Part Two: Zuko

1 – Tea & Other Affairs

Zuko understood the need for ceremony and thought himself fortunate for it because if he'd found it a useless exercise, he would be spending most of his time beating his head against a brick wall. His uncle had once said that being Fire Lord was part elephant-whale crap, part getting his ego petted, and two parts ceremony, and Zuko wasn't so sure that the description was an exaggeration. On regular days, it took his valets an hour to dress him, but on special occasions, depending on the occasion, it could take up to three or four hours. However, he learned to appreciate those times for the few moments of peace he got. The valets worked in silence and he guessed they'd figured out he wasn't one to converse when he usually answered them in monosyllabic words or grunts.

Then, there were other ceremonies that were less pleasant. Listening to his councilors gripe, giving edicts, overseeing festivals and special holidays were more exciting for his subjects than they were for him. He had to keep his expression blank, keep his chin up, and make sure his posture was perfectly straight even as those around him laughed, talked, and enjoyed the events. He wasn't so sure if he would act differently if given the chance, but he would have liked to have had the choice.

Still, the mantle of Fire Lord suited him, and overseeing ceremonies and holding up traditions were the easiest things he had to do. As he led the way to the tea room with two guards flanking him, he calculated the appropriate amount of time he should give the new Earth Kingdom representative before returning to his work. He was obliged to meet with high-ranking foreign officials but their rank decided just how much time he'd spend with them. He sat down to dinner with ambassadors and visiting dignitaries while he merely exchanged a few words of welcome with their assistants and deputies. Haru fell somewhere in between those two ranks and so Zuko's schedulers arranged a tea ceremony to welcome him to the Fire Nation.

Zuko hadn't had a chance to speak with Katara since she'd met Haru the day before, but judging by the way the women in the palace seemed to be fluttering around in anticipation of the Earthbender coming to tea, he wasn't sure if he wanted to talk to her. The report he'd requested on Haru and Katara hadn't arrived, so Zuko had waylaid the maid who'd brought his tea in that morning. Between giggles and blushes that made him want to banish the woman to the North Pole, Zuko learned that the man was considered the most eligible bachelor in the Earth Kingdom but never took advantage of that title—which only made him more attractive to women not only there, but the world over. From the way Katara had reacted to hearing he was coming, Zuko was sure she wasn't immune to his...charms. On top of that, Haru was smart and ambitious enough to rise through the political ranks quickly enough to get such a prestigious position after such a short time; for a man with a humble background, it was nearly unheard of.

The two attendants at the tea room doors slid them open at the sight of him and Zuko swept through. His eyes narrowed when he saw Katara and Haru both straighten, stopping what looked to be a very lively conversation that had them leaning over the small table in the center of the anteroom. The wide smile on Katara's face faded at the look on Zuko's. They stood and when Zuko stopped at the table, they bowed. He returned them with a cursory nod.

"I am honored to be your invited guest today, Fire Lord Zuko," Haru said warmly, and the earnestness he heard there made Zuko's defenses go up.

"I hope you'll find your stay in the Fire Nation a rewarding on," Zuko said and he sat down on the wide red cushion at his feet.

Katara and Haru followed suit. Zuko could feel Katara's eyes on him but he kept his gaze on the Earthbender. Olive green eyes met his boldly but not without respect.

"You must be very busy these days, Lord Zuko," Haru began. "If the Earth Kingdom can offer any assistance, please do not hesitate to ask."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but the Fire Nation has control over its affairs," Zuko said. "Thank you."

Zuko sat silently as the tea master Lady Aizi arrived. Dressed in the heavy traditional robes that were required of her station, the older woman bowed to them and in low, melodic tones invited them to enter the main tea room. Zuko stood and started to lead the way, but then he remembered to offer his hand to Katara. He had to fight not to glare at her when he saw that her hand was already in the crook of Haru's elbow. She smiled angelically at him and replaced her hand onto his arm.

The main tea room was pleasantly warm and was brighter than the rest of the palace in that the floor was made up of large yellow straw mats and the walls mere rice paper screens. The décor was made up of a calligraphy scroll hanging in a nook and a simple flower arrangement. Lady Aizi gestured for them to take their positions on the mats with Zuko sitting closest to the tea master, Katara next to him and Haru across from them both.

If he had to choose his favorite ceremony, Zuko would have said this was it. It was only in a tea ceremony could he allow himself to relax because, for most of it, there was only silence as the tea master prepared the large bowls of thick green tea that they were to drink. Tea ceremonies lasted an hour at most and he appreciated that he only had to converse with his guest for a half hour. At that point, he was usually relaxed enough to be more talkative than usual and if there was nothing to talk about, there was always discussion about the ceremony itself.

During those discussions, he could easily turn his brain off and rattle off the usual comments he made in such situations: how bitter the tea was, how delicious the cakes, how beautifully and gracefully Lady Aizi had poured the water from the urn to the bowls. He had to wonder if the tea master found it amusing that she heard the same things coming out of the Fire Lord's mouth. In a nutshell, Zuko was glad that he'd participated in enough tea ceremonies to go through the motions without thinking but he remembered that Katara had only been involved in one or two since she'd become his wife.

He glanced sideways at her and saw that she was holding herself up stiffly, her eyes unblinking. He recognized that look, guessing that she was trying to remember what she was supposed to do and Zuko had to stop himself from grinning. She squirmed slightly and he was sure her feet had fallen asleep from kneeling for so long. At least he and Haru could sit cross-legged, but it was inappropriate for her to do the same. He was sure he'd hear about it later on.

If there was one thing he could say about his wife, it was that she was opinionated. To her credit, she didn't always share her opinions with people. In fact, the staff in the palace had a great deal of respect for his new Lady even though they had been reserved at first due to her origins, but Katara had dealt with the problems that had arisen with a strong, but kind hand even if afterwards, she yelled his ear off about how barbaric Fire Nation citizens could be. She was the only person he knew who could deal punishment with a smile, and leave the offending party with the feeling that he or she had been dealt with fairly. He didn't care either way how his subordinates felt, but it was interesting to see how she had come to deal with life here.

Tea ceremonies aside, that is.

Katara continued to squirm and he shot her a look, warning her to stay still. She returned it with an understated but fierce glare that made her blue eyes shoot fire at him. He merely stared back at her and she looked away, mumbling something under her breath. She glanced over at Haru and Zuko saw the other man give her a small smile, which she returned. To Zuko's irritation, she even stopped squirming.

Zuko waited for himself to relax, for his shoulders to lower and his hands to unclench where they rested on his knees but he was just as tense as he was when he walked through the doors. When Lady Aizi began to scoop the powdery green tea into the first bowl, he waited for the sound of the tea whisk brushing against the side of the bowl to lull him but instead it annoyed him. He was aware that Haru switched his attention from the tea master to Katara, and was distinctly uncomfortable with Zuko's presence. Zuko hoped it was because he was intimidated.

When they were served their tea and cakes, Lady Aizi finally stood and bowed to them.

"Please, enjoy yourselves," she said. "If you have need for anything, do not hesitate to ask me."

They thanked her and she discreetly disappeared into a small back room. Katara immediately leaned over to one side to ease the pressure off her legs. She let out a gusty sigh that had they been alone, Zuko would have made fun of her for, but this time he had to keep a tight lid on the anger that was threatening to bubble over when Haru grinned at her.

"Are you alright, Lady Katara?" he asked.

"I'm not used to sitting like that for long periods of time," she explained. "You'll have to excuse me."

"I don't mind in the least. The tea is quite smooth and the cakes are delicious, don't you think, Lord Zuko?"

"I do."

Haru blinked at the curt answer. He cleared his throat and his eyes darted back to Katara. The grip Zuko had on his bowl tightened and he put it down to prevent causing it any damage. He was sure it was older than his uncle.

"Lady Aizi has been the Fire Palace's tea master for the last twenty years," Katara said, glancing at Zuko. "Isn't that right?"

"Yes, that's right."

Katara's smile tightened.

"The Fire Lord enjoys the tea ceremony and appreciates the serenity it gives to its participants," she tried again.

Zuko took a deep breath. He heard the warning in her tone and realized he was acting like a child. He straightened and lasered a look at Haru.

"Have you participated in a tea ceremony before, Haru?" he asked, the words coming out stiffly.

Haru visibly brightened. "Yes, I have. Several actually, but the Fire Nation style is different from what I'm used to."

"How's that?"

Zuko listened to the man rattle off specific details that he reluctantly found impressive. Haru appeared to be something of a connoisseur and in different circumstances, Zuko would have enjoyed the discussion. It was just that he could see Katara's almost unblinking gaze on Haru's face, her expression interested even though Zuko knew that she found tea ceremonies pointlessly exhausting.

Keeping one eye on her and another on Haru, Zuko effortlessly kept the conversation going with his stock phrases. Once or twice, he caught himself paying attention to Haru's words and giving him a thoughtful answer, but he quickly put a stop to that. He did see how the man managed to get to where he was; Haru had a genuinely enthusiastic way about him that was very engaging. From a purely political standpoint, he was an excellent choice for the cultural exchange liaison. The perfect choice, in fact.

Zuko made a mental note to put two rather than one shadow on him.

When their thirty minutes was up, Zuko stood. He held out a hand and helped Katara to her feet. She looked up at him, a question in her eyes, but he averted his gaze. He had plenty he wanted to say to her, but this was neither the time nor the place. Lady Aizi returned with a maid who cleared their bowls and plates. The tea master led them back out to the main room where they exchanged bows and gratitude for hosting them.

"I enjoyed that very much, Fire Lord," Haru said when she left them. "Thank you again for inviting me."

"It was my pleasure. I hope to see you again soon, Haru. Lady Katara will see you out."

Zuko left them, but not before he heard Katara's gentle laugh blend with Haru's. He didn't dare indulge the notion that they were laughing at his expense. With brisk strides, went back to his study. He threw the doors open in a show of temper and shot a fireball at the fire place, igniting the wood. It took him a moment to realize that his uncle was sitting across from his desk.

"Nice visit?" Iroh asked, bemused.

"I want two of your best people on the Earthbender," Zuko ordered. "There's something about him that doesn't sit right with me."

"I met him this morning. He seemed perfectly nice," Iroh said and then he smiled knowingly. "And that is what bothers you, isn't it, my nephew?"

"No one is that nice or perfect," Zuko confirmed gruffly.

"Your wife seems to be."

"She's only that nice to you and the children—appropriate, since the three of you are a lot alike," Zuko retorted. "Haru is too smart to be a mere liaison and the Earth Kingdom is becoming bold if they think they can put someone like him in a high-profile position. It's not acceptable."

"Tread lightly."

"Don't I always?"

Iroh smiled and Zuko rolled his eyes.

"If you'll permit me to make a suggestion," Iroh began.

"Since when did you need my permission to talk?"

"I'll take that as a 'yes'. Katara seems to know him very well and she might be able to offer some insight into this theory of yours."

"I'll talk to her at the first opportunity," Zuko said stiffly.

"Did you two have another fight?" Iroh asked, eyebrows arched. "Things were going so well..."

"No. We're fine. Was there something you wanted since you were waiting for me?" Zuko demanded brusquely.

"A new report came in today from one of the teams I've placed in the northern regions of the Earth Kingdom," Iroh answered after a beat of silence and Zuko thanked whoever was overlooking his fate that his uncle wasn't going to pry into his business...this time.

Zuko froze.

"It seems your sister..."

"Azula," Zuko interrupted with a frown.

"Yes," Iroh said with an apologetic nod. "It seems Azula was seen in a small town buying supplies. They didn't know who she was, but some shopkeepers remember her because she paid with Fire Nation coin."

"What did she buy?"

"Food and passage on a caravan heading for Omashu. I have the closest team going there now to make sure her trail does not go cold," Iroh said.

"Excellent."

Iroh stood. "Oh, I am sure you will be happy to learn that Maiko's Firebending teacher has elevated her a level today."

Zuko smiled for the first time that day. "That's good news. She must be pleased."

"As pleased as a four year old can be."

"I'll be in to see her later today. Thank you, Uncle."

Iroh left and Zuko sat down at his desk. He didn't know how Sokka got his information but he hoped that the other man acted fast. Knowing how quickly his uncle's teams could act given the proper information, Zuko knew their time was now limited. Part of him hoped Azula could keep running for a little longer so that Sokka could get to her first.

In the meantime, he had other problems to deal with. He wished, not for the first time since this whole debacle started, that he could switch places with Sokka. He preferred hunting and fighting to this playing referee to the constant in-fighting between his councilors...or worrying about newcomers who were potential lawbreakers in his territory.

Gritting his teeth, Zuko got to work.