Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, nor his characters, only the will to write my ideas in a texteditor. Avatar: The last airbender © Nickelodeon, Mike and Bryan.

Warning!My first language isn't English, please if you don't want to frustrate with all my grammar mistakes, DON'T READ! I'll do my best, though xD

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Memories

By J.B.

I. Protection

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"So?"

"What?" Katara asked still smiling. The night was really quiet and Zuko gave her a wonderful evening after training.

Now that they were allies, they came to know each other better. He told her about his life in Ba Sing Se, the way he was banished from an Earth Kingdom town, how his uncle trained him and a faraway memory of his mother. The last two hours were spent in the middle of nowhere just sitting on the grass having a very nice chat.

"So… How did you got into the Fire Nation?"

"Oh" She forgot that it was her turn to tell a story. She smiled once more and smirked "Prepared to know one of your nation's weak points?" He only nodded "Well, actually we just stole some clothes".

The water tribe girl was blushed waiting for a disappointed look, but Zuko was staring at her.

"You must had lied pretty well then"

"Ummm I guess so" She shrugged "I think it was all Aang's ability to make friends, you see. He got enrolled in a school when we were eating. He got back at night all dirty saying he was taking classes, he even did a picture of your father" she laughed a little, incredibly, Zuko didn't frown, then Katara continued "Sorry, I just remembered how I had to pretend to be his mother since the headmaster requested and audience with Aang's parents"

"What? How could you…? I mean how did you fooled them?"

"I disguised as a pregnant woman and Sokka well… he'll show you later, I promise you'll laugh a lot"

Zuko was looking at her still curious, but she evaded his eyes and looked at the sky "It's a beautiful night, I wonder how many of them are left for us…"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh! Never mind" She seemed to return her attention to him and became pale.

"What is it?" he insisted

"Well… it's just that there's a big possibility… I--I might never get back home" She smiled sadly and then she notice how tense he became. "But you know what? I'm glad you are not my enemy anymore"

"Yes…" he said unsure of what to do, he felt her fears so clearly now… Of course! She was always supporting everyone else but she needed to express herself too… "Well I--"

"If we surv--oh I'm sorry, you were saying?"

"Never mind, continue"

"Well I was wondering… If we survive I'd love to have another cave dancing party"

"Another what?"

She giggled "When Aang was in school he understood that all his classmates needed some fun, so he invited them into the cave we were living at. It was fun, he hided Appa, prepared some scenery and Aang showed them how to dance"

"Right…" Zuko said suspiciously

"What?"

"Did you dance?"

"Well yes, it was more like a training show, but I enjoyed it pretty much, for an instant I forgot the world I was living in"

Zuko looked down at his own fists for a while, he knew he had to act quickly or otherwise Katara would ask his worries.

"Zuko?"

He was very fast, he saw her right in the eyes, took her arms and pulled her into her feet so they were really close. She wasn't mad, or panicked, she was waiting, surprised.

"So you enjoy dancing?" he whispered as he delicately took her hand in his own.

"Sure" she said breathless.

"Then show me"

It was beautiful, Zuko was an awful dancer but still every single step was perfect, he grabbed her waist while she posed her hand in his shoulder, their steps were at first all different but soon they got compassed. There was no music, or scenery, not even the proper clothes for a nice dance, but they were there, sharing the same starry sky and the crescent moon above them.

Far from the others, away from the war. Only the two of them.

Katara enjoyed the soft touch of his hands and the deep golden eyes staring at her, it was comforting, she felt protected. For once in her life, there was no big brother or friend: there was a man holding her. She let herself be, as a warm feeling wrapped her. Zuko felt his heart beating hard when she got closer and rested her head in his chest.

"Thank you" Katara's voice was broken and her cheeks were wet.

"You've been very brave" He said stopping the dance and holding her tight "We are going to make it, you will return home, I promise"

The girl nodded and wrapped her arms around his back. Hugging him firmly and crying silently in his shoulder. He rubbed her back and brushed his hair with his hands, something he had never done before.

Ironically, he was truly happy comforting Katara and hearing her sobs. He wished it never end. But it did.

"Thanks Zuko"

"Come on, I'll take you inside" And he grabbed her waist as they entered the temple.

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Thanks for reading! Hope you like it!

Jillia B.