Chapter 11: Revelations

The atmosphere in Appa's saddle was decidedly awkward. Zuko certain that he'd be able to slice through it with his dagger, if he were to draw it; though judging by the looks on Katara and Sokka's faces, drawing a weapon would be a bad idea. He tried to keep his movements few and obvious.

"So, Zuko," Katara said coldly. "You're a Firebender."

Zuko shrugged.

Sokka glanced at his sister. "Zuko?"

Eyes fixed on Zuko, Katara replied, "Apparently that's his name. Not Lee. Zuko. Zhao said he was a deserter."

Sokka's gaze snapped back to Zuko. "You were a soldier? A Fire Nation soldier?"

Zuko shrugged again, eyes cast down towards the saddle. "Yeah. I was. For a little while, at least."

Aang's voice drifted back from Appa's head. "Could you teach me Firebending?"

Katara and Sokka spoke in tandem, "WHAT?"

Aang turned round, a sheepish expression on his face. "What? I need to learn sometime, and what other Firebenders have we met that aren't trying to kill or capture me?"

Katara snapped, "Aang, we can't trust him. He lied to us. He lied about who he is, what he is. He lied to Suki—"

"Suki knows who I am!" Zuko interrupted hotly.

"Suki knew?" Sokka asked, sounding almost hurt.

Zuko shrugged, looking a little guilty. "Apparently. I never told her, but apparently she's known since we met. She found my tags when I washed up on Kyoshi. She didn't tell anyone though."

Aang frowned. He drifted back a little to perch on the edge of the saddle. "Tags?"

Zuko nodded. "Fire Nation soldiers wear them around their necks. It helps to… identify the bodies of dead soldiers. So their families can be notified."

Sokka said, "So why were you still wearing them if you deserted?" He turned to Katara and said, "He must've been a spy, keeping an eye on Kyoshi."

Against his better judgment, Zuko laughed. Sokka shouted, "What's so funny?"

Between chuckles Zuko said, "I'd have to be a truly awful spy to wear something that identifies me as Fire Nation. Fire Nation Army, no less."

Sokka said defensively, "Maybe you were playing them? A complex scheme designed to make them think you were a deserter."

That made Zuko chuckle again. Sokka's face went redder. Zuko said, "And why, exactly, would I be spying on Kyoshi? It's neutral ground. They have no part in the War. Surely I'd be better off trying infiltrate, I don't know, Omashu? Or Ba Sing Se?"

"Maybe you did that too! Suki said you travel a lot."

Zuko shook his head. "I'm not a spy, Sokka. I was a soldier, yes. I am a deserter, I have been for a few years now."

Katara frowned at him. "I thought Fire Nation deserters were usually killed?"

Zuko nodded. "Most are. But some of us manage to slip through the net."

Aang asked, "Us? There are other Firebenders who are against the War?"

Zuko shrugged. "A few. Not many, though. If you keep your eyes peeled, you might see them. Or they'll find you. Most of them tend to work for, or run, various rebel groups in the Earth Kingdom."

Aang nodded. "So… will you teach me Firebending?"

The Firebender sighed. He shook his head. "I can't teach you, Aang. Wish I could, but no. I can't."

"Why not?" Katara demanded. "If you're against the War, like you say, then surely you'd want to train the Avatar?"

Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose, a blush travelling up his neck. "I am against the War. I want to train him. But I can't. Truth be told, I have no idea how I managed to stop Zhao's blast. I haven't truly practiced my bending in years. I meditate and run through a few Cold Katas when I get the chance, which isn't often. Besides, I was nowhere close to mastery when I stopped being able to Firebend."

Sokka said, "Why did you desert?"

The others watched as Zuko's face shut down. All expression abandoned him. "That's, no, I can't talk about that. No. Just, I had my reasons, okay. That's going to have to be enough. If it isn't, well, you'll have to set me down somewhere and we'll go our separate ways. Probably best I do that, anyway."

Aang looked startled. "Wait, what? You're not coming with us?"

Zuko shook his head. "I told you, I can't teach you. Besides, I'm a deserter; I can't afford to be seen near you. It's already brought me to Zhao's attention. I've spent the last few years with the Army thinking I was dead, now they know I'm alive they'll start sending hunting packs after me."

"Hunting packs?" Sokka asked.

"Fire Nation soldiers trained to track down deserters and fugitives. The most notable are probably Colonel Mongke and his Rough Rhinos. Each one is a master in their chosen fighting style."

Katara said coldly, "Aang, I think we should set Zuko down somewhere. Since he's so concerned with saving his own skin to help us, it's only right that we let him run away."

Zuko's face went red. "Like I haven't helped you enough? You've brought me nothing but bad luck since we met and yet, I've helped you. How was that Waterbending scroll working out for you, Katara?"

Sokka said sternly, "What Waterbending scroll?"

Katara's face went guilty. "I… may have taken that scroll from the pirates."

Sokka exploded. "THAT"S WHY THEY WERE CHASING US? WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!"

Katara's temper flared in response. "Don't yell at me like I'm some sort of idiot, Sokka! We needed that scroll to help Aang."

Sokka's voice went sarcastic. "Oh, yeah, sure, help Aang, that's why this is the first me and Aang have heard about you having this scroll. You took it to help yourself."

"Okay, fine, yes, I took it for me. Is that so wrong?" She yelled. "I can barely even bend because I had no one to teach me. Why were there no teachers?"

She turned a devastating glare on Zuko. "Because soldiers like him killed them all!"

She fell back, tears filling her eyes. She whispered just loud enough to be heard, "They killed Mom."

Sokka's face went grim. He reached out to touch her shoulder, then pulled back. He sat back too, silent.

Aang looked back and forth between the two of them, clearly not knowing what to say. He opened his mouth, only to see Zuko shaking his head at him. He closed his mouth.

There was silence for a long time, just the rushing of the wind and the occasional grunt or groan from Appa.

Eventually Zuko said, "I'm sorry, Katara. About your Mom."

She said nothing. She didn't even look at him. Tears had begun to streak down her face. Sokka finally shuffled over next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

The two seemingly ignored Zuko. He sighed lowly but nodded to himself. He looked up and met the Avatar's sad eyes.

"Aang? Can you take us down, please? I think it's time I made my own way."