Chapter 6

"..And here's a song for the couples out there!" yelled the D.J. through the microphone. The lights dimmed, and soft music began to fill the room. Aang stepped forward and bowed, holding out his hand to Katara. "May I have this dance, fair lady of the Water tribe?" Jet cut in. " Hell n--" Toph pulled Jet over to the dance floor. " C'mon, boy. Show me what you got. Unless you want to hurt my feelings, of course." Jet hesistated, looking like he was going to protest. Toph felt it necessary to remind him that he had to be in the best friend's good graces if he wanted a chance with Katara. And, news flash, SHE was the best friend. So Jet closed his mouth and allowed her to pull him into a waltz. Meanwhile, Katara had accepted Aang's hand and the two were walkingto the center of the dance floor. The people who didn't come with anybody became wallflowers. Aang confidently placed his hands around her small waist. She shyly moved her hands to his shoulders. They swayed their hips to the rhythm. "Aang, I had no idea you could dance so-" Aang quickly spun her under her arm and caught her again. She smiled and blushed. "..Devinely." He slightly blushed and tilted her back and straightened her back up. "Katara." 'This is it Aang. You're gonna ask her. Finally! Noone can ruin this moment!'"Katara! Will you.. Will you go ou-" "Katara! Come with me! We need to talk!" Jet grabbed her hand and dragged her away from Aang. Katara looked over her shoulder and shrugged. Aang stood there helplessly. 'Again!? Is he able to read my mind!?' Aang watched as Katara was being dragged toward a back door. 'What is that damn Jet up to? I don't trust him.' He moved through the crowd, easily able to conceal himself from being seen. Jet walked them to an exit leading outside. A few kids were talking and having a ciggaret, Zuko among them. Jet's eyes flashed daggers at the scarred firebender. Zuko ignored the looks. "Come on, Katara." He lead her to a secluded spot at the side of the building. It was dark with a dimmed light from the side where Zuko stood.

Aang opened the door and looked around. "You!" He flinched, turning towards the sound. He came face to face with a pair of dark amber eyes. Zuko was staring him down. "New kid. Come here." he barked. "Gee, could you ask any more politely?" Aang muttered, sarcastically. "I've been hearing rumors about you fly, kid. And I'm starting to think they're true." Zuko seemed determined to piss him off. But Aang had a feeling it was about something other than what the firebender was pretending it was. Let's confuse ourselves, shall we? " Tell me, is it true that you're one of those filthy peasant nuisances that call themselves 'Freedom Fighters'?" Aang just stood there, staring at him. ' What the hell is a Freedom Fighter?' A voice rose above the chatter that had broke out in the night. " WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING FILTHY, YOU DISGRACEFUL FIREBENDER?" Aang's head snapped around to see Jet striding towards Zuko. The firebender merely leaned his back against the wall, watching Jet with a bored expression. "Would you like to throw your two cents into the conversation, Rocket?" he asked, arching a brow. Aang thought he heard Jet's teeth grinding but he couldn't be sure. "The name is Jet." he ground out. Zuko shrugged. " Whatever. Your name doesn't mean much anyways."

Jet goes to throw a punch, aiming for Zuko's face. But his fist doesn't connect, Zuko grabbing Jet's wrist and flinging him backwards. Jet catches his balance, spinning to face his enemy only to see a flaming hand come his way. He bent backwards as Zuko threw a slice of fire over him. Jet could feel the heat of the flames licking his forehead and he touched the ground with his hand before jumping back up. He reached behind him, pulling a long silver blade from a hidden pocket in his clothing. He took a leap towards Zuko. Aang jumped between them, throwing his arms out. "STOP!" He cried out, air flowing from his palms and separating the fighting teenagers. Jet doesn't feel the blast hit him, too preoccupied with the image of Zuko's bloody head on a shelf. 'Talk about being morbid. God.' Zuko's eyes grew wide. Disbelief clouded his features as he's forced to move a step back. "Y-you.."
"You two need to stop fighting. Violence never solves anything." Aang bowed his head slightly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Katara approaching them. Her right hand was placed over a small pouch hooked to the side of her gown. "Leave them alone, Zuko." she shouted, stepping in front of Aang. "Stop trying to pick fights because you're looking for attention. Get it from your father. Oh wait! He disowned you. What a shame." Zuko's eyes turned a dark red. He held one fist at level with his waist, the other out front. "Let's see what you have, water tribe wench." He started to move the hand that was held out in front of him in large circles, fire shooting from his palms. Before Katara has the chance to react, the flames make contact with her hands. She screams as the flames scorched her skin, the sleeves of her gown singed. She takes an uneasy step backwards, clutching her palms to her chest. She feels her back connect with something solid. Aang. He wraps his arms around her. "Katara! Are you okay?" He turns her in his arms, gently tugging on her wrists to see her burns. They looked bad. A hazy red film settled over Aang's vision as he watched tears stream down her cheeks. "You idiot!" Jet shouted at Aang, shoving him away from Katara. " Why'd you let her defend you?! Let her take the heat for you?!" Aang hung his head, shame flushing his face. He'd let Katara get hurt. Instead of striking again, as everyone expected him to do, Zuko dropped his hands to his sides. Though, the fury never left his eyes.

" You IDIOT!" he shouted at the injured Katara. " You were supposed to use your water bending to protect yourself."
Jet's head shot up. "What was that? Water-bending?" He looked towards Katara, who cringed. "You said that there wasn't any water benders left in your tribe. Isn't that right?"

Lots of people were crowding around them, making it hard for Katara to concentrate. Everything seemed so blurry and her hands hurt with an indescribable pain. Was that...Was that wind whipping through her hair? A sudden flashing light lit the sky, blinding everyone, including herself.

"What's happening?" someone shouted, rising above the screams that had erupted outside the gym. Katara shielded her eyes, looking for the source of the unbearable light. For a split second, she swore she saw Aang, his eyes glowing blue and bright blue arrows lining his arms and head, hovering above the ground. In the next moment, sand flew up and obstructed her view again. People around her were coughing and choking on the storm.

"It's the Avatar!" some girl that Katara couldn't see shouted.

The winds died down. Rubbing the sand from her eyes, Katara peeked at the supposed "Avatar". Her breath caught.

Gyatso.

Teenagers stared at the old man in disbelief. After a hundred years of absense, THIS was the one who controlled all four elements? This sickly, pale man? Soldiers flocked around him, alert at the news of the reappearance of the Avatar. Deciding it best to ask questions later, they descended upon him and cuffed Gyatso like a common prisoner. They barely noticed Aang, crouched on the ground beside his mentor, sweat dripping down his brow. He reached out a hand towards Gyatso.

"Wait! Gyatso, wait!" he cried, struggling to rise. He had to get to him. Fear enveloped him as a Fire Nation soldier took one look at Aang's clothing and kicked him away.

"Aang! Calm down, Aang." A soothing voice entered his mind, calming him slightly. Katara held out her hand to help him up, forgetting for a moment, the pain in her hands.

" Is it true, Katara?" Aang asked, carefully avoiding her hands. He grasped her forearms and she helped pull him to his feet.
Katara forced herself to keep her expression neutral, revealing nothing. " Is what true, Aang?"

"Are you a water bender?"

" Is Gyatso really the Avatar?"

Gyatso.