Disclaimer: I don't own the Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters.

The Shadow of the Past

Chapter 14 – End Game II

Story by Last Butterfly

Summary: Modern AU, no bending. The first chapter is the background of the two characters, and it is the base of the story. How did Zuko gain his scar? What happened to Katara's and Sokka's mother? Read it to find out! - Zutara, Zuko x Katara

Hearing his old name made Zuko meet his father's gaze. The glint in his eyes, like two cold golden coins, betrayed the silent satisfaction in his heart. The small flame pendant on Katara's anklet symbolized 'Fire', just like their last name and deep down Ozai had been thrilled by that. As if his prodigal son would have tried to please him this way after his sins.

"Zuko, Zuko…" The smile on the man's face finally disappeared and a frown took its place as he bowed his head to the side. "This is almost too good to be true."

The scarred teen swallowed at the change in the other's voice and it took most of his willpower not to flinch away when the pistol was lifted in front of his face. He did not allow his expressions to change, even against the feminine gasp he heard. From the corner of his eye he saw something blue moving, but from a peek he realized how Katara was merely swinging to and fro, with one of her hands holding her neck. The dried blood on her fingers would have been enough in itself already, but seeing her eyes unfocused, looking through the two of them and seemingly into nothing strengthened Zuko's guilt and worry.

Then his attention was back on his father's eyes, and only on them. He had seen those golden orbs when they were fuelled with rage, blind wrath and hatred but this time was different. There was still something he wanted… Something he waited for but hadn't happened yet. But what?

"Too good to be true?" His voice sounded strangely cool though his palms turned sweaty. Show no fear. His mind took control even against the adrenaline which pumped through his veins. Wait for an opening… win more time. "What do you mean?"

Ozai snickered. The boy was supposed to be his son, he should have figured it out by now. "Finally, with you here everything makes sense." Zuko was not moving but his gaze followed him as he shifted his weight from one leg to the other, lowering the gun halfway. "All that has happened, all of it."

The teen let out a great amount of air when the man stepped back, leaning against the room's only wardrobe. Distance was not helping much against firearms but it helped his nerves.

"It occurred to me during my stay in that charming prison-cell," He spat the last words with disgust and forming anger. "It was all so clear. I wondered how I could not see it before… right, honey?" His eyes flared at his bound wife, but Ursa only furrowed her brow under the accusing tone, part of her filling with the same fear she hoped she had forgotten long ago… "It was all Iroh's doing, wasn't it?"

Zuko peeked at his mother, her expressions just as surprised as probably her son's but Ozai went on without caring about it. "It was my brother who turned you against me back then," Ursa started shaking her head, her gaze not leaving her ex's but what she had seen there meant nothing good. His eyes turned into yellow slits, turning cloudy with a strange shine within them. "He wanted you, that I have seen long ago, but I wouldn't have expected him to successfully turn all of you against me!"

The scarred teen stared from one to the other, he could hear his mother muffle something against the tape on her mouth, tears appearing in the corner of her eyes, while her used-to-be husband waved with the pistol still in his hand. "He lost his own family, so he wanted mine!" The glow in Ozai's eyes reached its final state, the smile of a crazed mind curled on his lips when he looked back at his son. "A wife and a son… to replace his."

There's only a moment of silence when he raised the gun again. "Can you see it now, Zuko? Can you see why all has to end… like this? Between the father and the betraying son," He made a gesture, moving the pistol towards himself and then back at his son before his smile widened. "Then in the end among the two brothers. Like it had been written in a book…!"

The scarred teen clenched his jaw, looking up at his father from just below his brow. "You are insane."

"That, I probably am," His father laughed, licking his upper lip before going on. "Do you have any idea how fellow prisoners treat cops who get confined? Because that's what I used to be, remember?! Before you, you little brat, ruined everything! If you didn't exist, your mother would have never thought about siding with IROH!"

His expressions darkened by each passing moment, making Zuko's good eye turn round. So this is what he believed?! Ozai's sneer slowly reduced as he tried to get a hold of himself. But then finally his expressions changed back to neutral, all except his eyes. And that made his son tense when he realized this was the moment the man waited for. "Now, say good-bye."

No…!

His pulse quickened when Ozai's hand lifted but then the pistol turned to the side, straight towards…

"WAIT!" He screamed when the barrel stopped to meet a pair of cerulean eyes. Katara's eyes were round and she did not even try to move while holding her knees against her chest as she had probably been in shock. "Wait, please! I… I've done all you asked… Don't hurt her!"

But the blow did not come as the man turned his head back towards his son. "All I have asked, eh?" The girl on the bed did not even blink when the gun moved away from her. Her blue orbs looked hollow as it reflected the weapon when it turned back towards her boyfriend. "Then, there's only one question left to ask…" A silent tear slowly left her eyes and only when it dropped on her hand did she finally trembled from toe to neck…

Katara's eyes were still round while she kept her knees pressed against her chest but her conscious finally seemed to return from a daze. It was raining outside by then and the raindrops falling against the windows always soothed her. She heard voices talking near her one on a cold voice then another on a fainter, softer one. There's a hoarsely laughter, piercing and cruel before the first one spoke again; and yet she somehow could not listen to their words.

The chain around her anklet and the pendant on her neck both felt uncomfortably cold against her heated skin. As if she had awakened from a horrible dream, her vision slowly focused on her surroundings: the blood on her hand which she pulled away from her own neck, Ursa who was bound to a chair, and… Zuko. He was kneeling in front of the man almost twice as his size who held up a knife with his right hand. She remembered him having a gun, when did he change back to that…?

She suddenly shuddered at a buzz near her. Her eyes searched the bedside table, the blanket and finally… just below a pillow's edge, there was a cell phone, barely covered by it. It took a moment to realize that it was ringing. The buzz belonged to it and it was lit because of that. She had no idea what was it doing there, she had never even seen it before but it did not matter. Her cuffed hands grabbed the cell and she suddenly slipped from the bed before pushing its buttons with a loud yell. "Help! Somebody, please help us…!!!"

Hakoda was rubbing his eyes with a groan for the fifth time after sitting in front of the computer. This damned thing just could not cooperate with him no matter how hard he tried…

The computer at the station had been rather old, but in this matter the blue eyed man found himself too old compared to it. He did not like machines, he preferred people they were easier to handle and did not come with a how-to-use manual which had hundreds of pages.

He swallowed the end of his coffee before slamming down his mug beside the keyboard. He stretched his arms once, then rubbed his hands once – meaning 'business' – and once again tried to look for more info about the man called 'Prince, Ozai'.

The station's computer had been connected with those on other stations and the police itself, so he believed it would be easy to dig up the truth which Sokka and Teo stumbled upon.

He was wrong.

The monitor showed the same signal after the 6th time he tried: 'There is no data about Prince, Ozai.'

Hakoda's lips turned into a narrow line. He usually preferred to make fun of things that bugged him, but at the moment he found nothing to laugh at. The whole thing was simply annoying. Maybe Katara and Sokka were right about him needing a course on how to use a computer. "You stupid, brainless, pointless metal Đ%#$ßÄ…" He murmured darkly before deciding to use his 'ultimate weapon' against the stupid machine.

"BATO!"

Not a second later – as if the other had been expecting to be called soon – Bato appeared in the doorway, with small wrinkles in the corner of his blue eyes as he made a half smile. "Yes boss?"

"A little help here?" To his surprise there were a couple of sighs in the other room, as Bato waved behind then came forward to take his place in front of the computer. He suspiciously narrowed his eyes, questioning the still smiling man. "What was that about?"

The thinner man typed into the computer before answering. "I just won a bet," He grinned up at Hakoda while hitting down the Enter. "That you would call for me to help within twenty minutes."

The corner of his mouth twitched but he said nothing. You bastards…

"Well, that's strange." Bato frowned as the same message came for him too. He frowned looking up at his boss. "Are you sure that's the right name?"

Hakoda lifted the piece of paper from his pocket, offering it to the other. "The article only says the name Ozai," He started while the other read into it. "But the last name must be the one same as Zuko's, I guess."

Bato's eyes stopped on the lines. "You mean your daughter's Zuko?" He looked up at him with an eyebrow up and because of his accusing expressions the other lifted up his hands defensively.

"It's not what it looks like, I'm not doing this because…"

"I thought you said that he was okay."

"And he is; it's his father who I'm concerned about." Hakoda spoke, putting his hands into his trousers' pockets when the other crossed his arms still unsure. "This might be serious Bato, and I tend to protect that kid as much as my own."

After a speculating moment the man made a nod, turning back towards the screen. "All right." He then went on about how Hakoda should have tried the name 'Ozai', using the year of the article's date, then typing in a lot of crazy lines which brought the expression of being completely lost on his face. But when three names appeared on the screen, he leaned forward finally pointing at the one on the middle.

"That must be the guy." Bato was frowning at first but as his boss went on he understood. "Check the date of the birth. The first one was 4 at that time and the third was at least 60."

The chosen name had been Ozai Fire, but then instead of personal data the computer wrote out another message.

'Access denied. Data is classified. Please enter your security code: …'

"What the…?"

"Bato," Hakoda put a hand on his shoulder while not taking his eyes off the screen. "I'll take it from here."

For a moment Bato looked up at him with a frown, but after standing up he made a nod. "Hakoda," He called out after his boss took his place, adding something. "Don't you dare getting involved into a mess without telling us first."

The man made a smile before turning towards the screen.

'Enter security code: …'

As the head of department, Hakoda's security code allowed him access to certain data which others could not reach. He only had to use it on a couple of occasions before, but the more he was looking at the message, the more concerned he got about how he had to make things clear.

After typing in the code and pressing down the enter button, his expressions darkened at the details he had seen.

'Lieutenant Ozai Fire. Part of the Police force since…'

Hakoda's gaze ran through the data, anxiously waiting for the picture to load in the upper corner of the page. He caught sight of certain words, but only passed by them: '…possibly committed unnecessary violence… unstable behavior according to his partners…' It wasn't until the end of the page that the events which the article spoke about had been written down. The picture slowly loaded; line by line. He could only see the top of the man's head and the image slowly formed a forehead.

'Being accused with domestic violence, willful fire-raising… During the trials he had been found guilty and sentenced to twelve years of imprisonment.'

What made him clench his teeth had been the last paragraph. He did not expect this.

'After the 7th year of his imprisonment, he had been discharged due to exceptional behavior. Current residence unknown.'

The date said this happened a month ago. And this piece of information made Hakoda tense. He had a feeling in his gut which could not let him rest. The fact that Zuko's family changed their last name… this whole case being classified, and with this 'Ozai' being free: it had been too much for his intuition to be shrugged away.

Then he finally looked up at the picture he had almost forgotten about, and his eyes went wide. That man…!

'Haven't we met before? You seem… somehow familiar to me.'

'No, I don't think so. I'm just passing through…'

There had been something in his smile which he never understood. But now it was clear. Painfully clear.

'Visiting family, that is all.'

"Fuck!" Hakoda's fist slammed against the table as he stood up, rushing out of the room, and he was barely able to stop before bumping into Bato who headed for the room too. He already opened his mouth to speak but the worried expression on his friend's face made him stop.

"Hakoda, we just received a message from the police…" His voice dangerously reminded him of the one the doctor used from years ago when he was told the news about his wife. That calm type which people thought could calm others down. They might have been right in other cases but life taught him to get ready for the worst if he had ever been spoken to like that. "I'm afraid someone has broken into your house."

He was too late. No… He couldn't help it, he buried his face into his hands. Spirits don't do this to me…

"I'm afraid your daughter is held as hostage…"

Tui, La… don't let it happen again!!

"All I have asked, eh? Then, there's only one question left to ask…"

Ozai's eyes reflected a crazy smile as he turned back towards his son whose face gave away his panic by then. He no longer cared what his father thought about him, he only wanted him to leave Katara alone. "Just don't shoot her," Zuko raised his hands when the pistol turned towards him again. "That's all I want."

"Hn," His father seemed to consider this while tilting his head to the side. Then after a moment of thinking, there was a click and surprisingly, he put the gun away. "Fine son, if that is what you want then think of it as your last wish…" When his hand appeared with his knife before, the scarred teen felt his heart skip a beat. "I won't hurt your precious water witch."

The air left his lungs in a sudden gust of wind. But maybe it was a bit too soon.

"But you'll have to answer honestly to me…" Ozai motioned to him with the blade towards the ground. "Drop to your knees, will you?"

What's with the sudden polite tone? Zuko slowly obeyed, the corner of his eyes catching sight of his forgotten baseball bat behind his father. It was still out of his reach, but if he moved fast enough…

His father stepped closer to him, the knife reflecting the light of a lightning outside. He held the eye-contact with the kneeling teen before a devilish smirk appeared on his face. "Do you love her enough to die for her?"

His good eye rounded slightly. As if the world had been crashing down around him, that sentence rang in his ears along with a thunder. He felt the pressure in his chest tighten further when he glanced back at Katara. Her eyes which were filled with tears looked so distant like never before… and it was his fault that she was here...

When the burning in his right eye formed a single tear, his expressions showed torment and sadness. He always felt that someone like him did not deserve such a wonderful person like her. It was as if fate had finally wanted to prove how he was right. So, it eventually had to end here.

He looked up at the man who scarred him years ago, the one whose blood ran in his veins, with tears in his eyes. He saw the distaste in Ozai's frown, who despised weakness all in his life, but for the first time in years he knew he was doing the right thing. Just like when he stood up against him years ago. "Yes… I do."

His voice was firm but low, and yet its effect had been great. His father's laugh filled the room as he stepped in front of him, his hand reaching into his hair and pulling his unscarred cheek closer to him and the weapon in his hands. "That's how it will be then, son." The man's eyes shone when he let the tip of the knife cut horizontally into his cheek but it merely stung a little as his salty tear mixed with his blood. "I'll just have to make some small arrangements…"

Zuko merely gritted his teeth when his father leaned closer to his face to whisper something only for his ears to hear. "You see, years back I was one of the firsts who found Lu Ten and Li Ann after that accident," His lips curled into a crazed smile, the words he used next sending a shudder to his son's core. "I want my brother to remember them when he finds you here." He slowly moved the knife in front of his face, when the fear he longed to see in the boy's golden gaze finally showed itself and then…

"Help! Somebody, please help us…!!!"

Ozai sneered as he realized his mistake. He roughly shoved his son away, rushing across the bed to grab the girl who was yelling the address into his cell phone! But how could she…?!

-- FLASHBACK --

His hand itched on the phone while staring down at his wife's form in the middle of the double bed. Maybe he should call his brother to let him know how he was back. How She belonged to him, now and always…

The need within him drove him crazy even just standing in the same room where she was. Her scent filled the air, and his vision could only saw her among those ridiculous blue sheets. Red had been the colour he envisioned around her while remembering her, the colour what drove him mad and wanting her only more through the years. How long he had to wait for this!

Then he was above her on that bed, his hands tracing the inner side of her wrists until she stirred. He already taped her mouth luckily, holding those eyes and seeing her ruby lips at the same time would have thrown him over the edge without a doubt… and he had so much to do yet! He had to remain in control even against his own instincts.

Her eyes widened at him and when he felt her tremble below him he found himself groaning, pressing his lower body against hers. "Not yet Ursa, not yet…" He chuckled, pressing his cheek against hers. "You owe me a lot my love, but we'll have time. We'll have all the time in the world later." She looked into his eyes, and hers slowly fill with tears. Probably she had already seen how the man she once loved held a crazed shadow within his gaze…

"But first, you'll have to greet our son."

----

The yank on his hair made Zuko grunt as he was shoved to the side but this was the moment he had been waiting for, and already lost hope would happen. His eyes moved towards the baseball bat but then changed directions as he launched forward, his hand yanking the handle of the gun out of Ozai's belt before he could have gotten out of his reach…

"You little bitch!" Katara felt a hand grab her shoulder so hard that it made her cry out and in the next moment the phone was hit out of her hand, slamming against the wall so hard that it broke. "For the last time have you…!"

Zuko yelled at him, raising the gun with both of his hands, aiming at his father's back. "Leave her alone!" The man turned to look at him with surprised eyes, for the first time realizing how this might have been his last moment on Earth. His muscles flexed, his hold on the tanned skinned girl's shoulder strengthened… then his son pulled the trigger.

There was a metallic click which made the scarred teen flinch, but nothing happened. His good eye turned round when Ozai's mouth formed an animalistic grin. "You forgot to ignite it."

Then the moment was broken. His shaky hands made the move he had only seen in movies before, but his father already pulled Katara in front of him as a shield, making him curse all the gods he could remember of in his head…

"Put that down son," The man spoke, his fingers clenching on the girl's neck. He was foolish enough to put away his knife while charging towards the phone, but as long as the boy had that gun he didn't want to risk moving out of his living shield's cover. "You do not want to embrace her dead, do you?" He asked teasingly, in the meantime nearing the teen, keeping his girlfriend before him. It was not until he heard the wench speak did he start to scowl.

"Zuko, aim at his legs!"

Ozai felt his face twitch as he moved his grip to her chin and jaw. "You will shut up." The pressure he had on her made her let out a whimper, and it was enough for him to look back at his son.

Zuko was holding the gun with a furrowed brow. His eyes narrowed at the man, the scar on his face and the blood on his other cheek made him look intimidating not pathetic as his father planned… "Let go of her, now." He ordered with his right hand's index finger on the trigger once again.

"Don't let him come cl-" Katara's voice was cut off as the man pressed his hand against her mouth, holding strongly enough so that she could not even bite him. But they already passed the edge of the bed, nearing him already too close.

Ozai did not let his smile fade up until this moment, when he stopped a few meters away from the boy. "I have given you the chance, Zuko… don't forget that." The scarred teen's expressions darkened at that, his anger rising like venomous viper towards this man who once dared to call himself his father, then came here to cause his end. The power of his emotions were so strong to shoot him right then that it blanked his mind when he was suddenly asked. "Which one of your arms is closer to the heart?"

What the f-…? Then everything happened incredibly fast.

Katara let out a gasp as she was shoved towards his right hand and the gun.

Zuko's good eye turned round for a moment before he turned the weapon away, catching her with his arm as she crushed against him. Her cuffed hands felt his wild heartbeat on his chest when her big blue eyes met his. Then he looked behind her, his expressions turning firm and ready in a mere second. "Run Katara!" She heard him yell as he whirled with her in his arms, then he pushed him backwards, towards the door. Even though she's not falling thanks to the doorway behind her but her feet remained rooted to her spot when she saw Ozai attack him with the knife…

The scarred teen cried out, whirling away before the other could have hold onto him but she could see fresh blood on the blade in the man's hand. When Zuko's back met the wall, he left a bloodstain with his right shoulder, the strength of the flesh wound hitting the solid surface made him double up with his left hand on his shoulder. But his father moved towards him again when he shouted. "RUN!"

He raised the pistol towards Ozai with both hands this time, pulling the trigger only a second too late. His hand clenched upon his ones, trying to twist it out of his grip.

The man sneered as he lowered his face to his eye-level. "Don't send her away, Zuko…" With that, his other hand stroke him again, the knife disappearing in the boy's left shoulder to the hilt until he screamed, the gun twisting within his hands. "She wouldn't wanna miss the chance to see your last moments!"

Then Ozai pulled on his hands once again, and the loud bang made both of them freeze. Then the eyes of father and son met, the pale golden pair and the unscarred one of the darker amber went wide at the same time before both of their knees buckled, and they slipped towards the ground in unison…

A/N: Wow. This. Took. A LOT of evilness out of me. XD Seriously... I'm not sure whether I will ever be able to write a crime story again. *cough~liiiar~cough*

But w00t! ^_____^ I'm so happy I've finally written this chapter. Just this morning I was complaining to my friend how I was stuck, and I couldn't make Ozai and his reasons clear enough. :D Then it seems I only needed to work on this a bit during the day - and not only After midnight as I tried before - and kiss-kiss-bang-bang, it was done!

Ah, I don't know what to say now. I'm rather curious about what you, my dearest readers, :) have in mind. So R&R... XD who else does Love cliffies? Mwuhaha~

The next chapter's title is gonna be... uhm... something. XD I'll add it here once I've translated it, lol...