Thank you for sticking with me for so long! We're about to finally enter the Fire Nation. Please let me know what you think, reviews are loved and appreciated! They really keep me going.
. . . . .
The cliffs loom high and imposing over the Fire Nation warship as it makes ready to dock beside dozens of other ships. Some are hide and wood but many imperious Fire Nation steamers stand ready to attack. Zuko's heart stops at the sight. They're all here for him, they're all here to end the war. Katara looks out over the small armada, her throat tight. They win or they die.
"Hey, long time no see!"
The pair whirl around at the unexpected voice behind them. "Aang!" Katara launches herself at the monk who had glided up silently behind them, pulling him into a tight hug. "I was so worried that you wouldn't get our messages and meet us here."
"No, I made it. Appa, Momo, and I arrived a couple of days ago."
"Great!"
Zuko steps forward, not embracing the boy but still pleased at his presence. "How was your trip? Did the guru actually know anything?"
Aang pauses for a moment, his eyes distant. "Yeah, Zuko, I learned a lot. I feel lighter now somehow."
"You feel like you can defeat the Fire Lord?"
Aang frowns slightly before nodding. "Yes, I can do whatever it takes to restore peace and harmony to the world." Katara looks at the boy, studying him. There's nothing physically different about him, he's still bald, still wearing the orange monk robes she last saw him in, but he's different somehow. He stands taller, more determined, and a kind of serenity lies behind his eyes. For a moment she can see the man he'll become, at least until Toph punches his arm.
"Twinkle Toes! Look what I can do!" Toph launches into a metal bending demonstration that has Zuko rubbing his forehead.
"She's going to destroy my ship," he groans.
Katara snickers, leading him away. "You won't have to worry about that for long."
They're the first to look outside when the front of the ship lowers. A short man, much more muscular than he had been last time they met, but just as loving stands at the end of the gangway. Zuko's heart thumps erratically and Katara smiles, tears threatening to well up in her eyes. Zuko launches himself forward, wrapping his arms around the old man.
"Uncle!"
"Prince Zuko, my son," Iroh hugs the young man back just as tightly. "Oh how I've missed you. I've heard so much. You've accomplished so much since I last saw you." He steps back to look at the prince. "Oh how you've grown."
Zuko inclines his head. "Thank you, Uncle. I heard you were in prison!"
"I needed information in the capitol but got caught. I'm out and we're together now, that's all that matters. I have much to share with you." Iroh looks up the gangway to where Katara stands, letting them have their privacy. "I'll return him to you soon," he chuckles to which Katara blushes.
While Iroh guides his nephew to a smaller ship, Katara sets out to see who all has arrived. A quick scan shows a medley of blue, green, and red clothing mingling together. This is the first meeting of so many people from the different nations since the Hundred Year War began. It's more than Katara had ever let herself really hope for.
"Katara!" The boy from the Northern Air Temple races towards her. "Can you believe it! We're about to invade the Fire Nation. My dad made so much cool stuff."
"Oh Teo, it's so good to see you! I've heard Sokka talk about some of what's been made but not much."
Teo laughs in response. "You'll just have to wait and see. It's amazing!"
"I can't wait."
"We're unveiling it tomorrow." His dad shouts in the distance, accompanied by a small puff of smoke. Teo winces. "Well, got to go. We'll catch up after we kick the Fire Lord's ass." He wheels off without another word.
Katara meanders around the small settlement, greeting old friends and making new ones, looking, hoping to see Suki somewhere in the crowd. She sees the swampbenders, healers and warriors from the Northern Water Tribe and notices the lookouts stationed all around the camp but sees no Suki. The glint of gold and green catches her eyes. There! The Kyoshi Warriors!
She stops in her tracks, Sokka's already there, his head bowed and his shoulders slumped. One of the warriors turns to another, trying to stifle an onslaught of emotions. Katara stands frozen, unable to look away from the grief. The war has to end. In a few days they'll be at the capitol and it will all be over. One way or the other, it will all be over.
. . . . .
Zuko sits, sipping the jasmine tea in front of him, simply enjoying the company of his Uncle. Iroh refuses to talk about prison and why he's transformed from a jovial old man enjoying his golden years to a hardened, muscular fire bending force of nature. Zuko is more than happy to avoid the subject as well. Instead they talk about Zuko, about his travels from North Pole, the swamp, Omashu, Ba Sing Se, and the liberation of the Fire Nation soldiers.
"Have you heard anything else from Ba Sing Se?" Zuko questions.
Iroh looks away. "Prince Zuko, you know your sister. All of the reports from the city are exactly what you'd expect with her in charge." He sighs, contemplating the teacup in front of him. "I laid siege to that city for 600 days and in a couple of weeks she accomplished what I could not. I almost wish I had won if not to just protect the city from Azula's wrath."
The corners of Zuko's mouth turn down. "There were men I was supposed to protect there. I should have stayed and fought," the prince mourns.
"Zuko," Iroh retorts sharply, "No! You are needed. Without you, without an heir to the Fire Nation Throne, this is all pointless. You are needed so much my prince."
"You could have taken the throne instead. It would have been better, would have been honorable to stay with them."
"No, Prince Zuko, there is no honor in a death like that. Be glad that you lived and can help the Avatar. Many of those men willingly gave their lives so that the future we are building can come to fruition."
Iroh stares at the younger man, eyes boring into him until, with a sigh, the prince relents. "I suppose you're right. Their deaths won't be in vain."
"Good, I should hope not. Now," Iroh claps his hands together, abruptly changing the conversation, "Where is Miss Katara? She must be starving."
Of course Katara joins them for dinner in Iroh's quarters, along the rest of the avatar's team, Bato, and the chief. "You must be Chief Hakoda," Iroh bows to the Water Tribe man who returns the gesture.
"And you're the Dragon of the West, General Iroh. We've heard a lot about you." Throughout dinner Hakoda appraises the man who attacked Ba Sing Se, noting the tenderness in Katara's eyes when she looks at the general. She looks at the Fire Nation man the way she used to look at him, like a father. Hakoda quickly looks away.
. . . . .
Of all the people Sokka expects to see in his quarters before explaining the invasion plan, it's not Prince Zuko. He stands with his hand nervously rubbing the back of his head while Sokka stares, confused. "What's up with you?"
Zuko swallows, "My father is going to die, right?"
Sokka freezes. "You know he has to, don't you?"
"Yeah, I know. Just make sure the people that can be spared are. This isn't their fault and there are civilians, regular people there."
Sokka sighs, "We'll do what we can but-" he leaves the sentence hanging in between them.
Zuko nods. "That'll have to be enough." He turns on his heel, leaving without another word. The Water Tribe man looks at the door, sighing again. It was easier when all of the Fire Nation was evil. Now, he's painfully aware of just how real each life the invasion takes is, no matter which side. So many people will die if this works. More people will die if the Fire Nation wins though.
Sokka gathers his scrolls – the ones he's been pouring over the whole voyage, heading for the war room at the top of the ship. It's all he can do to not hold his breath as the swings door opens. His father, Bato, Teo and his father, Hue from the swamp, Iroh, Jee, and the whole gaang are there. Sokka gulps. He can do this.
"Well," his father claps a hand on his shoulder, "It's your plan, you tell us what to do."
The room is hotter than Sokka would prefer it as he tugs at his shirt. "Uh –" It's really hot in here. One scroll slips as he goes to unroll it. He can't seem to grip the paper properly. So many people will die if this works. If it doesn't work, his family will die. If it doesn't work, the Fire Nation will win. If it doesn't work Yue will die. It has to work.
His hands ball into fists as he steels himself. He looks up, straight into Zuko's eyes. "You've helped me plan this. I wouldn't have as much information about Capitol City if not for you." He looks around at the others. "We've seen war ravage the world our whole lives and on the Day of Black Sun, it ends. We need to spare as many people as we can. Make sure everyone knows to leave the civilians alone unless they attack first." Everyone nods, a flash of a smile crosses Zuko's face. "Good, now let's get down to business."
Sokka explains the plan. It begins with a naval stage.
. . . . .
Katara stands at the bow, staring at the moonlight. Somewhere underneath the waves strange ships – submarines Sokka had called them – propel forward, keeping time with the Fire Nation ships everyone had piled onto.
"Katara?"
The waterbender pulls her attention away from the waves. She squints at the man in front of her. "Oh, Haru! I didn't recognize you with mustache!"
"Yeah, what do you think?" He asks as he strokes it.
"It's nice." She smiles at him. "It's been so long, I didn't even know you were here."
"No surprise, I've been so busy that this is the first chance I've even had to come and say hello." He crosses his arms, leaning against the railing. "Never thought I'd be back on a Fire Nation ship. It's no prison platform but still." Haru shudders.
Katara squeezes his shoulder in response. "They're with us. They're the good guys this time."
"I know, it's just, well it's hard to remember that sometimes."
"It'll get easier with practice. It took me a long time too."
"How did they even end up joining us, working with the Avatar? Last I heard that Prince Zuko guy was dead set on capturing him."
Katara looks away, a small smile on her face. "A lot can change," she replies. Movement catches her eyes where Prince Zuko stands in the shadows, the door closing behind him. A tilt of her head beckons him over. "In fact, Haru, there's someone I'd like you to meet. Haru, this is Prince Zuko. Zuko, Haru."
Haru had thought about this awe-inspiring woman since every day since she'd freed him and his father. He'd imagined seeing her again, what he'd say, how he'd win her over. He'd thought about kissing her, wrapping his arms around her to hold her close. When he'd found her tonight, under the moonlight, with the invasion looming before them, he'd found his moment to tell her, his moment to sweep her off her feet. That's all dispelled with the look the prince of the Fire Nation gives her that she so readily returns. Now he knows why the Fire Nation joined them. Katara could inspire anyone, convince anyone to be a better person, a stronger person, and Haru sees that the prince is no exception to the power of her spirit.
"Nice to meet you." Haru bows which Zuko returns though much more shallowly. "I have to get going though. I just wanted to say hi to Katara before the invasion tomorrow."
"Oh," Katara frowns, "Well it was good to see you again, Haru. Good luck tomorrow."
"You too, both of you." With that he's off, the door to the ship's innards closing behind him.
"Who was that?" Zuko questions.
"Haru, he's from an Earth Kingdom city. He was arrested for being an earthbender and dent to a prison ship in the middle of the ocean."
"He seemed very interested in you."
"Of course he was. I helped him and all of the other earthbenders escape," she says nonchalantly.
"Hmpf," the prince responds. "I don't like him."
"Why? He's a nice guy, a powerful earthbender as well." Zuko's nostrils flare and suddenly Katara adds, "Oh Zuko, are you jealous?"
"No!" Zuko responds immediately.
"Sure," she drawls, laughing. "He's not my type."
"Oh, and what is your type then?"
Katara looks at the firebender, her eyes pulling him in. He could get lost in them, lost in the cerulean waves. "You," she whispers. Zuko's lost forever.
Katara's fingers are intertwined in his as she pulls him towards her, her lips crashing into hers. Zuko is the first to pull back. It's too much to kiss her here, out in the open, wondering if her father will see, wondering if someone else will wander by. He can't ask, the words die on his tongue. Instead he raises an eyebrow in request and leads her inside, their fingers still wrapped around each other's. It's late and the mess hall is full of people nervous about tomorrow but that's deeper in the ship, and the pair are going up, high into the command tower.
Zuko opens the door to his room. Katara hasn't dared to spend the night here, not with her father and his disapproval onboard but she aches to feel the firebender against her. She can say no, she can leave, and she knows that stepping over the threshold will change things between them. Her heart beats loudly in her chest. She steps forward, closing the door behind her.
Zuko kisses her with all the passion of his element and Katara responds in kind. It's not a gentle push and pull but a caustic, overpowering need. She's against the wall, pulling him closer, running over his back, through his hair. He pushes against her, hands running down her side, cupping the back of her neck to bring her closer. There's no point where one ends and the other begins. His lips trail down her neck. Oh how he wants to go further. Oh how she wants him to.
Instead, he picks her up, his hands under her rear. Her legs wrap around him as he deposits her onto the bed. She stays wrapped around the man, her tongue darting back and forth between his lips as he groans. "Oh, Katara," he pants as her hands go lower. His sash is untied and thrown to the side. The prince freezes, suddenly realizing, "I'm sorry. Not like this. I want you, I just can't," he whispers.
"What?"
"Not here, not with the invasion."
"Zuko, we might not live to see tomorrow night and I don't want to die not knowing what it's like. Not knowing what you're like."
He rolls off of her, onto his side. His fingers still trace her side, still graze over her curves. "I want your first time, my first time, to not be when we're scared. I thought I could, I know I want to," he hurriedly adds. "I just can't, though."
The frustration and the embarrassment that had been building in Katara seep away. He's right, even though she hates to admit it. She leans in to kiss him, softer, slower this time. He returns it, pulling her close. They're more careful this time. Hands stay in safe places, no matter how much they want to wander.
"Zuko?" Katara whispers.
"Yes?"
"I never said it back. I love you too, Zuko."