Desertion

Chapter 2: Sparring and Questions

Katara tried to make good on her promise to spar with Zuko at sunset. She spent time looking for her water skin and an appropriate sparring outfit. She was concerned because she was technically in the royal family, so she couldn't wear anything revealing, or someone might see her and Zuko sparring half-naked and think something was up. She ended up wearing a strapless top that covered most of her stomach and a pair of shorts. Both were red, of course, because this was the Fire Nation, not the South Pole. Besides, it was ninety-something degrees outside, and she couldn't exactly wear long clothes in that kind of heat.

She made her way into the other garden, where she found Zuko waiting. He was on the bench wearing red baggy pants and no shirt, which made her face get warm. Katara cursed herself silently, because she could not allow herself to feel that way toward someone who was technically her family. Zuko, Azula, Ozai, and the missing-in-action Ursa were her only true family. Even though Ozai had sent the order to kill her mother, Katara favored him over Aang, because he treated her better than Aang had.

Katara shook the thought out of her mind and walked over to Zuko, who got up.

"Red's a good color on you," he said. "But this is a sparring match, not a fashion show," he teased.

"Remember, this is my territory. I can kill you, you know."

"Oh yeah, because someone who hasn't Waterbended in two years can kill me just because it's a full moon." Katara rolled her eyes, and threw ice daggers at Zuko, who dodged them with a burst of fire to accent it. Katara put a wall of water up between herself and Zuko's flame. "How about some hand-to-hand combat?" Zuko suggests.

"What, you scared?" Katara taunts.

"No, we're just too evenly matched," he says, approaching slowly. Katara walked to him at the same speed, and as soon as they were close enough, she tried to punch him, but he dodged and aimed a few jabs at pressure points on her torso. He only managed to land three before she ducked under one of his arms and kicked him in the back, knocking him down for a few seconds before he swept her legs out from under her. She got up after a few seconds, and delivered a solid punch to his jaw. He shook it off and gave her a roundhouse kick to her left shoulder. She held it for a little while and then ran to him, grabbed his arm and flipped him on his back, making him groan in pain.

"Damn, Katara, now I can't get up." Katara smiled and pinned him to the ground by sitting on his stomach. "You know, you didn't have to put your large self on top of me," he teases.

"I apologize for your weakness, Your Highness," she says sarcastically, and he responds by pulling her left arm down, which pulls her down on top of him. He then rolls over, so he is on top of her.

"And I your gullibility." He is about to get up, but she pulls him back down.

"You know I'm not that gullible," she whispers, and her breath is warm on his face, and he thinks about how close they are. Without further thought, his lips cover hers softly, which surprises Katara in a good way. She pulls him even closer, but pulls away after she realises the impropriety of the situation.

"We shouldn't have done that," Katara says softly, rolling out from under Zuko.

"How come?"

"You don't get it, do you? We're practically family. You're like my brother, Zuko. People don't kiss their sisters like that." Zuko sighs.

"Do you want to know one of the reasons Ozai kept you around? Other than the fact that you were scared of Aang finding you in the South Pole."

"Why?"

"He thought that we could get married for peace between the Nations. I heard him talking about it during the council meeting that let you stay here. He said that it wouldn't hurt us or the Water Tribes. He wrote up a treaty, and is planning on speaking to your father about this when he arrives to sign the treaty in a few months."

"What? How could he do this?"

"He was planning on making peace with the Water Tribes. The Earth Kingdom doesn't trust us yet because the Avatar convinced them that Uncle and I kidnapped you. It's not true, but who would believe us, with the reputation we're stuck with, over the Avatar?"

"Haru would...."

"No offence, Katara, but Haru's with Aang now. He was one of the first to side with Aang. He's trying to find you for Aang. He's sworn his loyalty to them." He sighed again and turned away from her. "I didn't agree with him before, but I know it's only to keep you safe and keep peace between our homes. It's the only way."

"Zuko," she says, as she walks over to him, "I'll think about my decision. I just need to sleep on it. Good night."

"Good night, Katara." Katara leaves him alone, with his thoughts and unanswered questions.

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I know it's taken a long time, but bear with me. I had no idea what to put in, besides the sparring. The kiss wasn't supposed to happen, but there were some ideas that I wanted confronted early, and the kiss was the best thing for a segue, if you will.

So review por favor.

Kiyax