Chapter Two- Old Yet Young Friends
Zuko's palms were warmer than usual, and considering everything around the Firelord always seemed ablaze, he knew in his heart his nerves were at their farthest reach.
It had been four years since he last encountered his friends from the other nations, and though he conversed frequently with the Avatar, by way of letter, on matters of rebuilding the world his nation had single handedly destroyed. He knew where the Avatar was, a certain Waterbender was always at his side.
Mai wasn't speaking to him again, something he said, or didn't say. He knew the root of all their arguments was the fact that he did not want to marry her. He had given her plenty of excuses, that he wasn't ready to start a family; he wanted to wait until he finished all construction plans for the earth kingdom, but in his heart he knew it was much simpler. He just wasn't in love with her. Something was holding him back that he didn't quite understand. He knew she deserved more and had tried to break things off several times. But she was stubborn, and insistent of her ardor, and he couldn't stand it when she cried, so he would relent until they started to fight once more, which was happening more and more frequently.
Zuko wiped his palms over his robes and the movement caused Mai to glance across the carriage they were traveling in. She offered a half smile and stared back out the window into the dusty earthkingdom landscape.
Sokka's wedding was in two days and they would only be arriving that evening. Zuko cursed his slow royal procession, knowing he would have little time to congratulate the Watertribe warrior on his fine choice of brides. According to Aang's letter, Suki would soon be retiring from the Kyoshi Warriors and take up being a mother. It also explained the rush of their engagement. Zuko smiled at the thought; perhaps Ty Lee would take her place.
He suspected that was the only reason Mai was accompanying him, to see her childhood friend. She had never really gotten along well with Katara and her brother, and she only tolerated Aang because he was the Avatar.
A few more hours and they would reach the Bei Fong estate, where the wedding was being held. Zuko released a low breath, concentrating on his peace of mind; he would see her soon enough and he definitely couldn't be in hysterics again.
/
Katara wiped the sweat from her palms as she dressed for the evening. The Firelord would be arriving shortly and she knew she had to calm herself somehow.
"I'm getting all worked up over nothing," she scolded herself. A kiss and a few sentimental words didn't warrant their relationship the importance she was giving it. It could hardly be considered a relationship anyways.
Then why do you think of it so often? Her conscience asked her as she pulled the green dress over her head, messing up her braids. After she secured the fastenings she unbraided it once more.
"I don't," she answered herself aloud. Twisting her hair, then giving up and settling her head in her hands.
"You don't what?" called a familiar voice from her doorway.
"Nothing Toph," she turned to the now young woman with black hair down to her waist. "Come on in."
"Aren't you supposed to be having supper with Cuom before he has to leave for Ba Sing Se," Katara glanced towards her friend just to see the look on her face whenever she mentioned Toph's betrothed.
"Ugh, I did. But he's sticking around to meet Sparky, and he said he had an announcement or something," she put a finger towards her mouth and made audible gagging noises. "We all know what that means of course, they set a date. Obviously he wants to die an early death."
"Can I be your maid of honor?" Katara asked through her laughter.
"I wouldn't have anyone else, but I seriously doubt the situation will get that far. My parents are nuts if they think I'm going to get married at sixteen," Toph sighed as she fell back in Katara's bed. "I guess I could always run away again."
"That's not going to solve anything; he's so persistent I'm sure he'd follow you to the ends of the Earth Kingdom."
"I just don't get it, I've tried to scare him with bad manners, threatened to chuck boulders at his head, but nothing works," Toph toyed with the bracelet on her wrist, the very one Sokka gave her when they forged his sword from the meteorite.
"Maybe Zuko will take you home with him. Surely Cuom is scared of the Firelord."
"Only if you come with me Sweetness," the blind woman turned at that and gave a sly smile.
Katara blushed but remembered to keep her pulse in check, she couldn't have the younger girl reading her emotions again; that was how Toph had managed to get her secret from her in the first place. What had really happened the day of Sozin's Comet.
"Nope, sorry, it's finally time for me to return home," she sighed at that, she could see the snow and ice in her mind and nearly glowed in happiness.
"Why is Aang staying here then?" Toph said in surprise, apparently her super intense hearing had not managed to pick up that particular detail.
"Aang will stay and finish mastering earthbending; it shouldn't take him long, a year at least."
"Then I guess what I'm really asking is why aren't you staying too, did you break things off with him?"Toph moved to her side, obviously wanting to tell that she was telling the complete truth.
"Yes and no," Katara said, knowing the blind girl couldn't contradict her.
"Katara," Toph wasn't having any of her double meanings.
"I think he kind of broke up with me."
"What?!"
"It's kind of embarrassing," Katara muttered, finally finishing with her braid.
"Well now I have to know," Toph smiled wide.
"He won't sleep with me," she told her, hiding her face once more, pointless in the presence of a blind girl, but when did anyone ever truly consider Toph blind.
"No way, I thought you guys sealed the deal a long time ago," Toph managed to say, Katara looked into her foggy green eyes and could only nod. "You've been together for like—"
"Four years," Katara finished for her. "And it hasn't been for lack of trying on my part."
"Then why?" Toph asked her, still shaking her head in disbelief.
"He's says it has to do with his vows as a monk, but when I told him that it's pretty much a requirement of marriage, he suggested we get married. And I kind of freaked out and said I wasn't ready for that. I mean, we almost did once, and then a couple days later, Sokka found out Suki was pregnant and gave Aang a lecture about premarital sex. And that was the end of that," Katara took a deep breath. "Aang said I was pressuring him too much and said maybe it was time for me to go back home. I agreed."
"Leave it to Sokka to ruin all your fun," Toph exclaimed. But she did not laugh, and Katara was thankful for that. "If the South Pole wasn't made entirely of ice I'd go with you."
Katara smiled, knowing her friend's discomfort anywhere there wasn't solid earth.
"Maybe we should both go with Sparky," Toph added.
Katara blushed again, letting her thoughts go to dangerous places. Zuko.
"Speaking of Sparky, he's here," Toph said, kneeling to the ground. She ran from the room and down the hall. Katara smiled at Toph's infectious spirit and made her way to the front of the Bei Fong compound, just in time to see Toph jump in the Firelord's arms and plant a wet kiss on his cheek. Katara could feel the disapproval of Toph's mother from across the room.
Zuko only grinned broadly and swung her in the air before setting her down again. "How are you little Bandit?" he whispered in her ear.
"Just fine Blue Spirit. Welcome to the home of the Bei Fong's," only then did she bow. It made Katara laugh; she never got to see her friend using what she dubbed "fancy manners."
Katara watched Zuko bow and he caught her eye, offering a half smile. Toph's father stepped forward to offer his hospitality.
"Welcome Fire—"
"ZUKO!" Sokka emerged from the background, shoving past Toph's father; he embraced Zuko as a brother. Again Zuko laughed.
"I believe congratulations are in order, on more than one account," Zuko told him, and Sokka blushed slightly. "But first things first. Thank You Lao Bei Fong, for your hospitality." He bowed in the man's direction and it got him a broad smile. A nervous looking man next to Lao stepped forward and bowed sharply, causing Zuko to lean back slightly.
"Oh, yeah, Zuko this is Cuom," Toph motioned to the young man with brown hair and pale skin.
"Cuom Na Long," he corrected.
Sokka nudged Zuko in the ribs and whispered audibly. "Toph's betrothed."
"Thanks Sokka," Toph added and punched his arm.
Sokka retreated a step, rubbing his shoulder. "I don't know where Suki is, she said she'd be here to meet you."
"We met her on the way in, Sokka; she's probably still out in the courtyard with Mai and Ty Lee," Sokka nodded in understanding and headed in that general direction. Zuko continued his rounds of greeting until he finally approached Katara.
"Master Katara," he bowed deeply, a sign of greatest respect.
"Firelord," she countered, curtsying just as low. She silently thanked her grandmother for insisting that Katara review over her Watertribe etiquette when she was younger. They both appraised one another for a moment. Katara noticed he seemed to have grown several inches, and as it was so late in the day,
had the slightest trace of a 5 o' clock shadow. His hair was longer as well, much like his father's it was partially down in the back. His scar was less intimidating now that he smiled more frequently and his eyes, like golden beams, shined straight into her core. Katara held her breath, and simply stared. How she had missed him.
"Or am I to call you Princess, now that your father is the official Chief of the Southern Watertribe," he didn't wait for permission and pulled her into a quick embrace. Katara blushed, surely if he was that comfortable with her, he knew of no ill will between them.
"Just Master if you don't mind, I haven't even had a coronation yet," She smiled trying not to laugh. "In a month, when I return home, you can start calling me princess."
"Of course," he smiled; Katara knew she would never truly consider herself royalty. "Where's Aang?" he took a look around the room for the bald monk.
"He's gone somewhere on Appa, he'll be back this evening. He wanted to see you," Katara hoped she sounded sincere. If Zuko was annoyed, he didn't show it, again he nodded.
He offered his arm as Lao motioned for them to enter the parlor and Katara took it happily. Her heart was racing again and she looked to see where Toph was. Satisfied the blind earthbender was across the room, dealing with a doting Cuom, she let her heart beat in double time at the fact that she was so near Zuko once again.
/
Zuko had to note that the ceremony was a pleasant affair. Only familiar to Sokka and Suki's relationship that short month they traveled with one another, he was pleased to see them still so enamored with one another. They held hands through the entire thing, even while Sokka gushed his love in a sloppy poem he wrote:
"You taught me how to fight
And although we left that night
I knew,
My love for you was true.
Although we were apart
You were never too far from my heart.
You helped us cross the Serpents pass
You truly were a brave, brave lass
Again we parted
But that was not the end of the journey we started
I found you at the boiling rock
And although problems then did flock
We got away, and now on this day
I can finally say,
Suki, you are mine forever."
Katara started laughing, and Zuko was inclined to laugh as well, but stopped when he felt Mai bristling at his side. Obviously it wasn't a good idea to bring your girlfriend whose hell bent on getting married to a wedding. Suki was deeply touched and started to cry. Zuko seemed to remember that the young woman was always fond of Sokka's corny affections. The young couple was proof that sometimes people really did find their perfect match the first time around.
Zuko turned his attention to Aang. The sixteen year-old was digging in his pockets and after a moment of struggle produced two metallic rings. The couple took turns sliding them onto each other's fingers. They kissed passionately, and then turned to face the crowd as man and wife.
Cheers erupted from the small group of onlookers and tears from the Kyoshi warriors, who looked as though they would miss their leader terribly.
/
Katara's eyes welled with tears later on the terrace, overlooking the gardens of the Bei Fong home. Wiping them away she sighed and looked at the waxing moon. She felt stronger every night the moon grew larger, she inhaled deeply and exhaled. Soon she would be at the bottom of the world; sometimes she felt they were closer to the heavens.
"If you're going to keep breathing all loudly like that I'm going back inside."
Katara gasped and Mai emerged from the shadows to her right. She hadn't noticed the girl when she came out minutes before.
"Sorry."
But it was Mai that looked momentarily apologetic.
"Congratulations for everything I guess," she said this rather quickly. Katara gave her a confused glance. "Ty Lee says that you and the Avatar are getting married."
"Ty Lee is sorely mistaken," Katara turned, instantly sorry for the tone she used. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just that Aang and I are no longer together."
"Oh," Mai took another step closer. "Sorry."
"Its fine," though Katara knew the look on her face said everything was far from being fine. "It just wasn't meant to be, we forced our relationship for four years and I guess we both had enough."
For some reason Mai nodded in understanding.
Katara was a little annoyed with the pale girl, what did she know of relationship problems? She had Zuko. She turned back towards the moon, still bright, though only half full.
Katara nearly fell back when Mai grabbed her wrist and examined the charm she wore.
"Where did you get this?" Katara didn't like the other girls tone.
"It was a gift; I received it after I helped save the palace from burning. Why?"
"Azula had the same one; it is the symbol of the Fire princess," Katara couldn't tell if Mai was angry or on the verge of tears. "Only to be worn by the Fire princess."
Katara glanced at her wrist. The small coin shaped charm was tied by a black ribbon. Katara had received it in a letter shortly after she left the Firenation with Aang. The note had said thank you; that was all. She only wore it because it was a gift and it was pretty. It was the sun, its center a thinly shaved ruby.
"I'm sorry I didn't know."
"Right, I wonder what else you did to earn such a treasure," Mai spat, piercing Katara with the gaze of her black eyes.
"Excuse me," Katara bristled at the older and taller girl's comments.
"Everything okay out here?" Zuko called to them, crossing the distance very quickly. He placed himself between Katara and Mai.
"Everything is fine. I think I'm beginning to understand things very clearly," She shoved his chest and entered the house.
"What is her deal?" Katara spat out. "We were having a small talk and all the sudden she starts freaking out and making insinuations."
"Trust me, it's all my fault, as always," he growled and flames came out of his mouth. Katara took a step back. "Sorry," he added. "We've been like this for a while."
"How long?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"A while," he said darkly and Katara knew not to ask any more questions. Zuko was never one to open up about his feelings, to anyone. He ran a hand through his hair and pulled a few strands out of his top knot. Katara had the urge to fix it, but held her hands at her side.
"When are you leaving for the South Pole?" He asked her when she started to walk back towards the party that seemed to be dying down.
"In a week from now, I'm taking a ship out of Gaoling Bay," Zuko nodded, Katara knew he must have sailed into the bay from the Fire Nation.
"Travel safely Master Katara."
"Thanks, you too," she remembered at once who she was addressing and turned to curtsy. "Firelord," it was too formal and she knew it would anger him, so she didn't stay to see his expression
After she left Zuko let out another roar of flames, the fire aimed towards the partial moon.
/
The light was dim, but it was always dark in the prison cell. Azula pressed her hands to her face and let out a loud cry. She rushed to the door of her cell at the scraping of armor against the metal. She had woken up the guard.
"Your princess needs you awake," She cooed in his ear and the guard shuddered at her voice. "Do I need to request another guard? Should I make an example of you?"
"Firebend again and you'll end up in the coolers, just like last time," came the gruff reply.
"I'll show you what happens to those who are so disrespectful," she waved her arms; she could already feel the electricity in her veins. How she longed to be outside, in the open.
"What's all the ruckus?" came yet another rough voice, Azula laughed aloud, they sounded all the same.
"It's the princess, Warden; she's causing a disturbance again."
"Damn it Lieutenant, I give you one prisoner to watch and yet you still can't keep her in line," Azula leaned against the bars.
"Yes Lieutenant, your performance has been disgraceful," she laughed then and the two men exchanged bewildered glances. "Sentence him to death. Banish him. BANISH HIM!"
"You shut your mouth," the Warden pointed to the princess. "I don't care who you think you are, you are my prisoner and I will have order."
"I WILL HAVE ORDER!" Azula mocked him and laughed once more.
The warden could only roll his eyes. "Lieutenant, you are relieved of this prisoner."
"Good riddance," the man said as he left. The Warden looked around for another guard.
"Captain," he called. Azula craned her head to see who he addressed, sadly she could not.
"Yes Sir," it was a woman.
"You are to guard the princess until further notice."
"Yes Sir," she answered and settled in front of the metal door, but not before she closed the latch in Azula's face. Satisfied, the Warden departed.
Azula screamed, blue flames of anger emerging from her mouth.
The latch slid open once more.
"I would stop that if I were you," the guard told her.
"But you are not me. If you were, you'd be in here and I suppose I would be you and outside of this Agni forsaken cell."
"If you were better behaved you might get to leave this cell every once in a while," Azula didn't like the calm tone of the woman's voice. Did she not know who she was speaking to?
"I'm princess of the Firenation; I don't go need to go out and socialize with the peasants that fill this prison," She smiled at that. It should put the situation into the correct light.
"Ah, but princess," came the calm reply. "I will never be able to help you escape as long as you are inside that cell."