Dear Zuko,
It's a shame to hear about the delays. I hope you're doing alright regardless of all that. Planning to overhaul whole industries must be very stressful. But Iroh is right, you should take your time. Now that I think about it, there are mechanics in Ba Sing Se your council could definitely consult, at least on the topic of transferring technology. I'll have someone send a telegram to the palace with the addresses right now.
You were right about the blueprint for the firebending chambers - Lao was getting carried away with all the symbolic flourishes as usual, but I convinced him to be a little more practical and go with the open plan courtyards. There are going to be kids running around, we can't have the school burning down before it's even finished! Sadly I'll only be in the City for a couple more weeks - I'm going back South to check the school projects there. I would have loved to see you!
Love,
Katara
...
Dear Zuko,
I told you they would be helpful! Ah where would your post-war economy be without me? I'm sorry for the late reply, we just got back from Ember Island. But I do have some big news! I'm sure Aang will want to tell you when you two are in Republic City next week, so just pretend you haven't heard this, because I just can't wait that long! We're getting married! Don't tell anyone yet, obviously, all that official press can wait.
I really wish you could have come to Ember Island. I know it technically hasn't been that long but sometimes it feels like I haven't seen you in years.
Love,
Katara
P.s. I'm attaching Sokka's drawing of all of us at the beach since you couldn't come! He's insisting this is an "official engagement family portrait" but most importantly, if my eyeballs have to be subjected to this, then so do yours.
...
His Royal Highness Fire Lord Zuko,
It is with great delight that
Avatar Aang
and
Katara of the Southern Water Tribe
request the honour of your presence at the celebration of their marriage.
Please see overleaf for details of the date, time and address.
Dear Zuko,
Did you get the invite!? It looks pretty fancy, doesn't it? We wanted to ask you if you could be a witness at the wedding. Sokka's going to be one of course, and Aang wants Bumi, but we kind of both picked you first so it would mean so much! Please say you'll be able to make it! I know how busy you are right now, but it just wouldn't feel right without you. We won't fix any dates until you reply.
Love,
Katara
"Is that everything?" Ina's voice yells from inside the guesthouse.
Katara surveys her bags and mentally checks off her list. In the aftermath of the first earthquake, she hadn't had time to pack much for her trip to the Earth Kingdom: a couple of changes of clothes, her water pouch, and a spare hair grip were all the essentials she had gathered in that frenzied night they received the news. She seems to have accumulated more during her stay - the bags packed full of scrolls and notepads with scribbles regarding technique and treatment, along with little knick-knacks and presents from her patients and their families. All that remains inside the guesthouse is a small mountain of herbs from the apothecary that need to be specially wrapped in their own packages.
"I think we're good!" Katara yells back.
Ina appears in the doorway. "So, when are you leaving for the North?"
Katara squints at her as she walks out into the late morning sun; Ina follows her into the clearing where Appa is bathing in its warmth. "I'm staying with Aang in Daoshu tonight," she says. "And I'll be off with Appa early in the morning. If all goes well, I'll be staying three days in the North."
Appa moos as if on cue, earning a friendly lean and a ruffle of his fur from Ina. "So we might be able to meet back up in Republic City afterwards?"
"Hm. Maybe. I was actually planning to have our honeymoon after that," Katara says. She's leaving her fellow healer in charge for the remaining days that they are here, but she has no worries. The patient count in the hospital has been dwindling for weeks; there are more outpatients than ever. She gives Ina a fleeting smile. "I don't know. We'll see."
Ina draws her brows together. "You seem a bit distracted. Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm nervous," Katara says without thinking.
Ina nods knowingly. "That's understandable. This isn't going to be like any conference before. These kind of ideas about bloodbending - well, it's just completely unprecedented, isn't it? And people will be looking to see what you say more than anyone else."
"I guess you're right," Katara says, nodding to her bags.
When she looks up, Ina gives her a strange look followed by a smile. "You're going to be just fine, Master Katara."
Katara grins. Just as she prepares to heave her luggage onto Appa's saddle, Aang appears in a rustle of leaves, swirling them up through in the wind from his glider.
"Good morning, ladies," he says, leaping onto Appa's back. He closes his glider back into a staff and takes the bag from Katara.
Katara leaves him chatting to Ina while she goes back inside to check her room one final time. She can't help but feel anxious. About the convention, sure, but about what lays between now and then even more. They have one day, today, to tell Zuko. After much nervous deliberation they decided they would have to tell him before they leave. There would be no point in dragging this out - Katara's going to be in the North, Zuko back in the Fire Nation, and Aang back in Republic City all so quickly after this. And if they waited until their trip to the Fire Nation, that would certainly make for a strange excursion. Mostly, she doesn't think she can stand waiting.
Aang definitely can't.
She bites down a smile thinking about the sheer relief she had seen in his eyes the previous day. Her hunches had been right. The knowledge that she's always been able to read him only feels reassuring. Was it really that simple?
To say nothing of the way Aang had seemed to intuit how she felt. The realisation leaves Katara a little surprised - she didn't realise that she had been so easy to read - but in hindsight, she should have known better than to think she could hide something like that from her closest companion. Now that it's out, the notion is almost impossible: how could she possibly hide how she feels about Zuko; a thing so vibrant and ceaseless?
When she returns with her final package of herbs, Ina is gone, and Aang is looking at her curiously from his perch on Appa.
"I saw Zuko," he says matter-of-factly, hovering the package easily above his hands before depositing it Appa's saddle. He ducks behind Appa's tail to retrieve the ropes to keep Katara's bags fastened to the saddle. "This morning. He's leaving tomorrow, too."
"You saw him this morning? It's morning now."
Aang blinks confusedly. "Earlier this morning, Katara. We had breakfast together."
Katara rolls her eyes goodnaturedly. Firebenders and their early mornings. She wants to say something snide about him hoarding Zuko, again, but there's a more pressing curiosity. She can't help the shyness that overcomes her next words, "Did you… say anything?"
Aang glances at her and away again, fastening the bags. Katara observes him, surprising herself with how eagerly she tries to read his reaction. It's oddly delightful to see that shyness mirrored in him. She hasn't seen him this bashful since they were teenagers, and there's a giddy entertainment that rises in her at the notion, even through her anxiety.
"I um, I just told him that we'd come and see him today," Aang says.
He can't contain his grin, and neither can she. "Then let's go."
They succeed in making a pretence of walking through Daoshu, admiring the atmosphere of the town centre, walking up the main avenue that leads up to the diplomatic quarters up the slope of the mountain. Katara hasn't been here since the festival, so it's strange to see the area stripped of all decorations, cleared of the destruction.
When they reach Zuko's guesthouse, there's an aide stationed outside.
He eyes Aang a little warily, like they have had a similar encounter before. "His Royal Highness is due to fly out tomorrow morning," he says in an even voice. "He has asked not to be disturbed this afternoon while he wraps up personal matters."
"I know, but, uh, it's important," Aang says, shifting, barely staying on his feet. "It's, uh, Avatar business," he smiles. "I'm the Avatar."
Katara puts her head in her hand. "What he means is, we're here on personal matters. Could you please tell him that we're here to see him?"
The poor aide looks confused about which of those things might be true, and appears to let them in based on that fact more than anything. As they enter, Aang whispers to her, "I already used that excuse." Katara belatedly wonders why they bothered: Zuko had shown them how to use the back entrance from the courtyard anyway. This doesn't bode well for either her or Aang's nerves.
Zuko pokes his head through the hallway curtain and waves them through. He's in much the same state that Katara was this morning, packing up. "I thought you guys wouldn't be here until the evening," he says.
"Are you busy?" Katara asks. She gets a quick, awkward hug out of him, stepping over luggage. Zuko gives her a strange look, gesturing to the corner of the room with some free space for her to sit. Katara would be lying if she didn't feel a little self-conscious about it. Now that the prospect of being with Zuko is actually on the table, she feels jumpy being in his presence. She could laugh at herself. Aang's not the only one acting like a teenager.
"Not really. I'm just packing these for Uncle," Zuko says, holding up two enormous bricks of tea wrapped in bamboo leaf.
"Oh, we're staying in Daoshu tonight anyway," Aang says bluntly. "But we thought we'd come and see you earlier."
Zuko seems to hesitate, the tea idle in his hands. After a moment, he says, "In that case, you can join me for lunch with the Mayor. She'd probably be ecstatic to have you."
Aang's face falls a little. Katara tries to keep hers even. "Okay," she says. "Sure. Fine. We'll help you impress the Mayor with our presence." She grins.
Zuko smiles at her, but it's a cursory gesture. She can't help but feel that there's something he isn't saying.
The Mayor had invited Zuko to lunch in one of the restaurants in the diplomatic quarter of the town, close to the guesthouse. It's fancier than in Bakai, but much more integrated into the rest of the town. On the way, they pass the large building next to the town hall where the dinner party had been held. Again, it's the first time Katara has seen it since she was there, the first time in broad daylight. She smiles at the memory of dancing with Zuko, a little embarrassed. That was probably the most obvious she has ever been. It would be a miracle if Aang hadn't known by then. Not to mention how much she had delighted in the way they'd talked about Zuko together, too. As if it was the most natural thing.
It turns out lunch isn't bad at all - in fact, it's nowhere near as tedious as the time they all dined with the Mayor of Bakai. Zuko and the Mayor are discussing something about the upcoming extensions on the reconstruction project, and the Earth Kingdom's development projects more broadly. Aang is simply busy with his food. Katara hums her agreement here and there at the conversation, but despite her genuine interest in the subject, she finds she can't concentrate.
" - possibly within the next five years, but it all depends on the budget in Ba Sing Se," the Mayor is saying, on Katara's right. She looks across to Zuko in front of her.
She couldn't help the trepidation that has been rising in her since yesterday's conversation. But looking at him now, it eases in the face of the familiar affection she feels. Zuko looks at the Mayor, nodding intermittently at her points. His face is clear of anxiety and his brows are drawn with thought. She doesn't know when she became accustomed to seeing that expression on him; whether the change came gradually from one speech, meeting, or conference of leaders to the next, or whether it had been something more drastic. It's almost unfathomable that this is the Zuko she first met all those years ago.
He looks content. Yet that's not the expression she wants to see - nothing compares to getting him to crack a smile.
She feels a nudge against her foot under the table and startles. When she looks up, Aang winks at her quickly across the table from his place next to Zuko. Katara glares at him as surreptitiously as she can.
Zuko's eyes have strayed from the Mayor to her. She clears her throat and focuses on scooping her rice. They continue their conversation. When the Mayor excuses herself to the restroom, Zuko turns to her.
"Is everything okay? Katara?"
"I'm fine," she says, watching Aang struggle to keep a blank face next to Zuko.
Zuko frowns, looking from her to Aang. "Why are you guys acting so strangely?"
"No reason," Aang says, looking around the restaurant. "I mean, we're not?" There's an insistent flush in his cheeks. Katara smirks.
"Okay, whatever," Zuko shakes his head. Next to him, Aang looks like he's going to burst or float away. He smiles at Katara, uncontainable and nervous. She can't help but put her hand out across the table and squeeze his in their bizarre solidarity.
"It's just exciting to be done with all the work here," Katara says, beaming at Zuko when he looks questioningly at them again. "And we'll be getting a break so soon."
Zuko takes a quick glance down at their clasped hands and looks up and away just as quickly. Katara swallows. She pours out more palm wine for all of them. There's no need to drag this out any longer. "Actually, there's something else, too. There's something Aang and I wanted to talk to you about, after we finish here."
Zuko's eyes shift curiously between them.
The Mayor returns to her seat. "I'll explain later," Katara says quickly.
Once they are finished and ready to leave, the Mayor looks expectantly to each of their faces. She smiles a little nervously. "I wanted to ask - if it's not too much trouble, could I have your presence for just a moment longer? There's a photographer in the town hall and it would be such an honour to have some record of - well, all three of you, here in Daoshu's halls," she says.
Aang is already acquiescing with a grin when Katara's gaze falls on Zuko. He's wearing an expression so forcibly unchanged that Katara knows he would be groaning if it weren't for the presence of the Mayor. He can barely tolerate the notion of royal portraits, nevermind the directness of a photograph. But then he smiles. "Of course. It's no trouble at all."
Aang and Katara share smirks. Aang walks ahead at the Mayor's side, talking animatedly to her about the food they just had.
Katara falls into step with Zuko. She slips his hand into hers, trying to maintain some semblance of their usual casual affection. His hand tenses in hers; Katara scolds herself silently for how that motion automatically ratchets up her heartbeat.
She can't be like this.
"You should be getting used to photographs," she says. "There will be cameras popping up all over the Fire Nation soon, don't you think its leader is guaranteed to be the obvious victim?"
Zuko laughs darkly. "That doesn't mean I have to like it."
She pauses, gulping down her hesitation. She needs to say this: it jumped to her mind the second the Mayor made her request. "I think this is perfect. We didn't get a photo with you at the wedding."
Zuko groans, purely for dramatic effect. His face is red.
Katara is surprised to find that the photography business doesn't take long. If she's remembering correctly, the camera at the wedding had been huge, obstructive compared to this one, and it had needed a tripod to stand on too. It's crazy how quickly they've managed to invent a smaller one. Even though the posing takes hardly ten minutes, Aang spends a long time chatting with the cameraman afterwards, poking and prodding at it. The guy is ecstatic, and even lets him keep the device after several timid pictures of himself with the Avatar. Katara doesn't mind, they're finished with their work after all, and she and Zuko entertain themselves by chatting over the view of Daoshu and buying more wine from the sellers outside the building.
They find themselves with drinks out on the patio of Zuko's guesthouse. The sky is pink and orange now; the sunset has been coming earlier, though just barely. From the heights of the diplomatic quarter, Katara can see clearly the construction lines, poles and materials at the foot of the mountain, standing still in wait for the work hours to begin next morning. She thinks of how different it all looked when she was flying over Daoshu to get here; the wreckage that had been here merely a couple of months ago.
She rejoins Aang and Zuko back where the seats are. There's a lull in conversation, and the noise from the crickets feel like buzzing in her brain.
"It's hot," Aang says, taking a long sip and closing his eyes, relaxed. He uses a few fingers to absentmindedly stir up a breeze around them. It glides pleasantly in Katara's hair and ruffles the fabric of Zuko's robe.
Zuko makes a sceptical noise, reaction slowed by his tranquil state. "It's not that hot. It's hotter in the Fire Nation."
"There's also beaches in the Fire Nation," Aang says, sinking down into his chair more comfortably. "And pools in the palace." Katara's eyes swerve on him. Did that come out as deliberate as she heard it? Or is she just hyperaware right now?
Zuko waits a moment before cracking a wry smile, looking down at him with bare affection. "About that. Shouldn't you go somewhere that you can be alone? Just the two of you?"
"Why?"
"Aang, are you sure you know what a honeymoon is for?"
Aang laughs at that, blushing bright red, before a smirk crosses his face. "Oh, yeah. I do."
Zuko's eyes bulge. It's so comical that it makes Katara burst out laughing, despite her attempts to observe this disaster of a discussion with a straight face.
Aang adds lazily, waving a hand that sends Zuko's hair flying into his face. "Well, the palace has wings."
Zuko suffers the breeze with a surprisingly sombre expression. "Yeah, um. About that," he starts, looking between the two of them, his shoulders dropping a little. "It might not be a good idea for you to come to the palace."
Katara's stomach plummets. "Oh. I thought - well - we wanted to be with you," she says plainly, looking him in the eyes.
Aang sits up suddenly. "Well, we can't go if we're not invited by the Fire Lord."
Katara can sense the sudden strike of nerves by the jerk of his movement. She silently wills him not to be hesitant right now; it's not going to do anything good for her own bravery. But she's seen this befall him many times now, out of the sheer amount of time spent with Aang, if not the frequency of it occurring.
Before she can say something to ease him - as if she herself has it in check - Aang leaps up. "Hey, do you mind if I try out this camera?" He laughs nervously, with little trace of humour.
But Zuko's attention is still on Katara. He frowns in concern, confused by the contrast in their demeanour. "Hey, what did you want to tell me? Back at lunch."
She swallows. She looks to Aang, fiddling intently with the camera. He's not going to be any help. "It's- well..." How to even start?
"Katara, go sit closer to Zuko," Aang says lightly, looking at neither of them.
Zuko groans. "Please don't -"
"Come on," Aang says, finally cracking a smile at the familiar response.
"No way, Aang."
"Please? Just one photo?" He turns the camera around in his hands. "I mean, I actually forgot how to take more than one."
Zuko grumbles, but Katara, amused by this return to form, does go to sit with him.
Aang persists, "Come on, I don't wanna die without having a photo with you."
"Don't be dramatic," Zuko scoffs, but when Katara settles against him, she can see that a smile twitches on his face.
"I'm being dramatic? I didn't realise you were scared of a little photography."
Zuko rolls his eyes and scowls so exaggeratedly that Katara can't help her laughter. She puts her arms around him, leaning on his shoulder. Her stomach twists, stealing glances at his face so close, but Katara revels in their back and forth. It puts her at ease, if only slightly. Maybe it'll be better to leave the serious discussions for a while later - at least until the palm wine takes the edge off.
"Really, Zuko," Aang is saying. "Don't be a jerk to me on my honeymoon."
"You're not on your honeymoon, idiot," Zuko says, joining her laughter properly now. Katara giggles and pulls his wrist until they're closer, smiling unabashedly, adjusting his hair away from his face. He turns to her with a devastatingly serious tone. "I think your husband spent too long in the Spirit World," he tells her. "I'm not sure he can keep track of time anymore."
"You're telling me. You think I wanted to spend an hour over there with the cameraman?" She stifles her laughter in the shoulder of his robe. Zuko shakes his head, glancing at the camera and scowling, but it doesn't have any real heat behind it anymore.
She smirks. "But he's right. You really should do it. As a wedding present."
Zuko groans and tilts his head back to the heavens. "I don't think either of you know what a wedding present is, either. I'm starting to doubt the sanity of whoever let you get married."
Katara squeezes him in her mirth, and looks up at him. "You signed, Zuko."
Aang steadies the camera, grinning wide.
"Seriously, Aang, don't - I'm really going to kill you - "
Katara can't help even more giggles bubbling out of her. "Zuko," she says thoughtfully. "I don't know how that would sit with your image."
Zuko rolls his eyes but she can feel the laughter rise in his chest, flush against hers. "It might be a couple of steps back but it'll be worth it," he says.
Aang looks at the two of them like he's squaring them up for the photo. "You'll be fine, Your Fieryness. No murder necessary." Then he looks Zuko square in the eyes, and with a stillness that makes Katara's stomach flutter, he says, "Just pretend I'm not here."
Zuko's eyes move from Aang to her in seconds. His laughter dies on his lips at that strange phrase, and hers at the intensity of his gaze. Katara's breath catches, exhausted from laughing.
Curious eyes, golden in the late afternoon light, stare into hers.
Oh. She swallows hard.
This is not the greatest way to ease an idea into someone's mind.
But Katara doesn't think. She can't anymore. She raises a hand to Zuko's face, smooths the tension out of his brow, down past his scar, and tilts his face towards her. And then there's nothing else to do but close the distance and kiss him.