Zutara Week 2010
:)
Zuko gagged. "This has to be some kind of untraceable poison," he said, as he awoke from the faint induced by the odor. "This is worse than...stewed sea prunes!"
Katara giggled, amused at the emergence of his rare but sharp sense of humor. "I'm glad you're enjoying the war zone."
Zuko was serious now. "I've undertaken the mission, so I have to complete it. It is of vital importance to the world's well-being."
"Don't be pompous, Zuko." Katara crushed his bubbling up of nationalism. Recognizing the seriousness of the occasion, she then continued in a more subdued tone. "I do think you have to take on this responsibility though, otherwise what with all your other work, you will never have a chance to value personal relationships." What with his other personal relationships being with Ozai, Azula, and the still-missing Ursa, she knew the importance of this moment for him.
His previous attempts at the mission had resulted in failure, and he pondered on the best way to ensure the success of it this time. "I think I need the proper equipment," he suggested.
"Everything you need is right here," Katara replied, confusedly pointing at the table in front of them.
When he returned with a gas mask, she couldn't restrain herself. Bursting into peals of laughter, she watched Zuko's attempts with fascination. He seemed to be slipping back into military mode, moving with the precision and speed that characterized him. Without the smell to cripple him, he was able to finish this time.
Her look of mock-anger as he turned back to her dissolved at his expression of eager triumph. The sight of their now-giggling child in his arms, now with a freshly-changed diaper, was enough to melt her, and she moved to him and gave him a tender kiss.
"Just change his diapers without the gas mask next time, Zuko."
ALERT AND REVIEW!
wondering-wandering collaborated with me on these. :)
to remove and replace the covering or coverings of: to change a bed; to change a baby.