Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

To say Katara was pissed was the understatement of the year, her, Toph, and her brother had just gotten thrown into a cell by Zhao and he had taken Aang God know's where. Aang had gone to the spirit world to talk to Roku when Zhao and Zuko had found them, they assumed they must be working together.

“Okay this is fine we just have to find a way out of here and get to Aang then bam just head over to the North Pole as planned.” Sokka said trying to make light of the situation

“You really think it will be that easy?” Katara asked

“He’s.” but before Toph could finish she was interrupted by loud screaming coming from non-other than prince Zuko himself.

“LET GO OF ME, I SAID LET GO YOUR SUCH A PATHETIC WASTE OF SPACE! Zuko screamed as he was tossed in a cell.

Katara and Sokka looked shocked, while Toph seemed unfazed

“Come on now prince Zuko there's no need to be disrespectful.” Zhao said smiling before he continued “I've sent word to the fire lord of the avatars capture and your failure, luckily he was visiting a town nearby and will be here to deal with you within the hour.” he said with a shit-eating grin, before walking away

Katara and Sokka had been worried Zuko would hurt them but now watching him pace back and forth while hyperventilating it really didn’t seem he was going to hurt them.

“You alright there Sparky you seem to be panicking.” Toph asked actually sounding a bit concerned

“WHY SHOULD HE BE PANICKED, HE'S GOING TO GET IN A BIT OF TROUBLE BUT WE ARE GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF HIS FATHER.”

“Calm down sugar queen you're not helping the situation.”

“We need an escape plan the best way to get out is to wait till the fire lord comes, then we distract him after he opens the door so that Toph could get use her bending and get us out.” Sokka said Toph wasn’t happy about the change of subject but she knew the prince would not talk to her so she let it go they continued plotting for about 45 minutes before the door opened and Toph felt everyone's hearts skip a beat.”

The fire lord himself walked in he looked at the gang and rolled his eyes before he spotted his son and gave the evilest grin that even sent a shiver down Katara's back even though she hated the prince. They all turned to the prince with concerned looks on their faces. Zuko had gone down on his knee and bowed his head to his father not daring to look up but Toph could feel the fear radiating from him just as she felt the hatred his father was radiating towards him not even them just Zuko.

“Why am I not surprised that you couldn’t even follow a simple order.”

The fire lord had opened Zuko's cell and walked in, the gang was watching from the cell right next to him.

“I’m sorry father I did the.” But before he could finish there was a hard smack as his father's hand connected with his face Zuko stumbled back but quickly came back to his bowing position

“Did I say you could speak.”

Another slap

“Answer me.”

“No Father.” Zuko managed to stutter out

This time the fire lord grabbed his arm and lifted him up

“What did I say about calling me that you pathetic waste of space.” he shouted in Zuko's face

“I’m sorry Fire lord it won't happen again.” Zuko said

The fire lord started heating up his hand where it lay against Zuko's skin, it was obvious Zuko was trying his best not to scream but after a few seconds he let out a scream that just angered the fire lord more he then proceeded to grab Zuko's hair and start shouting really rude things before shoving him back to the ground and making his way out. Zuko curled up into a ball and the gang just looked in shock. Katara was the first to break the silence.

“What the actual hell was that.”

I mean it was pretty obvious what that was Katara.”
“But that’s his, that’s your dad he how could he.” she couldn’t find the words for what she had just seen. Toph walked as close to the bars separating them from Zuko as she could before she spoke

“You okay there sparky?”

“Perfectly fine thanks.” Zuko said with a hint of sarcasm

Chapter Text

Toph was not stupid she could tell by the way that sparky heart was beating that he was Definity not okay, but she also knew he wasn’t about to talk to any of them so she tried a different method.

“Are those shoes fireproof.” she said pointing at what she did not know but she assumed everyone knew what she meant

Zuko looked up shocked before considering his answer

“No.”

“You'd think the fire nation would make clothes that they can't just burn of.”

At that Zuko gave a small chuckle

“I think they have more important things to worry about.”

“I suppose.”

They went silent for a few before Katar started to speak

“So are we just going to pretend that didn’t just happen.”

“Huh.” Sokka chimed in

“We just saw the fire lord that means he could be murdering or torturing aang as we speak, if he did that to his own son imagine what he will do to aang.’’ Katara paused and looked at Zuko “no offense.”

He waved her off “none taken.”

“My father will not hurt the avatar till we arrive at the capital, he will be safe till them.”

“Well, we need a plan.”

‘’Well, what do you suppose we do Sokka.”

“First we free jerk Bender so that he can melt the bars then we get aang and leave.” Sokka says rather enthusiastic

“What makes you think I will help you.”

“The fact that your dad just beat the shit out of you and will probably do worse when your back home am I right?”

Ziko looked like he was going to protest but after a second gave up and just looked at the floor

“SO, ITS SETTLED LET'S KICK SOME FIRENATION BUTT!

Chapter Text

While the others listened to Sokkas strategies on how they would make their epic escape Zuko couldn’t help but wonder why they would help him after he had chased them and done nothing but try and capture their friend for his fathe.... The fire lord, UGHHH why was he such a fool he would never regain his honor he thought he was getting so overwhelmed when suddenly a spark flew around the room catching the rest of the gang's attention.

You alright there sparky? Asked toph looking at the opposite wall from where Zuko was at, Sokka moved her head towards him invoking her to bend a rock at his forehead

OUCH I WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP!!!!! Sokka whined

Will you too cut it out, we need to help rescue Aang! Katara exclaimed

What about the bison? Asked Zuko

What about him? And his name is Appa Dipwab Sokka said with an annoyed expression that made Katara wonder how they were related

If the Biso.. Appa can be called on command, maybe he can distract the guards long enough for us to find the avatar and escape.

That your brilliant plan to use Appa as bait and risk his death?!?! Asked Katara flabbergasted

Well do you have a fucking better idea?

No but anything is better than.....

Before she could finish her sentence, something rocked the ship and caused it to tip over before they knew it they were being submerged in water

Thanks to Katara's water bending they were able to survive the incident but not before some embarrassing confessions from Sokka about how he liked to snuggle his boomerang. When they got to shore all they could do was watch as the ship went up in flames. He would never admit it but Zuko deep down hoped his father and Zhao had not made it out. Suddenly a glowing blue figure emerged, it came towards them and stopped Infront of Katara, the glow dimmed, and they could now see it was Aang. There was a strange sadness in his eyes and when asked about it he just said they needed to run.

1 week later

What had happened to the Ship that day was a mystery to everyone and Aang refused to even acknowledge that it had happened, but he couldn’t fully ignore it because of Zuko. He wasn’t thrilled about Zuko joining them, but Aang could exactly tell the team why because if he did, he would have to confess to them about what had happened that day, what he had learned at the temple, The truth that he wanted so desperately to ignore, to change. That was the thing though Aang fully believed that he could change his fate. The question was how far he was willing to go and how much of himself would he lose for those he loves.