Ch. 13

They had been flying for hours and Katara started to recognize the landscape below. It was the little earth kingdom village where they had first met Haru. She thought of the excuse she had given the guards. Well, she thought, maybe Haru would be interested in doing some stone work in the South Pole. It was the best she could come up with so she angled Appa down into the quiet earth bending village. Her tears had long dried, but she was sure she looked a weary mess, especially with the overly gracious welcome she received.

Someone went to fetch Tyro, Haru's father, the village leader.

"Katara." He gave her shoulder a friendly squeeze. "Please, come to my house. You look… tired. You can freshen up and my wife has just made some stew."

She smiled wearily. "That sounds wonderful. Thank you so much."

When they reached the little cottage, Haru's mother swept out to meet her with a hug. "Katara dear! How nice to see you again!"

"Thank you and you're looking so much better." The last time Katara had seen her was just after both her son and husband had been captured for earth bending. She had looked old and sad. Now the streaks of gray and the wrinkles around her eyes when she smiled just looked maternal and friendly.

"It's all thanks to you and your friends." She beamed at her. "Would you like to freshen up? The bathroom is just through here."

Katara was glad to have some quiet as she looked at herself in the mirror and grimaced. Her eyes were red and a bit puffy, her face was lined from the dirt and dust that had been smeared by tears and her hair wasn't staying in its usual braid. She washed her face and combed out her hair with her fingers, deciding to leave it down. Five minutes had made a major improvement and now her stomach was growling at the delicious aroma of dinner. "Mmm… that smells good." Katara said as she drifted back into the kitchen.

"Take a seat." She offered, bustling around the kitchen and set a bowl and hunk of bread before her.

"Thank you."

"It's the least I could do."

Katara ate with gusto; she hadn't eaten all day. As she was spooning out the last of her stew, she finally noticed something odd. "Where's Haru?"

"He got off from work in the mines about an hour ago, so if he's not there, or here, he's probably in the valley practicing his bending." His mother explained.

"I can show you where it is." Tyro offered.

"That's alright. I think I know where you're talking about. I could use a walk, stretch out my legs." She stood and reached to take her dishes to the sink, but Haru's mother was faster.

"I've got this dear. Go find my son." She said with a gentle smile and steered her out the door.

The sun was beginning to set and the air was cooler. Thoughts of Zuko's betrayal had tried to force themselves to the front of her mind and she stubbornly stuffed them back down, refusing to let them interfere with this peaceful moment. The village was quiet and she skirted it into the forest, pacing between the trees. They started to thin and the familiar sounds of rocks being shifted came to her. Just in the clearing up ahead was Haru. He looked as he had the last time she'd seen him, except maybe a little taller and older, it was hard to tell from this distance, but it looked like he had filled out, and had some more muscle she added mentally.

She didn't want to interrupt him, so she sat along the tree line and pulled her knees to her chest, arms wrapped around them, chin resting on top of her knees as she watched. Despite bits of dirt and chunks of rock being thrown about, there was something relaxing about his bending. There was a disciplined grace to his movements, something she had come to notice only in the better, more practiced benders. He was deeply concentrated as he coalesced rocks into boulders and then sent them hurtling. He manipulated the earth with an artistic beauty that only another bender could appreciate. She exhaled, finding peace watching him.

The next thing she knew she was diving to the side to avoid an onslaught of rocks flung at her. She gasped, wide eyed and grateful she had honed her reflexes so well as she stared at the broken trees she had been sitting amongst.

"Katara?" Came a startled response.

She looked up from her crouch and saw Haru tracking her wide eyed and frozen in the stance he had used to release his barrage. She gave him a short wave.

"I'm so sorry!" He called as more rocks fell from around him and he ran over. He kneeled next to her for she had sunk back down, shaking a bit from the adrenaline. "Are you alright? I didn't mean to… It's sort of just a habit… I'm so sorry." He reached out hesitantly to gauge her reaction but she waved him away.

"I'm fine. Just a little startled."

His emerald eyes darted over her, assessing. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Really, you gave me quite a shock. No one knows I practice out here, well, except my parents, but they usually announce their presence. I'm still a bit… jumpy."

"It's understandable. I didn't mean to interrupt." She put a hand to her knee, ready to stand, but he pulled her upright instead.

"So…" He asked bashfully. "How have you been?"

"Well…" her heart gave a leap. "I've been better."

"I don't doubt that." He said, eyeing the damaged trees.

She gave a strained laugh. "No, not that."

Haru just nodded. That was one of the things she liked about him, he didn't pry.

"What're you up to all the way out here?"

"Ah, yes." She struggled for a moment to remember why she was here, other than fleeing her problems. "I need an earth bender."

"What about Toph?"

"She's not exactly the visionary type." She said, waving a hand in front of her eyes.

"That's true." He said, giving her a broad smile.

"I need someone who can add a little, flare, to the South Pole. We've been redoing it since the end of the war, but it's all ice. Some of the buildings are made of stone and wood, but everything else is just too uniform. I was thinking about maybe adding some stone columns or walkways, or just anything really. It's all just white and blue."

"I don't know if I'm who you're looking for." He said skeptically.

"Well we can't know for sure unless we try." She said brightly. She found it easier to be cheery around Haru. He was just so serious; he practically made it mandatory to add her own touch of optimism "How about we try just making a simple stone pillar."

He raised an eyebrow, but with a quick motion, a perfectly formed pillar stood before them. Katara clapped excitedly. "Good! Now can you etch the water tribe symbol into the tops and bottoms?" Haru hesitated a moment. "Like this one." She whispered, pulling her mother's necklace out from behind her shirt, holding it out for him to see. He started to reach out to touch it, but withdrew his hand and leaned closer, nodding once. Another quick flourish and the symbols marked the flawless stone. Smiling, Katara reached up, having to almost stand on tip toe, brushing her fingers lightly over the engravings on the smooth surface.

"Perfect." Letting her hand run down the even stone she slowly turned to Haru. "You're what I'm looking for."

He frowned ever so slightly and she strode forward, putting a gentle hand on his upper arm. "Haru, you have an amazing talent and I'd be very grateful if you did some work back home."

Once again, he hesitated. "When?"

"As soon as we can."

He nodded, thinking it over. "Alright. How?"

He was so practical, it made her feel embarrassed at how rashly she had been acting.

"I figured we could charter a ship and travel south with the supplies."

"Okay. I'll have to go speak to my parents. When would you like me to meet you at the docks?"

Katara fidgeted. "See… that's the thing… I haven't gotten a ship yet."

"That's alright. If you get one from the docks nearby, it'll be easier to load it with the rock. You weren't planning on going there tonight were you? It's already almost dark. There's an empty lot where Appa could stay."

"Actually…"

"What?" He asked, looking at her suspiciously. This was not the water bender he was used to. She always had a plan, even if it was last minute. And she was always sure of herself.

"I kind of only borrowed Appa. I already sent him back to Aang."

Haru's eyebrows rose in surprise. The pieces were starting to fall into place. "Does he or Zuko know you're here?"

Her features darkened and her voice came out choked. "No." He gave her a concerned look. "I left a message with the stable men in the fire nation. They know I'm away on business and will be home as soon as I can."

He wanted to ask what was going on, but he held his tongue. "Alright. Come on." He started walking back through the trees. "You can stay the night and we'll go to the docks in the morning."

She looked relieved and followed him. "Thank you so much Haru. You don't know how much this means to me."

They had left early that morning for the docks. She had stayed the night in Haru's bed as he had offered it to her chivalrously and taken the small sofa in the living room. It had been a restless night, unable to sleep with the image of Zuko in another woman's arms, so it was a relief when Haru's mother gently knocked at the door, giving her reprieve from her nightmares. After a warm meal, Haru, Tyro and Katara set off for the docks. Between Tyro's influence as village leader and Katara's new world renowned status, it was easy to get a ship that day bound for the South Pole.

Tyro, Haru and several earth bending villagers showed up to help load the cargo hull with several tons of stone. It was early afternoon by the time they were ready to launch and the heartfelt goodbyes made Katara's stomach churn. When the people onshore were out of sight, the captain of the ship showed them to their rooms and Katara was very relieved they were on the first floor below deck, near the stairs.

Katara and Haru spent the next few hours arranging their rooms and Katara was glad she had thought to grab her things from Appa for this journey by boat would be a long one. She hung her parka and other heavy clothes in the small closet and her casual wear in the drawers near her small bed. She froze in her digging in her bag as her hand brushed something unmistakably soft. She pulled it out and her pulse raced and she shut her eyes. It was the beautiful red silk dress Zuko had bought for her. She always wore it when she went to visit him in the fire nation. He loved the way she looked in it.

So many emotions flitted through her. She wanted to jam it back in the bag, tear it up, throw it overboard, weep into it… none of these would do any good. She was very stubbornly trying to steal herself against any emotion towards Zuko. Stiffly, she hung it in the very back of the closet. She wanted to keep her hands, and her mind busy, but she was done unpacking. Fresh air, that was what she needed. She climbed the steps and strode on deck. She found Haru leaning against the railing, staring out across the water.

"Hey." She called softly, getting his attention.

"Hey." He looked her over before slowly turning his back to the ocean, leaving an open invitation for her to join him.

"Whatcha doin?" She asked, lightly placing her hands on the rail.

"Just thinking."

"Missing home already?" She guessed.

He gave a shrug. "It's been a while since I left."

Feeling guilty, she looked away, watching the water. She hadn't really needed his help, just an excuse. "You didn't have to come." She said quietly, the pain of rejection rubbing on her raw emotions she was fighting.

He must have sensed her sulkiness. He turned, catching her eye and giving her a reassuring smile. "I wouldn't have come if I didn't want to."

She nodded; trying to let those words make her feel better.

He wanted to ask her if she was okay, but if she wanted to talk about it, she would. So he changed the subject. "Did the captain say how long he thought it would take?"

She turned to him, glad for a new topic. "Good weather permitting, somewhere around three weeks."

"And what're we supposed to do for three weeks?" He joked.

"Well…" She said with a teasing smile pulling at her lips. "We could work on the plans for the south pole, play pai sho, spar…"

"Spar?" He scoffed.

She felt a bit affronted. "What's wrong with that?"

"Well…" He seemed genuinely surprised this had upset her. "What's the point?"

"It's fun. You get to learn new techniques and stay in shape and ready."

"Ready for what?" He asked confused.

Her enthusiasm died. Ya ,a voice in her head mocked, what's the point? "I don't know…" She let her shoulders slump and she folded her arms atop the rail, resting her head on them feeling depressed again.

Concerned by the mood shift Haru offered, "Well if you think you can beat me."

She shook her head. "Nah, forget it. It was a dumb idea anyway."

He wanted to lay a heavy, calloused hand on her shoulder, but refrained. "I'm sorry Katara. I don't always think about what I say."

She was startled by his easy admission of guilt. Sokka was happy to argue his point and Zuko just went into an angry defensive mode. This however, was something she hadn't expected and left her unarmed. "It's okay." Came her dazed reply and she couldn't help returning his hopeful smile.

A few days had passed and several sleepless nights for Katara. There had been several games of pai sho, but the days seemed to drag, especially when the conversations were nothing but shallow banter. She had liked that Haru didn't pry, but you could only talk about the weather and the olden days so many times. Maybe sharing the burden of what she'd seen would lighten it and allow her to sleep. Still she managed to keep putting it off.

She asked the captain for some paper and he was happy to oblige, so Katara spent the rest of the week with Haru, sketching elaborate plans. Katara wasn't much for drawing, though far better than her brother, but Haru seemed to have a knack for surprisingly artistic things, like carving the pillars. She described the architecture of the South Pole and Haru drew it in breathtakingly realistic detail.

"Haru," She said in the middle of one of their design sessions. "Have you ever drawn before?"

"Well… not really." He sat the pencil down. He had just finished sketching the room and furniture for the main meeting hall where business could be conducted in comfort and style.

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing." He said a shade too quickly and resumed adding little details here and there to his sketch.

"No really," she said, scooting her chair closer to his. "What have you drawn before?"

He looked uncomfortable and she put a hand over his to still his drawing. "Please?" She implored, her blue eyes, big, round and pleading. He huffed in defeat, dropping the pencil once more.

"Just stuff. Animals, family, friends…"

"Does anybody else know?"

He shook his head sternly. "No."

"Why not? These are really good." She shuffled through the pages of blue prints.

"It's just something I do in my spare time." He seemed embarrassed, but she wasn't relenting.

"Do you have any of your other work with you?" Her eyes were shining in excitement.

He wanted to shake his head no, but he couldn't lie to her. "In a journal."

"Can I see?" She was practically begging.

He hesitated. "Why?"

She smiled at him. "You're very talented Haru. An excellent bender and friend. I don't know a lot about you and maybe seeing this other, still very talented side of you will let me get to know you better." He frowned. "You're a tough person to get to know. You're always so… closed off."

He sighed in defeat. "Wait here."

She nodded excitedly, beaming at the reluctant earth bender.

It was very quiet after he left and Katara could hear the pipes rattling behind the walls. The small room seemed stuffy and she imagined the room at the bottom of the ship, rather than just a spare room with some tables and chairs just a few doors down from Haru's room, right across from hers. A familiar and hated sense of panic started coming to her, and her heart raced at the sound of heavy footsteps on the metal floor approached. She gripped the edge of the table till her knuckles turned white, wishing she had her water canteen with her.

The door opened and Haru stood in the doorway, looking down at a small leather bound book. A breath escaped Katara she hadn't realized she'd been holding and her nerves calmed. She extricated her fingers from the table's edge before he could see.

Haru looked up and cocked an eyebrow in question at her frazzled state. She went for nonchalance with a shrug. "You startled me."

Accepting, but not believing, he sat down heavily in his chair and dropped the journal in front of her with a low thud. She exhaled again, calming herself as she smiled gratefully at Haru. She lifted the tattered cover and gasped, her eyes roving over the notebook. The first page was an exquisite landscape with trees and a bubbling stream with turtle ducks swimming around. She held her breath, barely touching the paper, afraid she would damage it as she took in the wonder and beauty of the scene. Light danced through in dappled patches through the thick foliage, the shadows stretching and every individual piece of grass bowed gently by an invisible wind.

She tore her eyes from the picture to the stoic man staring pointedly at the wall. "Haru." She whispered her voice breathy. "This is absolutely amazing." His cheeks colored a bit.

"It's nothing really." He muttered and reached out to take the sketchbook back, but she swatted his hand away, eager to see more. Haru grunted and sat back in his chair, arms folded over his chest. She turned the page and the next featured Tyro, he was bending an enormous boulder. Katara could make out the lines of hard muscle under the shirt he wore and his jaw was set, strong and square, she glanced over at Haru seeing the resemblance. There was a gleam in his eye, denoting a strong, restrained strength. She had seen Tyro like this before when he was fighting for his freedom both on the prison ship and again at the day of the black sun.

Intrigued she turned the page. The next sketch was of his mother. It was done at a closer range, from her shoulders up. She looked as she always did. He had managed to capture the warm smile, the motherly concern in her soft, lined eyes. Where she had seen Tyro in the peak of strength and protection, his wife was the depiction of a caring mother.

The next page was interesting. It was of the village, but the view was obstructed by leaves and branches, as if it had been drawn while hiding in a tree, capturing unsuspecting villagers. She could just picture Haru lounging on a bough in a tall tree, drawing the people below. The thought brought a grin to her face.

She was surprised the next one pictured Aang perched atop Appa and herself and Sokka in the saddle, smiling at her. She couldn't help but smile back. Next page Aang stood atop a cliff, gazing out across the landscape, staff in hand. She was mesmerized by the way he had drawn the light flowing over the Avatar and creeping across the landscape. A light wind was fluttering Aang's clothing. It looked just like him and she gingerly touched her penciled friend.

Katara had been frozen in an eternal laugh in the next picture along with Aang as a very distressed Sokka tried to remove a large eyed Momo from his face. She remembered that day and she giggled at the memory and the drawing.

The next one gave her pause. She was standing atop a pile of coal, her clothes streaked with dirt and a smudge on her cheek, but it was her expression that made her stop. There was a fierce determination, a strong confidence and oddest of all, she looked beautiful. She didn't recall feeling the way she looked as she rallied the earth benders. Angry, frustrated, hopeful and terrified, yes. She wondered at how Haru portrayed her, her long braid flowing in the breeze. Then she noticed that the surrounding image, like the rows of people at the bottom of the page were blurred, so your attention was brought to and stayed on her, the perfect symbol for a rebellion, hand held high, clutching a piece of coal. Her cheeks reddened. She hadn't thought she could over look this compelling and even alluring. She glanced up and caught him watching and gauging her reaction.

Shyly she asked, "Did I really look like that?"

He nodded slowly. "Ya."

"Wow…"

The next picture she had her hand to her throat, lightly fingering her necklace, her eyes were wide and swimming with emotion, seeming to stare right through her off the page. He had once again been able to manipulate the lines to make her look stunning.

"Is this the one from when we were talking? Just the two of us?"

"Yes."

"These are beautiful Haru. Really," She put a hand on his arm to substantiate her point. "You're really talented, and you've never shown anyone else before?" He shook his head. "Well, thank you then." He looked abashed and she gave his arm a quick squeeze. She flipped through a few more, admiring each. Near the end, her heart and stomach clenched. She stood next to Zuko, beaming happily, leaning into him looking blissful. What caught her even more off guard was Zuko's expression. His face was hard and pinched as it did when he was angry. He wore a dark scowl, the shadows on his face making him look even more severe. He looked dark, dangerous and angry, something she hadn't seen on him in a long time and it unnerved her to see him so realistically glaring at her. She swallowed hard, closing the notebook and sliding it across the table back to Haru.

"They're really good." She said around the lump in her throat.

He had watched her expression change drastically on the last picture. He wasn't the fondest person of the fire lord and he worried if the way he'd drawn him had upset her. They had been together for an awfully long time. "Are you alright?"

She nodded vehemently. "Ya, I'm going to go up on deck, take a break, get some fresh air…" She stood and stretched. "Wanna come with?" Her eyes were clear again and a small smile was on her face.

"Sure." He heaved himself up out of the chair and followed her out.

Sarahplainntall here. Thoughts? Hoped you liked it and the little twists of my own I give the characters. Review! And for those who do, you brighten my day and inspire me to write more and sooner.