Chapter Nine: Duty and Desire

Present Day- The Earth Kingdom

After Katara, Sokka, and Suki had departed for the Southern Water Tribe, Aang and Toph had paired off to go back to Omashu, wanting to focus their attention on the Earth Kingdom.

The group lost contact for some time, and it was only through word of mouth that the duo found out that Katara and Sokka had left their tribe to journey to the Fire Nation. Word had it that Suki had left a few days after they did, going back to Kyoshi Island until she heard from her husband.

Then, one night, Aang was woken up from a terrible nightmare.

He was alone, floating in the middle of the ocean. He called out for Appa, for Momo, for anyone, but his shouts just echoed along the waves.

He saw an island emerge from the sea and a storm brewed over it. He heard a familiar, cackling laughter before the entire island burst into flames.

Then, from the ashes, a tall figure arose and when he turned, Aang's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to scream-

"Wake up, Twinkletoes!"

Aang gasped, sitting up, drenched in a cold sweat. "Toph?"

The earthbending master leaned over him, her pale eyes wide. "You were screaming," she told him.

Aang rubbed a hand over his face. "I was having a nightmare- wait, how did you know I was screaming? Your room is down the hall."

Toph lifted a brow. "It's mid-morning, so I wanted to wake you up before Bumi did. Last time he woke you up, he left you in one of those mail carts."

Aang winced at that memory. He stood, washing off his face with the water in the basin next to his bed. He used waterbending to dry off his face.

"So do you wanna talk about it?" Toph asked, crossing her arms.

Sighing, Aang sat down on the corner of the bed next to Toph. He told her what he saw in as much detail as he could.

Toph was quiet for a moment, her brow crinkled. "You don't think… that Ozai can escape, right?"

Aang shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "There are still those who are loyal to him. And if he escaped, the next place he'd go is…"

"To find Princess Crazy Pants," Toph finished, with a nod.

"I'm going to send a message to Zuko and see what he knows," Aang said immediately, springing to his feet.

"I'll tell Bumi," Toph said, following him. "Just in case."

Ooo0ooO

The Fire Nation

Ursa and Iroh sat in the sitting area by the Palace Garden, enjoying the tea service in front of them.

"When will you return to the Earth Kingdom?" Ursa asked.

"Soon," Iroh replied. "I cannot leave the Jasmine Dragon for much longer, although my assistant manager is doing a wonderful job."

The pair had often made time to have tea together when Iroh visited the Palace, ever since Ursa's return four years ago. Ursa had been overjoyed to see her brother-in-law, and he took it upon himself to look out for her, in his own way, knowing Zuko would be doing all that he could to keep Ursa safe and comfortable.

The first few afternoons had been difficult, even with Zuko present, because Ursa had wanted to know what had happened to Azula and Ozai. Being banished to the small island had not provided her with even a glimpse into the world, and Ozai's plots had been unknown to her.

Ursa listened as Iroh and Zuko told her about Ozai and his plans to conquer the world, to rise again as the Phoenix King, and how Azula had been a part of his schemes. Zuko told her how the grab for power, and leaving the Fire Nation in her charge had lead to Azula's mind unravelling.

The former Fire Lady had brushed away her tears in silence. She had listened to the rest of the story, how Katara and Zuko had defeated Azula in an Agni Kai, how Aang had taken away Ozai's firebending, and how the two fugitives had been locked away in separate prisons.

It still made her heart ache, even now. She could admit to possibly favoring Zuko, given Azula had been so fiercely independent and driven, not bearing the soft heart her son possessed. But even so, Azula was her daughter, one she felt responsible for having let Ozai get his claws into her.

Her marriage to Ozai had not been a love match, or an easy one. When he had told her about his conversation with Azulon, where the former Fire Lord had ordered him to kill Zuko, Ursa had known- known- that Ozai would avoid getting his hands dirty.

So she had been banished for her actions, actions that she had been determined to hide from everyone, especially Zuko. She had not even learned about the Agni Kai between Zuko and Ozai, and Zuko's own banishment, until she had returned to the Fire Nation.

"Ursa?"

Ursa blinked, drawn out of her past memories. "I'm sorry, Iroh, I was lost in thought."

Iroh gazed at her with soft, understanding eyes. Then they shifted to a spot over her shoulder and gleamed with interest.

Ursa glanced over her shoulder. Katara was walking by herself, humming, a small smile on her lips.

"Zuko and Katara disappeared after the meeting yesterday for some time," Iroh commented. "And the guards tell me they didn't come back inside until very late."

Looking at Iroh, Ursa lifted her brows. "You're not saying… Katara and Zuko?"

"They have grown close over the years, exchanging letters often," Iroh told her in a hushed voice.

"It's rude to spy on someone, Iroh," Ursa said, even as the corner of her lips curved up.

"Then let's move this tea inside, and leave Miss Katara be," Iroh suggested, standing up.

Ooo0ooO

Katara woke up slowly from a rosy dream, a smile creeping across her face. The sun was shining in her room, telling her it was after dawn.

Then she remembered last night and sat up quickly, eyes wide, her fingers brushing her lips. Her thoughts raced along with her heart.

Six years ago, the thought of kissing Zuko would not have even crossed her mind. Even five years ago, with her thoughts being consumed with the end of the war and with Aang, any feelings she had felt for Zuko had been ones of friendship.

Hadn't it?

Zuko was handsome, that much she was always certain about. Surely she had not been the only one to notice during their travels during the war, or afterwards.

Katara pictured him now- the tall, proud Fire Lord. His hair was dark, long as it had been near the end of the war. She liked his eyes, which could be warm and gold like the sun, but also cool and focused when duelling. But they had always captured her, drawn her in…

He had always been taller than her, even now, and his body had filled out thanks to years mastering his own element and weapons. His skin was moon-pale, but warm, as if you could feel his inner fire burning beneath the surface, and his scars…

Katara paused. His scars defined him, but did not make him. They were a tribute to his loyalty to her and their friends, and how he had been willing to stand up against his father and sister's tyranny. She knew the one on his chest intimately, and she often thought if it as star-shaped. And the one on his face…

She lifted a hand to her own cheek. It was not fearsome, or horrible. It was soft and warm, and something she often found herself touching. When they had been in the catacombs, part of her marvelled at how he had allowed her to touch it, having learned later he did not allow anyone else to touch it, not even his mother.

Her hand slid to her chest, over her heart. Had she always had feelings for Zuko? Had she, in some way, always desired him the way she did now?

Her thoughts trekked across their history- shivering at the memory of him tying her to the tree, threatening to burn her scroll, and how it had felt to have him press her into a different tree as he kissed her passionately…

Perhaps their story had always been a slow burn, a journey of two people who had been at different points in their lives, together with other people, who then found each other later in life. She did not believe they had been met to be, like Aang had claimed they had been. Not a firebender and a waterbender, two polar opposites in every way.

But now… but now, she wondered if fate had a different path for her now. And, with a smile, she wanted, more than anything, to walk it with Zuko at her side.

Rising from her bed, she dressed in a loose, dark red dress that was trimmed in silver. She swept her hair away from her face with the gold and ruby combs Iroh had given her before leaving her room to go for a walk.

While she walked, she hummed, and did not notice Iroh and Ursa leaving the area to leave her be with her thoughts.

She was distracted when a guard ran by with a scroll clenched in his fist, and she stopped to watch him run inside. Her hand drifted to her waterskin instinctively, knowing her sword was in her quarters.

Following where the guard had been, Katara was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of dread, which creeped down her spine like ice.

Ooo0ooO

"How is this possible?" Zuko roared from his dais, the flames leaping towards the ceiling.

The letter the guard had carried had already been read by Zuko, and quickly burned. The guard kneeled in front of the Fire Lord, his gaze lowered respectfully.

"He killed all the guards, Fire Lord Zuko," the guard said. "Reports should be coming in from the other prison tower on how he escaped there. My lord, they have both disappeared-,"

The doors to the throne room were thrown open, and Katara strode inside, her eyes immediately seeking Zuko's.

Zuko's temper cooled slightly when he saw the waterbender, even as his fists clenched at the news that the guard had brought him.

He wanted to pull her up to his throne, to yank her onto his lap and taste her again, to forget what he had just learned and what it meant to them and the rest of the world…

"Tell me what happened," Katara ordered, her gaze dropping to the guard.

The man did not argue and he told her about the message he had received from the prison tower on Lone Island. "Ozai escaped his imprisonment, Master Katara," he relayed. "And we just received a message that he went to the prison were Azula was held, and killed everyone there, save her, and now they have disappeared."

Katara's eyes widened and her brown skin paled. "How is that possible?" she echoed, in a shocked whisper.

"We do not know yet, my lady," the guard said. "So many were killed at both prisons…"

"We have to warn the others," Katara said, gathering herself together. "I will dispatch messages to Aang and Toph, then the Water tribes immediately. Write to the Earth King and to King Bumi. I'll tell Aang to gather Suki from Kyoshi Island, as well as Ty Lee and any warriors that want to come with her."

"Where is Sokka?" Zuko asked, parting the wall of fire to walk towards her.

"He went into town, I think," Katara told him as they exited the room together. "We need to find Iroh, and have him get a message to the other members of the White Lotus."

Zuko nodded, his jaw clenched.

Katara paused, resting her hand on his arm. "We are going to figure this out, Zuko. As soon as we tell the others, we're going to figure this out."

Zuko stared at her.

Had it only been last night that they had been caught up in each other? And now, with this grave news, it seemed like fate was interfering. The lines between duty and desire needed to be drawn.

Katara met his gaze, her thoughts mirroring his own. She wanted to kiss him again, to tell him how she felt, but now…

Everything was going to be different.

Ooo0ooO

Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or any of its characters.

Author's Note: Since this story is pouring out of me, enjoy the second update of the day!

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