Chapter Text
She seriously did not remember how she got into this situation. She sat in bed naked with no recollection of the night before. She needed to remember the last night. The last thing she remembered
was getting dragged to a bar by the other imperial knights, Ty Lee, Chan, Ruon-Jian, Tom-Tom, and Aang.
"It'll be fun." Aang had promised her.
She had sat in the pub for the Fire Days Festival it was a common Fire Nation tradition to wear a disguise and drink with friends. She was sitting with the group of nights.
"Why the long face, Katara." Chan said gesturing to her mask
"Ha ha, very funny Chan." She said under her breath while glaring at him.
Chan held up his hands and said "It was only a joke Katara."
"Yeah the new knights are always so serious." Roun-Jian laughed.
"Come on Ruon-Jian, leave the new girl alone." Ty Lee said.
She quickly finished of her pint before making a quick dash out the door quietly cursing Chan and Ruon-Jian. To enjoy this festival she would need to get away from them. She heard the group laugh and talk as she exited the pub. She was sure she heard the group make a few snide remarks in her expense.
She would enjoy her night if she got away from them. She walked by the brightly colored vendors selling delicious treats. She tasted a serving of Komodo chicken and even some fire flakes. She continued to walk enjoying the music and lively people all around. She had decided she wanted to dance. She slipped her mask over her head and joined the circle of dancers doing the dragon waltz. It was her favorite fire nation dance. She remembered when Aang had taught it to her three months before at the Dragon festival. The only problem was she did not have a partner. That all changed when she spotted someone sitting all alone.
She pulled the stranger's hands to the dance floor. The stranger seemed surprised at first but quickly faded into the rhythm. He spun her around to the quick music. After that he had whisked her away. She had never had a better night. He had been sweet and gentle and had given her the perfect night of pleasure. The only issue was she was not sure who he was.
She sat up from the bed quickly gathering her clothes. She wondered who the man was or what type of man he was. Once she was dressed she walked around the bed. Hoping for a quick glance at the stranger. She wanted to shriek. The man she had spent a night with was Fire Lord Zuko. Everyone knew the signature scar that marred his face. No one knew how he got it. The stories say he had gotten it in the path for the throne. Fire Lord Zuko was the sole remaining member of the Sozin line though he dropped his surname. He had killed every single member of his family for the throne. It made her blood curdle. She quickly fled the scene making sure to leave no incriminating evidence. If he knew it was her he would surely end her life. He hated those who lied to him or gave him their love. It was best for her to act as if she had never even been at the festival.
She left the inn discarding her mask in the bushes. She dashed to the imperial knights housing.
---
She walked through the halls of the palace, until someone interrupted her thoughts.
"Hey Katara wait up." Aang yelled.
"Oh Aang, hi." She said.
"Why did you ditch us yesterday." Aang smiled.
"You heard Chan and Ruon-Jian." Katara said with a glare.
"They were just kidding." Aang said.
"Well I wanted to go home so..." Katara said.
Just then Captain Jet walked in.
"Knight Aang will you please be more professional." Captain Jet said with a stone cold expression one that might even rival the Fire Lord. Captain Jet was always a serious man. Jet was the head of the Lee family one of the only few remaining powerful families from before Fire Lord Zuko took the throne.
"Come Dame Katara we must make haste to meet the Fire Lord." Jet declared. Katara rushed to his side. She was always walking around eggshells with Captain Jet. He had climbed up the ranks rather quickly becoming an imperial captain in only three years he was a good leader and a ferocious night. He always acted professionally never believing in horse play. He was truly the perfect example of a dedicated knight.
She had bigger problems to deal with though including keeping her identity a secret. She had to make sure the Fire Lord never found out she had been the woman he had spent a night with. She had been wearing a mask so he would not have known it was her right. Of coarse not she was safe she would never be discovered as the Fire Lord's lover. They walked through the giant doors into the Fire Lord's study. The room was decorated with many tapestries with the symbol of the Fire Nation branded on them. She stood behind captain Jet, staring at the floor not wishing to make eye contact. When she did look up. The Fire Lord stared at her face she could see his smug smirk. She felt as if her heart was going to explode from her chest.
The Fire Lord stood making his way in front of them.
"Did you enjoy the festivities of last night." He asked in a way that exerted confidence.
"Thanks to his majesty's generosity I had a wonderful time." Captain Jet answered.
"And you." He asked with a conniving smile.
"I would not know since I did not attend the festival that night." She answered this way knowing if she had not attended the festival the woman could not be traced back to her. Jet stared at her oddly, but shrugged and turned his gaze back to the Fire Lord. The Fire Lord just gave an even more malicious smile than the one before as if he knew she was lying.
He then asked a question even more puzzling than the first.
"What do you think of a man and a woman spending a night together the first time they met?" He asked.
"I see no problem in a coupling as long as it was consensual." Jet said.
“How Do you feel.” The Fire Lord questioned.
"I believe that a relationship must be bound by the laws of marriage for that sort of activity to take place. Or at least both parties must feel a deep love or connection." She felt better now he would not know it was her with that answer. She felt proud of her self for keeping it together.
The Fire Lord said nothing only taking a sip of his tea. He looked rather deep in thought.
"That is how you feel." It was not even a question more a declaration.
"Yes." She said anyway wanting to make it clear she would not want to take part in such matters unless a marriage was in place. She felt better as she walked out of his study. She let out a quick breath she didn’t even realize she was holding.
"Are you alright." Jet asked. He looked very concerned.
"Yes, of coarse. Why do you ask?" She questioned.
"No reason in particular, but you do look rather pale." Jet answered.
"Well thank you for your concern Captain, it's just the Fire Lord made me nervous with his string of questioning." Katara said.
"Well you held up well." Jet said with a small smirk.
---
Zuko sat in his chair. Her answer made him chuckle.
"Bound by the laws of matrimony huh." He said, while a smirk made its way on his face.
He just went back to sipping his tea.