A/N:
Guest: No, I don't think I wrote a one shot like it. Though i could be wrong. Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it so far, and yeh, I love Sukka and I hate to break them up, but Sukaang is pree good too. And I'll make it worth your while as well :)
Ashley Barbosa: Yep, I'll make the Kataang friendship as good as it can be, and it'll be worth your while, trust me. Everything will work out in the end, well, for most people at least. Others, not so much I reckon.
TayBone2305: I am working on making sequels to those Heartbreaks stories, so don't worry, I'll jump on that too in time. There's a bit of politics and diplomacy in this episode so I hope you like that. This fic won't be too politics heavy, but there will be a significant amount of it. I'm glad you like little moments like that. And that Kataang scene was a treat to write if I'm honest. There's something wholesome about an understanding Aang and guilty Katara in a Zutara scenario. That last sentence will make many reappearances so don't worry, you're correct there. No, I'll def write more Sukka in this fic, they won't breakup immediately, but they won't stay together forever obviously. And yeh, they are quite similar to Kataang, that's precisely why I like their dynamic so much :) Sorry I haven't updated this fic in a while. I know you and many others enjoy it and I've just been drowning in Uni work while also trying to maintain making music. But, I'll try to write more often. Stay safe :)
Gabriela N Gonzalez: I'm glad you like it :) Aang will definitely be selfless in a Zutara situation I feel, and that's exactly how Imma write him. So don't worry, he won't be hurt for too long, in just a few chapters, he's gonna be flirting with other girls and Sukaang will begin as well.
Bay45220: Yeh, i didn't want Kataang to remain on rocky and awkward grounds so I decided to smooth it out. That's how I feel it would go in canon. And despite the cracks, Sukka will remian vigilant until they eventually break lol.
Episode 5:
Warning: Mentions of Rape and Sexual Assault
6 months and 15 days After Ozai – it took Sokka and Aang 1 month to deal with the disputes between the South and the North. Suki remained on Kyoshi Island while Sokka returned to the Southern WaterTribe. Aang, Katara and Zuko currently reside in the Fire Nation, handling domestic and international affairs.
"Furthermore, the Earth King and I came to the conclusion that the inhabitants of Yu Dao will also be returning to the Fire Nation. And – "
"Forgive me, Fire Lord… but… along with revolts in the Citadel, the people of Yu Dao, especially those of both Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom descent, are also hesitant towards the idea. We can't simply deport them– "
"I've already promised the Earth King that I would do what's necessary, and after all that's happened, we cannot afford to be dishonest or uncompromising," Zuko stated, cutting his advisor off as he spoke with conviction.
"Our people can barely keep afloat with our current economy; the reparations paid to the Earth Kingdom and both the Water Tribes have already trumped the amount we invested in developing our technology and supporting the war efforts. Deporting all those civilians back will not only upset them, but it will also hinder us, and our ability to maintain our economy," another councilmen argued.
"The road ahead certainly is challenging," this time it was the Avatar who interjected – he had remained quiet up until now, and due to that, everyone's ears were trained on him. "Evidently, the Fire Nation cannot escape from the atrocities it committed during the war – of course, that's no fault of the individuals, or the families, but the Nation as a whole still needs to be held responsible." Aang looked towards Zuko who was seated to his right, at the head of the table, who simply nodded towards the young Nomad, thus gesturing him to continue. "The land of Yu Dao was illegally stolen and has also been illegally occupied for many years now. However, despite the circumstances, the land is still under the Earth King's jurisdiction, and now must be returned to him. If he desires the removal of Fire Nation citizens, then we must compromise – any other action would only lead to further arguments, and possibly another war." Turning back to Zuko's advisor, Aang regarded him with a knowing expression as he stated, "And I'm no expert on domestic economic crises, but I believe rechannelling funds back into the army, and weaponry and artillery production would be more taxing on the nation than simply having a few families return. Homes and infrastructure can be built, food and other consumables can be grown or traded, and jobs can be created… but war only welcomes further suffering and bloodshed."
The entire room remained silent, most of them pondering over the Avatar's suggestion before reluctantly agreeing. Zuko regarded the Aang with a proud smile, while Katara was surprised and awed by him. Over the last two months, during many meetings, Aang would just goof off and not take much of anything seriously. It had annoyed Zuko and Katara greatly; he was the Avatar and he needed to contribute appropriately with proper advice instead of suggesting the Fire Lord declare one day in the calendar a 'National Dance Party Day'. Zuko's generals and advisors also wondered if Avatar Aang was really worthy of the prestigious title, thinking that he was simply a child who got lucky in his battle with Ozai. However, Zuko and Katara recognised the sensible diplomat hidden within Aang – it's precisely why they were so frustrated with him; they knew he could offer appropriate and critical advice. The problem was that he just didn't have a solution at the time. Both Zuko's advisors and the Earth Kingdom had convincing arguments, and up until yesterday, Aang hadn't a clue whom he should side with.
One conversation, with one individual, was enough for him though.
"Well said, Avatar Aang. Well said," Zuko nodded towards the younger teenager before turning back to his advisors, generals and fire sages. "I think we can all agree that Avatar Aang's reasoning is more than fair." Most of the men in the room nodded reluctantly, so Zuko took that as a cue to continue with the agenda he had prepared. "So, moving on, the Earth Kingdom and Southern WaterTribe especially has requested that we conjure and agree upon certain restrictions and a set of rules regarding conflict and war. In the highly unfortunate instance where war would once again occur, all Nations, and the individuals identifying themselves as their citizens, must operate under a set of restrictions, of which if broken, will lead to heavy penalties and consequences.
"Due to our current economic decline, the other nations gave us the authority to create said restrictions, mostly out of pity I'd say, but either way, I propose that any acts against humanity or peace, committed during or prior to a time of war. be punishable by… monetary loss, perhaps."
"How would you classify these acts, Fire Lord?" A nervous General Fang asked.
"Any acts that disregard or mutilate the value of human life and peace."
"Such as?" A fire sage asked.
"The planning, preparation, initiation, or waging of war," Katara stated, her voice was laced with conviction and sadness as she spoke up. "Murder, rape, or slavery of persons, whether civilian or soldier, during war. Wrongful and ill-advised destruction of property, murder or ill-treatment of hostages, torture or inhuman treatment of individuals and/or groups, and general destruction not justified by military necessity."
"Also, I think we should regard genocide and mass systematic rape or sexual enslavement as acts punishable by the highest monetary penalties."
The general population within the room began discussing various other regulations and penalties regarding said restrictions, but Aang had zoned out. The topic at hand was one he had discussed briefly in the North with Sokka, but the full effects hadn't settled in until now. The rather dejected and sombre conversation he had the day prior circled his mind while the voices of Zuko, Katara and the many other councilmen faded into the background.
1 day ago
"The Fire Nation needs to pay. They stole everything from me and many others alike. You can't just let them graze by. They need to suffer."
"I understand your pain, believe me – "
"Oh, do you?" The girl regarded him with scrutinous eyes. "Do you really?"
Aang simply sighed as he helped her onto the ship – the last of the remaining prisoners of war were now being deported back home and he was overseeing the final batch. He needed to clear his head from the constant meetings and stresses that came with them, so he thought helping out the last water tribe and earth kingdom prisoners would be a good use of his time. Though, he knew he likely wouldn't be able to relax when a rather dejected and angry water tribe girl asked him what he was doing in the Fire Nation of all places. When he told her the reason for his stay, she all but jumped down his throat.
"I know you lost your people, and I empathise with you… but just because you've felt pain unimaginable to most of us, it doesn't make our own suffering any less real."
"Of course it doesn't," Aang agreed as he helped her take a seat inside, his staff in hand. "But the nation is already suffering, and its inhabitants are innocent. They had nothing to do with the crimes Sozin, Azulon, and Ozai committed against our people."
"That may be true," the girl hesitantly agreed before turning back to him, defiant. "But they didn't do anything to help us either. Or to stop the Fire Lords."
"The locals would've been executed or silenced had they spoken up against their leaders," Aang argued as he took a seat beside the girl. "You know that Kanto."
"Then what about the leaders themselves? The commanders, generals, politicians and even soldiers – why do they of all people get to walk away unscathed?"
"They don't," Aang shook his head, "my friend, Fire Lord Zuko, is suggesting that they be penalised and taxed for their crimes and – "
"Money! That's it?! They'll just be paying money to get out of their wrongdoings?!" Kanto hollered, fuming as she spat at the airbender.
"Look, calm down – I – I know its not what you want to hear but we can't exactly – "
"My mother was dragged away from our home," the watertribe girl interrupted him, "When they attacked the South, the firebenders held down my mother and her sister against their will. She watched her sister get raped by a commander helplessly, unable to do anything. Then, they raped my mother and killed her sister. They burned her igloo down right in front of her and enslaved her in a Fire Nation prison where she was constantly taken advantage of and used for pleasure." The girl sobbed into her hands while Aang stared at his feet, unable to meet the girls' bloodshot eyes when they glared into his own broken irises. "I was born in a prison – I'm a by-product of war and rape. Those generals and commanders would molest my mother and I on a constant basis… and now… you sit here and try to justify your reasoning for letting these monsters go with nothing but a slap on the wrist?!"
Aang sat speechless, he truly didn't know how to respond to her questions; he held his beliefs to the highest regard, but she wasn't wrong either.
"My family lost everything. My mother lost her dignity, her freedom, her purity – and I've only ever known death and injustice. And these monsters who committed these atrocious and despicable acts, they just get to walk away with a hefty fine and nothing else?! That seems right to you, Avatar Aang?!"
"I – I… That's awful but… I don't know what…" he sighed, unable to conjure an appropriate response as looked at her pleadingly. "I don't know what to do. What do you want?"
"I, like many other victims of war, are not interested in forgiveness. We want justice," suddenly, her face softened slightly as her eyes grew understanding. "These monsters need to pay for what they did, and stripping them of a few yuans won't satisfy anyone, nor will they learn their lesson."
Sighing deeply, the girl wiped her tears off her face as she stood up and began walking away after stating, "I can try to explain to you how certain actions should be punishable by death, but you're the only air nomad alive, and though we didn't know much about your people in the South, my mother did tell me stories about the air nomads. So, I know of your pacifist nature and beliefs… but… ask yourself, if you had witnessed what happened to your people, if you had heard my mother's cries, if you had felt the tears of the entire world… how would you punish these inhumane individuals?"
Present:
"It's not enough," came the Avatar's soft whisper as the realisation hit him with the full force equivalent to that of a hundred flying bison's crashing into him. All conversations in the room came to halt when they noticed the Avatar's lips moving, suddenly interested. "It's… its not enough. These penalties… they're too lenient, too forgiving; we can't ensure that these rules and regulations will be followed and respected if the consequences consist of only monetary loss."
"So, what do you mean Aang?" Katara, who was seated to his left, asked, gazing at him sadly as she noticed him frowning with a dejected expression.
"War, in of itself, is so disgusting that adding onto it by torturing, enslaving and raping civilians and hostages should be treated and recognised as a betrayal against humanity… n-not just an individual or a nation… and the individuals committing these – these… war crimes… they need to be punished accordingly. And a simple fine will not suffice."
"Then, what do you suggest?" Zuko asked, intrigued.
"I'm an air nomad, I'm forgiving by nature…" Aang sighed as he dipped his head in acknowledgement before he turned to face Zuko, Katara and everyone else in the room, determination clear in his grey eyes. "But the world isn't. So, monetary loss or the loss of wealth will not satisfy most individuals who have suffered due to these war crimes. And if they feel as if their leaders are once again betraying them, there'll be continuous revolts and civil unrest among many communities, especially in the WaterTribes and Earth Kingdom villages. Therefore, due to the agony and emotional as well as physical trauma caused by these heinous acts – "
"Excuse me, Avatar Aang," General Fang interrupted, "I respect you and your intuition, but what evidence do you have that proves these injustices have caused the amount of trauma you're alluding to?"
Aang stared the general dead in his eyes as he spoke, his voice low and dangerously unwavering, "Yesterday, I spoke to a girl from the Southern WaterTribe, no older than me, who told me of how her mother had to watch her sister get raped, watch her home be destroyed, and had to helplessly submit to all the soldiers and commanders who took advantage of her when she was enslaved and imprisoned here in the Fire Nation. The girl, whose name is Kanto – if you care enough to know – was born in prison – she was a child who was brought into this world through such a disgusting act. I watched her cry her eyes out as she explained all this to me. Now, tell me General, while she was bawling her eyes out, should I have stopped her to ask what evidence she could provide that would prove that what she claimed was actually true?"
With that, the General dipped his head in shame and nervousness while the entire table just gaped at the young nomad; having never seen this side of him, they all expected him to be cracking jokes by now. Katara and Zuko were the least baffled, though, they were still surprised, nonetheless. The story had rocked them to their core, but Aang's cold and sarcastic response towards the General completely caught them off guard.
"I… I understand, Avatar Aang," General Fang conceded, wondering how he was to escape this little fiasco. "I offer you my sincerest apology."
"Anyway, as I was saying… due to the emotional and physical trauma these war crimes inflict upon individuals, their families, and likely, their descendants, I suggest that these atrocities – in the Fire Nation at least – be punishable by… life imprisonment."
Later that Evening:
"Who knew Aang would show up all serious and in complete 'Avatar Mode'," Zuko joked as he walked towards his girlfriend who was watching the sunset by the balcony. "I am proud of him though."
"So am I," Katara agreed, smiling when she felt his arms wound around her midriff from behind. His head nuzzled the back of her neck while he breathed in her distinct aroma. "He really surprised me today. He's been doing that a lot lately: surprising me."
"I guess so," Zuko nodded, finally feeling at peace as for once he had a successful meeting that didn't end in disagreement and incessant yelling amongst his advisors, fire sages, and his generals. Also, due to the civil unrest in the Fire Nation and the several meetings he'd have to attend, he and Katara had yet to share a peaceful, relaxing, loving moment since their arrival. Almost five entire months, and they had yet to catch a break. Though, now wasn't too bad of a time to enjoy the warmth she provided.
Smiling to himself, he leaned further and dropped feather light kisses along the side of her neck, making her gasp in surprise as he'd never ventured below her jawline before, and the feeling was just as satisfying as it was sudden.
"Zuko," Katara tried to protest, "I'm tired."
"So am I," he grinned against her neck. "So, let's relax." He smirked as he turned her around and softly kissed her, his hands tangling themselves in her hair while her arms rounded his torso and pulled him closer as she kissed him back, sighing into his mouth.
She didn't know what came over her, maybe she had gotten lost in the sudden confidence at surged within her before, but when Zuko began undoing her sash to free up some skin to tease her with, she instantly became self-conscious and stopped him from doing so. Since this was her first relationship, it was all new to her, therefore, she was immensely nervous – also, the fact that he was far more experienced than her, having been in prior long-term relationship, caused her to become somewhat insecure as well. So, needless to say, Katara didn't feel all too comfortable going further than kissing for now.
Noticing her uneasiness, Zuko immediately pulled his hands away and apologised, "I'm – I'm sorry. I got… I got carried away."
"Its okay," Katara smiled as she cupped his cheek and gave him a small peck. "I'm just tired," she lied, afraid of telling him that she felt insecure and nervous whenever he tried to advance.
Also, the fact that this was the first time they'd really been intimate since arriving in the Fire Nation didn't help either; other than a few pecks and some minor kisses, they hadn't explored the physical aspect of their relationship all too much, if at all. The majority of their time was spent in meetings, discussing politics – and for Katara, her mind mostly lingered on the Southern Water Tribe. She missed her family immensely, and she promised herself, that once Aang's business in the Fire Nation was dealt with, she'd ask him if he could fly her home on Appa – that is if Zuko no longer required her assistance for the time being.
"Do you know when Aang's leaving?" Katara asked Zuko as she made her way back inside, shifting towards the door so she could return to her sleeping quarters and allow Zuko to get some shut eye.
"He actually left a few hours ago," Zuko answered as he too left the balcony and shifted towards the open doorway.
"What? Why?" Katara asked, surprised and disappointed.
"There was some emergency in Omashu that required his immediate attention. He got a letter and left immediately. He asked me to apologise for not saying goodbye. Sorry, I forgot to tell you." Zuko apologised, taking off his royal hair pin and ruffling his hair as he asked, "What did you want with Aang?"
Katara bit her lip as she thought it over; telling him that she desired to go home would make him feel guilty for keeping her, and she didn't want that. But she also knew if she admitted it, he'd suggest she take a ship back home immediately… and though she was thinking optimistically, Katara also understood that she could further help and revitalise the Fire Nation greatly in the amount of time it would take her to reach home on a ship. It was precisely why she wanted to travel by Appa as it would only take around two or three days, whereas by ship it would take weeks – especially with the newly established border patrols.
Therefore, the master waterbender decided that she would stay and wait for Aang to return instead of taking a long journey home for a trip that would likely be cut short due to another situation in the Fire Nation which Zuko would need her for.
"I just wanted to ask him where he was going next," Katara partially lied; she was planning on asking him about his flight plan before revealing her agenda to be fair.
"Well, he was gonna go to Kyoshi Island to relax for a while… you know, to catch up with Suki, before returning to Ba Sing Se. But with the emergency in Omashu now, obviously that planned got thrown off the Bison's saddle," Zuko joked, hoping he could lighten her mood.
Katara, though not thoroughly amused, awarded him a faint smile before sighing in disappointment. She strolled over to him, kissed him goodnight and walked back to her room, wondering exactly how long it would be until she got to return home once again, to her family.