So… yeah, I'm skipping ahead. Whatever needed to happen at Ember Island has already happened. Now we move on to Fire Nation. We are back and some things are moving. Now let's see what happens there.
Something I have been meaning to say, but keep forgetting with every chapter: I am basically discarding everything that happened after the series. So, in this fic, nothing of the comic happened. Korra is still the next Avatar, and she is already born. She's little under a year old. She will make an appearance in the story.
Also, on a side note, something funny happened. I am rewatching Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood (as my display picture shows). Ling Yao came on the screen and suddenly, my mind began to wonder, what if Zuko and Ling had a body swap. I have laughed myself silly over the idea. Somebody please make it happen. I wanna see Zuko faint over with hunger, make others pay the bill for the obscene amount that he eats, and then slithers away when it comes to paying the bill. I wanna see Ling angst over honor, and stay grumpy and crack bad jokes. I wanna see my two favorite princes confused af.
And then I am imagining the people around them going crazy wondering wtf has happened. Can you imagine Zuko's reaction to Ed? Or Ling and Sokka crack jokes and eat together. SOMEBODY PLEASE MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Chapter 25
Zuko got off the gangplank and sighed. The seven days he had spent with Katara at Ember Island were, arguably, the most memorable days of his life. When he had married her, Zuko's entire focus had been to ensure that she was out of the Northern Water Tribe's clutches. He had not expected anything out of the marriage. But some higher power somewhere was perhaps very happy with him, for without asking, he had been given a wonderful family. Kya and Bumi had wormed their way into his heart. Unsurprising, really since he loved children and children seemed to love him back. But then, in Ember Island, he found someone he was not expecting.
In Katara, he had found a friend, a partner, and a mate. In her, he had found his wife. A woman he could rely on. Someone he cared for. Someone he cherished. He could see himself growing old with the person who matched him in every aspect. She was just as stubborn as him. She bended with the ferocity of a Fire Bender and had a temper to match.
Their relationship was based on mutual trust and understanding, After the emotionally exhausting first three days, they had slipped into a comfortable rhythm. Every morning, they woke up in each other's arms, and spend a very pleasurable time just enjoying each other's company. Their makeout sessions were steamy to say the least, but they knew where to draw the line. They had not taken it to the next level, no matter how much he wanted to. Katara was not there yet. After that, they would spar. Their afternoon was spent roaming in the island or at the beach, and the evening at home where the two of them would cook a meal together. She would insist that Mizu, Kian, and Taro have dinner with them as well, because that's who she was. Taking care of people was an integral part of her and for that one quality alone, he knew she would be a wonderful queen. One worthy of sitting next to him. One he thought of as his.
Such was the heart of this woman that she had gone on to forgive even Jet. She had, in fact, told him that they were the ones who owed him an apology. Zuko, who was not quite comfortable with the way Jet looked at Katara, had begrudgingly agreed. (In fact, Zuko had a sneaking suspicion that he would not be able to say no to her, ever.) But as Katara had pointed out, he had threatened to gouge Jet's eyes out. Zuko wasn't entirely surprised that he had given in to her persuasion. As an apology to the man, Zuko had gifted him a dojo where Jet could teach martial arts to non-bender kids, the rent of the space would be paid for by the crown.
The crunch of gravel told him that Katara had come down the gangplank as well. He smiled at her and opened his mouth to say something but before he could get his words out, a shrill voice cried out, "Mommmmyyyyyyy."
As he watched, a blue blur crossed him and flew into Katara's arms. She lifted Kya up, peppering her face with kisses. "Aww, my baby! I missed you so much!"
Kya was busy hugging her mother. Meanwhile, Bumi skipped up to them, gave a huge grin to Zuko and said, "Welcome back, Fatherlord."
"You lost a tooth!" Zuko said with wide eyes, "You lost your first tooth! You're now officially a grown up."
Bumi snorted and rolled his eyes, "As if!"
"It's a rite of passage, Bumi," Zuko said seriously.
Next to him, Katara was chuckling. Bumi shook his head, grinning, "I can't believe I thought you were a serious guy. You're as bad as Uncle Sokka."
Zuko raised a brow, "Nah, he's funnier."
"Or so he thinks," Bumi said.
Izumi, being the princess that she was, walked over to them slowly and said, "Hello dad."
Zuko pulled her into his embrace and half a beat later, she returned the hug. "I missed you, sweetheart."
"You're being mushy, dad," she said, even though she had a small smile on her face. "You've been gone a lot longer at times."
"Not on a vacation," he said.
Izumi simply shrugged, "Whatever, dad."
She then gave Katara a nod of acknowledgement but refrained from saying anything else. Seeing this as her chance, Kya leapt from Katara's lap to Zuko's. He grabbed the child and Bumi used the moment to clamber on his mother's lap. Kya threw her arms around Zuko's neck and said, "Grandpa Iroh said that when you were my age, you hated to wear pants."
Katara gave him a look of barely suppressed mirth while Bumi and Izumi began to chortle. Zuko glared daggers at Iroh who stood someway off, grinning. "Ummm, why is Grandpa Iroh telling you all this?"
"He says it's always better to know people," Kya replied sagely.
"Let's just go home," Zuko grumbled.
Katara stepped back and examined her reflection. This would be the first dinner she would have after returning from Ember Island. The children and Iroh had been the only ones meeting them at the wharf, with the rest of them waiting for the dinner to meet them. That made sense. What was the point of coming all the way to the wharf, when they would have to get back in different carriages and immediately separate to prepare for dinner? She much rather preferred the idea of meeting them during the dining. This was meant to be a private dinner with friends and family only.
For this particular occasion, she had chosen the same blue and red sarong that Zuko had gifted her. She had her usual jewelry, Zuko's betrothal necklace, her mother's necklace, and Lady Ursa's necklace. She had tied her hair in the usual Fire Nation style, with a top-knot and leaving the rest of the hair open. She had deliberately not put the crown on, as she had noticed Zuko didn't on private dinners. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ears and looked at the hourglass. She had another half an hour before she had to leave for dinner. Just as she was wondering what to do for the time she had in hand, a knock sounded on her door. She walked over and opened the door, surprised to find her grandmother standing there.
"Gran Gran?"
"Can I come in?"
Katara stepped aside, allowing the old woman to enter the chamber. "Come, sit."
Gran Gran hobbled over to her bed, settled down on the bed, and Katara joined her.
"How are you, my dear?" Kanna asked, holding her hand.
Katara looked at her grandmother's shriveled hand atop hers. "I'm fine. What's going on, Gran Gran?"
Kanna patted her hand and said, "I have been very worried for you, Katara."
"Huh? Why?"
"Well, things in your life have changed drastically," Kanna said slowly. "I have had very limited interactions with Zuko and I… I just… can't rest easy. Is he, Zuko, I mean… is he okay with you?"
Katara's eyebrows shot up, "Where is this coming from?"
Kanna sighed, "He's a Fire Bender and …"
Even though she didn't say it, Katara understood. Gran Gran had seen war for almost all her life. At eighty-eight, she had seen war for the better part of her life. In fact, she had believed that war was all she would see. Katara could understand her mistrust of Fire Benders in general. In fact, she herself had been vindictive and angry towards Zuko when he had joined them. She could not blame her grandmother for her doubts.
"Relax Gran Gran," Katara said, hugging her grandmother. "Zuko is nice man and he is taking very good care of me. Don't worry about me."
"Are you sure? You are not saying this just to make me feel better?"
"No Gran Gran! I'm being absolutely honest. Zuko is being very nice, understanding, and caring. He is going over and beyond to make sure I adjust to my new life. I'm happy, Gran Gran."
Gran Gran sighed, "Thank you. I feel so much better. When I sent you to Ember Island, I was both worried and hopeful about your future. I, of all people, know it's not easy to get adjusted to a new marriage. Especially second marriage. I'm just glad it was an old friend of yours that you got married to."
"Gran Gran, thank you for worrying about me. But really, I am perfectly fine."
In the adjacent chamber, Iroh was having a similar conversation with Zuko.
"Really, Uncle, I'm fine," Zuko said, running a comb through his hair.
Iroh sighed and walked up to Zuko, who now stood more than a foot taller than him. Because of the considerable height difference, the older man had to crank his neck up to look at him, "Nephew, I worry about you."
"I know," Zuko said, tying his hair into a top knot. Once Iroh had walked in, he had dismissed the servants, despite the fact that he was not dressed for dinner. Satisfied with the top knot, he ran his comb through the remainder of his hair. "But really, I am okay."
"Zuko… Please… I know it is tough to be married to a woman who has been another man's wife. A woman that loves another man."
No, Zuko's mind countered, rather furiously. She loves me. Always has. Aloud he said, "Uncle, we both know and understand that we have had other people in our lives. We have had long discussions about it while we were at Ember Island. We know where we stand with each other. It's okay. You don't have to worry about me."
"If you say so," Iroh said, not entirely convinced.
"Anyway, tomorrow, I would like to sit with you and Katara to try and figure out what message to send to the Northern Water Tribe."
"Good. I have a few ideas."
"As do I," Zuko looked at the hourglass. "Come, it's time for dinner."
Sokka could not believe his eyes. Katara was laughing. He had missed what the joke was that had made her laugh, mainly because his eyes were fixed on his sister's face. In his mind's eye, he could still see the Katara he had seen in North Pole. That haggard, broken, haunted look had made him want to strangle baby seals. But now, she sat in front him, laughing with Ty Lee and Toph. As he watched, the Earth Bender leaned over and whispered something in her ears, making her throw her head back and whoop in laughter.
Sokka's own lips stretched in a big smile of his own. Whatever had happened at Ember Island, had gone a long way in bringing his sister back and for that, Sokka was beyond happy. Pulling his eyes away from his sister's joyous face, he looked at the person sitting next to her. The man who had once been his friend, and now, his brother-in-law. Zuko was currently in a deep conversation with his dad. Something about him was different too. The perpetual frown of his face was gone. He was smiling a lot more too. It was then, at that moment, Sokka dared to hope. Maybe, just maybe, whatever had happened at the North Pole, was a blessing in disguise.
Smiling to himself, Sokka picked a piece of Komodochicken with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. Another laugh from Katara drew his attention. As he watched, his sister nudged Zuko with her elbow. The two of them leaned towards each other with an easy familiarity and she said something to him, making him chuckle. Then, to Sokka's intense surprise, Zuko put a hand on her waist (which was bare in her current outfit) and drew small circles, while the two were engaged in a conversation with other people.
Sokka paused and his jaw dropped. As far as Sokka could see, Zuko was not even aware what his hand was doing. His entire focus was on his dad. And Katara? She too didn't seem to have any problem with that intimate touch either. She was completely engrossed in her chatter with Toph, Ty Lee and Suki. Sokka knew that action. That little touch. He had done it himself. It was such a… couple thing to do. At the heels of the thought came yet another, rather disturbing realization. He had never seen Aang do that.
