Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender does not belong to me, but to Michael Dante DiMartino. Midori is my own character.
Becoming Fire Lord Zuko
"Fire Lord Zuko, Avatar Aang, Master Katara, Master Toph…" Everyone in the table was silent either in amazement or amusement that the announcer had yet to take a breath.
"Lady Suki, and Sir Sokka. I present the new Peace Festival organizer and Peace Summit Historian Miss Midori."
Two guards opened the grand dining room table as Midori emerged. As if the fates wished to dramatize her entrance the curtains behind her rose with the evening wind. The curtains moved in waves around Midori only exposing snippets of her appearance. Before anything else everyone saw the tight knee length black laced boots that gave way to an unfamiliar ruby dress. It seemed to be a mix of Earth Nation and Fire Nation; they could tell it was long sleeved with a high collar, but were unfamiliar with the lower design. The dress seemed almost like a flower in blooming, because although the upper portion of the dress clung to her body the bottom flared and displayed a second layer of white hidden beyond the red.
Midori stepped past the flattering curtains and stood beside the dining table. Zuko felt something change. He saw her glasses covered eyes lock onto his gold orbs, but he did not feel present. With his eyes locked onto hers he felt distant. He felt like his inner flame had been extinguished and his mind taken to a place far beyond his reach. Then she looked away. And just as the feeling came it passed and he inhaled as if it was his first breath in ages.
She strode further in her movements graceful and quite like a cat while her long ebony braid rustled behind her like a tail.
She gave a short, but formal bow before staring ahead at the infamous Team Avatar. "Hello my name is Midori and I thank you for the honour of allowing me to be the organizer and historian for the year."
In that moment Zuko noticed her skin. If Katara's skin was fresh powdered cinnamon then Midori was fresh melted caramel. On top of her brown freckled nose sat a pair of black framed glasses, but this time when he caught her eyes he felt nothing. Nothing. He just saw a set of almond shaped shadowy green eyes.
Then the room filled with shy coughs when as a unit the realization that instead of answering Midori's greeting everyone, with the exception of Toph, had just eyed Midori up.
Aang was the first to break the silence. "Hi! I'm Aang I'm sure you'll do great Midori."
With his words the stiff feeling in Midori's shoulders finally ceased and she gave a shy beam of gratitude.
"Take a seat Midori the foods almost out!" Sokka shouted eagerly.
As Midori sat down the servants appeared and began placing the dishes in the center and then placing glossy black plates in front of each guest. One by one the servants took the lids off each dish. Vegetable dumplings, steamed fish, rice, and for desert a variation of fruits along with fruit pie and moon cake. A howl of approval was heard across the room from Sokka. With expert like fingers Sokka swiped several fish onto his plate while Katara chastised his table manners.
"Wow Zuko you're really doing a great job of incorporating the food I mentioned!" Aang shouted gleefully as he grabbed a fruit pie and moon cake completely ignoring the other dishes.
Midori only watched as everyone continued to place food onto their plates. She felt like an intruder on a private conversation. As everyone discussed the food or continued before forgotten stories she observed. She had seen Team Avatar when she was visiting Ba Sing Se, but that had been months after the war ended. They had certainty matured in the past years. That day Aang stood exactly at Katara's level. Now he was beginning to tower over her, but that strong encouraging smile was still ever present, but on a more angular face. Midori stole a glanced at the Water Tribe siblings. Their blue eyes shun with mirth. In aging both had become even more similar. Both with higher cheek bones and fuller lips. As she continued to scan them over she nearly choked on laughter as Suki repeatedly slapped Sokka's back as he choked on food. Midori was very familiar with the Kyoshi warriors and Suki was certaintly living up to Kyoshi standards. Her hair had now grown to her mid back and she lost the childish features in place for a woman's beauty. In contrast to Suki, Toph had cut her previously long hair and let it rest in a stylish cut that Midori knew Toph hadn't chosen herself. Her bangs were still present, but her hair had been cut in a V form leaving long bangs in the front with a shorter cut in the back, it seemed to make the Earthbender's opaque eyes shine. As Midori's eyes continued to scan over the group she set her eyes at the head of the table. Citrine eyes bore into jade. She immediately looked away.
Katara's voice interrupted Midori's analysis, "So Midori I know the Festival is a month away, but can you tell us your ideas for the festival?"
Midori felt almost thankful that she could now join the inside instead of being the onlooker.
She cleared her throat and slipped into business mode. "Actually at this point it's more confirmations, practice, and any add-ons. I had to start even before I arrived in the Fire Nation because the amount of guest at the summit and festival is extremely high. Also now that I've arrived I will be meeting with each of you individually to discuss your portion in the festival."
Slowly the conversations turned to the preparations and the glimpse between Zuko and Midori dissolved into the background forgotten.
Midori studied the map in her hands. The palace chamberlain had been generous enough to create a map to encourage her understanding of the palace for the summit and festival. Midori marked the next chamber with her thumb while gazing at the passage, the map said Zuko's room was nearby. She could see lights streaming onto the empty hall from a cracked door in the room ahead of her. Without a moment's hesitation she decided to pass his door as quickly and silently as possible. Before she could even reach tthe threshold near Zuko's door the sound of breaking glass echoed down the empty hall and made Midori jump back in surprise.
"Why didn't you try to change!"
Midori stood still, unfamiliar with that voice. Her now curious ears perked hoping to hear more.
"I know you caused peace and whatever, but what about us? What about our image?"
There was no response.
"You can't expect the Fire Lord to hang around these…these argh these people beneath you! Zuko! I understand that you're promoting peace, but charity?"
There was a light shuffle of footsteps and the shadows from the cracked door danced in the reflection.
"Maybe that's why this didn't work Mai. I changed too much, but then again you never knew me to know what's stayed the same and what's changed."
The sound of something smashing against the door then shattering to the ground, caused Midori to shift in surprise then speed down the hall. Curiosity killed the cat, but certainty not this one.
Midori bounced into her new bed face first. She hadn't even bothered to turn on the candles or explore, the aches in her body demanding rest. The mattress was so plush she felt herself sink in a few inches. She groaned in satisfaction then reached her hand towards her back tugging at her long braid, she began to weave her fingers through the braid slowly untying the loops.
"Finally no more sleeping in –" A loud explosion rocked her bedroom, but Midori shoot up leaping off the bed in one swift jump before running down the hall.
Zuko coughed as the smoke began to fill his lungs. He felt like there were burning coals in his throat and at any moment the coals would burn through him.
"Zuko!" Aang's voice called out in the fog of ash and gunpowder.
"Aang! Get the others out of here now!"
Without a moments glance Aang leapt into the air clearing the smoke and spotting the air deprived servants. He swept down grabbing two woman in his arms before racing to the private backyard.
"Aang! Where are you going!" Katara called as she ran towards the chamber he had just left.
"Katara come with me! These people may need your healing! Tell Suki and Sokka to begin sweeping the area for more bombs!" Katara only nodded not needing any further explanations before rushing to the backyard as Aang flew back into the meeting room.
Zuko helped usher others towards the exit and beyond the crippling room. He looked towards the door again waiting for Aang when he instead spotted Midori running towards him her eyes wide with panic.
"How can I hel –"
Another explosion shout off from the window right behind Zuko. Knocking Midori into the wall and Zuko to the floor. Three men in crimson cloaks leapt through the broken window. Two grabbed onto each of Zuko's arms while the another held onto his midsection. Zuko could only hear a light ringing. He could barely register the kidnappers, everything seemed to be occurring in a haze of white light and silent but loud ringing, he stared onto where Midori had stood only to see her lying still under fallen glass. Before he could call out to someone he felt the rush of wind as the three cloaked men fell through window.
A/N Hope you enjoyed make sure to review or message me if you'd like a review :)