Bending more than Blood
I don't own avatar. If I did Aang would have married Suki or something.
Sorry guys wrote it at 4 am so I added to it.
They are all working so close together to make Republic City all it could be. That is the problem. Katara didn't want to tell him. Zuko would not leave until she gave him an explanation on the new bill she and Aang held secret. Hell even Sokka knew and that boy couldn't keep his mouth shut except about this. Zuko has some ideas. Katara hardly ever used her bending lately. Turning instead to hand to hand combat when out with Toph.
"What are you so scared of?" He asked her in her office. She was a vision in her green dress. Katara had been crying looking out the window. Zuko could see the water sparkle as she turned to the voice at the door. The moon shining above her. "Katara?" The tears made him rush to her side. "Why are you crying?"
"I can't tell you. It is hard to talk about." By the spirits he hated that look. She had it when he almost died. When Aang almost died. After every time Katara used blood bending. All of her hurt flowed like water though the air. She was so close to tears again.
"You know nothing you say can change my feelings about you, but I understand." Ice blue eyes stared at him. "Why don't we just go out for Cactus juice? I hear it is the quenchiest."
The mere mention of Sokka drunk on the juice was enough to make the woman, the great and powerful Fire Lord Zuko loved, smile. His heart lightened. "Why is it you are the only one that can make me laugh these days, Zuko?" Still the perfect woman, Katara touched his scar. Not even Mai dared to touch the scar. When Katara's cool finger tips touch his scar it was like it was healing a little more. Little by little Zuko knew that she was also dousing the fire in his mind.
"Maybe it is because we are elemental opposites. I just need to think about what would annoy me most and it makes you smile." He held out his hand to her.
"Like Aang?" She teased. Aang did annoy the Fire Lord but only because he monopolized the time of this water bender. "You have been a little more tense around him lately. I don't think that it has anything to do with this new bill."
Zuko leaned on her desk arms crossed. He thought that he was hiding it better but then again Katara always mirrored him so well. "I like the boy. I am just envious of him. Always have. No doubt always will." She looked hurt again. The sudden thought that her Fire Lord was so very handsome made her feel guilty towards her Avatar. "Times like this you reflect my thoughts." She blushed turning back to her desk. "I know a great little water tribe restaurant. Spend a few hours with me Katara. It's been too long. I think we both need a break."
"Dinner and drinks?" She faked shock. "Your majesty, if I didn't know any better, I would say that you were asking me, a poor water tribe girl, out on a date." He smiled to her. If only she was just that. She was the only water bender daughter of the chief of the Southern Water Tribes. That made her a princess. Zuko's tan skinned water goddess. Damn Aang for winning her heart before Zuko even had a chance at it.
"If only you would give me the pleasure." He flirted. Katara blushed. "I promise that you have fun."
"What would Mai say?" Mai was the last thing on his mind. Saved by the rumble in her tummy as it spoke to his. "Okay maybe I should take a break." Zuko smiled. "This better be the best place in the whole Earth Kingdom."
"That is the spirit."
"Just the warn you. Toph has kidnapped Aang for the night." That was not a warning. That was great news to Zuko. The Avatar would not interrupt.
"Suki has dragged your brother to a new version of that play." She nodded. "I don't know why she is willing to put herself through it a second time." Walking arm in arm Zuko took Katara home. Only stopping briefly in the market place to pick up the ingredients that he needed. The plan was tonight he would show her how far he had changed.
"Do you think that I don't see what you are doing?" Zuko blinked a few times taking the penguin from the butcher's hands.
"What?" He said innocently. Katara, carried two bags of vegetables and spices, cocking one eye brow. Well At least it wasn't her angry glare. Part of him had let himself wonder if this was how being with Katara all the time felt like. Just another think he envied about Aang. Zuko had to split his time between the Fire Nation and The City so he had to spend the rest of his time writing to his friends here. Aang lived here. In Katara's house at that.
"Zuko are you intend me to cook when you asked me out?" He laughed. Not because that is what she thought but at her face. She smiled as she said it with an annoyed tone.
"No." Katara's weight shifted to let her hip hold the weight of the bag. "No!" She sighed smiling. "I have been learning to cook water tribe foods since I can't have you cooking anymore." Katara's smiled faded. At least he was being honest, she thought. Everyone knew that she was a horrible cook yet he loved it. "My palace cooks can't cut their way though a wet paper bag let alone a penguin. No matter how many times I show them, they don't get it." He sighed. "A woman named Yuki has been teaching me. She is from the Northern Water Tribe. She was all too happy to come cook for me." Katara groaned. Zuko didn't know what for. Her muscles were tight as Zuko took a bag from her.
"Northern tribe food is not the same as southern tribe." He knew that. Having someone from her tribe would hurt more. "They don't even have penguins." Zuko said nothing. How could he tell her that though? "Fine! I will cook." Katara sighed again. She wasn't thinking about her issues anymore. Zuko always seemed to make himself in the front of her mind. Right now that was what she needed.
"No, you are my guest." He took her free hand kissing it. "I wouldn't let you even if you asked. Iroh would never let me forget it." She openly laughed at that. It was true. Uncle Iroh would come back from the grave just to make Zuko treat Katara properly.
"Zuko, you have not had nearly as much practice at it than I have. One day, though, I want you to make me your favorite Fire kingdom foods." Heading into the Earth kingdom styled home Zuko had to fight the urge to kiss her.
How could this woman have such power over him? Katara was so strong, so loyal, so brilliant, so very beautiful. Her bending was the most powerful in both kingdoms. He offered to help him but he betrayed her which nearly got Aang killed. Yet in the training and he final battle they were back to back holding their ground. Zuko was not worthy of her friendship. She had hunted down the man that killed her mother yet didn't kill him. She became the Painted Lady so that a village would not be killed by Zuko's father's army. Katara was the one that defeated his sister and saved his life in the final battle.
"You coming or are you going to stare at my house all night?" Zuko smiled. She was oblivious to his feelings. Then again the lonely smile she gave him lately seemed out of place.
"I will put these in the kitchen." She nodded.
When Katara came to the kitchen in a simple blue gown Zuko was cooking. It matched her eyes. Not like that formal green gown that she wore at the office. Zuko took a deep breath continuing to dice the veggies. There were snacks laid out on the counter. Katara smelled like water lilies as she was reaching around him to get to the snacks. As soon as she tried Zuko slapped her hand gently with his free hand.
"There are fire flakes in that." Katara pulled her hand away. The first time she had tried fire flakes Katara blew up like a blow fish. Had Zuko not been there she could have died. Sokka didn't seem to have the problem. "It's for Aang and Sokka." He passed her a bowl of mixed fruits and nuts. "This one is for you."
"Zuko, why is you are not married yet?" She joked sitting down with what he knew were her favorites. "If you treat every girl like this they should be dropping at you feet like flies."
"The one girl I have fallen in love with is engaged to another man." She frowned at him. It seemed pointed at her but she couldn't be sure. It wasn't like Aang and she were officially engaged. If he took the chance-.
"Then take her away from him." The knife in Zuko's hand slipped. Red splashed across the carrots he was working on. She didn't know "Spirits I am sorry I shouldn't be talking to you while you are cooking." He sucked the blood off his finger examining it before she took his hand. Water from his glass rose up covering the cut. "Do you want help?" Why was she frowning as something like healing? Did something scare her about her bending?
"If you want. I could never stop you from doing anything." She looked up at him. "That is why I always helped you." By the spirits she was gorgeous now. At twenty six there was no reason why she too should not have been married. There was Aang but if he didn't make their relationship final soon someone would take her heart. "I said that I would cook for you. You have had a long day at council."
"Yeah and you just flew in from your kingdom. Its a long trip even by Airship." Her healing was done. Zuko could see her eyes were three shades of blue. Ten years has made her so much stronger. Ten years he has loved her. She kissed his hand. Slowly he moved to kiss her lips.
"Zuko?" Was asked from the door. Zuko groaned. He wanted to kiss her. Sokka and Suki made their way to the counter with the food. It was Suki that spoke. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming I could have you house set up for your arrival." His new bodyguard was so very protective. There was no way he could fault Suki for interrupting him.
"I sent word ahead through Katara and she saw to it." Suki glared at Katara. "You are on vacation Suki. Enjoy it." The Fire Lord said handing a bowl to Sokka.
"What are you doing here?" Sokka asked taking the bowl.
"Cooking me dinner. Why are you not at the play?" They all knew that tone. Zuko smiled again moving back to the cutting board. Sokka backed away. "Its date night, isn't it?"
"When the audience heard that Sokka was there they rioted." Zuko didn't need to see what Katara was doing. "Toph is over there now dealing with it. There are people-" Zuko followed the girl out. This was his job. Protection when needed. Katara may need it. Helping people was her job. He would never stop her. Katara would never turn her back when people needed her.
When they got there Toph was talking to Aang. Katara landed at the side of the first injured man. "Sparkles?!" Aang saw that Zuko stood over Katara. They were a great couple. That annoyed Aang. Why was the Fire Lord even with her?
"How are we doing Toph?" Zuko asked surveying the sparse healers among the wounded. "I can call my person guard if you need more troops."
"I have enough men to handle this. I just need more healers." The police chief touched her friend tensing at her side. There was something new in the earth. Aang smelt the wind. Blood was every where. That was not Zuko smelt though. Both men looked down at Katara as she gasped.
"He's here." Zuko pulled her to her feet. Katara stood stiffly. "Toph get as many people out of here as you can. I will draw him away." Zuko nodded following where the water bender ran.
"Its a new moon." Aang frowned working his way to Katara. "How could he use it?"
"I don't need it any more." Katara looked up at Zuko. "I don't think that you should be here, Zuko." Toph started to give orders. Aang flew to some roof tops. "This is dangerous and I will not be known as the water bender that kills the Fire Lord."
"I have told you more than once that I will never leave you alone." She kissed his cheek. "We are the best partners out of every one on Team Avatar." Fire pooled in this hand. "There is no way I am going to just leave you."
"Then follow me but not too close. I cant let him hurt-" It was too late. The man next to her screamed as he stood up with two broken legs. Zuko had seen this before. Katara had done. Blood bending. How was he going to keep her safe? "Get out of here."
"I told you I am not leaving you." Just then he pulled his sword. Katara gasped tearing up. Zuko was now the villain's puppet.