CHAPTER 38: Meeting
"Let go of the past but keep the lessons it taught you."
In the quiet depths of her dreamy slumber, Nii found herself standing amidst the fiery landscape of the Fire Nation, the air thick with the scent of smoke and the crackle of flames. Towering volcanoes loomed in the distance, their peaks wreathed in swirling clouds of ash and fire.
As she navigated through the rugged terrain, a sense of unease washed over her, the oppressive heat weighing heavy upon her shoulders.
The sky above shimmered with hues of crimson and gold, casting an otherworldly glow upon the scorched earth below.
In the distance, Nii spotted a silhouette of a grand tower rising from the ashes, its walls adorned with the emblem of the Fire Nation. With a sense of trepidation, she made her way towards the imposing structure, the ground rumbling beneath her feet with each step.
As she approached the tower, a shadow swept across the sky, drawing her gaze upwards.
There, soaring amidst the billowing clouds of smoke, was a majestic dragon, its crimson scales glinting like polished rubies in the fiery light.
With a mighty roar, the dragon descended upon the tower, unleashing a torrent of flame that consumed everything in its path.
Amidst the chaos, Nii heard a faint knock echoing through the tumultuous landscape, a sound that seemed to pierce through the roar of the inferno. With a sense of urgency, she turned towards the source of the sound, her heart pounding in her chest.
It sounded like the knock came from inside the tower.
She noticed a door leading inside.
But before she could approach the door, behind which someone was knocking, her subconscious fleeted her, and she woke up.
The remnants of her dream faded away like wisps of smoke in the morning light of her room.
And yet, to her astonishment, the knock persisted, real and unmistakable, reverberating through the silence of her room from over by the door.
Her eyes fluttered open.
At first, she was surprised to find herself surrounded by the same color of the dragon from her dream, but then she realized where she was.
Her gaze soon fell upon Aang lying beside her in her bed, and with a tender smile spreading at the corners of her lips, Nii took a moment to simply drink in the sight of him there - the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, the faint flush of color in his cheeks, the way his lips curved ever so slightly in a contented sigh.
In that moment, Nii felt a swell of emotion welling up within her.
A profound sense of gratitude for the serendipitous twist of fate that had brought them together, a deep-seated longing to cherish the intimacy and vulnerability they had shared with each other last night.
It was as if they had laid bare their souls to one another, stripped away the masks and pretenses to reveal the raw, unfiltered truth of their affection and connection.
There was another sharp, insistent knock on the door.
With a sudden gasp, Nii bolted upright in her bed.
A rush of panic surged through her veins like an electric shock.
What time was it?
How long had they been sleeping?
Who was knocking on her door?
"Aang," she whispered, gently shaking him from his slumber. "Aang, wake up. There's someone at the door."
Slowly, Aang blinked awake, his eyes fluttering open to meet Nii's concerned gaze.
A brief smile curled his lips and his eyes warmed.
With a soft groan, he pushed himself upright, the lingering tendrils of sleep clinging to his consciousness like cobwebs in the morning light.
"What is it?" he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.
"Someone's at the door," she replied in a hushed whisper, her tone tinged with unease. "Can you go see who it is?"
He blinked groggily again, before stretching his arms with a yawn.
He glanced towards the door, then back to Nii with a slight furrow over his brow.
"But it's your room," he murmured, a hint of reluctance in his voice. "Wouldn't it be weird if I opened the door?"
Nii's concern deepened, her gaze flickering towards the door.
He was probably right.
With a shaky inhale and a sense of apprehension, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her feet finding purchase on the cold marble floor below.
With trembling hands, she reached for her clothes.
"Just go see who it is," Aang whispered gently, before he lay down on the bed again, nuzzling his face into one of the pillows. "It's probably just one of Zuko's servants."
"You know I can hear everything you're saying?" a voice sounded from outside the door.
Nii's eyes widened in panic and her heart raced as she glanced frantically at Aang, who mirrored her wide-eyed astonishment.
With a fumbled scramble, Aang attempted to untangle himself from the sheets, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Toph!" he stammered, his voice cracking in haste to respond. "Uh, just give us a minute!"
Nii closed her eyes.
Toph?!
Really?
When did she get to the palace?
Another thought rapidly crossed her mind.
Oh no…
Now everyone would know that she and Aang had spent the night together.
The sense of dread intensified when she heard the door cracking open, and Nii glanced at Aang with horror in her eyes.
"Don't come in here!" he yelled out in panic as he quickly made his way out of the bed, frantically searching for his clothes that had been tossed randomly around the bed.
"What?" Toph chuckled from outside the door. "Afraid I'll see your naked butts?"
Toph… Always the epitome of subtlety.
"Relax, Twinkle Toes," Toph continued with a hearty laugh. "It's just Momo."
And indeed, Momo soon entered their room, chirping happily as he flew over to land on Aang's shoulder.
"Besides," Toph's voice traveled through the door, and Nii could easily tell the mischievous grin plastered all over her face. "I always see you guys in your birthday suits… I'm the blind girl, remember?!"
As realization set in, Nii's eyes were still wide with horror.
With a beating heart she glanced over at Aang who looked just as horrified as her. It seemed that he had not realized that before either.
"Anyways," her voice carried through the door. "Time to rise and shine! We've got a group meeting downstairs in five, and you two lovebirds are already pushing it!"
As their faces flushed with embarrassment, Aang and Nii soon got dressed and together they made their way downstairs to greet the others.
As they entered the opulent meeting room, everyone's eyes turned to them, and Nii felt her face flush crimson as her eyes met with Zuko's.
He had this annoying smirk on his face, as if he knew everything.
Nii gulped down.
"Well, well, well, look who decided to grace us with their presence!" Toph exclaimed with a playful quip, her arms raised as if to welcome them. "We were starting to think you two had gotten lost in the Spirit World or something."
Aang chuckled nervously, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment too as he exchanged a sheepish glance with Nii.
Nii was mortified.
Toph's mischievous grin widened as she nudged Sokka with her elbow, unable to contain her amusement as she said: "Oh, don't worry, jungle girl, I know you two were just discussing the most riveting philosophical debates of our time!"
Sokka and Zuko erupted into laughter.
"Cut it out, guys," Aang said with a sheepish smile on his lips, before he turned to a young woman who Nii had not met before.
"Hey Suki," he said. "It's great to see you again."
Nii turned her eyes to the young woman who was sitting next to Sokka on one of the plush crimson couches that the rest of the group was gathered at, which were arranged in a semi-circle facing a large ornate table adorned with some scrolls and a large map in the middle.
"It's great to see you too, Aang," the woman named Suki smiled, before her dark blue eyes turned to Nii.
She was a beautiful brown haired girl with a very confident and determined demeanor, and she seemed very lean and athletically built. She exuded an aura of confidence and competence that immediately caused Nii to respect her.
Suki sent Nii a sweet smile, her eyes sparkling with warmth and curiosity, and Nii could not help but to smile back.
"Uh," Aang said before letting out a nervous chuckle. "Meet Nii."
Nii could feel Aang's gaze flickering from Suki to her.
Nii stepped forward, grateful that Suki was not smirking at her like Toph and Zuko.
"Hi, I'm Nii," she said as she waved a hand at her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Suki."
Suki returned the gesture with a gracious smile and a warm and welcoming tone to her voice, as she said: "Likewise, Nii. I've heard some nice things about you from Sokka."
Nii's gaze traveled to Sokka.
She wondered what he had said about her.
He nodded at her with a smile.
"Alright folks, enough with the pleasantries - we've got a world to save!" Toph exclaimed, causing Aang and Nii to join the rest of the group on the couches.
When Nii sat down, Katara turned her face briefly to send her a supportive smile, which Nii was grateful for.
As their discussion started, Nii could not help but to watch Zuko closely.
His entire demeanor had somehow changed, and his usual casual expression seemed tinged with a hint of agitation, his brows furrowing ever so slightly as he spoke.
It was like there was this tension behind his words, that coiled beneath the surface of his composed exterior.
"We can't afford to underestimate the threat posed by the Phoenix King loyalists," he said, his voice grave with urgency. "Their desire to restore his rule is as dangerous as it's misguided."
Katara nodded in agreement, her eyes flashing with determination as she surveyed the maps spread out before them.
"Yeah. We need to be proactive in rooting them out and prevent them from gaining any further traction," she asserted, her voice tinged with steely resolve.
Sokka leaned forward, his brow furrowed in concentration as he studied the maps with a keen eye.
"Agreed," he chimed in, his tone thoughtful yet resolute. "But we also need to consider the broader implications of our actions. We can't just go around stirring up drama - we've got a whole Fire Nation populace to deal with, and I think they've had enough drama to last a lifetime."
"Please," Toph snorted in derision. "Like a few loyalists are gonna change everything we've worked for. I say we just take 'em down and let the chips fall where they may."
Nii nodded her head in agreement.
No one else should be bothered by these rogue rebels.
No one else should suffer like her village.
"I agree with Sokka," Aang suddenly said next to her, his voice measured yet firm. "We have to be careful. We can't let fear dictate our decisions, but we also can't afford to be reckless."
Aang's gaze lingered on Zuko.
Zuko raised an eyebrow at him, and Nii noticed his jaw tensing slightly.
"Zuko," Aang said calmly. "I understand the urgency of our situation, but we also need to consider the impact of our actions on the people of the Fire Nation. Of the rest of the world. We can't afford to incite unnecessary fear or panic by spreading too many rumors about Ozai loyalists."
Aang's words vibrated unwavering through the room.
Nii furrowed her brows.
"We must seek a balance between vigilance and restraint," Aang continued. "We need to be careful with our words and actions. We shouldn't sow too much discord among the people."
A moment of silence went by as Zuko and Aang eyed each other.
"Among our people," Aang added.
Nii felt a wave of anger well up from the pits of her stomach.
"What do you mean, 'rumors' about Ozai loyalists?" she voiced, causing everyone to look at her.
She felt Zuko's eyes burning on her face.
Aang blinked his eyes at her a couple of times, before a short sigh escaped his lips.
He turned to the rest of the group.
"I just mean, instead of spreading fear, let's focus on empowering our citizens with knowledge and understanding," he proposed. "We'll give them the facts about our situation, no frills. Just the truth, plain and simple - and by rallying their support, we can unite everyone against any threats that may arise."
Nii felt another wave of anger course through her.
"The truth?!" she hissed, narrowing her eyes at him in scrutiny, earning everyone to look at her again. "You think my village just needed the truth? Huh?"
Aang suddenly looked bewildered.
"Uh," he breathed before he turned his gaze to exchange a puzzled glance with Sokka.
Suddenly, Zuko rose to his feet.
"I agree with Nii," he said in a solemn voice which carried a sense of urgency that brooked no argument. "We need to have a meeting with the rest of the world leaders. We need to inform them about the presence of Phoenix loyalists and the potential threat they pose to our global stability."
Nii nodded at him as his eyes swept over the group.
"We can't afford to underestimate their reach," he said while glaring at Aang. "Left unchecked, they could destabilize the fragile peace we've all worked so hard to achieve."
The Fire Lord's words resonated with a sense of conviction and resolve, his determination to protect his nation and the world evident in every syllable.
Sokka cleared his throat.
"But do we really know..." he started in a nervous voice before he straightened his back. "I mean, are we really sure that they ARE in fact loyal to your father? What if they're just some rogue benders with delusions of grandeur, thirsty for power or something?"
His words hung in the air for a short moment.
"We can't jump to conclusions, here," Sokka continued, his tone measured yet insistent. "We need to consider all possibilities and gather more information before we decide anything."
Nii felt another wave of anger coiling.
"Yeah, let's be real here," Toph suddenly chimed in. "Ozai may've been a terrible Fire Lord, but he's not exactly the poster child for charisma. Who's to say there aren't other power-hungry benders out there just looking to fill his shoes?"
Sokka nodded in agreement with the Earthbender, while Nii saw an uncertain glance flash over Katara's face.
Nii could not take it anymore.
Her eyes blazed with fury as she listened to their debate unfolding around her, her fists clenched in frustration at their suggestions.
"Why would they attack us if they weren't loyal to Ozai?!" she demanded, her voice sharp and cutting through the air like a blade. "Do you think they just decided to burn down my home for fun?!"
Her words were laced with bitterness, her anger palpable as she recounted the horrors she had witnessed.
"They yelled about the Phoenix King as they attacked," she continued, her voice trembling with emotion. "They wore his insignia, for spirits sake! How can you guys deny their allegiance to Ozai?!"
Her words hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the pain and suffering inflicted upon her village.
She turned her gaze to glare at Aang, her blood boiling inside of her.
She was furious with him.
His eyes widened slightly, reflecting a mixture of surprise and apprehension.
His usually serene countenance was marred by a flicker of uncertainty and unease, his features tightening imperceptibly.
Then, his brows furrowed slightly, knitting together in a subtle display of worry, as if he was rethinking everything.
His lips formed a thin line, and despite his best efforts to remain composed, a flicker of guilt flashed across his face.
He sighed out.
"Maybe you're right," he uttered in a breath as he turned his gaze to fall on the table in front of them.
A moment of silence passed between the members of the group, and Nii breathed deeply to release the tension of her anger, which was soon replaced by a weariness that spoke of the weight she carried on her shoulders.
Zuko's words resonated with a sense of conviction and resolve, as he said: "We WILL have a meeting with the world leaders. By bringing this issue to attention, we can coordinate our efforts to keep an eye out and eventually root out these lowlifes and prevent them from causing any further harm."
Zuko's eyes met with Nii's, and she felt a warmth of gratitude for him melt in her heart.
A moment of silence passed by as they held each other's gaze.
A sense of connection that Nii did not quite understand yet seemed to form between them right there.
It was not long before Zuko turned his eyes to Aang next to her.
"Aang?" he rasped.
Aang was still looking at the table in front of him.
Nii could easily sense the internal struggle playing out within him.
It was as if she saw the burden of leadership etched into the lines of his face for the first time.
The responsibility of being the Avatar weighed heavily on him.
And then, just when it seemed as though Aang might falter under the weight of his indecision, Nii saw a subtle shift in his expression - a softening of his features, a sigh of resignation escaping his lips.
Aang nodded in acceptance of Zuko's proposal.
Nii felt a surge of relief swell within her, and she could not help but to reach out her hand to rest it tenderly on his thigh to show him her gratitude for listening.
She saw him turning his face slightly in her direction, but he did not look at her.
"Good," Zuko concluded. "I'll have messenger hawks sent out immediately."