A/N:
I've spent a total of like 7 hours this week on this chapter, trying to weasel out the words that I resort to when I'm trying to push past a scene. I often forget to go back and reword where needed, but after speed-reading through this chapter probably five times, I've decided to stop nitpicking and just post it!
Enjoy!
Previously…
Hands tensing around the hilts, Katara watched his posture stiffen further. She reached out to touch him, fingertips brushing his back.
"No?" She mused. "Hm. What a shame. I hear he's losing it in there."
Her dark eyes flicked towards the roof.
Zuko felt the eclipse start, too.
"Come on Zuko," Katara said, touching his back again. "She's just baiting you."
Azula got to her feet.
"Aw, Zuzu," she strode towards them casually. "You don't want to stay a while?"
Zuko raised his sword, the tip pointed towards her.
"I brought home some souvenirs when I left Ba Sing Se. You both may actually be familiar with them."
Two men, clad in dark green and gold, dropped from the ceiling.
"Dai Li agents."
The two men landed with a soft thud.
A devilish grin spread across her face, eyebrows quirking in amusement.
"Zuko," she whispered, hand resting on his shoulder. "Let's get out of here. She isn't who you were looking for, right?"
Her eyes could barely make out the Dai Li's dark hats over his shoulder. The duo stood close by, waiting for their orders.
An uneasy feeling pulled at her, like an insect caught in a spider's web.
"I don't think you ought to bother Father," Azula said, glancing at the Dai Li. "Why don't you stay a while?"
It clearly wasn't a suggestion.
Earth rumbled up behind them, promptly blocking off any chance of exiting the way they came.
Katara's heart dropped, one hand going to rest on her water skin's cap, the other fisting at her side.
Neither party moved.
"Tell them to let us go," Zuko demanded, voice a low growl.
"And miss out on all this fun?" She simpered.
The men launched into action, leaping into the air and going onto the offense. Their signature stone gloves rushed towards them, Zuko's swords easily coming up to slash the rock away.
With a pop, Katara uncapped one of her skins, withdrawing the water to form tentacle arms.
She wouldn't stand idly by while his sister's thugs attacked him.
They worked in tandem, batting away a number of earthen attacks the men threw their way. Azula had moved back to her throne, draping herself across the arm, watching them.
A stone pillar shot out of the earth, effectively smacking Zuko and Katara apart.
The prince took the corner of the stone with a grunt, nearly clearing the projectile's path. Katara, on the other hand, took the pillar to the chest with full force, yelping in pain as she flew back. At nearly the last second, she open palm smacked the side of it, sending it shattering into small pebbles.
She staggered, desperate to keep the ground beneath her feet. Her chest hurt, the air being expelled from her chest.
A column of earth erupted up around Katara, the stone prison briefly reminding her of the rock candy accessory in Omashu.
Yelping, she found she was completely pinned, unable to budge an inch.
Moisture dripped down her leg, presumably from her previously cloaked hands…hopefully not from a water skin left uncapped.
She would find out once she was freed.
Her eyes danced from Azula to Zuko, who stood seething across the room.
"Let her go, Azula." He gritted out, rubbing the sore spot on his chest. "She's not a part of this."
"Not a part of this?" She repeated, eyebrows quirking. "I would say she's the one who got you to feel sorry for those peasants…no?"
An incredulous snort left Katara.
Was Azula actually that sheltered, that thick?
"You think I made him change sides?" Katara queried, absentmindedly wiggling in her constraints. "Are you really that blind?"
Rage flicked briefly across Azula's dainty features, the princess quickly crossing the throne room.
The thought crossed Katara's mind that maybe she shouldn't have spoken out against a borderline insane teenager with a superiority complex.
But it was too late now.
"For someone who doesn't think that they're a part of this, you sure do talk a lot." Azula sneered. "Perhaps I should silence you."
Turning on her heel, she only had to send the Dai Li a glance before the earth continued to rumble up and over her nose and mouth.
Eyes widening, Katara thrashed, looking desperately to Zuko for help.
Zuko sprung into action, swords at the ready. Using the previously erected pillar as leverage, he leapt atop of it, sprinting towards Katara.
"Well hey there, princess!" A familiar smug voice called.
Toph?
The earth shook and fell off Katara seconds later, the previously solid stone bent away into pebbles. She crumpled forward, into Zuko's awaiting arms, sucking in massive breaths of the stale unground air.
Zuko let out a sigh of relief, the twin swords crossed awkwardly behind Katara's body.
Toph was the first through her newly created door, cracking her knuckles and smirking cockily at the two earth benders.
Aang and Sokka filed through behind her, determined expressions plastered across their faces.
The Dai Li seemed to wait once more, Azula boredly watching the reunion.
"Katara!" Aang called, eyeing their embrace. "Is everything okay?"
She straightened, briefly meeting Zuko's hardened amber gaze.
"It is now." She replied, smiling gratefully up at those amber eyes.
Katara shivered and Zuko moved his arms, allowing her to step back.
"One rock candy ring experience was enough." She muttered, mostly to herself.
"Did you get it?" Sokka called.
She sent her brother a thumbs up, flashing the small vial.
Meanwhile, Aang stared grumpily towards Azula, clearly not who he expected.
"Oh," Azula regarded the two siblings. "So I take it someone did get the greeting I sent…just not the intended person."
"You," Aang growled, slashing his staff towards the girl. A sheet of air sliced through the space, headed straight for the throne.
With catlike grace, Azula vaulted out of it. The air slammed into the chair seconds later, sending jagged pieces flying.
The attack on Azula seemed to be all the instruction the two earth benders needed, both men throwing themselves back into the fight.
"Aaah!" Sokka shrieked, Azula darting right by his body.
Aang followed seconds later, blasting by the Water Tribesman with a gust.
Running towards her brother, she pressed the vial into his hand. Hopefully he would make it back before she did.
"Don't lose this, Sokka." She urged, and his mouth gaped, clearly somewhat offended.
"Uh-"
Katara had just enough time to flash him a motherly gaze before turning her attention back to her and Zuko's other mission — Iroh.
"Zuko!" Katara called, watching as Toph and Aang chased after Azula. "Let's go, while they distract your sister!"
The prince reunited his swords in an arc, the metal sliding with ease into the scabbard at his spine.
He growled in frustration, turning to glare at the direction in which Azula went; Aang and the others not far behind.
Cursing, he turned to look at Katara. "Why did I let her distract me? She was playing with me, like she always does!"
Offering him a sympathetic smile, she remained silent as they stalked back out into the tunnels. She was blessed to have a sibling like Sokka. Despite his goofy tendencies, he was one of her best friends. Katara couldn't imagine having a sibling like Azula.
"Where to now?" Katara queried.
"I need to find him," he stated.
"Iroh? I thought you knew where he was?"
Surely he wasn't talking about his father…Katara thought. If he knew where Ozai was, then they needed to go back and get Aang, so he could face him too.
The Fire Lord was far more important than the snotty princess.
"No."
They stalked down another hallway and came across a staircase.
"Stay here." He nearly growled.
She pressed her lips into a tight line and nodded, staring down the stone tunnel.
~0~
"I knew you'd return," A deep voice sneered, the massive doors slamming open with a bang.
"Tell me what happened to my mother," Zuko drew his swords, eyes wild as he strode into the large, empty room.
Their voices no longer carried down to Katara's ears, the heavy doors shutting behind him.
And so…she waited.
Not long had passed before Zuko's footsteps rhythmically padded down the stairs, the same deep voice screaming something after him.
If it was Ozai, she hadn't a clue.
She'd not been able to make out whatever had been said.
Katara didn't particularly want to hear their conversation, anyways. If it was about what she thought it would be, then it wasn't any of her business. Zuko could tell her if he wanted to.
He reached the landing and regarded her with no emotion.
"Was that Ozai?" Katara asked, gently. "We should go get Aang."
Zuko stared stonily at her.
"There's no time, the eclipse is almost over."
Katara wished she could shake her growing sense of dread.
~0~
They stepped out onto the dusty ground, eyes squinting in the daylight.
The sun had reemerged from behind the moon, yet the return of fire bending didn't seem to faze his determination.
"Is that it?" She asked, gesturing to the large stone tower that almost looked to be built into the side of the cliffside.
"It is."
As they got closer, their eyes widened at the disarray of the prison. Katara had to crane her neck to see the entirety of the massive stone tower. The peak of the tower bled into the overhang of the crater walls, seeming to disappear back into the earth. It was difficult to see where the cliff walls ended and the tower began.
The front door stood wide open, soldiers strewn about on the path outside.
The bodies disturbed Katara more then she would have liked. It seemed surreal, to see so many people lying limp on the ground. She averted her eyes, much like she'd done during the beginning of the invasion.
It took effort to not stop and check on every downed guard she saw, reminding herself that they were the enemy - they were the ones backing the Fire Lord on his quest for world domination.
Guilt flared up inside her, but the fact that many weren't coated in blood made her feel a bit less guilty.
Zuko pressed open the heavy steel door, gingerly stepping over a body.
He held it open, watching as Katara grimaced at the sight of yet another injured guard.
Whomever wreaked this much havoc clearly knew what they were doing.
"What do you think happened?" Katara whispered, their footsteps trudging up the flight of stairs.
"I don't know," Zuko replied, glancing back at her.
She didn't like the look on his face.
As they reached the second level, sounds of other prisoners echoed from elsewhere on the level.
If they were still there, imprisoned…Katara thought. Then perhaps Iroh would be alright.
"Hey!" A rough voice barked from outside the third floor's stairwell. "What's going on out there?"
The two met eyes before Zuko shook his head, pressing his finger to his lips.
"Hello?" The same man called angrily.
Katara obliged to Zuko's request, casting another glance at the shut door before continuing up the stairs, the angry voice fading.
Katara's legs burned by the time they reached the final flight.
Her ascent had slowed significantly, Zuko disappearing out into the hall, leaving her to slowly trudge up the final few steps.
She took a deep breath, fueling her wobbly legs.
Keep up, Katara, she willed herself as she walked into the hall.
Zuko's rapid footsteps echoed ahead, her eyes briefly catching him slip into a cell.
She'd rather not be stuck looking for him in here.
Metal smashed on metal, the noise reverberating into the rest of the level, painfully loud.
She'd just rushed into the small cell when Zuko's screamed, "He's not here!"
The cell was no more then a dank, small room, with an equally small metal box situated along the back wall.
"Where is he?"
The question was growled at the guard, unconscious and slumped in a heap against the stone wall. Zuko squatted down beside him, staring hard at his closed eyelids.
"Hey," Katara murmured, trying to grab his attention.
"Where is he?" He demanded again, louder this time. "C'mon old man!"
He shook the guard, head flopping like a rag doll. "Tell me!"
A low moan drifted out from the man's lips but he didn't awaken.
"Zuko!" She said, firmly. "He's out cold. He's not going to be able to tell you anything if you hurt him any worse."
He whirled around, golden eyes blazing.
"He's gone, Katara!" His hands gestured wildly to the empty cell, bars curled outward. "He's not here!"
She made herself hold his hot gaze, forced herself not to give under the intensity or pitch of his words.
"I know," she said gently, sympathetically.
"I don't know what to do if he's not here!"
His brows creased for a split second, before his entire face, entire being, fell. He dropped to his knees, tears pooling at his eyes.
A strangled sob tore its way out of his chest, hands raking through his hair, arms covering his face. The sight alone broke her heart.
Katara knew how badly he'd wanted to be there to rescue his uncle, how Zuko wanted to be the one to save him, just once.
For something to work out the way he wanted it to, when he wanted it to.
The older man had done so much for him and he longed for nothing more then to be able to return even a sliver of that kindness.
The water bender bent to her knees beside him, gently touching his shoulder. His body shook with his sobs and her lips pressed downward glumly, gliding her hand down his back, rubbing soothing circles.
She didn't say a single word. There was nothing she could say that would soothe him.
They didn't know enough —didn't know anything, really.
And sometimes…sometimes not knowing was worse.
Two more slow circles later, in between chest racking sobs, Zuko scooted closer. His arms gripped her body and pulled her towards him.
A little gasp escaped her lips, but she recovered, arms winding around his warm body.
"It's gonna be okay, Zuko," she murmured.
He buried his face in her chest, her chin tilting down to rest atop his head.
His sobs shook her, wet tears soaking through her shirt. His hands clawed the fabric and knotted themselves into her ends of hair, like she would disappear, too.
The raw emotion ate away and Katara blinked back tears, squeezing Zuko tighter.
She knew the feeling all too well, the countless times her father leaving her echoing back, her mother's death, the moment she realized she was completely and utterly lost - the moment that had started her on this entire journey.
The journey with Zuko.
Or, the journey to Zuko?
Minutes past and they remained embraced, the pit growing in Katara's stomach.
The not knowing was definitely worse.
Spirits, she prayed. Please let Sokka get my father that medicine. Please let Iroh be okay.
The prison guard groaned and that appeared to be all it took for Zuko to snap out of it.
He pulled away. Katara got a good enough look at Zuko's face to see the glint of sadness replaced with his all-too familiar determination.
"Where is my uncle?"
"Unnnhhhh," the elder guard moaned, eyes cracking open to see the scarred face of the banished crown prince. "He broke himself out. I-I've never seen anything like it."
"What?" Zuko growled, gripping the man's face in one hand.
"He broke himself out." The guard repeated, a bit clearer.
Zuko's eyes widened and he abruptly released the man's face.
Katara took one long glance at the empty cell, briefly picturing Iroh there. Then, picturing herself there. Or her father.
Or, any of her friends quite frankly, if their invasion plan didn't go over as planned.
Zuko cleared his throat, staring impatiently at Katara from the doorway.
"Let's get out of here."
Blinking the dark thoughts away, she shot a sympathetic glance at the beat up guard before following Zuko out the door.
"Wait—" she stopped in the doorway, squinting at a small object on the ground near the doorframe. "Look."
A small object lay on the ground, covered in dirt.
Squatting, she picked it up, brushing away the filth. Wordlessly, she handed it to Zuko, eyes sparkling.
"Why are you —"
His eyes landed on the white lotus, the curves of the petals, the dots in the center.
Zuko gripped it hard in his palm and let out a long breath.
They left the prison the way they came — through the staircase. It appeared the majority of the guards were still out cold - or dead - and the ones who had woken up took one look at the hardened face of Zuko and looked away.
Katara wasn't sure if it was because they knew who he was, or if it was for the vibes he was throwing off.
Either way, they made it back to the ground level and out the front door without any trouble.
When they stepped back into the daylight, the warm sun beat down onto them, the eclipse long gone.
"Let's hope that the invasion was a success." Katara mused, squinting up at the sun. "We need to get back to the others."
"I need to find my uncle first," Zuko corrected huskily, staring across to the other side of the empty crater. "Why wouldn't he try to reach me? Leave me a note? Anything! He should have known that I'd try and rescue him."
Katara pressed her lips in a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Anything more then this stupid Pai Sho tile!" He ripped it from his pocket and flung it at the dirt, hard. "When will the old man realize I don't know what it means!"
If he was being honest with himself, however, he would realize that he did know. He knew without having to be told what it's significance really was.
It was more then an ordinary Pai Sho tile.
It meant something to more people then only his uncle. That much was clear.
If it wasn't clear when they'd been smuggled into Ba Sing Se, it should have been when Hideo only had to take one look at the tile before giving them passage to the Fire Nation.
And with a game as popular as Pai Sho…it would be easy to use such a gambit to signal your alliance without saying a single word.
Those who knew, would know.
And those, like Zuko, wouldn't.
If only he knew what the blasted tile meant, what it stood for.
"Do you think he would have risked the chance that you wouldn't?"
He stopped walking, head whipping to stare at Katara.
No, he answered inwardly.
Zuko hadn't thought to explain any of his other realizations to her, not yet.
"We'll find him," she reassured him, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. "Besides. You said you'd teach Aang fire bending. Come stay with us for a while."
He hesitated.
"Where would you go anyways?" She continued optimistically. "At least with us, you won't be alone."
Zuko cocked an eyebrow and she winced slightly, figuring that last comment wouldn't be quite as good of a selling point as she'd hoped.
This was Zuko, she was talking to, after all.
They'd made it halfway to the tunnel doors by now.
Katara knew despite weeks of traveling together, the young man still thoroughly enjoyed his solitude. Brooding-filled or otherwise.
The young man sighed for what felt like the millionth time that day.
Still studying him, she smiled when she saw the stubbornness ebb away long enough for him to give into her pleas.
"Fine."
~0~
After the hike back through the tunnels, they finally reemerged.
"Hey!" Katara called, smiling. "It looks like they made it!"
Her grin faltered, eyes landing on the carnage and slabs of earth that she could barely make out near the Caldera's entrance.
Hadn't they?
"Katara. Look." Zuko sounded…scared. It was one of the first times she'd heard it.
She turned to look towards the coast. Her heart dropped.
"What—? Oh my…"
Five massive metal airships hovered in the air…a much, much larger version of what her brother and the Mechanist had assembled months prior. Five smaller, more familiar looking hot air balloons floated in front of the colossal airships.
Her hand clamped over her mouth, heart dropping.
They were almost to the beach, by the looks of it.
"Oh, no."
Whirling back around she gaped at Zuko, at a loss as to what to do.
"Is that them?" He pointed towards the white and red blob in the sky, heading away.
Her eyes widened.
They left them? Everyone?
Wait - Appa couldn't carry that many people - they weren't being followed by anyone else…
Tears pooled in her eyes, mind racing.
"I-I" she choked out. "I think. Zuko, how…how are we going to get out of here?"
Katara looked to him, rubbing her arms nervously.
"How is anyone else going to get out of here?" Her face fell. "Is there even anyone left?"
Stepping forward, he wrapped his arms around her in a hug, the action happening before his nerves could get the better of him.
It was the least he could do, he decided. She'd been there for him.
Her body trembled in fear and he squeezed her gently letting her sniffle against his chest for a moment.
He worked his jaw, pulling away from her. "I think I have an idea."
Zuko met her eyes, giving her a small, hopeful smile.
~0~
Hours later, the evening sun low in the sky, Katara and Zuko coasted through the air.
Zuko had been right to think that his father would have produced more then the five airships and five hot-air balloons used to guard Caldera. With some difficulty, they'd snuck back into the capital and managed to swipe a hot-air balloon from beneath everyone's noses.
"You look exhausted," Zuko murmured raspily. "Why don't you get some sleep?"
Katara had leaned herself on the edge of the basket, staring out across the darkening sky, watching the sea and land pass below.
Lifting her head off her arms, she turned back to Zuko.
"Sleep?" She repeated grumpily. "How? I don't even know if my father is alive, if Sokka is alive. I need to know who got away safely. We need to find Appa."
He gazed upon her tired face, noting the dark circles that had formed beneath her eyes.
Katara held his gaze stoically.
"I can't believe we were so stupid." She grumbled. "I should have turned and ran to warn the others when we found Azula where your father was supposed to be. It was all one big trap."
Her hands raked through her knotted hair and she winced, her fingers catching in a particularly bad wind-blown knot.
How she would have killed for her comb right now, but she only had the clothes on her back.
She huffed a breath, hating herself for feeling so annoyed by something as simple as her hair, when there was no telling how many of their people had lost their life or been imprisoned by their stupid, failed plan.
Katara shook her head bitterly, staring out at the sky and letting her gaze blur.
And now she was separated from her family and friends — again.
Zuko turned to blast another small ball of fire into the furnace.
The prince held his tongue, knowing that 'I told you so's' would only piss her off further.
He was tired, they both were tired. Emotionally and physically.
"We'll find them." He settled with. "That's what you told me, right?"
"Yeah," she rubbed her arms beneath her own cloak, sighing.
It was clear from her tone that she didn't like that answer, didn't want to hear her usual optimism pushed back at her.
Zuko removed his cloak, walking the short distance across the basket to her.
"Here." He handed her the fabric to her. "I'll wake you when we stop. Get some sleep."
She took it with another dissatisfied sound and sat on the floor of the basket.
Leaning into the wall, she wrapped her cloak around her Water Tribe blues and bunched his cloak beneath her head.
~0~
The prince turned to look out across the darkening sea, eyes finding the familiar island growing closer.
Venting the balloon, he began the slow descent.
The sunset seemed to come and go in the blink of an eye, sending Ember Island below into darkness. Thankfully the moon was quick to rise, casting her cool light onto the earth below.
As Zuko steered the air balloon around to the lesser populated side of the island, the massive shore backed home came into view.
His family's beach house.
It had been so long since he'd last set foot there.
Things were so different, then. His family was different.
He dreaded the familiar sights and rooms, dreaded the memories, yet it was easily the best option.
Zuko sent a glance at Katara. The girl looked peaceful, all traces of worry she'd previously bore gone.
A yawn snuck through his defenses and he covered his mouth, scowling.
No time for that.
Stay awake, Zuko. He commanded himself, wiping his hands across his face.
Snuffing the fire nearly completely, the balloon dropped altitude quickly. A flare of panic shot through Zuko, the treetops growing alarmingly close.
Piloting the vessel had a learning curve, much like anything, but with his mistake he learned that the consequences could be worse than say, playing the tsungi horn.
Blasting as much fire as he could manage, he was rewarded with quite the blaze. The balloon rose up, barely cresting the trees that surrounded his father's home. Trying the landing once more, but slower, he brought them down on the private beach.
Katara stirred, but didn't awaken. After another long look at her, he bent down, scooping the younger girl into his arms with a soft grunt. The balloon deflated above them, the red fabric beginning to trap them inside. He cast one look at his cloak before exiting the basket.
It would be there tomorrow.
Zuko trekked up the short winding path to the massive home atop the sand dune.
At some point, Katara awoke, groaning against his shoulder and lifting her head.
"Zuko?"
Her blue eyes cracked blearily open, his neck and face coming into view.
"You're awake," he mused apologetically.
"I can walk," she replied sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
Blushing slightly, he stooped and put her down.
"Where are we?"
The massive house loomed in front of them, the tall, sharp peaks cutting the night sky.
"Ember Island," he said, leading the way up the steep staircase.
She followed silently.
"We're breaking into someone's house?"
They'd reached the small porch, the ornate red and gold door framed with two large urn-looking pots.
"No," he rasped, bending down and fishing out a key from inside one of the pots.
The door unlocked with a soft click and Katara curiously turned to see their surroundings. The sea crashed against the shore behind them, the moonlight reflecting off the water. Their air balloon's basket sat on the sand, the red fabric laying over it in a crumpled heap.
She'd not remembered anything except leaning against the wall to fall asleep.
How long ago had that been?
"It's my family's," he said and she turned back to see him standing inside.
She frowned and yawned. "Your family's? Is it safe to be here?"
Regardless, she stepped into the musty building.
"Yes," Zuko said, somewhere across the dark room.
A lantern came to life, the red glow illuminating their surroundings.
They were standing in a small parlor, the stairs on the right leading up into the upper level of the house, with another set of stairs leading down into the ground floor.
Zuko contemplated the upwards stairs for a long moment before seeming to think better of it, instead turning to trudge downwards.
He took the firelight with him, so Katara quickly followed, curiously looking around and taking in what she could in the dim light.
The beach house's interior was constructed almost entirely out of dark wood, the signature colors of the Fire Nation woven throughout the home. Gold threads in the tapestries and carpets glinted back at them as they passed through the downstairs hallway. Though she couldn't see the color clearly in the low light, she figured the paintings that hung on the wall and the muted colors in the carpets were that deep, vibrant red.
Much like the palace, the entirety screamed wealth.
The level housed the living area, bedrooms lining the right wall, a few larger open empty rooms along the left. Large, dust covered windows lined virtually every inch of wall space on the left side. She found herself wondering what lay past the paned glass.
He came to a stop at the second to last door, shoving it open.
"Here."
Sitting the lantern down on a small table inside the door, he turned to look at her.
"I'll be in the next room."
Her fingers had somehow woven themselves together in front of her. She watched his departing figure.
It had been a long day.
For both of them.
"Zuko?" She called quietly, wondering if her mousy voice had even been loud enough for him to hear.
He paused outside his door and she peered at him from beneath her lashes.
"Goodnight." She murmured. "Thank you again for saving my father…and getting us out of there."
The dark haired boy dipped his head, fringe falling over his forehead.
Despite the hallway's darkness, her eyes had adjusted enough to barely make out his face.
Zuko flashed a lopsided grin and went into the room without another word.
~0~
When Katara woke, it took her a few moments to gather her bearings. Her eyes opened to see the dark wood paneled ceiling crossed with support beams. Hazy sunlight drifted in from the crack under her door. The room's layout hadn't been something she'd bothered to notice the night prior. Sleep weighed her mind down to the point where she laid down on the large four poster bed and promptly fell asleep. Shoes and all.
Now that she had a full night's rest, or at least as close as one could get, she sat up to take in the surroundings.
The bedroom was nice, as expected. The four poster bed was carved out of dark wood, with a royal red bedspread and dark pillows. Decorum was light in the room, a massive landscape painting along one wall, a chest of drawers and a few other now-dead potted plants scattered about.
Swinging her legs to the edge, she scooted off, the dust tickling her nose.
Grimacing, she stood on sore legs and brushed herself off.
Her entire body ached, much like it did when she spent so many long nights bending and traveling as the Painted Lady.
The thought of her spirit alter-ego sent a wry smile across her face, the faces of the villagers flicking through her mind.
Hopefully they were still doing well.
Stretching, she strolled over to the door and opened it, deciding to explore a little if her companion was still asleep.
Opening the door to the sunlit hallway, she peered at Zuko's still closed door. Perhaps he was still asleep like she thought.
Looking back to the open room across from their doors, her curiosity pinged her once more.
Katara went over to the dusty row of windows and rubbed the grime off to reveal a large courtyard.
Her brain tried to picture any member of the Fire Nation's royal family vacationing here.
Iroh, maybe.
But Azula? Ozai?
While she hadn't had the…pleasure…to meet the tyrannical Fire Lord, based on what she'd heard and paintings she'd seen done in his likeness — relaxing and family time didn't seem to be high on either of their priority lists.
She turned away from the courtyard, her eyes catching on a small portrait of a younger couple on the side wall.
The woman was pretty. She had long dark hair that framed features set in a solemn expression. The man was objectively handsome, though he had an unsettling look to him. After closer inspection, she realized that must have been Zuko's parents many years prior.
"Hard to picture him here, huh?"
Katara startled, turning to see Zuko rubbing his hand through a wet head of hair.
"Yeah," she managed, eyes flicking down to the towel clutched around his waist.
She felt her skin heat, gaze naturally being drawn down his toned chest.
He'd gained some weight — muscle - since they'd been traveling together. Perhaps he was eating more, now that he wasn't having to cook for himself.
Realizing that she was gawking, she blinked, looking back to the photo and fidgeting with her hair.
"They look young," she went on, feeling awkward.
Katara felt that hot gaze on her profile, but she didn't have the guts to turn and look.
Not again.
"That must have been right when they got together." He commented. "I'm going to see if I can find any clean clothes. Azula may have some old ones that would fit you. The bathroom is the door past yours."
She glanced nervously at him, nodding understandingly.
"Okay."
Katara practically fled into the washroom not long after, quickly filling the tub and getting in. The girl busied her mind with the self care routine, spending time carefully detangling her hair and scrubbing the built up muck from her skin. She was thankful to find a comb and some soaps inside the linen closet, along with a towel.
The dust seemed to not touch the objects inside the closet as bad as it had the rest of the home.
After feeling properly cleansed, Katara allowed her mind to wander, absentmindedly running the comb through her thick hair.
How could they leave people behind? She wondered, thinking to Appa's small form disappearing in the distance the night before.
Surely Aang was there, and Toph and Sokka… but what about her father? Bato? Haru? All the others? She couldn't see her father taking a seat on Appa when the Duke and Teo needed one, too.
And the Boulder, Haru's father, the swamp benders…the list went on.
What exactly had happened? Had they been separated from everyone somehow?
She frowned, fingers trailing through her hair from scalp to end without trouble.
Putting down the comb, she picked up her filthy blue clothes, tossing them into the tub without second thought. Katara shoved her hair over her shoulders and got to work, scrubbing at the fabric, watching the dirt float out of the fibers.
A dark thought crossed her mind.
Had Appa been the only one to survive? Had he fled at a last ditch chance of self-preservation?
Fear rose up into her stomach, sending nervous knots winding their way into her gut.
A knock sounded at the door, ripping her out of the reverie.
"There's some clothes out here if you need them."
Shaking her head, she called weakly, "Okay. Thank you."
Though her clothes were now as close to clean as they would get, she still cracked the door open and stuck her arm out to grab the clothing.
Red stood out less than blue.
Katara pulled on the proffered clothes, lips pulling downwards as she gazed down at herself.
What had he given her? Beach attire? Was that really all that was here?
The strapless top exposed the majority of her sides, the front coming to a point above her belly button. The skirt, the same dark shade of red, was a simple long piece of fabric meant to be wrapped around the hips and across the front, covering about as much skin as her sarashi wraps would. Her thighs were only covered about as far as her fingertips reached.
She felt naked.
Katara attempted to tug down the skirt before exiting, sending a wistful glance to her drying blue Water Tribes clothes.
This was better than nothing, she supposed.
Her stomach growled loudly, the noise echoing through the hallway.
"Zuko?" She called. "Did you happen to look for food?"
Silence answered her call and she peered down the hall, half expecting him to poke his head out from one of the rooms.
Where did he go? She wondered, continuing down the hallway and heading back up the stairs to the landing. Katara trudged up the next flight of stairs, noticing how the wooden railing was smooth and worn from years of use, how the stair treads intended ever so slightly in the middle.
The second floor opened into a living room of sorts, the floor a huge open area.
It wasn't the furniture that caught her eye, however, it was the family portrait that hung on the wall.
The four of them were all in the photo, his mother and father sitting on tall backed chairs, with young Azula and Zuko settled on the floor in front of them. Ozai even had his hand on his son's shoulder.
Her heart squeezed.
"I told you it would be safe to be here because the last time any of us set foot in this house is when we were happy." Zuko murmured from behind her.
She turned around, arms crossed awkwardly in front of her.
His expression bitter at the remark, she watched it relax as he drank in her appearance.
Color flitted across her cheeks and she looked down.
Katara's hair fell in soft and poofy waves, completely down, no trace of hair loopy or braid.
He thought she looked beautiful, though he wouldn't admit it out loud. He had always liked her in red.
The color suited her. It was a strong color, for a strong woman.
"It looks nice," he commented, clearing his throat. "It fit okay?"
Blue eyes flickered up nervously and she tugged again at the skirt.
"What is this? Beach clothes?"
He shrugged. "You're on an island. I don't know what Azula keeps here."
Sighing, she glanced around the room, looking at the daylight filter in yet another cloudy window.
"Did you happen to find food during your expedition for clothes?"
Zuko rubbed his neck.
"No. We probably should go pick some up though."
"With what money?"
Zuko cocked his eyebrow up at the question, gesturing to where they were.
~0~
Zuko heaved their new pack full of food and supplies into the basket, irritatedly shoving the red fabric from the balloon out of his way. They'd discussed possible locations where Appa could have went. Assuming the sky-bison had a full saddle, he could have only made it so far.
"If Aang is there," Zuko had said earlier. "He'd want to go somewhere familiar yet secluded."
Katara agreed with that.
The banished prince thought back to his early days hunting the air bender, long before the siblings had discovered him in the South Pole.
"The Western Air Temple is pretty close," he mused. "It's due north of here."
"Within Appa's range?"
"Definitely."
"That settles it. We'll go there."
The fire bender nodded curtly before igniting the furnace.