Chapter Three
"Bojing's Services"
Zuko went about wrapping his burnt hand in the back room of the tea shop. His Uncle had joined him by now and was attending to Bojing, who was sitting nearby sipping tea. Zuko ignored them, concentrating on caring for his hand.
"It's so nice of you to grace us with your presence, Bojing," his Uncle said as he refilled Bojing's cup with tea.
Bojing smiled at him. "Thank you, sir, and for the tea. It's delicious."
Zuko felt his Uncle's movements and knew he had turned to look at him. He could picture the proud smile on his Uncle's face.
"At least someone of noble blood can see that," his Uncle said.
Zuko rolled his eyes and continued to try to concentrate on his hand. He heard Bojing take another annoying sip of tea, than sit down his cup, finally getting to his point.
"But since you are planning to stay in this city, I should warn you. It's not what it seems."
"Oh?" His Uncle questioned, and Zuko had to admit, he was curious, too. So he strained his ears to listen without turning around.
Behind him, Bojing leaned forward, lowering his voice and continuing. "This city is kept from the war, shut off from it. Its existence is but mere fable to the people of this city. The longer you stay, the more you'll begin to believe the same."
Zuko finally turned to Bojing, skeptical to believe his tail. "And how do you know this?" He questioned.
Bojing turned to him and his grin returned. "Oh, come on, Zuko! Surly it hasn't been that long. You know I've always been good at avoiding guards. I've been many places in this city without being seen, and I've learned much, about many different people." He paused, his eyes growing wide. "Including, the Avatar."
Zuko's eyes grew wide in sudden realization. His hope suddenly returned. "The Avatar? He's here?!"
Bojing sat back in his chair with a satisfied smile. "I thought you didn't care?"
Zuko looked away instantly, feeling foolish for letting his emotions show so openly and for letting Bojing get the better of him – again. He turned away in anger.
Behind him Bojing laughed. "But yes, he's here. I've seen him, and you know, it actually works to our advantage – his being here. For the longer he stays, the more he'll forget about the war, until it is but a vague memory in the back of his mind. Saves us the trouble of having to deal with him."
Bojing paused to frown, than continued, disappointedly. "But it is a shame. I mean, just think, an Earth Kingdom city will get the honor of capturing the Avatar."
The word 'honor' rolled off Bojing's tongue like honey and his eyes lit up as he said it. Zuko frowned, turning to him to show him how he felt about his game.
Bojing looked to him again, his eyes wide in pleading expectation. "You could stop that, you know. Capture the Avatar yourself!"
There was a pause in all conversation as Zuko thought this over. His Uncle watched him in anticipating question, as did Bojing. Bojing was only playing with him, toying with his emotions. Wasn't he? Or did he truly have the Fire Nations best interests in mind? He seemed so sincere in wanting the honor to go to someone from the Fire Nation. Zuko sighed. Either way, he now knew the truth of why Bojing was in the tea shop.
"You've come here to convince me to capture the Avatar. Why?"
"Because I believe you can, Zuko!" Bojing stood in sincerity. "I always have. And honor or not, you'll be doing your nation a favor." He paused to frown, studying Zuko. "Do you want the Avatar to stop this war?"
Zuko looked away with a frown. "No."
"Call me crazy, buy I thought you actually cared about your nation's best interests."
Zuko spun about to face Bojing, eyes wide, the memory those words brought to mind too awful to recall. How could Bojing question his loyalty to his nation? But Bojing sighed, turning to leave.
"I guess I was wrong," he said sadly and left the room.
Zuko said nothing. He only watched Bojing leave. His thoughts were spinning in his head in a crazy sea of jumbled words. Of course he cared about his nation! Of course he didn't want the Avatar to end the war! But was this just one of Bojing's tricks? Did he have an alternate motive behind all of his cunning words? No, his grin wasn't present during any of it. Could it be that he actually did believe in Zuko and truly wanted him to capture the Avatar? Was it that he really wanted Zuko to capture the Avatar for the sake of their nation and really did believe he could do so?
He turned to look out the window again, a feeling of hope rising within him. Besides his Uncle, no one had ever truly believed that he could capture the Avatar. It was a good feeling to know that someone other than family actually believed in him.
It was evening, the streets dark. It was as good a time as any, and their only option. Well, the only plan they could come up with. Aang lept out of the window of the apartment and used his airbending to cushion his landing as he joined Toph, Sokka, Katara, and Momo on the ground outside. He was ready to find and rescue Appa no matter what. Katara, however, seemed skeptical.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" She whispered in question.
Aang turned to her, keeping his voice low as well. "It's our only choice."
"Yeah, Katara, and no one's going to be out at night," Sokka assured her with a whisper.
"I don't know. Long Feng said the Dai Li would be watching our every move – all the time!" Katara continued her whisper.
"He just said that to scare us. No one's really going to be out all night watching for us." Sokka argued, continuing to keep his voice low, but not completely whispering.
"Someone's coming," Toph's sudden quiet warning silenced all else.
Aang forced himself to remain calm as he and Katara looked in the direction Toph was facing. Sokka, however, instantly began to panic.
"Oh no! What are we going to do?!"
He quickly grabbed Momo from off of Toph's shoulder and held him up in front of his face to hide himself. Katara rolled her eyes. Momo tilted his head with a chirp of question. Aang couldn't help but smile. He than turned back to look in the direction he had been looking, leaving Sokka to his 'hiding.'
Toph instantly moved into a fighting stance and Anag could feel her worry.
"Who's there?" She questioned loudly.
There was no answer. Toph grew upset, apparently sure someone was there. "Show yourself, or you'll be sorry!"
Aang watched in expectancy, but still no one answered, nor did anyone emerge from the shadows. Toph immediately kicked her right heel into the ground. Several feet away, Aang saw a platform of earth rise into the air. There was a shadowy form atop it.
Toph pulled her right foot back behind her and the earth platform moved toward her and the others. Aang watched in excitement. Behind him, Katara and Sokka had gotten into fighting stances, ready for anything. As the platform neared, Aang could make out a boy around his age in Earth Nation clothing.
Once the platform was before her, Toph lifted her foot and the platform instantly vanished into the ground. The boy let out a yell and fell to the ground, rolling to his side. He soon righted himself and got to his feet, looking to those before him with a grin.
Now Aang could see his black hair, green eyes, and the freckles on his round face.
"Whoa! Some ride!" The boy said, and he seemed to be enjoying himself.
Aang watched him skeptically along with the others. All were prepared for the worst. Sokka instantly moved forward to begin his questioning. He no longer held Momo and was now pointing at the boy before them with a frown of distrust.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"You're not Dai Li," Katara said in realization as she studied the boy.
Sokka was clearly annoyed that his interrogation had been cut short, but Aang watched in curiosity as the boy turned to Katara, his grin not leaving his face.
"No, I'm Bojing," he said. Then he frowned. "I despise the Dai Li."
Sokka's brows furrowed in question and he turned toward the boy again. "Then why are you here?"
The boy turned his attention to Sokka. "I was on my way out of the city when I remembered who was here. I couldn't leave without offering my services, so here I am."
Sokka continued to stare at him in question. "Services?"
The boy bowed before Sokka. "I've come to help the Avatar."
Aang felt it suspicious that the boy had found out he was there, with the city being as secretive as it was, but he didn't want to hurt the boy's feelings, so he said simply, "I already have an earthbending teacher."
Bojing straightened again with a short laugh, turning toward Toph. "Yes, I noticed, but that's not what I meant."
His eyes now rested on Aang and Aang stared into them, wondering what more the boy had to offer.
"I understand you're looking for your bison."
The boys grin returned to his face. Instant fury erupted in Aang. He swung his staff around to point it at the boy, glaring at him in anger.
"What do you know about Appa?!" He shouted.
Bojing only continued to grin. "I know where you can find him, and I'd be willing to help you rescue him."
Aang continued to glare at the boy, unsure what to think. Nearby, he heard Momo chirp in excitement.
"Is this a trap?" Sokka voiced Aang's concern.
Bojing turned to Sokka, his grin dying, being replaced with a sincere and serious expression of truth and honesty. "No, I give you my word. We all want to leave this city as soon as possible, and I wanted to help you do that. The Avatar does have to stop the war, after all."
As he finished, his eyes rested on Aang once again. Aang considered his words. The boy seemed to be telling the truth, and he wanted more than anything to see Appa again. Finally he put down his staff, ready to trust the stranger. Bojing's grin instantly returned.
"Fine. But if this is a trap, I just want to say right now that I never trusted this guy!" The overly paranoid Sokka said, and crossed his arms over his chest, pointing a thumb at Bojing in the process, a scowl on his face.
Bojing just grinned. And Aang had to smile. Things seemed finally to be looking up.