A/N : Back from work ! God, that were some long weeks of digging! But I will be way more active now, finishing this story the coming weeks.
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.
What did they have left? Four days? Three? In his worry, he didn't know anymore. The only thing he knew at this moment was the stress radiating from Appa's head, where his sister was steering the bison. Sokka had been biting his tongue ever since leaving Ember Island…
He knew that Aang would never leave her alone, not now… He had promised he wouldn't run off again. And Sokka trusted his friend, he didn't break such vows… At least, not when he would give them to Katara.
Spirits, he could nearly feel the anger and worry coming from his sister, even though he was sitting at the back of the saddle, against the chest that Aang always kept with him… And now, his sister had taken it from their bedroom, strapping it on the saddle without a word. Sokka still shuddered at the idea of Aang and Katara's bedroom, but he didn't mind… Not really.
Sure, it was disgusting to know your sister was doing… that… with your best friend. But there had never been two people better matched than those two. His sister, always worrying and overthinking, needed someone to bring light and happiness, and Aang was exactly that person… Sokka couldn't help but smile, knowing that Katara had been in a bad place ever since their mother was murdered… And the airbender had brought her out of that shell, with a simple gesture and a laugh…
And Aang? Spirits knew that he needed someone to bring him towards happier times. To most people, the airbender seemed a gentle and kind soul… But anyone who had spent more than a few days with him knew the hidden pain and anger. The airbender didn't speak about it, but the destruction of his people had scarred and hurt him in a way no one understood… Maybe no one, except Katara.
"Do you think we are doing the right thing?" Suki whispered in his ear.
"Yeah… I think we do." He nodded. There was no other option. Toph had said Aang wasn't on the island, and the footprints in the sand matched the airbender's boots. So, his friend had left the island, with Momo… But without his staff, or Appa… And without saying goodbye to anyone, even not Katara… And that worried him. Sokka knew that his sister knew more about the airbender than she let on… Maybe even more than Aang knew about himself.
No. If he had left by his own free will, his friend would have spoken to Katara beforehand.
But he had not.
So, Sokka considered that wherever his friend was, it wasn't voluntary. They needed to find him, as soon as possible. And if the only way was to find that woman who had chased them with Zuko and Iroh, and that stinking beast of hers… Well, Sokka would kiss the beast if he was able to find Aang.
The water tribe boy stood up, walking cautiously over the slightly curved saddle, towards the front… Where he could talk to his sister. Sokka knew the mood Katara was in, it was the same as the one during Aang's coma. The one where her mood could go from extremely sad, so extremely angry in the matter of seconds. And he needed to be cautious. They needed to fight the Fire Lord, with or without Aang to stop what Ozai was going to do… And he needed his sister in a sane mood, for her sake… And for his. If something happened to her…
No. Wherever Aang was, he would never allow something to happen to Katara. Sokka would never dream of saying it aloud to his sister, but sometimes, her courage and compassion bordered recklessness… And she could use someone to protect her… From herself. And Aang was that person. He would throw himself in front of whatever would try to hurt Katara, without a second thought… And Tui and La, Sokka felt guilty about thinking like this… But he felt like he wouldn't be capable of that.
His sister was his world, but to sacrifice himself to defend her? He would probably overthink every possibility, just like she did… Only Aang would never think about all the other options. He would just do the first thing that entered his mind.
And Sokka felt guilty that he thought his sister needed protection… For she clearly didn't. She was the fiercest person he knew, counting Toph, Suki and all the other people he had come to respect so much.
"Sis?" He spoke as he reached the front of the saddle, looking at the back of her head. Katara wasn't wearing her long braid and hair loopies as she usually did… But her hair hung loose, just as it had done this morning.
No answer…
Looking more closely, Sokka remarked that her head was bowed, looking at something in her hands… And he had a feeling, fearing what she was holding. He had heard the hesitation in her voice when Zuko had asked for something so drenched with Aang's scent… It could only be one thing. One thing that the airbender had taken with him everywhere he went… And the thought that Katara now had the necklace… It filled Sokka with dread.
What had they done?
What had those two done, in the Spirits names… He had come to accept Katara point of view, in the temple, when she had rejected the airbender's proposal, knowing that as long as the war raged, it could only make things more dangerous for her… But what if Aang had asked again… And she had thrown caution in the wind, doing what her heart told her to do? What if they had done that, and they lost the coming battle? Spirits, Azula would make true on her threats… And it would break him.
And break Aang, which was by far the more dangerous result.
"Sis?" He tried again, and now, Katara lifted her head, but didn't turn around. Sokka, knowing why she didn't look him in the eyes, didn't bother asking her to turn around. He had her attention.
"I wanted to say that Appa needs to go south-east wards from now on… If we continue on this course, we'll reach Yu Dao…" He spoke softly, and he saw his sister nod, tugging quickly at Appa's reins… And as she did, Sokka saw the flash of yellow and blue… And knew.
He had seen it far too often to not know what it was.
And his heart filled with even more fears and dread. She had the necklace… And it could only mean two things… Aang had asked her once more just before disappearing… Or she had accepted it. And seeing how she was holding on to it, Sokka thought he knew what the answer was…
And it was the most dangerous thing she could have done.
Slumping against the side of the saddle next to Zuko, the water tribe boy was thinking… If they couldn't find Aang, at least not in time for him to confront the Fire Lord… Spirits, was there anything they could do? According to the prince sitting next to him, Ozai was the best firebender he had ever seen… And to be honest, their fights with the Fire Nation had always been more of a draw, except the one in the North Pole… But there, they had the combined power of the ocean, Aang and the whole Northern Water Tribe military… Now, to fight Ozai, his army and whatever the Fire Lord could throw at them…
They had them.
A small group of the best fighters Sokka could imagine… But a weak one. A weak group, because they all cared so much for each other. If one of them would be wounded… The others would be distracted. No, what they needed was an Avatar State fuelled Aang, destroying everything standing between him and the end of the war. That was their only chance. Their only hope to end a conflict that had not seen a day of peace since a hundred years…
Peace…
What would peace look like, Sokka didn't know… How could he? Ever since he was born, he had been taught to use a spear, a boomerang or a knife, to kill the invaders, to stop the ash eaters to raid their villages… But peace? Aang had made it sound… beautiful. Just beautiful.
Sensing the change in direction, Sokka observed that Appa was descending. Casting a look over the rim of the saddle, he saw that, in the glow of the setting sun, there was a coastline, green and filled with a forest, as far as the eye could see… And, on the coast, in the trees, he saw light.
The port of Xi Deong.
The place where Zuko hoped to find that bounty hunter of his. Sokka also hoped, but he didn't like hope. He much preferred certainty. But at this moment, he would take hope… If that was the best thing they had. As Appa was slowly flying down towards the small harbour, the water tribe warrior turned to the firebender.
"Is this… June?.. in that tavern you talked about? Are you sure of that?" He asked. The bounty hunter could have gone away, relocated to another town, or she could be on a mission! She could be anywhere.
"She is stationed at that tavern last time I checked. She is a hunter in the service of the Third Army… And she is supposed to be in that tavern in case she is needed. So, let's hope that that the Third Army doesn't have a criminal on the loose. Or a deserter." Zuko answered as the bison's paws hit the ground. Looking down from the saddle, Sokka realized with horror that Katara had landed them right in the square in front of the small tavern.
With dozens of onlookers.
Luckily, none were wearing the red typical for Fire Nation citizens… But still!
"Katara!" He hissed urgently, climbing down and jumping down the last twee feet. His sister slid down from Appa's head, her hands balled into fists, and without a word, she marched towards the tavern.
"Oh yay… Bitch Katara is back." Toph deadpanned as her feet hit the ground next to him.
"Toph!" Suki whispered angrily, and Sokka turned towards his girlfriend, glad that it wasn't him who had to reprimand the blind girl.
"What, it's true…" The earthbender shrugged her shoulders.
"She is worried! The person she loves is missing! Of course, she is going to be difficult to be around. Just… Try and be kind." The Kyoshi Warrior sighed, before continuing, "Toph and I are going to stay with Appa." His girlfriend pointed a chin towards the group that was gathering in front of the tavern. Sokka looked and saw that most were the kind of shady people that wouldn't think twice about stealing Appa. Glancing a look at Toph, he saw how the blind girl had a dark shadow over her face, which was turned to the group. Even though her eyes couldn't see them, the message in the misty green eyes was clear enough.
Don't even dare come a step closer if you know what is good for you.
Leaving the girls with the bison, he and Zuko followed Katara, who was elbowing her way through the crowd of cut throats and criminals as if they weren't a danger at all, only a nuisance… And knowing his sister, she probably considered them just that. A nuisance in her way to find Aang.
"Just be happy she doesn't have a weapon… yet." Sokka whispered to Zuko while they stepped into the group.
"Oh, even without it, she is scary enough. I'm not getting in her way, except if she tries to kill June. We need her." The firebender tried to sound casual, but Sokka saw the look in the ember eyes. He was clearly worrying at what Katara would exactly do if provoked. As was he.
"Sis!" He called, making Katara stop, and turn around just as she was ready to enter the tavern. It was the first time since this morning he actually saw her face, and the sight made him stop in his tracks. She had the exact same look in her eyes as all those weeks ago, the night Aang had disappeared, and she had kicked the living shit out of their father. Pure rage, fear and hurt combined into one sad blue gaze.
"Agni protects us…" He heard Zuko mutter, probably thinking Katara had gone crazy. Ignoring the remark, he reached his sister, took her arm as gently as he could, and smiled tentatively.
"We're all here Sis… No worry. This June will find Aang, and then we'll go defeat Ozai. We have a plan." He spoke softly, rubbing his hand from her elbow to her shoulder, just as he had done when she was little, and upset about something.
"Oh… She will find him." Katara muttered darkly, but the gaze softened… a bit.
Sokka felt the arm slip out of his grip, and they entered the dark common room of the tavern. In normal circumstances, he would have loved what he saw. Pure chaos. In one corner the bar stood, filled with dusty bottles and glasses, held by a man with such a big belly that it looked fake. In another corner, a small group of hooded men sat, counting coins into small stacks. Squinting, Sokka saw they actually had Fire Nation Bans, the golden coins that were considered the most trustworthy of all currency… And he had never seen common people, outside the Fire Nation at least, handling those coins.
Shaking of his interest in the criminal activities in the tavern, his concentration was broken by a great shout, then a crash, coming from the other side of the room. Turning his gaze towards the commotion, Sokka saw, to his eternal relief, that June, the woman who had chased them in the monastery all those months ago, stood over a man, twice her size, smiling widely. She bent over, took his purse, then sat down once more.
Sokka once more admired the beauty of the woman, but was also bothered by it. It was the kind of scary beauty, the kind you weren't supposed to get close to. Not the beauty of Suki, who was all elegance, kindness and fury combined into one. No… This was the kind of beauty of a master crafted blade, all edge and danger.
Apparently, Katara didn't care, or hadn't even bothered to consider the danger of approaching the woman, as she stepped over the man, who was still dazed on the ground. Sokka himself walked around the man, which was a mistake, as his sister reached the bounty hunter first… Without him or Zuko.
"You are going to find someone. Now." He heard Katara's voice say, which was met by a soft sigh coming from the woman.
"Not in the mood to find the man who left you pregnant and alone lady. Leave me alone." The hard-edged voice of the woman answered, not even bothering to look at his sister.
"I'm not here for that kind of service. You are going to search for the Avatar. Now." His sister sat down in front of the bounty hunter, arms crossed in silent anger. Sokka reached the table, mentally kicking Katara for having revealed the truth of their mission.
"Last time I searched for the Avatar… Oh… Wait!" Realization hit the bounty hunter, who grinned wickedly at them. Then, her dark brown eyes found Zuko, and she laughed.
"Spirits, you are working together now? Have to be honest prince, I didn't think you could pull off having her as a girlfriend." June teased and laughed, but casting a look at Zuko, Sokka saw that that joke hurt the firebender. He hadn't spoken about it, but he feared for his real girlfriend, Mai… And Sokka had chosen not to joke or tease about love with Zuko near him, out of kindness… But June didn't know that.
"He not with me. I'm here so you can find my… So you can find the Avatar." Katara's voice sounded thin, as it always did when she was offended. But Sokka had not missed the small misstep from his sister. Her true thoughts were too easy to hear when she was irritated, as she never thought her remarks over.
She had said my…
My what? My Aang? My fiancée? My… husband?
The knowledge of the necklace that his sister was still holding in her fist, hidden from preying eyes, came back in force. Sokka bit his lip, pushing that fear away. No way in the cold hells of Tui that his sister and Aang had done that. First of all, when could they have done the ceremonies? And secondly, he knew his best friend. Something like that, he couldn't keep secret, even if his life depended on it.
Yeah, like the time they kept their relationship a secret for a month?
Or that time they kept their mouths shut about sleeping together since Ba Sing Se?
He didn't like the fact his brain found two very good examples why his reasoning could be wrong.
"Not in the mood to chase that boy again lady. Sure, he seemed to be a catch, but last time, Nyla had to rest for a month to get the perfumes out of her nose." June waved them away, putting her drink to her mouth as if their conversation was over.
"You might want to reconsider. This could be a very good deal for you." Zuko stepped in before Katara could explode.
"I have a good contract on the morrow, Prince. Your deal has to be very good to have me even consider it." June still looked bored, but Sokka thought it could be a façade.
"On the last day of summer, less than seventy-two hours from now, Sozin's comet is in the sky. My father will use it to burn large swaths of the Earth Kingdom, including this place. The Avatar is the only one who can stop him. When Ozai is dead, Prince Iroh will be Fire Lord. And in his name, I can promise you ten thousand golden Bans, and a stop to your servitude to the Third Army." The firebender spoke quickly.
Sokka nearly dropped on the floor when he heard the sum. That was… More than anyone could even hope to get in a lifetime. But he had also seen the look on June's face. The money had not made her change her expression, but the mention of her freedom had been something that made her consider it. And then, Sokka realized. Zuko had said she had a contract with that army. But it was not a contract. She was bound to servitude, making her a slave in all but name to the Fire Nation.
"In writing." June said, her face and voice a mask of pure neutrality.
"In writing. And a down payment." Zuko took a purse from the bag that hung over his shoulder, and threw it on the table. Sokka glanced at it, realizing that it was the last of their money. Not that that was important, as they wouldn't really need it if they were dead.
Glancing at it, June nodded.
"So, you are going to find Aang." His sister spoke, and even though it had probably been meant as a question, it didn't sound like it. It sounded like an order, one spoken in a voice that didn't expect contradiction.
"Yeah lady, I'm going to look for that bald freak of yours." June bent towards the side, producing paper and a quill.
"Aang is not a freak!" Katara seethed with anger, and Sokka quickly sat down next to his sister.
"Sis, it doesn't matter. She is going to look for him." He hissed in her ear, even though he didn't like the fact the woman had insulted the airbender with such casual ease.
"The moment she finds him I'm going to mess her up for calling him that." His sister answered in the same whispered tone. Sokka didn't like to think about what she meant by messing her up. But he nodded, and watched as Zuko began to write on the paper, stating his name and titles, and what he had promised to June. Then, the firebender fished something out of his bag, and, squinting, Sokka realized he was holding a ring. A ring that had a seal in it, one of the golden flames of the Fire Nation Royal Family.
"Wax?" Zuko held out a hand, and June gave him some that he heated in his palm, letting it spill on the paper, before pressing the seal into it.
"Alright, come on." The bounty hunter stood up and marched out of the tavern. Sokka quickly scrambled up, jumped over the knocked-out man on the floor, and followed the woman, while behind him, he heard Katara and Zuko come after him.
When he stepped outside, the water tribe warrior saw the woman walk to one of the pens that he had not seen on the other side of the square. Waving to Suki and to Toph, he pointed a thumb up and then nodded towards the bounty hunter. His girlfriend, understanding his meaning, took Toph's arm and padded Appa on his fur, making their way towards the pen where June had stopped.
As they arrived at the same time, the bounty hunter turned towards Appa.
"Ah… him. Great." She sounded angry, and Sokka could understand that, seen that the bison had actually put up a great fight against the Shirshu. Appa growled, as did the thing inside the pen, before they looked at each other and began to… purr.
Astonished, the water tribe warrior nearly laughed as the bison crawled as close as his mass permitted towards the pen, lying down on the ground next to it. Behind him, he could nearly feel the blue eyes of his sister gaze angrily at the bison, but when he turned around to look at her, Sokka saw only mild irritation in her eyes.
"So, something of the Avatar, so that Nyla can find him." June waved a hand, impatiently, towards them. As they all turned to Katara, Sokka realized that, if she was going to use the necklace… Perhaps his sister would like some privacy.
Taking Zuko's arm, he took a few steps backwards, and, to his surprise, Toph did the same with Suki. Stepping towards the blind girl, he bend down and whispered.
"What do you know?"
"A whole lot more than you do. But apparently, you know some things too. Otherwise, you wouldn't have taken Zuko away from Katara."
Sokka didn't know what worried him more. That apparently, there was more to know… Or that Toph used their real names, meaning she was afraid of the things that were ahead.
Turning back to his sister, he saw her standing with her back turned towards them, letting the beast in the pen sniff at something in her hand. The Shirshu began to sniff the air, then the ground, before going in circles.
That was good… right? She was looking for Aang.
Then, his hope fell into a million pieces as the beast groaned and lay down on the ground next to Appa, scratching her nose with her front paws, as if she was trying to remove the scent from her nostrils… That could not be something good.
"What the fuck?" He heard the bounty hunter whisper, making him even more depressed about their chances of finding Aang.
"Eh… Does she have some kind of range limit?" He asked, hoping that was true.
"No. She could find him in the South Pole if needed." The woman spoke, irritated.
"Does that mean he is…" Sokka didn't dare speak the word dead, but apparently it was clear enough what he meant.
"Oh no, she could find a corpse, even a dismembered one. No… It is as if he isn't even on earth. The guy doesn't exist." June spoke, apparently amazed at the fact that someone had managed to escape her beast.
"We paid you to find him." The growl from his right was way too familiar to be comfortable. Katara had sounded exactly like that the night they took the ship… The night she had murdered that captain.
"Listen lady, I can't find people who don't exist." June didn't sound impressed by the threatening tone of his sister's voice, but Sokka still saw how the woman put a hand in her pocket, grabbing something that looked a lot like the handle of a knife. Quickly stepping between the two, knowing his sister would never even consider hurting him, he spoke.
"Alright, so no Aang." As much as it hurt him to think it, they needed to consider other options, "Do we know of anyone else capable of fighting Ozai?"
"Uncle." Zuko immediately spoke up, joining them.
"Oh Tui and La no! She is going to find Aang!" Katara sounded a lot less threatening now, and rather hurt… And the sound of her voice pierced Sokka's heart, because it sounded so defeated…. So much like she had sounded when they had stood next to the half-burned tent… All those years ago.
"Sis…" He turned to her, and tears welled up in his eyes as he saw the defeated look in her eyes, full of anger and hurt, "We must trust him to come back from wherever he is. At least we know he isn't dead, or captured… That is something, right? Do you trust him to come back?" He asked in a soft voice, so that only she could hear him.
"He promised. And he keeps his promises." Katara answered him, in the same hushed tone.
"Right… Then it couldn't hurt to find someone like Iroh, who could help Aang in his fight… right?" He asked softly.
"I guess. But I won't stop searching for him."
"I know." He stepped aside, turned around, as saw Zuko hold a rather old sandal in his hand, while a disgusted Toph was speaking.
"You kept that all those months? You perverted disgusting man."
'Oh shut up, at least it will find him." Zuko answered, irritated. The Shirshu smelled the sandal, and Sokka saw the beast nearly pounce away, only holding back as long as it took for June to mount the beast. Then, it ran into the darkness.
"Quickly, on Appa! Appa, follow your newfound girlfriend!" Sokka shouted, nearly pushing the others to the bison. They needed to find as many people as humanly possible to fight Ozai, now that Aang was… Well, Spirits knew where.
Please my friend… Come back to fight that bastard. If you don't, Katara would do it in your stead, I know she would. And let's be honest, neither you nor I want that. She needs you, even if she says she doesn't need anyone to be herself… But she needs you. Come back here and kill the bastard. If you don't, I will hunt you down the whole Spirit World if I need to.
Answers:
Lenoravampire1: Oh thank you so much! I'm really enjoying how so many are liking the story!
Guest : Thank you!
Kalaong : Exactly! She knows he hasn't run away from his duty to fight Ozai, and that he would never do that to her again, so she knows it has to be something else!