So, here's another Zutara piece that I'm pumping out. I plan for this story to be a two-shot, mostly because if it were a one-shot…meh, there's an excellent divide in the story line that I want to exploit so this story is going for two chapters—unless for some reason, my inspiration drags it so that it continues for three or more chapters. Whatever the case, enjoy, my delightful readers!
Ah, postscript that I almost forgot to mention—this story is very AU, so stay with me!
Republic City.
The last time he had set foot on its urban streets, the metropolis was just beginning to construct its first steel-frame buildings and the news reports were full of apprehension about the length of the suspension bridge to be built across Yue Bay. Even in the daytime, there were just a few pedestrians along the streets and an even more sparse number of carriages rocking along on narrow cobblestone roads, making a ruckus down the entire avenue.
And now look at it, Zuko thought, as he received the change for his now wrapped gift. He returned the thanks of the cashier girl behind the counter and stuck his free hand in his pocket. Opening the door back to the newly developed city, he couldn't help but marvel again at how much had changed since he last came here. Crowded seas of people that went about their merry way, phones attached to their ears; offices, cafes, and apartments one after the other down the straight gridline streets; skyscrapers literally touching the clouds, in competition with the mountains…
Very unlike the Fire Nation, he reminisced, already missing the tropical heat of his homeland when a stray breeze slipped through the opening of his sleeve. The Fire Nation was still suburban, half agricultural—completely in contrast to the automobile dependent United Republic.
Passing by the outskirts of a well-groomed park, he noted several small plaques on the ground, names and years carved into the marble. Slowing his pace just a bit to read off the honorably mentioned people, he tried to see if he could recognize any people and stopped upon reaching the last stone.
AANG FENG
MAYOR OF REPUBLIC CITY
(2010- )
A smile sketched over his face. Of course, he would expect no less from Aang. Aang had always been the non-violent and peaceful negotiator, someone who had always been able to make conflicting sides come to a truce. Clearly, Aang was still making people come to terms with each other, and solving large municipal issues. He had always been the special one in their friend group: hard-working, self-determined, full of ideas as well as the energy to carry out his dreams.
Zuko pulled the slip of paper where he had scrawled an address down. Checking that he was on the right street and walking in the right direction, he pulled up his sleeve and quickly glanced over his watch.
Upon reaching the designated house, he rapped on the door three times, shifting his weight so that his stance was casual.
A pause, a few clicks, and an open door after, he was greeted by two—no, three—cheerful faces.
Zuko knelt down to wave a hello to the unfamiliar face. "And how old is she?" he asked the proud parents.
"Just turned two about a week ago," Aang replied, and encouraged Zuko to stand back up with a beckoning hand. "Come on, aren't you interested in your old friends? We haven't seen each other in ten years!" Once Zuko was up, Aang brought him into a tight embrace. "Still rocking that hair, but you've changed so much, bro."
"I have to say the same for you, man," the older male said, and looked over his companion's head. "Losing some hairs on the top of your head already?" And he tussled Aang's softly balding scalp.
"He combs some hair over the spot to retain his ego," Aang's wife chuckled, before taking her turn in hugging their visitor.
"Ah, Katara…" Zuko greeted, before taking a step back to look at her. "You actually haven't changed at all—save this bump," he remarked, putting his hands back into his pockets and noting the sizable roundness of Katara's stomach. He looked back up at her face. "Still with those hair loopies,"he mocked with a soft smile, using his fingers to twirl the air around his temples.
She sighed, rolling her eyes, before slapping one of his arms down. "They aren't hair loopies," she murmured, her eyes smiling with the nostalgia.
And when he saw those crystal cerulean eyes, he was suddenly struck by the real reason why he was there in the first place.
...
After three rings, the other end picked up the line.
"Hi," answered a familiar voice. "Who is this?"
"Hey Aang. It's Zuko."
"Zuko? Oh man, I haven't heard from you in forever! How's life been treating you?"
"Awesomely. I was thinking of visiting—"
"Yeah! You should definitely stop by! I might be busy but I still want to see you in person. I'm living in Republic City now."
"Ah, reminds me of college."
"Let me get you the address."
"Sure," Zuko said, and then waited, but something crossed his mind. "And you're still with…Katara, right?"
...
He hadn't realized it then, but it was those ocean eyes that pulled and pushed him everywhere, in the same manner as the tides themselves.
"Come in," Aang beckoned, and Zuko followed suit, closing the door behind him, careful to not trip over their two-year-old. He bent down once again to face the child. "So what's your name?" he inquired the little one.
"Her name's Kya," Katara replied, the love for her kid spilling out in her smooth voice.
"Hi Kya, you're such a pretty girl," Zuko said, tracing the contours of the girl's high cheekbones. She was sprouting waves of brown hair, in the shade of her mother's locks, and her eyes reflected the mahogany orbs of her father's countenance.
"So how has your company been?" asked Aang, giving him a chair at the dining table to sit down at, before taking a seat himself.
Zuko waved off the topic. "Oh it's been good. I got a few more patents out, but things haven't changed too—"
"That's impressive! Congratulations!" Katara blurted, taking her seat at the opposite end of Aang. It was clear that the family already had their special seats. Zuko was sitting in a chair that didn't match the style of the other three; they had probably had to drag this chair from the living room or something in order to allow him to fit around their dinner table.
"Yeah, for real," Aang scoffed. "What's the 'things haven't changed' all about? You've obviously been doing some good work since we last saw you."
"It's really nothing," Zuko replied, trying to brush off the compliments. "Well what about you, Mayor of Republic City?"
The mayor and his wife laughed. "Where'd you hear that?" he asked.
"Read it on a rock on my way here. Ah, that's right—I have a gift for you guys." Zuko pulled out the wrapped gift that he had just recently bought in a shop along the street. "Just an assortment of traditional dried fruit."
"Oh Zuko, you didn't have to be so formal with the visit,"Katara said, standing to take the platter and putting it aside on the kitchen counter to the side of them before returning to her seat. Bringing dried fruit delicacies was customary for visitors to bring to the table in the United Republic, an edible symbol of the newly ripened fruit of freedom and democracy the nation stood for.
"But yes, I've been the mayor of this city for about two years now."
"Must be a lot of work."
"It is. Aang is barely ever home."
"Well, I try to be home as much as I can. Katara's taken a leave from the hospital until the next rascal starts running around and I've been trying to support the expenses for diapers and such."
Right, Katara became a nurse. She would, being the caring and selfless person that she was.
"Actually, I have to catch a flight later tonight to meet the councilmembers in the northern part of the country," explained Aang. "But I figured that I should at least see you in person and stick around for dinner so that I could eat some home-cooked food before I leave for good."
"Ah." Zuko couldn't remember the last meal he ate.
"I wanted to spend some more time with you, but since you'll be here touring the city for the week, I figured I could see you in two days' time when I'm back from the conference," Aang continued. But then younger man changed the subject. "What about you—tell us more about what you've been up to in the Fire Nation."
"Well, like I said, nothing has really changed. I'm still living in the same place—"
"You mean, you're still living in that small house?" Katara asked him.
"Yeah…it's okay, I don't need that much space. I mean, it's just me, myself, and I living there—"
"You're not married yet?" Aang exclaimed. "Man, you're like…what, 36?"
"Why not?" his wife asked, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Looking up at Aang, then shifting his gaze to Katara, he replied, with a small smile, "I guess…I just haven't found the one."
"Get settled soon! Your prime time's fading off!" Aang encouraged, patting Zuko's shoulder. "Don't want those bad-at-telling-jokes genes to go to waste! Do you have a girlfriend, though?"
Zuko opened his mouth but Katara did him a favor and scolded Aang. "Don't give him a hard time; some things take time. Anyway…" and she took a second look at his jacket. "Oh, you're still wearing this jacket, Zuko?"
The singleton, surprised himself, looked down at his jacket—black, heavy fabric, zip-up. He actually hadn't noticed it himself, but coincidentally, this was the very jacket he was wearing the last time he saw the two of them. He hadn't worn it ever since, and wasn't sure what had compelled him to wear this one jacket before he left for Republic City.
"It doesn't get too cold in the Fire Nation," he explained briefly, slowly sliding his hands back into his pockets, unconsciously defending the jacket. "I, um, actually haven't worn this since the last time I saw you guys."
As his hands retreated into his warm pockets, his left hand came across the folded sheet of notepaper that had the couple's home address written on it. He made a quick mental note to throw this out later; he wasn't going to be needing it. His other hand, however, discovered that there was something in his right pocket that he hadn't noticed earlier before. Reaching deeper into the fabric, he came across a cold hard small cubic container.
That was still there?
...
He slowly rotated the warm case in his right hand, with a growing smile creeping across his face—one that he couldn't keep from hiding. Geez, he couldn't contain his excitement; his legs were restless and the airplane's small cramped space—and he had a window seat!—wasn't helping his impatience. Checking his watch once again, he let out a big sigh and leaned back into his seat.
"Excited to land? You've checked that watch at least twenty times within the past two hours."
Zuko turned his head to the left, seeing an older man, perhaps in his thirties.
"Yeah," he replied, softly laughing. "I have someone special waiting for me."
"Your girl, I guess?"
"You could say that."
"You young ones amuse me so much," commented his neighbor. "Full of youth and love. I'm guessing you guys aren't married yet. Or if not, just newly married. Don't worry; you guys will get sick of each other soon."
Zuko gave out a rich laugh. "Actually, I'm going to ask her for her hand when I land."
"Ah?" and the older man's eyebrows raised. "Well you're at that age…mid-20's, I'm guessing. No wonder you're so fidgety. Is it an expensive ring?"
"Relatively."
"Beautiful beyond imagination?"
"Nothing more than her."
"Well then it's settled," concluded the older one. "She can't say no."
Another laugh from Zuko.
"I wish you the best of luck and fortune, then. You have a long way ahead of you."
Zuko looked back down at his watch. A few minutes before the intended arrival time. He hoped to hell that the flight wasn't going to be extremely late. Looking out the airplane window, he saw that the plane had actually dropped in altitude a few thousand miles. Not able to help himself, he glanced down at his watch once more.
"Don't worry, the plane can't stay in the air forever," chuckled the older man.
"She actually gave me this watch before I left," Zuko added, a nostalgic smile on his face.
...
"Oh that's right," Aang said. "You probably haven't even needed to use it—the weather in the Fire Nation is so hot and humid. Katara and I were planning to take a vacation to one of the beaches there when it got to around to the dead of winter here. Of course, she doesn't quite fit into a bikini right now—"
"Shut up," she said, giving her husband a playful slap on the hand. "Let me get out the plates so we can start eating—don't want to make you miss this flight."
...
He could barely contain his heart as he made his way down from the airplane through the walkway to the terminal, dragging his suitcase noisily behind him.
He found her, waiting for him, her hands clasped and impatient herself.
"Zuko!" she exclaimed and came running towards him, embracing him tightly.
"Hey…" he greeted, and even though he thought his beating heart couldn't thump any harder, he still found his chest fluttering even faster, the blood rushing up to his head. God, she was so beautiful. His arm let his suitcase down and he returned the hug, his nose in her hair, smelling the sweet sweet fragrance that he had missed for those years that he had been travelling abroad.
"I have good news," she announced, lifting her head.
"Me too," he replied, biting down on his tongue to keep himself from blurting anything too prematurely. "You first."
"Aang and I are getting married next week!"
Something dropped in his stomach, and he lost his senses for a moment.
"Oh, wow. Congratulations," he said, stepping backwards one.
"Yes! We've planned so much for this and we're hoping you can come! I'm so glad you came back in time for all of this! You can make it right? It's going to be next Friday—we're tried to pick a good time for everyone!"
"Oh yeah. Of course," he nodded stiffly.
"And it's about time, too! We've both been so caught up in our careers that we couldn't even think about the future for a long while!"
"I'm so happy for you, Katara," he said, swallowing back a sudden hard choke in his throat while using his thumb to push a box down as far down deep as he could into his pocket.
Lol, actually after having written up to this part of the story, I'm thinking that I'm actually going to divide what was going to be a very long first chapter into smaller installments.
So some story credits: this story was half inspired by Just a Dream sung by Sam Tsui and Christina Grimmie—if you don't know it, please do go ahead to Youtube and look it up! I might plan to make a Zutara music video with that song in the background (unrelated to this story) but I'm worse at making videos than I am at writing, so I don't think anything is going to come out of that effort.
Anyways, I'm excited to hear what you guys think of the story so far! I hope you guys aren't completely confused about the AU world I've created! What do you think's going to happen next?
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