They took dinner in the gardens that night. Caught up in some vaguely invoked Fire Lord duty, Zuko was absent. In his stead, Piandao joined with an endless soliloquy of tales after he and the White Lotus had fought the Fire Nation army in Ba Sing Se. In return, Katara detailed her expeditions, Sokka's latest inventions, and professed an admiration for Piandao's new sword. She didn't know anything of swordsmanship but it looked vaguely familiar.
"This old thing?" Piandao's eyes crinkled with nostalgia. "Couldn't find a space rock, but a volcano south of here reminded me of my favorite student. Molten rock makes for good swords."
Katara grimaced, hesitantly digging into the spiced pork-lamb. With her and Sokka officially gone, the palace cooks likely spiraled into relief at no longer needing to create spiceless traditional Fire Nation dishes (blasphemy, a Ty Lee sister called it). Perhaps she had been hasty in deciding to return. Healing abilities could not handle weeks of poor digestion.
"Sokka hasn't shut up about his space sword since he lost it." Aang laughed.
"You should take Appa to this volcano and get him another one." Katara readied herself and tossed a chunk of meat into her mouth. Hakoda wouldn't exactly appreciate news of a malnourished ambassador daughter under Fire Lord Zuko's nose. The resulting heat set her tongue on fire. She coughed.
Aang brightened. "That's a perfect wedding gift! Thank you, Katara."
"Sokka's getting married?" Piandao's dark eyes glimmered. Of course the old man had no problem finishing his place without a single cup of water.
"Hopefully. He hasn't...proposed to her yet. Something about Earth Kingdom girls being unclear." Aang said. The Southern Water Tribe was the most egalitarian in terms of marriage and family traditions, Katara had quickly learned. In the water tribes, North and South, the men carved a necklace to officially offer their betrothed. But it was only in the South that women signaled their desire to be approached through letting down their hair loopies. It was one of few times Southern Water Tribe women were seen without their hair done; it was a beckoning call, a desire for a man to see them as they were. In the Earth Kingdom, like their brethren elements, women simply made vague hints until a man approached them first.
The result of Sokka and Suki's coupling was a will-they-or-won't-they, Sokka voicing numerous times doubt that a woman who found his smelly socks tolerable didn't love him enough to marry him.
Piandao chewed slowly, deep in thought. "Is it the—her name escapes me, the short earthbender?"
It was Aang's turn to grimace. "Oh, no. Remember Suki? She's a nonbender from Kyoshi Island and the captain of Kyoshi warriors. She was with us when we found the White Lotus."
Piandao hummed. "I think I remember her. There was too much happening at the time. I'm also getting quite old."
"Nonsense," Katara wheezed through a mouthful of fire flake-specked potatoes, "You're as spry as a blubber whale."
The swordsman finally reached for his full cup of water and nudged it towards her. She downed it in relief. "And what about you, young Master Katara?" His eyes flickered from her to Aang. "Shall I expect a second wedding invite, assuming Sokka gets around to answering my letters berating him for losing his swords?"
She coughed again. The sedges rustled and Zuko materialized, joined by an entourage of Kyoshi warriors. One of them she knew to be the third Ty Lee sister, Ty Woo, who played the harp beautifully at welcome summits. She was also the worst person to spar with. Her last interlocutor still nursed a wonderful black eye, and that was after two healing sessions with Katara.
They stood up and bowed their heads in greeting. When Zuko met her eyes, he smiled tightly and joined Piandao's side of the chabudai, across from her, tucking his legs under his intricate robes.
"Apologies. I couldn't get out of a meeting with Smellerbee's Freedom Fighters. They think someone might try and overheat my bed to death." He picked up a spoonful of the potatoes and ate swiftly but cleanly. He had wonderful manners, Katara noted, even when he had come to Team Avatar. Always clean and organized. She wasn't sure if it should be surprising since at the time she sidelined him as a spoiled prince. Later, she realized: growing up as Ozai's son demanded perfection in all areas on the threat of death.
Aang grew serious despite the obvious exaggeration. His vegetarian food was spiced too, otherwise she would have asked for what he had. "Piandao, you're here to help Zuko. Do you really think there's going to be an uprising?"
Piandao looked askance at Zuko, who nodded. "They're my friends. If I can't trust them, I can't trust anyone."
The swordsman nodded, setting down his chopsticks. "I communicated with General Iroh recently. Ukano may have been arrested, but his followers and the rest of New Ozai Society lurk in the background. In times like this, they know better than to openly oppose Fire Lord Zuko. They'll be pretending to support him, some even voraciously. They have their talons everywhere and…" he leveled his scrutinizing gaze at Katara and Aang in turn, "It would be best to keep your eyes open and be careful with what is shared, even seemingly small things."
"But—" Katara shook her head, disbelieving. "Who would want Zuko gone?"
It was the one thing she never understood after Mai's father's arrest. Zuko was not tyrannical. The press openly criticized him, something they could never do under his father's reign. He was fair and just, mandating fair trials for rich and poor alike, pardoning every foot soldier he could if they displayed a hint of regret for their role in Ozai's war, and released all their unjustly rounded up prisoners, much to the chagrin of The Warden who was now out of a job and milling corn, somewhere.
Piandao's eyes glittered again. If she weren't too busy taking deep breaths and plowing through a helping of dumplings as if speed would prevent the accelerating numbness in her mouth, she would have seen fondness. "Despite your travels, you are still young—" He held up a hand, "Not in a demeaning way. All three of you are, but Zuko alone has seen the inner world of political gambits in the Fire Nation. Change doesn't come easy. Even people who would benefit the most are so used to the way things used to be that they are unwilling to let go."
Katara thought of her walks through the markets, whispers from fruit sellers criticizing Zuko's latest policies, or colonies with some Earth Kingdom nationals themselves resisting disbanding. Hypocrites.
"It seems like thankless work," Katara muttered. Next to her, Aang nodded sagely. Both among the highest positions of power, Zuko and Aang bonded over the burden of leadership.
They continued to discuss updates and King Kuei's impending arrival. Zuko's attendants had done a fantastic job of stripping rooms of carpet so Bosco wouldn't leave permanent traces of bear hair in the palace.
Katara almost cried when fruit tart arrived and finished her portion faster than Aang's.
Zuko observed in amusement. "Was the food that bad?"
She held back a biting grimace. "Yes. It was."
He frowned. "Seriously? I'll send a request to the chefs."
"No." She objected, though her heart wailed a yes. She didn't want to give anyone more reason to discount the Water Tribes, although Hoko would owe her too. Maybe then he'd finally agree to fight her so she could prove she was the best master Pakku had ever taught.
"No, it's not okay. How hard is it to set aside separate meals?" He gestured to Aang, who looked to be ascending to the spirit world on a second helping of hotcakes.
Katara joined him on the hotcakes train and moaned at the burst of sugar. "I won't say no. Spirits, I'll appreciate you forever if I never have to eat that pork-lamb again."
Zuko appraised her strangely. She thought nothing of it, happily wrapping an extra fruit tart in a serviette to take to her rooms.
As it was, her previous room was already prepared for one of King Kuei's attendants. The haughty emissary sniffed when she stalked in a different direction from the others towards the wing hosting advisors and attendants, a move Aang immediately noticed and asked about.
"It's okay," she waved her hand, "I've stayed next to Lo and Li before. They're not…so bad…" If one were to ignore the loud snoring and middle of the night stomping to the kitchens, it was fine and dandy.
Zuko's eyes widened in horror. He turned to the emissary. "Not a single room in the guest wing is available for Lady Katara?"
"Fire Lord Zuko, I kindly remind you of the excessive number of foreign guests you are hosting for the duration of this month." The emissary did not sound kind. He was borderline disrespectful, and the way Zuko's eyes narrowed promised disciplinary measures later. Not here, because he was too acutely aware of the perpetually haunting palace eyes waiting for him to do something they could criticize.
"Then the residence wing," he snapped.
The emissary squeaked. "Only Princess Azula's and the Fire Lady chambers remain."
Katara tapped her foot. "I can stay in my office."
The severe look two of three male members of Team Avatar proffered a resounding No.
"She's not staying in Azula's room." Aang protested. Speaking for her was a habit he kept from his short-lived reign as boyfriend, but right now she didn't mind it as the emissary had the gall to look ashamed at telling the Avatar there was no other option.
Zuko faltered. "I'll ask Mai. She can stay with her."
For a hysterical moment, Katara almost thought he'd offer the Fire Lady's chambers, which was only slightly more ridiculous than staying with the Fire Lord's girlfriend.
Piandao had lingered beyond the ruckus but rejoined to intone, "Is that safe?" Aang didn't look too pleased at the prospect of splitting up either.
"Safer than the South Wing. Mai's home is heavily guarded." Zuko's eyebrows pinched together and he called forth a male attendant to send word to Mai.
Katara sighed to herself. The fruit tart melted through the fabric and over her fingers.
Katara gripped her waterskin tightly while Mai's attendant directed Zuko's to plop her two bags in a room further down in the mansion. "For the record, I don't like this either."
Mai and Katara engaged in a staring contest that, should it continue any longer, would be mistaken for a lovers' tryst. Katara lost. Mai won anything related to emulating a rock-like countenance and was as unshakable as one. A quirk of a lip was an equivalent to an outburst for this woman.
In a strange way, Katara wished she had an element of that. It would make bearing her duties easier.
Mai raised a bored eyebrow. "Who said I don't?"
Katara didn't do her the dishonor of assuming she was a welcome intrusion. "If I had a mansion to myself I'd like it. I never get quiet time with Sokka around." She allowed her eyes to drift over the furniture and heavy drapings. Overall, Mai's residence was marginally less gloomy than the palace in that it could almost be mistaken as a home. "Still a terrible idea. We shouldn't be split up at a time like this."
"What time would that be?" Mai sighed at Katara's pause. "Zuko is paranoid, and paranoia makes you smart. Three war heroes in one spot is begging for an assassination. Really, I thought you could figure it out."
"My brother was the strategist," she snapped tartly. "Besides, having a waterbender around in case something happens is supremely useful."
"I suppose." Mai settled down primly onto a chair. "You think benders are better than us."
She flushed. "What? No!"
"That was a joke."
"That was the worst joke I've ever heard, and you've met my brother." Her eyes caught on a series of daggers set against the far wall. They were all ornate for decor purposes but brought to light a curious question.
She shouldn't ask. Mai and her were tolerable allies. Except, she was gracious to ignore the woman's history of attempted maimings as Azula's sidekick, so she was owed this.
"Is that why you don't stay in the palace?"
Mai's eyes narrowed fractionally. "Lady Katara. I'll send you formal scrolls of Fire Nation history if you don't have enough to read as a favor. Nima has been ordered to burn every gossip magazine delivered to the door." She looked down at her nails, shrugging. "None of them deliver anymore."
The thought occurred to her that there was some cultural difference she might have missed. She sunk into the plush couch, feet aching from the trek. The distance from the front door to this lounge was longer than the path from the palace's walls to Mai's mansion. An…offering of sorts was in order. "Er, sorry. In the Water Tribes, people get engaged and move in together quickly. Its too cold not to."
"I didn't ask for a lesson on Water Tribes." Mai's nose wrinkled. Katara toyed with the idea of freezing the woman's bath water.
They said nothing else. Toph, for all her shortcomings, was a great orator. The girl was mean, sometimes funny, and charismatic in a dreadful way even with all of her toes out. Even the crankiest elderly eventually warmed up to her. With Katara, they thought her a little too pushy and nagging. Unfair, really, because her toes were immaculately washed.
"So…" she fidgeted. "You live here alone?" Dumb question. During her outings, she heard whispers about Mai's mother taking her brother and fleeing to Omashu, the city her family formerly tried to colonize, for the duration of her father's trial.
Mai also knew she knew. It was impossible to be at the palace for any extended period of time without, despite her valiant efforts not to, being forcefully made aware of the Fire Lord's future fiancée's family spectacle. Councilor Jin was particularly invested in why Zuko continued to court her, not out of a dislike for Mai but out of sensitivities for optics. Katara on the other hand, a staunch supporter of sacrificing for love, found the whole situation heartbreaking and verbalized her support for Zuko's right to a private life wherever she could.
Admittedly, she was still a bit of a gossip.
Mai turned her eyes to the high ceiling. A chandelier swayed ominously. "Living there now would damage Zuko's credibility during the trial. I am also the trustee for this estate, unless we want my uncle to return, so be thankful you have unlimited space to make whirlpools in."
All in all, Mai, or rather, her sixteen servants, were gracious hosts. In some ways it was superior to remaining in the palace. No walking around on edge at the potential of running into a counselor or advisor, prepared with a reservoir of arguments and attempts to make peace. Yes, she loved the work. It was also nice to openly glare.
While she and Mai occasionally commiserated over being overlooked in politics as women not yet in their twenties, they had an understanding: they didn't like each other and didn't pretend to. Katara yelled at any councilor who made sly comments for Zuko to marry for pedigree and secure an heir. Mai plainly called Councilor Omori an ill-bred boar-pig whenever he disregarded Katara's suggestions to make accuracy a priority in Fire Nation children's education.
However, Mai, like a gremlin, woke at an ungodly hour and opened all the curtains to greet the sunrise. Katara, like a heathen, ate with her fingers at breakfast and committed at least three faux pas while asking questions about Fire Sages and tying the knot around her Ao Dai dress. It was form-fitted and covered more skin than her other wear, but it was the only outfit she brought that was formal enough to greet King Kuei in, not having packed for an extended stay. They departed for the palace separately, meeting at the gates fourteen paces later in obvious refusal to acknowledge they were, for all intents and purposes, roommates.
King Kuei was pleased to see her. The bizarre man flailed wildly about his latest travels with Bosco to Misty Palms Oasis, unaware that part of Katara begrudged him for his incompetence years before in failing to warn them that actually, I might have told Azula who was disguised as a warrior all about the Day of the Black Sun invasion plan. Bosco ate a bowl of porridge in a corner, slobbering all over the floor and the sight quelled Katara's hunger despite the newly prepared foods specifically for her. She and Fire Lord Zuko made eye contact in a shared grimace, trying not to laugh.
The King agreed with Councilor Jin that Zuko make no moves to answer Morishita, Mayor of Yu Dao, the oldest Fire Nation colony. Morishita was singularly the stalwart opponent to disbanding efforts, having married an earthbender himself and no doubt benefiting from his position of power during the war.
"I'm tired of being taken advantage of." King Kuei shook his head and stroked Bosco's head. "People try to first get to you by complimenting you. Now that that didn't work, they'll keep insulting the Fire Lord."
Katara sat back in her chair. "Morishita sounds a lot like Long Feng."
Aang shuddered. "Don't remind me. At least Morishita has a beard and isn't trying to hypnotize the planet." The rest of the council watched them with a burgeoning awareness that they were impinging upon a bubble of lifelong friends.
King Kuei smiled sheepishly while the Earth Kingdom Ambassador, a talented earthbender and noble woman with such good manners that would make Toph weep in despair, eyed Katara.
"Lady Katara."
She straightened. It was rare for an Earth Kingdom representative to address her directly. "Lady Fa."
"It has been some time since we met. I do appreciate the pleasant surprise, however, I am curious as to why the Southern Water Tribe is part of this discussion. They have already made clear their verbal support for disbandment."
Ambassador Hoko and Councilor Yon, the only Ozai-era Ministry of Foreign Affairs employee to have not only kept his job but promoted for the baseline qualification of not being an utterly incompetent bigot, watched her carefully. She resisted the urge to flush. Certainly, the Southern Water Tribe was not necessary to ongoing negotiations, having little to offer by way of actual support given all their resources were currently dedicated to rebuilding the tribe into a facsimile of a proper city.
"I am here to emphasize Chief Hakoda's strong support of disbandment."
Lady Fa's lip curled into the beginnings of a sneer. "Anything else from your father?"
Katara gripped the end of the table, a movement Lady Fa regarded with hawkish glee. "This affects us, too! The fact that these colonies are being removed has implications regarding reparations for the Southern Water Tribe."
"So they do." Lady Fa turned to King Kuei thoughtfully and returned with a veiled glare. "This visit, however, was to be specifically about the resistance movement and we hardly have need for warriors from the South," she purred. "As I am sure rebuilding efforts are in higher prio—"
Her knuckles turned white. "I wouldn't need to be here if the Kingdom put their full support without wavering."
Lady Fa cracked a smile. Katara felt she had been thoroughly baited. A vein near her temple throbbed and her hand flew to tug the bead lose, lest she actually waste a headache on Lady Fa.
"Wavering indeed." Lady Fa's head tilted dangerously. "If the ambassador was so kind as to not interrupt, I would have conveyed the latest developments. Do you follow the news regarding the latest economic downturn? King Kuei has been most worried in ensuring his people are fed and evaluating risk before sending soldiers into what could be unnecessary blood shed." She swiveled her body towards Zuko. "Fire Lord Zuko, Lady Katara's…tenacity notwithstanding, I personally would not attend a meeting unread about the water tribes. I am willing to provide a report regarding how Ba Sing Se may aid their rebuilding efforts, as well."
The unctuous cat . Silence settled over the room sans King Kuei's cooing over Bosco.
Embarrassment flooded Katara's belly and with a saccharine smile, she schooled her voice into something moderately vicious. "I apologize," she managed. "I am here because Zuko—"
Zuko cut in. "Lady Katara is here as Avatar Aang's companion and advisor. I apologize to this council that they were not brought up to date," his eyes flickered to hers, "however, I find her perspective vital to the Harmony Restoration Movement and she will be privy to all further proceedings." He gestured. "Continue."
Her cheeks burned.
"I could handle it. 'Avatar Aang's companion'?"
Zuko frowned from his place behind a large desk, nose buried in a book. It was so ornately large and ghastly, an Ozai favorite no doubt, that he kept for some reason. His office faced the courtyard and awarded its occupants a wide berth of the palace and c8ity beyond it. The late sun cast a yellow glow over his pale features and added a warm tint to his red scar.
"Was I wrong? You returned with him."
Katara threw her hands up in the air, frustrated. "Do you know how long it took to have people take me seriously beyond being his girlfriend?"
The idea that this was a problem seemed to come as a surprise. His mouth formed a small 'O' and he finally leaned back in his chair, giving her rapt attention. "What?"
"Don't tell me you're shocked."
"You are a hard person, to take seriously."
Her hands paused in their job making angry gestures. "Thank you, Fire Lord Hotman."
A stretch of petal pink formed across his cheeks. "I—I meant that you're not soft. Agni. Fuck. Okay. That came out wrong. What I meant— is I take you plenty seriously."
She stared. When he looked to contemplate if eating one's words was possible, she spoke, voice dangerously cold. "Then what in La's name was that?"
"I apologize for speaking over you. But Katara," he rubbed the back of his neck, "you have to understand how it looks to the others. Personally, I don't care. If I had full authority in the matter—"
"Which you do," she said in a tone just below shrill. Her hands went to her beads. The one on the right loosened and her hair loop disconnected all-together. Tui. I'll fix it later.
His eyes fixated on an empty space above her shoulders. "—I wouldn't need to work with the rest of the council. But these are my people and this is how we do things in our culture. My people come first. If they suspect unfair treatment and me allowing your continued browbeating, I wouldn't be able to keep you here, and you wouldn't be able to accomplish everything that we want to."
"Favoritism. You're worried about being accused of favoritism, as if they also would've joined us for a joyride on a flying bison to topple the world's greatest tyrant without complaint."
The way his nose wrinkled suggested sparrowkeet droppings had rained upon his desk. "It's politics. It's also why you were given the title of Lady."
Yes, that. A younger Katara loved it, were it not for the fact it discounted her actual title as Master waterbender, the only title the Southern Water Tribe cared for aside from Chief. It gave Toph far too much glee—Lady Sugar Queen—and made her seem like a haughty Gaoling noblewoman. She inwardly shuddered at the time they adorned themselves to sneak into a party just for a smarmy Dai Li leader.
"It helps." She admitted. Man's ego was ridiculously large, and if a four letter word helped even the playing field, then by all means. Lady Katara she would be. "Do you...mind me calling you without your title? I grew up not caring about these things. You've seen my dad's councils. They're simple and every adult gets equal say. He hates the title of Chief but it's one he carries for pragmatic purposes, as the one everyone agreed should lead us."
He shrugged. "I'm used hearing my title, but it's your choice. Just keep in mind the issue I mentioned before." When she opened her mouth to object, he shook his head. "And," he stressed, "can you blame them? I ignore Councilor Yang's requests for meetings as long as possible. Or until his cousin sends Uncle a letter, and Uncle tells me that appealing to Councilor Yang is a great way to avoid starving the lower districts. Meanwhile, I see you at least once a day."
"You don't have to," she mumbled. "Isn't networking good politics? What's different from what I'm doing? The Fire Lord is one of my good friends, how dreadful. Meanwhile Lady Fa looks at you like she's one hotcake away from eating you."
The blush deepened. "What?"
She waved a hand, unwilling to waste precious time with the Fire Lord on the finer matters of base desires and money grabbing schemes. "Half the council is here on nepotism."
"Nepotism only gets so far. They are all competent, including Lady Fa. Two years isn't enough to impose a meritocracy."
She scoffed. "Then how long is enough? Concede a blubber worm, and they take the whole seal."
He watched in alarm her irritable pacing. "The difference is when you like someone, you actually care. The others, except Councilor Jin who worked as head attendant and I brought her on at my mother's suggestion, don't care about me as a person."
The mention of his mother made her still. Aang and her had helped him the year prior locate Princess Ursa in her hometown, where she had made a deal with a spirit to lose her memory after she escaped from the palace to protect her children. Princess Ursa was found with a new husband and young daughter, and the reunion had reduced Zuko to tears. Katara couldn't ever remember him openly weeping as he did then.
His face softened. "I admire your idealism. You've never doubted that your heart is in the right place and wanting to do the right thing." He shifted in his seat, a forlorn look entering his eyes. "You don't…know what it's like." At her head tilt, he clarified. "To doubt yourself."
What? She rubbed her eyes. "Hah. I doubt myself everyday. Being good is something you actively choose." He looked doubtful. She wondered if they had ever discussed something like this privately; her friendship was Zuko was one she considered strong, but most of it was built on shared experiences and group dynamics. Sure, they fought Azula together, and had their little field trip to Yon Rha. After that, she was unable to recall a single conversation of them alone, sharing vulnerabilities.
"Remember Haru?" Last she heard, Haru, still mustache-clad, was heading a mining business somewhere. "When I broke into a Fire Nation prison—"
Zuko's eyes widened, aghast. "You did what?"
"He was taken away because of us. Anyway, I pretended to be an earthbender and found him and his dad. I made this impassioned speech, far better than whatever the Ember Island Players came up with, mind you, about standing up and not going down without a fight. No one cheered. The soldiers laughed at me. At that moment, I felt humiliated and doubted everything my parents taught me." A lump formed in her throat remembering the desire to want to burn to a crisp, when Haru and his dad looked at her as though she sprouted a second head. Though her plan eventually worked, it was a moment that weighed heavy on her insecurities for a long time.
He was quiet for a long time. Katara fidgeted. Feeling her time in this office to expire, she moved for the door where his secretary undoubtedly waited to pounce.
His hand met the doorknob before hers. She blinked up at him, watching a series of emotions cross over his face.
"Your hair…" he mused. The last of the blush disappeared, leaving a faint smear of shy warmth to settle on him.
Her loose hair strand swayed, brushing her shoulders. "Hair loopies."
"Loopies. You're joking."
"It's traditional terminology."
He lifted a hand in what mirrored a bizarre motion to reattach the loop to the dangling bead. Something thudded inside Katara.
He stopped, scrutinizing her face. All limbs duly returned to their place. "I expected you to attend our outing with King Kuei but after all of that…it would be best if you stayed here for the day. The next time you're disrespected, leave it for me to handle. I'll speak to Lady Fa."
What she heard: you can't handle it yourself.
Feeling chastised, she swallowed. "Fine for me if I don't have to see her. It's not as though I enjoy being riled up."
"I think you do." He smirked. She resisted the urge to congeal his sweat into a ball and throw it back at him.
