Author's Note: Originally a one-shot, I was persuaded to continue (it doesn't take very much to persuade me when I agree, lol). Enjoy.

Disclaimer: If I owned Avatar, it would not be a Nick kid's show, and I would not be writing about it on here.

"I'm so, so sorry Katara," was all Aang could whisper, over and over, as if it were his fault she had been hurt. That's how Aang saw it. It wasn't the fault of the soldier slumped against the wall behind them—it was Aang's fault. He thought that maybe if he had his head out of the cloud, he would've heard those soldiers coming. Maybe if he'd been more careful to not show a weakness when fighting. Maybe if he'd fought harder. Maybe if he'd gone after her sooner. Maybe…

Both he and Katara had calmed down after the sudden trauma, though tears still freely fell from both their faces and Katara was still curled in a ball. Cautiously, Aang reached out a hand to touch her shoulder. She gasped and shivered, but let him keep it there, unlike the last time.

"Katara," he breathed in her ear, "we need to get out of here. Can you walk?" In response, Katara stood, knees shaking violently. Aang reached out and caught her just before she fell. Instead of her trying again, Aang lifted her into his arms.

"What about him?" She spoke for the first time. She wouldn't look at the monster, but Aang knew who she was talking about.

"I don't want you to have to see what I'm going to do to him." He kissed her head lightly, hoping she would forget about it.

***

Aang ran at breakneck speed and reached the campsite in no time.

"Aang! Katara! Katara?" Toph sensed them before they were even visible. At the sound of his sister's name, Sokka's head lifted from the ground hopefully. When the two came into view, he jumped up fast enough to give himself a headache. But he didn't care. His baby sister was back and Aang was alive.

"Aang, Aang put me down," Katara said quietly, beginning to squirm in the Avatar's arms. He looked at her.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Katara."

"I know, I know, just…please Aang…." He lightly placed her on her feet, but se didn't stay there long. As soon as Aang's hands left her she sat and wrapped her arms around her knees.

"What the hell happened to my sister Aang?!" Sokka yelled. But Aang didn't answer. He was already running at a speed only a great air bender could achieve, almost flying. It wasn't too long before he was back at the now chaotic palace of the late Fire Lord.

First, he had some revenge to take care of.

The monster was not in the dungeon when Aang returned. But he'd left a trail of blood from where Aang had hit him. Following it through hallways that seemed too long, the hunter found the hunted.

The soldier's eyes widened with fear when he caught sight of the furious Avatar. Grim satisfaction rushed through Aang carrying with it adrenaline. He felt like his blood was boiling and knew he was probably glowing a little.

The soldier tried to fun but Aang was too fast for him. The two smashed into the hard stone wall. Aang's hand had the soldier's throat in a vice grip. He watched as the man's face turned a pale blue.

"This is for Katara," Aang whispered. His other hand warmed and glowed as fire engulfed it. Smiling evilly, he dug his fiery fist into the area below the belt of the monster he was holding. Keeping his fist where the punch landed, he loosened his hold on the man's neck so he could hear the scream coming from his lips. When he was satisfied, he left. He didn't kill the man; he left him there to suffer.

"For Katara," Aang reminded himself. "For Katara."

Author's Note: How the hell do I come up with this stuff? LOL, please review!