh…was only talking to the lovely lady." The crook grinned behind his ski mask.

Even if he wasn't completely lying Aang didn't believe him. Azula found this to be an opening for the hero to aid her. She quickly stood up and ran toward the Avatar, grasping onto his arm, leaning his arm as to appear weak.

"Oh, thank goodness you came. I would have been doomed with out you," Azula exclaimed with a false tone to her voice. That man tried to kill me, you can't let him go." She laid it on thick and began to weep as she fell to her knees. She covered her face with her hands.

Aang felt remorse for the woman as he debated what to do with the criminal. He held his grip tight on the man's shirt as he gently let him softly touch the solid gravel on the rooftop.

"I think the cops can handle you, criminal," Aang snarled as he walked over to the roof's edge, still holding the man by his shirt. The man began to beg and cry as he believed the Avatar would drop him to his death.

"L –l –look, I don't w –w –w –wanna die!" The man stuttered in fear, trying to reason with Aang. Aang smirked as he jumped down off the roof, slowly pushing the wind up against his body to slow down his fall as he kept his grip on the man who was now scrambling up the Avatar's arm and neck, trying with all his might not to fall. Azula found herself a bit annoyed for being left behind as she stood up and looked over the edge, glaring at the Avatar as he gently glided down to the ground. As Aang touched ground, the crook shook with terror as he slowly slid off of Aang's body, his eyes widening. As soon as he stood on his own feet, he was pushed up against a wall once again, only this time by three police officers who had heard the ruckus from up above.

Aang chuckled as watched the villain be apprehended and taken into custody. He smiled as the people in the streets applauded and shouted out of joy. Aang waved to the crowed before once more leaping up to the roof to receive his thanks from the poor victim he left on the roof. Landing on the roof, he smirked as he raised his eyebrow and placed his hand at his chest.

"Are you alright, miss?" Aang was now able to get a good look at the woman. Upon realizing who she was, Aang's eyes bulged out of his head as he stuttered.

"Y –yy –you're Azula Richu… Azula Richu, the sole heir to Richu Weapons Industries!" Aang exclaimed to mostly him self in shock.

"Yes, the one and only…and you are the Avatar, Hai City's champion," Azula said as she wiped the fake tears that still remained on her face from before, still playing into her damsel-in-distress act. She then continued in her falsely innocent tone, "I'm so glad you saved me. I was… helpless."

"No problem, Miss Richu, it's what we champions do." Aang grinned as held out his hand toward her. "Now, how about I help you down from here, miss?" Aang asked in a soothing and claim voice.

Azula's brows furrowed. She didn't quite like the idea, as she was in a dress, but she figured she would amuse the man, since he felt obligated to help her. Taking his hand, Azula found herself being pulled into the man's chest as he wrapped an arm around her waist. Aang smirked sheepishly as he held Azula close to him to keep her safe. Azula blushed as she stood on top of his foot to keep herself stable. She really hadn't expected this whole heroic scenario or the closeness of herself and the hero. Keeping her eyes glued to the 'A' on his chest, Azula held on to his shoulders and hoped her face would return to its natural color before he noticed. Aang grunted at the awkwardness of his stance as he held Azula, Quickly pushing himself of the rooftop, he drifted above the street for a few moments before descending slowly. Azula's hair flung into her face as the wind blew past them.

As his feet made contact with the concrete, Aang's grip around Azula's waist lessened. Though she didn't want to admit it, she was slightly humiliated by this random display for all to see. She gently let her hands slide down from the Avatar's shoulders. She quickly stepped away from him, she stared at the ground while the crowd roared and took pictures. The hundreds of flashes didn't help with Azula's embarrassment.

"Uh, why thank you. I wish I could repay you somehow." Azula tried to be courteous, as to keep up her innocent image for the public.

"You don't have to repay me. Thanks is all I need," Aang stated as rubbed the back of his head, blushing slightly. He really didn't need all this attention at the moment, though he often enjoyed it. It was only today that it felt a bit odd, considering that he had just saved Miss Richu.

Azula's eyes glistened evilly, and the wheels within her head began to turn. She thought if the media wanted a story she sure as hell would give them something to talk about. That way, she could keep them from investigating anything connecting her to the thug she had made a deal with just before. She knew the thug would blab eventually and the only way to keep people from talking about that even if they couldn't find any real connection she would at least give them something else to talk about.

"But a small reward would be sufficient." Azula grinned as she placed a kiss on the Avatar's cheek to have him turn as red as a tomato in front of the crowd as the flashing started once more.

"Why, uh, thank you… but I really must go." Aang voice screeched slightly as he gently pushed Azula away as he blushed furiously. He knew he'd have to get changed back at home before heading back to work, but he also wanted to leave as quickly as he could to avoid any more discomforting situations.

Leaping into the air Aang, left Azula and the crowd watching as he made his escape into the sky.