Boiling Point
Serious Buisness

When Katara left to go and see where Aang was Lu Ten found himself slightly concerned having seen Aang nod his head and the exact point he stormed off. That was how he saw the entire exchange between Katara and Aang, but cursed his decision to be there when Katara hurried back, realizing he'd seen everything, but a sound of panic escaped her lips.

He almost followed, but then he heard Aang call himself an idiot. "Yes, you were an idiot."

Aang's head went up, then he turned to look at Lu Ten. "You heard that?"

"And saw the way you acted right now..." Lu Ten pondered what to say after having seen the young Airbender attempt to kiss Katara after she'd said she wasn't sure of her own feelings, then said rather bluntly, feeling it would get the point across even though what he said would hurt Aang's feelings. "You acted like Ozai."

"I'm nothing like Ozai!" Aang protested.

"Really? Because I know my uncle quite well, but I also know how he treated Zuko's mother as if she were some kind of trophy, something to be owned, and that is exactly what you did to Katara."

"But I'm the Avatar, so..."

"That doesn't mean anything, but aren't you in effect saying that because you have the power you can have whatever you want? That's exactly what Ozai's done Aang, but I lived through it. I lived through him faking my death just so he could steal the throne from my father, who is the rightful Fire Lord."

"Wait? So Zuko wouldn't be Fire Lord once we defeated Ozai if we defeated him?"

"What's this if we defeated him?"

"That..." Aang looked at the ground. "It's not fair! Everything is putting the world on my shoulders, so what is wrong with wanting something to myself."

"What's wrong is that Katara isn't something but a person, with her own choices, but a healthy relationship isn't ever one-sided in the favor of one individual. You talk about it not being fair, but how is what you want fair to Katara? And..." Lu Ten pushed his lips together. "What I saw just now, it's something I would have to tell Hakoda if I ever get the chance to see him again. No parent would want to see their daughter treated like that."

"That..." Aang looked at him horrified. "But that means..."

"Hakoda wouldn't approve of a relationship between you two? Perhaps you should have thought of that before you treated Katara that way."

"Then you think she should be with Zuko, right?"

"What?" Lu Ten's eyes blinked.

"You saw that scene, right."

"You mean the scene where Zuko was embarrassed because of the way he treated my father and Katara was embarrassed because that scene portrays her in such a negative light?"

"That..."

"This is about you and your behavior. And..." Lu Ten knew he needed to speak with Katara, but in the back of his mind, he never thought while he was in prison back at Boiling Rock that he would be intervening in teenage drama during the middle of a war. "You need to honestly think about how you treated her back there, but put her feelings before your own, even if it means she rejects you as a potential life partner."

He turned, heading back towards the playhouse, knowing Katara said she'd be back inside, only to find she'd not yet gone back in. She stood there wiping a tear away from her eye, before smiling at him. "I'm okay. Sorry, you had to see that."

Lu Ten opened his mouth to say something, only for Katara to head into the playhouse. He shook his head, only to find the ending of the play even more uncomfortable, not to mention the last thing the small group with the entire world on their shoulders needed to see. In truth, he felt like vomiting, yet he knew the ending was just like his uncle, not caring who he trampled over, but the very idea of Azula killing her brother sickened him just as much.

"Keep in mind what I said about Fire Nation propaganda," Lu Ten stated.

Ty Lee walked along, cheerful as ever. "I wasn't surprised. I kind of wish I had a death scene though."

Lu Ten turned his head to look at her, while Toph laughed. "Well, they'd certainly have picked the right person to cast as you, Twinkletoes Number Two."

"Not sure if that's the right nickname for her," Sokka muttered as Toph shrugged her shoulders.

"Katara.." Aang started speaking up, looking rather meek, meaning he might be offering an apology to Katara, but a quick glare silenced him.

When they arrived back, Lu Ten spoke low enough that only Katara—except perhaps Toph given the way she was—could hear him. "Katara. Can we talk about what happened earlier?"

Her eyes blinked, a rather guilty look on her face. She nodded her head, knowing full well he was the adult in the group, but they found a place off to the side where they leaned up against the wall. She let out a sigh. "I know my behavior earlier was inappropriate. He's the Avatar...

"Stop." Lu Ten kept his voice firm. "The only person whose behavior is inappropriate was Aang."

She looked at him, confused. "Isn't that what everyone expects? For me to be the Avatar's girl?"

He looked at her then, wondering what he should say to her, but then said rather slowly. "You have a choice."

"You hesitated in saying that, but you heard him say what he did about going into the Avatar state."

Lu Ten let out a snort, folding his arms across his chest. "If he's talking like that then he's not ready to be in a romantic relationship with anybody, but you shouldn't feel as if you need to be in a relationship with him just because he might throw a massive tantrum. He needs to learn that he can't throw a tantrum and get his way."

"You still hesitated."

"To be honest..." Lu Ten swallowed. Clearing his throat, he started over. "I can't really go into detail beyond the fact the woman I fell in love with, unlike you, didn't have a choice."

"Why didn't she?"

"Arranged marriage."

"That," Katara spoke with disgust, her hands clenching. "Yue was in one, but my Gran-Gran as well. Though, to be honest, I do think of Master Pakku as a grandfather figure. I won't be tied down by such outdated traditions."

"Then understand who you end up with is completely your choice, but that person should be someone willing to treat you with respect."

"Still..."

"Would Hakoda be happy with how Aang treated you?"

"No."

"Would he want you to be in a relationship with someone who treated you like that?"

"No."

"How about your brother?"

"No."

"Then how about your mother, gone as she may be, your Gran-Gran or even this Master Pakku?"

"No."

"Then you have the answer you're looking for. If Aang can't treat you with respect, then your answer should be no. Don't let the world's expectations of what you should or shouldn't do hold you back, but be yourself and choose your path."

A smile spread across Katara's face. "You sound a lot like Iroh. Do you miss your father?"

"Yes, but..."

"But what?"

"It's complicated," Lu Ten let out a laugh. "Oh. And thank you—all of you—for being such a kind friend to Zuko. He didn't have friends going up."

Katara laughed. "I wouldn't have guessed."