Ha. Who saw the Taang coming? I wasn't even sure initially if I would put it in, but there it is.
Thanks for all the reviews, everyone! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far.
Chapter 9
Aang was flabbergasted. Zuko was leaving? Just like that? The dark-haired, golden-eyed Fire Lord sat at Aang's left at the large, round, wooden table the Earth Kingdom had provided for negotiations, and seemed to be in a hurry to nail down dates.
"I say again, I must be in my ship within the hour. Can't we all agree on something with a little more speed?" Zuko's fingers tapped against the varnished tabletop. One of the Water Tribe representatives made a sound of annoyance.
"Excuse us, Fire Lord, but we all have places to be. Ordering us around won't make anything go faster." Zuko looked up and held the eyes of grizzled Hakoda, the gruff Water Tribe general, and seemed to be about to retaliate, but instead he sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"I wasn't ordering you, Representative Hakoda. I was merely suggesting-"
"That your time is more important than mine, yes?" Aang decided to intervene before the conversation became more heated.
"Friends, we are all in a hurry, here. We are all tired, and we all want to return to our homes. Let us decide on a date so that we can do that. Who said the month of harvest wouldn't work for them?"
"The month of harvest for the Earth Kingdom, or the Water Tribe?" A tall, thin woman with a simple, green garment spoke up.
"Again, Lady Retsu, we have all agreed to use the Earth Kingdom calendar for our negotiations to avoid confusion. Who disagreed with that date?"
There were some mutterings and murmurs, but no one spoke up. Aang sighed. "If no one speaks up, I am declaring the date. Any opposed?" A couple coughs, some shuffling feet, but no one spoke. "Very well. This council has agreed that the second wave of Reconstruction negotiations will commence one month from now, on the first day of Earth Kingdom harvest, in this room." He stood, ending the meeting. Zuko took the opportunity to stand himself and was about to leave the room when Aang waylaid him.
"Just why are you leaving for the Fire Nation in such a hurry?" Aang followed Zuko out into the corridor. "You get tired of your friends quite quickly these days." Aang folded his hands into his sleeves, the picture of calm. Zuko raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat provoked at the question, but didn't raise his voice when he answered. He's grown a bit over the years, Aang thought.
"I have to report to my cabinet. Even taking these few days to attend Sokka's wedding was a stretch of my time. Fire Nation royals are very impatient people."
"Oh, come on, Zuko, we both know you aren't the type of Fire Lord to kowtow to your subordinates." Zuko frowned.
"Yes, but I don't want to ignore their desires. If the Fire Nation is ever going to remove itself from my father's shadow, it will have to learn to be more…diplomatic. Not just internationally, but intra-nationally, as well." Aang took it back. Zuko had grown a lot.
"Well, I see your point, but are you sure there isn't another reason for this early departure? You could at least wait a few hours, say goodbye to everyone." Zuko gave Aang a sidelong look and paused at the door to the courtyard.
"You would know if there was a reason." And he walked outside, leaving a very confused Avatar behind.
I would know IF? Does that mean there IS a reason, and I should know what it is? Does it involve me? Or does he mean that there isn't a reason and he would tell me if there were? This is what Aang would have thought had Toph not popped up right then and asked Aang what the negotiation date was. He pulled a hand from his sleeves and adjusted her headband, which had fallen askew over her bangs.
"Weren't you supposed to be at the meeting?"
"Don't get your arrow in a twist." She held her fist out to where she thought his head was and he bowed his forehead so she could give him a soft punch. "Got to chatting with Katara, no biggie. I knew you could handle it on your own."
"Thank you for your faith in me," Aang quipped.
"Ooh, the little Avatar has learned the art of sarcasm!" Toph grinned. "What were you talking to Zuko about? He seems all antsy."
"Antsy?" Maybe there was a reason…
"And why is he in such a hurry? He's almost running."
"He has to pack. He said he's leaving within the hour." Toph frowned.
"Oh, NO he DIDN'T." She took off running in the opposite direction from Zuko. Aang just looked at her receding back in confusion. He still didn't understand her. Maybe after a few more years. That thought had him smiling to himself as he headed to his room.
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Zuko climbed onto his airship, enjoying the feel of the unsteady deck under his feet. He ran a hand through his shaggy, black hair, knowing that soon it would be tied back and adorned with the small, golden Fire Nation crown. He was less formal than his father had been, but he knew he had to maintain some of the traditions to keep his people happy.
"How is our fuel?"
"Almost done filling, sir. The last of the kerosene containers are being carried on that wagon over there." Zuko looked away from Lt. Noki to the street, where a small wagon was trundling towards the airship dock, loaded with large ceramic jars. Good. Once these were loaded, they could be off.
His gaze moved up past the dock shops to the tall dome of the temple that shadowed the city square. He remembered azure eyes gazing up at him, small hands gripping his sash. What had those eyes been? Hopeful. Why? Had she simply wanted to talk to him, as a friend? Had she wanted to ask him something? Or had she been about to reveal something to him?
But she had looked so happy with Aang only minutes earlier. He couldn't handle being around her if she was still dating the airbender. It was best that he just leave without talking to her. Even as he thought it he was ashamed at his own cowardice. Think of it: Zuko, the Fire Lord, afraid to talk to Katara in case she was in love with someone else.
Then again, he really did need to get back to the Fire Nation. He didn't want his council to think they could start running the country on their own. His cowardly motive was secondary. But it was still a motive.
Zuko gripped the railing and looked out over the city, the morning market starting to fill with more and more buyers. He was so absorbed in his own thoughts that he didn't hear light footsteps sneak up behind him.
He did feel the huge ball of water that collapsed on top of his head. He dropped his hands to his sides and shook his head, sending drops of water flying in all directions, and slowly turned to the waterbending woman he knew was behind him. "And what was that for, waterbender?"
"Oh, we're back to waterbender now, huh, Zuko?" On that she bent some of the excess water that had dripped to the deck back up into his face. He wiped his eyes and glared at her.
"Is this about last night?" Another splash of water.
"Guess again, Fire Lord."
"I-" Splash. "I was-" Splish splash. He growled then, shook his head and took up a firebending stance, light yellow flames licking up his open hand as he gestured towards her.
"Okay, that's it. You want to fight me, you got me." He waited in anticipation of her first move. Instead of striking, she glared at him and dropped her hands.
"Why are you leaving without saying goodbye?" The fire dissipated, and Zuko's mouth dropped open.
"I'm not-" She raised an eyebrow and he paused. "Okay, so I didn't say goodbye to you. But…you had school, right? I couldn't just burst into one of your classes and-"
"I don't TEACH any classes, Zuko. You would know that if you had bothered to TALK to me instead of suddenly leaving in the middle of our conversation last night!"
"General Wu's wife-"
"General Wu's wife has been dead for fifteen years. You could've at least bothered to come up with a cleverer lie." Zuko opened his mouth to say something but Katara shook her head. "Look, whatever." She crossed her arms and looked out at the street. Zuko bowed his head forward slightly, looking up at her in consideration. He almost tried to say something about how he had to get back to report to his cabinet but he knew that probably wasn't a good idea. Katara was now biting her lower lip and bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet, almost impatiently. She was waiting for him to speak.
"Why don't you teach any classes?" Katara turned her head toward him then, looking slightly surprised.
"Sir, the kerosene is loaded. We're ready to leave on your orders." Zuko held up a hand and the petty officer bowed, walking back to the opposite side of the deck. Zuko kept his eyes trained on Katara's face. She paused before answering.
"Master Pakku made me a master waterbender. I wanted to do the same for other benders. And…not bending sucks." Zuko smiled softly.
"Sounds like a perfect job for you." Katara pursed her lips.
"It would be if I had anyone to teach."
"You will. I'm sure of it." Katara's foot tapped faster and she glared at him.
"Ugh, why can't you let me just stay MAD at you?" In one fluid motion she collected the water at Zuko's feet into a sphere. He thought she might have thrown it at him again, but instead she looped it into a long string and spun it into a leather pouch that hung at her hip. "I'll forgive you this time, Fire Lord, but only on the condition that you actually write me this time." She walked forward and pressed a finger into his chest. He smelled coriander and cumin. Had she been cooking? "Got that? I'd better have a letter on my desk within a week."
"A week? That's not really-"
"No complaining or the forgiveness is removed." She gave him one final glare before flinging her long, loose hair from her shoulders and moving with purpose down the ramp to the street. Zuko smiled at the space she had been in before moving to the railing and leaning against it.
"Katara!" She turned and looked up at the airship, shading her eyes from the sun.
"Yes, oh almighty Fire Lord?" She curtsied slightly.
"You upbraid me for not saying goodbye, and you leave without hearing it?" He tsked, shaking his head. "You're losing your touch, waterbender."
She put a hand on her hip and squinted at him. "Well, let's hear it, then."
"Goodbye, Katara."
She nodded and turned around, walking down the street without saying a word. He shook his head and smirked. Typical.
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Of course I wouldn't make it that easy for them. Conflict makes a story. Plus writing letters from Zuko to Katara is just plain fun. I've already written the first one. :)
Again, there may be a bit of a delay before the next chapter, because I may or may not have internet this weekend. My apologies if you are waiting with bated breath. It will arrive, I promise!
