Zuko made a few attempts to start conversation with Katara as the second act began, but she was giving him one word answers. She must be ticked at him for snapping at Aang. Still, the monk started it. Zuko pulled out the poster and started reading it to distract himself. He could see Toph getting geared up to see the introduction of her character.
When the large buff man came onstage Toph was thrilled, even when the man let out a blood curdling scream that hurt everyone's ears. She was the only one happy with her character portrayal so far. As the end of the second act drew to a close and the play version of the crystal catacomb scene began Katara began to fidget. What was happening onstage was a far cry from the actual conversation, but the implications were not too far removed from her relationship status with the banished prince at that moment.
Inwardly, she began to panic. She looked to her left and caught Zuko's eye. He looked just as uncomfortable with the scene onstage as she did. She couldn't see Aang's face, but she wondered if he was starting to draw any parallels. Toph was strangely quiet during the scene and that just worried Katara more. Sokka was behind her. Did he see how close she was sitting to Zuko? The two simultaneously moved away from each other. The last thing she needed was Aang making a scene with her right then.
Zuko was equally as uncomfortable, but when Aang nodded in affirmation when the play implied that Katara was "the avatar's girl" his temper started to rise. Katara didn't belong to anyone. Aang's constant subtle assumptions about his relationship standing with Katara, without any input or feedback from her end, was starting to irk Zuko. The fact that Katara refused to complete refute Aang infuriated him even more. He knew her reasoning, even understood it. But that didn't make it any easier to tolerate or watch.
When Aang got up and left the booth Zuko breathed a sigh of relief. Aang could throw his little temper tantrum outside. He slid back next to Katara. She glanced over to Aang's empty seat before relaxing and resuming her spot next to him. Zuko slid his hand to the chair, just covered beneath his cloak but where Katara could see it plainly. He offered his hand, but she kept her hands in her lap. Zuko was disappointed, but at least she didn't follow Aang out to comfort him. This play was bringing out all sorts of mood swings.
The scene he was dreading and hoping wouldn't be included came up. His dreaded betrayal of his uncle. The dialogue was clunky, but it fulfilled its purpose and threw a pit into Zuko's stomach. He leaned forward against the balcony rail and turned his head away from the scene in front of him. He winced as his actor declared that he hated his uncle now and for all time.
Katara, who knew more about what had transpired beneath the crystal catacombs than the others, was still quite shocked at the display. The dialogue had been wildly inaccurate before, but as she looked at Zuko who had his head tucked against the railing and his folded arms, she wondered about what Zuko had actually said.
"You didn't really say that, did you?" she asked him. Zuko didn't look at her.
"I might as well have" he said. He leaned back against the bench again, not wanting to look anyone in the eye. Sokka and Suki were silent behind him, and Toph seemed lost in thought. The silence was both merciful and torturous. Part of him wanted his friends to tell him how awful he was. He deserved it. The other part of him was thankful they said nothing. There was a slight movement beside him as Katara scooted a little closer to him. Her irritation disappeared from earlier. This was more important than any petty riff between Zuko and Aang. She reached under the cloak and grabbed the hand he was resting on the bench.
He jumped slightly and turned his head. Katara squeezed his hand and gave him a sad smile. It didn't erase the guilt, but it help him bear it a bit better.
When the second act mercifully came to a close, the group gathered in the hallway and watched Fire Nation children play in the hall ways. A small boy dressed like an air bender was pretending to fly through the hallways. Katara looked around, hoping to see Aang. He had been gone for the rest of the second act and she was starting to worry. She stepped back into the booth to see if she spotted him anywhere, but his tall white and red hat clad self was no where to be seen.
She came back into the hall. "Does anyone know where Aang is?" she asked.
"He left to get me fire gummies like, ten minutes ago, and I'm still waiting!" Sokka complained. Katara's eyes filled with concern. She hadn't checked the back porch area yet.
"I'm going to check outside" she told them. She rounded the corner and stepped out in the night air. It didn't take long for her to spot him. He was leaned up against the railing looking out at the full moon. She crossed her arms, suspecting why he was so worked up.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"No, I'm not" Aang replied instantly, "I hate this play!" he said, tossing his hat off his head onto the ground. Katara took a few steps forward to stand beside him.
"I know it's upsetting," she began, hoping to calm him down "but it sounds like you're overreacting." Aang snapped his head to look at her, his grey eyes filled with a mix of anger and frustration. Aang was usually such a quiet and peaceful person that Katara forgot that the boy had such a strong temper. If Aang sensed what he thought was injustice at any point, all the peaceful monk teachings would go right out the window.
And that's what it looked like was happening now.
"Overreacting?" Aang repeated, incredulously. "If I hadn't blocked my chakra, I'd probably be in the Avatar State right now!" he said waving his hand in the air dramatically. Katara didn't know what to say. She hadn't seen anything in the play that would incite such a reaction.
"What specifically are you talking about" she asked softly. Maybe if she figured out what was bothering him so much she could make him see reason and calm him down. He needed to put his hat back on at the very least. This wasn't a private porch and Aang's little display was risking the whole group.
"I wanted to sit with you tonight" Aang said abruptly, seemingly off-topic. "I wanted to pretend like this was...was...almost like a date. Even if the whole group was there. I've been so busy firebending that I haven't gotten to spend hardly any time with you. And anytime I have a free moment you're either with Suki or...Zuko" Aang spat out. So that was it. It was a culmination of the past four weeks.
"I haven't had a friend closer to my age with my...perspective for a long time, Aang" Katara said, trying to explain.
"I know, I know. Toph tried to explain to me the other day. You get along with Zuko because you see him as the other adult in the group" Aang said, waving his hand in the air again. "And I'm glad you guys are friends now...I really am. I just miss you, Katara" Aang said honestly. The look in his eyes was enough to melt Katara's heart. The Gaang was the only family Aang had. The closest thing he had to a parental figure was Katara. How could he not be upset when his time with her was pulled away?
Katara wanted to crush him into a hug. There was the unanswered question that always hung in the air when the group played "World Without War" where they told what they would do that day if the war was over. Where would Aang go? His people, his family, his culture was dead and he was all that remained. If he didn't follow Sokka and Katara back to the South Pole, where would he go? What was his place?
Katara didn't have the answers.
"Katara, did you really mean what you said in there?" Aang asked suddenly. Katara looked at him strangely. She hadn't really spoken to Aang too much since they had come to the theater.
"In where? What are you talking about?" she asked.
"On stage. When you said..." Aang clenched his fist like he hated the words he was about to say. "I was just like a brother to you and you didn't have feelings for me" he explained as he motioned towards the theater. Katara was taken aback. She knew the play was bringing up everyone's insecurities, but this?
"I didn't say that" Katara said defensively, frustrated to find out the source of his annoyance "An actor said that!"
"But it's true, isn't it?" Aang asked. Katara stopped short. In the past months since the invasion she had avoided any thoughts that might label her and Aang's relationship. She didn't want to think about it, much less talk about. She knew loved him and would defend him and take care of him for as long as she could, but what truly was the nature of those feelings? She saw him as family. She knew that. Aang kept speaking, cutting through Katara's thoughts.
"We kissed at the invasion and I thought we were going to be together but we're not" Aang said sadly.
"Aang," Katara began, shaking her head and turning her body to face the ocean again. "I don't know" First off, Aang had kissed her. It was unexpected and she hadn't known whether or not she would see him again after that moment. It had been her real first kiss and she remembered the blush that had enveloped her face. She hadn't known what to say and he had flown away before she could get a word out. They hadn't ever talked about it and she certainly didn't bring it up again.
Then Zuko had joined the group. Without her even realizing it, he had inched his way into her heart and made her feel powerful and beautiful and worth the world. Her second kiss had been so different from her first. The third even more different from the second. The memories made her emotions clench up inside in confusion.
"Why don't you know?" Aang asked. His tone was accusatory and put her on the defensive. She was fifteen years old, how was she supposed to know about these sort of things? She certainly didn't have a ton of experience in the area.
"Because we're in the middle of a war" she began, the same reason she had given Zuko. She folded her arms and her eyes drifted towards the door where she knew Zuko was seated in the hall. "and we have other things to worry about." her mind flitted back to earlier that evening when Zuko had stolen a small moment with her. She could reignite the feeling of his lips on her forehead just by invoking the memory. "This isn't the right time" she finished.
"Well, when is the right time?" Aang asked impatiently. That stirred something in Katara. The conversation was so different from the one she had with Zuko only a week ago. She remembered his heartfelt response word for word.
We can be friends, and if the time ever comes when we can change that and be more, then we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
But the unspoken fact was that no one knew if Aang would survive the summer. It was the unspoken constant fear that hung over all their heads like a dark cloud. Aang knew this. But Zuko was right. Katara couldn't lie to him and give him false hope by immediately reciprocating his feelings. It wasn't fair to him or to her. She understood his impatience, but couldn't do anything about it.
"Aang, I'm sorry but right now I'm just a little confused" Katara said. She played with her hair and closed her eyes. She had unwittingly found herself in an unlikely love triangle. What would Gran-Gran say? Katara needed advice from someone at the very least. Her heart was tied into a bunch of tiny knots.
So when she felt the light pressure of Aang's lips suddenly pressing against hers, she jumped back in a mixture of shock and frustration.
"I just said that I was confused!" Katara burst at him, letting loose of her frustrations for a moment. Her eyes cut over to the door back to the theater. "I'm going inside" she said, avoiding eye contact with him. She took a step forward then ran back inside, thankful that Aang did not follow. Suki was just returning to her seat and Zuko and Toph were still talking in the hall. Zuko caught her eye for a moment but she quickly turned away, her face burning.
Guys and their ill-timed kisses. First Zuko earlier, and now Aang. Granted, she was a bit more annoyed at the younger boy, but frustrated all around. She slid into her seat in front of Suki. Sokka was no where to be seen.
"Sokka actually had me take him backstage!" Suki began with a laugh. She caught a side view of Katara's face and leaned forward in sudden concern. "Hey, are you ok?" she asked. Katara turned slightly to face Suki. Her eyebrows were crooked down, threatening to imitate the general expression of Zuko's normal look.
"No, I'm not ok" Katara said in frustration. "Boys...They just...they just need to stop kissing me!" she finally burst out. Suki's eyes grew wide. Boys. As in plural. Zuko had made a move. Although it was currently unclear which boy she was so upset with.
"Yeah, sorry, I don't have that problem" Suki said sympathetically.
"I'm fifteen and it's like people expect me to know exactly what I want in my life and relationships. I don't! I might act like a mother, but I'm just acting. I'm just trying my best!" Katara burst out, glad to finally vent a little. "I...I just want to be selfish. Just for once. Is that so horrible?" Katara asked Suki. Suki smiled sadly and shook her head. She reached forward and squeezed Katara's shoulder in comfort.
"Not at all, Katara" she said softly "Not at all."
The rest of the group started to file back into the box as the third act began. Zuko looked at Katara curiously but she didn't make eye contact with him. He knew her expressions well enough to know she was genuinely upset, and he decided not to press. He put his hand back on the bench beneath his cloak. She would grab it if she needed it.
He for one, was feeling much better after his talk with Toph. His arm still throbbed where she had punched him, but it was nothing compared to the warm feeling that filled his chest. Toph knew exactly what to say to lift him up. Nothing was sugar coated. Everything was sincere. And it meant the world to him. He looked over at her, just barely seeing the top of her head over Katara's shoulder. Agni, he loved that little girl.
Eventually, Aang came back into the box. Zuko heard a stirring behind him as Aang sat down and Sokka caught him up on the events of the play. Aang just stared at the back of Katara's head. He immediately regretted kissing her when she was so conflicted, but how she had reacted put a pit in his stomach. She had never denied agreeing with the actor, and that was the main thing that stuck out to him.
As the scene at the invasion came on, Aang cringed inwardly, wanting the seat to swallow him as he watched their actors shake hands. It was just so wrong.
Katara watched the scene with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Was the playwright actually right here? Was Aang a member of her family, but nothing more than that? She felt like someone was squeezing her heart. If that was accurate, then there would have to be a day when she broke the little boy's heart. It was the last thing she wanted and it made her feel sick.
Reflexively she shot her hand down and closed her fingers around Zuko's open hand. He turned his head only slightly and gave her a small smile, happy to offer any comfort he could to what was tormenting her mind. She held his hand for just a minute before withdrawing, not wanting to upset Aang any further. The moment was enough to assure Zuko that he was not the reason she was so upset. It was a relief.
The play was nearing its end as it caught up to the present. Sokka seemed to be the only one still enjoying the performance as his actor utilized his advice and made some of the Sokka - inspired bad puns. When Zuko joined the group and everyone ran offstage Sokka got up and stretched.
"I guess that's it. The play's caught up to the present now" he said, all ready to leave. Suki grabbed his arm and hissed at him.
"Wait, the play's not over!" Suki said to him. Sokka looked confused.
"But it is over...unless...This is the future!" he said dramatically. It was the dream future of the Fire Nation. Azula burned Zuko and he disappeared beneath the stage with a last cry for his honor. The crowd cheered wildly and the whole team looked at Zuko. The cheers burned Zuko's ears and his eyes widened at the reaction. His own countrymen were cheering for his death. It was scary...and sobering.
The scene of the Fire Lord killing Aang with lightning was even worse. Aang's eyes were wide with fright as the theater errupted in cheers. His worse nightmare had just played out for him on stage. The drama with Katara suddenly seemed so unimportant. The Gaang was silent, and they stayed in their seats as the theater emptied out.
They waited until the crowd was mostly gone before finally moving from their seats.
"That...wasn't a good play" Zuko said breaking the silence as they walked out of the theater and headed back to the house. The others murmured their agreement.
"But the effects were decent" Sokka said. Suki rolled her eyes. No one else said anything. The roller coaster of emotions had everyone drained. Zuko fell in step with Aang as they headed back.
Aang didn't want to talk, but after watching his own demise onstage, he figured Zuko was the one who understood him the best in that moment.
"That's not going to happen, Aang" Zuko said as he put his hand on Aang's shoulder. Aang looked up at him, fear still clearly filling his eyes.
"You can't know that" the boy said hoarsely.
"My uncle always said that destiny was a funny thing, and that life is sometimes like a dark tunnel. If you keep your eye on the light..."
"You will come to a better place" Aang finished for him. Zuko was surprised but smiled.
"Exactly. We're just in the dark place right now, Aang. The better place is coming soon" Zuko said with a conviction he did not feel. As they approached the house Aang hung back. Katara started to stop next to him but Zuko caught her eye and shook his head. She nodded and walked into the house.
Aang had his head down and wouldn't look at her. She wanted to cheer him up, but maybe she wasn't the person to do that right now. Zuko and Aang sat down on the porch together. Crushes, hurt feelings. They didn't matter at that moment.
"So..." Aang began in a shaky voice, "we both just watched ourselves get killed on a stage. That's a new one."
"You said it." Zuko agreed. The two boys were silent for a few more minutes.
"I'm...scared" Aang said, his voice barely higher than a whisper. Zuko looked down at the younger boy and grabbed his shoulder.
"It's ok" Zuko said. "I am too."
Note to readers: IN DEFENSE OF AANG. As much as I think Aang was in the wrong in this episode, I have to remember where he is at this point. He's 12 and the last of his people. The pressure and hope of the world is on his shoulders and I understand exactly where he is coming from when it comes to Katara. I don't want to make out to be the villain in the Zuko/Katara romance, because he's not. He's a sweet boy who means well and I hate how so many fanfic writers turn him into a selfish brat who doesn't care about anything but his own happiness. Maybe ya'll wanted more angst. Sorry if I didn't deliver, but I don't see the need for pointless drama that is out of character for everyone. This whole group has ultimately put the fate of the world first, above all else. I don't think that would change, even if some of them fall in love. It's sad. It's heartbreaking. It's part of the reason that makes the show so great in the first place.
Thanks for reading the Ember Island Players arc. I have another smaller arc before we get to the finale and the end of this project. It has been a fantastic ride and such fun for me! Hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have.
Shout out to cyathula who has been reading and commenting this whole time. Thanks for the support!
Remember that this is a prequel to a project I have been planning for sometime. The end will not be the end in this case.