I Told You So
Chapter 4: Sunburn
Disclaimer: Avatar belongs to Nikelodeon and it's creators..not me
The gaang was dead tired when they finally arrived at Ember Island. They had been traveling since dawn in their stolen war balloon and it was dawn again by the time they arrived. Cooped up on a ship for twenty-four hours, despite it being surprisingly comfortable because it was Azula's after all, had caused tempers to flare and everyone was on their last nerves.
Zuko and Aang, being the only ones who could power the vessel, had collapsed of exhaustion when they finally touched down. Though they worked in shifts fire bending consumed a lot a bender's energy because the flames come from the person's own inner fire.
The rest of them were only slightly better off. Toph had given up fighting off nausea and spent a good part of the trip hanging over the side muttering out curses and complaints in-between retches.
"Uuuggghhhh! I officially hate all things that fly. Damn them all to-" getting cut off by another spasm before continuing, "why can't you people ever keep your feet on the ground?!"
Sokka, typical, had slept though most of the flight. On the one occasion had woken up and was absentmindedly wandering the deck he made the mistake of talking about food; in front of Toph.
"Oh man, I am starving," he said yawning wide, "I could definitely go for some smoked seal blubber like, right now."
"You and you spirits cursed stomach Snoozles," yelled Toph looking a little green in the face, "it's just…I mean I can't…aahhh!" That said she quickly assumed her stance, giving the floor a strong kick and causing the metal deck to wave. Catching hold of it she used her metal-bending to rip off a small portion and sent it to bend around Sokka's head and mouth, effectively gagging him.
"Aaahhh….much better," sighed Toph.
"MMMmmmm. MMMMmmmm," was all Sokka was able to muster as he flailed upon the deck attempting to get the band off. Toph adamantly refused to take it off at first. It was nearly two hours before she finally gave in. Sokka's misery was causing everyone else even more grief as he clung to Toph on the deck, tears streaming down his face as he got on his knees to beg, making as much noise as his gag would allow. It being Sokka, he was actually able to make a lot. When she finally relented and took it off he looked prepared to go into another tirade.
"Do you have any ide-" he stopped as he saw Toph menacingly hoist the metal into the air again. "Then again: never mind." He was off like a shot into one of the ship's rooms. Only when he was completely out of range did Toph let the band drop as she returned to her place on the rail.
With Suki's help Katara had done her best to keep Aang and Zuko comfortable so they could focus on their firebending. Zuko's balloon had been much smaller and its small furnace stayed hot for longer, meaning he didn't have to constantly fire it. However, Azula's ship was much larger and originally had a crew of at least five manning it. The large furnace had to be fired at least every half-hour for a few minutes. Working in two hour shifts kept both benders relatively relaxed. The real challenge began as night began to fall. Without the sun it seemed as if their energies just didn't replenish in the same way; they could still bend but the girls could see how much of an effort it was becoming.
"I don't… know how… much… longer I can keep this… up for," gasped Aang, nearing the end of his shift.
"Just remember to…keep breathing. We're almost their Aang. Just a little bit further." Zuko was slightly better off and did his best to encourage his young student. Avatar or not he simply didn't have the long years of training and practice as Zuko did and lacked the stamina needed to maintain his flames for so long.
He watched as Katara cradled the young boy's head in her arms, the image making him smile. Mother to us all, he thought, oddly comforted at the sight, who would have thought I'd be lucky enough to find such a group of people. Zuko resumed his post, his gaze wandering the deck as he worked. Everywhere there was evidence of the little kindnesses the group seemed to do without thinking. Sokka lay sleeping on the floor slightly drooling. Someone, likely Suki, had covered him with a blanket, tucking in the edges to make a comforting cocoon. Katara, tired as she must have been from helping the boys, was trying to relive some of Toph's discomfort with her healing. The young girl finally fell into a fitful sleep, curled up like a ball on deck.
Finally they arrived. Too tired to seek out the little beach house Zuko had told them of, they simply sprawled out on the ground next to the balloon. It was nearly mid-day when the gaang began to wake up. Toph, Katara, Aang and Sokka were dressed in their old Fire Nation clothes. Luckily there had been some extra clothing on the war balloon which suited Suki just fine. Zuko had his regular ensemble, which was from the Fire Nation anyways. They picked their way down to the beach and soon settled their things in the small house.
"This feels sooo good," sighed Katara as she settled into a comfy lounge chair. The others were following suit, each sprawling out as was their wont.
"This is a real vacation," said Toph, "not like that stupid trip to go find some ancient library in the middle of the freakin' desert."
"Hey, that was a very productive trip," mumbled Sokka half-heartedly in protest; the comforts of the place were already getting to him, "I got a bunch of new maps."
"After almost getting eaten by the giant owl," put in Aang, "and nearly being buried alive under the sand."
"What!" shouted Suki, "a giant owl. Buried alive?"
"It's a long story, babe," replied Sokka, "short version: we found some super secret ancient library in the desert, battled off a mean spirit owl who didn't understand sharing, escaped when he wanted to bring the place down on us, walked back across the desert because Appa got stolen, went a little nuts from cactus juice, battled some giant mosquitoes, and then high-tailed it to Ba Sing Sei, where we found you."
"Yeah, that wasn't all that short," commented Zuko as Sokka caught his breath, "and you did all that just to get some useless old maps?"
"They served their purpose".
"Right".
For the rest of the day they concentrated on settling in. Aang was going to finish his training here and in the mean time the others were going to scope out possible routes to the capitol. Eating their meal in the small courtyard that ringed the back of the house marked the end to their very long day and soon afterwards they were fast asleep.
The following morning Zuko woke with the sun as was his custom. He woke up Aang and the two of them spent the early dawn going through their stances and techniques. By the time they were finished everyone was awake and gathered around kitchen.
"So what are we gonna do today," asked Toph from her usual perch on the floor, "We deserve a little break at least before going back to training."
"But that would throw us off our schedule; we can't relax now," Sokka insisted, "I've already planned the whole trip." He pulled out a parchment as tall as he was, similar to the one he made when they first got to the Fire Nation. They all stared at him, the same thought plain on their faces. You have got to be kidding me. "Ok, maybe not," and he rolled it back up.
"Well, we are on a beautiful tropical island," said Suki.
"With soft, sandy white shores and clear blue water," added Katara.
"Oh oh oh oh," yelled Sokka jumping up and down from excitement, "we can go FISHING!!"
Toph had the presence of mind to give him a sound crack to the back of his head.
"Good grief Snoozles! Are you really dense? They're talking about going to the beach, you know, swimming, sunbathing, and knocking back some cold drinks."
"Well they could have been a little bit clearer."
Zuko and Aang were the only ones who didn't seem thrilled with the idea.
"I can't go," said Aang, "my trunks don't hide my tattoos. We'd have the entire Fire Nation army breathing down our necks before you know it."
"He's right. Our plans still depend on keeping him hidden," added Zuko, "The people here fear Ozai too much to openly support the Avatar like the other kingdoms. They'll turn him in without a second thought."
"Man's got a point," Sokka said, "if Aang gets noticed on that beach we might as well have announced it to the Fire Lord himself."
"Oh come on guys, how long as it been since we've had the chance to lounge around and do nothing," whined Toph.
Aang was all for them going.
"I don't want you guys to be stuck inside just because of me. Go ahead; I'll chill out here with Momo."
Zuko was all set to stay with the young Avatar but the group insisted that he also enjoy himself.
"But my scar. Everyone will know it's me, I'm like Aang. I can't just go out everywhere."
"You can't be the only kid in the whole Fire Nation with a scar, Zuko," said Katara dryly.
"I'm the only one who's currently on all the wanted posters."
"The only one?"
"Last time I checked there was only one Prince Zuko, and that's me."
"Yeah well-"
Whatever she was going to say got cut off as Suki interrupted.
"That is it! You two are ridiculous."
"She started it!"
"Did not!"
"I don't care who started it! I'm finishing it," exclaimed Suki entirely exasperated. "Aang will stay here with Momo. I agree that he can't be risked. The rest of us are going down to the beach to laze away the day and if I hear so much as one argument between any of you, so help me spirits, you will regret it benders or not!"
Toph and Sokka were rolling with a sudden bout of hysteria at the sight of Suki coming down on Katara and Zuko as though they were simple children. For once Katara got a taste of her own motherly medicine and decided she didn't like it one bit.
"That was hilarious Suki…say something else,' gasped Toph was she rolled around the floor.
The avatar's two teachers hung their heads, somewhat ashamed that they had behaved thus.
"Fine," said Zuko, entirely fed up with the arguing, "guess all we need now are some bathing suits."
"Bathing suits," asked Katara, "what wrong with our regular underclothes?"
"Nobody wears stuff like that around here. You'll stick out like a sore thumb."
He muttered under his breath, "Not like we don't stick out anyways."
"I heard that," came Suki's shout from the other room she had stomped off to. With a final huff he went back to the issue of bathing suits.
Like the war balloon, the small house on the beach was also well stocked with supplies, including some of Azula's old bathing suits. By taking in a seam slightly and making a few trims here and there Katara was ready to use the old suit. Toph and Suki were similarly attired and Sokka had borrowed a pair of trunks from Zuko.
Aside from a few older tourist and some locals the beaches were mostly empty, this made the rest of the gaang feel better about their little vacation.
Katara noticed Zuko was slathering on some a pasty cream on his face and body.
"What are you doing?"
"It's to protect your skin from the sun. They make the paste from plant oil used to treat burns."
"Never heard of it."
"Here it's a necessity. Our people generally have paler skin that burns easily."
"That's just ironic: Fire benders with delicate skin."
"We're NOT delicate."
"Fine, fine, no need get offended," laughed Katara, throwing up her arms in mock defense. Their arguments these days, while still frequent, had more of a joking edge to them. Hearing them Suki and the others came over to investigate.
"Do I have to separate you two?" said Suki, hands perched on her hips.
"Oh lay off Suki, let 'em go at it for awhile. It's good entertainment," Toph said, throwing herself on to the sand, not bothering with a blanket.
"Oh no. No way, that would totally blow our cover, and then there goes our trip and all our plans and my schedule and-" Sokka rambled until getting cut off by everyone.
"WE GET IT," they all said in unison.
"I just wanted to make everything clear," he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "So what were you going on about anyways?"
"I was just telling Katara about sunscreen. It protects your skin so you don't end up with sunburn. You should all put some on too."
No one had any objection to something that was meant to protect them; no one that is, except Katara. While everyone else was busy spreading it on she was still skeptical about the whole matter.
"I think I'll pass. The sun probably won't even affect me anyway."
"Maybe you should listen to Zuko on this Katara," said her brother, "and anyways it can't hurt."
"That stuffs icky, and I'm not exactly 'pale' skinned," she gestured to her browned arm.
"You're going to regret it later," warned Zuko.
"Whatever."
"Suit yourself then."
With the issue settled they spent the rest of the day enjoying themselves on the beach. It was the best day any of them had spent in a long while. Zuko found he was enjoying himself much more on this trip than he had with Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee. He had always felt on his guard when he was in the Fire Nation. At the moment he felt free to relax and just be a teenager for awhile. They engaged in a few hilarious bouts of 'chicken', with the girls alternating on the boy's shoulders. There never seemed to be a clear winner and no one seemed to care. The girls took the time to lounge around in the sun while Sokka tried a little shore fishing. Somehow or another he got a hook stuck in Zuko during one of his casts. The poor bender let out a yell that made all the girls come running and then had them laughing as they saw the hook sticking out of his thumb. They got it out with only a little cursing and Katara healed the small cut left.
When the sun began setting on the horizon they packed up their things and began to make their way back to the house. On the way back Zuko noticed Katara looking distressed and trying to hold her limbs away from her body, walking without her usual grace.
"Is something the matter Katara?" he asked with a knowing grin.
Preferring not to answer she shot him a dirty look over her shoulder and kept going. When they got to the house they found Aang mediating on the small balcony. He looked up when they arrived and his gaze went immediately to Katara.
"Whoa, what happened to you Katara?!" taking in her very red appearance.
"Its called sunburn Twinkle Toes, it's what you get when you're too stubborn to listen to good advice."
"Huh?"
"She didn't want to put on the sunscreen I offered her," shrugged Zuko, "the sun burned her skin."
"Oh. Why didn't you put any on Katara?" asked the young airbender innocently.
"None of your business!" she snapped, irritated in more ways then one. She turned spun quickly to face Zuko, wincing as the sudden movement stretched her tender skin, "don't even think it," she warned.
But the former prince couldn't resist and with a rare grin that stretched from ear to ear he said the words she had been dreading.
"I told you so."
With a muffled scream she stomped off for what she knew would be a painful healing session. When she was out of ear shot the gaang broke the silence and erupted into laughter. It had been a great day.
A thousand and one apologies for taking so long to update. I'm helping run the summer camp at my school and the kids have me wiped out. But here it is... enjoy. Please review. I also wanted to thank everyone for their support so far, I'm trying not to let you down. : So again...enjoy