A/N
I'm psyched. This has evolved again; I now plan for a third part. It's a trilogy, yo! Look out! So because of my ecstatic excitement, I have to finish the Aftermath and move on to bigger and better things.
This does not mean I'm abandoning my effort on this story. It's much too fun for that, and I'd never forgive myself for skimping on the good stuff.
Hiya!
And I may be putting up some fanart which may lead to some clues about further happenings in the third one, which I've named 'Facing Fears'. Booya. –does a victory dance-
Thanks to Silver Shadow 75 again. My uh… 'deal' between Katara and Zuko hadn't any sense, but I fixed it; so if it confused you at first, it's all better.
xxx
"Is he awake?"
"I don't know. Poke him…Aang, no! I was joking…"
Zuko groaned and pulled his blanket further up over his head. Katara and Aang were perched at the foot of his bed and chuckling in whispers.
Today was his birthday. Curse it all.
"Okay…" Aang muttered. "On the count of three… One…"
"Two…." Katara joined.
"Three. Happy birthday Zuko!" They chorused.
"Get out!" Zuko shouted, jerking up and chucking the nearest pillow.
Katara still stood, unshaken by his protests. "Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?"
Aang had ducked back into the hall. "Iroh sent up for your favorite breakfast, Zuko…"
Zuko fumed and tumbled out of his bed. "Don't you people understand the word, 'no'? I don't want to celebrate my birthday! Just forget it happened."
Sokka waltzed into his room and threw a handful of confetti on him. "Best wishes," Sokka chirped spitefully and sprinted from the room.
Katara smirked. "Maybe by you not wanting to celebrate, we just push harder."
"Well, stop!" Zuko shouted and shoved her out of his room.
"I think he took that well," Katara nodded to Aang.
xxx
Zuko entered the dining room tenaciously. He glanced at their faces, but other than the fact that they were munching on eggs and tarts (which Zuko had quite a soft spot for), there was no further sign of his anniversary's tidings.
He sank into a seat next to Katara and studied her face thoroughly. She smiled, but didn't forgo any more evidence of any plans.
"So…" Sokka sighed. "What are we doing today?"
"Well, my training starts at three this afternoon. You're all welcome to watch." Aang offered.
There were several nods of agreement. Zuko began to relax a little.
"What till then?" he asked.
"I do have some plans for the evening…" Iroh said mysteriously.
Zuko chewed the inside of his cheek. "Really. What?"
"It's probably a surprise." Katara answered sarcastically. "Otherwise he'd tell you."
Zuko rolled his eyes and buried his concentration in his juice.
"I think we should take a trip to the market." Aang offered. "I've got some… shopping to do."
"Shopping? You don't buy anything, though." Sokka scoffed. "You always say 'I'm a monk blah blah blah…' What do you want in the market?"
"Sokka…" Katara sighed. "You just don't get this game, do you?"
"I think I'll stay here." Zuko said bitterly.
"Great!" Katara exclaimed. "All the better for us to buy you presents!"
"On second thought…" he replied.
xxx
To his dismay, the group split up and headed to different corners of the city, and Zuko was forced to pick one to follow. He wasn't too worried about Aang; his gift would be harmless, and as for Sokka, Zuko was expecting pocket lint. His real concerns were Iroh and Katara.
For his own interest's sake, he stuck with Katara, figuring that she wouldn't buy him a present under his own nose, whereas his uncle would. He tagged along her heels throughout the flower district.
"You know…" He wondered aloud. "I'd like a nice rose. You could just get me that."
"I don't think so," Katara replied.
She paused next to a lily stand and they stared at the lush blooms together. She finally sighed and moved on.
"What was that about?" Zuko asked, catching up to her shoulder.
"Hm? Oh, nothing."
Zuko remembered his uncle saying something about girls dropping subtle hints, whether they meant to or not. Zuko guessed Katara was one who passed clues without realizing she did. All she was used to having around were Sokka and Aang, and goodness knows if they could ever examine the things she said or did. Sokka was too lazy too, and Aang was just too ignorant.
Zuko paused and pretended to feel his chest pocket. "I think I dropped something. I'll be right back."
"I'll go with you." Katara offered.
"No, that's okay, I'll just be a moment, wait right there."
Katara found her way to a bench and fell onto it. Her eyes caught a familiar-looking nun showing off a painting of a very familiar-looking fire bender…
"Take as long as you want." Katara said absently.
Zuko sped off in the direction of the lily vendor. He wasn't sure how he'd present the flower. His luck as being a 'gentleman' had failed before, and only seemed to irk her and make her uncomfortable. Although he wasn't completely opposed to making her blush, he wanted to persuade her to talk to him as well, not just run and hide.
"Sir… Are you going to gawk all day or are you going to buy something?"
Zuko shook himself awake. For the past two minutes he'd been meditating about Katara while staring into the soft colors of the flowers, despite the salesman's callings.
"Um… I'd like to buy something…" Zuko glanced around. How many should he get? One? Twelve? Should he get a mix of colors or just a single one?
Would buying too many look as if he was just showing off, not just simply trying to please her? Would buying only one make him look cheap?
"I…" Zuko opened his mouth to order one, but he fumbled once more, lost amidst his jumbled thoughts.
"Sir, tell me about her, and I can help."
Zuko glared at him skeptically. "How did you know-."
"I see a lot of fellows just like you. Just tell me about the girl, and I can help."
Zuko debated with his pride for a moment more, and then plunged into explanation, the man nodding every once in awhile.
"I've got what you need…"
xxx
Katara greeted the nun enthusiastically. "Do you remember me?"
The older woman stared down at her. "Not really… I'm sorry, my dear."
"I was with the avatar?" Katara offered.
"Oh! You're the water tribe girl that made the prince come and wreck the abbey!"
"Uh…" Katara took a step back. "S-Sorry about that. Is it…Did you clean it up okay?"
"Some of us have had so sell a little more than just perfume," The nun gestured to her paintings, "But it's alright. We're a forgiving people."
"Oh…" Katara attempted a friendly smile. "Thank you."
"Were you interested in something?"
"Actually… That one there?"
"The fire bender?" The woman eyed her skeptically. "Do you know who this is?"
"The…prince?"
She nodded. "And you still want it?"
"As a… joke for the avatar." Katara grinned a bit wider and shrugged.
"Oh. Well… Because I know you, I'll cut you a little break."
Katara gave her thanks, and she bought the painting along with a paper wrapper to cover it (which the nun winked not upon charging her for) and took her place on the bench once more.
Zuko marched back up the road, looking a cat that had won his mouse. He stopped his parade in front of Katara, grinning slyly.
"What's got you so happy?" Katara asked.
"I have a gift for you." Zuko smiled proudly.
"A gift? But this is…oh, never mind. Let's go somewhere else because that old lady would choke you soon as look at you."
"Me specifically or anyone?"
"The Fire Nation Prince," Katara answered, tugging Zuko's arm away.
"Hey," Zuko gestured to the painting. "What do you have there?"
"It's… a present for Aang." Katara smiled and shrugged. "I thought he'd like it."
"Oh." Zuko replied, crestfallen.
"Zuko, I'm kidding. It's your present."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"Hm." Zuko attempted to reach around her and grab it, but she jerked away from his reach.
"Not until later." She scolded.
"Then I suppose I'll leave my gift until later, too… Maybe during the dinner I owe you?" Zuko's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Oh… You don't really have to…"
"I would very much like to."
"You… would?"
"Yes." He turned to face her with a small, flirtatious grin.
Katara blushed and struggled underneath his attentions. "Well… uh… Maybe I'll just give you your present now?" She wanted to turn the tables for just a moment so she'd have some room to take a breath.
They wandered into the city park, with its lavish seating and fence made from the very shrubs themselves. The city bustle and volume was quieted here, and they made short work of finding a leafy tree to lounge under.
Katara unwrapped the painting excitedly and handed it to him.
He stared at it, motionless. "What is this?" He finally choked out.
Her smile slipped a degree. "It's… Well, I saw a nun from the abbey that we…met at a long time ago, and she painted this. Do you know who it is?"
Zuko stared at Katara, unbelieving. "It's Aang," he said sarcastically, which had been his way recently. "Yes, I know who it is."
She sat back against the tree. "I shouldn't have given it to you, should I?"
"I'm not…proud of who I was. This man here is a failure, to his family, his people… himself. I abandoned him." He glanced at her. Her frown made him wince. "I really appreciate it, though."
"I'm sorry." Katara took it from his hands and began to put the wrapper back on it. "I thought-."
Zuko caught her hand as it flew over the paper and he held it until she finally met his eyes.
"I think it's great that you would give me something so personal." He muttered. "And maybe you can keep it, if you liked it so well?"
She searched his eyes. "I'm proud of you, you know. You've turned from this," she gestured to the angry, hate-filled man in the picture, "To someone I actually want to spend my time with."
For the first time in his life, Zuko knew exactly what he wanted to say to someone, and he felt as if he could actually say it or do as he wanted to. His eyebrows knitted together, and he paused before saying anything.
She scared him beyond belief, he realized. She had such a power over him that no one else had possessed, and yet, she didn't know of it. With a turn of her head, he was on his knees for her. With a simple frown, he'd signed his life away. But with a smile, the world was lifted off of his shoulders for one peaceful moment, and he allowed himself to escape his troubles and become part of the bliss she seemed to carry around her.
"Katara…" Zuko breathed.
She was startled by the sincerity in which he said her name. Other girls she knew would sigh over such a tone, but Katara was unsure of how to take it from Zuko.
"Hey! We've got lunch!" Aang called from across the lawn.
Zuko didn't dare rip his eyes from hers. Couldn't Aang have waited a few more seconds? Katara didn't bother looking up, either. She was dying to hear what he had to say.
"Maybe another time." Katara whispered.
Aang plopped on the grass in front of them. "I hope you like cheese 'cause Sokka and I went crazy with the cheese."
Iroh and Sokka joined them as well, and Sokka was sending death glares in Zuko's direction.
"What were you doing?" Sokka griped.
Zuko narrowed his eyes. "What did it look like, Sokka?"
Sokka made a gagging noise, but everyone else ignored him.
"I got you something, Zuko," Aang side, pulling a wad from inside his shirt.
Zuko wrinkled his nose slightly, but took it and pulled off the paper around it. "It's a stick."
"No, it's carved. Look! It's got an inscription. Read it."
"There's always heart where you find it." Zuko looked expectantly at Aang.
Aang was nodding. "I thought it was brilliant. A monk that used to live at the Eastern temple said that once."
Zuko glanced at Katara. Her face was contorted in concentration. She obviously didn't get it either.
"Thank you, Aang." Zuko set the stick aside. He wondered if Momo would want it.
"Okay, that's nice, but really, what are you two doing here? Alone? In a park, under a tree, of all places?" Sokka demanded.
"We were just taking some time out of the sun," Katara lied.
"Oh, sure, and I'm the avatar," Sokka rolled his eyes. "I know better."
"Let's drop it," Katara said harshly. "If you really feel that strongly, we can talk later, Sokka."
"Okay…" Aang broke the tense, awkward silence. "Who wants some bread with their cheese?"
"I'll take some, and I also have a gift for Zuko."
Zuko cringed. "You didn't have to, Uncle."
"No, no, I think you'll like it." He handed him a wrapped package.
Zuko unfurled a deep, maroon-colored piece of cloth, and it took him awhile of twirling it in his fingers before he realized that it was a cloak.
"Wow." Katara muttered absently.
"I thought you'd like it better than your hat." Iroh said proudly.
Zuko pulled it over his head. The fabric seemed to mesh with his body and become him. Katara plucked at his shoulder.
"I love this color." She admired.
Zuko sat up a little straighter. "Thank you, Uncle."
xxx
Zuko wore his new disguise back to the palace, adoring the glances Katara continued to steal at him. After a fifth smile she embarrassingly flashed at him when he caught her stare, Sokka pulled her back.
"What's going on?" He hissed.
"Nothing… What are you talking about?"
"Something's up between you and Zuko, and I want to know about it."
"Nothing's 'up', Sokka. Do you want the truth?"
"Yes!"
"I like the way he looks in the cloak. That's why I keep looking at him, but don't you dare tell him, or Aang, for that matter."
"Katara you know I can keep a secret."
"What about that time you-."
"Let's not count that. So that explains why you keep looking at him, but why were you in the park?"
"I had to give him his present, and we kept getting weird looks-."
"Katara!" Sokka seized her shoulders. "What on earth did you 'give' him? Are you crazy? I'll kill him!" Sokka leapt forward, and it took all of Katara's might to hold him.
"I gave him a painting, Sokka, you sick… grumpy…imbecile!"
Sokka finally stopped trying to make his way to Zuko's throat (several yards away) and turned back to Katara.
"A painting? Why did you get weird looks for that?"
"Because the woman I bought it from was one of the nuns from the abbey, and she recognized Zuko a little."
"So you went into the park?"
"Yes."
"And then what?"
"We… talked."
"About what?"
"Sokka, I hardly think you need to know. Zuko and I are friends, are we're allowed to talk to each other, same as Aang and I."
"But Aang's twelve. Zuko's seventeen. There's a huge maturity difference there."
"Will you stop worrying?"
"No! You're my sister and he's such a-."
"Sokka. Stop being my parent, and be my brother. Ask if I had a nice day, and who I spent it with. Don't ask why the clouds were over the sun that day or why I gave him a certain look, okay?"
"Katara-."
"We're done discussing this, Sokka."
She turned to leave, and he jerked the painting from her arms.
"If you gave it to him, why do you-." He paused, upon seeing the actual painting.
"He's going to let me keep it." She snapped and took the painting back.
"That's Zuko! Why do you want a drawing of Zuko?"
"To remind me of how much he's changed, and what he's become."
"Katara?"
"What?"
"You're very strange."
xxx
"Are you nervous, Aang?" Katara asked.
They were making their way toward the arena, where Ken Wu had instructed them to be.
"I don't really care about having to learn new stuff, but the crowd's a bit unnerving." Aang answered.
Along the hall they were passing through was a line, composed of old, young, men, women, dreary and ecstatic. Aang waved a couple of times, but the screaming it caused made the rest of the gang push him onward.
"Keep your eyes down," their escort told him. "They usually calm down if you don't look at them."
"Are those… fans?" Katara asked.
"Those are his future teachers." The guard answered.
Zuko scoffed. "This'll be fun," he muttered to Iroh.
"Do not speak," Iroh whispered. "It's suspicious enough that you're wearing a hood."
"That's right…" Sokka slung his arms around their shoulders. "We wouldn't want anyone finding out-."
"Sokka." Katara said warningly. "Don't let your idiocy get us into trouble."
They were silent until they finally reached the arena doors. The guard opened it up and presented 'The Avatar and company.' Ken Wu rose to his feet to greet them.
"Welcome! As you can see, we've got quite a lot of people waiting to be your master, Avatar Aang, so let's waste no time."
Katara, Sokka, Iroh, and Zuko took seats a few yards down from the emperor. Zuko and Iroh took seats farthest from him, lest his gaze wander their direction and decide to recognize the Fire Nation royalty. Katara took a seat next to Zuko and Sokka beside her.
"Wait…" Sokka glanced at their seating. "I don't like this arrangement."
"It's too late," Zuko growled. "Just sit and play the quiet game."
"Introducing Madame Lian." The announcer bellowed.
A peppy young girl in bright green clothes trotted into the arena and shook hands with Aang.
"Well, hiya Avatar Aang! How're you feeling today?"
"I'm great. How about you?"
"Spiffy! Now, just for my own reference I'd like to ask… Who's got the earth bending spirit?" She held her hand to her ear.
Zuko made a choking noise, and Sokka bit his lip to keep the laughter from tumbling out.
She asked again. "Who's got the earth bending spir…it!"
"Uh…" Aang gave a bewildered glance to his friends. "I do?"
"Is that a question or an answer?" She giggled.
"An answer."
"Gaahrate!" She squealed. "Let's start with our mental preparedness. Sit on the ground."
Aang did as he was told, and she sat with him.
"Now concentrate on acting like a rock."
"Pardon?" Aang asked politely.
"You have to feel as the element that you are preparing to bend. Any bender knows that, Avatar. Let's just concentrate on being a rock. Now, what does a rock feel, Avatar Aang?"
Aang was too busy staring at her with an extremely confused expression to even begin to ponder what a rock felt.
"What?" Aang finally sputtered.
Sokka lost his cool at this point and began to laugh hysterically in his seat. Madame Lian turned to face him across the arena.
"I'm sorry," she said, "But if Avatar Aang has any disturbances, he won't understand how a rock feels. Now, what's your name?"
"S…Sokka!" he guffawed.
"Sokka? You're beginning to look like a bad influence on the Avatar's training." She turned to Aang, "A rock dispels anything that stands in its way."
"Um… I don't think it does…" Aang muttered.
"Well, of course it does! It asks the spirits to help him get rid of the disturbance, and the spirits send a bender!"
Aang looked to Ken Wu, who finally had had enough of Lian's nonsense.
"Madame," he said in a degrading tone. "How experienced are you with earth bending?"
"I can't earth bend." She said cheerfully. "I just coach them!"
"Very well. I don't think your services will be required. Thank you for taking some of your time to see the Avatar." Ken Wu answered firmly.
xxx
The other prospective masters carried no better quality. Most of them started with extreme basics for Aang, as if he'd had no bending experience at all. Some were harsh, choosing to aid Aang in his defense, and Katara cried out several times as Aang was bashed against the arena walls. After each sickening thud of his body hitting rock, the emperor would dismiss the teacher.
"We do not wish to exterminate the avatar," he would explain arrogantly. "We wish to teach him."
During Aang's fifth 'breathing' instructions, Katara dug herself out of her boredom and struck up a conversation with Zuko.
"How are fire benders trained?"
"We use a lot of sparring, and from that the master critiques his student. New moves are usually demonstrated first, if the master is a kind one, but usually the good benders are strengthened-."
"By forcing them into a room with a couple of ruthless masters," Iroh finished.
"It doesn't quite work like that." Zuko protested.
"Have you ever actually seen such teaching, Zuko?" Iroh asked skeptically.
"Well…No."
"I have, and it's brutal and unconventional."
"But because it is both of those things, it makes much more hardened benders." Zuko argued.
"Do you know what becomes of the benders they train as such?" Iroh sniffed.
"No." Zuko admitted.
"They put them on the front lines of war, Zuko."
Zuko slumped against the wall, defeated.
"I imagine water benders could benefit from the teachings of a fire bender." Iroh pondered aloud, deliberately.
"Why's that?" Katara asked.
Zuko glanced at his uncle, sensing the path he was gently nudging Zuko onto.
"Well, sometimes fire benders make too harsh of components for water benders. Water benders like to take their time to execute a move, while fire benders want to strike quickly and abundantly. There's much to be taught by each bender to the other." Iroh concluded.
Zuko took a breath. He might as well walk through the door his uncle had just opened for him...
"Maybe I could teach you a little sometime, Katara," Zuko offered. "Besides, it's been awhile since either of us practiced."
She smiled. "I'd like that."
Sokka groaned and muttered something about 'obvious'.
xxx
Finally, after four hours of straining to push rocks around a ductless, dim arena, Aang finally asked to stop for the evening. Ken Wu heartedly agreed, as did the others (Sokka had fallen asleep against Katara's shoulder during Aang's sixth teaching).
"And," the emperor added before retiring to his quarters, "I'm afraid I'll be unavailable for your next training session."
"Of course," Aang bowed. "You have your duties."
"And the one after that. And the one after that. I apologize, but I just don't have time to sit and watch you." Ken Wu quipped before bidding the avatar goodnight.
"That was rude," Katara muttered to Aang.
Aang shrugged. "That's okay. I didn't need him to watch me anyway. So, Zuko, what do you want to do?"
"Actually, I was planning on taking Zuko out," Iroh smiled.
"Alone?" Zuko wrinkled his nose.
"To a bar," Iroh nodded. "I think you're old enough now."
"A bar?" Sokka gasped. "Really? With real drinks and food? Wow. I'd love to do that."
"Well, you can come if you want." Iroh looked to Zuko. "That's up to Zuko."
"Wait. Why does he get to go? He's younger than I am, and I'm only now just getting to go at seventeen!" Zuko snarled.
Iroh shrugged. "I'm not his uncle."
"Can I come?" Aang asked hopefully.
"We're drinking, Aang." Sokka sniffed. "What are you? Anti-monk?"
"No, no, I just-."
"Don't worry, Aang." Katara squeezed his hand. "We'll have fun, just the two of us."
Aang grinned ear-to-ear and nodded goofily.
Zuko felt something akin to jealousy, and he almost acted on it, but he checked his arm just before it could jerk Aang away from Katara's grasp. Iroh caught his near-action, and he threw Zuko a puzzled look, which he promptly ignored.
xxx
"I can't believe you're really going to go drink." Katara said scornfully.
She plopped onto her brother's bed and stared at him while he pulled his Ba Seng Se-bought outfit over his head.
"What would Dad think?" Katara continued.
"He won't ever have to think about me going to drink because he won't know." Sokka swiveled around to Katara. "Right?"
"Hmph."
"Katara…"
"No, he won't ever know… And of all people to go to a bar with, you choose Zuko?"
"I didn't choose, and besides, you're the one always saying 'try and make friends', 'be nice', 'don't throw your boomerang in the house'."
"That last one had nothing to do with what we were talking about," Katara scorned.
"You get the picture. It's just a bit of manly fun."
"Stupid hobby."
"Why aren't you ridiculing Zuko?" Sokka complained.
"Because I'm not his sister, and he can take care of himself. You're still a little boy that needs a womanly guidance."
Sokka huffed and turned back to his mirror to flex his arm once more.
xxx
"I think I'm gonna tell her." Aang gushed.
Zuko rolled his eyes at the boy folded himself up in a corner of his room.
"I don't really want to hear about Katara anymore." Zuko grumbled.
"Just one last time? I want to test out what I'm going to say."
"You're not serious…"
"Please? Just pretend to be Katara, and then I'll leave you alone."
"I'm leaving in a few minutes anyway."
"I need your help!" Aang pleaded.
"You'll figure it out."
"Zuko!"
"I am not responsible for your love life. Tell her what you will."
Aang sighed. "Fine. I'll just tell her I'm in love with her, and that Zuko told me to tell her that."
"No you won't!"
"Won't I?" Aang raised an eyebrow.
"That's blackmail." Zuko accused.
Aang sighed again and folded his arms, attempting to entreat Zuko with a pout.
"Okay, I'm leaving now. Don't screw this night up for yourself." Zuko told Aang as he pushed past him into the hall.
"I'm not going to…" Aang trailed off upon seeing Katara.
Katara made sure Sokka was out of earshot before she whispered to Zuko, "Make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble, okay?"
Zuko smirked. "He could get himself into trouble, couldn't he?" He said slyly.
"Zuko, I'm counting on you!" She protested.
"Yes, yes, fine, I know."
"Have a good time." Aang said absently.
Zuko grunted, and Sokka waved at the pair ecstatically. It didn't take much for Iroh to get Sokka out the door, but he had to drag Zuko along, who chanced one last glance at Aang at Katara. Already, without the door close behind them, Aang was inching towards Katara, a wide grin plastered onto his face.
xxx
"So…" Aang fidgeted next to Katara. "Um…"
"Let's practice water bending," she said quickly. "We haven't done that in awhile."
"Well, no, but-."
"Aang, you have to practice sometime, you know."
"Couldn't I have just this one night off from being the avatar?" Aang pleaded.
Katara sighed. "Alright, but you're going to regret it."
"No…" Aang smiled distantly. "I don't think I will."
Katara twitched at his expression, but decided to ignore it. "Well, I'm going to go practice."
"Can I watch?"
She raised an eyebrow. "You'll watch, but you won't practice?"
"I…just want to spend some time with you."
"Hm… Sure. You can watch."
xxx
Sokka dragged another glass to his lips, his arm getting heavier and heavier with each lift. Zuko lifted his lip in disgust. He'd had one glass. His desire for control over his own thoughts kept his arm in check, lying unused in his lap. Iroh hadn't drunk any alcohol at all but occupied his thirst with tea.
"This is great," Sokka slurred. "Jus' the three of us…"
Zuko groaned. "Yeah. It's a pleasure."
Iroh offered Zuko another drink but quickly put the glass back down at the scorn screaming from Zuko's face.
"I guess this was a bad idea." Iroh muttered.
Zuko didn't answer but buried his thoughts in observing the other occupants of the bar. Most of them were obnoxious, filthy, and poor (due to their consumption, no less, Zuko thought bitterly). There seemed to be no friendly faces, either. No sober amiable faces, that is. The bartender himself seemed to be in a bit of a sour mood, and Zuko witnessed him slap the wrist of several men that attempted to grab the bottle from which he poured a small amount to them.
"My da' always tol' us about his fun tha' 'is frien's and he had…" Sokka tumbled over each word but barreled on with his stubborn determination. "An' I think this is wha' he meant."
Again, Zuko didn't waste his breath with a reply.
"I think we're almost out of food…" Iroh squinted at the plate set before them.
Zuko frowned at the pale porcelain. "Uncle, we never had any food."
"Hm… That's right…"
"Did they spike your tea?" Zuko snapped.
"Probably. Well, do you want something to eat? I am famished."
"Yes!" Sokka swung his arm into the air. "Le's have some food for my favorite fire-."
Zuko viciously shoved his hand over Sokka's mouth. "Shut up, you fool!"
Thankfully, no stray glances were spared to the threesome, and Sokka went on to explain to Iroh why Zuko had jumped him.
"He's jus' a bit worried, s'all." Sokka patted Zuko's shoulder. "What with the avatar an' 'is father..."
Zuko sat up again and made moves as if to strangle the other, but his uncle pushed him back.
"Just leave him. No one pays attention to one another in here. Look there, that man in the corner says he is the avatar! Now, I'm going to get some more soup. Don't kill him while I'm gone."
"Uncle, you never had any soup!" Zuko called out, but Iroh was already out of ear shot.
"Jus' the two of us!" Sokka grinned at him.
Zuko scowled and sank back into his seat, pulling his hood further over his eyes.
"Tell me a story, Zuko." Sokka said groggily. "I'm in a listenin' mood."
"I don't have any stories. Why don't you just be quiet?"
"How 'bout I tell ya a story? Great. Me an' Katara met this kid once; 'is name was Aang, you know 'im?"
"Shut up now. I will kill you."
Sokka burst into frantic peals of laughter. "I know! I know!"
Zuko cringed. "What will it take for you to just shut your mouth?"
"You can' lay a han' on me anyway," Sokka took another swig of his drink. "Katara tol' ya not to."
"How do you know that?"
"I'm not deaf!" Sokka spat angrily.
"She told me to look after you, if you must know."
"Like ya actually would…"
Zuko, upon thinking further about his last comment, realized he could do anything to the water tribe boy, and no one would remember the incident, save Zuko. Iroh and Sokka were so far into their drunken nature that they'd barely even be able to recall where they'd been the past evening, let alone what was said or done. Armed with this knowledge, Zuko found a bit of a reason to find this company slightly entertaining.
With a friendly smile, Zuko pried Sokka's glass away from him. "I do have a story for you, Sokka."
Sokka reached for his drink, but gave up his attempts. "You do?" His glazed eyes rolled over Zuko's face, unable to focus.
Zuko nodded, feeling malicious. "Do you remember the deal I made with you and Aang?"
"'Bout Katara?"
"Mhm. He gave me permission to date her… Why don't you? Just for fun."
Sokka wrinkled his nose. "No way… Aang was stupid to do that…"
"I'll top you off," Zuko waved Sokka's contraband in front of him.
Sokka stared hungrily at his stolen tool of the evening. "Jus' permission?"
"That's it."
"Okay."
"Say it."
"What?"
"Say I have permission."
"Ya've got per… permish… permish…"
"Permission."
"Permission. You have permission. Give me my drink!"
Zuko, with the same victorious smile he'd began with, presented the glass to his companion at the same time Iroh stumbled back with a plate full of oysters.
"What have you two been doing?" Iroh asked, staring suspiciously at Zuko.
"I dunno." Sokka said, helping himself to the oysters.
xxx
"Okay, Aang, what's wrong with you?"
"I'm… just admiring your style." Aang grinned.
"You've done nothing but stare at me for the past twenty minutes, and I just called your name four times without a response."
"Sorry." Aang blushed. "Do I make you nervous?"
"Nervous?" Katara had to pause. Aang had never made her nervous (although, she admitted now, she'd been embarrassed by him before, but never nervous). The only guy she could name that had made her fumble over her words and her face flush with his attentions was… Zuko.
"No," she finally answered truthfully. "You don't make me nervous."
"Can we just talk for a minute?" Aang asked.
Her shoulders slumped. She'd been avoiding this conversation for a long time. She sat down on her bed next to him and gave him her full, azure-eyed attention.
"Katara…" Aang muttered, in a way that reminded Katara shockingly of Zuko a few hours prior.
"I hear a knocking." Katara said suddenly, looking around her wildly. "Do you?"
Aang paused. "No…"
"There it is again! I think it's the door." She leapt off of the bed and into the hallway, never stopping her pace to the door.
She practically ripped it open, wishing to see another familiar face besides the avatar's. She almost sobbed to see that it was a stranger.
"Excuse me, Miss. I'm looking for a Lady Katara?"
"I am she." Katara dipped her head in acknowledgement.
"These," the man held forth a bundle of pale lilies. "Have been sent to you at the courtesy of Master Zuko. He sends you his best regards."
"Master… Zuko…" Katara repeated numbly, lost in the flowers' grace.
"Yes, milady."
She opened her arms cautiously, and he deposited the flowers in them.
"Have a lovely evening, milady." He bowed away and shut the door behind him.
"Who was that?" Aang asked.
She stared at the flowers, half-dazed. "I don't know."
"What are those?"
"I… don't know… I think I'm going to just lie down for awhile…"
"Oh. You are? But can we just-."
"Maybe later, Aang."
She disappeared into her swirl of blue. Zuko's redecorated room, Aang thought angrily.
A card that had slipped from her grasp brushed his toes. He stooped to pick it up and proceeded to read it. In fancy scroll was a simple letter:
Z
Aang almost crumpled it up and set it to flame, but he hadn't a clue how to do the second part of that plan, and settled for chucking it into the empty confines of the prince's room. He stalked off to the lounge, to await the return of the 'birthday boy'.
Not even Momo could assuage his rage.
xxx
Zuko almost gagged at the stench of Sokka's breath. He was hauling the boy back to the palace, a swaggering Iroh in tow. Unfortunately enough for Zuko, Sokka wasn't quite unconscious, and when he wasn't trying to wiggle out of his grasp, he was pushing him to join him in a rousing chorus of 'The Badgermole Song'. When Zuko quite plainly refused, Sokka belted out the melody anyway.
"His singing voice is atrocious." Iroh muttered to Zuko.
"That's a great help to me now," Zuko grunted, pulling Sokka to his feet (he'd recently fallen to the ground, insisting to show them how badgermoles did their tunnel digging). "Why don't we just hit him hard enough to knock him out?"
"His sister would kill you."
"You'd make a grea' match!" Sokka pointed to Zuko. "You and ma sis."
Zuko frowned. "If you weren't drunk, I'd probably hit you."
"Hard," Iroh added.
"I ain't drunk!" Sokka protested. "Am as sane as ever."
"Be quiet for a minute, alright? We're getting to the gates, and they'll never let you in, being such a mess!"
"All be silent…" Sokka chuckled. "Not a peep!"
"Ugh… Whatever. Just shut up."
"Yes, Captain!"
"Shush!" Zuko pushed Sokka onto Iroh and approached the guards with as much authority as he could muster. "Excuse me, sirs. We need to get to our room."
"In the palace?"
"Yes, sir. We're rooming with the avatar."
"The avatar? Yeah, right. Get along now, and I won't alert anyone."
"Sir, if I may-."
"I said go." The guard stepped forward, threateningly.
Zuko didn't flinch. "We are friends of the avatar," he insisted.
"What's your name then? We've been given the names of two of his companions."
Zuko narrowed his eyes. "I'm not obliged to give my name."
"You'll do as I ask, or else I'll arrest you!"
"The avatar will not be pleased to hear of such an action."
"I don't care what the avatar cares…" The guard took another step forward. "You won't pass until I have your identification."
"Hi! I'm Sokka!" Sokka waved ecstatically from behind Zuko.
The guard peered past Zuko. "We'll let him through. We've been given allowance to let him pass, but until I hear your names, you won't."
Iroh led Sokka to the gates.
"They're with me, sir…" Sokka slurred. "Ya can let 'em through."
"You're drunk!" The guard shrank back, appalled by the manner of his breath. "You won't set foot into this place, you scum! Now, all of you, get back, or I'll call-."
"Let us in!" Zuko demanded.
Iroh tugged Zuko's arm. "Temper…" he warned.
"Come on…" Sokka fell onto the guard and steadied himself. "It's his birthday… Cut 'im some slack."
"We'll just find a tavern in the city…" Iroh muttered. "Don't fight this."
"I can't even be under the avatar's shadow without having my place questioned." Zuko snarled. "I won't let this low-rank tell me I don't have the authority to be in the palace!"
"I am captain of the night guard, I'll have you know!" The man spat back. "The only low-ranks I see are these slum civilians cluttering up my gateway! Move back!"
Zuko lunged at him, but Sokka stopped him, surprisingly.
"Hey…" Sokka pushed him back, attempting to pacify him. "Le's just be on our way… We don' want to bother the man… The…Captain." Sokka half-saluted him.
"You…drunk…ba-." Zuko panted once out of the guard's attention.
"Hey! I ain't drunk! An' lucky fer you, I know of the servant's ent…entr…"
"Entrance?" Iroh supplied.
Sokka bobbed his head. "Yes. Follow me."
"But you're-." Zuko's complaint was cut off once again by Sokka.
"I ain't drunk!"
xxx
After half an hour wandering around the palace, Sokka finally remembered that they'd passed the servant's entrance, and they doubled back to find it, oblivious to the bustle of the front passageway and beckoning to them in its subtle charm. They double-checked the guard's posts before rushing the door.
They made it inside without incident, at which Sokka started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Zuko dared to ask.
"I didn' really know of another door…" He gasped. "I jus' told you tha' so you'd calm down!"
"You little heathen!" Zuko curled his lip.
"He's a genius." Iroh said dazedly.
xxx
Aang was half-asleep when the three finally tumbled through the apartment door.
"'ow was I supposed to know that wasn't a staircase!" Sokka growled.
"It said 'closet' on the door!" Zuko shouted.
"Hey." Aang said coldly.
"Ah! Aang! Good ta see ya, pal." Sokka gurgled.
Aang drew back from Sokka's embrace. "You stink, Sokka…Really bad."
"Sorry." Sokka stumbled back, running into Zuko.
Zuko pushed him in the direction of his room. "Go now, before I accidentally slip my fingers around your throat."
Zuko caught the glare sent his way by Aang. "What's your deal?"
"I'm going to bed. Such excitement can really tire an old man out." Iroh stumbled into his bedroom, leaving a hostile monk and a baffled, irritated prince.
"I don't think I've felt this way about you since the North Pole." Aang said darkly.
Zuko wasn't sure he'd heard his voice this threatening since then, either. "What did I do?"
"You're a liar, that's what you did!"
"What? I've never lied to you!"
"You went back on your word! I have never, in all my time of knowing her, gotten Katara to pay me two minutes of her attention, and you manage to make her lock herself in her room for the night with just some stupid flowers!" Aang swung his fists to his side, causing the pillows at his feet to fly across the room.
Zuko tensed. "I was paying her a favor…"
"There are other ways," Aang pointed at him, taking a step closer. "To pay her a favor than with flowers. I couldn't even talk to her! She was too caught up thinking about you!"
"Take a second to listen to yourself." Zuko demanded. "You're accusing me for how she feels!"
"I'm accusing you of making advances on her."
"She's not yours to hold and to keep, you know." Zuko protested.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying you need to get off of my back. I can't help it if she's… attracted. That's her own blame."
"Hey! Don't twist my words! I said you made advances! How are you going to get out of that one, Mr. Personality?"
Zuko set his jaw. "It was a favor…"
"I haven't been around a hundred and twelve years to stand here a sucker and believe that!" Aang took a few shaky breaths. "If you want to flirt, fine, but don't pretend to buddy up to me."
"I never 'buddied' up to you! You're the one that invited me in this group in the first place!"
"Well, maybe I made a mistake."
"Aang."
They both swiveled to face Katara in the doorway. Aang's angry shoulders fell at once.
"Katara," he muttered.
"I've been listening to everything." She said to the questioning glance Zuko threw at her.
"Oh." The boys chorused.
"Aang, you should be ashamed of yourself! How could you let a… a girl get in the way of your relationship with Zuko? I thought I knew you better than that." Katara fumbled.
Aang's face fell. "I'm sorry, Zuko."
Zuko hadn't taken his eyes from her. She knew Aang was enamored of her? She was acting more like his mother than his crush…
Katara glanced at him and turned away quickly to hide the rising color to her cheeks.
"Let's make an agreement." Katara said quietly. "Zuko will agree not to do me any more… 'favors', and Aang will agree not to jump his case just because he looks at me a certain way. Okay?"
They nodded.
"And… Is Sokka drunk?" She asked Zuko.
He nodded once more. "He's wasted."
She sighed. "He's going to be a bear tomorrow… Zuko, could I talk to Aang for a minute?"
Zuko bid them both a good night before taking a post outside the doorway to eavesdrop.
"Aang… I'm sorry. I know I've been… avoiding you, and-."
"No, Katara. It's my fault. I didn't mean to put you in an uncomfortable position."
"I'm…honored, and touched that you feel that way-."
"It's okay. You don't have to say it."
"Would you just let me finish a sentence? Look, I've known you've felt this way since-."
"The tunnel?"
"Yes," She sighed. "And I know you've been…trying to-."
"Katara, really, it's okay. We don't have to talk about it."
"If you… If you really want to-."
"No, it's okay."
"Aang! Please! If you want to pursue this relationship, I swear I'll be open to it."
"I'm not going to push you, Katara." He started to walk past her. "It's okay."
She pulled him into her arms. "Thank you, Aang," she whispered into his shoulder.
xxx
A/N
I'm sorry to say that no one went to bed that night with warm feelings, including the author. I've got a bit of a mix of feelings about this chapter. I knew the base of it, but I wasn't sure where I was going exactly, so honestly, the entire chapter is me trying to find my way through their world without a tour-guide! Haha!
Honesty is the best policy so…
The first half of this was crap. Boring. Good stuff hidden amidst boring clutter.
I actually pushed Aang away sooner than I had expected. This does not necessarily mean that Zuko has free range of Katara, wittle Aangy's still a little vengeful.
I do realize that I left you hanging a bit, that was my purpose. This is one continuous story, NOT a drabble, where every chapter concludes itself. So to avoid getting hammered with a major amount of flames, I meant to leave you at the brink of losing your mind.
I do pride myself on leaving a hint of Zuko's angst at the guard scene. I mean, come on, I can't completely conform him in a matter of a couple months! Impossible.
I hope you've had your fill of dream royale for awhile. She's got a ton of stuff to work on, and you may not see her for many a week. (Okay, yea you will…The 'ton of stuff' includes a contest that I'll be entering and posting soon…)