Chapter Text
ACT I - KINDLING
“What are you doing here?”
Katara glared up at the man. She had walked past him at first, not recognizing his familiar face after so long. His tall frame leaned casually against a fence post on the village edge, amber eyes and a friendly smile meeting her confusion.
In her pocket was the folded letter that brought her here. A merchant from her tribe, passing through the village on business, had been moved to action. "Come now," the letter urged, before listing a myriad of symptoms afflicting the islanders. Though her interests leaned toward combat, her experience as a healer and her position in the Avatar's inner circle made her the ideal first responder.
She had arrived at Yesso Island a week ago, navigating rough seas from her home in the southern water tribe. After climbing the stone path up the seaside cliffs, she faced Yesso village. Once bustling, it was now a quiet skeleton of its reputation.
While villagers fell ill with blistering skin and breathing issues, Katara spent the week easing their suffering and searching for answers.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Zuko's eyes flickered towards the village, taking in the small number of individuals walking the gravel roads gridding the shops and houses, and then locked back to the water bender, “but my sources tell me we’re here for the same reason.”
"Sources?" Katara's brows furrowed. Why would the Fire Lord care about an Earth Kingdom island far from his realm?
The Fire Lord waved a hand, “perk of the job, you know.”
Katara glowered. He was the last person she wanted to see. She had avoided him for - how long now? Ten years?
With a huff, she turned and headed to the makeshift home she'd claimed as her base. The Fire Lord could wait. Her priority was the village. Why was he here now, on an island that meant nothing to him, just to distract her? It was typical: interfering at the worst times. Typical royal.
She refused to look back as she walked. Maybe if she ignored him, he would disappear. Naive, she chided herself. She knew Zuko better. Men like him didn't cross the world just to lean on fence posts. He was here for a reason, even if just to bother her. Between her steps, she caught the sounds of children playing and the low coughs of the afflicted through open windows.
Katara paused for a deep breath. Those people needed her focus. Not the Fire Lord. She had spent a week chasing the cause of the illnesses, fearing the villagers would only continue to suffer.
In the silence, she was surprised she didn’t hear any steps following behind.
He wasn’t following.
She resumed walking, surprised by the sinking feeling that Zuko wasn't following. Katara rubbed her temples and sighed.
Healer’s hut. Work to do.
Still nothing behind her.
Her jaw tightened. This always happened when they interacted. Her wandering mind was the reason she’d avoided him for ten years.
Mind distracted, Katara made the final turn towards her hut but was quickly stopped by a large chest blocking her direct path. A familiar, infuriating smile looked down at her.
“Let’s talk, I have a deal for you.” He pointed to the quiet tavern, “tea?”