Whispers of the Blue Flame

Chapter Four: Of Flowers & Friendship

A hush followed his plea as Katara took him in. He was out of his royal garb and dressed in rather plain red hues. His lengthy hair was out of its top knot and flowed down his back. His lips were downturned in a perpetual frown. He exuded contriteness from every pore of his body.

"Where are your babysitters?" she asked with feigned casualness.

"I sent my guards away for the evening," he replied. "I think it would be best if we talked in complete privacy."

"Sure. Let's talk."

"I want to apologize for what you had to experience," Zuko said hastily. "That isn't how I want your first day back here to be after being gone for so long."

"You don't have to do that."

"Oh, but I do. I can tell that it upset you."

"Zuko, I'm not upset with you because your people were being hateful," she said, sitting up from the chair. "I'm upset with you for your response to how your guards reacted to it."

His face scrunched up in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Katara directed him to sit down next to her. "What I mean is that you just let your guards brutalize those people. I know things are done differently here in the Fire Nation, but you could have reacted better."

"Oh," he sighed. "I guess you're right. What would you have had me do?"

"I guess I wanted you to have them arrested instead of just blasting fire at them."

"Katara, the majority of my guards are firebenders; all they know is bending. They were attempting to apprehend them in the best way they know how."

"I know...I know, it's just that they were too violent. It's as if they forgot fire burns."

"Katara, you have to understand that fire is the way of life for my people," he began. "Fire is the element of power, and you have to be fierce and direct when dealing with people of my nation."

"Well, what about having a little compassion for them?"

"You want me to be compassionate to people who want me dead?"

"No, I want you to listen to what they have to say and try to solve it. I'm sure not all of them want you dead; they are just frustrated."

"You can't negotiate with terrorists, Katara," he said, growing frustrated. "Believe me, I've tried."

"I'm not asking you to negotiate with terrorists," she said, squeezing his hand. "I want you to recognize those people's humanity, even when they don't recognize your own."

Zuko glanced at their interlocked fingers. His rough, pale hand contrasted with her smaller, walnut-colored one. It had been so long since he felt the touch of another person. "I'm willing to do that, but how?"

"I don't know yet, but we can find out together," she answered reassuringly. "From what I've seen today, it's clear as daylight that you have a lot going on. So, tell me about it."

"The truth is, Katara, my home is in shambles," he revealed. "My rule isn't popular with the nobility or other nations. My people are hungry and resentful, and I have no idea where to start fixing things. I've got so much to deal with. I can't begin to describe how awful the past few years have been. Each time I solve one issue, ten others pop up. Why am I so bad at being good? To top it off, I am so lonely here. Sometimes I wish I were back in the war and traveling with the rest of the gang again."

Her heart ached for him after his confession. "Why did you never tell me?"

"Tell you what? That everyone hates me and I'm doing a piss-poor job as Fire Lord? I am ashamed, Katara. Ashamed of what I have become. I am a husk of my former self. I am just a man who craves guidance and companionship, yet I have to be the one to provide guidance and companionship to a whole nation. I'm so tired, Katara."