The Warrior's Gambit (Zutara)

XXXIV

Aang spent the next few days practically glued to Appa's side. He had a lot of missed time with his big buddy. He regaled him with stories of being at the palace and gave him lots of treats, even though he probably didn't need any more. Well, whatever! Aang was going to spoil him, at least a bit.

On the fourth day, he came out of his cabin and was surprised not to see Appa, but Zuko.

"Aang! Woah...hair." Zuko's eyes bugged. "I mean, looks good."

"I'm glad you're still alive," Aang said, hugging Zuko.

"I think that's my line," Zuko chuckled, looking around at the Swamp, taking it all in.

"Hardly. We're pretty protected here. I wouldn't put it past your dad to...slit your throat in the night," Aang said honestly. Zuko shrugged, not disagreeing.

"Is it how you imagined it?" Ty Lee asked, swinging herself over the railing to stand next to Zuko. Though he'd been the one to set up this communication and knew the location, he hadn't ever been here, not until now.

"Better," Zuko said, "Seeing everyone here...not fearing for their lives...it's good." From his dark expression, Aang almost didn't want to ask. But he had to. Zuko winced, inhaling.

"It's Zhao. Ever since finding out you were the Avatar- the ultimate Airbender- he's...gone off the deep end. And my dad only encourages him. Anyone he thinks is an Airbender..." Zuko drew a line across his throat. "It's been a week since you escaped, and already, his body count that we know of is thirty. Possibly more. Hard to say how many were airbenders, how many were 'Airbender sympathizers,' and how many just looked the wrong way at him."

"Holy smokes," Aang groaned, "Well, I mean, we gotta go out and find them! Bring all the airbenders here, obviously. And stop Zhao. We have to-"

"Woah, slow down!" Zuko held up a hand, "Find my uncle and Toph? I need to talk to you all."

"Not Shen or Dhakiya?" Ty Lee questioned.

"In the town over. I'm on a 'trip' right now with Alcina, Yue, and Suki. Yue and Suki are volunteering. Alcina is having lunch, in town, with her father and Dhakiya. Thought it would be kind. Plus, I don't trust her enough to bring her here." He laughed. "I mean, I barely trust anyone."

"As you should. Be mindful of who you speak your secrets to," Iroh said, coming up the path with Huu. "Nephew, it's good to see you."

"Now we just need Toph," Zuko said.

"I'll get her," Aang offered. He darted back inside. Toph was lying on her bed, making small shapes with a ball of dirt above her.

"Hi."

"Shit, Twinkletoes!" Toph snapped. "Can't sneak up on me like that."

"Sorry," Aang winced, "So you're...completely blind here?" He hadn't thought to ask before, until now. Toph hopped off her bed, running her feet across the floorboards.

"Usually, even in structures, I can feel the earth beneath me and see easily. This earth is all wet," she complained.

"So...?"

Toph motioned for Aang to come forward. She found his face after a few missed attempts and then took her hand and pressed it to his eyes, fingers spread.

"Can you see very well right now?"

"Erm, not really," he said, squinting through the openings.

"Exactly. It's like that. I can get a bit, but it's really difficult and sort of tiring," she replied. Aang understood; ever since arriving here, his connection to the other Avatars was like a bad signal. It wavered in and out. Sometimes, he could hear a few clear words from them, but it was usually choppy. Other times, he could only hear the faint fuzz and murmur in the back of his brain, like a fly that never left. He'd rather it was all or nothing because this half-connection was way worse. Oh, fear not though, his past Avatars figured out how to annoy him through his dreams, so he wasn't without their sage wisdom, he thought with a roll of his eyes. Was it too much to have a normal, non-lectured dream, though?