'Sup Gangsta's.
This is a little late, I know. But it's long! AND WE HAVE AKTSHUN TEIMEZ YUSS!
Well kinda. Party down anyways lol.
Disclaimer: I own nothing -sniffs-
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
Jin looked up from her plate of food with a frown, the chopsticks freezing around a morsel of food.
"Of course you can." She set the utensils down, resting her hands on the low table. "Shoot."
"Well..." He took a sip of his tea, before setting the cup down. "It's kind of weird... I don't know how to phrase it."
"Do your best then." The girl rested her elbows against the dark wood, chin setting on tented fingers. She watched him with a soft smile on her face, the green light of the candles throwing his face into eerie shadow.
"When..." He bit his lip, and looked up. "When did you... grow up?"
"Grow up?" Jin straightened up a little. "When I started working and pulling my weight at home, I guess. Why?"
"No, that's not the right term." Zuko uttered, raking his fingers through his hair. "I mean.. When did you start to... Take responsibility, I guess."
"Responsibility for what? My mistakes you mean?" She tilted her head to one side.
"No, not mistakes... Situation." He sighed. "It's just... It's just been that... for so long, I was so miserable. I tormented myself, but I blamed external forces. I was so convinced that the universe was out to send me through hell, on purpose. Instead of taking control of the situation, I just got angry and lashed out at everyone. Including you. But when I had the choice, which has probably changed my life, I stopped being passive. And you know, things have turned out well. I am happy. Genuinely happy. Do you know... what I'm meaning?"
"Yes..." Jin's eyes were lowered. "I know what you mean now." She ran her finger over a chip in the tabletop. "I had to make a choice as well. Near the end of last year. But it wasn't the right one."
"I'm sorry." He said tactfully, gathering from her body language that it was something she wasn't even going to think of discussing. "But I've done a lot of stupid things before. A lot. And I just... feel like they're always going to hang over me. I can't redeem myself, not completely."
"I wish I had your sense of honour, Lee." She sighed, taking a small sip of her tea.
"Well... I had a pretty hard lesson." He picked up a morsel of food, examining it closely. Jin's eyes lingered on his scar for a moment. "Even if it was for the wrong ideals... I've still learned a lot."
"You have." Jin smiled. "Even in these past few weeks... You've changed so drastically, and opened up so much. I could have never imagined that there was such a beautiful person underneath that scowl."
"I'm not a beautiful person." Zuko said flatly around a mouthful of food. "I'm nearly unbearable to be around. I have a huge self-image problem. I have possibly the shortest temper in the world."
"Well, I think you are." Jin said honestly. "You're sweet and kind and honest and... Judging by the look you're giving me, I should shut up." She giggled, one hand covering her mouth. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, well..." He muttered, looking down at his food, but Jin distinctly saw him give the barest glimpse of a grin.
"I saw that!" The girl beamed, leaning forward a little. "Don't lie to me."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Zuko forced the most innocent expression he could, taking a sip of his drink.
"Liar." Jin shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with enjoying a compliment from your girlfriend, Lee."
"... I know." He scratched the back of his head. "I just... Look, never mind." He pushed away his empty plate with a sigh. "Are you going to be finished soon?"
"I guess, why?" Jin lowered her chopsticks with a frown. "Lee, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I was just wondering." He rested his chin on his hand, lightly drumming his fingers on the tabletop.
"You're not one for conversation, are you?" She spoke teasingly. Zuko shrugged. "Aw..." Jin frowned. "Are you okay, Lee?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Zuko mumbled distractedly. "I was just thinking..." He sighed, draining the last of his tea. "Did you have any time you had to be home tonight?"
"To be honest, the longer I'm out, the better." Jin admitted. "I don't think my parents would be happy to see me right now. Why? Did you have something planned?"
"I've just been thinking, is all..." Zuko looked down at his empty plate. That's why he's been so oddly quiet. Jin frowned. That was an understatement. Zuko felt almost in a daze, his conscious mind almost lost to the inner workings of his subconscious. He had an idea. A crazy, stupid, ridiculous idea, one that he couldn't believe he was entertaining. Why am I thinking of returning to Lake Laogai? The last time he was there, it ended... Well, he wasn't really sure. He came away with a polarized mindset to when he came in. That much he knew. But the expression she wore when they first met a couple of hours ago, of a cracked facade, red-rimmed eyes and shaking lips, a heartbreaking attempt to maintain a normal exterior, when inside she was so close to collapse... It tugged at something in his chest. Zuko was consumed with an overwhelming desire to fix it. He cared for her, deeply. And it wasn't something he was ashamed of thinking. Even if she was a lowly peasant, she had a spark, something inside her that wasn't normal. She was clever, if uneducated, flirtatious, kind, and incredibly strong-willed. She doesn't deserve what she's got... Zuko ran his chopstick through a little puddle of soya sauce, still thinking. I've caused her a lot of grief... And trouble with her family. He winced at the thought, unseen by the girl. She won't say outright... But they're really angry at her. And it's my fault. They probably hate me now... Not that I give a damn, I couldn't really care less, but it's important to her... And I'm supposed to be on the side of good now... I shouldn't have any qualms about some sort of heroic rescue... Right?
"About what?" She prompted him after a few endless moments of silence. Zuko blinked, as though he had been in his own world and her short worlds had jerked him roughly back to reality.
"Well..." He swallowed, heart hammering, and leaned in a little. "Jin... How would you like to break your brother out of prison?" Jin froze, chopsticks clattering to her plate.
"What..." She breathed, her voice soft and eerie, a strained whisper in her throat.
"I know where they're kept." Zuko kept his voice low. "I've been there. Jin, I don't think he's dead. The Dai Li, they don't kill. There are so many cells, you have no idea. He would be there. I know how to get in and out without being spotted."
"You... You're not..."
"It's under Lake Laogai. It's a fair journey, but it's worth it. It takes earthbending to access, but you can do that easily enough."
"I... I can't..."
"It would be a stealth mission, not one of attack. As long as you keep low and keep quiet, everything would go successfully." Zuko stared her in the eye. He was being honest, she realised with a rush. He actually thought that it would be possible. "I'm serious here. We can go in, find him, and get out. We won't be arrested. I won't let that happen." If they knew who I was... He closed his mind to the thought.
"You... You really mean it." Jin murmured slowly, her hands trembling. "You want to do it..."
"Jin." On an impulse, Zuko took her shaking hands in his, squeezing gently. "It's a scary thought, I know. And I know you're trying to keep your nose clean and stay out of trouble."
"Let's do it." Jin swallowed, straightening her back. Zuko blinked. "Lee... He's in there because of me. My brother mainly, but I had a lot to do with it. If you think we can... I trust you."
"I know we can." Zuko tightened his hold on her hands. "We'll be home by dawn, if we hurry. Sorry to cut this date short, but-"
"Let's go." Jin cut over him, eyes wide. "Before I lose my nerve." His hands tightened against hers, the male teenager biting his lower lip.
"All right."
"Let me out of here!" Katara kicked at the door angrily, before pounding her fists on it. The Dai Li agent slid the heavy bolt home, ignoring the screaming girl. "I'm warning you! You don't want to do this!" Katara heard the pair of Dai Li walk primly down the corridor, little more than a cave, their footsteps echoing against the rock. "Let me go!" She gave a low moan of exasperation, and sank to her knees, eyes stinging. "You can't do this..." She breathed, trying so hard to hold her composure.
"Actually, they can." The girl jumped. Curiously, Katara turned, realising with a jump that someone was in the cell with her. "Yeah... I'm here."
"Who are you?" She demanded, trying to see in the pitch black. "Wh-why are you here?"
"Same reason as everyone." The voice sounded. "I annoyed the Dai Li. Actually, I killed one. It was an accident, but still, murder is murder." He spoke with heavy regret.
"How... Long have you been here?" Something in Katara's stomach sank a little further.
"In this cell here? Just a couple of days. I was held under Lake Laogai for a while, but then all of a sudden, we're upped and moved to a new place. There's normally two or even three to a room. It's got way less cells... they are a bit bigger though, which is something..."
"Under Lake Laogai? How long were you under Lake Laogai?" Katara swallowed, thinking of the brainwashed Jet. Obviously they don't try to hypnotise them all...
"Oh! Hmmm... If my calculations are correct, four years, give or take a month or so." Katara's eyes widened in the dark, gasping. "Yeah, it's been a while... You sound like new blood though. What did you do?"
"Nothing!" Katara stood up again. "It's not- Do you know what the Dai Li are doing? Right now?"
"Something illegal?" He chuckled a little in the dark. "Endangering the life of the residents of Ba Sing Se, invading personal privacy and punishing innocent citizens?"
"A coup." She heard him gasp softly. "And they're using Princess Azula from the Fire Nation to do it!" She leaned against the door, trying hard to keep her voice steady. "I'm here because of Aang."
"Aang?" The male voice sounded curious. "Who's that? Some sort of Resistance leader?"
"You could say that." She wiped hurriedly at her eyes. "He's the Avatar."
"Woa, what?" Katara heard him sit up. "I thought he was gone."
"He's not." The young bender shook her head. "He's alive. But when he gets back from the Eastern Air Temple, he's going to fall right into this trap. And then the Fire Nation will have him once and for all..." She sniffed. "I don't know what to do."
"Wait." He spoke slowly. "You mean to say... The Fire Lord's daughter has infiltrated the city? And she has seized control of the Dai Li?"
"Yes." Katara felt as though she had swallowed sand. The young man in the dark let out a low whistle. "It's... Horrible."
"And so Aang... The Avatar, why doesn't he just take this Princess Azula out? There's no way a girl could defeat the master of all four elements."
"He's not." She murmured. "Aang's only twelve. He's perfect at Airbending and he's good at Water and Earth, but he's not a fully realised Avatar. He's younger than Azula by two years."
"Oh..." He swallowed. "So... You're telling me that Ba Sing Se is pretty much in the hands of the Fire Lord? The last stronghold of the only opposition of the Fire Nation?"
"Yes." Katara breathed, head in her hands. "It's hopeless. Everything... It's just hopeless."
"Well... Nothing's ever completely hopeless." The young man tried to sound encouraging. "I've seen people lose hope. They descend into madness here. If they're lucky, they die reasonably quickly; else they stop eating and starve to death." Katara wrinkled her nose. "It's the only reason I'm somewhat sane. I know I'm most probably going to die here. I probably won't ever see my family again, but I'm still going to hope that something might happen. If I give up, then the Dai Li have won. And I'm sure as hell not going to let them beat me. If you give up hope and think that the Avatar is going to be defeated, then Princess Azula's won already."
"But things just seem to get worse and worse." Katara slid down to the floor, legs spread out before her. "We've gotten out of sticky situations, but this just seems utterly inescapable. Azula's got a watertight plan, I've heard it."
"No plan is ever watertight." She was contradicted. "What if some sort of miracle happens? What if you're broken out? What if this Princess Azula is killed in the coup? There's a lot of what-if's."
"We don't get that sort of luck." She muttered drily. "Not us." Katara wondered if her brother still held his 'upbeat attitude'.
"I agree, it sounds stupid." He sighed. "But I've been waiting on the same thing. There's always some sort of light at the end of the tunnel, even if it's just a pinhole."
"I guess..." Katara sighed. "I just don't have much hope anymore..."
"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way." The young man yawned. "Do you think you might be able to keep it down for a few hours though? I need sleep badly."
"... Okay." Katara nodded, realising with a start that it must have been very late. She probably woke him up with her yelling. Oops...
"Thanks." She heard him stretch out on the floor. "Oh, I never caught your name. What is it they call you?"
"I'm Katara." She murmured. "From the Southern Water Tribe."
"Neat." He smiled weakly in the dark. "Nice to meet you Katara. My name's Meng."
Jin was shivering, but it was not from the cold.
It was nerves that drove the tremors. Anticipation, excitement, and fear. The idea that she would actually be able to see her brother again, to rescue him from an imprisonment she partly instigated, was making her head spin. The walk was silent, Jin lost in her own thoughts and Zuko not in the mood to drum up conversation. He was scolding himself in his head, an impending sense of regret approaching. Was it really worth it, to go down here, to risk everything in the hope that they might find someone who had probably gone insane from their imprisonment?
Fortunately, every time this thought flashed across Zuko's mind, he needed only to look over at the dark-haired girl that mirrored his step, features hardened in determination, with an absolutely beautiful expression of hope in her eyes that he hadn't seen before. He remembered clearly the state she was in earlier in the evening, how she tried so hard to hide her tears, in a futile attempt to conceal the slowly healing wound that was repeatedly picked open for the past four years. It wasn't fair. He hated to see her miserable and instinctively, he was doing everything he could to make her happy. True, it was an impulse to go to Lake Laogai, something that he didn't think through properly before announcing to the girl. If he had, he would have decided against it, refused to get her hopes up, and would have kept quiet. But to see her so happy, brimming with a borderline naive hope that he hadn't experienced himself in an unimaginable time...
It was completely worth it.
"We're almost there." His slightly scratchy voice broke through the silver-brushed night, Jin blinking as she was pulled out of her torpor. "You all right?"
"Yes." She reached out in the silvery light, found Zuko's hand, and clenched it tight, her palms sweating. "A-A little nervous... What will happen if we're caught?"
"We won't be." He spoke confidently, walking slightly ahead of her as they wove their way between the masses of mountains.
"No, I mean it." Jin urged. "If they know who you are... They'll kill you."
"I know." Zuko spoke tightly, eyes fixed on the landscape before him. "But they're not going to catch us, Jin. I swear. Trust me."
"I trust you." Jin assured the teenager. "I do. But... I'm just a bit nervous."
"We can back out." He paused in his walk, turning back to her.
"No." She shook her head resolutely. "We came this far. We have to try. And... The thought of him being down there... If I turned back now, I'd never forgive myself."
"I understand." He said began to walk again, Jin's fingers still enlaced with his. "Sometimes, the stupidest, most rash decisions end up being the most right."
"But only sometimes." She reminded him gently.
"Well, it's about time I got some good luck." Zuko murmured, a note of bitterness in his voice. "We're there." He spoke again after a few moments of silence, the narrow gorge they tread through widening into the open lakeside, a naked bank, Jin's breath catching in her throat.
"It's so beautiful..." She mumbled, her fingers slipping from his. The moon, which had passed its' apex in the sky, indicating it had passed midnight some time ago, glimmered beautifully on the lake, which stretched as far as she could see to her right, the shoreline in front of her little more than a far off jagged line on the midnight horizon. The lake looked as though it was composed of mercury, not water. How could something so still, so beautiful, harbour such a dark and horrific secret?
"I guess." He mumbled, walking past her, to the shore's edge. "It's here."
"The entrance?" Jin approached him, one hand resting on his shoulder. Zuko nodded. "Where? I can't see it."
"Because it's underground." He looked over at her. "At the bottom of the lake." Jin's eyes widened. "Do you think you'll be able to do it?"
"I-I can try..." She murmured dubiously, chewing on a fingernail. "But Zuko... You know I'm not that good... I've never had any kind of training. What I know I either found out by messing around or copied off Meng..." She swallowed. "I can do it." The passing of his name through her lips hardened her resolve.
"I know you can." He forced a smile, standing back. Jin took in a deep breath, folding the sleeves of her dress back to her elbows. She'd never attempted to bend anything so large before, and was a little embarrassed that Zuko would see what a complete amateur she was. She kicked off her shoes, to get a better feel of the ground, and took another step forward, the gentle lapping of the water dampening the hem of her robes and chilling her toes. Biting on the tip of her tongue, Jin stretched out her arms, willing with all her heart for the ground to rise. For a moment, nothing happened. But then, she felt the earth grind and shudder beneath her, and eventually, the rock broke the surface. With a small smile, she opened her eyes, feeling a little weak, but what she saw made her cheeks flush with embarrassment. It was broken, uneven, just a pile of rocks floating in the water.
"Oh no." She held her hands over her mouth. "I broke it... Zuko, I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to..."
"No, you didn't." He frowned, stepping forward. "It would have been pre-cut, and simple to raise. You didn't break it..." Golden eyes widened. "It's gone."
"What?" She looked over at him. "What do you mean, 'gone'? How can it be gone? The prison where they brainwash and hold everyone? How can it just disappear?"
"It was here." Zuko turned back, pointing. "I remember that hill. This is where the entry point is. But it's not here." He bit his lip. "They've moved it."
"What?"
"That's what they've done." He started to pace back and forth, eyes on the ground. "They've moved everything. Why would they shift everything though? They would have done it in just the space of a couple of days." He raised his head, snapping his fingers. "Aang. Of course. Of course the Avatar is going to shake things up. I know him, he wouldn't be letting something like that happen. He would have caused a stir, and the Dai Li got scared and moved everything in case the King found out." Jin shook her head, trying to take everything in.
"But what if the Earth King actually knows?" She suggested. "About the brain washing..."
"No." Zuko turned to her. "If he knew, it wouldn't be this secret. The Dai Li wouldn't be basing their operation here. The head of the Dai Li, Long Feng, he's behind this." He thought. "Jin... Do you know where they could be moved? Any sort of underground area near or in the city? Like an old mine or..."
"The Catacombs." She frowned a little. "I've heard of them. The Crystal Catacombs of Old Ba Sing Se." She looked him in the eye. "I've been shown an entrance to them by my older cousin Yongrui, but I never went in. I was too scared... But apparently it's a real labyrinth of tunnels and chambers. They could hide anything there..."
"All right." He nodded. "We'll have to move quickly in order to be in and out by sunrise. I don't really want to have to be doing this by daylight, it's too dangerous." He turned back, beginning to walk away from the lake shore.
"But... Zuko, wait." She stepped into her borrowed shoes, jogging lightly until she caught up with the young Prince. "This isn't such a good idea..."
"You're not still worried about getting caught, are you?" He sighed, raising his eyes heavenward for a moment.
"No, it's not that..." She bit her lip. "Zuko, something is going down. Something big. Why would the Dai Li move their base of operations like this? We need to tell people... We need to do something."
"Jin, we can't do anything." He sighed. "If we tell people, the Dai Li will just end up arresting us. Two people can't do anything, not in a city this big. You have to focus on keeping your family and friends safe and out of trouble."
"I-I..." She shook her head. "But... What if something is seriously wrong? What if it's not just the prison, and they're doing something worse?"
"Jin, what is the most important thing to you?" He turned to her seriously, his pale skin positively shining in the moonlight.
"My family, of course." She frowned, not having to think for even a second.
"Exactly." He sounded a little sad. With a pang, Jin realised he was probably thinking of the shattered remnants of his own family. "You have to do your utmost to keep them safe. Stirring up trouble is the wrong way to do it. Jin, no matter what happens, even if the Earth Kingdom falls and the Fire Nation wins the war, life for you isn't going to be much more different. Such shifts in power only have a real effect on the top. My father wouldn't raze a city as big as Ba Sing Se, it's too economically valuable. Keeping out of sight, out of mind, remaining another faceless figure in the crowd, it's the only way to survive."
"Is that why you're here?" She took his hand gently. "I mean, I know about the whole new life thing, but really, that's why you're here. Because it's always going to be safe."
"I also have nowhere else to go, but that a really important factor, yes." Zuko pressed his fingertips against her palm. "I don't know what Uncle wants. There's things he's said, some of them very old, when I was a child, which makes me sure he's got some sort of ulterior motive. But I just want to make sure I can get through everything without getting arrested and executed."
"But Zuko, you can't hide from who you are." She tightened her hold on his hand. "You hide from your father forever."
"I know." He swallowed. "Azula too. They won't stop looking for me. The best I can hope for is that someday I'll find a place so isolated and ostracized that they'll finally give up on their hunt."
"You can also hope that the Avatar defeats him by the summer." She reminded him gently. Zuko snorted. "What?"
"Four children cannot beat my father and sister." He said flatly. "Even if one of them is the Avatar. It's stupid to have faith in them."
"Well..." She drew in a breath. "Maybe they just need... Help." He looked over at her, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"What kind of help?" He asked, only vaguely aware of what Jin was alluding to.
"Well... Your help." She suggested after a moments' pause, clinging tightly to his hand. Zuko froze in his walk, Jin wincing as her hand was yanked a little, brain failing to immediately register that the teen had stopped. "What?"
"You've got to be joking." He yanked his hand free, crossing his arms. "Me. Join the Avatar. It's a damn joke."
"I'm not." She said earnestly. "Zuko... You-"
"They hate me." He cut over her. "All of them. Aang... He said in another life, we may have been friends. That's the closest to co-operation we've ever been." He bit his lip. "He saved my life in the North Pole, but that was only repaying a debt after I rescued him from Zhao. They wouldn't want anything to do with me, Jin. In their eyes, I'll always be evil."
"You spoke about joining the Avatar, Zuko."
"Yeah, and I also said there was no way." He sighed. "Please, Jin. Don't push it."
"What if they liked you?" She suggested. "What if realised that you were on their side, you have the same goal, and that you could help? What if they asked you to join them? What would you do then?"
"I-I don't know..." He frowned. "Why? Why does it matter? Why do you want to know?"
"Because, Zuko." She was becoming exasperated. "Why do you sell yourself short? Don't you realise how important you are?"
"I'm not important, Jin."
"Yes, you are." She contradicted him. "You're the Fire Lords' son, Zuko."
"And I wish I wasn't." He muttered. "I don't think of him as a father. I haven't in a long time. And his feelings for me... are pretty clear."
"You don't get my..." Jin sighed in exasperation. "All right. Forget I said anything. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."
"It's all right." He touched her shoulder, giving it a gentle, affectionate squeeze. "Jin... I know you're trying to understand, and I do appreciate it. But... It's just too complicated, too messed up. I don't want to play hero. I want to stay here, with you and Uncle and be safe." She looked at him, and nodded sadly, before settling into a faster pace, conscious of the time. Zuko followed suit, silently.
But all the same, no matter how hard he tried to push Jin's idea to the back of his head, out of his thoughts, his mind dared to tease him with the vague possibility of redemption.
"Sokka... Sokka. Are you awake?"
"Huh? Oh... Oh yeah." He'd been dozing against Appa, the beast's soft fur making an excellent makeshift pillow. The teenager rubbed his eyes tiredly, letting out a magnificent yawn before straightening, seeing Aang sitting straight-backed, hands gripping the reins. "Did you get any sleep?" The young nomad only gave his friend a glance, his strained expression speaking words enough. "Oh."
"I tried." His voice was scratchy. "But... I can't stop thinking about Katara. What if Azula's hurt her?" Aang's voice cracked, and he bowed his head.
"If she has, then she better get ready for some severe retribution." Sokka promised the young boy. "We're going to get her for this. Trap or not, she's not ready for us. We've got the upper hand here."
"I know, I know..." Aang didn't look convinced, however. "But... horrible scenarios are floating around in my head anyway. My brain... Just likes torturing me right now."
"I really think you need rest." Sokka said comfortingly, resting a hand on his shoulder. "We're making really good time, Aang. Let's just stop until sunrise, it's only a few hours away."
"No." Aang pulled his shoulder free, gripping the reins even more tightly. "I can't. We have to get there as soon as possible Sokka."
"Then I can take the reins." He didn't the tightness of Aang's jaw, or the dark shadows under his eyes.
"No." Aang pulled himself away, eyes fixated on the land before him. "I'll be fine." Sokka's brow furrowed in deep concern. "Sokka, I mean it. Go back to sleep or something." He refused to look at the elder boy, his own insides twisted with guilt and shame. Why did we split up? Why did I leave her? Aang blinked rapidly. If something has happened... I'll never forgive myself...
I'm not going to hold back against Azula. He hardened himself with determination. It's about time I started being more assertive. Stronger.
"All right." Sokka slowly closed his eyes, feeling more than a little ill himself. Suki. He was more worried about her than Katara. It wasn't that he cared more – Katara won, hands down. But while Katara was a powerful bender who could hold her own against Azula, Suki, although she was a good fighter, would never be close to a match for the Fire Nation Princess. And Azula needed Katara. She needed her to get to Aang. She didn't need Suki. Whether the Kyoshi warrior lived or died, wouldn't have remotely been her concern. I can't lose anyone else... Not Katara or Suki.
Both of the male were steeled in their resolve. What Azula had done was too much. She had gone too far. Neither was willing to let her get away with this. And they wouldn't.
I'm going to make her pay. Aang swallowed. She's gotten away with this for too long. I'm going to make her pay for what she's-
What am I saying? He gasped aloud, the sound causing Sokka to start. The teenager looked at Aang with concern, the nomad looking close to tears.
"A-Aang?" He ventured cautiously, leaning towards him, one hand on an orange-clothed shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"I... I hate her Sokka." Aang spoke softly, his voice shaking. "I want to hurt her for this. I want to make her suffer." Sokka frowned in confusion, but as he realised the implications of Aang's thoughts, blue eyes widened.
"Aang... I do too." He admitted quietly. "It's... It's okay."
"No, it's not." Aang muttered savagely. "They didn't get it Sokka. The monks didn't understand. That's the only explanation I can think of! How am I supposed to love and respect everyone? How can I to her?"
"Aang, I don't-"
"I've never felt like this before." Aang's hands were trembling violently, Sokka noticed with a lurch of his stomach. "Not to Zhao. Not to Zuko, n-not anyone."
"Zuko was just an angry kid. Zhao was an arrogant maniac. Azula... She's evil Aang. There's not one good bone in her body." Sokka tried to pacify the boy. "I mean, she shot her own uncle with lightning! Who does that, seriously?"
"I'm glad my Avatar state is locked." Aang said morosely. "If it wasn't... I'd be there right now. And I'd be uncontrollable. I'd... Kill her..."
"Don't say that." The Water Tribe boy said quickly, mouth dry. "Don't Aang. You wouldn't really." It was frightening, to see the sweet, kind-hearted child with the sunny disposition so incredibly disturbed.
"I shouldn't be thinking like this." He breathed, his voice almost lost in the cold night air. "I-I can't believe that I am..."
"You need to sleep."
"No." Aang shook his head. "Sokka... I need you to do something. I need you to promise me something."
"I-I guess..." He swallowed, staring at Aang's face in the sinking moonlight. "What is it? I want to know what it is before I make any promises."
"If I do lose control... Stop me."
"What?" Sokka frowned. "What do you mean..."
"I need you to tell me that you'll stop me from doing something I regret." Aang turned to look directly at Sokka, his eyes oddly dark in his shining face. "It's not about me being the Avatar this time Sokka. It's..." He looked up at the night sky, trying to find words that sufficed to express his turbulent emotions. "I'm the last of my people. All their teachings, their beliefs and philosophy... I'm what's left."
"Aang..."
"The value of life... It was the most important thing we were ever taught." Aang blinked rapidly. "Whenever I fight, I always show a little restraint. I'm terrified of slipping into the Avatar State. For that very reason." He lowered his head. "Because if I can only carry on one idea from my people, I want it to be that. Life is sacred Sokka. Above all else... Even Azula." He let out a long shuddering breath, trying so hard to quell his shaking. "I don't think I can trust myself... But... I can trust you Sokka. You're the most loyal person I've ever met."
"... Of course Aang." Sokka tightened his hand on the young airbenders' shoulder. "I'll always be here if you need me. We're a family."
Aang smiled.
"What's wrong?"
Jin was shaking, and Zuko could see it. The pair walked down the narrow streets of Ba Sing Se's lower ring, Zuko keeping a close ear and eye out for the Dai Li, one hand resting on the hilt of his Dao swords.
"I... Just can't stop thinking." The girl arched her neck, taking in the magnificent wall, which was said to be so high, birds sometimes couldn't fly over it. "We spent so much time, and money, building and maintaining this outer wall. Ba Sing Se has always prided itself on being impenetrable. That's how it earned it's damn name." She sighed, and looked down.
"But?" Zuko prompted her after a moment of apparent silence. She ran her fingers through her bangs, pushing the unruly hair back from her face.
"The inside is rotten." She said bluntly. "It's this decayed mess. This city clings to its rules and traditions. It's refusing to adapt and change to what's going on around it. The War, the refugees... It can't cope. The social structure looks solid... But it's not. We're controlled by fear. The city walks on a razor-thin line between order and chaos. And... That's what's going to the thing that destroys us. If the Fire Nation invade... It's going to be so easy for them to win, isn't it?"
"I told you, the only real change will be at the top. The Fire Nation can be brutal, but it's not in their code of honour. They're not actually meant to be the monsters that they have become. They might commit some atrocities in the smaller cities, away from the eyes of Generals and Colonels, where they can get away with it, but Ba Sing Se is too big, and too valuable. They'd be idiots to do it."
"It's not just the Fire Nation." Jin argued "It could be anything... It could be the citizens themselves, rising up against the Dai Li."
"What, like a rebellion?" Zuko's eyes widened. "That would certainly throw things into chaos..."
"Jiro and his friends talk about it." She swallowed. "Turn left up here." Zuko nodded. "They say it's the only way. To restore justice and balance. But it's a fantasy, and they know it. The human cost of something like that would be stupidly high."
"Rebellion seems like the answer." Zuko murmured. "But it never is. I was told about the story of Fire Lord Yaozu in a history lesson by my tutor... It didn't end well."
"We have a little while to go." She examined his face in the moonlight. "Tell me."
"All right." He drew in a short breath. "Fire Lord Yaozu reigned a thousand years ago. He was the tenth Fire Lord after the reign of the Grand Sages."
"Okay." Jin nodded, lost a little, but wasn't too worried about it.
"All right, so Fire Lord Yaozu was a cruel and harsh leader. He didn't wage war with the other Nations, but he was a domestic tyrant. He imposed heavy taxes on his people, demanding he deserved it, and then built massive castles for himself. He actually designed and built the Palace City, costing thousands of tons of gold. The people of the Fire Nation were totally impoverished."
"So they rose up against him?" Jin inquired curiously. Zuko shook his head.
"Not at first. It was his eldest son, Prince Zixin, who first spoke out, condemning what his father was doing, saying he was abusing his power and was a traitor to the people of the Fire Nation."
"I bet he didn't like that." Jin noted. Makes what Zuko did sound like absolutely nothing...
"You're right he didn't. He imprisoned Zixin and announced that he would be executed publicly, by way of Lingchi, death of a thousand cuts." Jin's eyes widened. "Fortunately, some rebels helped Zixin escape, and for ten years, he roamed the Fire Nation in hiding, gathering support and turning the people against Yaozu. Villages that were said to have harboured him were razed, and the villagers massacred. Thousands and thousands of people were killed, but Zixin survived. And exactly eleven years after his imprisonment, he managed to raise an army, and led a march against Fire Lord Yaozu and the Palace City." Zuko sighed. "He declared himself Fire Lord by right of conquest, brandishing his fathers' head at the gates of his palace. The Fire Nation rejoiced. They thought it was a time of prosperity. Fire Lord Zixin promised to be wise and just, to reduce the taxation and loosen the laws. He promised to release political prisoners and even spoke of setting up some sort of elected council to help him govern."
"But?"
"In reality, he was worse than his father." Zuko spoke heavily. "He was just as cruel, just as bloody. And instead of rewarding those who aided him, he had them executed for sedition. He imposed stricter laws and control, establishing a police force even more pervasive than today's Dai Li."
"So... He lied?" She frowned. "What did the citizens do? Did they rise against him, or what?"
"They couldn't." He said regretfully. "The slightest whisper of rebellion, and a man would watch his family slaughtered before his eyes and he was subjected to Lingchi. The amount of Fire Nation citizens that escaped to the Earth Kingdom was enormous... One of them is probably one of your distant ancestors."
"So then... What happened? How did he die?" She couldn't believe the story she had just been told, the acute level of violence and sadism. It made her more than a little sick.
"He died very old, very rich, and very, very powerful." Zuko murmured. "His grandson Wuzhou took the throne. He relaxed most of the laws, lowered taxes, and abolished the police force, but ever since, the Fire Lord has instilled that terror in the hearts of their citizens. They have always had that control over the people. For most, it's not loyalty and love for their country that drives them, it's fear."
"So, what's the moral of the story then?" She turned to him, her barely-educated mind struggling to analyze the idea of Zuko's anecdote.
"Rebellion brings change, Jin." Zuko murmured. "But it's not always for the best. Most of the time, it only brings in someone worse. Human nature... That's what's it stopping Ba Sing Se from becoming a Utopia. Oh, and my ancestors have always been sadistic bastards." He added bitterly, turning his head away.
"Well... If it's any consolation, you're the nicest boy from the Fire Nation I've ever met." She said warmly, looping an arm about his waist, nuzzling his shoulder lightly as they walked. He looked down in alarm, his face flushing bright red as they walked.
"I'm the only boy you've ever met from the Fire Nation, Jin." He contradicted her. But all the same, he couldn't help but notice the warm feeling rising in his chest.
"I'm sure you're still a cut above the rest." She smiled. "You're special."
"Uh, thanks." He frowned a little. "I think..."
"You're welcome." She lifted her head as they walked into the small courtyard, centred with a stone well. "This is the place."
"It is?" Zuko stared cautiously at the surrounding windows. They were mostly shops and business, he realised with a little surge of relief. Jin nodded.
"This well here leads straight to an underground lake. A river running into it leads us straight to the Crystal Catacombs." Jin pushed her sleeves up again, taking a quick look about the courtyard.
"We won't get wet, will we..." Zuko watched as the tunnel, big enough for two people to comfortably walk through began to burrow into the ground. He hated water as a rule, and freezing underground stream water was a really unattractive situation. Jin stopped, and turned around, an eyebrow raised.
"Glad to know you have faith in me." She took his arm. "Get in and bring up some light. I'll have to seal it behind us. A Dai Li is bound to come past and see it." Zuko nodded his palm crackling with fire.
"Talk about the belly of the beast..." He felt the earth tremble as Jin sealed off the entrance, protecting the little flame dancing in his hand. "You better not get us lost down here."
"I won't." She reassured him. "I know how deep it goes down, and the direction to go in. You're not getting cold feet, I hope."
"Of course not." Zuko blinked, shaking off pangs of tiredness. Idly, he wondered how late it was.
"Good." She gripped his wrist, the one that wasn't controlling fire, and started to walk, her sweaty palm dampening his skin. "Zuko... When we get there, we won't know where to go."
"We'll be fine." He ignored her fear, despite the fact it had a similar gnawing face on his insides. "The layout can't be too different. Just concentrate on making a tunnel as fast and as quiet as you can, all right?"
"Uh-huh." She tried to ignore the rising panic in her heart. She'd never been submerged underground like this. Not this deep. And to know that she was facing an army of the Dai Li on the other side...
"Jin." Zuko's voice made her pause, and turn. In the light of the flame, her eyes looked like black pits in her face, the flickering shadow giving him the chilling impression of a skeleton.
"Yes?" She swallowed, her hand in Zuko's shaking. With a faint blush, she pulled it free, eyes lowered. "What is it."
"... Come here." Jin let out a little cry as the light was extinguished, her breath seizing in her throat as a pair of arms wound about her shoulders. Zuko felt more than a little nervous as he embraced her, an action he had not instigated in a long, long time. Jin buried her head in the crook of his neck, a balloon of intense panic threatening to burst in her throat. They were walking blind. They had no idea of where they were going to go, who would be there, what they were going to do... Under Lake Laogai, Zuko had a real advantage – he knew where everything was. Here, they were placing their very lives in the hands of Luck. "Don't worry, Jin."
"Why are you doing this?" She asked, her voice muffled by Zuko's clothing. "What do you have to gain from helping me? Why are you risking your life for someone you've never met before?"
"Jin..." With a sigh, Zuko took her shoulders, pulling her away so he talk to her, unable to see her in the pitch black. "I'm doing this because I care about you. Because your brother has been unjustly imprisoned for four long years and if I let that go on then I would be a damn rotten person. Because it's about time I started doing the right thing, and I guess this is a good place to start."
"... Really?" She was smiling, he could tell.
"Yes, really." It was so strange. Why was strong morality something that was so new to her? She had a good family, mainly wholesome, and her friends were apparently all right. What Zuko didn't realise was that she'd suffered the same patronization and disrespect from males for nearly two years, and as a result, had felt alienated and misinterpreted for a long time. The concept of someone else sharing similar ideals to her and actually respecting her as a person was foreign, and something she was not yet used to. But then... She said she's killed. And apparently my sense of honour is somehow stronger than hers. I can see why she would be confused... She's had to work for everything she's ever gotten and still has next to nothing. I know how that feels. I really, really do...
"Oh, Zuko." She breathed, and before the teenager had a chance to react, Jin's lips were against his. But this wasn't like the shy, tender kisses they had shared before. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her mouth open, Zuko very aware of the fact that they were close, so close he could feel every curve of her body, pressed so close to him. He was momentarily stunned, and stood as still and silent as the stone that entombed them, hands at his side. If she didn't know better, Jin would have been offended at such a still reaction. Instead, she pulled away with a gentle smile, although he couldn't see it in the dark, a little frustrated.
"We..." Zuko swallowed. "We should get going." He flattened his palm again, calling forth a small flame. He turned away, so she couldn't see the colour of his cheeks, which he judged to be an embarrassing shade of red from the raised temperature of his skin.
"Yes." Jin nodded, beginning to walk. "Nervous, Zuko?"
"Well..." Zuko thought for a moment. He had his swords. Jin actually proved to be a better bender than her bashful put-downs had suggested. Zuko was a master of stealth, and Jin had been sneaking around places for most of her life. And finally, he was going to do the right thing on his own. He didn't need his Uncle for this. It was his full first step in the right direction. He closed his eyes for a heartbeat, his lips still tingling frantically. How was it possible to still feel Jin against him, even though she was a couple of paces away?
"Not a bit." He said confidently, feeling, for the first time in several years, just a little bit proud of himself.
"You're still awake."
Katara's eyes snapped open in the dark, and she lifted her head a little, eyes slightly narrowed.
"How did you..."
"Know? The way you're breathing. It's not long enough to be sleep. That, and you're shuffling around a lot. But I don't blame you, metal's a damn hard surface to sleep on." He squinted at her in the dark, able to make out her figure with eyes, sharp as an owl after spending four years without a glimpse of any light brighter than a flickering candle.
"Oh..." She slowly sat up, drawing her knees to her chest. "Sorry... If I kept you up."
"It's all right." Meng shrugged. "I can't sleep either. Must have been everything you said about the Avatar and the Fire Nation Princess... You definitely set my brain racing there."
"It is scary." Katara agreed quietly. "I just wish I knew if there was something I could do... Some way to help."
"You don't need to." Meng spoke. "Katara, the Avatar is going to come for you, remember? You won't be down here for long before you get freed. You have nothing to worry about."
"I... Guess." She sounded uncertain though. "But... I hope he's not too late... Princess Azula was planning her coup for today. He's at the Eastern Air Temple... He can't help."
"You're starting to sound hopeless again." He remarked, stretching his legs out across the tiny cell. "Don't. It's depressing."
"Sorry." She stood up, however, hands balled into fists. "But I can't do this! I can't just sit here! This is ridiculous." Katara grasped the thin bars that adorned the thick door. "Why? Why now? Why us? How can the universe have a grudge against Aang like this?"
"Oh don't go spiritual on me." Meng muttered, arching his neck a little, shoulders stiff. "I don't understand why people still insist on following them..."
"I believe what I see." Katara shot back. "I've seen spirits. Hei Bai for one. And Tui and La... And Yue... How can you think they don't exist?"
"I never said believing." He corrected her. "I said following. They're malevolent beings... They don't care about the world anymore."
"What?" She frowned. "How can you say something like that? Of course they do."
"Then why did they let things get this bad, if they had the power to stop it?" His voice sounded somewhat cool in the dark. "Why would they let the Fire Nation wipe out the Air Nomads? Why would they let them wage war for a century?"
"I-I..." Katara blinked, not knowing what to say. "I don't know... I never thought about it..."
"I get to do a lot of thinking." He murmured quietly in the dark. "It's one way of passing the time." Meng sighed. "Ignore me and my evil heretical thoughts." He laughed bitterly. "I have way too much time to sit here with nothing but my own head to keep me company. I'm not like I used to be. I know I'm not. My head's messed."
"You said you weren't insane."
"Oh, I'm not insane." Meng agreed with her. "Insane is when you scream for hours on end and then stay silent for days. Insane is where you throw your food about instead of eating it and do frankly disgusting things you don't want to know about. There's a difference between insane and not quite right. A big one."
"I guess, I-" Katara blinked as she heard a loud clang at the end of the long passage. "What was that?"
"Just the door opening." Meng shrugged. "But... It's too early for breakfast... And they never come in the ni-"
"Meng!" Her voice was shaking, fraught with both concern and hope. The two people in the cell remained very, very still. "Meng! Are you in here?"
"Jin, keep your voice down!" The second voice hissed, echoing down the corridor. Katara frowned, the cadence, the slight rasp so familiar...
"Meng?" Jin ignored Zuko as she ran desperately down the hall, pausing every few seconds to glimpse through the tiny excuses for windows. This was the last wing of prisoners, and, in extension, Jin's last hope. If he wasn't here, he wasn't anywhere. Around them, people began to wake in their cells, muttering with confusion. "Meng, where are you?" He had to be here. He had to! They had gone so far. First, the pair had to endure the painfully long trek to the Catacombs themselves, both of the teenagers aching with tiredness. If that wasn't bad enough, the infiltration, sneaking past rotating patrols of Dai Li agents, having to take some out silently – Zuko did it, usually managing to knock them out with a well-aimed punch or kick – getting lost, doubling back, and having to wander past what felt like hundreds of cells, peering into each one. It was exasperation, and desperation that drove Jin's noise. A desperate need for closure. If he's not here...
"Jin?" Meng's voice sounded oddly hoarse in the dark. Katara started, managing to make out the young mans' form as he pulled himself to his feet, stumbling. "Jin!" He took a few staggering steps, unable to function, so profound was his intense shock. He banged against the door loudly as he collapsed against it, the dull thud of metal enough to catch his sisters' attention. With a cry, Jin propelled herself to the door, Zuko hot on her heels, casting an anxious look behind them. Meng caught a glimpse of her eyes, filled with tears, half-curtained in thick dark hair, before she bowed her head, trying to open the door.
Jin was crying as she drew the heavy lock, hands shaking. With doors so thick, the Dai Li didn't waste time with keys. It wasn't as though anyone could slide the deadbolt free from inside, and there were far too many rooms to keep individual keys for. She pulled the heavy door, supporting Meng, open, the male collapsing into her open arms. Jin reeled back, but managed to keep on her feet, realising with a pang that her brother was painfully light, probably weighing less than her. She embraced him with a near rib-cracking force, not caring that he smelled really bad, or that she was cutting off his air supply. Neither could speak, because they were both too shocked to speak, and because any words at that moment would be rendered as a clumsy, unneeded verbal translation of mental euphoria.
Katara, on the other hand, was more practical. Collecting herself, she squeezed past the embracing siblings in the doorway, her mind squarely focused on getting out, running away, and, unfortunately, hiding. Yes, it seemed cowardly, but without Aang, what could she do? She was sometimes irrational, but still, she wasn't stupid. And she knew that taking on Azula and her female lackeys alone was far from a clever idea. What Katara needed to do was find Toph, and get to her brother in Chameleon Bay...
Zuko froze as Katara stood in the hallway, his limbs fraught with the odd sensation of being carved from ice. It was, literally, the very last person that Zuko had expected to see underneath the Earth King's palace. She looked tired, peaky and strained.
"You!" They spoke in unison, eyes widened with shock, hearts thudding. Katara's features quickly twisted into an expression of intense loathing. Zuko took a slow step backwards, having no idea about what to say or do, or even think. Why? Why is she here? Why does she have to be here? I was so close...
"What are you doing here!" She demanded, eyes narrowed. Zuko swallowed, mouth opening, but no words forming. He didn't know what to say. He was lost for words. "Answer me!" She snapped, nerves stretched to breaking point.
"I-I came here with Jin..." He stuttered weakly, gesturing to the girl. "Katara... Wh-why are you down here?"
"Why? Why?" She was shocked beyond comprehension to see Zuko, her disbelief having a detrimental effect on her judgement. "Your sister!" Zuko's heart stopped. "She kidnapped me and had me imprisoned here!"
"No-"
"Oh, don't try and feign innocence, Zuko." She spat. "Like you're not here to get information out of me about Aang! Like you're not in this! I bet you're so happy that you're little plan is working!"
"What are you-"
"How can you live with yourself!" Jin finally pulled herself free from her brother, staring at Katara with wide eyes. "You're a monster, Zuko! All you want is to destroy the last hope we have! You and Azula, you're just the same!" Zuko stared at her evenly, jaw tense, hands clenched into shaking fists. "I'm not telling you anything about Aang, Zuko!"
"I-I'm not-"
"You two must be so proud of yourselves! Taking control of the Dai Li, planning this coup, trapping Aang!" Zuko's heart leapt in his throat. "You're sick, you know that?"
"What... What is Azula doing?" The look of genuine shock on Zuko's face made Katara pause. "A coup?"
"You... You really don't know..." Katara's eyes widened.
"No!" Zuko panicked, Jin's mouth dry. "I had no idea! I... Oh Agni... You can't mean..."
"Then... Why are you here?" She pressed. "You weren't wandering around here for no reason, were you?"
"No, we weren't." Jin disentangled herself from her brother, fielding the question for Zuko, who was too stunned for speech. The silent teenager doubled over, a hand on the wall. "Meng is my older brother... Zuko and I came down here to rescue him."
"And who are you?" She turned to the girl, frowning. Jin merely raised an eye at Katara's rudeness. No wonder Zuko wasn't happy to talk about this girl...
"I'm Jin, Zuko's girlfriend." She explained patiently, still trying to get her head around everything. "Zuko's been in Ba Sing Se for a few weeks. And trust me, he hasn't done anything wrong." She eyed the black-haired teenager, a little worried. He stood silently, obviously trying to comprehend everything.
"Ha! That's what you think-"
"That's what I know." Jin cut over Katara. "Look, please, you have to understand, Zuko isn't here for any evil purpose. He has no part in anything Azula is plotting. He hasn't hurt anyone since he came to Ba Sing Se. He's done wrong, but he's a good person now."
"If you knew everything-"
"I do." Jin said simply. "I know you hate Zuko. And you have every right to. And I understand that's not going to change. But don't accuse of something he hasn't done."
"... I'm sorry then." Katara muttered stiffly, arms crossed. "I shouldn't have said you were working with Azula, Zuko."
"She wants me either dead or in jail." His voice was hoarse. "She'd never work with me." Jin stepped forward, taking his hand. She realised with pang that he was trembling, palm cold and clammy.
"We should go." Jin said gently, trying hard to keep herself together. "The Dai Li no doubt heard something... They'll be here soon and I don't wanna get caught." She turned back to Katara. "What are you going to do?"
"... I don't know." Katara rubbed at shadowed eyes. Truth was, she felt a real pang of guilt at Zuko's hoarse declaration that Azula had only malicious intent for him. She guessed that it was hard to think of someone like him as having such emotions. "Find Toph. And sort this mess out."
"Don't do anything stupid." Zuko spoke up, earning a glare from the blue-clad girl
"Why? What were you going to do?" She accused, anger flaring afresh. Katara couldn't help herself. It was too hard, to change her mindset so drastically in the space of a few short minutes.
"Talk to my Uncle." Zuko's voice still sounded faraway, his eyes slightly out of focus. "Ask for his advice." Katara paused. Realistically, that was a very smart thing to do. If anyone knew what to do in such a situation, it would most definitely be General Iroh.
"Let's just focus on getting out of here." Jin said quickly, giving her brother a small smile. "Everyone. Together. It's the quickest and fastest way." Katara narrowed her eyes at Zuko, mistrust and anger still burning, but eventually nodded.
"All right." Zuko mumbled eventually, rattled. And no wonder. To learn that his sister, who felt nothing but hate and contempt for him, was on the brink of overtaking the city, her home... Jin couldn't begin to decipher the turbulent emotions she guessed he was feeling.
"Good." Jin squeezed his hand comfortingly. Katara stared at Zuko for a few moments, and looked at the ground, her sense of guilt slowly increasing. She'd funnelled the rage and hate she felt for Azula and her cronies to Zuko, which was unfair, and she knew it. But she was hardly going to say sorry. And to be honest, she felt that she had every right to say what she had, after everything that he had put her through.
"Let's just go." She said roughly, beginning to walk, sinking into a pool of thought. Katara also felt more than a little outraged. Did Zuko really think it could be that easy? Was he stupid enough to think that if he just said sorry and he was now a good person, that she would immediately forgive him? Besides, he had given no indication that he needed, or wanted, her acceptance or approval. And she sure as hell wasn't intending on giving it to him so freely, despite what his so-called 'girlfriend' proclaimed.
The fact that when she thought of Prince Zuko, arrogant, short-tempered and proud, hardened with resolve, and compared him with the overcome teenager, humbled and bare-headed, eyes fixed on the floor, who clung to Jin almost for dear life, and found not even the barest similarity between the two, meant nothing at all to her.
Right?
Teehee.
When I first wrote the last scene, it came off a TEENSY bit Zutarian. I lol'd. Hard. But... No. We cannot have that, kiddies.
I thought that I had finished this a couple of days ago, but then I felt REALLY bad for leaving short (it was about seven thousand words) So I added extra stuffs for you all. Woop.
By the way, I has a poll. It's just something I thought I should try and gather a bit of a consensus on. So go and vote for meh :3
R&R Peoples!