I Can Show You What Love Really Is

The exchange (1)

Zuko woke up with a anxious feeling in his stomach. He barely got a wink of sleep last night.

Today he had to meet with Sokkas kidnapper to give him the money in exchange for Sokka.

Zuko looked at himself in the mirror, he looked a mess, he had dark eyebags, his hair was a mess and he was snow white.

He looked like a living corpse.

Zuko sighed and headed downstairs.

"Hello Zuko" Hakoda greeted. The whole gaang was in the living room, well most of them.

"Why're you all here, what time is it?"
"Its 3pm, we didn't want to wake you." Zuko looked at them shocked.

Was he asleep that long? Why did he feel exhausted if he had slept until 3pm.

"Let's go over the plan" Hakoda said gesturing for Zuko to come sit with them on the couches.

Zuko sat down next to Toph who looked like she was deep in thought.

"Zuko is going to give the kidnapper the money with Katara there to protect him if needed, if the kidnapper sticks to his word he'll hand over Sokka safely and then we can assume he'll try make a run for it. That's when Aang and Toph come in, Toph will capture him with her earthbending and then we'll have that fucker locked up for life"

Everyone nodded in reply except Zuko. Toph turned to face him.
"Are you afraid?" She asked softly.

Zuko nodded slowly looking down at his knees.
"We'll be here don't worry" the earthbender said.

The room was silent for a few moments until Aang spoke up.
"We should leave at 8pm when it's dark."

------------------------------------------------------

It was 8.15pm and Zuko left the house and headed towards the abandoned house where he had agreed to meet with Sokkas kidnapper, he brought a suitcase filled with the 79,511 yuan.

Zuko would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous, even knowing his friends were following close behind to protect him incase the kidnapper tried anything.

He looked ahead to see the house by the mountains, one of the lights was on which told him the kidnapper was already there.

Zukos heartbeat raised with every step he took.

Approaching the door, he couldn't bring himself to reach out and twist the handle.

He gulped and moved his hand towards the handle but before he could even touch it the door was opened from the other side.

"Your early" the kidnapper said with a wide smile, like they were friends. Zuko looked stunned.
"Why are you just standing there like a idiot come in" She said moving out of the way.

Zuko stepped inside.
"You- your just not what I expected."

The kidnapper chuckled.
"They all say that" She said cheerfully.

She led him into the bedroom / living room where Sokka was sitting tied up on the couch with a ballgag in his mouth.

Zuko furrowed his eyebrows.
"Were you expecting this?" The kidnapper laughed. "Anyways enough chit chat give me the money"

Zuko handed her the suitcase and watch as she counted the money.

He looked over at Sokka who was furiously shaking his head. Zuko furrowed his eyebrows not knowing what he was doing.

He faced the kidnapper again.
"Is that all? Can I take him and leave?" The kidnapper looked up from the suitcase and smiled.

"Well aren't you in a rush to leave? You should stay a while considering its the last time you'll see your husband again!" She laughed.

She moved her body in a graceful manner and captured Zuko with the ground, he couldn't move his arms and his legs but his feet were free.

Fuck she's a earthbender Zuko thought groaning in pain.

Zuko tried to break free but everytime he moved he felt like we was getting crushed more. He needed to wait until his friends arrived to save him.

"Welp, I'm off then" The kidnapper said picking up Sokka and hanging him over her shoulder.
"See Sokka, I knew he wouldn't put up a fight."

That sentence alone made Zuko furious, his blood boiled with anger and a familiar feeling filled his body, a feeling he had forgotten long ago.