Whew! I've been so busy, I didn't have time to update yesterday! I'm sorry! Here's another, I'll try to make it funny (I think I've said that every chapter...oh well!); Zuko and Katara interaction here! Yay!
As Zuko's party left the ship, there was a distinct atmosphere of smugness about them. They had one of the avatar's companions in their custody, the Avatar himself was on the way to collect him, and Zuko was in a good mood (hence, his men were in a good mood, as they weren't in constant fear of being toasted).
Sokka looked around. It was a very small village, inhabited by fire-benders and a few earth-bender servants. They approached the town's sole teashop, entered, and sat themselves at a wide, short table. The restaurant's manager came to personally see to their needs, and Sokka was again overwhelmed by how well Fire-Nation people lived (and treated prisoners).
Zuko spoke. "We are expecting two more members of our party, a young boy with blue arrow tattoos and a water-nation girl. When they arrive, bring them straight here." Sokka opened his mouth to protest, but Uncle Iroh shot him a warning glance, and Sokka swallowed his words.
He's right…if I protest, they'll know I'm not Fire. Plus, the way Zuko's got it set up, it sounds like they're guests – if I speak up, it'll warn these people that Aang and Katara are more than they seem. Hmm…
Sadly for Sokka's thoughts, the dishes were brought out at that point, and Sokka's mind would not allow him to think about anything other than food, so he gave in to his hunger and ate.
Meanwhile, Katara and Aang had just landed next to Prince Zuko's ship. Dismounting from Appa, the pair made their way slowly towards the teashop, where they could see Prince Zuko's uncle drinking tea in the window.
"Okay, Katara – we go in, you snatch Sokka and get him back on Appa and get going, I'll cover your back and catch up later with my glider – Huh?" They were surrounded by the fire-nation villagers, all glad to be allowed to greet the Exiled Prince's guests; Katara and Aang were led straight into the shop to Zuko's table.
"Ah, Avatar – just in time, the food has only just arrived. You may sit with Sokka, and your lovely friend will sit over here with Zuko and me," Uncle Iroh quickly took control of the situation, organizing their seating arrangements so that Aang would not be able to fight his way out without abandoning Katara.
What? They were expecting us? Why – oh look! They haveginsengtea! And thus Aang ignored the possibility of a trap, falling prey to the siren call of good tea. Katara, on the other hand, was somewhat more wary, noting her seating position as being between the two most powerful fire-benders in the room.
I can't escape, no way no how, even if I water whip one, the other will get me – and neither Sokka nor Aang is going to be of any use until they finish eating…Boys! Why do they always have to eat so much?
Thoughts notwithstanding, though, the food did smell good, and both Zuko and Iroh were applying themselves as heartilyto the dishes as everyone else, belying the possibility of drugs. So Katara shrugged and tucked in, not knowing when she would next see such fancy food.
Iroh watched her, subconsciously noting her body language – and his nephew's. Sure, it would be nice if they would capture the Avatar, but it would be nicer to have Zuko already engaged to a foreigner when he became Fire Lord, just to make foreign affairs a little easier. Doubtless, of course, Fire Lord Ozai would have a royal tantrum at the very idea of a match between a royal Fire-Prince and a water-bending peasant, but if they were already married with children by the time they got back to the Fire Nation, Ozai would not be able to break the marriage. Iroh sighed softly, and noted that Katara flinched away from him – only slightly, but it proved that she was alert where her brother and friend were completely oblivious.
Good girl – keep yourself alive for as long as you can in this hard world. Iroh continued to muse of this subject as Katara ate, her eyes roaming ceaselessly over the faces of the Fire Nation soldiers.
Zuko, too, was extremely alert, although he had long since learned to hide it. Of course, he rarely felt the need to hide it, so right now, although all his nerves were aching to go into spasms of nervous twitching, he remained perfectly still and calm outwardly, and everyone else thought he was simply in a good mood for once. Well, he was. Not only was he finally being treated with the deference he deserved, he was sitting with Katara, and she herself was eating just as calmly as if she dined with the Heir to the Fire Throne everyday – which, happily, was exactly the air he wanted to show to the villagers; renegades or no, they would still attack her in an instant, if she looked as though she didn't belong.
She looks so composed, she might have been raised in the Court right alongside Zula and me. Always uses the right utensil, doesn't put her elbows on the table, eats in small, neat bites, and is alert, but not obviously so! God, if she weren't such an insubordinate water-peasant, I'd marry her in an instant. I dunno if her brother's worth it though – he looks like he's going to eat until there's nothing left – would it be worth having him to be with her? She may be able to act nicely at the table when she has to, but she's still a peasant…
As if she'd heard his thoughts, she turned slightly towards him and glared.
Probably just letting me know that she doesn't trust me a bit. Well, she shouldn't; I'm here to kidnap either her or her best friend, so she'd be a fool to trust me – and I could never marry a fool.
Just then a thought hit him, smack dab in the forehead. Why do I keep contemplating marrying the stupid peasant? If Father accepts me with the avatar, who's to say he won't throw me out on my ear again for associating with a peasant?
Just the idea that he could harbor such a stupid idea made him pissed. He sat up a little straighter, his eyes narrowing at the food before him. His men flinched – he was mad again! Katara flinched too – just as Iroh was observing her body language, she was observing Zuko's – and he had tensed up suddenly, not as though he was preparing to grab her or kill someone, but as though some negative thought had popped into his mind. Whether or not he looked like he wasn't going to attack her, it was still a possibility. She cast her eyes furtively in Aang's direction – he had just about finished eating, and was nursing one last cup of tea, and even Sokka had slowed down. She decided to act. They couldn't afford to sit there any longer and wait for Zuko to strike them down where they sat.
"I thank you for your hospitality, Prince Zuko, General Iroh," she began, "But we really must be going." She waited for a reply from Zuko, but it never came, and as the awkwardsilence lengthened, Iroh spoke.
"So soon? Come, come, we have not yet had dessert, you must stay a while longer, and then we shall see you off properly." Why had she suddenly decided to leave? And why had Zuko said nothing? Iroh glanced at his nephew, and barely escaped snorting into his tea. Zuko sat, now slightly slumped, pushing chunks of meat around on his plate with a mulish expression on his face that was strongly reminiscent of a seven-year-old who has been told he was not allowed to leave the table until he ate his vegetables. No wonder she'd wanted to leave – what lady would want to remain when one's dinner partner acted like a child? Oh, it was alright for the Avatar to behave that way; mentally, he was a child. Zuko, on the other hand, was a seventeen-year-old Prince. No excuses for him.
Meanwhile, Katara had nodded her acquiescence; they would remain a while longer – but not happily. It was all too clear, now, that she wanted nothing more than to be gone. Iroh smiled. It was time to give her a reason to stay. He leaned over to whisper in her ear,
"Besides – Zuko is holding your dress in custody until your brother returns his clothes," he said softly, chuckling. She glanced at him, startled, and then to her brother, noting for the first time that he wore fire-nation garb. Her brow contracted momentarily, which worried Iroh – was she that averse to the Fire-Nation, that the sight of her brother in their clothing upset her? That could be bad, in the long run.
Finally, dessert arrived, and Sokka plowed through it, helped along by the soldiers. He and the soldiers got along very well indeed; both had rowdy, chauvinistic senses of humor and loved to eat. Katara was disgusted, Iroh amused – Zuko didn't notice. He did eat, though, so when the food on his plate was finally gone, he looked up. His face first mirrored Katara's disgust at the crew and Sokka's appetites, and then confusion – Katara looked tense and wary, and his uncle, under the laughter he was currently sharing with the Avatar, looked worried. Zuko raised an eyebrow, and called the dinner to a halt.
"Come," he said, "it is time for us to go." As one, the crew stood, without protest or even pausing long enough to take one more bite. Katara, impressed by their discipline, was all the more embarrassed by her brother's refusal to abandon the meal.
"Sokka! We're going. Now." Her command had no effect, so after glancing apologetically at Zuko, Iroh, and the Manager, she came up behind him and yanked cruelly on his ears. It was an old trick, and she employed it perfectly.
"Ouch! Ow, ow, ow, ow! Katara, what was that for?" Sokka had the gumption to look insulted, as if she had done something wrong, not him.
"You are causing a scene and delaying our party – parties. Let's go." This time, he stood without complaint, and walked out in front of her, followed by Iroh and Zuko's impressed stares, both only slightly worried by how she'd changed party to a plural form. Whether or not she wanted it, their 'parties' were now only one party. Zuko's men had been well briefed. As soon as Sokka, Katara, and Aang exited the teashop, the soldiers grabbed them, and carried them away.
Whew! That was a long chapter! Okay, it could have been shorter - or longer, if that's the way your cookie crumbles (lol!), but this seemed a good place to end it. I decided not to make them argue much - save that for when they're actually captives, not dinner guests. I happen to hate public humiliation, so I didn't want to subject it upon Zuko or Iroh. But anyway! R&R, contstructive critisism welcome!