I'm sure you'll like that one!
Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's been another one peaceful morning at the Western Air Temple. Everyone was still sleeping except Iris. It'd been about an hour she'd woken up and she stretched her hands getting ready for the day.
She heard Aang yawning and he rubbed his eyes with his hand finally waking. "Good morning, bro," Iris said.
"Good morning, sis," Aang said waking from Appa's soft fur he'd been sleeping on.
The birds by the fountain flew suddenly away. It could be heard a sound as if something was approaching. And suddenly, a bomb came flying towards them.
Iris immediately wrapped her staff and she used it to strike the bomb and send it away. Airships came out, flying towards them. They've found us... Iris thought angrily. They started shooting bombs on the temple destroying some parts of it.
Aang immediately woke up and he used his air bending and his staff to close the walls around them that protected them from the bombs.
"Watch out!" Zuko shouted and he shoved Katara away falling together on the floor.
"What are you doing?!" Katara asked angrily.
"Keeping rocks from crashing you," Zuko answered.
"Okay, I'm not crashed, you can get off me now!" Katara said angrily and she got away from his touch.
"I'll take that as a thank you," Zuko said and he woke up.
Toph and Haru created a tunnel at the wall and Toph exclaimed "Common, we can get out through here!"
The others got in the tunnel and Aang with Iris tried to force Appa into the tunnel. Only Zuko stayed at the front.
"What are you doing?!" Aang exclaimed at him.
"Go ahead I'll hold them off!" Zuko answered "I think this is the family visit," he said and he started running towards the Airships as the walls that protected them slowly started collapsing.
"I'm not letting you do this alone," Iris muttered and she followed him running behind him. She couldn't let him go alone. She didn't want to admit why, but she couldn't bear the thought of losing him.
"Iris, Zuko, no!" Aang shouted from behind but Sokka and Katara ran towards him to help him with Appa.
"Common, we've got to get out of here!" Sokka said.
Iris and Zuko ran together towards the smoke. Another bomb came, flying towards them but Zuko and Iris used their fire bending to protect themselves from the flames. Zuko shot a powerful fire blast that destroyed one of their weapons so they stopped throwing bombs from there.
Iris shot a powerful air blast at the other one destroying that too. Then Azula came out on an Airship. She had that smirk on her face Iris hated a lot. Little brat! She thought angrily.
"What are you doing here?!" Zuko demanded.
"You mean it's not obvious yet? I'm about to celebrate becoming an only child!" Azula exclaimed smirking "And I want my prisoner back!" Azula shouted looking at Iris and she immediately shot a powerful, blue fire blast at her.
Before Iris had the chance to move, Zuko immediately protected her with his fire bending. Azula's fire blast created a thick smoke, covering sight of them. Zuko used the time they had to run towards Iris and he wrapped her elbows with his hands.
"Iris, you need to leave with the others," Zuko said immediately.
"I'm not leaving you, okay?!" Iris said looking at his eyes, she had denied to look at for the last days. She bit her lip trying to snap away from that and she wrapped his hand pulling them together out of the smoke and back to the fight.
Zuko ran up to a column trying to get close to the airship and Iris just flew towards it throwing fire blasts from the air releasing his hand from hers. Azula dodged them all. Zuko finally jumped and he threw some fire blasts. When he reached the airships he tried to find something to get wrapped up but he slipped all the way down and he fell at the whiteness of the clouds.
"Zuko!" Iris's throat exposed her worry and she immediately dived in to find him.
She flew with all the velocity she could and she finally caught glimpse of him falling. Iris flew as quickly as she could towards him and she wrapped his hand pulling him up with her. Zuko placed his hands at her waist and she placed her hands at his shoulders supporting him in the air with her. Her heart beat loudly at the sensation of his arms around her waist.
Their eyes locked for a second until something caught his attention. "Airship," he said.
"What?" Iris asked distracted.
"Get us on that airship," Zuko said.
Iris finally snapped her gaze away from his and she turned around to find it. She spotted the airship and she flew towards its direction.
Appa with the rest of the team, flew out of the tunnel and they tried to get away flying. Aang and Toph used an earthly shield that protected them from Azula's fire blasts and the bombs.
Iris and Zuko, came flying on the other airship from behind. Azula turned around and she looked at them hatefully. Zuko and Iris started running towards the airship Azula was on. Iris immediately wrapped Zuko's hand and they jumped together to the other.
Azula sent them a blue fire blast which Zuko immediately stroke it with his feet and Iris came behind with another fire blast. Azula jumped behind dodging it. Iris and Zuko sent Azula another series of fire blasts but she avoided them all.
Iris used a few moves she had learned in metal bending and she punched the floor powerfully disabling the metal Azula was stepping on. Azula nearly lost her balance but she jumped the last second and she sent a strong fire blast at Iris. Iris immediately used her fire bending to open her way through.
Zuko and Iris used that strategy for a long moment as to reach close to her. When they reached close enough, Zuko and Azula came with two fire fists. The blue fire and the red fire corrupted together creating a large explosion that blasted them all to different sides.
As Zuko fell from the airship, Iris wrapped his hand and they flew together towards Appa who was coming towards them. Katara wrapped Zuko's free hand and she drifted both of them back to the saddle.
Zuko looked behind at his sister as she was still falling at the endless height. "She's... not gonna make it," He said with a shot tone of worry in his voice.
Iris, for a moment she wished Azula would fall to her death. After everything she had done to her, she'd be really glad to watch this. But Iris stopped thinking like this as Aang hugged her tightly.
"Don't ever do that again," Aang said at her ear as they remained hugged for a moment.
"I'm sorry, bro, but I had to," Iris said as she pulled as they all watched at Azula.
Azula used her fire bending to fly towards the cliff and she took of the royal crown of the princess and helped herself stop falling wrapping it at the cliff. She was still smirking.
"Of course, she did," Zuko said bitterly and they flew away.
>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<
"Wow, camping, it really seems like old times again, doesn't it?" Aang asked smiling as they had all gathered around the campfire and the tents were already set up.
"If you really wanna feel like old times, I could... uh, chase you around while I'm trying to capture you," Zuko said smirking and looking at Aang.
All the others laughed except Iris and Katara. Iris just shot him a cold glare but she tried to ignore his dry humor.
"To Zuko and Iris, who knew after all those times he tried to snuff us out, today he'd be one of our heroes," Sokka said.
"Cheer! Cheer!" They all cheered except from Iris and Katara. Aang and Toph elbowed him friendly taking all a sip from their cups.
"I'm touched, I don't deserve this," Zuko said.
"Yeah, no kidding," Katara said as she woke up and she walked away from the camp.
"What's with her?" Sokka asked.
"I wish I knew," Zuko said and he followed her.
"What's with him?" Sokka asked and then he looked at Iris "And what's with you?"
"Me? I'm fine, everything's terrific," Iris said grumpily lying.
"You certainly don't act like 'everything's terrific'," Sokka said taking another sip from his tea.
"Spit it out, drama-queen, you know I can tell if you're lying," Toph said.
Iris just frowned. She let her cup down and she woke up walking away as well.
"Good job, Sokka," Suki said.
"What?! I made her to get away," Toph said pointing at herself proudly.
"Nah, let's say we both helped," Sokka said smirking.
"What are you guys talking about?" Aang asked confusedly but the others ignored him.
"How much?" Toph asked taking her purse out.
"I bet ten silver pieces that Zuko and Iris are gonna kiss tonight," Sokka said.
"Ha, chicken! I bet twenty," Suki said teasingly at Sokka.
"You guys are making bets?!" Aang asked confusedly as his eyes widened.
"Yup, and I bet for Zuko and Katara," Toph said and everyone gasped.
"Zuko and Katara?!" Suki asked confusedly.
"Zuko with my sister?!" Sokka asked surprised.
"No, no, no, no..." Aang said immediately "...you can't be saying that-"
"I just have a hunch, nothing serious," Toph said innocently "That's why I won't bet more than five silver pieces,"
"Okay, we'll see how it goes, payments come in the morning," Sokka said.
>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<
"This isn't fair, everyone else seems to trust me now, what is it with you?!" Zuko asked Katara.
"Oh, everyone trusts you? I was the first person to trust you, remember? Back in Ba Sing Se and you turned around and betrayed me, betrayed all of us!" Katara said "I'm not as angry about betraying me as I am about betraying Iris. Have you got any idea in how much bad condition she was?! She was supposed to be dead now!"
Zuko gritted his teeth in disappointment and anger for himself "What can I do to make it up to you?"
"You really wanna know? Maybe you could re-conquer Ba Sing Se in the name of the Earth King, or, I know, you could bring my mother back!" Katara said angrily and painfully as she stormed off.
>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<
Zuko walked towards Sokka's tent only to find Suki on the way.
"Oops, wrong tent!" Suki said nervously and she turned around walking away.
"Sorry, do you need to talk to Sokka too?" Zuko asked.
"Nope, not me," Suki said and she walked away.
Zuko shrugged and he entered the tent only to see Sokka with candles around and rose petals on the floor. "Well, hello-" Sokka tried to say with a rose in his mouth, expecting to see Suki. But when he saw Zuko, he nearly swallowed the rose and he sat straight immediately "Zuko... yes, why would I be expecting anyone different," and he spat the rose on the other side. "So what's on your mind?"
Zuko tried to ignore the awkwardness of the situation, he had probably ruined a date with Sokka and Suki. Both making terrible efforts to hide it.
Zuko sat cross-legged in front of his friend and he answered "Your sister, she hates me, and I don't know why but I do care of what she thinks of me,"
"Nah, she doesn't hate you. Katara doesn't hate anyone, except some people from the Fire Nation," Sokka said and his eyes nearly popped out of his head when he realized what he had just said "No, I mean... not people who are good but used to be bad, I mean bad people. Fire Nation people who are still bad, who've never been good and probably won't be ever-"
"Stop," Zuko said interrupting him "Okay, listen, I know this may seem out of nowhere, but I want you to tell me what happened to your mother," Zuko said crossing his arms.
"What? Why would you wanna know that?" Sokka asked confusedly.
"Katara mentioned it before when were imprisoned in Ba Sing Se, and again just now she was yelling at me. I think somehow, she's connected to her anger about that to her anger about me," Zuko explained.
"It's not a day I like to remember." Sokka said looking away sadly and then he started explaining.
...It was one of the normal days in the Water Tribe and suddenly the black snow started falling from the sky. Katara immediately set to find her mother...
"...many of the warriors had seen the black snow before and they knew what it meant, a Fire Nation raid. We were badly outnumbered but somehow we managed to drive them off. As quickly as they came they left. I was so relieved when it was over, but... that's because I didn't know yet what it had happened. I didn't know we'd lost our mother," Sokka said sadly.
"Wait, can you remember any detail about the soldiers who raided your village?" Zuko asked. "Like... what their lead-ship looked like?"
"Yeah... sea-ravens. The main ship had flags with sea-ravens on them," Sokka answered.
"The symbols of the Southern Raiders," Zuko said he took a deep breath "Another thing..."
Sokka frowned. Leave already...!
"Where is Iris?" Zuko asked.
"She's been meditating on that hill since dinner," Sokka answered.
"Thanks Sokka," Zuko said.
"No problem, thanks for stopping by," Sokka said pushing Zuko out of his tent. Sokka sighed "I thought he'd never leave," Sokka's head popped out of the tent and he looked around whispering "Suki!" but when he noticed Zuko still being outside he started whistling trying to play dumb.
Zuko ignored him and he walked up the cliff.
>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<
"Sokka, said I'd find you here," Zuko said from behind.
Iris had walked away from the others and she was trying to calm her nerves by meditating. She could spot where he was with her earth bending. All the others had drifted off to sleep.
"Leave, I'm meditating," Iris said keeping her stance and her eyes closed.
"Please, I just wanna talk to you," Zuko said pleadingly.
Iris woke up creating an earthly bench and she sat on it crossing her arms and looking away from him "You wanna talk, talk!"
"I know you won't trust me again like you did once. But I want you to know, I won't stop trying to win you back. Because... I love you," Zuko said biting his lip looking at her, eagerly waiting for a positive answer.
Iris bit her lip harshly and shut her eyes trying to keep the tears from falling. "Then keep trying," she said coldly.
Zuko gritted his teeth "I can't understand! Why are you still angry at me?!" Zuko exclaimed.
At that she looked up at him and she woke up. "How could you just go face Azula on your own?!" She exclaimed angrily.
"You were worried?" Zuko asked confusedly.
"Of course, I was worried. Didn't you at least think of me, I couldn't lose you, Zuko, I-" Iris tried to say but she stopped herself the last second.
Zuko stepped in front of her and he placed his both hands at her shoulders "Say it... say it, Iris. Why did you stay behind? Why did you dive in to save me-?!"
"Because I love you!" Iris finally admitted.
Zuko felt his heart swelling in happiness. He cupped her face, brushing his thump over her cheek and then down her chin. She slipped her hands from his chest to his neck and they both together pulled each other in a deep, lustful kiss.
His hands trapped around her waist pushing her closer and closer as the kiss deepened. He had missed her. He had missed her as much as she had missed him. She had missed his touch, his kisses... everything about him. They pulled away from each other only in the need to breathe. His ragged breathing tickled her face as they stared at each other for a long moment.
They pulled each other in a tight hug. Zuko took a deep breath, filling his nostrils with her scent, remembering once again how much he had missed her. Iris rested her head on his chest and he rested his chin on top of her head.
Iris started crying, the tears she had denied in the prison, they returned back, but this time for different reasons. "How could you, Zuko? I mean, I know all you wanted was to return back to your home but... how could you?" she asked sobbing letting her tears water his shirt.
"I was an idiot, I'm so sorry..." Zuko said pulling back to look at her face. He cupped her left cheek wiping the tears away "...I'm so sorry about everything. I should have never left you... I should have denied that damn throne from the beginning,"
Iris stopped crying as he leaned and kissed her again, passionately this time, slamming their bodies together. She didn't protest she tagged him down to her as he bit her lip tenderly and he pulled back.
Iris hugged him again, tightly, nuzzling her nose in his neck, never wanting to let go...
>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<
(Next Morning)
"I need to borrow Appa," Katara said.
"Why, is it your turn to take a little fieldtrip with Zuko?" Aang asked as Iris helped him feed Appa.
"Yes, it is," Katara said coldly.
Iris and Aang looked at Zuko and Katara's serious expression on her face. "Oh," Aang said.
"What's going on?" Iris asked crossing her arms.
"We're going to find the man who took my mother from me," Katara answered.
Sokka walked towards them and he looked confusedly at his friends.
"Sokka told me the story of what happened. I know who did it, and I know how to find him," Zuko said.
"What exactly do you think this will accomplish?" Aang asked.
"Revenge?" Iris asked.
Katara chuckled bitterly "I knew you two wouldn't understand," and she turned around to walk away.
"Are you kidding me?!" Iris exclaimed.
"Wait, stop, we do understand!" Aang exclaimed "You're feeling unbelievable pain and rage,"
"How do you think I felt when I saw them killing the man who raised me?!" Iris exclaimed.
"How do you think I felt about the sand-benders when they stole Appa? How do you think I felt about the Fire Nation when I found out what happened to my people?!" Aang asked loudly.
"She needs this Aang, this is about getting closure in justice," Zuko said.
"I don't think so, I think it's about getting revenge," Aang said turning at Zuko.
"This is revenge," Iris said.
"Fine! Maybe it is, maybe that's what I need, maybe that's what he deserves," Katara said darkly.
"Katara, you sound like Jet," Aang said.
"It's not the same, Jet attacked the innocent. This man... he's a monster!" Katara said angrily.
"Katara, she was my mother too, but I think Aang might be right," Sokka said trying to reason with her.
"Then you didn't love her the way I did!"
"Katara!"
"Okay, stop!" Iris said looking sternly at Katara. "I understand, Katara. I really do. I've tried revenge... but it didn't make me feel better," Iris said.
"The Monks used to say that revenge is like a two headed rat-viper. While you watch your enemy go down, you're being poisoned yourself," Aang said.
"That's cute, but this isn't an Air Temple pre-school, this is the real world," Zuko said only to receive a punch at his shoulder "Ouch!" he turned and saw Iris shooting him a deadly glare.
"Don't forget that I'm an Air Nomad!" Iris said offended. Zuko looked at her apologetically but he didn't get to say anything as Katara spoke first.
"Now that I know he's out there, now that I know we can find him, I feel like I have no choice," Katara said.
"Katara, you do have a choice: forgiveness," Aang said.
"That's the same as doing nothing," Zuko said.
"No it's not. It's easy to do nothing, but it's hard to forgive," Aang said.
"It's not just hard, it's impossible," Katara said darkly and she turned around walking away.
"Great job, Zuko," Iris said sarcastically.
"What!? You're blaming me?!" Zuko asked innocently.
"Well, yes, what are you gonna do about it?" Iris asked challengingly and she crossing her arms turning at him.
Zuko responded by kissing her. Aang and Sokka gasped in surprise and then they looked at each other confusedly. Sokka immediately ran away at the others shouting "You guys owe me ten silver pieces!"
When Zuko pulled back, he realized he had passed his hands around her waist and he was smirking "Was that the answer you've been looking for?" he asked playfully.
"You're in my mind," Iris said kissing him again but when she realized Aang was still there watching them, she pulled back.
"No, it's okay, I'll just... head over there," Aang said awkwardly and he slipped away back to the camp.
Iris and Zuko stared at each other for a long moment before Zuko said "Do you think Aang doesn't approve?"
"Well, he's twelve... so, I guess it's a little strange to watch his sister kissing one of his first enemies," Iris said teasingly.
"I'm not bad anymore, I mean I thought I was good before but I was bad-" Zuko tried to say screwing things up again.
But Iris schussed him placing her finger on his lips "You're really bad at being good," she said teasingly.
"I know, my cupcake," Zuko said knowing that it would annoy her.
"Oh, common!" Iris said as Zuko started laughing...
"Geez, you two, go get a room!" Sokka said coming walking towards them with Toph following from behind.
"If you insist," Zuko said as he picked Iris up with a smirk on his face. Iris started laughing settling her hands around his neck and he carried her back to his tent.
Sokka turned and looked at Toph surprised "I did not see that coming,"
(Brief A/N: Nothing very serious happened, just a kiss :D)
>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<
Night came quickly and Zuko with Katara prepared to take Appa and leave. Sokka, Aang and Iris walked towards them
"So you're just gonna take Appa, anyway!" Aang asked with fake anger.
"Yes," Katara answered coldly.
"It's okay, because I forgive you," Aang said trying to make her change her mind. Iris face-palmed her forehead and Sokka looked at Aang blankly. "That gave you any ideas?" Aang asked immediately smiling.
"Don't try to stop us," Katara said.
"We were not planning to," Aang said "This is a journey you need to take,"
"You need to face this man," Iris said.
"But when you do, please don't choose revenge. Let your anger out, and then let it go, forgive him," Aang said.
"Okay, we'll be sure to do that, guru goody-goody," Zuko said sarcastically with his dry humor. Iris elbowed him painfully at the gut and Zuko started coughing saying "I mean... yeah, sure, Aang," and then he looked at Iris shooting her a cold glare. He then climbed on Appa.
"Thanks for understanding, Aang," Katara said and then she shook the reins. "Yip-Yip!" and they flew away.
"You know, you're pretty wise for a kid," Sokka said at Aang.
"Thanks, Sokka," Aang said.
"Usually it's annoying but now I'm just impressed!" Sokka said smiling at Aang.
"I appreciate that," Aang said.
"So can I borrow Momo, for a week?" Sokka asked.
Aang's eyes widened and he looked at Sokka confusedly.
"What are you gonna do with Momo?" Iris asked placing her hands on her waist.
Sokka just shrugged...
>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<
The sky was grey, the clouds storming raindrops. They had finally found him. And this time, Katara was sure he was the one.
"Do you know who I am?" Katara asked looking hatefully at the old man on the muddy soil.
"No..." the old man answered and then he stared at her for a short moment saying "...I'm not sure,"
"You better remember me like your life depends on it!" Katara snapped angrily at him "Why don't you take a closer look?"
The old man stared at her for a long moment "Yes... yes, I remember you, now. You're that little Water Tribe girl..."
"Just let her go and I'll give you the information you want," Kya said.
"You heard your mother, get out of here!"
The little girl started trembling frightened "Mom, I'm scared,"
"Go find your dad, sweetie. I'll handle this," Kya said giving her daughter a smile and the little girl walked out of the hut.
Now, Yun Ra turned at Kya "Now tell me, who is it? Who's the water-bender?!"
"There are no water-benders here. The Fire Nation took them all away a long time ago," Kya answered.
"You're lying. My source says there's one water bender left in the Southern Water Tribe. We're not leaving until we find the water-bender," Yun Ra insisted.
"If I tell you, do you promise to leave the rest of the village alone?" Kya asked.
He nodded.
"It's me, take me as your prisoner,"
"I'm afraid I'm not taking prisoners today,"
Yun Ra gulped, once again regretting everything the Fire Nation had forced him to do.
"She lied to you, she was protecting the last water bender," Katara said painfully shutting her eyes trying to keep the tears behind.
"What? Who?"
Katara looked at him hatefully and she shouted angrily "Me!" She bent the raindrops around them to a big dome around them. She used that water and turned it into spiky ice pieces, shooting them towards him with a cry of anger. But as they reached him, Katara suddenly stopped them keeping them still for a moment, before allowing the ice to turn back to water.
"I did a bad thing, I know I did, and you deserve revenge," The old man said admittedly "...so why don't you take my mother? That would be fair,"
"I always wondered what kind of person could do such a thing," Katara said and she looked at him hatefully "...but now that I see you, I think I understand. There's just nothing inside you, nothing at all. You're pathetic and sad and empty,"
"Please, spare me," The old man begged and he started crying.
"But as much as I hate you..." Katara tried to say gritting her teeth "...I just can't do it," and she turned around walking away with Zuko following from behind
>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<
They had moved to the Ember Island, at the Royal Family's house. Katara was sitting on the jetty, watching the sun dusking thinking about everything that happened. Aang, and Iris came running towards her.
"Katara, are you okay?" Aang asked worriedly.
"I'm doing fine," Katara said coldly still having turned her back at them.
"Zuko told us what you did," Iris said smiling and she placed her hand on her waist
"Or what you didn't do –I guess- I'm proud of you," Aang said smiling at her.
"I wanted to do it, I wanted to take out all my anger at him, but..." Katara said and she sighed continuing "...I couldn't. I don't know if it's because I'm too weak to do it or... if it's because I'm strong enough not to," she said sadly.
"You did the right thing. Forgiveness is the first step you have to take to begin healing," Aang said.
Katara turned around and she woke up facing them "But I didn't forgive him. I'll never forgive him," she said bitterly and then she looked at Zuko smiling "...but I am ready to forgive you," Katara said and she hugged him tightly for a brief moment. Then she pulled back and she walked away with the others.
"You were both right about what Katara needed. Violence wasn't the answer," Zuko said.
"It never is," Aang said.
Zuko turned and looked at the two air bending siblings asking "Then I have a question for you two: what are you gonna do when you'll face my father?"
>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<
Here it is! I'm sorry it took longer to update, it's been a busy day. But I hope you liked it! Iris and Zuko are back together (Yay!)
But it was too easy that way to get back together, wasn't it? ;)
Vote and Comment if you liked it!
:)