Words Never Spoken

Disclaimer: I own nothing, just a few of the interactions that happen between the characters.

AN: This is my first (real) first-person-present-tense story. I'm still getting the hang of this. I'm also not sure of the title. I may change it. This is also my second Avatar story in over a year. So, you can be gentle. Or, you can pull a Toph and go tough on me. Or an Azula. I don't care. Flamers, bring it on!

R&R if so inclined.

"I know that you're hiding things,
Using gentle words to shelter me,
Your words were like a dream,
But dreams could never fool me,
Not that easily"

I should really be happy. The war's over, peace has been restored. We're all alive. There are uncorrupted people ruling.

There's really only one thing that's really pulling me down. And, I'm kissing him right now.

Yeah, it's Aang. Kami, truly I do love him. Just, not in the way he wants me to. The way he thinks I do. He's my best friend, not a boyfriend or a little brother. I shouldn't be kissing him, but I'm hoping maybe that I'll feel the sparks, see the fireworks.

Still waiting….not a single spark.

I break off the kiss and smile, faking it. I care for Aang too much. I can't dream of hurting him. There's no way I could do that to him. So, why did I kiss him?

To get someone else off my mind. I'm such a horrible person.

Aang grabs my hand and entwines our fingers. "I'm so happy right now."

"So am I." I'm lying through my teeth. I've never felt more like crying than I do right now.

-

A few days pass. Luckily for me, I don't see Aang that much. He and Sokka along with others are stuck in war, sorry, peace councils. They take place in the same exact room! I was invited to go to them, but after sitting through one I decided not to. It was so awkward sitting there with Aang holding hands and passing notes that consisted of 'cutesy' messages. Especially with other people in the room watching.

Of course, peace would not last. There was some type of issue happening in the Southern Earth Kingdom that only the Avatar could solve. Aang invited me to come along and I couldn't refuse.

"Katara, are you done packing?" Aang asks me. We're leaving that day. Pretty soon actually.

"I need a few more minutes. You go on and start saying goodbyes. I'll be right down!" I shout at him. He's antsy. He's still a little kid even though he's a teenager. Kami, oh Kami.

I stand in the doorway, fingering my necklace. So many memories are tied to this necklace. Some are my father's, making the necklace for my mother. Some are my mother's, silenced by pirate raiders and never to be shared. Most are mine, of adventures and journeys and travels. There's also a string of memories that aren't mine, but belong to someone who found it and then returned it.

It's a beautiful necklace.

I'm walking outside when I see Zuko standing behind a column. He motions me over. I hesitate for a split second, hearing everyone outside talking. He's alone. I walk over.

"Zu—I mean, Fire Lord," I start to say.

"How many times do I have to tell? Just 'Zuko.'" He smiled. How that smile melted my heart.

"Zuko, I—" He placed a finger on my lips. His skin was hot.

"Katara, I'm happy for you and the Ava-Aang. Truly, I am. I always knew that you two would find each other in the end—"

"Hang on! Are you serious?" I can't believe what he's saying. I'm in shock.

Zuko seems confused. "Yes. Katara, it was obvious that you two are meant to be. Why are you crying? Katara?"

I brush away my tears, feeling more take their place.

"How can you say that, Zuko?!" My voice has risen to scream. I don't care. My voice is echoing in the empty hall.

"Shhh, Kata, please—" He calls me by my nickname. He can't. He shouldn't. But, Kami, I love the sound.

"I will not be quiet!"

"Katara—"

"Did that kiss mean nothing to you?!"

Zuko freezes, his gold eyes wide. He opens his mouth to speak, but I don't want to hear it.

Slap!

I stare, surprised at what I just did. Zuko's shocked. His face is turned, his scar facing me. I realize that I hit his scar. The scar that I almost healed.

He can't say anything. I can't say anything. I can't cry. He can't comfort me. We belong to different people now.

I close my eyes tightly, holding back tears, before I turn and run out the doors. Zuko doesn't call me back.

"Katara, were you crying?" Aang asks me, an arm around my waist. I feel my stomach turn.

"I wasn't crying," I say smiling.

Luck was on my side because Toph isn't anywhere around. She couldn't point out my lie.

"You ready to go, Sugar Queen?" Speak of the devil.

Toph's coming with Aang and me as a chaperone. At Sokka and Dad's insistence.

"Let's go," I say, hoping to get away before I have to see Zuko again.

"I didn't get to say goodbye to Sparky." Toph pouts. Aang laughs.

Oh shoot. She probably 'saw' what happened.

"We really should get going," Aang says reluctantly. "We'll be back in a week. Surely Zuko can stand you absence for a week."

"He'll be grateful," Sokka shouts, laughing. Toph punches him. "Ow!"

"Tell Sparky goodbye for me," Toph tells Mai.

"'Sparky?' I'm guessing you mean my boyfriend."

Boyfriend. Boyfriend. Oh, that hurt. More than it should of.

"Come on Kata, get on!" Aang calls to me. He's sitting on Appa. Toph's already on Appa's back. I toss my bag up next to Toph and then jump up. I sit across from Toph.

Appa's up in the air. If Toph wasn't here, I'd be crying. Quietly, of course. Aang's upwind, so he wouldn't be able to hear. My heart aches.

"Katara?" Toph's voice is low, barely above a whisper.

"Yeah?"

"I….never mind."

"What is it?" I honestly don't care whether or not she tells me. But, I keep playing the role of the caring person.

"Nothing." Her cheeks are faintly pink.

I'm intrigued now. Just barely, though. "Come on, Toph. Tell!"

"Canyouteachmewaterbending!" It takes me a few seconds to figure out what she asked.

"What?"

"Can….you….teach—"

"I get that. Why?"

Toph blushes slightly. That's weird. "Sparky's uncle developed that redirecting lightning move from watching waterbender. Sparky thought I could do the same thing with earthbending."

"Uh….why not?" Does she have a crush on Zuko? No. she can't. Can she? She punches him a lot. That's how she shows affection. Maybe she does.

"One other thing."

"What?"

"Don't tell Aang or anyone."

"Why not?"

"I don't want everyone to have all these expectations of me."

"Okay. I won't tell anyone."

"Thanks, Katara."

AN: Just over 1000 words. The story line may seem a little sporadic, but I know where it's going. Vaguely. Ok, not really, but I'm good with that. The opening song lyrics are from "1000 Words" by Jade or the Final Fantasy people; I'm not sure. It inspired this story. Suggestions, comments, corrections, flames, I welcome all. Review if so inclined.