Chapter Eight
A few days later, Katara was writing a letter to Toph when a maid came to her door with a message. Frowning, Katara read the short note written in Zuko's careless hand, asking her to come to his study. She'd been writing a long letter to Toph and wasn't happy about being interrupted, but perhaps he'd come up with a solution to their problem. She hadn't seen or heard from him and from what Iroh had told her, he was busy reassuring his officials that this marriage to a Water Tribe woman would be a benefit to the kingdom. The engagement announcement had been met with mixed reactions and he had to put out the fires before they got out of control. Katara was impressed with his speed and foresight, but realized that there really was no turning back, despite his earlier words.
She'd been led around the palace enough to know where she was going, even after such a short time and she forgot herself when she reached his study, sliding the doors open without knocking. The look Zuko shot her was acid and she returned it in kind. He looked a little wound up as he stood by the fire and her defenses immediately responded. Iroh, on the other hand, was sitting comfortably next to his nephew, a pot of tea next to him and a cup in his hand.
"You asked for me?" she inquired.
"I'm not sure how things work in the South Pole, but here you should knock at doors that are shut," Zuko said sharply.
"My apologies, my Lord," she said, trying for civility.
Now it was his turn to wince. "Don't call me that. You make it sound like a curse."
His attitude was beginning to grate on her nerves, her better intentions aside. "Isn't it?"
Before Zuko could respond, Iroh stood, one hand up for silence, and he gestured for Katara to take the seat opposite him. She could feel Zuko's eyes tracking her as she moved but she didn't look at him, taking an inordinate amount of time to settle herself in her seat as she arranged her skirts around her.
"Katara, Zuko's told me that you're willing to do what it takes to remedy your relationship," Iroh said in an even tone that was tempered with steel.
"Within reason," Katara said carefully.
"Fair enough. To fix this situation so that the two of you don't start pulling each other's hair in front of the Azula and the guards, I've decided to implement a nightly system."
"And what might that be?" Zuko asked.
"Every night after dinner, the two of you will exchange a piece of information about yourselves."
"What's that going to accomplish?" Katara inquired, puzzled.
"I don't want to hear about her first kiss or the first time she bended water," Zuko grumbled.
Katara bristled. "No more than I want to hear about the first time you...you..."
"Very nice."
"Shut up."
"If you know more about each other, perhaps you'll learn to respect each other and abstain from embarrassing yourselves and the people you represent," Iroh said before Zuko could jump in. "It's a simple exercise which both of you should be able to accomplish without too much trouble. Or are you not mature enough?"
"Don't play that card, Uncle," Zuko said, frowning. "Don't patronize us."
"I am only trying to help."
"It can't hurt," Katara said in a low voice, sliding a glance at Zuko.
The Fire Lord sat down behind his desk as if he needed some kind of barrier between himself and Katara.
"Fine," he said, rubbing his chin absently. "We'll try this ridiculous activity but I swear to all that I hold dear, it won't change a thing. I was hoping you had a better idea, Uncle."
"We'll see," Iroh said sagely. "How about we start now? I'll moderate this first session and perhaps the next few, but then after that, it'll be up to you two to continue it."
"I don't think we need a referee, Uncle," Katara said.
"Oh, so he's your uncle now, is he?" Zuko said with a sneer.
"Jealous?"
"Shut up. This is the worst truce I have ever taken part in."
"I can't argue with you there."
Iroh clapped his hands, his eyebrows twitching in annoyance. "That's enough, children. Katara, why don't you start?"
Katara clasped her hands on her lap and focused her attention on Iroh. She was fully aware that Zuko was staring hard enough at her to bore a hole through her head but she refused to look at him. This would be easier if she pretended she was talking to Iroh and not the Fire Lord.
"The first time I realized I could bend water..."
Zuko groaned loud enough for her to hear and Katara swung her head towards him, shooting him a venomous look. He returned it in kind.
"The first time I realized I could bend water, I was five years old," she said in a louder voice. "I was fishing with Sokka not too far from our house and he was having trouble bringing his catch to shore. So I stood up and called the water to me."
"Did you get the fish?" Iroh asked.
Katara bit her lip. "Not exactly. Sokka almost fell into the sea because the wave I bended was a little...big."
Zuko snorted out a laugh but Katara deliberately turned her head away from him.
"Your turn, Zuko," Iroh prompted.
"My favorite color is red."
This time it was Katara's turn to laugh but she quickly stifled it with a hand. She hadn't meant to and it was an honest reaction to a slightly humorous statement. The look Zuko gave her was slightly puzzled, but a corner of his mouth curved up.
"Well," Iroh said, smiling. "That was easy, wasn't it?"
"That wasn't fair. I said a lot more than he did," Katara pointed out.
"But he still gave information."
"Still..."
"You didn't know I liked red, did you?" Zuko interrupted.
Katara eyed him in his scarlet robes, the red curtains behind him and the rust colored rug at their feet. It seemed as though he knew what she was thinking and his lips twitched suspiciously.
"No," she said slowly. "I don't supposed I knew that for sure."
"Excellent," Iroh said with another clap of his hands. "Tomorrow night, let's meet back here for another session."
"Are you adding the title of 'therapist' to your long list of accomplishments, Uncle?" Zuko said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Maybe," Iroh said, patting his ample midsection. "Maybe. Oh, before I forget, this exercise has one more stipulation: talk nice or leave the room."
"What?" Zuko said, frowning.
"If you want to ask questions, nice questions, feel free to do so, but if you feel like you're about to say something that would cause maids to peek their heads out of room or guards to reach for their weapons, just say goodnight and leave."
Katara nodded her head. "That's a good idea."
"We are in for a lot of short conversations," Zuko murmured.
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The next night...
"I once had to wrestle a penguin for a piece of jerky it stole from me."
"I got bitten by a turtle-duck."
"Good night."
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The night after...
"I wish I could wear pants all the time."
"Me, too."
"I have to go now."
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Two nights after that...
"The best birthday present I ever got was a boomerang because then I gave it to Sokka and now he can't leave the house without it."
"I'm not at all fond of that birthday present and I have the scar to prove it. Good night."
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The night after that...
"I don't like rice."
"I can't live without it."
"Then you can have my share."
"I'll be happy to take it...thanks."
"You're welcome. Good night."
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Three nights later...
"I accidentally ate a rock thinking it was another one of Toph's chicken surprises."
"How appropriate that it was a rock. I accidentally ate seal jerky thinking it was real food."
"I resent that."
When Katara started to leave, Zuko put his hand out.
"My favorite food is...elephant-whale steak," he said stiffly.
"Really?"
"Really. Good night."
"I'll...I'll tell the chef how to prepare it the way my mother did. You might like it. Good night."
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The night after that...
"I miss my family."
"Right now, so do I. I'll walk with you back to your rooms so I can see Lu Zuo before he goes to bed. Just promise you won't say anything."
"I promise. Truce?"
"We'll try that again."
When they made it to the nursery without incident, Katara considered it a momentous occasion. From the pleased expression on Zuko's face, she wasn't alone in that regard.
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Two weeks after the first night...
"I lost my slipper today and walked around with one shoe on without anyone knowing."
"In the summertime, I sometimes don't wear anything under the topmost robes."
Katara laughed, thinking to herself that his particular brand of dry humor suited him. Zuko smiled.
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The night after that...
"Where's Uncle?"
"He said we didn't need him anymore."
Katara considered that.
"I heard one of the maids say that I wasn't fit to work in the kitchen so how could I be an appropriate Fire Lady. I bended the tomato juice she was carrying and poured it down her dress."
Zuko frowned. "Who was it?"
"I took care of it."
Zuko considered that.
"Fine. I heard one of the soldiers say that I wasn't half the Fire Lord my father was and I had him sent to the North Pole for extensive training."
"Do you hear things like that often?" Katara asked, her brow furrowing.
"A few of my soldiers are in the arctic or the desert honing their skills," was his answer. "I've a favor to ask of you."
She tilted her head thoughtfully. "What is it?"
"Tomorrow, I'll be traveling to the city of Kitashi."
"Where the ore mines are."
He nodded, impressed with her knowledge. "Yes. There are reports that the governor is selling unrecorded ore to a Water Tribe merchant, the money going straight to the governor's pocket. I want you to come with me and tell me what you think."
"You want to know what I think?"
"In this case, yes. You've dealt with black market trade and I need your experience for this."
Katara nodded. "Alright. I suppose we might as well start using this alliance."
"I've always wanted to but I didn't want to be around you in confined spaces. You've got a sharp tongue and a smart mouth, Katara. You're quite possibly the worst ambassador I've ever had the opportunity to meet."
Where two weeks before, Katara would have fired back with her own missive, she merely smiled.
"Growing up with Sokka, I had two options: hit him until he stopped or fight back using his weapons. The hitting didn't work."
A corner of Zuko's lips quirked upward.
"It seems as though Uncle's therapy exercise has been helpful," he said, arching an eyebrow at her.
"Yes. I don't feel like throwing you into the sea as often as I did before."
"And I don't feel like throwing you to Azula."
Katara stood. "You have no idea how grateful I am for that. Good night, Zuko."
"Good night, Katara."