Title: Unexpected Protector
Author: Zutara_fan_14 also known as MmStormer
Rating: K
Word Count: 578
Parings: Li/Katara, Blue Spirit/Katara, Zuko/Katara
Summery: Katara and her friends are in Ba Sing Se. Aang is helping the zoo keeper, Toph is helping construct buildings, and Sokka was sleeping. So Katara was on her own. She decided to find a job, since they were in need of money for when they started traveling again. But when Katara gets into trouble, she finds out that she has an unexpected protector that she has come to like.
Chapter #2: The Nightly Watch
Zuko watched as Katara helped his uncle wash the dishes with her waterbending while he, himself, swept the floors.
"Why does your nephew avoid me?" Katara asked Iroh.
"He has had a hard life. All of the people close to him have left his life, except me. He's afraid to get close to anyone. But he really is a nice boy. He's just trying to find the right path. He thinks that he can't control his own destiny and that it's been chosen for him. But I hope he'll come to see that he can make his own dissensions without having a huge burden on his shoulders." Iroh sighed and put a hand on Katara's shoulder. "I hope you never have to go through anything like he has." And he walked away.
Katara finished washing the dishes and put them up in their proper spots in the cupboards. "Is there anything else you want me to do, Uncle?" Katara asked. Out of the corner of her eyes, she notices the young man cringed when she has said Uncle.
"No, thank you though. You have been a wonderful help these past few days. Here are some silver coins and a gold one. Your work has been very nice. Why don't you take tomorrow off? You've been here from sunrise to sunset for nice days. Take tomorrow off. I insist." Iroh told her.
Katara resisted at first but then gave in. "Okay, Uncle. Thank you very much." She bowed her head and walked out of the tea shop, heading to where she and her friends stayed.
Zuko quickly got dressed as the Blue Spirit and followed her. I hope Uncle understands why I must follow her tomorrow. I can't just let her walk around all by herself. Wait, that isn't my mission! I'm to make sure she doesn't turn us in! Zuko told himself. Sure. A voice told him.
Zuko continued to follow Katara, her on the streets, him on the roof tops. He watched as she tiredly walked, not caring if she was in a lit street or not. From the roof tops, Zuko saw some drunken me following her. I can't let harm befall on her. What would his uncle thing of him if he did?
Ricocheting off the roof, Zuko landed behind the drunken men. Quietly he knocked them out and continued to watch on the roof tops, not letting her leave his sight until he was positive she was in bed, and sound asleep. Then went on his way. But this night was a bit different than the previous nights.
He stealth-fully climbed into her room through the window he always had watched her through, from a distance, to make sure she was asleep. Hew eyes were closed and she breathed softly. Her hair was let out of it's usual braid and a few soft stands of hair covered her face. Using his cloth covered hand, wishing he would feel through the dark cloth, and gently brushed aside the strands of hair from her face. He was taken aback when he saw her smile and curl up close to his kneeling form. But he never jumped back. He relished her warmth. "I won't let anything happen to you, Katara. I promise."
Zuko took his mask off and gently laid a kiss upon her cheek.
"Thank you, Li." Katara whispered.
Zuko fled, afraid that she might have actually been awake.