Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or anything associated with it except my fanfiction.
Having finished reflecting on her being and the task she was assigned to do, Katara's mood and pace grew at ease, and she calmly strolled through the streets, tempo of the brisk stride from moments before long forgotten, and a far cry from chasing people through the alleyways that now were her masters. She figured that she would let the Avatar and her peasant brother catch up to her; after all, it would not be conducive to make haste to a blundering king she wished to depose, especially when the matter at hand was of the danger the monarch's life was in. Besides, if she struck out on her own for too long, it would arouse curiosity and suspicion from not only Sokka and Aang, but also other people in the conservative Earth Kingdom, who for some reason were uptight on the freedoms of women. As if the gender of a person mattered. All that was important in the world was purity of blood and superiority of race, as well as knowing who held power.
"Katara! Wait up!"
Even if she hadn't heard the cry piercing through the air and making what few passersby turn to the commotion, she could sense the blood of someone with unusual power speeding its way towards her. Her fingertips tingled as she itched to unleash the power locked within her like a caged bird wanting to be free. But although the sweet siren song of power beckoned to her, she held firm. It was not hers to wield at leisure; after all, she had no rights herself. Besides, one false step too early, and the plan her master had concocted would quickly fizzle into meaningless vapor before it had even truly taken form.
Katara took a deep breath, recomposing herself from the inside out in an attempt to conceal what thoughts had been dancing madly inside her mind. And as Aang sped up to her on his air scooter, one leg tucked over the other in an idiosyncrasy that despite its uselessness, made Katara feel a strange something in her heart, she noticed that time seemed to stand still as the Avatar was bathed by the sun in a golden, not unflattering light.
Wait. What was she thinking? She couldn't act like this! She couldn't feel like this! All emotion had deliberately been erased from her for this purpose. No moral obstacle obstructed her impartial path to destruction and domination for her master. So why did she feel as though she had been warmed by a flickering fireplace in the dead of winter, heart skipping a beat of its own volition, breath becoming labored as the Avatar approached her?
But then again, in order to convey the act, one must eat, drink, breathe, live the act, commit their entire being into a performance that must be believed. That was how she reasoned with herself, consoled herself over this strange anomaly - surely a trick of the light and nothing more - of the Avatar and the strange reaction he elicited from her.
"Hello, Aang," she said cautiously, waiting to hear his words. Sure, back at the pathetic house they were forced lodge in, she had acted impetuously, impulsively, and none too wise with her dealings with Sokka. But what had happened would always have happened, no matter Katara's attempts to forget or hide it. All she could do was remedy it with the salves of the present and the balms of the future. After all, she was certain that the... episode... would be the topic of discussion Aang would like t o discourse with her.
And so he did. "About what happened back there at home..."
"It was completely my fault," Katara blurted out. She was stunned by the outburst she had unconsciously made, as though the delicate dam she had constructed to wall her flood of feelings off had broken down, and a sliver of her had escaped before the flow could be cut off. But this... this was something different. How it happened and how it was provoked, Katara had no idea. Perhaps it was the innocence and content with which Aang referred to the house they lived in, a home that, like it or not, was where they lived and where they stayed to their happiness.
Katara shut her eyes tight, took a deep breath, and opened them again, briefly disoriented once again by the sun as it made Aang's figure practically glow. She had always known that as the Avatar, he was the most powerful being in the world, but his toned physique - his well-defined muscles and his rugged look from his bending practice and training and from time gone by - it made him look... almost... handsome.
Handsome? HANDSOME? Fraternizing and sympathizing and flirting with an enemy, especially the one you swore to took down! How audacious, how traitorous of you to commit such a heinous act. And then a nagging voice picked up in her mind, an unsteady, youthful voice filled with rage and disgust. But then again, what's to be expected from a filthy water peasant like you...
Aang, however, took Katara's hesitations as signs of guilt and regret from earlier, rather than the internal conflict that was slowly splitting Katara apart. "Oh... uh..." Aang stammered. "I wasn't expecting you to admit it that fast. Usually you're more stubborn about these things, but... I guess..." he was at a loss for words, and Katara inwardly sighed with relief that at the very least, she wasn't the only one facing a dilemma of communication with the person she was talking to.
"Yeah. I shouldn't have snapped like that. I don't know why I did it. I don't know what possessed me. I don't think what he did was right - interrupting a very nice moment" when I almost completed my mission, she thought ruefully. "and then rambling about nothing for fifteen minutes, all the while imperiling the last of the Hou-Ting dynasty. Like what kind of idiot does that? But," she said, bringing her head down to show shame and repentance for her acts. "Bringing Yue up was too much and not relevant to the situation."
Aang nodded. "Yeah. Not to mention your little tantrum cost us even more time, when you could've just dragged Sokka to the Earth King and then chewed him out afterwards. But after all is said and done... I think he's okay that you lost your temper. It happens fairly often - no offense, Sweetie," he said quickly to Katara's affronted look. "But it's not like it's the first time you've blown up. Also, I think he's moved on past it, thanks to some... other circumstances... that keep him... busy... and above all, he cares about you."
"And I, him." The words sounded hollow to her, an illusion of sincerity whose curtains of darkness were easily swept away, but Aang did not suspect a thing. "But let's face it, we'd probably not be able to draw Sokka out of anywhere through force."
"Oh yeah." Aang thought for a moment. "Hmm... how about pricklesnake?"
Katara smiled involuntarily as she recalled the memory. Aang had excitedly woke up Sokka to take him and Katara somewhere - where, why and how, the reasons eluded her, slippery as a penguin-otter in the South Pole. Sokka had simply grumbled and turned over in his sleeping bag, a highly impressive feat considering that the sun was blazing directly above Sokka's eyes - and yet he did not budge one bit. Aang had simply took up a stick, traced it over Sokka's abdomen, and playfully shouted that there was a pricklesnake in Sokka's sleeping bag. A long story short, they ended up on their way to their destination, Sokka still sulking over the bruises he obtained from desperately struggling against his straitjacket of a sleeping bag while Aang cheerfully led the way, Katara behind him. She felt a giggle growing in her throat, but she pushed it down, not wanting to break down emotionally, especially during a time like this.
But Aang made it so hard. "No. Even better idea." he paused for dramatic effect. "place meat kabobs on floor. Make a trail to where we want him to go." Aang chuckled as he imagined the scene. "Heh. Sokka hovering over the ground like a chicken, pecking at the kebabs like a bird."
"That would be disgusting!" protested Katara, who now had a grin stretching from ear to ear. Although she wouldn't have been surprised that Sokka, a watertribe peasant and a dirty one at that, would resort to such desperate and unsanitary measures when it came to food, she found it highly amusing to imagine the ludicrous scenario of Sokka and his antics for food.
Aang smiled at her, and suddenly it was as though she had forgot how to breathe. She bit her lip, suppressing a feline growl from coming out of herself, shocked at the sudden turn her body left her on. Apparently, Aang felt the same thing, for his own jaw was jutted forward, eyes blazing with a primitive want and need and... something else?
"You know what's also disgusting?" Katara said softly. Aang shook his head, eyes only for her. She frowned playfully. "Sokka's relationships."
"Hey! It's not that bad! At least he's happy now!"
"I guess... I'm pretty surprised their relationship lasted over two months. Now look where they're at..."
"So then where does that leave us?" Aang asked softly.
Katara stopped smiling. "What do you mean?" she asked, heart thumping loudly, blood roaring in her ears, warm feeling throughout her body.
Aang shook his head. "Never mind," he said sadly. "It's nothing..."
Katara suddenly grabbed him by the collar, and it felt as though an eternity had passed while they were staring into each other's eyes. They found themselves at a loss for words as they looked at each other, captivated by each other. But, beyond all these physical feelings and mental misgivings, Katara could still hear a melodic, compelling, irresistable voice reminding her of the knife in her sleeve and the task she had to fulfil.
Why was she so attracted to someone she needed to, wanted to - kill?
Wait. Did she just think Attracted? No, she wasn't attracted. Sure, he was kind and handsome and funny and everything Katara loved and desperately wanted... but... he was an enemy. An obstacle. Someone that needed to be brought down, for her master. She didn't like him. No, she didn't. She found solace in her justification that Aang was only a delusional, idealistic figure. She was only admiring his better qualities before she properly disposed of him.
It didn't matter anymore though. All that mattered was Katara's tightening yet surreptitious grip on the tainted blade, her lips puckering in anticipation of a kiss, wondering how Aang would feel that this would be their last kiss, his last kiss before destiny was fulfilled and he was removed from existence...
And then Aang tensed. "Sokka," he hissed, and Katara bit back a curse as she realized that, once again, she had been thwarted by terrible timing and an absentminded Sokka.
After what felt like forever - or at least, far too long to be reasonable - Sokka finally came stumbling into view, legs crouched despite the dire consequences of such a course of action, tongue lolling out much like Appa's did sometimes, eyes blank from pure exhaustion, mouth drooping from fatigue.
And yet, for all his sufferings, the words he said only pertained to the two benders standing guiltily next to each other. "Why," he panted out, mouth forming a weak scowl. "would you stop," a deep breath. "To wait for me?"
Aang opened his mouth to speak, but Katara beat him to the punch. "Waiting for you," she said, hands on her hips, leaning on one side for intimidation purposes.
Sokka was not happy. "What do you mean, waiting for me? Weren't you guys the ones trying to get to Kuei first? Why stop and wait for me when you two could literally fly to his place in mere minutes?" Sokka stared suspiciously at Katara, and for a moment she feared that Sokka might have suspsected something of her due to her own hypocrisy. But thankfully, his eyes moved on, and she breathed a short, quick, almost imperceptible sigh of relief.
Katara couldn't resist. She just couldn't. "You were the one that started it by telling us to rush to Kuei and doing nothing yourself. Besides, what with the stupidity levels you're showing here, I don't know if we can trust you to find your way to Kuei's palace without serious help. Also, we have to stick together. The last thing we want is for us to get captured and have who-knows-what done to us."
"WAIT, WHAT?" Sokka screamed. But Katara closed her eyes, smiled, nodded, turned around, and beckoned to the other two as she began once more to set out for the palace.
"She's still not apologizing to you about earlier," Aang noted with a frown. But his dark countenance quickly cleared, and cheerfully followed after Katara. "Whatever, that can come after we take care of the king!" he said, with only a guilty glance towards Sokka as he merrily skipped ahead, leaving a sulking Sokka to bring up the rear, muttering curses about ungrateful wards and annoying boys and evil sisters.
Then sun was barely holding its head above the condemning ocean that was the horizon. Now, violet hues streaked across the sky, replacing the soft orange hues from moments before, transforming the day from a late afternoon to an early evening. Needless to say, the trio were extremely anxious and apprehensive of what they were about to encounter. Would the king still be around? Who knew if another assassination had took place in the middle of their immaturities and insignificant trifles? If the king was still alive, would he be displeased with the Avatar and his friends? They might still be young, but they were also the heroes of a hundred year war that they ended in the span of several months. They knew responsibility, understood it, breathed it, no matter how reluctantly or begrudgingly they took up the mantle they had whisked away from others older and more experienced in life. But that was all the more reason to fear what would come next - their relatively high levels of responsibility made this lapse in attention and promptness all the more unforgivable.
But they needn't have worried. As soon as they had been immediately granted entry to the palace by two awestruck guards surprised and excited to meet the Avatar and speak with him, they entered the throne room where the King was lounging on, Bosco the bear lying peacefully at his feet, and he quickly rose to his feet and hurried towards the trio in order to give them the warm welcome he was unable to provide outside due to the undesirable circumstances. Unconventional though it was, Kuei had become well acquainted with Aang, Katara, and Sokka, having used them as mediators, ambassadors, and allies during important meetings and processes. Not to mention, the trio were well (if inconspicuously) decorated heroes from the Hundred Years' War, and that, coupled with the fact that Aang was the Avatar, influenced Kuei to greet them with open arms instead of the customary introduction at the throne.
"I thank you for your timely arrival." A pause. "Well... he said, squinting at the Avatar and company, who blushed and ducked their heads in embarrassment. "Perhaps not the wisest choice of words there. But then again, it wasn't the most prompt of arrivals to an invitation of a beleaguered king." Having decided he had rebuked the three enough, he skipped the formalities and jumped into the thick of things. "Well, anyways, you have my gratitude for coming. As you may know, someone tried to... kill me... for lack of a better term. Dear me, it seems as though this assassin has disoriented my sense of oration!" He chuckled, but quickly subsided when he noticed that the others weren't joining in. "Eh... heh heh... this is awkward. Almost exciting, really. Someone just tried to assassinate me! I'm a threat now, a true figure of power. I'm glad my days of puppetry are finally over..." Kuei said, eyes glazing over as he recalled his peaceful yet restricted life during his first few decades as king, manipulated by his cunning Secretariat and the Dai Li, which he had thankfully disbanded.
However, said extinct Dai Li were likely the very reason Kuei was having this conversation so late in the day. And Kuei made sure the others knew of it. "I was taking a walk outside the palace alongside my dear Bosco," At this the animal's head raised up, but quickly lowered itself when the bear realized there wasn't anything to do at the moment. "to get some air and to observe the citizens of the Upper Ring. All of a sudden, I noticed some smoke rising near the palace. I rushed as quickly as I could to the scene - which reminds me, I should really stop wearing these robes for physical exercise and activities! - to find, lo and behold, a cloaked figure with flames dancing on their palm! They were the ones who started the fire, I am sure of it. However, I heard some rustling, and I took a few steps back, narrowly missing a rock thrown my way. I wasted no time in trying to flee the scene. Fortunately, as I said, the palace was near, and I was able to reach the safety of its walls and guards just in time. But the fact is, someone is out there trying to kill me. I did manage to catch the robes that the assassins used - green cloaks with the signature yellow dot and circle of the Dai Li. I am certain that the Dai Li are involved in this, and that the firebender must be Azula. After all, any other Fire Nation dissenter would likely target Firelord Zuko as opposed to me, as he is - no offense to his administration - more loosely protected than I am." He sighed. "I lost several good men today who repelled the attackers. Please, you must find a way to catch them and bring them to justice! Innocent lives were sacrificed to a mad woman's fancy and a band of traitors! Please, I beseech you, end this madness and bring back peace and order to the kingdom you live in, and the king of the city you call home."
A silence ensued as Aang and Sokka quietly digested what Kuei had informed them of. Katara, however, clearly had other plans.
"No."
Aang, Sokka, and Kuei all turned to Katara at the same time. "Excuse me?" Kuei said.
"Excuse me?" Aang echoed in turn.
"Excuse me?" Sokka said belatedly. He frowned. "Are you insane? You're just going to let these crazy killers run free and kill the king and turn the world upside down? Or-"
"Sokka," Katara warned, baring her teeth. Pearly whites that momentarily distracted Aang from the objective he needed to focus on. "Please don't tell me you actually believe that Azula's behind this!" she looked askance at Aang, and laughed a disbelieving laugh when she got no support from that sector. "Come on! Her physical self is currently rotting in a mental institution, while her mental state is as delusional as ever. That's not even talking about the Dai Li, who wouldn't be so stupid as to attract attention to themselves, or even be in the city they're exiled from and persecuted the most! I mean, let's face it -" Katara looked around at the unconvinced males. "Those could have been costumes. Maybe that person coincidentally held a candle in their hand at the wrong time. Maybe there was a disatisfied person in this city who decided to bean a rock at Kuei. But I guarantee it, there is no way Azula's been out here running about when Zuko himself periodically updates us on her condition in the mental institution."
"Uh."
"What, Aang?" Aang did not like the tone of her voice as she addressed him, a rude, haughty voice that screamed volumes of conceit and hate. But he simply chose to ignore it. It was so uncharacteristic of her to act like this, that he was sure what he saw and heard was mere illusion. Although her sudden reversals of demeanor were highly concerning, as she was nearly kissing him one moment (why did Sokka always have to intrude on those moments?) and now was almost mocking him. It wasn't like her. And so Aang chose to ignore it, to deny it. It was probably just his imagination, after all.
"The thing is..." Aang tentatively brought up, struggling to keep his composure under Katara's piercing gaze. "... Zuko hasn't responded to us for the past three weeks. He always updates us weekly on what's going on in the Fire Nation. You know about it too. Why has he suddenly become silent?"
Katara rolled her eyes. "Could be anything. Some political intrigues that keep him busy. Maybe he just hasn't had the time to sit down and write. Or maybe there are messenging difficulties. I mean, take a look at Hawky! He's a great bird ["You're darn right! He's the best!"] but even he has his moments. I'm fairly certain that whatever it was, it's an unintentional, coincidental accident that has nothing to do with this... brouhaha."
"An attempt on King Kuei's life isn't exactly a brouhaha, Katara," pointed out Aang. "Not to mention that Zuko surely should have sent several more messages beyond that. I don't think there's a likelihood of multiple messenger hawks failing to get to us - unless they were intercepted, which would definitely scream that something's off."
Katara closed her eyes, took a deep breath in, and huffed it all out. "But what we have isn't exactly definitive."
"Since when has Azula ever been 'definitive,' even before she landed her butt in an insanity hospital?"
"But you see, what you're saying is that she's been thrown in a mental ward. And yet before you were saying how it's likely that's she's on the loose. Those two things don't exactly go together. It's not like those doctors and staff in charge are just going to undo the restraints on crazy people and let them run rampant on the people."
"But I also said that Azula isn't exactly 'definitive' and predictable," countered Aang. "It wouldn't be the first time she's outsmarted someone. I mean, look at what she did to Ba Sing Se?"
"Which occurred when her mind wasn't as sharp as a sack of wet sand," snapped Katara. "I don't get why you're jumping to stupid conclusions. I mean, sure, Azula's probably been plaguing you ever since you let her shoot that lightning bolt and nearly jeopardized the balance of the world. But that doesn't mean that she's the one who somehow managed to make it all the way from a secure asylum to Ba Sing Se, gather the Dai Li, and be able to approach the palace without detection and nearly kill King Kuei, and managing to take innocent lives. Sure, this is a tragedy, but you can't just assume anything." She was met with silence. "So? Are we agreed?"
Aang shot a furtive look at Sokka, who mirrored the gesture. Although Katara was nearly making her stance sound almost reasonable, the tone she adopted wasn't quite appropriate for the situation - indifferent coldness - and those words about Aang. Was it really his fault that Azula decided to go for him when he was in the Avatar State? Granted, he didn't think things quite thoroughly at the time, but Katara was not one to point out another's vices in such an obvious way.
"Well?" Demanded Katara. "Say something. Anything. We don't have time to waste!"
"Katara," said Sokka. "Sometimes assuming is better than not assuming. At least with assuming, we have a clear set of guidelines to help us prepare for what's going to come."
"I thought you guys said that Azula wasn't 'definitive,'" remarked Katara, and with this the entire group fell deathly silent. It wasn't as though Katara wasn't clever, per se, but her speech and reasoning were... too cold. Too analytical. Not her.
Sokka never learned when to shut his mouth. No matter the circumstance, no matter the time and place, he'd always manage to mess up the most important things in life with just one bumbling sentence. Clearly, Sokka wanted to politely point out the peculiarity of Katara's state of mind, and point out her outstanding cleverness and wit. Unfortunately, he did not think his statement through, and ended up saying, "What's been happening with you sis? It's like -"
"I'M ALRIGHT!" Katara shouted, spittle nearly jumping out of her mouth. Sokka paled and shrank within himself, realizing his blunder too late, and having the full force of irate Katara on him. "You are the most disrespectful, intellectually challenged, narrow-minded, bigoted, hypocritically retarded swine who doesn't know when to shut their useless mouth. I swear, one more word from you, and -" Katara narrowed her eyes, near-savage glint shining in the torchlight. "- I won't say it to spare you the details. Just shut your ugly trap. Please."
"Katara... please... stay calm... I'm sure Sokka didn't mean anything by it..." Aang said placatingly, trying to alleviate the tension in the room too thick to even cut. He, as an airbender, disliked the violent course the discussion had embarked on, and Aang was terrified of what lay at the end of that downward spiral, full of treacherous twists and turns.
Unfortunately, like Sokka, he only worsened the situation.
"CALM? I AM COMPLETELY CALM!" screamed Katara, eyes bulging, face red, teeth bared in earnest as she lashed out at Aang in an attempt to vent her temper. When she realized where she was - and also what she had done - she immediately stepped backward, hands held up, eyes wide with horror. "Oh Spirits..." she whispered. "What have I done..." then suddenly, she stiffened, blinked twice, and groaned. "Okay. I need a break. I'm going away from you guys to take a breather and to go to the bathroom... you know... women stuff..." she rolled her eyes as Sokka shuddered, Aang winced, and Kuei looked exceedingly uncomfortable, having been mute all conversation long and now further intimidated into silence by the arbitrary turn of events that had occurred within the span of several minutes. "I'm heading out. I'll be back in ten." And with that, she stormed off, hair whipping around her body in a show of beauteous anger that Aang, despite his pain, still found utterly captivating. Then she turned a corner and was gone, and a guard walked in, looking concerned.
"Anything happened here, Sire?" he asked. "I heard some loud shouting here, and I'm just checking to see if everything's fine, Your Majesty."
"No, there's nothing wrong," Sokka said. "Just some respectful argument. That's all."
The guard looked skeptical. "Are you sure about that? Because -"
"This man over here speaks for me," interrupted a weary Kuei. "But I thank you for your devotion and loyalty to me. Such deeds will not be forgotten."
The guard bowed low. "Sire," he said reverently. He backed out, and the doors to the throne room were closed, leaving Aang and Sokka alone with Kuei. Kuei raised his arms up to stretch. "Well, since we're having a break... might as well check on dear Bosco!" he said, rushing over to greet his beloved bear with tidings of evening.
And so Aang and Sokka were left by themselves, to their own devices, both staring blankly at the King and his Bear as they played together.
And, slowly, ever so imperceptibly, Sokka shifted himself until his mouth was directly next to Aang's ear, and he whispered:
"Okay, what's up with her?
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