Chapter 24
The Fire Nation capital was even more beautiful at night than it was during the day. It didn't take long for Katara to acknowledge it, she had done so very early in the tour of the capital that Zuko was taking her on, together with Sokka and Toph. It was the same route that he had planned for her more than a month ago, and Katara was a little disappointed that they hadn't been able to make it a more private, romantic affair, especially with an increased security detail of five Kyoshi warriors accompanying them. Still, the sights alone were to die for, especially the old part of the capital. The chaotically planned, tightly crammed buildings full of odd angles and unexplainable protrusions, they almost seemed like taken from some strange dream world, but there was also a mystical allure about this ancient part of the capital.
Walking through the narrow, cobbled streets in the soft lantern light, holding Zuko's hand... all of it together with the events of the past few days put Katara in a jubilant mood. She had been so nervous about facing Zuko's advisors a couple of days ago, she had nearly completely lost her nerve and chosen not to join. But somehow, everything had worked out, and by some strange twist of fate a topic had come up that had allowed her to contribute in a meaningful way. The letters to Teo and his father had been composed and sent off the day before, and all that remained now was to wait hopefully for a positive response.
She had sent out another letter the day before, this one addressed to her father in the South Pole. In it, Katara explained that she had terminated her relationship with Avatar Aang and had chosen to move to the Fire Nation capital in order to pursue a new relationship with Fire Lord Zuko. She had no idea what her father's reaction to the letter would be. She knew that Hakoda would want her to be happy above everything else, but she also knew that the news would leave him deeply conflicted. Katara hoped that he would at least be able to appreciate how much of a win this was for the Southern Water Tribe politically, but something told Katara that her father would not be able to look at the situation so dispassionately.
Katara shook her head and cleared her thoughts, returning to the here and now, squeezing Zuko's hand and regarding him with a smile. He returned the gesture, an easygoing smile that made her heart soar. Katara snuggled closer to Zuko, releasing his hand and instead wrapping her arm around his midsection while he put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. She beamed into the evening's darkness, glancing around to see if anyone reacted to their exchange, but the others seemed to be ignoring them. Two of the Kyoshi girls walked ahead of the procession while two others brought up the rear. Sokka was busy talking Suki's ear off, taking advantage of the fact that Ty Lee had an evening off. He was really laying it on thick, reminiscing back and forth about all the good times they had enjoyed together, and Katara was feeling rather embarrassed about his behavior... especially when she was aware of something that no doubt would come as a shock to Sokka. In the meantime, Toph was keeping a little aside from everyone, though Katara was certain that she was highly aware of everything that went on, as these cobbled streets made Toph particularly perceptive.
As their path through the city took them through the narrow streets of the old town and into a busy little marketplace full of tantalizing scents and smells from the many food stalls, the group quickly dissolved. Sokka was distracted by a jerky vendor and Suki used the opportunity to disappear, while Toph paddled over to the fire-cake stand. The Kyoshi girls blended in with the other patrons, continuing to keep a keen eye on the group under their protection.
"I'm getting a craving for some flaming fire flakes," Zuko smiled at her. "Want me to get something for you?"
"Is there anything that won't burn my throat horribly?" Katara chuckled. Her spicy food tolerance was building up, but it was a work in progress.
"They might have a milder variety that you might be able to tolerate," Zuko replied. "Shall we go look?"
"Umm... how about I trust you to pick something for me?" Katara smiled at him. "I wanted to use the opportunity to speak with Toph. And I should probably talk with Sokka as well."
"I'll let you do that," Zuko nodded, leaning closer and pressing his lips against her cheek. "Just don't disappear on me, beautiful."
"Never," she breathed her reply, watching him leave, then turning around and making a beeline straight for Toph, the dark-haired girl stuffing her mouth full with an impressively sized fire-cake, some of the spicy red filling smeared on Toph's cheeks. "Enjoying yourself, Toph?" Katara asked her prickly friend.
"This stuff is great!" Toph exclaimed, having swallowed the last bits of the cake. She turned back towards the pleased looking vendor, happy to see their treats being enjoyed by an appreciative customer. "Another one, cake vendor!" The mousey looking man was only too happy to serve, passing another fire-cake over to Toph.
"Toph, I was hoping we could talk for a while," Katara spoke up in a more serious tone of voice.
"Sure, what's on your mind, Sweetness?" Toph asked, holding on to the fire-cake and not stuffing her mouth just yet. Well, at least she's stopped calling me Cheatness, that was annoying, if… not inaccurate.
"Toph, don't take this the wrong way, I am happy to have you with us, but... I have to wonder, why did you really come with us to the Fire Nation," Katara asked. "Please be honest. You know I can't discern the truth the way you do."
Toph hesitated for the briefest moment. "I guess that's fair," she eventually admitted. "I was just confused by everything that was going on. First Sokka tells me that he's broken up with Suki? Then we come to Ba Sing Se and find out that you're about to dump poor old Twinkletoes? All these couples between my friends suddenly breaking up? It didn't make any sense. I thought that you and Aang in particular were for life."
"I guess everyone thought that, except for me," Katara sighed deeply.
"Hey, it is what it is," Toph shrugged. "I guess I just really felt bad for Sokka and for Twinkletoes as well. I wanted to feel the vibes off you and Suki, I wanted to make sure you're doing all that dumping for a good reason."
"I see," Katara exclaimed. She hadn't quite expected this to be Toph's motive. "So, what's the verdict?"
"I have to say, what I'm getting from you and Sparky over there is so disgustingly sweet that it makes my stomach churn," Toph sighed. "But... it's also real for you both. So, I guess I can't fault you, Sweetness, you are following your heart. Same goes for Suki... she really cares about that girl of hers. I wish Sokka would just accept it. By the way, you know that the girl he's been making moves on for the past half an hour isn't even Suki?"
"Yes, I noticed Suki slipping away back at the palace and trading places with another girl," Katara rolled her eyes.
"One of us should probably tell him," Toph suggested.
"I'll take care of it," Katara sighed. "And Toph? Thank you for caring. Especially for Sokka and Aang. Neither Suki nor I wanted to hurt our boys."
"Think nothing of it, Katara," Toph shrugged, looking eager to resume stuffing her face with the fragrant and spicy fire-cake.
"And Toph?" Katara added before leaving. "Maybe someday soon, either Aang or Sokka will notice what a beautiful young woman you are becoming."
"Ugh, don't say that!" Toph grimaced. She then thought for a while, her lips forming a rare smile. "But... thanks, Katara. I know you were not lying when you said that."
"I would never lie about that, Toph," Katara smiled at her friend, then turning around to locate her brother, blissfully chewing on something that according to the stall owner was ambitiously called 'dragon jerky'. "Sokka, I need to speak with you," she got straight down to business.
"Sure, Katara, what's up?" Sokka gave her a curious stare, never stopping to move his jaw.
"Sokka, you need to stop. You've been talking that girl's ears off for nearly an hour," Katara spoke sternly. "It's just embarrassing to watch. You need to respect that Suki has chosen to be with Ty Lee."
"What, like Zuko respected that you had chosen to be with Aang?" Sokka frowned.
"That's... not the same!" Katara snapped angrily. "I didn't exactly discourage Zuko. Suki has outright told you that she is happy with Ty Lee!"
"Oh, really?" Sokka glared at her. "Then how do you explain how she was so eagerly listening to all my stories just now?"
"Because that's not Suki," Katara sighed. "Suki is back at the palace. You have been subjecting that poor Kyoshi girl to all your tales about how Suki is the perfect match for you..."
Sokka raised his hand and opened his mouth to reply... and then closed it again. He tried the same again... and still no sound came from his mouth. Eventually he recovered enough to be able to speak. "Why... why didn't she say something?" he managed.
"Because she was too embarrassed about possibly embarrassing you so badly," Katara said. "So, she just kept silent all this time and hoped that you won't notice anything."
"And I didn't," Sokka slapped himself in the face, so hard that it left a visible mark. "I'm a complete idiot, aren't I."
"You wouldn't be my awesome brother without your goofy moments, Sokka," Katara smiled supportively. "I'll always be proud of you, you know that. But I'll be even more proud if you could find the strength in your heart to accept the truth about Suki."
Sokka winced, but the fight had gone out of him by now. "I'll try, Katara," he promised, then looking around the marketplace. "But now I need to find that poor girl and apologize. Do you know her name, sis?"
"I believe you were talking to On Ji. She's one of the recent recruits, a young Fire Nation girl," Katara explained. "Also, after you have apologized, you then have to let her talk for the next half an hour without interrupting her."
"Ha, that's fair," Sokka chuckled despite obviously still feeling down. "Thanks for setting me straight, sis," he nodded at her before rushing off. Shortly afterwards, Katara found Zuko by her side again, her boyfriend pressing a steaming bag of flaming fire flakes in her hand.
"Thanks," Katara smiled, rising on her tiptoes to lean closer and give Zuko a quick kiss.
"When the vendor found out who they were meant for, they insisted on making a new batch, just for you," Zuko explained. "Give it a try."
Katara quickly popped one of the crunchy treats into her mouth and bit down on it. Much to her relief, it didn't incinerate her tongue. "Oh... this is wonderful, spicy and yet not overpowering!" she exclaimed happily. "You are too caring, Zuko."
"Impossible," his eyes twinkled in the soft light of the lanterns. "Shall we proceed with the tour? The best is yet to come, and the Kyoshi girls are waiting for us already," he motioned towards a street leading away from the marketplace.
"I have no choice but to surrender myself to your guidance," Katara grinned like a love-struck maiden. Well, at least the love-struck part is true. As they began to walk down the street away from the marketplace, Katara turned her head to look behind to see if the others were following, smiling when she noticed Sokka walking next to On Ji and listening to her, Toph walking just a little behind them.
The winding street eventually took them down to a wide channel, weaving through the capital. A pair of boats had been tied to a small pier nearby, waiting for them. The channel looked absolutely breathtaking, clusters of floating lanterns illuminating the waters, together with the lights from the nearby buildings, reflecting in the water. It was the perfect romantic setting, and all of a sudden, Katara felt the overpowering urge to enjoy the view all alone with Zuko.
"Do you think the others would mind if we were to steal one of the boats just for ourselves?" Katara whispered to him.
"That would be such a wicked thing to do," Zuko chuckled at her suggestion. "Let's do it!" Without any hesitation, they jumped into the boat and Katara used her waterbending, cutting the rope with a sharp shard of ice and then creating a wave that sent the boat speeding away from the pier, leaving the Kyoshi bodyguards standing there and watching helplessly as the two people they were supposed to guard with their lives, floated away into the night.
"We'll be alright, girls, don't worry!" Zuko called out to reassure them. "Just follow us... at a reasonable distance!"
"We're not going to get in any trouble over this, I hope?" Katara laughed, idly using her bending to guide the boat down the channel, then slowing down when they were out of sight of the others.
"I'm the Fire Lord, I decide who's in trouble and who's not," Zuko winked at her. He quickly took his place next to her in the boat and they swiftly found themselves in each other's arms. The boat slowly came to a standstill amidst a cluster of red and blue lanterns as the pair lost themselves to their rapidly heating kisses and caresses. It was only when they became aware of the sounds of paddling from the approaching boat, that they separated and Katara used her bending to propel their boat forward once more.
Once they had put some distance between themselves and their pursuers, Katara took a hold of the collar of Zuko's robe and pulled him closer for another kiss. "Zuko?" she whispered in lustful tones, looking deep into his eyes. "Tonight, I'll want more than just talking while cuddling up to you..."
"I... think I approve of this plan," Zuko managed to reply. "Can you... perhaps make this boat go a little faster?"
Katara laughed in response, summoning another small wave to push the boat further. "Let's not make those poor Kyoshi girls worry too much, yes?" she smiled cheekily. "Besides, there's no reason to hurry back to the palace. We'll have the whole night," she added, gently cupping his cheek. "Practicing a little restraint will do you good, anyway."
"Sorry..." Zuko smiled at her. "It's just the things that you say and do... they enflame me so, and it's near impossible to restrain myself."
"Well, too much restraint isn't fun either... but I'm sure we can find a good balance between passion and restraint. It's almost like balancing our two respective elements, fire and water," Katara teased, tracing his chin with her thumb. "Besides, I always love hearing about all the ways I make you feel..."
"Are you sure you can't make our boat go just a touch faster?" Zuko winked at her.
"I'm sure," Katara laughed. "Just enjoy the ride with me. We'll be back at the palace before you know it, and then we'll have all night, like I said."
"I'm going to make sure that we both get very little sleep tonight," Zuko warned her with a hint of promise in his eyes. It made Katara's knees go all weak and wobbly.
In reply, she reached out and pressed another soft kiss against his lips. "I'll hold you to that, my beloved Fire Lord."