Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender of any of its respective characters.
Zutara Week '11
Day 1: Mask
Somewhere in the world, there must be an unspoken rule. This rule requires beings to don masks at a certain age to maintain appearances for society. Children have no such masks; they simply do not care for propriety or pretentious mannerisms. At galas such as the one currently being held, masks are held much tighter than normal. Behind those firmly held masks lurks a tension thicker than a dragon's hide. This night no one is has a firmer hold on his or her mask than Firelord Zuko does. He laughs, smiles and feigns interest. He wishes to be anywhere but here.
A young woman in blue robes walks by on the arm of Avatar Aang and for an instant his mask slips, pain reaching his eyes. The woman has been struggling the night to keep her mask in place. Her smiles never quite made it to her eyes. Tears were pooling in those oceanic eyes before her hand dashed them away. Her hands had become to used to dashing tears away. The couple stops to converse with a regal looking man, who has news concerning some obscure town in the Earth Kingdom. The Katara's mind drifts miles away.
Avatar Aang knows Katara is here for no more than the sake of appearance. Their relationship ended nearly a year ago, though even now they were sure no one knew. The Earth Kingdom official was now commenting on how lovely the two of them were looking together, how wonderful that they had found true love at such a young age. Aang winces internally at just how wrong the man was. There was nothing he could do to change the situation, Katara was holding all the Pai Sho tiles and had withdrawn from the game.
Katara excuses herself, saying she is not accustomed to the heat of the Fire Nation after having been away from the country for so long, and leaves. Her steps are the proper, small steps befitting a lady until she rounds the corner into the hall. She removes the silken slippers from her feet and sprints away from the gala. Katara passes startled guards as quickly as she can but knows that at least one had seen the tears glistening on her cheeks. Her feet slow as she reaches her destination – the Turtleduck pond Zuko had once showed off to her proudly. Crumpling like a rag doll she found herself kneeling by the pond, sobbing silently in the moonlight.
Several guards had indeed seen the tears upon the normally strong Waterbender's face; one brave soul went running to inform his Lord of the sighting. Firelord Zuko catches the eye of the guard as he enters the banquet hall. He excuses himself from the men he had been talking (listening) to. The guard relays his message quickly, quietly. Zuko asks the man the direction she had been heading; the guard informs him but does not know where she ended up. Zuko knows and thanks the man. He slips away, amazing at how easily he does.
He finds her, shoulders shaking as her body tries to keep the sobs internalized, exactly where he knew she was. The mask he so tightly held to slips away, concern and sympathy etching themselves on his previously false features. Zuko's footsteps were muffled as he was moving toward her. Seconds passing into eternity as her eyes rose to meet his. She is beautiful, even as she cries with the moon reflecting off the pools in her eyes. Her resolve breaks and she lets a sob escape her lips for the first time. Katara feels his arms around her in that instant, and she pours her heart out to him on the spot. Everything that had been troubling her was now laid bare. He does not judge her, for he himself has been wearing a mask to appease the masses.
That night neither Zuko nor Katara made their way to their respective rooms. They sat staring up at the sky until it lightened with the dawn. It was a new day, but for that night they were as children – with no masks to hide their feelings.
With the new day changes were arriving. Katara was no longer willing to be some trophy upon Aang's arm just to please the people around them. Firelord Zuko was calmly saying to a scholar he did not care to know the scholar's theory as to how belching was akin to opening one's chakras. Aang felt his ever-present smile falling away, revealing eyes that were far older than his young years and a tired feeling he could no longer keep pushing down.
They were no longer the kids who had miraculously defeated Phoenix King Ozai and brought about peace. They were now young adults showing that they had seen too much pain, suffering and death in their short lives. As children they were forced to grow far too quickly, so their unmasked feelings were being bared to the world. It was relieving for them all.
Zuko was currently deciding to take Katara on a tour of the city. Imagining the two of them in disguises, meandering their way from stall to stall without a care. He sought her out, finding her quickly and divulging his plans for the day. Katara was smiling at him before he even finished explaining. It was an impulsive act, something like they would have done before ending the war. It was not as extravagant as watching a play about themselves or something as thrilling as hiding right beneath Ozai's nose before they defeated him. However it was something Katara found herself enjoying. The most important thing for Zuko was seeing her smile, and smiling himself. Despite their disguises, they were no longer wearing masks. Holding tightly to Zuko's hand, Katara vowed to herself – She would fight against the mask society deems that she wear. Now and always.