AN: Thank you for all your reviews! SPOILER: They're going to meet Onji (along with a few other surprises) so vote on my profile-would you rather have Aang paired up with Toph or Onji? Review!

DISCLAIMER:

Don't own "ATLA," never will.

CHAPTER 25: MISSION
ZUKO'S POV

Tonight was the night. The night I would start my treacherous mission. I felt guilt and shame as I donned my black scarf, tying it over my mouth. I was in the dark clothes I had worn for the ninja mission for the Southern Raiders. I considered bringing my Blue Spirit mask, but I immediately nixed the idea. I did not want Azula to find out my secret identity, the one part of myself she didn't know.

I snuck out of my room, tiptoeing across the floor. I started to make my way to the Hall of Statues; there was a statue I could climb on top of and jump to a cliff that had a trail to the woods. I picked up my pace.

"Zuko?" a voice called. Toph. I hadn't thought about this! I steadied my heartbeat, making it seem calm so she wouldn't get suspicious. Luckily she was blind, so she couldn't see my dark clothes. For all she knew, I could be in my underwear.

"Hey Toph." I called back so it would seem that I was taking a stroll.

Toph came around the corner. "I was sleeping and I felt your footsteps. It's like midnight!"

"Couldn't sleep." I answered. Which was partly the truth. I had always been a terrible liar, but if I could tell partial truths, Toph might be fooled...

"How come, Sparky?" Toph asked.

"Uh...nightmares." I lied. I saw Toph's eyebrows raise in suspicion. Damn!

"Really?" she said skeptically.

"Um, yeah." I answered, trying to control my stammer. My heart was pounding wildly in my chest; I was sure Toph could sense it. She was frowning.

"You're hiding something, Sparky." Then she shrugged, nonchalant, but I still could see suspicion in her milky eyes. "No use trying to make you tell you the truth about you not sleeping. You can lie all night and I'll never get the truth out of you. You're way too stubborn. Besides, it's not like you're going to assassinate us in our beds-I would have killed you by now. But you've changed." I tried not to sigh. Have I truly changed?

"Why don't you cuddle with Katara?" she teased. Despite the situation, I flushed dark red. Forbidden images of touching her sweet, soft skin danced in my head. She was moaning a little as I wrapped my arm around her bare waist, kissing her collarbone-I immediately shut that thought down.

"No, I couldn't do that; too tempting." I muttered. The images reminded me of who I was betraying the most. Will she welcome my attentions if she found out I betrayed her?

"Feh. I know you; you're not gonna do that. Besides, I'm going back to bed. It's a really unholy hour to be up!" she Earthbended herself into the ground and appeared back, I assumed, back into her room.

"Ah, you finally showed up. Thought you were going to be a coward." Azula sneered when I met her in the woods.

"Had to wait for everyone to go to sleep. Anyway, what's my mission?" I demanded. I wanted to get this over fast.

"There's a man in the town of Azulon. He is a spy. Has three children, a wife, and is a skilled Firebender. Cares for his family very much. Hs house has an ivy patch winding on the south fence." Azula checked her fingernails as I swallowed. "What, Zuzu, you're getting nervous? You know, the group of friends can be fried if-"

I cut her off. "I will do it."

Using the stolen war balloon, I checked the map for the town. I landed it at the edge of town, hidden by shrubs and trees. I breathed out as I saw the house Azula had described. I tried to let my mind go blank. I lit up my fists with flames.

I broke open the back door and I heard footsteps.

"Who is there?" a man's voice called. I didn't answer. "Who are you?"

The man rushed towards where I was standing and shot a fire blast at me. I dodged and kicked out a blaze of fire. He successfully blocked the blow, and took a defensive stance. "Why are you here? If you're trying to rob me-"

"You are a spy for the opposing side. Fire Lord Ozai is not pleased." I interrupted, with a low growl. I hated doing this, but I had no choice. Under different circumstances, I'd offer to help him, but I couldn't. I braced myself to kill, my muscles taut and ready.

"This war is wrong! It will come to nothing!" We immediately began to duel, fire flying out of our hands and feet, burning whatever it could touch.

Finally, I pinned him against the wall and drew back a flaming fist. "If you move, I'll burn down this house with your family in it." He closed his eyes, ready to die-

"No!" I heard a woman's voice scream. "No, please, not Chuan!" I turned to see a woman with dark hair holding a baby in her arms, with two children trailing after her. They had fear on their faces; the baby started to cry. The woman uneasily stepped towards me, tears wavering in her eyes. "Please, no."

I looked her directly in the eyes and gasped.

Blue eyes. Water Tribe eyes.

"You're Water Tribe." I stated, my voice betraying astonishment.

"Yes. I am." she said defiantly. "I traveled to the Earth Kingdom and met Chuan as a soldier. We married. And if you're going to say anything about my so-called half-breed children, don't say it."

"I won't." I released my grip on the man, who fell to the ground. I looked at the woman, with eyes so much like Katara's. Then I looked at Chuan, who embraced his wife. Will Katara and I ever be like this? Have a family, care desperately for each other for eternity? Have children with gold and blue eyes? "Get out of here. Go on the run. Fire Lord Ozai ordered me to kill you. You must go into hiding, pretend that you're dead."

"Why are you letting him live?" the woman asked, with shock showing on her face.

"I cannot kill him. And you remind me of someone I love." I closed my eyes. "Have your husband hide forever, until this war is over. This is for your family's safety, and mine."

When I got back, I prayed to Agni he'll be alright and hide, so Azula could never find him and destroy him, and my family.

AN: Next chapter-will the Gaang find out? How will Katara react to Zuko's strange behavior? Will Zuko get away with not killing? Find out, and review! Any suggestions, I'd like!