Authors Note:
Thanks to all the kind reviews! I really appreciate this, surprisingly this story is flowing along better then I expected. Also longer then I expected. I was aiming for 7-8 chapter story, but this looks more like a 10-12 chapter story. Hmm… What do you guys prefer? Frequent but shorter/medium length updates, or Longer in length but longer in wait time? Let me know! :D
~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Aang and Sokka arrived at the gates of the Fire Nation in hours, after passing the Western Air Temple, the air's picked up and they sailed easily to the gates.
Aang flew to the entrance of the Fire Nation Palace and raised his hand to knock when Sokka grabbed his arm restraining him.
"What is it Sokka?" Aang agitatedly asked.
"I don't know how welcomed you'd be here." Sokka said, staring at him. "You left my sister and Zuko has always cared about her. I don't know how he's going to react to you being here. Unless you want to sustain a black eye and risk upsetting Katara then I suggest that you stay out here."
Aang's face fell. 'God I'm such an idiot.'he thought to himself angrily.
"I understand Sokka. I'll wait with Appa. He must be tired and wondering how Katara is doing." Aang replied as cheerily as possible.
Sokka knocked on the door and was met by a guard. "Oh! Lord Sokka! Are you here to visit your sister?" the guard asked relaxed.
Sokka nodded trying to force his face into a smile.
"Although Lady Katara doesn't say it, I know she misses you very much." The guard says and he escorts Sokka down a long hallway.
"Was that the Avatar's Bison?" he inquired eagerly.
Sokka nodded stiffly.
"I thought he was dead, or disappeared?" he questioned surprised etched on his features.
"Well obviously my sister was good enough for him to come back." Sokka said in a tight tone.
"Why isn't he coming in here with you?" The guard asked his eyebrows furrowing. Sokka didn't comment on this and continued to walk down the hallway his footsteps echoing throughout the hall.
"Excuse me while I inform the Fire Lord that you wish presences with him." The guard said bowing formally, understanding that he stepped out of line by asking about the Avatar.
Sokka nodded, a fist in his throat was forming. Zuko had to have a good reason for taking Katara. A really good reason if Zuko was willing to risk war. Sweat broke out on his forehead as he clenched his fist taking methodic deep breaths.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Zuko casually sat on his thrown, his feet thrown over the arm rest of the chair, his head piece flame crooked and shining lights into the ceiling. Today had been such a wasted day, upsetting Katara, Mai's continual bad mood, and all this boring paper work.
Three sharp knocked pierced through the thick silence. "Enter." Zuko barked, as he sat up straight and fixed his attire.
A guard walked through the door and bowed lowly and respectfully.
"Great Fire Lord Zuko, master of all things great and-" started the guard as was the traditional greeting.
"Oh cut to the chase already." Zuko snapped he was in no mood to be praised by random asses in the kingdom.
"Great Fire Lord Zuko, Lord Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe has requested an audience with you." Said the guard bowing lowly again.
Zuko's liquid molten eyes lit up, and as carelessly possible he mumbled out "Let him in."
"Excuse me Great Fire Lord Zuko?" the guard asked.
"I said let him in!" bellowed Zuko.
The guard simply smiled and walked to the door to let him in.
'That guard has been here way too long if he's used to my temper tantrums…' thought Zuko as he sighed. 'Am I really that predictable?'
"Presenting Lord Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe." Announced the same guard and walked out closing the heavy door behind him.
"Oh Great Fire Lord Zuko, master of all-" Started Sokka with a bored look on his face.
"Cut the crap." Zuko crossly complained as he got down from his throne. "You and I both know that you don't want to do that, nor do I want to hear it."
"Good. I hate being respectful to the guy that kidnapped my sister, regardless of you being a Fire Lord dude." Sokka snapped back.
"Oh that." Zuko said staring at him blankly.
"What do you mean oh that!" shrieked Sokka.
"Is that what the Northern Water Tribe told you?" Zuko asked as he walked through one of the many doors, motioning Sokka to follow him.
"Yep." Sokka said popping the last letter.
Zuko sighed in disgust. "Really? That's the stupidest thing I've heard. Katara's awake now I suggest that you go and visit her, and we'll talk once she's asleep again. I must warn you now though. She looks fine physically but her mind has been damaged so much, don't make sudden movements and don't scare her too much." Zuko said gradually getting quieter as he paused at the only blue door in the Palace.
Sokka had many questions that were threatening to spill over. He opened his mouth and Zuko shook his head. "Later." He whispered firmly.
Sokka nodded and knocked on the door, "Katara?" he whispered quietly.
Before he opened the door, he turned around and said "Aang's outside." Sokka quickly proceeded into the room, leaving Zuko to deal with the air bender.
Zuko stood there like a statue, unsure of what to do. Fury built up in his eyes and set his amber eyes aflame and stormed out of the hall, leaving a trail of fire in his wake.
Katara sat in front of her cup of water, her blue eyes focusing on the water, the water in the glass was completely still. Katara tore her eyes away from the glass and started at Sokka.
"Sokka?" she whispered, her voice cracking.
Sokka rushed to Katara, and gathered her up into his arms. She whimpered and hugged him back. "I really missed you Sokka…" she whispered hugging him tears falling down her face.
"I missed you too Tara." his said soothingly as he combed his fingers through his dear sister's long hair. Katara hugged him tightly and buried her nose in the crook of his neck, and started to sob.
"What's wrong Tara?" Sokka whispered gently.
"I'm just so happy to see you!" Katara wailed.
"Now who looks like the older one?" Sokka chucked. Katara smiled watery and wiped her tears away and sent him a brilliant smile.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~
"Sokka sure has been in there for a long time." Stated Aang, a trace of annoyance laced his voice as he rolled upright on Appa's saddle.
He felt it, and smelt it before he saw it.
Burnt Zuko.
Aang sat up, as he saw the approach of the angry Fire Lord heading his way. As soon as Zuko got close enough, Zuko pushed several fire balls from his clenched fists down at the floor, leaving nasty scorch marks.
"Oh Great Fire Lord Zuko, master of all-" Started Aang nervously watching Zuko carefully.
Zuko gritted his teeth and said "Don't say another word. Come down here." As he pointed to the ground near Appa.
Aang nervously slipped down Appa's silky fur and stood where Zuko designated.
They stood there in uncomfortable silences; the sounds of crickets could be heard. Even in the middle of the day. Aang shuffled uneasily, as Zuko paced back and forth.
"Why did you leave?" Zuko demanded his golden eyes flaring angrily.
"I had mission that I couldn't tell anyone about, until it was finished. I didn't know that it was going to take this long. " Aang answered without hesitation.
"You're back now and you're done with your mission?" asked Zuko.
"Well not exactly…" Trailed off Aang.
"What do you mean not exactly?" hissed Zuko.
"I kinda left before I was done…" Aang said scratching the back of his head.
"Then why are you back?" he growled, his golden eyes glittering.
"I missed Katara." Aang whispered his stormy eyes placid looking down.
"Oh. You missed her. You missed Katara, so you got it into your little head that it was okay for you to just come back and see her. Whenever you damn well please. " Zuko nearly yelled.
"Do you know how much she missed you when you left? No word, no nothing? Do you know how much it killed her? When she wanted to see you, you weren't there. Who had to be there? I did. I had to watch out for her as best as I could, and I couldn't even do that properly. I found her in Hahn's house beaten, broken and bloody. I never wanted to see anyone ever like that, especially not Katara."
Aang's blood froze. "What do you mean you found her broken and bloody." He whispered, the blood draining from his face.
"Exactly as it sounds." Zuko shot back, squeezing the soft fabric of his cloak.
"Tell me what happened." Pleaded Aang.
"No. You will wait. You will wait until Sokka is done talking to Katara. You will not talk to Katara until Sokka and I are ready for you to talk to her. I will tell you and Sokka what happened to her. But you have to wait." Zuko bitterly responded and turned on his heel leaving fire in his wake.
Aang stood there in shock, trying to absorb all the information. "The spirit world. She was there too long for just emotional wounds. I should have realized that… I thought she got sick or something. But beaten? Bloody? That's too much. " he thought to himself as he jumped back up to the comfortable saddle.
This entire thing did not sit well with Aang as he closed his eyes, self-loathingcommenced.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Sokka exited the blue door, to find Zuko waiting for him. "Is she asleep?" he asked quietly walking down the hall his footstep softly echoing off the walls.
"Yeah. Toph came in a few minutes or so ago to talk with her." Sokka said calmly, walking with him.
"Did you see Aang yet?" Sokka asked. "Or I guess the proper question should be is Aang still alive?"
Zuko grunted, and started to walk faster. "We need to discuss what we are going to do about Aang." He muttered as he walked into the meeting room.
"What do you mean what we are going to do?" asked Sokka confused as he sat down on the satin crimson pillows.
"Have you already forgiven that airhead for what she did to your sister?" he demanded.
"Aang had his reasons for leaving. I know that we might not have approved of the way that he did things but that doesn't mean that we have the right to take away my sisters' happiness. I know that if she sees Aang that she will be better. Happier." Sokka said carefully.
"You didn't see her when I brought her here Sokka." Zuko said shuddering at the thought.
"You promised me answers Zuko. I expect them now. Where is Aang?" Sokka said staring at him, with a piercing intensity.
"Were we planning on discussing this with Aang?" Sokka asked.
"No. I wasn't. But after hearing what you said about him… you love Katara just as much as I do, and I believe in your judgment. Sokka if you feel that you should tell the Avatar about this… awful situation then we will tell him. " Zuko said disdainfully.
"I know you are mad at Aang, but I know that Aang loves my sister more then he loves himself. If he left for that mission, it probably was something that could potentially hurt Katara. "
Zuko looked at him, a wave of sadness washed over him. "You both have the same eyes. Sometimes when I look at you I see the old Katara." He whispered pain evident in his voice.
"What happened to her Zuko?" Sokka gently prodded.
"Go get the Avatar." Zuko commanded. "I can't say anymore until he's here."
Sokka nodded, turned and ran out the door, and was back moments later with Aang. Aang uncomfortably took his seat, and looked at Zuko expectantly.
"Hahn physically abused her." Zuko said his molten eyes overflowing with anger.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~
THE ULIMATE CLIFFY! 3 YOU LOVE ME! :D Now review please? :D
Special thanks again to KataangDieHard and AxisofSymmetry. These guys really are the best! :D They're with me through all my crappy run on sentences, and awful spelling. They also help me with the flow of the story! :D
