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Zuko should have known this was coming. The longer they stayed in the Fire Nation, the bigger targets they became. Especially since that stupid “The Boy in the Iceberg” play came out.
The whole nation went crazy.
Now every time he and Katara went to the market, he swore someone recognized them. It was only a matter of time. Katara assured him they would be fine and Zuko almost believed her, until Sokka returned to the beach house with another flyer.
“What do you mean they made a sequel?!” Zuko demanded as Sokka showed off the poster he stole.
It was a picture of the Ember Island players but instead of the whole group it was just the Zuko and Katara actors in a dramatic pose while staring intensely into each other’s eyes.
“Ember Island theater presents ‘With You from Dusk til Dawn’ the exciting sequel the hit ‘The Boy in the Iceberg’.” Suki read out loud as the others gathered around. “Katara the Waterbender heals ex-prince Zuko’s extensive wounds from his battle with Princess Azula. They go into hiding as Firelord Ozai begins his rule over the new Fire Empire fresh after his victory over the Avatar. With no one to turn to but each other, will the star-crossed lovers stand the test of fire or die in the smoldering embers of a new age?”
“Unbelievable!” Aang fumed, causing the post to catch on fire and crumble. Sokka jumped back and frantically blew his hands. Zuko yelled at Aang about control but the boy wasn’t done ranting yet.
“Nobody is going to watch this! It’s terrible!!! We need to leave! Now!”
“Aang’s right.” Katara added. “It’s not safe to stay here anymore.”
“No this is the perfect hideout!” Sokka beamed. “Remember at the other play all those people dressed up like us? Well now they’ll be even more look-a-likes! We’ll blend right in!”
“Snoozels has a point. And it would make the Firelord harder to find us.” Toph pointed out.
The others reluctantly agreed except Aang who still insisted that they moved.
“Well, since you suddenly have so much energy, 20 hot squats! Now!” Zuko barked at him.
“But we were about to go on break...”
“Fine. 30 hot squats! Consider this punishment for that outburst earlier. What have I told you about control?”
While Zuko dragged Aang away for more training and Katara and Toph went off to spar, Sokka stared at the smoking remains of the flyer deep in thought.
“I know that face.” Suki smiled at him. “What are you up to?”
“Well, you know the last play was really successful and the Fire Nation seems to love hooking the Jerkbender and my baby sister up?” Sokka rubbed his chin. “And we’re starting to run low on funds…”
“Yeah?”
“I just had an idea.”
~*~
The next couple of weeks were hectic. As predicted, the ‘With You from Dusk til Dawn’ play was a huge success. Even more successful than its predecessor. The Gaang stayed at the private beach house as long as they could, but supplies were starting to run out. While Aang and Toph trained and Suki and Sokka were off doing who knows what, Katara and Zuko decided to make a quick run to the market place. They should be able to blend right in. Still, they walked cautiously and quickly, alert for the slightest sign of danger.
What they did not expect to see was With You from Dusk til Dawn merchandise.
So much merchandise.
Shirts, bags, cups, hats, costumes, even dolls, all covered in a red and blue flaming heart. Zuko and Katara were everywhere.
“Oh. My. Spirits.” Katara mouthed.
“Hey where did you get that?!” Zuko demanded from a passerby decked out head to toe in the merchandise.
“My Zutara merch? Oh, from Wang Fire! He has a booth at the center of town in front of the Firelord Ozai statue. You should hurry before he runs out.”
“Zu- what?” Zuko asked dumbfounded.
“Did you just say Wang Fire?” Katara groaned. She mentally cursed her brother.
“Yep. Nice costumes by the way. You look just like Zuko and Katara!” the guy patted Zuko on the shoulder before walking off.
Zuko and Katara stared at each other in disbelief. How is any of this actually happening?
Without uttering a word, they both marched to the center of the square. Sure enough, Sokka was there in his ridiculous fake beard packing up the booth.
“Sorry we’re fresh out of Zutara merch! But if you want to put in an order just sign heeeerrrrrreeeeee…. Heeeyyyy guys….”
Zuko and Katara both angrily glared at him, arms crossed and admitting a dangerous dark aura.
“Hey, I got more orders!” Suki waves the paper before seeing Zuko and Katara. “Oooohhhhh….”
“YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS?!” Katara yelled.
“Uh…”
“I CAN'T BELEIVE YOU TWO!!!” Zuko roared. “WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?!?!?!”
“We needed the money!” Sokka defended. “I mean it’s not like the Firelord is going to find out or something!”
“That’s not the point! I don’t think you understand how embarrassing this is for us!”
“Yeah, what Katara and I do, is our own business. Not something to make money off of!!!”
“Okay okay. Tell you what, I have another shipment coming in tomorrow. Just let me sell that then I’ll close shop for good. Deal?”
“You better.” Katara growled. “C’mon Zuko, we still have supplies to pick up.”
They stormed off, disappearing into the crowd.
“I told you we should have told them.” Suki remarked.
“You were right.”
They gave each other a slide glance before bursting out in laughter.
~*~
“Can’t sleep?”
Zuko plopped down beside Katara as she watched the waves lap over the shore.
“Just thinking.” She responded quietly. “At least Sokka finally got rid of all that ‘Zutara’ junk.”
“Yeah, some of those lines were so over the top. ‘My heart burns for you!’ Who says that?”
“I don’t know, sounds like something you would say.”
“Hey!”
Katara laughed for the first time in a while. It felt good.
“Maybe we should go see if it’s really that bad.” She suggested.
“Seriously?”
Katara shrugged.
“Hmm. It is the last night the play is performing since summer is almost over. Not that I’ve been keeping track or anything!” Zuko added the last part quickly.
“Neither have I. It’s so dumb.”
“Yeah. Dumb.”
They were quiet for a moment before Katara spoke again.
“Should we bring the others?”
“And have them tease us the whole time? It’s already going to be embarrassing.”
“Okay then. Just us.”
They stood and sneaked off to a late night showing. As expected, it was horrible. The actors were so over the top, despite having an engaging plotline. Actor Zuko and Katara were on the run from the Fire Nation, with Zuko switching back and forth between brooding and cringingly flirting with Katara, who of course cried and fell into his arms every time. They were eventually dragged back to the Fire Nation where Phoenix King Ozai offered Zuko one last chance to reclaim his throne but only if he killed Katara. Actor Zuko refused, choosing to be executed at dawn with Katara instead.
“Well at least they got one thing right.” Zuko muttered as they returned to the beach house. “I would never hurt you to gain my father’s approval. Not again.” He whispered the last part.
“I know Zuko.” Katara smiled at him and took his hand. “We are star-crossed lovers after all. And no fire will ever quench the flame of our love!!!” she declared dramatically, quoting lines from the play.
Zuko grinned, grabbing her other hand. “And I will stay by your side, from dusk til dawn, and all the time in between!! So, don’t cry my snowdrop. The world just isn’t ready yet for our love!!!”
They both doubled down in laughter.
“Now I kind of wished we kept some of Sokka’s merch.”
Zuko shrugged. “It’s probably for the best. Though it’s not like Ozai’s ever going to find out about it, anyway.”
~*~
Ozai growled in frustration as he poured over the reports.
“Nothing's working!! The avatar isn't captured yet, and now that my pathetic excuse of a son has gone and joined him- “
He was so close to stripping the general of his title until a cluster of reds and blues caught Ozai’s attention. He immediately demanded what the general was wearing and if it was worth the punishment he would receive for breaking uniform.
“Zutara shoes, my lord.”
“What?” Ozai hissed.
“Z-Zuko and Katara from the Ember Island’s play, Firelord Ozai.”
“General.” Ozai began, voice dangerously calm. “I have been trying to get rid of these pests for the past 7 months. AND YOU ARE WEARING THEIR MERCHANDISE?!?!??!“
Fire roared to the ceiling set ablaze by Ozai’s anger. He was about to roast the incompetent fool alive when a loud slurp interrupted him. Ozai looked up and saw his daughter casually sipping from a cup with a red and blue flaming heart on it. Ozai glared at her, utterly speechless.
Azula returned his gaze, completely unfazed.
“Want some?”