Rhythm of the Rain
Chapter Twenty-Two
By DamageCtrl
All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or anything related to it.
He lay on the hard surface of the cold metal bench inside this cell, frowning. He hadn't seen another person in hours. How much time exactly, he wasn't sure. The last he had seen of his Uncle, the jolly old general was assuring him that they would take care of everything and that he would be out of there in 'no time'. Perhaps Zuko and his Uncle just didn't share the same concept of 'no time'.
The imprisoned Fire Lord wrapped his arms around himself. Behind the steel that lined his cell, there was nothing but pure ice. Which mean he was basically in a giant freezer. Without a blanket. Part of him wondered if everyone had forgotten about the 'suspect' ten feet below ground level, locked in a metal cage, inside a giant freezer. He snorted and shivered. At least he wasn't hungry. Gran-Gran, strangely enough, had come down hours earlier with a tray of hot food for him.
She had smiled warmly at him and slipped the food through the bars, telling him to be careful not to spill and scold himself with the hot soup.
"They've locked themselves in one of the meeting rooms, you know," Gran-Gran had told him as she sat down on the cold floor beside him, on the other side of the bars. "They're talking about your sister."
Zuko paused, a wooden spoon a hair's length from his lips. His eyebrows furrowed. "Do they know where she is?" he asked. Gran-Gran shook her head.
"I didn't join them," Gran-Gran admitted. "But Katara did come out briefly to ask me to bring you food. I don't know when they will come out."
"I see..." Zuko said slowly. He sipped on the hot soup and allowed the liquid to course down his throat. "This is good..."
"Thank you."
"You made it?" Zuko asked, looking up surprised. The old woman had made him dinner?
Gran-Gran chuckled. "Well...I'm sure you haven't had much South Pole food. Northern and Southern Water Tribe dishes do vary. Southern tends to be heavier and not as spice laden as Northern cuisine." Zuko smiled slightly and looked back at his bowl of soup.
"Its delicious." he assured her.
"I hope you don't mind an old lady coming down here and bothering you while you're eating," Gran-Gran laughed quietly. "It's just that with everyone up there, I thought you might want some company."
Actually, he did. He sat up straight and turned to look at the older woman. He gave her a respectful bow. "I don't mind, Lady Kana."
She snorted and rolled her eyes. Zuko couldn't help but wonder if that was where Katara and Sokka picked it up. "Lady Kana... don't be absurd. It's Gran-Gran. Suki, Aang, and Toph all call me that. Even that Haru boy. You should, too."
Zuko's eyes fell back on his bowl. Guilt gnawed at him, knowing that the first time they met, he had grabbed her rather harshly and probably scared her witless. Yet, she still insisted that he call her with familiar title. His hand tightened on the spoon. "I never had a grandmother..." he admitted quietly.
"I know," Gran-Gran told him. He looked up at her questioningly. "Iroh talks a lot," He smiled slightly. "May I ask you a question, Fire Lord Zuko?"
He swallowed the last of his soup and turned to look at her. He nodded. "Of course...and please call me Zuko." he insisted. She smiled slightly.
"My granddaughter loves you," she stated. She noticed how his cheeks flooded with color the moment she said it. "And it hurts me to see her in pain over it...she is a stubborn girl. You know that. She's just like her mother...and me," she chuckled. "But just like us, she will eventually end up doing what her heart tells her. Knowing that, as her grandmother, I would like to know what your intentions are."
He was completely unprepared for this. Katara's grandmother was sitting right in front of him and looking at him with narrowed eyes, reading him like a book. Zuko shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unsure of what to say. Not to mention it was incredibility awkward. Then again, he should've known someone on her side was going to ask him that question one day considering how close the Tribe was and their customs. He had been positive it would've been Sokka... once the warrior got over his inherent dislike of Zuko of course.
"I...well..." His cheeks were probably as red as his clothes. And he, the Fire Lord, was stuttering nervously in front of an elderly Water Tribe peasant. And he was in jail. He couldn't forget that. "Katara...is..."
"I'll make this easy on you," Gran-Gran told him, realizing he wouldn't come up with a coherent answer on his own. "Do you love my granddaughter?"
"Yes." he answered immediately.
"You want her in your life?"
"More than anything."
"Do you plan on marrying her?"
"If she will have me, yes." Zuko stated. His eyes widened. It had always been implied, but never really spoken so solidly like that.
"And your current fiancée?" Gran-Gran asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I want to call off the engagement. She is a good person...she deserves someone to love her. I can never give her that." Zuko answered confidently. She gave a nod. That was easier than he had expected.
The old woman smiled. "That is all I needed to know," she said. With cracking old bones, the woman slowly sat up and brushed the snow from her blue clothes. "You don't have to worry about our approval. Pakku thinks that you're the only man who can handle his favorite student. Hakoda trusts you with his daughter. And I think you're a fine young man. Any boy raised under the wing of the Dragon of the West is a good child."
Zuko stood up as well, still holding the bowl in his hands. "Gran-Gran," he said. The name sounded foreign on his lips, but merely saying it gave him a warm feeling of inclusion. He bowed his head. "Thank you."
Gran-Gran merely chuckled once more. "No need to become so formal...it was just soup." He looked up and gave the old woman a small smile. As she left the detainment area, he heard her laughing to herself and mumbling something about how the women of her family always had excellent taste in men.
Zuko remembered standing there; envying Katara and Sokka for the warmth they had been showered their entire lives. It was no wonder they were brought up close and loving, full of warmth and trust. And that those they befriended were like family to them. His Uncle was right about the Water Tribe and their deep sense of community and family. He had briefly toyed with how it would feel when he finally joined them...Not if...but when. He was sure of it.
Of course, that warm feeling had lasted about an hour. Then the cold reality of being alone in a freezing cell without so much as a blanket got to him. I should've asked Gran-Gran for a blanket...she would've brought me one... he almost pouted in a childish way as he shivered.
He heard footsteps crunching on snow packed ground behind him and he froze. Had the old woman returned? With a blanket? He was hopeful. The footsteps came to a stop by the cell and Zuko remained on the bench. He was cold and didn't feel like getting up. If they wanted him, they would call. But the words never came. Instead, he heard the lock being open and he stiffened. Guards?
The metal, bar lined door creaked as it was pushed aside. Footsteps approached him and Zuko decided to pretend that he was asleep incase they wanted to question him. He didn't feel like talking just yet. The footsteps stopped beside him. He could sense a body hovering over his. Then a warm blanket was suddenly draped over his body. Perhaps it wasn't a guard after all. He turned his head just as a soft, cool hand traced the side of his face. Golden eyes immediately opened and found himself staring up at large blue ones.
He opened his mouth to ask what she was doing in his cell, but her index finger pressed gently over his lips to silence him. She shook her head and smiled down at him. Zuko found himself swallowing nervously. Was this some sort of conjugal visit? Because, as much as it was appreciated, they weren't exactly in a secluded spot. His Uncle, or Agni forbid, her Gran-Gran could come in at any time.
She sat down beside him and lowered her body over his. The warmth of her breath caressed his skin and he found his eyes closing at the feeling of Katara's lips against his own. Screw the privacy issue. His arms moved from beneath the blanket and rose, wrapping them firmly around Katara's slim waist and moving her closer to him. He was cold and alone most of the day. Neglected. He deserved this. As his hands began trailing down the sides of her body, looking for the bottom edge of her parka, he felt her hands gently stroke his cheeks before trailing down to his upper body.
His heart began to race. Careful fingers traced the lines of his collar bones as they began to open his top. Just as they had done the night before. This time she was familiar with him. No more fumbling over the knots. Experienced hands trailed a line down the center of his chest and stomach, separating the sides of his shirts and exposing his pale flesh to the icy cold air.
He inhaled a sharp breath as the chill of the air surrounded his bare skin. Zuko closed his eyes. "Katara..." he rasped.
Her hands moved on to either side of him, bracing herself as she lifted one leg over his body and straddled his mid section. Zuko suppressed a shiver as the weight of her body settled over his. His body was nice and hot now. Good-bye cold. His hands finally found the edge of her parka and slipped his hands underneath, searching for warm, supple skin. As soon as his hands made contact, he felt her gasp under his touch. The slight jerk of her body against his made him groan.
"Zuko..." he heard her voice call out softly."Zuko...what are you doing?" What did it look like he was doing? He was feeling her up. "Zuko!" Her voice was louder and he frowned slightly.
"Katara?"
"Zuko!" She sounded harsher. "Wake up!"
Wake...? His mind, despite his body's protests, ordered him awake. His eyes opened and his body stiffened on the bench. He was holding on to something warm, but definitely not Katara...and he was almost afraid to look at what.
"Zuko," Iroh's voice said above him in an all too calm voice. "You can let go of my arm now."
Slowly, golden eyes followed the length of his arm up and to his hands. Some how, he was holding his Uncle's arm...and the sleeves had been pushed up. He let out a yelp as he pulled his hands back as if he had been burned. Horrified, he sat up and pushed himself up against the wall, his face burning with humiliation. In his sleep, had he actually felt up his Uncle's arm. He didn't know how to feel...
A muffled laugh came from the doorway of the cell and Zuko looked past his Uncle's shoulder. He paled as he saw Katara standing there, her gloved hands covering her mouth as she desperately tried to suppress the laughter. She had seen everything. And what everything was exactly was something he probably didn't want to remember.
"So..." Katara said behind muffled snickers. "Having a good dream?"
Of all the times that Azula wasn't there to try to kill him, now had to be one of them. Zuko shot Katara a glare and ignored his Uncle as the old man turned and headed back out of the cell. "You were right, my dear," he told Katara with an amused smile. "You should've been the one to try to wake him."
He patted her shoulder as he walked out. "We'll see you in the morning, Iroh." Katara chuckled as she kept her eyes on Zuko. Iroh nodded and gave his nephew a sly, wide grin before heading up the stairs. Zuko merely groaned and buried his head in his arms.
Still snickering, Katara walked into the cell. She began to unfold the blanket in her arms as she approached him. She stood in front of him and swept the blanket around his shoulders. "Come on," she said as she tucked the warm cloth around his neck. "You're free to go."
Zuko tensed for a moment before lifting his head. He gave her an unsure look. "What do you mean?"
"Chief Arnook awoke an hour ago," Katara said as she unconsciously reached out and stroked the cold damp hair out of his face. She paused slightly and avoided his eyes. "Your sister was here. We're positive now and the charges against you have been dropped."
Zuko closed his eyes and turned his head away. "I should go formally apologize to him." Zuko stated. True, he had been wrongly put in jail, but because of him, the man nearly died. Katara let out a heavy breath.
"In the morning...he went back to sleep and needs his rest," she said. "So do you. Come on, we'll go back to the palace."
Zuko nodded numbly. Katara stepped back and turned to head back outside when Zuko's hand shot out and grasped hers. Confused, she turned around and looked back at him. Zuko was sitting on the bench, slightly hunched over and clutching the blanket closed over his chest with his other hand. He looked cold and tired, but his eyes were filled with certainty and determination.
"I'm not going to marry Mai." he stated simply.
Katara stood there silently as her heart beat against her chest. She pulled her hand away and turned her head back towards the cell door. "I don't think she betrayed you. I'm sure your sister is making her come with her...just like Ty Lee said. Don't brush her off as a traitor just yet."
Katara began to walk out of the cell and heard Zuko stand up. "This isn't about her leaving with my sister," Zuko told her proudly. "This is about you and me. As it should've always been. You don't seem to understand. Mai doesn't deserve this. I don't love her, but I respect her. I respect and care for her enough to know that she deserves to be with someone who will love her. She is an innocent victim of this whole wretched thing, Katara."
The young woman shook her head. "But Mai loves-"
"Me? I'm not completely blind, Katara. I know that," Zuko spat out. "And we both know she'll only suffer because of it."
She was outside the cell now, standing by the stairs. Her hands were shaking at her sides as uneven breaths escaped her full, pink lips. "Zuko, it's late," her voice was trembling and she cursed herself for allowing it to show. "We should get you back to the palace where it's warm-"
"I love you," Katara closed her eyes. Why did he have to say it again? Hadn't he said it enough the night before? He had showered her with those words and at that time she had freely accepted them. "As soon as everything with Azula is over, I'm calling off the engagement with Mai. We both know it wasn't fair to her to drag her into this. She deserves someone to love her and I can't give her that. I already love someone else. I want someone else. I want you by my side, Katara. Not Mai. Not a Fire Nation noblewoman with good breeding."
She swallowed once more and bit her lower lip. "Haven't we been over this?" Katara asked quietly. "It wouldn't work...you know it."
"The only reason it wouldn't work is because you aren't trying to make it," Zuko spat out, frustrated. Katara felt her blood run cold. "I've tried, Katara. I've given everything I had to my nation...just like you asked me to do."
"But you're not done-"
"Stop being so stubborn!" Zuko shouted, making Katara shiver as he stood behind her. "We both know it will not be done in our life time! It will take years of work to bring back what once was and while I'm willing to wait lifetimes to be with you, I don't want to have to spend another second waiting!"
"Zuko-" His hands clamped on her shoulders and quickly turned her around. Katara let out a breathless gasp as she found herself looking back up at burning golden eyes.
"I will fight my entire nation to be with you. If still aren't willing to stay with me, very well! If you don't want to be with me solely because I'm the Fire Lord and because you fear you will not be accepted in my world then I will leave my world for you!" he yelled. "Someone else can be Fire Lord. I'll give everything to my Uncle! Elect a regent! Anything to be with you, do you understand?"
Everything she had ever wanted for him...everything she had dreamed for him to have because she loved him was suddenly meaningless. She had been willing to throw away the love of her life for the sake of his dreams and goals. She had convinced herself it was in his best interest. And now, all the things he had ever talked about wanting he would gladly abandon for her. She studied his eyes. Zuko was serious.
She didn't understand how she could be worth giving up everything he had. She had never asked him to give up anything for her. She never even wondered if he would. She was so selfish. Had he always been willing to? She never even asked. Her body began to grow weak. Love really was blind. Blind, deaf, and stupid.
Her eyes rimmed with silent tears as she stared up at him. Trembling lips began to move. "I'm sorry..." she whispered. His heart ripped in his chest. "I'm sorry..." she repeated, sending another stab of pain coursing through him. Her arms slowly rose and Zuko froze. They wound around his neck and she stepped closer to him, closing the gap between their bodies. She closed her eyes and buried her face in his neck.
He was confused. Completely and utterly lost. Wasn't this the part where she pushed him away and told him that she couldn't be with him? Why was she shaking against him? Why was she crying against him? Katara...
"I'm so sorry..." she rasped out as her fingers tightened around the cloth of his shirt."I just wanted you to be happy...I wanted to give you a chance at everything you wanted. I'm weak, Zuko...I could never become the Fire Lady the Fire Nation wants. I'm sorry..."
He closed his eyes. Why are you doing this to me...? his heart asked painfully. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm sorry..." Katara lifted her head from his neck and met him with tear filled blue eyes. "Zuko, I want to stay with you..." she whispered as her hands caressed the side of his face. Her eyes crinkled up as she offered him a smile. "After you take care of Azula...after you straighten everything with Mai... keep your throne as Fire Lord," she said softly. Her hand caressed his scarred eye lovingly. "And, if you'll have me, I will stay with you. I'll try, this time," she assured him. "I won't run away."
He stared down at her, unsure if he had heard correctly. I will stay with you... He didn't know how to feel...much less what to say. Everything had just come out...as if a damn had been broken and he was caught off guard. He looked down at her warm smile, her loving eyes, and felt her body against his. Stupidly, his mouth opened. "This better not be a ploy to get me to stay as Fire Lord."
Her eyes widened for a moment before she began to laugh. She shook her head and stood up on the tips of her toes to kiss him. "No," she assured him with a small, giddy laugh. "This is not a ploy. While I would never ask you to abandon your birthright, I wouldn't sell myself to you just so you'd keep it. If you're willing to fight for this, than I am, too."
"You will marry me then?" Zuko asked. Part of him wondered if he even realized what he was saying. Or how completely pathetic the proposal was...if he could even call it that. Obviously part his brain had been damaged due to prolonged exposure to the cold.
Katara merely smiled from ear to ear and nodded. "If you're good...and can come up with a better proposal than in a giant ice box."
He stared down at her a moment longer. "And..." his eyes narrowed. He just wanted to make sure. "This isn't a dream...?" She rolled her eyes and made a mental note to ask him what his dream had been about.
"No, it's not a-"
Before she could finish, she felt her breath being stolen from her as her body was suddenly pinned against a sheer ice wall. Large hands firmly held hers in place as a lean, muscular body pressed against her. Hot, moist lips assaulted hers with abandon. A blissful moan vibrated against his mouth as he greedily devoured her. They parted for a quick breath before Katara leaned forward, sealing their lips together once more.
As soon as he felt her respond, his hands left hers and slid down to her hips. Her arms curled around his neck and head, her fingers cradling the back of his head as his hands searched for the hems of her parka. He was going to pick up where his dream left off. As a long leg brushed against his, his hand slipped underneath the cloth of her parka and a horrified scream echoed through the ice lined room.
"What the hell are you doing to my sister? You better swear to whatever god you believe in that your hand is not up my baby sister's shirt!" Sokka screamed venomously.
A low growl sounded at the base of Zuko's throat as he tore his lips away from Katara's and turned to glare at the seething blue eyed brunette standing on the stairs. He was gripping a boomerang in one had and his teeth were blared, as if ready to kill Zuko at any moment.
"Sokka!" Suki was shouting angrily from the top of the stairs. "What are you doing?"
Pointing his boomerang threatening at Zuko he yelled. "Unhand her immediately!" he demanded. Katara looked at her brother and groaned miserably as she slapped her forehead with her palm. What a way to end the kiss just after she had been proposed to...kind of.
"For your information we're en-" Katara's hand shot up and covered Zuko's mouth before he could get any further. He turned his head and gave her questioning look. Her wide eyes silently pleaded with him not to tell her brother as she shook her head.
"You're what?" Sokka asked, almost afraid to ask. Suki was now by his side, grabbing his arm and trying to pull him away.
Zuko's eyes rolled and Katara knew he gave in. She pulled her hand away from Zuko and gently began pushing him off her. "We were...in the middle of something."
Sokka snorted indignantly. "Yeah and whatever it was better not happen again." he growled, sending a dangerous glare at Zuko.
"Sokka, what are you even doing here?" Katara asked as she straightened out her parka. "I already told you I was going to get Zuko."
"Precisely. That's why I came."
"Oh, gods..." Suki grumbled. She reached out and grabbed Sokka's ear. "You, let's go. It's late and we should be in bed."
Sokka winced painfully as she tugged him up the stairs by the ears. "But Suki-"
"And you two," Suki said as she pointed to the two left in the detainment area. "As fun as it is keeping each other warm down here, anyone," she said as she tugged on Sokka's ear once more. "Can walk in." she warned.
Katara lowered her eyes and blushed furiously. As Sokka's complaining faded into the distance, Katara let out a heavy sigh and ran one hand through her hair. "We should get going...you need to get some rest. We're going to leave as soon as we can."
Zuko's eyebrows furrowed as Katara slipped out from his arms, intent on getting away before they got carried away. "What do you mean?"
Katara nodded. "Iroh is having your ship prepared. We're going after your sister."
"We?" Zuko frowned. "And who is we?"
"Who else?" Katara said as she began to walk up the stairs. "Us, of course. Your Uncle, Sokka, Toph, Aang...Suki, Haru, Jet and Ty Lee are coming, too."
"When was this decided?" he demanded, still standing in his place. The usual group and Ty Lee he could understand, but the Kyoshi Warrior, the male earthbender who was in love with his lover, and the self righteous former terrorist? He didn't know them and this was none of their business.
"Earlier," Katara sighed. "Zuko, we're not going to let you face her alone. She has Mai and I honestly don't think she went to join Azula in whatever your crazy sister has planned. We don't know what we'll face when we reach her, so just deal with it." There was tone of finality in her voice signaling that there was no use in arguing.
Zuko frowned. He didn't want to involve so many people. But then again...knowing Azula...there could never been enough people to fight her. "Fine." he stated, as if everything had been up to him in the first place.
Katara resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Great...we've come to a consensus then," she proclaimed. She put her hands on her hips and looked down at him from the fourth step. "So are you coming with me or will I be keeping my bed warm by myself tonight?"
The hint was easily understood.
Iroh watched as the supplies were carried on to the ship. The sun would be rising soon and as soon as it did, they would head off. The ship's cargo of supplies was nearly complete. Soon, the young men and women who would be joining him on their excursion, going after one diabolic female firebender, would be arriving. Ty Lee, Jet, and Haru were already with him, having resolved to help the retired general prepare the ship. However, after hours of work into the early morning, they had resigned to bed.
The first people to arrive were the Avatar and Toph. Both were still yawning and on top of Appa. Momo was curled up on Aang's shoulder, still snoring as the two sleepy benders landed on the spacious deck of the ship. As soon as Appa landed, he fell back asleep with a snort. A few seconds later, Aang and Toph were sleeping again. Iroh chuckled and told the crew not to disturb them. If they wanted to sleep on the bison instead of their rooms, then they should be able to.
Next, to his surprise, came Sokka and Suki. It had surprised the old general as he was fully aware of how Sokka loved to sleep. However, as the young man stormed out of the gondola holding his and Suki's bags, his fiancée approached Iroh and explained that he couldn't sleep after seeing his sister and Zuko 'doing things' in the detainment area. The old man struggled to hold back his chuckles as Sokka insisted that he talk to Zuko about his 'touching problem'.
Suki then dragged him below deck. Iroh looked back out at the edge of the docks. They were only waiting for two more people. Then he saw the gondola coming down the canal. Or rather he heard it.
"I told you, my clothes are fine! I don't need any new clothes!" Katara growled.
"I'm just saying that if we get into the Fire Nation or the Earth Kingdom and my sister has done something, we can't exactly sneak in with you decked out in blue!" Zuko countered.
Iroh cringed. "And what exactly is wrong with blue mister 'my only clothes consist of red and black'?"
"You forgot gold!" Zuko yelled back stubbornly. Iroh groaned and rubbed his forehead. It was just like when Zuko had first joined up with the Avatar. Constant arguing; their version of romantic poetry. The gondola they were on arrived by the docks and Zuko climbed out. Even as he and Katara argued, he still reached down and grasped her hand, gently pulling her out and unconsciously securing the warm blanket around her shoulders tightly around her before mumbling a thank you to the shaken gondolier.
"You three," Iroh said as he looked at three soldiers standing by the hull of the ship. "Go the gondola and bring the Fire Lord's and Ambassador Katara's things into the ship." The trio nodded and rushed forward.
Zuko was about to walk towards the ship when he saw Katara bend over and start to gather her bags. "What are you doing now?" he exclaimed, exasperated.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm getting my bags!" she snapped.
"You don't need to get your bags; the soldiers will get them for you." Zuko insisted.
"I don't need the soldiers to get them for me. I can get them myself." she replied with a glare.
Zuko grumbled. "Why do you always have to be so difficult?"
Behind him, he heard a whistle and looked up. Aang and Toph were leaning against the side of the saddle and peering over the edge at the happy couple. "Now he's in for it." Toph said. She wasn't looking directly at Katara and Zuko, but she did hear them.
Aang groaned and rested his chin on his arms in front of him. "Why are they even arguing? The sun isn't even up yet."
Iroh chuckled at the two young benders and looked back down at his nephew. His jaw nearly dropped as Zuko threw his arms in the air and stepped forward. Katara let out a shriek as she was suddenly throw over his shoulder. The soldiers didn't know whether to be amused or terrified. Even as Katara yelled and flailed her arms and legs, Zuko marched up the ramp into the ship; a straight look on his face the entire time.
Toph leaned back against the saddle and yawned. "Well...this is going to be a fun trip."
The crew around her bustled nervously. And she didn't blame them. The poor hired security on the ship didn't stand a chance against Azula. And so the captain and the crew fell to the whim of the former Fire Princess. Mai sat back on a chair on the deck, her legs hanging off one arm rest as her back leaned against the other. She played with the little knives in her hands, bored out of her mind.
She hated being bored. When she was bored, her mind wandered...and that was the last thing she wanted. Her thoughts once again returned to what had gotten her in her current situation. She sighed heavily. She never should've accepted Katara's proposition. What had she been thinking? The waterbender wasn't in the right state of mind...asking another woman to marry the man she loved. The fool.
But no matter what had happened part of it was still her fault. There was no doubting that.
"Mai," Azula said as she stood over the other young woman. "It will take us at least another week to get to the Fire Nation."
Mai's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "I thought we were going to the Earth Kingdom."
Azula smirked slightly. "Why would we go there?" she asked slyly as she crossed her arms over her chest. "We are going straight to the Fire Nation."
Mai merely raised an eyebrow. "What will we be doing?"
"Well," Azula smiled widely "My brother, being withheld on the charge of killing that Water Tribe Chief, obviously can't continue reigning as Fire Lord," Mai felt her stomach churn. "I thought I'd drop by and take care of things for him. And I've taken care of my brother's ship in case my dear Uncle tries to come after me. It'll only be a matter of time before he realizes I killed that old man."
Gold eyes practically glowed with pride and Mai found herself nodding. So that was it. She was going to take Zuko's throne. "Whatever..." she replied coolly."So long as I get to do something."
Azula smiled at Mai. "Don't worry," she assured her. "You'll have something to do," Shivers involuntarily ran up other young woman's spine as Azula spoke. The firebender turned around and began walking towards the front of the ship. "A shame we couldn't bring Ty Lee..."
Her words surprised Mai. Unseen by Azula, Mai sat up straight in the chair. That had been the first time she mentioned the other girl. "What do you mean?"
"She would've been a lot of help if she would just forget about that circus of hers," Azula frowned. "But I'm sure she'll come back to me once I take care of them."
Mai's eyes narrowed. She decided not to ask any more questions and settled back into her chair. Her eyes went down to the blade in her hand, sorting things through her mind. Azula believed that the Chief had been killed. Her mind began whirling; trying to remember everything she had ever learned about the Water Tribe while she had been studying at the palace. No drums signaling the death of the leader had sounded before she left.
The young noblewoman slipped the blade back into its place in her sleeve and leaned back against her chair. She would keep the information to herself. There was a chance that they had heard wrong... That Chief Arnook hadn't been killed and was just left for dead. A small flicker of hope wavered in Mai's heart. The best healers in the world were in the North Pole. It would only be a matter of time before the Chief was healed and dismissed Zuko of the charges. And when he did, Zuko, and everyone else, would be coming after Azula. Gray eyes drifted back to the smirking ex-princess. Until then, Mai would do her best to stop the Fire Nation from falling apart.
It had been days on the ship and Zuko rubbed his forehead tiredly. He had just spent several hours firebending his frustrations on deck. According to the trade records they were given, the vessel that Azula had sneaked away on was headed to a port on the western coast of the Earth Kingdom.
However, a long debate decided that they would head straight to the Fire Nation. If Azula thought he was still trapped in the North Pole, she would find no reason not to storm her homeland. They were heading there at full steam until the discovery that a good portion of the remaining coal reserves had gone missing. In its place were small, sparkling clear crystals.
Upon seeing them, Ty Lee's eyes widened. "Azula!"
"What?" Sokka asked, looking at the girl as she darted forward and picked up the crystals.
"When we were kids, Azula used to take coal and put it between her hands, like this," Ty Lee said as she put the crystal in between her palms. "And then she'd burn the coal. When she was learning lightning, she did the same thing and these shiny things came out!"
Zuko's scowl crossed his face as he glared at the treacherous crystals littering the space. She had sabotaged his ship...probably to hold their Uncle back incase he found out. "They're called diamonds," he hissed in a low voice. He'd seen them before, in his mother's jewelry box as a child. "How much coal do we have left?" he demanded.
"Not enough to get to the Fire Nation, Fire Lord," the captain reported with a frown. "We will have to go to the nearest Earth Kingdom port and buy more coal."
Zuko ordered for them to immediately go to the nearest port before he stormed out of the lower levels of the ship. No one seemed to want to bother him. Iroh watched from the cabin as he sipped on some tea. He assured the others to 'let Zuko wear himself out'.
The sun had long set and Zuko ran his hand through his damp, sweat laden hair. He stood by the side of the ship, glaring out into the open sea as the cool ocean breeze swept over him. He silently berated himself for not checking on their fuel source. He should've known that his sister would've tried something. Azula was always the one with the back up plans. Zuko gripped the railing bar in front of him tightly. She had one upped him again.
"Your Uncle said to stop it before you melt all the railings on the ship," a voice said behind him. Zuko's shoulders stiffened as her voice reached his ears. Instinctively, he loosened his hold on the railing. "He also said to come eat dinner."
"I'm not hungry," he told her stubbornly. Katara rolled her eyes and joined him by the side of the ship. She rested her arms on the railing beside him and leaned forward, allowing the wind to go through her hair. As it did, the Fire Lord glanced down. Her hair was swept back into a long, trailing braid and the hair loops that framed her face were moving with the wind. He narrowed his eyes. "Where did you get those?"
Katara looked up at him and reached up. Her finger gently brushed the dangling diamond earring hanging from one lobe. A grin crossed her face. "Like it?" she asked cheekily. "Haru made them for us."
Haru... "Us?" Zuko frowned.
"He was bored so he took the diamonds and made us some jewelry. Ty Lee got this cute little pendant and Toph's getting him to make her a choker." Katara told him. He really didn't like the idea of another man giving Katara jewelry. Especially one who had certain romantic feelings towards her.
"What about the Kyoshi...Suki," Zuko corrected himself before Katara could. She smiled brightly.
"Sokka got mad when Haru made Suki a bracelet and he hurled it into the ocean." Katara rolled her eyes.
Smart man. Zuko decided.
"Well?" Katara asked, standing up straight to face him. "What do you think? Do they look good on me?" He really wanted that Haru boy off his ship. Now.
Yes He merely shrugged and looked back at the water. "If you like that sort of thing." Katara sighed and leaned forward on the railing once more.
"I think it's beautiful," Katara mused. "Even if Azula did make them. Something beautiful came out of something bad."
Zuko gritted his teeth. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I suppose...you look..." he trailed off and Katara looked at him expectantly."...decent," Her face twisted into a scowl and he couldn't help but smirk. She shot him a glare and turned to leave. "I'm kidding," Zuko grinned. His hand reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her back to her spot. "They're eye catching and stand out against your skin," he admitted as he stroked the side of her face intently. "Diamonds match with just about anything, even your drab blue peasant clothes."
Katara sighed heavily. "Thanks," she grumbled. She silently pulled her hand away from, still a self conscious at any sort of public display of affection they might do unconsciously. She put a few more inches between them and Zuko snorted with distaste. He was Fire Lord, he could show affection to anyone he wanted. At least in theory. Still, neither he nor Katara had told anyone about their plans after they caught his sister. "We should be arriving at a port tomorrow morning."
"Depending on the availability of coal, we should be able to leave as early as that night," Zuko insisted. "It'll take some time to get all the coal into the ship."
"Or we can get Haru, Toph, and Aang to bend the coal into the ship," Katara told him. "Or are you forgetting we have earthbenders among us?"
He refused to submit to her. "I wanted to reserve their strength for when we meet my sister." He retorted coolly.
"Right..." Katara mused. They stood in silence for a few moments. She leaned forward, her eyes lost in thought. "Did you mean it?" she asked suddenly.
"Mean what?" Zuko asked, wondering how much time they would save if they used the earthbenders.
"That you'd give up everything for me?" she asked. Her voice was quiet, almost unheard over the roar of the ship and the water crashing against it.
"If you won't come to me, I'll come to you," Zuko stated simply. "I should've realized that from the beginning. I can't expect you to come into my world. It was selfish of me to assume that you would want to be thrown into a position you never wanted to be in for my sake."
"So...If I told you that I wanted to stay in the South Pole, live in an ice hut, and wear animal skins for the rest of my life...?" Katara trailed off. She looked up at his face and the slight curl of his lip in distaste. He closed his eyes.
"Then I'd join your father on hunting parties, wear animal skins, and live in an ice hut with you," Zuko finally told her. "If that is what you really want."
Katara smiled slightly and looked back at the water. What I really want is you...
The small Earth Kingdom vessel had arrived at the port by the capitol city of the Fire Nation at dawn. Mai had already been awake. She joined Azula on the deck as the ship was parked by a dock.
"Mai," Azula said sweetly. "Call for a palanquin." she instructed as she looked around the city. She was dressed in a dark hooded robe, shielding her face from the people out of precaution. She didn't want to alert anyone of her arrival just yet.
Obediently, Mai bowed her head went off to the nearest soldier. He instantly recognized her and bowed his head deeply before running off to get what she ordered. "I've sent for one." Mai said calmly.
Azula nodded. The two walked through the area around the port as they waited for the palanquin to arrive. When it did, the servants that carried it stepped back. Instead of Mai stepping into the covered wooden object, Azula took her place. The servants began to exchange looks. But as Mai did not protest, they said nothing.
The walk back to the palace was silent. Mai could sense the confusion and tension of their entourage and silently prayed that none of them would comment. She was lucky they did not. The palace came into view and Azula couldn't help but smirk. Her brother was gone; imprisoned by the Water Tribe. Her Uncle, if the old man could even do it, would come after her soon. But even then, she was sure she could defeat the Dragon of the West.
He was old, suffering all war wounds. Some of them she herself inflicted. All she had to worry about was the Avatar. And she had been preparing for over a year for this day to come. The palanquin stopped in the courtyard, at the bottom of the steps of the palace and Azula emerged. She looked up at her home, the corners of her lips curling up.
"Mai, call for a court meeting for tonight," Azula said as she lifted her hands and pushed the hood down. "Tell them it's urgent."
As her face was revealed, the servants couldn't silence the gasps that escaped their mouths. Mai closed her eyes and bowed. "Of course," she stated. "And Azula...Welcome home."
Azula ascended up the steps. "It's good to be back."
Katara rolled over on the bed, shifting uncomfortably as she tried to find a position she could fall back asleep in. In front of her, she heard a low, throaty voice. "Stop wiggling." She promptly stopped, if only to glare at him behind sleep laden eyes.
"It's my bed." she reminded him.
"It's my ship." he countered, tightening his hold around her waist and pulling her against him. Katara growled. She was given her own room and she was happy to sleep in it. Alone. The bed was only so big and it barely held two people comfortably. It wasn't that she didn't want to fall asleep with him. It was just that they had no room to move.
Every little turn, every little adjustment would be felt by the other party. "Zuko, can't you just go to your own room?"
"I can." he stated. Katara glared at him in the darkness.
"I can't move," she frowned. "Can you let go for just a second? I just want to turn around." He didn't reply, but lifted his arm off of her body. Katara carefully rolled over, trying to turn her back to him. As she turned over to her side, a sudden wave of nausea spread through her body. Her eyes flew open and her body stiffened. Her hand flew to her mouth as her eyes began to water.
"Are you done?" Zuko asked. Instead of an answer, he felt her legs kicking frantically against his. His eyebrows furrowed and he frowned. "Katara-"
Her free hand shot down, grabbed the edge of the blanket and threw it off her body. Zuko's eyes opened and he jerked himself up as Katara shot out of the bed and ran to the heavy porcelain basin across the room. Her hands grabbed the sides of the basin and the sickening sound of vomiting echoed through the room.
"Katara!" Zuko kicked the blanket on the floor as he scrambled out of bed and ran across the room. "Katara, what's wrong?"
"Oh, gods..." Her head hug low as she hovered over the bowl.
"Katara?" His hand rested on her shoulder and she erupted with another surge of nausea. He paled and withdrew his hand quickly, as if he had caused it. "What's wrong? Should I get someone? Do you need a medic?"
"I'm fine..." Katara choked out. She kept her head over the bowl as one shaking hand tried to brush her hair behind her shoulders. "I'm-" She began once more.
"You're not fine!" Zuko insisted. "Stay here, I'll get the medic!"
"Zuko, I'm fine!" Katara insisted. "It's just last night's dinner!" she continued as the other hand wiped the tears from her eyes. "I knew I shouldn't have eaten all those shellfish...My stomach didn't agree with them."
He watched her helplessly. "I still think that I should call the medic in here...maybe he can give you something to ease your stomach."
"I don't need a-" Her hands flew out and gripped the basin once more. "I've had this before. Just let my stomach flush it out-" She lurched forward. "Go back to sleep, Zuko!"
He scowled. "How can I go back to sleep if you're throwing up in the same room?" Zuko gasped. Before she could reply, she felt his hands sooth her hair back. He reached up with his free hand and tugged off the band that held his hair in a pony tail. "Stay still...you're going to make a mess."
"Shut up...it's my room..." she grumbled. Zuko tied back her hair into a low pony tail.
"But it's my ship," he reminded her. He moved around her and grabbed a towel resting by the basin. "Here... Do you want me to get you some water?" She nodded weakly, her head still lowered. A strong hand gently stroked her back. "I'll be right back, okay?"
She nodded once more and Zuko hesitantly stepped back. He put on his shoes and grabbed his robe. He kept his eyes on her as he tied his robe closed and headed for the door. He quickly opened it and darted out. Katara closed her eyes. Her shoulders were heaving up and down as she struggled to breath. She lifted the towel he had pressed against her hand and wiped her mouth and chin with it.
Katara turned her head away from the soiled basin and saw the chair beside it. Tiredly, she walked over and fell into it.
"Katara?" a curious voice asked from the door way. Blood shot blue eyes rose and looked out the open door. Aang was scratching his bald head as he tilted his head and looked into the room. "Katara, are you okay?"
The young woman nodded from her seat. "Yeah...last night's dinner," she commented. Aang made a little 'o' with his mouth.
"Do you need anything?" he asked. Katara shook her head.
"Zuko already went to get me water." she assured him.
Aang studied her. "Are you sure you're okay? You don't look too good." Katara narrowed her eyes and Aang let out a nervous laugh. "It must be the dim lighting! Er...see you at breakfast!" He waved and disappeared back into the hallway.
Katara's eyes widened. "Breakfast?" Her face paled she ran back to the basin. She was still hunched over when Zuko arrived, a pitcher of water in one hand and a cup in the other.
"Katara, how much did you eat last night?" He asked. He opened up the cabinet that the basin rested on and pulled out a smaller bowl. He placed it beside the basin and poured water into it and the cup. "Can you drink?"
"Not yet." she replied, annoyed with herself for making such a scene.
Zuko sighed and put the pitcher down. "I'm starting to want the cook beheaded..." he grumbled as he gently stroked her back. His hands made small circular motions on her back, trying to help her relax. Katara took deep breaths. The nausea was passing and she closed her eyes. "Feeling better?" he asked carefully. Katara nodded her head slowly as she cleaned off her face in the smaller bowl. She felt a soft kiss on the back of her head. "You scared me..." he admitted softly.
"Sorry..." Katara murmured. She reached for the glass and Zuko handed it to her. He stood behind her, ready to catch her if she fell, as she drank the water down. She made a little face as she swallowed the last of it and put the glass back down. "I'm better now."
"Are you sure?" Zuko asked. Katara nodded.
"Yeah, I just want to get some sleep." Zuko nodded, but watched her warily as she pushed him away and stumbled off to bed. As soon as she fell back on the soft cushions, she began to snort lightly. The Fire Lord pulled the chair to side of the bed and sat down. He would spend the rest of the night watching her carefully.
"You're late this morning...and you look tired," Iroh said as Zuko arrived on deck for breakfast. "Tiring night?"
Zuko glared at his Uncle as Sokka glared at him. "There better not have been..." Sokka grumbled.
"Is Katara feeling better?" Aang asked as he bit into some fresh fruit they had purchased from the Earth Kingdom port.
"She's fine." Zuko stated.
"What do you mean she's fine? What's wrong?" Sokka demanded. He shot out of his seat and scowled at Zuko. "What did you do to her?"
"I didn't do anything to her!" Zuko grumbled. To think...Sokka would one day be...family. Zuko ran his hand through his unbound hair. Had it not been for the scar, the newcomers almost wouldn't have known it was him. "Katara got food poisoning or something and threw up early this morning."
Suki looked up from her morning tea. Her eyes narrowed. "Did you say she threw up this morning?"
"Yes," Zuko frowned. "She said her stomach didn't agree with what she ate last night."
"But we had sea food last night," Aang stated. "Katara loves sea food."
"Maybe it was the way it was prepared." Toph piped.
Suki's eyes looked around the table. No one else seemed to wonder what she was wondering. Except for the old general. His eyes were narrowed slightly as he studied his nephew. "Um..." Suki said as she put down her tea cup. "Maybe I should go check on her."
Zuko shook his head. "She's fine. She just wants to rest. She said her back hurt." He briefly wondered if it was his fault for hogging the bed. Suki still stood up.
"I'll be right back." she told Sokka. He merely nodded as he reached across the table for a bit of fried platypus bear egg.
"I forgot something in my room," Iroh added, standing up as well. "When the cook comes back, tell him to refill my tea." He said as he and Suki headed back into the ship. Zuko merely nodded and bit into a piece of bread.
"Do you think...?" Suki asked as they made their way through the dark metal corridors of the ship.
"It's very possible," Iroh nodded. Suki bit her lower lip. They were to arrive at the Fire Nation early the next morning. Her heart began to race with worry. "I only wonder if she knows."
They came to Katara's door and knocked on the metal panel. "Katara?" Suki asked. "Can I come in?"
"Sure," Katara said from the inside. Iroh twisted the handle of the door and the heavy metal panel slowly swung open. Katara was in bed. One arm rested over her eyes and the other rested on her stomach. "You heard?"
"Is this the first time?" Iroh asked. Katara nodded.
"But I feel the other symptoms already," Katara whispered. "I wasn't sure until today..."
"Katara..." Suki began hesitantly. She stepped into the room and walked to the bed. Carefully, she sat on the edge and looked down at her soon to be sister-in-law. "Have you told him yet?" They all already knew the answer.
Katara closed her eyes tightly and Iroh came forward. He knelt down beside the bed and reached for her hand. "Katara..." he said softly as he squeezed her hand in his. "Are you pregnant?"
A.N. - Ta-da! By popular demand! Thank all for reading and for your nice reviews! I'm glad you're all enjoying it. Just a few more chapters and this is all over. :)
