A/N: So… turns out I wildly overestimated my ability to write during the last few months of my degree, but I've finally finished my Masters and have this wonderful thing called time back! Anyway, apologies for the delay and let's close out the rest of this trip before we head into the last act of the Fire Nation arc.
Recap (because, you know, it's been 3 months): Katara, Zuko, Iroh and Lu Ten have been on a tour through some of the villages to help fire up morale for the war. Some old hag (*cough* Hama) doused the hopes for a smooth trip by warning Katara that she couldn't trust anyone the Royal Family, even the "good" ones – that she would just be a pawn in their power plays. Said woman did balance this out with some deeper knowledge of waterbending, leaving the poor girl confused as to why she's being helped.
The old woman's words stuck with Katara. She drifted through the rest of the day in a dream-like state, waiting for Iroh to finish speaking with the village elder so they could board to leave for the Capital, staring out over the ocean, picking at her food. Left with little to do, she had nothing to distract her from these thoughts, as the rest of their group boarded and they set sail. Her fingers grew sore from anxious tapping against her legs, scuffing her foot against the ground was more boring than diverting. She even tried counting the number of waves crashing against the ship until she grew tired of it all and excused herself to bed early. Pulling herself onto her bed, she slumped against the wall, dropping her head onto crossed arms.
Sitting alone in the darkness, it didn't take long for Katara to sink back into the same disarray of thoughts with one resounding conclusion. The woman, whoever she was, wasn't like any other Fire Nation person Katara had met. She desperately wanted to ask Iroh whether people in the Fire Nation studied waterbending, but a part of her was afraid of what Iroh's response might be. She was already unsure whether a question like that would be breaking the woman's confidence, since Zuko's persistence to figure out what had been said made her cautious to explore the option. There was a chance of one or both of them figuring out the connection between the question and the strange meeting. This could get the woman into trouble. Despite being frightening, the woman hadn't appeared to be a bad person. She seemed to want to help Katara, even though that made no sense, and this brought Katara back to the focal question reverberating around her mind, the one that troubled her the most.
Why would a Fire Nation citizen warn a waterbender about the Royal Family?
It was fair to say that not all of the villagers they had met were fierce advocates of the war. The sentiment hadn't been vocalised, but it was clear from the caution the citizens would initially treat their group with. She recognised the suspicion in their eyes, the tension in the elders' shoulders for their welcoming. Despite the Fire Lord thinking a tour for morale would help, the villagers were wary of the true motivations behind a number of high-ranking officials arriving. Those initial impressions had been eroded away in the midst of repaired buildings, new wells and cleared debris.
But not for this woman. She could have seen first-hand the atrocities of war, lost too many loved ones or simply been unwilling to let go of her animosity towards the symbols of the conflict. Maybe her studies of waterbending had led to empathy once she discovered the truth behind the raids on Katara's tribe.
Was the woman right? Would the elders from Katara's tribe hang their heads in collective shame over the last waterbender gallivanting around on a tour with three of the heirs to the Fire Nation throne? Katara never lost the ingrained lesson to keep her guard up around the Palace, but the hours spent with both Iroh and Zuko had earned a deep-seated trust in them. Neither of them had acted in any way to erode that trust.
Katara clenched her fists. The woman was wrong. She didn't know Zuko or Iroh - at least, not like Katara did. Whatever experiences in the woman's past that clouded her views of the Royal Family, there was no reason to think it had been these two at fault. Her mind rolled over the remaining family members: the wizened, cruel face of the Fire Lord and the raspy voice that could order her execution at any moment, the smirking manipulation of Azula and her increasingly accomplished style of bending, and the derisive volatility of Iroh's brother and Zuko's father. She shuddered at the sheer unpredictability of the group, but was surprised to feel relief wash through her. There were enough candidates to scar a person's view and cause a citizen to have doubts about trusting the family in general.
There was no reason to think the woman would know anything about Iroh or Zuko. Katara was sure that if the woman got to know them, she would change her mind. Despite the reassurances she gave herself, she knew that wasn't what was bothering her. It was the niggling voice buried in the depths of her mind that whispered that the woman wasn't completely mistaken; there were other Fire Nation citizens to be wary of, and there were indications that Zuko and Iroh could act differently to the people she knew. Maybe they would never act against Katara, but were they innocent? Would they always be the people she put her faith in?
Her hands gripped her legs as she squeezed her eyes shut, pushing aside those doubts. That didn't have to be true; the woman didn't have to be right. Maybe she had never met anyone from the Royal Family, but due to ingrained suspicions towards firebenders was wary of them. But that didn't make sense. Why would an old woman, living in a quiet village, be so suspicious of her own people?
Katara shook her head. This was useless. She was going in circles. This wasn't helping.
"You're acting strangely."
Zuko stood at the door. Katara jolted up from her slumped position, collecting her thoughts. The old woman's words swirled up again. You can't trust them, Katara. Even your friend over there.
"No, I'm not," she hissed back.
"Yes, you are. What did she say to you?"
"I'm fine. It's nothing to do with her," Katara snapped.
It was clear from the suspicion on the prince's face that he hadn't bought the lie.
"Yes, it does. Tell me."
Katara glared at him. The frustration coursed through her as she spat the words. "She was just someone wanting to know more about the Fire Nation's very own waterbender."
Zuko flinched at her tone. "Katara, we don't see you like that."
"Like what? A waterbender?" She felt the tears threatening to spill out from her eyes, her resentment rapidly boiling over.
The prince's eyebrows knitted together as he gawked at her. "No. We don't own you."
That stopped her. "What?"
"We don't own you. You don't belong to us. You're not our waterbender."
She stared at him dumbly. Zuko reddened before quietly adding, "Didn't you know that?"
"How can you say that?" Katara's voice wavered, before finding its strength in her anger. "Your father thinks my people are savages; your grandfather wants us wiped from the face of this world. I doubt either of them view my place here as anything more than that of an irritating pet, one that hasn't slipped up yet. I'm a prisoner here, Zuko."
Uncertainty and fear flashed across Zuko's face before he crumpled, the poised prince before her dissolving. A scared boy remained, one watching his doubts and fears play out in front of him. The anger drained from her as tears finally escaped. The watery veil couldn't hide the familiar view of the prince clenching his tunic and worrying his lip in agitation.
She sighed, choking through the tears. Her fury, her frustration was not directed at him. Whether the Fire Nation family was her enemy or not, whether her status with them was below that of a komodo rhino, Zuko barely had any more control over his life than she did. While he didn't face the omnipresent threat of death, he remained as trapped and as suffocated as Katara. Despite his refusal to speak ill of his father, the prince walked on eggshells when they were in the same room, tripping over himself to show the man that he was worthy of his attention. His grandfather was no better, comparing Zuko to his sister and cousin, the Fire Lord's words dripping with contempt.
"I don't think of you like that, I don't know what-" Zuko's grip on his tunic didn't loosen as he stuttered. "I-I'm sure they don't want to kill you."
Dashing tears from her eyes, she whispered, "I don't know anything anymore."
"Yes, you do," he said. Hurt golden eyes met hers across the room. "Whatever that woman said to you is messing with your head. I think we should talk to Uncle abo-"
"No!" she exclaimed. A burst of panic flooded through her at the thought of more people knowing - specifically, of someone like Zuko's father discovering the woman's identity. What if she were labelled a threat? Quickly, she tried to cover her dismay, even though this meant deceiving her friend. "No, please don't. I think I'm just upset that our trip is ending."
Zuko seemed reluctant to believe her. "Are you sure?"
"No?" She gave him a shaky smile. "But it's not helping. I'll miss being out here."
"Me too." Zuko crawled onto the bed next to her, head leaning back against the wall. "Part of me wants to be able to stay here, sail the seas and learn everything there is to know. Then that part remembers how bad seasickness is."
A strangled laugh burst from her and she reached up to wipe the remnants of the tears from her eyes. "I shouldn't have taken this out on you," she said. "I don't want to be miserable for the rest of the trip."
"Uncle would be heartbroken if you were miserable on your birthday."
Katara hummed in agreement. The frustration still coiled in her stomach, but trying to decipher the woman's words had left her drained and empty. If there had been anyone she could have talked to openly, she would have. For the moment, however, it seemed easier to let Zuko steer the conversation to a simpler topic.
She shuffled around to face him. "He keeps hinting what he has planned, do you know?"
"Yes."
Grabbing his arm, she asked, "Can you tell me?"
"No," Zuko grumbled, pulling his arm away. "You both have your secrets; I'm going to keep mine."
She harrumphed, folded her arms and leaned back. "That's unfair, I'm the birthday girl."
"Yes, and I'm sure you'll be insufferable then. But until then, I'll make you a deal. You tell me what Uncle is hiding and I'll tell you one of the things planned for your birthday," he said, raising an eyebrow.
She frowned. "I can't, I promised Iroh."
"Well, so did I." He nudged her with his shoulder. "You're just being impatient. You know you'll enjoy it more if it's a surprise."
Katara didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was right. Unfortunately, if the smug look on his face at her silence was any indication, Zuko already knew. Knowing she was being childish, she made a face at him, sticking out her tongue. Easily goaded, he responded in kind, and soon things were back to normal as far as Zuko was concerned. Katara was glad for the reprieve. She needed the return to life as usual. Anything to keep her mind from wandering back to the old woman's words and her imminent return to the Palace.
Katara couldn't sleep.
Iroh was right; her birthday ended up falling during their travel back to the Capital. Her persistent questions the evening before had yielded no answers as to any plans, with the crew frustratingly listening to the Crown Prince over her. Their responses spanned from pleading innocence all the way through to smothered laughter and overt winking. She knew about the smuggled musical instruments on board and determined that Iroh was the ringleader, but she was increasingly impatient to get to the day in question. She rolled over, peering at the pile of blankets on the other bed.
"Zuko, are you still awake?"
"No." The nest of blankets mumbled back.
"Yes, you are."
"No, I'm not. Go away," the irritable voice responded.
"I can't sleep."
"Good for you, I can and want to. Leave me alone."
"You're grumpy."
"Shocking." A groan. The blankets shuffled, before there was a flash of gold in the dark as Zuko turned over. "Katara, you're going to be miserable in the morning if you don't sleep."
"No, I won't, it will be my birthday."
He glared at her for a moment, before huffing and rolling back over to face the wall. "Fine, but you have no birthday powers yet to annoy me. Go to sleep."
Katara frowned at the back of his head. "But I'm not tired," she whined.
"No. Go to sleep. I'm ignoring you."
Katara huffed in resignation as silence descended on the cabin, before throwing herself on her back and glaring at the ceiling. It was a still night, the waves gently rocking the ship. She tried to focus just on their rhythmic movement, her mind eventually calming.
She woke to the warmth of the sun streaming across her covers and the bustle of people in the corridor outside their room. She sat up, blinking through the remnants of sleep fogging her mind. The morning was finally here.
She glanced over at the still-sleeping prince, before picking up her pillow and throwing it at him. Zuko groaned, before rolling over and blearily looking at her.
"It's my birthday!" she exclaimed.
He pulled himself up, tousled hair falling across his face. "Oh good, you can be extra annoying," he mumbled, rubbing at his eyes.
She grinned at him. "And you have to be nice to me."
A hint of a smile appeared. "I do. Happy Birthday, Katara."
"Do you think Iroh will be up yet?"
Zuko scoffed. "I think Uncle is more excited than you are for today."
She pushed herself out of bed, rushing for the door. Pausing at the threshold and turning back towards him, she asked, "Are you coming?"
Another groan before Zuko dragged himself out of bed to follow her. They padded quietly down the corridor, taking care not to wake the crew, before stopping at Iroh's room. To her surprise and disappointment, they found the room empty. Zuko tugged on her arm, suggesting Uncle may be having already up and having breakfast. Despite their efforts to remain quiet, their efforts were unnecessary. Their paths didn't cross with anyone else on the way to the main dining area, which struck Katara as a little odd. But it was a big ship, and she theorised that most of the crew were still in bed, making use of the last two days before their arrival at the Palace and the usual routines. She had woken as the sun rose; this was a special day. She couldn't expect everyone else to have the same desire to rush from their beds.
Excited to see Iroh, Katara flew through the door as she reached the dining cabin, only to be struck with an explosion of colour. Sashes hung from the ceiling, cascading around the corners of the room, and swirling around sparkling ornaments that dangled from lanterns placed around the walls. The whole area was bustling with noise, the ship's crew already tucking into a sensational array of fruits, pastries and cakes arranged across a long table backed against the far wall. In the middle of the room stood a beaming Iroh with his arms flung wide; an amused Lu Ten stood beside him halfway through a mango. Feeling overwhelmed, Katara stood in stunned silence taking it all in, before her face broke into a matching grin.
"Happy Tenth Birthday, Katara," Iroh announced.
Lu Ten repeated the sentiment beside him.
She raced forward, throwing her arms around Iroh, before extracting herself and hugging Lu Ten. Eventually, she stood back, finding her voice, "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't know what to say, this is incredible."
Iroh chuckled. "Oh, we are just getting started. Have something to eat."
Katara grabbed a plate and helped herself to a little of every dish that caught her eye; fruit buffed till they shone, layered cakes of all different shapes and glistening pastries, their fillings remaining secret to her ravenous eyes. It was laid out in front of her like a deliciously scented rainbow. She had never seen so many of her favourites in one place. How had the chef managed to source such a range of colours?
Barely able to hold the plate with her excited shaking, she made her way to the table, sinking onto the bench as she absorbed the humming content of the crowd. The food appeared to have lured everyone here, many of the soldiers talking through mouths full of pastry, jam and fruit. The sheer number of soldiers up at this hour was staggering.
The lack of sleep still clouded her mind, and she turned to Iroh in confusion.
"How did you get everyone down here before I woke up?"
Lu Ten snorted in response to her question, rolling his eyes when she glared at him.
"Katara, this is when firebenders usually wake up." Iroh said, chuckling. "You're the only one who's changed their schedule today."
The three firebenders laughed and Katara blushed, trying to focus on the plate in front of her. Soon recovering from her embarrassment, she quickly cleared half her plate. The last of the pastries revealed a sweet fruit mince and when she raised it to investigate, she caught a passing twinkle in Iroh's eye.
"Are you ready for your presents?" he asked.
She dropped the half-eaten pastry. "Presents?"
Why would she have received any presents? Previous birthdays had passed without any mention of them, a message to her family and a chance to explore an untouched area of the Fire Nation with Iroh, Zuko and Ursa being the extent of celebrations.
"Your tenth birthday is an important one, well deserving of presents," Iroh explained.
Not waiting for her response, he reached below the table, revealing a wrapped gift which he held out in front of her. "I was up earliest, so your first gift will be from me."
Still unable to find her voice, Katara stared hesitatingly at the gift between Iroh's palms as he encouraged her to take it with a gentle shake. Even the paper was exquisite, the perfect sheen across it leaving her nervous about damaging it. With trembling hands, she took the present and carefully tried to unfold the wrapping paper without ripping it, revealing a smooth, polished wooden box hidden underneath. Propping open the lid, she gawked in awe at the collection of paints, brushes and parchment inside, then slowly reached down to touch the closest brush to her, running her fingertips over its silky-smooth hairs.
She'd only mentioned it once, more than a year ago. Memories of watching her Gran-Gran mixing dye in with a paste, painting a place nothing like anything Katara had ever seen. Icy turrets, twisting spires cut through the swirling snow storms of the images Gran-Gran created. When she'd asked, Gran-Gran had simply said that she'd lived many lives more than Katara had – lives, experiences and adventures that she could relive through the scenes she painted. Further questions simply lead to a cryptic instruction that Katara could use her imagination and discover worlds of her own. Why did old people always have to speak in riddles? Nevertheless, Katara had attempted a poorly received portrait of Sokka in front of the wall of his "barracks". Despite this, her mother had hung it on the wall of their igloo, claiming to see something wonderful in the squiggles and smeared colour.
She could feel tears threaten at the memories of home. The comfort of their igloo, snuggling together for warmth in the midst of a storm hammering the external walls felt like worlds away from her now. But there was a different kind of warmth spreading through her at the sight of this gift and the meaning behind it – Iroh had remembered her story. She blinked back the looming tears, shook her head, and looked up at him.
A knowing smile was spread across the man's face. "I thought you could paint scenes from our travels for me," he said, breaking her from her moment of reverence and helping her to find her voice.
"You remembered."
"It was hard not to."
Eyes wide and voice wavering, Katara thanked him. Receiving a cue from Iroh, Lu Ten brought out a second gift and pressed it down into her outstretched palms. It was harder to refrain from tearing the paper this time, and some of the folds gave way in her eagerness.
Upon peeling off the last of the wrapping paper, she was delighted to see that there was a smooth, luxurious-looking scarf folded up in a neat little square. Lifting it from the box, the scarf unfurled in a tumble, shades of blue and green swirling in a luxurious pattern rippling through the soft fabric. She clasped it between her hands, raising it to her face to press against her cheek and inhaled.
There must have been a spritz of fragrance over the box, the scent reminding her of the noble ladies she had passed in the Palace halls. With her head bowed to avoid their judgement and disdain, their perfume was often the only recognisable sign of their luxury and prestige. To her surprise, the scent did not evoke the negative association with those women, although they came to mind first. Instead, she was reminded of Ursa and the class and poise the Fire Princess carried herself with. A smile pulled at her lips at the memory of Lu Ten's return to the Palace. Ursa had allowed Katara to choose a perfume from her collection, stating that the occasion warranted something special. Pulling it away from her face, she marvelled in the wash of colour gripped between her hands.
"Thank you," she said quietly, adding as she looked up at Lu Ten, "I bet it wasn't easy finding something that colour in the Fire Nation."
Lu Ten laughed. "No, it wasn't. I got some strange looks from the merchant when I mentioned what I was looking for." He paused, before sending a cheeky look at his cousin. "Anyway, I think it's time for Zuko's present," he added slyly.
Surprised, she turned from the men sitting opposite her to Zuko, who was scowling back at Lu Ten from his place next to her. What? Surely there was no chance that Zuko had gotten her something. Katara stared at the side of his face incredulously and the prince flushed as he turned back and his eyes met hers. There was a moment of awkward silence before Zuko looked at his hands, then reached under and fumbled below the table. Something burst in Katara's chest at the sight of the wrapped box he emerged with. Now completely red, Zuko stared at the gift in his hands for a moment before he sighed and looked up at her.
"I hope you like it," he mumbled as he handed it to her. "Uncle helped."
"You mean Uncle helped pay for it?" Iroh corrected, raising his eyebrow quizzically. "You picked it, Prince Zuko."
Lu Ten chuckled, and then winced as Zuko kicked him under the table. Katara lingered, staring at him intrigued before she began to slowly unfold the wrapping paper, which after it was removed, unveiled a sleek maroon box, expensive-looking, adorned with a gold-lettering symbol embroidered on the top of the lid. Her palms smoothed over the outer surface of the small box, fingers tracing along the gold lettering. The symbol was unrecognisable at first glance, the name below it not providing any extra hints. However, she quickly forgot about the matter and proceeded to unveil its contents, letting out a small gasp once she discovered what lied inside the mysterious box.
A necklace lay encompassed by a sea of maroon, the pillow's colour matching the surrounding walls of the box. Silver chains were interwoven in a thin rope, the ornate design lying in a halo broken up only by the centrepiece, an elaborately entwined symbol. At first glance, the design appeared to be a sparkling ball. But as she peered at it, Katara realised it was a nest, one created from a myriad of vines and leaves effortlessly woven together. Two tiny sapphire turtleducks were interlaced within the borders of the centrepiece, giving the impression that the jewels were being swept up within the intricate design.
Katara stared enthralled by the necklace, words not forming in her mouth. In a daze, she didn't realise that her finger had reached out to brush the centrepiece until the cool surface sent a shock through her. Eventually, she squeaked out an "Oh."
"Don't you like it?" The hurt in Zuko's voice was apparent.
In a daze, she shook her head, still struggling to believe what she was seeing. "Wh-what, no, I- it's so beautiful. I just-"
"She likes it." Lu Ten finished the sentence for her, grinning. Katara nodded in agreement, watching the relief pass across Zuko's face.
"Oh, that's good then," he said. "Uncle kept saying it was an important birthday and I thought..." His voice trailed off as he shrugged.
"Thank you," she said, before a thought stuck her and she frowned. "I-I feel bad for keeping you awake last night."
He blinked in confusion, before smiling. "You should."
The day passed in a flurry of games, laughter and food. The sun had begun to set, cascading the deck of the ship in orange and purple hues. The four of them leaned against the rail, watching as the reflection of the descending sun danced in the waves. Tired but happy, Katara drank it all in, wishing this peaceful moment would never end. Her contemplation was interrupted by Iroh leaning over and nudging her.
"Are you ready for the last part of your day?"
Eyes wide, she looked at him. "There's more?"
"The best part is to come," he said, winking at her. "You remember what we stowed away?"
The realisation dawned on her, and she broke into beaming smile. "I do!"
"What did you stow away?" Zuko asked. Behind him, Lu Ten looked suspicious.
"Oh, just something that will help us throw Katara the best birthday party we possibly can," Iroh said.
"That's not an answer," Zuko grumbled.
Iroh chuckled, before heading in to direct the crew in setting up the deck ready for the night. Small lanterns were placed around the railings, seating was brought up from below deck and food and drinks were laid out. The sun escaped from the sky, pitching the deck into darkening hues as they feasted. Sated and relaxed firebenders shot flames towards the lanterns from their positions on the ground. Cheers rained out as each of them found their mark.
As they finished their plates, Iroh leaned in and whispered to Katara that he needed to discuss the setup of the band with the lieutenant on board, before heading off. In his absence, Lu Ten shifted over to question their secrecy, and Katara shot back her most innocent expression.
He scoffed in response. "I don't buy it; you two are up to something."
"You'll just have to wait and see."
"We're not supposed to have any secrets," Zuko burst out, prompting an amused glance from Lu Ten. He ducked his head and scowled at his feet.
"This doesn't count," she answered. "It's for your own good."
Zuko threw her a suspicious look. "For my own good?"
Katara shook her head vigorously. "I'm not saying anything. You can't make me, it's my birthday."
Zuko groaned. "How long are you going to use that excuse?"
"At least until the end of the day," she said, grinning back.
"Speaking of birthdays…" Lu Ten laughed, before having a look over his shoulder. He peeked across at their empty glasses, and gestured at Katara to pass them over. Confused, she handed them to him one by one, watching as he tipped some of the liquid from his drink into each of their glasses.
"Isn't that-" Zuko started to speak, cutting off as Lu Ten shushed him, handing back their glasses.
"It's Katara's birthday, seems like a perfect time to celebrate to me," he said. "You should learn to try new experiences, Zuko." Lu Ten chuckled as his cousin glared suspiciously at the dark coloured liquid in his glass. "Come on, you only have to take a sip."
Katara held out her hands, taking back her glass eagerly. She was excited; she'd never been allowed to try wine. Alcohol was traditionally shared only amongst the adults of her tribe, although exceptions were made for special occasions. In the years leading up to her capture, those had been fewer in number, and she was still considered too young to be allowed to taste it. Her father had once allowed Sokka to try some of his ale the night before the men's departure from the tribe. Her brother had continued to proudly bring this up for months after they had left, boasting that it was sign of their father's faith in his ability to protect the tribe in his absence.
She looked over at Zuko, grinning at his expression. The prince scowled at her, before raising his eyes to the sky and sighing. Feeling a slight breeze brush against her cheeks, she followed his gaze until his resigned agreement reached her ears.
"Fine," he groaned, "but your birthday is going to be the death of me."
"You two should try it at the same time," Lu Ten encouraged. "You need to clink your glasses together first. It's a celebration."
Katara peered down at the crimson liquid. The smell was tangy, but the beautiful rich colour shone through despite there only being a few mouthfuls in her glass. She was reminded of the purple berries of the Fire Nation, with their powerful sweet flavour and soft texture, the opulence of the Palace, the draping of Iroh's robes. Lu Ten's words reminded of watching adults from her home perform the ritual of knocking their glasses together and she was filled with anticipation at being a part of that long-standing tradition. "Okay."
Lifting her glass, she leaned over to Zuko, savouring the clinking sound as their glasses knocked together. Zuko still looked sceptical but held the glass up to his lips, hesitating as he waited for her to mimic the action.
"Bottom's up!" Lu Ten's voice nudged them into tipping their glasses up simultaneously, and Katara felt the liquid hit her tongue.
It was disgusting.
Scrunching her face up, Katara gulped down the mouthful. The bitterness remained on her tongue and she ran her teeth across it in a vain attempt to rid her mouth of the taste. Hearing a splutter, she looked up. Zuko's expression mirrored hers, nose crinkled and reproachful eyes glittering back at her, before he turned on his cousin. His traitor cousin, who was leaning back and unabashedly laughing at them.
"You tricked us!" Katara accused, hearing Zuko gag beside her.
"And like every enthusiastic child before you, you fell for it," Lu Ten said, holding his hands up defensively as he continued to chuckle. "You should have seen your faces."
Grimacing, Zuko pushed himself back to lean against the wall and sulk. Unfazed, Lu Ten got to his feet, leaving and returning with two more cups. Katara frowned at him, reluctant to take the peace offering.
"Don't look at me like that Katara, it's just some juice to help them get rid of the taste," Lu Ten responded, chuckling.
She took it, taking a place beside Zuko to share accusatory glares at his cousin. On the other side of the ship, intoxicated soldiers moved from their slouched places to shift items from inside the ship out onto the deck, their jovial voices cutting through the silence of the night. Realising what the items were, Katara snuck a glance at Zuko, covering it with a sip of her juice. He didn't appear to have noticed, but Iroh's arrival interrupted any further attempts to find out. As their attention flicked to him, two soldiers emerged from the cabin, their burden obvious despite being partially obscured by Iroh's form. They were carrying a large instrument between them, the metal glinting in the firelight. Katara heard a breath hastily sucked in next to her, turning to see Zuko raise his hands defensively.
"Oh no. No no no. I'm not playing the tsungi horn."
"But, it's my birthday," Katara said, teasingly.
"Nope. Not enough," he said, frowning at her before swinging around and staring at his uncle, eyes widening in comprehension. "You two planned this!"
Iroh looked shocked, a picture of innocence. "Of course not, Prince Zuko. I wouldn't dream of it. I merely wanted to throw a party for young Katara to celebrate a very important birthday."
Zuko wasn't buying it. She avoided his accusing gaze, knowing she was at risk of breaking, and instead turned to Iroh and Lu Ten. She didn't find any help. Lu Ten was barely holding his laughter at bay, but it was the twinkle in Iroh's eyes that was her undoing. A short giggle burst from her, before she looked back and smiled sheepishly at Zuko.
Glaring, the prince pointed at her. "I knew it! You can't make me play it. I refuse."
"We'll see," Iroh said, chuckling as he turned to leave with Lu Ten. "Either way, I'm going to join them."
It didn't take long for the men to finish preparations. Instruments were picked up and the voices descended into rowdy songs. Katara watched, the prince remaining in sullen silence. After a few songs had been played, Lu Ten came back over, offering a hand to Katara.
"Father tells me you can sing."
She shook her head vigorously. "No, I can't."
"He said you sing a few folk songs," Lu Ten said. She scrunched her nose and he nudged her encouragingly. "He'll sing them with you if you want, and I can…try."
"I-I don't know."
"See, sometimes we just don't want to do things," Zuko muttered.
Katara scowled at him, before looking back at Lu Ten.
Lu Ten winked at her. "Come on, isn't it your birthday?"
Katara sighed in resignation, before reaching up and grabbing his hand. She was pulled up and as they walked away, she peeked back to stuck her tongue out at Zuko. The prince frowned back, slumping back against the wall to mope. Reaching the group, she was pulled in by Iroh who leaned in to ask which song she wanted to sing. Despite her nerves, she picked one she'd sung around the Palace. Iroh nodded in recognition before he gave the band directions.
"Start us off, Katara."
Her nerves were swallowed momentarily by the warm smile gracing Iroh's face. It was enough for her to start singing, if a little hesitantly. She didn't have to wait long before Iroh's exuberant voice joined her, giving her some much needed cover when her nerves failed again. Members of the band, including Lu Ten, joined in for the second chorus and she couldn't hold back the smile when the end was met with applause. Blushing, Katara thanked them, before shuffling off to the side. Sensing her reluctance to repeat the effort, Iroh launched the remaining band into playing another song before he headed off to find another drink. Finding Zuko on the other side of the ship, she slumped against the wall of the boat next to him.
She groaned. "That was embarrassing. I really can't sing."
Zuko shrugged. "You weren't that bad," he responded dismissively. "You got some of the notes right."
Katara's mouth dropped open. "Rude. You're supposed to make me feel better." A thought emerged as she watched the prince turn red, a slow grin spreading across her face. "I'm going to get you back for this."
The colour drained from Zuko's face. "No, wait-" he pleaded.
Ignoring his begging, Katara pushed herself back up and dashed through the crowd to Iroh. In response to the tap his arm, Iroh turned, splashing some of the wine down his sleeve. He frowned at the offending glass for a moment before fixing her with a curious smile.
"I didn't mean to bother you Iroh, but I am so excited to see Zuko play the tsungi horn," she said, innocently. "I wonder if you would be able to convince him to play."
Iroh raised an eyebrow, before a beaming smile broke out. It was clear he didn't mind if there was an ulterior motive. "I think you are right, it is time to add a new band member," he said, before heading towards his nephew.
Katara remained at a distance, watching as Iroh reached an apprehensive Zuko. It didn't take long for Zuko to determine who the real instigator was, peering past his uncle to glare at her. She waved back. Iroh leaned in to speak with him and eventually the boy's shoulders slumped in defeat. Zuko scowled at her as he followed his uncle towards the rest of the soldiers, Lu Ten clapping a hand on his shoulder as he reached them. Zuko was handed the tsungi horn, and he stiffly took his place alongside the band. Both Iroh and Lu Ten joined him as Katara moved into the crowd so she could watch.
It was clear to her that Zuko was nervous, but as the music started, the practised notes emerged from the tsungi horn without fault. The band began a jollier number, each of the members falling into their rhythms. It was soon apparent that long years of musical training had paid off for each of the Royal Family members. Iroh's style was more relaxed, while Lu Ten was skilled but merry, possibly a result of the drinks that had flowed through the night. Katara could see the tension fading from Zuko as he relaxed into the music. His notes resonated above the other instruments as she focused on him and it was clear that Iroh hadn't been exaggerating; Zuko played it beautifully. The longer he played, the more the tension in his body faded, as if he had forgotten he was in front of an audience.
The song built towards its climatic ending. The more inebriated members of the band were enthusiastic in their final notes, and the gathered group broke into applause and joyful cheering. Zuko jerked at the sound, blinking as if he had forgotten they were there. The lanterns spread out along the bow of the ship cast shadows across the band, but she could just see the tell-tale splotches of his embarrassment. Following along with the band, the prince bowed, before shuffling off to the side to head back to the other side of the ship, barely acknowledging the claps on his shoulder from the rowdy soldiers he passed.
The band began to play the next song. Katara hesitated before trailing behind him as he headed around the corner from where they had originally sat. Zuko was slumped against the wall, staring blankly out across the water. His fists clenched as she approached and heard him sigh.
"You don't have to say anything." He didn't look at her, but she could tell he was frowning.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not very good in public, I can't seem to focus enough."
"What are you talking about?" Katara asked. "That was amazing. You were amazing." Zuko turned towards her, confusion crossing his face. "Didn't you see them all cheering for you?" she added.
"They've all had too much wine and probably cheering for Uncle…or Lu Ten."
Katara nudged him. "You're being silly, you were really good Zuko." He stared at her for a long moment, before his eyebrows furrowed and he looked back out across the water. She moved to stand beside him, before adding quietly, "Why don't you believe me?"
"Because it wasn't good enough." He looked down at his hands. "Because my instructors think I could do better. I don't have the poise that Azula has; the natural talent my father had when he was instructed by them."
"Don't listen to them." Her response was met with a dry laugh, so she tried again. "What do they know? Everyone tonight thought you were brilliant. People don't cheer like that in sympathy."
He looked up, eyebrow raised. "They cheer like that with alcohol."
She laughed, before rolling her eyes at him. "You just refuse to take a compliment, don't you?" When he didn't respond, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Zuko, you were brilliant."
He stopped, standing perfectly still and just blinked at her, before slowly bringing his hand up to his cheek. "Oh." A pause. "Thank you."
She beamed. "You're welcome."
A moment of awkward silence passed between them. Eventually, Zuko said sheepishly, "I'm sorry I didn't say the right thing after you sang. I didn't mean to be rude."
Katara giggled. "I think you learnt your lesson."
"Yeah, I guess," the prince responded, frowning.
"I know I'm not very good," she said, shrugging. "Sokka always teased me, but my parents always encouraged me to sing anyway."
"You're definitely enthusiastic."
"Is that code for bad?"
"No, you're not bad. You're definitely better than me."
Katara scoffed. "Based on that performance, I wouldn't think so. I think you've got a lot of talent."
"Let's not start that again."
"Agreed."
They stood there for a while, until they decided they were safe from repeat performances, heading back to watch the band's raucous renditions of Fire Nation songs. The words were beginning to blur together, but the energy hadn't faded from the group.
Finally, the band started to ease into the end of their night. Iroh announced that there was still one more surprise, giggling as he headed off the deck. He soon returned with a handful of colourful tubes that he referred to as 'fireworks'. Katara had already witnessed the effects of these from a distance, occasionally getting the chance to stand on the balcony of the Palace.
Stars shone above their heads as they stood on the deck waiting for the first flash of light. A thin burning line of flame coursed up into the sky, and Katara jumped as the world exploded into blazing colours, the booming sound reverberating through her. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and didn't need to look up to know it was Iroh. As she watched the sky shattered with sparkling streaks and cascading flashes, there was no Palace, no old woman, no broken family or memories of loved ones beyond her reach. Katara's world existed as swirling bursts of amber and scarlet, cracks and sparkles, light and joy.
For that moment, it was enough.