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Zuko didn’t know the North Pole very well.
He remembers the Siege, and the Moon dying, and the Ocean Spírit going berserk, but other than that, nothing else came to mind. He knew Katara was there all the time, working on uniting the Tribes and researching Waterbending, but he always stayed at the Fire Nation — more because he needed to than he wanted to.
Now, he was almost at their shores.
“Hey,” Katara touches his arm, in an assuringly manner “You ok?”
He takes a deep breath, not really sure on how to answer.
“I…” he shakes his head “I hate how much my nation mistreated the Tribes. How come they’re just welcoming me? After everything?”
To that, Katara lets out a little laugh. It was melodic, and as always, he felt a rush of butterflies on his stomach upon hearing the sound. The Katara Effect, he calls it.
“Zuko, you helped them rebuild after the war,” she reminds him “You helped a lot, actually. How could they not welcome you?”
He shrugs.
“I don’t know…”
“Men.” Katara shook her head “When do you all know anything, even?”
Zuko opens his mouth to say something, but Katara is leaving. He watches as she enters the ship’s cabins, talking to the Captain about something Zuko couldn’t exactly make out. He still liked to watch her when they were travelling in the sea, though. It was her element, and she thrived there, better than anyone else.
It’s been ten years since the war ended, and a lot of things have changed.
Katara and Zuko, though, were still — mostly — the same.
Katara was still powerful, righteous, hardworking, independent and determined. And Zuko was still agonizingly in love with her. Among other things, obviously, but mostly that.
Aang was dating an Air Nomad no one knew anything about; Azula and Mai were together, somehow, traveling the world, at least Zuko thinks; Suki and Ty Lee were dating too, training more girls at Kyoshi Island; Toph was single, because she wasn’t the type to settle down, but Zuko knew she was never alone; and Sokka was getting married in a few days.
Zuko was facing the wrath of his council, because they wanted him married and with heirs as soon as possible, but there was no way he was marrying anyone that wasn’t the stubborn waterbander he met ten years ago, who offered to heal his scar before they were even friends. Who trusted him before all of their friends. Who believed in him, so many times, even when he didn’t deserve it.
He probably should, though. Because he couldn’t ask Katara to be the Fire Lady. No, that would be too much.
“Zuko!” Katara playfully punched him in the shoulder “We’re here. Can you stop with the daydreaming for a while?”
He rolls his eyes.
“I’ll try,” he mumbled.
The ship stopped, anchored at the shore, and they all got out. Toph complained about the ice, as usual, and Aang made sure to stick by her side in case she needed assistance, even if they knew she would not ask for it.
Sokka was waiting for them, of course, with the Tribe’s Chief at his side.
He immediately ran and hugged Katara.
“You’re here! Oh, Spírits, you’re here. Yue said… She thought you guys weren’t coming till nighttime but I told her! My calculations are never wrong!” he said, excitedly.
Katara laughs, and Toph scoffs.
“Except, of course, for when they are.” she states.
Sokka rolls his eyes, forgetting for a moment that their friend was blind.
“Oh, come here you!” he lets go of Katara to pull Toph in a hug.
Toph yells out a yelp of protest, but lets herself be hugged, while the rest of the group bow in respect towards the Tribe’s Chief. Then Sokka and Aang exchange a Water Tribe greeting, and Zuko does the same on his turn.
“Let’s go inside, Yue is excited to see you guys too.” Sokka says, and drags Katara first, but they all follow.
It’s cold, as Zuko presumed it would be, but after visiting the South a few times with Katara in the last year, Zuko doesn’t feel as out of the place and uncomfortable as he used to. He just sticks to Aang’s side, mostly, as he’s the warmest after him, as they walk to the palace where Yue was waiting for them.
She hugs Katara first, of course, and then greets the rest of them. Zuko half expects her to look at him with some sort of resentment, but she doesn't. Instead, there’s a huge smile on her face.
“I can’t believe we live in a time where the Firelord is present for a Water Tribe wedding!” she tells, excitedly.
“Well, you are the Tribe’s princess…” Zuko replies a little awkwardly.
“So you would come even if she wasn’t marrying your best friend?” Sokka eyes him “Not cool, man.”
“You’re not his best friend,” Aang intervenes, before Zuko can think of anything to say “I’m his best friend.”
Zuko grimaces, feeling even more awkward.
“Guys…”
“I’m pretty sure it’s me,” Toph joins “Right, Sparky?”
They all start debating, talking one on top of the other and Zuko looks at Katara, trying to express in his eyes how much he needs her to save him right now. She smiles in return, before clearing her throat.
“Stop, all of you,” she says, louder than the other three “I’m sure Zuko loves us all equally. We’re all very tired, so let’s go to our rooms and then meet later for dinner. Deal?”
There are some protests — from Toph and Sokka, obviously — but ultimately, everyone agrees. So Yue tells them where their rooms are, and they break away. Before going to his own room, Zuko waits until he and Katara are alone, and thanks her.
“Everytime you need me, Hot Pants.” she tells him, an amused smile on her face.
He cringes at the nickname, which obviously makes her laugh. He always loved her laugh, so it’s fine, really. She can make fun of him as much as she wants, and he won't mind — he never does.
They walk to his room first, probably because she’ll try to find her father and grandmother before having some rest. With Katara, family always comes first.
“It’s you, by the way.” he says, when he opens the door and she’s about to leave.
She frowns.
“What are you talking about?” she asks “What am I?”
“My best friend,” he clarifies, “It’s you. It’s been you since Yon Rha.”
To that, she smiles brightly.
“Obviously.”
Zuko rolls his eyes, but can’t help but smile back.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t let it get to your head.”
He turns around to enter the room, knowing she won’t mind — they were all tired, and they all knew that.
“Hey, Zuko.” Katara stops him.
“Um?” he doesn’t look at her.
“You’re my best friend, too.” she says, in a soft voice.
He turns to say something back, but Katara’s already walking away in quick steps, not expecting anything from him, and Zuko feels like she’s taking part of his heart with her. Or his whole heart, at this point. He finds he doesn’t mind it that much either. He smiles at the silly thought, and walks into his room.
Zuko never really feels comfortable anywhere.
It's ironic, really.
His childhood was ok, thanks to his mother. Then she vanished, and things got bad. He spent three years in a ship, looking for the Avatar, having to live in not optimal conditions, then he spent that time in Ba Sing Se, where he and Uncle had barely anything to go by, and he survived. He grew accustomed, sure, but it wasn’t comfortable. And now he was Firelord, and most people would assume he had to feel comfortable, right?
Not really.
Actually, the last time he felt anything close to comfort was with Katara in Ember Island.
They used to spend a lot of time together. Sparring, talking, cooking, taking care of the group. Sometimes, she would discover a wound he’d been hiding and annoy him until he let her heal it. It was good.
The good thing was: the North Pole reminded him of her a lot.
There was blue everywhere, different shades, and some of them really reassembled the same blue of her eyes, that sparkled every time someone asked for her assistance with almost anything, or when she had any new idea, or when Zuko invited her to spar. That was his favorite color most of the time.
So maybe the North wasn’t so bad after all.
He had managed to sleep for a while until he was called for a meeting with the Chief, the council, the Chief’s family and some ambassadors — including the Avatar, of course, and Toph because nobody could keep her out of anything if she really wanted to be included.
“Hey,” Katara met him on the way, a few steps before the door “Nervous?”
“Should I be?” he frowned.
“I don’t think so,” she shrugged. “Arnook just wants to welcome you. Most of the stuff they’re going to talk about doesn’t concern you. Well, um, there is one little thing…”
“What?” Suddenly, Zuko was worried. She didn’t answer “Katara, what is it?”
“Don’t worry about it, alright? It’s a surprise.” she winked at him, and then entered the audience room.
Zuko was very worried.
Still, he followed her. Inside the room, all the important people of the Tribe — plus, you know, the most powerful benders of each nation, technically — were sitting at a big table. Zuko sat between Aang and Katara, where he felt the most comfortable. He zoomed out most of the meeting. Like Katara said, Arnook just welcomed them for the wedding, and then there was some politics talk — to which Zuko contributed, he promises — and then Chief Arnook said something that threw him off completely.
“So, if everyone agrees, Sokka should be ready to take my place after the wedding, so I can finally step down.” he states, a big smile on his face.
Zuko frowned. He looked at Sokka, but his friend didn’t look surprised at all. Nor did Chief Hakoda, or Katara, for that matter.
“Wait,” Zuko speaks up before he can stop himself. “If Sokka is Chief here, who’s gonna be the South’s Chief?”
“Isn't it obvious?” Sokka frowns “Katara will.”
Yeah. That made sense.
Everything was kind of a blur after that.
He wasn’t planning on ever asking Katara to marry him, because it was already way too hard for them to see each other, but with her being in charge of the South Water Tribe… It would be even more difficult. Not impossible, but definitely difficult.
Everyone went on their own way after the meeting was over, but Zuko was still a little lost. As it usually happened, Katara found him.
“Hi.” she smiles “You’re not… Mad at me, are you?”
“What?” he immediately turned to her “Of course not! Why would I be mad at you?”
“Because I didn’t tell you.” she frowns, as if it was obvious.
“Kat, you don’t owe me anything” Zuko replies, as soft as he can “You didn’t have the obligation to tell me.”
Instead of answering him, she looks out of one of the few windows the palace had, one that caught the glimpse of a big mountain that Zuko didn’t recall having ever seen. Katara looks at it for a moment, then grabs his hand.
Zuko does his best to ignore the jolt of electricity.
“Come with me for a second?” she asks.
That was stupid. There wasn’t a place in the universe he wouldn’t go with her, even if she didn’t ask.
Still, he nods.
“Sure.”
Katara guides him out of the palace, and he’s thankful to be with her because there was no way he was going to memorize his way around so fast. They walk towards the big mountain in a comfortable silence. She doesn’t tell him what they’re doing, he doesn’t ask. He trusts this woman with his whole life.
“Do you trust me?” she has the nerve to ask as they arrive at the bottom of the mount.
“Always.” he tells her.
Katara then grabs his waist — he’s not telling anyone about how good that felt, but it was amazing, ok? — and then she waterbends them to the top of the mountain. It is exhilarating, and his heart has never beaten so fast. He can’t tell if it’s the height or the girl he’s with.
His waist aches in the place she grabbed him once she lets go, but he ignores it too, for the better. She holds his hand instead, and it’s enough.
“I’ve shown you the Southern Lights, back home” Katara mentions as they walk in the uneven snow “But you’ve never seen the Northern one’s, have you?”
“Not that I recall, no.” he jokes.
She rolls her eyes.
“You’re so stupid.”
Her tone is lighthearted, as usual, and it makes him smile.
Zuko still doesn’t really know what they’re doing out there. It’s nighttime, he’s certain, even though the sun is still in the sky — it’s a Northern Summer thing — but there’s no sign of the magical lights appearing anytime soon. Even so, Katara bends a little bench of ice — she’s gotten pretty good at that — and they both sit down for a while, side by side. He still doesn’t question her, but she knows he’s confused.
“Just give it a minute.” she says, quietly.
“Alright.” he nods.
Nothing happens for several seconds.
He doesn’t mind just staying there with her, lights or no lights.
It’s cold, and his parka is definitely way too thin, but Katara’s company unsurprisingly makes up for it. The light in her deep blue eyes as she looks expectantly at the sky is bright and beautiful enough for him. For his part, Zuko doesn’t really believe anything is actually going to happen. And he doesn’t even care.
But then it happens.
In the South, the lights were mostly a beautiful shade of green, with some other colors here and there, a messy painting made by the Spirits, but here and now, for some reason, they were completely different.
Mostly, they were purple.
There were a lot of different lights in different colors but most of them were purple, completely purple. And it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Well, second most beautiful thing.
The first was the aurora borealis happening right beside him.
Katara was beaming with joy. Her eyes were glowing, reflecting the purple lights. Her brown skin looked like gold, and her tied hair was reflecting the green and other colors, and she looked like a nature spectacle of her own. Zuko was sure his heart was about to beat right out of his chest.
“Isn't it beautiful?” she whispers.
Zuko can’t take his eyes off of her.
“Yeah,” he mumbles, “It’s… Breathtaking.”
She looks at him, a big smile on her face, and he knows what home feels like.
“I think our’s are better, back home, but don’t tell anyone, ok?” she laughs “And I love the Northern ones as well, obviously. I thought you should see them.”
Ours.
“Uh, yeah,” he clears his throat, turning back to the lights “They’re amazing. I like purple better than green, though.”
“You do?” she frowns.
“It’s closer to blue.” he confesses.
From the corner of his eyes, he sees a little faint blush appear on her cheeks, and can’t help but feel a little proud.
Until she punches him on the shoulder. With a little more strength than needed.
“You’re so stupid.” she says again.
“I know.”
They stay quiet for a while, looking at the lights until they disappear. Katara leans and rests her head on his shoulder, and one more time, miles away from his nation, he is home.
He knows what he’s supposed to do, now. Iroh is going to have a stroke, he knows, and Azula might be pissed for being robbed of her endless vacations, but Zuko can’t see any other way where he’ll be truly happy. And maybe, after all this time, he finally gets to put himself first and choose what he really wants.
“Do you want company?” he asks, barely a whisper.
Katara makes a funny face, a frown with a smile.
“Why do you think I asked you to come here?”
“No, I mean…” Zuko laughs too “In the Southern Water Tribe. When you’re Chief. Do you want company? Aang and Toph will be too busy, obviously. And Sokka will be Chief here.”
“Zuko, you’re Firelord,” Katara scoffs, “You’ll be the busiest of them all.”
“Well.” he clears his throat “What if I’m not Firelord?”
It takes her a second to maybe realise what he’s talking about. Her eyes grow wider than he’d ever seen them, and her mouth drops open. Then she shakes her head vigorously.
“You can’t. Zuko…”
“Azula’s much better, you know. She’d love to do it. And Uncle would help her like he helped me, and Mother is there too, and…”
“Zuko.”
“I just wanna be with you, Katara.” he confesses, so quiet as if he’s careful not to scare her away “And I know being the leader of your Tribe is what you’re supposed to do. I want to be there with you.”
She looks at him. He knows that she can read him better than anyone else in the entire world, and she can see clearly how serious and sincere he’s being. He doesn’t say anything else, and just waits for her.
She shakes her head.
“This is crazy.”
“I know.”
“People are going to be mad.”
“I know.”
A beat of silence. Comfortable silence. And then:
“Marry me?”
No hesitation.
“Yes.”