Summary:
After the betrayal of Jet, a polished rogue in the King's Guard, Katara of the Watertribe refuses the affection and offer of any man. Due to rising rebellion in the Earth Kingdom's Island Colonies, and its capital of Ba Sing Se, Chief Hakoda strives to protect his daughter and his people's way of life. Firelord Iroh pushes his nephew to marry Katara, whilst they struggle to have nothing to do with the other. Meanwhile Jet comes to win Katara to find an angry Waterbending Master, that refuses his lies and casts his true self into the light in the high society of the Earth Kingdom. Humiliated he seeks his revenge on not only his parent's murderers, but the country of their origin, and a prize he failed to gain, a blue eyed waterbender called Katara.
A.N
Sorry. I meant this to be up yesterday. But I fell asleep. Then I meant to finish it and post it today, after my morning class. I fell asleep. But here it is! An-All-ZuZu chapter. I know there's not any action in this, but I felt it was needed to move along the plot without leaving you readers in the dark. I feel prettybadly about this chapter. I think it's a failure. But what do I know? Tell me what YOU think. That's what matters. The Southern Raiders airs tommorow!! Can't wait. Don't spoil me when you see it. Questions welcomed. REVIEW!!
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Disclaimer: I do not own avatar, nor do I make any profit from this story
Arc III
Rating: T
Chapter 29: The fragile little bully
Zuko
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Zuko paced easily along the deck of the ship.
Katara was asleep in their quarters, as he suspected the others were. It hadn't taken much to convince them to join him and Katara for the journey back to the Fire Nation. The only hesitance had been from Sokka, who had called for a grudging true and then threatened him a thousand times over the care of Katara.
Toph had been oddly quiet, and all too eager to leave the 'damn ice cube'. The airbender had followed the instant she had.
He had merely outlined his desire for them to journey to the Fire Nation. He refused to give any more particulars others than assuring them it was for the safety of his growing family.
As his Uncle had piped in whenever he felt necessary, Zuko really hadn't thought the next stages through. It had come to him as a stroke of brilliance as he eyed the tattoos of the little monk after he turned from him in Katara's room.
The avatar would be extremely useful in one of the key things he knew must be done.
Azula herself was a prodigy, a master, but without the base of stooges and multitude of forces of the Earth Kingdom, she would be in an uncomfortable situation.
She would be sheltered by none, on the run and hunted. He had the brief thought of bounty's hunters and knew one could be arranged to pick of his sister's trail.
But to destroy Azula's manpower he needed to convince the Earth Kingdom of Jet's lies and Long Feng's true intentions. Zuko grimaced. If only he knew what the latter were…
There was some kind of connecting force between Azula and the two men, he was sure of it. But whilst he was raised to court intrigue, he still recognized his own brashness. It made it more difficult for him to outline the possible motives two men could have for betraying their country.
He wondered if they knew that. It was entirely possible that Azula had promised safety if they instilled her on the Fire Nation throne. But Azula always lies.
He might not be able to spot the connections himself, whether through his lack of knowledge of the entire ordeal, or his own ways of thinking that had him jump to different conclusions, but his grandest idea was bringing in the system fully devoted to connections.
The White Lotus Society meant almost nothing to him, but his Uncle had stressed upon him the importance of Pai Sho for many years, teaching him every gambit that he knew. It was uninteresting to a Prince who wanted to play with his daggers and practice swords, but his mother had always told him, above all else, to listen to his uncle.
So out of respect for his mother, the White Lotus had opened to him.
He knew little of what they did, but he was assured of their steadfast dedication to peace. The other thing that made them invaluable was their widespread reach. From sword masters on the Fire Islands to Fortune Tellers in the Earth Kingdom, the system was extensive and quite used to working below the radar.
While his Uncle worked with the White Lotus, which he truly hoped he would, as all of this was rather spur of the moment thinking, driven by the desire to see his child not born under the name of war, he would work with the Avatar and the earthbender, two who were both of great importance in the Earth Kingdom.
The avatar had been long friends with the King of Omashu, as had the Bei Fong heiress. The largest problem would come to hailing at Ba Sing Se. Very little was known about Long Feng and he was depending upon Bumi's influence to stir the tide in the favor of peace.
The situation in the rebelling Earth colonies was deteriorating from bad to worse. The stationed militia was being slaughtered as were the Officials who governed the islands.
One such Island was peaceful, having split from the Earth Nation over a century ago. Kyoshi was proud, but small and close enough to the rebel islands to be useful in any plans to subdue them.
Zuko released a sigh, running his hand through his down hair.
There was Azula to eliminate, an Earth Kingdom to make peace with, and rebels to be put to rest. Situations he hadn't expected to deal with before he even took the throne. The worst was the necessary simultaneous nature of these tasks. It was like a burning wick, when the sparks reached the end, it was over.
At the most, he could figure three months. At the least, two. It had to be done, before Katara's pregnancy was obvious to the world's eye.
He had to stifle a slight smile. Katara had been nothing but excellent company. She had never been cold, but her new, spastic bursts of affection were rather endearing. She embraced and kissed him often, snuggling around him at night, and keeping close during the day. He was relieved at how much she seemed to have missed him, for it quelled the dark corner of his mind that had raised doubts that his court and noble's had only encouraged.
She had left for the sake of their child, and in order to leave him with room to maneuver. Honestly it was a rather self sacrificial deed. She had risked her own suffering to give him as much time as he could. She couldn't have accounted for his own longing, nor could she predict the unrest that would arrive at court over his 'runaway bride'.
Bringing her home had been the best option. The court would be forced to stifle their desires of a new lady for the prince, and he would be able to protect her at all times. His Uncle would have another person to bully into tea time, and Katara could talk to Ty Lee.
It was time the acrobat chose her undying loyalty. She had taken to Katara like Mai to knives, and now with the event with Mai, she could only have less reason to join Azula.
Assuming it was his sister. Despite his surety, his instincts, he had tried to keep a mind open to other answers. To his thoughts, it was done, and all that remained was eliminating the source of the problem.
His Uncle cautioned him more than once to consider others, and even though Katara was fully behind him, he could easily tell she wanted him to think with a level head.
Her presence had been nothing but a balm on his soul. Even when her brother gagged at the sight of her leaning against his shoulder or any simple intimacy, it made him feel needed, which, though, he would never admit it, was a prerequisite for his happiness. He had not belonged with his family, but now he had his own.
It was amazing how fast they had steered away from anger and accusations. He understood her reasons, even if he hated them, and she hadn't left because she did not trust him or care for him. It was enough to make him grateful she had tried to ease his burdens even whilst it frustrated him. On her part he was glad of her affections and her advice. It was easy to forget how she made him stop and think.
It had truly been a good match. She had enough stubbornness and determination to stop his anger head on. She had yelled at him when most people cowered. She forced him to use his sense, and he owed her for it.
He owed her for quite a bit these days.
The moonlight was nearly full as the autumn seas churned silently around the ship. It reflected on every surface and made his skin take on a deathly hue. The night was silent and cloudless.
So the approaching footsteps were easily discernable.
The little earthbender silently strode towards him, stopping at his side and placing her hands on the wooden railing. He knew she couldn't see, but somehow she'd known he was there.
She seemed to know much more than warranted her circumstances.
She took a deep breath next to him and let it out, cocking her head in his direction.
"Leaving Sugarqueen alone, in bed? You must be insane."
He had to smile at her crude humor, even if she couldn't see.
"Is the avatar's skin as hairless as it seems, Master Bei Fong?"
She hit him soundly, hard enough to make him rub his arm and scowl.
"Why are you out here?"
He paused.
"Just pondering."
She sighed again, turning her back to lean against the railing, her face turned towards him.
"Are you going to tell me what's happening?"
Zuko ran a hand through his hair.
"I have my suspicions, nothing more."
She snorted.
"Right. So You dragged us away on a whim?"
"No! I just…Have a theory," he mumbled.
She nodded.
"I know."
He looked at her, one eyebrow raised.
"You know?"
She nodded again.
"Who else do you think Sugarqueen confides in? Aang's too innocent, and Sokka's her brother."
He shrugged, despite her inability to see.
"Why are you awake, then?"
"Same reasons."
The prince accepted the answer.
"Why haven't you insulted me yet?"
"I thought I had."
She tapped her fingers idly against the railing on either side of her frame. All her movements were restless, shifting, belaying great conflict of interest.
Zuko examined her carefully for the first time. She was a pretty, young thing, as his Uncle called them, but he wouldn't dare say it to her face. Her bangs swept around in the slight breeze of the night, revealing milky sage eyes that saw too much.
But those eyes were red and swelled, betraying, by Zuko's most recent experiences, the leftover signs of tears.
"Toph?"
He knew her name, but he had never used it. It was hard not to enjoy their verbal matches of sarcasm and dry wit, of which, Katara had stated, Toph was a master and he had perfected to a maddening degree.
She didn't say anything for a moment, and then…
"Have you ever kissed someone other than Sugarqueen?"
Zuko was startled at the seemingly random question. Oddly, when he turned to look at her, she looked hesitant and fragile.
"Yes."
"By choice?"
He heard the odd hopeful gleam in her voice. But she valued honesty as much as he did, and he'd rather not alienate the only one of Katara's friends he actually liked.
"Not after my marriage."
She seemed to deflate a bit.
"What would you do then, if you had?"
He sucked in a breath. He hated being interrogated, but his uncle and wife would beat him soundly for leaving this girl in distress, however rare it may be.
"Beg for her forgiveness."
Toph nodded. Her voice came out a whisper.
"What if you loved them? The person."
He shook his head.
"I love my wife," he said simply.
Her face suddenly cleared and became blank.
"Of course. She's more important."
Then she pushed away from the rail, straightening, and once more the little bully his wife adored.
She punched him once on the arm, snarky look back in place.
"Don't tell Mother I was out past my bedtime."
He smiled, sadly, for her, because she couldn't see him.
"Don't tell on me for burning Sokka earlier."
She nodded, then surprised him by hugging him once around the middle.
"Your uncle has more padding."
He squeezed her back.
"It's the tea."
She pulled back, smiling sincerely for a moment.
"Katara loves you. "
"Yes."
"Don't betray that. Ever."
He shook his head as she began to walk back to the door opened to the dark interior of the ship.
He wondered at her choice of words when a murmur to herself drifted on the wind back to his ears.
"She's more important."
A.N: I like Zuko/Toph as friends. Btw, when Toph says 'mother', she means Katara. :) REVIEW!!
