𝑺𝑬𝑬𝑫 𝑶𝑭 𝑰𝑪𝑯𝑶𝑹 •𝒃𝒙𝒃•

15 ~ a cut that always bleeds

It was night when Sokka and Katara returned.

When Guren asked how their search went, Katara reassured him with a confident nod, to which Guren replied with one of his own. The mayor was called, and they prepared to offer Aang's defence.

"Honourable mayor, we've prepared a solid defence for the Avatar. We did an investigation, and found some very strong evidence."

Sokka's and Aang's smiles quickly fell when the mayor replied, "Evidence? Ha! That's not how our court system works." With a pompous huff, he turned away, as if they weren't worth his sight.

"Then how can I prove my innocence?" Aang inquired.

The mayor leaned close to the boy's cell. "Simple. I say what happened, and then you say what happened, and then I decide who's right."

Well if that wasn't exactly what Guren expected as an outcome. Everything was too sleazy from the very beginning. It was a wonder none of them thought to actually try and think it through.

"That's why we call it justice, because it's just us."

A horrible argument if Guren's ever heard one. "Seems to me you don't know the definition of justice." His words were regarded with joyful laughter as the man walked away, his voice echoing throughout the room.

Great.

Guren looked at Aang, silently telling him 'I told you so' as the boy's expression crumbled.

Should've expected it.
.
.
.
"How were we supposed to know he'd present such broken logic?" Sokka groaned, basically throwing himself against the wall, into which he smushed his face in.

Guren raised a brow. "He accused a preteen of murder that happened three hundred years ago?"

Sokka turned to look at him, imaginary knives flying out of his eyes.

Shrugging, Guren crossed his arms. "Would be easier if we broke Aang out of prison, but even if we did that, he'd-"

Katara spoke over him, "-probably stay right there even if the bars were blown away."

Precisely.

"He's stubborn."

Again, Katara chimed in, "He has a strong sense of justice."

That brought out a laugh from Guren. "Yeah, which apparently means 'just us.' It's bullshit." It was impossible... "They'll kill him if he stays. Who's supposed to stop the end of the world then?"

Silence washed over them.

Guren didn't understand why Aang stayed. To hell with justice, there was something more to it. Something he didn't think about. For what reason could he be so hell bent on being the way that he was?

"We'd better get some rest..." Katara briefly patted his shoulder as she passed him. "You especially. Don't think I didn't notice you barely sleep as it is."

Seems like he should hide it better. "Don't worry about me. I don't need much rest."

"Yeah, right. Go sleep before you pass out," Sokka commented, "You're of no use to us then."

"Are you admitting I contribute to this team?"

Sokka rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

_

The trial took a real fast turn the moment Kyoshi's spirit took over Aang. She confessed to having killed Chin the Great in retaliation to his attempted attack on her people. That was the very same day she created Kyoshi Island by separating it from the mainland.