The White Assassin

Ch. 7 - Stay

We were walking in a forest. The pine smell illuminated through out the thicket and it wasn't long until we stumbled upon the front gates of the fire temple. I pushed my back up onto one of the walls and looked over the corner to see fire soldiers everywhere. They were all standing guard and had stone cold expressions on their faces. None of them seemed to have a want to leave where they were standing. 'They're not going to make this easy are they?' I thought. I looked back over to Sokka, Katara and Toph. They had determined looks and I returned with a determination of my own. No matter what happened we were going to get our friend back. "Got any ideas?" I whispered to them. They all looked at each other pondering on what the next move should be.

"I got it!" Toph whispered. We all looked at her and she continued. "I'll dig a tunnel under the temple but it'll only be big enough for three of us. I can get us in but the other person has to find another way." She said. I think we all knew that I was more capable to find a way in on my own then the others.

"I can find a way in, you guys just be careful. There will be guards everywhere so be aware of what you're doing." I said to them. They nodded and Toph made a hole into the ground. They went under the soldiers and made their way towards the temple. "Alright, let's get inside." I whispered to myself. I jumped up into a tree and made it onto the roof of one of the buildings. I ran stealthily trying to find a way inside when I got an idea. There were canvas doors on the top floor of the temple, probably rooms for the royals. If I could find an empty one and make my way in, then I should be fine. I'll just have to meet up with everyone else later, let's just hope they find Aang before the soldiers find them.

I jumped onto the roof of the temple and made my way onto the balconies where the canvas doors were located. I pressed my back against the walls so I could hear inside the rooms, just so I didn't walk in on anyone. I slowly made my way to the other rooms when I reached upon a certain door that gave me suspicions. I stayed by that door and heard voices inside. "Where is he?" A deep voice said.

"He's in the dungeons rotting with the rest of the prisoners. He hasn't been cooperating lately, maybe we should let our new recruits tuse him for target practice." Another voice answered, chuckling coldly. 'Who would do that to a person?' I thought. I wanted to hear more of their conversation but they both left the room. 'Now's my chance.' I waited for them to both leave the hallway and I crept into the room. Once inside I saw a bedroom with a red background. It looked like a simple guest room that the rich could live in, high walls and beautiful carvings on the bed frame. 'Now is not the time to be admiring furniture.' I thought to myself. I made my over to the door of the room when I heard footsteps. 'Shoot!' The sounds of the shoes were coming my way, I tried to look for somewhere to hide. There was a gap between the bed and the floor so I decided to crawl underneath. I slid myself under the mattress and the canvas slid open, from under the bed I saw the details of a soldier.

"I don't see anything." He said. Looking closely there was another one standing in the door frame.

"Why are we doing this again?" He asked, yawning in the middle of his sentence.

"We're trying to see if there are anymore trespassers. Those three earlier are now in the dungeons with the avatar but just to be sure, I'm checking to see if there are anymore." The first soldier said to the second one. 'What?' I thought. 'So much for doing this mission together. I swear if we get out of this alive, I'm training them in stealth.'

"Whatever man," the other soldier said. "I think you're just paranoid and you're looking for a raise." The soldier chuckled.

"That's enough out of you!" The searching soldier said to his comrade. "Let's just go, there's nothing in this room that looks suspicious." Their boots walked out of the room and the canvas door slid shut. I crawled out from under the bed and dusted off my clothing. I walked over to the door and put my ear against it. I didn't hear anything so I stepped out to be met with a vacant hallway. I made my way down to the dungeons and was surprisingly wasn't caught. I assumed that they were in the basement and made my way to the lowest level of the temple. There I was met with a dusty smell of dirt and sweat. I walked deeper into the dungeons when I heard low voices talking. I pressed my back against a wall and I looked over the corner to see two guards blocking a cell door. Their bodies were in the way so I couldn't see who was in the cell but something told me it was something, or someone, important. I focused my air bending to make a small noise further into the dungeons.

When I did a clang sound was heard ringing throughout the area. "Who goes there?" The first soldier shouted. They both turned looking down the hallway where the sound came from. I snuck up behind both of them and hit their pressure points, making them unconscious. I sighed once they were both on the ground and I turned around to see a familiar figure in the cell they were once guarding. I stood up and walked towards the door, when I tried to open it the door wouldn't budge. 'Locked.' I thought. I looked towards the guards and the keys were around his belt. I walked towards him and took the key. I placed it in the door and turned it to unlock the door. I opened it and sitting in the corner with his hands cuffed was the avatar, Aang.

I ran over to him and crouched in front of him. He was so weak and had no color in his face, one quick glance and you would think he'd be dead. "What did they do to you?" I muttered to myself. I grasped his cheek with my hand and he felt warm, he was sleeping. My touch made him wake up and he looked at me.

"Hale?" He asked. His eyes were glossy and squinted. "I'm dreaming aren't I?" I shook my head and that made him realize that he wasn't actually dreaming. His eyes opened wide in shock and he brought me into a strong embrace. I blushed at his gesture but reluctantly hugged back. "You came?" He whispered in my ear.

"Well someone has to save your butt." I said to him. We let go and just stared at each other's eyes. Slowly but surely we started to lean. My eyes closed but before our lips touched a voice rang out.

"There are intruders in the temple. Close all exits and see to it that hey are brought to the lord!" The deep voice sounded throughout the halls. Aang and I looked at each other with wide eyes and a red tinge formed on our cheeks.

"W-we should get going.." He said. I nodded my head and I unclasped his handcuffs. We started to get out of the cell when we heard voices behind us. 'That sounds like Katara, Sokka and Toph!' I thought. We both ran down the hallway and found the three of them in a prison cell much similar to Aang's. They thanked us for their saving and we released them from the prison. We all ran away from the dungeons and made our way to the front of the temple. We opened the doors but they were locked, there was no way out. I focused my air bending on the pressure near the doors and they shattered open. Once there was a clearing, we all ran towards the gates. Luckily there were no guards, they were all inside looking for the trespassers that have already escaped.

We ran out of the gates and back towards the forest. Trees flew passed us and the wind whipped in my ears as I ran. By the time we got deep enough into the forest, it was around five in the evening. I stopped running so I could catch my breath, Katara, Sokka, Toph and Aang stopped as well. Aang fell to the ground in exhaustion and personally I don't blame him. I probably interrupted some well deserved rest for him back in the prison cell. He looked weak, almost as if he hadn't been eating. When I saw him, I wanted to destroy everyone that did that to him. I felt so much anger that I thought I would've exploded. "Hale," a voice said to my right, interrupting my thoughts. I looked in the direction to see Katara holding Aang like a child. I felt a strange feeling bubble in the pit of my stomach, I didn't want her holding him. I wanted to hold him and call him mine, but sadly I didn't have the right. "Thank you, for helping us." I nodded towards her.

"Glad I could help." I said back to her. She smiled at me and I smiled back. "So, what's the plan now?" I asked.

"Well since you helped us with what we needed you for, I don't know what we should do. You could go back to your village with that elderly woman." Katara said. 'Oh..' I thought. A piece of me felt saddened to know that I had to go back to Muriel and the lonely village. I wanted to stay with the group, I wanted to stay with Aang. "We thank you for what you have done." She said with a generous smile. She held Aang close to her chest and began to squeeze. My heart wretched at the sight and I nodded my head for one last time. 'They look cute together.. I hope they become happy.' I thought. I turned around and began to walk away from the group. My footsteps were the loudest sound in the entire forest from the weight of my sadness. Then, I heard a voice from behind me and I stopped.

"Don't go." I stopped walking and turned to see Aang sitting up. "I want you to stay, with us." I widened my eyes in shock. Why would he want me to stay with him? After being such a nuisance and being no help to the group whatsoever? Why? "Please?" He started to get up but wobbled at first. Katara tried to help him but he shrugged her off. "I think we would all benefit both educationally and spiritually if you were still around. Please stay with us?" He asked. He gave me a puppy dog eye look and I just couldn't say no.

"I would love to."