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Memories from Western Airtemple	By : DarthAnimus Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality > Slash - Male/Male Views: 16187 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own "Avatar: the Last Airbender" or the characters. I don't make any profit out of writing this.

Chapter List
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The chapters from now on take place affter "Southern Raiders".
Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter 22
Firebender's Den

“Wow”, Sokka marvelled at the large villa they had arrived at. “Just what is this place, Zuko?”
“It’s the summer house of the Fire Nation’s Royal Family”, Zuko replied, turning around on the porch to face the rest of the group. Sokka gave him a wide grin before exclaiming: “Awesome! We’ll be hiding right under the Fire Lord’s nose.”
“There’s no way this can work!” Katara argued in an incredulous tone. “We’ll be found for sure!”
Zuko briefly wondered if he was thinking too much into things when he noticed that Katara had not accused him of trying to lead them into a trap. The prince tossed those thoughts aside, however, as he reassured the entire group: “My family hasn’t come here in years. Actually, I don’t think anyone at all has been here since…” Faltering before he could finish, Zuko cursed his weakness over the topic of his mother before turning around and walking through the door, leaving it up to the others whether they followed him or not.
The sounds of feet meeting wood told Zuko that the rest of the gang was following after him almost immediately. The firebender was able to walk right into the darkness that covered the halls he knew so very well but everyone else paused in the doorway to allow their eyes to get used to the change of lighting; everyone except for Toph, that was. The blind girl followed right in Zuko’s steps even though she moved hesitantly, probably because of the echoes the wood surface caused.
“Are there any specific rooms we should take?” Sokka’s voice questioned suddenly, when the teen’s steps indicated that he had finally walked inside as well. “I mean, I don’t think I would feel comfortable sleeping in the Fire Lord’s bed.”
“My father’s room is in the main building in the middle of the house”, Zuko replied easily, stopping in his stride as he stared at a bouquet of dried field flowers. “My old room is right down this hall in the left; my sister’s own on the mirroring spot on the other side of the house. The others I’m not really sure of.” The teen tore his gaze away from the withered plants before speaking again: “You are free to take whichever room you wish, except for the one in the East corner of the building.”
“Why is that?” Katara asked then as she and Aang finally made their way to the trio. Zuko hesitated for a moment, considering his words, before speaking out: “I want that room.” With that the firebender walked off without another word, making his way to the exact same room he had told the others to leave alone.
When Zuko slid the door open, a thick scent of lilies reached the prince’s nose. It was only to be expected, for the room was filled with the flowers in question, though they all had dried into pale grey lumps with the passing of time.
Here, in this room, Zuko found his mind clearing and he was able to ponder on things more easily. The prince could not help but think of his heritage; he could not help it here of all places. Zuko found himself wondering just how twisted the mixing of bloodlines in his being was. He was this war personified, along with his sister. It was with that thought that Zuko realized that at some point he would have to face his sister. It was the only way that the souls of the ancient firebenders could be put to rest.
But what would come after the destruction of his family, Zuko questioned from himself. What would become of him after both his father and sister fell in battle? Zuko’s eyes went around the dark room and the teen strolled over to the widow to open it and to allow the last rays of daylight to lit the room in a golden glow.
Zuko was still unsure if he could ever find peace within himself. It just might be that the true end of the power struggle of a hundred years could only be reached with the destruction of its source. Zuko needed to strike his sister down and possibly perish as well afterwards.
“I knew it”, a voice spoke suddenly and Zuko stiffened, for a moment certain that he had spoken his words out loud as he jumped around to see Katara glancing around the room in the doorway.
“You could only be so protective of your mother’s room”, Katara commented and gave Zuko a soft, sorrowful smile. “It’s ironic, how I knew that simply by thinking when I would act like you did just now.”
It really was ironic, Zuko mused, for the two of them to think so similarly when they had such troubles with getting along. Perhaps it was because of that experience of unity that Zuko came to the conclusion to share his worries and spoke: “Can I ask you something, Katara?”
The girl looked startled for a moment, but nodded nonetheless, and Zuko questioned: “Do you believe in destiny?”
“Well…” the waterbender started, her eyes rolling in thought before they rested on Zuko’s face again. “I suppose so, to a certain degree. I mean, what else could have brought me and Sokka across Aang right when the world needed him the most?”
Nodding to himself and to the words, Zuko agreed with Katara on that factor. She still hesitated, however, when he uttered: “I think…it might be my destiny to…die, in the final battle.”
Heavy silence followed Zuko’s admission, during which Katara stared at Zuko with her eyes and mouth wide open. At the first instant the whole room seemed to be frozen in time, and in the next Zuko felt a stinging pain on his left cheek as he stared in amazement at Katara, who had rushed to him in seconds, slapping him harshly. The girl’s right arm was still outstretched as her shoulders heaved with deep breaths that had been brought on by rage. Zuko could only stare in wonder when Katara snapped at him: “How dare you say such things, Zuko! Aang adores you! If you were to die he would be crushed!”
There was a hand fisting the front of Zuko’s shirt with strength the boy had not known the girl to possess. The prince was shaken back and forth a couple of times before Katara bellowed again: “Last night you showed me a selfless person, Zuko! Where is that person now?”
Zuko’s breath caught in his throat when he looked at Katara’s enraged face with wide eyes. He could swear that he saw tears glisten in those blue eyes and was completely dumbstruck and amazed by the sight. He had no idea that he could ever be important enough to the waterbender for her to shed tears over.
“K-Katara”, Zuko stuttered, lifting his hands to grasp Katara’s own shaking ones. “I…I am such a fool.”
“Darn right you are”, Katara gasped out and a tear rolled down her cheek. “We’ve lost enough people to this cursed war. Enough.”
“I understand”, Zuko spoke gently, closing his eyes briefly before opening them to give Katara a smile. “Thank you, for helping me see.”
There was a look that bordered on awe on Katara’s face and Zuko could not help but wonder what brought it there. He did not get any answer, however, when Katara seemed to realize that she was staring and suddenly released her grip on Zuko, moving away from the prince.
“Don’t hurt Aang”, Katara spoke in a low tone before turning around to leave. Zuko watched her retreating back for a moment before replying equally softly: “I won’t.” And with that Katara was out of the room.
A deep sigh escaped from between Zuko’s lips before the teen fell backwards onto the bed that had once been his mother’s. Aang. How could he have forgotten about Aang? His life was not his own anymore; it was Aang’s, even though the Avatar did not know that. Zuko had given his heart and his drive, the two things his life consisted of, to the young boy and he was not even willing to try to get them back. Because of this he could not die on the boy and it was surprisingly relieving to realize that.
To be continued...
Author's Notes: I found the episode in which Zuko and Katara made peace not very satisfying so this chapter was born. Also, if you pay attention to the things Katara says, you might see that she seems to have a hunch on Zuko's feelings for Aang. And if you can spot the symbolism in this chapter, you get an extra ten points. ;)
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Memories from Western Airtemple