CHAPTER RATING: T (Language, Violence, Mildly Sexual Situations...?)

A/N: In Chapter 23, Aang was given a choice by Zhèng Gú Shèn about whether to choose heads or tails by flipping a coin.

I did the same here. I flipped a coin and let fate decide the course of the story.

Enjoy.

Chapter 30: Torn

"Now, Avatar, Make your choice." Destiny's voice echoed within her heavenly realm. Aang stared ahead of him. On his left, a clashing violet horizon. On his right, an earthen green room, with Katara crying by his bedside.

"I'm sorry, Katara." He bowed his head, turned, and looked into the awe-inspiring, all-seeing eyes of the celestial beauty before him. "Show me how this story will end."

"Very well." Aang felt the air around him begin to shift, it held him tighter than before, as if it was crushing him. Images began to flood his mind. Images of the two women he'd come to love.

Two different women.

Two different circumstances.

He watched on and heard her speak.

"When you last spoke to Zhéng Gú Shén, you were given a choice. Water..." Katara came into his field of view. "Or Fire." Azula appeared on the opposite side. "And you couldn't choose."

There in front of the violet horizon, Katara and Azula stood across from each other.

"You are torn between two opposing forces: the comforting, soothing touch of Water. And the warming, passionate embrace of Fire. They will pull you apart, and tear you in half. They have a power over you that you cannot resist, nor stop. You will become a different person with their influence. At the end, you will have to choose."

"I don't want to hurt anyone." She appeared before him.

"Rear assured, Avatar. As I have said before, in the end, everything will be as it should. At the end of your path, you will find peace, and tranquility, no matter what choice you make."

A feeling of bliss washed over him. And everything began to fade.

"Everything will work out in the end..."

He heard her voice one last time.

"But you must walk down a treacherous road before you reach it."

...

Katara sat at his side, her hands tightly clutched around his. The bandages wrapped around his body expanding and contracting with his deep breaths.

The veil of darkness began to fade from his vision, and he took in the sight of her beautiful shocked expression with glowing sapphire eyes flooded behind joyous tears.

He gave her a warm smile, and immediately felt her arms wrap around his neck. The heat from his body contrasted by the cool tears that fell from her eyes.

With her arms around him, she could feel his heart beating in his chest, she took a pride in still being able to make his heart skip.

She pulled away, and for a moment of silence, just looked into his onyx eyes.

"I've missed you." His voice broke out. Her hand came up to his cheek, and turned him towards her.

Her lips pressed against his, and he felt comfort that no one else could bring to him.

His own vision began to blur. "I'm sorry." He began again. "For everything that I put you thr-"

Two fingers pushed up against his lips. Katara leaned in closer, rested her forehead against his, and ran her hand through his now raven hair.

"Don't say that anymore." She whispered with dark trails running down her cheeks. "Please, no more apologies."

He slowly nodded, and felt her lips fall onto his again.

"I'm glad you're okay." He sighed, and she lightly laughed. "Wait..." He felt her hand at the back of his head. "I HAVE HAIR?!"

"You were out for a pretty long time." Katara flipped back her bangs. "Even I regrew my hair."

He looked puzzled through her eyes, and then he looked mesmerized

"You look great." He smiled. "Although, I can't say the same for myself."

"What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

He glanced down at his legs. "It's not that it hurts, I just can't feel them. But, that's all."

"That's all? That's a pretty big deal."

"Well, I don't really plan to do much now but-" his breath escaped him. His chest felt like it was being ripped open. "B-But...Everything will be fine."

Katara watched him shudder, and wince in pain. "Relax, Aang." She laid him down. "Where?" He timidly pointed to his chest, and the water in her hands began to glow again.

A few seconds of pain passed over him, followed by a wave of comfort. "That feels better."

"Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Just...Stay with me."

"You know I always will."

The smiles that gave each other were warmer than any brazier in existence. Katara sat by his side until the night crept into the sky, and sleep took him.

...

"You guys, check this out!" Sokka rolled out a poster after his stampede through the palace halls.

"What's that?" Suki asked.

"Yeah, what's that?" Toph joined in.

"It says..." Sokka cleared his throat as he turned the parchment towards himself. "The Embers Island Players present...A Revision of Perspective, written by the mildly famous playwright known only as 'The Wanderer.' Who is most well known for his two stories: 'Flowers that Grow in the Air' and 'Hey, Notice our Love!' in the world famous 'Hurricane series' he's also had some other projects that have been put on hold, such as 'Don't Leave Me Again.' based in the world of 'Metallic Demigods: Eternal Bloodlines.' Along with those projects he's just started a new play called 'The Curtain of Fire.'" Sokka took another deep breath. "And in the fine print it says...'Play co-written by Zhang Su Zhen.' But I've never heard of that guy."

"So...There's nothing original from this guy?" Toph mocked. "What a hack!"

"Ahem...Please don't interrupt Toph." Sokka scolded to Toph's scorn. "His latest work is the longest, and most controversial he's done yet. Based on real statistics, it had mixed reviews in the beginning, and received scathing criticism for its 17th Act, but since then it has been doing well."

"17th act?! How long is this thing?!" Toph shouted.

"Uh...It says that there's at least 30 parts. Plus more."

"30?!" Suki shouted. "Really? Shouldn't it end soon?"

"I don't think it's worth the time." Toph sighed. "Judging from the title it'll probably be really, really stupid."

"But it's based on a true story!" Sokka pulled out the poster again. "It's has Aang, Katara, and Azula on the advertisement."

"Are we on the poster?" Suki asked.

"Hm...It says 'minor characters not shown.'" Sokka scanned the paper again. "...It's just those three on here." He said with a somber tone.

"We're not main characters?" Suki asked.

"That's bullshit! I'll break that writer's damn hand! I'll make sure he never writes again!" Toph shouted.

...

"Everything is prepared, Princess."

"Don't call me that anymore, Captain."

"Apologies. Everything is prepared, Commander."

"Good, now, you may leave."

The man saluted Azula before walking past her down a torch-lit hall. Azula waited for the door to slam shut behind her before opening the door that stood in front of her.

In the dark room with a single, dim light, her brother sat in a stone chair, his hands bound in tight leather gloves, his arms tied to the stone slabs, a leather mask obstructing his mouth.

"Zuko. Wake up." Azula whispered and watched her brother begin to stir. "I need you to wake up, Zuko."

His eyes opened, and she could see the shock in his face.

"Azula? W-What are you doing?" Azula took hold of his chin and brought him to face her.

"I can see it in you, Zuko. I recognize those dim, dying eyes."

"Let me go!" He tried to jump at her.

"Listen, Zuko! I need you to wake up!" She snapped her fingers. "Look at me! You're still under Ozai's influence. Wake up! Fight it!"

"Father will end you!" Zuko spat back. "You will pay for your treachery!"

"Don't you remember?! He made us fight each other! Snap out of it, or I'll have to take extreme measures to drag you out of the Hell he put you in."

"Do your worst!"

She could still see the defiant, thick, grey veil that the Firelord had cast before him. It was up to her to bring back the fiery light that once burned in his eyes.

"Fine! I hope you're prepared for this, Brother." Azula removed the black glove from one of her hands, and placed it into his forehead.

Lightning ran across her arm.

And his unheard screams blared through the dark halls of the palace.

...Some time later...

The sound of her footsteps bounced off the palace walls, echoing like a single, rhythmic rain drop falling down onto a cold stone floor. The sun was barely above the horizon, but if she wanted to have some alone time with the Avatar, this was the only time to do it.

The orange hue stained the earthen colors in a light fire that lead directly to him. Without a knock, she inched the door open, gradually taking in the sight of the bandages wrapped around his body, and a blue arrow that ran down his forehead from a full head of black hair.

The sound of crying door hinges stirred him from his sleep. Behind the fog of his blurred vision, he was met with a pair of golden eyes that were brighter than the sun itself. He scanned her, from her crossed arms, to her blood-red lips, to her captivating eyes.

"So, it's true. You are back." His tone was low, almost remorseful.

"It's good to see you, too." She grinned in her playfully sassy tone. "Did you miss me?" She leaned her elbows on his bed, held her head up with her hands, and raised a mischievous eyebrow.

His head hung low as it shook back and forth. Azula shot up, almost as if she was offended. But perhaps to his own surprise, Aang felt a smile creep across his lips.

"I knew you couldn't resist me." She smiled with her crimson lips.

"No." He shook his head again, and met her eyes. "I couldn't." She cupped his flushed cheek with her hand, and moved closer to him.

With her soft touch, he was entangled within her dangerous grasp, as she pulled him closer, he leaned in with her urging, and could feel her breath clashing with his own.

Azula stopped mere centimeters from taking his lips. She smiled as she pulled away, and took satisfaction when he desperately leaned in further.

"Not yet." She teased, and gently pushed him back with a single fire-heated finger pressed against his lips. "You're still hurt. Wait until you've made a recovery." Light burns scarred his bandages as her finger moved lower. "Then, we can make up for lost time."

"Did Katara tell you what I said to her on my Zeppelin in Feixing?"

He shook his head.

She leaned in closer until her breath fell onto his ear. "I said..." She began to whisper. "'When we reached Ba Sing Se, I'd make you mine."

The words sent chills down his spine, and he almost froze with her heated voice.

"Did I leave you speechless like before?" She taunted him. "Is it more in anticipation, or regret?" She was only a few inches away from him. "Go on, give me an answer." The intoxicating scent of her perfume brought him back to the days when he was bound in those chains of Lust forged within the fires of her sapphire flames.

He took a deep breath.

"I'm all yours, Azula."

The warmth of her addictive, lustful fire shot through him when her lips pressed against his, and as she pulled away again, light shock ran across him.

"It's nothing permanent. Just...A little something to ease the pain. And something to ease your mind. Sleep tight, and dream of us tonight."

She kissed the air next to his ear

"Until next time...My Little Avatar."

With those final words, she left him lying speechless, in the same, torturous way she had before.

Alone, he wondered to himself:

If at all, which Azula did he love?

At this point, he had no idea.

...At the outskirts of Ba Sing Se...

Zuko walked up to a hill. A single tree waited for him. The scars marking his mental rehabilitation still visible, and tears dripping from his eyes.

In his hands, he held a bouquet of flowers, three cups, and a bottle of the city's finest wine. His vision still blurred, he fell to his knees in front of two pictures. The incense still burning while he bowed before the portraits.

"I'm finally here." He whispered. "Sorry I took so long. But Azula's been helping me." He poured the two portraits each a cup of wine.

"She's helped me see what was wrong with what our father did. I'm sorry. I-I should've listened." He voice broke.

"At least….At least you'll finally be together."

He bowed again.

Before the portraits of his cousin, Lu Ten, and his uncle, Iroh.

PUBLISHED ON: 02/04/2015

A/N:

I know. I know.

That last sentence is exactly why I don't think you should ever favorite a story before you finish reading it.

Now…Time to plug myself!

The new story I'm working on is called "Veil of Flames" check it out, and see if you like it.

Now, give me a few weeks as I gather my thoughts, and figure out where we go from here.

Thanks for reading!