"Is that all you are bringing?" Zuko asked, pointing at Katara's singular small bag.
"Uh, yes," she replied shyly. Zuko picked up the bag and handed it to one of the guards to take onto the ship. He signaled to the other one that they could both leave and wait on the ship. Zuko hated the hassle it was for him to travel anywhere. The amount of crew that came on the ship was overkill for the short trip to the South Pole. Well, the journey was long, but the stay had been short.
The guards bowed their heads and walked up the gangway, leaving Zuko alone. Katara had walked the few steps towards her dad and the rest of the gang. Aang was helping Toph climb onto Appa, and Katara was hugging her brother. Zuko heard them say some words of goodbye to each other before she hugged her dad, who patted her on the back before saying something to her that Zuko couldn't hear.
To Zuko's surprise, he noticed Aang had finished helping Toph and was walking over to him. He straightened himself and faced him. When Aang was close enough, he spoke.
"I want to thank you again, Zuko, for doing this."
"Of course. I think your plan is worthwhile and admirable," he said. "And besides, Katara will be doing most of the work on this end, just as you will be on yours. It's honestly not much trouble on my part."
"Still," Aang replied. "I'm am thankful you are willing. I know the Fire Nation is struggling with more important things right now." Zuko turned to eye him. Was he talking about the drought?
"How do you know that?"
"I've just heard talk," he said simply. "I want you to know that if there's anything you think I can do to help, I'll come straight over from Ba Sing Se."
Zuko looked at Aang's face closely. He seemed genuine. Zuko smiled. "Thank you. That means a lot." He looked down. "Uncle says I worry too much. He thinks the people can handle this."
Aang shrugged. "Maybe he's right."
"He probably is," said Zuko with a laugh. Something moved in his peripheral vision and he turned to see Katara walking towards them. Her hair had grown to her waist, longer than Zuko had ever seen it. She also wore a darker blue now. Almost navy. Other than that, she looked as much the same as he'd ever remembered her. Her blue eyes were round, big and piercing. But they were also filled with a soft glow. They were eyes someone could look into and know they were safe. Her mother's necklace shone proudly on her neck. No one could deny that she was beautiful, thought Zuko. She moved gracefully, but Zuko knew there was strength hidden underneath. Strength he'd witnessed numerous times.
Suddenly aware that he was staring, Zuko cleared his throat and turned back to look at Aang, who was also looking at Katara. Aang was smiling, but his eyes were sad.
The curiosity Zuko had kept at bay for most of his visit was threatening to burst. What had happened between those two? Why had Katara left and come here?
"Bye, Aang," said Katara. Zuko realized she'd finally made it to them. He watched her gingerly reach out and hug Aang, who hugged her back tenderly, but hesitantly. They released each other and Aang nodded to each of them.
"Good luck with everything," he said. "Please. I'd love to hear how things go."
They both agreed to write, and Aang backed away a couple steps before turning and walking toward Aapa and Toph.
"Ready?" asked Zuko.
"As I'll ever be, I suppose," she said with a smile. Zuko returned the smile.
Suddenly, a breathless Sokka ran up to them. "Zuko! Wait." They both turned to face him. "Before you leave, I have to ask. Do you have any of that amazing stuff you had at Ember Island for that party a few years ago? And at your coronation celebration? I can't remember what it was called, but it was absolutely amazing."
Zuko stared at him in confusion. Then the memory of a very drunk Sokka trying to get Toph to dance with him at the party on Ember Island returned to his brain. He laughed. "Firewhiskey?"
Sokka's eyes grew to the size of moons and a mischievous grin spread across his face. He nodded slowly. "Yes. Firewhiskey."
Zuko smiled. "Unfortunately, there isn't any on the ship. I'm sorry."
"Aww bummer," said Sokka. He didn't seem mad though. He sighed and put a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Well as always, it was good to see you, Fire Lord. Watch out for my sister if you can. Keep her out of trouble for me."
Katara scoffed. "If anything, Sokka, it sounds like someone needs to keep an eye on you. I shudder to imagine what you must've been like at that party after drinking Firewhiskey."
Zuko laughed and Sokka rolled his eyes, but his face was kind as he gave Katara another hug. Zuko shook his hand and exchanged a goodbye with him before Sokka turned and headed back into the town.
Not wanting an awkward silence to fall between him and Katara, Zuko instinctively extended his elbow out to her.
She laughed. "I remember this," she said with a smile. "I was so embarrassed when you did this at that dinner before your coronation."
Zuko remembered it too and chuckled. It felt like so long ago, but doing it here now felt at least a little more natural. "I remember too. Your face turned so red."
She shook her head, still smiling at the memory. Her arm slipped through his softly. "I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to people staring at me."
"Surely you must be used to it by now," said Zuko, starting to walk up the gangway of the ship.
Katara looked at him quizzically. "How so?"
"I just mean because of what you did during the war. People know who you are. The talented master water bender from the South Pole who helped the avatar end the war."
Katara blushed but smiled kindly. "Well, yes. I guess there's that. I'm still not used to it though," she replied. Zuko could tell she seemed less comfortable now and he silently wished he'd never said anything.
They walked the rest of the way up the gangway and reached the deck of the ship. A crew member hurried up to Zuko and bowed.
"Fire Lord Zuko, the crew is ready to depart if you are, sir."
"Thank you, captain. Let's head off."
The captain bowed quickly. When he came back up, his face turned towards Katara and his eyes swiftly scanned her up and down. Zuko felt Katara's arm fall quickly away from his. The captain walked away. Perhaps he should have told the crew that Katara would be joining him on the return journey. Perhaps that had been a lapse on his part. But why had the captain seemed so affronted to see them arm and arm? It had been extremely rude of him to not address Katara. And to look at her so rudely.
Zuko turned to Katara. Her back was straight, and she didn't seem flustered by the encounter. But her cheeks were pink and Zuko could tell she was slightly embarrassed. What was she thinking? Katara didn't look at him, but walked to the edge of the ship, looking out onto her home. Zuko went to stand next to her, looking out at the Southern Water Tribe too. It really had grown tremendously. It didn't look anything like the small collection of raggedy tents he'd stumbled upon so many years ago. There were actual buildings now, made out of actual snow and ice. It had started to resemble the Northern Tribe.
The gangway was pulled up and Zuko heard the large groans of the anchor as it was reeled up too.
"Do you remember the last time you came here?" Katara asked, keeping her eyes on the town.
Zuko turned his head to look at her. She was smiling. "You mean the time when I came to capture Aang, thinking he was a 112-year-old man?"
Katara nodded. "If I remember correctly, Sokka hit you in the head with his boomerang," she said with a smirk.
Zuko'd almost forgotten that. "Not one of my finer moments," he admitted with a smile.
Without much warning, the ship started making small progress in pulling away from the edge of the town. They watched the Southern Water Tribe grow smaller for a while, neither of them saying anything. The only sounds were the wind and the sounds of the boat chugging onward.
He turned to look at her again. Her eyes were still on her home and the cold wind whipped some loose hair around her face. He couldn't read her expression.
Feeling brave, he asked a personal question. "Is it hard to leave?" How come whenever he was around her, he simultaneously became braver than usual, but also extremely shy? How was it possible to be both?
She waited a moment before answering, still watching her home grow smaller. They were a good distance away now. "I thought it would be. But's it's almost just as easy leaving now as it was when I was fourteen. And both times, I didn't know how long I would be gone."
"So then, you really were bored, being there?" he asked hesitantly, remembering Sokka's words at the end of their meeting. Zuko knew he was pressing her, but luckily, she didn't seem too bothered. Maybe her thoughts were too close to the surface for her to worry about sharing them.
"I don't know," she answered. "I really did enjoy training waterbenders. It finally felt like I was doing something that was actually making a difference."
Zuko wondered if she was implying something about her time with Aang, but didn't know how to ask without sounding like he was prying. Luckily, she was the one to speak again.
"And it was so nice, being home again with my dad and grandmother. But…" She sighed, looking down and away from her town. Zuko felt an urge to reach out and hold her, but he knew members of the crew were watching and didn't want them to get the wrong idea. Besides, he wasn't sure if Katara would want that.
A few day ago, when he'd stepped off the boat and seen her for the first time, he hadn't realized how quickly his feelings for her would return. They'd washed over him in a matter of moments at just the sight of her after so long, and he'd realized just how much he'd missed her these last three and a half years. How much he'd missed her teasing, her healing, her reassuring words when things got confusing. He'd missed everything about her. Seeing her had been a breath of fresh air. A relief. It had transported him back to a time when he hadn't been so tired. A time when he'd been happier. Camping with the gang in the days before the comet had been stressful, but they'd also been the happiest and most exciting times of his life. And Katara had been a part of that. The biggest part of that. A thought had flit into his mind quicker than anything when he'd first seen her. Maybe there was still a chance. Still a way for them to be together.
But her words from the balcony of his uncle's tea shop rang in his ears, reminding him that that was impossible. "Maybe it would've worked in some other life." So, for the remainder of his stay in the South Pole, he'd pushed his thoughts away, just as he had for the last three and a half years.
Standing here now though, and traveling back to the Fire Nation with her, it was getting harder to keep those thoughts from creeping into his head.
He pulled himself back to the present conversation, trying to understand how she might be feeling. To figure out what was going on in her head.
"You know, Katara," he said, looking away from her and out at the small speck that was the Southern Water Tribe. "It's okay to enjoy being home and still wish you were out in the world, experiencing different things. And it's okay to be out exploring the world and still miss home. You can be homesick without wanting to come home, as long as you're doing something worthwhile. Some people just aren't made to stay in the place they were born for their whole lives. It's hard to ignore the urge to leave home when you have it in you. But that doesn't mean your home isn't still dear to you."
At this, she turned to face him, her mouth slightly open. She seemed speechless. "Did that not make any sense?" he laughed nervously and smiled awkwardly. "Sorry."
She turned and shook her head slowly, looking at him with a smile. "No. Not at all. That was amazing. No one's ever put that into words before. I could never understand it. And neither did anyone else, for that matter. But you understand perfectly. When did you become so wise?" she joked, looking back out at the spot where the Southern Water Tribe had disappeared Zuko shrugged, not able to contain the happiness he felt at her praise. "I think Aang got frustrated with me. I kept telling him that I didn't mind traveling with him, but he knew I was unhappy. I think he just thought I was homesick. But I knew that wasn't it. I knew I couldn't come home permanently after everything I'd experienced."
"Why did you, then?" Zuko was struggling keep himself from outright asking why she hadn't been happy with Aang. His curiosity was killing him.
"I was out of options, I guess," she said. "There was nowhere else to go. But it turned out alright, for the most part. Training waterbenders was the most fulfilling thing I've done since the war."
Zuko smiled when she said this. "It must be nice to finally have more benders from the South Pole."
"Actually, all the benders I train are from the North. They come down with big groups to visit our tribe for long stretches of time."
"So then, you're still the only waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe?"
Katara nodded. Her face didn't show any emotion, but Zuko could trace the smallest amount of sadness in her eyes.
"Wow," was all Zuko could manage to say. He couldn't imagine how that must feel. It was probably a burden for her. After a moment, he added, "I guess the firebenders you're going to teach should count themselves lucky then. You're one of a kind."
Katara's face brightened a little and she rolled her eyes.
. . .
The gangway hit the ground of the large dock with a resounding, metallic clang. Zuko watched the crew hurry around, ensuring the ship was safely pulled into port. He stood on deck, waiting for Katara so they could both walk down off the ship.
After a moment, he noticed a flash of blue come out from the area where the bedrooms were and turned to see Katara start walking towards him. She was looking around and smiling. When she was close enough, he extended his elbow out to her. Katara instinctively laced her arm through his, resting her hand on his upper arm. Zuko smiled at her cool touch, glad she wasn't too embarrassed from the last time they had done this. He was happy at how natural it was becoming.
"I forgot how hot it was here," she laughed. "Or maybe I've just been in the South Pole too long." Zuko watched her, admiring the pretty way her eyes lit up when she smiled.
They made their way down the gangway and were quickly greeted by Zuko's uncle."Miss Katara! I didn't know we would have the pleasure of having you here in the Fire Nation. How wonderful!" He bowed to Katara, and Katara bowed back.
"It's great to see you again, Iroh. And yes, it was decided fairly quickly. But I am happy to be here."
Iroh turned to Zuko. "Was it a pleasant trip, nephew?" Zuko didn't care for the way his uncle said that. Almost like he was trying to get Zuko to admit something.
"Very much so. It was nice to see the growth the Southern Water Tribe has had since the war. It truly is astounding," he said simply.
"I'm sure," smiled Iroh.
Zuko turned to Katara. "If you are not too tired from the journey, I can take you to the school where you will be teaching alongside the other masters. It isn't far."
"Come now, Zuko. Surely that can wait until tomorrow. Let us go back to the palace. I believe dinner is almost ready."
Not wanting to go object to his Uncle's wishes, Zuko conceded. "Of course, Uncle." Katara had watched all of this without saying anything. Again, Zuko wondered what she was thinking. Katara smiled and fell into step next to his uncle. Zuko continued a few steps behind them.
They didn't take palanquins, but the walk to the palace went quickly. He overheard Katara and Uncle continue to exchange pleasantries before they both began talking about Ba Sing Se. Iroh asked how Toph was and laughed when Katara assured him that she was the same as ever.
Zuko watched them, thinking of when Mai and Iroh had talked with each other like this not too long ago. Iroh had been polite with Mai, but with Katara, he seemed genuinely happy talking to her. And Katara spoke with so much more ease than Mai ever did. She laughed and gestured with her hands, while Mai only ever managed to smile occasionally.
Zuko cleared his head. He shouldn't compare like that. He heard Katara laugh again and looked up, wanting to freeze the image of her bright smile in his brain forever. Argh. He can't be thinking things like that. If her feelings towards him were what they'd been three years ago, then she didn't think of him like that. He needed to get himself under control.
They reached the palace gates and the guards opened to let them onto the grounds. Zuko noticed the guards eye Katara and immediately remembered how Katara said she hated that. He watched her. He could tell by the way she was acting that she knew people were watching her, but her face remained the same as ever. Living here for so long with not many visitors, Zuko forgot just how much Katara would stick out. Her different clothes, darker skin, and blue eyes made her extremely easy to notice.
Finally, they reached the palace doors, and walked through to the smaller dining room. The memory of eating dinner here with Katara here after the war came to the forefront of his mind. That dinner had been such a simple one. He hadn't ben Fire Lord yet. And she hadn't chosen to leave with Aang yet. They'd been able to truly just enjoy each other's company. Zuko doubted this dinner would be much like that one.
Once they'd all seated themselves, Mai walked through the doors.
"Zuko," she said with a smile, walking over to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. Zuko smiled nervously and broke away from her after a quick moment, barely having returned the hug.
"Mai," he said. For some reason, his heart had begun beating fast. Had Katara known Mai would be here? He hadn't mentioned it to her. He'd had opportunities to on the journey but could never bring himself to say it. Would Katara act differently towards him now? He hoped not. Zuko liked the pattern they'd fallen into over the long journey back from the South Pole. He'd tried to look at Katara over Mai's shoulder but Katara hadn't been watching them. Then he scolded himself. Here he was hugging Mai, but only thinking of Katara. What was wrong with him?
Mai greeted Iroh and Katara. Zuko tried to read Katara's face when she greeted Mai, but he couldn't. She didn't seem to hold any negative feelings towards her. They each greeted the other with a smile and a bow. Zuko sighed, hoping he wasn't going to be this paranoid for all of Katara's stay.
. . .
Zuko heard a soft tap on his office door and turned away from his window. Thinking it was Mai, he didn't say anything, expecting her to come in on her own. When she didn't, he spoke a quiet "come in."
To his surprise, Katara entered the room, looking around at his office. He smiled when he saw her.
"Katara," he said happily. "How are you? How was your day at the school?" It had been a week now, since Katara had started working at the firebending academy. Zuko had taken her there the day after their arrival and introduced her to the masters that taught there. They hadn't seemed enthused that Katara would be joining them, but Zuko had made it clear that this was happening under his and the avatar's authority, and that they should make it work at all costs. With both him and Katara now so busy, they'd hardly seen saw each other except at dinner occasionally. He hadn't ever tried to seek her out, worried that it would be weird and also not having the courage to do so. For the most part, in Zuko's eyes, not much had changed for him this last week. Life had felt as much the same as ever. So, this unexpected visit from Katara was exceptionally refreshing.
"It was good," said Katara. Zuko walked to stand behind his desk. "One of the masters finally seemed interested in learning some forms, so I showed him some. And then I got to work with two more of the young students too."
"That's amazing."
Katara smiled. "Yes, it really is a lot fun. I thought it might be easier if I knew some firebending forms, so I could figure out what would be best to teach. We're starting with basics, so it doesn't matter too much, but I thought it might help."
Zuko gestured to the bookshelf along one wall of the office. "Please. Help yourself. There are some books and scrolls with firebending instruction in there. If you think they'll help you teach, you can take any."
Katara smiled and nodded as she moved to the large bookshelf along one wall and raised her hands to look through some of the books and scrolls. Zuko watched her pull one out and carefully flip through it for a moment before gingerly returning it to the shelf.
"I'm glad things are going well," he said. Katara looked up at him.
"Yes, I am too. It's amazing how much their firebending has improved after incorporating some waterbending techniques. I wasn't actually sure if there would be a difference, but there really has been."
Zuko laughed. "That's great. I'm glad." A beat passed.
Katara raised another book she'd found. "Who knows? Maybe I'll be able to improve my bending by picking up some tricks from these too." Zuko chuckled. She looked at his face a moment, her eyebrows knitting together. It looked like she was trying to figure something out. "What's wrong, Zuko?" she asked plainly.
"What? Nothing's wrong Katara," he said, brushing away her comment. Why would she even ask that? His heartbeat sped as she walked closer to him. Only the desk separated them now.
"Zuko. You're exhausted. I noticed from the moment you stepped off that ship in the South Pole. I can see it in your eyes." His uncle and Mai had told him this, so it wasn't new information, but Zuko hated that he was so readable. Or maybe Katara just knew him too well also.
"Really, Katara. I'm fine," he said forcing a smile on his face. The same way he'd done so many other times with Mai, his advisors, his uncle. The list went on. Katara let out a breath, seeming to sense that he didn't want to discuss it. He looked down and began examining the paper on his desk. It had started to blur. He'd been looking at it all day. Katara looked down at it too.
"May I?" she asked. Zuko nodded and Katara flipped the page around so she could inspect it better. After a moment, she asked, "Is this your current irrigation system?" Zuko looked up at her curiously. He hadn't really expected her to fully understand the diagrams on the page, but he nodded quickly, watching her.
Katara picked up the paper and held it in her hands while she continued to examine it. "You're wasting so much water here," she said pointing to a section of tubes and channels that were fed by water from rivers and streams. "It'd be a lot less wasteful to use the water in the ground to help flood the rice fields." Katara turned to look up at him.
Zuko just looked at her in confusion, his eyebrows raised. Katara let out a small laugh at his expression before turning to look back at the paper. "Look. You could dig wells all around the perimeter of the fields and then dig channels to lead the water through the fields, instead of depending so much on rain or water from rivers and lakes. I wonder…I bet you could figure out some sort of pump to bring the water up."
"Would that work with everything being so dry?"
Katara shrugged. "I don't know. Just a thought. I've probably been around Sokka for too long," she joked, handing the sheet of paper back to Zuko. He took it from her, still watching her closely. Had she really just looked at the diagram and noticed the flaw? Zuko smiled. Spirits. Why was he even surprised at this point? Katara seemed to sense that he was watching her closely and lifted her eyes to meet his. She had a small smile on her face. Was she leaning closer to him now? No, he was imagining it.
Suddenly, her smile faltered and her eyes turned sad. She turned away from him and walked to examine the books on his shelf again. Zuko walked around to the other side of his desk where she had been only moments before and leaned against it. He watched run her fingers across the spines of the books, looking at them closely.
"Why were you unhappy with Aang?" Almost as soon as it was out of his mouth, Zuko wished he could take it back. Spirits. Why had he asked that? It'd popped out of his mouth before he had the chance to stop it. But the question had been burning in his mind since he'd been in the South Pole.
Katara's hand paused on a book before falling to her side. She folded her arms and took a breath, still not turning to face him. Her voice was steady when she spoke. "I didn't love him." A beat passed. "At least, not the same way he loved me."
Zuko didn't know what to say to that. She didn't love Aang? But on the balcony in Ba Sing Se, she'd sounded so sure. She had kept repeating it over and over. Maybe she'd been trying to convince herself? Katara turned to face him, looking at him closely. Zuko looked down at his feet. "Sorry. I didn't mean to pry."
Katara shook her head and raised her eyebrows. "No. It's okay. I don't mind." She paused again. "I just wish I'd handled it all better. Not let it go on for so long and waste both of our time."
Zuko thought of Mai. He'd wasted her time even worse than Katara had Aang's. Well maybe not. If he was going to have to marry her, maybe it wasn't a waste. His shoulders fell at that thought. "I understand. It's hard to not feel guilty for something like that." Katara looked at him curiously but didn't say anything.
Zuko looked to the side out the large window. "You're too good Katara," he said plainly, remembering another time when he had spoken those exact words to her. He thought maybe he was finally starting to understand the choice Katara had made so long ago. The choice to leave behind whatever she felt for him. In her head, her job was always to do whatever she could to keep others happy. To sacrifice her wants so that others could continue to have what they wanted. On the balcony, Katara had made the choice to leave him because she truly had felt like she had no other choice but to be with Aang. Maybe she'd been mad about Mai, but that hadn't been the main reason for her decision. If there was one defining characteristic he'd pin on Katara, besides kind, strong, brave, passionate….it would be selfless. She never failed to give every part of herself to others. And sometimes, she did this until there was nothing left to give.
Katara didn't respond, so Zuko spoke again, walking closer to her. A familiar feeling of boldness he only ever felt when he was around her had returned. "You know, my uncle told me once that doing what makes you happy doesn't make you selfish."
Zuko was now standing right next to her. Both of them were looking at the books. After a second, he turned to look at the side of Katara's face. She was smiling, her mind seemingly lost in a memory. "He's told me that before, too." Zuko looked at her closer and noticed tears had pooled in her eyes. She seemed to be straining hard to keep them from falling. Closing her eyes and turning away from him, she wiped them hastily away, not making any noise. "You are lucky, Zuko. To have someone you love deeply and who loves you back. It's rarer than you'd think." Her voice was calm and even.
"Katara," he said softy. Stepping up behind her, he placed a hand on her shoulder. She shivered at the touch, letting out a small breath. Zuko was so close now that he could smell her. The beautiful cool scent filled his senses and it became harder to think straight. He was amazed how familiar it was to him. The room darkened as gray rainclouds covered the sky, blotting out the sunshine. Slowly, heavy raindrops began to fall. He didn't know what to say. How could he tell her that, though he'd hid them away for three and a half years, his feelings for her were as strong as they had been at the end of the war? The last time she'd been here at the Fire Nation. How could he explain that he didn't love Mai? How he'd been trying too, but he just didn't. How could he make her understand all the thoughts that were swirling in his head? He could feel that she felt something too. But it felt like she was pushing it away. Again.
Katara stepped away from his touch, folding her arms across her chest. Zuko spoke again, not understanding what was making him so bold. "If you could go back, would…would you make a different choice?" Zuko knew she would understand what he was referring too. He knew their conversation on the balcony in Ba Sing Se had stuck with both of them through the years.
Zuko watched as she let her head fall to her hands. He was still looking at her back. Her calm voice from before was gone. Now it shook. "Please don't, Zuko."
"Don't what?" He felt frustration rising in him and tried to push it away.
"Don't ask me that. If I answered, it…it would only make things worse."
Spirits. Does that mean she would change what she did? But she just doesn't want to say that? "Katara—"
"You are with Mai, Zuko. I don't want you to make mistakes. I don't want to be a mistake you make. You have a beautiful thing with her. I've seen it. You shouldn't ruin it."
Why did he always seem to have to fight to make her understand? He spoke forcefully, shaking his head at her words. "No. You wouldn't be a mistake. You could never be a mistake. Forget Mai. Forget everything for a second. Just say it, Katara. Please. I know you feel this too. We could make this work." At his last words, he grabbed her shoulder to turn her around. To his surprise, she didn't fight him.
When she was facing him, Katara looked into his eyes. He could see the sadness that was in hers. She opened her mouth to speak, but didn't seem to know what to say. It looked like she wanted to say something. Zuko looked back at her with wide eyes and pleaded. Please. Please just admit it Katara, he thought. Just say that you feel this too. Why was this so hard for her? What was she scared of?
After a few moments, Zuko let his hand fall. His face hardened and he stood up straight. Forget it. He was done with this. Why was it always a situation where he was pleading for her to stay or for her to admit her feelings? He was done. Katara clearly had things she still needed to work through before that could happen. He was over trying to help her. Why did he put so much energy into her when she was barely doing anything? He shook his head in disbelief and walked over to sit behind his desk.
He didn't make it though. After a couple steps, he felt a tug on his hand. He froze, not turning around. "I would make a different choice. I would've stayed with you." Katara's voice was even. It didn't sound desperate. It was raining hard outside now, and the drops pattered loudly on the roof. Zuko barely registered the rain and what it meant.
He turned around to look at her and saw her eyes were still sad, but she also had a small smile on her lips. Zuko eyed her cautiously, trying to see if she meant that. He didn't smile. Not yet. He didn't want to get his hopes up. Was she saying this because she thought it was what he wanted to hear?
Suddenly, there were three loud bangs on Zuko's door. "Fire Lord Zuko! You're needed immediately. It's urgent, sir." Katara dropped his hand and they both turned to look at the door, surprised at the sudden noise. Zuko briskly walked to open it and found himself face to face with the leader of the palace guards.
Sensing there was someone else in the room, the guard whispered. "The four guards stationed at the gate were found unconscious," he said quickly. Zuko's insides churned. What? Why?
"Where are they now? Have you spoken with them?" he asked quickly.
"They were only just found, sir. They're being brought into the palace now, but they haven't regained consciousness yet." He paused and glanced over Zuko's shoulder. He leaned closer, speaking quieter. "They're in bad shape."
Zuko closed his eyes for a moment, taking in the news. "What about the other guards? The ones posted around the grounds and closer to the palace?"
The man nodded. "All accounted for."
At least there was that. If someone had gotten into the grounds, at least they hadn't made it past the palace guards. Zuko took a deep breath, trying to calm himself enough to think rationally. He turned to look at Katara. Her face was filled with concern and confusion. It didn't look like she'd heard what happened. Her body was tense, and she looked like she wanted to walk over and hear what was going on but knew she shouldn't. Zuko looked into her eyes, hoping soon they'd be able to talk more. He mouthed the words, 'I'm sorry.' Katara nodded her head in understanding and Zuko dashed out to follow the guard.
He ran down the red halls and to the royal infirmary. Once inside, he caught sight of other guards lowering the four wounded ones off stretchers and onto beds. Zuko sucked in a breath. The men had burns on their arms and legs. Some of them even had gashes on their faces and shoulders. One looked like he had been hit on the head with something large and blunt. A noticeable bruise had already formed. A few of the palace nurses were already fussing over them.
Zuko walked over to the one man that looked like he had started to wake up. He seemed to be in the best shape out of all of them, though some burns and scrapes were visible on his arms and face. His uniform was singed and torn in some areas. The nurses and other guards made way for Zuko as he approached the bed.
"What happened? Who did this?" Zuko spoke quickly.
The young guard shook his head. He seemed baffled. "It happened so quick. We tried fighting back but-" He paused a moment, remembering. "It was two people in masks. They snuck up from the sides. They must have known the security well. They attacked when we were switching shifts."
"But who was it? Did you know them? Surely you got a look," he said forcefully. A thought had crept into Zuko's mind while the guard had spoken. A thought he was hoping to spirits wouldn't prove to be true.
The man shrugged his shoulders, completely at a loss. The lead guard spoke to Zuko. "Fire Lord. If the assailants are on the grounds, this could be an assassination attempt. We need to get you to safety, sir."
Zuko stood up straight, collecting himself. "You're right." He turned to face the lead guard completely. "Find General Iroh and Lady Mai. Ensure they are safe. I will meet you and them in the palace saferoom. Go quickly." The lead guard hesitated, but Zuko kept his face serious, not allowing him the chance to object. The guard bit his tongue and nodded curtly. Zuko watched him turn on his foot and disappear out the infirmary doors. Zuko turned back to look down at the guard who'd been attacked. He bent low.
"Is there anything else you can tell me? Anything else you remember?" The guard shook his head and started apologizing, but Zuko grabbed his shoulder to stop him. "It's okay. Thank you."
In a flash, Zuko whirled around and started out the infirmary doors. He headed straight down the same hall he'd come and slammed the door of his office open. Empty. It was even dimmer in room than it had been earlier. The little light coming in through the windows was dark and gray. No.
Quickly, he turned on his heel and started down towards the wing of the palace where Katara's room was. The same room she'd stayed in three and a half years ago. Zuko silently cursed that it was so far away. When he finally reached it, he slammed the door open. It was empty also, but what Zuko saw made his stomach sink to the floor.
Very clear signs of a struggle littered the room. The bed sheets were ruffled as if someone had been tugging them. A vase that had been on the dresser was smashed to small pieces, and the carpeted floor was soaked with water. So much so that when Zuko took a step, water pooled around his foot. He took a few more steps into the room. Had this been water she'd bent to fight? Other parts of the room's walls and furniture were singed. A firebender had been there. The door that led outside to the area where Katara practiced her bending was wide open and the sound of the heavy rain hitting the stone ground outside filled the room.
Zuko sunk to the ground, letting his knees hit the wet floor and his head fall to his hands. Anger was boiling up inside him. No. No no no NO!
Where had Azula taken her?
A/N I hope you all don't mind the long chapter. I intended for it to be two chapters but got too excited lol. I hope it didn't feel too rushed. I also hope you didn't mind me stealing Firewhiskey from Harry Potter. It was just too perfect xD Please please please review! I definitely want to know your guys' opinions on this chapter!