author's note: sorry for the delay! finals murdered me and now i'm back.

also, goes without being said, but within the confines of this fic i'm rejecting The Search and all other comics from canon. so, in case anyone wants to come at me with that, don't. otherwise, sit down, buckle up, and please keep hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times.

four: black ice

He had gotten so tall.

The Fire Lord had a short, neatly trimmed beard on his chin now, too, she noticed. It looked surprisingly good on him.

Zuko looked nothing like the banished prince that had chased them across the entire globe. His hair, longer now than it was even then when he wore it in a ponytail, was pulled into a half up- half down hairstyle that accentuated the newly sharp lines of his face, all traces of his boyhood now gone, leaving a man in its place. Katara's mind wandered back to just a few weeks before, to the similar thoughts she had had of Aang during their goodbyes. They were all getting older, she supposed, and it should be no surprise to see her friends as the adults they were growing into. It didn't help that the last time she'd seen him, he'd still looked like a gangly teenager.

The person before her now was not just a man, but a ruler. His long robes, deep red and shimmering black, trimmed in muted gold, were regal and fine, and the crown in his hair was poised and elegant, if small. He walked with his head held high and his shoulders square.

It was only after an intense minute of staring that she noticed Mai, aura still as stuck up as it was a few hours prior, glued to his side. She hadn't quite seen it earlier in the dim steam room, but her hair was short now, an asymmetrical bob that somehow made her look even more dangerous and intimidating than she had before. The woman was a walking weapon. It was in the air she breathed, in her stealthy gloves that Katara was sure hid a multitude of sharp objects, in her dark eyes, in her strong, confident gait. She was a year younger than Zuko, yet possessed more venom in her body than he would in his entire lifetime.

A far cry from the Fire Lady Ursa would have been, Katara thought sourly. Still, she couldn't help but feel the tiniest bit grateful that Zuko's partner was someone who could so undoubtedly keep him safe. The list of people who wanted him dead ran ten miles long.

Mai looked bored already, and they had only just been introduced. Well - Zuko had; Iroh had not mentioned Mai at all, or what her title was now. They weren't married - was it Lady Mai? Noblewoman Mai? Her family was of Fire Nation nobility, right?

They took a coordinated bow together and a bout of cheer erupted once more. Zuko led Mai to their seats at the head of the table, walking past on the side opposite where Katara sat. She tried to catch his eye to wave hello, but his head was turned to the side; it looked as though they were locked in conversation. Not a pleasant one, judging by the frowns on both their faces. Katara sighed, eyes falling down to her empty plate, and hoped that at least the food would be good.

#

It wasn't.

Honestly, she should have remembered how much she hated spicy food. It had been years since she'd had it - their last visit here, she'd asked for specific catering for herself and for Aang. The last time she'd eaten anything even remotely hot was during their travels with the gaang after Zuko had joined them. The day after the two of them had returned from their Life Changing Field Trip, Zuko had convinced her to try a bite of raw fire flakes, insisting she needed to try something new and interesting. This came right after another spat in which she'd defended her choice of hairstyle that hadn't changed in the entirety of her then-fourteen years, and so she'd felt a prideful spark of defensiveness. Katara ripped through nearly half the bag before she realized her mouth was on fire. He'd gotten way too much of a kick out of it.

After silently begging the server for several long minutes to make eye contact with her so she could ask for some milk to cool her tongue, she sucked it down so quickly she knew her stomach was going to give her hell for it later. It was as good an excuse as any to lie her utensils down and signal she was done eating.

"And who might you be, sitting over there so quietly by yourself?"

Katara blinked, then looked up. Across from her sat a man, early thirties, seated with a companion who resembled him so strongly she guessed they were brothers. He had close-cropped hair, unusual for a Fire Nation man, stark golden eyes and a strong nose. His attire matched what Admiral Zhao and other high-ranking military officials would wear during the war, though noticeably missing the matching brother had turned his attention to a woman with dark skin and darker eyes sitting beside him, and away from his designated partner for the evening.

She sat up a little straighter, trying to look nonchalant about brushing a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. "Katara - Master Katara, of the Southern Water Tribe," she told him, hoping she didn't sound too pompous. Katara rarely used her full title, but it seemed appropriate for the occasion. If she was only going to talk to one person at this event of Super Important People, she was going to be super important too.

The man smiled down at her and chuckled. "The Fire Lord doesn't usually share his guest lists in advance, but still, I'm surprised to see a Waterbender here." He bowed his head slightly at her. "Lieutenant Katsuzo."

He is military. I knew it. "I'm not really here on Fire Nation business," she admitted. "I'm just a... personal friend. Bad timing, I guess."

"On the contrary, I think it's great timing. Many of us need to be reminded that life exists outside of the Fire Nation. Most people haven't traveled outside the country since the war ended, and they don't see a reason to." He twirled a finger in the air, gesturing to the pomp around them. "A little cultural mingling might be in order."

She wanted to ask him if he had served during the War, but bit her tongue. "And are you one of the few, cultured exceptions?" A servant came around behind her shoulder as she spoke, being careful not to brush against her as she refilled Katara's cup of rice wine. She took another eager drink.

He finished his bite and dabbed at his chin with the fancy, embroidered royal napkins set out by each plate. "No, though I wish I could be. I've been on assignment for the last few years, deployed around to different islands but never outside the country."

Katara nodded, giving a small sigh. "That's sort of why I'm here. I've barely left the South Pole since the War ended. It's... not like how I thought it would be. I always imagined that once it was over, everyone would be able to travel freely again, and share the world like we used to. But it seems like everyone's somehow even more afraid of each other now. I have friends in the Earth Kingdom I haven't seen in years."

"No one wants to make a wrong step. The last thing anyone wants right now is conflict, so people would rather not say or do anything at all that might stir the pot."

She raised her glass. "To stirring the pot," she declared, smiling brightly.

He echoed her sentiment, and they both emptied their cups. "You said that you're a personal friend... of the Fire Lord, I presume?" the Lieutenant asked.

She nodded. "It's kind of a funny story - we used to hate each other. But after he joined our group, with the Avatar, he became one of our closest friends."

Katsuzo's eyes widened at that. "The Avatar! I knew your name sounded familiar. You're the Avatar's wife, aren't you? I'm surprised he let you come all this way to visit a male friend without supervision."

He chuckled, and Katara knew well that he was joking, but she couldn't make herself laugh. "No," she rebutted, tone a bit too harsh. "I'm not his wife. We're-" she cut herself off, realizing this was not the place to make an impromptu announcement to the world that the Avatar was single. They hadn't told anyone about the breakup, other than her family. "...He couldn't make it, unfortunately. Busy with Avatar stuff, you know," she muttered, waving a hand.

Katsuzo started to speak, but was quickly cut off by a deep, booming voice making an announcement. "For any guests who would like to move on to the entertainment for the night, there is music and live art in the courtyard across the hall. Please feel free to excuse yourselves at any time; the Fire Lord will be joining the festivity shortly."

She raised an eyebrow at that, and before she could even ask, the Lieutenant explained, "Nobody leaves the table until the Fire Lord finishes his meal, unless there's explicit permission to do otherwise. Even then, people usually need to prompted a few times before they'll leave the room if he's still eating."

Peering down the table to get a good look at His Excellency, Katara realized that he'd barely touched his plate. There was a deep frown on his face, and he sat completely still as Mai spoke to him. They were too far away from her to hear what was said or hope for any clear lip reading, but neither of them looked happy, to say the least.

"Well, he's not eating, at all," she mused quietly. "I wonder why."

Katsuzo shrugged, laying his fork and knife down resolutely. "I couldn't tell you, but I know I'm not waiting for him to start." He turned back to his brother, still engrossed in conversation with the beautiful lady beside him, and tapped his shoulder. "Let's get going." Facing Katara again, he gave her another bow of his head. "Enjoy your evening, Master Katara."

She returned the gesture, preparing to stand up herself. "You as well, Lieutenant Katsuzo."

#

The crowd seemed at least a little thinner once she managed to get outside; Katara assumed some of the guests had retired for the night. The courtyard, a grand stone pavilion lined with flowers, hedges and various other plants foreign to her. It was past sunset, not quite pitch black yet, but dark enough that the medley of lamps and torches interspersed throughout the displays were welcome.

She found a small pond to sit by, taking a moment to breathe and feel the warm summer air. It would probably be a while until Zuko came outside, and even then she wasn't sure she'd be able to get a moment with him. Maybe she could at least find Iroh; he probably took his nephew's safety more seriously anyway.

A few minutes went by as the hum of the party grew louder, more bodies filing in and filling their cups. Katara hadn't taken time to check out any of the performances up close yet, but from what she could hear peripherally, she knew they could keep her entertained for an hour or so.

Just as she was opening her eyes and ready to stand up in search of the Royal Adviser, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Katara's head whipped around and her eyes followed the hand up to see who had come to bother her; she jumped up with excitement when the sight of his face registered, nearly knocking him over. "Hey!" she exclaimed, a giant grin spreading over her face. Her arms shot up to wrap around his shoulders in a bear hug of their own volition. He instantly reached down to return the gesture.

Zuko's smile wasn't quite as wide as hers when she pulled away, but there was a gleam in his eye that told her he was just as glad to see her. "Katara," he said warmly, his voice deeper and rougher than when she last saw him. "I'm glad you came."

A quick glance around let her know that he was wonderfully alone, no dark cloud hanging over his shoulder as she'd expected. "I'm glad someone is," she chuckled. When he cocked his head to the side in confusion, she elaborated, "Mai was... put off that she didn't know sooner. It's my fault," she added quickly as he was about to interrupt. "It's not like I gave you guys much notice." Her cheeks felt just the slightest bit hot. In all the ways she'd grown up over the years, curbing her impulses was not one of them.

Zuko simply shook his head. "That's just the way she is," he sighed. "If it wasn't you, she'd find something else to be put out about. Don't take it personally."

Katara wanted desperately to comment on that, but somehow managed to restrain herself. Some other time. Don't go getting into a fight with him your first night here. "It wasn't even just that - I was talking with someone over dinner who seemed surprised I was there, he said that your people have really kept to themselves over the last few years. Is that true?"

He didn't answer her question, but instead furrowed his brow. "Who did you talk to?"

"He said his name was Lieutenant Katsuzo," she told him, feeling slightly uneasy at his intensity. "Why?"

Shaking his head once more, he said quietly, "Just be careful what you say and who you talk to. Things are... tense right now."

"I know." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at him sternly. "Speaking of which, what's going on? Your uncle said you might be in some kind of danger. Is it real danger, or worried-uncle paranoia?"

Looking over his shoulder, he gestured her forward, leading her on a short walk further away from the commotion. "I won't lie to you, I-"

"Good, because you can't," she smirked.

He gave her a deadpan look, and she knew he wanted to roll his eyes at her. "It's not paranoia. My intelligence has confirmed activity of an underground Earth Kingdom faction. They're not too happy that the Fire Nation was allowed continued sovereignty, and they feel that the colony restoration isn't happening quickly enough."

"So, what, they want to force annexation back into the Earth Kingdom? So many of the colonies have more Fire Nation citizens than actual Earth Kingdom people, it's not that simple."

He nodded. "I know. Trust me, I know. But no, that's not it. Supposedly they want to take over the Fire Nation."

"They...what?" Katara was stunned. She knew there was still unrest, and she supposed she'd been pretty isolated from anything that didn't affect the Water Tribes directly, but this seemed too big for Aang not have known about. For Katara not to have known about. "Are they planning to..." her voice, already a small whisper, trailed off. She could hardly think about it.

"Assassinate me? Yes."

A small shiver ran up her spine. "How certain is your 'intelligence?' "

"Very. There's concern of infiltration into the military, possibly in the Council. I can't trust very many people right now."

"Why did you invite all of these people here then?" she asked angrily, arms gesturing around to the full courtyard. "You're walking on black ice here."

He raised his good eyebrow. "Black ice?"

"It's an expression. It's... a threat you can't see, something you don't know is there until after it's hurt you."

He nodded. "I know. It was Uncle's suggestion. Weed people out, if you will."

Katara gritted her teeth. "You should get out of here, Zuko. Leave the country for a little while. It's not safe."

His eyes flashed angrily. "And what, let my people think I'm a coward who can't handle a threat? No."

She was taken aback by that. "Do they know?"

"No. Of course not. But they will, sooner or later. And as soon as they think I'm unfit to rule, any hope for this country is lost." He closed his eyes and turned away, pensive. "I know I've made a lot of mistakes, and I'll probably keep making mistakes. But I'm not abandoning my post. My honor is all I have right now."

Katara sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe you're right. I'm just worried about you, that's all."

"I know," he said, agitated. "So is everyone else. I have guards on me twenty four- seven." There was a moment of tense silence. Pulling away from her just enough to force her hand away, he muttered, "We shouldn't talk about this here. It's not safe."

Nodding, she turned away and kept walking, leading them back towards the party. "So I saw that the gardens are closed off," she called back over her shoulder. "What's up with that?"

He sighed again, picking up his pace to catch up with her. "I know you're trying to change the subject, but..."

She felt her body tense up. "Security?" she guessed.

"Yeah." He shook his head, his long hair dancing in front of his face with the movement. "Don't tell anyone, but there's a secret entrance from the garden that goes straight to my mother's old room... which is connected to what is now my room." Katara's eyebrows raised as she processed what he was saying. "It's too risky to be exposed like that, especially with all of these..." he hesitated. "These guests."

Katara nodded sagely. "How long have they been closed? The guards told me it was being renovated."

"That's a funny way of putting it," he chuckled. "I'm sealing off the entrance, that's all. Not much of a renovation."

"Oh." She paused, unsure of where to go from there.

Fortunately, he took the lead for once. "You didn't tell me why you were coming," he said evenly, looking down at her. "I sort of expected to see Aang or your brother."

She had a momentary flashback to her conversation at dinner. I really didn't tell anyone, did I? "Sorry, Your Royal Highness, I didn't think I needed to send a lengthy scroll asking His Majesty's permission before crossing his borders," she jibed, elbowing him playfully.

"You don't! But all your letter said was - and I quote - "I'm coming over." You could have given me at least a little detail! Do you need something for your tribe?"

"No!" she scoffed, stopping in her tracks to look him square in the eye. The effect of her mock anger was thwarted by a random passerby bumping into her, caught off guard by her sudden halt. "Sorry," she murmured in their direction, biting her lip before looking up at him again. "I didn't come for money or favors, Zuko, I came to see you. And to get away from the South Pole for a little while."

"And away from your boyfriend and your family, apparently."

"He..." Katara trailed off. She hated talking about it; there was no real tactful or graceful way to go about it. With a heavy sigh, she cast her gaze down. "Aang and I broke up," she told him quietly.

She didn't see his reaction, but it took him a long moment to respond. "I'm sorry, Katara. I didn't know."

"I know you didn't. I didn't tell you. Or anyone else, really." She kicked the ground with her big toe. "I don't really want to talk about it."

"Well... what would you like to do while you're here? Did Uncle tell you about the festival?"

"Yeah. I'll definitely be there." She smiled. "There's some other stuff I want to talk to your Uncle about too. But I want to know more about what's going on outside of the Tribe. I want to find a way to contribute to the restoration. I'm hoping you can help me with that."

He grinned. "I'm sure I can find something for you to do."