Lost in the city of angels

Down in the comfort of strangers

I found myself in the fire burned hills

In the land of a billion lights

- 30 Seconds to Mars, 'City of Angels'

"Seventy five," Toph grunted, pumping her fists forward, sending a surge of boulders cascading onto the head of a Fire Nation soldier. She stood still for a moment, audibly surveying her troops and the battle raging around her. They had utilized the secret tunnels under Omashu to sneak up on the Fire Nation troops stationed on its slanted walls. High Queen Bitch, as Toph had affectionately named Azula, had retreated to her father's stronghold in Ba Sing Se only a week ago, following two and a half months of siege with the long eclipse fast approaching. She had left in her wake a crumbling, defortified city, full of several hundred scrambling Fire Nation troops and thousands of angry earth kingdom citizens. Toph didn't mind the destruction she had wrecked on her way in; she had Omashu memorized down to the brick and could rebuild it in a matter of days by herself if she wished. Hearing metal footsteps behind her, she stomped her foot, encasing the soldier to his neck in rock. "Seventy six."

"Commander!" Min Ki came striding across to her, flicking his wrist absently over his shoulder to knock a soldier off his feet and staple him to the ground with rock cuffs. "How many are you up to?"

"Is that really what you came all the way over here to ask?" She jeered, putting her fists on her hips to regard him blindly. "It feels like you have something a bit more important to say."

"They've retreated to the southern levels." His drawling accent never failed to amuse her. She loved the way he lazily lingered on his r's, and how it always sounded like he was calm, even when he wasn't. She'd never, ever, ever tell him, of course. Soldiers in combat didn't have time for stuff like that. "Night's falling."

Toph sighed. "You people and your silly reliance on sight." She jerked her head to the side. "Round up the prisoners and take them to the Hole." As he nodded and turned to go, she called hesitantly after him: "Good job today Minky."

He smiled at her, just her. "And you, Commander."

She wished for a day when he would call her just Toph. And then she shook it off and pushed the feeling to the back of her mind. Enough of that pansy, ninny stuff. It was for girls like Katara, who when men looked at her, they didn't see a mud-covered face, blank staring eyes, stupid long fine hair that got tangled with twigs and leaves and anything else that moved with the wind. Men saw girls like Katara and saw someone they wanted to kiss, to take to bed, to take for their own and start a family with. Men saw Toph and saw someone who could drink them under the table, kick their asses, and lead them into battle. And that was fine. She loved her reputation, the look on the faces of the enemy soldiers when they came up against the dread Commander Toph. But she hoped it wouldn't be like that forever.

"Seventy seven." She muttered to herself, slamming one last Fire Nation soldier into the ground, locking his wrists and ankles in cuffs of stone, before turning toward her huddled groups of soldiers to set up camp for the night.

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"Sixty eight," Sokka panted, his sword reverberating off the armor of a Fire Nation soldier. He struck again, clipping the man on the side of his helm. The solder tottered backwards, futilely trying to clutch his hands against his ears through his helm. Sokka turned, swiping again. "Sixty nine." The soldier went down, knocked on his back from the flat of Sokka's blade to his unprotected head.

"Sokka, I don't think you're counting right." Suki gasped, landing punch after punch on the exposed torso of a marauding soldier. "You're only supposed to count the ones you take down, not just the ones you hit."

"Like Toph's counting fair." Sokka scoffed. "I bet she counts double."

Suki gave him a pouty look, hoping it conveyed that he was acting ridiculous. "So you're cheating because you're assuming that she is too."

"Exactly!" Sokka exclaiming, gesturing wildly with his sword to emphasize his point, and accidentally clocked an advancing soldier in the head, sending him tumbling to the ground. Sokka looked surprised for a moment, then pointed at the fallen soldier. "Seventy!"

Suki rolled her eyes and charged into the fray, leaping into the air to drive home a kick to a Fire Nation soldier's neck, knocking him sideways to the ground.

"That's my girl!" Sokka crowed. He looked towards the West, noting the setting sun. Turning to find Bae, his other second in command, his face serious again, and roared: "Bae, now!"

Bae, crouching off to the side with a reserve force of water and earth benders, signaled to his fighters and charged forward. Taking advantage of the fatigue of the Fire Nation troops after a long day of fighting, the full moon, and the setting sun, Bae's fighters combined their elements to create a thick, sticky mud. Sokka let out a high pierced whistle, and as one, all of his warriors leaped backwards from their opponents and retreated as far as they could. The Fire Nation soldiers stood static, confused, until the sticky mud coursed over them, directed by the earth benders. In formation, the water benders brought their arms down and breathed out, freezing the mud over the Fire Benders, locking them into living statues.

They had performed this before with similar success, but only at the previous full moon and only at dusk. Otherwise the fire benders were still powerful enough to thaw the hard, muddy ice and break it away. Now only one or two still had the strength, and they were quickly cut down by Sokka's people.

"Lock 'em up!" Sokka called out, watching his warriors grin and team up to carry the soldiers to the makeshift prison they had constructed. He knew they would encase their hands and feet in stone to prevent their bending and any escape.

Around the fire that night he stretched, grimacing at his sore muscles. This constant fighting was beginning to take a toll. He thought he'd get used to battle, but had realized that it was something he could never get used to. The death. The blood. The soreness of his hands. The ache in his legs. The tiredness that always seemed to be lurking behind his eyes except for when the sword was in his hands.

He examined the handful of cuts and scrapes he had gotten that day, running soft fingers over the stinging lines, wincing at the touch. The worst was a quick slice in the tender skin below his eye. Suki had stitched it up for him but it still hurt. He hoped it made him look tough.

Bae, Jimoz, and the other officers sat with him, finishing up their meal. Suki had gone to bed an hour ago and Sokka felt almost ready to join her. They would have to be up at dawn, ready to meet the Fire Nation. This village was almost clear. There were three more occupied villages on their route before the Western coast was free and they could join Toph in Omashu. It hadn't been easy. They had lost friends, comrades, brothers, and sisters. But apart from the high mountain towns that the Fire Nation hadn't bothered with, the west was becoming more free every day. Sokka's army had swelled with villagers and small pockets of rebels to over a thousand men. More of Jimoz's comrades from their secret society had identified him and had rallied others to their cause as well. Jimoz, Bae, and Suki each commanded their own squads, working independently of Sokka's larger force. They sniped in and out during the battles, fast and deadly; daggers to Sokka's sword.

"Let's finish up here tomorrow." Sokka said to Bae, breaking the silence and turning all heads towards him. "Leave the prisoners to the villagers. It's up to them to show mercy or not."

Bae nodded. "Works for me." He was a larger man, stacked with muscle. His shaggy dark hair hung in loose waves across his forehead, partially obscuring his green eyes. He was quick to smile and quicker with the earth he commanded. Jimoz nodded as well, his mouth full. Sokka liked him well enough, for a fire bender. He was younger than Sokka by a year and eager to please. To Sokka he looked like all fire benders with black hair, pale skin, and grey eyes. His face was a bit softer than some with rounder cheeks and wider eyes. But he was Fire Nation. Good Fire Nation yes, but still. He'd never be one of Sokka's people. A trusted ally perhaps, but that was all.

Sokka stood and waved goodnight to his people, one hand still fingering the gash under his eye, ignoring their whoops and catcalls. He walked back in the dark to his tent, set between Bao's and Jimoz's close to the forest. He pushed aside the flaps wearily, gazing down at Suki's dark form. She had been going to bed earlier and earlier the past couple of weeks, complaining of headaches and just not feeling well. He hoped she wasn't getting fire fever, pentapox, or whatever Jimoz had called it.

He stripped off his boots and armor and flopped down beside her on his back with a sigh. His bedroll was comfortable, padded with feathers and lined with fabric that was cool in the summer and held heat in the winter. It was such an improvement from the one he had when he travelled with Aang. It had always been hot, no matter what season.

He closed his eyes as he thought of Aang. He was…had been such a goofy kid. He didn't deserve the death he had gotten. If Sokka ever came across Azula, he'd bury his sword to the hilt in her belly.

Suki rolled over in her sleep, laying her arm across his chest. He tucked his arm under her neck, cradling her against him. His warrior woman. He knew she could lay him out flat if she wanted to, and had a couple of times when his male pride had gotten the better of him. He was glad for her restraint of not dumping him on his ass in front of his troops. He had always had a soft spot in his tough male heart for strong women. His sister was strong.

He frowned at the thought of her. She had a kid. A half fire nation kid. He pushed away the thought of the father; it was easier to assume it was Zuko like everyone else. She was too young to be a mom. But she was. She was stronger than he was. She would be alright. And she had Zuko to watch her.

Sokka stared at the dark, tented walls above him, thinking about how she had changed. How he had changed. How tall Toph was. How…honorable Zuko was, claiming Kaya and protecting Katara. He'd still be glad when the angry jerk had his own country back and Sokka could go home to his. But who would Katara go home with? The thought troubled him as he slowly sank into sleep.

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The setting sun lit the three figures from behind as they took a step further into the alley. Zuko thrust Katara behind him as he squinted, trying to see who they were. She laid a hand on his shoulder from behind, trying to turn him.

"Zuko. Zuko! It's okay."

"Calm down, brother." One of the men said, turning sideways slightly to check the front of the alley. Zuko relaxed as he recognized him: Kwan, one of Toph's men. He was twin to Kyung, who stood on the other side of the alley. The third man, the mountain, was Seon, another one of Toph's. He was a man of few words, ever since the Fire Nation had cut his tongue out. Zuko didn't know what for or how to ask. The twins were stocky earth benders, identical except for Kyung's shaved head. They were a couple years older than Zuko and two inches shorter. They had a unique, rough style of earth bending that lacked the finesse of Toph's almost artistic, natural form. Seon wasn't an earth bender, but his massive size and two-handed battle axe functioned just as well when dealing with Fire Nation soldiers.

"Can we go?" Kyung said anxiously. "They're crawling all over."

Katara looked to Zuko who gave a curt nod. She took his arm and ruffled her hair as if he had messed it up and did the same to his. He rolled his eyes and plastered a smitten smile on his face as they walked out of the alley, the other three trailing after them moments later. He and Katara walked through the crowded streets, their heads bent together as they giggled, looking for all the world like a young couple in love. Katara kept her blue eyes down as much as she could, their turned, touching heads concealing Zuko's scar. They followed a winding path, zigzagging and doubling back until they reached a shabby tea shop in the seediest part of the Lower Tier. Even most of the Fire Nation troops left the area alone. It was well known for muggings, murders, and mysterious disappearances. Or so people were led to believe.

In reality it was a hotbed of rebel activity with disguised sentries posted to gently turn away anyone who didn't belong. If there was resistance, they got less gentle and Fire Nation troops did tend to disappear. The teashop, known seven years ago as the Pao Family tea shop, was a 'bolt hole' for rebels in trouble. Zuko and Katara used it as their home base in the city while their large main force camped in the caves high above Ba Sing Se. Over six hundred of their spies, whisperers, and soldiers were in the city at all times with the numbers swelling to over fifteen hundred overnight. Anyone in need of a quick escape could dart into the massive underground concealed barracks below the teashop.

Zuko noted the sentries as they came upon the shop and nodded discreetly to them. They acknowledged him with the barest flick of their eyes before returning to their cover activities: playing pai sho, begging, flying a kite on the roof of a nearby building. He and Katara broke apart as they ducked into the shop, their faces turning serious. The shop was well stocked with their people, all of whom nodded their heads or grunted in greeting. Kyung, Kwan, and Seon headed towards the back, for the stone staircase that led to the barracks underneath.

"Fire Lord Zuko!" A voice shouted from the back as they passed and Zuko cringed. Motzu's excited face appeared behind the counter for a moment before he was yanked back around the divider by Denali's strong hand. Katara grumbled in her throat about impulsive, thoughtless fire benders and Zuko glared at her too.

"Don't glare at me, you're the one who picked him." She poked him in the shoulder and brushed past, sitting down in a booth beside Chi Lin and Kaya. She looked over her shoulder at Zuko and smirked. "Your Lordship better go see what he wants."

"Don't tell your Lordship what to do." Zuko grumbled as he stalked past, making both Kaya and Katara chuckle. He didn't let them see his smile. "I'll need your report later, Katara." She waved a hand at him lazily as she wrapped an arm around Kaya in a one-sided hug. Chi Lin sat opposite them, a cup of steaming tea in his hands, his eyes roving everywhere.

Thinking that he wasn't sure if he was okay with having Kaya sitting in the front of the shop used by rebels and could be attacked any day, Zuko rounded the divider that separated the kitchen from the seating area. Denali had a squirming Motzu effortlessly locked in a one-arm hold with his hand clenched over the younger man's mouth. He looked at Zuko with a tired expression.

"He has been like this all day, Zuko. He needs a muzzle."

"I'm aware." Zuko motioned for him to let Motzu go. The fire nation man scrambled away from Denali with a rueful look on his face. "You need to keep your voice down, especially here."

"I'm sorry my Lord, it's just-"

"Just call me Zuko. I'm no one's 'Lord' yet."

"Yes, my Lord. A message came for you." He held out a small, rolled scroll with the wax seal already broken.

Zuko did his best to not broil his lieutenant as he reached for the small scroll. Motzu might be absent minded, but he was a strategic, ruthless soldier in combat and Zuko relied on him to lead his fire benders. Otherwise he would have let Denali hold him down until the war ended and thanked him for it.

Zuko pulled it open, noting his name at the top. It was written in the water tribe language and he frowned. "Have you read this yet?" They both shook their heads. "It's my Uncle's handwriting." He paced back a few steps and caught Katara's eye, motioning her over. She rose, leaving Kaya with Chi Lin. "My Uncle sent a message."

"What did he say?" She asked, leaning against the doorframe. It had been a long day. She noticed Denali acknowledge her with a slight bow and she returned it, meeting his dancing eyes and calm face. He was almost as unreadable as Chi Lin, she thought, frowning.

"I don't know."

"You really should learn to read water tribe." She chastised him, taking the parchment from his hand. She skimmed over it, her brow furrowing only to shoot upwards. "He says Romjak and our people had made it to the caves safely and are working on a new Tree Town behind them, because there's not enough space." She squinted her eyes, trying to make out the tiny lettering. Zuko's lips quirked up at her expression. "He says he'll be on his way here soon with 'some old friends.'" She flipped the paper over. "That's all. Any idea who his 'old friends' are?"

"No." Zuko replied, taking the message from her to light it on fire.

"Hmm." Katara shrugged. "I guess any friends of Iroh's are welcome, right?" She grinned mischievously. "Maybe I'll start writing my reports in water tribe."

Zuko glared at her. "if you'd just write them at all it'd be nice."

"You're with me for them anyway, why do you even need them? Or why can't you write them?"

"Because I'm busy."

"Busy doing what? Not reading water tribe?"

"Water tribe makes no sense at all. Why would I want to read it?"

"It was your idea to write everything in water tribe and you can't even read it!"

"Can you read Fire Nation?" Silence and a glare. He knew she could read Earth Kingdom as well as he could but had never learned the complex, delicate Fire Nation characters. "That's what I thought."

"What do you even want me to write? Jumped off building, stopped Fire Nation man from hurting woman, stole documents from Governor, escaped Governor's pet tigerdillo, fought firebenders, ate lunch; was awful, staked out central barracks, noted comings and goings, got noticed, ran, fought Dai Li, fell in hay, pretended to like kissing Zuko, came home?"

"'Pretended to like kissing Zuko?'" Motzu mused from behind them. They both trained their glares on him and he shrank back, grimacing.

Denali cleared his throat, trying to hide a bemused smile. The two of them always entertained him when they bickered. According to his own Northern Water Tribe customs, Zuko should have carved her a betrothal necklace long ago. And if he didn't soon, someone else might want to. "Any assignments for tonight?"

Zuko turned to him, ignoring Katara's indignant huff. "Same as always."

"Mayhem, mischief, and resistance?" Denali said with a crooked smile. "Bit of protection and political defiance thrown in there?"

"Are you sure you're not Fire Nation?" Motzu asked, eyeing Denali closely. "You certainly don't sound very water tribe-y."

"It happens when you live as a 'guest' of the Fire Nation for five years." Denali murmured, his blue-grey eyes flinty. "You start to sound like your enemy."

"Not all of us are your enemy." Motzu pointed out.

"But you all sound alike."

It was Zuko's turn to clear his throat, halting the squabble. "Motzu, take your fire benders and see if you can't find something important to melt."

"Yes Fire Lord!" Motzu saluted hastily and ran out. Denali and Katara chuckled as Zuko glared after him.

"Denali, have you made progress with the water system?"

"We are still working on it." Denali crossed his arms, frowning. "Anything we freeze they just melt immediately or bend back together."

"Maybe the problem needs to disappear entirely."

Denali's eyebrows shot up. Zuko could see the implications and ideas race across his face. "That is a big project."

"Can you do it?"

"Of course." Denali said, his face passive again. "I will take six and be back by morning."

"If you're not, I'm sending Motzu with you next time." Zuko threatened.

Denali chuckled darkly and headed out, stopping beside Katara on his way by. "Do you want to come?"

Katara flicked her eyes up and down him. He was tall and well-built with long brown hair tied at the nape of his neck. His face was clean shaven with dancing flinty eyes that sparkled with a flirt's air, at least around her. She wondered sometimes if he if he liked needling Zuko or was actually interested in her. The way his body was angled towards her made her think he was and she gave him a small smile. "Not tonight."

Denali shrugged and winked at her, genuine affection on his face. "Next time." He walked out, signaling to a group of water benders dressed in green that sat in one of the booths near Kaya.

"He likes you." Zuko told her, walking over to stand in front of her.

"Jealous?" Katara asked, smirking at him as she put her arms around his neck.

"No." He frowned down at her, bracing himself on his forearm above her head. She arched her back, bringing their chests together. "Do you want me to be?"

"Of course not." She nuzzled his neck with her nose, sending shocks straight to his groin. "I think that would be scary."

"Hmmm. I think you're right." He pressed a scorching kiss to her lips, his hands running up from her hips, brushing against the sides of her breasts, to cup her face. He pulled back to look into her gleaming blue eyes. "I need that report."

He winced as she kneed him in the stomach and stormed off. She stomped back to the table with Chi Lin and Kaya, snatching a piece of parchment and a brush set on her way, plopping down at the booth and irately called for someone to light the candles. He smiled to himself, rubbing his stomach, as several fire benders jumped and sent small streams of fire shooting across the sitting area. She glared at him across the room before bending her head to write her report.

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Zuko woke in the still air of the underground barracks, grasping for something that wasn't there. Or rather, someone. Katara was missing. But he wasn't alone: Kaya slept with her nose pressed against his chest, her long curls spread out across his arm laying beneath her head. Her small hand was cold on his chest. He lay his arm across her, trying to warm her up in the chilly, dank air. Where was Katara? He hoped she wasn't still mad about the report. She had still been writing when he'd gone to bed. Kaya must have found him, like she was always able to do. The barracks was simple; stone bed platforms jutted out in the shallow doorless rooms, stacked three high with stone steps leading to them, bent from the underground cave walls by Toph's earth benders, enough to sleep three hundred comfortably. Blankets and thin straw mattresses were all that provided comfort, but Zuko had slept on worse.

Zuko gently sat up, keeping his warm hand on Kaya's back. She reached her small hand out to where his warmth had been and he almost lay back down. The rustling of the thin sheets brought Chi Lin's curious, sleepy face around the doorframe.

"Do you ever sleep?" Zuko murmured, looking down at Kaya.

"Not if she is afraid." Chi Lin replied, his whispering voice soft.

"Where's Katara?" Chi Lin usually knew where everyone was.

"I…do not know." The other man frowned. "She has not come down yet."

Zuko could feel in his blood that it wasn't at all close to sunrise, but also far from sunset. Midnight. He rose, donning his tunic and boots.

"Will you stay with her?"

"Of course." Chi Lin rose, taking Zuko's place on the bed, though he did not lie down. He wrapped both of the blankets tightly around Kaya, cocooning her in wool, and sat beside her, leaning back against the wall.

"I'll bring another blanket for you when I come back." Zuko told him.

"I can get one."

"No." Zuko felt on edge, his hackles raised. "Don't leave her."

Chi Lin nodded, and Zuko could tell that he felt uneasy as well. He took his dao swords from where they leaned by the door and strapped them to his back, making sure they were loose in their sheaths. With a last look back he walked out of the doorway towards the stone steps.

As he mounted the first steps, the secret door was flung open above him with a crash and his swords were in his hands.

"Zuko!" Denali's voice was harsh, unlike him. "Zuko!"

Zuko charged up the stairs, meeting Denali, Motzu, and a half dozen of his people at the top. He twirled his swords in his hands as he slid forward silently, peering around the divide. He whipped his head back around, his heart dropping in his chest.

Kyung and Kwan lay slain on the floor of the teashop, their blood staining the wood in large puddles. Seon was scrabbling against a dozen fire benders, his massive axe holding them at bay. Behind him were three wounded men, two unconscious. Katara stood with her back to Zuko, her water whips lashing tirelessly at the advancing fire benders. They were in full plate armor emblazoned with the sigil of the Phoenix King and armed to the teeth. She froze them, blasted them, shot ice daggers through their eye holes but they kept coming. Zuko, in his brief glance, had seen that she was burned badly on her arm and she had blood on her; hers or someone else's it didn't matter.

His blood pumping fire through him, he lit snakes of fire around his blades and stepped out, coming into view of the invading fire benders. Denali and Motzu stood behind at his sides, their hands similarly full of their elements. The fire benders halted for a moment and Katara paused, confused. Breaking the brief silence, a fire bender lashed out, striking Katara on the side of her head and knocking her to the ground, her water splashing uselessly around her.

With a roar Zuko charged forward to stand above her, defending her against their advance, his flaming swords driving them back. Denali and Motzu sprang forward to back him.

"You shouldn't be with this riff raff, boy." The fire bender in front lifted his face plate, surveying Zuko from his remaining eye. The other was covered with a dark patch, his face framed with a goatee. "Escaped water benders, traitors. Bending like that, you could be a lieutenant."

"I'm far above a lieutenant." Zuko snarled, tightening his grip on his fire until the flames burned blue, coiling into tight spirals along his blades. With only a breath of hesitation, he threw caution to the wind. "I'm Crown Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, rightful heir to the throne." He heard Denali and Motzu shift behind him. He glared into the leader's stunned face as the other man took a step back. "You're committing treason."

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A.N.: They just can't catch a break I really want to demand more reviews before I update again, but I won't. It's too much fun to write! :D