Ever since Homura had come to the palace, she had wanted to go to the library. She had heard it was a place she definitely should visit - even Ty Lee had recommended it, surprisingly - and even though she had never been in a library before, she felt like this time, she should actually try going. Upon arriving, she realised it had been a good decision to visit.
The library was located in the eastern wing of the palace, and even though she found herself in awe of the room - there were too many books in there, bookcase next to bookcase with many bookshelves and countless books in each one of them, she knew she'd need a lifetime to read everything in there - she realised she didn't know from where she could start. She was pleased to just walk around aimlessly, taking in the beauty of such a quiet place, bathed in sunlight coming from the balconies facing the east. She looked briefly over a few books to pass her time, caressed the binding of the books closer to her as she passed by the bookshelves, and then, aware she wasn't going to pick up a book to read any time soon, she headed to one of the balconies.
She passed by the scarlet curtains and moved to the edge, leaning against the railing with a content smile as she looked down at the view. The gardens of the palace spread below her, a beautiful sight to witness any day, and with a happy sigh, she closed her eyes. The breeze of the wind caressed her skin and she moved her head so as to face it, letting her hair move as it wished behind her. She managed to clear her head of any disturbing thoughts as she focused on the wind and the sun heating her skin.
Her eyes opened abruptly when she heard footsteps coming her way. But it was only Suki.
"Suki," she smiled as she turned to face her, as Suki walked over to stand beside her with a smile of her own. "What are you doing here?"
"Ty Lee told me you went to the library so I went searching for you. I guessed you'd be outside and it seems I was right."
"Of course you were," her smile widened. "Why did you come looking for me?"
"Ty Lee, Sokka and I thought we should go out in the city to that tea shop Ty Lee mentioned the other day. This way, we could see more of the city and also have a bit of fun."
Homura didn't need to think much to take her decision. "I like your idea. I'm in."
"Great," she smiled, "you wouldn't mind if we left now, would you? I've left Sokka and Ty Lee in my room and I'd like to get back before Sokka manages to get himself in trouble."
She laughed with a nod. "Alright then. Let's go now."
They left the balcony and then the library, reaching the corridor that would lead them straight to their rooms soon enough. It was then Suki finally spoke up.
"I'm glad you're coming with us. I haven't spent much time with you in the last few days."
"Yeah, I know," she admitted with a slight frown. "There are just so many things to see here and it's still the beginning. I'm sure we'll spend more time together in the next few days."
Suki smiled. "I don't doubt it. Just know, even with Sokka here, you can come to me whenever you want. Nothing has changed."
They slowly came to a stop outside Suki's room as they turned to face each other. Homura nodded at her. "I'm sure of it."
They exchanged a smile and then Suki opened the door. They got inside to see Sokka drawing, Ty Lee leaning above him as she watched him without making a sound. At the sound of the door opening, she glanced up and instantly motioned them over. Suki and Homura walked over to them and came to stand by Sokka to watch him.
"What are you drawing, Sokka?" Suki asked softly as Homura leaned a bit closer.
"I think that's Appa."
Sokka whipped his head at her with narrowed eyes. "That's Zuko!" The three warriors fell in a fit of giggles as he scowled at them. "When are you going to stop making fun of me?"
"I don't know," Homura smirked, "maybe when you get better."
His eyes narrowed further as Ty Lee's laughter grew, and ignoring Homura's grin, he turned to Suki. She managed to keep herself from laughing as she smiled at him.
"Don't pay attention to her, Sokka. Your drawing skills aren't that bad."
"I know they aren't," he pouted as he turned to Homura. "You're just jealous of my skills."
She raised an eyebrow. "Of course."
"Come on, then," Suki straightened up, "it's time to go out. I'd like to have a morning tea, it'll be too late in a while."
"Let's go then!" Ty Lee exclaimed as she clapped her hands. "I recommend jasmine tea. Or ginseng."
"Jasmine for me, it is," Homura smiled over at her as she started heading to the door. The rest followed after her out of the room and with Ty Lee as their guide, they got to the front gates of the palace. The guards let them out and soon later, they had reached the tea shop.
"Here it is," Ty Lee announced upon their arrival as she got inside, sitting on the first table she found facing the street. They sat around the table, ordered and waited for their tea to be served.
"The Fire Nation capital is nice after all," Sokka spoke after a while with a small shrug as he put an arm around Suki's shoulders. "I mean, when you aren't in danger every second you get to appreciate the beauty of a place, if you get what I mean."
Suki raised an amused eyebrow up at him as Ty Lee giggled. "Yeah, I suppose."
"I wish I could live here," Homura admitted softly as she turned her attention on the table so as to avoid Suki's eyes. "I mean, Kyoshi island is nice and all but it isn't the Fire Nation capital. It doesn't have streets of cobblestone, lanterns that light up one by one at dusk. I like this place so much better."
Suki reached forward to grab her hand. "If you like it here so much we could ask Zuko if we could stay for a while longer."
Ty Lee instantly perked up. "We could?!"
Suki nodded, "Of course."
"Oh, Mai's going to be so happy!"
Sokka's eyes widened. "Mai can be happy?"
Suki and Homura barely managed to stiffle their giggles as Ty Lee narrowed her eyes at him. "Hey, that's my friend you're talking about."
He instantly raised his arms in a show of surrender. "I was just kidding!"
Just then, the tea arrived. Homura took her own cup with a smile, not wasting a moment to take a sip. She smiled as she swallowed, her eyes closing on their own accord, savouring the moment before it was ruined by Sokka's gagging. She peaked an eye open as he pushed his cup of tea away from him, an expression of utter disgust on his features.
"This is absolutely repulsive!"
As Ty Lee and Suki burst into laughter, Homura couldn't help but smile herself. "Not everyone can appreciate tea, Sokka. You need to be a man of excellent taste and finesse to do so."
Sokka scowled.
-
The rest of the day passed soon enough, and before Homura had realised it, the sun had given its place to the moon and she got to her bed so she could sleep. She laid in her bed under the sheets for an hour now, desperately trying to close her eyes and just sleep, but every time she did, eyes burning like fire would be envisioned in her mind paired with a cruel smile, and her eyes would open on their own accord and she would find herself staring at the ceiling of her room once more. Eventually, she gave up. Quietly, Homura snuck out of her room.
She didn't really know where her feet were taking her but at this point, she didn't mind. Soon enough, she had abandoned the palace and was walking in the garden. Her nightgown did little to protect her from the night air but it wasn't too cold outside and with her hair down, she wasn't all that mindful of the chill. Before long, she had reached the pond with the turtle ducks.
There were no turtle ducks outside at such an hour and the water in the pond was still, a perfect mirror. She smiled at the thought as she reached down and dipped a finger in the pond, disturbing the water. Something shifted close by and she snapped her head in that direction just as a flame was lit, letting her see her companion. Her eyes instantly widened.
"Zuko, I didn't notice you."
"You scared me," he admitted, his eyes taking in her attire briefly before he looked away, putting the fire out. Homura straightened up and walked over to him, now she knew he was there, able to make out the shape of his body thanks to the moon. It was nearly full tonight.
"What are you doing here at this hour?"
He briefly glanced at her as she sat down beside him. "I couldn't sleep. What about you?"
"I couldn't sleep either."
She looked away to the pond as she drew her knees to her chest, choosing to stay quiet. Zuko spoke up before long, though.
"Mai told me what happened in the prison yesterday. She said you're a good fighter."
"I've trained for a pretty long time," she admitted as she turned to face him briefly. "I didn't think Mai would tell you."
"She tells me everything. I trust her for a reason."
Homura couldn't manage to restrain her curiosity. "Really? Even though you broke up?"
The moment he turned to face her, extremely serious, she wished she hadn't mentioned this at all. But it was too late now.
"That happened months ago and we've both gotten over it. I still trust her."
She nodded at once, "That's fine. It makes sense."
His eyebrows furrowed. "Does it?"
"Yeah, yes it does."
He shrugged, "If you say so." They fell in silence once more, and Homura turned to her front to watch the surface of the water once more. He spoke up again soon enough. "Can you tell me more about your family?"
She blinked, feeling the weight of his gaze against her cheek. She didn't need to know Zuko to be aware this was a conversation she wasn't walking away from. The rehearsed lie she had told everyone who had asked before left her lips easily and she felt almost no guilt.
"I grew up in Ba Sing Se. I never met my father. Mother tried hard to raise me but we were poor and it was hard surviving, and in the end, she didn't survive. I've always wanted to leave Ba Sing Se and travel the world. I was ten years old when I noticed the Kyoshi warriors coming to the Earth Kingdom for a visit. From what I had heard, they had a meeting with the leader of the Dai Li. I was interested in them, asked a few questions, got to know them and in the end asked them to take me with them.
"I left with the Kyoshi warriors. They got me to Kyoshi island and that's where I met Suki and started a new life. Everything else is pretty much known."
Zuko was quiet for a while. Then, he let out a deep sigh, and from the corner of her eyes, Homura noticed him laying against the tree he had been leaning against this whole time, his eyes on the moon above them. "Would you have wanted to ever meet your father?"
She blinked. "Not really."
"Why not?"
She cleared her throat as she thought. "Father wasn't a good person, from what mother used to say."
He frowned, "Oh."
Homura couldn't help but look away. "Yeah."
For a while, the night was very still until Zuko let out a sigh, bringing her to look over at him. "Finding my mother was one of the best decisions I've ever taken."
"Zuko..."
As her voice trailed off, he turned to face her with a knowing smile. She watched him as he stood up, about to leave before he stopped. He hesitated as he faced her once more with a small frown. "I'm sorry, it's just..." he sighed, "...you remind me of someone." He didn't give her a chance to reply. "Never mind. Goodnight, Homura."
"Goodnight," she murmured as she watched him go, her eyes trailing over to the moon when she could no longer make out his form in the dark garden.
Zuko had every reason to think he knew her. She only wished he got to actually know her before he learnt who she was.