Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Katara screamed into the pouring rain.

“I hate him, Zuko. I fucking hate him.”

“I know.”

The rain pummeled the dirt road, turning the ground into mud. 

Yon Rha had long since scrambled away from Katara’s fury. Wallowing in his own self pity, he had plucked up his vegetables and cried out as he crawled back down the dirt road toward his house.

It was all Zuko could do to not end his pathetic life right then and there.

But Katara was cursing into the rain, and it seemed to fall tenfold in her rage.

“He’s filth. He’s nothing but a monster,” she screamed.

Her knees gave way and she sunk into the mud. 

Zuko laid a hand against her back and she jumped at his touch. He quickly pulled his hand away.

“I looked into his eyes and I saw nothing.” She whispered now, her usually steady voice nothing but a tremble.

“Come on, Katara. Let’s get out of the rain.” 

He offered her his hand and timidly, she took it, allowing his strength to wash over her. He pulled her to her feet and they made their trek back towards Appa, who would fly them away from that godforsaken man that had taken her mother’s life simply because he could, because he liked it.

An hour into the flight home, Katara had finally, finally, fallen asleep. Spirits, did she need some sleep. They both did. She had fallen asleep on Zuko’s shoulder, after having decided to sit up front with him rather than in Appa’s saddle. Her skin and tunic were still damp from the rain. Zuko wrapped his arm around her, wanting to ensure her safety as he handled the reins.

She settled against him more firmly in her sleep, and he smiled softly, channeling some energy on his body heat and hoping he could keep her warm.

Chapter Text

Katara stood frozen, unable to move. 

The bolt of lightning shot towards her.

I'm going to die.

It was the only thing racing through her mind, over and over.

It seemed as if time stood still and stretched on forever. Katara was locked forever in this moment where she was living and breathing, and another where she would be dead and cold. The blue lightning from Azula's hand stretched across the vast expanse of space between the two girls.

The two girls, both alike in so many ways Katara could almost laugh if given the opportunity. Both, the younger daughters of men in charge of their respective countries. Both, master benders. Both, fourteen. Too young to be fighting in wars.

She stared straight ahead, having seconds to come to terms with her fate.

And then fate changed course.

Zuko came from nowhere and threw himself in front of her to take the full force of Azula's blast of lightning. 

Zuko, who had once chased her across the world to end the Avatar's life so that he may destroy the world's supply of hope. Yet here he was now, willing to die for her in secret, just to save her life.

She ran, feet pounding against the cobblestones, blood rushing through her ears, knees scraping stone to land at his side. 

But she was too late. Zuko was already dead.

She woke up, crying hard. She was in her bed in the royal palace. She knew Zuko was still alive and well, in his own bed, a floor above hers, in a suite befitting the young Fire Lord to be. The war was over, but her heart still pounded in fear every time she closed her eyes.

The beds here were too soft. Katara was too accustomed to sleeping on mats on the ground at the South Pole, and sleeping bags on hard, rocky grounds from her travels around the world. She wasn't used to beds that felt like clouds. Sometimes she felt as if she didn't deserve it.

When she had stopped crying from her nightmare, and calmed down enough to breathe solidly rather than choking on gasps of air, Katara swung her legs over the side of the mattress. She donned her shawl off the bench at the foot of the bed, and made for the gardens with the turtleduck pond and the cherry blossom trees.

“Couldn’t sleep either?”

His voice was low and quiet at her back as she sat with her knees pulled up to her chin by the pond, watching the turtleducks lazily wade through the water.

Zuko settled down beside her, close enough to where the heat from his body radiated over her, a warmth to the chill from the late night air. 

“I had a nightmare.” You died in it , she thought. 

“Me too,” he said, and she wondered if she died in his dream as well. 

Something had happened when he’d saved her life. Well, other than the obvious fact that he had nearly died in the process. His silk sleep shirt was loose, allowing air onto the fresh scar on his chest. She noticed him always pulling on his clothes there, knowing the fabric must feel uncomfortable against raw skin. 

But there were other things that had changed. Things between them. It had only been a few days since the Agni Kai, since the end of the war when Aang defeated Zuko’s father. But Katara felt something deep in her stomach every time she thought too long about the fact that Zuko, who had plundered her village, who had hunted her across the four nations, who she had hated with every fiber in her being, had saved her so selflessly from his sister. No one was even around to witness it. He didn’t need an audience. He didn’t need to prove himself. He showed how much he had changed and how much he cared for her. 

There was something else too. Something electric that pulled her into him, striking her like lightning but hard to grasp solidly, like water.

She didn’t know what the emotion meant, nor did she tend to dwell on it for long, because, undoubtedly, her cheeks would grow red and her stomach would knot up if she did. 

“I’ve suffered from nightmares since I was a kid,” Zuko spoke softly, as if speaking any louder would break the stillness of the night around them. 

“Me too,” Katara admitted. “How do you deal with your nightmares?”

“Deal with them?”

“Get over them.”

“I usually go for a walk. I always liked to come here. It’s where my mom and I always used to go to get away from my father and his temper, or my bending instructors when they were being particularly harsh.”

She studied his face as he spoke, saw a twitch of emotion pass over as he mentioned his mom. 

“You miss her.” It wasn’t a question.

“Every day.” He looked sad and she wanted to get his mind off of the pain in his heart. 

“How did you cope with nightmares on a ship?” 

Zuko cleared his throat. “I liked going up to the deck to look out at the ocean.”

“You?” Katara laughed. “Like looking at the ocean?”

“Yeah. Why’s that funny??” She watched as his mouth set into that thin line, the one that meant he was annoyed with the others picking on him. 

“Nothing,” Katara smirked. 

“I like the ocean,” he paused, as if not sure if he should say the rest. But he did. “I like when you waterbend.”

“You do?”

“It’s beautiful…Will you do some now?”

Katara sent a ripple across the pond that disturbed the turtleducks, making them squawk at her. Zuko laughed hard as the mother turtleduck came ashore and screeched at Katara as if she were lecturing her. His laugh sounded like music somehow. 

He pulled some bread out of the pocket of his silk robe and tore some pieces for the mother turtleduck. She eyed him suspiciously before pecking at the food in his hand and taking off, back into the pond and to her babies.

Zuko stretched out, propping himself up by his elbows and crossing his feet at his ankles. He watched her, tilting his head to look at her. 

“Tell me about that.” He gestured with his chin towards her neck.

Katara froze, her fingers absentmindedly brushing over the carved charm on her throat. “What? My necklace?”

“Yeah,” Zuko said. “I’ve always thought it was really pretty.”

“It was my Gran Gran’s,” Katara said. “Her betrothal necklace when Master Pakku crafted it for her. She eventually gave it to my mom, who then gave it to me. It’s all I have left of either of them.”

“So, it’s Water Tribe custom to carve a necklace for engagements?” His eyes were bright with interest.

“What? You didn’t learn anything about the other nations while you were abroad?” Katara laughed.

“You make it sound like I was traveling the world on holiday,” Zuko laughed a little, though the reason he was traveling the world wasn’t very funny. “I was too focused on my honor and hating the world to really learn much from it, other than ways to survive.”

Katara chewed on her bottom lip. “I could tell you about the things I’ve learned. And…maybe one day you can travel back to those places and learn new things.”

“That would be nice– uh, both of those things you said.” 

She laid down on her side to face him. “Alright, but you have to tell me about Fire Nation customs, too. It’s a fair trade!”

Zuko laughed again and Katara had to bite down on her lip to keep from smiling so hard. “What do you want to know?”

“I told you about my tribe’s engagement customs. Now you have to tell me how the Fire Nation does it!” 

His cheeks burned slightly pink, but Katara passed it off as a trick of the moonlight. 

“Well we give rings to our betrothed instead of necklaces. The royal family usually have rings made from gold, as a symbol of love and wealth, I guess. I’m not sure what lower classes do. But my mom’s ring looked like braided gold with pieces of garnet weaved in. I always remembered thinking it was beautiful and that maybe one day, I could give it to my own future wife…though I don’t know if I’d actually want to now, because well, I don’t really want anything associated with my father...” His voice drifted off in obvious discomfort. 

“Are there any other traditions?” Katara tried to redirect the subject.

“Well, Uncle told me that when he proposed to his wife, he asked her, ‘will you make miso soup for me every day?’”

“And that worked?” Katara couldn’t help laughing.

Zuko shrugged, “Uncle loved my aunt’s miso soup.”

“What happened to her? I’ve never seen Iroh with anyone.”

His face darkened. “He doesn’t like to talk about it. I never met her. She died giving birth to my cousin, Lu Ten.”

Katara knew Lu Ten had passed during the war, meaning that Zuko and Azula were the only family that Iroh had left. Well, Katara wasn’t so sure about Azula. 

“Have you decided what to do with your sister?”

Zuko looked over at her, surprised by the change in topic. “No,” he said, after some thought. “I don’t know what to do about Azula. Part of me wants to lock her up in a cell and never think about her again.”

“And the other part?” she prompted.

“The other part is scared about the damage my father did to her. I don’t know how to help her. I just see my fourteen year old sister during that Agni Kai every time I close my eyes at night, broken and abandoned.”

“Whatever you decide, I know it’ll be the right decision.” Katara made to get up, pulling her shawl closer around her shoulders. “You have a big day tomorrow, we should try to get some rest.”

It was his coronation as Fire Lord tomorrow. There was to be a grand feast afterwards in celebration.  

“Katara?”

“Hmm?” she turned back towards the boy whose gold eyes glittered in the moonlight. 

“Did I ever tell you how this happened?” He brushed his fingertips over the scar on his face.

She settled back down beside him. “No,” she said. “You never did.”

“I was thirteen when my father challenged me to an Agni Kai. He thought I needed to learn a lesson in respect.”

Katara covered her mouth with her hands, eyes wide in horror. 

“I stood up against the general in a war meeting, because I felt like what they were doing was wrong. He suggested that inexperienced soldiers should be used as bait against the Earth Kingdom in a battle. I didn’t like that. My father forced me into an Agni Kai. I thought it would be with the general, but it was with my father. I refused to fight him, so he burned the lesson onto my face.”

Tears pooled in her eyes. “Spirits,” she breathed. 

“I’m sorry I never told you before.” 

She got on her knees and sat in front of him, hovering fingers near the left side of his face. “May I?”

He nodded. Her fingertips brushed along his scar and the touch sent a shock coursing through her veins like lightning to her core. She pulled her hand away, scared she had hurt him.

“I’m so sorry, Zuko.”

“I’ve learned to embrace it,” he shrugged. “Besides, doesn’t it make me more interesting? More handsome even?”

She released a breathy laugh, the mood immediately shifting. “You’re too much sometimes, you know.”

“I know.” He grinned. “But I just wanted you to know.”

“Thank you for telling me,” she said.

“You should go on and get some rest. Goodnight, Katara.”

“Goodnight, Zuko.” She smiled at him before turning to leave, certain she would be able to sleep soundly now that she knew Zuko was alive and all right.

Chapter Text

It had been a week since Zuko’s coronation. Almost every night, Katara would make her way to the gardens after reliving that Agni Kai in her dreams. Zuko would meet her there, or he would already be there waiting. She was beginning to wonder if he was truly suffering from nightmares every night as she was, or if he just liked the company.

Sometimes they talked about their day, other times Katara would tell him about the things she had learned while traveling abroad, and Zuko would answer her questions about Fire Nation customs. 

They always avoided the topic of nightmares.

“What’s the best food you’ve ever tried abroad?” Zuko was asking her. 

“I think the food on Kyoshi Island was my favorite. But the moon peaches in Ba Sing Se were sweeter than I could have ever imagined!” 

Zuko was enthralled watching her talk. 

“What’s your favorite meal from here?” She asked. 

“From the Fire Nation?” Zuko confirmed. 

“Yes, silly, where else?” Katara laughed, and it made him feel weak in the knees.

“Well I don’t know if you’ve ever tried an ash banana, but they can be made into really sweet bread. That’s one of my favorite dishes, ash banana bread.” 

“That sounds delicious,” Katara said. 

“We could go to the markets tomorrow if you want to get some ash bananas and I could teach you how to make the bread.” Zuko watched her eyes light up at the idea.

“Really? You’d do that for me?” 

“Of course I would.” For her, he just might do anything.

The markets were lovely. They weren’t much different than the markets in any other major city that Katara had been in, but all of the market stalls in the Fire Nation were made from the sturdy, dark, polished wood of cherry trees.

Aang had decided to come with Zuko and Katara into the markets. He’d wanted some fruit and to see what sort of trinkets were available in the Fire Nation.

Although Katara and Aang hadn’t really had a heart to heart since he’d kissed her after the Ember Island Play, lately he’d been acting as if everything was perfect between them. He grabbed her hand now and dragged her towards one of the stalls, wanting to show her the array and colorful variations of flowers that the Fire Nation had to offer.

“Aren’t these beautiful, Katara?” His eyes were round and childlike in wonder.

Katara smiled, “They sure are, Aang.”

“Katara!” Zuko called. “The fruit stall is over here.” He gestured them over to where he stood a few stalls down. 

She grinned and walked towards him before being stopped in the middle of the cobbled street by a rather gruff looking local.

“Don’t know what you’re doing here, sweetheart, but we won't sell our wares to any snow savages.” 

Katara was shocked by the treatment. No one had been so insulting to her in all of her travels. Not even once the war had ended and she had reclaimed her Water Tribe’s colors, rather than wearing red as she had done before.

She just stood there, unsure of what to even do or say. 

“How dare you speak to her that way.” Zuko was livid as he quickly approached from behind. 

And then something truly horrible happened. 

The man spit on Katara.

Zuko immediately rounded into the man’s space and Katara’s eyes watered with tears. 

Zuko’s hands were balled into fists at his side and smoke curled out his nose as if he were a dragon. 

“Hey, hey! Let’s all talk about this, peacefully .” Aang, ever the pacifier, stepped between the two men, who were both a good head taller than him. 

“Get out of my way, Aang. This man is my citizen and needs to understand to respect my honored guests in this country.”

Katara could handle her own fights, but some weren’t worth the effort. Her father had taught her that. And she knew that the young Fire Lord already may not be particularly popular with his people, especially not the ones that agreed with the war and agreed with his father. He didn’t need more people against him. He needed to show benevolence. 

She knew his anger was controlled, but the fury was there, in his eyes, in the way he stood, tense and at the ready. She knew Zuko’s anger, knew his wrath and his fury. But she also knew Zuko’s mercy, his kindness, his ability to forgive. 

Before he could do anything he would surely regret, Katara reached forward and wrapped her hand around his arm. The touch sent an electric shock through her arm, but she held steady. He immediately retreated from the pathetic man. The blaze in his eyes cooled, and he looked at her over his shoulder, looked at the tears in her eyes, and his shoulders slackened. 

She pulled him away from the worthless man, whose opinion didn’t really matter. She held his arm and leaned into his ear, “you don’t have to get your knuckles bloody for me.” 

“Are you okay, Katara?” Aang’s wide round eyes appeared in front of her, filled with apprehension and worry. 

“I’m fine,” she said. 

She wasn’t fine, she just wanted to run back to the palace and lie in her bed the rest of the day. But she held her chin high and walked with the boys back through the market. Zuko escorted them out and away as quickly as possible, which she was thankful for, though Aang kept pointing out fruit and flowers he wanted to look at and Zuko kept brushing him off and promising to bring him back sometime later. There was almost a sad look in Aang’s eyes that made Katara want to scream. Some man just spat on me and you want to keep shopping? But she said nothing. She just kept walking, the ash bananas forgotten.

When they got back onto the palace grounds, Zuko sent Aang away to tend to Appa before walking Katara to her room.

He faced her, ducking his head to her eye level. “Are you okay?”

For some reason, him asking broke her defiant facade. Her bottom lip quivered and she violently shook her head no before she began to cry. Zuko’s warm, strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her into his chest, sending another peculiar shock reverberating through her body. She cried into his shoulder, causing a growing wet spot on the fine silk of his tunic. She felt safe in his arms. 

She eventually relented, her tears spent, and looked up at Zuko with puffy, red-rimmed eyes. 

“Here, come with me,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her to the adjoining bathroom. “Did you know this is the best smelling bath salt?” He lifted a tiny vial of salt off the edge of the tub and held it out to her before plugging the tub and beginning to draw a bath for her. 

“Zuko?”

“Just put in as much as you’d like and relax, I’ll have dinner sent up to you tonight.”

There was something unreadable on his face, like he wanted to do or say more. But he squeezed her hand and left the room. She heard her bedroom door click shut as he left her alone.

A bath sounded nice. Just what she needed actually. Her clothes hit the floor and she slid down into the tub, letting the warm water fill up around her. She added the bath salts, and Zuko was right, they smelled amazing. Like jasmine and water lilies. She sunk into the tub and laid her head back against the rim and shut her eyes. 

“This is bad,” Zuko said, pacing the length of his study. “The people hate me.”

“They don’t necessarily hate you, Sire,” his royal advisor was saying. “They just don’t know what to expect from you.”

“One of my citizens spat on Katara today at the markets. The Fire Nation is no longer a place of starting wars with other nations. I want to be remembered as the Fire Lord that ended and fixed the mess his great-grandfather started.” 

“Sire, if I may, it won’t be enough to make only the people of your own nation respect you, but you have to earn back the respect of the other nations as well.” 

“How the fuck will I do that?” Zuko sighed, dropping his head into his hands, gripping his hair. He was still on edge and furious over what had happened to Katara. He just hoped he’d done the right thing by drawing her a bath and allowing her time to be alone by sending her her dinner. 

“A trip to Ba Sing Se may do you and your friends some good, Sire,” The advisor responded. “You’ll get to support your Uncle’s tea shop and take a holiday in one of the world’s greatest cities. Show them how you’ve changed, how you plan to reshape your own nation. Hear them out, earn their trust. The respect of your people will come in time, but we must also ensure we are not attacked by other nations in retaliation for the war.”

“Ba Sing Se…” Zuko mused. “Visiting Uncle isn’t a bad idea, I could even work in the shop again, show the Earth Kingdom that I want to help and serve them.”

“I couldn’t have said it better myself, Sire.”

“It’s decided then, a holiday in Ba Sing Se.”

Chapter Text

Zuko made the arrangements for their stay in Ba Sing Se. Katara had noted that Sokka seemed at ease with the plan. Even before she had told him about what had happened in the markets, he seemed agitated about their prolonged stay in the Fire Nation. She could sense he wanted to leave with Suki and the other Kyoshi Warriors, but that he wouldn’t leave the Fire Nation without his sister. Even though the war had ended, some scars still ran deep.

“Ba Sing Se will offer some great change in scenery,” he insisted, sprawled out on Katara’s bed as she packed her things. 

“It will be nice to see the Earth King again,” Katara agreed. 

“What are you gum flappers gabbing about?” Toph entered the room just then. 

“Just that I can’t wait to be back in good ol’ Ba Sing Se,” Sokka said, propping himself up on his elbows. 

“Because we had so many good times there,” Toph quipped. 

“Better times there than here—“

“If you two are going to argue, you can take it somewhere that isn’t my room.” Katara gave each of them a pointed stare, though she wondered how effective it was on Toph. 

Sokka sighed and got up off the bed to leave.

“Come on, Toph, we’re not wanted here.”

“Actually, I wanted to talk to Sugar Queen here.” Toph crossed her arms and stepped out of the way to let Sokka hobble past her on his crutches. 

He shrugged and left the room. 

“What’s up?” Katara asked as Toph made herself comfortable on Katara’s bed, hands beneath her head and her legs crossed at her ankles. 

“I was just wondering what's been going on between you and Zuko lately.” 

“Me and Zuko?” Did she somehow know about their late night talks by the turtleduck pond? Had she somehow sensed the way Katara’s heart skipped a beat every now and then when Zuko ran a hand through his hair? Or the way her cheeks felt hot when he smiled…

“Yeah, something’s been different between you two.” Toph had never been a girl of many words, but this time, Katara needed some elaboration. 

“Different how?” 

“I don’t know, just different.” An annoyed twinge came across in Toph’s tone. “I just sense it when you guys are together, or even apart like now. It’s like the way I see you with my feet, I always know who is who by their energy they put out, but now, since the war ended, it’s like I can’t tell you and Zuko apart.”

Katara’s brows furrowed in confusion. “That is odd,” she said, unsure of what to say. It sounded weird. How could hers and Zuko’s energies look so similar to Toph to the point she couldn’t tell them apart?

“Yeah,” Toph said. “That’s one way to put it.”

“So you think we look the same through our energies?” Katara asked, trying to understand.

“Well, no. It’s just that I can see both of your energies mixed together, even though you’re nowhere near him right now.” Toph got up off the bed and pointed her feet at Katara. “I know it’s just you and me here, Katara, but I can see Zuko’s energy in you, too.”

That was …even stranger. Katara wanted to go find Zuko immediately to tell him about what Toph was saying.

However, unfortunately for Katara, the young Fire Lord was one busy guy. She wasn’t able to even see Zuko until the next day, when everyone was together in Appa’s saddle, soaring across the skies, Ba Sing Se bound. 

Zuko had wanted to sail by ship, but Aang had insisted they fly Appa to the Earth Kingdom capital. 

“It’ll be faster,” he’d insisted. “And Appa needs the exercise.”

Zuko had relented to Aang’s soft, puppy eyes. Katara understood. It was hard to argue against someone who had a cute, boyish, monkey face like Aang. 

She looked over at Aang at the front of Appa, reins loose in his hands. She wasn’t sure how to feel about him now. Well, she was certain she didn’t feel anything romantic towards Aang, but the way he had pressured her in Ember Island and kissed her after she’d already told him no, made her feel dirty inside. She didn’t think she could feel completely comfortable around him anymore. And after the markets the other day, he had just kept on like nothing had even happened. He tried to play peacemaker and moped when Zuko didn’t let him stay in the markets. 

At least Zuko had cared. 

She glanced over at him and found him curled up on his side, head on his pack, his back to her. 

“Just like old times, huh?” Sokka said, kicking his legs out in front of him and tucking his hands behind his head.

“Yeah, flying on Appa to the worst city in the world, just like old times!” Toph smiled before rolling her eyes, sending her and Sokka into an argument.

Katara retreated into her corner of the saddle and pulled her water pouch in front of her, drawing water from it with her bending and practicing a few forms she could do while sitting. 

Time passed slowly. There wasn’t much to do now that they weren’t on the run. Katara used to spend the time flying by mending clothes or counting rations, and helping her brother make plans. But now they had new clothes and were honored guests everywhere they went. 

Toph eventually fell asleep and Sokka fiddled with his boomerang and impulsively itched at the cast still on his leg. He had told her it would come off some time next month, which would be good because it had gotten annoying having to cater to him and help him get around. He had crutches to help, but getting him up into Appa’s saddle was no easy feat, even with Toph’s bending.

Ba Sing Se was a two day flight from the Fire Nation. They would be there midday tomorrow, but Appa would need to stop for rest and fuel by nightfall. 

Zuko woke up sometime late in the day, just as the sky was beginning to turn orange and pink. Seeing that Katara was the only one awake, he edged his way over to sit beside her. 

“Doing okay?” He asked. 

She felt a little more alert with him nearby. All of her queasiness ebbed out of her just with his presence. She felt calmer somehow.

“I think it’ll be nice to get away from the palace for a bit,” she admitted. 

“Yeah.” 

“Is everything okay, Zuko?” Katara could sense the unease in his heart, it was like she could feel it in her own body, too.

Zuko glanced around, making sure Sokka and Toph were really asleep, and that Aang was out of earshot before he leaned a little closer to her ear. “There’s a lot of civil unrest in the Fire Nation. And with the war over, my advisors have shown me many letters from unhappy Earth Kingdom officials who want retribution for all the damage my country has caused them.”

“Oh, no,” Katara breathed.

“It’s not like I didn’t expect some backlash from the Earth Kingdom specifically. I know I’m still untrustworthy to many people, no matter how the Avatar feels about me.” He dragged a hand over his face, looking exhausted despite the fact he’d just slept all day.

“Is there anything I can do?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’m just hoping that this trip will not only be a good chance to relax, but also as a means to show people who I really am and how I intend to lead my country from here on out. My advisor told me to use the trip as an opportunity to gain the other nation’s trust, which may help me win over the trust of the Fire Nation.”

“That makes sense. If you can get the other nations backing your leadership, then maybe your own people will learn to respect you or you can weed out any bad seeds.” 

“Yeah, that’s the idea. If I can get everyone else on my side, I can also show my nation how I will right all our wrongs and maybe they’ll support me then.” He grimaced like the idea was far too optimistic. 

She touched his hand, and a surge of electricity shot up her arm. “I’m with you, Zuko. No matter what.” 

As it turned out, the Avatar, the new Fire Lord, and their entourage were esteemed guests of the Earth King. King Kuei was thrilled to see Aang and the others again. Bosco was even more thrilled to see Aang. The great bear licked his face in greeting. 

They were shown to nice Upper Ring apartments, like the one they’d stayed in before, But Zuko and Aang each had their own apartments this time, while Toph, Katara, and Sokka were given an apartment to share. Katara grimaced at the prospect of being the only mediator between Toph and her brother and left her pack and bedroll in the room she claimed before heading outside.

“Katara!” Aang bounced up to her the moment she stepped out. “I was just coming to see you! Isn’t it great that King Kuei gave us all our own apartments?”

“Uh, well, Sokka, Toph, and I are sharing an apartment.” Katara stood awkwardly in front of him, arms stiff and heavy at her side.

“Oh,” Aang said. “Well you could always come to my apartment! I have a couple of extra rooms. Momo claimed one of them though.” He laughed, a little too briskly for Katara’s ears.

“That’s alright, Aang. I’d rather make sure Toph and Sokka don’t kill each other.” 

Aang’s face visibly fell in disappointment. “Oh,” he said again.

“Sokka or Toph might actually prefer to stay with you though,” she added, just to be polite.

“Right,” Aang said, scratching his head. “Well I need to go um, do some Avatar duties. But maybe we can do something later? Just the two of us?” 

His eyes were huge and pleading. Katara swallowed thickly.

“Maybe.”

Aang ran off on his glider and headed for the palace.

Katara turned towards the cobblestone road between the apartments in the Upper Ring. Everything here was bright, pretty, and lush with greenery. She wasn’t sure where she was going until she landed on Zuko’s doorstep, drawn here by some outside force. She knocked. No response. 

“Zuko?” She called through the screen.

“I’m back here,” Zuko called back. “Come on through.”

Katara entered the apartment and found Zuko in the clearing space out back. He was shirtless, a detail that sent Katara’s head spinning for a moment. The scar on his upper chest looked better than when she had last seen it. She hoped it didn’t cause him much pain anymore. He had pulled his hair back into a top knot, and wore loose pants. He was training, practicing firebending forms.

“Wanna practice with me?” He asked. 

Katara grinned and pulled back her hair before joining him, settling into her own forms and feeling the energy of her bending course through her veins. There was a small pond built into the clearing behind Zuko’s apartment. She drew water from it and whipped it out across the trees, before drawing it back into her hands. 

Time ticked by as they practiced forms together, sometimes joining their bending together and creating an alluring bout of hot steam. Sweat glistened on their brows as they practiced. It felt good to move and bend, especially after being cooped up in Appa’s saddle for so long. Katara compared a few of her forms to Zuko’s, and he explained how his Uncle had taught him forms he had learned by studying waterbenders. 

Eventually, they collapsed on the grass, spent from training.

Their hands were nearly touching and Katara’s fingers itched to feel Zuko’s hand beneath hers. It made her remember what Toph had said the other day, about their energies.

“Do you know that Toph can’t tell the difference between us?” She asked.

“Huh?” Zuko responded, looking over at her.

“She told me the other day, our energies look combined to her. She can’t tell who’s who.” 

“That’s weird. Why do you think that is?” 

“I don’t know,” she responded. “I’ve never heard of anyone sharing energy like that before.”

“How was the night with Sokka and Toph?” Zuko asked Katara the next day in Iroh’s tea shop. It was the official grand reopening today, and Zuko had donned Earth Kingdom green robes for the occasion. They were eating breakfast before the shop opened. Iroh had enlisted his nephew and his friends to help serve customers today.

“Terrible,” Katara laughed. 

“I have an extra room, you know, in case it becomes too much.” 

Katara’s heart leapt at the idea. But then she looked over at Aang, who was already watching her across the table, she remembered how she’d already turned him down and felt bad for wanting to accept Zuko’s offer, though she didn’t know why. 

“I’ll think about it,” she said instead.

The grand opening was going well. Many of Ba Sing Se’s locals were excited to see the Jasmine Dragon had opened back up for business. Even though they all knew Iroh’s true identity now, everyone was friendly. Zuko introduced Katara to his old boss in the Lower Ring, a kind man named Pao, who had first hired him and his uncle when they were refugees. He had come by the shop to give his blessings. Everything was going well and everyone was happy. 

And then Katara heard yelling. She ran out of the kitchen with a fresh pot of tea in her hand and saw a girl close to her age yelling at Zuko. She was crying. 

“I didn’t believe it until I saw it in the papers. You lied to me. You’re no Earth Kingdom refugee. You’re the reason why all of us are refugees here to begin with.”

“Jin,” Zuko pleaded. “Please, I’m the same person you met last fall. Just because I’m from the Fire Nation doesn’t mean I’m not the guy you went on a date with.”

Katara’s eyes widened in surprise. A date??

“It changes everything,” the girl spat. “You’re the goddamn Fire Lord.”

“But I need your help to show people I don’t intend to rule the Fire Nation like my father. I need your trust, Jin.”

“I’ll never trust you, Fire Lord.”

Katara set the teapot down on a nearby table and went over to Zuko’s side. 

“You can trust Zuko,” she said.

“How could you say that about him! He’s from the Fire Nation. Aren’t you from the Water Tribe?” The girl gestured at Katara’s blue robes. 

“I am. And I didn’t always trust Zuko. But he showed me how he has changed, and he has shown me how he will be a far better ruler for the Fire Nation than his father was. Please, you only have to give him a chance!” Katara pleaded with the girl. 

By now, more refugees from the Lower Rings had found their way to the Jasmine Dragon and were gathering around Zuko. Some of the other customers in the shop joined the crowd, they were all looking very angry and began yelling that the Fire Nation was untrustworthy, no matter what.

“How dare you come into my tea shop and accuse my nephew of unjust crimes without even giving him a chance!” Iroh exclaimed. He looked hurt and angry. “The newest Fire Lord came before you today to serve you tea. That alone should show you he intends no harm.”

“Uncle–” Zuko’s voice rasped. Katara could see him choking back tears and her heart leapt into her throat.

“Zuko is trustworthy and good,” Katara said, addressing the gathering mob again. “My name is Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, the daughter of Chief Hakoda, and I trust Fire Lord Zuko with my life.”

She threw her arms around Zuko and hugged him tight. As her body finally settled against his, she felt a shock extending from her heart and wash over her entire body. She felt like a live wire, hot and powerful, but she also felt like she was finally whole. Her eyes snapped to his and it was like he knew. He knew. 

He felt it too.

Chapter Text

Aang was angry.

Katara was aware of his rage as they pushed people out of the Jasmine Dragon and closed the shop early, though she thought he seemed more angry at her than the situation.

“Well, that went well.” Toph’s sarcasm was enough to break the heavy air surrounding the group. 

Zuko had disappeared into the kitchen with his uncle as soon as the door was shut behind the last customer. Not everyone in the tea shop had been angry. Some people had tried to help diffuse the situation, but it was to no avail. The angry people were louder. Katara’s heart hurt.

She approached Aang, who was sitting on a cushion in the corner, stewing. 

“What’s the matter?” She asked.

“What’s the matter?” He looked at her, incredulous. “What’s the matter?? Katara, what was that?”

Katara blinked, long and hard. “What was what, Aang?”

“With Zuko!” He threw his hands up as if that was the obvious answer. “That hug and that look between you two.”

“Zuko is my friend, Aang.” Katara was calm. She was always calm in the face of Aang’s tantrums. He was still so obviously a child in this way. And she often found herself consoling him as she would a child.

“But you like him, don’t you.” It wasn’t a question so much as it was an accusation.

Katara shrugged, “maybe. Why should that be any of your concern?” 

“Because of me!” He cried. “We like each other! You’re just confused.”

The ugly, dirty feeling inside of Katara’s chest twisted into a tighter knot. 

“Why do you want me so bad, Aang? Because you’re the Avatar? Because you can have every girl that falls at your feet, except you only want the one girl who doesn’t want you? I refuse to be just the Avatar’s girlfriend, Aang. And I refuse to be with anyone who is going to tell me what and how I’m supposed to feel. You don’t have that authority over me and you never did. So leave me the fuck alone and forget about me, Aang, because I will never be your girlfriend.” 

He looked like he was about to cry, but she didn’t care. Katara had finally had enough of Aang’s behavior. He could do with a lesson learning that just because he’s the Avatar, doesn’t mean he can have whatever and whoever he wants. She turned around and stomped right out of the shop, slamming the door behind her.

Zuko found her a while later, when he had returned home to his apartment. She was there, hair tied back, her nice robes discarded on the ground as she trained hard in the loose tunic and pants she’d been wearing beneath it. 

“Are you okay?” He asked her.

“Peachy.” Her voice was tight and angry. “Are you?”

“I’ve been better,” Zuko admitted. 

She continued to slam water full force against the target tree. Her bending was in such fury that Zuko worried she might actually snap the tree.

“Hey,” he reached out, brushing her shoulder, and felt the same shock he’d felt earlier when they’d embraced, and the other day when she had touched his hand, but he didn’t pull away. “Can we talk?”

Katara nodded.

She turned to face him and her eyes were filled with tears. He pulled her against him and let her cry into his shoulder, even as the touch set off that electric shock again.

“What happened?” He asked into her hair.

“Aang,” she choked on the word. She pulled back and wiped away her tears with the palms of her hands. “Instead of caring about what happened, he only cared that you and I hugged. He thinks I’m supposed to like him and that I’m just confused.” 

Rage swirled in Zuko’s chest. He loved Aang, he was a decent kid and a damn good Avatar. But this? No one was allowed to treat Katara like this. His fists balled at his side and Katara laid her hands over his fists. 

The shock was duller this time. It just felt good when she touched him, good in a way he couldn’t explain, other than it made him feel whole again, like he was home in his body at last.

“Don’t,” she whispered. “He’s not worth it, I already said enough regrettable things to him before I stormed out.”

“What did you say to him?” 

“Let’s just say that I don’t know if we’ll ever be friends again, and I don’t know if I care.”

Zuko's jaw hardened, his teeth grinding against each other. He needed to relax. He wanted to talk about them, not Aang, and not his past coming back to haunt him in Uncle’s tea shop. But the emotions he had felt when Katara hugged him, and the fact that he was pretty sure she had felt it too.

“What do you think it meant?” He said after some time had passed. 

“What?”

“When you touched me, I felt–”

“This?” Her hand fanned out across his chest, directly where his scar was beneath all of his clothes. And even still, her touch sent his head spinning and yet made breathing feel easier.

“Yes,” he rasped. “That.”

She began to undo his robes, untuck and untie his shirt. “What are you doing–”

“Just a minute.”

“Katara?”

She stared intently at his scar. She had healed him when Azula had struck his heart with lightning he didn’t have time to redirect.

“I think I have a theory,” she whispered, brushing her fingers over his scar and staring at him steadily. “But I think we need to see if there’s any records of something like this happening before.”

“Huh?” Zuko was dumbfounded, felt slow. “What do you mean?”

“Zuko, when I healed you, I brought you back from near death. I’ve only done that once before, with Aang. Except with him, I had spirit water. With you, I had regular water, and I prayed to every spirit I could think of that I would save you.” Her bright blue eyes pierced deeply into his.

“And you did, so it worked,” he said, not quite understanding what she was getting at.

“Toph said our energies are mixed. She said she can’t tell the difference between us since the end of the war.”

His brows furrowed. “Okay…”

“What if, when I healed you, it took a part of my own spirit to do so? What if our souls are interconnected now?” 

“Is that possible?” He breathed.

“I don’t know,” Katara admitted. “But I would love to see if there’s any records of this ever happening before and find out.”

“Well, the palace should have a good library that might give us some answers.”

They’d been there for hours and so far had found nothing. 

Katara had scanned every Water Tribe healing manual she could find in the library.

“Would we find better luck elsewhere?” Zuko sighed, scrolls piled all around him.

“Surely the only other place we would find what we’re looking for is in the Spirit Library, which is now buried deep in the desert. So, no. Not really.” Katara reached for another scroll she had found in the Water Tribe section. 

She scoffed as she unfurled it, realizing it was a scroll of Water Tribe folklore. She made to roll it back up when a few words on the delicate paper caught her eye. 

“Zuko, listen to this, it’s a Water Tribe folktale. It says here that a man had gone hunting one day and stumbled home, half dead after being attacked by a wolf. His wife was one of the best healers in the village, but even she couldn’t reverse death. Her husband fell into a coma, and she prayed to the spirits to grant her the ability to save her husband’s life. The spirits answered her prayers and took a piece of her soul and gave it to her husband, allowing him to live so long as she did, forever merging their souls and spirits together as one. This tale is called ‘The Soulmate.’”

Katara glanced up at Zuko when she had finished reading. He looked contemplative, like he wasn’t sure what to think exactly.

“But it’s just folklore, isn’t it?” He finally said, skeptical. 

“Well, yes,” she responded. “It’s an old fairytale. Having read it, I do remember Gran Gran telling it to me when I was younger.”

“It sounds like what’s happening to us.”

“I know.”

“How’s it possible? You really think you used a piece of your soul to save me? That we’re soulmates now?” 

She laughed weakly. “Well it sounds stupid when you put it that way, right?”

“Maybe,” he breathed. Had he moved closer? His face seemed so near to hers now. She felt an ache deep within her to touch him, that if she did, it would cure the hollow feeling inside of her.

“Are there any other stories like this one?” He asked.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “Maybe we could keep looking.”

She pulled away from him, so enthralled by his intensity that she needed to break the spell.

She searched a bit more in the Water Tribe section before finding what she was looking for. She grabbed several scrolls that contained journal entries from Water Tribe healers and returned to her spot next to Zuko. She unfurled each scroll, and scanned them for something that would pop out at her. These were all written in the Water Tribe’s dialect, rather than the common language, so Zuko just watched her as she intently read each entry. Most of them were about the sort of injuries they had healed that day, or what had happened to cause the injuries in the first place. There were some entries on terrible illnesses, ones that wiped out whole families in a matter of days, and how the healers feared they were useless against it.

Finally, she came across an entry that interested her. She began to read it aloud to Zuko: “There was this man who was found in the forest, having collapsed in the snow, he was mostly dead from frostbite. Our hunters had come across his body and at once brought him to the healing tent, where I was on duty at the time. He was a traveler from another land, dressed like a nomad, but not wearing nearly enough furs to keep him warm. Any man was a fool to venture to the Northern Water Tribe that time of year, as even our own people often have to fight the elements to keep warm. 

“I don’t know what it was about this traveler that drew me in, he was young and handsome, and I didn’t think he deserved to die. But I had never cured anyone who was on the brink of death before. I laid my hands on his body and prayed to Tui and La for the strength to warm his body, and bring him back. 

“It worked! The traveler was revived! He finally awoke a few hours into me healing him. His eyes were the warmest brown eyes I had ever seen and I found myself lost in them. He was weak, and ill with fever. The other women helped me move him on to a cot and I kept by his side with a damp cloth on his forehead. But every time I touched him, it felt like I was being electrocuted by an eel. Though I didn’t mind either, because although it was a shock, it felt right by his side. I couldn’t explain it.

“Days passed before he finally woke up and was well enough to speak. His name was Yoso, and he was a non-bender originally from the Fire Nation, before he decided to abandon his country and join the ways of the nomads. He wanted to explore the world and learn from it. 

“Yoso and I spent every waking moment together after that. I nursed him back to health and we fell in love. When I was with him, it felt like I was whole again. I don’t know if it had anything to do with me saving his life, but I believe that Yoso and I were meant to be together. We’ve been married a long time now, but I share this story as a reminder of the strength we waterbenders have as healers.”

When she had finished reading, she looked up again and met Zuko’s eyes. 

“Can I see your hand?” He breathed. 

She held her palm out to him. His fingertips grazed her palm, sending a tingle shooting up her arm. It felt right to be so close to him. These scrolls seemed to confirm what she had already started to suspect, that they were connected somehow and in some way. Even before she had given him a piece of her soul to save his life, there had been something captivating in his presence, in his duty to make her feel comfortable around him. He had worked so hard to earn her trust when he had taken her right to her mother’s killer. She had respected that about him and valued his presence. She had felt it even then, how he brought balance to her psyche. Yet now, he felt like her missing piece, the yin to her yang. He rose with the sun, and she with the moon. 

They were opposites in every way, and yet so similar. And she ached for him. Katara ached to have Zuko even closer. It was evident that he felt it too, he moved his face closer to hers, drawn into her tide, and she was like a moth to his flame. Their fingers laced together, and she met his bright, gold eyes and felt his warm breath on her cheek. He was so close to her now, all she needed was for him to kiss her, she needed him like she needed air.

She closed her eyes.

The door to the library crashed open, startling her and Zuko apart. 

“There you two are! We’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Sokka hobbled in with Toph hot on his tail.

“What the hell, Sokka?” Zuko snapped at her brother.

“It’s Iroh,” he said. 

“What?” Zuko’s face went pale and Katara felt her heart stop.

Toph cut in front of Sokka. “There’s a mob attacking the tea shop.” 

Chapter Text

It was bad. Very bad. 

Night had fallen and blazing torches surrounded the Jasmine Dragon, illuminating the gritty scene before him.

People were smashing the windows of Uncle’s shop, destroying tables, smashing tea cups. Anger swirled around Zuko’s head, making his good eye cloudy with rage. 

“Get away from my uncle,” he screamed as Iroh fought off a few attackers. 

“Nephew, I’m okay,” Iroh said, dodging swings and easily beating his opponents without the use of bending.

The voices of people screaming at him filled Zuko’s ears. He heard vile curses, threats, complaints. His heart felt heavy. He just wanted to show the world he was good. The Fire Nation could be good. He wasn’t his father, why couldn’t people just see that?

“Enough!” Zuko shot a warning flame into the air and the people around him stilled. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. My uncle doesn’t want to hurt anyone. Please stop attacking us. I’m begging you.” 

He felt Katara’s hand wrap around his arm as she joined him at his side. It was reassuring and gave him strength. 

“You are unwelcome in this country,” an angry voice shouted from the crowd. He couldn’t locate the person, but knew it was a man.

“Please stop wrecking this tea shop,” Katara commanded. “These men have done nothing to any of you except try and earn your trust.”

“Stop defending him!” A woman’s voice this time.

“The Fire Nation took everything from me. I understand why you are angry. But you must give Zuko a chance to change. It was with his and Iroh’s help that we were able to help the Avatar in ending this terrible war. He helped us end it!” Her hand moved down to slide into place in his. He laced his fingers tightly around hers. “I trust Zuko more than I trust anyone else. You cannot take out your hatred of the Fire Nation on this tea shop and continue the cycle of violence.” 

“We will never trust the Fire Nation!” 

And then the violence began again.

Katara immediately dropped Zuko’s hand and bended the water from her pouch into a water shield around them and Uncle as people began throwing shards of glass at them.

But it wasn’t enough.

Uncle was hurt. 

Zuko was dimly aware of it as his uncle fell to the ground, clenching his thigh, as his robes began to turn Fire Nation crimson.

Zuko screamed and followed him, any fear for his own life swept aside. Hands grabbed him, hands that tore at his clothes and pounded at his back.

He was only half aware of Katara screaming behind him.

Katara bended to keep people away from Zuko and Iroh. She lashed water at people grabbing at his clothes and drumming on his back with their fists, but it wasn’t working. Nothing was helping.

She saw a puff of air in the corner of her eye spin and fizzle out. Aang.

She turned to him, tears streaming down her face and screamed, “Aang please do something. Anything.”

There was pain on his face as he looked between her and Zuko, and she felt fury wash up inside her. Why was he just standing there when he could be using his position as the Avatar to end this riot.

He met her eyes with that same sad look before surveying all the chaos and damage surrounding them. 

By then, Toph and Sokka had also caught up. Sokka couldn’t do much with his broken leg, but he used his crutches to attempt to push people out. Toph was using her earth bending to try and help Sokka. Katara also noted that not everyone was fighting against them. But there were people fighting against the refugees from the lower ring. She noted by their clothes that some of them were from the upper ring, and some from the lower ring as well. 

Aang’s eyes began to glow, along with the tattooed arrow on his forehead. He rose and using his airbending, traveled to the middle of the room and used a strong force of wind to send everyone flying apart. 

Katara fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around Zuko’s back, holding on tight to him, the contact setting her skin on fire from the state of their emotions.  

He spoke through his Avatar State: “Please everyone, you must calm down. I understand how the Fire Nation has driven many of you here as refugees from your own homes. And I’m sorry for what has happened. But revenge is not the way to make progress. Growing up, I learned that revenge is like a two-headed rat viper, that as your enemy goes down, you will be poisoned yourself. You all came to Ba Sing Se to start over, same as Zuko and Iroh, who joined you as refugees from their own nation. Under the guise of refugees, you trusted these two men. They are still the same good people you knew before, just because you know their real names now, it should not change anything. My friend Katara here is from the Southern Water Tribe, and although the Fire Nation killed her mother and took every water bender from her tribe, she trusts Zuko, because he showed her he is good. Please, everyone, I beg you to offer him the same chance that Katara did, that I did. Let him show you he is good.”

“Are you okay, Uncle?”

“Yes, Zuko. I will be fine. It’s only a flesh wound. I’m sure Katara can help me out soon.” Iroh had staunched the flow of blood with his robes, twisting it into the wound like a makeshift tourniquet. 

With Aang’s words and bending, people had finally slowed in their anger. Glass and rocks were held loosely in hands as they stared at the young Fire Lord and his uncle, hunched vulnerably on the ground. 

Katara was still clinging to his back, her cheek resting on his spine, in a move to protect him. He reached up and covered her hand with his own. 

He angled his face to speak to her over his shoulder, “rise with me.” 

He stood with Katara and brought her around to his side. 

“The Fire Nation has hurt me too,” he began. “My father burned my face and my sister shot lightning into my heart, which nearly would have killed me if it weren’t for Katara. I understand how you all may feel. Aang is right, my uncle and I did come to Ba Sing Se as refugees from the Fire Nation. I’d been banished from my home country since I was thirteen, just because I disagreed with a merciless war general. I was told that hunting down the Avatar would restore my honor, but my uncle taught me that only I could restore my own honor for myself. I learned that people could change, and I fought hard to earn my friend’s trust because I wanted to end my father’s war.”

He pulled Katara against him, and her hand grazed a scratch on his back that made him wince. 

“I truly believe in restoring balance to the world, and I have friends from every nation to help me accomplish that feat. But I cannot do it alone. I need your help and your trust in order to rebuild a better world.”

A man towards the front began to cry. “I have a nephew from the Fire Nation colonies,” he said. “I know maybe you aren’t all bad. I understand that you are trying, but what about us and what we’ve experienced because of you?”

“I know you’ve been through a lot because of me and my country. But I want to help. I want to hear what you need, all of you. I want to know how I can help rebuild what I helped to destroy.”  

The man nodded, and the people gathered around them stood still to listen. “How should we do that?”

Zuko came to an agreement with the refugees, he would go down to the lower rings of Ba Sing Se and hold a sort of court, for the members to come and tell him their grievances so that they could work out a plan. In exchange, they would help rebuild the Jasmine Dragon. He couldn’t believe how quickly they had come around. There was still suspicion and tension in the air, but maybe he could do some good afterall. 

When all was finally calm and everyone had gone, Katara took to healing Uncle’s wound. She carefully extracted the glass shard in his leg and healed him. Zuko knew it was just his ancient uncle, but a slight twinge of jealousy crossed his heart to see her healing someone else, like it was their thing or something.

When she had finished with Uncle she walked over to him, where he sat on a cushion. “Want me to take a look at your back?” She whispered into his ear. 

Zuko’s cheeks burned. “Uh, uh–”

“You’ll need to remove your shirt for me to look at the wounds.” 

His brain was slow to register her words. “Remove my shirt?”

Aang approached them just then. His eyes were downcast, chin drawn close to his chest like a wounded animal prepared for defeat. “Uh, hi guys. Could I talk to you for a second?”

Katara tensed up, her hand on Zuko’s shoulder. “Okay.”

“Katara, I’m really sorry about what I said earlier. I was being selfish and jealous.” Aang was still looking at his feet rather than meeting either of their eyes.

“Yeah,” Katara said, still standing rigid.

“I guess I just wanted you to like me so bad that I thought you did,” Aang paused and glanced up at Katara. “That wasn’t really fair of me to not consider your feelings.”

“It really wasn’t, Aang. I rejected you before and you still continued to make advances on me. It made me very uncomfortable.” 

“I’m sorry,” he repeated. 

Katara’s form slackened a little. “I’m sorry for saying some nasty things to you earlier, but I do mean it, you can’t control me or any other girl for that matter. You can’t tell someone what they’re supposed to feel, especially if they’ve already told you no.”

“Thank you, Katara. And Zuko, I’m really sorry to you, too. I wasn’t considering how you may feel about Katara either. If you do like her that much, I hope you treat her well. There’s no one else in the world like her.” 

Zuko raised an eyebrow, surprised by Aang’s blessing. 

“Thank you, Aang.”

He was right about one thing, there was no one else in the world like Katara.

It was late before Katara and her friends returned to their apartments. But she couldn’t sleep. She lay on her back on her bedroll and stared up at the ceiling. 

After a while, she slipped from her bed and snuck out of her room and out the door and crept towards Zuko’s apartment. 

A soft glow of firelight was emitting from inside, so Katara knocked softly on the door and Zuko told her to come in.

“How’s your uncle?” She asked as she sat down across from him on the cushion at his table. It seemed like he’d only just gotten back from taking care of Iroh.

“I think he’s shaken up mostly,” Zuko said, pouring her some tea from a fresh pot. “I don’t think he fully expected acceptance from the people here, but I think he had hoped things would be better, I don’t know.” 

His expression was dark and tired, Katara could see the heavy burdens on his shoulders as if he carried the weight of the world.

“Hey, you never let me look at your back. I don’t want any of those scratches to get infected.” 

She moved over behind him as he willingly removed his robe and tunic for her. Katara sucked in a breath of air. Zuko’s back was taut, his smooth skin revealed every muscle in his strong back. 

“What?” Zuko’s head sharply turned to try and look at her over his shoulder. “That bad?”

“Hmm?” Katara hummed, before swallowing and remembering she was supposed to be healing the scratches and bruises on his back, not admiring his physique. “No, no it’s not too bad.” 

She caught his knowing grin.

“Turn around!” She snapped and he chuckled but obliged.

She drew water from her pouch and coated her hands in it, feeling energy hum through her core into her hands and the water she commanded. She swept her hands over his back, watching his skin knit back together and heal in rapid time under her control. She counted a handful of freckles splattered along his back. There were three prominent ones, one at the nape of his neck, the base of his spine, and the last just below his shoulder blade that formed a constellation of their own design. She liked studying Zuko.

“All done,” she whispered into his ear. “Do you feel better?”

He turned his head towards her face and nodded, “Much better. Thank you, Katara.”

The corner of her lip drew up into a smirk, “Anytime. Although, you really shouldn’t be hunting down so much trouble, Zuko. It’s like you always want me to heal you or something.”

Zuko laughed and the sound was sweet in her ears, like honey. He reached for her wrist and tugged her to come around him. She followed and collapsed into the cushion of his arms, and he held her in his lap, against his chest. She looked up at him and he met her eyes. She stroked her fingertips along his cheek, brushing her fingers over his scar, something that made him so perfectly Zuko in her eyes. Although he had suffered a great deal in his life, somehow it had led him right here to her and this moment of quiet intimacy between them. He closed his eyes and leaned his face into her touch. She ran her fingers through his hair that was getting longer by the day. She liked it. She nestled into his chest and eventually fell asleep, curled in his lap.

The next morning, loud knocks sounded from the door, pulling them from sleep.

They had fallen asleep together at the table. Zuko had adjusted them at some point to lie on the seat cushion to cradle their heads, while the tattered robe he had been wearing was their blanket. Though Katara woke up arguably from the best night’s sleep she had ever had, warmed by a firebender who always gave off plenty of bodyheat. 

“Zuko! Are you in there??” Sokka’s voice accompanied another round of aggressive knocking. 

Katara’s eyes snapped to Zuko’s and the pair jumped apart. Zuko bolted up and pulled on his robe, trying to look semi-decent. Nothing had even happened, but neither one of them needed Sokka to go “big brother” on Katara. 

Katara smoothed down her hair and tied it back, then straightened the cushion back under the table. No evidence of her night spent with Zuko.

“Need something?” Zuko said, opening the door. 

Sokka shouldered his way in and hobbled a beeline towards Katara. “Where have you been??”

“What are you talking about?” She played dumb.

“You snuck out last night, didn't you? So you could play kissy-face with Zuko!” Sokka pointed his crutch accusingly at Katara. 

Katara scoffed, “I did not play kissy-face with anyone!”

“Then why were you out all night?”

“Katara didn’t have a chance to heal my scratches last night at the tea shop, so she came over, we talked, and it was very late and she didn’t want to wake you up, so I let her sleep in one of the extra rooms. That’s all.” Zuko’s arms were crossed over his chest in that ‘he means business’ sort of way. Katara hid a smile, thankful he was covering for her. 

Sokka looked at Katara to confirm the story and she nodded. He glanced between the two like he didn’t fully believe them, but he didn’t want to push his sister or his friend.

“Well King Kuei is looking for you Zuko. He sent for both you and Aang to meet him in the palace an hour from now.” 

“Got it, thanks, Sokka.” 

“If I catch you two making kissy-face behind my back, I will chain you to my crutches, Katara,” Sokka said over his shoulder as he made for the door.

“Get out, Sokka!” Katara screeched and pushed her brother’s back towards the door. 

“I’m just saying!”

Once King Kuei had caught wind of the attack on the Jasmine Dragon, he had called forth a meeting for Zuko, Aang, and Iroh to attend. He brought up imprisoning the rioters, but Iroh had insisted that jail would do nothing but burn more bridges, and Zuko was inclined to agree. The attackers were mainly refugees from war torn villages that Zuko had likely had a hand in plundering. Although violence wasn’t right, the tea shop could be repaired. And the refugees had already assented to help repair what they had wrecked in the shop. 

Zuko proposed his plan to have a hearing with the refugees in the lower ring, to hear them out personally and assess how he could help their homes. He felt that this was the best way to go forward and earn the trust of the other nations. Uncle beamed at him in pride. And Zuko felt a little proud too, somewhere in his chest, knowing that he had only become the man he was today under his Uncle’s guidance and tutelage. 

The weeks following were labor intensive. Between Fire Lord duties in the lower rings of Ba Sing Se, and helping with the repairs to the Jasmine Dragon, he was exhausted each night when he finally crawled into his bedroll. 

But then there was Katara, and her soft, blue eyes, and her smile that made his inner fire burn brighter. She worked alongside him and the others each day in the tea shop, and she had accompanied him a few times to his lower ring meetings. He valued her input on some topics. She had similar experiences to some of the refugees, so she always knew exactly what to say to placate a crowd if a situation ever got tense. They listened to her. And the pieces seemed to fall right into place in Zuko’s heart. He always wanted Katara by his side, no matter what.

Though he tried not to, Zuko couldn’t stop himself from imagining Katara one day at his side as Fire Lady. Late at night, he indulged in his silly fantasy, Katara, donned in blue, hair-loopies, and a Fire Nation headpiece in her hair. 

Katara had accompanied him again in another meeting in the lower ring this afternoon. They had just adjourned their session and the sky was orange as they strolled out of the Pao Family Tea House, where he and Uncle had first worked when they had arrived in Ba Sing Se. 

“I want to show you something,” Zuko said, slipping his hand into Katara’s.

“Okay,” she grinned. “Where are you taking me?”

“It’s a surprise.” 

He remembered the path to the fountain and led Katara down various alleyways and past market stalls with cabbages and other various produce. 

“Here we are,” he said when they’d made it to the fountain. Just as the last time he’d been there, the lights were out. Dusk had just fallen, but there was still just enough light left for him to see each post.

“Sit down,” Zuko instructed, and Katara sat on the edge of the fountain while Zuko stood in front of her, hands folded at his chest as he pulled his inner fire from his center. 

Although Jin couldn’t know he was a firebender when he’d been here last, Zuko reveled in getting to show off for Katara as he aimed at each lamp post and shot a flame into the center until every lantern was lit, even the ones in the fountain.

“They call it the firelight fountain,” he grinned sheepishly before sitting down beside her. 

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, glancing around at the way the firelight flickered and reflected off the water. “How did you find this place?”

“Uh, well,” he scratched his head and grimaced.

“Tell me!”

“Well, you know that girl that was screaming at me at the Jasmine Dragon on the grand reopening?” 

“Yeah.”

“Well she sort of brought me here when I used to live here. Um, on a date.” He looked at the ground, nervous to meet her eyes, even though maybe that was silly. She’s surely gone on dates before. He’d had a girlfriend before, he shouldn’t be embarrassed, right?

“Do you take all the girls here on dates then?” She laughed, and Zuko’s cheeks burned hotter.

“So this is a date?” He met her eyes and took her hand up again. She looked away and smiled, her cheeks a little pink, though she didn’t pull her hand from his. 

Their contact was easy now, they had either grown adjusted to the shock, or it had gone away. All Zuko knew is that he just felt better around Katara, he felt better when she was touching him somehow. She leaned in against his shoulder, her forehead against his cheek, and they stayed there awhile.

The next few weeks went on like this: Katara would help out at the Jasmine Dragon and then she would accompany Zuko to his meetings in the Lower Ring. She liked the easy routine she had fallen into with him as much as she enjoyed his company. She had asked him about his time spent in Ba Sing Se, and he showed her around the Lower Ring, pointing out places he lived in, taking her to his favorite food stalls. They even found a cart selling ash bananas, something Zuko was surprised to find outside of the Fire Nation, and they bought some so he could finally show her how to make ash banana bread, since they couldn’t back home. He was right, the bread was amazing. But she thought it was better because he had helped her make it. 

In her moments of free time, Katara found herself learning how to play Pai Sho with Iroh and Zuko, who went easy on her with an abundance of patience. Iroh pulled her aside later to congratulate her on finally teaching his nephew how to have patience with the game, as he never had been able to before. Katara had only smiled, reveling in the fact that Zuko was more tolerant with her around.

The grand re-reopening of the Jasmine Dragon was fast approaching, and King Kuei had announced there would be a party in all of Ba Sing Se to celebrate the accomplishments of working with Zuko and the Fire Nation and successfully finding a peaceful way to handle conflict. 

Sokka finally got his cast off, and Suki came into town with a few of the Kyoshi Warrior girls. He was happy to have his girlfriend around for a few weeks and to join him at the party. They often snuck off together, which allowed Katara to slip off with Zuko without her brother fretting over her every time she disappeared for long hours with the Fire Lord. 

As for Aang, Katara had seen him spending more time with Toph. They sparred a lot, or explored the Upper Ring, as far as she could tell. She thought they looked happy, and she was happy for them, regardless if they had feelings for each other or not. 

The late summer air turned crisp in the evenings in a way that felt good on Katara’s skin. She liked watching the sunsets with Zuko, wherever in Ba Sing Se they ended up watching the sky turn pink and orange. She liked how he was always warm, like a personal body heater, if she ever got chilly. She could tuck herself against him and he’d wrap an arm around her shoulders and give her a squeeze.

Sometimes Zuko found odd little trinkets, like maple leaves that had fallen to the ground, or crystalized rocks that he thought she would like. And he would always be so surprised when she cherished every little gift he gave her, though she didn’t know why.

The day of the party and the grand re-reopening arrived and Zuko came to Katara’s door to collect her for the party. He stood there stunned when she had opened the door, dressed in one of her finer blue robes. She had put her hair up, letting some pieces dangle around her face, and she had a gold Fire Nation insignia pinned to the front of her robe. The cut of her robe showed off her collar bone, and accentuated her Gran Gran’s choker. 

“You look beautiful,” he breathed, brushing a finger over the Fire Nation pin. “Where’d you get this?”

She grinned, “Iroh helped me get it made. It was a surprise for you.” 

His smile was big, the joy in his eyes was everything she had hoped for with the surprise. “I love it, Katara. Fire Nation emblems suit you.”

He held out his arm and she took it. 

“You look handsome, too, you know,” she said. And he did. He was dressed in a mix of red and green that brought out his golden eyes. His hair was pulled into a top knot with his Fire Lord headpiece holding it in place. He looked handsome and official, and she loved the look on him. Maybe almost as much as she loved when he stripped down to just some loose pants to train with her. 

He looked over at her and smiled warmly, as he led her down the road and towards the Jasmine Dragon. Like before, they would help Iroh serve the guests today. But Iroh had made sure to kick all of his teenagers out in the late afternoon to go and enjoy the party and all the festivities that accompanied it. 

Katara was serving tea to her last customer of the day, when she saw Iroh whispering to Zuko out of the corner of her eye. The old man winked at his nephew and glanced over at the Water Bender, before patting Zuko on the shoulder. 

As she set her tray down behind the counter, Zuko came over to her. “Ready to go? Uncle’s cutting us loose now.”

She smiled and nodded, reaching for the ties on her apron but Zuko beat her to it, undoing her ties for her and helping her pull the whole thing carefully over her head. She was grateful for his help because the sleeves of her robe were rather long and she had done her hair up so intricately that she didn’t want to mess it up just as the night was truly beginning.

The rest of their friends were pulling off their aprons and preparing to head out for the party too. Katara couldn’t help but notice how close Aang was to Toph. As soon as they were out the doors, he took her hand and pulled her off towards the carnival games. Sokka and Suki broke free of them too, heading for the food carts, which was likely Sokka’s idea, knowing her brother’s eternally hungry stomach. 

This left Katara and Zuko on their own to do whatever they wanted. Katara slipped her hand into Zuko’s and they just started walking, although the destination was unclear as to where they were headed.

One of the refugees they had been meeting with in the Lower Ring approached. He was a young man in his thirties, he had a wife and small children with him. 

“Fire Lord Zuko!” He greeted, bowing before them.

“Gisho, there’s no need for formalities,” Zuko said. “Are you enjoying the festivities?” 

“Yes, my daughters love the carnival games. Your uncle’s tea is also very excellent. You have helped my family so much already, Zuko. I look forward to continuing to work with you!”

 Two young girls clung to Gisho’s legs, and Zuko squatted down to their eye level and bowed to them. 

“Hello little ones, I hope you’ve won some good prizes from the games.” 

The shy girls nodded, holding up stuffed poodle monkeys and badgermoles as evidence. Katara’s heart swelled with admiration. The family said their goodbyes to Katara and Zuko and headed off towards the food carts. The best part about the party tonight was that the king had provided for all of the food and games, so Lower and Upper Rings could mix and no one would have to pay a single coin for any of it.

Zuko took up Katara’s hand again and they found their way to the carnival games. 

“See anything you’d like?” He asked her as they looked around at the tents set up for play.

“I’d be happy with anything,” she told him. 

He found a game of ring toss that won him a stuffed animal of his choosing. He came back over to Katara with a stuffed fire ferret in hand. The thing was soft and small. She took it from him and hugged it close, not caring what it was so much that it was a gift from him.

“I love it, Zuko! Thank you.”

He grinned, “You’re welcome, Katara.”

After they played some games, they got food. Zuko also found a stall that had flowers. He came back over to her with a beautiful black and white flower in hand that she immediately recognized.

“A panda lily?” She gasped, “how did they get this!”

“Huh?” Zuko looked bewildered.

“It’s just that, these flowers only grow on the rim of a volcano.” 

“I thought it was beautiful,” he said. “Just like you.”

Katara blushed. She wondered if Zuko knew that giving a panda lily to someone meant an expression of love. She twisted the stem and held the flower closer to her chest before asking Zuko to help her tuck it into her hair. 

By then, dusk was approaching. The orange sky was fading into a deeper blue that casted a heavy shadow of light on the party. The big finale was meant to start soon. 

“Wanna go find somewhere to watch the fireworks?” Zuko asked.

“Yes!” 

He led them back towards the Jasmine Dragon, holding Katara’s hand and guiding her up the steep steps towards the tea shop. She put her prized fire ferret inside real quick, before Iroh finished locking up. 

“Have a good night, Katara,” Iroh smiled at her knowingly. 

“Goodnight, Iroh. Will you be watching the fireworks too?”

“Oh, yes. I will have a good view of them for sure.” The old man looked over her shoulder at something or someone behind her, making Katara blush with a sneaking suspicion that he didn’t mean fireworks in the sky.

She dashed back over to Zuko, who was waiting for her at the railing beyond the fountain in front of the tea shop. The view looked out over the entire city. Although the city was packed, and the large walls loomed far off into the distance, Ba Sing Se was beautiful in its own way. 

Katara stood at the railing as the first firework exploded in the sky, in a bright red color. The thud was loud in her ears, and she could feel it boom in her chest. Zuko wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, her spine pressed into his chest. She could feel the electricity zing from the contact, the first zing she had felt in weeks. It excited her, and she was always reminded how whole she felt when Zuko held her like this. It was easier to breathe, her heart seemed more sure of each beat, she felt comfortable and relaxed in his arms, like her soul was at peace.

She turned her face up to look at him and found he was already looking at her. She didn’t really understand it, not all the way at least. But something had changed when she had saved Zuko’s life after Azula shot lightning into his heart. A piece of her soul had somehow saved his life, and now here they were, in Ba Sing Se, facing and overcoming whatever struggle fate threw their way. She was certain her place in life was right here, at Zuko’s side, leading with him. Whatever it may be, she wanted it. She wanted it with him. She wanted him. 

She knew they would spend a few more weeks in Ba Sing Se, to continue working with the refugees and working in Iroh’s tea shop. But eventually they would return to the Fire Nation, and face more civil unrest there. She hoped one day soon she could bring Zuko home. Introduce him to Gran Gran. Maybe Dad would take him and Sokka fishing. They could work on their plans to keep helping mend what the war had destroyed. They could do it together.

But for now, for now Katara was lost in Zuko’s eyes. They glittered in the moonlight and reflected each popping firework. His hands were on her waist and his face was so close to hers. She rested her hands on his shoulders and pulled him closer, closing the distance between them. Katara kissed Zuko fiercely, and it was everything she had been waiting for. 

She wrapped her arms firmly around him, burying her fingers in his hair at the nape of his neck, taking precaution not to disturb the top knot. He pulled her to him by the waist, and held her back, pressing her against him and kissed her harder. 

The fireworks went on. 

Katara and Zuko’s souls sighed as they melded into one. 

Chapter Text

“Did I ever tell you you were the source of my nightmares?” Katara asked, as she lay on her side beside Zuko outside next to the small pond. It wasn’t nearly as good at the turtleduck pond near the palace in the Fire Nation, but it did alright. 

“Was I really?” 

With Sokka and Suki spending every night together, Katara had slipped away more frequently to spend her nights in Zuko’s apartment. The nightmares had still plagued her, even now, but somehow, she always slept more soundly if she fell asleep cradled in Zuko’s arms. He expected her now, and left the door unlatched each night for her arrival.

“I dreamt that you had died in the Agni Kai every night.” She picked at a blade of grass, cheeks warm as she admitted her nightmares aloud.

“Wait, really?” He asked and she looked up at him with a curious look. “I had the same nightmare every night that you had died.” 

“Do you think it’s because of our soul connection?” 

She lifted the pads of her fingertips to his, what had once been shocks through her core at his touch now felt like a little tingle that made her feel more alive.

“I do now,” he said softly, playing with her hand. 

“I’m happy you didn’t die that night,” she admitted. 

“I’m happy that you saved my life, Katara. I’m happy that I get to be here now, with you.” He leaned in and pecked her lips with a soft kiss.

“You don’t only like me because of our soul thing, do you?” It was silly, really, but it was something that had gnawed at the back of her mind. She knew she had started to grow feelings for Zuko after they had chased down her mother’s killer. He would never know it, but she remembered that he had touched her and she had flinched. But she also remembered how he had held her as they flew back to camp on Appa. She knew it was dangerous for two people to ride up front on the sky bison, but she couldn’t explain her desire to not be alone, even in the back of the saddle. She had just craved to be with him. And then she had fallen asleep against him, and he had held her close, and kept her warm, and kept her safe. 

“No, Katara. I’ve liked you since you showed me humility in the crystal catacombs. I will never forgive myself for betraying your trust back then, and sometimes I still don’t believe I deserve your forgiveness now. But the feelings were already there. You sharing your soul with me? That only makes me love you even more.”

She gasped and met his eyes. “You love me?”

“I do. I’m in love with you, Katara.”

“I’m in love with you, too, Zuko.” Tears had clouded her vision, because she never expected someone to love her as selflessly as Zuko did. 

But here he was, loving her despite everything.

He took her hands into his and pulled her closer. “You know I can’t promise you a perfect life? I want everything with you, but my era as Fire Lord will be challenging. I’ve hurt a lot of people and they hate me for it. But I’m also not my father, and a lot of people hate me for that, too. I can’t promise that I could give you peace.”

“It’s okay, Zuko. I’m here for you. I want to stand by your side so that you don’t have to carry all of these burdens alone. I don’t care how difficult the world may be, nothing could ever stand in the way of my love for you. Life is like the tide, and sometimes the waves come crashing down, and with it comes sadness. But you, you are my fire, you are my strength, Zuko.” 

He smiled, tears in his eyes, too. He pulled Katara closer and kissed her slowly, gently. He liked meaning so much to her, just as she meant the world to him. 

When their kiss ended, she leaned into him and yawned. She felt heavy and droopy with sleep.

“Come on, Katara, we should get some rest.” 

She nodded, agreeing. 

Zuko scooped her up and carried her inside before laying her down gently on his bedroll. He crawled in beside her and held her close, knowing that maybe the world would never give them any peace, but he felt it here, with Katara, and he realized this was the only peace that he needed.