A Special Relationship (title subject to change)
A Fan Fiction by Rugsrat
Author's Note: After the Avatar finale (of which I STILL cannot watch the last thirty seconds without feeling sick to my stomach) I tried to figure out how I could write a Zutara fiction that could take in the events of the canon story-line. And this is the prologue of what I've come up with. It's not my best writing so far, but it sets up events that will come into play later. I'm planing on having this story span at least a decade of time. So don't expect Zutara good-ness in this first chapter. With that, I hope you enjoy reading this, including those rabid Kataang and Maiko shippers out there. Hopefully there's enough here to keep you satisfied as well. Happy reading!
(Start)
Katara had been honest when she had said she was confused. In the time leading up to Sozin's Comet, it was difficult to keep anything clear. The one thing that stood out to her the entire time was that Firelord Ozai had to be stopped. At all costs.
And then the Firelord had been beaten. Aang had done it. She had never been more proud of him, and in all likelihood nothing could ever top that moment.
It was almost a miracle that any of them had lived. Especially Zuko. By rights, even with her healing abilities, his wound was serious enough that just seconds longer and he would have been gone. And he had saved her life. More than once actually.
And now, three years later, now that Zuko was turning twenty, there was a huge celbration in the Fire Nation. And the whole group had been invited. So Katara, in brand new attire sewn for her in the Northern Water Tribe, along with Aang in his pale yellow ceremonial robes which marked him as the most learned Airbender at the Southern Air Temple (even though in this case there were no airbenders that could claim the position instead, were already there. In fact, they had just arrived. She felt strangely nostalgic, and more than a little anxious for a reason she could not place.
She had not seen Zuko in more than a year and a half, when he had made an official visit to the Southern Water Tribe to offer his official peace treaty. Her father had taken up the position of Tribal Leader once more, given his return after the war, and he, together with Pakku signed the treaty gladly, adding their signatures to the small list already there. Aang's on behalf of the Air Nomads, the Earth King, Bumi, the Swamp Benders Chief Arnook of the Northern Water Tribe, Suki as leader of the Kyoshi warriors, and of course, Zuko.
(Scene change)
"As you can see, this treaty forbids all nations from creating standing armies of more than twenty thousand people." Zuko paused for breath at that point as Hakoda looked over the large official looking scroll. The man was intimidating even though he knew Katara and Sokka's father to be one of the most caring men he had met. Certainly the foil of his own father, who was still in prison, and still calling himself the Phoenix King. "Further, the Fire Nation will shrink the fleet to three hundred ships, and the air fleet to seventy five ships, and will pay reparations to each nation in the form of gold and silver for the next thirty years." The total amount of reparations was exorbitant. But he wanted to ensure that his sincerity was brought across, and the Fire Nation could afford it. And it certainly helped that the installments were managable.
Hakoda nodded solemly as Zuko finished. "This is a lot of restrictions. What if they need to be changed?" He asked
"There's a provision at the end that in the event the treaty needs to be amended that an agreement of all four nations is needed, from the people in all of the positions represented on this treaty."
"And if one or more of those positions is vacant?" Pakku asked, looking as stern as he did the day Katara had asked for bending lessons.
"If a position is vacant, then the remaining members may make the decision." Zuko said, his voice a little softer than before, slightly less confident. Why were these simple Water-Tribesmen so easily able to intimidate him? But Pakku just smiled and nodded.
"This is well written." He concluded and dipped his brush in the ink before signing his name. "And should hold up… but if it doesn't… I'm sure you know the consequences."
Zuko swallowed heavily and nodded as Hakoda took the brush from Pakku and signed his name as well before all three men stood and bowed deeply in mutual respect. Katara smiled from her position at her father's right hand side. Finally, after one hundred years of fighting, the war was officially over, and peace had finally come to pass.
(Scene change)
She and Aang stood at the top of the grand staircase leading up to the palace foyer, the vaulted ceilings had been given a much-needed rebuild after Zuko's titanic fight with his sister. Even still, she could see the tell-tale signs that construction was ongoing. There were ladders in odd places, and even one spot where the mural on the wall was still dark with soot. But something new had been added, a portrait of Zuko, holding an olive branch in one hand. As she and Aang made it further into the large room, two uniformed servants came out of hidden doors and told them that the Firelord was expecting them in the fomer war-room, which he had re-named to be the World Room.
And so they entered. And there was Zuko, sitting at the foot of a small table, Mai at his right hand. And at the head of the table, there was a beautifully carved chair emblazoned with the symbols of each of the four elements. The chair was clearly meant for the Avatar to sit in, and it was at the place of honor. As the pair entered, the two seated figures seemed to be engrossed in conversation, whispering sweet nothings in each others' ear.
But as Aang and Katara entered, both stood and smiled. Both smiles small and reserved as neither was given much to large displays of happiness, but still happy none-the-less.
"It's so good to see you again!" Zuko said, and gestured to the table, "Please, have a seat."
"Yeah, so we can finally start eating. I'm starving." Mai drawled, and lazed back in her chair.
All three other people smiled and laughed politely, and then Katara reached for Aang's hand. Ever since the war had ended, they had been more than happy together, even if their responsibilities kept them separated much of the time. But at times like these, she was just content with everything.
(Scene change)
They talked for several hours without food being brought out, mostly because they were waiting for Toph, Sokka, Suki and Ty-Lee. Once those missing friends migrated into the World Room, the small party started in earnest.
Food was brought out on large platters. There were delicacies from the Fire Nation of course, as well as dishes from the rest of the world. Zuko had taken his promise of peace to an almost extreme level, and Katara found herself pleased with that for some reason. He was certainly less abrasive now that his home was finally at ease. She sipped at her tea (prepared by Zuko's uncle for just this occasion) and absently nodded when Aang asked her a question. Then her mind registered that she had actually been spoken to.
"I'm sorry Aang, what did you say?" She asked, and Aang smiled softly at her.
"Just wanted to know if we were done with that biscuit." Aang asked, and pointed towards Katara's plate. She nodded again and used her chopsticks to pick it up and give it to him, but then paused as Sokka tossed one at him.
"There ya go buddy." He said, and turned back to Suki, in full ceremonial makeup by his side. Aang dug in hapilly to his meal while Katara nibbled at her own food.
"So, Zuko, didn't you have something to tell everyone?" Mai asked in an uncharacteristic display of forwardness.
"Oh right…" he replied, and took a deep drink of his wine, almost to steel himself against his announcement. "We haven't announced it to the people yet, that's coming a few weeks when all the arrangements are hammered out…"
Toph cut him off at that point, impatient to hear the news. "Come on hot-head. Let's hear it."
"Yes Zuko, we all want to know." Katara said, and reached for Aang's hand, which he squeezed.
Zuko smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. His robes fluttered softly as he nervously (why was he nervous?) shuffled himself into a more comfortable position. All parties looked on expectantly, or in Mai's case, impatiently, for Zuko to start talking again. And when he did, his voice was at once proud, scared, and eager.
"Right… well, Mai and I are getting married!"