No! I don't own Avatar or anything like that. I only one one character (the only new one) Please review (this is a revival of an old story of mine )
Setting: Western Air Temple
Katara charged at Zuko and froze his feet in place. The anger inside her blazed, like the fire in Zuko's hands. She felt all the pent up frustratin ramming against her ribs. She growled and swiped her frozen fist across his face. He grabbed her hand just in time. She was angry enough to bite his ear off. He let her go and backed up a few paces, watching her every move. He seemed annoyingly calm. She tried lifting her foot and gasped. She couldn't move. She glanced down and grindined her teeth. Her sandals were fused to the floor. She cut the straps that held her with a water blade and sent a ball of slush at Zuko's face, ''you're nothing but a spoiled brat.''The slush hit him full in the face and he smiled dangerously as he wiped it off, ''I said I was sorry.''
A ball of fire came towards her. Sorry? Yea okay. She dove to the left a moment too late and felt it singe the ends of her hair. She stretched her arms toward a fountain in the middle of the pavilion, sending all its contents hurdling toward him.
The force knocked him into a marble pillar. He stood up and let himself catch his breath. They had been at this for half an hour already. He rolled his eyes as Katara came running at him. Her fingers glinted dangerously. Someone's not as creative as they used to be. He gripped the smooth pillar between his hands, and swung around it. For one exhilarating moment he saw his feet flying over the canyon floor. As his feet soared over Katara and landed behind her. He was about to swipe his hand over her neck to signify a kill when he found he couldn't move. He checked his feet which stood unfrozen on the ground. His muscles stood rigidly still, he felt himself being thrown to the ground. As he laid there he saw Katara smile and his heart nearly stopped. She seemed so alive when she fought him. A warm feeling started in his gut but he pushed it aside before further exploring it.
She look on Zuko's face was one of shock and confusion, ''what's the matter, Zuko?'' He glared at her and tried to move. There was something in the way he was looking at her. She looked at him a second too long.
Zuko felt his muscles become his own again, and tackled Katara. He had her pinned to the ground, ''what are we fighting about again?'' With surprising strength she rolled from beneath him and pinned him to the ground. She bended her sweat into an ice cube and pelted him in the face, ''you said my food sucked.''
He grabbed her hands, "all i said was that I wanted to help you cook. How did you get "your food sucks from that.''
She struggled to move her fingers and he only held them tighter, ''You're acting like your five." She kept struggling and he decided to lay there until she finished having her titti attack. "How'd you manage throw me to the ground? ''
She snorted and kept struggling ''I'm a water tribe barbarian. How should I know. ''
Her tone made him wince. Be patient it's like dealing with a wounded animal. A rabid wounded animal. ''You could probably teach me a few things." He blushed as she turned pink. He was suddenly aware of her weight on him, and tossed her aside before he let his imagination run wild. He got up quickly incase Hakoda or Sokka decided to walk into the pavilion. Not that Sokka was one to talk the way he and Suki were constantly snogging each other.
He dusted himself off, ''Work on your bending.'' He felt cold water hit the back of his head and smirked, ''you might also want to work on your people skills.''
She bended an ice ball at him, ''I hate you!''
He paused, ''I highly doubt that.''
Dinner was quiet and tense. Toph felt everyone's heart beat and snorted, ''Gees, Katara don't burt a blood vessel now?''
The Duke looked up from the Pai-sho board stretched between him and Teo's wheel chair, ''who's gonna burst a blood vessel?''
Katara waved her hand at him, ''No one. Do you even know how to play that game?''
Teo looked up from his wheel chair,'' Not really. We're just playing by our own rules.''
Katara's brow furled, ''But how do you know who's winning? I mean if you don't know-''
Sokka rolled his eyes. ''Holy Universe Katara! Just let them play!'' Suki barreled her elbow into Sokka's ribs and shushed him.
Hakoda put down his bowl of soup and tried to make small talk, ''Zuko, What have you heard from your Uncle?''
Putting down his bowl, Zuko fished a scroll out of his waistband and handed it to Aang, ''Pass this to Hakoda.''
Katara looked at Sokka, wondering if anyone else knew that Iroh was now helping them. Noting from the blank expressions, no one had known until now.
She sighed and moved the precariously balanced bowl of soup from Toph' s knee. She had barely touched it. A snore emitted from Toph's mouth and Zuko stood up, ''I'll take her to her room.'' Katara watched as he tenderly picked her up. Whatever. She was determined to ignore everygesture of human compassion Zuko showed.
Sokka stood up and stretched, ''Well, I guess I'll turn in.''
A few seconds after he had gone Suki stood up, ''I'm gonna get some sleep.''
She pursed her lips as she watched Suki disappear down the hallway. She blushed when she realized she was probably headed towards Sokka's room. Aang snapped his glider open, ''night everyone!'' and flew towards the bison stables.
Teo scowled and prodded the Duke with his finger, ''He's gonna sleep in the loft again if we don't hurry.''
Duke snapped wide awake and ran down the hall, ''No way! That's were all the good hay is!''
Katara stood up awkwardly. She collected all the bowls and felt her blood boil when she noticed they were all nearly full. She was trying to be a good cook; her mouth was set with determination as she promised to look up a few scrolls on cooking in the library. She looked at the large bags underneath her fathers eyes. ''I guess we should turn in as well. ''
Hakoda motioned for her to sit down, ''Katara there's something I need to talk to you about.''
She sat down, ''Are you sure this isn't something you'd rather talk to Zuko about?'' Her cheeks flushed red as the words left her mouth. She thought about Zuko's five year old comment earlier.
Hakoda shifted uneasily, ''There are some things that I needed to discuss with Zuko's Uncle. You will all learn about them soon, but they concern you specifically.''
She waited for her father to continue, but they just sat in silence, '' Would the ''things'' be something you wanted to talk to me about now?'' She noticed how nice it was to sort of have his full attention. She wandered if this was how Sokka had felt during the invasion.
He tore his gaze from the dying fire and settled his eyes on her, ''I've only been here two days but I can see that you've got it all under control.'' He cleared his throat,'' I wanted to tell you that I'm proud of the woman you're becoming.'' She flushed slightly and smiled. An affectionate look crossed his face, ''that is why I think it's time for you to enter into an-''
A loud scream pierced the air. Toph's scream. Katara ran down the hallway that led to Toph's room with Hakoda right behind her. She burst through the door in time to see Toph bend a clod of earth at Zuko.
''You scared me you Jerk!'' Katara looked from the grin on Zuko's face to the smile that was beginning to break on Toph's. She leaned against the door jam, ''What on earth is going on here?'' The anger in her voice wiped the grins from their faces.
Zuko stood up, 'I was telling her a Fire Nation legend. '' Toph bended another clump of earth at him ,'' Then Jerkface snuck up on me! '' Zuko shrugged his shoulders , ''I thought you would feel me sneaking up on you. You always do.'' Toph rolled her sightless eyes, ''That's when I don't think a giant Zebra Sloth is coming for me.''
Katara threw her hands up, ''I thought you were hurt or something. Could you please not scream next time this idiot decides to scare you.''
By now Sokka and Suki had emerged from Sokka's room. He snorted, ''A giant Zebra sloth? Toph is scared of Zebra sloth's?''
Hakoda glared at Sokka's bare chest and Suki's frazzled hair in disapproval, ''And what took you two so long in getting here?'' Suki blushed and looked down at the ground and Katara held back a laugh.
Toph continued pelting Zuko, ''Just wait. Hell, at this rate you'll still be paying me back when the war's over.'' Zuko laughed and tickled Toph, '' Or I could save your life from a giant zebra sloth and we can call it even.'' Zuko winked at Katara and she ignored the flutter in her heart. It's probably my gag reflex.
Katara turned towards her room ''Well sin,ce everyone's doing something else besides sleeping in their rooms. '' She glared at Sokka, ''I'm gonna go out on a limb here and try to get some rest.'' She stalked towards her room and slammed the door.
Suki and Sokka left Toph's room, and Hakoda made sure they both went their separate ways. Zuko placed Toph on a blanket and drew another one over her. ''Get some sleep brat.''
She yawned sleepily, ''Okay Jerk.''
He laughed as he stood up, ''I thought I was Sparky.''
As he walked out of the room he heard her sleepily mumble, ''yea well I like this nick name too.'' He passed Katara's room slowly as if the slightest noise would invoke her fury. He looked back at her door before entering his own.Well, implying that her cooking wasn't all that great probably wasn't the best idea. Especially since she works so hard. I'll make it up to her...somehow.
The next morning, Zuko woke early and made breakfast. He did the laundry and even had time to tell everyone to clean their rooms before Katara had shown up. He thanked the spirit world that by some miracle she had slept in. The rest of the day he tried to make sure she did as little work as possible. Hoping maybe to gain her acceptance, besides, he felt kinda bad for beating her yesterday. He wondered if Toph could feel his heart race whenever Katara was near. Was it possible Katara felt the same way? He doubted it. She can barely look at me with out glaring. Besides I'm tainted. He felt his scar. And marked. He gritted his teeth. If I can only make her my friend…I think I'll be happy. He threw himself into making lunch with more vigor. All the while, trying to forget the touch of her hand on his face when they had been under Ba Sing Se.
Katara slammed the door behind her as she left her room. She stalked angrily up the hallway that led to the open pavilion. She felt like punching someone, preferably Zuko. This morning she had awoken to breakfast already made, laundry already done, and everyone already nagged into cleaning their rooms! At lunch everyone raved about Zuko's caramelized whatever it was he made, and Aang willingly set aside his glider to train with her. But only, after Zuko asked him to. The blood sizzled in her veins. Her mood darkened as she spotted Sokka and Zuko in the open pavilion laughing. They had been best buddies now since the Boiling Rock incident.
Zuko was hyper aware of Katara's presence. He tried to focus completely on the joke Sokka was telling him, while at the same time clocking Katara's every move. Try not to get her upset. If she sneers, ignore her. If she baits you don't firebend at her. She's still hurting from what happened under Ba Sing Se, and what happened yesterday…and well everyday since she's met you. For the fortieth time since he had joined Aang's side he wished he hadn't betrayed her. But couldn't she see that he had to go through all those things?
Sokka waved his boomerang in his face, ''Earth to Jerkbender.''
Zuko shook his head to clear the past form his mind and tried to focus on whatever Sokka was saying, '' yes?''
Sokka rolled his eyes, ''I give up, the fire nation officially slows your brain down.'' He sat on a rock and stared between Zuko and Katara, ''unless there's something else that's distracting you?''
Zuko shook his head when he heard the harsh tone in Sokka's words, ''Of course not.''
Sokka shook his head, ''I may not be the fastest boomerang in the village, but I do know what I'm saying when I tell you this: Out of your League!'' He took out a rag and began to polish his boomerang furiously, ''I mean even if she didn't hate your guts, Which she still does by the way, she'd still be out of your league.'' Zuko faked a smiled, ''Thanks Sokka, that uh, really…helped.'' Sokka rubbed at an invisible speck on his boomerang, '' No problem. ''
Zuko moved toward Katara quietly and tapped her on the shoulder, ''Hey, I was wondering if you needed some help?''
Katara glared at him, ''Like you haven't done enough already.''
He shuffled his feet, ''I just thought that with all this work you-''
She waved a soup ladle in the air, ''oh come on! You honestly expect me to believe you did all that today, just because you wanted to be nice?''
His mouth opened and then promptly closed. What the hell? '' I didn't mean to bother you I just-'' Katara cut him off. Again.'' Yeah right! Ever since you saw me, you've wanted to make my life miserable! Now you're trying to win everyone over, but that's not gonna work with me. I mean as if hunting us around the world wasn't enough-''
Now it was Zuko's turn to interrupt, ''Look, I said I was sorry! I wasn't trying to replace you!''He ran his fingers through his hair, ''I'll be in my room. If you need me, that is.''
Katara waved the ladle at his retreating back, ''which I won't be!'' She tossed it angrily off the pavilion, and didn't bother waiting to hear it crash into the canyon floor. She didn't need Zuko's help and she certainly didn't need a stupid ladle. She was a water bender, for heavens sake. She bent the soup in a stirring motion and stopped a couple of minute's later. Did I just throw cookware off a cliff because of Zuko? This stupid war would drive her crazy. Sweat formed on her forehead as the flames licked the bottom of the pot. She muttered angrily to herself as the soup cooked. ''Why on earth would I be needing him for anything other than target practice? He can be so conceited at times, thinking the entire world revolves around him.''
''Gee, bitter much, Sugar Queen?''
Toph's pale green eyes were turned at her accusingly.
Katara focused intently on the soup, ''exactly how long have you been standing there?''
Toph sat down on a rock and rolled a cabbage between her feet, ''Long enough to know that someone's jealous.''
Katara sputtered, ''I am not!'' It was times like these, she questioned whether Toph was actually blind. She noticed that she was staring at her intently, ''don't you have your toes to pick or something?''
Toph wriggled her toes on the cabbage, ''I already did. Twice.''
Katara rolled her eyes, ''Well find something else to do that doesn't involve staring at me!'' She snatched the cabbage from between Toph's legs, ''and quit playing with the food, I'm trying to cook.''
Toph snorted, ''Trying's right Sugar Queen. That sea prune soup last night was terrible!''
Katara clenched her teeth. Be patient, don't blow up. Just breathe, ''Well maybe you should cook, Toph.''
Toph laughed as she walked toward her favorite rock, ''I was thinking maybe you should let Zuko, you know the guy with some culinary talent, cook.''
Katara felt her right eye twitch, ''and why in the name of all that is good and lovely would I do that?'' Toph rolled her sightless eyes, '' Are your taste buds retarded or something? His caramelized roosterpigeon is awesome for one thing and two, he actually has the ability to cook.''
For one odd moment Katara felt like jumping off the pavilion and joining her ladle on the canyon floor. Instead she threw her arms up in the air and stalked off. Her feet led her to Zuko's room. She threw open the door and yelped when she saw his bare chest. '' Why are you randomly half naked?''
He shrugged, puzzled, ''Uh…because it's my room.''
Katara noticed how his muscles rippled, and tried to focus on his gold eyes, ''Well, I came here to say that I was...'' Zuko sat on his bed and looked at her expectantly. Her eyes flicked down to his chest, again, '' could you please put your shirt on. Do they not teach you manners in Fire Nation. Or does everyone walk around half naked?''
He threw on his outer tunic and didn't even bother buttoning it, ''Better?''
She rolled her eyes and sat on the floor. His entire chest was still exposed, ''whatever,'' Instead of apologizing she decided she would ask the question that had been bothering her all day. ''why did you do all that stuff today?''
Becuase you don't smile when you're cooking or doing laundry or any of that stuff. You rant and scream and stress. He shook his head and merely smirked at her. ''Cause you're a lousy housewife.'' She scowled and he he lifted his hands, ''Only joking.'' He thought he may have seen a hint of a smile in her eyes. He decided to tell a part of the truth, '' I wanted to help you. You seemed like you were dying under all that work and yesterday.''
She hugged her knees, ''Oh.''
She stood up and looked him in the eyes, ''Well, uh thank you.'' She tripped over her the hem of her blue skirt and fell forward. Zuko stood up and quickly caught her hand.
''Thank you, '' she whispered.
Sokka materialized at the doorway, ''Zuko! We can't find Katara and your Uncle's here! He brought someone interesting along.' He paused and took in the fact that Katara's hand was still in Zuko's, and his unbuttoned tunic, ''what was that about bedrooms being for sleeping,?'' Katara took a few steps away from Zuko, and he dropped her hand. ''I agree Sokka, that's exactly what they're for.'' He rolled his eyes and eyed them suspiciously, ''There's someone here you should see. Both of you.''
They reached the pavilion where Iroh and a boy with white hair about Zuko's age stood. Zuko broke into a run and embraced Iroh, ''Uncle! Did you get my letter?''
Iroh waved the cup of tea he held in his hand, ''Well I'm here nephew aren't I?''
Zuko suddenly seemed extremely interested with the tops of his shoes, ''I mean the one before that.''
Iroh laughed, ''You mean the one where your apologies took up the entire scroll?''
Everyone laughed and then stopped when she saw that Iroh was serious. Hakoda walked over to the boy with white hair and placed his had on his shoulder, ''Welcome, Kendo.''
Kendo smiled at Hakkoda and bowed deeply in Aang's direction, ''It is an honor to meet you Avatar Aang.''
Aang bowed, '' You can call me Aang if you want. It's easier.''
Sokka shook Kendo's hand, ''How on earth did you get here?''
Katara looked at the boy's face. He seemed vaguely familiar, ''You know him?''
Sokka nodded, ''We use to play together before the Fire Nation came and well'' he glanced around the room and everyone fell silent, ''you know.''
Kendo's green eyes turned reverently towards Iroh, ''It's only because of Iroh that I could be here with you now.''
Zuko looked at him, slightly puzzled, his uncle's letters hadn't mentioned the strange boy. ''Uncle?''
Iroh waved his hands, ''there will be time for that later, now I suggest we-''
''So who's the peachpuff?'' Toph asked loudly from her rock.
Katara, forgetting that she couldn't see, glared at her, ''Toph!''
Toph walked over to Kendo and sniffed him, ''what? He smells all girly.''
Katara blushed and placed her hands on Toph's shoulders, ''Please ignore her.''
Toph wriggled away from Katara's hands, '' so, who are you again?''
Kendo looked at Toph, ''I'm Kendo from the Southern Water tribe.'' He glanced at Katara, ''And I'm Katara's fiancé.''
Okay so that was nerve racking for me... I'm trying desperately to get the characters down right =) let me know what you think please. I hope you enjoyed it.
POST SCRIPT: the revision of this chapter is brought to you by "the first anonymous hater I've recieved." After pushing aside the fact that the comment was mispelled and the lack of constructive criticism ,I decided to have a second look at this chapter. Thankyou "first anonymous hater" for helping me better myself =) no really, thank you