CHAPTER RATING: T (Language, Flirtatious Situations)

Chapter 22: Loose Ends

Early in the morning Sokka stood on a private balcony, cradling a small bag of gold and basking in the warm sunrise while humming to himself. The door to his room opened, and closed. He turned to see Azula with her long raven hair over her eyes, dressed in red.

"Hello, Sokka." Her voice wasn't as condescending as when they last spoke.

"H-Hey." He stuttered. "What are you doing here?" She didn't answer right away, but continued to advance towards him. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling great. I just wanted to apologize." Her voice was as soft as the morning air.

"O-Okay. Apology accepted. Now, you can leave." He tried to shoo her away with a wave of his hand. But she continued.

"No, I want you to know that I'm sorry." Her stride was as slow as it was tempting. "I really want you to know how much I regret what I've done."

"Look, is this going where I think it's going…? You're attractive... And I mean, really attractive, and all…But I'm kind of involved with Suki." He rubbed the back of his neck, and felt the railing of the balcony push him forward.

"Where is she?" Her beautiful smile and hypnotizing eyes captured him.

"…T-Train-Training." He tried to collect himself. "Look, maybe if this was a different world, maybe if you were a different person, something could happen, but not here." He waved his hand, and began to walk past her.

"Sokka, wait!" Azula took hold of his arm, a crack of lightning ran up his spine, and she threw him onto the bed. A smile spread across her lips. "Why don't you listen?" She tapped a finger on his chin, and with another jolt, his lips were forced to close. "I'm so traumatized. I need someone to talk to."

He mumbled obscenities through his teeth with anger in his eyes. His mind became cloaked in fear. She sat next to him, right by his head, and continued to talk to herself.

"You see, I know that you saw what happened last night." her long, sharp nail running along the outline of his ear. "I know that you know about us." She sighed. "And I just need to tie up a few loose ends." She placed her palm over his head. His eyes panicking in what he thought she was going to do. "It's nothing personal, but don't worry. This won't hurt one bit. In fact, you won't remember anything."

She leaned in closer to his ear, her voice in a whisper.

"But I'll let you in on a secret." Lightning began to skip across the back of her hand. "There's a part of me that's just as evil and manipulative as you remember." His eyes widened further, and a burning began in his forehead.

"...But I only let that evil side out when I'm with Aang; he loves everything that she does to him."

…

"You know there's something wrong with me." Aang whispered. "You can sense it, can't you?"

"Aang, you were just panicking. It'll be alright. You just need to relax." Katara could feel it, no panic attack ever causes internal bleeding, but she didn't want to alarm him any further. Instead, she stayed by his side, in a small room, lit by a small window, on a small, one-person bed.

"Okay. I'm ready for this, I'm calm, I'm relaxed." He took a deep breath. "I can do this." He took her hands, his fingers trembling with desperation. "Katara, I have to tell y-"

Katara felt a sharp spike in his pulse.

"Aang, calm down."

"I am calm!" Katara flinched at his outburst. "...Sorry. I didn't mean to." He calmed himself again, his heart returning to it's regular rhythm.

"Aang, maybe we shouldn't do this now."

"No! I have to say this!" He grabbed her arms, and looked into her eyes.

"A-Aang-" Blood rushed to her cheeks at his aggressiveness.

"I have to tell you...I-" His fingers dug into her arms, he clutched at his chest. His heart racing beyond all belief, wanting to implode upon itself.

"It's okay!" She calmed him. "Don't worry, just rest." His pulse returned to normal.

"I'm sorry, I can't say it."

"It's okay. You don't have to say it."

"You don't understand, Katara. I physically, can't say it!" He balled up his fist and struck the mattress.

A long silence followed.

She saw the frustration in him. The dark rings forming under his eyes, the sweat running down his temples.

"Find Sokka. He'll tell you." His tone of voice became flat, and shrunk as he continued. "He can tell you how terrible I am. And the awful things I've done." She placed her fingertips on his chin and brought him up to face her.

"I know who you are, Aang. You're not a bad person, and if you've ever done anything terrible, you did it because you had no other choice." She brought her forehead to his, and closed her eyes. "So stop hating yourself. Do it for me."

"Only for you." He whispered. "Please, Katara. As you go talk to Sokka, remember," the soft pressure of her lips stopped his thoughts.

"I know." She whispered. "I'll always remember, and I'll never forget."

Two knocks came at the door, and General Iroh stepped in.

"Oh. I'm sorry." He bowed. "I'll show myself out."

"No!" Katara answered. "It's okay. I was just about to leave." Katara shot a smile to Aang, and showed herself out, closing the door behind her.

"She's a beautiful woman." Iroh sat in a chair next to him. Aang nodded. "You seem troubled, what's wrong?"

"I don't know what to do." Aang stared at his hands, turning them and examining the tattooed arrows on his forearms. "I love her. But I also have feelings for-"

He stopped himself.

"She's taken a liking to you, also. I've noticed." Iroh smiled. "There's no need to be ashamed of admitting it."

"I'm not ashamed of…" Yes I am. Now I'm lying to myself. "I am ashamed."

Iroh nodded.

"But I'm not ashamed of admitting it. I want to let Katara know!" his fist pinched the cloth again. "It's killing me that I'm not able to tell her! I physically can't say it without my heart begging to explode!"

A hint of lightning skipped across his arm.

"…" Iroh took his arm, and examined it. "Maybe I can help you after all." Iroh looked into the energy that streamed in his body, he could feel the lightning that flowed into his mind. "When Azula abducted you, did she-"

"Yes." He answered without missing a beat. "She did." Iroh's eyes widened at how forward Aang was about it. "She paralyzed me, she entered my dreams, she planted her voice in my mind. She-" He stopped himself from venturing into what she had done to him while he was paralyzed.

"She did to you, what Ozai did to her. Where did she learn-" Iroh shook his head. "I'm sorry."

"What? What is it?"

"For years, I was with Zuko, she was with Ozai. He must have taught her how to use the technique."

"No, she got rid of it yesterday. I felt it myself."

"I'm sorry, Avatar. But she didn't just get rid of it, she added something else."

"But, you can get rid of it, can't you?" His eyes were glowing with hope.

"I will try." Iroh placed his fingertips against Aang's temples. "Bear with the pain."

Aang twitched as the lightning traveled through him. The electricity rocked through his body, his limbs twitched violently in a selective seizure. With all his strength, he tried his best to suppress the screams that begged to be let out. The veins in his wrists pushed against his skin, the cries from his voice beginning to break through.

And then, it stopped. Dazed and disoriented, Aang refocused on Iroh. He was met with a sorrowful gaze.

"I'm sorry, Avatar. But she has developed her own style that I do not know. I cannot help you in this matter."

Aang's own expression sunk. "Then, can you do me one more favor? Please, have Azula meet me, as soon as she can."

"She'll be here in a few minutes. But please, as you speak with her, remember that we have not finished her recovery yet." Iroh bowed.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I am not sure yet if she has discovered who she really is. Her personality is…Fractured."

"I see." Aang didn't know what else to say. "I'll…I'll try my best to not do anything too extreme."

True to his word, only a few minutes later, Azula entered the room with two knocks against the door. She stepped in, and the door slammed with a gust of wind. Another burst of air, and the lock to the doorknob clicked.

"Quite aggressive, I love that." The way she spoke always sent chills down his spine. "You know, it's still day, don't you? Usually we'd do this at night but, if you insist...I'm game."

Her attitude. She now spoke with her sassy, sexy, addictive attitude.

"This isn't a game." He tried his best to remain stern. "I know what you did to me, and I need you to undo it."

Azula crossed her arms, leaned against the door, and placed a single finger over her lips.

"I told you before; you don't need to force me to love you." He pleaded. "I already do. Please."

She sat down next to him, and slowly crawled up to him. Her breaths fell upon his, and he felt the soft pressure of her lips against his. A small electric shock surged through him again. And as she pulled away, she whispered to him: "I would only take back my actions for you, my little Avatar. Only for you."

Azula pulled away, smirked, and left the room.

Aang sat there in confusion.

Confusion about who she was.

Confusion about who he was.

Confusion on how he felt about who she had become.

...

"Sokka! I need to talk to you!" Katara rushed to her brother in the hallway.

"What is it?" He asked with a cheesy smile, tossing in his hand a small bag that clinked when it landed in his palm.

"Aang told me that you know something! Something him that he can't tell me." She pulled him into a room and closed the door.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Katara." He shrugged.

"Don't lie to me, Sokka." His pulse didn't lie. He had no idea what she was talking about.

"I'm not." He closed the bag, bringing his full attention to her. "All I remember is that I made a deal with Toph, and I get twenty percent of her earnings from the EKBF, isn't that great?!"

"Did I hear you talk about something concerning Sokka and Twinkletoes?" Toph's cocky voice came with a toothy grin, and opaque green eyes, a huge bag slung over her shoulder. To a random bystander, it looked as if she was carrying another person in a body bag.

"Hey! Where's your belt?!" Sokka screamed.

"Can it, you snitch!" She slammed her foot into the ground, and knocked him off his feet.

"You know, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

Katara couldn't sense any pulse that indicated a lie.

"Tell me."

"With pleasure." Toph cracked her knuckles. "Of course I'm only doing for Aang. I just...I just love him so much." An even wider grin graced her expression. She had found a way to get to Katara, too.

"Just tell me." Katara sighed and rolled her eyes. She knew Toph was just kidding, but found it annoying nonetheless.

"Okay, here's how it went down."

…

"Fine! You want to know?!" Sokka shouted.

"Let me hear it! I love juicy secrets!" Toph jumped into the air.

"You have to make a deal with me first."

"You name it, it's yours."

"I want twenty percent of your earnings as champion."

"Done! What's the secret?"

"Aang doesn't want Katara to go with him to the village of Fei Xing."

"That's it?" Toph asked, dejected. "That's what's eating him up?"

"Hey, he really loves Katara. What can I say?"

...

"...That's all?" Katara asked. "Why would he not want me to go with him?"

"You know the airbenders," Toph shrugged. "And the way they are."

"Apparently, I don't know much about the airbenders, because I don't know what you mean."

"Look, Katara. The airbenders aren't exactly open to other cultures."

"What? Aang's never hurt anyone just because of where they come from or what color their skin is, what makes you think that they'd have a problem with me?"

"Think about it. They locked themselves up in their temples! They cut all ties with the world. Do you really think that they'll receive him with open arms?!" She stomped into the ground. "He's been gone for the last one-hundred years. Having your entire race wiped off the face of the earth isn't exactly something that you forget. And I'm pretty sure that they won't give him a welcome home party just because he's the Avatar."

Katara remained silent while considering Toph's logic.

"I don't care." She answered. "It doesn't matter if he doesn't want me to go. I'm going."

"Hey," Toph shrugged. "I'm not the one who's making that decision, he is."

...

"Uncle, why don't you just teach him?" Zuko spoke to Iroh.

"I'm old, and hurting." Iroh acted as if his joints were in continuous pain. "I cannot teach him anything. But you are a capable man, and to have this in his arsenal will be most beneficial."

"But-"

"Prove to me that you are better than me, Prince Zuko. Prove it to me, so that I know that I was able to help you, after all that has happened. Prove to me, that you are not your father's puppet."

Zuko sighed, nodded, and walked over to Aang.

"Avatar." Aang turned around when he heard his title.

"You can call me Aang, Zuko." He smiled. "Don't feel like you need to use my title."

"This way." Zuko led him out into a greater part of the courtyard. "Follow my lead." Zuko began to move from his horse stance.

"Uncle learned this from studying the waterbenders." Zuko widened his stance. "Feel the energy that flows in you." He looked towards his uncle, who nodded with a smile. "Can you feel it?"

"I-I think so." Aang stuttered.

"Good, now follow this motion with me." Zuko placed his hands together on his right side, with two fingers, he slid his left hand down his forearm to his shoulder, down to his stomach, and back up, returning to the form. "Good." He praised as Aang mimicked him. "Remember, the energy has to pass through your fingertips, to your shoulder, down to your stomach, and back out through your other arm."

"I think I've got the motion down." Aang smiled. "Are we going to actually try redirecting lightning?"

"Yes." Zuko answered to Iroh spitting his tea out.

"WHAT?!" Iroh shouted. "You are going to actually redirect lightning?!"

"He can do it, Uncle." Zuko nodded. "He's the Avatar." Zuko looked towards Aang. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

"Zuko. We can't do this. The risk is too high." Iroh pleaded with his nephew.

"Uncle, you said that I was going to teach him, so let me." Zuko tried to push his way past his Iroh, but was held back.

"Aang!" Katara's voice drowned out the argument that the two were having.

"What is it, is something wrong?" He asked.

"I talked to Sokka."

"Oh." His gut sunk, butterflies began to form in his stomach. "And what did you decide?"

"I decided that I don't care."

"Y-You don't?!"

"No, I just want to be with you. I won't let you leave me behind."

"Leave you behind? No, I wouldn't leave you behind…But wait, what are we talking about again?"

"When you leave, I'm coming with you."

"Leave? Leave to go where?" Katara's eyebrows raised at his cluelessness.

"When we go to find the other airbenders. I'm coming with you."

"Oh-Okay. Yeah," He decided to play along with her false presumption. "We'll both go." He hoped that she didn't see his lie, but judging from the light in her eyes, she wasn't paying much attention to it.

...

"Calm yourself, Zuko! Not now!" Iroh could see the fire growing in his nephew's eyes. Untempered anger, begging to be unleashed.

"No! We need to do this now!" He pushed his uncle aside, and let loose lightning from his fingers. A crackle roared through the courtyard, and shot straight for Katara. Time slowed, and Aang saw the pure fire skip across the air.

In the millisecond that he sensed it, he acted.

He wouldn't see this happen again.

With air, he pushed her down, and lifted his hand towards the lightning. It struck him, and for a single moment in eternity, he felt the mass of energy race through his body, and exit up towards the sky in an echo that shook all of Ba Sing Se.

With shocked looks, they stared at Zuko, his face red with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to." He bowed, and ran off.

"Is everything alright?" Iroh rushed to Katara and Aang.

"Yeah, we're okay." He held a hand out, and helped her onto her feet.

"You did very well. Perfect. And on your first try, even." Iroh smiled. "You're sure that you're not hurt?"

"I'm fine. Just a little dusty, that's all." Katara answered.

"Please," Iroh bowed. "Do not hold a grudge against him. He is still confused and angry about what his father did to him."

"It's okay. We know." Aang answered. Iroh bowed again, and ran after his nephew.

"What happened to him?" Katara asked.

"I'll tell you later. For now, let's…let's go get something to eat." He shrugged. She felt the anticipation, or was it-fear in him as he finished the thought.

…

"You forfeit the title?! How could you do that?!" Sokka shouted at Toph.

"I got an advance payment! Do you not see the 'Me' sized bag of gold?!" She plopped the sack onto the floor.

"Sokka!" Aang called to him.

"What?!" Sokka frustration from Toph's resignation echoed through his voice.

"What did you tell Katara?"

"I don't know what you're talking ab-" Toph slammed her foot into the ground, a rock shot up, and knocked him out.

"Come here, Twinkletoes. Let's chat." Toph closed the door behind them, but at the same time, eyed the figure just outside in the hall.

"What is it?" He whispered.

"Behind the door, it's her. Let's talk somewhere else."

Aang nodded, opened his glider, and took off from the balcony with Toph on his shoulders.

He flew up to the peak of the palace's tallest tower, they sat next to each other, to him it seemed like Toph was shaking, unsure, and even afraid.

"It's okay. I've got you." He guided her to sit down beside him. "Now, when you say 'she' you meant, who?"

"Azula." His heart sunk when he heard her name. "Look, I know that you've got feelings for both of them. Sokka's the one you had to worry about, I waved a bag of gold in front of his face, and he squealed like a pig!"

"But he did tell you. And you told Katara-"

"I told Katara that you were afraid of how she would react if you told her that you wanted her to stay here while you go look for the other airbenders. He let out a sigh of relief. "Don't worry, Twinkletoes. I've got your back." She grinned.

"But how did you fool Katara?"

"I'm a good lie detector, but I'm a great liar, too." She grinned.

"So, what would you do in this situation? No one seems to have an answer for me. No one is able to help."

"You know my philosophy on everything, deal with it, head on!" She threw a punch in the air. "Tell her how it is, plainly. Be direct, and she'll understand."

"Okay. I'll do that."

"...Don't lie to me, Twinkletoes."

"Okay." He took a deeper breath. "I'll tell her."

"That's better." She struck his arm with a fist. "I'm proud of you. Now, let me down so that I can see again."

...

Katara stood at the balcony of her room. Her hand waving in the air, slowly gathering water from the billions of droplets suspended around her. She'd gather them up into a ball, and then release them, before gathering them up again.

That's not it. She thought to herself. That wasn't what Aang told Toph. She lied to me. Katara was more confused than she was angry. Toph's never been prone to hiding the truth. Then why…?

Two knocks from the door kicked her out of her thoughts.

"What are you doing here?" She shot a vengeful look at the Fire Nation Princess.

"Relax, I just came to talk." She raised her hands. "No schemes, no secret plans. I promise." Katara gathered water in her palm, and held it, ready to strike. "Listen…Just listen."

Katara lowered her hand. Azula came closer. "What do you want?" She let the water in her hands dissipate into the air.

"I know that you don't like me after what I did to you, but-" Azula pulled back the bangs, revealing her deep crimson scars. "The Azula that took you prisoner is long gone. She wasn't who I really am. She was a puppet for the Firelord. I've changed. Give me a second chance."

Katara flinched. Those are the exact words that she had said to Zuko long ago.

"You can sense it, I know you can. Am I lying?" Everything Azula said was apparently true. "If you don't trust me, then let me tell you the one thing that the Avatar couldn't tell you."

"What?" Katara loosened her stance further. Azula lifted her hands, and sat down.

"I'm not in any position to try and hurt you. I don't want to hurt you"

No change in pulse.

"But you tell me if I'm lying. The Avatar loves you-"

No change in pulse.

"-but he also loves me."

No change in pulse.

"That's a lie." Katara denied the truth. "You tortured him. You brainwashed him. You manipulated him."

"…I did." Azula nodded. "I will admit the truth. I did. And I regret that. I wish I could take it back." She looked at her hands. "So I did my best to try and fix it." She looked back up at Katara. "You care about him, I care about him. Don't you see it?" Azula's eyes held innocence and caring that Katara had never seen.

"I do. Every day." Katara's voice softened. "Every time I see him, there's a pain in his eyes, something that tears at him in his heart."

"It's us." Azula continued. "We're tearing him apart. He's hurt because he thinks that he has to choose between us. Let's end his pain."

"Are you suggesting…?"

"He loves me. He loves you. We love him. Why can't he love us both?"

Katara didn't answer immediately. But when she did, it was a one word answer.

"Okay."

PUBLISHED ON: 10/23/2014

A/N:

Relationship statuses in lyrical form:

". . .Nothing lasts forever, and we both know hearts can change. . ." (Azula to Katara)

". . .And when your fears subside, and shadows still remain. . .I know that you can love me, when there's no one left to blame. . ." (Azula to Aang/Katara to Aang)

-Guns N' Roses, "November Rain"

What do you think? Let's end his suffering.

Thanks for reading!