Chapter X: Fire Lord Zuko
As soon as the trail was over, Katara rushed over to her husband. "Tell me that Mai is lying and that you didn't have to do that." She said.
Aang met her gaze, concerned. "Mai wasn't lying." He said. "I did have to redirect lightning as well. But its fine, Katara. I did it without a problem. The man who taught me how made sure that I was more than ready for the test. It wouldn't have looked good for the Fire Nation if they'd let the Avatar die in a Bending initiation."
"I suppose that's true." Katara admitted. "But does the initiation have to be so deadly?"
"Yes." Aang said. "You know how dangerous Master-level Bending is. Creating lightning and redirecting it is the highest skills of Firebending, and mastering them is not without risk."
But before their conversation could continue, the new Firelord approached them, smiling broadly at them. "Aang! Lady Katara! How would you two like to join me for the banquet?"
Aang, at least, seemed surprised. "At the High Table? But, Zuko, that's reserved for you and the members of your family."
"Aang, you may be an Air Nomad and the Avatar, but you are like a member of my family." Zuko said. "You'll certainly be better company than some members of my family…" He glanced around, and Aang followed his gaze. Zuko's elder brother was all ready gone, while Azula seemed to be in a bit of a huff. "Besides, I'm the Firelord now. Who's going to tell me no?"
"How about me?" Aang asked sternly. For a moment, Zuko looked like he was going to take back his invitation, but then Aang smiled. "I'm just joking around. I'll be happy to join you."
Zuko shook his head. "You Air Nomads and your sense of humor."
"You Fire Nation citizens and seriousness." Aang countered with a smile. The two friends smiled at each other as they and their wives joined them at the High Table. Aang and Katara bowed respectfully to the former Firelord Sozin before taking their seats.
The party following the coronation of the new Firelord was a lively one. She had never seen a celebration like it, because her father had been the Chief of her tribe for as long as she could remember, and it probably would be years before Sokka was required to take his place as the leader of the tribe.
The food was delicious, if a bit too spicy for Katara's tastes. But it made sense that the Fire Nation would prefer and love the sort of food that cleared their sinuses from spice.
Katara could see, however, that the Fire Nation seemed to agree with Aang. Maybe it was because, unlike Water and Fire, Air and Fire were compatible elements, or maybe it just had to do with him being the Avatar and the fact that he lived in the Fire Nation for many months while he learned Firebending; but he helped himself to every food that did not include meat and ate even the spiciest dishes without a flinch.
As the supply of food began to dwindle and conversation picked back up, the new Firelord stood up, bowed elegantly to his wife, and began to lead her down to the center dance floor, which was instantly cleared for them.
Aang watched, smiling, as his friend led Mai through the dance. When Aang had first met Zuko, he was not much of a dancer. He was much better at handling Firebending forms than dance steps. But, with the help of Aang and Mai, he became just as good in the ballroom as any would expect a nobleman to be.
After a few dances, Zuko and Mai made their way back up to the High Table and others began to step onto the dance floor. Aang leaned closer to Katara. "Would you join me for a dance?" He asked softly.
Katara met his eyes briefly. "Okay." She said, grinning as she accepted his hand and they moved towards the dance floor. When people saw that the Avatar and his wife were taking to the dance floor, they cleared the way just as they had for Firelord Zuko and his wife. Aang smiled at Katara as he led her to the center of the floor. They turned to face each other. Aang took her right hand in his left and placed his other hand on her waist. Katara's free hand rested on his shoulder, and he began to lead her through the dance.
Up at the High Table, Azula rolled her eyes at the attention that the couple was getting. "Oh, for Agni's sake… just what is so interesting about watching the Avatar dance? It's not like we haven't seen it a hundred times before while he was living here."
"It is different." Zuko insisted, smiling as the two spun and glided across the dance floor, gazing into each other's eyes. "This is the first time he's danced with someone he's cared about." This was met with another eye roll from Azula.
Zuko sighed and turned his attention away from his sister. He was not in the mood for dealing with her. Azula had a way of tearing everything down, and he did not want the same fate to befall his good mood. Instead, he turned his attention to his wife.
People often said that they couldn't see what he saw in her. 'Emotionally stunted' would be an understatement about how she presented herself to the world. But that was just one of the many qualities that he adored about her. Being married to someone who was emotionally stunted worked out great when you were emotionally stunted yourself. They could sit back and laugh at the poor fools who let their fickle hearts rule them. Because of their introverted natures, they knew their own hearts and knew that they had a lasting love. Mai was the love of his life, of that there was no doubt.
And, watching Aang and Katara dance, they knew that they were a great married couple for the same reason, but in reverse. They were extroverts, and they wore their hearts on their sleeves. Anyone who looked at them could see just how deep their feelings for each other were. In fact, Zuko felt confident in calling it 'love', even if they could not see it themselves.
"You can see it too, can't you?" Zuko whispered to Mai.
"You'd have to be blind to miss it." Mai replied.
They exchanged small smirks. There was no doubt. Zuko and Mai both saw how in love with each other they were.
Down on the dance floor, Aang and Katara had drifted closer together without even realizing it. They had been dancing a proper waltz one moment, and the next their bodies were pressed so close together that there was not the tiniest amount of space between the two of them.
The fact vaguely registered in Katara's mind because she was too absorbed in him. She was still as captivated by his eyes as she was on the first day they met. Silver, and just as alluring to gaze at and just as precious to her as the metal. They spun in circles around each other, but Katara did not feel dizzy because Aang's face was the only thing she could see and it was steady and stable in her eyes.
It was at the moment when Katara realized that they only thing that she could see, hear, smell, or touch was Aang that her heart jolted with the shocking realization.
She loved him. She had not known him for very long, but he had never put up a front for her. She saw him as he truly was: a young man burdened by the troubles of the whole world, but willing to bear those burdens because of his unfathomable love of others. He gave her the sort of freedom that most Water Tribe brides could not imagine in their marriage. She could not imagine a man in her tribe pushing off consummating their relationship because they were not in love yet. He respected her, cared for her, and was always considerate of her feelings.
She loved him!
The thought was scary and liberating at the same time. It was liberating because love was the best thing that could have happened to her marriage. But it was scary at the same time because with great love comes great fear: the fear that she would lose him, especially to his duty. She quickly stamped out the thought. It would do her no good to worry about the future. In the end, one would have to lose the other: either she would die first or he would die first. Odds were that they would not enter the Spirit World together, so there was no point dwelling on it.
Her sudden realization froze her legs, stopping their dance in its tracks. "Katara?" Aang whispered to her, concerned. But his question died in his throat as she met his eyes. The passion that he saw in her eyes took his breath away. "Katara…" He repeated, but more of a whisper to savor the sound of her name this time.
On the dance floor, in full view of everyone, but without a care for those onlookers, their lips met in soft kiss. They parted briefly and then just as quickly pressed their lips together again. Aang wrapped his arms around her back and waist, holding her close as their mouths moved against each other's passionately. They remained in this way for over a minute and would have engaged in their passion longer if it were not for Zuko.
Zuko saw what was happening and knew that Aang would be embarrassed if someone let him make a spectacle of himself for much longer. So he quickly excused himself from Mai's side, walked up to the kissing couple, and tapped on Aang's shoulder.
The young couple sprang apart, both of them coming to the realization that they'd just had a pretty intense make out in the middle of the dance floor. Aang cleared his throat, his face burning red. "Thanks, Zuko." He whispered to the Firelord.
"Hey, not a problem at all. I know that you would do the same for me." Zuko said, waving off their blushes. He escorted them off the dance floor, but before they could make their way back up to the High Table, Zuko stopped them in their tracks. "Hey." He said seriously, putting a hand on Aang's shoulder. "I get it. I know better than anyone how annoying and stuffy their balls can feel when you just want some alone time with your wife." These words caused the couple to blush harder. "I won't think any less of you if you took your leave now."
"Zuko, what…?" Aang began, confused.
"I'm just putting it out there." Zuko said with a smile as he made his way back up to the High Table without them.
For a while, the couple hardly moved, but then Katara turned towards Aang. "Aang, can I speak to you, privately?" She asked.
"Yes, of course." Aang replied, taking her hand and leading her out of the ballroom and through the palace corridors. They walked in silence for a while until they came upon the palace gardens. It was a beautiful place with well-cared-for lawns, shady trees, fountains and water features with turtle-ducks. And, the best part of all, there was no one else there.
They moved out into the garden together, Katara leading the way towards the turtle-duck pond. In the early evening, the turtle-ducks were beginning to bed down for the night. They watched as a mother turtle-duck carefully counted her little offspring as they settled within the nest, touching each other with the tip of her beak.
Katara looked up into his face as he watched the mother turtle-duck. He was wearing a soft smile that melted her heart. He loved everything, every living thing; just one of the qualities that she adored about him.
Katara took a breath and whispered, "Aang?"
Aang turned his eyes away from the turtle-duck and onto her. "Yes, Katara? What did you want to talk about?"
She turned to face him, and took his hands in hers. "I know… that we haven't been married for very long." Katara began, smiling up at him. "But, I've wanted you to know that these last few weeks have been some of the best in my life."
Aang's smile widened. "Katara…"
"You've made me feel more alive than I ever thought possible. If I had not been chosen to marry you, I would have been married to some Water Tribe man and would have spent the rest of my life trapped in a land of ice and snow. And… that life wouldn't have been so bad. The South Pole is the place of my birth and I will always love it. But, I've come to realize, that I love seeing the world with you more." She was smiling so widely now that little tears of happiness were running down her cheeks. "I love being with you more than I love the South Pole. What I'm trying to say, Aang, is that… I love you." Katara finished with a small happy sob.
"Katara…" Aang whispered, pulling her into an embrace. Katara buried her face into his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his back and returned his embrace. "My time with you has been beyond amazing. When I first learned that I was the Avatar and that my bride had been picked for me, I… resented it. I saw it as one of the many looses of freedom that I would have to suffer as the Avatar. But… after meeting you and getting to know you… I've come to realize that if I had a choice, I would pick you of my own free will." He ran his fingers through her hair and she pulled away from him to gaze into his eyes. "I love you too, Katara." Aang whispered to her.
Now they were both smiling widely and crying tears of joy. They pulled each other into another kiss, both of them savoring the feeling of getting their love out in the open and clearing the emotional haze that hung around them since the day of their meeting.
Things could not have turned out any better. They were in love!
Some distance away in the shadows, a slight figure watched the couple engage in their passions.
The figure smiled. This person had been trying to think of a plan to distract the Avatar for months now, and now he was handing the perfect distracting to them on a silver platter. Everything was in order now. Things could not have turned out any better.