AUTHOR NOTE: Thank you so much for the reviews and follows! It really keeps me excited to keep writing this story :)
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The heavy purple robe Zuko had gifted Katara was saturated in sweat. The many folds of the fabric hid her almost eight months of pregnancy well, but the temperature of the assembly chamber was beginning to feel unbearably hot. Sweat dripped down her neck and a band of tension was building up in her head. However, as she sat under the prisoner's piercing gaze, she refused to show weakness.
"We are friends here." Stated Asayo and the five other Equalists in the chamber nodded in agreement. "Are you sure you won't tell us your name?"
The captive's brown eyes narrowed. "I am nameless. I am nationless."
Asayo had suggested to Zuko and Katara she be allowed to speak to the prisoner they had captured all those months ago at sea. It was both a measure of goodwill and an attempt to glean any information as the situation grew more dire.
"We are offering a path forward. The Fire Lord has already established a general vote and a citizen's assembly." Asayo said. The prisoner remained silent, but didn't break eye contact with the waterbender.
Katara forced herself to take steady breaths. Over the past five weeks, it felt to her that the world snapped. That reality was shifting and every event was pushing them towards an unknown precipice. Sporadic attacks had riddled the Northern Tribe, Earth Kingdom, and Fire Nation. But despite logic, the Northern Tribe and King Kuei continued to blame Zuko for the violence - not the extreme faction of the Equalists, now calling themselves the "Equalizers" - who worked against the wishes of the local chapters. The Northern Tribe had halted trade with the Fire Nation, and the only thing keeping the economic door open to the Earth Kingdom, was Toph forcing the King's hand through her family holdings.
The prisoner before the waterbender was a representation of her ever shifting and fracturing political landscape.
"This is no path forward. This is a compromise within a corrupted system - dictated by those in power, Asayo." The prisoner finally said. He then gestured at the rest of the Equalists. Zuko had wanted him unbound for this meeting, in attempts to show peace. "You are all traitors."
Asayo looked taken aback.
Zuko cleared his throat. "I can assure you that the Citizen's Assemble and the General Vote is only the beginning for the Fire Nation. We've all been working on a long term plan, and I am interested in your thoughts."
The prisoner cackled. "And tell me Fire Lord, does this plan include you abdicating and abolishing the crown? Does your plan actually place the power into the hands of the commoners and not wealthy benders? Because if it doesn't, anything that you propose are merely half measures."
"The Fire Lord and his advisors have been sympathetic and helpful to our cause." Asayo quipped.
The prisoner's eyes fell on Katara once more. The pain behind her eyes intensified. She knew she should excuse herself to her chambers and rest. However, she needed to know what the prisoner said.
"Sure, this Fire Lord may be sympathetic, but what about his heir? Why should we be at the whim of someone who was merely born privileged? And likely born a bender." The prisoner countered as he stood up. The guards along the back wall of the chamber tensed, but Zuko put a hand up - signaling them to stand down. "And let's not forget, as long as benders live they will always subjugate us!"
"You take this too far!" Interjected Yna, who had become one of the most staunch supporters of Zuko after she saw his commitment. "This movement was never about killing innocent people! It was about gaining equality!"
"And you don't take it far enough," Snapped the prisoner. Veins bulged in his neck. "Besides what did you think this movement was about when we killed the Avatar?"
Anger flared in Katara, and Zuko took a loud inhale. Out of the corner of her eye, Katara could see him struggling to maintain the smooth facade of the Fire Lord.
"Many of us were against that murder! That was an Earth Kingdom chapter acting against the will of the majority of the movement!" Countered Asayo. Her face also red with anger. "Why can't you realize this is the way forward? Not needless violence?"
The crackling of the everpresent wall of fire was the only thing that could be heard in the chamber, as the prisoner stood above the seated members in a defensive stance.
"What exactly is enough? You want all the leadership to step down? And after that? Exterminate all benders?" Katara lashed out - her anger boiling over into fury.
The prisoner let out a laugh. "Now you're starting to understand."
"That is absurd." The Fire Lord said standing to mirror the defensive stance of the captive. "That is millions of innocent lives lost."
"Who said anything about killing?" The prisoner said with a sickening grin. He refused to elaborate what he meant and a spear of disgust wiggled it's way down Katara's spine.
—
After the dead end meeting, Katara went outside into the garden to work on some correspondence to Bato she had fallen behind on. The air was crisp and the leaves of the trees were a fiery red. The last riot of color before they turned brown. Despite the growing national crisis, Zuko was on the other side of the pond instructing Kiyi. They had religiously continued their training everyday for the past month.
The young girl grunted with effort as she attempted a new form. Katara chuckled watching her grow more determined. As she was distracted, a gust of wind came and swept away the waterbender's neat stack of paper. She muttered a curse under her breath as she struggled to get up. The weight of her stomach was beginning to hinder her from normal movement.
"Kiyi, please grab those letters for Katara." Zuko asked as he rushed over to the waterbender to help.
She grabbed his outstretched, muscled forearm reluctantly, "You know I'm not fragile, but thank you."
He laughed, "I have never thought that."
Goddess, he's handsome. The waterbender thought watching him smile, his face haloed by the red leaves of the tree that stood behind him. It had been a month since he admitted he loved her. She hadn't said it back, nor had they shown any physical affection towards each other - well, other than the lingering brushes of their fingers while playing Pai Sho. But their words had grown looser and the warmth she felt when he was around had only grown hotter.
"Here they are!" Kiyi said, bounding up to the two. Crumbled paper in hand.
"Thank you very much," Katara said with a smile taking the letters. They were so bent and torn by the wind and the girl's grasp she would have to rewrite them - but she didn't care.
"Kiyi, can you go work on the Dragon Dance by yourself for a second?"
The young girl nodded at Zuko and bounced back over to the other side of the pond. Once Kiyi was out of earshot, Zuko rested his hand on Katara's lower back and leaned in. The waterbender's stomach fluttered. The firebender gently brushed her long hair back then whispered in the waterbender's ear, "You look good in purple."
The touch was electric after eight month that lacked physical contact. Katara was grateful the purple robe was long and thick, because if Zuko had seen the way her knees wobbled she would have never recovered from embarrassment. He then gave her a knowing smirk and went back over to Kiyi. She let out a shaky breath. Was it okay to be this aroused while pregnant?
As Katara shook her head to alleviate her thoughts, a loud explosion sounded from outside the palace wall. Why can't I have a moment of peace? The ground shook as a second explosion rang further away. Zuko's eyes were wide as he grabbed Kiyi's hand and rushed back to Katara.
"Please go find my mother. Then take my sister and her to the infirmary. Get the doctors ready." He said, placing Kiyi's hand in Katara's then ushered the two out of the courtyard.
"Are we going to be okay?" Asked Kiyi in a small voice as she clutched Katara's robe - the ground shaking from another impact.
"It's going to be okay..We just need to find your mom." The waterbender responded trying to keep a cheery exterior for the young girl. She then turned to the Fire Lord. "Zuko, what are you about to do?"
Another explosion, closer this time.
"I need to be with my people."
Katara knew there was no stopping him. He was going to go into the city despite anything she said. His body was tense and ready for a fight. She stopped them for one minute and turned to face him in the corridor. The sounds of rushed footsteps on tile echoed around them. Katara touched his smooth cheek, "Please be safe." I can't lose you too.
He nodded as he touched her shoulder. Tears burned in Katara's eyes, as he turned and ran with the rest of his guards to the palace entrance.
—
The attack on the Capitol lasted hours. Explosion after explosion echoed through the city. Accompanied by the sounds of the Equalizer's weapons. Sharp and staccato - they buzzed through the air.
Zuko's mother had given the order to the doctors that the palace infirmary would be open to any civilian. There was some protest from the guards, but Ursa told them to do their duty and help the injured inside if they were near the palace walls. Ever since the order was given, Ursa, Katara, and Yna - who had been spending the afternoon drinking tea with Ursa - worked in the hospital. The stream of injured people from the metal projectiles was constant, and bodies of both dead and treated lined not only the infirmary but the halls outside.
The doctors and Katara worked together to stop the bleeding. Then Yna and Ursa would come behind them and administer salve as an antiseptic. Every shade of blood splattered the hallways. Fresh red, almost pink, and blooded dried brown. Moans and cries echoed and cut Katara down to her core. She had seen a lot in the 100 Years War, but the carnage of this attack was by far the worse in her memory.
As it grew dark, the sounds of fighting died down outside and the overtaxed medical staff was able to start a rotation so each person got a brief rest. They had insisted Katara go first. Not just because of her pregnancy, but because her arms and legs shook from the amount of bending she had done over the last hours. She made her way over to a table Ursa had been mixing herbs at in the middle of the infirmary. Sweat and grim dripped down her body and she shed her robe. She stood in her light, blue tunic holding Zuko's gift in shaking hands. The purple and gold was stained beyond repair in blood. Her throat became thick as her mind went to Zuko. She refused to cry here among all these people who had it worse, so she found a basin of clean water and scrubbed her hands instead.
Yna, who was tending to a patient, shot her a look. The elderly woman's brown eyes shot down to Katara's pregnant belly. Without the robe it was obvious she was carrying, but at this moment the waterbender couldn't care less who knew.
"Sit down." Yna commanded as she came to the table after finishing with her patient.
"I'm okay."
"No you're not. Your face is losing color. Sit down." She commanded again.
Katara sighed but lowered herself into the nearest chair. She was feeling a little lightheaded and her vision was a bit fuzzy. Granted it was nothing she couldn't handle.
"Here, drink this." Yna said, shoving a greenish mixture at her in a chipped ceramic cup.
"What is it?" The waterbender asked sniffing the sharp, herby mixture.
"Gingko with peppermint." The elderly woman said her expression pinched. Katara nodded and downed the lukewarm concoction. It tasted horrible, but she gagged it down. Yna continued, "You shouldn't be working like this, this late in your pregnancy. You're what 7 or 8 months along?"
"I couldn't just sit around and do nothing." Katara quipped, rubbing her temples. Yna's expression relaxed a bit.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped. I'm just tired."
"It's okay." The waterbender offered with a small smile. The woman just nodded and continued her work.
After a few minutes, the Gingko mixture kicked in and the lightheadedness subsided. Katara found Ursa and told her it was her turn to go on break then took her spot out in the hallway. The evening grew colder and darker. Katara worked on the patients with broken bones and who needed pain relief in the hallway. She continued to catch glances of th black door on the far side of the hallway - praying someone would come with news about what was happening outside of the city walls.
However, the late evening turned into midnight and no one came. Katara kept her hands busy by rolling bandages in the quiet hallway outside of the infirmary. All the patients had been taken care of, and most were asleep. The methodical movements of ripping and rolling lulled the waterbender asleep. She was in the midst of the same dream of her and Zuko with two children, when a familiar voice said her name, "Katara?"
She felt a hand stroke her face and her eyes flew open.
Golden eyes, one ringed in a red scar, met hers and she let out a cry of relief. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around Zuko's neck and pulled him down to her. He ran his hand through hair and murmured 'I'm right here,' 'It's okay,' over and over. With a ragged breath Katara pulled back and looked at his face. His hair and face was caked in sweat and blood.
"Are you okay?" She asked, as she stood up. Her hands and eyes wandering down his body. His clothes were ripped and stained, but she saw no open wounds.
"I'm okay." He replied softly, his hands cupped her cheeks. His breath was fast and his eyes burned. It was the desperation Katara had seen and felt herself after a battle. The sheen of adrenaline. The glimmer of life amongst death. He leaned in and kissed her. No care for the patients seeing them in the corridor. Katara leaned into the movement closing her eyes. His lips were so soft and desperate. She grabbed handfuls of his clothing - attempting to draw him closer to her. I love you.
After a moment, someone cleared their throat behind the two. Zuko pulled back and turned to see one of his personal guardsmen standing there. "Sir, I apologize for… interrupting, but I'm afraid you need to come with me."
"What is it?" Zuko questioned his arms still around Katara.
"Fire Lord, I think it's best if you and maybe Master Katara saw for yourself."
The waterbender nodded and took Zuko's warm hand. The three of them quickly walked down the hallway to the front entrance of the palace. The wide doors were already open and Katara could make out a dark mass on the ground. Her heart pounded against her chest as they grew closer. It was becoming clear it was a body. No, no, no, no. Gray hair obscured the face and the Earth Kingdom traveling clothes were caked in blood. Oh goddess.
They approached the mangled corpse. Arms and legs bent in unnatural positions. Gashes across the chest and hands. Zuko let out a shutter and sunk to his knees. Gently, he brushed the matted hair away from the face.
"Uncle…" his tone strain.
Katara steeled herself, and saw a note pinned to the Grand Lotus's tunic. She picked up the paper and read:
"If you don't want the rest of your family to end up like your Uncle. Abdicate Now.
Yours Truly, The Equalizers."