𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔

Chapter 12

Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade! Seething shadows, breathing lies
Masquerade! You can fool any friend who ever knew you
-"Masquerade", The Phantom of the Opera

The golden lights and bright chatter hit her face like a bomb. Trying to keep her head high, Katara slipped into the hall, sidling along the wall, trying to escape notice. It didn't help when she almost ran over a potted plant in her way; startled glances and thinly veiled glares were sent towards her.

"Sorry," she muttered to no one as hastily righted the miniature tree and hurried along. If she could only find her fellow soldiers, then she'd be safe from all this scrutiny. They'd laugh and chat together among all these self-important nobles. Who would dare talk down to an Elite soldier? There was no need to stare; why was everyone staring?

With much relief, Katara finally sighted Hiro's unruly head of brown hair over the crowded dancers and flirters. Apparently none of the maids had managed to tame it. Lt. Ensei, Faozu, and Qin stood next to him. Hiro caught her eyes at the same time, and she winced when Hiro began to wave enthusiastically, disturbing his chatting neighbors.

"Katara! Over here!" he shouted over the crowd. She tried not to shrink back from the interested and amused glances from nearby listeners. Why did he have to be so obvious about it? Couldn't he have just waited for her to come to him, like any normal, patient human being? Now the whole room knew where she was. She would never make it in time over there without somebody accosting her.

Mumbling "excuse me" and "pardon me", Katara shuffled her way through couples and groups. She was almost there, and could hear Qin's loud laughter through the noise.

A beautifully manicured, slender hand caught her arm, and Katara barely avoided groaning in defeat as she stilled in her movement. Adia.

The hostess slowly let go of Katara, raising her hand to gently arrange a strand of her perfect ebony hair. She smiled, eyebrows raised. "How are you liking the party?"

Katara swallowed, averting her eyes. They were attracting attention. "It's wonderful."

That smile mocked her. "Good. I was so hoping you would enjoy it. Now tell me," Adia continued, turning to the side as a servant slipped through the crowd with a silver tray of delicate wineglasses balanced above his shoulder. She plucked three of the slender goblets off the tray, the manservant bowing politely, before returning her attention to Katara and offering her one of the glasses. "Have you had the chance to dance yet? The musicians I hired are playing the latest and greatest." Adia raised her wineglass to Katara before sipping the blood-red liquid.

Katara drank her own wine to stall time for her answer, trying not to choke as the foreign, bittersweet wine slid down her throat and over her insides. "No," she finally had to say, after downing almost half the glass in an very unladylike fashion. "In fact, I just arrived."

"I see," said Adia. "If you're at a loss for dancing partners, may I suggest—" Her smirk changed to an expression of surprise as she glanced at something over Katara's shoulder. "—Emperor Zuko?"

"What?" snapped Katara, before she realized Adia hadn't meant it that way, and indeed there seemed to be a royal presence behind her, judging from the murmured greetings and hasty bows made by the people in the surrounding area. Clutching her glass in one hand, to the point of almost breaking it, she turned around to face his Majesty.

Their eyes met, and his expression looked just as shocked as hers.

"G-good evening, Emperor," she managed to stumble out.

There was an awkward period of silence as his mouth remained open but silent. Finally regaining his own wits, Emperor Zuko managed to sketch out a stiff bow to both her and the Lady Adia. "Good evening."