I have had alot of people who wanted a Zutara fic, and to be honest, I think they're sort of cute. Katara and Zuko.. Even though I full-out ship Kataang, I think it would be quite fun to try :3 Based off of the song "Hurricane" by 20 Seconds to Mars. Wooot.

This will likely have a few chapters, but it won't be full-fledged (:

Reviews can make my day, by the way (:

"She isn't gone!" I yelled, only an echo of my younger self yelling and sobbing. I wouldn't ever come to terms with the fact that my mother had been murdered by the Fire Nation. I'd known about this whole war thing, but had I known much about it? No, I didn't think this would ever happen. At least, not to me.

Her eyes looked fake; glued open. Sickening. Fear was still painted in them as I sobbed over her still body. Not her. Not my mother. Not my best friend.

"Katara, you have to compose yourself."

"Kya loved you."

"She was a brave woman."

"We have to protect..."

Everything in my mind didn't matter. It didn't matter that she was brave, that she used to love me, that this meant more war. The only thing that mattered was that she was gone. Gone forever because of one person. One monster. If only I'd stayed with her.. If only I'd stood my ground to that man, maybe she'd still be here.

I sat straight up in my tent, gasping wildly for air. Beads of sweat were formed at my hairline, and tears were already streaming down my cheeks. I took in one huge breath before letting it all out in short, shallow sobs. Thunder boomed outside, hiding my intakes of oxygen.

My mind swam in slow motion; as I remembered what day in specific that today was. Today was May thirteenth. One date that would always linger in my head; the day she was taken from my life. That explained the nightmares, but why? I hadn't had nightmares in over two years about the whole thing. Especially not seeing her cold and blue. That thought only made me choke back more sobs.

I stretched my joints, toes and back cracking as I did so. I pulled on some shoes, not bothering with a coat. It wasn't all that cold, and I'd survive without one.

I didn't know where I was going, but away from everyone's public eye would be better than staying. I made my way to the trees, where the rain wouldn't be like small piercing bullets, but more like a mist. I kept walking, listening to the constant crunch of the dead grass under my feet. No, it was barely wet under here. The sound of the rain pelting the trees above was something you never heard in the south pole. Strangely, it made me want to sleep more. To sleep for a nice, long time.

The men of our tribe used to say that crying in front of allies showed weakness. Even if you're about to perish, no crying. Stay strong, and you'll be remembered as strong. Just like her.

Once I'd made it deep enough into the forest, I stopped and sat, leaning against an oak. I sat there for the longest time with nothing running through my mind, just letting myself relax. I might have sat there hours before I heard the crunch of footsteps. Alert, I tensed up again, so much for that.

"I heard you leave," Zuko's voice came from the darkness.

"Oh," I whispered back, feeling his heat next to me. Firebenders always did have such a higher body temperature than other benders. "I guess I'm not sneaky."

"I could also hear you thrashing in your sleep," He said, sitting down completely, our sides touching. "What was on your mind?"

"Everything."

"I've got time."

I sighed. Of course he did, it was the middle of the night! "Can I ask you something personal?" I asked, sitting with my knees curled to my chest. I knew there was no going back. Zuko would pry me until I told him if I backed out.

Zuko took a moment to think about my question. "Sure," he replied quietly, leaning his head back against the trunk of the tree, opening his palm into a small flame, which lit up the land around.

"How did you cope with your mother's disappearance?"

"Not very well," He admitted, glancing at me. "I went into a dark place."

I shivered, feeling the impulse to lean into his shoulder, to comfort him in some way.

"Why?" Zuko asked, wondering why I took an interest in the subject.

"Because I didn't. Everyone else did, and I was the one who just didn't, Sokka and my dad.. My whole village. I was the emotionless monster." I muttered, blinking rapidly to dry the incoming tears.

The light in our eyes was gone as he closed his hand, shrinking the once-large flame. I felt his warm hands on my ice-cold ones. He covered them, almost as if he were protecting them. It felt nice, the warmth, though it gave me chills that seemed oblivious at the time. They made me feel secure for the first time in a very long time.

One small tear escaped. I prayed to Yue he didn't see it fall down my neck. "She's been gone for eight years now."

Silence.

"It's okay to be sad, you know," Zuko finally said, squeezing my hands. I shivered again. "It's okay to cry every once and a while."

With that, I let the tears fall waster and swifter than what seemed like possible, at least for me. I let myself fall into his arms, mindlessly crying into his shirt. Warmth took over my body, ridding me of any trace of ever being cold. He whispered comforting words into my hair, not used to this at all.

"Sh, it's alright.."

Eventually, I'd managed to cry myself out. I hadn't cried like this at all since she was ripped from me. Zuko let me curl into his chest, his arms wrapped around me. He let me get it all out of my system, the hiccups and all before settling us into a laying position. My heart thudded, this was Zuko. Not Aang, but Zuko. The man who chased me and everyone around, tried to kill us on occasions, not some guy I should be falling for!

But, when he got rid of the top-knot, he did get alot more...

What am I thinking?

"Thank you, Zuko. I haven't done this in eight years."

He raised an eyebrow underneath his shaggy black hair, golden eyes bore into my blue ones. "You haven't cuddled with a fire prince in eight years? Hm.."

I let out a small laugh. "I haven't cried like this in eight years," I replied, letting one of my hands rest next to my head on his chest. It didn't occur to me that I was curled up next to the prince of the Fire Nation—but that I was curled up next to just Zuko. He didn't seem so dangerous anymore, like Azula or Ozai. He seemed as if he'd never had all that hatred inside him.

At least right now, he doesn't. I felt one of his hands stroking my hair, which was still down. I'd never felt like putting it in the braid anymore, it almost felt nice when it was down, for this reason.

We were both relaxed into one another, Zuko pressed blind kisses into my forehead every once and a while, making me blush, my face heating up all around. I wasn't sure if he could feel it since he was already so warm. "You know," Zuko began, breaking the silence. "We're going to need a cover story so we can go back together. If someone sees us, we're going to need to be on the same page."

Another kiss above my eyebrow, his warm lips lingering. More blush.

"The rain had us both up," I mumbled into his chest, inhaling his scent. "And I went on a walk. You stayed behind. I didn't come back, so you came looking for me," I said simply, proud of how smooth the words came out, despite the fact he'd distracted me with his fingers making small circles on my waist.

"Mmm," Zuko murmured in agreement. "Good plan." We laid there in silence for a little bit, just enjoying the company. I'd taken a liking to nuzzling into his neck, stretching one arm across his stomach. "You should get some rest, Katara."

"And you shouldn't?" I retorted, "It looks like you haven't slept in days."

Zuko smiled, "I'm an early riser, we'll both sleep a few hours then get up, okay?" Yes, he smiled. It seemed weird, seeing Zuko smile. It made me feel more comfortable for some reason, one that I couldn't quite put my finger on. What was it?

When I closed my eyes, I was washed over with his warmth. His bare chest didn't even feel cold or even cool. When I closed my eyes, I fell asleep faster than I had in a long, long time. Right there, cuddled up to Prince Zuko.

Zuko

The sun rose over the trees, all traces of clouds gone. Katara laid next to me, facing away from me, but her back pressed into my chest, her head tucked next to mine. I had one arm still around her waist, or resting on her waist, almost as if I'd tried to pull her closer to me in the night.

I sat up, watching her breathe. In the fetal position, she looked so much less stressed in her sleep. Almost as if all the stress of the comet had melted away and didn't matter anymore. I almost could see a small tug at her lips, a smile? I slowly slid my arms around her, hoisting her up into my arms. She groaned a little bit, but then drifted back off.

I guessed that Katara was used to always taking care of other people. I knew that if she was coherent, she wouldn't have let me carry her back to camp, to our awaiting friends who were probably worried sick about her. Katara's head slumped against my chest, a feeling I wouldn't ever forget.

I don't know what's happening with me, I've never felt like this with anyone, not even Mai. With Mai, it was all serious. With Katara, I felt she could joke around, even when unnecessary.

As we came into eye-shot of the site, I could already see Sokka pacing, and Aang meditating close by on the ground. Sokka's lips were moving quickly, throwing his hands up in the air and making over-dramatic faces. His face went from worry, to relief, but then straight to anger as he spotted Katara in my arms.

He crossed his arms, raising one eyebrow. "And where were you two?"

"The rain last night had us both up, Katara wanted to go for a walk. I waited for her to come back, but she didn't. I fell asleep, and woke early this morning, she still wasn't back, I went looking."

Aang and Sokka glanced at each other; Aang shrugged, unlike Sokka who didn't seem to budge. "What time last night?"

"This doesn't matter! The only thing that matters is that Katara's safe and sound back here with me—us."

Sokka's face straightened; "Fine."

Katara stirred against my chest, murmuring about how she could walk. I chuckled and set her upright, holding her waist for one cautious second before letting her go. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face me. Her eyes were no longer tired or red; but the brightest blue I'd ever seen.

She simply smiled and leaned up on her toes to peck my cheek. "Thank you, Zuko." My face flushed and I looked down at my shoes. "You're welcome."

As she strolled off with Aang to begin waterbending practice, she haunted my every thought. The small kisses on her cold forehead, the feeling of her body in my arms. Everything.

Every thought.

Yeah.. Just got back from camp today :D Which means i now have internet :3 Go me. Reviews are amazing! :D

xoxo, Keri (: