WOW! I am SOOO far behind in my chapters that I can't even think straight anymore! Yeah, I went on a HUGE road-trip from northern Illinois to Texas! NO COMPUTER ON THE ROAD! Ahhh, please don't kill me! I am really trying my best and I do have the entire story all played out and planned here in my head, it is just the whole process of actually making enough space to sit down and type for a good amount of time. Ok, no more excuses…Finally, here is chapter 18 of Two Against a Nation!
Zuko proceeded to nonchalantly brush aside low-hanging branches as he entered the forest. The dim light enclosed him like a shroud as he stepped forward and allowed his piercing eyes to adjust. Giving an angry sigh, Zuko trudged further into the trees. Looking for Sokka was the last thing he wanted to be doing at that point. It was hard for him to concentrate and hone his senses for any sign at all of the Water Tribe boy. Even though the day was only about half over, his mind wandered to everything that had already happened. He and Zana had been through an ongoing fight that seemed impossible to end without Zuko losing his power and pride or, possibly, more; they had lost one of their traveling members, and there was actually a little glimmer pricking the back of his mind at the possibility of Zana's unavailability…
Placing a flat palm against the rough bark of an ancient tree to steady himself as he stood atop a slanting and fallen moss-covered branch, Zuko listened. He knew that Sokka was not the stealthiest of people, so it would not be that hard to locate him. The teenager brought his other hand to his eyes to aid in seeing through the occasional shafts of light that broke through the canopy high above.
Some sort of a flying creature gave a great cry from somewhere above Zuko. It was proof that no matter where he went, he was unable to truly be alone. Hopping down gracefully from his perch, he continued onward and deeper into the forest. As his amber eyes searched for any sign of a clumsy teen, Zuko couldn't help but contemplate what he had-or rather what he had not done that day. All Zana had asked from him was a few words and he had been unable to deliver them. It was such a simple, yet oddly complex situation for both of them; and then, with the addition of a betrothed for Zana back in the Fire Nation, the equation continued to grow.
Zuko went onward for well over an hour at a cautious pace when, suddenly, there was a yelp that shot through all the other din around Zuko and pierced the thoughts that had previously occupied his mind. At full alert, he stood facing the direction the cry had come from. There was not another sound and the only clue left of life was a startled, unidentifiable animal scuttling across the leaf-littered earth. Abruptly and without another thought, Zuko took off in the direction he was facing. He had no idea what he would find once he reached the cause of the cry.
Only a few scenarios had enough time to run through Zuko's spinning mind. In them, there was a Fire Nation trap and with his capture went all of the others' hope; or that instead of discovering a guise, an image of a fallen Sokka played behind his eyes.
Zuko shook his head as he began to near a slight break in the trees. He slowed and caught himself on a large tree trunk. Quelling his breath as he peered cautiously around the rough bark, his eyes grew wide at what he saw…
It was not a trap, nor was the Fire Nation even involved; but, sure enough, there was Sokka, swinging side to side and hanging upside-down from a tree by a snare…
Fighting his first impulse, Zuko stayed behind the tree and waited a second more before revealing himself. He searched for any possibility that the incident had indeed been caused by their opposing Nation-no matter how innocently ignorant it all seemed-but upon further inspection, Zuko realized they could have no more been a cause of the incident than the innocent, hidden animals that cooed all around them. Even from his distance, Zuko was able to tell how crude the rope was woven. It was made from fraying vines and bits of fabric: the typical type of twine that Zuko had seen the locals using back at the village he and Iroh had temporarily stayed at. Plus, it was so obviously a snare meant for an animal simply by where it had been placed. Sokka's flailing body was hovering just above a large shrub peppered with bunches of brightly colored and ripe berries. So, the dolt managed to find some food after all… thought Zuko, but he was interrupted by a cry from the other young man, "Hey, come out! I know you're there! Come out and fight me!" Yet he still can't seem to shut himself up, Zuko sighed inwardly at the sound of Sokka's pitiful attempt at bravery.
Zuko stepped out from his hiding place, "And how do you propose to do that? Whine until my ears bleed?" At the sight of Zuko sidling from behind the nearby tree, Sokka jumped in shock, causing his body to sway. In an attempt to keep his manly façade, he spoke down to Zuko, crossing his arms across his chest-despite the effort against gravity, "Finally someone came! It took you long enough!" Sokka grimaced as the high parts of his cheeks tinged pinkish with the blood rushing to his skull.
All Zuko did in response was stand and examine the odd scene. "Alright, smart-ass, if you are so high-and-mighty, then why didn't you cut yourself down with that boomerang of yours?" Zuko's expression remained unchanging-he had seen the weapon on the forest floor only a few paces away and he had said what he had said to get back at the little ingrate hung from the tree. Sokka allowed his arms to give in to the pulling force exerted on them, "'Cause I dropped it," his eyes avoided Zuko's. With a slight smirk of triumph, the Fire Bender walked over to him. He snatched up the fallen boomerang and casually began to speak to Sokka, all the while keeping a stern tone of voice, "How long have you been hanging here? I heard a cry that lead me to you, so it couldn't have been long." Sokka watched all of Zuko's movements as if he were really a trapped animal and the other teen boy the hunter returning for his bounty.
"I-I don't know, a couple of hours maybe?" he said. Zuko frowned, "That's not possible, you would have been passed out a long time ago if that were true," he examined the Water Tribe craftsmanship in his hands. "True," Sokka began to argue back, "but I was able to pull myself up a little bit so that would not happen. I just couldn't hold on any longer, so I had to let go. That is probably what you heard." He showed a grin that didn't mask how pleased he was with himself. Cocking an amused eyebrow, Zuko gave a retort, "But…that takes upper-body strength…" Sokka's grin quickly melted to a very non-threatening scowl, "Ha-ha, very funny. Would you just cut me down already?" As Sokka had been griping, Zuko began to pull his arm back and he gave one powerfully smooth swipe at the dilapidated rope with the sharpened side of the boomerang, causing the Water Tribe boy to land on his back with a grunt.
"Hey! What was that for!" cried Sokka as he sat on the leafy forest floor rubbing the back of his neck. "You said you wanted me to cut you down," Zuko replied with a shrug. He was resting Sokka's boomerang against one of his shoulders and the owner stood up quickly and snatched it back defiantly. Sokka shoved it over his shoulder and into it's sling and proceeded to try to walk away from Zuko, but was abruptly halted by a trip caused by some twine still tangling his feet together. It was only a stumble, but Sokka exaggerated and, with a grunt, angrily kicked the leftover rope off to the side and continued to walk away. Barely stifling a laugh Zuko spoke, "We won't get very far if we leave now. It will be too dark to see in these dense woods soon-it will probably be best if we stay in the forest for tonight." Sokka spun around; "Stay here?" he cried. The whining was really beginning to get on Zuko's nerves. "What do you mean we won't be able to see in the dark? You're a human torch, aren't you? Why don't you just…start glowing or something?" Sokka nearly yelled.
Zuko began very matter-of-factly, trying everything in his power not to snap and take off Sokka's head, "When the sun goes down, I have to conserve all the energy I can…not waste it on some boy who is afraid of the dark," he started to growl as his fists clenched. He had been through enough aggravation that day and he really did not need to baby sit another teenage boy because he was too stupid as to where he would walk into a hunter's trap. Sokka scowled at Zuko's offensive remark. He was showing the most anger that Zuko had ever witnessed in to normally clumsily and passive teenager.
Sokka stormed over to Zuko and threw his arms in the air with exasperation, "Well, what about the others? They'll be worried sick!" He proceeded to glare at the Fire Bender. "Besides…we won't be able to travel any further with nearly half of the group missing," Sokka was trying to play to his weakness. Zuko's face flickered to an even greater frown, but only for a second before it melted away again. He turned from Sokka and began gathering fallen sticks and branches in his arms. Controlling his breathing, Zuko attempted to ignore the other boy's obnoxious comments.
Appalled, Sokka's jaw dropped. "Come on! You can't be serious!" he had been sure that his last remark would have struck home, "I didn't think you'd be that afraid of the dark…or are you just chickening out over our trip to the Fire Nation?" In the instant of a half-heartbeat, Zuko's free fist was clenched around Sokka's throat. His teeth bared as his amber eyes bored into Sokka's terrified blue ones. The Water Tribe boy's fear at his realization that he had crossed the line was apparent in every one of his features.
So many scenarios of his own death ran through Sokka's frantic mind as he stared at the gruesome scar masking nearly half of Zuko's face. He had never seen the Fire Lord before, but he assumed that the face he was gaping at during those few moments was nearly an exact replica. Sokka was in such a panic that he hardly realized it when Zuko finally flung his arm from his neck and growled deeply, saying, "You can't comprehend…" And with that, as if nothing had happened between them, Zuko went back to retrieving wood for the nightly fire.
Still in shock, Sokka's hand went to his throat to see if he actually still was alive. There had been so much anger and strength behind Zuko's grip that Sokka had continued to doubt his survival. The whole idea was that the Fire Bender hadn't really harmed him or killed him; it was all merely a scare to make him shut up, but the words that Zuko had uttered kept playing in his head…You can't comprehend. He couldn't help but wonder what he had meant by that and thought that there must have been something that he was missing to cause such sporadic behavior. Sokka began to regain his composure and shook his head. If it had been a few weeks ago, Sokka was sure that he would have been dead on the spot, and then there was the whole situation with the unusual tension hanging in the camp. Sokka was mostly dense, but not stupid and he was able to get the basic gist that there was something definitely awry.
Zuko glared at the sticks in his grasp as he continued to collect more and more as a sort of ploy to not have to look at Sokka. It was more so to save the Water Tribe boy's life than anything else. Is he really that stupid to try to instigate a fight with me? Zuko mentally yelled, I could snap his neck and burn him to a crisp faster than I grabbed his throat! Zuko's teeth squeaked together as they ground.
Finally realizing that he could no longer carry any more, the Fire Bender turned back to the still stunned Sokka and dropped his minute burden at his feet. All the other teen did was hold his arms closer to his chest and tense up. With a mere flick of his wrist, Zuko caused the sticks and branched to burst into flames. The sudden pyrotechnics surprised the already jumpy Sokka and he nearly fell backwards splayed out as the flames licked his tunic. You could have warned me first! he mentally screamed at Zuko, but there finally seemed to be a filter between his head and his mouth because he had stopped himself from saying those words aloud. Instead, Sokka submissively dropped to the ground and awaited another probably inevitable confrontation with Zuko.
The Fire Bender did not sit like Sokka, however. Zuko continued to stand with his arms crossed stiffly over his chest. He soon grew antsy and shifted every few seconds. All Sokka could do was watch in confusion. He had never seen the usually either centered or enraged Zuko act as if he had something that was truly bothering him both inwardly and outwardly.
Uneasily, Sokka sat back and averted his gaze from Zuko. The Fire Bender had been correct-it was already beginning to become difficult to see just a few feet away from his body. Despite the flickering fire, it still seemed as if the dense woods were swallowing up every snatch of light they could. It gave Sokka a very cold feeling, causing him to shudder slightly. Man, I wish we were back with Katara and Aang and…Zana! Sokka came to a realization. It had been Zuko who had come looking for him and not the kinder Fire Bender. It was a little weird and made Sokka wonder why she hadn't been the one to save him.
Sokka stole a glance up at the ex-Prince of the Fire Nation. He looked even more uptight than usual and had been obviously avoiding Zana. Clearing his throat none-too-subtly, Sokka sat back against a nearby rock and crossed his arms in amusement…Zuko was acting more or less the way he and Yue had been back at the North Pole-not to mention him and Suki.
Zuko felt the other teen's eyes staring right through him. His own amber ones looked over to glare at Sokka, but he was met only by a cocky, self-satisfied grin. What's he so pleased with himself over? Zuko thought. His teeth began to grit. Soon, he wasn't able to take the awkward silence and uneasy glaring that was taking place. "What are you staring at?" Zuko growled though clenched teeth that matched his fists. He had already threatened the Water Tribe boy once and he had no qualms about repeating himself. Maybe, Zuko thought, Sokka really is too dense to get anything the first time… Sokka was simply sitting there, grinning like the idiot he was. Suddenly, he spoke up, "I don't know why it wasn't this blatantly obvious before." Sokka proceeded to pause for drama as he shook his head from side to side.
The flames danced across both their faces and played off Zuko's scar. The Fire Bender couldn't help but wonder if Sokka had indeed finally lost it. Zuko decided to give him a slight benefit of the doubt for that matter only. Then, Sokka spoke again-damning every ounce of salvation the other teen had been willing to offer, "It was just right there…You and," he was cut off by his own voice bubbling to a snicker, "Zana have a thing!" Sokka had sputtered the last words as if they had been the funniest things he had ever uttered.
Practically leaping forward over the fire without another moment of hesitation or thought, Zuko grasped the collar of Sokka's tunic, wrenched him to his feet, and pulled his other flaming fist back as if he were going to strike the Water Tribe teen. It was the second time in a matter of minutes that they were in that predicament.
Sokka's face grimaced in a flinch, but he quickly recovered when he realized he had, in fact, hit yet another chord. Playing to his newfound bravery, he smiled directly into the face of his attacker, "I wouldn't do that if I were you…" Zuko glared back, "Why shouldn't I? I saved your sorry ass and what do I get in return but a mocking attitude!" The fiery fist was shoved closer to the tender flesh on the side of Sokka's throat. He swallowed deeply, feeling the heat, "B-because if you do, you'll have a pretty pissed Avatar and Water Bender on your tail…not to mention Zana." From the look that flickered behind Zuko's furious eyes, Sokka knew that he had finally found a way to better the Fire Bender. With a great snarl, Zuko released Sokka, extinguished his hand, and stormed to the opposite side of the fire. The Water Tribe warrior gave a lengthy sigh of relief and satisfaction in triumph as he watched Zuko struggle with a way to redeem his façade. Suddenly, the Fire Bender spun around, causing Sokka to jump a little in surprise, "I should have left you tied to that tree!" he cried. "Probably," Sokka gave a lopsided smile, "but you didn't. Maybe that's one of the redeeming qualities you have that allows a girl like Zana to like you?" Zuko was about to yell a retort, but he bit his tongue. He didn't want to give the other teen any more power than he already thought he had.
Patiently, Sokka counted to ten before speaking again; and by that time, Zuko had huffed off as far away as possible with his face left only half lit by the fire. "So, what happened between you two lately that you're not speaking to each other?" he asked Zuko in an innocent voice. Sokka saw Zuko's shoulders move as if he were cringing from a physical attack and not a verbal inquiry. The Fire Bender blinked hard, trying his best to think of how to respond. "I told you to shut up about that!" Zuko spat as he sat up straighter, "There's nothing!"
There was a new emotion washing over the Water Tribe warrior that he never thought he would ever feel towards any Fire Bender, let alone Zuko-pity. Sokka was not only able to see anger, but confusion and hurt there as well. As he continued to silently study Zuko, the Fire Bender had settled back with his arms stiffly crossing his chest. He had decided to ignore Sokka as much as possible to avoid the pleasure of wringing his neck.
I'm falling apart! Zuko thought to himself, I can't do so much as glance in Zana's direction without her looking away and things are so awkward that the "group idiot" can see something going on! What is wrong with me? If I am unable to focus on what is really important, then I am completely fucked. He mentally screamed at his own actions while a frown burrowed deeper into his features. Zuko was thankful that Sokka had finally shut up and he felt secure enough to bring his hands to his face and touch the beginnings of a great headache.
There was the sound of Sokka clearing his throat and Zuko looked over at it. "What now?" he yelled. Almost meekly, Sokka spoke, "Well, why don't you want anyone to know about your relationship?" Zuko gave an exasperated groan and lay down as he pressed his palms into his eyes. "It was just a question," Sokka said, "I'm not getting something here-" Zuko turned his head and glared at the other teen's dark shape across the fire. He was nearly exhausted with this pointless argument, "Fine! Enlighten me, just so long as it will make you shut up!"
"First of all," Sokka began happily, having finally been given a chance to speak without fear of being burned to a crisp, "and going against everything that I have ever taught Aang, the aloofness does not work. If you two like each other, then there shouldn't be a problem in showing it. Then, the whole not talking to one another is not helping either-" Zuko listened to a few more things that had raced across his mind hundreds of times before as his anger built up.
When he finally couldn't take it anymore, Zuko sat up and faced Sokka, "What do you know about this topic? What gives you the right to speak to me about this?" he yelled. That cut Sokka completely off guard and he shut up immediately. The Water Tribe warrior's eyes became an icy, steel blue. "Did you ever once stop and think that the Fire Nation-that Zhao has hurt more than yourself?" Sokka growled. Zuko had never seen such anger in Sokka and it surprised him. "I was just like you, all-'I'll pretend I don't like her and that is exactly how I will get the girl,' but that is all wrong. I had someone, and she was taken away from me," Sokka had no idea why he was opening up so abruptly to Zuko-the Fire Bender who had nearly killed him and most everything else he had cared for on multiple occasions, but he continued. "Yue is gone because I couldn't stop Zhao…and maybe, just maybe, if she and I had resolved things a little sooner, I could have been there for her…"
Zuko had no idea why, but Sokka suddenly looked upwards to the sky as if he was going to see some type of apparition, but the tree-cover hid any sign of the sky. All the Fire Bender could do was sit and gauge the hurt constantly crossing Sokka's face. The warrior turned back to Zuko, "Once I found out who Zana's father was, it was difficult to cope with at first, but you shouldn't misplace pain and aggression on others because it just leads to more confusion and hurt coupled with those who don't deserve it."
Everything took a second for Zuko to completely absorb, but he finally realized that Sokka had been, more so, speaking directly to him rather than to himself…and the Fire Bender found himself agreeing with every word. It came as a little bit of a shock because Zuko had thought that nothing intelligent could have ever come from Sokka's being, but the more Zuko thought about it, the more he realized that that had been exactly how he had been acting.
Zuko was distraught over his banishment and outlaw status and it was putting a strain on the way he acted around Zana. She made him feel like a whole new person-like none of it had ever happened. That was why, he figured, he had attempted to pressure Zana into doing "something" that she had not been willing to do just yet. Suddenly, he became very aware of his surroundings and felt Sokka's eyes seemingly boring holes through his flesh. Zuko, slightly self-consciously, cleared his throat and Sokka spoke, "Do you get what I mean?" The sound of his voice was thick with remembered pain and sympathy.
Inside, Zuko felt sorry for the other teen for having had to suffer through something like that, but no matter how his curiosity urged him, he refused to inquire deeper into Sokka's grim love life. Zuko looked away from his sad eyes and up to the canopy. He couldn't help but feel a slight kinship with the other teen. With a very slight grunt, Sokka stood up and dropped back down once he reached Zuko's side. The Fire Bender looked over, a little surprised at his bravery and sudden appearance. His face was still a mask of apathy, but his amber eyes gave how he really felt away with just a slight slip.
With a quirky grin that returned his features back to normal, Sokka gave a barely audible laugh, "So…how is she?" Zuko frowned, "What are you talking about?" he was still on that last one-sided conversation. "I mean," Sokka gave a mischievous smile, "is she a good kisser? Like I am ever going to know with a girl like Zana." Zuko felt a redness creep up the back of his neck and reach his ears. As Sokka raised his eyebrows expectantly, Zuko cleared his throat and laid back with his hands behind his head, "One shouldn't kiss and tell…" He suppressed a grin while Sokka's eyes grew wide and his own fiery ones slid closed.