The Firelord stepped off the ship and into the cold winter sun. Holding back the urge to bend heat into his body, he walked forward to meet the group of old friends on the snowy land. His guards surrounded him, two in front and two in back. The Southern Water Tribe didn't have much of a problem with him after he had joined two natives during the Hundred Year War, but that did not mean that everyone would be amicable. He still had many that deemed themselves his enemy, that they would be the one to bring him down. Going to a celebration far away from his homeland did not mean that he was safe; if anything, he was more worried because everyone he cared about was close by. They could be held as hostages, and he knew that some of those that continued to threaten him would not care for money; they wanted to see the pain in his eyes as the people he cared for were murdered.
The group rushed forward to pull him into big bear hugs. Katara stayed back and held onto Toph's arm, guiding her through the snow. Aang held Zuko tightly, Sokka gave him a noogie, Suki patted his shoulder, Taru wore an awkward expression, Toph slapped his back, and Katara started rigid, but relaxed against him. They all herded him away from the shore and to the village, where Hakoda, Gran-Gran, and Paku were standing. The older generation bowed politely to him, but the Firelord walked forward and took each into an embrace, surprising them profoundly. Hakoda laughed heartily and put his arm around the young man's shoulders, leading him to his home for lunch.
Inside, already eating, were Mai, Ty Lee, his sister, and Uncle Iroh. Even in a completely different environment, they maintained their personal senses of style. Mai wore only black, her slenderness hidden by the padding and insulation. Her hair was down in an attempt to ward off the cold that clung to her ears and neck. Ty Lee was in perky pink, her feet bare despite the chill in the room, and Azula wore red, orange, and black, her hair up with her Fire Princess crown firmly in place, maintaining her heritage and status in a land that did not believe in nobility. Iroh simply wore more layers under his regular garb, and a hat to keep the warmth in.
When they looked up to him, the women dropped their bowls and went to him, their meal forgotten. Iroh stuffed a few more spoonfuls into his mouth before following. Ty Lee cart wheeled her way over and threw her arms around his waist, laughing. Mai and Azula were trying to regain their stately appearances, walking calmly side by side, holding each other, their arms linked. His girlfriend stood in front of him, smiling and asking how his voyage went. She took his hand and looked up into his eyes, one of her own covered by some out of place strands. He smoothed them away, fixing it behind her ear. They whispered quietly to each other, no one else able to hear. After a moment, he looked to Azula, and Mai moved to stand beside him.
"How do you like the Southern Water Tribe?" he asked.
She nodded her head side to side, her eyes looking up and to the right. "It isn't anything like the capital, but it isn't too terrible. Except for maybe the snow." The princess wrinkled her nose as if she smelled something rotten.
Ty Lee laughed. "She tried to melt it all down, but when it started to freeze again, she gave up."
Azula scowled at her friend. "I'd never seen snow before," she said, defending herself.
Uncle Iroh clapped her on the shoulder. "It is quite a sight. I remember the first time I came here with Zuko and-well, heh heh, maybe that's a story that should be kept in the past." He smiled warmly at his nephew and embraced him.
"You're right, that's in the past. Now let's all eat," Hakoda said, trying to get the group off of the touchy topic.
Sokka let out a whoop and sat down eagerly, serving himself large portions and smiling joyously. He looked up to everyone, still with a smile. "If no one else gets over here, I'm gonna eat it all myself and then Suki will get mad. Help a guy out."
The group moved to the large table and took their places. Hakoda took one head of the table, and pressured Zuko until he agreed to take the other. Suki plopped down by her husband, with Gran-Gran and Paku across from them. The earthbenders sat together, Iroh across from Toph, Ty Lee across from Taru. She batted her eyelashes at him flirtingly, and his cheeks darkened as he coughed and started piling food onto his plate. Aang sat next to Taru, across from Mai, which left Katara between beside Zuko, and awkwardly across from Princess Azula.
The Fire Nation women stayed firmly away from the sea prunes. Ty Lee tried a bite, but decided she didn't like the texture, and gave it to Iroh. He and Zuko ate the same amount as those of the Water Tribe did.
Suki frowned and shook her head when the dish came her way. "I'm sorry, Sokka, but that is one thing I don't think I'll ever be able to enjoy."
He smiled and kissed her cheek. "As long as you don't try to feed us to the Unagi again."
She stuck her tongue out at him and passed the bowl to Hakoda, who put a heaping helping on his plate. The sea prunes ended at Paku. He looked up and asked them all, "Does anyone want more? Otherwise I'm eating the rest. No? Good." The waterbending master didn't allow Sokka the chance to respond, and dumped the rest on his plate, smiling widely at his new grandson. The warrior's face fell and he sat back on his cushion, sadly poking at the feast on his plate.
Zuko ate quietly as Mai talked around Azula about what the three women had done the past week. Ty Lee taught some of the children how to do somersaults and cartwheels, and others that were more flexible and steady were allowed to walk on a tightrope. Katara had advised that the rope be close to the ground, in case they fell off. A boy and two girls had done so well and were so interested in Ty Lee, that they began following her around everywhere, asking her for tips and help when they practiced. The contortionist and acrobat joked that she might bring them to the Fire Nation so she could start her own circus.
Azula had practiced her bending alone, far away from the people of the tribe. She wouldn't admit that she was afraid of their possible reactions, but whenever anyone came within view, she would sit down and pretend to meditate. Mai knew better, though; patience was not the princess' strong point. Sometimes she would cast off her clothes and plunge naked into the icy water, in order to escape onlookers. She didn't complain about the cold when she got out, only dried herself off with her bending, put her clothes back on, and trudged uphill to the chief's home, where no one would ask her questions like, "Why did you follow Ozai?" or "Why did you try to burn Katara?" Children asked the last question most, with angry eyes and sassy pouts. Sometimes an elder would scold her and turn away without a word. If there was anything Azula hated, it was pity, and that was something she was sure wasn't getting here.
Mai played idly with her knives, watched Katara and her grandmother cook, watched Sokka, his father, Paku, and Aang work on the hut he and Katara would be living in after the wedding. As she was explaining this, Aang jumped in and started telling her about the simple architecture and how they were blending in Air Nomad elements to make it feel like home to both of them. Mai listened to him casually, sometimes making a comment, but mostly letting the Avatar talk for the sake of talking.
Katara looked to Zuko, who now had his attention solely on his meal. "I heard there have been a lot of attempts lately. Are you doing okay?" She avoided saying "murder" or "assassination," in case someone else overheard and ran with it, making it the main conversation.
He shrugged. "It's pretty infuriating, but there's not much I can do about it. I try to get on as normally as possible." If he looked at her, he was sure he would break, so he continued to stare at his plate of seaprunes and rice. He was ready to throw the sesaprunes at Sokka, but he ate them. Maybe his disgust of their cuisine would make his feelings disappear. He thought seeing Katara might quiet them, but they only flared at the fuel that was given. Desire, lust, longing, they choked him and threatened to end his life, but he repressed it until apathy was all he showed her. Any amount of affection would undo him.
"Is something else bothering you? You're acting like a miffed lion-turtle." She gently placed her hand on top off his.
Affection like that. He jumped from his seat and caught the attention of everyone. "I forgot I have some important papers I needed to sign before we landed. Please continue without me." He bowed to them and left the hut quickly.
Iroh patted his belly and stood up. "I think I'll go keep him company. I've eaten more than enough in one sitting." He smiled and bowed his way out while the rest looked off in confusion.
Azula looked up to Katara, and leaned forward. "He likes you, you know," she whispered.
She sat back in shock.
The princess shrugged and ate a mouthful of rice and vegetables. "Zuzu used to always say that I lie, but I don't. I mean, sometimes I do, but that's only to get what I want. If it's about how someone feels, I don't. Father always liked me better because I took to firebending quicker. Mother liked him better because he was more sensitive. Uncle likes him better because he was 'abandoned.'" Her eyebrows pulled down into a scowl. "Just because I wasn't banished doesn't mean I didn't lose something." She ate in silence for the rest of the meal and went off on her own.
Aang had to shake Katara a few times before she looked at him. "What was that all about?" he asked.
She played with the food on her plate. "She apologized for what happened at the end of the war."
Author's note: How do you feel about Azula in this chapter? I tried to envision her in control of her mental illnesses, but with her same, direct personality.
