dhygn: I love debates. Thank you for joining us. Katara was dumb but she had a lot to deal with. Mai is coming out of her shell thanks to Aang and that will help her with Zuko in the long run.
Penguin King: Hello. Welcome to the Madness. I laughed at the foreign guy observation. Very true. Sadly as much as I enjoy Maang (a little too much according to my boss) I love Kataang with all my heart. I too squealed and would have hunted down the writers.
I digress the whole point of forgiveness is forgiving the unforgivable. Aang and Mai love those two too much. Katara and Zuko will beg and have to do some serious groveling. I respect canon but I just don't see Suki and Sokka lasting, I don't know why. I will explain where Suki is and yes Tokka is alive and well in this fic.
MikeJCaboose: I was fixing it and Fanfiction ate it. Had a total freak out. But its there now.
EdwardTwilightObsession: If Rehab existed we wouldn't be here. So let's be glad it doesn't. I do the same thing. Kataang will happen because then I'd have to move the story to another catagory.
Oshnsoa shnedashn kiunepgli: Welcome! Thank you so much.
Shinobi Bender: Thanks for the scathing review. I needed that. I thought you guys wouldn't want to see Toph chasing him and what not. Anyway this one will meet the criteria, I hope!
doctor anthony: You're wish is my command. Here's Zuko!
coolmac1718: The beatdown begins. I think it's been established that he's an idiot. Why else would he cheat on Mai?
This fight is pulling the same stunt as the Katara and Mai one. All these little bits of information that will give better meaning to the pre fight are dragging me along with it. Sorry!!
"Move over."
Still partially asleep Aang slurred, " hmm…wassamatter?"
"You're making me hot, scoot over a bit." Mai complained.
"It's a little early for this. Don't you think?" He yawned purposely snaking his arms around her.
"Stop." She attempted to push his arms off her but she had forgotten how strong he was. "Seriously, it's like sleeping on top of a fire," Mai wiggled again but he had her locked up tight. 'Ok so he's nice to wake up to, I'll admit that.'
"Now, is this on top of a fire or is it the fire is on top?" he asked rolling on top of her before commencing to tickle her.
"Stop… Aang… Stop…" each word punctuated by a giggle.
"Here, I thought you liked this kind of thing," he snickered.
"Ha, Ha," was her dry response. "Please, it really is hot in here."
Aang was ready to make a smart comment but she was right. It was uncomfortably warm. 'The fire burned out yesterday so that couldn't be it.' A bead of sweat rolled down his face. His eyes widened as he quietly told her, "mm…Mai honey. I don't think its me."
"What?" Mai remained confused. His flat tone drew her eyes past him and to the barely distinguishable figure behind them. "We're not alone," he emphasized.
"No you aren't. Did I interrupt? Please continue with your sickening display." Zuko growled from the corner. He detached himself from the wall to better focus on the surprised couple.
Aang leapt with the natural buoyancy of his element as Mai automatically pulled up the covers. The airbender placed himself in front of the bed effectively blocking Zuko from advancing. "What are you doing here?"
Zuko's eyes flickered to Mai. She had discarded the blanket choosing to stand side by side with Aang. The monk spared her a quick glance and she immediately moved behind him again, scowling at the firebender.
Zuko tried to control his impulses, he tried to be sensible. He had already started out badly by barging into their room. He had every intention of just talking to Mai and then leaving but the images from his dreams and Toph's words had made him see red. He had believed that hearing the speculation from Toph was worse than not knowing.
But seeing the facts with his own two eyes was much worse than anything his imagination could have ever come up with. To see them entwined. To see Aang holding and touching her in ways only Zuko had been allowed was maddening.
The easy way in which they relaxed and cuddled in their sleep had torn what was left of his heart.
He studied her, he didn't miss their substantial lack of clothing and his eyes flew to the faint rose colored mark that glared from her pale skin taunting him. He couldn't stop his gaze from searching Aang for similar marks. It stood proudly on his collarbone defiantly challenging Zuko to do something about it.
Their playful banter which was evidence of their physical contact had driven him to the edge but coupled with Aang's instant defense and her submissive compliance to it hauled Zuko right over it.
His swords immersed in fire flew out from behind him and would have half-ed Aang had he not yanked up a wall of earth to block. "Don't test me Zuko. You won't like the outcome." Aang shouted.
"You gonna go Avatar on me? Is that it? I forgot you airbenders only do defensive." Zuko taunted releasing a quick fire burst that Aang deflected onto a wall. "See. Come on Aang. Fight me with just your airbending. Then we'll see how much of a man you are."
"Zuko, this is madness." Mai shouted over the air swirling around her. "Aang please there's not need for this," she directed attempting to appeal to his peaceful nature.
"I'm sorry, Mai but this has been a long time coming. I tried to let it go but if he thinks he can come to my home and attack me without some sort of consequence. Well he's mistaken, monk or no. I've had it." Aang declared.
Zuko watched the sweet but brief exchange. Whatever self control he had was pulverized and he attacked the nomad. Aang clapped his hands together and shoved at the ground. Zuko's confidant run was stopped and he was spun into a wall.
Aang threw the door open flinging Mai out of it before slamming it shut.
"Aang, Zuko! Damm you two idiots. Let me back in. Wait til I get my hands on you, Aang. I am not some helpless girl. Let me back in," Mai cursed and pounded on the door. The sound of nothing but swords hitting wood could be heard from the inside.
She felt the tremor. Thinking quickly Mai kicked the opposite door open and dove in. She curled into a ball as bits of stone fell from the ceiling all around her. She heard her name but the darkness consumed her before she could respond.
Meanwhile Katara had overtaken Sokka and nearly skidded to her death. Their room looked normal enough the only indicator of a fight was that half of said room was missing. Sokka hooked his foot on the doorway and inched over to his sister who was still clinging to the edge of what had been a hallway.
"Katara, grab my hand." Sokka yelled stretching out as far as possible to pull his dangling sister onto sturdier ground. She clasped his hand just as Toph got there. Toph kicked the ground and a outcropping appeared beneath Katara taking the strain off Sokka.
"Thanks, Sokka. Thanks Toph." Katara panted struggling to her feet. "Aang must have blown off a whole corner." Sokka said admiring the now beautiful but lethal view from the half destroyed room.
"Where's Mai?" Katara asked panicked not seeing the serious girl anywhere. "You don't think she…" Katara looked down into the vast canyon below them shuddering.
"I doubt it. Aang would not put her or anybody else in harm's way. Besides Mai is smart." Sokka replied putting more distance between his sister and the precipice in front of them. "Check the rooms, she might have gotten out of the way before they started fighting."
Toph pointed at the room across from them. "She's in there. I can feel her heartbeat. She's unconscious."
"She must have been hit on the head by something," Sokka answered. "Toph can you bend some of the stones out of the way."
"I'll try but I don't know how much damage was done to the base." With two fingers Toph poked the earth to better feel the extent of the blast. "It's not too bad. The hardest part hit was that room," she said jerking her thumb behind her. She embedded her hands into the boulder that blocked the doors and turned them into pebbles. Turning clockwise she tilted her head then using her heel shoved the smaller stones around to the sides of the room.
"There you go," she ushered them into the room and Katara instantly spotted Mai's hand sticking out of a rock pile. They dug frantically and were surprised not to see a scratch on her well except for the bump on her head. Her knives were stuck in certain spots of the surrounding stones forming a pocket to protect her from the falling chunks of ceiling.
"Mai, Mai. Can you hear me?"
"Sokka?" She panicked but calmed once she realized that it was Sokka was carrying her. Her arm was thrown over his neck and she gripped it as they passed the giant hole. " What happened? Where's Aang? Where's Zuko?" she asked nearly chocking the poor warrior.
"We don't know. We were hoping you could tell us. We heard the blast and by the time we got there. They were both gone and you were unconscious in the other room." Toph explained.
"Zuko showed up and he and Aang began arguing. I've never seen either one of them so angry. I tried to stop them but Zuko attacked him and Aang threw him against a wall."
They reached the fountain and Sokka sat her on the edge. Katara handed her a cup of water. "I tried to reason with him but he said he had enough and if Zuko thought that he could attack him in his home, that he had another thing coming."
"Alright, Aang. Way to stand your ground." Sokka exclaimed jumping up into the air.
"SOKKA!" All three girls shouted at him.
He sheepishly grinned then rubbed his arm when Toph punched him for his usual stupidity. "I was just saying. Anyway so what else happened?" he inquired still rubbing his arm, Toph had hit him pretty hard.
Mai looked at the fighting couple and shook her head. "Aang threw me out of the room. I tried to get back in but I felt the tremor and dived into the other room. Then you guys woke me up. That's it."
Katara got up and paced, three sets of eyes following her movements. "Zuko is in a world of trouble. Aang is pretty powerful and has all four elements at his disposal." Katara said matter of factly.
Mai stood in front of Katara ceasing her pacing. "That's what Zuko said. He mocked Aang. He implied that the only way Aang could beat him would be to use the Avatar state."
"Avatar Slice." Sokka announced then ducked as Mai and Katara whirled on him. "Realistically even if Aang doesn't use the awesome power of the avatar and he should," he ignored the annoyed looks. "Aang could wipe the floor with him. He is one powerful little guy and he is not so little anymore." Sokka said stroking at what no doubt would have been his imaginary beard.
"But Aang is an airbender and he has never used it offensively. He usually deflects rather than attack. That's why he had such a hard time when learning earthbending. Air is not in your face like earth and fire are." Toph informed them.
"Guys, attacking is not gonna be the problem." Sokka shouted, yelling over the sudden wind.
He pointed at the distance and all four looked on in astonishment. Aang was high above but he was barely visible. A column of fire shot up beneath him. Suspended on his air ball he laid down a massive cone that spiraled and dissolved the fire.
"Stopping him will be."