Welcome back! AN at the bottom and I will not apologize for that last cliffhanger
The lying whore
Zuko's heart stopped. Bile rose in the back of his throat. The word reverberated in his mind, each repetition cutting him deeper and deeper.
Mama . . . Mama. . . Mama
"You heard that?" Toph asked. Zuko gulped and nodded. Anger boiled in him, replacing every other emotion. Sparks erupted from his fingertips.
Toph sighed. "For the millionth time Sparky, calm down. We still don't know-"Before she could finish he threw open the door. The three gasped and turned to him. Kunai's eyes widened, his name leaving her throat in a whisper. He locked eyes with her, silent rage emanating from every pore. Kunai released the little girl from her grip, standing up.
"You… you liar! You fucking lied to me!" he shouted, taking a step towards her.
"Zuko calm down!" Toph urged but it went unheard. Kunai began to trembled, her mouth hanging open.
"Zuko I… I'm sorry!" she squeaked and ran past him, bolting out the door. Zuko growled, looking after her remorselessly.
"You need to leave now," Ekiri commanded, pointing out the door. Zuko gladly turned to walk out when he felt something tugging at his pant leg. He looked down and met bright purple eyes. The toddler was looking up at him, delicate features twisted into a scowl.
"Why'd you make Mama leave!?" she demanded, clenching her fists. Zuko looked at her and realized that every bit of her looked like Kunai. The roundness of her cheeks, the black hair, her eyes, purple and full of fire. He jerked away from her with full intentions of walking away when a sharp pain shot through his leg. He stumbled and gripped the doorframe, looking down at the burnt hole in his pant leg. Ekiri came over and swept the little girl up, multicolored sparks flickering from her fists as she glared at him.
"Like I said, you need to leave."
"Gladly." Zuko limped away. He wanted to get on Appa and leave her, look back with no remorse and forget her existence.
Toph gripped his arm and forced him around.
"Look Hotpants! Just because you're pissy doesn't mean you can act like such a little bitch. Go find your girlfriend and figure this thing out."
"Girlfriend? She's not my girlfriend! She never was! She's just a lying whore!" he shot back. Toph stomped the ground angrily.
"Fine then! Just stomp off! I'm going to go find her!" With that she turned and left, searching for Kunai.
Toph found Kunai alone in an alley, curled into a small ball. Kunai glanced over to see Toph sitting next to her.
"So… you've got a kid?"
Kunai nodded, running her fingers through her hair. "I promised… I would come take care of her when I was old enough," she whispered. Toph sighed, nodding.
"Look, if you don't want to tell me then I get it. But I gotta ask who this kid's dad is."
Kunai breathed a humorless chuckle. "Everyone who's ever known thinks I'm a whore. A filthy, stupid whore."
"Well lucky for you, I'm special. So shoot."
Kunai nodded, steady tears dripping down her cheeks. The younger girl already new the product of her dirty little secret. Why not know the whole thing?
"I was thirteen…"
"One more!" Kunai laughed, sprawling over Sheo as he held the pipe away from her.
"No! Dragon you are messed up enough!" He chuckled, nudging her away. Calila came around, snatching the pipe from his hands and handing it to Kunai.
"It's a party sugar dick! Let her have some fun!"
"Sugar dick?" Kunai laughed.
Calila nodded, leaning into to whisper. "It tastes like sugar."
Kunai fell back laughing hysterically. She sucked in a deep breath of the intoxicating smoke, colors bursting in her vision. She smiled lazily as she pulled it away from her mouth.
"One more shot and I'm done!" she slurred.
Emi brought over four shots of whiskey. "Ok. To friends, to family, to getting fucked up!" They clinked their shot glasses and downed them all at once. Sheo tossed an arm around the youngest member of the group, kissing the dark haired girl on the head.
"I may be drunk… but you're hot as hell Kunai."
Kunai laughed as he ran a hand up her unscarred thighs, pushing up the hem of her short skirt.
"Seriously let's fuck! Like, right now! Let's fuck!" he cried, crashing his lips against hers. She kissed him back for a moment before shoving him away and falling into another fit of giggles.
"You're gonna have to sauce me up a little more before I fuck you!"
"Toph… I don't want to do this." Kunai said still following behind the young girl.
"You kinda have to, for my sake. I don't want to have to kill Hotpants for being a bastard."
"Toph you don't understand!"
Toph clenched her fists and stopped in her tracks. "Look! Maybe I don't understand everything, but I do understand that Zuko has no right to treat you like this. It pisses me off. Just shut up because you don't have a choice! If I have to lock you in a box of rocks and drag you, you're gonna talk to him!" She continued stomping towards their camp. Kunai followed, every bit of her screaming for her to run back to her daughter, to forget being a girlfriend and be a mother.
"Sparky!" Toph shouted. He was sitting alone in a singed clearing, smoke still billowing out of his nostrils. He turned around, his scowl deepening when he saw Kunai. He turned his head in an attempt to hide the drying tears on his cheeks. Toph snarled and stomped her foot into the ground, knocking Zuko to his feet.
"You two are gonna talk now!" Toph commanded and left them alone, storming back to camp. Zuko looked at Kunai. Her eyes were swollen, fresh tears still on her cheeks, her eyes drained of the sparkle he once loved. She had no right to be upset. He crossed his arms and glared down at her.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" he demanded. Kunai dropped her head.
"I'm sorry-"
"You're sorry!? You think 'sorry' makes this better!? You lied to me; you said you'd never had a boyfriend!"
"I didn't," she whispered.
"You didn't!? Oh well then was it just some one night stand or-"
"Stop!"
Zuko reared back.
"You have no idea what you're talking about!"
Her anger only fueled his need for confrontation. He started yelling. "Then explain this to me! Explain how you could hide having a fucking kid with some other guy when you were fourteen! After all this shit, I at least deserve an explanation."
Kunai wrapped her arms around her chest, letting out a shaky breath. "We… we had this party. I got really wasted and I… I went walking by myself and I got lost. This guy Crico from the militia followed me." She began to sob harder and harder. "I was only a kid and… he was a lot older. I shouldn't have been off by myself and I should've been able to fight him off. He was just so strong. He told me I was a tease and everyone believed it was my fault and that I wanted it but I didn't!"
Zuko gaped, cold realization seeping into his veins as he processed her explanation. "Kunai…" he whispered, taking a step towards her.
"I'm so sorry I lied to you! I didn't want you to think of me like everyone else did and-"
He cut her off by pulling her into his arms, gripping her tight to his chest. He was ashamed. He'd jumped to conclusions, persecuting and hurting the innocent women he loved but above that he was angry, angry at the thought of anyone laying a hand on her. He wanted to kill whoever this bastard was, set him on fire and watch him burn. However, right now, he had to comfort her. Kunai was his priority.
Kunai looked up at him in surprise.
"You're not mad?" She sniffed. Zuko shook his head, holding her tighter.
"No. You didn't do anything. I'm so so sorry Kunai." His voice cracked. Kunai finally hugged him back, holding him like a life ring.
"Why are you even here?" she whispered into his chest.
"Azula's got a fleet of ships headed towards the South Pole. She threatened to destroy it if Katara didn't join her."
Kunai blinked, worry crossing her face. "Azula…"
"What is it?" Zuko asked, tipping her head up.
"Azula… she knows about her… about Kameko. She whispered her name to me when we fought at the Boiling Rock. That's part of why I came now, to protect her."
Zuko sighed, running a palm over his face. "Kunai you've never really fought Azula. You can't take her, not by yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if she planned to come here anyway."
Kunai narrowed his eyes at him. "What are you saying?"
"It's not safe here."
Kunai dropped her head and sighed, the only option unspoken between them. "The others-"
"They don't matter. You need to come with us," he said. He took her hand in his, bringing her it to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss against her knuckles. She squeezed his hand and looked up at him in awestruck affection. However she quickly averted her gaze, heading off to towards town. She couldn't lose herself in him because right now, he was only being a friend. Sooner or later, it would all come crashing down.
They walked back to the house together in comfortable silence. Ekiri opened the door and looked at the pair.
"So you two worked things out?"
Kunai nodded. "Yeah we did. Ekiri… I've got to take Kameko," she said.
Ekiri blinked, staring at her blankly. "This is…sudden."
Kunai sucked in her bottom lip. "I know but-"
Zuko spoke up.
"But it's not safe to stay here. Someone's after us and they could hurt her. We need to get her away from here as soon as possible."
Ekiri stood mouth agape as she took in the idea of losing the little girl so suddenly.
Kameko trotted into the room, bouncing over to grasp her mother's leg.
"Mama! Mama! You came back!"
Kunai knelt down to the little girl and pulled her into her arms, lifting her up on her hips. "Yep. Kameko, you're gonna come stay with me for a while, ok?"
Kameko giggled and clapped her hands.
"Will you show me your room so we can pack up your stuff?"
Kameko nodded, hopping down and leading her away by the hand, leaving Zuko standing with the older woman. Ekiri sighed and stepped up to him.
"I don't you; I don't know anything about you. All I know is Kunai trusts you and she doesn't trust anyone, especially men like you with anger issues. You need to take care of her and Kameko, no matter what."
Zuko, intimidated, nodded. "I promise nothing will happen to them. You have my word."
Ekiri gave a tight-lipped smile as Kameko skipped in in front of Kunai.
"We're ready." Kunai said, taking Kameko's hand in hers. Kameko nodded, smiling. Ekiri smiled and picked the little girl up, kissing her on the cheek.
"You be good for Mama, ok?" she said, forcing a strong smile as tears welled in her eyes. Kameko nodded. "I promise!"
Ekiri set her down, smiling as the little girl ran back to her mother's side. Kunai hugged Ekiri.
"Thank you so much." Kunai whispered. Ekiri gave her one last squeeze before releasing her.
"It's been amazing." Kunai smiled back as they walked out. Zuko turned back to Ekiri, giving Ekiri another silent look to say that he'd protect them no matter what.
The three walked through the town together, Zuko stealing glances at the little girl who was steadily glaring at him. He looked up, a figure catching his attention. He appeared to be a normal Fire Nation civilian, though he stood stiff, eyes flickering amongst the crowd. It took Zuko a moment before he recognized him as a soldier, one of Azula's personal spies.
"We need to get out of here. Now." Zuko said. Kunai nodded, quickly kneeling down to lift Kameko up on her hip. Kameko, unaware of the change of pace, played with her mother's braid as she was carried through the woods to where the rest of the group was resting.
"Kunai!" all but Toph shouted in unison. The excitement was overtaken by confusion at the little girl in Kunai's arms and resentment on Katara's part.
"Who's the kid?" Sokka asked.
"That's not important now. Azula's got spies. We need to go." Zuko said, hopping up on Appa who was still peacefully asleep. The others nodded understandingly, gathering their things and tossing them up in the saddle.
"What's going on?" Kameko inquired, clinging to her mother's neck. Kunai smiled down at her, stroking her cheek.
"Nothing, baby. Everything's fine."
Kameko nuzzled into Kunai's chest as they took off. Aang searched the horizon.
"I think we're safe for now. I don't see any- AAAAH!" Aang tugged Appa's reigns to the side, just barely evading a fireball that seemed to appear out of nowhere. From out on the clouds came an ornate airship, Azula standing smugly on top.
"Mama!" Kameko whimpered, staring in terror at the approaching ship. Kunai brought her hand to the back of Kameko's head, pulling the little girl into her chest.
"Shhh. It's ok Kameko. Everything's fine."
"Well I see you've found your little whore. Now I can take you out all at once." An acidic smirk played across Azula's face as she began hurling fireballs them. Sokka took Appa's reigns while Aang went to deflect fireballs. Zuko and Katara worked at his side.
"Mama! Make it stop!" Kameko shrieked, clutching her mother's shirt and sobbing into her chest. Kunai gripped the little girl tight, stroking her back and speaking in calm comfort all while fear blossomed in her heart.
"You're ok baby. I've got you. You're safe." Kunai turned to Katara. "We need cover!"
Katara grit her teeth and bent the water from the clouds around her.
"I'm going with her," she said.
Sokka whirled around. "No! I'm not gonna let her take you!"
Katara dropped her head. "I'll be fine Sokka. If I'm the one she wants, I'm the one she gets." Katara whipped her hands out, forming an ice bridge to the air ship, running across it as it melted behind her.
"No!" Aang screamed, making a move to go after her. Zuko caught his shoulder.
"She knows what she's doing. We need to get out of here. I know Azula and there's nothing that's going to stop those ships but us."
Aang clenched his fists and silently went back to take Appa's reigns, staring straight ahead.
Kunai buried her head into the little girl's hair, rocking her back and forth. Tiny muffled sobs escaped the toddle as tears soaked her mother's shirt.
"Mama I'm scared!"
Kunai kissed her head, tears prickling in her own eyes. "Shh. You're safe now. You're ok. My sweet, sweet baby, you're safe." She cupped the young girl's cheek, tilting her face up to look into lavender eyes filled with innocence and glazed with tears.
"You're safe, Kameko. I promise nothing will ever happen to you," she whispered with conviction. She pulled the little girl back to her chest, rocking her back and forth, singing softly.
"My baby dragon, rest in your dreams. I will take care of you though it does seem, someday you'll grow up and find your own way. My baby dragon, in my heart please stay…" She continued to hum until her daughter's breath grew slow and even. Kunai let out a sigh of relief and cradled the sleeping child, rocking her in her arms.
"I think we lost them." Sokka said. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief, the tension beginning to diminish when Sokka looked to Kunai.
"Hey uh… who's the kid?"
Kunai squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head. "She's… my daughter," she ground out. Sokka pressed his lips together and scratched the back of his neck, knowing not to pry further. Aang on the other hand, was not so intuitive.
"Wait, you have a kid? How old is she?"
Zuko shot Aang a warning look that went unnoticed.
"Three and a half," she said quietly. The wheels began to turn in the young monk's head.
"Aang…" Zuko warned.
"Wait so… you were thirteen!?"
"Aang!" Zuko snapped. Kunai looked around, the questioning gazes boring into her skin and weighing down on her.
"I… I don't want to talk about it." She gathered Kameko in her arms and scurried to the far end of Appa's saddle. Zuko clenched his fists and scowled at the young boy.
"What the hell Aang!?"
Aang shrunk back, shrugging. "Sorry. It's just that the monks always taught us celibacy."
Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head as anger once again bubbled up inside of him.
"Aang she was…"The word stuck on his tongue, to disgusting to vocalize. "…taken advantage of."
Aang dropped his head into his hands. "Oh man… I didn't-"
"Don't." Zuko cut him off. "It's… Look, I'll just go talk to her."
He left the others, sitting at her side. Her gaze was fixed upon the picture of peace in her lap, a trail of tears running down her cheek.
"Are you ok?" Zuko asked. Kunai shut her eyes and took in a deep breath.
"Zuko, I you've always been there for me. Thank you for that and I know that you don't wanna be with me anymore and I completely understand and all I ask is that you just tell me to my face and that's the only thing I want from you." She spewed the words quickly on one breath. Zuko stared at her, taken aback. She was giving him a way out, and easy escape from what would surely be an arduous journey. Zuko was beginning to lose his old resolve to take the easy road.
"Kunai… I don't want to leave you."
She turned to him, glittering eyes in shock.
"But-"
"Let me finish," he said quietly. "I know this is going to be different but that doesn't change how I feel about you. This…" He glanced down Kameko. "This isn't your fault. What happened to you was horrible but I still… I still love you." The proclamation was a great relief, having been bottled up for so long. It tasted sweet and felt natural, like something he wanted to say every day from here on out. More tears prickled in her eyes as she gazed at him, unsure of what he had just said.
"Love me?"
He nodded, placing a hand upon her cheek, wiping away the tears.
"I love you," he repeated, a certainty coming through his voice. Kunai dropped her head, placing a hand over his.
"I'm really messed up" she sobbed. "I can't be a good girlfriend."
Zuko sighed. "All you have to do is be you. That's all I want." He scanned her face, the pain etched so deeply that it was hard to believe this was the same girl he'd met in Ba-Sing-Se. That girl had been unbreakable, wise, and so full of confidence. Now he was seeing her for what she was. Underneath the strength was a broken and scared little girl who needed support. And he would support her.
"I…" A pink tongue came to wet the young woman's lips. She tried to form the words she'd felt for so long. "I love you Zuko." The words left her mouth before she collapsed into sobs. Zuko pulled her into his chest, pressing his lips against her hair as she sobbed.
"Thank you," she whispered and he didn't need to ask why. He simply held her tighter until her breaths grew deep and even. He didn't know what was ahead, how things would change. However he knew one thing for sure: he would never let go of her again.
Azula paced back and forth outside the ship, a pleased smile on her face.
"You made the right choice Katara. However, there's been a change on plans."
Katara scowled. "We had a deal."
"Don't you know, peasant. I always lie. Guards!"
The guards advanced upon the young waterbender with cuffs and chains. Katara retreated, but another guard came up behind her, catching her wrists. Katara struggled, landing a lucky kick to the guard's crotch. He cried out and stumbled back, releasing his grip as he stumbled against the railing. Katara flipped over the edge. She clawed desperately as she slid down the airship. A desperate scream ripped through her throat as she lost her grip, plummeting through the sky. Azula scowled, watching her tumble towards the ocean.
"You moronic fool!" Azula shrieked at the guard. "If I weren't already understaffed, I would toss you over as well you incompetent idiot!" Azula jabbed a manicured fingernail into the man's chest. She sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "No matter now. Alert the ships to slow their course, not to arrive there for five days' time. My brother knows I wouldn't abandon my plans. We'll give them the fight they've been asking for."
Well wasn't that a hoot. There is the answer to why Kunai is so messed up!
Writing this chapter and the following chapter sent me into bouts of depression.
Anywho.
My tumblr blogs are still open for you my lovelies. avatar-opinions is open for you to send me asks for me to analyze (formerly known as avatar-over-analysis but because some people were bitches, it was changed) alsom livingloving123 is my fanfiction blog and christmas-url-motherfuckers is my personal blog!
I'd love to answer your asks about the story.
Coming up the gaang meets Azula in the south pole with a surprising outcome.
Chapter 1o will be the last chapter of this story. By the end we'll meet another OC is a dramatic and shocking fashion. We'll see more of the ball of light that is Kameko. I'm starting a new story with a different theme just as the first one had a different theme than this one. I need help on the title though
Riding into the Sunset
Your spirit
A noble once more
I dunno! Ugh
Anyway more playlist fun!
Breath Me by Sia
Nicest Thing by Kate Nash
Beautiful by James Blunt
Samson by Regina Spektor
Me by Plumb
Cut by Plumb
Damaged by Plumb
Paradise by Coldplay
A Team by Ed Sheeran
Beautiful Disaster by Jon McLaughlin
Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls
Over You by Daughtry (note that it must be purposely interpreted as such)
She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5
If you can think of some more PM me or shoot me an ask on tumblr!
If you'd like me to perform and posts any on the songs I've re-written for the story, shoot me a PM or an ask. These include
Mine by Taylor Swift
Samson(Kunai) by Regina Spektor
Misery by Maroon 5
Wonderwall by Oasis
Aslo, some discussion questions. Answer these in the review I know you'll send!
1. Is there something Kunai's still hiding?
2. How will this affect her relationship with her daughter?
3. How will Zuko react to Kameko?
4. How will the gaang adapt to their newest member?