Author's Note: Enjoy! Review if you can.
Chapter 3: New Beginning
They spent much of the night simply talking; sometimes crying. They had much to tell each other, much to admit even to themselves. Though their relationship wasn't ending, it was changing, and the thought of sharing their lives with someone else was both sweet and bitter, even if that person was their dear friend.
Aang sat on the bed, watching Katara as she finished dressing. A deep blue gown this time, with a paler blue over-tunic. She braided a blue cord into her hair and dabbed on sea rose perfume. Finally, sighing, she met Aang's eyes in the reflection of the glass.
"You'll do most of the talking, right?"
"Of course."
"Well, lets go see if the Fire Lord is available to speak with us."
He grinned at her tone. So formal. She was worried. "It will be okay, Katara."
"If you say so...then I know it will." She swept past him and out the door into the long hall. She walked confidently until she reached the massive doors of the Fire Lord's study which was flanked by two guards on each side. The guards bowed their head politely before swiftly knocking on the door to announce them. They were immediately allowed into the room, the door shutting with a quiet click behind them. And there they were, about to change all of their lives.
Zuko's head was bent over some papers, but he looked up and smiled at them to come forward and sit down, before he bent back down to finish signing papers. He swept them to the side when he was done. "I had hoped to see you two at breakfast and ask you for your input in planning the Four Nations' Festival which, as you know, the main celebration is taking place in the Fire Nation this year." He chuckled, "I'm afraid I'm not much of a party planner."
"We'd be happy to help, Zuko."
"Could we talk to you about something, first?"
"Yes, of course." Zuko looked back and forth between them, finally noticing how solemn and ill at ease they both looked. He quickly straightened in his chair, growing more worried as he watched Katara fidget with the folds of her dress. Why wouldn't she look up at him? Finally, not getting anything from her, he turned his attention to Aang, only to see large gray eyes staring into his own.
"Katara and I spent the night talking about a serious matter that has come to light. One that can no longer be ignored." Zuko watched Aang carefully and tried to wait patiently for him to continue.
"I've noticed the way you two are when you are around each other," Aang stated suddenly. Zuko felt his heart drop into his stomach. Aang continued without seeming to notice the sudden flush in Zuko's cheeks or the uncomfortable shifting he did in his chair. "Though I think most of the time it seems to be on a fairly subconscious level. I know that neither of you would purposely hurt me."
"I wouldn't, Aang. Hurt you or Katara on purpose, I mean. Please, can't we just let this go."
Aang saw the pain in Zuko's eyes, but continued forward. Stopping now would be worse then not having said anything in the first place. "I know you have feelings for each other. That you have for a long time now. I had hoped they would fade with time, but they haven't, which proves to me that you both truly love each other, though I know Katara truly loves me as well." Aang watched Zuko trying to steady himself with deep breaths, a technique he had helped teach the new Fire Lord in order to aid in calming himself down. Katara's warmth shifted closer to him, and he glanced over to see her leaning in towards him, until her hand was cradled in his own. It was difficult for her to see Zuko's pain.
He sighed and hung his head. "I spent a long time yesterday meditating. I couldn't figure out what to do. I know that if Katara and I marry, this love between the two of you would only slowly destroy the marriage." He looked up in time to see Zuko's eyes grow wide with panic. "But if I broke off with Katara, it would break her heart. Even if you and she got together and were happy for a time, the love between her and I would slowly destroy your marriage as well. Not to mention our friendship, which has become so important to the both of us."
"Please, Aang, we don't have to do this." Zuko managed to croak out the words, but couldn't seem to figure out what to say next, too pained for all of them to find the right words.
"Katara and I discussed the matter and she agrees with me. So," he squeezed Katara's hand, "we would like you…well, to join with us."
Katara took a steadying breath and squeezed his hand before trying to clarify. "What we mean, is that we'd like to begin a new relationship which includes you as well."
Zuko's eyes flew to Katara, trying to comprehend her words. His reaction was so close to Katara's, it would have been comical, if they had been discussing any other issue. Finally, the emotion of rage won out. "What? Are you crazy!" he yelled before storming out the door, pulling it behind him so that it slammed, sounding ominously like thunder. That was no easy feat, considering how heavy the huge metal doors were.
Katara sat in stunned silence, staring at his empty seat. She was gripping Aang's hand so hard, he felt like it would be ripped off. "Katara?" He gently loosened her fingers, as tears began to slip down her cheeks. He sat there in silence, gently rubbing his hand over hers. "We expected this reaction from him at first. Give him time."
Seven minutes later they were still sitting there quietly when the door opened and Zuko strode in, every inch the dignified and mature Fire Lord. He sat down, back rigid, and folded his hands on the desk. "Please continue." He glanced up at them, finally seeing Katara's red eyes and Aang's pained expression. His shoulders slumped slightly, and he mumbled out an apology. "You two are my dearest friends and if you both think this is a good idea…well, then I want to hear you out."
Aang sat forward, eagerly, relieved that Zuko was ready to listen. "We should all marry each other; form a completely equal relationship. Katara and I love each other, you and she love each other, and you and I love each other, though perhaps it isn't that kind of love, at least not now. But we do love each other as friends, best friends, and there is no reason that bond can't develop into a slightly different kind of love if we nurture it in that direction."
Zuko just blinked at him, his inability to comprehend how that love could develop between the two men clearly written on his face. His next words were reluctant at best. "If you say so…Avatar."
Aang ignored his tone and instead, leaned over and gently grasped Katara's chin, turning her head so that she was facing him. He kissed her, gently and passionately. He heard her small noise of pleasure before grudgingly releasing her and turning back to Zuko, who was watching them with a wounded expression. "If you two would like, you should kiss." They were both caught off guard by his words, especially after that particular display of affection. Finally, Katara seemed to sense Aang's purpose and she rose gracefully and walked around the desk until she was looking down into Zuko's eyes, raised questioningly to hers. She bent down and brushed her lips against his. Who deepened the kiss, neither ever knew, but several moments later Zuko was standing, one arm wrapped around Katara's waist and the other running through her hair. Katara, for her part, was clinging to Zuko, pressing herself up and into the kiss.
Aang watched the two, carefully observing, his heart feeling like it would shatter if he didn't wrench them apart, but he steeled himself. He forcefully made his mind calm down. Zuko hadn't agreed yet, but Aang honestly believed, deep down, that Zuko would eventually agree to this relationship. That's why he had suggested they kiss in the first place. Reminding himself of this belief stopped the pain from constricting his heart and he found himself smiling as he watched them.
When they finally broke apart, they turned to look at him, rather wide-eyed and fearful, but when they saw his smile they each relaxed. "But you know, that means that we should kiss too, Zuko." He laughed as he saw Zuko's eyes almost bulge out. "Aw, come on, it isn't that terrible…Fire Lord."
Zuko immediately stiffened, both at the slightly challenging tone and the reminder of his position. "Fine! I can do that."
Aang just grinned at him and waited until Zuko could get a grip on himself. He slowly walked over to Aang and they stood there staring at each other for a long while. Finally, Aang quickly and chastely kissed him, but it was Zuko who met the challenge and pulled Aang back into a 'real' kiss. It wasn't earth-shattering, but, surprisingly, neither seemed to find it totally unpleasant either. Katara watched them and smiled to herself. And just like Aang had said, everything was going to be okay.
Author's Note: Next chapter will be up in a couple of days. It is the epilogue, which is a great place for fluff, so be warned all you fluff haters, because it most definitely has fluffiness. :)
Copyright 2011 by Stardust of Orion
