Chapter 1. The Water Nymph


Zuko sat at the pond under a tree in the royal garden, it was mid summer, about a week after his fathers defeat and all was fairly peaceful.

Katara however had mixed feelings, she felt like she couldn't settle and she was confused with her feelings for Aang most of all. Katara cared for him dearly but she still wasn't sure if it was a romantic love that she was feeling.

She kissed him and yet she more did it just to please Aang after all his hard work. She knew how he felt about her and it left her feeling guilty because of her inner turmoil. Did she really love him? Did she really want to be with him? It all felt too rushed and confusing for her.

All she could think of to do was get away for a little while. Away from Aang and her brother and just take some time for herself to think. Though she didn't want to go alone, and the first person who came to her mind to potentially go with her was none other then, Zuko.

She hated to admit it but she looked up to him, and getting to know the real Zuko helped her learn how he was really like. Just a teen with a poor childhood and more scars then just the visible one on the outside. She could tell he had a big heart and he was a good listener. He was also very kind, for the most part, and not to mention he was so, fiery and a strong bender at most.

He even risked his life to save hers from a deadly lightning strike from his crazed sister. Katara couldn't help but think, would he have taken that bolt of lightning for anyone else other then her?

And if he wouldn't have…then why her? She thought to herself with a dreary look in her ocean blue eyes. She could never forget that moment, when her heart stopped as Zuko jumped in front of her with no second thought to take that deadly strike.

He could have died, and he would have died for her? Katara shook her head with her eyes shut tight. She waterbended icy water into her face to freeze her thoughts in place. She then made her way through the garden of the palace to find the newly appointed Firelord.

Zuko stared into the water of the clear blue pond, watching the koi fish swirl around each other. He found himself quite bored and gloomy, as usual, but more so this time since him and Mai had another fight. Their relationship just didn't seem to work anymore. It was dull, and it ended up making himself feel dull as well.

He then saw a certain waterbender at the corner of his eye make her way to him with a smile on her face. He couldn't help but smile too as he turned to face her. His mood now felt a little more improved.

"Katara? What are you doing here?" , he asked with a joyed but curious look as he stood up from his seated position.

"Uh, hi Zuko", Katara fidgeted. His royal clothing made him look so handsome, she thought.

" I just thought I would come to see how you were, haven't seen you in a week." She admitted.

Zuko's eye brows raised, " oh.." he looked away with a but if a frown," I am alright I guess…me and Mai kind of had a fight", he said with a sulk.

Katara blinked," oh, sorry to hear that", she said with a concerned look.

"it's okay," he sighed, looking off into the distance, " but how have you been?" He looked back at her with a curious look.

Katara moved a little closer, " well…I have been better… actually that's another reason why I came here to see you..", she said.

Zuko grimaced," oh?" he asked.

"I was wondering if you wanted to ..take a little trip with me?" ,she asked with a slightly embarrassed look.

"oh.." he said with open eyes, he asked," but what about Aang and the others?", he said with a questioning look.

Katara frowned, " I just feel…confused", she looked away with a worrisome expression. "About everything..", she confessed.

Zuko listened intently. "I need to getaway, from all of this…from Aang and my brother to be honest.." She admitted as she looked back at Zuko with a poor look.

"Oh…well why come to me about this?" Zuko asked with a curious look in his golden eyes. Katara blushed slightly, " I don't know…", she looked away," to be honest I can't think of anyone else who I could ask." She shrugged, " you're the only one who wouldn't try stop me." She said as her face turned stern, " and..I trust you", she said looking at him with a serious look.

Zuko's eyes widened, she trusted him? Those words really struck him.. After all he had done to her and her friends in the past, for her to trust him again, he felt so grateful. He knew that she had forgiven him but he thought that it would have taken longer for her to fully trust him again.

" So, when do we leave?", he smiled sweetly. Katara's face brightened as she ran to hug him unexpectedly. Zuko stiffened at first but he soon hugged her back just as tight. This was the second time she hugged him and this time it wasn't a forgiving hug. This embrace felt so relieving and almost… desperate.

"Thank you…", she said with slight tears in her eyes.

Zuko smiled and nodded as they broke from the hug. " We can't leave long though, I am the fire lord after all..", he smirked, "also over worrying the others might drive them to start searching for us.." he said with a straight face.

"I wrote Aang a note saying I needed to go away for a little while" she said," I just hope it won't upset him." Katara said with a light sigh.

"good", he nodded, " so… where are we going exactly..? " , he asked, scratching the back of his head.

Katara smiled shyly," we could go to Ember island again, maybe? No one should be there..", she suggested with a shrug. Zuko agreed," okay, I think that would be a good place." He replied. Katara grinned weakly, " alright, that settles it then."

It was late dusk by the time they reached Ember Island, by a small discreet ferry ordered by Zuko. Zuko had changed out of his more fancy clothes into his usual fire nation outfit and he let his hair down again. Katara had to admit, she liked him better with his long hair down over his face.

They brought about a weeks worth of food and supplies, and as well as weapons, just in case. They were only just at Ember Island not too long ago but Katara liked it here. It was peaceful and private, not many people came here and not to mention, the beaches were beautiful. She enjoyed ice surfing the last time she was here.

The two benders made their way across the sand into the forest where they followed a trail to where the team set up camp last time.

" I found out my mother is alive..", Zuko said, not taking his eyes off the trail.

Katara's blue eyes widened," she is? That's great news Zuko!", she exclaimed with a surprised voice.

"yeah…", his voice trailed off, "My father finally told me where she is, now I only need to find her", he explained.

"I am happy to hear that she is ok", Katara said. Zuko looked at her with a thankful expression, " thanks " ,he breathed out with a slight smile.

Once they reached the place they quickly set up their tents and by that time night had already fallen. Zuko set up a few sticks and lit them a fire as the summer night grew cooler. They sat around the fire and shared a few words here an there.

"Thanks again for coming here with me", Katara thanked him quietly.

"You're welcome", he replied, " I think I could have used a break as well", he admitted as he sat back and rested on his arms behind him.

Katara smiled, " well, I guess I will go and catch us some fish to eat", Katara said as she got up from her spot around the fire.

Zuko nodded in agreement, "alright, good idea", he replied dully, watching her walk away. He brought out his bag of dried fruit and berries and set them out on a couple leafs and waited for Katara to return with the fish.

Something about being here with Katara felt right. He felt like he could relax and be himself, and he really did enjoy his time with her. His lips curled into a content smile.

Katara got to the edge of the shore and took off her shoes to wade in the salt water. It didn't take her long to feel movement and locate a fish. She waterbended the fish into the air and set it beside her on the beach. After a few more attempts she had caught three nicely sized rock fish. With an accomplished look she rinsed the sand off of them and carried them in her pouch back to Zuko.

Walking towards him she made out in the darkness that he was changing his shirt into a sleeping one with the glow of the fire touching his pale skin. She admired his nicely toned back muscles and couldn't help but blush to herself and look away as she kept walking. Though she couldn't look away for long, Katara had too admit, he was not bad looking, like, at all. He was gorgeous, she let out a sigh of relief when he had on his other shirt and he turned to face her as he heard her coming closer.

She smiled innocently, " I caught three", she said proudly, setting them out on a mat that was placed in front of the fire.

"good job", Zuko said happily as he took a few spare sticks and helped her set the fish up to cook on the fire. As they waited for the fish to cook they sat there in silence watching the fire and listening to the night birds and the insects around them. Katara broke the awkward silence,

" Hey listen", she started and he looked at her questioningly, " I want to thank you for all that you have done ", she said looking deep into his eyes.

Zuko's mouth opened, " you don't need to thank me", he looked away.

"no" she said with a serious look, " I do", she stated. Zuko's eyebrows raised, " all that you did to make it up to us, and for what you did for Aang…and me..", she said closing her eyes.

Zuko blushed slightly, " you saved me.." she said with slight tears in her eyes, " why?" She asked with emotion filled eyes.

Zuko snapped, " well I couldn't just let Azula strike you with lightning!" ,his heart beat fast, and Katara gasped as the fire grew larger, suddenly " that bolt was meant for me," he put his hand on his chest where the scar was," not you Katara…I could never let her hurt you…", he said screwing up his face. " I could never let anyone hurt you..", he mumbled.

Katara's eyes widened and she looked away with a small tear down her face "w- would you have taken that bolt for anyone else?", she sniffed, wiping away the tear.

Zuko didn't even have to think twice, "no", he stated, blinking his eyes closed. Katara's looked at him with huge blue eyes, her heart beat deeply. Zuko stared back too with a small smile, then he noticed the fish were burning.

"oh…", he scratched his head, " sorry…I kind of burned the fish..", he said with a wince.

"its okay..", Katara said with an amused look.

After their fill of slightly burned fish they set up their sleeping bags to watch the stars outside their tents. It didn't take them long to fall asleep, but Katara awoke unexpectedly in the very early morning. She found it hard to settle again so she decided to get up to go and have a midnight bath to help her relax.

She walked down to the beach and stood near the shore and felt the swell of the water touch her toes.

The moon made the water glow and the night sky complimented the already beautiful water. Katara slipped off her clothes one by one, down to her white bandaged bra and underwear. She let those fall to the sand as well and slowly walked into the cool water as the moonlight shone down on her light ebony skin.

She smiled to herself as she undid her hair tie and left it with her clothes as well. She dove in the water and emerged with a elegant hair flip and the droplets of water sparkled in the lunar light. She sighed with joy as she felt the clear water cleanse her skin. The water was still slightly warm from the days sunlight and it felt wonderful, especially having not bathed for a day.

Zuko woke up with a start, he yawned as he made his way to the bushes having to go to the bathroom and on his way back he couldn't help but notice Katara was not in her sleeping bag. He scratched his head with a confused and sleepy look, where did she go? He thought.

He walked around the forest carefully to look for her. Still being half asleep he stumbled a couple times on some tree roots. He reached the edge of the trees and he blinked as he heard a noise in the distance, what sounded like a splash.

Zuko peered through the brush and squinted as he saw something in the ocean. It was Katara, he gasped as he realized she was completely cloth less. She stood with her back facing him, she splashed some water onto her head and let it run through her hair and down her body. She shook her hair and then with a sploosh she was submerged back in the glowing water.

Zuko braced himself behind a tree facing away from her, his eyes were wide and he blushed deeply. Did he really just see Katara? Naked?! Well he really only saw her back and partly her rear but she was still naked. He had never seen a naked girl before and he felt so embarrassed for staring but he couldn't look away.

He turned his head with a flustered look and gazed from behind the tree at her once more. She was standing up again and he hitched his breath as she was now facing him but her long hair just covered her breasts out of sight. She water bent onto her body to rinse off and then she began to rub her arms clean with an innocent smile.

Zuko felt a bead of sweat trail down the side of his head. She was so beautiful, her damp skin sparkled under the moonlight. She looked almost like some sort of water nymph, he thought to himself with a gulp. He began to feel a warm twist in his lower abdomen and he groaned as he felt himself awaken with arousal.

He growled to himself feeling ashamed and he looked away again with his back against the tree again. Ugh! Why did he have to be such a perv! He blushed as he fisted his hair, sliding down the tree to sit. Then he got up and quickly walked back to camp before he was tempted to look again at the beautiful waterbender again. He felt awful, he wasn't usually this disrespectful. It was like his mind stopped working when he saw Katara. She was easily the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, and he had known that even before now. He huffed to himself and a small flame escaped from his mouth.

Katara ran her fingers through her hair with her eyes closed, and then cupped some more water to splash her face. She sighed with relief as she then made her way to the shore slowly and then waterbended the droplets off of her. She squeezed the water out of her thick hair the best she could, and then she put back on her clothes and tied her hair back again. She still felt slightly damp but it wasn't enough to bother her.

Zuko was in his sleeping bag with a disturbed look on his face as he saw her approaching from the forest. She was ringing out the remains if the water from her hair as she walked and then she blinked as she saw him awake in his sleeping bag, not meeting her gaze. The campfire was almost out, only giving off a bit of heat.

" oh your up too?", she yawned, letting go of her damp hair. Zuko gasped, " uh, yea, I couldn't sleep", he lied, looking to the side " uh, so where were you?" He asked with a guilty look. Katara smiled obliviously, " oh, I just had a late night bath in the ocean, it was really nice, you should try it sometime ", she said as she crawled back into her sleeping bag.

Zuko chuckled nervously, " uh.. oh! That's nice, uh maybe I will sometime… yeah..", he said awkwardly with a blush.

Katara raised an eyebrow, " are you okay?", she asked in a deep voice. His burning gaze met hers, " y- yea, just had a bad dream, still a little messed up from it", he lied again. Rubbing he back of his head, " well…goodnight", he blushed and turned away from her in his sleeping bag.

Katara blinked, " oh okay, goodnight then", she pulled the side of her sleeping bag over her shoulder and closed her eyes with a tired sigh.


lol hope you guys enjoyed this, I plan to make this fairly short so it maybe one or two chapters?

Not really sure yet. Hopefully I can finish this soon while I have the inspiration. Not really sure where this story is going to lead.