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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
- 8
- 9
- 10
Slow Heat
Chapter 9 – Observing the Ally
It was really fun to watch the Puppetmaster and Black Sun, because I had fire-lilies, and the Palace City – it was actually called that on the show (though with a few things different than the one seen on TV) in the original version of my stories, BEFORE either one was mentioned on the show. I win, totally XD. Maybe one of the writers on Avatar reads my stuff, who knows. It certainly is a amusing thought.
Thank you to Hotspur and Inkheart17 for a constant source of support, and betaing. And remember, reviews are the best thing you can give an author after they have given you a good story to read!
o0o0o0o
2 Months, 28 Days BSC
(Late June, 1101)
Katara
“Yes, the Dai Li were conditioned to follow my command, and I had told them to obey Azula. But that was only one of two key directives I had impressed into them. The other one was to keep Ba Sing Se safe, and this was the primary directive, the one to follow Azula being second. When Azula put into motion the plan to take Ba Sing Se for herself, it went against that command. That’s why they turned against her like they had. Their first directive above all else is to keep the city safe, and not even Azula could override that. A failsafe, if you will.” Long Feng explained, his head bowed.
I had to admit that it was a good failsafe. I was wondering how Azula had gained command of the Dai Li. But Long Feng had just told us what had happened, and things would have turned out very differently if the Dai Li had remained under Azula’s command. And it gave me a small amount of concern, that Long Feng had kept the city safe, even if he did it in a sneaky way. He was standing in the throne room, surrounded by Imperial Guardsmen, while the King listened to him. Toph was silent, as was I. I was staring down at the ground, not wishing to look at him.
Losing Jet had been hard. Part of me was angry with him for what he had tried to do to that village, but seeing him die, after his apology... that was not something I could forget either.
Zuko and Iroh were also present. Zuko looked rather tired – I knew that Toph had started training with him again – and she could get rather brutal. I had trained with Toph a few times, and it was not something I had any desire to do again, much less on a regular basis.
The fate of Long Feng was yet to be determined. For what he had tried to do, and subverting much the King’s authority with lies and underhanded practices, he could be executed. Yet, he in his own way had kept Ba Sing Se safe, and he had been running the city. To get rid of him would create a power vacuum, and the Earth King was not yet ready to fill it.
Yesterday had been filled with more meetings and planning. To my dismay, Aang had slipped back into his trance. Sokka, Toph and I took turns keeping at his side in case he woke up again. I had tried healing him again, and though I had managed to heal some surface wounds, I could not pull him out of his silent state. While Sokka remained at his side, Toph and I talked to the Earth King in private, for I had a idea that might help him when we took our leave. Someone had to stay and run the city, and while there were royal relatives who would be all too glad to take on the crown, the King himself had too much to learn. The generals didn’t think it advisable that he accompany them, though they would not have stopped him had he ordered it. He didn’t place such an order, seeming to be aware of his choices.
While we needed people to fight, yes, we also needed people to run things, and a new person in charge wouldn’t be the best thing at this time. Stability was needed, and it was better for the King to stay here and learn how to really take the reins rather than travel with us and risk his life. But I knew he would need all the help he could get to stay on top of things. When I had proposed my idea to him and Toph, both of them had liked it immensely.
I figured that if Toph could see whether someone was telling the truth or lying through her Earthbending, so could the King. He was an Earthbender, though not as skilled because he had never needed or wanted to fight. This left me all alone after breakfast. Iroh was meeting with the generals, and I decided to do some Waterbending in the pond near the Palace.
I had on a thigh-length tunic and shorts, not too different from the underwear Toph wore, but mine were cream-colored and black, provided to me along with other clothes from the Palace. It covered up more, and it made me more comfortable out here on the Palace grounds, where Imperial guards could see me. I was for the most part, alone. There were a couple of guards walking the grounds and the walls, as was their usual duty, but there was no one near me. I had been so busy the last few days, running all over the Palace, watching over Aang, meeting with the Earth King, meeting with Iroh and the generals, that it felt good to just do some Waterbending. It cleared my mind, much like meditation.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I was sore from training, and I desired to sit outside and take in some sun and fresh air. Iroh was talking with one of the generals, and he told me that I didn’t need to stay around.
The Palace grounds reminded me of home. I wondered what it would feel like, to be back in the Fire Palace. I was silent as I made my way down the steps, feeling the guards eyeing me. I gave them a brief nod of acknowledgment before I entered the gardens, seeing the large expanse of lush grass dotted with trees and small plots of flowers.
I raised my arms, giving my sore muscles a much-needed stretch. Toph had picked up right where we left off, and she showed no mercy whatsoever. But then, I hadn’t expected any. I let out my breath slowly, clearing my mind of all my worries. I tried to not think of the Avatar’s death, and how that affected the strategy for war. Iroh had assured me that Azula would have killed Aang whether I had not tried my ploy or not, but it still weighed heavily on me.
I wondered where my sister was at that moment, and what she was planning. There was no doubt in my mind that she would tell the Fire Lord that I had betrayed her, after being offered a chance to redeem myself, painting my image in the darkest way possible, as someone who would betray his country not once, but twice! I could only imagine my sire’s reaction as he listened to whatever lies she fed him. He had always liked her better, and even when I tried to defend myself against her lies, he had taken her side.
Damn Azula. Life would have been much better without her around. Were royal siblings always to bear the bitter brunt of rivalry? Sokka and Katara seemed free of it, since they didn’t have a crown to compete for.
The sunlight glinting sharply off water told me that I was not alone. I saw the fountain where Katara and I had our heated confrontation a couple of nights before. There were clothes folded neatly near the fountain, and she was clad in a cream-colored tunic with black shorts. I watched her silently as she worked on her Bending. Even in the heat of battle, when we had raged against one another, I could not help but admire how she worked her element. Though we had been enemies before, it did not stop me from respecting her. A true warrior would respect another warrior’s skill; it was honorable.
Moving as stealthily as I could to avoid alerting her to my presence, I approached the fountain, stopping within a respectful distance before I leaned against a tree. I was in shadow, Katara was not. I crossed my arms, relaxing against the trunk as she moved her body and arms gracefully. This was the first time I would closely observe her bending, without her attacking me. My observations before had been limited to the Avatar and Toph. Uncle had learned from the Water Tribes… though I had yet to ask just how he did.
Her movements were beautiful, almost hypnotic. I relaxed, sitting down in the grass, watching the reflection of the sunlight along the sinuous mass of water she was manipulating. I forgot the soreness of my muscles, and the troubles that hung over my head. It was almost like meditating as I stared into a flame. I found myself feeling at peace, a feeling I had not had for a good while now.
o0o0o0o
Iroh
I watched my nephew and the Waterbender. I had found them like this when I came outside, him sitting in the shade under a tree and her so lost in her Bending that I did not think she was aware of his presence. I could not help but smile at this unlikely scene.
I could practically feel the anger from the Waterbender over the last few days, after what had happened in the crystal caverns. It was hard for her to forget that he was the enemy, and after what she had been through with him, I could not blame her all too much. They had never spoken much to one another, and little spats would flare up between them that I had to step in. Both of them were so stubborn and determined! I looked out at the scene before me from the walkway I stood on.
Before I knew it, Katara had taken notice. Her Bending suddenly stopped as she faced my nephew. I held my breath in anticipation, wanting and waiting to see what would happen.
Without a word, she climbed out of the fountain and whipped her robe on, stalking away. I said nothing as she climbed up the steps, a faint – and what I deduced to be embarrassed – blush on her cheeks and a frown on her face. She seemed to not notice me as she stalked past.
“Katara.” I said softly, as her sleeve brushed against mine. She didn’t stop, and continued walking fast, so I wasn’t sure if she had noticed. I didn’t go after her, and looked back at my nephew, seeing that he had gotten to his feet.
With a flick of his hand, he brushed his robe free of grass before glancing quickly over at the fountain for a moment. I hesitated before coming down the steps. He did not look happy, and there was a scowl on his face… too much like the one I had seen constantly on his face when we were living on the ship, in pursuit of the Avatar.
I stared at him for several long moments, not liking his unhappiness at all. I hated to see that scowl of his… he looked so much better with a smile!
“Come, nephew.” I asked, seeking to distract him from his dark mood.
“What is it?”
“It’s a beautiful day, and the sun is shining. Would you care to indulge your uncle by Firebending with him?”
o0o0o0o
2 Months, 22 Days BBS
(End of June, 1101)
Zuko
I found the apartment where Katara and her group were staying in, by accident. Uncle’s and my quarters were not close to theirs, but not so far, either. I had taken a slight detour on my way to where I was staying, deciding to explore a bit before I turned in for the night. I explored much of the Palace as the guards would allow me.
We had been here for a little over a week, and were leaving the next morning. I was rather eager to get out of Ba Sing Se, for this place almost felt like limbo to me. I drifted from one place to another. Training sessions with Toph. Firebending with Uncle. Working on strategy with the Generals. Meditating and training by myself. It wasn’t as if I was sitting around and doing nothing, but I longed to simply get out of Ba Sing Se. I had been spending a lot of time alone, wandering the gardens and meditating, thinking about what would happen once I got back to Fire Nation, and the things I could – and would have to – do.
I heard Toph’s laughter come from an open doorway, and I paused. There were guards at the end of the hallway, but I had come around, and slipped through. I had wondered where Katara and her group were staying. She had continued to treat me with silence through the last week… cold civility at most, and outright avoidance at worst. I actually missed the more open attitude she had towards me before what happened in the crystal catacombs.
I don’t know why it bothered me so much. She was just a Waterbending peasant, someone who had been my enemy for a good while! After the War was over, I need never see her again! Stupid peasant Water Tribe…
Speak of the devil. I heard her voice coming from the doorway and approached it silently.
“So, you’ve been teaching the King how to tell lies from the truth… how’s it going?” I heard her ask.
“He’s not doing so bad. It was hard at first, since his Earthbending wasn’t that good to start with – he was a total sissy. But when we leave, he’ll be fine. All he needed was some backbone.”
I could practically hear Toph grinning as she said that. I heard Katara’s laughter.
“That’s good to know. He’s a nice guy, he just had lots to learn…” she replied. I had to agree on that… the Earth King seemed naïve to me. I knew I shouldn’t be here, but I wanted to hear what was said about me when I wasn’t around. And I certainly wasn’t going to let this opportunity go to waste.
I took another step closer, my heart pounding. I don’t know why I was so nervous. They might not even care to talk about Uncle or myself at all, or even the plans to end the war. For all I know, they might choose to tell funny stories, or talk about home. That brought a small pang to my heart. I couldn’t help but think of my own home, and what it would be like once I got there.
There was some silence for several long moments, and I wondered if they were now getting to bed. Before I could turn around and head back to the apartment I shared with Uncle, the stone under my feet shoved me forward. I found myself sprawled out on the floor in front of Toph and Katara, and quickly scrambled to my feet to restore my dignity. Toph had a smirk on her face, and I knew she could see my scowl, blindness or no.
“What were you doing by our door?” Katara asked, narrowing her eyes at me. I narrowed my own right back at her.
“I was passing by.” I replied shortly, and turned to leave, wishing to mask the awkwardness of stumbling and falling in front of them – even though it had been Toph’s own damned fault. I had completely forgotten about the fact that she might be able to ‘see’ me, no matter how light my step was. Katara’s glare was heated, and even though she said nothing, it was all too clear that I was not welcome here.
“Katara?” I heard someone call out softly from another room. I stiffened slightly. Had I… imagined it? Could it be?
“Get out of here!” Katara stated, her eyes flashing as she took a step towards me.
“Who the hell was that?” I shot back, approaching her by a step, my heart pounding. If that was who I think it was…
Toph just sat there on the cushion, smirking. I glared at her for a moment before returning my attention to the Waterbender.
“He’s alive? And you didn’t tell me! Why the hell not?” I snarled as I took a step forward. Her chin remained high, and her shoulders squared defiantly.
“You’re hearing things. Get out! You’re not welcome here!”
“Not until you tell me the truth, Water wench! Is he alive? Is he in that room?” I snapped back. For over a week, I had fully believed that the child was dead, and that ending the War rested solely on everyone else. With the belief that the Avatar was dead, the Fire Nation would be more lax, thinking that their greatest threat was dead. Now, keeping the Avatar’s safety a secret, I understood. But from Uncle and me? Why weren’t the two of us at least told?
“Go away! You don’t belong here! Go back to your apartment!” she yelled at me. Toph started laughing softly, but we ignored her.
“Peasant, you will tell me the truth! I command it!” I snarled, closing in on her. She shoved me, and I stumbled back. Toph did nothing to help, nor did she say anything. The kid was enjoying the fight, which didn’t surprise me. I moved forward, making to grab the Waterbender. My hand went onto her arm, and she stomped on my foot. I did not let go of her, and only tightened my grip, determined to get an answer from her.
She continued to try to wrench free from me as she used her other arm to try to beat me off. I continued yelling at her, and she continued screaming at me. If the Avatar was calling out for her, his soft voice was lost amidst our argument. Sokka was nowhere around, and I knew without a doubt he would have stepped in and pulled me off his sister had he known what was happening.
I couldn’t help but note Katara’s scent. It was warm and feminine. I wondered why I had even bothered noticing it. All I wanted was an answer from this stubborn female.
Before I knew it, we were on the floor, wrestling. Her form was lithe, but she was strong! She continued to swear at me, demanding that I stop.
“Now, this is more like it!” Toph laughed, as she leaned back, her feet firmly planted on the floor. I shot her a glare of irritation.
“Stop fighting!” I growled at her as she squirmed against me, trying to kick me off. After attempting to dodge several blows landed to my face and shoulders, I finally managed to pin her arms down. She bared her teeth in a rapacious snarl, clearly intending to bite me at the next chance she was able to.
Agni damnit. If I let go of her, she would try to bite me or worse. Yet, I could not just stay on top of her, keeping her pinned to the floor. I was fully aware of the warmth of her body pressed against mine. Not even in the caverns of Old Ba Sing Se had we ever been this close.
I glared down at her, trying to cow her into submission. Her eyes were filled with fire, her face contorted into rage. My heart was pounding, but I managed to calm myself down.
“How long did you intend to keep this secret from me? You’ve been treating me like shit for the last week, while the child’s alive! Explain yourself!” I stated, using my best commanding tone. Had I been at the Fire Palace, any servant would have rushed to obey my command. The dark-skinned girl under me remained silent. Thankfully, the other girl was silent as well.
“Katara? Katara?” I heard Aang cry out softly.
“Stay in bed!” Katara called out, turning her head.
“I’m going in there.” I threatened, as I stared down at her, “And you can’t stop me.” I started to lift myself off her, and she bucked against me wildly. I snarled down at her, shoving her back down, careful to not harm her.
“Don’t you dare!”
“I dare.” I stated evenly. We were on the same side. I was supposed to teach the Avatar Firebending. Uncle and I had offered knowledge of the Fire Nation to help end the War. I had apologized to the Waterbender for the failed ploy that had caused Azula to strike Aang down.
As quickly as I could, I climbed off her and backed away before she could bite or claw at me, and strode towards the doorway where I had heard the Avatar’s voice. The Waterbender went after me, launching herself at me and wrapping her arms around me, in an attempt to drag me back. I sneered and doggedly stepped forward, ignoring her. One of her hands started pounding, and before I knew it, she had grabbed my collar.
“Agni damn you, Water wench!” I yelled, spinning around abruptly and grabbing her. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Avatar in bed, a layer of black fuzz on his scalp as he lay there under a thick green comforter. His eyes were half-lidded.
“You saw him. Now leave.” Katara said, squirming against me and trying to kick me away.
“No. I wish to speak with him.” I replied, my tone telling her that it was not a request. I shoved her back against the wall, ignoring her gasp of surprise. I dropped her against the wall and approached the bed, knowing she would try attacking me again. I was prepared.
The Avatar looked up at me silently. I saw no animosity in his eyes, and held back a sigh of relief. But now, I had no idea what to say. It seemed stupid to ask him how he was doing, or ask if he had been practicing his Firebending, or anything like that.
“Hi.” he murmured softly. I bowed my head slightly, not knowing how to respond otherwise.
“How are you?” he asked. It seemed funny that the things I had considered too trivial to say to him were now being said to me.
“I… am fine. It… is good to see that you are well.” I stated, trying to not sound awkward.
“Well, I’m not all that well yet, but… Katara’s been taking great care of me. Soon enough I’ll be strong enough to take on the Fire Lord and everything will be okay.”
Even in a weakened condition, he was so optimistic. I felt myself buoyed, and would have smiled, if smiles came easy for me.
“Yeah. Everything will be okay.” I whispered, turning around to leave. He didn’t call out after me or ask me to stay, and I knew he needed rest. It was late, and I was tired as well. I felt Katara’s glare on me, and stared right back as I went through the doorway.
“Leave us the hell alone!” Katara snarled as soon as I was out of the Avatar’s room.
“Who are you to tell me what to do?” I shot back.
“You were not supposed to come in here!” she spat out.
“You were not supposed to lie to me!”
“I didn’t lie to you! I just didn’t say he was alive!”
Well, damn. She had me there. She had let me believe that the Avatar was dead, and had not bothered to correct me. I pushed her against the wall, pinning her arms as I glared down at her, ignoring her scent and the way her body felt against mine.
“You would do well, Waterbender… to remember that we are allies. We both wish for the War to end, and for it to work, we must work together. How can we be… good allies, if we keep secrets from one another? How long did you expect to keep the Avatar a secret from me? It’s one thing to let the world think he’s dead, but me? Do you really think so lowly of me, even after I explained what happened in the catacombs and apologized?” I hissed lowly, my heart pounding. Her stare was defiant, her lips screwed up in a tight scowl, before she tried to shove me down, but I stood my ground.
“Don’t ever touch me!” she snarled, wrenching her arms free from my grip and pinning me to the floor after her second attempt to push me. I refused to be bested by a peasant, and wrestled with her again, seeking dominance over this defiant girl!
Suddenly, the floor jutted up in several places at once, forcing Katara and me apart.
“You two fight like girls!” Toph declared.
“Shut it.” I growled as I rose to my feet.
I was still fuming as I went back to my apartment. Uncle was enjoying some tea, and he poured me a cup when he saw me. I scowled down at the cup.
“What’s wrong, Zuko?” he asked, looking as calm as ever. I fixed my eyes on him.
“The Avatar’s alive.” I whispered. There was no surprise on his face. I scowled more deeply.
“You knew?”
“No one told me. But I suspected.” he replied evenly, as he gently nudged the tea towards me. Grudgingly, I picked it up and sipped from it.
“What happened?” he asked. I stared at him blankly for a moment, before I stared down at myself. My hair had been mussed, and my clothing was in slight disarray. Most people would have ignored it, but Uncle had always been very perceptive. I remained silent.
“The Waterbender, eh?” he asked with a small smile. I narrowed my eyes. Usually, I was glad that he was so wise. But not right now!
He said nothing more on the matter, much to my satisfaction, and I washed up and went to bed. Soon, very soon, we would leave this city, and as the Avatar said, everything would be fine. At least I hoped. I prayed to Agni to let it be so.
Before I fell asleep, the Waterbender crept into my thoughts, unbidden. I couldn’t help but think of the soft, warm firmness of her body and her scent.
Agni, banish her from my thoughts, I prayed silently as I rolled over to go to sleep.
o0o0o0o
2 Months, 15 Days BBS
(Early July 1101)
Katara
My father and the other Water Tribesmen could not have been more shocked at us being with Zuko and Iroh if I had sprouted another head. It took some convincing, and a bit of a fight, before things settled down. I had to admit, if I were in his position, I would be suspicious as well. But after they had given the Water Tribe men information on the Fire Nation ships, and how to have an easier time overtaking them – as well as operating them – Dad had less of a problem, and actually liked Iroh now.
Sokka gave them the letter from the Earth King, and the tribe was buoyed to know that we had resisted Azula’s attempted take over of Ba Sing Se. It had been decided that they would move by land until they reached the coast of the Great Continent, being Earthbenders and all, while we moved by water. It would be best to have several different groups move towards the Fire Nation, so it would be harder to stop us, and it also gave us a contingency if one of the groups was delayed.
It was still hard to believe that we had gotten this far. When I was growing up, the War had been but a distant reality, with old stories as my closest link to the War. That had all changed when the Fire Nation invaded, and Mom was killed. Our village had been raided in the past, and the elders had lost loved ones. But I couldn’t know their pain until I lost my mother, because the other raids had happened before my birth. And then Dad and the other Water Tribe men left. I prayed every day for them to come home safely. I never thought that I would be here, fighting the War as well, or that I would have been responsible for awakening Aang. I had met so many interesting people on this journey, and seen so many things.
One night, several days after we had claimed the Fire Nation ship for ourselves, I found my brother standing outside on the deck, staring up at the moon. Even though he put up bravado, I knew he was as nervous as I was.
“Hey, Sokka. Are you all right?” I asked, as I approached the railing, looking down at the water. He was silent for a few moments, and I decided to not push him. After a bit, he spoke.
“I’m worried about Suki.” he stated simply. I shared his concern. After we found out that Azula and her friends had beaten the Kyoshian girls and taken their attire, I could not help but wonder. Was it better that she was dead, or a prisoner of Azula? Knowing how the Princess treated her family, I shuddered to think of what she did to prisoners. Sokka had every right to be worried about her. But I had to try to cheer him up.
“Sokka, thanks to us, to our group, the War is almost over. And then Azula won’t be able to hurt anyone, ever again.”
He looked down at me silently, his eyes glinting a bit at what I said. Without a word, I wrapped my arms around him, knowing he needed some reassurance, even though he was afraid to ask for it.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I was silent as I watched her hug her brother. Neither of them knew I was here. I had simply come outside for some fresh air. At first, I thought it was Sokka hugging his sister. But it was the other way around, I realized. What could be bothering Sokka so much? Was he overwhelmed by what was about to happen? It was a lot to think about, I know, but I took pride in bearing it silently. I was strong.
Yet, I couldn’t help but envy Sokka. Though they might argue at times, he had a sister who cared about him and was willing to offer him comfort. Mine hated me and wanted me dead. I watched as Katara whispered something into his ear, as her embrace tightened. One of his arms draped around her, and he was silent.
After several more moments, they parted. I heard Sokka murmur a soft ‘thank you’ as he placed his hand on his sister’s shoulder. She nodded, and left his side, walking towards me. I stood in the shadows, and said nothing. It was not until she came within several steps that she noticed my presence.
The Avatar remained in a semi-comatose state, and was safely ensconced within one of the rooms of the vessel. I had spent much of my time on the vessel on my own, meditating, Firebending, training. I avoided most other people, knowing that the Water Tribe members were suspicious of me, and I did not go out of my way to talk to them. Uncle was more open with them, and they had warmed up to him. He encouraged me to talk to them, to learn from them, but they didn’t seem to want me around, especially Katara. Though she wasn’t hostile towards me, she did not speak to me unless it was absolutely necessary. I couldn’t help but remember being with her in the crystal catacombs, her warm hand on my face, as she offered to help me. It was the first time she had ever actually touched me, and it had sent a tingle through me, one that I was unable to explain.
I stared down at her, waiting for her to acknowledge me, to say something to me. She stared up at me for several long moments, more acknowledgment than any that she had given me since the last fight we had, at the Palace of Ba Sing Se. She started to walk around me without a word, as I stared down at her.
“Well, at least your manners have improved.” I said dryly. She glared at me fleetingly, before disappearing into the ship.
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Slow Heat