"What did you do to my sister?!"
Zanui arched a brow from his cage as Sokka kicked the door open, marching threateningly towards him with his sword out. The Avatar and Lord Zuko quickly followed suit, trying to hold him back. The tip of the blade had just entered the cage when they managed to get control of him, putting him into a lock hold.
"Sokka, calm down! Threatening to harm him won't do any good!" Aang pleaded as he forced the tip of the blade into the metal flooring outside of the bars. "Let's do this calmly—"
"He injured Katara!" Sokka snarled as he abandoned the sword, ripping his arms from Aang and Zuko's grip and reached through the bars, grabbing ahold of Zanui's tunic tightly. "If she dies, your head is mine!"
"You just might be as scary as Ms. Beifong, Sokka," Zanui smirked as the Water Tribe warrior tried to yank him closer, the chains linked to the wall preventing him from getting closer. "Manners would do you good right now, boy, I won't talk to a savage such as yourself."
"You're in no—!"
"Enough, Sokka, if you can't compose yourself, then wait outside." Zuko grasped his shoulder tightly, giving him a stern look. Sokka clenched his jaw before giving Zanui a shove back, shifting back to lean against the door with his narrowed eyes never leaving the prisoner.
"How kind of you—"
"I suggest you hold your tongue, Zanui, because I'm not in a generous mood right now." Zuko turned to him, arms crossed tightly against his chest. "I want to know who your boss is and if there are any more women you've kidnapped and hidden away."
"Is that all? Not much of an interrogation," Zanui sniffed indifferently.
"There will be multiple interrogations, but I want you to tell me these things first. Try to divert from the question and Sokka back there will get the first strike in." Zanui's eyes darted from the black blade to the piercing blue eyes.
"Zuko, this isn't the way to handle things," Aang grabbed his friend by the sleeve and took a few steps away. "Threatening him will do nothing but create tension, we need to do this in a calm and neutral way."
"No offense, Aang, but he's pretty much the bottom of the barrel level of scum. He hurt Katara, kidnapped her, tortured her. I have no sympathy or patience for him. Maybe Appa will eat him." Sokka growled lowly, his hand clenched tightly around his swords hilt.
"One, Appa is a vegetarian, and two…I'm just as upset and angry at what he did to Katara and the other women but losing control of our emotions isn't the way to go about this." Aang said softly, releasing his grip on Zuko. "I understand what you're feeling, Sokka, I really do, but this needs to be handled diplomatically."
"She was brave, you know," Zanui tossed out casually, instantly getting their attention. "Never screamed or cried, always stuck up for the other girls. Though to be fair, I wasn't the one to torture her, merely the one to teach her where her place is. Such a fire in her soul."
"Who was the one who did it then?" Zuko asked, narrowing his eyes.
"An underling of mine, insecure, weak, always such a suck-up to me. Took him in so he wouldn't squeal to the coppers."
"A name." Sokka snapped and Aang shifted in between the two.
"I'll leave that for her to say," Zanui chuckled. "Poor thing acted so tough for all these weeks, I'm surprised her spirit hasn't been completely crushed yet. Though, I'm sure the nightmares will haunt her for years."
"If all you're going to do is ignore the questions, then we're done here. You'll rot in a prison cell for the rest of your life without your bending abilities, becoming nothing more than shell of a person." Zuko turned on his heel, Sokka shifting out of the way. "Aang, do what you need to do. I'll prepare the men to depart."
Aang remained behind, giving Zuko a small nod that he'll catch up with him in a bit. The metal door swung shut, a heavy air settling in the small prisoner cell. Sokka returned to his place against the door, sword at his side. With a deep breath in, then out, the airbender turned to face Katara's kidnapper. He looked a little worse for wear, his face blank and caked in dirt and sweat. His black locks were messy and clumped together all over, a few of the thicker strands sticking to his face. The extravagant Fire Nation robes had been swapped out for dull and loose prisoner clothes, coarse rope tying off the middle. Brown eyes stared up at him with a hint of curiosity as Aang crouched down in front of him.
"No tea? That's bad manners coming from the Avatar. If we're going to talk for a while, may as well have some tea and snacks." Aang kept his face neutral as he reached through the bars with both hands. "You should know, I enjoyed seeing the furious expression on your face as she collapsed to the ground. She even used her last conscious moment to look up at you. Wish I could make a painting of it and hang it on my wall."
Aang briefly clenched his jaw before letting out a heavy breath, releasing the anger. It wouldn't do him any good right now, especially when he needed to focus on what he was about to do.
"What are you…" Sokka trailed off as he watched Aang place one hand against Zanui's head and the other his chest.
"I'm going to energybend into his soul to see everything that's happened." Aang spoke quietly, his tattoos beginning to glow.
"Like I'll let you." Zanui sucked in a quick breath before unleashing a beam of flames from his mouth, aiming directly for Aang's face.
"Aang!"
The flames quickly directed upwards as a hand clenched Zanui's jaw tightly, tilting his head sharply up. Aang opened his eyes as the Avatar State took full control, earth quickly shooting from the ground and through the metal, pinning Zanui tightly against the bars. The firebender tried to struggle against the tight hold, opening his mouth once more to attack. Aang quickly surrounded his head with a bubble of air, smothering the flames before they could emerge. With the threat taken care of, he placed his hands back against his forehead and chest. Zanui's eyes went wide as he felt something probing around in his mind, searching every nook and cranny of his memory as the air was ripped from his lungs. He could almost see the Avatar watching through his eyes as the memories flipped rapidly like a rolodex. The firebender almost felt the sweet relief of darkness when it ended, his body slumping lifelessly against his chains.
The Avatar State died out and Aang let out a shaky breath, Sokka quickly helping him up from the floor.
"I saw everything I needed to know. We need to talk with Zuko when we get back to the Fire Nation." Aang cast a quick glance back at Zanui before heading for the door.
"Is he…dead?" Sokka asked cautiously, tempted to poke him with his sword. "How did you do that? I thought that only took away bending abilities."
"No, all I did was search his soul. I was able to see his memories from the beginning of his life until now by bending the energy within his soul. He still has his bending for now, but I want Katara to make the final decision on the matter."
"I already know what she'll say, so why not do it now?"
"Even though I'm the only one who can do it, her opinion on the matter is important. I want her to make the final decision." Aang opened the door, the sounds of orders being barked filling the air.
"I've got no choice but to trust you on the matter." Sokka sighed heavily, sheathing his sword. "Are you sure Appa won't give him a little munch?"
"Pretty sure he's still vegetarian, Sokka."
"One can dream."
"You are nothing more than a worthless piece of trash kidnapped for show." Kaito spat as he snapped the leather strap in his hand against the dirt floor. "You've lived such a luxurious life travelling the world, enjoying the finer things of life while the rest of us rot in the slums. It's time to put you back in your place!"
The strap struck her over and over, hitting her arms and legs, once even grazing her throat. She endured it, showing no fear as her skin stung painfully, the areas burning like fire. It had become a daily ritual for the weak and insecure man to torture her, though after a week of it, she had mentally become numb to it. Katara vowed to never show him her weakness, to keep her head high to show he would never break her spirit down. Zanui either never noticed or didn't care that his underling was abusing her nightly. Kaito switched it up from his usually kicking one day, the sudden sharpness causing her to jerk in surprise. Ever since then, he alternated without warning, one-minute kicking her and the next lashing at her with the strap. Katara guessed it had to do with getting a reaction from her judging by his loud taunts of being quiet again.
After a while and with a heavy wheeze, he stopped. Katara barely held her composure, the excruciating pain nearly threatening for the tears to slip past her rough blindfold.
"Damn brat," Kaito gasped, doubled over as he tried to regain his breath. "You can't hold in your cries forever. Same time tomorrow?"
She heard him stumble away, cursing under his breath. Once he was gone, she slumped back against the wall, biting her lip hard as her chest constricted painfully. The strong will that burned inside of her was slowly extinguishing, a fragile and broken one replacing it. Katara was terrified. Never knowing when they would be moved again, when Kaito would come back to abuse her, or what Zanui had planned for her. Whenever he drew near, she would remain motionless, tensing up as she waited for whatever he was going to do to her next. He would sometimes get too close for comfort, smelling her hair or lightly tracing his fingers down her arm. It disgusted the waterbender and she would often lash out at him, one time kneeing him in the chin and earning herself a night in the isolation cell. Her hands would be tied tightly above her with her feet chained to the floor. During the twelve hours of confinement, only once or twice would they let her down to eat and use the bathroom.
Often at night, she would hear the screams of the other women, their pleading cries drowned out in agonized screams as they were beaten into submission. A heavy weight constantly ached in her heart for them, her own situation preventing her from saving them all. The room began to melt away, her blindfold fading as the surroundings changed. Her chains dissolved in thin air, her clothing changing into altered Water Tribe apparel. Katara found herself facing a rock wall, desperately clawing at it as an immense heat began licking at her back. She turned around, encasing her arms in what little water she had as she faced her attacker.
Zanui had her cornered against the wall after she had escaped her cell and chains at the auction, his anger instantly reminding her of Ozai. She could feel the heat as his flames grew, the meager water covering her arms evaporating in an instant, leaving her unarmed and facing a massive fireball—
…tara…
The waterbender was sure she was going to die, her eyes closing tightly as it released from his palms. The scorching heat burned painfully against her skin as her body began to burn. There was no one who could save her now as she became engulfed in the fire, writhing in agony as the smell of burning flesh hit her nose—
…Katara…
The scream that emitted from her seemed crystal clear as her body fell to the ground, smoking as the flames disintegrated her into nothing more than ashes…
Katara!
Blue eyes abruptly snapped open, the scream in her throat dying out as she wildly looked around, breathing jagged as panic clawed at her chest. She couldn't recognize where she was, the red environment reminding her of the flames, and she felt the panic threatening to drown her. Sweat drenched her body as the heat of the room made her lightheaded.
"It's okay, it was just a nightmare." Katara's eyes darted over to see a worried Aang sitting on the edge of the bed next to her, grasping her arm.
"Zanui…he…" Katara rasped, quickly sitting up, resting her head in her hands as her body shook. "The beatings…Kaito, every night…It was too much…"
"Sweetie, it's alright, it's all over now." Aang whispered as he gently put his hand on her back. "I promise you're safe, he can't hurt you anymore."
"I can still hear it…" Katara whispered through her hands. "Their screams, Aang…every night, every single night, they tortured them…"
"Katara…"
"Zanui is a monster who doesn't deserve to live." Aang flinched at the harshness in her tone, though a part of him wholeheartedly agreed to an extent.
"He won't ever harm you again, I promise you." He carefully wrapped his fingers around her wrist, causing her to look up at him with a tearstained face. "I'm worried about you, Katara, you've been having these nightmares almost nightly. This was the worst one I've seen yet."
"The others were different," Katara couldn't meet his eyes, dropping her gaze to the bedsheet. "Zanui was in this one, in the caverns. I…didn't escape from this one…" She shivered as his face flashed in her mind.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Aang asked quietly, lovingly wiping away her tears.
"I know I need to, I just…"
"Take all the time you need to."
Katara nodded, readily accepting his welcoming embrace. Every time she closed her eyes, Zanui's face appeared with a maniacal grin and crazed eyes. It was at least some comfort being in Aang's arms, the images slowly turning into nothing more than colored blurs. She knew he was worried, most likely woken up by her terrified screams. Sokka had admitted to her that no one had really slept well while she was gone. Katara had seen their faces, exhausted and worn. She had barely slept throughout the ordeal as well, feeling as if she had just slipped into slumber when all the girls were woken up and moved over and over again to cover their tracks. Zanui had planned everything well, constantly moving, creating deep caverns in the earth, keeping them blindfolded. A few times hers had slipped, giving her a sliver of her surroundings.
It was shortly after she was kidnapped, when they were in carriages moving away from Ba Sing Se in the middle of the night. She wasn't entirely sure, but she thought she had heard Zanui in the front of the carriage, chatting quietly with the driver. Katara carefully tilted her ear towards them, her body still mostly paralyzed from the earlier arrow attack.
"I want everything to go smoothly now that I have her," Zanui had spoken lowly, eyes remaining forward. "The Avatar is beyond pissed off now and I'd rather not have to confront him myself."
"Of course, Boss Zanui. I doubt they'll come after us right away seeing as they'll need to report to King Kuei first." Katara felt what she thought was a frown rest on her lips. How did they know?
"I'm so glad Long Feng owed me a favor, those Dai Li of his are quick and discrete. Good thing he still has spies in the Palace otherwise we'd be in jail right now!" The two laughed as the carriage continued to travel along the bumpy road, Katara slipping into the darkness.
"You mean to tell me," A man cowered as a voice hissed dangerously down at him, his knees nearly buckling as he looked up at the figure sitting above him. "That Zanui, one of my best men, surrendered when cornered by Lord Zuko?"
"Y-yes, boss, t-that's what the Yuyan Archer wrote in his letter." He swallowed hard. "I b-believe it may be a tactical—"
"He's dead to me!" The figured boomed at his quivering pawn. "I want him eradicated from this gang and dragged back to me half dead! Or completely dead! He knew the rules when I pulled him from that jail cell all those years ago, begging for work with that pathetic hopeful expression. Now he chooses to 'tactfully' give himself up to the Fire Lord? I never should have freed him from Boiling Rock, Zanui disgraces this family. What else did the letter say?"
"W-well, the Avatar seemed to have been either following them or was coincidentally at the meeting location when they arrived. He freed the women before his reinforcements arrived, Boss Dakku."
"Hm. It almost seems unbelievable that he was there coincidentally, but if he was looking for his sweetheart, then it's possible. That's the terrible thing about emotional connections, Valo, they can be easily used and manipulated like Pai Sho pieces. A shame, really, that Master Katara got away. She would be worth quite a bit of money, though she's a bit too well known throughout the world." Dakku licked his lips slowly. "Or a good trophy piece to match my others."
"B-Boss Dakku, if I may…" Valo meekly raised a hand.
"Fine, what is it?"
"I…forgive me if this out of place, sir, but I believe going after her once more may anger Avatar Aang into the Avatar State again. He becomes uncontrollable once he loses hold of his emotions, as witnessed when Zanui captured Master Katara. It's too much of a risk to go after her once more, especially with the entirety of the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom armies standing behind them."
"You may be right," Dakku said slowly, mulling over the idea. "I doubt we would be able to capture her once more. Having seen Zanui's methods of kidnapping, I'm sure the poor thing is traumatized from her first-hand experience. Both the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom are most likely on lockdown now since the kidnappings, so there's no hope of replacing what was lost. Valo, send word out to Reim's squadron and have them attempt to bring Zanui back to me at least a portion alive. Getting him out of Lord Zuko's prison may be next to impossible, so if all else fails, have him eliminated on the spot."
"Yes, Boss Dakku."
"Oh, one more thing, Yano," Dakku called out, stopping his underling.
"Y-yes?"
"Give Master Katara our best regards."
"Of course."
Katara's eyes shot open as she emerged from yet another nightmare, drenched in a heavy sheen of sweat. Zanui hadn't made his appearance again, instead the beatings from Kaito played over and over again, tormenting her nightly for weeks and leaving the agonized screams of the other women ringing in her ears. The days and nights were beginning to blur together as she slept for days on end, the mental and emotional exhaustion keeping her awake for only a few hours at a time. With a slow breath out, she slipped her legs over the edge of the bed, resting her arms on her knees as she stared blankly at her palms. While her physical wounds would heal, the psychological could take months or years to go away completely. Some progress had been made, the waterbender healing herself using the private bath in her room. The wounds were nearly gone with just traces of scarring while the bruises were faded just enough for her to forgo the long sleeves when moving about the Palace.
A knock on the door jerked her from the remaining sensations of the all too familiar leather strap and Katara pushed herself up, treading softly across the room.
"Master Katara," A servant bowed deeply before her as the door opened. "Your presence is requested in the Main Hall, per Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang."
"Can you tell me what's going on?" The servant briefly looked up at her before shaking her head.
"I am afraid I was instructed not to discuss the matter in the open. They requested you at your earliest convenience." That's odd.
"Thank you, please tell them I'll be along shortly." Katara watched as the fairly young girl bowed once more before scurrying off.
It had to be about Zanui, no doubt. Katara shut the door and shuffled around to get ready, shoving aside the dark sides lingering on the edges of her mind. Whenever Zanui was brought up, it made her blood boil, the waterbender clenching her jaw to control the anger. She was angry at what he had done, all of the lives he had carelessly taken. How he thought of her as nothing more than a trophy prize to be shown to the world. Katara tossed her clothes to the floor as she quickly washed up, bending the excess water from her hair. Her usual Water Tribe clothing sat neatly folded next to the sink and she reached for it. After what she was forced to wear in the caverns of the Black Cliffs, she had been a little wary putting on fancier attire for a while. The sound of her head hitting the metal bars caused her to cringe as it rang through her head, eyes subconsciously moving to stare at her reflection in the mirror. Though she looked back to normal, every time she glanced at herself, the ghost of who she had become stared right back with haunted eyes and dirtied sunken cheeks.
It was shortly after she had woken up the first time, after everyone had parted and Suki retired for the evening after tending to her wounds. Just as she was doing now, she had washed up and accidentally caught her reflection, stumbling into the wall with a cry of horror. The haunted, sunken eyes, cheekbones more defined from the lack of nutrition. Even her hair had lost its luster and shine, nothing more than a dull mop of strands. Not to mention the dark and nasty bruises and wounds covering nearly the entirety of her body. Katara had covered them with sheets, not wanting to see herself again and relive the plaguing nightmare. They all understood, didn't bring up her worn and traumatized appearance, instead doing everything they could to distract her from any thoughts.
Sokka accompanied her for daily walks, Aang sat and talked with her for hours, and even Toph took her sneaking through the Palace using secret rooms she had found. Suki would even bring her lunch and they would sit in the garden, enjoying the company and weather. Zuko even offered to help by giving her full access to the Fire Nation Royal Library, something she quietly thanked him for before spending hours of solitude in there. Katara appreciated their help, truly, but it never kept the thoughts and images at bay for long. One evening, when they were all enjoying dinner outside in the courtyard, an entertainer was brought in to lighten the mood. Everything had gone well until a firebender performer created a fire whip and snapped it loudly in the air, causing Katara to tense in her spot, eyes going wide. By the second snap, her plate was abandoned, and she was quickly moving away, arms wrapped tightly around herself. Zuko immediately halted the performance, sending them away quickly while Aang followed Katara, keeping a short distance between them to give her space.
Katara managed to slip away from him and he eventually found she had returned to her room, locking the door behind her and isolating herself in the safety of the space. It took nearly an entire day for her to come out despite multiple attempts at coaxing her out. Zuko profusely apologized through the door, telling her the entertainers didn't notify him of the extent of their acts, though he was still fully taking the blame. She didn't sleep well for the rest of the week.
Katara made a final adjustment with her hair and took a glance at her appearance before heading towards the Main Hall. The hallways were oddly sparse of life as she strode down along the marble floors apart from a few of the servants running around, doing their daily chores. Her heart pounded as the doors arrived much faster than she expected, two guards manning either side. It was now or never. With a calming breath in and out, she approached, the doors immediately pushing open with a groan.
The raised voices immediately caught her attention and she sped up her pace, heading towards an annoyed Zuko and a pleading Aang. Sokka, Suki, and Toph were all settled around the table, watching with troubled faces while the argument echoed loudly throughout the room.
"Aang, I want his bending removed tonight. If someone were to get in and try to break him free—"
"Zuko, please, I want Katara to have a say in this matter!" Aang held his palms up pleadingly to his friend, voice strained. "This isn't a decision I can make so casually even after everything that's happened—"
"Then turn around and ask her right now." Zuko stood from his throne, gesturing behind Aang with a flick of his hand. "A decision needs to be made soon before the rest of his gang decides to come looking for him. I can't put the city at risk again. You have an hour."
Katara felt all eyes on her and she instantly felt the ebb of a headache coming on. Aang let out a heavy sigh, dropping his hands to his sides and turned towards her.
"Zuko's really worked up about this," Katara said quietly in Aang's ear as they embraced.
"I understand why, but this isn't a light decision to make with high emotions." Aang murmured. "We both know what the end result will be, but…"
"I appreciate you wanting my opinion on the matter." She pulled back and he kissed her on the cheek lightly. "He's hurt too many people, Aang, the best thing would be to remove his bending and send him to prison for the rest of his life."
"Are you sure you want to do this? If you can't handle it—"
"I'll go. I need the closure that he can't hurt others anymore." Aang nodded and released her.
"We're going too." Sokka jumped from his chair, Suki and Toph doing the same. "I don't want him to try to roast Aang's face off again or go after Katara."
"Roast his face off…?" Katara trailed off, looking questioningly between her boyfriend and brother. "What happened and why didn't you tell me?"
"We tried to talk with Zanui after freeing you and the other women, but he was…less than willing to say much." Aang rubbed the back of his neck. "No one was hurt, promise!"
"He just attempted to fry Aang's face off when he used his energybending to look into his soul." Sokka quickly drew her attention, Aang smacking a hand to his face. "No biggie, he just went into the Avatar State at the right time and stopped him. Katara, don't give me that look, everything turned out alright."
"Except Aang nearly got his face toasted off! Seriously, why didn't anyone tell me about this?"
"Katara, you were unconscious for quite a while, we were more concerned about when you would wake up." Suki moved around Sokka and tenderly rested her hand on her shoulder.
"Sugar Queen, you really think a fireball to the face could take Twinkletoes down?"
"Well, no, but—"
"Look, we can all sit down later and talk about everything that's happened, but we need to deal with Zanui here and now." Aang emphasized the later. "I think we should get with Zuko and give him an answer. Sweetie, are you sure you're ready for this? We can stop at any moment if it becomes too much for you."
Katara looked around at her friends and felt the unending support overflowing from them, their nods affirming her mindset. She looked at Aang giving her a soft smile, intertwining their fingers together. It was time to lift the heavy weight from her chest.
"I'm ready."
Zanui whistled a tune while he sat in his cell, the metal walls and bars reminding him of his brief stint at Boiling Rock when he was younger. He was stupid enough to get caught back then, stealing from anyone within his reach, and wound up doing a couple of months there for stealing from city officials until his bail was paid by an unknown person. Turned out, the head of a crime ring had his eye on the young thief for a while, seeing the hidden potential in him. That was the beginning of his life of crime, something that always seemed to suit him well. Zanui had shot up through the rankings, easily becoming Dakku's favorite underling. The boss took him under his wing and treated him like a son, something Zanui hadn't known for most of his life. Growing up in the Fire Nation slums, his mother had only briefly told him about his father, redirecting his questions when he pushed for more information and never speaking about him again. He could care less, though, since he was given shelter and food, the gang becoming his new family after a short while as he forged a new identity.
For years he led a smaller group of underlings, teaching them the ropes as he had been taught, but he also taught them something Dakku forbid. Zanui taught them the art of stealth kills and how to make it look like an accident. While they were a large gang with holds over nearly every land, killing was the one thing they were prohibited to do; It did nothing more than bring more attention to the organization, risking everything they'd worked so hard to build up into the massive empire it had become. But the power Zanui held in his hands, as both a higher-ranking gang member and powerful firebender, had gotten to his head and took over his every thought when on a mission. Dakku had his suspicions, but without the proper evidence, he couldn't punish his right-hand man. So, Zanui had gotten away with dozens of murders, usually 'freak accidents' claiming the lives of his victims. Even his men were in on it, denying any wrongdoings of their group leader.
Metal locks groaned as they were shifted, Zanui stopping mid-whistle. It was faint, but he could hear voices talking beyond the door. Adjusting himself so he was sitting up against the back wall of his cell, he watched as the heavy door swung open and a guard entered the room with his hand aflame.
"Zanui, you have a visitor. Any bending will be met with immediate force." The guard barked at him, waving the guest in. "You have five minutes."
"I'll behave." Zanui called back cheerily, waving as the door slammed shut. The smile turned into a cold jeer as he looked at his visitor. "Now, what do I owe the pleasure to, Reim?"
Reim tossed his hood back, expressionless as he stared down at Zanui with piercing blue eyes. "You know why I'm here, Zanui. Dakku ain't happy with you."
"Ah, how is daddy dearest? Haven't been home for awhile, I'm afraid. How is he?"
"Livid." Reim said shortly, sitting cross legged in front of the cage. "He's ordered you to be brought back home. You've really done it now."
"Do you honestly think I care at this point, Reim? It's either be brought back half dead or have my bending forcefully removed by the Avatar. Probably both will happen." Zanui sneered, picking aimlessly at his scratchy pants. "But why you? Why not send someone who could easily kill me and be done with it?"
"I follow orders, unlike you, Zanui, even if it means beating the life out of someone I consider my own blood. Nothin' personal, just business as usual." Reim shrugged.
"Of course."
"I can't get you out of here now seeing as you're surrounded with metal, but I have a group waiting around the perimeter of the grounds to cause a disturbance so we can break you out." Reim said quietly, dark eyes glancing at the door behind him.
"Slight problem," Zanui hissed at him. "You've got the most powerful benders in this place preparing to remove my bending here in a short while, in fact, they're most likely on their way here now. You cause a disturbance and the first thing they're going to do is run down here and secure me. They may have taken off the meteorite cuffs, but the Avatar will hunt me down in an instant."
"That's what I was afraid of." Reim slipped his hand up his robed sleeve and pulled out a small glass vial. "Orders weren't strictly to bring you back half dead, Zanui…"
"He wants me eliminated." Zanui deadpanned, staring at the small vile with a grimace. Loose ends and all that. "He's so generous, that Dakku. You could always say I died in a freak accident involving these chains—"
"Sorry, gotta do it." Reim muttered as he stood, popping the cork off the vial and bending the clear liquid into his palm. "Unlike you, Zanui, I follow my orders to the dot. It's a slower acting poison, one that takes roughly half an hour before it stops your heart completely. You'll feel it start at your feet and work its way up, almost feels like yer losing circulation. If there were any other way to end this—"
"Oh, don't bother with all of that sappy talk. No point if I'm going to die anyways." Zanui snapped, jerking against his chains. "I want you to give a message to Dakku when you get back. I want you to tell him everything I've done over the years, how many people I've killed and burned to the ground for the fun of it. All of the girls I kidnapped and sold to his own clients right under his nose. Tell him I did it all just for him, to make him proud of that little scrawny slum kid he saved from a life of rotting in prison." Reim stared at him with cocked brows. "I want him to know the Avatar is coming to destroy his entire network and burn his mighty empire to the ground. If this is how he wants to end things, may as well take him down with me."
"You've lost it…" The man sitting before him was no longer his brother…he was a monster.
"I haven't lost it, brother, I've merely embraced the sensation of ultimate power!" Zanui yelled, laughing as he tugged against the chains. "Do you know how amazing it felt to see the Avatar lose control after I bloodbended and had his precious girlfriend shot with an arrow? Or how he couldn't find her for weeks on end, slowly losing his mind as he searched for her? I want to see it, the despair, the anger, on his face as I tell him exactly why I kidnapped the most powerful waterbender in the world!"
"Time's up, Zanui! Pipe down or you're getting the gag back on!" The guard slammed on the door, Reim jumping in surprise.
"I hope you make your peace before you pass, Zanui. Farewell, brother." Reim snapped his wrist out, slinging the liquid directly into Zanui's open mouth.
Zanui coughed as the liquid traveled down his throat, a slight burning sensation trickling down. He watched as Reim flipped his hood back up and over his face, turning and swiftly leaving as the door creaked open. Make his peace? What a bunch of nonsense. The firebender yanked against his chains again, testing their strength. He could hear the plate on the wall budge a bit and with a breath in, began pouring heat from his palms into the plate. The melting element began to burn against his skin, the firebender constantly shifting his hands to relieve some of the heat as it conducted through the links. He wanted one more chance to get into her face, tell her she was nothing more than a trophy to be placed on a shelf and admired by the higher societies. Zanui damned her to Hell, damned them all to Hell. Life would've been simply fine without the Avatar suddenly showing up after a hundred years and preventing Ozai from taking over. It was all his fault, but mostly Katara's for freeing him from his icy slumber.
The plate melted onto the floor, the chains dropping loudly against the metal beneath him. He waited with bated breath to make sure the guard wouldn't check on him. He didn't. With his hands freed from the wall and the cuffs around his wrist somewhat malleable, Zanui slipped his hands from his constraints, catching the chains before they hit the floor and gently set them down. While it would be impossible for him to completely break out of the room, especially with that heavy metal door and guard outside, he could take a moment to stretch his aching joints. Not that it would do him good in about thirty minutes, but it would warm him up enough to lunge at the waterbender. After a few minutes of stretching, Zanui slipped his wrists back through the warped cuffs and loosely attached the chains to the wall, spot welding two corners on to appear sealed. It was another few minutes before there was commotion outside of the cell, muffled voices slipping through the doors cracks.
"Presenting his Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang." A guard announced from outside. "Prisoner, stand back against the wall."
Zanui did as told, making sure to keep the cuffs loose around his wrists as he backed against the wall. As long as Toph Beifong didn't enter the room, he would be completely safe. Well, as safe as a dying man could be from an angry metalbender. The door opened once more and Zuko, Aang, and not surprisingly, Katara entered the room, the door shutting heavily behind them.
"Ah, an honor to have you both here, I'm so lucky to have such high-ranking officials in my presence." Zanui gave a small bow, eyes never leaving Katara. "How are the nightmares, dearie? Still haunting you nightly? Looks like you've healed up rather nicely, though those dark circles under your eyes say differently."
"Zip it, Zanui, you're talking to us, not her." Zuko said sharply, stepping close to the bars. "You are not to talk to her, look at her, or even mention her name. Am I understood?"
"Perfectly, Lord Zuko." Zanui was starting to feel a bit of numbness in his toes, the poison slowly beginning to work. "Let's get this over with already."
"Zanui, for your crimes against both the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation, it has been decided upon by the councils that your bending is to be removed permanently and you will spend the rest of your days behind bars." Aang read him the verdict, watching for any emotional change in the man. "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
"How ever will I make a good cup of tea again?" Zanui kept his gaze on the Avatar, though he had a clear view of Katara in his peripheral. She was remaining still, watching him with narrowed eyes. "If you have something to say, girl, I suggest you say it before you burn a hole in the side of my head."
"That's the least of your worries." Katara suddenly snapped, Aang lightly grabbing her arm as she shifted forward. "You deserve more than getting to sit in a jail cell for the rest of your life. All of those women, you've beaten and broken them down and turned them into empty shells. You killed their families because they tried to stop you from taking their child. They have to live with that damage for the rest of their lives while you sit here safe and sound!"
"Katara, I'm feeling a bit of hostility coming from you. In case you forgot, I wasn't the one who tortured you on a nightly basis."
"You were the one who bloodbended me, had me shot with an arrow, and then you kidnapped me! Did you forget about how you wrapped your hand around my throat, lifted me into the air and then slammed me into the wall? Or how you tried to beat me down and break my spirit? How about we get to the part where you nearly blasted me in the back while I tried to save those two girls on the ship or slammed my head into metal bars as you put me up for auction? Are you going to ignore the fact you almost burned me alive because I was escaping and caused you to lose a lot of money?" Katara snarled as she took a few steps forward, gripping the bars hard. "Not to mention all of the degrading filth spewing from your mouth when no one else was around. You're the lowest piece of scum I've ever met!"
Aang shared a horrified look with Zuko. Katara hadn't fully opened up about everything yet but hearing it now as she tore him apart made the reality of his crimes settle heavily in their chests.
"I'm sorry, are you implying that because I grew up in the slums, I'm the lowest tier of filth there is? Because I had to resort to a life of crime because my leader failed to provide for those deemed weak and helpless? Or is it because I was taught nothing but what was heard and seen on the streets around me?" Zanui said lowly, glaring at the fuming waterbender. "We don't all get to travel the world after freeing the Avatar from an icy slumber and save all of humanity from a tyrannical Fire Lord bent on continuing what his grandfather started a hundred years ago. Don't act like you know where I came from when you know nothing of living in the streets, surviving day to day."
"That is no excuse to go around killing people and kidnapping women to sell them in a black market!"
"Control yourself, Zanui, or we'll quickly put an end to this." Zuko warned as he raised his fists. "You've been read your rights and your bending abilities will now be taken away for good."
"I am fully in control, Lord Zuko, it's her who can't control her emotions." Zanui coolly shot at him, eyes fully locked onto Katara's face. "Don't you want to hear it? The reason why I kidnapped you? Though, dear Aang here already knows, don't you? Rather creepy watching a man's entire life like that if you ask me."
Aang tightened his jaw and glared at the wall behind Zanui, Zuko took notice but said nothing as Katara continued.
"You were going to sell me off to the highest bidder or keep me as a sick trophy."
"You're pretty stupid to think I could sell someone as highly known as you are, and damaged goods aren't worth keeping as a trophy. I kidnapped you to prove a point."
"A point to who?" Aang interjected sharply, locking onto Zanui's face.
"A point to the world, Avatar, that no matter how well known or powerful you are, there will always be people who want to see you fall, exploiting every weakness you have. Eventually, it gets to a point where they can't take it anymore and something needs to be done. So, where do you start? You start as a low-life criminal and maybe a larger gang will take pity on you and take you in. Rise through the rankings, get on the bosses' good side, become one of the best thieves in the land. Though, sometimes people still just need a little more encouragement to remind them of their place."
It happened faster than the blink of an eye and Katara quickly found herself pulled painfully against the bars with Zanui's hand wrapped tightly around her wrist, her arm bent awkwardly inside of the cage. Zuko immediately called for the guards as he tried to pry the metal door open, forcing flames against the lock when it wouldn't budge. Aang slipped into the Avatar State and shot his hands out, latching onto Zanui's head and pressing against his heart. Katara grunted and her shoulder screamed as it twisted an unnatural way, her body pivoting to ease some of the pain. Her arm braced across the closest bar to prevent herself from being fully pulled into the cell.
"All of this was just to…prove a point?" Katara flinched as she was pressed further into the cold metal. "There's something you're not telling me, Zanui."
"You fail to see the dark side of this world, Katara, it was time for someone to show you what you often overlook." Zanui rasped as his chest began constricting, his heartrate rocketing. "You may think you're going around saving people by being a diplomat, but how many do you think die in the slums daily because you're too busy sucking up to politicians who want nothing more than money and power?"
"I would never—argh!" Katara cried out in pain as he pulled tighter, dragging himself closer to her. Pain shot up her arm and into her shoulder, the sensation like knives against her nerves.
"You'll find out soon enough, don't worry." Zanui whispered. "You'll understand what it's like to lose everything and everyone you love."
A bright flash of blue light filled the room, blinding everyone momentarily before dying down. Zanui released his grip and stumbled back, collapsing to his knees with his hand clawing at his chest. Aang let out a shaky breath as his consciousness returned, immediately turning to help Katara who had stumbled back, clutching her shoulder with a pained face.
"Are you alright?" He gently touched the arm she was holding, resting his hand against her face as he searched her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize he could reach you. I should've made sure he was secured before bringing you in here."
"The Northern Water Tribe…Dakku is running…the main gang…" Zanui suddenly coughed out, blood trickling from his lips as he doubled over. "Western edge of the island underground…if he's gonna take me out, then I'm taking him…with me…it's been fun, Katara…"
Zanui let out a suffocated gurgle and collapsed to the floor face-first with a thud. Aang swiftly blocked Katara from the scene, holding her close. Zuko increased the flames on the cell door, clenching his jaw as it continued to melt. Metal screech loudly and a section of the wall burst open, Toph curling the sides back to make a hole large enough to fit through. Sokka scrambled through, opening his mouth to speak when he saw Zanui lying on the ground, twitching.
"I'll be fine, Aang," Katara said weakly into his shoulder, cringing as she heard a final wheeze. "D-did he…"
"Aang, did you just…?" Zuko asked breathlessly as the lock finally broke open, kicking the door in and rushing into the cell.
"I…I don't know what happened. All I did was remove his bending, nothing more." The Avatar assured them both, though he wasn't entirely sure he didn't do something more.
"Lord Zuko, is everything alright?" A handful of guards rushed into the room, fists ready as they scoured the area.
"Next time, I suggest you arrive before the prisoner attacks my friend. Was anyone in here before us?" Zuko crouched down next to Zanui, rolling him onto his back. Wide eyes and a crooked grin caused him to release the body, quickly standing up as red foam bubbled from his lips.
"Apologies, Lord Zuko, disciplinary measures will be swiftly taken. A short while before your arrival, he had one visitor, but it was a short five-minute visit." The guard nervously admitted, cringing under the glare of Zuko. "I checked him over for weapons, but he wasn't carrying anything on him."
"Did he at least give you a name?" Zuko had a suspicion this would happen; Zanui's boss knew to clean up loose ends. "Any identification at all?"
"Jizu, sir, was what he told me." The guard pulled out his roster, quickly handing it over to the Fire Lord. "Said he was his brother and had wanted to speak with him before his final sentencing. Provided an identification card that checked out fine, sir."
"Zanui's boss most likely had someone sent to silence him for good. I knew this could happen, we should have moved him sooner to prevent this from happening. I want a full investigation into this matter immediately." Zuko demanded.
"Yes, sir!" The guards chorused, quickly escorting the stationed guard out of the area.
"What's going on in here?" Sokka shoved through the remaining guards, beelining for Katara. "Katara, what happened to your shoulder?"
"Zanui broke loose from his restraints and grabbed her." Aang supplied softly, glancing down at Zanui's still body. "I couldn't stop him fast enough."
"That—" Sokka stopped short, whirling towards the cell only to find guards removing the body. "Did he just…?"
"Die, yes. Don't know how yet, Sokka," Zuko curtly filled him in, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. "I suspect someone entered the room before we did and poisoned him to tie up loose ends. I wouldn't be surprised considering how this large this organization is."
"Everything was just to prove a point…" Katara drew everyone's attention as she pulled back from Aang's grasp, pressing a palm to the side of her head with a pained expression. "Everything he did…all the nights of torture...he…that doesn't make any sense…I…think I need to sit down…"
"Toph, get her out of here and take her to Suki. We'll find you in a bit." Sokka carefully guided his sister over to the earthbender.
"C'mon, Sugar Queen, let's get you out of here." Toph said quietly and pulled her uninjured arm over her shoulders, guiding the exhausted waterbender from the room.
"Sokka, I'm sorry—" Aang started but Sokka held a hand up to him.
"It's not your fault, Aang, Zanui was a twisted man." Sokka said tightly, eyes staring hard at the now empty cell. "I always hope nothing ever bad happens to my sister, but in this case it brought to light something we never would have figured out if it weren't for her. But there's always a cost, isn't there? I don't know if she'll ever be the same again, Aang."
"We'll always be here for her, Sokka. It'll take time, but I know she can do it. She's the strongest person I know." Aang squeezed his shoulder lightly.
"I suggest we talk about this more tomorrow. This will take some time to process, so I'll be in the Main Hall tonight if you need me. I'll have the head medic check on Katara as well." Zuko muttered quietly, motioning slightly towards the door.
"Thank you." Aang sighed, taking one last glance at the cell before exiting after them. He wasn't sure he could sleep after witnessing everything, Zanui's wide eyes and mocking smile etched into his mind.
Things were about to get even messier.
Ugh, I rewrote this so many times! May be another little stretch before the next chapter. But now I have sixteen little chickies! They're so adorable.