I do not own Avatar The Last Airbender or its charcters.


Chapter Eleven

Zuko had only agreed to do this, because he knew this way he would not have a lot of time to think about what Katara and his father could be talking about.

Ozai had given him the date of his next free evening, and had told him to invite Katara to his father's house. This was not how he had imagined things would go. He had thought Ozai would meet Katara in a restaurant, a public place, but maybe it wouldn't do his father's reputation any good to be seen with a young pretty woman in public.

Still, Katara at his father's house? Where he had lived for the first thirteen years of his life? It felt unreal and very bizarre to him.

He knew that staying at home would only give him the time and space to think too much about his father and Katara, and that's why he was at the cinema with Jet. Some film about a famous band had come out, and Jet had immediately wanted to go see it. It's not like it didn't interest Zuko, but he was mostly just glad to be distracted for the evening.

After getting fireflakes and popcorn the two young men walked on to the cinema hall, Zuko half listening to Jet talking about the apartment he had been ordered to sell. Pressing his eyes together he tried to concentrate more on his friend, listening to him.

"They think they can put me in my place for speaking up this one time," Jet went on, sounding a bit full of himself, "but I'll show them. I will sell this lousy shit of an apartment within three months!"

Frowning Zuko looked at his friend. "I would be more careful if I were you. If you don't sell it you might not get the opportunity to get a job there later, and if you hadn't spoken up, you wouldn't have to sell this. So don't speak up anymore."

Jet only rolled his eyes and shrugged. "It's not like they did something to punish me severely. I only think that I have to sell that apartment because of that, but I'm not sure. Getting punished for speaking up is really a lot too harsh," he added, his voice full of amused laughter, but filling Zuko with horror from the tips of his toes to his scalp.

Not everywhere, Jet.

Some people might think that he would deserve a punishment, a very severe one.

Hopefully Katara didn't say anything bad or inappropriate to his father.

Suddenly he flinched and felt as if he could have slapped himself. How could he have been so stupid? Although Zuko knew his father was different now, and they had a good relationship, he still shouldn't have Katara let him meet. Ozai looked down on Southerners, and Zuko could imagine that Katara, noticing this, would have one or two things to say about it, things which wouldn't please his father.

Jet stared at him worryingly, and Zuko noticed that he had made a strange noise in the back of his throat. Shaking his head he tried not to let it get to him. No, Katara was fine, and his father was a good man, he wouldn't do anything to Katara, right?

oOo

To Katara's upmost surprise it was Kasaishi Ozai who opened the door for her. She had actually expected servants leading her to a living room, in which Ozai would sit on a large armchair, announcing her presence.

Well, that was stupid. Kasaishi was only a businessman, no noble or governmental important figure. Although his house did look like a palace to Katara.

It was very much in the geographical centre of the city, near the old palace, and it looked like it could have actually belonged to the royal family back then. Two stories high, made of red painted sandstone with columns, which were circled by dragon carvings. A symbol of the sun was carved into the big heavy door of cherry wood. The window frames were made of dark wood, and the roof, crested with mythological figures, was painted in a light red.

Huh, it did seem very royal to her, and exactly as if Kasaishi still held onto the beliefs of his ancestors, when it was so full of old royal symbols.

It made her shudder. Maybe it hadn't been the best idea asking Zuko to arrange this. She should have brought someone with her. Maybe even Zuko would have been enough.

For a brief second Katara had the stupid image of herself being confined in the basement of this house, and given the same torture her ancestors had to endure.

But now that Kasaishi had opened the door it was probably way too late, anyway.

Katara had to blink, because at first, she thought it was Zuko standing in front of her. Only broader, older, and with a beard.

"Katara! What a pleasure to meet you!" Kasaishi extended his lower arm to her, as was the traditional greeting in the southern province, which surprised Katara a lot.

She has actually wanted to bow to him like they did here, but she grasped his lower arm, shaking it, smiling. "The pleasure is mine, Kasaishi!"

"Please, call me Ozai," he said, still smiling warmly. His voice was a bit raspy like Zuko's, but deeper, not only in pitch. It sounded as if his voice came from deep inside of his belly.

She had so not expected that.

Apart from the combed back hair, which she had already found completely stupid on Zuko, and the white button-down shirt tugged in dress pants, he did seem nice.

"O-okay, Ozai," she stammered.

His smile widened, as if he found her funny, and stepped back to let her into the house.

Swallowing and still smiling nervously she stepped in, looking around with wonder in her eyes.

There was an entrance hall, not a hallway, no, an entrance hall. It was probably larger than Katara's apartment, no, wait, definitely larger than her apartment. Blinking she tried not to let Ozai see her astonishment. She didn't want him to think she was just a stupid backwater peasant.

The hall was lit with lamps embedded in the ceiling or the walls. There was no great chandelier formed like a flame, like she had expected. The walls were natural sandstone and the floor was made of dark wood. Plants and flowers stood at the walls, in corners, and on tables, giving the room more colour. In the middle of the entrance hall stood a table, even darker than the floor, a red cloth on it and a golden vase with blood red fire lilies.

Katara's eyes widened. Phew, this cried royalist!

The flag of Elementia had had many different designs, and every province had its own, but what they all had in common was the red background. The western province's flag was a golden sun on red background, reminding of the days of the Sun Warriors, when there had been a political system reminding of democracy to show the difference to the era of the Kasaishi Emperors. The Southern Province's flag showed blue waves on top of the red background. The Northern province had a light blue single crescent moon, the Eastern Province's flag showed a brown circle with a hole in the shape of a square in the middle, and the flag of the mountains showed a mythical creature named airbison. The old flag of Elementia had shown a burning dragon on the red background. The flag had stayed the same for hundreds of years, when people had still believed that there were dragons, and they needed to kill them. The dragon was shown in black, and the fire in golden, colours of the old Empire of Kasai, which was how Elementia had been called before the revolution. Nowadays the flag showed a mythical creature named lion turtle. It was the only myth the four provinces had in common, and so it had been decided on that.

But the colours of the old flag of Elementia were pretty much omnipresent in the hall, which Katara noticed with grand discomfort.

Ozai gestured to a wardrobe at the side. "Please, let me take off your coat."

Blinking Katara tried to smile again. "Th- uh, thank you," she stammered, opening the buttons, feeling how he pulled it down her shoulders.

This was the closest she would ever tolerate getting to this man.

He hung her coat into the wardrobe, turned and smiled at her.

Katara wore jeans, boots and a blue hoodie, her hair was done in a messy bun. This guy should not think that she was dressing up for someone like him. Just because he lived in this fancy mansion didn't mean that she would change herself. Although she liked wearing skirts and blouses, she had thought that this outfit would underline her position in a better way.

"We will have dinner in the dining room," Ozai told her, motioning for her to follow him to the right wing of the house. "I know you wanted to talk to me alone, but it won't bother you that my wife will eat with us, will it?"

His wife. Zuko's mother. She wondered what kind of person that would be? Would she now have to face two dragons instead of one? Or would Zuko's mother be nice? After all, Zuko had had to learn his manners somewhere. And she was sure the academy hadn't taught him everything.

As much as she was curious to get to know Ozai's wife, she also felt unsure about it. Maybe it would be easier for him to behave in a friendly way with his wife around, and she would come out of this having a way too positive impression of him.

"I..." she started hesitantly.

Ozai smiled amusedly. "Don't worry, you'll be able to talk to me alone after dinner. Then you can see that I won't ever raid the south."

Katara grimaced. "You must think I'm stupid."

Ozai shook his head. "No, I don't. Zuko explained the situation to me, and I can fully understand why you would hesitate to become a part of this family."

Katara gulped, following him through the arch which led into the dining room. "Part of your family? What, I mean... Zuko and I would only go out on dates, not getting married!" she exclaimed quickly, blushing furiously. It was a good thing that she was blushing, since Ozai should think she really had feelings for Zuko, but this was just crazy. How could he even be a good father, if he wanted Zuko to find a girlfriend just for his election? How could she even think that he would be a good president?

Ozai's eyes widened in shock, and then he started to laugh. It was a quiet laugh, almost a chuckle, as he held his hands up apologetically. "I'm sorry, it's just that we consider partners of our children as family, too."

The dining room was probably as large as Katara's apartment. And besides a table, chairs and one cabinet for dishes, nothing was occupying this room. The walls had a light orange colour, making the room seem nice and warm. Plants stood on the windowsill and fire lilies in a vase on the table.

"Of course we do!" a cheerful voice sounded from another arch to Katara's right.

Since the woman who came out of it carried a pot in her hands, Katara assumed it lead to the kitchen.

Katara knew in an instant that this woman was much more a bear than a dragon. The woman's smile was warm, shining in her eyes, as she walked over to her and hugged her.

"It's so great to finally meet you, Katara!" she exclaimed, grasping her upper arms. "My name is Ursa, I'm Zuko's mother."

Katara would have thought so. Azula looked as much like her mother as Zuko resembled his father. Until now they seemed like a great family. But this could all be a facade. Katara had to stay wary.

That proved to be very difficult, given how friendly Ursa was, and how she and Ozai seemed to be genuinely interested in her life.

Sometimes they would even tease each other, and then Ozai would always give Ursa a warm look.

Katara didn't pay much attention to Ursa, since she was already sure that this woman was a good one. Ozai was much more difficult. He seemed to be nice, too, very charming and polite, friendly even. He complimented her on her studies and even asked about the life in the south. When she told him how little technology they had had in her village she observed him sharply, wanting to be able to see disgust or contempt, but he only looked a bit shocked and surprised. He even started talking about how much the technological devices in his life started to annoy him. Ursa pointed out that it must have been a very healthy environment for children to grow up, and Ozai agreed.

This was so confusing. There was something about Ozai that still made her skin crawl, made her fidget with unease and want to hide under a table, but he was a good man. Maybe it were his eyes. They were just as golden as Zuko's, the same pale colour, but somehow they felt different. Maybe they were wiser and older. Katara couldn't put her finger on it, but some part of her didn't buy the loving husband from Ozai.

What Katara felt very relieved about was the fact that neither of them seemed to want to talk about Zuko. They didn't ask how they met, and how much she liked him, and if she could see herself with him in three years, and all those things her parents had asked Aang, when they had just started dating.

Thinking about him she felt shortly sad, but managed to concentrate again on her task.

After dessert Ursa asked Katara if she wanted to have a tea or coffee.

Frowning she bit on her lower lip. "I really don't need anything else, thank you. It was all very delicious."

"I'm not asking you to eat more!" Ursa laughed. "Come on, it's good for digestion."

Katara relented, smiling. "Okay, then I would like to have a tea, if that's not too much to ask."

"Of course not, Katara," Ursa replied, standing up and cleaning her hands with a napkin. "Can I get you something, too?" she asked Ozai, who nodded, smiling.

"A coffee please, honey."

Ursa's smile widened. "Why did I even ask?" she laughed, heading for the kitchen.

Ozai was still watching her, smiling, when Katara gathered all her courage. Now or never. He already managed to impress her with his loving husband attitude. Don't let yourself get bought so easily, Katara!

So she cleared her throat. "Uh, can I ask you anything later?"

Smiling Ozai nodded. "Of course. My son seems to like you very much, so I want you to feel comfortable with his family."

Katara let a smile tug on her lips, hearing that Zuko seemed to like her pretty much. That was definitely a lie, since Ozai thought Zuko was just pretending. Why should Zuko tell his father he liked her, if he just pretended? That didn't make sense.

Apart from the lying about their relationship, and the fact that Ozai had wanted Zuko to get such a girlfriend, he seemed like a good man.

So now, onto the heavy questions!

oOo

Unfortunately, the film about the band showed how the pianist had been beaten by his father as a child, vaulting Zuko right back into his own childhood.

He tried to fight the uneasy prickle in his neck, tried to calm his heart, and to ignore the sweat on his forehead. Suddenly feeling very cold he clenched his fingers around the armrest, pushing away the thoughts about his father scaring or hurting Katara.

"Hey..." Jet murmured in his ear, leaning closer. "Are you okay? You don't look well."

"I fear I made a mistake," Zuko whispered. "I've gotta go. Stay here, watch the film, I'll be back to pick you up later."

Taking a deep breath he jumped up, finding his way between legs and seat rests.

Jet opened his mouth, frowning, then hissing in alarm. "Zuko!? Where are you going?! Wait!"

Zuko turned around. "No, just stay here!" he snarled quietly.

"Ey, move out of the scene!" a man in front of Zuko swore.

He quickly turned away, walking out of the hall. No matter what, he had to get to his car, as fast as possible.

"Zuko!" he heard Jet shouting behind him.

"Go back inside!" Zuko barked, not even looking at him.

"No, where are you going?"

"My father..."

Jet groaned, and Zuko heard the smack of a hand to a forehead. "The company again?"

Zuko didn't answer, but kept walking.

He knew Jet would let it be now. Zuko was often in distress, when he had to do something for the company, and that could explain his behaviour now quite well.

"Alright, but come back here, when you're finished, daddy's bitch, okay?"

After hearing it for more than seven months now, Zuko had developed quite the indifference towards that insult. Besides, Jet once said he insulted him to show him that he liked him. Strangest concept of all, but according to Jet all guys were doing that in friendships.

"Whatever, asshole," he replied and exited the cinema through the large glass doors.

Once he was outside he all but sprinted to his car, since he couldn't get to Katara fast enough.

The way to his father's house was familiar, but pretty occupied at that time. Many red traffic lights, slow cars in front of him, and idiots ignoring his right of way.

Honking and screaming in rage, he was quite out of breath, when he finally left the larger streets, turning into a quieter and very rich neighbourhood with big properties.

Zuko felt conflicted. One part of him was telling him that he was being stupid, while the other one just screamed for him to drive faster.

Father isn't like that anymore. Father isn't like that anymore! Father isn't like that anymore!

oOo

"What do you think of Mountainers and Southerners?" Katara asked, coming straight to the point.

Raising his eyebrows a little bit Ozai leaned back in his chair. "I believe they are very strong people. After what happened to them they simply kept on living, rebuilding their culture. And most importantly, they didn't search for a violent solution. I respect that."

They were sitting in Ozai's office on a small table, drinking the hot beverages Ursa had brought them.

The office's walls were painted in a deep red, and almost all the furniture was black or in a dark brown. The floor was made of wood, but much lighter than the one in the entrance hall. With the golden light shining above them Katara wondered if that's what being in a Kasaishi Emperor's office had felt like.

Frowning Katara shook her head. "No, I mean, what do you think of them now?"

"I'm afraid I've never been to these provinces, so I don't know a lot about them, apart from economic and political things. The South seems to be very determined to be as independent as they can, while they also keep up a very confident and proud image. I think they are wary of the western province. After all, history isn't easily forgotten," he told her sternly, looking sad and thoughtful at the same time.

"And the Mountainers?"

"They are very admirable. How peaceful and soft they always are." Ozai chuckled to himself. "I once wanted to buy a bit of land there, but while being very polite and calm they always declined my offer, even when I provoked them. One of them then explained their culture a bit better to me, why they didn't get angry and always stayed calm." He touched his chin thoughtfully. "It took some time for me to understand them, though."

Huh, he must be honest. If he only wanted to seem good to her he wouldn't admit something like that to her.

"And why do you want to become president?"

Blinking Ozai smiled in a forced way. "Well, that's a question I've been hearing nonstop lately."

Katara immediately got a bad conscience. "Oh, I'm so sorry, it's just..."

"No, it's fine. I, uh, wanted to do something good for my country. I spent my years making one business after another, while I saw many people suffering from above." He ran a hand through his hair. "I've tried to do a lot of good, but the economy is not everything. There are also lots of laws still favouring people with money or influence, just as the people in the council are such."

Katara only raised an eyebrow. "And you aren't?"

Ozai chuckled. "No, of course I am. But I haven't always been. I know how it is to have little, to struggle to pay the rent, and not to be able to do everything I want."

"So you really only want to make Elementia better?" Katara asked, not sounding convinced.

Ozai's smile seemed tired. "Yep. Pretty hard to wrap your head around it, isn't it?"

"N-n-no!" she stammered, holding her hands up in defence.

Ozai laughed. "You would probably rather believe me, if I told you that I want to change the laws and make myself a Kasaishi Emperor, too, wouldn't you?"

Blinking Katara unwillingly started to laugh, too. "No! I really would not have thought that! That's extremely crazy!"

Ozai chuckled again, then he sighed. "Yeah, well, I knew it wouldn't be easy to convince the people that I only want their best, given my family's history. But I'm trying my best, I'm actually quite a bit desperate, because I know I don't look like a good and nice president." He shrugged smiling.

"I guess after what happened in the USA no one really wants a businessman as their president," Katara said, cringing, causing Ozai to laugh again.

"Well, I don't have any intention to build a wall," he chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee.

"That's what they said in East Germany said, too." Smiling slightly Katara reached for her cup of jasmine tea.

Grinning Ozai snorted. "You're just messing with me, aren't you?"

"Hey, I want to become a lawyer. I always need arguments," she defended herself, feeling great relief that Ozai actually seemed to be really the man Zuko had described. It was very easy to talk to him, and now he didn't seem so intimidating anymore.

"You'll make a great lawyer, I can assure you that, Katara! I've already dealt with far too many of them, and you got me there!" Shaking his head, his smile widened.

"Thank you." She nervously touched her necklace. "I'm really sorry about judging you so quickly. Zuko already told me I had prejudices. I didn't want to listen to him, but I guess he was right. I'm very glad that you are just like he described you to me."

"It's okay," Ozai said. "I'm used to dealing with prejudices quite a lot. I'm just glad that I'm not standing between you and Zuko."

Katara forced herself to smile. Riiight.

Dammit, would she now really do this? She had told Zuko she wanted to meet his father first, see if he was a good person. He seemed alright. So... That meant that she would agree to getting paid for pretending to be Zuko's girlfriend. She just wanted to hide her face in her hands, moaning in a self-pitying way to herself.

Biting on her lip she looked down on her hands. "It's not like you were standing between us. I was. But I'm ready now to..."

A loud ringing sound shrilled through the room, making Ozai sitting straight. "Hm, that was the bell. I wonder who'll be there."

Katara nodded. "It's okay. You can go. Actually, I think it's time I'll go now, too."

"Should I get a taxi for you?" Ozai asked, while he was rising from his chair.

Standing up, Katara shook her head. "No, thank you! I'll take the bus, I'm fine, thanks."

Instead of shaking her hand Ozai hugged her, surprising her once more.

"It was great meeting you, Katara," he said.

Smiling she declined her head in respect a bit. "Thanks. You, too."

Ozai walked to the entrance door, while Katara stayed in the entrance hall, gathering her coat and bag from the cupboard.

She could hear muffled voices from the door, but since she didn't want to listen in, she allowed herself to panic a bit about going to be Zuko's fake girlfriend. That was still so wrong, but... Her rent needed to be payed, after all.

Fully dressed she slowly made her way to the door, waiting until Ozai would have a free moment to bid him goodbye. She tried not to attract any attention, and looked around the room again.

"Katara!"

Her head snapped to the door, eyes widening, when she saw Zuko standing there. Blinking at first, she then frowned. "Zuko. What are you doing here?"

Zuko looked stressed, his hair was a bit dishevelled, not every strand was combed back, and his cheeks were slightly flushed. "I, uh, came to pick you up, drive you home." He bit on his lower lip, standing incredibly stiff.

It confused Katara, and she looked at Ozai, wanting to see how he reacted to this.

Zuko's father had a curious expression on his face, but there was something else in his eyes, when he looked at his son.

It surprised Katara that Zuko had even come here to pick her up. They hadn't talked about that, and she had thought that she would just call him tomorrow, and tell him how it went. Was he here to make his father think even more that they had a real relationship?

Either way, she found it very sweet of him, and a smile spread on her lips. "Oh, you could have told me, you know," she said, walking up to him.

He swallowed. "Sorry. I..."

She chuckled. Why was he so nervous? "No, it's okay. Thank you for coming." She smiled up at him, trying to look as if she had feelings for him. Following an idea she stepped closer to him, taking his hand.

His eyes widened a little bit, and she kept smiling at him, commanding him in her head to relax. After a few seconds he did and smiled back.

"Thanks again for having me," Katara said, turning towards Ozai.

He smiled. "No problem. I hope it helped."

"It did, and please tell Ursa that the food was delicious," Katara went on. "You were both very friendly to me, thank you." This time he let her bow.

Ozai inclined his head. "You're very welcome. I hope we'll see you more often from now on."

Katara nodded. "Yes."

"Drive safely, Zuko."

"Of course, Father," Zuko replied, his voice sounding strangely hollow. "Say hi to Mum from me."

Smiling Ozai nodded, and Katara and Zuko stepped out of the door, walking down the few stairs to the road. In front of the front door of the Kasaishi mansion was a roundabout, reminding Katara of the driveway to expensive hotels.

A black BMW Coupé stood on the side of the street.

Katara raised her brows. This car was so fitting. It was limousine shaped, like almost 90 percent of the cars in this city, but it still looked sportive and young.

"Did your Dad buy you that car?" she asked.

Zuko hummed affirmatively and opened the door for her.

"Thanks," she said and lowered herself into the car. She practically sank into the seat, and tried to adjust it to her height. It was probably programmed to fit Jet. It still smelled like a new car in here, and she was a bit overwhelmed by all these polished blinking high tech buttons and screens. What did Zuko need these things for?

He climbed in, watching her with a frown, looking concentrated.

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "What?"

"You're okay?" It sounded unsure and doubtfully at the same time.

Returning a frown of her own, she wondered what he was thinking. "Yeah, why?"

His eyes widened immediately, as if he hadn't expected her to ask that. "Uh, just, because... I was worried if you two would get along. You know, 'cause..."

Twisting her mouth, she sent him a glare and folded her arms under her breasts. "You didn't think I would behave, did you?"

Blinking Zuko let out a little laugh, sounding way too high to be honest. "What? No..."

Katara just rolled her eyes. He was such a terrible liar. But it made him more likeable in her opinion.

Zuko cut the engine, making the car growling, and jazz music came from the radio.

Surprise filled her at the sound of the music. He liked jazz? She would have never thought that of him.

And it wasn't this light jazz which was played as background music for events or at restaurants, where she guessed Zuko had heard it plenty of times. No, it was loud, powerful, full of energy and happiness.

Driving around the roundabout he cast a quick glance at her. "Uh, I can change the station, if you'd rather hear something else."

"No, no!" She quickly shook her head. "It just surprised me that you listen to jazz, that's all."

"What did you think what music I'd listen to?"

"Charts, probably. Maybe techno, and classical? Probably pop rock, but that's as far as I would have expected you from mainstream," Katara told him.

He let out an offended snort. "I hate techno music. And I don't listen to charts music, either. And I don't care if something is mainstream or not."

Katara felt again very surprised. "Huh, I guess I'll have a lot to learn about you to make this work."

She saw him flinch and frown again.

"Do you mean... Have you decided on it already?"

She leaned back in her seat, noticing that it was getting warmer in the car. "Yeah. Your father seems nice, and like a good man. I still think it's shitty what he wanted you to do for his campaign, but I can also understand it. It's true that the lower class people don't like him. They feel suspicious of all rich people, but of Kasaishis even more."

"That's great! I mean, thank you. You're doing me a big favour."

Katara chuckled. "I think you're exaggerating a bit. But seriously, let's meet this weekend, or next week, to get to know each other better. If I have to convince your family that I'm totally into you and you have to do the same thing with my family, then we should really know more about each other."

Zuko nodded. "Yep. That's a good idea. We also still have to talk about your salary."

"True. I haven't thought about that yet." Looking out of the window she was again amazed by how ridiculously large the houses here were. "Why did you come to pick me up?" She didn't know why she wanted to know this, but she didn't like her assumptions one bit.

When he didn't answer immediately, she turned around to look at him questioningly.

He seemed tense, his jaw clenched, and his finger knuckles were almost white. "Just to... I wanted to make sure that you two got along."

Katara didn't know what to do with that answer. Had he not trusted her? "You know, I guess it even convinced your father more that we are dating."

Zuko hummed again, his gaze fixed on the street.

Frowning Katara wondered what had made him so pensive, but she didn't want to bother him. So she sighed, stared out of the window, and dwelled on her own thoughts.


Again a reminder as to why Ozai seems so friendly: He is a genius actor.

And in this AU Ozai and Ursa did actually marry, because they were in love, and even if Ursa wanted to leave Ozai before to go see Zuko, while he was in high school, it's not like that anymore. Ursa fears Ozai, deep down, but she tries to convince herself that he has changed for the better again. Now, he accepts his son, and that is all Ursa ever wanted. She doesn't want to endanger this situation, and Ozai clearly does something to make Ursa think he has chenged, too. After all, for the campaign a good family image will do wonders, right?

I also wanted to say something about Katara's character, because I noticed that she's a bit different from canon. I obviously exaggerated her ability to hold grudges, since she couldn't connect her anger at Zuko also to the death of her mother, since Kya is alive in this AU. But let's be honest: A lot of people never have anything to do with other people at their school, are only observing them from far away, but still can't stand them. Besides, I don't think Katara gifts second chances to anyone easily. Aang does, but Katara was also wary of Jet, when he showed up in book two again. He only earned her forgiveness by dying, so I don't think it's that unrealistic that Katara couldn't stand Zuko for all these years. It would be if they had travelled around with the gaang during all these years, but high school is slightly different from that.

Answers to reviews:

To Smckoy929: Well, here it is! After a month of waiting, hehe... I hope you like it, it wasn't easy writing Katara and Ozai together, since these are normally characters I would want to keep away from each other as far as possible.