7/27/11
Day 3: social networking
"I will not marry her!"
"Zuko, calm down-"
"NO! How can you make me do this? I barely know her, and you expect me to spend the rest of my life with her?"
"We've been over this, Zuko. If you would just listen-"
"How could you do this to me, Mom? After all those other offers you turned down for me, promising that it would be my choice when the time was right-"
"That was before we had a chance for peace. Before you had a chance to end these years of bloodshed. How could you not want that? How can you be so selfish?"
"I can be as selfish as I want! It's my life, dammit, and I'm going to marry the woman I love, not some idiot ice queen from the south pole!"
"Why are you fighting this now? The wedding is tomorrow!"
"Do you really think I care?"
"Zuko-"
"Stop. I'm leaving."
"No, Zuko, you can't-"
"Leave me alone!"
The slamming door echoes through the quiet vacation villa, cutting off the Fire Lady's desperate pleas. The adolescent prince proceeds to storm out of the constricting walls of his summer prison towards the secluded cove he and his mother use to escape the eyes of the public. He spends several minutes pacing back and forth, kicking up sand and swearing angrily under his breath, venting all of his anger on the empty air. He begins to grow sweaty, and fearing that he will soon start emitting flames from his mouth, he strips down to his bottom layer of shorts and dives into the waves, allowing the chilling quiet to calm his growing temper. As he resurfaces, he notices a girl standing on the shore.
"Who are you?" he calls. She does not answer, so he swims closer. "Who are you, and how did you get down here? This is a private beach."
"I'm sorry." Her tone is anything but apologetic. "I went for a swim around the island and saw that this beach was abandoned. I wasn't expecting anyone else to come." Her eyes travel up and down his body, and he uses her silence to appreciate her in the same way. Her dark skin and thick hair are a dead give-away that she is water tribe, but even without those features there would be no mistaking her origin with one look at her eyes. Dark, unfathomable, and the pure unspoiled blue of the open ocean. "You seemed pretty upset a little earlier. If you want, I could leave-"
"No. No, I'd rather have you stay. That is, if you're not busy."
She shakes her head. "I have the entire day to myself."
"How did you come here? Not to the beach, I mean. But to the Fire Nation, and Ember Island. Did you come with the Southern Water Tribe envoy?"
"Yes. Yes, I did."
"And are you... close with the princess?"
"With Katara you mean? Yes, I am very close."
"What is she like? The daughter of the tribe's chief." He keeps his tone light and teasing. He believes that she has no idea who he really is.
"Why do you want to know?" She's becoming wary of him, suspicious that he has an ulterior motive. Which is true.
"Everyone knows who she is, but nobody knows anything. Take the prince." He sits on the sand, and motions for her to do the same, realizing for the first time that she is clothes only in pale under wrappings. "The entire city knows that his favorite food is a ripe mango, that he is a gifted painter and can play the pipa. He and his sister do not get along, at all, and he detests, amongst many other things, orders, formal armor, cats of any kind, the color orange, funerals, and bugs. But all we know about Katara is that she has an older sibling, she is a strong water bender, and she is to marry our beloved prince in two days."
"I see what you're saying. Well, she's not only the most powerful water bender to ever come from our tribe, she is also the most gifted. Most benders can either fight well and barely heal, or heal anything and hardly fight, but she is accomplished in both areas. She's dedicated to her people, and would gladly die for them. She has an older brother named Sokka who is not a bender, but is one of the most brilliant inventors and planners you could ever know. She misses her mother every day, her favorite dish to date is still stewed sea prunes, and she hates the color pink. Her favorite flower is the pandalily, her favorite season is spring, she hates when people chew with their mouths open, and she is secretly hoping that her unwanted honeymoon is going to be on a small, secluded, tropical island."
"Unwanted? You mean she doesn't want to be married?"
"Who would want to? To be forced to spend the rest of your life with a stranger? She wants to have a bit more time to get to know him. But she also knows that this is the only way to guarantee peace, so she's going to go through with it."
"I've heard that Zuko feels the same way," he mutters. "But enough about them. Tell me more about you."
"Like..."
"Like how you managed to swim around the island. Not even the crazy warriors will do that. Swim far out and back, yes. Swim around Ember Island? No."
She laughs, and he finds that he can't help but smile too. "You really have to ask that question? Did you honestly think that the chief's daughter would have a non-bender as her lady-in-waiting slash secret protector? I practically grew up in the water. I know how to navigate rip tides."
"Oh really?" Zuko doesn't know what has come over him, but something about her makes him feel... giddy. And flirty. Very, very flirty. His arms wrap around her narrow waist before she can react, and he carries her to the water. Her surprised shrieks only egg him on, and he tosses her into the waves. He watches the spot her dropped her, laughing, until the gravity of what he has done hits him. "I dunked a water bender in the ocean." He wants to hit himself, but instead he focuses on looking for where she might be. Just as he think of retreating to shore, a liquid tentacle materializes around both his ankles, dragging him under the surface and out to sea. Just when he feels his lungs beginning to burn, he is released and scrambles up for air.
"Not fair!" he cries, still trying to wipe the water from his eyes.
"That's what happens when you take on a water bender." Her breath tickles his nose, and he opens his eyes to find himself drowning in her gaze. He wraps her thighs in his arms and lifts her up, her laughs and shrieks telling him that she actually is enjoying herself. "Put me down!" she gasps, unable to stop smiling.
"How are you going to make me, o great water bender?"
Her forehead leans against his, her eyes locked on his parted lips. Her hands move from his shoulders to his neck and back again. His eyes fall closed, and he brings his mouth closer to hers...
And she's gone. Slippery as a fish, she slides from his grasp and is halfway to the shore before he can recover. "Oh, you do not play fair at all!" He chases her, catching her waist and causing them both to tumbling into a pile on the warm sand. They turn to each other, neither wanting to move from the spot. "Tell me about your home," he whispers.
So she does. She talks of the endless winters and too-short summers, of days with no night and nights with no day, of the way a sunset can turn the world of ice into a breath-taking plateau of orange and pink and violet. He holds her hand as she talks of the raids and feeling of fear that comes from having only one boy to guard your home, and how much she misses her mother, whose necklace she always wears. She explains what it was like to fish through the ice, to skin a wild buffalo deer, the many uses of a tiger seal, dead or alive, and the tradition behind the ice dodging ritual. She shares the secret behind her bending, the story of Tui and La, the spirits come to earth in the form of fish, Yin and Yang in an unending dance. He laughs along with her stories of the time Sokka was mistaken for a penguin's chick and all of the young girls in the village needed to save him, and the first time Katara's grandmother, the village medicine woman, had made stewed sea prunes, leading to the first mass case of the stomach flu.
"Speaking of food, I think it's time for some lunch," Zuko finally says, jumping up and offering a hand to his companion.
"Where would you suggest? I still have no idea how to navigate this island."
"Just trust me." He glances down at her clothing. "But, uh, do you have... well, something... else, to wear..."
"Oh. Oh. Ah, no. This is all I was wearing when I left this morning."
He reaches for his clothing pile and throws her something red. "Here. Throw that on. It's a shirt on me, but on you it should be-"
"A dress." His guess is correct. Where it barely falls to the middle of Zuko's thighs, on her it reaches past her knees. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." He takes her by the hand and they walk farther down the beach, wading through the shallows when the cliffs reach to the water. Thirty minutes later, they reach the crowed public beach, weaving between screaming children and racing teens to reach the food stands. They pick a popular noodle house and seats closest to the ocean, the flustered waitress taking their orders almost immediately and then leaving them to their solitude.
"This is quite a popular place," she says, looking around at the colorful array of fire nation customers.
"They say it's a favorite of the royal family, and if they like it, so does the rest of the Fire Nation."
She takes a sip of the chilled tea the waitress has just brought. "Tell me about your country," she says.
The afternoon passes with stories of his first time riding a Kimodo Rhino, of the crowded market street in the capitol, the honor of the Agni Kai, the endless warmth of his home, and the constant worry for troops overseas. He tells her of tropical storms that leave nothing but destruction and death in their wake, of the trembles that precede a volcanic eruption, and of his long-dead fear of water because he believed it would extinguish his inner fire. He points out the ships on the harbor being towed by sea lions, identifies the store's pet toucan-puffin, shares that his father's raven eagle once attacked his first messenger hawk, Scout, and that as a child he loved to feed the local flock of turtle ducks. He describes the serenity that comes from chasing fireflies on a warm summer evening, from cooking food over a bonfire on the beach with his mother and uncle, the two most important people in his life, and from rainy afternoons spent in his deceased father's study, reading old scrolls and drinking his uncle's famous tea.
"What happened to your father?" she asks.
He pulls himself upright. "He died. That's all."
She reaches for the hand he's left on the table. "I'm sorry."
He squeezes her fingers. "I'm not," he says, no trace of bitterness in his voice. "He wasn't a good man. He wanted power too badly, and lost sight of everything else in his pursuit. I don't miss him at all. Besides, I have my uncle. He's been more of a father to me then mine ever was or ever could have been."
She smiles at him, then looks out over the ocean. "Shit! I'm late!" She jumps up and reaches over to plant a kiss on Zuko's cheek. "It was nice to meet you! I had a lot of fun today. Maybe we can meet again tomorrow?" Before Zuko can even think to react, she is gone, her bobbing hair hidden in the crowd.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day of the wedding.
"Wait!" he cries, rushing after he even though he knows it's too late.
"Sir!" The cry is from the noodle shop. "Sir! You need to pay!"
He turns, making sure the man behind the counter can see his eyes. "Send the bill to the Fire Lord's summer residence. Say it's at Prince Zuko's expense."
The man quivers, obviously not expecting the crown prince to be the one trying to skip out on paying. "Ye-yes, your grace. It will be done immediately, your majesty." He bows low as Zuko resumes his frantic search, knowing that she is long gone but hoping that by some miracle she will return and he can tell her the truth.
"I don't even know her name," he moans, mentally kicking himself for not asking as soon as he met her. But if she is a lady-in-waiting to his supposed bride, then it shouldn't be hard to find out who she is. Bolstered by this new hope, he heads back to where his mother is surely waiting anxiously. He noticed a few of the guards amongst the crowd earlier, so he hopes that they assured her that he was safe.
As soon as he crosses the threshold, however, Lady Ursa is upon him.
"How dare you!" she explodes, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him to his room. "You have a duty to this country, and spending the day cavorting with a strange girl is not the way to fulfill it! She could have been an assassin for all you know! And you are already promised to be married!" They reach his private bathroom, and she takes a deep calming breath. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for yelling, and I'm especially sorry for the way things have turned out. If I had my way, I would let you make your own choice when it comes to marriage, and Iroh feels the same way. But we have to do what's best for out country." She rests her palm against his left cheek. "I know this isn't easy, but it's for the best. Forget that girl, and make the most of your life with Katara."
But as Zuko cleans up and prepares for the long day ahead of him, he can think of nothing else but the captivating water bender he has grown to care for in such a short amount of time.
The next morning passes by in a blur. One minute, Zuko is taking a quiet breakfast with his uncle and the next, he is standing next to his fiance in front of the fire priest. He glances down at her between reciting passages. Her hair is intricately piled on her head in a mixture of a braid, hair loops, and a crown with two tassels dangling from either side. Her dark skin is marked only by the blue face paint that is traditional for brides in her home land. The blue dress she wears covers up all exposed skin, and around her neck is the red and gold collar he sent her as a sign of their engagement almost a year ago. She is not unattractive, and Zuko hopes that he will be able to at least make her comfortable, if not happy.
"You may now place the gift from your tribe on the prince."
The old man's words break through Zuko's thoughts. He turns to face her as she brings a purple cloth out from the folds of her sleeves. He bends down to make it easier for her to reach as she throws the cape-like item over his shoulders, deftly tucking it under his collar so two thin strips of lavender are visible against his burnt-red robes. He tries to make eye contact, to give her a small, reassuring smile, but she keeps her gaze down and away from his.
"The gifts of unity have been exchanged! Fire and water are now joined as one! Let them affirm these bonds with a kiss!"
Zuko hopes this is not her first time as he leans down and presses his closed mouth to hers. The static jump that passes from his lips to his heart makes him pull back with a gasp of surprise. His pulse is racing as he looks down at her, mystified as to what has just happened and hoping he will see something in her eyes that tells him it was not a one-sided reaction. She is, however, avoiding his gaze again, and turns to face the applauding crowd. He believes that he can see a hint of pink in her cheeks as he takes her hand softly and they bow before the people gathered in the courtyard. A gong sounds, and everyone scrabbles to be seated for the wedding feast. Cushions are brought up to the newly-joined couple, and they take their seats. He looks for his girl in the crowd, but the only lady-in-waiting is a tall girl with short, chestnut hair and brown eyes. Dejected, he picks at his food, idly noticing that Katara is as hungry as he is. Once again, times passes too quickly for the young prince, and in the blink of an eye they are releasing lanterns over the ocean and walking back to Zuko's chambers.
He closes the door and turns to face her awkwardly. "Well, the bathroom is over there. You can go change and wash all that stuff off your face, if you want."
She shakes her head. "The bridal paint must remain on until after the... wedding night."
Oh, he thinks. She has to wear that stuff until we have sex. "Ah, well, I guess, you could go change. In private. If you wish."
She gives a small bow. "Thank you."
As she turns away, Zuko slaps his palm against his face. Not only is this awkward enough for her, but he has to go and make it worse by not even knowing all of the customs and bringing up the one subject he'd been hoping to avoid for as long as possible. Still verbally abusing himself, he goes into his large closet to begin stripping off the ridiculous clothing he has been forced to wear. He reaches for his casual robe and noticed the blue trunk that has been placed in the far corner. Curious, he opens the lid and picks through her clothing, noting that she has nothing in any color but blue or white, the latter being an issue he will have to discuss with her soon. A quick flash of red catches his eye, and he pulls out the robe he gave away yesterday.
"How did this..." An unbelievable situation growing in his mind, he rushes to the bathroom and pounds on the door. "Katara. Please come out here. I have to ask you something." The door begins to open slowly, but Zuko cannot wait that long. "Katara, how did you get-"
Her eyes meet his, and he is unable to speak.
"You!" she gasps. "You! How dare you! A whole day together, an entire fucking day and you never bothered to tell me who you are!" She slams her hands against his chest, pushing him back across the room. "You slimy bastard! You liar! You were just leading me on that whole day weren't you?"
He is too shocked by her reaction to reply, but as soon as she utters "liar" he snaps back. "You hypocritical bitch! I led you on? Who told me that she was working for the water tribe princess, never bothering to mention that she was actually Katara of the Southern Tribe? Who made think that you were just a commoner?"
"I never said anything like that!" she shouts. "I said that I came with her convoy, and that I was very close to her, but I never said that I worked for her."
"Oh really? 'Do you really think that a chief's daughter would have a non-bender as her servant slash body guard?'" he quotes, pitching his voice higher in an awful impersonation of her voice.
"Okay, so I said that to purposely mislead you. But if you had actually paid attention to the information given to you by my brother, you would've known that I do have a non-bender as my body guard."
"Really? The girl with the short hair can't bend?"
"No. She's a member of the Kyoshi Island warriors. And one of my closest friends."
Zuko takes a moment to digest all that she's said. "So... all those things you said, were really about you?"
"Everything I told you was about me. All the stories about the south pole, those were my life experiences." Her eyes go wide. "Were your stories real too?"
He knows she's thinking of what he said about his father. "Yes. That was all true. I'm not sad he's gone. He was corrupt, and didn't know how to love anymore. I love my uncle as a father, and I'm glad he was the man to help raise me."
"Do you think that your mother would want..." Her eyes begin to fill with tears. "That should could love me like a daughter?"
He wraps her up in his arms, tucking her head under his chin. "She could talk of nothing else but how excited she was to gain another daughter for the last month." His lips brushed against her forehead, and a flash of desire traveled through his body.
"Did you feel that?" Her eyes rise to meet his.
"Feel what?"
Her arms wraps around his neck so she can pull herself up to meet his lips. "That," she gasps as the lightning shock passes from her to him and back again.
"What do you think?" he growls as he presses into her, lifting her up and over to the bed. He slips her out of her loose robe as she unties the fabric keeping his on. He pulls back for a moment to take in her beauty, and watches as she smiles and begins to laugh.
"What?"
"You know what I think?"
"That you're a damn lucky woman?"
"Well, yes. But I was thinking that I could fall in love with you."
He smiles as he kisses her, his body resting just above hers. "I was thinking the same thing."
