"Is everyone okay? Zuko was hit by some darts—"

Katara rushes past him. "When did he lose consciousness? Was it instant? How long has he been out? Do you have one of the darts?"

Aang answers the questions as best as he can. He watches Katara tend to Zuko, the quiet concentration in her face, the tenderness of her gaze.

"I don't think it was lethal, and I think I was able to bloodbend most of the poison out," assures Aang, "We're lucky it was a full moon—"

"We need to go back," interjects Azula, not sparing her brother a glance. "Now would be the best time to find information, they'll be expecting us to stay hidden."

"You guys go. I'll stay with Zuko," says Katara with finality.

Aang turns to the others. "Toph?"

Toph kicks at the floor. "I'll stay."

"I'm glad, Prince Zuko would benefit from having the protection of the world's strongest earth bender," says Iroh comfortingly, "Perhaps we'll even figure out how to turn their strange water-earth against them."

"If anyone can it's Sifu Toph," affirms Aang. "Sokka?"

"I'm coming, I want answers."

"Azula?"

"Obviously. It's my plan."

"Great." Aang turns back. Katara hasn't looked up. There's a nettle lodged in his heart, but Aang shakes it loose. He's better than this.

"We'll be back by sunset."


"The Dai Li are loyal to power alone," hisses Azula. "Asking them for information like beggars won't grant us anything besides death."

"Does the oh so might Phoenix King hold power?" mocks Sokka. "I say it's worth a shot. What do you think, Aang? Since, that's right, you defeated him!"

"Um—"

"You're aware the Phoenix King regained his bending? Meaning, that's right, he's not as defenseless as a water tribe idiot with a stick," says Azula, smirking when Sokka's expression contorts into fear.

"What? How! Is that why the Dai Li can double bend?"

Aang tries again. "Maybe the Dai Li are double benders too and they have firebenders as their soulmates?"

Sokka frowns. "Possible but unlikely. The Dai Li figured out a way to grant people firebending..." He narrows his eyes at Azula. "Is your father behind all this?"

Azula looks at Sokka with an unimpressed look she usually reserves for Zuko. "You said you were the ideas guy. Here's an idea, has my father ever commanded the Dai Li? Is he at all subtle?"

"Maybe he was playing the long con," grumbles Sokka, "maybe he was using the Dai Li all along but you never knew because he never—"

"I was always loyal to him."

—told you" finishes Sokka with a yelp.

Azula shifts her stance.

Aang intervenes. "Azula." There are prickles in his gut from the way she stares at him.

"No more formalities?" she purrs.

"Who's the bigger threat: the Dai Li or the Red Lotus?"

"They're both working together," says Sokka, "The red gas is from the Red Lotus. Red to red, it makes thematic sense," he waves his hand in a casual, circular motion, "There's probably a connection between it, weird spirit stuff, and firebending."

"Maybe not. The Dai Li could be held hostage," argues Azula. "I'll grant you the connection but I doubt it is an equal partnership."

"Of course it's not. The Fire Lord is power hungry."

"If he's behind this then why wasn't Iroh attacked?"

"Who else would give firebending to the Dai Li?"

Aang watches them bicker back and forth. He swallows, his throat suddenly dry.


The Dai Li cut an imposing figure, standing around the gates of Ba Sing Se like a flock of ominous statues.

Aang wonders if anyone asked them to leave. Perhaps someone had and that small act had brought upon the sickness of Ba Sing Se as retaliation. Or, as demoralizing as the thought may be, perhaps the people of Ba Sing Se never asked the Dai Li to leave. Perhaps they, like so many others, heard of the numerous strange occurrences outside of the city, and sought protection from the Dai Li over the Avatar.

Aang doesn't blame them. They're afraid and he hasn't provided any answers, any comfort, any hope; and although being so easily discarded leaves a heavy and bitter taste on his tongue, he understands.

Aang wishes he was a better Avatar too.


"Make yourself useful and come up with a plan to extract information from the guards," snaps Azula, turning back to—

"Where's Aang?" she asks, only to follow her companions line of sight towards the Dai Li guards. "He wouldn't."

Sokka groans and readies his weapon. "He would."


Aang can pinpoint the exact moment Azula realizes what he was doing by the feeling of two pinpricks of heat on the back of his neck.

It doesn't stop him from moving towards the guards.

Aang knows he's not perfect. That he can't make plans like Sokka. That he doesn't know how to fix this particular mess but…

Aang sighs.

He has to do something.

Aang raises his hand in greeting. "Hi!"


Sokka facepalms.


The Dai Li stare at Aang in stony silence before moving as one.

Aang prepares to dodge but instead of sending a boulder or fireball his way, the Dai Li hold out a plain, unmarked letter.

"Um, thanks?"

"We must return to the village. The people there are sick," they say in unison before walking away.

"Okay…that was weird…" He opens the letter and squints. "Location of Cure?"

Huh. Maybe he was better at this than he thought.


"That was incredibly stupid," scolds Azula.

"I'm sorry I made you worry," says Aang. He responds to Azula's glare with his most innocent smile.

"…and it's obviously a trap. One with a handwritten invitation," continues Azula with a sneer.

He shrugs. "What do you think, Sokka?"

Sokka gives him an odd look.

"Sokka?" repeats Aang.

"It is suspiciously trap-like," says Sokka after a pause, "but it's not like we have any leads here. We might as well check it out. How far away is it?"

"It's a bit far," admits Aang.

"Leave Uncle here," suggests Azula with a cold smile. "He can gather intel and if he's not dead by the time we get back then we'll have proof that my father wasn't behind this particular endeavor."

Aang frowns. "No, I don't want anyone dead."

Sokka chews on his bottom lip. "…I hate to say it but I agree with Azula." He quickly holds up his hands in a placating gesture and adds,"We want someone behind in case we all get captured and Iroh is a good choice."

Aang looks to Azula.

"He might not die," relents Azula, "Uncle is very good at avoiding death. I can personally attest to it."

"Okay," Aang says, nodding, "If the others agree then we'll go with your plan."

"Aang," says Sokka with an uneasy grimace, "Can I talk to you for a second?"


"Hey, I know you like to see the good in people, and I respect that, but I think you're getting a little too comfortable around Azula."

Aang tenses. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're being very nice to her, and I get that that's your thing, but—" Sokka makes a shrugging motion. "Look, just don't lower your guard around her. Okay?"

"I don't—" starts Aang but he quickly cuts himself off. He doesn't know how to explain the game they play. "She's my soulmate," he says instead, hoping that Sokka will understand.

"Yeah, but Azula doesn't recognize you as her soulmate," counters Sokka, "She only cares about the double bending. And we're stupidly teaching her how to bend."

"We don't want her to accidentally hurt others with my bending."

"Accidentally?"

"We're on the same side. She doesn't want the world to end. Ozai does.

"Okay, and what happens when we're not on the same side? When her father is like, Oh! I've changed my mind. I may be messing around with the spirit world but, good news my loyal and dutiful daughter, I found a way to end the world for everyone but the Fire Nation."

Sokka crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow. "You know, like how he was with Sozin's Comet? When Azula killed you?"

"What are you suggesting?" asks Aang, his voice strained, "That I let her father kill her in return?"

"We don't know for sure that he'll do that, and anyways, Azula can fend for herself. Maybe we should start considering that as an option."

"She's my soulmate." He says again, because it should mean something.

"I know what it's like to lose a soulmate," says Sokka, rubbing his bandaged wrist, "I know how much it hurts."

No you don't. "I know," says Aang. I thought my soulmate died a hundred years ago. "I need some time to think about this."

Sokka lays a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to make a decision right now. I'm just saying to consider the possibility. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong. It happens occasionally."

"Maybe."


A/N: R&R. I appreciate feedback and critique.