A Truth Universally Acknowledged

[waterwhip]

[ The time it takes to get from the Southern Water Tribe to the Fire Nation by boat is, as it turns out, significantly longer than the time it takes to get there on Appa's back. Katara knew that going in, of course, and there was no way she'd be able to borrow the flying bison for this trip--Aang had flown off almost as soon as he'd found out the reason why Uncle Iroh had come all the way down to the South Pole for a visit.

Katara was just as surprised, of course--flabbergasted, even--but she didn't really have the option of flying away this time, did she? The request being presented is beyond anything she could have anticipated. She knows for certain that it wasn't Zuko's idea; he'd never even think of asking her something like that.

The White Lotus coming up with the plan, on the other hand, is totally believable. Iroh laid out their wishes in the most logical, methodical way possible, reasoned calmly with an obstinate Hakoda, and asked Katara for her thoughts.

She thought it was insane that they were asking her, of all people, to marry Zuko, but more importantly, she thought it was something she needed to talk directly with him about before making a decision that would fundamentally change the course of the rest of her life.

So, she'd packed a bag and embarked with Iroh on his Fire Nation ship.

Zuko was advised not to meet them at the docks, since the point of the visit was to allow them to talk without raising too many eyebrows, and the Fire Lord arriving to greet them would have done just that. Katara was given a red sarong to wear so she'd blend in with everyone else as much as she could with her dark, warm skin, and eventually, everyone was settled in around a low table in one of Zuko's private chambers just drinking tea (at Iroh's insistence) waiting for him to arrive. She's tired, but listless, too. What did he think of all of this?

When the door finally opens to admit him, Katara is on her feet in an instant, excited and anxious and even a bit afraid. In the past she might have hugged him, but that hardly feels appropriate in this particular instance. ]

Zuko! It's... been a while.

Comments

[restoredhonor]

[ They are insane. All of them. King Bumi, Master Piandao, Pakku... they are all insane. Not to mention his uncle. He can't believe, no he can. The Fire Nation had committed atrocities against the entire world. He was an unknown. While he'd been instrumental in stopping Azula, he'd also committed crimes against the nations. But he was trying to make up for that. To drag in a friend, to make her pay, that he didn't like.

He scrubs a hand over his face as he walks down the hall, headed toward where he was told his uncle and guests were waiting for him. He knows who the guests are. It only makes sense to bring her here. Sokka had already come to practice with Master Piandao - they're in the sword ring. Zuko had stuck his head out, but had gone on with his duties, as is expected.

Another sigh escapes him and he can't help but think of Mai. Strong, proud, not-as-depressed-as-she-seemed, Mai. But she's gone her own way. She'd told him, as they stood in the garden holding hands for the last time, that the Fire Nation needed him to be stronger than redirecting lightning required. She'd told him she'd be back to kick his ass if he tried to do anything too self-sacrificing. And then, she'd kissed his cheek and gone.

He shakes away the thoughts, and the hopes of sleep as he steps into the room. She's there in a red sari, her dark hair done as always. He almost smiles for the first time in days. It's nice to see her. He knows there are bags under his eyes, he knows that he's shorting himself on desperately needed sleep because there is so much to fix, so much to make right. He steps away from the door. ]

Hello, Katara. Hello Uncle.

[ His voice is creaky because of all the talking, all the shouting he's had to do to be heard as the ridiculous commands of Ba Sing Se and several other places have been debated over and heard. ]

[waterwhip]

[ Zuko looks like he's been run ragged, which... isn't surprising. He is the Fire Lord, after all, which means that he has to deal with more demands on his time than most people would be willing or even able to handle, especially with all the changes in policy that are sure to have come in the wake of Ozai's tyrannical rule.

Then again, that's why she's here, isn't it? Her cheeks heat up at the thought, but it's true. The changing of the guard meant new blood was being demanded, and while the Water Tribes didn't really have the necessary manpower to make the kind of demands the Earth Kingdom was making, they didn't exactly disagree with those demands either. Her father had protested the idea vehemently at first, but Pakku was in support from fairly early on, she knew.

Across the table from her, Iroh stands as well, moving to give Zuko a genial pat on the back. He's urged to sit, and tea is poured for him as well. Snacks are served, and once they're alone, Katara cuts to the chase. ]

Uncle explained the situation to me pretty thoroughly. It sounds like you don't really have much of a choice about... this whole situation? I can't believe Kuei would try and force this on you when he isn't even married, either!

[ Oh, and now she's said the word, hasn't she? She can feel her cheeks heating up even more, and she stares into her cup of jasmine tea. ]

It's not fair of him to pressure you like that, I mean. But... he doesn't know you like we do.

[ She sighs deeply. ]

Uncle explained everything to me, of course. I guess I just wanted to hear from you directly before I made any decisions.

[restoredhonor]

[ Zuko is exhausted. He just wants to go back to something simple. Like hunting down Aang. That has to be simpler than this right? Then again, he's pretty sure the Avatar wants nothing to do with him. He'd noticed that Aang had feelings for Katara and here they were, marrying her off to him and not the Avatar.

He gratefully takes the gentle tea that his Uncle hands to him, sipping it slowly. It's got the tiniest amount of a pick-me-up in it, and Zuko is grateful. He's going to need it to bolster his flagging energy for the rest of the night. ]

We've been in negotiations with him for weeks.

[ His voice is still creaky, but it's getting stronger, even as his shoulders slump further. ]

He's adamant that the Fire Nation not be without...

[ a deep breath. ]

Without constraints. Kuei is the only one saying what others are thinking. As we don't know where the Dai Li are, or who they are loyal to, it's politic -

[ he practically spits the word out ]

- to ascede to his demands.

[ He's been fighting, fighting a losing battle to save her. she doesn't need to be tainted by what his family has done. She's already lost enough.

He looks up at her, golden eyes exhausted, but resolute. ]

Katara, I, honestly, don't know what to do. But I will not put you in the middle, if you decide you do not want to be. Everyone has already lost so much because of the war. I won't ask you to continue sacrificing.

[ The last is said softly, to his tea. He may be lost in a sea of politics, but he believes strongly that she's sacrificed enough, and shouldn't be required to sacrifice more, just because of him. ]

[waterwhip]

Zuko...

[ Katara watches him carefully--the tension in his body, the expressions as they flash across his face. She spares a few seconds to collect her thoughts, to feel the push and pull of her chi inside of her. There is a part of her that is honestly repelled by the idea of submitting herself in any way to the nation that brought her people to the verge of extinction--that killed her mother. She hasn't felt that sentiment in a long time; she thought she'd gotten over it when she'd let Yon Rha go when he deserved to die by her hand many times over for the atrocities he'd committed against the Water Tribe.

She looks at Zuko's earnest expression and shakes her head. No, the Fire Nation is more than one wicked man. She knows that. There are good and honest people here, too. People like him. ]

I'm already in the middle of it, aren't I? I've been in the middle of it since the day I found Aang in that iceberg. The situation is tense right now, and we all fought so hard to see the end of the war. I don't know about you, but there's not much I wouldn't do at this point if it meant preventing another war, or an occupation. Don't you agree?

[ From his seat, Iroh watches them silently, but Katara can't bring herself to look at him right now. Zuko is the one whose thoughts and feelings are paramount, right now. ]

Listen, I... I've been thinking about it since we embarked from the South Poke, and... I'll do it.

[restoredhonor]

That was different.

[ In his opinion it was different. She'd been trying to save the world from his father, and eventually his younger sister. She'd done so much, changed so many things... so many people, including him. It'd been their talk in the crystal cave, before Azula had hurt Aang, that had started him on his path. And here they were, forcing her to change a nation as well.

... To be fair, his first thought had been: if anyone can do it, Katara can.

Still; it's a harsh reality she's stepping into. Then she agrees and his head yanks up as if on a string. He stares at her, his eyes exhausted, but hopeful. He needs just a smidgen of hope to cling to. ]

Katara... are you sure?

[ He hears his uncle snort, or make some other noise, but his focus is on Katara. If she has one doubt, he'll find another way. She deserves all the happiness that the world can offer. He... He will pay for his family's mistakes, probably most of his life, if not all of it. And he's prepared for that. ]

[waterwhip]

Think about it, Zuko. I know Kuei isn't a bad guy, but he doesn't actually know anything about ruling a nation. This is his advisors counseling him to do something, wanting to make the Earth Kingdom look strong after the war. They're the biggest country in the world, and if they ever took the Fire Nation, what would stop the Water Tribes from being next? There's not a lot we could do in a situation like that.

[ She shakes her head, knowing, reasonably, that even if they did agree to his demands that there isn't necessarily anything stopping the Earth Kingdom from doing that anyway, if they wanted to. ]

We need good diplomatic relationships with them. The whole world needs that, or things will fall out of balance again.

[restoredhonor]

[ He buries his face in his hands. He can't deal with all of this. ]

We can't have another extinction.

[ He whispers the words. Despite what people think, the thought of the Air Nomads being wiped out, and then someone else following suit horrifies him. He hates his grandfather for having done that. He can't believe... No, Kuei might not know how to run a nation, but he knew how to pin Zuko in the corner and make him stay there.

He can feel the tension surrounding him. ]

Alright. Alright.

[ He doesn't release the tension, but he does feel better saying it. He takes a deep breath and finally looks up at Katara. He stands up and takes her hand. ]

We're going to wait, but if you're okay with it, so am I.

[waterwhip]

I... I'm okay with it. I am.

[ It feels surreal to be here, discussing her future so dispassionately. Not just any future, either--her future as the Fire Lady... Zuko's wife. She can almost feel the weight of responsibility settle on her shoulders; it's an enormous burden for someone who isn't yet sixteen, but to look and see him standing there with his hand extended towards her...

Katara puts her hand in Zuko's, feeling suddenly shy. ]

What happens next, then?

[restoredhonor]

[ Zuko squeezes her hand, suddenly realizing the enormity of what they're embarking on. This isn't hunting down the Avatar. This is... forever. This is his life, her life!

But he can't rail against what fate and meddling old men have brought into his life. There isn't time. He has other concerns. ]

Pakko insists you have an engagement necklace. I'll start work on that.

[ Somehow, someway. ]

You also need to come in for an official visit. Preferably with your father and grandmother, if possible. Then, your education will start. We only have a few months before Kuei's demand runs out.

[ He scrubs a hand over his face, exhausted. ]

Thank you, Katara.

[ That's so inadequate to what he's feeling, but he doesn't have the words to express it. ]

[waterwhip]

Zuko, it doesn't matter what Pakku insists. The engagement necklace is a Norther Water Tribe tradition--I didn't even know about it until I went there, so it has no significance to me. The necklace I have is important to me because it belonged to my mother, and not for any other reason.

[ She squeezes his hand back before releasing it. Iroh is still there, after all, uncharacteristically silent as he lets the two teens work things out between themselves. At the mention of an official visit, he does chime in, though.

"We'll begin arranging for your visit immediately, Master Katara. However, since you are here already, there's no need for you to return to the Southern Water Tribe. We'll house you in one of the royal estates until invitations are issued through official channels and your relatives have enough time to arrive. You'll return to the Caldera with them at that time. We'll also make arrangements for lessons in the finer details of Fire Nation history, policy, and etiquette. You'll have nothing to worry about."

Katara very much doubts that last bit, but she is still a bit overwhelmed and she doesn't want to contradict Iroh, so all she can really do is bow in thanks. ]

I guess things are about to change for all of us.

[restoredhonor]

[ While it may not matter to her, it matters to Pakku, and Zuko doesn't have many friends. He needs all the ones he can get. He'll design the necklace and have one of the royal jewelers make it. That will solve that. ]

Thank you, Uncle.

[ He looks at Katara again, his golden eyes exhausted. But some of the burden has been lifted off of his shoulders because she's agreed. ]

I'll go send the invitations, immediately. Then, we'll get you to the palace, and work on the wedding. Anything you want, tell someone, and it will be done.

[ Even Iroh's eyebrows rise with that statement. ]