Zuko woke up to see Sokka looming over him. He normally woke quickly, but seeing his friend's face so close to his own made the shot of adrenaline almost propel him out of bed. Feeling a weight on his chest, Zuko kept himself still, letting his thoughts collect and give him a proper reading of the situation.
He was in bed, but obviously not his own since Sokka was standing next to him and not the body lying on him. He was half dressed as he could feel the shared warmth of skin on skin. Sokka's face was irritated and bemused.
"Hey, the lights are back on." Zuko remarked. The air system was working properly now and blew a gentle heat into the room.
"Why are you sleeping with my sister?" Sokka asked. Zuko looked down and saw the tangled cloud of Katara's wavy hair.
"Because I had the choice between you and her and I mean, can you blame me?" He replied.
"I don't like that you're dating her."
"You're going to make me marry her to spite you, and is that really how you want your sister to end up married?"
Sokka chuckled and Katara finally roused, lifting her head to glare at them both.
"Can you two put a sock in it? I was sleeping." She stated.
"You were not. Your breathing changed the moment I spoke." Zuko said. Katara muttered to herself before rolling back to her side, pulling the blanket up over her head.
Zuko eventually untangled himself from the snare of the sheet and blanket Katara had wound in her sleep. Sokka went downstairs for breakfast while Zuko went into their shared room to shower.
For all the inane rhetoric that had been drilled into his head by various firebending teachers, Zuko felt at peace in the shower. The water hit his skin with muffled paps that sounded like rain hitting the stone pavers in the gardens of the palace. Fat, warm, summer rain that came down heavy from lazy clouds that tottered overhead. As Zuko stood, his head bent to allow the spray to fall on his neck, he could almost imagine being soaked in a surprise storm.
His mother had been caught out in a such a storm before, and Zuko had watched her run shrieking toward a covered walkway. He had been inside, neglecting some lesson, and knelt at the window with his arms crossed on the sill. He had smiled at his mother's beautiful face - a beauty that all mothers had to their children, but that apparently Ursa had naturally earned herself - and how her long, ink colored hair clung to her face and neck. Servants came running with the thick, fluffy towels she preferred, but paused as another figure approached from the other building. Zuko recalled his father's face - also young, also beautiful but in a fearful sort of way - as he saw his wife, soaked and improperly laughing with the servants.
But Ursa's beauty afforded her luxuries not available to many. To only her, really.
Ozai had taken hold on his mother's face and gently pushed back her wet hair. Ursa trembled, from fear or from a chill, and Ozai only smiled at her.
It had stirred a sort of jealousy in Zuko then. That his father, who hated so many, still had the ability to lay hands on his beautiful mother and to make her afraid. To look at her as one does a rare orchid, or exotic pet.
Years later, after his grandfather had been cremated and Ursa had disappeared, Zuko stood out in a sudden rainstorm. He felt the impact of the drops but not their warmth. He was soaked, but had felt no absolution of the falling water.
The shower he could feel. The water was like Katara's fingers, tapping against him in a moment of idle rest. He could breathe here, in the warm, wet air, with the steam curling around his face. With the water hitting the back of his scalp, and running down the lines of his cheeks and nose, he was able to breathe. It was an odd sensation, to take in air that seemed as wet as the rain. The first time he had experienced it, it had taken his breath away.
Zuko remembered when Katara had held back the rain.
He never wanted to explain to her how he found that more impressive than the bloodbending. To her, the bloodbending had been dark and weighty, made more important by the very fact that it was forbidden to speak of it. But bloodbending had seemed almost obvious when Katara had done it. How many poems had he read where shedding blood was likened to an ocean wave, or how lust was the moon that pulled on the tide of a body's pulse?
Stopping the rain was something else entirely.
Determining the strength of the Bender usually equated to the same thing: how much could they control? That implied a sort of physical limitation to the art, and Earthbenders were assumed to be the proof. The most powerful Earthbenders were impressively muscled and could push against the earth's rigid desire to stay in one piece, in one place.
Toph's simple existence threw that out of the window as she had been outlifting people five times her size since she was twelve.
Billions had been poured into research over bending, to see what made it occur and how a Bender became powerful. If it was genetic, or tied to chakras, or a manipulation of chi. If it could be found and quantified, there may be a way to increase it.
Zuko had very quietly created a lab to try and answer those questions. He was ashamed of himself, knowing that he did it mostly to see if his own power could be enhanced.
Azula's ability had made him feel small, or damaged. Katara made him feel like he was standing in the presence of a god.
He had looked up into the sky that day and it seemed like the rain had frozen for miles upward. It wasn't until that moment that he felt fear, but a sublime kind of terror that occurs when one succumbs to the will of something greater.
Zuko knew he could never match her skill.
With a sigh, Zuko turned off the shower and stepped out for his towel. He steamed much of the moisture off of his body with his bending, but he too had a weakness for large, fluffy towels.
The table had been set with platters of food. Cut slices of toast were decimated and a small plate of butter had been hacked apart. Bacon and eggs were neatly parted on the same platter, with a spoon jutting haphazardly out of the yellow mound. A ceramic teapot sat next to a shiny metal coffee urn, looking like a tall stern husband with his squat cheerful wife. Cream, sugar, pots of jam stood like beehives, with tiny spoons and sticky pools littering the expanse. At the dining table, five seats were taken. Zuko felt a lump form in his throat.
"Hello. Zuko here."
The embarrassment attached to this very specific fear came on quickly. As he worried about it, Suki looked up and waved him over.
"Good morning Zuko!" She greeted as he approached the table and dragged out a chair.
"He-y." He faltered, switching the word mid-stride. Clearing his throat, Zuko tried, and failed, not to make eye contact with the two people that scared him the most in this situation.
"So, just to address the Tigerphant in the room, I do already know." Aang said as he hefted his mug of coffee. Katara patted Zuko's hand as he hung his head down and groaned.
"See? Just like ripping off a bandage." Katara said. Zuko groaned louder and let his head fall onto the tabletop. The others laughed and Toph kicked him under the table.
"Cheer up Zuko, I'm pretty sure everyone at the table has had a crush on you at one point or another." Toph said. Zuko lifted his head but kept his chin on the table.
"Really?" He asked.
"Not me." Suki said. She smiled at him as Zuko rolled his head over to look at her. "No offense, you're just not my type."
"Look, no one cares about you or your relationships." Sokka interjected. "Today is about Suki and me."
Zuko snorted and sat up. Katara passed him a coffee and he lifted it toward Sokka and Suki.
"To two of the greatest people I have ever been blessed to know. May it finally be enough to keep Sokka out of my bed." He said. The others, laughing, lifted their own mugs and cups.
"Here, here!" They shouted and began leaning over the table to clink their drinks.
"Oh by the way," Katara said as Zuko sat back and started to drink his coffee. "Chang has said that in repayment of you breaking everything last night, you get to do the honors of clearing the snow."
"Snow?" Zuko repeated.
"Oh yeah man, it dumped snow last night." Sokka added. Zuko looked from Sokka back to Katara, trying to look as helpless as possible.
"But you're a Waterbender." He said.
"I didn't explode twenty grand worth of electronics last night." Katara replied in a saccharine tone.
Zuko sighed and rolled his head back on his neck, looking across the table at Aang.
"You are both a Fire- and Waterbender." He said. Aang shrugged and took a loud slurp from his mug. After smacking his lips, he set down his mug and smiled back at Zuko.
"You're dating my ex girlfriend." He countered.
"Fine." Zuko said, dragging the word out as he set his shoulders. "But can I at least eat first?"
Aang pushed over the platter of bacon and eggs, using his bending to reheat them enough for steam to start curling in the air. As Zuko started loading his plate, the table resumed their conversations and Katara casually reached over to steal his food.
It was normal, light-hearted, and just enough to almost distract Zuko from the more disturbing theories his mind was putting together about his family. It had been years since Ozai had been defeated and his sister carted off to Ba Sing Se, plenty of time for them to plot.
Zuko sat down with his food and swatted Katara's hand away. She muttered before leaning over the table and using her fingertips to pull the platter closer to herself. Sokka, without pausing in his conversation with Toph and Aang, very leisurely yanked it back. Zuko smiled and bit into the bacon, making sure to lean away from the group as Katara used her bending to splash Sokka in the face with cold tea. Normal and light-hearted.
Reaching into his pocket, Zuko was momentarily paralyzed when he couldn't find his phone. Remembering the events of last night, he just sighed and continued eating.
"So Zuko," Aang started and Zuko looked up. "I hear you were wondering about the new king of Omashu."
"Yeah," Zuko paused to swallow and wipe his mouth. "Do you know him?"
"I do. He was in Jiangsu when I was there last year. He's an interesting guy, name's Li Jing." Aang said.
"Who is he, though?" Zuko asked. Aang made a few faces as he thought before sucking air through his teeth and rubbing the back of his head.
"Minor nobility I think? Apparently, he's like a distant cousin of Kuei's." Aang replied.
"So it was just a family favor thing?" Sokka questioned, having mopped all the tea off his face.
"So it's assumed. The ministers haven't been able to prove the lineage yet." Aang answered and Zuko scowled. Katara patted his arm again and he sighed.
"Have you heard about him marrying Azula?" Katara asked.
"He's doing what now?" Aang said immediately and now Katara sighed.
"So this is news to everyone then." Toph added.
"It doesn't make any sense. Azula is still a war criminal right? This would take international approval." Suki said.
"Technically, the Earth Empire has the most skin in this situation you know?" Sokka replied.
"And the Empire and the Fire Nation are the only ones who can really kick up a proper fuss, if they made a decision between themselves, it's not like the Water Tribes can do anything about it." Toph said
"But that would…." Zuko drifted as he poked at his eggs.
"Did your uncle know about this Zuko?" Aang inquired.
"He must've. My father doesn't have the power to do something like this on his own." Zuko answered, staring down at his plate.
"It's okay, maybe he thought-" Katara stopped when Zuko wrenched his arm away from her reaching hand.
"Thought what? That I was still tied to Mai and going to suffer through that just so my kid could be the next Fire Lord?" Zuko snapped, glaring at Katara. She, looking more shocked than hurt, only blinked at him.
"I'm going to go clear snow." Zuko said darkly and pushed himself away from the table.
It had snowed a lot.
Zuko stood without his coat and shivered slightly as he surveyed the area. From the stoop, he could see that the main road had been cleared, but the lane from the bed and breakfast was very much not. A snow shovel was propped next to the door, where someone had cleared the snow off the porch steps by hand.
Using fire for this was actually not ideal. There would be the issue of residual water and the chance that he would burn whatever was hidden underneath, but he had been tasked with the job.
Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to just do the labor.
Rolling up his sleeves, Zuko took up the shovel and started his work.
It took twenty minutes for his muscles to start burning. The accumulated snow was almost a foot deep, and it was a heavy, wet snow. Zuko made a good dent into clearing the lane but took a break to use his firebending to clear the small patches that had turned to slush. Sweat pooled between his shoulders and were making small, tickling trails down his back. Exhaustion was starting to creep into his arms and Zuko shook his hands when he turned to walk back to the porch.
He smiled sheepishly as he took the mug Katara offered.
"I'm sorry." He said and took a sip of the bitter black tea.
"I forgive you." Katara said and started to walk down the steps, kissing his cheek as she passed him. Zuko sat down on the steps and watched as Katara, like a maestro at her stand, she raised her hand up. Bringing them back down in a sweep before throwing them to the side, the snow responded and was shoved into its banks. Zuko kept drinking as Katara walked down the lane, bending the snow back as she went. Walking back, Katara got to the snow on top of the porch and swept it off. The snow cascaded down the side in a rush, spraying Zuko with small crystals and scenting the air with an icy crispness.
"Zuko, I don't know if there's a plot or not, but we can think of something." Katara said as she stepped up to sit next to him. Forever practical, no matter how much Zuko hated this one habit, Katara started to pull the sweat from Zuko's skin and clothing. The act always made him feel weird and left a salty residue he had to wash off anyway.
"What are you talking about?" He said and shifted away from her. Rolling her eyes, Katara only pulled the sweat from his shirt.
"I'm saying that, you know, I've never been against having kids." She replied.
"Kat, we only just started dating." He said.
"We've known each other for years Zuko, it's not like we're in a preliminary get-to-know-me stage." Katara countered.
"That doesn't mean we need to treat this like it's endgame." He said. He finally slapped at Katara's hands and she left him alone.
"Why not? You don't assume every relationship is going to end do you?" Katara asked.
"For one thing, I've only had one relationship. So." He swirled his tea and fed some heat into it. "For another, I don't assume anything about relationships because doing so invariably results in disappointment."
"What do you want to do then?" She questioned.
"I want," Zuko bit off the rest of his sentence. He couldn't drag Katara into his paranoia and risk her getting hurt.
"I do want to get to know you Katara. And I want you by my side for however this all goes down." He finished.
"Every Agni Kai, I'll go with you Zuko." Katara said. Zuko lifted his tea.
"To new relationships." He said.
"Rising from the ashes of an old one, how appropriate Firebender." Katara remarked and took his cup to drink from it.
"Are we not still friends?" Zuko asked and took back the tea.
"Semantics." Katara said and waved him away. "Now take another shower. You stink and the party is about to start."
The wedding rehearsal was restricted to the actual wedding party. They all travelled together to the pavilion - after Zuko had a second shower - and stood by their cars as Aang and Katara cleared the snow. Other cars soon started to arrive and Zuko sank into his coat. He peered gloomily as Aang and Katara started laughing, throwing snow at each other. Aang always carried himself with what Iroh called a summer breeze. He was light and fun, and usually welcome in most instances. He moved through circumstances with an easy confidence and optimism. To put it simply, he was everything Zuko could never be.
Zuko leaned against a car, turning his head, but not really wanting to interact with anyone. Suki walked off as her Maid of Honor and the mayor, Biyu, emerged from a taxi. Sokka walked over to chat while he waited for another car, hopefully bringing his father and his other groomsman. Zuko had only met the other man once, a quiet fellow named Possum. Sokka had spent some time in the Swamp Tribe and Possum had apparently been an adventurous friend, though his timid disposition made Zuko doubt that.
"It's a wedding Sparky, don't look so gloomy." Toph said as she approached.
"Don't you have a wedding planner to intimidate?" Zuko replied and stepped away from the car. Toph laughed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"You know that both of us are going to miss things from time to time. We made certain choices that ensures that." She said.
"This was big though Toph. I should have heard about this. From legitimate channels."
"You mean through your uncle?"
"He had to have known. There's no way he couldn't."
"No duh. Why do you think he didn't tell you?"
"I have no idea." Zuko fidgeted, snapping little flames down into the snow. Each one hit with an identical sizzle, leaving a small crater in the top of the snow. "It's the only thing that makes me think this isn't a plot. And that maybe Azula is…" He stopped himself and frowned, still shooting at the snow.
"Maybe that Azula is about to be yoked to some poor politically hungry sap?" Toph finished for him. Zuko sighed and kicked the snow over where he had been shooting.
"I just want her to be happy." He said.
"Are we still talking about Azula?" Toph asked. Zuko looked over at her.
"Is Katara unhappy?" He questioned in response.
"It's just weird that you have this soft spot for your sister after literally everything." Toph said.
"No offense, but I don't think you can understand. You didn't have siblings, or even a pet." Zuko replied.
"I had the badgermoles!" Toph said indignantly. She punched Zuko's arm and then leaned back on the car, both of them turning to see that most of the wedding party was now engaged in a massive snowball fight.
"But, you know, you guys are my family now." She said.
"That's gross." Zuko retorted and dodged as Toph turned to smack his arm. They both laughed and watched the snow flying for a moment.
"I get what you're saying though. It's definitely different considering the fluid swapping." Zuko said and Toph snorted.
"To found family." She said and held out a fist.
"To a bunch of weirdos who let me hang around." Zuko said and bumped his fist against hers.
The rehearsal went smoothly. The wedding planner, whose confidence steps faltered around Toph, moved them all through the ceremony. Biyu walked Suki down the aisle, whispering something to keep Suki laughing. Sokka stood at the front, holding his hands together so tightly in an attempt to keep them from shaking. Zuko mimed handing over the rings, pretending to trip at the last moment. Sokka's face went white and Zuko nearly burst something from laughter, while Sokka looked like he was about to throw him.
The wedding planner ended up in a chair with her head in her hands.
After the rehearsal ceremony came the rehearsal dinner. They had all gone back into Kyoshi where the central plaza had been swept clean. Temporary canvas pavilions were propped up with rows of long tables underneath. Tall braziers were standing in various places, the fire held inside looking like plasma. The Water Tribe party was already seated, drinking with some of the villagers.
The dinner started out fairly professional. The local cooks brought out small plates for the wedding party to try and approve. Once the menu had been finalized, and more people had shown up, the drinking really started. As the sun began to set, the musicians started playing. Katara took Zuko's hands and led him to where the dance floor was going to be set. Other groups and couples joined them and they all started moving and laughing together.
Someone at some point let Hakoda in on the changes, and Zuko had caught the man's eye at one point in the evening.
Hakoda had been an interesting man to interact with. Zuko recalled meeting him for the first time right after the war. He saw the man struggle with a lot of things. Zuko was representative of everything Hakoda had hated; he was Fire Nation, had chased after his children, had fought with them. He was the son of Ozai, the great-grandson of Sozin.
It had been hard, but Hakoda had accepted him as an ally, unable to truly hate him when Zuko wore the badge of his own father's hate bare on his face. Over the years, the group had drifted, and Zuko hadn't been much in contact with the leader of the South Pole. However, with the wedding looming and Zuko bankrolling a lot of it, Hakoda now had to deal with the feeling of shame that turned into projected anger.
And so Hakoda watched as his daughter, his heir, a piece of his late wife, laid her head on Zuko's chest as they moved slowly on the dance floor.
Zuko didn't know how to tell him that Katara's love was both a weight around his neck and the only thing that made him feel free. Having her in his arms made him forget about Azula, about plots, and about the future in general. His entire existence was just in this moment, and he couldn't gather together enough curiousity or desire to think about what would come next.
Hakoda, watching from his seat, lifted a glass of sparkling wine. Zuko gave a quick nod and saw Hakoda sigh, but the other man tossed back his drink and turned away. Zuko looked down at Katara and spun her out, watching her face light up with laughter as she twirled under his arm.
"So what about your destiny?" Zuko asked as he took Katara's hand and put a hand on her hip.
"What do you mean?" She moved easily with his steps and kept her eyes locked on his.
"After you cure HIV and become the world waterbending champ, aren't you going to rule the South Pole?" Zuko inquired and Katara chuckled.
"Who knows? The Swamp Tribe is probably going to be the new capital, considering the global market connections and political stability." She answered.
"Would you be okay being the wife of the disgraced Fire Nation prince?"
"Are you asking?"
Zuko moved them both through a wide turn, dipping Katara and holding her there.
"Not yet." He replied.
"Then you'll never know." She whispered. Zuko pulled her up and Katara took the step in, kissing him in full view of the gathered group.
Perhaps it was even more impressive that she could make his whole world come to a complete standstill.
