I kinda like this chapter. It's a bit rushed, but i still like it. and it seems someone might just disappear from the little gaang. Hope you like it!
disclaimer: i have only managed to raise $3. 22. I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. sniff. it's sad...
Chapter Twenty-four
Katara opened her eyes to find Zuko beside her, eyes closed in sleep. She smiled and gently ran her fingers through his hair. "He looks so peaceful."
"He looks more than peaceful…he looks…younger, somehow. Like the weight of the world has been taken off of his shoulders."
"He doesn't need to worry and keep his guard up when he's sleeping."
"No. He doesn't."
She watched him as he slept. And when he woke, she was still watching, a smile on her face. When Zuko opened his eyes, he grinned sleepily, reaching up to play with her unbound hair.
Katara couldn't resist. She kissed him gently and then pulled back, her sapphire eyes shining. "Good morning, Zuko," she whispered. "It seems like we're waking up together more and more often."
A charming blush appeared on his face and Katara giggled. Zuko sat up and sent her a mock glare. "Aren't you a bit awake this morning?" he griped. His question elicited another giggle and he couldn't help grinning back at her.
"Come on," she said, tapping his arm, "I'll make breakfast." Katara rose from the bed, putting up her hair with deft motions.
"Why do you always put your hair up like that?"
Katara turned, still fixing her braid. "Hmm?"
Another smile appeared on Zuko's face and he stood, too. With gentle fingers, he combed out her braid and loopies, leaving her hair to hang free. "I like it better that way," he whispered in explanation at her questioning look.
She moved to turn away but her took hold of her arm and she looked at him. "I have to go and make sure Sokka's doing all right," she whispered.
"Wait." He bent his head and placed a kiss on her lips. "Good morning."
Katara sent him an amused look and then pulled away, rushing out of her room. Her face burned from the look she had seen in his eyes.
Zuko waited until she was a little farther away and called out, "What about breakfast?" Her laughter drifted back to him and he grinned, slowly following her.
When he entered the courtyard, Zuko found Katara had already begun breakfast. The aroma of fresh fish and exotic vegetables floated in the air, bidding him to move closer. Zuko stepped forward, only to feel the unmistakable feeling of someone watching him. He turned his head to see Jet leaning against a nearby wall, eyes filled with distrust.
Katara was humming softly to herself as she cooked the fish, wondering if the smell of food would wake Sokka up. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than Sokka's eyes popped open. He eyes her with one bleary eye, already drooling.
"Food?" he asked weakly.
Katara laughed delightedly and shoved a plate into his face. Sokka immediately sat up, taking hold of the plate, eyes growing wide at the mountain of food. He was just picking up a piece of fish when he stopped and glared at Katara.
"What is this?" he asked suspiciously. "You never give me this much food."
Katara shrugged, her smile still fixed on her face. "I'm in a good mood today," was all she said. And then she turned back to the food.
Sokka, still keeping an eye on his sister, bit into the fish. And almost died. "This is delicious!" he said, bits of food flying from his mouth. Beside him, Ty Lee giggled.
"You're so cute!" she squealed hugging him.
Sokka swallowed and then grinned down at her, his chest puffing out. "But manly, too, right?"
"Yeah," Toph said from her place beside Aang. "You look exactly like a great warrior, Sokka."
The whole courtyard—with the exception of Jet and Sokka—burst out laughing. "What?" the Water Tribe boy asked, looking from one person to the other. "What's so funny?" And then he got it. "Oh," he said, glaring at Toph. But his glare went to waste.
Zuko exchanged an amused glance with Katara. He couldn't remember when the last time he had laughed like this was. It had been a very long time. Rarely had he laughed with another person before Katara came along. Now he was laughing with everyone.
Off to the side, Jet made a disgusted noise and turned to walk off.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here, Mai?"
At the sound of that malicious voice, everyone turned. Zuko and Iroh both glared daggers at Azula, jumping up into defensive stances. Katara's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing into a look of absolute hatred. Aang and Toph stood as one, both readying themselves to bend. No one noticed, however, as Ty Lee seemed to shrink into herself, her face paling. The interested look Jet gave Mai was almost completely ignored, though a slight blush appeared on the dreary girl's face.
"Azula," Zuko growled.
A brow raised above Azula's cold eyes. "Zuzu," she said in reply. The Fire princess glanced at Ty Lee and said in a bored tone, "I always knew you were a weak link in the chain, Ty Lee, but I never thought that you would betray the Fire Nation. Still, I must thank you for leading us straight to the Avatar."
Ty Lee made a low sound of distress and Sokka wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer.
"Azula, this is madness," Iroh stated calmly, moving to stand between his niece and the others. "You know as well as I that this war has brought nothing but pain. To everyone."
Azula frowned. "That's where you're wrong, Uncle. This war has brought much more." She smirked and moved closer. "It has brought power and glory to the Fire Nation. It has shown just exactly how the strong conquer the weak." At her last words, her gaze fell on Zuko.
The prince reacted violently, taking a step forward, his hands heating up. Katara, however, put a restraining hand on his arm. Boldly, she looked Azula right in the eye. "It might have brought glory, but it has also shown exactly who possesses true power." She sent her own smirk. "If I remember correctly, Princess Azula, your 'strength' hardly stood a chance against Aang and me." Katara's chin went up a notch and she crossed her arms over her chest. "As I recall, you had an army at your back."
Anger flitted over the other girl's face and then her face smoothed. "A mere tool," she said calmly. "But what do you know? You're just a simple Water peasant. What could you know about power?"
Katara gave Zuko's arm a subtle squeeze, telling him without words to follow her lead. "Oh, I think I understand a lot more than you think, Azula." Suddenly, she and Zuko burst into action, both sending whips towards Azula. The fire and water moved opposite of one another, but Zuko and Katara's movements mirrored the other's movements exactly. Azula barely had time to jump out of the way when Aang sent a blast of air straight towards her and Toph upset the ground beneath the two Fire Nation girls.
Sokka, his appetite appeased and his wound sealed, jumped up, ready to defend his friends, his family. Ty Lee did the same. She tumbled forward, flipping to strike out at Azula. The princess moved out of the way of the girl's well-placed jabs but Ty Lee had only been a distraction. Sokka moved in and jabbed Azula in the arm, rendering her bending useless.
Even though she couldn't bend, however, Azula was still an excellent fighter. She knocked Sokka to the ground and kicked Ty Lee's legs out from under her. "You're a traitor," she hissed at her old friend.
"I never wanted this to happen, Azula," Ty Lee whispered. "I admired you once. I thought you were the best friend I could ever have. But now I know different."
Meanwhile, Mai lifted herself off of the ground, only to find the earth buckling beneath her. She cried out but held her footing, managing to stay up. She whirled around to throw a dagger at the nearest target but was stopped as Jet grabbed her wrist.
"I can't let you do that," he whispered in a low voice.
"Too bad," Mai replied, kicking out with her foot. But Jet stopped her.
"Pretty and deadly. Do you have a boyfriend?"
The question stopped Mai cold, giving Katara enough time to strike her down with a water whip. Jet grinned down at the somber girl. "Too bad."
Azula looked around to find herself surrounded. She glared at her brother and uncle. This was all their fault. Still, knowing when she needed to retreat, Azula grabbed hold of Mai and darted to the side, scaling the wall before anyone could touch her. Right before she disappeared, however, she looked back. "You'll regret this decision," she growled softly. Ty Lee looked away.
As everyone was calming down—Iroh was already putting on another pot of tea—Jet slipped away, determined to get away from the fray. It was apparent that he wasn't needed. By anyone, let alone Katara. He smirked. But he had some very valuable information that he couldn't just let go to waste.
"Goodbye, Katara," he whispered softly. "It's been fun."
The end of this story is looming closer…it's so sad. Still. There's more to come. And what exactly is going on in Jet's head? Looks like he hasn't completely given up on getting back at a certain Fire Nation prince… Please review.