Title: Shallow Reflections
Genre: Romance. Angst.
Rating: T
Pairing: Zuko x Katara (Blue Spirit-ness)
Summary: Her words breathed life into him. She fell in love with a face she couldn't see, and encased him in dreams he knew would never be realized.
Notes: This is my first attempt at writing something outside InuYasha (aside original) ever. I'm sorry if any of the characters are OOC. I really tried to keep them right. This takes place sometime after Zuko Alone, but before Aang and the group head into the desert. Yay… here goes nothing and sorry for the short-ness! -Deep breath-
Chapter One
All Thanks To Fate
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It was beautiful.
Dawn dusted the early morning sky, stretching to dip its tendrils in the calm ocean waters. Ash drifted silently to earth, almost like the leftover elements of ghosts gone by. The air was chilly, but bland as if the effort to be cool was just too much for it. Edges seemed blurred, blending the scene together in an almost pastel piece of work.
It was beautiful, but Zuko had lost the heart to appreciate such things long ago. He did not like water; it only countered his element. He detested mornings, because it meant he had to go again. And the ash, the ash meant a large fleet of Fire Nation ships was near; and that meant Azula was near too. And more than that, Zuko hated Azula.
Sand soft underfoot, he turned, sheathed blades heavy at his right hip. He'd left his uncle asleep against a tree closer to the middle of the island. An island. The prince mentally scowled at himself for that mistake. Iroh had warned him that narrow patch of land was just a sandbar. And the old man had also cautioned him high tide was coming. Of course, that hadn't stopped him from crossing it, and now the bloody sandbar was covered in water too deep to wade through.
Zuko picked his way through the forest over-growth. He muttered something about burning a path under his breath, searching hard with his good eye for a certain, gnarled tree which he found none-too-easily after a bit of backtracking. Its roots twisted, jutting high and at odd angles from the ground. It was here the banished prince knelt, and uncovered a worn mask.
He ran a thumb over the blue-painted surface, eyes narrowing in thought.
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Katara eeped softly, turning over in her sleep, a sharp rock cutting her cheek. She shot up, slapping a hand to the side of her face. The young woman blinked, staring blearily around the campsite. She'd somehow managed to wriggle free of her sleeping bag during her nightmare. They were getting worse, and more violent. She bit the inside of her cheek.
Aang was curled into himself, nestled in the fur on Appa's tail. He was mumbling something she couldn't make out, forehead slightly furrowed in his sleep. Katara stood up, fixing her sleep-mussed dress. Her gaze wandered over the rock-tent Toph had created for herself, and the miserable snoring heap that was Sokka. Her lips curled in a small smile.
"Maybe… water nearby…" She muttered, slipping silently from the group. Katara tried to blindly fix her hair was she went, tucking loose wisps of it behind her ears. It had been too long since she'd had proper time to bathe.
A twig snapped to her left, and the water bender froze. As if reluctantly, a figure materialized beside her. It was aware of her immediately, pulling two blades from a scabbard at its hip and falling into a battle-ready stance. Caught off guard by its fluid speed, Katara fumbled to get her own firm footing.
It definitely had a man's stature and build – she realized through its somewhat baggy clothing. A chill ran down her spine, the eyes she couldn't see through the mask he wore put her even more on edge. The face was jeering, mocking her for being so unprepared. The morning sun glinted off its weapons, laughing at her. Laughing.
"I have no reason to fight to fight you," Katara stated in what she hoped to be a final tone, though she almost frowned at how her voice wavered. It wasn't like her to be so shaky. She tensed when the figure moved, only to relax a bit when she saw he had lowered his two swords.
For a long moment they stood there, unmoving. And then she dropped her arms to her sides, still ready to jump back in defense, but offering a minute smile. "Do you live on this island?" She began eagerly, "Do you know where I can find some fresh water?"
When he made no move to speak, her smile faded. "My friends and I used the last of ours, and we'll be traveling again in a short while."
The figure's grip tightened on the hilts of his dual blades. He took a slight step back, indecisive. His mind buzzed, turning over his next possible course of action until he had discarded all but two. Kidnap this girl and use her as a key to get the Avatar, or let her go on her way.
He had to admit, he was leaning towards the first choice. Who knew deciding to do a quick patrol of the island on his own search for water would turn up such results? Maybe, maybe he still had a chance at capturing the Avatar. Perhaps, this time; this one time, he wouldn't fail.
And it was apparent the Avatar had not informed his companions of their meeting, this worthless peasant was so oblivious. It would be so... so easy. The Avatar clearly harbored strong feelings for the girl, and that was why she wasn't so worthlessafter all. He could kidnap this water bender. The Avatar would gladly turn himself in to keep her safe, and after that, Zuko could truly be who was born to be once more.
And then he struck like a starving serpent.
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