Katara
From behind us, the moment is interrupted when Azula starts screaming. I look over, and she's still securely captured, but is breathing fire as she screams and cries. And I realize I don't hate her. I just feel sorry for her. She's my age, I think a little younger, and has had so much pressure put on her for so long she's cracked.
"This isn't the triumphant victory I wanted." Zuko says.
"Me either. What do we do?" I ask. He grits his teeth as he sits up.
"I saw how you beat her. Freeze her again. Skate the ice to the dungeon. There are chains down there for firebending prisoners. Impossible to melt with one firebender alone. I'll show you." He says and forces himself to stand up, but I have to catch him so he doesn't fall over.
"Woah. Sit down. I'll take care of her, then I'll come back and we'll get you into bed." I say, my face turning a little red at how the words came out.
"No way I'm sending you alone with her. Just…help me walk." He says. I sigh.
"Alright, Fire Prince, if you insist on being so stubbornly heroic." I tell him and raise my arms, encasing Azula in ice again. I walk with Zuko, supporting most of his weight as he leads me to the dungeons, and I create an ice path for Azula to slide down and straight into a cell. I move inside the water like I did the first time and secure the anti-bending chains, and melt the ice.
"Welcome to your new home, Azula." Zuko tells her as she screams again, the two of us stepping back from the fire coming out of her mouth. "For now, anyway. We'll find some servants to bring you some food and a chamber pot. We'll figure out a permanent solution later." She just keeps screaming. Zuko sighs. "Lets go, Katara." He says, and I help him as we walk back to the Palace. The place is practically deserted.
"Where are all the servants?" I ask.
"I don't know." Zuko grunts. "We'll figure that out later."
"You're right. For now, let's just get you back to a bed for some healing sessions. Do you want to stay in your old room? Or a new one?" I ask, knowing that his childhood was rough. Sometimes people don't want to be in the same space they were in during abuse.
"My room." He grunts. "My dad never went there. Azula rarely did. It was sometimes the only place in the palace where I could feel safe." He tells me. I nod.
"Then lead the way."
We walk down the abandoned halls until Zuko leads the way into a bedroom with a huge canopy bed with windows that let me see all the way to the ocean. It has a couch, a wardrobe for clothes that's still full, and a desk with scattered papers and brushes and ink. It looks like Zuko's father and sister never bothered clearing out his things. Unfortunately, it's more that they didn't care enough to do so than they were hoping he would come home.
We get to the bed and Zuko lays down, grunting the whole way. I stroke his hair away from his face and kiss him briefly, then go to get some water.
"Where are you going, Water Princess?" Zuko calls after me.
"I'm just getting water for your healing session." I say and turn to curtsy to him. "If it pleases you, Fire Prince." He chuckles.
"If I remember right, a healing session involves me mostly undressed with you running your hands all over me. Yeah, it pleases me, Katara." He smiles.
"I'm also going to find the kitchen and get us some food and drinks, bring some to your sister, too." I tell him. His face gets hard.
"Be careful around her, Katara. You'll have to remove her hand chains for her to eat. Make sure you keep the wrist locks on when you remove the gloves. She'll be able to bend with her hands, so stay out of range, but she'll stay secure."
"I'll be careful, Zuko. I promise." I walk back to the bed and kneel next to it, grabbing one of his hands with both of my own and kissing him softly for a second. "I promise."
"No detours on the way back, Water Princess." He smiles, making me giggle.
"Now that I'm yours, try and keep me away." I tell him. I love you flashes through my head and almost comes out of my mouth, but I don't want to say it yet. He might love me too, Iroh seems to believe so. He took a lightning bolt for me, but he did that once before when I was on his ship, before he ever could have loved me. I can't be sure, and I can't risk making the relationship shaky on the first day if he isn't there yet.
"Just hurry back." He growls, making my stomach flip and my heart flutter.
"Y-Yes Sir." I say, kiss him one more time then run out the door.
I decide to take care of Azula first so I don't have to worry about anything after I get back to Zuko. Also because my heart hurts for her. Defeating her wasn't the triumphant victory I wanted, either. Even if it's just by a few months, She's younger than I am. She's a child forced into her father's twisted way of thinking and into her father's war. She's too young for it to really feel okay with holding her accountable everything she's done, but she's also too dangerous to let her go free. And the last thing I saw of her was a broken girl who'd lost her mind. She may have to be locked up, but I can at least make it as comfortable as I can for her.
I find her bedroom in the same hall as Zuko's. Going through it quickly I load a large basket up with blankets, pillows, some soap and a beautiful - I'm not sure bucket is the right word with how elaborate it is - bucket I'll fill for her with Water, and a change of more comfortable clothes. Then I stop by the Kitchen and get plenty of food to last her for a few days in case things come up and it wouldn't be easy to get back to the dungeon. I also see some Dream Lillies and grab those too. They'll knock you right out and give you pleasant dreams. She could probably use that right now.
When I get to the dungeon she's still screaming and sobbing, punching and kicking and breathing fire to no avail. Her chains hold fast.
"Azula?" I say as I get to the cell. "I brought you some things to make you more comfortable."
"Filthy Southern Water Tribe Peasant!" She screams and breathes fire at me, it stopping a few inches short of me. I see her more clearly now that she's the only thing I'm focusing on. Her hair is cut uneven, and her makeup looks like it was done by a toddler.
"Azula, I want to help you. I brought you some things to make you more comfortable."
"Get away!" She screams. "Just go crawl back into my brother's bed!" I flush red. But I know she's just trying to get a rise out of me, so I let it go. But before I can say anything else her screaming and crying turns into crazy laughing.
"You're-You're from the Water Tribe. The South. Not even the North." She bends over, her chained hands holding her stomach as tears come out from laughter rather than tears.
"You've known that. Why is it funny now?" I ask, setting down the basket and crossing my arms.
"Because-" She suddenly stops laughing and looks me in the eye with a glare. I return it. She doesn't scare me anymore, even if she wasn't chained. "I saw you kiss Zuko. You love him don't you? Of course you do, everyone does. You, My mother, Mai. But you can't be with him. For the Fire Lord to get married, he has to have the approval of the Fire Sages. They're more than The Avatar's servants, you know. They're priests to Agni, the spirit of Fire himself. Without their blessing, he can't get married. And they have never granted it to anyone other than Fire Nation Nobility, with the exception of our mother and only because she came from an Avatar's Bloodline. You are neither Fire Nation nor Nobility." She smiles coldly. "So, Little Peasant, You will Never be his, and he will never be yours." Her words hit me so hard I almost can't breathe. Iroh said it would be difficult, but she's saying it's impossible.
Azula Always Lies. Zuko told me before. This can't be right. She's just trying to hurt me in any way she can. She starts laughing again, then crying after a second. True or not, she's clearly having a breakdown. I push her words to the back of my mind, then bend down to pick up the dream lilies. I crush one of them in my hands, then freeze some water vapor into snow and shower it into her cell. In seconds she's quiet and unconscious. I wait a minute or two to make sure she's really out before I get the key and open the cell. I unlock her chains and move her off the cot, covering it with her pillows and blankets. I set up the chamberpot, food, and water bucket all within reach. Then I look at the unconscious Fire Princess on the floor. Sighing, I pull water Vapor out of the air and rub it over the bar of soap I brought until the water clouds up with it. Then I put it in the bucket, strip Azula down, and run the water over her until her body is clean and all the makeup is gone. Then I dress her in the clothes I brought for her and put her on the cot, chaining her wrists and ankles again. I empty the bucket and fill it with fresh water to drink. I see her once beautiful hair, now choppy and uneven on her face. I make some Ice scissors and cut the bangs even. It doesn't look great, but it looks a lot better than before. Then I lock the cell behind me as I leave, throwing her old clothes away, and I try to forget what she said to me. But I can't
Does Zuko know? Has he thought about it? I don't know if it's even crossed his mind. And if it has, then what? Is he just going to be with me for as long as he can before he has to get married and sire an heir, then I'll either be kicked to the curb or a become a palace concubine? No. I'll never be someone on the side, and besides that the Moon and Ocean spirits require chastity until marriage. Which apparently will never happen. So I guess that means Zuko's mine until he's not, and then I'll have to take my broken heart back home to the South Pole.
When that happens, will I even be able to get over him? Spirits, I love him so much. He's handsome, powerful, gentle, kind, and honorable. I don't think I'll ever find someone else like him. He's taken not one, but two lightning bolts for me for Tui and La's sake! How am I ever going to look at another man and not think of him? I'm not sure I can.
I go back to the kitchen and get some food for me and Zuko. I get bread, peanut butter and jam, and spend some time making some phoenix-chicken noodle soup. I gather it all on a try and carry it back to his room. He smiles when I open the door and walk in.
"What took you so long, Water Princess?" He asks. "I thought I said no detours."
"There weren't any." I try to fake a smile. "I just got Azula set up and got some food. Then I came straight back." I put the tray on the table next to his bed and glove my hands with water, deciding a full healing session is probably more pressing than supper.
Zuko sighs as I work, my hands running all over his torso. I wish I could ignore how muscular he is, but I can't. I just try to focus on the healing alone best I can.
"Here's your food." I say and put the tray on his lap after he sits up. "I'm going to go get the bedrooms set up for everyone, since there for some reason aren't any servants around." He grabs my arm as I turn.
"What is it?" I ask.
"You tell me." He says, making my stomach drop. Was I really that bad at hiding that something's bothering me?
"What do you mean?" I try to double down. "I'm just going to get the bedrooms set up."
"Katara, don't do that. Don't pretend everything's fine when it's not."
"But it is."
"What did Azula say to you?"
"She didn't say anything, I knocked her out with dream lilies." He stares at me for a second then sighs. Before he can say anything else I start talking. "Everything's fine. Maybe your brain is just a little more cooked from the lightning than I thought." I giggle. And glove my hands with water, pouring healing energy into them and placing them on his temples. "I'll be back soon, Zuko." I kiss his forehead and head out of the room, despite him telling me to wait. Once the door is closed behind me, I start to cry.
I pick the bedroom next to Zuko's for myself, and I try to get myself together as I shower in the warm running water, getting the days of travel and fighting off of me. I find some clean clothes in one of the rooms, and get out of my dirty dress and into a two piece red dress, not unlike the other one I have, but this one doesn't have a shoulder strap. Then Once I'm clean, changed, calm and collected I do what I said I was going to do, I get six more bedrooms ready for the Gaang, Iroh, and my dad. I don't know when they'll get here. I get a messenger hawk from Sokka, saying they won, which fills me with relief. I tie a message to Appa's horn to confirm Zuko defeated Azula and send him back to the Gaang, telling them to meet us here at the Palace.
It's almost midnight when Zuko finds me in a room down the hall, cleaning things that don't need to be cleaned to keep myself busy.
"Zuko!" I shriek. "What are you doing out of bed? Spirits, you can barely stand!" I say and get up to go over to him, slipping his arm over my shoulder and mine around his waist to help support him.
"It won't take as long to heal you now as it did back on the ship because I'm better at healing, but you still need at least three more days of bed rest!" I tell him.
"I've been waiting for you to come back for hours. But you haven't. And I don't know what Azula said, but I know she said something that's gotten to you. Tell me what it is, Katara." He says, pushing me back a little to look into my eyes. They prick with tears again. "Katara." He whispers and uses his free hand to cup my cheek. "Please." I look in his eyes and the words stick in my throat. No, I don't think it's even crossed his mind about the Fire Sages. He doesn't know we can't be together. I'm going to have to tell him. But I can't get the words out of my mouth. After a moment he sighs. "Take a walk with me." He says.
"No, you need to get back in bed." I protest.
"I need this more." He says in a low voice. "There's something I want to show you. Don't argue, just come with me." My stomach flips and my heart hurts. But I just nod.
"Okay."
With my help supporting him, he leads me down the grande halls and outside. Before too long he stops at a pond with sleeping turtle ducks, and he steps back from me and puts both his hands on my shoulders. The moonlight fills the sky, and illuminates his pale skin, his strong physique since he didn't bother pulling on a shirt, his handsome features, and his raven hair. How can I look in those tan eyes and tell him we need to stop, that it won't work, and if we pretend it will we're both just going to get even more hurt. I don't know if I can. But I have to.
"This is my favorite place in the whole palace. It's where I've always felt the most peace. What's wrong? Don't pretend everything's fine. I know it's not. And I know it had to be something that Azula said. So what's wrong?" He asks, firmly but gently. I hiccup as tears fill my eyes and flow down my cheeks. His face gets worried, and I take a deep breath and force the words out.
"It's never going to work." I cry. "I want this so bad, and you probably haven't even been thinking about this, but even if we wanted this-us-to be permanent it never could be. The Fire Lord has to get the approval of the Fire Sages to marry, and they'll never approve of me. I'm just a water peasant. And what am I supposed to be when it comes time for you to marry and have Kids? A palace concubine? I'll never do that. So this needs to end before it goes any farther and we both get more hurt" I cry, then hug him and bury my face in his chest, my tears making both of our skin slick. He holds me tight for a second, then pushes me back and looks me in the eye. His face has a fierce look.
"Did you think I didn't know about the Fire Sages? I know. And I don't give two shits. They'll bless the marriage when the time is right."
"How do you know?" I ask, wiping my eyes. "Azula said they've never granted a marriage outside of Fire Nation Nobility. The only exception was your mother because of her bloodline. Why would they approve of me?"
"Because I'm not going to give them another option. I refuse to marry anyone else. If they won't bless it, we'll have a ceremony in the South Pole under the customs the Moon and Ocean spirits demand instead of Agni. And they'll hate that more than anything, so yes, they'll give their blessing."
"You've already thought about marrying me?" I ask, my stomach fluttering and my heart beating wildly. He smiles.
"I've thought about everything. I love you, Katara. It's okay if you're not there yet-" The words shock me, and I cut him off with a kiss as soon as I hear them. He moans into my mouth, and I move my arms up his back and into his hair. He puts his hands on my waist and I tingle at his touch. I kiss him until we're both breathless.
"I love you too." I tell him. "Please, Zuko, promise me what you said is true. Please. I can't take the heartbreak if you're wrong." He puts both his hands in my hair and pulls me close to him. The skin on my stomach touches his, and it makes me melt a little inside and a whimper escapes my lips. I feel a heat spreading through my body, a want, a need.
"I promise, Katara. It's true. I love you, and the Fire Sages can say what they want and stir up all the trouble with the public they want. I don't care. If they won't bless the marriage, we'll get married somewhere else. If you'll have me, of course." He chuckles. "I might have gotten a little ahead of myself."
"I-I can't speak for myself." I say, thinking of my tribes customs, specifically that my whole tribe has to agree to the marriage. But my father's the chief. If Zuko can convince him, then everyone else will agree. I take a deep breath and step back to look him in the eye. "In my tribe, it's not just me or my dad that need to say yes. It's my entire tribe. But I'm not too worried about it. I'm sure my dad can convince them." He smiles.
"And if he can't we'll run away together and have and Earth Kingdom ceremony. But I don't think it'll come to that. We'll deal with the Fire Sages, your tribe, and your family later. Right now I don't want to think of any of that. I just want to be with you." His voice is low and makes my knees weak. I smile at him.
"You've been out of bed too long." I say and quickly kiss him, nipping at his lip. He growls a little, making me melt more than I already have.
"I agree." He smirks. "Bed."
...