A/N: I'm so thankful to all of you for the continued support; my cornucopia overflows. My new story followers: gh0stwriter and abbydobbie, you both get a thank you hug. But double dips on the huggable thanks to touslesnoms for the follow AND REVIEW! You made my heart sing. As always shout-out to ML8991, thanks for keeping me typing.
Disclaimer: I'm thankful I got this chapter up, but can't claim any ownership to Avatar the Last Airbender.
A sharp pinch on the underside of Katara's arm rudely wakes her from a soundless sleep. She flutters her eyes open to the sight of her brother's looming face, inches away from her own. She sinks back into the pillow with alarm and confusion. A jumble of the events transpires, flittering past in rapid jumbled succession.
Sokka places both his hands against his sister's cheeks with such relief. "Katara, you're alive!" Squishing Katara's face, Sokka moves his sister's head from side to side. "Say something!" Sokka peers closely into one of Katara's eyes, trying to discern if she is really awake or still sleeping with her eyes open. "Are you in there?"
Katara's lips, squished together, protrude, causing her words to come out distorted. "Sokka, what... you... do?" She pushes his hands away, freeing her lips. "Will you get off my face!" She massages her mouth, working out the tension from her jaw.
"Oh good, you're awake." Sokka sits next to Katara. The bed sinks, and Katara almost tumbles into her brother. She pushes Sokka off the bed. He grabs a chair and pulls it next to the bed. "Katara, we've got to talk about some things."
"Things?" Katara yawns and stretches her arms. She feels so alive. It is like all her channels have been unlocked. She slowly scoots into a sitting position. Katara adjusts the pillows behind her.
Admonishing his sister's reckless behavior since they arrived in the Imperial port, Sokka deepens his voice into big brother authority. "First, there is last night, and now we learn you are in the infirmary."
"Royal Infirmary," Katara corrects, eliciting a slight giggle remembering Zuko's raspy voice correction. She bites her lips, nipping the laughter. Sokka's sour look causes Katara to protest. "What?"
"You aren't taking this seriously."
Katara folds the sheet across her lap, smoothing out the creases. "Sorry, it was a bit of joke between Prince Zuko and me."
Sokka throws his hands up and looks about to see that no one has arrived at the door. The entrance still empty, he faces his sister. "That is what I'm talking about,"
"What, a joke?" Katara knows that isn't what Sokka is talking about, but she doesn't want to admit to her brother that she didn't hate being in Prince Zuko's company.
"No, not a joke." Sokka calms himself and lowers his voice. He tries to ask nonchalantly, desperate to find out what had been so funny and if he could maybe use it later himself. "What was the joke?"
"It was less of a joke, more like a situation that was situational in a sense for the two people being there in a said situation..." Katara's explanation dwindles to a still quiet. She smiles at her brother, hoping he will drop his interrogation.
Sokka's eyes narrow, "Fine, don't tell me about the joke." He points at his sister; his finger inches from Katara's nose. "Do not get bewitched by the palace."
Katara leans back from Sokka's finger, resisting the urge to cross her eyes. She says with heavy sarcasm. "Sokka, calm down; I'm still suspicious and distrustful of everyone in the palace."
"Good, stay that way, and you won't get hurt." Sokka glances to the door again and then back at his sister. "We don't have a lot of time before Dad gets in here. Can you pull yourself together and focus?"
Katara nods. She clasps her hands on her lap and sits more fully upright. "Yes, sorry, focused."
"Highlights of what happened last night and today, go."
Taking a deep breath, Katara runs through the events and watches the changing emotions across her brother's face. She excludes the more salacious and terrifying aspects of her two days in Imperial City. Instead, she concentrates on the elusive character that is the Blue Spirit. She elaborates upon their initial meeting, describing his attire and initially mistaking him for Sokka. She explains how the Blue Spirit fought her and then helped assist her in the battle against the pirates. Sokka listens and only responds with a few words to prod Katara's continued telling. She takes a deep breath finally. She hesitates to reveal her suspicions but needs her brother's advice and agile mind for discerning what mere myth is and what could be true and possible. "I think the Blue Spirit might be a threat against the House of the Imperial Dragon."
Sokka stares at the sterile white walls of the private hospital room. He isn't examining them for details but using it as a blank slate to transcribe in his mind the myriad of prospects his sister's information supplied. "Perhaps, we need to find out more about the Blue Spirit and use that information or the Blue Spirit himself as leverage against all the Imperial Dragons."
"Oh Sokka, you mean it." Katara tears up with delight that Sokka hasn't wholly resigned himself to the spirit world.
Sokka takes her hand and says gently. "I will always do what is best for our tribe, but…" A crafty sparkle delights in his eyes. "I'm not going to walk into the spirit world without knowing I did everything to help all of us, including me."
"Sokka, thank you for not giving up, I love you so much." Katara hugs her brother tightly to her. He answers her love by not pushing Katara away or teasing her for being girlie.
Sokka untangles himself soon enough to get to the business of their mission. "Do you know what the Blue Spirit is?"
"No," Katara shakes her head, "I suspect the palace does, no one wants to give me any information, including the Royal Archivist, Sir Long Feng."
"It sounds like we'll have to put a team together to find out more." Sokka ponders, "Now, what should we call ourselves?"
"Katara and Sokka?" Katara hurries with an alternate pairing, "Sokka and Katara, for birth order."
Sokka claps his hands, "Got it, Team Adventure."
"Team Adventure? It is just the two of us."
"And Aang." Sokka can hear his father moving about the open door.
"Aang?" Katara thought Aang was nice and helpful, but Katara hadn't realized Aang had crossed general meeting status into team status. She had relegated Aang to the domain of another thing or person that was part a collective sad memory of her time in the Fire Nation and would be rubbed clean after her brother's sacrifice. The sudden pinch on her underarm focuses Katara in a painful way. She rubs the incriminating spot and responds in kind to her brother.
Sokka's arm jerks away. "What did you do that for?" He pinches Katara back.
Katara yelps, "Hey, no fair! You pinched me first." She tends the bruised spot, protecting it with one hand and adding another insult to her brother.
Sokka retaliates, "Stop pinching me!" He tries reaching around to give his sister a new pinch location.
"No, you stop pinching me!" Katara bats away Sokka's hand.
Hakoda appears in the doorway. "Will you both stop making spectacles of yourselves!"
Both siblings sit up straight dutifully, bowing their heads, echoing a formal apology in unison. "Our forgiveness, father."
Hakoda's children's automatic responses cause a grin to appear, but it disappears into a Chiefly stoic expression. Internally, he is laughing heartily: how his children bring him such joy and remembrances of his own mischievous side. Yet, his position demands that Hakoda act aggrieved over Sokka and Katara's childish behavior. Yet, the love they both engender does not elicit a proper reprimand. "Father is it? How formal a greeting for your dear old Dad." Hakoda walks over to the bed, leaning over to kiss his daughter's forehead. Standing up, he says with relief. "Katara, Dr. Hama informs me you are no worse the wear from your little escapade in the garden."
Hama circles Hakoda to stand at the bottom of Katara's bed.
Katara does feel rejuvenated and issues her sincere gratitude. "Thank you so much for helping me, Dr. Hama. My whole body feels renewed."
"I'm pleased." Hama makes the movement of doctoral pride as she pats the blanket covering Katara's legs. Trying to detect the malevolent force, Hama breathes in subtly and can still feel the lingering dark force. Her eyes crinkle gently, pulling her lined skin into a benevolent expression that she uses to reassure anxious patients. "I will need you to come back to the Royal Infirmary."
Hakoda is taken aback internally but does not visibly register his shock. During their conversation, the doctor had not indicated that a return visit would be a necessity. "We will be staying through the tribute, and that is all. Should I be worried?"
Hama wants to say, yes, but the explanation would prove more worrisome than comforting. In her professional life, Hama had become adroit at the gentle lie. "No, these treatments during your stay here should be fine and take care of replenishing her chi." Hama gave Katara a stern look. "It is imperative that Katara stays out of the afternoon sun."
Hakoda strokes his daughter's braids, so reminiscent of Kya, how he still aches for his wife. "You do not have to worry, Dr. Hama; Katara is a dutiful daughter."
Katara glances down at her hands, fiddling with the sheet. She must keep at bay the confession that she isn't the dutiful daughter her father presumes. She is willful and has secrets, and those secrets seem to be multiplying.
Hama hands Hakoda a small brown bottle. "In addition to her treatments, I would like Katara to take this draught every evening before she sleeps."
"But why?" Katara is now nervous that her illness is more severe than either her father or Hama are telling her.
Hama lowers her voice into placating tones that calm fearful patients and family members. "The Fire Nation's climate can affect some more than others; restless nights will not help you face the days. This draught is infused with vitamins and minerals that will bolster you during your stay and allow you to face the day and weather with more confidence. Think of it as a precautionary method." Hama clarifies with doctor authority. "But necessary."
Hakoda takes the bottle with a more settled contentment. "I promise, Dr. Hama, that Katara will take it."
Hama feels more relaxed but there is a note of desperation that slips into her final words. "It is imperative that Katara follow the prescribed dosage upon the bottle." She takes a deep breath and demurs to Hakoda's paternal status. "Chief Hakoda, I know you understand the importance of following directions."
"Yes, we understand perfectly." Hakoda pockets the bottle in front coat's pocket. "Thank you for your diligence on this matter."
Katara breaks the awkward silence between the doctor and her father. There is one joy that she can state from her Royal Infirmary escapade. "Dad, Dr. Hama is from the Southern Water Tribe."
Hakoda looks at Hama with a more focused interest. "May the moon precede you."
Hama bows her head, "May the moon precede you, Chief Hakoda."
"When was it that you were part of the tribe?" Hakoda searches the lines of Hama's face for an idea of time. As Chief, he was privy to those that have left the tundra, and those who have joined their ranks as newborn babes. Hakoda could attribute Hama's lines to a long life or from a life that has endured hardship. The needling question of the name Hama is not a typical moniker given to a Southern Water Tribe woman is odd, too. Yet, records and names can be changed, and memories aren't infallible or always intact.
Hama keeps her head bowed and responds so quietly that her words seem to come from a bygone time. "So many moons ago, I cannot remember."
"Then, it is a double honor to meet a fellow Southern Water Tribe waterbender." Hakoda looks at his daughter, who possesses equal talent if not greater. Yet, Katara's gifts could rip her, too, from their tribe. Their small nation has had so many waterbenders scattered to parts and locales out of reach and out of touch. The sudden fear germinates that perhaps one waterbender can sense another. He wants to get Katara away from the Dr. Hama. "Katara, we must now retire to our quarters." He grasps his daughter's hand. "Are you fit to walk?"
Katara takes Hakoda's hand in agreeable response. The Southern Tribe family exits the room and thusly out of the Royal Infirmary. Hakoda has his arm around his daughter to give her a steady hand.
Katara glances up at her father and smiles. "Dad, I'm okay. I promise I can walk."
Hakoda smiles back at his daughter. "I know, but it gives me an excuse to have my arm around you. You're a grown woman now, a young lady. And you don't often let your old Dad take care of you. So I need to take advantage of every chance I get." Hakoda speaks with a tinge of worry in his voice. "Katara, I want the truth; how are you really feeling?"
"I'm feeling fine." Katara starts a little hesitant and then says over brightly with a pitch to her voice. Sokka glares at her. Katara lowers her overstretched grin. "I was just fatigued from all the activity and still getting used to being on land."
Hakoda coughs, "Perhaps, I should give you one of Gran Gran's medicines."
"No!" Katara calms herself and says shoving down her natural gag instinct from the remembered revulsion of Gran Gran's medicine. The fact that it was used whether a chill-induced illness to a mind-numbing hangover after experimenting from pilfered fermented seaweed did not seem to faze Gran Gran. She cheerfully administered her concoction, which looked as bad as it tasted. Katara shivered and promised. "Gran Gran's medicine won't be necessary, Dad."
Hakoda's twinkle is reminiscent to his son when he is teasing. "Yes, Mother's elixir's primary cure is the fact that you are more disgusted by it than what originally ailed you." He swallowed his own case of revulsion, "I have endured my own share of them, and they do not improve as you age."
Sokka snickers. "So, Dad, Gran Gran outranks the Chief and forces her widdle boy to have his medicine."
Hakoda snaps. "Son, I'll remind you that I outrank you." He grumbles and thinks about how the last time his mother had embarrassed in front of his Chief's Council with an order that he needed to wear an extra seal skin since the room was chilly. "But you're right, Gran Gran manages to make her wishes known and answered."
"Dad, maybe she should have negotiated the trade deal." Katara giggles. Sokka even shows his appreciation at his sister's quip with laughter.
Hakoda chuckles along with both of his children. "I think that would have been a very wise idea. The Southern Water Tribe might be in a better position." His light-hearted comment ended with the pensive silence of the ever-looming tribute. He was still trying to secure a loan to prevent the needless death of his only son.
The Southern Water Tribe's alliance with the Fire Nation had been tenuous in the past. The two nations had made an ancient pact to allow the Southern Tribe free reign of Fire Nation fishing waters, while the Southern Water Tribe would loan their waterbenders for short terms. Yet, over time, those agreements had dissolved and eventually vanished when Koh's minions began to populate the world. The only leverage the Southern Water Tribe had was pilfered away by the Fire Nation, and the tundra nation saw a bleaker future each year.
Hakoda had thought he could sway an alliance with Crown Prince Iroh. The meeting with Iroh provided a new ship commission, but Southern Tribe needed a fleet commission to stay afloat. Tomorrow was the official first day of the tribute, where the day of Celebration would be held. Celebration, the word fuels Hakoda's fury. What is there to celebrate when he must offer his only son to Koh. He isn't even sure if the tribe could survive the winter with what little they have in reserve. Hakoda begins to wonder if what is right for all, is, in fact, truly good for all.
Azula rounds the bend of the hallway and slows down her purposeful stride at the sight of the Southern Water Tribe members. She can't believe her luck. Her foul mood from her interaction with Ozai lightens. There is nothing better for her than to needle and prod someone, but to have the whole luckless tribe of peasants to hector is too delicious. Azula preens with impending delight. It was so predictable to get people riled and release their information. It is almost a shame how easy it can be. "Good evening." She doesn't offer a formal greeting or bow to the family of three.
"Princess Azula." Hakoda and Sokka say while bowing. Katara manages a cursory curtsy but doesn't respond with an announcement of the little viper-tiger's title.
"Lord Hakoda or is it Chief, it is so hard to tell what the far-flung reaches title their nobles." Azula directs her comment to Katara. Azula had noticed Katara's subtle slight of non-address and bow.
"Chief Hakoda will suffice." Hakoda has little regard for the Princess Azula, whose prodigious talents are only eclipsed by her desperate need to belittle others who are a lower station to her own. These unfortunate souls are tethered to their lower rank which forbids any manner of retaliation. It doesn't help that Azula is a total furocing curoxy.
"Chief Hakoda," Azula almost chokes on the words of such a pathetic title for a leader of a nation. "Now where could your little family be heading to?"
"It would seem rather obvious that we heading to our apartments."
Princess Azula's eyebrow arches. She takes in Hakoda's form of a navy suit with a white collar and tie. This one has bite. "I'm sure you are finding the apartments rather luxurious. I understand that the Southern Water Tribe has come onto hard times the last few years."
Katara sucks in her breath, ready to expel a litany of words that would flay the princess with colorful descriptions. Hakoda holds up his hand to silence any words from his daughter which might damage the Southern Water Tribe's standing.
"Our accommodations are adequate. As I stated before, we are leaving for our apartments." Hakoda moves around Azula to pass.
Azula steps in front of him, almost brushing against Hakoda's broad chest. "They are adequate; how quaint of you to say. The royal apartments must seem palatial compared to your little watercraft."
Sokka barks, "The Blue Orca can out-run, out-perform any other nation's ship. You don't see another nation here early, do you?"
"Exactly, Sokka." Katara folds her arms and raises her own eyebrow at Azula. She may not have gotten to tell off the curoxy but her brother did in a manner of speaking.
Hakoda wants to run his hand down his face. He really should have brought his mother along for the trip; he has no control over his children.
"Then it must be so tiresome to loll about your spacious apartments with nothing to do." Azula dons her mother's solicitous attitude infused with heavy sarcasm. "Perhaps, I could come up with an itinerary that would expose your little family to some proper culture. I can't imagine there are a lot of cultural opportunities on the frozen tundra."
"The Southern Water Tribe is renowned for its singers." Katara omits that most of the singing she has heard the last few years comes from the tribe's men boisterous drinking circles. Yet, Gran Gran sings to her grandchildren the ancient songs throughout the day.
"How quaint," Azula holds up a perfectly sculpted nail in front of her lips and pretends to choose her words carefully. "I was referring to the theater, opera, etc."
"We are going to the theater tonight, featuring the Southern Water Tribe written opera about Princess Yue." Sokka announces. Katara is astonished; she had thought they were going to lounge about their apartments like three sloth-bears. She masks her surprise, lifting her chin in a very obvious bearing of so there.
Hakoda interjects and steps forward, towering over Azula. "Our itinerary is our own purview…" He stresses the last part for his children. "And not everything is considered Imperial business." Hakoda brushes past Azula without another glance.
Azula bows her head and her smile. She looks up as Sokka passes her and stares into his glare. She moves a little bit closer and lets her breasts graze his arm. "Perhaps I will see you tonight, before you become dinner for Koh."
Katara overhears and sucks in her breath, "Come on, Sokka." She nudges the top of her brother's arm. She snipes at Azula. "I don't think you are cultured enough for the theater, Princess Azula." Katara finally issues Azula's title with such derision that it oozes with dislike.
Azula's eyes narrow and chi flushes to her hands but doesn't materialize. "Oh Lady Katara, you have no idea what my capabilities are."
The Southern Tribe disappears around the corner. There were only a couple of days left before the official gift of the tribute. Katara glances over at Sokka. She wonders if deep in his heart he's as afraid for himself as she is for him. Hakoda leads the family to the door of their apartment. He pulls out a key from his front jacket's pocket and unlocks the door.
"Dad, please tell me there is some food there." Katara stomach feels so empty that it is going to turn on itself and her. While Katara was renewed from the infusion, she is achingly hungry. The nurses had given her an IV, but it hadn't sated her stomach.
Sokka groans. "Katara, you can't want to eat now?"
Katara and Hakoda glance at Sokka in shock. Hakoda is the one to properly recover from this odd occurrence. "Son, you can't mean that you of all people don't want to eat."
Sokka stops and reflects. "Yes, I do want to eat. But let's not linger too long when we have a show to attend."
Hakoda states blandly. "Yes, far be it for us to display any type of refined table etiquette."
"Now, you're talking, Dad."
Hakoda says flatly, "Son, my words were drenched in sarcasm if you did not realize."
Katara is pleased as punch that her brother has been put in his place when concerning table manners. "Exactly, Sokka, it would do you well to remember that no matter what others may suppose about us, we are cultured and civilized."
Hakoda chuckles and pushes open the apartment door. It swings wide to reveal a host of smells that tantalize and delight the senses. Hakoda leads the way through the curtain of flavors into the apartment's living room. The first whiff makes Katara almost forget herself. Her mouth waters at the delights of the food and urge her forward.
Hakoda, Sokka and Katara don't need much encouragement or pretense to begin eating. They immediately sit down at the round table and begin to pass out the repast. There is delicious bread and a thick stew, filling and flavorful, if not slightly spicy, but not overpowering. The family has their fill and is quite sated. The tureen and platters are empty of their contents. The dishes are stacked and covered with a silver dome.
Hakoda moves over to a recliner. Sokka is sprawled out on the settee. Katara situates upon the opposite recliner from her father. Now back in their in the intimacy of the apartments, she is feeling the creeping sensation of guilt. She should have told Hakoda and Sokka everything, but the fear that she might be crazy; did she imagine those black lines on her leg? Yet, her greatest fear was that her father would overreact and try to protect his daughter, either by banishing her to the Blue Orca or worse, send Katara on the next ship heading back home to the tundra. She couldn't risk that; she had to stay with Sokka. In Katara's heart, she believes that she will find a way out of this horrible fate for her brother.
Hakoda crosses his winged back shoes at the ankles. "I have a special surprise."
Katara looks up from her twisting hands. "Besides going to the theater performance?"
"Yes, Crown Prince Iroh has invited us to join him in the royal box." Hakoda adds, "And it was the Crown Prince himself who commissioned the special opera performance of Princess Yue the Moon Goddess."
Katara has had her quota of royal family interactions and doesn't relish parrying more words with the members. "Dad, are you sure?"
Sokka squashes Katara's doubts. "Katara, yes, Dad's always sure, very sure of every decision, right Dad!" He finishes with an eager bolster to his father's ego. He does not want any voiced objections from his sister to change Hakoda's mind.
Hakoda's suspicions that his son is more eager about the potential ride in the automobile than the opera are well validated with his flattery. "Yes, son, I appreciate your confidence in me, and it is duly noted."
"No problem, Dad, glad to help," Sokka oblivious to his father's sarcasm once again.
"Katara?" Hakoda leans forward, observing that Katara seems distressed. His wariness that perhaps his daughter isn't as well as she or Dr. Hama have professed makes him worried. "Are you not excited? Would you rather of us stay in the apartment and rest?"
Katara hadn't realized that her father had noticed her dejection. Sokka rolls onto his belly, facing away from Hakoda. Sokka glares his silent message of please; stop being a seal-otter puppy, Katara.
Ignoring Sokka's implied demand; Katara can't help feeling reticent about the evening. She will feel even more backwater after Imperial City's nobility gets one glimpse at Katara's day dress, hopelessly inadequate for a theatrical outing in the Royal Family's box. While her day dress is one that accentuates her frame and even possesses delicate embroidered saxifrage flowers along the hem and scalloped collar, its simple beauty won't temper the blatant ridicule from the city's elite, thus, turning Katara and her dress into the entertaining gossip for the pre-show, intermission, and ultimately the joke of the evening.
"No dad, I'm honestly feeling so much better, especially after our meal." Katara affirms. "I'm thrilled by the idea that we will see the opera. It has been so long since we have had any theatrical productions at home." Tears well in the corners of Katara's eyes, too ashamed by her vanity. "It's just I don't have anything proper to wear." Katara trails off, feeling ridiculous that she should even care what she's wearing.
Sokka sits up and touches his sister's knee. Katara won't look her brother in the eyes, knowing she has disappointed him and possibly ruined the evening. Sokka says matter-of-factly. "Katara, you will look fine as yourself. All those extra fancy clothes, you don't need them; they are just peacock feathers."
Hakoda gets up from his chair and moves next to his daughter. He places a hand on Sokka's shoulder squeezing it, expressing his pride for his son's kind and true words. Hakoda then runs a hand down Katara's braid; he lifts her chin up with one finger to have her look in his eyes. "Katara, you are so like your mother in every way. Like her, you don't need anything else to show the world that you are truly remarkable, a Southern Water Tribe Warrior Princess."
Katara grins, squeezing out the tears which spill out just enough to wet her cheeks. "Thank you, Dad." She turns to her brother, "Thank you, too, Sokka." Katara knew that her brother hadn't had to say what he did. She sits up straight and plops her hands firmly on her knees. She is her mother's daughter, strong and beautiful. Tonight, no matter what, she will channel Kya's grace. "Everything will be fine. Thank you, Dad, for arranging an evening as a family."
Hakoda steps away from the chair and pulls out from his breast pocket his watch. Popping open the silver cover, he examines the time with a studied eye. "It would seem that our carriage will arrive soon. Katara and Sokka, why don't you both freshen up before we head to the royal box?"
Katara hops up. "Good idea, Dad."
Sokka and Katara both move toward their rooms. Katara opens her bedroom door and reveals a dressmaker's wireframe draped in the most delicate of gray-blue silk. The evening dress has a black stand-up collar with decorated long black tasseled braiding draped from the neckline. A belt buckle pearl inlay and gray-blue stones fanning around creating a flower motif are sewn on the waistband. Puffed sleeves of the gray-blue tulle pleated to the elbows. The silk is draped to accentuate a tiny waist and presents a flattering silhouette down into a long train. Katara can hardly breathe as she moves forward in a daze. On her dressing table are matching evening gloves, slippers, and an opera fan. She touches her fingers to her lips and feels them. It can't be a dream; hesitantly she reaches out to feel the fan. The pale pink tassel tickles her. These sensations are too real.
Katara races out to the room and throws her arms around her father, who hadn't moved. She presses her face next to his chest and hugs him tightly. "Oh Dad, thank you so much; it is all simply divine."
Hakoda hugs his daughter back, feeling great pride that he had chosen correctly. "You're welcome. Even the prairie tundra owls deserve to show off their feathers." He pats his daughter's back, urging, "Now, hurry, or we will be late, and no one will get to see you in that lovely dress."
Katara skips back to her room. She speeds through her toilette. Her bath and few flicks to her hand allow her body to be clean and dry. She dabs perfume behind her ears and lotions every part of her skin so it supple and soft. Katara runs a brush through her hair and carefully styles it to reflect the dress. She creates soft tendrils and then piles it in chiffon behind her head. When she faces the dress, she is careful to remove it from the wire dress frame. Slipping it on, she has never felt so transformed. With a little contortion, she is able to button the little buttons up her back. As she steps into her shoes, Katara puts on the gloves which slide up her arms and over her elbows. As she looks at the girl in the mirror, she doesn't look like herself. Katara reaches for her mother's necklace and clips it on; the blue disc settles between her collar bones. Now, she recognizes the girl looking back at her, and she smiles.
Katara sails out to the living room and spins. Her train whips around in a wide arc. "How do I look?"
"You look lovely, Katara." Hakoda is so pleased that his daughter loves her gift.
"You clean up, well, little sis."
"Thank you, Dad and Sokka." Katara snaps out her fan and waves it around as she dances around the room.
Sokka looks a little annoyed. "So, you're the only one that gets compliments?"
Hakoda and Sokka had changed into evening black tailcoats. There crisp white shirts and long pants gleam with perfection. Three buttons on either side of the coat and matching top hats will show Imperial City that the Southern Tribe may be down but they are never out.
Katara curtsies her apology. "Sorry, Sokka, you look beautiful, too."
Sokka's eyes bug out, "Handsome, Katara! Men look handsome!"
"Sorry, handsome." Katara hides her smile. She runs over and kisses her father's cheek. "Dad, you look handsome, too."
Hakoda pats Katara's hand but is too busy looking through the desk's cubby holes. "Thank you, Katara." He tosses to Sokka. "Son, I can't find that paperwork from earlier today."
Sokka casually glances around the room without really looking. "Isn't it on the desk?"
"I'm looking for it at the desk, and it's not here." Hakoda glances to his daughter, who is helping to lift up papers or checking under the desk. "Katara, did you see anything when you got up?"
Katara shakes her head, "I saw some paperwork, but mainly it was your message to me." She grins proudly. "I went to the royal archives as you noted in code."
"Good girl," Hakoda beams. "I knew you would get my meaning." He is momentarily distracted by his task. "Did you find anything of merit?"
"I wanted to, but Sir Long Feng gave me some novel book, Love Amongst the Dragons." Which she remembers, she had dropped again. She will have to somehow fetch it.
Sokka shivers. "Girlie stuff, Katara, you couldn't find some secret battle plans or something beyond some romantic drivel."
"Sokka, it's not like they have a big sign that says secret battle plans right here, please come look."
Sokka rubs his hands together. "Oh, that would be helpful if they did."
Hakoda interrupts the sibling banter. Experience has shown him there are lots of volleys back and forth with no direct winners. "Son, where are my papers?"
"Dad, I don't know; did you check in your bedroom?"
"Sokka, while I recognize you are very adept at mischief, I do not have the time to indulge your little game of hide-and-seek."
"Dad, I'm serious. I didn't take anything. Maybe you left it on the ship. I could take Katara with me to go fetch it. If you're uncomfortable about us being unaccompanied, I could even ask Aang to escort us."
Hakoda can't argue with Sokka's suggestion that he might have left the paperwork on the Blue Orca. He was rather preoccupied after the meeting with Crown Prince Iroh. He had even agreed to Bato's suggestion for improvements to the Blue Orca without realizing what he had agreed upon, the same improvements which Bato has repeatedly requested to no avail for months. Yet, Hakoda knows his son is somewhat duplicitous nature is quite prone for waggishness.
The timely knock on the outer door and Sokka's eager, I'll get it, ramp up Hakoda's qualms to full-fledged proof, when standing in the doorway is Lieutenant Aang.
Aang bows, "Chief Hakoda and family, good evening."
"Aang, how fortuitous that you arrived just when we had the most worrisome quandary." Hakoda directs his statement to his son, who is doing his best to avoid his father's gaze.
Sokka ushers Aang inside. "Come in, Aang, come in, what brings you to our apartment quarters?"
Aang clicks his heels together and states in an automated tone with an edge of repeated rehearsal to his words. "I thought the Southern Water Tribe would appreciate an added protection guard." He pauses and waits a beat and then eyes Sokka.
Sokka says tightly, "That is very considerate of you, Aang."
Aang nods and continues in the same monotone voice. "Yes, it is my duty as part of the Imperial Navy to protect all Imperial guests and their families."
Hakoda isn't going to let his son get away with his little play interlude without making Sokka sweat a bit. "I see, I see, Lieutenant Aang, I would presume that your duties would primarily consist to those activities in and around the water, like, say naval vessels, also known as boats or ships."
"I, uh, that is true, Chief Hakoda." Aang swallows but doesn't drop his bearing.
Sokka steps in front of Aang. "Dad, Aang is an Air Nomad; he is use to roaming among many responsibilities."
Aang nods reflectively. "That is true, too, Chief Hakoda."
"What is true and what is said have diverged a while ago." Hakoda holds up his hand to still Sokka's protestations. "But, I don't want to waste time or possibly be rude to our hosts. Aang, you will escort Katara to the Royal Box. After everything that has happened with Katara today, I want you to oversee her."
Aang finally turns his attention to Katara. The moonlight from the window creates a halo around Katara that illuminates her fairness. He bows again to her, much more deeply than her station demands and states with adoration as he rises. "Lady Katara, you look beautiful."
Katara blushes. "Why thank you, Aang." Remembering her manners, she curtsies and adds quickly for politeness sake. "You look handsome in your dress uniform, too."
"Thank you; it will be an honor to escort you to the theater." Aang bows again to Hakoda. "I will be extra vigilant with Lady Katara, Chief Hakoda. I promise no harm shall come to her."
Hakoda looks at his son, who is obviously morose and trying his best not to be so completely obvious about his disappointment. The fact that Hakoda proved he is very astute to his son's mischievous ways and that Hakoda can tell when someone is smitten with his daughter are enough to reprieve Sokka from potential exile. "It wouldn't be fair for Lieutenant Aang to be the sole escort. There are reports of a vigilante about the city. Sokka, it would do well that you do not leave your sister unattended."
Sokka gushes. "Yes, yes, Dad, I promise, Katara will be well chaperoned." Sokka doesn't want to linger any longer. "It is probably best that we get to the theater. We wouldn't want to keep Crown Prince Iroh waiting."
"Yes, I will go to the Blue Orca to look for the papers and then meet you at the theater."
Katara turns to her father. "But Dad, I don't want you to miss the opera."
"I won't. Don't worry," Hakoda kisses his daughter's forehead and whispers. "Katara, please, watch out for your brother and his ability to get you and himself into trouble."
Katara bites her lip, preventing any giggles from escaping. "Yes, Dad, promise."
"Good girl." Hakoda waves his hand at the three of them. "Alright, tarry no longer. We will meet again. By the moon, I love you."
"By the moon, we love you." Katara and Sokka echo, while Aang bows again.
The door open and closes. After the three of them have rounded the corner, Sokka turns to Aang abruptly. "You were laying it on a little thick, don't you think?"
"What?" Aang avoids Katara's shocked expression. "I was only saying what you told me to say."
"Right, right, sure you were." Sokka rolls his eyes.
Katara angrily steps in front of her brother. "Sokka, if you hid Dad's papers you need to tell him where they are!"
"Little Sis, I might have left them on the Blue Orca." Sokka shrugs. "Oops!"
"Sokka..." Katara warns.
Sokka ignores his sister. "Come on, Aang, I want to see where this car is."
Aang's infectious grin takes over his face. He motions to the two siblings, "Follow me, we must go to the underground garage. We'll find the automobile there."
Sokka punches his fist in the air. "Onward Team Adventure!"
"Team Adventure?" Aang looks quizzically to Katara.
Katara sighs, "Don't ask."
Aang complies and leads Katara and Sokka through the hallways to the main elevator. As the ornate cage doors shut, the elevator slowly descends down to the sub-terrain level garage.
A/N: I have been waiting to get the gAang together! As always, PLEASE share your love for this story with a favorite, follow, and even better a review! TTFN :)
