Author note: Sorry it took so long, in addition to being a longer chapter, it gave me a lot of trouble when I tried to write in a problem that was a little too big for me to handle right then. I also accidentally deleted (I usually close, then hit save, I accidentally hit "no" on the "save changes?" pop-up) about two pages of work, and I'm still not sure if I retyped everything accurately enough (plus it's incredibly boring to have to retype something, as well as immensely disappointing to have done something so stupid). I also had to retype about two pages because of extremely of out of character actions and ridiculously corny clichés. On a better note, I'm also late because I started watching the Avatar series again and read a new book. It's always nicer to be late for a positive reason, and I'm glad I at least had a few good things to temper my unhappiness. Please enjoy. Oh! and I'm going to be sending my computer in for some much needed fixing, but I have no idea when. Basically, there'll be some serious lagging somewhere along the line anywhere from tomorrow to two years from now.

A knock sounded at her door, but when Katara opened it no one was there. She looked around, confused, and was about to ask the guard what he needed when the knock came again. It was coming from another door. She checked the courtyard door first, thinking it unlikely that anyone would enter her rooms through the bath.

"Zuko," Katara blinked.

There was an awkward silence for a brief moment before Zuko broke it, "What is it?"

"Can I get locks for my courtyard?" Katara deadpanned.

Zuko reddened, "this way is just closer to my rooms, I can go if you want." He was obviously flustered.

Katara watched him argue with himself about whether he should just leave, and giggled, "I was kidding, Zuko."

Another awkward silence presided, "oh, of course." Zuko's smile was pained.

Katara sighed, not all jokes were funny. "Are you going to take me to the Jade Room or shall I find it myself?" she thrust out her arm, waiting for Zuko to take it. She hoped she didn't seem forward, but she also hoped he'd hurry up and forget her stupid joke.

After a moment Zuko took her arm lightly, barely holding it, and led her out of the courtyard and into the lighter hallway, the as-yet unexplored one. Katara felt like he had thrown a fireball at her, and she had failed to block it. Was she stupid? She knew that any mention of privacy issues would get her more than she'd bargained for. Any mention of anything whatsoever had to be carefully phrased to prevent an argument about the marriage. She could practically feel Zuko reaffirming his belief that they wouldn't be a good match. Somewhere behind his eyes the gears were turning, and in the wrong direction.

At the point where Katara could have found her own way, right in front of the Jade Room, Zuko dropped her arm and opened the doors. He waited silently for her to enter, seemingly lost in his own thoughts, as Katara so often found herself lately.

The room was unusually dark, in fact far more than unusually dark, completely unlit, "Zuko? Why is there no light?"

"Hmm?" Zuko startled out of his thoughts, looking into the Jade Room over Katara's shoulder. He placed a hand on her arm, moving her to the side so that he could light up without scorching her. His small flame illuminated a completely redecorated room, and a rather sheepish young Lin.

"My Lord, Lady Katara," Lin bowed low, "I'm sorry, I didn't finish," Lin's voice was breathy and high.

"Finish what, exactly?" Zuko glanced around the room, lighting a few lamps with his bending.

"Decorating, my Lord," Lin bowed again, full of nervous energy.

"Good Luck?" Katara pointed to a banner and looked at Zuko curiously, "what requires luck?"

Zuko slapped himself on the forehead and Katara could see his face reddening, he answered Katara by saying to Lin, "the betrothal is tomorrow."

Lin looked mortified, "Well I know, but I thought it might be nice to celebrate, I mean, it's a joyous occasion and, um, I got you a gift!" Lin bowed to Katara, holding a small package in front of her while she stared at the floor.

Katara blinked, surprised; Lin certainly was excitable. "Thank you," Katara hesitated, then took the small item from the young girl. No one moved or spoke while she held it, and after a moment Katara realized that she was to open it. The cloth wrapping parted to reveal a particularly fine comb, made of wood, with detailed patterns carved along the hold. It was an exquisite piece, not as expensive as Zuko's headpiece, but far more beautiful. She didn't know when she would wear it; it was too beautiful for just any old day, and probably not gold enough to be worn among the Fire Nation elite. As much as Katara enjoyed dressing up and wearing something nice, the Fire Nation enjoyed it more. Gold jewelry seemed to be in fashion at all times.

"It's beautiful, Lin," Katara said honestly, "I appreciate it, but you didn't have to get me anything."

"Oh, I know you're used to prettier things," Lin's voice squeaked. "You don't have to wear it, or keep it, or anything."

"No, no! I love it, Lin," Katara corrected the girl, "in fact I'm going to wear it right now." Katara stuffed it into her top knot, "see?"

Lin looked up and giggled, then returned to mortified and bowed extra low, "I'm sorry!"

Zuko chuckled lightly, apparently recovered from his initial embarrassment. "May I?" he indicated her top knot with a wave of his hand.

"Thanks," Katara reddened, turning so he could have access to her hair. Zuko pulled the comb gently from the knot, then replaced it properly. He gave it a small tweak, making sure it would stay in place if she moved her head any which way. He then pulled a few strands of hair back into their place, his fingers grazing her cheek lightly, before pulling away. Katara thought briefly how nice it had felt, feeling Zuko's hands on her hair, then shook her head. She was being silly; it always felt good when someone else played with her hair. When she was little she had always wanted her mother to brush it.

"It's going to fall out if you keep doing that," Zuko's face might have looked a little pink, but then again, the few lighted lamps were casting a red glow, so it was hard to tell.

Lin smiled brightly, "you look very beautiful, Lady Katara."

"Um, thanks," Katara smiled back, flattered.

"Well," Zuko gave the room another glance, "I suppose we'll take our meal elsewhere." Then he looked at Lin, "will you have everything decorated today?"

"Oh, yes, my lord!" Lin bowed.

"We will dine among your decorations later then. Please inform Lee that Katara and I will be taking our lunch in the garden."

Lin bowed and scampered through the servants' door, and Zuko showed Katara out. "Isn't she cute?" Katara grinned at him while they walked.

Zuko chuckled, "she's Jun's niece; she joined my staff only a few weeks ago. Her father owns the only jewelry store in the Fire Nation to feature wooden pieces."

"Wow, I always had you pegged for an I-don't-know-the-names-of-my-servants kind of guy," Katara remarked, surprised Zuko would know so much about a young servant girl.

Zuko was quiet for a while, "Jun has served the palace for a long time, and I had Lin checked out. I wouldn't have known her name if I hadn't assigned her to you."

"Oh," Katara wasn't sure how to reply, and they both walked in silence through the palace.

Zuko led Katara down a few shallow steps and into a medium sized courtyard. There was a sumptuous carpeting of grass and a few trees, but other than that it wasn't very garden-like. There was a small pond to her left, and she could see turtleducks playing in the water.

Zuko stepped off of the path and plopped himself down on the grass near the pond and Katara followed suit. "Reminds me of the good old days," Katara remarked idly.

"Hm?" Zuko looked at her questioningly.

"It reminds me of when we were camping out all over the countryside, eating around a fire, just being outside." Katara laughed, "the Boomer-Aang Squad."

"The what?" Zuko looked even more confused.

"Sokka's name, not mine," Katara grinned and shook her head, "for us, for everyone who traveled with the Avatar."

"Ah," Zuko grinned too, "Sokka."

"Sokka," Katara agreed, as two servants in palace uniform and a picnic basket made their way toward them.

The servants found a relatively level spot of ground not too far away and began setting up a mat, placing various dishes in some sort of order while Katara and Zuko watched in silence. Once they were finished they both bowed, and one left.

"Will you require that I pour the tea, Fire Lord?"

"No," Zuko stood, offering Katara a hand up, "we can take care of it."

Katara took Zuko's offered hand, "Thanks."

They both sat down on opposite sides of the mat and ignored each other in favor of their stomachs. The food looked like a compromise between the Fire Nation and Water Tribe chefs. A large portion of it was traditional Water Tribe fair, but with a Fire Nation flare for spices. It was unusual, but not unappetizing.

While she ate Katara thought. She had felt so awkward when she had sparred with Zuko. Well, only at first, but why should she have felt awkward? She had fought him before, although only when angry. Katara supposed it might be awkward to spar with someone who had previously only fought her when she was angry. How had she been feeling then? Happy? She had felt so content, so good, while she sparred with Zuko, joyous maybe. But what about before that? When he had bared his chest? It wasn't anything she hadn't seen before; she hadn't blushed at seeing a man's chest since she was little and had seen some of the older boys one-upping each other by staying in the water as long as they could. They had all gotten sick of course, even the one who had jumped right back out again.

"Find something you like?" Zuko's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"What?" Katara asked, confused.

"You were smiling," Zuko shrugged, "I thought it might be the food."

"Oh, the food was good, but I was actually just thinking," Katara trailed off, she had been thinking about Zuko.

"About what?" Zuko asked, curious.

"About my tribe. The older boys used to compete with each other by jumping in the ocean and staying there until they turned blue." And about you, Katara thought to herself.

Zuko shuddered, "cold. What brought that on?"

"I don't know," Katara shrugged, glad she wasn't blushing. Blushing seemed to be a constant lately.

"Huh," Zuko leaned back, looking pensive. "I have the rest of today free if there's anything you want to do."

As it happened, there were quite a few things Katara wanted to do. She wanted a tour, not just of the palace, but of the city. The last time she had toured the capitol she had been attacking it, and she hadn't gotten around to a proper tour the few times she had visited afterward. She wouldn't have any problems if Zuko took her shopping, and she could hardly complain if he took her hiking. She'd be fine just talking too. She wanted to see a real live volcano from a tourist's point of view, and she wanted to take a real vacation on Ember Island. There was more, but of course Katara figured she should stick to something easily accomplished within a few hours, and there was one thing she needed in particular, "a tour of the palace would be nice."

"Consider it done," Zuko grinned and stood.

"Starting from my courtyard," Katara added. Her rooms would be where she spent most of her time anyway; she might as well memorize that area first.

Zuko looked mildly confused, "why from there?"

Katara stood and said, "I sort of explored through one of the hallways, but the one we went through to get here is still a mystery."

"Sort of?" Zuko asked, starting toward the garden entrance.

"Sort of," Katara replied, catching up to him to walk by his side.

"Think you could find your way through there then?" Zuko asked.

"Some of it, anything further than three or four hallways is beyond me though," Katara shrugged.

"Maybe I'll take you through there too then," Zuko commented, "might as well."

"Sure," Katara said, "but the lighter hallway comes first."

Zuko grinned, "Alright then, we're here," he spread his arms, indicating the hallway in general.

Katara looked around, it certainly was an unusually bright hallway, "that was fast."

"The garden is just down the hallway and left all the way to the end of the other hall; you probably can't miss it from there, considering the fact that there isn't a wall. A few hallways down from there is the Jade Room. Also, your courtyard is right here," Zuko pointed his thumb at a small red door two feet away. There was a blue ring around the handle, probably to insure that she could find it. "And if you follow this hallway, turn left at the end, and take the farthest left at the end of that hallway, you will see your guard," Zuko pointed off in the direction Katara hadn't been through.

If her guard was only a few hallways down, Zuko had to be pretty close to make taking the back way into her rooms look much shorter. Katara wondered where his rooms were, but decided against asking right then, to avoid the topic of Zuko and her courtyard. Besides, it wasn't like she actually needed to know where he slept or anything.

"What else is around here?" Katara asked.

"Not much," Zuko shrugged, "do you remember the room you used to sleep in when you visited the palace?"

"It's hard to forget," Katara grinned. Her room had been ridiculously extravagant; it had almost been hard to fall asleep in such an over-the-top place.

"It's not too far from here, in the guest wing; it doubles as a residence for family who choose to live in the palace, although there hasn't been a large royal family in a long time." Zuko paused pensively, "there really isn't a lot to interest one person alone in the palace. Despite popular belief, I spend most of my time working, not basking lazily in luxury."

"Then what do you do for fun?" Katara asked, "You're one person alone, you must have come up with something."

Zuko was silent, thinking. After a while Katara began to wonder if Zuko actually had fun anymore, somehow it wouldn't surprise her if he felt that working was his destiny or something and focused all of his being on that.

"You do have fun, don't you?" Katara asked, worried.

"Of course," Zuko said a little too forcefully. "There is a library, I don't suppose you'd be interested in that?" he looked at her hopefully.

"Sure," Katara said cautiously. The fire Nation had devoted itself, during Ozai's reign, to burning any literature that the Fire Lord didn't deem appropriate. What wasn't destroyed was edited beyond recognition. Naturally, anything that wasn't written in the Fire Nation had come to a rather untimely end. Katara doubted that Zuko had built up his library very much since then, it had only been a few years since the purge after all.

"This way," Zuko led Katara onward, in the direction he had indicated if she wanted to find her front door. The walk was a silent one, as Zuko appeared to be lost in his thoughts and Katara didn't want to disturb him. He frowned a lot, and once Katara thought she heard him mumble "fun." They paused only once before reaching the library, at a giant set of red doors.

"These go to the main courtyard, right?" Katara asked before Zuko had a chance to say anything.

"Yea," Zuko seemed surprised she recognized them, "the library is close to the main courtyard, they're good identification markers."

Katara nodded and they both walked on, not many turns later, they arrived at a large set of brown doors, decorated elaborately with a many-fisted dragon. Each fist contained a scroll, and in its teeth was the largest scroll of all. Zuko pushed the doors open to a dim room. None of the lamps were lit, and the windows were high but small. Even without the lamps, Katara could see that the room had a high capacity for scrolls. The walls were high and the shelves many, half of the scrolls could only be reached by way of ladders placed strategically around the room.

"One minute, I'll give us some light," Zuko wandered from lamp to lamp, bidding them rise from their long slumber. Obviously, this wasn't a place he used often. Katara's already small hope that he might have more than propaganda gracing his library died out completely. As the light increased, Katara started to wonder if Zuko even had propaganda. Many of the shelves were only half full or less, and one shelf looked like it had been attacked by the Oonagi.

Zuko sighed angrily from across the room, "The Fire Nation military records are impeccable, our armies are the best trained and disciplined of all the four nations, and our culture is dying because of it."

Katara wasn't sure how to reply, especially since she agreed. The militarism that had taken over the Fire Nation had usurped everything else, and anyone who hadn't followed along had long since given up hope. When she had masqueraded as the Painted Lady, Katara had seen firsthand a village that had lost its entire way of life to the army. But it wasn't entirely hopeless; a little cleaning had given them their lives back.

"You'll rebuild, Zuko," Katara replied, "it'll just take some time."

Zuko looked like he didn't agree, but reigned in whatever it was he intended to say. No one spoke for some time; Katara blew some dust off of a few scrolls and Zuko sat at a high table, his face hidden in shadows. Katara found little of interest other than a Fire Bending scroll that hadn't been in the crispy courtyard. It had to do with creating something in the fire, and looked like it took enormous concentration. The scroll used a small fish as an example, and in one corner indicated that it was one in a series of fifty scrolls. Katara suspected she could do something similar with water if she played a little with the movement, and tucked the scroll into her sash for later review. Then she walked over to Zuko.

"So, where did you hold today's war meeting?" Katara was genuinely curious, but mostly hoped Zuko would lighten up a little if he actually found something he could show her around his palace.

"The throne room. Anyone who wants to speak to their Fire Lord speaks to me through there," Zuko looked up, "you could attend a meeting if you wanted."

"Yeah, if you'd invite me next time; will you show me where it is?" Katara asked.

"Of course," Zuko stood, and then noticed her scroll, "what did you find?"

"Exhibition Fire Bending," Katara handed the scroll to him, "I've seen a fire dragon before, can you do anything like that?"

Zuko looked over the movements briefly, "my studies focused in other areas, but almost anyone can make a fish." He moved free of the table and went through the movements, the result was a small flaming fish swimming through the air around his palm. They both watched it for a moment before Zuko made a fist and the fish dissipated. "It's not always wise to use fire in a library, however dilapidated."

"Probably not," Katara agreed, turning to leave, once at the door she glanced back, "coming? Or shall I find the throne room through trial and error?"

"You'd never get there, it's surprisingly obscure," Zuko jogged up to her.

"Bet I could find it, it's bound to be near the main courtyard, which is only a few hallways in that direction," Katara grinned, showing off her newfound knowledge of the palace anatomy.

"Lead the way then," Zuko looked mock serious. Of course since it was him, he might really have been serious.

Katara successfully found the main courtyard without making even one wrong turn, partially due to the fact that when she had tried to make a wrong turn Zuko had snickered lightly. Upon entry Katara looked around, finding only two other sets of doors. She headed for the set that didn't lead to the outer world, and found the dining hall. It was an enormous room, with pillars twenty feet high and higher, wreathed with large golden dragons. The seats and tables were tiered, the highest of which was a throne, barely visible through layers of sheer scarlet fabric. Immediately through the doors was a low stage, probably used by performers hired to entertain the Fire Nation's nobles.

"Wow, how often do you eat in here?" Katara tapped her toe lightly on the glossy red floor.

"Rarely. I'm not fond of state dinners," Zuko stepped forward, standing by her side instead of behind her.

"I don't suppose there's a door in here leading to a throne room?" Katara caught herself flirting. She could have kicked herself; she was shamelessly using him for information. Or was she really flirting? It had happened so fast, instinctively, but then again she wasn't above flirting to get what she wanted from someone. She wasn't above flirting with a stranger anyway, but Zuko was much closer than that, she had thought she was above using him.

Zuko raised an eyebrow, but showed no other emotion when he answered, "There might be a shortcut."

"In that case," Katara started toward the first small set of doors, "I'll keep looking," looking at anything but Zuko. A few minutes and three sets of doors later, Katara knew two ways to get out onto a vantage point overlooking the city, and one way into the kitchen. Only the throne area remained unexplored.

Katara reached for the fabric and looked back at Zuko questioningly, "Can I go back here?"

Zuko nodded assent from his side of the room. He had chosen to sit out her exploring at one of the lower tables, but Katara had felt his eyes on her back the whole time. Now he stood and followed her behind the curtain.

"Your place in society is by my side, if anything you are more welcome on this side of the veil than on the other," Zuko rested a palm lightly against the fabric. "Not that anyone could complain if you chose to grace them with your presence."

Katara looked away from the small door she had been eyeing. "I don't interact with anyone?" Katara wasn't sure if she should be relieved or lonely.

"That's not quite what I meant; state dinners are mostly for show. You may interact as you please with anyone you meet, but traditionally those behind the veil and before it do not mingle until out of the Dining Hall."

"How," Katara paused, "different."

"Different?" Zuko asked, a light frown barely evident upon his face.

"Different from my tribe. The chief is the strongest and bravest man in the tribe, and proves his worth every day by interacting with the people. The title is often passed down by birth, but if a challenger comes forward he may compete for the title," Katara smiled proudly, "my Father took the title from the old chief before I was born."

"Your father is an honorable man," Zuko replied.

"Yeah, he'll probably pass the title to Sokka in a few years," Katara sighed.

Zuko raised an eyebrow, "is that bad?"

"No, not in principle, but Sokka doesn't really belong there. He isn't happy without Suki." Katara didn't know what Suki saw in Sokka, but she knew they shouldn't have split apart. Suki had tried living in the South Pole, she had tried really hard to make a life for herself there, but she just couldn't take the cold, the dark, or the remoteness. She had been withering away, and Sokka had taken her home. Half a year later he had come back to the tribe, he and Suki had called off their marriage in favor of their homes. In the end Sokka had wanted to be with his tribe more than his bride, or at least he thought that was what he wanted, Katara knew better.

"I see," Zuko sat heavily on a low stair. "Life can be empty without a purpose."

Katara sat down next to him. "I suppose you know firsthand what it's like to lose your purpose," Katara said sympathetically, "but surely you're happier now?"

"I don't know. At first I wanted to capture the Avatar, then I wanted to defeat my father and bring about peace. Those goals were easy enough to focus on, but now I feel like I'm missing something," Zuko let out a frustrated sigh.

"Like what?" Katara asked, wanting to help.

Zuko looked her in the eyes, his face unreadable, for a long moment, and then said quietly, "I don't know."

Katara looked away, Zuko's eyes were unnerving; he looked emotionless, but somehow there was too much emotion in his steady gaze, too much too look at directly. They both sat silently for a long while, and then Zuko stood.

"There's a shortcut to the throne room here," Zuko pointed to the door Katara had been eyeing, "the usual entrance is actually down the hallway you almost took."

"What?" Katara stood quickly, "but you laughed! I thought it was because I was going the wrong way."

"No, not because you were going the wrong way, but because you were going the right way," Zuko grinned lightly.

Katara smacked herself on the forehead, vowing never to feel sorry for Zuko again, and turned to the small door. It was surprisingly plain, matching the wall around it in color and texture, with only a dark Fire Nation insignia to show off its presence. She gave the handle a light pull and found herself behind a low wall of fire. Beyond the fire was a large clear area, completely unlit.

"Kind of dark, isn't it?" Katara turned to watch Zuko follow her through the door, closing it behind him.

"The lamps are lit when I have need of them, but most of the light comes from the fire curtain," he casually waved a hand at the low fire, which sprung three feet higher. The fresh illumination showed off how similar the Dining Hall's design was to the throne room, red. The main differences were size and column style, the Throne Room columns were coated in what looked like gold bricks and studded with what might have been carnelians.

"You meet with your generals this way?" Katara asked, skeptical. It seemed a little intimidating for a meeting place.

"Yea, a table is brought in, as well as maps and documents of interest. The war materials used to stay in this room at almost all times, but it is no longer a War Room," Zuko smiled grimly.

"Huh," Katara could imagine Ozai lording himself over his generals by hiding behind a fire, but it sounded annoying to her, to have a fire blocking the view of everyone in the room. "I suppose I'll see what it's like at your next meeting."

Zuko nodded, "is there anything else you want to see around the palace?"

"Actually," Katara started thoughtfully, she didn't really need to know where he slept, but she didn't really not need to know either, if that made any sense. "Where are your rooms?"

"If you need me it would be best to ask your guard where I am, I'm rarely in my rooms," Zuko looked uncomfortable.

"Well what's the point of having rooms if you don't use them?" Katara tried to grin playfully as she said it, to cover up her disappointment at not finding out where Zuko slept. It was silly really, to want to know where he was at night, beyond silly.

"I spend most of my time in my study, would you like to see that?" Zuko changed the subject.

"Sure," Katara smiled for real now.

"Here," Zuko parted the flames and jumped down from the platform. Katara followed him, looking nervously at the oil beneath her feet, kept from burning her only because Zuko willed it so. They exited the room together through a cloth hanging, red, with the Fire Nation insignia boldly dyed onto its long folds. They then traveled through a large room and into a hallway Katara recognized from earlier. They passed quickly into an area she didn't know, and went up a flight of stairs. Soon they arrived at a gold door, complete with dragon knocker and two guards. Katara doubted whether Zuko actually needed guards, his skills in battle were beyond compare, and this was the palace, who would attack him here?

"This has been the royal study for many generations," Zuko showed Katara inside, "I had almost everything removed, the décor was a distraction."

"I can tell," Katara looked around and amazingly plain room. It was fairly large, although it had a ways to go to reach the size of the throne room. Two scribes had seats near a window, and three messenger hawks watched Katara intently from their perches between the scribes. As Katara watched, one scribe rose and placed a scroll into the carrying pack of one of the hawks and sent it out through an open window. He bowed once quickly in their direction and sat down to write another letter, ignoring the presence of his Fire Lord and future Fire Lady as if they weren't even there. They looked extremely efficient. On the opposite side of the room sat a wide desk, obviously Zuko's, behind which was a scroll shelf covering the entire wall. The shelf was perhaps half full, and a pile of what looked to be the other half of the shelf's contents rested on Zuko's desk. The only decorations were three rough straw mats and a large tapestry depicting the Fire Nation insignia.

"Will I help you here, once we're married?" Katara asked, unthinking.

"If we are married, you may do as you please," Zuko emphasized the 'if.'

"When we are married," Katara emphasized the 'when,' "I intend to."

"There is no guarantee yet," Zuko fiddled with a scroll that hadn't been properly sealed.

"Then what exactly is a betrothal?" Katara snorted.

Zuko chose not to reply, probably noting that the scribes had stopped their writing, seemingly more interested in the conversation than in their work. So much for efficiency, a little gossip had them thrown. Then again, the marriage was a tad more important than simple gossip.

"Let's keep touring elsewhere," Zuko spoke to Katara while glaring impressively at the scribes. They both looked at each other briefly, and then focused again on their work, seemingly unconcerned with Zuko's anger.

"Impressive," Katara muttered as soon as she and Zuko were out of the scribes' hearing. "They don't seem to be effected by you in the least."

"That's because they aren't, and by tomorrow the entire palace will think we're fighting," Zuko seethed, stomping along ahead of Katara.

"Well, we are," Katara put forward reasonably, "and we've done it before too." She distinctly remembered running out of the Jade Room in tears.

"No, we are not," Zuko whirled on her, furious, "and the last time I covered up."

"Sure we are, we're arguing about the marriage," Katara controlled the urge to get furious right back, "and what do you mean, 'covered up?'"

Zuko stared at her, silent, then turned back to his earlier task of stomping away. Katara followed him all the way to her courtyard door, where he turned abruptly around, yet again, to vent at her, "We cannot appear to be arguing."

"We aren't appearing to be anything, it's the truth," Katara snapped at him, "and you still haven't mentioned how you covered our last argument up."

"The truth doesn't matter, I have a leak somewhere, and I don't know who it is," Zuko let out a frustrated burst of fire through his nostrils.

"A what?" Katara asked, shocked, forgetting about Zuko's mention of a cover up.

"A leak, a spy, a traitor," Zuko looked ready to explode.

"Well don't take it out on me!" Katara's mind was whirling. If it leaked out that she and Zuko were fighting, their marriage would be tainted. Someone was bound to think her a victim in a marriage she didn't want. Even the Northern Water Tribe might not approve, and they had arranged marriages all the time. Of course the Northern Water Tribe probably wouldn't be a problem, they were reasonably pro-Fire Nation, it was the Earth Kingdom rebels that would really raise a fuss.

Zuko took a calming breath, but it didn't seem to help, only making his voice sound slightly restrained, "I didn't mean to take it out on you."

"Forget it, I probably deserve it," Katara sighed angrily, she should never have argued with him, no matter how little, in public. "Couldn't you just swear them to silence or something?"

"That's like giving a Fire Bender a volcano, it only adds to the fire," Zuko pinched his brow, frustrated, "and you don't deserve it."

"What can we do?" Katara asked, feeling a slight panic building beneath her breastbone.

"Nothing," Zuko looked at her seriously, "nothing I'd be willing to ask you to do."

Katara glared at him, "idiot! I make my own choices, and I choose to fix this as well as I can." It had been such a small fight, they had barely raised their voices, and yet it could bring the whole plan crashing around their feet. Well, not the whole plan, Katara chided herself. They would still strengthen the Fire Nation with their marriage and over the years no matter how many arguments they had, and there were sure to be plenty, the world would see that their marriage was working. If it worked, but there really was no reason it couldn't.

Zuko didn't answer, he watched her, hawk like, as his breathing became less ragged and his posture less defensive. Katara could hardly think under that predatory glare, but looked back unflinchingly. Soon enough Zuko had relaxed to the point where he looked almost normal, and still he watched her, holding her eyes with his own. Neither of them spoke for a long time, ignoring a guard who passed, and two servants who giggled like the schoolgirls they probably should have been.

Finally Zuko sighed, "Remember Lin?"

"Yes?" Katara made her answer a question, glad to be talking again, but confused as to the subject.

"She's excitable and probably talks too much at the servants' table," Zuko looked at Katara, seemingly for confirmation.

"I could see that," Katara replied, "but what does Lin have to do with our arguing?"

"Nothing whatsoever," Zuko glanced behind Katara and then at the courtyard door, "do you mind if we-"

"Sure," Katara opened the door herself, catching the hint.

Once the door had shut behind the both of them Zuko started again, "I'll have Lin pour the tea tonight, it's easily arranged, and it would be easily masked as a kindness –she did decorate after all."

"Masked as a kindness?" Katara didn't want to be unkind to the girl, evidenced by the acid in her tone.

"That's not what I meant," Zuko waved a hand through the air as though waving Katara's accusation away. "It is kind to allow Lin to pour the tea, that's just not the real reason she'd be doing it."

"Alright," Katara nodded, no longer hostile.

"All we'd have to do is sit a little too close, act a little too friendly, and we'd appear infatuated with each other," Zuko looked like he had stumbled onto a goldmine.

Katara turned and walked to the fountain, watching the water trickle down from the dragon's mouth into the wide pool. Everything Zuko suggested would work, but could she really fake it that easily? She probably would have faked it eventually anyway, to convince Zuko to marry her, but it just felt so wrong somehow, like something essential would be missing.

"Is something wrong?" Zuko asked from behind her, confused.

"No," Katara said reluctantly, "your plan is good, and I'll go along with it."

Zuko was silent for a moment, "you don't have to."

"Of course I do, Zuko," Katara turned, looking at his feet.

"Look, it's not like I haven't noticed that my plans fail to make you happy, I'll think of something else, something you don't have to be involved in," Zuko's stress was obvious.

"Zuko-" Katara started, then stopped, unsure, "I don't want to be a burden to you."

"You're not, Katara," Zuko looked up, trying to catch her eye, only to find her gaze locked firmly on his shoes.

"You don't need to lie to me, Zuko, I know I'm hardly useful, ruining our image and-"

"No," Zuko interrupted, shaking his head. He took a step forward and touched her shoulder, "I'm glad you're here with me, it means a lot that you're still trying to make this work."

"It's hardly working," Katara's voice cracked and she felt a tear slide down her cheek.

There was a brief moment when Katara contemplated running off until she had better control of her emotions, but then Zuko pulled her close, enveloping her in his arms. Surprised, Katara responded in kind, wrapping her arms around his torso. Even through her sadness somehow Katara felt so right, standing there, basking in the comfort Zuko offered. She also felt so hopeless, the betrothal was hardly starting off well, and the marriage might never even happen. All she wanted was peace, and for the people she loved to be happy, but did that mean sacrificing her own happiness? But was she really sacrificing her own happiness? She loved being with Zuko, she loved being with him even now, sharing her inexplicable sadness. It felt almost like he was taking a part of her soul into himself and cleansing it; his soul whispering words of happiness to hers, words of a bright future, and then setting her free to witness everything come true.

They stood like that, Katara silently crying and Zuko silently offering himself as a shoulder for her to cry on, for what felt like forever. Even after Katara ran out of tears Zuko held her, and Katara clung desperately back, her face buried in his chest.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt!" someone gasped from across the room, and the hallway door slammed shut.

"W-what?" Katara backed out of Zuko's embrace, looking at the now empty door.

"Well," Zuko started, grinning wryly, "I don't think we'll have a problem anymore."

"What?" Katara asked again.

Zuko's smile grew, "that was Lin."