From where Katara sat, she could see an angry black smudge of clouds forming over the sea. Katara smiled despite the tears still rolling into her lap, she thought she had sensed rain earlier. It was as if the still humid air around her suddenly awoke from its slumber as a chilly breeze from the sea sent her hair dancing around her face. As the sea rose in anger below her, she felt its power surging into her, giving her new strength. She swallowed the sob threatening to escape her and dried her eyes. What was she doing? She could deal with this, just as she always did.
She retrieved the second bun from the napkin and tucked the piece of fabric into her pocket. Bringing the bun up to her nose, she inhaled deeply, smiling at the savory scent. She tore a chunk off and ate greedily, feeling the soft dough explode with flavor in her mouth, it was just as good cold. In just a few moments, the whole thing was gone. Katara glanced back up at the sky, the vast mass of darkness hung low over the harbor now, engulfing it like a blanket. She knew it would soon swallow her and the capital too.
Just as the first heavy drops padded onto the dusty ground around her, she heard the footsteps behind her. She turned to see Iroh making his way to her bench, a tray ladled with two steaming cups in his hands. She rose to meet him, taking the tray from his frail hands, "What's this?" Katara asked as Iroh sat down on the bench.
"Will you join me for a cup of tea, katara?" He asked as she joined him on the bench.
"Of course, but would you not rather go inside?" The temperature had dropped considerately since their walk here, and Katara didn't want him to get cold.
Iroh smiled, taking one of the cups from the tray between them, "You feel the power from those clouds, don't you? All that energy being building up until finally breaking into rain. It must feel ecstatic."
Katara nodded. It was true of course, she felt every raindrop as it hit the ground, striking her like physical blows, vitality streaming through her from the rain-sodden ground through her feet.
"Well, I feel power too, not the same as you do, though. I feel the electricity. I feel boiling in the air, writhing like a restless beast up there. I never feel so alive as during a storm," He paused before taking the second cup and giving it to Katara, "Here."
Katara took it, cradling it in both hands, "thanks," she said quietly. She took a sip, the warmth spreading through her chest, and her eyes threatened to fill with tears again, it tasted just like home. She looked up and met Iroh's eyes, "what tea is this?" Her voice shook.
"It's made from blue-weed roots."
An image formed in Kataras mind of a delicate blue flower growing from the solid snow around their hut back home, her father had made tea from its roots when she or Sokka was ever sick. "I love it," she practically whispered.
Iroh smiled warmly, "I thought you might," he paused for a long time, turning to watch the swirling mass of clouds extending above them. The rain was falling fast and heavy now, but the large leaves of the oak tree protected them from the worst of it. Iroh finally turned to look at her, his eyes intense as he spoke, "Has Zuko talked to you? About what he's feeling, I mean. Has he told you what's going on?"
Katara nodded and cleared her throat, she hadn't expected this, "I practically forced him to tell me. I had no idea how bad it was," she admitted.
Iroh nodded soberly, "I've been so worried about him, and I don't know how to help him. He won't even let me try!" He exclaimed, his voice cracking slightly as his voice rose.
"I want to help him too. And I think I know how," Katara proclaimed. Seeing Iroh like this had made her reach a decision. She hadn't even realized it until the words came out. Aang would just have to manage on his own for a while, and she knew he could; he's the avatar after all. She was more worried about herself, actually. How would she manage without him? It would be like leaving her family all over again. But knowing what she wanted to do made her feel better too, now she could focus on what needed to be done. "I want to stay here."
The rain battered hard against her skin as Katara walked to the palace alone, her heart lighter than it had been for a long time as it hammered in her chest. She stopped in the middle of the empty street and kicked her shoes off, she grabbed them by the laces before taking off in a run, her bare feet slamming into the dirty paving stones. She didn't know why she was running, but it felt good. She was one with the water now, gushing forward, unstoppable as she pounded on, a grin spreading across her face. Too soon, she found herself in front of the heavy, imposing doors of the palace. She couldn't go in there now, not when she felt so alive. Panting slightly, she walked up to the pair of guards standing in front of the entrance. She knew she must look dreadful, her clothes soaked through, her hair matted, her bare feet splattered with mud, but she didn't care. Clearly, they still recognized her because they opened the doors without a word at her approach.
She felt crushed by the heavy walls as she made her way through the entrance hall. She couldn't take it; dropping her shoes right there on the floor, she took off again, running through the building until she found the doors to the palace gardens. She burst through them and found herself able to breathe again. Doubling over with her hands on her knees, she gulped the fresh air as if she had been suffocating. The water washed over her, and she stood straight again. She made her way to the large pond in the center of the gardens, pulling her soaking tunic over her head as she walked. She threw it aside as she reached the edge of the clear water, standing in just her bindings, she absorbed the feeling of complete relaxation. Without a second thought, Katara plunged in.
The water came alive around her, and she dived under the surface, creating a current that surged her forward without even thinking about it. Muscle memory moved her forward; she was born to do this. She sensed the other side and came up for breath, the sound of the rain hammering into the water almost deafening as she broke the surface. Opening her eyes, the watery world came back into focus, and kneeling on the bank, just a few feet away, was Zuko, her sodden shoes in his hands. Her hair plastering to her face, she stood up in the water and made her way to where he waited for her.
"Hey," she said, breathing heavily as she sat down beside him, "you look cold."
"I am a bit," Zuko admitted with a chuckle, looking down at his sodden clothes. "You seem perfectly comfortable, though."
Katara giggled, "Where are the others?" She asked, looking around.
"They're still at the tea shop. They preferred to stay dry. Iroh told me you went home alone, and I got a bit worried. Are you okay?" He asked, the rain dripping steadily from his chin.
"I'm fine, I've just had a lot to think about," Katara said, giving him a reassuring smile.
"Okay," He paused, searching her face. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Yes, actually," She nodded, "But first, let's do something about your shivering." Katara stood up, her bare feet squelching in the muddy grass. She raised her arms, her fingers poised, feeling the water all around them. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and raised her arms further, the water lifting from everything around her. She felt the water leave her hair, her clothes, and even the ground below her, and she knew Zuko was also drying beside her. The water formed a sphere above their heads, protecting them from the pouring rain. She opened her eyes and released her breath, letting her arms fall slack but still concentrating on holding the sphere in her mind. She smiled down at Zuko, who was pulling his fingers through his windswept but thankfully dry hair, "Better?" She sat back down, looking at the swirling mass of water around them.
"You could say that," He smiled, giving up on his hair and simply tying it back with a ribbon. He turned to Katara, "so what have you been thinking about?"
She wasn't sure how to best break the news to him, so she just let the words flood out in a torrent. "I talked to Iroh, and after last night we both agreed that it would be best if I stayed for a while until after the trip. I'll be here as a representative of the Southern Water Tribe, and I can help you with any political arrangements that need to be made." She kept her eyes trained stubbornly forward, too nervous to look at his reaction. There was a long pause, and Katara couldn't take it, and more words came tumbling out, "I know it's been really tough for you here, and I can't stand thinking about you going through this alone. You're one of my best friends, and it pains me to see you like this. It would only be for a few weeks, I think it might widen the opportunities for an alliance between the fire nation and the souther-"
Kataras words were cut short by Zuko's hand gently catching her chin, forcing her to look at him. She fell silent in his gaze, her mouth opening and closing uselessly. "Is that what you really want?" He finally asked after staring at her like that for what felt like minutes, the warmth from his fingers spreading throughout her face.
"Yes," She whispered, and Zuko knew she was telling the truth.
He nodded, his mind working fast to wrap itself around her words —Katara, living here. He fought to keep a grin off his lips; he dare not get his hopes up, not yet. He let go of her chin, his hand tingling from the strange coolness of her skin, "Have you told Aang yet?"
Katara shook her head. She felt Zuko's hand withdrawing from her, and with it all of his warmth, she reached and grabbed it with both of hers. "But I know he will understand, Zuko. I think he knows somethings up too, and he'll want me to help you."
That much might be true, Zuko surmised, and her words did ease his mind a little. Katara had a way with words, and if she spoke to Aang, he knew she'd make him understand. He finally let his smile show, "Okay. Okay then!"
Katara grinned; she knew he wouldn't refuse her, but she had still been worried about his reaction, but seeing his smile, she knew everything would sort itself out. "I'll talk to Aang as soon as I can," she promised, gripping his hand harder.
Just then, ice-cold water doused them both, and katara let out a shriek of surprise. The water sphere had broken. Katara had lost her concentration, and now they were just as soaked as before, if not worse. Katara looked at Zuko's wide-eyed expression of surprise and couldn't help but laugh. After a stunned silence, Zuko soon joined in, and before they knew it, they were both laughing their heads off at each other, with each other. The rain battered on, but the sound of their laughter drowned it out as it echoed off the stone walls around them.