Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, I just love it.
He'd never found himself more jealous in his life, than in this moment as she twisted and turned in the dancing arms of that gleeful monk, who's smile was wide, and blissful, and spoke of a man in love.
He wondered if the water peasant knew how much it was the Avatar adored her, but the idea of such for one reason or another made his skin crawl. She deserves much more than a mere boy, he thought to himself, which was an entirely unsettling thing to acknowledge.
Mai tugged gently at his arm, as Zuko led her between each crowd of guests to the next, smiling and bowing with the greatest of courtesy, forced as it was, but his eyes never ceased the surveying side-glance he offered towards the dance floor to keep hawk-eye glance over the woman and Avatar.
"Isn't that one of the one's who used to travel with the Avatar?" Mai's smooth voice crooned.
Zuko's eyes were left to wander, following the pointed finger Mai held out towards a collective group. A tall, tan man, a small, pale girl, and a lovely young woman with a very swollen, very pregnant belly. He recognized the man immediately. Idiot brother of the water peasant, and the young girl, Toph Bei Fong.
"They look well, perhaps we should say hello," he heard Mai say sweetly.
"No, we should leave them as they are. I doubt we'd rekindle anything but bitterness." Zuko nodded, cementing what was to be done, and the two continued their rounds.
"So, Suki, when are you do?" Toph asked with wide, blinking blind eyes, tilting her head as she awaited for her answer and folding her arms together, wrinkling her finely pressed silks.
"By the next full moon." Sokka interjected, excited blush creeping to the space just beneath his eyes, and he held fast to Suki, looping his arm generously about her midsection.
Toph nodded, continuing to quiz the blissful couple about Kyoshi and how it had come that most of the Southern Water Tribe had relocated either there, or the North Pole.
"Where are Katara and Aang?" Toph finally posed, quirking brow. She hadn't seen the two once all night.
Sokka shrugged, "Dancing, last time I checked. Aang's trying really hard to keep her from completely losing it."
"She didn't want to come, huh?" Toph smirked.
"She was dressed and dragged here kicking and screaming. Aang's the only that's been able to keep Katara from freaking out." There was a noticeable air of both adoration and irritation in his voice as he referred to his sweet, younger sister.
"When are those two getting married, anyway? Aang's only been in love with her for like, ever."
Sokka choked slightly as Suki both giggled and grinned. Ever blunt Toph, always the one to call someone out, but he sternly reprimanded the young girl, "Eww, don't say that. She's my sister!"
"What about your sister?"
Katara approached the group, Aang happily beaming at her side with that delighted smirk plastered over his features.
"Oh, we were just talking about how Aang's been—." Toph began.
"…Dancing with you all night!" Suki interjected, "I'm sure there's a few young Earth Kingdom nobles that are chomping at the bit to get a chance to dance with the eligible young ambassador of the Water Tribes."
Aang's features became visibly jealous and Suki thought that, perhaps, it would've been a better idea to just let Toph finish her sentence. Sokka rolled his eyes.
"Spare me," Katara began, "I can't breath. My hair keeps getting in my face, and this whole place smells like embers and patchouli. I can't wait to get out of here."
"Enjoying the party?" Came an older, jovial voice, breaking into the conversation with a large grin.
"Fire Lord Iroh," they each said with a bow of the head or a curtsy.
"It is so nice to see all of you here. To know that you're willing to come gives me great hope for the future of peace." He bowed slightly, before placing his hands over his old belly, "Have you seen Prince Zuko? I haven't been able to find him for a good half an hour, now! I was in the kitchen fixing the tea. Terrible stuff those cooks were making!"
Katara shook her head, smiling graciously, "No, we haven't, your highness. I'm sorry."
"Oh, well, then! Could I steal you a moment for a dance, Miss Ambassador? I'm sure I'll find him soon enough."
It was hard to hate the Fire Nation, when such a gentle man was leading it these days, and despite reservations, Katara accepted, leaving the group with both a shy and irritated smile to join Iroh amidst the other dancers.
"Is your uncle out there with that water peasant?" Mai queried, stoic features twitching slightly with unease.
Zuko followed her glance, and indeed, Uncle Iroh twirled and whirled with the best of them, making the young bender laugh so loud, he could near hear her over the rhythm of the symphony.
"Mai. It isn't your place to say such things. Times have changed." His tongue bit his statement out quickly, urging the woman to follow him as he approached the dance floor. What a hypocrite he was. But, for whatever reason, hearing someone else call Katara something so condescending made him near violent, or so he assumed he would be if it hadn't been girl to say such.
Mai returned to her stoic complexion, and followed along with Zuko, looking quite apologetic.
It had taken a moment to get his Uncle's attention, he seemed simply to caught up in the fun he was having with the young ambassador, but after a clearing of his throat and a gentle, but stern 'uncle', Iroh giving the young prince his full attention.
"Ah, Prince Zuko, there you are! And, good evening to you, lovely Mai." Iroh halted his dance, releasing Katara who stood at his side, waiting to be dismissed, "Mai, would you honor me with a dance? I'd like to be able to someday tell everyone that I danced with the most exquisite girl that the Fire Nation ever did see!"
Zuko nodded to his betrothed, releasing her from his arm, and thankfully so.
"Prince Zuko, please finish my dance with Ambassador Katara." There was little time for argument before Uncle and Mai hade faded into the crowd and he was left to the young woman.
He offered his hand, nodding slightly to her but saying nothing.
"What are you doing?" Katara demanded, crossing her arms.
Zuko scowled, grabbing the girl and forcing her into a waltz, to which he was surprised to find little resistance.
"You're lucky we're in a public place, or else I would've screamed rape." She said with the sweetest of smiles, matching his step with her own, boldly attempting to take the lead.
"It's nice to see you remember me, Ambassador." Even though she was taunting him, there was something terribly passionate about this very moment. Maybe it's that she was taunting him, and he would gladly play along.
"Like I could forget the face of the Fire Nation." She 'hmphed', struggling against his control for the leading step.
"Like I could forget the face of the weaker nations, but, congratulations. You don't look half the water peasant your are, tonight." The young fire bender beamed with a contented smirk.
Katara sneered, 'accidentally' jabbing her heel into his boot, "Was that a political statement, or should we just take this outside?"
"Now, now. I don't think my fiancée would much like me disappearing into the night with another woman." Hiding his pain with a scowl. He didn't know why he felt he had to mention Mai; perhaps somewhere in him he hoped he'd gain some sort of jealous response from the girl.
Katara sneered again, "Congratulations, I hope you and that stoic witch live happily ever after, I mean, I assume since she was hanging onto you like a lost puppy she must be you betrothed, right?"
Ah, the sort of response he wanted! Full of spit and vinegar, this girl was and he wondered how his Uncle would feel about trading in a Fire Nation woman for that of one from the Water Tribes, "Yes, she is. Regrettably. The union was organized by Fire Lord Iroh."
The young girl suddenly felt horrible. The idea of having to marry someone you didn't love, it gave her sympathy for Zuko she didn't think she could possibly have, "Oh…I'm sorry."
It was then she realized the waltz had ended sometime ago, and the two, for all the bantering continued to move about to some invisible music. She drew away from him immediately, embarrassed.
Zuko kept his composure, placing his hands behind his back and helping to escort Katara off the ballroom floor, "It's my duty to my nation. Something I'm sure you wouldn't understand, but it doesn't matter. I'm sure your destined to become a lonely old water tribe spinster."
Katara came to an immediate, and flustered halt, "For your information, I'm going to marry a powerful bender!" It was true, after all, that's what aunt Wu had told her all those years ago.
"Oh, you're engaged? To who?" The Prince taunted, calling her bluff.
"To…the avatar!" She lied, "Aang and I are to be married in the spring."
Zuko became very still then, rigid in his composure, "I see. Well, my happy wishes to you both. If you'll excuse me, I must find my 'lost puppy'."
Before she was even able to respond, he'd stalked away.
Katara returned to gathering of familiar faces, Aang immediately closing her side with an angry and protective glance, "I saw you with Zuko! He wasn't mean to you, was he?" His words came out like rapid fire.
Katara sighed, "No, I think I actually was the 'mean' one."
Toph, Sokka, Suki, and Aang all gave her a bewildered glance, and Katara suddenly felt pressure to defend herself, "I didn't mean to! He was just, he was taunting me, and telling me that I was going to grow up to be a lonely old maid, and I swear, he's as mature as a 12 year old, and so I lied and told him I was getting married." She confessed miserably.
Aang gave her a suspicious glance, "To…whom?"
Her face filled with a sincere blush, "To you, Aang, I'm so sorry I lied! Please forgive me; I don't know what came over me, he just, uh…and, oh! I can't deal with him. He's so arrogant."
The avatar nodded, both thrilled at the prospect of the lie, but hurt by the fact she felt she'd done him such an injustice, "Katara…it's fine. We'll just pretend as long as we're staying in the Fire Nation."
That miserable glance lifted from her features, "Really, Aang? You're an amazing friend!" She launched forward, standing on her toes to press a gentle, appreciative kiss on his cheek.
"Yeah, you're a good friend too." Aang sighed out.
Zuko watched her across the ballroom, sitting in his greeting chair awaiting the return of his uncle and Mai. He'd wanted her always. For her spirit, her beauty, her wit. Even as a young man, searching for the avatar, she'd never left to far from his thoughts, and now, the prospect of her belonging to another man made him burn with a jealousy he'd never felt before.
He would have her. If it killed him, he'd have her.
A/N: First and foremost, let me say thank you for all the wonderful reviews I've gotten. They make me really feel like I'm on to something, and that I'm making people happy. I like that. Also, to know that some of you guys are having alerts set up for my story, it really makes me want to right. Thank you so much!
Also, there's a part in the story that I can't take credit for. The little beginning of the spat between Zuko and Katara when they first started to dance was something I totally ripped off from a picture on deviantart. I'm sorry, but it was just so perfect I had to use it. :(
Oh, and Lunaverserocks, don't worry about the 'Maiko' thing. I never had any actual intention of them ending up together, but I felt it was an aspect unexplored for Mai's character, and would make for some great future drama in the story.
Anyway, stay tuned for some more characters appearance, such as Ty Lee, and Jet! Please keep reviewing, and especially, keep reading! Thank you!
-Belle