ARC 1: The Promise of Peace
Day 4: Garden
The betrothal ceremony is more hassle then it needs to be. Guilded wealth, ceremonial robes, tittering nobles, a colossal headache. Zuko pulls at his robes, ignores the look from his mother. His father ignores them both, conversing politely with Grandfather (Ozai isn't pleased to betroth his son- even his useless child- to a water tribe savage, but he'd jump into a fire if Azulon ordered it).
The Southern water tribe delegation enters the sacred chambers several moments late, Katara at their head. She's dressed in ocean blue silks, hair swept up in a grown woman's style. She looks like a little adult, a porcelain doll (not quite a moon goddess, but even Zuko will admit she's pretty). The effect is ruined when she grins and waves at them (relations between the two have been repaired with many late night visits to the turtle-duck pond). Grandfather Azulon smiles at the sight, at least one noblewoman faints at the sight of his smile, and Chief Hakoda looks on grimly.
There are a lot of official speeches, stately talking, and pointless gestures (Zuko tries to pay attention, but Katara keeps making silly faces). At some point, the two stumble through some oaths and present eachother with ceremonial gifts.
Katara produces an intricately carved bone dagger, wrapped in hard leather and dyed a dark, almost black, red. She bows overdramatically and places it in his hands. Then, it's his turn to slip heavy gold-inlaid engagement comcs into her hair. There is a half-hearted cheering (mostly for Azulon's benefit) before the assembly migrates toward the ballroom for food and much needed alcohol (more than one person plans to get completely drunk). The children manage to sneak away with platefuls of sweets (though Sokka stays behind to eat).
They retreat to the garden and toss half-hearted crumbs at the turtle-ducks until the sun sets.
Katara chatters, mostly to the turtle-duck in her palm and occasionally to Zuko too.
"Katara?" he says.
She glances at him, a smear of chocolate coloring the side of her mouth and powdered sugar resting on her nose.
"I have another gift for you." he says tentatively.
"Really?!"
She sets the turtle-duck down and scoots over to him, maximum speed. Zuko feels his cheeks grow warm, but he forges on anyway. He pulls a long, thin package out from his tunic and unwraps the silk carefully.
"Sokka says you like weapons," he explains, "And you said that you need useful things in the South."
He hands her a pair of sticks. One end is sharp, like a skewer, and the other is smooth and rounded. There is stylized turtle-duck on the round end, painted in gold. Katara blinks.
"It's a hairpin," he says, "to hold your hair up."
"Zuko," she says,"It's pretty, but-
"I know, it's not very useful, but if someone attacked you it's sharp enough to kill them." he explains.
She mimes stabbing and then, unexpectedly, smiles.
"You got me a secret pretty weapon," she murmurs to herself, then looks at him, "Thank you, Zuko."
She slides the pins into her hair, then leans over and kisses his cheek. His entire face feels like someone tossed a fireball at him and he stares at his feet (his father really would toss a fireball if he could see the way he acted with this water tribe peasant). Zuko takes her tiny calloused hand.
"If someone threatens you…you-you'd better hurt them right back," he warns, "Promise."
She nods solemnly, then hugs him close (he gets a face full of combs and hairpins for his trouble). Zuko sighs and wishes he could just live here, in this moment, beside a turtle-duck pond with his crazy water-tribe Katara.