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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
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Slow Heat
Chapter 5 – Crossroads of Destiny
Yep, the chapter takes place during the last two episodes of Season 2, as the title implies. But I put in some clever twists that were not in the show (but should have been!) As always, please enjoy, and don't forget to leave feedback! <3
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Katara
3 Months BSC (Mid-June 1101)
One of the strangest days of my life started when I found a new tea-shop in the Upper Ring. It had a pleasant name to it, ‘Jasmine Dragon’, and as I walked towards it, I thought how Iroh might like it. I missed his tea when we parted company. When I found out the fate of the Princes of the Fire Nation from Toph, I found it absurd and at the same time, appropriate.
I walked up the steps to the establishment and stiffened when I heard familiar voices. I paused to see the two Princes, dressed in green and yellow garb, looking… cheery. Iroh being cheery, that was common, and when he was cheery, I could not help but feel better. But Zuko? He was always silent or scowling, and the rare times he spoke, I had never heard anything akin to cheeriness.
All I could do was stand there. Weren’t they supposed to be in the Lower Ring? Had Toph lied to me? Why would she? Had they been here all this time? Shock and anger coursed through me, and at this moment, Zuko started to turn around, bearing a tray in his hands. Our gazes met, and I saw a glimmer of surprise in his eyes. I had no idea what to say to him.
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Zuko
I was shocked to notice the presence of the Waterbender. She had been in my thoughts often since my dream about her, and I felt my heart skip a beat when I saw her standing there in the doorway of the Jasmine Dragon.
Of course, I had been expecting to see the Avatar and the rest of our group again in due time especially with our 'promotion' to the Upper Ring, but it was such a surprise to see her standing there, on our opening day. I knew that I should offer her a simple greeting and welcome her in with the courtesy that was to be shown to all customers, wait until we were alone to speak of more serious matters. I opened my mouth, ready to welcome her, when Uncle noticed her.
“Hello, and welcome to the Jasmine Dragon! Come and have a seat!” he laughed, approaching her and ushering her further into the restaurant. She was led to one of the private alcoves, and Uncle started to usher me towards that alcove, taking the tray out of my hands.
“Go, talk to her. It's about time for your break, anyway!” he said with a smile on his face. Silently, I sat down on a cushion, sitting across from her at the small table.
“Hi.” I said.
“I thought you were in the Lower Ring. Toph told me...”
“We were. Uncle and I just moved up here two days ago, and have been busy ever since. Today's the first day of this tea-house. We were trying to figure out a way to get in touch with you without drawing attention to ourselves.”
“Oh.” Katara replied quietly. At this moment, Uncle set down a tray with two cups of tea and retreated before either of us could say anything.
“Er. How have you been?” I asked, not knowing what else I could say.
“Fine.” Katara said. “Um. I have good news. We were finally able to meet with the Earth King. I was about to ask him to send out a summons for you. I guess I don't have to do that.”
“I guess not.”
“... So, how are you?” she asked me, looking down at her tea. I drummed my fingers against my cup for a few minutes. Why was it so hard for me to talk to her?
“Good. Really good.” I murmured. I knew that our home in Ba Sing Se had been temporary, but it was nice to have a place to stay for a while. I couldn't help but miss Katara at times, though, and always wondered why.
“I guess it's really good if you got your own restaurant up here.” she said.
“Well, it is Uncle's, but....” I let it drop. Was it really that important? We finished our tea in silence.
“I guess your break time's about over?” she asked. I shrugged and nodded.
“You should be hearing from me or the Earth King soon. It took us long enough to get to this point, right?” she asked, offering a tentative smile.
“You're right.” I said, finding a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
It was the very next day that Uncle and I got our summons to serve tea to the Earth King.
I was shocked to see that my own sister had managed to get ahold of the Dai Li. When she made her appearance, countless questions raged in my head. How had she done this? How had she been able to infiltrate? Later on in reflection, I was not so surprised. My sister was conniving, and a more than skillful liar with a silver tongue. And Luck always seemed to turn in her favor. I had no doubt that it was a combination of the two that had brought her here, into a place where few should have gone.
As I stared across the table at her, I longed for nothing more than to strike her down, as she struck our uncle. My rage seethed inside, but I held back. I could only wonder what Uncle was feeling as he looked at his niece.
It did not surprise me that Azula sought to harm us again. I silently prayed that Uncle was safe as the Dai Li dragged me along the halls, tossing me into a cavern filled with phosphorescent crystals. The rock slid shut and I spun around, looking for a way out, when I saw Katara.
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Katara
I knew that Zuko’s sister was crafty. Iroh had told me several stories, to enlighten me on just how twisted the family was. Yet, I knew that the stories were only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There were plenty more secrets, I ascertained that much. But it was not my place to press him for more, and I learned plenty from what little he divulged to me.
According to him, Azula had been born lucky. The heavenly signs had been most auspicious at her birth, and it seemed that the luck followed her through life. She was a prodigy, easily able to grasp advanced moves which took Zuko a lot longer to master. I realized why Zuko spent so much time practicing his own bending, and meditating. The Princess also excelled in her studies, but according to Iroh, she had no desire to learn for the sake of learning itself. Whatever knowledge she sought to gain, it was to advance her own position. He was not explicit about the things she had done, but I got the understanding that she was cruel to servants and inferiors, although she also could speak with a honeyed tongue. This skill for a pleasant mask only made her all the more deadly.
Before, I thought that Zuko had been evil. It was hard to not form that impression when his ship rammed the shore of our village, and he had threatened us. All of the following encounters that I had with the Prince only exacerbated that. The heated battle at the North Pole was one that I would never forget.
I did not know much more about him than I did before he joined us, but I no longer saw him as evil. I understood that his father had set him to the task, and that his birthright and honor had weighed on this. When he was part of our group, he was not violent to me. He was often sullen or brooding, but he picked no fights with anyone.
His sister was the evil one, I had no doubt of that. To so callously strike down your uncle, without an iota of remorse galled me, but it had been what spurred me to heal Iroh along with Toph’s pleading. If she did this to her own relative, a wise and kind person, who despite being a Prince of the Fire Nation, was far more honorable than she, then how did she treat her friends? The dark-haired girl with the sharp blades she threw out of her arms, and the acrobat who blocked chi. Did they genuinely like Azula? Did they enjoy her company, or were they afraid of her? Of course, I had no opportunity to ask.
I had been ready to deliver important information to the Earth King and saw the Kyoshi Warriors in the throne room. When I realized it was Azula and her friends, I could not help but wonder about Zuko and Iroh.
And I hated it whenever the acrobat touched me. The feeling was far worse than having a limb fall asleep. As I was taken to the crystal-studded cavern, I could only wonder just how the Princess had managed to worm herself into this situation. Her tongue must indeed be very honeyed.
The beauty of the cave did nothing to ease my trepidation. I had wandered about for a bit, glad for the glowing crystals that illuminated my way as I tried to figure a way out. And then I heard rock slide against rock, and cocked my head in the direction that it had come from, hearing someone roll down the tunnel.
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Zuko
We did not speak for several moments as we processed each other’s presence.
“Katara.” I said calmly.
“What are you in here for?” she asked suspiciously, “Don’t tell me that Azula found you too.”
“Unfortunately, she did.”
“And… your uncle?”
“He managed to escape.” I replied, and I saw relief in her eyes. Did she really like my uncle that much? I knew that everyone in the Avatar’s group was at ease around him, a lot more than they were around me. I quickly looked around, to see if the others were down here. Apparently, Katara was alone. I wondered if they were being held elsewhere and prayed silently that they were not. If my sister had managed to capture the Avatar…
“Trust me, we'll find a way to get out of here. Somehow.” I replied, very much on edge over the situation.
“I don’t know you well enough to trust you!” the Waterbender snapped back. I narrowed my eyes.
“You ungrateful peasant… I have been teaching the Avatar…”
“It’s not that! I mean, how can I trust someone who I never really speak with? Someone I started out as an enemy with? Someone I fought with? I’ve associated your face with bad things ever since I first saw it.”
I flinched just a little. My scar. Who could ever forget the mark of shame on my face? Unconsciously, my hand reached up to touch it.
“I didn’t mean like that. I meant when you came to my village. You made an impression on me. It would not have mattered what you looked like.” she said as she took a step closer, suddenly falling silent.
“It’s a burn scar, isn’t it? At first, I thought it might be a birthmark…” she asked. I nodded stiffly. Why was she even asking? I had never caught her staring at it, like some others had when I would pass through towns. She seemed to show no interest in me at all, and I reciprocated her silence with my own. Why was she so interested now?
I stared at the vial that she held out and listened to her next words. She said she could heal my scar. My heart skipped a beat. To… be free of this scar? This stigma that I could not hide?
No one else had touched my scar, since the physician who had attended to it during my healing process. When Song had tried to touch it, I felt as if a line was being crossed. Yet… this Waterbender did not give me that feeling. Her touch was soothing to me, even though the dead nerves under my scarred skin barely registered it. Her thumb gently grazed my lip.
Heal me, Katara…
o0o0o0o
Katara
I wondered who had given him such a horrible burn scar. When I first saw him, I had simply assumed it was a birthmark. I had suspected it was not for a long time, but it would be very rude to ask him, even more so since we barely interacted when we were part of the same group. Since Azula had struck her uncle down, I could not help but wonder if she was responsible for this as well. It would not have surprised me to the least.
The skin was thick and hard, and I wondered if I really was capable of healing this. He would look so different without it. I remember one time, he had been lighting the fire at camp, and his head had been turned in such a way that his scar was not visible. It was the first time I realized how… handsome he was.
It wasn’t that I had thought he was ugly before. But his scar was hard to not notice. It was the first thing I had noticed upon our first encounter, and it was not something to be easily ignored. There was no doubt in my head that Zuko was painfully aware of that fact. Though right now, it was not as noticeable because his thick hair had grown out, hiding a bit of it. He would look so different without the blemish… probably like a whole new person. I felt the thick skin of the scar under my fingers and again wondered how much pain he must have felt. It was amazing that his eye was still intact.
Before I could even start, a loud bang and crash broke my reverie.
As soon as I registered Aang, my heart filled with joy. Azula had not gotten him! He was okay! I felt a surge of happiness and relief, and all I could do was hug him, reassured by the fact that I felt him in my arms.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I was not a physical person. I hated being touched, even casually, but I did not mind Uncle’s hug. He was safe. I stood there and let him hold me, knowing that he needed this.
I glared across at the Avatar, feeling an odd mixture of emotions. Sadness, anger, irritation, and when I saw how Katara clung to him, I even felt jealous. The latter emotion surprised me. Why would I be jealous? I should be happy that he had not fallen into my sister’s clutches.
My uncle let me go, and when I saw her hug the Avatar again, I again felt a confusing mix of emotions. Turning to my uncle quickly to break away from my thoughts, I immediately started firing questions at him about the situation.
When Katara left with the Avatar, I saw her looking over her shoulder at me, and she seemed almost sad that we had been interrupted. I had been so close to having my scar removed… I felt stirring inside of me when I saw her blue eyes linger on me. I had felt that stirring several times, and always when she had been in my thoughts. I shook my head, listening to my uncle, when the earth shook and crystals grew out of the ground at a monstrous pace, trapping him.
As I saw my sister and her men, again I wondered how she had managed to get Dai Li under her control. No doubt that they told her where I was. The opening of Uncle’s teahouse was a big event and I knew the Dai Li were everywhere – I was careful to not use my Bending. But my scar was still rather distinguishable, and it wouldn’t take much for Azula to ask to see if I was here in Ba Sing Se. Whatever she did to them, would not work on me. I vowed to remain resolute despite the honeyed words that she started to lather upon me.
I took in her words, and the way she looked and spoke at me. The Dai Li were silent. I took interest in what she said. If anything, my sister had a way of keeping people’s attention. Would Father ever really accept me back? Even after all this time, I still held a faint hope in my heart. After all, I had simply been loyal to the Fire Nation. That was why I had spoken out in the War Room. Perhaps my father realized that after I was banished. I would never betray my own nation, and I hated that they saw me as traitor.
Would things have been different if my grandsire was still alive? That was something I would never know. There were so many questions surrounding his death, and I did not dare ask my father. Nothing was clear. Everything was wrapped up in questions and what-ifs.
Even now, after all I had been through, I held hope. I refused to give up. Even now, I still hoped that my father cared for me. He had to know that I was loyal. I was just speaking out for the Nation, not against it. He had to realize it. He had to miss me, having not seen me for three years. Did he ever regret that he hurt and banished me?
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Katara
I knew that Zuko’s sister was a difficult adversary. But I had not seen her prowess until Aang and I fought her. She did so well against the two of us, that it was not hard to see why she was the Fire Lord’s prized child.
When Zuko joined us, I was more than overjoyed, though not because I wanted to see brother and sister go against each other. Sokka and me had fought and argued before, but it was minor compared to the enmity between the Fire Prince and Princess. I had never asked Zuko, and I did not ask Iroh for more than what he had told me, but I understood that the bad blood ran deep. I could feel the tension in the air as they stared at each other, and I actually felt the hairs on the back of my neck tingle from the static.
But when he threw fire at Aang… I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Oh no. How could you, Zuko? I thought we had reached an understanding…
I was barely able to register my disappointment when Azula hurled blue fire at me, and I had to move fast. Zuko was shoved out of my mind as I concentrated on ensuring that Azula did not fry me to a crisp.
She moved fast, almost like the lightning she controlled. Distantly, I registered my best friend, and a person that I thought I could trust, go at it. I saw fire whips arc in the air at the Avatar, but I was unable to turn around and offer any help.
Spirits, help us. Why was this happening?
Water against fire. Like before, but with a new adversary. This one far deadlier. As if the spirits had heard my silent cries for help, I managed to capture Azula with my element. Yes! I had actually done it! Relief flooded over me, only to be replaced by blind panic and fury a moment later.
Azula smirked as the binds that held her were broken with a fire whip. Now it was Zuko I fought as Azula went after the Avatar.
I wanted to cry at the betrayal. How could you, Zuko?
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Zuko
I saw the pain in her eyes as we battled against each other, but I bit my lip. My sister had to believe that I joined her side. I had to get close enough, and figure out just what she was doing. I had to know how she had infiltrated the inner ranks of the Dai Li. And I had acted interested when my sister spoke of our father and the Nation. Besides, the Avatar was supposed to be brought back alive. And it was a long way back to Fire Nation…
I thought you had changed, I heard Katara scream out as her water whips came at me. I drove them away with my own whips. We continued dancing around, manipulating our elements. I barely registered my sister and the Avatar.
Katara was stunning. She mastered her element with elegance, as she had done when we fought at the Oasis. She was a lot like my sister in that aspect, but that was just one aspect. I had seen her Waterbend a few times during our time together, and had actually felt envious of the things she was able to do that I could not.
o0o0o0o
Katara
It all seemed to happen in a flash, yet at the same time everything moved in a torturously slow pace, including my own body. The Fire siblings both turn on me, and I saw fire in the air. I felt myself being picked up into the air and tossed backwards onto some crystal. I barely even registered the pain. The wind was knocked out of my lungs, and I was unable to breathe much less register anything for a moment.
Everything was a blur. The Avatar had gotten back up, and came towards the siblings. But the Dai Li intercepted. He fell. Arms of water snaked from my feet as I formed an octopus. I was surrounded. I was a Master, but there was only so much that I could do. Everyone had his or her limits. Except maybe the Avatar…
And then it happened. The crystal he had shut himself in glowed. I don’t know how he did it, but I was overjoyed to see his eyes glowing. Nothing could beat Aang when he was in the State. My only concern was to get myself out of harm’s way.
Then the unthinkable happened.
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Zuko
I stared in horror as I realized what was happening, what my sister was going to do. I never imagined my sister would do such a thing. My father had been imperative that the Avatar be brought back alive. Otherwise, the hunt would start anew, and we would have to comb the Water Tribes or what was left of them for the new incarnation of the Avatar.
Azula! I wanted to scream when I realized what she was going to do, a split second too late. The lightning flashed before my eyes.
Time seemed frozen when I saw the lightning hit the Avatar. Countless thoughts raced through my mind at that instant. This was never supposed to happen!
o0o0o0o
Katara
Aang, no! The panic that consumed me was like the wave that I rode on. It couldn’t be. Enough people had died. The Avatar was our last hope!
Zuko, you bastard! I raged as my wave surged over the Dai Li. I felt no remorse when the water hit him and he was slammed against the ground. He deserved the worst for this betrayal!
Aang couldn’t be dead. He just couldn’t be! But there was no heartbeat. No breathing. I clutched his lifeless form in my arms. Azula smirked. Zuko’s expression was blank. I glared at him, wishing a thousand sufferings upon him. How could I have trusted him?
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I watched with a heavy heart as the Waterbender soared up the waterfall. Uncle was right. I did not think things through. I had not intended for this to happen, but it did. Would the Avatar still be alive had I not tried to trick my sister? Azula glared at Iroh coldly and a moment of clarity hit me. Even if I joined my sister, she would betray me as well. She would never share the throne with me or want me around, as I could pose a threat. She would find a way to dispose of me, regardless of what I did. She wanted to be the next Fire Lord, no matter what the cost.
I could see it. She would try kill me before I had a chance to turn against her, and tell Father that I had betrayed her, or that I was killed by somebody else. I never should have joined her side, even if it was a ploy on my part. I had made a mistake. Again.
But Azula was not expecting me to turn against her so soon. Before she could react, I struck her.
o0o0o0o
Katara
I almost sobbed with relief when Aang took a breath. To think that I had almost wasted such a precious gift as the oasis water on a stupid scar! And on someone who betrayed me!
I cradled him in my arms, holding him close, taking joy in the fact that I could feel his heartbeat again.
“Something’s happening.” Sokka stated, as he pointed downwards. We were not long from the Palace, and I looked down. It appeared as if there was a fight going on. Sokka directed Appa to circle around, and we tried to make out what was happening. A burst of fire came from one of the people. I had no idea if it was Zuko, Azula, or Iroh. I prayed that Iroh was okay.
Sokka directed Appa to fly a little lower. It was nighttime, so we were not so easily spotted. By the looks of things, it appeared that a large group of people had turned onto a smaller group. And that Firebender was part of the smaller group. What did that mean? Suddenly, another person shot out fire at the first Firebender. I assumed this was Azula and Iroh, or Iroh and Zuko. Even though Aang was alive, I seethed at the younger Prince for his betrayal.
Amazingly, most of the Dai Li had turned onto Azula. A few stuck by her, but she and her men were driven out by the majority. I learned later that she had been injured to the point of bleeding, but she had managed to disappear, near morning. This was most likely to the aid of whatever Dai Li she had left as well as her friends.
We landed in the gardens, in a secluded area. To make people think Aang had still died, I borrowed the cloak from the Earth King, who had been all too glad to help with the ruse. It was draped over his face, in the fashion of the deceased.
All of the Imperial Guard were loyal to the Earth King. The Avatar was moved to a secluded apartment, with no questions asked when the King commanded it. He said that the Avatar had been brought down dishonorably by Azula, and his body needed to be placed in safekeeping, with me to watch over him and rest from my own ordeal. He ordered men to stand guard at the door. The apartment was large and spacious, and it was agreed that I would stay in it as well, while the pretense of the Avatar’s death was kept up.
It was a tense night. Chaos still ensued. Toph and Sokka went out, and I was told that they were an immense help, which did not surprise me. I wanted to go and help, but Sokka insisted that I remain by Aang’s side, just in case. I relented because he was still weak. It was a fierce fight, and I prayed that my companions would be okay.
I asked that soup and water be brought up, telling the guard that I was hungry and had not eaten for a while, and that I needed the strength. The guard I addressed myself to nodded at me kindly, and soon enough I was brought a loaf of warm bread, a thick and nutritious-looking soup, and a pitcher of water. Going to Aang’s bedside, I carefully fed him bit by bit, taking nothing for myself. He did not say one word at all, and stared at me with half-lidded eyes as I fed him. I checked his pulse again, and found it to be stronger.
I did not even dare look out the window and huddled next to Aang’s bed, holding his hand, processing the events of the previous day, and what had transpired down in the caverns. I was still feeling the deep pain of Zuko’s betrayal, and expected the worst from him and his sister. What would the morning bring?
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Slow Heat