AN: Alright. Zuko was captured for about four days. It took them two days to figure out where he was and another eight days to get there. The gang was resting due to Zuko's injuries during this time.
I'll have another chance
I'll find another girl
I'll see another day
And I'll build another world
I'll start another life just like you told me to
And I'll find another love
But there will never be another you
Chapter 24: The Breath
Sokka and Aang woke up early that morning, and were surprised to see Katara gone. But they weren't worried; Hessair was gone too, so they figured they'd gone off together, probably after Zuko. Hopefully, if they found him, they wouldn't try to rescue him alone. After breakfast, they got on Appa and headed out to look for them. It didn't take long, as Hessair was flying around for the most part.
They landed by a stream and Hessair folded his wings and walked over to a nearby lump of cloths. Sokka leapt down from the bison's back and shouted.
"Katara! Where are you girl?"
Hessair glared at him, and then nudged the pile of blankets at his feet and it moved. Sokka stared at it strangely, and then Hessair got fed up. He gripped the blanket in his teeth and pulled it off the sleeping teenagers. The first thing Sokka saw was Zuko's back.
"Holy SHIT!"
Zuko tried to sit up, but cursed and fell back down. Katara slipped from his arms and helped him to shift on the hard ground, trying to make him more comfortable.
"Sokka, can you grab my sleeping bag?" Sokka complied and brought it to her. Through a combined effort from her, Sokka, and Zuko, they got him on it. He shifted onto his side where all the bruises and wounds were least. Aang got down from Appa and came over.
"Zuko, what did they do to you?" Zuko hissed as Sokka accidentally hit one of his worst bruises.
"A lot."
Katara stood after brushing a stray lock of hair from her beloved's face. "Aang, can you help me find some hanna leaf? Hessair said it would help the wounds heal." Aang nodded and they headed off.
Zuko sighed. He hated being dependent on anyone, but he could barely breathe without hurting. "Sokka, could you get me some water?"
"Sure thing Zuko." Sokka grabbed a water-skin from their supplies still on Appa's back and brought it back to Zuko. When he was done quenching his thirst, he put the stopper back in the skin and looked at Sokka.
"Sokka?"
"Yeah?"
"We're friends, right? I mean, we're close."
"Yeah, Zuko, we're best friends. Why?"
"How would you feel if we were more…I mean…what if we were brothers?"
Sokka's eyes went wide as he comprehended.
The Guerriers Réels had met to discuss the capture of their prince. Unknown to Zula and the Fire Lord, they'd expected an attack at the banquet. It had been Saiza's idea to lure them into attacking, to make them believe that the best of them were dead. It was far from true. Only Saiza knew the true extent of their power. But he was no longer in charge. The once sleeping Dragon of the West had risen.
Zula forced the pain to the back of her mind. Kinita had not returned from her fruitless vendetta against Zuko and the mystery warrior, and try as she may to have hope, Zula knew Kinita was dead, and she would have her revenge. A knock came at her door.
"My lady, we have news."
"Well, what is it?"
"The Avatar's bison was spotted landing in the foothills of the Achlys Range. We have suspicions that the Prince is there as well."
"All right. Ready the rhinos and tell the troops to be ready in an hour."
"Yes, my lady."
She hissed and absentmindedly began twirling a dagger through her fingers. You won't get away from me this time Zuko.
They rested a few days until Zuko felt like he could travel. Using her and Sokka's sleeping bags, they set a spot up for him in the back of Appa's saddle. Hessair wasn't happy about losing his rider, but he understood the circumstances.
Appa had been flying for about an hour when Katara scooted to Zuko's side. She ran a hand lightly down his side, but he stopped her.
"Don't do that."
"I'm sorry."
"No, doesn't hurt, it tickles."
She giggled.
"You're ticklish?"
"You bet, but it hurts when I laugh."
"Does it hurt when I do this?" She leaned over and kissed him, tangling her fingers in his hair. He wrapped one arm around her, Aang made a gagging motion, and Sokka looked away with a smile. Katara deepened the kiss, swinging one leg over Zuko's and settling herself into his lap. He wrapped both arms around her waist and pulled her against him.
"Hey, guys, keep it child-safe."
Katara pulled away reluctantly. The look in Zuko's eyes said he felt the same. She'd actually been surprised that Sokka hadn't flipped out when she told him how she felt for Zuko. He'd said simply that he didn't want any nieces or nephews any time soon. All three of them had agreed on that. She laid her head on Zuko's chest, rubbing her head against the red silk, feeling the rough texture of the bandages beneath the shirt.
Sokka and Zuko's gazes met over her head, and Sokka mouthed something. Zuko rolled his eyes and Sokka looked put out and mouthed something else. Zuko sighed. He knew he'd have to do it sometime, but honestly, he was nervous as hell and he HATED being nervous.
Aang turned around. "Hey guys, we're going to have to stop for supplies soon."
"Alright Aang."
"No problem."
"Where should we head Zuko?"
"Well, Aang, definitely into the Achlys Range. There's an Earth Kingdom city just inside the borders, and it will make it harder for Zula and her army to follow us."
"And why is that, if I may ask?"
Katara remained silent through all this.
"Because there's an extreme climate shift from here to the mountains. It drops like 60 degrees. Komodo Rhinos HATE the cold. Speaking of cold, I'd better get a coat of some sort as well. Komodo Rhinos aren't the only ones that hate cold."
Katara wrapped her arms around Zuko and snuggled close. "Don't worry, my love, I'll keep you warm." Zuko raised her head and kissed her.
"CHILD SAFE!"
"Hey, you said kissing's allowed."
"Yeah, but what Katara's suggesting isn't."
"I was just playing Sokka."
And that was how it continued until they reached Jabari, the first city inside the Achlys range.
They landed on the outskirts, and several male warriors ran out. Zuko was absolutely freezing. He could barely keep his teeth from chattering. One of the warriors spoke out.
"Who are you and what do you want here?"
Aang grinned.
"I'm the Avatar, and these are my friends Sokka and Katara of the Water tribe, and..."
"…And I'm his hostage fire-bender. He made me swear by my honor to obey everything that he says, and they keep making me do embarrassing things. But soon I'll have no honor left and then I'm going to kill you all…very slowly."
The warrior stared at Zuko with widening eyes and Aang punched his arm, causing Zuko to yell in pain. Aang had momentarily forgotten that Zuko's entire body was a mass of bruises and gashes.
"Dammit Aang, is all that hanna leaf gone to your head? I told you not to eat it!"
"I'm sorry Zuko, I forgot."
"A lot of help that does my arm."
The warrior still looked horrified and Katara glared at Zuko.
"Why did you say all that Zuko?"
"Because the whole Fire-Nation-Prince-switched-sides-and-is-now-good is so clichéd and so old."
The warrior looked at Zuko. "You mean, what you said wasn't true?"
"No. I was kidding."
"Oh." The other warriors lowered their weapons, which no one had noticed were pointed at Zuko.
"Well, the Avatar is always welcome here. Your companions and bison as well."
Momo ran up and jumped up onto Aang's head. Zuko finally submitted to the cold and wrapped his aching arms around himself.
"Hello? Hurt and freezing fire-bender over here. Warmth much desired and a shirt that isn't silk." Katara went over to him, hugged him, and kissed him, much to the surprise of the Jabari warriors. She pulled away and smiled.
"Better?"
Zuko closed his eyes and kissed her again.
"Much."
Suddenly, a woman burst out of the gates, shaking a finger at the warriors.
"They are cold and are injured and you keep our guests out here!" She walked over and placed an arm around Zuko's shoulders, causing him to hiss in pain. The woman pulled away and looked at him. She glanced at Katara, who had a worried look on her face.
"Come on, fire-bender, we're going to see the extent of your injuries."
A few minutes later, Zuko was seated in a warm hut with the rest of the gang. Sokka was eating a hearty meal of meat and noodles, while Aang napped and Katara helped the healing-woman, who said to call her Zhi.
Zhi gave Zuko some wine, and slowly began unraveling Katara's awkwardly wrapped bandages. Zuko drained the cup and gritted his teeth against the pulling of the blood-soaked bandages. When the last strip pulled away, Zhi withheld a gasp.
"Boy, I'm surprised to see you walking."
"Should I take that as a compliment or just shut up?"
"Both, cause this is going to hurt."
She mixed a few herbs into a bowl of steaming water and soaked a rag in it. Katara grasped Zuko's hand firmly as Zhi pressed the cloth to Zuko's back.
Zuko bit back a scream, but he couldn't suppress it all and he whimpered. The stinging pain continued until it consumed his back. Zhi sighed at his tenseness.
"I'm sorry, boy, but this will kill the poison in the wounds." Katara's eyes disappeared into her hair.
"They poisoned the whip?"
Zhi looked up. "If that's what was used across his back, then yes."
A warrior came in, the gray in his hair accented by the lines of experience in his face.
"Zhi, I can't believe you're treating that fire-bender."
Zhi hissed in anger and stopped sponging Zuko's back for a moment.
"Boy, who did this to you?"
Zuko was taking deep breaths and relishing the dimming of the pain.
"Admiral Zhao, on my sister's orders."
Zhi looked at the warrior triumphantly.
"You see? This boy's been nearly scourged to death by his own people." Her fingers traced Zuko's scar with a mother's touch. "And I don't think this was the first time."
"My father gave me that." The warrior scowled.
"Who's your father?"
Zuko winced visibly, both due to the fact that Zhi was rubbing his back again and the mention of his father.
"Fire Lord Ozai."
The warrior nearly went through the roof. "You're the Fire Prince?"
Zuko hissed through gritted teeth, hot tears rolling down his face, and Katara answered for him.
"Yes, he's the Fire Prince, but he refuses to let anyone call him Prince." She laid a head on his shoulder and he turned his head, burying his face in her hair.
The warrior bowed. "I am sorry, P…Zuko." Zuko blinked. "Why?"
"Our warriors joined the Guerriers Réels a little over a month ago. We are yours to command."
Sokka now looked up from his food.
"But I thought they were just Fire Nation rebels."
"No, they've offered alliances to the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom. Each Nation has been fighting its own war with the Fire Nation, and they made us realize how futile it was to fight alone. I'll never forget what Commander Saiza said."
Zuko's head snapped up.
"What did he say?"
"Apart we are merely an obstacle, together we are a threat."
Zuko nodded as Zhi pressed another glass of wine in his hand then continued with her work.
"That sounds just like Saiza."
The warrior looked taken back.
"You know Commander Saiza?"
"Of Course, he's my cousin."
The warrior's jaw dropped and he ran out.
A soldier came up to Zula. "My lady, there is something you might want to see."
She nodded and dismounted. Zhao dismounted as well and followed her, and they both followed the soldier. They entered a clearing and when Zula saw what she was supposed to, she had to bite back a scream and she turned away. Zhao said nothing, looking upon it indifferently.
It was Kinita.
Saiza looked at the map with an experienced eye. Since his banishment, he'd learned everything he could about the land outside the Fire Nation, and then he'd learned the Fire Nation. No one knew that he returned to the Fire Nation. He'd watched over his young cousin as he slept through the night, often little Ediera curled up next to him. She kept having nightmares of their mother and father fighting. Ozai was no gentler to his wife than he was to anyone else.
Iroh was next to him, and pointed to the only ground entrance to the mountain range.
"They just finished building a fortress in this area. I'm sure that is where Zula is keeping him."
"How many men?"
"A few corps. She's formed an alliance with Admiral Zhao, so we'll have to deal with his legions as well as hers."
"No doubt their keeping him under high security, if he's still alive."
"He's alive, Saiza."
Saiza nodded. "They need the Avatar, and he will go after Zuko. It would be better if we could get to the Avatar and persuade him to join us. If Zula gets the Avatar…" He trailed off, his worried expression shared by Iroh. Just then, one of the Jabari warriors came in.
"Sirs, a group of four travelers just came in. They are at Zhi's healing house, for one of them is badly injured, due to imprisonment." His eyes turned to Saiza. "He's claiming to be your cousin."
Both fire-benders were up and out the door, racing to the healing house.
Zhi finished cleaning Zuko's wounds and rewrapped them. He laid his head on Katara's shoulder and sighed. She stroked his clean-shaven scalp and kissed the edge of his scar.
"I love you, Zuko."
"I love you more."
In the background, Sokka made a gagging sound. They both looked up at him and glared. He rolled his eyes.
After a few minutes, they woke Aang up and decided to go shopping for supplies. Zhi gave Zuko a thick fur-lined coat, and it was even dark red. Zuko was incredibly grateful and they made their way to the market. Zuko withdrew some money and distributed it as earlier, but this time, he suggested that Katara and Aang head off together. Katara pouted at this statement. She'd been hoping that Zuko and she could get some alone time, but Zuko stated firmly that Sokka and he had some business to attend to. Katara noted to ask him what that business was when they got back, and she watched them until the dark red and bright blue disappeared in the crowd.
She looked over some fruits while Aang seemed entranced by an array of strange hats. Katara dragged him away from the stand and headed off the direction that Sokka and Zuko had disappeared nearly an hour ago, but then she heard someone calling her name. She turned around and saw two Fire Nation soldiers coming towards her. One was Zuko's Uncle Iroh, the other she didn't recognize.
Iroh and Katara embraced, and then Iroh shook Aang's hand. He asked them how their trip was, but as he did, the other soldier was constantly looking around, behind her, behind himself, just looking. Iroh turned back to her after interrogating Aang about the rest of the gang.
"Katara, Aang, have either of you seen Zuko since he was captured?"
Katara nodded and smiled. "He's not captured anymore, but we're supposed to be meeting him and Sokka in a few minutes. You can come with us."
The other soldier nodded and smiled at her.
"Tell me, how did they treat my dear cousin in captivity?"
She frowned. "Horribly."
He nodded. "Better than I expected. By the way, my name is Saiza."
Katara and Aang smiled again. "Zuko's told us a lot about you, Commander Saiza."
The group then made their way to the place that they were supposed to meet Zuko and Sokka. When they got there, Zuko was leaning up against a pole, fingering something in his pocket, and apparently arguing with Sokka. Sokka had his arms crossed on his chest, and was glaring angrily at Zuko. Katara ran up and threw her arms around Zuko's neck. She felt his bad mood melt away and pulled him around so she could kiss him. When they pulled apart, Zuko saw Saiza and Iroh. Iroh pulled him into a hug, which aggravated every wound on his body from the way Zuko acted. Saiza merely patted him on the shoulder, but the look in both men's eyes, they were happy to see each other.
Katara pulled Zuko back to her but turned her head away when he tried to kiss her.
"Alright, boy, tell me what was so important you couldn't spend some time with me this afternoon." Unexpectedly, he smiled.
"That's a surprise." His and Sokka's eyes met, and Sokka rolled his eyes. Katara frowned.
"I hate surprises, you better tell me."
"Nope, you have to wait."
"Come on."
"No." She turned to Sokka.
"Sokka, you know what he's up to. Will you tell me?"
"No, Katara, it's against the law for me to." She nearly screamed.
"Prince Zuko, if you don't tell me what the surprise is, I'll never kiss you again."
His smile vanished.
"Breaking out the heavy artillery?"
"Tell me."
"Fine, fine." He glanced around, they were in the middle of the street, people constantly milling around them. "Honestly, girl, remember, this was your idea."
For a moment they just stood there, all eyes on Zuko, but he didn't move. Finally, Sokka sighed. "Just do it, Zuko."
"Alright, alright." He reached into his pocket and pulled out…a ring. Then, he knelt on one knee in front of Katara, her hand in both of his.
"Katara, will you marry me?"
AN: Alright. Zuko was captured for about four days. It took them two days to figure out where he was and another eight days to get there. The gang was resting due to Zuko's injuries during this time. It took them two days to get to Jabari, so that's almost two weeks. No idea why I'm posting this.
An attempt at randomness...
Scene: Kinita vs. Katara
Director: Set? and Action!
(Katara and Kinita start whacking at each other, The ground is wet from a recent rain and Kinita loses her balance, trips Katara, and they both end up in the mud)
Director: CUT!
Kinita: It's not my fault! It's hers!
Katara: My fault! You tripped me!
Kinita: Why are you worried about a little mud? You get to kiss Zuko!
Katara: And he's such a good kisser...What? I have mud in my hair? Shit!
Director: Alright, alright. Girls, take a break and get cleaned up. Call in Zula and Zhao, we'll set up for the next scene. (looks around) where's Zuko?
Stage Hand: He's at the emergency room being treated for minor burns.
Director: What?
(Sokka walks by whistling innocently)