Disclaimer: Neither Avatar: the Last Airbender nor its characters belong to me, nor will they ever
Ok, I know, I'm terrible, I'm sooooo sorry! I know it's been FOREVER since I've updated. I haven't forgotten, I'm just super busy. But I know you don't want excuses. I'll try to get the rest of this story out ASAP.
They spent the rest of the day together. They talked, about themselves, about the future. Katara noticed they spoke of what they wanted as individuals for their future, but not of what they wanted as a couple, for their life together. She attributed this to the fact that neither of them had planned for a life together.
Much of the afternoon was also spent in silence, but for this, she was grateful. It was so nice to get away from the palace and the wedding planning and even her family. The peace was much appreciated.
But as the sun began to set, Zuko began to pack up and, reluctantly, she helped him.
"Do we have to go back?" she asked, only half joking.
"I don't think anyone would appreciate it if we simply disappeared."
"No, I don't think they would," she conceded.
They rode back to the palace in silence. Stable hands greeted them and helped her dismount. Zuko was quickly informed that dinner would soon be served, and they parted ways to clean and dress for dinner. Katara was grateful for a few moments on her own; it let her think and begin to process the day. She realized she was still trying to process everything, not only the day she had with Zuko, but her entire situation. It was still a bit incomprehensible at times. But today had made her feel better about it somehow. Today, she had been able to see Zuko as her good friend and not as her distant betrothed.
Jien and the other women were waiting for her in her room when she arrived. They had lain out a dress for her to wear to dinner already. Much to her surprise, though, they did not question her absence or ask where she had been. Jien just asked, with a soft smile, "How was your day, my lady?" To which Katara replied simply, "It was nice, thank you." They helped her dress in silence, but it was not uncomfortable. She did not sense any judgment or disdain or disapproval from them at all, and she breathed a sigh of relief she had not realized she'd been holding.
Dinner was being served in one of the smaller dining rooms tonight—smaller being a relative term, of course—and it would just be her and her family and Zuko and Uncle. Since her family's arrival, everyone had gotten along rather well. Sokka was doing a good job of restraining himself. Her father was getting along well with Uncle and some of Zuko's council members. Even Gran and Master Pakku seemed to be enjoying themselves. When she was dressed, Katara, escorted by Jien, crossed the palace to the dining room. The men in the room stood respectfully as she entered, and she barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. She was the last to arrive, and she saw Sokka giving her the stink eye for being late. Zuko pulled her chair out for her, and after he sat down, dishes began making their way around the table.
"So," Toph drew out, the first at the table to speak. "Where'd you two sneak off to today?"
In that moment, you could have heard a pin hit the polished marble floor. Katara heard the inflection in the question, and she could feel her face growing hot.
Zuko, however, remained unaffected. "I showed Katara some of the grasslands beyond the palace," he stated simply.
"And it took all day?" she asked disbelievingly.
"It did."
"Did you even do anything exciting?"
"Like what?"
"Like fight?"
"I'm going to teach Katara how to ride komodo-rhinos."
"That doesn't sound fun at all!"
"You are not!"
Toph and Katara had spoken together. Her objection was the first thing she'd said since entering the dining room, and it drew everyone's attention. She, however, focused on Zuko, though she could feel her face growing hot for a second time.
"'Are not' what?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
"I told you I have no interest in learning to ride. My feet are perfectly fine."
"And I told you I think, once you learn, you'll enjoy it."
Katara's mouth snapped shut. She didn't want to argue with him about this, not in front of everyone else. Not when Toph's lips were curled up like that or Sokka was looking for any excuse to hit Zuko. She sipped her wine before offering, "Well, if that's what you think…." Then, turning her attention away from Zuko, she asked, "Gran, I heard you went to the palace spa today? Did you enjoy yourself?"
And just like that, everyone's attention slipped elsewhere as conversations erupted all across the table. Every few minutes, she could feel Zuko's gaze on her, but she just ignored him.
After dessert had been served and the dishes cleared, Iroh cleared his throat and stood. Katara braced herself for another embarrassing toast. But he surprised her by saying, "I believe it is time for one of the last pre-wedding traditions."
Katara frowned. She had no idea what he was talking about. No one who was not Fire Nation seemed to know, either.
Iroh smiled. "I see I need to explain. In the Fire Nation, it is tradition that two nights before the wedding, the groom escorts his soon-to-be bride to her room and they are given a few moments to say their goodbyes, as, to preserve all pure premarital intentions, they are not permitted to see one another again until the wedding ceremony."
Toph scowled. "That's sounds kinda lame."
"I am not finished, my dear. The groom is then 'kidnapped', for lack of a better work, by his male friends and family so they can celebrate his last days as an unmarried man, and the bride's friends and family sneak into her bridal suite and, um, do something similar."
Gran touched Iroh's arm and patted it lightly. "No need to explain any further; I believe I know what you're saying."
All of the older adults nodded as if they, too, knew what to what Iroh was referring, but the young adults were still relatively clueless. Except for Reike. He smiled broadly and excitedly. "I didn't think the royal family partook in this tradition."
"We partake in all Fire Nation traditions."
Katara was still confused. She remembered Zuko telling her they wouldn't be allowed to see each other a day or two before the wedding, but what was this about kidnapping and celebrating? So far, all Fire Nation traditions were rigid and, well, boring. This didn't seem to fit. She looked at Zuko for some sort of hint, but he seemed to be occupied by looking at anyone and anything but her.
"Well, my boy!" Iroh exclaimed, looking at Zuko. "Get up and escort your bride-to-be to her rooms so the night can begin!"
Begrudgingly, Zuko stood and crossed the room to help Katara out of her chair. He then none too gently took her arm and escorted her from the room.
"What was that all about?" she asked as soon as the dining room door closed behind them. When he wouldn't answer her or look at her, she asked again.
"Please, Katara, just this once, I'm begging you. Please don't make me tell you. Please let you're grandmother tell you." Even as he said it, he winced, and he still wouldn't look at her.
Katara was taken aback by his insistence, but she acquiesced, pulling her arm from his grip. "Fine."
They crossed the rest of the palace in silence, neither of them looking at each other. But the closed they came to her rooms, the more her anxiety grew. They were only that much closer to the wedding, to becoming man and wife.
They finally stopped outside her suites' door, and she turned to face him awkwardly.
He shifted, clearly uncomfortable. "So…I guess…."
"We won't be seeing each other for a few days, then," she offered.
"Yeah…." He cleared his throat. After taking a deep breath, he said, "Katara, I know we agreed not to do this anymore, but I'm going to: thank you. Thank you, Katara. I mean it."
"I know."
Suddenly, he took a step toward her, so they were nearly chest-to-chest.
She looked up at him, unsure of his intentions.
His eyes were roaming her face, and slowly he reached for her hand. His other hand rose to rest on her shoulder.
"Zuko…."
He swallowed. "I just…I want you to know that…I'm going to take care of you, Katara."
She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but she said, "I know you will, Zuko."
He hesitated for just a moment before he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
Katara stiffened at his touch. She didn't push him away, but her only response was closing her eyes; she didn't kiss him back. This was the first time Zuko had kissed her, really kissed her. Every other kiss they'd shared had been formal or for ritualistic purposes.
His kiss was gentle, and he didn't push her. And it was short. He pulled away and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear tenderly.
"Sleep well," he told her quietly. "And I'll see you in a few days."
She smiled softly, though it was a bit forced. "You, too, Zuko," she replied before retreating into her room. She leaned against the door after she closed it and sighed, willing away the tears that began to sting the back of her eyes. She didn't want to cry; she really didn't. She wasn't sad, or even angry about her situation, not anymore. Zuko was a good man, and an even better friend. He would make a good husband and, someday, a good father; she knew that. But she still couldn't picture him as her husband, or the father of her children. She struggled to form an image in her head, of the two of them as a happy couple, maybe even in love, with a fair-skinned, blue-eyed child in her arms, but the more she struggled, the more that image slipped away from her.
See you in a few days, he'd said. In just a few days, she'd be Zuko's wife, and he, her husband.
One tear escaped, and she wiped at it furiously. She hated crying, and she wouldn't do it again, she promised herself. She stood up straight and went to wash her face. She was about to become Fire Lady; it was time she started acting the part.
I know it's shorter than usual, but it's better than nothing, right? (I hope you think so!) I'm working on getting the next chapter finished soon, by the end of this month hopefully. Hope you enjoyed!