Chapter 13: The Innkeeper
Sokka
Another week passed with relative ease. Sokka viewed each day as a gritting, but rewarding victory, especially, when it came to Aang's painfully slow recovery. After his initial awakening, the boy spent twenty four hours coming in and out of consciousness, his body and mind fighting against pain to remain awake. The first few times Aang woke, Sokka and Toph made sure to stay by his side, all while convincing him to get as much food into his stomach as possible.
Sokka admired the younger boy's resilience and his determination to heal and regain his strength. Each day since, he and Aang went through morning exercise routines together to help Aang's muscles return to full functionality. The airbender spent the remainder of the days either training with Toph (as much as was possible on a metal ship) or practicing his airbending. Despite Aang's interest in metalbending, Toph worried the new technique would overwhelm the already exhausted avatar and the three of them agreed Aang should focus on perfecting the skills he already mastered.
The worst moment for Sokka was explaining to Aang what happened to Katara. How she healed him after the lightning strike delivered by Azula and how Zuko fought with his sister then, supposedly, switched sides and how the two of them disappeared on the opposite side of the catacombs. Sokka and Toph had been forced to take flight on Appa or risk being crushed by the underground crystal cave. Sokka did a poor job keeping the gnawing worry and anger from his voice during the story. The fact the whole world believed Aang to be dead served as the cherry on top of a wonderful conversation. As a result, Aang flew into a fit of emotions and fled from the ship. This earned Sokka a hard delivered fist in the arm from Toph and a day of complete panic when they struggled to locate Aang again.
Finally, in order to keep Aang calm and concentrated on the upcoming invasion, he and Toph agreed to separate from the Southern Water Tribe warriors and travel the Fire Nation aboard Appa. Also, while stressing that finding his sister could not be the priority, he agreed with Aang they would also attempt to locate her during their travels. And so, team avatar continued in their day to day helping people, all while impatiently waiting for the Day of Black Sun to approach.
"Why the long face, Sweetheart?" Toph watched Sokka, looking particularly pleased with a signature grin across her face. Well, she had a right to be happy with herself. Only the night before she and Aang teamed up to save a nearby village from certain destruction by a forest fire. With combined earthbending prowess, they buried the fire in a trench of cold dirt, while Sokka babysat Appa and Momo.
Sokka just frowned at the bed mat he sat on and folded his arms over a bent knee. "Nothing, it's just, with the invasion coming up, I've been thinking, all you guys can do this awesome bending stuff, like, putting out forest fires or flying around!" He gestured to where Aang sat some distance away meditating while balancing atop an air scooter. "I can't do anything like that!"
Toph glared at him, with a groan she replied, "Oh not you too, all I've been hearing all week from Twinkletoes is how he lost weeks of training when he passed out, how he's not as strong as he needs to be, he couldn't save Katara yada yada. Don't you lose it too! I need your help, we need to keep Aang focused and confident. Usually it's Sweetness who's in charge of the pep talks."
Sokka just continued to glare at his own fingernails. Toph groaned again, "Ok, ok, well, maybe, a new toy will make you feel better?"
"A toy?" Asked Sokka bitterly, feeling a bit hurt at Toph's mocking.
She rolled her white glazed eyes, "Yeah, like a new boomerang or, or a sword. Boys love long, pointy things, right?"
Sokka's ears perked up at her suggestion. "You're a genius, Toph!" He exclaimed, rushing to his feet. "Let's go into town, we're going shopping!"
…
Sokka despised everything Fire Nation. The elaborate architecture with their shiny, red paneled ornate buildings, their gaudy red outfits and, especially, their horrendously spicy food served with personal sides of red hot chili flakes. Yuck.
All the men strutted around like they were some sort of courageous war heroes, though most of them never served in the army, and the women wore showy tube tops which Sokka would usually enjoy, if the scandalous tops were not always paired with a disdainful facial expression at the sight of him. No, of all Sokka had seen in the world, the Fire Nation fell dead last in his personal preferences.
Of course, Aang professed supposed knowledge of Fire Nation customs from visiting a friend in the Fire Nation hundreds of years ago. Sokka followed his lead, though he suspected some of the information may be outdated.
The group found a weapons merchant who owned a storefront Sokka took a liking to. The store hosted all sorts of rare weapons, including, mini bombs, double wedge hammers and spiked batons. However, since his conversation with Toph, Sokka could not get the image of a sword out of his mind.
The store clerk eyed him knowingly a few minutes into his scavenging. "Looking for anything specific, Young Man?"
"Greetings, Sir Hotman," Sokka bowed slightly, using the formal address Aang taught him. "I'm looking for a sword, a nice one."
"Well, the one up there in that glass case is the best in the house!" The clerk gestured towards a long, sheathed blade hanging some feet above Sokka's head. "That's a Piandao original, the greatest swordsmaster and swordmaker in Fire Nation history. He lives in the big castle up the road from here."
"Hmm," Sokka scratched his chin, "So how much for it?"
"One thousand silver pieces," The clerk replied with a wide smile.
"Ughh, never mind" Sokka glanced behind him to where Toph and Aang observed his encounter, a look of disappointment crossing his face.
"Wait!" Aang exclaimed, jogging forward, wincing from the effort. "You don't need a sword, Sokka, you need a master. We've all had masters to help us get better, I've had three, one for each element, " Despite his obvious discomfort, he still smiled with confidence. "Let's see if you could study with Piandao."
"But, what about the invasion? What about getting you ready, Aang?" Sokka whispered urgently.
Aang only shrugged, "I'll practice earthbending with Toph while you're away, and some time with a home base will let us do some scouting to look around for Katara while you train."
Scratching his chin again, Sokka attempted to resist the temptation of the situation, but the look of encouragement on Aang's face pushed him over the edge. Despite the fierce glare he received from Toph, he nodded in confirmation, "Ok, let's do it."
…
Zuko
Unrequited affections, another woe to add to the list of miseries that defined his life. Of course, Zuko should have known the content and enjoyment he felt in the company of the waterbender would not last. He only proved himself an even greater fool than he'd believed in the past. Developing feelings for Katara! So stupid, perhaps, the worst mistake in his short life. Ever since the kiss in the tavern, the girl refused to speak in more than two word sentences to him.
Zuko presumed she despised him for the mistake between them. Of course she didn't want to kiss him, of course, she viewed it as a mistake. His own father reassured him many times before his own birth was a mistake. Katara was too beautiful, too kind and too strong to ever fall for the likes of him, a banished prince with a burned and deformed face. But, then, why initiate that kiss? The memory brutally tortured Zuko. Would things between them be different if he hadn't reacted with such surprise in the moment? He pulled away from her out of shock, to check and reassure himself it really was Katara with her lips pressed to his. By the Fire Nation spirits, the thrill he experienced when he imagined she really wanted to kiss him. But, of course, she didn't. Maybe, she wanted to mess with him, wanted to see him squirm, or, maybe, she presumed he would find the whole things just as ridiculous as she did, a good joke, and they would both laugh.
Well, now he suffered the consequences of his unruly emotions. Trapped on a small boat in close quarters they spent nearly every minute within touching distance and Zuko's body flew into a fit of longing whenever he allowed his eyes to linger on the waterbender too long. At night, he tossed and turned with dreams of her lips pressed to his and her body flush against his own. Sometimes, things went farther in his dreams. He took her clothes off, felt the intimate parts of her body with his hands and, if dream Katara allowed, his mouth. Often, he woke up with a painful hard on which he struggled to hide from his companion, horrified she would figure out she was the source of his arousal. These dreams made him feel particularly awkward and guilty and he often spent hours avoiding Katara's eyes as a result.
As painful as it was to feel how he did for Katara, he wished she would go back to being his friend. He understood she shared no feelings for him and regretted her actions in the tavern. He acknowledged she would never like someone like him, but they got along and he missed her conversation.
The small boat they stole in the colonies ran with a miniature coal engine, helped along by Katara's manipulation of the currents. The ship consisted of a small upper deck and three stair lookout tower. Below deck, one room combined as a part kitchen and washroom. A second, closet sized space hosted a tiny bed where Katara slept. Zuko, hoping to gain some favor back, offered to sleep on the kitchen floor.
To both their relief, their target island approached rapidly on the horizon and they stood on deck side by side watching the waves pass quickly underneath the black iron of the boat. The sun shone across Zuko's face and he breathed in the strength it leant him. His palms glistened with sweat as his home loomed in his view. Today would be the first time he stepped on Fire Nation soil in over three years. His heart pounded with nerves and he folded his hands into fists, memories of his childhood threatening to break out of their carefully maintained compartments.
Katara spoke first, "So, how far from here to the Fire Nation Royal Palace?"
"Less than a week by boat," Zuko responded, hoping his voice didn't betray his trepidation. "We can collect supplies in the village, be back on the water by tomorrow."
Katara nodded, her eyes narrowed at the shoreline. "The closer we get to the Fire Nation capital, the harder it gets to hide."
Zuko nodded without turning his head towards her, "Correct, and, unfortunately, many of the citizens of the Fire Nation are familiar with my face."
To his shock, her hand slid across the railing of the ship and, gently, grazed his own, as if in comfort. A moment later, her touch was gone.
They docked without commotion and entered the village together. The houses were built into the cliffs of a dormant volcano, displaying an impressive number of sharp, red rooves and white washed walls that emerged directly from beds of lava rock. Katara oohed and aahed at the elegant and exotic arrangements of flower and fruit produce decorating street vendor carts. Zuko explained to her how volcanic ash provided excellent fertilizer, hence, the surplus of plant life on Fire Nation islands.
"Fire lilies," He gestured towards a particularly beautiful flower colored with vibrant red petals and dark green stems. "They only grow on a handful of islands for a few weeks a year, they need a specific environment, almost impossible to duplicate. I know because my mother was always trying to get them to grown in the Royal Palace gardens."
Katara stopped at this particular bouquet and leaned in to inspect the flower, smiling slightly.
"That's two silver pieces a sniff," the merchant interjected, stiffly.
Zuko's temper flared at Katara's alarmed expression. Moving swiftly, he gripped the merchant by the collar of his shirt and pushed him roughly into the side of the cart causing the flowers on display to sway. "How about I burn your nose off your face," He hissed.
"Hey!" Katara placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him away from the merchant. "Knock it off," She hissed, "We don't need to attract attention."
Zuko peered around them into the busy street and noted the dozens of eyes turned in his direction, observing the feud between himself the vendor. With a low snarl, he released the rude man.
The man stumbled away from him, moving to position the cart between himself and Zuko, shaking slightly. "I hope you're next to disappear," The man grumbled at Zuko once at a safe distance.
Katara rolled her eyes towards Zuko, "Let's continue?"
Zuko internally groaned, worried his outburst caused Katara to revert back to two word sentences. Glancing once more at the man, Zuko wondered what he meant by "disappear" but decided to take it as a pathetic attempt to make a threat.
Zuko and Katara paced the entire market twice, making double sure they gathered sufficient supplies to continue in their journey to the Fire Nation capital. By the time they were satisfied, the sun was beginning to set on the ocean sending pink and orange streaks across the sky.
"I'm not sleeping on that ship if we're staying here the night," Zuko warned Katara. The rocking of the ship made him sick to his stomach and the place held too many uncomfortable memories to allow proper rest.
Katara looked like she wished to argue, but nodded instead. "We can't afford beds," she pointed out.
"I'll take a mat in the woods," Zuko answered honestly.
The two of them began their walk out of town the only sounds between them a few sporadic yawns.
By the time they found an ideal spot, the sun set completely, leaving darkness only broken by Zuko's flames. Setting up camp, Zuko felt the hairs on his back standing on end. His heart raced in his chest and he jumped at the crackling of the branches Katara tossed into the fire.
Katara smirked towards him, "Afraid of the woods all of a sudden?"
Zuko hoped her attempt at conversation meant she was no longer angry with him over the kiss. "Not afraid," He squared his shoulders in defense, "I just keep getting the feeling we're being watched," He looked over his shoulder as he spoke.
"Speaking of, what do you think that merchant meant about you disappearing?" Katara asked, voicing one of Zuko's own concerns. She stood crossing her arms, looking down at where he sat by the fire. Zuko longed for one of their warm conversations from travelling the colonies when they would both lay on their backs on opposite sides of the fire and laugh and share stories.
He only shrugged, "The man was a jerk, I'm sure he meant nothing." Even to himself, he sounded unconvincing.
Katara studied him for a moment and Zuko shifted under her gaze, longing to stare back at those blue eyes.
"Well, I have an excellent story, I bet will scare even you." She smiled a bit and sat across the fire from him.
Zuko raised his eyebrow and leaned in to look at her. Giving her his full attention, he watched the way her blue eyes sparkled with excitement and how her full, pink lips moved when she spoke. So deeply engrossed in her, he nearly jumped out of his skin when a voice interrupted from behind him.
"Hello, Children."
Leaping to his feet, Zuko faced the newcomer crouched in an offensive position and heart racing in his throat. To his surprise, an ancient woman stood in front of him with long gray hair and unusual grey eyes. She wore a thick red robe and eyed them with curiosity.
Looking between him and Katara she smiled, "Sorry to frighten you, you shouldn't be out in the forest by yourselves at night."
"We're fine," Zuko snapped, side stepping to place himself between the old woman and Katara.
"My apologies, I can see now you aren't as young as I took you to be, I don't mean to interrupt anything, I remember what it was to be in the heat of youth, once upon a time." Her smile widened at the sounds of protest from Zuko and Katara at her statement.
She held up a hand to stifle them. "Either way, you two shouldn't be out in the woods. Don't you know people have been disappearing? Every month around this time."
Zuko's mouth fell open at her words and Katara recovered faster answering the old woman, "We did hear, but, honestly, we didn't take it seriously."
"You should, these woods are dangerous…for some people." the old woman frowned briefly then smiled again. "My name is Hama, I'm the innkeeper in town. Why don't you come back for some spiced tea and a warm bed, on the house of course?"
Zuko eyed the woman skeptically, "Free of charge?" He asked, suspiciously.
Katara also eyed the woman with hesitation, "One bed?" She asked.
Hama laughed at their apprehension. "Two beds and, yes, free, on my honor."
Katara's face softened and she stepped around from behind Zuko to approach the older woman. "We'd love that," She bowed with respect.
"Follow me," Hama turned with a smile to lead them back towards the village. Katara didn't hesitate to follow, but Zuko grabbed her arm.
"Katara, we shouldn't trust strangers, we have too much at risk." He hissed urgently.
Katara rolled her eyes, "Just because you trust no one, Zuko, doesn't mean I need to get all paranoid as well. Now, I'm going to sleep in a real bed for the first time in weeks and you can join if you like." Pulling her arm from his grasp, she disappeared after the mysterious woman.
Groaning, Zuko chased after them.
…
Tucked into the wood carved table in the inn's kitchen, Zuko glared down at a piping cup of spiced tea listening to Katara make conversation with the old woman, mostly, about the island's flower species and the weather. He tapped his fingers impatiently on the table and nearly buried his forehead in his hand when Hama told Katara about the number of suitors who attempted to woe her during the summertime with bouquets of fire lilies in bloom. Giggling, the woman refilled their tea cups.
When he could stand it no longer, Zuko interrupted. "So what's that you were saying about people disappearing?" He shot Hama a withering stare.
Hama eyed him seriously, relaxing into her straight backed wooden chair, "When the moon turns full, people walk in the woods and they don't come out." She took a slow sip of her tea, still peering at him from over the rim of the cup.
Zuko felt a chill run down his spine with her words. He glanced with concern across the table towards Katara who eyed Hama with kindliness.
"That must be terrible," Katara murmured, sympathetically.
Hama bowed her head in acknowledgement of Katara's words then stood from the table. "Well, the hour is later than I realized, I must be getting to sleep. I'm sure the two of you must be exhausted from your travels."
Katara yawned in response and nodded, smiling at the woman.
Zuko narrowed his eyes, switching his gaze between them wondering why Katara took such a rapid liking to Hama. Certainly, the waterbender was kindhearted and she believed the best in people, but she wasn't a fool and Hama was still a stranger, a Fire Nation stranger. Feeling thoroughly perplexed, Zuko followed Hama's directions to his room in the inn and prepared for sleep. As usual, his thoughts circled endlessly around one woman with large blue eyes.
…
The next morning, Hama invited them to spend the day in the village with her. She inclined her head towards Katara and said softly, "In fact, spend the day with this old woman and I'll share a secret with you I think you'll enjoy." To Zuko's every growing surprise, Katara agreed. And, so, he spent the better part of the day trailing behind the two woman while they collected supplies for dinner and Hama shared the village gossip.
Their last merchant, a kindly older man with a goatee bid farewell to their group, "Stay safe, friends, the full moon is only a few days away now, we don't need any more lost souls around these parts." Hama hummed in agreement, "I'll make sure no ill will befalls our visitors," she promised.
Turning to Zuko and Katara she sighed apologetically, "I'm afraid I need to run a few more errands, how about you guys take these things back to the inn? I'll be back in a little while."
"Of course," Katara nodded her head.
Zuko waited until they reached the inn before, carefully, voicing his thoughts. "Hama seems a little…strange. Like she's up to something."
Katara rolled her eyes, "Again with the paranoia, Zuko! She's a nice woman who took us in and gave us a place to stay."
"And we're supposed to be on our way towards the Fire Nation capital," Zuko persisted. Internally, he sighed in exasperation at Katara's willingness to trust Hama. Based on his experience, people didn't just do nice things of their own good hearts. People always always had something to gain, something they wanted in return…He just needed to figure out what Hama wanted.
"Honestly, Hama reminds me of my Gran Gran," Katara spoke softly. "And the invasion is still a couple weeks away."
Zuko pressed his lips together in frustration while his own heart clenched with sympathy at Katara's mention of her grandmother. "You want to stay here another night?" He guessed.
Katara nodded, turning to face him with pleading blue eyes. Like he could refuse her when she looked at him like that. "Ok." He agreed, defeated.
Katara's face broke into a genuine smile and she began unpacking their supplies from the market.
"But I'm taking a look around," He insisted, glaring around the room.
"You can't just snoop around someone's house!" Katara protested immediately. But Zuko opened the door to the second floor staircase and began climbing up. One by one, he opened doors to the guest rooms finding matching sets of beds with green sheets and dark oak wood dressers.
"You're acting like my brother! Ughh, why do you have to be like this?" Katara demanded following him down the hallway with her hands on her hips. "Not everyone in the world has some awful, heinous secret!"
Ignoring her words, Zuko stopped in the hallway in front of a long, slim closet door. He tried the handle and found it jammed closed. "Step back," He commanded Katara who hovered over his shoulders with a disapproving expression. Squaring his shoulders, he gave a strong, short tug and the doors burst open. A few dozen human faces stared back at him and he nearly jumped in place.
"What the hell!" The dozens of face were skillfully sewn miniature puppets, each dressed in a unique set of Fire Nation style clothing with strings hanging from their arms and legs.
Although she looked a bit frightened, Katara replied hotly, "So what, she has a hobby."
Zuko thought the puppets looked uncannily realistic, but agreed they weren't evidence of foul play. He moved on to the next set of doors, assuming he would find another guest room. He tried the door, but this one was more than just jammed, it was locked.
"Why would a sweet, innocent old lady need a locked door?" Zuko challenged, raising his eyebrows at the waterbender who still lingered close behind him.
"To keep terrible people like you out of her stuff!" Katara snapped, but her eyes betrayed her own curiosity. Zuko's own face scrunched into its customary frown. "Earlier, didn't she tell you she had a secret?"
Katara responded hesitantly, "Well, yes."
Zuko moved his hand to hover over the keyhole and focused heat through his palm. When the lock successfully melted away, he threw a shoulder against the door and it easily swung open for him. Inside the room, lay a single, chest painted delicately with sparkling shades of green and gold.
"We should not open that," Katara insisted while her eyes roved over the chest hungrily.
"Probably not," Zuko agreed with a smirk and he knelt beside it, placing a hand over the top, ready to burn through the wooden exterior if necessary. His heart beat with anticipation, he knew the old lady had a secret.
"I'll tell you what's in the box." Hama's voice stretched the length of the room and Zuko spun around on his knees to see the woman silhouetted in the doorway.
Katara sputtered at the sight of her, "I'm sorry, we didn't mean to offend!"
"It was my idea, Katara had nothing to do with it," Zuko interjected immediately, standing to hand the chest over to its rightful owner.
Hama rolled her eyes, "I have no doubt about that." Then, she turned to Katara, "This is part of the secret I wished to share over dinner, but since your companion seems so eager, we will talk now." Taking a key from her kimono sleeve, Hama unlocked the green chest. Zuko held his breath as she reached inside and withdrew, inch by inch, a simple blue comb. He released his breath and a small trail of smoke blew from his nostrils.
"A comb?" He asked, exasperated. But Katara made a sound of excitement and her blue eyes widened, seemingly, with recognition.
"It's my greatest treasure," Hama explained, "It's the last thing I own from growing up in the Southern Water Tribe."
"You grew up in the Southern Water Tribe?" Katara's face broke into a ridiculously large grin.
"Just like you," Hama winked towards the younger woman.
Katara looked awestruck, "How did you know?" She asked.
Hama chuckled, "Your name, for one, and they don't make eyes like yours in the Fire Nation, that's for sure."
Zuko had to silently agree with her.
"I picked up all that food at the market today so I could fix you a big, Water Tribe dinner. Of course, couldn't get all the ingredients here, but ocean kumquats taste a lot like sea prunes if you stew them long enough!"
The look of joy in Katara's eyes convinced Zuko to bury his continued nagging feelings of suspicion. "I knew I felt a bond with you right away," Katara bowed her head towards the woman.
"Let's get cooking!" Hama smiled and took Katara by the arm to lead her back downstairs, leaving Zuko alone in the empty room feeling confused with his skin crawling uneasily. Why would a Southern Water Tribe old lady choose to live in the Fire Nation? Something about Hama still didn't add up. He hurried downstairs after Katara, determined to keep an eye on her lest she ultimately need protection from the old woman.
…
After a couple hours of cooking, Hama served them both heaping plates of ocean kumquats stewed in, what looked to Zuko, beds of seaweed. He attempted to keep his nose from wrinkling in distaste and his stomach turned over, begging him to stay clear.
"Try some!" Katara encouraged him, an easy smile across her face. That smile melted any of Zuko's resolve and he believed, if she told him to jump in a pot of boiling water while smiling at him like that, he would do it. Nibbling carefully on the edge of a ocean kumquat, he gave her a thumbs up from across the table. She beamed and dug into her own plate with gusto.
"Five flavor soup?" Hama offered. Katara nodded eagerly so Zuko also put his hand in the air.
Nothing could have prepared him for the shock he experienced when Hama waved a hand over the soup bowl and two perfectly round, steaming balls of liquid flew to each he and Katara's bowls. Dropping his spoon, Zuko gaped at the old woman.
Across from him, Katara rose to her feet, her eyes round and the size of watermelons. "You're not just from the Southern Water Tribe, you're a waterbender!" She exclaimed, her voice shaking with emotion.
Hama nodded with confirmation and locked eyes, intensely, with Katara. "And it's time you learn the skills of a Southern water bender, your legacy. Allow me to pass along the little inheritance I possess in the form of lessons to share with the last of our bloodline." Her voice reverberated with new authority and her eyes burned with emotional intensity.
"It's…my honor," Katara responded, and Zuko noticed the tears gathering behind blue eyes.
…
Sokka
He sat, laying back with ankles folded and an arm tucked under the back of his head. In one hand, he twirled the white lotus Pai Sho tile between his fingers.
The master wanted you to have this, as something to remember him by.
Why in the name of the spirits Master Piandao wished for him to keep an old Pai Sho tile escaped Sokka, but, if it was important to Master Piandao, Sokka would guard it as an important personal token. Tucking the white lotus back into his pocket, he patted the sword attached to his hip. Each day since leaving the Master's castle, he practiced with his unique, meteorite sword. Turned out, the forest fire which inspired him to master swordsmanship had been caused by an asteroid hitting the earth. Gratefully, he eyed his companion from across the clearing. Without Toph's earth bending he wouldn't have been able to move enough of the meteor to extract its metals and create his own sword.
"Wanna spar?" Asked Toph, lazily aware Sokka was looking her way.
Sokka shrugged, "We must have sparred twelve times today, I'm beat."
"Anything from Twinkletoes, yet?" Toph continued, indicating to the spot where Aang crouched in a meditative position, blue arrows and eyes aglow. Seeing Aang in the Avatar state sent a chill through Sokka's body. He didn't like all the spirit, soul searching, life after death stuff, but Aang had been summoned by Avatar Roku, an invitation Sokka knew he could never decline. And so, he and Toph spent the past few hours sparring and eating purple berries, waiting for Aang to return and share whatever new wisdom he picked up while in the Avatar state.
"Do you think she's ok, Toph?" He asked, his voice small.
"Of course," Toph reassured him, not bothering to ask the identity of "she". "She's a big bad waterbender, plus, she has angry jerk watching her back."
Sokka frowned, "That doesn't make me feel any better. I wouldn't trust Zuko to pet-sit Momo, never mind protect my sister." Just the thought of the firebender's scarred face sent a flare of rage and mistrust through Sokka.
Toph merely shrugged from across the campsite, "I just hope we find them before the invasion. Aang still knows zero firebending and Katara's a huge asset for our side."
"You want her back because she's an asset?" Sokka snapped, anger flaring in his chest.
Toph rolled her unseeing eyes, "Katara's one of my best friends, maybe even the sister I never had. I want Sugar Queen back because I care about her, but, yes, I am concerned about going into the invasion without her waterbending. I trust her to have my back that day and I don't trust many people with that job."
Sokka sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes, missing his sister more than ever. "Katara can be so bossy and involved and in your business." He sighed loudly, "But, in a way, I rely on it. When our mom died, that was the hardest time in my life, our family was a mess, but Katara had so much strength, she stepped up and took on so much responsibility. She helped fill the void that was left by our mom."
"I guess that makes sense, why she's always trying to take care of us," Toph responded, thoughtfully.
"I've never told anyone this before," Sokka continued, softly, "But I'm not sure I can remember what my mother was like, it really feels like my whole life Katara's been the one looking out for me."
Toph was quiet for a moment. "Maybe, we put too much pressure on her, you know, to take care of us all. We're all trying to save the world, but Katara also had to cook for us and clean up after us and keep Aang from taking an emotional head dive."
"Maybe we did," Sokka agreed slowly, then, he frowned, gripping his sword tightly. "If anything happened to her, if Zuko hurts her, I swear to the spirits I will kill him." The words out of his own mouth shocked him, mostly, because he meant them.
Personally, the Puppetmaster was one of my favorite episodes of all time very dark for ATLA which I loved. I hope I'm doing it justice so far! Thank you for all reviewers and readers, your support reminds me to keep going when I get a writers block :) Yes, Zuko and Katara will have a hard time accepting their feelings for each other I think opposite elements would have a difficult time entering into a romantic relationship