Author's Notes: Sup, everybody! New chapter! (so proud of myself!)Enjoy!
As he rushed into the cold air he felt someone push him into the wall outside of the gym. He looked up into his attacker's face only to find that they had slipped a bag over his head! Zuko struggled to get free, but whoever was pinning his wrists over his head twisted them until he cried out. He finally gave up and leaned on the wall panting. He waited for the person to speak, but instead of talking, he felt them stick a needle into his arm and inject something into his bloodstream. Starting to panic, he relied on his Blue Spirit experiences to swing his leg at where he thought was the person's head.
But whoever was there seemed to be prepared because they blocked the attack and led him to a secluded area. He tried to break free, but they slammed him into another wall. He started to feel weaker and dizzy.
"Let go!" Zuko ordered. He heard a chuckle and felt someone punch him in the face. He tried to hold his bleeding nose, but his wrists were being bound. After they were tied, the attacker pulled the bag off of Zuko's head.
"Well, I can see that your still as stubborn as ever." Zuko slowly lifted his head up and gasped when he finally saw who it was.
"Jun?!" When she smirked, he used the opportunity to kick her feet from under her. He started to run away, but he felt an arm wrap itself around his neck and throw him backwards. Losing his balance completly, he fell over onto his back. Jun put her foot on his chest and pinned him there. Everything was spinning, but he managed to glare at her.
"What. The. Hell. Do. You. Want?!" Zuko gasped, trying to get the crushing weight off of his ribs. Jun leaned down and forced a kiss onto his lips. He broke away from her touch and spat. Fucking disgusting!, he thought. She was like eight years older than him and was always hitting on him! Sure she had a figure, but he didn't want anything to do with her.
"You know what I want." Jun responded smugly. She watched as the struggling teen's face went paler than usual.
"No, I'm not working for you anymore! That's what got me into trouble in the first place!"
"I knew you'd say something like that, but I also know that the money you're stealing isn't all for that cop." She knew?! And how did she know he needed more money?, his mind started racing. She leaned in again, but this time she whispered in his ear.
"The job I offer would pay generously." He gave her a look of disgust, but considered it. All the jobs Jun had him do involved stealing, only stealing drugs. He sighed and nodded.
"Good. I'll see you in the usual spot." She untied him and started to walk off, but turned around.
"Oh by the way, the substance I gave you will kick in in 5,4, 3, 2-" she stopped counting when she saw him pass out. She quickly jumped the fence and ran to her motorcycle. She drove off, smiling.
"Katara! Sokka!" The siblings raised their heads and looked at their father. He was wearing an apron over his job uniform and was holding a fresh pot of spagetti. "It's dinner time. Finish your homework after you eat."
"Alright dad!" Katara said. She was glad for a break. Mr. Jee and Mrs. Wu had gone easy on them, but Mr. Feng was as cruel as ever. He had given them five pages of equations AND a project that was due in two days! Sokka, being in his senior year, didn't have Mr. Feng so he had got it easy today. At the moment he was chatting with Suki.
"Naw, I love you more!" There was a long pause. "No! I do!" Another pause. "Oh, okay. I have to go too! Bye, babe!" He hung up and walked to the kitchen, ignoring Katara's giggles. At the table Hakoda told them about his promotion at the office. Then he asked them about their day.
"It was awesome! In history the teacher told us that we will be studying war tactics!" Hakoda smiled and seemed to space out for a minute. Probably remembering his days in the army, Katara thought. She waited until he turned his attention on her to speak.
"My day was okay. We have A LOT of homework though." Hakoda changed the subject after giving Katara a comforting pat on the back.
"Well, I have good news!" Hakoda announced cheerfully. "Ozai Agnifire, the rich millionaire, just bought the company and made me manager!"
Sokka congradulated their father, but Katara looked down at her plate, frowning. Now that her father mentioned Zuko's father, she remembered what he had done to his own son. Zuko wasn't in any of the classes after the incident in the gym,she thought
"Katara? Are you alright?" Katara looked up to see her father's happy expression replaced with one of worry. She couldn't possibly tell him what she had seen, plus she wanted to investigate by herself.
"Nothing's wrong dad. I just feel tired, may I go to my room?"
"Of course! Feel better Kat!" She forced a smile and walked to her room. When she got there she picked up her cell phone and called Yue.
"Hello?"
"Hi! It's Katara! Are you busy?"
"No, I'm just watching a movie. What's up?"
"You know that program that you mentioned? The one where you can council students with problems?"
"Oh! You mean the 'Helping Hand' program?"
"YES! Thats the one!"
"What about it? Are you interested?"
"Kind of, I'm still thinking about it."
"Alright, if you like I can bring you a flyer at school tommorow."
"Yeah, that would be great!" They talked for a few more minutes and then hung up.
"Ughh", Zuko groaned as he held his head. The drug had worn off but the effects still remained. He slowly got up and swayed. He had to use a railing to walk.
"Hey kid! What are you doing here so late?" He looked around and spotted a janitor with a broom in one hand and a ring of keys in the other.
"S-Sorry," he stuttered. He still felt weak and drowsy. "What time is it?"
The janitor shot him a suspicous glance, but checked his old watch. "It's bout six o' clock, but you haven't answered my question."
Zuko frowned and ignored him, walking towards the open gate. He heard the janitor mutter a curse and stomp away. Wait, six o' clock?!, he thought. He was late for dinner! He started to run and finally got to his red ferrari (which he had left there a week ago). He hopped in and drove towards the mansion. He had no idea he was doing sixty in a forty-three mile zone until a police car started to follow him, lights ablaze. He screamed a curse and sped up, he was already late he couldn't afford to be stopped now.
The cop car sped up and turned on the siren. Zuko swerved the car around and cut through an alley. After about five minutes of this, he finally lost the cop. Sighing, he headed back towards the mansion.
When he pulled up in the driveway, he didn't see his father's figure watching from the upstairs dining room window. He quickly hopped out of the car and opened the front door with his keys. He looked around carefully and snuck towards the staircase. Halfway to down a hallway he heard footsteps coming towards him from behind. He wirled around and came face-to-face with his father.
"Where were you?" his father asked, looking down at him. His father was at least five inches taller. Zuko gulped and his mind raced for a good excuse. Unfortunatly, when he opened his mouth to respond a groan came out. The floor started to spin and he fell against the wall. Ozai looked on with a look of disgust on his face.
"You're drunk! Or on something, aren't you?! If this ever came out, I would be ruined!" Before Zuko could focus enough to speak, he backhanded him. Zuko just lay there, dazed. His father picked him up and carryed him to his room. He placed him on the bed. "If you ever do this in a public place, I swear I will pull the plug!" With that threat, he walked out of the room, locking the door behind him.
Zuko got off the bed and ran to the door, pounding and kicking it.
"OPEN THE DOOR! OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!" Nobody answered him and he gave up. He lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. His mother had gotten into a car crash three years ago and his father always hung the same threat in the air. She had gone into a coma and the doctors left it up to his father whether he would pull the plug or not.
He heard his stomach growl, he hadn't eaten anything. He dropped onto the floor and looked under the bed. There was a hollow piece of his bed post where he stored a couple of snacks. These lock ups happened often. He got one and ate it. He knew that he wouldn't be able to go outside for the rest of the day.
The next morning Katara walked to the office and registered for the 'Helping Hand' program. The assistant handed her a list of patients. Looking down the list, she recognized many troubled or rebel kids' names.
"Excuse me. Do these kids volunteer for this counsling?"
"No, it is necessary if they wish to graduate. It's one of the ways we try to help, even if they don't want it." Katara nodded, it made sense. She wasn't surprised to see Zuko's name and she circled it and handed it to the lady. She wanted to ask him about what had happened.
Author's Notes: Finally! I've finished! Please review! Please check out my new story: Elfire.
Special thanks to: musiclover9419 and bluudyrabbitofportland for their constant reviews!
