Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Day 5! I apologize for the late upload. Hopefully if won't be any less enjoyable!
Soothe: to reduce pain or discomfort.
He had issued her a room next to his for her stay in the palace. Katara was astounded by the regal beauty of the room as she set down her small traveling bag. It was a shame she would only be staying for a few days in order to attend the ninth annual meeting of Nations.
Typically Zuko would give her and Aang a larger room on the lower floor, where they would be close to Sokka, Suki, and Toph. This year would be much different than those past. She padded around the room, her feet shuffling on the plush carpet, eyes wide and observant. The bed was crafted with a dark wood had red silk – silk – sheets. She pulled back the thick curtains and was nearly blinded by the brilliant setting sun. She had a perfect view as the golden orb began to fall below the horizon, casting the palace gardens in shadow.
The Water Tribe Ambassador flopped onto the bed with a huff. Her eyes fluttering closed. She had two hours before the obligatory banquet. It would be strange without Sokka and his wife Suki there, but they had opted out of the meeting of Nations as she was soon due to have her second child. It would be stranger to attend the dinner without a date for once; even worse to be forced to sit across from him.
Her heart clenched. Maybe she could ask Zuko to switch up the seating arrangements.
Katara spent the duration of the banquet picking at her plate of spicy Fire Nation cuisine. The Fire Lord gave a sentimental toast at the beginning of the feast, noting the absence of the Southern Water Tribe chief. The Avatar responded with a speech of his own, addressing the recently construction in an Earth Kingdom town. Most of the dinner guests were as jovial as always. King Bumi told his crazy stories, as always. Bosco the bear had his own seat, as always.
Maybe it was just her own dreary mood, but Katara could've sworn Zuko's lips curved into a frown whenever he didn't think he was being watched.
"Come in," came his muffled voice from the other side of the door. A set of guards were watching her silently from a few paces away. It was a bit late for the Fire Lord to have a visitor in his rooms, after all.
He wasn't surprised to see her when he looked up from his desk. Katara had a unique knock. She sat in the chair across from him, hands limp in her lap. She wore the deep blue night robes that she had found in one of the drawers in her room.
"It's late, Katara. You shouldn't be up." He had dark circles under his eyes, and his frown was even more deep-set than it was at the banquet.
"You shouldn't be, either," Katara countered. She pulled her long, unbraided hair over her shoulder.
Zuko nibbled on the end of his quill before setting it down and pushing his stack of papers aside. He opened one of the bottom desk drawers and lifted up a thin-necked bottle. "Fire whiskey?"
"Yes, please," Katara said without skipping a beat. She watched as he unscrewed the cork and produced two glasses. She barely waited long enough for him to finish pouring before she grabbed her glass off the desk and downed it. The thick liquid burned her throat, and Katara was pleased.
Zuko was quick to follow her lead. He was pouring them another round not a few seconds after the first. Katara relished in the warmness that had already cocooned her body. Stronger than arctic wine.
"Do you want to talk?"
"No." It came out harsher than she intended.
Zuko poured her another glass in silence.
"Ozai told me that he killed my mother." Zuko's eyes stared down at the glass. Katara paused in her drinking. "After all these years of asking, all these years of getting silence in return." Katara could hear his voice crack in a way she hadn't heard since they were teenagers.
"He lied," Katara said simply. She tapped her blunt nails on the side of her glass once.
Zuko lifted his head to look at her. His gaze was heavy on hers. "He killed her the night she killed Azulon. She's been dead for seventeen years, and it's my fault."
"You'll find her, Zuko," Katara murmured. "Don't blame yourself."
"She died protecting me."
"Mothers will do whatever it takes to protect their babies. I think we're both well aware of that." Katara's voice was hollow, haunted. "Another glass, please."
The bottle was already half empty.
"A part of me doesn't want her to be alive." His voice was as thick as the whiskey.
"Why?" A sip.
"I don't want her to know of all the mistakes I've made." His eyes betrayed the flood of guilt that threatened to break through the carefully constructed dams. Katara scooted her chair closer and reached for his free hand. She squeezed it tightly.
"Zuko, listen to me. You are a wonderful Fire Lord. I love you, our friends love you, and hell the whole world loves you. The first few years were a bit rough, but you have done what no one thought possible – you've brought us into a new, better era." She spoke so sincerely she could pass for being sober. "You have more than made up for past mistakes when you were young."
He squeezed her hand back, his hand shaking, and his golden orbs glassy. "Then why hasn't she come back?"
Katara choked back a sob. She hadn't notice her own vision fog up, whether it was due to the alcohol or not. She came around the desk and sat in his lap, empty glass discarded and arms forcing themselves around his waist. She let the tears trickle down as she nestled her head under his. It took him several moments to react, and then he buried his head into her hair. He hugged her fiercely, and finally allowed himself to unravel in her arms.
"I don't know, Zuko. I really don't know." Her own grievances all but faded away when she heard the Fire Lord's strangled gasp for breath.
Older, unstable Zuko and Katara sharing a less than healthy moment. They may not be able to heal, but at least they aren't alone. Tomorrow is the last day, oh my. Spark. In my entry, it is used literally. Stay tuned!