Note- ok i'm literally the worst person ever, i started this story years ago, then i got distracted by two different Cloud Strife stories, a Jack Frost and a Gaara story, all of which i've yet to start publishing. In part its because i love this story so much and i kindof don't want it to end, but i'm trying to finish it up.
You woke up still in shock from the play; you were so worried about the future that you could barely sleep. You looked up at Zuko expecting him to be asleep, you were surprised to see that he was wide awake.
"Couldn't sleep?" Zuko asked his voice filled with concern.
You glanced out the window, it was still dark out but the sun would be rising soon, you shook your head, "theirs too much on my mind" you replied.
"Me too" he sighed pulling you closer.
You cuddled into his bare chest.
"Sozin's comet is only three days away," Zuko mumbled.
"I know" you said as you closed your eyes. There was a few moments of silence before you spoke, "Do you think Aang can beat your father?" you asked.
"I hope so, this war needs to end"
The two of you laid in silence until. You heard a knock on your door. You motioned for Zuko to stay while you got up, quickly fixed your clothes and smoothed out your hair before answering the door. You were surprised to see Jet.
"What's up?" you asked yawning.
"I know it's early but can you check on Smellerbee and Longshot, I heard crying but I'm not so good with that type of thing," Jet asked timidly.
You smiled, "of course" you said as you walked past him.
(Zuko)
After Kana left, Jet entered the room so you decided it was a good time to put a shirt on. You looked at Jet curiously.
"Everyone is so tense, I don't think anyone got any sleep last night" Jet commented.
"I think that play really freaked everyone out" you replied.
Jet nodded in agreement, "Do you think we have a chance?"
"I hope so," you said, Jet awkwardly stood there, not knowing what to say. The silence was uncomfortable, for some reason you spoke, "I should have killed my father when I had the chance," Jet looked at you curiously so you continued, "When I left, he was powerless, but I had my swords, Sung was there too, we could have killed him but we didn't" you sighed.
"So why didn't you kill him?" Jet asked, you could sense a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"I would have just been seizing power, If Aang kills him it ends the war, if I did it, I'm just as bad as my father" you replied choosing your words carefully.
(Kana)
You knocked on the young freedom fighter's door, almost instantly Longshot opened the door a crack but after seeing that it was you he let you in. Smellerbee was wrapped in a blanket crying. You've never seen her cry before, it made you worry.
"Jet sent you didn't he?" She said in between sniffles. "He made everything worse, you won't do that right?"
You nodded, "He neglected to tell me that part but, what can I do?" you asked.
"I don't know, I just want this war to be over, I want to be a kid," Smellerbee cried.
You sat on the bed beside her, as Longshot sat on the other side of her. "I know, its not fair that you had to grow up so quickly, I promise once we end this war, you'll be able to play all day, I think you'll like my home" you told her in a soothing voice.
Unsure of what to say you stayed silent as Smellerbee calmed down. After a few minutes Smellerbee looked at you and said, "Promise me you won't die"
You were shocked to hear her say that, "I promise" you said softly knowing full well you may not be able to keep that promise.
You stayed with Smellerbee and Longshot until Smellerbee finally fell back asleep. Once she was tucked in you told Longshot to come get you if she gets upset again, he nodded, the look on his face seemed like a thank you.
As you were walking back to your room, you noticed that the sun was rising. You walked in the room to see that Jet and Zuko were talking they stopped the second you walked in.
"Is she ok?" Jet asked, his voice filled with concern.
You nodded, "shes sleeping now" you replied trying to regain your composure you were still shocked that she was so worried about you dying.
"Something's wrong" Zuko stated, you were hoping he wouldn't notice.
Jet and Zuko looked at you expectantly until you spoke, "She was worried about me dying" you said softly.
"That won't happen" Zuko said instantly. "I'll protect you"
"I don't plan on dying, I think the play freaked her out" you replied. The play also really freaked you out.
"It freaked everyone out." Jet agreed.
Later that morning, You and Zuko went to train Aang. Aang seemed pretty shaken, the poor kid, he's probably the most freaked out. Aang messed up another firebending form.
"More ferocious! Imagine striking your opponent through the heart" Zuko commanded.
Aang looking desperate said, "I'm trying!"
"Don't be so harsh" You told Zuko, "Aang try to imagine protecting the person you care about most, defeating the Fire Lord means saving them" you told him.
Aang seemed to really respond positively to that. Zuko didn't think it was working, "Now let me hear you roar like a tigerdillo!" Zuko said, you rolled your eyes; you and Zuko have very different teaching styles. Aang roared rather pathetically as a tiny burst of fire escaped his hands. He grinned in embarrassment. "That was pathetic! I said roar!" Zuko yelled.
You sighed as Daisuke approached. Zuko and Aang continued training.
"How goes it?" Daisuke asked, he glanced Zuko and gave you a look, "Is he always that weird?" he asked.
You sighed, "we have very different teaching methods, I try not to argue, besides at this point Aang needs more power than control"
"The poor kid" he said with a frown, you nodded in agreement.
"Who wants a nice cool glass of watermelon juice" you heard Katara call as she walked over carrying a tray.
"Oh I do, I do!" Aang said as he run off towards her.
Zuko grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, "Hey! Your lesson isn't over yet!" Zuko yelled.
"Come one Zuko what's the big deal?" Suki asked.
Zuko let go of Aang and said "Fine! If you want to lounge around like a bunch of snail sloths all day, then go ahead!" then he angrily walked away.
"I better go after him" you sighed. You had to admit it was strange, Sozin's comet is only three days away but everyone is relaxing, you would have thought that their would be some sort of preparation.
You found Zuko sitting under a tree in the backyard, he looked up when you approached but didn't know what to say. You just sat with him; sometimes you just didn't need words.
After a few moments Zuko calmed down and spoke, "Is it me or are they too laid back about this?" he questioned.
"It is strange, you would think that they would be preparing" you agreed.
You and Zuko sat under the tree in a comfortable silence, cuddling. You couldn't help but think about when Sozin's comet arrives, between Smellerbee crying and Zuko freaking out, you couldn't help but worry even more than you already were.
Suddenly Longshot appeared in front of you, he looked distressed.
"Is Smellerbee alright?" you asked worried. He nodded but something in his face said that it wasn't completely true. "You're worried about her?" you clarified. This time Longshot nodded making it obvious.
You looked at Zuko, "Go make sure she's ok" Zuko told you. You nodded, and gave him a quick kiss on the forehead, before standing and heading inside with Longshot.
You found Smellerbee in the kitchen making some tea. When she saw that it was you and Longshot, Smellerbee look right at him and said, "I told you I was alright" a few moments later she said, "I know but really you didn't have to get Kana"
"Smellerbee, its fine, he was just worried about you, and I wanna help as much as I can" you told her.
Smellerbee smiled shyly, another action that was strange she's never shy. The two of you talked of your home, she seemed really excited to go there. You were telling her about all of the kids on the island and describing the house you live in, she and Longshot seemed so at ease.
You were startled when you heard yelling coming from the front of the house. In a slight panic you ran there, closely followed by the young freedom fighters. On the way you ran into kaito and Daisuke and Jet, whom you exchanged confused glances with before continuing.
"What's going on?" you asked upon seeing Aang in a fighting stance, and Zuko on the ground in front of him. You rushed over to help Zuko up.
"Zuko went crazy and destroyed my sand sculpture of Suki" Sokka complained, Suki elbowed him, "And then he attacked Aang" he added.
You looked at Zuko curiously. But before he could speak Katara yelled, "What's wrong with you? You could have hurt Aang!"
"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with all of you? How can you sit around having beach parties when Sozin's Comet is only three days away?" Zuko paused as team avatar gave him a strange look, "Why are you all looking at me like I'm crazy?"
"About Sozin's Comet," Aang started timidly, "I was actually gonna wait to fight the Fire Lord until after it came." You were shocked no one told me, and by the looks on Daisuke, Kaito and Jet's faces no one told them either.
"After?" Zuko repeated in shock.
"I'm not ready, I need more time to master firebending" Aang admitted.
'To be honest your earthbending could use some work too" Toph added.
"So you all knew Aang was going to wait?" Zuko questioned. You knew the answer as soon as you saw their guilty faces.
"Why didn't anyone tell us?" you asked.
"You wouldn't have agreed" Katara snapped at you. You couldn't help but glare at her.
"Honestly if Aang was to fight the fire lord right now, he would lose" Sokka said then looked at Aang and said "No offence."
"The whole point of fighting the Fire Lord before the Comet was to stop the Fire Nation from winning the War, but they pretty much won the War when they took Ba Sing Se. Things can't get any worse." Katara added.
"You're wrong." Zuko said as he turned away from everyone, "It's about to get worse than you can even imagine. The day before the eclipse, my father asked me to attend an important war meeting. It was what I dreamed about for so many years. My father had finally accepted me back." Zuko explained before relaying his father's horrible plans, "I wanted to speak out against this horrifying plan, but I'm ashamed to say I didn't. My whole life, I struggled to gain my father's love and acceptance, but once I had it, I realized I'd lost myself getting there. I'd forgotten who I was." He finished in a grim tone.
"I can't believe this" Katara said as she fell to her knees.
You frowned, Zuko had already told you, your brothers and Jet this, but you decided against telling Team avatar because you figured that Aang would fight the Fire Lord before he could use Sozin's comet to carry out his plans.
"I always knew the Fire Lord was a bad guy but his plan is just pure evil" Sokka said in disbelief.
"What am I going to do" Aang said hopelessly.
"I know you're scared, and I know you're not ready to save the world, but if you don't defeat the Fire Lord before the comet comes, there won't be a world to save anymore." Zuko said in an even tone.
"Why didn't you tell me about your dad's crazy plan sooner" Aang snapped.
"I didn't think I had to" Zuko argued, "I assumed you were going to fight him before the comet, no one told me that you decided to wait"
Aang looked around hopelessly. "This is bad, this is really, really bad"
"Aang you don't have to do this alone" Katara told him.
"All of us have your back," you said with a smile.
"I think I'm ready to knock some more fire nation heads" Jet said with a grin.
"I don't know about you but I'm ready for a fight" kaito said as he flexed his muscles.
Daisuke sighed, "I'll make sure he doesn't do anything stupid," he said gesturing to the bear-like waterbender.
"Alright team avatar is back! Air. Water. Earth. Fire. Fan and Sword." Sokka said as he stuck a pose. Everyone else exchanged confused glances.
"Fighting the Fire Lord is going to be the hardest thing we've ever done together, but I wouldn't want to do it any other way." Aang announced.
Team Avatar gathered for a group hug, they called You, Zuko, your brothers and the freedom fighters over to join in the hug, being part of Team Avatar means being part of the group hugs apparently. Everyone seemed to be calmer, more confident even, but you couldn't help but worry.