Blood of the Flames

by downfall-of-love

They both had to grow up pretty fast. They both had to prove themselves. They both had become what their nation expected them to be. But what do they want to be? Through seemingly endless trials, they find that they always have each other. I do not own the rights to these characters

3. III

Zuko

I returned back to the palace and I slipped into my room. I stop dead in my tracks as I see a figure on my bed.

"It's okay, little cousin, I know where you go. I've known for quite some time. Why do you think there's always extra food for you to take?" Lu Ten turns around and looks at me with a smile plastered on his face. I remove my mask and face wrappings.

"What brings you by tonight, Lu Ten? You can't just be here to say 'hey, I know you steal from the palace and give to those in need.' What's going on?" My voice sounds a bit harsher than intended and I see him wince.

"Ouch, Zuzu, fire burns, remember?" He laughs at his little joke that really wasn't all that funny. "I came by to let you know that my father has invited us and Aa- er, I mean, Kuzon to accompany him into the city tomorrow. Will you be free?"

"Yeah, sure, is there anything else?" I respond a little more harshly than I intended to. I'm overwhelmed with the knowledge of there being another person in town working for the same cause. Not only just another person, but someone else taking on the persona of a spirit.

Quite a beautiful spirit at that. Her blue eyes were like I've never seen before. It's not a common trait in the Fire Nation. Her skin was darker than most as well, but it made her even more beautiful. The red makeup streaked around her face only enhanced the ocean blue of her eyes and the light brown color of her skin. Her hair, spirits, her hair was just beautiful. I have never met a girl quite as gorgeous as she.

"Zuk? Are you here?" Lu Ten waved his hand in front of my face.

"I'm sorry, I'm here. Did you say something?"

"I just said that that was all I came to tell you, but clearly something happened out there to ruffle your feathers, or should I say light your fire?" Again with the dumb jokes.

"No. No, you shouldn't say that. Are you aware of how bad your jokes are, cousin?" I narrow my eyes at him and hold back a pity laugh.

Lu Ten smiles and nods his head at me while chuckling, "I've heard they're not the best." He walks over to my bed and sits down while motioning for me to do the same, "What happened?"

I shake my head and chuckle as I walk over to and sit next to him. I take my swords off my back and set them beside me before I fall back on my bed and put my hands on my face. "There was a girl."

"Ooh, a girl, do tell, oh cousin of mine." He laughs at me and I shoot a glare back at him.

"I don't know what there is to tell. I mean, she helped save a group of people from a gang, but I still can't figure out how she did it. One almost got away because of me and he hurt her. I jumped down and, well, I guess took care of the situation." I see Lu Ten frown at me out of the corner of my eye. "He's still alive, she told them to choose between their lives or their pride and they all chose their lives. I just helped the last man realize he should choose his life. After that, I picked her up and took her to a rooftop with me and she, well, healed her cut. I can't figure that part out either. She told me she was The Painted Lady." I paused before I kept going. "She was beautiful, Lu. Utterly gorgeous. And she's a kind soul willing to help those in need. She's just perfect."

Lu Ten laughed and smiled at me. "Well, it sounds like you might have a water bender on your hands, Zu. Maybe you can get her to reveal her identity to you and she can teach Aang. Kuzon. You'd think after five years, I could get his name right."

"A water bender?" I sat up and looked at him with a face as hard as stone. "What do you mean a water bender? Nobody from the north ever comes here."

"Then maybe she's from the south? I know, I know, there's no benders in the south, but it's a very real possibility. Go out tomorrow night as well. Look for her. Learn about her. She could be useful, and not just to your nasty hormones."

I feel my face get hot. "I… I wouldn't, Lu, you have to know that. That's not who I am."

"Well regardless, little cousin," He stands up from my bed and makes his way to the door. "Learn more about her. She could help. When you give help, you will receive it as well. Same goes for just about everything else in life. Goodnight, Zu. Remember, city tomorrow. Be ready early."

Lu Ten left my room and I changed into a pair of loose fitting pants and went to bed. Then I had the first dream I had had in ages.

I dreamed about The Painted Lady.

XXXXX

I woke up early and got myself ready for the day ahead of me that was sure to be long if Uncle Iroh is in charge of the schedule. Leaving my room, I ran into Aang, who appeared to be coming to get me so we could leave for the day. We met my uncle and cousin at the front doors to the palace and soon made our way into the city.

For hours, we roamed through the upper and middle rings of the capitol, stopping in plenty of shops along the way. After we had been out for about 4 hours, it was around lunch time and we found somewhere to eat. Uncle ordered tea and made a quiet comment as he drank it, "It's almost like these people forget what good tea is. I guess it's a good thing our next stop is the best tea shop in the Fire Nation."

Uncle beamed at the thought of having good tea soon. We finished our lunch, and Uncle took us to a clothing store nearby.

"Uncle, I hate to break it to you, but I think the heat may be getting to you. This isn't a tea shop, it's a clothing store." Aang stated exactly what Lu Ten and I were thinking, but didn't have the heart to say.

Uncle Iroh just laughed. A hearty laugh as though that was the funniest thing anyone has ever said to him before. "Kuzon, son, this is where we must go first. Understand, my boy, that the best tea in the Fire Nation is in the lowest ring. We can't just waltz in there wearing these clothes. They would recognize us immediately. If we change into clothes to help us blend in, people may not recognize us at all, and if they do, it will still give us more time before that happens."

We all nod our heads and pick out clothing to help us blend in in the lowest ring. We change and leave our clothes with the store owner who said we could pick them up later on our way back to the palace.

Then we're in the lowest ring. Uncle was right, nobody is even paying attention to us. We quickly make our way to the tea shop, and as we do, we pass the spot where I saw The Painted Lady with the gang kneeling at her feet. Dried blood on the ground. Her blood. Seeing it caused the whole night to play again in my mind and I stopped dead in my tracks. Uncle Iroh and Aang continued walking, but Lu Ten held back to make sure I was okay.

"Zu, what's wrong?" The way he asked me made it sound as though this was the most important thing anyone could ever ask. There was nothing more important at this moment to him than making sure I was okay.

I stared at the blood on the ground and I talked quietly. "That's her blood, Lu."

He looked at the blood on the ground that I was staring at and he put a hand on my shoulder. "Well, you said she healed herself, right? She's okay. Somewhere. She's perfectly fine. We should catch up, okay?"

I nodded my head and reluctantly followed him back towards my uncle and Aang. Once we caught up to them, we were standing outside a beaten up house that had a tea shop on the first floor. Uncle walked in and greeted the woman standing behind the counter.

"Ana! How have you been? I heard you got some new help recently. Is she as good as you are at making the world's best tea?"

The woman, Ana, I presume, smiled warmly and walked up to him before they embraced in a tight hug. "Katara is perfectly capable of making some fine tea, although between the two of us, she still has a long way to go."

"I heard that!" There was a yell from the back room. That voice sounded so familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. A girl walked out from the back and stood next to Ana. "It's my second day, Ana. I'm doing far better than we both expected me to."

She was beautiful. I felt my eyes soften as I looked at her and my lips turned up into a slight smile.

She reached her hand out to uncle and spoke. "I'm Katara. Ana took me in when my previous host no longer could. It's a pleasure to meet you sir."

Uncle smiled at her and shook his head before he embraced her in a hug as well. "Katara. Such a beautiful name. Not of Fire Nation or Earth Kingdom. Are you from The Northern Water Tribe?"

Ana laughed loudly almost as if to keep Katara from responding. "Oh, Iroh, funny as always. No, Katara here is from the Fire Nation. Her parents passed early on in her life and they trusted her to be taken care of by her grandmother's best friend, who is one of my close friends as well. They named her Katara after a woman they once met who visited from The Southern Water Tribe."

She's lying, but I can't figure out why. My uncle seems to sense it as well, but he lets the matter drop. Katara retreats back to the kitchen, and my uncle continues his talk with Ana. While he talks, Lu, Aang, and I sit at a table and wait for my uncle to come sit with us. Once he does, he tells us that Ana is going to bring us the best chai we will ever taste, and soon enough, she comes out with a kettle and four teacups. She sets the cups in front of us and fills them before setting the kettle on the table.

"Wow, Ana, this is even better than the last time I was here! What's your secret?" Uncle laughs as he praises the tea, which is admittedly amazing.

"Well, quite a few people ordered it yesterday, and Katara found that everyone had the same complaint. Too bitter. Imagine that, chai, too bitter. She tried something different and there were no more complaints! She is quite lovely to have around. She's so personable. Would you believe it if I told you that she sat with a ton of our customers yesterday and just talked to them to learn more about them? She's truly incredible." Ana rained praise upon praise down on Katara who now stood behind the counter and blushed. "Would you like to speak to her? I already know she would love it."

"Oh, yes! That would be lovely, Ana. Maybe we can take another table as well and we can each tell her about ourselves on a more personal basis. We come on strong, the four of us here together, I don't want to scare her away." Uncle sounded over the moon about the chance to learn more about this girl. I'll admit, I'm quite thrilled as well.

Uncle spoke to her first, then Lu, then Aang, and then finally me. Aang walked back over and spoke five words before sitting down again. "I think I'm in love."

Uncle and Lu both chuckled at this as I stood and walked over to her. I sat down across from her and smiled. "Hello, Zuko here." She smiled and I could tell she was holding back a laugh.

Hello, Zuko here? That was the best you could do? You look like an idiot. Get up, walk away. In fact, walk right out of the shop and back to the palace. My inner dialogue almost covered up her words.

"Hi. Uh, you're the prince, right? I'm sorry if this is too forward, but I must ask. When you become Fire Lord, are you going to fix all of this?" The smile previously on her face as though it was never there to begin with.

"I… what do you mean 'fix all of this'?" I narrowed my eyes and stared at her.

"Well, I mean all of the negativity. All of the gangs. The fights, the unnecessary wars, the fear, everything bad about the Fire Nation." She stared back harder.

I take it that she and I will not be friends.

"When I am Fire Lord, I will do what is best for my people." My words are firm and unmoving.

"So, in other words, no?" She shot right back at me, just as firm and unmoving.

"I… I didn't say that. It's a lot of hard work to be the Fire Lord, and one must do what is best for his people. I cannot say I will do something if it turns out that that thing would make life for my people worse."

She sighed and narrowed her eyes. "I had high hopes for you, Zuki." She stood and walked away.

She knows my name isn't Zuki, right? Right?

I went back to the table with my family and sat down, anger clear on my face. "I think it's time to go."

"What? Katara didn't like you, Zu?" Lu Ten laughs at the realization that she didn't.

I stood up and walked out of the tea shop on my own, and made my way back to the palace. As I entered my room, I decided I would be going out again tonight, and I hoped to see The Painted Lady.

XXXXX

Katara

My time with the few members of the Royal Family was nice today. Iroh was kind and told me how good the tea was that I made for them. Lu Ten was confident and told me that I was capable of great things. Kuzon was… sweet I guess, and I could tell he liked me.

Then there was Zuki, I mean Zuko. His lack of compassion for those he is to be protecting proved to me that Ana's theory of him being The Blue Spirit was quite impossible, and for that, I was quite glad.

After they left the shop, I heard more stories about gangs being out to kill, so once it was dark, I put on my Painted Lady outfit and slipped out into the night. I helped multiple people from gangs and once I believed there was nothing more I could do that night, I went to the roof that The Blue Spirit and I were on.

After a bit of waiting, I realized he wasn't coming. I stood and started to leave, but as I was about to, I felt a hand on my wrist and I was pulled into a body.

"We have to stop meeting like this." I looked up and saw The Blue Spirit.

"Then maybe you should have showed up sooner." I smile up at him and he lets me go. He motions for me to follow him, and I do. We make our way toward the palace in silence. Twenty minutes later, we're sitting on a flat part of the roof of the palace looking out over the city.

"Why are we here?" I'm quite confused as to why he brought me here when we could be looking for people to save in the lower ring.

"Sometimes you need to take a break." He looks up at the stars and lays down on his back, so I decide to do the same.

After some time of comfortable silence, I decided to speak up. "Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"

He chuckles a bit and responds with a voice as sweet as honey. "Of course not, Painted Lady, ask away."

I smile and giggle a bit before I ask a slew of questions, hardly taking a breath between each one. "Is it true that your mask makes it so that you can't die while you wear it? Oh, and why do you use swords, are you not a bender? Where did you get the mask from anyway? I've heard some stories and theories, but it seems as though nobody truly knows. Where are you from? Is it true that you're a reincarnation of the Pygmy Tribesman who used to wear that mask? Did the mask choose you to be its wearer? I heard it only chooses those who are honorable enough to wear it. Do you-" He cut me off and laughed.

"Woah there, that's a lot of questions. Let me try to answer those first. Yes, the mask allows me to stay alive no matter what while I wear it, but I can still be injured. I use swords because I am a good swordsman. I can bend, but I try not to while I'm out, it would draw too much attention since most in the lower ring can't bend. I don't quite remember where I got the mask from, I just remember having it one day. I am from right here in the Fire Nation. I am not a reincarnation of the Pygmy Tribesman who had the mask before me. I don't know if the mask chooses its wearer or not, but if it does, it does not go based on honor, as the spirits know I have none." His words are sharp and he seemed ready to answer all of the questions, but his tone while answering the last one sounded as though he was sad.

"What makes you think you have no honor?" I speak softly, trying to let him know that it's safe to tell me.

"Well that, PL, can I call you PL?" I nod my head and laugh, and he continues. "That is quite a complicated story. One that I tend not to share on the first date."

My eyes go wide and I sit up. "What do you mean date?"

He sits up as well and shakes his head while laughing. "A joke. It was just a joke. I apologize, humor does not run in my family. If you heard some of my cousin's jokes, you would understand. I meant nothing by it, truly."

I nod my head and relax. Suddenly, I remember a joke that Lu Ten told me in the shop earlier today. It was quite possibly the worst joke I had ever heard. "I heard a pretty awful joke today, would you like to hear?"

The Blue Spirit laughs and nods his head. "Lay it on me, PL"

"Okay, what does it sound like when a dragon sings?"

"A fire alarm. I've heard that one before actually, it's one of my cousin's favorite jokes and it's horrible." He laughs and I do as well.

"Well the man who told me was very kind. The son of a general, actually. And I believe he lives right here in the palace."

The Blue Spirit went silent. After a couple minutes, he stood. "I think it's time we take you home."

I nod my head and stand up as well. We make our way back to the lower ring and we stop on the same roof as before. He turns to leave, but I grab him this time. "When will I see you again?" My voice sounds a bit desperate as I ask. Instead of responding, he just pulls his hand free and leaves. I stand on the roof watching him until he's out of sight before making my way back home as well.

XXXXX

Zuko

I get back to the palace and change into loose pants and a relaxed shirt. I hide my outfit and walk into the hallway before making my way to Lu Ten's room. Once there, I knock on his door loudly until he answers. I obviously woke him up.

"We need to talk. Let me in." He stands back from the door and allows me into his room. I sit on the chair in the corner of his room and put my head in my hands with my elbows on my knees. "What joke did you tell to the girl at the tea shop today?"

Lu looks confused. "Why would you need to know what joke I told her? Why does it-" I cut him off as I stand up and stare him dead in the eyes.

"What was the joke, Lu?" My voice is serious and unwavering.

"It was my favorite, and my best. What does it sound like when a dragon sings? A fire alarm. Why?"

"I was hoping you would say any joke other than that one." My body slumps back down onto the chair behind me. Lu Ten comes up to me and kneels in front of me.

"Why, Zu?" Concern drips from his words.

"Katara, the girl from the tea shop, the girl who hates me. I think she's The Painted Lady."

Lu takes a step back as he registers my words. "Well, if that's true, you have no shot with her."

I stand up and almost yell. "This isn't a joke, Lu! She told me she heard a horrible joke today and then she told me that joke. The same joke you told Katara. It makes sense. Uncle said Katara is a water tribe name. The Painted Lady can heal herself, which is a water bending ability. Did you see her face when Ana told uncle about her past? That was the face of someone who obviously did not know the cover story."

"Zu, I think you're overreacting."

"They both have the same beautiful blue eyes, light brown skin, and dark brown hair. I know she's The Painted Lady."

"So go back to the tea shop tomorrow. Ask to speak with her. Say something to her to tell her you're The Blue Spirit without outright saying the words. Maybe she'll respond with something The Painted Lady would say. If she does, you have your confirmation. It's late, Zu, I'm exhausted. Go to bed."

I nod and we say goodnight to each other. I make my way back to my room and go to bed, and when I wake up in the morning, I get ready for the day and put on a casual outfit that I have. One that is perfect for the lower ring.

I leave the palace and slowly walk down to the lower ring, and I find the tea shop. I walk in and Ana seems ecstatic to see me again. She runs over to me and pulls me into a hug.

"Hi, Ana, I hope you're having a good morning. Is Katara here? I wanted to speak to her about our conversation yesterday afternoon. I feel as though she may have the wrong idea about me and I want to clear the air."

"Oh yes, dear. She's upstairs. Follow me."

Ana leads me upstairs, and into her home. There's a sitting area with a nice couch, and she tells me to take a seat, and she'll go get Katara. After a few minutes, Ana returns.

"She'll be right out. Oh, please make yourself at home. I must go back to the shop. Maybe I can send you home with some of Katara's chai for your uncle, I know how much he loved it!"

"That would be lovely, Ana. Thank you."

She nods her head and smiles at me. She then disappears downstairs and I'm left to wait alone. After a few minutes, I hear Katara walk in. "What do you want, Zuki?"

Ouch. "Zuko, actually. I just wanted to stop by and clear up any misconceptions from yesterday."

She sighs and waved her hand for me to continue.

"I… yesterday you asked me if I would help the people of the Fire Nation, and I did not give you the answer that I felt was right. I gave you the answer that I thought was expected. I have so much love and sympathy for my people, Katara. I want better lives for them. I know there's so much negativity here, and I want to do my part to clean the streets, so to say. I know you're only one person, and this is something I should be announcing to the entire nation, but it feels right this way. I feel like I already know you, and like I have to prove my worth to you." She started to walk away.

I realized that it was now or never. I took a deep breath, and I stepped towards her. Everything felt like it was in slow motion. I reached her, and I grabbed her wrist. I pulled her back into me, her body hit my chest. I watched as she tried to look down. I gently placed my hand on her chin and slowly turned her face up to meet mine.

Her blue eyes were wide, and her brown cheeks were flushed pink. A strand of hair fell in front of her eyes and I slowly reached up and grabbed it. I tucked the hair behind her ear, and I suddenly became hyper aware of my own heartbeat. It was drowning out almost everything, but I knew there was more I had to do. I forced myself to calm down so I could speak.

I gasped out my words, barely able to breathe. And I waited what felt like an eternity for a response.

"We have to stop meeting like this."

XXXXX

Katara

Realization floods my senses when I hear his words.

The same voice, the same scent, the same feel of his hand on my wrist, and my body on his, the same everything. Of course everything is the same. Of course it had to be him.

I take a step back from him. "What are you talking about, Prince Zuko?" I may have accidentally played my cards wrong simply calling him the correct name. Pain flashed through his eyes as I backed away, and part of me felt bad. Another, more prominent part of me knew that this was the right thing to do.

I can't get close to the son of the Prince. Not when my job here is to kill his father. I'm here to do a job for my people. I have to remind myself of that. I'm here for my people.

I watch as he takes a shaky breath and steps back too. "I'm incredibly sorry. I… I thought you may have been someone else that I met recently. Excuse me." He turned and left. I watched as he descended the stairs down to the tea shop, and minutes later, I watched him walk out the front door with a kettle in his hands.

I sat down in my room, and took a deep breath to try to come to terms with what I just learned. After a moment, I stood and walked down to the tea shop, where I started my day with Ana.

XXXXX

Hours later, at night, I became The Painted Lady and snuck out. I knew that I had to keep going out because if I didn't, he would know it was me and that I was hiding from him. I can't do that.

I did my service to the people of the Fire Nation, and retired to the same roof as before. I heard a sound behind me, and I knew it was him, so I turned and watched as he approached.

"You know, I made a complete ass of myself today. I thought I met you. Actually met you. Your true self. The girl looked at me like I was crazy." I heard him laugh behind the mask, but I could tell how embarrassed he was. I'm sure his entire face was as red as a tomato, and I smiled to myself imagining it.

"I'm not easy to track down, Blue." I smile at him and he nods his head. "What was this girl's name?"

"Katara. She works in a tea shop nearby. All the signs were there, but I guess maybe I just don't know how to read them."

I hum to myself as if to think of who he's talking about. "Hmm… Katara. I think I helped her tonight, and I'll admit we share a striking resemblance to one another. I can't quite say I blame you."

"Then tell me who you are."

"I cannot, Blue. I have a job here. Telling you who I am would only complicate things. I fear if you knew the truth, I would never complete the job I was sent here to do."

He sighs and sits down. "The way you speak makes it sound as though you already know who I am."

"Don't be silly. I have my hunches based on the people I meet during the day, but I have no confirmation for any of them. Just a feeling. A feeling of… familiarity." I smile down at him.

"HEY!" A guard below shouts at us. He quickly stands and runs away, so I follow. We jump over rooftops before jumping to the ground. There's a tight alleyway nearby and he pushes me in before standing at the entrance to cover my body with his.

His mask slipped off and he held it in front of his body. I look up at his face and notice that only his eyes are showing. One light amber eye surrounded by pale skin. Another light amber eye surrounded by red scar tissue. He's not looking at me, as much as he's looking at the ground. I reach my hand to his face and touch the scar surrounding his eye.

I whisper my words to him. So soft that he can barely hear and a guard definitely would not be able to. "I knew it was you."

The guard comes closer and is practically screaming. He passes by and we hold our breaths. Once the man is gone, he puts his mask back on and leaves without warning. Without saying a single word.

He's just gone.