A/N: Avatar and the characters created by it are in no way owned by me. Though, I'm prone to taking some artistic license with them, oops.
ALRIGHT SO I LIED. I tried really hard to work the party into this chapter but it was not working out. So, you'll have to wait for the next chapter, possibly. Who knows? These guys tend to do their own thing and it's the exact opposite of what I had planned.
Anyway, thank you very much for the reviews, they make my heart soar and definitely give me the motivation to keep going!
Katara's shouts filled the palace, her enraged screams shaking me to my core and I ripped through the palace, dodging servants and guards as they raced to her room, tearing the doors open with a burst of wind. Her room was trashed, pillows everywhere, feathers floating to the floor. Chair were overturned, cushions on the opposite end of the room than they were supposed to me. And in the middle of it all, was an enraged water bender, her chest heaving.
"Katara—" She thrust a piece of parchment in my hand as I approached her, storming passed me as she exited into the hall. I glanced down, reading briefly before gripping it tightly and hurrying after her. "Katara, what are you doing?"
"What does it look like, Aang?" she asked, a new level of anger in her voice. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little afraid of her in that moment. "I'm going to have a little chat with Firelord Ozai about the security in his palace and tell him he has a Northern Water Tribe spy in his midst and something needs to be done about it."
"But Ka—"
"Don't, Aang!" She came to a halt, her finger stabbing me in the chest repeatedly as I spoke. "You said I'd be safe here, you suggested we come here in the first place. Well so far, I don't feel very safe!" She whirled around, stalking down the hall while I rubbed the sore spot on my chest and followed her, running right into her as I rounded the corner.
Her hands were placed stubbornly on her hips as she stared into the eyes of the Firelord, his wife, and his brother.
"Katara," Ursa gasped. "We were just coming to check on you, all that screaming…"
Katara held out her hand, snatching the letter from me and holding it out in front of the Firelord. "You have a spy, Firelord Ozai, and he made it into my rooms. Which leads me to believe it's either a guard or someone the guards are familiar with, because I doubt the would let Hahn into my room, let alone the palace."
Ozai took the parchment, reading it and handing it off to his companions to read. "So it would seem," he mused, watching Katara carefully. "And what do you propose we do about it, Katara?"
She frowned, glaring at the Firelord while Iroh looked rather interested in this conversation. "Acting as detective for a matter concerning your citizens is not my responsibility, Firelord. But, please, do let them know that this water bender isn't going down without a fight." She turned on her heel, storming away, leaving the four of us in a stunned silence.
Well, stunned for me. The other three looked rather amused.
"I would say, brother, that she has enough spirit to be worth listening to?"
Ozai's lips lifted in a slight smile. "Perhaps, Iroh." His arm slipped around Ursa's waist. "You were right; she has a bit of fire to her. Too bad she's spoken for." He winked at me, leading his wife away while Iroh stayed put.
"Aang," Iroh sighed, glancing the direction Katara had gone. "That is the Katara we need to see more of. Where has she been hiding?"
I didn't have an answer for him. I didn't think I would. She's always been there, slumbering until the right moment to come out.
Katara's doors were back in their locked position when I returned to our hallway. I stood in front of them, staring at the ornate patterns, debating if I should knock on them or not. With a sigh, I gently rapped my knuckles against the wood. "Katara?"
No reply.
I didn't like her being in there alone, not after what happened. I didn't trust she was safe anymore. "Katara, if you need to talk, I'm here."
Again, nothing. I sighed, leaning my forehead against the frame. I couldn't describe the feeling in my chest, a mixture of fear, love, concern, hate, a melting pot of all of them, perhaps. All I wanted to do was talk to her but her silence said that wasn't happening right now. "Just," I paused. "Just let me know if you're okay and I'll go away."
"I'm fine, Aang!" She yelled and something slammed against the door.
I didn't say anything after that, I simply walked away. Nothing I said right now would change anything.
Dinner was taken in relative silence, other than Zuko and Azula being filled in on what had happened this afternoon. Azula was furious and demanded to be in charge of interrogations, which was permitted. Zuko asked to join her but Ursa and Ozai refused to allow him to do so.
"You have a party to be concerned about, Zuko," his mother soothed. "You have a speech to make, remember?
I stopped listening after that. I was too concerned over what had happened today. After lunch with Iroh, I been in my room all afternoon, meditating. I'd heard Katara's footsteps when she left and returned to her room, how did I miss the footsteps of an intruder? Unless they'd come in when we were practicing. But wouldn't Katara have visited her room between practicing and her fitting? And why weren't her fittings in her room?
My eyes flicked to Azula, who sat across from me, eating her food while conversing with her father and uncle. Why was she insistent on Katara being with her today?
Before I had time to even consider asking such questions out loud, the room was silenced by a figure walking into the room and silently taking a seat beside me. I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief to see her.
"Good evening, Katara," Ozai greeted, smiling softly.
"How're you feeling, dear?" Ursa asked, gesturing to the attendants to make Katara a plate. "We've been worried about you."
"I'm fine," Katara replied, her timid smile gone, replaced with one that appeared to be genuine. "A little shaken but I'm not going to let a coward's threat prevent me from enjoying myself. However, I've taken the liberty of sending a message to my father, I want to know that he is safe."
I sucked in a breath, Hakoda was the only person that'd known where we were headed. Spirits, I hadn't even thought about what could have happened to him.
"I've also suggested the South take precautionary actions against the North. With how much they've infiltrated our city, there isn't much they can do. But attempting to limit their resources should help at least a little."
I glanced to Iroh, who had a very pleased look on his face. "Very good, Katara," Iroh nodded, glancing at his brother. "Perhaps we can send some resources to your family to help."
Ozai nodded. "Indeed. I'll also send word to Lu Ten in the North. If we're officially supporting the South, we need to pull out our Northern ambassadors, we'll contact your brother as well. I doubt he's safe anymore."
My jaw clenched, I hadn't thought of how our actions might impact Sokka, and from the look on her face, Katara hadn't either. "They've hardly had a week to get a message to the North, they can't have done anything to him yet," I promised, squeezing her hand.
"He's right," Zuko assured. "Messenger Hawks are by far the fastest form of communication out there, and even they take a few days over long distances."
Before she could reply, Ursa interrupted. "Everything is going to be fine, Katara. Your brother will be here with you in a few weeks' time and you'll feel much better, I assure you. I always feel better when my family is near me and safe." She cast a loving glance in Ozai's direction. "Now, we can finish this discussion later, it's not very appropriate for the dining hall."
Katara excused herself swiftly after dinner, disappearing into the garden before I could stop her. I sighed, watching her round the corner with a determination in her step. Zuko's hand fell on my shoulder and he gave me a sympathetic smile.
"She just needs time, Aang. She's had a stressful day."
"All the more reason to need me."
Azula shook her head as she passed. "No, all the more reason to be on her own. She doesn't need you Aang, if anything she's being an independent woman and that's not a bad thing."
I glared at her, wanting to shout and scream but I let it be. If Katara needed me, she'd come to me.
The remainder of the evening was spent with the prince and princess and their significant others, constructing last minute details to the party being hosted tomorrow night. While it wasn't a wedding ceremony, Zuko and Mai would still have a dance together and Zuko would have to address the party in a boorish speech about love and how much he cares for Mai and how that'll translate to his love for his people. Mai looked rather amused by the whole thing while Zuko looked embarrassed. He was never very open with his emotions and having to proclaim his love in front of everyone would be a daunting task, to be sure. I definitely didn't want to be in his shoes.
I left them after a few hours, not necessarily tired, but not up for any more interaction, at least with them. I attempted to visit Katara but she didn't answer her door when I knocked, leaving me alone in my room, with nothing to do and eyes that wouldn't shut. Eventually, I gave up trying to sleep and sat up, lighting a candle and moving to the window that overlooked the garden, hoping to find some peace in the stars.
Instead, I found the nuisance of a noise meeting my ears, coming from a determined water bender, moving in fluid motions with the water that surrounded her. Had she been out here this whole time? It was well past midnight and dinner had finished hours ago.
"No!" she muttered in frustration as a stream of water fell to the ground. I sighed, leaping out of the window and landing gently on the ground several feet below, slowly making my way toward her.
"Katara?" She froze, turning to look at me, her eyes wide as if she didn't understand why I would be interrupting her. I nodded to the sky. "It's late, you should come inside. It's going to be a long day tomorrow; you need your rest."
Despite knowing I was right, she shook her head. "No, Aang. Not until I get this move."
I shook my head, placing a hand on her shoulder and gently lowering her arm. "We can practice more in the morning, you've been making amazing progress, Katara. You don't need to push it."
Her jaw set, eyes blazing. "Yes, I do."
"No, you don't," I repeated. "You'll learn with time, not overnight. It took me years to master water bending, you can't expect to master it in a few short days."
She shook her head, turning away from me and jerking her shoulder out of my grip. "You wouldn't understand, Aang."
I maneuvered around her, lifting her chin with my hand, forcing her eyes to look into mine. "Then please, help me."
More than anything, I wanted to understand her. I wanted to help her.
With a violent jerk, she tore her eyes away from mine, her chest heaving with the effort to stay calm. "You wouldn't understand because, no matter what, you are able to defend yourself. You know all four elements, if water isn't enough, you have air, earth, or fire. I have water. And right now, it doesn't feel like enough.
"War is coming, Aang. And I can barely defend myself. I'm learning and I'll be forever grateful for your help but I don't feel like I'm enough. I don't think I'll ever be enough."
A sigh escaped my lungs, as her words hit me. "A warrior has one specialization, be it a sword or a bow. No matter what he chooses, he is still a crucial member of his team. The same goes with you, Katara. Even still," I crossed in front of her again, taking her face between my palms. "You're intelligent, you're brave, you're stubborn and determined. You're so much more than water bending and you will always be more than enough. Always."
As my words sank in, her eyes found mine, and before I knew it, she lunged at me, her lips crashing against mine as her arms tightened around my shoulders. I froze, momentarily taken off guard by her actions before sinking into the kiss. My arms encircled her middle, holding her tightly against me as her lips parted, ever so inviting. A sigh escaped her lips, sending a shot of warmth down my spine and pooling low in my stomach.
In a flurry of motion, Katara's back was pressed up against the wall of the garden, her legs wrapping around my waist as I supported her, gripping her thighs while our mouths explored the lips and skin of the other. My heart was hammering in my chest and I was beyond sure she could feel it pressed up against hers.
I should have liked to know what would have happened next, except a small laugh interrupted us, and our kisses ended as abruptly as they began.
Across the garden, Zuko and Mai sneaking around, their lips locked together, getting one last moment of peace, before their lives became everyone's business.
I silently swore, leaning my forehead against her collarbone. My shoulders fell and my chest heaved, lungs fighting for air to return to them.
"Perhaps we should go," Katara said softly in my ear, though her legs were sill wrapped around my middle. I nodded against her neck and slowly stepped away, letting her legs fall to the ground.
"We should probably get some sleep, too. Long day tomorrow."
Katara swallowed, nodding as I took her hand and quietly led her inside.
"Aang," she said as we neared her door. "I—I was wondering if I could stay with you?"
I quirked a brow.
"I don't feel safe in there, knowing that someone cou—"
I held up a hand, tugging her toward my door as I did. "I understand." Knowing that someone had been able to sneak into her room once must have been terrifying, especially knowing they could easily do it again. "I can sleep on the couch, if you like."
Her brow drew together, shaking her head. "Of course not. You can sleep in the same bed. They're ginormous anyway, what would it matter? But I have to get a few things from my room…"
I waited in the doorway as she gathered her things in her arms and marched across the hall, leaving me outside the door as she changed and only permitting me in once she was in the bed, nestled under the sheets. She was a curious woman, I thought, but I think that's what made me love her even more.
I slipped into bed beside her, keeping a respectful distance, though that seemed difficult after what had transpired in the garden.
"Aang?" she spoke softly, her hand reaching across the sheets in the dark. It found mine and she pulled it toward her slightly, her fingers lacing through them. "Thank you."
I smiled, leaning forward and kissing the back of her palm. "Anything for you, Katara."
There's some apology fluff for ya. And I'm sorry to say that school starts back up this week, so updates might be few and far in between from here until May! I'll do my best though
Reviews are like Strawberry daiquiri's after a hard days work ;)
xoxo,
Em
