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Slow Heat	By : Spleef Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > General Views: 77367 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
Slow Heat
Chapter 22 – From the Depths
o0o0o0o
Zuko
Chit Sang's shirt and trousers were wet, and he looked rather miserable. I thought about the rain we had last night, and what it would be like to make his way across the ocean from the Boiling Rock with no moon or even a clear sky to guide him. He looked absolutely exhausted, but I was still on edge. I would not relax around him until Toph had verified his statements and as we climbed up the beach, I made sure to keep a short distance from him.
When we got to the thick grass, he stilled.
“I'm not going to eat breakfast like this.” he muttered, gesturing to his wet and sand-stained clothing. I raised an eyebrow before he closed his eyes and concentrated, steam rising from his clothes within a few moments as he shivered. After his clothes were dried, he looked considerably perked up.
“Feel better?” I asked dryly. He shrugged.
“I don't know what was worse, a day in the cooler or a night being tossed around by the waves.”
“Cooler?” I asked with curiosity.
“You never want to be in one of these. Especially if you're a Firebender. It's as cold as ice in there, and you can't Firebend to keep yourself warm because the cold hits you and makes it damn impossible.” He seemed to be a person who would be frank in whatever he said, and to the point. There was so much I wanted to ask him. How was it possible for anyone to escape the Boiling Rock?
When I returned to the campsite after leaving Chit Sang on the beach, I explained what I had found, so that Aang could cover up his arrow tattoos and Appa hide in the woods. I could not put on my own disguise – the gauze over my bad eye, since Chit Sang had already seen me without it. Hopefully he wouldn't ask questions. Naturally, we were met with curious glances from everybody as I returned to the campfire with Chit Sang at my side.
“This is Chit Sang. He'll be joining us for breakfast. That's fine with you?” I asked. There were shrugs and murmurs, and I nodded for Chit Sang to sit down wherever he liked. Without preamble, he sat on a log and waited patiently, observing the people around him. He seemed rather calm, perhaps a bit nervous – looking out for guards – but I didn't see him doing anything to indicate that he might want to rob us. When Katara gave him a bowl, he smiled at her graciously and thanked her. Of course, it could all be an act, but I'd know soon enough if he did belong at the Boiling Rock.
The meal passed in silence, and when the dishes were being put away, Chit Sang praised Katara on her cooking. She blushed and smiled a little when he told her it was the best cooking he had ever had in a while. That wasn't hard to believe, since he did escape from prison. As soon as I could, I pulled him aside.
“Now's the time for you to talk. Your stomach is full and you're dry and rested.” I whispered.
“I guess that's only fair. But what would your friends say when I say I'm an escaped prisoner? I mean, yes, I'm not a bad person, but when people hear you've been in prison...”
“I have a way of handling this. Just sit down and talk.”
“Maybe it'd just be easier if I went on my way. I promise, I won't bother you, much less hurt or try to rob you.” I hesitated at this plea, but did not let him go. If he was lying and had a violent past, then I would be doing wrong by letting him loose.
“I want to believe you're telling the truth, but I need to make sure.”
“How would you know?” Chit Sang challenged lightly.
“I have my ways.” I replied firmly. He raised his eyebrow.
“What if you guys gang up on me and turn me over to the guards?” he asked. Okay, that was a valid concern.
“I give you my word that if you come and sit down with us and be truthful with us, we will let you on your way, and you can even take a extra meal with you.” I offered. He gave me another suspicious glance, giving me a chance to study the color of his eyes. So I had not been mistaken before in thinking that I saw blue.
“Fine.” We made our way back to camp, and he sat down.
“Is something wrong?” Katara asked.
“I wish there wasn't.” Chit Sang replied in a slightly sorrowful tone. Dear Agni, was he going to try to play on a woman's sympathy?
“Oh, what's wrong?” Katara asked, her voice softening a bit.
“I... escaped from the Boiling Rock.”
“What's that?” Sokka asked before I could stop him.
“It's a prison on a island. Over there.” Chit Sang offered reluctantly, pointing to the thin plume of steam in the distance. At this, the effect throughout the group was instantaneous. Sokka stiffened, Katara took a step back, Aang stared, and Toph simply sat there with her arms crossed. The older man let out a low sigh and shot a glance at me, as if to say, See, I told you so.
“Go on.” I stated lowly.
“But you see, the reason I escaped from there was because I refused to spend time in there for a crime that I did not commit.”
“Well, that'd make sense, but what was your crime?” Sokka asked with his usual bluntness.
“Well, I am accused of being a traitor to the Fire Nation. Even though I was just defending myself! I have no intent to rob or hurt any of you, or anyone else.” he explained. Through all of this, Toph was quiet, giving no indication to whether he was lying or not.
“What did you say your name was?” she asked sweetly. It was amazing how dainty or girlish she could be at rare times considering her blunt personality.
“Chit Sang.” he replied without a second thought.
“Good enough for me.” she replied before laying back on the grass, leaving the rest of us silent for several long moments. So Chit Sang had been telling the truth.
“I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was just afraid of what you'd think of me.” he said as he looked up at Katara. Her face softened a bit and she nodded.
“I guess I can't blame you. But if you're a fugitive, what will you do for life?” she asked. He shrugged lightly.
“First, get rid of this prisoner's outfit. And then I'd go to one of the Colonies and try to find a job there.”
“Just how did you end up in prison? Why would you be arrested for defending yourself?” Sokka asked, much like he was in interrogation. Chit Sang looked away.
“That's not something I wanna talk about.” he muttered. I was curious too, especially because of the color of his eyes – if he was a Waterbender, what was he doing at the Boiling Rock? – but I realized that pressing now would not be a wise decision. Of course, he couldn't stay with us either... otherwise he'd eventually see Earth, Water, or Airbending. And we were so close to the end of the War that it was vital to practice and keep in top form.
“Okay. You'll get your extra meal, but you'll have to leave today. We have things to do.” I said, cutting in before Sokka could ask Chit Sang more questions.
“Like what?” the escaped convict asked casually as he glanced over at me.
“Just stuff.” I responded quickly, unwittingly giving him his turn to analyze me.
“Fair enough. Are you guys just gonna hang out, or do you have errands to run?” he asked.
“We do have errands.” I replied evasively. We were on the right track according to Sokka's itinerary. It was almost funny how Sokka paid close attention to detail, mapping out our course and what not, but it was something he was good at, so who was I to complain?
“I appreciate you feeding me, so if there's a chore or anything you need help with, just ask.” he said, though his statement seemed to be more directed towards Katara. She smiled at him.
“Thank you. I'll let you know. Right now I was planning to just go for a walk and practice some...” She paused for a moment, and I knew she had been about to say Waterbending, “singing!” she said quickly, and I had to hold back a small snort. I had never heard her sing, and assumed that if she didn't do it, she wasn't good at it. I gave her a gentle nod as she rose from her feet and stalked off, leaving the rest of us with Chit Sang.
“Shouldn't you be in school?” Chit Sang asked wryly, nodding over at Aang. I couldn't help but feel bad for him since he had to hide all of his tattoos and couldn't dress lighter in this warm weather.
“Well, that's a long story of my own.” Aang replied with a weak chuckle.
“Everyone has secrets of their own, hmm?” the older man asked nobody in particular before he yawned soundly. I saw an golden opportunity.
“You've been beaten around by the ocean last night. Why don't you get some rest? You could sleep in my tent, I've not taken it down yet. I'll just take my things out of there.” I offered. He nodded slowly.
“I appreciate that offer. I'll see you in a while, then, and you guys do whatever you do.” he said as I rose from my seat to go with him.
When I came back to the fire, Toph sat next to me.
“What is Boiling Rock? Is that like some kind of special prison?”
“Oh yes. Rather.”
“What makes it so special? Is it an island? I know he had to cross the ocean...”
“Yes. It's not that far from this island, infact. It's an old volcano with a smaller island in its crater. But a long time ago, someone got a lot of water into the crater, and the hot magma keeps it constantly hot, so hot you can't go in without being boiled alive. The only way in is to fly in – you'd be shot down – or the gondolas. No one has ever escaped before. Until now, which is why I'm so curious how Chit Sang managed to escape. I saw the diagram of the prison once, and it truly is a good place to hold prisoners.”
“Maybe, if Chit Sang is so smart, he might join Hakoda's army.”
“I'll need to know his backstory first. To make sure he won't turn Hakoda over to the Fire Lord.”
“I'm not gonna argue with that.” she replied, sitting back again, curling her toes into the grass.
“Been a while since we sparred, Sparky. Come on.” she said, grabbing one of my wrists and tugging at me.
o0o0o0o
Katara
I decided to go and sit on the beach, and perhaps Waterbend a bit. Being near the ocean in warm weather was considerably different than looking at it from our village. The ocean was beautiful and revered, yet we all knew to be careful at the shores, lest we slip or fall into the water. Too long in the cold water, and one would be faced with death. Here, the water was warm or cool depending on where, and I could wade and swim in it.
“Hey.” I heard a voice from behind me, and turned to see Chit Sang standing above me. I stiffened when he jumped down from one of the rocks, landing in the sand. He didn't approach me, however.
“I thought you'd be sleeping.” I stated quietly.
“I tried to. But I guess it's too light outside for me or something like that. I do feel a little better now.”
“Good.” I replied, saying nothing else. I had no clue what to say to him. To my surprise, he approached me and dropped down to his haunches not a foot away from me, fixing his eyes upon me steadily. It was just now that I realized his eyes had a blue tint to them. I barely had time to think about that when he asked his question.
“Just how much Water Tribe blood do you have in you?”
I was silent for several long moments.
“You were lying about going off to sing. Now I think you were going to go Waterbend. Am I correct?” he pressed, although his voice was gentle, which surprised me.
“I don't know what you're talking about.” I replied as I looked down, trying to sound calm. A soft sigh escaped his lips.
“I can't blame you for not wanting to tell me. I was just wondering, since your eyes remind me of my mother.” he replied, his voice all seriousness. I turned my head to glance at him. Should I talk to him, or remain silent? Did he really have Water Tribe blood in him?
“You have Water in your blood?” I asked as neutrally as possible.
“Yes. I'm a Firebender, because my father was one. Sometimes I do wonder what it'd be like being a Waterbender.” Chit Sang said wistfully.
“Was your mother one?” I ventured. He nodded.
“That's why I noticed your eyes. And I always look at people's eyes when I first meet them, it tells me a lot about them. I guess most people don't say anything about your eyes...?” he asked. I shrugged and nodded in agreement. “But for me, I get so used to seeing brown or gray eyes that blue... it just stands out to me. I guess you could say I'm a sucker for blue eyes.” he joked. I couldn't help but smile a little.
“You're pretty nice for an escaped prisoner.” I shot back. “Wait, if you're part Water Tribe, maybe you could run off to the Northern or Southern Tribe. You should be welcomed.”
“I guess so. Unless someone finds out that I Firebend.”
“You could keep it to yourself?” I suggested.
“Yeah. But all I know about Water Tribe culture, my mom told me, even though she wasn't supposed to. How could I ever pass for a Tribesman?” he asked despondently.
“Which tribe did she come from? North or South?” I asked.
“Neither, actually. My mother told me she came from the swamp. She said they kept themselves hidden, and she was only caught because she ventured outside of it.” he offered.
“The Foggy Swamp.” I murmured. His eyes widened.
“You know?”
“I found them by accident, actually. I didn't stay long, so I don't know that much about them, though I'd be glad to tell you what I do know and where you can find them.” I said, not mentioning Aang's part in it.
“What did happen to your mom, if you don't mind me asking? How did she end up with a Firebender?”
“Not willingly, that's for sure.” Chit Sang muttered darkly.
“... Sorry.” I replied, looking away.
“Not your fault. It just makes me angry to think about what happened to her, and what eventually happened to me. Sometimes I wish that I wasn't a Firebender.”
“Sounds like you had it rough.” I offered gently.
“It's been too long since I had a sympathetic ear. Or seen a cute face.” he replied. I smiled again. He didn't sound as if he was trying to suck up to me or anything like that, so I accepted his compliments without a second thought.
“Do you mind if I ask how you ended up at the Boiling Rock?” I asked.
“No, if you'll tell me a bit about yourself afterward.” he offered.
“Fair enough.”
“This was after my mother died. I wasn't much older than you when I was well... asked to join the Army because my Firebending was strong. Course, it didn't help me that my father was a major in the Fire Nation army by the time I came to age. But I didn't want to fight. I hated to think about my mother's fate happening to other women. She was taken care of by my father, but she was still his prisoner. She did try to run away, but apparently my father... enjoyed her too much.” It was clear that Chit Sang had no real love for the man who had sired him.
“I practically grew up in the army, because of my father getting promoted. So I had some army training, and a decent education. But it wasn't what I wanted. I wanted my mother to be happy. I wanted to be happy. So when my mother died and my father wanted me to officially enlist, I figured it was time to get out of there. And I did. I managed to lay low for years. I found a job on a different island and made myself a decent living. I was saving money so I could travel further and maybe find a Water Tribe. But then the army found me a couple of years ago. They tried to force me to sign up. They told me it was only proper that a man of my age and health join the army, and it would be my filial duty to my father. Of course, they had to add that because of my mixed lineage, I had to prove my loyalty to the Fire Lord.”
“And you wouldn't do it.”
“Of course not.” Chit Sang shrugged. “I tried to run away, but they captured me and sent me to the Boiling Rock. All of the money I had earned and saved, lost. Everything I had worked for, taken.” His voice was suddenly bitter, but how could I blame him?
“I'm really sorry to hear all of that. All I can do right now is wish you the best of luck for your future. I certainly hope you find a place that you belong.”
“So do I.” he replied. “Hey, could you do me a favor?”
“Hm?”
“Would you mind Waterbending for me for a bit? It's been too long since I saw some, and I always enjoyed watching my mother Bend when no one else was watching.”
“Sure.” I smiled and rose to my feet. I started out with a few simple moves, but seeing the pleasure in his eyes spurred me to go on to more advanced moves. It made me feel nice to know that I was making someone so happy.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I decided to quickly check on Chit Sang, so I went to my tent. He wasn't there, and I frowned to myself. What could he be up to? I couldn't be any more surprised than I was when I found Katara on the beach, Waterbending for Chit Sang! What was she thinking? My shock as so great that I almost blurted out her real name as I made my way down the rocks.
“Sapphire! What are you doing?” I snapped as I stalked along the sand. She stopped, the water splashing around her as she lost her control of it.
“Z... Lee! What's wrong?” she asked, taking a step back as I approached her.
“Why... why were you doing that?” I hissed at her, trying to rein in my anger.
“What... relax! He's not gonna hurt anyone!”
“I know what he said, but this...”
“Hey, hey. Lee, please don't be angry with your girlfriend.” Chit Sang said as he rose to his feet, approaching us. “I knew a Waterbender... from before. Sapphire reminded me of her. Don't worry, my lips are sealed.” he promised, placing his hands up easily into the air.
“It's okay. Trust me.” Katara pleaded, touching my arm and then quickly pulling her hand away.
“I never said I was his girlfriend.” Katara said as she glanced at Chit Sang seriously.
“I'm not her boyfriend.” I added quickly, instantly realizing that I had said that too quickly. Chit Sang merely smirked at us slightly.
“Relax. I caught the vibes off you both. But hey, if it's a secret for you, it's a secret with me too.” He winked at Katara, and she smiled back gently. What had they talked about while I wasn't around?
“I really appreciate that, Chit Sang.” she replied softly.
“You know what, I feel better now. More relaxed. I think I'll be able to take a nap now. Okay? I'll be more than happy to tell you how I escaped the Boiling Rock afterward.” Chit Sang stated as he looked first at her, then at me. I nodded briefly.
“Thanks again, Sapphire.” Chit Sang said as he glanced at Katara before turning towards the slope. I let out a slow breath and turned to Katara.
“Just what did he tell you?” I asked. I saw Chit Sang stiffen.
“It's personal. I'd be wrong to blab it.” Katara replied firmly.
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” he told her firmly before he climbed up the slope and disappeared from view. She let out a soft sigh before she looked back at me.
“Katara, even if he's nice, you didn't need to Waterbend...” I said before she cut me off.
“Look, leave it alone, okay? What he told me... trust me, he's not going to hurt us, okay?”
“He's not here. You can go ahead and tell me.” I pressed before I could stop myself. She frowned and shook her head.
“Like I said... I don't blab. It was very personal for him, and it took a lot of courage for him to ask me a question and tell me about himself.”
I set my jaw knew she was right, and I was glad to be with someone who was so loyal and trustworthy.
“You're right. Yeah.” I murmured as I took her hand, squeezing it gently.
o0o0o0o
One Month, 5 Days BSC
Zuko
Chit Sang traveled with us to the next village, where we were camped just outside of at the moment. In less than a month's time, we would arrive at the rendezvous point agreed upon between our group and Hakoda's, to coordinate our attacks and to best utilize the very limited time window given to us by the Black Sun that would appear soon before Sozin's Comet would grace the heavens. Hopefully, Hakoda would have been able to gather more allies to our side by then, since we no longer had the Ba Sing Se forces to count on.
Chit Sang was a pleasant companion. He helped with chores, and slept off on his own without bothering anybody else. He told a few amusing stories around the campfire to everyone, and came to tell me how he escaped the Boiling Rock. He had said that he had been thrown in the coolers often enough, and had spent enough time growing up in the army and seeing machines firsthand that he had devised a way to detach one of the coolers and use it as a 'boat' out of the Boiling Rock, I was surprised at this cleverness, and Sokka openly praised him, listening intently as Chit Sang went into further detail for the Water Tribe warrior's benefit, not seeming to mind at all the questions Sokka shot at him.
Appa was impossible to hide from him when we traveled to the next town, so Sokka replied that the beast was rescued, and though Chit Sang stared at him wonderingly, he said no more.
He was also a good sparring partner, and I noticed in town that with him at our side, older people seemed to take us more seriously, as if Chit Sang was our father or uncle. Sokka still wore his 'Wang Fire' disguise to the village, but I didn't have the feeling that this was to compete with the older man. Sokka actually seemed to enjoy his disguise, and the 'attitude' that came with it. At least if he couldn't cut it as an warrior, he could be an actor!
Already, I had talked with the others in my 'family' of telling Chit Sang about Hakoda's army and seeing if he would like to join. It would give Chit Sang a goal, and something to feel good about. I would become revealed to him as Fire Lord later, and I would reward him. It was what he deserved after having the Army take away his money and land because he did not wish to fight for a dishonorable cause. It was that much that Chit Sang had told me, and Toph had verified it. The only thing that really concerned me was the time he spent with Katara. A bond between them was readily apparent, and though I had never seen Chit Sang make any outright overtures to her like Aang did, I could not help but feel worried and jealous of how easily they got along.
After dinner that night at camp, I discreetly took Katara aside, leading her into the trees. She glanced up at me.
“Did you pull me aside so you could make out with me behind a tree?” she teased. Mmm. That was a rather satisfying prospect, but I shook my head.
“We need to talk.” I replied solemnly. The playful smile disappeared from her face, and she nodded for me to go on.
“Chit Sang has been spending a lot of time around you.” I replied. She was silent for a moment.
“You don't think we're...” she asked, starting to frown. I quickly shook my head, not wanting her to think I was accusing her of anything.
“I would never think you'd seek out someone else's attentions. It is him I am worried about. He is so attentive to you, and so kind.”
“...So?” she challenged. I stared at her for several moments.
“Oh! No, it's not like that!” she said quickly after she realized what I was talking about. “No, no. It's never been like that. He's really nice, but he's never done anything like Aang might do. I've never had the feeling that he was seeking for anything other than my friendship. He doesn't try to touch me or say anything that would make me uncomfortable.”
“You never thought anything about how he seems to like you the most out of all of us?”
“I can't tell you why he wants my company. What we talked about is private.” she replied. My shoulders sagged slightly before I felt her hands cup my face.
“Zuko, you don't need to worry about me. Or him. You have nothing to be jealous of. You're the only man I want. I swear this on my honor.” Her nose touched mine gently before she nuzzled me.
“Katara...” I murmured, wrapping my arms around her and relaxing, feeling reassured by her promise. The nuzzling turned to gentle kissing, which started to become passionate. Her warm body hugging mine was a temptation I had no desire to resist.
“Come on, let's go deeper into the woods.” I murmured, pressing the evidence of my arousal against the inside of her hip.
“Maybe.” she teased.
“How can you say maybe when you know what I can... and will do to you?” I breathed hotly. I felt her shudder as she inhaled slowly.
“Look at you, all alone out in the woods... lovely little blue-eyed Waterbender...” I continued as I tightened my grip. “Who knows what might be stalking in the shadows?” I teased.
“Perhaps a golden-eyed creature with a thing for Waterbenders?” she teased back, blushing.
“I desire only one Waterbender out of all the blue-eyed maidens out there.” I replied lowly, seeing the thrill in her eyes as I bordered a growl. I then pulled away, planning to take her hand and lead her further into the trees for a considerably more private spot.
“Zu...” she murmured as she pushed away from the tree.
“Tara.” I whispered back.
“Katara!” Aang called out. I saw him just outside of the forest line, barely visible amidst the twilight sky.
“What?” she shot back.
“You promised me this morning we'd Waterbend tonight! Remember!” he called out. Katara let out a low groan before she looked up at me.
“I did promise him.” she murmured. I let out a low sigh and let go of her hand.
“I'll be waiting for you tonight. Your tent or mine?”
“The usual.” she replied glibly. Mmm. I'd be waiting for her in my tent.
o0o0o0o
Chit Sang
I sat back on a rock as Lee took Sapphire into the woods to talk. I just remained where I was, full and content from dinner and freedom. Being with a group of kids took a bit of time getting used to... but just a bit. I enjoyed them. Toph was sarcastic and funny, so was Wang – personally I thought they'd be a cute couple. Kuzon was a light-hearted and playful kid even if he did wear a lot of clothes to cover himself up, Lee was his opposite and a good Firebending opponent. And of course, there was Sapphire.
The last two days had been wonderful for me when Sapphire and I had been alone, sitting and talking. She told me about her childhood in the Southern Water Tribe, and I told her what my mother had told me. We lamented our mothers together. We then talked of other things. Sapphire was a kindred soul. Yeah, she already had a boyfriend – but that was different. She's one of these people who would be a loyal friend for life.
I found it funny and cute how Lee and Sapphire had to hide it from everyone else. Of course, it seemed as if Wang would be a rather protective brother, and Kuzon obviously had a crush on her. They made a good couple, I could tell. So that's why I didn't tell anyone about them, and why I also covered for them a couple of times. They were a pair of good kids, and I remember what it was like to have a girl of my own. I remember her fondly. It was after I had run away to one of the islands that fringed Fire Nation. After moving from one island to another for several years, I found a nice little town, set myself up and was able to secure an apartment and a decent job. At first, I had been planning to move away further when I had some money saved. But I ended up liking this place. There was a woman – a widow – who owned the small teashop. I would go there during my breaks or after work, since it was but a couple of blocks from where I worked. At first, we were just friendly. She had a daughter who was cheery and helped her mother around the shop. Soon enough the tea-shop owner and I became more than friends. She was a good woman, warm and welcoming, with a pleasant laugh and witty observations. Her daughter also liked me, and it was nice to be a dad and play with her.
I had been saving my money, living very frugally so that I could eventually afford a piece of land. After a few years, I had saved up enough for a plot of land, along with building and gardening supplies and other things I would need. I could farm the land, grow fruit or spices. I could become a Firebending teacher and open a training area – the town was very small and lacking in any older Firebenders to teach the younger ones. Perhaps I could open a restaurant. After my tumultuous childhood, I felt that I had a home here. I could ask Jiang to marry me, and I'd adopt her daughter. I could have a few of my own with her and have a family.
The day I would propose to Jiang was nigh, on a date that the fortuneteller told me would be auspicious. We were already lovers and I suspected she was now with my child. But one night, soldiers appeared at my apartment door. I was asked for my name. I gave them a false one, but the lead of the guard frowned at me and jerked me forward, comparing me to a wanted picture that one of the other men held.
Of course, I was charged and thrown into the Boiling Rock. Nearly a month passed before Father came to visit me. It had been over ten years since I had seen him. The wrinkles on his face astounded me. Granted, Father had been about my own age when he took Mom as his prisoner. But even in my childhood I remember him being strong and domineering, his back rod-straight and his shoulders back, his hand more inclined to punish than reward, and a scowl perpetually on his neatly-shaven face, his sideburns always trimmed to perfection and combed out.
Now, his hair was completely white, rather than the slate-gray I remembered, and his scowl deepened the wrinkles that I had never seen in my childhood. Liver-spots dappled his deeply receding hairline. I sat there in the chair as he came into the room. Despite his aged appearance, I knew just who he was. I offered no acknowledgment and stared back at him calmly. The words exchanged between us were few.
“Give yourself to the Army, and you can leave this place.” he said. I was silent.
“The only reason you have this opportunity is because I am now Colonel. Otherwise, I wouldn't have enough rank to be able to do this. Don't tell me that you'd rather be in here, than out serving the Fire Nation and upholding its legacy, my legacy, your legacy!” he hissed softly.
“What of my mother's legacy?” I replied.
“It means nothing.”
“Did my mother really mean so little to you?” I shot back. There were times when I thought that Father did in his own way care for her. He always brought her back when she ran away. Last time she ran away, rather than beat her again, he had the army surgeon sever the tendons in her lower right leg so she would never be able to run away again, rather than keep her chained or caged. Once in a while, he might sample other women. But always he went back to her. He often had her sing for him – she had a beautiful voice – and he called her his little caged songbird.
When I was very young, I had not understood that Mom was Father's prisoner. I grew up on the move, traveling with Father during his campaigns and staying in whatever town was convenient at that time. But as I got older, approaching the second decade of my life, I saw that Mom wasn't like other women. She was blue-eyed, and her accent was different. When she sang to me, it wasn't the usual Fire Nation lullabies. One night when I was about six or seven, I saw her Waterbend. At first she was afraid and denied it. But when I begged, telling her that it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, she relented only after she had made me promise I would tell no one else. From then on, she would share stories of her life before she was kidnapped. She said that she came from a swamp where people spoke to the trees, and that she along with a few others had been curious to see the outside world despite the warnings of their elders.
They were captured by my father's army. The men were put in a coal mine, and as the only woman in the group, she was kept by my father. Even right before she died, she was beautiful.
When I was old enough to understand just what my parent's relationship was, I felt bad for having been born. I was a product of an unwilling coupling. Despite that, Mom still loved me, and I loved her right back. The fact that she loved me despite what I was only made me hate myself more. One night, I asked her how she could love me when I was my father's son. She simply hugged me tight, and told me that I was also her son, and that I was not my father, or even like him. The fact that I loved her and cared for her, and was genuinely upset when Father yelled at her or confined her, gave her comfort. I always tried to help. I'd sneak some chocolate or some sweet tea, something for her to enjoy when she was locked up, I'd hold her when she cried out of homesickness, I'd bring her water to Bend with. The older I became, the more determined I was to help Mom escape. She had tried escape when I was a little boy, and I remember her tugging me into the rain as we disappeared into the night. But we were caught, and Father put manacles around her ankles so she couldn't run or take long steps. A few years later, she tried again.
I was sixteen when she made her last attempt to escape. I was much more helpful this time, securing money for her to use, and I would also accompany her and pretend to be her husband or whatever was needed at the time to ensure her safety. I had no desire to remain with my father and the Army.
Someone must have seen or heard something that hinted at Mom's new escape attempt. Father was waiting for her when she tried to sneak out of the gates of the camp. I had just been about to join her when I saw her at my father's feet, and slid back into the shadows, feeling sad and angry. It was after this escape attempt that my mother was made lame. Several months later, she was dead. I had tried to comfort her, I had gotten crutches for her to use, I got her a new robe and tried to coax her to eat her favorite foods. I did whatever I could to make her smile. Father even softened a bit for a while, and rendered no other punishments on her. But this was the final straw, and despair drove her to her end. Suicide or not, I have never been certain.
I never had any real love for Father, because he was a distant and authoritarian figure throughout my childhood. I tried to gain his respect though, and knew that my future was secured once I realized I could Firebend. Doubtless I would have been of less value to my father had I turned out to be a Waterbender! But once Mother died, I had lost all respect for him. I felt nothing at our reunion at the Boiling Rock. Any care, any respect, any desire for attention from him died the night that Mom was back in our house, weeping softly, her legs bandaged.
When Father repeated his offer, I simply scowled.
“I want to have nothing to do with the Army.” It had taken my mother, my freedom, my happiness, my livelihood, my carefully hoarded gold, my chance at having a wife and family.
“Think about what you're saying, son. You could have been executed for being a traitor.” He rarely ever called me son.
“How could I be when I never actually joined the Army?” I replied.
“You are the son of a soldier. A highly decorated one. I refuse to accept a son who is a failure.”
“I guess I was the only one who could Firebend out of your bastard children?” I shot back. I knew that Father had a few bastard children, from entertaining himself with Fire Nation whores. I had never met any one of them, though on one of Father's campaigns I met one of Father's old whores – entirely by accident – with a girl I thought might be my younger sister.
“What a disloyal son you are. I ought to have you thrown into the water that surrounds this place!”
“Do it.” I replied numbly. I saw a muscle in his jaw twitch.
“Very well. Here at the Rock you will remain. Perhaps, perhaps I might come back and ask you again.”
“Don't.” I replied gruffly. He did not reply, and his scowl only deepened.
o0o0o0o
Aang
I took off everything but for my underwear and eagerly waded into the water. The sand on the beach here was smooth and soft, unlike the sharp rocky soil of the previous island, and I wiggled my toes into it as I got myself wet. Katara slowly pulled off her clothes. She didn't seem too excited to be here with me, and I frowned a little. I was hoping that if I left her alone for a few days, she'd start missing me. Zuko looked happy about it, and then Chit Sang came along and it was obvious he liked her a lot. But Sokka didn't seem to care.
I was a little unhappy to see her in her red underwear. She looked much better in white, in my opinion. I couldn't help but imagine her in orange and yellow robes, like a Air Nun, or flowing blue and white silk. But red, that color looked bad on her. Sure, she looked cute in her new outfit, but I was bothered by the color on her skin and against her eyes. I don't know why. I couldn't explain it. She was silent as she waded into the water, and I tried hard to not stare openly at how she looked under the moonlight.
“Okay, Aang. Since you've mastered all the basic and advanced moves, we'll work on the couple of things you have a hard time with.” She sounded brisk, like Miss Yang from the Fire Nation school. I remember the times where we'd play and splash around, just having fun as we worked on our Bending.
“Couldn't we play too, for a bit?” I asked hopefully, wanting to lighten her mood. As the end of summer came closer, we all became more excited and tense, and I hated having to deal with Zuko or Chit Sang when I wanted to talk to Katara or be with her.
“No, I'm tired. Maybe later.” She moved towards me, her tone still brisk as she instructed me. We worked for a while before she decided we were done. The session seemed to have ended far too quickly.
“Already?” I asked, not bothering to hide my dismay.
“Aang, you've mastered just about every Waterbending technique I can teach you. There's no need for me to train you anymore.” she replied. I felt my heart stop.
“You don't wanna Bend with me anymore?” I asked, trying to not sound too hurt, and failing. But my failure then worked in my favor, because I saw that she now looked sorry.
“Oh Aang, I didn't mean it like that! I was just saying that you've gotten so good at Waterbending that there's nothing I can teach you anymore!” She placed her hand on my shoulder, and it felt nice.
“Well, what if I said that I enjoyed Bending with you?” I replied. “I've always had so much fun with you, whether you were giving me a lesson or not.”
“Well.” Katara's face softened a bit, and I moved in closer. I had tried to not let the fact that Zuko and Chit Sang hang around her bother me too much, and I thought that if I left her alone for a few days, she'd remember the fun she had with me.
“I really like spending time with you and being with you.” I said, deciding that I might as well tell her the truth. Whenever I was around her, I felt warm and fuzzy. I liked having fun with her and just being with her. No other girl ever made me feel this way.
“Well, you are a good friend.” she replied. I had to stop myself from frowning. No, that wasn't it...!
“Well, we are good friends, but...” I reached out for her hands and took them, squeezing them gently. The moon was almost full, and with the ocean and beach around us, it was the perfect spot!
“Aang?” Katara asked, starting to pull her hands away. But I held fast.
“Katara...” I whispered.
o0o0o0o
Chit Sang
It was pretty obvious to me that Kuzon had a crush on Sapphire. He had that moony look on his face sometime. It was kinda cute, and I got to my feet, sneaking over to the beach to see if he'd try to make any moves on her. To my shock, he was Waterbending! I had seen him Firebend with Lee, so there was no way he could Waterbend too. I watched for a while more, just to make sure that it wasn't Sapphire doing all the bending.
My mind raced with what I was seeing. A kid that could Fire and Waterbend. It'd also explain why a bunch of kids were traveling on their own with a huge bison and a little lemur. This was enormous! What were these kids doing? Could any of the others Bend more than one element? What was up with this group anyway?
Ever since I had met them, I knew they were hiding something big. They never talked about certain things in front of me, and some questions I asked were either ignored, or answered indirectly. Since I had no desire to talk about my past, I was hardly one to pry. But I wasn't going to try and blackmail them or some shit like that. They were good kids – even if they were a little weird – who gave me a chance.
Having made a decision about what I would do, I sat down and relaxed, watching the two of them bend. I loved watching Sapphire bend, especially when she performed her most advanced moves, techniques that Mom hadn't even learned. When they stopped, I saw the kid making a bid for her attention. After all, it was the perfect opportunity for him. I knew it irritated him when she was with me or Lee, and once while I had been talking with her, I saw Kuzon peeping at us. Damn, now Sapphire was looking uncomfortable when Kuzon held her hands.
I quickly looked around for something before I found a fist-sized stone and tossed it into the water, aiming carefully so it wouldn't hit them. It served its purpose, and Kuzon jumped back in shock while Sapphire yelped.
o0o0o0o
Katara
I climbed out of the water to investigate and found Chit Sang sitting there calmly beside a large rock that shielded him from Aang's view. I placed my hands on my hips as I stared down at him.
“Hey, did you hear or see someone else here?” I asked. Toph and Sokka were nowhere to be seen.
“I threw that rock.”
“What! Why?” I exclaimed. He glanced around quickly, and so did I. Aang wasn't there.
“I saw him making his moves on you, and you looked unhappy. So I decided to step in before the kid could go any further.” he replied simply.
“Oh. Well... thank you.” I murmured in relief before I stiffened. Did he see Aang Waterbend?
“I saw the kid doing something I thought only you could do.” he said as if reading my mind, and I said nothing.
“Relax. I'm not gonna blackmail you or anything dumb like that. I just can't help but be curious since I saw him Firebend before. Now, there's only one person in the world who can bend more than one element. I always thought you were a strange but nice group. And then I see something stranger.” He sounded rather calm, as if he was talking about the weather.
“And?” I asked, my heart pounding. Both of us had been frank about our pasts, though I lied about names and a couple of other small details, and I felt that Chit Sang hadn't told me his real name. Which was fine with me.
“And nothing.” He shrugged. “I just thought it was rather interesting that such a... motley pack of kids are traveling through the Fire Nation, getting closer to the Fire Lord, so it seems. None of you are any fonder of the Fire Lord than I am. Which leads me to think, with what I have just seen and the news I heard while I was in the Boiling Rock, that you're on a mission to defeat the Fire Lord. Personally, I think it's a crazy quest, since this is the Fire Lord we're talking about here. But if you kids actually managed to pull it off, that'd be pretty awesome. You'll remember little old me, won't you?”
“Oh of course I'll never forget you!” I approached him and placed my hands on his shoulders. I then let out a soft sigh.
“You're not going to talk about this to anyone else, are you?” I asked softly.
“My lips are sealed. Though I would like to know... is Kuzon really the Avatar?”
I looked away.
“Hey, don't worry. I won't mention it to anyone else. Promise.” I felt his hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him and he smiled down at me.
“Now, why don't you go find Lee? I'm sure he's waiting for you to be done with Kuzon. And since you are... why keep him waiting?” he asked. I chuckled softly.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I was outside, practicing my Firebending by myself. Though it was true that the Sun gave us our energy, being with Katara taught me how to be flexible. So I had started sparring at times at night, forcing me to refine the way I called up fire. Anyone could Firebend at night, but no one was ever quite as strong as they could be under sunlight. I continued bending until I decided I had enough, and flopped down in the tall grass, catching my breath.
“Mind if someone joins you?” I heard a familiar – and much loved – voice call out.
“Mmm. Come here.” I replied. I grinned as she came within view and dropped to her knees in the grass, smiling down at me.
“You look so hot when you Firebend, you know that?” she cooed. I glowed under her praise and smiled contentedly.
“I bet you're also hot.” she murmured, brushing a few strands of sweat-soaked hair away from my face.
“I almost forgot how hot and muggy it could get here on the Islands.” I murmured.
“Well, why don't you let me take care of that?” she asked. With a quick wave of her hand, I felt all the sweatdrops on my body coalesce to little beads of ice, and I let out a low groan, closing my eyes at the sudden relief. Having Katara around in a Fire Nation summer was wonderful for everyone. It took little effort for her to bend water out of the muggy air and form ice-cubes, small ice-slabs, or with considerable effort, a larger ice-block, and we would use them for cooling our drinks, press them to our foreheads, hands, back, or feet after a long – and sweaty – training session, or even sit on one. Too bad Waterbenders didn't live here in the Fire Nation.
I instantly chastised myself for saying that, remembering what had happened to Hama and the rest of the Southern Waterbenders. But as Fire Lord, such a thing would never happen again! I gave out a contented murmur when Katara gently unbuttoned my shirt, exposing my bare chest. She blew on it, and with the very thin layer of ice on my chest it made me shiver pleasurably. We remained like that for what I surmised to be five or ten minutes, staring at eachother in contented silence. My heartbeat slowed from the vigorous exercise I just had, and the ice slowly melted on my skin. Katara quickly Bended away all the moisture, leaving me dry and fresh.
“Thank you.” I said. I always let her know in some way how grateful I was every time she did something for me. She smiled gently and pressed her lips to my forehead.
“We need to talk.” she murmured, her tone considerably more serious than before. I let out a low sigh.
“What is it? The Avatar?”
“No, it's Chit Sang. He saw Aang Waterbend.” she said. I swore under my breath before I felt her hand on mine.
“He promised me he wouldn't tell anyone. He figured out that Aang was the Avatar. But he has no intent on using blackmail or even doing anything about it, period. He even said that if we did what he thought we were going to do, it would be awesome.”
“Katara, have you thought of asking him to join your father's army?” I asked.
“Oh, I have. And now, knowing that he knows and thinks it's a good idea... Perhaps he would like a chance to strike back at the Fire Nation, and get back what he lost.” I sensed there was another reason that she thought he would want to join us, but she fell silent.
“Let's talk about it with the others tomorrow. Then we can talk to Chit Sang. Sound good?”
“Very good.” she replied. “Now, let's go to bed.”
“Who said I'd be letting you go to sleep now?” I teased, knowing that now it was rather late. I placed her hand on my bare chest and smiled up at her. She chuckled pleasantly and lowered her head to kiss me.
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