Sokka placed his arms around Katara again. he was shocked after hearing her confession. She lost her baby when she was young.. suddenly it all made sense to him. Gran-Gran would call him while he was in college and update him on Katara. Katara always shoved it off and told them that it was because she missed Sokka and Hakoda. Sokka believed her, but now that he knew the real reason he knew it was because she lost her unborn child.
" You should go to the apartment and get some rest" Sokka murmured to Katara.
" I'm waiting to be checked out. "
" He didn't hurt you though, that's what you said"
" I know, I'm not a doctor " she said sourly. She was spaced out and it was starting to freak Sokka out.
" Katara, you need to go home. Get a shower, sleep. You've had enough for today"
" I will" she muttered, hugging her brother once more
" I'm so sorry that I never realized the real reason you were depressed"
Katara froze in his arms. She lifted her head up slightly to stare at him. " please, I don't want to talk about this right now"
" Okay" Sokka agreed. " you do need to talk about it though. You went through a lot. i won't force you to tell me at all, but please talk to someone about it"
She shrugged her shoulders a bit, then nudged her older brother off of her. She stood up and cleared her throat. " you know, I think I'm good. I don't need to get checked out by the paramedics. I'll just go home."
Sokka nods, watching her as she made her way back to her car. He felt heartbroken for her. She was usually so hopeful and strong, but something about this had really broken her spirit.
Zuko walked over to Sokka, concern flashing in his amber eyes. " is she okay?"
Sokka sighed. " she will be. Give her time is all. It's not my business to tell you what she went through. I'll leave it at that. She'll tell you if she wants to"
" I really care for her, you know"
" I know. I've seen the way you look at each other, and Suki isn't the most subtle person in the world when it comes to other things."
Zuko blushed a bit, clearing his throat. " well, thank you. I'm going to finish up here and head to the office, is Katara going to come back today?"
" I don't think she should. She's kind of out of it anyways. Let her have some time alone. She'll reach out when she is ready"
Zuko nods and walks back to his car, calling for Toph and Aang to come with him back to the office.
Zuko, Toph, Aang, Sokka and Suki headed back to the office to finish up their paperwork. Sokka explained to everyone that Katara needed some time and she wouldn't come back to the office today. The team understood that and didn't push at all.
Katara closed her eyes as she placed her head against the steering wheel of her car. It was all too much for her to deal with. Too many people fussing over her, too much of everything. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself down but she couldn't stop the wave of hot tears streaming down her cheeks. It had been so long since she thought of Jet and her high school days and now it seemed as if all of her past mistakes were being shoved down her throat. The loss of Katara's unborn baby devastated her of course, but she never intended for it to be brought up again. She was young and thought she was in love, and she was stupid for ever thinking that she knew what it was like at that age.
Katara's eyes widened as she felt her mind wonder. She remembered what it was like being in high school. She was always top of her class, she had been dating Jet since their sophomore year and she thought that he was the love of her life. She was seventeen when she found out she was pregnant. a senior. Jet and Katara both made sure to always use protection, but apparently the condom was faulty. Katara cried for hours in the bathroom and refused to come out. She kept the secret as much as she could. Jet was always angry at her though. He was pleased and wanted everyone to know, but Katara refused to let him tell anyone. Honestly, she didn't know if she wanted to keep the baby or not.
Jet and Katara didn't even get a chance to see their baby on an ultrasound. It was a horrible accident really. Jet had gotten angrier and angrier at her each day. She wanted to keep it silent and she would tell her family when she was ready. Jet hated that. He loved Katara. Maybe a little too much. He began to abuse her for months. Physically, verbally and emotionally. Katara had had enough one day and broke up with them. The pair were arguing at the top of a staircase in Jet's apartment and he had shoved her back. Katara lost her footing and fell down the stairs. She she woke up in the hospital a day later, frantic. She wasn't sure where she was happening until Jet had came in and told he the news. . Jet took it badly. He threatened her and turned on her. He said It was her fault and blamed her for everything. Perhaps if she told her family then maybe it wouldn't have hapened.
After that, Katara was in a dark part of her life. She barely slept or ate unless her Gran-Gran forced her to eat. Sokka was away at college and Hakoda was barely home. He couldn't be home due to his job. He was in the military and overseas, she couldn't make him come home and she refused to allow Sokka to drop out to come and take care of her. Gran-Gran did her best, but she just couldn't watch her granddaughter wither away.
Katara ended up in therapy as soon as she turned eighteen. She learned to cope and took medication for her depression. As she entered college she was able to shove all of those nasty thoughts out of her mind and get on with her life. She eventually weened herself off of the depression medication and drowned herself in determination. She would go to the gym nearly every day.
She finished college top of her class at 22. She graduated with a bachelors of science in Criminology and one in Psychology. She was an overachiever for sure, but it worked out in her favor. Not long after she graduated she decided to apply for the BSSB academy alongside her brother. The pair trained vigorously for two years and did a few jobs on the side. Sokka and Katara worked for other departments within the bureau but had put in an application for the team at the same time as soon as the application was given out. She turned her life around and wanted to keep it that way, but unfortunately that isn't the way life works.
Zuko drove to his house as soon as he was finished with work. He was worried for Katara. He pulled into the garage then closed it behind him. He shoved the keys into the door and opened it.
the atmosphere was different. he felt a chill go down his spine.
" Hello?" He called, locking the door behind him. He reached for the gun on his holster, narrowing his eyes a bit.
No answer. He should've expected that. He was on the edge from Azula's notes. She knew, which meant their father probably knew too.
Zuko began to walk around the house, checking each and every area. nothing.
He headed into his bedroom, nearly jumping out of his skin. Azula, Ty Lee and Mai were sitting on his bed. They looked smug, as if this wasn't a crime in itself.
" What are you three doing in my house?" Zuko snarled, raising his gun slightly
" Ouch it's been three years since you've seen your little sister. Least you could do was acted happy to see me. What about Mai? You're gonna hurt her feelings."
Mai turned her wrist over, examining the cool mental of her knife
" I don't really care about Mai's feelings, and I don't care about you. How did you find me?"
" That oaf, Zhao let it slip that you weren't dead. Of curse, I knew you probably wouldn't be. The Huang family have always been hard to dispose of" Azula grinned.
Zuko rolled his eyes. " get out. Isn't it enough that youre playing a stupid game with me? I do not want to be involved. Leave me alone"
I forgot your Aura was always so dingy" Ty Lee perked up after a minute. " good to see you, Zuko"
" Whatever. Just go"
" No."
"No?"
Azula examined one of her crimson claws. " when dad scarred you, he must've fucked up your hearing too. I said no. need me to spell it? N-O"
"Damnit, Azula. What do you want!"
" Play with me, Zuzu. Humor me."
" Does dad know?"
" That you're alive? No. I haven't Told him yet, but I plan to, unless you play my game"
" fine" he gritted out. " I will play your stupid ass game as long as you promise me something"
" A promise? Thats bold, coming from you" Mai said sourly, raising her head to stare at Zuko.
" No need for petty ex business, Mai." Azula held her hand up to stop Mai.
Zuko groaned, running a hand through his untamed hair. " promise me that you will stop interfering with my work"
" Aw, Zuzu is such an important narc now huh?" She taunted
" Not a narc. I'm an agent."
" wow. You got a fancy badge?" Ty Lee giggled
Zuko pinched his nose.
" Anyways. we don't really care about your job, you know. It's hilarious. The son of Crime Lord Ozai being an agent" she snorts.
" Don't talk about father to me. Last time I saw him he decided to give me a permeant lesson on my face"
" Still touchy about it. Huh?"
" I left that business for a reason. It wasn't who I wanted to be. "
" You never had the stomach for it." Mai corrected.
Zuko bristled again. " get out." He repeated. " right now."
" fine. " Azula mused, pursing her lips. She stood up from the bed, snapping her fingers at Ty Lee who was in her own world. " come on. We'll leave Zuzu. "
Ty Lee and Mai got to their feet. Mai exited the room, bumping Zuko's shoulder as she left.
" Sheesh. Seems Mai still isn't forgiving you."
" I don't need her forgiveness. I broke up with her for a reason"
" What reason?"
" Ask her"
Azula stared at Zuko questioningly for a moment before she finally backed down.
" Goodbye, Zuko. "
" Do not show up here again, or I will kill you" he snapped
Azula laughed and then left with Ty Lee and Mai.
Zuko hissed in annoyance as soon as they left. Now they knew where he lived. He had to be more careful about everything. They could get all of this information with a drop of a hat and if Zuko wasn't careful they could find out about the rest of the team and their residences. Fuck Crime Lord Ozai and fuck Azula. he was so beyond angry he couldn't think straight.
Katara finally calmed herself and drove back to the apartment. Sokka was sitting on the sofa with a box of lo mein resting on his lap.
" Hey" she said softy, locking the door behind her as she entered
" Hey. I ordered you food too. It's in the fridge"
" Thanks" she paused, then looked at him. " thank you for everything that you've done. You're a really good brother and a really good agent. You truly are my best friend" she began to ramble
" Katara what are you-"
" I'm complementing you."
" I know, but why"
" Because it's true. You really are" she grinned.
" Go shower. I'll heat the food up for you."
" Can you put on Grey's Anatomy?"
" I'm on it." Sokka nods, gently pushing her towards the bathroom to shower.
Katara came out of the shower and changed in an old pair of shorts and one of her academy shirts.
" I got you sweet and sour chicken and some lo mein. We'll half it?"
Katara grins. " yeah. Lets half it." She plopped on the sofa and turned on Netflix, clicking on the next episode of Grey's Anatomy. It was a thing they watched together. Bonding time was special to the Emiuk family.
