once, twice, three times....
Well, this is the original start for the Zutara prompt #61: birth. It wasn't going where I wanted it so I started over with, hopefully, better results.
Iroh heard them before they arrived. The excited chatter, shouts of greeting, the groan of the paving stones as a heavy animal settled down. He glanced around his tea shop already noticing his customers craning their necks to see out the shaded windows. Settling a tea cup in front of one customer and gathering another's hastily left money, he headed towards the door, a smile already widening on his face. He loved seeing his nephew's friends and the Avatar enjoyed his custard tarts. Aang was just reaching the ground and lifting a hand to assist Katara when Iroh stopped in the door of the Jasmine Dragon, ready to welcome them. His smile dimmed as he watched the young couple. Aang, though cheerfully greeting the gathered crowd, appeared distracted and his smile strained. Katara was best described as anxious. Iroh noticed a few words pass between them before Katara accepted Aang's hand down. Iroh watched them, his smile slowly fading. By the expression on Aang's face was determined. Whatever Katara responded didn't appear to please him if his frown and quick shake of his head was any indication. Aang frowned, leaning forward as if to give her a quick good bye kiss but pulled away with a rueful grin. The young Avatar gave the gathered crowd a cheery wave and flicked Appa's reins with a brisk, “Yip, yip!” without another glance back.
Iroh watched the flying bison shrink into the distance before disappearing behind a drifting cloud. Katara hadn't moved, simply gazing at the sky, an apparent slump to her shoulders. Iroh gave her another cursory glance before grinning broadly and clasping his hands together, exclaiming, “Master Katara! What a wonderful surprise!”
He didn't miss her shoulders tensing and the hesitation before she turned, giving him a bright smile. “Iroh, I was just coming in. How's the Jasmine Dragon?”
He pretended not to notice the redness in her eyes or the strain of her smile. “Wonderful! I'm so pleased to retire to a tea shop. Tea is the nectar of the gods.” He hesitated, ushering her into the dim tea parlor. “Is Avatar Aang not staying?”
Her step faltered and he heard her breath catch. “He...No.”
To Iroh's knowledge, the young Avatar rarely strayed far from the girl's side. Katara avoided his eyes. “Is there trouble?”
“No,” the word was barely above a whisper and was punctuated with a sniffle. “Nothing like that.”
He watched hands rise, fisting to press against her eyes. Full lips thinned, and her breath hitched. Iroh placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, lowering his voice sympathetically, “Is everything all right?”
The next instant his arms were full of sobbing young woman, her hands clutching the lapels of his robes and her face pressed her his chest. Surprise nearly made him speechless and he noticed the patrons lingering in the parlor were eying them suspiciously. Her words were nearly incoherent and Iroh quickly lead her out of the public rooms.
“I'm a terrible, horrible person,” she wailed as soon as he slid the door closed. “I don't deserve to live.”
Iroh deposited her on a cushion, letting her crumple to the table as he turned to have tea and cakes brought to the room. He settled onto a cushion across from her when the tea tray arrived, calmly pouring two cups of tea. “You know that's not true, Master Katara.”
She bolted upright, cheeks red and tear-stained, shrieking, “It is! I broke his heart!”
Iroh paused, setting the teapot down. “Avatar Aang's?”
She shoved her fingers into her hair and dropped her elbows to the table, keening, “He loved me.”
Iroh pushed a filled teacup across the table, musing ironically of the situation. Not two days before, Zuko showed up at his back door and didn't even offer a smile before trudging in, flopping down in a chair, and brooding. Iroh let Katara's wails reduce to sobs and finally settle into sniffles as he carefully selected a pastry and put it on Katara's plate. “Now, Master Katara, tell me.”
Glassy blue eyes peeked up at him before dropping to the plate of pastries and the cup of tea at her elbow. He allowed a kind smile and settled in for the wait. In the mean time, he probably had to replenish the tea. It looked like Katara wanted to get a few things off her chest.
!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!
The candle flared and died, flared and died, again and again with each breath he took. His eyes focused on it without really seeing it. It was just one candle and really wasn't meant for meditation exercises but he wanted a distraction. Diplomacy meetings and such would not be enough. He ignored his uncle bustling around the kitchen, setting up tea pots and boiling water, content to slump morosely at the table and watch the flame. He arrived four days ago grumpy and short-tempered. For two days he was the sole recipient of his uncle's sympathy. And then she arrived. The waterbender. Katara. He heaved a sigh, blowing saggy hair out of his eyes and making the candle flame leap. Not that he didn't like the girl. Not that didn't notice when she teared up at the sight of a butterfly or an Appa shaped biscuit or his uncle's fish. Usually, he'd be happy to see her, but not now. She completely ruined his pity party by throwing one of her own. He scowled and the flame burned hotter. He was here first. It was his uncle and then she arrived and had to cry-The candle vanished and he started, looking up. Iroh smiled cheerfully down at him and he felt his insides twist and knot. Perhaps the pity party was better alone...and at home.
“I have decided that you have sulked long enough, Nephew, and-”
Zuko flushed. “I am not sulking!”
“-it's not good for young people to stay inside all day. You should take Master Katara out and see the city,” Iroh continued as if he'd never interrupted.
“Katara's seen the city.”
“That was during the war. She might like to leisurely see the city.”
“I don't want to go on a date.”
Iroh looked surprised but quickly smiled. “Perhaps the Fire Lord would like to establish good relations with the people of the Earth Kingdom and perhaps see the renovations he has sponsored.”
“Uncle, I've already-”
“Without the politics. But of course the Fire Lord can't go out unprotected, even in this time of peace, so Master Katara should go with you.”
Zuko stared at his uncle, slack-jawed, and then Katara walked in. “Good morning, Iroh. Zuko.”
He barely caught the mischievous grin on his uncle's face. “Perfect! Good morning, Master Katara! Zuko was just telling me that he thought it'd be nice to take you out to see the city tonight.”
Katara blinked, picking up a biscuit and turning to look at Zuko in disbelief. “You were?”
Zuko could feel his face burn. “I-”
Iroh interrupted, “Oh, yes. You know he saw the city with the Earth King and his council, but politics is so stuffy that you never really see anything.”
Katara nodded slowly. “Yes, Aang always complained about not being able to see anything fun.”
Iroh beamed. It was the first time she'd mentioned the airbender without tearing up. Zuko scowled.