Track One- Bengali In Platforms by Morrissey
Written for the Shuffle challenge on livejournal. Of all the Morrissey or Smiths songs on my iPod, I get this one. I had to turn it sideways a few times and hammer to make this one fit. Post-war, Zuko has been made Fire Lord. tCoD has happened.
'Break the news to me gently, oh break the news to me gently.'
'Life is hard enough when you belong here.'
It was killing him to watch her. She was trying, Spirits knew she was trying, but she didn't have a clue. How could she, born to a tiny village eking out a living from the ice and the sea. The Royal Court of the Fire Nation was the most elegant and eloquent nest of vipers to have ever drawn breath.
He had trouble dealing with it and he had been born to rule it. Dear, sweet, nurturing Katara didn't stand a chance. He couldn't let her stay, for her own sake. Given the slightest opportunity these people would tear her apart. He had to do the right thing. For her.
"Katara. We need to talk." They were walking in the garden, alone (but for the ever present servants) for the first time in weeks. He took gently by the arm and led her away from the always watching eyes, the always listening ears.
"I'm assuming this is about the ship leaving for the South Pole in the morning?" Her voice was mild, but her eyes were colder than the ice she'd grown up on. He started guiltily. "What? Were you going to break the news to me gently?" Now the bitterness leaked into her voice, as it hadn't since Ba Sing Se. "So, is there a reason, or have you just gotten tired of me? Has one of those… Those painted asps that call themselves Ladies caught your eye? Just tell me Zuko."
"You think it's bad now? Do you really think you can handle all the whispers and lies and knives in the back? Because, Katara, they haven't even gotten warmed up. You haven't seen anything yet." His voice was broken. "Katara, it's hard enough when you belong here."