The White Assassin

Ch. 12 - First Time

I'm surrounded in black. Nothing. I hear nothing, I see nothing, I feel nothing. I feel emotionless and have no physical strength. I'm just floating through space, no wind to change my direction. No sounds to signal where I am. No anything. Just black. I felt numb all around, I couldn't move any part of my body. I could only look around with my eyes. All I say was the blackest of the black. Deeper then the blackest hole in the universe.

A feeling of regret fell over me all of a sudden. I started to feel a dull pain on my stomach and look down. I see my body which I didn't notice before. There was a deep burn/gash on my stomach. I couldn't tell, my eyes were starting to blur. My vision became fuzzy and my eyes closed naturally. When they opened, they were exposed to the light of a bedroom. The walls were a light green and the bed I was laying in was soft. Like the walls, it was also a natural shade of green, almost plant like. I looked around to see I was alone in this room. 'Where am I?' I thought to myself. I tried to sit up but the pain on my stomach and chest pushed me back down. The door swung open and a woman walked in. She was older and had brown and green clothing on. She looked to be wheeling in some medicine on a tray with some bandages. "Ah you're awake." She stated. I was too weak to nod my head. She smiled at me and brought the medicine over. "I'm going to change your bandages if you don't mind, princess." She said. 'So I'm in the castle.' I thought. No one else outside of the castle would know that I'm back, which would make sense since the room looks to be fit for a royal. I must have blacked out during the fight with Zuko and someone brought me to this room. The nurse began to take the blanket away from my body. The cold air touched my skin and I twitched from the sensation. She didn't notice and continued to remove the soft cover. As she did a white bandage was evident around my stomach. I widened my eyes in shock to see it go around my entire waist. "If you don't mind, could you sit up princess?" The nurse asked me. I nodded and sat up. Although I did it slowly I was still in a bit of pain. The dull ache from the burn increased and I sat up fully. She began to unwrap the bandages with her cold hands, making my body shiver. As she did, little by little a red burn mark was starting to be revealed. As it did a chill ran down my back at what damage prince Zuko could actually do. I was so deep in thought that when the nurse was finished with the bandages I didn't notice until she was waving her hand in front of my face. I blinked rapidly and looked at her and she smiled. "Let me know if you need anything, princess." She told me. I nodded and I slowly laid back down in the bed. She walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.

As soon as she left I got up out of bed searching for my friends. They had been injured in battle as well and hopefully were being medically treated like I was. I looked to see that I was back in somewhat 'casual' wear. I had brown pants on that were clinging to my legs and a dull green shirt. The bandages were hidden by the dark green and I slipped on some shoes. As I creaked open the door I made sure to not alarm anyone. If they had seen me up and about with an injury they would push me back into bed. Yea I was injured but Aang was hurt as well. I need to see him. I needed to make sure he was alright.

I walked down the hall of the earth kingdom palace. It was much larger then I remembered. It could have been because I haven't been here in about six years. When I was a child I saw the walls but I was so short I couldn't see them touch the ceiling. I called them never ending walls and limitless roofs. My parents would laugh at my foolishness but it made me feel happy when they smiled. I hope I can bring back that happiness soon.

If my calculations were correct, the guest bedrooms were right down the next hallway. I made it to a four-way intersection and took a turn to my right. Luckily, it was the correct turn and I saw rooms with labels next to the doors saying 'Guest'. I tried to find the one my friends were in but knowing my parents, they want their guests to be comfortable so they all probably have different rooms. I opened the third one down on the left side and saw Katara sitting up in bed drinking tea. She looked to me as I opened the door and smiled. I returned the grin and she told me to come in. "How are you feeling?" I asked her.

"I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about.." She replied.

"Why me?" I questioned.

"You took that fire attack head on." Katara answered. "We were all worried for your health, especially Aang." She continued. Aang? Worried about me?

"I assume I was only out for a couple hours. I'm fine, really." I told her. Her face grimaced and I looked at her confused. "What's the matter?" I asked.

"Hale, you've been out for a couple of days. Three to be exact." Katara answered. I gasped, I didn't think I would be out for that long. "In that span of three days your parents have brought up the idea of war against the fire nation. They want revenge on the people that hurt their daughter." Oh no. This isn't good. If the earth kingdom fights the fire nation, we'll be wiped out immediately. We're not strong enough to take on an entire nation.. "Also," Katara said. I looked up at her and she had tears pricking the corners of her eyes. "We thought you were going to die."

"Oh Katara.." I cooed. I walked up to her and gave her a gentle hug. We were both injured and me not wanting to hurt her anymore gave the most delicate hug I could. She retuned it and I felt drops of water on my left shoulder.

"He's in room five." Katara said in my ear.

"Huh?" I questioned.

"Aang. He's in room five." She replied. We broke away from our hug and she looked at me. "I'm sure he would be relieved to know that you are alive and well." I nodded to her and turned. Before I left I looked back at her from the doorway. She nodded to me and I did the same to her. I walked out and closed the door gently.

I walked down to guest room number five. The door was the same as the others but there was a sorrowful feeling coming from behind the door. I knocked and heard a small gasp come from the other side of the wooden barrier. "Come in." The voice said faintly. So faint that if I was listening carefully I wouldn't have been able to hear it. I opened the door and saw Aang sitting on the edge of his bed staring out the window. He had his balcony doors open and the curtains were swaying towards him. "If it's possible could I be left alone, my bandages can be changed later." He said to me not turning around.

"Now we wouldn't want your injuries to get infected, now would we?" I lectured him. His body stiffened at my words and he turned his head and saw me. His eyes were so wide I thought they would roll out of their sockets and onto the floor. The pupils were so small with shock that the only thing I saw in his eyes was the white around the iris.

"Hale?" He questioned. I nodded and he smiled. He got up out of bed and rushed towards me. He hugged me with all his might and although it did hurt a bit I didn't mind the sting. I hugged Aang back and he smiled. "I thought you were dead." He said.

"A burn will not kill me so easily." I told him.

"That's a relief." He said. "I thought I would never be able to do what I wanted to do."

"Do what?" I asked.

"This." He said. He unveiled from the hug and brought his face closer to mine. I widened my eyes in shock as he pressed his lips onto my own. They were soft like a pillow but fierce like a lion. It showed through the kiss that not only did he care for me but he was indeed worried for my safety. I closed my eyes and kissed back. After a few seconds we released each other and saw the faint redness on our cheeks. "It was my first.."

"Huh?" I asked.

"My first kiss." Aang said. I chuckled and pecked his cheek. His face grew redder than a tomato and I chuckled again.

"It was my first time too." I replied. He smiled sweetly at me and we decided to go visit the others hand in hand; not as two different people but as one.