Just a reminder I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters… Go watch the series so you know what's mine and what isn't.
Any inaccuracies in terms of OC and random bits of plot changing are my entire fault. Also thanks to cinemascope08 for the first review. Have another #Cookie
Burning Resentment
Zuko and his retinue cut a swathe through the jostling crowds in the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se. Part of him hated the way that everyone stared at him as he walked, hated the necessity of the eight guards, all firebending and swordfighting masters, and longed for the time when he had been content, serving tea in his uncle's tea shop in the lower city. Now he couldn't look at the people selling crafted metal and not think about the exports of steel from his factories, he couldn't smile at a young boy juggling with fruits without causing him to drop them all and bow to him, a look of unease in his eye. Zuko didn't care what Katara said, he was hated and feared, and it was very difficult not to be reminded of it everywhere he looked.
He was here looking for a gift for Mai. His conversation with Katara and her problems with Aang had reminded him that he spent much of his time taking Mai for granted, and he wanted to show her that he did appreciate the support that she gave. She was always there for him when he had problems with belligerent council members, and she massaged his shoulders in long sessions that often led to other things that eased his tensions. He smiled at the thought, as he browsed through the trinkets and other shiny things. The merchant mistook his smile for want of a particular gift, and was insistent that he take it for his 'lady friend' for nothing, despite Zuko's insistence that he should pay. Eventually Zuko was back on the street again, a small brown bag in his hand holding a pair of blue earrings that he was sure were not a good gift for Mai, but he had been completely unable to back out.
He wandered the streets for a few minutes longer, hoping against hope that he would find something soon, as the glances that were being thrown his way became increasingly more hostile. The streets seemed to be getting busier and busier, and Zuko wondered where all these people were coming from. His progress became increasingly slow, until he gave up and started to walk with the flood of people, seeing where it was they were all going. It was not back to the Upper Ring as he previously thought, but to a square surrounded by small cafes and other shops, and to Zuko's delight he saw a small jewellery shop amongst the stalls festooned with fabric and food. He was on his way there, when he saw at last what the crowds of people were flocking to see. His guards parted the people in front of him as he picked his way across the cobblestones to better see the frozen figures.
There were eight of them, each wearing the colours of a nation, a man and a woman each wearing red, blue, green and orange. The two in orange were on the floor, the woman lying prone on the ground as the man held her in his arms, a picture of grief on his face. He was turned away from the other figures, and could almost be a separate display, were it not for the gaze of one of the other performers. The other six were standing close to one another, tight in a pack with the tiniest of gaps between them. The woman in blue was looking at those in orange, and seemed to be about to raise a hand towards them as her eyes filled with longing. The man in blue beside her was barely touching her, his shoulder thrown protectively across her as though to shield her from those in red and green. There seemed to be a fight going on between the red and green performers. The woman in green was on the floor, a basket lay on its side, its contents spilled before her, and the two remaining men were fighting over the produce. Their hands pushed against each other's faces as they fought for the few tiny carrots and potatoes. Finally the woman in red stood to one side, her arms folded across her chest and a cruel smile curling her lip as she looked down on the woman in green. They were all still, though the position of the two wrestlers looked uncomfortable, and Zuko was astonished at the skill.
However, the meaning was not lost on him, and he stormed through the rest of the crowd to come face to face with the performers. The crowd hushed and the performers flinched slightly as he approached, but quickly all wore their masks again. Zuko raged internally at the way that his nation was portrayed, and was ashamed at how much the woman in red reminded him of Mai, but he realised as he approached them that he couldn't condemn them for expressing their views, not if her wanted to maintain his precarious position on the Fire Nation throne. He cooled and stepped back, giving himself a moment to still his raging thoughts before smiling appreciatively at the skill and tossing a small coin into a conical hat that lay upturned on the ground in front of them. It made a small noise against the other coins in the basket, and Zuko turned away, the crowd parting before him and allowing him to find the shop he had seen before.
He bought something quickly. The square was still quiet around him, and he just wanted to get back to the Earth Palace and give his gift to Mai. He was worried about her distance and wanted to show her that he still cared, even though his nation demanded his attention. Part of him was angry that she didn't seem to understand that being the Fire Lord was a lot of work, but he soldiered on through the hurt feelings and times spent apart for those rare moments when she smiled at him.
He was almost back at the upper ring, when a small boy approached him. He was dressed in dull greens and greys that were covered in grime from the streets, and couldn't be older than six or seven years old. He wandered up to the Fire lord, seemingly with nothing to fear and held out a small box towards the man.
"Please Fire Lord," The boy bowed as he held the box aloft. "Do you have any food? My mother is ill, and my sister is hungry."
Zuko looked down at the boy, barefoot and skinny, his clothes held together more by force of habit and the mud that had solidified than any integrity in the fabric, and smiled sadly.
"Here, have this. I was going to give it to my friend, but you may be able to sell it for food." Zuko passed over the delicately crafted bracelet that he had bought for Mai, and the boy looked as it glinting in the sunlight, his eyes wide with astonishment.
"Thank you Fire Lord. I don't believe them that say you're not nice. I never believed them folks who say you'se a bad man." And with another bow, the boy ran off down to the Lower Ring, his prize clutched in his hand. Zuko couldn't help but smile as he watched him run off with a skip in his step, and fondly remembered when he was as easily pleased by such a simple gift.
Katara was wandering the halls of the Earth Palace aimlessly. For once she didn't want to enjoy the solitude of the secret garden that she and Zuko had shared, but instead she wanted to be with people. But not the servants and courtiers who would bow and pontificate to her because she was friends with the Avatar and Fire Lord, or the Earth Kingdom nobles who would look down on her for exactly the same reasons. No, she wanted people to look at her like a normal person, to remember that she was a human being with feelings and wants and needs beyond those of the Avatar and the Southern Water Tribe. Those things were important to her too, but she felt like increasingly she wasn't allowed to have any opinions that weren't politically motivated. She knew that it was just the lengthy discussions and negotiations getting to her, but she still wanted a normal half hour before she had to face the world again and be Master Waterbender Katara.
The halls were oddly quiet in this part of the palace, and the odd bustling servant made her jump when they appeared in the corridors that seemed to swallow sound. It was only when she rounded a corner that she saw the old man on the floor, his cries muffled as he tried to sit up. Katara ran to him and propped up his head, before looking down at his face.
It was Advisor Hipau, although Katara could barely tell. His face was a mess of burns, and as he opened his mouth to let out another muted cry she saw that the burns extended into his mouth and throat, searing his lungs so that he could barely breathe. Katara looked around, as there was no way that this had happened more than a few minutes ago and he remain alive. Assuring herself that there was nobody to be seen she returned her attentions to the injured man on the floor and called water to her, moisture from the plants that were planted at regular intervals making a slight sucking sound as it was pulled through the air to pool around her hand, glowing as Katara infused it with healing energy.
She placed her hand on his scarred face and began to manipulate the water within his body to try and heal the internal damage. She could feel the way that the water was blocked as it encountered the scarred and damaged tissue that filled his lungs, and as she tried to shift it she felt Hipau convulse in pain, his damaged throat once again trying to scream to the spirits in an attempt to relieve the pain. Katara saw the tears squeezing out of his eyes, and pulled them from his face, using any moisture that she could to alleviate the pain, but as she worked she felt him take a final rattling breath and his eyes close peacefully, the muscles around his mouth relaxing from their grimace of pain and his whole body relaxing. Katara continued regardless, and forced the blood to flow around his body for a moment longer, but she soon had to give up as he no longer responded to her touches and she sat back wearily, allowing the water that she had been bending to pool on the floor around her.
Dead. He's Dead. I couldn't save him. I failed. Dead. Katara felt the world around her go grey, and all she could see were the empty staring eyes before her, their gaze ever unseeing of the ceiling above.
It wasn't long before a servant stumbled across the still numb waterbender and the dead man that lay across her knees. The servant fled in hysterics, and soon returned with a group of soldiers, who pulled an unprotesting Katara to her feet and led her away. Katara didn't even look back at the man she had failed to save, and was more than happy when she was returned to her room, even if the door was locked and bolted behind her. She buried her face in the pillow that lay at the head of her bed, and tried very hard to think of nothing for a very long time.
Zuko was jogging along the corridors of the Earth Palace, breathless from his run up from the outskirts of the Upper Ring where he had stopped to buy a replacement gift for Mai. He cursed as he recalled that he had left it on the counter, but put that to the back of his mind as he finally made it to the Throne Room of the Earth Palace. He had grown to hate this place over the last couple of days, but this was a meeting that he could not miss. The summons had sounded urgent enough that he had cast aside dignity to be seen running through the streets. He stopped just outside the doors and composed himself, taking a few deep breaths and adjusting his top knot, slipping his Fire Lord Hairpiece over it and opening the doors sedately. Nobody commented on how his cheeks were still a little flushed, and as he sat, his face mirrored the grim expressions of the others around the table.
"Is everyone here?" King Kuei's face was a mask of solemnity, and for the first time Zuko felt that he could hear the king that he was growing to be in his voice. "Right, then I would like to draw everybody's attention to the matter at hand."
"I am sure that many of you have found this out through your own sources, but it is believed that Master Waterbender Katara of the Southern Water Tribe has killed Advisor Hipau. She was found with his body in her arms earlier today, the evidence of waterbending clearly around her, and she made no protest when she was arrested and taken to her rooms, where she is currently detained."
"What?" Zuko looked around and saw that Iroh had cried out even before he had the chance to rise to his feet. "We all know that Lady Katara is incapable of harming anything, much less killing a man. Tell me, how did Hipau die?"
"He was found with his lungs full of water and severe burns all over his face and neck. She had clearly tried to make it look like a firebender was the cause of his death, but she was caught red handed at the scene."
"Surely you know that she is a healer? Have you checked his mouth and throat to see if there was any fire damage inside him?" Zuko's voice was low and even, though rage stuttered under the surface.
"We have not examined the body thoroughly yet. Lady Katara has remained quiet and placid, and has not defended herself that we know of."
"Have you asked her any questions?"
"No, we were going to question her before this council. She will be tried fairly by those here present." Zuko was sure now that King Kuei was not saying any of this of his own volition, as it sounded too neat and rehearsed. His response was cut short however, by the opening of a pair of doors to one side of the throne room, and the entrance of Katara. Zuko immediately looked in her eyes and saw how dazed and empty they looked. He feared for her, and immediately stood and went to her. Ignoring the protests of the other councillors he immediately wrapped his arms around her, and felt her rapid breathing as she stared into nothingness. She relaxed in his arms, and it was only a moment before she started to weep.
"I... I couldn't... I didn't... I tried..."
"Shh. Shh." Zuko smoothed the hair that fell untidily down her back and simply held her for a long while. He could hear the arguments behind her, as Iroh continued to argue Katara's defence, but for now he could put them out of his mind, and focus on steadying the traumatised Waterbender in his arms.
Katara was soon seated on a chair that faced the other members of the meeting, except for Zuko who insisted on standing behind her. She held a small handkerchief that Zuko had lent her, and she occasionally dabbed the corner of her eyes as the image of the dead man, his face going slack as the pain finally ended replayed itself in the inside of her skull over and over again.
"You say you were never once inclined to dislike Advisor Hipau?"
"No. I disagreed with him often, but I also disagree with my father often, and I have had ample opportunity to kill him."
"So you harbour ill feeling towards Chief Hakoda too?"
"No that is not what I meant!" Katara was fuming that she could be treated this way. The rage was almost blocking out the memory of the pain that she saw in Hipau's eyes as she struggled to heal him. "I mean, that though I may dislike someone, I would do almost anything to not kill them, I think the only person I've ever wanted to kill was Zuko once, and we made up." Katara felt the comforting hand of her former enemy on her shoulder, and she could imagine his wry smile. She felt great for a moment, then she saw again the moment when death washed over her patient, and she began to take short breaths, the inexplicable panic washing over her again.
"I think that it is clear Katara is extremely distressed by the idea of a man dying in front of her, let along killing him herself. I don't see why we have to continue questioning her." Zuko's hand on her shoulder tightened as he spoke, and she was comforted that he had felt her change in mood.
"Well, who would do such a thing? Assuming for the moment that the girl's statement is the truth..."
"That's Lady Katara, even to you King Kuei." There was so much venom in Zuko's words that Katara almost flinched.
"...Assuming that Lady Katara's statement is truth, we still have a killer on our hands."
"I suspect Ozai Supporters." Said Iroh
"I agree with my uncle. They have been intent on destabilising my rule for the last year and freeing my father. What better way to undermine me than kill someone with firebending? They want the war back, and I refuse to let them. I worked too hard for this peace, sacrificed too much. We all did."
"We do not doubt that you want an end to this war, Fire Lord Zuko, we only doubt your motives for mentioning these rebels."
"What do you mean?"
"It is clear that you harbour affection for Lady Katara, and we don't want those feelings mixed up in what should be, foremost, a political discussion. Because this was clearly a political attack. Not only does it implicate two nations, but it is a vicious attack on a third nation, the host of the peace talks, and in a sacred space for the whole nation. This is supposed to be the most secure place in the whole world, and the idea that not only in Ba Sing Se, but in the Earth Palace itself Earthbenders are not safe... you have to understand that this is going to make a serious impression on national confidence."
"I don't see what this has to do with my political motivations."
"If the Earth Kingdom was destabilised by these allegations of yours, then you would clearly profit from..."
Katara stood, ignoring the continued drone of King Kuei and stormed out of the room. Everyone was so surprised that she was not stopped and she managed to walk straight out of the Palace, and down to the city below. Hot tears were streaming down her face, and she wasn't watching where she was going, simply walking and walking until eventually her legs folded under her and she sat in the street, weeping.
Sorry Katara has been a bit weepy so far. That's all about to change. Promise. Also, I only just spotted that the scene breaks had failed in my previous chapter, so I'll fix that now...
Please tell me what you hate :D
And have a #cookie for reading. They're fresh out of the oven just for you.
