Episode 15: Stupid, Stupid!

It turned out the 'club special' Suki had been ordering and sent to the table looked like water and tasted like water, but was in fact an experimental cocktail nicknamed 'cactus juice'. In summation: all of their friends were wasted.

Toph wouldn't let go of Zuko's arm, Katara had her hands full with Aang and Suki, and Sokka kept running away from them whenever they got close.

Katara brought around the car and after Suki, Aang, and Toph had been strapped into the back seat, Zuko was finally able to drag Sokka to the passenger side. It was a hassle buckling him in, Sokka kept flailing around and pointing at a fire hydrant.

"It's a giant mushroom!" he exclaimed. "MAYBE IT'S FRIENDLY! Mushy giant friend."

"I don't have time for this, Sokka," Zuko muttered under his breath.

"Let go of me!" Sokka suddenly yelled in his ear. "I already have a girlfriend!"

A giggle bubbled out from the back seat. Suki leaned forward with a stupid grin. "I'm the girlfriend."

"Congratulations," Zuko muttered. He was just annoyed he couldn't enjoy the moment his friends got together because he had to get out of there as soon as possible. He softened when he saw the look Suki was giving Sokka, even as his head lolled to the side with his tongue out.

It was obvious how much she loved the idiot, and she didn't care that anybody knew.

"Wakapow!" Sokka jerked in his seat, effectively head-butting Zuko's left temple.

"Agni's ashes, Sokka!" He burst, rubbing his forehead.

"What happened?" Katara asked, coming around to his side of the car. He stood up and allowed her to inspect the small bump forming on his forehead. She was close, he could smell the faint gardenia of her perfume while her blue eyes focused on his face. She had that slight dimple between her eyebrows that meant she was assessing something.

"It doesn't look so bad," she said. Then she poked it.

"Agni, woman!" He exclaimed, ducking away from her.

Katara rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a baby," she said. "And you swear like an old woman."

"Attack me, insult me..." Zuko narrowed his eyes on her. "Any more pain you'd like to inflict?"

She grinned. "Just finish with Sokka and we'll head out."

Thankfully, the buckle had clipped before the head-butting had occurred. All Zuko had to do was tug on the strap to make sure it was secure before calling out, "Alright, that's everyone."

He moved to stand next to the driver's side window where Katara was getting buckled behind the wheel.

"I'll see you later," he said.

"Wait, where are you going?" she asked, leaning out.

"You expect me to carry these drunken idiots up the stairs myself?"

"I thought you didn't need my help." He smiled in spite of the sense of impending doom. Katara only rolled her eyes.

"Uncle will probably be there," he added.

"You're uncle? I don't understand," she said. She was bracing her arms against the window so that her head and shoulders were outside the car.

"I got a call." He shrugged like it was no big deal. "Someone needed my help."

"I need your help," she insisted.

"Can I get that again on tape?" He started to pull out his phone and she punched him in the shoulder.

"Ow!" Zuko rubbed his arm even though she had barely touched him. "Again with the physical violence?"

"I'm serious," she said, then pouted out her lower lip dramatically. "Don't leave me."

Zuko placed his hands against the car door on either side of hers. "Believe me," he said low, "I don't want to."

The air temperature dropped, the reality that their faces were mere inches away from each other hit him like a wall of bricks. He thought about the way Suki had unabashedly pursued Sokka. He'd always seen it as a lesser form of desperation, but perhaps that was what you did when you felt about a person as strongly as she did. If there was anything he knew about Suki, it was that she was brave.

Leaning forward, he quickly pressed his lips to hers.

Katara's eyes were wide when he stepped back, her mouth gently parted in surprise.

Not exactly the reaction he'd been hoping for, but at least she hadn't slapped him.

"I'll be home later," he said, then walked away back towards the club with his hands in his pockets. Keeping his eyes down, he watched one step in front of the other until the familiar squeal of Sokka's engine turning over roared through the alley. Zuko waited until the car sounds had rounded the corner before he looked up and stopped in his tracks.

Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee were standing just outside the entrance of the club watching him. Ty Lee was pale as a sheet. Mai had her usual expression, (which is to say none) except for a slight twitch in her brow that Zuko knew meant she was holding back fury. Azula, on the other hand, was grinning like a cat who'd just cornered a mouse.

The cactus infused cretins fell asleep on the way to the apartment giving Katara a couple minutes of silence.

It was a nightmare.

Her stomach was in knots, her white grip twisting and untwisting against the leather of the steering wheel.

Zuko had kissed her.

On the MOUTH.

Her lips still tingled.

And she'd done...nothing. Stared at him like an idiot until he'd walked away. Stupid, stupid!

She was just confused. Too many thoughts passed though her head so fast she didn't have time to settle on any one emotion. It was difficult to focus on driving. Thankfully the apartment wasn't too far away and before she could get into any serious kind of accident, they were back.

"Uncle?" Katara stepped into the shop. Iroh was just wiping down the counter, most of the lights off for the night.

"Evening, Blossom," he called. "To what do I owe this great honor?"

"My brother and some of the others got a little to excited at the Cabbage club," she said, falling into the closest chair. "They're passed out in the car. Zuko seemed under the impression you could help me."

"I'd love to." Iroh chuckled. "What can I do?"

"I don't know!" Katara slumped down onto the table. "I'm so confused."

There were a couple moments of silence before a cup of tea was placed on the table next to her folded arms. She looked up. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "The others are in the car, we should really-"

"They aren't going anywhere, I'm sure," Iroh waved off her protest, sitting with his own steaming cup of ginseng. "We need to make sure we are settled in ourselves before attempting to help others."

"I wish I had an ounce of your wisdom, Uncle," she sighed.

Iroh laughed from his belly. "That's from the in-flight mask tutorial, Blossom."

Katara blushed, moved to chug her tea, then remembered the last two times she'd done that and decided to blow over the top of the cup first.

"What seems to be the problem?" Iroh sipped his own tea.

"It's-" Katara bit her lip.

"My nephew," Iroh said. "Your admiration for him has grown."

It didn't make sense to lie. She nodded.

"I understand you have fault with the industry."

She nodded again.

"Take this wisdom then, from an old man: Not everything that comes from it is wrong," he said. "You should know it was not always as it is now."

Katara looked up.

"It was initially meant for good," Iroh continued. "An opportunity to spread wealth to those who could not achieve it for themselves." He took a sip of tea. "The last owner, the CEO before Ozai, his father Azulon, wanted to return the Industry to the charity it had once been."

Katara hesitated. "How do you know this?"

Iroh sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I worked for Azulon before Ozai came to power."

"You?" she asked.

"Indeed," Iroh said. "I was one of his most trusted advisors. We had a whole plan to change the face of the company."

Katara leaned forward. "What happened?"

Iron cleared his throat. "He died."

There was something in his eyes. A sadness borne from loss.

"Why are you telling me this?" she whispered.

"Life is about change. Bad things can come from good choices. In the same way, good things can be bred from poor circumstances." Iroh took a deep breath. "Your mother believed in such changes."

Katara's eyes grew misty. "You knew my mother?"

Iroh nodded. "She was working with me when Azulon fell from power. We had both been privy to his plans which is why we were...cast out."

"Cast out?" she repeated his phrasing. "My mother was murdered."

Iroh hung his head. "And I am so sorry, but that is why it is so important for you to understand why my nephew must return."

Her eyebrows dimpled. "What does this have to do with Zuko?"

"Don't you see?" Iroh asked. "He can change things, the way your mother wanted things to be could still come to pass."

"But he's still not sure what he wants," she said. It was the biggest thing in her way, knowing that he wasn't sure why he wanted to go back.

"The road ahead of him is not yet set." Iroh nodded in agreement. "It is our job to guide him towards what is right and hope that when the time comes, he has to strength to choose it."

Katara chewed the inside of her cheek, eyes locked with the faded gold of the shop owner's. There was something he was hiding. Something he was trying to tell her...

"Come," he said, standing. "We must help your brother and his friends."

She followed in a daze, helping Suki and then Toph up the stairs. They leaned heavily against her with their arms around her shoulders as she tried to brace them. Suki took the couch, Toph seemed rather content on the floor. Sokka was in his own bed and Aang fell into Zuko's with a practiced tumble that had Katara thinking he'd slept their before.

When Iroh bid her goodnight, she thanked him for his help but the nagging feeling that she was missing something remained. It didn't help that her mind kept jumping back the moment just before they'd left the club.

She had to get her mind off of that kiss.

It had been a couple of days since she'd visited the Village...since she'd taken the Blue Spirit to meet the underbelly of the city. She'd been slacking off, distracted by boys and parties. Had she become so fickle?

Luckily, she'd brought her Painted Lady garb with her in her bag. A quick stop helping the needy might be just what she needed to clear her head.

Leaving Sokka snoring softly in his room, Katara snuck out into the cold night.

The moon was high, the time somewhere in the early hours of the morning, but Zuko refused to be tired. He was perched on a high building that overlooked the bakery, his eyes monitoring the streets.

He'd already warded off three groups of would be attackers who had attempted to infiltrate the building. The business should be safe during the day. The Agni Kais only worked under cover of darkness. Just as he had.

Zuko motioned to run a hand through his hair but his palm only slid across the hood of his uniform. He wasn't wearing the Blue Spirit mask, only a black cloth that obscured most of his face. The industry would never trust him again if they found out it was him protecting Hakoda and all he'd worked for would be lost.

But was he even a bounty hunter anymore? He hadn't captured a target since Haru. He was supposed to be tracking down the Painted Lady, and here he was deliberately delaying the most recent mission of the industry.

And despite all that he had kissed Katara.

Stupid, stupid! He rubbed the heel of his hands into his eyes. What was he thinking bringing her into his mess? And now Azula knew. She'd seen him. If there was one thing his sister was good at, it was exploiting weaknesses, and Agni was Katara his.

Movement in the back alley brought his attention back to the present. It was a lone hunter, probably someone who read the description and was hoping for a massive payout all for himself. Well, too bad for him. Zuko drew his swords. By morning it would be known throughout the ranks that Hakoda of Southbend was protected by a faceless shadow and many would think twice before trying to come back.

He skipped class the next day. No matter how much he wanted to see Katara, he was exhausted. Sending a quick text of apology, he drug his feet home and fell into the closest vacant spot: an armchair they'd pulled off the side of the road a couple of years ago.

When he awoke, it was mid-afternoon and Suki was gone. Toph continued snoring, curled up on the floor. The cactus juice must have really taken something out of her. He could hear Sokka mumbling in his sleep in the other room. Rubbing his eyes, Zuko checked his phone.

Katara hadn't texted him back yet, so he decided to take a look at the Agni Kai database. Hakoda's price had significantly lowered. Zuko's eyebrows knitted together. Why would that be? If anything, it should have been raised due to his interference. Unless they didn't need him anymore...

None of this made sense. Why would they want Hakoda in the first place? Could it have anything to do with the debt he owed? As far as Zuko knew, he hadn't missed a single payment. Could it be about the property? But why would the Industry be interested in the bakery? It wasn't near any of their warehouses.

Running a hand down his face, Zuko decided he needed a shower. The warm water always eased the tension in his back and the steam helped clear his mind. He would need all his strength if he was going to spend another night protecting Hakoda.

The shower was definitely a relief, his muscles ached from the long night of fighting. It had been a while since he'd been out. He'd been...distracted.

His thoughts wandered to the kiss. It had been so quick. A light peck and then it was over. He'd seen grandmothers give more passionate kisses. Then again, he hadn't wanted to scare her...which seemed to have happened anyways. Knowing Katara, she was probably still analyzing the moment for anything she'd missed. It would be annoying if it wasn't so adorable to hear her break down her complex analysis process. Why was that adorable? Maybe there was something wrong with him.

There was definitely something wrong with him.

Rolling his shoulder under the stream of scalding water Zuko realized how long the night ahead was going to be. If only he had help...

He almost slipped in the shower, his hands bracing against the slick tile on either side of their stand up shower to stay upright. Maybe he did have help. The Painted Lady surely didn't have any scruples about upending the Industry's plans, but where to find her...

You know the feeling when you walk into a room and all the conversation immediately stops? This was what the Blue Spirit felt when he dropped into the center of the Village road he'd visited with the Painted Lady a couple nights before.

All movement ceased. Hundreds of eyes stared back at him.

"I promise I mean you no harm," Zuko said. The crowd remained still until the front line was suddenly broken through. Out ran five figures all under four feet tall.

"Spirit! You came back!" A child yelled, wrapping her arms around his knees. He was knocked over by the next one and then it became an all out dog pile.

Once he was able to disentangle from the children, the adults allowed him to come a bit closer. Zuko began passing out the food he had brought to the surrounding families. The people were still wary of him, but after a couple of minutes he was able to move around as freely as a distrusted visitor could.

He didn't have much time. He needed to get back to guarding the bakery.

"Excuse me," he asked a particularly kind looking woman. "Can you help me? I'm looking for the Painted lady."

Her expression grew sad. "We were hoping you could tell us. We haven't seen her since the time she came with you."

Zuko's eyebrows pulled together. "How often does she usually visit?"

"At least three times a week," the woman said, her eyes searching the sky as if it held the answers. "She should have been here by now."

A heavy darkness began to settle in Zuko's stomach. Something was wrong.

An explosion shook the surrounding buildings, the flash lighting up the night sky. Screams carried down from the west end of the alley and many of the citizens had already started scattering. The smoke made it difficult to see anything. People were streaming past him in waves, fleeing from whatever was coming. That was when the smoke cleared.

It was an army. Well, the Industry's equivalence of an army. The largest group of Agni Kai's Zuko had ever seen, and right at the front leading them strolled Azula.

She didn't carry a weapon but she looked deadly. Swaggering through the alley her arms swung leisurely at her sides, her smile was one of victory.

"We're going to rid the world of this wretched village once and for all," she called. "Where's your Painted Lady now?"

Zuko unsheathed his blades. "Run!" He shouted. "I'll hold them off as long as I can."

The woman he'd been talking to grabbed the nearest children and ran, getting quickly swallowed up in the crowd.

Azula's eyes narrowed on him. "The Blue Spirit," she crooned, stopping a good twenty feet away. "Fancy seeing you here. Tell me, what was it that led you to betray my father? It can't have been money." She wrinkled her nose as her eyes took in the haggard scene around them.

Zuko said nothing, only twirled his swords in a threatening manner.

"No matter." Azula flipped one of her bangs. "You'll be dead soon anyway." She motioned forward with a hand. "Kill him."

The front line of men rushed forward. Lucky for Zuko, the Villagers were not ones for tidiness. Many tripped on the haphazard items scattered across the alley floor. Others were caught in Zuko's dance of blades. He felled three before he had to retreat. If he waited too long he would be surrounded and there would be no escape. He just had to hold them off long enough for everyone else to get away. There was always the hope that the Painted Lady would arrive, they did somehow always find each other in situations like these.

One of the bounty hunters caught him in the shoulder and he staggered back into a side street. Luckily, there was a low lying fire escape that he leapt onto. Scaling the building quickly, he jumped from rooftop to rooftop trying to get ahead of the crowd. Something sharp hit him in the side and he lost his footing. Wind whipped past his ears before he crashed into something metal, twisted, and slammed into the concrete ground.

Zuko groaned. The hot liquid of blood soaked his shirt along his recently healed ribs. He choked and then spat on the ground. Looking around, he realized he'd landed in a parallel side street. There was no one on the main road. He had to get out there, had to stop their advance-

"What are you doing here?"

Zuko's eyes shot to the mouth of the alley where a single figure was standing facing him. The lights of the main street made it difficult to make out their face, but he knew that dual bun hairstyle.

"Mai?" he asked, pulling himself up against the dead end. It felt better, having something solid at his back while he faced her. Surely she already knew why he was there, but it was worth a try.

"I'm looking for the Painted Lady, same as you." He tried to shrug when a knife was impaled into the wall behind him about an inch above his shoulder.

"Don't mistake me for a fool," she seethed. "We don't have much time. You've been marked, Azula's been watching you."

"Does she know-?" He started, but Mai shook her head.

"She only just started, but that doesn't mean you haven't been a complete idiot. She was tracking you last night when-" A noise caused Mai to look behind her where Azula was no doubt leading the charge. When she turned back, her expression had returned to her usual mask.

"They have her," was all she said before she leapt back towards the main street.

"The Blue Spirit!" she yelled. "This way!"

Zuko ducked but he needn't have. She was leading them in the opposite direction.

Clutching his side, Zuko tried taking a deep breath and winced.

Last night...had she seen him protecting the bakery? And 'they have her'? What did that mean?

His heart thumped painfully against his chest. The attack...Azula knew the Villagers wouldn't be protected because...

They'd captured the Painted Lady.

A/N: Mini speech, feel free to ignore.

*clears throat*

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