A/N: Hi everyone! This chapter is a little late cause I have been swamped with competitions but at least it's relatively on time! Review responses are at the bottom.

ALSO, if anyone wants to join a Kataang resource where myself and a bunch of other ff writers happen to be, type in this link: https (colon) (slash) (slash) dis CORD . g g (slash) a2SERH3U and join! (Sorry for the weird formatting it's 's fault)

With that, on with the story!

Chapter 31: Of Rest, Relaxation, and Pancakes

Last Time:

"This summer, my father is going to use the power of Sozin's Comet and the drill that almost got through the Ba Sing Se wall to set off the group of volcanoes right along the shore. The Water Districts will be utterly decimated. The volcanoes will set off earthquakes, and earthbenders won't be able to bend either."

"He will have total and utter control and will wipe out all opposition. He is going to try and take over the world. And he wants me to help him do it."

The Gaang all stared at each, still struggling to process what they just heard.

"Well," Aang quipped, breaking the silence. "This doomsday talk just leaves one question."

"What are we going to do now?"

The six teenagers (w)racked their brains to try and think of something, anything, that could help them save the world from utter devastation. They remained in relative silence, Sokka, Aang, and Toph pacing the forest floor while the other three sat on old tree stumps, deep in thought.

"Well why can't we just go to the authorities?" Aang asked exasperatedly after a few minutes. "Can't the police do something about this?"

"Oh really?" Zuko deadpanned. "Just go up to the police, who report to my father by the way, and be like 'We know we have no proof but us six teenagers think one of the most powerful men ever is trying to end the world. Can you help us?'"

"It was just an idea, Zuko," Aang muttered.

"Yeah- and a stupid one at that, Aang."

Katara opened her mouth to argue but Zuko continued.

"Ozai is ruthless. We can't play by the rules when he isn't even playing the same game as us. We need to think outside the box, predict his next moves and get one step ahead."

"Alright, so how the hell do we do that?" Sokka exclaimed.

"I… don't know."

Zuko sighed, slumping to the cold ground and putting his head in his hands.

"I'm just… I'm really lost guys. I have no idea what to do about my father, and I know it's all my fault but-"

"Zuko, and I mean this in the nicest possible way, but please shut the fuck up," Katara interrupted, all eyes turning to her.

"It's not your fault, and no one here holds that against you."

She shrugged.

"You can't control the family you were born into, and I'm sorry I did blame you for that earlier. Truly."

Zuko shot her a weak smile, feeling somewhat more reassured than he had been.

Aang spoke up.

"Tara's right."

He walked over to her and took hold of her hand, gently squeezing it.

"We're a team, the six of us. If someone comes for one of us, they come for all of us. And if any of us has a problem, we share it and help each other lessen the burden, be it something as small as a math problem or a parent trying to end the world as we know it."

"And we don't have to figure it out now either," Suki added.

"I mean do we have a bit of a time constraint? Well, yeah, but we're also just a couple of kids. We don't need to have all the answers all at once."

"We're going to figure this out cause we have to- we need to," Toph said determinedly. "This is our purpose. There's a reason all of this happened and a reason we all came together, and because of that, we're gonna kick Ozai's sorry ass!"

Sokka quirked an eyebrow.

"You know, Toph, that was unusually philosophical and uplifting."

"Shut it, Snoozles."

"Shutting it."

Sokka grinned nevertheless.

"Alright! Team Avatar is back in action!"

"You know, Sokka, we were never technically in action in the first place so that doesn't really make sense," Katara drawled.

Everyone's eyes widened ever so slightly, including those of Katara herself, not expecting the waterbender to respond so calmly. Aang stared scrutinizingly at her, somewhat disturbed but relented his internal questioning after a moment

"Uh, y-yeah. I guess so," Sokka stammered out.

"So now what?" Zuko asked.

"Now…" Aang started, thinking for a second before sighing.

"We take a break."

Everyone looked curiously at him.

"A break? Are you kidding? This is my father we're talking about- we can't afford to lose a second!"

"Aang has a point, Zuko," Katara conceded. "I think it's safe to say shit happened today."

Everyone chuckled a bit at the understatement.

"We're all tired, both mentally and physically. We need rest- to recuperate and reevaluate. Take a minute to process everything, you know?"

Aang stared at his girlfriend in awe, who blushed when she realized.

"What?" she murmured shyly.

Aang broke out of his trance, smiling and pecking her forehead.

"Nothing, nothing. I was just wondering when you got so wise."

Katara's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red.

"Well, I guess some of that Avatar knowledge has rubbed off on me."

The airbender chuckled, wrapping his arm around her waist and embracing her before turning back to the group, oblivious to the subtle tinge of regret in Sokka's eyes.

"It's getting late. Let's go home, get some rest, and talk about all this in the morning."

Aang and Katara gave each other a quick look of mutual understanding before he continued.

"Tara's going to be sleeping over at my place. You all are welcome to join if you want. Spirits know I have the space."

"I'll come," Zuko said, "If that's okay with you, Aang," to which the airbender nodded. "Just let me stop home really quick to get some stuff."

"Same," Suki, Toph, and Katara responded at the same time.

"Alright!" Sokka shouted, swinging his arms around Suki and Toph. "Sleepover at Aang's!"

Zuko nodded his head towards the fortress gateway as he stood up.

"Let's get a move on."

The six teenagers bustled outside, shivering as the cool March air bit at their exposed skin.

They jogged over to Katara and Sokka's house, the woods behind them, resolving to pick up some things before heading to the others' before finally arriving at Aang's to spend the night.

Katara got out her keys, rushing into the warm house, Aang right behind her.

"Dad, I'm home! A bunch of us are going to spend the night at Aang's, I'm just here to get my stuff," she shouted into the quiet home.

"Alright, sweetie, have fun!" her father's muffled voice responded.

The waterbender quickly bounded up the stairs to her room, her feet light on the carpet as the airbender followed.

"Katara we need to talk," Aang said as she rummaged through her drawers.

"What about, my darling boyfriend?" Katara asked sweetly, still focused on the task at hand.

Aang frowned, walking over to her and leaning down to make eye contact.

"What happened with you, Suki, Toph, and Sokka today?"

The waterbender paused, refusing to meet his gaze as she turned back towards the clothes in the dresser.

"Why do you ask?"

Aang hugged her from behind, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"I just… I don't know, I just- I feel like something's changed. Whatever it is, I want to know what it is."

He then murmured so quietly that Katara wasn't even sure if she heard correctly.

"I don't want there to be any secrets between us. I love you."

The waterbender softened, melting against his embrace as she turned back around to hug him.

"I love you too, Aang. And I do want to tell you! It's just…"

"It's just?"

She hesitated, readjusting herself against him.

"If I'm being completely honest, I don't even know how to feel about it. I'll tell you what I happened tonight, promise, but I need some time to figure out my own emotions about it."

The airbender gave her a weak smile, pressing another kiss to the top of her head.

"Just promise me you'll never stop telling me what you're thinking?"

Katara grinned, pecking him on the lips.

"Promise."

"Then that's all I need, sweetie."

The airbender tilted her head up to hers, leaning in as he pulled her closer.

"Guys, are you ready yet or-" Sokka froze in his tracks when he saw the two locked in a passionate kiss.

"Oh."

The benders broke apart instantaneously, blushing furiously as they stared at the ground, returning to their tasks.

"We're together, Sokka. We have been for a while. No need to get awkward about it," Katara mumbled, not noticing him flinch.

He stood in the doorway silently, watching them with a forlorn gaze.

"Do you need something?"

"Huh? No, no, it's just…" Sokka trailed off.

"It's just?"

Aang's gaze bounced between the two siblings, unsure of what would become of this interaction.

"I'm sorry, okay? I know you don't want to hear it, I know it's too late, but I'm sorry. I just needed you to know that."

"Aren't you at least sorry, Sokka? Don't you miss how we used to be?" she had cried out, begging, pleading for just a single glimpse of the brother she loved.

"You did this to yourself, Katara. We all make choices and it's pretty clear which side you chose," he had responded, turning a cold shoulder to the desperate waterbender.

"This isn't him!" she had thought. "It can't be! Sokka's better than this."

"I'm not sorry. I never will be sorry. I've made better friends with them than with my lame-ass sister who can't even see what's plainly in front of her. From this point on, you're dead to me."

Katara winced at the painful memory, shaking it off as she returned back to packing.

"Noted."

She dared not make eye contact, instead just telling herself to take deep breaths, and sighing in relief when he finally left the room.

This sure was going to be interesting.

"Alright! Room assignments!" Aang said once they got home.

"Sokka, Suki, Toph, Zuko- you guys already know the drill, you've been here before. Tara, you're with me, unless you have any arguments?"

The waterbender grinned, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

"None at all, sweetie."

The six teenagers headed up to their respective rooms, the two couples sharing while Toph and Zuko stayed in their own individual ones. All of them were all regulars at the Avatar's house and certainly knew their way around the mansion, a gift from the government as an apology for what had happened to his people.

Aang yawned as he leaped onto his bed, instantly getting under the sheets as he motioned for Katara to join him.

The waterbender wiggled into his outstretched arms, sighing as his warmth surrounded her, more comforting than the softest blanket.

The two absentmindedly lay next to each other, Katara tracing random patterns on Aang's exposed chest while the airbender brushed a few locks of hair away from her face.

"Not to ruin the atmosphere, but you did say you'd tell me what happened," Aang murmured, stroking circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.

Katara sighed, looking up at him.

"I did say that, didn't I?" she groaned.

Aang snorted.

"Yes, you did. Having regrets now?" he quirked an eyebrow playfully.

She wrinkled her nose, grimacing.

"A little."

She turned on her back, blowing air through her lips.

"Not much to tell honestly. After we split up, Azula and her cronies nabbed me, took me back to some weird bunker underground, threatened to kill me if you didn't agree to marry her, the usual."

Aang chuckled, unable to hold in his laughter.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing. I just love how calm you are about all of it. Go on."

The waterbender rolled her eyes, nevertheless continuing.

"Sokka, Suki, and Toph showed up, also got captured, Toph bent metal, we beat the bad guys, and then Zuko told us to come back to the fortress."

She shrugged.

"You know the rest from there."

"You're sure you're okay?"

Katara slowly nodded, pulling her knees up to her chest.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm not great by any means but-" she exhaled. "I'm getting through it. I'm doing fine."

"No cuts? Injuries? Anything?"

"Other than a little mental trauma, I'm fine, Aang. Really," she smiled awkwardly.

Aang gave her an unsure look and hugged her.

"Mark my words, love, Azula won't get away with this. I promise. No one hurts or threatens you and gets away with it."

Katara bit her lip to prevent herself from choking out a sob, burying her head into his chest.

"I was so scared, Aang, I thought-" she cried, tears running freely down her face.

Aang pulled her close, knowing something like this was going to happen sooner or later. A person could only take so much of bottling up their own emotions.

"Let it all out, love," he murmured, stroking her hair. "You're safe now. You're here with me and you're safe."

"I thought I would lose you, Aang, I thought I was going to die."

"I'm here, sweetie. I'm here."

The two lay there for what felt like hours yet mere seconds at the same time, taking comfort in each other just being there with them, whispering the same thing over and over:

Everything is going to be okay.

Katara groaned as the sun shone on her face, squinting her eyes as she rubbed the sleep out of them.

She glanced fondly to her side, surprised to see the airbender wide awake and looking at her lovingly.

"Morning, love," she whispered, turning her body to face him.

"Morning," he responded, taking her hand in his.

"Thank you for last night," she murmured. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I just want you to always know, no matter what, I'll always be there for you. If something goes wrong, I'll swoop in to save the day. I'll keep you safe at any and all costs, love."

The airbender pressed a quick kiss to the back of her hand before looking into her eyes earnestly.

"There will always be an Aang and Katara, you hear me? Always."

Katara sighed, throwing her arms around him.

How in the world had she found someone so perfect, someone so sweet that he knew exactly what to say to make her feel like her heart was bursting with love every time he opened his mouth?

"Thank you."

Aang remained silent. They didn't need words to express anything more.

Suddenly, Katara's stomach growled, causing the waterbender's cheeks to blush a dark maroon.

Aang chuckled, the two sitting up and getting out of bed.

"Come on, I'm sure we have a box of pancake mix somewhere in the kitchen."

"What smells so good?" came Sokka's voice as he and Suki entered the bustling kitchen, the smell of breakfast wafting through the air.

"Pamnckks," Toph spoke with a full mouth, Katara making a face behind her as she and Aang worked the griddle.

"Oooh, is there any bacon?" Sokka's mouth watered at the thought.

Aang gave him a look, flipping a golden-brown pancake.

"Of course, Sokka. As a vegetarian, I obviously have meat in the fridge."

"Sweet!" Sokka exclaimed, oblivious to the sarcasm as he started rummaging through the fridge.

"Aang, pass me the syrup?" Katara asked, taking her plate and getting ready to sit down.

"Honey is way better but continue," the airbender rolled his eyes, handing her the bottle.

Katara opened her mouth to argue but Suki interrupted.

"Has anyone seen Zuko? He's usually a pretty early riser."

The five teenagers looked at each other, realizing the missing member of his group.

Toph frowned.

"That's weird. I don't feel his vibrations in his room."

"Maybe the carpet is messing with your earthbending?" Sokka suggested.

"Could be, Snoozles, but I'm not using the floor."

The earthbender nodded her head towards her raised hand flat against the wall.

"He's not here."

They all gave each other a concerned look.

This couldn't be good.

Zuko fidgeted with the black band around his wrist, a gift from Mai for their anniversary.

"She definitely doesn't feel the same way now."

He stared at the door in front of him, decked in a rich red-brown polish like most of the other doors in the house. He had always felt nervous about this door in particular. It had always loomed over his shoulder like a shadow holding his worst nightmares.

What he was about to do could change everything. No, scratch that. It would change everything, it was just a matter of for better or for worse.

"But what else can I do?" he asked himself. "Those guys just don't get it. They don't know Ozai like I do. It's time I do something for the better good for once, not just for myself. This is my destiny. This is what I was meant to do."

He sighed, raising his arm up to knock before lowering it back down.

He put his hand in his hands, frustrated as to just how he should start the chaos he was about to unleash.

He thought of his uncle's words.

Breathe in through the nose, breathe out through the mouth. The breath becomes energy in the body and will extend past your limbs into power.

Zuko relaxed, facing the door head-on and slamming it open.

"I've made up my mind, Father."

He looked up at Ozai, who had a devilish grin on his face.

"I want to join you. I want to help you defeat the Avatar and bring the world to its knees. They will bow to the Fire Nation!"

A/N: Zuko what are you up to now smh. Nothing horribly juicy in this chapter but definitely some nice fluff. Also a way longer chapter than I was planning so I hope everyone enjoyed! (Also did anyone catch the two HTTYD: RTTE references?)

Review Responses:

TheLoneReader34: Your reviews are honestly a huge reason that this story is where it is. Your critiques are very much appreciated, believe me, and I am honored that you put so much effort into your reviews. I'm glad you liked the fight scene! Definitely not my strong suit so I'm glad it came across okay. To answer a few points: Azula's role in the story is definitely not over. This was just one minor arc in the grand scheme of things. As for Toph's metalbending, in the show she was younger and it wasn't as urgent for her to learn right that second. My perspective was that her being older plus the urgency of them literally going to be killed if she didn't figure something out sped up the process, so to speak, but I do see your point. Again, thank you so much for your feedback! (But please don't feel any obligation to continue- real life comes first!)

Ashley Barbosa: As always, thank you for your review and support! Your reviews always make me smile.

AangSimp101: I was cracking up reading your reviews. I'm glad you like the story and I hope you like what's in store next!