A/N. I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender!
It was torture.
Torture to stand here, on the terrasse where he had played as a child… It was so painful to be here. After the Southern Air Temple, Aang had spent most of his time in the Western one, as his… As there were people, he loved very much who had lived here.
They had lost. He had promised himself not to let that happen… But it had. And now… He was trying everything he could not to break apart. Not only had he not been able to keep his promise to Katara, to end this madness… No, now there was so many more problems.
All the warriors, prisoners… At best. The knowledge that Suki was somewhere, being kept prisoner… And… And Azula, who had promised to let all those horrible things befall Katara…
And then… Then there was Katara herself. Had she really not looked inside the pouch? Why wouldn't she have looked? Had his intentions not been clear? Aang had given the pouch to her, so that she would look inside! But if she had… Surely, surely, she would have worn the necklace. No way she would have said no.
But… she wasn't wearing it. And Aang knew that in the water tribes… People were supposed to say yes or no when the necklace was presented. So, she had not looked! Or… She had said no. And was now trying to ignore it by not speaking about it.
No, that had not happened. It couldn't have.
"H-hey!... Z-Zuko here!"
Aang turned around, and saw… Well, Zuko. The young man had changed since the last time they had seen him. In Ba Sing Se, the prince's hair had been shorter, and he had looked rather pale and malnourished. Now, it was clear that three months of palace life had been good for him. Gone was the twitch in his face that had been there ever since Aang had met him in the South Pole. Gone was the pale look, and he had clearly had a more balanced diet.
But what was he doing here? Aang felt a rather… unfamiliar feeling of rage, seeing a firebender in this place. How dared he. How dared someone like him step a foot inside this place.
The airbender pointed his staff towards the prince, and from behind him, he heard movements that suggested that his friends also prepared for a fight. Haru, Teo and the Duke had clearly no notion of who this was, for they stayed back, looking at them.
"I… Yeah, I saw the bison fly towards the north-east, and g-guessed you would go here. So… So I waited here." The scared prince spoke, rubbing a hand at the back of his head.
Behind him, he heard someone nearly growl. But… It sounded like Katara. Like she was doing everything in her power to not attack the prince. Appa, who had been standing next to Zuko, bellowed loudly, and Aang saw how the firebender flinched visibly… Before being licked by the bison.
What the monkeyfeathers?
Aang felt his grip on the staff falter. This… It was weird, but Zuko didn't seem… So angry anymore. He actually looked… sane.
"I know, you most be surprised to see me!" The firebender spoke softly.
"Not really, since you followed us all over the world!" Sokka bit back, and Aang felt his resolve come back. Yes, this man had made their lives miserable for months.
"Yeah… Right… Uhm… But I've c-changed! I wanted to tell you that! I want to help you! I wanted to get Uncle, b-but he was already gone. So… So, I guess, I can teach you firebending! I'm not as good as Uncle, but… Yeah…" Zuko stuttered his way through that explanation.
Teach… Firebending. Zuko. Zuko, crown prince of the Fire Nation, the nation that had… That had caused the silence in this temple… Wanted to teach him, the Avatar, firebending.
Well, this world had really gone to shit, hadn't it?
"You want to do what now?" Toph laughed aloud, in her sarcastic way. Yeah, it didn't seem his friends were too convinced.
"You can't possibly think that any of us would trust you, can you? I would rather jump down this canyon than believe a word you say." Katara muttered darkly, and her voice sounded from just behind him. So, she was not even standing a feet away from him…
"Yeah, all you have ever done, is trying to hunt us down!" Sokka added his own disgusted voice to the cacophony of rejection.
But… Aang had said nothing. Toph had taught him how to detect lying… And… Well, even though he was really bad at it, he didn't seem to detect it here. And… Appa was looking at the firebender with… trust? Yeah… Trust in those big brown eyes.
"I've also done some good things!' Zuko answered, and it was clear that some of the old Zuko was still there, for the voice sounded angry," I could have stolen this beast in Ba Sing Se! But I set him free! Alright, it was because Uncle said I should, but… But I still did it!"
When had this been? Had… Had Zuko found Appa before they did, in Ba Sing Se? And… What had happened?
"Appa does seem to like him…" Toph began, and Aang felt that she was being swayed slightly.
"Oh, come on! He probably just covered himself in honey or something, so that Appa would lick him!" Sokka objected, gesturing widely. The airbender doubted that very much. As much as his bison loved eating, he was very good at judging people's character. He had never once doubted Appa's ability to trust people… But he couldn't just do that now. No… now, there was too much at stake.
"I know you can't, and shouldn't, trust me right away! And I know… I have made some mistakes in the past."
Aang sighed. That had been the worst thing to say. Some mistakes?
From his right, he could see The Duke and Haru moving slowly. They had probably realized who they were actually talking to and were now trying to close escape routes behind the firebender.
"Oh, you mean when you attacked our village?" Sokka grumbled.
"Or when you stole my mother's necklace and used it to track us down and capture us?" Katara growled once more in that dark tone. Spirits… He hated hearing her like this…
"I know! I did some horrible things! I was wrong to try to capture you, and I'm sorry that I attacked the Water Tribe!" Zuko put a hand in front of his eyes, and Aang couldn't help… But feel something. Something akin to… pity? No… Something akin to kindred histories. He too felt the weight of his actions…
"And I'm sorry I sent that assassin after you!"
Wait, what now?
"Wait a minute… You sent Combustion Man after us?" Sokka questioned in a low voice.
"Well… That is not his name, but I'll try and stop him next time he-"
"That guy locked us up in jail and tried to blow us up." Toph said, shaking her head.
And then… Zuko turned his attention to him.
"Avatar… Why are you not saying anything?" the firebender looked at him pleadingly, "You told me once you thought we could be friends… I swear I have some good in me…"
Aang quickly looked at his friends. Sokka just shook his head, Toph didn't say anything… But it was Katara that surprised him the most. The waterbender was looking at the firebender with such intensity, with a look of pure hate and loathing… Spirits, he hoped she would never look at him like that…
"We can't risk it… We will not let you join us…" Aang sighed. Never would his friends accept it… And it would be too dangerous, he admitted.
"But…" Zuko began, but was cut off by Sokka.
"Either you leave, or we attack."
The firebender looked at them… And then, kneeled.
"If you won't accept me as a… ally… Then maybe you will take me as a prisoner. I… I can't go back…" Suddenly, Zuko's voice sounded vulnerable. Why couldn't he go back? Had… Had something happened? Aang took a closer look at the firebender, and saw that there were actually burn marks running over the young man's lower arms… Spirits, what had happened?
"No. We. Won't." Katara interrupted his concern, bending water out of her pouch and slamming it against the man in front of them.
"Ka…" Aang began but held his tongue. It was no use… She wouldn't kill him. And maybe it was for the better…
Zuko was slammed a few feet away from them, and sputtered, sitting up on hand and knees.
"Go. And don't come back. If I see you again… I promise I won't be merciful. Not again." Katara screamed. Again? Again?
When had she been merciful? Had… Had something happened when she and Zuko had been imprisoned together under Ba Sing Se? Aang had never thought of asking her about that time… Because he had been told that she had been a mess during his coma. So… he had opted not to ask about that time.
But… Apparently, something had happened. Had Katara given the prince a second chance? Had… Had Zuko betrayed her? Aang watched as the firebender, with sagged shoulders, walked away, towards the small staircase that had been carved into the side of the canyon, so that visitors could reach the temple if needed. How… how had Zuko known about those hidden steps?
Forgetting about the part where the Fire Nation killed everyone here?
Sighing, Aang turned around, walking towards Appa's saddle. It was no use, nothing was going to make this alright… How were they going to survive?
"Well… Ehm… So, that was the prince?" Haru spoke up, before an uncomfortable silence could fully settle in.
"Yeah. And if he knows we are here… Shit, we are going to have the whole Fire Nation army on our ass in less than a day. Tomorrow, we move on. We go to the Northern Water Tribe, that is our only chance…" Sokka spoke, and the tone suggested there was no discussion possible.
Aang had stuck on the phrase Fire Nation army on our ass. That turn of phrase made him shudder, thinking of what Azula had said… Spirits, the Northern Water Tribe, with all its faults… Would be such a good place. There at least… Katara could disappear into the crowd. No one would know who she was… Yes. Yes, Sokka was right.
"We do as we said, it is only early in the afternoon… So any pursuit can't be here before tomorrow midday. So, we stay here tonight. And then we move." Sokka repeated, and Aang nodded. Everything to get out of here… He had really thought this would be a safe place. Who would ever look for them here? And this temple was big enough to hide in, and still make it seem abandoned.
"Alright… We are going to look around, if that is alright?" Teo asked, and the airbender realized after a few moments, that the boy had talked to him.
"Oh… yeah, of course. Just stay out of that corridor." He gestured at the nun's quarters, and Teo nodded, before leaving with Haru and the Duke. As the three walked away, Aang moved to the fountain, sitting down on the edge, holding his glider between his knees and putting his forehead against the staff. He closed his eyes, trying to imagine how this place had looked before… before everything.
"Why would he try to fool us like that?" Katara seethed, and Aang heard that she moved toward him. Spirits… He knew they should talk… But how could he explain what he was fearing? Of course the waterbender would not want to hear it! She would say that she didn't care, and that he shouldn't either. That it wouldn't happen! And he also… He also needed to speak to her about the necklace.
"Obviously, he wants to lure us into a trap!" Sokka agreed, and the airbender felt how the water tribe boy sat down next to him.
"This… This is just like when we were in prison together in Ba Sing Se!" Katara said venomously, and Aang opened his eyes to look at her. Her forehead was scrunched into an angry frown, and the look in those beautiful blue eyes was nothing more than pure hatred, "He starts talking about his mother, and tries to make you think he is an actual human being, with feelings."
Well… He probably was. Maybe not perfect, but still a human being, one that had to be given the chance to prove himself…
"He wants you to trust him and feel sorry for him. So, when you let your guard down, he strikes!" Sokka apparently agreed with his sister… But Toph hadn't spoken yet.
"He can't be trusted! His sly and manipulative ways worked! I did feel sorry for him. A mistake I won't make again!" Katara said, and her tone made it seem that there wasn't any way to make her change her mind.
"Guys…" He sighed, looking up at the ceiling, with its intricate symbols etched into the stone, "I… Well, I need to tell you something. Remember when you two were sick, and I got captured by Zhoa? This was before we met you Toph… It was Zuko who came to rescue me… He risked his life to save me."
Aang didn't see Sokka's reaction, just looked at Katara. Her gaze didn't betray anything, but he knew her, probably better than anyone… She looked… hurt. Hurt that he hadn't told her this sooner…
"My love… He only rescued you, so that he could capture you! Him and Zhoa were always fighting over you!" Katara grumbled.
Yeah… That was probably true… But still, Zuko had done that, and Aang couldn't deny that.
Wait a minute… My love?
That meant… At least, that she had not looked at the pouch! If she had done, she would never have said that! Oh Spirits, thank you… Thank you… At least, that was not something to at to his worries… At least, he had that…
But that was the only thing.
"And all that stuff about setting Appa free… What a load of ostrich horse shit." The waterbender grumbled, but Aang nearly didn't hear, just too relieved to pay attention to the words.
"Actually, that was true." Toph finally spoke up.
"Oh… Hooray! At his long list of crimes, we don't have to add animal cruelty! What a relief!" Sokka spoke sarcastically, with Katara nodding in front of them.
"Well, sorry, but I believe him. Considering his messed up family, and how he was raised… He could have turned out a lot worse!" the blind girl said, and… Well, Aang could only agree…
"Oh yes! Let's give him an award! Not as much of a jerk as you could have been! Tui and La, why are we even discussing this!" Katara shouted, and the airbender recoiled from her. This… She was being a little bit extreme. But he didn't judge. Apparently, something had happened in Ba Sing Se… And he didn't know all the details. So, before rejecting her way of thinking, he needed to know everything.
"All I know is that while he was talking to us, he was sincere. Maybe you are just letting your hurt feelings keep you from thinking clearly! Aang will need a firebending teacher if he fights the Fire Lord now! And I don't see hundreds lining up to do so! That stuttering mess is our only shot at this. Who knows, maybe he is even a pretty decent guy after all!" Toph spoke, clearly trying to remain calm.
"Sure, that decent guy just had to attack us, using pirates. That splendid specimen of a good guy had to tie me to a tree." Katara muttered.
"Sir good guy just had to burn down Kyoshi Island!" Sokka joined his sister.
Yes! Yes! Those were horrible things… But everyone deserved at least a second chance.
"Why would you even try to defend such a man?" The waterbender asked, clearly annoyed now.
"Because he really needs to be able to defend himself from firebending! I would think that you, of all people, would want that! Now, a teacher shows up on a silver platter, and you idiots won't even think about it?" Toph stomped her feet down, and the whole building trembled.
"He is not having Zuko as his teacher. Over my dead body." Katara said, in a tone that was filled with resolve and hatred.
"And you say I'm blind." With that, Toph turned around, and walked away.
A silence settled around them, and after a few moments, Sokka muttered something about taking his bag to his room and going for a nap. As the water tribe boy walked away, Aang realized… This was the first time he was alone with Katara. If he wanted… he could talk about the necklace now… But… Well, he wasn't sure if this was the right moment to do so. To talk about such a… momentous thing, while Katara was clearly angry.
"You are not having him as your teacher." The waterbender repeated, sitting down next to him. Momo was still playing inside the fountain, and the lemur threw some water at her, which she ignored.
"Katara… Toph makes a good point. I will need to fight Ozai before the comet. Roku said that… And I'll need firebending. Even if I hate the idea of learning something… Something that brought such misery to the world… And something that hurt you… I need you to be open to it." Aang answered, in soft voice. Even with all his worries… Sitting next to her, knowing that between them… Everything was alright… That was at least a little consolation.
"I'm open to you learning firebending. Just not from him. He said Iroh was not in prison anymore. We could try and find him. He, at least, tried to defend us." She spoke, putting her head into her hands.
Aang thought about it… Iroh had been known as the Dragon of the West, a scourge of the Earth Kingdom… Even though the older prince had seemed… the most normal of that whole family… He still had committed crimes. Zuko wasn't so different… Maybe he was only an earlier stage of his redemption?
"That will take time. Time we don't have…" Aang sighed too. This was all just… Too much. Too much to do, too little time, too much pressure.
Katara didn't answer that. Silence settled between them, and he knew that most of the anger inside of her was going away. There was also so much to discuss… But he didn't want to. Not now… Just one more moment with her, before he had to do what was necessary…
"Why did you ask about that first room?" Her voice sounded, and Aang felt a soft pressure against his shoulder. Looking to his side, he saw how the waterbender had put her head against him.
Should… Should he tell her?
"Someone I loved very much lived here." He said. That wasn't too much information. Nothing too unsettling.
"Your mother?" She asked.
"No… Not my mother. She lived in the Eastern Air Temple…" Aang answered. He was not ready to speak about it. Not yet.
"A girl you liked?" Katara voice sounded teasing, but the airbender also recognized… Some vulnerability.
"Spirits no. No Katara… That has never been the case. Not before you." That was the truth. The waterbender apparently sensed his reluctance to say something, and didn't ask further questions, for which he was grateful.
After a moment, Katara got up.
"I'll bring our stuff to the other building… If that is still alright?" The waterbender asked.
"Yeah… Yeah, of course." He guessed he would need to talk about everything later tonight… But at least, he still had all of this, now… But tonight, he needed to talk to her. Really talk.
Katara walked to the saddle, picked up her own stuff, and began to walk towards the bridge. Aang also got up.
"Tara… I…. I am going to that other building." He gestured at one of the temples, "It is alright, but… I want to go alone. So, no worries, I will be back in a few minutes… I just… I need to check something."
Her blue eyes looked at him with a sad expression, and she nodded, a small sad smile on her lips. But she didn't say anything else about it. For which he was grateful.
He opened his glider and jumped off the terrasse. The air current coming from deep within the canyon hit his face, and Aang couldn't help but feel… Slightly better. There were things to do, to talk about… But that was only tonight. Now… Now he could at least life in the illusion that everything was alright. Just for a few hours.
He flew straight towards the building he had indicated, and landed on the small terrasse there. Snapping his glider shut, Aang looked around. Still, there were no signs of battle, of violence… How could that be the case? Of course, this building had been the school… So, the nuns would have tried to steer the fighting away from this place. It would probably be the outer temples that would have been the places of battle… He would need to check those out… Later.
Now, he just entered the building through the arch, and walked through the corridor.
"You're cheating!" the girl, just two years older than him, screamed.
"Am not!" Aang shouted back, holding the ball in his hands.
He sighed, remembering that specific day. He had been sent to the Western Air Temple for a month when he had been eight years old, to follow some lessons given by the old Sister Janni… Spirits, that was long ago.
Without even thinking he entered the room on his left. A circular room, with benches in a semicircle going up against the walls… He had been here… What, two months before his sixteenth birthday? Yes, that would have been it. He had just gone to visit Kuzon and had decided to fly to the Western Air Temple to see Jinora.
The music room hadn't changed. It was dusty, there were leaves in the corners… but there were no damages. The paint of the murals seems a bit faded, and maybe the wooden benches were rotten. But… If he didn't touch anything, Aang could nearly imagine the room like the last time he had been inside it.
"This is going to be my classroom! Sister Talla is getting old, and she asked me to give some of the lessons to the younger girls!"
His heart ached at the thought of those words. Aang sat down, putting his back against one of the walls. Closing his eyes, he tried to remember the music, echoing from these walls.
"Look who is back Jin… Guess you didn't expect me to become a hundred and seventeen, did you." The airbender spoke up aloud.
"Then again… You always said I was impossible. So much has happened… You can't even imagine. I found someone… Someone I love with all my heart… Yeah, I imagine you would laugh, hearing me say that, but it is true…"
Yep. He had gone crazy. Talking to empty rooms…
"I just… I would have liked to see you, just one more time. I haven't really thought about you these last few months… For that, I am so sorry… So much happened… And we were always taught to detach ourselves from these kinds of attachments, weren't we? Not that that worked… No, the monks told me when I was ten. Now, I know why. That would have been weird if our friendship had grown into something else… Spirits, so weird." Aang smiled at that memory.
"What I am trying to say… I miss you. I would have liked to introduce you to my friends… Spirits, I miss you so much… Sister."
A tear rolled down his cheek.
Answers :
Alyssa : Yeah, I want that too, but what would be the fun in that lol? Zuko trying to be good and actually be just an awkward mess was perfect, so I really want to explore that further.
Kalaong: I see Zuko as really the most unlucky guy in the whole universe in Avatar. He tries to do a good thing, and has to spent a whole season as a refugee as consequence. So, hm choosing to side with his sister, makes a lot of sense. But when he get's his reward he sees that it isn't what he wants. Really, the poor guy, and now, he has to try and convince his enemies.
Rak : Exactly, they think they are trying to protect the other, but what they are actually doing is setting the stage for so many problems… And of course, it is all for nothing, because the Fire Nation is already trying to do exactly that what the other fears.
Jjsmith103 : The guy can't catch a break, and then we sent him to the burned down home of his sister. Joy! I always thought that Ozai wasn't going to believe Zuko when he told him the Avatar was alive, so I wanted to add a scene where Azula has to confess that her brother told the truth. And it seemed interesting to combine that with Hakoda's interrogation. So that he would know in exactly how much danger his children were in. Something that he has been trying to avoid at any cost.