Sorry, folks, this is NOT the Olympic AU. But have no fear...Coach Zuko and his...erm, absentee student, will be back for more adventures tomorrow on Day 6: Desired! Since Katara will go for the gold (thanks to all who voted!), the next chapters will deal with her journey and learning more about Zuko! In the meantime, scroll down to read...
5. Serenade
"Republic City will be completed in a week!" Aang announced with an eager grin. He had shot up quite a lot over the years and started to grow a beard, but Katara could still see the endearing childish delight in the wide smile.
The Gaang, seated in one of the Fire Palace's courtyards, cheered. Sokka started to pour some of the fruit juice for a toast, Toph punched the air, Suki laughed, Katara grinned and laughed, and Zuko smiled. Finally! It was perfect!
"Thank Agni," he muttered to Katara soon after in the office, scratching out his signature onto yet another document. "I'm glad about the whole idea of Republic City, but I wasn't so much about the added paperwork."
She kissed his cheek. "You worked very hard for years, Zuko, with everyone. You should be proud."
"I am," he answered softly, pulling her onto his lap. She squealed in surprise and nearly tipped over the ink bottle, and Zuko chuckled. He shifted her so she wouldn't prise through his desk again. A dragon and a phoenix, circling each other on a silver moonstone...
"I couldn't have done it without you," he said, nuzzling her neck. She giggled at the sensation.
"Oh, posh, you could have. I just stopped you from slacking so much that the city would take longer than the icebergs to melt to build." A purple ribbon...
"More like you distracted me." Zuko rolled his eyes. "Ugh, it's three. Time to see those delightful noblemen."
She stuck out her tongue, and this would have led to more fun, except that his page knocked on the door and asked him if he wanted help with his formal robes. Zuko sighed. He couldn't wait for the day until Katara could legally place the Fire Lord regalia on him before he set off for the throne. But first, a perfect setting...
"So that is why we should have more recreational areas in the Fire Nation," Katara concluded. She still stood, nodding her head slightly as a noblewoman hummed a pleasant tune underneath her breath.
Fire Lord Zuko nodded solemnly to approve her speech and turned to the rounded Council table. "Very insightful, my...um, Lady Katara. Are there any objections for Lady Katara's proposal?"
A nobleman stood up. Zuko inwardly sighed, but settled his features into a patient mask. "Nobleman Zhu. What is your concern?"
"Forgive me, my lord, but is Lady Katara suggesting that we set aside valuable assets for...play?" his tongue twisted around the word as if it was a rotten part of a fruit that he desperately wanted to spit out. "The Fire Nation has much too many fertile lands for such trivial matters."
Zuko resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, but Katara stepped in before he had to say anything. "With all due respect, nobleman, I had said that confiscated lands, such as one that two nobles are fighting over and will threaten bloodshed over and that our Fire Lord does not want, will be used. And they are not merely for play. They can be used for that, yes, but it is important to be physically healthy. It is also an economic benefit, which I also covered in my report."
"I do not think would be helpful to the environment..." Zuko clenched his fists.
"If I did not know better, I would think you dozed off when I was speaking. I will not answer any more of your concerns that were clearly outlined in my proposal." Katara's tone was perfectly haughty and gentle, and Zuko was fighting the urge to smile when the nobleman sat down, and Katara turned to him.
"Ah. Now that the resistance is smoothed over, let us vote. All in favor?...good. Majority stands with Lady Katara's proposal on recreation areas in the Fire Nation. Next topic will be updates on Republic City, trading with the Earth Kingdom, and internal disputes. Meeting adjourned." The nobles stood, bowed to the Fire Lord, and headed out. Katara was slowly packing away her papers into a neat folder, and she smiled when she saw him descending the steps to the throne.
"That was not too bad."
"Ever since you became my girlfriend instead of those spoiled nobles' daughters, someone always has to pick apart anything you say nowadays."
"They were doing that before we got together, Zuko. It's been three years since; you should not be surprised." Katara tied the foldier with a red ribbon. "Shall we head off to lunch? Tomorrow, we're going to check on Republic City."
"That's tomorrow? The time has passed by so quickly..." Zuko's hands shook as he opened the door for her, the knob sliding under his sweaty palm, and she mumured a quiet thank you when they headed out into the hallway.
"Well, Aang and Sokka wanted to go earlier, to explore before the opening ceremonies."
"What will we do there?" Zuko asked casually, tugging at his robes.
Katara shrugged. "Walk around. Have dinner at a restaurant. Your uncle wants to open a Jasmine Dragon there, if there's room."
Zuko rolled his eyes jokingly. "If it were up to Uncle, the treasury would go to making sure that every city, or town for that matter, would have a teashop. Come on, let's eat in the garden." He had something else planned in mind besides merely sightseeing in Republic City...
"Katara, you forgot one of your waterskins in my office! Do you want it?" Zuko opened the door to her room and shook his head.
It was empty, unwanted clothes and belongings strewn everywhere. It looked like last-minute packing to him. He smiled fondly and went to lay her waterskin in her leather knapsack.
He nearly tripped over something going out the door. Cursing, he picked it up. It was a new, glossy magazine journal the printers were churning out since the access to the press was now cheaper. It looked like a typical noblewoman's style, bright and bold characters proclaiming The best accessory for your new bag! and What NOT to wear this summer! with a tall, bouncy model posing in a dress, preening on the cover. He smirked. Who knew this was Katara's style? He flipped through it absentmindedly; Appa wouldn't be taking off in a while.
What is YOUR romantic dream? it gushed. Zuko frowned, looking at the checked-off options. It was a small quiz, the answers upside-down, but the intention was pretty clear. He needed to make some changes to his plan...
"Wow, Zuko, the statue looks great!"
"Don't thank Zuko!" Toph crackled her knuckles. "Thank me and my team of Metalbenders and Earthbenders from the Beifong Academy! We helped!"
"And we financed it. It was a gift." Zuko explained to Aang, who was wiping away tears from his eyes.
"It doesn't matter who did it. It's...it really means a lot. Thanks, guys."
"You saved the world." Sokka pointed out. "You sort of need a statue at this point."
"Sokka, you're killing the warm, fuzzy feeling in my stomach."
"Sorry, Toph."
"Wow! That looks great! Toph, look at the Probending arena!"
"It looks magnificent!"
"I know, I thought the dome added a layer of sophistica...you know, I hate it when you do that."
Everyone was then laughing as they got off of Appa.
"Come on," Katara squeezed Zuko's hand. "Let's go exploring!"
"Sokka, how did you break a Cabbage Corp car? I'm pretty sure we've seen that guy before, too..."
"Look, it's not my fault that it can't withstand metal poles!" Sokka defended himself. "Besides, he should have warned me how fast it could go."
Suki sighed and patted him on the head. "Sweetie, let's not destroy the city we've worked over ten years to build, okay?"
"Ah! That reminds me!" Sokka waved the bartender over and whispered something in his ear. The man nodded and scurried off.
"Sokka, please tell me you didn't order a ridiculously expensive lobster-steak again." Katara sighed as she slurped some seaweed noodles from the broth.
"Katara, have more faith in me. I got something better." The waiter came back, this time with six small, golden cups filled to the brim with golden liquid on a tray. He set the tray down, and Sokka rasied a cup. "Sake!"
"Sokka!" his sister scolded.
"This won't be like the cactus juice," promised Sokka as he motioned for everyone to pick up the alcohol. "Zuko, come on!" Zuko quickly stopped looking at the clock over the door and seized a cup. Even Aang wrapped his fingers around one, although he was sure the monk would toss it in a plant later on.
"To friends! To family! To completing Republic City!"
"Hear, hear!"
Everyone drank.
"So, why did you name it Republic City again, Sokka?" Toph asked, ready to see more of Sokka's antics.
"Cause...Ah...wanted to...it was suuuuccchh a catchy name! We'll remember for...years...to...to...come!"
Suki groaned. "Sokka, this just isn't your night."
Zuko pushed his drink away quickly. "Katara, why don't we see some city lights before we get some shut-eye?"
Katara raised an eyebrow. "Okay. See you guys around!"
"See you, Loopy Girl! Ha! She has loops in her hair, gettit?"
"We get it, Sokka."
Katara sighed as the night air hit her face. "I love outdoors, don't you, Zuko?"
"Mm-hm." Zuko's hands were shaking again. He tried to steady his vision and put a hand in his pocket.
"So, where are we going?"
"Err...to a place you'd like." He grabbed her hand as they turned a corner.
"Why, that's specific." Zuko tripped over a rock and cursed when he nearly brought down Katara with him. "Zuko, are you okay?"
"I...I'm fine!"
"Sure, you are...oh...are we going to the park?"
"...Maybe?"
"Zuko, it looks so lovely at night. And these lanterns! Wow..." She sat down at a fountain and smiled, hand trailing through the water. "This is amazing."
As Katara was admiring the sights, Zuko pulled out a loose stone from the street. Inside the crevice was a little radio, courtesy of Sokka. He quickly hit the ON button, waited until it began to crackle, and stood up.
A pleasant tune started winding through the small area where they were at, twanging strings and a gentle tune that reminded him of a wind's breeze. Katara began to stand up: "Are there musicians here...?"
Zuko cleared his dry throat, and hurriedly before he lost his nerve, began:
"As I was walking
down the boulevard...
I caught
a glimpse
of striking eyes..."
Katara was staring, open-mouthed, at him. Zuko flushed. Didn't she like it? He continued, his voice, pleasant and steady, though still shaky:
"I was lost
she...
helped
meeeeee...
To find
my...
Heart...
that was lost...
in Republic Citt-tty..."
She was standing up. Zuko's heart raced as he fumbled for the tissue-wrapped package...
"She gave me a map...
to find my heart...
My heart is lost in Republic City today...
But not for long
I found the girl
I've been waiting for...
Oh, lost..."
"Oh, Zuko!" she was rushing towards him, arms open. Zuko quickly freed the surprise from its confines and knelt.
"Katara, will you do me the honor..."
"You're drunk!"
What?
Katara was shaking her head as she "helped" him up. "I knew things were weird after you wanted to go for a walk at eleven o'clock at night, then I had my suspicions with your uncoordinations. But, oh, Zuko! If only I knew about the sake...I am going to kill Sokka for this! Spirits, I know you would never do such a silly thing like sing in public...let's go to bed; you can sleep this off before the ceremonies..."
Zuko's mouth was flapping open like a fish yanked out of the water by a fishing hook to its gills. What in Agni's name... In the back of his mind, he noticed that the radio was still playing. His wits were scrambled, shot, and stabbed. Katara was now shhing him as he stupidly clutched the engagement necklace in his right fist, the purple tissue paper lost in the wind.
"Serenading...Tui and La, you really need to lie down."
It was tomorrow morning when he found out that it was Sokka's magazine he'd been looking at.
He cursed words he didn't think even Toph knew as Katara kept sneaking him worried looks throughout the day and kept dosing him with horrible hang-over tea, brewed espeically for him and Sokka. And he still hadn't proposed.
Yeah, I made up lyrics to "Lost My Heart in Republic City." I figured it would be a cheesy, but sweet song. Unfortunately, it depends on which speed you sing this at (if you want to try this out), so you might notice my rhythm is a bit off. Ooops! I chalk it up to Zuko's nervousness.