Rhythm of the Rain
Chapter Fifteen
By DamageCtrl
All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or anything related to it.
Zuko splashed some water on his face. He hunched over the stone basin, his eyes closed as the cold liquid trailed down his pale flesh. Dreams of a blue eyed waterbender plagued him every night. He would wake up covered in a thin sheen of sweat, his heart racing, and his arms reaching out for her. His eighteen year old body desperate to feel hers against him.
His mind screamed and yelled at his heart and tried to flush all subconscious thought of the waterbender out of his head. Katara left him. And she wouldn't be coming back; not for him, anyway. When Mai entered the garden that night, he knew that was it. Katara had all but shoved Mai in his face. Take her! The vision of the Fire Nation girl screamed at him with Katara's voice. She will be your perfect Fire Lady!
He scoffed and reached for a nearby towel. The cloth patted over his face. Did she really think he would forget about her? After everything? Did she truly believe she could be replaced? It was true that Mai was of noble birth. She was intelligent and knew the ways of the court. She would be accepted by everyone in the nation. Except by him. It wasn't fair to Mai. She probably didn't want to be with him; a man in love with another woman.
And while he resented Katara for doing this to him, he resented himself as well. He had accepted. He had been stupid enough to accept the proposition. For what? To appease several dozen old men just so he could rule the Fire Nation without any problems? He didn't know if he had been selfish or not for choosing his country over his heart. Katara had chosen his country over her heart...the thought pained him. Did she just not love him enough? Or did she love him too much?
Every morning it was the same thing. He would wake up, his entire being consumed by a woman who wasn't even there. And every morning after he rose, he would try to rationalize her decision, only to come to the conclusion that none of it was rational. Love was never rational.
But what he was about to do was.
The night before, he had come to his decision and summoned Mai to his study. Carefully, he told her his decision and then paused to hear her reply. She lowered her head and for a moment, Zuko regretted his decision. He didn't wish to bring her into a situation she felt uncomfortable in. Then she raised her head and nodded solemnly. It was the biggest decision a young woman would make, and she had agreed. For a moment, he had admired her. She knew that he loved someone else, but was still willing to marry him for the 'good of the country'. Katara was right; she would make the perfect Fire Lady.
Zuko silently dressed in a room separate from his bed chambers. Clean robes had been prepared for him and he quickly put them on. Standing in the mirror, he checked his robes and fixed the sleeves. He began to fix his hair, tying it efficiently in a sturdy top knot. He picked up the Fire Lord emblem and placed it in his knot. His eyes narrowed. He was ready to face the scavengers known as nobles.
Iroh was already at the meeting room when Zuko entered and took his seat in his throne. He studied the young Fire Lord's face. Stoic and stern. Golden eyes were clear and filled with purpose. His posture was stiff and aware. Iroh looked back down at the table before him, old eyes filled with sadness.
"This meeting will begin," the clerk announced. "Fire Lord Zuko, the nobles have requested an audience with you today regarding the engagement to Lady Mai of the Sun Family."
Zuko gave a nod of his head. The clerk sat down and the representative of the nobles stood up. "It has come to our attention that last week the six month anniversary of your engagement to Lady Mai has occurred, my lord," the middle aged man told him. "And as such, we have been waiting for the announcement of a wedding ceremony."
Zuko cursed his ancestors and their outdated laws of time periods for engagements, weddings, funerals, mourning and everything else. Six month engagement period was designed for the bride and groom to get to know one another and for one or both parties to begin taking on their future roles. It was the maximum amount of time given to a noble couple before marriage. To be efficient and prevent lagging. In some cases, it was less than a few days, as forced by over eager parents. He hadn't realized the engagement period protocol...or that there even was one.
"I have spoken to my fiancée regarding the issue the night before," Zuko told him in a low voice. "We had planned on a rather long engagement. At least until the nation was more situated."
"But Fire Lord," one nobleman said beseechingly. "Many of the populace has begun to question when the wedding will take place. They are all eager to celebrate the arrival of a worthy Fire Lady."
Zuko narrowed his eyes slightly, not liking his choice of words. Was he saying that Katara would not make a worthy Fire Lady? He obviously didn't know Katara. For a moment, he pushed aside the waterbender and focused on his 'relationship' with the Fire Nation girl.
"I am already engaged to a worthy young lady of the Fire Nation. Both she and I have taken on our duties, but we do not yet feel the need to be wed." Zuko insisted. He knew they were not going to relent. Somewhere inside of he him, he knew that the engagement would only pacify them for so long. Sooner or later they would want something more.
"With all due respect, my lord, the people of this nation crave stability and a return to the old ways before your great grandfather's war," he continued. "As a court, we believe it is important for you to be an example for the people."
"The people know that I am focusing my efforts on the rebuilding," Zuko frowned. He was the same situation as it was before he was engaged and he hated it. Why couldn't the old men just leave him alone? "Until I see some more progress on the rebuilding efforts around the nation and we are clear of a post war recession, I will hold off marriage to Lady Mai."
"My lord, I am afraid that since the efforts and recession are not a consistent variable of time, we will need to stress an actual date." the nobleman continued, hesitant and wary of the Fire Lord's temper.
He knew it would come to this. When the stubborn fools didn't back down, they would pressure him as much as they could until he relented, at least a bit. And so, Zuko had prepared for this. "Very well then," Zuko frowned. "Both my fiancée and I agree that at least another year is required until the nation is fully stable."
"A year is too long..." A few hushed murmurs went through the court and Zuko gritted his teeth.
"Then how much time do you suggest?" Zuko frowned. "Keep in mind that to fund this wedding, money must be taken out of the treasury. Money that should be spent on our people and the rebuilding." He reminded them.
"We will see to it that the necessary funding is provided for," an old man told him. "Please do no concern yourself over that, my lord."
"Two months seems like enough time," another voice piped. Zuko's blood froze. "Yes...two months seem like a good time period."
"Two months is hardly enough time to plan a wedding," Zuko frowned. "Why must it be so soon?"
"The nation is waiting for a Fire Lady, my lord, but not only that," the eldest of the group told him. "As of right now, there are no heirs to the throne."
Zuko's heart skipped a beat. An heir...
"In order for your claim on the throne to remain completely unchallenged, you must provide an heir that will secure the bloodline."
His chest hurt all of a sudden.
"The sooner you marry Lady Mai, the sooner a child can be conceived to crown as heir to the Fire Nation throne."
"Hey! Hey, wait a second!" Jet's masculine voice echoed through the stone halls as Katara stomped away, not giving him a second glance. "Katara!"
His hand shot and grabbed her upper arm. She whirled around, a furious glare on his face as she growled. "Let me go!"
"I haven't seen you in months! Would it kill you to stay hi?"
"No, but it might kill innocent people." she snarled back. She jerked her arm out of his grasp and stomped away. Of all the spas in all the countries in all the world, he had to come into hers. Well, she wouldn't be taken in by his smooth talk again!
"That was a low blow!" Jet shouted. She ignored him and kept walking. Grumbling, he ran a hand through his hair and briefly mulled over whether or not he should run after her. Finally, he sighed and jogged after the brown haired waterbender. "Katara, at least let me apologize."
"Apologize?" she spat out as he walked along side her, keeping up with her brisk walk. "I don't think you need to apologize to me, Mister Let's Kill the Fire Nation!"
"Listen, that's over now. I'm not like that any more," Jet assured her. She rolled her eyes and kept walking. "Katara, I'm sorry for leading you on like that before you left! I'm sorry for tricking you and Aang."
"And my brother?" Katara snorted. "I should've listened to Sokka. He knew you were bad news from the beginning." All she wanted as a nice relaxing week at a spa. Just one week. And the gods were obviously punishing her.
"I've come to Ba Sing Se to try to start over," Jet said, following her closely as she tried to loose him through the maze of halls. "I got a second chance here, Katara. Aren't you even curious?"
"No."
"Don't you even want to know why I'm here?" Jet gasped out. "I'm not exactly an Earth Kingdom blue blood or a wealthy merchant."
"Fine," Katara said, stopping her tracks. She put her hands on her hips and looked up at him challengingly. She might as well humor him. "What are you doing here?"
He stopped beside her and looked down at her critical eyes. "I'm a body guard," Katara merely raised an eyebrow. A second later, she turned and continued walking. "Hey! Wait a second! What? You don't believe me?'
"I didn't say I don't believe you," Katara told him, her back to the young man. "But I believe our conversation here is done."
"Katara..." Jet sighed heavily. She stood on one of the stone lifts and looked at the earthbender beside her.
"Up please," She stated. The man nodded and prepared to lift the stone slab up into the air. Katara looked at Jet square in the eyes. "I trust we won't see each other again." She spat out. The lift rose and left Jet standing alone, staring after the blue eyed waterbender.
As soon as the lift stopped on her floor, Katara stomped out and made a beeline for her room. She stepped into her room and pulled the towel from her hair, letting long, wet brown locks fall over her face.
Great... Katara grumbled as she began waterbending the water off her hair. Just when I thought I find some peace and quiet, I have to figure out a way to avoid Jet whenever I see him.
The last thing she wanted to do was relieve that whole fiasco all over again. She never felt so humiliated! She had been completely drawn in...She even made him a hat. A hat. Katara gritted her teeth. So what if it had just been a young, school girl crush? It was still a crush. Feelings were involved. She had genuinely liked him. Or rather what he made himself out to be. What was it with her and guys with swords?
And when she discovered how she'd been tricked into helping him almost devastate a small town populated with Fire Nation citizens, she was as furious as she was humiliated. He was lucky all she had done was freeze him to a tree, the self righteous idiot. She ran a hand threw her hair and let out a heavy sigh. She couldn't hide in her room forever. Sooner or later, she'd have to go downstairs and run the possibility of meeting him.
Katara grumbled and fell back on to her bed. She would wait a while before returning downstairs for dinner.
The fifth soldier of the afternoon had water thrown on him as Zuko remained seething in the center of the sparing circle. Iroh shook his head for the millionth time. After the end of the meeting with the court, Zuko canceled the rest of his day and took off to 'train'. Train was apparently his code word for letting out excess energy as in the last several hours, numerous sparing partners had been set on fire by the Fire Lord.
Zuko mumbled out an apology and waited for another soldier to replace him. Iroh sighed heavily. "Zuko," he began as he slowly came down the steps into the court yard. "It has been seven hours. You haven't even had lunch yet and dinner is already approaching."
"I'm not hungry." he stated like a pouting little boy.
"But I'm sure your soldiers are," Iroh countered. "Hungry soldiers are weak soldiers. You should give them a break to eat."
Zuko snorted and steam was pushed out of his nose. He remained were he stood, his eyes narrowed as he thought over his Uncle's words. The soldiers had lost their edge in the last two hours. "Very well," Zuko frowned. "Today's training is over!" He shouted. Iroh could almost hear the breaths of relief from the soldiers as they limped away.
The young Fire Lord walked past his Uncle in long, proud strides. "You're improving greatly, Zuko," Iroh said. "Hardly any soldier can hold is ground against you any more."
Zuko didn't reply. It's not enough... he thought to himself. I'm not strong enough...
"Dinner will be served soon. Perhaps you should go get changed?" Iroh suggested. He looked at the young man. Zuko was wearing dark red training pants and had been barefoot and shirtless while practicing. His hair was damp from all the sweat and had been displaced from its neat top knot.
"Don't wait for me." he stated as he headed up to the palace. Iroh nodded and watched him disappear into the palace. Zuko wore a scowl on his face. He still had to tell Mai the results of that morning, but she had been at a dedication ceremony at the docks all day.
How would he tell her that in six months, they were expected to get married? He let out a heavy breath. Six months was the most he could get from the group of old men. Meaning that around his 19th birthday, he would also wed. He narrowed his eyes as he walked through the halls. He would be a husband. The word sounded strange when he applied it to himself. For a moment, he wondered if he had ever thought of himself as a husband. A lover, yes. A provider, of course. But as a husband?
His mind drifted back to a moment when her head lay on his lap. When her soft brown hair fell around her face as her blue eyes closed and warm, even breaths escaped her lips. He remembered smiling to himself as he stroked her cheek, believing that one day, he would be her husband...and spend every night of his life looking down on to her peaceful, resting face just before he went to sleep.
How could she do this to him? How could she deny everything and leave him? The more he thought about it, the angrier and hurt he felt. Didn't she understand that they could've fought for everything? For their happiness? Instead, she gave up. She gave up on him. On her. On them. And the knowledge of it infuriated him. When he woke up yearning for her, he found himself starting to hate her.
That was what she wanted. If it makes it easier...hate me. He wanted to. Agni, did he want to hate her. Because of her, he would marry a young woman who probably didn't want to marry him. He would always have that hole in his heart that she ripped out when she left. That would haunt him until the day he died. He wanted to hate her. Wanted his bitterness to grow and his resentment to overtake all of emotions he had of her.
But one look at the turtle ducks, one passing glance at anything blue, even the sound of water rushing into his bath tub for his evening soak reminded him of her. And all the supposed hate, bitterness, and resentment were suddenly replaced with love, longing, and pent up passion that burned for no one else but her. His heart betrayed him every time.
Then there was Mai. He knew that he had to give her attention and at least try to offer her part of his heart. Her efforts to take on the role of Fire Lady did not go unnoticed by him. Each day, he respected her more and more even admired her for her strength. He knew that at night, Mai would stand hidden away in the hall, just outside the garden while he fed the turtle ducks. He knew she felt envious when he left to feed them. After all, they were representative of everything he and Katara had.
Any bride to be would feel jealous of her groom's remaining feelings towards another woman. Mai never said a word about it. It would've been so much easier if he had just ignored Katara that rainy night. If he had just left her alone to feed her turtle ducks like a crazy waterbender in the rain. He paused as he stood before his door, his hand placed on the handle. Why had he gone that night?
Zuko slowly stepped into the bedroom and closed it behind him. Across from him, the windows were wide open, allowing the billowing gauzy curtains to float into the room. Outside, the sun was setting and the moon was starting to appear in the darkening sky. Despite himself, he wondered what Katara was doing.
She looked around the corner warily and narrowed her eyes. So far so good. No sign of Jet. She let out a heavy sigh and took a step out into the hall. A hand tapped her shoulder and she whirled around with a yell. There he stood, smiling down at her.
"Why won't you leave me alone?" she growled, frustrated.
"Calm down, I just want to talk." he insisted.
Katara glared at him and turned around sharply. "I do not feel like talking to you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get something to eat."
"So you're heading down to the restaurant," Jet asserted. "What a coincidence. So am I!"
A thousand curse words she'd picked up on her travels ran through her head. "Then just stay away from me." She grumbled. Jet followed behind her, despite her ignoring him. She requested to be seated on the balcony and was brought over. As she looked down at her menu, she saw another person sit beside her in the next table over.
She gritted her teeth. "So..." Jet said casually. "What do you think sounds good?"
"Ugh!" Katara growled. She turned to glare at him. "What do you want from me?" she demanded. "Listen, Jet. I'm tired and I'm hungry. I just came here to relax. I don't want any trouble."
"Katara, will you please just give me a chance to explain," Jet sighed. "I'm not like that guy you froze to a tree a year ago. I've changed."
"Of course you have."
"I've gotten a second chance here, Katara," Jet insisted. "At least give me that. Shouldn't everyone have a second chance?"
Her eyes looked down at the menu but couldn't focus. She did believe in second chances. She'd given Zuko a second chance in life and now he was the kind of Fire Lord Aang had believed he would become. It wouldn't be fair, she decided. Katara released a heavy breath and put her menu down. She glanced over at him and shrugged.
"My table has an extra chair..." she relented."Have a seat."
He smiled and stood up, taking his seat in front of her. "So...you here alone?"
"No," she answered sharply. "I'm traveling with Aang and Toph."
"Where is the Avatar, anyway?" Jet asked, casually glancing around. "And your brother. I never thought he'd let you travel alone."
"Well, I am a waterbending master," Katara retorted, attempting to remind him that she was dangerous when provoked. "Or did you forget that? For your information, Sokka is at the South Pole with Suki. Aang and Toph are at the earthbender tournament."
"What about...what's his name...Zuko?" Jet asked. Katara froze in her seat. "Heard he became the Fire Lord. How's he doing?"
I wish I knew myself... Katara admitted to herself. "I'm sure he's fine. I heard he's been focusing a lot on rebuilding the nation after the war."
"Yeah, news travels fast here now that there are a lot of trade routes open," Jet agreed. "The guy I work for is a merchant. His daughter in-law is Fire Nation...I heard her cousin or something tried out for the role of the Fire Lord's wife."
"I see," Katara mumbled. "Well, he's engaged now."
"He is?" Jet looked surprised. "Haven't heard that...so...what's the lady like?"
"An old friend of his sister's. From a noble family. Smart. Pretty. All that stuff," she said in a dull voice. She tried to focus on her menu. "I've met her. She'll make a really great Fire Lady."
The brunette across from her merely nodded and flipped through his menu. "How about you?"
"What about me?"
"Engaged yet? You're sixteen now aren't you?" he asked. Katara looked up and nodded. "Isn't that when you Water Tribe people get engaged."
"It's the age when legally can get engaged and marry, but it doesn't mean I have to."
"So you're still single." he concluded.
Katara scowled slightly. "Yes," she frowned. "Got a problem with that?"
"No, just curious," he said smoothly. Katara raised her hand and waved a waiter over. As she ordered, he quickly made up his mind. "I'll have this." He told the waiter before sending him away.
Katara leaned back against her chair and crossed her arms. She looked out towards the view, watching the sun setting in the distance. Silently, she wondered what Zuko was doing. If he was with Mai. Her eyes narrowed slightly and she shook the thought out of her head. The waiter returned and placed a glass of water in front of her and Jet.
"So you're a body guard now," Katara began. She reached forward and grasped the glass. She lifted it to her lips and took a sip of the cool liquid. "How'd you get into that?"
"A merchant saw me fighting and needed a decent body guard," Jet shrugged. "He gave me an offer...it pays a lot."
"Good for you." she replied blandly.
Jet smirked slightly. "Yeah, well...I try to send the money back to the boys back home. A school opened up near by thanks to the money from the Fire Nation's reparations. They're pretty bright kids, so I'm trying to put them through school."
She didn't expect that and began to feel slightly guilty for treating him so rudely earlier. "That's nice..."
Jet gazed across the table from her as she avoided eye contact and focused on the view. She'd changed in the last year. Of course that was expected. She'd been through a lot and a year did a lot to a person. She'd gotten just a tad bit taller, but he was pleased to see she had filled out more from the skinny girl on the cusp of becoming a woman.
Maybe he had been using her in the beginning, but part of him had wanted her to join his side. To understand why he was doing what he was. He was angry when she realized his plans and frustrated when she didn't understand. He had been impressed when she froze him to a tree. He didn't really expect that, but then again, they say hell had no fury like a woman scorned. And he must've scorned her...big.
When she left him there, he was bitter. She just didn't understand, he reasoned. But when she cried and stepped away from his hand, he did feel a small tinge of guilt. It was the first time he'd ever felt guilty about what he'd done in so many years. Days passed...weeks...and then he left his tree top home. A small part of him wanted to show her that he wasn't some naive boy who just wanted revenge. That he was every bit the heroic rebel she thought he was.
That was why he went to Ba Sing Se. For a second chance. And he got it. While he worked, he never dreamed he'd actually see Katara again. After all, from what he'd heard on the trade lines, she was doing political work and peace keeping with the Avatar. That meant she was traveling from place to place and probably extremely busy. When he ran into her earlier, he couldn't believe it was actually her.
A small part of him grew excited at the thought that perhaps he could show Katara that he wasn't someone to be looked down upon any more. That he deserved her respect and admiration, rightly this time. Instead, he found himself caught up in the soft, elegant face that had matured. She was no longer the love sick girl he had seduced to do his bidding a year ago. She was different. Wiser. Stronger.
And better looking. He thought appreciatively.
His thoughts were lost as a plate was placed before him. He hadn't even noticed the waiter walking towards them baring two plates of food. Katara looked down at her meal and began eating in silence. Jet slowly began eating his own food.
A completely silent meal later, Katara placed her utensils on her plate and gave a small bow of her head to her companion. "Thank you for joining me for dinner," she said in a stately, formal voice. "It was good to see you again, Jet. Take care."
Katara pushed her chair back and stood up. Jet slurped up a long noodle quickly and looked up at her. "You're leaving already?"
"I've had a long flight here and I'd like to get some rest." Katara waved her hand in the air dismissingly and headed out of the restaurant. She didn't bother looking back as she darted to the lift and told the earthbender she wanted to go up.
Just a few moments later, Katara was back in her room. She fell back on her bed and wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling somewhat hollow. She felt guilty. For what, she wasn't sure. But she suddenly felt as if she had betrayed someone during her time with Jet. Her eyes darted around her room until they landed on the red silk pooled by her bag. Her heart began to ache.
It was strange. Usually, Zuko would summon her to the hearing room or his study, but never out into the courtyard. However, that was where the servant told her to go when she was walking back from dinner. Zuko had skipped another meal, much to his Uncle's displeasure. Mai assumed he would sneak in something to eat later.
She made her way through the endless maze of halls, towards the court yard. As she emerged from the doorway, she saw Zuko sitting on the steps, looking up at the cloudless dark sky. The moon was hanging over head and she briefly wondered if he what he was doing.
"Lord Zuko." Mai bowed her head respectfully, even though his back was turned to her. The Fire Lord looked over his shoulder and stood up. He gave her a bow in return.
"Thank you for coming, I know its late." he began as he waited for her to arrive at his side. Mai shook her head and stood beside him.
"Why did you summon me, Zuko?" she asked, realizing they were private. He took a deep breath and diverted his eyes.
"I spoke with the nobles this morning," he told her solemnly. "On the issue of marriage."
"Have they left the issue alone?" she asked quietly. Zuko's eyes narrowed and she understood that they hadn't. Her eyes lowered. "How long?"
"Six months," he replied hesitantly. "They have given us six months to marry." Mai closed her eyes. Her entire life, she had been prepped to marry into nobility. And now that she was, she suddenly felt unsure of it. Her stomach churned nervously and she wondered why.
"Six months..." Mai mumbled. "I understand."
"Mai," Zuko said quickly as he looked down at her. He raised his hand and placed it comfortingly on her shoulder. In the darkness of the night, he couldn't make out the faint blush on her cheeks as he did so. "Over the last few months, I have come to respect you greatly. Know that I will always do my best to make you comfortable. But should you ever get to the point where you no longer want to be in this loveless marriage with me, I will give you the chance to annul it."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Annul?" she gasped out in a breathless voice. "As in...Void it?"
Zuko nodded. Fire Nation Noble women were given the choice of annulling their marriages if they found that their husband did not care for them as the deemed fit. However, historically, it was looked down upon as marriages were often for political and financial reasons and set up by parents. Women would be ostracized if they separated the husband chosen for them; often getting financial support and social ranking pulled from them. The same with noblemen.
He studied her face for any sign of displeasure, but found only a blank gaze. "Mai," he began carefully. "I need to know if you are accepting of the marriage and everything that it carries with it. Katara dragged you into this and if you want to leave, I'll understand. Engagement was one thing, but marriage is something else."
Mai found herself shaking her head. "No," she told him sternly. She lifted her eyes to meet his and fought down the blush. She wasn't a little girl any more. She had no place for blushing. "When I accepted the engagement, I knew there was a possibility of marriage. I will not back down from it dishonorably. I will marry you, Fire Lord."
If it weren't for the severity of the situation, Zuko would've snorted. She made it sound like a chore. "Very well then," Zuko asserted as he nodded. "In six months time, you will be my wife."
For the first time in all the years they had known each other, Mai felt his lips against the top of his head. Her entire body seemed to heat up as the pressure lifted and he stepped back. With an elegant bow, Zuko bid her good night and headed back into the palace.
Mai leaned back against one of the stone decorations and lifted her hand up to her chest. A smile graced her lips as she felt her entire body tingle. Her heart soared with the thought that perhaps Zuko was warming up to her. That he didn't look at her as merely a replacement for his lost waterbender. Slightly giddy at the thought, Mai began walking up the steps to the palace, but still kept a serious look on her face.
However, she didn't see the bread roll hidden in his sleeve pocket when he left.
She let out heavy gasps of air as blue eyes flew open. Sweat soaked her thin night clothes as she sat up in bed. Frantic blue eyes darted around the dark room. As her chest rose and fell with deep, heavy breaths, she raised her hand placed it over her heart. She pressed down against herself, trying to sooth the painful aching.
What had she been dreaming about? Katara wracked her mind for the source of her sudden anxiety. The last thing she remembered was taking a shower, slipping on something to sleep in, and then collapsing on the bed. Her eyebrows furrowed, but she couldn't remember what her dream had been about.
Maybe it's for the best... she mused silently. She ran one hand down her face and leaned back against her arms, trying to even out her breathing. She carefully slid off her bed and headed to the adjoining bathroom. Tiredly, she leaned against the basin and looked into the mirror. She looked as worn as she felt. Her hands reached down and bended some water from a pitcher into the basin before bending some over her face.
The cool liquid woke her up and washed away the feeling of sweat from her body. She dried her face off via towel and then walked back out into the room. From the look of the sky outside her window, dawn would be arriving soon and she sighed. She didn't feel like going back to sleep. Her heart was still racing.
She eyed the balcony outside the sitting room beyond her chambers and began to walk towards it. As she did, her bare leg brushed up against something silky hanging over the back of her chair. She looked and stopped. Zuko's robe. She still had no idea how it ended up in her bag. She reached out and lifted up the elegant cloth.
It's cool, smooth surface caressed her dark skin as she ran her hands over the material. She had remembered it was warmer when it was on Zuko. She looked up towards the balcony. A cool breeze billowed through the open doors and ruffled the curtains. Slowly, she slipped one arm through the sleeve and followed with the other. The material dragged and she smiled slightly.
She didn't realize he was that much taller than her. She didn't remember seeing his clothes drag. Nimble hands wrapped the robe over her chest and clutched it closed as she walked out of her bedroom and towards the balcony. She felt warm and safe inside the cloth. It was as if it comforted her. The cool morning breeze swept over her body and she closed her eyes. She inhaled deeply, the scent of blossoms in the air as she smiled.
Blue orbs opened and took in the glorious sight of Ba Sing Se in the dawn. In the distance, she could see the dark sky being melted by the orange and yellows of the morning. Her eyes fell to the closer buildings. In the streets just over the walls of the spa, she began to see the start of life in the city. A few people were walking around, smoke and the scent of food was rising from houses in the distance, signaling breakfast.
Thoughts of her nightmares vanished as she leaned against the low stone wall and watched the city rise. She snuggled into the soft robes of the Fire Lord, indulging herself with the knowledge that the robes had once hugged his body. She closed her eyes and smiled softly as the warmth of the rising sun's light finally reached her soft, pink lips.
Iroh leaned back against his seat, having finished the last calligraphy he would write. How ironic that the day he had written 'eternity', his nephew would announce the date of the wedding to the people of the Fire Nation. The old man let out a heavy sigh and rubbed his shoulder. He supposed it was the end of it. When Zuko married Mai, Katara would be out of the picture. However, he still doubted her shadow would ever leave.
The servants all still remember 'Lady Katara of the Water Tribe' from her time spent healing soldiers and most importantly for sleeping beside the Fire Lord that fateful night. And even the night when Zuko had spoken to Mai about the marriage date, the Fire Lord had diligently returned to the garden and fed the turtle ducks.
Iroh shook his head. Whether Zuko admitted it or not, he was still deeply in love with Katara. And because of that, Iroh felt sadness and worry for Mai. She, too, deserved to be loved and Iroh didn't think that Zuko could give her what she wanted. Even though she hadn't voiced it. A calloused hand reached out and picked up the tea cup. He took a sip of the tea and looked down at the letter.
Katara had written him letter from Ba Sing Se, by the look of the address. He smiled sadly to himself. The young lady randomly sent him a letter whenever she felt like it. This time, she had just arrived at a spa in Ba Sing Se. He sighed contently, wishing to be in her place. There were no spas in the Fire Nation like the ones in Ba Sing Se. Maybe he could talk to Zuko about that.
He continued to read the letter, nodding understandingly as she lamented about the troubles traveling and how happy she was to finally get a nice long hot water soak in. She reported the results of their latest peace keeping mission and how they were scheduled to travel to former Fire Nation controlled lands in the south of the Earth Kingdom. Iroh rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Katara's letters never mentioned any worry or distress she was feeling. The old general couldn't read any distress, either.
She hides her feelings well... he thought with narrowed eyes. He turned to the next page. How are Mai and Zuko?
Iroh's sad look returned. "Getting married..." he whispered under his breath.
"Uncle!" a voice shouted from the bottom of the hill. Iroh's eyes widened as he quickly scrambled to fold up the letter. "Uncle, what are you doing there?" Zuko was trudging up the small hill, a frown on his face as the ends of his robes brushed against grass. "You missed the announcement!"
"I already knew," Iroh told him cheekily. "Is it time for lunch yet?"
"No," Zuko shook his head. "Have you been here all morning?"
"I wanted to finish my calligraphy project," Iroh told him as he lifted up a piece of parchment. "What do you think? It would look wonderful in the northern meeting room, wouldn't it?"
Zuko merely raised one eyebrow as he stood above his Uncle. He looked down at the table before the retired general. Ink sticks, brushes, tea pot, tea cup, and a letter. His eyes narrowed. "Were you writing a letter?"
Iroh's eye slowly lowered and looked down at letter. Casually, he placed his hand over it. "Oh, I received a letter from an old friend in the Earth Kingdom."
"Oh..." Zuko nodded warily. His Uncle looked nervous. "That's nice."
He watched his Uncle let a little brief of relief escape through his lips. Zuko eyed him cautiously. Lately, his Uncle had been sitting on the hill, writing calligraphy. And from the ones he'd see, they were all romantic in nature; love, passion, warmth, devotion. His eyebrows furrowed. Was the general in love? Zuko's eyes widened slightly. As disturbing as the idea was, he was curious. To his knowledge, his jolly old Uncle was once irresistible to women. At least that's what he heard some of the older servants say. And then he had that thing for the bounty hunter. A chilling thought raced through his body. Was the letter from the bounty hunter?
Before he could think any more into it, Iroh slipped the letter into the sleeve of his robe and began to roll up the calligraphy. "Zuko, I've been meaning to talk to you about your marriage to Mai."
Zuko's inquisitive look instantly vanished. His eyes narrowed and he looked down at his Uncle seriously. "You said you would support whatever decision I make."
"And I am," Iroh told him. "But I am concerned about Mai. Have a seat," He said, waving to the area in front of him. Zuko tugged up his robes and sat down on the grass. "Does she know about the need to provide an heir for the throne?"
Zuko looked down at his hands and nodded. "We've spoken about her...duties as Fire Lady. She understands that an heir must be born," Zuko replied. "Mai is the daughter of a noble family. She's always known that she would have to marry into another noble or wealthy family for social and financial reasons. Baring that in mind, I believe she knew the consequences of marrying me."
Iroh frowned. "You shouldn't think of yourself as a burden to Mai."
Zuko scoffed. "What else am I to her, Uncle?" he asked the old general. "I never wanted to marry her. She never planned on marrying me. She had a life before Katara shoved her in my path!" He added, somewhat bitter.
"Zuko, I would think that you should give your bride some more credit. Mai may have been raised knowing the type of marriage she would eventually fall into, but if she did not want to marry you and share in your burdens as your wife, I believe she would've said something by now. And she has not. Rather, she seemed to be embracing the role," Iroh told his nephew. "And Katara, deciding that she couldn't stay, put all her effort into finding someone who would be your perfect bride."
"I didn't want a perfect bride," Zuko said in a low voice. I want Katara
The old man nodded understandingly. He didn't have to hear his thoughts to know what his nephew was thinking. "Katara wanted you to become a great Fire Lord. That is why she left." Iroh told him.
"Can we not talk about her," Zuko hissed in a dangerous voice. "If she pulled herself out of my life, then I will keep her out."
"Zuko-"
"I don't want to hear it!" Zuko retorted proudly. He stood up and shook his head. "Katara is my past. Mai is my future, that is all there is to it."
"And you are sure of this?" Iroh asked, cautiously.
Zuko hesitated. "Yes."
Iroh studied him critically. He nodded slowly. "Then you won't mind if I reply to her letter." Iroh watched Zuko's shoulders stiffen. His eyes widened slightly and he froze in his spot.
Zuko watched as his Uncle reached into his sleeve and pulled out the letter. "She...writes to you?"
"Every so often...usually it's an update on the Fire Nation ex-patriots now living in the Earth Kingdom," Iroh told him. "But she also writes about how she and the Avatar and young Toph are doing. She's at a spa in Ba Sing Se."
Zuko's knuckles clenched. "Very good. I trust that our people abroad are fairing well?" he asked, diplomatically. Iroh nodded.
"Yes. But they have yet to go to the southern part of the Earth Kingdom...there are many ex-patriots there living amongst the Earth Kingdom villagers. They will have the most trouble there."
"I see..."
"Zuko," Iroh said calmly. The young Fire Lord looked at him. "Your knuckles have turned white," Golden eyes shot down to his hands that quickly unclenched. Iroh looked at him with a sad, knowing look. "You never forget your first love. You may always love them or even grow to hate them, but you will never forget them."
Katara laid on a bench inside the steam room, her hair in a towel turban and a wrap around her body. Her eyes were closed as water was poured over the hot stones. Aang and Toph would be arriving sometime that day and she wanted to get in a few more moments of rest before the two other benders arrived.
"More steam, my lady?" a voice from somewhere in the hazy room asked. It sounded familiar.
"Yes, please." Katara sighed, distracted as she closed her eyes and lingered in a half sleep daze. Water hissed over the stones as it was poured over it.
"So, Katara...how long are you staying here?" Blue eyes flashed open. She knew she heard that voice before. Without another thought, she sat up straight and waved her hand in the air, cutting through the water in the air and moving the steam out from in front of her. Across from her, seated on a stone bench was the alleged body guard.
"Oh my gods..." Katara spat out. Her eyes narrowed and she bended the steam around her, shielding her from view as she headed out the door.
"Katara!" The door slammed closed on Jet's voice as Katara walked away, seething. Not ten steps away, the door opened and Jet ran out, a long towel around his mid section as he ran after her. "Katara, wait."
"We spoke already, Jet. I said pleasant things and ended the conversation," Katara hissed as she walked. "I'll say it again. It's nice to see you. Have a nice life!"
"Katara, please," Jet told her. "Listen, I'm sorry I lied to you before! I'm sorry I tricked you and Aang into helping me! Really!"
"You're forgiven," Katara told him coolly. "Now please let me relax in peace."
"Not until you give me a chance!" Jet shouted. Katara stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowed. She turned around, her eyes narrowed.
"A chance? For what?"
"To redeem myself."
"You don't have to redeem yourself to me," Katara told him. "I really don't care."
"Katara, I didn't mean to make you cry!" Jet shouted. "I was a jerk back then! I'm sorry!"
"You're being a jerk now by continuously bothering me!" Katara retorted. "Fine, Jet. I accept your apology. Really. Now please leave me alone."
"Katara-" he began, only to be cut of by another voice.
"Hey, Sugar Queen!" Toph's high pitched, sarcasm laced voice cut through. "Didn't expect to see us so soon, huh?"
Katara whirled around, relief flooding her face as she rushed forward. Toph was grinning and had her arms crossed over her chest. Behind her, Aang's gray eyes were focused on the black haired young man behind her.
"Hi," Katara breathed out as she smiled at them. "I was wondering when you guys would arrive."
"Katara," Aang said in a cautious voice. "Is that...Jet?"
The blue eyed waterbender nodded. "He's supposedly here to be someone's bodyguard."
"Is that so...?" Toph frowned. "Hey, we got bumped up to a room near yours. Do you mind showing us the way?" Toph asked. She didn't have to be able to see to know that Katara was suddenly grateful for an excuse to leave.
"Sure, Toph. Here," She reached out and took Toph's hand in her's. "Let's go."
"Maybe we'll talk later!" Jet called out, knowing he was promptly ignored. He let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his dark hair.
"You're a body guard now?" Aang's voice cut through is thoughts and he looked back down to see the Avatar standing in front of him.
"Yeah...a wealthy Earth Kingdom merchant's body guard. He and his wife are here...it's my off time..." Jet shrugged. Aang looked him up and down and nodded.
"Jet," Aang told him seriously. "Katara's my friend. She's like my best friend and means a lot to me. I hope you're not planning anything."
Jet let out a heavy breath and shook his head. "Maybe I earned all the suspicion," he admitted. "But I'm not trying anything with Katara. Nothing bad anyway. I just want to...get to know her again."
Aang frowned. "You weren't serious about her before and you really hurt her. I don't like seeing my best friend cry."
Jet met Aang's gray eyed gaze with a confident one. "I wasn't serious before," he stated proudly. "But now I am."
"So...you're really okay with going?" Sokka asked. Suki sighed as she lay on her stomach across Sokka's bed and nodded.
"I told you a million times already, yes," Suki sighed. She had removed her thick green over coat and was in her thinner green shirt and pants. A nice warm fire from the pit in the center of the room warmed them up nicely. "Honestly, Sokka, do you think I'll stop you from going?"
He let out a heavy breath. "It's the anniversary of Yue's ascension to the moon...everyone will be talking about her and then there will be those celebrations to her - the moon goddess. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."
The young woman sighed and sat up in bed. "Sokka, I admit...when I first learned about how close you were with her I was very insecure. I thought you only saw me as a replacement for her."
"You're not a replacement-"
"I'm not done," she said sternly. He snapped his mouth closed. Suki stood up and walked across to where he had been pacing. "You've never treated me like a replacement...I think it was all in my head. You love Yue...and you love me. Two different people...two different loves. I understand and I know I can't force you to forget about her and love only me. And I'm okay with that, Sokka."
He looked down into her soft eyes with his blue ones intently. "I don't want you to ever have to question how much you mean to me."
She released a heavy breath. "I'll always question it," she whispered, her arms resting around his neck. "But I always like the answer I come to."
He was the luckiest idiot in the entire world. And he knew it. A smile graced his face as he lowered his head and gently brushed his lips over hers. "I love you, Suki..."
"Mmm..." she moaned as she nipped his lower lip gently. "And I kind of like you." He rolled his eyes and she chuckled. He bent down and swept up her off her feet as she let out surprised yelp.
"Kind of like me, huh?" he said as he carried her over to his bed. He released her and she screamed as she fell on to the soft furs and cloth of his bed.
"Sokka!" she gasped with surprise, her face burning with a heated blush. "What are you-?"
"I'm going to see if I can make you kind of love me instead." Sokka grinned. He wiggled an eyebrow suggestively and Suki burst into laughter. He chuckled as he fell beside her and scooped her body against his. Hardened lips pressed against the softness of her neck and she laughed some more. Suki turned her head and smiled back up at him.
"I don't regret leaving, you know." she assured him as her hand rose and gently cupped the side of his face. Sokka turned his head slightly and kissed her exposed palm.
"Yeah," he grinned. "I know." A second later, a pillow hit him in the head and he groaned.
"Sokka?" a knock sounded from the door and Suki scrambled into a sitting position. Her partner remained on his side, one arm sprawled across her waist. "Sokka, are you in there?"
Still lying on his side, Sokka sighed and looked over his shoulder at the door. "I'm here, Gran-Gran."
"You have someone here to see you." the old woman said. Sokka looked up at Suki. The retired Kyoshi Warrior shrugged her shoulders and Sokka sat up. He offered his hand and pulled Suki up with him before he headed for the door. He walked out, followed by his girlfriend, and into the living area.
The young man standing in the center of the room turned around at the sound of the gasp that escaped Suki's lips. Sokka's mouth dropped. "Haru?"
"Sokka, Suki," Haru said. He gave them a warm, abet shy smile. "It's good to see you again."
"Haru, what are you doing all the way down here?" Suki asked as she looked at him curiously.
"Yeah, sorry to burst your boulder there, buddy," Sokka said as he crossed his arms. "But Katara's actually in your home land doing peace keeping with Aang and Toph."
"I know," Haru admitted. "I heard about it."
"Then, why are you here?" Suki asked, confused.
"Just traveling," Haru smiled slightly. "I thought I'd drop by and say hi."
"Okay..." Sokka mumbled.
"Do you have a place to stay?" Suki offered. "I can talk to Bato about a spare room." she added, knowing that Sokka still harbored some resentment to the poor earthbender for merely liking his sister.
"Yes, that would be great." Haru told her, thankfully. Suki smiled and nodded. She turned back to Sokka and kissed his cheek quickly.
"I'll be back," she told him. She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "Be nice." Sokka mumbled a non-committal promise and watched Suki leave the house.
"So..." Haru offered amiably. "Does it ever get warm in the South Pole?" Sokka blinked.
"Gran-Gran! I'm going to Suki's!" Sokka shouted over his shoulder and walked passed the young earthbender. As he stepped out the house, he heard his father's voice greet Haru from inside.
"It's nice to see you again, Haru," Hakoda greeted warmly. "Your letter said you wanted to speak to me about Katara?"
Sokka's blood froze in his veins and he stopped in mid step just outside the door.
"Yes, sir," Haru said respectfully. "Before I do anything, I felt I had to speak to you first. As is the custom here."
Sokka took a step back. "Of course, Haru," Hakoda said. Sokka heard footsteps. They were walking into his father's study and he strained to hear their fading voices. "What did you want to tell me?"
"Sir," Haru began nervously. "I'm in love with your daughter."
A.N. - Ottoman princesses actually had the right to divorce their husbands if they weren't up to par. I always found that kind of interesting. So I put the theory into practice here! Responses and more comments on my profile. I hope you all enjoyed chapter fifteen! (Probably not...thanks to lack of Zutara goodness...and appearance of Maiko-ness...please don't kill me.) Thank you all for reading!
