CHAPTER TWELVE
And the crashes are heaven for a sinner like me
But the arms of the ocean delivered me
Katara watched as Zuko's lifeboat started to go down. And down. And down...
"You're a good liar, Iroh. I didn't think you had it in you."
"Don't flatter me. I'm almost as good as she is."
Katara looked at Iroh first, then at Ozai. She looked from brother to brother. It was so strange. To be standing in between these two men who couldn't be more different. They heavily reminded her of Zuko and Azula. Siblings. Born of fire, but so different.
Speaking of Azula, Katara could feel her eyes boring holes into her from the back of the crowd. She ignored her. For now. And concentrated on the two men on either side of her.
Iroh was a good man. And Ozai…
Katara never hated anybody. Everyone deserved a chance in her book.
Except Ozai Kai.
That man had been a possessive asshole since she'd met him. She could see it in his eyes, that time on deck when Zuko had introduced her. She'd read him easily. And it had transpired even more at dinner. He was manipulative, arrogant, controlling. Cutthroat. He needed control at all times. Command, authority, power. Causing pain and suffering to those who stood in his path. He needed all those things. To thrive.
Katara stared at Ozai. Studied him. In silence.
"There's no…" Iroh cleared his throat. "There's no arrangement. Is there?"
"Oh, there is. Not that you will benefit much from it."
Katara gaped at him. Was he actually… Ozai was going to let Iroh die. And for what? Her hands clenched into fists. What an asshole, what a… what a…
No.
Now that Katara knew what he'd done to Zuko… what he planned to do with Iroh...
He wasn't just an asshole, now. He was a fucking monster.
"But he's your brother," she said through gritted teeth.
"Doesn't matter. If there's no more room for him, that's it. Same thing for you."
Ozai looked Katara in the eyes.
"I always win, Miss La. One way or another." He shot her a smile. Showing all his teeth. "What? Did you think this story was going to have a happy ending? How naïve."
"You're a monster."
"Whatever you say. It doesn't make me wrong."
With a huff through her nose, Katara turned her attention back to Zuko.
Katara watched his lifeboat go down. She watched him in slow motion. Shuddering down and down and down. He was still staring back at her. Staring straight into her, straight in the deepest parts of her. She wanted to look away. She wanted to. But she couldn't. Her initial bravery was waning, leaving her empty and dejected. She was going to try and survive. She was going to try and find Sokka and the others first, and then it would be all about surviving. But she couldn't stop herself from thinking…
What if she never saw him again?
Katara blinked when she felt tears gather in her eyes. She listened to the water down below. She tried to concentrate on the ocean's familiar feeling, that push and pull. She tried to set aside, to forget, that they might never... that he was leaving her.
She tried.
But she couldn't stop thinking about it. Those eyes couldn't leave her be. Couldn't set her free. Time slowed down. For an excruciating moment, they stared at each other. While Zuko went down and Katara stood at the edge. High above. She wasn't used to being above anyone. Especially not Zuko. It didn't feel right. He belonged next to her. At her side.
Then, she saw that spark in his eyes.
Oh.
Oh no…!
He got up in the lifeboat.
"Zuko!"
Too late.
He jumped.
She heard more than felt herself shout:
"ZUKO! What are you DOING?!"
"ZUKO!" joined in Iroh. "Zuko, no! Stop him!"
He was climbing over the railing. Down below. Katara leaned overboard.
"NO!"
Again. It was too late. He wasn't going back in that lifeboat. He wasn't.
Katara pushed herself off the railing. She shoved aside a man in a bowler hat and started running. But she was stopped. An iron grip ensnared her arm. Pulling her back.
Ozai.
"Let go of me!"
"No! You're going to stop right there!" He looked enraged, eyes wide and mouth in a snarl. "He's going to come to his senses and jump back into that lifeboat, you understand? I'm not going to let you go to him. You little…"
You little whore.
Katara didn't let him finish. She was tired of being called that.
So. Spirits damned. Tired.
Gritting her teeth, Katara kicked him in the groin.
"Argh!"
With that growl, Ozai fell to his knees. Still, his hand kept holding on tight. Clawing at her. How he'd been able to hold on, she didn't know. Katara stood over him, looking down at him. This felt right. Standing over him. She looked down at this man - this sad excuse for a man - who had treated her like an insect that needed to be squashed quickly from the beginning. From the very beginning.
He deserved worse. Ozai deserved so much worse.
"Call me that again."
But Ozai didn't seem to be done. It seemed like he was only getting started. He got to his feet again. His hand twisted her arm tight. As if he wanted to pull her down this time.
He never had the chance.
"Let go of her!"
A body tackled Ozai. They fell to the floor.
Iroh.
"Iroh?" Katara gaped at him. "What do you think you're doing?!"
"Go, Katara! I'll keep him busy! Go!"
Katara didn't need to be told twice. She ran. She ran before Azula or anyone else could stop her. She ran past people, pushing her way through the crowd. Her limbs strained against the cold night air, lungs already on fire. She focussed on him. For a moment, she forgot all about Ozai, all about Iroh, all about Sokka and the others. She couldn't think for a second about anything but Zuko. What was he doing? Tui and La, what had he done?
He'd chosen her. He'd chosen her.
But at what cost?
Still, joy burst into her at the thought of holding him in her arms again.
Katara pushed open the glass doors leading to the grand staircase. She ran past the clock. She ran, she ran… Faster! Come on! She had to go faster. Katara practically flew down the stairs. She watched as Zuko pushed through the doors. More and more tears flooded her cheeks. He was here, he was here! So close, but so far... Just a few steps, just a few…
Katara had half a thought that this was where they'd met at dinner the other night. But all she could really see was him, running towards her.
Katara made it to the bottom of the staircase.
"Katara!"
"Zuko!"
They collapsed into each other's arms.
He wrapped his arms around her. Achingly. Desperately. He felt warm, soft, strong. They almost fell to the floor upon impact, but Katara managed to keep them both upright. She was kissing him before she really knew it. His temple, his cheeks, his mouth.
"Zuko! Why did you do that?" She kissed him again. Then her hands gripped his face. And she looked him in the eyes. "Why did you...? Why the fuck did you do that?! Why?!"
She rested her forehead against his. Breathe. Breathe. She had to breathe.
"What's wrong with you?!"
"I'm not sorry I did it. I had to."
"But… why?!"
Zuko didn't answer. He only gave her that smile. His whole face was creased with lines of worry. His foolish, beautiful face. Katara kissed him, again and again and again. Quick, hasty, urgent kisses. His lips were soft but tear-stained, tasting of smoke and flames.
She thought she'd never get to taste him ever again.
"I couldn't do it," he whispered into her. "I couldn't leave you."
Then, they looked in each other's eyes again.
Zuko's voice shook.
"You jump, I jump. Right?"
Katara breathed in. Breathed out. Deeply.
Of course.
Of course he had to throw her words back in her face. But she wasn't mad. Not at him. Never at him. She was only terrified. Terrified of the future. Zuko's hand touched her face. She did the same, rubbing her thumb against his scar.
I'm with you in that as I'm with you in all things. Right?
You jump, I jumpe. Right?
Katara managed a smile.
"Right."
She wrapped her arms around him. Pulling him close. Then she looked at his face once more. His foolish, beautiful face. They kissed again. And again. And again...
"Let go of me, Iroh!"
"No, I won't! Leave them alone! I'm not going to let you run around and play king of the castle any longer, Ozai! You've done enough for the night!"
Azula buried her face in one hand. Could those two stop bickering for a moment? They had more to worry about than… well. Than this. She walked away, leaving Father and Uncle battling it out on their own. She traced back the peasant's footsteps, strolling past the crowd. People stepped out of her way. Azula pushed the glass doors open.
She watched them from the top of the staircase.
Urgh. They were kissing, now.
Azula rolled her eyes.
Typical.
Zuzu had always been so predictable. It was a shame, really. He never thought about himself, never about his own self-preservation, only about others and their ridiculous lives. What could prompt him to care so much? What had made him soft? He was like Mother. He was like Uncle. Softhearted. Weak. He was weak while Azula was forged from steel. Forged from iron, forged through fire. He was weak and she was strong.
That was the moment she saw Father arrive. He pulled down on his coat. Face in a sneer. He looked… discontent. To say the least.
"What happened to Uncle?" asked Azula.
"I punched him in the nose. Left him bloodied. He won't bother us for now."
"Good."
He stood next to her and gazed over the railing. Father looked… troubled.
They listened. They listened as voices reached them. From way down below.
"I had to choose you. That's all… I… I couldn't do anything else," said Zuko. "That's all I can do. I choose you. I'd choose you every day."
"It's all right, Zuko. It's all right. Don't think about it. It's done. It's all right."
Azula looked up at Father. He still looked troubled. She grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him away from that mess of a scene. They started to walk away. But she knew.
She saw it all in Father's eyes. She saw it in the way he stood. Head bowed, torso falling forward. Azula knew. He was seeing his entire life slip away like sand between his fingers. He was seeing his breadwinner disappear with a girl below his station. He was seeing his puppet cut its strings. Azula would always stay by his side, she would marry rich and become the daughter he always wanted, but if Zuko ran away, then that meant he didn't earn a part of Mai's fortune. And, to make matters worse, he was losing his compliant, submissive heir. Father was losing money and power.
She saw it in his eyes. He wasn't going to let it happen.
Azula let him go. And Father ran.
He ran back towards the grand staircase. Azula ran after him. She stood at the railing, standing next to him. A smirk curled the corner of her lips.
She wanted to watch.
Father let out a growl. Annoyed. No. Frustrated. No. Angered. Orange light burst from his hand. Large. Wide. And burning hot. People gasped and ran for cover. From the top of the stairs, Father sent a ball of fire hurtling down.
The La girl saw it first. She looked up over Zuko's shoulder. Azula saw her eyes widen. She grabbed Zuko and pushed him out of the way.
Fwoosh! Crack!
One of the wooden sculptures' head was torn right off. It made Azula's smile become even broader. The ball of fire landed on the floor. Far away. The staircase was covered in soot from where Father's fire had grazed the expensive wood. Someone hastily started to put it out. Stomping on the flames licking at the floor. It was out in a few seconds.
Father had missed.
La grabbed Zuko by the hand and pulled him along.
"Come on! Come on, come on, come on! Move!"
Father ran down the stairs. Azula followed after him. He tripped on the fallen sculpture's head and fell on the landing. Azula bent down to help him, but Father got back up. Quick as lightning. He ran again. Azula's smile showed all her teeth now.
Father was like her. Insatiable. He loved - he thrived - for the hunt. Father never lost sight of his prey. Them. As he kept running. And running and running.
"Come on!"
Father shot another ball of fire. Zuko yelped.
Had he gotten to them? No. He'd missed.
Father pushed a man out of the way.
"Move!"
Azula ran past the man.
Zuko and the La girl ran down another flight of stairs, holding onto each other. She kept glancing up at Father, then looking away, then looking up. Almost never losing sight of him. Always gauging where he was. Keeping them out of the way.
How annoying.
Father shot another ball of fire down. Water burst up when it landed at the bottom of the stairs. At the flooded bottom of the stairs. In the dining room.
Zuko and La reached the very bottom of the grand staircase. They didn't stop when they met the freezing water.
Azula enjoyed their gasps of pain. It was cold, it was so cold. She could see that. Wasn't that what he deserved, after disrespecting Father like that? Shouldn't Zuko die in that peasant girl's element, when he had turned his back on theirs?
Fire would always be superior to Water.
La let go of his hand just long enough to push against the water.
It parted around them, leaving them a clear path forward.
Azula sneered. Waterbending. Urgh. What a pain...
"Come on, come on! Never stop running!"
Father fired. Again.
This time, he'd almost hit Zuko. Close. But not close enough.
La grabbed Zuko's hand again. Pulling him along.
Father ran in the water. He shot a ball of fire. And shot and shot and shot...
Azula stopped on the landing. It was over. Zuko and La disappeared in the flooded dining room. Past the doors. Father fired one last useless ball of fire. Then he stopped. Panting. Father and Azula stood there. Alone.
The entire ship groaned. Creaking under its own dying weight. The gurgling water cast strange flickering lights along the walls. Father spat in the water.
"I hope you enjoy your time together!"
Father looked around. He was waist deep in seawater. One hand on the railing, he pushed himself onto the staircase. Stepping on dry land once again. He looked back at the dining room. Father closed his eyes. His body relaxed. A smile pulled at his lips.
Something erupted from his mouth. A laugh.
He was laughing.
Azula arched an eyebrow.
"What could possibly be funny?"
He put one hand on his hip. Eyes gleaming with mirth.
"I put the diamond. In the coat."
Father's mouth formed a thin line.
Oh.
Pointing at the dining room with one finger, he finished, voice growing high-pitched on the last few words:
"And I put the coat... on him!"
With a huff, Father ran his hand through his hair. His forehead was beaded with sweat.
It dawned on Azula, then.
He wasn't going to go after them. Father was showing weakness. He was old. And he was giving up. Just like that. He wasn't going to try and get that diamond back.
"You're not going after him?"
"What's the use? I'm not getting myself killed for that rock."
Azula walked down to the edge of the water. She stared after them.
"I'll get it."
Electricity burst at Azula's fingertips. It crackled blue, impossibly hot. She sent a bolt of lightning in the water. An inverted waterfall shot up. Somewhere, she heard someone scream. The ship groaned like a clap of thunder.
Azula smiled. She stepped in the water.
She was on the prowl.
"Are you all right, sir?"
Someone handed Iroh a handkerchief. He wiped at his bloody nose. Ozai had wrestled with him and left him… some time ago. Everything was fuzzy for a moment. The deck spun. Iroh righted himself. Pushing through his dizziness.
"Yes. Yes, I'm all right. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Iroh rose up, helped by some friendly passengers. Iroh stumbled, but didn't fall again. One hand resting on the wall, he found his way to where Ozai had run off to. Where Katara must have found Zuko. At the top of the staircase. Or perhaps at the bottom. But Iroh stood at the top. Not wishing to go down.
Iroh's hands grabbed the railing. He looked down. And gasped.
All he found was flickering smoke and the smell of fire.
It was over.
They were gone.
Toph had known.
She'd known, she'd known, she'd known. She'd known.
She'd known Zuko was going to get himself in trouble. She'd felt it.
His heartbeat couldn't lie.
The lifeboat rocked away from the sinking ship, leaving them stranded in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean without any way of knowing whether they were going to be saved. If Katara hadn't been so chivalrous… maybe then they'd have a waterbender there to help.
But Toph knew.
She knew Katara would have done the same thing. She would have jumped, too.
They were just the same. Those two foolish, reckless kids. Older than her. And yet.
Toph pulled her knees to her chest. She wasn't being fair. They were her friends. And they'd made their choices. She hoped they were going to be okay.
She hoped Zuko, Katara, Iroh, Aang, Sokka, Suki, Jet… she hoped they were all going to be all right. That they were going to be okay. And here she was. Leaving them behind. Fleeing the scene. They'd made their choices, just like she'd made her own. They'd all made their choices.
Toph hoped none of them would regret it.
Zuko and Katara ran.
He panted. More water flooded around them. This time, Katara didn't stop to waterbend it away. They had to move. Fast. But it was cold. It was so, so, so cold… His inner fire flickered inside. Everything hurt, his limbs strained with the effort of running, running, running, but he couldn't stop. He couldn't. Father must be right behind them. Forever chasing them. Or maybe... even worse. Azula might be after them. And she never gave up.
Finally, they stepped in a part of the dining room that wasn't flooded. The floor was angled up and they fought against gravity to continue on their way. To keep running. They ran through the dining room. Somewhat undisturbed. It was a miracle those tables were intact. Silverware and plates still stood on white tablecloths. As if ready for a late evening dinner. As if nothing was happening.
As if this ship wasn't sinking.
They reached the end of the dining room. Katara stopped. She wrapped one hand around his arm. Katara looked behind them. Zuko saw the wheels turning in her mind. She had an idea. A possibly brilliant idea. Katara told him:
"Wait."
Without a word, she locked the doors.
"What are you doing?"
"Trust me."
She put a finger to her lips. Then, Katara pulled him down with her, hiding behind a table. That's when he heard it. The sound of water being waded through. There was someone there. When he glanced over the table, his blood ran cold. He saw her.
Azula.
Azula's fire burned through the cold. Steam rose from the cold water around her. Unfazed, she walked to the door. Her hand curled around the handle. She pulled.
It didn't give.
Locked.
She spun around.
Huh.
A spark of electricity flashed, in a corner. Illuminating her. For a split second. Azula looked around, light flickering off her face. She spun around the room.
Listening.
"I know you're there, Zuzu," taunted Azula in a sing-song voice. "You and that peasant girlfriend of yours. You can't hide forever, you know."
Only the gurgling of the water answered her.
Well, well, well.
Let the fun begin.
Zuko counted the seconds.
A minute passed. A long, way too long minute that stretched into an eternity. Something touched Zuko's foot. Water. The dining room was flooding. Little by little. Katara clasped their hands together and crawled around the table to get a better look at Azula.
Electricity sparked. Light hit Katara's face, illuminating her eyes.
She looked deadly. Deadly and powerful.
When Katara looked at him, Zuko knew she was ready. She put a finger to her lips and motioned at him to stay put with one hand. He nodded and pushed himself against a chair, resting his head against its back. Katara took a look at Azula. When Azula had her back turned to them, Katara slid down the floor to another table. Katara disappeared from sight.
Azula didn't see her, but she heard her.
"I know you're there. Come out, now, little peasant."
Azula walked over to Zuko's hiding place. Don't find him, don't find him… He held his breath. Of course. She had been the one born lucky. He'd been lucky to be born.
She found him.
Azula walked around the table, towering over him. Zuko swallowed. Her mouth stretched in a delighted smile. Eyes flashing. Dangerous. She was enjoying this. Of course, she was enjoying this. If there was anything Azula loved more in life than tormenting Zuzu, it was to win. And when electricity crackled at her fingertips, she knew she'd won.
Water flooded the room, making porcelain clink and float.
Brother and sister faced each other.
"Zuzu. I've been looking for you. Say hello to Mother."
She lifted her hand.
Zuko's eyes widened.
This was it. She was going to kill him.
Then he heard it. Whistling.
Time stopped. Something flew in front of her face. Ice. An ice disc. Thin, so thin, Zuko saw Azula's distorted face through it. Her eyes were wide. Her smirk disappeared.
She was unsettled.
The ice disc smashed against a pillar. Falling to pieces.
Time resumed its course. And everything happened so quickly after that.
Azula froze. Literally. A thick layer of ice creaked and cracked to life, keeping her legs up to her waist in ice. Azula looked down.
Distracted.
A roar echoed through the empty dining room.
Katara.
Her heart pounding in her ears, Katara pushed herself off the ground. She jumped out from behind a table. Katara tackled Azula by wrapping her arms around her. Ice cracked. Katara pushed Azula away from Zuko with all her strength. Katara's nails clawed at Azula's face, scratching and coming out bloodied. She bashed Azula's head through a windowpane between two columns. The sound of broken glass filled Katara's ears.
With a screech, Azula pushed Katara off. She fell to the ground.
Pain erupted through her side. But she pushed herself back up.
Electricity crackled at Azula's fingertips.
Katara's eyes widened.
Lightning. She was bending lightning.
And she was aiming… she was aiming at…
"No, not him!"
Katara wrapped her arms around Azula once more, angling their bodies so that Azula's arm was kept up. Hand pointing at the sky.
A shot of lightning cracked in a flash. Illuminating everything and blinding her. Katara closed her eyes. That fire was so hot. Too hot. It pierced through the ceiling. Azula wrestled with Katara, freeing herself from her grip. She took a step back. Breathing heavily.
They eyed each other.
The ship groaned.
Katara looked up. Debris and fragments of ceiling were falling.
She couldn't do anything. She couldn't do anything but watch.
That was when she saw...
Zuko.
"Watch out!"
Zuko tackled Katara. He wrapped his arms around her, the momentum of their fall pushing them away from the falling debris. They landed in the cold, cold, cold water. For a moment, he couldn't see anything, couldn't hear anything. Everything was drowned out by seawater. When Zuko's head broke through the surface, he was still entangled with her.
"What are you doing?!" asked Katara, her voice ringing in the dining room.
"Keeping the ceiling from crushing you."
"Okay, thank you, I'm not crushed! You can get off me now."
Zuko let Katara go.
"Aw. You two are adorable," mocked Azula.
Zuko rose from the water. When a ball of blue fire flew at him, Zuko raised his hands. Shielding Katara. He pushed the fire away. It disappeared in a burst of light.
"I can do this."
Zuko looked at Katara. He frowned.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. You'll only distract me. I'll take her on. Go!"
Nodding, Zuko hid behind another table, crawling on dry land. He rubbed his hands on his arms, trying to keep himself warm. Come on, inner fire. Come on… He was barely able to keep himself warm. It was cold, so Spirits damned cold...
"You deserve each other," Azula taunted some more. "Weaklings."
"We'll see about that!"
Katara ran.
And Zuko watched.
Or, more accurately, he listened.
With a war cry, Katara tackled Azula. They fell on a table. Tossing, turning, wrestling. Silverware rattled and plates crashed from under them. Katara's hands grabbed Azula's wrists. Keeping them always oriented up. Up and away from her face.
"You think you can overpower me? You're nothing!"
Katara smiled. A brilliant idea came to her mind.
"And you're going down, bitch! Remember spitbending?"
To punctuate her sentence, Katara spat in Azula's face. Azula hissed. Caught off guard. When Katara breathed out, the water turned to ice. Freezing Azula's cheek.
Azula roared. Enraged.
She clawed at her own face. Breaking apart the ice spit.
Then, they dropped to the floor. Her whole face in a sneer, Azula rose up and pushed Katara. She sucked in a breath at the last second. Before she was thrown from head to toe in the water. White foam bubbled. Katara was floating. She was floating down. But there was no time to lose. Zuko was in danger. She was in danger. A second later, Katara pushed with her feet against the floor. Her head broke through the surface. Panting, Katara walked towards Azula. She put herself in a bending stance. Dripping and shivering.
They stared each other down.
Zuko watched.
All he could do was watch.
Katara breathed in.
Breathed out.
Azula raised her hand.
Ready to strike again.
She never had the time. She never had the chance.
When Katara raised her arms up, a wall of water answered her call. Freezing Azula solid. Freezing them, the both of them. Solid.
They stood there.
Stuck in time.
Suddenly, as if from a dream, Zuko remembered Oma and Shu.
Only Azula's eyes moved, wide and scared.
Azula was scared.
It didn't last long. Azula's inner fire was warming her through, making the ice melt around her. She didn't have much time. Katara breathed out, melting the water around herself in a second. Then, she rushed forward and tackled Azula. Again.
The wall of ice exploded around them. Falling apart.
One of Katara's hands gripped Azula's neck. The other pulled at her hair. With a roar, Katara bashed the back of Azula's head against a column. Once. Twice.
Azula went limp. Malleable.
Zuko had never seen Azula be malleable. She was hard as a diamond, solid as steel. Azula never lost. Azula would never let herself lose.
But she was. She was losing. To Katara.
Katara who, with a growl, punched Azula in the stomach. Azula bent forward, coughing. All air must have been knocked out of her lungs. Katara grinned. A delighted grin.
She'd fought. And she'd won. And she loved it.
"Compliments of Miss Katara La."
He thought Azula was going to say something. She didn't.
She only fell to her knees in the water. Ahe didn't get back up.
Katara had won.
Zuko's mouth hung open. She'd won, she'd won, she'd won! But there was no time to waste. He snapped out of it. Zuko ran out from his hiding place. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, to hug her, but they didn't have the time. They had to get out of here. Fast. Not only because of the rising water. But also because he knew Azula's defeat wouldn't last. She was going to get back up. She was going to try again. So instead, he took her hand. Zuko pulled Katara along, towards the end of the dining room. Away from the cold sea water.
"You're amazing, you're astounding, you're… You're incredible, you know that?"
"Yeah, I know!"
They reached the end of the dining room.
"Hey! Wait!"
The door was locked. Right.
"Oh. We're going to have to... Katara!"
She launched herself at the doors. They cracked open, splinters flying everywhere.
A roar came from behind them. Zuko looked over his shoulder. A ball of fire was coming. Right at their heads. He put himself in a bending stance and raised his hand. He brushed blue fire aside. Azula gave out a laugh, more like a broken cackle. Zuko shot a ball of orange fire at Azula.
She wasn't expecting it, it seemed. She didn't deflect.
She only screeched. Caught off guard. Azula lost her footing.
She fell in the water.
Zuko grabbed Katara's arm and pulled her after him. They exited the dining room, running down a narrow hallway. They ran past a cabinet still full of porcelain plates. Reaching a stairwell. Zuko went down. They stopped at a corner and leaned against the wall.
Panting.
Breathe. Just breathe.
He heard Azula's footsteps. She was right behind them, following them. Dripping wet. He heard her breathing, loud and angered. Loud and burning. An uncontrolled fire. Zuko held his breath. She came into view. Makeup smeared, mouth in a sneer, fists clenched. Her whole body was coiled tight. A hunter. Ready to pounce on her prey.
But Azula never saw them. She never saw them.
She went up the stairwell.
Zuko breathed out in relief. He rested his head against the metal wall.
They were free.
Toph would have realized it sooner or later.
It hit her suddenly. It hit like the cold had hit her upon stepping out into the night air. It hit her like a slap in the face, like a punch to the stomach. It hit her and crushed her, like a rock she couldn't lift. Like a rock weighing down on her stomach, on her heart. It hit her and broke her heart. A daughter's heart. A wronged daughter's heart.
Her mother had left her.
Of course, she had no way of knowing for certain. Her run on the top deck with Katara, Iroh, Zuko Sokka, Suki and Jet had been a mess of panicked heartbeats, a jumble of cries and mumbled anxiety. But Toph knew. If there was one heartbeat in the entire world she'd recognize amongst a thousand, it would be her mother. In her sixteen years of life stuck at home under constant surveillance, she'd come to know it. Her mother's heartbeat.
And her mother had been nowhere on that ship.
So where else would she be but in a lifeboat already?
She'd left her. Her mother had left her.
Like she'd left her friends.
No. No, Toph wasn't like her mother. She didn't want to be like her mother. And she wasn't. She'd tried to save Iroh, she'd climbed in that lifeboat because Aang had asked her to. Not that he bossed her around. She'd done it on her own accord.
But now… But now…
Toph buried her face in her knees. She took in deep breaths.
She wasn't going to cry. Not again. Not that anyone in this lifeboat would judge her. Some were stoic, others were overwhelmed with emotion. She heard a few sniffles, a lot of sobs. Women and children. Only women and children.
How could they separate them? How could they be so cruel?
She wasn't going to cry. Not again, not again, not again...
But she didn't know if any of them was going to make it. Or what the future would hold. Once she'd get to safety. If she could get to safety.
Toph frowned. Distracted from her musings.
Was that… Was there…?
Was someone poking her?
"Your grandpa will be okay."
Toph lifted her head. It was… one of the little girls. The two little girls and their mother who had been separated from their father.
"What?"
"Your grandpa will be okay."
"He… He's not my grandpa. I lied. He's my friend's uncle. You know, I'm… I'm actually blind, though. That wasn't a lie."
"Oh."
There was a moment of silence. A little awkward. Until Toph said:
"I hope your father will be okay."
"I hope so too."
The other little girl pushed her way into this conversation.
"Do you have family out there? Your real family?"
Toph shrugged.
"My dad's in New York. And... well. There's my mother. She was with me for the trip. I think she's in another lifeboat. She left me."
"Oh."
Another moment of silence. Then it was their mother who spoke.
"We'll be your family for a while. What do you say?"
Toph's eyebrows rose to her hairline. What were they…? What?
"I'm sorry?"
"Come over here."
Toph scooted over to sit in-between the mother and her two daughters. Their arms and a blanket were wrapped around her shoulders. Well, this… this was nice.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. What's your name?"
"Toph."
"Nice to meet you, Toph."
Toph couldn't help a smile. This was nice. To feel safe.
Maybe not everything was so bad after all.
Katara closed her eyes. She leaned against the stairwell's wall. Taking a moment, just a moment, to breathe. A moment of peace. Her breathing came out heavy and hoarse. She was tired. So tired. But she'd done it. She'd succeeded. She'd defeated Azula.
But now they were below deck. Oh. Oh, no, no, no... This was bad. This… This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. Katara retraced their footsteps in her mind. Down the staircase. Through the dining room. And now here. Here in this lonely hallway. Once they were going to get down from the stairwell, cold water would reach up to their shins.
They weren't free. They were still trapped.
A scream. She heard a scream. A wail. A desperate wail.
And they weren't alone.
Katara snapped her eyes open.
Katara walked around Zuko and looked around the corner. Her eyes widened. There was a child. A crying child. A child she knew. Meng. It was Meng! What was she doing down here, standing under the flickering lights in a foot of water? Crying?
"We can't leave her," said Zuko. "Wait. Is that…?"
"Yes. And I know. I know."
Katara looked around. Water was coming down from the stairwell. Fast. Their way out was blocked. They couldn't go back there.
"Come on!"
Katara wanted to lead the way, but Zuko was faster, with his long legs. They jumped up and down in the water. Hopping around. Splashing around. Katara didn't want to waterbend too much; Zuko had been right, she needed all her energy. She still felt bruised and tired from her fight with Azula. But she couldn't focus on that. She had to focus on surviving.
Zuko picked up Meng. Scooping her up in his arms. One of her arms wrapped itself around his neck automatically. Then, Zuko pointed at himself and Katara.
"It's okay, Meng. It's okay. It's us."
When Meng's eyes fell on her, Katara smiled.
"It's okay, Meng. You're with friends, now."
"Okay… okay."
"Where's your aunt?"
"I don't know. I got lost and now… and now I'm..."
Meng never had the time to finish. A loud rumble groaned. Katara and Zuko looked up. Water was seeping through the wall, at the end of the hallway. They exchanged a look. Without a word, they started to run. They waded through rushing water. As fast as they could. Fast, fast, fast. Faster. They needed to be faster!
When they reached the end of the hallway, they found themselves stuck. Water was pouring down a stairwell at the speed of a roaring waterfall. Blocking their path.
"We have to go back," instructed Katara.
Zuko nodded. She took the lead. Walking back towards the stairwell they had first come through. As they reached a perpendicular hallway, they saw…
"Aunt Wu!"
Aunt Wu looked around. Panicked. Frantic. Her whole face opened up into a smile when her eyes landed on them. Aunt Wu grabbed Meng and pushed Zuko away. It was as if she wasn't really seeing them, as if all she could focus on was Meng. Katara couldn't blame her. Aunt Wu started walking down the hallway from which they had come from.
But the water was coming up. Fast.
Katara and Zuko shared another glance. At the same time, they started to run after Aunt Wu. Calling after her. Pleading with her. Warning her.
"No! No, not that way! No!"
Too late. Water broke through the wall.
A torrent washed over them, knocking Aunt Wu off her feet.
Katara put herself in a bending stance. Without thinking. Without hesitation. She tried to bend the water away, but she'd never done something like this before. When she did waterbending with Hama, learning the basics, the water was still. Calm. Like in the dining room. This was an entire river flooding the hallway. Zuko grabbed her arm, pulling her back.
"No time! Come on!"
They started to run away. Zuko pushed her in the perpendicular hallway. But the water followed after them. Rushing. Roaring. Bellowing.
Zuko screamed her name. She barely heard him.
They didn't have the time to get far. The water knocked them both off their feet.
Lights flickered, making it impossible to see or breathe.
Zuko's grip on her arm loosened. He was gone. Out of her reach. Katara tried to gain her footing, tried to waterbend. She tried to do anything. Anything. But she couldn't. She couldn't move. All she could do was let herself be washed off.
One second. Two seconds.
She hit something hard. Katara gasped, head poking above the water.
A metal gate.
Zuko's body hit her a second later. She tried to look around, tried to look past the water in her eyes. It was dark except for blinding flashes of light. Katara wrapped her hands around the metal gate and pushed, pulled, tugged.
Nothing happened. It wasn't moving.
And the water was coming up. Fast.
Katara grasped at the wall. She finally found something to hold onto.
"This way! Give me your hand."
Zuko grabbed her hand. Katara pushed through the water with gritted teeth. She moved one arm around so the water flowed around them instead of against them. It kind of worked. Enough that they were able to reach a stairwell. Leading up.
They climbed. But it wasn't enough. They weren't free. The stairwell was locked by another metal gate. Katara reached it first. She tried to tug it open. It rattled. But didn't open. She tried to make a joke about where Toph was when they needed them, but it fell flat. Now wasn't the time. They were stuck here, below deck, cold and shivering. The water was coming up again, flooding the stairwell. Fast.
They pulled and pushed on the metal gate, making a rattling sound.
"HELP! HELP! PLEASE, HELP US!"
Zuko yelped. The water had reached their feet. Katara tried to push it away. There was nowhere else for the water to go and it kept coming up, up, up… She froze the top layer, but the ice cracked under its own weight. So, she reached for the gate once more.
"HELP!"
She heard footsteps.
Was that someone? Was that really someone?
A steward appeared, looking absolutely terrified. He was hunched in on himself, hands in fists pulled up against his torso. The man walked past them as if he hadn't seen them. But they'd seen him. Katara's voice came out hoarse when she called:
"Please, sir, come help us! Please!"
He stopped on his way up the stairwell. He turned around.
The steward stared at them.
"Please," added Zuko.
He turned around… then dropped down the stairwell with a curse. The man's hands shook as he grabbed his ring of keys from his belt. He was helping them. He was helping them! Katara had never felt more happy to see someone. Hope bubbled in her chest. They were going to get out of here! They were going to be freed!
The steward tried a key. Wrong one. Then another...
"Hurry!"
"Come on, come on!"
Electricity crackled. A spark blinded them. Light flashed and suddenly, there was darkness. The man hummed something. He looked up.
Katara saw sorrow in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I dropped the keys!"
He ran away, up the stairwell. Zuko called after him. Pleading.
"Please, sir! No, come back!"
Katara breathed in and dropped underwater. She kept her eyes open, blinking away the salt. She tried to find the keys but it was so hard to see. Blinding flashes of light and endless darkness. Her hand patted against the floor. She found the metal gate. Her hand slipped underneath, thin and bony. There was nothing, nothing, nothing… if she used waterbending, she could wash the keys away. Come on, come on, come on…
She touched something. The keys.
But they were too far. She couldn't hold onto them.
Katara's head burst through the surface. Zuko gasped.
"Katara!"
"I don't have the keys!"
Their heads were almost at the ceiling. Soon, everything would be flooded… There wouldn't be enough air… They were stuck. They were trapped.
No. Katara had another idea.
"I'm going down again!"
"What?!"
"You're going to have to trust me!"
"Okay. I trust you!"
Katara took in a deep breath. She dove underwater.
Katara reached for the water around her. She grasped at a small amount. Turning it into small ice daggers. One, two, three, four, five… Until ten of them were in the water with her. Katara shot ice daggers at the metal gate. Shooting at its weak points. Leaving bubbling white trails behind. She shot. And again… And again...
Five daggers. Six daggers. Seven...
Come on, come on, come on...
She shot her last ice dagger.
The gate collapsed. Water pushed them forward. Katara's head was underwater for so long, she didn't know what was up or down anymore. A pair of hands found her arms, holding her steady. Katara's own hands soon found the stairwell's steps. She pushed herself up. Her head broke through the water. She gasped for air.
Zuko was looking at her. Clearly worried.
"Katara?"
"I'm okay! I'm okay!"
They started up the stairwell. Cold and wet.
Panic had fully settled on deck now. Sokka kept close to Suki, Jet and Aang. His hand found Suki's. She squeezed it tight. People were running, screaming, pushing. When the officers told them to stand back, Sokka almost argued. But Aang pushed them out of the way. They were trying to hoist a lifeboat off from the highest deck with oars. Soon enough, it came crashing down on deck.
"Thanks, Aang," said Sokka.
"You're welcome."
He was hugging Appa tight. Momo had gotten lost into the fray. He'd been spooked by the distress signals. And now there was nothing of Aang's usually jovial expression.
Nothing but fear.
"Hey."
Sokka put a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll be okay, all right?"
Aang swallowed. Then, he nodded.
"All right."
"Why, hello! Don't I know you?"
They all turned around. Sokka's gaze fell on an old man who was now… somehow... familiar. Apart from the bloodied nose, though that seemed under control. Amidst the chaos, it was hard to think. Sokka racked his brain. He knew this man. Of course he knew him. But somehow, it escaped him... Who was this man? Where had he seen him before?
That's when it hit him.
Sokka's eyes widened.
"You were with us when we were with Katara and Zuko!"
"Indeed!" The old man laughed. "My name's Iroh. I'm Zuko's uncle."
"Sokka. Katara's brother."
"I figured as much. It's nice to officially meet you anyway."
They hugged. With matching smiles.
"What happened to your nose?" asked Suki.
"Oh, nothing, really. I just had a run in with my brother and my niece…"
Ozai pushed his way through the door and into the open air. Then, he followed the crowd of men. Down the deck. Everything was finally apart. Azula was nowhere to be found and the last lifeboat was leaving. If he didn't leave soon, he was going to die. He was going to die like a commoner. That wasn't going to happen.
Not on his watch.
Ozai prowled the First Class deck, looking for a way out.
He stopped.
He heard a child. Crying.
Ozai looked behind an alcove. A little girl was there. She was wearing Third Class clothes. And she was crying. Ozai blinked. Was he…?
He walked away. He didn't have the time to save a kid. He had to save himself, first.
Zuko ran up the stairs behind Katara. Urging her forward.
"Come on, keep going up!"
His lungs and his limbs were on fire. But he had to keep going.
They had to.
Men fell in the water. Iroh watched as Ozai shoved his way to Officer Murdoch. Who was currently talking to their small group, with Jet at the front. Iroh kept his head bowed. Trying not to be seen. It seemed to work. In this wriggling, anxious crowd gathered around them, it was hard to see anyway. Iroh watched as Ozai's gaze landed on Jet. A tall, lanky boy maybe around Zuko's age, with shaggy hair - possibly Third Class, Ozai probably noticed when he scowled - was talking to Murdoch.
"Give us a chance to live, you limey bastards!"
Murdoch pulled out his gun. Iroh gasped. His voice was strained.
Under stress.
"I'll shoot any man who tries to get past me!"
Ozai blinked. "We had a deal, Murdoch."
Iroh's eyebrows shot up. Oh. So that was the arrangement he'd talked about.
But it seemed Ozai had underestimated the First Officer. Murdoch pulled a stash of money out of his pocket. Bills flew away, fluttering on the wind.
"That money can't save you as much as it can save me!"
And with that, Ozai was shoved aside. There was more jostling in the crowd. Iroh's grip tightened around Aang's shoulders. Pulling him back.
It all happened so fast.
Iroh barely had the time to notice. A man came from behind Jet. Murdoch shot. The man fell away, unarmed. The crowd, scared, pushed Jet forward. Murdoch lifted his gun.
He fired.
People screamed. Appa barked. Jet fell to the ground with a broken cry. He was propped up by Aang, Iroh and Suki. Sokka fell to his knees. Facing Jet.
"Jet, come on! Listen to me. Keep your focus on me. Don't… don't…!"
Sokka's hands came out bloodied when he tried to put pressure on the wound.
Jet was already dead.
"No! Jet!" He looked up at Murdoch. "You bastard!"
Officer Murdoch looked on in shock. He looked down. Every move seemed slow. So slow. Iroh watched as the man walked over to the water's edge. Then, Iroh and him shared a glance. He looked at his fellow officer, on his right.
Murdoch saluted.
He lifted the gun to his temple.
"No, Will!"
BANG!
His body fell in the water.
Ozai ran. The crowd was even more frantic now, kicking and screaming. He found his way back to the little girl who was still crying in that alcove. He picked her up, hoisting her on his shoulder. Then, Ozai called, loud and clear:
"I have a child! I have a child!"
He pushed his way through the crowd, facing another officer.
"I have a child! Please, sir. She's all I have in the world."
The officer sized him up.
"Give her to me."
Ozai obliged. The officer picked the little girl up in his arms. Ozai wanted to smile. He put on his best acting abilities. He had done it, he was going to survive! His hope was squashed when the man turned to the little girl and asked:
"Do you really know this man? Is he really your father?"
The little girl looked at him. Ozai nodded.
She shook her head.
"No."
The officer's face contorted in fury.
"You tried to kidnap a child to save yourself?"
Ozai didn't allow the man to give him a lecture.
He started to walk away. Nostrils flaring.
"Yeah, that's right! Get out of my sight!"
Zuko held tight on Katara's hand. They ran. They ran through the entire First Class section, turning around the luxurious hallways as Zuko instructed. He knew these hallways, had walked these parts countless times in the past few days, and yet… it was so empty, so ghostly empty. Silence weighed on him, giving him chills. When they burst through intricate doors and ran around cushioned chairs, Zuko knew where he was. They'd found the First Class smoke room. The deep wood panelling gave everything a gloomy finish. A tray filled with brandy clattered down the angled floor. Zuko was about to follow Katara out the door when he pulled her back. Stopping on the richly-decorated carpet.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!"
They weren't alone. A man was standing in front of the fireplace. Fire still roared inside. Casting orange shadows and light upon his face. The man stared at the painting hanging over the mantel. He stared at it, but… it seemed as if he wasn't seeing him. Eyes glazed over. He looked dazed. Lost. Devastated. Zuko's heart tightened in his chest.
He knew this man. That man. That man was…
"Mr. Andrews?"
He tilted his head to them. As if seeing them for the first time.
His voice was thick with emotion.
"Oh. Hello, Zuko."
Zuko dropped Katara's hand. He walked forward. Towards him.
"Won't you even make a try for it?"
Mr. Andrews swallowed.
He didn't need to answer. Zuko knew.
"I'm sorry that I didn't build you a stronger ship. Zuko. Katara."
The ship groaned. The floor tilted some more. Almost imperceptibly. Zuko was rooted to the spot. He didn't move, even as Katara tugged on his arm.
"It's going fast," she said. "We've got to keep moving."
"I know."
Zuko knew. But he felt like there was more left to say. Mr. Andrews had fought for them… and yet. He'd been overwritten. He'd been talked over by too many people, too many powerful people… and now… Zuko and Mr. Andrews exchanged a look.
"You tried your best."
"But it wasn't enough, was it?"
"No. It wasn't enough."
This time, Mr. Andrews looked over at Katara. Zuko saw Katara swallow. Something was said in that glance. Something he didn't quite understand. Until Mr. Andrews said:
"I hope you two can be enough."
"I hope so too."
Katara looked back at Zuko. Tugging on his arm.
"We have to go, now. Quick."
"Wait."
Mr. Andrews grabbed his lifebelt, resting on an armchair next to him. He gave it to Zuko, who immediately gave it to Katara. When it looked like she was going to protest, he sent her a look. She was a waterbender, but she wouldn't be able to bend forever. With a nod, Katara put it on. Then, Zuko turned back to Mr. Andrews. He was smiling.
"Good luck to you. Both of you."
"Thank you, Mr. Andrews."
Zuko wrapped the man in a hug. Andrews looked like he was about to cry.
With that, they ran away.
