change of fate

Southwards

Last chapter Katara and Azula were around eight. Zuko and Sokka were tenish. Yeah I'm playing fast and loose with the ages but thats because I wanted to play with a more mature set of themes for the relationships and character building in this AU then I was comfortable with using younger characters. The timeline won't follow the show exactly and thats due to the age changes. Sorry if that throws you off beat with the story but thats how its played out in my head every time the concept floated through before I started writing this. Thank you for your continued support ❤❤. Your comments mean the world to me, every time is I read one it inspires me to keep going!

Ok enough wasting time. Let's go.

Time skip around nine years.

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Katara ignores the flash of heat on the other side of the deck. The board infront of her steeling her entire focus, the board and the rather smug old man on the other side.

After about five minutes of consideration she finally lowers her chip down. Meeting Iroh's endless patience with a victorius gleam in her eyes. Iroh doesn't even look at the board when he places his piece without pause.

'I believe that means i win,' he says into his cup before taking one long taunting sip. Katara's face falls as she inspects the Pai Sho board.

He's right.

He's got her beat, has had her beat since four plays ago he was just toying with her and she didn't even notice. Katara throws her hands up.

'How do you do that? You get me every time and I can never anticipate it! I can beat anyone else on this Agni forsaken boat but you!' She exclaims, suddenly suspicious that he has sown pockets into his sleeves for the express purpose of cheating against her.

Iroh's responding smile is mocking. 'Dear me what a soar loser you are Lady Katara.'

Across the deck Zuko's drill comes to an end in a blaze of hot yellow flames. The private he's sparring with flies across the deck and bounces none too kindly off of the rail.

'Excellent Prince Zuko,' Iroh calls as Zuko helps the private to his feet. They bow to each other and separate. Zuko approaches their table as the private hobbles away to go get his uniform on. Katara makes a mental note to check up on private Kaemon at some point to heal any aches.

'Uncle won.' Zuko says, it isn't a question. Katara pouts as she pours him a cup up tea.

'The old man cheats,' she grumbles. Zuko rolls his eyes at her as he takes his cup.

'Or maybe you just aren't as good at Pai Sho as you think you are.'

Katara puts a hand to her chest in mock offense. 'How could you, my closest and oldest friend, wound me so deep.' She gasps at Zuko's attitude. He rolls his eyes even harder this time then turns to Iroh. Favoring his teaching over her witty banter.

Katara tunes out for awhile. She finds herself staring out at the horizon. Its ocean as far as the eye can see, frigid water the color of cobalt. Her nightmares keep getting more and more vivid the further the temperature drops. Visons of ashy snow and charred flesh that have chased her since her youth. In the five years they've been cast adrift they've ventured to her homeland two times before. Each time her nightmares play so out violently real that Katara can barely sleep until they start north again. One would think she would be prepared, that this time she would have a way to combat them. But she doesn't. She gets a short fitful sleep for about 4 to 5 hours every night before the shes scarred awake for the rest of the night.

Its not healthy. She knows that. Iroh knows that. Hes managed to get her a special herbal tea she drinks each night to help her sleep. At most it only extends her dreams by and extra hour or two.

'How about you join us and the crew for music night tonight? Hm?' Iroh asks Zuko.

Katara snorts at the deadpan look on Zuko's face.

'I don't have time for music night,' he says at once exhausted and frustrated with his Uncle's offer. 'I have to sit down with the Captain and plot a course around the contient. We cross into Water Tribe waters tomorrow and I want a route in place before we have to go on high alert.' Zuko's talking about the raiding parties that took to patrolling the Southern seas seven years ago. Pirates that Katara was acutely aware of.

Iroh waves him off. 'Work that can be put off till tomorrow. Come, join us tonight and relax.'

'I don't have the luxury of relaxation Uncle! And I don't want to join your ridiculous music night!' Zuko snaps, storming away in a steaming huff.

Katara watches Iroh sigh and stare down at his cup. She reaches over to cover his hands with her own. 'He'll come out at some point. He's just Zuko so he has to be difficult,' she consoles.

She knows for a fact that Zuko will crawl out of his room at some point. He always does. It just takes a couple shots of burning Fire Whiskey before he's singing and dancing with the crew.

Iroh chuckles softly. Removing one of his hands to cover her's. His palm is noticeably warm in contrast to the cold. A trait of his people Katara thinks she'll never quiet get used to.

'I know,' he tells her, 'I just worry, that's all.'

'I know.'