AN: Long time coming...please enjoy. On another note, I've had some people tell me that I've put a bit much of love/sex into my fanfics, considering it is a children's show and all...but I will make several strong points right now:
A) Our characters are at an age where hormones are running strong and sex is pretty much a constant thing on the mind. These kids are 14/15/16 years old! And I know a lot of you who read and enjoy my fics are teenagers. Hell, I'm in my early twenties and I love ATLA! And I remember all too well what it was like being a teen. As an adult, sex is still a big thing. It's one of the primary things that motivates human behaviour.
Basic psychology dictates that everything a person does is to procreate. A woman will dress, style her hair, and put on make-up to attract a mate. A man will become a doctor or lawyer, drive a Mercedes, and buy the half-million-dollar home in order to impress a woman and coax her into sleeping with him. Men become 'providers' to attract women, and women look to attract men that are providers because they desire a man who is willing and able to make that paternal investment in their offspring. SEX IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE CONTANTLY THINKING ABOUT. No amount or religion, order, or societal expectations is going to change that.
B) In the actual ATLA, romance is a big deal, especially in the later seasons. Sokka is seen having love connections with Yue, Suki, and even somewhat flirting with Ty Lee. I remember an episode in the third season where Zuko seems to interrupt some sort of romantic rondezvous between Sokka and Suki where Sokka has his tent lighted with candles and flowers and is posing provocatively in wait for Suki, only to see Zuko wanting to speak with him. To a child's eye, it probably didn't seem like a big deal, and was probably just something sort of confusing. But to the eye of an adult who has been around the block, and knowing how teenagers are, Sokka and Suki were planning on getting hot and heavy, and maybe even 'going to home plate'. Not to mention Sokka wasn't wearing pants...only his tunic...erm...yeah...
C) Yeah, I will admit it, some of my fanfics do have quite a bit of racy/sexy things in them. I was going through Encounter With Embers, one of my very first fanfics, and it does have a lot of sex. Come to think of it, my writing style wasn't as keen back then either. I've been thinking about revamping Encounter With Embers, rewriting and touching up some things. But, I digress. Point being, I am aware that there's sexy stuff in my fics. I put it there knowingly. I decided to put it there. Its a human, natural thing. Hey, this is the real world, and its not always pretty.
Amicable Adversary
THE FLIGHT WAS arduous and long, and neither Sou nor Hita could imagine what or how they could possibly manage to free Katara and Kuval from their imprisonment in the belly of that Fire Nation ship. It took Gyuu some time to catch up with the ship, and even then they kept their distance for fear of the enemy taking notice of their presence. Once they had Prince Zuko's ship in sight the sun had begun its descent in the sky.
Hita wrung her hands nervously, the strain of Katara and Kuval's capture weighing heavily on her nerves. "I guess we'll just lay low until sunset..." she trailed off, her voice raised so that Sou could hear her over the gusting winds.
Sou nodded and turned, his eyes meeting Hita's. "We need to be sneaky and crafty to get past their defenses. Hopefully the guards standing watch won't be too alert." His knuckles were clenching Gyuu's reigns so tightly they were bleaching themselves bone white. The stress of his new comrades capture was catching up with him as well. His chest felt tight and his blood was racing throughout his veins so fast he felt lightheaded. He shook his head, chiding himself to keep it together in this time of uncertainty.
Hita brushed her hair from her forehead and looked towards the faint dot that signified her friend's captor's in the distance. "I won't be of much use for this raid...should I keep Gyuu flying beside the ship while you rescue them?" It was at times like these that Hita wished she had cultivated her Waterbending skills towards battle moreso than healing. If she had, perhaps she could have better assisted during this rescue mission, and perhaps the greater mission that was ever-so-present.
Sou looked thoughtful for a few moments. "My Airbending should be enough to get them out. Okay, just stay within reach of us so when we are running away from fire attacks we won't get our behinds burnt."
They shared a wry grin and laid in wait for the sun to set.
AZULA PACED ABOUT her quarters apprehensively. She had just come back from the Avatar's prison cell and now had much to do. She had to keep watch for the Avatar's comrades, pack a few meager belongings...and perhaps even write a letter of explaination to her beloved brother.
She paused in her pacing and the thought of dissappointing and betraying Zuko nearly brought her to her clutched at her heart and found herself between that proverbial rock and a hard place. On one hand, she would maintain her royal intergrity by bringing the Avatar back to the Fire Nation in chains and be a critical figure in swaying the war to the Fire Nation's advantage. Not to mention remaining in her family's good graces.
But on the other hand, Azula could not mentally, emotionally, or spiritually condone the decimation of the Southern Water Tribe, the capture and possible death of the Avatar who was the world's last hope for balance, and the Fire Nation's tyranny over the rest of the world. She knew peace was the answer, not brutal and dishonorable bloodshed. Every action she commited that assisted the Fire Nation was an action that morally gutted her own self.
She walked to her desk that was meager in comparison to the one she own back in the palace and sat before it. She pulled several sheets of parchment from her drawers and dipped her quill in ink. Perhaps if she wrote to Zuko and explained herself to him...maybe then he could understanding her turmoil and her decisions.
The Firebending Princess proceeded to write the long and overdue explaination to her brother.
ZUKO TOSSED AND turned in the his sleep, his dreams both fitfull and alarming. The Avatar girl and he were before one another, both dressed ornately. She in a kimono of rich blues and pure whites. He in armor of crimson reds and dark ebony. She sat beneath a cherry tree in full blossom, a sketchbook in her lap, and she drew, her quill making colorful lines across her parchment. She looked up at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled.
"Won't you sit down? The day is nice, you should enjoy it." her teeth were straight and white, her lips lush and full.
He unwittingly obeyed, seating himself behind her, glancing at her drawings. Ice sculptures and buildings were depicted, streets with walkways and canals, ornate boats gliding along with people using their Bending to move the boats further. Zuko felt as if he were there. It was quite good. He told her so.
"Why thank you!" she smiled that warm smile of hers, and he felt himself flush. "Do you want me to draw you?" she queired softly, her voice like the wind of a butterfly's wing.
He nodded wordlessly, and she turned her page to a new piece of parchment. As she did so an errant strand of hair fell into her face, brushing along her high cheekbone. He moved it for her, tucking the chestnut silk behind her tiny shell of an ear, marveling at the softness of both her hair and her skin.
"You're not dressed appropriately today." she tsked softly, her brows furrowing slightly as she looked over his battle-worn armor. "What should you wear for your portrait?" her deep ocean eyes met his own amber and he found himself tongue tied. She was simply too beautiful, too soft...
"Ah...a tunic and slacks should do." he finally managed, cursing himself for sounding so stupid. The courtyard they sat in was peaceful, birds chirping merrily and bees buzzing about, dipping into the cherry blossoms that bloomed so beautifully. Everything was so serene...
She hummed softly as she drew, her tune one that was unfamiliar to the Prince. Perhaps it was a lullaby from the Northern Water Tribe? It further soothed him, and he leaned against the trunk of the cherry tree, her shoulder mere inches from his own. He picked up a scent, one that smelled of fresh spring after a afternoon rain.
"You smell lovely." he remarked, congratulating himself one saying something remotely intelligent.
She giggled, sounding very much like the teenaged girl she was. So feminine, so pretty...
Zuko leaned in to the Avatar, his fingers running along her defined jawline. Her skin was so dark in comparison to his own, and he founded it both alluring and exotic. "So pretty..." he murmured, leaning in and pressing a kiss to her cheek.
She turned her face to meet his, and his lips brushed over hers. So pink, so soft... he sighed in contentment, pressing gentle kisses over her face. "What is your name? Surely it is a breathtaking as you are?" he whispered huskily to her.
She looked up at him through her thick lashes. So tantalizing... "Katara." she answered breathily.
His fingers traced over her cheekbone. "Katara." he repeated, nuzzling her cheek. "So lovely." A bird called out a song of glee, reflecting his own emotions uncannily.
She pulled away. "Now let me finish my drawing, Zuko." she chided softly, her cheeks flushed in an enticing hue.
"Can't I kiss you? Once more?" he questioned, his fingers stroking her silken hair. He felt so intoxicated, so soothed, so relaxed...as if he'd drunken a flask of wine on a warm spring afternoon, the sun spilling onto his face.
"Not yet." she replied, hastily scrawling curved lines onto the page.
He accepted her reply without arguement, leaning back against the tree trunk once more, closing his eyes. The birds continued warbling, the melody akin to the lullaby Katara, the Avatar, had hummed just moments before.
"Done." she finally announced. He opened his eyes and she presented the sketchpad to him. He grasped it, and felt his blood run cold. His depiction wore a silken tunic and pants, but they seemed to be wet or even soaked in blood. He stood upon a pyre of bodies clad in the colors of the Water tribes, burning. The flames rose upon them, even dancing from his fingertips, and his expression was maniacal, mad, cackling. And upon his face was a burn. A scar which disfigured his face covered his left eye, even singing towards his ear.
"What...?" his breath had been stolen from him.
Her smile held a hint of malice, but her voice remained sweet and light. "Do you like it? I think it resembles you perfectly!" her ocean eyes pierced right through him, gutting him more efficiently than a weapon ever could.
The sketchpad began melting away, the colors all running into one another, becoming an obsidian blur in his hands. The cherry tree began shedding it's blossoms, the pink darkening to a red, becoming like watercolors running and streaming together. It was as if a bloody river was running from the sky to the earth. The Avatar's kimono blurred, the designs becoming less complex, and her clothing appeared to be dirtied and torned. Her gossamer hair became mussed, her face scratched, her lips that he had been kissing only moments before cut and bleeding slightly.
They were in a dank prison cell, and Zuko felt as if they had already been here...that this event had already happened. She knelt protectively next to a prone form, a boy clad in Water Tribe clothing, seemingly beaten and unconcious. She had been crying, her tear stains running down her dirtied cheeks. "You monster." she cried bitterly, her voice breaking as tears overwhelmed her.
Zuko shook his head. "No, you're wrong...I..." the Prince protested feebly. He felt so confused, so dizzied...hadn't he just been kissing her? Hadn't she been dressed in the resplendent kimono? Hadn't they been enjoying the sunny afternoon under the cherry tree? Why did this have to go so wrong?
"You're a blood thirsty beast, setting fire to everything you touch!" she accused, weeping tears of anguish. She seemed so small, so helpless, so in need of protection...he longed to hold her, to let her lament her agony into him, to let him take her pain as his own.
"Please, believe me! I never meant to cause you harm!" he shouted. But he was falling, swirling into the darkness, a black vortex of water. A deep ocean, cold and unwelcoming. He couldn't breath, and the Avatar's sobs echoed agin and again, reverberating in his head. You monster...you monster...
Zuko awoke with a start, drenched in a cold sweat, gasping for breath. No, he couldn't die! Not like this!
But the spinning vortex was nowhere to be found, and he was safe and sound. The only noise was the gentle listing of the ship, creaking every so often, rocking back and forth. Mai's breaths rising and falling, even and strong. His own heart beat, slowing, strong, unfailing.
His hair had come unbound, probably from his tossing and turning, and it fell upon his shoulders. He wiped the pestering strands that stuck to the sweat on his temples and looked about his room. A candle danced and sputtered at his bedside, casting the room in a soft, golden glow.
His dream had been so real. So disturbing. So...strangely erotic at the beginning. He groaned softly, laying back down, staring up at the ceiling of his bedchambers. What did it all mean? He frowned, bringing a hand to touch his left eye. The skin there so soft and young, unblemished by any sort of mark the Avatar had drawn on him.
It was in times like this that he wished his Uncle Iroh was around. The man was so philosophical and spiritual. Surely he would know what it all meant. Perhaps he would ask him once he returned to the Fire nation, the Avatar in tow.
He scowled, her voice shrieking about what a monster he was resounding in his memories. Katara... He sat up once more, sliding out of bed. Sleep would not come now, not after that strangely prophetic nightmare. He slipped on a long robe and left his quarters. Surely the Avatar was doing some sort of Spirit Magic to make him dream such things...he'd just have to find out.
AZULA ROLLED THE parchment carefully, tying it with a red cord. She debated over leaving it at Zuko's door, but didn't want to risk waking him or running into Honshi. She knew he would patrol every so often to check on his friend's safety. That was not a delay she could afford, and if Honshi happened to read her written confessions...well, that would be detrimental to the entire plan she devised with the Avatar.
So instead she left her scroll on her desk, making sure it was uncluttered and obviously meant to catch one's attention. Ty Lee or Mai would go through her room and be sure to give the message to Zuko. Or maybe even Zuko himself, feeling betrayed and abandonned, would come into her chambers, searching for some sort of answer to the nagging questions that would plague him.
It would have to be enough. Azula had more pressing issues to attend to. She gathered the meager belongings she'd decided to bring with her and quietly slipped out of her room, ducking amongst the shadows to make it the ship's deck. She would have to look for the Avatar's companions, making sure to get in contact with them before they attacked her or alerted anyone to thier presence.
TY LEE lay in bed, sobbing softly as she thought of her rejection of Honshi over and over. Why hadn't she allowed herself that small dose of happiness by reciprocating his feelings? She truly found him to be handsome, and held a fraction of affection for him herself. Only she'd never had the courage to mention it, as both he and her were honor bound to protect the Prince and the Princess, respectively. She wiped at her tears, swallowing a hiccuping sob. Oh Honshi...
Footsteps, barely perceptible, whispered past her bedroom quarters. It caught her attention, as they were too light to be Honshi's. She had heard his footsteps pace throughout the halls, stopping by often to see that all was well with her and the others. And they were not likely to be any of the other guards, nor Zuko's. Mai was likely to be busy with Zuko...in ways Ty Lee pereferred not to think about. So that left only one person: Azula.
Ty Lee slipped out of bed. Azula was her dear friend, and it could be likely that something was weighing heavily on her mind as well. Ty Lee recalled well how the massacre at the Southern Water Tribe had gutted Azula. Ty Lee dressed hurriedly. Perhaps she could confide in Azula of Honshi's love declaration. Azula would know what to do...
She slipped out of her bedroom, her footsteps even lighter than her friend's had been.
HONSHI PACED ABOUT the halls, his mind seemingly ready to burst with all of the thoughts perpetuating within. It was unlikely he would manage to find sleep on this night. Not when Ty Lee had rejected him without ample explanation. And when her expression belied every word that came out of her mouth. As if she hadn't meant to say what she did, but she had for some reason he couldn't quite comprehend.
Ty Lee...are you hurting? Do you long for me as I long for you...? Honshi leaned against the corridor's wall, rubbing his temples. He was loyal to Zuko. Zuko was his soverign, his friend, and he could even go so far as to say that he was like his own brother, his flesh and blood. But was he perhaps taking his devotion to Zuko too far? Was Ty Lee taking her own subserviance towards Azula too far?
He couldn't be sure. He sighed heavily, then blinked in surprise as he saw Zuko approaching him. "What're are you doing awake? Is everything alright?" Honshi pushed off from the wall to stand attention before his Prince.
Zuko seemed to be in such a conflict of emotion, it was difficult for Honshi to pick out any one in particular. "The Avatar...she's bewitching me, I swear it!" he announced breathlessly.
Honshi arched a brow, regarding his prince uneasily. "...my Lord...?" he managed to question, observing Zuko carefully. He didn't seem like he had suffered a head injury...
Zuko's hands came to grip Honshi's shoulders and he shook his guard slightly. "She came to me in my dream. She drew me. And then everything melted. And we were down in the ship's dungeon again. And she cried out, calling me a monster..." he murmured, frantic at this point.
"...Zuko..." Honshi raised his hand and lightly slapped Zuko on the cheek. "You can't be serious!"
Zuko shook his head, his hand coming to his cheek. "Honshi...I'm losing it." the Prince covered his face with his hands and groaned softly. "She must be using her Spirit Powers to communicate with me! I know it!"
"Or...maybe you just have some sort of strange tie to this girl. Maybe you pissed her off in your prior life as well as this one." Honshi suggested lamely. Such fables held an inkling of truth to them, such as friendships lasting over many seperate lives, or that there were alternate realities where things occured differently...
Zuko smacked himself in the forehead. "Is it possible to have such ties?! Honestly Honshi, you're a nutcase!" he cried, slumping down against the wall Honshi had leaned against only moments before.
Honshi crouched next to Zuko. "Do you realize how crazy you're sounding right now?" he gently informed the other. Zuko growled softly.
"There's just something about her." the Prince finally admitted aloud.
"There is no doubt that she is quite lovely. And exotic, being from the Water Tribe and all." Honshi reassured his friend. He sat beside Zuko, sighing softly. "The same as there being something about Ty Lee...I don't know how to explain it, but I will win her affections...somehow..."
Zuko turned to Honshi. "So what happened when you went to check on her?" he inquired curiously. Honshi snorted disdainfully. Zuko blinked. "What, did you try to make a move on her or something? You clod!" Zuko berated.
Honshi rolled his eyes. "Idiot. I merely told her of my affections and she rejected me." he shoved Zuko, though playfully, and Zuko shoved him back.
"That's rough, buddy." he mocked teasingly, pulling Honshi in for a mock hug.
Honshi grit his teeth and pinched Zuko's nose. "You're so empathetic." he snarled. He was sorely tempted to smack the hand that pinched the bridge of Zuko's nose, but then Zuko would probably do something worse in retaliation.
Zuko smacked at Honshi's hand, inadvertantly causing damage to his nose. "Ow!" he yelped, cupping his nose protectively.
Honshi laughed. Zuko had done well enough on his own with hurting himself. "That's rough, buddy." he parroted gaily.
Zuko scowled at his friend. "Well, I was going to tell you how to win Ty Lee's heart, but not now that you've marred my beautiful face." He checked to see if anything was bleeding or broken, but all seemed well.
"Don't expect me to kiss it and make it better." Honshi informed his friend, much like one would make a death threat.
Zuko smirked. "I'll have Mai do that for you, thank you very much." he pulled himself up from off the ground as Honshi winced.
"Ouch. Thanks a lot." Honshi muttered. Hi slongtime friend had just non-verbally throw his rejection back into his face. Zuko's hand appeared in his line of vision, and Honshi automatically took it. Zuko pulled his companion up to his feet.
"I'm sorry. Just start doing little thoughtful things and she'll come around. Now that she knows you like her, you can give her little girts, make her little trinkets, you know...girls like that stuff." Zuko advised.
Honshi nodded. "I'll give it a try. Thanks. Now you go get some sleep."
Both boys jumped, startled suddenly by a loud noise coming from within the belly of the ship. "Sleep will have to wait until later." Zuko yelled as they both started racing towards the engine room where the noise had originated.
THE AVATAR'S AIRBENDING companion stole onto the ship quietly, waving to the girl astride the flying bison as if to signal a reassurance. Azula waited until he got close enough, then she slunk out of the shadows, sneaking up and grabbing him. She covered his mouth before any protests could alert Fire Nation soldiers standing watch throughout the ship. She could feel his heart racing in his chest, his body trembling with nerves and fear.
"Don't fret, Airbender. I'm Princess Azula, and I want to help you free the Avatar." she whispered quickly to the stuggling boy.
His struggles ceased and she released him. He turned to face her. "Truly?" he questioned, seemingly surprised at her blatant betrayal of her people.
Azula nodded. "Yes. Follow me, we need to do this quickly." But as Azula turned, she ran straight into Ty Lee.
"Azula! What's going on?" Ty Lee demanded, though she keep her voice low so as not to draw attention.
Azula looked back at the Airbender who seemed distraught at these interruptions. The Princess looked back to her compaion. "Ty Lee, who do you serve first and foremost?" she asked outright.
Ty Lee balked at the interrogation. "You, of course!" she hissed, offended that Azula had to even ask such a question. She was trying her best to understand why on earth Azula was behaving so strangely, but now was not the time to ask questions.
Azula nodded. "I know. Then you must assist the Avatar's companions and myself in her rescue. Go to our engine room and disable the motor. That will slow Zuko down enough that he won't be able to go after the Avatar for some time. After you have broken the components, come to the surface and wait for us to return with the Avatar. Do you understand?" her words were clipped and concise.
Ty Lee nodded, pausing to give Azula a quick hug. "I knew you would find the right way." she murmured to her dearest friend before running off to do her Eminence's bidding.
Azula watched the acrobat leave for a moment and turned to the boy. "C'mon, let's go." she grabbed his wrist, guiding him down to where the Avatar and her Water Tribe friend were imprisoned. The halls were dark, light by only meager torches here and there, but Azula knew the routes by heart.
Strange noises, like metal clanging, resounded throughout the ship and Azula held back a smile. The boy said nothing either, merely allowing her to drag him further into the ship. He was quite trusting, though she supposed it was because he was a monk. Perhaps he could sense her good intentions despite her having commited sins for the Fire Nation previously.
"Not much further." and they were at the door of the dungeon. Azula entered, shedding light on the Avatar and her companion. They were close to one another, probably disturbed by the loud noises, but they stood and called the Airbender's name when their eyes adjusted to the light.
Azula opened their cell with the spare set of keys. "Hurry, we don't have much time." she beckoned. Katara and Sou both went to either of Kuval's sides, assisting him in walking since he had been so badly beaten by Zuko's soldiers. They left the prison hurriedly, hoping that they would not run into any of the few night watchmen who patrolled the ship. Though they were probably preoccupied with Ty Lee's engine ploy.
Azula sincerely hoped that they could escape. If not, then both she and Ty Lee were as equally doomed as Katara and her friends.
