Archive of Our Own

༄

“This is the lower ring.” Joo Dee says.

Her voice is already grating against Katara’s nerves, but she questions anyway, “What’s that wall for?”

“Oh, Ba Sing Se has many walls. There are the ones outside, protecting us, and the ones inside that help maintain order.”

Katara regrets questioning and letting her drone on, but she cant help but to be reminded of the Northern Water Tribe.

While the lower ring in Ba Sing Se is explicitly recognized, with its grime and poverty and people living on the street, the North has different ice walls and tiers of living groups, those at the bottom more susceptible to their homes being plunged into the arctic water. The blatant sexism rampaging their customs and rules.

It's just a bunch of walls and rules, Toph said earlier. You wait, you'll get sick of it in a couple of days.

Katara shimmers at the premonition, as Joo Dee says, “This is where our newest arrivals live, as well as our craftsmen…”

Her voice has turned into ringing in Katara’s ears as she sees him.

That scar eating half of his face. His hair… isn’t in its ponytail anymore. The boy’s hair is short, even in length, and he’s wearing dark green and black accented robes.

That can’t be Zuko. Katara must be seeing things- it must be a trick of the light.

How many people share the same mark of fire?

They’ve passed by the group of people before Katara can search for any tell tale sign, any inkling that it is Zuko trailing them into the city. They’re a safe distance before Katara can even consider looking for Iroh as well.

Why would he be in Ba Sing Se? Unless the Fire Nation is already inside the city. Katara shuts out the thought. We’ve made it, we just need to find Appa and tell the Earth King about the eclipse. It will be okay. We just won against the drill and Azula.

There’s no way Zuko is in the city.

ঌ

Iroh trudges up beside him, carrying a large pot filled with orange flowers.

“I just want our place to look nice, in case someone brings home a lady friend!” he says, nudging Zuko’s elbow.

Zuko fights the surge of retorts brewing on his tongue from a night of overthinking, what if I never go home, what if Jet rats us out, what if Azula finds us…

All that he lets escape is, “This city is a prison. I don't want to make a life here.” He makes sure to make his voice as bleak as possible, lest the inner turmoil show through. Iroh’s already burdened enough- and Zuko does not want another lecture.

“Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not. Now come on, I found us some new jobs, and we start this afternoon!”

Ugh.

Despite the promising outlook, Zuko can’t help but feel like there’s something breathing down his neck, staring from the shadows.

My honor, my throne, my country, he thinks. I’m about to lose them all.

Zuko puts one foot in front of the other behind his content uncle, avoiding the gaze of anyone else in the vicinity.

He’s worried if they look too close they’ll see right through him.

༄

“The Upper Ring is home to our most important citizens. Your house is not too far from here!” Joo Dee says enthusiastically.

They near the palace, the big looming doors far beyond what Katara ever imagined. The courtyard is desolate, save for them and a few men in dark robes lingering in the shadows of a tunnel.

“What’s inside that wall?” Katara asks.

Sokka adds, “And who’re the mean looking guys in robes?”

“Inside is the Royal Palace. Those men are agents of the Dai Li, the cultural authority of Ba Sing Se. The guardians of all our traditions!”

Katara shares a look with Sokka. What Joo Dee really means is they’re the enforcement from the shadows. She was already getting weird, suspicious vibes from their escort, but this confirms it.

Aang grumbles, annoyed from having to sit still so long. “Can we see the Earth King now?”

Joo Dee laughs and Katara’s spine itches. “Oh, no. One doesn’t just pop in on the Earth King!”

Katara stifles a groan.

ঌ

“This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!” Iroh grouches.

“Uncle, that’s what all tea is.” Zuko replies, annoyed.

His uniform is stuffy over his robe and Zuko cannot fathom spending his day to day life in a run-down tea shop where his uncle complains about the quality of the tea all day. Really, what did he expect?

“How could a member of my own family say something so horrible? We’ll have to make some major changes around here.” Iroh goes and empties the pot out the window, angry all the way. The only time he shows such emotion is when it’s about tea.

Iroh doesn’t notice, but Zuko does and sees a flicker of movement outside the window followed by a low gasp.

He narrows his eyes at the window as Pao comes to give uncle the extra string, questioning how the pot emptied so quickly.

“We were very thirsty.” Iroh replies. “Though, I was thinking I could help give you some pointers…”

Jet knows. Zuko knows that he knows- that look in his eye has been haunting him.

Just how long until he does something about it?

༄

Joo Dee goes on to tell them that their audience with the Earth King could take up to two months.

They don’t have that kind of time.

When Toph challenges her, however, Joo Dee doesn’t back down and insists on taking them to inquire people about Appa. Katara gets the sense Joo Dee’s intentionally smothering any sort of information they could get out of anyone.

Katara frowns to herself. The people inside these walls live like there’s no war outside. Where she found similarities to the North earlier, this is vastly different. The war doesn’t even exist to them

They seem to have absolutely no idea that just a few days ago a drill was penetrating it’s great wall.

Does the Earth King even care about the war?

Trepidation and anxiety fill her chest and Katara tries to will it away.

It’ll be fine. They’ll figure this out.

ঌ

Zuko collapses onto the musty cushion atop of a ledge before a window. He never thought making tea, pouring it, walking around and talking to customers would take so much out of him. He was dead wrong.

In contrast, Iroh is jovial, and he asks, “Would you like a pot of tea?”

“We’ve been working in a tea shop all day. I’m sick of tea!” Zuko scoffs.

“Sick of tea?! That’s like being sick of breathing!” Iroh replies, exasperated. Then, “Have you seen our spark rocks to heat up the water?

Zuko’s veins turn cold.

It is Jet.

He’s watching them, trying to verify what he saw before the train. Iroh firebending.

Zuko shivers, catching his uncle’s eye. He nods once, and Iroh moves to ask their neighbor for some.

They’ll have to be very careful from here on out.

Despite his disdain for maintaining a life here, it would be worse to be on the run again, on the road.

At least this way his feet are steady on the ground, not afraid of his sister springing the jump on them.

He watches as Iroh makes the tea sans firebending, wondering if he’ll be able to make peace with it- with living like this and nothing else.

༄

Katara yawns, opening the front door to check their mailbox.

It’s only been a day, but hey, there’s actually not much to do while they’re waiting in a city full of rules.

To her surprise, there is something in their box.

There’s a flyer detailing a party for the King’s… pet bear?

“You mean platypus-bear?” Aang asks.

Katara frowns. “No, it just says bear.”

“Certainly you mean his pet skunk-bear.” Sokka butts in from the floor. They’re all confused.

“Or his armadillo bear?” Toph suggests

“Gopher bear?

“Just… bear.” Katara shrugs.

Toph squints, as much as a blind girl can. “This place is weird.”

Katara’s done with the topic- they have the opportunity to meet the Earth King.

“The palace will be packed- we can sneak in with a crowd!” She suggests.

Toph falls back onto her mattress and denies her plan, “Won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Well, no offense to you simple country folk, but a real society crowd will spot you a mile away. You've got no manners!” Toph snags one of the breakfast pastries left out for them and Katara snorts at the idea of Toph calling them simple country folk. She fit right in once she took off her shoes- at least Katara washes her feet.

“Excuse me? I've got no manners?! You're not exactly lady fancy fingers!”

Toph burps. “I learned proper society behavior and chose to leave it.” Then discards her half-eaten pastry. “You never learned anything. And frankly, it's a little too late.” Then picks her nose and throws the snot away. Ugh.

But Toph has a point.

“Aha, but you learned it. You could teach us!”

“Yeah, I'm mastering every element. How hard could manners be‌?” Aang agrees. Then, he starts acting like a noble, wrapping a curtain around himself like a robe.

“Good evening, Mr. Sokka Water Tribe, Ms. Katara Water Tribe, Lord Momo of the Momo Dynasty. Your Momo-ness.”

Sokka copies Aang’s robe and joins the fray. “Avatar Aang, how you do go on!”

Katara watches in bemusement as they go into a series of bows at one another, each one faster than the last. Eventually their heads crash together.

Toph comes beside her, a smile on her own face. “Katara might be able to pull it off, but you two would be lucky to pass as busboys.”

“But I feel so fancy!” Sokka cries.

ঌ

Zuko is on the floor less today.

Instead, he’s working in the back, maintaining different pots of tea, trying not to over-steep them (seriously, how do you over-steep tea?).

“What am I even doing?” He mumbles to himself.

Pao took it upon himself to sacrifice one of his newest employees to the jaws of the nobles tonight, sparing his uncle and leaving Zuko alone.

“This is a great opportunity, nephew!” Iroh cheered, patting Zuko on the back. He swallowed a retort. “You can advertise our tea shop and maybe meet some nobles who might get the word out!”

That’s wishful thinking, Zuko wanted to say. But between Pao’s contented smile and Iroh’s enthusiasm at the potential experience, he couldn’t turn it down.

Now, he mulls over the nearing night, scared for what’s to come.

They just need extra hands, Pao explained, nothing fancy. Just ask where you’re needed.

Nothing fancy, he said. Zuko was pretty sure that much like his own parties he had attended as a kid in the Fire Nation, this would be something at least somewhat fancy.

He at least preferred that over another idea circling in his head. One of bare-footed earthbenders and rambunctious music, rocks being tossed everywhere. He was pretty sure it wasn’t going to be like that.

After all, he would still be serving tea.

Agni, why. He thought. He would much rather be sleeping than doing so- but he couldn’t disappoint uncle.

Besides, it meant that Jet would be off his back for at least a few hours.

“More lavender-lychee!” Iroh exclaimed from the front.

Zuko went back to mumbling to himself.

༄

Dusk settles over the rooftops of Ba Sing Se, painting the city more romantic.

The sky itself is boisterous tonight, pink and purple and zinging yellow and orange as the sun meets the horizon.

Katara has a good feeling about tonight.

When Joo Dee came by for their mid-day check in, Katara demanded she take her and Toph to get makeovers.

She was apprehensive at first, no doubt expecting they demand her to take them to the Earth king again, more than happy to oblige when it had nothing to do with finding Appa. Little did she know that them getting makeovers was to meet the Earth King.

“Wow, you look beautiful.” Aang stares at her, a weird expression on his face.

She’s about to respond when Toph cuts her off with a fan in front of her.

“Don’t talk to the commoners, Katara. First rule of society.”

Yeah, yeah. Okay.

“We'll get in the party, and then find a way to let you in through the side gate.” Katara reminds them.

They leave, tentative hope tainting the air.

ঌ

Iroh is smiling at Pao declaring that he’s due for a raise when the door slams open.

Zuko’s heart rages against its cage.

“I'm tired of waiting!” Jet yells, pointing at him and his uncle. “These two men are firebenders!”

He unsheathes his weird hook-swords, itching for a fight. Zuko masters his breathing, sharing a glance with his uncle- what do we do?

Thankfully, the entire tea shop has paused and seem just as confused.

“I know they're firebenders, I saw the old man heating his tea!”

“He works in a tea shop.” One of the men he just served says bleakly. Zuko almost, almost bursts out laughing at the fact that while Jet is right, no one seems to even consider the possibility. They’re safe-

“He's a firebender! I'm telling you!” Jet insists.

“Drop your swords, boy. Nice and easy.” The same man says, and he and the other man at the table rise in challenge.

Jet inches closer. “You’ll have to defend yourself. Then everyone will know.” He crosses his swords, the sound ringing across the shop. His stupid, smug, self-assured face gets closer. “Go ahead. Show them what you can do.”

Zuko briskly walks forward, grabbing the customer’s swords before the customer rises in their defense.

“You want a show?” He growls, “I’ll give you a show.”

The weight of the dual swords in his hands is something he missed. The cool handles calm his fiery nerves as Zuko stares Jet in the eye.

Sorry, Pao, he thinks. But I have something to prove.

Zuko makes the first move, hooking a table around his foot then kicking it at Jet. Jet smashes it with his swords, immediatenly advancing on him. Zuko deflects and leaps back onto another table.

Jet slices it in half and Zuko jumps off of it as Jet continues slashing, crossing his swords near Jet’s.

The focus, the precision, the agility it takes for swordsmanship is something he relishes in. It’s always been his thing- Azula gave up her lessons shortly after copying him.

It was the only thing that was solely his.

Unfortunately, his gratification is short-lived as Jet kicks him outside of the shop. Zuko rolls back up, grunting as his upper back takes most of the absorption. That’s going to hurt later.

Jet wastes no time, immediately upon Zuko to slam his fists into the hilt of Zuko’s borrowed swords. They struggle against eachother, at match for brute force.

“You must be getting tired of using those swords. Why don’t you go ahead and firebend at me?” Jet snipes.

Zuko glares into his eyes and wishes he could punch the everlasting smirk off his face.

Jet’s foot slides and Zuko triumphs, slowly pushing back as a crowd gathers.

“Please, son, you’re confused!” Iroh pleads. “You don’t know what you’re doing!”

Jet hooks his sword with his own as Zuko swipes. He gives in when Jet pulls, swinging the momentum back onto his side, spinning to get his swords unhooked. It’s a dance, and a rather dangerous one at that, but Zuko’s needed to blow off some steam for a while- not bending, stuffing his heat down does that to a firebender.

Jet grunts. “Bet you wish he helped you out with a little fire blast right now!”

Jet copies him and spins, his hook swords now connected end-to end. Zuko traps the elongated sword by the empty hilt, trapping it on the ground.

“You’re the one who needs help!”

They waste no time, at mutual agreement of each losing a sword to the ground.

Zuko advances as Jet lags. He bends at the last second, Zuko’s sword only making contact with the straw he carries in his mouth.

Concentrate, he reminds himself. I’m not trying to kill him.

Even if he wants to kill me.

Jet springs back onto the well in the middle of the courtyard.

“You see that? The Fire Nation is trying to silence me.” he huffs to crowd. “It’ll never happen!”

He jumps off the well to attack Zuko.

Zuko deflects and swings his momentum into his next swing of his sword. Jet maneuvers and blocks, pressing against Zuko’s back.

They fight like that for a hot second, meeting eachother blow-for-blow while pressed up against eachother.

“Drop your weapons!” A men yells at them.

Their swords dance off eachother for a moment more before they each pull back.

“Arrest them, they’re firebenders!” Jet calls out, gesturing to him and his uncle.

“This poor boy is confused. We’re just simple refugees.” Zuko nearly winces at Iroh’s use of simple, but the way he holds his hands out helplessly is a little more convincing.

Pao steps in. “This young man wrecked my tea shop and assaulted my employees!”

Never mind that I was the one who broke the first table, Zuko thinks. Pao may have just put the nail in Jets story’s coffin.

“It’s true sir,” The man who initially confronted Jet says. “We saw the whole thing. This crazy kid attacked the finest tea maker in the whole city.”

Zuko doesn’t need to look behind him to know Iroh’s blushing.

“Oh, that’s very sweet.”

The men in black robes and green circle insignia surround Jet. Jet immediately slashes his lone sword at them after one says, “Come with us, son.”

His sword is caught by what looks like a glove, and Zuko watches, all fight seeping out of him, that empty space filled with cold horror as they twist Jet’s arms behind his back.

“You don’t understand, they’re Fire Nation. You have to believe me!” He yells as they drag him to the back of a carriage.

Zuko watches as Jet glares unbreakingly at him until they shut the doors.

He stand there for a long moment after, sword hilt now warm due to his unchecked temperature in his hand. The daze breaks as Iroh puts a hand on his shoulder, gently tugging the sword out of its grip. He returns it to the man who thanks him, then glances sidelong at Zuko.

Zuko ignores it.

“Go get ready for the party tonight, Lee.” Iroh says seriously. Pao nods and they file into the tea shop.

Right, Zuko chews on the inside of his cheek. I still have a job to do.

༄

They tried to get in but were denied at the door multiple times.

Thankfully, a creepy old man took notice- and he looked important. Kempt facial hair, a long, dark robe like much of the men Katara’s seen around.

“I’m Huamei, and this is Dung.” She greets. Toph immediately pulls a string from Katara’s headdress. “She’s blind, and, well, I got us a little lost.” She hopes Toph is the only one who can tell she’s lying. “Our family is sure to be worried. Can you help us in?”

“It would be my pleasure.” He grins snakily. “The names Long Feng.”

He escorts them inside, nodding at the guards who seem unable to hide their surprise at his guests.

I do not have a good feeling about this, Katara worries quietly.

Her gut-feelings are correct; Long Feng doesn’t leave them alone.

“Where is your family?” He questions. “I’d love to meet them.”

“Uhh, I don’t see them right now.” Katara trills nervously.

“Hey.” Toph butts in, voice sweeter than usual, though Katara can still hear the bite to it. “I must use the ladies room. Can you show me to it?” Then, she elbows Katara behind where she elegantly holds her hands together, shielded from the snake. “Figure something out.” She whispers. “Find Aang and Sokka. Do something.”

Great advice, thank you. Katara bites back.

When they leave Katara glances around the room- no ones paying her any attention thankfully. She can’t really get a good picture being in the midst of everything, though.

Her stomach grumbles and she has half a mind to go find refreshments. Ah, whatever, she thinks. I could get a better look on the side. I don’t know where that side gate is anymore.

The throng is packed with chatting and twilring bodies, and Katara would rather not approach the nobles’ table with the bear seated at the very end.

So, she approaches a long table and a cart, servers hanging around, swooping in and out to replenish their serving platters before going back out onto the floor.

The piles of treats and refreshments are ones she’s never seen before. Better be careful, she warns herself. She grabs a small, unassuming looking puff pastry. It’s white, powdery sweetness coating the outside.

Katara stuffs it in her mouth.

Wrong idea- the powder explodes, making the inside of her mouth dry as La. She chokes it down, distantly enjoying the sweetness but not really due to her mouth being overtaken. She gulps again.

Something to drink-

Thankfully, the stand next to the long table seems to be for just that. Examples of what they serve sit in rows on display, colorful assortments and fruits mixed in.

She eyes a blue concoction that sparkles under the lamplight, garnished with a mintdragon leaf. Before looking up she points to it, way of other treats-

“Excuse me, can you tell me whats inside of this…” Katara’s voice trails off as she looks at the server. Her heart drops to her stomach, and she starts.

“Zu-“

“Don’t.” He hisses urgently, cutting her off.

ঌ

His grace with Agni has ended.

He’d thought he recognized her from somewhere.

Zuko watched, somewhat shamefully as this oddly familiar party-goer scoped out the refreshments.

He let a huff of amusement out as he watched her react to the dry-looking treat she’d chosen, the bewildered shock. Amusement at the rogue white powder that got on the side of her face. Until she’d gotten closer.

And started inquiring him about a drink. At which point, his brain was too busy recalibrating.

It’s her, he shivered.

Icemaster. Necklace girl. Water Tribe…

She’s wearing an elaborate updo stationed around a headdress, makeup distorting her natural features. Striking blue eyeshadow, rosy cheeks, glimmering lips. Emphasized eyelashes. But it’s her- he’d know those eyes anywhere.

Go jump in the river.

Zuko stood frozen in place until she nearly spoke his name.

“Don’t.” he held a hand up.

She jerked away, covering her face with her hands.

What was that? Cold anger rose up through him. You have an arsenal of weapons at your disposal, he thought. Right in front of me. A room full of people who likely loathe the Fire Nation. Why would I attack you?

He’s not as stupid as he was in the North.

Hers was the anger that showed. The waterbender hisses at him,“What are you doing here?”

“What are you-“

“I knew it was you! I saw you in the lower ring, I-“

Zuko cringes, glancing around them. “Keep your voice down!”

“Don’t tell me what to do.” She growled. Zuko shut up.

They stared at eachother, bewildered. He was used to the instant fighting against the avatar and his group whenever he encountered them. But this? Without the ability to bend, to physically fight it out?

He had no idea what he was doing.

A throat clears behind him. Zuko jumps and he sees Katara startle the same, weirdly triumphant about it.

It seems she’s not eager to send his soul into the spirit world just yet.

“I trust he’s serving you well, my lady?” His temporary boss, Chio asks.

Katara immediately straightens, pulls herself into a more dignified state. It’s hard to buy with the remainder of her snack still adorning her face.

“Y-yes sir! I was just, er, asking about this drink.” She scrambles.

Solely facing Katara now, Chio cant see Zuko’s shit-eating grin.

As Chio glances at the cup she pointed at she gives Zuko a scalding look.

“Oh, yes, that is one of our finest. It consists of-“

Katara clears her throat. “Sorry, I would rather hear from-“ She stops. “What did you say your name was?”

“Lee.” Zuko mutters.

“Sorry, come again? I couldn’t hear you.” Katara requests sweetly.

“My name’s Lee.” He grounds out, earning a pinched face from Chio.

She tilts her face and holds her hand out. “Huamei.”

Huamei. Zuko stares at her hand in confusion before Chio elbows him in the back.

He takes her hand and she immediately grips his with the power of a mosquito-leech as she shakes it. Zuko’s face twists in a scowl and forced smile.

“Nice to meet you, Huamei.”

“Likewise.” She laces her words with the finest honey, also scrunching her face slightly. The white dust on her face hardly moves.

“Well, ill leave you kids to it.” Chio says suspiciously, then he heads back into the kitchen.

Zuko raises his brow at her.

“So, Huamei.” He drawls. “Why are you at this party?”

“I think I should be asking why you’re at this party, Lee.” She bites back.

He fights the urge to groan. “It’s not what you think.”

“Oh, but isn’t it always? Always chasing us, putting us in danger-“

“I didn’t know you would be here.” He huffs, temperature rising.

“Right, and I guess you only waltzed into the Northen Water Tribe.” She’s gesturing wildly now, and Zuko can see the disturbance of the liquid in the display cups. His own palms are heating in response.

But he’s beaten. He can’t bend here. And he’ll bet that her friends aren’t too far behind- he can’t exactly hold her hostage in their new apartment. Upon further inspection, he doesn’t even want to. He wants to go home. To crawl back into that uncomfortable, dusty- smelling mattress and sink into it for a moon.

“Well, no smart response to that?” She raises a brow, clearly thinking she’s won.

“You’re gonna blow our cover.” He hisses.

“Our? Who’s we? I don’t even know you.”

“Don’t play stupid.” He snarls.

“You’re the one being stupid.” Her voice rises, and Zuko feels a headache coming on.

He’s been on his feet for too long, and the ache has started to set in from when Jet pushed him out of the shop earlier.

“I don’t have the energy for this.” He shakes his head, running his hands through his hair.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Should I just come back another day? We can postpone, since you don’t have time for this.”

“I think you should just order a drink.”

“Why would I listen to you?”

“Well, you said you wanted to earlier.”

Her mouth parts and he can tell there’s a real flush to her cheeks underneath the makeup.

She’s stopped hissing and spitting at him.

Thank Agni.

༄

Katara doesn’t know what to say.

Between his golden eyes, his short, scruffy hair and his infuriating snarkiness, she’s gone empty.

He doesn’t break eye contact as they stay quiet.

Finally, Katara conjures something up.

“Do you really know what’s in this drink?” She asks, pointing to the one from before. She cant help the accusatory tone that laces her voice. Not when it comes to him.

“Yes.”

She gestures him to go on. He sighs, and she would’ve never expected him to be so sassy before.

It’s odd, talking to him without weapons immediately being drawn.

“Crushed Pearl-coral gives it the shimmer.” He rasps flatly. “Steamed, crushed and refined eclipse moonflower is what makes it the pale blue, and the citrus on top comes from…” He bites his lip.

Katara tries not to glance at his mouth. She smiles instead.

“Did you forget?”

He squints at her. “No.”

“Oh, you so did.” She can’t help but tease. Underneath the yelling and fire he’s kind of… dorky?

“Look, it’s been a long day. Where the citrus comes from is not on the top of my list of priori- oh, it’s La’s Iceball.” He brightens. However, he mumbles, “From up North.”

Katara sighs.

“Look. I don’t want to fight you.” Katara starts, and he looks her up and down, gaze landing somewhere near her lip. Have some class, she thinks. “And It doesn’t seem like you want to capture Aang, or anyone at this moment.” She pauses and he nods, confirming. “Okay, so… where does that leave us?”

Her words echo from earlier: Who’s we? I don’t even know you.

Zuko only looks between her eyes, chewing on his lip.

La, stop looking, Katara.

“May I interest you in a cup of Oceansong, Lady Huamei?" He rasps. His voice is pointedly clear, a showcase: she is a lady at a formal party, and he is a tea server.

Katara tries, and fails, to stifle her snort. “Oceansong?”

“I didn’t name it.” He glares at her, good cheek reddening.

When she can speak without laughing at the absurdity of their situation she obliges. “Why, yes, I would. Thank you, Lee.”

ঌ

Thank you, Lee.

Oh, he is so going to kill uncle. What is it he said?

Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not.

For a brief moment when he offered her a cup of tea and Huamei took it, laughing and smiling, he could see the future so clearly.

Green-tiled roofs and the smell of old, dusty scrolls. Iroh spending all day making tea. Lady Huamei, void of makeup, smiling at him as they share tea and make fun of eachother.

No war, no scar, no more running.

“Zuko?” She asks, bringing him out of his stupor.

“Lee.” He corrects, blinking back into reality. His face will always be scarred, no matter what other name he bears.

“Right, sorry…” She’s shy now. Zuko thinks he prefers her heated demeanor over this one- her nerves are rubbing off on him.

His gaze yet again finds the smudged white powder near the corner of her mouth.

He scratches the back of his neck.

“Stop looking at my mouth!” She whisper-yells at him.

His brows furrow for a fraction of a second. “What? No, you-“ he growls. “Here, let me-“ She slides out of his reach with a puzzled look on her face and Zuko huffs. “Stay still.”

At both of their wonders, she does, and his thumb caresses the spot under the corner of her mouth. His thumb slides.

And then he realizes what he was doing.

“You had a- your mouth- the thing you ate earlier.” He breathes out.

“O-oh. Um. Thank you?”

They don’t speak for a moment, looking anywhere but each other.

Zuko busies his hands by preparing the Oceansong, carefully settling the citrus slice on the rim of the teacup.

It’s the least he can do, give her a piece of the arctic. There are a million words between them, everything to say and no time at all to say anything. Zuko doesn’t know when he’ll get the next chance, so he says the stupidest thing possible as he hands her the teacup:

“I’m sorry.”

She blinks at him, blue eyes catching the yellow lamplight. He shivers, taking a deep breath.

“I-“

“Help me crash this party.” She interrupts, taking the teacup.

She- Huamei- swishes its contents as he tries to understand what she just said to him.

It wasn’t a question, nor was it a demand. She somehow mended the two-

“I need to talk to the Earth King. As far as I can see, no one can even get close.”

Zuko glances beyond the people, down to the end of the table where the bear sits. Had she been observing the whole time? How had he not noticed?

His mind settles onto an ice-sharp point. “Why do you need to talk to the Earth King?”

He stops breathing as he watches her freeze, her conjuring something to say.

“I can’t tell you.”

Zuko burns.

“But you expect me to help you?” It comes out more gruff than he’d like.

“If you’re truly sorry, yes.” She retorts

“Now you’re manipulating me.” He points out.

“No, I’m-“

“Yes-“

“You’re infuriating.” Huamei pinches her nose.

A smile laces his voice. “You’re a liar.” Then it drops.

“Why would you expect me to tell you the truth?”

“I thought we had a truce!” Zuko cries.

“So did I, until you tried to nose your way in!”

“You wanted me in your plans!”

This is unbelievably confusing, he thinks.

“Not like that, you’re the Fire Lord’s son!” She hisses.

Oh.

Zuko brings his hand up to his scar.

༄

Katara feels bad immediately. But she wouldn’t take her words back- she’d say them again in a heartbeat.

Because she actually had to remind herself that this is who she’s talking to.

Whatever game he’s playing at, whatever angle he has is not aligned with hers.

Why had he apologized? Apologizing was like wrapping snow-leaf against a gaping walrus-fox tusk puncture wound.

Why had she believed it?

As she stares at him now, golden eyes distant, time running low much like the dim lamps surrounding them, she can only feel adrenaline coursing through her.

Does she have to gamble on the banished prince?

Or is the boy standing in front of her across the cart someone else entirely?

“Help me.” She insists, setting her face serious. “And I wont rat you out to the Dai Li agents crawling around this party.”

Zuko’s eyes narrow on her and he stills, caught.

ঌ

It was his fault, really.

For thinking they could see eye-to-eye, for thinking into the universe earlier that the entire party would have liked to see him roasted on a spit.

She had offered earlier, under conditions. Now, she was threatening him, and Zuko really wanted to go to bed.

My back aches. My scar itches. You want to fight and I really don’t want to.

“I’m not sure how I’m able to help.” He sighs.

She furrows her brows at him. “You’re a capable fighter.”

“I can’t bend.” He points out.

“We both know bending isn’t your only asset.” She rolls her eyes. Zuko almost takes it as a compliment.

“My back is injured.” He sighs.

Her blue eyes sparkle- what is she hiding?- and she nods. “I can fix that.”

“You have a plan?” He realizes. They’re whispering now.

He hopes that they really look like they’re flirting. It would suck for uncle if he blew their cover right here and now, talking about treason to the Earth King. But Zuko’s also never before flirted in his life.

“I have something.” She says.

“I’m listening.”

ঌ

Lee makes a show of presenting Huamei a bigger cup of tea, purple liquid sloshing inside.

His hand slips and the liquid goes flying, spraying onto her dress.

Huamei gasps loudly, looking down at her dress and back at him, at the cup in his hand.

Lee apologizes profusely, trying to console her as she gets evermore aggravated.

Onlookers will pay them attention for a fleeting moment, understanding only what the duo needs them to.

He spilt tea on a noble’s dress. She’s furious and needs to clean it. He offers a hand.

They disappear into the hall.

༄

In the dim corridor their footfalls shuffle into the echoing darkness.

She pulls the water from her dress. Zuko leads them into a dip in the wall- a little more cover than they would have out in the open.

“Why does your back hurt?” She questions, bringing the spilt tea to her hands.

“Uh,” he swallows. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Getting old already?”

“No.”

She huffs, gesturing for him to turn around. He obliges.

“Where is the pain concentrated?”

Zuko gestures to a point Katara thinks is between his shoulder blades and she focuses her energy there.

He groans softly as she pushes deeper, water casting the nearby shadows in blue light.

Tui and La, she prays, make this quick. But she’s working through his robe. It would be quicker with it off.

She’s not quick enough.

Voices travel down the hallway and Katara panics, turning him around, pressing him into the corner.

“Wha-“ Katara shuts Zuko up with a hand over his mouth.

But they’re not headed back into the party- the voices are about to pass them.

“What was that?” One asks.

Katara winces as the footsteps near. They are not completely shrouded in shadow- their forms will surely be made out.

Think, Katara.

Oh, La, she sighs. Why have you forsaken me?

ঌ

Huamei’s lips are on his.

He says Huamei because, really, Zuko doesn’t think the waterbender would be kissing him under any other circumstance.

She pulled him into her blindly by wrapping her arms around his neck.

They fumbled in the dark for a hot second until their mouths met and Zuko tried to pull away, confused, but she elbowed him in the ribcage and he crumpled, groaning into her mouth.

He heard the scoffs and tuts of whoever passed by them as if far away, focusing on the task at hand.

Her lips, pliable under his. Soft, warm. He didn’t know why he thought they’d be cold- waterbenders seemed to like the cold. Maybe that was a stupid assumption.

Zuko matched her hands that were exploring- one crumpling the front his robe and the other sliding against his scarred cheek- steadying her with a hand on the small of her back.

Expensive Earth Kingdom silk, he thought. Where did she get the money?

Then, she tensed under his splayed hand and Zuko froze as well. They both pulled away.

“Sorry, I-“

“That was-“

They spoke at the same time.

“Was what?”

“It’s okay.”

Oh, Agni. They were both bad at this.

What were they doing here in the first place? Oh, right. Healing him so he could move nimbly. His ribs ache distantly.

“You elbowed me in the ribs.”

“You were resisting!” She accuses back.

He levelled her with a look. Kissing was not a part of the deal.

“Okay- it was either that or get caught-“

“I know.” He shook his head as if he could shake the last three minutes away. “Let’s just… do what we came here to do.”

“Is your back okay now?” She asks.

He nods.

༄

Katara shuffles along the floor, searching for Toph. She hadn’t realized actually finding her would be so hard. Should’ve thought about that beforehand-

She gets punched in the arm.

“Toph!” She hisses, clutching her arm.

“Where have you been, Sugar Queen?”

“I figured out a plan.” Surprise alights Toph’s features. Katara glances around. “Where’s Long Feng?” She asks.

“Beats me.” Toph shrugs. “He ditched me shortly after we came back out onto the floor. I’ve been eavesdropping ever since. That’s how I found you.”

“No, offense, but what do you mean that’s how you found me? There are so many… different feet in here.” Katara cringes.

Toph just grins. “I memorized your heartbeat.”

Katara didn’t know whether to be creeped out or warmed at the sentiment.

“What plan did you come up with?” Toph asks.

ঌ

This will either be Zuko’s greatest accomplishment, or greatest failure.

He’s knocked out at least a dozen guards, but still, he’s under a time crunch. It’s a good thing his tunic underneath his robe has a hood.

There are only a few stationed around the Earth King’s palanquin now. He’s done all he can.

There are less guards lingering at the walls now, and he can see Katara doing water tricks in the middle of the throng of people.

What I would give to bend that freely, he thinks wistfully. Then, he focuses on breathing. In, and out.

The room goes silent as people begin to take in the way the firelit lamps are flickering.

Huamei- Katara holds an orb of water steady over her head, and Zuko empties his lungs at her signal.

The lamps go out completely.

༄

There are gasps and a few screams when they plunge into darkness. But among those screams is one scarily familiar: “Katara!”

“Aang?” Her heart soars and sinks in the same second. He’s not supposed to be here.

“Where are you?” Sokka asks.

She can only hope Toph has secured the Earth King below them before the Dai Li could register what happened.

“What are you doing here?” She yells, hoping they’re close by.

“We snuck in.” Sokka says- and they are closer now. She can breathe better.

“Toph said we could pass as busboys.” Aang chirps.

“Good job, but I already-“

The room explodes in blue fire.

ঌ

Zuko watches, unmoving though a sea of people rush against him, as the room ignites from the ceiling.

Blue fire.

His sister is here.

Zuko’s gut curls and his lungs ache. He feels as though Earth has taken him from all sides, slowly compacting.

Blue.

Katara. Did she escape?

There are a few jumbled huffs and a scuffle coming from the middle of the room.

“Let’s light this room up, shall we?” His sister snickers.

The lamps flicker back on, and Zuko can make out several forms congregating.

An imposing, tall man in a dark robe and groomed facial hair. His sister in her perfect form, Fire Nation getup and sleek hair. Ty Lee, in what looks like… where has he seen that uniform before?

Mai stands next to them, looking bored, her knives not fully sheathed.

Before them is Katara in a wide stance, hair now released and cascading down her back. Behind her is a poised water whip, glittering blue in Azula’s firelight but also reflecting shades of green and purple.

From the tea, he realizes.

The Avatar and her brother stand behind her, apprehensive.

“You weren’t expecting this, were you?” Azula revels.

What should he do? It’s just them now. They could team up, even the odds, take them four-on-four.

What?

He could help Azula and go home. The avatar is right in front of him. This is the last major city that needs conquering, and they’re right in the heart of it.

But she trusted him to help her.

She lingered with her soft embrace longer than she had to.

She looked at him as if he were more than a banished prince, however brief a moment it was. Looked at him as Lee, validating the life uncle said he would find here.

Go home or risk it all?

I know what I have to do.

༄

“Go, Aang.” Katara hisses.

“But-“

“Oh, please.” Azula rolls her eyes. She’s eerie in her tailored element, blue fire much hotter than red. “Save me the noble sacrifice. Either way, the avatar will end up in my hands. It’s only a matter of time.”

Sokka snorts. “Will he? Or will you fail like your brother did?”

Zuko, Katara shivers. Where did he go? With the rest of them, she’d guess. It seemed like all he wanted to do earlier was get through the night and crash onto his bed.

I don’t blame him, Katara thought tiredly. I just want this to all be over.

Or that was all a ruse. The mistrusting part of her shivered. He was just tricking you. But those eyes- they were genuine. Had to be.

“Aang.” Katara urges him. Then points a look at Long Feng. “What did she promise you? Gold? Your own stretch of land once the Fire Nation rules Ba Sing Se, too? You’re just her pawn.”

Mai yawns as Azula pins her with a look. “Silence, peasant.” Her eyes flit to Aang. “What’ll it be, avatar? Surrender peacefully and we can be on our way. Or, resist, struggle, and get captured anyway.”

“By you or me?” A voice rasps from the darkness in the doorway. Katara’s heart sinks.

Five-on-three. Those aren’t good odds. Zuko slinks into the light, admitting a stance sideways of their standoff.

She suddenly wishes she never sent Toph to secure the Earth King.

“Oh, Zuzu. So glad you could join us. I’m afraid he doesn’t want to come willingly.”

“I’m not with you, Azula.”

“Hush,” She holds a hand up. “We have a common goal. We can both go home once we secure Ba Sing Se.”

Katara knows like before, they’re running on borrowed time. As the siblings bicker, there’s only one clear image in her mind of things going somewhat okay. She takes a step forward.

“I don’t want-“ Zuko starts, but Katara lashes out with the biggest water whip she can conjure up.

It’s all a blur, then, as Azula blocks with her blue flame and Ty Lee flips closer, Mai flinging sharp objects at what might be her brother. Zuko’s form is hidden by Azula’s barrage, but she can see Long Feng squaring up.

Katara’s blocking against Ty Lee when Aang yelps behind her. Katara turns, capturing only the image of Aang’s arrowed hand disappearing beneath the floor. Sokka follows suit, disappearing in his own hole.

Ty Lee disarms her with three quick jabs as she’s distracted and Katara briefly thinks Toph might have returned to save them. But the ground doesn’t open up to swallow her. Instead, Katara’s utterly alone in the den of wolves.

The Dai Li, her mind supplies. They woke up- they work for Azula. Took her brother and Aang.

Then why did they leave her here?

When she looks up, Azula is what Katara thinks might be angry, but the emotion shows weirdly on her face. She looks one step closer to crying but it’s fleeting and she squares her shoulders, flames burning the tapestries and wood framings where it touched.

Katara has never been more scared. Though, her head stays high and she looks Azula in the eye. Her bravery quivers as Azula gives her a pitying look.

“They left you all alone. What a shame, we all could have had fun together.”

The words distort in her ears. Katara’s miles away as she asks, “That wasn’t you?”

Azula’s head snaps sharply at her. Her nostrils flare. “No, that wasn’t me” She spits, then flicks her fingers. “Long Feng-“

The floor opens up beneath Katara and sucks her in.

“Katara!”

Her heart is jolting against her chest as she falls down, down, down, and she soon realizes this isn’t Toph.

She slides down a built path, all fight forgotten and tumbles into a cave with glowing green crystals.

She’s alone in a cold cave, the only sound being that of her own ragged breath.