Chapter 3
Upon arriving back at the royal palace, Zuko chose not to return to the throne room, especially when Suki, leader of the Kyoshi warriors, informed him that the one-sided shouting match between Mai and the seneschal and his secretaries was still ongoing. Instead, Zuko spent the next hour or so barking orders at the palace servants and making sure that everyone understood the importance of meticulous preparations before Katara's arrival in the evening. Once the young Fire Lord was satisfied with how everything was proceeding, he returned to his lavish personal quarters to spend time in thought and contemplation, an activity that included occasional restless pacing back and forth his quarters.
Katara's arrival had certainly stirred him from the monotone dullness of the past few days, even weeks, and Zuko felt immensely grateful for that alone. On several occasions, he had considered getting in touch with his old friends, and yet had somehow always reconsidered, telling himself that they had their own busy lives now, Zuko instead resolving to immerse himself more fully into his daily obligations as a ruler of a broken but recovering nation. Still, now that Katara was here, thanks to their chance meeting at the academy, Zuko found himself bursting with energy and very much looking forward to impressing his royal guest.
There was something that still piqued his curiosity about Katara's arrival, and it was the fact that she was traveling alone. Maybe she was being truthful and there was nothing to it, but somehow Zuko had felt that her answer had been very evasive. The Katara he remembered was all about helping and supporting others, not undertaking solo adventures to the other end of the world. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it? Hmm... I should try to find out more if an opportunity presents itself, Zuko resolved to himself as he stepped out onto the balcony of his splendorous quarters, left with not much else to do than to watch the bustling activity of the capital below, waiting for the evening to approach.
A while later, one of the palace servants arrived to inform him that the dinner preparations had been completed, and Zuko made his way towards one of the smaller, yet still comfortable and decadent, private dining halls of the palace, having decided against using the massive banquet hall for what he hoped would be a more private setting among friends. A close inspection of the surroundings left the Fire Lord satisfied and he eventually settled into his seat at the end of the table, having to resort to waiting. For some reason, Zuko felt himself rather... agitated, something that confused him slightly. It's not like I'm meeting some hostile official delegation from Ba Sing Se... it's just Katara, we've been through so much with her, Aang and the others, there's really no reason for me to be nervous about anything, he tried to tell himself. It didn't work.
Mai arrived shortly after, one of the servants opening the doors for her, his fiancée-to-be not looking very happy as she turned to face him. "Where were you all afternoon?" she complained, taking a seat to his right. "Thanks a lot for leaving me hanging with that horrid old seneschal. You should know that he became very disrespectful towards me once you left."
"I'll have him thrown to the platypus bears first thing tomorrow," Zuko smirked, then reaching out to take his girlfriend's hand in a conciliatory gesture. "Mai, as I said before, I have full confidence that you'll choose what's best for both of us. And I mean that."
"Flattering, but it still means I have to do all the work," Mai sighed, but did not push his hand away. "And you still haven't told me where you disappeared all day."
"My apologies," Zuko bowed his head. "I was at the opening of the waterbending academy and you won't believe just who I met there-..."
Zuko's words were cut off by the palace servant opening the dining hall doors and calling out in a loud and clear voice. "Announcing, Lady Katara of the Southern Water Tribe!" he proclaimed before ushering Zuko's guest inside.
"Well, thank you for the advanced warning," Mai hissed dangerously at her boyfriend.
"Uh... sorry, I completely forgot," Zuko muttered absentmindedly, not even fully aware of what he had said as his thoughts were immediately overtaken by Katara's unexpected appearance. She was not wearing her customary Water Tribe garb of earlier. Instead, Katara was dressed in a traditional Fire Nation outfit, much like the one Zuko recalled her wearing many years ago when she and the rest of their friends had disguised themselves as Fire Nation citizens. The big difference was that over the past three years, Katara had done some maturing and was a good inch or two taller. With the way the outfit exposed her midriff and left her left shoulder completely bare, Zuko wondered if she even realized just what difference her growing up had made, leaving her appearance a stunning sight to behold. Clearly no longer just a Southern Water Tribe girl, but rather a young woman, Katara had also changed her hairstyle to a similar one she had used to wear together with her Fire Nation disguise, eschewing the hair loops for a combination of long flowing locks, twin braids and a knot at the top.
Zuko was completely unaware of how long he had been gawking with a dumbfounded look on his face, but a sidelong glance at the glaring Mai next to him snapped the Fire Lord back to reality. "Ah… welcome to the royal palace, Katara," he managed, more shakily than he would have liked.
In response, Katara bowed to them both before she was seated to Zuko's left by one of the servants. "Fire Lord Zuko, Lady Mai," she spoke politely, settling into her seat. "It is lovely to be back. This place holds such powerful memories, doesn't it? I believe I walked by the place where we fought your sister all those years ago."
"Yes," Zuko nodded thoughtfully. "The place where you saved my life."
"Only after you had saved mine," Katara smiled back at him. "I was in no way prepared to deal with that lightning strike she unleashed at me," she added with a slight shudder. "Speaking of Azula…"
"She's safe in her confinement, we don't have to worry about her," Zuko quickly reassured her. "As is Ozai. He hasn't mellowed out at all in his captivity, so security is still at its highest for both him and Azula."
"That is reassuring," Katara nodded, appearing relieved. "I'd rather avoid another round of fighting with her. Bringing my friends back from the brink of death is… a rather distressing experience."
"So is taking a blast of lightning to your chest," Zuko smirked, frowning a little when he overheard an audible sigh from Mai's lips, accompanied by a roll of her eyes. "Yes, did you have something to add, Mai?" he turned to his girlfriend.
"Perhaps we should not make Mai feel left out by our catching up on the past," Katara offered a conciliatory smile.
"That would be great," Mai snorted. "Can you believe he didn't even tell me ahead of time that we'll have a dinner guest?"
"Oh no, you didn't!" Katara gasped at Zuko. "Bad inconsiderate Fire Lord!"
"Hey… stop ganging up on me, alright?" Zuko protested, blushing as he did so. "I… had a lot on my mind, okay?"
"Not our engagement party, clearly," Mai added one more barb.
"Perhaps we should just move on to the food," Katara suggested with a not so subtle change of topic. "I am famished, I haven't had a bite all day. And everything here smells so delicious," she exclaimed, breathing in the mouth-watering aroma of all the dishes lined up on the dinner table. "Of course, any of these will probably incinerate my mouth."
"Hey, don't blame me for being unable to tolerate spices, Southern Bland Food Tribe girl," Zuko smirked.
"Hey!" Katara fumed. "Water tribe food is NOT bland! It's just… seasoned differently, okay?"
"Hey, relax," Zuko grinned, raising his hands to sue for peace. "But don't forget, I've lived on your cooking while we traveled together. It's not your fault, but you just don't have the cultural appreciation of properly spiced food. But I'll give you one thing, at least your cooking was an improvement over the bland tofu and even blander veggies," he added with a smirk, making Katara burst out in brief chuckle. "Anyway, don't worry, Katara. I'm aware of your complicated relationship with spicy food, so I spoke to the palace chefs in preparation of your arrival. You'll find that all the dishes have been prepared to be more palatable to your tastes."
"Wait," Mai spoke up with the expression of utter incredulity on her face. "You did what?"
"I just said what I did, didn't I?" Zuko sighed. "Don't make anything out of it, Mai. I'm just trying to be a good host."
"Oooh-kay," Mai rolled her eyes, but remained silent.
"That… that was very sweet and considerate of you," Katara offered, staring at Zuko with a warmth of surprise in her blue eyes. "Thank you, Zuko."
"Don't mention it," Zuko shrugged. "Oh, by the way… the only thing that's not changed are the spicy turtle-duck legs. I love them too much to change the recipe, besides I knew you wouldn't be interested in something you can't handle anyway."
"Can't handle, huh?" Katara glared at him, making Zuko chuckle inwardly. After all these years, Katara was still just as easy to bait as when she had been a young girl. "I'll make you eat your words, Fire Lord," with that, she reached out and grabbed one of the spicy turtle-duck legs, shoving it into her mouth.
This ought to be good, Zuko grinned inwardly as he studied Katara for the unavoidable reaction. Having taken a few chews of the spicy leg, Katara suddenly froze and her eyes began to water. Beads of perspiration broke out along her brow, glistening enchantingly in the soft light of the dinner hall, making her coppery skin glow. Zuko did not revel in her torment for too long, reaching out to grab a pitcher of water and pouring her a glass, pushing it towards the grateful Katara. Having not dared to move her jaws again, Katara then bravely took a few more chews and then swallowed the piece of spicy leg, immediately following it up with generous mouthfuls of ice-water.
"Good, isn't it?" Zuko remarked innocently.
"Good… yes," Katara managed, wiping her brow with the back of her hand, succeeding at slightly mussing her hair. "Good if you want to feel a raging inferno in your mouth, I suppose," she added, shaking her head. Just that one small bite had been enough to make her sweat profusely, perspiration coating her exposed shoulder and a few rivulets ran down her exposed midriff as well. Zuko was trying his hardest not to stare too openly, but he could not help his eyes all but being transfixed to Katara's coppery skin. Suddenly, he began to feel extremely warm himself, reasonably confident that the reaction was not caused by the spicy food alone.
"Stay at the palace long enough, and I'll teach you to properly appreciate spicy food," Zuko eventually regained his ability to speak and hold a conversation. "The key to mastering it is to increase your tolerance slowly. Not go straight for the spiciest bit and getting burned."
"Well, let's just say I've learned that lesson, shall we," Katara sighed, wiping her brow again, but only further mussing her locks. Her hair was looking slightly damp by now, almost as if she had gone for a swim, but for Zuko it made it all that much harder to stop staring at her the entire time. "I'll just go for something safer, then," she decided, pouring herself a generous serving of clam soup with sautéed seaweed, topped with crushed almonds.
"Wise choice," Zuko remarked, and for a while the conversation died down as they all focused on their food, Katara in particular eager to sate her hunger. Once she was done with her meal, Katara cast a glance at Mai, chewing stoically on the opposite side of the table, and looking as if she refused to even acknowledge the other girl's presence. For a moment, it looked as if Katara wanted to address Mai, but with his fiancée having donned the mask of appearing unapproachable, Katara seemingly gave up on the attempt to engage with Mai. Not that I can blame her, Zuko thought to himself. Mai is not a splendid conversationalist even with those she cares about, and with Katara, there's just nothing in common, no shared past, nothing. And when Mai gets in a mood like this, it's probably best to just leave her be.
"So, all alone in the Fire Nation," Zuko finally spoke up, hoping to break the tension that was emanating from Mai's side of the table. "I've been curious about what you've all been up to… in fact, I had planned to reach out, but there's just been so much to do. Tell me, how are the others, Aang, Sokka, Toph?"
"Aang took Appa to the Southern Air Temple," Katara replied, pouring herself an extra serving of the delicious soup. "Restoration work, tutoring the Air Acolytes… I've been along on a few of those journeys to the other air temples. I usually end up feeling a little left out."
"Ah," Zuko remarked. "I think I know enough about the air nomad lifestyle to sympathize. There's just a bit too much of silly music, equally silly dancing, boring meditation and bland food for my liking. Though I would have thought the last part you would find agreeable," he teased.
"Hey!" Katara protested. "I thought you already agreed that my cooking is far more preferable when compared to bland tofu and veggies!"
"Fair enough, I did agree to that," Zuko relented, they both exchanging glances and chuckling. "What about your brother? And Toph?"
"As far as I know, Toph is too immersed in her metalbending academy to have much time for anything else," Katara shrugged. "She's a dear friend, of course, and always will be, but... I don't know why, but every time we get together, she always ends up insulting me."
"That's just how she shows affection," Zuko smirked at the frowning Katara. "And what of your brother, Sokka? I heard he had a falling out with his girlfriend. I remember Suki mentioning something about that."
"Yes, at some point I should have a talk with her," Katara nodded firmly.
"Hey now, Katara, no waterbending on the leader of my elite bodyguards, I still need her!" Zuko protested, wondering if Katara would be able to tell that he was joking.
"What?!" Katara's eyes widened as she predictably missed the joke. "I was not planning to do anything like that! I just wanted to talk! Get the other side of the story, all that... I can't make heads or tails from what Sokka has told me. He's blaming her, of course, so I wanted to get to the bottom of it... without hurting anyone, I promise."
"I know, I was just teasing," Zuko sighed. "And... I'm sorry that things didn't work out for them."
"Yes, it's a shame," Katara admitted quietly. "But Sokka badly needs to grow up if he wants to hold on to a stable relationship. Before leaving Ba Sing Se I told him to go back to the South Pole and at least help out the tribe, occupy his time with something useful while he heals from the heartbreak. I really wish he would listen to my advice, instead of lingering in the city and annoying everyone with his tales of woe, hardship and cruel betrayal."
"Sokka has always had a... flair for dramatic," Zuko smiled faintly.
"Tell me about it," Katara rolled her eyes. She took another sip of water before continuing. "But listen to us babbling about old times, we really should..." she turned her head towards Mai's seat, shocked to see it empty. "Mai... left?"
"I guess she must have," Zuko shrugged, not looking terribly bothered. "That's Mai for you, she comes and goes as she pleases."
"How could you not notice your own fiancée leaving?" Katara shook her head. "Anyway... I feel like I might have done something to offend her."
"Relax, you have done nothing wrong," Zuko frowned. "Mai's just been moody all day. Or should I say, all her life?"
"Don't be mean, Zuko!" Katara chided him. "Please, could you convey my apology to her?" Zuko let out a loud sigh at that, but Katara would not relent. "Please, promise me you will."
"Ugh, fine, I don't know why you insist, she wouldn't care even if you had offended her somehow... and you didn't," Zuko said.
"Well, I think she deserves an apology from you as well," Katara glared at him.
"From me?" Zuko blinked. "What did I do?"
"Well, we both ignored her!" Katara stated passionately. "That was rude of us, I should have realized that sooner."
"Mai is a grown woman, she can join conversations as she pleases, nobody's stopping her," Zuko tried to explain. "She was just acting annoyed, because she had decided that she wanted to. It has very little to do with either of us."
"I don't know..." Katara hesitated, not looking entirely convinced. "But I suppose you know her better than I do. In fact, I don't know her at all. Still, I would feel better if you apologized to her, both in my and your own name. And best do it now before she has time to get really angry. It's getting late anyway, and I should be getting to bed... we've talked long enough for one night."
"You seem very comfortable ordering the Fire Lord around in his domain," Zuko remarked with some amusement.
"Oh... that did sound like I was ordering you, didn't it?" Katara flushed deep red. "Uh, sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I just... care about doing the right thing, you know that."
"I know. And I like that about you," he smiled at her, feeling another surge of warmth spreading through him at the sight of her blush deepening. "In that case, I shall bid you good night, Katara. And I promise to apologize to Mai, if you'll promise me something else."
"I'll promise you anything within reason," Katara replied earnestly.
"Please allow me to arrange entertainment for the following evening," Zuko smiled at her. "I have something in mind that I think you'll very much enjoy."
"Oh, what is it?" Katara was immediately excited. "Please, tell me!"
"No, it's a secret," Zuko grinned as he rose from his seat. "You'll have to join me tomorrow evening to find out."
"I'll be there, Zuko," Katara promised, also rising from the table. "Have a good night, Fire Lord."
"And a good night to you, Water Tribe girl," Zuko replied softly, watching her spin around on her heel and head for the door. More and more intense warmth echoed through his body, making him feel a little light-headed.
This time, he knew full well it was not from the food.