Eleven cups of tea and four bathroom visits later. Zuko had finally managed to calm himself down. He was just happy that everyone else couldn't see what a bundle of nerves he actually were on the inside.
He was angry in a way he hadn't been ever since he joined this group. He was honestly scared shit less now that it became more apparent to him what this city was.
And he also knew he had played a very dangerous game speaking back to Long Feng like that.
To compare Long Feng to Ozai wasn't that far off. And it scared the shit out of Zuko. He knew what these kind of people were willing to do. His bloody face was a good reminder.
Joo Dee… The first one. She had failed in her mission, and only Agni knew what they had done to her. Replaced her.
That was why she had been acting like that. The poor woman was scared out of her mind, and so were everyone else around them.
Anyone could be taken away at a moments notice. Step out of line just ones and… There were things worse than getting your face burned off and put on a boat where your basic needs were still tended to.
All the citizens here lived in constant fear of what might happen to them. This was worse than the fire nation. Do the wrong thing… Say the wrong thing… even think the wrong thing in this city. And you are done.
The fire nation was similar of course but… not this extreme. Not with looming walls keeping everyone not with the blatant lies about how there was no war at all. Hidden behind beautiful buildings and items of luxury while all the porverty was hidden behind a wall. It was so wrong on so many levels.
While trying to sort through all of his thoughts Zuko had found his way out on the roof for a breath of fresh air. Above him the stars were glittering and the moon was almost full.
Zuko looked up at the beauitful scene and was ones again thankful that there were things that would not change.
That was when Lin-Lin came flying up from his pond and right into Zukos hands. Eager to be warmed up.
"Hi." Zuko smiled as the turtleduck. "At least you're content and happy. All you really need is some water to swim in, some bread to eat and a warm place to sleep." he said. "Man. If it took so little to be satiesfied for us humans. The world would be a much simpler place." he said as the turtle duck settled on his legs and Zuko gently petted it as he looked up towards the sky.
That's how Katara found Zuko as she made her way up to the roof as well.
"Erhm… Hi." Katara spoke nervously.
Zuko turned his head to look at the young girl. She was back in her regular water tribe clothes and all the make up had been wiped off. Honestly Zuko preffered both her and Toph better this way.
"Hi." Zuko replied back.
"Are you okay?" Katara finally asked sounding genuinely concerned.
"Well." Zuko looked down. "I'm better." he said.
"That's good." Katara said as she sat down next to Zuko. And scratched Lin-Lin with a finger. "You were great in there you know."
"Thanks." Zuko whispered.
"I mean it." Katara said. "All of this. It's so wrong. It makes me so angry." she said. "How can he do that?" he asked. "Lie to his own citizens? Treat them like they aren't people but just… Objects?! As if he is better than everybody else."
"I've seen it before." Zuko commented looking down at Lin-Lin in his lap.
"Oh." Katara halted. "Right."
"Not just my father." Zuko said. "Zhao… the other admirals. They all truly believed they knew what was best for the world. So everything they did was okay… because they knew better."
Katara pouted as she wrapped her arms around herself and looked forward. "You and Toph were right! These nobles suck!" she said. "They all thought they were so much better didn't they? And that woman! How dare she?" she ranted. "You can't help you have a scar! I just… I wanted to freeze her solid and… And smack her with a vase! Then wipe up that stupid look on her face!"
Zuko smirked. "Did you see her face when you said crap?" he asked. "That was kind of amazing."
Katara blushed deeply.
"Everyone freaked out. And it's just one word." Zuko shook his head. "That's how fragile those people are…. That's also why it isn't worth it." he whispered as he reached up a hand. Gently touching the edge of his scar.
Katara swallowed as she looked at Zuko. "Erhm… Zuko." she halted. "I hope you don't mind me asking." she said. "In the past. I didn't think that scar bothered you. But it does… Doesn't it?" she asked.
Zuko chewed his lip.
"How come when we met." Katara hesitated. "Your hair. You had your hair in a way so people would really notice it." she commented. "Erhm... Why?"
"That's easy." Zuko said. "It's because this scar cannot be hidden. So the only alternative is to embrace it. Kind of dare anyone who would ask about it. Go ahead! Ask!" he said. "I'm not ashamed… Is the message I wanted to send." he sighed deeply.
Katara swallowed. "Maybe… I could heal it."
"Katara it's a scar." Zuko said. "It doesn't work like that. It's already healed."
"No. Listen." Katara said as she pulled out a necklace hidden under her clothes with a little vial in it. "This is spirit water. From the spirit Oasis in the north pole. It has amazing properties. Maybe… Just maybe. It could heal your scar."
Zuko sucked in a deep breath.
Katara looked up at Zuko as she held her breath and Zuko glanced down not meeting her eyes. Katara swallowed as she reached forward a hand, gently touching Zuko's scar.
He wasn't retrieving. Katara took that as an invitation as she lifted the hand with the spirit viral.
"No." Zuko suddenly said holding up a hand pushing the viral with spirit water back.
"But." Katara tried.
Zuko shook his head. "Some day. That water might safe a life." he said. "I am far from the only one with a scar in this world. Agni knows the fire nation made sure of that. It's not worth the life that this water is one day going to safe." he said as he put the water back into Kataras hand and then took her other hand. Closing those hands around the vial for her and he looked up.
Astounded Katara looked up. And even more stunned was she to see Zuko smiling.
"I'm really glad I got to have a friend like you Katara. That you would even do that for me. That means a lot." Zuko said. "That's worth far more than a perfect face. The way you stood up for me tonight. I can only remember my uncle having ever done anything like that."
"That woman was way out of line. I was glad to do it." Katara said as Zuko finally let go of her hands and Katara put the vial back in place, around her neck and hidden beneath her clothes. Then she looked up. "I'm really glad you would be my friend too." she smiled warmly and sincerely. "And I know the others feel the same way."
"You know… I do believe you." Zuko said.
"And as for all the things Long Feng said. About you doing this for selfish reasons. None of us buy it. You know that right?" Aang asked.
"Yeah. I know." Zuko said.
"Everything you said in there. You were right." Katara said. "And you should be proud of yourself! I really mean that. Everyone was super impressed. Aang kept talking about it. That he wish he can be as cool as you one day."
Zuko was stunned for words as he looked at Katara trying to process what she had just said.
Katara smiled then she padded Zukos hand. "It's getting late. You should go to bed. You're always the first one to wake up."
"I'll be there in a moment." Zuko assured. "I'll just… Need to sit here for a while longer."
"Okay." Katara nodded. She leaned over to give Zuko a short hug which Zuko smiled at and then Katara stood up to walk back to the window they had crawled through. They before she crawled back Katara halted. "Zuko." she said.
"Yeah?" Zuko turned to her.
"You know…" Katara hesitated. "When I first met you. I thought you looked scary. Really scary. Do you know what you looked like tonight?" she asked turning to him.
"Erhm." Zuko hesitated.
"You looked like a Prince." Katara smiled.
Zuko halted his eyes wide.
"You're a really handsome guy you know. With or without a scar." Katara smiled.
"No I'm not!" Zuko blurted without even thinking. Then blushed deeply as he turned his head away.
Katara chuckled. "I can bring Toph up to be our lie detector if you don't believe me."
"No! Don't do that!" Zuko exclaimed and he halted. "Erhm… It doesn't really matter. Looks don't matter right? I just… Do… Do you really mean that?" he asked.
Amused Katara shook her head. "Yeah. I really do." she said. And finally Katara winked as she crawled back through the window leaving Zuko in quite a stunned state.
Then Lin-Lin quacked from Zukos lap demanding attention.
"Hey shut up." Zuko pouted at the turtle duck. Then sighed deeply as he shook his head and looked up at the stars again. He did feel kind of better.