She finds him at the turtle duck pond - because really where else would a sulking Fire Lord be sitting after losing his temper so badly at his ministers that the torches in the conference room all flared up at once?
AO3 link
It's not that he didn't have a point - the former colonies need better schools to provide education to children of Fire Nation heritage so they remain connected to their roots. And most importantly, they need decent firebending teachers. The ministers as usual were reluctant to finance the plan - they saw healthcare, education and culture as useless extravagances the Fire Nation could not afford in the difficult post-war economy. But Zuko is convinced - and Katara agrees - that it is the best investment for the future. Better than the new battleships the ministers want to develop.
She watches him for a while as he sits at the edge of the water only in a silk tunic, which is definitely not sufficient clothing for this time of the year. Winters in the Fire Nation are warmer than summer in the South Pole, but it's still a cold season. Zuko is surrounded by turtleducks, some boldly pecking at his palm, which always has breadcrumbs for them.
Katara smiles. Zuko's turtleduck obsession has earned him quite a bit of mocking, especially from Sokka and Toph, but Katara knows the truth. He told her that it used to be his mother's favourite place. Katara knows the need all too well. When life becomes overwhelming, she touches her necklace, he feeds the ducks. Remembering that they are loved, connecting them back to that positive energy that still radiates in the universe.
"We started to make progress after you left in a huff," she says playfully, as she moves to sit next to him. The ground feels cold under her even though she's wearing a fur coat.
"I don't huff." huffs Zuko.
"Right. You are the picture of serenity." He is not quite the angry jerk he used to be, but his outbursts, while less frequent in number are no less scary in intensity.
"At least I know when to step away before I drench people in icy cold water." Zuko retorts, reminding Katara when she lost her temper at a slimy diplomat who dared to suggest that the Southern Water Tribe opens their water for whale hunts.
"If you refer to the incident with the Earth Kingdom envoy, he really deserved it," she says smugly.
"No argument there," shrugs Zuko, and turns his gaze back at the pond.
Katara wonders if he sees more than just birds randomly swimming around. "Are the turtleducks particularly fascinating today? Enough to freeze your butt off for?"
"I'm a firebender, I don't get cold," he says indignantly.
"Oh, that's not what you said at your last visit when Sokka took you sled-racing." Katara smiles at the memory. Zuko was tripping over himself trying to please everyone, probably to erase the memory of his first foray into the South Pole. Sokka made it his mission to give full cultural immersion to his friend, throwing everything at him from pickled sharkballs to ice dipping, topping it off with arctic spirits every night.
"Getting your butt frozen to a piece of wood as you go around in an icestorm for hours with a pounding headache is really a whole different level," grins Zuko, then he motions at the pond. "It's courtship season. The turtleducks are choosing their mates. You see - Ping there is trying to chase Lin -"
Katara snorts in disbelief. "Did you give names to the turtleducks?"
"Of course…" Zuko looks at her as one would at a really unreasonable person.
"Well, Lin doesn't seem to like Ping very much… she bites him." Katara notes dryly.
Zuko's lips curl into a lopsided smile as he explains quietly, "These are more love bites - you can see that they are gentle - she's shaking her tail-feathers…just teasing him really."
The drake swims away and puffs out his colourful feathers a bit, bobbing his head rhythmically. "He's trying to appeal to the female," explains Zuko as he pulls the flame-shaped headpiece out of his hair, letting the silky strands fall loose on his face. He's uncomfortable wearing the Fire Lord regalia when he's with his friends or family - as if he abhorred the distance it creates. Katara watches him from the corner of her eye. She is fascinated with his shiny, slippery hair, so different from her own thick brown waves. She feels an overwhelming need to touch something, so she starts playing with her own hair, curling it around her fingers. Zuko brushes the black locks out of his eyes, his gaze drawn to her neckline.
"Does she like him?" Katara bites her lips as she watches the animals circle each other. She suddenly feels very invested in Lin and Ping - she wants them to have a happy ending.
"It's hard to tell yet." The drake cries out loudly. "That's his song - all he can do is put it out there. But the choice is hers to make." Zuko's raspy voice sounds lower than usual, vibrating in her core. Lin stops and turns back to the drake calling out with a matching tone.
"I think she's responding to him." Katara says breathlessly, now completely engrossed in the turtleduck romance. The birds swim towards each other, their heads nodding to the rhythm of a melody only they can hear.
"You're shivering," Zuko notes and Katara realizes that her hands feel icy cold. He pulls her off from the ground and steps behind her, engulfing her in glorious firebender warmth and just a general Zukoness that she's suddenly intensely aware of. It feels both like safety and danger and it makes her want to give in and run. It doesn't make any sense, except it does. "Is this better?" His breath tickles her earlobe in a way that makes her tingle down to her toes; her heart is beating in step with his.
"Much better," murmurs Katara. Zuko rests his chin lightly on Katara's head as they watch the ducks rubbing their heads together, forming a heart shape with their necks. They fit together perfectly. The turtleducks seem to revel in the moment, soaking up the last rays of the feeble winter sun as they float effortlessly together on the smooth surface of the pond. Katara feels suspended in the moment, wishing to stay here forever on the ledge between the comfortable and the unknown, but there is also an almost irresistible urge to take the next step.
The drake finally makes his move. He circles around his mate, then climbs atop her shell.
"What is he doing now?" she wonders out loud. Suddenly, the cozy warmth around her turns into intense heat hovering on the line between pleasant and overwhelming. Zuko takes an abrupt step back.
"Aah… that's… the you know…" he stammers and his face turns the colour of his tunic. Katara is about to make fun of him, but she feels her own face burning as the meaning of his words sink in. Oh.
He turns away embarrassed and fishes his headpiece out of his belt, tying his hair back into a topknot. He clears his throat. "Better go back and see if the good ministers have changed their minds." He sighs and he's all firelordy business again. "I'll see you at dinner."
Katara watches him go. She feels relieved about the distance, yet mourns the loss of his closeness. The past weeks they spent working together have stirred up something inside her. It feels like something has changed, and she wonders how long the dance of the lingering looks, hesitant touches can go on. She looks back at the ducks, still lost in their moment of ecstasy and she realizes, all he can do is sing his song; the choice is hers to make.
