Steam ::: Chapter 24

****** ZUTARA FANFICTION!! ***** YUSH!

Sokka crouched down in the shadows at the end of the main square, his heart still aching as he struggled to maintain his concentration. He arrived at the docks only to discover Azula's ship already there and empty, so now the Water-tribe warrior was doubling back towards the main square to offer support.

A group of Fire-nation citizens passed by and he tugged down on his hood, covering his face. Taking a quick glance around, there was already a large crowd gathering. Fire-nation soldiers have been here well before dawn, surrounding the center stage. The Water-tribe warrior's eyes shot around at the men, women, children—families—that stood around, ready to watch the Avatar's execution. Sokka frowned at the disturbed, corrupt nation. There were food and drink carts lining the edge of the plaza, selling hot rolls, chai-spiced donuts, spicy sausages, and roasted peppers on a stick. His stomach turned—these people were treating the execution of the Avatar as a celebratory event.

It raised a massive, negative question inside of him.

Even if they managed to defeat the Firelord, how would peace ever be gained with people like this who are so willing to follow in their leader's hate? It's been 100 years of propaganda—generations have grown up on the idea that the Avatar is the real enemy—and Sokka found himself suddenly thinking of Zuko. He didn't envy the Fire-nation prince at all—the difficulty of having to lead and attempt to repair a nation like this one would be a monumentous task.

Sokka shook his negative thoughts out of his head. He had to believe if he could manage to save Aang, he and Zuko would work together and figure out a way to save all of these people. Sokka's gaze shot up to the window of an old building where he spotted Suki in the window. That was the building his father was supposed to be staked out in. Sokka caught a glimpse of his father, the Duke, and Teo who positioned themselves near the stage. So Haru and Suki were up there alone. Sokka's chest ached as his mind went wild with what they were doing to pass the time.

Sokka glanced across the square seeking out his father once more. The troubled, heartbroken Water-tribe warrior yearned to go to his father to seek his advice. However, Sokka knew it was an inappropriate time to address what's gone on between him and Suki.

His blue eyes darted back to the guards surrounding the stage. Firelord Ozai was still no where to be seen, and there was no word on how long it would be until Aang was brought out.

Suddenly, the sound of bells rang loudly in his ears. He drew in a deep breath. That answered his question. The sound of the bells meant there would be a little less than an hour until the execution. Within a matter of minutes, crowds of Fire-nation citizens and even more food carts flooded the streets and alleyways, coming from everywhere and cramming their way into the already crowded main square. Sokka swallowed hard, making sure he held a position that allowed him keep an eye on his father and the stage.

Hakoda was saying something to Teo and the Duke, and a moment later they set off down an alley way. Sokka leaned against the wall behind him as more and more people squeezed past him. The air was filled with excited chatter and the smells of fresh bread and roasted meats. His stomach gurgled in hunger, but Sokka was sorely lacking in Fire-nation currency.

Suddenly, Sokka could hear the sound of drums approaching in the distance. He looked around, his heart beat picking up. "They're already bringing him? That can't be right—it's happening too quickly," he thought hastily to himself. The main square died down to an eerie silence as the sound of the drums drew closer and closer. The Firelord wasn't even here.

In an instant, Sokka was making his way across the square to his father. They needed to discuss the change in strategies, but Sokka knew he had to remain inconspicuous, so he kept to the perimeter of the crowd, ducking between people slowly as he made his way through.

Just as the beating drums reached the edge of the square, there was a loud explosion. Immediately, the crowds of Fire-nation people were running in every direction, screaming and carrying their crying children away from the blasts. A few bodies lay scattered on the ground, and Sokka had lost his balance, falling to the cobble stone street. He scrambled back to his feet to avoid being trampled. His hearing had left him but was quickly returning as he headed away from the debris raining down from the sky. Sokka froze as he regained his bearings. His head snapped back, seeing the building where Suki and Haru were staked out, on fire and crumbling to the ground.

Sokka's heart stopped in his chest and he frantically headed toward the collapsing building. A Fire-nation soldier cut him off, and Sokka leapt backwards while unsheathing his meteorite sword. As his sword collided with the soldier's, he caught sight of Hakoda running toward the building too. His father was immediately surrounded by Fire-nation soldiers.

"Dad!" the Water-tribe teen called out, running his sword through the soldier in front of him. Sokka clenched his jaw in anger, kicking the soldier off the end of his blade. This whole thing was a trap. In hindsight, it seemed out of character to hold a public execution of the Avatar where the Firelord wasn't here to watch or make some kind of victorious speech. Sokka growled. The Firelord knew that they would come to save Aang.

Another explosion caused Sokka to stumble and he coughed as the smoke in the air thickened. "Dad!" he choked out into the black air.

Suddenly the Water-tribe native was surrounded by a wall of fire closing in on him. He covered himself up as best as he could with his black cloak. After the fabric caught aflame, he tossed it off his shoulders, finding himself surrounded by four firebenders. Without hesitation, Sokka charged his first target.

In his head, he knew there wasn't a chance that he'd defeat four firebenders with a sword no matter his skill level, but he would die honorably, taking as many of the soldiers down with him. He stabbed the first soldier he'd run up on through the neck, blood spraying everywhere as he jerked his sword free. Sokka immediately spun out of the way of another fire blast coming from the left. His only chance would be to keep the fight close range. He coughed as the scent of death filled his nose. The dark skinned Water-tribe warrior sliced open the next closest soldier, stopping in his tracks as he caught sight of the stage.

A small-framed boy with blue arrow tattoos stood in the center of the stage. There was a burlap sack tied over his head and his arms were tied to a stake. He struggled against his restraints as the stage was set ablaze by the soldiers surrounding the stage. Distracted by Aang's impending doom, a fireball caught fire to Sokka's arm band. He screeched in pain, dropping his meteorite sword. He tore the burning material from his arm, his flesh going with it.

Sokka grit his teeth reaching down with his left hand to lift his sword from the ground. "Aang!" Sokka called out, running from his current fight and toward the burning stage. He could barely see through all the smoke and was suddenly knocked backwards as a soldier tackled him. His sword slid from his hand as Sokka shoved the soldier off of him. The Water-tribe warrior frantically crawled toward his sword. Reaching out, his fingers landed on the hilt of his sword just as a Fire-nation steel boot landed on his burned forearm, crushing his bones and burnt flesh. An agonized scream escaped Sokka's throat as pain flared through his body. He peered up at the soldier looming over him before he felt a boot connect with his jaw and he blacked out.

________________________________________

"It's strange," the prince stated, crouched in the dim shadows of the Fire-nation palace.

"What is?" Toph asked quietly.

"There's a lot less guards than usual," Zuko mentioned.

"They're probably all at the execution," she said slowly, swallowing hard, "To make sure the job gets done."

A guilty conscience hung heavily over Zuko. "You can still head back to help them," he suggested quietly and earnestly, "I'm sure they could use a strong earthbender like you." Toph mulled over the idea, a certain Water-tribe boy crossing her mind.

"No. I agreed to come with you," Toph stated.

"There's hardly any soldiers here," Zuko whispered, glancing around, "I can handle it."

"Look here Sparky," the blind earthbender grunted, shaking her finger in his face, "I'm sure the Dai Li are still around here somewhere—you need me more than Sokka and them do. So shut up already and let's get going."

Zuko nodded, smiling beneath his hood. Without another word, the prince dashed down a small pathway that led to the back of the palace, to one of the many secret entrances. Toph gestured to him and Zuko stopped, allowing a guard to pass them, unseen. Once things were all clear, the firebender wedged a stone brick out of the wall. Behind the loose brick was a wooden crank and as Zuko turned it, a small door in the wall slid open. "Quick," Zuko whispered, ushering Toph into the passageway. He replaced the stone and followed behind her, cranking the door shut on the other side.

They stood still for a moment in the pitch dark corridor within the palace, but Zuko knew the main house like the back of his hand, so light was unnecessary. "Okay Toph, how many guards are there on this floor?" Zuko whispered.

"...I don't know. The floors are made of wood," Toph murmured. She ran her bare feet across the smooth hardwood floor, unable to sense any vibrations. Zuko grit his teeth. He knew the palace like the back of his hand, alright.

"Shit. I didn't think about that," he cursed quietly. They paused for a moment, considering their situation.

"Maybe I should just head to the main square after all—I'll be no use to you if I can't see," Toph suggested begrudgingly. Zuko knew it was the best option. If it came down to a fight, she'd be a sitting turtle duck. He nodded and turned to crank the secret door open. He helped the earthbender into the small passageway.

"Be safe," he whispered, "Avoid the guards on the street and save your energy for the fight at the main square. You'll need it."

"Okay," Toph agreed, ducking into the secret doorway, "You be careful, too."

"...Toph?" Zuko said hesitantly. The earthbender stopped, directing her gaze in his direction. The firebender swallowed hard. "Thanks. For earlier. And for still offering to come with me," he added, embarrassment burning his cheeks. Suddenly the small girl's arms were wrapped around him, squeezing his shoulders fondly.

"Anytime, Sparky," she whispered, socking him in the arm, "Now go get Katara back from your crazy sister."

With that, Toph disappeared through the secret door. Zuko cranked the door shut behind her before heading down the corridor slowly. He silently made his way down the halls, making his way through the north wing of the palace. Approaching footsteps made him pause, and the prince pressed himself up against the nearest wall, staying in the shadows. He listened to the slow, clicking sound of the footsteps, the glow of a torch approaching. Zuko held his breath before reaching out and snatching hold of the guard as they passed. He twisted their arm up behind their back, pressing his other hand on the back of their neck. He quickly swept their feet out from under them and shoved them to the ground. The guard grunted as they fell and the torch clattered away from their grip, darkening the corridor once more. Zuko still couldn't see, but he could tell from the weight and size of the guard that it must be a female guard.

The guard writhed beneath his hold. "Don't move or I'll break your arm," he threatened, applying pressure to indicate his seriousness. The female guard went still.

"...Z-Zuko?" spoke the familiar voice of the waterbender he'd come here for. He immediately released his hold on her and ignited a flame in the palm of his hand, illuminating the wide-eyed gaze of the Water-tribe girl as she pulled off her helmet. Before she could say anything, he pulled her to him, pressing his lips firmly against hers. Katara immediately returned the passionate kiss, clutching the fabric of his cloak. Pulling back, the two benders breathed heavily into each other's space. Zuko kept his hands on her, fearing that if he let her go she'd disappear again.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Zuko whispered hastily, still reeling in disbelief that Katara sat here before him, "How did you escape from Azula?"

The Water-tribe girl didn't answer right away. "I'm fine," she answered first. She lowered her eyes, clearing her throat. "But... as far as Azula—she technically escaped from me."

"What? What do you mean?" he questioned.

"W-Well... I was just..." she explained slowly, her voice getting shaky. Footsteps approached and they ducked back into the shadows of the hallway. They stood next to each other in the darkness, waiting for the guards to pass them. Once they did, Katara continued, "I was so panicked earlier, that I just.. I thought I should just take the initiative and head straight to the palace. But then I figured if I was going to negotiate with Ozai, I would need to bring Azula—so I brought her with me."

"Where is she now?" Zuko asked.

"She broke her metal restraints and got away from me once we got to the palace walls, so now I don't know where she is."

Zuko's inner fire started to burn under his skin at the careless risk she'd taken, his mind running wild with the many alternative outcomes that could have occured. If he wasn't so angry with her, he likely would have laughed at the waterbender's poorly thought out plan. "So your big plan was to bring Azula here and get Aang back by negotiating with my father? On your own?"

As he stared down at her ashamed expression, the firebender was certainly glad she never made it to the Firelord. The prince embraced the waterbender tightly. "What were you thinking?" he mumbled, a soft smile on his lips.

He could hear her breath catch in her throat. "I-I don't know," she choked out as she started to cry, "I-I just didn't know what to do and I wanted to do something—"

Zuko nodded in understanding, rubbing her cheeks dry with his fingers.

"I don't care. I'm just glad you're okay," he whispered. "I thought Azula took you."

He lit a small torch in his hand as they continued down a corridor. "Why didn't you come get me? I would've come with you," Zuko said.

"I was... I was so mad at you," Katara said.

"...Understandable," Zuko muttered.

Katara frowned in response. She drew in a shuddered breath as she looked up at him, eyes full of guilt. "And then I was mad at myself for treating you the way I did." Zuko froze, drawing his gaze to her. Tears brimmed her eyes as she continued, "I'm so sorry—"

He cut her off with a kiss. Her crying was always his weakness—ever since Ba Sing Se. Zuko moved his lips gently across hers and she clung to him, allowing his embrace to soothe her.

"Don't you dare apologize to me," Zuko said softly, "I'm the one who should apologize." He buried his face in her hair as he held her. It was a little awkward to hold her in the armor she wore, but her hands on his back still brought immense comfort to the firebender. "I was being selfish and jealous. It's my fault Aang is in this mess," Zuko said.

"It's just as much my fault as it is yours," Katara said, her head resting on his chest.

They held each other for a moment, relishing in each other's presence. With a small smile, Zuko knocked on the shoulder of her armor. "Where'd you snag this?" he asked.

Katara returned the small smile, tears still shining in her eyes. "It's not that exciting of a story, I just found it in a changing room."

The Fire-nation prince laughed softly. He looked over the waterbender's face, so thankful she wasn't hurt or discovered. "Any chance you know where they're keeping Aang? Or, if, uh..." Zuko let his voice trail off, dropping his eyes to the floor.

Katara shook her head. "I don't know. I haven't found out anything yet," Katara murmured. "How did the mission at the main square go?"

Zuko shook his head. "I don't know. As soon as Sokka said you were missing, I left and ran straight for the palace." Katara gazed up at him as she bit her lip. He resisted the urge to kiss her again, knowing there were much more important matters at hand.

His heart started to pound as he the thought of Aang's capture and execution.

"We'll find Aang," Zuko promised, "Together."