Her Name is a Stranger

by AWildJaxWrites

Summary:

Ten years could turn the best of intentions into malice, and even Katara didn't know if she could heal a poison so potent.

When Sokka finds out what she's been hiding in the Swamp for over a decade, Katara is forced to lay out everything under the sun.

Chapter 1: Part 1

Notes:

Sincere thanks to my betas, including icy-moons, who came in at the eleventh hour to help out with this labor of love!

A Stranger Arrives

~

I never meant to get us in this deep
I never meant for this to mean a thing
Oh, I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away

I got caught up by the chase
And you got high on every little bit
I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away

-from “The One That Got Away” by The Civil Wars

Chapter 2: Katara's Secret

A decade ago, Katara could spend the afternoon reading in a walled garden, with new robes to wear to dinner every night. She could oil her hair in perfume and twist back her braids with beads of lapis lazuli and obsidian. Dozens of dishes would cover a table, containing every type of flavor in steaming dishes or chilled bowls. At any given moment of the day, her fingers could be dusted with sand, salt, or sugar. 

Now, she stood to stretch her back after weaving for most of the morning. Her entire living space was confined to this one large circular room. Wide, waxy fern leaves, heavy with arterial green life, topped the thatch walls. And while the roof repelled water, it did nothing for the near constant scream of animals and insects. But it shielded what was hers well enough.

That protection ran far beyond her meager hut; from the vast canopy to the trails of roots that cradled every building. Hiding in the swamp was easy. Communication could get lost for weeks in the shroud that covered the trees. Visits were stymied from the outset, but even a successful attempt could be thwarted. There were enough clusters of huts that when people tried to visit, she could be away. 

After a certain point, Sokka had to find her. Katara’s secret could be tucked among the many hands and bodies of the half-feral children. His eyes would never find it, since he couldn’t fathom her lying. Anyone else would notice. 

They would notice the one with aquiline features. The one with darker hair. The one with skin just a shade lighter. 

Toph would have read her in a heartbeat.

Looking around the space, Katara tried to find a different chore to focus on. The curtain hanging in the doorway was a bit tattered, and the ties needed to be replaced, but all of that was just more needlework. Flexing her hands, Katara turned in place and examined the rest of the meager belongings. 

The futons were folded neatly on the low table opposite of the doorway, pushed against the wall and under the window. The netting nailed into the open square was new, a favor accomplished when Sokka was here just a handful of weeks ago.

There was still enough clean water in their various jugs and containers, and that chore wasn’t particularly time consuming for a Waterbender. 

The books, clothes, and various tools kept indoors were just piles of clutter that moved around the space whenever Katara felt the urge to clean. All that was left to do inside were the sitting cushions and her hand loom.

As she turned back to the doorway, she heard the thunderous footsteps of someone running down the boardwalk that connected this node of residential huts to the main pavilion. 

“Mommy!” Kyza came barreling into the hut and slammed her not-so-tiny body into Katara’s legs.

“What’s the matter, bumble bug?” Katara asked, stroking Kyza’s hair down smooth. 

For midday, her fingers tripped over more debris than expected.

“Min-Ho pushed me off the banyan tree!” Kyza said, tilting her head back and looking up.

“Uh huh.” Katara said, cupping her daughter’s face. “And why did he do that?”

Kyza narrowed her eyes.

“Did you waterbend something?” Katara asked.

Instead of answering, they both looked to the covered doorway as more footsteps thumped along the wooden walkway. A hand appeared at the edge of the curtain flipped it back, revealing Tesh and a very damp Min-Ho.

“Katara, your daughter…” Tesh said, her voice even but tired.

“I know.” Katara sighed.

Placing her hands on Kyza’s arms, she turned her until she faced forward.

“Apologize.” She stated.

Kyza hung her head.

“Sorry.” She mumbled.

“Now, would you mind? He stinks like nothing earthly.” Tesh asked, pushing Min-Ho forward.

“Of course.” Katara replied, moving her daughter back and walking toward the other child.

It was easy to bend the water away, taking along the mud and sticks. Kyza, still mastering her skill, couldn’t manipulate anything but pure water at this point. Thus her dirty state, while Min-Ho was left fairly pristine.

Save for the inherent grubbiness all of the children wore like armor. 

Using the water to wash her own child, Katara began to pick the sticks out of her hair. Unearthing Kyza revealed the numerous signs she had to hide away from Sokka. Her hair was curly, but a dark umber that looked nearly black when wet. Then there was the narrow nose, the softly angled eyes, and the subdued pallor to Kyza’s overall complexion. Blue eyes still shimmered from a round face and against brown skin, but she wasn’t as dark as the other children. Her hair was just a slightly different texture that didn’t frizz as badly. And her glare was sharper than everyone else’s.

“Thanks.” Tesh started to turn, but paused and smiled at them both. “Will we see you at dinner? Chu says the spider eels are done smoking, and I think you’d like them.” 

Katara smiled back, keeping her laughter down in her chest. She shook her hands, dispersing the water as droplets in the already humid air. 

“Sure.” She replied.

Tesh held up a hand to say goodbye and dragged Min-Ho out of the hut. 

Katara then turned to Kyza.

“So what happened?” She asked.

“Min-Ho says I’m just another Air Nomad castoff.” Kyza replied, her head still down.

“Mmmm.” Katara intoned, feeling her blood pressure spike.

Before the war, as Aang had told her, the Air Temples were filled with Air Nomads. Every single one of them being an Airbender.

Of course there were… anomalies. When a monk had a relationship outside of the temple, which he assured her was never a problem, they would collect any child that proved to be an Airbender.

The others were left behind. 

It came as no surprise that some would trickle into the swamp, where other lost things gathered. 

“You are not a castoff.” Katara stated. 

“Then where is my dad? Everyone says Avatar Aang is still alive, and I know that man who visits sometimes is your brother.” Kyza snapped, finally looking at Katara.

Her eyes were so sharp. Her anger was like a knife, and so very familiar. 

Katara sighed and sat back down on the cushion with her hand loom. The children tore through their skirts constantly, so every adult in the village was always working on some sort of weaving.

She eyed Kyza’s skirt out of habit and was surprised to find it intact. 

“Your father can’t be here. It would be too…” Katara drifted and finally rubbed her eyes with both hands.

As she let her hands fall into her lap, she sighed again.

“There are certain expectations for your father.” Katara finally said.

“Did he even want me?” Kyza asked.

She tried to sound strong, but her voice trembled and Katara watched her hands curl into fists.

Katara took in another deep breath and forced her words out.

“I think the only person who would want you more than me, would be your father.” She answered.

Kyza was too young to know how Katara could bend the truth. To her daughter, this meant her father was out there, longing for his missing child.

She didn’t need to know that he wasn’t even aware that he had a child in the first place.

“Then why isn’t he here?” Kyza asked quietly, starting to sniffle.

Katara held open her arms and Kyza stumbled forward, finally collapsing on her lap. Katara swayed with Kyza cradled close to her chest. With slow movements, she worked her fingers through Kyza’s hair. As she hummed, she picked out twigs and leaves, twisting her fingers to send them spinning to the floor. 

Every so often, Katara got the urge to braid Kyza’s hair. But it was already so dense, and much longer than what the other children had - with the pests and tangles a guarantee - so it simply became a passing pain in her stomach.

“Your father has a very big job. He can’t be here, not now.” Katara said, straying from only bending to something closer to a lie. 

“Will I meet him some day?” Kyza asked, her voice muffled as she spoke into Katara’s shoulder.

“Some day.” Katara repeated, almost like an agreement. 

Kyza went back outside to play and Katara studied her hand loom. As a child, she had scrapped furs with stern concentration. Almost everything else they used was braided, and weaving was relegated to the flimsy baskets made of seaweed. The first year in the swamp was a mess of things, as she navigated pregnancy and learned a whole new set of skills. Fishing was different, cooking was different, and the clothes were vastly different. The only constant was her bending. Her waterbending made her fit in, after feeling so lost for so long, and she became the most requested healer in the village. Here, her bending gave her value.

Yet when Kyza proved to be a Waterbender as well, there was no relief. Kyza would grow up in the swamp, learning about the spirits through the great banyan tree and not the oasis. She would not dodge icebergs. She would not see the spirit lights in the sky. 

Katara was still the last Waterbender of the South Pole.

Sniffling, Katara wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and started weaving again. She was going to be called to a birth any day now,  and she still hadn’t finished the swaddling. It was always her gift to the parents, but this one had been difficult.

She had started it the last time Sokka made a visit. That had been difficult too.

Chapter 3: Sokka Betrayed

As evening fell, and Katara started to squint at her weaving, she knew it was time for dinner. The village ate their meals together, as cooking in the huts took up too much space and made too much heat. With that communal bond, each hub of living quarters circled around a main pavilion where food was prepared. Living on the swamp meant everything was placed on raised platforms, while the huts were attached to the thick trunks of various trees. This allowed a half circle around the pavilion and everything looked out toward the swamp. Beyond the fact that it served as vital security and easy access for the swamp boats, after a few months, Katara realized there was some beauty to the swamp. 

When fog slithered over the water, it clung like cloth of silver around the tree trunks and dripped down branches. Various water borne flowers bloomed in relation to the phases of the moon, so Katara often looked out over pale blossoms illuminated by a full moon and easily as big as her head. 

For now, it was the dry season, when the swamp waters were at its lowest, and many legged beasts that didn’t slither or swim picked their way through fallen logs and patches of peat moss. When harvesting peat her first year, Katara marveled over the perfect imprint of a hoof filled with morning water. A tadpole of some amphibious variety was already swimming in it.

Then again, the swamp was still dangerous, and the need for the raised walkways and homes was for more than the waterline. The dry season was also mating season, and many of the vicious animals that crept through the swamp were emboldened during this time. 

Out of habit, Katara looked over the edge of the walkway as she moved down the slope of it toward the pavilion. A rotted log looked just like a waiting catgator and Katara felt herself flinch every few steps. 

It was with each of these that she wondered what exactly the children did for play as they roamed through the expansive swamp. 

Other people were leaving their huts, spaced a few feet away, and they called out to Katara. She waved, not wanting to engage with any of her neighbors and already beholden to Tesh. 

Some people would stay in, usually when someone was ill or if they were newlyweds. As she stepped onto the pavilion, Katara could even see her next patient waddling to her seat, supported by her partner’s arm. 

Noting the other clusters of families, she felt the acute lack next to her. Even after ten years, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being a transplant. She was a foreign flower from a frozen desert, trying to find roots in a floodplain. Having Kyza here, even with her mixed blood, gave Katara a sense of permanency. Without her daughter, she felt strange and alone.

Kyza was off with a group of children, including an inevitably dirtier Min-Ho, and probably wouldn’t sit by Katara until she got tired. 

Katara herself did manage to find Tesh, spotting the woman waving vigorously from the risers of small platforms. After climbing a few steps, Katara took a seat next to her and her new husband. Tesh’s late husband Hao, spirits bless him, had found himself at the wrong end of a catgator six seasons ago. Min-Ho was having a hard time adjusting, so his father themed bullying came as no surprise.

“Here,” Tesh said, handing Katara strips of meat as she sat down. “Chu put the rest down on the mat, but I wanted you to have some extra. Kyza looks like she’s growing again.” 

“Tall runs in her family.” Katara agreed, taking the smoked strips of spider eel. 

“I remember your brother.” Chu interjected from beside Tesh.

“Her father as well.” Katara said, too quickly for comfort. 

“If you don’t mind my asking, was he from the Earth Kingdom? Because it looks like she’s gonna have some broad shoulders.” Tesh asked.

“Oh.” Katara said and sat up.

She had lived in this village for over ten years. Katara and Kyza were both fully woven into this community. Tesh had been the first person to help Katara, and they were now close friends.

Yet this was something Katara never spoke about.

“Ah, darlin’ I know that look.” Tesh said and patted Katara’s knee.

“I felt like my heart was chewed up with Hao.” She continued. “Grief is a fickle thing.” 

“He’s not Earth Kingdom, no.” Katara replied.

“You know, I have a cousin-” Chu started but coughed as Tesh elbowed him.

“We all have a cousin. You hush.” Tesh retorted.

Katara laughed and Chu grinned while rubbing his ribs.

There had been a few times, years ago, when Katara had tried again with a few people’s cousins. But every time things started to get serious, Katara felt the chains wrapped around her chest start to tighten. 

She couldn’t go through that again. She couldn’t break like that again, not when she now had Kyza to care for. 

Katara looked around as she felt movement and realized that the meal had begun. Once an acceptable amount of villagers took their places in the risers around the pavilion, the crowd decided it was time to eat. The communal pot was staffed by the cook for that day, and other offerings that were placed on the mat earlier were up for grabs. 

Kyza found Katara at the mat, tugging on her skirt as she whined for food. Katara rolled her eyes as she made up a bowl and handed it over. Kyza took it with eager hands and ran off, probably to eat it under some dock with their feet only a few scant inches above the snapping line. Creatures always waited there for whatever dropped, and Katara worried about the more bolder beasts. But the children were always fine, and had been for generations, so she just watched Kyza swing herself under a walkway.

Making her own bowl, Katara silently blessed the person that had brought out a jar of pickled swamp fruit. The small berries tasted like sea prunes and it was her favorite food. Sprinkling a few over her porridge, Katara at first didn’t realize someone was staring at her. It was a growing itch at the top of her head and she tried to think who might be watching her so intently. She hadn’t recently offended someone, but this wouldn’t be the first time she did something unintentionally wrong. 

She looked up and yelped in muted surprise.

“Sokka!” She exclaimed. 

As her heart hammered in her chest, she tried to read his face. If he had been there for too long, he would have seen Kyza chirping for food while clinging to her legs. Perhaps he had just arrived, or just spotted her in the crowd of villagers. She hoped.

“Katara.” Sokka replied, walking across the mat to stand in front of her. 

The others nearest her stepped away warily. They knew Sokka, but the fear that radiated off Katara made them hesitate.

They took care of their own after all. 

“Why did you come back?” Katara asked, clutching the bowl between her hands.

Sokka grabbed her arm and turned her, forcing her to walk with him away from the dining area. Katara cast a quick look over her shoulder, trying to find Kyza, but seeing Chu rising from his seat while watching her.

She turned back as Sokka thrust her forward, making her stand in front of him.

“It was the summer solstice last week.” He said.

“I know.” Katara replied uneasily.

“I went to the North Pole with dad.”

“You said you wouldn’t-”

“It’s been fifteen years, Katara.” Sokka interrupted, suddenly sounding enraged. “Fifteen years since Yue died. I can handle it.”

“Well clearly not if you’re here yelling at me.” Katara snapped.

“Do you know the only other place I ever saw Yue, outside of the oasis?” Sokka questioned, ignoring her.

Katara stayed quiet but stared back at him.

“Here, Katara. I saw her here.” Sokka said.

Katara swallowed against the lump that formed in her throat.

“So I go to the North Pole with my wife and my two small children to see my father. And I think, wow, I really wish my sister hadn’t completely lost her mind and holed herself up in the Swamp. I wish she hadn’t totally cut off the rest of her friends and family for some unknown reason like a lunatic. This would be a really nice experience if she was here and able to meet her niece and nephew.” Sokka seethed as he spoke, leaning forward to tower over Katara.

“I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Katara’s own anger made her voice low and clear.

Sokka didn’t flinch.

“Don’t need to. The spirits snitched on you.” He said.

Katara felt her neck tighten as her shoulders raised and her hands started to shake.

“What are you talking about?” She asked, her voice now dry. 

“Yue herself came down to tell me you’re hiding something. And I’m not leaving until you tell me.” Sokka stated.

“Katara, is everything alright?” Chu asked, walking up behind Sokka.

“It’s fine.” Katara said quickly as Sokka turned.

Chu was shorter than her brother, and Sokka still had his warrior’s body. Still, Chu regularly hunted out in the swamp and did not scare easily. 

“This is a family matter.” Sokka said.

Chu looked past him to Katara, who nodded.

“Why don’t you both come and eat?” Chu asked, looking back at Sokka.

“No, it’s fine.” Katara said and flinched as Sokka turned his head to look at her from the corner of his eye.

“We’ll sit.” He countered.

Katara could only nod.

Sokka waked past Chu, ignoring the man, and Katara let out a shaky breath. Chu watched her, but she only shook herself and walked back to the pavilion.

Chu split off to sit back with Tesh, immediately falling into whispered conversation with her. 

Sokka took Katara off to the corner, sitting down and looking out over the rest of the village. Katara knelt beside him, idly stirring her porridge. The swamp berries stained the rice with deep violet streaks, and it reminded Katara of the spirit lights. 

“I come here every single season and you shove me into that tiny hut while I try to get you to come back.” Sokka started.

Katara sighed and set the bowl down in front of her. Her appetite had dissolved into the sourness sloshing in her stomach. 

“You never tell me anything and you never want to hear anything. You barely let me tell you about Kya and Akio.” Sokka said.

“It’s hard, Sokka. I do miss you.” Katara replied, keeping her focus on her porridge.

“Then why won’t you come back? What happened that was so bad you have to hide?” Sokka pressed.

Katara closed her eyes, trying to steady her breath.

“Mom!” Kyza shrieked from across the pavilion. Multiple adults stood, and Katara leapt to her feet.

“Min-Ho fell in!” Kyza screamed and everyone went running.

Katara knocked over her bowl and pushed through the others, diving off the side of the pavilion and into the dark water of the swamp. Even blinded by the opaque water, Katara could feel the vibrations of the life within it. That had been a skill from Toph, and now Katara could never be blinded while underwater.

She felt big bodies in the water, while only one was thrashing.

The others were coming for that thrashing.

Katara sped through the water, using her bending to propel herself forward while also pushing back the beasts that were hunting. When she grabbed Min-Ho, she felt something very large swim into range and she kicked them both to the surface.

Other benders were waiting and they pulled a column of water up, lifting both Min-Ho and Katara up from the depths.

When they landed on the dock, Katara immediately moved to Min-Ho, rolling him onto his side as he coughed up murky water.

She then saw the broken netting wrapped around his legs.

“He’s okay.” Someone above her said and Katara fell onto her backside, breathing heavily. She watched as someone cut the net apart and carried Min-Ho away. There were other healers and he would be fine after getting treated for swamp fever. 

“Mom!” Kyza cried and jumped on her, nearly knocking her flat.

“I didn’t push him! We were playing and the net got tangled and when we tried to get him out, he fell in!” Kyza explained and Katara only hugged her.

“It’s okay. Min-Ho is okay.” Katara replied.

“I’m sorry.” Kyza whimpered and Katara pushed her back gently to look at her.

“I’m glad you’re safe.” She said.

“Me too.” A husky voice added.

Katara looked up and saw Sokka looming.

Kyza turned and stared upward, pushing herself back against Katara’s torso.

“And who are you?” Sokka asked. His tone was just as low and clear as Katara’s when she was angry.

“I’m Kyza.” Kyza answered meekly, still trying to bury herself in Katara’s embrace.

“Is Katara your mother?” Sokka questioned.

Katara wrapped her arms around Kyza.

“That’s enough Sokka.” She warned.

“You lied to me? You lied to me?” Sokka pressed. “You lied to me for ten years?”

Katara stood awkwardly, grabbing Kyza roughly to stand next to her.

“I said that’s enough.” She hissed.

“Who’s the father? Someone here? Tell me.” Sokka demanded.

“No. Stop.”

“Aang then? Did he abandon you here? I swear on Tui and La I’ll-”

“Sokka, stop it. It’s not Aang.” 

“Who, Katara? Who made you hide here?” 

“No one!” Katara yelled, her jaws snapping at her brother. “I chose this. Now get away from me and my daughter.” 

She pushed past him, yanking Kyza along, but Sokka grabbed her other arm.

Releasing Kyza, Katara turned and brought up daggers of ice, making them stop short of Sokka’s frame. 

He never flinched.

“You can’t do this to me.” He whispered.

Tears came to Katara’s eyes and she ripped her arm out of his grasp. As his hand fell, she let the ice melt away. 

“That’s my niece. That’s my family.” Sokka pleaded. “You can’t take her away from me.” 

“She isn’t yours.” Katara retorted.

“She’s just as much mine as you are, Katara. And I’ve been mourning you for ten years.” 

“This is not up for discussion Sokka.” 

“I’m going to find out who he is. Everyone is going to know.”

“You can’t!” Katara gasped, stepping forward and nearly grabbing the front of his tunic. She stopped herself, leaning back and making her hands into fists.

“You can’t.” She repeated.

“Who is it?” Sokka asked. 

Katara tightened her fists even more and looked away. She could not stop the tears then.

“I can help you if you tell me. You know that.” Sokka said, moving to her. “But I won’t know how to do that if I don’t know who I’m protecting you from.”

“You don’t understand.” Katara sobbed and Sokka put his arms around her. 

She felt a hand on her skirt and she gasped, as if coming up for air.

Pushing Sokka away, Katara looked down at Kyza.

All of this was to protect her daughter. No one would find the bastard child out here in the swamp. No one would come for her to keep the bloodline pure. No one would ever make her face fire for just being born.

“Mom?” Kyza whimpered, her own eyes red and overflowing with tears.

“Oh bumble bug.” Katara squatted down and started to rub Kyza’s arms.

“Is he going to take me to my father?” Kyza asked.

“No, sweetheart, he’s not. You can’t ever go there, it’s unsafe.” Katara said.

“Why? Why is it unsafe? Will my father hurt me?”

“Oh sweetheart, no, he’d never hurt you. But there are people…” Katara squeezed her eyes shut for a breath. When she opened them, she saw Kyza weeping.

Katara cupped her daughter’s face and wiped away her tears with her thumbs. 

“Zuko.” Sokka announced.

Katara’s back seized.

“Does he even know?” Sokka asked.

“No.” Katara answered, staring at Kyza. “He has no idea.”

Chapter 4: A Kiss on the Beach

When Katara turned twenty, they had a party. Zuko hosted the event at the new royal beach house on Ember Island, and Katara had oddly looked forward to it. Even with Aang in attendance, their breakup had been long enough that it wouldn’t be too awkward.

Plus, he apparently had a new girlfriend - who was not invited - so he had probably moved on.

At the beach house, it was just the core group. Sokka and Suki, newly married, were the only couple allowed. Aang and Toph both made comments about their missing partners; Aang because he was like that and Toph to be a jerk to the only single duo.

Zuko took it in stride, unashamed of his broken engagement. Katara was more upset that they chose to needle her on her birthday than actually being single. 

It didn’t bother her because she was still so young, and finally at an age where people left her alone. She had her whole life in front of her, and so much of her youth to explore. 

So she decided to go swimming at night, using Toph’s lessons to boost her confidence in the already peaceful ocean.

Still, when she popped up for air, she found Zuko sitting on the beach.

“Worried about me?” Katara asked as she walked up, taking the towel he handed her. He wore a robe with his shorts but it was untied and open. Katara eyed him, looking for the shadow of his scar, and Zuko tilted his head at her staring.

“I have the utmost faith in your abilities to protect yourself.” Zuko answered.

“But?” She prompted, laying out the towel and using her bending to dry herself off before sitting down. 

“But you never know.” Zuko finished.

“Well thanks for checking on me.” Katara replied, bumping his shoulder with hers.

“Did you have a good birthday?” He asked.

“Pretty much.”

“Only that good?”

Katara laughed and shivered as a breeze passed over the waves. Zuko shrugged out of his robe and draped it over her shoulders before she could even protest. 

“It was fine. I guess I’m just antsy about what comes next.” Katara explained.

“What is coming next?”

“I don't know! But I wish…” She drifted, suddenly shy, and pulled the robe around herself.

“Come on, don’t you know everyone gets a birthday wish?” Zuko said, poking Katara’s arm. 

She snorted and tossed herself backward. As she lay on the towel, she looked up at the clear night sky. The constellations were the same as the South Pole, but in wildly different places. 

“I’ve wanted to go out and meet someone, like Toph did. But I seem to intimidate everyone.” Katara replied.

“Meet someone?” Zuko repeated.

“Yeah, you know.” Katara raised her arms and spun her hands around in the air. “Like, have some great romance while I’m still young.” 

“Who would’ve thought.” 

Katara felt her face warm and she dropped her hands to cover her embarrassment.

“That’s what everyone says!” Katara mumbled. “Big, bad warrior Katara is a soft romantic.” 

“Hey.” Zuko said softly, pulling a hand away from her face.

She looked at him, but he didn’t say anything. As they watched each other, she felt her heart in her throat. She could taste copper.

As he leaned down, she stilled herself, not wanting to miss. When his lips met hers, she moved her other hand to his cheek.

Zuko moved over her and Katara clung to him.

It wouldn’t happen for a few more months. By then, they had traveled all over the Fire Nation, always together. So when they returned to the palace, Katara was there to hear the fallout.

People were calling Zuko shameless. The Fire Lord was having an affair with a foreign commoner. It didn’t matter who she was; for some her identity actually made it worse. 

The Fire Lord could not consort with a Waterbender. There was the throne to consider. The people would not approve. 

Still, Zuko kept her by his side and Katara found wolves away from the ice for the first time. Ministers and nobles circled her, their teeth dripping and their eyes like brass daggers. 

Zuko kept up his fight, even as Katara saw it drain him. So she kept her fears to herself. She never mentioned the abuse in the halls, or the tainted meals, or the ruined clothes. 

Except, one morning, she got sick.

As she purged herself into a sink, Zuko held her hair back.

“What’s the matter?” He asked as Katara heaved.

Her mind raced. She had to pick the right answer.

“It was dinner. They keep giving me rotten food.” She said.

“What.” Zuko’s voice went cold when he was angry and Katara could feel the temperature around them dip.

“Zuko, I can’t do this anymore.” She said, her face staring down at the contents of her stomach.

He was cold and quiet when she left. And as Katara got onto the boat, her hand rested on her stomach.

This was not a fight he needed. It was one he would have to endure for his whole life, and he deserved so much more after everything they had gone through. He deserved peace.

A half-breed child, even if they ended up having a Firebender, would never be accepted in the palace. 

But Zuko would fight if he knew. He would never let Katara go if he knew. He loved her too much, and he would love their child more than anything. This meant she couldn’t go home, but neither could she go somewhere she’d be easily found.

The Foggy Swamp called to her. It would protect her and her child.

During her pregnancy and Kyza’s infancy, it let no one in. But after nearly two years, Sokka was worried she was dead. Katara hid Kyza with Tesh and let Sokka visit, never letting him out of her hut and sending him away within the day.

He would visit every season, bringing news and supplies. He would try to get her to come back, thinking this was some sort of sabbatical. 

Her relationship with Zuko had been kept as private as possible, and treated with derision within the Fire Nation. No one knew it had been serious.

No one but Katara knew how serious it had gotten. 

When Kyza started to Waterbend, Katara knew she had done the right thing. A half-breed would never be accepted, but a Waterbender half-breed would have been killed. 

Zuko may have loved them enough to fight, but Katara loved him enough to keep him safe.

She loved him enough to leave.

Chapter 5: Leaving the Swamp

Katara stood on a different dock, watching Sokka toss in his bag. He paused, his back still to her, and she saw how his muscles tightened.

“He deserves to know.” Sokka said.

“You promised.” Katara insisted.

“Kyza deserves to know her father.” Sokka said.

Katara crossed her arms over her chest and restrained herself from looking back. Kyza was safely tucked away in Tesh’s hut. 

“Dad deserves to know his granddaughter.” Sokka said.

“Sokka, you promised.” Katara urged.

Sokka finally turned and she was surprised to see him openly crying. 

“I deserve to have my sister back.” He said.

Katara dug her fingers into her arms. 

Sokka wiped his nose on his sleeve and shook his head. 

“I have children, Katara. I love them more than life itself. If Suki had hidden them from me…” Sokka shook his head again. “I’d want to know.”

“It’s not about what Zuko wants. It’s about keeping Kyza safe.”  Katara replied.

“WAIT!”

Katara turned and they both looked to see Kyza running down the walkway.

“I’m coming too!” Kyza shouted, pulling her bag higher onto her shoulder every other step. 

“Absolutely not.” Katara said, stepping in Kyza’s path.

“I want to meet my dad!” Kyza yelled, tossing her bag down. “If my uncle wants me, then maybe my dad does too.”

“Kyza, it’s not safe.” Katara said.

“You don’t know that!” Kyza shrieked.

As Kyza’s chest heaved, Katara’s arms fell down by her sides.

“My father is the Fire Lord. And my mother is the greatest Waterbender in the world. And moms and dads keep their kids safe.” Kyza said.

“Katara.” Sokka said.

Katara held up a hand, cutting him off.

“Enough.” She said. 

“Katara, I will keep you both safe. We just have to give him a chance.” Sokka said.

“You said I could meet him some day.” Kyza added. 

Katara stared at her daughter, once again crossing her arms over her chest.

After ten years, she couldn’t just waltz back into the palace. They could plan a different visit, talk to Zuko, and they could leave again before anyone could react. 

It would be fine.

She would make it be fine.

“Fine.” She said.

Turning to Sokka, she held up a finger.

“We have to stop in Gaoling. We’ll need new clothes.” She continued.

Sokka nodded.

“I’m going to meet him?” Kyza whispered.

Katara turned, and Kyza started to cry.

Sokka was told to stay with the boat while Katara and Kyza prepared to leave. Their hut would be taken care of, as Tesh and Chu promised to keep it clean and sturdy. Kyza’s small bag, filled with a child’s sense of importance, was repacked. There was a small purse, a variety of travel rations, skins of clean water, and a few keepsakes that she wrapped in a tattered scrap of fabric.

Then, as Katara assured the chief that she was leaving of her own freewill, Kyza started to grow quiet.

After such a long day, Kyza fell asleep on the boat ride. Katara focused on making the boat move, as they did not take on the boatsman who brought Sokka in. It was impossible to row in the swamp, and Waterbenders were needed to get in or out.

Unless someone was traveling by Sky Bison.

The focus kept Sokka from bothering her, until she needed a break.

Sokka struck a match and lit the small lantern while Katara dug through her pack. She handed him the waterskin and took out a pouch that felt like it held nuts. Shaking some out into her palm, she tossed them into her mouth and started to chew. It was a swamp mix of nuts, dried fruit, and even drier catgator jerky.

Handing him the pouch, Katara traded with Sokka and they were quiet for a few minutes more. 

“Dad’s been trying to get down here for years.” Sokka said. 

Katara didn’t reply but looked out into the darkness. It was nearly midnight and the moon was obscured by the vast network of the banyan canopy. Whether it was because she couldn’t rely on her eyes, or because the night carried sound differently, the air around them teemed with calls and croaks of various animals. This was the lullaby that Kyza knew, and one Katara still struggled to sleep through.

“Tell me about your kids.” She said, still looking out.

Sokka sighed.

“Kya is four and Akio is two. And it’s been weird, honestly, because having kids changed everything. Suki and I have been together for so long, but now we’re different people.” He said.

Katara turned and they traded again.

“You know, Toph just had her first kid. A girl.” Sokka added.

“Sounds like the boys are outnumbered.” Katara joked.

“Aang’s had two boys, actually.” Sokka replied.

Katara’s stomach jumped.

She squeezed the pouch, feeling the tree nuts shift under her fingers. She regretted eating.

“Do you want to know?” Sokka asked.

“No.” Katara said quickly. “I really don’t.”

“Do you really think hiding out here was a good idea? Away from everyone?” Sokka questioned.

“Yes.” Katara answered. “You have no idea what the palace was like. They hated me.” 

“But enough to hurt you? To hurt Kyza?” 

Katara gripped her left arm, feeling heat rise from her skin.

“Firebenders can be vicious.” She said. “Zuko never knew because I could always heal myself before he saw me.” 

“Katara, you should have said something. You know he would have-”

“He would have killed them.” Katara cut him off. “His throne wasn’t stable even five years after the war! If he had cut through the nobles, it would have been a disaster. You know that, I know that, and he knew that. And me? If I had taken care of it myself? It would have ended just the same. He would have thrown away everything, and for what?”

She shook her head, letting out a defeated laugh.

“Mai’s father was looking for a reason. There’s a whole faction against Zuko and they would have put Ozai back, bending or no bending. Because there’s always Azula.” She tossed the pouch back to Sokka and turned to where Kyza was curled up. 

“How long before someone found her alone in a garden? She has been safer with the catgators than she ever would have been in Caldera.” She said. 

“What are you going to tell him?” Sokka asked.

“I don’t know.”

Katara stroked Kyza’s hair from her face. She saw Zuko when her daughter slept. The long, dark lashes that curled against her cheek were his. The straight lines of her mouth that didn’t give into smiles easily. The sharp angles in her eyes that burned like ice instead of gold fire. 

She almost went mad when Kyza was born. The fear of pregnancy kept Katara from thinking about just how much she loved Zuko, of how hard she fell for him in such a short amount of time.

But really, it had been building for years.

Zuko never forgot her strengths and called on her easily when he needed help. There was no bravado between them, and there was no shame. There were no secrets, until the end. 

So when he kissed her on the beach, now eleven years ago, it felt like coming home. It was such a cliche, finding her place in the arms of her closest friend, but it was true. 

And so, when she held Kyza in her arms, and for years after, Katara would weep as she saw the pieces of Zuko. Because they were the pieces she only saw when he had loved her so openly. 

“I want to get out of the swamp by dawn.” Katara said and moved to the back of the boat. Sokka nodded and hung the lantern off the prow.

“Yeah, alright.” He murmured.

Katara pushed the boat forward and Kyza shifted in her sleep. Having children did change a person.

Chapter 6: Into Gaoling

They made it to the edges of the swamp an hour before dawn and set up camp. As they were both exhausted, Sokka made a small fire to keep away the biting bugs and more curious creatures before they both fell asleep on the soft ground. 

What felt like only moments later, Kyza prodded Katara awake, looking for food.

Strong morning light nearly blinded her, but Katara set about cleaning water and making porridge. Sokka roused about a half hour later and helped pack up, none of them really talking. A bone-seeping fatigue started to stiffen Katara’s back and she muttered about turning thirty-one. Her youth was no longer stretched out before her, and her body was starting to fight the path she was on.

When they were ready, they walked out of the swamp and into the open grassland of the Earth Kingdom. Gaoling was the closest city to the Foggy Swamp, and also where the Beifongs lived. 

Katara wiped her hands on her skirt and eyed Kyza’s unruly hair.

“Is Toph in the city?” She asked. They started down the foot-path that would lead to the main road, where hopefully they could get a ride.

“No. She lives in Republic City full-time now.” Sokka said. 

“Who’s Toph?” Kyza asked.

Sokka, shocked, glanced at Katara.

“Didn’t you tell her anything?” He asked.

Katara gripped her skirt.

“It’s hard to talk about any of you without talking about Zuko.” She answered.

“Can you tell me about my dad?” Kyza asked, tugging on Sokka’s tunic.

Sokka kept looking at Katara and she stared at him with some intention even she didn’t know. He grimaced and looked down at Kyza.

“What do you want to know?” He asked.

“Everything.” Kyza whispered.

Sokka chuckled and tousled her hair. As Kyza squawked, he laughed.

“We have got to put some braids in that mess.” He said.

“Mom always says that too. But no one in the village wears braids.” Kyza said. “No one even has hair this long.”

“Long hair is a thing for girls in the poles. So are braids.” Sokka looked off, thinking. “The men wear braids too.”

“And boys wear ponytails.” Katara added.

“Warrior’s wolf-tail.” Sokka countered.

Katara snorted and Kyza looked from her to Sokka.

“Do you have any other siblings?” Kyza asked.

“Spirits, Katara, nothing?” Sokka spat.

Katara grumbled but stayed quiet.

“No, Kyza, it’s just your mom and me. But you do have two cousins.” Sokka said.

“Are they Waterbenders too?”

“Well, no. See, I’m not a Bender and neither is my wife. It can happen, since my parents weren’t Benders either, but they had your mom. It just didn’t this time.” 

“Do you know any Waterbenders?” 

“A few.”

“There are a lot of Waterbenders in my village but mom said she was the only one in the South Pole.” 

“She was, yes.”

“Are my cousins as old as me?”

“No, they’re still babies. You’re the oldest out of all the babies.”

“I am?”

“Yup, out of our group, your mom had a kid first.”

“So there’s no one my age?”

“Nope.”

“That sucks.”

Sokka snorted and Katara rolled her eyes.

“What?” Kyza asked. “Babies are boring.”

“Not when you have to take care of them.” Sokka muttered.

“Is your wife taking care of the babies?” Kyza questioned.

“Yes, but not by herself. She’s back in Kyoshi with my dad.” Sokka said.

“Dad’s in Kyoshi?” Katara asked.

“He likes being around his grandkids.” Sokka said, his quick glance just near enough to glaring at her. 

“Is he my grandpa?” Kyza asked.

“He is. And he will be very happy to see you.” Sokka said. 

“What are my cousins' names?”

“Kya and Akio.”

“Kya sounds like my name.”

“That’s probably what your mom was going for. It was our mother’s name.”

“Mom, why am I Kyza?”

Katara startled and took Kyza’s hand. 

“Because in the Fire Nation they have a lot of names with the letter z in them. Most everyone in your father’s family has a name like that.” She said.

“Except for Iroh.” Sokka said.

“Who’s Iroh?” Kyza asked.

“I guess he’s your great-uncle. So, Zuko is…” Sokka looked pained for a second and pushed through. “Zuko is your dad and his dad is Ozai. Iroh is Ozai’s older brother.” 

“Is Ozai also my grandpa?” Kyza asked.

“Mmm.” Katara made an involuntary noise and Sokka tilted his head from side to side.

“Technically, yes. But he is not a good person.” He replied 

“Is my dad a good person?” Kyza asked.

“I think so.” Sokka replied.

“I don’t know.” Kyza stated and Katara stared down at her. “I don’t think dad’s leave their children.”

“Good dad’s don’t, when they have a chance.” Sokka said. 

“Mmm.” Katara grumbled again, but with intent. 

Kyza kept up her questioning, pausing only to eat and drink when they took a rest. Sokka ended up telling her a very abbreviated version of their time during the war. He explained the soft glow of their home back in Wolf’s Cove, the sparkling towers of the North Pole, the dry expanse of the Earth Kingdom, and the warm beaches of the Fire Nation. He skirted around the dangers, the absolute terror they experienced, and the awful fighting. 

Kyza took in everything like a sponge. She hung off her uncle’s words and didn't even complain about all the walking. She just asked question after question, until they made it to the main highway.

They were able to find a ride, sitting in the back of a wagon full of hay. Both Sokka and Kyza drifted off, and Katara felt pained as she watched Kyza curl into Sokka’s side. Sokka, as he would always do, immediately put his arm around her and held her even as they napped. 

In just a day, they had become inseparable. Which meant it would break Kyza’s heart when they returned to the swamp. 

Katara also laid back in the hay but couldn’t fall asleep, even as her body begged for it. She just kept thinking about what Sokka told her.

And the thing she couldn’t bring herself to ask. 

Of course in the back of her mind, she knew people were moving on. When Sokka told her Suki was pregnant the first time, it hit her. Years were passing and life was happening outside of the swamp. It hurt her to know that she wouldn’t meet her nieces and nephews, the children of her friends, or even see her aging father for many more years. Not until Kyza was old enough to protect herself. 

But maybe she thought Zuko was in a swamp of his own. 

Time passed oddly in the Swamp, and it passed slowly for Benders. Katara knew for all that her body might ache, she still looked young and vibrant. Knowing that Zuko would still look the same, and being so disconnected from the rest of the world, Katara wondered if time had even touched him at all.

The familiar nightmares returned to her. He was married, surely, with any number of children. Had he made up with Mai? Had they finally gotten married? A Fire Lord should have an heir, so surely he had a child.

He would have everything she had denied him, so why did she need to go there in the first place? He would have a proper wife, with a child that didn’t need to fear the people in the palace. 

Kyza wouldn’t even have a place to take in his life. 

“This was a mistake.” Katara mumbled, pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes. 

Azula had been right, she was just a waterbending peasant. Even after saving the world with the Avatar, here she was riding in the back of a stranger’s wagon like the impoverished hitchhiker she was. The purse she had kept for ten years would be enough to buy new clothes for herself and Kyza, hopefully leaving enough for them to book passage to the Fire Nation. 

How could she even consider presenting Kyza as some sort of princess?

Tossing her arms down, Katara watched the clouds pass overhead. She hadn’t seen the sky this wide open in a decade. The air smelled so different, and everything was far too big. It was an empty sort of feeling, being out here again. 

They made it to Gaoling by evening, and Sokka paid the man who drove them. They went back and forth about it, Sokka insisting he take the money, and the man repeatedly refusing.

It took Katara a moment to realize it wasn’t just out of politeness.

“He knows you?” Katara asked after the man continued on down a different road, heading to some business that purchased his hay.

“Of course. I’m the lead engineer for Beifong Industries.” Sokka said.

“What?” Katara asked.

Kyza yawned loudly and rubbed her eye with a fist.

“I apprenticed with the Mechanist, remember? And Zuko reorganized his military into a massive industrial system, so I got to tinker with a lot. When Republic City got underway, Toph’s parents started a company and I became the head of their engineering wing.” Sokka explained and then raised a brow. “What did you think I did for money?”

“Suki’s househusband.” Katara answered, speaking frankly enough to make Sokka laugh.

“I wish. But being the captain of the Kyoshi Warriors doesn’t actually bring in a good income.” Sokka shook his head. “We get a free house and the village takes care of us, but we like to travel and I have to spend money going out to visit my hermit sister every three months.” 

“So I’m the only one who hasn’t been doing anything.” Katara muttered.

“You were raising a kid. That’s enough.” Sokka said, patting Kyza’s head. 

“Now come on, let’s go shopping.” He sounded excited, which lifted Katara’s mood. As she looked around, she noticed how she stuck out; both her and Kyza wore the drab woven skirt and top of the Swamp, which also meant they didn’t have shoes. 

Sokka noticed her looking down and picked Kyza up, holding her on his hip.

“Dang, you are big.” He announced.

Kyza giggled and put her arms around his neck to steady herself.

“Mom says I’m going to be tall.” She said.

“Probably, your dad is practically a load-bearing pole.” Sokka half-mumbled. 

Katara stayed close as Sokka led them through the city. Most of the shops were closing for the day, and Katara was anxious as he knocked on the door of a cobbler. 

The heavy wooden door creaked open and a wrinkly face peered out from around the edge.

“Is that you Sokka?” The old man croaked.

“Yeah, do you have a minute?” Sokka asked.

With Kyza’s bare feet nearly at the old man’s eye level, the cobbler grunted.

“I can’t make anything custom tonight, but I might have some used kid shoes.” He said.

“Thanks Shushu.” Sokka replied and the cobbler opened the door wider. 

He paused as Katara followed Sokka in, and frowned as he looked to see her bare feet.

“I might not have anything for you, miss.” Shushu said.

“I doubt that very much.” Sokka retorted, setting Kyza down on a small bench.

“Hmph.” Shushu closed the door and hobbled over to the counter at the back of the shop.

“So are you the sister who lives in the swamp?” Shushu asked as he moved behind the counter and through a curtained doorway.

“I am.” Katara answered.

“Do you know your daughter’s shoe size?” He called.

“I’ve never worn shoes before!” Kyza said.

Shushu reappeared with a basket in his hands.

“Are you a Beifong then?” He asked as he walked back.

“Do they not wear shoes?” Kyza asked Sokka, looking very interested in the answer.

“Toph doesn’t. She’s blind and sees with her feet.” Sokka answered.

Kyza held out her legs and looked at her own feet.

“She sees with her feet?” She repeated.

“Let’s get you measured then.” Shushu said, kneeling in front of Kyza.

It took about an hour, but both Katara and Kyza left with shoes. It was an unusual sensation for Kyza and as Sokka paid, she ran out into the street, stumbling a bit over the uneven stones. 

It was odd for Katara as well, but she could remember how to walk in shoes, so she just moved slowly while holding onto Kyza’s hand.

“We might need to stop at an inn tonight. That way we can wash and get some proper clothes tomorrow.” Sokka said while they walked down the main street.

“Can we get something to eat?” Kyza asked.

“Of course.” Katara and Sokka said in unison.

“Hey Sokka!” Someone called from in front of them.

Both Katara and Sokka looked up, and Sokka waved as a man approached them. They stopped as the man walked closer to them and Katara started to pull Kyza behind her.

“I heard you made it back into town.” The man said and smiled over at Katara. “Are you his sister?”

“I am. I’m Katara.” She said and held out her hand. The man took it and shook, still smiling warmly.

“I’m Soo-hyun. I work with Sokka.” He said.

“Did you need something?” Sokka asked. 

“Toph sent me. She says you have to go to the estate.” Soo-hyun said.

“Toph is here? Why?”

“Ostrich horse festival. Her parents recently bought a herd and now they’re showing off, which means Toph is here to be a pain.” 

Katara grabbed onto Sokka’s arm and he patted her hand without looking at her.

“That’d be great. You got a ride?” He asked.

“I hired a rickshaw, but I didn’t think you’d have company.” 

Sokka sighed and scratched the back of his head.

“We’ll start walking. You go ahead and see if they have a carriage to spare. Don’t let Toph come herself.” He said.

“If I try that, you know she will.” Soo-hyun said.

“Figure it out or you’re fired.” 

Soo-hyun scoffed and bowed to Katara.

“I’ll be back.” He said and jogged back to his rickshaw. 

When he was far enough away, Katara pulled on Sokka’s sleeve.

“Why?” She demanded.

“Because it’s easier and you can’t hide forever.” Sokka said, prying her fingers off. “They were going to find out, you know that.” 

“I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t have taken Kyza out of the swamp.” Katara started to pluck at the hem of her top and Kyza came from behind her.

“Are we going to meet the lady who sees with her feet?” She asked.

“I wouldn’t call Toph a lady, but yes.” Sokka said.

“Yes.” Kyza whispered, pumping her arm. 

“See? Kyza is excited. It’s fine.” Sokka said and then waved them forward. “Let’s go, before it gets too late.”

Chapter 7: At the Beifong Estate

Toph did not come with the carriage, but neither did Soo-hyun. A silent groom sat at the front, holding the reins of two grumpy looking ostrich horses. Katara averted her gaze as she helped Kyza up and hastily got into the carriage herself. Sokka chatted with the man very briefly and then swung himself in, latching the door shut just as the carriage jostled forward. 

“Toph’s going to be angry.” Sokka warned her.

“Toph’s always angry.” Katara said. 

“Fair.”

The carriage took them through the main part of the city before cutting off to the side, heading out to where the Beifong estate sat on manicured lawns. Earth Kingdom rulers usually situated themselves at the center of cities, but the Beifongs were on the outskirts. Never holding official positions of power, they instead acted as a bank for nearly every city-kingdom in the Earth Kingdom, giving them a highly venerable status. That being true, Katara wondered how such an influential family was content residing in a modest complex when the governor of Gaoling had a miniature palace on a hill. 

Regardless, it looked just the same to Katara as when they first met Toph. This time, when they came to the front door, Toph was standing openly at the front of the main gate. There was no more hiding her behind the high walls of a secret garden.

Sokka stepped down first, then turned to help Katara down. And, just as she expected, as soon as her foot touched the ground, Toph’s face changed.

When Kyza got down, Toph started marching to them.

“Who in the name of Oma’s bastard children is that?” Toph demanded.

Katara scooped Kyza up, backing away as Toph stopped in front of her.

“This is Kyza. My daughter.” Katara said.

For the first time in Katara’s life, she watched as Toph staggered backward in surprise.

“You went to the swamp to have a baby?” She questioned.

“It’s because my dad is the Fire Lord.” Kyza announced and Katara squeezed her eyes shut.

“ZUKO?” Toph exclaimed. 

She then whirled around to Sokka.

“Did you know about this?” She demanded.

Sokka held up his hands in defense.

“I just found out yesterday.” He said.

“You mean to tell me you’ve visited her for years and never found out? Are you dense?” 

“Yeah because of course my first rational thought is that my beloved sister would ever lie to me about something as big as this.” Sokka snapped.

“I’m sorry.” Kyza murmured and Katara bounced her gently.

Both Toph and Sokka turned to her.

“Oh, sugar, I am not angry at you.” Toph cooed.

That really threw Katara and she gaped like a fish on dry land.

“Come here sweetheart, let me see you properly.” Toph said, holding out her hands. Katara hesitated but Kyza leaned forward, so she set her down. Toph pushed herself back with a sweep of her foot, exposing dirt under the pebbles. With a quick, hard foot tap, Toph cocked her head as she read the vibrations.

“You keep your chi pretty low. Are you a Waterbender?” Toph asked.

“Yeah!” Kyza chirped, brightening. 

Katara had taught Toph how to read chi in the body in exchange for the underwater seeing lessons. Back when they were closer.

“Well, it didn’t take that little tap to know you’re also a little gremlin like me. You smell, kiddo.” Toph said and Kyza laughed.

“No worse than you when we were on the road.” Sokka said.

“I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times. It was a healthy coating of earth.” Toph shook her head and grinned, making Kyza laugh again. 

“Come on, my parents are already out with the ostrich horses so it should be a quiet night. We’ll get you two a bath and some nicer clothes.” Toph said.

“And food?” Kyza asked.

“Absolutely.” Toph turned and walked up to the main gate, pushing it open with ease. Sokka strolled after her with Kyza in tow, leaving Katara by herself.

She wondered if this was all a lie. It couldn’t be this easy to come back. Or maybe it was Kyza. Her daughter had a way of winning people over, even when she was throwing swamp water on their children. 

Katara took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before following them in. Their feet shifted on the white pebbles that wound through the garden that led to the front door. Kyza, having a new target, started peppering Toph with more questions about her bending. She had never met another type of Bender before and Toph obliged her curiosity by bending a few rocks and juggling them. 

When they made it to the main house, Sokka stopped at the door and looked back at Katara. As she walked up, he turned to Toph.

“How is Lin?” He asked.

“For a potato, she’s good. Kanto is passed out upstairs with her.” Toph said, opening the main door.

“Oh, right, congratulations.” Katara said.

“Thanks. It was a surprise for everyone, but I’m really enjoying this whole mom thing.” Toph smiled softly and Katara nodded.

Inside, Katara was greeted by such a pristine interior that she suddenly felt incredibly filthy. Yet, as she took off her shoes and saw Toph’s dusty footprints on the tile, she tried to relax. 

Toph took them into a small room, grabbing servants on the way and listing out assignments. Beds needed to be made, baths were being drawn, and a few went scurrying off to the kitchens. Toph left them while they ate to attend to her child, and Sokka was the one to escort Katara and Kyza to an open bedroom.

A large tub was waiting for them and they got in together, so Katara was able to brush out Kyza’s hair as they soaked. 

“Are all houses like this?” Kyza asked. Katara focused on one particularly troublesome knot and shook her head.

“No. This is a house where really wealthy people live. Back where I grew up, Sokka and I lived in something very similar to our hut in the swamp.” Katara answered.

“Does my dad live in a house this big?”

“He lives in a palace. It’s much bigger than this place.” 

“That means he’s wealthy, right?”

“Sort of. He’s the ruler of the Fire Nation, so some of their money is his money. When he goes out on his own, he doesn’t have much.” 

“I want to live in a palace.”

“Well, sometimes just because a place looks nicer, doesn’t mean it’s better.” Katara finally got the knot smoothed out and continued to brush through the rest of Kyza’s hair.

“Toph didn’t like growing up here.” She added.

“Will you braid my hair mom?” Kyza asked.

Katara paused and then squeezed the water out of Kyza’s hair.

“Sure, bumble bug. We have to dry it first.” She said.

Waterbending made quick work of their thick hair and they both put on robes before getting onto the massive bed. Servants came to empty out the bath and Katara watched them while she braided. Without asking, one servant arrived with a small box, setting it on the bed next to Katara before assisting the others with moving the actual tub. Katara opened the box, finding pens of beads and strips of ribbon inside.

They weren’t made of bone, but there were a few blue and white beads, so Katara did her best to recreate the loops of her childhood. Kyza sat patiently, weaving together the ribbons as Katara worked.

By the time she was done, more servants arrived with clothes. Kyza hopped down, showing off her braids, to which the servants admired them with reserved glee. A woman measured Kyza before thumbing through a pile of dresses. One caught Katara’s eye immediately; it was the dress Toph had worn to Bosco’s birthday party ages ago.

Another woman approached Katara, holding out a smaller pile. Katara was still taller than Toph, and had a vastly different shape than what she remembered of Poppy, so these dresses were a complete surprise.

“Thank you.” Katara said and the woman bowed. 

When they were alone, Katara helped Kyza dress, sending her out of the room when she was done.

The door shut and Katara looked through the pile on the bed. During the war, she had worn Earth Kingdom clothing twice. There was Bosco’s birthday party, and then their last tea in Ba Sing Se. 

That dress was long gone, as it would have been as old as she was when she first wore it. A teenager, with her hair unbraided, and a flower tucked among the curls. 

Zuko had said it was weird to see her hair unadorned.

Katara dressed quickly and then braided her own hair into a single plait. She had seen the vanity when they entered the room and diligently avoided the mirror as her fingers wove the braid. The last thing she wanted to see was her own face.

Heading to the door, Katara looked back to where the tub had stood. The woven clothes crumpled stiffly, looking like floor mats among the rich furniture. It not only didn’t fit the surroundings, it clashed.

With a sigh, Katara walked out into the hall, almost directly into a strange man.

“Oh!” She exclaimed.

The man backed up and smiled apologetically.

“Sorry about that! I’m trying to find Toph.” He said.

“Are you Kanto?” Katara asked.

“I am.”

“Katara.”

“Pleased to meet you.” They shook hands and Kanto glanced back down the hall. “Have you seen my child?”

“I have not. Have you seen mine?” 

“I’ll help you find yours if you help me.” Kanto said, facing her again.

“Deal.” 

They walked further down the hall, heading toward the stairs.

“How did you meet Toph?” Katara asked and blushed when Kanto glanced at her. “If you don’t mind.”

“Ha.” Kanto shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. “I used to be the captain of the number one pro-bending team in Republic City. I challenged Toph when she came to the tournament match and she wiped the floor with my face.”

“Pro-bending?” Katara asked.

Kanto stopped on the top stair, looking confused. His face smoothed out after a moment and tilted his head toward the steps.

“Sokka did say you were living in the swamp.” He said and started down. “Toph was blacklisted from the Earthbending League, so she created a whole new sport. It’s really popular because each three person team has to have an Earthbender, a Firebender, and a Waterbender.”

“That’s adorable. For Toph.” Katara said while they both walked down. Halfway, Katara could hear Kyza’s laughter.

“Between the metalbending academy and the pro-bending stuff, it keeps her busy.” Kanto said.

“Are you two married?” 

“Oh no.” Kanto said quickly, but calmly. “We’re not even together anymore, really. Turns out we make better friends. But she’s a great mom, and I can’t stand being away from Lin. So now I’m retired and I coach on the side.” 

“I bet her parents love that.” Katara quipped and Kanto let out a burst of laughter.

“I think the only reason she lets me live with her instead of next to her is precisely because it bothers Lao and Poppy.” 

They reached the main floor and Katara heard Kyza’s laugh again.

“I think they’re outside.” She said.

As she started to walk, Kanto touched her arm. Katara paused and looked at him, waiting for him to speak.

“Hey, I just want to tell you, because Toph won’t, but she really missed you. I know it’s probably the baby brain, but I woke up because she started sobbing in the room. And, you know, she might not be my wife, but I still love Toph as a dear friend. I hope you won’t disappear on her again.” Kanto said.

Katara’s breath fluttered in her chest and she nodded.

“I don’t think I could, even if I wanted to.” She admitted. 

Outside, Toph sat at a table within a gazebo, breastfeeding Lin. In the garden, Sokka chased Kyza around hedges. 

Kanto approached Toph, squeezing her shoulder as he looked down at Lin. Katara hesitated, not wanting to interrupt.

“Hurry up Sugar Queen, the tea’s getting cold.” Toph yelled.

“Mom!” Kyza said, running back to the paved area. Katara waited for the hug before heading to the table, looking around at the lamplit garden. It was late, and far past Kyza’s bedtime.

“Uncle Sokka said he likes my hair loopies.” Kyza announced as she pushed herself into a chair. 

“I’m glad I still remembered how to do them.” Katara said, also taking a seat.

“You’ll have to teach me when Kya gets enough hair.” Sokka said, grabbing the back of a chair. He then nodded to Kanto.

“Hey.” He greeted.

“Good to see you again, Sokka.” Kanto said, taking a seat next to Toph.

“So are we going to talk about the wild reality of Zuko and Katara having a kid?” Toph asked.

“I’d rather not.” Katara said.

“Why don’t you like talking about dad?” Kyza asked, spreading her arms out on the table and splaying her hands flat. She was definitely overstimulated. 

So the questions kept coming. Then again, Katara couldn’t really expect anything less. This was a whole new world for Kyza.

“Probably because she’s embarrassed about falling in love with a massive dork.” Toph said.

Kyza made a huge gasp, sounding exactly like a swallow lungfish, and stared at Katara.

“Mom, you were in love?” She questioned.

Sokka laughed as Toph and Kanto shared a smile. Relationships and family dynamics in the swamp were casual, and romance was hardly as dramatic as it was on the outside.

Katara tapped her fingers on the table in annoyance but Toph only shrugged. Lin started to fuss so Toph handed her to Kanto as she tied her top. 

“It’s just hard for me.” Katara said, reaching for the teapot on the laden tray. 

Kanto started to burp Lin while Katara poured tea into cups. This was also a new experience for Kyza and Katara laughed as her daughter put her chin on the table to watch the liquid pour. Tea was made differently in the swamp, and did not require any porcelain. 

“I’m not at all surprised you two had a kid, but I am surprised you ran off.” Toph said. “Zuko’s going to die on his feet.” 

“What?” Kyza snapped to attention, sitting up and gripping the edge of the table.

“Not literally, Kyza.” Katara said. “He’s just going to be very surprised.” 

She caught the look Kanto and Sokka shared, and Katara felt the familiar pang in her chest. She knew Zuko wasn’t going to be the only one surprised when they came face to face. 

“Is the Fire Lord a nice man?” Kyza asked.

Kyza was fluctuating between calling Zuko her father and referring to him as the Fire Lord. Both of those titles amounted to the same thing in her life, but Katara still frowned. 

“He’s great. Kind of a dope, though.” Toph said. 

Kyza looked very contemplative and put her chin back on the table. 

“I’m going to put Lin back down.” Kanto said.

“Okay.” Toph replied and Kanto stood, leaning over to let her kiss Lin’s forehead.

“It’s probably time for you to go to bed.” Katara said, looking pointedly at Kyza. As her daughter opened her mouth to protest, Sokka tapped his hands against the back of the chair.

“I’ll take her up. I’m about to pass out.” He said.

Torn between wanting to defy her mother and her desire to be near her uncle, Kyza had a moment of conflict before sliding out of her seat. She took Sokka’s hand and he smiled at her.

“Goodnight.” He said, and Kyza mumbled something that almost sounded the same.

“Goodnight.” Toph and Katara said together.

As they walked back inside, Toph turned to face Katara.

“Want to talk about it?” She asked.

“Not really.” Katara answered.

“Too bad. Because I have a letter waiting to go out to Caldera right now so you better spill.”

Katara groaned, covering her face with her hands and setting her elbows on the tabletop.

“It’s complicated.” She said from behind her hands.

“Complicated enough to leave us all behind?” Toph prodded.

Katara lifted her head, pulling her hands down her face in exasperation.

“You cannot seriously be a Beifong and not understand what I was going through. Kyza wouldn’t have survived there.” She said.

“It’s precisely because I am a Beifong that I know your excuse is terrible. Out of everyone, including Aang, I am the best person to keep you and your daughter safe.” 

Toph, who crawled through fire in a metal suit. Toph, who learned how to survive on her own terms as a child. Toph, who could still regularly bring the Avatar to his knees in sparring practice.

“It’s not just that.” Katara sighed and cradled her face in one hand while the other lowered to tap nervously on the table. “I didn’t want Zuko to know.”

“Why?”

Katara hesitated and looked at her friend. When they were younger, Toph was as blunt and tactless as a smithy’s hammer. Now, this was the Beifong heiress, who oversaw a number of her parents’ endeavors while running an academy and a sporting tournament. And even more crucially, Toph was now a mother.

“Because he wouldn’t have left me alone. And it would have killed him to have me say no.” Katara paused and started tracing swirls with a finger. “It would have killed me, too.”

“So you ran off because you were a coward?”

“Sure, fine, I was a coward for not wanting to put my daughter at risk.”

“You ran to the swamp because you were scared of your feelings, Katara. Feelings trapped you out there, not Kyza’s safety.” 

“What do you want me to say Toph? That I was scared?”

“I want you to apologize!” Toph snapped.

Katara sat up, placing both hands flat on the table.

Toph sighed and tapped her fingers, searching for her teacup. Once she found it, she picked it up and sipped.

“You’re my friend, Katara. And you just left without a word.” She said.

“I’m sorry Toph. I never meant to hurt anyone.”

“You literally hurt every single one of us.” Toph retorted and Katara winced.

“I’m sorry.” She said again. 

“What’s done is done, I guess.” Toph said. “But Katara, you have to know-”

“No. I don’t.” Katara said forcefully. “I don’t want to know until he tells me.”

“Do you think that’s fair to Kyza?”

“Probably not, but I’m only human. I can’t handle knowing before I see him.” 

“Fine, but as a heads up, Sokka already sent out a letter to Kyoshi.” Toph said.

Katara sighed and laid down on the table.

“I figured he would.” She said.

“I guess you’re heading to Caldera in the morning?” 

“Yeah.”

“Well go get some sleep. I don’t need to see you to know you look like crap.” 

Katara snorted and propped her head with her chin on the table as she heard Toph push back her chair.

“Goodnight Sugar Queen.” Toph said.

“Goodnight Toph.” 

Katara watched Toph walk back inside and laid her cheek back on the table. She looked out over the garden, seeing how the yellow torchlight bubbled in the moonlight. As servants walked around extinguishing each yellow blob, Katara pushed herself up and went back into the main house. She retraced her steps to the stairs and upward, noticing how quiet everything was. 

Entering her room, one lonely lamp lit the small area and Katara noticed their old clothes were gone. One the bed, Kyza was splayed out on her back, her limbs stretched out across the mattress. Katara nudged her into a straight line and laid down next to her, smoothing the blanket out over them. 

Finally, she was tired enough to sleep. But nightmares didn’t care if she needed rest.

Chapter 8: Flying to Kyoshi Island

In the morning, Sokka beat them to breakfast and was already getting supplies packed as Katara and Kyza ate. Toph came down with Lin and Kanto, and Lin burbled happily in Toph’s arms. Feeling something even as Katara sat, Toph walked over and held Lin out.

“Do you want to hold her?” She asked.

Katara pushed her chair out and sat up, sticking out her arms in a wooden, unnatural gesture.

“Sure.” She answered.

Toph laid Lin down in Katara’s arms, and she finally relaxed into a well-practiced pose. Lin stared up at her, her face starting to contort, and Katara immediately began to rock her.

“She’s going to be a solid Earthbender.” Katara stated.

“Of course. I don’t think I even needed Kanto to make that happen.” Toph replied, giving a cocky grin before leaning back in her seat.

“Okay, but sand, crystal, or metal?” Kanto asked.

“Pardon?” Katara replied, looking up from Lin’s tiny face.

“You and Toph worked on the fluid properties of sandbending, and now she can deal with the desert and not freak out.” Kanto started and dodged Toph’s slap going for his shoulder. “But she’s still trash with crystals, even after she and Zuko did all those experiments with lava and obsidian.” 

Kanto blocked a flurry of attacks, his earthbending forms clearly embedded in his muscle memory. He had also very clearly been dealing with Toph for a long time.

“Wait, lava?” Katara repeated.

“She’s been pissed since the Day of Black Sun invasion.” Kanto explained.

“Ah, right.” Katara said, remembering what Aang had told her of their venture underground. Sokka and Toph had clung to Aang’s glider to get past a lake of magma, yet the Firebenders could navigate the volcano with ease. Toph had been bitter then, too.

“It’s molten rock and does not make sense.” Toph muttered.

“So you’re talking about sub-bending? I have no idea about that, I haven’t looked into it much.” Katara admitted.

“Can we bend other things, Mom?” Kyza asked, pushing a piece of toast into her mouth as she looked up.

Katara froze and Lin started to fuss, so Kanto pushed himself back from the table.

“Mud. And other rude things your mother won’t want me telling you about.” Toph interjected.

It wasn’t until Kanto retrieved Lin that Katara forced herself to relax.

“If you mean pee, the boys in my village already do that.” Kyza said.

Toph broke into loud laughter as Katara rubbed her eyes and sighed.

“Where did Sokka get to? I thought we’d have to hit the road pretty early.” Katara asked.

“I told Sokka to take the airship since a train and boat journey would take too long.” Toph said.

“Airship?” Katara questioned.

“They’re the fancy new transport of the day. All the big families have one.” Toph said.

“We’re going to fly?” Kyza gasped.

“And tell Zuko to write every once in a while. I feel like we haven’t heard anything from Caldera in weeks.” Toph said.

“I will.” Katara promised.

Outside the main gate, but still on Beifong land, Katara did see a small airship being prepared by a troop of servants. Sokka was overseeing the final checks, peering into the ships various panels. While the balloon inflated, the ship was loaded with their few supplies and belongings. Katara didn’t bother asking about their clothes; she could make more when they returned to the swamp. 

When everything was ready, they said their goodbyes. Katara and Toph hugged, with both of them wringing promises out of each other to visit. Then she, Sokka, and Kyza walked on board the ship and Sokka cast off. They all waved as they lifted off, but Sokka went to the controls once they were high enough. He powered the engines on and propellers roared to life, pushing them forward.

“Okay Kyza,” Sokka said after checking their heading. “I’m going to teach you how to read the fuel gauge.”

Katara sat down at the back of the ship, watching Sokka lift Kyza to examine the various gauges at both the fuel tank and on the main control panel. 

Pulling her knees to her chest, Katara wrapped her arms around her legs and watched the pair. Seeing Toph had been a shock; her visits with Sokka were frequent enough that she had watched him age, but Toph was a grown woman now. Ten years was such a long time.

“Hey Katara, can Kyza read?” Sokka asked.

Katara glared at him.

“Of course she can read!” She snapped.

“I didn’t know if you had books in the swamp!” Sokka replied.

He handed Kyza a book and she immediately plopped down.  Sokka moved to sit next to Katara.

“So you told dad.” Katara said.

“I had to.” Sokka replied.

“You didn’t.”

“I absolutely did. We have to stop at Kyoshi before we hit the open ocean.” 

“What?”

Sokka shook his head and looked at the center console that held the fuel. 

“The flight is going to take a day and a half over open water. We won’t be able to touch down to refuel and Toph just didn’t have enough at the estate to take. And since we’re going to fly over Kyoshi, we might as well stop there since I can get fuel for free. I had to send a letter so dad doesn’t have a heart attack.” Sokka explained.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Katara asked.

“Because I knew you’d fight me. I told you that you couldn’t hide anymore.” 

“I’m not ready to see dad.”

“You never will be, because you should have gone to him from the start.” 

Katara grumbled and placed her chin on her knees. 

“When will we get there?” She asked.

“Around two hours.” 

Katara sighed and laid her cheek on her knees. A few feet away, Kyza was focusing intently on the pages of the book Sokka had handed her. 

“What did you give her?”

“It’s a book of poetry Piandao recommended.” 

“Hmm.”

As they approached Kyoshi Island, Katara warned Kyza about the visit that was waiting for them. Sokka politely ignored them as Kyza had a minor meltdown, overwhelmed by the amount of new people she was meeting. Still, she calmed down enough to peer over the edge as Sokka lowered the airship.

Katara gagged as she saw Suki and Hakoda waiting for them. 

Hakoda held a little girl on his hip while Suki had a baby swaddled to her chest. Katara gripped the railing, unsure of what to say.

At least with Toph, Katara could count on her friend’s brash nature to push through any tense feelings.

Both Suki and Hakoda looked stoic.

At least until Sokka opened the gate and Kyza went tripping down the short ramp.

As if he was worried about dropping Kya, Hakoda squeezed the girl tighter but still lunged forward. Katara darted out, grabbing the back of Kyza’s dress to keep her from barreling into anyone.

“Hey! I still need help lashing this thing down.” Sokka called.

Suki took Kya from Hakoda, and he moved past Katara without a word to help Sokka with the airship. 

Holding onto Kyza’s hand, Katara walked to Suki.

“Hi.” Katara said.

“Hi?” Suki repeated, one brow raising in question.

“I’m sorry.” Katara said.

“Mmm.” Suki hummed her displeasure and then looked down at Kyza.

“Hello sweetheart. I’m your Aunt Suki.” She said.

“Are those my cousins?” Kyza asked.

“Yup. This is Kya,” Suki said, stooping down to put Kya on her feet. “And this is Akio.”

Kya whined as she was set down and still clung onto Suki’s frame. Gently, Suki freed herself from Kya’s grasp and stood.

“Say hi Kya.” Suki said.

“No! Up!” Kya rebuked and Suki rolled her eyes.

“Hi Kya, I’m Kyza.” Kyza greeted.

Kya grabbed onto Suki’s leg and glared at Kyza.

“No. I’m Kya.” Kya said.

“I’m Ky-za.” Kyza enunciated and Kya just continued glaring.

“If I had known, we could have coordinated their names better.” Suki remarked. 

“Right.” Katara murmured and Suki glanced at her. 

“So, Zuko’s kid?” She asked.

“Not now. I’ve already had to do this twice.” Katara said and then winced. “Please.”

“It’s fine.” Suki said and looked back as Sokka and Hakoda approached.

“We can let the balloon deflate on its own. It should be alright.” Sokka said.

“Should be?” Hakoda asked.

“Eh.” Sokka shrugged and Hakoda shook his head.

“So.” Hakoda eyes slid from Katara down to Kyza. “Is this my granddaughter?”

“I’m Kyza.” Kyza greeted.

Hakoda smiled and squatted down, opening his arms.

“May I have a hug Kyza?” He asked.

Kyza nodded and walked forward into Hakoda’s arms. The moment he embraced her, he started to cry. 

“Oh, dad.” Katara said in a rush.

“Kyza, I’ve missed you so much. Since I got your uncle’s letter, I’ve been feeling ten years worth of missing you.” Hakoda said, holding Kyza close. 

“I’m sorry.” Kyza sniffled and Hakoda leaned back to look at her.

“It’s not your fault starshine. None of this is your fault.” He said. “I love you so much.”

Kyza only nodded and Hakoda hugged her again.

Katara turned as Sokka put his arms around Suki while she wiped her face. Kya, sensing that something had happened, also started to cry and Sokka picked her up. 

Wrapping her arms around herself, Katara put pressure on her chest. She couldn’t breathe. 

Hakoda sniffed and looked up at Katara.

“May I take my granddaughter home?” He asked. Katara nodded and he stood with Kyza still in his arms. She clung to him, her thin legs wrapping around his torso and her arms around his neck. Hakoda whispered to her as he turned and walked across the field, heading to the village. 

“There’s a lot of pain here, Katara.” Suki said.

Katara kept watching her father’s back.

“I’m sorry for causing that, but I’m not sorry for what I did.” Katara looked at both Suki and Sokka. “All of this proves to me that I did the right thing. I didn’t let anyone hurt her.” 

“You don’t think she’s hurt?” Sokka asked.

Katara dug her fingers into her arms.

“I wasn’t going to let the Fire Nation kill her.” She said.

“You don’t know what would’ve happened.” Sokka retorted.

“We’re not going through this again.” Katara forcibly lowered her arms, and instead dug her fingernails into her palms.

“I can find my own way to Caldera, you know. Or, better yet,” Katara let out a short, derisive laugh. “I can just head back to the swamp. You and Toph can send whatever letters you want; the swamp will keep protecting us.” 

“Katara.” Suki warned.

“No. Neither of you know what they are capable of. You didn’t see what they did to mom, and you didn’t see what they did to me.” Katara said. 

Heat flashed down her left arm and Katara had to keep herself from grabbing it. That burn was long gone.

“Look, this is obviously a bigger conversation that can’t be solved in one fight.” Suki said. “Let’s go home, I can put the kids down for a nap, and we can talk about this.”

“No nap.” Kya stated.

“A little nap. Just a small one. An Akio sized nap.” Sokka said, bouncing Kya as he attempted to cajole her.

“No!” Kya barked, pushing Sokka’s face with her hands.

“Yum, yum! Fingers!” Sokka said and started to playfully nibble Kya’s fingers. She shrieked and laughed, wriggling in Sokka’s arms. 

Katara released a breath and felt her body relax.

“We love you, Katara. That’s why we’re so unbelievably mad.” Suki said.

“I know.” Katara watched Sokka start running across the field, still attempting to eat Kya’s hands.

“I love you too.” She added.

“Come on.” Suki said and they started walking.

“So, do you know about Akio?” Katara asked after a moment.

“What about Akio?” Suki asked, putting a hand on the top of her son’s head.

Katara rolled her lips inward and looked away.

“Katara.” Suki said, sounding alarmed.

“It’s nothing bad!” Katara said quickly. “It’s just, after seeing Lin, I’ve been curious. And he’s very much a Bender.”

“Akio is a… what?” Suki rubbed her eyes and groaned. “Great.” 

“Toph will be excited. Lin is an Earthbender too.” Katara offered.

“No offense, but Benders are kind of a lot.” Suki said.

“That’s fair.” 

They drifted again and Katara glanced over at Suki from time to time. She was thinner than when they last saw each other, but her overall build was much the same. It was obvious she was still an active Kyoshi Warrior.

“She looks a bit like Zuko.” Suki said, making observations of her own.

“Yeah, especially her eyes.” Katara agreed.

“I was going to say! Yeah, her face has a very Zuko brush.”

“She smiles more than he does.” Katara quipped.

“That’s absolutely true.” Suki muttered.

Katara frowned but didn’t ask. She figured there would be one person who could keep Zuko from smiling and it was still something she didn’t want to think about.

“Have you seen him recently? Zuko?” Katara asked.

Suki winced and shook her head.

“No. We were in the North Pole for a while and then… things started happening. We haven’t heard from him in weeks. With Hakoda here and Sokka gone, I haven’t had time to reach out.” She replied.

“Sokka and Toph are trying to warn me, but I’m just…” Katara drifted and circled her hands around uselessly, trying to find words that made sense. Nothing came to mind and she stopped.

“You’re in for a hell of a surprise regardless of what his situation is. If you want to go in with no clue, that’s on you.” Suki said, surprisingly blunt. 

“Thanks.” Katara said.

“Don’t thank me, it’s going to suck.”

“Mmm.” 

As they reached the village, Suki pointed to her house and they made their way inside. Hakoda was sitting on the floor with Kyza, a large sheet of paper unrolled between them. Kyza was drawing various scenes and figures, explaining her daily routine in the swamp at length.

Hakoda looked enraptured. 

And that broke Katara’s heart.

Chapter 9: Katara Confesses

After Suki and Sokka put their kids down for a nap, the rest of them sat around their large dining table with tea and a plate of sliced fruit. Even Kyza was sitting with them, taking everything that Hakoda offered her.

“Okay.” Suki announced as she sat down. “I know you’ve gone through this with Sokka and Toph, but I’d like to talk about what’s been happening for the past ten years.”

“We don’t need to make her rehash everything.” Hakoda said.

“Dad, she’s not running away again. You don’t have to play nice.” Sokka said.

“I would like it if people were nice to me please.” Katara insisted. “It’s not like I was having a blast in the swamp without you. I didn’t want to be raising my daughter without any of my family around.” 

“She looks just like you.” Hakoda said, reaching out to touch one of Kyza’s looped braids. Kyza smiled at the gesture and patted the other one. 

“She looks like her dad.” Suki said, repeating her earlier words. “Those are Zuko’s eyes, just blue.” 

“And that hair. How do you brush it?” Sokka asked.

“Very carefully.” Katara joked.

“And Zuko really doesn’t know?” Hakoda asked, resting his hand on the back of Kyza’s chair.

“I wouldn’t have made it out of that palace if he did know. And if he ever found out, he would have been at the swamp the next day.” Katara said.

“Mom says the Fire Nation is dangerous.” Kyza added.

“Many places often are for people like your father.” Hakoda said.

“So are you comfortable going to see him?” Suki asked.

“I’ll go with you.” Hakoda interjected.

“Dad, no. I’m not ambushing Zuko with an entire family. I don’t even want Sokka to come, but he’s the only one I know who can fly an airship.” Katara said.

“Ouch.” Sokka grumbled.

“It’s nothing personal. We’re just going to go in there, figure some things out, and then we’re going back to the swamp.” Katara explained.

“What? I don’t want to go back to the swamp!” Kyza balked, most of an apple still in her mouth. 

“If you go back to the swamp, I’m going with you.” Hakoda said, leaning down to speak to Kyza.

“Dad!” Sokka and Katara said together, but for very different reasons. 

“I just don’t think it’s going to be as easy as you’re expecting, Kat.” Suki said. 

“He’ll see me, regardless. If it’s only for a few minutes, I know he’ll see me.” Katara replied. 

“So how did this whole thing even start?” Sokka inquired.

Katara felt her face warm and she glanced pointedly over to where Hakoda and Kyza were sitting.

“I don’t want to go into detail with my father and daughter right here.” She said.

“I don’t want that kind of detail either!” Sokka blurted.

“We just want to understand why you left.” Suki clarified.

“I still don’t really want to talk about it in front of Kyza.” Katara said.

“Kyza needs to hear it. I know you want to protect her, but she won’t understand why you’re keeping her from her father if she doesn’t know.” Hakoda said.

“Mmm.” Katara looked at Kyza who looked back at her with half a kiwi shoved into her mouth.

Katara sighed.

“At the palace, people knew Zuko and I were a couple.” Katara focused down on her hands, lacing her fingers and tapping her thumbs together. “It made a lot of people angry and they tried to drive me out. At first, it was just minor things like over-salting my food, cutting the seams of my clothes, and tripping me in the halls. But all of that ramped up after I didn’t pack up and leave. 

“There was one day, when Zuko was in a meeting, when someone pushed me off a porch out in a garden. A woman caught me, a noblewoman, and she kept hold of my arm. She threatened me, letting me know exactly how the others could get rid of another Fire Lady, and all the while she kept heating up her hand.

“I was going to tell Zuko about it after his meeting, but as I was healing myself I…” Katara paused to look at Kyza.

Her daughter, perfectly formed and un-scarred, looked anxious.

“I found out I was pregnant.” She said. Blinking rapidly, Katara looked around the table. 

“I thought about it for days,” She went on. “And things were getting worse and worse. Zuko started to see it because the nobles and the servants were getting bolder. We fought about it, and when I started to have morning sickness, I knew I had to get out before anyone knew I was pregnant. So I left. And I ran straight to the swamp, where I asked the shaman to help protect me.”

“Someone burned you?” Sokka asked.

“Yes.” Katara said and took a deep breath. “Do you at least understand why I felt like I was making the right choice?”

Sokka and Suki shared a look while Hakoda only turned to Kyza. She picked at the fruit in front of her, her head down so that her chin touched her chest.

“I understand the foolish things parents do as they try to protect their children.” Hakoda said, stroking Kyza’s hair. 

He then stood and held out his hands for Kyza.

“Come on starshine, let’s go fix your braids.” He said.

Kyza held his hands, her own visibly sticky with fruit pulp, and Hakoda swung her down to stand on the floor. Her head still lowered, she was quiet and Hakoda kept hold of one of her sticky hands. 

“How are you feeling?” Suki asked.

Dazed, Katara took a moment to register the question.

“I’m exhausted.” She said.

“Why don’t you lay down? I’d like to spend some time with my niece.” Sokka offered.

“Yeah, okay.” Katara murmured. 

The stairs were in the kitchen, so she didn’t have to pass her daughter, and Sokka walked her up, opening the door to an unused room. Katara walked to the bed and laid down on her face, leaving Sokka to shut the door.

After his footsteps moved away, she rolled onto her side and stared at the wall opposite of the door. 

She was exhausted, but her mind was running faster than lightning. 

She could remember that last day with painful clarity.

“Katara, tell me everything. I can fix this.” Zuko said as Katara moved away from the sink. She grabbed a towel and held it to her mouth, moving out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. When she finally sat on the edge of the bed, she lowered the towel and stared at Zuko, now standing in the doorframe. 

“How? You round them all up and throw them in jail? The next batch will be just as bad.” Katara said.

Zuko walked forward and knelt in front of her, his hand resting on her thighs.

“Go stay with your dad for a bit. I’ll take care of things here and then you can come back.” He said.

“Zuko, they’re never going to accept me.” 

“They will have to.”

“Or what?”

Zuko grimaced and Katara sighed.

“I’ll give it up.” He said and she shook her head.

“Stop. You know you can’t. They’ll just get Ozai out, and that will make everything worse.” She said.

“Katara, I could understand if it was something I did. I could accept you leaving me, even if it destroyed me. But this? This is about other people, and I can fix this.” 

“I don’t think you can.”

“Do you think I can’t protect you?”

“Zuko.” Katara cupped Zuko’s face and searched his eyes. “This isn’t a lightning bolt where you can risk your life and do something heroic. This is every day. This is too unbearably human. It would ruin us both.” 

“I love you Katara. I don’t want this to end because of petty people.” He said.

Katara thought about the escalation, the threats, the burns…

He had no idea about any of it.

“You’re the Fire Lord. I’m just a minor chief’s daughter. It wasn’t going to last in the long term, we knew that.” Katara said.

“You dated the Avatar.” Zuko replied, sounding annoyed.

“Which meant he could do whatever he wanted!” Katara let go of Zuko’s face and held onto the edge of the bed. Her stomach was still roiling and it made her head spin.

“I’ve been waiting so long for you. I don’t want it to end this way.” Zuko said. He lowered his head, laying his cheek in her lap. Katara started to stroke his hair and he closed his eyes. 

“We’re both young,” She said. “You have a whole life ahead of you.” 

“And you?” Zuko asked.

He opened one eye when she didn’t respond right away.

“I have plenty to do.” She said.

Zuko started to rise but moved forward, making Katara lean back. He moved over her, placing his hands on either side of her.

“If this is the last time, then I want to take my time. I want to remember the last time I held your hand, and the last time I kissed you. I want to remember every single last time and know that I tried my best.” He said.

She almost broke then. She almost told him everything and begged him to make every horrible thing stop.

She almost told him the truth.

And then, ten years later, Katara squeezed her eyes shut, feeling tears escape from under her lashes.

She could remember their last kiss, the last time he held her hand, and the last time his body curled around hers, keeping her warm. 

Chapter 10: Family Reunion

Katara stayed in bed for a few hours, dozing off and on but never actually falling asleep. Below her, she could hear the rest of her family moving around. After Kya woke up, she seemed to be in a much better mood to receive her new cousin. Kyza, for all her insistence that babies were boring, took to both Kya and Akio quickly. 

Hakoda sounded like he enjoyed having an older child around, as his footsteps were thunderous following Kyza’s crackling laughter. 

Kyza was not without friends and affection in the swamp, but it was different for Katara to know that she was with people who shared her blood. These people shared her culture and history. It warmed Katara, but it was quickly swallowed by the ache that always followed her.

When her thirst overtook her fight to get some sort of rest, Katara finally emerged from the spare room. She waited at the top of the stairs, still listening to the overlapping voices and sounds of the house. Sokka sounded happy as he played with the children and Katara realized how well suited he was to fatherhood. After being without parents for so long, Katara had worried about her own skills. Raising Kyza had taken a lot of help and a lot of desperate questioning of the entire village. 

Sokka, on the other hand, sounded so carefree, like being a parent was second nature. 

Katara walked down and dodged the activity as she stepped into the kitchen. Inside were all the modern conveniences: some of which Sokka was at least tangentially attached to in the invention stage. She took a cup from the counter and filled it with water from a tap, wrinkling her nose at the metallic taste. But it was clean and cool, and it made her throat feel better.

“How’s it going?” Suki asked softly behind her. 

Katara turned and smiled, wrapping her hands around the small clay cup.

“I think I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. This has all been…too easy.” She replied.

Suki nodded and leaned against the counter so they were both looking out towards the living room. From around the corner, they could hear Sokka and Hakoda playing along with a very involved story that Kyza told. 

“It’s not as easy as you think. You’re going to have to deal with all the anger and hurt once we get over the shock of Kyza.” Suki said.

Katara’s face fell but she nodded as well.

“I know.” She said.

“Are you nervous about seeing Zuko?” Suki questioned.

“Oof.” Katara said and took a drink of water. 

Suki stayed quiet. She was good at that; instead of filling the silence and giving someone an out, she would wait until someone spoke. Katara focused on the taste of water in her mouth, how it seeped into the soft tissue around her tongue, and the act of swallowing. 

Suki was still quiet.

“I know things have changed.” Katara started. “But the image of Zuko I’ve kept in my head all these years, it’s still the same. He’s been the same to me since the day I left.”

“I didn’t even know you two got that close. None of us had a clue.” Suki said.

“We had wanted it that way. We were still in the honeymoon phase, you know? We were both hoping it would turn into something more real, but in case it didn’t, we didn’t want everyone knowing. That’s why we spent so long just traveling.”

“I mean, we knew something was up.”

Katara laughed and took another drink.

“Yeah, we knew that. But it didn’t matter, we were so focused on each other.” She said.

“When did things start going wrong? Was it just in the palace?” Suki inquired.

“Things were weird from the get go. When we stayed behind at Ember Island, you know, we slept in the same room. Lots of talk started there.” 

“What do you think he’ll do about Kyza?” 

“I have no idea.”

Suki went quiet again, but didn’t wait long before reaching into her pocket. She pulled out a leather wallet and dropped it on the edge of the sink.

“Photography is new, and expensive. Nothing in there will ruin the surprise you insist upon. And you can’t keep them.” Suki tapped a finger on the wallet. “Expensive means these are our only copies.” 

Suki left the kitchen and Katara stared at the wallet. Finishing her water, she set the cup in the sink and held the wallet. 

Katara hadn’t allowed herself to think about the coming reaction. As she spent the rest of the day with her family, Suki’s question wormed through her mind. 

Zuko was going to be hurt, of course he would be, but his reaction would fall into line with everyone else’s. Suki was right; Katara was probably going to be dealing with the emotional fallout for a long time. But Kyza was Kyza, and things would work out.

During their brief time together, Zuko and Katara had not discussed the future. They never talked about long-term plans, or marriage, and certainly not children. It had been enough of a shock when, after spending three weeks going everywhere together, they had confessed their love for each other. With the weight of their years together, it had felt like the simplest thing in the world, but saying it made them feel so complicated.

So what they did discuss were all the years tangled up in each confession, in each kiss, in each embrace. Zuko talked a lot about small moments Katara had forgotten. He was like that though; someone who collected the mundane as if they were sacred artifacts.

After dinner, Suki went to bed with the children. Sokka and Hakoda went out to check the airship and load up the extra fuel tanks. Katara tucked Kyza into bed and then went back down to the empty first floor. 

Touching the piles of clutter, Katara wondered what kind of life Sokka had lived without her. They had been together for so long, and even the few short years of her drifting around, they had never been apart for long. Ten years had been a brutal thing, and she had missed so much.

Sitting on the couch in the main room, Katara took out the leather wallet from her own pocket. She untied the twine keeping it closed and unfolded it on the small table in front of her. Sokka had told her about photography a few years ago, offering to bring back photographs, which she always declined.

She hadn’t understood what a photograph was and thought it was something bulky, which would be hard to hide from Kyza. 

These were small squares of paper, with black and white images printed on them. All of them looked lifelike, but unreal with the stiff postures. 

From the context, Katara went through and transcribed the scenes that caught a specific moment in the past decade.

One was of Sokka and Suki’s wedding, one clearly some sort of festival as Hakoda and Sokka stood in very fancy tunics, another of Sokka and his family, one of a very pregnant Toph handing over a trophy to a heavily battered trio of strangers, and…

Katara paused, holding up a photograph.

Aang looked so different as an adult. It reminded her that they had been children, and even when they last saw each other they had all been so young. In the photo, Aang held a toddler and a demure woman held an infant. His broad smile was the only thing Katara could recognize.

Flipping the photograph over, Katara saw Suki’s handwriting. Aang, Emry, Bumi, and Tenzin. The year was smudged, but it looked recent. 

There were only a few other photos; Suki dressed in her Kyoshi Warrior robes, Sokka in front of a massive machine, and Hakoda with a baby Kya.

Of the final photo, she saw Sokka first. He stood next to an older man, and it took her a moment to recognize Piandao.

On the other side of the swordsman was his other pupil.

Katara slammed that photograph face down on the pile, her heart racing. She could hear her blood rush in her ears as it left her hands, chilling her fingers. Looking down, she again saw Suki’s neat lines making the characters.

Sokka, Piandao, Zuko. Ember Island. No year.

With shaking hands, Katara shuffled the photos together and placed them back in the wallet. Her fingers were so cold that she struggled to make them obey, and she tried to calm down as she tied the wallet closed.

Yet when she heard Sokka and Hakoda walking back toward the house, Katara panicked. Keeping light on her feet, she darted back upstairs and slid into her room just as the front door opened.

“I’ll have to talk to him.” Hakoda said, making Katara pause. She stood in her room, but one hand curled around the edge of the door, keeping it from shutting and allowing her to listen.

“He won’t have anything to say.” Sokka replied. The front door shut and the two men walked into the living room.

“Kyza is his child, he’ll have to talk to me.” Hakoda pressed.

“Just leave it alone, dad. You know Katara would throw a fit.” Sokka said.

Katara frowned and gripped the door.

“How is she going to deal with Izumi?” Hakoda questioned.

Katara’s heart jumped into her throat and she nearly fainted as she tried to swallow it back down. Her breathing fluttered on shallow wings in her chest and her hands gripped the door tightly.

“That’s for her to figure out.” Sokka answered.

Quietly, softly, Katara closed the door. As she turned, she saw Kyza’s sleeping form once again splayed out across the mattress.

Of course he had married. He and Mai must have had a child by now. And so there was; another daughter. 

Stepping quietly across the floor, Katara stood by the side of the bed and looked down at her daughter. She sat down slowly and pushed some of Kyza’s hair out of her face.

Sokka was right, she was going to have to figure this out. And, with her pulse hammering, she knew she’d have all night.

Chapter 11: Leaving Kyoshi Island

Katara woke to the sound of unfamiliar birds. Her eyes opened with lightness and she saw Kyza asleep in her arms. Laying in bed, she waited for her body to catch up to her mind. She felt her breath, and the flow of Kyza next to her. 

These sounds were so foreign to her. There was no groan of massive trees or the hiss of catgators from under their floorboards. Just shrill chirps and swooping calls. 

In a day and a half, she would be back in Caldera. Kyza would meet her father. And Katara would see Zuko again.

As she slowly untangled herself from Kyza’s limbs, Katara tried to catch out the sounds of the house. It felt like dawn in her bones, and Akio was still young enough to be restless at this hour. Yet everything was quiet.

Katara slid out of the bed and stretched, feeling her shoulders and hip pop. The weather was nice, with just enough of a chill to keep her from swelling in her sleep and not cold enough to make her joints hurt.

She was getting older.

Suki had collected more casual clothes, as Katara wanted to save the nicer dresses from Toph for when they reached Caldera. Now, as she started muttering to herself, she sorted through the linen shirts and cropped pants.

Dressing quickly, Katara kept her face down while she tied her hair back. From the small glimpses she caught in the mirror, she knew she had hardly changed. There were few strands of silver, unlike Sokka’s hair, nor did she have any of the smile lines at framed Suki’s face. Katara was getting older, but she was barely aging. 

She felt stuck.

As she had when Kyza was young, Katara held her breath as she opened the door. The house was still, and it took her a second to let out the air she held in her chest. Closing the door, Katara looked down the small hallway. 

There were a number of rooms on this floor, which implied many visitors. Or else this is where the Kyoshi Warriors used to live, when there were more of them. 

Katara made her way down the stairs and swept around the side to step into the kitchen.

Hakoda turned, looking over his shoulder as she still held loosely to the banister. 

“Good morning.” He said and turned back to the counter in front of him.

“Morning.” Katara hesitated, nervously picking at the cuticle of her thumb.

“You know, I have no idea who my father is.” Hakoda said.

“What?” Katara held herself still and Hakoda kept his back to her.

“When I was younger, I thought he must have died in a whaling accident or something. But when I became an adult, I realized some things about my mother’s life. About how she made it down to the South Pole in the first place.” He explained.

Katara walked over them, leaning against the same counter Hakoda was working at.

He was making coffee in an odd glass contraption.

“Wasn’t he from the South Pole?” Katara asked.

“Maybe originally, but that wasn’t where she met him. It was somewhere in the Earth Kingdom, and I don’t think it was overly romantic.” Hakoda said.

Katara sighed and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I loved Zuko.” She stated.

“Loved?” Hakoda repeated.

Katara lowered her head and shrugged.

“It’s been ten years.” She murmured.

“I still very much love Kya.” Hakoda said.

Katara shook her head.

“That’s different.”

“How so?”

“You were together longer.” Katara paused and sighed, rolling her head on her neck until it tilted back. “Zuko and I barely started.”

“True.” Hakoda admitted and she listened as he poured coffee into a waiting mug. When it was full, he pushed it over to her.

“The kettle is still warm.” He said, unscrewing one glass orb from another.

Katara took up the mug, wrapping both of her hands around it and breathing in the aroma. Hakoda shuffled around, cleaning out the brewer and replacing the grounds. She watched her father go through the process of making coffee, wondering when she last saw him in a kitchen.

“Kyza is a lovely little girl.” Hakoda said suddenly.

“Thanks. I can’t take all the credit though, I had a lot of help in the village.” Katara said, finally taking a sip of the coffee. It was bitter, and exceptionally strong. He might as well have given her the grounds to chew. 

“Tell me more about Zuko.” Hakoda prompted and Katara hummed. 

“There’s not much to tell.” She replied.

“How did you fall in love with him? I didn’t think you two spent much time together.”

“Well…” Katara gently swirled the coffee in her mug. “I think I let myself fall in love with him over the years because I didn’t think we’d ever get together.” 

“What do you mean?”

“He’s…” Katara felt her shoulders fall and she tilted her head back again. 

“Is it weird to talk to me about it?” 

She smiled but didn’t look over at him.

“It’s hard to think about in general. It makes me feel guilty.”

“I think that’s appropriate. I don’t agree with how you kept Kyza a secret.” 

“I know.”

Katara put the mug back on the counter and turned around, placing her hands on either side of it.

“He aged really freaking well, you know?” She finally admitted and Hakoda laughed.

“You all turned out to be handsome adults.” He agreed. 

“So it was a lot of, well, that. A lot of staring.” Katara shook her head, fighting the feeling of tears in her eyes. “And while I was staring, I noticed a lot about him.”

“It was like that for me when I finally noticed your mother.” Hakoda said.

“Kyza looks so much like him.” Katara whispered.

She startled as Hakoda tucked some of her hair behind her ear and she stood upright. One hand on the counter, she touched her hair with the other where his hand had been. As she looked at him, he tilted his head and smiled.

“I know the feeling.” He replied softly.

Katara touched the necklace at her throat and Hakoda’s eyes flickered at her movement. She lowered her hand, the emblem burning under her fingers, and he met her gaze again.

“It’s not going to be easy.” He said.

“I know.”

“There has been someone else.”

Katara looked down.

“I know.”

Hakoda put his hand on top of hers. 

“You are allowed to move on, too.” 

Katara cleared her throat, taking her hand back and grabbing the mug.

“I’m aware.” She said and drank more of the coffee. It cut through the thickness in her throat and the heat burned enough to clear her eyes.

“I’ve even managed to start dating again.” Hakoda stated and Katara raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

“Even after all that business with Malina?” She asked.

Hakoda heaved a large sigh.

“Yes.” He drew out the word and Katara snorted. 

Above them, the sound of a crying baby made them look up.

“Suki told me that you think Akio’s an Earthbender.” Hakoda said, looking back at Katara.

“Not think, know.” She corrected, glancing at him before turning to the stairs. “And not a weak one, either.”

“Well, I know what it’s like to be surprised by a Bender baby.” Hakoda murmured.

“I was a delight.” Katara retorted.

The house woke gently as Suki attended to Akio and Sokka got Kya up. Kyza was slower in waking, but fumbled her way downstairs just as Sokka finished making breakfast. Suki balanced Akio in her arms as she looked over a checklist, going over it aloud with Sokka. Katara sat at the table readjusting Kyza’s braids as she watched the pair. They moved in perfect harmony, each one attending to their tasks and their assigned child while moving around the kitchen table. Food was served, children were fed, and the airship supplies were gathered in seamless motion.

It reminded Katara of bending practice with Zuko and her fingers slipped away from her mug for a brief moment. 

When it was time to pack up, Kya got cranky. She clung to Sokka as he secured extra fuel far from the engine. He listened to her complaints and demands, while reminding her that he would only be gone for a short while. Suki looked strained as she tossed aboard the bags of supplies. 

“We won’t stay long.” Katara said, picking up a bedroll. 

“I know. I just don’t like being away from him so often.” Suki said.

Katara hugged the bedroll to her chest and Suki finally paused, looking at her.

“Is it okay if I stay for a bit when I come back? Maybe I can go with dad when he heads to the South P-”

As Suki embraced her, Katara snapped her jaw shut. 

“You can stay for as long as you want.” Suki whispered and Katara sniffled.

Suki squeezed her and let go, grabbing the last bag and walking it on board. Katara watched as Suki pried Kya off Sokka’s leg and then hugged him, kissing his cheek with restrained fervor. Before she pulled away, Sokka grabbed her and kissed her properly, making Katara put her face in the bedroll.

“Are we going?” Kyza asked.

Katara looked past the bedroll, seeing Kyza hold onto her shirt.

“Yes, bumble bug.” Katara said, freeing a hand to cup Kyza’s cheek. “Are you ready?”

Kyza nodded quickly, but her eyes were wide. Katara traced around the curve of her face and smiled. Kyza smiled back, her gaze melting a bit.

“Okay, time to go.” Sokka announced.

Their goodbyes took another few minutes. Sokka murmured to each of his children before taking Suki into his arms again. Hakoda held Akio and Kya held onto his leg, letting Suki wrap her arms fully around Sokka. They held each other and both Hakoda and Katara turned away.

As an ache formed in her chest, she instead said farewell to Kya and Akio, touching Hakoda’s arm before she stepped away.

“I’ll see you soon.” She said and Hakoda gave her a curt nod. 

After he returned the children to Suki, he bent down to hug Kyza, squeezing her tight enough to make her squeal.

“I love you, starshine.” He said.

“I love you Paw-Paw!” Kyza giggled and Hakoda wiped his eyes as he stood.

They all waved again as they boarded the airship; Hakoda, Suki, and the children all started to walk away while Sokka fired up the engine. Sokka had filled the bag hours ago, while Suki had gathered the supplies, but now the engine reheated the gasses and the metal hull groaned as the ropes tightened. 

Sokka waited until his family was far enough away before casting off, tossing the rope onto the ground as they lazily began their ascent. 

He was distracted by getting the ship up in the air, and Katara got Kyza settled. Once they were high enough to start propelling forward, Katara realized the most painful part of the day.

She had run out of things to talk about with Sokka.

Chapter 12: Playing Catch-up

When they were growing up, Katara and Sokka had plenty to talk about. As children, they discussed the mysteries of the sea and ice, while their preteen years were filled with a lot of bickering. 

After the war, they distanced themselves from each other. Sokka went off to study with the Mechanist, and while Aang liked visiting, he wasn’t comfortable staying too long in that Air Temple. So she and Aang moved around a lot, spending months in Omashu with Bumi, but ultimately floating around from place to place. In between visits to places from Aang’s past, they would try to stop by and see their friends. 

When Zuko was in Ba Sing Se, or Toph popped up in Republic City, they would spend a few days going absolutely wild. Then there were festivals in the Fire Nation, Avatar Day on Kyoshi Island, and important holidays in the Poles. All of those times had Katara and Sokka together again. They would catch up, reminisce, and crack jokes about their group. 

When Katara and Aang broke up, she bounced between Kyoshi Island and the South Pole. Being with her family made her feel secure, giving her a place to land after falling from the sky. 

Just as she started to step out, just as she began to find her own footing, she fell in with Zuko. She barely talked to anyone then, worried that she would give away their secret. His name was always at her lips, when she called for him in the dark of night or when she greeted him in the morning. To talk to anyone else would be to only talk about him.

Then the pregnancy. Then the distance. Then the lying.

When Sokka first got to her, he begged her to leave. After she didn’t budge, he set about fixing her hut. He was the one that rigged a crude sort of plumbing system that kept bugs out of their water, and he always redid the roof. Katara would watch him, making sure he didn’t stray too far or ask too many questions.

Because of that vigilance, she never learned anything new about her brother. She didn’t stop to see how time aged him, or look at the bracelet Kya had surely made with Suki, or even ask about how his apprenticeship had turned out. 

Now there was a gulf between them and Katara peeked at Sokka shyly as he continued to check the gauges and ropes.

The implications for when she saw Zuko were staggering.

“Where did the name Akio come from?” Katara asked.

Sokka jumped a bit at her question and paused to look at her. She tapped the space on the bench next to her and Sokka sat down, wiping his hands on his pants.

“No where, really. Suki just liked the name and it had a good k sound to it.” He answered.

“You believe me, right? That he’s an Earthbender?” 

Sokka sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His undercut was freshly shaved, and Katara had to resist the urge to run her fingers over the fuzz.

“Of course I do. But I don’t even want to consider it.” He sounded sulky and Katara laughed to herself.

“Are you two going to have more kids?” She asked.

“Hopefully. Turns out, I really like being a dad.” 

“I’m not surprised. But I also wouldn’t have been surprised if you didn’t have kids, if that makes sense.”

“Honestly, since the day Kya was born, I think it would have been a damned tragedy.” Sokka replied and Katara nodded.

“I didn’t really see myself having kids.” She said.

“What? I remember you and Aang talking about it a lot.” 

“Aang talked about it. But I think he just wanted another Airbender in the world, regardless if it was his kid or not.” 

“Hmm.”

Sokka turned on the bench, bringing up a leg and leaning against the railing of the metal basket. He looked out into the sky and Katara stared at his profile.

“Zuko has always wanted kids.” He said. “He was obsessed with Kya.”

“He met Kya?” Katara asked.

Sokka shot her a curious look.

“He’s my best friend, Kat. Of course he did.” Sokka turned back to his gazing. “Akio too.” 

“I wasn’t sure how he’d take to fatherhood.” Katara admitted. 

“Like a turtleduck to water.” Sokka mumbled.

Katara winced and she turned away from him, facing forward.

“Do you still see Piandao?” She asked, thinking specifically about the photograph.

“From time to time. He’s basically another grandfather for the kids at this point.” Sokka said.

“Who is?” Kyza interjected.

Katara looked back and saw Sokka pulling Kyza into his lap, loosely holding her about the middle as she too looked out over the railing. 

“My old teacher. He never had children of his own. Your father and I basically became his sons.” Sokka explained.

“What did he teach you?” Kyza questioned.

“Swordsmanship. But now we talk about poetry.” 

“Like the stuff in the book?”

“Exactly that.” 

“Does my dad like poetry?”

Katara inhaled sharply and Sokka glanced at her.

“Your dad likes a lot of weird things. I wouldn’t be surprised if poetry was one of them.” He said, looking down at Kyza.

Kyza was silent, watching the clouds slip by as they flew steadily onward. It felt faster than Appa, but the basket swayed like a canoe. 

“Do you remember…” Katara started but the words drifted away from her.

“Which part?” Sokka asked.

Katara scoffed and pressed the back of her hand to her mouth.

Which part? All of it came rushing at her, every memory flipping like pages into her mind.

But she remembered reaching out for Zuko. The frantic terror that pounded into her very fingertips when she watched him fall. She pushed her body past its limits, bending her own blood for a fraction of a second in order to get to him.

Then he held her and she yanked him onto the saddle. 

It would not be the last time he made her heartbeat thunder in her chest, making her blood race like lightning down her veins. 

“Do you remember Boiling Rock?” Katara questioned.

“Unfortunately.” Sokka muttered.

Kyza, quiet, looked from her uncle to Katara. The tone made her wary and Katara lowered her hand to smile at her daughter.

“Is that when you and Zuko got close?” Katara asked.

Sokka held his words for a thoughtful moment.

“I’d agree with that. Mostly when I think about that time, it’s when I knew I’d marry Suki.” He answered.

“I think Zuko’s little trips are what really solidified him with our group.” Katara added.

“Spirits, remember his field trip with Toph?” Sokka laughed over his words and Katara groaned.

“I’m surprised they were able to contain the fire to just a city block.” She said.

“I’m surprised Toph was the one who started it!” Sokka said.

They both laughed and Kyza relaxed, crossing her arms over the railing and resting her chin there.

“You know, he and Suki went on a field trip too. Right before he-” Sokka stopped himself and Katara couldn’t help the frown. 

“Before Izumi?” Katara offered.

Shocked, Sokka whipped his head around to look at her.

“You know about her?” He asked.

“Not really.” Katara sighed, patting Kyza’s head when she turned again. “But I can make a few guesses after what everyone has been hinting at.” 

Sokka’s face fell and he nodded.

“Well, that’s what happens after a decade.” He said.

“Right.” Katara replied, and they both fell silent again.

“I’m going to check our heading.” Sokka said as he lifted Kyza up. He moved her onto the bench and stood, tousling her hair before he walked off.

“Who’s Izumi?” Kyza questioned.

Katara leaned back against the railing, watching the clouds on the opposite side.

“I don’t really know.” She answered. “But we’re going to find out.”

The day was spent in awkward silences, punctuated by patches of frantic movement as they refueled the engine. Flying over the vast expanse of open ocean was certainly nostalgic, and Katara found herself staring at the streaks of sunlight that raced over the rippling surface. She had no clothes to mend, however, and the glinting light made her eyes heavy.

She had dreamt of Zuko every night. Even the night before Sokka’s disastrous return, she had found herself back in the palace. Every night, she was so close to telling Zuko the truth, but something chased her through the halls. Hands grabbed at her, ripping at her and shutting her mouth even as she called out for him.

Sokka shook her gently, waking her from a deep daydream or a light nap. The foggy feeling in her head didn’t tell her which one it was.

“Hungry?” He asked.

Years before - closer to two decades now - they had spent the long flights on Appa talking to Aang about his travels. He always had a story to tell, and they, who had never left the fishing waters of their village, were able to listen to him for hours.

Now it was only silence. To Katara’s surprise, Kyza’s questioning had ebbed the day before. 

Katara worried at the hem of her tunic, plucking at the threads even as it threatened to unravel. When a few strands came free, she started to braid them, twisting the ends to keep it together. 

“If you’re antsy, we could always stop in Republic City.” Sokka offered as he unwrapped sandwiches and handed her one.

“Why?” She asked, taking the proffered meal. 

“We could visit Aang and round out the gang.” 

Katara snorted and poked at the layers between the thick, dark bread. Meat, an assortment of vegetables, and the odd condiments Sokka was fond of.

“Absolutely not. I don’t need to see two of my exes within the same month, let alone the same week.” She replied.

“He’s going to be really hurt that he’s the last to know.” Sokka said. He turned and made a short, sharp whistle, gaining Kyza’s attention. As she walked over, he handed her a sandwich as well. 

Katara ate as she watched Sokka continue to unpack their lunch. There was rice, with pickled vegetables to go with it. Coffee came from a tall canteen, and even Kyza got a sweetened cup. From the bottom of the bag, he pulled out two large oranges and gave one to Katara to peel as he worked on the other.

“I guess it’s good Zuko won’t be the last.” Sokka said as he offered a rough slice to Kyza.

“Do you think he’ll be excited to see me?” Kyza asked, taking the fruit slice and sinking her teeth into it. Like with every other time, Katara frowned as Kyza sucked out the juice to leave the husk of pulp behind. She rolled her eyes as Kyza handed over the remains and Katara took it.

At her uncle’s incredulous look, Kyza shrugged.

“I don’t like stringy fruit.” She said and Sokka chuckled.

“I can understand that.” Sokka said and popped a slice into his mouth. He smiled with the bright orange wedge over his teeth, making Kyza giggle.

“Your dad is going to be ecstatic.” Katara said, continuing to peel the orange and placing slices into Kyza’s waiting hands.

“When will we see him?” Kyza inquired.

“Not until tomorrow morning. We are making better time than I thought, though.” Sokka added, craning his head back to look at the engine.

“When was the last time you saw Zuko?” Katara asked.

“Like, saw him with my own two eyes?” Sokka leaned forward and focused intently on the orange. He was managing to keep the peel in one unbroken, curling line.

Katara stayed quiet as he thought and just watched his hands. His fingers had calluses, but in different places from when he wielded a sword. Wielding a wrench was held on a different part of the palm, perhaps. 

“Well before the solstice, but probably after I visited you two seasons ago.” Sokka answered.

“How…” Katara ripped off an orange slice too roughly and it came apart between her fingers. Like a bisected insect, it oozed guts and juice. Grimacing, she still offered it to Kyza.

“How was he?” She finally finished.

“Stressed.” Sokka said quickly. “Look, I don’t think you really want to know.” 

He sighed and she finally met his eye. He looked tired.

“I just hope we’re not coming at a bad time.” Katara said.

“I don’t think there’s ever a good time for Zuko.” Sokka replied, sounding weary.

“That’s unfortunate.” Katara looked from Kyza’s sticky hands to the bag of vittles. “Napkin?”

Sokka rummaged through the bag and pulled out a linen square. He handed it to Kyza and Katara twirled a hand, pulling water vapor from a passing cloud. As she poured the water over Kyza's hands, her daughter washed quickly and dried them on the napkin. Then came the face and Kyza fussed.

“I can do it!” Kyza snapped, using her own bending to take the water away from Katara’s control. Katara merely watched, waiting to catch whatever fell, but Kyza was more proficient with her fine motor skills. The water was dumped unceremoniously overboard instead of returned to its state as vapor, but it was still a neat job well done. 

“She’s a lot better at that than you were at her age.” Sokka stated.

“I didn’t have a teacher.” Katara retorted. “Kyza lives in a village full of Benders.”

“I’ve never seen anyone bend like Auntie Toph, though.” Kyza interjected.

“No one else on this planet bends like Auntie Toph.” Sokka said, chewing another orange slice. 

“Is my father a good Bender?” Kyza asked.

“He’s a very skilled Bender.” Katara said. “He’s very adaptable.”

“Adaptable?” Sokka repeated with clear mirth.

“He bends like a Waterbender sometimes.” Katara said.

“Really?” Kyza gasped. “Can he show me?”

“We’ll see, bumble bug.” Katara said with a sigh.

“I can’t get over that. You should call her starshine, or pup. What is this bumble bug nonsense?” Sokka questioned.

“Did you know bumble bugs dance and light up their butts to communicate?” Kyza announced.

“And do you have a light up butt?” Sokka asked.

“Well I’m not a pup or a star!” Kyza replied. 

“No, but you are a South Pole Waterbender.” Sokka said.

“But I’ve never been to the South Pole.” Kyza retorted.

“That’s-” Sokka stopped, thought, and ate another orange slice. “Still.”

“Trust me,” Katara said, exasperated. “It’s difficult to reconcile.”

A thought slipped into Katara’s mind and she jerked upright. As Sokka eyed her, she forced herself to relax.

“You took us out of the village, back when Aang showed up.” She said.

“You weren’t such a pain in the ass that time.” Sokka muttered, finishing off his orange. 

“Remember when we met Zuko?” Katara asked.

Sokka snorted, still chewing.

“Thank the spirits he’s better looking now.” He said.

“Is he handsome?” Kyza murmured.

“Very.” Katara said quickly and felt her face warm as Sokka glanced at her.

“You told her about the burn, right?” He asked.

“Oh.” Katara sat up, her hands falling into her lap. The peels and pulp rolled toward her fingertips, making her fingers curl reflexively to keep hold of them.

“Burn? What burn?” Kyza asked.

“Okay, so, there’s this thing called an Agni Kai.” Sokka started, but paused as Katara winced. “What?”

“I don’t want to frighten her.” She said.

“They’ve been banned. No one is going to challenge you.” Sokka said.

“No, I know, it’s just…” Katara drifted and looked at Kyza.

“What burn?” Kyza repeated.

“Your father’s father burned him during an Agni Kai. It’s a fight between Benders, and your father ended up accidentally accepting a duel with Ozai.” Katara explained.

“So he has a burn on his face.” Sokka added.

Without a thought, Kyza lifted her hand to touch the left side of her face. The sharp line of her face, the immediate covering of her left eye, Katara took in a sharp breath. For a second, Kyza’s right eye almost looked gold.

“But he’s okay. It doesn’t hurt him.” Katara said in a rush.

Kyza lowered her hand but frowned hard down at the floor. 

“Why didn’t you heal him?” She finally asked, tilting her chin up and staring at Katara.

“It happened years before I met him, bug. And I did offer. He just…” Katara bit her lip and glanced at Sokka. He sighed and started to clean up the remains of their meal. 

“It’s complicated, but keeping the burn keeps him honest about things.” Sokka said.

Katara handed over the scraps of orange and her eyes lingered on her palms. She had erased the scars from Aang’s firebending as quickly as she could. Wiping away the damage came in the same motion as cooling the burn, and there wasn’t even a trace of scaring. 

Her scar would not have kept Aang more honest.

“We’re really not getting there until tomorrow?” Kyza asked.

Katara shook herself and wiped her hands on the front of her tunic.

“We’d be able to see the island a little before dawn. But no, we won’t get to Caldera until the morning.” Sokka answered.

“But I’m bored.” Kyza exclaimed.

“Why don’t you read? I picked up some other books.” Sokka said.

Kyza groaned and Sokka laughed as he stood. After pushing herself up, Kyza shuffled after him and Katara watched them both head to the pile of their things. At the top of the pack was the shimmering fabric of her dress from Toph. The pattern flashed in the sunlight as Sokka pulled it up to look under it.

It made Katara feel shabby, and she picked again at the hem of her tunic. 

This wasn’t how she wanted to see Zuko again.

Chapter 13: A Palace of Shadows

Katara had entered the palace dozens of times over the years. But this time was different. This time, Zuko held her hand, warm and confident. His touches were familiar by now. The weeks together drew them closer, making these gestures second nature.

That didn’t protect her from the freezing stares of the staff.

“Hey.” Zuko squeezed her hand and Katara turned. With a small smile, he reached forward with his free hand and stroked her cheek. She placed her hand on top of his and smiled back at him.

“I love you.” He said. The words sent shivers down her spine and her smile wavered.

“I love you.” She murmured back. 

When Zuko kissed her then, for a moment, she didn’t feel the glaring disapproval. There was only him, as everything about her own body became simple receptors of his touch. When they parted, she sighed and he laughed.

As they walked deeper into the palace, Katara felt a chill grow. The hallways felt longer, and each person she passed seemed to mark a greater departure from the world she had known. The rooms got colder, but Zuko didn’t seem to notice. His hand still held hers, and he was still so warm.

As he showed her their rooms, the gardens, and the small spaces where she might pass the time, Katara tried to focus on the light that he emitted. Dark corners cropped up after he passed by, and Katara quickened her pace to keep up with him.

Later, when she would step into these same rooms, there would be things lurking in the shadows. The darkness she had known in the South Pole was dwarfed by the deep midnight of the palace. 

Zuko showed her all the softness that he could. He would lay her down next to turtleduck ponds, on plush mattresses, or among piles of linens. He dressed her in light and in silk. Zuko kept her warm, when he was around.

The first time he left her to attend to his duties as Fire Lord, Katara had forgotten about the shadows.

Ozai and Azula were locked away, and Mai was miles from the royal city. So Zihiro was a name she would come to fear.

The matron of the palace, Zihiro was a woman from a very old family. She had served the last Fire Lady, Azulon’s wife Ilah, and had been fond of Iroh’s wife. Ursa won her over with her beauty, but for decades Zihiro had been the one to manage the domestic side of things. The palace and its staff were all hers.

And she did not like Katara.

“May I help you?” Zihiro asked as Katara walked into Zuko’s personal library.

“Oh, no, I’m alright.” Katara replied, moving to stand beside the door. 

“You seem lost.” Zihiro said and Katara smiled.

“No, I’m fine.” Katara said.

“But my lady,” Zihiro stepped forward, wielding the duster in her hands like a mace. “You do not belong here.”

“Zuko gave me permission to be in this room.” Katara stated.

“Then please remember you are here at the Fire Lord’s pleasure.” Zihiro said, pausing on her way out of the room. “And make sure to leave this room neat during your stay.”

Katara bit her tongue as Zihiro left. The room felt stifled and she tried to take in a deep breath, but it faltered in her chest. 

Zihiro cast a bright light of her own, but it was what crept along in her shadow that rattled Katara. The old woman wouldn’t make a move against her, but younger ones with a different station in life, ones taught in the Royal Academy by people like Zihiro, they could move freely. They were covered by the twilight Zihiro dragged around. They were protected.

Katara cried openly in Zuko’s room as she bathed her arm in the washbasin. The sound of her hitched breathing was masked by the trickling water, and she tried to focus on the blue glow. Still, the tears in her eyes made everything blurry and the red mark on her arm looked like a mashed fruit. Her dark skin became the rock face of a waterfall, and the burn was eroded with every handful of water she poured over it.

She did not know the name of the woman, but she was beautiful with long black hair and pale skin that had been shielded from the sun for her entire life. She had grabbed Katara in the hall, making a comment about the size of her arms. The words were poisoned honey, sounding so sweet at first until Katara ingested them properly. The heat started to build as the woman gushed, talking about Katara to Zihiro. The temperature quickly became unbearable, but Zihiro stared her down.

And surely the woman would stop before it got too bad. And surely someone would say something.

As the woman’s hand seared her arm, Katara ripped free of her grasp and ran off. The other people who had gathered whispered about her rudeness, and Katara felt the seeping burn of the mark.

Water poured over it now. Over and over again.

“Katara.”

A hand on her shoulder made her jump.

Sokka flinched backward as Katara sat up abruptly.

“What.” She demanded, still half asleep.

“I need you to take watch.” Sokka said and then tilted his head. “Are you okay?”

“Just a bad dream.” She said, softer now as she roused more. She rubbed her eyes and Sokka sat down beside her.

“Go make sure we don’t crash into a mountain. I’ll wake up before dawn to land.” He said, shoving at her.

“Should I-” She started but stopped as Sokka pushed harder.

“It’s fine. Just go.” He said.

Katara stood and Sokka took her place on the bedroll, adjusting Kyza next to him so he could stretch out.

Stretching her own limbs, Katara watched as Sokka settled in and almost immediately fell asleep.

He had always been a heavy sleeper, even when they were younger and on the road. It looked like he was still much the same, being able to lay out anywhere and fall asleep.

Katara moved to the helm, checking the various gauges and dials whose purpose she only half remembered. 

She was tired, sore, and dressed in second hand clothes. It was a great departure from how Katara had left the palace.

“Mom?”

Kyza tugged on Katara’s arm while vigorously rubbing her clenched hand and wrist across her eyes.

“Oh, did Uncle Sokka wake you up?” Katara asked.

Kyza nodded and lowered her hands.

“How come they don’t feel like you?” Kyza questioned.

Confused, Katara frowned.

“What do you mean? Who?” She asked.

“Everyone. You said they’re family, but they don’t feel like you.” Kyza said.

“Well.” Katara paused, still frowning. “Family can be a lot of things. Sometimes, family are the friends who love you. Sometimes, family can feel like strangers. But that won’t last forever.” 

“Is dad going to feel like you?” 

Now, Katara winced.

“There is a chance that he won’t, sweetie.” She answered.

Kyza didn’t have any clear expression, but she nodded. 

“Can you tell me a story about him?” She asked.

“About your father?”

Kyza nodded again and Katara sighed.

“Your father is very competitive but he is very bad at games. And one time, he and your uncle were trying to knock each other off a really big log in a lake, but they both have really good balance. So your father set the log on fire.” Katara said.

Kyza snorted and Katara smiled at her, patting the top of her head. 

“Did dad win?” Kyza asked. 

“No. Your uncle is incredibly stubborn and was trying to roll the log to both knock off Zuko and extinguish the fire, but it wasn’t working. So I used my bending, pushed them both off, and put out the flames.” Katara answered.

“I hope he likes me.” Kyza said wistfully.

“He will, bug.” Katara kissed Kyza’s forehead and then gestured back to the bedroll. “Go back to sleep.”

She watched as Kyza plodded back, falling onto the bedroll and pulling the blanket up. Katara kept watching for a few moments, and then turned back to the open sky.

Chapter 14: A Palace of White

Sokka did wake up before dawn, somehow, and again pushed Katara unceremoniously out of the way. Kyza woke up again just as Katara tried to lay back down, and she sent her daughter to forage from the pack. The air was cold this high in the sky, and the fatigue made the chill seep into her bones. She needed proper rest and warmth, and preferably a long bath.

“Okay Kyza, we’re going to have to send down a hawk.” Sokka announced.

Katara rolled over onto her side and watched Sokka unlatch a compartment at the front of the airship. From inside, he pulled out a hooded hawk and Katara made a noise of amused surprise. Kyza made a high pitched squeak in delight.

“Why do we have to send the hawk?” Kyza asked as she approached. Sokka held out his hand to stop her before pulling the hood off of the bird. 

“We have to let people know down below to get out of our way since I can’t see underneath us.” Sokka answered.

Katara watched the bird descend through the clouds, its piercing flight setting off a chain reaction to start the clouds moving. Perhaps, in her anxiety, Katara’s swiping fingers over the railing also helped. Still, the thick clouds thinned as a gentle wind carded them out like wool fibers. She could start to see wider swaths of green and blue as they passed through the layers of white. 

Then, all at once, they broke through the cloud line and the royal palace was laid out under them. The buildings sprawled now; Zuko had revitalized the gardens but also further expanded the residential wing. Indiscernible figures dressed in white glided over the green lawns and creamy tiled pavilions. On nearly every external wall, white flags draped down the sides.

“Sokka.” Katara asked, her voice rising with anxiety. “Sokka, look.”

Sokka stayed silent but when she turned, Katara found him peering over the helm, his mouth wide open. 

“What is it?” Kyza asked, standing on her tiptoes to look over.

They both were startled backward as their hawk returned, screaming as it gripped the railing next to Sokka. To his credit, he only shook himself, setting his jaw so hard that Katara could see the muscle twitch.

“Well…” Katara started, her mind fumbling over conflicting thoughts and half-hearted phrases. She glanced over at Sokka, watching for a sign as he took the reply message from the hawk’s holster. 

If it was Iroh, Katara had no idea what they were about to walk into. He was still healthy - or Katara assumed that even after a decade he was a hale old man - and his death would be due to some tragedy or disaster. If it was Ozai…

That would be just as messy but for a vastly different reason.

Ozai’s death would make more sense; being imprisoned and living an unnatural life robbed of his bending might very well cause his health to decline. 

But someone was dead. The billowing plumes of white announced death’s arrival in the palace.

“We have to leave tonight.” Sokka announced.

Katara put her hand on Kyza’s shoulder, hesitating. 

“Does it say?” She asked, leaving off the other half of her question. Sokka shook his head, knowing what she was asking.

“No.” He said, his tone gruff and the word came out clipped. He bit off the answer with his teeth, giving her nothing to work with.

“Do you know?” She questioned, not voicing her real intention but having it heard all the same.

“Maybe.” Sokka shook his head again, ripping off the lingering breath in his answer. There was more building in his mouth, but he kept it firmly behind his teeth. 

“What is it?” Kyza pressed, tugging on Katara’s shirt.

“Someone has died.” Katara replied. “That’s why everything is shrouded in white.”

“Oh.” Kyza deflated a bit and Katara squeezed her shoulder.

“It will be okay, bumble bug.” She murmured. “Come on, let’s get dressed.”

As Katara and Kyza shivered in the thin air, Katara tried to keep her eyes away from Sokka. She focused on the dresses and on Kyza’s hair, wondering what her brother was thinking. 

Sokka was silent as he landed the aircraft, looking over the railing to peer at the rapidly approaching ground. There were people waiting for them; stern-faced guards with empty hands but fire surely waiting in their breath. 

When the carriage bumped against the ground, the guards were already walking towards them. They anchored their ship, not bothering to wait as Sokka killed the engine.

“Keep the pouch filled.” One guard snapped, making Sokka pause over the various gauges. 

“I’ll need more fuel.” Sokka stated.

“It will be done.” The guard replied and Sokka shrugged.

“Come on.” He said, walking to the railing where the latch was firmly locked. He undid it, swinging open the metal gate and stepped down onto the ground. Katara led Kyza off first and then gripped the railing, eying the two guards that waited.

After letting out a deep breath, Katara stepped onto solid earth. Her body still buoyed, her internal waters sloshing after being on the airship for so long. 

“We will take you to the Fire Lord.” The guard said. The other, who had stood silently the entire time, stared at Katara with something related to contempt. 

Not much had changed, then.

“Lead the way.” Sokka said, gesturing back toward the palace.

The guards turned and Sokka brought his shoulders up to his ears, squeezing them before letting them fall. They were both stiff, and they were now both tense.

As they walked over the grounds towards the palace, Katara was unnerved by how quiet everything was. She could remember when she was last there, she could hear the bustle of the city beyond the high walls. Of course it was still morning, but the air was still too quiet. 

Kyza gripped her hand, her small palm sweating as Katara held on.

The silent guard went ahead to bang on a small door while the talkative one stepped to the side, watching as they approached. Katara felt her throat dry and she swallowed hard, trying to bring some moisture back to her mouth. 

When the door opened, Katara jumped. It wasn’t the matron, but the woman looked similar enough with the disapproving eyes and deep set scowl.

She wore white robes and her hair was threaded with silver, giving her a chilling effect.

Through instinct, they all stayed silent. Even Kyza, with her inquisitive mind, lowered her eyes as they walked through the door. The woman now became their guide, while the two guards followed after them. The stairways were uncomfortable as Katara felt the walls close in, but Kyza stayed close until they reached the next floor.

Katara remembered the pathways through the palace and after a few turns, she knew they were headed to Zuko’s office. 

The woman opened the door for them but stood to the side in the hall. She didn’t gesture for them to enter, but stared at them. Katara felt the urge to turn around, to apologize for the intrusion and return to the airship. But Sokka walked in, just as stern and silent. 

Katara took in a deep breath and urged Kyza forward, following him in.

When they all stepped inside, the woman shut the door after them.

Sokka threw himself down into one of the two chairs opposite Zuko’s taller one behind a desk. He propped his feet on the desk, crossing his legs at the ankles and his arms over his chest. Katara let out her breath and, still holding onto Kyza’s hand, sat down in the other. She pulled Kyza onto her lap, her daughter’s gangly form slouching awkwardly on top of her. 

“I don’t feel good.” Kyza announced.

“Understandable.” Sokka mumbled.

“It’s just a little tense. The palace is in mourning and they’re not supposed to have guests.” Katara explained.

“But we’re not guests.” Kyza replied and Katara sighed.

“They don’t know that.” Sokka said and Kyza grunted. 

“Maybe we should have sent a message.” Katara offered and shrank back as Sokka glared at her.

“Yeah, like ten years ago.” He snapped.

Katara glared back at him.

“I can’t change the past, Sokka.” She retorted.

“Mama.” Kyza whined, turning to grip Katara’s shoulders.

Katara sighed again and smoothed down Kyza’s hair.

“How long do we have to wait?” Kyza asked, pressing her face into Katara’s shoulder and muffling her words. 

“I don’t know, sweetie.” Katara answered, glancing over to look at Sokka. He shrugged and tilted his head back, closing his eyes. 

Katara bounced her leg, jostling Kyza as she used to when her daughter was a baby. It was soothing in its intention, and Kyza started to relax. 

But Katara could feel her own heart hammering in her chest. She could picture Zuko threading his way through the halls, wearing his own white robes. 

It made her breath catch under her ribs.

“Is he-” Katara started but jumped in her seat as the door opened. 

From her position, the door blocked her view, but Sokka roused and rolled his head to look. He stood abruptly, the chair skidding under him as he moved.

“I knew you’d come.” Zuko said, his voice tired and thin.

Katara’s heart lept in her throat. 

There was movement and Katara finally saw white as Zuko moved to hug Sokka. His hair was long, flowing down the white robes like an ink stain.

Sokka patted Zuko’s back as Zuko squeezed.

“And Suki-” Zuko began as he turned, still holding onto Sokka. He froze as his eyes met Katara’s.

They both were silent.

Katara’s hands were cold and her entire body started to tremble. Kyza turned shyly, twisting her body to stay pressed against Katara.

“It’s not a ghost.” Sokka said, a weak laugh punctuating his sentence as he again patted Zuko’s back.

“Katara?” Zuko asked.

Katara still choked on her heart, so she could only nod.

Zuko staggered backward and Sokka caught him, bracing him and slowly sitting him down in the chair he had vacated. Slouching in his seat, Zuko and Katara were at eye level.

He then noticed Kyza, his gaze tightening for a brief moment.

“Who-?” He asked, looking back to Katara. “Aang’s?” 

Katara shook her head.

“Oh.” Zuko said. He looked pained.

“Are you my dad?” Kyza asked.

As Zuko sat up, Katara grabbed Kyza about the middle and pulled her tightly inward.

“What?” He questioned.

“She-” Katara started but couldn’t get the words out.

“Her name is Kyza.” Sokka said.

Zuko now stared directly at Kyza.

“How old are you?” He asked.

“I’m ten.” Kyza said meekly, her voice wavering. 

“Ten.” Zuko repeated. He gripped the arms of the chair.

“Ten.” He said again. Smoke curled between his fingers and Katara pushed her feet against the ground, urging the chair backward. 

“She’s mine.” Zuko stated.

He stood and Katara rose just as fast, pining Kyza to her chest.

“Zuko.” She warned.

Sokka grabbed Zuko’s shoulder as he advanced and Katara backed up.

“That is my daughter?” Zuko asked.

“Buddy you gotta calm down.” Sokka said.

Zuko moved like lightning, smacking Sokka’s hand away and lurching forward to grab for Kyza. Katara jumped just a bit faster, evading Zuko and making him stumble in the empty air.

“You’re scaring us!” Katara cried as Sokka grabbed Zuko.

“My wife-” Zuko snapped his head up and pushed his hair out of his face.

Katara held tightly onto Kyza’s shivering form.

“My wife has died and you show up, with my daughter?” Zuko asked, his voice raspy. 

Sparks crackled in his palms and he gripped his hands into fists. 

“Izumi is-” Sokka started but was cut off as Zuko shook himself.

“Give her. To. Me.” Zuko demanded and Kyza whimpered.

“No.” Katara said.

Zuko stood fully upright, his posture returning to its regal stance. His face was cold, and the temperature in the room dipped noticeably. As he leveled his flintlock eyes at Katara, the lanterns in the room guttered. 

“So be it.” He said.

He turned and grabbed Sokka by the front of his shirt.

“Hey!” Sokka held onto Zuko’s hands, staring furiously back at him.

“Leave.” Zuko hissed and tossed Sokka away. As he fell to the floor, Katara cried out but made no move. Zuko stood in between them, his back like a wall of ice. 

“Guards!” Zuko called out.

The door opened immediately and Zuko flicked his hand, motioning to Sokka.

“Escort him back to his airship.” He said as the guards grabbed Sokka, hauling him to his feet.

“Zuko.” Katara pleaded, but he ignored her.

The guards pulled Sokka out of the door, his heels skidding on the floor, and Zuko followed slowly behind. He gripped the door, looking out into the hall.

“Lock them inside.” He said to someone and Katara started forward.

“Zuko!” She called again but he walked into the hall and slammed the door shut. As Katara set Kyza down and went for the latch, she heard a heavy key turn in the lock.

“Zuko!” She yelled, banging on the door. “Let us out!” 

“You know how to escape.” Zuko said through the door. “But I will hunt you down if you take her.” 

Katara staggered back from the door. Her chest heaved as she sucked in air. Her breath wasn’t enough and there was a hole forming in her throat. Panic started to wash over her, but she heard a small cry behind her.

Turning, Katara felt every emotion leave her. She was hollow, and the quiet sobbing of her daughter echoed through her. 

She couldn’t move. She couldn’t even bend down to take Kyza into her arms.

Things had gone terribly wrong.

Notes:

That's the end of Part 1!

I'll be back in two weeks with part 2. :3

Chapter 15: Intermission- Artwork by SooperSara

Thank you to SooperSara for this piece! She has done many pieces for this event, wrote, and moderated so please share the love!

Out of respect, please understand that this is NOT a commission and very much still belongs to SooperSara. Do not repost this piece! (Shouldn't repost commissions either imho) It can be found on Tumblr on her blog or ZkBigBang, so make sure to reblog!

Picture ID by artist: A digital painting divided in two halves. The upper portion shows Katara as an adult wearing a green Earth Kingdom dress on the left side, Zuko as an adult in white robes on the left, and their young daughter in the center foreground, wearing a blue-green Earth Kingdom dress with pink trim. All three characters stand in a room with Fire Nation banners on the wall and a door open to a sunny balcony in the background. The bottom portion shows Zuko and Katara sitting on a blanket in front of a line of overgrown shrubs on a beach at night. They are both young adults, with Katara on the right in a blue swimsuit, and Zuko on the left in dark red shorts. Zuko is shirtless and in the process of wrapping his shirt around Katara’s shoulders.

Chapter 16: Intermission- Artwork by J_Man

Thank you to J_Man (ryu-slayer on Tumblr) for this piece! He has ALSO done many pieces for this event AND written so please share the love!

Out of respect, please understand that this is NOT a commission and very much still belongs to J_Man. Do not repost this piece! (Shouldn't repost commissions either imho) It can be found on Tumblr on his blog or ZkBigBang, so make sure to reblog!

Picture ID by artist: First frame Katara is pounding on a door in the Fire Palace as she yells at Zuko who is on the other side of the door. Zuko is glaring furiously at the ground as he listens to Katara pounding on the door and yelling at him. Second frame Zuko has deliver a retort to what Katara was yelling that has left her shocked and devastated. Zuko is still furious. Third frame, a zoomed-out picture of both Katara and Zuko still near the door. In the furthest left corner, their daughter Kyza is crying because she is scared and doesn’t understand what is happening and why it is happening. Katara is devastated. Zuko can hear Kyza crying, and his fury is starting to die down as he starts to process things. Forth frame zoomed-in shot of Katara and Zuko again, both are leaning against the door both realizing they have done something terrible and don’t know what to do next. Zuko is wearing the white robes for mourning a death. Katara is in a green dress similar to the one she wore in Ba Sing Se at the end of the war. Kyza is wearing an old dress of Toph’s.

Notes:

The first chunk of Part 2 will upload on 9/18 AFTER the author reveal.

I want to sincerely thank the artists and betas that worked with me, this story is my proudest accomplishment yet and I could only do it with their work and their vision.

Chapter 17: Part 2

A Beast Looms

~

Ashes inside of my lungs
I couldn't beg for your love
Three words for you on my tongue
As we burned down

And you said I wasn't enough
No, nothing could rebuild your trust
So you lit the matches for fun
And we burned down again

-from “In Flames” by Dabin

Notes:

Hey y'all, just a note because I've been seeing the comments here and elsewhere.

Part of this story is heavily inspired by my own life. My own journey in becoming a parent. This fanfic is not about whether Katara's choice was right or wrong, or if any one character is right or wrong in their reaction. The point is that our choices impact the people around us and we must continue to make choices about the repercussions. It's kind of inspired by "The Good Place" and by my constant search for what I owe to the people around me. And what I deserve.

I started this story well after Katara's decision purely because that isn't the point. I have a very complicated relationship with becoming a parent and I wanted to work through that but have a happIER ending than my own. The foundation of this story is that every person has the right to choose how they become a parent and that sometimes we have to keep choosing over and over again.

Katara chose. Zuko chose. Izumi chose. All of those separate choices are slamming into each other right now and it's painful and ugly and brutal. I hope you stick with me and this story. Thank you to all of my readers, I truly do this because you all feel like I have a good story to tell.

Chapter 18: Fatherhood

Zuko turned the corner and wiped his face. His body was too hot and sweat trickled down from his hairline. He could feel the flames from down the hall as every lamplight and torch sought to answer him. The heat built in his stomach, burning through his limbs and making his palms tingle. 

“Sire?” Yoon asked.

Shaking himself, Zuko looked over at her.

“Fetch my uncle.” He said. Yoon nodded and bowed before turning. She walked down the opposite hall and Zuko watched her until she disappeared around a corner.

When she left his view, Zuko turned back, listening to the fading shouts. Sokka was furious, but then again, so was Zuko. He placed a hand on the wall, willing himself to cool down. He could feel a ghostly touch on his shoulder and he sagged forward, covering his eyes with his other hand and biting back a sob.

Izumi would know just what to say. She would know exactly what to do.

And now she was gone.

As his throat burned and tears stung his eyes, Zuko focused on his breathing. Behind his lowered lids, he could see Izumi’s pale face and sunken eyes.

Cold fear shot through him and Zuko stood up, suddenly chilled. It was the same vision that haunted him every time he closed his eyes, and kept him from sleeping. 

As his thoughts drifted their usual route, he felt sick knowing what was coming. Still, he couldn’t stop himself and the shut door of the nursery loomed in his mind. 

With bile rising in his throat, Zuko pushed himself forward. Izumi had been gone for three days and he had barely slept or ate since. If it wasn’t her wasted body that unsettled him, it was that spirits-cursed door. 

Sokka’s shouting had faded when Zuko finally regained his senses. Looking around, he realized he was in the residential wing and too close to the nursery. Moving quickly, he strode to his rooms and threw open the door.

The room was still and cool, which made him realize just how hot and sticky his skin had become in that short walk. His head spun and Zuko propped himself up in the doorway.

Perhaps it was a good thing Izumi had decided to die in her own room. He could stand to be in this one, at least. 

As Zuko stumbled inside, he barely made it to the bed. He fell, his hands scrambling over the mattress in an attempt to stop himself. Yet he didn’t even feel it when his knees hit the floor and his stomach lurched upward. 

As he vomited, again, his throat burned from the thin stream of bile that his empty stomach pressed up. 

He wiped his mouth with a shaky hand and let his head fall forward until it hit the bed. The embroidery thread brushed against his forehead and Zuko focused on the sensation.

The red and black blanket filled his vision and he tried to see the pattern he knew so well. But the colors only blurred together as his head continued to spin and he closed his eyes.

Now, for once, it wasn’t Izumi or the shut door that plagued him. It was the twin stare of ice blue eyes. 

Zuko let his arms fall and he pressed his head into the mattress, propping himself up even as his body felt like a wrung out towel. 

He opened his eyes, staring at the damp spot on the carpet. 

“Kyza.” He murmured. The carpet blurred, and Zuko was surprised by the sudden falling tears. 

Eleven years ago, he had let Katara walk out of the palace. He hadn’t thought she would run so far away and for so long and he certainly couldn’t believe that she would escape taking such a precious spark with her. 

For years, he replayed the last day over and over in his mind. But then he was trying to remember the way she kissed him, or how she sighed in his arms. He had stopped torturing himself and the memories faded, though jagged pieces would shoot up every now and again.

Now, he tried to bring it all back. How she had sounded, what she had said. If she had even given him a clue.

The pain burned in his chest. 

“Nephew, why is-” Iroh started from the doorway but quickly fell silent. 

Zuko closed his eyes and rested his head fully against the bed. He heard the door close, heard his uncle’s even footsteps on the carpet, yet was surprised when Iroh placed a hand on his back.

“You need to stand.” Iroh said softly and Zuko managed one, short nod.

Iroh slid Zuko’s arm over his shoulders and leaned into him, making Zuko brace himself. With a breath, Iroh stood and Zuko pushed himself upward, clutching onto a post. 

“Will you sit? Or do you want to rest?” Iroh asked.

“Sit.” Zuko managed.

“Here.” Iroh kept hold of Zuko’s arm with one hand, but wrapped his other around Zuko’s middle. Zuko leaned heavily on him, and they staggered over to the small table at the window. Half falling into the chair, Zuko barely caught himself to keep from tumbling back onto the floor. 

“I’ll call for tea.” Iroh said.

“No.” Zuko said sharply, resting his head on his hand while his elbow hit the tabletop to prop him up.

“You’ve barely eaten.” Iroh stated.

“Not now.” Zuko said, with a more even tone.

“Then tell me, nephew, what just happened.” Iroh said, moving to sit across from him. “Why was Sokka dragged out of the palace?”

“Has he left yet?” Zuko asked, shutting his eyes as he felt his head start to throb.

“No, not yet.” Iroh answered.

“I’ve breached decorum, he better leave soon.” Zuko muttered.

“Why was he removed?” Iroh pressed and Zuko waved with his free hand back toward the door.

“Because I currently have his sister locked in the palace.” He answered.

“What?” Iroh exclaimed, slamming his hands down on the table.

Zuko didn’t even flinch. He did finally look up, his eyes heavy as he opened them.

“She has returned my daughter to me.” Zuko said.

Iroh pulled back, his own eyes flicking about as if dreaming. The former crown prince, the Great Dragon of the West, was taking in as much information as he could.

“Katara left the palace over ten years ago.” Iroh said.

“Almost twelve now.” Zuko corrected.

“And your daughter?”

“Would be turning eleven soon. She’s certainly tall enough.”

Zuko could still see how Kyza clung to Katara’s torso, which made it a feat that Katara was so quick to escape his grasp.

“Why now?” Iroh asked.

“I have no idea. No one knows about Izumi.” Zuko replied, pushing himself back to slouch in the chair. 

“So Katara and a ten-year-old girl are locked in the palace?” Iroh said.

“Under my order, yes.”

“Why?”

Zuko narrowed his gaze as he met Iroh’s eye.

“Did you not hear me? That woman has brought the princess back to the palace. Until she lets my daughter go, she will be locked up, as is my right both as a father and as Fire Lord.” Zuko said, his voice low.

Iroh kept his face neutral, though he laced his fingers together as he rested his hands on the table between them. 

“Is she a Firebender?” He questioned.

“No.”

“You’re certain?”

“Her eyes are blue.”

“And she is yours?” 

Zuko rested his arm on the back of his chair and pressed his fingers into his temple. It was just the briefest look, but her eyes were not Katara’s eyes. Despite the blue iris, and even in fear, he saw Azula’s childhood gaze staring at him.

“She is.” 

With a sigh, Iroh sat back and started to stroke his beard. 

“There are still forty-six days of mourning left. Having Katara here will cause problems.” He said.

“Despite how much I want to, I cannot simply take Kyza away. I don’t want to traumatize my daughter.” Zuko said and closed his eyes again. Black dots had started to form on the edge of his vision.

“Imprisoning her is also traumatic, nephew.” Iroh countered, making Zuko frown.

“I wasn’t about to host a tea party for the woman who betrayed me while I am mourning my wife.” He retorted.

“This is a delicate situation.” Iroh agreed.

For a few breaths, there was silence as Zuko thought about what to do next.

“I will say that Sokka was taken away for breaching the rules of mourning. No one will mention a woman or a child, or they will be imprisoned immediately.” Zuko began. He waited for Iroh to interrupt, but as his uncle stayed quiet, Zuko opened his eyes and continued. 

“Kyza and her mother will be kept in the dowager’s residence with minimal staff and under heavy guard. In the meantime, I want Azula to be moved as quickly and as quietly as possible.” He said.

“You want to move Azula? Why?” Iroh questioned.

“There are already rumors, though none of them are sound. But I will pretend to fall for them and under that pretense, act like I am moving Azula into the palace to keep her away from conspirators.” Zuko turned his head to look at Iroh. “Currently, I have no heir and my wife is dead. Azula is a commodity at the moment.” 

“Where is she moving?” 

“Bury her in Ba Sing Se. There are plenty of catacombs and caverns there.” Zuko said darkly. 

“What about the girl? Kyza, was it?” Iroh asked and Zuko frowned. 

He hadn’t meant to say her name. 

“Just another servant to keep my mad sister entertained.” He said. 

“I will take her. But,” Iroh sat up and Zuko felt his body sag. “I want to see them before I go.”

“Absolutely not.” Zuko answered quickly.

“Zuko, they are most likely scared witless. Let me calm them, and I can reassure Sokka.” Iroh pressed.

“Do not tell her anything.” Zuko said.

“I will only tell them what they need to know.” Iroh replied and Zuko grumbled.

“Send in Yoon.” Zuko said and waved Iroh away.

His uncle rose and bowed, which he only did when Zuko did something to upset him. The action made Zuko heave another sigh, but he said nothing as Iroh walked back to the door. 

Leaning heavily in the chair, Zuko let his head fall back on his neck. As fatigue seeped into his body, he felt tears form in his eyes. Yet a laugh bubbled up in his chest.

He pushed himself forward again, sloshing as if inebriated, and held onto the edge of the table.

“A daughter.” He whispered and then laughed lightly. “You were so obviously hoping for a girl, Izumi. Would you have liked this one?”

He looked up, somehow expecting to see Izumi there. 

Izumi had known everything there was to know. She had known the story behind every scar. She knew about every mask he wore. 

She only asked once who he saw on the nights they did share a bed.

“You, I only see you.” Zuko murmured now, as he had then. “Because if I think of her, I will fall apart.” 

Chapter 19: Iroh Offers Insight

The blood rushing in her ears dampened the sound of Kyza’s cries. Katara continued to stare down at her, confused about what she was seeing. 

“Why did he do that?” Kyza cried, her voice shrill and tight. The question knocked Katara back into her body and she poured down onto her knees, reaching for Kyza.

“I don’t know.” Katara murmured. She pulled as much of Kyza onto her lap as possible, awkwardly patting her back.

Katara’s eyes were unfocused as she stared at the chair she had vacated. 

Izumi was not the name of Zuko’s child, but his wife. And she was dead.

The rushing in her ears stopped as the blood left her head in a rush. Black dots bubbled up from the sides of her vision and Katara bent over Kyza to keep from fainting. 

“Is he going to hurt us?” Kyza asked softly.

“No, bumble bug, he’s not.” Katara whispered. Her lungs could barely contain enough air to feed her heart, let alone her throat.

“We came at a very bad time.” She added.

“Did we make him mad?”

“I did.”

Kyza stilled in her arms and Katara tilted her head to rest against her daughter’s. 

“He’s going to come back and we’ll have a chance to talk. Once he calms down, once we all calm down.” Katara said and leaned back. 

Holding onto Kyza’s shoulders, Katara pushed her away enough to see her face.

“This has been a lot for you, huh?” She asked.

Tears formed in Kyza’s eyes, but she bit her lip and nodded.

“I’m sorry, love. I haven’t done a good job checking in on you.” Katara said.

“I just want to go home.” Kyza whimpered.

“I know, bug. I know.” Katara hugged Kyza close again, rubbing circles on her back. 

After a moment, she felt a pain grow in her calf and Katara winced.

“Let’s get comfortable. It might be a bit.” Katara said, jostling Kyza until she got up. 

Katara pulled herself the short distance across the floor to the desk, leaning her back against it. After she sat up and crossed her legs, she opened her arms and Kyza dipped down. Sitting in Katara’s lap, Kyza nestled against her chest and Katara held her. 

“This isn’t right, and I want you to understand that. I just want to know why your father did this before we get too angry with him, okay? I think…” Katara paused and sighed, patting Kyza’s hip.

“I don’t think he meant to hurt us, and that’s a different story than just being mean.” She said.

“Like when I pushed Min-Ho.” Kyza muttered.

Katara tilted her head to the side, trying to see Kyza’s face. But she simply pressed her face into Katara’s shoulder.

“What?” Katara asked.

“He hurt my feelings, so I pushed him into the swamp.” Kyza replied, her voice heavily muffled.

“That’s. Huh.” Katara leaned her head back against the desk. “Yeah, I guess this is the grown-up version of that.”

“So did you hurt my dad’s feelings?” Kyza asked, lifting her face up enough to speak clearly.

“I think I did.” Katara murmured. 

“He scared me.” Kyza said, her lips back against the fabric of Katara’s dress.

“He scared me too. This is why we talk about how to handle our feelings. I can understand him being upset, but this isn’t okay.” Katara replied.

“What if he feels bad?” Kyza inquired.

“Oh, he definitely feels bad. That’s his natural state.” Katara muttered. As she realized what she said out loud, she winced.

“We’ll have to see how he handles it.” She corrected, trying to sound optimistic. 

Kyza stayed quiet and Katara stared up at the ceiling. She had no idea what was happening to Sokka, or what Zuko was planning. Eventually, she knew that they would be moved somewhere more hospitable. Nothing could happen in ten years that would change Zuko so fundamentally as to make him cruel.

Looking down at Kyza, Katara frowned.

Kyza’s birthday was coming up soon and she would be eleven. Katara had left the palace early into the second month of her pregnancy.

It would be closer to twelve years.

Her life had been neatly clipped by Kyza’s birth. At the snip of the umbilical cord, Katara no longer existed in a fog of speculation. Here was Zuko’s baby, and here did this new life begin.

But there was a life before that. There had been months between being in Zuko’s arms to holding this last piece of Zuko in hers. 

And Kyza had not turned ten, but finished ten years. A year passed from palace to swamp when Kyza was only five months old. 

Katara had been gone for so long. Without a word. Without a reason or an apology.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Katara felt heat in her throat and face as she tried not to cry. 

“I’m hungry.” Kyza mumbled, sounding half-awake. Katara chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

The trip here took five day, filled with new people and constant movement. That alone would exhaust anyone, but Katara was sure that Kyza was growing again. 

“We’ll get some food in the next room.” Katara said. “Just rest for now.”

Kyza shifted slightly, pressing on Katara’s weaker joints or sore muscles, but eventually got comfortable. As she started to doze, Katara looked around the office. 

This room was small and cramped. It wasn’t meant to serve as the Fire Lord’s workspace, but Zuko loathed the room his father had occupied for so many years. Katara thought he had told her this once belonged to the Fire Lord’s secretary, which certainly explained all the dusty reference books. 

It was a room that summed up a big portion of Zuko’s personality. He was willing to leave something that made him profoundly uncomfortable, but he would never go so far as to actually make something for himself to be comfortable. This office was less uncomfortable, and so it was suitable. 

Katara wondered, for only a moment, about the wife he chose. 

A quick knock made her feel guilty and she jumped. Kyza roused, but Katara pressed lightly on her back.

“Master Katara? It’s Iroh. May I come in?” 

Katara let out a shaky breath. Of course Iroh would treat her like a guest.

“Please.” She called.

The door opened and Iroh stepped in slowly. His eyes went to the chairs, so Katara got to study him for a quick second before he realized where she was.

He, like Zuko, still looked very much the same. Benders simply didn’t age the same way.

Iroh looked surprised to see her on the floor and Katara smiled weakly up at him.

“She was tired.” She said, holding her hands out over Kyza’s back.

“I am not surprised. Would you like to move somewhere more comfortable?” Iroh asked.

“That would be lovely.” Katara replied. She tapped Kyza’s back, signaling her to stand. Feeling stiff, Katara leaned over as she braced herself, preparing to stand.

“May I?” Iroh asked, holding out his hand. 

Katara took it readily and he helped her to her feet. As soon as she was upright, Kyza clung to her side.

“Kyza, this is Iroh. Remember Uncle Sokka telling you about Iroh?” Katara asked, looking down and patting Kyza’s back. 

Kyza nodded but didn’t move or speak.

“Her hesitancy is to be expected. Don’t feel obligated on my account.” Iroh said.

Katara nodded, looking back at him and smiling.

“I’ll take you to my rooms.” He added.

“Are we putting you out?” Katara questioned.

“No, I have a few things to take care of outside of the palace.” Iroh said and then gestured for them to follow. “Come, we can talk over some tea.”

Katara held onto Kyza’s hand as she walked after Iroh. When they exited the office, Katara saw two masked guards flanking the door. They had most certainly been locked in.

The residential wing was quiet and Iroh didn’t speak as he led them through the halls. Kyza continued to bump into Katara as she tried to stay as close as possible. Katara continued to look around, uneasy with the lack of people. It was certainly mid-day, but the absence of windows and the silent spaces made it feel like midnight. 

“Here.” Iroh said, opening a door and stepping aside to let them pass through.

Katara and Kyza were hesitant, but the room seemed empty. She walked in and Iroh followed, carefully shutting the door behind him. 

“They will bring you fresh linen this evening with your meal.” Iroh added. 

Kyza, slightly shifting on her feet, walked over to a small sitting couch and stretched out on it. She rolled onto her side, keeping her back to the room, and put her arms under her head.

Iroh watched her and walked away, leaving the small entrance room to disappear behind one of the three other doors. He returned with a small quilted blanket, handing it over to Katara.

Katara was just as silent as she took it, walking to drape it over Kyza’s form.

She turned and Iroh gestured to a wide table at the other side of the room. They both sat and looked over at Kyza.

“What happened to Sokka?” Katara asked. 

They turned toward each other and Iroh nodded.

“I will be visiting him next, as I’m sure he will ask about you. As of right now, I know he is being contained to his airship.” He answered.

“What is going on, Iroh? This isn’t like Zuko.” Katara questioned and Iroh nodded again, starting to stroke his beard as he thought.

“There were complications during Izumi’s labor. Zuko just finished the funerary rites yesterday.” Iroh said simply.

Katara shrank into herself, looking down at the table and drawing circles with her finger. 

“I didn’t know.” She murmured.

“I would never have assumed you would.” Iroh said. “You have been gone a long time.”

Now Katara nodded wordlessly. 

“I can’t explain everything, but I want to give you some comfort. About a year and half after you left, there was an incident within the court that put Zuko’s throne at risk. The best way he could handle it was by getting married, and Izumi was the Fire Lady for the past eight years.” Iroh explained. “Zuko is again in a precarious position and your arrival brings another set of… concerns.” 

“So wouldn’t it be better if we just left?” Katara asked, looking up at Iroh.

“Unfortunately, no. This would have been a troublesome political issue in the best of times. Right now, this is a disaster.” He replied.

Katara cradled her head in her hands and groaned.

“So what happens to us?” She asked.

“I’m not certain. You’ll be moved to the dowager’s palace as soon as it’s ready, but you cannot leave just yet. I know Zuko was brutish earlier, but I am asking for your patience and understanding. He has lost a lot.” Iroh said.

“Are we safe here?” Katara asked, staring down at the table.

“Yes. The court was dismissed after the tragedy and the staff was reduced. Everyone has been informed that you are here with your daughter at the request of the Fire Lord.” Iroh answered.

“My daughter?” Katara quipped, looking up.

“I advised that we take our time announcing Kyza as Zuko’s daughter..” Iroh replied.

Katara sighed and sat back. She then frowned, tapping her fingers on the table. There had been fewer people in the palace, and none that she recognized. That was how Zuko wasn’t told about her arrival; even the woman who met them at the palace didn’t know her.

“What happened to Zihiro?” She asked.

“Zihiro passed away seven years ago. A fever swept through Caldera and many people died. Many more had lingering illnesses.” 

“A fever?”

“The North Pole sent as many healers as they could, and Zuko was spared. Izumi caught it and it left her severely weakened.” 

“Spirits.” Katara muttered, rubbing her eyes with her hands. She sighed as she lowered them, placing them lightly back on the table. 

Knocking again made her jump and Iroh held up a hand. He rose and answered the door, taking a tray from an unseen servant or guard. Walking back, he set the tray down in front of Katara and poured two cups of tea.

“I am happy to see you, Master Katara.” Iroh said, handing her a cup before sitting down. “I wish it was under better circumstances.” 

“I’m sorry for your loss. For both of you.” She said.

“I was very fond of Izumi. Her death impacted me much the same as when my son died.” Iroh took a drink and turned back to look at Kyza sleeping on the couch.

“I am glad to see Kyza. But I am also very hurt by what you have done, to both me and Zuko.” He added.

“Iroh, I-” Katara started and Iroh cut her off with a shake of his head.

“I don’t care for your reason. Even the most noblest of men who wage war in the name of a grand ideal still kill an army’s worth of innocent lives.” He said. “You damaged things here, and I only hope that as Zuko accounts for his own behavior, that you reckon with yours.”

“I don’t regret what I did.” Katara said stiffly. “I won’t apologize for protecting my daughter.”

“So what will Zuko apologize for, if done for the same reason?” Iroh asked.
 
Katara looked away, setting her tea cup down.

“I will head to your brother. Do you have a message for him?” Iroh asked.

“Tell him to go. I’ll be fine.” Katara muttered.

“Head Matron Yoon will be the one charged with bringing you things. I do trust her, so I hope you will not think so poorly of her.” Iroh said.

He stood, leaving behind a half-drunk cup, which Katara had never seen him do before. As he left, they didn’t say goodbye. Katara could hear the rushing in her ears again and the soft breathing coming from Kyza.

They were alone.

Chapter 20: Writing the Script

Walking into his office, now empty of his unexpected guests, Zuko stared at the chairs. Stepping away from the door, he recounted his steps. 

Seeing Sokka had made him feel like he could finally breathe. He had almost started crying from the sheer relief of having his closest friend back. 

Zuko turned and stared at the other chair.

Katara had looked nearly identical to when she left him. She wore green, not red, and there was a shimmer in her hair from the few white threads. But everything else, even the strained, tired look in her face, was exactly the same.

And the girl. His daughter.

Zuko fell to his knees in front of the empty chair, his hands clawing to grip legs that were not there. 

“How could you do this to me?” He whispered, his voice shaky as his throat burned. “How could you take her from me?”

He wept, harder than he had since Izumi’s death. He cried like an animal gored by something unearthly.

Zuko cried as a child, having lost his mother.

He cried as a youth, abandoned by his first love.

He cried as a man, watching his true love slip out of his grasp.

He cried as a husband, who could do nothing as his wife’s lifeblood could not be stopped.

He cried as a father.

Feeling fingers in his hair, Zuko’s sobbing abruptly stopped. He looked up, but didn’t see either Izumi or Katara. Neither could he see the comforting face of his mother.

There was no one there.

Wiping his face, Zuko stood and braced himself against the desk. Neatly stacked, and waiting for him, were the new, pressing tasks that Katara had brought with her when she showed up. 

This was the only constant. There would always be work to do.

Stepping around the desk, he pushed through the papers before he sat down. 

An apology was drafted for Zuko, awaiting his signature before it was sent off to Izumi’s family. Sokka was of course distraught, and was ignorant of Fire Nation customs when he came to comfort his friend. In his hysterical state, Sokka had made wild claims before he was encouraged to leave, but the Fire Lord begged for forgiveness. 

Zuko signed the letter, knowing Izumi’s family wouldn’t care and have more questions for him at the next memorial service. 

Another letter would go out in the morning, announcing that Azula was being relocated to the palace due to an illness. She would have to be quarantined and therefore not appear at any forthcoming services.

For so many years, Zuko had kept things neat and orderly. Everyone had a place and a job to do; even the minor scheming of bitter lords like Mai’s father was accounted for. 

Izumi’s death was a gamble that Zuko had not been prepared to lose, and Katara reappearing would have required a prophet’s eye. This meant he needed to reorder everything, to ensure no weakness was found.

Tapping the fingers of one hand on the desk, Zuko turned in his seat to look down at the drawers. The other hand slipped into a hidden pocket of his robes, hooking through the loop of a small ring of keys.

He unlocked the bottom drawer, taking out a smaller lockbox. Placing it on the desk, Zuko placed his hands flat against the sides. There were other things that were better hidden, but these were not secrets. They were just things he did not want to lose. 

Another key opened the lockbox and Zuko took out the pile of folded letters. 

Of course he had not simply let Katara leave all those years ago. He had waited, expecting her to return to the South Pole or Kyoshi Island. Or even one of the Air Temples. Instead, she went straight to the Earth Kingdom interior, bypassing Gaoling and entering the swamp. That wasn’t surprising, only unexpected. Katara had mentioned many times about wanting to know more about this offshoot of her people. 

After six months passed, he was surprised that she did not emerge.

Under the letters was a ledger containing copies of every missive and request he sent out. The folded papers were the responses. 

Toph had dismissed his worry at first, stating that Katara was going to the only place in all four nations where she could be alone. She herself had hidden in the swamp many times as a child, and it was a good place for self-reflection.

Hakoda and Sokka had matched his worry, but between the three of them, had created a plethora of excuses for her.

After a year, Zuko made a simple request of Aang. That was how they found out that she was alive, but unreachable.

So they all waited.

Going through the letters again, Zuko tried to find some kind of sign. Sokka kept him updated, though Katara became a footnote as they talked about families and busy lives. 

There was nothing about what Katara had been hiding.

Flipping to the middle of the ledger, Zuko found the last letter he had sent. Izumi was on strict bedrest, but the baby was assuredly fine. And there, towards the end, he made a simple comment.

How nice it would be, if the greatest healer they knew was still around.

Holding his head in his hands, Zuko stared at the letter with unfocused eyes. 

Someone knocked on the door and he sat up, clearing his throat.

“Enter.” He called and the door opened.

Yoon entered and bowed, eyeing his correspondence with a flat gaze.

“The airship has departed, and the guests have been temporarily moved into your uncle’s rooms.” She said.

“What is the status of the dowager’s palace?” Zuko questioned.

“We are making progress, my lord, but the staff is heavily reduced.” 

“Can our guests be moved tonight?” 

“We will try our best, my lord, but I don’t think that will be possible.”

Zuko sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“How are they?”

“My lord?”

“The…” Zuko lowered his hand and rubbed his lips, avoiding Yoon’s gaze. He moved his hand away and waved it in annoyance.

“How is my daughter?” He asked.

“The young lady is timid, but she and her mother have eaten.” Yoon replied.

Zuko did look at her then, studying the older woman’s face. She had been Izumi’s nursemaid, brought into the palace when Zuko married the young noblewoman, and was elevated to head matron after Zihiro died. 

He trusted her simply because Izumi had been so fond of her.

“What do you think of her?” He asked.

“The Fire Lord wishes to hear my thoughts?” Yoon asked lightly. It was a tone Izumi had copied perfectly; she sounded surprised but the sarcasm hid underneath.

“Your council was good enough for the Fire Lady, it should be good enough for me.” Zuko replied with a similar tone.

“She is frightened, obviously. Yet she is very much of your bloodline.”

“Meaning?”

“The young lady seemed prepared to attack anyone who got too close.” 

“That could still be her mother.” Zuko muttered, leaning back in his chair. 

“Master Katara was suspicious of poison.” Yoon added.

Zuko sat up, his body rigid.

“What?” He asked.

“Have you given her a reason to think that, my lord?” Yoon questioned, again with that tone.

Standing, Zuko looked around his office. Lamps lit the interior room, as a window was a certain security risk. It made the room feel smaller, and the sensation was compounded by the singular bookcase that covered the side wall. Racks of scrolls and massive tomes were shoved along the shelves for reference, and there wasn’t a comforting title among it. This was a place for his work, and nothing else.

Looking back at the chairs opposite his, Zuko could see the scorch marks on the arms of one. 

“Let them have access to the turtleduck pond. Tell me if they go in there.” He said.

“Of course, my lord.” Yoon said and bowed.

“I will take my tea in here.” He added.

“It will be done, my lord.” 

Yoon exited, closing the door behind her, and Zuko sighed. 

Chapter 21: Left Behind Spaces

Yoon arrived with a few servants shortly after Iroh left. Kyza woke up then, clinging to Katara as the host of women stripped the bed and took away the cold tea. New linen snapped over the mattress and a larger tray was dished out on the table. 

Katara could feel the anxiety tighten the muscles in her neck and back. Yoon noticed it as well.

“I can send a taster, if you would like.” Yoon offered. “Though that might come with its own set of concerns.”

Kyza looked up at Katara with a terrified look and Katara stroked her hair.

“I don’t think that will be necessary. Not so soon.” Katara added. Yoon nodded.

“Is there anything else I can get for you or your daughter?” She questioned.

“Can I speak to Zuko?” Katara asked. Whenever she had used his first name in the past, the servants couldn’t help the looks of disgust. Yoon seemed indifferent.

“Unfortunately, the Fire Lord is engaged for the rest of the day. I can let him know that you wish to meet with him, if you’d like.” She offered.

“No. I’m sure he’ll come to me when he’s ready.” Katara said.

Again, Yoon seemed unfazed. 

“If you need anything, let the guards know. They will find me.” Yoon said as the servants stood behind her, almost in formation.

They bowed together and left without a word, making Katara sway.

The head matron was an odd woman.

After eating, Kyza buried herself in the clean sheets to nap. Not having anything else to do, Katara walked through the rooms.

At first glance, it didn’t seem like there were many personal effects. It made her think of his tea shop and the impossibility of a former crown prince, a former general, living a simple life in a foreign country among strangers.

This space, as neat as it was, became a corner where dust collected. 

There were a few books, meant to pass the time or else left behind with an apathy that wouldn’t let them go. Some clothes in the wardrobe that only marked that this room was occupied by a certain person. It was personal in the way a portrait was, giving signs and symbols as to what type of person was being portrayed. 

Katara felt nothing as she inspected these closed off areas. They meant nothing.

Iroh’s favorite teapot was back in Ba Sing Se. So was his pai sho board, his instruments, and his White Lotus robe. 

Closing the wardrobe, she looked around the bedroom. Katara was not prone to invasive curiosity, and Iroh knew that, but she also knew there would be nothing to find. 

She had been the same when she stayed here with Zuko.

Standing in the middle of the sitting room, Katara put her hands on her hips and looked around. She wasn’t very familiar with this section of the residential wing, given Iroh’s lack of residence and what use the other rooms had. On one end of the wing were the Fire Lord’s rooms and a suite belonging to the crown prince. It had taken years for Zuko to move into the room his father once occupied, and they both had been more comfortable in his old room when he was only a prince. 

On the other end of the wing was where Zuko had grown up. It was for the other children of the royal family; second sons, daughters, and cousins of the heir. 

In between were rooms that had been unoccupied for a long time. Smaller rooms for grandsons that were in line to inherit. Lu Ten’s old room was somewhere in this area, as it most certainly wasn’t a space Iroh would occupy. 

There was also a grand suite for the Fire Lady.

Katara shivered and crossed her arms over her chest, pressing her fingers hard against her sleeves until she could feel the weave shift. 

Ursa had never stepped foot in that suite, and Iroh’s mother had died years before Azulon. It had been sealed for ages before Katara arrived, and now it was shuttered again.

Katara jumped as someone knocked on the door.

“Master Katara?” Yoon asked from the hall.

“Come in.” Katara called, not moving.

The door opened and Yoon looked around, only stepping forward when she spotted Katara.

“The Fire Lord has opened the turtleduck pond for you. Would you like to visit?” She asked.

“Maybe after Kyza wakes up.” Katara replied.

“Of course. Again, just let the guards know that you wish to go out and they will escort you.” Yoon said.

“Will there be a time when I’m not under guard?” Katara questioned sharply.

Yoon kept her face still.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. You are an honored guest here, not a prisoner. The guards are here only to meet your needs, as I can assure you that they are quicker than forcing you to find your way through the palace.” She explained.

Katara clenched her jaw and forced her arms down her sides. 

“Is there anything else I can do for you, Master Katara?” Yoon asked.

“No.” Katara stated and Yoon bowed.

As the woman left, Katara went to the couch and folded the quilt Kyza had left behind. When the door shut, Katara threw it onto the cushion and sat down hard next to it. 

All of this was still too easy. Everyone had welcomed her back with minimal resistance, and even with this disaster in the palace, Katara was seemingly free from all of her enemies. Zihiro was dead, along with an unknown number of staff and courtiers. Even if some of the more loathsome ones were still alive, as Iroh hadn’t mentioned anything about Mai’s family, they were far from the palace because of the tragedy. 

The feeling of doom would not leave her, however. 

Zuko’s rage was unbridled and raw. She had never seen him so angry, had never felt him go so cold. 

That chill permeated the air, as Iroh kept her at arm’s length and there was Yoon’s frigid sense of duty. 

Katara was familiar with cold. She was also familiar with blood.

There was a sense of it, just at the corner of her perception. If the Fire Lady had died so recently, there was a chance that her rooms were still being cleaned. That space was on the opposite side of the turtleduck pond, as Katara remembered that garden well, and the thought of blood made her hesitate. 

Wounded animals were sometimes more dangerous, as they couldn’t run or hide. If Izumi’s death had been that traumatic, losing a pregnant woman had to be, then the wounds were probably very deep.

Firebenders were very tied to their emotions. Their breath controlled their bending, and getting emotional could actually be beneficial in a fight. Anger and rage were easier to wield than sorrow, and Azula’s wild bending at the end had proved that. 

All of that converged to create a mire that Katara couldn’t navigate. She was surrounded by Firebenders, all of whom seemed to be in the midst of a heavy grief. 

Her mind kept moving; with the constant motion of the past few days, the stillness made her reel. Something had to come next, whether a conversation or a fight. She wasn’t used to waiting when she felt so tense.

With a sigh, Katara rested her head against the back of the couch. 

For so long, Zuko had been gentle with her. 

Katara pressed the heels of her hands onto her eyes and groaned.

She had expected to have her ribs split open, her heart and lungs excised, by seeing his gentleness with someone else. She had imagined Mai’s cold sneer while holding an infant that Zuko cradled with such care; a sight Katara had robbed herself of by her own hand. 

She had tried to prepare herself for her own pain.

“Mom?” Kyza called from the bedroom.

Katara sat up, looking at the open door, and waited. Kyza slowly shuffled out, her hair and dress tousled from her nap. Even from a distance, she still looked tired.

“I’m bored.” Kyza announced.

Katara smiled. Of course the child she had raised in a swamp would be bored pacing through a few small rooms.

“Your father has opened up a garden for us.” She said. “Want to go?”

Chapter 22: The Turtleduck Pond

For the rest of the day, Zuko waited anxiously for word. Every time Yoon or his secretary entered a room, he would immediately look for a sign. When they said nothing, he felt his body deflate. 

Whatever Iroh had talked about with Katara, it was enough to keep them quiet but not enough for them to feel comfortable leaving their room.

Of course, Zuko hadn’t given them a reason to trust him. 

Finally, at dusk, Yoon informed him that Katara and Kyza were heading to the pond.

Tucked between the Fire Lady’s rooms and the ones Zuko had reserved for Iroh was the large garden with a sizable pond. Ursa had loved that pond, with the massive iron oak tree, and Zuko had gone there often as a child. It also had a covered walkway at the back, so the nearby second story of a different building had a clear view of the garden.

Zuko stood in the reading room, waiting at the side of the window. The iron oak tree grew massive branches, but the leaf bearing ends were spaced far enough that his vision wasn’t greatly obstructed. Yet if he didn’t move, he might stay hidden from the people below.

Katara and Kyza walked into the garden hand in hand. They were still in their Earth Kingdom dresses, which irritated Zuko. 

Kyza, forgetting herself for a moment, spotted the pond and darted forward. Katara lost her hold and started after her, but stopped. 

“Mom!” Kyza called, loud enough for Zuko to hear her. Her voice punctured Zuko’s chest and he held his hand over his heart.

Even from that distance, Zuko tried to take in her features. Her hair was styled the same as Katara’s, but as Katara got closer, he could see in the dying light that Kyza’s was darker. Her skin, lighter.

Katara crouched down and adjusted something in Kyza’s hair, her mouth moving but her voice was too soft for Zuko to hear it. 

He hadn’t come to eavesdrop, though.

Katara laughed and Kyza turned back to the pond. It was empty, as the turtleducks nested elsewhere for the night. Yet Kyza moved excitedly, pulling up an orb of water the size of a kickball.

A Waterbender, of course. 

Zuko couldn’t help but wonder what her life had been like in the swamp. How had she played, who did she know, and what stories had she been told? 

She had no siblings, and Katara had not threatened a waiting husband. Was this all Katara had?

Holding onto the edge of the window frame, Zuko kept himself from leaning more into view. 

She had named their daughter Kyza. Obviously after her mother, but with the odd addition. Kyza had always been his, then. No denial, just secrets.

Kyza continued to play with the water and Katara sat on the grass, watching.

Feeling the muscles in his shoulders relax, Zuko’s stomach started to churn. He had reacted poorly, let his temper get the better of him, and now his daughter was frightened of him. 

Turning away from the window, Zuko walked briskly out of the room. Izumi would not have approved of his behavior. For all of the shock and hurt, he had not done his best.

Moving swiftly through the hall and down the stairs, Zuko caught himself as he reached out to the exterior door. The entrance was behind a fence, allowing the royal family time to change their shoes before stepping into view on the walkway. Katara and Kyza would not see him if he moved quietly and stayed behind the fence.

Sliding the door open, Zuko stepped carefully onto the flat, stone walkway. He left the door open as he slid to the fence, leaning against it.

“I want to go back to Kyoshi.” Kyza said.

“I know, bug.” Katara replied.

“Why can’t we leave?” 

“Well…” Katara drifted and Zuko held his breath.

“You said he’d want me.” Kyza stated.

Squeezing his eyes shut for a moment, Zuko slowly breathed out. 

“Kyza, it’s complicated. Someone very important died recently, and your father is in shock.”

“He’s still mean.” Kyza spat and Zuko pressed his forehead to the fence.

“Just give him time.” Katara replied, sounding tired.

“Even if it was like Min-Ho, he hasn’t apologized.” Kyza continued. “I don’t think that makes him very nice.”

“Your father…” Katara hesitated and Zuko raised his face.

“This is why I had to take you out of here.” Katara said. “This is what the palace does to people, and he couldn’t keep us safe.”

Zuko’s throat dried and he stepped back from the fence. 

He had spent years looking for her. Years of bringing order to the palace, to make it safe for her. But she had never expected to stay in the first place. And now, to make matters worse, she had set about turning his daughter against him.

Katara may not have expected exactly this, but Zuko understood that she had not thought any of this would go well. It was just going to validation when she left, again. She had no intention of giving him a chance.

Zuko was not about to let go of what was his, not again.

Sliding the door shut with just enough to be heard, Zuko waited a moment before heading down the walkway.

Katara was on her feet and Kyza hid partially behind her legs. Silently, he walked into the garden and stopped the moment Katara started to back away.

“Zuko.” Katara started, closing her mouth hard as he stared at her.

When she looked away, he slid his gaze down to where Kyza peeked up at him.

“Kyza, I’m sorry.” Zuko said and Kyza frowned.

“I know that I frightened you,” He continued, putting his arms into the deep sleeves of his robes. “I was so surprised to see you and I reacted in anger instead of being happy, or even just sad.”

“Are you going to burn me?” Kyza asked defiantly, stepping more into view.

Zuko grimaced and glared briefly at Katara. She, at least, kept her eyes downcast.

“I would never do such a thing, to anyone. Especially not my daughter.” He replied, looking again at Kyza.

“Why were you so angry?” Kyza questioned and Katara started to shush her.

“I am still angry.” He said, ignoring Katara. “I was very hurt when your mother left. And I was furious to know that she had kept you away from me for so long.”

“Mom was just trying to protect me.” Kyza stated.

Against his better judgment, Zuko smiled for a moment.

“That is a conversation for your mother and I.” He said evenly. “For now, I want you to understand that nothing will harm you in the palace.”

“Then can we leave?” Kyza asked.

“Kyza!” Katara interjected sharply.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible.” Zuko answered.

Now, Katara looked at him. But he kept his eyes trained on Kyza.

“Why not?” She asked.

“Regardless of how you were born, you are still the child of the Fire Lord. There are rules I have to follow.” Zuko said, ignoring the generations of precedent. Illegitimate children dotted his family tree as far back as every record went; most were quietly tucked away somewhere or killed. None had been acknowledged by the royal family.

“I don’t like it here.” Kyza said.

“Neither did your mother.” Zuko retorted.

“Zuko.” Katara warned.

“What?” He glanced at her, looking bored. “My mother hated it here, as well.” 

“We can’t stay here.” Katara said.

“You really don’t understand, do you? We don’t have a choice.” Zuko replied. He then smiled at Kyza.

“While I can’t let you leave just yet, I would like to give you a present. To apologize for my anger, and to make you feel more welcome.” He said.

“Not being locked up would be nice.” Katara said.

Zuko kept his smile, kept looking at Kyza, but tilted his head in Katara’s direction.

“I am talking to my daughter.” He said.

Anxiety crept up Kyza’s frame and she shrank into herself.

“I don’t want anything.” She murmured.

Zuko straightened himself and let his mouth fall into his familiar frown.

“I can’t imagine you had much in the swamp. I’m sure this is overwhelming.” He said. “When you do think of something, just let me know.”

Kyza lowered her head and nodded, bumping her chest with her chin. 

Zuko sighed and turned back toward the palace.He could feel Katara still staring at him, burning through his shoulder and toward his heart. He was used to burning.

“Da-” Kyza started, making Zuko stop. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Kyza bow.

“Fire Lord.” She said, and his heart sank. “Can you show me your bending?” 

Zuko turned back and let his arms fall down his sides. 

“Of course.” He said and approached her.

Katara shifted, trying to keep Kyza shielded, but Zuko held out his hand. Kyza took it, stepping closer, and Zuko kept hold of her. He didn’t expect the baby fat to still linger, but he glanced down at her pudgy fingers caught in his grip. 

With his other hand, Zuko called up a flame and smiled as Kyza gasped. Like a coin, he made the soft brush of red dance over his knuckles. Kyza lifted her other hand and Zuko moved his away.

“Don’t touch it, you’re not a Firebender.” He cautioned. Kyza, looking no less enraptured, nodded and touched her fingers to her mouth. 

After a moment, Zuko flicked his fingers out and the flame burst into bright, harmless sparks that made Kyza jump and giggle. 

“Auntie Toph can juggle rocks.” Kyza said, before looking at his face.

“So you’ve met Toph, have you?” Zuko asked playfully. Kyza looked at him but didn’t answer right away.

“Does it hurt very bad?” She asked, her hand moving from her mouth to his face.

He would have flinched, as he did when everyone else made this motion. But blue eyes watched him and the hand was soft and dark. Katara had reached for him in the caverns and the thought made him freeze.

Just as her fingertips brushed his face, Katara pulled her away. Zuko resisted the yanking, but he lost his hold on Kyza’s other hand. 

It took him a moment to stand, and he was dazed as he looked around. Katara once again held Kyza, who was crying again. He walked over to the pair, gripping Katara’s exposed shoulder to keep her still. He used his free hand to take Kyza’s, placing it over his scarred eye. 

“Don’t worry sundrop, it doesn’t hurt a bit.” Zuko said.

Kyza took in deep, shuddering breaths and nodded.

“Now,” he said, letting go of her hand and stepping back. “We’ve all had a big day. And we have plenty of time, know why?”

Kyza shook her head and Zuko smiled.

“Because I am never letting you go, ever again.” He said.

Kyza gave him a weak smile in return and Zuko looked over at Katara as he turned.

“Be careful how tightly you hold her,” He said to Katara. “She’s half Fire Nation, so who knows what she could turn into.” 

Zuko walked back to the palace, nodding to the guards who waited on Katara. This problem was contained, and it gave him a sense of relief. There were other things burning in the back of his mind, but work always distracted him. And that’s all this was, more work.

Chapter 23: Haunted Hallways

Before, if she was ever awake at night in the palace, Katara could hear Zuko breathing. On the very few nights when he was called away, there wasn’t much else to listen to. The lattice window, covered in creamy paper, drummed under the bouncing bodies of night beetles. Far out in the hall, there would be some movement, but not this deep into the royal residence. Zuko’s room was a spot of quiet solace, where only the sounds of profane life could get to her.

And now, it was a breath that Zuko sired that Katara heard in the night. 

Sitting up in the bed, Katara turned to look down at Kyza. After the breakdown - and after the garden - she really tried to study her daughter. 

Tesh, painfully recently, had warned that Katara was babying Kyza. There were plenty of children in the village, and there was no concept of normal. There were some who didn’t speak and were always looking off somewhere. They were spirit touched, laughing at whatever the swamp revealed to them. At first, Katara thought Kyza was like them, as it took much longer than expected for her to start to walk and talk.

But Kyza turned out to be more like a catgator. She could suddenly turn ferocious and scream when things became overwhelming. That had alarmed Katara, and she tried to keep things cool and calm.

Yet the world would not be cool and calm. Even in the Swamp, other people tried to push her, saying Kyza was still spirit touched, just different. There was more heat in her blood and if Katara couldn’t let her grow, she would always be too little to handle a world that was vast and consuming.

In the past week, Katara had bound Kyza to her. Kyza still bounced between hot and cold, and Katara hadn’t even noticed. 

Pushing the hair off of Kyza’s face, Katara once again studied her. The eyelashes, the curve of her cheek, and the shape of her chin. There was fire in Kyza’s blood, so maybe Katara should let her breathe a little more. Especially around her father.

As Katara shivered, she knew her own blood was cold. 

Holding onto her arms, Katara walked into the main room, heading straight for the couch. She wrapped the quilt around her and studied the room. In the darkness, there wasn’t much change. The shadows were not as deep and ominous as she had feared. There was no noise, not even the call of night creatures. 

Looking to the door, Katara thought back to what Yoon told her.

She walked carefully forward, glancing at her bare feet before staring at the door handle. 

Zuko had most definitely locked them in his office. There were plenty of ways for Katara to escape, even now, and to leave the door unlocked would just be making it easier for her. Zuko was either making assumptions about her, or forcing her to make assumptions about him.

Hesitant, Katara reached out for the handle. 

A million questions flicked through her mind as if the wind turned pages of a book.

Letting out a breath, she pressed on the handle. She paused as it gave.

Opening the door, Katara peered out to find two guards sitting on chairs across from her. A table was between them, with a stubby candle and remnants of a shared meal. Their helmets were on the floor and their youthful faces looked surprised, albeit tired.

“Do you require something, Master Katara?” One guard asked as he slammed his hand of cards on the table and quickly stood. The other, seemingly older, chuckled and slowly set his cards down.

“Am I permitted to walk around?” Katara asked.

“Of course.” The young guard said quickly.

“Is there somewhere you’d like to go in particular?” The older guard asked and the younger turned red in the face.

“No, I remember my way around.” Katara replied.

“Would you like an escort?” The older guard continued, now beginning to stand.

Katara felt her eyebrows raise in surprise.

“I have a choice?” She questioned.

“Absolutely. There are places that are off limits, you understand, but there are guards there to let you know.” The older guard answered.

“Zuko is okay with this?” 

“The Fire Lord has only asked that we attend to your needs and ensure that you do not leave the palace.” The younger guard interjected.

Both Katara and the older guard turned to him, and he shrank back. He spoke with enthusiasm and clearly did not understand the implications.

“Unless you needed to go somewhere in particular,” the older guard resumed, taking Katara’s attention. “You are free to walk around this part of the wing. And the turtleduck pond, just as before.”

“So I am free to roam around, but under guard?” Katara asked dryly.

“Master Katara, the household staff is asleep as we don’t have enough for a night staff. If you want to be the one to wake up mistress Yoon, I won’t stop you.” The older guard said. 

“Ah.” Katara remarked.

“We can gladly get you anything from the kitchens, though!” The younger guard added.

“No, I-” Katara stopped abruptly, glancing between the two men.

Kyza was still asleep in the bed.

“My daughter…” Katara started.

“We can bring her to you if she wakes.” The older guard offered.

“Just tell her I’ll be back. I think I’ll go for a walk.” Katara replied.

“Would you like a lantern?” The younger guard asked, bending down toward his helmet. He stood up, holding a lantern instead, and Katara reached out without thinking. They were Firebenders and had a lantern waiting.

“Thank you.” She murmured as the guard lit the quick before handing it over.

“Walk carefully, Master Katara, and I will ask that someone bring you slippers in the morning.” The older guard said.

Katara only nodded as she shut the door to Iroh’s rooms. 

Walking down the hall, Katara could still feel the chill in her blood. Even after hearing the summer bugs in the garden earlier and baking under the Fire Nation sun, she was still freezing.

In the past, before the fateful kiss on the beach, the entire group shared stories about the Spirit World. They knew that humans could be bodily taken into the Spirit World, they could be transformed into a spirit, and they could project their own spirit into that world. So they talked about the dead, what happened, and where they went. 

Pausing in the hall, Katara lowered her arm and her vision darkened. Tears filled her eyes and she staggered, having to brace herself against the wall. 

Her niece had brought her mother back into the human world. 

Sniffling, Katara looked up. Her body sagged and she felt the quilt slip off on shoulder.

It was starting to feel like she had only just returned from the Spirit World herself.

A chill slithered down the hall and Katara heard the sound of someone walking in front of her. Lifting up the lantern, she tried to peer into the dark. Holding her breath, she tried to listen, but the footsteps seemed to be heading away from her. 

Walking forward, Katara kept the lantern held high. The few torches on the wall were unlit; no need to risk a fire if most of the occupants were Firebenders.

So the creeping darkness that shrank from her tugged in swirls of cold, making Katara pull the quilt tighter around herself. 

Coming to an intersection, Katara looked down each hall as far as she could. There was no sound and she saw no form. With how dark it was, even a Firebender would need to make a little light.

When talking about the dead, Zuko had listened to them all. Airbenders became the wind, with their abandoned forms left to the sky. Similarly, the Earthbenders were interred deep in the earth to return to their base element. 

The Firebenders, like the Waterbenders, believed a spirit could linger. But they weren’t quite the same.

They could become ghosts.

Feeling the riptide of cold around her ankles, Katara turned down one corner and continued to walk. 

Fever had burned through these halls, erasing the hands that clutched her with too long fingernails. Now it was only a chill, sharpening its talons against the quilt. 

Katara remembered how death was handled in the Fire Nation. Pyres took the body along with food and gifts. Things to keep them over in the Spirit World and away from them. They were given new names, to make sure a misspoken moment wouldn’t call them back. 

If so many people died at once, mistakes could be made.

Turning another corner, Katara tried to head back toward the garden. If she could get to the water and moonlight, she would feel better. She could stand in the summer air instead of freezing in the palace. 

Her pace quickened, and Katara tried to feel out the pond’s call. Moonlight beckoned and that glowed in her vision brighter than the lantern light, even before she got to the proper door to exit. Yanking the door back, Katara jumped down onto the small platform before running into the garden. Grass and dirt stamped onto her feet, making her steps slide just a bit with every footfall.

She stopped at the edge of the pond, looking up at the sky and panting. Expecting to see plumes of her hot breath in the air, Katara instead felt the clammy slap of humid air on her face. 

Trying to calm herself, and not start crying, Katara focused on her breathing. She slowly sat down, placing the lantern beside her, and wrapped the quilt around her shoulders better. 

A year after Katara left, Kyza was five months old. From what Iroh told her, something had been growing in Caldera that Zuko would have to face.

Two years after, Zuko was already married to Izumi. 

Katara shook her head. No, longer than two years. Izumi hadn’t been in the palace when Katara was around, as she had never heard that name before. It had taken time. 

But within three years, he did marry. And shortly after, the fever. 

At the same time, Katara was getting used to Kyza talking for the first time. If they had been here, in Caldera, it would have been a different world. North Pole healers would have surrounded her, and Katara would have the ability to leverage so much more. Healing enemies often did that. 

Zihiro might have still died, being an older woman, but maybe not. And maybe Katara wouldn’t be faced with this chill.

In the garden, Katara began to thaw. The moon was partly obscured by passing clouds; a wind miles above her was moving them quickly so the silvery light flickered over her. The air around her was still, and she could hear the competing screams of various insects in the grass and trees. Closer howls in the pond came from territorial amphibians getting too close to each other. Familiar noises, sure, but still too noisy. 

Snow and ice carried different sounds.

Looking around at the building that surrounded the garden, Katara noted that it was all dark. When she was last in residence, there were at least a few people working in the late hours. There was always something to clean, or food to prepare.

Those had been quiet servants, mostly non-Benders, with wide faces like the moon. The few times Katara ran into them, they looked either suspicious or completely blank. In one or two, she noted the resemblance to various ministers in Zuko’s court. 

Katara wondered what the fever had done to them.

With a sigh, Katara stood and adjusted the quilt. She had no business with the dead. malicious servants, vicious nobles, and even the innocent had no power over her. Whatever haunting that occurred was nothing that had to do with her.

She grabbed the lantern and turned back to the palace, looking at the open doorway. It was dark, like everything else. Darkness happened and it was something she used to. The sun would rise. Torches could be lit. Things that were hidden…

Katara winced. 

“Oh well, what’s done is done.” She muttered to herself.

Walking to the door, Katara felt better. Zuko would come to reason once the wound of grief closed a bit. They could work something out about Kyza. It would be fine.

Katara stepped onto the patio and gripped the doorway with her free hand as she examined the bottom of her feet. It wouldn’t do to make a mess with so few people around.

There was another rush of cold air and the quilt started to slip off her shoulders. As she tried to grab for it and not topple over, another shrill sound ripped through the empty hall.

An infant screamed in the darkness.

Chapter 24: Setting the Stage

Zuko ate properly for the first time in three days, taking up the correspondence that fell low on his priority list. His personal letters were now inconsequential; it was only a matter of time before he would soon be having in person conversations. His official missives were much the same. After Izumi died, the court was dismissed and all official business would wait until after the forty-nine day mourning period. 

There were other services, of course, but so far they had been private affairs. Izumi’s parents and her younger brother attended the wake, along with Zuko and Iroh. Afterward was the cremation, another family-only rite.

On the seventh day would be her internment.

Zuko ignored those plans, feeling the exhaustion of the past three days catch up with him. He slept without dreaming, and woke not entirely refreshed, but at least somewhat rested. 

He took a light breakfast in his room, dressing again in the white mourning robes and careful not to spill any tea on himself. His secretary, an unfortunately balding man named Sota, stood by as he ate, going over the important news and various obligations Zuko still needed to perform. Yet after Sota was dismissed, Yoon walked in.

“How am I seeing you so early, Yoon?” Zuko asked, finishing the last of his tea.

“I am to make my report of the household to the Fire Lady, sire.” She answered.

Zuko paused. From the corner of his vision, he saw Sota stop in the doorway.

“From now on,” Zuko said. “Please make your report to Sota and he can update me.”

“Of course, Fire Lord.” Yoon replied.

“You can go, Sota.” Zuko said. Sota left, shutting the door behind him. Yoon kept her eyes on Zuko’s face, waiting until he was paying attention to her before continuing.

“Your uncle has left Caldera.” Yoon stated.

“We should have sent word to Kuei sooner.” Zuko said.

“My apologies, Fire Lord.” 

In the pause, Yoon kept her eyes on him. There were stories to tell, but too many characters that he could not control. And Yoon watched him, waiting to see what he would do.

Zuko forced himself to relax, turning away from Yoon and lightly grabbing his tea cup between his fingertips. His other hand rested lightly in his lap, feeling weightless as he focused on the heat on the teacup.

Yoon had spent decades playing a very particular game of politics. And despite everything Zuko had tried, he knew there was still a wall both of them were hesitant to approach. Izumi’s death pushed them back even further. 

“Yoon.” Zuko stepped carefully with his tone.

“Yes, Fire Lord?” Yoon responded with her usual politeness.

“Where is the Avatar currently?” He asked, bringing the cup up to his face. He could smell the floral additions to his standard green tea; something Iroh had brought in from Ba Sing Se. Yoon was either in a good mood, or wanted him in a good mood.

“The Avatar is still in the Southern Air Temple, my lord.”

“I want to be informed immediately when any of my companions are in Republic City.”

“As of this moment, my lord, Sokka has set his course to Republic City.” Yoon said quickly.

Zuko let out a breath but kept his body still. He focused on his tea and paused to take a sip. It required a lot of control to keep the water heated to the point it didn’t scald him. It was a control he needed.

“Keep track of who he writes to. Do not intercept anything, just find out who he contacts. And if Toph steps foot out of Gaoling, I want to know.” He said.

“Yes, Fire Lord.”

“That will be all.”

“Of course, my lord.” Yoon said and bowed.

She exited the room as Zuko focused on his tea. While there was a lot to do, there was very little that required his involvement. For the first time since becoming Fire Lord, Zuko had a day with no responsibility but nothing to do. Work and leisure were both denied for him.

Of course, it would be different if the situation was different. Because of who he was, because of what needed to be done, certain things had to be rushed. Certain things had to be avoided.

Azulon’s funeral was much the same. Ursa’s treason had to be obscured, and Ozai needed to maneuver his ascension as quickly as possible. Lu Ten had died overseas, and the rites were never completed.

Fire Lady Ilah had been the last one to be properly mourned. 

Zuko was shocked out of his thoughts as his teacup burned his fingers. Setting it down, he sighed. 

He would have to come clean eventually, but it was going to be impossible for him. Everyone knew Izumi was pregnant, and he knew the various minor lords were whispering about it. Unlike Iroh, Zuko was young enough to find a new wife. Yet, he was very similar to Iroh, as everyone knew. And while Zuko knew the truth about his aunt, there were other stories about why Iroh never remarried. 

More stories about why Ozai never remarried, or Azulon. The Fire Lords, with or without an heir, seemed uninterested in marriage.

Zuko, in his grief, might prove to be a failure to his line. Or he may need to be encouraged, once again, to take a bride. 

Thinking about the nursery, Zuko felt his stomach twist. He thought about Kyza and rubbed his eyes. 

Iroh told him, when Izumi first got pregnant, to cherish his children. Ozai had loved his children in his own way, which wasn’t love at all and only the warped version he understood. Ursa had loved her children in her own way, but it wasn’t what Zuko and Azula had needed.

Zuko, thinking of children, knew he was more like Ozai. Afterall, every time he had loved someone it was always the wrong way. 

Sota had reported that Katara wandered the halls during the night. That wasn’t unusual; the moon often called to her. It was odd that the guards claimed she seemed to be frightened upon her return to the room.

Rising from the table, Zuko left his rooms and decided to check on them. He wouldn’t step foot near those rooms, but it was simple to call for them. Servants went off to the rooms instead and Zuko headed to the main courtyard.

As he waited, Zuko looked around at the high walls. White banners hung at regular intervals and laid flat. Noting the lack of wind came at the same moment heat started to prick the back of his neck; the craggy sides of the crater often shielded the city from mountain winds, but made storms worse. 

This was exactly why the royal family would head to Ember Island for the summer.

“It’s so early.” Kyza complained from behind him.

Zuko turned, watching Katara and Kyza walk over.

“Well, your father rises with the sun.” Katara said.

Zuko’s mouth twitched.

“Have you eaten?” He asked as they got closer.

“Some. Kyza isn’t used to the food.” Katara answered.

“Why is there rice in everything?” Kyza questioned.

“We grow a lot of rice in the Fire Nation.” Zuko said.

“I don’t like rice, it doesn’t taste like anything.” Kyza stated.

“That’s why you eat it with the other stuff.” Katara replied.

“That’s dumb. Why isn’t it just served in the same bowl then? Also, chopsticks suck.” Kyza said.

Zuko laughed and Katara looked at him.

“What do you like to eat then, Kyza?” He asked.

“Fried bearded eels.” Kyza answered quickly. “With mashed katniss root.” 

“That was what she exclusively consumed for a full year when she was eight.” Katara added, sounding exasperated.

“I don’t know what any of that is.” Zuko said.

“You catch bearded eels by digging a hole in the bank and sticking your arm in. Kids are better at it because the eels think our fingers are worms.” Kyza said.

“Before you ask, yes that means the eels effectively eat the children but they don’t have teeth or dangerous jaws.” Katara said.

“Kyza.” Zuko began.

“Yes?” Kyza replied.

“You have done this?”

“All the time! I’m the best!” 

Zuko looked up, past Katara and Kyza, as he thought about this information.

“My daughter has regularly stuck her arm into an animal’s mouth, to gather food?” He asked.

“Are you upset or impressed?” Katara asked in return.

His head still lifted, Zuko lowered his eyes to look at her.

“I’m not sure.” He admitted.

“You hunted plenty during the war.” Katara said.

Zuko sighed and shook his head. 

“I will try to find something that is more palatable for Kyza.” He said, dismissing the conversation.

“So what do you want?” Kyza asked.

“Kyza!” Katara snapped.

Zuko smiled and patted Kyza’s head.

“I wanted to get you fitted for new clothes. You can pick what you want, but I’d think it would be nice if you were in something red. Or blue.” He added hastily. 

Kyza shook him off and stepped back, glaring at him.

“This dress is fine. Auntie Toph gave it to me.” She stated.

“Yes, but that’s an Earth Kingdom dress. You’re from both the Fire Nation and the South Pole.” Zuko said.

“No, I’m from the swamp. And they wear green too.” Kyza countered.

“You don’t want a new dress?” Zuko asked. 

“Why would I? Auntie Toph was nice to me, you’ve been mean.” Kyza retorted. 

“Spirits, Kyza.” Katara groaned.

“What?” Kyza demanded.

“Ah.” Zuko intoned, unsure of what to say. 

“Even after I apologized to Min-Ho, he made me eat a bug before he would play with me.” Kyza continued.

Katara pressed her fingers of one hand to her forehead and sighed heavily.

“Are all children like this to their parents in the swamp?” Zuko asked.

Katara nodded and then lowered her hand.

“Honesty is highly valued in the swamp because trust is so important. It starts early.” She explained.

“Interesting concept, honesty.” Zuko said.

Katara turned her face away and Kyza huffed.

“See? You’re mean to my mom. You shouldn’t be mean to her.” Kyza said.

Zuko recoiled.

“Excuse me?”  He asked.

“It’s okay.” Katara murmured.

“If you’re so mad at her, then she has to make an atonement. Once that’s done, you have to let it go.” Kyza said. “That’s how it works.” 

“Thus the bug.” Zuko said softly.

He looked at Katara and she glanced back at him shyly. 

“So what’s the atonement for this kind of betrayal?” He asked before looking down at Kyza. “Do you even understand what she did?”

Now Kyza shrank and Zuko shook his head again.

“You will have to be fitted, regardless. If not red or blue, you are expected to wear white while inside the palace.” He said.

He turned, leading them toward the gate that led to the servant’s quarters. He could feel Kyza and Katara’s sullen steps behind him, making him frown.

Again, he was more like his father than he liked to admit.

Chapter 25: Exploring the Palace

Zuko disappeared during the fitting, replaced by Yoon. Still feeling raw, both Katara and Kyza were quietly led back to the main palace. Kyza was clearly frustrated, balling the front of her dress in her fists, but Katara didn’t want to ask in front of someone else. To herself, she thought back to Zuko’s question.

The only thing in the swamp that was comparable to their situation was an affair. Leaving a marriage or partnership was easy in its most technical aspect, but emotions were still painful and occasionally a few people would want to avoid the whole thing by carrying on a secret relationship. 

When one was found out, and the accused were believed to be selfish in their motivation, they had two choices. Each person could either make an atonement, or leave the village. The atonement was first left up to the injured party, unless it was too extreme. The standard atonement had to fit the selfishness; the guilty person had to take care of themselves for a month. That meant finding a new place to sleep, feeding themselves from their own work, and keeping themselves safe from the swamp. It was a type of exile, but temporary and contained within the village.

It was something that Katara could not perform here.

When they were back in the palace, Yoon paused and looked at them.

“Did you want to return to your rooms directly?” She asked.

“What?” Katara shook herself and Yoon continued to look at her impassively.

“I was Fire Lady Izumi’s nursemaid. I know it’s impossible to keep a young child cooped up in a small space for so long.” Yoon explained.

“Where else can we even go?” Katara asked.

“Most places. Of course the Fire Lord’s private rooms and that general area are off limits, but the main palace is completely open to you.” Yoon said.

“I thought we were in the palace.” Kyza said.

“You’ve been in the residential wing. On the other side is the administrative wing, and the main palace is in the middle. There are also other complexes that are for special purposes, like where we just were.” Yoon pointed back behind them and Kyza turned. “We went through the coal gate to get to the servant’s building.” 

“Why are there so many buildings?” Kyza asked, turning back.

“Only certain people are allowed to live in the main palace.” Yoon said.

“Do you live in the palace?” Kyza asked.

“I do. I’m a special type of servant, as I have to be from a family among the gentry.” Yoon said.

“The gentry?” Kyza questioned.

“Hmm.” Yoon looked over at Katara. “I forgot that your daughter lacks a formal education.” 

Katara felt her face heat up but she couldn’t force anything through her throat. 

“Much of the Earth Kingdom is like that, if I recall.” Yoon went on, turning back to Kyza. “You learned more practical things, yes?”

“I can read, if that’s what you’re asking.” Kyza said impatiently. “My uncle asked me the same thing.”

“I will always ask what I mean, young lady.” Yoon replied. “Now, would you like to see the main palace?”

“Will you tell me what a gentry is?” Kyza asked.

“I am here to serve.” Yoon answered and held an arm out toward the palace.

Katara frowned, confused. Yoon’s tone was almost playful.

As they walked, Kyza naturally moved to stand next to Yoon. Katara took her other side, fidgeting by working her fingers through some sort of plucking motion.

“You must tell me when you get bored.” Yoon warned Kyza.

“She will.” Katara said.

“Now, firstly, I want to explain where we are. The palace is in the crater of a dormant volcano and outside of the walls are the homes of various nobles. They come from very old families that were warlords before the unification. The lands they own in the Fire Nation are managed by their vassals, and those vassals are the gentry.” Yoon told Kyza a summary that wrapped up hundreds of years. The Fire Nation had a tumultuous history and power struggles were frequent all the way up to a bitter war during Avatar Kyoshi’s time.

To hear Yoon’s simple definition defied everything Katara knew about how Fire Nation people discussed their history.

“People who come from the gentry are important, but are still lower than nobility, so they become the only ones who can serve nobility. If they have a good relationship with their overlord, they can be treated very nicely, like attending the Royal Academy.” Yoon paused as they got to the door. “Here we go.”

As the guards opened the massive doors, Katara felt her chest tighten. 

“Did you go to that academy?” Kyza asked.

“I did not.” Yoon said and nodded to the guards as she walked in.

“What?” Katara asked.

Yoon glanced over her shoulder and Katara hurried inside.

“My family was moved to the colonies at the beginning of the war. I was not educated in Caldera.” She said and faced forward. “Now, this is the entrance chamber to the main palace.”

The room was massive, filled mostly with the thick trunks of ancient ironwood trees. It gave the impression not of a forest, but an army.

“Wow.” Kyza gasped in the moment before she darted away, running at full speed as she weaved among the pillars. Both Katara and Yoon stood still, watching Kyza run.

“Was, ah, the Fire Lady born in the colonies?” Katara asked.

“She was.” Yoon said. “Her father, Lord Azaki, was the second son of my overlord. He was sent away from Caldera to avoid getting drafted.” 

“What about the governor?”

“My father died when I was seventeen. I was the manager for nearly a decade before Lord Azaki arrived.” 

“A… what?” Katara asked.

“Shall we continue?” Yoon asked.

Katara was silent and Yoon walked off, waiting for Kyza to naturally orbit around her. As the pair began to talk, Katara hurried forward to hear what they were saying.

“So are you my dad’s servant?” Kyza asked.

“I am not.” Yoon said.

“Are you mine?”

“No.”

“Then why are you still here?”

Katara cursed her permissiveness about Kyza’s rudeness. Yet Yoon only smiled.

“I still have responsibilities here.” She said.

“What about your overlord?” Kyza questioned.

Yoon’s smile fell and she tilted her head.

“My sister and her family serve him.” Yoon answered. “Would you like to see the throne room?”

As they walked through the pillars, Katara ruminated on Iroh’s request. He liked Yoon, and Katara was trying to find the reason why.

Yoon didn’t seem to have a family, and had faithfully stayed with her lord’s daughter after overseeing a colony on her own.

Zihiro had been a typical matron. Her overlord was high enough to give her a sense of lofty importance and an education at the Royal Academy. As a teacher, she had instructed Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai and would reference that fact within Katara’s earshot. Her daughters had all gone to the academy, and she alleged that one even served as a time for Azula. 

Yoon was effectively uneducated per Zihiro’s terms and far too independent. She hadn’t even done her duty as a daughter by marrying and having children. 

At another large set of doors, they once again waited while the guards pulled them open. 

“So who did you serve?” Kyza asked.

One of the guards faltered and Katara held her breath.

“I served the former Fire Lady.” Yoon said.

“Oh.” Kyza looked down and Katara bit the inside of her cheek.

“What’s a Fire Lady?” Kyza asked.

“The wife of the Fire Lord.” Yoon said.

“She was married to-” Kyza started and Katara started forward to grab her, but Yoon interrupted her.

“Just a moment.” Yoon said, holding up her hand to stop Kyza. “You must see this.” 

The throne room was smaller, but not by much, and also had the same pillars, though these were painted.

Yoon kept walking and Kyza followed after, with Katara trailing behind. As they approached the raised throne, Yoon stopped Kyza from getting too close.

“Now, this is normally done when the Fire Lord is here, but…” Yoon called up a flame and tossed it onto the bed of coals that lined the front of the wide dais. A screen of fire erupted and Kyza stepped back. The fire roared and Kyza’s mouth gaped. 

“My dad sits behind that?” She asked.

Katara quickly looked behind her, but the guards were still at the door. With the distance and the rushing fire screen, it would be impossible to hear them. 

“Not often. He likes to be able to see people.” Yoon said. 

“Did my other mother sit there?” Kyza asked.

Yoon’s face reflected the punch in the gut that Katara felt.

Families shifted a lot in the swamp, and titles could be loosely applied. By their own definition, Izumi would have counted as another mother to Kyza and had an opportunity to rear her.

“Other mother?” Yoon repeated, clearly stunned. 

Kyza looked up at Katara.

“Is this a swamp thing?” She asked.

“Not, well, the Fire Lady would have been your step-mother.” Katara answered, feeling very nauseous. 

“So, yes. Which means we have to welcome her back to the Great Banyan Tree.” Kyza said.

“Not everyone believes that, bumble bug.” Katara said weakly.

“That doesn’t matter. The Great Banyan Tree is connected to everything. She’ll get there.” Kyza said. 

“Kyza.” Katara said.

“Izumi would…” Yoon started and paused for a moment. “You truly are the Fire Lord’s daughter. The Fire Lady would have been honored to be your step-mother.”

“Really?” Katara asked the question before she could stop herself.

“Izumi loved children and had a very big heart. She was a lot like her father.” Yoon blinked rapidly and waved her hands, dissipating the fire screen. 

“Where should we go next?” Yoon asked.

“Wherever there’s food.” Kyza said. 

Yoon smiled. “Understood.”

Chapter 26: The Royal Family

After leaving the fitting, Zuko went across the courtyard through the ember gate. The dowager palace’s abandonment was obvious in the daylight. Only basic upkeep and maintenance was done to keep the structure intact, so the exterior was mottled with faded paint and crawling vines. A few servants, with rags tied over their nose and mouths, were working on yanking off the vines, but it was slow progress. 

Moving past them, Zuko entered the building and wrinkled his nose as the musty air hit him in the face. Raising his arm, he used the long sleeve to act as his own mask. Another servant, clothed like the ones outside but tinged gray, backed out of a room as he swept. The stiff bristles scraped up plumes of dust, explaining the tinge. 

It took a moment for the servant to notice Zuko, and he tossed down the broom the second he did. 

“Apologies, Fire Lord. This isn’t good for your health.” He said as he bowed. 

“Why is the cleaning going so slowly?” Zuko asked, keeping his arm raised.

“This is the crew the Head Matron has assigned. We are working as quickly as we can.” The servant said.

“I will have her assign more people, but please do your best to finish quickly.” Zuko said.

“Yes, Fire Lord.” The servant said, bowing again.

Zuko turned and left the palace, not risking a stain on his robes. It was with further restraint that he kept himself from storming his way back into the main palace.

Yoon was purposefully delaying the cleaning by sending such a small crew. Yet having Katara in the main palace could only be detrimental to both her and Zuko. 

“Ugh!” Zuko exclaimed, shaking out his hands and sending sparks skittering across the floor.

Yoon knew how delicate the next few days were, and how unstable he already was. If this was punishment, she certainly was planning on going down with him.

Heading to his office, Zuko stopped a servant in the hall.

“Where is the Head Matron?” He asked.

“She is still with the healer.” The woman replied. 

“Make sure she reports to me when she returns.” Zuko said and the servant bowed before rushing off. 

Zuko paused at his office, but didn’t enter. By the afternoon, Yoon had an obligation in the family wing. There were few that were allowed there and as Iroh was gone, Zuko didn’t have many options. 

Swearing to himself, Zuko balled his hands into fist, trying to quell the building heat in his palms.

He turned and walked with purpose toward the inner rooms. Regardless of the awful work, it had to be done, and Yoon was absent from her post. 

Zuko passed others in the hall, but he didn’t stop and they all kept out of his way. Certain locked rooms could only be accessed by certain people. And for how sensitive this room was, only people Zuko trusted could access it. People who hated him were already whispering about the occupant, and Zuko wouldn’t say anything on the matter.

It was important and had to be done, yet as Zuko got closer to that section, his legs stopped obeying his command to move. 

Death lurked behind that locked door.

A door shut and footsteps came around further ahead, around a corner. As the person came into view, Zuko froze and stood up straight. Zayaka was who he needed to see, but he hadn’t expected to run into her.

Zayaka continued approaching him, only slowing as she saw him standing there. When she recognized him, she resumed her pace. 

“I wondered why Yoon was late, but I get it now.” Zayaka said.

She was a common woman among the servants, emboldened by the level of secrecy to which she was employed. Her coarseness served her well in her job.

“How is he?” Zuko asked.

“Well enough, but still weak.” Zayaka eyed him and rubbed the back of her neck.

“I heard you brought in a healer. Is she here for him?” She asked.

“No.” Zuko snapped. “She’s not to go anywhere near him.” 

“He’s harmless.” Zayaka said.

“I am not.” Zuko replied.

Zayaka smirked and crossed her arms over her chest. She was short and stocky, yet did not quake under Zuko’s ire. 

“Are you threatening me, Fire Lord?” She asked.

Zuko clenched his jaw but said nothing.

“Or is it him?” Zayaka pressed.

“Enough.” Zuko warned. 

“I’ll be back in a few hours.” Zayaka said. “I need to feed my family.” 

Zuko was quiet as she walked past him. 

It wasn’t anger that caused him to sweat, and there was no burning in his chest. 

Holding up a hand, Zuko called out a flame. It was pathetic, quivering just a couple of inches above his palm. Closing his hand, Zuko sighed.

Fear carved out the emptiness he felt, and it was consuming him. 

For the rest of the day, Zuko decided to ignore the growing problem and focus on the small task he had created for himself. 

Yoon found him after midday, saying nothing about her absence and Zuko didn’t comment on it. Instead, he told her to speed up the work on the dowager palace and she went off. Sota later updated him about the status of robes for Katara and Kyza, assuring him that both sets would be completed in time. 

In the early evening, Zuko entered his personal library and called for a meal. As he waited, he scanned the spines of the bound books, trying to find anything close to what he wanted. Among the various Earth Kingdom books Iroh had sent him, and nearly stuck to the massive tome of maps, was a thick book with a green leather cover. Zuko had to pry the book out, already frustrated by the weight of it.

The title page was printed with gold ink on creamy paper. “Flora and Fauna of the Earth Kingdom.”

Zuko flipped through the pages as he walked to his desk. The rest of the book was filled with clean wood prints and labeled. As he sat, he opened the book to the table of contents.

The chapters were by kingdom, with subheadings for flora, fauna, and megafauna. Running his finger under the chapter for The Great Foggy Swamp, Zuko stopped when he got to “bearded eel.”

Just as he started to move sections of the book over, Yoon entered the library with his tray.

“You went to the residential wing, my lord?” She asked as she placed the tray across from him.

“I had to complete the task you deemed unimportant.” Zuko replied as he opened the correct section.

“It is a task that should naturally fall to you.” Yoon replied.

“Naturally? Why is that?” Zuko asked. The bearded eel was basically an oversized hose with whiskers ringing its mouth. 

“Family cares for family.” Yoon said.

“Was that the case for you?”

Zuko looked up and felt a moment of disappointment seeing Yoon’s neutral face. 

“I don’t know what lesson you’re attempting to teach me, but I have more important things to worry about.” He said, turning back to the book.

“Then what about Kyza?” Yoon questioned.

Zuko stared at the page, but saw nothing.

“What about her?” He asked.

“Will you not be a father to her?”

“What would you have me do, Yoon? Teach her about swords?” 

Yoon was quiet and Zuko looked at her again.

“You could show her the springs. Of course, it might not have been obvious to the Fire Lord to take a Waterbender to a hidden hot springs.” Yoon said.

“I am in mourning, Yoon. For the woman you raised!” 

“The woman I raised would never have treated a child so coldly, and your adherence to ritual would mean nothing to her. You know that.” 

“But it means something to Tamami.”

Yoon flinched and Zuko scoffed.

“Lady Tamami-” Yoon cut off as Zuko let out a single laugh.

“Blazes, you still insist on calling her that?” He asked as he stood. “Does that woman still terrify you?” 

Yoon said nothing and Zuko looked down at the book.

“It would have been better for you if you had left when you were supposed to.” He said softly.

“Did that work out so well for you and Master Katara?” Yoon questioned.

Zuko squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, he felt his shoulders fall.

“How did it feel when Izumi was born?” He asked, opening his eyes but looking at nothing. The sharpness was gone and Zuko watched as Yoon sat across from him. She poured his tea and placed it next to his book, making him sit back down.

“It hurt, in the beginning. Azaki had wanted children, so his happiness depressed me. But Lady Tamami wasn’t fond of the work, so Izumi was mine.” Yoon said. “I couldn’t leave her.” 

“Do you still love Azaki?” Zuko asked.

Yoon tilted her head from side to side as she set out Zuko’s dishes.

“In a way. We have been with each other for a long time. But after Eita was born, things changed.” She said. 

“Would Izumi have liked Katara?” Zuko asked.

“Wouldn’t you know that answer better?”

“I want to hear your thoughts.”

“I think in the beginning it would have been hard. Seeing the man you love gain his happiness from another woman is difficult.” Yoon said. 

Zuko closed the book and slid it to the side. 

“Would you have divorced her?” Yoon asked.

Zuko stopped and looked up, bewildered.

“Divorced Izumi?” He asked. “Of course not. It would have ruined her.”

“So you would have loved another woman in front of her? Turn her into her mother?” Yoon asked.

“Katara would never have tolerated it. There would be no woman to take me away from Izumi.” Zuko said, finally picking up his chopsticks. 

“Why all the hostility?” Yoon asked.

“I lost each woman I loved because I was weak. I will not lose Kyza just because I am ill-prepared to handle this situation.” Zuko explained.

Yoon waited, watching as he started to pick at his food.

“You deserve to be happy, Zuko.” She said as she stood, making him pause with his chopsticks nearly to his mouth.

That was the first time Yoon used his name.

“Many people think I am unhappy with how my life turned out, especially with Lady Tamami. But I had Azaki and Izumi. I don’t regret any of the choices I made.” Yoon then bowed and left the library.

Zuko waited for the door to close before he resumed eating. With his other hand, he opened the book and flipped back to his page. 

Of course the child he had with Katara would be the kind to stick her hand into the mouth of such a creature. 

Zuko huffed a laugh and examined the rice on his chopsticks. Izumi hadn’t been fond of rice either.

Chapter 27: Kyza, Daughter of Zuko

Yoon had spent a couple of hours with them, bringing them through the main palace to the kitchens in the residential wing. She left them both there for a moment, called away to receive some mail. The servants were boisterous in Yoon’s momentary absence and were curious about Katara’s presence. When they found out she was a healer, they swarmed her with requests until a short, middle aged woman named Zayaka scattered them. 

“I’m exempt from the mourning rations, so try this out.” Zayaka said, handing them both a deep wooden bowl filled with stew. 

Clearly they assumed Katara was some sort of servant. Her meals so far had been fine, not lacking any noticeable ingredient or spice. Yet this stew was something more than that, containing rich chunks of meat and very potent aromatics.

Kyza immediately took to it, and Katara tried to find the woman to thank her, but she was gone.

Yoon returned and eyed their bowls, but didn’t ask. After they finished, she simply took them a longer route back to their rooms, showing them other little spots. As they entered a reading room, Yoon was flagged down by another servant. While the two spoke in the hall, Kyza slithered through the few bookcases before laying on her back across a seat cushion. 

The pose was almost exactly the same as Sokka’s when he was younger, but Kyza wasn’t yet a gangly teenager.

Katara went to the window and looked out, surprised to see the turtleduck pond. 

“Master Katara, I must leave you now.” Yoon announced from the door.

Katara turned and nodded.

“Thank you, Yoon.” She said. Yoon bowed.

“It was my pleasure.” She replied.

“Goodbye Yoon!” Kyza chirped.

“Good day, young lady.” Yoon said and retreated, leaving the door open.

“Did you want to stay in here?” Katara asked, walking back to where Kyza lay.

“Are there books about the Fire Nation?” Kyza questioned in reply.

“I should think so. But why?”

Kyza rolled onto her side and pushed herself up, taking a proper seat on the cushion and holding onto her ankles. As she bounced her knees, Katara waited.

“I should know more, right? About where I come from?” Kyza clarified.

Katara sighed and looked around the room.

“Well.” She said, taking in the rows of books and scrolls. There was no such repository of South Pole literature.

“Let me show you, the way your father showed me.” Katara continued, holding her hands out and clapping them. Kyza took hold and Katara pulled her up.

As the main palace was open for them, Katara walked Kyza through a different tour. Closer to the administrative wing were spaces that blurred the line between history and propaganda, which was always fun.

The portrait hall was amusing and Kyza’s reaction to the massive banners was enough to make Katara laugh. Zuko’s banner was out of character; he had never been comfortable wearing the full regalia but was required for the portrait. Katara started to name the previous Fire Lords, but Kyza immediately had questions. 

“Iroh looks like Sozin.” Kyza remarked, pointing from one banner to another. “And Ozai looks like Azulon.”

“I can see the resemblance.” Katara agreed.

“But dad doesn’t look like either of them.”

“I think he looks like Avatar Roku.” 

“Why would he look like him?”

“Oh, because he’s the Avatar’s great-grandson.”

“I’m related to the Avatar?” Kyza shouted. 

“Ah.” Katara leaned back, trying to find a coherent sentence. 

“I mean at this point, who isn’t?” She joked and Kyza scowled.

“You didn’t tell me that my dad was the Fire Lord, or that I’m related to the Avatar, or that I had a whole family outside of the swamp! We’re supposed to be honest with each other, mom, and I trusted you.” She continued to shout, tears forming in her eyes. 

“Kyza, I did this to protect you.” Katara pleaded.

“From what? You said the palace was full of bad people, but everyone I’ve met has been nice to us.”

“It was different back then.”

“Did you even try to make friends? Or was it the same as home?”

Katara recoiled and crossed her arms over her chest.

“What do you mean by that?” She questioned.

“Other families called you an outsider. You didn’t even try to join the family.” Kyza spat.

“I did try! I did everything I was supposed to!”

“Family isn’t a job, mom.”

Katara set her jaw and took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. 

“That is enough, Kyza. You’re talking about things you don’t understand.” She said evenly.

“You don’t understand!” Kyza retorted and turned away. Katara didn’t actually expect her to run, so there was a delay as she watched Kyza bolt. 

But this was not the swamp, with trees to climb and walkways to hide under, or another hut to sleep in.

Katara ran after her, but couldn’t catch up before Kyza slipped out of the hall. The royal palace was laid out in a series of blocks, yet the series of corners that broke off each long hallway turned everything into a maze. 

Trying to follow the sounds of footsteps, Katara sprinted toward the entrance hall. That was the best way to the residential wing, and the only one Kyza knew.

Running in the royal palace, however, quickly garnered a lot of attention.

A guard grabbed her and Katara shoved at him, unable to break his grasp.

“I’m trying to find my daughter!” She shouted.

The guard released her but Katara stood still, her chest heaving. 

“Apologies, Master Katara. It is improper for you to be running in the palace, but I can make sure that your daughter is found and brought to you right away.” He said, giving her a small bow.

Putting her hands in her hair, Katara turned in place.

“She could get hurt.” She murmured.

“We will make sure she is returned unharmed.” The guard said. “Let me escort you to your rooms.”

As they walked, the guard found a servant and whispered in his ear. The other man nodded before hurrying off and Katara watched the exchange passively from the corner of her eye. Her breath still swirled shallow in her chest and her heartbeat was pounding like hooves at the side of her neck. 

Having gone off the main palace, the guard opened a small door that hid a spiral staircase. The steps were thin and the curve was tightly coiled, making every climber wary to bump their shoulders against the wall. 

The guard waited for her to go first, and sweat pricked at Katara’s hairline. She walked in, stepping lightly onto the stairs, and the guard followed after her. When he shut the door, the air immediately stilled, and Katara kept herself from breathing through her mouth. 

“Perhaps my daughter went into a garden. I should-” Katara paused, her hand on the railing. As she turned, she saw the impassive front of the guard’s helmet. 

“You will return to your rooms. Your daughter will be brought to you.” He repeated and she nodded.

“Of course.” Katara said, her throat suddenly dry. 

She faced forward and started walking up the steps, trying to watch the guard as she turned upward.

Their ascent was silent and Katara opened the door herself on the second floor. The rush of cool air made her head spin, and the guard cleared his throat behind her. Katara stepped to the side and the guard exited, shutting the door firmly.

As he walked past her, Katara glanced briefly up and down the hallway. Seeing no one, she followed the guard back to her rooms. 

Standing outside were two servants and the tailor from earlier.

As the tailor spotted Katara, her face brightened and she bowed.

“Hello, Master Katara. I was hoping to do another fitting.” The tailor said.

“Already?” Katara asked, forcing mirth into her voice.

“The Fire Lord has requested the robes be finished by tomorrow morning.” The tailor replied.

“Ah.” Katara said.

When she did not continue, the tailor looked at her expectantly.

“Oh! Yes. Please, come in.” Katara sputtered and rushed to the door. She walked in first and the others followed, though the guard stayed just outside the doorway.

“My daughter isn’t here.” Katara added, stepping to the side as the tailor draped the cloth over the low couch.

“I heard she is with the Fire Lord. I will head there after we are finished.” The tailor replied.

“With the Fire Lord?” Katara questioned anxiously.

“We are glad that he has found joy with his friends’ children. Grief is such a painful thing.” The tailor said as she sorted the cloth. 

Katara kept her silence again as the servants went about their work. One set up a box for her to stand on while the tailor went around with a mouthful of pins. Glancing up occasionally, Katara met the sightless gaze of the guard and her stomach twisted. 

Zuko, Yoon, and even Iroh had implied that there was no one left in the palace who knew her from the time before. That she was only an old friend of Zuko’s, well meaning but ill-timed in her visit to the palace. Her daughter was no one special, or if she were then perhaps the scandal came down to the Avatar. 

Still, Katara couldn’t shake the paranoia. Everything had been too easy. The fever hadn’t killed Izumi, it hadn’t even touched others. And unfortunately for her, she could only remember the bared smiles and burning hands of the court. 

And the wide moon faces of nighttime servants. 

As the cut white cloth was pinned to the shape of her body, Katara tried to study the faces of the women around her. Their names slipped from her mind, and had the moment she stepped through the coal gate on their way back to the palace. She hadn’t expected to see them again, and hadn’t wanted to. 

The three of them looked similar, in the way most Fire Nation women did. Thick, straight black hair that was tied up in a bun. They didn’t wear lip tint like noblewomen but Katara could see the holes for piercings in their ears.

Their nails, each one of them, were long and filed to a point. 

“Master Katara, is that your betrothal necklace?” The tailor asked as she stood.

“Pardon?” Katara questioned.

The tailor put her hands on her lower back and stretched backward. When she stood straight, she lowered her arms down her sides and looked up at Katara.

“For mourning, we don’t wear any adornment, but I know it’s the traditional betrothal process in the North Pole.” She explained.

Katara hesitated to touch the necklace, feeling the pull of the pins near her shoulders.

“It was my mother’s.” She replied. 

“Hmm.” The tailor intoned and Katara stiffened.

“Girls, mark the pins and then we can free Master Katara.” The tailor said, turning toward the low couch. 

The other servants flanked Katara and started to mark every pin with a charcoal pencil. Their fingers were stained, but the white cloth stayed pristine, save for the punches along the hem. The rush of their movement distracted Katara, but she did see that the tailor approached the guard at the door.

When the two with her were done, they moved in reverse to pluck out the pins. As they reached her shoulders, the cloth fell away over their arms. 

“A note has come for you, Master Katara.” The tailor said, appearing at her side and handing her a folded piece of paper. The edges were tucked in and a simple seal with the Fire Lord’s insignia kept the thing sealed shut, but Katara still walked away from the others before opening it.

Zuko’s note was simple. Kyza was staying with him that evening. 

Crumpling the note in her hand, Katara walked to the bedroom and slammed the door shut behind her.

Whatever the servants thought of her then wasn’t her concern, and Katara stayed in the bedroom until the other rooms were silent.

With hours left in the day, Katara felt her body wind up. Leaving the room when there was a chance Kyza could return made her uneasy. But with nothing to do, a ball of tension formed between her shoulders.

Instead, she returned to the bedroom, hoping a nap would pass some time until dinner at least.

Unfortunately, when she did wake up, it was well past dinner. She could feel the late hour in her bones and her throat was terribly dry. Katara pushed herself out of the bed and stumbled forward, opening the door in a rush but hanging onto it for support. The main room was well lit, obviously waiting for her arrival, and a tray sat on the main table against the wall. The tea was definitely ice cold, and even if Katara wanted to reheat it herself, it would taste awful.

First heading to the main door, Katara figured she could ask for a new pot to be brewed. When she opened the door to the hall, she saw the familiar table but no one was sitting there. There was nothing, in fact, and the guards were likely only just then on their way to begin the nightwatch. 

Katara stepped out to see if she could see someone coming. But there was no one in the hall, and it was nearly quiet.

Nearly. As Katara walked back inside, she froze. She could hear the distinct whimpering of a baby and the rhythmic shushing of a mother.

Shivering, she stepped inside and quickly closed the door. 

Cold tea was fine.

Chapter 28: The Fire Lord's Child

Zuko sat awkwardly on the small chair provided for him while Kyza splashed happily in the large stone bathing pool. Bathtime for Kya, Akio, Bumi, and Tenzin were simple affairs; bathing an infant was manageable. But this was his own daughter now, and certainly she was big enough to bathe herself. Kyza herself had assured him of that, and yet demanded his presence when the servants had gotten her into the water.

“I’m just used to bathing with more people.” Kyza said before submerging half her face into the water and stalking around like a catgator. 

“You know, bathing usually includes soap.” Zuko stated when Kyza next popped up for air. 

“Will you wash my hair?” She asked and Zuko sighed. Still, she smiled as he stood and started to unbelt his robes.

He kept on his underclothes, rolling up his pant legs for a moment before he realized how useless it would be. As he went to the pool steps, Kyza waited for him sitting with a lump of soap in her hands. Zuko sat behind her, immediately getting soaked from the step and the water coming up to his knees. Grabbing the soap from her, Zuko started to make a lather.

“I expected your hair to be more like your mother’s.” He remarked as he gauged how much soap he’d need.

“Mine’s darker and hers is curlier.” Kyza said.

“I see.”

Zuko put the soap off to the side and started working his hands through Kyza’s hair. It was certainly thick and there were a number of knots.

“I think the soap was an error.” He muttered.

“Mom uses a lot of beech nut oil.” Kyza agreed.

“So want to tell me what happened with your mother?” Zuko asked.

“Do you?” Kyza shot back.

Zuko opened his mouth but shut it quickly with an audible click. At Kyza’s age, Zuko was still clinging to his mother’s robes. It was around this age that Ursa had left him, abandoning him to the chaos she had participated in unleashing. Yet Kyza spoke more like Azula.

“I’m just surprised that you came to me. I thought you were mad at me.” Zuko said.

“People say anger is how we know we’re being mistreated.” Kyza said and started to swirl her hands in the water. “But I don’t like being angry.”

“That is…” Zuko drifted, trying to focus on a tangle to cover for his lack of thought. “I can’t say I relate.”

“You like being angry?”

“I find it one of the easier emotions to engage in.” 

“I’m just tired of how hard everything is. I had to meet so many people, and I was really excited, but I just wanted to come here. To meet you.” Kyza tilted her head back to look at Zuko. “And you weren’t happy to see me.”

Zuko didn’t immediately reply and Kyza faced forward again.

“Well, if I’m honest, it’s because the fact that you exist makes me angry.” He said.

“What?” Kyza demanded. She tried to pull away but Zuko kept hold of her hair, giving it a light tug to hold her still.

“Let me finish.” He said as he started to squeeze the excess soap out of her hair. “You being real means a lot of things, and very few of those things are good. It means your mother lied to me and that I didn’t get to know my daughter for ten years. And, my wife just died, Kyza, so it’s difficult for me to feel happy about anything right now.”

“So you’re unhappy that I’m here?”

“I didn’t mean to imply that.” Zuko said, releasing her hair. “The only thing I could want more than you being here with me now, is having you ten years ago.”

Kyza turned and met Zuko’s eye, but he kept his face still.

“Rinse.” He said and Kyza narrowed her eyes for a minute before shutting them completely.

As she went back underwater, Zuko stood and watched her through the clear water as she vigorously rubbed her hair. He walked out of the pool and took a towel from a waiting servant.

“Grab some oil and a wide comb.” He said. The servant bowed and walked off while Zuko went back to his seat. 

Kyza gasped as she came back up, parting the hair clinging to her face like a curtain.

As she smiled at him, Zuko thought about that fated evening when Azulon died. The treachery of a mother and the betrayal of a father. 

It could be different for Kyza.

After the bath, Zuko put on dry clothes while Kyza donned her mourning robes. He then sat her down at his vanity to comb out her hair. It was an involved process and the comb snapped part way through. With how long it took, Zuko studied Kyza in the mirror as he had the night before when she slept in his bed.

The lines that made up her face - her eyes, her nose, and her mouth - were all sharp. It was the Fire Nation cut; the shards that shaped them all in preparation for holding onto their burning element.

But Kyza’s cheek had the same full curve that Katara did, and of course her eyes were an icy blue. 

“Do you want me to braid it?” He asked.

“How do girls do their hair here?” Kyza asked.

“The royal family wear full topknots, but hair styles can be pretty different.”

“Then I want a topknot.” 

“Well.” Zuko stopped and met Kyza’s eye in the mirror. “You’re not officially part of the royal family yet.”

“How? I’m your daughter.”

“Yes, but no one else knows that.”

“Then tell them.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because you are…” Zuko winced and looked down at Kyza’s hair in his hands. “I have to take care of some other things first.” 

“What things?” Kyza asked.

“There’s going to be a special ceremony tomorrow and the next day. I’ll be able to do it some time after that.” He explained. 

“That sounds like an excuse.”

“Because it is.” Zuko kept quiet as he separated a part of Kyza’s hair. He did what he could to keep it straight, as he was eleven years out of practice with curls. He formed a simple topknot and gestured toward the vanity. Kyza picked up a ribbon and handed it to him, watching quietly as he worked. With a small topknot done, Zuko quickly tied strands of thin braids at the sides of her hair before tying them together in the back.

It was simple, blending in style from the former colonies but looked decidedly Water Tribe with the curly hair.

“I don’t know how the next few days are going to go. But I promise you,” Zuko put his hands on Kyza’s shoulders and looked at her in the mirror. “I will recognize you as my daughter.” 

A servant came to fetch Kyza, escorting her back to Katara. After she left, Zuko sat at the vanity, looking down at the ribbons she left behind. They were woven in a simple braid, her fingers fidgeting the entire time he worked. Picking up the plait, Zuko rubbed it between his fingers and thumb until it loosened. 

There was a disconnect between him and Kyza. Not quite the same kind he had felt as a child with his own father, but something maybe more similar to his mother and Azula. They were strangers, and Zuko was indifferent at best. 

He was going to have to try harder to get Kyza on his side. It was an unexpected surprise when she showed up the night before, tears in her eyes and furious. After the war, if anyone out of their group was thought to be the honest one, it was Katara. Zuko found that curious, thinking back to the stories they told. A stolen waterbending scroll, the Painted Lady, and the use of bloodbending were all secrets. There were plenty in the years after.

Zuko hadn’t expected her to keep them from him. And certainly not from her child.

So that night, Zuko explained his family tree. He talked about the rift between Sozin and Roku, how his own mother circled back and killed Azulon. He was honest about Ozai and Azula. There wasn’t a reason to go further than the past, and Zuko left off at his marriage to Izumi. Kyza seemed more interested in where she came from, anyway.

As Kyza slept in his bed, Zuko started on his plan. Now, as his day was beginning, he had work to do.

Pocketing the plait, Zuko walked out of his room and headed toward his office. Sota would bring him the news and whatever update Yoon passed along. For how tenuous everything was, at least he could count on some big reactions.

Sota told him what he had been hoping for; everyone was either in Republic City or would be by the evening. With Iroh still in Ba Sing Se, having Aang around would be helpful. It would, of course, look like Zuko was consolidating power in advance of his announcement, but that could help him in the long run. Even Hakoda’s attendance could turn into something useful.

Invitations were sent out to the necessary participants, and to everyone who seethed in Republic City. 

The ceremony itself was mostly planned. Yoon walked with him through the empty room, explaining the process and gesturing over the high table to pantomime where everything was going. Bowls of fruit, incense, and a special seat of honor for all to see.

As they walked back to his office, Zuko noticed Yoon’s silence.

“Yes?” He asked.

“Have you invited Master Katara?” She questioned in reply.

“She’s already here. There’s no need.” 

“And what about Lady Tamami?”

“She’ll hound me tomorrow, I’m not going to let her start early.”

Zuko pushed his way into his office and looked around. The mourning period was only just beginning but he was already starting to feel cramped in these small spaces. 

“And Yoon?”

“Yes, my lord?”

“I will take my dinner in the solar garden.”

“Of course, my lord.” 

Zuko waited until she turned the corner before closing the door. He was confused by Yoon’s continued presence in the palace, having first been part of Izumi’s household before she became head matron when Zihiro died. Yoon had raised Izumi, that in itself a feat due to her circumstances, and so when Izumi died, Zuko assumed she would leave the staff. 

But Yoon said she still had work to do and he understood. 

Still, she and Izumi had been close. Having Katara here would complicate things for the woman, regardless of how Izumi may have reacted. 

For the rest of the day, he worked. He met with the Fire Sages, going over the more intricate specifics of the ceremony. Then he had to read the correspondence he would ultimately ignore: Izumi’s family, Sokka, Aang, and one, oddly, from Iroh. Finally, it was his own research, looking into the various inheritance loopholes he knew a fair number of noblemen would try to find after tomorrow.

By evening, Zuko left his office and started walking through the halls toward the center of the residential wing. The solar garden was Izumi’s favorite; perhaps a tacit choice after noting the two that Zuko avoided. A circle of stones made a sun mosaic that reminded Zuko of the Sun Warriors. At midday, the sun came directly overhead, baking the mosaic to the point where only Firebenders could stand the heat. 

In the evening, reptiles of all sorts would congregate there, hissing or just generally eyeing any person who dared to intrude. 

Early in their marriage, Zuko had escorted Izumi there for lunch and was stunned when she laid on the mosaic with her arms and legs flung outward. Pants were clearly a necessary choice and not one based in fashion.

“You’re going to burn like a matchstick.” Zuko warned as he took a seat under a large sunshade.

“I’m from the colonies. I’ll be fine.” Izumi retorted, rocking her feet from side to side. 

“Most noblewomen avoid tanning.” Zuko stated.

Izumi propped herself up on her forearms and eyed him, a sly smile creeping onto her face.

“Wouldn’t that be okay with you, though?” She asked.

Zuko frowned, but Izumi didn’t shrink from his displeasure.

“Don’t.” He warned again.

Izumi said nothing and made no gesture, but did tilt her head back, closing her eyes.

“The sunshine feels so good. Like it matches my fire on the inside.” She said. 

Now, the garden was dark. Shadowy shapes of hissing reptiles took up space on the sun baked stones, and the sun shade was closed for the evening. But the lamps were lit and Zuko took his seat at the table, watching the lethargic lizards. 

He had told Izumi about Katara the day he proposed to her. It had been important to him, for her to know exactly what was behind his intentions. Zuko had no interest in love, but Izumi had been a pleasant companion. He could provide for her family, who were nearly destitute after the decolonization process, and she would make a suitable wife. 

Izumi had asked for eight days to think about it, which was comforting. She eventually agreed, under the condition that they find some way to love each other. Izumi didn’t prioritize romantic love, but that didn’t mean she would settle for something cold and impersonal. 

She was the only one he could ever talk to about Katara. It was because of Izumi that he could keep going, even as the wound refused to heal. 

“Your dinner, Fire Lord.” A different servant, a young woman Zuko didn’t recognize, bowed as she set the tray on the table. 

Zuko stayed quiet, but did pull the tray closer to him. Since Kyza’s arrival, he had been eating better. The thought of food didn’t set his stomach twisting into knots, and so he took advantage of the feeling. 

As he ate, Zuko let his thoughts wander without focusing on any one thing. He made himself like the lizards; letting the warmth soak into his body, his mind worked with very little will or energy. 

The tray of food was slowly picked at, but Zuko was annoyed at a few minor details. The servant hadn’t set his chopsticks where he liked them, and the lid to his rice was under the bowl. She was clearly new, and Zuko assumed that Yoon had rotated the staff to have the more experienced members watch over Katara. 

Someone rushed into the garden and Zuko turned his head lazily, giving the newcomer his best lizard glare.

“Fire Lord.” Sota said, bowing so far he almost folded in half. 

“What is it?” Zuko asked, annoyed.

“Head Matron Yoon is at the dowager’s palace and there was some confusion in the residential wing.” Sota said.

The man was sweating profusely. 

“And?” Zuko prompted.

“Master Katara has run into Zayaka in the lunar garden.” Sota said, bowing low again.

Zuko jumped up from his seat, bumping hard into the table and knocking the tray to the ground. Some of the smaller lizards from the circle scattered, while the larger ones hissed in warning.

“Why was Zayaka anywhere near that garden?” Zuko demanded, his voice as sharp as the hissing around him.

Sota kept his head lowered.

“My deepest apologies, Fire Lord!” He said, practically begging.

“Get out of my way.” Zuko snapped, marching past Sota and heading back into the palace. Again, he started to feel chilled as he stormed through the hall and two guards quickly fell into step behind him. They would be needed, unfortunately. 

There were things he would never do, things his father had done without remorse. Yet more and more, Zuko began to see what Ozai had, as the nature of him brought out vipers. 

The lunar garden was, of course, on the opposite side of the solar. As Zuko made his turns through the wing, he imagined what was happening. Katara wouldn’t recognize him, surely, and Zayaka was ignorant of his history. 

As he slammed the garden door open, both women startled. When he saw the bundle of red in Katara’s arms, his heart jumped into his throat and kept him from vomiting. 

“Arrest her.” Zuko ordered, pointing to Zayaka.

“For what?” Katara cried.

As one guard took the now swearing Zayaka in hand, Zuko slowly turned to Katara.

“Get the baby.” He said to the other guard.

Katara nearly pulled away as the guard approached, but carefully handed over the bundle. The guard took the baby reverently and returned to Zuko, offering him the bundle.

Zuko looked down at the baby, unsmiling.

“The nursery.” Zuko snapped and the guard bowed slightly, carefully cradling the infant before heading back inside.

“That poor baby had been crying for hours and I told her I could help. What did she do wrong?” Katara demanded the moment they were alone.

Zuko stepped down into the garden and walked to her, keeping his eyes set on her face. She was angry.

That irritated him.

“A servant handed over the only son of the Fire Lord to a stranger that is being kept under guard. Why don’t you tell me where she went wrong?” Zuko replied.

He almost smiled as he watched Katara take a step back, her hands clutching the front of her dress. Zuko advanced, snatching one of her wrists and pulling her forward.

“You stole one of my children, why not another? Or perhaps you meant to get rid of him in favor of the one you bore?” He questioned.

Katara winced as he tightened his grip but she didn’t try to pull away.

“You know I wouldn’t do that.” She whispered.

“I have no idea what you are capable of, Master Katara. You stopped a rainstorm like a god on earth. I watched you bloodbend a man to his knees. I know you can breathe while encased in ice. You lied to me, hiding my child from me for ten long years.

“We both know you could get away from me right now, and yet you don’t. So I have no idea what’s going to happen next, are you willing to push me to pick something?” He seethed.

“Zuko, I’m sorry.” Katara said, her voice breathy.

Disgusted, Zuko released her and she fell to her knees. Her head bowed, he could only note the shuddering of her back to hint at her crying. 

“You’re sorry? How many wounds do you want to reopen, Katara? How much more damage do you want to cause? It isn’t enough for you to cut me with a child I don’t know? You have to involve yourself with my dead wife’s child as well?” Zuko laughed bitterly and pushed his hair back out of his face. “Do you want to go have tea with Ozai and Azula? ”

“Zuko, please.” Katara said softly. 

“Sure, beg. I want you to beg as pitifully as I did eleven years ago. And then I want you to watch me walk away. And Katara?” Zuko crouched down, putting his fingers under her chin and tilting her face up. 

Tears fell down her face, and he felt nothing.

“When I walk away, I will also be taking Kyza with me.” He said just as softly.

“Zuko!” Katara shifted forward as Zuko stood up.

She clutched at his robe and he yanked the fabric free of her grip. 

Zuko turned and walked back to the door out of the garden.

“Zuko.” Katara called out, and he did pause.

“He has colic.” She finished. “Tell the nursemaid to change her diet.” 

Saying nothing, Zuko walked back into the palace.

Notes:

Hey y'all! There are seven chapters left in this part and I've written three, so I'll be taking the next 3-4 weeks to finish up and edit before posting. Then there will be a longer break as I finish Part 3 (the finale!) before posting.

If you have any questions about the story, please send them to my Tumblr JaxSteamBlog!

Chapter 29: Bloodlines and Inheritance

The guards who came for Katara did not grab her as roughly as they did Zayaka. Yet they flanked her close enough that she could feel the heat of their ire from under their padded robes. Unlike Zuko, or perhaps more like other Firebenders, these men let their inner fires spit and flare, which made them jumpy.

If she tried to run, she wouldn’t get far.

But there was nowhere to run, not without Kyza. So Katara stayed quiet and walked between the men back to her rooms. 

When she opened the door, Katara walked in quickly, shutting the door firmly behind her. The sound made Kyza sit up from the low couch, her head swiveling toward the noise.

“Mom?” Kyza asked just as Katara started to tremble.

Kyza had spent most of the day away from their rooms, only returning for dinner. They hadn’t really spoken, and so Katara had decided to take a walk. It was earlier than her usual strolls, so she thought she could avoid the ghostly mother and child that stalked the halls.

Then she had found Zayaka and the babe.

“Your father-” Katara started, but found that she couldn’t continue. Her throat was too dry for words to make it out.

“Is he okay?” Kyza asked.

Still mute, Katara walked over, putting her hand on the back of the couch. As she stood over her daughter, she saw the red scroll unrolled on her lap.

It was the last testament of Fire Lord Sozin. 

“I’ve upset him again,” Katara said, feeling a pain under her ribs as Kyza frowned. 

With the mourning robes done in white, Katara didn’t think there would be any change to how Kyza would look wearing them. But the cut was distinctly Fire Nation in style, and with the top knot her daughter looked subtly different. The sharpness of her features were more pronounced. Then again, so was the darker complexion. 

“He…” Katara drifted, squeezing the back of the couch hard enough for the wood to shift the tendons in her palm.

“He what?” Kyza asked, sitting up.

“He has a son,” Katara said, looking away from her.

“What?”

Katara closed her eyes, rubbing them briefly as she sighed.

“His wife died in childbirth, but the baby survived,” She said, lowering her hand and looking forward with unfocused eyes.

“That’s good then,” Kyza said.

Bewildered, Katara faced her daughter.

“You’re not upset?” She asked.

“Why would I be? The baby is family, and this means that dad didn’t lose both of them,” Kyza explained as she started to roll up the scroll. 

“I want to see him.” She added.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Katara warned.

Kyza finished rolling up the scroll, tied it, and turned forward before placing it on the tea table in front of her. As she stood, she smoothed down the back of her robes. 

“Maybe not for you.” Kyza stated and walked the opposite way around the couch.

Katara remembered Zuko’s threat in the garden and moved quickly to intercept Kyza, standing between her and the door.

“Tonight isn’t a good idea. I told you I made him angry, and his temper might not care even if it’s you.” She warned. 

“You aren’t part of this.” Kyza said, looking up at her. “The baby is my brother, but he is nothing to you.”

“That’s not true.” Katara said quickly.

Kyza crossed her arms over her chest and raised her brow.

“The baby is Zuko’s and that means something to me.” Katara explained. 

“I’m not letting you keep me away from my family anymore.” Kyza said.

Katara stopped trembling but her dry throat sealed shut. When she couldn’t speak, Kyza walked past her and opened the door. Guards immediately stopped her, but they stepped back after they recognized the child’s height.

In that pause, Katara reached out.

“You’ll come back, right?” She asked.

Kyza glanced over her shoulder, confused.

“Of course.” She replied.

She stepped out and the guards closed the door.

Katara went to the couch and sat down, looking at the scroll. Aang had told her about his visit to the past with Roku. It was after Zuko had announced his engagement to Mai and the rest of the group was left feeling out how to handle it. Roku was, in Aang’s opinion, fairly romantic for a Fire Nation man when he talked about his marriage to Ta Min. 

But his daughter Rina was ultimately left off; an inconsequential link to Ursa and her unhappy marriage to Ozai.

Picking up the scroll, Katara untied the black ribbon, unspooling it over her lap. The characters were written neatly, as all the official records were. The Fire Sages were required to have steady hands in all aspects of their work.

The story differed from the one Aang told, though time had eroded some things. Sozin talked at length of his friendship with Roku, only revealing a sister in the shadows once Roku left for his Avatar training. There was nothing of his wife, and a contradictory burning pride for Azulon.

A bitter sibling rivalry and an anonymous wife who bore him a son. Zuko had almost mirrored his great-grandfather. 

The thought made her shudder. 

Katara placed the scroll on the table and stood, looking back at the door.

A son. Zuko had a son.

He was so tiny.

A pain in her chest came so suddenly and was so sharp, it made her gasp. Tears came to her eyes and Katara’s legs buckled. She fell to her knees on the couch and gripped the back to steady herself.

After burping the baby, Katara moved into an unconscious sway, bouncing the bundle in her arms. Zayaka seemed pleased, either for the break or the silence, if not both. Katara relaxed, knowing that the ghost was merely a colicky baby. That relief kept her from understanding, kept her from counting back and putting the pieces together. The baby looked like all the others she had delivered, save for the amber eyes. 

Zuko had not looked angry when he crashed his way into the garden. He was terrified, and his face was deathly pale. Only after seeing her holding the baby was he enraged. 

His only son, his heir, his last connection to his wife and he didn’t even take the baby in his arms.

Katara sagged, sliding down to curl uncomfortably against the back of the couch. 

Keeping Kyza wouldn’t do Zuko any good, even if he only cared about hurting Katara. He had an heir, and while the default was for the first born, the Fire Lord could choose any of his children as a successor at any point. It was how Ozai had ousted Iroh, and how Azula was known as the Twilight Fire Lord. Still, the baby was legitimate and a Firebender; he was strong enough already that Katara could tell. There would be no reason to keep Kyza.

Katara looked back up at the door.

Unless he was suspicious that someone would use her against him and his son. 

Katara waited on the couch, watching the door. It did not open for the rest of the night.

When it did, Katara sat up quickly, almost falling off the couch. As she stood, she tried to smooth the hair out of her face as she tried to get her bearings. It was early in the morning, she could feel it in her muscles, and she had barely slept.

Zuko stood on the other side of the couch looking almost identical to how he was last night.

“Yoon will be here soon to take you to the dowager’s palace.” He said evenly.

“Where is Kyza?” Katara asked.

“She’s staying with me.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Do you know what today is, Katara?” Zuko asked as he moved around the couch. Katara tried to step back but stopped as he held up his hand. He pointed down and she sat.

“Today is my son’s name day. He will be presented before the court and some very important guests as my heir.” Zuko went on as he moved to stand on the other side of the tea table. As he eyed the scroll, he frowned. 

“So you’re going to recognize Kyza?” Katara asked.

“Not today.” Zuko replied and then held up his hand as Katara opened her mouth. She quieted and he bent down, running his finger down the columns of characters.

“Today is about Kozuke. Kyza’s time will come.” He added.

“People will wonder why I’m being locked up and she isn’t.” Katara said.

Zuko stood upright and regarded her impassively. 

“That is true, for the staff. The palace and the whole of Caldera is going to be talking about my son. Kyza looks like she’s from colonial stock and Izumi was born there, so no one is going to bat an eye over it.” He said.

“You’re going to treat her like a servant?” Katara snapped.

“She will continue on as she has been. Having the people you claim tormented you think she’s a servant is good, right?”

Katara scowled and Zuko tilted his head for a moment, putting his hands behind his back. 

“Kyza won’t like this.” She said.

“I have that in hand.” Zuko looked down at the scroll again and smiled. “She makes a very good princess, doesn’t she?”

“You can’t keep her here.”

“And why not?” Zuko asked, looking her full in the face. 

“She’s a bastard.”

“True. But she’s not the kind of threat to start another civil war. Kyza is harmless.” 

“Then why keep her?”

“Why keep my own daughter?” Zuko questioned, bewildered. “Do you really think so little of fathers?”

Katara clenched her jaw and Zuko nodded.

“No, you just think little of me.” He said.

“I’m not leaving her.” Katara stated.

“That’s fine.”

“You can’t keep me imprisoned forever.”

“You can leave at any time.”

Katara stood up in a rush, seething.

“I am not leaving without Kyza.”

“Then stay. But you know the terms.”

“You’re becoming a monster.” She snapped.

Zuko smiled slowly.

“Becoming?” He asked. 

As he laughed, low and quietly to himself, Katara shrank into herself. 

“Katara, I lost my humanity the day Izumi died.” He said.  “And then you showed up, waving everything I wanted in my face. You were alive, our child is healthy, and you denied me all of it. That is when I became a monster.” 

“Zuko, I did what was best for us. For all of us.” 

“The best? Must I repeat myself? My wife is dead, my son is death touched, and my daughter is a stranger. The only one best served here… was you.” 

Katara stared at Zuko and he stared back, unflinching. Benders could live such a long time and they aged so slowly. His face and neck were long and graceful, and Katara knew then that she was wrong. People only said Zuko resembled his mother because these features were viewed as feminine. But Iroh had shown them all pictures of the royal family in their youth, and Azulon had been a lithe young man. 

Zuko was created with the same gliding brushstroke, so painfully beautiful that Katara would selfishly be glad for the scar on his face. His long hair poured down his back and the glimpse she could see over his shoulder stood out against the white robes. Zuko was as beautifully made as the blades he collected. And he could cut her with his eyes, his words, his hands, and whatever else she tried to grab onto.

But he called her as he always did. Katara felt his pull stronger than she did the moon, stronger than a riptide around her legs. Being in the swamp was the prelude to the tsunami; the ocean had left her and now it was crashing down on top of her. 

Even as he looked at her so coldly, there was nothing that she wanted more than him.

“Leaving you hurt me more than you could ever imagine. You found love again, but for me there was only you.” Katara said.

Zuko recoiled, his disgust twisting his face.

“Don’t you dare play this game with me. I was lucky to have Izumi and I loved her as best as I could, but she had to settle for less of me because of you .” He spat the words out and Katara flinched.

As he started to walk back toward the door, Katara reached out for him. He pulled away from her but stopped, the heat rolling off of his body in waves.

“That’s not what I meant.” Katara said, pulling her arm back and holding her hands at her chest. “I just couldn’t raise Kyza here, no matter how much I loved you.”

“You didn’t love me very much at all then, to take so much from me.” Zuko retorted.

Katara gaped, trying to find some sort of reply, but Zuko stormed off to the door. Gripping her hands tight together, Katara forcibly lowered them to her waist.

“I didn’t want Kyza to end up like you!” She shouted at his back.

Zuko stopped and Katara clapped her hands over her mouth. He didn’t turn to look at her.

“And now I don’t want Kyza to end up like you.” He said darkly.

Katara watched as he walked away from her, again.

And she was completely alone.

Notes:

Hahahaha hi guys, 2022 huh? Anyway.....

Obviously if there are tonal shifts, it's because it's been almost three years. Also, I did Kyza real dirty by not know how to write children. Still don't so, enjoy!

Please still want to read this, I'll cry.

Chapter 30: The Name Day Ceremony

Standing outside of the door to his rooms, Zuko took in a deep breath and tried to steady himself. He hadn’t slept, and both times that he had confronted Katara had left him shaken. Twice now her expressions had nearly caused him to come undone. The sadness in her eyes when she realized the baby was his, and just for a moment this morning when they stared at each other. Her gaze had gone soft, making him suddenly anxious. 

But then she had repeated his mother’s words, that empty excuse Ursa gave him before disappearing into the night. Love would not impel people to leave, and he was tired of being told otherwise.

It was his grief that caused this imbalance. He flickered through emotions, unable to process the empty void Izumi’s presence left behind. 

It was a weakness, that’s all.

Feeling calmer, Zuko opened the door. There was no sign of Kyza, and no sound of activity from the other rooms. Kyza seemed more like Katara and was not a particularly early riser, but had stayed up late with him the night before. He was still fuming when she knocked at his door last night, forcing him to collect himself. 

Kyza asked about Kozuke, wanting to see him. That was an easy excuse, as Kozuke was settled with the night nurse. Instead of returning to Katara, Kyza questioned him about the baby and what was coming next. She was excited for it, and Zuko was able to keep calm.

After she fell asleep, once again in his bed, he went to the small cells under the palace to speak with Zayaka. Zuko released her - the only reason why she worked as a nursemaid was due to the fact that she had an infant of her own to feed - but she would not return to the palace. Yoon was working on finding a new nursemaid, which would be much easier now that they didn’t have to hide the presence of a baby. 

Now they only had to hide Katara and Kyza.

Walking into the bedroom, Zuko found Kyza still asleep. He walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder, gently shaking her. As her eyes fluttered open, he smiled at her.

“You need to get up, my dear.” He said softly.

Kyza yawned and rubbed her eyes.

“Why?” She asked.

Zuko chuckled and sat down on the side of the bed.

“We have the ceremony today, remember? And your family will be here soon.” He said.

As the memory dawned on her, Kyza sat up eagerly.

“Are they going to stay in the palace with us?” She questioned.

Zuko shook his head and Kyza’s face fell. He patted her legs to console her.

“Unfortunately, we’re still going to be mourning so they can’t stay in the palace.” He explained.

“Then where will they be?”

“I’m not sure. They could stay in Caldera, or down in the harbor town. Or maybe in Republic City.”

“I don’t want them to leave.”

“I know, but can I tell you something?” 

Kyza tilted her head and leaned in as Zuko crooked his finger.

“I think I want to spend some time with just you and me.” He whispered.

Kyza’s eyes widened and Zuko smiled as he sat up.

“What about mom?” She asked.

“I don’t think your mother is very comfortable living in the main palace. I had Yoon clean up a different palace just for her.” Zuko said.

“Mom’s leaving too?” 

Kyza sounded panicked and Zuko did his best to look empathetic.

“Of course not! I’m just thinking about what would be comfortable for everyone. You could stay closer to me and Kozuke, and your mother would still be around, just not in the main building. You could see her all the time.” He clarified.

Theory could sound a lot like a promise to a child.

“She doesn’t like it here. She won’t let me go anywhere.” Kyza said.

“I told you, my mother was the same way. Though, to be honest, I didn’t like it much either.” Zuko said, leaning over and pressing his forehead to Kyza’s. He held the back of her head and he watched as her eyes closed gently.

Tilting his head back, Zuko kissed her forehead and let go, standing up as she beamed a smile up at him.

“Remember that other robe you got?” He asked.

Kyza nodded vigorously.

“For today, you can wear that. It’s a very special ceremony so we must wear our nicest clothes.” Zuko said.

“And I’m going to get to see my brother?” Kyza asked.

Air left Zuko’s lungs so he gave Kyza a weak smile at first.

“Of course.” He murmured and she grinned.

Throwing off the blankets, Kyza slid out of the bed and quickly squeezed Zuko, catching him off guard.

“I’m so happy!” She squealed and darted off to the bathing room before he could respond. 

Zuko kept trying to find himself in Kyza. The shifting mood might have been his doing, but her trusting nature was certainly Katara’s influence. He supposed, for only a moment as he could feel Iroh’s disapproval from Ba Sing Se, that he should feel bad for how he was behaving. Yet in the end, to Zuko, Kyza would come to realize he had done the correct thing.

Servants came to dress them both, and from their downcast eyes Zuko assumed that they were told not to question the situation. The young Water Tribe girl, wearing robes slightly too fine for a mere guest, was a novelty to the Fire Lord. Her mother would be wearing something similar, and no one would question Katara’s absence when the ceremony was actually happening.

The only concern was Izumi’s family.

Kyza finished dressing first and walked confidently back into Zuko’s bedroom. Sota startled for a second, the clash of privileged information throwing him off balance. Yet he still moved as Kyza twirled, showing off the robes that Zuko had meticulously sketched out for the tailor. 

Crimson robes with a blue hue; the color against Kyza’s skin made her stand out like a jewel. Gold embellishment was reserved for the royal family, and since Kyza was still unrecognized, the edges and embroidery were done in black. Still, the simple design on the high collar were interlocking flames.

She was, after all, his daughter. 

When Zuko was finished, he dismissed both the servants and Sota, choosing to once again take care of Kyza’s hair himself. This time as she sat at the vanity, Kyza kept her hands in her lap.

“I need to tell you some things about the ceremony today.” Zuko started as he separated out her hair.

Kyza stayed quiet, but looked at him in the mirror. Zuko smiled at her reflection before looking back down at his hands.

“There are going to be a lot of people there, including your family. To make sure we keep this about Kozuke, I’m going to need you to stay where I put you and be quiet. Can you do that for me?” He asked.

“Of course, father.” Kyza said with a surprising burst of solemnity. 

Zuko paused and looked at her reflection again.

“You don’t have to call me father if you don’t want to.” He said.

Kyza’s eyes fluttered and she looked down, seemingly embarrassed.

“I don’t really know what to call you.” She murmured.

“Well, for starters, I need you to keep your head up. You’re the daughter of the Fire Lord.” Zuko said lightly.

Kyza smiled and lifted her head, giving Zuko more slack in her hair to work with.

“I only mean that I called my father that, and it feels weird to hear it. What do children call their parents in the swamp?” He asked.

“Oh, lots of things. Some of my friends just call them by their names.” 

Zuko grimaced and Kyza laughed.

“Da or Pa is a popular one. But mom always uses dad when talking about hers.” She continued.

“Let’s make a deal. If you call me Fire Lord today, then you can call me anything you want for the rest of your life.” 

“Deal.”

Zuko finished her hair and patted her shoulders, leaving his hands there for a moment to keep her seated.

“The only other thing is that I will need you to stay with Yoon until after the ceremony is over. There are people coming that I don’t want you to run into.” He said.

“Why not?”

“Because some of them are very… irritable.” Zuko finished the sentence bitterly and Kyza’s eyes widened.

“Like I said,” He added. “Things are going to be a bit complicated for a while.”

Kyza nodded and Zuko moved his hands from her shoulders.

“Can we go see Kozuke now?” She asked.

Zuko’s chest seized and he shook his head.

“He’s also getting ready. But let’s go find Yoon.” He replied.

Kyza sighed heavily and slid off the seat. 

With her hair pulled back, her Fire Nation features were more apparent in her face. Zuko stopped her, unthinking, and cupped her face in his hands.

Kyza stood still as Zuko examined her.

“Are you really mine?” He asked softly.

Kyza smiled and lightly held onto his wrists.

“That’s what everyone says.” She answered.

“What about you?”

The pain in his own question surprised him, but Zuko kept his hands still.

“We’re kin, but you’re not my dad yet.” She said, still smiling.

“I think I understand that, actually.” Zuko replied.

He bent over a bit and paused. “May I?”

Kyza beamed and lifted her head. Zuko kissed her lightly on her forehead and let her go.

“I do love you.” He said. “I do know that much.”

“All things are connected, and we are all things.” Kyza said, sounding like she was repeating some mantra. “I love all that are connected to me, as I am connected to them.”

“Now that I absolutely do not understand.” Zuko remarked dryly and tapped her back, shooing her toward the door.

They walked into the front rooms together and found Yoon and Sota waiting for them. They had been talking about something, and at the interruption they both stopped abruptly. Yoon’s face looked friendly, but Zuko easily recognized the tightness around her eyes and mouth. Sota was simpler to read; his face was already red. 

Izumi’s family had clearly arrived.

Yoon took charge of Kyza and they bowed together before leaving. Sota accompanied Zuko as he went straight to the nursery.

The plan for the day was to ignore everything but the ceremony. Beyond the nobility and gentry that Zuko knew were going to be clamoring, he now had two families with different reasons for being upset with him.

Izumi’s parents took her death hard. Azaki had doted on his daughter, to the point of being hesitant of her marriage to the Fire Lord after such a large scandal. Tomami, against all of her respectable training, had fallen apart in public. She blamed Zuko for her death, and was resentful when he kept her from seeing Kozuke.

Eita, Izumi’s younger brother, was simply quiet. 

The communication between the royal palace and Izumi’s family, in only the six days since her death, was bitter and hostile. This was the first time they would see each other since, and the first time Izumi’s family would see Kozuke at all.

That was an interaction Zuko had meant to plan for. When Sokka showed up with Katara and Kyza, he was distracted. And now he had no plan for Izumi’s family or Katara’s.

As Zuko checked in on Kozuke, a message came to confirm the worst of it. The invitations to the court explained the nature of the summons, so as not to insult Izumi by breaking the mourning ritual. Now, the families that had been able to make it were demanding answers.

Izumi’s family was being held in a private room, making similar demands.

Katara’s family and their friends were secluded in another room, ignorant and fuming. 

Zuko avoided all of them. At the appointed time, everyone was ushered into the same great hall. The Fire Sages began almost immediately and Zuko stood rigid as one placed Kozuke in his arms.

The weight of death his son carried made him a stone.

Zuko pulled away from his body, making the room blur and the sound muffled around him. The ceremony was a rush of noise in his ears. Things sharpened when Kozuke was taken from him, and Zuko stepped back into himself to complete his duties. He named his son, declared him as the crown prince, and then slipped back.

Blessings were made, gifts were given, and the audience came up to congratulate the tiny prince. Zuko tried to focus on that portion, to spot the specific people he was going to have to deal with. But everyone was a smear of color, more like an aura instead of a person.

Not even Mai or her father, head of the gentry party, registered in his vision.

When the rush went away and the buzz of silence filled his head, Zuko took in a deep breath.

He was standing in a small hallway, alone. He couldn’t immediately recognize where he was.

Someone turned the corner and Zuko was slow to react as Sota approached him.

“Fire Lord.” Sota said as he bowed. “Your in-laws are waiting.”

Notes:

This is still part of the stuff I wrote before I ghosted everyone, and I'll warn y'all before we get to the newer stuff just to watch out for any potential tone shifts. I did reread it all before I started writing but I've just also changed as a writer.

Also, I'm looking to commission at least one piece for an intermission after Part 2 (which I've now finished) so let me know you're recommendations over at my Tumblr blog "jaxsteamblog" (this isn't promotion, I barely blog I just don't want to bloat my comment section with any possible recommendations)

Again, please don't post recommendations in the comments, send them to my blog. I'll remove any in the comments.

Chapter 31: The Ultimatum

Katara was silent.

When Yoon came for her, questions writhed in Katara’s throat. Questions about her family, the nursemaid, Kyza, and so many other things that rushed like a gale in her mind. But her body was numb, and her mouth couldn’t move.

They slipped through servants’ halls and out of a back door. With the sun fully risen in the sky, the air swirled with pockets of heat. Yoon’s white robes were crisp, but Katara knew the shift underneath would be sweat stained, same as hers. The same blend of kempt and unkempt quilted the back gardens. Some of these walls were overgrown with seeping vines, making the stone crumble. Yet the grounds were still neat and Katara stepped on even stones toward another gate.

The building was much smaller than the main palace, but no less ornate. Still, the front looked shabby; it clearly had not been in use for easily one hundred years. Every Fire Lady since Sozin’s wife had died before her husband, so there was never a need to upkeep a space for a dowager.

As they entered, Katara could smell dust and mildew. Light trickled in from various rooms as the servants kept the doors open to air out the space. For now it was empty; everyone was called back to the palace to assist with the ceremony.

Yoon showed Katara to the only furnished room and left her. She knelt on a threadbare cushion at a low table, the wood dull with inattention. The room lacked other furniture or adornment.

There was nothing to do but wait.

Time stilled for her, as Katara watched the motes of dust caught in sunbeams. This space sat between the past and present, which was comfortable. It was a status she knew.

So many years ago, Zuko had taken her close to this building. The back spaces where few went and they could be alone. It rained one time, or every time, or every time that she could remember. And he held her face to kiss her. When his love was joy he did that; holding her face to keep her still as if it wasn’t him bursting with energy. When his love was something else, his hands gripped her body, pulling her hard against him.

But that time, when soft vines broke stacks of rock with fragile roots, Katara dissolved in the rain.

“Master Katara?” Yoon asked.

Katara shook herself and immediately felt needles of pain in her legs. Wincing, she fell onto her backside and massaged the muscles.

“Is it time?” Katara questioned.

Another servant, one of the young women who had attended the tailor, stepped into the room holding Katara’s new robe.

“Can you stand?” Yoon asked.

“In a moment.”

Once the blood returned to her legs, Katara stood up shakily. Between the three of them, Katara dressed as quickly as she could. The robes were blue with white accents and embroidered very simply with silver thread. A simple way to mark her as Water Tribe.

“We’ll be heading back to the main palace.” Yoon said while Katara fixed her hair.

“It would have been simpler for me to be there.” Katara replied.

“In a way.” Yoon said.

Katara glanced at her but kept quiet.

They retraced their steps, again through the back gardens and doorways. Yoon then directed Katara to the repurposed war room.

That day was spent being moved around like another piece of furniture. From Iroh’s borrowed rooms, through the garden, to the dilapidated palace, and now here, she had become an unwieldy ewer. For the past few days, she had felt more and more like that; spilling her mistakes over Kyza and Zuko.

So when she saw a room full of people turn to her, Katara felt blood rush into her face. She was a statue that could breathe and it shocked her.

Sokka jumped up and ran to her, hugging her hard. Tears sprang to her eyes and she hugged him back. This absence had felt worse, sharper, than her time in the swamp.

“Are you okay?” Sokka asked as he stepped back.

“Where is Kyza?” Hakoda demanded, standing behind Sokka.

Katara opened her mouth, but her lungs were still porcelain.

“She’s in her room.” Zuko announced.

The group turned as Zuko entered from the back of the room, dressed in his Fire Lord robes. Hakoda took a step forward, but Sokka moved faster and grabbed his shoulder.

“You will release my daughter and granddaughter.” Hakoda stated.

Katara stared blankly at his back, feeling nothing as she heard the anger in his demand.

When she was younger, her father had towered in her vision. Now, as Sokka barred him, she saw how they were just tall, lithe men. Just as how Zuko was a tall, lithe man. There was only age that shifted a balance between Zuko and Hakoda, and at that moment it favored Zuko.

“You may go, Yoon. And shut the door.” Zuko said as he sat on his chair.

Katara heard the door close behind her, but didn’t look back. Her eyes were locked on Zuko.

“Please, sit.” Zuko said, gesturing to the chairs around the table.

Everyone hesitated and Zuko lounged in his seat.

“Katara?” A familiar voice asked.

The sound of her name made Katara turn and Aang approached from the other side of Sokka. He looked similar to the image in Suki’s picture. He was taller still, with a strange beard, and an older face.

“Wow.” He said with a breathy laugh. “Just… wow!”

Aang hugged her and Katara awkwardly laid her hands on his back. The last time they had seen each other, they had just…

Katara felt her face warm and she pulled away.

“Sorry.” She said softly.

“No! Of course. I understand. It’s just…” Aang sputtered, still looking excited.

“If we could focus?” Zuko called out.

Aang’s brightness faded and he suddenly looked tired. Katara briefly considered his fatigue and watched for his response.

“Zuko-” Aang started as he turned.

“Avatar.” Zuko interrupted. “Let’s take our seats, shall we?”

Katara sat at the other end of the table from Zuko, though his chair was raised by yet another stage. Down the right side was her family and Toph slipped in first down the left before Aang. There were still empty seats on both sides, widening the space between them and Zuko.

“To make this quick, I will explain how this is going to go.” Zuko said, still relaxed in his posture. From below him, Katara saw his gaze as sharp and narrow.

He resembled Azula.

“Katara is free to leave at any time. Contrary to your accusations, she is not being held here against her will.” He explained.

“And Kyza?” Hakoda questioned.

“You mean, my daughter?” Zuko corrected sharply.

“You-” Hakoda leaned toward Zuko, but stopped as Zuko leaned forward.

“Before you speak, think about exactly what you want to accuse me of. Did I abandon my daughter? Did I kidnap her?” He prompted.

Katara watched as Hakoda clenched his jaw and sat back. For all of his anger, Zuko wasn’t wrong.

“Nothing to say, Beifong? You’re being awfully quiet.” Zuko asked.

Toph shook her head. It was rude and careless, which wasn’t something Zuko often did.

“What do you want, Zuko?” Katara prompted.

“You know exactly what I want.” Zuko shot back. “And you can stop all of this at any time.”

Katara lowered her head but her body stayed relaxed.

“Do not-” Sokka shouted.

“Talk to your sister that way?” Zuko turned and finished Sokka’s statement.

“We all need to calm down.” Aang said.

Katara felt the rise and fall of her chest.

“No need to be diplomatic, Avatar. I think their anger is justified.” Zuko said.

“Sure, because then your’s is.” Toph said, her voice raspy.

“How did your parents ever doubt you?” Zuko asked.

“Don’t speak to me, ash maker.” Toph spat.

“What did I do wrong?” Zuko questioned.

He wasn’t mocking or sarcastic, and everyone was silent. Katara glanced up, watching Zuko from under her lashes.

“Are you invoking your parental rights?” Suki asked.

Zuko turned to her and pointed.

“Of course you get it first.” He said. Zuko then stood and walked down the length of the stage toward a small set of stairs. Moving to the head of the table, he looked at them all. Katara brought her head up, paying close attention to how he moved his hands.

“Two people have testified that Kyza is my daughter and I have accepted it. Even without a trial, I have acknowledged paternity. Because I am the Fire Lord, a current head of state, that means Kyza is bound to all of those legal aspects. Including the fact that she becomes my sole responsibility.” Zuko went on.

“You mean property.” Sokka stated.

“In the eyes of my court, sure. But if you refer to my daughter as property again, I will have you flogged at the docks like a common criminal.” Zuko said.

“Try me.” Sokka slammed his hands on the table as he stood and Aang rose quickly.

“Enough!” Aang ordered, holding out his hands.

“You just threatened the son of a head of state.” Hakoda said, his voice low.

“Ah, did Arnook adopt him? Because currently, the South Pole is not independent.” Zuko countered.

“Why are you being like this?” Toph cried. Sokka and Aang turned to her, while Zuko straightened.

“I get that you’re hurt, but why are you acting like your father?” She questioned.

“My father would never have fought for me. He never did.” Zuko said. “I will say it plainly, and you can tell everyone if I’m lying. I want my daughter and I will fight for her. I will do anything to keep her with me.”

Toph looked down but Zuko watched her.

“Well?” He asked.

Toph turned her face away.

“If it’s a fight you want, I'll give it to you.” Hakoda said. “I fight for my family, too.”

“War, again?” Zuko asked, still watching Toph. After a moment he looked at Hakoda.

“What are your demands?” Zuko asked.

“You release Katara and Kyza immediately.” Hakoda said.

“I repeat, Katara is free to go. In fact, you would be doing me a favor if you took her with you when you leave.” Zuko said.

Katara recoiled and gripped the fabric at her lap.

“Kyza is a Water Tribe citizen.” Hakoda countered.

“Not here. In my country, she is Fire Nation. She will stay here.” Zuko said.

“Then I will bring an army to collect her.” Hakoda retorted.

“Dad!” Katara blurted. Hakoda turned to her and she took in a breath, still gripping her robes hard.

“You can’t. With the mourning period, it wouldn’t be right.” She spilled the words out and Hakoda’s face tightened.

He turned back to Zuko.

“I know how it hurts to… lose your wife. But you cannot spread that pain to others.” He said.

“It is astounding how both you and your daughter seem incapable of understanding the basics of a conversation.” Zuko replied.

“I do not care if you know my pain,” He went on, his face becoming more twisted with anger. “Katara took my daughter from me. I have legal rights, end of argument. If you bring an army to my shores, you will be the aggressor, plain and simple. And honestly, it would be a boon if you did.”

Zuko walked back to the stairs but paused before ascending.

“My court may not accept Kyza. They might be unhappy, but what can they do with a legitimate crown prince? Now a war, where we are finally on the innocent side, and an invading force is coming to carry off our lost princess?” Zuko kept his back to them as he spoke and stepped up as they took in his questions.

“My people will fight for honor, as you break our sacred mourning period. My people will fight against your cruelty as you try to take the Fire Lord’s child. My entire nation will fight to prove that after one hundred years of evil, we still hold the purity of our core values.” Zuko lectured as he walked back to his raised chair.

“My people will fight for our own.” Hakoda warned.

“If you can handle the fallout, fine.” Zuko said, facing them again.

“Another war?” Aang asked derisively.

“No.” Katara said firmly.

Zuko sat as everyone looked at her, but she stayed quiet until he met her stare.

“No one will do anything until after the mourning period. A woman has died and deserves to rest in peace.” She finished.

Even in all of this drama from his stage, Zuko couldn’t keep the flash of pain from his face. Katara continued, the warning chorus to his one-man play.

“I will stay for the mourning period, to work something out. By the end, I’m sure we can come to an agreement.” She said.

“I won’t take anything less than both of you.” Hakoda told her before turning to Zuko. “You can plan for that.”

Zuko met Hakoda’s glare, but said nothing. He only looked for a moment and then faced Katara.

“You all can go. You have an hour before you have to leave the palace.” He said casually.

“May I have a word, Fire Lord?” Aang questioned.

Still looking bored, Zuko waved a hand.

“It doesn’t end well for a Fire Lord to deny the Avatar.” He said in lieu of a response.

“I’m getting out of here.” Toph muttered, rising from the table and walking briskly to the door.

“Come on, Kat.” Suki said, touching Katara’s shoulder softly.

Katara roused herself but looked back as Aang approached the stage. The last time a Fire Lord and an Avatar argued, part of the palace was destroyed.

Too much of this place was crumbling.

Chapter 32: Zuko Alone

Zuko stayed on the throne as everyone filed out. From the edge of his vision, he watched Aang approach the elevated stage. Fighting against the urge to sit rigid, Zuko lounged on the throne, even as his spine curved uncomfortably in the empty angles of the seat.

Once the door shut, Aang leaned against the table, his hands collapsed down in front of him. He smiled serenely; so like a monk.

“How are you holding up?” Aang asked.

Zuko narrowed his eyes.

“It hurt to hear about Izumi. I am so sorry that you’re having to go through this.” Aang continued.

“We can skip this.” Zuko said, pressing his fingers to his temple as he braced himself on the arm of the throne.

“I don’t think we can.” Aang crossed his arms over his chest and looked around before speaking again. “I’ve seen you grieve before.”

“You’re talking about Katara?” Zuko asked.

A year after Katara entered the swamp, and no one had heard from her, Zuko asked Aang for help. They spent six months at the edge of the swamp, unable to get past some indeterminate border. Aang and various scouts would penetrate the wild growth, only to walk back out hours later swearing they had never turned back.

Iroh gave him multiple stern warnings about the absence, stating pointedly that he could at least wait in Gaoling while attempting the breach. Then, at least, he could get some work done. The court was quickly growing contemptuous and Zuko couldn’t afford the disdain.

After six months, and a riot in Caldera, Zuko went back. He left everything at the swamp. He couldn’t afford the distraction.

“How is Emry?” Zuko questioned.

Aang sighed and scratched the side of his jaw.

“I don’t know what to say here, Zuko. The last time I was at a funeral, I think the man had been older than me.” He said.

He looked at Zuko more casually, almost tired.

“There’s nothing to say. I just lost my wife. I have an infant son to care for. My daughter, who I didn’t know even existed, has just shown up. There’s a lot going on.” Zuko said dryly.

“You can’t keep her hostage.”

“Katara? Again, she is free to leave at any time.”

“I mean Kyza, your daughter.”

“How is having custody of my own child the same as holding her hostage?”

Aang sighed heavily and stood upright. He walked toward the stage and turned, raising himself to sit on the edge.

“Legally, you’re right.” He said after a moment of quiet.

Aang was bent over, his hands between his knees. Zuko stared at him, not replying right away. They were all getting older, and even this childish posture now carried a heavier weight. Aang’s back had carried children, a wife, and countless pounds of other people’s chores.

Zuko’s spine, demanding strict form, still protested his feigned apathy. His seething rage made hydraulics of his joints and demanded they straighten. Staying still, he watched his friend. They had both loved the same woman, and they had both misunderstood her completely.

“I’m trying to think about the ethics of it.” Aang added.

“Try thinking politically.” Zuko said.

Aang sat up and turned, looking back at him with curiosity.

Zuko sighed and finally sat up. He gestured to the empty room, not wanting to hold Aang’s stare.

“Like it or not, Kyza is my daughter. Because she’s a bastard and a Waterbender, I can call her a princess and no one will care. But if Katara disappears with her again, there will always be suspicion. My line was threatened by an illegitimate son, remember.” He explained.

“It wouldn’t make any sense.” Aang countered. “Plus, Katara wouldn’t even dream of that.”

“My nation believes in omens. Katara showed up days after Izumi died and the court already thinks she bewitched me once.” Zuko stated.

“So you want to keep Kyza because…?” Aang asked.

“I want to keep Kyza because she is my daughter.” Zuko answered forcefully.

“Kyza doesn’t belong here.” Aang said.

“Did she say that?” Zuko shot back.

“What?”

“Has anyone asked what Kyza wants?”

Aang and Zuko stared at each other.

“Have you?” Aang asked quietly.

Zuko felt his face twitch and he stood.

“She wants all of us to stay here.” He admitted. “But I can’t control Katara.”

“And what do you really want?”

Zuko walked toward the edge and sat down next to Aang. They both faced forward, staring at the large table.

This was the room where his moronic honesty brutally changed his life.

“I want you all to leave me alone.” He said.

“Kozuke has lost his mother. Don’t make Kyza suffer the same fate.” Aang said.

“And what about me? I’m just supposed to let her go?” Zuko inhaled sharply as his throat tightened. Aang noticed and glanced over, but Zuko continued to stare at the large table.

“Why does Katara have the greater claim? Why even bring Kyza here if I’m to have no say?” Zuko laughed to himself, shaking his head. “Why is the problem that I am a father who wants to keep his daughter?”

“Because what you’re doing isn’t right.”

“Again, to whom? Kyza is happy. It’s only Katara who has something to complain about.”

“Zuko.”

“No, please Avatar, dispense your infinite wisdom.” Zuko said bitterly as he pushed himself down to stand on the floor. “As the Fire Lord, I have the legal right to acknowledge paternity and to follow royal protocol in regards to my children. And as a man, I can sue for custody. But I’m not because I’ve already allowed Katara into my home. She can come and go as she pleases. Yet because she has some unfounded, paranoid fear, I’m supposed to surrender my own child.”

Zuko stopped and turned to look at Aang. He still looked tired.

“Her enemies are dead, Aang. Nothing has harmed her since she entered this palace that wasn’t brought on by her own actions.” He concluded.

“You have taken advantage of a child’s yearning to know her father in order to consume her in the fires of your grief.” Aang argued. “Kyza isn’t a replacement for the pain in your life.”

“I will not have my daughter twisted into another traitorous woman who will ruin me.” Zuko seethed.

As his own words registered, he snapped back and felt his body cool. Aang took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as he also slid off the stage.

“Katara has offered to stay here for the duration of the mourning period to try and work things out. Is that agreeable to you?” Aang asked.

“For the problems she will inevitably cause during? Sure.” Zuko said.

“I’ll work with Hakoda and Sokka to see if we can stave off another war.” Aang said, his voice low.

Aang caught himself, meeting Zuko’s eye and smiling. As Aang walked past, he patted Zuko’s shoulder.

“Let me know if you need anything.” He said.

Zuko waited until he heard the door shut and took a seat at the table.

Talking with Izumi’s family had been draining. Tamami demanded to know everything about Katara and the girl she brought in with her. Of course his mother-in-law would figure things out faster than he wanted. They were still allies he couldn’t alienate, so Zuko told them as little of the truth as he could.

Tamami was livid and Azaki stayed quiet.

Cradling his head in his hands, Zuko stared down at the thick planks of the table.

His hard work would never pay off.

After fighting so hard to get back, Zuko’s coronation turned into shadow play. The nobility was immediately against him, and it was only his engagement to Mai that protected him. It was an uncomfortable truth and since they both knew it, it didn’t take much for the power dynamic to cause a rift between them. Mai could never be certain that Zuko truly wanted to make it work, especially when her father started whispering in her ear.

And Zuko could never be certain that she even wanted to stay.

If he hadn’t been Fire Lord…

Being with Katara was simple. Everything came easy, and they fit together quickly. After spending so long deep in the pages of various books growing up, Zuko matched her energy of various things with a scholar’s passion. They talked about food, music, and art from different angles but with a matching ardor.

From that, Zuko quickly realized that he was finding himself. Things he had left behind once he became Fire Lord was suddenly back. He had hobbies, interests, and a personality. He was Zuko, completely.

They complimented each other in a way that was more than the push and pull Katara talked about. They were more than harmonious opposites, more than a matched set. They were the dichotomy that existed in every living thing.

When she left, everything was one sided. His love, his drive, his identity all carried Katara’s fingerprints. There was nothing he had built that she hadn’t touched.

Zuko could not let it go. He was tied to Katara and she was barricaded behind a spiritual wall. The aching absence in his stomach made him hungry, but he couldn’t eat. His mind was foggy and he could barely gather the energy to move. The court crept around him, a poisonous miasma that clung to his ankles.

Izumi was the one to bring him to his senses.

At his birthday party, he found her hiding in a garden. They talked and, in what Zuko would learn to be a staple of Izumi’s personality, she laid out exactly what she thought he should do. If people kept leaving the palace because of what thrived in the shadows, then he had to light it up. Remembering how he had razed the family beach house, Zuko laughed for the first time in months.

He cleared out as many people from the palace as he could. Izumi’s family replaced Mai’s and the household staff closed around itself instead of chipping away at Zuko.

They didn’t see much of each other, since there was no Fire Lady to bring in any of the ladies from the nobility or the gentry. But there were still parties, festivals, and social events. Izumi was friendly during those times, and her parents were actively steering her toward other eligible bachelors. It made their friendship safe and Zuko found himself talking to her more about Katara.

He couldn’t talk to the others about it. Between the intimacy and the insidious violence, shame and fear kept him from reaching out. Izumi, born in the colonies, knew the horrible nuance to the Fire Nation court. She was sympathetic and steadfast.

When the court rioted, she called on her family to hold the palace. It was her loyalty and hard work that saved him.

Now she was gone, despite his care. Zuko was consistently passive in every pivotal moment in his life.

If he was passive again, what more could he lose?

The door opened and Zuko turned, his head still held in his hands. Azaki turned to close the door, giving Zuko time to sit up.

“Father, shall I call for some tea?” Zuko asked.

Azaki turned and shook his head. His beard was shorter than how most men his age kept them, but the points were traditional for his status.

“I think we both need something stronger.” He said, reaching into his robes and pulling out a bottle of amber liquid.

Zuko snorted as Azaki walked over, taking a seat next to him.

“I don’t think we’ve had a drink together since your wedding.” He added, uncorking the bottle.

“Izumi thought it was hilarious.” Zuko said.

“Tamami certainly did not.” Azaki mused as he set down the bottle. From another pocket in his robes, he pulled out two small cups. Zuko poured out some of the liquor and pushed one over to Azaki.

“I respect your uncle for his adherence to tea, but sometimes it’s just not enough.” Azaki said while they raised their cups.

They both tossed back the small amount of liquor and Zuko winced as he swallowed.

“Kozuke looks just like Izumi.” Azaki said.

Zuko set down his cup and looked down at the dot of amber left behind. More suddenly poured in and Zuko nodded.

“What did you want to talk about?” He asked.

Azaki sighed and Zuko heard the chair creak as he leaned back.

“If things had worked out, I’d have four bastards.” Azaki said.

Zuko clenched his jaw and his eyes widened.

Izumi talked about Yoon’s relationship with her father, but Azaki certainly never said anything.

“I guess you would understand more about what’s happening.” Zuko said carefully.

“When Izumi was convincing me to let you marry her, we talked about Katara. I didn’t want her to end up like her mother and there were rumors about you being in love with the Waterbender witch.”

Zuko felt his eye twitch but Azaki was tactless, not malicious.

“Katara was long gone.” Zuko said.

“That’s what Izumi said. But Tamami only sees the similarities, and now there’s this. You need to get rid of her.” Azaki said.

Zuko turned quickly and watched as Azaki took his drink.

“Pardon?” He asked.

Azaki shook his head as he swallowed and set his cup down with a tap. He tilted it toward Zuko’s cup and he obliged, drinking his portion. Pouring another serving, Zuko waited for an answer.

“Not how your family goes about things. I’m saying that you need to get both her and the girl out of the palace.” Azaki explained.

“Kyza is staying.” Zuko said before taking his drink.

The liquor burned and they were drinking quickly. Most Firebenders did; their bodies metabolized things too quickly and led to heavy drinking.

“I understand how you feel. It’s horrible, but I was relieved that none of the children I had with Yoon survived. I would have tossed everything, and we have certain responsibilities.” Azaki said.

“I have no idea how Yoon has let you live this long.” Zuko muttered.

“If anyone, it’s Tamami that’s the curiosity.”

They were quiet, drinking and contemplating.

“I know you love my daughter.” Azaki said with a sigh.

“I do.”

“Then do right by her and learn what I had to. You cannot keep both.”

Zuko called up a flame the size of a petal and rolled it between his fingers.

“But I don’t have both now, do I?” He asked.

Azaki was quiet and Zuko continued to move the flame over his knuckles. After a minute, Azaki poured more liquor.

“No, I guess you don’t.” He agreed.

“My daughter stays.” Zuko said, shaking the flame out and taking up his cup. He turned to Azaki and saluted him before drinking.

“Katara will leave eventually,” He continued as he stood. “One way or another.”

Chapter 33: Caught in the Rain

Katara barely had time to say goodbye. Guards were already waiting in the hall, impassive as Hakoda and Sokka argued with them. Movement like a whirlpool swept Katara out around the edges, so that no one noticed her until Yoon stopped her. But that pause only set the guards in motion and Katara met her father’s stern gaze for a moment before they were pushed forward. Hakoda started to protest, and Katara couldn’t tell if his words were meant for her or the guards.

Even Toph was taken up, her bare feet slipping over the wood as her attention was split.

Suki resisted the motion, looking at Katara the same way she would evaluate a dropped cup. Whatever she saw, Suki said nothing and turned of her own volition, moving with the rush of people out of the palace.

Katara’s throat was dry and she couldn’t remember, even in the seconds after, if she had managed to say anything at all.

Yoon was quiet, her stern form becoming a towering rock in the middle of the swirling current. Their eyes met and Katara kept her gaze on the brass dots while the rest of the room faded. Eventually, the room was quiet and still. Then Yoon nodded, and Katara followed.

Seeing Yoon’s rigid back, her tightly pinned hair, and the stiffness of the white robes reminded Katara of when she first arrived. Without Kyza, Katara watched the illusion of warmth dissolve. Every single day, Katara had silently followed. It was Kyza who was well received, Kyza who engaged the others in conversation. Katara was simply there, and often a hindrance at that.

In the quiet, Katara tried to focus on anything other than the white figure in front of her. Her gaze caught on the wooden inlays of the pillar bases, the diamond shapes becoming studs that rotated like teeth. Everything about the palace threatened to ensnare her and grind her into dust.

All of the rooms had dark floors, laid out as logs for the enflamed crimson and gold walls. She would, by maw or immolation, be consumed.

She shook herself, staring down at the floor as they walked through the palace. Yoon led her into another section of the palace and Katara could hear voices. People passed by her on either side; the lingering audience from Kozuke’s name day ceremony waiting to learn something more about the mysterious new prince.

Here were the wolves that Katara thought were gone.

Clasping her hands together in front of her, Katara squeezed her entire body as hard as she could while she walked. With her head down and trailing behind the Head Matron, she looked like a chastised maid. No one would even glance at her. No one would notice her return.

A few people paused to let them pass, and Katara kept her head down.

When she finally felt the air lighten, she glanced up. They were in the kitchens again and the door to the garden was slid open, allowing a breeze.

“You should eat something.” Yoon said and gestured to the broad table. Baskets of vegetables took up most of the space and there was flour tucked into the seams of the tabletop. Katara sat in the lone chair, reserved for the more elderly kitchen staff. But the room was empty for now, and Yoon went to a bubbling pot at the fire herself.

“Where is Kyza?” Katara asked as Yoon handed her a bowl. It was a simple congee with a tea egg. It would be filling at the least.

“She is in the Fire Lord’s rooms.” Yoon replied.

“Oh? Is she moving?” Katara asked casually, spooning up some of the congee.

“The Fire Lord wouldn’t have her stay in the other rooms on her own.” Yoon explained.

She stood with her hands in her sleeves, looking down on Katara. As Katara tried to read her face, she was startled by how hard Yoon’s eyes became.

Looking down at the bowl, Katara stirred the congee lamely. She certainly felt like a chastised maid.

“You can finish in your rooms, if you’d like.” Yoon said.

Katara nodded and Yoon turned. Standing slowly, Katara pressed her hands around the curve of the bowl. The heat wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was persistent and her palms felt dry.

They walked out into the garden, past the crumbling wall, and into the dusty palace.

Sitting back at the table with the bowl in front of her, she listened as Yoon shut the door as she left.

Katara’s hands slid into her lap and after a moment, she noticed that her nails were picking at the embroidery thread. Looking down, she traced the design, her fingers reading the dots of thread. Leaping koi fish, of course.

“You little peasant. You’ve found a Master, haven’t you?”

Zuko’s sneer rippled up from decades of memory. Their utter disdain for each other had been a serpent in her belly during the war. It took her a long time to recognize that his hatred was far more general, and therefore much easier held. He hated everyone who was not like him back then, and there had been many.

For Katara, it was much more personalized. Her necklace, the assassin, and his role during the siege of the North Pole. It was harder to let go, harder to forgive him for everything that had been done to her personally.

But she did let go. She did forgive. And then she fell in love.

Now she could recognize the specifically tailored poison made for her.

“You rise with the moon. I rise with the sun.”

The threat of their power kept each other in check, at first. As they grew, both into themselves and their abilities, everything was muddled. They were dusk and dawn, and a pale moon hovered in the late afternoon sky.

A shadow filled the room and Katara blinked. Looking out of the small window, she could see the dull metal gray of storm clouds. Neither sun nor moon would take part in this fight.

She stood and slowly found the various ties and sashes keeping her robe on. As she continued looking out, seeing no movement in the small rectangle but watching the clouds darken, she undid them all. The robe fell in a heap and Katara stepped out of it carefully. The still, humid air clothed her, and her undergarments fell limp on her body.

Wandering back into the hall, Katara looked around. There were no guards, no perceptible sign of another person anywhere in her vicinity.

Pushing open the nearest door, Katara peered into the room. Various shapes under white cloth gave no distinction to the purpose of the room. Thinking about the scroll Kyza brought, Katara recalled what she could of Fire Lady Ilah.

There wasn’t much recorded about her, as was the case for many of the women in the Fire Nation Royal Family. The brides were quiet, unassuming, and quickly forgotten when removed from public eye.

This palace was meant to be their resting place, more relevant than the catacombs below. And only for the few who outlived their husbands.

This room wasn’t meant to house another person for decades more, at least. Once Zuko had passed, and Kozuke was grown, Izumi would be humbly moved into this space.

Placing her hand on the doorframe, Katara gasped softly.

“I ended up here regardless.” She laughed softly to herself and turned away.

She opened the rest of the doors and studied the collection of shrouded furniture. The pieces were stored haphazardly, clearly, and the cleaning was severely lacking. Unexpected, unprepared, and therefore, very unwelcome.

But better than war.

Finally feeling her senses return to her body, Katara was acutely aware of sweat trickling down her back. Walking back toward the front door, there was still no sign of her being under watch. It would be easy to escape, and Zuko would prefer it if she did, but there wasn’t a solid way for her to get to Kyza.

Kyza’s presence inside the main palace became invisible fetters.

Opening the front door, Katara stepped barefoot on the weathered porch. Looking up at the sky, she could clearly see a storm building. Feeling the pressure in the air, she knew it wouldn’t burst for a few more hours and it would be a short rain at that.

Stepping off the porch, Katara felt the heat sear the soles of her feet from the sun baked stones. She continued on, making her way around the out building that was her new residence. There were patches of grass around the eastern side that held the bones of a garden. Ilah clearly wasn’t as much of a gardener as Ursa.

Along the back was another unkempt wall. Sections of the stone wall were missing the joining mortar, but stayed together purely out of weathered age.

Thunder rumbled, far off in the distance, and it brought up images of tumbling rocks to Katara’s mind. She walked on the sharp, brittle grass to touch the stones; everything was dry and desiccated, even as the promise of rain lapped against the rim of Caldera.

Walking alongside the wall, Katara let her fingertips drag over the pitted surface of the stones. Volcanic ash mixed into the rock dissolved faster than the stone could erode and she felt her fingerprints catch on the sharp labyrinthian surface.

Sweat once again started to creep down her back and Katara waved the fingers of her other hand to pull the damp away from her, to keep from staining her clothes.

As she turned the corner, heading back toward the front of the building, she flicked water from her fingers into the wall. A shard of ice, no larger than one of the fingers that loosed it, pierced a brick with a sharp whistle.

Pulling on the threads of energy curled around her fingers, Katara watched the seeping stain of water drip out of the hole she created.

There was only time and decay here.

The storm broke at dusk, darkening the sky and cooling the air. The raindrops were heavy and slammed against the slate pavers like stones. With how sudden and drastic the storm was, Katara wasn’t surprised when no one came with dinner.

A sudden crack of lightning split the darkness, turning the room white with brief light. The thunder that quickly followed sounded like a warning from a dangerous beast.

Lightning always made her jumpy. Now, it cleared her mind for a moment and she went back to the front door.

As she slid it open, she gazed out impassively.

She had felt him before she had even entered the hall, and she knew he was alone.

Zuko stood in the rain, his white robes sagging with the weight of the water. He watched her while she waited.

“Why did you come back?” He asked. Katara could feel the tingle in the air and waited for the next bolt of lightning to go streaking across the sky.

“Because I wanted to,” She said.

Zuko’s face contorted and she watched as rage and sorrow rippled over his features.

“Why did you leave?” He asked.

“Because I wanted to,” She repeated.

Zuko rushed to her, grabbing one of her wrists while his other hand twisted the front of her robe.

“You wanted to leave me?” He questioned.

The water that dripped from Zuko’s robe and chin froze before it hit the floor.

Katara smiled softly.

“I never wanted to see you again,” She murmured.

“After everything,” Zuko tightened his grip on her. “Everything we went through-”

He hesitated when he heard her gasp.

He stared at her for a moment before releasing her, stepping back just as she caught his sleeve. Zuko ripped his arm away, glaring at her.

“You do not get to claim me now,” He said, his voice low.

“What are you doing?” Katara questioned. “Would you truly go to war for Kyza?”

“Yes!” Zuko stepped toward her again as the thunder boomed over them. “I would have gone to war for her at any moment, yet you left.”

“For this exact reason! You would foolishly-”

Zuko cut her off as he laughed and Katara took in a sharp breath.

“You would be a fool to risk your throne over this,” She finished.

“My father made me believe for so long that to be a fool was the worst thing,” Zuko retorted. “But I have been miserable for years while being the dutiful lord.”

“Did you love your wife?” Katara questioned.

Zuko narrowed his eyes. “Don’t you dare.”

“Why are you here, Zuko?”

“Don’t you dare pretend with this. Don’t act as if you don’t know.”

Katara stayed silent as the rain poured from the sky.

“Izumi was my equal, my peer, and the finest Fire Lady I could have asked for. But I did not love her the way you mean. That has always been you,” Zuko said. He put a hand to her cheek and she could feel the heat of his skin, barely subdued by the rain.

“I know you will stay and I will burn down every army that comes for you and for Kyza. I will hold you here until you drown me,” he said.

“We won’t stay.”

“I sincerely hope you try to flee. I have been looking for an excuse to make you pay for what you’ve done to me.” Zuko caught the look in her eye and grabbed her chin before she could pull away. He smiled down at her as she scowled.

“You threatened my life when we were teenagers,” He continued. “Before you call me a monster again.”

“If you love me, you’ll let us go.”

“That’s the question then, do I still love you?”

“Why are you here?” Katara repeated.

Zuko’s eyes flickered as he looked at each of hers in turn.

“I have broken propriety,” He said and let go of her face. “I’ll make sure someone comes out with your supper.”

Katara stepped back into the open doorway and leisurely pulled her arms up. Water followed her fingers like strings as she removed the rain from Zuko’s robes. Tossing the floating orb of water to the side with one hand, she swept out another arm to push the rain off the path.

“So that the Fire Lord can stay dry,” She said.

“I remember when you stopped the rain before,” Zuko said as he turned to the garden.

“Don’t forget what else I did that day,” She replied.

“It never took much for you to get me on my knees,” He said with his back to her.

Katara watched him walk through the garden, and she held back the rain for him.