As the sun was beginning to set, Katalina and Zuko were making their way to the party the rioters were holding. They were dressed casually to fit in better with them, but they still looked nice.
"So where is this party?" Katalina wondered.
"I dunno the name of the place," Zuko admitted. "It's that event hall where all the important celebrations are held."
"Ah, that place." She laughed. "That would make sense."
"I can't tell if you're mocking me or not."
"You'll never know." She winked at him teasingly.
He smiled back at her. "You're a pain in the ass."
"You chose to be my friend."
"I was five!"
"You chose to keep me as your friend," she quickly corrected herself, laughing as she spoke.
Now he rolled his eyes at her, though he was still smiling. "You're just acting like this because you're with me."
"Oh? What's that supposed to mean?"
"You need to be the centre of attention over me."
"Well, look at your, Mr. Conceited," she responded. "Don't go getting a big, Zuko. It'll do you no good."
He laughed. "I'll take your word on that." They then arrived at the event building. "Are you ready for this?"
"You've asked me that a lot over the last two days. And my answer is always the same."
"Then I should reiterate the fact that you should let them—"
"—think what they want," she finished for him. "I know."
With that, the two of them entered the building. And almost instantly, everyone in the room turned their attention on them.
"Give a warm welcome to our honoured guests!" a male voice began, speaking loud enough for his voice to carry across the room. "Fire Lord Zuko and Katalina Palmer!"
"Wait, they're honouring me, too?" Katalina questioned Zuko.
"Oh, did I forget to mention that?" he asked in reply. "It's quite surprising how admired you are here in the Fire Nation. But everyone seems to love and respect you for your courage and willingness to fight for what you believed in."
"Zuko!" she exclaimed quietly, elbowing him as discreetly as she could. "You very well know I don't like surprises! I even reminded you of that yesterday!"
He laughed a little. "Relax, Lina. This is a good surprise."
They then made their way down the aisle that had been formed for them.
"No one is bowing," she pointed out.
"I told them not to," he informed her. They made their way to the other end of the building and the rioters went on with the party. "I also told them to address me just as Zuko, not as Fire Lord Zuko," he added.
"That man just announced you as Fire Lord Zuko, though."
"Because that was an introduction. But other than that, I told them to just call me Zuko when we're one-on-one."
She smiled. "That's a really good idea, not using any labels." She put her hand to her heart. "What would your dear father say about this?" Sarcasm echoed in her voice.
"He'd probably burn my other eye."
The hand over her heart then covered her mouth. "Shut up!" She hit his shoulder. "That's not something to joke about!"
"C'mon Lina, it's my eye," he replied. "Lighten up."
"Wow, I never thought I'd see the day where you're telling me to lighten up." She laughed.
"Well, now you have."
"Katalina! Zuko!" a male voice then called out to them.
"Is that who I think it is?" she thought aloud.
"Oh, it is," he confirmed.
The owner of the voice then hurried up to his old friends. "Wow, I never thought I would see you two again," he stated.
"Liam Busch," she replied. She smiled. "It's good to see you again."
"Yeah, it's great to see you, too. You're looking beautiful as ever." He returned the smile, along with a wink. "And you, Zuko. It's been three years, hasn't it?"
"Well, I haven't seen you since I was banished three years ago. So yeah, it's been three years."
"Wow," he breathed. "It's amazing how time flies. And when was the last time I saw you, Lina?"
She shrugged. "A few months ago? I don't really remember."
"You were sent over to Ba Sing Se with the Colonies, right? And I didn't see you before that, so it's probably been a good year or so."
"It's been that long? I had no idea."
Liam shook his head. "When I heard you were going to Ba Sing Se I thought for sure that I would never see you again. The entire Fire Nation thought so, as a matter of fact."
She laughed. "I wouldn't have come back if it weren't for Zuko."
"So Liam, what have you been up to?" Zuko then asked.
"Nothing, really," he answered. "Adjusting."
"Oh, why are you even here?" Katalina questioned.
"My parents forced me into becoming a part of these riot groups. If I had had the choice, though, then trust me, I wouldn't have been rioting against Zuko."
"Don't worry, we believe you," she assured him.
"So when are you two heading back to Ba Sing Se?" he wondered.
"Probably tonight," Zuko answered.
"You're not even gonna wait till morning?"
He shook his head. "Nope. Someone's a little eager to get out of here." He nudged Katalina playfully.
"Oh, well, that's understandable. I mean, I really don't blame you. But I'm gonna go mingle with people. So I'll catch up with you two later. Save a dance for me, Lina." He winked at her again before turning away from them and rejoining the crowd of people.
Katalina chuckled a bit. "Liam Busch," she said again. "I never thought I'd see him again, either."
"Why? You don't miss your ex-boyfriend?" Zuko asked teasingly.
"That has nothing to do with it."
"Well, he seems to miss you." He looked around the room. "Maybe some of your other exes are here, too."
"Why did you hate everyone I dated?" she wondered.
"I did not hate all of them," he denied. "You're exaggerating."
"No, Zuko, you hated them all. Name one of my boyfriends you were actually friends with. And I don't mean before or after I dated him. I mean while I was dating him."
He thought for a moment. "Well, there was—no," he stopped himself. He went on thinking. "Oh, what about—? Nope, not him, either." He continued to think.
"Don't strain yourself."
"You know, we were only twelve!" he then exclaimed. "None of them should have been considered your boyfriend anyway."
She laughed again. "So why didn't you like any of them?"
"I don't know." He shrugged his shoulders. "You just deserved better than all of those guys."
She smiled. "Zuko, all of those guys came from high-ranked families."
"So what? That doesn't mean anything. That doesn't say anything about them personally."
"Oh, I see. You were just jealous of all those other guys, right?"
"I was not!"
"I'm only joking. Calm down."
He shook his head. "Do you wanna dance?" he then asked her.
"What?"
"Do you wanna dance?" he repeated.
"Zuko, this is a kind of slow song."
"What does that matter?"
He held out his hand for her. She smiled and took it. They made their way to the dance floor. There were a lot of other couples dancing, too. And a few people even stopped to watch Katalina and Zuko.
"You're a horrible dancer," she said bluntly after a little while.
"Thanks, you're such a great friend," he replied sarcastically.
She laughed. "I'm sorry, but you are."
"Well, you like to dance. So I'll learn if I have to."
She held back a blush. "You would learn to dance for me?"
He nodded. "Of course I would."
"Zuko," she smiled again, "that's sweet of you."
He smiled back. Then he leaned into her. "You're blushing," he whispered in her ear, and he leaned out again.
"Shut up," she replied.
They continued to dance until the song was over. And when it was, all eyes were on them again. Then the same man who had announced their arrival said, "Give it up for the lovely couple!"
"Couple?" Katalina repeated. "Oh, no, we're not—" she started, but Zuko cut her off…by kissing her. "—together," she then finished once he pulled away. "But that might make them think otherwise," she added so only he could hear.
The crowd broke into applause.
"Do you wanna get out of here?" he checked with her.
"Please," she replied.
He nodded and faced the people. "Thank you all for the party, but we really best be going now."
And they swiftly made their way out of the building.
"What was that?" Katalina yelled once they were outside. "Seriously! What the hell was that? Why did you just kiss me? What told you that was a good frigging idea?"
"I'm sorry!" he yelled back. "I didn't mean to! I don't know what come over me! It's just that the moment felt…right."
"The moment felt right?" she repeated. "I don't care! Do you remember Mai? Yeah, she's your girlfriend!"
"I know who she is, Lina."
"Really? Because you didn't seem to remember her back in there! Ugh!" She covered her face with her hands. "Why did you have to do that?"
"I'm sorry, Lina. I truly am."
She stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do or say. Then she sighed, letting her hands drop from her face. "I guess now you probably really don't want Mai to know about this party."
"You're not going to tell her?"
"And make her hate me even more than she already does?" She shook her head. "No. If she's going to know then it'll be because you told her."
"Do you think I should tell her?"
"Well, you don't seem to be very confident in the relationship anyway. Telling her would probably be the perfect way to end it."
"But that would kill her."
"Then I don't know what to tell you, Zuko!"
"Hey!" Liam suddenly shouted. They turned to see him running their war. He was smiling. "Hey, I always knew you two would end up together."
"We're not together!" they replied in unison.
"You're not? What about that kiss, though?"
"It wasn't supposed to happen," Katalina told him.
"No, it wasn't," Zuko confirmed. "I'm actually involved with Mai."
"You're with Mai?" His eyes widened. "Uh-oh, somebody's in trouble with his girlfriend when he gets home." He laughed.
"It's not funny, Liam," she replied. "Nor is it any of your damn business."
He stopped laughing. "Oh. Sorry." He paused. "Well, do you wanna dance with me now, then?" he then asked her, flashing her a smile.
"We actually have to get going," Zuko stated, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close to him. "It was nice seeing you again." He and Katalina then hurried away. "I don't recall him being that annoying."
"He was only trying to lighten the mood," she said.
"Well, it didn't work."
"You can let go of me now," she then pointed out.
That was when he realised he still had his arm around her. So he moved away from her. "Sorry."
"What was that even about?"
"What?"
"Back there with Liam and you not wanting me to dance with him."
"You said you wanted to go."
"But why did you have to hold me like that?"
"I'm sorry!" he exclaimed.
"Calm down!" she yelled back. "I'm just trying to figure out what the hell is going on!"
"So am I!" A look of desperation swept over his face before his head dropped into his hands. "I'm so sorry."
"Maybe we should just leave in the morning," she then suggested, her voice soft. "I think we both need the night to rest."
He nodded in agreement. "Let's get back to the palace," he said. "And I am sorry, Lina."
"Stop apologising, Zuko," she told him. "Just drop the subject."
And so they did.
