Previously…
"I'm asking, aren't I?"
"Okay."
She seemed surprised.
"Okay." Katara repeated, readjusting her sack.
To Zuko, she said. "Let's go."
Aang trailed behind them on their way to Appa.
"Wait," he called to them as Zuko started to climb. "Katara, when you get there…don't do anything too rash. Let your anger out…then forgive him."
Katara stared hard at her friend, but found she couldn't respond.
Nervousness boiled up inside Katara any moment she allowed herself to relax, so she'd taken to gripping onto anger and determination with white knuckles.
She'd been a cooperative little girl for so long…let Fire Nation soldiers take the innocent and punish them for years.
Let the man who murdered her mother live free, for years.
Katara gripped onto Appa's reigns as if her life depended on it.
As long as she could hold onto her mission, imagine the satisfaction of staring that man — no, monster — in the face, she could push on. She could dismiss feelings of tiredness until it was over.
Dismiss any notion of uncertainty, of fear.
At least until it was all over.
Zuko told Katara the direction in which to fly and sat down in the saddle behind her.
He'd had the sense to not try and talk her down from behind the reigns until long after the sun disappeared beneath the horizon. Appa carried them across the world for the entire day and by then even she knew that they'd have to stop to let the great beast rest.
Katara guided Appa down into a small clearing in the middle of the woods.
Zuko was the first to disembark, though the girl didn't notice; arms folded, gaze broody as she stared into the dark woods that surrounded them. The moon was no more than a sliver in the sky and did little to give them any light to see their surroundings.
She no longer cared that she was grumpy…grumpy that they'd not made the trip in one day, grumpy that her butt had grown numb hours ago, grumpy that it was so freaking dark.
Katara usually hated this moodiness, did everything in her power to prevent any matter of brooding. But ever since she'd allowed herself to open up the can of worms…allow herself to realize that avenging her mother would be possible…
A flicker of reddish light drew her attention. A campfire. It pulled her free enough to have the sense to slide down to the ground, momentarily wondering how long she'd spent sitting up there in the dark.
She landed on wobbly legs, hand darting out to Appa's furry leg to steady herself.
"Come here," Zuko mumbled huskily, though she could tell it was hardly a suggestion.
Katara regarded the small pot of soup he'd settled atop the fire and begrudgingly obliged. Settling herself down on the bed roll, she tugged her knees to her chest and sighed.
"We're making good time," Zuko rasped, eyeing her illuminated face. "Relax."
The brunette leveled her moody gaze upon her friend and stared wordlessly.
Relax? She repeated inwardly, feeling him give her his own hardened gaze in return.
The simmering pot drew his attention away from the girl, who was thankful to have a moment of privacy.
Admittedly, he was much better at that sort of grumpy staring contest.
Her face dropped into a neutral expression and she rubbed her temples, her reserves reaching empty, both physically and emotionally.
Katara had kept her mind busy at Appa's reigns, having convinced herself he was incapable of flying in the proper direction without her hands and sense to guide him. Now that she was here, on the ground…it all was catching up with her.
She had a feeling if she didn't eat and get decent rest tonight, Zuko wouldn't be so lenient with her captaining Appa in the morning.
Not that she would blame him.
A warm mug was pushed into her hand.
"Eat," he said.
She looked down at the cup and then up into his warm eyes.
"You need strength for tomorrow."
Although her expression remained cold, she managed to quirk her mouth into a small smile of thanks.
Her stomach rumbled at the savory scent and she dropped her gaze, albeit a bit guiltily. He'd attempted to offer her food earlier that day and she'd barely given him a second glance before denying that she was hungry.
Zuko was surprisingly patient with her short-temper.
Eventually the spoon scraped the bottom of the mug and she bent enough water from their surroundings to clean the dishes.
Their meal, like the majority of the day, was taken in silence.
"Good night," she managed, laying down on top of her bed roll.
Katara didn't close her eyes or bother adjusting her pillow, merely laid her hands on her stomach and stared at the dimly lit sky.
She slowly began to zone out, allowing her brain to kind of shut off.
At some point in the night, Zuko checked in on her, illuminating her face with a small palmful of fire.
"Go to sleep."
Her head rolled to the side to gaze at him. He'd laid his own bedroll out beside her and was actually inside his, propped up onto his arm.
Katara solemnly studied his face in the fire light. The prince remained still beneath her scrutiny, feeling her eyes drift across his lips, eyes and scar before trailing off back to gaze into the inky black above.
"Can't." She mumbled dryly, tapping her temple with a finger.
The fire in his palm fizzled out, shoving their world into darkness again.
Covers rustled as he settled himself back down, then rustled again as he scooted closer. His warmth curled out from his body, blanketing her side in that familiar warmth.
She stiffened at the sudden proximity, but decided on accepting the silent offer of comfort and relaxed.
Butterflies managed to fight their way free of her stewing pit of emotions as she gently lifted her head and allowed him to slide his arm beneath her. After that, all she had to do was roll into him and she was pressed comfortably into his side.
While the presence did little to calm the turmoil of feeling she'd lost herself in, it still aided in giving her just the slightest amount of comfort.
"Thanks, Zuko," she mumbled against his chest.
The position reminded her of the inn's cozy bed and the hours following their encounter with Hama.
That alone was enough to put a shy little smile on her face.
After a while of simply laying there, his hand stroking her head easily lulled her into a deep sleep.
And mercifully, she did not dream.
~0~
Dawn's warm light peeked over the horizon. Zuko managed to slip out from beneath a sleeping Katara before dawn to load up Appa.
When she awoke, she had a few milliseconds of confusion, rapidly sitting up and glancing around. Then, she'd taken in Zuko's lean figure standing up in Appa's saddle and everything came rushing back.
Wordlessly she stood up, stretched, and rolled up her bed roll. They were back in the sky not long after, Katara back at the saddle.
"Which way to the communication tower?" She asked loudly, over the wind.
He leaned closer and pointed toward the horizon.
An hour or two passed and Zuko spoke up again.
"We need to be stealthy and make sure no one spots us."
A jerk of Katara's head was all he got in response, then it was back to flying.
A tall, weathered building bordered with thick dark wood came into view atop a rocky crag. Katara guided Appa down onto the only piece of dry land around, just out of sight.
When she pulled herself back into the saddle, she was met with a rolled up bundle of dark fabric.
"Here," Zuko murmured.
He'd changed at some point, his red clothes replaced with his Blue Spirit get-up, spare the scowling mask. In the Blue Spirit's place was dark fabric, expertly wrapped to cover everything but his eyes.
He turned away to give her privacy.
Slipping out of her outer blue tunic and leggings, she pulled on the disguise. The length was a bit off, assumedly Zuko's or some stranger that was taller than her, but it did the trick.
She mutely tapped his shoulder in signal to turn back, awkwardly holding up the fabric for the mask.
He snagged it from her grasp and nimbly wound it around her face, careful to avoid knotting it up in her hair.
The trek up to the command post was a difficult one, the cliffside's constant torrent of sea water making the climb steep and dangerous. It only took one close call before Katara swore under her breath and clung onto Zuko, bending them both up with a wave of water.
Once they reached the entrance, she let her masked friend lead the way.
He'd always been better at stealth. Better not let her eagerness to find the bastard get them both in hot water.
So, she crept into the building behind him, her element coating her arms in preparation for a fight. She felt better with water so close, anyways.
Zuko too had drawn his sword, holding it close to his body at the ready.
After what felt like forever, zigzagging throughout the halls and staircases, Zuko finally came to a stop outside a door.
The masked man signaled for her to wait and stay there before pulling open the door and vanishing inside.
Katara stole a curious glimpse. A large circular command center lay in the middle, a map of the world tucked beneath a sheet of glass. She barely got a look at the multi-colored markers, presumably different fleets, before the door shut behind him.
Lazy, slow footsteps clicked down the hall. Panicking, she wrenched open the door and darted inside, easing the door shut.
Her entrance sent her friend onto high alert, whirling around, sword held in a defensive stance. Amber eyes shifted into a narrowed glare before she jerked her thumb back at the doorway.
Zuko must have heard the footsteps as well, because he pointed at her and then to the door, before turning back around to continue shuffling through papers.
Seconds turned into nearly a minute, the footsteps thankfully fading away. Zuko was by her side then, a scroll in his hand. His eyes sparkled victoriously, tucking the scroll into his cloak. Grabbing her hand in his, he tugged her along.
Answers, her heart sung, I'm finally getting answers.
Every step they took closer to safety, closer to Appa, made her feel like she was one step closer to getting the closure she so desperately wanted.
I'm coming for you. She thought. Just you wait.
He'll wish he never set foot in our village.
~0~
Katara let Zuko take the reigns this time, curious to pour over the scroll he'd discovered.
The scroll, headed with the same sea raven emblem, gave notice of their path headed westward through the northern most region of the South Pole.
They were close. So close.
"There!" Zuko called out as night crept over the endless ocean. "See the flags?"
Katara caught the spyglass he threw at her, pressing the long cylinder against her eye.
The vessel's curved bow glinted in the low moonlight, the red and black flag flying high in the middle of the ship.
"Let's do this," she collapsed the spyglass and moved to perch beside Zuko on Appa's head.
~0~
If Zuko was terrified by her guiding Appa headfirst into the ocean below, he didn't show it.
Nor did he show any emotion when she bent his protective helmet - and their source of oxygen - seconds before they submerged.
Appa torpedoed towards the boat and Katara counted down the seconds in her head, waiting for just the right moment to swipe a kraken-like tentacle across the deck.
When she did, she felt the water latch onto yet another source of water — a soldier, and she ripped him into the sea.
The threat of a sea monster lured all the men out to the railing, staring wide eyed out into the inky blackness.
The last thing they'd expected to see was the figure of a young woman emerging from the water like some sort of siren.
The looks of awe and thankfulness she'd grown so used to seeing as the Painted Lady were not present on the looks of the men gawking off the side.
They would be fools to linger in awe at such a display of power. Their look was one of utter bafflement.
Zuko's figure, followed by Appa's large white body was only visible for a split second before she recalled the water once more, using Appa as a driving force for her wave. Flinging the wave at the ship, it teetered precariously against the storm-levels of water she willed upon it.
The blast alone had knocked the majority of the men into the sea, their screams drowned out by the water.
Zuko guided them out of the water after that, landing the massive bison aboard the ship.
~0~
Water blasted the main door open, an onslaught of defensive fire rushing towards them the moment her water licked the floorboards. Zuko redirected it into nothingness with a variety of stances, leaving the helmeted commander to stare at his strange attackers.
Perhaps it was the bloodthirstiness he saw in the girl's eyes, or the loyalty of his fellow fire bender to protect and aid the other's mission.
Either way, the commander was not going to allow himself to go down without a fight, scared of not.
"Who are you?" He demanded, eyeing the girl and the dark head of hair that crouched in front of her, fists held high.
She'd removed her mask, face pinned in a seemingly permanent look of vengeance.
The man hadn't seen that level of rage on such a young face.
"You don't remember her?" Zuko growled, dancing his gaze up and down the man. "You will soon. Trust me."
Their opponent seemed to shift into a fire bending stance in slow motion.
Katara's instincts kicked in, fingertips curling as she sliced the air in front of her. Katara would do anything and everything in her power to stop him from ever hurting another soul again.
She didn't need Zuko to protect her from the solider.
It was the solider who needed someone to protect him from her.
A sickening squelch filled the room, terror filling the man's eyes as his wrist twitched and twisted the wrong way.
Katara's fingers curled themselves into the spidery formations, reaching deep within the commander's body.
Zuko watched on with shock, as she blood-bent once more. The one skill set she'd been so devastated to learn.
This monster's life force, his blood, was far too easy to find and even easier to command.
And the moon wasn't even full —though the fact did not register with her at first.
She didn't need it.
It made no difference.
The man cried out in bewilderment as she raised her arms. She could feel his muscles twitch and tremble, fighting hard against her ministrations.
His voice croaked out of his lungs in disbelief.
She had complete control.
He killed her mother, now she would make him pay.
Katara jerked him down onto his knees, the rapid motion causing the mask of his helm to clatter out onto the ground.
Dark brown hair and a pointed nose peeked through.
Shifting, she pulled his head and shoulders up to stare her straight in the face.
Her breath caught in her chest. Rage simmered to the top. But it wasn't at the sight of his face.
It was at the simple fact that it wasn't his face — it wasn't who she wanted — needed — it to be.
This was not her mother's murderer.
"It's not him," she heard herself say, though she didn't seem to feel herself say it.
"He wasn't the one that led the raid?" Zuko rasped.
Her arms dropped dejectedly at her sides as she turned away. A combination of shock, anger and shame washed over her. It was written across her face and she didn't want a soul to see it.
The man crumpled to the ground, whimpering.
"Are you sure?" Zuko's voice was low and gruff.
"Yes."
If Katara was sure, Zuko thought. Then she was sure.
Zuko yanked the man to his feet, shoving him face first against the front wall.
"If you're not the man we're looking for, then who is?" He snarled. "Who raided the Southern Water Tribe?"
"Yon Rha," the man managed to utter, face smushed against the glass window. "You must be looking for Yon Rha! H-he retired, four years ago!"
They left the new commander in a sniveling heap on the floor. Zuko tried to not notice the tears rolling down Katara's cheeks.
~0~
Hundreds of miles from the Southern Raider's ship, an old man knelt in the dusty earth, scraping away at a small garden. His knees ached, back ached and now — now his mother's grating voice was making his head ache.
"Yon Rha!" She whined loudly behind him, presumably from their shared home's doorway. "You lazy piece of work! I need something!"
Years of working for the Fire Nation, only to be stuck here, in his village, right where he'd grown up.
Stupid woman.
"Yes, mother," he answered respectfully, raising his head to stare blankly at the rolling hills ahead. Storm clouds loomed in the distance. "What is it?"
She angrily grunted from behind him. "Your tomato-carrots are too hard for me! Why can't you grow something soft and juicy?"
He drew a long breath, twisting himself to stare at the wrinkled woman gripping onto the threshold.
Anger stared back.
"Would you like something else from the garden?" He asked, longing for the old woman to leave him alone.
"I need real food!" She grumped. "Get your grimy heinie to the market and buy some real food!"
The elder man sighed, turning to gaze at the assortment of lettuces and fruitful plants before him.
The door slammed shut and he pushed himself to stand.
Better go before she becomes even more irate. He thought to himself.
In the distance, two watched on, studying the misery evident on his face.
Thunder rolled lowly, the dark clouds forming on the horizon growing closer, butting up against the soft fluffy ones that loomed most of the day.
Hate and anger brewed alongside the storm.
Yon Rha strolled through the market, going to the usual vendor to buy ingredients to make his mother 'real food'.
He'd just selected pears and potatoes when something triggered his inner alarms.
Unease trickled down his spine like a bead of sweat. Wind chimes chimed lightly in the breeze.
Something wasn't right.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
Whirling around, his eyes darted back and forth at the empty vendor stalls behind him. There wasn't a soul in sight.
"Did you see someone?" He asked the produce vendor.
The younger man frowned, shaking his head. Wind stirred up the chimes again, the tingling sound paired with the answer doing little to settle his anxiety.
The feeling lingered on the journey back with the knowledge that any footsteps would be lost in the breeze or drowned out by his own.
When the prickling returned, Yon Rha stopped midway on the stone stairs that led back into the valley. "Hello? Is someone there?"
Dull brown eyes darted to the rocky formations on either side of him. The terrain was rough and unforgiving, yet that feeling remained.
No one answered his call, so he advanced on.
~0~
Rain started to leak from the clouds and Zuko wondered if it was a natural phenomenon or Katara's doing.
The drops were large and heavy, falling swiftly enough to coat the earth in tiny puddles, drenching everything in it's path.
Yon Rha's pit in his stomach grew worse the further he made it from the village, the feeling so strong he'd began to wonder if he was losing it.
When leaves rattled behind him, the sound much different then that of an animal, he dropped his produce, blasting the offending tree.
"No one sneaks up me without getting burned!"
He smiled certainly at the shrubs, now in flames. Bending down, he scooped up his things before continuing on, unaware of the trap his pursuers laid for him.
Three steps later he was face flat in the mud, his angle snagging on the tripwire Zuko and Katara had laid in his path.
Fire roared in his face, the heat nearly singeing off his eyebrows.
Yon Rha stumbled back, crawling away from his attacker.
A masked man loomed in front of him, piercing yellow eyes shining beneath long, dark hair.
"We weren't in the bush," Zuko said dryly, shifting forward threateningly. "I wouldn't try fire bending again."
Yon Rha cowered at the man, raising his hand to shield his face from the rain and the threat of fire.
"Whoever you are," he said nervously, eyeing the second figure approaching. "Take whatever you want. Take my money. I'll cooperate."
The second figure removed the mask, revealing a young girl's face, tanned and fierce. Blue eyes and a shiny blue choker necklace gleamed at him.
"Do you know who I am?" She growled.
Yon Rha's eyes darted across her features and he drew a blank.
"No. I'm not sure." He said.
That didn't seem to be the answer that she wanted, rage distorting her features. He scrambled to think what he could have done to someone so young.
"You better remember me like your life depends on it." She sneered, staring the elder dead in the face.
Rain slipped down her face like tears, though there wasn't an inkling of sadness in her eyes.
The blue sparked something inside him, from years ago.
"Yes, yes, I remember you now," Yon Rha had the sense to look afraid. Perhaps he actually was. "The Water Tribe girl!"
Memories flashed behind his eyes.
He'd killed her mother and she was back.
"She lied to you," Katara told him, frighteningly calm. "She was protecting the last water bender."
Shock flooded over the fearful expression.
"Who?"
"Me!" She shouted, shifting into a low bending stance.
Katara rapidly stood straight, halting every drop of rain's descent around them. Little orbs glistened in the cloudy daylight.
Even her partner appeared to be awestruck by the display of power, the droplets above seeming to hit a dome and run down off the side.
It no longer rained inside her bubble.
As Katara brought all the water together and launched the soon to be icy blades at the man, she saw the fear on his face. Remembered the misery she'd seen on it, tending to his garden.
She halted the ice inches from his face, some spears already embedded dangerously close to the earth around him.
Killing him would be a mercy.
And it wouldn't bring her mother back.
The war had killed enough.
He, had killed enough.
What a pathetic excuse for a human.
Katara's stance faltered and the rain resumed, her ice melting and gravity returning, unceremoniously drenching the man.
"I did a bad thing," he groveled. "I know I did. You deserve revenge. Take my mother!"
The angry, shouting elderly woman came to mind.
No. She'd not take his mother's life. Or his own. She'd leave him to his mother's whim.
"I used to wonder what kind of person could commit such atrocities." She grit out, staring at him. "But I think I understand now. There's nothing inside you. Nothing at all. You're just pathetic, sad and empty."
She stepped closer, embedding the image of him on his hands and knees in the mud into her mind.
"Please spare me."
Yon Rha's body visibly shook, his head hung low, waiting for what he thought was the inevitable.
He'd not even seen her full display of power, yet he still showed so much fear.
She shook her head in disgust.
She didn't want to think of her mother's last moments, how afraid she probably was.
"As much as I hate you," she mused, words venomous. "I just can't do it. I can't do what you did to my mother."
The raindrops ran down Katara's face, seeping from her hair.
After a few more moments, she bowed her head before turning and walking away.
That was as much closure as she could get.
While she couldn't dream of forgiving him or forgetting about the monster who murder her mother, she could try to move on. Finally.
Katara hoped her mother would've been proud of the woman she'd became.
She didn't glance back until they were inside the forest, headed towards where they'd left Appa.
Zuko followed solemnly behind her. She half expected to feel embarrassed from the past couple of days; her behavior and actions so unlike her, but for some reason, she wasn't.
If Aang were around, perhaps it would be different.
But Zuko…Zuko understood, in his own way.
"Thank you, Zuko," she murmured, over the rain still falling from the sky.
She shot him a sidelong glance as they pushed through a thicker patch of underbrush.
He regarded her evenly before a lopsided smile tugged at his lips.
She mirrored the tiny grin.
~0~
The sky let up by the time they reached Appa; birds chirping, sun peeking through the remnants of clouds.
The ride back to the others was near the same as the ride away from them, though this time there was no longer the weight of rage or revenge.
Katara had taken a seat at the rear of the saddle and watched Yon Rha's tiny village shrink and shrink until it was no longer in sight. After the blip disappeared from the horizon, she pulled a hair-loopy free from it's constraints.
Hair-loopies were for children, she thought, the long strand of hair flowing freely.
She tugged the second loop out of her usual style and allowed it to unravel. The two free pieces whipped in the wind. The rest of her hair was freed next and she turned toward the front, letting the wind rush across her face and push all her hair behind her.
Sunlight kissed her skin and she blew out a long breath, tilting her face to the sky.
I miss you, Mom. She whispered internally.
~0~
Katara sat on the small dock that jutted out past the beachy stretch of land. They'd decided - well, Zuko decided - on the way back to the others that they couldn't camp forever. So at Katara's request, he dropped her off at his family's beach house and journeyed the few short hours to pick up her brother and the others.
The setting sun's yellowish glow cast lingering warmth across Katara. She'd sat there for nearly the entire late afternoon trying to relax and process all that had happened; while simultaneously dreading trying to explain — justify — herself to Aang.
When Appa flew overhead, she swallowed back her tears and gathered her emotions, prepping herself for the inevitable questions.
"Katara!" One set of feet quickly clunked down the dock, followed by a slower set. "Are you okay?"
Aang.
"I'm doing fine," she said evenly.
The girl found she couldn't turn around, lest he had that judgmental look on his face.
"Zuko told me what happened," Aang said. "I'm proud of you."
While she took solace in Zuko filling in Aang and presumably Sokka, the second comment sent a sour feeling through her.
"I wanted to do it." She murmured. "I wanted to take out all my anger on him, but I couldn't."
Her head drooped and she gazed at the rocks sticking out of the water.
Sentences strung themselves together in her head, reasonings as to why she didn't and what her restraint really meant, but she didn't elaborate.
"Forgiveness is the first step to begin healing!" Aang said brightly.
Katara flinched as if she'd been slapped, pushing herself up to stand in front of Aang.
Annoyance blanketed itself across her features.
"I didn't forgive him." She said. "I'll never forgive him. He killed my mother, Aang. My mother."
"Katara, I didn't-"
It was then she noticed who had also approached with Aang — Zuko.
Her face softened at the sight of him and she took a few paces closer.
"Zuko," she said earnestly. "Thank you for going with me. Thank you for…everything, really. I don't know how I could ever repay you."
He had been the perfect companion. His presence had never been anything but supportive. He'd not pushed her to sway her judgement or choices, never questioned her, never made her feel judged.
Even after she'd bloodbent a man she learned was innocent.
And especially not when she made the choice to leave him alive, unscathed with nothing but bruised dignity and drenched clothing.
His eyes slid away from hers for a moment before that bright amber was redirected toward her.
Closing the gap, she threw her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.
Zuko hugged her waist, feeling Aang's gaze on him.
Usually the prince would ignore the jealousy Aang radiated whenever he and Katara interacted as anything more then just acquaintances…but this time, he didn't shy away and act like he didn't notice. Zuko flicked his eyes to the younger boy and held his gaze.
Katara pulled away, oblivious to the silent challenging stare Zuko had shot Aang's way.
"I'm going to go find Sokka," She said, her hand trailing down Zuko's arm as she stepped away.
"You were right about what Katara needed," Zuko murmured before Aang could dare to bring up the tension. "Violence wasn't the answer."
Aang smiled, no sign of his previous emotion. "It never is."
Zuko crossed his arms and shifted somewhat nervously. "Then I have a question for you. What are you going to do when you face my father?"
Aang's eyes widened and his teeth scraped his bottom lip, gnawing thoughtfully.
"Um," he started. "I'm not sure. I haven't gotten that far yet."
Zuko's face remained calm, though he wasn't quite sure how to take that answer. It wasn't like he wanted his father dead by any means, but he wasn't sure how anyone could possibly keep Ozai imprisoned. His father's influence stretched deep and wide. Even if they were able to figure out a way to imprison him, it would most likely become a headache to ensure he stayed that way.
Your headache, he corrected himself, realizing he would most likely be next in line to be the Fire Lord. That in and of itself was another matter he'd tried not to think too much about. Becoming Fire Lord meant his life would change, even more than it had already. Politics would make his head spin, based on what he remembered and heard from his uncle.
Zuko pulled his thoughts away from the what ifs, trying to not get ahead of himself.
"Time to train," Zuko rasped, eliciting a whine from his pupil.
"What? Now? It's already after dark."
He raised his good eyebrow and stared expectantly.
Aang huffed a sigh, staring up at the massive home ahead.
"Lead the way Sifu Hotman."
~0~
The following days were blissfully boring and relaxing. Aang and Zuko rose with the sun to get a thorough training session in, while Sokka, Suki, Toph and Katara took advantage of their ability to sleep in. The Fire Lord's summer home felt surprisingly safe despite it's usual inhabitants.
"Remind me again why the Fire Lord won't come looking for us here again?" Sokka asked one afternoon.
"Because, Sokka," Katara said, shifting in the sand. "They don't ever come here."
"It's the perfect hideout. No one would think that we're stupid enough to hide from the Fire Lord in his own beach house!" Toph retorted with a smirk, settled in her chair made of sand.
Katara had been surprised to see Toph, not expecting Aang and the others to have made any leeway reuniting themselves with the others. Unfortunately for Katara, Toph was the only one who returned to their group. Her father opted to stay with the others.
At her protest, her brother had reminded her what their father had told him.
Their priority needed to be preparing Aang to face Ozai. Their father and friends had people they needed to rescue.
"Eh," Sokka shrugged.
"If you're so worried about it, why are you out here in the open sunbathing with us?" Toph asked, smirking.
They'd spent the entire afternoon and all the afternoons that week, there on the beach.
"S-suki's here!" Sokka offered, looking to his girlfriend with a dopey grin. "That's why! Someone's gotta keep her safe!"
Zuko snorted. "If I remember right, she was the one doing all the saving, are you sure it's not the other way around?"
"Hey!" Sokka pouted, grumbling as he flopped backward onto the towel. "Low blow!"
Suki chuckled, knowing the fire bender was right.
"It's okay, Sokka," she cooed, patting his thigh.
Katara propped herself up on her elbows and closed her eyes, like a warm happy cat.
While it had taken her a day or two to reconcile with her happier self, she'd found her again and taken solace in the familiarity of their group. Even with Suki and Zuko added on, the light-hearted dynamic remained the same…for the most part.
It had grown more difficult to ignore Aang's little flirty quips. The youth seemed to be blind to her obvious disinterest, cranking up the playfulness and sweetness anytime Zuko came into the room.
Admittedly, it was partially her fault, she thought, seeing as how she'd not made time to talk to him about the kiss he'd planted on her before the eclipse. Though she thought she had a general idea on how that conversation would go. Katara would voice her feelings and Aang would smile, maybe have the sense to frown a little, and chalk it up to pre-invasion jitters — that he hadn't been thinking about how it would and could affect them long term.
Or, he would be upset that she was upset about it — tell her that he cared about her, deeply…maybe even try to get her to see it 'his way'.
Regardless, the conversation was one she'd avoided.
Neither outcome was preferable.
Zuko also had noticed the change in Katara and Aang's interactions, though he was unaware of the kiss. He made Aang work harder because of it, innocently 'punishing' the Avatar for his pushy behavior and writing it off as a lot to learn and not a lot of time to learn it.
Later the same day, Aang made yet another advance on Katara, flashing those puppy dog eyes at her and trying to splash her with a wave.
She had just settled herself down with a drink and his carelessness had ruined both her drink and everything around her.
She'd stomped off into the house, desperate for some space from him.
"He's really pushing your buttons today, huh?" Zuko leaned against the doorway leading to the courtyard, eyeing her angry expression and soaked…everything.
"You have no idea." She removed the sea water with a flick of her hand, emptying it into a nearby decorative pot. "Ever since he-"
Katara paused, face heating.
Zuko cocked his head curiously, waiting for her to continue.
"-kissed me," she grumbled, wringing out her long hair. "He's been so…dead set on moving forward with that."
His amber eyes were no more then a slit, working his jaw.
"He kissed you?" He tried to ask normally, but failed. "When?"
Katara fussed with her free hair, trying to look anywhere but at Zuko. "Before the invasion."
"I see."
His tone was aloof, disinterested. She snuck a glance at his face.
Was he…upset? She wondered.
"I didn't want him to," she rambled. "He just planted one on me, didn't even give me a chance to do anything or say anything…and I want to talk to him, I really do, but I don't know how."
Katara trailed off with a huffy breath, striding past him, out into the courtyard.
"You're a boy," she stated, staring at him now expectantly. "A-and Sokka said you have a girlfriend…any advice?"
Zuko blinked, clearly surprised she asked him for help regarding the matter.
"Uh," he scratched the back of his neck, momentarily glancing to the courtyard steps. "I-I don't have a girlfriend."
He turned around and walked towards the steps, willing the blush growing on his cheeks to subside. "But I'll still give you some advice, if you want."
Katara's eyes widened at his admission that he was single and she balked at her expression, happy his back had been turned.
"Please," she squeaked.
"You already know Aang is in love with you," Zuko murmured, sitting down on one of the steps.
Katara sighed again, plopping down unceremoniously beside him.
"He probably thinks you feel the same, especially if you haven't said anything."
Katara frowned, eyes staring out at the dry fountain that lay in the middle of the courtyard.
"I guess things really have been the same," she mused. "The only difference is it annoys me now, instead of finding it endearing."
Her thoughts whizzed by, mentally having the conversation before it even happened.
"But, how do I even begin to tell him that, Zuko? It's not like I can waltz up to him and say, Aang, I don't like you, stop flirting with me!" She threw her hands up in exasperation.
"Ask him to talk," Zuko rasped. "Tell him how you're feeling. He should understand."
Her tongue darted out, moistening her bottom lip.
"Okay…"
Katara was about to ask Zuko what had happened between him and Mai, when Sokka stumbled through the doorway.
"There you guys are!" A suspicious look went across his face. "I was looking for you! Look what I found in town! It's a play! About us!"
Sokka unfurled a colorful poster. A scarred face and bald head loomed behind four figures, each dressed in blue, yellow or green.
"The Boy in the Iceburg," Katara read aloud. "Interesting!"
Zuko groaned. "They ruined Love Amongst the Dragons every year! My mom took me to see that playwright's work growing up."
"Do you guys want to go?" Sokka asked hopefully.
"Don't you think that would draw some suspicion?" Katara retorted skeptically. "How did they learn about our story anyways?"
The paper rustled as Sokka squinted at smaller text. "It says Pu-on Tim scoured the globe to gather information on the Avatar. His sources include…singing nomads, prisoners of war, pirates —"
Katara gave Zuko a knowing look.
"And a knowledgeable cabbage merchant."
"C'mon Katara!" Aang appeared behind Sokka, eyes dancing with excitement. "Come with us! It'll be fun!"
"Yeah," Sokka continued. "It's just the sort of time-wasting nonsense we need!"
"I'll go get my hat!" Aang exclaimed, drawing Sokka's attention to his own potential disguise.
Boys.
The two, left alone once more, exchanged uncertain looks.
"You're coming with me," Katara announced, tugging Zuko to his feet with her. "I'm not suffering alone."
She snickered at his look of annoyance, but caught the small smile that tugged on his mouth before she drug him inside.
It sent butterflies through her.