Chapter 12 A Shot To The Heart
After he left Azula's room Aang figured he should go deal with Toph. He was sure that now that they were away from Azula she was going to give him some sort of lecture about how he was crazy for having her here and how she couldn't be trusted. He stepped out to the courtyard to see her standing there taunting the captured firebenders. She turned towards him and said "So Baldie, how's your girlfriend doing?" Aang just sighed and said "She's not my girlfriend Toph, I'm just trying to help her, she's got no one." Toph sighed back at him and said "You're just too nice for your own good sometimes twinkle toes." Aang laughed and said "You've got to be nice and patient to have a pain in the ass like you as a friend Toph, so Azula is a walk in the park." Toph smiled and laughed.
Toph asked "So what are we doing about these losers?" Aang said "We'll wait here till the Fire Nation sends a Zeppelin to pick em up and then I think you should escort em to prison and I'll take Appa and head to check out how everyone else is doing." Toph smiled and said "Don't worry they got Sokka with em, nobody's tougher than him." Aang just laughed and said "Yep nobody can take Sokka down." They sat quietly for a few minutes and then Aang said "I thought for sure you were gonna tell me off for having Azula here." Toph replied "Well I figure you're the avatar and you can take care of yourself. You just have to promise me that I can be there when you tell Katara, I want to see her kill you." Aang smiled and said "Deal, I may need you there to protect me anyway." Then they both broke out in laughter.
Toph said "Got any food around here I'm starving?" Aang got up and said "I can make you a nice traditional Air Nomad meal." Toph made a disgusted face and replied "I had hoped that since Azula was here you might have some real food, but sure sign me up for some veggie pies or whatever crap it is you wimps eat." Aang said "Just because I don't like meat doesn't make me a wimp Toph, and you'll probably like it, it's grown on Azula." She teased back "Ooh I'm so glad your princess likes it, how does she repay you for cooking for her, I bet it's with kisses." Aang just stormed off and said "Whatever Toph I'll go make you lunch despite your attitude." He heard Toph shout as he walked away "Just pop in Azula's room I'll sure she'll make you feel better."
Aang made lunch and he and Toph sat out in the courtyard enjoying it. Toph spent most of the meal cracking jokes at Aang's expense, but he mostly just let it roll off his back. He had almost forgot what spending time with his old friend was like and he knew that the more Toph made fun of you the more she actually cared. Spending most of the day with Toph did make Aang worry about Azula. She hadn't left her room since that near disastrous meeting this morning. He guess that he always knew that it would be rough for everyone to accept her, but it wasn't until he saw an actual interaction between her and one of his friends that it actually hit him how difficult this was. Azula was very guarded, and even though he didn't know exactly what happened between Azula and Mai and Ty Lee he was sure that it had done some pretty serious damage to Azula. Oh well he trusted Toph to keep his secret and he would just have to work on softening Azula up before the rest of his friends found out about her. He would just make sure that he never betrayed her trust, he was going to have to try something to make up for bringing Toph here.
Toph had decided to take a nap after she and Aang had talked for much of the day after lunch. So he decided he'd try and go have another talk with Azula, maybe she would be in a better mood. He knocked on her door and she said "Come in Aang." He opened the door and took a step in, he saw her laying on her bed with her back to him. He said "I really am sorry, I never meant to betray your trust Azula." She turned and said "It's Ok Aang, I never really thought you betrayed me, and I'm sorry that I couldn't get along with the blind girl." He said "Don't worry Azula, I know it's going to take a lot for you and my friends to get along but I have faith that it will happen eventually and that it will be worth it." Azula just said very meekly "I hope so Aang."
He went over and sat on the bed next to her. He locked eyes with her and just gazed in the golden orbs for a minute before saying "No matter what happens, I'm really glad you're here. I know you have had a hard time trusting anyone, Zuko, Mai, Ty Lee, they all turned on you, but I promise I'll be here for you no matter what you need." She just smiled a bittersweet smile and said "I know you will Aang, you make me feel things I've never felt before. I had a hard time when everyone else turned on me, but I never trusted them like I trust you Aang. I don't know what I'd do if you ever..." He just shushed her and gave her a big hug "Azula don't worry I swear I'll always be on your side." They just held each other in silence for a few minutes.
Azula finally pulled away and said "Thanks Aang, I really think coming here to be with you was the best decision I ever made." Aang smiled at her and said "I think it was too." She came forward to hug him again, he was so happy to have her back in his arms. He knew that he loved Katara, he had known it since he first laid eyes on her, but at times like this when Azula was in his arms he had feelings unlike anything he had ever felt before. For years Aang thought love was simple, and even when he was unsure of how Katara felt about him he could never see himself with any girl other than her. Now he and Katara had been a couple for about a year now and yet here he was holding another girl in his arms never wanting to let go.
He wondered how Azula felt about him, he remembered that night they almost kissed. She had said that she wanted him to kiss her, maybe she wants me to kiss her now. He pulled back a little from their hug and looked deep into her intoxicating eyes, she stared back with a beautiful intensity and a desperate longing. He was sure that she wanted him and he knew there was an ever growing part of himself that wanted to surrender to her. He turned away and said "I'm sorry Azula." She looked confused and said "Aang what are you sorry for, I forgave you for bringing Toph here." He said "No not about that, well I am sorry about that but..." she just smiled as she cut him off saying "Aang don't worry about it, I know that you're with that other girl, I'm not trying to get in the way of that." He saw sadness in her eyes, he pulled her into another hug, "I know you could never feel about me like you do for her, I'm just glad that you have any feelings for me at all." she said quietly as they hugged.
Aang felt terrible, he wanted to tell Azula how much he cared about her, even loved her, but that wouldn't be fair to her or Katara. When did his life get so complicated, it was so much easier when all he had to do was save the world. Now he had such strong feelings for two different girls and he had to deny the feelings for the one he was around all the time. He pulled away and said "The fire nation airship should arrive soon, then I am going to head to the capitol and see how everyone else is fairing against the rebellion." Azula smiled at him and said "Of course Aang, don't worry about me, go save the rest of the world I've already had my fill of the avatar today anyway." He smiled as he walked out saying "I'll be back as soon as possible."
He went back out in the courtyard and saw Toph zonked out in the middle of it, all five firebenders still in their rocky prisons. He went towards Appa's stable and threw some melons in front of his oldest companion. Appa happily inhaled them, then he tackled Aang and started to lick him. They spent the next hour playing around just the two of them. As dusk approached Aang saw a zeppelin closing in on the temple. He went out and told Toph to wake up then ran in the temple and knocked on Azula's door and said "Fire Nation soldiers are here, just stay in your room."
The Zeppelin landed and the soldiers came and quickly rounded up the rebels, the commander shaking hands and thanking Aang for his help. Aang told him to take Toph and after they dropped off the prisoners to take Toph home or wherever she wanted to go. She smiled and said "I've always wanted to command my own Airship." She then punched Aang in the shoulder and said "Don't worry twinkle toes your secret is safe with me, just be careful." Aang said "Sure thing Toph." as he waved to her as she climbed aboard the Zeppelin.
Once he saw the zeppelin start to fade away he went to Azula's room and knocked. She said "Come in." He poked his head in and said "they're gone, I'm heading into the Fire Nation now, you've got the place all to yourself, have fun." She smiled and said "I will, I'll miss you, it's never as fun when you aren't here." He smiled back and said "Don't worry Azula I won't be gone for too long, I'm sure that Katara and your brother took care of the rest of the rebellion no problem. See you later, I'll miss you too." He closed the door and headed for Appa.
Leaving now he should get to the Fire Nation capitol by early morning. As he and Appa took off into the early evening sky Aang's mind was awash with a lot of confusing and troubling thoughts. He was concerned about leaving Azula alone at the temple for too long. He hadn't thought about this at first but when the firebenders they had defeated were interrogated they would probably mention something about Azula being at the temple. Aang was unsure about how Zuko would take the news that Aang had been hiding his sister, but he wouldn't put it past the young Firelord to send a party to catpture her without consulting Aang. The entire fiasco and how suspicious Zuko seemed at Toph's birthday just last night had Aang even more concerned about this. So Aang would just have to head back to Azula once he discovered that everyone else was all right. He would have to get back to the temple to make sure that he was there to support Azula no matter what consequences came. He thought that maybe he should just come clean about the whole thing with everyone. He was afraid of doing that though because if he told everyone that might hurt Azula or make her think that she couldn't trust him. He knew that despite as much progress as she had made that if she felt betrayed by him it might cause her to slip back into her dangerous old self.
This was all so complicated. It seemed unlikely that hiding her at the temple and no one knowing about it was going to last much longer, and when his friends discovered that he was keeping such a big secret they would all be mad at him. But if he told them now, they would still probably be mad at him and he was sure that he would lose Azula's trust. He knew that she needed him more than anyone else, he was her only friend in the entire world now. Aang realized that he had to keep the secret for as long as possible, Azula was so close to being healed he had to be by her side no matter what and see this through till the end. He patted Appa's head and said "I know you won't be mad at me boy, I may need you to have my back when Sokka and Zuko try to kill me." Appa just groaned into the night sky and Aang laughed. Aang spent the rest of the night trying to distract himself with more carefree thoughts and the occasional nap during the long trip to the capitol.
Appa landed just outside the Firelord's palace and shook himself to wake Aang up. Aang hopped down and saw the morning sun just starting to poke over the horizon, he said "Head to the stables buddy I'm sure they'll give you some food." Appa walked off towards the royal stables as Aang approached the entrance to the palace. The two guards standing at the front said "Good morning Avatar." Aang smiled and said "Morning hotmen, is Zuko home." The guards replied "Yes he and Mistress Katara returned last night after fighting in a short and victorious battle." That made Aang smile, he said "I'm just gonna head to my room to see Katara." The guard replied "Of Course Avatar."
Aang walked through the palace, not many people were up and no one bothered him as he went to the room in the palace that he and Katara shared when they were here together. He opened the door and was surprised to see that not only was the bed empty but appeared to have not been slept in at all. He walked back into the hallway and approached the nearest guard and asked "Did you see Katara come by here recently." He replied "I have not seen her all night Avatar and I've been at this post for several hours." Aang panicked, maybe something had happened to her, maybe the rebellion was not as defeated as the guard at the front made it appear to be. He took off at an Air Nomad sprint towards Zuko's room, maybe he would know what had happened.
He blew past the two guards who were right outside Zuko's door and he burst through the door. He screamed "Zuko have you seen..." but then he felt a sharp pain in his heart like he had not felt since that battle in Ba Sing Se when actual lightning had been shot through it. He fell to his knees as his eyes took in the scene before him, Katara and Zuko's clothes were scattered around the room and he saw Zuko pop his head up as his arm was laid across the seemingly bare chest of Katara. Tears filled Aang's eyes as Zuko looked around confused and said "Aang why are you in my bedroom and who is... ohhh." Zuko saw who was next to him in bed and then turned back to see Aang who was still on the floor tears still in his eyes. Zuko said "Aang, I don't know what happened this isn't what it looks like." Just then Katara started to wake up and she groggily said "What's with all this noise." Aang stood up and with a cold fury burning in his voice said "Oh I'm so sorry to wake you Katara, but don't worry I won't ever bother you again." With that Aang stood up and turned away walking towards the door. Katara looked around and saw she was naked in bed with Zuko and saw Aang walking out the door. She looked shocked at Zuko and screamed "What is going on here Zuko!" He said "I don't know." Katara wrapped the blanket around herself and started to run after Aang who was moving away from the scene as quickly as possible.
She screamed "Aang please stop, I need to talk to you, please." He stopped moving but kept his back to her. She started to cry "Aang I'm still not sure what happened but" Aang cut her off "I don't want to hear it Katara, I just wish you would've told me rather than making me see it for myself." She said "Told you what, I'm not with Zuko, I love you Aang." Aang laughed "I'm a big boy now Katara, I know that you were just with me out of a sense of duty because I'm the Avatar, you and Zuko can be happy together now. I don't care." He started walking away again. She pleaded "Aang stop please, I'm Sorry, I still love you." He turned tears on his cheeks and said"How much did you love me last night?" She looked shocked and was stunned by his words. Aang turned again walking away and said "That's what I thought." She grabbed his arm and said "Aang don't go." He waved his other arm and blew her off with a strong air blast, she fell back about 10 feet. "Don't touch me ever again Katara."
Sokka burst out of his room with his sword drawn saying "Who's attacking the palace at this time of the morning, oh hey Aang glad to see you. What caused all this commotion?" Sokka looked around confused but seeing Katara lying on the ground in nothing but a blanket crying her eyes out made his protective brotherly instincts kick in. Sokka said in an angry voice "Aang what did you do to my sister." Aang just laughed and turned as he reached the door and said tears still in his eyes "Nothing Sokka I was just the first to congratulate her on becoming the new Firelady." Then he left the palace leaving a crying Katara and a bewildered Sokka in his wake.
