Katara's brain was not processing. Jet was dead. She saw him die. They all did. Underneath that lake four or so years ago. Well technically, they didn't see him die. But's that what had happened. Right? So how was it possible for him to be standing here, breathing, and moving and…clearly four years older than the last time she'd seen him. This should not possible.
"Hey, Katara." That was Jet's voice. Definitely Jet's voice. The familiar face was smiling at her. She couldn't remember when he'd walked closer to her, but he was right in front of her now, a respectable distance between them. His arms were folded across his chest and his hair was dark and stuck out in lots of odd directions. Just like she remembered. His smile was carefree but had that hint of mischievousness in it. The same smile that had stolen her young fourteen-year-old heart quicker than anything.
"Is it really you?" she asked softly. He didn't say anything, but she took this as confirmation. "Oh, spirits," she whispered, still in shock. Katara hugged him. In a friendly way. Because he was supposed to be dead. Gone. But he wasn't. He was right in front of her. Jet gently hugged her back, and after a quick moment Katara turned to Toph and Aang, who both had huge smiles on their faces.
"How is this possible?" She looked back at Jet then to Aang and Toph again, waiting for an explanation.
Aang spoke up first. "Toph and I found him buying food at a market in the lower ring a few days before we were supposed to leave. We recognized him recognized him right away so we talked with him for a while and told him about the wedding." Aang paused and shrugged, looking at Jet now. "He said he'd love to come and Sokka said it was a great idea!"
Katara turned to Jet. "No but…how are you alive? We saw you…you...you were—"
"It was one of the Dai Li agents. They came back and helped me. Got me back out and to a doctor in the city. I guess he felt bad for us kids. Smellerbee and Longshot too. I had a pretty bad concussion and other stuff like that, but I was good as new after a few weeks." Katara could tell he was hiding how bad it'd been. "We've been living in Ba Sing Se since. I would've tried to find you guys, but I didn't know where you would have gone, and Smellerbee didn't want to leave the city."
"So you've been in Ba Sing Se since the war?"
Jet nodded.
This was too much. How was this possible? Katara felt someone step up next to her and knew without looking who it was. If the others hadn't been around, she would've slipped her arm through his. She didn't look at him.
"Wait, Lee?" asked Jet incredulously, staring at Zuko.
The snow was still falling hard, and the wind had picked up a little. "Here," said Katara to the group. "Let's go inside." She led the way into the house, inconspicuously staying close to Zuko. The home was dark, with only silver moonlight shining in through the windows. The fire from dinner had burned down, so she knelt down and neatly stacked some wood into the small living room fireplace as the rest of the group shuffled into the room. She reached for some spark rocks and shakily tried to light the fire.
A warm, sure hand covered her wrists and she dropped them. For some reason, she felt the strange urge to lean against him and let her head fall on his shoulder. He bent a small fire onto the logs and they both stood. Katara watched his face but couldn't read his expression in the dim firelight.
Aang, Toph and Jet were all sitting on the soft couch and chairs. Katara gingerly sat down on another couch and Zuko sat next to her. Their legs touched just slightly, and the warmth of his body calmed her.
"Your name's not actually Lee is it?" said Jet, the usual amusement in his voice. Zuko shook his head but didn't say anything.
"Wait," said Toph. "You've met each other before?"
Jet nodded. "In Ba Sing Se. I didn't know you guys knew him though."
"Yeah! He's one of our best friends!" said Aang cheerfully. "What a small world. He's also happens to the Fire Lord," Aang joked, turning towards Zuko with a smile. No one laughed.
Jet's face flared and he glared at Zuko, a twisted smile on his face. Katara looked up to Zuko. His face was disturbingly calm. Emotionless. She got the feeling whatever had happened in Ba Sing Se between them hadn't been good.
"The Fire Lord, huh?" he drawled. Katara didn't care for his tone of voice. It sounded like the old, manipulative Jet. "I guess that would make you a firebender then."
Something was passing between them, but Katara felt lost. She could tell Aang and Toph had sensed it too now. There was animosity here. Argh, why had they brought Jet? She wished Zuko would say something.
"Yep!" said Aang pointedly. "Zuko actually taught me how to firebend. Which came in handy at the end of the war."
Katara could tell Aang was still trying to lighten the mood, but it didn't work. A few more minutes of terse conversation passed. Katara asked about Toph's school and how Aang's time in Ba Sing Se had been. Jet asked Katara what she'd been up to in the years since the war and she gave him a brief answer. Zuko hadn't moved a muscle since sitting down. The tension in the room was bearing down on all of them now. Jet asked if it would be okay if he went out exploring and they all awkwardly mumbled that it would be. Katara watched him stand up, still amazed to see someone she'd thought was dead breathing and walking.
"Were you guys shocked when you saw him?" asked Katara.
Toph nodded. "It was weird hearing his voice again."
"Did you see Smellerbee and Longshot?"
Aang and Toph considered the question, trying to remember. "Actually no," said Aang. "But Jet said they were all staying in Ba Sing Se."
Katara nodded.
"I will say, he was a lot easier to talk with in Ba Sing Se and on the trip over here. And I thought he'd be happy to see you again, Katara," said Toph. "We both did. Which was why we invited him. But I feel bad now. Why is he acting all angsty all of a sudden?"
"Who knows? Jet is a hard person to understand," Katara replied. She knew it had something to do with Zuko but didn't want the conversation to go that direction.
Talking with just the four of them was a lot easier. They laughed more and were genuinely able to catch up. Katara even felt Zuko relax a little, though he didn't add much to the conversation. After a while, Aang announced he was going to check on Appa and Toph stood to go too. Katara stood, walking to add some more wood to the fire.
"Toph, I can show you to a room."
"No need, Sugar Queen. I think I can manage. We'll let you and the Fire Lord spend some time alone," she said with a smirk. A silence fell after these words and Katara's heart started pounding. Aang cocked his head in confusion.
"Wait…" said Aang, his eyes darting between Katara and Zuko. He was clearly confused by Toph's strange comment.
"Come on Twinkle Toes." Toph grabbed Aang, who was significantly taller than her, by the collar and dragged him up the stairs.
When the room was empty except for them, Katara sighed a nervous laugh and walked to sit back down next to Zuko. They're hands laced together naturally.
"I knew Toph would figure us out once she got here."
"I always forget about her freaky feet thing," said Zuko. He seemed even more relaxed now with just the two of them, but he still wasn't really smiling. Katara wished he would. "What do you think she's going to tell Aang?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sure it'll be fine though." Zuko took a deep breath. She was sort of worried about it too, and wished she'd been able to explain it to Aang herself, but she wanted to calm Zuko down right now. Something had been off with him since they'd gotten here. Even before Jet. The fire crackled in the silence. If she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine that they were back in their small room in the Fire Nation palace. The small haven they'd created for themselves. Though she was so happy being home, a part of her yearned for that. Desperately. Katara leaned her head on his shoulder. "Why did Jet think your name was Lee?"
"I met him and his friends in Ba Sing Se. That was the name I went by."
"How did I not know that?" said Katara teasingly. A beat passed. "You kind of look like a Lee, actually." Zuko smiled, which made Katara smile.
They sat in silence for a while longer. "What happened between you guys and Jet?" he asked. "I remember some stuff from that play...but I never asked you guys about it." He was trying to sound non-chalant but Katara could tell he wasn't.
"Oh spirits, I'd forgotten about that play," laughed Katara. Zuko laughed too at the memory, but it died quickly. "Sokka, Aang and I discovered his group hiding just outside an Earth Kingdom village. They were living in the trees and called themselves the freedom fighters. Jet was their leader." Katara paused. It'd been a long time since she'd remembered this awful story. "He tricked me and Aang into helping him flood the village." Her voice was quiet now. "If it hadn't been for Sokka, all the villagers would have died."
Katara looked up at Zuko. His eyes were looking forward, and he seemed disgusted. She continued carefully. "In Ba Sing Se he convinced me—us—to trust him again. Saying he'd changed and was different." This was where the details got fuzzy. She paused to remember. "He'd been arrested for some reason and they'd brainwashed him. I was able to heal him though. That was the first time I'd ever worked on someone's mind. He died in a fight against the Dai Li. Or at least we thought he did." Her voice sounded sad and she wished it didn't.
"Was there ever anything between you and him?" Zuko's voice was rough, but not angry.
Katara knew he was remembering the gross way the characters in the Ember Island play had acted out that soppy romance between her and Jet. She'd give anything for that image to not be in Zuko's head right now. "I guess there was. But it was nothing. I was fourteen, and he was the first real boy I'd met that wasn't my brother or Aang. He was older and…I don't know. I got caught up in something. But he was just using me for my waterbending. He played me." A beat passed. "I had been sad when he died though. We all were."
Katara looked up from Zuko's shoulder. A flickering shadow from the fire darkened his scarred face. He looked ominous. She was dying to ask about his history with Jet but knew it wasn't the time to press him. Gently, she took his hand into her own. With her other hand, she touched his face and moved so he would look at her. She didn't know if it the right time to do this, but she wanted to comfort him and didn't know what words would help. So she kissed him.
Zuko relaxed against her, his other hand moving to the back of her head and into her hair. He kissed her back passionately, but something was off. After a while, they broke apart for air, but their foreheads stayed connected. Their eyes were still closed and they were both breathing a little heavy. Spirits. She loved him so much. She wished he would say what was on his mind.
"Hey," Katara whispered, dropping her hand from his face and looking at him closely. She felt his hand on the back of her head fall away too. "What did you want to talk about earlier?"
"Oh," he said shaking his head. "Nothing. We can talk about it later." He stood up. "I think I should head to the ship, but I'll see you tomorrow."
"I can walk with you," she said as she stood.
"Don't worry about it," he said with a smile. "I think I can find my way back." Zuko turned away from her and started for the door.
"Okay," Katara replied warily. "See you tomorrow." Zuko reached the doorway and paused, looking at her closely. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but then shook his head, almost as if changing his mind. With a small smile, he vanished out of the house and into the night.
Katara knelt down next to the warm fire and slowly laid down on the floor. She pushed her worries about Jet and Zuko away and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The familiar smell and heat of the fire calmed her, and she slowly drifted off to asleep.
. . .
Katara's hands felt raw in the cold water she was using to wash a load of clothes. The water had been warm when she'd started, but the outside air had cooled the tub of water quickly. She scrubbed Sokka's shirt roughly against the washboard, taking out the tension that was in her mind on this load of laundry. She hadn't done hard housework like this in a long time and had forgotten how nice of a de-stressor it was. It was early in the morning, and soft pink light was just beginning to peak over the horizon.
Katara was right outside her home. She knew Aang was up because Appa was gone, but everyone else was still asleep. She gazed towards town. Zuko's ship was like a black spot just beyond the buildings of the tribe. Would he be up? Probably, she thought with a smile. He was always up early.
She heard some footsteps behind her and turned. Jet was walking up. He wasn't wearing any furs and Katara knew he must be cold. But he wasn't acting like he was, which was weird. She was finally getting used to fact that he was alive, but it was almost just as weird seeing him here. In the South Pole. Surrounded by snow and ice.
"Hey," she said. "Were you out all night?"
"Yeah. I like wandering," he said.
Spirits. Why was it so hard to hold a conversation with him? "Uhh, right," Katara replied awkwardly. "Well, good morning," she tried, attempting to sound cheerful.
"Yes. It is a good morning." At these words, Jet looked at her strangely. He smirked and one of his eyebrows raised slightly. She didn't like it.
Finally finished with Sokka's shirt, she pulled it up out of the wash bin and bent the water out of it so it was dry. She placed it in a pile with other clean clothes and reached for another piece of dirty clothing. How did she fall into the position of doing the housework so easily when she came home? She'd only arrived yesterday, yet here she was. Not that she minded.
Jet sat down against the house as she knelt at the bin to begin washing again. "So what's up with you and scar face?" he asked with a laugh.
Katara whipped around, anger flaring inside her. "Jet! Don't be so crude."
"It's okay, Katara. I get it," he laughed. She eyed him, watching his every movement. He seemed unfazed by her anger. "If you can manage to nail the Fire Lord, who am I to judge?"
She stood, letting a pair of her dad's pants fall into the water completely. "How dare you," Katara spat. "You don't even know what you're talking about." She thought of everything her and Zuko had gone through. From when he'd joined the group, to the end of the war, the three and a half long years apart, and then finally to now and everything that had happened in the last three months. How could Jet possibly understand all of that? He had no clue.
Jet was still smiling, which only made her more angry. "You don't even know him, Katara. I bet he didn't tell you he's the reason I was brainwashed and almost died?" Katara felt the angry, stony expression on her face falter just slightly. No. Jet always lies. "That's what I thought," he scoffed.
Not knowing what to say, Katara knelt in the snow and began angrily scrubbing the pants against the washboard again. Maybe if she ignored him, he would leave. "You don't want to hear the story?" he teased.
Katara scrubbed harder. Ignore him. "I'd discovered him and his Uncle while traveling to Ba Sing Se and figured out their secret. Firebenders. Hiding amongst all those innocent refugees." She froze. She heard Jet stand and walk a few steps closer to her. "I turned them in to the Dai Lee, knowing they'd arrest any firebenders. But your boyfriend fought me off. The Dai Lee arrested me instead and I was taken to the bottom of Lake Laogai. The firebenders walked free while I was brainwashed. All for trying to keep people safe."
That was the missing piece in the story. The reason Jet had been arrested in the first place. Katara kept her voice even. "They were in hiding. You had no business messing with them."
"You're defending them?" he asked with mock incredulity. "All I wanted to do was rid the world of a few more firebenders."
"The war is over, Jet," she snapped. "Who were they hurting? Firebenders aren't the enemy anymore. You need to stop thinking like that."
"Are you telling me to forget what the Fire Nation did to my family?"
"Of course not," said Katara simply. "I would never. You should know I would understand that just as well as you do. But don't blame Zuko. It's not his fault." Jet took a step closer to her, so there was only about a foot between them, but Katara didn't back away. She couldn't deny she was a little intimidated, but she held her ground and looked up into his face. "Why are you here, Jet? Why did you even come with Aang and Toph?"
"Because of you," he said, his voice unnaturally soft and calm. He was looking into her eyes now. Suddenly a little scared Katara made to back away but Jet grabbed her upper arms, digging his grip into her and trapping her arms at her side. "It's always been you, Katara. From the first time we met."
For the briefest of moments, she looked into his eyes and considered what it would be like to be with him. To escape the royal life she would have if she stayed with Zuko, filled with responsibilities and burdens. She could be free with Jet. They could travel. She wouldn't be trapped in the South Pole or in the Fire Nation. She wouldn't be tied down to one place or one life. People wouldn't hate her, or whisper about her or stare at her. She could just be herself. But then Jet's hands tightened on her arms and she remembered how awful he could be. The moment was gone.
"Let go of me," she demanded.
Jet ignored her. "Talking like that only makes me want you more."
"You're sick," she spat. Jet's mouth curled into a disgusting smile. "I'm warning you, Jet. Get your hands off of me."
He laughed, pulling her closer. "I know you want me too, Katara. I can't forget what you would whisper to me during those moments at the old hideout. Those moments where it was just us." He leaned down so his mouth was at her ear. His fingers were still digging into her upper arms. When he spoke, it was a whisper. "'No one understands me like you do, Jet.' 'You're so strong.' 'I wish my brother could be more like you.'" Katara's stomach churned, and anger like she'd never felt before blazed inside her.
Her voice shook, but it was forceful. "Let. Go." Jet chuckled loudly. The sound was like nails against a blackboard. She could feel his disgusting, warm breath on the skin of her face. Without warning, Jet smacked his disgusting lips on hers.
With a hard shove at his chest, Jet's grip loosened enough for her to kick a leg up and bring the dirty laundry water up in the air. When her arms were a little more free, she bent the water towards him, blasting him with the force of a geyser. He shot backwards 15 or so feet until he hit the wall of her house with a grunt. The water froze, trapping him there. She took a few steps forward and slapped him clean across the face.
"You understand nothing, Jet. I love Zuko. He's suffered at the hand of the Fire Nation just like you and I have. I never loved you. Never. So don't you dare use my own words against me to try and manipulate me into thinking I belong with you. I'm not fourteen anymore. You can't control me like that. What the Dai Lee did to you in Ba Sing Se was awful. No one should have to go through that. But it doesn't give you the excuse to act like the most disgusting, pig-headed person imaginable. We give you chance after chance. In the forest at your little hideout, in Ba Sing Se, and now here. But almost every time, you turn out to be the same lying slimeball you were before. I'm done."
Jet was struggling against the ice, but there was nothing he could do. He was fuming. Katara started to walk away. "Come back here," he yelled. "I know you love me."
Katara didn't offer him another glance.
"What did you just say?" said a new voice. Katara whipped around. Zuko was standing on the path in front of her house. He must've just come over from his ship. He was wearing his usual royal attire, his smaller crown placed neatly in his dark hair. His eyes were locked on Jet.
"I said your girlfriend's in love with me," Jet said with a smirk. Katara's heart was pounding, but she didn't seem to be able to find the words to explain the situation to Zuko.
Zuko walked towards them, his eyes never leaving Jet. "I see. I suppose that's why she's pinned you against this wall, then." Jet scoffed and continued to struggle against the ice. After a moment, Zuko turned to her. "What happened?"
"Nothing. I had everything under control. Jet just—"
"Just what?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Katara didn't say anything, but Zuko knew. He rounded on Jet.
"If you so much as laid a finger—"
Jet just laughed. Katara touched Zuko's shoulder just in time. At his laugh, Zuko had raised his arm as if to hit Jet, but he froze at Katara's hand and relaxed. His arm fell back to his side. Jet was still laughing.
"You guys are cute together, I must say."
Katara jerked Zuko away by his arm to the front of the house and towards the path. She knew she needed to get him away from Jet, otherwise Jet was just going to keep taunting him. Besides, her ice wasn't melting anytime soon in this climate. Jet wasn't going anywhere.
"Sorry…" Zuko mumbled once they were a good distance away.
"It's okay," said Katara. "He would have deserved it."
Zuko huffed. "What a disgusting little—"
"I know," said Katara.
Neither of them said anything for a few moments as Zuko calmed himself. Once he was relaxed, he looked at her closely, his face worried. "Are you alright? What happened?"
"I'm fine," said Katara, ignoring his second question. "But I don't think he should come to the wedding today."
Zuko nodded solemnly. "I agree. I can have him locked away on the ship for a while. We can keep him out of the way of your family." Katara nodded. "Why would Aang and Toph have thought it was a good idea to bring him all the way down here?"
It was a moment before Katara answered. "You don't understand. Jet can be very…I don't know…persuasive, I guess." Zuko met her eyes and she knew he understood what she was trying to say: Jet had tricked and charmed her the same way all those years ago. The sun was fully up now, and it warmed her skin. Katara looked up at Zuko's face. "Are you okay? I was worried last night after you left. I feel like something is up."
"Yeah. Everything is okay. Don't worry," he said with a genuine smile. But this didn't answer her question. She knew something had been on his mind.
"Are you sure? Because if there is, you can tell—"
Zuko leaned down and interrupted her with a kiss. Just as she had to him the night before. "I'm sure," he whispered. Katara smiled. He did seem a lot better than he had been last night. Maybe it was nothing. He leaned to kiss her again when another voice interrupted them.
"Flamey-o, hotman! Flamey-o." They both turned quickly in surprise to see Aang walking down the path from town. He smiled at having caught them and Katara's cheeks flamed. Spirits. Her stomach sank and she quickly stepped away from Zuko.
"Aang!" she yelped. He was in his usual clothes and holding his staff behind his back.
Aang laughed. "Don't worry, Katara. I'm happy for you guys. Really." He had a smile on his face that made it hard not to believe him. "Toph explained it all to me last night. Apparently, she's known this was going to happen with you guys since the last time we were all here in the South Pole. All though I will admit, when I said I wanted to unite the nations, this is not at all how I thought it would happen." All three of them laughed at the joke.
Katara thought back to that time and how fast her heart had beat every time Zuko looked at her. It definitely wouldn't have been hard for Toph to figure out what was going on. Katara and Zuko both smiled at Aang. Zuko and Aang locked eyes, and something seemed to pass between them, but Katara didn't know what.
Suddenly, a frantic voice called her name. "Katara!" Katara looked up to the second floor of her home. Suki was hanging out the window calling for her, and she looked like an absolute wreck.
"I'll be up in a second," she yelled back with a laugh before turning to Zuko and Aang. "I'll see you guys at the wedding," she said, starting towards the entrance of her house. Behind her, she overheard Zuko ask Aang if he would help him with something. Good. They could handle Jet and she could push the whole thing from her mind.
Katara ran into the living room and up the stairs, turning into the room Suki had been using since she'd moved to the South Pole to be with Sokka. When she opened the door, Suki looked up.
"Spirits, Katara, thank goodness you're here. I don't know what's wrong with me—"
Katara laughed sweetly. "It's okay. I understand. Here sit. Let me start on your hair. It'll help calm you down." Katara slipped her coat off and laid it on the bed.
Suki sat down in a chair in front of a mirror. "I don't know whether to cry because I'm so excited or cry because I'm so nervous." They both laughed again, and Katara began brushing out Suki's auburn hair. The task distracted her from her lingering thoughts of what had just happened with Jet. The encounter had shaken her. What were Zuko and Aang doing? Were they taking him to the ship?
"Where's Sokka?" asked Katara, trying to make conversation.
"I'm not sure. We decided not to see each other until the ceremony."
There's was a knock on the door and they both turned to see who it was. To their surprise, Katara's grandmother walked in with some breakfast.
"Hi, girls. I thought I'd join the party," the old lady said kindly. Katara and Suki welcomed her in with smiles.
The group spent most of the morning together, laughing and eating the food Kanna had brought. Katara finished Suki's hair and makeup and Suki switched and helped Katara. Gran-Gran was busy sewing the finishing touches on each of the dresses they'd be wearing.
"I heard your dad talking," piped up Kanna. "And from what people of the tribe have been saying, it sounds like they're planning for the celebration to last the whole night."
"Oh, spirits. Sokka will love that," remarked Katara. Since the tribe was still relatively small, and since Sokka would likely become chief in the future, the wedding had become an affair for all of the people in the South Pole. Everybody would be attending.
Suki shook her head, a bright smile on her face. "I still can't even believe this is happening. It's so surreal."
Kanna and Katara laughed. A silence fell between the three of them, but it was comfortable. Katara felt Suki dab her cheeks with some rouge. She smiled, thinking of the last time she wore makeup like this. She'd been so nervous then.
"How did you know, Suki? That you wanted to marry Sokka?" Katara didn't remember deciding to ask the question, and she hoped it wasn't too personal. Luckily, Suki didn't seem to mind.
"I don't remember ever deciding, honestly," she said simply. "It was more like I knew that I loved him. And after I knew that, I knew marriage would come. And I wasn't scared because I already knew that I wanted to be with him. When you fall in love with someone, marriage isn't a scary thing."
"Those are wise words, my dear," added Gran-Gran. "Marriage is only a burden when it is forced. When you love someone, it is the greatest blessing." Her smile warmed Katara's heart. What was holding her and Zuko back? Sure, they hadn't been together for that long, but their relationship had been coming for a long time before now. Years even. And she knew she loved him. If she wasn't sure about anything else, at least she was sure about that. Well that, and the fact that there would be people who resented her for marrying Zuko. A lot of people probably.
Suki looked at her, and Katara realized she'd been staring off, her eyes fixed on a random, distant spot.
"Why do you ask?" Suki said with a smirk. Katara rolled her eyes. With a quick glance to Katara's grandmother, Suki spoke again. "Are you thinking of Zuko?"
"Suki!" Katara knew why Sokka liked her. In some ways, they were extremely similar.
Katara's friend let out a laugh. "I knew it!"
Katara turned to face her grandmother, but Kanna was focused on her sewing. She was smiling though. "Don't worry about me, Katara. I already guessed too." Katara gaped at her. "You wear your thoughts on your face, my dear. It wasn't hard to figure out."
She knew her grandmother was right. Katara let out a groan, but she was smiling too. "We don't have to talk about this right now. It's your wedding day, Suki."
"Yes, but this is so much more interesting. Come on. Tell us. How did it all start?"
Spirits, where should she begin? When she left with him to the Fire Nation? Or earlier than that? Like at the end of the war? After he'd joined their group and she'd come to trust him?
"I don't even know. It's been coming for so long, I think. And so much has happened." Suki and Kanna were watching her closely now. "I think it's always been him, honestly. From the start." A beat passed. "I don't know if I really believe in all that fate and destiny stuff. But I do when it comes to him." Katara's voice was soft and gentle now, and she could feel the truth behind her words. She loved Zuko.
She looked up and saw her grandmother and Suki were watching her. Gran-Gran was smiling warmly, and Suki looked like she thought this was the most beautiful thing she'd ever heard.
"Katara! I had no idea how serious this was. I'm so happy for you." Suki leaned down and hugged Katara in the chair she was sitting in. "And ooh if you get married: Fire Lady Katara. That has a nice ring to it."
The sound of that made Katara's insides churn uncomfortably.
. . .
Katara looked up with a sigh. The moon was high in the sky. It'd had to have been a few hours now since the celebration had started, but as she looked around, she noticed the energy of the crowd was the exact same as it had been when the celebration had started. She smiled, realizing this wasn't going to be ending anytime soon. It'd been fun though, seeing everyone in the tribe again. And catching up with some of her old students.
She felt a familiar warm hand slip into hers and her smile grew. The actual ceremony hadn't been long, but she'd had to stand at the front with Sokka and the rest of her family. Since the celebration started, she'd stayed with her dad, Kanna, Pakku and Sokka and Suki as people came to offer gifts and congratulations to the couple. She hadn't seen Zuko for a few hours. He'd disappeared in the large crowd gathered in the main square of town, just like Toph, Aang and the Kyoshi warriors had.
"What've you been up to?" she said. Lights from the surrounding buildings flooded the wide-open area with light, as did the bright, silver moon. Music, laughter, and a hum of conversation filled the air.
"I've just escaped," he said. "People won't stop pulling me aside to introduce themselves and talk."
"Hmm. I wonder why," she teased sarcastically. Zuko rolled his eyes and smiled.
"How's it been going up here?" He nodded towards Sokka and Suki. It was weird seeing them in such formal clothes, but they looked amazing. Sokka hadn't stopped smiling since the ceremony and Suki was radiant. They greeted each guest that approached them with so much happiness and energy. Right now, an older couple was in front of them. Sokka was greeting the older man with a pat on the shoulder and friendly handshake, and the older lady was placing a gift in Suki's hands.
"It's been good," Katara replied, looking away from them and up to Zuko. He was still watching Sokka with a small smile. "They're so happy. It's fun to watch them."
Zuko nodded. "I'm happy for them."
Suddenly, Katara's grandmother spoke to them. She'd been standing just off to the side of Katara. On the other side of Kanna was Katara's dad. "You don't have to stand here all evening, Katara. I'm sure your dad and I can hold down the fort. Go have some fun."
They both turned to her at the sudden words. She was smiling at them. Katara opened her mouth to argue, but Gran-Gran raised an eyebrow at her and Katara knew not to argue. Besides, Zuko's warm hand was still in hers, reminding her how much she wanted to spend some time with him. Katara smiled at her grandmother, who winked and looked away back towards the newly-weds and the family now greeting them.
"Come on," she said, pulling Zuko by the hand. He grinned slightly and followed her. She lead him through the crowd and out of the town square. They weaved between buildings until they were past the main part of town and on the back side of the entire settlement. The sounds of the celebration were distant now, but Katara kept moving.
"Where are we going?" asked Zuko, completely confused.
"You'll see," she replied excitedly. After a little while longer, they were past the cluster of buildings that made up the Southern Water Tribe completely. The snow was softer and deeper now since it was untouched, and they had to slow down to make their way through it. It was also darker where they were now since they were farther from town.
Katara saw the familiar tall cliff just up ahead and walked faster. When they reached the rocky wall, Zuko stopped. "Uh, Katara?"
She turned to him. "Trust me," she replied. "It's not as bad as it looks. Besides, walking up the backside will take longer. This'll be faster."
Katara started up the steep, rocky path, using her hands to steady her when she needed to. Zuko followed her but was a little slower. It was dark and she knew he didn't know the path as well as she did.
Finally, they reached the top. Katara sucked in a breath when she saw the beautiful blanket of snow that covered the entire top area of the cliff. It was beautiful. The sky was dark blue and filled with thousands of stars. She felt so much closer to them up here. Like she was in her own little world.
"Wow," she heard Zuko say. She looked at him and saw he was taking the scene in too, his eyes wide. Katara squeezed his hand and he turned to her.
"Here, follow me," she said quietly. Katara turned around and led them to the edge the cliff they'd just climbed, kicking away some of the snow. She sat down and let her legs dangle off the edge. It was high, but not too bad. Zuko sat down next to her.
The entirety of the Southern Water Tribe settlement was splayed below them. The lights from town shone brightly and they could still see the crowd gathered in the town square, though it looked significantly smaller from up here. Katara could even see her home. It'd been so long since she'd come up here.
"This is amazing, Katara," said Zuko.
She smiled. "Yeah. It's one of my favorite places." Katara could feel Zuko staring at her. After a moment, he leaned back on his hands and looked at the tribe. Katara fell against him, letting her head fall naturally on his shoulder. The sounds of the celebration drifted up to them. "What happened with Jet?" she asked carefully.
"Aang and I took him to the ship until the celebration is over. Aang apologized for bringing him."
Katara shook her head. "He shouldn't feel bad."
"Are you going to tell me exactly what happened with Jet this morning?" asked Zuko seriously, but not demandingly.
Katara hesitated. Should she? "It wasn't anything I couldn't handle," she told him again. If she did tell him that Jet had kissed her, she knew he would freak out. And she didn't want this moment ruined. Zuko sighed and she could tell he wanted to know but didn't want to force her to share. He let out a small laugh.
"I know."
Another companionable silence fell. Zuko was like a small heater, even in this cold, and she curled into him a little, breathing in his smell and focusing on his even breaths. Spirits. The familiarity of being close to him comforted her. All the thoughts she'd been having since who-knows-how-long rushed into her head suddenly.
All the feelings she'd had at that banquet in the Fire Nation so long ago. All the worry she'd felt at the thought of what she would have to do if she married Zuko. The hate she would probably have to endure. But if she didn't marry him…well there was no one else she would ever want to marry. He was her best friend. Katara thought of Azula, and how much she wanted to keep helping her. She thought of her friend Yzona, and how close they'd become. And how important Yzona had become for Zuko and Azula.
And then Katara just thought of Zuko. The things he'd been through as a kid, and then during the war. How he'd struggled and fought for the life he wanted to lead and the man he wanted to become. How he'd finally pushed everything aside to help Aang defeat his father. His own father. Katara remembered how'd they'd fought Azula at the end of the war. The image of him jumping in front of that bolt of lightning would be burned into her mind forever. The fear she'd felt in that moment was so painful. But they beat her. Together.
And yet, when it came time for Katara to make a choice, she'd pushed him away. Forced away the one person that made her the happiest she'd ever been. The person that was able to make her feel so special. The thought made her angry. How could she have been so stupid?
But they found each other again. After so long, they still found a way to make it work. They found a rhythm together. And when it came time to return the favor he'd done her so long ago by taking Azula's lighting and saving her life, she hadn't even hesitated. It hadn't even been a choice. Because how could he die? The person who had, despite his terrible past, grown to be such a respected and inspiring leader. The person who had carved a permanent place in her heart. The person who made all the rude whispers and stares and jeers feel meaningless. Katara absentmindedly moved her hand to her stomach where she knew the star-shaped scar was.
Her heart and mind pounding, she sat up suddenly and looked at him. "Zuko—"
"Katara, wait," he said calmly. It caught her off guard and she stopped. Zuko's golden eyes, bright in the darkness, searched hers. It looked like he'd been thinking too. "I want you to have this." She looked down and sucked in a breath when she saw what he was holding. A delicate, blue necklace was resting in his palm. The pendant was small, but the fire nation insignia was skillfully etched into it.
"Spirits, Zuko. I—"
"No wait. Don't freak out." Katara thought this was an odd thing for him to say. He sounded worried but she didn't know why. He was almost a little frantic. "I want you to have this. But I'm not asking anything of you."
Katara quirked her head in confusion. "Being here, I realize what an amazing life you had before me. I could never ask you to leave it all behind just to be with me. I don't want to tie you down to a job you never asked for. One you maybe don't even want. A life you maybe don't want. I mean, I know how much you hate the heat and the stares and... everything." A beat passed. "What I'm saying is, I don't want you to feel trapped. So I'm not asking you to come back to the Fire Nation with me, or become my wife or anything. Because I know so much more comes along with that. Responsibilities and expectations and a title. I could never force that on you. But I just…I want you to have this because… well, I don't know. I guess because there's no one else I would ever give it to," he said with a shrug. "And so you know the place is always yours if you want it. The place at my side, I mean. It'll only ever be yours really."
Zuko was looking down now. His voice had sounded a little sad at the end. He placed the necklace gently into her bare hand, closing her fingers around it. The pendant was warm from when he'd been holding it. Katara watched him. He sounded like the same person who'd approached them at the Western Air Temple with no idea what to say but knowing he wanted to do the right thing.
"Zuko," she whispered. How did he understand her so perfectly? He understood what Aang never had. He was giving her what Aang never had. The power to choose for herself completely. Aang had never forced anything on her specifically, but for some reason, she'd always felt restricted when she was with him. Whether it was because she felt trapped with someone she didn't love or because she'd never been able to choose where they went and what they did, she didn't know. Even Jet had manipulated and twisted her. Taken the power to choose for herself away from her.
But here Zuko was. He wasn't trying to guilt her into anything like Aang unintentionally had, or trick and take advantage of her inexperience like Jet had. Zuko, one of the most powerful people in the world, was giving her the option to turn away. Even though he loved her, he was letting her go if that's what she wanted. This moment solidified in her mind that there was no one else she loved as much as she loved him. No other person she would ever want to spend her life with. If anything, it made her love him more.
"How could you ever think I wouldn't want to come back to the Fire Nation with you?" He looked up at her. "I love the life we've built there. I've already told you. I want to be wherever you are." She paused, bringing a hand to his face. "I love you so much," she said earnestly. "I can't imagine a life where I'm not with you." The memory of the three and a half years she'd spent without him returned to her mind, painfully reminding her how stupid she'd been to push him away. How had she let herself do that?
Zuko's eyes were wide, a small smile just barely starting. She could tell he was holding back his elation. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I'll marry you," she said with a laugh, not able to help the large smile that spread across her face.
Zuko tackled her unexpectedly, and she let out a yelp, worried for a moment that he might push them both off the edge of the cliff. But all he did was kiss her. Something about this kiss was different than all the others they'd shared. There was passion and warmth and excitement in it all at once. They tangled themselves together in the small little area where they'd cleared the snow away.
Zuko pulled her onto his lap, holding her tightly. He broke apart from her and looked into her eyes. Katara looked back into his deep golden ones, relishing in the warmth she felt in them.
He brought his hand up to the side of her face. His fingers tangled in her hair and his palm rested against her skin as his thumb stroked her cheek.
"I love you," he whispered. He was smiling so genuinely Katara's heart melted. She leaned to kiss him again, but then something strange happened. All the music and conversation coming from the celebration below stopped. They both turned to look down, surprised by the change. Every single person was looking up at the sky, marveling with 'oohs' and 'ahhs.'
Katara looked up too, and what she saw took her breath away. Colorful lights filled the sky, almost like someone had taken a paintbrush to a dark canvas. Except they moved; ebbed and flowed, almost like water. It was beautiful.
Maybe the spirits were doing this for Sokka and Suki. Maybe it just so happened to be the right time of year. But something inside Katara told her this was for her. Her and Zuko.
A/N Confession time: I wrote out the chapter I had planned with Jet and absolutely hated it. So then I had this whole "what have I done moment." ANYWAYS, long story short, this chapter was kind of a cop-out with regards to Jet lol. Don't hate me, please. I've never written anything other than rhetorical analysis, research, synthesis and other boring stuff like that in my life lol. Basically, I now know I've got no clue how to actually plan out a plot.
I was going to do one more chapter after this to finish but I think I like how it ends here. I may just write the epilogue next and call it good. Plus, there's something really satisfying about an even 20 chapters lol. But who knows, I may totally change my mind.
I love you all and thanks for reading! As always, please please please review! (And sorry for the long A/N)