Hardened Winds
Chapter XIII
Summary: Two years ago, Aang was betrayed by Katara, who fell for Zuko and ultimately led to the avatar's failure to defeat Ozai before summer's end. Hardened, the young airbender is now back with a full army and is on the verge of defeating the Fire Nation once in for all. Yet despite his belief of being in full control, nightmares of the past still haunt him. What will happen when Katara returns and a series of misunderstandings and more betrayals unveil? Will Aang be able to handle it all?
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"Here's your food for the day."
Unceremoniously, Sokka tossed the small basket to her. Katara swiftly caught it, all the while frowning lightly at her brother. The boy, meanwhile, took a seat at the other end of the bench and looked away from her, making it was clear that he was still angry. She sighed. When Sokka had come to rescue her three days ago, she had seen her old, warm brother again, because he had cared then, cared enough for her to abandon his cold attitude towards her and to concentrate on what was really important, even teaming up with the enemy in order to set her free. But because of their last conversation (or rather… argument), it didn't last long.
And now the avatar's second-in-command was back, always keeping his guard up around her while his azure eyes once again held suspicion. Katara slowly took a sandwich from the basket and took an unenthusiastic bite. This was the first time Sokka had come to her ever since they had descended from Fenrir Mountain; the last two days, he had refused to see her, instead sending another man to give her the food. And what he had done… had hurt. She couldn't deny that.
She closed her eyes and then said the first thing that came to her mind:
"I'm sorry."
Abruptly, the second-in-command's head snapped up, and he stared at her.
"What for?" he asked after a moment.
"Because…" Katara paused for a second, thinking about how to arrange her words, "because I shouldn't have been… so mean last time -I shouldn't have complained or blamed you. We shouldn't have made each other angry then. I'm sorry."
Sokka gazed at her, his face expressionless, before he shook his head slightly.
"But you still think that the YuuYan archers came for Zuko, don't you?" he then questioned her quietly, and although Katara would have liked to snap that it was off-topic, she knew that it wasn't.
And she hated how he had so deftly cornered her. Because there was no denying the truth.
"Yes," she told him, and he scowled for a moment before his visage became passive once more.
"Let's deal with this rationally," he then said in a conversational tone. "If the YuuYan archers were working for someone who wants to kill Zuko, it has to be someone outside the Fire Nation. It has to be someone who hates the Fire Nation. So Question Number One is… why would this person –who wants to kill the Fire Nation prince- want to hire Fire Nation warriors?"
"Because the YuuYan archers will make it look as if it isn't him!" Katara cried, a little too loudly than she would have liked. "It's the perfect cover." And when Sokka looked at her skeptically, she continued: "Besides, the YuuYan archers –if what Zuko told me is true- used to work for the Fire Empire and no one else. Now that the empire has crumbled, the YuuYan archers don't have anyone to pay them. And they really need the money, right? They probably already left the Fire Nation to work for another big shot, or to do anything to make a living. Because it's obvious they're not really behind all this. They're just pawns of someone who's desperate enough to hire Fire Nation men."
Sokka frowned a little but nevertheless listened attentively. When she was done, he remained quiet for a moment, clearly thinking, before he spoke up his next question:
"How many people know…" now his voice became strained. "how… important you are to the prince?"
The seventeen-year-old had a point there, Katara mused grudgingly.
"Probably just… our crew," she answered, looking down.
"And would they just tell this to anybody?"
Considering the fact that Zuko would roast anybody who even thought about doing so, Katara sighed and shook her head.
"Exactly," Sokka had a look of grim satisfaction. "And nobody can tell just by looking at you that you're from the Water Nation! No one in their right mind would think that a Water Tribe girl is with the despicable prince Zuko!"
At that, Katara glared defiantly at him, though he simply ignored her as he then said:
"See, Katara? It's very unlikely that the YuuYan archers were trying to get Zuko. Yes, you did have a point with how the YuuYan archers could be hired by anybody, but that's about it. Everything else about your theory does not make any sense. Besides, there's a flaw in your guess about the Fire Nation archers, too. Do you know how to get contact with them? Because I don't, and personally, I think it's very hard for anybody to set a deal with them, much less catch them. The only people who have a chance are those from the Fire Nation."
"It can still happen, Sokka!" the waterbender burst out angrily, but it was clear that he didn't believe her at all. And it was even more obvious that nothing she said would affect him either. Instead, she decided to target what he was thinking. "And what about them trying to get the avatar?" she asked, and her voice was taunting. "Does that make sense?"
"Of course it does," the second-in-command replied coolly. "The Fire Nation despises Aang. The best thing that can happen to them is the avatar getting himself killed."
"Yes, that makes sense," Katara agreed sweetly, nodding. "But why did they use me as bait. I mean, I'm just a prisoner, and prisoners don't mean much to the avatar, do they?"
Sokka frowned, because even he must know that she was right about that. Prisoners did not make a good lure, and although she was extremely grateful that he had saved her life a few days ago, she distinctly remembered that he hadn't appeared into the scene until the very end. He wasn't in much hurry to get me, was he? If the YuuYan archers had been truly trying to draw in the avatar, their plan had been weak. But it was most likely that they hadn't been trying to get Aang at all.
Katara was sure that she hadn't imagined it when the YuuYan archer had tried to aim his arrow at Zuko's heart, when he had tried to strangle him to death. Compared to that, Sokka had been practically unharmed. Someone out there was prepared to go through dangerous means in order to finish the firebender, and it was frustrating how her brother couldn't see that. Of course, since he and Zuko were on completely different sides, it wasn't in his place to care either. The fact didn't subdue her aggravation, though.
At last, the seventeen-year-old stood up, but instead of addressing her question, he headed towards the door. Before he slipped out, he turned to her again, and his eyes narrowed as he answered:
"Well, Katara. Some people might know what you meant to Aang. Some people… might not have forgotten about the past so easily."
----- ----- -----
"Did you and your search party go to Kali yet?"
"… No."
Sokka frowned deeply but didn't say anything. In front of him, Gloria looked worriedly at him, not knowing whether to go on. It was clear that her second-in-command was angry, and her answer had only infuriated him more. Biting her lip, the waterbender sighed and tried to relax in her chair. The two were presently in the conference room, the chamber in which the Resistance usually held their official meetings, discussing their next plan of action. However, now that they had won, the room hadn't been used at all, and because of that, Gloria had been surprised when Sokka had suddenly called her here. And she was also a little annoyed at how dusty it was. Who knew a place could acquire so much dust after such a short time!
The younger one, however, apparently had more important things on his mind. After a minute of contemplating, he looked at her in the eye.
"I want you to get Misaki and Asuka together as soon as you can," he spoke, his voice brisk. "I want you to organize your search party by today. And by tomorrow, I want you guys to go to Kali. To search everywhere in the village and maybe even look in the forests and the mountains."
He was using that tone again, Gloria noted. That official, neutral voice that he had only used during the war, when he had been talking to dozens of men instead of just merely a middle-aged woman. It must be serious. These days, Sokka had been deeply preoccupied in something, and the blond could only imagine what. However, she knew that things weren't going as planned; that was why the boy was so agitated in front of her. Relaxing would help him a great deal, but that was next to impossible. Yet perhaps… he would calm down if she succeeded in what she had to do.
"Can you do that, Gloria?" Sokka brusquely snapped her out of her thoughts, and she nodded solemnly.
"I believe I can, commander."
A slight grin appeared on his face when she called him that title, yet it soon disappeared as he dismissed her, obviously having other things to look after. Gloria sighed, praying that she could convince Misaki and Asuka to come with her tomorrow. Because she couldn't disappoint Sokka. Who knew what he would do then? True, he wasn't temperamental (thank the gods, the woman thought) but it was said that he could be pretty harsh and contemptuous once truly angered. It wasn't only that; Gloria had noted that his period of happiness after the war had lasted a rather short time, and although she didn't know why, she still wanted the boy to return to his normal, relaxed attitude soon.
She quickly stood up and exited the conference room, marching determinedly to Asuka's chambers. After crossing a few hallways and climbing the stairs, she was in front of the other woman's door. Now all Gloria had to think of was what she would say to get Asuka in her team. The egocentric warrior usually put on a fight when it concerned trivial matters such as these ("After all, no one's in any danger, are they?" Asuka's mocking voice rang in the blond's head), but if she knew that Sokka was practically ordering her to…
Asuka wasn't exactly fond of the South Pole native, even though he was the second-in-command and therefore had power over her. Gloria knew that the ebony-haired woman always had the boy's past flaws in mind when she met with him, judging him with those condescending eyes of hers. Even the waterbender couldn't forget the past, when she had first entered the avatar's service… only to meet a klutzy, loudmouth sixteen-year-old who claimed to be her second-in-command. Not the best first impression, she had thought then. It had been clear since the first moment Sokka had tried to order her around that he had been no experienced warrior, and many of the avatar's new men had taunted him then, ignoring his orders and complaining about him behind his back and in his face. She herself had been distant to him in the beginning. After all, who couldn't help but look down at someone who was younger and more foolish than you yet had the authority to boss you around?
Thankfully, Sokka had quickly learned to adapt, to become a better leader. He had no choice, really. They had been deep in war against the Fire Nation, and one wrong decision from him could have ended up in a severe loss. His close bond with the avatar had helped inspire him, too. And in less than two months, he had transformed into someone Gloria could learn to respect, although it took a longer time for Asuka, who had always picked on the poor boy in the earlier days. And Misaki… Gloria stifled a laugh.
He had joined the Resistance a year and a half ago, a sullen teen who had shut the world to everybody, snapping at whoever had dared even looking at him. And he had immediately hated Sokka. Not that the latter had tried to like the former pirate either. Remembering their heated arguments and a near-bloody battle, it was almost a miracle that the two were so close now.
Gazing at Asuka's door, she was glad that Asuka presently respected their second-in-command… at least a little. Gloria was sure that Sokka's word would oblige her to join the search party. She then knocked softly; Asuka hated unnecessary loud noise. The waterbender did it once, twice… and when nobody answered, she began feeling irked. Even the arrogant woman behind the door wasn't cruel enough to just ignore her. And that was when she began hearing voices from the other side.
"Nothing we're doing is working, Asuka!"
Misaki's voice. And it was becoming angry, Gloria knew. There was an ominous edge to it that only a pirate's voice could have, but why would the sixteen-year-old be disconcerted now?
"Yes, you're right. Nothing is working yet."
This was Asuka speaking, and as always, her tone was silky and controlled. However, it was clear that their discussion was nothing light. Eavesdropping was wrong, the blond knew, but she nevertheless pressed her ear to the door, because somehow she felt as if she had to listen to this.
"We should just stop this now," Misaki breathed, suddenly calmer, yet was there also desperation in his words?
"Why?" Asuka hissed. "So we can just leave the avatar unprotected? After all, we're the only ones who know."
"But we're doing all these things that we're not supposed to do!"
"Use all means to achieve your goal, that's what I say, Misaki. Especially if that goal is not only good, but crucial. Besides, if you haven't noticed, our dear second-in-command has no idea what he's up to."
"Don't blame it on Sokka!" The former pirate's fury was rising again, and this time, Asuka was wise enough to retreat.
"One more chance, Misaki, that's all that I'm asking," she then said, her voice abnormally gentle. "And then… we'll stop."
A long silence met Gloria's ears before she distinctly heard a sigh.
"Fine," the boy reluctantly replied, "do whatever you want."
As soon as he said that, there were footsteps, making the blond abruptly realize that he was heading right towards her. Any moment he would open the door, and he would see her and discover that she had been listening to their conversation all this time. Panicked, Gloria abruptly sauntered away, her shoulders straight and her chin high. When she heard the door close and Misaki entering the hallway, she could just imagine his astonishment as he stared at her. She looked rather strange, she knew, but it was the least suspicious walk she could muster. Because the boy knew that she usually marched like this when she was in the presence of someone she was angry at (Sokka had never failed to mention how stupid she looked this way), making Misaki's only conclusion was that she was giving him the cold shoulder.
And recalling the many times she had been furious at the sixteen-year-old, only for him to have no idea why, Gloria knew that suspicion would be at the bottom of his list. When she at last reached another corridor and escaped from Misaki's eyes, she let out a sigh of relief and leaned on the wall, deciding to relax and just go back on what had happened. Misaki and Asuka… they had been talking about something nobody else was supposed to know. A secret, and remembering how the other woman had brought the avatar into their discussion, Gloria could reasonably say that it was an important one, too. The two… they were apparently doing things behind everyone else's back, and Misaki's frantic tone… he and Asuka had obviously crossed the line a long time ago.
Yet didn't Asuka claim that they were essentially doing something good? If they really were, why not just inform everyone else about it? The avatar… unprotected. Especially if it concerned the avatar. It was all too confusing. Not that it helped that Gloria hadn't even managed to talk them into accompanying her to Kali tomorrow yet. It was discouraging to know that she would have to wait a few hours before trying her luck again. But she was sure that the next time she saw either Misaki or Asuka, she would look out for any strange behavior. Because Asuka was wrong at one point during their discussion.
You cannot use all means to achieve your goal.
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The Earth Nation wasn't as cooperative as he would have thought.
In fact… none of the nations were. Aang sighed as he leisurely walked in the hallway, feeling himself ache all over from what he had been doing these past days. Or what he had been trying to do. True, it hadn't been any physical effort (the avatar was thankful for that), although his hand was rather cramped from all that writing. No, it was stress and mental exhaustion that was wearing him down. Because ever since a week or two ago, he had sent numerous letters to all four corners of the world, asking them about their status and offering his help. He had even sent money and much needed items to the Fire Nation, hoping they would be reasonable enough to at least accept his aid. He hadn't expected them to be entirely happy with him, but he had wanted them to know at least that they couldn't just shut themselves from everything else. Sadly but predictably, the Fire Nation had rebutted everything he had sent them, and surprisingly, it wasn't the only one who did so. Many Earth Nation villages were hostile to him for one reason or another, and the Earth Nation itself was too proud to accept much help from him, preferring to rebuild completely by itself. Apparently, nobody knew that without the airbender's support, history would repeat itself.
Aang let out another sigh, knowing that the Water Tribes were the only ones who were truly grateful for what he was doing. But they didn't have much choice, did they? The fourteen-year-old was planning to take a trip to Bai Sing Se soon; perhaps words that came from his very own mouth would convince the people that they couldn't just depend on themselves to return everything back to normal, back to the peaceful way they had been a century ago. Then again, a short, skinny fourteen-year-old didn't look too intimidating.
He was planning to take a short, relaxing walk outside to clear his thoughts. He needed at least a few minutes to just forget his duties, forget who he was… And there was a small feeling of anticipation deep within him, because he also wanted… The boy quickly shook his head. It wasn't right to feel that way. Especially in these circumstances. There was an intersection of corridors now in front of him, and he was about to take a right when he heard voices from the left hallway. A little curious despite himself, Aang cautiously peered into the hall, ready to withdraw at any moment. After all, the avatar could not be seen eavesdropping people. However, what he saw was rather surprising. Sokka and Misaki were yards away from him, and both seemed agitated and even a little angry. Aang was still too far to be able to catch the words they were saying, but he could still see his friend's frown and the former pirate's scowl. After a while, though, their voices were reduced to a hush, and a few minutes later, the two broke up.
The airbender blinked before slowly making his way to the right corridor, wondering what was that about. Yet it was probably just a trivial fight, he concluded in amusement. It wasn't the first time Sokka and Misaki had debated with each other like that, and it could have been worse, Aang knew when he reminisced the frequent explosions that had happened between the two of them a long time ago. And with that logic in his head, he rapidly forgot what had just happened as he finally saw one of the smaller exits of the castle in front of him. A moment later, he stepped outside.
The weather was colder than the last few days. There was no wind, but the air was empty and cold, reminding Aang that winter was coming. It wasn't long before he could see his breaths, and as he began strolling the castle grounds, he occasionally lighted a small fire in his hands to warm himself up. The avatar wasn't known to wear any warm attire, even in winter, and before he had been able to cope in almost any kind of temperature. But he was becoming more sensitive these days, which bothered him. Though it was most probably because he hadn't really been active after the war, not needing his bending as frequently as before.
But that wasn't exactly true. Just three days ago, he had climbed the Fenrir Mountain, hadn't he? And he had used his airbending to save Katara, hadn't he? Thinking about that day, he asked himself how the girl and her brother were dealing with it all. The note had sounded threatening and still nobody knew who had been behind the kidnapping in the first place. Aang had observed quite a lot from what had happened, hiding amongst the trees, and seeing the face of the YuuYan archer in his mind, he knew that the two simple warriors he had seen weren't the ones who had wanted Katara. Perhaps she had been just a bait, used to lure him… Should he organize a search party for the YuuYan archers, at the small possibility that they could be captured and forced to reveal who their true master was? It wasn't a bad choice, because any enemy of his should be taken seriously.
The world was as unbalanced as ever. Without the avatar, war could ensue once more. Nobody could afford that.
It was becoming colder, he could feel it, and at that moment, he saw Katara walking slowly to him, her head bowed down, probably oblivious that he was in front of her.
"Katara."
The word was out before he could stop himself, and the girl's head immediately snapped up.
"Aang."
She whispered the word softly, and gazing into her eyes, he could tell… that she didn't want to be with him now. There was uncertainty and fear in those blue depths, as well as an acute sharpness that pierced through him.
"I'm surprised that Sokka still let you out," he then commented, and she bit her lip, obviously not knowing whether to answer truthfully or not.
"Usually it's a guard who lets me out and brings me outside," she finally replied, looking down. "Then he keeps an eye on me from the distance." She pointed and Aang could see the sentry from far away, looking at her with suspicion. "Apparently, Sokka didn't tell him to stop."
The fourteen-year-old nodded, keeping his eyes on her and wondering what exactly was on her mind. And before he could say anything else, the waterbender blurted out:
"Aang, this really isn't a good time to talk. I'll… talk to you later, okay?"
His face unreadable, he watched her walk away from him. But as he ended his stroll and felt the cold slicing through his skin as viciously as ever, he had to admit that there was a new sensation swirling inside him, plunging him into a calm but chilling dark. It was a feeling he knew but hadn't acknowledged for an eternity, but now, seeing her leave, the sensation became forceful, obliginghim to recognize it. He felt, he felt…
Lonely.
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The boy was lying on his bed, his eyes semi-closed.
He was exhausted all of a sudden, and he didn't know why. His mind blurry, he stared at the ceiling, letting his eyes absorb the dull gray, feeling unsettled. He should probably be working now, but he didn't have the energy. Then he should probably be brainstorming, but he was sluggish, his arbitrary thoughts coming and going before he could grasp their meaning.
He closed his eyes and imagined how he was looking at this moment, immobile and fragile-looking. He saw a small, bald child, maybe even a little pale in the face, and he couldn't recognize himself. Because he was stronger than that, wasn't he? Yet the picture in his head did not go away, and it was sickening having to stare at himself.
All of a sudden, he sat up and jumped off his bed, heading towards his drawer and quickly opening one of the compartments, his hand rummaging for an unknown object. And there it was, smooth and small in his hands. He could feel the silky band tumbling from his fingers, its movements light and fluent. And as if on cue, he snapped from his daze and looked confusedly at what he was now clutching tightly.
The necklace.
He presently feel the ridges of the charm, professionally carved and representing the fluent motions of waterbending. His eyes traveled from the beautiful cerulean color of the stone to the midnight blue cloth, wondering why he had kept this jewel in his position. Because it belonged to the enemy, didn't it? Yet he couldn't let the object go; something… something was always pulling him towards it, making it impossible to just abandon the necklace. It was something more than a simple piece of jewelry. The problem was… he didn't know what.
He remembered Katara. The look of distraction and indifference on her face as she had pushed him away earlier today. The unfamiliar glimmer in her eyes that was… resentment? Even hostility? She had been warm towards him just a few days ago, but had that been because she had had to? He had saved her the last time they had met, had rescued her just on time. But after that had already happened, it didn't mean anything anymore, did it? Because in real life, they would always remain enemies. The young monk knew that she wouldn't stay here long, that Zuko would free her at any moment, and then everything would go back to normal and he would be wiped from her mind, only to appear as the avatar –the foe- once more.
And that thought was rather dejecting.
He shouldn't be thinking about all this, though. He had more important matters at hand. He couldn't just change what was meant to be. And so he sighed, stared hard at the waterbender's prized possession again, and let it drop back to the drawer compartment before dragging his feet back to his bed. He fell on the soft mattress heavily, solely wanting to dispel everything he was feeling now. Weariness, confusion, sorrow…
Just let it all disappear.
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The night was pitch black.
He stared into the sky, afraid of the dark and hoping, praying to see a small sparkle of light in the celestial heavens above. But there was only the void, the emptiness that greeted him. And below him, there was ice and snow, beautifully white and cruel as it chilled his vulnerable skin.
He was on a cliff… somewhere. Was it the South Pole? The North Pole? Yet this foreign place was much more wintry, much more desolate, and its cold stifled him, pressing hard on him and threatening to devour him whole,
Meekly, he called out, his small voice echoing useless in the deserted valley. A sense of hopelessness overtook him when no one answered. When he realized that he was all alone. He couldn't fight the feeling –he didn't know how to- and the emotion gleefully crept on to him, dominating him slowly, torturously, until there was only ice within him.
Huddling closer to himself, he closed his eyes, attempting in vain to keep himself warm, but it was already too late. The snow… it was freezing his skin, turning his outside into ice. It was a numbing agony, he mused, smiling distantly, a pain he had never experienced. Because the cold had never affected before, had it? But now it was striking back with a vengeance.
It fed happily on everything he had, his questions, his grief… And the ice was closing in.
He was becoming a statue, but hadn't he always been? Yet his emotions remained, growing stronger and more nefarious, calm but ominous like the water all around him.
It was drowning him, cutting him off from everything, and he smiled amidst the dark. Because he should have expected this…. He should have…
So cold… so cold…
----- ----- -----
His nightmares. They had come back.
Gazing at the starless sky from his balcony, shivering from head to toe, he knew that they were becoming worse –especially the last one. They had never truly vanished in the first place, had they? But why were they mocking him? Why were they pressing down on him? He didn't need this now; there was already too much going on.
Knowing the melancholy and the helplessness he always felt after his dreams were eagerly trying to rise to the surface, he could feel the tears coming up. He held them all back, though, grinning coldly when the ugly water didn't swell in his eyes, when his sadness retreated, leaving him feeling… nothing. Nothing at all.
His nightmares. They had come back.
But he was going to smother them down.
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A/N: Haza! Two chapters in a row! Yeah, I know, it's still not enough to make everything up, but at least you guys know I'm trying. Sadly, it was awkward reading this chapter (I had a headache revising it), and hopefully it didn't turn out too bad. Once again, criticism is greatly appreciated. I know, not the most eventful chapter, but it's something to digest, is it not?
I just remembered one very good point a reviewer made to me. The main character of Hardened Winds is supposed to be Aang, right? But why does his POV appear so infrequently then? Well, I'm experimenting with this technique, trying to portray the conflict that will deeply impact the main character mostly through the eyes of the more minor characters. You know… less is more? Or am I just trying to make an excuse for my lack of ability to incorporate Aang's thoughts? I don't know… but I admit that this factor has worried me. It's kind of too late to change it, though, because I have a concrete plot already in my head. However, if this really bothers you, feel free to say so in your review. It'll definitely help for my future writing projects!
Yeah, I didn't see any reviews for the last chapter yet, so I can't really give any thanks, can I? But if you're reading this, thank-you!
I'll try to get the next chapter posted soon, perhaps today even? I don't know… soon.
Review if you're nice.
