How many times do I have to tell you,

even when you're crying you're beautiful too.

The world is beating you down,

I'm around through every mood

- All of Me, John Legend

Chapter 14-No Surprise

Zuko P.O.V

"Hey Uncle."

My uncle turned around, a bright smile on his cheeky face. It brightened up even more when he saw Katara. "Katara my dear! How wonderful to see you!" He said excitedly, like a child on Christmas morning. Iroh waddled towards her and embraced her in a tight hug. I smiled, realizing this was the happiest I had seen him in a while. Sure, he was always his happy self, but it was a sad happy. Like a single candle in the middle of a wind storm. Katara certainly seemed ecstatic that he was still making tea.

"Come in! I'll go make a pot of Jasmine tea!"

I led Katara to a table while Uncle Iroh went into the kitchen. We sat down, and I watched as Katara investigated the shop. "This is a lovely shop," she started, touching the table cloth softly. "It's the lightest thing I have seen since the war." A sad, small smile crept to her face. I nodded, agreeing with that statement. Darkness was everywhere, which was why I always visited my uncle. He was the lightest, most joyful person left in my world.

"Not the lightest thing."

I glanced up at Katara, hoping she would get what I was trying to say. She understood; her cheeks flushed a dark red and she looked down at the table shyly. Iroh whisked into the room holding three cups of tea. The moment it touched my lips I instantly felt relaxed. This stuff really did work. How did he do it? I wondered, setting down my beautifully crafted cup. Katara looked like she was in heaven.

"Iroh…I don't think I have ever tasted something so good in my entire life."

Uncle blushed; he blushed. I found this extremely surprising because he never gets embarrassed about anything. I guess Katara had that affect on people. "Just trying to lighten the air my dear." Uncle said, taking a sip of his own tea. My heart wouldn't let me stop looking at Katara. Iroh must have noticed, because he grinned at me, then looked over at Katara. "So what are you kids up to?" He asked, winking at me.

The blood rushed to my face and I shot my uncle a glare.

The war may have had an effect on me, but it didn't change the fact that I had a temper.

"I ran into Katara earlier and asked if she wanted to catch up later." I explained, watching Katara's lips glide across her cup. "Ah," Iroh said. "And what has my nephew told you about his new life Katara?" He asked her, a sneaky look on his wrinkled face. Katara raised an eyebrow at him, also noticing that he was up to something. "Well…not much." She replied shortly. "I just told her I was working as a general." I cut in, not wanting him to ask questions. Knowing him, he probably thought I told her something completely different because I was ashamed. The truth was…I had nothing to be ashamed of anymore. Since I was no longer considered a prince, I had no weight on my shoulders.

Iroh smiled and took a tip of his tea, apparently pleased that I had told the truth.

"What have you been up to Katara? Been practicing your bending?"

Katara's face got stiff and she gripped her cup a little tighter. This must be a painful subject for her, considering what practicing your bending was banned in all the nations but the Fire Nation. "I haven't practiced much, but whenever I'm completely alone I do a little." Katara said quietly, so no one outside would hear her. Uncle nodded sorely, knowing how much bending meant to Katara. "I suppose with the new law it's nearly impossible right?" He asked her.

Katara nodded sadly, tracing the outline of her cup with her finger. I cleared my throat and tried to change the subject. "How's business uncle?" I asked quickly, taking another sip of my tea. My uncle's face lit up and he started to ramble on and on about his tea shop. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to ask about his tea. After about ten minutes of talking about different kinds of teas, Iroh finally changed the subject.

"Katara, I hate to ask you about this dear but…how is Aang?"

The name Aang caught my attention.

Katara didn't answer directly; instead she answered it with a question.

"Would you like to see him?"

The question hung in the air like a man getting his death sentence. I looked at my uncle, and he looked right back at me. Aang must be hidden somewhere close. Or else she wouldn't ask us if we wanted to see him. I nodded shortly, curious to see the boy that I had chased for so many reasons. What had become of him? What did he do every day? Many questions swarmed through my head as Katara lead us outside.

Katara P.O.V

"It's just around the corner."

I led Iroh and Zuko up the mountain where Aang was hidden. Toph had found him on one of her journeys around the nations. Aang was no longer the Aang we knew and loved however. There was nothing there anymore; no emotion, no feelings, nothing. He was like a turtle without a shell. No matter how many times you pleaded with him to just say something, he wouldn't.

I jumped over the fallen tree that lead straight to the cave, where I knew Aang would be sitting. "In here." I said, motioning Zuko and Iroh over. I held open the tree door, not excited for what was about to come next. They had no idea how much hurt just looking at Aang caused me. To know that he is completely broken inside.

I drug my feet into the cave, my heart filled with dread. Clearing my throat, I stepped towards Aang and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey Aang! I brought some people here to see you!"

Aang's hair had grown over his arrows, and I hadn't cut it, in case someone were to stumble upon him. The arrows would give it away and he would be killed. If he wasn't dead already, that is. Aang had not eaten since that day, I was pretty sure. The weird part was that he didn't look any skinner. I guess when you're the Avatar you can afford to skip a few meals.

I motioned for Zuko and Iroh to come forward. I stood up and walked a few feet away, not knowing If I could take seeing Aang not respond again.

"Hey Aang. I know this is probably really weird since the last time I saw you I was trying to capture you but…I just wanted to drop by and say hi."

Silence.

Zuko glanced back at me through the darkness, a confused look on his face.

"He didn't reply?"

"No surprise. Aang hasn't moved, said, or done anything in six months." I explained, pain flowing out of my voice. I hated talking about my best friend like this. It was like he was dead…but he was still here. It made me want to throw up. Zuko turned back to Aang, staring at him with a sad look. Iroh kneeled down on his old-man knees and smiled at Aang.

"Hello young Avatar. It's nice to see you again. I hope you will wake up soon; we're in desperate need of your saving. The Fire Nation is well-in control of everyone. Not you though; you've always been one to break the rules, huh?" Iroh said jokingly. A smile almost crept to my face, but I held it down. If I smiled, I would think back to all the laughs I had with Aang, and then I would break down in front of Zuko and Iroh.

"I'll come back soon to visit you. Goodbye Aang."

Iroh and Zuko stood up, both having sullen looks on their faces. I didn't anymore. After six months of talking and getting nothing, I had stopped trying to communicate. I come every day, leave food, then leave. This was my daily routine now; I had a terrible feeling every time I came up here that this was what I would be doing for the rest of my life.

"You want us to leave so you can talk to him?"

"No." I answered a little too quickly. Iroh and Zuko looked at me, surprised and slightly shocked looks on their faces. I shifted uncomfortably against the cave wall. "I mean…let's just go before someone finds us." I covered up, hurrying out of the cave. The cool air hit my face hard, but it wasn't anything I wasn't used to. The cool air was like my thoughts; short and suffocating.

I heard Zuko and Iroh walk up behind me, so I broke my train of thoughts.

"Let's go home."

Zuko P.O.V

It shocked me how harsh Katara was.

It was only on her face for a moment, but I could still see the pain and suffering hidden underneath her skin. We walked back to the tea shop in complete silence, Katara leading the way. Uncle said he was going to bed, so we said our goodbyes and parted ways. It was just Katara and I now.

"Would you like me to walk you home?"

"Okay."

Katara was no longer trying to cover her feelings. She kicked every rocks she saw and would sigh every two minutes. After a while I got over my fear of an angry Katara and spoke up. "What's bothering you Katara?" I asked softly, peering over at her bright blue eyes that were now filled with tears. Katara shook her head and took a deep breath, looking up at the moon. Her lips were shaking, along with her hands, and it almost appeared that she was going to break down any second.

"It's just…hard you know? Seeing your best friend like that. He doesn't even know you're there. You just keep trying, like everyone says to do, but it doesn't work. Why is the world like that, Zuko?"

Her words were barely audible through the wind, but the pain rose the tone higher. Why was the world like that? I asked myself. I had been wondering about that question for a long time now. Laying a hand on Katara's back, I tried to give her the best explanation I could.

"Maybe some things are just meant to stay broken for a while so they can fix themselves later."

Katara looked up at me, the tears now streaming down her face rapidly. She laid her head into my shoulder, grabbing me tightly. Normally, I would enjoyed this situation; but not now. Not when the girl that I had grown to care for was sobbing in fear of the world never changing.