Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or its characters.
The Accord
Chapter One: The Festival
Fall was well underway, sweet-smelling blossoms wilting under the shadowed eaves in the gardens of the Royal Palace. Warmth still wrung sweat from the backs of the palace servants, and Aang's sparring sessions with Zuko had been moved to the early morning, when dew clung to camellia petals like a lover. The news came unexpectedly, dropping into their laps like a cold day on the tail of summer.
"Your ambassador to the Southern Water Tribe is dead," Zuko's grim-faced steward reported.
Zuko whirled into motion immediately. He was still so young, by Aang's account, but he stalked from the sparring fields with the bearing of an aged king. The burgundy of his robes flapped behind him as dark wings, feathered and ominous.
Aang followed him like a lost child, pulling on his robes and boots and peppering Zuko and his steward with questions that went unanswered, trailing behind them until he was brought up short by the abrupt slamming of the Royal Council Chamber's doors. Zuko was sequestered amongst his advisers, long, onyx doors sealed like shutters against a storm as Aang stood outside, forgotten.
One Day Prior
Like clockwork, as if a good night's sleep weren't possible, Katara was shaken awake for the third night in a row. Aang lay wrapped in silken red sheets beside her, his bare chest reflecting the pale light of the thin moon beam that cut a knife-like sliver in the darkness of their room. He didn't stir as the nervous valet hovered above them, whispering Katara's name urgently.
"What is it?" she asked groggily.
"It's her Majesty," the valet replied. She could practically hear his heart stuttering anxiously within his chest. "She's... You'd better come quickly."
Katara rolled from the over-sized bed, reaching for a robe that hung on the back of a nearby chair. "Lead the way."
Mai was curled over her protruding stomach, sweat in a light sheen on her forehead. Though obviously in pain, she bore her condition with her typical stoicism, her only outward display of emotion in the little furrow nestled between her brows. Beside her, Zuko knelt at the edge of the bed, the scene illuminated by the light of the many candles that edged their royal chamber. When Katara stepped through the door, he rushed to her.
"She's in pain," he murmured, and the look in his eyes silently told her that he would bear the pain himself, if he could.
"Let me see," Katara replied. She dropped delicately on the edge of the bed, placing a practiced hand on Mai's stomach.
Mai's teeth were gritted when she spoke. "It's nothing." She doubled over, cut short in a gasp of pain. "I'm fine."
Katara tried to dampen an indelicate snort of mirth. "Are they consistent?" she asked.
"They keep happening," Zuko supplied unhelpfully.
"I mean, are they a set time apart- like every five minutes? Or, are they sometimes twenty minutes apart, sometimes three minutes apart?"
The Fire Lord shot a confused look at his wife.
"The latter," Mai said, her body relaxed now as the contraction subsided. She leaned against the carved wooden headboard, her head dropping back in exhaustion. "I told him it's nothing," she told Katara. "I still have over a month left, but he worries."
"You were doubled over in pain," Zuko protested.
Katara waved him off. "It's alright."
Mai wiped at the sweat at her forehead, the smile on her face more like a grimace, and Katara leaned over, reaching for the pitcher that sat nestled among books and a hair brush. She pulled the water from the porcelain container, freezing a little square of it to hand to Mai to cool her off. "Preterm contractions are very normal."
Zuko sat down heavily in a nearby chair, and breathed a sigh of relief. "So, what do we do? Just wait them out?"
"They should go away in a bit. Try to sleep, if you can," Katara advised them both.
"An impossibility when your body is one giant cramp," Mai deadpanned. "I couldn't go back to sleep if I tried."
Katara laughed. "Then, Zuko and I will keep you company."
A guilty look flashed across Zuko's face, and Mai's brow twitched with irritation. "What?" she drawled, unable to keep a razor's edge from her voice. "You have somewhere else to be?"
"It's early," he wheedled. "I might be able to actually get some work done, without interruption." He shot Katara a pleading look. "Every time I try to sit down, there's some crisis that can't be resolved without me. I was elbows-deep in negotiations with Earth Kingdom emissaries when my steward burst in, demanding I help solve an issue with cutlery for the Fire Days Festival. Cutlery, Katara."
She laughed. "And how did you solve this cutlery disaster?"
"With patience."
"In all things," Mai added dryly. "Except when it comes to his wife."
Zuko had the good grace to appear contrite.
"Well, go on then," Katara said, waving her hand dismissively. "Get your work done, before the next disaster strikes. I'll stay with Mai."
With a grateful little bow, Zuko stole from the room.
"Busy, isn't he?" Katara noted in an aside to her gasping friend as another contraction came over her.
Mai winced, curling over her stomach and taking deep, shaking breaths. "The Earth Kingdom seems to think the Fire Nation's royal treasury is limitless, and the Tribes test his patience at every turn. Particularly the North."
"Oh? How so?"
"He's negotiating a trade agreement with the South- the Unity Act. Have you heard of it?"
"It was the talk of my wedding," Katara said with an eye roll. "The first Avatar wedding in over one hundred years, and all my guests can talk about is whether or not Zuko and my father can reach an agreement on the shipping costs of salmon."
Mai let out a dry little chuckle as the contraction eased. "It's more than that. It could be the stitch that knits our two nations back together. But, the North doesn't like it." She frowned. "Seven years since the end of the war, and they're still holding us at an arm's length."
Katara raised one brow. "Spirits' forbid the North be a little reticent to enter into an agreement with the Fire Nation. I know you and Zuko are eager to move away from the Fire Nation's past, Mai, but the Siege of the North was only seven and a half years ago. That's something that should be kept in mind."
Mai tinged pink slightly, censured. "I meant no offense. I only mean that we're eager to move forward, in partnership with the other nations, rather than as colonizers or rivals."
"Well," Katara said. "As long as collaboration is the main goal, I don't doubt that we're in good hands." She shifted in her chair, crossing her legs primly. "Let's talk about something else. I get enough of politics with Sokka and Aang. Have you decided on baby names?"
Mai shot her a look of anguish. "I am doing everything in my power to stop my husband from naming this child 'Honor'."
The girls descended into laughter as the first rays of the morning sun began to creep in through the window.
Aang woke early to an empty bed and sat up, rubbing his eyes when they met with a shaft of bright morning sunlight. Katara's robe was gone from the nearby chair. She must be in the gardens, perhaps sharing a cup of tea with Mai; the Fire Lord's pregnant wife was taking up most of Katara's spare time.
Dressing quickly, Aang wandered the long corridors of Zuko's palace until he heard familiar voices echoing from the council chambers. He pushed through the heavy doors and was silently welcomed by a subdued little scene of friendly domesticity. Sokka was leaned back casually in the dark chair beside Zuko, feet propped up on the table and a blank expression on his face. Their arrival in the Fire Nation had exacerbated the increasingly solemn air that had overtaken Sokka in the past year.
"Early morning," Aang called to his brother-in-law softly.
Sokka nodded back to him, before pointing with his chin to the occupied Fire Lord beside him. The pile of scrolls spread out before Zuko was as thick as it was widespread. "Not as early as his," Sokka said.
Aang slid into one of the empty seats between them. The sound of his chair legs scraping against the stone floor caused Zuko to look up from his work with a start, and Aang shot him a questioning look, gesturing to the pile of papers.
"Taxes, diplomatic missions, plans for a new irrigation system on one of our smaller islands," Zuko replied to the implied question. He frowned suddenly. "And a treaty with the South."
"I see," Aang said. "And you're doing it this early, because...?"
Zuko's wry expression shifted to a frown, and, beside him, Sokka snickered quietly. "Pregnancy is a unique disposition. My wife's the one bearing the burden, but the suffering seems to be universal. She was awake well before sunrise."
"I'm guessing that's where my wife is."
Zuko gave Aang an apologetic nod. "My fault. I panicked."
"It's alright. It's why we're here."
"It's one reason," Zuko corrected.
Aang sank lower into his chair. "I'm on vacation," he grumbled.
"Not here."
Sokka put his hands behind his head, one foot pushing against the edge of the table as he lifted the front legs of his chair off the ground. "Not really sure how much Aang will be able to help you out, anyway."
"With what?" Aang asked.
"The Northern Water Tribe," Zuko intoned distastefully.
"What about them?"
Sokka pushed his chair back even further. "They have their hands in a lot of pies right now," he explained. "The time, energy, and money that they've spent in helping to build the South back up makes them feel like they have final say in what the South does. What the South signs. And... who we sign it with."
"Since when do charitable contributions come with price tags?" Aang asked wryly.
"This is politics, Aang," Zuko reminded him. "Everything comes with a price tag, even charity."
Aang heaved a sigh of resignation. "What is this about?"
"The Unity Act," Sokka cut in, still leaned back in his chair.
"Your trade agreement?" Aang asked the Fire Lord in confusion. "Why wouldn't they be happy about that? Based on the incredibly in-depth explanation that I got from Hakoda's advisers- during my wedding, of all times- the South won't need 'charitable contributions' after the Act is passed. The Northerners would be able to return home."
"The North isn't happy about anything that has to do with the Fire Nation," Zuko said bitterly. "Old wounds."
Sokka gave him a dry look, and Zuko looked away, embarrassed. "More to the point," Sokka said succinctly, "if the Unity Act is as successful as we think it will be, the South won't need the North anymore. It's no secret that relations between the Northern Water Tribe and the Fire Nation are wary at best, outright suspicious at worst. A strong alliance between the Southern Water Tribe and the Fire Nation would leave the North the odd man out. Which is, of course, the very last thing that they want after having invested so much into the South."
"As in all things," Zuko said slowly, "it's a question of balance."
"So, what are you going to do?" Aang asked.
Zuko spread his hands helplessly. "Short of flying down there and knocking their heads together, there's nothing I really can do. They block my ambassador at every turn. Laughing him out of councils, planning large parties on the nights he organizes council meetings. Threatening Hakoda with removal of support for major infrastructure projects."
"I think I met your ambassador," Aang mused thoughtfully. "Katsuro, right?"
The Fire Lord nodded, frowning.
"Isn't his wife from the North?" Aang asked, idly spinning a little pocket of air like a top in his palm. "If I remember correctly from my own wedding, that technically makes him an honorary member of their tribe. You'd think they'd be a bit more welcoming."
Sokka let out a dry laugh. "Katsuro's marriage was arranged, Aang. It was a ploy to ease relations- and it didn't work."
Zuko flushed with embarrassment. "We had to do something- the North wasn't letting us in anywhere. I had to get my foot in the door, somehow. Prior to that marriage, relations between us and the North were frosty. I'd hoped this marriage would help, but with tensions coming to a head over the Unity Act, I'm afraid they're rapidly deteriorating into hostile."
Aang sunk lower still in his chair, the little pocket of air in his palm dissipating. "Great."
The chamber doors swung open, diverting their attention, and Mai stepped in, her robes hanging over her stomach like a waterfall of red. Katara trailed behind her, crooning words of comfort to a valet, who wrung his hands nervously. "Zuko," Mai greeted. "I hope you've gotten all your business attended to."
"Why?" he asked warily.
"The disaster is here," Katara broke in with an amused smile. "This gentleman says that the shipment of caviar arrived, but it's spoiled."
The valet bowed low, his hands still wringing. "My deepest apologies, Fire Lord Zuko. I should have gone with a more reputable vendor, but with trade as it is with the Tribes, my selections were limited."
Zuko gave Aang a long-suffering look before standing, striding over to the valet and standing him up straight. "Then we won't have caviar, Ling," he said. "It's fine. Thank you for telling me." He patted the man firmly on the back and dismissed him. "I can't wait for this festival to be over," he muttered under his breath.
"Exactly the attitude you should have opening day," Mai deadpanned.
"Well, it's true."
"I'm excited for it," Sokka broke in. "Never could pass up a good meal, and they say the Fire Days Festival brings the best cooks in the Fire Nation. I've always wanted to go to one of these things."
Aang chuckled. "We have gone to one of these 'things', Sokka. During the war."
"It doesn't count if we have to flee the scene."
"Yes, do try and stay out of trouble at the feast tonight," Zuko said darkly. "If I get approached by another valet wringing his hands, speaking of disaster, I'm going to lose it."
Sokka winked. "We'll do our best."
Zuko regarded him seriously. "She's going to be there, you know."
The Water Tribe warrior's expression solemnified immediately. "I know," he said.
Katara glided over to him, resting a comforting hand on his shoulder. One that went ignored.
With the last lock of hair pinned into place, Katara twisted in her seat to admire her handiwork. It was a new style- more elegant, hair bound in a low chignon instead of a braid- but that only made it more appealing. She caught Aang staring at her through the mirror, his mouth slightly agape, and she fluttered her lashes at him.
"You look beautiful," he breathed.
She preened as he made his way to her seat before the mirror, dropping to one knee before her. "I'm glad you like it," she said. "I know it's a departure from the usual."
"It's a good departure," he assured her, leaning forward to kiss her cheek.
"And where have you been these past couple hours?" she asked. "I was looking for you, after lunch."
Aang frowned, slightly, his lips quirking downward. "I was... with Sokka."
"Oh. Is he okay?"
The grimace on Aang's face was answer enough.
"Do you think he'll behave?" she asked worriedly.
Aang gave her a reassuring smile. "He's not an errant child, Katara."
"You know what I mean."
"I like to think that between the Avatar, the Fire Lord, and a Waterbending Master, we can handle one Water Tribe Warrior," Aang said. He sighed sadly. "Maybe this will help, anyway. Seeing her."
Katara nodded, weighted down with the burden of worrisome thoughts. She felt his hand cup her chin gently, and tilt her face back to him.
"It's a festival," he reminded her softly. "It's supposed to be fun. Let's not borrow trouble."
"Trouble has a way of finding us."
He leaned forward, his nose brushing against the column of her neck. "It'll be fine."
She tilted her head back to allow his lips access to her neck. Her breathing stopped when she felt his tongue and lips trace a smooth path up to her jaw, over to her earlobe. "We don't really have time for this," she chuckled nervously, though her traitorous hands pulled him closer. "We're supposed to be out in the courtyard with everyone else in just a few minutes."
The long skirts of her dress slid upward as his hand traced the inside of her thigh. "We'd better hurry, then."
Katara had forgotten about this part.
It was over eight years ago that she and her brother had freed Aang from the iceberg. Eight years of every emotion imaginable, pain and loss and grief and terror mingled with hope, joy, relief, peace, and love above all. Love. Particularly for the man beside her. Together, they were the guiding hand leading the world from the brink, and ushering in an era of peace. Avatar Aang, and Master Katara.
Until her wedding. The happiest day of her life... but she had forgotten about this part.
"Avatar Aang, and his wife Katara," the valet announced as they entered the busy square to enthusiastic applause. Aang smiled and bowed, one hand raised in greeting.
And Katara had to hide her grimace behind a placid smile as they strode forward, arm-in-arm. "'His wife'?" she muttered dangerously through smiling lips. "Since when am I just 'his wife'?"
Aang, no stranger to this conversation, lowered his hand and eyed her nervously. "You are my wife, aren't you?" he asked, nudging her shoulder with his as they made their way slowly into the crowd.
"I was a Waterbending Master, Master Healer, war hero, and many other things, before I was ever your wife," she grumbled. "One marriage, and all the sudden I'm reduced to 'the Avatar's wife'. All my accomplishments boiled down to something that took fifteen minutes."
"I lasted longer than fifteen minutes," Aang protested in an injured tone.
Katara scowled at him. "I was talking about the wedding ceremony, Aang, not the- the consummation." But when she caught sight of the twinkle in his eye, she knew he was teasing her. "Very funny," she snipped.
"I thought so."
She huffed a frustrated breath, and he pulled his arm from hers before turning to face her. His hands went comfortingly to her shoulders. "I'll talk to them."
"You've already talked to them," she reminded him irritably. "After our arrival feast, remember?"
"Oh, yea." He pursed his lips. "Well, I'll talk to them again."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure that'll work."
"This time, I'll tell them to announce you first," he said with a laugh. "I'll even make my eyes glow when I talk to them. You said it was intimidating."
"It is intimidating," she agreed. "And I know you hate that."
A spark of sadness flashed in his gray eyes, but he masked it with an encouraging smile. "Well, I'd do it. For you."
She touched his cheek gently, a silent sign of her appreciation. "'Master Katara, and her husband, Aang'?" Katara recited when she drew her hand away. She couldn't help but utter a satisfied little chuckle. "I like the sound of that."
He leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead, pulling her close. "Consider it done." He returned to her side, tucking her arm under his as the valet announced Sokka's arrival. "Come on, then. Let's enjoy the festival."
It was his third- or perhaps his fourth?- glass of sake. His eyes were trained on his sister, all smiles as she stood arm in arm with Aang. They looked perfect.
And that made Sokka happy, truly. They'd been in love since childhood, faced war and treachery and tragedy. Conquered and overcame, and now inspired people worldwide with their love. Not so very long ago, he and Suki had done the same, albeit on a smaller, quieter scale. But perfection was a facade, reality seeping through cracks in the armor, drowning them, and all the sudden the weight of that perfection was unbearable.
He tipped back the glass and looked around for another. A few feet away stood a waiter, a large tray balanced on his open palm, an array of drinks free for the taking. Sokka grabbed another drink and was contemplating an additional one for good measure when Zuko joined him, robes flowing behind him regally. Sokka raised his new glasses in mock salute.
"How many have you had, Sokka?" Zuko asked, grimacing.
"I'm not drunk," Sokka said, perhaps a bit more sharply than was warranted. "And I don't need to be babysat, for the record. In case you all thought you were being clever."
"It's actually Mai's turn," Zuko replied absently. "But, her feet hurt, so she ordered me over."
"I thought nobody ordered the Fire Lord around."
"The Fire Lord's wife orders the Fire Lord around all the time," Zuko muttered. He guided Sokka to a more secluded corner, grabbing his own glass off a nearby tray. "We're just worried about you."
Sokka frowned. Another lecture was clearly inbound. Another scolding. This was becoming a tiresome game. Katara was the worst offender; if it were up to her, he'd be spending every evening in her confidences, talking about his responsibilities and his dreams and the pain that separated those two things. Like he was some broken, lost thing.
But Zuko surprised him. "I heard about that negotiation you headed up in Gaoling. Impressive work."
"How'd you know it was me?" Sokka asked, unable to keep a tinge of bitterness from his voice. "Everyone assumed it was Aang."
"Aang's come a long way," Zuko said, "but I've always been able to see your hand in his work. Katara's, too. Though, neither of them have your flair for politics."
Sokka took a sip of his drink, flashing his friend an appreciative smile. A 'flair for politics' may be a stretch, but he appreciated the compliment nonetheless.
"Many of my advisers thought you'd be a permanent fixture in the South by now," Zuko continued, eyeing him as he took a sip from his own drink. "I could certainly use your help down there."
"Aang and Katara still need me." Zuko stifled a dubious look, and Sokka felt a flash of insult. "Anyway," he said, pushing the hurt away, "it's not Southern support that's the issue. My father doesn't doubt you."
Zuko scowled. "You and I both know that his opinion isn't the only one that matters. My ambassador has bridged some of the gaps, but he's new to the political scene. A more renowned voice speaking in support could mean the difference between the Unity Act's success or failure."
Sokka shrugged. "Replace your ambassador, then."
"It's too late now." The Fire Lord's shoulders slumped. "I thought when he married that Northern girl, we'd solve that issue," he admitted.
"It was clumsy," Sokka disagreed. "An arranged marriage into a wealthy Northern Water Tribe family? You might as well have begged on your hands and knees at their front gate."
"You know, I don't think I really care for that comment."
"Doesn't mean it's not true," Sokka returned. "Katara was furious, you know."
"Oh, yea," Zuko said around a sip of wine. "I forgot about her one-woman crusade against arranged marriages."
But Sokka wasn't listening anymore, because she was there, making her way across the gleaming onyx floor with all the grace of a cat, lithe and soft-footed. She was sheathed in a silk dress in the Earth Kingdom fashion, the deep green flattering against her fair skin, a golden kanzashi with soft green tassels woven into her hair. She caught sight of Zuko and made her way over with a bright smile and a wave, sliding between patrons of the feast like a snake.
It was the way she froze, her body stopping almost mid-step, her face almost blanching, that cut him so deeply. As if she was suffering as much as him.
Three weeks, Sokka had been in the Fire Nation Capital. Three weeks in agony, in limbo. Suki was busy, he knew that, but at what point could they all just admit that she was avoiding them. Avoiding him? When could they admit aloud that the distance she was carefully keeping was driving into him like the tip of a chisel, and this was the hammer-stroke?
"Sokka," Suki said finally, and it released from her like water from a dam, breathy and high and somehow happy and sad at the same time. "It's so good to see you."
He almost laughed, though with what emotion, he didn't know. "You, too, Suki. It's been..."
"A year," she finished for him. She faltered. "Well, almost."
There was nothing he could say to that. Was it a year? It could have been ten. It could have been yesterday.
Zuko cleared his throat uncomfortably, and tugged discreetly at the high collar of his robes. "Suki," he said. "I'm glad you were able to make it."
She nodded, her lips pressed together in a thin line. "Me, too. With some of the girls away in the Earth Kingdom, it's been challenging to get a night off."
"Then it seems like you played your cards right," Zuko said with a forced smile.
Suki laughed, and the sound cut at Sokka like a knife. "This festival's been the talk of the city for weeks. I'm happy to be here."
"We're glad you're here," Sokka found himself saying. He didn't even remember opening his mouth.
She looked just as surprised, her lashes fluttering as she turned to him. But she only nodded, her lips still pressed together.
Everything about her screamed tension, the preparation for a fight or to flee, but her eyes drank him in as if he were water and she was dying of thirst. He couldn't even pretend that he wasn't doing the same, that he didn't want to reach for her hand or for her face, to say her name like it was the last thing he'd ever say. He set his near-empty glass on the arm of an empty chair, his eyes never leaving her, the chaos and noise of the feast falling away until there was nothing left but the two of them.
The two of them, and Zuko, who coughed uncomfortably as the silence stretched past the bounds of normal conversation. "Sokka, Aang, and Katara are here for Mai's pregnancy," he said in desperation, clearly eager to fill the silence. As the Chief of Zuko's personal guard, there was no doubt in Sokka's mind that Suki was well informed of the presence of such high-profile guests.
But she feigned a bright smile, tearing her eyes from its memorization of Sokka's face and back to the Fire Lord. "Yes, of course," she said. "And how is Mai?"
"Irritable," Zuko said. "She's been asking after you."
"I'll be sure to pay her a visit."
Zuko laughed. "Prepare yourself for a scolding."
"Good practice for impending motherhood." She looked around eagerly, as if desperate for an escape. "Is she around? Perhaps I'll go see her now."
"She's over there."
"Ah," came Suki's breathless reply. "If you'll excuse me..."
And like that, she was gone.
Sokka reached behind him, grabbing up the glass resting on the arm of the nearby chair and finishing it in one gulp.
"Steady," Zuko said, one arm pressing comfortably on Sokka's shoulder. But he didn't feel it. He didn't feel a thing.
When his face began to show a light flush of red, the way that it often did when he was working through a challenging move, Katara knew that her husband had been indulging. When he knocked over a tray of sake with an extravagant fling of his arms while he was regaling a wide-eyed crowd with a story, she knew that Aang was well-past drunk. She covered her mouth with a delicate hand to hide a laugh when his demonstrative Airbending became a little more forceful, fluttering robes and sending glasses and plates rattling. His audience was as rapt as ever, though, unaware of the danger involved in standing so close to a drunken Avatar.
"Well, helooks like he's enjoying himself," Mai's wry voice came from behind her.
Katara turned her head to greet her friend, and froze. Suki was there, shy and nervous and clearly uncomfortable. Words that Katara had never applied to the Kyoshi Warrior before. She dipped her head in wary greeting. "Hello, Suki," she said.
Suki gave her a little wave. "It's good to see you, Katara."
Katara almost scoffed. Was it good to see her? They'd been in the Fire Nation for weeks, now, and she didn't doubt that Suki was well aware of that fact. Yet, they had seen neither hide nor hair of her. Suki had stood at their side when they thought the world was ending, and now she couldn't even be persuaded to drop by to say 'hello'. The pain it was causing Sokka was tangible, despite his efforts to appear nonchalant. Try though she might, Katara couldn't ignore her resentment for that. "We've been dying to seeing you again," Katara said, trying her hardest to keep the edge out of her voice. Possibly failing. "It's been so long, one might almost believe that you're avoiding us."
Suki flushed, and Mai shot Katara a reproachful look. "Suki's managed to get a night off to enjoy the festivities. She's had a busy schedule."
"No doubt," Katara returned dubiously. "Perhaps you've seen my brother? He's around here, somewhere"
The flush on Suki's face transformed into something a little more defiant, and Katara finally felt a spark of recognition. "Sokka and I have already... bumped into each other," Suki said, crossing her arms.
"A long time coming, I'm sure."
The Kyoshi Warrior's brow twitched upward. "Is there something you'd like to say, Katara?"
Katara's chin lifted. "A great many things, as it so happens, but now is not the time."
"I'd say decidedly not," Mai cut in sharply. "It's a party, and we're all friends here."
Katara managed to withhold her scowl, but the spell of tension was broken, and she turned back to her husband, now wiping at a woman's sake-soaked robes and apologizing profusely. "Oh, Spirits," she complained under her breath before striding over to help him. "Aang, maybe it's time to take it easy on the story-telling. You're getting a bit... enthusiastic."
"I don't mind," the young woman gushed, looking up at Aang with doe eyes. "His story was so interesting."
Katara shook her head in amusement, weaving her hands neatly through the air and pulling the sake from the woman's robes.
Aang dropped the towel he had been using and gave her a bashful grin. "I forgot about Waterbending."
"Clearly."
"Good thing you came along," he added, bumping her shoulder with his fist.
She bit back a grin as Mai and Suki came to join them. "Good thing. Look who we bumped into, Aang," she said, gesturing to Suki.
Aang's eyes lit up, and he practically flew to pull Suki into an enthusiastic hug, lifting her feet from the ground. "Suki!" he exclaimed. "Where have you been? We've been waiting to see you for weeks!"
Suki's eyes flashed guiltily to Katara's, but she recovered quickly. "I'm so sorry, Aang. Between our commissions and guard duties and the tension with the Tribes over this legislation Zuko is pushing, things have been very busy for Zuko's personal guard."
"Ugh," Aang grumbled, "don't remind me about the Unified Act-"
"The Unity Act," Mai corrected.
Aang gestured to her gratefully. "Right. That. It's all I've been hearing about at this party. What do I think about Zuko's legislation? What do I think about the North's hostility? What am I doing to stop it? When am I going to South to provide proverbial spankings to make everyone fall in line? As if I get to dictate how the nations feel about one another." He laughed amiably, and Suki joined in, the picture of ease. Katara bit her lip.
"Well, are you going South?" Suki asked, still chuckling. "You'd save me a lot of late nights. Zuko's advisers are worried they might start... interfering."
"Interfering?" he repeated blankly.
"Spying. Or sabotage."
Aang sighed. "I wasn't planning on it. The North is still healing. These things take time."
"Some of Zuko's advisers are holdovers from the war. They spent too much time spent playing politics when brutality was the only way to gain the Fire Lord's favor," Suki explained. "They're a suspicious- and ruthless- lot. Time isn't always on our side."
Katara pursed her lips. "They may have to be patient, then."
Aang nodded earnestly. "But, with any luck, this will be handled satisfactorily, without my intervention." His eyes brightened. "Then, maybe we can see more of you. We've really missed seeing you around, Suki."
The tinge of red returned to Suki's cheeks, but she was saved from having to reply when another young woman grabbed onto Aang's robes, begging him to return to the group and regale them with more stories. He obliged her, but not before dropping a quick kiss on Katara's cheek and wrapping Suki in another swift hug. "Don't be a stranger," he said with a warm smile before turning back, his arms spread wide in greeting and little lurch in his step.
With his departure, Aang stole the easy companionship. Katara turned back to Suki, a little frown on her lips, and she crossed her arms uncomfortably. "I hope you enjoy your night off," Katara said out of a desire to fill the silence. "Since they're so few, and far between. If you'll excuse me, though, I should probably go and make sure Aang's drinks stay off his audience's clothing-"
She was halted from turning away by Suki's hand on her arm. Suki's brown eyes were full of a cautious plea. "Katara, I know things are uncomfortable, but... it really is nice to see you again." She looked down. "I've missed you. All of you."
The hard edge in Katara's heart dulled a little. She rested her hand on Suki's briefly. "Us, too."
Present Day
Sparring was none so easy when one was hung over. Even less so when your opponent showed no mercy. Aang was still experiencing the effects of his many glasses of sake from the night before, but Zuko dodged and weaved and threw attacks like he was a sixteen-year-old once more. He sported a lively grin that sent Aang into an irritable grumble.
"I'm sorry," the Fire Lord said, not sounding sorry at all. "No one actually fights me anymore. It's nice to have an opponent who isn't afraid I'll take offense to losing."
But the smile slid away when he caught sight of his steward. "Your ambassador to the Southern Water Tribe is dead."
Katara and Sokka had joined Aang in the antechamber, faces solemn and serious, by the time the doors to Zuko's council chambers opened again.
"The Fire Lord requests your presence," came the cryptic invitation, and Aang had to grind his teeth in irritation. Two hours waiting outside without report or even so much as a hint, with tight-lipped valets slipping out from the servants' entrance periodically to scurry away on this mission or that duty. Aang was finding that his famous patience was reaching its end. Katara had seated herself demurely on a nearby bench, the picture of ease, but beside Aang, Sokka was scarcely less patient.
"Finally," his brother-in-law muttered. "We've been waiting out here for hours."
"My apologies," the grim-faced steward said. "It was, regrettably, necessary to have certain conversations privately." His eyes flashed warily to Sokka and Katara, and Aang's narrowed. The man continued, heedless. "However, the Fire Lord deems that your presence is now required for the discussion that must follow."
Sokka towered over the steward with a dark look. "Which discussion is that, exactly?"
"The ambassador to the South is dead," the steward reminded them once more. "And, the Fire Lord's advisers fear foul play. They are demanding... repercussions."
"Repercussions?" Aang repeated warily.
The steward nodded. "War."
A/N: welcome the heck back, you guys. I appreciate you being here.
* I am posting this first chapter in The Minister AND in it's own, new story: The Accord. The rest of the story will be posted ONLY in The Accord. I REPEAT: If you are reading this under the story The Minister, this chapter is the ONLY CHAPTER that will be posted here! Follow The Accord if you wish to continue reading!*
Now, some quick disclaimers. Like the Minister, this is intended to be canon and I will stay as honest to the show/comics as possible. If I make a mistake, I'll correct if I can, and if I can't, consider it an AU. You do not have to have read the Minister to read this one, but I think it adds context, so I would read that first.
Biggest disclaimer: This is a story of my own making, spun from material of the world of Avatar. It is NOT a commentary on any real-life political situation, culture, or system of government. If you notice a similarity, it is coincidental. If you want to discuss a concern or point of interest with me, DM me privately and I'll respond to the best of my ability, but I'm not interested in seeing political arguments in my reviews.
I've learned my lesson with trolls hiding behind guest reviews to make mean comments while staying anonymous. If you are a guest with constructive criticism, I welcome you. If you're trying to be ugly, I'll delete your comments.
As always, leave a review if you're willing. Reviews make such a massive impact on this story, it helps my clarify what you as the reader is feeling/thinking, which in turn helps me with how I proceed and gives you the best finished product. Most of this story is already written, but editing continues until literally the moment I hit 'post'.
Most importantly, however: thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this story.
*this chapter was edited, slightly, thanks to an incredibly appreciated review from a long time reader who pointed out an OOC conversation between Mai and Katara regarding international relations between two countries formerly at war. I promptly changed it, because I want any person, of any race, religion, creed, etc, to feel comfortable with reading my stories. This is precisely why constructive feedback is so crucial to me. Please, if anyone notices anything of that nature, let me know and I will endeavor to change it as quickly as possible.
