Strike of the match: Chapter 3 - The gardens

This chapter may actually reveal some of the things I've been alluding to in past chapters. And perhaps give some more concrete clues as to where things are going.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of ATLA.

The next morning, Katara woke up early – so early in fact, that the sky was just being coloured in lilacs and blues and the sun crept up the horizon. Perhaps it was all the meats and cheeses and wine from the previous night, but by dawn Katara's eyes were wide open and she could no longer sleep.

She pulled herself from the silky sheets and towards the water basin to wash her face. She got a small fright as she saw herself in the mirror – her hair, curlier in the humid climate of the Fire Nation, was standing at angles from her deep sleep. Not feeling up to detangling it at the moment, she roughly combed through the worst of the tangles with her fingers and arranged the curly mess into a loose and messy bun.

Perhaps she should get a cup of coffee, since she's up so early.

Tying the red-and-black housecoat she found provided in her closet tightly around her body, she quietly exited her room and tiptoed down the hallway. She had to suppress a chuckle as she heard the unmistakable sounds of her brother's load snoring come from his room, penetrating the heavy doors.

At least Sokka is sleeping well… Now where were the kitchens again?

Despite the much-repeated fact that firebenders rise with the sun, the hallways were quiet and empty. With the early morning light gently pouring in from the window, one might even go as far as to describe it as… serene. The thought seemed so absurd as it crossed Katara's mind that she could hardly suppress a chuckle. Zuko truly has done a wonderful job rehabilitating this space, that what was once the most dreaded place in her mind, the epicentre of evil, could now seem pretty to her.

Speaking of pretty, had she not seen that painting before?

I'm going in circles. Officially lost.

With a huff, Katara spun around trying to orientate herself and find the direction she came from. She needed some central landmark to help her navigate this place. And as she passed another wide open set of glass doors, she found it –

The gardens! Hopefully I can find my way to the kitchens from there. Or at least back to my room.

The morning air was cooler than she expected as a crisp ocean breeze drew in from the ocean's side. But the gardens, as beautiful as they were the night before in the dark, were even more gorgeous this morning. The flowers that had been closed were blooming, opening, and the grass was speckled with glistening drops of dew.

She must've really walked down the wrong side of the palace, because she did not recognise this angle of the garden. But if she could just get back to the bit with the firelilies and the large cherry blossom tree by the pool… She followed the path paved out in little white pebbles as it wove through the greenery and the flora. Across the way she could see some long-beaked blue-breasted birds strut along the grass, pecking into the ground searching for worms. Behind the mother bird, waddled some chicks, and Katara stood for a moment to watch the little chicks hop on behind their mother.

Then as the birds flew away, they revealed behind them a figure.

Seems like I'm not the only one enjoying the gardens this morning.

As she walked closer, she realised who it was.

Zuko sat still as a mouse, his back turned to her and his legs crossed. He was meditating, his hands poised together in the Fire Nation salute with one fist against an open hand. His hair had grown out longer, and was now hanging loose down to just above his shoulders.

And he was shirtless.

Katara stilled. She felt like she was walking in one a private moment. Even though she had seen Zuko meditating countless times when they were staying the Western Air Temple or at Ember Island – she had even seen him shirtless before… But this seemed different. The vision of his broad shoulders, the muscles of his back in the early morning light, his narrow waist – he was different. All of it seemed… different.

I should go… I should… leave. Now.

But as she stepped back, a twig crunched underfoot and Zuko agilely snapped back towards her.

"Oh, it's you. Katara."

"Sorry, I-I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just walking in the garden, and…"

"No, please, it's fine." He shifted around. Did he train before his meditation? Was that a thin sheen of sweat she detected across his chest? "I was just meditating."

"I'll leave you to finish-"

"No, please." He indicated to a spot of grass beside her. "I would like some friendly company."

After a beat, Katara relented and sat down cross-legged next to him. They were on a little hill just above the pool, which was glistening in the morning light. A small family of turtle-ducks were floating there amongst the reeds.

"This is a beautiful place."

"It has always been my favourite place. Despite all the many dark memories this palace holds… the gardens have always been special to me. My mother and I used to sit here and feed the turtle ducks when I was little."

Katara could not keep from smiling. "That sounds so lovely."

"These days I just meditate here. It's a particularly peaceful spot, I find." He stretched his arms out above his head and she heard his joints click; Katara averted her eyes before she could get caught looking at the way his body stretched, lithe like a cat.

Katara coughed, dispelling the distracting differentness from her mind. "Your hair grew out."

He chuckled, pulling his hair up into a ponytail. "My Uncle wants me to grow it out into the traditional style of the Fire Lord. But I feel like it looks silly."

Katara laughed at that. "It does look a little bit silly."

"Says you. With that pom-pom at the top of your head." Pointing to the messy bun at the top of her head.

"It's so humid here! I'm not used to it."

The chuckled together genially.

After a pause, Katara felt a question that's been niggling at her since the night before escape her. "Did you… did you make sure I stayed in the room where I healed you? Your mother's old room?"

Zuko released a slow exhale. "Truthfully, I had the room prepared particularly for you."

Katara looked down, a soft blush colouring her cheeks.

"It stood empty for some time when I first became Fire Lord. And when my Mother returned, I had her move to the East wing, closer to myself and Kiyi. And one day I found myself back in that room and… the memory that was most prominent in my mind was that night. When you saved my life. So I had it remodeled with you in mind. For when you visited and… I suppose just to honour that memory. I didn't realise it would be so long until I see you again, but-"

"Zuko…" Katara took his hand, squeezing it. "That is so incredibly thoughtful. I'm sorry I haven't been by much to visit."

"I understand. You've been flying across the world with the Avatar, spreading peace. That's a pretty decent excuse to lose touch."

A deep sigh escaped. And this earned a cocked eyebrow and sideways glance from Zuko.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"It's clearly not nothing. Something's up with you. Last night, and now… You know you can talk to me, right? I know it's been a long time, but-"

"No, I know. I just don't want to make things complicated."

Zuko sat back on his elbows, expectantly.

"I-it's… it's about Aang. And you two are friends." She ran her hands across her face. "We're all friends. And it makes it… difficult to talk about. And it's just difficult in general."

"I understand." Zuko said nodding. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. Relationships are difficult. Everyone has their ups and downs. I know that may be difficult to hear from me – I haven't really been in a long-term relationship since Mai, and that wasn't exactly a perfect relationship."

"No, I-I…" She swallowed. The words sat like a ball of pressure in her chest, tasted bitter on her tongue. "Maybe I should talk about it. I've been keeping it to myself for so long. It's been driving me insane." A shuddering sigh. "It's not just an up-and-down kind of thing. For the better part of a year I've been feeling… distant. I mean, at first it was great. We were travelling to all these new places, solving problems. And I felt part of it all… But as time went on, I started feeling like I was just along for the ride. Aang stopped listening to my advice; stopped asking for my advice. He started spending all his time with the Air Accolades; all he could talk about was rebuilding the Air Nation. He was going full force, but all I was doing was… waiting for him at home. And when he got home, it seemed that all he wanted to talk about was starting a family and producing little airbenders. Not waterbenders – or non-benders, La forbid. Part of me understands why he felt so urgently about it but…It made me feel like all I was ever going to get to do, the only role I was ever to be, was a wife and mom. I felt like I was being forced back into the narrow, sexist role that the Northern tribe tried to push me into. All of the other stuff, everything I had built my identity on, was fading. When we met anyone, I was introduced or addressed as Katara the Waterbending Master, or Katara who trained the Avatar, or even Katara daughter of the Southern Water Tribe… It seemed like all I was to Aang was a vessel for his future airbenders, and all I was to everyone else was the Avatar's girlfriend. And if I ever brought it up, all I could get was Aang the Martyr. And if I ever tried to talk about it, really talk through it, he would evade the conversation and run away. Guess that's just the typical Airbender way."

Katara eyes' were locked on her hands wringing in her lap, evading Zuko's bright golden gaze.

"So a few months ago, I finally had enough. I told Aang I didn't want to just follow him around the world anymore. I wanted to be useful. I wanted to do good. And I wanted to go back to the Southern Water Tribe to start a waterbending school for girls who want to learn combat with Pakku. He didn't take it well. He said I was being selfish, being heartless. I knew the things he wanted were important – rebuilding the Air temples and their culture and... But shouldn't a relationship be about what both people want? Do my needs, my dreams not matter?" She sighed, throwing her hands up. "He flew away on Appa. But I couldn't stand behind and wait for him anymore. So I left him a letter, explaining everything I hadn't got the chance to say before, and I got on a ship to home. I hadn't heard from him since. Not a word."

A beat of silence passed, as Zuko absorbed all she had told him.

"Thank you for telling me, Katara. I'm so sorry you've had to go through all this." Zuko extended a hand, squeezing hers. "Is there anything I can do to help."

"No." She rubbed her eye, dispelling the stinging of tears threatening to fall. "Thank you for listening. Just talking has helped a lot."

"Can I ask… what your plan is now? For your future?"

"I don't know. I don't have a plan. I've been agonising about what's going to happen when Aang arrives. I mean, technically we're still together, but… I don't know what our future holds. All I know is I can't go back to the way things were. I've worked too hard and I've been through too much. I can't waste all that – and I can't waste my talent. I need to do something meaningful. I need to put meaning back into my life."

Zuko nodded slowly.

Katara sniffed. "Thanks again, Zuko. I really needed this." She slowly raised herself up until she was standing. "I should leave you to finish your meditations. I've taken enough of your time."

"Katara." She looked back at him – serene, beautiful, different. "Katara, you deserve the life you want. You deserve to do the things you are good at. The world would be poorer for it if you do not. I'm sure Aang will see that too in time."

"Thank you." She started towards the path again. "Uh-… Where are the kitchens again?"

"Just keep following the path that way."

"Thanks."

The walk towards the kitchen was lighter for Katara. Even though nothing had really been resolved, after keeping her concerns toiling inside her own mind for so long it felt so good to let them out. Perhaps now that she'd admitted her feelings out loud, she could actually start doing something about it and – as Zuko called it – develop a plan for her future.

"There you are!" Suki called.

Katara was sitting at a table in the kitchens, sipping on some freshly brewed coffee that the kitchen staff prepared for her. "I just came in for a coffee. I was up so early this morning."

"Well drink up! We're taking you shopping today."

"What?"

"Yes! Like we talked about at dinner last night." Suki said, grabbing a fruit from the table and sitting down herself. "Tai Ly and I spoke to some of the other Kyoshi Warriors and swopped around some guarding shifts so we will both be free this morning."

"Oh wow. Suki, I'm not sure if I'm actually-"

"No! No excuses! We haven't hung out in forever. And, I know this seems counterintuitive since I'm in a troupe of all-girl warriors, but I could really use some girl time. Girl time that is entirely independent from work. No work talk. Just gossip and girl-talk and trying on dresses."

Katara sniggered and shook her head.

"Plus – the ball is in a few days. And Toph needs a dress too. And she hates shopping."

Katara stifled a giggle. "How do you plan on getting her there."

"I'm going to need manpower. That's why you definitely need to come." Katara raised an eyebrow. Suki shrugged. "And if she puts up too much of a fight, Tai Ly will just have to chi block her."

"Oh Suki, no!"

"C'mon, we're heading out now. Come on!" Suki dragged Katara out of the kitchens by the arm, effectively closing the discussion.

"I'm already bored."

"Toph, we just walked into the shop!"

"And I'm already bored. This is going to be terrible, I hate this."

"You need a dress for the ball too!"

"Can't you guys pick something out for me. I'm blind, remember? Doesn't make much difference to me?"

"Well that can't be totally true, Toph, I'm sure there are some things you prefer in a dress." Tai Ly reasoned.

After a beat, Toph sighed. "My feet need to be bare. So something longer, I guess, so it doesn't look weird that I'm not wearing shoes?"

"Good note." Katara said as she ran her finger along the samples of fabric. The store Suki had led them into was large, decked out with rolls and rolls of fabric – most in shades of red, maroon, ivory, black or gold. But there were others, Suki had insisted, you just need to know where to look. "Do you want it in green?"

"Duh."

"Any preferences in fabric choices?" Suki asked.

"I dunno, sugarcakes, knock yourselves out." Toph had found a small couch in the centre of the store, and placed herself there, feet up and arms behind her head. She was clearly not planning on participating, despite Suki's pleads and threats. Perhaps, Katara thought, it was best to let her nap while the older girls perused the fabrics for a while.

"Ooooh, I love this!" Tai Ly held up a soft, chiffonny dark pink fabric. "Can I have a few yards of this to send to the palace dressmakers?" She handed the roll to the shop owner, who accepted the fabric with a low bow.

"Of course, Miss. There is a beautiful golden lace that goes well with this fabric. Would you like to take a look at it."

"Please!"

Tai Ly flitted across the store, in her element, picking and choosing different samples of fabrics, laces, buttons and trims.

"The other colour fabrics are usually on that side of the shop." Suki said, pointing. "I think I'll look around here a bit. I'm thinking about getting something out of the ordinary, maybe a gold dress even? I dunno, might be too much."

"That could be pretty."

Katara slowly headed towards to other side of the store. A young woman sat there at a table, sowing a dress. Next to her stood dress figures with several long dresses displayed. On the wall by her table stood a row of fabric rolls in a variety of colours – blues and greens and purples and yellows. But it wasn't the fabric that caught Katara's eye – it was a particular dress.

In a scarlet red and ivory, the dress folded across the bust and scarlet fabric gently flowed down over the ivory in an elegant A-line. The dress had think straps over the shoulders, but also draping details over the shoulders. It was elegant, but not overly flashy – appropriate for a formal event, but still appropriate for her.

"This is a beautiful dress. Did you make it?" She asked the dressmaker.

She nodded shyly. "This is my father's shop. I work as a seamstress for him. Sometimes I make my own dresses as well. That's one of my favourites."

"I love it. Would you be able to make one for me?"

"For you?" The girl asked, blushing now. "Wh-why, I'd be honoured. Master Katara." She bowed her head low. "How would you like it."

"It's perfect the way it is. But, uh- would it possible to do in blue?"

"As I'm sure you can see, our shop has a limited supply of certain shades. But I'm certain I can figure something out for you. And I will work double time to make sure it is ready for the Fire Lord's ball!" The young girl was glowing now, disbelieving of the opportunity that her dress would be worn at such an event. "Shall I, uh, take your measurements?"

"Thank goodness that is over." Toph said. "Lunch?"

"Yes please!" The girls were walking down the bustling streets of the Fire Nation Capital. The walked until they found a nice enough restaurant that could serve as their lunch, and found a seat.

As they sipped on lemonade and perused the menu for options, Suki's promise of girl talk and gossip seemed to begin.

"So, Katara. I saw you and Zuko had a nice chat in the gardens this morning." Tai Ly said slyly. "I was discussing guarding shifts with Eliza, and I noticed you two sitting together."

"Oh." Katara said, willing any flush away from her cheeks.

"Is that where you were this morning?" Suki asked interestedly.

"I was up very early this morning. I got lost looking for the kitchens and a cup of coffee and ended up in the gardens. Zuko was there meditating-"

"Half-naked." Tai Ly said in a sing-song voice.

"WHAT?" Suki said eyes wide open.

"Not half-naked! Just shirtless. He always meditates shirtless. Anyway, we just sat caught up on things. Had a heart to heart. Normal stuff."

"I didn't know you and Sparky had heart to hearts." Toph said, crossing her arms with a knowing smile.

Katara shrugged. "He's a good listener. And he's had a difficult life and dealt with a lot of issues too – and he can empathise with a lot of tough things. So over the years – I guess since the Yon Rha thing – we've had a few good life chats in our time."

"Do you always have them at dawn in the most romantic place in the palace with Zuko shirtless?"

"Tai Ly! Don't say that. Katara is with Aang – right?"

Katara nodded. She didn't really feel like bring the whole story up here again. "Aang and I are still together." A lie by omission will have to do for now.

"I mean you're taken, but you're not dead." Tai Ly said rolling her eyes. "Trust me, I have zero interest in Zuko that way. We've known each other our whole lives, the Mai-thing, the Azula-thing… but even I can't deny the boy has aged well."

"I-I… would not really have much to say about that." Katara said, but she felt blush betray her cheeks.

"No, I have nothing to say about that." Toph said, waving her hand over her eyes. "Your heartbeat suggests you may very well have something to say, Sweetness."

"WHAT?" Suki said, scandalised, mouth wide open. "Is that true, Katara?"

"It's true that this conversation is very embarrassing to me! We're friends. All of us are friends, and maybe this isn't appropriate?" She said chuckling.

"Hmm, okay." Suki said with a raised eyebrow. "How about we change the subject. What about you, Toph? Do you have a new boy waiting on you back at the Beifong Metalbending Academy?"

"Oh jeez." Toph said, crossing her arms behind her head and lounging back cockily. "Which one?"

After a delicious, much joking and catching up, the girls sauntered back to the palace. Katara tried to ignore the smug sideways glances she kept receiving from Toph, as though the younger girl knew a delicious secret that remained unspoken.

Hope you guys enjoyed it. Reviews are much appreciated. As mentioned before, I'm coming back to writing for the first time in a few years so I'm just starting to gain my confidence back.

Zanny