---
Masquerade
---
To say that Katara was furious with Aang would be an understatement.
Haru and Shori glanced at each other with concern as the healer continued to stonily ignore the Avatar, who looked embarrassed, guilty and worried all at the same time. They, Haru and Shiro's trio and Katara's twins were all at the Avatar's Stables located a short distance away from Omashu. A complex of low-lying structures built about an oasis, it housed mostly herds of hopping-llamas, kanga-rats, armadillo-camels and thunder-ostriches.
As the handlers helped the children onto their mounts, Haru, in a low careful tone, asked Katara and Aang if they would also be riding.
"No," said Katara; "Yes," said Aang; both at the same time. Aang corrected himself shortly after with Katara glaring at him.
"Uh, no, Haru," said Aang, trying not to look disappointed as Katara told her twins to be careful.
"You two won't be riding with us?" said Lan on a kanga-rat. He, unlike Aang, did little to hide his disappointment when informed that his mother had something very important to discuss with the Avatar. His twin sister, Tui, though looked amused atop of a thunder-ostrich.
After the earthbender couple, the children and the handlers left and both of them were alone, Katara rounded on Aang and told him, "You're an idiot," before marching off back towards Omashu. Aang quickly followed.
"Now, Katara, calm-"
"Don't tell me to calm down! Do you have any idea what you put me through!" said Katara quite ferociously.
"I know. I know. I'm sorry; I should have told you that there might be some trouble-"
"Some trouble?" repeated Katara, stupefied by Aang's choice of words. "People wanting to kill or kidnap or kidnap then kill Zuko is not 'some trouble'!" She had been utterly dumbfounded and aghast when she had found out from King Bumi of the very strong likelihood of plots against the visiting FireLord.
"How could you let him- why did you make him come here knowing he would be danger?"
"Katara-"
"And Iroh is with him too. Aang, I'll never forgive you if anything happens to them."
"I know, Katara. I won't forgive myself either," said Aang quickly and then reassured her, "but don't worry. I'll make sure they'll be safe in Omashu."
"Oh, like what happened in the desert two nights ago?"
"I already admit I made a mistake. Should have thought that sand plus rhinos equals not going anywhere fast making Zuko mad."
"Don't make light of this situation, Aang. Why couldn't you just have let them be, in the Fire Nation, where they'd be safe. They didn't have to attend Bumi's birthday."
"Katara, sooner or later, the Fire Nation has to open diplomatic-"
"I know that already. You keep telling me that, but it just doesn't sound right. Look what happened in Kyoshi and what I went through just for healing Iroh. People here in the Earth Kingdom, in the Water Tribes still don't want Firebenders anywhere near them. Why can't you just accept that?"
"Because I can't, Katara," his voice was suddenly hushed, and Katara, suddenly worried, stopped in her tracks and turned to face Aang, who was gazing at her with a look of plea on his face.
"I can't accept it, Katara," he said, his eyes filled with pain. "I know you and the others think that we should all have nothing to do with the Fire Nation ever, but I have lived so many lives as a firebender in the Fire Nation and I have had firebenders as friends, family, even lovers when I wasn't one of them. They are still people."
He then paused and continued with some difficulty, "Katara, the role of the Avatar isn't only to keep the peace but also to ensure that the four countries work and live with each other harmoniously. Like the elements themselves, we simply cannot remove or ignore one of them.
"Yes, the Fire Nation did destroy my people, but I rather still want the Fire Nation to exist rather then they be gone. I keep trying to explain that to people who tell me that I should just go over to the Fire Nation and wipe them off the map. The Avatar is supposed to bring peace and harmony, not death and destruction. I am not a weapon."
At his words, shame welled inside Katara and she quickly moved close to Aang. Gratitude suffused his expression when Katara wound her arms around his waist in a tight reassuring embrace. For a long while, all they did was stand close to each other, silent, comforting and supporting each other with only their presence.
Finally, Katara ventured to break the silence. "I'm sorry, Aang. You're right. This is just so difficult."
His arms about her squeezed gently. "You don't have to apologize, Katara. Besides, I was careless... and I admit cocky. I thought I could handle it all. Really didn't think about the sand. I could have made provisions for that. Could have earthbended a road in advance. If it hadn't been for you figuring out to turn sand into rock, Zuko and his firebenders would never have arrived here at Omashu. Thank the Spirits for you and Bumi."
At the back of her mind, something bothered Katara. Frowning slightly, she pulled back from Aang and looked up into his face and found him looking back at her; his expression, tender. Katara felt something inside of her melt at the gentle light in his gray eyes and had to struggle to remember what it was that had puzzled her.
It was only when they arrived back at Omashu that Katara was able to recall what had concerned her.
"Aang, why didn't King Bumi and his men just went with us to escort Zuko and his firebenders in the first place?" she asked him. His all of the sudden moody response startled Katara.
"It's complicated, Katara," he said, sounding very annoyed. "On one hand, Bumi didn't want to bother escorting the firebenders, and on the other hand, Zuko also didn't want to be escorted. I think both of them wanted the whole thing to just fall apart from lack of participation. Wouldn't even be surprised if Zuko knew about the sand problem and brought rhinos intentionally. He could have brought Gila Lizards; they can move across sand quickly."
"... But Bumi helped."
"Yeah, but I had to bribe him to stand by and watch for my signal, just in case I couldn't handle everything."
"... You bribed him?"
Aang sighed, "Don't ask." And Katara wasn't able to ask for they came across Sokka and Suki, who with bewildered frowns on their faces, informed them that the FireLord's uncle has been searching for them all over Omashu.
---
"What do you mean you're not going to the ball!" Aang all but yelled at Zuko, who unhooded and seated with a rather imperious stance, gave the Avatar a narrowed look and said-
"I agreed to come to Omashu; I never agreed that I would have to grace a ball with my presence."
At this, Aang made motions to strangle the FireLord, then with some difficulty straightened his posture, took in a deep calming breath, exhaled loudly and stiffly placed his clenched hands behind his back.
"Zuko," he began slowly, "this ball is being held in your honor; we will all look ridiculous if the guest of honor doesn't show up."
Zuko considered him and then pointedly said, "That is your problem."
Aang's expression filled up with utter exasperation and disbelief; he glanced back to Iroh, Jee and Katara for assistance, but the other firebenders just gave the Avatar very sympathetic looks while Katara was holding her left hand to her mouth, trying desperately not to laugh at Aang's predicament.
Aang looked back to Zuko, who was looking at nowhere in particular with a rather bored-looking expression on his scarred face. Aang's eyes suddenly lit up with an idea.
"You're embarrassed to be seen with your scar, aren't you?"
Zuko's eyes widened; Iroh and Jee winced in anticipation of the impending explosion, but miraculously the FireLord managed to hold on to his temper.
"I am not embarrassed to be seen with this scar," Zuko told the Avatar through gritted teeth; Aang who had been expecting and preparing for a fire blast looked quite let down.
"Then why aren't you going to the ball?" asked Aang, crossing his arms.
"As I have said, I never agreed to go to any ball so I do not have to go to any ball," said Zuko testily.
"Hah!"
Wisely, Katara, Iroh and Jee took several steps back when Zuko stood up to confront the Avatar face to face.
"Zuko, you're going to the ball."
"I am not going."
"Yes, you are, even if I have to personally escort you to the Great Hall."
While Zuko's expression turned dumbfounded at this, Jee whispered to Iroh, "Can he really do that?"
"Why not?" whispered Iroh back rather loudly, "It will be very embarrassing for both of them; however, it will be extremely entertaining for the rest of us."
A giggle escaped from Katara despite her efforts to stifle it.
Aang sighed, "Zuko, look. Why do you have to make this difficult? Just go to the ball. If it's not about your scar, which I think it is, why don't you want to attend?"
"I do not have to explain myself or my actions to you or anyone else," Zuko told him forcefully before sitting back down in his chair, looking incredibly annoyed.
Aang stared at him with an expression that quite clearly stated he will never ever understand Zuko, but then a determined mask fell over his face. He surprised everyone (practically caused Zuko to almost jump out of his chair) when he bent down to one knee-
"What are you doing?" said Zuko, outraged.
On one knee, Aang gave Zuko a very serious regard, saying "Well. I'm the Avatar, master of all elements. I've been through a thousand lifetimes, and whole nations fall before me and all. But I'll willingly get down on my knees before a certain aggravating pig-headed FireLord if that will get him to go to the ball being held in his honor."
Realizing that Aang meant it, Zuko in short order said, "No. That won't be necessary. I'll go." He looked understandably alarmed and mortified.
"Great!" Aang exclaimed with a wide smile.
"Jee, why didn't we ever think of that?"
"I think it only works for the Avatar, Lord Iroh."
Katara couldn't take it anymore. With a muffled choked apology, she excused herself and hurried out of the room.
---
Even an hour later, Katara still found herself occasionally giggling. Waiting with her at the sand garden, Haru and Shori looked at her oddly.
"We could also use a laugh, you know," said Haru, amused as Katara sought to recover her breath after what must have been the third unconscious burst of hilarity in the last quarter hour.
Wiping tears of mirth from eyes, Katara apologized or tried to - anything that even reminded her slightly of the scene in Zuko's room was enough to set her off.
Smiling and thinking that her friend had lost her mind, Shori shook her head when Katara started laughing again.
Then, unexpectedly, a tall cloaked hooded figure came into the atrium. He looked around. Haru, spotting the firebender, stood up warily when the stranger approached where they were seated. Shori touched Katara's hand. Puzzled by the sudden serious demeanor of her friends, Katara coughed, clearing her throat of laughter and turned to see what they were looking at.
They were all surprised when the stranger stopped before them and pulled back his hood, revealing himself to be FireLord Zuko.
Katara and Shori immediately stood up, inclining their heads respectfully as Haru, still wary, greeted Zuko, "My Lord, we are honored by your presence."
Zuko, after a moment's consideration of the earthbender, nodded, and Katara quickly introduced Haru and Shori to him. Then, after a few seconds of awkward silence, Katara asked Zuko carefully, "To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit, my Lord?"
The intent way Zuko regarded her made Katara queasy, and she felt relieved and then worried again when he looked away from her to where the children were playing.
"I have gifts for your children," he said, surprising them.
"Gifts?" repeated Katara, confused. Zuko returned his attention back to her and in a nonchalant manner explained that it was customary in the Fire Nation to give presents to the offspring of acquaintances after they haven't seen them for some time. It had been about two months since the infamous Fire Nation siege incident at Kyoshi.
Still confused but wishing not to argue with the FireLord, Katara asked Shori if she could fetch Tui and Lan, after which Katara asked Zuko to have a seat. She waited for him to sit down before awkwardly sitting back in her chair. Haru, still on guard, remained conspicuously on his feet but Zuko seemed not to notice.
Shori returned slowly, clearly reluctant to bring the twins near the FireLord, but Katara gave the other woman a reassuring smile and Shori looked just a bit less worried as she lined Katara's children to stand in front of Zuko.
Katara smiled at Tui and Lan, who had puzzled curious expressions on their young faces.
"Tui, Lan, do you know who this is?" she asked them, inclining her head towards Zuko. They stared at him for several moments before in unison bowed their heads respectfully to the FireLord, who gave them an approving smile.
"You raise your children well," he remarked to Katara, who just couldn't resist saying, "Yes, as your uncle had observed out loud before."
Surprised, he glanced at her. "You remember? You hadn't seem to be paying attention back then."
Immediately, in a light tone, Katara answered that she always listened carefully to her patients while she was healing them.
At this, Zuko nodded to indicate he saw her point before turning his attention back to her children, still watching him curiously but unafraid, much to Katara's pride.
"Who among you two is the older one?" Zuko asked them.
"I am," Tui immediately answered, her green eyes narrowing slightly at Zuko as though asking him what of it. Everyone stilled when he stood up and reached for something underneath his cloak and relaxed when he only took out an article of clothing; it appeared to be an arm guard. He asked Tui to hold out her left arm, which she did only after Katara nodded her permission.
After Zuko had fastened the arm guard; he requested the girl to hold out her arm and to look up at the opening of the atrium high above. As she did so, everyone else followed suit and didn't see when Zuko held his fingers to against his mouth and made a high-pitched whistle though they couldn't help but have heard him. Surprised, they all looked back towards him and didn't notice a pair of swiftly-moving shapes diving down into the atrium.
"Look up," said Zuko sharply to Tui, who startled did as commanded. She squealed, alarmed when something feathery landed unto her arm. Katara jumped out of her chair; Haru and Shori simultaneously assuming earthbending stances. All three froze when Tui giggled next, and slowly they all relaxed when they realized that it was only a small hawk that had landed on Tui's arm.
All of a sudden, they were the center of attention in the sand garden. Curious, other parents and their children began to gather round as Zuko, who had a much larger hawk perched on his shoulder, explained to Tui that he had just given her a fledging.
"He's still very young. Haven't imprinted on a human yet. You'll be the first."
"How?" asked Tui, barely able to contain her excitement as she carefully stroked the hawk's feathers.
Zuko inclined his head to the bigger hawk on his shoulder. "His mother will teach him that you are his master."
"Wait," Lan suddenly said out loud. He pointed at Zuko's hawk. "Tui, isn't that Chiko?"
The hawk squawked at him as though recognizing the name, and the twins' mouths simultaneously fell open in surprise to discover that Chiko whom they had thought was a boy was actually a girl.
Zuko chuckled. "Yes, Chiko is female."
Frowning deeply, Lan looked from Chiko to Chiko's son. Realizing what he was about to do, Katara grabbed him before he could pull up the young hawk's tail feathers.
"You can ask Lord Zuko how to tell boy and girl hawks apart later," she whispered to him, and reluctantly, Lan agreed to put his curiosity on hold. Katara felt embarrassed when Zuko chuckled again.
While Tui went to show off her new pet to the other children, Zuko sat back down in his chair and carefully considered Lan standing in front of his mother.
Carefully he said, "You like to garden?" Zuko sounded as though he didn't exactly approved. Lan, not certain of how to answer the FireLord, tilted his head back to look up to his mother for help.
Katara ruffled her son's hair fondly. "Yes, he likes to garden," she answered Zuko in place of her younger child. "Is there anything wrong with gardening?" she asked him pointedly, daring him to suggest that there was anything wrong with gardening.
He dared to. "You should choose another interest," he addressed her son, and Haru and Shori took on amused expressions as Katara stared at the FireLord with outrage.
---
"And then he told Lan to take up engineering instead," Katara said with exasperation as she relayed what had happened in the sand garden to Sokka and Suki. They were strolling through Omashu's streets; the twins absent because they were too preoccupied with the gifts Zuko had given to them and preferred to remain behind in the palace.
Sokka looked skeptical. "He suggested engineering to Lan?"
"That's right."
"I don't believe it."
"Well, you can go ask Lan, Haru or Shori then," Katara told her brother with a frown, bothered that Sokka could even think she would make up a story like that.
Suki, knowing full well that Katara was getting annoyed, quickly intervened and asked her, "So, what did Zuko give Lan- what?" she asked Sokka, who was all of a sudden frowning at her (again).
Much to their absolute disbelief, Sokka questioned her, "You're now calling Zuko by name?"
Mouth wide open with exasperation, Suki rolled her eyes heavenward and Katara completely sympathized with her when she let out an utterly frustrated noise.
"C'mon, Katara," said Suki, grabbing Katara's hand and dragging her away from Sokka, who after several moments, went after them, yelling, "Hey, where you two going?"
"To shop for dresses for the ball," Suki lied, calling back to him.
"Oh," said Sokka, ceasing his pursuit.
"Your brother is driving me insane," Suki complained to Katara as they walked down another street. Katara could only nod her agreement as Suki kept looking around, making sure Sokka was nowhere in sight.
Just ahead of them, a large crowd was gathered in front of a shop. Curious, Katara and Suki moved to the fringe and found out that the very famous FortuneTeller Aunt Wu was inside.
"I've heard about her," said Suki, craning her neck to see over the crowd. "They say that her fortunes always come true. ... Maybe she can advise me on what to do with Sokka."
At this, Katara smiled, debating with herself whether or not to tell Suki the fortune Aunt Wu had given Sokka years ago. Thirty minutes later, it was though the line hadn't moved at all. Disappointed, Katara and Suki were about to give up on having their fortunes told.
"Katara?" said someone behind her, and she turned to see a lovely young lady with very long straight hair smiling at her with delight. Not knowing her, Katara smiled back politely and asked who she was.
The stranger laughed. "Katara, it's me, Meng."
Thanks to Meng's help, they were able to get into the shop through the back and wasn't long before they were meeting Aunt Wu, who didn't seem to have aged much despite that it's been many years since Katara last saw her.
Smiling, Aunt Wu asked them who of the two of them would like to have her fortune told first. Thinking that Suki's need was more urgent than her own, Katara volunteered her friend, who all of sudden was reluctant to have her fortune read.
"Don't worry, dear. It will be fine," said Aunt Wu with a smile, gesturing at Suki to follow her into the other room. After the door slid shut behind them, Katara took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. She looked around her, thinking that it was quite different than Aunt Wu's house in the village much further north of Omashu.
It wasn't long before she found herself dwelling on the fortune Aunt Wu had given her years ago.
---
"Aunt Wu, may I ask a question?"
"Certainly, dear.
"Do you remember the fortune you gave me? About how I would marry a powerful bender."
"Yes. It didn't happen?"
"No. No. It did... but-"
"Ah... yes, I heard about your husband. He was killed in that explosion at the Northern Air Temple last year."
"... How did you know?"
"I keep track of such sad news."
"... Why?"
"Because I know that whenever someone I have given a fortune to loses a loved one, he or she will have very difficult questions for me when next time we meet. I think it best and reassuring to my clients if they know that I do remember and think of them over the years."
A small smile formed on Katara's face. Indeed, it was somewhat reassuring to know that Aunt Wu had been expecting her to visit.
With an expectant demeanor, the FortuneTeller then asked Katara if she would like a palm-reading. After thinking about it carefully and still smiling, she told the elder woman that she didn't need to have her fortune told. For the refusal of her services, Aunt Wu gave Katara a delighted smile.
---
Aang looked harried as he waited with Katara, Sokka and Suki just outside the entrance to the Great Hall, already noisy and lively with guests inside.
Sokka, who was very annoyed that they had to wait outside while everyone else was getting at the food inside, said, "Aang, let's just go. No one's really going to care whether Zuko shows up or not. Let him miss his own party if that's what he wants to do."
Aang sighed and tugged again at the tight collar of his formal robes, emerald green and especially designed by Bumi for the Avatar just for this occasion. "Let's just wait another five minutes. If they still don't show up, you can all go in ahead while I go get that annoying, undiplomatic, promise-breaking, spoiled-"
"Uh huh," Sokka interrupted Aang's spiel, "And just how exactly are you going to get Zuko to come here?"
Aang gave Sokka a very bothered look and said, "I'm the Avatar. I'm sure I'll figure out a way to get one bad excuse of a FireLord to attend his own party."
"Yeah, right. He's got you stumped, hasn't he?"
"Sokka, will you just -please- shut up?"
While Aang and Sokka continued to annoy each other with snide remarks, Katara and Suki glanced at one another with pained and amused expressions.
"Do you think it's still possible for us to find other more mature escorts?" a grinning Suki mischievously asked Katara. Her joke backfired spectacularly when Sokka went into one of his jealous fits again.
Finally, Suki just couldn't take it anymore.
"That's it. I've had it. I can't even tell a joke without you thinking I'm being unfaithful. You and I are through, Sokka," Suki said snappishly, punctuating her point across with a sharp jab on his chest.
In shock, Sokka just stood there with a blank expression on his face as Suki deliberately turned away from him and entered into the crowded Great Hall. Not too long after - an anxious-looking Sokka also went in to look for her.
Feeling concerned for them, Katara asked Aang, "Do you think they will be all right?" The look he gave to her in answer plainly said that he didn't care because he had a much bigger problem which could be summarized as 'where in Omashu was Zuko?'.
"Ah, Avatar, Lady Katara," called out someone from behind them. They turned their attention from Great Hall entrance to see a beaming Iroh walking towards them with Jee and a rather pale-looking middle-aged firebender just behind him. Taking up the rear was Zuko, escorting a familiar-looking lady with long black hair and dark sultry eyes. All five were dressed in finely embroidered dark crimson red silk, making it all too plainly obvious that they were from the Fire Nation.
Aang, with a sigh of relief, raised his face heavenward in thanks.
---
The expression on Zuko's face was priceless as King Bumi, fulfilling part of his agreement with Aang, dragged him round the hall, showing him off to acquaintances and delegates from other cities. At their heels was the Avatar, looking all too satisfied with the FireLord's dilemma.
"Kristoff, don't look so alarmed. He won't bite."
"Yes, Yusef. The FireLord and I are very good friends. Don't believe me? Just ask the Avatar."
"Timon, I hear you're looking for a new market for that bumper crop of banana-pawpaws your farmers have been predicting. Why not consider re-opening that old trade route with the Fire Nation? After all, dwelling on the past is bad for business."
Struggling to contain another laughing fit, Katara kept the knuckles of her left hand pressed against her lips. She was standing with Iroh, Lee and the new firebender whom Iroh introduced as Ambassador Bei while Zuko's escort, Jun, current Commander of the Imperial Family's Royal Guard, was surrounded by a throng of male admirers who were seemingly undetered by the fact that she was with the FireLord. Or perhaps, that was also one of the reasons for their interest.
The Fire Nation ambassador was watching with concern and approval as the King of Omashu and the Avatar shuffled their FireLord from one guest to the next.
"This is good," he said to Iroh, "Once it's publicly known that Omashu and the Avatar approves of more open relations with the our country, it will be easier to establish direct trade routes with the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes."
Curious, Katara listened to them closely as Iroh told Bei, "Yes, that is one of the reasons for coming here; however, all diplomatic missions must still be accompanied by at least one warship. No more going off on your own, Bei."
"Of course, Lord Iroh," said Bei, sounding cowed. Iroh, noticing Katara's interest, smiled at her, saying, "Ah, please forgive us for boring you, Lady Katara."
"Please just call me Katara," she told Iroh warmly, then she asked him what he meant exactly by Ambassador Bei going off on his own.
Bei looked embarrassed when Iroh, with a sideways frown at him, explained, "Bei is always recommending that our diplomatic missions be purely civilian and with no military escort."
"I see," said Katara slowly and then asked them what was wrong with that.
It was Jee who answered her, "Milady, two months ago, Bei's ship came under attack by pirates on its way to Kyoshi."
"Kyoshi?" said Katara, confused.
"Yes," said Bei, sounding very ashamed. "When I was informed that I would be heading the mission to Kyoshi, for the purpose of asking permission for Lord Iroh to be brought to you for healing, I decided to have my ship leave the Fire Nation without a military escort."
"Which was very stupid of you, Bei," said Iroh, sounding a little cross. "You knew how organized the pirates are now these days. They even keep raptor birds ready in the sky just for the purpose of eliminating our hawks. We didn't receive a single messenger hawk from your ship."
Looking defeated, Bei, in a solemn voice, said, "My Lord, I already admitted it was a very foolish decision; however, it is truly very difficult to persuade the other nations to give us permission to even dock if we are constantly accompanied by military forces. Just one warship, even our smallest class, is enough to set them on edge, and Kyoshi is documented to be even more paranoid about our people than most. In the last hundred years, they even bred Unagi sea-monsters in their waters just to discourage our ships from approaching their island. I couldn't chance failing the mission knowing that your life depended on my success."
At this, Iroh sighed, but then he smiled at the ambassador. "I know, Bei. You already told me that several times, and I do thank you for your concern. We are just very glad to have you back." Then he chuckled. "Fortunately, the pirates were unaware of your true worth. We would have paid ten times the ransom they had demanded for your return."
Bei; however, far from looking relieved instead turned red with shamed embarrassment.
Knowing that indeed the firebenders had sent a diplomatic mission beforehand to Kyoshi erased the niggling doubt Katara had about their intentions. Indeed, it also made it easier for her to accept the ridicule she had suffered for healing Iroh. So it was with a warm smile that she asked Iroh for an opportunity to re-examine him before they leave Omashu.
---
At two hours before midnight, the guests who had brought young children with them began to herd their reluctant offspring out of the Great Hall. After informing Aang that she had to put the twins to bed, Katara and Shori headed to their chambers with their children, who all insisted they weren't tired and yet were each yawning by the time they had changed out of their formal clothes to garb more suitable for sleeping.
In the meantime, Aang was trying to reassure a groggy Sokka who had imbibed a wee bit too much wine that-
"Of course Suki doesn't hate you. She's just a little angry with you right now."
Sokka however kept on insisting otherwise. Then in a slurred voice, he began blaming himself for Sacha's death despite his friend's continued insistence that it had been an accident.
"No-o, A-ang. D-on't try to m-ake me feel b-etter. I sho-uld have wa-tched out f-or him." A sob suddenly broke through. "D-on't bla-me Katara and Su-ki at all for hat-ing me. I hate myself."
"Katara and Suki don't blame you at all for Sacha's death, Sokka," said Aang in a very stern tone, trying hard to get through his friend's drunken desolation. Finally, he realized the only thing he could do to help Sokka was to get him to his chamber.
A short while later, Aang, with Sokka's limp body draped over his back and shoulders, breathed a sigh of relief as he had somehow managed to get out of the Great Hall with his barely incoherent burden without attracting too much attention. At least, that was what Aang hoped had happened.
Instead of taking the stairs, Aang decided to go out into sand garden atrium and just airbend himself and Sokka up unto the correct floor. Arriving at the dimly lit garden, Aang positioned himself at the center and craned his head up to gauge how high he would have to jump. He was just about to leap when he sensed movement behind him.
Instinctively, Aang whirled about into a defensive crouch on the sand, one hand on Sokka's shoulder to keep him in place on Aang's back while with the other hand, he firebended to produce a stronger light source.
The sudden brightness caused whoever it was who had startled Aang to jump back defensively. Both Aang and the stranger were surprised when they recognized each other.
"Well, this is quite an honor," said Jet with a small smile on his face. He bowed graciously as Aang stood up. "Always a pleasure to meet with the Avatar."
"Jet," Aang simply greeted. Leaning against his back, Sokka was now more or less supporting most of his weight. Blinking from the glare of the tongue of flame floating on Aang's hand, he wiped tears from his eyes first before peering at Jet.
"You," said Sokka, sounding none too pleased to see his former nemesis, now widely considered as one of the heroes of the Hundred Years' War.
"Sokka," Jet addressed in that lazy-sounding tone that rarely failed to get Sokka's defenses up.
"Hello Aang, Sokka," said a different voice, and they were startled when Jojo appeared from the shadows behind Jet.
"Oh. Hi, Jojo," said Aang cheerfully, while Sokka went on a different tack - "You're with him!"
Disgust came over Sokka's expression when Jet chuckled and Jojo smiled, looking just a touch embarrassed. Realizing that they must have had stumbled on a private moment, Aang quickly apologized for disturbing them.
"Will just be on our way," said Aang, taking Sokka by the arm. He was just about to lead him away when Jet asked where Katara was.
"She went ahead to put the twins to bed," answered Aang while Sokka's eyes narrowed at Jet for asking about his sister. Aang also felt a twinge of suspicion at the next question Jet made.
"She's got a earthbender and a waterbender, right?"
"Uh, yes," said Aang, while Sokka, frowning deeply asked Jet, "What about it?"
Jet shrugged. "Just making small talk. You know. To catch up with what's happening with dear old friends."
"We were never -dear old friends-," declared Sokka. Aang wanted to calm him down but he knew it was of little use with Sokka being in an inebriated state.
Jet grinned, seemingly amused that he could irk Sokka so quickly. "Touchy as always, aren't you, Sokka? Can't blame you I supposed. Word has it you're having a tiff with that Kyoshin. Suki, wasn't it? She's pretty, by the way."
"Uh, yes, she is," said Aang quickly before Sokka could get out a retort. Annoyed by his interference, Sokka told Aang to stay out of his business and to stay away from Suki.
"Sokka, you're just not yourself right now. Let's go."
"No!"
Jet laughed, and Sokka glared at him murderously; Aang, trying to keep the peace, stepped in between them but Sokka shoved him aside.
"Avatar, let him stay. I'm always happy to have a chat with my dear friend Sokka."
"Stop baiting him, Jet," Aang said, beginning to feel annoyed with being stuck in such a situation. Jojo, who was keeping quiet, just watched the proceedings with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Ah, apologies, Avatar," said Jet, "I didn't mean any disrespect. It's just that... I couldn't help but think about something."
"... What did you think of?" asked Aang; he liked to allow his curiosity free reign even when it had to do with people he didn't particular think well of, such as Jet.
The corner of Jet's mouth twitched slightly. "Before I say it, I would like to confirm something with you first, Avatar."
"... All right."
"Is it true you and Katara are... shall we say, very close?"
It was Sokka who answered Jet. "If you mean they're seeing each other - yeah, so what's your point?"
Jet smiled and quickly said, "I think that's great. I'm certain the Avatar will fit in very well in a family consisting of practitioners of multiple bending arts. Who knows, maybe there soon will be a little airbender brother or sister to play with Katara's twins. I wouldn't be surprised if you would want to have children of your own blood soon, Avatar, considering that you are the very last airbender left."
"... Uh, okay," said Aang, not uneasy with what Jet had said, but how he had said it. Indeed, he had thought about it and having children with Katara was a prospect he would welcome and enjoy. He loved children as evidenced by how much he liked to be with Katara's twins.
Then, Jet's eyes narrowed and Aang and Sokka had just a moment's warning before in a sly voice, Jet asked Aang if he would be worried that Katara might want to complete the set and bed a firebender.
"What exactly do you mean by that, Jet!" said Sokka, furiously trying to get pass Aang, who was having a very hard time blocking his friend from attacking Jet while at the same time keeping a flame burning over his palm.
"Oh come now, Sokka. Calm down. It was just a hypothetical situation."
"Hypothetical nothing! You were insulting my sister!"
"Oh please. She married a Kyoshin, didn't she? I've heard that Kyoshin husbands don't mind that their wives have children by other men. Wouldn't be surprised at all if your sister has come to expect to be able to have any man she takes fancy to."
"Shut up, Jet! Katara isn't like that!"
"And apparently, she has very high standards as well. First, an Earthbending Master as her husband. Then, the Avatar as a lover, soon to be wedded I assume now that the husband is dead. What's next? Hmm... why not the FireLord? After all, he must be very grateful to her for saving his dear uncle's life."
With a roar, Sokka managed to get pass Aang, and Jet, suddenly found himself pinned down on the sand with Sokka pounding at his face with all his might.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! YOU'VE NO RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT KATARA LIKE THAT, YOU SCUM, YOU POOR EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING! YOU'RE NOT EVEN WORTHY OF STANDING ON THE GROUND MY SISTER WALKS ON! COMPARED TO YOU, I'D PICK ZUKO AS THE BETTER MAN. AT LEAST HE'S HONORABLE AND HE NEVER TRIED TO DESTROY AN ENTIRE TOWN FULL OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS JUST FOR REVENGE!"
"Sokka, get off him!" Thinking quickly, he set fire to the prickle bush nearest to them. The flames threw eerie shadows across the garden as Aang dragged his friend off Jet, who quickly stood up with multiple bruises on his face beginning to turn black and blue. After wiping the blood from his split lip, he spat at Sokka's feet and with his characteristic trademark smile that always infuriated Sokka, he said, "Heh, I guess you didn't see how chummy she and your niece and nephew were with the FireLord just this morning."
Upon hearing that, Sokka stilled abruptly and slumped weakly against Aang as though all of his strength had just abandoned him. Now furious with Jet, Aang flexed his foot on the ground, and the sand Jet was standing on suddenly turned liquid. He barely had a moment to realize it before he sank down into the sand until only his head remained above ground.
"Sokka, just ignore him. He's not worth it," said Aang brusquely, and with just an apologetic nod at Jojo, he airbended himself and Sokka ten storeys up, leaving Jet to cough and splutter in the ensuing sandstorm.
"Jo, help me out," he said to the earthbender, who just stared at him with disgust before leaving the atrium.
---
After putting her children to bed, Katara met up with Shori again to head back down to the Guest Hall. She was surprised to find both Aang and Sokka missing. Suki was also gone. Haru couldn't remember seeing when they had left, and Shori quickly invited Katara to join them instead.
"It's all right, Shori," said Katara, smiling, "Besides, I feel tired. I should just go to bed early."
With a good-bye to the earthbender couple, Katara once again left the Great Hall, wondering where in Omashu those three had gone off too. After re-checking on her children, Katara made her way into her own bedroom just adjacent to the twins' and began preparing herself for bed.
She was just about to undo her braid when surprisingly, she heard knocking but it didn't come from the main bedroom door but from the balcony doors. Wary, Katara uncorked her waterskin and a long length of water flowed out of it to wound around her in a protective ring as she approached the wooden balcony doors.
She waited and was considering the possibility that she had just imagined it when again there was knocking.
"Who's there?" she called out in a suspicious tone, and was completely surprised when she got an answer back informing her that it was Zuko.
---
"I hope you don't mind the unexpected visit. It is difficult to find you alone," said Zuko, standing on the wide balcony shared between Katara's room and that of her children's. Once again, Zuko was cloaked and hooded, but the hood just covered his head and left his face unshrouded and visible.
Understandably agitated to find the FireLord on her balcony, Katara asked him why he had visited her.
"I have a gift to give to you," he said, making Katara blink. Another gift? Seeing her expression, Zuko smiled and said in a rather wry tone that he felt as though he still hadn't repaid her properly for healing Iroh.
"I was surprised that you didn't take the whole ship I sent to Kyoshi," he confessed to Katara, who gave him a slight smile and simply said, "It was too much, Zuko."
"Ah. Of course, but surely you could have picked more than just a mirror for your daughter and -seeds- for you son."
Katara almost laughed at his disapproval that Lan liked to garden. "I wasn't the one who picked those items, Zuko. It was the children."
"Yes, you did say so in your letter. But you obviously only allowed one item per child."
Katara found herself smiling at his confusion and said, "Zuko, I don't want my children spoiled. One item each was more than enough. Besides, they really like them."
The expression on Zuko's face that followed told Katara that he didn't believe her.
"Look, why don't you just ask them tomorrow why they picked those items?"
"Very well," he said; he seemed to have shrugged his shoulders though Katara couldn't be sure because of the cloak.
Lips twitching, Katara asked him what it was that he wanted to give to her at an odd hour in the middle of the night on her balcony.
At this, Zuko's lips also twitched, and just as Katara was making a mental observation that Zuko had a nice firm-looking mouth, he reached into his pocket to take out a long silvery item which glinted and shimmered in the starlight. Much to Katara's surprise, he asked for her necklace.
"What are you going to do?" asked Katara, instinctively fingering her the pendant her mother had given to her.
"You'll see," said Zuko simply, and slowly reluctantly Katara removed her necklace and handed it over to Zuko. Quietly, she watched as Zuko walked to the balustrade rounding the balcony and began doing something she couldn't see from behind his back. She became alarmed when she caught the smell of burning leather.
"Zuko, what are you doing?" she asked, all but certain that her mother's momento was in danger. She was about to rush him from behind when he turned around, holding his hands apart with her pendant seemingly floating in mid-air in between them.
"W-what did you do?" Katara asked, slowly reaching out to her pendant. She was surprised when her fingers encountered a near-invisible web of an unknown material round her pendant.
"It's a necklace made of Silver Spidersilk," explained Zuko before asking her to turn around. Realizing that he wanted to place the necklace round her neck, Katara turned around and pulled her braid aside. Though she expected it, a tiny shiver went through her when his warm fingers brushed against her skin.
A while after, Katara was still trying to see how the new necklace looked while worn.
"You need a mirror," said Zuko, amused and puzzled that she didn't just go back inside her room to find a mirror. He was surprised when Katara informed him with a smile that mirrors were difficult to come by outside the Fire Nation.
"Ah... so that is why your daughter chose a mirror," said Zuko with realization.
Katara nodded at him and then, still smiling, she uncorked her waterskin and bended a sheet of water until its surface turned mirror-like. She was delighted by how her mother's pendant seemed to just hang suspended against her throat.
"Thank you, Zuko. This is so lovely."
"I am pleased you like it."
"I not only like it, I love it," said Katara. Then, she grinned at him impishly and said in a rather grave tone that his debt to her for healing his uncle Iroh has been paid in full.
At this, Zuko laughed; the warm deep velvet-like sound causing Katara some alarm for she felt breathless all of sudden.
Confused by her reaction, Katara inconspicuously took a few moments to compose herself by waterbending the mirror-ed water back into her waterskin. After which, with a slightly nervous-looking smile at Zuko, she sat down on one of the stone balcony benches and gestured for him to join her.
Katara could barely conceal her surprise when he sat down in the space right next to her. After a noticeable delay, Katara, feeling quite awkward, attempted to start a conversation with the FireLord.
"How did you find the ball?"
"Tiresome," said Zuko without hesitation, causing Katara to stare at him with a rather stupefied look on her face. Zuko seemed amused when she tried again.
"Won't they miss you-"
"My uncle and the others can handle whatever affairs are in my absence."
"... I see." Briefly, Katara looked away from him, brow wrinkling as she hunted for another subject matter. She supposed making small talk with a FireLord was supposed to be difficult.
"How do you find Omashu?"
"Dusty."
Finally, with her temper frayed quite a bit, Katara very politely asked Zuko what he wanted to talk about as she had just learned the valuable lesson of letting FireLords initiate conversations first. Katara was more than startled when Zuko again chuckled.
"... Zuko, are you teasing me?" Katara asked him with a suspicious frown.
"No," he said rather blandly after clearing his throat.
"Uh huh," was all Katara could say to that. Shaking her head slightly at him, she looked away from Zuko and raised her eyes to the starlit night sky above. As always, the sight of so many countless stars shining on the dark canvas that was night filled her with wonder.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" she asked him in a voice tinged with awe.
"Yes, beautiful," agreed Zuko softly. Still star-gazing, Katara didn't notice that his eyes were upon her and not on the starry-filled sky above.
"Have you ever wondered what they really are? The stars, I mean."
"Hmm?"
Katara looked back to him and with enthusiasm said, "No one really knows for certain what they are. The Water Tribes for example have many stories about people and animals from long ago who went up into the night sky and became stars while many Earth Kingdom legends say that stars are gods and goddesses. I once asked Aang what airbenders think stars are, and he said that Monk Gyatso once told him that stars were spirits watching over us. How about your people, Zuko? What do they say stars are in the Fire Nation?"
"Stars are giant balls of fire and gas burning millions of miles away."
"... Okay, that's it. I give up," declared Katara, standing up and walking away huffily back towards her room. After a moment, Zuko stood up to follow her.
"I'm doing my best to keep up an interesting conversation with you, but if you're just going to-"
"That is what is taught in the Fire Nation."
Katara paused and then turned around to face him. "... You're kidding me, aren't you?" she said with a skeptical expression.
"No. That's what my astronomy tutor taught me."
"Your astronomy teacher taught you that stars are giant balls of fire and gas burning millions of miles away?"
"Yes."
"Well, that's wrong."
"What are they then? People and animals, gods and goddesses or spirits?"
"... Okay, you have a point. I'm not sure what stars are, but they are definitely not giant balls of fire and gas burning millions of miles away. That's one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard."
"So my people's beliefs about stars are ridiculous, but your's and other's aren't?"
At this, Katara opened her mouth to say something, but shut it closed a second after without saying a thing. Feeling more than a little miffed, Katara abruptly looked away from him. Zuko watched her profile carefully as she struggled to say-
"Okay, okay. You've another point there. I admit I may have been unfairly discriminatory, but still I can't believe that firebenders think that stars are- Oh, just forget it," ended Katara, feeling very peeved at being verbally out-maneuvered.
Her hackles raised when Zuko chuckled again.
"You're really enjoying yourself at my expense, aren't you?" Katara said mulishly, giving Zuko a sideways glare.
Zuko coughed to clear his throat again. "Yes, but it is entirely your fault, milady."
"My fault?" said an outraged Katara.
"Yes. You cannot honestly blame a person for laughing at something amusing."
"Oh. Now, I'm 'something amusing'.
"At least we are having an interesting conversation," he pointed out.
"For you maybe. I, on the other hand, am having an irritating time conversing with you, milord."
"You're the one who wanted to have a conversation," he pointed out again.
"Well, that's only because I wanted to be polite," said Katara, at the same time wondering why she was suddenly experiencing a feeling of dread. It felt as though it seemed like she was walking right into a trap.
"Do you still want to be polite?"
---
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," Katara found herself babbling, aghast and utterly mortified that she had just punched Zuko right in the face.
Holding a hand to his swollen right eye, Zuko was staring at her with an absolutely stunned expression on his face. With the scar round his left and the black eye on the right, he suddenly bore a strong resemblance to a raccoon-dog.
Much to her horror, she giggled, and Zuko's jaw dropped due to additional shock.
"First, you strike me. Then, you laugh at me?" he grated at her.
Katara raised her hands defensively and in as calm a tone as she could manage at the moment said, "Don't worry. I can 'fix' it."
"Oh yes, I'm certain being a healer comes in very handy for you whenever you're on the losing side of a conversation. I've had people drawn and quartered for much less than this," Zuko said to her with a furious glare, which due to the recently acquired black eye hardly looked intimidating and instead had the unintended and unfortunate effect of eliciting yet another giggle from Katara, who quickly covered her mouth too late.
"Zuko, I'm really sorry. Here. Let me just-"
"Keep away from me."
"Look. You have to let me heal it. It will only take a second. Now, just hold still. There. All done," Katara sighed with relief when the bruise about Zuko's right eye cleared.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes, it's gone," said Katara, who then tried to move away. Tried being the operative word for Zuko's arms were now circled about her, effectively preventing her from moving away from him. Katara barely had time to register her predicament when the FireLord lowered his head to kiss her.
---
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To be continued because I have to continue it...
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(cut to scene of King Bumi bawling his heart out on Aang's shoulder)
Aang - Now, now, Bumi, calm down.
Bumi - B-but my ch-chapter on-only got 8 reviews.
Aang - Bumi, look on the bright side - Chapter 1 only got 5 reviews, and Chapter 2 (which had Zuko and Iroh Spats) only got 3 reviews. At least your chapter has the second most number of reviews so far.
Bumi - (sniffs) Yes, I suppose that's true. (lower lip quivers) B-but it was my birthday!
Aang - (pats Bumi's back) I know. I know. The writer feels bad about it too. Anyway, I'm sure it wasn't because the readers didn't love you in it. Your chapter was released on the premiere of the second season so most people weren't interested in reading fanfics.
Bumi - (sniffs) ... Okay. Hmm... By the way, the FireLord kissed Katara in this chapter.
Aang - I know.
Bumi - You're not upset?
Aang - That Zuko gets to kiss Katara? No. Though I'm a little annoyed he won't even give me the time of day especially since I went through a lot of trouble getting you to invite him to your birthday party in the first place. Not to mention that I had to single-handedly earthbend a road for him and the other firebenders through a desert to Omashu. So if it weren't for me, he wouldn't even be in Omashu, kissing Katara. I should at least also get a kiss from him as thanks. (Bumi blinks.) Not only that, I even had to hand-deliver your invitation to him personally in the Fire Nation, which apparently celebrates a "Kill the Avatar on Sight" holiday everyday.
Bumi - ... That bad, huh?
Aang - Yes.
Bumi - How did you get my invitation to him then?
Aang - I snuck into his bedroom, which has very nice decor by the way.
Bumi - ...
---
A sad ficwriter's note - I asked for at least 12 reviews for Bumi's birthday chapter, and it only got 8. Thank you so very much to those who reviewed, and I really hope you'll review this chapter too. Right now, I'll be happy enough and content if I just hear from you guys again. If any of you don't review again, Bumi won't be the only one weeping on Aang's shoulder.
Again, please. Reviews don't have to be long. It can be just three, two, even one-word/s long. Any reviews, even very short ones will still help a lot because fanfictiondotnet shows review count. Of course, people will tend to pay more attention to stories with high review counts.
(goes off to find an Appa plushie for comfort therapy)