That night Zuko was plagued with nightmares of his own. They all centered around Katara running off to be with Kai. Their easy friendship, how they looked at each other, their shared jokes, shared history, and how they held each other as they slept. He figured after a week of keeping her to himself, this wouldn't bother him, but there was he was awake at sunrise with a kink in his neck and smelling like Appa. His two companions were still asleep with Aang tucked into Tophs arms and both covered with blankets.
As he laid in the grass, he wondered if Katara would tell him that she stayed with Kai. That was curled in his arms all night instead of looking for Aang. Would she lie to him? They said in the arena they would talk about whatever they were, but it never happened. Not with everyone in different stages of grief or recovery. Then he remembered Aang's outburst at the table, the destruction of their dinner, and the young monk drunk off his ass in the courtyard. He could only imagine that Kai was probably just as worse for wear.
Appa's groaned as the giant beast shifted positions is what forced Zuko to rise. He hated himself for being angry with a girl who was only trying to comfort her friend. And it wasn't like she was alone with him. Sokka was holding Kai as tenderly as Katara. They looked more like siblings than lovers. "Morning, Appa," Zuko whispered as he stroked the large bison's head affectionately. The happy grunt that came from the animal elicited a rare smile from Zuko. He could see why airbenders loved their bison and treated them like family. It was like Appa knew what he was saying and thinking. The gentle brushing of his broad snout against Zuko's side was very comforting. He stole one last look at the young couple before tiptoeing into the palace.
He made it back to his room when he heard the shower going. He walked inside and knocked on the bathroom door. When he didn't hear a response, he walked and called out for her. Still nothing. He walked over to the shower and peeked inside, seeing her naked front as she stood under the hot water. "Katara?" Her answering scream was enough to tell him that she didn't sleep well.
"Oh, spirits Zuko! Why didn't you knock?"
"I did. Were you sleeping?" Katara blushed and turned away from him as she reached for the sponge. She heard him undressing him before he came up behind her and wrapped his body around hers. She almost relaxed against him, but she couldn't because of the smell that clung to him.
"Why do you smell like the stables?" He groaned and tried to reach for her sponge, but she kept it from him. She stepped out of his arms, covered the sponge in soap, and cleaned his body.
"I slept outside with Aang, and Toph and Appa ended up joining us." He looked down at her, watching for her reaction. She looked pleased that he had reached out to help Aang. "I'm sorry if you waited up for me." That stopped what she had been doing and made her looked up at him, giving him a small smile. He knew it was childish to trying to trick her into telling the truth, but he needed to know that she wouldn't lie to him. Azula always lied to him. His father had lied to him. His 'friends,' that were only his friends because his title, consistently lied to him. The only people who were ever honest were Mai, Ty Lee, his uncle, and Lu Ten.
"Thank you for helping with Aang. I didn't wait up for you, though, sorry. I stayed with Kai and Sokka last night. Sokka had someone make that tea I drink, and we all ended up drinking it." Katara went back to cleaning him as he took in the information. She hadn't lied or even thought about lying. She told him what happened and sighed like she was exhausted. "I didn't sleep well, though. Sokka and I were holding onto Kai like we did when we were little, but it's not as comfortable of a position now that he's almost a foot taller than me." She chuckled as she reached for the shampoo to wash his hair helped him relax.
Zuko wrapped his arms back around her and closed his eyes as she massaged the soap into this hair. He asked about how Kai was doing, and all he got as a response was a shrug before she shared her concerns about his nightmares, fears, and drinking. So Kai was drinking as much as Aang? She tipped his head back into the water and rinsed out the soap before beginning on her hair. "I know it hasn't been long at all, but… are we going to stay like this forever? Always scared and looking over our shoulders. The nightmares. How do past winners live with this?"
He took over, washing her hair for her and thought about her questions. Aang was the happiest person he had ever met before they entered the arena. Now he was drunk and angry most of the time. Kai was super easy-going; his personality was like his element; he could ease into conversations and adapt to wherever he was. He was a complete loner now, some of that was Zuko's fault, and overworking his still-healing body because of his fears.
As he helped her rinse out the suds from her hair, he noticed the bruises on her arms. They looked fresh and like fingers. He lightly touched them and watched her flinch. His first thought was that Kai had hurt her because she didn't share his affections, but he was proven wrong once again. "He had a nightmare, squeezed a little too tight." She explained, and Zuko lightly ran his fingers over the marks. She continued to explain how, because of his nightmares, she didn't get much sleep. He hated himself for feeling like he had earlier. All of his jealousy, fear of her lying to him, thinking she wouldn't want him just because she stayed with her friend who was so terrified that he left marks on her by accident in his sleep.
They finished showering, and instead of bending the water off of them, she kept her hair wet and dried off with a towel. He followed suit and slipped into a pair of clean sleep pants while she began to get dressed for the day. "It's still early, Kat, and you didn't sleep. Come here. I'm sure someone will come and wake us up in a few hours." He watched her plump lips twitch upward before she grabbed one of his larger shirts and slipped back into his arms. Just feeling her added weight against his body put him at ease. He stroked her wet hair while she settled into her spot on his chest, rubbing small circles into his abdomen. Their legs were tangling together as she rubbed her naked limbs against his covered ones. He stifled a groan as he remembered that she was only wearing his shirt.
"I missed you last night." His heart swelled when he heard her declaration. His arms tightened around her as she yawned against his chest. "I sleep better like this." He kissed the top of her head, rubbed her arm, and pulled the covers over them. Their bodies sank into the mattress as he got comfortable in the plush bedding.
"Me too." He felt the steady beating of her heart as she fell into a peaceful sleep. Molten gold eyes gazed down at her caramel skin, high cheekbones, slender nose, full, long lashes, and plump lips. His gaze fell further to her mother's necklace. He played with the carved stone on her neck and wondered how he would even go about carving a necklace like this for her. The more he thought about her receiving a necklace from another man, from Kai, the more he needed to figure out what they were and what they could be. He loved waking up next to her every morning, slept better with her in his arms, and felt like he could open up to her. He had never felt so comfortable with another person. Even when he was with Mai. There was always a wall separating him from everyone else, keeping him safe.
Katara all but busted through that wall with her kindness and affection. He knew how he felt for her, but his fear of her not reciprocating his feelings stopped him from sharing them out loud while she was awake. "I love you…" He whispered to her and felt a weight come off his chest as he pulled her closer to his body. Even though she couldn't hear him,, he reveled in the feeling of knowing exactly what he was feeling. Now he just had to figure out how to tell her.
Several hours later, everyone in the small group was sitting, dressed, rested, and ready for the day in the dining room. Iroh, King Bumi, and Lu Ten stood tall at the table's head, prepared to explain the day's activities. Katara felt Zuko's fingers interlock with hers as they waited for orders or directions. She gave his hand an affectionate squeeze before General Iroh cleared his throat. "Good morning everyone. I know last night was distressing for all of you. To see Mai in such a state was...heart wrenching, to say the least. While all of us here know that Mai and Haru are strong and stubborn and unlikely to give away our location, we still want all of you to be prepared if the Empire does attack. Right now, Omashu still looks like it is apart of the Empire. Empire soldiers here are on our side and alert us to any changes or check-ins. My brother only believes he lost Ba Sign Se and a few villages surrounding it. In reality, we have retaken Gaoling and Kyoshi as well. The sandbenders have done their job of keeping the Empire out of the desert, and the Swamp was already untouchable."
The group stared in disbelief. The Empire was supposed to be unbeatable, but here stood Iroh with most of the Earth Kingdom under the rebellion's protection. Katara sat quietly, taking in the information as he continued. "We have a group of earthbenders who have been quietly working on building cities underground here in Omashu and Gaoling. The one here in Omashu was created to hide refugees and the city's citizens in case of an attack. Bumi and Toph have been training earthbenders to become metalbenders and have started to build large steel domes that will cover the cities as well." Iroh paused and looked over their faces. To say they were stunned was an understatement. The only teen who looked calm and smug was Toph.
"Let guess we're getting the grand tour of the basement?" Iroh let out a hearty laugh that shook his entire body, while Bumi's cackle made everyone in the room shiver with discomfort.
"Yes, exactly that, Miss Beifong." Iroh watched as the young women stood and began to saunter off with a dismissive wave.
"Well, since I helped build it, I don't need the tour. I'm going to find the brand spanking new metalbenders and let out some of my rage." Katara snorted in response and watched her hands sink into her pockets as she walked off to a place only she knew because she probably also built that. "Oh, and don't need me for a few hours." With that, the petite brute was gone.
Katara could feel Zuko watching her, could sense the small curve of his lips, and tried with all her might to ignore the stirring in the pit of her stomach. She focused on Kai and Aang, who were mumbling to each other. Aang played with his hair as if it was foreign to him and nodded along to whatever Kai was telling him. Sokka was sitting next to Teo, who was animatedly talking about the 'basement' as Toph called it, and the weapons room, training rooms, control center, and the rest of the tech his father was working on. She could tell her brother was eager to see and help with the non-bending aspects of the rebellion. Sure he was a strong fighter, but it was his brain that made him unstoppable.
Voices continued in the background, and part of her knew she should at least attempt to pay attention, but she was still trying to avoiding Zuko's ministrations. It was becoming more challenging, though. They had kept things very innocent that morning, but from the moment they awoke, he been far more affectionate. She bit her lip as she remembered just thirty minutes earlier when his lips found her neck while she dressed. His arms had come around her and pulled flush against his naked body. His heated whispers that left her a trembling mess when they were suddenly summoned to the dining room. Now, his hand left hers and opted to rest on her knee. His thumb drew small circles on the inside of her knee before slowly inching further up her thigh.
Her hand reached out for his and tried to stop him from going any further. Cerulean eyes met molten gold in a silent challenge. His smirk sent a shiver down her back. He leaned in close and kissed her temple lightly before taking his hand back. She took a deep breath and sank into her chair. She didn't know where this sudden need to show his affection came from, and if they weren't in front of everyone at the moment, she would let him show her just how much he wanted her.
"Come now, friends. Let's go see the bunker." General Iroh's calming voice pulled her out of her thoughts as she stood and walked by Zuko's side as they followed a group of earthbenders to a remote portion of the palace. The ground opened up, and stone steps led down into pitch-black darkness. "There are lights further down but to avoid Empire soldiers knowing that it takes a firebender to make it down the stairs. Zuko, will you follow behind the group with your flame?"
Zuko nodded and stood to the side, pulling Katara with him. A protective arm curled around her waist as the group walked past them. She looked up at him as he led them down the stairs, the earth closing behind them, with a small flame in his free hand. She moved closer to him as they walked in the dark and felt his hand slip into her back pocket, giving her bottom a gentle squeeze. Her eyes widen as his ever present smirk grew wider. He met her gaze and pulled her against his side, and stopped walking so he could kiss her. She got on her tiptoes and kissed him back because giving in to his affection was easier than questioning it. It was a sweet, slow, tender kiss that left her wishing they were in their room to see where it would lead.
"What's gotten into you?" She whispered to him and watched his face looking for any clue of what was going on in his head. Instead of an answer, she received another slow, tender kiss. His tongue was teasing hers when she tried to deepen the kiss. When he pulled back, he had this mischievous glint in his eyes as he watched her. He took his hand from her pocket and gave her bottom a light smack, pushing her forward to meet up with the group.
When he didn't actually answer her question, she rolled her eyes and caught up with the rest of the group. She watched as Iroh, Lu Ten, and Zuko put out their flames and was met with a sprawling city connected by tunnels, elevators, and staircases. Iroh waved for the group to follow him. Katara pushed to the front of the group where her brother was and looked up at him in awe. He draped his arm over her shoulders and nodded with the same wonder in his eyes.
Katara heard Iroh going on about the different levels and what was located on each one but she was too distracted to really listen. Suki and Ty Lee had taken up the spot beside her as the girls wandered aimlessly through each of the levels with the group. "Do you think we'll actually have to use this place?" Suki asked them and Katara saw the darkening in Ty Lee's eyes. Katara pulled both girls back into a stray hallway away from prying eyes.
"Ty?" Katara and Suki shared a look as Ty Lee's hand shook while she watched the group walk off without them.
"We're safe here while Mai is still stuck in the Capital. Does General Iroh really think I'm going to hide down here if Azula attacks?" Neither girl had seen the sweet, bubbly acrobat so intense and angry before. They were taken aback by her defiance, but both understood how she felt. They wanted to save Haru and Mai as well.
"I know you want to fight but we'll be whisked down here whether we like it or not. Our best bet is to figure out how to get out of here if that happens." Katara explained and watched as Ty Lee's chocolate brown eyes turned to look into cerulean ones. "We can talk more upstairs but now let's just keep smiling and exploring."
Ty Lee looped her arm through Kataras and nodded. A small, gracious smile curved on her lips as the trio walked quickly to catch up with the group. Katara held onto Ty Lee and tried to soothe the girl who was in a constant state of distress. If she wasn't crying alone in her room, she was moping around the palace or lashing out someone trying to help her.
"This is the weapons room. Come in, everyone; we have gifts for each of you." Iroh waved the group of teens into the large room where a man with wild hair and glasses stood holding onto a boomerang.
"BOOMERANG!" Kai and Katara groaned at the same time as Sokka ran over to the man and grabbed the boomerang in his hand. Kai came to stand at her side with a small crooked smile. Katara let out a snort as she leaned into his side while they watched her brother act like a child who had just found their favorite toy.
The wild haired man watched in surprise before tapping Sokka on the shoulder to get his attention. "Ple-please be careful with that son. There are explosives inside of it." Sokka immediately dropped the boomerang and stepped back. The man picked up the boomerang and held it gingerly in his hands.
"This is my father. He's a genius, and he's the man who created the security system for the Empire. He'll be the one who can break through it." Teo introduced the man who smiled brightly and waved to the group. "Boomerang is for you, Sokka as well as this." A black sword was pulled from a leather sheath. Sokka held the sword in his hands, testing its weight before he took a few practice swings. "Zuko these are for you." He was handed a fresh set of dual broadswords that felt like they were tailored made for him. "Suki, Ty Lee, these are for you." Teo passed Suki new fans that were razor sharp and flew through the air like Sokka's boomerang and back into her hands. Ty Lee was given a whip that she deftly unraveled and begin to practice with it. The whip moved with her, flowing through the air and cracking at her insistance. It would give her a weapon to use instead of just her chi blocking abilities.
"Aang a new glider." Aang held the glider in his hand,, moving through a few forms with it testing its feel. It was light but sturdy and snapped open far more manageable than the one he currently had. "Kai, Katara, these are for you." Both stepped up to Teo and took the large waterskins that strapped onto their backs. Filled with water already, both called forth their element without having to uncork the waterskins on their backs. Katara twirled with the water circling her, sending a powerful blast towards the only empty corner of the room. Kai created a wave and sailed through the room with ease.
"These are amazing. More water readily available for us." Kai returned the water into the waterskin as Teo's father motioned for them to join him. The mechanist drew the group's attention to a wall of armor specially made for each other. The girl's armor covered them well but was light so that they could move without the weight of actual armor. Katara walked over to the blue and silver armor with her name underneath the mannequin. A black sleeveless bodysuit with a high neck was covered in dark blue tinted steel. A strapless breastplate covered her chest and torso snugly, arm guards that started at her wrists and ended at her biceps, with leather boots that covered her feet and ended at the mid-thigh with steel shin covers. Around her hips was a belt with two smaller waterskins at each of her hips. On the wrists of her arm guards, she found empty rectangular containers. She looked at her double waterskins strapped her right at the moment and found the space they would occupy on her armor. The same rectangular containers that were located on her wrists were also found on her ankles.
Teo watched as Katara examined her armor from behind the glass before lowering the glass for her to reach out and touch it. His father stepped up and started to explain the design for her armor to the group. "After watching you in the arena, I learned that you need full use of your arms and legs. So your armor is very lightweight. We also noted that while you can find water anywhere, it would be best if you had as much water on your person as possible. So,, in addition to your two large waterskins on your back, we also created these little canisters that can hold water on both your wrists and ankles and two additional waterskins at your hips. The bodysuit is flame resistant, and your actual armor is made of platinum, not steel. We did this in case Fire Lord Ozai has metalbenders. Platinum is too pure of a metal to bend, which makes it perfect for protecting you."
Katara reached out and touched the soft material of the bodysuit where it showed underneath the armor. She looked over at Teo and his father and thanked both of them for the incredible gift. Zuko's armor, black and gold, rested beside hers. It looked very similar to hers but without the containers for water, his wrists and ankles. His chest plate covered his shoulders down to his hips. His armor had a unique holster for his swords on his back so that they were readily available for him to reach and release. Aang's armor was by far the most interesting to her. "Aang, this is your suit. It is also flame-resistant, but you can also glide through the air without your glider if need be." The group watched as the mannequin's arms stretched out and a thin material connected from his arms to his torso covered.
"They gave you wings, Aang. That's so cool…" Katara whispered to him as he stepped up and touched the lightweight material. "What's that on his face?" Katara asked as Aang's eyes followed her gaze.
"That's a cover for his eyes so that he can see at night and keep his eyes during high winds." Aang beamed at his armor as he circled it and took all of it in. It was perfect. He would be able to move freely, with no restrictions, with a space for his new glider on his back.
Each member of the group stood before their armor, taking in every small detail that was specific to their personal needs. Kai's had more armor covering his right side to protect the already damaged skin underneath and supplement any weakness that he may still have on that side of his body. Sokka's looked like Zuko's armor with a space for his boomerang on his back and his sword at his hip. Ty Lee's and Suki's were identical to hers except without the water containers. Instead, they had belts that held Suki's fans and Ty Lee's whip. The other difference in each of their suits of armor were the colors. Sokka's, Kai's, and Katara's were all a dark blue tinted color with silver accents. Ty Lee and Zuko's were black and red with gold accents. Suki and Toph's were emerald green with gold accents. Aang's armor was deep burnt orange with red and yellow accents.
Zuko looked over her armor and hoped that by some miracle she would never have to put it on. That maybe he and his uncle could put an end to their family's reign of terror without involving his new friends any more. Her glittering eyes seemed to think differently. She looked ready for a fight, ready to wear her armor and join the other soldiers' ranks that surrounded them. The girl who was scared two weeks ago of even entering the arena was long gone. This woman beside him was ready to take out whoever she had to for peace. He both admired and feared this woman. She was fierce, ruthless, and eager. He swallowed as he unconsciously compared her to his sister, but while Azula fought for power and dominance, Katara was willing to fight for freedom and peace. He shook his head of the thoughts when he felt her fingers lace with his as the group continued their tour.
Teo led them through each level. A hospital floor where non-bending doctors and water tribe healers worked together, a training floor for non-benders and benders, a library, a cafeteria that was eerily similar to the one in the contestant center, a surveillance room and control room as Teo called it, and finally on the bottom floor reinforced with steel think stone walls were the barracks that they would hide in if they were ever to come under attack. "The control room right is right above this is being used to hack into the security system at the Capital. We want to try and take over the screens all around the world, even for a few minutes, to get you guys on camera. The world should know that you're all alive and fighting for what's right." Katara into the barracks and took in her surroundings.
"How do we get out of here?" She asked, locking eyes with Teo, who motioned to the walls.
"Only an earthbender can bend you out. It's for everyone's protection. The Empire doesn't have many, and they don't know this is down here, so they won't attack with many. If anything, they'll keep the ones they do have back at the Capital to protect the Fire Lord." Katara took in the information already formulating the idea in her head, and Toph was going to love it.
"Do you really think they've held out this long? Or do you think Ozai has killed them? It's been a week!" Ty Lee was growing increasingly anxious. Every day that there wasn't news from the capital, she sought out Katara, Toph, and Suki pulling them away from the men who otherwise dominated their time.
Today was no different. The four girls sat in the garden,, going over their plan once again. It seemed like a solid plan with the exception of the boys not knowing it and all of them growing more protective of the girls each day. Zuko hardly let Katara out of his sight anymore.
She thought back to when Ty Lee knocked on their door and asked for her. Zuko scowled and asked why the hell she needed her now. When Ty opened the door with tear stained cheeks she elbowed him in the side and got up from the bed. She had told Ty Lee to get the other girls and meet her in the garden. The fight she had with Zuko after she left had left them both angry and annoyed with the other.
"She's hurting, and you think it's okay to yell at her? Damn Zuko I'm not your property you can't keep me locked up in here all day."
"She needs you everyday Kat! Can't Toph or Suki take care of her without you?"
"You sound like such a brat right now! Her girlfriend, your ex-girlfriend, is stuck in a continuous pattern of torture, heal, brainwash, repeat, and you have the nerve to be upset with her for needing some girl time! What if it were me? You know, Kai wouldn't act like this. He would understand that my friends need me just as much he does."
She must have hit a nerve because he clammed up and furrowed his brows deep in thought. She knew it was wrong to throw her and Kai's relationship in his face but she couldn't believe how he was acting. It was like she needed to put him in his place for his childish behavior. "I'll be in the gardens with the girls. I'll come to find you later." She grabbed her shoes and slipped them before walking towards the door.
"Kat! I'm-" She walked out of the room before he could get out his apology. Now, as she sat on the cool grass with the other girls she regretted yelling at him and running out on him.
Ty Lee played with the petals of a rose that Iroh included when he brought them all his jasmine tea. She held the small slip of paper that asked for her and Zuko's presence in a private dinner that evening. Suki popped up next to her and reached for the paper, reading it over before taking in the pained looked on Katara's face.
"Did you and prince charming have a fight or something? You've been in a sour mood since you got here."
"Did Sparky royally fuck up?" Toph asked as she picked up one of the fruit tarts and popped it into her mouth. Katara sighed and took the note back from Suki before taking a big gulp from her tea.
"Yeah and I should probably go find him and clear the air before this dinner with his uncle."
"What did you guys fight about?" Katara thought about his childish behavior earlier that day and tried to reason that she had been in the right during the argument. But she may have been too harsh with him.
"Ty Lee came by to get me because she needed us. Zuko snapped at her through the door and then got upset when I started to get ready to leave. I should be flattered that he wants to spend all of his time with me, and I am. I love spending the day with him, but when you guys need me, I feel like he should respect that. I mean we're basically attached at the hip these days. I yelled at him, called him a brat, and told him that Kai would never act like this. Kai understands that I need my space, and I think Zuko and I are just figuring out these little things about each other. I feel awful for yelling at him and throwing Kai in his face. It wasn't right."
Suki and Toph both started to laugh while Ty Lee hugged Katara and whispered a thank you for standing up for her. Toph was in hysterics rolling in the grass. "He got mad at you for having friends! Poor guy… You do know he's never really had friends before, right? What you did was kind of bitchy, but man, it's funny that he wouldn't understand that." Toph was still laughing at how socially inept Zuko was. Suki took pity and stopped laughing, throwing some bread at Toph to get her to stop too.
"She's right, it's sad and a little funny. Come on, I'll help you find him. Prince sulks a lot, usually trains when he's angry or upset." Ty Lee stood up and held out her hand for Katara, who bent some tea into Toph's crotch.
"HEY! You know I can feel where you are, right?" Katara waved her off and walked with Ty Lee to the training grounds that Kai and Aang usually used. Ty Lee had her arm looped through Katara's as they walked silently through the palace.
"You know we'll get her back right? Whatever we have to do, we'll get her back." Katara whispered to her friend and felt her tighten her grip on her arm before nodding. They walked in silence the rest of the way, resting their heads on each other. When they finally found the training grounds, they came upon a shirtless Zuko sending a ferocious onslaught of fire towards Kai. Katara's heart stopped as Kai nearly missed being burned once again. She was about to intervene when Aang joined her side, sighing loudly. "What the hell are they doing?" She questioned as Aang plopped onto the ground.
"Letting out steam or so I was told," Aang mumbled as he watched from the sidelines. Katara huffed and sat beside him as Pakku and Jeong Jeong watched from the sidelines. As their spar progressed,, Zuko's attack became more aggressive and Kai was starting to match his aggression. Zuko sent fire blast after fire blast while Kai circled him on a wave that threatened to drown the prince if he wasn't careful.
"One of you needs to stop this! They're going to hurt each other!" Katara demanded, but neither made a move to stop them. "Old jerks… I'll stop them myself." She pulled the remainder of the water from the barrels as well as all the water she could draw from the grass underneath them and sent two tidal waves towards them before freezing them to the ground. She pointed at Kai, who cringed when he saw the fire in her eyes. "You're still injured, and pushing yourself too much is too much of a risk. Unfreeze yourself and go rest." She turned to face Zuko, who looked away from her as she started her reprimand of him. "And you. If you have a problem, go the source. If you ever hurt him we're done." She threatened, and Kai started to inject, but she held up her hand. "Now, if you want to talk, I'll be over there. Unfreeze yourself."
Kai looked between the two of them and quickly unfroze himself before running over to Zuko and unfreezing him as well. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think she would be this mad."
Zuko waved him off and focused on her loose waves flowing in the breeze, tense shoulders, and the waves of anger coming off her. "It's not you. We got into it earlier. I'm sure seeing this didn't help."
Kai looked between the two of them before taking pity on the prince. "Grovel like your life depends on it. She tends to hold a grudge if she's mad enough. Oh, but she responds well to compliments. It's gotten me out of the dog house enough times. Jokes come after groveling. Food will make her the happiest." He whispered and nudged the prince towards her. Zuko turned back to say thank you, but Kai was already walking over to Pakku, rubbing the back of his neck. Zuko suspected he was getting scolded for even letting Katara come between himself and Zuko.
Kai watched from his spot beside Aang as Zuko edged closer to a steaming Katara. "I haven't seen this mad in years." He commented to his friend, who looked over at him with a small smirk.
"Admit it, you like that she's mad at him." Aang teased, and Kai chuckled, elbowing the young airbender in the ribs.
"A little, but I also know she can be very mean when she wants to be. I hope he takes my advice." Aang raised his eyebrow at the warrior and was about to ask what advice he had given when Pakku and Gyatso called them both over in what both benders hoped was their master's test date.
"Katara… you have every right to be mad at me. I shouldn't have yelled at Ty Lee like that. I don't know what she's going through, and if it was you, I don't know if I would be handling things as well as she is." Zuko started and hoped that maybe she would turn to face him, but he had no such luck. "I-I just- If anything ever happened to you, I don't think I could handle it. I know you're not my property, but if you're with me, then I know you're safe."
Katara felt the tension in her shoulder start to melt away at his words. Her safety was always the most important thing to him, to her brother, to Kai. She ran her hand through her hair and looked over her shoulder at the groveling prince. He looked like someone had just kicked his puppy. "I swear I'll be more understanding. I won't take up all of your time, but please don't end this." She spun around and looked over at Kai to make sure he was okay. She had threatened to end things if Kai was hurt, but he looked excited as he and Aang jumped in the air.
Zuko could see her anger fading and closed the space between them with three long strides. His arms wove around her middle, and his forehead came down to hers. He was covered in sweat, probably smelled, but she still put her hands on his back and pulled him closer. "Why were you attacking Kai like that? Was it because of what I said? I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that. You and Kai are completely different people, and he just knows me so we-"
He cut her off by pressing is lips ardently against hers. He felt her lean into him more as her hands curled over his shoulders to help hold herself up. He squeezed her against him before letting his hands fall to her ample bottom. Grasping hold of her and lifting her into his arms. He groaned into their passionate kiss when she instinctually wrapped her legs around his waist.
When she broke away from him, panting, and moving her wrap her arms around his neck, he looked up into her eyes, seeing the forgiveness in them. "Am I forgiven?" He whispered against her lips, and she kissed him sweetly, nodding yes. "By the way. You're cute when you're mad." She rolled her eyes, let out a small giggle, and hit his arm playfully. He adjusted his hold on her, rotating her in his arms so that he was carrying her bridal style through the palace.
"Oh, your uncle wants to have dinner with us tonight. Just us." Zuko rolled his eyes and carried her back through the palace.
"I can only imagine what he wants with us." He murmured and kissed her cheek. She settled into his arms and nuzzled his neck, ignoring the whispers from the servants around them. "You're going to smell as bad as me if you keep doing that." He teased and gently tickled her sides as they laughed through the hallways back to their room.
"Are they ready for their big debut? I want them to look as though I didn't have fun with them all afternoon." Zhao watched as the princess looked over the dazed former contestants. They both looked somewhat healthy, maybe a bit too skinny for their friends liking. "Oh, Mai come here, please." He watched as the prince's former girlfriend walked over to join them. Azula was perched in his lap as she straightened the girl's dress slightly to make it perfect. He rubbed her hips and kissed the back of her neck as she tended to her charges.
"They look perfect, princess." He whispered to her and felt her shift in his lap, rubbing against his growing arousal. He growled softly in her ear, bunched her skirt in his hands. She turned to face him as she shifted again and spread her legs just enough for him to sneak his hand between them. "Let's get this over so you can finish what you started earlier." The snicker he heard from her was teasing and made his shaft ache with need. She waved her hand to dismiss the two former contestants before turning her attention onto him. "Don't start something you don't intend to finish." He warned, and she rolled her eyes as she stood up, fixing her dress.
"Fine, tonight, I'm yours." She whispered to him and lifted his chin to kiss him lightly. He saw the way her eyes sparkled at the idea of being alone with him. He adjusted his pants and walked out to the stage with her. The former contestants were sitting where they had just a month ago with Jin Wei. The lights lowered around them but stay bright on the stage. The cameras pointed towards the duo who looked around them before finding the teleprompter they were to read.
Yesterday, they were told that Katara, Ty Lee, and Zuko had been caught en route to Ba Sing Se. Haru tried not to believe it, but he heard screams that sounded so similar to Katara's voice. Then he heard cries of pain coming from another and could only assume they belong to Ty Lee. He and Mai had been eating together, which was strange since they weren't allowed in the same together unless they were being healed. When Azula walked in with of Katara's necklace Mai broke. Ty Lee and Zuko's things were easy to get ahold of but Katra never took off her necklace. Haru held the girl as she quietly cried into his chest.
Now he sat in one of the plush chairs he had sat in a month earlier giving his interview. He still had yet to see Katara but from her screams he figured he wouldn't see her for a while if ever. He sat straight as a voice counted down before Jin Wei began to address the Empire. "Tonight I have with me two of the survivors from the arena. Haru and Mai."
Haru turned to Jin Wei with a tight smile. He felt strange like he shouldn't be participating in this interview but he couldn't stop himself. "Haru, the world has been worried about you. Tell everyone how you are doing."
Haru wanted to scream but instead he read the words from the teleprompter. "I've been healing, resting, working with the Empire soldiers to locate the others. I've been treated very well." They were all lies. He was tortured, starved, beaten, drugged…
"Mai, how has been staying with royal family again? Are you recooperating well?" Jin Wei asked and Haru was able to look towards her.
"Azula has been nothing short of exceptional. She's made sure I'm doing well. I've been told by doctors I have something called post traumatic stress disorder. I've been having nightmares of what the rebels did to me in the areana."
"Of course our princess is taking good care of you. I'm sure the best doctors and healers are working with you closely." Mai nodded in the affirmative before reaching for Haru's hand. He held hers tightly and tried to scream out to the cameras but nothing would leave his lips.
Jin Wei was speaking to the Empire talking about how he and Mai were slowly getting better and trying to help locate the traitors. Haru watched as people began to scramble behind the cameras and the screens all around them flickered. "MAI! MAI!" It was Ty Lee but he couldn't see her anywhere just hear her. He squeezed her hand tighter and felt her flinch at the distressed sound of her girlfriend's voice.
"Haru? Mai?" Katara! It was Katara she was here. He had hoped that he as wrong. That it wasn't her necklace he saw Azula holding. He looked around for her before he saw the two of them on the screen. "We're safe and we're coming for you. Stay strong." He watched as Zuko, Sokka, Aang, Toph, and Suki all entered the frame. "We're coming and we're going to end this." It sounded like a promise. His lips twitched as the screen cut out. The image of his friend's gone. He felt like he could move again, like he could speak without being stopped.
"Oh my Haru, Mai are you both alright? It seems the rebels have hacked o-"
"HIDE! THEY'RE COMING! AN AIR FLEET IS COMING!" The light went out and he was being dragged away. He kicked and screamed trying with all his might to rip the gorund out from under the men holding him but his bending was blocked. He had the bruises all down his back to prove it. Hopefully, his warning helped. Hopefully his warning gave them time.