Chapter 22

Zuko and Sokka stayed in Bìnàn suǒ for nearly three weeks while Sokka healed from his injuries. Zuko did his best to hide his anxiety from Sokka but he could tell he had picked up on it. He was desperate to get to Ba Sing Se. Not knowing if Katara and the others had made it safely was making him even more jumpy and irritable than normal. They had no way to know until they made it there themselves and it would take them nearly a month to get there once they did set out.

On top of his worries for his family, Zuko still felt lingering guilt for Sokka's brush with death. Despite their earlier discussion about Sokka's priorities, he hardly left his friends side for the first few days in the village. Eventually though Sokka's blasé attitude about nearly dying and Zuko's anxiety over everything got the better of them. The resulting argument kept them apart for two whole days. One of the local boys, Chao, joked that they reminded him of his parents. He only made the mistake of sharing this observation in Zuko's hearing once.

It was that same boy who, two weeks later, brought them news from the colony town. Chao had gone on an errand for his grandmother when he stopped by the notice boards to eavesdrop on the Fire nation soldiers standing around there. Zuko had asked him to keep an ear out for anything that seemed important so he came straight over when he returned.

"Hey mister Lee! Lee!"

Zuko groggily rolled off his sleeping pallet where he'd been napping and answered the door.

"What do you want Chao?" The boy was bouncing on the balls of his feet he was so excited.

"I went into town and I listened around just like you asked! There were lots of soldiers out today and I think this is why." He pulled a rolled up poster from his bag and handed it to Zuko. At first he thought it was his wanted poster and his eyes jumped back to take in the skeptical look on Chao's face. "Just read it, Lee." Turning his attention back to the paper, he let out a shocked gasp and ran back to wake Sokka. Behind him Chao followed and called after him. "That wasn't all!"

Zuko shook Sokka awake and the water tribe man swung an arm in his direction before he opened his eyes. "What do you want? I was having such a good dream!" When he saw the notice Zuko had shoved under his nose he sat up and snatched it from him, wincing at the sudden movement.

"This is perfect! We can go straight to," he glanced at Chao around Zuko's back, "back home now. The short way and everything."

"Do you think Katara will see this? Would she believe it? What if your father does and lets one of those other idiots marry her!" By the end of his rant Sokka was laughing at him.

"Calm down Lee. Have some faith in my sister. Besides you know what she'd do if dad tried to pull that." They both turned towards Chao when he cleared his throat. He eyed Zuko before he spoke.

"You know, you're not at all how I imagined a fire nation prince would be. I mean, there had to be a reason why your own father would celebrate your death but, a water tribe girl? Really?"

Sokka and Zuko exchanged a nervous look before trying to respond at the same time. Sokka was louder.

"We don't know what you're talking about. I'm Wong and the sulky one is Lee. That he bears any resemblance to the guy on the poster is purely coincidental." Chao gave them a flat look.

"I'm a kid, not stupid. Relax I won't tell anyone. You don't seem like an evil fire bender and you're obviously glad everyone thinks you're dead. But I said that wasn't the only thing I found out." Another shared glance and they both nodded. "Alright. Apparently the fire lord sent some ships to the south pole and found it abandoned. I guess he was pretty upset. Anyway, he sent new orders that the full force of his navy is now to go north and "Take care of the northerners," whatever that means. The soldiers in town seemed annoyed to have to go north for winter. I guess you fire benders don't like the cold much huh?"

Zuko closed his eyes in resignation. This could decimate the Northern tribe. Even without the comet, if the entire Fire Nation naval fleet attacked the north pole at once it would be the air temples all over again. With a weight in his gut, he turned to Sokka and saw his own thoughts mirrored in the other mans face. They would have to warn them.

"It will take the southernmost ships two months to reach the north pole, never mind dealing with what's left of the blockade. I guess there's no chance an anonymous messenger hawk would make it that far north?" Sokka was shaking his head as he dug around in his bag for a map.

"Even if an earth kingdom hawk could survive the polar weather and not get shot down, it's not likely an anonymous message would be believed. It's too risky to put our names on anything either." Map retrieved, he spread it out across his lap and pointed to a place between the old Air nomad territory and the earth kingdom.

"This is where Iroh said the blockade is. Then there are contingents of ships throughout the north sea, here, here, and here. We could bypass them if we go this way, through these channels and then hope we miss them in the northern sea. If they catch us its 50/50 they imprison us or let us pass." Zuko sighed heavily and thought about Katara, waiting in Ba Sing Se. He hoped she didn't believe him to be dead. If she did, staying away for as long as this detour would take would be cruel. He hoped she would understand. Katara never shied away from helping those in need and right now that was the Northern tribe. They would have to be fast though to make it in time. No sooner had he thought this and Sokka was talking again.

"If we can find a pair of ostrich horses or eel hounds we could maybe beat them there. The way I am, there's no way we'd make it on foot. Chao, could you…"

"There is a guy in town I know but…" he looked nervously at the floor for a moment before looking up at Sokka. "Take me with you! Please! I don't want to stay in this tiny village forever. Please I can help." It was Sokka's turn to sigh dramatically. He put a hand on Chao's slim shoulder and smiled sadly at him.

"No can do kiddo. We are going to have to move fast and it's going to be dangerous. Sneaking past Earth kingdom ships and fire nation soldiers." He paused and frowned, seeming to realize something. "If we're seen, we can't risk word getting back to Ozai that we're alive. We'll have to kill anyone that recognizes us. Beyond that we're headed to the North pole. You're just a kid Chao. I don't want to be responsible for getting you killed. I know Lee here seems pretty salty but he'd cry himself to sleep for the rest of his life if he let something happen to you."

Chao looked dubiously up at Zuko, likely trying to imagine that. Zuko thought about how nice it would be to punch his future brother in law in the face but held back. Chao was nodding and asked about their animal preferences before Zuko reached into his own sack and tossed him a pouch of gold.

"Don't let on you have that much but we need strong healthy animals."

The boy rolled his eyes as he stashed the coin and headed for the door.

"Come on, I wasn't born yesterday. I do know how to haggle." Sokka laughed after he'd gone.

"I like that kid."

Several hours later they had gone around and said their goodbyes, thanked Changluo, and were all packed. A knock at the door had them both tensing before they answered. Even though they had decided to trust Chao, having someone know who they were set them on edge.

"Chao. We're all ready to leave, how'd you do?" Sokka stood aside to let the boy in but he gestured for them to follow him instead.

"I brought you the two very best eel hounds in town and they only cost me 20 gold." He tossed Zuko back his money bag and led them to a tree where he'd tied the animals. Zuko ran a hand along the neck and fore leg of the nearest eel and turned back to Chao.

"What do you know, he wasn't kidding about knowing how to haggle." Sokka ruffled the kids hair before limping back inside to grab their things. Zuko dug an extra ten coins from the bag and handed them to Chao.

"Here, for all your help. Maybe we'll meet again someday Chao. Don't take the simple life you have here for granted, ok?" Chao only nodded and stepped back as Sokka returned and tossed Zuko his pack. As they climbed up into the saddles, Sokka turned back to the boy.

"See ya kid, and remember, I'm Wong and he's.."

"Lee. I won't forget. Don't get killed for real this time"

As they rode north away from the village in the woods, Zuko was glad for the eel hounds. Still, he wondered if they would make it to Ba SIng Se before his baby was born after all. He hoped so.

Two weeks out of Bìnàn suǒ and they were out of food. They would need to catch something themselves if they wanted to eat tonight but the cold weather was not doing much for Sokka's hope's. Neither was his hunting partner. It would have been polite to say that Zuko was less talented at hunting than other things but they were well past polite. As he knelt in the underbrush observing the game trail, he contemplated how well he could lie to his sister if he strangled Zuko with his snare rather than dinner.

For his part, Zuko glared at the forest around them with every ounce of his frustration. It was too bad, Sokka noted, that looks couldn't in fact kill. If they could, Zuko surely would have kept them well fed. Sighing, he reached back to take the twine from Zuko.

"Pay attention this time would ya?"

Zuko let out an infuriated sigh but came around so he could see.

"I paid attention last time. I just didn't get the knot tight enough. It's not my fault you didn't show me that part!"

Sokka groaned and spun in place, gesturing broadly in exasperation.

"Why would I need to teach you how to tie a proper knot? It's a knot! Doesn't everyone know how to tie a knot?" Zuko gave him a look that promised violence, so naturally he kept pushing. "Oh that's right I forgot, I'm not talking to 'everyone.' I'm talking to a spoilt jerk bending prince! No wonder!"

When Zuko threw a smoking fist at his face it was easy to dodge. The sweeping kick to his legs had been a surprise however. His still healing shoulder throbbed when it hit the frozen ground, crushing the partially constructed snare. Rubbing his arm, he growled up at his companion.

"That fucking hurt!" Zuko's spiteful laugh only fanned his temper. Before he could think better of it he had risen and launched himself at Zuko. "Stupid scar-faced jerk!" His breath rushed out in a white cloud that hung in the air as he was pushed back and pinned to the forest floor. Zuko lit a fire around his fist and held it up.

"You want one to match you smug, fucking jerk?"

Sokka struggled in vain against the firebender as he spat back. "Go ahead! Maybe if you're not the only one who looks like that you won't be so fucking moody!"

Zuko seemed to consider this for a long moment before his glare melted into resignation. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he stood and intentionally caught Sokka's side with the toe of his boot as he did so.

"This is stupid. Let's get out of here."

Sokka rolled over and stood, still nursing his shoulder. "Where are you going? We still need to catch something!" Zuko's one brow was raised comically when he spun and gave an exaggerated shrug.

"Well we won't be doing that here now that we rolled all over game trail will we? Even a spoiled, jerk prince knows that." After the firebender had stomped off in the direction of their camp, Sokka angrily kicked the remnants of the snare into the bushes and bent to grab the twine. He was right for once. They would need to move on if they wanted to have any luck.

Katara's lips were soft and warm as she kissed him. Her hands ran through his now shoulder length hair and he held her tight. It had been so long since he left her behind and he'd missed her terribly. Feeling her nakedness against his caused the natural reaction and he rolled them so he was on top of her, nestled between her thighs. He leaned down to kiss her again and when he opened his eyes, Zuko saw only sky.

Of course he'd wake up then. The sun was creeping over the horizon and it always woke him. He'd been up with the sun every morning for the last three weeks since they had set out for the north pole. Glancing down at his pants he groaned at his new problem. Before he could slide his hand beneath his waistband a dry cough across the smouldering fire told him he wasn't the only one rising with the sun that morning.

"You too huh?" Sokka looked uncomfortable as he kept his gaze focused on place just past Zuko's head. They had been traveling together for nearly two months and gotten as comfortable as two men can get with one another but there were some things that you just didn't share. "So… normally I'd make a joke right about now but knowing you were thinking about my sister kinda makes it weird."

"Seriously?"

"You're right. Already weird. You go left I'll go right?"

Zuko rolled his eyes but stood and headed left.

An hour and a half later they were dressed and back on the road. Thanks to the speed of the eel hounds they had already reached the northernmost coast of the Earth kingdom. In a small coastal town they sold the animals and bought a small fishing boat and warmer clothes. The boat was small enough they could man it themselves but sturdy enough to make the journey. If the winds were favorable it would only take them a week to get to the Northern water tribe city.

A/N Hi all! Thank you so much to everyone still reading this. I know this is a zutara fic but their romance isn't the only thing going on in this story. I do have a handful of chapters left until they get back to one another but I promise loads of OTP fluff is on the horizon!