"I just can't believe it," Kuei mutters for the millionth time. "He was my closest advisor." The king watches with the Council of Five and the Avatar's group as more Dai Li are rounded up. Many were still missing. It was difficult to get them to admit where the prisoners were being held but they couldn't possibly keep such a large number hidden for long. Though with Long Feng gone and their allegiance supposedly being to the Earth King, they cooperated more easily than expected. They cut the head off of the snake before it had time to respond.
"I still think he's going to easy on them." Toph mumbles. "House arrest at a summer palace, what does he think they did – walk on the grass or something?"
"At least they're away from the city," Aang replies.
"That makes it even worse," Zuko scoffs. "They're all be together and can figure out their stories."
The king wanders over, "I've had quite enough of this drudgery. I'm sending you five with General How and some soldiers to Lake Laogai to clear up the rest of this mess. I can't stand it any longer!"
"Your Majesty –"
"No, no, I don't want to hear another word. I'm quite done with this right now."
. . .
Sunrise dawns over Lake Laogai, leaves rustle in the breeze, and waves lap lazily over the sandy shore. Appa groans and Momo chitters loudly from the saddle, a safe distance away when the earth starts rumbling under Toph's hands. She heaves and a tunnel emerges from the depths.
"I could feel a lot of stuff down there, we need to be careful."
"We're always careful," How replies curtly.
Toph makes a face as soon as his back is turned. "We're always careful," she mimics.
"Someone's in a sour mood." Zuko raises an eyebrow at her.
Toph shrugs. "If he was always careful maybe we wouldn't be dealing with this in the first place."
The tunnel smells like mold and sickly green lanterns are lit, water drips down onto the group. Katara grips Zuko's hand tightly. Soldiers take point and bring up the rear with the general and Avatar's group sandwiched in the middle. The remaining Dai Li may be here, lurking around any corner but the tunnel widens and the lights grow stronger with still no sign of any ambush. They stop to explore the first tunnel that branches off from the main path. It's short with a cluster of rooms at the end.
"Toph," Sokka prompts, "Is there anyone in there?"
"No, it's completely empty here. The only people are much, much farther down."
Each room is identical. Each room has a circular track with a green lamp on it. A chair is in the middle of each ring. Despair hangs in the air. "I don't know what they did down here and I don't want to," someone mutters. They close off the tunnel when they leave.
The next branch off of the main tunnel leads to several wide open, perfectly squared-off rooms. It's been used so much that footprints, not even paths, but the foot prints themselves have been worn into the ground. One set stands at the front, facing the rest of the room. Five rows of five sets face that one. Large hair pieces and robes similar, no not similar, exactly like Joo Dee's robe hang in a smaller room attached to these. Aang glances around nervously. "Sokka, you remember that other woman who said she was Joo Dee? What-What if she was? What if they both were?"
Sokka rubs the back of his head uncomfortably. "Uh-"
"You think that's what that lady in the Lower Ring was talking about when we first got there? What if they turn people into Joo Dee here?"
"Maybe Joo Dee is just a title, the same as Avatar or something," Zuko supplies.
"No," General How states, "They really believe they're Joo Dee and that they're each the only one."
Sokka rounds on the man, "You knew about this!"
How shrugs sadly, "We had no proof. What could we do, especially against the Dai Lee? Let's keep moving."
The continue farther beneath the lake, coming across a few living quarters, sparring rooms, rooms with basins of water and posts with shackles attached. When they come to rooms with hooks flecked with blood hanging from the ceiling Zuko stops, blocking Katara from entering. They wait in the main corridor, not venturing off into anymore side tunnels with the others. He brushes the hair out of her face. "Are you okay?"
She nods fiercely but leans into his touch. "Let's just get through this as quickly as we can. Let's find your soldiers."
Zuko pauses, he hadn't thought of them like that. They weren't his soldiers, were they? How many of them would follow him if he asked? How many of them were loyal to his sister? For the first time since confronting Long Feng Zuko's unsure. Does he really want to see a bunch of Fire Nation soldiers? He gulps.
He doesn't have a choice ultimately. They reach the Fire Nation prisoners all too soon. They can hear them long before they can see them. At the very end of the main tunnel stands a nondescript metal door, no different from the hundreds of other doors they've seen today. Toph hunkers down, "There's a boulder behind that door and then just a bunch of people milling around."
"Are they confined in any way?" How questions.
"Nope."
"Alright, men open the door and then as soon as the boulder is clear we rush them."
"No." Zuko straightens. "These are my people. I'm going in."
How scoffs, "Boy, you-"
Aang looks at the general, "Let Zuko go in there. That way people hopefully don't have to get hurt. If they attack, then the earth benders can go in."
How glares for a moment before giving the avatar a short, jerky bow. "Of course, Avatar. Open the door."
The door swings open and Toph smirks, "Go get 'em, Sparky." The rock in the doorway explodes outward leaving a dust cloud in its wake. Zuko steps through it to see the men, his men, Agni willing. The soldiers stand there in the massive, dank cavern, blinking dust out of their eyes while their prince waits with baited breath. A whisper runs through the crowd, twisting it's way around until everyone knows it's their banished prince who's come to save them.
Suddenly a shout erupts, "Hail Prince Zuko!" There's a split second of hesitation before others take up the shout. "Hail Prince Zuko! Hail Prince Zuko!"
"No!" A new voice cuts through the excitement. "He was banished! Our Fire Lord doesn't want him why should we!"
"He saved us from that bastard Zhao!"
"He's a criminal!"
There's an angry buzz though if it's directed at him or at the dissenting voice, it's impossible to tell. Zuko's heart falls into his stomach. His mouth is dry and his hands are shaking. The crowd is starting to move, starting to stir themselves up. He has to do something!
"Stop it!" He roars, throwing fire over the soldiers. He has to do this, has to ignore the shaking. He holds his hands in fists at his side. "My sister left you here to die, Azula doesn't care so at least listen to me! We were lied to, we were told our war was just, that we were protecting ourselves. You can ask, I'm sure by now at least some of you heard about the Air Temple and what we found there. There were no weapons except ours, our country, our Fire Lord, lied to us!" He stands taller as he continues, burning with fiery intensity.
"Ozai didn't care, Zhao didn't care that you were being sent to die. My sister didn't care either. How many of you only followed orders because you thought there wasn't another choice?" A murmur follows those words. "We have a choice. You don't have to lay down your lives for a senseless war, you don't have to wonder if you'll ever see your children and your families again. Join me and fight for our land and for real Fire Nation honor!"
The soldiers shout their approval. On the other side of the doorway How stands dumfounded, annoyed at how wrong he was about the prince. Toph frowns, "Some of those people are lying."
Katara nods, "I know, we just have to figure out who." Zuko begins to organize the troops as the rest of the recue group filters into the cave. The sight of Katara draws out a few surprised murmurs, obviously someone had spread stories about her time on the ship. A collective gasp is drawn when Aang enters the room.
"The Avatar, that's the Avatar!"
"Is the Prince really helping the Avatar?"
"I can't believe Zhao didn't kill him!"
Angry hisses that Zuko quickly tries to quell run through the crowd as the earth benders come in. More than a few flames are lit. General How nods to Zuko, gritting his teeth. It'd be stupid to try and take control of the situation away from the Fire Nation Prince right now though, even How can see that.
Zuko manages to calm them and it takes some effort to prevent a stampede but eventually they're able to start herding all of the soldiers out. The old cook from Zuko's ship approaches as other soldiers pass, Katara breaks out a smile as soon as she sees him! "Lian! It's so good to see you!"
"You too, Miss Katara. How are you holding up, how's your food been?"
Katara laughs, surprising herself down here under the lake, "Nothing has been as spicy as your food, I promise you that. What are you doing here, what's happened since I last saw you?"
Zuko butts in, "What about my Uncle, have you seen him?"
"I haven't heard anything since he was imprisoned." Zuko's heart stops. Lian's eyes widen, "Oh Agni, you didn't know! I'm sure he's out. He has plenty of friends who can –" Zuko doesn't wait for the rest of the sentence, just stalks off.
"When was that?" Katara questions.
"Not long after the North Pole. I didn't realize he didn't know."
Katara pats the big man's arm, "It's okay. I'll talk to him. Before I do though, do you know what happened to Akina or where he is?"
Lian's jaw clenches, shaking his head. "Those Earth Kingdom bastards took him and a few others away. I haven't seen him since. Wait, how did you know he was here?"
"I – uh," Katara grimaces at the memory, he had no idea who she or Zuko were. "We saw him for a moment, I just wanted to say hi."
"If you know anything-"
"I really have to go, see you!" Katara scampers off to find Zuko. He's already long gone, and getting caught in the mass of Fire Nation soldiers isn't something she's willing to do so instead she waits beside Sokka until the swarm is gone.
"You doing okay?"
"Yeah," she nods. "How about you? We've done a lot in the past few days."
Sokka laughs, "We've done a lot in the past few months."
They emerge from the tunnel under Lake Laogai and see the soldiers blinking, dazed at the light. They hadn't been in the caves all that long but the sickly green light combined with the fear from just waking up there and not knowing if or when they could get out leaves a few kissing the ground.
Katara spots Zuko, "Hey I-"
"I don't want to talk about it," He cuts her off abruptly then stalks off, leaving her behind staring at him in confusion. Suddenly, she feels very small and doesn't quite know what to do with the emotion.
The earth benders are already erecting a small huts for the soldiers, even making sure to build extra huts for the women in the crowd. Toph's shouting at a few of the benders and Aang is, to everyone's dismay, making the huts prettier with designs in the rocks. "If they're going to be here awhile, they might as well enjoy it," he reasons when asked.
A small town begins to take shape and the Fire Nation soldiers begin to wander around, claiming certain houses for their own. They have to share, of course, but these stone quarters are already better than the living conditions on the ship.
How attempts to tower over Zuko. "I don't want them here permanently, this is only a temporary solution!"
"Of course General How, but what else were we going to do? At least here you know where they all are."
"Yes, but you need to find out which ones will make problems, which ones are loyal to your sister."
"I'm working on it," Zuko growls.
"You'd better work fast. We'll figure something out for the ones who want to end the war but the others will have to be dealt with."
"Fine, but they're still my people, I don't want to see them end up like the people in the Lower Ring."
How bristles. "Those are still upstanding Earth Kingdom citizens and the Fire Nation would be blessed to be considered that lucky. Either way, you first have to find the loyalists anyway." How turns away. "Raise the walls!" He shouts. The earth benders move into position, the huts finished, and begin to pull the earth up around the settlement. High walls rise, even cutting into the lake, blocking out the setting sun. Zuko gasps and several of the soldiers holler at the tall barricade enclosing them in a perfect circle. The earth benders are more than a little nervous. This may be the Earth Kingdom but there's only a few of them and so many angry fire benders. Even without weapons or bending, the regular soldiers are terrifying too.
"You'll bring them food, and water, everything they need to live, right?" Zuko demands.
"Of course, they're valuable assets, I don't want them damaged. In fact, someone already went to the town nearby and is requisitioning some food for them."
"Good."
There's an hour or two of Zuko and Katara putting out proverbial fires. The rest of the group just stays out of the way. Zuko manages most but all of the kind things Zuko's crew had to say about her, help Katara smooth over some issues. She even sees a few people from the crew though not many and none that she knew personally. Every now and then, someone hurls an insult at her lineage or mother or anything they can think of. Finally, the food arrives and everything calms down. The soldiers are much less grumpy once their bellies are full.
Everyone is pretty quiet over dinner, the Avatar's group eats mostly by themselves, relishing the calm after the long day. Once the food has settled Toph looks at Zuko. "So, when do we start asking them about Azula, huh? I'm thinking first thing tomorrow?"
Zuko sighs tiredly, not wanting to do it at all. "Sure, first thing tomorrow."
How comes over, "We're about to leave to make camp outside of the wall. Come along."
They get up to follow but Zuko pauses. These are his people, they trust him, shouldn't he stay? He remembers what Katara had said what seems like a lifetime ago, his people won't respect him if he's aloof, if he doesn't pay attention to them.
"Come on Sparky, you can't stay here tonight. You don't know who wants to kill you," Toph comments.
"Yeah, you're right." He leaves to join the others.
They sleep outside the wall that night. Katara doesn't sneak into his hut that night and he doesn't sneak over to hers.
In the morning the worst work begins. They have to question each soldier individually with Toph listening for whether they're lying or not. Some soldiers have definitely picked a side. Most haven't decided yet. Zuko has to talk to them, explain the story of the Air Temple over and over again. For many, when he reminds them of Zhao's atrocities, they agree to stand for him when the time comes. It's almost the same conversation over, and over, and over again. Sometimes Katara will answer a question, sometimes they direct the questions at Aang, but overall it's the same. Lian comes in but Zuko waves him off. "I know where you stand Lian. You're free to go."
"Katara said you two saw Akina. What happened to him?"
Zuko's face contorts, "Later," he replies. "I don't know what they did to him."
Lian frown but leaves, praying to his God that his friend is safe or at the very least alive. The process continues for hours until every single person has been spoken to. Those who were neutral or supported Zuko were free to go. The loyalists, the ones who supported the Fire Nation's war, were quickly and quietly escorted outside of the wall.
"So what happens now?"
How looks at the man and can't help but feel a twinge of pity. He's too young, How shrugs, how many Earth Kingdom soldiers died just as young? "The ones loyal to your sisters will help the Earth Kingdom. The engineers especially will be useful."
Zuko grits his teeth. These are still his people, regardless of whether they're loyal to him or not but if he fights for them what chance will he have to help the others? He sighs. "Okay, but the others stay here for now."
"I told you I don't want Fire Nation on our soil. You need to find a way to get them out of here."
"No, we'll need them for the eclipse," Sokka interjects.
"For the what?"
"It's why we came here in the first place," Aang pipes up. "We've been trying to talk to the Earth King about it but we couldn't get close enough. There's an eclipse coming that'll make it so fire benders can't bend. We need to attack the capitol then and we need your help to do it."
How stiffens at the news. "When is it?"
"We don't know, that's what we need help with."
"I'll alert the Earth King, we'll figure this out. In the mean time Prince Zuko, perhaps you should keep an eye on your people. Make sure they're willing to attack their own people, that's what they'll be doing."
"Don't worry about them, you just find out when the eclipse is and we'll be ready to go."
The Earth Kingdom soldiers set off with the loyalists, leaving the Avatar's party behind to come sometime in the next few days. At first the Fire Nation soldiers are wary, after all, they'd been told that capturing the Avatar was essential to winning the war and here he was, gallivanting around. Some of them had been on ships that the Aang had partially destroyed up at the North Pole. They keep their distance and keep their glares to themselves.
Appa and Momo are also quite a surprise. Appa lands in the middle of the compound with Momo chittering on his back, terrifying the troops. Eventually one gets dared to touch the massive creature and, finding Appa appreciative, others soon joined in on petting the flying bison. Momo demands attention as well.
Toph sits bored next to Sokka who stands watch protectively over his sister who is healing the men and women who were roughed up by the Dai Li. One man comes in with a nasty bruise on his face which she heals. The next though is more concerning, it's a burn a few days old.
"Who did this?"
The scrawny kitchen helper, not even a real cook, bites his lip nervously. "Princess Azula didn't like the dumplings that day ma'am."
Katara's face grows cold, "She'll pay for this. Don't worry." She pushes the healing water into the mark, thankful for her time in the North Pole.
The boy ducks his head and stammers, "Th-thank you." Zuko wanders in and the boy snaps to attention, "Your Highness!"
Zuko nods at him. "Relax. I need to talk to Ka –uh Lady Katara."
"Oh, of course!" The not-cook quickly leaves.
"Oh look at that, you're a lady now Katara!" Toph snickers.
"It's appropriate," Zuko retorts, turning red.
"Mhmm, sure it is."
Sokka laughs. "What's up, Zuko?"
"Uh, can I talk to your sister."
"Sure, she's right there." Sokka waves in Katara's direction.
"Um, alone?"
"Ew, fine. Toph let's go, let's let them be gross."
"We're not going to, we're not gross!" Zuko snaps at their backs as they leave.
Katara turns to him, entirely uncomfortable with the man in front of her. It's not Zuko, not the man that she knows at least. His hair had grown enough that he could pull it into a top knot which for the first time he did this morning. His whole demeanor had changed, instead of comfortable and relaxed he stands ramrod straight, looking around like an eagle scanning the horizon. Even the way he spoke was different, he'd called her a lady. This isn't the man she's used to and she isn't entirely sure she likes this version of him. "What do you want Zuko?"
He's taken aback by the abruptness in her voice. "I – uh, I – nevermind." His shoulders droop a little. "Do you want to grab dinner with me?"
"Oh, is it that time already? I'll get the others!"
"No, uh," he doesn't want to be around the others, he doesn't want to talk with them and deal with jokes. He's tired and he just wants to sit with her. "I think Lian mentioned making something special for you with the supplies that were sent, we just got another shipment in."
"Oh, that's really kind of him, let's go see."
As soon as they step out of the door he straightens again. She walks awkwardly beside him. Lian is easy enough to find, he's fully immersed in making a cabbage stew with rice and directing others to do the same. He looks up and sees them.
"Oh if it isn't my favorite pair!" He bows. "Prince Zuko, Miss Katara." Zuko had taken him aside earlier and explained what they'd seen of Akina. Neither of them had any idea of where he would be now.
"Lian, Zuko said you made something special for us, I can't wait to try it!" Katara exclaims.
"Wha-" He sees Zuko behind her nodding furiously, eyebrows raised and hopeful. "Oh I, uh, didn't get the chance to today. We ran out of time but tomorrow I will. I'll make sure it's ready for you."
"Okay, that sounds perfect. Mind if we get some of the stew?"
"Of course, I was just finishing it. Here," He grabs two bowls and ladles in the rice with the stew on top of it. The sit nearby, unfortunately in full view of everyone but his men give him space. They watch their prince talk to the Water Tribe peasant.
Katara doesn't want to bring up Iroh so she talks about about everything else. "How does it feel? This is a bit bigger than a ship."
"Yeah, but with my ship we always had a plan, chase the Avatar, chase the Avatar. Here, what do we do, we just wait. It's going to be difficult."
"Of course it is, but you'll handle it. You seem to be doing great, or at least better than you were on the ship."
"That doesn't take much." His eyes soften, he wouldn't be here, able to get his people to like him, if not for her. He owes her so much. "So, how about you? How's the healing?"
"It's fine, it's all good."
"Good."
"Yeah." They sink into silence, suddenly all too aware of the people watching them. It stretches between them until the words force themselves out of Katara's mouth. "Will you still travel with us?"
"What?" He's shocked by the question.
"You have your men now, you have a responsibility to them. Will you still travel with us?"
"I'm Aang's teacher. My first responsibility is teaching him. I wouldn't leave you," He backtracks quickly. "I wouldn't leave him, or you, like the group in general. I'm not leaving." Zuko lays a hand on her arm, comforting her as best he can.
"Good. I was worried that you would." She starts to put a hand over his but pulls back, again aware of how many eyes are taking in their interactions. She jumps up. "I'm done with dinner." She quickly hands her things to the dish washer and begins to leave but Zuko catches up to her.
"What was that about?"
"Nothing Zuko, it's nothing."
"Okay," he hesitates. Nothing is going how he wants it to. There's too much colliding. His old life and new and trying to mesh themselves together and he just wants to spend time with the woman he loves! Loves. He loves her. It isn't a question, it's a statement. It's a burning in his chest and a nervousness in his stomach when he looks at her. He loves her. He looks at her again, her hair that doesn't make it into the braid down her back and so she tucks it behind her ear. Her lips, not always turned in a smile, but when she does it lights up her face. Her eyes so blue he could get lost in them. He loves her. He doesn't know what to say, what to do in light of this revelation. "Walk with me!" He blurts out.
"Oh, okay." They walk around the perimeter and neither one can think of anything to say. Zuko is still in shock and nervous about it. What will he say, will he say anything? Should he say anything? She's stopped him before, other things have come up but that was before he realized it was love! He'd realized there was something there before, but he wasn't expecting this wonderful feeling. He's hopeful, he's in command again, he's with his own people, things should go well. Katara, on the other hand, is just painfully aware of how many stares and especially glares they get when they're together. They each try to start a conversation but all comments about the moon, the nice weather, and the shape of the huts quickly fade, each lost in their own thoughts.
Eventually they end up back in the center of the settlement outside of the hut that's been set aside for Zuko. He pauses at the doorway. Would it be wrong to invite her inside, would she think poorly of him for that? He wasn't asking for anything bad, just wanting to spend more time with her. What would she think? Oh he shouldn't do anything. He'd kick himself if he didn't though. The words keep almost bubbling from his lips but what if she doesn't feel the same way. Who is he kidding, of course she doesn't feel the same -
Katara interrupts his thoughts. "I have to go," she states, her stomach in knots.
"Oh, I was hoping for the company. You don't have to go yet."
"Zuko, don't you get it?" Tears spring to her eyes and she tries to fight them down.
"What're you talking about?"
"Don't you understand?" She fights to keep her voice down. "You're the Prince of the Fire Nation and I'm some Water Tribe peasant. Everyone has been staring, everyone here disapproves."
"No one has even noticed us." He looks up and people look down quickly, he realizes that's not true at all. "Katara, I don't care what anyone else thinks."
"But I do. You're still the Prince and now you're leading your people, you need their support. Even if we're not doing anything wrong, it looks bad." She turns to leave and he grabs her arm.
"Katara!"
"What Zuko?"
"I love you." The words escape his mouth without his permission, hanging in the air between them.
She looks at him, her breathing heavy, drawing him in with those big blue eyes with tears at the corners. "I have to go."
The next morning she's gone. She and the others have head back to Ba Sing Se to handle to eclipse preparations.