Double Bender

Part 42

The rest of the gang joined us shortly after that. Sokka, Suki, and Toph sat down next to us as Katara went out to find Aang. "It seems like every time there's a big battle," Suki said, "you guys barely make it out. I mean, you guys lose a lot." "Thanks for the friendly reminder." I said sarcastically. "That's not what I meant." Suki said quickly. "I meant that the people you're fighting have you outnumbered either in people or power and yet you somehow make it out alive. You know what I mean?" I looked at the ground, remembering my own experience of fighting a very powerful person and barely making it out. It was scary. I felt death nearly brush against me. Twice! One wrong move and I would've been dead. I never wanted to experience that ever again. The way he was staring at me like I was something weak. Like I was a stepping-stone that he needed to step on just to make it to the top. It was a frightening experience that I never wanted to go through again. I shivered. Zuko wrapped his arm around me. "You're one to talk, Suki." Said Sokka. "Didn't Azula take you captive? That's right, she did." "Are you trying to get on my bad side?" she said irritably. "I'm just saying." Said Sokka, matter-of-factly. Katara walked in. "Has anyone seen Aang?" she asked. I shook my head, Zuko and Toph shrugged. Sokka stood up and said, "He left to get me some fire gummies, like, ten minutes ago and I'm still waiting." He crossed his arms. "I'm going to go look for him." Katara said. Just after Katara left, a little boy dressed like Aang ran down the hallway with his arms out to the side like he was flying. "WHEE!" He said. "At least someone's having fun." I said, trying to be positive. Zuko chuckled quietly. Sokka looked at Suki. "Suki" he said, "what are the chances that you can get me backstage so I can give Actor Me some tips about jokes?" Suki stood up. "I'm an elite warrior who's trained many years in the art of stealth." She sounded serious, like she meant business. "I think I can get you backstage." She said warmly, breaking the air of her first statement. The two walked away to find Actor Sokka. "Don't get into trouble!" I called after them. "And you say Katara's the one who acts motherly." Zuko taunted. "It's not like that." I argued. "If they get into trouble, then we all get in trouble." "True," Zuko said. The little boy ran by again. "Jeez." Toph said. "Everyone's getting so upset about their characters." "Well, we do have good reason." I said to Toph. "They completely screwed us up." Zuko said nothing. "Even you," she said, referring to him. "You seem more down than usual, and that's saying something." Zuko looked up and looked at Toph. "You don't get it." He said. "It's different for you. You get a buff version of yourself who, takes down ten soldiers at a time, while making sassy remarks." "Yeah." Said Toph. "That's pretty great." Zuko didn't share in her joy. "But for me, it takes every mistake I've made in my life and shoves them back in my face. My Uncle. He's always been on my side, even when things were bad. And how do I repay him? With a knife in his back." He lowered his head. "It's my greatest regret, and I may never get redeem myself." Toph sat up. "You have redeemed yourself to your Uncle." He looked at her. "You don't know it, but you have." "How do you know that?" he asked. "Because I once had a long conversation with the guy and all he would talk about was you." Zuko smiled a little bit. "It was a little annoying." Toph finished. "Sorry," Zuko chuckled. "But it was also really sweet." Toph continued. "And all your uncle wanted for you was for you to find your own path see the light. Now you're here with us. I'm sure he'd be proud." "And you're sorry for what you did, right?" I asked. "Of course I am." Zuko answered. "There you go." I said. "I'm sure that's enough for him." He smiled warmly at me. Then Toph punched him in the arm. "Ow!" He said. I giggled uncontrollably. He shot me a look. "Sorry," said Toph. "That's how I show affection." The little boy dressed as Aang ran by for a third time, but this time, he stopped and looked at Zuko for a second. I also noticed black hair sticking out under the bald cap he was wearing. "Your Zuko costume is pretty good." The kid said. "But your scar's on the wrong side." Zuko's jaw dropped a little at how naive this kid was. The kid grinned again and ran off. "The scar's NOT on the wrong side!" he yelled as he put his hood up angrily. I started giggling again. "What's so funny?" he asked, a little peeved. "They don't know the appearance of their own prince." I said. "I mean, they are Fire-Nation, they know...what happened, they should know what side your scar should be on. After all, it is your scar. You are their prince and you know it's on the left side. Not to mention, they don't know who you really are. The don't recognize that their prince, which they are disgracing, is sitting right under their noses. Now granted, you aren't dressed all fancy right now and you'd have to look really hard to try and recognize you, but, they don't know that you're sitting right here. I just...find that funny." He put his arm around me. "You make no sense." "People can't fly." I said oddly. "What?" he said, confused. "I thought we were stating the obvious." I said. He rolled his eyes.