A/N: Aaaahh! *squeals* I crossed the 30 reviews mark! Okay, I know it's no biggie, but still! *calms myself* Okay, here it goes...


Chapter 9: For the Best


Katara's POV

The wind blew harshly, the warm air brushing against the dried tears on my face as I raced to get home. There, I slammed the door, ignoring the fact that I had just slammed it in my brother's face. I didn't want anyone to see me like that – so helpless, so... broken.

He knows. Zuko knows and now he wants me gone.

I don't know if I can forget the look on his face, how stonecold it was, how little he bothered when I left his quarters... It was as if he couldn't wait to get rid of me.

Thoughts crowded my mind, sending another wave of emotion to my system. The last time I cried that much was the day I had to leave my parents to die. I leaned my back against the rigid wooden door as I crouched to the ground, hugging my knees, letting the tears run for awhile.

"Katara," Sokka's voice came off demanding, "Open the door."

I did as he told, knowing that he would unshakably kick it open if I hadn't.

"What happened?" my brother's arms flung right open as he pulled me into a hug, allowing me to bury my head into his chest. His soothing scent – one of the things I loved most about him – of snowy mountains we used to have during winter back at home – it never once failed to calm me down.

"Z-Zuko f-found out," I was stumbling on my words, fighting back tears.

"HE WHAT?" Sokka bellowed at me; never in a million years would he have expected that to come out of my mouth. My brother may have taken quite a while to adjust to the new lifestyle, but I could see he was starting to like it here. He felt – out of all things – safe here.

"I'm sorry, Sokka. It's all my fault..." I began to cry again, struggling to endure the guilt, "I shouldn't have got myself so attached to him."

"No, Katara, no," he silenced me, placing his hands on my hair, "You didn't know."

"Yes, I did. You even tried to warn me, but I didn't listen, I never do. I thought he actually cared about me, about... foreign benders, but he's just the same. He wants me gone by tomorrow, Sokka. I have to leave."

"Leave?" he paused for a moment with his eyes wide open, "...tomorrow?" Sokka always needed that extra time to process everything. I swore for a second there he was hesitant – he looked almost reluctant to leave his life here behind, but I wasn't going to let him. It would be too selfish of me.

"I'm leaving, Sokka, without you. If I stay, it'll only make things worse. I can't let you or Uncle Santou live in fear. I won't. I won't put your lives at risk," I shook my head in disagreement.

"I'm going with you," he spoke with more certainty now. I know he's my brother and all, but still, he doesn't have to feel like he needs to be there all the time... to protect me. I'm not a baby anymore. I have grown. I'm not sure he knows that though.

"No, you're not. I won't allow it. You have a life here, Sokka. Education, and that girl you've been hanging around with lately... what's her name? Suki, was it?" He nodded as I continued to reason with him, "See? You deserve to be happy, brother, and I know you won't be if we start running again. You can make something of yourself here in the Fire Nation... make Dad proud."

The sound of Dad made Sokka raise his head to look at me after being flooded with deep thoughts.

My brother was quick to reply, "He won't be if I leave you on your own. I promised him –" I interrupted him. The promise was the only thing Dad left Sokka for him to hold onto. He could never let it go. It was his duty. But I didn't care. I wasn't going to let him sacrifice everything for me. Not this time.

"He'll understand, Sokka. It's for the best," I murmured. He could see the strength in my eyes, how serious I was. I didn't know whether or not he gave in to the decision, but he sure as hell didn't look convinced that there was no other way to it.


The next day...

Sokka's POV

I didn't even bother to knock or greet the bastard. Prince, my ass. I just barged in, full frontal. He wasn't even shocked at all to find me in his chambers. It was as if he was expecting me.

I yelled, holding nothing back, "You idiot! How could you do that to my sister?"

Zuko didn't turn to look at me. The gutless prick didn't even say a word. He only sighed when he heard my voice. The more I tried to tolerate him, the more infuriated I got. I couldn't stand him anymore – the emotionless face he was wearing. Feel something, damn it!

I walked up to him, grabbing him by the chest of his robes. "For one second I let my guard down, and you hurt her. How dare you?"

He remained speechless, looking away from my enraged sapphire eyes.

"Answer me!" I threw a forceful punch to his face. He fell on his back, landing on his desk as his body weight smashed it into pieces. Prince or not, I could care less. He needs to pay.

Blood seeped through the wound on his right cheek, immediately appearing red and swollen. Zuko spat blood out to the ground as he wiped his bruise with his sleeve.

He stood up to face me. I was preparing for him to hit me back, but he didn't. Why didn't he? He spoke in a heartless manner, "She lied to me. She got what she deserved."

"Do you even know why she did?" I questioned him, watching for his response. He stared at me with fascinated eyes, his answer being no. I added, "I guess not."

"She - I mean, we came here because we had nowhere else to go. While you and your royal ass sister spend your childhood here without having to care about a single thing in the world, we spent ours running... running from people like you. Our parents were killed trying to protect their honor, our home, but in spite of how much they fought, we lost everything thanks to the likes of you," I explained, welcoming pain back as the memories returned.

I continued, staring back at his watchful eyes, "The Fire Nation was the safest place we could go to, to live in, to start a brand new life. But we were wrong. So I'm begging you, for Spirit's sake, please get her back, make her stay. You can't just stand here and let her go, Zuko..."

For just a second, I swore he was thinking about it. I could see him hurting, just as I was. That was when I knew... he loved her.

Zuko uttered as he shot a flinty gaze at me, "I'm afraid I can't do that."

"I know you still care about her. Just admit it," I confronted him.

"How so?" he seemed intrigued, meeting my gaze.

"Because if you hadn't," I reckoned, "You wouldn't let her leave. You would have her killed. And she would be dead right now. But she's not."

I could tell from the look on his face I was spot on. He has feelings for her.

But yet he didn't give me the answer I wanted to hear. Zuko periled, "You should be thankful I didn't banish you and your uncle as well. I could've sent all of you to your graves, but I didn't."

I didn't want to believe him, but I did. I couldn't take any more chances with this guy. Zuko will always be... Zuko. He was for real.

"You really are Ozai's son... You must be so proud of yourself," I gave up trying. There was no way this bastard was going to me or my sister. He doomed us all the day we thought he was our friend.

He was never on our side.


A/N: How was it? Review your thoughts, please. Sorry it took so long!