At sunrise, Ika woke Katara to join Zuko's daily meditation on the roof. If she had been too tired to observe him beyond keeping one eye cracked open in case of an attack yesterday, then today she was on the verge of tears. She wanted to nap, spirits damn it. She busied herself with creating mini ice sculptures out of proper fresh water while a candle—who lit a candle outside in this season? Zuko of course—flickered with wild abandon between them. Every ounce of energy and three cups of caffeinated tea courtesy of Ika were sacrificed to in a deeply-focused endeavor to keep her eyes trained on the horizon.

Katara did not look at him. Not one bit.

Though she was lucid enough to wonder how the man managed to survive on granules of sleep if he was Fire Lord-ing during the day and running around as the Blue Spirit at night.

Perhaps she was wrong—and the Blue Spirit figure she saw was indeed an intruder that she let go.

It's not possible. What are the chances of a guy running around with a Blue Spirit mask dodging the guards on patrol? It has to be him…

Zuko inhaled. On his exhale his voice pitched. "Katara—"

"If you ask me if I'm okay at this hour I will throw a water bomb at you."

"I was going to say that Councilor Bengwa was impressed with the stipend proposal for healers in rural villages."

She granted him a quick look. A millisecond, at most. "That's nice."

"Aren't you happy?"

"I'd be happier if I was sleeping."

"Let's get some tea in you." He sounded apologetic. "I'll meet you outside our chambers."

Our chambers. Also funny. She added it to her mental notes next to 'he's all yours' and 'doesn't let anyone touch his face except you'.

At least her Silent Disavowal Against Bureaucracy Turned Loud After a Spat (hah!) With a Noble ended after today. Zuko slipped an already opened letter from Toph alongside a cup of tea in her hands as he made his way to the head of the dining table in a move Milo stiffly objected to.

"Inform me if you desire tea," the attendant sniffed quietly into her ear.

"...Okay." She unfolded the letter.

"The Fire Lord already serves his subjects with his life. He is not a common waiter."

Katara smiled at the memory of Zuko handing out tea in Iroh's tea shop in their first post-war gathering. To spare Milo from a heart attack, she decided to gloat about Zuko's humility another day, reading as she sipped on her tea.

Sparky,

Glad you remembered I can't read. Obviously it's me writing and not my trusty assistant.

Sorry to hear someone's trying to kill you again. Sounds dangerous. By the time you get this I'll have boarded your balloon (you owe me six months of being carried for willingly putting myself on one.)

I think I know who one metalbender is. My Academy's out of session right now but two months ago Sneers had to return home early. Said family reasons or something, I personally think he was tired of getting his ass kicked. His uncle is from Yu Dao.

The description of the girl doesn't sound familiar. Some idiot from my school must have taught her.

See you soon. If you die before I get there I'll haunt you forever.

Toph

Sneers. Now why did that sound—

Longshot, Pipsqueak, The Duke, Smellerbee. Sneers.

And Jet.

Sneers had been one of the Freedom Fighters, one Katara barely noticed him at the time. Compared to his compatriots, there was nothing of note about him beyond a man bun and broad figure. She hadn't known he was an Earthbender, much less a metalbender—and now she felt betrayed too, because the other Freedom Fighters had fought with them on the Day of the Black Sun.

Why would Sneers ally with whatever group wanting Zuko dead? He of all people should be on Zuko's side!

She let the letter fall out of her grasp. She and the other guests sat further down the table as this was a casual meeting with Councilor Bengwa, one she knew Zuko hated as he preferred mealtimes to be just that, mealtimes, and in the vein of assessing the truth of Ty Lum's statement on there being plenty of 'lookers' in the palace, ignored him.

So, she kept her eyes on Hoko, who sat across from her. Small beard, blue eyes. A classic Watertribesman all around. If she squinted and rubbed her eyes a bit and indulged in some spiked tea, he could be attractive.

"Is there something on my face, Lady Katara?" Hoko looked up from his bowl of congee. He too looked supremely irritated to be awake at this hour.

She picked up her spoon. "Not at all, Ambassador Hoko. Though I suppose after my defeat yesterday I need to refresh some techniques. Care to spar?"

The Ambassador ducked his head. "I'm afraid not."

And that was that. Zuko would ask, are you okay and why aren't you finishing your food, does it not taste good? Because he was nice and took care of people. Except he was busy right now, and he was saying something amazing to Councilor Bengwa about accessibility to healthcare that she vigorously agreed with, so she turned to Aang, who was settling into a seat next to Piandao.

"Morning!" he chirped to their end of the table.

Where have you been, she mouthed.

Ihsfijc owiejfwp, he mouthed back. Either he was terrible at mouthing words or she was terrible at reading them.

Aang was cute. Without a doubt she had been attracted to him while they dated. His face had been pleasant to look at, and it still was, except it did not ever have that shimmery glow Zuko's visage hadn't taken off since their sparring match.

"Offering stipends would improve the quality of care. In fact, Healer Joru and Master Katara conducted a survey…" Zuko was saying.

She stared harder at Aang. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Is there something on my face?" He laughed nervously, patting his shiny bald head. "I'm pretty sure I didn't miss a spot while shaving."

"Lady Katara seems extra exhausted today," Hoko offered by way of explanation. "It could be due to the female monthly affliction—"

No, not handsome even if she were to be inebriated on a barrel of Fire Nation mead. Hoko's tea suddenly found itself launched at its drinker.

"You need to work on your reflexes," she said.

Hoko scowled.

Uninterested in watching tea drip from his beard, she resumed her resolute study of Aang. "You look great," she affirmed, partly as a mantra.

It didn't work. No glowing, no giddy and glittery feelings inside.

"Thanks?" Her ex-boyfriend, her mind thought to remind her, stuffed his mouth with rice porridge. Piandao engaged him in general conversation, and Katara endeavored to find another pretty face to evaluate.

The dining room actually seemed sparse today. Unable to find other young men of marriageable age to observe, she noticed both King Kuei and his entourage's, and Lady Hina's, glaring absence. Lady Hina's father wasn't sitting with the nobles either. Technically, the mourning period lasted three days, and while Katara knew few were eager to complete a full ritual for a bastard like Ukano, she didn't think the nobles were so noble (two for two today!) that they would abandon feigning sorrow for him even on the threat of death. At least Zuko was sincere about his complicated feelings towards the man.

The meal finished with less fanfare. The smile on Zuko's face communicated success at whatever he negotiated with Councilor Bengwa, which he shared with Katara and Aang as they strolled towards the gardens. It was a cooler day today and she found the fresh air at this time, late morning and post-meal, to be much more amenable to a good mood.

The walk path was one that continued from the bridge and around the turtle-duck pond. Vibrant sakura trees offered a canopy over them, and startled sparrowkeets circled above as they tread what was, in Katara's opinion, the most beautiful place in the palace.

"She agreed to a temporary extension of the free clinics for two seasons," explained Zuko. "If the stipends create enough interest for healers to stay long-term, she'll abandon total dismantlement."

She smiled. "That's great news."

"I told her the initial idea came from you once she approved it."

The group came to a stop. A gentle breeze rustled the blossoms into swaying. From a long tree branch arching over them one fluttered downwards and came to rest over a prong of Zuko's crown. Unbidden she rose to her toes and collected it into her hand, all the while avoiding his gaze.

"Why would you do that? You're building Councilor Yang's case against me. The man already thinks I'm secretly running the Fire Nation."

"Maybe you are," he joked. She clutched the flower to her chest. "I couldn't take credit. My people should know how the world is putting into helping them."

"Er, guys."

Zuko and Katara turned.

Aang rocked on his feet. "Not to interrupt, but I have to tell you something." A long breath should have been enough warning about whatever he had to say, but she waited for him to continue. "Katara and I had this idea yesterday to snoop around, sorry, collecting intel. Most of the nobles actually agreed with Zuko's decision to hold Ukano for trial and are worried his murder means there's a rising rebellion. A new, New Ozai Society. Also, the kitchens use chicken-turtle eggs for their egg-pudding, not chicken-platypus eggs, which explains their tangy flavor."

"Aang," said Zuko.

"Anyway, I was taking a break on snoop—collecting intel when I was called to the Spirit World."

"Involuntarily?" Strong pulls to call him to the spirits seldom happened. A growing worry clawed at her gut.

Aang nodded. "The last time I was there was over a year ago. The other Avatars had a lot to talk about, most of which is a secret, so. But," his brows furrowed, "they think we need to slow down the Harmony Restoration Movement."

Zuko, whose face had been tense in rapt attention, let out a small noise. "What did they say? Why?"

Aang held up a hand in monkly patience. "They said we all need to rethink the methods to achieve peace as much as the ideal of peace itself, or it could lead to war again. Monk Gyatso often said that rebuilding is the hardest part of overcoming a conflict. I think…the assassins are connected to the rebellion movement."

Katara fished out Toph's letter from her pocket and for the third time it was read. Aang began to hover in the air as his legs bent forward so he could rest his elbows on his knees, and then his chin on his hands.

His eyes crawled over the writing. "I can't believe Sneers would do that! Didn't Katara recognize him?"

Katara shook her head while Zuko said, with no lack of venom, "The military won't even let me interrogate them personally citing safety concerns. It's bullshit." He told Aang what he told Katara about King Kuei.

"So Yu Dao is resisting disbandment. They send a couple of assassins after Zuko, murder a former governor of Omashu who's a known Ozai-loyalist. Why the two different targets?" asked Katara.

"To rile things up?" suggested Aang.

Zuko shook his head. "To make it look like I killed him. It makes me a tyrant who's only worried about protecting my position, which gives opponents to the Restoration Movement more credibility to oppose my policies."

Katara found that possible, but unlikely. Why go through all that effort? There were other ways to disparage Zuko's reputation.

"There has to be something else. It's not adding up. But Aang, we can't stop the Movement because a few people are upset."

Zuko sighed. "It's more than a few, Katara."

"When we fought Ozai it felt like us against the whole world. We can't give up on right just because it's convenient—"

"Not giving up. Avatar Kyoshi warned me to take things slower and not force peace otherwise people won't change. They have to want it. And since its an Earthbender saying this, I…sort of agree. I don't want any more harm to come to Zuko." Aang bit his lip. "It's not ideal, I know."

"There's always going to be harm coming his way and we can protect him," she insisted.

"Katara, if the other Avatars are worried about war, then I have to agree."

"Zuko!"

Neither Aang nor Zuko said anything. Katara began to curl her hands into fists. She exhaled slowly through her nose.

"For more than one hundred years the Fire Nation trampled over lands that's not theirs, stolen people's livelihoods and fed off of them like insect-leeches. We have a chance, a responsibility, to restore things to their proper places."

"I know!" and it sounded like Zuko was trying to placate her, inflaming her ire despite his sincere intention, "I agree with you completely. But Aang is right. It could also give us time to see if there's another way—"

She scoffed. "Another way to end colonization?"

Before she knew it she was on her toes, jutting her chin out in challenge. Zuko squinted at her in the manner of a person seeing someone for the first time, partly awed and partly surprised.

"Alright," Aang stepped between them, ascending into undiscovered levels of alarm, "Time for a break. Katara stays here at the pond. Zuko and I will go visit Appa."

The worst part, other than Aang needing to mediate like they were children at the Western Air Temple again, was that passion only made Zuko look more alive and magnetic.

Some time later, Katara remained lounging next to the pond. She would have caught a small nap too, had Ika not crossed her during a conveniently-timed errand and startled her awake. Resigned, she watched the turtle-ducks make their rounds to and fro a mossy rock in the middle of the pond. The mother turtle-duckling nursed her young ones and squawked whenever Katara tried to feed them pieces of bread Ika had given her.

"What's taking them so long?" Katara stood and brushed the dirt from her dress.

"Can I walk with you?" asked Ika.

"Don't you have an errand to run?"

The girl smiled mysteriously. "Maybe this is my errand."

Appa was housed in a barn that had been excavated specifically for airbisons near the palace's south wall. It was a long walk but one she enjoyed, having had little time to herself this week and it provided her calm to some of her thoughts.

Of course, the Avatars had a point. Hundreds of years of experience all but guaranteed that. What Katara opposed was feeling as though she was the only one to fully remember the Fire Nation's crimes. It was a trauma impressed deep into her bones. She wanted their evil excavated everywhere it had taken root. She had helped Fire Nation healers with surgeries before: removing a tumor often required removing healthy tissue around it too, just to be safe.

"What's on your mind, Lady Katara?"

Also, how horrible was it that despite considering herself the most mature of her friend group she couldn't keep her feelings from her face. First Ty Lum, then Aang, now Ika, an attendant that barely knew her.

"I'm enjoying the fresh air, thank you for asking. I'm very sorry, I've been poor company. How are you?" Katara gestured to the basket Ika held. "I hope I'm not keeping you from your duties."

"Not at all. I was to deliver some herbs to Healer Joru but he always forgets he told me to be quick and yells at me for interrupting him."

"It's the old age." La help her, she missed the surly healer.

Aghast, Ika held a hand to her mouth. "He's only forty-three!"

"His mindset is old."

Ika giggled. "He reminds me of my grandmother. Always complaining and loud, but gives the best advice."

Katara smiled to herself. "Your grandmother—is she also here in the palace?" Palace positions tended to be generational ones. Milo's grandfather tended to Ozai. Sulan's mother used to be Princess Ursa's secretary.

Ika's braids danced around her head. "She's in the Northern Water Tribe."

"You're—part Water Tribe."

That clarified a few things. Ika's respectful accommodation of her sleep schedule the morning they met, her knowledge of the Sarashi wraps, even her tan and braids carried a different quality about them.

"I am." A shadow fell over her face. "A Fire Nation lieutenant fell in love with my grandmother during his post in the Northern Water Tribe and…forced her to come with him here. He threatened her family."

Katara swallowed, voice suddenly hoarse. "That's…I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry."

Some things were better left unsaid.

"Don't be. She ran away when she could. My father was six. One of her friends delivered vegetables to the palace and got her a job taking care of the dragon-mooses."

Appa's stable solidified around a corner. Katara turned to face Ika. "That's what you meant by differently. What happened to your parents?"

"They live here in the city. Mother's too sick to work and father is a blacksmith."

"They didn't want to go back to the Northern Water Tribe?" Don't you?

The girl lifted one shoulder in a sort of shrug. "I visited once, but for us we have multiple homes. My parents made peace with it a long time ago." A longing glint entered her eyes. "I have always wanted to learn how to wear my hair in loopies, though."

A warm feeling enveloped Katara's chest. "I would be happy to show you."

From the barn Aang and Zuko emerged, ensconced in deep conversation. Despite her best efforts, her gaze landed on Zuko first and returned his stiff nod with a stiffer one, and smiled at Aang.

"How's Appa?"

"Breath's stinky as usual," answered Zuko, even though she wasn't asking him. Her jaw hardened and she was about to, La help her, say something potentially biting, when Aang intervened and suggested they call Piandao and Jeong Jeong to tell them what they knew.

"What the fuck does the rebellion think doing all of that accomplishes?" Jeong Jeong stroked his white beard, groaning at Piandao's pointed look. "They're not children anymore."

Piandao looked askance at his fellow Fire Nation military deserter. "We're still their masters."

"Who should confirm that the world is still a nasty place to be. I miss being a hermit."

"We need you, Jeong Jeong," pleaded Aang.

A servant placed a tray of tea on the chabudai in Zuko's office. Katara slumped on the couch, wanting to do anything but sleep. This week was amounting to be a leading cause of premature gray hairs she was certain to develop.

"We need your uncle's help." The end of Piandao's request suggested he had four page's worth of arguments to back it up to a stubborn Zuko, but it was rendered useless at his single nod.

"Okay."

Piandao frowned as Zuko charged towards his desk and ruffled through a drawer.

"Katara convinced me yesterday. I started penning a letter to him last night."

"Hold off until General Shen and Lieutenant Lee return with news," said Piandao.

Jeong Jeong snorted. "Do you trust them, Piandao?"

"No, but we can use them to our advantage." The swordsman took a cup of tea and downed it in one swift move. Katara saw the stress wearing him thin, from the twitch of his mustache to gray pallor. "When is Lady Toph to arrive?"

"Sometime during the night or early morning." Aang handed him her letter. It was crumpled through by now.

There were more updates, arguing, and groans, the sum of what made up Katara's life right now. If Aang was right, all of these people were from Yu Dao's rebellion and viciously opposed their colony's disbandment. Why couldn't they bring their concerns via nonviolent means, like writing letters and peacefully protesting their representatives?

Ice chilled her spine.

Was…Lady Fa helping them? Had she snuck them in on the boat?

"You guys stay here," Aang said after Piandao and Jeong Jeong left to meet with the generals. "I'll call a casual meeting with King Kuei and ask after the economic situation in the Earth Kingdom. Maybe he'll let something slip about Yu Dao."

Zuko crossed his arms and rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "I feel coddled."

"A dead Fire Lord is useless," Aang said cheekily. He ground the butt of his staff into the floor until its wings unfurled and flew out the window.

"I wish he'd stop doing that," Zuko said after a long minute of quiet.

Katara kneaded her temples with a grunt.

Confined to his office for the rest of the day, they distracted themselves with rote work. Zuko made headway through a stack of paperwork, for Fire Lording could only stop so long in light of a burgeoning threat, and Katara begrudgingly remembered her promise to stick right next to him until Toph arrived even if he spurred her into another argument.

Spurred each other. He seemed to want to argue as much as she did.

There was a time she thought Haru a looker, and then Jet the most suavest man to have walked this planet. There was no reason she could not function normally around a man who her body found attractive. That was fine. She would later consult Sokka and his unerring belief in science for a better explanation for why a friend suddenly looked like the sun itself had bathed him. If it was just hormones, then some other guy would have been tempting to her too by now, right?

At some point, Milo asked for entry into the office to deliver a modest bundle of letters for Katara. There were two from Sokka and Suki in separate envelopes, meaning the other didn't know about them and were meant to be kept secret, yet listed the exact same concerns. Sokka was insecure about how Suki's father felt about him and the modest stone he'd carved for her not "being enough to encapsulate all of Suki's beauty and everything she deserves." Suki on the other hand was seeking Katara's affirmation that Sokka was serious about her because "I'll never meet a man like him on my entire island and he's the only one for me no matter what Oyaji says." Oyaji was Kyoshi Island's leader and Suki's father-like figure. His approval meant a great deal to both Suki and Sokka, but he had been slow to accept her relationship. Kyoshi Island spent generations in isolation, and Suki marrying Sokka meant she would be moving and living at least half her life abroad.

Another letter from Gran-Gran followed up on her father's guilt trip: "missing her only granddaughter" and "I'm becoming old and really want to see you soon". It also contained a recipe for five-flavored soup, her favorite after sea prune stew.

And then one from Mai.

"Um, Zuko—"

He glanced at her from behind a tower of folders that reached his nose. "Hm?"

"Have you heard from Mai?"

"Why do you ask?" His voice went cold.

That's a no, then. "Just curious." Katara stared at Mai's name written in neat, prim letters. The back confirmed the recipient was Katara, and underneath it was Mai's family seal.

After taking a second to recollect herself, Katara broke the seal.

Lady Katara,

Fire Lord Zuko has sent me a few letters that I don't want to answer right now. It'll hurt him more if I do.

No, I don't hold him responsible. No, I don't regret that I returned to my family alone, and I never wanted him to come with me. That would be a husband's job, and though he's a good friend, seeing that he and I would never have worked out, he needn't bother.

I'll be staying here at least for a season to support my mother and brother. Tell him not to worry and that I'll write to him before I return to settle my father's estate.

I'm writing to you because he listens to you. Also, please visit my home and send me the financial records locked in my armoire. In the brunch room on the left. Key enclosed.

Mai

Terse and brief like the writer herself.

"Zuko?"

"What?" he snapped.

She narrowed her eyes and shaped a block of water to life, launching it at the top third of the folders to shift them aside just enough to see his whole face but not so much they toppled over. He watched the debacle with keen interest.

"That's a nice trick."

"Are you done being irritable?"

"If you haven't noticed, this week has been hellish. Worse than the week of the first summit."

Katara tried not to shudder, recalling that particular peace summit in Ba Sing Se. That week was a void in her mind; she remembered only the words bear stampede and water spiked with cactus juice.

"I thought you would like to know that Mai wrote to me." She noticed his casual scratch of a quill pause and return with extra vigor. His eyes hollowed but otherwise he looked elbows-deep in work.

"I see. Is she doing well?"

"I think so. It's a bit hard to tell."

He ducked his head lower. Whatever he was writing supposedly demanded the entire pot of ink. "All normal, then." He chuckled.

She resisted the urge to fling the letter at him. He could read the letter himself if he wanted to be so insufferable about it, but then he'd pour over the contents again and again, the Zuko equivalent of moping, and it would betray Mai's trust.

"She cares about you."

He slammed the quill down. "She would write me back if she did."

"She cares about you enough that she doesn't." Katara folded her letter and set it aside. "She said she doesn't blame you at all, and that you shouldn't worry."

A tense pause. "Truly?"

"Her exact words. She'll be back in autumn to settle her father's estate and said she'll write to you before then."

"Why did she write to you?"

"She…needs me to run an errand for her."

Zuko placed his chin over the back of his hand. His eyes glazed over, and the wind ruffled the gossamer curtains causing the rays of light to oscillate over and around him.

"She didn't have many friends in the palace," he mused.

To be honest, Katara didn't think she had any other than Ty Lee. And that only because of their childhood history. Would Ty Lee and Mai have been close friends if they had met when older?

Probably, yes, actually. Ty Lee grew on you whether you liked it or not.

"It didn't seem like she was happy here," said Katara.

"She wasn't." Zuko stood from his desk, stretching out his arms and joined her at the chabudai. The tea was cold, she wanted to say, but of course, firebender. He heated two cups and extended one to her as she moved to sit on the floor. "No, stay on the couch. You're probably exhausted."

She couldn't say no to that. She cradled the cup close to her chest, taking solace in its steam despite the weather.

"I'm in perfect health."

"You almost fell asleep when Piandao and Jeong Jeong were here."

"I'm surprised you noticed through all the yelling."

He coughed on his tea. His eyes transfixed on Mai's letter. "Are you going to let me read it?"

She pretended to ponder over it. "Maybe when we're eighty and you can laugh about it then."

He sighed and placed the cup down, crossing his arms over the table. "I can't imagine a day when I can."

"It's only been a year for Aang and I and we're getting on fine. We even joke about it."

At first, Zuko's face tightened. Then the glow intensified so much that Katara, regardless of her earlier admirable attempts at watching him no longer than a second at a time, felt she was falling into the center of an inferno. Cold embers catching fire, a rousing candlewick melting something inside her.

"You and Aang aren't…"

She hid her confusion in a long sip. Ty Lum's question from the night before, a curious Do they? Does everyone know you're single? echoed about.

She laughed. How could Zuko not know? Sokka had been the one to tell him, her brother had confirmed to her himself before her early departure from the Fire Nation to seek solace at home for a while. And she was sure for a fact that it had come up in conversation at least once over the months. While her and Aang had been awkward in the beginning, it wasn't so painful that there was some unspoken rule their previous relationship go unmentioned in their social circles.

But Zuko wasn't laughing.

"We're not...um." Her cheeks warmed.

He facepalmed. "I'm—so sorry, that day you returned with him so suddenly, and I thought I heard Piandao tease you about a wedding, so I assumed you—started dating again."

Their ability to follow a fight with serious conversion, light banter and stuffy discomfort was a type of whirlwind she was just beginning to become used to. Taking an even longer sip to buy time, she gathered her thoughts.

"That's dumb."

Zuko jolted. "What?"

"We're just friends. I needed help and he was already on the way with Appa. Just because he wasn't happy with me doesn't mean we can't be happy as friends." Katara moved to take another sip but there was no tea left. She frowned at the cup. Iroh would be proud to see her emerging as a habitual tea drinker.

"Hold on," —La help her if he said something like so no wedding? — "He was definitely happy with you as his girlfriend. Every time he talked to me about you he was happy."

Katara gave him a soft smile. "He wasn't happy in the relationship."

"But that's different from not being happy with you." Zuko shifted on his floor pillow. "When Uncle and I were traveling through the Earth Kingdom, I asked him if he regretted coming with me during my banishment. He tried to be jolly all the time but there's only so much to do out at sea. He used to be a war general. And then he had to follow around an angry kid on an impossible mission and complained about bad tea leaves every other day. Do you know what he said?"

"What?"

"He laughed it off."

"Oh."

"Then later that day he said he never once regretted anything, even if it wasn't the most pleasant experience."

Katara leaned back against the couch, tucking her feet under her. It was made of a soft material, one nonexistent in the Water Tribes. Comfort, she often thought, only provided a soft sense of security and made people forget the horrors others were facing. But there were other types of comfort. There was the comfort of sleeping on Appa's saddle among trusted friends, sipping on Iroh's tea while they all laughed at a painting Sokka made, and this, chatting with Zuko during midday light, softly sharing stories.

It was a reminder they were friends, not allies, for whom differing beliefs on justice and rule shouldn't make a difference.

Plus, Zuko was right. She didn't regret loving Aang in that way for a few years, and she looked forward to loving him in a new ways. Why assume it was any different for Aang?

"Thanks, Zuko. And I'd say the same goes for you, no?"

His jaw twitched as he looked down.

"Yeah. Yeah, I suppose so." He smiled, and it was a smile meant for oneself. "So, you still won't tell me why you came back?"

"That's…a long story." One that reached further than her father.

She was happy, but rootless and unsure where to plant herself. Sokka had Suki and the Southern Water Tribe to lead. Toph found meaning in teaching and terrorizing students, enjoying a cordial but distant relationship with her parents. She turned around because she was scared of what she'd find in the Northern Water Tribe: her father with a new bride-to-be, hearing more from Chief Arnook about how the South needed to modernize, and Master Pakku, who looked at her with a slight hint of disappointment, as though he expected his best student to have achieved more by now.

Everyone was moving forward and she was a rock in a river, nostalgic for the past.

"Well," he gesticulated to his desk. The folders Katara had shoved fully tipped over and sent its contents across his desk. "I have time to hear."

She told him. Her father's letter was a story for another time, one that she knew would require more courage to unveil. Yet, as they sat there together, it felt as effortless as a river finding its course downstream. As she spoke, she felt as if she was being carried along by a current, her words flowing effortlessly to Zuko, who listened intently with his gaze fixed upon her, as if he was trying to understand every wave of her emotions.

In her dream, her mother patted her down before nightfall. She had caught a cold, and her father was out sourcing blubber wax to massage her forehead with. Sokka was trying to keep her laughing by making animal expressions, and when her father finally returned, they all cooed over her and called her snotty. It was the last memory she had of them as a foursome.

Because two days later, while she and Sokka caught snowflakes outside to celebrate her recovery, a Fire Nation soldier entered their home and…

She roused from the dream. Her eyes landed on a pale hand, and a rush of memories shuffled themselves together. They were still in Zuko's office.

"Oh, spirits! I'm sorry, I—"

She stopped.

Zuko's face hovered a hand's width from her. Apologetic, he released the pillow he had been slipping under her neck. With the movement three of his fingers fell across her collarbone, below where her mother's necklace lay.

She tilted her head back as though she had been burned. The motion beckoned him closer and she started to fall. He caught her in an iron-clad grip.

"Sorry—I know you don't like being fussed over but I've fallen asleep here before and it leaves your neck a mess."

His shallow breaths fanned over her face.

She liked this. The feeling of being taken care of, instead of being the one to take care of others, was…nice. Something warm wrapped her heart in a snug embrace.

A single knock presaged two respected masters bursting into the office, a remorseful Sulan trailing behind them.

"We have an emergency."

Katara yelped during her tumble onto the floor. Instead of releasing her Zuko followed, his crown banging into the chabudai.

Entering her nice view of Zuko's ceiling—a lattice of dragon-themed carvings set in a nice mahogany finish—the top half of Jeong Jeong's face looked down at them in faint displeasure.

To his credit Piandao continued on in the same urgent tone, "The Kyoshi warriors haven't returned from Hira'a, nor has Ty Lee returned my letter. Hira'a's border guards said she and the warriors entered yesterday morning but haven't been seen since."

Zuko spoke from somewhere on the floor. "That's impossible! I received a letter from Ty Lee confirming my mother's family were safe yesterday afternoon. Did the hawkmaster confirm receipt?"

"I just sent a missive, but the border guards mentioned there has been discontent for a few days. A number of Hira'a residents have family members in the Earth Kingdom colonies. Ty Lee's letter should have reported this to you."

Counting mentally to three, Katara pushed herself off the ground and kept her eyes trained somewhere over Jeong Jeong's shoulders.

Zuko huffed and similarly sounded like he'd gotten up. "Then either she was compromised…or it's a fake."

"It's a fake," Jeong Jeong groused. "Someone's been intercepting your mail."

"Zuko," Aang burst into the office. Sulan squeaked and had it been anyone other than the Avatar would have readied a thorough rebuke at barging into the Fire Lord's meeting. Nevermind we were interrupted too...she didn't think she could look Piandao in the eyes ever again. "King Kuei wants to meet you tomorrow. He got a letter from Mayor Morishita yesterday asking that he visit Yu Dao as soon as possible and it's making him nervous."

Any response Zuko had to that was cut off by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

His secretary answered gruffly, "The Fire Lord is busy," but the knocks turned into full-own bangs and the door swung open to reveal a pair of nobles.

Lady Hina and her father.

"We request an audience with the Fire Lord," demanded a short man with purple lips and a receding hairline.

Katara felt the already crowded office growing smaller.

Sulan's expression of annoyance flickered into horror. "Absolutely not, you cannot simply demand an audience with the Fire Lord."

"I can if he has disrespected my daughter!"

The smile Lady Hina shot at Katara reminded her of a squirrel-mouse coming upon a juicy block of cheese. She ended her slouching era on Zuko's very nice couch, prepared to flutter her fingers menacingly.

Lady Hina ran a hand down her father's arm. "It wasn't him, father. I am sure he wasn't aware."

"Bleeding hog monkeys!" cursed the man. "The Fire Lord ignorant of how his friends treat his honored guests?"

Aang guffawed. Everyone began to speak at once.

"Nobleman Hua and Lady Hina, you must schedule requests with the Fire Lord with me prior to—"

"What's going on, Zuko? I was careful to not get caught snoop—"

"Old gasbags in our nation, this is why I deserted—"

"Not now, Jeong Jeong."

"—throwing water at my lovely girl—"

Zuko's attention snapped to Katara. She bit her lip and felt her cheeks warm.

Shouting apparently rendered Lady Hina's stocky father out of breath, for he inhaled loudly, cutting off the chatter, and like escaping air from a pierced balloon cried, "I cannot believe my eyes what a circus this court has become! Your father was many things but he was loyal to his people above all! I withdraw my support for the free academies in the lower district until my daughter receives an apology and a promise these grounds will not be tainted again with the likes of—of—" he stopped. Katara raised an eyebrow, daring the squeaky man to finish.

Zuko banged his hand on his desk. Everyone stilled.

"Everyone except Kat—Lady Katara, out!"

"But—" Lady Hina started to object.

"Wait outside," ordered Zuko. "You two will get your audience with me."

Sulan was all too happy to escort the pair out. Aang tried to join Katara on the couch, pouting when Piandao shook his head and nudged him to exit.

The quiet was louder than the fiasco in a way. She heard Zuko's stuttered breathing, his leg bouncing restlessly as he took a seat behind his messy desk.

She fingered the pillow he had attempted to place under her head, unwilling to meet his eyes for many reasons. She assessed the ceiling again, then the parquet flooring, the sand pouring through the narrow neck of an hourglass set upon a plinthe, and a miniature boat sitting inside a glass bottle. Like his room, his office boasted few personal artifacts. It was not so sterile that guests were at unease, but conveyed little about Zuko's internal state.

"What happened?" asked Zuko.

"It's my fault," she said in a rush. "You were right. I did things my way, and it put you in a difficult position—"

He released a heavy breath, the sound echoing in the office. "I'm upset because I've known their family for a long time and for all their faults they're competent in education policy. I need allies. And I expect my friends to tell me if they run into a problem so I can handle it." He fell silent, as though lapsing to recollect his next words. "But I won't be upset if you explain. Did you fight her? You had to have a reason."

"It wasn't a fight. I ran into her in a tea lounge—there was a vase Hoko bent Bosco's spit into when cleaning—and..." she trailed off, turning to face him.

He steepled his hands over his desk. "You bent bear spit at a noblewoman."

"She didn't know it was," she said defensively.

"Why?"

She didn't want to answer that. If Lady Hina's family was so important to him, then telling him would hurt him.

"Her—nails. They're red."

"You fought her because she has red nails."

Katara abruptly stood up and averted her gaze, reluctant to see the full range of his reaction. "I'll apologize. But don't let her near you or touch you."

"Tou—what are you talking about?"

She opened the door, seeing Aang's worried face for a brief second before Lady Hina stalked past her, sniffing, and the nobleman bumbling in thereafter.

"Sit," Zuko instructed to all three of them.

Lady Hina and her father sat immediately. Katara was slower, inching her seat away from them as she sorted through how exactly to word an apology to a woman undeserving of it. No one said anything, Lady Hina's nostrils flaring and her nails tapping on the armrest; the man squeaking every few seconds; and Zuko, resting his gaze upon each of them in turn.

"Fire Lord Zuko," Lady Hina started to murmur.

Holding up a land, Zuko leaned forward and let out a quiet, resigned breath, as if he had given up on something. Katara understood that to be a signal to speak, but had hardly opened her mouth when he stared her down too.

"Lady Hina, can you explain what happened between you and Lady Katara?"

Lady Hina's haughty demeanor showed the first sign of cracking. "My Lord?"

"If Nobleman Hua is requesting I exile an honored guest, who is a friend of the Avatar's, and threatening me in my own palace, I have the right to ask for a full explanation."

Alarmed, Katara tried to speak again, only for something to hit her feet. Did he just kick me? she thought hysterically.

Hua made the high-pitched equivalent of a scoff. "You would believe a peasant over my daughter?"

Zuko's face hardened.

Lady Hina laughed nervously and tugged her father's sleeve. "He doesn't mean that Fire Lord Zuko, I know you're fair and just, but whatever she told you isn't true. I only meant to speak about our strong Fire Lord—"

He splayed his hands. "Speak like that about one of my guests again and I will not tolerate it."

The atmosphere of the office thickened with apprehension. Katara had half the mind to kick Zuko back, snap a terse apology because this was a useless waste of time and she wouldn't have bent at her if she knew the woman would make a ridiculous show of it, and an infinitesimal bit of her did feel bad.

Until a dark mocking smile lit up Hua's face. "Is that what your generation calls concubines?"

Flames erupted from where Zuko's hands met his desk.

"That's enough, Nobleman Hua!" He roared.

Katara extracted a sphere of water from her waterskin, worried more about the state of his desk than the pathetic excuse of a man.

Nobleman Hua's joyless sneer widened, the small man finding a hook to push his agenda forward. "So this is the untold secret of the palace. The Fire Lord too busy lounging about with his harem to care for his people."

All of a sudden, Katara shoved Zuko's flames to the back of her mind as unadulterated rage shot up her spine. The spheres doubled, tripled, but before they could batter the pair with heavy rain, a strong pair of arms wound around her middle. She wrestled to escape; Lady Hina and her father were already bolting from the room.

"Let me go!" One of her hand strained to keep the water floating. The last of Lady Hina's red nails disappeared behind the door.

I'm sorry, she thought, and jerked her heel backwards. It slammed into Zuko's shin and he hissed as she darted forward, the water bombs barely holding together.

"Katara wait!" he shouted.

She burst into the hall. Aang, Piandao, and Jeong Jeong stared at the pair of evil moseying forward, and her tunnel vision locked on the two, winding her arm back strike.

Zuko's rush behind her disrupted her aim. A water bomb hit a wall candle and exploded. While Lady Hina shrieked he managed to twist her left arm behind her back and wrestled with her dominant to stop her from launching another one.

Lady Hina turned and paled in stupefaction, crying out, "I'm sorry, we'll be right on our way. Father please, a scarred Lord isn't worth our time anyway—"

Katana writhed in Zuko's grasp. "Don't talk about his scar!"

"No, my darling, if what you said is true. Then I reject this Fire Lord, too weak to stand for his own professed principles and wavering because he's been emasculated and seduced by a snow savage—"

Katara immediately felt herself released and her back felt warm, shadows of flames dancing in front of her. She swiveled to see each hand of Zuko's carrying fire, his eyebrows pinched together and lip curled back in a snarl. She pivoted again and saw Aang in the midst of inventing new colors on his face and Jeong Jeong's hands steaming as well.

"Have care how you speak." Jeong Jeong intoned coolly. "Should she become the Fire Lady, you would be lucky to be around to see the Fire Nation prosper."

"War Minister Jeong Jeong!" stammered Hua.

The remainder of Katara's water exploded into minuscule pellets that lashed at him.

"Get out." Zuko was colder than ice. It was impressive, how cold his voice could be when his entire body barely contained his temper. Larger than the flames in his hands were the ones in his eyes. "I already gave you a warning. You and your daughter are no longer welcome here until you send Lady Katara a formal apology. You are suspended from your post until then."

Father and daughter squeaked together. Piandao tersely asked Sulan to see them out and she thought she saw Aang send a large gust of wind behind their backs to quicken their pace.

"That was a delight," Jeong Jeong remarked when they were gone. The others glared at him. "Good job, Fire Lord Zuko. Give the rest of your nobles and councilors a verbal evisceration and we'll remove the detritus in no time."

Piandao pinched the bridge of his nose. "I am shocked people still hold such beliefs."

"Truly. This will solidify who is fit to be in this government and not. I am sorry you had to hear that, Master Katara."

Katana stiffened. "I've heard worse." She had, and surprisingly not all from the Fire Nation.

"What do you mean solidify? What will?"

Jeong Jeong peered at Zuko, craning his neck forward. His beady eyes momentarily flashed to Katara. "Your choice of consort." Zuko made a soft coughing sound. "Was that not what the argument was over?"

Piandao chuckled. "An interesting conclusion."

To everyone's growing alarm Zuko coughs mutated into ugly chokes. Aang started to slap his back, making an inscrutable expression at Katara that made her feel entirely exposed.

"I'll get him a cup of water. I think Katara and Zuko should rest. Let's go, Masters! We have to figure out what to do about the Hira'a situation—"

"Aang I'm literally a…" she called after his shrinking back, "waterbender…Zuko, you alright?"

"Just fine," he said, strained.

She paused, contemplating. And smacked his back once for good measure. Three hacking coughs later he wiped his lip and stared at her.

"You attacked him," he said in disbelief, voice hoarse.

"You almost did."

"I wanted to, so bad."

"He insulted you."

Zuko lifted a hand to his scarred flesh. "He dishonored you."

Katana shook her head. "Yesterday, she said...she said these things about you and Mai that I can't repeat. Disgustingly inappropriate. Don't tell me to leave it to you because I refuse to stand quietly when people you serve have the audacity to question your honor."

Maybe she was wrong again. Her way of doing things would ruin it all for him. After Sokka improved his public speaking skills, people flocked to him in a way they never did her. They found her, the first woman Master Pakku ever taught, the one to have challenged him to fight her, the one who fought almost Fire Lord Azula and lived to tell the tale, scary. They found her nagging and her ideas to preserve their traditions when the Northern Water Tribe was coming to help them modernize as out-of-touch, too idealistic, and hardheaded.

The irony was, she was soft. So, so soft.

Zuko pulled her into an embrace.

They stood, the two of them alone, bodies almost pressed so tightly together from afar they looked to be one. Katara's senses flooded with Zuko, his spices and incense, and her heart was a river that swelled with summer's first rain.

"How," he started to mumble into her hair, "can I ask you to stay here when I can't keep you from hearing things like that?"

She swallowed.

"She was flirting with you and then turned around to slander you to her friends." Her lips grazed the soft fabric of his robes.

A single hacked cough. "That was not, uh, flirting." His chin rested on her head.

"She was. Yesterday at the funeral." She lifted her hands to clasp them behind his back, near the tail of where she guessed his dragon tattoo ended. "You can't possibly be that oblivious about these things."

"Then why would she say those things about you?" He was not the perfect height. Her chin met his collarbone and she would have preferred it if he was shorter or she was taller, but it worked. Somehow it worked.

"I don't know. Maybe she was jealous?" Once the words were uttered, she realized how—how presumptuous it sounded, as if Zuko treated her in any special way, in any way warmer than Toph or Suki or Ty Lee, that it was coincidence alone that she was the one to hear Lady Hina's callous words and anyone else would have done the same. He had hugged her before. He hugged the others too.

She was not special.

He squeezed her tighter. "Doesn't matter. There's no excuse for it."

"I've heard worse," she second for the second time.

"And it's never been okay. I'm so sorry I ever called you a peasant."

"You have nothing to be sorry for."

He let go. She lifted her head, unwilling to detangle herself from him entirely. She wanted to be warm. Spirits, she was starting to crave fire.

"How are you so calm right now? I miss your temper tantrums."

A beat. "I don't throw tantrums!"

"Katara?" entered a new voice.

She let go of his lapel. I can explain, she readied on her tongue, but Aang simply placed a glass of water in Zuko's hand and snuggled up to his side.

"I want a hug too." Aang ribbed.

"Not so close—"

"C'mon! I barely see you—"

"Who was off in the spirit world for half a day?"

While Zuko and Aang squabbled, Katara backed away from the spell she didn't recognize had overtaken them. A lump formed in her throat. Was that how lonely she was? Three days in a man's close company and suddenly she wanted...

What did she want, anyway?

Toph would be here soon to put a stop to all the madness (a statement she did not think she would say, ever). Katara would resume her ambassadorial duties, or they would be halted too because she technically was not supposed to be here. She could spend some time dallying with Ika, or return to help Healer Joru, then what? She would return to being another mouth to feed on the Fire Lord's dime, as his emissary once slyly rebuked her for. She thought all this, swallowed her sulking for another time, because at least for now she was needed and she would never turn her back on that. And for now, I need to figure out what the Blue Spirit's up to.

Piandao watched her curiously. She lowered her head in a polite bow, placing her hands together, one in a fist and one hand splayed, and saw Jeong Jeong rub his chin in response. Her skin rose into gooseflesh, unnerved at the sense of foreboding washing over her.