Let's see how the whole Zuko thing works out!
P.S. I'm kinda in a bad mood, so you could really cheer me up by reviewing...
Yes, I'm using your pity to get reviews and made me smile... Is that really so bad? Lol.
Chapter 36
Once he is gone Katara stalks right by me, not offering to heal the wound she gave me. That's how I know I am on her bad side. Sokka sits me down on the fountain, keeping a close eye on me. I notice that Toph and Aang are being suspiciously and uncharacteristically quiet.
"Why would he try to fool us like that?" Katara asks, sounding tired.
"Obviously he wants to lead us into some kind of trap," Sokka says, sheathing his boomerang.
"Or maybe he actually wants to help us," I snap. But no one listens to me.
"This is just like when we were in prison together in Ba Sing Se. He starts talking about his mother and making it seem like he's an actual human being with feelings," Katara says, sounding disgusted. This is too much for me. I jump up.
"That's because he is, you heartless witch!" I hiss. Sokka steps between me and his sister and sits me back down again with a stern warning to 'keep quiet.' "I'm not a child, Sokka! I'm not going to sit here and let her attack him like that!"
Sokka ignores me. "He wants you to trust him and feel sorry for him so you let your guard down. Then he strikes." I flinch, because, in a way, this is what he did to me. I met him, learned who he truly was, and, just as Sokka said, let my guard down. Then he wormed his way inside of me, and made me fall in love with him.
"The thing is," Katara says, sounding sad, "it worked. I did feel sorry for him. I felt like he was really confused and hurt." She meets my gaze now. For a moment, we are the same. We do not know what to make of this perplexing, handsome firebender. But then her eyes and voice harden, and she stares me right in the eye when she says, "But, obviously when the time came he made his choice, and we paid the price. We can't trust him."
There is a moment of silence, because I cannot argue this point. No, I cannot trust Zuko. Not anymore. Because he has what's left of my heart, and it's fragile and precious, but he does not seem to realize this. Because I am nothing to him. Because he is with Mai.
"I kind of have a confession to make," Aang says softly. "Remember when you two were sick and I got captured by Zhao?" By the look on Toph's face, she is as confused as I am.
"And you made us suck on frozen frogs? How could I forget? I had a wart on the flap that hangs down from the back of my throat for a month." For a minute, he is back. The goofy Sokka who is my friend. Who calms me down since Zuko is no longer there. Who protects his sister, and leads Toph, and plays with Aang.
"Sokka," Katara says impatiently, "I looked at it and told you there was nothing there!"
"I could feel it. It's my throat-hole flap!" Sokka protests. There's a pause, then Aang clears his throat.
"Anyway, when Zhao had me chained up it was Zuko who came in and got me out. He risked his life to save me." Yes! Go Avatar! I look over at Katara smugly.
"No way," Katara says, waving her hand. "I'm sure he only did it so he could capture you himself."
"Yeah, face it, Aang. You're nothing but a big prize to him."
"You're probably right," Aang says sadly. This is something I cannot argue against, because Aang was the prize to Zuko, and the reward was his honor, and his father's love, and the respect of his nation. And can we really blame him for wanting that?
It appears we can.
Appa groans loudly, and Katara points at him, "And what was all that crazy stuff about setting Appa free? What a liar." I'm about to open my mouth, to point out that I actually know that he was telling the truth, but someone beats me to it.
"Actually, he wasn't lying," Toph says matter-of-factly.
"Oh, hurray. In a lifetime of evil, at least he didn't add animal cruelty to the list," Sokka says sarcastically. I wrap my arms around myself. The pain stirring inside my chest is threatening to explode out of me. Honestly, any minute now I may spontaneously combust, just like Combustion Man, except my actual body may be the bomb. I can't take much more.
"I'm just saying... that considering his messed up family and how he was raised, he could have turned out a lot worse." I'm confused. Defending Zuko is my role… what is Toph doing?
"You're right Toph. Let's go find him and give him a medal. The not-as-much-of-a-jerk-as-you-could-have-been award," Katara snaps.
"All I know is that while he was talking to us he was sincere. Maybe you're all just letting your hurt feelings keep you from thinking clearly," Toph says logically, and I could kiss her. She's on my side! She's defending Zuko!
"Easy for you to say!" Katara laughs angrily. "You weren't there when he had us attacked by pirates."
"Or when he burned down Kyoshi Island," Sokka remembers.
"Or when he tried to capture me at the fire temple," Aang adds. Hearing Zuko's crimes like this, one after another… It's a little overwhelming.
"Why would you even try to defend him?" Katara voices the question bouncing around my skull. I stare at Toph intently while she explains angrily.
"Because, Katara, you're all ignoring one crucial fact!" She jabs her finger at the Avatar, who shrinks away. "Aang needs a firebending teacher. We can't think of a single person in the world to do the job, now one shows up on a silver platter and you won't even think about it?" It seems that Toph's thoughts have been mirroring my own.
I lean down and scoop up my bow, slinging it onto my shoulder, keeping silent for the time being. The Avatar steps forward, his gray eyes cold. "I'm not having Zuko as my teacher."
"You're darn right, you're not buddy." Sokka slaps Aang on the back.
"Well, I guess that's settled," Katara says, shooting me a look. I give her a glare that clearly says this is not over. She flinches. Toph stares at us all for a moment with her sightless eyes, then stomps off furiously.
"Urgh! I'm beginning to wonder who's really the blind one around here," she says.