All Around Me – Flyleaf

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She disliked this, more than any other thing, she disliked sitting in the stuffed lounge pretending to actually like the noble women that surrounded her, she could be in his office, waiting for his own meeting to be over, or feeding the turtle-ducks, or even finding time to visit Azula, yet she fixed her drooping smile and offered the women more tea and lemon cookies holding back a sigh as she tried to adjust her hair piece.

Her ears tensed when the women showered her with questions of how life was exactly in the fire nation palace and she offered a simple answer, "Unexplainable." She felt the way the older women's eyes slithered over her body, looking for any little scar or blemish to tsk disapprovingly on, and with a quick glance at the outside she found herself counting the minutes until she could be free to run around in the beautiful summer grass instead of sitting here with the 'proper ladies' as they fanned themselves from the biting heat.

She gave a short burst of laughter at a joke she herself hadn't even heard and turned once more to sip through tight lips at her too hot tea, and fearing that she would soon die of boredom she excused herself, swiftly getting up from the low mat and exiting from the door.

She felt a faint layer of sweat coming from the uncovered back of her dress as she gently pressed herself against the wall. Breathing heavily she bounced from the wall and headed to the powder room, splashing cool water from the washbasin she turned to look at herself in the mirror, grunting in frustration as she fixed the crooked insignia that claimed her to be Fire Lady. With a final look at her face she opened the door and walked back to the lounge, she gave them all an apologetic smile which the older women seemed to ignore, instead they whispered amongst each other.

They stayed like that for the next half hour until finally the faint marching of feet was heard down the hallway. Every noble woman seemed to spring up with excited sighs of relief, but she was sure none were as happy as her. There was a faint knock on the door before it opened about twenty or so men filled in as they pecked their wife or hugged them and in the back of her mind she wondered if they actually loved one another that much. Still she was taken out of her reverie as she felt his hand at her waist. She looked up to see him smiling down at her before leaning down to give her a swift kiss at the edge of her lips.

The council men called their good-byes as other reminded the Fire Lord of next week's meeting and Katara felt a groan begin to escape her mouth just as the last couple left. She felt his gaze on her as she began to gather half drank cups of tea stacking them neatly while she bended the liquid out to the window before his heavy footsteps stopped behind her.

"Leave that there Katara, the maids will do it." Zuko ordered but Katara shook her head, until his pale hands wrapped themselves around her waist.

"Did you make any new friends?" he asked and Katara turned around looking at him fully before losing his gaze to look at the pattern of the carpet they stood over.

"They all hate me." She muttered, "They dislike the idea that a water tribe woman, a peasant no less, caught the eye of the Fire Lord."

"But you aren't a peasant, you're a princess Katara, remember, and what they think doesn't matter to me."

"Yes, I know, and it doesn't matter to me either, but every week I have to spend at least two straight hours with their eyes giving me disproving looks and whispers that I'm paranoid enough to think are of me."

"But you don't care?" She looked up to see a smirk on her husband's face, Katara frowned as she made him release her before opening the wide doors that led her to the main garden, she smiled as she felt the warm sun on her face, her shoulders and her neck. Feeling a golden gaze on her she turned to him.

"I miss this, running around and teasing and laughing and bending and not waiting to see you and not having to wear these so called 'summer dresses'" she said finally as she tripped her way towards the Fire Lord, his eyes gave her a worried look yet his lips broke into a smile that Katara saw didn't reach his eyes.

"You know Xiu wouldn't be pleased with you hearing about how you hate what she makes you wear."

"Yes, well these really aren't summer dresses, she just loves throwing on me any dress that suits my figure, she's more obsessed with shopping than I am. I need to talk to her though, I almost had a heat stroke today," She grumbled leaning her forehead against his chin. She heard him chuckle as he traced light circles at her exposed back.

"She just wants to see what looks best on you, we've only had you for so long…" he trailed off and Katara opened her eyes as she turned her gaze to look at him.

"I'm not going anywhere, so just tell her to calm down," she said gently before reaching for his lips stepping on his boots as his lips met hers. She smiled as he lifted her off his feet instead wrapping his arms around her tightly as she ran her hands through his hair easily coming undone, his crest falling with a muted thump on the grass.

A low grunt caused the couple to pull away, Zuko gently set her on the ground although he still wrapped his arm tightly around her, with his hair down Katara noticed he didn't look like The Fire Lord at all, but much more like her Zuko.

"I'm sorry Fire Lord but the Lady needs to change for the dinner party, and I suggest you do too; now come on Lady Katara." Xiu said as she made her way back to the lounge. Katara felt a giddy smile breaking her complains as she ducked to the ground picking up the crest pecking Zuko on the lips teasingly.

"I don't mind missing those things, when I have you." She smiled as she was led away by Xiu.

I really liked this one, although it was kind of hard to write, hope you like it too! Review!