"I really don't want to do this."
"You really have to," Mai said in her typical droll tone. "Haven't you attended any war councils since coming back?"
"Yes, a few actually." Zuko grimaced as he secured the last clasp on his ceremonial (but still quite functional) armor and gave himself a once-over in the mirror. "Doesn't change the fact that they make me uncomfortable."
"Oh, the trials of a prince," Mai mocked. "Rich, influential, next in line to the throne, yet still so very awkward and full of teenage angst."
Zuko raised an eyebrow. "Need I remind you of the circumstances surrounding my banishment?"
"Of course not." Mai lounged on a mound of cushions, inspecting her favorite blade for nicks. "But one hopes that you've learned how to keep your mouth shut since then."
"I don't think so," Zuko said seriously. "At the last one, my father asked me about my opinion on the Earth Kingdom resistance…and I'm afraid I've just made things so much worse for them, somehow."
"Probably. Could you give me the short version?"
Zuko breathed deeply. "I said that they'd fight as long as they had hope…So Ozai decided that he needed to destroy it."
"Yeah, you definitely screwed them over." Mai stood up, knife disappearing back up her sleeves. "How about you try not talking at all this time?"
"Probably safer," Zuko agreed. "So what are you doing, escorting me?"
"You could call it that," Mai shrugged. "Afterwards I have to find Ty lee, though. She seems to have more than a passing interest in Alfred and it's not safe to keep letting him out of the cellar for no good reason."
The moment they'd left Zuko's suite, the conversation turned polite, civil, and meaningless. Over familiarity would have people talking, and the last thing they wanted right now was too much attention.
By the time they got to the War Room, the generals were already going inside. Zuko nodded his farewell to Mai, and followed suit.
Sokka plopped onto an earthbent stool. "And you're all okay with this?"
Katara looked up from her sewing for a moment. "Okay with what?"
"Aang, going to school," Sokka clarified. "He's off for another day prancing around with little Fire Nation children. Which is another day that he runs the risk of getting caught, and not training like he should be.
Matthew folded his arms, leaning back against the cavern wall. "He is one of the youngest out of all of you, physically speaking. And very flighty-I'm not anymore surprised by his subconscious desire to connect with kids at his maturity level than I am by his perpetual mischief in the middle of wartime."
"Besides, he's not the only one to be playing around in Fire Nation undercover," Toph smirked. "I seem to recall someone being enlisted into the Fire Nation army yesterday…?"
"A moment of silence, for Private Wang Fire," Matthew intoned solemnly. "A brave man with the shortest military career in history."
"Private Second Class," Sokka corrected with a sniff, stroking the beard that was still stuck to his face. "Awarded posthumously."
"That means nothing," Matthew dismissed.
"It totally does! I'm a step above most enlisted men!"
"Does not. You died as a grunt. You will be remembered as such by your comrades."
"Well I died gloriously."
"Boys!" Katara exclaimed with exasperation. "This conversation is killing my intelligence. Mind keeping it down?"
"You're both total nerds," Toph snickered.
"Back to the matter at hand!" Sokka declared, sensing the losing battle. "Am I really the only one that thinks Aang attending a Fire Nation public school is a bad idea?"
"Of course not," Katara sighed, setting down her whalebone needle and half-mended dress. "But Aang promised to be careful, and we're leaving tomorrow, anyways. If nothing else, we'll have a better map like he promised."
Sokka subsided with a grumble, withdrawing into his thoughts. There was little else they could do anyways, except wait for Aang to come back.
Zuko didn't dare breathe until he was far away from the War Room, his mind reeling at what he'd just learned.
'A full-scale invasion on the Day of Black Sun. Even without the Avatar on their side, they have a chance. Firebenders will be be powerless for a time, at least. If they find the bunker quickly enough…Father never did deign to train with blades. He'd be helpless.'
The prince couldn't help but feel a little conflicted. He wanted this war to be done and over with…but if they did succeed, there would be no peace loving airbender to mediate the ensuing power vacuum and unrest. And what if the entire family was dethroned as a result of this? Who'd lead the people from a wartime economy to a peacetime one, and begin the decades-long process of mending misconceptions or lingering ill will from both sides?
None of these questions Zuko had an answer to, at the moment. But he knew he couldn't just stand by and do nothing…even if this invasion did provide a perfect opportunity to escape.
Enemy forces in the capital city. Angry Water Tribesmen and Earth Kingdom soldiers in a city full civilians. Just thinking of what could come of that made him shudder.
Ozai had made no mention of what the civilians would do, implying that he intended to leave them to fend mostly for themselves entirely without guidance in favor of preserving himself and his closest advisors. These were the kinds of decisions that had gotten Zuko banished in the first place. He couldn't stomach them.
'Azula did always said I have too much conscience for politics.'
Speaking of Azula…Father had announced that Azula had returned. Zuko had honestly been surprised that she wasn't waiting just outside to gloat or something. That made him wonder where she was, and hope that Alfred wasn't somehow involved.
And with Zuko's luck, Azula had gone to remind her slave of his position.
The group's collective relief at Aang's safe return was short lived with the first words out of the airbender's mouth.
"Hey guys, I have an idea!"
"Whatever it is," Sokka declared, "the answer is no."
"Listen first before you shoot it down!" Aang insisted. "These kids are totally repressed, and have no opportunity to let loose. So I was thinking we could have a dance party! It'd really broaden their horizons, and you know, break this mold the Fire Nation set for them."
"A noble cause," Matthew observed candidly, "but not smart. Where would you even hold it?"
"Right here!" Aang answered, hands clasped together in pleading. "Pleaaaaase?"
"No," the entire group intoned in resounding and unanimous denial.
"We're leaving in the morning," Sokka decided. "Before you suggest something else like that. And no more school!"
"Oh…" Aang's hand moved to the back of his head, his smile apologetically sheepish. "I kinda…already invited everyone."
"You what?!" the Water Tribe teen sat straight up, shock and outrage warring for control over his expression. "You're so-…that's so stupid! Why would you lead a bunch of Fire Nation-lings straight to us?!"
"I already told you." Aang's head cocked to the side as though confused. "A dance party."
Katara pursed her lips worriedly. "Aang…when did you tell them to come?"
The airbender glanced outside, and at the setting sun. "Er…after sundown…?"
"Damn." Sokka stood, clapping his hands together. "Guess there's no backing out. Katara, you've got refreshments. Aang, since you started this mess, you're the one that gets the happy chore of trying to get Appa all the way near the back entrance of the cave. And hiding him. Toph, can you create some…I dunno, some seating and a stage?"
"Oh! Do a tri-level!" Aang bounced back from his brief dejection, excited. "But with stairs so that the band can climb up."
The earthbender rolled her eyes, and cracked her knuckles. "Whatever, Twinkletoes. But when this is done, we're going to have a long talk about a little somethin' called priorities."
Time was really against him, it seemed. Just when he was going to seek out his sister and hopefully interrupt her fun, a Dai Li agent he didn't recognize pushed a small folded parchment into his hand as they passed each other. Zuko waited until they were quite a ways away from each other before he leaned unobtrusively against a column and opened the short missive.
Fire Lady Ursa's old quarters. ASAP.
He didn't even have time to prepare, but such was the nature of things. He set the dry parchment aflame, changing directions as he set towards his mother's old rooms.
Hopefully Alfred could keep until he was done.
"You seem well," Azula remarked, knowing full-well that her slave would be unable to answer. "I wish I could punish my brother for that. But alas, I'll have to do with you."
The slave met her gaze unflinchingly, not the slightest bit afraid even after knowing what she could and would do to him.
That's what made him her favorite.
"We'll start with lightning, today," Azula continued. "I can't have my form slipping, and there's been spare little opportunity to practice lately."
The slave had come to learn a word or two, apparently. Because when he heard the word 'lightning', he rolled his eyes and squared his shoulders in preparation. On anyone else such dismissal would seem like some foolish form of denial. But on him it just looked…casual. As though he expected nothing less.
Azula felt her smirk falter slightly. If this was how he'd come to see her strongest physical attacks, then he simply would not break in that way. And it was hard to play with someone's mind if they didn't even understand what was being said…
However he could be useful, if twisted correctly. Coerced into devotion-she'd always been good at that. But the language barrier was still an issue, in that case.
It was clear she had some things to remedy.
Sokka leaned over covertly. "Did you spike the punch?"
Matthew frowned in faint bemusement. "No…why?"
Wordlessly, the Water Tribe teen pointed to a kid spinning on his lower back with his knees tucked up to his chin and an open smile on his face.
The blond observed this, seeming amused. "Reminds me of something my teenage population enjoys doing."
Sokka shook his head, and swept his gaze over the dancefloor. Everyone was going crazy-guess that's what happens when a bunch of repressed Fire Nation teens were finally allowed to express themselves. He could even see some couples drifting towards the walls with sultry glances and-
Sokka cleared his throat, cheeks burning. "Right, well…Hey, why isn't Katara dancing?"
His sister was sitting with Toph at another earthbent table, sipping a drink and watching the proceedings with wisful blue eyes.
Matthew hummed thoughtfully. "Probably has something to do with her ideal partner being inattentive and too young to know any better." He covertly gestured to Aang, who was flitting tirelessly about the place.
"You…You think so?" Sokka gulped.
"I have watched humans play this game many times," Matthew answered sagely.
"Oh, Spirits." Just the thought of his sister and best friend together…doing things…"I honestly don't know how to feel about that."
"I think I'll ask her for a dance," Matthew decided, a little half-smirk playing on his lips that indicated one of those rare mischievous moods of his. Sokka groaned at the sight.
"No-I mean wait, uh-"
But Matthew was already making his way to her, his drink abandoned. Sokka sniffed it just to be sure.
Zuko looked both ways down the hall to ensure he was alone, and then ducked inside. The room's air felt stale-it hadn't been opened in years, and no one was technically allowed inside. The evening sun barely filtered past the mostly drawn curtains, and the dust was so thick on the furniture that he could barely discern the dark walnut color of the wood.
He felt a pang of bitter nostalgia. There were still traces of his mother's perfume after all these years.
Emerald shadows appeared from nowhere. Zuko carefully kept his hands down at his sides. He didn't know what would come of his gamble, and only hoped that this wasn't a trap meant to catch the traitor prince in the act.
There were three. Two he didn't recognize, and the third being the agent he'd first approached. Their expressions were unreadable. They seemed to be waiting for something.
"You've considered my proposal?" Zuko prodded.
"We have." The tallest one answered evenly. "There are those among us that believe it has merit, depending on what you have in mind."
"That is more than I expected," Zuko admitted. "My plans have been altered somewhat, by the information I've just received. I'd like to fill you in if-"
"We know what was said."
"…Right." Of course they would. Even the small team Azula had taken with her could have ears everywhere. The Dai Li were simply that capable.
He wondered what else they knew.
"It will happen during the eclipse," the prince continued. "We're going to escape-my companion has friends and family on the opposing side. If they are successful, we will be too."
"You want to sabotage the defense plan." This observation was made by the one Zuko recognized from earlier.
"Yes." Zuko nodded. "I will have to redraw much of my plan-but the inevitable chaos will work for us…if you elect to take part."
The tallest one, whom Zuko suspected was a higher rank, inclined his head. "We will consult our own people, and come back to you with a firmer answer when you've returned form Ember Island. The courtyard you've been using to train the slave will suffice."
"Wait-" Zuko had to resist the urge to step forward and grab someone's sleeve as they began sinking back into the shadows. "Ember Island? What does Ember Island have to do with anything?" 'And how do you know about the courtyard?'
The third agent, who'd been silent until now, smirked. "We hear and see everything. Not even the Fire Lord's muttered musings are safe from the Dai Li."
"May I have this dance?"
Katara blinked at Matthew's flourishing bow, unable to conceal her blush. "I don't know…"
Toph shifted, and suddenly there was a rock poking insistently at Katara's behind. The earthbender's grin was sly and shameless.
Matthew looked up at her, violet eyes twinkling in the candlelight with a flirtatious sort of amusement. "A dance is no fun from the sidelines."
Katara gingerly placed her hand in his. "O-Okay-oh!"
The blond needed no further prompting to sweep her out onto the dancefloor, twirling her about in such a way that left her breathless and light on her feet as they wove around the assorted clumps of red-clad people that were scattered about.
"Hey, you can't dance with her!" Their dance stopped as quickly as it'd started, Matthew holding her securely in his arms. Aang looked a little red in the face, and extremely upset. Then something like mortification came over his features. "Er, that's not, uh…I mean-"
"Then you dance with her." Matthew smoothly propelled her into Aang's surprised arms. "She's been waiting on you all night." With that, he disappeared into the crowd. The two remaining benders exchanged a glance at the enigmatic blond's behavior.
"Um…" Aang coughed nervously. "Would you like to dance with me?"
Katara, equally surprised, nodded. "Yeah…let's dance."
"That was awesome," Toph said with a wide grin. "Wish you could'a felt Twinkletoes get all worked up when he saw you and Katara together."
"That was the plan." Matthew sat down, clinking ice indicating that he had a drink in his hand.
"I kinda figured." Toph tapped in time to the music. All the happy feet on the ground made the entire place light up almost nonstop. She'd never seen so much at once in her life, and was relishing it. "I'd dance with ya if I was inclined to do stupid social gathering crap like that."
"Dancing isn't always about high society," Matthew chastised mildly. "Besides…Oh, dear."
Toph straightened at his sudden change in tone, alert. "What is it?"
"An old man, and two guards. They don't look happy."
Just as he said this, there was authoritative yelling and sounds of protest. The music went silent, and all the dancing stopped at once, leaving Toph's mind in near darkness again. She sighed at the loss. "Welp, party's over."
"The one in the headband! No-NO, NOT THAT ONE YOU IMBICILES!"
She heard Matthew's light chuckle even over the ensuing noise. "I think you're right. Let's get out of here."
And I finally complete the chapter at one in the freakin' morning on a Tuesday. Longer this time because I'm trying to get more advancement into one installment, so yay. Not much else to say about that.
So thank you all so much for the favs, follows, and reviews! Please tell me how I did on this chapter, or pester me about the next one, or both!
Later dudes. ^J^
