Distance Is Measured In Time
A/N- Fic from my Zutara Blog - November 19, 2016. Based on the cover image.
She'd opened up to him. It was hard, he was the Fire Lord and what was she? Just an orphaned girl from a dwindling tribe in the south. But she'd told him. She'd told him how she may have feelings for him, though there was no may about it. Her heart raced when she saw him. Her eyes had to be forced to look away from him
She'd said all he had to do was ask and she'd stay. But he'd said nothing. Not a word dropped from his stupid, perfect lips. And his gold eyes were blank as he stared wordlessly. She had wanted to scream, to yell, to slap him. But it was not her place, so she ran.
She ran to the armory, she'd thought practicing her bending would calm her. But she didn't make it out of the building, she'd barely made it to the back entrance that lead to the training grounds before collapsing into a wall. Her fists pressed to the stone and her forehead bowed against it. She'd cursed his name and scolded herself for being so stupid. Of course, he didn't want her. He could never want her. She was nothing. Wasn't it enough for her that she was his best friend? Now that was ruined, too. He'd probably never speak to her again.
"Katara?" her name echoed through the building. She'd thought she only imagined it, until it was said again. Closer this time.
"Zuko!" Katara gasped spinning to find him standing in the front doorway. "What are you doing here?" she wiped at her eyes, so he wouldn't see the tears as he approached. He may have made his feelings clear in the palace, but she couldn't help the warmth that rose to her cheeks and made her flush.
"Katara," he pulled her to him as soon as he was close enough to reach her, his hand to her chin forcing those blue eyes to meet his. "I'm sorry. I should have told you right away. I like you, too, Katara. I... I love you."
She looked up at him, wanting -needing- to hear more. His silence had hurt her, so she need his words now and he seemed to understand. "I was scared, I'm sorry. ...It's just hard to believe someone like you, someone so brave and beautiful and powerful and... perfect, could want me." She swallowed hard against the lump in her throat, but he wasn't done talking.
His fingers removed their touch from her face moving to hold her waist, but her gaze stayed on him as he spoke. "Don't go. I... I don't want you to leave. Not yet." Not ever. "Stay here. With me. Please. I need you, Katara."
"Okay," it was the only word she had left, but also the only one she needed. A smile reached her lips and seemed to reflected on his face, "Okay, I'll stay."