Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender and most likely never will... okay I won't say never.

A/N: Wow, it's been a looong time hasn't it? Sorry for the long wait you guys! My life has been crazy lately! I don't know if I've ever mentioned this but I absolutely stink at math so lately that has been my main concern. Finally I got a decent grade in it though, so I'm pretty darn happy right now! XD

Thank you for all the reviews! They really encourage me and I love knowing what you think. I can't say thanks enough! :)

Knock you down

Chapter 9

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Zuko's father looked at him with blazing eyes. He felt as if his soul was being put on fire.

"You actually thought you could beat me." fire lord Ozai said, grinding his teeth while doing so. Zuko laid on the ground of the huge arena feeling hopeless and defeated. Nearby Katara wept over the stiff body of Aang. Her tears sent echo's around the world.

Zuko sat on-top of his king size silky red bed sweat dripping off his chin, his breathing becoming slow and irregular. Fortunately, it all was just a dream. A terrible dream.

Completely in a trance, he did not notice his bedroom door creak open. The older man stepped inside Zuko's room, quietly closing the door behind him. Zuko looked away from the curtains as he heard the shuffling of tea on his coffee table.

"Oh. Hi uncle." his voice sounded dull and flat. His uncle gave him a quick glance and smiled, taking a seat next to him. Zuko moved his legs so that they dangled off the side of the bed.

His uncle took a plate, and placed a cup of steaming hot tea on top, gently handing it over to Zuko.

Zuko gladly received it and slowly drunk some.

"What is bothering you Zuko?" Iroh's voice was soft and soothing to the young man. Giving him a feeling of peace and comfort that he so rightedly deserved.

"Nothing uncle." his voice was deeply confused, he hoped his uncle could not pick this up. He hoped that he would just drop the subject.

Iroh slowly nodded his head, sipping his tea. "I understand. Just know, that if you want anyone to talk to about it, I'm here."

Zuko looked at his uncle from the corner of his eye. He could feel the sincerity in his words. He felt like telling him everything. Maybe, it was time he did.

"Uncle?"

Iroh put down his tea and plate, gently upon the wooden surface. Turning all of his attention to the scarred Prince.

"Yes Zuko?"

Zuko took a deep breath. It had never been easy for him to talk his feelings out. "It's not easy for me to explain uncle."

Iroh sensed the tension on Zuko's face. "Take your time Zuko. I have all night."

XXX

"I'm disappointed in you Aang..." Gyatso said as he stared at the bloody hands of Aang.

Tears gathered at the corner of Aang's eyes as he glanced at the body laying in front of him. Something he believed he'd never do, he did. The sheer look up disappointment was etched permanently across Gyatso's face.

Aang glanced over at Zuko. He was on his knees, face buried in hands, crying over his family. He then looked at Katara. Her expression hit him hard in the chest, like a bullet. She shook her head at the Avatar.

He reached out for her wiping his bloody hands on his now torn pants. She gasped, putting a hand to her mouth, and back away.

"Don''t touch me you... you killer!" she yelled.

Aang's eyes widened. He bit his lip and frowned trying to hold back his tears. "But Katara, I did this all for you. Remember? I did this because I love you." He slowly inched closer to her. "Don't you love me back?"

Katara turned her back to him, not wanting to look him in the eyes. "I can't love a killer." She ran away before he had a chance to gather his thoughts.

"I'm sorry." Aang dropped to his knees and buried his face in his bloody hands, crying all the tears of the world.

The night air was thick around them. All were resting soundly, excluding the Avatar. A frown was deep on his face, his breathing was fast. The nightmare, he just had, seemed so real. His heart was pounding in his chest. He clutched his chest, feeling like it was going to burst open.

He glanced around the campsite to see a snoring Sokka, Toph hiding in her earth tent, most likely knocked out with exhaustion from training, and a resting Katara lying in her bedroll. He smiled as his eyes hit Katara. No matter how bad he was feeling at the moment he always found it amazing how just looking at her made him feel like his world was perfect. At least for a moment.

He gathered himself up to his feet, figuring that it would be best if he went to the lake instead of fretting over some nightmare.

Though, deep down, the nightmare made him more upset than he would want to admit.

Trying to be as quiet as possible he slowly made his way over to the lake. He rolled up his pant legs, put his feet in, and sighed. The feeling of cold water gathering around him instantly making him smile. He was soon interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind him.

He whipped his head around to see a somewhat dazed Katara. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as she stepped a little closer to the Avatar.

"Aang?" she asked. "What are you doing up?"

Aang glanced at his feet that were now submerged in water. He wanted to make as little eye contact as possible with her, still feeling uncomfortable about his dream.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I couldn't sleep." he said rather nonchalantly.

Katara raised an eyebrow not buying his answer one bit.

She went closer to him and batted her eyes. Aang felt his heart beat pick up pace. He hated how she did that to him.

"You know you can tell me anything, right Aang?" she asked, sounding sincere.

Aang got out of the water and looked at her. Katara stayed still, though felt a little uncomfortable with how strange he was acting.

"I need to know something Katara." he said. Katara was highly aware now of how close they had become in just a few seconds. She could feel every breath he took.

"What?" she asked, feeling her heart beat speed up with every breath he took.

"Do you love me?"

The question took her by surprise yet she showed no indication of this. "Of course I-"

She didn't get the chance to finish her sentence before his lips were on hers rather forcefully. He wrapped his arms around her waist before she had a chance to even think. Her eyes widened for a second at this sudden act but she quickly closed them and wrapped her arms around his neck. All sense leaft her mind during this kiss.

She pulled away when the need for air became too important. Aang looked into her eyes as if he was searching for something.

"Come on," she said taking his hand in hers.

He obeyed and followed her. They sat perched up on a good size rock, both staring at the moon's reflection in the water.

A thick silence laid between them, but neither seemed bothered by it. It was a comfortable silence. A moment in life that Aang wished would never end.

He looked out from the corner of his eye at the waterbender, feeling that her eyes were on him. He blushed lightly when he found out his prediction was correct.

Katara smiled and took his hand in hers again, gently tracing the arrow on the back of it. She could feel he was bothered by something but decided not to ask head on figuring that he would just avoid the subject.

"Isn't it just amazing?" she asked after a few more silent moments.

Aang turned his head to face her. "What is?"

Katara smiled and looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Being the Avatar. You have the ability to bend every element. Your the most powerful bender in the world! That's pretty amazing if you ask me." She stopped tracing his arrow to look at him. He was look far off into the open space in front of them. His grey sparkled in the light yet they looked so sad. She hated seeing him like this.

"It's not all that. Really. Sometimes," he paused and took a deep breath before continuing."I feel like everybody's counting on me. Like if I screw up the world will hate me. I have no room for mistakes, or errors, because as the Avatar they just expect me to know and do everything right. But I can't! It's impossible! Especially when my beliefs oppose what the world wants me to do."

Katara sighed. This wasn't easy for him, or the rest of them. But especially him. She took his face gently in her hands and stared into his eyes.

"Aang," she started "I believe in you. Forget about the rest of the world. I know you can do it."

She bit her lip before continuing. This was something she had come to terms with a few days ago and it was still a hard concept to grasp. "If you know another way to stop this war without killing Fire Lord Ozai and Azula, I support you fully." she smiled at him and kissed him lightly on the lips. They sat in silence for the rest of the time just enjoying watching the moon eventually be replaced by the sun in the sky.

Aang smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist. Katara rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes and welcoming sleep. Maybe saving the world wouldn't be so hard after all. Especially when he had her by his side.

XXX

Zuko looked at the map laid out in front of him, ignoring the hot tea that had just been set beside him. The sun hid behind dark grey clouds that slowly smothered the sky. A storm was approaching. A small flicker of fire burned in the middle of the table. All Zuko could see at the moment was the shadow of his father's face.

"Zuko!" His father yelled. Immediately Zuko flung his head up to look at the Fire Lord. "Look at me when I talk to you." he said through clenched teeth.

Zuko glanced down at the mahogany table beneath and nodded his head. "I'm sorry father."

Ozai shook his head and pounded a fist against the wooden table. "Respect son. Respect. Did you miss everything I just said."

Zuko shook his head looking at his father this time. "No sir."

"Repeat it then."

Azula smirked and looked at her brother from the corner of her eye. She could see droplets of sweat run down the side of his face. When did it get so hot in there? He tugged on his collar trying to get some air to come his way yet none went to his aid.

"Don't make me do to you what I did to Aang." Ozai said through clenched teeth.

Zuko's eyes widened for a second as that horrific day played in his head.

XXX

FLASHBACK

"Oh, mighty Avatar! Get up! Fight me!" Ozai yelled as he kicked Aang hard in the stomach causing him to fall to his knees and cough. The guards and people in high authority in the Fire Nation thundered in applause at the humiliation of the Avatar.

Ozai tilted his head slightly and pointed a finger at the Avatar. "Can you believe him?" Spit flew out of his mouth and landed on Aang's head. "He tried to escape! He tried to get away from us. After we offered to help him! After I offered to take him under our wing and make him a part of our people, a part of my family! He even went as far as to call me a monster! All I did was help a young boy I saw in need and he goes off doing something like this." The crowd grew with anger instantly at the mention of this.

"He disgraced our people after we tried to help him!" A guard stepped up and kicked the Avatar hard in the stomach.

Zuko sat in the distance with his sister Azula.

"Don't you just love this?" she whispered to him not letting her eyes leave the action.

Zuko closed his eyes and got up from his seat.

"Where are you going Zuzu?" Azula asked.

"No Zuko! Stay!" Ozai yelled at his son. He did not want him to miss a minute of this.

Aang looked up, just barely to see the Fire Lord smiling. He couldn't take this anymore. This sort of humiliation. Disgracing him and his people.

He jumped up to his feet and got in a fighting stance. He threw off his shirt, which instantly made moving around a lot easier.

"Let's fight! I'm not afraid of you! Come on!" Aang yelled. He was scared by his new attitude for a second but shook it off. Now was not the time to just lay there.

He did not have a chance to even touch the Fire Lord before he was hit hard on the back of his head and sent flying the ground with a thud. Knocked out.

"I would kill this disgraceful little twerp." Ozai said through clenched teeth as he stared down at the bruised Avatar. "But we need him. He's the Avatar and we need him on our side."

XXX

Zuko did not like this memory. It was one of those memories he wished never existed in his mind. He turned his attention back to his father who stared at him with burning eyes.

"I am not liking your behavior lately Zuko. I think it's time me and you had Agni Kai."

Normally the thought would have erupted shudders throughout Zuko's body, but for some reason, today, he actually welcomed the idea.

XXX

Happy valentines day! :)