Katara woke in a sweaty tangle of limbs. Riku's skin felt feverish, but so did hers, and the late morning sun was already baking the inside of the cramped house. Rolling away from Riku's sleeping form, Katara could feel the cool layer of sweat from where their skin touched. It repulsed her only as a sensation in and of itself. It reminded her of sharing a bed with Sokka when he was sick when they were children.
At least this time there wasn't a surprise waiting for her in her hair.
Despite her best intentions to move slowly, Riku startled awake just as Katara had to pull along the weight of the cast. Disoriented, she flailed about.
"Hey, it's okay." Katara murmured, holding out a hand. Riku stilled and ran a hand through her hair. It was getting back to its old length, and Katara was surprised that her face hadn't magically changed back into Azula's.
The look of malcontent was somehow still the same.
Katara managed to sweep her stiff leg out and leaned uncomfortably to put her other foot on the floor. Grimacing, Katara pulled up the wide leg of her pants to examine the flaking cast. The doctor had used some white powder to make a mixture that he soaked bandages in before wrapping them around a splint. The cast was stiff, and held Katara's leg out straight even as she relaxed it. But it was causing some discomfort in her hip.
Sighing, and listening to Riku rustle behind her, Katara looked around. The room they had stayed in looked like some sort of work room. Situated on the east side of the house, the sun was bursting through the slits of the window covers. The demanding light had roasted them in their sleep, but also gave them a strong drink of light. It was no surprise to Katara to see the room filled with plants.
The greenery made Katara's pulse jump as she remembered the Hirasawa's garden. But these were ferns and bushes, and a surprising number of bonzai trees.
One of which looked suspiciously like an artfully pruned apple tree that was actually budding.
The plants filled the room with oxygen and Katara took in a bracing breath as she tried to stand, supporting herself with the bed frame. The pain in her leg was intense and she fell back onto the bed with a cry.
"You're still injured, idiot." Riku stated as she crawled over to the edge of the bed, bumping Katara with her shoulder.
"It's not something I'm used to." Katara replied. Riku snorted and stepped out of the bed, stretching while looking around. She found the pill bottle and a pitcher of water, returning with some of both to give to Katara. After Katara took them, Riku moved off again.
Walking silently, Riku moved around the room to examine it. Katara watched her, using her as a crutch to do the same.
"Earthbending peasants are bizarre. I can't tell if this is a bedroom or a plant shop." Riku muttered, shoving aside a spray of fern strands to look at a piece of furniture.
The greenery was a surprise for Earthbenders, as Katara had no reason to think this was Shui's room. Toph liked dirt and rocks, and a vast amount of Earth Kingdom architecture was about the marvel of stone. If Katara had to describe an Earth Kingdom room, she'd either pick hot and beige or cool and crystalline.
This was more musty and wood.
A light tapping came just before the door opened and both Riku and Katara froze, turning quickly toward the sound. Shui bustled in with a tray and a big smile.
"I've brought you girls some jiaozi and tea." She said.
"Thank you, Yong." Katara fumbled over the name, unsure of how to address the woman. She and Iroh were close, of a kind. And then there was her relationship with Zuko, well, he didn't know about that.
"Oh call me Shui, my darlings. If the Fire Lord can manage it, I believe you both can as well." Shui put the tray down on a clear space of what looked like a writing desk.
"I'm sorry the room is in such a state. I don't tend to come in here since Rin left." She said. Riku stalked over to the desk, her gaze intent on the tray.
"This is Rin's room? I didn't think she was into plants." Katara remarked.
"Are you kidding? Haven't you seen her house?" Shui put together a small plate and poured a cup of tea, handing both to Riku. "Rin created most of the Jasmine Dragon's popular teas."
"Rin makes tea?" Katara repeated.
"She was the most like her father; everything he did, she wanted to do." Rin paused as she poured another cup of tea, her face looking sad and distant. "I don't suppose she makes tea anymore."
Blinking, Shui turned and brought Katara a dish of small dumplings. Balancing them on her knee, she reached out readily for the tea.
"It's surprising she and Iroh don't get along then." Katara said before taking a small sip. Shui cupped her chin in her hand and sighed.
"That's what I thought. But she's stubborn."
After a clatter, Katara and Shui looked to see Riku dumping the cup of tea down her throat. She put the cup down and looked back at them.
"I don't mean to be rude, but I don't care about whatever this is. I'm going to go practice." Riku said and then abruptly walked out of the room.
"She's an odd one." Shui said.
"You have no idea." Katara muttered and drank more of the tea. Shui sat down and let Katara eat for a moment in silence.
"Iroh told me he knows her." Shui stated.
Katara tried to take in a breath as she was swallowing and choked a little. After clearing her throat, she stared down at her plate.
"She came from the palace, originally." Katara explained tersely. "She got me out of the city."
Shui tilted her head. "Why did you have to get out of the city?" She paused and frowned a bit. "What city?"
If Xai Bau and Kanda had said anything to Iroh, it must have been in private.
"I think I need to check in with Iroh before I explain." Katara said.
Shui clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. "Oh this White Lotus stuff. He shouldn't have married a gossip if he wanted to keep so many secrets."
Standing up, Shui wiped her hands down the front of her tunic.
"Fine, I won't ask questions." She said and started to walk to the door.
"Wait." Katara lunged awkwardly, almost upending the plate of dumplings. Shui stopped and looked at her curiously.
"Rin was," Katara's mind sputtered as she tried to find the words. "Rin's in trouble."
Shui's face darkened and Katara froze in her graceless half stance.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Shui asked. Shui was a non-Bender, but Katara could still feel the ground roll beneath her.
Swallowing hard, Katara sat back down.
"Something is happening in the Fire Nation palace. Rin's been," She took a breath. "Controlled."
To her shock, Shui's face relaxed.
"Ah, but she's fine then? You had me worried. Knowing Rin, anything she's gotten into was probably by choice and without proper thought to the consequences." Shui said.
Stunned, Katara could only stare at her.
"Everything will work out, and maybe when this is all over, she'll realize how selfish she always is." Shui moved back to the door shaking her head. "Having you in such a state to rescue her my goodness."
The door never closed and Katara waited for someone to come in and explain this to her. To make sense of this callousness.
Looking around the room again, Katara could perfectly imagine how a young girl who made tea grew up to be Rin.
After eating, Katara found crutches that someone had left leaning against the wall by the door. She took it, adjusting the padding under her armpits, and shambled slowly out into the hall. Of course, she shouldn't have been putting any weight on her knee at all, but at least everyone recognized that she never had any intention of listening to that.
Luckily, Rin's room was on the first floor. It was a servant's room, being adjacent to the cramped kitchen shoved at the back of the building. The Jasmine Dragon tea house took up the front and the rest of the living quarters were upstairs. It was all confusing, and really, Katara had the most clashing expectations of the place. It was strange to think of Iroh, as a member of the Fire Nation royal family to live in such a place, let alone in the middle ring. It was strange to imagine a younger Rin waking up early to stoke fires and prepare kettles. It was stranger still to think that Iroh hadn't moved his family into a new building to escape the ghost of Rin's father.
Rin's brothers were working in the kitchen, as the shop had not closed at Katara's calamitous arrival. One of them spotted her and came to her.
"Did you need anything?" He asked. Katara shook her head, gripping the crutch with both hands and trying to steady herself.
"I'm just looking for Iroh." She said.
"Ah." He straightened and looked toward the back of the room. "He's out with your friend, helping her practice."
With a chuckle he looked back at Katara. "It's so odd seeing Firebenders move so gracefully."
"And with less fire." Another brother added as he poured water from a massive kettle into a row of teapots.
The brother in front of her shook his head and smiled at Katara.
"I was just about to bring them more tea. Would you like to come with me?" He asked. Katara nodded and waited as he assembled a similar tray to the one Shui had brought her.
Hobbling after him, Katara tried to picture Rin in this place, with these people.
She couldn't get over how weird it was to have so many brothers.
At the back of the kitchen was a door and the man slid it back with his foot. It was obviously a well practiced motion for him and the tray didn't even shake. He walked out before her, stepping down gingerly from the short deck. Katara didn't attempt to repeat any of his motions and left the door open as she stood on the deck.
Iroh moved through some forms slowly as Riku watched him, moving just a second behind him. Seemingly at ease, Iroh smiled and encouraged Riku as she stepped through a complicated series. When she finished, Iroh nodded to her and then looked at Katara. His eyes met hers for only a moment before turning to the tea.
"Thank you Bo." Iroh said as he held back a sleeve to pick up a cup. Riku ignored all of them and repeated her motions. Iroh watched her for a moment, but then walked with Bo back to the deck. Bo left the tray next to Katara before stepping up and walking back into the kitchen. Iroh and Katara both sat down. She pushed her back to the wall, leaving her leg room to stretch out, while Iroh perched on the edge.
"I can't believe it's her." He said softly, watching Riku.
"Have you told them?" Katara asked. Iroh shook his head.
"I couldn't. It's complicated."
"Well, I mean, not really."
"It's complicated for me Katara."
Silent, Katara picked up the other tea cup. Bo had brought out a pot and she had woken up thirsty. And these were small cups.
"Where is Xai Bau?" Katara inquired.
"He and Kanda went to a White Lotus house. I'm sure they'll be back." Iroh answered.
"Did you speak with them?"
"I did. And I must say, I am very glad to see you in one piece."
"But what do we do about Zuko?"
Iroh sighed and hung his head for a moment. He looked tired.
"I'm working with the others to see if we can get Zuko out. That way we can find out who's behind this without storming the palace." He answered.
"But what about Sokka and the others? What about Rin?" Katara questioned. Iroh looked pained and it made Katara's stomach sour.
"Sometimes we have to make choices, Katara." Iroha said.
Riku let out a strong yell and they both turned to see her do a spinning kick, flames spiraling around her like ribbons. When Riku landed, Iroh clapped politely.
"Try not to burn the tea bushes please." He said and Riku only straightened out her tunic.
"I would think Shui would want Rin to be saved as well." Katara remarked.
"She will be fine," Shui's voice came out as a huff behind them. "You're both already plotting so everything will be worked out."
"How can a mother be so cold?" Katara spat thoughtlessly. Iroh stared at her and Katara recoiled, feeling her face heat.
"My mother faced down Fire Nation soldiers to protect me and perished. You think everything will be okay because an old man and a crippled Waterbender are fretting?" She continued.
Now Shui's face reddened and she bristled at the question.
"My daughter knew what kind of danger her position held and-" She started but was interrupted by Katara's reprimand.
"No one could expect such a thing!" Katara retorted.
"I helped save the world, and even I ended up stumbling out of a stranger's house, half-mad, only to end up here and looking like this." She continued and held up her hands as a firm punctuation to her statement.
Her hands were completely purple.
In her fear, Katara tried to rise while also putting her hands to her throat, causing her to pitch off the side of the porch. Iroh reached for her, but Katara hit another person.
At the lopsided height of Riku's person versus that of the deck, Riku slowly leveraged Katara back into a sitting position.
"You're hysterical, get a hold of yourself." She said to Katara with disdain, then turned to Shui. "And you really are a terrible mother."
Riku stepped up onto the deck, somehow standing between all three of them.
"And you," She went on, looking at Iroh. "Aren't you the uncle?"
Iroh only looked back up at her.
"Why are you here?" She asked.
Katara saw Azula then. The set of her shoulders was regal and sturdy; the weight of a nation could have rested as easily there as one of Zuko's ornamental robes. Her chin was held firm, but no too high that she was looking down her nose at Iroh. She was elevated enough and didn't need to resort to snobbery.
And her eyes were exactly the same sharp cut of gold that Azula had.
"Suki sent-" Shui began but Riku held her hand up in the woman's face.
"Why did you let it get this bad?" She asked Iroh. He still said nothing and Riku lowered her hand with a disgusted tsk.
"No one ever looked out for us." She muttered and stalked back inside. Bewildered, Iroh looked at Katara and she shook her head.
"That girl is so rude!" Shui said shrilly.
"People are in trouble." Katara said, sounding much gentler now.
"Don't you think I know that? I survived a siege and a breach, and have been widowed." Shui retorted. "Is it so wrong to have faith?"
She too walked back inside and Katara hoped she hadn't gone after Riku; she was far too tired to hobble after her to try and mediate.
"They'll be fine." Iroh said, sensing her fears.
"Why is Rin in the palace? I mean, I can understand why she's not here, but…" Katara drifted and looked out into the garden. From where she sat, it didn't look like any of the grass was so much as singed.
"I brought Shui and her children to the palace after Zuko's formal coronation. All of the Yongs are older than him, and it was a bit awkward at first. Rin didn't make things any easier; she was still very angry with her mother." Iroh started, but paused as Katara made a face.
"That's actually another question." She said and Iroh chuckled.
"How I ended up marrying Shui?" Iroh glanced over his shoulder at the still open door. He then went about pouring them both more tea and warming it with his bending.
"I had wanted to open a tea shop, but knew I couldn't run one until after Zuko came of age. So when I heard of a widow with five children running one in the middle ring, I thought I would purchase it. She would be able to run it without any financial worries and I would be able to have an entry point to the city." He said.
"And you swept her off her feet with your charity?" Katara asked, partially sarcastic.
"She wouldn't sell, and when I went to see her for myself, she threw a teapot at me." Iroh replied and Katara laughed.
"The Jasmine Dragon was her husband's shop, and she would never sell it. She raised her children here." Iroh placed a hand on the warm deck, letting out a heavy breath. "It's why I don't live here. Not very many married couples live in different nations."
"Is that why Shui doesn't live in the palace?" Katara asked. "Because she has to be here?"
"Oh, no, any of her children are more than capable of running this place. They're just waiting on someone else to make the claim, since Rin left." Iroh drank some of the tea and Katara mirrored him.
It was good tea.
"Rin was the expected heir. She was the only one who matched their father in tea making. But after visiting the palace, she wanted to stay there." Iroh concluded.
"But wasn't Zinna living here? Why did they move to the Fire Nation, of all places?" Katara questioned.
"Because one night at dinner, Zuko told war stories and Rin asked when he got the scar on his face. When he told her that his own father had burned him, and how he had regained his honor through his work with the Avatar, Rin chose to stay." Iroh said. "Rin is very focused on cause and effect. She has a difficult time seeing the entire playing board. But because of who she is, she will push forever in the same direction until she changes her mind. Always based on her own reasons."
They fell silent, drinking their tea and staring out at the small garden. An urge bubbled up in Katara's throat, and she considered it.
It wouldn't take much to tell Iroh that she was in love with his nephew.
Staring down into her tea cup, seeing her purple fingers curled around it, Katara wondered what would happen. The hundreds of tiny movements that could occur on the playing board, most without her input at all.
Her marriage appeal might be stronger, as Xai Bau suggested. It would unite two nations, and offer reprieve to her people without adding another burden on the Fire Nation.
But Xianji could do just the same, and more, with her marriage.
And the Fire Nation had already rebuked one royal for taking a foreign bride and had a rebellion roiling under the imperial streets over another.
What was best for Zuko? And what was best for his country?
Katara flinched at the thought, and felt her hands prickle.
"Were the Hirasawas part of the Society?" Katara asked.
"The Hirasawas? What business do you have with them?" Iroh asked feverishly. His energy startled Katara and she took a moment before going on.
"I don't really know. They poisoned me, or saved me." Katara frowned and shook her head, trying to remember. "When I was at their home, I heard people talking." She looked plaintively at Iroh. "Have they done this before?"
Iroh looked uncomfortable.
"The Hirasawas are distantly related to the royal family. They have often tried to close that distance." Iroh grumbled a bit and shifted uncomfortably. "The current head of the family, he and his wife were the first to make friends with Ursa. And I have suspected that they were the ones to give her the poison to kill my father."
It shocked her, to her of Ursa's crime so plainly spoken, but also to hear of this previous Iroh. He had been the crown prince. He had fought for the Fire Nation. He had grieved over the death of his tyrannical father and of his soldier son.
If Lu Ten had been part of the Southern Raiders, would she have come to love Iroh so?
The sickness in Katara surged and she swallowed bile. Love was a complicated thing indeed.
The doctor returned in the afternoon to tend to Katara's knee. He remarked on some damage to the cast and reprimanded her for getting out of bed. While applying new bandages, he found her a willing captive and told her about how the bone would heal, how the parts of the knee worked, and how the tendons bound muscle to bone. After, he spoke to Iroh, taking him for her guardian, and expressed how important it was for Katara to stay in bed.
As he left, Xai Bau and Kanda entered. Xai Bau took Iroh outside for a private talk, while Riku excitedly went to Kanda, talking about the form Iroh had shown her. Alone in the room, lying in Rin's bed, Katara could hear the collective chatter of stranger patrons and the people she knew. Under the effects of the pain medication, the voices fizzled in her ears and she started to drift.
Her entire leg still ached, but the pills made her indifferent to it. Her stomach was still twisting, and Katara considered the possibility of a large worm making its home there. Yet her mind pictured an eel; a miniature tizheruk roiling over itself in her guts. Katara's throat burned and salt water poured down her front.
She stood gasping in the snow as a man in gold put his hand to her neck.
Katara woke up, sucking in a sharp breath. Sweat drenched her shirt and her throat was bone dry. Struggling to sit up, Katara looked to the window. The light was dimmer, but was nowhere near dusk. Voices still clamored outside of the room, but Katara couldn't find the familiar threads of the ones she knew.
Her head was spinning a little and the room shifted in her vision.
"You're awake." Iroh said as he walked into the room. Katara rubbed her eyes.
"Was I asleep for long?" She asked.
"No. You were only napping." He answered.
Finding his tone odd, Katara stared at him.
"What is it?" She questioned.
"Queen Ruan has invited us to dinner." Iroh said.
The tizheruk flailed and Katara gagged.