Chapter 45
Following the signing of documents detailing the creation of a new nation, borne from the former colonies of the Fire Nation, over the course of the next few days the summit slowly wound down into a more relaxed, informal gathering of friends, especially after the Earth Kingdom delegation had left at the first opportunity, the enraged Dai Li hauling their puppet king away, incensed at him having put his signature on the papers.
The others had remained to work out the minutia of their agreement, although the representatives of both Water Tribes were largely happy to leave further details to the Fire Nation delegation, Avatar Aang and some of the local dignitaries. After all, the Water Tribes were hardly putting anything into this project, but they were certainly getting a lot out of it, so both Chief Hakoda and Chief Arnook felt like they were walking away with a massive steal in the council seats. Predictably, Hakoda had been happy to give Sokka the appointment, and Katara's brother was now strutting around proudly like a preening peacock pigeon.
By the time the last official day of the summit arrived, both chieftains of the Water Tribes had departed as well, leaving the final details to be ironed out between Aang and Zuko, with Katara and Iroh both accompanying the Fire Lord as his advisors. The talks had become so informal by now that they were holding their meetings in the lounge, not bothering to use the summit hall.
"I still can't believe the surprise you dropped on me, Zuko," Aang chuckled, shaking his head. "Having Azula serve as my fellow councilor? That's going to take some time to get used to. But as long as her arguments in debates don't involve lightning blasts, I'm sure we can get along just fine."
"I am confident that she will pleasantly surprise you," Zuko said, beaming with pride for his sister. It filled Katara's heart with such warmth, she could clearly see how Azula's recovery had left such a positive impact on her beloved.
"Besides, is it really going to be weirder than serving alongside a councilbear?" Katara remarked with some amusement.
"Heh... good point, I'm still not sure how that's supposed to work," Aang shrugged. "At least I'll have Sokka around for some normalcy. And I'm sure Chieftain Arnook will also name someone less controversial than Azula and Bosco."
"Yes, most likely some safe choice like one of his equally bland nephews," Katara replied. She had spoken with Arnook the day before and had indicated that a councilor who was positively disposed towards the Fire Nation would be very welcomed and would further strengthen the ties between the two nations in a way that was very profitable for the Northern Water Tribe. Chieftain Arnook had been only too happy to listen to her suggestion, commending her growing mastery of the tangled webs of diplomacy.
"By the way, did I hear it right, are Sokka and Azula dating?" Aang asked her, looking a little worried. "Are you sure it's safe?"
"I feel like I can trust Sokka with my sister," Zuko cut in, knowing full well that it was not what Aang had meant, but unable to resist the comment anyway.
"I'm sure it's safe, Aang, besides, I wouldn't say they're dating as such," Katara smiled at the Avatar. "They're just getting to know each other a little better right now. It's actually very cute and touching."
"I'm just struggling to wrap my mind around it... still feels like it was only yesterday when she was chasing us all around the world, throwing lightning bolts at us and cackling maniacally," Aang remarked, then giving Zuko another stare. "But I suppose you're the living proof that anyone can change."
"I guess, though my circumstances were different from Azula's," Zuko replied. "I kept making terrible life choices despite some people never giving up on me," he gave his uncle a grateful stare at that. "Azula... I can only guess what our father put her through, but I'm so relieved to see her finally recovering from her mental illness."
"Well... I promise to act towards her with compassion, Zuko, you have my word," Aang made a solemn promise. "But now I should probably start on my way."
"What's the next step, Councilor Avatar Aang?" Katara smiled at him.
"Well, I was going to head over to Cranefish... ugh, I mean, the Republic City," Aang chuckled, like all of them still getting used to the name Sokka had proudly presented to the summit, along with the name for their new nation, which would henceforth be known as the United Republic of Nations. Considering all the fuss Sokka had made about naming the capital and the new nation, Katara had certainly expected a lot more creativity from the names. Still, she was well aware that for the past few days, Sokka's mind had mostly been occupied with a certain Fire Lord's sister, and so she was amenable to letting him off easy.
"Ah yes, scoping out a plot for the new council building," Zuko nodded. "The sooner we can get it up and running, the better."
"Exactly," Aang agreed. "I've already written to Lao Beifong and Toph about helping out. With the help of some talented earthbenders and metalbenders, we should be able to whip up a really impressive council building in a very short time! Ah, I can't wait to get started! And speaking of that, I really should be on my way," he got up with the intention to leave, then turning to look at Zuko. "Hmm, do you want to send Azula along with me? Maybe she wants to have a say..."
"I'm sure she'll be fine with whatever you decide for the council building," Zuko replied. "I would rather bring her over only when everything's ready and functional."
"Understood," Aang nodded, then turning to Katara. "What about Sokka, maybe he wants to come with me?"
"I'm not sure about his plans, perhaps you should ask him," Katara replied. "Though I think he went out with Azula earlier," she added.
"Oh... in that case I'll just leave them be," Aang decided considerately, bowing to them all before leaving. "Well, I'll see you all soon... we're going to make the Republic City into something truly special, mark my words," he said, leaving the lounge.
"It's very good to see that he's so passionate about this project," Iroh remarked, having stayed silent all this time, content to simply sip his tea and listen in. "And I'm very proud of you both that you have managed to keep him on your side as an ally, considering some things that have happened." Katara still couldn't help blushing at that comment. "His support will mean a lot for the United Republic and the Fire Nation going forward."
"Why do you say that, Uncle Iroh?" Zuko asked.
"Because the Earth Kingdom will not take this humiliation lying down, Zuko," Iroh spoke grimly. "I will be very surprised if King Kuei will reach Ba Sing Se alive."
"Would the Dai Li truly dare to act so boldly?" Katara gasped.
"You saw how they acted during the summit," Iroh replied with conviction. "They have completely lost all semblance of pretense, they have abandoned the shadows and stepped into the broad daylight, emboldened by Kuei's weakness."
"That's not altogether bad, is it, uncle?" Zuko asked. "If they're acting in the open, we can watch them more closely."
"True, but in that case, you should be able to see their next move," Iroh said, expecting them to make an educated guess, but Katara and Zuko could only exchange confused stares. "Once Kuei is out of the way, the Dai Li will try to renege on the outcome of this summit. You need to be ready that they will try to pull out of the deal."
"We're not going to let them do that, are we?" Katara felt her blood rising from Iroh's words. "Even if they try, the rest of the world will stand united against them. The United Republic will not bow down and surrender." She blushed again, noticing how Zuko was looking at her with such love and adoration, that she felt herself practically melting from the look in his golden eyes.
"Nor should we bow down and surrender," Iroh nodded in agreement. "We must all be aware that despite having been badly beaten and trampled upon by the Fire Nation during the Hundred Year War, the Earth Kingdom is still by far the largest and most populous nation in the world, and once they rebuild their strength, they will have the potential to bully the rest of the nations. That is why it's so important for the rest of the nations to have something that can bond them together. And this is why I was so pleased with your plan for the United Republic. Its creation eats away considerably at the potential power of the Earth Kingdom."
"Hmm... wise words, uncle, I hadn't truly considered all of these aspects," Zuko admitted, Katara nodding in agreement.
"You would do well to remember my warning and watch the Earth Kingdom carefully," Iroh spoke as he got up from his chair. "But now, I should also make my preparations for the return journey to Ba Sing Se. I believe things are about to get very interesting, and you will want my eyes on the events happening there."
"We really appreciate your help, Uncle Iroh, and I say that on behalf of us both," Katara smiled at Zuko's uncle, together with her boyfriend also getting up to leave the lounge.
"Alone at last, hmm?" Zuko came up to Katara and pulled her close. "Speaking of which... if Azula and Sokka are still out in the city, that means our quarters are currently empty."
"Say no more," Katara nodded breathlessly and they all but ran all the way back to their room in the mayor's estate. They had been in Yu Dao for more than a week, sharing the same bed, but unable to physically consummate their relationship, and it was slowly starting to become unbearable for them both.
Once back at their quarters, Katara found herself swiftly lifted off the ground and carried to the bed, where Zuko laid her down on the sheets before settling in on top of her, their kisses quickly becoming needy and hungry as they simply could not get enough of one another. After a while of increasingly heated kissing, Katara began to feel like she badly needed far more than just kisses, and if the intense look in Zuko's eyes was any indication, he was right there with her.
Still, when Zuko slipped her dress off from her shoulder and began trailing his kisses down her neck and collarbone, Katara couldn't help but to voice her worries. "Zuko... the doors? What if Azula walks in on us?" she whispered.
"I doubt they'll be back before the evening, don't worry," Zuko grinned up at her. "Besides, these are also Azula's quarters, I can't lock my own sister out just because we're both horny. That'd be very rude."
"Then maybe we shouldn't..." Katara began, but when Zuko resumed kissing her exposed shoulder, she immediately forgot what she was going to say. Letting out a deep sigh of delight at his touch, Katara felt Zuko's right hand sneaking down her leg to get a firm grip on her long dress, slowly starting to tug it upwards, his warm palm finding its way up to her thigh. In response, she began to tug on Zuko's clothes, rather ineffectively because she was feeling extremely distracted by his touch, especially when he succeeded in pushing her garments all the way up to her waist.
Of course, as things were about to get particularly interesting, the inevitably predictable happened as the laughing Azula and Sokka tumbled past the doorstep, interrupted the two carried away lovers. Zuko's first thought was to preserve Katara's dignity, so he quickly pulled her dress back down to cover her bare legs, while Katara herself quickly straightened the top of her dress, hiding her naked shoulder.
"Whoa, Zuzu, you don't waste any time, do you?" Azula laughed aloud.
"My eyes, oh my poor eyes! They have seen too much, far too much!" Sokka cried in a lamenting voice.
"What are you on about, you goofball," Azula chuckled, giving Sokka a playful punch on the shoulder. "Seeing a bit of your sister's thigh and shoulder isn't going to kill you."
"Speak for yourself, Azula!" Sokka was clearly determined to make a tragedy out of it all.
"Anyway, if you are quite done..." Katara spoke up insistently, rather desperate for a topic change. "Maybe you could tell us what your day was like," she suggested.
"Oh, we had a lot of fun, as usual!" Azula exclaimed. "Sokka was teaching me how to throw the boomerang!" she said, making an exaggerated throwing motion and nearly knocking over a nearby vase. "I dare say I'm getting quite good at it!"
"Throwing a boomerang, really," Katara narrowed her eyes, looking straight at Sokka, her brother looking a little embarrassed as he shuffled his feet uncomfortably. She had to give it to Sokka, for all of his goofiness, her brother could be surprisingly smooth when it came to putting his charm on. Teaching Azula how to throw the boomerang would have obviously provided plenty of opportunities for being close and touching, incidentally and not so incidentally. "Just make sure you're not having too much fun, Sokka," she added meaningfully.
"Hah, that's rich from the girl who was about to jump my brother's bones," Azula broke into laughter again.
"I... ugh, you are both impossible," Katara sighed at the grinning pair before them.
"Yes, stop tormenting my girlfriend, please," Zuko spoke up on her behalf, though he still looked very amused about their interaction. "Maybe we can instead find something to do this evening? It's going to be our last in Yu Dao."
"Oh, we're going back to the Fire Nation?" Azula asked. "I thought I was going to stay here..."
"Well, Aang will need time to set everything up in the new United Republic capital, and by the time the council is ready to hold session, we'll arrange for you to be brought to Republic City," Zuko explained. "But that's going to take a couple of months at least."
"If you want to come back to the Fire Nation with us, Sokka, you're more than welcome," Katara gave her brother a meaningful stare. "In fact, I think you should do just that."
"I, uh, can't imagine doing anything else, sis," Sokka managed, stealing a quick glance at Azula, who had turned a very pretty shade of pink.
"Good, that's settled then," Katara smiled imperiously. "So, any ideas for what to do tonight?"
"Oh, sounds like we're having a double date," Azula laughed, looking very excited.
"I have just the perfect place for it, too," Sokka nodded happily. "A few days ago, I found this absolutely amazing dumpling house and it's quite nearby, too!"
"I hope it is actually nice and that this isn't just another excuse to stuff your face, Sokka," Katara warned her brother.
"Uh... can't it be both?" Sokka blushed guiltily.
"It absolutely can," Zuko said decisively, taking Katara's hand and pulling her up from the bed. "I think we have a great plan, so let's get ready. Sokka and I will step out for a bit so that you girls can get ready-..." his sentence was unfinished due to an unexpected knock on the doors.
"Let me get it," Zuko himself walked up to the doors, opening them and blinking when he saw his uncle standing outside. "Uncle? I thought you had left already?"
"I was on my way to the airship, but I caught the latest news on my way there," Iroh replied grimly. "It has happened. Earth King Kuei is dead."