A. N. : This chapter is guest-starring Sokka ! I actually like writing him - his thoughts are all over the place, but at least they're not depressing.
Sokka doesn't understand what's going on.
Which, while not being that uncommon – what with all the flying and magic and spirits going around these days – does not usually reach the point of not having a single clue about what is happening.
Helping prince-ponytail as a collateral to save Katara ? He can deal. Having prince-ponytail and the wheat-jerk – and how did he even get there – escape Ba Sing Se with them while Aang is down because he got struck by lightning ? What the fuck is going on in here ?
Grangran would probably wash his mouth with snow if she heard his thoughts.
Lightning though – Sokka frowns. How is he going to find a way to counter that ? Maybe if he had some sort of metallic pole, like he saw on some houses in Earth Kingdom… Would it even work with something shot by a person ? Would the lightning act like normal lightning from a storm, or would it be like Katara's water and follow its target no matter what ?
Argh, now is not the time for strategic planning !
First, get everyone to safety, so Aang can heal. Katara is taking care of him, so he should be alright – he will be alright, damn it – but even she can't make miracles happen. So, leading Appa somewhere safe is the priority.
Okay, but where is safe ? And what then ? Ugh, if only Dad was here to help him…
Wait. That's it !
If they go to the Water Tribe camp, they'll be safe and they will have help to make plans and deal with the two jerks in the back !
Why are they even here, though ? And how come Jet hasn't tried to kill scarface yet ? And what did prince-jerkface do that needed Toph to go with him ?
Sokka can't wait to get to the campground, because this whole thing is slowly driving him crazy and he needs answers.
They finally land and he hurries to the back to help. The King and the bear all but jump out of the saddle, obviously not in need of any help. Jet helps Katara get Aang down before Sokka can say anything – why does she accept, what happened for her to do anything but kick the jerk in the nuts ?
Toph gets on the ground with all the delicacy of an elephant-seal, nothing unusual, but then she makes stairs so that prince-ponytail-who-dumped-the-ponytail can walk down without risking to accidentally hurt the baby.
The what –
Sokka chokes and almost falls down from Appa. A baby. What the fuck is this guy doing with a baby ? Is it his ? Why has Sokka never seen it before ? Why is its skin dark ? Who is the mother ?
Okay actually never mind, he doesn't want to think about the last question.
Men of the Tribe are approaching, Dad at their head, and Sokka comes down – someone has to be calm and explain the situation after all, and Katara is both busy and very distressed, Toph doesn't know half the people here, no offense to the King but no, and the rest are just jerks. Or can't talk, like Momo or that baby. Or the bear. Or Appa. Or anything – stop thinking about the baby and focus !
And now Dada is looking at him strangely – slapping yourself in front of people is apparently not a good idea. Oh, whatever.
He talks about the coup, about princess-crazy-blue-fire-who-can-apparently-shoot-lightning-now, and about how both this guy and that guy are assholes – sorry – but for some reason they're here now can someone please explain how that happened ?
Prince-jerkface does. Great. He says he was in Ba Sing Se to hide from Azula – really now – that Jet was a waiter at his uncle's tea shop – this is getting ridiculous – that they got captured and then fought Azula and are therefore definitely not staying in Ba Sing Se.
Right.
For those who are confused – like quite a few guys over there who apparently aren't that close with Bato – Sokka would like to remind everyone that this jerk is the Prince of the Fire Nation and that he chased Aang around the world for months to capture him. So yeah, Sokka doesn't exactly trust him.
The men bristle and some of them are even starting to draw their weapons, but Dad makes a gesture of appeasement. He asks scarface to give them a reason to shelter him.
And he bows, prince-jerkface gets on his knees and bows like a man asking for the Chief's forgiveness, and he says he doesn't have proof of what he's saying, but he swears on his honor as a man that he won't bring harm to the Tribe. Says that his acts ore not only for his own sake, but also for the safety of the baby – Lin, a war child he found in the desert and has been taking care of ever since, and who would be in danger if Azula learned of her. Says that once the Avatar recovers – he hesitates – he is even ready to teach him firebending.
And damn, these last words seem to physically hurt him – but if it was honest, this is the best news Sokka has heard in ages.
He looks at Dad, who nods and says they will accept Prince Zuko, but that they will keep him on watch – one false step, one action that makes them think he could betray them, and there will be consequences.
Jerkface bows again and opens his mouth, probably to thank Dad or whatever, but is interrupted by Jet, who says – spits, and Sokka notices he's shaking – that he will be the one to keep an eye on the Prince – damn, calm down with the venom – and that after all, that's what he came here for.
And if this isn't ominous, Sokka doesn't know what is.