Previously…
"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.
The gang all donned shades of red and gold, stashing away their blues and greens in their rooms.
That was something they all enjoyed —having their own bed, albeit a bit dusty, to call their own. For the time being, anyways.
Night soon fell, and they purchased tickets for the balcony, discreetly settled away from all the affluent Fire Nation citizens.
Some snotty noble recognizing the banished crown prince was one of the last things Zuko needed. Especially now that it was beginning to become common knowledge that he'd sided with the Avatar and his friends.
Toph led the way into their first row, shuffling slowly down the narrow aisle.
"Why are we in the nosebleed section again?" She whined, plopping down.
Katara followed behind her with a small smile. The boys and Suki had lingered at the concessions to peruse their snack options in case hunger struck them later in the day — and knowing Sokka, it probably would.
"Because," Katara took a seat on the bench beside her. "We don't need to draw too much attention to ourselves."
"My feet can hardly see a thing from up here," the girl wiggled her bare toes, scrunching her nose at the presumed blindness.
"Don't worry," she smiled sweetly at the blind girl. "I'll tell your feet what's happening."
Footsteps thudded behind them.
"Hey guys, you made it," Katara said to Sokka and Suki.
Then, once she realized that Aang and Zuko weren't trailing behind them, she frowned.
"Where's—"
Sokka waved his hand dismissively, surprisingly without snacks. "They're straggling. I'm sure they'll find it eventually."
Sure enough, the two slipped inside right as the play was about to start. While Aang chattered at Sokka, Zuko slipped past him to take a seat next to Katara.
Katara grinned in greeting at his arrival.
"Hey," Aang mumbled to Zuko, standing awkwardly beside the last open seat on the end. His gray eyes slid to Katara, who'd turned her attention towards the elaborate setup on the stage. "I, uh, wanted to sit there."
Zuko pushed the hood off his head, staring up blankly at the youth. "Just sit next to me." He said innocently, though he knew good and well that he'd wanted to sit next to Katara.
After Aang didn't oblige, Zuko continued, "What's the big deal?"
"Aang," Sokka whined, leaning side to side. "Sit down, I can't see!"
Katara, having eavesdropped on the entire incident, made a mental note to expedite their much-needed conversation.
Grumbling, Aang plopped down on the bench, arms folded across his chest, turning his attention toward the stage.
A grown-up shorter woman with strangely pronounced features and overly bronzed skin sat in a fake boat beside a thin, toothy tanned guy.
Despite their exaggerated appearance and lack of resemblance to the people on the flier and the real kids — Katara and Sokka were thrilled to see themselves on stage.
That had to be them!
"Sokka, my only brother," the actress opened dramatically.
Eyes widening, Katara whirled around to stare at Sokka, beaming widely and jabbing her finger toward the actress and actor.
"We constantly roam these icy seas and never do we find anything fulfilling!"
Fake Katara pressed the back of her hand to her temple and sighed. Annoyance started to trickle into Katara's opinion when the woman draped herself over the side of the boat.
"All I want is a full feeling in my gut! I'm starving!" Fake Sokka drawled.
The real siblings met gazes once more, but clearly felt significantly less excited at their on-stage counterparts.
'"Is food the only thing on your mind?" Fake Katara countered.
"Well, I'd like to get it out of my mind and into my mouth! I'm starving!"
Laughter rumbled through the crowd — and Toph.
Sokka on the other hand, was not having it.
"Who even wrote this? My jokes are way better than this!" He hissed, leaning forward in bewilderment.
"I think he's got you pegged!" Toph snickered.
The play went on, both actors being rather corny and over emotional on their deliverance.
When fake Katara began to cry over the apparent 'lack of beacon', Katara couldn't help to gape at the woman.
"What?" She turned to Zuko, who had the sense to keep his expression neutral. "I don't sound like that!"
Suki and Sokka's expressions said otherwise.
"Zuko," Katara hissed, tugging on his arm. "Please tell me I don't sound like that!"
"Oh man," Toph snorted. "This writer's a genius!"
Zuko didn't have a chance to respond, as Aang was shushing the trio.
He was thankful for the Avatar's interjection.
"I'm about to come out!" Aang whispered, eyes sparkling as fake Katara chopped her hand at the iceberg prop.
"Hi-yah!"
Fog, or perhaps steam, rose from the prop.
Another actor — no, actress — popped up on stage, prissily posed with one hand on her hip.
Katara's hand flew to her mouth at the sight of a female playing Aang. Fake Aang was clearly a young girl, sporting a bald cap, blush and a high-pitched voice.
"I'm the Avatar, silly!" 'Aang' chirped exuberantly.
"Is that a woman playing me?" Aang asked.
Neither Katara nor Zuko had to glance at the bald boy to know he was leaned forward in disbelief.
Sure enough, Aang gripped the smooth railing.
He couldn't believe it. How could the playwright get the most important detail wrong?
The iceberg scene continued to play out, portraying the Avatar as a prankster, Sokka meat-obsessed, and Katara so overly emotional it made her sick.
By the end of the first scene, the three youths were baffled, to say the least.
Toph, meanwhile was over the moon with their portrayal.
"I don't do that!" Aang griped, flailing his arms. "That's not even what I'm like! And why would they cast a woman to play me? I'm not a girl!"
He turned to Zuko, eyes bugging out of his head. "Zuko, the Fire Nation knows that I'm not a girl, right?"
Zuko plastered on his most serious look before regarding Aang silently.
He shrugged.
Aang's mouth dropped open further.
"Oh, they nailed you Twinkle Toes!" Toph laughed, Sokka and Katara snickering at the absurdity.
As the iceberg prop was discreetly drug off set, Zuko's eyes widened as an obvious model Fire Nation ship glided in from the left.
"Prince Zuko!" A rotund man — 'Iroh' — started. "You must try this cake!"
Katara snickered as an angry looking actor bearing Zuko's scar turned around to glare at 'Iroh'.
"I don't want to eat your cake!" His fist waggled at the audience. "I must capture the Avatar to regain my honor!"
At that, nearly all of the gang chuckled at the accuracy of this Zuko.
Zuko crossed his arms, side-eying his friends.
This fake Zuko was ridiculous! He thought with a scowl. The scar wasn't even on the right side!
"They make me look totally stiff and humorless," he grumbled, as fake Zuko continued to not put up with any of his uncle's antics.
Katara glanced at her moody friend, a smug smile on her face.
"I don't know Zuko…" she patted his leg. "I think they did a pretty good job with the actor."
His mouth dropped. "How could you say that?"
"Let's forget about the Avatar and get massages!" 'Iroh' exclaimed, rubbing his beard.
"How could you say that?" 'Zuko' demanded, eliciting even more of a rise out of the real prince.
Zuko groaned and slumped into his seat.
Maybe they were right.
As the play went on, Katara could admit, they did a pretty good job hitting all their greatest moments. They may have over-exaggerated their personalities and royally messed up a few things — like Zuko being the one to capture Aang as opposed to Zhao — but regardless, the play was mildly entertaining.
After one got past the blatant inaccuracies and Fire Nation propaganda, of course.
Then came the Blue Spirit's scene, which was more a six foot dancing mask then the shadowy, toned vigilante, followed by the gang meeting Jet.
Jet's actor nailed his cocky personality but to Katara's dismay, inflated their relationship, the male actor pressing his forehead against hers and taking her in his arms.
"Don't cry, baby! Jet will wipe out that nasty town for you!"
"Do they really think he referred to himself in third person?" Zuko whispered to Katara, leaning in.
Katara half grunted, half sighed, covering her face with her hand when her on-stage persona uttered, "Oh Jet, you're so bad."
Spirits, Katara thought, this is getting ridiculous.
Toph's laughter echoed in her ears.
~0~
Intermission finally arrived and the group filed outside, Sokka disappearing momentarily to raid the concession stand.
"So far, this intermission is the best part of the play," Zuko commented.
"You're telling me," Sokka grumped, ripping into a bag of fire flakes. "They act like I'm some idiot who only tells bad jokes about meat!"
Suki and Katara shared a knowing look.
"You tell bad jokes about plenty of other things," Suki said reassuringly, grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
Aang crossed his arms, staring into the crowd of people milling about.
"At least they tried to cast a look-alike for you guys…I have a girl playing me!"
Toph shrugged, smirking at Aang's obvious distaste.
"I don't know, you are more in touch with your feminine side than most guys."
Katara watched Aang stand up and push past Toph.
He was actually mad?
"Relax, Aang," she said, regarding the monk. "They're not accurate portrayals."
~0~
"This is it!" Toph wiggled with excitement, feet pressed into the ground. "I must come in soon!"
Fake Aang zoomed around the stage, announcing his lack of luck finding a master.
A massive figure - clearly an adult male, rose up from trapdoor beneath a massive rock prop.
"You can't find an earth bending master in the sky," 'Toph' threw the rock prop away and spit on the ground. "You gotta look on the ground!"
"Who are you?" Stage Aang asked, staring up at the man in awe.
"Name's Toph," the man flexed his large arms. "Sounds like tough, because I am."
Laughter erupted from the audience and the ridiculous scene continued to play out.
When it came time to explain the girl's blindness, stage Toph said,
"I don't 'see' like you do. I release a sonic wave from my mouth."
Then, the actor released a loud scream, the sound painfully reverberating off the theater's walls.
Nearly the entire audience cringed.
"Wait a second," A grin broke out across the girl's face as she picked at her ear. "Am I a guy? A really buff guy?"
"What you're hearing up there is the truth. It hurts, doesn't it?"
Though Katara didn't receive the reaction from the girl she'd expected. Instead of being frustrated or disheartened at her portrayal, Toph was ecstatic.
In fact, she couldn't think of a time where she'd seen her that joyous.
"Are you kidding? This is awesome!" She gripped onto the railing, toes wiggling against the floor. "At least it's not a flying bald lady."
Toph didn't have to have working eyes to know she succeeded at irritating even Aang further.
~0~
A backdrop fluttered from the ceiling as they changed locations yet again. Beautiful hand-painted green crystals, signifying the crystal catacombs lined the background.
"You know, Prince Zuko," Fake Katara crooned, sashaying toward him. "I must admit, I really find you attractive!"
Katara's eyes widened, a blush rising to her cheeks.
They knew? How could they know? It wasn't like that at all but—
"You don't have to make fun of me," Fake Zuko grumbled from the other side of the stage, seated on a rock.
"But I mean it!" 'Katara' took a seat beside him, crossing her legs to expose her thigh in the dress's slit. "I've had eyes for you since the day you first captured me!"
Zuko shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. Katara mustered the glance to steal a look at his face, but was relieved to see he looked about as embarrassed as she probably did.
He cleared his throat from beside her, but the man didn't say a word or dare look at her.
"Wait," Fake Zuko said, standing up to stare down at 'Katara'. "Aren't you the Avatar's girl?"
A tittering laugh bubbled out. "The Avatar's girl? Hardly! He's like a little brother to me! I certainly don't think of him in a romantic way! Besides, he's so young…and how could he ever find out about this?"
Leaning back in her seat, Katara's eyebrows quirked up.
Well, they got at least some part right.
She wasn't Aang's girl.
Unbeknownst to Katara, Aang grew more and more distressed as fake Katara's proclamations went on, casting glances to the two seated beside him.
When the two on stage embraced lovingly, Aang was to his feet before he could stop himself.
Zuko, having caught the fidgeting prior and the look of concern on Aang's face, watched as the bald boy tried to leave the auditorium.
"Oh, you're getting up?" Sokka whispered loudly, earning an annoyed glance from the Kyoshi warrior beside him. "Can you get me some fire flakes? And gummies?"
Aang stared hard at Sokka before shaking his head and stomping up towards the exit.
"Prince Zuko?!" Fake Azula shouted from the stage, the two new additions having joined during the distraction. "You've chosen treachery over your own nation! Now you must pay!"
Ribbons meant to represent Azula's blue fire and lighting danced around as those on stage mock-battled.
"Uncle Iroh, no!" Fake Zuko yelped as the rotund man leapt in front of the femme Avatar.
The Earth Kingdom flag fluttered to the ground, covering the large man.
"Katara, my love!" 'Zuko' yelled loudly. "I must save my uncle! I will find you!"
The man sprinted over to drag fake Iroh off stage, whilst 'Aang' entered the Avatar state.
~0~
"I'm going to go check on Aang," Katara said to her brother, beginning to mosey down the last hallway that led to the balcony.
Sokka and Suki seemed determined to find the actor to 'give him some pointers' anyways.
Aang hadn't been at the concessions, nor seated at any of the spots inside the theater's hallways. So, she wasn't too surprised to see him out on a balcony, overlooking the adjacent building and starry sky.
"Aang?" She called, stepping past the threshold. "Are you okay?"
Her voice and tone was light, unbothered. Aang, however was anything but.
Stiffening, he turned to stare at her as she came through the doorway, a shockingly unhappy expression plastered on his face.
Katara flinched at the distrust and unhappiness in his eyes.
He didn't have to answer her question directly for her to know the answer.
Ripping off his hat, he threw it onto the deck and crossed his arms.
"I hate this play."
She closed the distance between them and came to stop beside him, leaning herself on the railing.
"I know it sucks how they cast it, but couldn't you be overreacting just a little?" She asked gently, studying the grumpy expression. "It is just a play."
Aang's nostrils flared and he turned away from her to glare at nothing.
"Overreacting? If I hadn't blocked my chakras, I would be in the Avatar state right now!"
Katara arched a brow, but didn't know what to say.
What was Aang so upset about, anyways? If it wasn't about his portrayal by a female actress then—
"Katara," Aang said suddenly, gaze flicking to her and pinning her in place. "Did you mean what you said in there?"
"Huh?" She frowned, mind reeling. She hadn't said much since the play had started. "What are you talking about, Aang?"
"On stage, when you said that I was like a … brother to you. And that you don't think of me romantically."
Katara's confusion only grew as she processed what he said.
Was that really what had him so upset? The actress saying all those things to stage-Zuko? Or was it something else?
"Aang," she murmured. "That was the actress who said that. Not me. But… I do need to talk to you, about that kiss."
His lip curled.
"I knew it. You're with Zuko, aren't you?" Aang didn't even give her a chance to explain herself. "You can lie to your brother, but you can't lie to me. I knew something was going on with you two," a look akin to rage overtook his expression. "We kissed at the invasion and I thought it meant something, but I guess not."
He huffed, crossing his arms across his chest, working hard to control himself.
"You kissed me, Aang. And we still need to talk about that." She pointed out with a sigh. "But, I'm not 'with' Zuko. We're in the middle of a war. We all have more important things to worry about right now then feelings."
"More important things to worry about?" his voice raised an octave, eyes blazing. "We could die, Katara! I could die! I don't want to risk not…not living my life to the fullest!"
He stepped into her space, attention completely on her.
"Aang, I'm sorry," she said gently, earnestly. "It's just not the right time."
Although her brain screamed at her to tell him that the actress was right, that she didn't think of him in a romantic sense, Katara was unable to form the words.
She didn't want them to talk about it, not like this.
Not when he was already so irritated.
He was her friend, easily one of her best friends — he didn't deserve to be let down further when he clearly was already hurting.
But then he was grabbing onto her, yanking her to him. His lips had began to brush hers when she realized what was happening.
"Aang!" She growled, nearly against his lips, squirming out of his grasp.
"What are you doing?! I just told you it's not the right time!"
Katara stepped backward, shoving him off her.
"Did you not hear a single word I said?" She demanded, shaking her head.
"Hey."
Zuko.
Both of them whipped their heads to stare at him, standing in the doorway.
Katara reddened, wondering how much he'd seen.
He took in the angry flush on Katara's face and the tinge of annoyance on Aang's.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing," Aang deadpanned, crossing his arms.
"Katara?" Zuko asked, turning his amber eyes to hers.
She managed to hold his gaze for a few moments before frustrated tears pricked at her eyes.
Katara was the first to turn away, rapidly dabbing at her eyes and crossing her arms defensively.
"Sokka was wondering what happen to you two," Zuko rasped, glaring pointedly at the younger boy.
He didn't have to know exactly what had happened to tell that the Avatar had overstepped Katara's boundaries.
Again.
"We were talking," Aang grumbled, pushing past Zuko in the doorway.
When Katara did not move from her tense position on the balcony, he moved to stand beside her.
"Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?"
The night breeze stirred up leaves on the ground below and Katara wiped away a stray tear.
"Not really."
She could feel him observing her profile, scanning her for any sort of indication as to what happened — or so she thought.
"Did he hurt you?"
"What? N-no…no…he just," she sighed, swallowing a lump in her throat. "He just doesn't listen."
The banished prince remained silent, allowing his friend to take the time needed to compose herself.
"He was upset about the play's portrayal of us," she peeked up at Zuko from beneath her lashes. "Accused me of being 'with' you."
She sniffled, shaking her head in disbelief.
"And when I told him it was just a play and that I needed to talk to him about our last kiss…he kind of lost it."
"I thought you didn't want to talk about it," he said huskily.
When Katara gawked up at him, a little crooked smile was dancing on his lips.
Katara swatted his arm, huffing.
"Shut up."
His grin widened and Katara went on, venting being all to easy with him.
"I don't know why he's so…threatened by anything and everything." She admitted. "I mean, like with us. Like, we're close, yes, but you don't like me that way."
She smoothed her clothes with her hands, turning to glance up at him before suggesting they go back inside.
But there was something about Zuko's expression, something about how he reacted to her previous comment, that stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Zuko?"
Katara's voice was soft and shy, hesitant.
He didn't like her that way, right?
Despite their…flirtations?
His eyes were stormy, expression carefully guarded, though still pinned onto her face.
"What?" She asked.
His tongue darted out, moistening his bottom lip.
"Nothing," he uttered, turning away. "Nothing that can't wait."
"Oh," she managed, frowning slightly. "Uh, let's go back inside before my brother gets worried," she moved towards the entrance inside, leading the way down the hallway.
"Hey Zuko?" She said, pausing at the door that led into the theater.
He cocked his head to the side in question.
"Thank you."
His smile made his scarred eye nearly disappear completely.
"Oh, Prince Zuko," Fake Katara's voice drifted up to the balcony, reaching even the duo's ears as they walked down the stairs to their seats. "My love, you reunited me with my brother and the Avatar! How ever can I repay you?"
Katara's eyes widened as she shimmied past Aang, not daring to make eye contact.
"What'd we miss?" Zuko asked nonchalantly, looking to Sokka.
"The Painted Lady and the Blue Spirit kicked some Fire Nation a—" Suki swatted Sokka's arm before the slang term could slip out. "Butt."
He corrected, shooting her a whiny glance and rubbing his arm.
"And everyone just met back together." Sokka grinned, glancing to the stage. "They think you're together now." His eyebrows wiggled.
Katara heard dialogue passing in the background and she returned her attention to the stage, curious as to what in the world the playwright could have come up with.
"Help me find my uncle and once the war is over, we can be together!" Fake Zuko proclaimed.
Both muses shifted in their seats, glancing nervously at the other.
When their eyes met, both blushed intensely and smiled, fidgeting with whatever they could find.
"Oh, Zuko, do you mean it? I can be your Fire Lady?"
Boos echoed throughout the auditorium.
"Wha-?" Katara exclaimed, mouth dropping open. "Fire Lady? Why would I want to be—?"
"Really Sweeteness? Everything they just said and that's what you take from it?" Toph jutted in, voice low and teasing.
Katara quickly shut her mouth, arms crossing defensively across her chest.
"What? No, there was a lot…er, wrong, with that but…" she licked her lips, feeling the group observing her nervous babbling. "That wasn't what I expected her to say."
"Uh huh," Toph said, earning a kick to the shin from Katara. "Chill, your Highness. We all know its not like that."
Whilst that relaxed her anxious worries, it sent a longing through her heart.
Katara missed whatever Fake Zuko had said in return. The scenery changed, the Royal Palace prop sliding into the background.
"We finally made it into the palace, but no one's here!" Fake Aang chirped as she dropped in from the ceiling on a wire.
Actors Toph and Sokka ran in from the left, glancing around the stage with mock confusion.
Fake footsteps clunked from off stage as Fake Zuko and Katara ran into the scene.
"The princess is here!"
Fake Azula trotted in behind them, "Come back here, you coward! You are a traitor to your nation!"
"No!" Fake Zuko paused to glare at his sister, 'Katara' clutching onto him for dear life. "I am the rightful heir to the throne!"
A shockingly 'Azula' smirk spread across the actress's face before she pursued the duo once more, chasing them the remainder of the way across the stage.
The mock sun, previously darkened, lit itself up, casting warm light across the stage floor. Seconds later, blue streamers shot toward 'Zuko', striking both him and 'Katara'.
"Noooo!" They wailed, disappearing through a trap door in the floor.
'Azula' returned, stepping into the spotlight from the sun.
"Avatar! The Fire Lady will see you now!" She punched forward, a long blue ribbon shooting out from her fist.
"Aaah!" Fake Aang danced backward. "We got to go, we stand no chance! She's too strong!"
'Toph' and 'Sokka' feigned terror and followed the femme Avatar off the stage, leaving Azula in a power pose in the middle.
The lights faded back to darkness and Sokka got to his feet.
"Looks like they got caught up to their version of the present now," He stretched, groaning lightly. "Must be over."
"I can't believe how many things they got wrong," Katara said, frowning.
Light illuminated the stage.
"Or not…" Suki commented, tugging Sokka back down.
The Royal Palace backdrop remained, though this time, an actor resembling the Fire Lord sat atop a throne on the center of the stage. A massive comet replaced the sun, casting red light on the scene.
"What is this, the future?" Sokka wondered, earning shrugs from the rest of the gang.
"You believe you have mastered all the elements?" Actor Ozai rumbled.
'Aang' strode up to the 'Fire Lord', staff held proudly up.
"Sure have! You're going down!"
Fake Ozai got to his feet, looming ominously over the smaller actress.
"You see, you are too late! The comet is here and I am unstoppable!"
Streamers and other various props flashed across the stage as they dueled.
Well, at least they have the decency to make it look like Aang tried to fight, Katara thought glumly.
The play was over not long after that, earning a rather rambunctious standing ovation from the majority of the audience.
Katara and the others, however, did not participate in the gesture.
It left a foreboding air over the group.
~0~
"That…wasn't a good play," Zuko commented, mostly to Katara.
"No kidding," Katara replied.
Aang walked ahead of them with Toph, the monk clearly the most disturbed by the play.
After Sokka began chattering distractedly ahead of the group, Katara slowed her stride, glancing sidelong to her friend.
"Zuko?" She queried. "Can I ask you something?"
He hummed in confirmation and she swallowed the nervous lump that arose in her throat.
"Will you tell me what was going through your head earlier?" She paused, glancing ahead to ensure none of the others were listening.
They weren't.
"I mean, before we went back inside."
The elder boy didn't respond to her right away, brain flitting through all the possible ways he could respond. All the ways he felt about Katara.
But her words, originally meant for Aang, echoed in his head.
Their feet shifted through the sand, now on the path leading to the massive home.
I'm not 'with' Zuko. We're in the middle of a war. We all have more important things to worry about right now...
Clenching his jaw, he caught her looking expectantly at him for his answer.
She was right. Whatever feelings he had for her, he shouldn't act on them.
As much as he wanted to…and he knew now, after seeing her through so many stages, put in so many situations, that he did have them — feelings.
Strong ones at that. Ones that made him want to stop them both dead in their tracks, take her pretty face in his hands and mush his lips against hers—
She asked you a question, Prince Zuko. An inner voice that sounded suspiciously like his uncle whispered.
"Uh, I just heard what you said to Aang," he explained huskily. "And you were right."
Her blue eyes widened ever so slightly.
Did she look…disappointed? And was he disappointed, too?
"I wondered how much you heard…" she slowed her stride, the house growing closer and closer. "And saw."
Knotting her fingers in front of her, she cast a long look to the back of Aang's head.
"I think he's just scared," Zuko muttered, following the girl's line of sight.
Like the rest of us, he added inwardly.
~0~
Aang's fire bending lessons began to blur together, both he and Zuko growing tired of all the consistent training and hard work. The comet, however, did not have the same luxury of growing tired and stopping for rest. It simply plummeted through the heavens on a course straight by their little planet. And it would be there before they knew it.
So when Zuko had to attempt to pull Aang back into his lesson for the second time that week, he was irritated to say the least. Just because Katara appeared, offering watermelon juice with that charming smile on her face, tanned from the tropical weather…didn't mean that either of them should take a break.
Even if he wanted a break of his own.
"Hey!" Zuko growled, grabbing onto Aang's top. "Your lesson isn't done! Get back here!"
As the week came to a close, Katara had noticed Zuko's temper returning little by little. It started off with the occasional grumpy attitude, but it had blossomed into full out brooding sessions…and name calling.
'Snail sloths' was today's insult, the prince irritated by everyone's new relaxed nature.
Regardless, he let Aang run off to drink the watermelon juice and go to Sokka's proclaimed beach party.
Aang, Toph and Sokka played in the sand, bending - and sculpting their own creations, while Katara surfed on the waves, mind deep in thought.
"Aang?" Her surfboard skidded to a stop on the banks and her bare feet met the soft sand. "Can…can I talk to you?"
Their interactions since the…incident had been noticeably strained. Anytime their friends commented on it, he would attempt to bounce back, treating her normally long enough for any suspicion to wear off.
Aang patted his sand-Appa, gray eyes sliding away from her approaching figure.
"I guess," he mumbled, though he allowed her to lead him down the beach, away from the other's — and Toph's super hearing.
"Aang-" she bit out, wringing her hands in front of her, bits of water dripping off her sarashi wraps.
The bald youth met her eyes, widening at her sobering expression.
"I should have told you this sooner, but telling you this when you were already so upset at the play didn't seem right. Or fair to you." She began.
Aang opened his mouth, but she didn't allow him to cut off her train of thought. She'd had this conversation in her head nearly a hundred times already.
"I'm not with Zuko, not like that. But even if I was, that doesn't change the way I feel about you, Aang. You're my best friend. And that's it. I… understand you care deeply about me," she swallowed, trying to keep herself on track. "But I don't feel the same way about you and I'm sorry if I've done or said things that made you think I did."
Katara bowed her head, unable to look into those big gray eyes any longer. He looked like a kicked puppy.
"But, Katara," he said soulfully. "We danced together in that cave, saved each other so many times, trained together…the secret tunnel!"
"I know, Aang," she forced herself to look at him. He deserved that much.
Katara shrugged a little, eyes sad. "Maybe something changed in me, after Ba Sing Se. Being on my own for so long, after we all got separated…it gave me time to think."
"I don't understand!" He exclaimed, borderline seething. "Why? Why don't you like me?"
That same anger he displayed in the playhouse reemerged.
Deep down, she would later realize, it was a lot of things. But it was partially because she couldn't expect his support or his sympathy when she needed it the most. Katara knew he wouldn't understand her pain with Yon Rha, knew he wouldn't trust her to make the right decision.
And she wasn't surprised when he'd disagreed with her want to go after the man.
Katara had always told herself Aang was her best friend. But was he? Did he act like it? Did she?
"I…" Katara worked her jaw, the frustration beginning to rub off on her, despite all her attempts to remain the calm one. She'd for some reason not expected him to press her for reasons. "Just…don't. Not like that."
Aang kicked the sand, sending small particles flying. "Agh!"
Taking a few steps back, she decided to leave him there, give him some space.
Hopefully he'd come around.
~0~
Katara was in no mood to deal with her friends' questions, or Aang's foul mood when he decided to return to the group. So, she trekked up to the beach house in search of her other cranky friend — one that wasn't as liable to ask her questions she wouldn't have answers for.
"Hey," she greeted cautiously, having found Zuko perched atop the courtyard's awning, staring out across the greenery and sea.
Zuko pressed his weight back onto his palm, craning to turn and look down at her.
"What?" He grumbled, sounding suspiciously like his old self.
Her face fell, blinking as if she'd been swatted. She didn't allow him to deter her, however.
"I came to check on you," she hoisted herself up onto a planter, leaping and grabbing onto the lower part of the awning's roof. "You've been off for days now. What's going on?"
She picked her way across the uneven roof and plopped down beside him.
"Talk to me?"
The warm ocean breeze stirred up their hair, strands flying around and around.
He sighed heavily, shoving his hair off his forehead.
"Nothing has changed. I still don't know where my uncle is, Aang isn't ready, and the comet is days away. Yet you guys don't even seem to be fazed by any of it."
"Did Aang not tell you?" Katara toyed with the fabric of her white sarashi wraps she wore as a swim suit. "He wants to wait until after the comet to face Ozai…I mean, he's not ready. I don't blame him. But how much worse could things get? They've already taken Ba Sing Se."
"It could get a lot worse, Katara. I don't think you fully understand my father's drive to 'conquer the world'." His fingers scrunched up air quotes, voice sullen. "I…I received a message from my uncle yesterday."
Katara gasped, waiting anxiously for the explanation.
"I didn't think anything of it, since I thought the plan was to defeat him before the comet, but…"
Zuko launched into his story.
"Prince Zuko," the shopkeeper called lowly. "I have something for you."
When the hooded man slammed him against the shop's wall, the man's eyes widened.
"F-from the Grand Lotus! Your uncle!"
Shocked, Zuko backed off the man, allowing him to gather his bearings.
"What?"
"A message!"
Zuko searched the man's face for any trace of dishonesty, any sort of malice.
"H-he said, the Avatar must stop them from burning the world to the ground. Stop them before the comet!"
Eyes widening, his heart plummeted as he gaped at the man.
Before the comet? That was four days away!
"Where is he?" Zuko demanded. "Where is my uncle?"
The shopkeeper raised his hands defensively and Zuko backed off, mind reeling.
"I'm sorry your Highness, I do not know. This message was spread far and wide to all of us, in efforts to reach you. The only thing I know is to give you one of these." His hand slowly fished into his pocket, pulling out a white lotus tile. With shaky hands, he offered it to the young prince, who took it without hesitation.
Memories of his time in the Jasmine Dragon flicked through his mind. His uncle had custom ordered Pai Sho tiles from an earth bender in the upper rings. He wanted special playing pieces for the tea shop.
This was one of those pieces.
Zuko handed the unique tile to Katara, face deadly serious.
"We have three days."