A.N.~ And we're back in the game! Just for those that didn't catch the correction in the info box thing-a-ma-jig, this is AU. Majorly AU. It's so AU, I don't even know if I'll bring in all the regular characters, save for mentions.

That I Should Rise

Chapter One

"Why were they being chased, Gran-gran?" Kanla asked.
"Hush. I will tell you."

Katara waited until the second day before she met up with Zuko. She was more cautious than she normally was, in case either she or Zuko were being watched. As she walked throught the streets, she occasionally would glance back surreptitiously to see if she was being followed. Seeing that she was not being followed, or as far as she could tell, she quit weaving through streets and made her way to her meeting place with Zuko.

She arrived at a tea-shop named the Golden Dragon and walked through the door. There in the back watching the door with his back against the wall was Zuko. The left side of his face was partially hidden in the shadows, hiding the scar that stretched across his left eye. Slowly making her way across, Katara sat herself next to Zuko at the table, facing herself so that she had a clear view of the entryway as well.
"No, I wasn't followed," Katara said. Zuko raised an eyebrow. "I know you were thinking about it."
"I wasn't," Zuko replied.
"You were."
Zuko replied by staring back at the entrance.
"Stop worrying," Katara said. She put her hand on his arm. "This place is safe."
"That's what we said last time. You almost got killed. And to add to that, we almost were put in prison." Katara noticed that Zuko was going in to on of his rants. "How am I supposed to keep you safe, do my job and not get caught at the same time? Last night was way too close - They could have caught us and then you -"
By now, Katara had repeated Zuko's name for the fifth time, each time increasing with volume. "ZUKO." she said sternly. The firebender snapped out of his rant and looked at the waterbender. At that moment, a waitress walked up to their table and asked for their order. Katara quickly told her two orders of tea and the waitress left quickly, obviously not wanting to be near what appeared to be a lovers' quarrel. When Katara turned back to Zuko, his elbows were on the table with his head in his hands. She put her hand on his shoulder. "We'll be fine."
"I think we need to leave," Zuko said.
"What?"
"We need to leave this town. We can come back in a year or so, but right now the streets are crawling with soldiers. Soldiers who are looking for the two fugitives from last night."
Katara looked at him with a look of disbelief.
"If we get caught, who will take up our job."
"Aang and Toph could."
"Aang and Toph are still children," Zuko said.
"We were kids when we started," countered Katara.

"They argue non-stop."
"What the hell are we doing right now?"
Smirking, Zuko looked away from Katara. "Are you sure this place is safe?"
"Yes. I know the owner, she's a friend from years past."

Zuko looked back at Katara. "You didn't want to tell me this piece of information earlier why?"
"There was no need to. Now," Katara's voice dropped in volume significantly, "where are we going to strike next? I heard the the Fire Lord is coming to the city."
Katara could tell that Zuko knew what she was thinking and she wasn't surprised by his reaction. "NO!" he said with alarm. "We are not doing that."
"But we need to do something. Half the population here is starving, we can't leave yet! They need our help, Zuko. It's not like you turn away from those who needs help." Katara looked at her partner with pleading eyes. "They need our help," she repeated quietly.
Zuko looked at Katara, then looked away, then looked back at her. Katara could sense that he was at war with himself, as he often was. She knew he wanted to help people, but he also didn't want her or him caught by the Fire Lord or anyone chasing them.
After several moments, Zuko finally turned to her. "Fine," he said with a resigned tone. "We'll help them. But there is NO way we are going against the Fire Lord."

A.N.~ REVIEW!