Chapter 11

"We are right back where we started," Zuko sighed as they approached the gates to the palace. It was early. The sun was close to two hours away from breaking through the clouds so the streets were deserted. For that, Katara was grateful. Zuko did not need to be bothered.

"But we've gotten close. We just have to get Omashu now," Katara stated. She chose her words carefully so that she wouldn't set him off.

"That's the problem. I keep getting so close and each time that I do, knowledge of her whereabouts are instantly ripped away from me. I am positive that she doesn't want to be found."

Katara was walking behind the prince and noted the subtle way that his head lowered. If they did not find his mother soon, he would fall apart.

"What is going on?!" came an exclamation from above the pair. They both looked up, instantly tense and ready to defend themselves.

Katara's shoulders relaxed when she realized that it was just the acting Fire Lord. Aang had apparently leapt from a guard tower and was slowly descending on his ever-present cloud of air.

"The Temple was attacked," Katara spoke, "Let's discuss this more in the palace?"

"Of course, Katara. You will be surprised to see who has come to visit," Aang replied. A smile was on his face although he did notice the defeated nature of the Fire Lord. He gestured his arm in such a way that would signal the guards to open the gates.

"Who's visiting? Did Toph finally decide to leave the comfort and plush life of Ba Sing Se?" Katara questioned with a lift to her voice. She could not be overcome with sympathy for the man she loved. He needed her to be strong.

"No. Your brother's here."

The waterbender seemed to be able to hear every dew drop fall from one leaf to another at that moment, due to the silence following Aang's words.

Katara's overall demeanor seemed to brighten. Her shoulders lifted and she fought an involuntary smile.

She had not seen her brother in quite a long time.

"Welcome back, Fire Lord!" came a chorus from the current inhabitants of the breakfast hall.

Zuko was shocked to see five people, all definitely from the Sword Squad organization, already seated at the table.

While Aang was speaking to Katara regarding Sokka's visit Zuko had zoned out and was busy contemplating his mother's whereabouts.

There seated at the head of the table, in the Fire Lord's place, was Chief of the Southern Water Tribe.

Zuko looked over at the woman that he loved to see tears streaming down her face. He silently wondered how long it had been since Katara had seen her older brother.

A better question to ask would be: Why were these guys here?

Sokka stood up and Zuko stepped out of the way so that he and Katara could embrace.

"I've missed you little sister!" Sokka exclaimed while he platapus-bear hugged the water bending master.

"I've missed you too, Sokka but...why are you guys here? Are the other squad members spread out around the palace?"

"No, actually. It's just us four. Toph sent us here on a scouting mission to check up on things," Sokka said making sure to follow the careful instructions that he had been given by his military superior. He was to speak to Aang only regarding the rebellion of the Kyoshi Warriors and so he had.

"Ah. Yes, we encountered a few rebels on our short journey," Katara said as she took a place at the table.

"Yes, on our journey..." Zuko mumbled. He wondered what these men were actually up to. It wasn't like Toph to 'check up on things'.

"How are things going in Ba Sing Se?"

"Standard," Haru spoke up.

"Oh! Hi Haru!" Katara exclaimed. She hadn't even realized that the Earthbender was there.

Haru grinned, "Hello, Master Katara."

Zuko looked between the two, instantly curious about the exchange before mentally shrugging it off. Katara would have told him if there had been any type of serious love interest between them.

"So, no rebel outbreaks there?" questioned Zuko.

"A few; here and there. Nothing to be too worried about. Our major worry stems from what these rebels can do as a whole," Sokka explained, "which is why Toph sent us here to make sure they weren't getting out of hand… since we hadn't heard from the Fire Lord as of late."

Zuko shrugged, "Things were under control."

"So why'd we stop three groups of rebels from breaking into the palace just last night?" Haru said jokingly.

"Child's play," Zuko muttered with another shrug, "I'm going to my quarters. I trust that Aang still has everything in order as Fire Lord and he should be more than happy to act as your host during your stay. For now, I'm taking a break."

Everyone watched as the tired, injured Fire Lord left the breakfast hall.

"Katara, what happened at the Temple?" Aang spoke up, concern for Zuko written on his face.

"It was attacked by rebels. We were lucky to get out before it was completely overrun thanks to a few of their guards. I'm pretty sure that it was just a coincidence that we were there."

"The Hidden Temple was compromised? Its location is exclusive to the chain of command of every sect," Sokka exclaimed. The location of the Temple was not something that was just thrown around in casual conversation. He did not like the sound of all of this at all.

"So we all thought. I'm beginning to think that this rebel thing runs a lot deeper than we'd like to believe," Haru spoke. He had crossed his arms in contemplation. The rest of the sword squad nodded and mumbled their agreement. Sokka grimaced at the thought.

"I'm going to go check on Zuko and then I'm going to get a nap in. We've had a trying morning. I'll see you all later."

The others watched as the waterbender left the breakfast hall in pursuit of the scarred man. Sokka stared on knowing that this would be the last time that he'd see his sister in a while.

"Zuko?" Katara said softly. She had made her way right through his guards to get into the Fire Lord's bed chambers. They hadn't tried to stop her which gave her the slightest inkling that Zuko knew that she'd be visiting.

The curtains were thickly woven and down allowing for no light to sneak through. The only sources of light were the few low burning torches that lined the walls and a few candles that surrounded the washtub.

Katara blinked as her eyes adjusted to the dim room before finally seeing that Zuko was seated on the edge of his large, ornately carved four-poster bed without his shirt on. He looked as if he had been preparing for a bath.

"Are you all right?" she asked closing the double doors behind her.

Zuko nodded and stood up.

"I don't know why I let myself get so down. I should be used to all of these setbacks by now."

"No, you shouldn't. I would be surprised if you weren't upset," Katara replied as she stepped closer to the man. He looked away from her and she pulled his face towards hers.

He could not meet her eyes.

"How's your shoulder?"

"It still hurts."

Zuko winced as Katara prodded the arrow wound before saying, "Get in the bath and I'll heal you a bit more."

"I appreciate you, you know that?" Zuko whispered bringing his arms around Katara's trim waist. Their foreheads were touching. His eyes were closed while hers were open wide in surprise.

"…thanks? Zuko?" He was acting really strange, much unlike himself.

"I wouldn't be able to take it if you left me." There was a tone of finality to his voice. Zuko pushed himself away from Katara before pulling at his sash around his waist. Katara instantly closed her eyes and she heard his clothing drop, unceremoniously, to the floor.

"Katara, I don't care if you look but…I'm all covered now."

And so he was. The washtub was filled with soapy bubbles that smelled like morning.

"I downed an entire bottle of cactus juice right before you walked in. It was stupid and I thought that it would numb the pain but it seems to be having the opposite effect," Zuko explained while nonchalantly flicking at wayward bubbles.

He was hurting and she didn't know how to help. Katara's first instinct was to harden her emotions and to tell him to get over it and fight for what he needed. That was her tactic while she was aiding those villages. She couldn't do that with this man. He was falling.

She didn't know if she'd be able to pick him up. She didn't know how.

She walked over to the large washtub and sat on the edge. She positioned her hands on the arrow wound that Zuko suffered and began to work on healing him. She could not ignore how muscular and taut he felt beneath her touch.

He would be her downfall. And for some reason, she did not mind so at all.

"I am appreciative of you," Katara remarked after a few minutes had gone by.

Zuko snorted.

"I'm serious. While I was out there helping everyone, I had no purpose."

"What are you talking about?" Zuko turned around to face the woman, disbelief clear on his scarred face, "Of course you had a purpose. You were helping those who were less fortunate."

Katara offered a sad smile with a shake of her head. He was a beautiful man even with the scar and bloodshot eyes that happened to grace his features.

"But I wasn't helping myself. Spending time with you lately has made me realize that. Would you mind if I joined you in there?"

A look of shock overtook Zuko's face. The drunken Fire Lord backed up in the washtub to make room as Katara stood. Shaking, due to exhilaration, she grabbed onto her pants firmly and pulled at the sash. It seemed like slow motion as the pants slid down her legs leaving her sleeveless top and undergarments in place.

The waterbender looked up coyly. Zuko had closed his eyes respectfully. Katara was over it. They wanted each other, she knew, and she was sick of skirting around the topic.

She stomped over to Zuko's bed and began to rustle through the bed coverings. She lifted the pillows before crouching down to look beneath the bed. There was a gold mine.

Katara pulled out a bottle of refined cactus juice and uncorked it.

"What are you doing?" Zuko questioned, alarm outlining his words.

"Getting on your level. We're going to talk and I would like to be inebriated too while doing so," she explained nonchalantly before tilting the bottle to her lips.

It didn't take long for the beverage of choice to begin to work its magic. It was a special mix flavored with fermented peaches making it easier to down. Of course, it would be fit for a king, or Fire Lord.

Zuko, ever so confused stared at the woman as she started to uncork another bottle.

Katara's tolerance for inebriating substances had definitely lowered while she was serving the world and just moments after she drank the first bottle she was drunk. It did not stop her from tilting the second bottle.

The Fire Lord did not know how to respond to this bizarre behavior and his lack of a response grew more intense when he noticed the tears that ran down the dark woman's face. He reached for his towel and seconds later he wore bottoms and was seated next to her on the floor.

"Why are you crying?"

"I don't know. I mean—I don't know how to help you find your mom or any evidence of her existence outside of this palace. I don't know how to find myself. And, I don't know how to live."

There was silence save for the fizzing bubbles in the washtub.

"Put down the bottle," Zuko stated firmly, sobriety coming to him quickly. This was ridiculous; the way that they were both acting.

"Zuko, I just want to forget everything."

The man stood up and walked over to the candles circling the washtub. He began to extinguish each one without the aid of firebending.

"Even me?" was his woeful reply.

x

Please forgive me for taking SO incredibly long to post another chapter. Before I knew it, time had gone by.

Enjoy; please leave feedback.