Ch. 17
The day of the tournament was nearing and people were starting to arrive. Ships began docking and Hakoda, Katara, Sokka and Kanna were there to meet them when they arrived. One large ship from the northern water tribe came bearing young men, bending and non, eager to compete for the water princess's hand and a title for themselves. They would greet first Chief Hakoda, then Gran-Gran, Sokka and then would try to make a good first impression with Katara.
She wiped her hand off on her coat after one guy thought he was being suave by giving her a slobbery kiss on the hand, eyebrows waggling in what he assumed an attractive manner. "Ugh. That's the third one." She muttered to her brother and Sokka just laughed.
"They're trying to make sure you don't forget them and leave something for you to remember them by. Get it?"
"Ya… I don't think I'll be forgetting anyone who practically licked my hand." She grumbled bitterly. He returned her frown with a grin.
After they were paraded past the ruling family, people of the tribe led them and their family members to their new living quarters. Katara slumped in relief as the last of them shuffled off.
"Look alive!" Sokka called and patted his little sister on the back in a sarcastic show of support and she glared at him. "Here comes another ship… or two."
"Here comes two smaller ones from the Earth Kingdom sir!" One of the sentries on the wall called down to Hakoda. Sure enough, two small ships with the earth kingdom emblems emblazoned on their sails came into view and Katara sighed as the long process of greetings started over again.
After a little over two dozen men from the earth kingdom, the King himself arrived. He was all alight with wonder in his heavy coat; one of his assistants was leading Bosco the bear on a leash behind him.
"Oh Chief Hakoda! Bosco and I are so very glad to be here to observe the festivities!" He gushed and Bosco let out a content sound in agreement.
Hakoda eyed the bear and then the king a moment, turned to his children and Sokka shrugged before he responded warmly. "It's our pleasure to have you and Bosco here King Kuei. I'm glad you could take time out of your busy schedule." He motioned one of his men forward. "Please make sure that the king is very comfortable in Kima's house. We've fixed it up just for you." Hakoda assured him. The king nodded and followed the water tribe man.
Sokka's stomach growled audibly. "So hungry." He moaned.
"We'll stop for lunch." Hakoda announced. "See what's cooking in the communal kitchen." The meeting hall had been converted to a giant kitchen and dining hall. Sokka eagerly led the way, but Katara took her time. Going into a prime gathering place for all her suitors didn't seem ideal. She still wasn't feeling up to the idea of being courted. That wound was still healing.
She snuck around to a side door and popped her head in. The men, their families and quite a bit of her own tribe had gathered and were seated at the long benches, now pushed to face each other with stone tables (thanks to Haru) in between. They were excitedly chatting and she figured she might be safe sneaking to the banquet tables set up on stage. She grabbed a bowl and was headed for the pot of stewed sea prunes when a cocky guy in earth kingdom green leaned against the table between her and her food.
"Hey." He said flashing her a grin and crossing his arms. "I'm glad the rumors are true. They told me the southern water tribe princess was a looker." He tossed his hair out of his eyes, oozing confidence. "Friends call me Tai, but I'm sure pretty soon everyone will be calling me the winner."
Katara sighed, already sick of the confident, testosterone laden males that had been appearing all day long. "That's great Kai." She said intentionally getting his name wrong. She spotted Haru making his way towards her. "But you're going to have a lot of competition."
Unphased by being called the wrong name, he continued. "From these boys?" He scoffed. "Which one is going to pose a threat, hm?"
"I am." Was Haru's simple reply.
With an irritated look, he turned into a wall of solid Haru chest and Katara watched his eyes get big as he scanned up to Haru's face and smug look. Tai quickly tried to recover his composure and cocky confidence.
"Oh ya?" He squeaked and abruptly cleared his throat. "Guess we'll just have to let the battle field and the princess decide. Right princess?" Any swagger he had managed to regain was quickly quashed as he looked around to find that Katara had disappeared.
He turned back slightly startled to see Haru smirking again. "I guess we will."
Sullen, Tai walked off without further comment. All the posturing had been for Katara's benefit, but she was no longer there to see any of it. Haru had watched her flash him a grateful smile and make a hasty retreat and he had been careful not to track her with his eyes. Once Tai had disappeared Haru exhaled and started gathering a couple of plates of food nodding to some of the villagers as he slipped out the side door Katara had come in from.
Slowly Haru made his way to the hut he shared with Hakoda's family. As he walked in he saw Katara prodding the coals in the fire pit and she looked up, smiling at his appearance and he set a plate before her before settling down with his own.
"Thanks. For the food and getting rid of that guy."
"No problem." He took a bite and chewed in silence as Katara starting eating hers too. "Were they all like that?" Haru asked, eyebrow cocked and a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"No, fortunately most of them were nice or nervous. Only a handful were like that idiot."
"Good. Katara…" He had that serious look with the pained glint in his eye that meant he wanted to talk about 'them'. "Katara." He started again and she fidgeted uncomfortably. "I'm going to win this, for you. I won't let any of those jerks win." He clasped her hand.
"Haru." She sighed but let him keep her hand. "It doesn't matter who wins, I still get to choose."
"But it matters to me. I want to prove myself to you."
"Haru." She said pulling away."You don't have to prove yourself. You're a great friend."
The last word made his eyes crinkle in pain. She knew it hurt him to hear, but she still wasn't sure of her own feelings; unwilling to trust her heart anymore. "I'm sorry." She mumbled.
He forced a smile. "I just want to be there for you." He said running a thumb across her cheek.
She leaned into his hand, "Why are you so good to me? Why do you hang around? I'm so unfair to you."
"Because I really care about you. I just want you to be happy." He gently raised her chin until their eyes met and he slowly leaned in, testing to see if she'd pull away, but she kept his gaze and stayed put.
"Katara!" Sokka burst into the hut and they quickly jumped apart, Katara blushing and Haru sighing heavily. Sokka too excited to notice his interruption barreled ahead. "Aang, Suki and Toph are here! Come on!"
"Coming." She stammered, grabbing her parka and quickly following Sokka into the dimming light of the evening.
Katara rushed outside following her brother and sure enough, Appa was visible in the nearby distance. She was relieved to see familiar faces after the waves of suitors. Haru slowly appeared at her side and watched her smiling face as Appa set down a few feet away and Momo shot out of Aang's robes and scuttled into Sokka's jacket causing him to scream and flail.
"Hi guys!" Aang bounced over to them as Suki helped Toph down.
"Hey Aang." Sokka greeted him with some inane secret handshake and they broke apart laughing.
"Katara."
"Aang!" She rushed in and gave him a hug. Haru knew that Aang was here as a spectator and not a contestant. He had been in love with Katara, but he knew he'd missed his chance when Zuko came into the picture and even now, he was thoroughly friend-zoned, but they were still close.
"Aang." Haru greeted him once he was released.
"Haru." He said taking his offered hand. "It's good to see you again."
Haru opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by Sokka. "Suki!" He yelled running across the snow to scoop her up in an enthusiastic hug.
"Ugh…" Toph made a disgusted sound as she skirted around the two love birds. "The only good thing about being forced to wear these boots, even if the bottom is thin, is I couldn't see that clearly." She grumbled but was quickly trapped in an embrace from Katara.
"Toph!"
"Woah! Easy sugar queen!" Grinning Katara released her and Toph trudged over to Haru and slugged him in the arm. "Hey-ya Haru."
"Ow…" he grumbled rubbing his arm. "Hi Toph."
"How are you feeling Katara?" Suki asked, slowly making her way over, arm linked with Sokka's.
"Well…" She hedged and gave her a worn smile. Suki looked worried and Aang watched her curiously. "Let's go in and get some tea." Katara turned while she and Haru led the way back while a couple of villagers took Appa to the stable. Inside they settled on the cushions around the fire; Sokka and Suki sitting closely together and Toph as far away from them as possible.
"So what's it been like?" Aang asked but Katara was busy filling the tea pot and arranging things so Sokka chimed in.
"Crazy. We've been so busy, but it was worth it to see the look on Katara's face whenever some guy slobbered all over her hand!" He laughed.
"What nations have come in so far?" Suki asked from Sokka's side.
"Water and earth." Haru replied. Katara settled the kettle on a hook over the flames before taking her seat next to him.
"All that's left is the fire nation and they're expected tomorrow." Sokka added.
"Is… you know… Zuko, coming?" Aang ventured warily.
Katara froze and Haru patted her knee.
"I don't know." Sokka mused stroking his chin.
Suki was watching Katara's stiff demeanor. "Katara… if you don't mind my asking… what happened?"
"You know, I've wondered that myself." Sokka said suddenly looking suspiciously at Katara.
Katara tensed, all kinds of emotions boiling under the surface. "It's a long story." She said dismissively and Haru nodded in silent support.
"We've got time." Aang said sitting at attention, watching Katara eagerly.
"Bad idea twinkle toes." Toph muttered feeling/seeing the tension rolling off Katara and hearing it in her voice.
"You don't have to." Suki reassured her.
"Yes she does! I want to know what happened between my sister and that guy." Sokka interjected bluntly. Suki wanted to warn Sokka that Katara wasn't comfortable with the subject but she'd been dying to know herself what had happened.
Katara exchanged a long look with Haru. "Fine." The kettle shook a bit from the force of that one word. Sokka and Aang were oblivious but Haru and Suki looked at the kettle and then Katara and Toph scooted back a bit. "Do you want to know what happened?" She asked maliciously her eyes flashing. Aang suddenly looked scared and Sokka gulped, finally eyeing the boiling kettle nervously. "I went to go get him same as always, but this time I found him in the arms of another woman." Everyone's eyes grew big and Haru shook his head. "And then he kissed Mai." The kettle iced over suddenly, frost glinting on the outside.
"He what?!" Sokka shouted and leapt to his feet pulling his boomerang out. "He cheated on my little sister?!" He yelled waving the boomerang around like a mad man. "I'll kill him!"
"Stupid sparky." Toph muttered, too upset for her friend to mock Sokka.
"Sokka." Suki said sternly and tugged him back down where he continued fuming and muttering different ways to gut and flay the scarred prince. "Katara, I'm so sorry." Suki whispered across the fire.
Aang looked shocked. "But… but he wouldn't do that." He sputtered.
"What?" Katara hissed, turning her angry glare on him.
He fidgeted uncomfortably. "But Zuko loved you. He wouldn't cheat on you."
"Are you calling her a liar?" Haru asked quietly, deadly intent in his voice as he stared calmly into the fire.
"No! I just… I don't understand."
"What's there not to understand?!" Sokka yelled disgustedly. "That fire jerk was kissing other girls!"
"It's just… he wouldn't do that…" Aang said meekly, trying to stand up for his friend.
"I saw it with my own eyes." Katara said sadly, fighting the tears starting to well.
"I'm sorry Katara. I didn't think he was capable of that." Aang apologized and Suki gave her a sympathetic smile and Toph sat there with an angry frown and her arms crossed.
"I'm going to, uh, go to bed now. Busy day tomorrow." Katara muttered and Haru got up and followed her to her room.
"You didn't have to tell them." He murmured softly into her hair as he pulled her into a warm embrace outside her door and away from prying ears and eyes.
"They were going to find out sooner or later." She muttered into his chest.
"Are you going to be okay?" He pulled back and looked down at her.
"Ya." She looked tired, but she was strong.
"Get some sleep." He said reluctantly letting her go.
"Night Haru." She said slipping into her room and she changed, burrowing under the covers and feigning sleep when Suki and Toph finally arrived to sleep in her room as previously arranged (Aang slept in Sokka's room). Katara knew sleep wouldn't come to her because tomorrow had the potential to be a very, very long day.
Sarahplainntall here. Sorry it took me sooooo long to update! I was in Jamaica on vacation and then a few days later, school started, but things are settling down. Not the best chapter, I'll admit, but leave me comments and ideas. I'm starting to get writers block.