So let's see….a thank you to Kimberly T. and xxEchelonAtHeartxx for pointing out the oddity of Zuko and Toph having a staring match in the last chapter. Yeah. Like I said, sometimes I forget that Toph is actually blind. But, I've gone back and corrected said mistake, so if you're interested in reading the new part, by all means go ahead!
And a big welcome to Medusa'! I love getting new readers!
One more thing before we get on with the next chapter….the ending may seem a bit abrupt and random but…that's just what happened when I wrote it.
After that Zuko and Katara fell into a sort of routine when it came to instigating their "pause clause." Most of the time they called it into play when they were working together, for their tempers were easily ignited when attempting to deal with the Ambassadors from the other nations. Though Zuko was not ready to admit it out loud, he was eternally grateful for Katara's help. He wasn't sure he would have made it through his first year as Fire Lord without her.
But the pause clause didn't just apply to their professional relationship; they used it in their personal relationship as well. Mainly it was used when another member of the Gaang was getting on their nerves when they all managed to get together. It certainly helped Zuko when dealing with Toph, and it helped Katara a lot with Sokka.
There was only one instant where Zuko almost wished that he and Katara hadn't gotten into the habit of using it so often.
He was gathering the necessary things he would need for the Omashu Ambassador's send off when there was a knock on his office door.
"Come on in Mai," he called out, glad that she was early for once. "I just need to swing by my chambers to drop some stuff off and then we can go." He looked up, a smile on his face at finally seeing her after a busy afternoon. The smile quickly disappeared as he took in her appearance. "Mai, why aren't you dressed?"
Mai looked down at her normal training attire. "I am dressed."
"I meant why aren't you in your dress robes? Don't tell me you forgot about Ambassador Su's send off."
"Who?"
"The Ambassador from Omashu," Zuko replied patiently.
"Oh her. No, I didn't forget," Mai said evenly. "I'm just not going."
"What? Mai, you promised me you would come!" Zuko reminded her.
Mai merely shrugged. "I changed my mind. I can do that you know."
"I know you can, but you said you would go with me. You've already bailed on all the other send-offs, you can't bail on this one!"
Mai glared at him. "Why not? It's not like I really even need to be there. You're the important one."
"We've been over this Mai," Zuko said sternly. "This is one of the protocol things you need to learn. And it would be a really big help if you could this on days that I'm swamped. As future Fire Lady – "
"Oh please!" Mai scoffed. "You yourself said that day is years away. 'We can't marry until the Nation has recovered,'" she mocked.
Not this again, Zuko thought. "That's the truth Mai, I thought you knew that!"
"Well I still don't like it. I don't see why we can't get married now."
"Mai, you know why. We – " he stopped as his temper finally flared up. "Just…pause."
"What?"
"I need a pause," Zuko said. "If we continue with this conversation we'll both say something we don't mean. I need a pause, a break. It's something Katara and I do."
The look on Mai's face told Zuko that he had said the wrong thing. "Oh, well then why don't you ask Katara to go to the send off with you?" And with that she stomped out the door.
"Women!" Zuko shouted as he went after her. "Why can't they ever just – "
"Zuko?"
Zuko turned around to see Katara coming towards him. She took one look at him and knew.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Mai," Zuko said bitterly, gesturing down the hallway in the direction she had gone. "She bailed again on the send off. And then we argued about why we can't get married now. Again. She knows that she'll be Fire Lady one day, yet she refuses to start learning about her duties. She won't take on that responsibility and she is so infuriating…I don't even know why I'm still with her!"
Judging by the look on Zuko's face, Katara knew she didn't have to say it, but she did it anyways. "Pause."
She refused to acknowledge the small flutter her heart seemed to give at his words.
"I…" Zuko struggled for words.
"…should get going; you don't want to be late for Ambassador Su's send off," Katara told him.
"Right," Zuko said with a firm nod, getting himself in focus.
"But Zuko…I'm here. You know, if you ever need to talk," Katara said softly.
Zuko looked at her, searching her eyes for…something. "I know."