Avatar (C) Nickelodian. worship them.

Chapter 24: Puzzle pieces

Sokka would be the first to admit he'd seen some pretty disconcerting things. His dead mother in the Fire Nation raid all those years ago, Yue disappearing from his arms during the Fire Nation's siege on the North Pole, Aang lying still in Katara's arms after the fall of Ba Sing Se, and while what he saw from Appa's neck was not as horrific as these events, it was certainly one of the most horrible moments of his life.

Descending upon Chameleon Bay, he could see Katara and Zuko cut off from the camp by a barrier of ice. Zuko had a hand on Katara's shoulder. She was smiling at him! Sokka's eyes narrowed. No one seduced his sister, especially not a Fire Nation brat.

"I'll kill him."

Grabbing his club, Sokka leapt from Appa's neck while the mighty beast was still airborne, and broke into a run as soon as he landed, screaming towards the firebender's back.

Katara, noticing the enormous form of Appa and her flying brother (it was quite hard to miss), moved away from Zuko, frowning in confusion.

"Sokka? What are you doing?" She called as he swung his club at Zuko.

Zuko sighed heavily, then spun quickly on his heel. With one hand, he grabbed the club, and with the other Sokka's forearm. He buried his right shoulder into the younger boy's chest and lifted him bodily, swinging him over and down to the ground. Sokka landed on his back, completely winded and losing his grip of the club. Zuko inspected the club while Katara moved into his line of vision, giggling.

"Who's side...are you on?" Sokka wheezed.

"Sorry Sokka, but you have to admit, that was pretty cool."

Zuko smirked at Katara's compliment, then held Sokka's club out to him. The Water Tribe warrior grabbed it possessively and cradled it in his arms, glaring as he tried to regain his breath. Katara descended to her knees and helped her brother sit up, then hugged him tightly. Sokka wasted no time in returning her embrace.

"I was so worried about you." He said quietly as she pulled away.

"I was fine. Zuko took good care of me." She replied, smiling up at the firebender.

"She didn't give me much of a choice." Zuko grumbled.

"She talked to strangers again, didn't she?" Sokka commented dryly.

When Zuko nodded, Katara scowled. She wasn't that predictable, was she? Her frown died as Sokka rose to his feet, looking the firebender up and down. Zuko returned the gesture. The imposing air was broken as Zuko was slimed by an enormous tongue.

"Ugh!" He yelled, once again finding himself dripping with bison saliva.

Both Katara and Sokka cracked up laughing, holding onto each other for support while Zuko glared at them indignantly.

"I missed you too, Appa." Katara said as she pulled away to pet Appa's nose lovingly.

The mighty bison growled in response, nuzzling her gently.

Zuko flicked his limbs, removing the worst of the mess, and found Sokka staring at him again.

"What?"

"Why did you protect my sister?" Sokka demanded.

"Why wouldn't I?" Zuko snapped.

Before Sokka could bite back, Katara interrupted.

"Are the others alright?" She asked, stroking Appa's belly.

"Yeah. Azula nearly got Toph, but she's fine now. They're all hiding out at the Eastern Air Temple."

"Good." Katara sighed. She glanced over at the icy barrier she'd created, wincing at her father's furious face. "Dad's going to kill me."

"Or me." Zuko commented.

Katara shot the firebender a knowing smirk.

Annoyed at this display of comradery, Sokka stepped between the two and looked from one to the other suspiciously.

"Alright, I want some answers out of both of you. Why are you suddenly all smiles and sunshine?"

Katara rolled her eyes at her brother's paranoia.

"Look, being trapped in a Fire Nation brig taught us to work together. I guess we're sort of friends now."

Both siblings missed Zuko's eyes widening in surprise.

"I don't like this." Sokka grumbled, turning to glare at the banished prince. "But...you looked out for my sister...so I guess I'm grateful."

Zuko nodded, acknowledging the warrior's subtle thanks.

"But if I ever see you touch her again, I'll cut your hands off."

"Sokka!"

Zuko scoffed at the warrior's threat.

"I'm not afraid of you. It was only a moment ago that I disarmed you with getting a single scratch. I'd take a threat from Katara more seriously." he said, smirking in a way he hoped would irritate the other boy.

"Honestly, why are all men such idiots!" Katara yelled. "We're trying to end the war is so no one has to fight anymore! Would it kill you two to make a bit of an effort?" The boys looked at the furious Katara, stunned at her sudden outburst."I mean, come on! Sure, my brother can be a sexist idiot-"

"Hey!"

"-and Zuko can be a stuck-up angry jerk-"

"What?"

"-but please, try to get along! Zuko, I know you want to leave for your own reasons, but I want you to realise that you have a place with us. You're welcome to join us. Even if Sokka doesn't get over his misguided judgments."

"My judgments are not misguided," Sokka growled, "The Fire Nation killed my mother, our mother!"

"I know that Sokka, of course I know that!" Katara shouted, emotions piling up within her. "But Zuko can't be blamed for something he didn't do."

"I could always blame him for the things he did do."

Katara closed her eyes and let out a long sigh, looking completely frustrated. "You know what? Fine, be jerks! None of you ever listen to me, so I give up! Just kill each other, I don't care anymore!"

She turned and stalked away, melting the icy barrier so she could storm past her angry father, who wisely decided not to pursue her yet.

Sokka and Zuko watched her leave, then glanced at each other, completely perplexed.

"Is she always like that?" Zuko asked.

"You have no idea."

Azula stared over the massive expanse of Ba Sing Se, thoughts racing.

"Ladies, a thought occurred to me."

"What is it Azula?" Ty Lee asked, sitting against a nearby pillar.

"The Avatar is alive. He and his group know about the eclipse. They also know they can't win back the Earth Kingdom. I don't think they'll try to win back Ba Sing Se."

"They'll go straight for the Fire Nation capitol." Mai finished, sighing heavily.

"Yes. I think we should go home. But first, we're going to visit New Ozai."

Mai's eyes widened in surprise.

"Why?"

"Just to make sure everything it still running smoothly." Azula said lightly, turning and walking back towards the palace. "We leave tomorrow."

"I've made a decision."

The group at the Air Temple turned to look at the former Earth King, who raised his chin proudly.

"I am going to travel the Earth Kingdom, and learn more about my people, so that I may serve them better when the war is over."

"Kuei, are you crazy!" Aang cried confusedly. "You can't just go off on your own!"

"Oh, I won't be. Bosco is coming with me."

"Well, I guess you'll be perfectly safe then." Toph replied sarcastically.

Completely oblivious to the blind girl's sarcasm, Kuei grinned.

"I shall disguise myself as a Fire Nation wanderer. No one knows what I look like, so I'll be perfectly safe."

"I think that is a wonderful idea." Iroh said, smiling at the younger man. "I made a similar journey through the Earth Kingdom...many years ago, after leaving the siege of Ba Sing Se. I wish you luck in your travels."

"Thank you. I won't leave until the other return however. I want to thank them properly.

Azula was surprised when a Dai Li agent requested entry to her room. "There is a man in the throne room with information about your brother, Princess." The agent said respectfully.

Without answering the agent, she strode swiftly through the palace and into the throne room. A heavy set man looked at her in surprise, but bowed respectfully.

"I understand you have some information about my brother?" Azula said impatiently.

Ru looked up and smiled nastily.

"I know where he and the waterbender are, Princess Azula."

Katara sulked in her fathers tent, unable to believe the pig-headedness of men. Why did they all have to be so difficult? Her father's over protectiveness, her brothers determined hate towards Zuko, and Zuko's stubborn attitude. Everything would work out if they'd just get along.

"Katara?"

"Dad." She turned to see her father enter the tent, frowning slightly.

"Katara, what you did just now was extremely dangerous. You could've been seriously hurt."

"But I wasn't. Zuko won't hurt me. I promise you."

Hakoda sighed heavily and sat beside her, stroking her hair gently.

"He's Fire Nation, Katara." Hakoda said, raising a hand to stop his daughter's immediate protest. "But you're right, I know that now. We've been fighting them so long, it's hard to accept that one of them is trustworthy."

"I just wish I could make Sokka understand." Katara said sadly.

"He'll come around, just give him time."

Sokka and Zuko stood on the beach, awkwardly avoiding each other's gazes.

"So..." Sokka began slowly.

"What?" Zuko asked stiffly.

"Where did you learn that move?" Sokka asked, feeling his pride crying with horror.

Was he actually asking a firebender, the banished prince himself, about his fighting skills?

"In the Fire Nation soldiers are taught not to depend on bending." Zuko replied sharply.

"How superior of you." Sokka growled.

Sighing, Zuko decided to take Katara's words to heart.

"I found hand-to-hand combat easier to pick up than bending." He said quietly, disarmingly.

Sokka was surprised to hear Zuko admitting a fault to him, and decided not to bring him up on it.

"So, what gave away my attack?" The Water Tribe warrior asked casually.

"The fact that you were screaming like a maniac didn't help." Zuko replied, trying not too sound too condescending.

Sokka scowled, but rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Maybe Katara isn't completely off the wall about you." He said slowly.

"You two are definitely siblings. You have an interesting way of insulting and complimenting people at the same time." Zuko snapped, seeing his efforts going nowhere. "I'm going back to my tent now."

"Whatever." Sokka said lightly, shrugging. "I'll just have to go tell Katara that I was attempting to be civil and you weren't."

Zuko, who had started off towards the camp, stopped dead and turned, a
disbelieving look on his face.

"What are you talking about? I'm the one who answered your questions politely. I could've ignored you. Besides, do you really think I care what she thinks of me?" The firebender snarled.

"Yes. Katara does that to people."

"Tell her what you want." Zuko said, turning his back and continuing on.

Sokka smirked. Maybe having an easily baited firebender around wouldn't be all bad.

Author's note: had a major blockage with this one. i knew what i wanted, just couldnt think how to write it. and i have a head cold at the moment, which has become strangely conductive to my writing skills in everything BUT fanfiction /shakes fist at world/ am i the only person who gets colds in late spring? anyways, not such a long wait for this one, lets see how the next bit goes :D thank you all so much for teh R&R's.