I Don't own Avatar.
Walking in Moccasins
Fire Princess Katara meets a Waterbender by the name of Zuko. Zutara.
AU of sorts.
In an elaborately furnished room with gray light pouring past the half drawn curtains, the Princess sat, fixed and silent on the cold marble floor. Before her stood a moderate sized mahogany table with carvings of the Fire Nation, topped with four red candles flickering and dancing in the half-light. The candles' glow illuminated her dark brown hair, done-up with the appropriate hair piece reserved for those of royal blood. Shadows fell on the folds of her crimson red dressing robes, and shaded parts of her snowy complexion, giving her the haunting appearance of a spirit.
She let the rain's pattering sound soothe her, and help her meditate. She enjoyed the occasional rain storms that threw themselves on the Capital during the dry season, unlike the majority of her family, and Firebenders in general. Breathing in and out rhythmically with the rain, she concentrated on keeping herself calm, her thoughts wiped blank and emotionless.
Emotionless. Lately, she found this particular aspect of meditation very trying, as her remaining parent had recently passed away.
She struggled to maintain inner peace as her eyebrows dipped and furrowed in concentration, and her painted mouth drew into a thin red line. Her frown deepened as freeze frame memories and broken speech resurfaced in her thoughts, and she tried in vain to push the aching pain from her mind.
-.:.-
Katara slowly followed the small pools of blood that had gathered on the floor of her Mother's bedroom, inching forward towards the closed door of the bathroom. Carefully stepping over a broken ceramic cup, she turned the knob and pushed the door open, cringing at the creaking noise.
With her face tilted sideways and blood oozing from her mouth, the cold, dead eyes of the Empress of the Fire Nation stared blankly at her trembling daughter.
-.:.-
Katara clenched her jaw and brushed her eyes roughly. Members of the Fire Nation were never to show weakness.