Yup, I'm back with this. Did you miss me? No? That's fine, I'll stick around anyway.
So now, I present to you: Old people!
"May I join you?"
Katara turns to the source of the voice, recognizing it as the one belonging to her friend Zuko. She smiles mildly, which is answer enough for the old firebender.
They're standing a bit off the festival grounds of Air Temple Island, seeking refuge from the excitement of the wedding. Faint music carries through the air, together with the buzz of multiple conversations. The Spirit Portal lights up the sky in a never-ending double helix.
"It's hard to believe how much has changed," Zuko says, a reverent undertone in his voice. Then he adds more jokingly, "We're getting old."
"Indeed we are," Katara agrees pensively, then she turns away, staring off into the distance. Zuko follows her gaze, and for a while, they share a companionable silence.
After a few minutes, the waterbender speaks up again, "I will move here."
Surprise is written all over Zuko's face when he turns to his friend, but it doesn't take long for understanding to dawn on his features and a smile graces his lips. "That's a great idea. I always told you to spend more time with your family."
"And never stopped swooning about Izumi." Katara laughs softly. "I remember."
"Children are the best part of growing old," Zuko states wistfully. "I feel I haven't spent enough time with my family during the past years myself. Even after seventy years, the world still seems to heap tasks over tasks upon us."
"Or maybe we're just too used to taking them on," Katara says. "I think it's time to retire, and see how the world does without us. It has a new Team Avatar now."
"I suppose you're right." Zuko turns his gaze forward again, and his eyes are involuntarily drawn to the Spirit Portal. "Speaking of family, Korra mentioned that she met my uncle in the Spirit World. It's been three years since then, and I haven't had the time to visit the Poles. There has been too much to do."
Katara's face remains solemn. "It's a shame how time slips through our fingers. But it's even more of a reason to finally cut loose from our responsibilities and leave them to the children. I'm sure Iroh would be happy to see you when you find the time."
"You're right."
They fall back into silence, both caught up in their own thoughts. Again, it's Katara who breaks out of it first: "A long time ago, I met a fortune teller who predicted that I would once marry a very powerful bender. She also predicted that I would have three great-grandchildren." She doesn't feel the need to add the 'before quietly passing away'. She has no problem with talking about her death, she knows her time on earth is leaning towards its end. However, a wedding is no place for such topics. "I look forward to meeting them."
"Jinora is already dating that Earth Kingdom boy, isn't she?" Zuko observes. "Childhood crushes seem to run in the family. Remember how Bumi tried to woo Izumi when he was ten?"
"I remember you freaking out in the most hilarious manner," Katara retorts with an amused undertone. "Until Izumi pointed out that you and Mai had mutual crushes when you were nine. Sometimes, it all works out fine."
"True..." Zuko admits. "I wonder who of us will meet their great-grandchildren first. Iroh and Ashila are old enough to have children, but both of them are currently uncommitted."
"I'm sure they'll find their significant other."
"I do not doubt it." Zuko takes a deep breath. "It feels great to be talking again, Katara. I never really got used to radioing. It's not the same."
"Not the same to old relics like ourselves," Katara says with a soft chuckle. "Progress has a way of running away from us. It's a true marvel how our children manage to keep up."
"I'm not entirely sure they do." Zuko laughs. "They're only better at hiding the fact."
"Perhaps." Katara, too, is amused. "So the first item on my family list is a crash course on proper usage of a radio."
"We can practice together," Zuko smirks. "But first, how do you feel about teaching those youngsters a thing or two about dancing?"
That's right, Katara thinks. Nobody seems to know how to dance these days. And now that she decided to let her responsibilities go and enjoy life to the fullest in her old days, this is as good a point as any to start. Zuko has never been a graceful dancer, especially compared to her late husband. But Katara herself isn't the most agile anymore, so it probably won't matter. Plus, the serene mirth Zuko got from his uncle has woken a part of Katara which has been buried for a long time – the joyful, fun-loving part of her youth. She grins.
"I'd be honored to have this dance, Your Fieriness."
Zuko returns the grin, prompted by Katara's use of Aang's nickname for him. The sting of loss is far outweighed by the happy memories invoked, and when the two friends return to the party, headed for the dance floor, they feel a warm breeze. Neither of them could help sensing Aang's bright presence in it, full of hope and cheerfulness.
After all, that's what weddings are all about. A bright future.
I've been wanting to try my hand at Zutara for months, and this is kind of a test run... SO. MUCH. FAIL. I like to say that life as a multishipper is beautiful, but I guess I'm still a Kataanger at heart. Canon shipping and all that. This scene was close to impossible, and it didn't even have Zutara!
Or maybe I just suck at writing elderly people. Either way, I've been wrestling with this for the past month, and I'm proud to announce that I'm quite happy with the outcome. At least I suppose that neither Zutarians nor Kataangers ran screaming.
I know neither Zuko nor Katara show up on-screen at the wedding, but I wager they'd still be invited since Varrick Industries is so international and huge, I bet they sat together at some point.
