Episode 19: Toph's Life Changing Field Trips

Katara was sulking. She knew she was, but she didn't have the energy to care.

Her father had been furious when she'd arrived home. It wasn't uncommon for her to go a day without responding, but three? After about five minutes of lecture he'd given her a warm cup of tea, a blueberry pastry, and sent her off to bed.

She'd collapsed so hard she almost missed her shift at the hospital the following day. Pulling her scrubs up over her shoes, she kissed her dad on the cheek on her way out and ran to the hospital.

One of the best things and the worst things about living on an island? Everything was built right on top of each other. However, today she wasn't complaining as it only took about five minutes to sprint through the hospital entrance.

She'd thought it would be stressful, but the menial tasks and familiar routines had a calming effect on her tumultuous spirit. Seeing Roku and Xu in the psych ward gave her time to verbally process her feelings. Listening to the other nurses complain about the doctors helped her to know that not everyone's world was quite as messed up as hers.

Her shift was just ending when there was a loud commotion over by the emergency entrance.

"Ma'am, please!"

"Let go of me. I told you I don't need any help," a high voice called with the confidence of a platypusbear.

Katara took a second look. She knew that voice.

Toph was literally being held off the ground by three nurses attempting to lift her onto a gurney. The young girl was thrashing with her arms and leggings, apparently uncaring if she was dropped onto the tiled floor as long as she was released. Her sleeveless grey shirt was stained a dark red, her face smeared with sweat and blood.

"Toph!" Katara called, jogging over. "What happened?"

"Sugar queen?" Toph asked, still squirming. "Get these people off of me!"

"It's ok," Katara assured the nurses, "I know her."

They gently let her down, Toph ripping her arms free and wiggling her toes when they finally touched the ground. She was yet again barefoot.

"What happened?" Katara asked again.

"Some guy from my gym hit his head, I was making sure he got here okay. I told them the blood wasn't mine, but nobody ever believes the blind girl." She glared at the wall, missing the nurses by a couple of feet. Katara pursed her lips before motioning to the congregated crowd with an 'I got this' motion.

"They probably just wanted to check you out," Katara said. "It's procedure when someone is covered in blood."

Toph's hands felt along the soaked front of her shirt and she frowned. "Whatever. Can I get out of here now?"

"Sure, why don't we walk out together?" Katara placed an arm around her shoulder and started to lead her out the front door. As soon as they stepped onto the main road, Toph sighed in contentment and shook off Katara's arm.

"Thanks for the save, Sugar queen."

Katara frowned at the nickname, but Toph didn't seem like the kind of person who cared about other people's opinions.

"What's wrong?" Toph suddenly blurted. Katara looked over to reply when she realized Toph was removing her blood-soaked shirt.

"Toph!" Katara quickly covered her eyes, then wondered if she should be trying to cover Toph instead.

"Relax," Toph said, dumping the shirt in a nearby trash and stretching her arms above her head. Underneath, she wore a sports bra that had more extensive coverage than the average underwear, but it still didn't count as a shirt in Katara's mind.

"One of the perks of living on an island, right?" Toph said, then repeated, "so what's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" Katara asked.

"One of my blind girl superpowers," Toph said, "I can kind of sense what people are feeling, and you're sending off seriously depressing vibes. So spill."

Fiddling with the hem of her shirt, Katara sighed.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain facially scarred pretty boy, would it?" Toph asked.

Katara coughed, a heated blush rising up her neck. "N-no."

"Don't bother lying," Toph said. "Another superpower of mine is knowing when people aren't telling the truth. So it is about Zuko. What did the idiot do this time?"

Katara grumbled under her breath. "I don't really want to talk about it."

"Fair enough." Toph clapped her hands in front of her. "Let's settle for distraction, then. What do you do that makes yourself feel better?"

A slow smile spread over Katara's face.

"Really?" Toph asked, her nose scrunched in distaste. "This is what you do for fun?"

They were at the most popular spa on the island, a parlor called Ba Sing Se that provided face masks, massages, steam rooms, and makeovers for the most reasonable price. Katara had signed them up for the full treatment.

"What do you do for fun?" Katara asked, flourishing her signature on the final bit of paperwork. Toph had insisted on signing for herself, taking the pen and scribbling across the middle of the page before shoving the entire stack towards the main secretary.

Toph grinned. "Have the boys told you where I work?"

Katara shook her head before she remembered Toph couldn't see her. It was easy to forget, the girl didn't move like a blind person. She didn't have a walking stick or any kind of service animal. Her movements were fluid and confident. The only indications that something was amiss were the milky film over her irises and the fact that she refused to wear shoes anywhere.

"You said something about a gym at the hospital," Katara remembered.

Toph nodded. "I own a kickboxing gym on the East side where I train people in martial arts."

"That's super cool," Katara said, "Maybe you can give me a lesson sometime."

"Sure." Toph shrugged.

"Katara and...Top?" One of the ladies called. Katara snickered at the mispronunciation.

Toph only groaned. "Come on, Sugar Queen, let's get this over with."

The pampering was just what Katara needed. She was so relaxed, she didn't even mind when Toph continued to play little pranks on the unsuspecting spa workers. The only thing they were both able to finally enjoy was the steam room.

"Ahh, now this is what I'm talking about," Toph hummed, settling against the wooden bench with her feet up towards the steaming rocks. Little did she know that Katara was keeping a steady stream with her bending.

"Yeah," Katara agreed, settling back herself.

"So what's the deal with Sparky?" Toph asked. "It's obvious you like him. What is it that he's done?"

Katara bit her lip, thinking about how to explain the situation. "He...lied to me about something very important. I found out he might not be the person we all think he is."

"You mean the son of the CEO?" Toph asked.

Katara's head turned so fast her neck cracked. "What?"

"He's Ozai's son," Toph clarified. "'Heir to the Phoenix throne' and all that. Well, that's how their company puts it. Weird lingo in that building."

"You...you've been there?" Katara asked.

"Once." Toph didn't elaborate. "He was disowned though, that's why he's out here with us. It's why we're working to help him get back."

"Why would we want to put him back?" Katara demanded, her hurt coming off as bitterness in her tone. "Wouldn't it be better to let the company crumble without anyone to lead it?"

Toph's brow crinkled in confusion. "I thought you liked him, but you're new, so I'll explain. Zuko would be the best thing to happen to that place."

"You don't know what he's done," Katara muttered.

"You might be letting your hurt feelings keep you from thinking clearly."

Ouch. Apparently being extremely blunt was another blind-girl superpower.

"I'm just saying that," Toph continued, "considering his messed up family and how he was raised, he could have turned out a lot worse."

Katara thought about that for a moment. The son of the CEO. Did Sokka know? It made sense with what she'd learned about why Zuko had been sent away. Why getting back in with the company was so intertwined with his access to his family. His family was the company. He wasn't just fighting to see them, he was fighting for his legacy. She wondered what she would have done in his position.

Zuko was beginning to worry. Katara still hadn't texted him.

"Are you almost done with the paper?"

There was really only one explanation: he'd ruined any headway they'd made in their relationship with that stupid kiss.

Followed by several cancellation texts...followed by several needy texts...but mostly the kiss.

"You've been on the sports section for quite a while now, bro."

How could he have been such an idiot to think that she might also have feelings for him? He couldn't even express to her that he knew what Phoenix Industries was doing was wrong. She'd asked him what he would change and he'd frozen, paralyzed at the mention of his father.

Better work hours, health coverage, holiday bonuses, maybe even company housing. They had the room for it. Those trips to the village had opened his eyes. The Painted Lady had opened his eyes. Katara had shown him how to ask the right questions. If only he had learned sooner, would he have been able to make a difference?

"Oi, earth to Zuko?"

Tan fingers snapped in front of his face and Zuko returned to their breakfast table, his newspaper forgotten and his omelet having gone cold over the course of his reverie. At least it was still there, sometimes Sokka took advantage of his meditative states to snitch his food. Perhaps he knew that Zuko needed it if he was going to survive the day.

"Something on your mind, bro?" Sokka asked, shoving the end of his own breakfast into his mouth.

Zuko thought about telling him about his firebending, but he wasn't sure he was ready for that. Sokka didn't do too well with change, finding out he was the Blue Spirit had been stressful enough. "I was just thinking about the end of the year," he said. "When I...y'know?"

"Return to the Industry and your family?" Sokka deadpanned.

"Yeah..." Zuko wished he could see the world as straight forward as Sokka seemed to. Everything was just the way it was with him. When had things gotten so complicated? He'd always had a drive, a goal, now...the goal had suddenly shifted and he didn't know what to do. "I'm just a little nervous, I guess."

"Look, brother. We've been training for this for years. Even more than I knew, Mr. Blue Spirit."

Zuko rolled his eyes. Case and point for Sokka's coping skills.

Sokka shoved his final bite of his breakfast into his mouth before finishing through his food, "I have no doubt that you're going to kill it. And by 'kill it', I mean keep your company alive."

"Yeah..." Zuko sighed, returning to playing with his food.

Sokka scrutinized him. "This has something to do with that girl, doesn't it. What did you do?"

Zuko stiffened. "What makes you think I-"

"Bro." Sokka closed his eyes.

"Yeah, ok, fine." Zuko grumbled. "I think I made her mad."

"Of course you did, you're a dude. The key to relationships is understanding how to make it up to her."

"I don't think..." Zuko started.

"Who here has a girlfriend?" Sokka demanded.

Zuko sighed. Well...he wasn't wrong.

"Now, if I know anything about girls, they like to be chased. You know: wooed, pursued, sought after."

"You mean like you did with Suki?" Zuko asked drily.

Sokka pointed an accusing finger at him. "You want my help or not?"

Zuko thought about it.

"Oi!" Sokka crossed his arms.

"Sorry, sorry," Zuko chuckled. "So I...what? Chase her? Feels...stalkerish." Not that he hadn't followed Katara before...

"Sure," Sokka said, "Chicks eat that stuff up, I'm telling you. Well, except Katara."

Zuko's eyes snapped to his. "What do you mean?"

"Just in general, I think she likes being different than everyone else."

"I meant about wanting to be chased, Sokka." Zuko restrained himself from revealing his agitation. "Katara doesn't like that?"

"Oh, no!" Sokka chuckled. "Katara likes to feel in control and definitely hates being told what to do, so she always wanted people to wait for her to process before addressing a situation. It happened with Aang a lot where he kept trying to talk to her about something when she wasn't ready. The effect was never pleasant." Sokka shivered before standing to go wash his plate. "Anyways. I have to go, you going to be alright?"

The last thing Zuko wanted to do was go to class, but he couldn't afford any more absences without risk of losing his honors title. At least he didn't have class with Katara today. On second thought, he couldn't decide which he preferred.

Blech. Who was he? When had he started sounding like some lovestruck teenage girl? Maybe this whole situation was for the best. He'd been on Katara overload for several weeks now, maybe some time to cool off could help him figure out what he was doing with his life. He needed to get to class. Refocus. He'd already lost so much to the Painted Lady, did Katara have to consume anything that was left?

He found himself saying, "I'll be fine. I only have morning classes today anyways. An afternoon nap and I'll be good as new."

Sokka snorted, placing his dishes on the drying rack. "Sure you will. If not, you're welcome to join Suki and I tonight. We're hitting up the festival of the floating lights."

"Come with you and your girlfriend to one of the most romantic festivals of the year?" Zuko remarked drily.

"We're taking Toph to try the imported cuisine event happening on the wharf." Sokka rolled his eyes. "It's not like it's a date. Even Katara said she might come."

Zuko tensed. His roommate still had no idea the power his sister had somehow come to hold over him. Maybe this could be a chance to apologize. Ask if it was okay if they remained friends and all that garbage. Then he could slither home and start the slow process of piecing himself back together.

That settles it. He needed to get out of there. Maybe go for a run, or a ride, or a dunk in some ice water to clear his head. No more thinking of Katara for at least a couple hours.

He failed.

It was like breakfast all over again, the words of his professor's passing in one ear and then being filed into the abyss. His headache started to build by the end of his first class. By one that afternoon he was lying on the couch with his arms over his face.

"Anyone home?"

Zuko moved his elbow enough to look towards the door where Toph had just burst into their apartment.

"Ever heard of knocking?" he asked.

"Tried it." Toph sniffed. "This saves time."

Zuko's only response was to throw his arms back over his face.

"What's with everyone being all moody today?" Toph asked. "Aang didn't come to the gym because he was 'tired', Katara's sulking at the hospital...even you seem more down than usual, and that's saying something."

Zuko sighed.

"Girl trouble?"

How did everyone keep guessing that? "It's complicated," he muttered against his forearms.

"If you ask me, you should tell her how you feel, and that's not just because I have money on it."

Zuko processed her words, then sat up before asking warily, "What do you mean?"

"I mean if you just told her you liked her then maybe-"

"Told who?" He stopped her. "You have money on what?"

Toph didn't miss a beat. "You and Katara."

His heart leaped into his throat and he had to take a deep breath in order to speak. "Why would you think there's anything there? Did she...did she say something?"

Toph laughed. "Oh, you're in worse than I thought, Sparky."

"I'm serious, Toph, I think..." he paused. "I think I really messed up."

"No way," Toph said, "last I heard that girl was two smiles away from being swept off her feet."

Zuko shook his head and fell back onto the couch. Maybe Katara had been warming up to him...until he went and ruined everything. He needed to bake something. His hands were restless, his mind already filtering through possible recipes when Toph said, "Come on, buddy, let's go get some ice cream or something and talk."

They ended up at a nearby pier munching on ice cream in silence as they watched the waves crash against the shore. He often brought her here when she was upset to listen to the calming waves and distract her by making sand castles. He'd always been pulled in by the consistency of the waves and breathing in the briny air. Now all it did was remind him of Katara.

"I don't get the problem," Toph blurted, taking a massive lick of her chocolate cone. "You like her, she likes you, just get married already."

Zuko choked on his spoonful of strawberry ice cream. "Toph!"

The blind girl shrugged. "Everybody makes love so complicated. Look at Sokka and Suki. Those two have had it bad for each other for years and they're only now getting down to the mushy gushy of things. My grandmother moves faster than them! I'm not going to let the same thing happen to you. So." Finishing off her cone, she licked her fingers one by one before turning to face him. "Let's practice. I'm Katara. Go!"

"I don't want to-"

"Just do it!"

"Fine." Zuko sighed then straightened up.

"Hello, Zuko here." Awkward wave. "But I guess you probably already know me...sort of."

Toph waved for him to continue though her expression did not communicate optimism.

"Uhh...so, the thing is I have very little experience with this kind of thing and...I know I've messed up a lot lately what with the tutoring and the texting. Uhh...yeah, I guess I should apologize for that." Zuko swallowed. "But anyways, when you asked me about my company well, I realized..." Zuko's hands were sweaty as they opened and closed helplessly at his sides.

Toph looked like she was about to be sick, her cheeks puffed out with air.

He rambled on, "I mean, I thought I was good before, but I realize I was bad. Anyways, I'm good now, and I think...maybe..." he trailed off.

Toph blinked at him.

"Well?" he demanded, frustrated with his own discomfort. "What's your answer?"

She pushed both hands against her cheeks and blew a long raspberry. "That was pathetic. Where's the passion? The intrigue?"

Zuko wrinkled his nose, his face heating with embarassment. "We're not some couple in one of your Korean dramas, Toph."

"Got that right, those people get together by episode 10. We're on episode 19 and you're both still pouting on rooftops. Get it together, idiots!"

"Toph!"

She held up her hands. "I just call it like I see it, Sparky. Which is usually pretty accurate for a blind girl."

Zuko sighed, his ice cream forgotten next to him on the railing as he looked over the ocean.

"Want my advice?" Toph asked. "Don't worry about all those details and junk. Just ask her out. Simple as that. Once she says yes, then you can tell her how you feel."

Absently picking up a discarded shell on the railing, Zuko tossed it towards the sea wondering how he'd come to the point where all of his friends were so invested in his love life.

The floating lights festival had originally been a fire nation holiday and, due to the fact that the war fashion was growing in popularity, they were asking visitors to come dressed in the traditional fire nation garb. Zuko already had his from Sokka's party, but the others had to dig through their wardrobes to find whatever they owned that was red. Sokka ended up wearing another sleeveless vest but this time it was brown rather than blue. Toph wore some kind of red jumper with a sash over her shoulders all belted together with a tie around her waist. Suki had gone all out again wearing elaborate gloves, arm bands, and some kind of old-fashioned flowing pants. Her shirt was barely more than a strip of fabric that left most of her stomach exposed, but as they got closer to the crowd of the festival, Zuko realized this wasn't so out of place.

Many of the tourists had dressed in comfortable looking red tunics that ranged from togas to old guard uniforms. A small group of teenagers passed by wearing clothes that reminded him of Jet from the club a couple nights back and his teeth grit in annoyance.

Hopefully that guy wasn't here.

"The food is this way." Suki pointed, and the others followed after through the crowd. Zuko ended up holding Toph's hand as he stuck close to Sokka's back so as not to lose her.

There were lights everywhere. Lanterns strung overhead, candles lining the roads, and bulbs of light wrapped extensively around each post. Zuko had to cover his eyes from the glare. The dancing and shopping only got thicker the closer they got to the beach. As a holiday of food, shopping, and beautiful lights, Zuko quickly found himself surrounded by couples. It wasn't until their feet hit the solid wood of the pier that the crowd finally let up a little and Zuko could take a deep breath.

He took stock of their small group, counting heads, before Sokka ran to the closest stall. Each merchant seemed to have a type of food from a different country. The first stall had some kind of fried rodent on a stick that Sokka and Toph thought tasted exactly like blubbered seal jerky. Next came some kind of eel from Kyoshi island followed by a plum pudding. Zuko took small bites so that he didn't fill up but Sokka and Toph did not seem to have the same concerns. They chowed down full meals at each stall. Sokka, he could understand, but Toph? Where did it all go?

After they'd circled the entire wharf, visiting some stalls more than once, Zuko was ready to call it a night. His feet hurt, he'd eaten way too much food, and everything he passed by only worked to remind him of Katara. He'd been hoping a night out would be distracting, but when he saw the ginseng flavored tea cakes, he'd almost bought some for her. When a group of dancers had passed by he'd wondered if she knew how to dance. They'd never gotten a chance to at the club for Sokka's party. Thinking about Sokka's party had him thinking about the kiss and his stomach ached. He was spiraling.

"I think I'm going to head home," Zuko said, pointing towards the nearest empty alley. Other than a couple stragglers, the lane was empty making it a much better alternative than trying to navigate back through the masses.

"Are you sure?" Suki asked, barely keeping a grip on Sokka's hand as he was enthralled by the nearby shopping stalls. Sokka loved shopping, they would probably be here for another couple hours.

"Yeah, you're not still moping, are you Sparky?" Toph demanded. Zuko leaned forward to wipe some seal jerky from her cheek.

"Nah, kiddo," he lied. "Just tired."

"Aw, let the man go," Sokka interceded. "He's had a long week. Old men need their rest, you know."

Zuko playfully shoved his roommate before walking backwards towards the side street. "Bring me back some watermelon and a bag of Cheetos."

"So unoriginal." Toph shook her head. "At least make them fire cheetos, we are at a fire festival."

"Whatever you want." Zuko waved behind him. As he got further into the alley, the back of his neck prickled and he had the unsettling feeling that he was being watched.

The others had barely disappeared around the corner out of sight when a mist filled the small street and a figure dropped from a nearby rooftop. Zuko's hand twitched towards where his swords would normally be strapped on his back before he remembered he wasn't the Blue Spirit tonight. Possibly never would be again.

"Who's there?" he called, his eyes darting desperately across the thickening fog.

The figure shifted slightly in the darkness, the mist swirling around their feet. "I know what you did."

Zuko stiffened. He knew that voice.

With a soft ruffle of cloth, the Painted Lady stepped into the light.

Katara watched his features school from shock to impassiveness. Her own eyebrows bunched together in anger. "You were there when I was imprisoned. You saw me."

Zuko remained still and silent, watching her with his honey-golden eyes. His expression was empty. Lifeless. Like he didn't care. Didn't care that she'd given him her heart only for him to rip it to shreds.

She hadn't realized exactly when the tears had started to fall, but now there was a steady stream dripping down her face. "You're with them."

Zuko still didn't say anything, only stared at her.

"Because of you I...I..." She looked down at her hands, remembering how they had diminished grown men to marionettes.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Her hat jerked up. "Oh, you're sorry? For trapping me and practically enslaving the city? For lying about your plans? Sorry?" She scoffed. "Not yet you're not."

She uncapped the flask at her hip.

Zuko's hands shot up in surrender. "Please!" He called, "You've got it all wrong, I..." He seemed to measure his words. "I work with the Blue Spirit."

Katara blinked. "You what?"

"I went to see where you were so that he could find you," Zuko continued. "That's the only reason I went."

"You...You came to save me?" she asked. "Why would you betray your father like that?"

He didn't seem surprised that she knew. Instead, he only rubbed the back of his neck and she fought the urge to find the familiar motion endearing.

"We haven't always seen eye to eye," he said. "My father and I have different visions for the city, but we both want what's best for the people living here."

Katara scoffed again. "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes. He's just a bit...misguided," Zuko said. "Which is why I needed to get you out of there, and...There's something you need to know about Ozai." He took a deep breath. "There's a reason the Phoenix ownership passes from father to son. It's more than just the family business." Zuko licked his lips. "Ozai is a firebender."

Katara fought to school her features before remembering that he couldn't see her face anyways.

"The secret has been passed down from parent to child for generations. He has the bending scroll locked in his vault."

"So..." she trailed off, trying to compute this new information. "So you're a firebender, and you taught the Blue Spirit firebending?"

Zuko blushed, straightening up. "Er, yup. Yes, that's correct. That's why he can firebend. I...I taught him." He winced.

Katara narrowed her eyes. Firebender...Phoenix Industries...motorcycle...

She gasped. "You're the Blue Spirit!"

Zuko's head dropped. "Yeah."

"Why didn't you just say so?" she demanded, her hands falling to her hips.

"I don't know if you've noticed, Lady," he huffed right back, "but you're very intimidating and I am easily flustered. I often say the wrong thing at the wrong time."

Can't argue with that. This was too much. Zuko was the Blue Spirit? She'd fallen for two versions of the same guy? Suddenly she felt like one of those idiot girls in one of those Korean dramas Toph had been telling her about. He seemed to be getting nervous the longer she remained quiet, but she simply couldn't wrap her mind around it. Zuko was a firebender. He'd risked his life to save her from his family's business...and she'd hated him for it. Her wandering gaze caught on his face, his scar in particular, and a horrifying realization dawned on her.

"And now you're trying to stop him?" she asked.

"Well, not exactly."

She moved to draw from her water skein a second time and his hands again shot into the air.

"I'm not following him anymore!" Zuko insisted, his eyes trained on her hands. "But I don't think he's wrong, he's just going about things in the wrong way. I want to help him."

"Help him?" she asked. "After all your father did to you?"

"What my father did?" Zuko repeated back. "What do you mean?"

She motioned towards his face. "Look what he's done to you!"

Zuko hesitated. "Lady...my father...he didn't do this to me."

She stilled. "But...but your argument...and he's a firebender."

"I see how you got there." His fingers gently probed the reddened flesh. "But that's not exactly the whole story."

"I don't understand."

"I've always looked just like my dad," Zuko said. Katara wasn't sure where he was going with this, but listened all the same.

"People had been telling me since I was a kid, 'the spitting image of Ozai', they would say." He frowned, bitterness lacing his tone, "My mother would assure me that even though I looked like him, I wasn't anything like him. I didn't realize until later that she was really just trying to reassure herself that she wasn't raising more versions of him." He sighed. "There was a day when I was about seven, we were having tea out in the courtyard like we usually did when I decided to show her the newest firebending move I'd learned."

He'd stopped again. Katara thought maybe he was gathering his thoughts, but when she looked again his face was scrunched in pain. The ligaments in his neck were drawn tight from the hassle of holding back his emotions.

"I was so excited," he continued, his voice strained. "But then she...She looked at me for the longest time and..." he shook his head, "-She said, 'you're just like him. A monster.'" His fingers dragged down the left side of his face. "The kettle was right there next to us, still steaming. I saw her reaching for it, but I didn't understand until it was too late."

Katara covered her mouth with both hands. A water burn to that degree meant more than just a splash. He must have been restrained, probably screaming in pain. His own mother. Why had it been so much easier to believe that a firebender had done that to him? The assumption had seemed so natural, almost fitting.

No wonder he had never wanted to explore his bending.

"She's still at the company," Zuko continued, his eyes on something far away. "My father keeps her under medical surveillance so she can't hurt anyone else."

Katara swallowed. "So what's next?" she asked, trying to draw him back.

Zuko shrugged like he hadn't just divulged his most traumatic memory. "The Blue Spirit is done, but that doesn't mean I can't still help you. I'll do what I can from the inside, you just keep doing your work. Get the villagers out of there before my sister demolishes the place."

"Is that the plan?" She squinted at him, her hands on her hips.

"I'll find out," Zuko promised.

Katara lost her accusing stance. She'd come ready to confront him, fight him if need be, and here he was being amicable as ever. How wrong had she been about this man?

Maybe they could take down the company together. Him on the inside, her thwarting the shipments on the outside. How much easier would it be if they just knew who each other were? She moved to lift her veil but his hands clamped around her wrists.

"Don't." he said, his eyes averted to somewhere above her hat. "It's too late for me. Someone on the inside already knows I'm the Blue Spirit. Azula probably already knows that I'm the one who broke you out, but you? You're still safe. The less people who know your identity, the better."

Separating from the Painted Lady had felt strangely tense, but Zuko couldn't put his finger on exactly why. Instead of heading home, he'd backtracked towards the festival. He needed to talk to Sokka right away if only to keep his own head from exploding.

Why had he told her about his mother? She didn't need to know that, but it felt important that Ozai not pay for that particular sin. The scars inflicted by his father were not as visible.

They needed a plan. He needed to find out if the company knew he was the blue spirit who had broken out the Painted Lady. He needed to figure out what he wanted to do in regards to graduation, which he just now remembered was only a couple of weeks away, and what that meant for his position in the company. Again, only if he hadn't already ruined everything by breaking into his own facility. And now the Painted Lady wanted to help him. How was he supposed to coordinate when he had absolutely no idea what was going on?

Pushing through another line of people, he spotted the short ponytail of his roommate. Running over, he spun Sokka around to face him.

"Sokka-"

"Hey man, you came back." Sokka slapped his shoulder. "Come help me haggle down this guy. Forty yuan for a belt? I don't think so."

"Just listen for a second," Zuko insisted, "I have to tell you something."

Then his eyes caught on a figure moving rapidly towards them. He wouldn't have recognized her with her fire nation outfit except her crystal blue eyes were trained on him. She had her hair half down and had gotten rid of the hair loops she usually pinned to the sides. Gold bands encased her upper arms and wrists contrasting beautifully against her mocha skin.

Speaking of skin...Zuko gulped. Her shirt was a single shoulder crop top that tied across her middle leaving the majority of her stomach exposed. He briefly noticed her red skirt overlaid brown pants before he realized he should try to pull himself together before she reached them.

"Katara!?" Zuko's eyes drank her in like she might be a dream. "You're here? What-"

Everything he'd been rehearsing to say to her dropped from his mind at the sight of her. It didn't matter though. In three steps she was directly in front of him, her arms thrown around his neck as she smashed a kiss against his mouth.