Zutara Week

Serendipity

A flash of maroon hair swept after the waterbending girl it belonged to. Her blue eyes boar ahead aimlessly as she made her way out of the gates that lead into the gleaming Ember Island.

A thin gold band flashed around her finger sitting strong and firm upon it. It was the very reason keeping her here. The waterbender was none other than Katara, the girl who would soon become Aang's wife. The Avatar had proposed to her months ago, and now the wedding was just two weeks away. Although this was supposed to be one of the happiest times of her life, with every passing day doubts and uncertainty seemed to fill her stomach. The feelings that used to engulf her when she saw Aang's face seemed to be getting dimmer and dimmer with every glance. And frankly, the question had seemed to pop up about whether she truly loved him or not.

So, it was that just at the brink before the wedding, Katara had left a note saying that she needed to "pull herself together" and she left to take a break from it all.

Feeling the ocean breeze brush against her skin, she closed her eyes and for the first time in weeks felt strangely contempt.

"Katara?" A voice interrupted her thoughts.

The voice was a raspy, shallow that she had spent months and months listening to. The very sound sent tingles running through her body as she drew in a startled breath.

"Zuko." It took her a moment to muster the name out of her body.

"What are you doing here?" He moved forward to offer her a hug.

She accepted the hug, and looked up into his bright yellow eyes, "I just…needed some time away from the Air Temple."

"Oh. Well, I'm here for a bit too. Perhaps we could see each other sometime?"

"Definitely," she smiled happily, "It was nice seeing you, Zuko."

"You too," He returned the smile.

Katara walked along the seashore feeling the sand slide between her toes and the wind lovingly caress her hair. Gulls soared high above, and with the water every so often slipping through her feet she felt free. The sun was painting the sky into shades of vibrant purples and pinks, for it was beginning to set. Moving her tan arm slightly, she whisked it toward the water and began to manipulate the liquid into a rhythmic dance of movements.

"Funny how we keep running into each other," she felt somebody grab her arms and she whirled her body around ready to strike.

"Don't you dare touch m-" Katara clenched her teeth until she finally figured out who it was, "Oh! Zuko! I didn't mean-"

An amused smirk played on his face.

"Zuko Sozin, you better stop with that look before I wipe that gorgeous smile off your face!" She wriggled out of his grip.

"Gorgeous, eh?" His smile grew even wider as he threw back his head and laughed when Katara tried to hit him with water.
"No! Ah! Shut up!" She reached forward to try and hit him as he avoided all her attempts, all the while maintaining a carefree, entertained expression.

"So you really think my smile is gorgeous?"

"I didn't say that!"

"Yeah. You did."

"No I didn't!"

"'Tara, you did…"

"You know what? I hate you! Why are we even here?" She snapped back at him.

"Well, I'm here because I wanted to take a walk on the beach, however as for you…"

"Aang." She spilled the word out in a single breath without even meaning to.

"What?"

"Aang. I'm here because I wanted to get away from him," the words drained out of her as if with no stopping point.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't think I love him…And with the wedding coming up and all…"

"You still have two weeks, Katara. Don't think about what's going to happen, think about now. You're not married yet, are you?"

"No…."

"Well then, what's the problem? Besides, there's no one here that'll keep reminding you of the wedding."

She paused for a moment to take it all in. Then, she looked up into his amber eyes. They were earnest, and somehow she knew he was telling the truth. It was through these moments that she realized she admired them, and how she could easily get lost in the depths of them. Through it all, she found comfort.

"Do you….want me to walk you back to where you're staying?" He reached out a pale hand.

She took it.