Zoe let Katara take her back to their camp, tearing her eyes away from the retreating, pitiful and sopping figure that was Zuko.
She wasn't listening to anything the others were saying. She wasn't sure she could really hear them, everything was muted, distant. Sliding down the wall she wondered vaguely if she would see him again, she couldn't understand why he was here, what had happened back home, if he had really…changed. She knew deep down he had, she could see it in his eyes, in the way he spoke…
"Well, Zoe?" demanded Toph, and Zoe new she was angry because she had used her name.
"Well, what?" she replied tonelessly.
"They won't even consider him to teach Aang firebending!" She stormed, "I think your opinion matters for this."
Zoe took in a deep breath and looked away from her friends. What did she think about this? For the betterment of the world Aang needed a firebending teacher. And to be honest; Zoe didn't want Zuko to leave. Not now that he had finally found his own way again.
What was she saying! How did she know that? She had no idea. She wished Iroh was here. He would know what to say…what to do. She wondered where he was, why Zuko hadn't brought him too.
"I think Toph's right." Zoe said finally her voice still flat.
"How can you say that?" demanded Katara angrily, "I thought you out of all of us would want him here the leas-"
"No, Katara I don't!" Snapped Zoe angrily and standing up in a flurry, "But, Aang needs to learn firebending!" She cried, her eyes blazing, "and I think that Zu-"she stopped, her voice cutting off, "I think that he has changed. And I think we need him."
Katara glared at her, "you don't know what your saying." She snarled.
Zoe's eyes darkened and the air seemed to still around them. "Don't I, Katara?" She whispered furiously to the younger girl who didn't step down, despite the fact that the Avatar and her brother were retreating. "My feelings don't matter in this. The world matters."
Katara felt as if she had been slapped in the face. "Are you trying to say I don't care about the world?" She hissed while taking a step closer to Zoe. "This is for the world! We can't trust Zuko." Zoe flinched at the sound of the name. "If we let him join us, we'd practically be giving the Fire Nation Aang!"
"We'll be doing the Fire Nation a favour by keeping Aang from learning firebending!" Zoe cried, her voice rising with each word.
"Well if you trust him so much, why are you still here!" screeched Katara, the water by the fountain splashing violently with her words.
"I'm not saying I trust him!" Zoe shouted, furious and frustrated by her attitude. "I'm saying we should give him a chance!"
"We gave him a chance!" Katara replied, just as loudly as Zoe, her voice echoing. "And we paid the price! We're not going to do that again!"
Toph growled in frustration and Zoe nearly jumped. She forgot they weren't the only ones there. "Zoe's right Katara!" she snapped, "And she's the one who's been hurt the most by Zuko. Why can't you listen to her?"
"Because she thinks she's right." Said Zoe before Katara could open her mouth. "As usual. Let's just go Toph, leave her to think about how stupid she's being." She snarled nastily and Katara's face reddened, her eyes like ice. Katara stepped forward furiously, taking the cap off her waterskin and shooting a stream of water at Zoe's face, but Zoe thrust her hand out, creating a strong gust of wind that sent the water straight back at Katara like rain drops. Katara was so surprised by the attack that she didn't block them and they hit her, soaking her through.
Aang jumped between them as they both launched themselves into fierce bending stances. "Guys, stop!" he cried, holding his hands out. "Zuko shouldn't be the reason to start fighting in this group!"
Katara and Zoe glared at each other for a few more minutes, then Zoe huffed angrily and looked away. "I'm going for a walk." She said stiffly, leaving them in silence.
What just happened? She couldn't believe she had just started a fight over Zuko. Zuko! The boy whom she really didn't know if she could trust. She knew Katara was just looking out for her and she had just insulted her! But, her pride wouldn't let her turn back round and apologize and truthfully; she still thought she was right.
Well, she hoped she was right in defending him. She hoped she hadn't just ruined a friendship over a boy she both hated and loved.
"Hey Zoe!" Called Teo happily as Zoe walked moodily toward where she knew the others would be that next morning.
"Oh," she said, "Hi Teo."
"Are you OK?" he asked concerned, "you seem really down."
Zoe smiled, "I'm just…" but, her smile faltered. "I just don't know." her words caught in her throat. A sudden constricting feeling erupting in her throat and she swallowed painfully.
Teo reached out to her and took her hand. She smiled at him again, blinking back tears. "Thanks Teo…"
"The others are looking for you and Toph." He told her kindly. "Katara seems worried."
Zoe sighed. Katara…always the compassionate and worried one. "I'd better go see them." Teo nodded and gave her a quick wave before wheeling himself off down the hallway, telling her he was looking for Toph.
There was a massive rumbling sound that echoed through the caverns and Zoe jumped, and then ran toward the noise.
Katara, Sokka and Aang had run there too and they all discovered a dishevelled looking Toph lying amongst the rubble. Katara was kneeling by her feet, her face full of worry.
"I just told you" Toph was saying annoyed, "my feet got burned!"
Katara threw her an agitated look. "I meant how."
Toph sighed and Zoe could tell she had not wanted to let this information out. "I kind of went to see Zuko last night…"
"You what!" cried Aang shocked.
"Zuko!" Repeated Katara in disgust and outrage while Sokka made a 'ngggh' sound as if that summed up the horrors of Toph's crime. Zoe rolled her eyes and knelt by Toph while she explained herself and Katara began healing her feet.
"I just thought he could be helpful to us, and if I talked to him; maybe we could work something out!" She explained.
"So he attacked you!" demanded Sokka, furious.
"Maybe it was an accident." snarled Zoe, glaring at Sokka from the corner of her eye. "How about we let Toph explain before we jump to conclusions?"
"It was kind of an accident." said Toph miserably.
"But, he did firebend at you?" confirmed Aang and Zoe bristled in annoyance. She just told them it was an accident!
Toph sighed, "Yes…"
"See? You trusted Zuko and you got burned! Literally!" Cried Sokka and Zoe stood up angrily.
"Are you happy about this, Zoe?" hissed Katara.
"Of course I'm not Katara!" snapped Zoe, "But, Toph was trying to do something to help us; she knew what was at stake. And anyway, it was an accident." Zoe didn't know why she was still defending him; he had burnt Toph! She could be making the worst mistakes of her life right now.
Katara glared at her; Zoe really wasn't used to receiving Katara's icy looks of death. It was a little intimidating; despite the fact the she was younger. Zoe sighed angrily, "Look, that doesn't matter right now. Let's just get Toph's feet better."
Katara shot her one more glare, and then turned to Toph, forcing a look of compassion onto her face. "It's going to take a while for your feet to get better." She said, streaming her water back into her waterskin. "I wish I could have worked on them sooner."
"Yeah…me too." Muttered Toph and Zoe bent to picker her up.
"Zuko's clearly too dangerous to be left alone." Said Sokka thoughtfully and Zoe struggled not to snap once more. She grit her teeth and focused on carrying Toph.
"I hate to go looking for a fight…but, you're right." Said Aang and Zoe couldn't believe him; se thought he would be a little more open-minded! "After what he did to Toph; I don't think we have a choice."
Zoe sighed in aggravation, but didn't speak. She didn't trust herself not to start yelling again.
"He's crafty." said Sokka ignoring her as they all began to walk toward the fountain. "But, we'll find a way to catch him."
"Maybe just invite him back here!" called Toph. "He's already offered himself up as a prisoner once!"
"Yeah!" cried Sokka, an idea striking him. "Get him to come back and say he'll be our prisoner. Then we'll jump him and really make him our prisoner! He'll never suspect it."
"You are a master of surprise Sokka…" muttered Katara dryly and Zoe had to remember she was angry at her to stop herself from laughing.
Zoe placed Toph in the water and then glanced around warily. She had a strange feeling that they were being watched. But, she could see no one. Nothing. However, the horrible tingling in her stomach would not leave her. Something was up.
She felt the air seem to shift and she looked up to the cliff face as if in slow motion. And there, atop the earthy chasm was Combustion Man. Zoe didn't even get a chance to cry out as he reared back and the beginnings of a fire bomb shot out of the eye on his forehead. But, it was knocked off course by the cause of a very agile and handsome young man.
Zuko.
Before she could think however, the roof above them crashed and half of it exploded, rubble flying everywhere. Everyone ducked then looked up in horror. Sokka grabbed Toph and they all went to run for cover except for Zoe who was scouting the cliff to find Zuko. She didn't have to look long as his voice echoed across the distance.
"Stop!" he cried and Zoe smiled at the sound of his voice, "I don't want you hunting the Avatar anymore!" The others stopped too, looking up at Combustion man and Zuko in shock. "The mission is off! I am ordering you to stop!"
But, Combustion Man pushed him out of the way and blew another blast at the group. Zoe could hear Zuko continue shouting, but she had no idea what he said he said as she dodged the falling rock around her.
When she next looked back up, Combustion Man was facing Zuko menacingly and Zoe knew what would happen before it did.
"Zuko!" She shrieked, "Get out of the way!" Of course, this was a silly thing to say; what else was he going to do? He really didn't need her advice on this particular matter. He had created a shield of fire in front of him just before the force of combustion mans next attack hit him. Despite his protection he was blown off the cliffside and Zoe's heart caught in her throat and she felt like a hand had closed over it, squeezing the life out of her. But then, anger took hold. She jumped from her cover, flying over his next blast and twirling through the air to create her long desired tornado. It was vicious, dark and huge and she sent it straight at the thing above them. Aang had created his own attack which Combustion man dodged, but the enormous cyclone Zoe had created was a little more difficult. He got caught in the spinning twister and for a moment Zoe had a feeling of dark satisfaction, but then he blew himself away from the twister with another explosion, falling on a lower edge of the cliff face.
Katara then attacked, but it too was of no use. Sokka had to drag Zoe under cover as she refused to take herself and another explosion blew over their heads.
"He's going to blast this whole place right off the Cliffside!" cried Toph and Zoe actually heard fear in her voice.
"I can't step out to waterbend at him without getting blown up!" snarled Katara angrily, "And I can't get a good enough angle on him from down here!"
Zoe was struggling to get out of Sokka's grasp, desperate to attack Combustion Man till he finally aimed his explosions at her, but Sokka wouldn't relinquish his hold. Suddenly an idea dawned on his face, "I know how to get an angle on him!" he cried, "Toph?" He then said and she nodded. Suddenly earth enclosed around Zoe feet and she lost her balance when Sokka dropped her arms and fell to the floor…where earth then enclosed around her hands.
"Toph!" She cried hoarsely, tears flowing freely down her face now. "Let me out, please!" she moaned.
Toph simply shook her head. Sokka was eyeing Combustion Man's next blow carefully, then he raised his arm, boomerang in hand. "All right buddy!" he cried, "don't fail me now!" And he threw his boomerang with such talent that only Sokka could master and the fascinating weapon struck its target directly on the eye tattooed into its forehead.
"Yeah! Boomerang!" He exclaimed happily, jumping out to reclaim his weapon. Toph released Zoe's prison and she scrambled to her feet weakly, her limbs shaking. Suddenly, Sokka's tone changed, "Aww…boomerang!" And Zoe looked up just in time to see combustion man stand and begin to take aim. The others began to run again toward shelter, but she didn't move. Sokka went to grab her, but she threw out her arms sending him flying back behind the pillars with a strong gust of wind. But, then, Combustion Man just….exploded.
Ash, rubble, rock and a silver arm went flying and the sound nearly deafened Zoe, leaving a ringing in her ears. But, the…death of Combustion Man wasn't what had her attention. It was the boy clinging vulnerably onto a vine and climbing to safety on the cliff side.
By the time Zuko reached them over their side of the cliff, Sokka was clinging onto the back of her to stop her running at him. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but…thanks Zuko." Said Aang and Zoe felt a swelling of gratitude toward the boy.
"Hey, what about me?" Said Sokka indigently, "I did the boomerang thing!" he let go of his hold on Zoe finally, but she didn't move this time. The urge to charge at him, make sure he was OK had died down slightly and a feeling nervousness had settled over her and her throat was still clenched making it hard for her to swallow.
"Listen." Said Zuko determinedly, "I know I didn't explain myself very well yesterday. I've been through a lot in the past few years, and it's been hard. But, I'm realising that I had to go through all those things to learn the truth. I thought I had lost my honour and that somehow my father could return it to me…but, I know now that no one can give you your honour." Zoe felt a trickle of pride and annoyance at this; wasn't this what she and Iroh had been trying to tell him for ages now? Well, he was always one to find things out the hard way. "It's something you earn for yourself," continued Zuko, "by choosing to do what's right. All I want no is to play my part in ending this war…and I know my destiny is to help you restore balance to the world."
He turned to Toph apologetically and bowed. "I'm sorry for what I did to you." He said sincerely, "It was an accident. Fire can be dangerous and wild; so as a firebender I need to be more careful and control my bending so I don't hurt people unintentionally."
Zoe nearly scoffed, "sounds like your temper too…" she muttered to herself, but no one heard her.
"I think you are supposed to be my firebending teacher." Said Aang slowly and Zoe stared at him in disbelief and surprise. "When I first tried to learn firebending…I burned Katara. And after that, I never wanted to firebend again. But, now I know that you understand how easy it is to hurt the people you love." Zuko's eyes flickered to Zoe's and she felt her heart flip and clench. She looked away. "I'd like you to teach me." Said Aang, bowing.
Zuko looked away from Zoe, surprise and contentedness settling over him at Aang's words and he returned his bow. "Thank you." He said gratefully, "I'm so happy you've accepted me into your group." He sounded it too; Zoe couldn't help the small feeling of happiness inside her warm her too.
But then, "Not so fast." said Aang. "I still have to ask my friends if it's ok with them."
Then Zoe realised; was it OK with her? Of course it was; hadn't she just been fighting for him? Defending him viciously to her friends? But, still there was that uneasy feeling of mistrust and hurt that wouldn't shift…the uncertainty, fear. But, she threw it aside.
"Go ahead and let him join." Toph was saying contentedly and Zoe was worried of what she had planned. "It'll give me plenty of time to get back at him for burning my feet."
"Sokka?" He asked next and Zoe glanced at him nervously.
"Hey," he said simply, "all I want is to defeat the Fire Lord." Zoe felt her heart warm to him; she could always rely on him to make the right decisions when it mattered. "If you think this is the way to do it…then I'm all for it."
Katara was next, Zoe stared at her, trying to disipher what she was thiking. She glared at Zuko, but then her face softened when she looked at Aang. "I'll go along with whatever you think is right." She said finally and Aang smiled at her.
Zoe turned away again, her heart beating loudly in her ears. "Zoe?" Said Aang tentatively and Zoe wondered why he was asking her; he knew her answer. "Are you sure this will be OK with you?"
She looked at Aang, his eyes were caring. "Of course Aang." She said, then her eyes locked with Zuko's and even she could see the relief on his face. Her eyes narrowed. "He'll be good for training if nothing else." she said maliciously, reminding herself of the first time she met Zuko and he took her prisoner, making her train with him.
Zuko got hit with a strange urge to laugh and cry at the same time as the same memory struck him. He swallowed down the emotions and turned to Aang. "I won't let you down! I promise!" he said, a true smile on his face and Zoe was taken aback by how amazing he looked. She looked away angrily; she mustn't think about that. Never again could she think about that.
Aang, Sokka and Toph left them and Zuko hadn't moved. Zoe wasn't looking at him, instead she was glaring at the destroyed fountain to their right. Katara walked up to her and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Come on, Zoe." She said stiffly.
"You go along Katara." hissed Zoe in reply, Katara didn't move. "Katara, I can handle myself, leave us alone for a minute." she said trying hard not to snarl. She hated being angry with Katara.
Katara sighed angrily, but walked off, throwing Zuko one last glare before she rounded the corner.
"I'm glad you're here." Said Zuko finally, his voice husky and it sent a tingle down Zoe's spine.
She finally looked him in the eyes. "I've been here for a while now."
"I'm sorry." He said ashamed, but the apology made Zoe angry.
"Stop apologizing!" She snapped furiously and Zuko couldn't help himself; he grinned and chuckled. It wasn't his fault, with the elation at being accepted into their group plus the picture of Zoe before him, even though she was glaring at him, it made him happy. In fact the cute scowl deepened the emotion; how he missed her. "What are you laughing at?" she demanded outraged, embarrassed and confused.
"I'm sorry!" he said again quickly and Zoe snarled ferociously, but before she could do anything Huan had jumped through her legs, emerging from her hiding place. The little fluffy creature hopped over to Zuko and he smiled at her, bending down to stroke her. Huan chirped and then sank her little teeth deep into Zuko's out stretched fingers. He yelped in pain, jumping up angrily.
Zoe grinned evilly and walked over to Zuko, picking up Huan. He struggled to compose his face. Their gazes locked and Zoe's heart fluttered and clenched painfully. She was sure if this continued she would have a heart attack; it couldn't be good for her. "Huan missed you too." She said and then her eyes widened when she realised what she said. "Well, she was the only one to." She affirmed quickly, looking away from Zuko angrily. The girl Mae invaded Zoe's mind as she thought about how much she missed him. Had he missed her at all? Or had he been too busy? She glared at the destroyed pillar beside them, Zuko still silent. She turned away and began to walk back toward their camp with nothing left to say.
"Zoe!" called Zuko quickly, before she could get away. She paused. "I…missed you." Her stomach flipped at his words, but she knew he was lying. She turned her eyes to him coldly.
"You don't need to patronize me Zuko." She said icily. "I'm a big girl now." Then she walked away, leaving him to stand alone, staring after her retreating back.
Zuko couldn't fathom how she could make her eyes like ice and fire at the same time. How she could look at him in what seemed to be hatred and love both at once.
Zoe, she was a strange girl. And he knew it would take a while to rebuild their lost friendship. He sighed sadly and picked up the photo frame of his Uncle. He wished he listened to his advice more…perhaps he wouldn't have made the stupid mistakes that he had.
Well it was done. He was here now and he was going to set things right.
Suddenly he heard movement at the door of his room. Katara stood their, head down, leaning against the frame. He stood up politely.
"You may have everyone else here buying your transformation." She hissed, "But you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past." Her icy blue eyes met his and he shivered, "so let me tell you something right now. You lay one hand on Zoe, go near her, make any moves that will lead her into more hurt or if you give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang then you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore. I've seen what you did to Zoe even if you have no idea."
Zuko's heart thumped and he clenched his eyes shut painfully. He didn't need to be reminded of what a fool he was.
"She's only just started to get better." Continued Katara menacingly, "Even if she's stupid enough to fool herself into thinking that you might have changed; I'm not. So if you make one step backward or one slip up then I will make sure your destiny ends, right then and there; permanently."
Zuko gulped and the watertribe girl spun on her heals, leaving him alone in the silence; her words seeming to echo in his chamber.
This was definitely going to be harder than he thought.
A/N Thanks so much again for the reviews! And to all of the anonymous reviewers who had left comments! I love them and I really appreciate you taking the time to say something! Thank you very much =) This was a bit of a long chapter...hope it's ok. Please review to let me know! ;)
oooh and Zoe will definitely be paying Zuko back with her new and improved skills very soon :)