Fine Print
Chapter 4 - Vixen
After Zuko had rudely departed, Katara entered Suki's home, and the scene that met her eyes would never get old. It got her every single time; she just found it so hilarious.
The Kyoshi Warriors were doing their daily training exercises within Suki's household, which had evidently become their makeshift training shoji. Katara noted Suki, who was in at the front of the girls, leading them through the stances. Ty Lee stood off to one side, her childlike face beaming as always. But what caught her eye was Sokka, who was on Suki's opposite side. His face was stony as he followed his girlfriend through the motions. And he, identical to the others, sported the traditional Kyoshi Warrior makeup and uniform. He looked absolutely priceless as he towered over the women warriors, and his broader shoulders and arms did nothing to distract from his comical appearance. The getup no longer fit him properly since his late teen growth spurt. The robes barely reached mid-calf, and the sleeves were only halfway to his wrists while the remaining material was strained over the rest of his oversized body. He looked like a bad cross-dresser. She couldn't help herself as she burst out laughing, catching the attention of the warriors.
She saw Sokka instantly flush scarlet. He knew full well that she was laughing at him, and his blush deepened when he heard some of the warrior girls attempting to stifle giggles of their own.
Suki grinned at her before halting the training session, sending the warriors home early for the evening.
The warriors who remembered Katara gave her a friendly smile or wave before leaving. Ty Lee even gave her an unexpected hug before departing too.
Katara looked back to Sokka, who had his arms crossed over his chest, a scowl on his face, his ears still red in embarrassment. Suki stood a pace behind him, hiding her face behind her hands as her body rocked with silent giggles.
"Sokka, how did you ever get into that?" asked Katara, biting down on her lip to stifle another laugh.
If possible, he went even a darker shade of red.
Suki put a hand on his shoulder. "We ganged up on him," she explained. "He refused to wear it, but he couldn't take all of us. In the end, Ty Lee struck his pressure points, and we somehow managed to squeeze it on him."
Sokka huffed. "It was a sneak attack," he said lamely. "I swear, I could've taken them."
Suki's grin grew and gave him a light peck on the cheek. "Whatever you say, Sokka. Don't worry; we'll get a new uniform made for you tomorrow." She looked back to Katara. "It's great you're here! Toph just showed up yesterday, I think she'll be back soon. You can try and figure out why she's here because she won't tell us a thing."
Toph was here? What a coincidence. It was almost like a reunion from the old days. She pointedly ignored the fact that the most important person from their group, Aang, was unlikely to make an appearance. She looked away sadly. Things could never go back to the way they were.
After a sigh, Katara looked back at them gratefully. They both would have heard about what happened with Aang, and thus knew why she was there, but they also sensed when not to pry. She would talk to them when she was ready. "Thanks, guys." And they understood what she meant. No explanation was needed. It was all in the fine print.
Katara stared off blankly as she watched the warriors' afternoon practice with Toph. She had been distracted ever since she had come to stay at Suki's house, yet couldn't place why. It was bizarre. She constantly felt as though there was someone behind her, nagging for her attention, but whenever she turned around to see what they wanted, they'd vanish, though the feeling always remained. She would even catch sight of a figure looming at her back whenever she saw her reflection, but it would be gone in an instant. She never saw their face; there was only a white light.
She hoped that this was just a brief relapse to the craziness she had experienced while travelling on the boat, but something told her this was a far bigger deal than she cared to admit. Inwardly, she made a pact that she would talk to Sokka about it in a few days if it didn't cease.
Exhaling, she uncorked her canteen of water and began bending it between her palms. She had been avoiding bending ever since she had reached land after her crossing. She had needed time away from everything liquid, and had ignored the ice, water vapour and daily soup lunches as best she could. Now though, she felt a tug that was impossible to push aside. It was her element, and she could no longer turn a colder shoulder to it.
Katara looked at it with a frown as the water streamed to and fro, entrancing her. She felt the sudden urge to speak to it again, just like she had on her voyage from the North Pole. She scowled; she was officially unhinged.
She chanced a quick glance at Toph, who seemed bored as she leaned her back against the shoji wall, her unseeing eyes closed softly. Then she looked towards the warriors, who were preoccupied with their training.
Okay, well she supposed she could speak to it in her mind? After all, she didn't really feel like having everyone stare at her if she just burst out in conversation right then and there.
Katara, he told you not to go see him again. He will be absolutely furious if you go against him.
Oh, La, holy spirits, the water was talking to her! She nearly lost control of it in her shock. Had she just imagined that? She glanced around the room again to see if anyone else had heard it.
Okay, Katara, relax. It's just water, it can't hurt you. She took a moment to compose herself. This was really, really weird. Wait, what had the water said again?
Zuko, he told you not to go see him again. Don't do it.
She nearly lost control of the water again. So she hadn't imagined it. She scoffed, or maybe she had imagined both outbursts and this just solidified her madness. Not only did she speak to water, but the water spoke back. Her cheese was off its cracker. Sure, visions of light people were odd enough, but talking water was where she drew the line. She should just commit herself now. She took a deep breath to calm down.
Truthfully, she had been debating whether or not to go back to the market and see Zuko again ever since he had dumped her off at Suki's. She had missed him a lot these past few years and wanted to help him somehow on his mission to find his mother. It was the least she could do. Zuko had saved her life and she owed him so much.
No Katara, there is no reason for you to go over there. He will just yell at you. And how will you going over to see him help him in the least? All you will do is place him in danger.
This damn water was sounding like her conscience. She looked at it sharply. Wait, maybe it was. She scanned it, looking for what, she didn't know. She rolled her eyes when she spotted nothing abnormal. Of course there was nothing abnormal about it. It was just plain old water, nothing wrong with it, her on the other hand, there was definitely something wrong with.
She made a disgruntled sound under her breath. That was it. The water could go evaporated for all she cared; she was going to see Zuko, and not even Tui and La could stop her. She roughly stored the water back in its canteen.
"Katara, Katara, hey, Sugar Queen? Are you even listening to me?" Toph's voice finally snapped her out of her inner plight. "What's going on? Your heart's racing."
"I'm gonna go pick up some food for tonight's dinner," she said absentmindedly, neither looking at nor answering the earthbending girl. She got up from her seated position and began making her way to leave.
"You're what? Hey?" Toph called out after her.
But Katara just gave her a small smile and slid out the door.
Toph huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "That girl just keeps on getting weirder and weirder," she mumbled.
Okay, so now what? Katara nibbled on her lip as she made her way to the market. What in the world was she going to do? There was no plan. She supposed that could just march up to his stall and demand that Zuko bring her with him, or she'd reveal his identity. Katara rolled her eyes; as if she would ever threaten him like that. She'd sooner offer herself to be sacrificed to an arctic walrusbear.
She sighed as thick snow began falling from the sky. Oh, just great. She thought that she had left all snow and snowing back at the Northern Water Tribe. With an exasperated breath, she offhandedly bent the snow flakes to fall into her palm, forming a small snowball before tossing it lightly at the statue of Kyoshi as she passed by.
She could now see the stand and ducked into a stall on the opposite side of where Zuko was working. She concealed herself behind an array of display hangers that had a variety of brightly coloured clothing strayed upon them. She peeked her head overtop her hiding place to get a better look at him.
He was a little over a hundred meters away and was working along with another man, who had his back turned to her. She assumed that he was the spy Zuko had mentioned to her two days earlier.
She fidgeted, unsure of her next move. Okay, so what was the plan? Help him or threaten him? Well, maybe she could just go and have a lovely chat with him, and maybe Zuko would be all smiles and flowers even though she went against him. She groaned in frustration; why did things always have to be so complicated?
"Excuse me, miss, are you in need of assistance? Are you looking for anything in particular? We have dresses imported from across all nations."
She nearly jumped out her skin when she heard the voice of the vendor.
"No, thanks. I'm just looking."
The man nodded politely and began serving another customer.
She frowned, still trying to think of a viable plan and looked back to where Zuko was. Her jaw dropped at what she saw.
The owner had turned so that he was facing in her direction, and simply put, he was a major hottie. Her face grew warm as she observed him. He really was quite good-looking. She certainly hadn't expected him to be so young. He looked as though he was in his early to mid twenties, and he was the perfect image of the saying, tall, dark and handsome,but she presumed he was older than he appeared since he had apparently smuggled Ursa around ten years ago.
She smirked. Well, this made things a whole lot easier. She knew exactly what she was going to do. All guys, particularly the pretty boys, loved to have their egos stroked. This gave her the opportunity to finally put her skills as a starlet to good use. She had refined them while she had been trying to make it work with Aang. Katara grinned sheepishly. She couldn't deny that she had also practiced on those poor souls who had unwittingly requested her hand in marriage in the Northern Water Tribe while she had still been dating Aang. She would normally flirt with them, using her womanly lure, before snuffing them out. Who could blame her? She had been bored with Aang always off on his lengthy Avatar missions.
Katara turned around and found the merchant who had offered her help earlier. She tapped him on the shoulder, giving him a coy smile. She might as well rehearse while she had the chance. "I was wondering where you kept the women's Fire Nation clothing. I can't seem to find it." She grinned inwardly when he flushed pink. So she still had it in her.
"R-right this way, miss." He ushered her over to the opposite side the shop, where there were several elaborate outfits, all with the traditional reddish hue of the Fire Nation.
Katara dutifully kept her eyes averted from Zuko's shop. She knew that he probably would have spotted her as she came out from her cover.
"Here you are. Do you need help looking for something specific? Is it for a special occasion?"
"I guess it is a special occasion," she said more to herself than the vendor, "but I think I'm all right on my own now." She smiled at him again. "Thanks so much for your help."
His cheeks reddened for a second time as he gave her a small bow before leaving her to her musings.
Grinning, Katara raised her chin proudly, she was good. She hadn't done that in a few months and had been worried that she might have lost her knack. Normally, she hated acting like this. She felt as though she were some manipulating seductress. She thought that it was low class, but sometimes the situation called for her female charm, like helping Zuko find out where his mother was being held, or making fools of dense Water Tribe boys, or trying to keep things from falling apart with Aang.
She picked out a suitable top and long skirt. It was a little more conservative than the typical Fire Nation clothing because of the coolness of Kyoshi Island. When she went to pay for it, the vendor even gave her an impressive discount.
Quickly, she switched her clothes in a makeshift change room in the back of the store before piling her hair atop of her head, tying it in the traditional Fire Nation do. Now she was ready.
Katara thanked the vendor, before finally looking over towards where Zuko.
Had she not been prepared for it, she would have been fried to a crisp on the spot. He looked as angry as she had ever seen him. And that was saying something, when one considered his near-legendary temper that had gained its notoriety from when he had been obsessively hunting her ex-boyfriend, and failing in all attempts to capture him.
She suppressed a shudder that had nothing to do with the cool air. He looked terrifying. She swore that there was steam coming from his nose. Katara felt as though he were scorching her where she stood just from his heated glower.
Averting her eyes, she ignored his less than welcoming demeanor and did her best to get in character. This would make it or break it. Plus, Zuko would probably kill her in a painful and torturous way that she didn't really want to imagine if she screwed this up.
Katara watched the spy. She gave him an enticing smile when she caught his eye, which he instantly returned. She smirked inwardly when she saw him order Zuko to the opposite side of the stall, while he came behind the front stand to greet her personally.
"And what may I get for you, darling?"
She flushed on command. "You're too kind, sir," she said with a respectful nod. "What are the coolest foods you've got here?" From practice, she had come understand what it meant to be alluring, yet not over the top. When flirting, girls often made the mistake of trying too hard for a man's attention. Less was more, especially when trying to extract information, but it still had to be well-timed. The perfect balance of confidence and grace was ideal.
Her shoulders unknotted as he seemed to be taking a fancy to her. This was exactly what she wanted.
He eyed her objectively. "Coolest, my dear? Are you not Fire Nation? If I recall correctly, do they not enjoy the warmer foods?" he asked as he took in her clothing.
She laughed, not her normal laugh, but the kind that was soft and overly feminine. It endeared men and brought them closer. Spirits, she wanted to strangle herself for acting like this. It was just so fake, but she couldn't deny that it gave her a unique sense of power. From the corner of her eye she saw Zuko shoot her an odd look. She could only imagine what he was thinking.
"No, sir, I'm actually returning to my homeland in the Southern Water Tribe from the Fire Nation. I was requested to treat the Fire Lord's illness."
Zuko's shoulders squared, his jaw tensed and he glared at her, unable to contain his fury.
Katara's skin bristled; he must have thought she was going to betray him. The vendor seemed to have noticed Zuko and began turning toward him, but Katara managed to regain the his attention by leaning forward onto the counter that stood between them, purposefully exposing the lower part of her back as her top was stretched upwards. She then nudged her hair to flow to in front of her shoulders. The spy smiled at her and she sighed inwardly when he seemed to have forgotten entirely about Zuko. Her eyes scanned the counter; it displayed various exotic foods, most of which had prickly, dark skin. She realized that she actually didn't recognize any of them.
If there was anything she had learned in her ploys, it was that, unlike women who responded to auditory stimulation, always fishing for compliments and sweet talk, men were very visual, focusing on the facial expression, accentuated curves of the body, and exposed skin. She was thankful that this pretty boy was also susceptible to her charm. She gave him a shy smile. Why not play it up a bit?
In her peripheral vision she saw Zuko's confused frown.
"Oh, really? So you're a waterbender?" asked the vendor as his brow rose in interest.
She averted her gaze with a sheepish grin, her cheeks flushing again. "Guilty." She looked back up at him, giving a slight hair flip as she held her hands above a jar of juice on display, and bent it with beginner skill. Demonstrating that she was a bending master would definitely put him on guard, and that wasn't what she wanted.
He watched her with fascination, as though she were something to eat, licking his lips slightly in anticipation. He was enthralled, thirsting to learn more. "No, not guilty, my young girl. I am interested though, how is the good Lord doing?" he asked.
Zuko tensed again but luckily only she noticed.
Things were going according to plan (for the most part), and she was gratefully. Despite that, she still felt like she was on eggshells. The slightest slip and she would give away everything. She was scared, not of being caught, but of disappointing Zuko, though she expertly masked her worry from the man she was attempting to swindle. "He's recovering well. It was an awful illness though. I was honoured to help him, and the Fire Nation. It would have been terrible had this sickness taken his life. The world would have probably been forced into another war." She shuddered for effect, noting how the vendors smile grew. "It's lucky that I managed to create a cure for him. If he takes it, then I'm sure he'll be better within a few months."
"That's good to hear."
But she knew that those words were anything but sincere. She observed him, her eyes half-lidded. "Tell me, you seem worldly. I mean," she placed a hand on the back on her neck in simulated embarrassment. "It's amazing to know so much about of the Fire Nation while living in the Earth Kingdom, and I was wondering if you've ever visited my homelands, in either of the Water Tribes. They're amazing places. If you've never gone, I would definitely recommend visiting sometime soon, if you were available."
She could see Zuko pause in his work and turn slightly towards her.
As she intended, the vendor interpreted what she had said as if she wanted him to come visit her. Some men were so simple.
He gave her a smoldering look. "No, my girl, unfortunately I have not been to either of them, though I was near the Southern Tribe several years back."
"Really?" she asked with as much fake enthusiasm she could muster. "Where? Were you seeing a friend? It's such a small community down there, I know nearly everyone."
"I was only there to dump off some unwanted trash off the Coast of Ichik Island, nothing interesting." He smirked, as though he were having some sort of inside joke. "But I'll be sure to visit the Tribes soon. I never knew they had such beauties."
Jackpot. That was what she had been waiting for. That was where their base was and where Ursa was being held, just off of Ichik Island.
She blushed again on cue. "You're too kind, sir. I'll definitely be looking forward to your visit."
"Please, call me Xuon."
So he even had an Earth Kingdom alias. "Well, Xuon, I'm sorry, but I should get going. My friends are probably wondering what's taking me so long. They'll never believe that I met someone so charming."
He gave her a slight bow of apology, but looked anything but apologetic, eyeing her like a spiderbee that had caught a slugfly in its web. He obviously thought he had gained more vital information than she had. Xuon assumed that she was just some sweet, pretty, simple-minded, novice waterbending girl. Oh, how wrong he was to have let his guard down with her. "Very well, my waterbender lady, what can I get for you?"
Katara quickly picked out a few fruits and vegetables and a canister of juice, before bidding him farewell.
She chanced a look over to Zuko, who gave her a barely detectable nod.
Katara grinned to herself. It had gone without a hitch and Zuko no longer wanted to fry her.
She picked up her outfit she had left at the clothing stall before making her way back to Suki's house.
On her trek back, she bent off the snow that was melting on her thinner Fire Nation clothing with her free hand, in order to stay warm.
She saw Toph sitting on the front steps of Suki's house, a bored look on her face as she bent the ground at her feet with a loud stomp every few seconds. When the girl noticed Katara returning she finally perked up.
"Where have you been? And why are you-" she stopped in her tracks as she noticed Katara's still elevated heart rate. "Oh, nevermind, I don't even wanna know."
Katara looked at Toph, smiling, her body still hopped up on adrenaline. "Come on, I know you're hungry, let's round everyone up and eat."
"Let's," the younger girl agreed with enthusiasm.
Now that was hard to write.
I must thank my betas njty9101, AvocadoLove and MizJoely.
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