THE CREATURE! IT LIVES!
Oh...wait...it's just me.
Whoops.
Yup! I am still alive and working on chapters for this. I wanted to get this out in time to celebrate The finale, but before hand I was too excited and afterward I just stared at my television, aghast. But, the chapter is here now! Rejoice, read, review. Anything you like. Just smile!
Times were hardly such that people should be gossiping like old maids, but Jiang supposed they were clinging to some vague sense of normalcy in these desperate times. They were finally going to stand up and fight back, with the Avatar as it should have been years ago. Before, people had gossiped about just why the Avatar had disappeared all those years ago. But now it was not just the Avatar at the center of all the rumors.
Even hardened soldiers seemed more interested in the love-life of the Avatar than anything else.
"They were fighting. That's what I heard at least. But I heard it from Kar-Leung, he was on patrol and heard the whole thing. The Avatar loves his Waterbending Mistress, but she loves Prince Zuko. He used to try and capture the Avatar you know? It's like she's betrayed him. The Avatar that is."
Jiang looked at his friend for a long moment before scoffing and rolling his eyes. "Don't be so stupid." He suggested, looking away and back to the front of the room. "Gossip is a woman's sport." He pointed out, and then recalled that things like that would eventually get around to his daughter and he'd find himself in more trouble than it was worth, "Besides, the only thing Kar-Leung hears is the sound of his own voice. He tells stories all the time and you've never put stock in them before."
The Avatar and his friends stood at the front of the room. He had the place of honor, followed by his masters, among which was the legendary General Iroh—Dragon of the West—and Master Sokka, who was the Waterbending Mistress's brother and supposedly second only to Iroh in terms of strategies.
"Look at them would you? They've more on their minds than fighting amongst themselves. If you actually believe in what Kar-Leung says I've got a bridge in Omashu I want to sell you. Besides." He sighed, looking back at his friend, "What girl would choose a scarred outcast over the Avatar? He may have redeemed himself according to the Avatar but even Fire Lord Ozai threw him out. He can't be pleasant to be around. Use those brains you keep saying you have!" A woman in the row ahead of them turned around and hissed at them to be quiet. Jiang was the only one with the decency to look abashed.
"We all have our strengths and weaknesses, just like anyone else." Sokka explained moving toward the edge of the stage and taking charge while Iroh sat behind him smiling like a cat with cream. He was doing very well despite how nervous he had been. Sokka had, up until the very last minute, insisted that Iroh should be the one to take charge, or even Aang.
But the plan had been Sokka's and so it was Sokka would would relate it to their army. "We will land here, on the very edge of the Tsu Hao Salt Flats. This will be our home base, and we will hold this point at all costs. Iroh will lead the small group which remains to protect it at...all costs..." Sokka looked away, cleared his throat and then plowed on, no one expected him to be a great orator—he tried to comfort himself—they would just follow his orders.
"Katara will also remain behind, she will not only lead the Healers but serve as a line of protection. We need all the healers we can get that includes anyone with any amount of skill at all." He swallowed hard and gripped the edges of the podium, more to halt his desire to fidget than anything else. "Toph and myself will lead the main army forward, pushing across the salt flats and toward the city. They see this as a natural defense against...uhm...against attack. So, that side of the city will have weaker defenses and while the trek will be hard it will be worth it, in the, in the end you know?" He laughed a little nervously and Toph kicked him sharply, shocking him back into the present.
"Aang and Zuko will come around from the other side and sneak into the Palace. The main army serves two purposes, to launch an all-out attack on the Fire Nation capital itself, but also to distract them from guarding the palace so that Aang's--uhm--so that the Avatar has a chance to reach the palace and fight the Fire Lord. That is our real mission. As of right now you are all helping the Avatar to end this war once and for all!" He was certain that last part sounded far better in his head than it did out loud and there was a moment of silence so complete that it was deafening.
It started off slow, and then started to grow, a loud cheer that rose up from the depths of the crowd and emanated outward until even Toph and Katara on the dais were shouting right along with them.
"Okay," Jiang very heard his friend over the roar of the assembled crowed turned army. "So maybe it is just rumor. But, didn't you hear that fight they had?"
"No, and I don't think anyone really did. One person probably heard something out of context, spread it, and no one likes telling stories that go "I heard someone say," so suddenly they're all there listening. Do you really believe, if they did fight, that the Avatar and his friends would fight where we could hear them?" Jiang asked seriously.
Whatever his friend might have answered with was lost in the resulting rush. Everyone broke off to figure out what their tasks would be. It was not just about the fight itself but the arduous sea-voyage that would get them to the beach of the Tsu Hao flats. The boats had to be packed and sent off in waves in vague hope that fewer boats would draw less attention from the feared Fire Nation navy, and the first wave needed to leave as soon as possible.
As soon as the Avatar and his friends were alone in the small anti-chamber off the large meeting room, the united front they had presented before the battle shattered. Katara seemed to fold in upon herself, as though she could make herself so small no one would take any notice of her, and then she darted away, reminding Sokka of how she had been after their mother died. She'd wrapped herself up in a wold all her own, withdrawing farther and farther as she blamed herself more and more.
Katara was the only Waterbender, and Waterbenders were always the heroes in the stories that Gran-Gran told. So, by her childish logic, it was Katara who should have fought the Firebenders, not her mother, and it was Katara's fault for being weak that their mother was dead.
Aang just narrowed his eyes and bit out one-word answers to whatever people asked of him, Zuko refused to talk to anyone at all and didn't even bother to glare anymore, and that left Toph, Iroh, and Sokka caught in the middle of it all.
"We have to do something." Sokka insisted, flexing his fingers against the hard wood of the table, taking the opportunity to fidget now that no one was watching. "We can't just...let them go and fight like this."
"What do you want us to do?" Toph asked, furrowing her brow. "Force them to get along? She may be wishy-washy but Katara's just as stubborn as Zuko, and Aang..." She trailed off, looking down at the floor. It was in this rare moments of softness that Sokka found himself wondering if she knew how very expressive her face was.
"I will talk to Aang." Iroh offered with a smile that filled his face. "After years of dealing with my nephew," Toph wondered if it was the stress of the situation that made him stumble over that word, "I think I know how to handle surly young men." He offered a gentle smile to assure Sokka that everything would be fine and walked off after Aang—who refused to spend any time with the group in private.
"Katara's tougher than you give her credit for you know." Toph said after a long moment, she was tired of everyone worrying and not talking about what was bothering them.
"I know that." He ground out, then looked away. "That's the problem though. Toph, she'd make herself unhappy to make everyone else happy. That's why she puts up with me the way she does, she figures that if she can make everyone else happy, that'll be enough for her." He shook his head.
"Aang was always thinking like an Airbender. That's why he had such a tough time learning to Earthbend. But eventually he got pushed hard enough that he responded, and Earthbended...he didn't do a bad job of it either." She conceded with a cocky little smile. "Sweetness too. Someday she'll have enough and won't let herself be pushed around anymore. If you ask me, it was about time she stood up to him. Otherwise she'd have to deal with the both of you forever and I wouldn't even wish that on Azula."
"Toph," He started, trying to find words to describe just what he wanted to say and choosing to ignore her subtle jib. After traveling with her so long he knew when her insults carried weight and when she was just saying things to keep up her tough appearances. She narrowed her eyes at him and cut him off before he even found what he wanted to say.
"You can't take care of her forever Sokka! She's a big girl!" She snapped, stomping off down the corridor and away from him; leaving him completely alone and certain he'd done something wrong and yet not entirely certain just what it was.
It wasn't difficult to find Aang, since his argument with Katara he rarely did anything else beside sit with Appa in the stables and watch Momo chase bugs. "Ooh." Iroh sighed as he settled awkwardly beside Aang and stretched out his legs. "It is hard to believe I was once a young man some days." He smiled at Aang and watched the young Avatar ignore him completely.
Aang drew his knees to his chest, folded his arms over them and rested his chin on top, not meeting Iroh's eyes or even looking at the old man's smile. Iroh sighed then and shook his head.
"You are going to be leading these people into battle starting tomorrow. I know you're still young but now is hardly the time to act like it." His voice was suddenly harder than Aang was used to and his golden eyes were narrowed. Aang started and couldn't help but stare at the older man, confused above anything else.
"I'm doing the best that I can! Everyone looks to me like I can solve all their problems. Even Katara!" He snarled, then stopped and fell instantly back into silence.
"You are the Avatar. No amount of sulking will change that."
"I am not sulking!" Aang snapped again.
"My mistake." Iroh murmured gently. He paused, pursing his lips, and then turned away from Aang, watching Momo try and lure Appa into playing. "Katara is hurt by your silence you know. She won't even open up to Sokka, though the boy is trying his best."
"She should have thought of that before she played with my feelings."
"Oh? You mean she told you she cared for you only to change her mind?" Iroh asked. "That's a different story. I can see why you're so angry now."
"Well, well no." Aang admitted. "She never said that. But she told me we were family now. She stuck by me through everything. Even once she knew what I'd done when I knew I was the Avatar." He explained. "She wouldn't have done that if she didn't care."
"Of course. Because Katara isn't the type to put what other people want above her own desires. No, I understand. She's generally withdrawn and I can see where her acting so openly would confuse you."
"No she's like that with everyone." Aang admitted and then paused and withdrew into himself once more. "I know what you're trying to do." He said.
"You do? I must be losing my touch in my old age. I am sorry."
"So what if she never said the words. She acted like she cared about me, she even picked me over going to see her father again. And then she hurt me. I'm not going to forgive her just because it is partially my fault. I will, someday I guess." He admitted softly and with a shrug, acting more like the Avatar now than the child he was, "Just...not yet. She knew how I felt about her...she should have told me sooner. Before she fell in love with someone else..." then, almost petulantly, "She's the one who didn't trust him in the beginning. I had to beg her to let him stay."
Iroh nodded, taking all this in and then pausing before he spoke again. "I know you're still a child in many ways. That's what people love about you. I think even when you're my age you'll still go penguin sledding—you won't have this big belly getting in your way I'm sure." He patted his stomach and chuckled softly, but the smile and the laughter didn't reach his eyes. "But Katara, you, all of us could die in this upcoming battle. I understand if you are not ready to forgive, but do you want to lose the chance forever?" Iroh paused, for once in his life seeming uncertain, and then patted Aang on the shoulder. "I have secrets of my own that I've kept from Zuko for long enough. I am not ready to tell him, but I will not chance never being able to tell him."
Aang was silent once more, and Iroh nodded at this. He had hoped, but he hadn't expected it to be that easy. "Trust an old man Aang, life is filled with enough regrets as it is. You don't need to help it along." He got up then, after a little difficulty, and began to walk away. "If you really love her as much as you say, then think of her. Should you die in this battle, and Katara survive, would you want her to spend the rest of her life thinking you died hating her?"
And then Iroh was gone, shuffling off down the halls of the underground city and humming softly to himself as though he hadn't a care in the world. Aang, still sitting curled against Appa's side, couldn't begin to imagine what the man was keeping from Zuko, but he didn't suppose it could be something as serious as what had come between he and Katara.
Of course, if he were being honest with himself, that didn't make what Iroh had said any less true. He knew that any one of the monks would have told him the exact same thing, and they might even have been disappointed in him for being so selfish. He wasn't just the Avatar, he was the last trained Airbending Monk, and he was supposed to be selfless. He was supposed to put the needs of others above his own.
Of course, he'd never felt like the Avatar very much anyway. He was terrified of the Avatar State and he tried to be the bridge between the Spirit Realm and the real world, but it was hard and he wasn't very good at it...
He heaved a sigh and stood himself. It wasn't fair. He had every right to be angry with her. She'd lead him on, let him think that she cared for him, or at least could come to care for him. And how could she choose Zuko of all people?
It wasn't fair. But then...nothing ever was for him. It wasn't fair that the other children at the temple wouldn't play with him, or that the monks had told him so early that he was the Avatar. It wasn't fair that they'd tried to take Gyatso away from him...
Nothing ever was fair and he supposed that if it started getting fair now he might be worried.
Zuko stood, frozen, in the center of the room. Iroh was still talking but Zuko couldn't hear a word over the roar of blood rushing through his ears. He huffed, and licked his lips trying to find something to say or do, but there was...nothing.
"Zuko..." Iroh murmured, taking a step forward and hesitating only a moment before he brushed his hand against Zuko's arm. "I thought I was doing you a favor, that thinking highly of your mother was one of the few bright points of a life as hard as yours...but it was selfishness. Every moment I didn't tell you was because I didn't want anyone to know what a horrible brother I had been, a horrible brother and an even worse lover. Seeing what had happened to you I knew I had failed Ursa. I'm sorry." He whispered at last, his hand dropping to his side. "I'm so sorry. I do not expect you to forgive this foolish old man, but do not blame your mother for her part in things."
"You were always a far better father to me than Ozai. You have done nothing warranting forgiveness." Zuko took an awkward half-step forward—nearly a stumble—and then hesitated, not certain of exactly what was supposed to happen. To him little had changed in their relationship. Iroh had always been a father-figure to him, he'd realized that and it was why he'd chosen to help Aang instead of capture him. He had done so much to disappoint Iroh, and not once had the old man ever stopped loving him or having faith that, in the end, Zuko would make the right decision.
Zuko owed it to him to forgive this one thing.
It was Iroh who closed the distance between them and pulled Zuko into his arms. "I always loved you as my son and I always loved Ursa more than any other woman in the world." Iroh promised, though Zuko didn't need any more reassurance. Iroh had always been a constant in his life, unlike Ozai, Iroh's love was unconditional. He didn't know how to put any of that to words, so he just hugged Iroh as tightly as he could manage and hoped that the older man would, once more, see past his many flaws and know just what he meant.
"Don't make the same mistake I did." Iroh murmured into Zuko's ear as he pulled away from the hug and backed up just a little. Zuko's confusion was evident on his face and even for just a moment Iroh's good humor came flooding back. "Do not think you can fool an old man. I was young once and I recall well that look you wear when there is a certain Waterbender in the room." Zuko's face fell and he turned away, as though he could physically shield himself from the conversation.
"Don't." He rasped, started at how his voice sounded caught between pain and anger. "She deserves someone...someone who can take care of her. I can barely handle my own powers, the swords are all I am good at." He sighed, forcing himself to go on rather than shut down and storm off. Iroh had been brave enough to face him and Zuko could do the same. "I am not ready for the burden of a lover, even if she wanted me." The Avatar was foolish. It may be true that Katara did not love him as he loved her, but it was not because she'd chosen Zuko over him. She had only meant that it was her choice, not that Zuko was her choice.
"Zuko." Iroh used that annoyed-but-not-angry voice he'd perfected while they had spent so much time at sea. "She's a Master Waterbender, the only Waterbender capable of healing through her power. She won't be a burden."
Zuko did storm off then, but Iroh was well used to the boy's moods. He needed time to himself to think things through, he wasn't angry. Iroh just hoped that the boy would make the right decision, and wouldn't waste half his life regretting loves unloved.
