Chapter 15: Compromise

The walk back to camp with Katara was silent, the weight of Sokka's glaring disapproval looming heavily in the air. As they broke into the clearing Sokka wasted no time and positioned himself squarely in Zuko's path.

"Give me your hands," he demanded, the sharpness in this voice cutting through the stillness.

Without a word, Zuko complied, setting down the bags he carried and raising his wrists as Sokka swiftly fastened cold, unyielding cuffs around them. The metallic clinks resounded in the stillness, echoing the palpable tension that had settled between them. Zuko did his best to mask his emotions, his eyes locked onto the Water Tribe boy before him.

Katara's eyes blazed with indignation as she spoke up. "Why are you doing this Sokka? He has done nothing to any of us and he has been unrestrained for two days already."

Aang, ever the peacemaker, sought to mediate, attempting to preserve the fragile harmony within the group. However, Sokka's patience had worn thin and he let the true depth of his feelings flood forth, a torrent of disdain and distrust.

Sokka spared no words, stating bluntly, "I don't trust him Katara. We shouldn't trust a firebender at all. I wish we could just drop him off at an earthbending prison and be done with it."

Aang stepped in, his voice tinged with sadness. "Sokka, we've talked about this."

But Sokka remained resolute, his protective instincts for his sister driving his actions. "No Aang. She is my sister, and I have to protect her from him, and others like him. I will not sit here and let this turn into another Jet situation."

"This is nothing like that, Sokka," Katara exclaimed in frustration.

"I do not care Katara. It is my job to protect you. What if something had happened this morning?" Sokka questioned vehemently. "They are all the same- heartless fire breathers going around spreading destruction and pain. They kill what is in their path and don't care about the aftermath."

Throughout the heated exchange, Zuko kept his gaze fixed on the ground, avoiding Sokka's eyes. The words uttered were thick with prejudice and disdain, and they hung heavily in the air, intensifying the ever-present sadness that seemed to define Zuko's existence. Sokka harbored a profound dislike for him, even wishing he could rid himself of Zuko. The depth of Sokka's prejudice against firebenders was evident, as he painted them all with the same brush of mistrust and loathing.

Ignoring the prying eyes of the group, Zuko quietly made his way through the campsite and down to the riverbed, where he settled and stared out over the water.


Katara watched Zuko leave, then turned on her brother. "That was uncalled for Sokka."

"Actually it was very called for," Sokka argued, his frustration evident. "I saw the two of you today, in the café."

Katara raised an eyebrow, her expression turning slightly puzzled. "What are you talking about, Sokka?"

Sokka leaned in closer to her, his voice low and filled with frustration. "Katara, you can't be that blind. I saw you two in there, sharing food, and holding hands. It was like you were on a date!"

Katara's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized what Sokka was referring to. The encounter with Lirin had painted an unexpected picture of her and Zuko, one that was far from the truth. But now she understood how it might have appeared to her overprotective brother.

"It wasn't like that, Sokka." She replied, her voice trying to maintain a sense of calm. "We were just trying to blend in. I let Lirin draw her own conclusions. And she assumed that we were together because of Mom's betrothal necklace. It's not like Zuko and I are actually-"

Sokka crossed his arms as he cut her off, his voice sharp. "Blend in? Really, Katara? I thought we were supposed to be cautious around him. But there you were, sharing food and all that. You are getting too comfortable around him. We can't let our guard down, not when he's around."

Katara sighed, realizing that she needed to address Sokka's concerns. "Sokka, I know you don't trust him completely, and I understand why. But he's been helping us, and I believe he's genuinely trying to change. We can't let our past experiences dictate our future actions."

"Is your prejudice of Zuko only because he is a firebender?" She asked.

Sokka's brows furrowed as he replied, "Well, yeah. Firebenders have caused so much suffering in our world. I just don't trust them, especially not after what happened to Mom."

Katara nodded. She knew that the loss of their mother to the Fire Nation's attack on their village had left a deep scar, not just on her, but on her whole family. It was a deep scar that seemed to have festered into a general mistrust for all firebenders for Sokka.

"I get it, Sokka. Mom's death was a terrible tragedy. One that still haunts me to this day." Katara said her voice breaking. "But that was the work of a specific man, not Zuko."

Sokka's expression remained skeptical, but he listened to her.

"Aang believes in giving people a chance to change. And we cannot expect Zuko to change without giving him that chance." Katara stated. "And don't you think you owe him a chance since it was you that let it slip to General Fong about the life debt?"

Sokka's expression hardened. "Katara, you can't just forget all the terrible things the Fire Nation has done, and Zuko's been a part of it. I won't trust him, and I don't want you to get too close to him either."

Katara shook her head with a sigh. "Sokka, I am not asking you to trust him completely, but can't you at least give him a chance?"

"Why are you suddenly so comfortable around him," Sokka whispered. "So ready to forget?"

Katara thought for a moment, unsure of how to answer. Searching for the right words she took a deep breath. "Sokka, it's not about comfort, or about forgetting." She stated slowly. "More about understanding and forgiveness." Katara rubbed her hand over the mark on her hand. "It's hard to tell sometimes. I just noticed that when he is near, sometimes I feel-" she cut off glancing at her brother, who was staring down at her fingers tracing the mark on her hand.

"He did help me when we were at the military base," Katara added quietly.

Sokka's eyes narrowed. "Fine." He stated after a long pause. "I will relax a bit. But I expect him to stay cuffed at all times."

Katara smiled warmly at her brother. "Thank you, I guess it will be a starting point and we can work from there. Now give me the key."

"What? No." Sokka exclaimed tightly grabbing the key hanging around his neck.

"I think since he is my responsibility, I should be the one to hold onto the key." Katara rationalized.

Sokka's grip on the key tightened, his reluctance evident. He glanced between Katara and the key, battling his protective instincts. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh and held the key out to Katara. "Alright, but you must promise to keep him cuffed."

"But not when we are out in towns," Katara added reaching for the key.

Sokka pulled the key out of reach, leveling her with a stern gaze. "No Katara, at all times."

She frowned at him. "Sokka,"

"I'm serious Katara." He countered keeping the key from her reach. "This is non-negotiable."

Katara huffed at her brother. "If he is constantly in cuffs when we go into towns then he will be drawing more unwanted attention."

"Then leave him with Appa when we go into town," Sokka stated as if it was obvious. "But he must stay cuffed at all times. Got it?"

Katara let out an exasperated sigh but eventually nodded. "Fine, Sokka. He will stay cuffed at all times."

With that, Sokka handed her the key, and Katara accepted it with a nod.


Aang approached slowly. For an airbender, he was consciously making an effort to make as much noise as he possibly could as he got closer to Zuko. Causing the firebender to roll his eyes.

"What Avatar?" Zuko asked, keeping his eyes on the water.

"You can call me Aang you know." Aang, still trying to make noise with each step, continued with a sheepish smile. "Just wanted to make sure I didn't startle you. You know, firebenders can be quite… umm… jumpy."

A small smile twitched at the corners of Zuko's mouth in response to Aang's attempt to ease the tension. "I do not think that has ever been a thing with firebenders." He replied, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.

Aang sat down beside Zuko, mirroring his gaze on the tranquil river. "You know, Sokka is just trying to look out for his sister. They have been through a lot."

Zuko nodded, his eyes still fixed on the water. "I get it. Sokka's just being protective. I have seen that before."

Aang tilted his head, studying Zuko for a moment. "You have seen that before?" Aang questioned the phrase. "Never mind. How are handling this?"

Zuko sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Don't worry about it Aang, I'm used to it. I've spent most of my life with people not trusting me. It's… normal. I have never been one to live up to expectations."

"How is that normal?" Aang asked focusing on the word.

"Never mind," Zuko replied, moving to stand. "Are we leaving?"

"Yay, we should probably take off, it's getting late. But Appa has been sleeping all day so he should be good flying through the night." Aang said looking up at the darkening sky. "Sokka and I found some maps and we found a way to Omashu and should be able to get there by tomorrow evening maybe."

"Sounds like a plan," Zuko replied, appreciating Aang's optimism. He turned his attention toward Katara and Sokka, who were approaching the riverbank.

Katara seemed more at ease now after her conversation with Sokka, and she was wrapping a string around her wrist, Zuko could see a key hanging from it. Sokka, on the other hand, still wore a stern expression, but his earlier anger seemed to have subsided somewhat.

Aang stood up, brushing some dirt off his pants. "Hey, guys," he greeted as they approached. "I was just filling Zuko in on the plan."

Katara nodded, her gaze flickering between her brother and Zuko. "That sounds good. We should all get some rest on Appa while he flies."

Soka crossed his arms, his skepticism about the arrangement still evident. "Fine, but Zuko stays cuffed, and he's not to be alone with Katara."

Zuko clenched his jaw but did not argue. He had expected this level of caution from Sokka. Katara on the other hand seemed to have a different idea about arguing.

Katara sighed, clearly frustrated with her brother's persistence. "Since when was the 'not alone together' part of the deal?"

"Since now," Sokka exclaimed, his expression grew defensive. "It's just to be safe, Katara."

"How about you trust me to handle the situation responsibly." Katara countered giving him a measured look.

"Fine." Sokka conceded. "Let's go."


Zuko sat in the back of Appa's saddle, away from the rest of the group. The rhythmic sound of Appa's breathing and the gentle sway of the saddle only intensified his feelings of being adrift in an uncertain world.

The choice he had made back at the military base weighed on him like an unbreakable chain, being used by General Fong in such a way. He could not help but wonder if in all this he had merely traded one form of captivity for another when he swore the life debt.

Deep down, he longed for a chance at redemption, a path that would lead him back home, hopefully with open arms waiting for him, although he could hardly envision how that would ever come to pass while bound by the life debt to Katara. So that hope was growing dimmer with each passing day. The world had never shown him much kindness, and he felt like a pawn in a game he did not fully understand. His past was a web of betrayal and pain, and he could not help but wonder if the future held more of the same.

His gaze drifted to the sleeping figures of the others in the saddle. Aang, Sokka, and Katara, each with their own purpose on this journey. Then there was him, the exile who had stumbled into their lives, clinging to the faintest hope of finding his place in a world that seemed determined to keep him adrift.

As they flew closer and closer to Omashu, an oppressive weight settled in the pit of his stomach. He feared that history would repeat itself, that he would once again find himself bound in a cold, dark cell far beneath the earth's surface. That this time, Sokka's fervent wish might come true, and they would leave him behind, forgotten and abandoned to fade into nothingness.

With every passing hour, his unease swelled, and the prospect of sleep became increasingly elusive, slipping away like fine grains of sand through his desperate fingers. The approaching destination only deepened his sense of foreboding, casting a long shadow over his fragile hopes for redemption.

With a heavy sigh, he settled against the saddle, surrendering to the inevitability of yet another sleepless night.