It Is Tradition on AO3
The governess could not see Zuko from where she stood. Hiding behind the door frame, he suddenly felt like a small boy, eavesdropping on his parents’ conversations.
“Why do you want to know?” Katara asked.
“Because it is of great interest to me, of course, whose company our Fire Lord keeps, and whose council he gives weight to.”
“If that is the only reason, then you shall not worry. The Fire Lord has many wise people as his council. Your husband will soon be one of them.”
“Lady Katara, you surely know what I mean and do not have to hear it spelled out.”
“I do know what you mean,” Katara agreed. “And I do wonder why you noble ladies are so enamored by these plays that you come to me with such questions at all. Shouldn’t you be appalled by the mere idea of a commoner taking your place?”
“Oh, dear,” Yin snickered. “No one truly believes them to predict the future. It is not about the fantasy of a commoner becoming a Fire Lady, but rather: if even a commoner can climb so high, then surely one of us can get there too. No one truly believes you to be the Fire Lord’s bride.”
“In which case you’ve answered your own question, and I must wonder what the purpose of this conversation is,” Katara replied, just a tad too quickly. “I wish you good fortunes, lady Lang. Goodbye.”
A few heartbeats later Katara emerged from the room and entered the hallway, where Zuko was waiting and listening, leaning on the wall. Her eyes grew wide once she noticed him, and she froze, at a loss for words.
Zuko did not say anything.
He just offered her his hand.
Read the rest here.
