A/N

This was written before the finale, and therefore uninfluenced by its… peculiarity.

Be prepared… for revenge… Muahahaha.

And angst. I just can't keep away from the angst lately.

xxx

"I'll tear his eyes out!" Sokka screamed. "I'll tear his stupid eyes out and feed them to him!"

Aang slumped onto the lounge floor, wrapping his arms around his knees. "No, you won't."

"Yes, I will! That two-faced fire demon! That no good user! And what is she thinking? She's-."

"Normal," Aang echoed sadly. "Just like you said."

"No! No, she is not normal! She must've been drugged and hypnotized or something… Yeah, fire benders can do that, can't they?"

"There's nothing wrong with this, Sokka."

Sokka instantly dropped his flailing arms to his sides. "What?... You mean to say that deals mean nothing to you?"

"What deal?" Aang mumbled miserably.

"Our deal! We made it a long time ago, Aang! Zuko was strictly not to date Katara without our consent! This relationship is illegal!"

Aang's eyes flickered with light suddenly. "The deal…"

"Wait." Sokka paused, listening carefully. "I hear footsteps in the hall." He ran to the balcony, his sister and Zuko not to be found outside anymore.

Aang stood shakily. "Is it-."

"It's Zuko." Sokka growled. "And I'm gonna kill him."

xxx

Zuko paused before the door, bracing himself to remember that he hadn't fallen in love with Katara yet, and that he would do that in a few days time. He sighed.

Sokka was screaming something inaudible in the apartment, but suddenly his screeching stopped. Zuko shook his head. He wondered what was wrong with him now.

xxx

"Okay," Sokka whispered, crouching behind the wall by front of the door. "This time I'm serious, Aang. We're going to ambush him."

"I'm sure there's an explanation for this-."

"What is wrong with you?" Sokka growled, jerking Aang down with him. "Just last month you would've ripped the throat out of him for just looking at Katara! Now you won't do anything, and he kissed her, Aang!" Sokka shook him. "He kissed her!"

"I'm just tired of fighting…" Aang mumbled.

The door began to move, and Sokka's hand tensed on Aang's shoulder.

"Sokka-." Aang started.

Sokka cut him off with a battle cry, pouncing on Zuko as he pushed open the door.

"You double-crosser!" Sokka screamed, toppling Zuko to the floor.

Zuko wriggled free and jumped to his feet, shooting Aang bewildered looks as he backed away from Sokka. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb!" Sokka yelled, advancing towards Zuko. "We saw you! We saw you!"

"You…" Zuko faltered, glancing once more at Aang.

Aang scowled. "You said you were my friend."

"I… I am!" Zuko protested, throwing up his hands to shield himself from Sokka's fists.

"Liar!" Sokka bellowed, pushing him into the empty lounge.

Zuko grabbed Sokka's wrist and twisted it behind him, pushing him against the wall.

"Would you just listen?" Zuko pleaded.

"No!" Sokka spun from Zuko grasp and whopped him in the nose with his curled fist.

Zuko stumbled back and steadied himself. Sokka flew at him once more, but this time Zuko hit his stomach, sending Sokka back just a step.

"You…" Sokka gasped, the wind knocked out of him. "You betrayed… our trust."

"Would you two just listen to what you're accusing me of?" Zuko snapped.

"We realize what we're accusing you of." Aang answered coldly. "You broke our deal."

"Deal?" Zuko asked. "What…" He shook his head, memory catching up with him. "I honored that deal. I have both of your permission."

"Yeah, yeah, we know you have Aang's 'cause he was an idiot-."

"Hey!" Aang cried.

"But you don't have mine," Sokka said challengingly.

Zuko's eyes traced the ground. "Yes, I do."

"You never-."

"You may have been too inebriated to remember it, but I have your permission." Zuko answered quietly, ashamed of himself.

Sokka's accusing finger dropped, and he stood dumbstruck. "You took advantage of me? You… when I was… drunk? You asked me when I was drunk?"

"That's low, Zuko." Aang snarled. "That's real low."

"You no-good scum!" Sokka shouted, lunging for him.

He and Zuko locked arms, glaring into each other's eyes.

"Stop!" Aang demanded. "Get mad all you want, but don't-."

"Go on!" Sokka screamed. "Fire bend! You've already brought yourself low enough! Why not go a little further and…" He strained to throw Zuko to the floor. "And flame!"

Zuko gritted his teeth, surprised at Sokka's strength. "No!"

"Do it!"

"No!"

"Stop it!" Aang gripped their shoulders and tried prying them apart. "Stop!"

"So long as I live you'll never touch her again!" Sokka vowed.

"You can't…" Zuko almost lost his footing. "You can't do that!"

"Enough!" Aang stepped back and threw a wall of air between them, blasting them onto opposite walls. They slammed into them and groaned in unison.

A decorative plate above Zuko's head fell onto his shoulder. New pain lanced down his arm.

"Now…" Aang panted. "If either of you so much as stand up, I'll-."

"Pitch us off the balcony," Sokka quipped. "We know, Aang. We've heard it all before."

"Let's settle this," Aang said firmly. "First we need to-."

"You've broken the deal," Sokka seethed, "And now you will pay for it."

"What do you want?" Zuko growled.

"Get out." Sokka spat. "Leave this company and don't come back."

Aang gaped at him. "But… that's a little harsh, don't you think?"

"Fine," Zuko rose to his feet, using the wall for support. "I'm gone."

Sokka and Aang watched him stride out the door, and they waited until they heard the thud of the apartment door behind him to speak.

"That was rash." Aang said softly. "I don't think he deserved-."

"Hey," Sokka snapped. "What are you complaining about? Katara's all yours now."

xxx

"I think in the end, it will all work out alright," Iroh reassured Katara.

The two had caught up in the market, and on account of the rain, were now walking back to the apartment together. Realizing that he would probably find out eventually, Katara reiterated her standing with Zuko and their dilemma. Of course, she omitted the details that might make her cheeks redden.

"You think so?" Katara asked.

They stepped past the guards and began to ascend towards the apartment.

"I do." Iroh nodded. "Just tell the boys how you feel, and all will be well. Honesty, in my experience, almost never fails."

Katara raised an eyebrow. "I thought Zuko was banished because he was honest…"

"I said 'almost'." Iroh corrected himself.

Katara nodded, still unconvinced. "Thank you for listening."

"I am glad you feel comfortable enough with me to talk to me," he said warmly.

They made the rest of the trip in amiable silence.

xxx

Sokka jerked his head from his chest. "I hear someone in the hall again!"

"Shut up!" Aang said icily. "I don't care if it was Zuko, I don't want you to make a single move!"

The two were slumped in the lounge, halfway guilty, halfway vengeful.

"I'd like to kick you to the streets and see how you like it." Aang snapped.

The door slid open to the apartment, and Sokka could distinguish Katara and Iroh's voices making their way to them.

"You tell them." Aang muttered. "I don't want any part of it."

"You're the one who-."

"Hey, guys," Katara sighed, glancing timidly between the two of them. "How's it going?"

Aang ducked his head, turning his face away from her. Sokka folded his arms across his chest.

"Is it still raining?" Sokka asked.

"Yes." Katara said, shaking her braid free of the last drops.

Iroh sighed and took a seat at the table. "Where's Zuko?"

Aang shot Sokka a look.

"He's outside." Sokka answered coldly.

Katara paused wringing out her skirt. "What?"

"He is outside." Sokka said slowly.

"Why?" Katara looked to Aang, but he refused to meet her eyes.

"Because that's where backstabbers belong." Sokka said. "Outside."

"Back…stabbers?" Katara felt empty all of a sudden. She clutched her necklace nervously. "What…do…"

"We know, Katara." Sokka stood, rigid in his fury. "And I can't believe you didn't tell us."

Katara pulled her shoulders back. "Tell you what, Sokka? That I love Zuko?"

The room hushed with her words. Iroh shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unknowing of whether he should speak or not. Aang finally jerked himself from his sullen state and caught Katara's eyes. She looked away immediately.

"Is that a crime?" She asked her brother stonily. "Is it a crime that I love him?"

Sokka waved the question away. "You're insane. You don't love him."

"I do love him!" Her voice shook in its raised pitch.

"He's not good for you." Sokka retorted. "He's-."

"You aren't my father!" She snarled. "He cares for me, and I care for him! I don't see what's wrong with that!"

"What's wrong with it?" Sokka stepped closer. "What's wrong with it? His word is a farce! He can't be trusted!"

"If this is another one of your stupid ploys to frame him contacting the Fire Nation, I swear I'll-."

"If he can't hold an agreement with Aang and I, what makes you think that he'll give you his honest word?" Sokka shouted.

"That's nonsense, Sokka! What agreement has he broken with you?"

"He swore not to court you without our permission."

"And?"

"And he didn't have our permission! The next thing we know, he's snogging you in the street!"

She flushed. "Is that all, Sokka?"

He cried in frustration. "Shouldn't that be enough?"

"You're worried about an act of love." Her voice trembled with rage. "Love, Sokka." She whirled on Aang. "And you, Aang? Do you condemn him for loving me?"

Aang set his jaw, intent on not answering.

She turned back to her brother. "Fine. If you… banish him for loving me, then you banish me as well."

"I cannot accept him." Sokka seethed.

"Of all the things I've ever done for you Sokka…Was there ever anything that I refused to do? I've lived for you! And you can't do this one thing? This one thing of-."

"I won't see you with him."

"Then…" tears streaked down her cheeks. "Then you won't see me at all."

She flew back down the hall, only pausing to rip her cloak from the coat rack on the wall. Her black cloak wasn't on its peg, so she grabbed Zuko's red one, instead, sobbing into its softness before pulling it over her head and rushing out of the door.

xxx

Zuko had no trouble finding her. She ran from the building, a blur of red, and from his place under the eave across the street he could see the worry racking her frame. Katara hugged herself, standing on the curb and rocking herself back and forth on her heels in an unsteady motion. Zuko stepped into the rain and walked towards her. Her head snapped in his direction, focusing on his steps.

He stopped before her, peering onto her tear-stained face. Her shoulders shook slightly.

"I…" She shook her head, balling his cloak in her fists. "I took your cloak…I…"

He took her hands in his. "I took yours," he answered softly. "It's a little more inconspicuous." It shamed him that he didn't know how to comfort her. He wanted to do anything to keep her being this distressed.

"They didn't…" She gasped.

Zuko pulled her to him, pressing her face into his shoulder. "I know. I know."

She sobbed and encircled him in her arms. "I wanted them to understand…Sok…Sokka wouldn't listen…"

Zuko cradled her in his arms. "Let's get out of the rain," he whispered, leaning back and tracing her bottom eyelids with his thumb.

She nodded softly, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leading her to some quiet tea shop so they could talk.

xxx

Aang glowered at Sokka from his post by the window. "'I think you should see this,'" Aang mimicked. "Seriously, Sokka, get over here."

The other boy dragged himself from the floor and stood beside Aang. "What?"

"Look!" Aang pointed to Zuko leading Katara gingerly away, the two of them fading slowly from their rain-skewed vision. "Now you tell me that he won't care for her."

"He will be good to her." Iroh said quietly. "He has been good to her."

"Oh, yeah," Sokka said sarcastically. "He's been a real darling lately. Once he got over the whole, 'I'll do anything to capture the Avatar bit'-."

"You're the only one who's still hung up over that." Aang said bitterly.

"If you're on his side, why don't you run out into the rain too!" Sokka shouted, gesturing to the city around them.

"I will," Iroh said, standing up.

Sokka threw him a glare and then continued to stare at Aang for his answer.

Aang looked Sokka over with disgust. "I will too."

"Fine!" Sokka yelled, prowling to his room.

Iroh and Aang locked eyes for a moment. They began their procession outside, without so much as another word from Sokka.

xxx

Zuko and Katara found a tea shop not too far from the apartment that was pleasantly full and buzzing with activity, perfect for them to talk and for her to cry without any attention from the other customers. Zuko took Katara's cloak- his cloak- from her shoulders and guided her to a seat. They sat numbly, not speaking until a waiter came and took their order. When he left, Katara reached for Zuko's hand.

"Do you remember when I told you that I'd go against my own family for something I believed in?" She asked softly.

He nodded. "I think that's what really made me decide to join your group."

"Well…" Her voice cracked. "I meant it."

He scooted closer to her, leaning his cheek onto her sopping head. "I don't want you to have to. Sokka should be able to understand."

"He won't." Katara choked. "He won't ever understand."

The waiter brought their tea, smiling grandly down on the young couple. "I remember those days. Parents don't want you to date him, huh?"

"Do you mind?" Zuko snapped.

The waiter's face slackened, and he rushed off.

Zuko turned back to Katara, whose face was slowly beginning to gleam with fresh tears. Anger flickered through Zuko towards Sokka, and it took him a moment to subdue it enough to speak softly to Katara. "I love you," was the only thing he could think of to say to her, and he did.

Her lip trembled as she turned her face up to him. "I love you, too, Zuko."

Zuko's brow knitted together. "But I don't want to come between you and your family."

She jerked away from him, eyes bright with fear. "No…"

"And if leaving means peace-."

"No, Zuko."

Zuko sighed, frustrated. "I know how precious a thing family is, and I don't want to break yours!"

Katara shook her head firmly. "I won't accept a family that cannot see you for the man you are. I can't stay with a family that won't-."

"Do you realize what a blessing family is?" Zuko cried. "Don't throw that away for me!"

Katara wiped her palm across her eyes. "You and Iroh are my family, too, you know." She said softly.

Zuko turned away from her, studying his cooling teacup with disinterest. "Lucky you," he muttered.

"Yes," Katara answered, taking his hand again. "I am lucky."

Her gaze flickered to a fleck of red that entered the tea shop, followed closely by an older, rounded man. Katara narrowed her eyes slightly, gesturing to the pair for Zuko to see. Aang and Iroh stood awkwardly in the doorway, casting their eyes across the crowd until they saw Katara and Zuko huddled at a table against the wall.

"Do you think…" Katara trailed off, unwilling to speak her hope.

Zuko turned his attention back to her as the two padded across the room to meet them. "Katara… I… I don't want to leave you…"

"Then don't." She replied, her hand still locked over his.

"May we join you?" Iroh asked politely.

Zuko and Katara stared unbelievingly as Aang took a seat across from them. He had an unsettled look on his young features. Iroh looked worried as well, but his demeanor was slightly calmer. Tense silence shrouded the group until Aang finally took a breath and spoke.

"Sokka was wrong," he murmured. "And I, for one, don't plan to follow him."

Zuko and Katara exchanged glances.

"Thank you, Aang." Katara said solemnly.

Iroh put a hand on his shoulder. "You are mature beyond your years."

"I've got a hundred years or so of experience," Aang grinned ruefully.

xxx

The group passed the next hour in retrospective silence, and Zuko was assuaged in knowing that there were no protests when he draped his fingers over his girlfriend's graceful digits. Finally, when the rain outside cleared and the customers of the shop began to clear from the lunch rush, they decided to head back to the apartment and try to reach some agreement with Sokka.

"What if he doesn't agree to anything?" Aang asked softly. "What will you do?"

"I don't know, Aang." Katara admitted. "But we're committed to your teachings. It doesn't matter what Sokka does, honestly. You've still got to learn earth bending and fire bending, and we intend to see you through."

Zuko nodded his agreement. "We'll go wherever you go."

xxx

Iroh was chosen as the leader of the gloomy troupe, and he pushed open the apartment door first, holding an open palm in front of him to dispel any attacks a crazed inhabitant might fling. However, on the other side of the door there was quiet.

"Is he gone?" Katara asked, worry clenching her. "I don't know where-."

"I'm here." Sokka said smoothly, entering into their view from down the hall.

"Now, Sokka," Iroh began.

"I'd like to speak with Zuko." Sokka interrupted.

His tone was deceptively tranquil, of which Katara had almost never heard before. She refused to let go of Zuko's hand.

"I want your word, Sokka." She demanded.

Sokka drew his shoulders back, his chest rising and falling as the moments passed uneasily by. "I won't lay a hand on him."

"Or boomerang." She continued. "Nothing. No harm."

"No harm will come to him." Sokka agreed, his eyes almost dark in their meaning.

Zuko pulled away from the stone-cast company and trailed the Water Tribe boy to his room.

Sokka allowed Zuko to step into his room first, and Sokka quietly closed the door behind him. Zuko swiveled to face him, his back rigid with anticipation. Sokka stared at him for awhile more, and neither of them filled the room with any sort of words. Finally, Sokka sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"Katara is all I have," he mumbled. "Maybe you know that."

"I do." Zuko answered stiffly.

"I would do anything to protect her." Sokka straightened, pulling his shoulders back and glaring hard at Zuko. "Anything under the moon."

"I believe it."

"It was one of the last things my mother asked of me." Sokka said gravely. "And I intend to uphold it to the very last."

"I understand."
Sokka waited several breaths to compose his next sentence. "When I first met you-."

"Let's not start that." Zuko said coldly. "I think we can move on."

Sokka raised one eyebrow. "Then you'll agree that you weren't exactly top choice for an honest man when you joined with us."

Zuko shifted his feet. "Yes."

"I didn't trust you, and you've yet to prove yourself to me. Do you understand?"

Zuko ground his jaw, resenting the way he was being talked down to. "Yes."

"You've cheated, you've lied, you've done nothing to make me believe that you're worthy of Katara. She deserves someone who will look after her. Someone who will shelter her from harm, and at the same time, raise her on his shoulders and bring out the best in her."

Zuko refrained from commenting that Sokka wasn't exactly qualified to pick out this person.

"You are far from any obvious choice," Sokka said icily. Suddenly, his shoulders relaxed, and he glanced away, almost in a defeated manner. "So when you left, I sat here and I thought…I thought a lot… You cheated, you lied… And you did it all just to hold her, just to call her your own. Do you deny this?"

"No."

Sokka sighed. "And the only way I can see this is… Is care. And I can't find a reason against care."

Zuko wanted to collapse with relief. "You give us your blessing?"

Sokka cringed at the word. "Let me ask you this, first… If… by some huge miracle… We win the war, and you become Fire Lord… Does Katara have to wear the crown?"

Zuko smiled softly. "That's her choice."

Sokka nodded weakly. "That's a good answer… Yes… I give you my blessing." He motioned for him to follow, and the two walked back out of his room.

The rest of the group was huddled in the lounge, twisting their hands and the edges of their shirts nervously. Their heads snapped in attention when Sokka dragged Zuko into the room. Sokka gestured for Katara to come to him. She stood shakily, taking small steps to stand next to the odd pair. Sokka took her hand, and took Zuko's hand and linked them.

"Don't make out in front of me." He said somberly. "I will barf, and I will aim it at your heads."

Katara released Zuko's hand to throw her arms around her brother. "Oh, Sokka!"

"Yeah, yeah." He pushed her away from him. "Mush and all that. Right now I'm kind of hungry, so…" He shrugged and glanced around at the rest of them. "Who's up for some meat?"

xxx

A/N

One more chapter. Woot woot.

Before you review and rave, "Whaaat? Why's Aang so subdued??", let me assure you that it will be resolved in the next chapter.