Blood Benders
Chapter 49,
This Distance
It took a few minutes for either of them to pull away. It had been a life time and a half since they had seen one another. And she had been on his mind every second since their separation.
"You're... here." He said, for lack of anything else.
"We don't have time to catch up." Her voice was gentle but urgent, "There's something I need you to do for me."
"Anything." He agreed too quickly. But they both knew he really would do anything for her. Hadn't they already proved that?
"Don't say yes until you hear this. It's going to be awful."
He laughed a dry laugh, "That's all it's been for a while."
She stared at him for a moment, her face ranging from a repentant look to one of anger. Eventually her face settled on neutral, and he knew he had said the wrong thing. She was hiding behind her mask and, for now, there was no getting her out of it.
"I need you to go home." He almost laughed. She had to be joking. That was as an impossible task as taming the Sun.
"You're joking."
Her face remained blank, "No."
"There's no way- it's impossi-"
"Just trust me. I wish we had more time. But we don't." She embraced him once more, shared one last kiss then pulled back, "And it's almost time to part ways again."
"What am I supposed to do...?" He despaired.
"Follow my lead. And go home. Think of me no longer as an ally. And prepare yourself. We're going.. just give it everything you've got. Don't listen to anything I say after this. But keep fighting. And I'll contact you."
His mind swirled, as it often did when she spoke for a long while. There was a lot of instruction, but he was ready to help her. As always, he was her willing slave. And he felt he was about to do the worst thing he'd ever done.
…
Zuko shook himself awake. He had dozed off on the beach. He could see Ty Lee walking in the sand, on her hands, and Mai and his sister trailing behind her. They were supposed to be enjoying a vacation. And, he supposed, he was. At least here he wouldn't have to worry about going through scrolls and tapestries and old books. He could enjoy fresh air and sunlight here. And sea water. Though it wasn't entirely the right smell, he still felt close.
The ocean, she had once told him, always made her feel that way about her family.
So he sat and let the sun warm him.
…
Katara put her head against Momo's and rubbed the lemur. She knew he must be tired from his constant journeying, but she also knew he enjoyed helping. She wished she could just use a messenger hawk- they were much faster and she felt less guilty about using them- but those tended to be intercepted. And that just wouldn't do.
"Where do you keep sending him?" Aang asked. He was still bedridden, but he was looking more and more like himself.
"There's sensitive information I need to gather, from a very peculiar source." Katara couldn't look him in the eyes as she said it. That word again- sensitive. How many walls must she build? It would take a lot of undoing to make those walls disappear.
"Sensitive, eh? Well, fine. As long as Momo isn't in danger." The lemur crawled to Aang.
Katara stood and made an exit. It was difficult to be around her family, especially when she was keeping things from them. It frustrated her, and some days she convinced herself there was no need for such secrecy. And, truly, there wasn't. But things were just too.. sensitive right now. The slightest slip could result in a large, world-wide fall.
Katara looked out at the surrounding ocean. Kyoshi was a nice place, but she missed her icecaps. And the Fire Nation. She had called that palace home for a little over a year. It truly was a beautiful place, and if she could live anywhere other than the South Pole, it would've been there.
Those thoughts brought forth an unbidden image of her and Zuko's life together. What it would have been like if she had really gotten hurt, if she hadn't been there to kill him. It would have been glorious. And she knew that, if it came down to it, she would stay with him rather than her family. Sokka would understand. And she would see Aang from time to time. He was the Avatar. He had to stop by once in a while, right?
But she threw the entire thought away. There was no life for her there, not now.
For now, she had to do with the letters of information. She had a world to change. Romance could wait.
"Hey, Katara?"
Katara turned to see Suki. Even with the makeup, Katara could tell. Some of the other girls, though, were hard to tell apart. She hadn't known them as long, or as intently, as she had known Suki.
"Need something?" Katara smiled and patted the ground next to her. Suki sat down quickly.
The warrior stared out, "I think something's wrong."
Katara tried not to think of her brothers. She knew they were safe. If anything so important were to have happened, Suki would not be so calm.
"I was wondering... if you would..."
"Suki, what's going on?" Katara turned her body to get a good look at her sort-of-sister.
The woman looked down to her shirt and pulled up. Katara could see a long, trailing gash. Suki and Katara stared at one another, before Katara drew water from the ocean.
"What happened?" Katara examined the wound while she removed impurities from her water.
"This was a battle before you arrived," Her finger pointed to the scratch, "And I think it's infected."
Katara started healing, most of her mind going to that task, but continued to speak, "You didn't go to the healers?"
"No, I guess I didn't. But...there's something else."
Katara, who had gone deeper into the warrior's body to find any trace of infection, gasped. To an untrained doctor, this would have been missed. It was a small thrum and beat. The pulse was barely discernible from Suki's. Her hands flew to her mouth to hide her expression. She wasn't sure what to think of it.
"Suki..." Katara started, but the warrior hid her face.
"I knew it." The woman said.
Katara, being first and foremost a doctor, rubbed the girl's shoulder. She had dealt with things like this in the past, but never a case so personal. For a while, they just sat together.
"You'll have to sit out, for a while." Katara said.
Suki looked up, "But... you were planning on... before the comet." The comet was only four and a half months away. Aang was pressed to learn fire bending, but of course, he couldn't just yet. They did not have a teacher.
"Yes. But don't worry. Despite how important you are to us personally, you are just one warrior in the fight. We'll be just fine." Katara stroked the girl's hair. It was odd to see her so vunerable.
Suki was silent for a little bit longer, "Katara... I don't know what to do."
"First... I think you should tell my brother. And then, you two can figure it out from there."
Suki sighed.
"I can tell him for you, if you'd like."
With a pat, Suki stood, "Nope. Warriors don't back down."
When she walked away, Katara smiled. Even if now was a bad time, it was a good thing. She was going to be an aunt! Oh, how she wished she had someone to share this with. That would just have to wait.
A/N: I figured we could all use some happiness. Or something. xD In anycase, HAPPY SPRING BREAK. I don't really like this chapter, though... It's just a blah chapter. But, the next one stuff happens. Probably. Dunno yet.
