So I know it's been a while but I hope you all like this chapter. I have been really busy lately with life and stuff just happens.
Anxiety poked at Aang as he woke from his slumber. Looking outside his bedroom window, he could see that it almost noon. For the first time in a while the air bender woke up later than he normally did. It was to be expected after the eventful day he had before. He threw his covers off and rose from his bed.
His anxiety rising as he freshened up.
'No way it won't be awkward when I get out. How am I supposed to face everyone after what happened? I don't know if I can handle another tense situation with Sokka. Katara seemed fine last night but I made her cry…again. And yet she still refuses to give up on me. Suki…I shouldn't have yelled at her like that. Avatar Kyoshi was right, she was only just trying to help me. I need to apologize to her.'
After getting ready, Aang stepped out of his room and headed towards the kitchen. Upon arriving, he did not find anyone other than Iroh preparing chai tea.
"Good morning Aang", Iroh greeted, "I hope you slept well."
"Good morning Iroh. I guess I sort of slept well", Aang responded, "Where is everyone?"
"The boys went out to try out some new street snacks that Sokka was curious about. Katara dragged Toph to the shopping district. Suki should still be training in the backyard", Iroh answered.
Aang let out a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn't have to worry about any awkward tension from seeing all of them in one room. Plus, he preferred speaking with Suki first. Aang thanked Iroh and headed out to the backyard. He spotted Suki resting on the bench with her back towards him.
"Suki", he called out to her as he made his way to her. The Kyoshi warrior glanced back, standing up when she saw Aang.
"Oh…hey Aang", Suki sheepishly replied. Her hesitance only making him feel more guilty than he already was.
"Listen…I'm sorry for how I reacted last night", Aang rubbed the back of his neck, "Yesterday was really tense for me, but that's no excuse for how I treated you."
"So you're not mad at me anymore?"
"No I'm just…I'm not angry but I guess I am still upset honestly. I can at least say that I understand why you kept Katara from saying anything to me", Aang admitted.
"You were right to be upset Aang", Suki responded, "I could have told you sooner but it's too late now."
"So are we okay?"
Suki stepped over the bench and took Aang into her arms, "we're okay."
Aang happily wrapped his arms around her. For the first time since yesterday, he felt content. He could only hope that feeling would stick with him. Suki pulled herself back with a hesitant expression.
"What's wrong?" Aang wondered.
"Um…so Katara told me what she said to you last night", Suki's eyes darted away. Aang dropped his arms to the side. Suki pulled her arms back and crossed them before glancing back at the air bender. "What are you going to do about it?"
"If Katara wants to be stubborn then there isn't anything I can say to change her mind", Aang shrugged, "but I can be stubborn too. I'll shut down whatever she might try."
"Is that what you really want Aang?" Suki questioned.
"Of course", Aang answered. Suki was now the third person to question him on what he truly wanted and it just irritated Aang.
Suki's eyes darted elsewhere again as she started rubbing her arms. Aang could tell she wanted to say something.
"If you have wanna tell me something then go ahead. I don't want you to feel afraid to tell me anything Suki", Aang assured.
"I know…it's just…you're not going to like what I have to say."
Aang raised an eyebrow. The Kyoshi warrior took a deep breath before speaking.
"I think you should give Katara a chance."
"You can't be serious", Aang narrowed his eyes.
"I am", Suki stood her ground.
"Suki you of all people know exactly what she did to me. Do you want me to just forget how she broke my heart?"
"I'm not saying that you should forget, but you should at least give Katara a chance. We both know she regrets what she did and wants to make everything right", Suki explained.
"So now you're on her side?" Aang cried out. He turned his back to Suki and began stepping away until she pulled him back, turning him around.
"This isn't about being on anyone's side Aang! I just want what is best for you and Katara."
"Do I need to remind you she told me it was Zuko who made her realize her feelings for me? I already told you last night I couldn't accept that!"
"For spirit's sake Aang, I know already", Suki retorted, "I'm aware that this wasn't how you would have wanted her to figure out her feelings but Katara is only human! We all make mistakes that end up hurting the ones we love. The least you can do is give her a chance to rectify it. She loves you Aang! Let her prove it to you."
The air bender glanced away, not saying anything in return.
"You have always been willing to hear others out even when they didn't deserve it. You even gave Ozai a chance to turn back."
Aang snapped his neck back, "That isn't the sam—"
"Okay! Maybe it isn't the same but you would always be willing to give others a chance to do better", Suki raised her hands defensively, "Why not Katara? The two of you have been through so much together, isn't that reason enough to give her a benefit of a doubt?"
Even Aang had to admit that the Kyoshi warrior had a point. He and Katara went through much during the war and their bond had always been strong. The air bender had a habit of letting others do better, but was hesitant with Katara. Then again no one else had managed to hurt him like she did. Aang winced as he remembered to shattering feeling in his chest. Even after so long, it still pained him. It was enough to make him scared. Too scared to hear out what others had told him. Too scared of giving Katara a chance. Too scared of getting his heart broken again.
Just then the backyard entrance slid open and out came Iroh with the royal courier. The courier rushed towards Aang with a scroll and handed it to him.
"A message from his majesty, King Kuei", the courier stated and walked off to resume his route. Aang opened the scroll and read the contents. The King requested his assistance at the royal palace and for Aang the timing couldn't be better. He needed take his mind off Katara for the time being.
"Kuei needs me at the palace", the air bender explained.
"Any idea how long you'll be there?" Suki wondered.
"I'm not sure", Aang shrugged, "I'll try not to be gone too long."
He took one step until Suki grabbed a hold of his arm.
"Promise me you'll think about what I said", she said.
Aang let out a deep sigh, "fine…I just need some time."
Suki let go of him and smiled softly, "Take as much time as you need. I just hope that you'll see that Katara only wants to make everything right. She loves you Aang…we all do."
He nodded silently and said goodbye to her and Iroh as he made his way to the royal palace.
"I was pretty skeptical about those samosas but they really hit the spot", Sokka stated as he and Zuko walked towards the Jasmine Dragon.
Zuko only hummed in agreement, although he wasn't paying attention to whatever his friend was talking about. All he could think of was Mai. Since his last meeting with her, the fire bender brainstormed what he could do to win her heart. Then there was the situation between Aang and Katara. Zuko couldn't help but feel guilty. He knew Katara felt just as guilty but he blamed himself for putting himself between her and the air bender.
Zuko missed Mai terribly. He remembered the blank expression she held during their last meeting. He wished he could have seen her smile genuinely. If there was anything he missed seeing the most, it was her beautiful smile.
By the time the two reached the door, Ty Lee walked out wearing a somber expression on her face.
"What's up Ty", Sokka greeted her.
Ty Lee smiled bright and waved, "Zuko! Sokka! Hey!"
"You and Suki meeting up for something?" Sokka asked.
She shook her head, "no I came here looking for Aang but he isn't here. I asked Iroh and he informed me that Aang was at the royal palace helping King Kuei with something."
"Why are you looking for Aang?" Zuko wondered.
"Mai wants to speak with him. She asked me to come here and tell him", Ty Lee answered.
"She couldn't come here herself?" Sokka raised an eyebrow.
"She could have but…" Ty Lee glanced towards Zuko, "there's a certain someone she doesn't want to see."
Zuko grimaced at the indication. Sokka placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
"That's rough buddy."
The fire bender shook off his hand and looked back to Ty Lee.
"Ty Lee you're Mai's best friend. I'm sure this is a lot for me to ask but can you help me win Mai back? What's happened is my fault and I accept that. I want to make everything right with her."
Zuko knew this was a long shot but if there was one person who could help him it was Ty Lee. She was the only person that could convince Mai to give him another chance.
"You're seriously asking me for help after what you did to her?" Ty Lee crossed her arms. Her bubbly smile gone and replaced with a frown.
"You have every right to be upset with me. I-I…I cheated on her after she risked her life for me", Zuko stated with tears forming in his eyes, "I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I won't excuse what I've done…I love Mai. I always have and I always will for the rest of my life. I'm nothing without her…please help me…"
His tears fell as the Kyoshi warrior gazed at him silently, unsure of what to say. Sokka looked at him with sympathy and decided to chime in.
"I get why you would be hesitant Ty but Zuko is willing to do whatever is necessary for Mai…just like my sister is with Aang even after what happened yesterday."
Ty Lee turned to him, "Did something bad happen?"
"Well…it's complicated…" Sokka explained to her everything that happened the day before. Katara's confession, Aang's answer, the fighting at the house and Aang's brief time in the spirit world, and finally Katara's declaration.
"Wow, that's…a lot of drama", Ty Lee remarked.
"No kidding", Sokka replied, "I know it isn't my business but why does Mai want to talk to Aang again?"
"Aang came over to our hotel room yesterday and had a chat with her. It didn't end well," she replied. Her answer surprising the boys.
"So he came over to your hotel while the rest of us were still sleeping…" The water tribe warrior stated.
Zuko wiped his tears, "All uncle told us was that he went out to take care of something when we asked."
"And if it didn't end well then it's likely Katara found him at a bad time. All we can do is speculate what they were talking about", Sokka pointed out.
"I might as well tell you. They were talking about Zuko", Ty Lee admitted.
"Really?" Zuko asked, astonished. He wondered what would have pushed the air bender to speak with Mai about him until he recalled the night of the royal party. The night he became a drunk emotional mess as he cried in Aang's arms. "Then he went to talk to her for my sake…"
"Yup", Ty Lee confirmed, "their talk escalated to arguing and Mai said some harsh things to him. She's really remorseful over what happened though and wants to apologize."
"Geez, just how bad was it?" Sokka wondered.
"Really bad…I can't say much else", she responded and look back to Zuko, "Did you really mean what you said? That you love her."
"I never stopped loving her", Zuko stated.
Ty Lee gazed at him once more and finally let out a deep sigh, "fine…I'll help you."
"Really?" Zuko gasped.
"Yes", she nodded her head, "Mai never really showed it but I could always tell that you made her happy. I want my best friend to be happy again so I'll do what I can for the both of you."
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Sokka cheered and wrapped his arms around Ty Lee and Zuko, "Look at us, working together to bring people together!"
"Thank you Ty! I'll do whatever you need me to do", Zuko said.
"You better! Otherwise, if your hurt Mai again I'll—"
Sokka interrupted, "kill him right? I wouldn't blame you. Heck I would even help you if he screws up again."
"Thanks a lot Sokka", Zuko said sarcastically and rolled his eyes.
"You're hilarious Sokka", Ty Lee laughed and placed her hand on the fire bender's shoulder, "despite what happened, Zuko is still my dear friend after all. I would never kill him..."
Zuko smiled until her grip on his shoulder tightened enough to hurt.
"He'll just wish I did", she continued and smiled at him. Only her smile had not reached her eyes which conveyed a very different emotion. Sokka had pulled his arms back while she kept her eyes on Zuko. The both of them stunned silent by her threat.
"When you see Aang, let him know Mai wants to see him."
The Kyoshi warrior dropped her hand from Zuko's shoulder, her eyes remaining on him. She finally turned away and began skipping back to her hotel until she stopped. She glanced back at them, giving them one more smile.
"See you later boys." She waved and went on her and Zuko waved her off silently until she was completely out of their sight.
"So I guess Ty can be scary when she wants to be", Sokka commented.
"Yeah", Zuko replied as he hoped he would never have to find out what Ty Lee would do to him.
I know that this wasn't a long chapter but I hope it is good enough for now. I'll try my best not to keep you all waiting too long for chapter 29. Please leave a review and let me know what you thought.
Have a good day!