Chapter Nine
Katara stared out of the train car. In the South Pole, anywhere one looked, it was nothing but snow and ice. She loved the serenity of it, the hush of the land of her birth. In contrast, the panorama outside her window was anything but serene. Her blue eyes wide, all Katara could think was that it was so...alive.
Houses and buildings dotted the landscape with the occasional break for a field or farm. Children leaned on the fence that kept them away from the train tracks and they waved as the train sped by. On the roads parallel to the tracks, there were carts and bicycles, people and animals going to and fro. There didn't seem to be an end to the activity even though the sun was halfway below the horizon.
In the seat across the aisle, Zuko didn't seem concerned with what was happening outside the train. Dressed in a simple tunic and pants, he would have looked like a regular traveler if not for the crown in his ponytail. It was a relief to see him in something else besides his robes and he even moved a little more freely, as if the robes had been restricting his movements. His head was bowed as he read pages and pages of documents, what Katara assumed were reports about Kitashi. His brow had been furrowed for almost the entire train ride and she had to bite her tongue to keep from telling him that he was going to get wrinkles.
The truce between them was holding but it was a fragile one. She could see him silently censuring himself and she often found herself doing the same. It was getting easier and easier to do and they were able to have longer conversations without snapping at each other. That still happened but with less frequency and Iroh had been smug when told of their trip to the Kitashi.
It had also become very obvious to Katara that since she'd stopped arguing with him, things had become more peaceful. She was ashamed of herself, but not completely apologetic for her actions. There was enough of a stubborn streak in her to help her justify her behavior—she just wasn't going to advertise the fact she picked fights with the Fire Lord any time soon.
"Stop staring at me," Zuko said without looking at her.
"I'm not staring," Katara said, turning her attention back to the view outside her window.
She heard a rustle of paper and the air next to her stirred when he put a stack on the empty seat at her side.
"Read up," he said shortly and after a beat added, "Please."
Appreciating the gesture, Katara decided not to tell him she'd already read the reports, having asked Iroh to sneak them out to her. She hadn't wanted to go into this without the proper information and thought she would be doing Zuko a favor by being prepared. He would have probably found it hard to believe, but she was a good negotiator and was capable of holding her own, even in a room full of Fire Nation officials.
"I've heard of this Water Tribesman," she said, cupping her chin in her hand as she read. "Koga the Merchant. He became famous a few years ago because it was learned that he was hiding a great deal of his income so he wouldn't have to pay taxes to my father."
"What was his punishment?" Zuko asked.
"His house," Katara answered and even to her own ears, it didn't sound like enough. "He's been good about his taxes since then."
"Yes, but he's found other ways to maintain his rich lifestyle."
"What's the story behind Governor Zi?"
"He lost two sons in the war and the third lost a leg in the last battle. He believes that the death of my father was the death of the Fire Nation he loved. He has written several formal letters of complaint about my policies and welcomes my sister to Kitashi as if she is the messiah."
"And he has two daughters, the oldest of which he wanted you to marry but you didn't," Katara murmured.
"There's also that slight," Zuko said with a nod. "It seems as though I am walking into enemy territory."
"He controls the biggest ore mine in the Fire Nation. How is he still the governor if he's not loyal to you?"
"His family's blood runs through the veins of those mines just as surely as the ore does. I didn't want to simply take away the man's birthright because he doesn't do as I say."
Katara started to ask why not, but she saw the stubborn set of his jaw and she was pleasantly surprised that he would risk this much for principle. She'd heard a few stories from Aang that had hinted at how much importance Zuko put on his principles, on his honor, but it was different to see it for herself. It was...impressive. She was finding herself impressed at least once a day by his actions, now that she'd stopped fighting him long enough to notice.
"What would you like me to do?" she asked.
"Listen and give me your impressions of him. I need another set of ears in situations such as this. You haven't come this far just because your father is the chief. You're smart and I want to use that to my advantage."
"You make me sound like an ink brush or something," she said dryly.
He looked startled then gave her a look. "I didn't mean it like that."
"I'm kidding, Zuko."
"I got that," he sighed, leaning back in his seat tiredly. "We'll be there in an hour or two and we'll have dinner with him and his family. Do you remember his wife?"
"Vaguely. A short woman, a little on the heavy side. She actually didn't behave too badly but their daughters are...shrill."
Zuko made a face. "That's an understatement," he said distastefully.
"I'm very flattered you chose me over them."
At that, he smiled reluctantly. Katara tucked away her own smile and went back to the documents. She didn't think she could learn anything new but it wouldn't hurt to refresh her memory. She snuck a glance at Zuko and saw him staring out the window, lost in thought. His mouth drooped with exhaustion and there was a slight drop in the broad shoulders that told her that he was carrying a heavier burden than usual these days.
"What time do you usually get up in the morning?" she asked.
"Sunrise," was his short answer.
"What time do you go to bed?"
"When I've passed out at my desk. What's with the questions? Do I look too tired to be Fire Lord?"
Zuko angled the unmarred side of his face towards her, something she noticed he did without thinking about it.
"It would be a travesty if you looked well-rested," she said, noting the bags under his eyes and the lines on either side of his mouth. "But it wouldn't do if you dropped off at the dinner table either."
"Give me a little credit. I've been doing this a while."
"That doesn't mean you can keep going."
He frowned at her. "Are you nagging me?"
Katara's eyes widened. "Um..."
Zuko shook his head at her. "From trying to kill me with words to...well, trying to kill me with more words. Are you sure you haven't been hired by Azula to get rid of me once and for all?"
"You're so sure she wants you dead?" Katara asked, arching an eyebrow at him.
"As sure as the sun is in the sky," he said. "But that's the way it's always been between us and it's not going to change. She's learned restraint in the last couple years and when we're not at each other's throats, we can get a lot done."
"Why not just marry her off to one of these governors' sons and strengthen your rule?"
"None of them are stupid enough to take her," Zuko said with an unpleasant smile.
Katara chuckled. "If this were the Water Tribe, there'd already have been a trail of bodies behind her."
"Is that so? I understand that in the Water Tribes, arranged marriages are the norm," Zuko said conversationally. "Does that mean you can force a woman to..."
His words trailed off. Katara shifted uncomfortably in her seat and angry words threatened to escape her lips, but she swallowed them, considered it a huge step that she didn't choke on them.
"I suppose it does mean that," Zuko continued, turning away from her again and effectively ending the conversation.
Katara looked down at the papers in her lap and didn't raise her head until the train finally came to a stop at Kitashi. She looked outside and saw that the governor must have sent half the city to greet them.
"If this is how they greet you, who comes out for Azula?" she asked with wide eyes.
"The entire city," Zuko replied as if he'd read her mind.
A valet came with a cloak and before Zuko even took a step, the cloak was thrown over his shoulders and held together with a clasp that had his personal seal. She straightened her own long tunic and pants, and started to reach for her jacket, but was surprised to see a valet holding it out for her. When she was zipped up, she looked up at Zuko to find him looking right back down at her.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Of course."
He smiled in that way he had when he smelled a victory ahead. To Katara's surprise, he offered her his arm and after a beat, she slid her hand in the crook of his elbow. He strode forward and she had to quicken her steps to keep up with him. She was sure he'd have no problem dragging her behind him if she didn't pick up the pace.
There was a rousing cry at the sight of the Fire Lord that faded to puzzled surprise when they recognized Katara.
"Oh, I must have forgotten to tell them you were coming," Zuko muttered as they walked underneath the raised spears of the honor guard.
Katara's practiced smile wobbled as a laugh bubbled up inside her. "Very professional, Fire Lord."
The governor stood at the end of the line of soldiers and Katara saw his wife giving a maid hurried instructions. Governor Zi was as portly as his wife but towered over her. From where she stood, Katara could see his dislike of the Fire Lord. He looked at Zuko much in the same way...well, in the same way Zuko used to look at her and her brother; a sort of arch snobbery that only the wealthy could perfect. Still, both the governor and his wife bowed at the waist, almost parallel to the ground, when Zuko and Katara stopped in front of them.
"Fire Lord Zuko," Governor Zi said in a booming voice. "Welcome to Kitashi. And Lady Katara, welcome. We are honored that you have graced us with your presence."
"Governor Zi," Zuko said.
"Thank you for having us, Governor," Katara added in sweeter tones. "It was kind of you to make time from your busy schedule to greet us."
Zi looked surprised at her honeyed words and judging from the tensing of Zuko's arm, he was reacting in the same way—though Katara doubted he looked it.
"There is no emphasizing just how important a visit from the Fire Lord is," Zi said, recovering. "It's our pleasure."
"Please follow me, my Lord, my Lady," Zi's wife Ke An said with another bow. "We've prepared out best carriage to take you to the governor's residence."
Zuko nodded at her and with Katara practically skipping next to him, he went directly to the carriage. Katara had to stop from glaring at his retreating back and didn't expect the hand he held out to help her into the carriage. She took it and was hauled unceremoniously in. The door shut behind her and shooting a glare at Zuko, she settled down on the seat opposite him, straightening her tunic.
"Charming," she snarled.
"You said enough for both of us," he shot back. "I asked for another pair of ears, Katara, not a simpering acolyte. You're going to be the Fire Lady. You don't have to kiss their butts."
"I wasn't kissing their butts! That's how you greet people who go through a lot of trouble to make you comfortable."
"I don't remember getting the sweetness treatment when you got here and that's not how we do it in the Fire Nation. They're supposed to go through that much trouble because of who we are and they don't need to be rewarded for it."
They glared at each other.
"Zuko, that is my style," Katara said deliberately. "Let me be."
"Fine, but if you go around sprinkling sunshine on my subjects, it'll be as if I'm doing the same because whatever you do reflects on me."
"You should be so lucky."
"TRUCE."
Katara nearly jumped out of her seat and she gaped at him. Zuko looked just as surprised as she felt at his outburst.
"Do you think they heard that?" he asked unguardedly.
"No, but I think we've come up with another way to...um...get along."
Zuko pressed his lips tightly together and Katara thought he was hanging on to his temper by a thread. Then she saw the suspicious glimmer in his eyes and she tucked away a smile.
"Just try not to yell next time," she added.
"Yeah," he mumbled.
"And I don't sprinkle sunshine."
On that point, he stayed silent.