Katara's leg is bouncing at a rapid pace, her fingertips red and raw due to the abuse she's laying on her cuticles as she bites them. Zuko knows that she's nervous about seeing her brother, but seeing her full to the brim with anxiety is a thorn in his heart. His arm moves of its own accord, his hand snaking over and wrapping around hers in an attempted gesture of solidarity. A shuddering breath escapes her, shoulders slumping with the laborious exhale, and she smiles just a tiny bit as he squeezes her small hand. They wait in the well furnished headquarters of The White Lotus, steaming cups of tea sitting on smooth, stained tables, heat escaping with every moment they go untouched. The silence is oppressive as they wait for Sokka's arrival with bated breath, Katara's anxiety permeating the group like water into dry soil.
A familiar knock at the door has them all jumping out of their seats as the same man who answered it yesterday steps into the foyer to answer it.
"Who knocks at the guarded gate?" The reply is too muffled to hear through the walls, but the sentinel at the door must like what he hears, because the sound of various bolts and locks clicking float through the room to their ears.
The pai sho man walks calmly into the room they wait in, followed by a young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and attentive, kind eyes, and behind her—
"Sokka!" He's barely walked into the room when Katara launches herself into Sokka's arms, almost knocking her sturdy brother off his feet with the force.
Zuko can't see Sokka's face with how he's buried it in his sister's hair, but he can see Katara's shoulders shaking and hear her sniffles as the older man cradles his baby sister in his arms. A sharp pang hits Zuko's heart like a bolt of lightning; will he ever get a chance to reunite with his own sister? Has she been corrupted by their father's malice and cruelty in the years that he's been gone? What new scars does she bear that should have belonged to him?
The woman next to Sokka looks upon the emotional scene with a soft smile and affection welling in her eyes, and whoever she is, her eyes betray how she feels about the other man. Zuko hopes that his eyes don't betray him like that when he looks at Katara, but deep down he knows it's a fruitless thought. As if feeling his eyes on her, the woman turns to Zuko, and after catching his eyes (she has a good poker face; it doesn't change at all as she takes in the soft glow) she walks over and stretches her hand out to him.
"You must be Zuko." He takes her hand in his, her grip calloused and strong. "I'm Suki."
"You're the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, right?" He remembers his uncle telling Sokka that it would be a worthwhile endeavor to get the skilled group's leader on their side. Suki nods, and Aang bounces on the balls of his feet.
"I've heard of the Kyoshi Warriors! They're the strongest group of all women warriors in the world!" Aang sticks his hand out to Suki to shake, his radiant smile and glowing eyes shining with mirth. "I'm Aang. It's great to meet you!"
"You too," she chuckles, probably surprised by Aang's general enthusiasm and peppy demeanor. "I'm glad my reputation precedes me."
Toph appears at Zuko's side. "What did you say your name was?"
"Suki." She sticks her hand out, seeming surprised when Toph grips it with a force that belies her strength.
"Toph." Suki no doubt takes notice of Toph's milky eyes, the glow just barely noticeable in the brightly lit room.
"Sokka—" Katara pulls her brother over to the group by his hand, her eyes puffy and cheeks red, with a beautiful smile the biggest Zuko's ever seen making a home on her face. He can't help that his lips twitch upwards at the corners at the sight of her so happy. "This is Aang and Toph. Their gifts are air and earth, respectively. Guys, this is my brother, Sokka."
"Well, looks like the gang's all here!" Sokka sticks his hand out to Zuko, who takes his forearm like Sokka had shown him so many months ago. "Good to see you again, bud. Thanks for taking care of my sister." There's something in the man's eyes, something shrewd and knowing, and Zuko doesn't miss how Katara averts her eyes from their reunion. Shit. "Katara, this is Suki," Sokka gestures to his companion, and the two girls wave at each other. "She's the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors! Isn't that cool?" He lays his hand on Suki's shoulder, and her face turns soft and open.
"That is pretty cool." Katara smirks at her brother. "Let's sit down."
The six of them move to the plush cushions around one of the tables, fresh hot tea being served as they do so. Zuko takes notice of how close Sokka and Suki sit to each other, and it looks like Katara does too. He can get a girl in six months. Why can't I work up the courage to do that too? He knows his situation is different, but his tongue tastes bitter where it sits heavy in his mouth. The taste washes away just a bit as he sips the warm drink, notes of jasmine carried in green tea helping him focus.
"So, now that we're all here..." Toph sets her elbows on the table and rests her chin in her hands. "What now?"
"Okay, so, next—" Sokka pulls a worn map seemingly out of nowhere and spreads it on the table. "We have to head down here to meet our next contact." He points to a small dot on the map. "Shu Jing. Our contact in Kyoshi told me there's a man there who will get us in touch with the other warriors we need."
"That sounds good." Zuko leans forward and looks over the map. "Shu Jing is only about two weeks from here. Aang, where was The Source again?"
"Somewhere around here," Aang points to the very south east corner of the map. "So Shu Jing is even in the direction we need to be going in."
"Awesome!" Sokka lifts his hand up to Suki, who indulges him with a high five.
Zuko continues to examine the map. "There's one thing, though..." he indicates a point past Shu Jing where a large river narrows considerably and splits in two. "The Serpent's Pass is our only way to get to the other side of the river where The Source is, but look—" Four of them bend closer to examine the spot he's pointing to. "It's tiny. And supposedly guarded by a serpent."
"A what now?" Sokka's blue eyes widen as he sits back on the cushion.
"A sea serpent. A giant sea monster, essentially." Sokka's brows raise high on his forehead, accentuating the lines that will eventually be wrinkles. Especially if he keeps looking at me like that.
"We can handle a stupid sea monster, no matter how big it is!" Toph punches one hand into the palm of the other in a show of strength.
"Plus, we don't even know if it actually exists." Aang says as they sit back to allow room for one of the old men to bring out a tray of snacks, which Sokka immediately goes for.
"We should still be prepared," Katara adds, and Suki nods in affirmation.
"Definitely." Suki stretches forward and grabs one of the puffy looking snacks on the tray. "But if we can find more warriors before we get there, that'll be at least seven of us, four of which can manipulate elements. I think we'll be okay."
It seems to be enough to convince everyone, so Zuko aquises and joins the others partaking in the diminishing of the snack tray. There's a million things going through his mind, not the least of which being Sokka and Suki's playful flirting and unabashed teasing. Images of him and Katara sitting so close and being so openly affectionate flash in his mind along with a fresh wave of longing.
"Hey." Katara nudges his elbow while the rest of the group listens to Sokka recount some wild tale from his journey. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just nervous." He swallows past the lie, a hard lump in his throat made of all the things he wishes he could say.
"It'll be okay. We can definitely handle it." Her smile is just for him, sweet and small.
"Just think about it," Sokka says around a mouthful of food. "In just a few months this will all be over!" Zuko knows that he means it in a good way, but a weary hush blankets over the group.
He doesn't want to think about separating from Katara, or from the only real friends he's ever had. What's he going to do when he's all alone again? After six months of travelling with at least one other person, he's realized how much he missed having other people around, how much he missed simple platonic touch and goofing off and having fun with people his age. For the past three years the closest interactions he's had with anyone even close to his age were brief and shallow, and he doesn't want to go back to that. This motley crew feels like family, and he doesn't want them to be ripped apart like his real family. Sadness wells in his gut, but he buries it with tea and snacks until it fades enough that he can breathe again.
Xx
They spend the day compiling a list of supplies that need restocking and poring over the map to find the best route to their next destination. Zuko falls right back into that easy almost-friendship he had with Sokka back when he had started helping the man with his swordsmanship. Sokka is highly logical, even if he is goofy, and Zuko can respect his out of the box but somehow still practical way of thinking. The list grows long, and they keep going back and crossing off things that aren't necessary and adding things they've forgotten. The parchment is a mess by the time they're done, but it's a comprehensive list that they think covers all of their needs. It'll be easier to carry more stuff now that they're six people in their group, but everyone also carries things of their own; they spend a fair amount of time deciding how to divide the weight between them all, taking into account everyone's carrying capacities and how long they'll be walking for. Sokka is a natural leader, and clearly likes to think things through as much as possible, and Zuko, in this instance, is glad for the guidance.
"So..." Sokka is munching on the remains of their evening meal as they sit at a low table. The others have spread out through the White Lotus' base to relax, leaving just Zuko and Sokka in the main room. "How's travelling with my sister been?"
"Good." The sharp taste of ginger and lemongrass fill his mouth as he sips the hot tea. "She's gotten a lot better with the short sword, and has pretty much mastered using her water for combat."
"Good." Sokka is looking at him strangely, but Zuko keeps his head down to avoid his gaze. "So you guys get along well?"
"Yes?" Sweat starts to bead on the back of his neck.
"Good." He leaves it at that, and Zuko's mind reels as he ponders the purpose of Sokka's vague questions. "Well, I better go find Suki."
"Are you guys… you know, together?" It's not the first time he's seen Sokka blush, but this time it's accompanied by a soft smile that's new to Zuko.
"I mean, it's not like, official or anything. But I guess so, yeah." He shrugs and rises to his feet, his answer easy and light. "Why?"
"Just curious. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks man." Sokka waves as he leaves the room, and Zuko tries not to be jealous of his friend's happiness.
"Oh, here you are!" Just as Sokka walks out, Katara walks in. "I've been looking for you."
"Yeah?" His heart picks up its pace when she smiles. "What for?"
"Do I have to have a reason?" She sits next to him, and he curls his hand into a fist to keep from reaching out to her.
"I guess not." He's never really thought of himself as shy, but Katara makes him flush and trip over his words like he's a clumsy teenager again.
"Toph and Aang already went back to the inn."
"Ah. We should probably head back too."
"Probably, yeah." They both rise and head out into the night side by side. He tries to ignore the fact that she had sat down next to him just to get up again a moment later, but he has no luck.
The evening is crisp and punctuated by a light breeze, the early fall air refreshing and cool on his burning cheeks. The streets are bustling with people, as always, although it seems that there's a different feel to the air around them tonight. There are more lanterns lit than usual, more children running around the streets, the majority of them holding pinwheels and sticks that trail streamers behind them as they run. Looking around, he sees various flyers and signs posted on market stalls and buildings that line the street, and he squints to try and read what they say.
"What's going on?" Katara's head is turning from side to side as she looks around the busy street.
"I think it's some sort of harvest festival." That explains why all the inns are full.
"Oh, that's cute! I've never really been to a festival before."
"Really?" His mind flashes back to paper lanterns and sparklers and his sister trailing behind him down a well manicured street. "They had a few every year back in Ember. When my mother was still around she would take Azula and I to some of them, but my father never wanted us to go."
"My village didn't really have any festivals." She shrugs. "We celebrated the winter solstice every year, but I never went." Sadness leaks into her voice, something in him tightening uncomfortably at the emotion.
"We can walk around for a little bit, if you want. It's still pretty early." She beams at him, and his heart purrs in his chest like a lazy cat.
"Yeah?" Her eyes are alight with his request, and warmth floods his veins when he catches them. He nods, a smile growing on his face to match hers as she grabs his hand. "Oh, this is so exciting! Where should we go?"
"I have an idea."
He leads her through the increasingly clogged streets, the sound of bells chiming and instruments being played materializing from the air as they get closer to the main drag. Her hand is warm and soft in his, and when he looks back her smile is dazzling in the warm lantern light, her blue glowing eyes full of wonder. Love swells in him like a tidal wave, his only anchor the one person he wishes he could drown in. The scent of street food wafts through the space on a cloud of laughter, sweet and spicy and salty all mixing together in the air in an enticing amalgamation of smells. The main street through the lower ring draws nearer, and loud music and bright lights come with it. They pull off their hats, uncaring of the people around them who seem to be too involved in their own merriment to care much about who they are.
An abrupt end to the crowd makes him stop short, causing Katara to bump into his back. The street is full of people dressed in bright clothes and wearing colorfuls masks, and he pulls Katara around in front of him so she can see the parade. He can't see her face, but she's practically bouncing on her feet with excitement, and his insides glow, an increasingly familiar tenderness making his bones dangerously soft. Maybe it's the bright lights and lively music that gives him the courage to rest his hands on her slender shoulders, but the payoff is immense when Katara slides her fingers between his and leans back into him, and suddenly he doesn't care where the bravery came from. He rides the wave and rests his chin on her head, breathing in lilies and lavender when the breeze weaves its way between the people around them. Small children cheer and screech in delight as shimmering wrapped candies are thrown into the crowd from the people at the tail end of the parade, and people quickly fill the space in the street as the parade moves ahead without them.
"That was incredible!" Katara's eyes are shining and wide, stunning blue staring up at him matching her radiant smile.
"Do you want to keep walking around?" Soft brown hair bobs as she nods her head, her childlike wonder pulling a chuckle from him as he leads them in a random direction.
The sound of upbeat music puts him under a spell, his feet moving without his mind attached to bring them closer to the sounds of lutes and tambourines. A space opens up in front of them, couples dancing haphazardly without a care under a canopy of paper lanterns, laughter bubbling up from the rosy cheeked dancers. His heart beats in time with the stomping of the dancer's feet, a pounding crescendo in his chest, and he turns towards a stall to find something to look at that isn't Katara's beautiful smile.
"Do you want a drink?" She turns around, her face open and trusting.
"Do they have any fun drinks?" His face breaks into a smile when she winks at him, and he pulls his hat on to purchase a drink for each of them.
"What did you get?" The hat comes off again; he's determined to milk every ounce of the opportunity to be himself for once.
"I'm not sure." He smells the drink in his hand. "It smells like whiskey and cider. Probably something special for the harvest festival." They take a sip at the same time; the drink is strong, but the spice and sweetness of the cider mixes well with the whiskey, and it goes down smooth and warm in his throat.
"Oh, that's good." There's no other word for the look she gives him but devilish, her eyes turning his insides to jelly as she takes another sip, and he has to fight back the shiver that wants to trail down his spine.
The alcohol hits him almost immediately, warmth spreading out from his stomach through his body, his hand tingling where it's somehow made its way back into Katara's. They stand to the side of the group of dancers, and Zuko's drink disappears faster than he realizes, leaving a warm fuzziness in its place. He sets the empty glass down onto a table full of other empties, Katara's drained cup sliding next to his on the sticky surface.
"Dance with me." There's a slight flush to her cheeks, and she doesn't really give him a choice as she pulls him out into the dancing crowd.
The band starts up a lively tune, and normally he would protest, but the alcohol has lowered his inhibitions, and honestly, he couldn't say no to her in this moment if he tried. She laughs, bright and full as they move, twisting and turning without a clue of how to properly dance to the song that plays, but it seems that nobody around them is dancing properly either. It strikes him out of the blue, but suddenly he realizes that he's having fun, something he hasn't been able to have in a long, long time. Emotions fill his bones as they dance, Katara's hands sliding through his when they part, her waist warm and firm under his palms when they come together. Her eyes crinkle at the edges, and her smile accentuates the laugh lines around her mouth, and she is more beautiful than he could ever hope to describe. A love like nothing he's ever felt before fills his heart until it feels like it might burst, but all the pain is worth hearing her laugh and having her in his arms.
The music swells and he pulls her back to him, her hair fanning out as she twirls before coming to rest with her back to his front. Their chests heave in tandem and a long sigh escapes Katara as she leans her head back against his shoulder. His arm is still wrapped around her, their fingers still woven together and resting on her hip, and he's just barely able to keep from wrapping her up in his embrace and losing himself in her. A soft smile sits comfortably on her face as the music slows, his lungs finally able to gulp down enough air as they sway in tiny movements.
"Are you having fun?" The voice that comes from his mouth doesn't sound like his own; it's low and rasping more than usual, the heady buzz spilling into his pitch and tone.
"Yes." Katara's eyes flutter open as she turns her head to face him, and it's the hardest thing he's ever had to do just to keep from kissing her right then and there. I'm so lost in you. "Are you?" I love you so much.
"Yeah."
Her lips are full and petal pink, and he knows he's staring but he just can't manage to tear his eyes away. The smell of spice and whiskey on her breath is intoxicating, and he wants to kiss it from her lips, to taste it on her tongue right here in front of all these people.
So, he does.
It's better than he remembers; her lips are softer than they've ever felt in his dreams, her body pressed up against his sparking flames beneath his skin everywhere they touch. From somewhere her hand comes up and snakes into the hair at the base of his neck, the other still laced with his at her hip. He pulls her closer, wraps his other arm around her waist, and lets the world fade away around them. Addicting heat burns its way through his veins with each meeting of their lips, some mix of love and lust swirling in his blood and driving him crazy.
Eventually the need for air is greater than their tipsy desire, and as soon as they pull apart he can feel eyes on them. Not from the other dancers; he doesn't think that they could care less about two people making out in the middle of the dancing space. No, the weight is heavier, and the bad feeling it brings isn't dampened by the whiskey and the beautiful girl breathing heavy in his arms.
"We should go." He hates the hurt look in her eyes when he says it. "Someone's watching us."
"Oh." He tries to convey to her in his eyes that it's not some simple voyeur, but something more dangerous that is pressing them to leave, but he isn't sure if she understands. "Okay."
He keeps a firm hold on her hand as he leads her back through the still bustling streets, trying to weave in and out as much as he can to throw off whoever was watching them. He's not naive enough to think that they aren't being followed, and he hopes that their roundabout route throws their pursuer off.
"Is it the same person from the ferry?" Katara is keeping close behind him, and her voice just serves to remind him of how much he wants to kiss her again.
"Probably." Truthfully he isn't sure, but it's a safe bet that the same man is watching them. "We have to try to lose him before we head back. Hopefully he won't follow us when we leave tomorrow." He knows that it's a foolish hope; if someone had found them in the massive and heavily populated lower ring, they had probably put in too much effort just to give up once they leave the city.
They take their time getting back to the inn, and Zuko is satisfied that their unwanted guest isn't around when they duck into the humble building. His buzz is gone, the weight of the night falling on him like a heavy rain in its wake. I can't believe I kissed her again. What was I thinking? No matter how much he had wanted to, there's a solid chance that Katara had only kissed him back because she had been caught up in the moment, or because the warm alcohol had clouded her judgement. In any case, it feels too awkward to bring it up now that the moment is over, and as loath as he is to simply forget about it, he knows that it's what he has to do.
They're quiet as they crawl into bed, his heart aching like a broken bone, but there's nothing he can do but feel the pain and try not to let it show. They fall asleep facing away from each other, the space between their backs filled with ice and shadow.