Happy summer everyone! Here, have some depressing Parlor Tricks!


CHAPTER 34

"Something on your mind, Aang?"

Aang jumped in surprise. Iroh was smiling at him from the other side of the truck bed, petting Appa.

"Oh, uh…" Aang stammered before letting out a nervous laugh. "It's just… the last time we were in the back of a truck together, your nephew had kidnapped me."

Iroh chuckled. "You are right, I had nearly forgotten."

The two of them fell silent, Aang frowning at his knees as Sokka's truck blew through the city. Iroh glanced down at Appa, who let out a low woof.

"But something else troubles you," Iroh said quietly. Aang looked up at him. "I have been told I am easy to talk to."

Aang sighed. "Do you uh… know much about the Spirit World?" he asked hesitantly.

"You are asking the right person," Iroh smiled. "There are legends among the Dragon Gang that I have been to the Spirit World."

Aang blinked in surprise. "Is it true?"

Iroh shrugged. "I don't know. Do you think it is?"

Aang stared. "I can see I'm not going to get a straight answer."

"You are wise for one so young. Now what is bothering you?"

"Well… suppose I, you know, being the Avatar, wanted to uh… free up my spirit," he said slowly, spinning his hat between his hands. "Get rid of um… worldly attachments, and stuff." He paused and glanced up. Iroh's face was impassive, so he continued. "How would I go about that?"

Iroh frowned. "Can I ask why you wish to free up your spirit?" he asked seriously.

"Oh, you know…" Aang sighed, attempting to sound casual. "To gain the unlimited power of the universe."

"Ah," was Iroh's only reply. Aang waited silently as Iroh thought, slowly scratching Appa's ears. "What do you mean by worldly attachments?"

"See… that's just it," Aang muttered. "I'm not sure."

"So this was instruction you received from someone else?"

Aang shrugged. "I don't know. Do you think it is?"

Iroh grinned. "You're a sharp one," he chuckled. "Well, in this context, I suppose worldly attachment would be someone you love."

Aang froze. "Someone… I love…" he repeated slowly.

Iroh nodded. "You as the Avatar have a spirit that can conduct the power of the universe, but is also attached to your earthly body," he continued. "It would seem that in order to allow the power in, you must give up what attaches you to this world."

"No way," Aang said instantly. "Why would I do that? I…" He looked down, sighing heavily. "I don't know what I should do."

"If you ask me," Iroh said quietly after a lengthy silence. "It is a wise man who would choose love over power."

Aang looked up at him, a miserable frown on his face. Appa whined sympathetically.

At that moment, the truck screeched to a halt.

"Okay, everybody out," Sokka called back. Aang and Iroh glanced around in surprise. They were at the curb in front of City Hall. The four of them jumped down to the sidewalk.

"Iroh and I are going for Katara and Zuko," Aang said firmly. "Sokka and Toph, go find the mayor."

"Roger that, Twinkle Toes," Toph said quickly, grabbing Sokka by the elbow and running up the stairs to City Hall. Iroh glanced at Aang.

"Do you have a plan?"

Aang nodded and crouched down, flattening both palms on the pavement and closing his eyes. He still had trouble with what Toph called "earth sight," using his earthbending to see where everything was, but he was getting better. Slowly.

"Come on…" he muttered to himself. "Come on Katara, tell me where you are…"

0000000

"Mister Mayor?" Sokka called as he and Toph ran into the building. The place was dark and deserted. "This is probably bad."

"Shut it, Snoozles, I'm trying to listen," Toph snapped. Sokka turned to find her crouched on the floor, both palms flat against the smooth stone. She frowned. "Nobody's around, everyone is way in the last few rooms. Wait… two people are coming this way."

She stood up quickly and pointed at one of the doors leading off the main hall. It creaked open moments later and two girls walked in. One was tall and thin, wearing a black suit. The other was shorter and dressed in shocking pink flapper attire. Sokka and Toph recognized them instantly, but something else was disturbing Sokka.

The flapper was wearing a green suit jacket open over her dress. There was a gold pin on the lapel in the shape of a sea serpent. He recognized that jacket.

"Hey," he shouted. "Where-"

But before he could say another word, the darker girl had leveled a pair of handguns at him and Toph had to grab him by his suspenders to get him out of the line of fire.

"Next time I'm not helping," she growled, turning and punching a fist to the ground that shot twin pillars of earth up through the floor, launching both girls. Sokka finally drew his gun and was more than ready to take out the flapper when the door at the back of the room slammed open. Everyone turned.

There stood Azula, two Prohibition Officers beside her towing a bound and struggling mayor. She pointed a finger at his temple and smirked, daring them to move.

"This fight is over," she said.

0000000

Katara frowned slightly as she pulled the stopper from the tiny glass vial. She glanced up at Zuko, who was watching curiously.

"You ready?" she asked, sounding rather grim.

Zuko shrugged. "Yeah I guess…"

"No," Katara said firmly. "You have to be ready. Completely. You have to be ready to change and follow through on your end of the deal."

"Right right, sorry," he replied hurriedly.

Katara cocked her head to the side a bit. "Wow. You're actually legitimately trying to change, aren't you?" she said quietly.

Zuko sighed. "Never thought I'd say this, but yeah. My uncle thinks there's a better life for me than what I have."

Katara smiled. "Well, your uncle is a wise man," she said quietly. "Come on then, let's-"

She was interrupted by the cellar doors banging open. Both she and Zuko whipped around in surprise.

"Katara?"

Katara nearly dropped the vial of water in relief when she recognized that voice. "Oh, Aang," she sighed, grinning as he leapt down into the cellar. "You found me. You came for me, I knew you would."

Aang didn't seem to hear her, as he was too busy placing himself firmly between Katara and Zuko. "Did he hurt you?" he asked her darkly, eyes never leaving Zuko.

"What?" Zuko asked, defensive. But then Iroh had him wrapped in a bone-crushing hug.

"Aang, no," Katara said firmly. Aang finally glanced back at her. "It's fine, we were both prisoners. We've just been talking."

Aang snorted angrily, shooting another glare back at Zuko. "Really. Locked up here together and you've just been talking," he said under his breath.

"Excuse me?" Katara hissed. "What exactly are you saying?"

Aang scowled. "Nothing, forget about it."

"No really, Avatar," Zuko shouted, disentangling himself from his uncle's embrace. "What were you going to say? You think your girlfriend isn't trustworthy?"

Aang snarled at him and the two of them looked about ready to tackle each other when Katara stepped between them, a firm hand on Aang's chest.

"You know what Zuko? I'm not his girlfriend," she said coolly. "I've never been his girlfriend. I'm not even sure we're friends anymore, the way he's been acting."

"Give me a break," Aang shouted, stepping away from her. "You know, next time, I think I'll just let you bust yourself out of the cellar." He then turned and, rather than going back up the stairs to the street, earthbended a tunnel into the nearest wall and stalked into the darkness. Katara rolled her eyes.

"Hold it, where the hell do you think you're going?" she snapped, stomping after him.

Iroh and Zuko stood quite still, blinking in the aftermath. Iroh cleared his throat.

"Well, I can't say I was expecting that," he admitted with a frown. "Ah, young love. They seem to have lost their way."

Zuko shrugged. "That's none of my concern," he muttered. Then he paused and glanced at his uncle. "Thanks for coming after me."

Iroh patted him on the shoulder. "That's what family does."

"Well, isn't that sweet."

Four pillars of earth suddenly jutted out of the ground, imprisoning Iroh where he stood. Walking slowly down the stairs was none other than Zuko's little sister, flanked by two silent Prohibition Officers.

"Why hello there Uncle," she said in a falsely sweet voice, smirking as she approached him. I was wondering when you'd show up." She glanced to her side, taking in the giant hole in the wall. "And you've even brought the Avatar. How charitable."

"Whatever you think you're doing, Azula, you might as well give up," Zuko snarled, stepping between her and their uncle.

Azula just rolled her eyes. "Zuko, please, do you ever just take a moment to listen to yourself?" she sighed. She gave him an earnest look. "Why do you think I bound him up and not you? I didn't throw you down here to keep you out of the way, I threw you down here because I need your help."

Zuko crossed his arms over his chest, frowning. "Interesting way to do it."

Azula sighed again. "Would you really have listened if I asked politely?" Zuko was silent. Azula smiled a bit. "I thought so. I understand why you don't trust me, big brother. Hell, I wouldn't either at this point. But that's really not up to me." She finally looked at him dead on, offering him a smile. "This is your chance, Zuko. This is your chance to redeem yourself."

"The kind of redemption she offers is not for you," Iroh shouted. Zuko jumped, startled. He'd nearly forgotten his uncle was there. Azula glared at him.

"Why don't you let him decide for himself, Uncle?" she drawled before looking back at Zuko. "I've planned this to a T, Zuko, all of it. Today, the Dragon Gang expands, reaches up to Ba Sing Se and takes it by surprise. All in the name of our father." Zuko swallowed hard. "But I can't do this last part alone. Every moment the Avatar gets further away, and I need you to help me stop him. You do this, and you'll have it all back. Your place in the gang, Dad's respect and love, all of it."

"Zuko," Iroh said urgently. "You've changed. You're a better man now. Look inside yourself and see if this is what you truly want!"

Zuko stood frozen in place between his uncle and his sister. He glanced between the two of them. Azula shrugged.

"You're free to choose."

0000000

"Great, where the hell have you taken us?"

Aang scowled, looking around with his arms crossed over his chest. The tunnel he had rather absent-mindedly made had taken them, apparently, into the city's waterlines. The technical word, he supposed, would be sewers, but the water moving slowly through the deep trench within the wide, arched tunnel they were now in did not look like sewage. At least as far as he could tell in the dim light from the manhole covers above. It looked like cold, dull river water. To that effect, it didn't smell like sewage either. Small favors.

"I have taken us nowhere," Aang replied dully as Katara stood somewhat behind him, looking around. "I have taken myself here. You followed me."

"Fine," Katara burst out. "Well then you can just take yourself right out of my life."

Aang, barely listening though he was, heard that one loud and clear. A look of complete panic crossed his face, but luckily he was facing away from Katara so she didn't see. Out of her life?

Further musing was interrupted, however, by the massive blue fireball that sizzled past him and exploded into the water below. Aang and Katara both whipped around. Azula had caught up to them.

"Oh dear, are we having a spat?" she mocked, eyebrows rising in amusement. "I do hope it's not on my account."

"Don't worry, it isn't," Aang ground out. He and Azula both fell into fighting stances, but the tension was interrupted once again by the appearance of someone else.

Zuko came running into sight, stopping midway between Aang and Azula. All eyes were on him, but the look that caught his attention was Katara's. She was staring straight at him, her eyes boring into his like ice. He could see in that look that they weren't finished. She was still willing to follow through on her end of the deal.

The question now was whether he would follow through on his.

The sewer was still and silent for a few of the longest moments of Zuko's life. Aang was tense, riled, so he was ready to dodge out of the way when Zuko finally moved and shot a tongue of flame straight at him. Zuko didn't know what possessed him to glance back at Katara, but when he did, he saw in the murderous look in her eyes that his fate was sealed.

And he knew, boyfriend or not, that she would stop at nothing to protect Aang from him.

0000000

Sokka sighed heavily, thumping his head against the wall he was sitting against. "Well Mister Mayor, I'd say it's good to see you again, but under the circumstances I'm sure you'll understand that it's really not."

The mayor, sitting next to Sokka on the floor of the records room, just shrugged. "Don't worry about it."

"Toph would you sit down already?" Sokka burst out. Toph just glared at him from the door, which she had both hands flat against. "Everyone else in the building is locked up, we're not getting out of here short of some kind of miracle."

At that moment, Toph delivered a few swift, solid punches to the metal door in front of her and sent it ricocheting down the hall. Toph grinned.

"Sokka, some kinds of miracles happen," she said as she brushed herself off and marched out the open doorway. Sokka and the mayor exchanged a look of disbelief before scrambling to their feet and running after her.

0000000

Aang had never really fought Azula one on one like this before, and it became immediately apparent that she was as strong and fast as she was insane and conniving. It didn't help that half his mind was on Katara, wondering how she was faring against Zuko and hoping desperately that she didn't get hurt.

Katara, on the other hand, was focused. She, as had been proven many times over, was a professional fighter. Her one aim was to make Zuko go down and stay down. Her personal vendetta against him was merely fuel, not sole motivation. At least, it wasn't for the first several minutes.

But, as was the way with Katara's anger, it got the best of her.

"You miserable excuse for a human being," she shouted, lashing out with the dual water whips she had whirling around her. He returned with his own crackling vines of flame. "You said you'd changed!"

"I have changed," he roared back.

"Yeah, you've become even more of a waste of space, you son of a-"

Zuko interrupted her, the flames growing around him. "Don't you dare talk about my mother!" he roared. She countered him effortlessly, a dangerous coldness in her eyes.

"I was talking about your father," she snarled. She struck without mercy, and Zuko was thrown into the water. It would be hard for him to climb out of there, and Azula saw her disadvantage instantly.

Seconds later, Aang and Katara were practically surrounded by Prohibition Officers. Azula smirked at Aang.

"Playtime's over," she said quietly.

Aang looked wildly around, searching for a way out. Katara was in her octopus stance, fending off wave after wave of Prohibition Officers on sheer force of will. He shook his head, dazed.

"There are too many," he muttered to himself. He closed his eyes and exhaled through gritted teeth, dropping to the ground and earthbending a stone pyramid around himself. He settled into a meditative stance and closed his eyes tighter.

"I'm sorry, Katara…"

White light erupted from one side of the sewer. Katara looked over, startled, and had to shield her eyes with a hand. There, slowly rising into the air, was Aang. She was floored. He'd gone into the Avatar State on his own. He was controlling it, not the other way around. She felt a smile on her face, she was so awed and proud-

The sound of the lightning passing through him echoed in the sewer, louder than any sound Katara had ever heard.

No. No. Spirits, please, no.

Katara was aware of nothing else in the world but Aang falling, motionless, toward the ground. She didn't know how she got there, but all of a sudden she was under him, catching him in her arms. She fell to her knees and looked up, eyes wide in horror. The entire sewer was dripping with water, Prohibition Officers were strewn left and right. She must have done that. But it didn't matter now. Azula and Zuko were getting up, and Aang…

No. Can't be dead. Can't be dead. Not him, please…

"You've got to get out of here!"

Katara looked up in surprise. Iroh was standing in front of her. She stared at him, barely registering what he wanted her to do. Then it struck her. He was protecting her. He was standing between her and his own niece and nephew. She nodded and looked up. A manhole cover was directly above. With one hand she blasted it out of the way and rushed herself and the boy in her arms up to the street where they landed, soaking wet. She looked around, disoriented, and saw Sokka's truck at the end of the street.

"Sokka," she cried. His head poked out the window. He and Toph were waiting for them. "Sokka, help…"

He came running, as did Toph. The rest was a blur. She didn't know how she got into the back of the truck with Aang and Toph, but the next thing she knew she was there, Aang's pale figure beside her as she fumbled for the crystal vial around her neck. She lifted his torso with some difficulty, pressing the healing water to the scar in his back. The place where Azula meant to end his life. The water faded. Aang was silent.

Katara, exhausted and in love with a dead man, let out a sob that brought tears to the eyes of Toph, Sokka, even the mayor. She collapsed upon herself, pulling him close and crying into his already damp shoulder.

No. No. No.

At that moment, Katara heard him exhale in her ear.

She froze, hardly daring to believe… but when she pulled back, his eyes were open, just barely. He focused on her for a second, just one moment, and he smiled. Her breath left her. She felt faint. His eyes closed again. He took in a breath. Peaceful sleep. He was alive. Aang was alive.

Katara took him into her arms again and held him all the way back to the boarding house.