Katara looked at the people sitting all around her, their faces lit by the hot afternoon sun, the sudden bursts of laughter, the expressions of excitement she knew so well. The sight filled her with so much joy for these moments, these people, they made her happier than anything else ever could. But she also felt a jolt of pain, because she was already thinking about the fact that they would soon be gone again, moments like this don't last forever. Still, she smiled, how could she not when surrounded by these people she loved.
The gaang was staying as privileged guests in the fire nation capital, courtesy of Zuko, Fire Lord Zuko now. Still, Katara could never get used to calling him that. A reunion of sorts, to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the end of the 100-year war. They rarely saw each other like this anymore, everyone gathered at the same time, there was always someone missing. Not strange considering how everyone has scattered across the nations.
After Aang's defeat of Fire Lord Ozai and the subsequent end of the 100-year war, there was still so much to do. Aang wanted the gaang to continue as it had, traveling from nation to nation and sorting it all out, but that stage of their lives was done now, it was time for everyone to find their own path in life. Everyone except Katara, who still felt too young to begin her own life, yet found herself unable to return to her home in the cold southern water tribe. The only things waiting for her there were expectations, painful memories, and the bleak arctic coldness. Instead, she kept herself busy, traveling the nations with Aang and doing their best to fix the aftermath of the war. It wasn't easy, and Katara would never forget the horrors she saw, but they did what they could. The world still needed the avatar, and Katara was happy to help wherever she could.
Despite just turning 16 after the war, Sokka proposed to Suki as soon as the dust settled, hopeless romantic as he is. Of course, she said yes. She now wears the hand-carved traditional water tribe necklace he made from a silver stone found only on Kyoshi Island, symbolic of both his and her heritage. Sokka continued his sword training, traveling with Suki to learn from masters worldwide until finally, he suddenly found himself able to hold his own against them. He became a master in the art himself (and has not shut up about it since). About two years ago, they moved to Full Moon Bay in the earth kingdom, not far from Ba Sing Se. There, they have established a non-bender training facility where they personally teach non-benders to fight and be proud of who they are.
Toph made her way to the newly formed Republic City, where she continued participating in earthbending tournaments for a while, resuming the blind bandit title. She earned a small fortune as benders from all over the world wanted to try their hand with the famous girl. She never lost a fight, well, at least not since her first fight with Aang, which they still laugh about. With her earnings, she surprised everyone by financing the establishment of the Republic City police force, something the city badly needed in the unrest after the war. She started training a few officers she deemed worthy, spreading her skill of metalbending. She is now the youngest chief of police in history. Thankfully, she hasn't lost an ounce of her snarky personality.
As for Zuko, the fire lord, he worked endlessly in the fire nation, trying to reconcile the nations and solidify the still-fragile peace. Treaties, council meetings, global trade arrangements, terms, and conditions muddling together in a stressful mess. However much he tried, it seemed to account for little and less, the world was still terrified of the fire nation, and who could blame them? After a century of loss, fear, and pain, why should they ever trust the fire nation again? Still, Zuko persisted, doing all he could to develop solutions to heal the wounds his father and grandfather before him made. Clinging to the hope of seeing his people reunited with the rest of the world once again. Unlike the others, though, Zuko was all alone, stuck in his huge empty palace. Sure, Toph was close in Republic city, but he only ever visited on business, he never saw her long enough to relax, never enough to become a little like his old self.
Now, they were all finally together again, relaxing in the luscious grass of the royal gardens, the hot afternoon sun shining down on them. The group was sitting around lazily, talking and laughing, catching up with each other's lives. Although months may pass between them seeing each other, it would always feel as if no time had passed when they got together. Toph would joke that they were bonded for life after what they had been through together and would never be truly happy without one another. Although she said it as a joke, they all knew it was true. Katara looked around at her friends, Aang was playing cards with Suki, who looked to be winning with a smug smile. Toph seemed to be teaching Sokka some kind of arm wrestling technique, they were both laughing a lot and katara smiled until she noticed Zuko lying on his back behind them, staring absently at the clouds above. Katara only arrived the day before yesterday, but she had quickly noticed that something wasn't right with Zuko. She knew him too well to accept his excuses of "I just haven't been sleeping very well" or "I'm fine, I've just got a small headache", she could see that it was more than that in his glassy eyes and the bags underneath them. She also knew it was more than just stress, but she hadn't asked him about it yet, thinking that he would tell them when we felt ready, but he hadn't yet.
Katara stood up from her spot beside Toph, who was now wrestling with Sokka while Suki and Aang laughed. She walked over to Zuko, laying down in the grass beside him, looking at the fluffy white clouds sail slowly across the sky. "That one looks like a turtle duck," she said, pointing at a fluffy cloud.
Zuko chuckled slightly, "I guess so."
Katara couldn't help to notice how exhausted he sounded, she turned her face to look at him, but his eyes were still trained upwards, "so, are you enjoying the party?" she asked, trying to sound cheery, more for her own sake than his.
"Yeah, it's great to see everyone again, it feels like it's been forever since we were all gathered together properly like this," he said quietly, finally taking his eyes off the clouds to scan the faces of his friends, almost as if he was worried they would disappear if he didn't make sure they were still there. Lastly, he looked at Katara and managed a smile, "I'm glad you're here, Katara."
"Yeah, me too," she said softly, trying to keep the worry out of her voice. Katara had made an effort to stay in contact with everyone from the gaang, writing regular letters and visiting whenever she and Aang were nearby. It was difficult to keep in touch with Toph, of course. Still, they visited Republic city so often on business, so it barely mattered. Zuko always seemed to be so cheerful in his letters, but Katara was starting to wonder if he only wrote like that so she wouldn't worry about him. She would have to ask Toph if he'd spoken to her about it, surely she must have noticed something too, being the friend he saw most often. She would have to ask Toph about it. It suddenly felt unfair to Katara, how everyone went on to live relatively carefree lives, finding their own paths and loved ones, while Zuko was left here to deal with the shit his forebears left him and a title that seemed to be crushing him.
"I can't believe it's been four years now since we basically saved the world," Zuko said, pulling Katara out of her thoughts. "Sometimes it feels like it was a lifetime ago, like it didn't happen to me but someone else before me, like I'm living a normal life."
Katara knew that feeling well, she would start feeling safe, as if maybe it was truly just in the past, part of another life "but then one night you wake up screaming and remember every second of it again," she said, barely more than a whisper. Zuko looked at her then, properly looked at her for the first time since she arrived, maybe he finally realised that he wasn't alone in feeling whatever he was feeling.
"Yeah, just like that," he said, his voice an octave lower than before.
Katara sighed, she knew Zuko was struggling and she wanted to help, but she couldn't unless he opened up, and she didn't know how to make him do that. Especially not like this, not here in the light and warmth and laughter, it was all wrong. But she did want to try.
"Zuko, you know I'm here for you, right? We all are. I'm not sure what exactly you're going through, but I can't help you if you don't tell me," Katara tried not to sound as if she was pleading.
Zuko turned away from her and sat up, looking down at the grass in front of him, "Yeah, I know." He sighed, standing up and walking away from the group and into the shade of the palace. Katara huffed, watching Zuko disappear into the vast building, had she said something wrong? She needed to talk to him alone, maybe he didn't feel comfortable talking about what was bothering him where everyone could hear. Either way, she knew she had to try, but right now wasn't the right moment to pursue him, she let him go for the moment and rolled onto her stomach.
"Hey! How come Zuko left?" Sokka asked loudly from where he sat.
"Oh, he said he had a headache from the sun and went to find water," Katara said, trying to sound cheerful. She looked at Toph, and for a second, Katara saw her eyebrows furrow, she does know something.
"You up for another round Suki?" asked Aang, shuffling the cards in his hand.
"Sure! Let's all play, guys." She said, gesturing for everyone to join.
"I would, but you know, I kinda cant see!" Toph said exasperatedly.
"Oh shit yeah, be on my team then, I'll whisper our hand or whatever," Suki said, patting the grass beside her before looking at Katara, "You coming?"
"Why not" She agreed, standing up and walking over to the little ring. Maybe it was best to take her mind off Zuko for a bit, she didn't think she could do anything about him now anyway.
As the afternoon turned into evening they sat there, sprawled lazily on the grass playing cards and filling the air with chatter. Katara slowly relaxed, allowing herself to enjoy their company because who knew when she would see them all again. She already missed them, but she tried not to think about it. Not until the sky darkened and the wind turned chilly did they return to the palace, where Zuko was nowhere to be seen. Katara knew where his quarters were, but she still thought she ought not to disturb him. Instead, she and Toph returned to their shared room and got ready for bed without talking much.