"You're hungover."
"Hmmmm." Zuko groaned and frowned at Dr. Jung. Everything from the previous day now seemed like a terrible idea. Agreeing to therapy. Sampling from his father's liquor cabinet. Even training with Piandao was taking its toll with Zuko's blistered hands as evidence.
Dr. Jung let out a long exasperated sigh. Zuko buried his head in his hands to block out the offending light in the room. He'd slept through his council meeting and was now cursing himself for not staying in bed longer. He peeked through his fingers when he heard the clink of a tea cup in front of him.
"Drink. It will help."
"Can't we just do this another time?"
"We will do this plenty of other times. I hope you weren't thinking one session would be a cure-all. Now, you showing up in this condition, that won't happen again. Drink your tea."
They sat in silence for several minutes while Zuko slowly sipped, and Dr. Jung shuffled through some papers. It didn't take long for the drink to take effect, and Zuko was surprised at how clear his head felt. He wondered if his Uncle knew about this blend because it had really helped sharpen his mind. In fact, the therapy session went better than he expected.
"What's in the tea?" Zuko asked Dr. Jung as he was leaving.
"It's more medicinal than it is tea," Dr. Jung replied.
"But what's in it?"
"Several things to help with low energy and, as a consequence, hangovers. I've perfected it over the years."
"OK, but what's in it?"
"Those who give away love with frivolity may find that they brew animosity. For those who truly love tea, they know when to guard their secrets."
"OK… that was… odd. But, I have a right to know what I put in my body. It just made me feel very… alert and clear-minded. I was thinking it could be very helpful at other times when—"
"No. It has not been tested for ongoing, long-term use. A similar concoction has been known to cause addiction which is why I insist on taking precautions. If you must know, the ingredients are ginkgo biloba, milk thistle, guarana, and ginseng all of which grow natively in the Earth Kingdom."
"Oh. OK. Very well, then." Zuko lamented that even though their session had ended on a softer note with Dr. Jung showing his more compassionate side, the clinical nature of the man had returned in full force. He had mixed feelings about therapy, but he might just keep coming back for the tea.
Zuko was in the middle of training when he heard the familiar sound of Appa's grunt. His eyes went immediately skyward in search of the bison. Seconds later, he dropped his swords and recoiled.
"Spirits, Zuko." Piandao hovered over the Fire Lord who was examining the fresh cut on his arm. "What… is there a lion vulture flying overhead?"
"S-s-sorry. I broke the rules. I looked away." Zuko winced as he flexed his fist and watched the blood seep through his tunic sleeve.
"Not only that, but you did it right after an attack. Which is when you should expect my counter. Very basic swordplay, Fire Lord Zuko. A very foolish oversight." Piandao sheathed his sword and pulled a strip of thin fabric from his pocket. "I'll wrap it for now, but you should go to the royal hospital for care."
Appa growled again, and four faces peered over the saddle as they flew by the training grounds. Zuko waved back and then looked sheepishly at Piandao.
"Oh. I see," the swordsmaster grumbled. "Well, my usual word of advice is fight for those you love, but in this case, perhaps I should say there is no love without pain."
"Uncle would say that love can hurt, but it also heals."
"Yes, and I've also heard, 'stay on guard in your fight, you'll walk away with your life. Let your guard down with your love, and she'll soon be your wife.'"
"Isn't there another one about keeping a strong stance and the enemy within reach, but watch out for the lover who will sweep you off your feet?"
"Hehe, yes it sounds like too many defeated swordsmen sitting around over tea…"
"Zuko!" Katara's voice echoed through the training grounds. She ran to greet him, but stopped short once she saw his arm. "What happened?"
"Oh, um, training accident?" Zuko smiled innocently and shot a sideways look at Piandao.
Katara rolled her eyes. "Master Piandao, may I have some of the water from your flask?"
"Of course, Lady Katara. And welcome back from… your travels." He shared a knowing glance with her.
Katara removed the makeshift bandage and began healing Zuko's arm. "It's been a while since you've needed a healing session from me, hasn't it?"
"Yeah." Zuko sighed. Spirits, it feels good.
Piandao bowed to the both of them before taking his leave. "Fire Lord Zuko, it looks like your Uncle was right. Love does heal."
The rest of the afternoon passed as a blur, but everyone seemed to settle down and part ways after dinner. Iroh and Sokka had discovered their mutual interest in alcoholic beverages and retired to Zuko's study for further indulgence in Ozai's collection. Zuko caught wind of the mentioning of Whaletail Ale which he knew to be a pretty crude brew that the Fire Nation navy came up with while at sea. He also overheard murmurings about The Roaring Panda which he realized was the name of the so-called drink of passion that he had sampled with Sokka.
Ursa had seemed quite keen on striking up a conversation with Aang about Air Nomad teachings, and the young monk happily obliged. They left dinner in a deep discussion about chakras. Katara watched them leave and looked back at Zuko with an expression of concern, but he simply shrugged. He was getting closer to alone time with Katara, so he was more than happy to send his overbearing mother off with the hyperactive airbender.
"Hey, where's Toph?" Surprisingly, his concern for her absence overshadowed his anticipation of finally spending some time with his girlfriend.
"Oh. The Oyster Bay siblings are in town again. I think she's buggered off with Rozin," Katara replied.
Zuko felt a wave of protectiveness come over him. "Well, she better come home at a decent time," he said while shaking a scolding finger.
"OK, Father Lord Zuko," Katara teased. She tickled him, and he chased her all the way to the villa courtyard. They tried sparring but only managed a few sequences before they collapsed on the grass in a fit of giggles, tickles, and kisses.
Katara cut off their makeout session by gripping Zuko's chin and stroking the stubble there. "So, you didn't shave while I was gone, did you?"
"OK, Mother Katara, you got me." He joked, but Sokka's comment about Katara being like his mother came to mind.
"Well, I think it's kinda… sexy." Katara fingers danced across his cheek.
All girlfriend, mother comparisons left Zuko's thoughts immediately. He cupped her face in his hand and leaned in for another kiss.
Katara cut him off. "Do you think you'd ever grow it out? I don't know what it's called when it's all long and pointy."
"Oh, um. If you're referring to my Uncle's style, it's called koala muttonchops. The long pointy beard that the Fire Lords traditionally wear is called the phoenix plume."
"Oh."
"I can't grow the mutton chops because… well, mine would just be a chop, I guess." Zuko reflexively touched his scar, but quickly diverted his hand to rub the back of his neck. "And as it turns out, I'm not a very traditional Fire Lord."
"Hey, it's ok. All I really meant was that it tickles. When I kiss you." Katara reached out to touch his chin again, and Zuko shuddered under the coolness of her caress. Something burned in the back of his throat, but he couldn't describe the emotion if he tried. Plus, he knew he was terrible at talking about feelings. He'd start with what he knew for sure.
"Katara, I know I don't say it very often, but…"
"Hmmm?" She wrapped an arm around him and tucked her head under his chin.
Where she belongs, he sighed. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
They lay silently in each other's arms listening to the soft splashes of the turtleducks in the nearby pond until the moon rose. Katara sensed its presence and began to stretch.
"How was Teji?" Zuko asked.
"Hmm?"
"Your trip to Teji?"
"Oh. It was… busy. I don't really want to talk about it. How were things here? Did you get to spend some good time with your mother?"
"Uhhh, yeah. I guess."
"What do you mean? I figured it would be a great time for you two to catch up."
"Catch up on what exactly? The past seven years filled with joy and happiness?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize..."
"No, it's fine. You were right, though. About me expecting things to be perfect."
"Gran Gran used to say that it's not love that hurts us. It's unfilled expectations that do."
"What is it with all the love proverbs today?"
"Huh?"
"Nevermind. I guess if I've learned anything about love recently is that it's hard."
"Oh, Zuko. It wouldn't be worth it if it was easy. The most rewarding things in life are the things you work the hardest for."
"Well, nothing has ever come easy for me." Zuko felt the burning sensation in his throat again.
Katara laughed.
"What's so funny?" Zuko snapped.
"Well, if you think about how we got together, it was definitely not easy."
Zuko softened. She was right. They were together against all odds. And it was totally worth it. In fact, if all of his other accomplishments faded away, and it was just them, there, together, he would have what he needed to face anything. For all he knew, the hardest part was yet to come. But at least he didn't feel alone or abandoned anymore.
She yawned. "So, when I left, I was staying in your room. Where would the Fire Lord like me to stay tonight?"
"The Fire Lord would have Lady Katara do as she pleases." Zuko gripped Katara's hand and placed gentle kisses on each of her knuckles. "But she is always welcome in his suite."
As they walked back to the palace hand in hand, Zuko gestured back toward the villa. "My mother has taken residence in Uncle's villa, by the way."
"Oh? She's not in the Fire Lady's quarters anymore?"
"No. So I guess that room is available now."
"Zuko, I couldn't…"
"Yeah, I guess it's not a good idea. The passageway is pretty convenient, though."
"Oh yes, the Fire Nation sure loves its secrets."
"Someday, Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, I will make you my Fire Lady. I don't think I can keep it a secret for much longer."
Author's Notes: OK, so Zuko has his first session with Dr. Jung, and if you want to know what they talked about, skip on over to my companion fic, The Doctor Is In, where I'll record those conversations as they coincide with the plot in this story and the sequel, Rising Tide. Also, Dr. Jung has this special tea which essentially has the same ingredients as an energy drink. Initially I planned to make it coffee, but then I read that coffee wasn't the best for hangovers. Apparently "guarana" is the key ingredient there.
Also, for certain events in Rising Tide, I've been researching burn care. Damn, Zuko. The good news is that with a burn that severe, the nerve endings are damaged, and pain is actually pretty minimal after a certain point. There is some evidence that nerve endings can grow back, though, but very slowly. I imagine that Zuko has some feeling in and around his scar, although it might be less responsive than his other skin. In the crystal catacombs scene, when Katara touches it, and he closes his eyes, you know he has to be feeling something.
Hair follicles would also be damaged, and these do not grow back (think laser hair removal). Hence Zuko's reference to not being able to grow symmetric sideburns. The style that old Zuko ends up with in Legend of Korra works, I guess, but I don't like it all that much. I don't really like Zuko with long hair, either. I think that since he has such a fear of becoming like his father, he would keep his appearance different. He'd keep his hair just long enough to pull up into the traditional top knot for formalities (like it was at the end of season three), and he'd never grow the "phoenix plume." I just made that up, by the way. That and "koala muttonchops." Maybe he could grow a "gorilla-goatee." Or a "dragon-moose-stache." I should stop now. Really.
