Chapter Text
DISCLAIMER: I do not own ATLA or its characters.
The Minister
Chapter One: The Candidate
"I still don't see why you guys need to go," Toph complained, stomping her foot on the ground. A pillar of rock burst from the earth, arching their luggage through the air and into Appa's saddle. "I've barely seen you in months."
"Yu Dao is holding the elections for minor government positions this week," Aang reminded her.
"Exactly. Minor."
He ignored her. "It’s one of the first unified cities. I just want to make sure everything goes well."
"I didn't get a chance to really see how it works when they held the elections for Governor," Sokka added, tossing his bags up to Katara, who sat in Appa's saddle. "I've got a few questions."
Toph kicked at the dirt. "Of course you do," she muttered.
Aang leapt up to Appa's head, tightening the reins around his horns. He ran his hands through the bison's thick fur. "I'll bet you're ready to get to Yu Dao, aren't you, buddy?" A loud metal crash cut through the morning air behind them, and Appa grunted his irritation. "It'll be a lot quieter there," Aang promised.
After their bags were secured, Aang held a hand out to Katara and leapt down, cushioning their landing with a downward blast of air. Katara glided over to Toph, whose disappointment at their departure had manifested itself in the form of crossed arms and slumped shoulders. "We'll miss you, too, Toph," Katara said affectionately as she hugged the sturdy Earthbender. "You could always come with us, you know."
"I can't, I've got to train these imbeciles." Toph jerked a thumb towards the schoolhouse as Aang leaned in to hug her goodbye. "The building was barely standing last time I came back from Cranefish Town." As if to emphasize her point, another loud crash sounded from inside the building. She heaved a dramatic sigh. "You three get out of here; I hate long goodbyes."
She turned to give Sokka a departing punch on the arm, but he twisted out of the way and picked her up in a bear hug. "Bye, Toph," he said. "We'll come back soon."
"Put me down," she snapped, but her soft blush betrayed her delight at Sokka's affection. He set her down, and she managed to get in a quick jab before he darted up Appa's tail. Katara waved Toph one last goodbye, and they set off into the rising sun, Toph's school a fading blur behind them.
The ride to Yu Dao was smooth and brief, a day or so of easy flying. They could see the outline of the town the next morning, the skyline a mirage of blue and orange. Here and there among the buildings, handmade posters were tacked to the walls and strung from balconies, the names of candidates written across them in black paint in catchy phrases like 'A Vote for Chang is a Vote for Change!'
Appa glided between buildings and over houses, finally hovering above a large courtyard lined with topiaries and fountains; the entrance to the Morishita's mansion. The Governor of Yu Dao, Mr. Morishita, had generously offered them the comfort of his spacious home for the duration of the election process. Appa landed with a heavy thud, a cloud of dust kicking up around them.
Aang jumped down from the bison's head. He was just reaching up to grab some of the bags that Katara handed down to him when Mr. Morishita approached, a gaggle of valets in tow.
"Avatar Aang," the Governor called. He was a portly man, with graying hair at his temples and beard. A tight topknot crowned his head, and he cut a stately figure in a robe of muted red. "It's a pleasure to receive you," he said, bowing deeply.
"It's a pleasure to be here, Mr. Morishita, sir," Aang answered, smiling and bowing in return.
The Governor gestured towards his house. "Come in, all of you, come in. My valets will take care of your luggage. We have rooms set aside for each of you." He eyed Appa apprehensively. "Several stalls have been refurbished in the stables to accommodate your bison. He should be comfortable during his stay here."
Aang ruffled Appa's soft fur one more time. "See you later, buddy," he murmured.
Katara and Sokka hopped down from Appa's saddle. Katara's hand slid into Aang’s, their fingers lacing together, and the three of them followed Mr. Morishita up the smooth marble steps, through ornately carved wooden doors.
"I hope you came hungry," the Governor said. "My wife has been preparing for your arrival all morning. The cooks have a delicious lunch for us. Ah, here's Mrs. Morishita now."
The plump woman glided over to them on slippered feet, her green Earth Kingdom silks rustling a soft whisper across the mosaic tile of their entryway. "Welcome to our home, Avatar Aang," Mrs. Morishita said, inclining her head to Aang politely. "And welcome to you two, as well. We're delighted you agreed to stay with us," she added warmly. "Lunch is in an hour; several of my husband's friends and associates will be joining us. Why don't you freshen up? I can have Lee guide you to your rooms." She gestured to a stuffy man in a crisp green and red uniform.
"That would be lovely," Katara thanked her.
The valet led them at a stately pace down the western hallway, finally coming to a stop in front of three ornate doors. "This one is for you, Avatar Aang," the stuffy man intoned, indicating the first door. "It shares a washroom with the room next door. Your room, sir," he said, turning to Sokka. "And your room, Miss, is the next door over. The Governor requests you join them when you are ready. The dining hall is down the East Wing, third room on the right."
Thirty minutes later, Aang and Sokka stepped back out into the hallway, the dirt and weariness of travel washed away. Aang adjusted the orange sash that hung across one shoulder, trying to hide the wrinkles that crisscrossed the smooth fabric. "I knew I shouldn't have stuffed this in my bag," he muttered.
Sokka looked down at his own wrinkled tunic, decorated with the geometric shapes and strong blues of his tribe. "Eh," he grunted indifferently, shrugging. "We live out of packs- it’s the price of mobility."
"Katara'll have something to say about it."
"She always has something to say," Sokka said, rolling his eyes.
Aang nudged him gently in the ribs. "I wonder what's taking her so long.”
"Her hair," Sokka guessed. He made a swooping gesture from his forehead to his ears with both hands. "She always has to redo her loopies after we fly anywhere."
The door to Katara's room opened a few minutes later, and she stepped out. Aang's eyes swept over her graceful figure, swathed in a lovely blue ankle-length tunic over dark blue leggings. "Sorry that took so long. I had to redo my hair." She stopped abruptly at the sight of them. "Did you two stuff your clothes in your bags again? I thought we talked about this."
Sokka waggled his eyebrows at Aang, and he stifled a chuckle. He caught sight of Katara's raised eyebrows and went to her, contrite. "Won't happen again," he murmured, winking conspiratorially. She laughed as he pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"Alright, lovebirds, let's go. Before I lose my appetite," Sokka complained.
They trudged down the long hallway together, Katara's hand entwined with Aang's, until they reached the dining hall. A long table groaned under the weight of food that wafted mouth-watering smells in their direction. Plates and silverware dotted the outer edges, and Mr. Morishita sat in plush chairs at the head of the table, placid smiles on their faces.
"Here, Avatar Aang," called Mr. Morishita. He gestured to the empty seat to his left.
Aang happily obliged, sitting down smoothly with a nod to Mrs. Morishita. Katara slid into the empty seat beside him, her hand finding his under the table.
"Will Kori be joining us?" Katara asked politely.
"Our daughter has been accepted to Ba Sing Se University," Mr. Morishita said, his chest puffing with pride. "She moved there in the spring to begin her studies."
Before they could answer, the doors to the dining hall swung upon, and another of the Governor's seemingly endless supply of valets marched into the room to announce the arrival of Mr. Morishita's guests. A convoy of stately-looking men and women filed into the hall, each greeting Mr. Morishita and his wife in turn, before taking their seats. The room was filled with polite introductions and the idle chatter of the newly acquainted, until Mr. Morishita finally set down his wine glass and turned to Aang. "We are honored to be hosting you and your friends, Avatar Aang. Your presence here means a great deal to us, and to the people of this city."
"Thank you," Aang answered brightly. "I didn't get the chance to study the process too closely during your election, sir, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it all works. My friends are, too," he added, gesturing to Katara and to Sokka, who sat across the table from his sister.
"This may not be the most influential election to watch," Mr. Morishita admitted with an abashed chuckle. "But we will explain the process to the best of our abilities. There are several positions being filled; I'm sure they will provide ample opportunity to illuminate you on the workings of a republic."
"What positions are being filled, Sir?" Sokka asked between bites of food.
"Minister for Commerce is one. Their role will be to organize a community of businesses and encourage entrepreneurial development," a slender Earth Kingdom official by the name of Bao answered for the Governor, his tone expansive. Mr. Morishita inclined his head for Bao to continue. "Then there's the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who will essentially be acting as Yu Dao's ambassador in Ba Sing Se. We won't see much of that election's winner, but their job is important nonetheless." Bao's tone changed suddenly, becoming less pompous, more subdued. "And then, the Minister of Justice, who will act as head of our judiciary system. Our Chief of Police will report directly to him, and he will serve as judge in major criminal trials."
Aang raised his brows. "Well, they all sound important," he murmured, and Bao raised a wine glass in salute. "We can't wait to watch."
Mr. Morishita steepled his hands on the table in front of him. "We do appreciate your enthusiasm, Avatar Aang, however, I was hoping you might be willing to do more than simply… observe."
"More?"
"You must understand that while a candidate elected by the majority certainly leads to the most popular person holding an office, it also tends to create a level of… tension amongst the voters." The Governor sighed. "They become quite attached to their candidate. We've held smaller elections in various districts throughout the city in order to ensure that the two nominated candidates are representing the best interests of the people."
"Like a tournament," Katara interjected.
"Just so," said Mr. Morishita, inclining his head to her. "It's proven effective so far, but it inherently leaves one group- the minority- disappointed."
"Is there someone particularly disappointing, or are we just making a blanket statement here?" Sokka asked shrewdly.
A heady silence fell over the room's occupant's at Sokka's question, as if he had spoken aloud a dangerous taboo. The Earth Kingdom officials seated around the table eyed each other nervously, some bowing their heads over their plates, while many of the Fire Nation officials curled their lips in contempt. All eyes turned to the head of the table as everyone waited silently for the Governor's response.
"Let us just say that the position of Minister for Justice is a race whose results we shall monitor closely," Mr. Morishita said delicately.
Sokka leaned forward in interest. "And who are the candidates?"
"Candidate Liang is the Earth Kingdom representative," Bao announced. He had the tone of a man prepared to argue. "He served as a lieutenant in the Earth Kingdom army and will serve as an excellent Minister for Justice for Yu Dao."
Xun, the Fire Nation official who sat across from Bao, sat up a little straighter. "That is, if he can succeed against Tai-Wei, the Fire Nation representative, and a very famous veteran from the war."
The Water Tribe Warrior started with surprise. "He fought for the Fire Nation in the war?"
"Oh, yes, he served under General Iroh as a Lieutenant at the Siege of Ba Sing Se," Xun said, nodding pompously. "And he was the Colonel who led the battalion that conquered Omashu, and the cities and villages surrounding it. He is a decorated hero."
A flash of white across the table caught Aang's eye, and he watched as Mrs. Morishita dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, hiding her features behind the linen cloth.
"I'd hardly call the man who conquered Omashu a 'hero'," declared a graying woman in an embroidered green dress, from the far end of the table.
"The most heroic thing Liang has managed to do is stay upright long enough to announce his candidacy," argued another Fire Nation official, waspish. "He's a sickly man- a failed officer who served under a failed General in a failed campaign."
At this, the table erupted in outbursts of protests from the Earth Kingdom officials. Counter-arguments from the Fire Nation members of the table rang with fervor, and the atmosphere thrummed with the heat of aggression. Aang shot Katara a worried look before returning his attention to the verbal volleys now being fired across the room. Even Mr. and Mrs. Morishita seemed at odds with each other, with the latter seated facing away from her husband. Aang groaned inwardly. If this was the tension at the table, he didn't want to imagine the tension in the streets.
Mr. Morishita slammed his open palm on the table twice, two short, staccato bursts. The room immediately fell silent, its inhabitants contrite as schoolchildren. The Governor looked sternly at each of his guests before turning back to Aang and uttering a forced, false laugh. "As you can see, Avatar Aang, people are feeling... passionate about this election." His attempt to keep the peace was feeble at best, but the spell of tension was broken, the sense of decorum restored.
"I'll say," Sokka muttered under his breath.
Aang, Katara, and Sokka left the table together at the end of the meal, muttering in hushed tones as they made their way back to their rooms. The scene at lunch left them feeling uneasy.
Katara released a huff of pent-up breath. "I've had some uncomfortable meals," she said, "but that one..."
Sokka nodded fervently.
"Well, let's just hope the tension stays at the table," Aang said.
Katara shot him a worried look. "We should keep a close eye on this. Arguments over the table turn into fights in the streets faster than you'd think."
"Why can't these people just get along?" Aang groaned in frustration. "This is a minor election!"
Sokka pursed his lips. "A minor election involving the conqueror of Omashu. If this Tai-Wei character wins, it'll be a hard pill for the Earth Kingdom citizens of Yu Dao to swallow."
"It will be a hard pill," Aang agreed, "but I- we- can't be seen favoring one candidate over the other."
"We understand, Aang," Katara said comfortingly. "And I think we may be getting ahead of ourselves. For all we know, Tai-Wei is as... honorable as the a person who conquered a free city could be."
"He isn't," came a hushed voice. Mrs. Morishita padded softly them on quiet feet from an adjacent hallway, looking this way and that to ensure they were alone.
Aang crossed his arms over his chest warily. “What do you mean?”
"Minister Tai-Wei is not an honorable man," she snarled, her voice ringing with quiet fervor.
"Because he's from the Fire Nation?" Sokka questioned sharply.
The Governor’s wife shot him a withering look. "Need I remind you that my husband is from the Fire Nation? Tai-Wei, though… there are awful stories, rumors of his time during the war…"
"Rumors," Aang murmured, looking down at his hands. He straightened, his shoulders squaring, his eyes the gray of hard steel. "I'm sorry Mrs. Morishita, but he's an elected candidate. If the people don't want him to serve, they will have to vote for the other guy." He gave her a look of sympathy, his tone softening. "I really am sorry, but… this city needs to choose its own leaders. I can't get involved every time something goes wrong."
Behind her eyes, Aang could see Mrs. Morishita's mind working quickly. "Remember well what I have said, Avatar Aang," she whispered. "We will speak again." She bowed before gliding away from them, down the dark corridor.
"Monkey-feathers!" Aang swore when the woman turned around a distant corner.
"That was ominous," Sokka murmured.
Katara lead the way to Aang’s room, spinning to lean against the span that separated Sokka's door and Aang's. "Well, there's nothing we can do about it now, outside of following her. It sounds like she'll be back, anyway. We have some free time- we should make the most of it. We haven't been in Yu Dao in over a year. Let's go see what's changed."
The three of them made their way into the city, weaving in and out of the apothecaries and clothing boutiques, shoe shops and food carts that had popped up since their last visit. Sokka was delighted to discover an authentic Southern Water Tribe restaurant nestled tightly between a busy produce cart and a weathered little tea shop. Katara heaved a sigh of longing at the thought of stewed sea prunes and reindeer sausage, and that was that: they agreed to eat there for dinner later.
As they wandered the bustling streets, Earth Kingdom citizens gathered in small groups under fruit vendor awnings and on street corners, muttering darkly among themselves. Katara felt her stomach drop as she caught a whispered 'Fire Nation criminal' hovering in the air. Sokka took note, too, and even went over to speak to one particularly disreputable-looking group. "Hey there," he called in a falsely jovial tone.
One man, dressed in a rumpled tunic with lank, greasy hair frowned impressively. "Move along, foreigner. This doesn't concern you.'
Sokka faltered for a moment. "My friends and I couldn't help but overhear what you guys were talking about, and we wondered if you'd care to elaborate." He flashed a winning smile, and gestured behind him, towards Aang. "I'm with the Avatar. We might be able to help."
Mentioning Aang had the opposite of the desired effect. The man's eyes grew wide before he quickly pursed his lips, shaking his head and backing away. He sunk into his group, seeking refuge in the larger numbers. Another man spoke, younger and only slightly more presentable. "This is a problem for the citizens of Yu Dao, and we'll handle it- our way."
"But-" Sokka started, crestfallen, but the group turned away from him, moving as one to somewhere- presumably- less public.
Despite his best efforts to garner more information, no one was willing to talk, their arms crossed and lips clamped firmly shut. Sokka wandered away from group after group in defeat, shaking his head. His mood- and Aang's- grew darker with every failed attempt.
Noting their frustration, Katara dragged them into a local book store as a distraction. They wandered through the quaint little shop, leafing through books and periodicals that struck their fancy. Sokka picked up a heavy tome on traditional Fire Nation swordsmanship, as Katara strode to the salesman's counter to treat herself to a publication on human musculature, with detailed drawings inside. She caught sight of Aang, who stood idly at the best-selling books table, thumbing through the pages of an Earth Kingdom romance novel.
He jumped away, guilty, when he noticed her watching him. "Just looking for ideas," he said, blushing.
She strode to the table to read the first line in the book that jumped out at her. "'Lee's heart heaved at the thought of rejoining his Min Jung, and he plunged the knife into his breast'." She laughed and shook her head and firmly closed it with a ‘snap’. "You need better source material," she said, kissing his cheek.
They ate a late dinner at the Southern Water Tribe restaurant, 'The Ice Worm'. The owner rushed out at the sight of Katara and Sokka, shaking their hands vigorously and bowing deeply to Aang. "It's such an honor to meet you three," he gushed. "My family hasn't lived in the South Pole for several generations, but my mother taught me all the traditional recipes. I hope the food is to your liking!"
Katara and her brother assured the exuberant owner of their excitement, his hands still grasping at them even as they sat down at their table. "This is Ming," he said, holding an arm out to the lovely young waitress who wandered over, a quill and paper poised at the ready. "She'll take care of you while you dine with us."
The waitress bowed fluidly, but Katara caught the way Ming's eyes trailed over Aang's lean body, raking over the hard muscles of his bare shoulder. Katara pursed her lips, stifling a swoop of irritation and jealousy. She can look, Katara reminded herself. She scooted her chair closer to her boyfriend, leaning into him until their shoulders touched, but the waitress took little notice. The higher registers of Ming's voice dropped to a low purr as she spoke to Aang, eyeing him through artfully lowered lashes.
"She seems nice," Aang commented innocently when Ming finally walked away to place their orders. Katara resisted the urge to scoff.
The flirting continued- increased, really- as the meal progressed. Ming showered Aang with artful compliments, giggling at his light jokes and resting a hand on his shoulder whenever she could. Sokka struggled to hold in his laughter at Aang's obliviousness, but Katara grew more and more frustrated as the evening drew on.
The final straw came as they paid their bill. "I'd love to show you around the city," Ming breathed, laying a delicate hand on Aang's arm as he dropped the coins onto the counter. "It could be a little date."
Even Aang couldn't mistake her meaning, this time. "Oh, um… I appreciate the offer." He flashed Katara a panicked look of realization. "But I don't think my girlfriend would like that very much."
The waitress blinked in surprise. "Oh," she said, dejected. "I didn't even know you had a girlfriend," she added under her breath.
Katara scowled, grabbing Aang firmly by the hand. Beside them, Sokka turned away, curling over himself as his shoulders shook with silent laughter.
"Well... I do," Aang answered, flushing with embarrassment. "For several years now."
Ming's answering flush spread across her cheeks, coloring the tips of her ears pink. "I meant nothing by it. I never knew you two were together." She turned mortified eyes to Katara.
Katara felt a familiar stab of irritation. This situation was growing more and more common. In fact, the first time it had ever happened was during their first visit to Yu Dao, while meeting the early members of the Air Acolytes. All the young women of the Yu Dao chapter seemed to hold a burning torch for Aang, and Aang, in his- occasionally- endearing naivety, never even seemed to notice. Ever since the first occurrence, it had happened with infuriating regularity. Katara herself had been the recipient of the unwanted attention of prospective suitors. But, she reminded herself, Aang was always wonderfully good-natured about it.
She took a steadying breath. During their first trip to the Southern Water Tribe after the war, her father, Hakoda, had asked Sokka to act as chaperone to Aang and Katara in his stead. They would be traveling all over the world together, Hakoda had explained, and Katara's 'virtue' had to be protected. She had resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the time, but ultimately agreed, particularly after Aang had reminded her that Sokka was likely to join them regardless. Still, neither of them could have predicted just how effective Sokka would be. Not only did he hardly give them a moment alone together, but his presence alone lent the impression that three of them were nothing more than a group of friends traveling the world together. In the rationale of her mind, Katara knew that she could hardly fault these young girls and boys for being attracted to Aang. He did, after all, appear to be one of the world's most eligible young bachelors.
"It's okay," she grunted, somewhat mollified. "I understand."
"Well, I think we should probably head back now," Sokka cut in, finally regaining control of himself. He smiled wickedly at Aang. "Unless you wanted to stay."
Although Katara hadn't thought it possible, both Aang and Ming flushed an even deeper red. Katara glared at her brother before dragging Aang from the restaurant, knocking into Sokka's shoulder as she passed him. He followed her, chuckling in a way that made Katara want to slap him.
"You are such a jerk, Sokka," she snarled as soon as they were out of ear's reach.
Sokka grinned. "I'm not the one who just spent over an hour flirting with another girl right in front of my own girlfriend."
"Hey," Aang cried, indignant.
"I'm just sayin'.”
Aang glared. "That's not what I was doing. I just thought she was being friendly."
"She was being friendly. Very friendly. To you, specifically."
"You two are idiots," Katara muttered under her breath.
They trudged back to the Morishita's mansion in silence, but even in their agitated state, they couldn't miss the gathered groups of Earth Kingdom citizens, muttering in hushed tones and eyeing the three of them as they passed by.
An hour later, Sokka was leaned back casually in a chair in Aang's spacious room, lost in thought, while Aang and Katara lay on their backs on the floor nearby. Katara was thumbing through the pages of the book she purchased at the bookshop, exclaiming in surprise or delight every so often as the book gave her new tidbits of information. She hummed a soft song, and, beside her, Aang closed his eyes for a moment as he listened contentedly.
"Too bad we couldn't get any information about Tai-Wei," Sokka said aloud suddenly, disrupting the comfortable silence of the room.
Aang sat up. "What?"
"None of those Earth Kingdom guys would even talk to me," Sokka complained. "They saw you and immediately clammed up."
The young Avatar shrugged. "Maybe there's nothing to say. They said they wanted to handle it themselves. That doesn't sound so bad to me."
"I feel like this is one of the few times that we could get ahead of a problem, instead of landing right in the middle of it." Sokka folded his arms across his chest. "If we could figure out what these rumors about Tai-Wei are, and whether or not they're actually true, maybe we could avoid a conflict." He brought his hand to his chin thoughtfully. "We do have more resources than the average Yu Dao citizen."
With a sigh, Katara shut her book. "If Aang starts digging around in a particular candidate's background, it could reflect poorly on that candidate's chance of election. He can't be seen showing... what's the opposite of favoritism?"
"Katara, you yourself said this was a situation we should keep an eye on," Sokka argued. "A little research could save us a lot of headache, later."
"And too much of the wrong type of research could cause the headache, later," Katara countered. "I did say we should keep an eye on the situation- mostly, I meant we should keep abreast of the sentiment of the people."
Sokka opened his mouth to argue, but Aang cut across him. "Sokka, I understand what you're saying, but Katara's right; if I start digging around in this guy's backstory just because I heard some rumors about him, it's not going to look good." Aang gave a wry little chuckle. "I never even heard the rumors. I heard rumors of the rumors."
"We can be discreet," Sokka protested.
“Everyone always knows everything that we do, no matter how discreet we try to be," Katara countered. She paused, then muttered quietly under her breath, "Except when it comes to me and Aang's relationship, of course."
Aang blinked, momentarily distracted. Great, he thought sarcastically to himself. "Katara, I really am sorry about that, but I hope you know it was nothing."
"I do know it was nothing," Katara said, too quickly. She picked at a piece of lint on the carpet.
"Can we please get back on topic?" Sokka snapped. "We were talking about Tai-Wei."
Aang turned back to Sokka. "I'm not trying to shoot you down, Sokka, but I don't know what else there is to talk about. I can't be seen looking into this guy, like I'm suspicious of him. If he gets voted in, it'll look as though trying to undermine him before he even takes office."
Sokka stood from his chair. "Fine. I'll do it. I'm not the Avatar. I can be suspicious of whoever I want." He stalked to the door, and whipped it open, disappearing into the dark corridor.
"Actually, that's not really true-" Aang started to say.
"Sokka," Katara called.
Aang shot Katara a worried look when Sokka didn’t respond, but the Water Tribe Warrior returned a moment later, an embarrassed look on his face. "Are you guys going to- I don't want to leave you two alone…"
Katara shot to her knees, hands on her hips. "Sokka, are you serious?" she said, exasperated.
"It's my job," he said defensively.
“Get a different job.”
“I'm not going to wander off so that you can spend the night alone with my sister. I have a girlfriend, too. I'm not stupid."
"Fine," Katara snapped. "There's something I want to talk to Aang about, and then I'll go to bed. In my own room," she added when Sokka opened his mouth to protest.
Sokka shrugged, then leaned against the door casually.
"Alone, Sokka.”
Sokka flushed. "Oh, okay, then… but I'll be right next door." He pointed a firm finger at them to emphasize his point.
Katara flopped back onto the ground, muttering under her breath. Aang waited patiently for her to calm down before taking her hand in his. "What did you want to talk to me about?" he asked.
Her eyes shot to his, the tips of her ears coloring a dark pink. "Nothing, really. I just wanted Sokka to leave."
He chuckled, then scooted over to where she lay on her back, the length of his body flush against hers. "Well, since we're alone," he murmured, and leaned down to press a soft kiss to her lips.
He only intended to kiss her for a moment, not wanting to take advantage of Sokka's trust, but Katara had other ideas. Her arms circled his neck, and she pulled him closer to her. Her lips moved over his, soft and supple, and he felt himself melting into her. Sliding an arm under her, he rolled over, dragging her on top of him, one of his hands going to her waist and the other tangling itself in her hair.
She set her palms flat against his chest, under his sash, skin meeting skin, and sighed softly into his mouth. A tingle of electricity shot down his spine. His heart pounded. His grip on her waist tightened, and he shivered as he felt her tongue sweep his lower lip. But after a moment, her kiss slowed, and she heaved a sigh that was equal parts contentment and frustration as she pulled away, scooting down his body slightly to rest her head on his chest. They lay that way for a while, one of his hands twirling her long braid around his fingers.
"Aang," he heard Katara murmur quietly, "are you happy?"
He stopped twirling her hair. "Happier than I've ever been in my life," he answered honestly.
She sighed, and he instinctively knew she was thinking about the waitress from dinner. "Jealousy is ugly," she said.
"Especially when it's not necessary," he agreed.
She laughed despite herself, and he felt the vibrations through his chest. "Is it ever necessary?"
"No. But especially not now."
"It's just… We're together all the time, but hardly ever alone. It's easy to see why people think we're just friends." She scowled. "Sokka's a little too good at chaperoning."
Aang nodded his agreement. "Yea… but it's better than the alternative."
"That's true, I suppose.”
"Although," Aang mused, "as much as I want to keep a good relationship with your dad, I think I'd have to put my foot down if they tried to stop us from being together."
"A little Avatar State intimidation?"
He grimaced. "I don't know if I'd go that far. I'd probably settle for normal teenage rebellion; throwing rocks at your window, sneaking out. That sort of thing."
"Just as long as you don't throw them too hard," she said. "My dad wouldn't be too thrilled if you stole me away and caused major property damage."
"My Earthbending is a little more controlled than that," he argued in an injured tone.
She lifted her head, resting her chin on his chest and giving him a smirk. "I don't think it's your control in Earthbending he's worried about."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Aang teased, winking at her. "I'm just a simple monk."
"You are impressively… frustratingly… in control of that aspect of yourself," she agreed.
He laughed, then pulled her up to kiss her. "You don't make it easy, that's for sure," he said when they broke apart. He let his head rest back on the floor. "But I don't want to take advantageof your dad's trust… or Sokka's."
She nodded, a look of begrudging agreement flicking across her features, then rested her cheek back on his chest. They lay on the floor, lulled into silence by the warmth of their entwined bodies. It wasn’t long before their breathing slowed and they slipped into a warm, peaceful sleep.
Sometime later, while the two of them still lay on the floor, wrapped in each other's arms, a soft knock sounded on Aang's door. Before they could even sit up, Sokka swung the door open. "Aang," he called urgently, "there's someone here to see you-"
Katara felt a rush of wind as Aang shot away from her, twisting smoothly to the far side of the room and landing on his feet. "We weren't doing anything," he said quickly, but it was too late.
"You two were- you were…" Sokka's mouth fell open in incredulity. "I thought you said you were leaving to go to bed!" he finally ground out, pointing an indignant finger at Katara.
She rolled her eyes. Sokka always did have a flair for the dramatic, and arguing with him would make a bigger deal of the situation than it was. She opted for nonchalance. "I did say that, and I meant it. We fell asleep talking, that's all."
"You were on top of him," her brother spluttered.
"On the floor, asleep. And, fully clothed, might I add-"
"Small mercies," Sokka muttered under his breath.
"-Which is more than I can say for the last time I caught you and Suki together," Katara continued. "What do you want, Sokka? It's the middle of the night."
With one final glare, Sokka turned and gave a terse wave through the door. Mrs. Morishita stepped into the room, followed closely by two of the Earth Kingdom officials who had been present for the tense lunch earlier that afternoon.
"Good evening, Avatar Aang," Mrs. Morishita said, urgency coloring her voice. "I beg your forgiveness at this intrusion. This is Guang, and this is Hui." She pointed to both men, who bowed as they were named. "They are Earth Kingdom advisers to my husband, and they have something they need to tell you."
Aang inclined his head, dutifully ignoring the penetrating look Sokka was giving him from the doorway.
Hui, a tall, stringy man, stepped forward. "Let me begin by saying it is an honor to meet you. The end of the war was the greatest thing that could have happened for the Earth Kingdom, and the world."
"Thanks," Aang grunted. He bent down to gather some cushions from his bed, before tossing them to the floor, Airbending them into evenly spaced seating. "Please, sit down."
Katara dragged her cushion closer to Aang, her thigh brushing his as she sat down. She arched an eyebrow at her brother, who scowled darkly before taking his own seat.
Aang gestured for Mrs. Morishita to sit down, but she shook her head. "I can't stay," she said. "It is in conflict with my duties as a wife to even arrange this meeting, but my duty to the people of Yu Dao is greater. I will not further dishonor my husband by remaining here to conduct business behind his back." She bowed to Aang before turning to leave the room.
Both officials settled themselves before Aang, cross-legged. "What we must tell you is difficult to say," Guang started slowly. Thick, heavy brows hung over concerned eyes. "We understand that you have already spoken very briefly with Mrs. Morishita-"
"Very briefly," Aang agreed, cutting the Earth Kingdom official off. "But I will tell you the same thing I told her; I can't listen to rumors that undermine Candidate Tai-Wei's position as potential Minister of Justice."
"Avatar Aang," Hui said sharply. "Look where we are." He gestured around Aang's dark room, illuminated only by a few flickering candles. "We've come to you in the middle of the night in desperation. I assure you, this isn't some idle rumor overheard in a tea shop. I beg you, let us speak, and then you can decide what to do next, even if the decision is to do nothing. But we will not leave until you know the truth."
Next to her, Aang's face assumed a mask of polite neutrality, but Katara knew Aang well. The vein that pulsed at his temple betrayed his frustration, but his voice was calm when he responded. "Of course. Please continue."
Some of the tension drained from Hui's shoulders. "As you know," he began, "Candidate Tai-Wei served in the Fire Nation army before retiring at the end of the war and moving here, where he has been serving in the capacity of adviser to the elected leadership of Yu Dao. Mr. Morishita personally welcomed him into the city as a friend."
Aang remained silent, but across from him, Sokka leaned forward in interest.
"As you heard at lunch from Fire Nation Official Xun, Candidate Tai-Wei was the commander of the battalion that captured Omashu," Hui continued. "What you don't know is the story of the barbarism and dishonor he utilized to defeat one of the last Earth Kingdom strongholds in the East."
Sokka crossed his arms. "We went to Omashu shortly after the Fire Nation captured it. King Bumi himself told us that he surrendered and the city was seized peacefully."
"I obviously do not condone Fire Nation occupation of Earth Kingdom territory, but this was during a time of war," Aang added. "I understand this is difficult, and I will certainly keep this in mind and speak to Mr. Morishita about it. You may already be aware that Zuko held trials for those members of the Fire Nation military that were deemed to partake in criminal behavior. As far as I know, Tai-Wei wasn't among them." He began to stand, a dismissal. “But, as I said, I’ll look into it. Thank you for coming.”
Guang raised a hand in protest, reaching out to Aang. "There is more to this story, Avatar Aang!"
"Then by all means, continue," Aang said mildly.
"A large contingent of Fire Nation soldiers does not pass through Earth Kingdom territory unnoticed," Guang explained urgently. "General Fong, whom I believe you met after your return from the Northern Water Tribe, sent a battalion of our forces to stop Colonel Tai-Wei from reaching Omashu."
Katara caught the way Aang's shoulders tensed at the mention of General Fong, but he remained silent. She leaned a little closer to him as Guang continued the story, detailing the rapid deployment of a battalion from General Fong's compound, and the race to block the Fire Nation army's advance. He detailed the brutal march, hundreds of miles in the crushing heat of the central Earth Kingdom, and how, in spite of the overwhelming obstacles, the Earth Kingdom soldiers proudly met the Fire Nation army in the field a hundred miles to the northwest of Omashu.
"It was a slaughter," Guang whispered, his voice trembling in rage. "The Fire Nation circled our forces and demanded the unconditional surrender from the Earth Kingdom Major who led them, a man by the name of Qiang."
A surge of familiar anti-Fire Nation sentiment rushed through Katara, and she struggled to rein in her emotions. These sort of sentiments were the very source of much of the political unrest following the war. These sentiments were the basis for the mountains of opposition that Zuko and Aang had been battling in their quest to heal the world after a hundred years of fighting. It had taken years even for Katara herself to realize that the Fire Nation itself wasn't cruel or monstrous; only those who had perpetuated the cycle of brutality and oppression were. She reminded herself of Zuko, of Iroh, even Mai and Ty Lee; people from the Fire Nation who had known in their heart what the right path was, and forged their way to it against all odds. It was Sozin who had taken the first step in the descent into madness, but Zuko who had led their proud nation back. Two men, both Fire Nation.
The question was: which one was Tai-Wei most like: Sozin, or Zuko?
Beside her, Aang released a subtle sigh, one that likely went unnoticed by the others in the room, but she felt his shoulder brush against hers as he straightened himself, his resolve hardening. "That is… upsetting to hear, to say the least. But at the risk of sounding callous, Tai-Wei was performing his duty as a Colonel in the Fire Nation army, even as Qiang was performing his. It sounds as though Tai-Wei tried sparing as many lives as he could by asking for their surrender."
Guang and Hui exchanged a dark look before turning back to Aang. "Colonel Tai-Wei did demand to Major Qiang present himself in order to negotiate a surrender… and when the Major met with him under parley, he was taken prisoner and forced to watch as the Colonel ordered his forces to butcher the entire Earth Kingdom battalion, and the Major along with them," Hui explained through gritted teeth. Behind his eyes lay a pit of smoldering anger. "He killed every last one of them. And that is the man who could become our Minister of Justice, if the Fire Nation gets their way."