Author's note
Sorry for this late update, I was busy with my Holiday homework. Well here is the second/ last installment of Unwavering Love. (I know, the title sounds corny!)
FYI Italicized text are the character's thoughts
Previously on Unwavering Love
"I would be more than happy to do what you people said but what if he doesn't like me anymore." Katara said with irate annoyance.
Suki continued, "If he truly loved you previously I doubt if he got rid of you from his heart."
Zuko took in a deep breath and barked, "Katara can I talk to you."
Zuko looked at her cerulean blue eyes and bellowed,
"If that's the case then…WHY ON EARTH DID YOU SEND ME A LOVE LETTER!"
unrolling the pink scroll in front of her.
"What did you say? I sent you…WHAT?" Katara's eyes widened in shock.
" I never expected this from you. If Mai hears this, I am going to be literally sliced into pieces. I just got back with her and you are already scheming to separate us. How audacious can you get" Zuko continued without answering her questions.
Katara's jaws dropped as she stamped her feet on the ground and shouted, "Stop it! I don't get it. I never sent you any letter!"
Zuko looked at her in disbelief, "You don't need to act so much. You sent me a love letter with your signature on it. How much more proof do you need?" He pointed to her signature that was painted in golden font in the letter.
Katara fumed as she snatched the letter from him. The sheet of paper was made out of pristine quality paper. For a moment she was stunned by the beautiful hand drawn decorations on the paper. Though, the letter made her mad she was really mesmerized by the amount of effort put in creating it. She read the verses of poetry and wondered if she would even be able to think of such advanced level of romantic banter in the first place. Katara stopped admiring it for a moment and shook her head, "this is utter rubbish! Why would I be writing you a romantic letter to you, when we just became friends like three days ago! This is definitely a prank!
Zuko folded his arms, clearly vexed, "All right then who do you think might have done this? Let's play a little elimination game, shall we?" he proceeded without waiting for a response
"Toph is blind she can't write, even if she wanted to!" he said pointing his fingers to the beautiful handwriting on the letter.
"Suki just joined us today after meeting up with the other Kiyoshi warriors. Therefore there is no chance of her placing this letter in my letter box last night." He continued,
"lets move on to the males…Sokka can't draw a ball without making an ink blotch on the paper."
He said referring to the intricate drawings at the borders. There remained one last person from the group who has not been mentioned, Aang.
"That leaves us with…Aang" he said thinking of a reason why he wouldn't be able to carry out such an act.
Katara's eyes shot up at the name, "that's it I know who could have done this. Aang!"
Zuko groaned, "Katara I can't believe that you would blame your best friend for your mistakes. Why would he even want to do this?"
Katara sighed and continued, "Aang is an impressive artist plus he is also pretty proficient in poetry. Even I am not capable of writing this well."
Zuko scoffed at her accusation, "Can you just give me one clear motive that he might have for doing this?"
Katara looked down at the sheet of paper and looked back at Zuko in defeat. Just then, they heard a voice from the tiny window that connected the balcony to the kitchen.
"No more berries for you Momo go back inside!"
Katara glanced at the window to see the silhouette of the Air bender shooing away his pet lemur from the sun bathed balcony. Katara clenched the letter tightly. A wave of melancholy swept through as she wondered if Aang got rid of her from his mind. A small strain of tears escaped her eyes and fell on the neat parchment. Her tears slowly washed out the thin layer of paint and revealed the hidden Air nomad watermark at the corner of the paper.
Zuko's eyes nearly popped out as he started to shriek out, "You are right Katara, it's Aang. We need to talk to him. He maybe the Avatar but he does not know who he is messing with. He is messing with the fire lord. Come on get up!" he got up rolling up his waiter's sleeve as though preparing to fight with him. Katara on the other hand blocked the exit and asked sniffling a sob, "Zuko…can I handle this? Please?"
Zuko who was surprised by this reaction hesitantly shrugged and walked towards to Iroh who was busy brewing a new tea combination at the stove. Katara wiped her tears as she slowly walked out of the kitchen to the balcony. She stood outside for a while admiring his peaceful smile. She could stand there admiring him from far for a long time; however, the parchment that she was bearing on her left arm reminded her of her current mission. She took in a deep breath as she walked next to him and leaned her body over the railing next to him.
Aang who sensed her presence smiled and waved, "Hey Katara!"
Though Katara felt the urge to answer his cheery voice she forcefully lifted the pink parchment and asked, "What is this Aang?"
Aang gulped and asked, "Yeah Katara, what is this?" he acted as though trying to study it, "Oh it's a love letter for Zuko. You want me to proof read it for you? Give me!"
Katara looked at him in disbelief, "Aang, enough I know its you. No one in this world uses Air nomad seals other than you." as she pointed to the tear stained Air nomad insignia at the corner.
Aang scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, "oh guess it obvious?" he said letting out an unsure laughter.
Katara started fuming as she hollered, "What made you think that I love Zuko?"
" Oh that… during the ember island play the Actress said something that made me realize some stuff. You said that you had eyes for Zuko. Though the play was twisted in so many ways, they were more or less right. So I thought you actually liked him." He said slowly shifting his view to the floor, "I mean like why wouldn't you like him. He is older, he's taller, and does not laugh out like an immature child. He's practically the dream boy any girl would want."
Katara knew he was comparing to himself in hurt feelings. Though Katara felt terrible about putting Aang through this entire ordeal, she still could not believe him trying to hook her up with someone else.
"Aang I still don't understand, even if I did love Zuko? Why did you do this? You know during ember island Play…wouldn't you be mad?"
Aang sighed, "Katara, you are like the best friend anyone could ever get. I am lucky enough to have met you. I don't care if you don't love me back, but I will always love you. I would do anything to make you happy…If you are going to be happy with Zuko, I would do anything to get you both together."
Katara could not help but fall in love with him all over again. she simply melted into his words. This was one of the qualities that no other man would be able to possess. Normally if it were any other guy they would just go hysterical. However, Aang was desperately trying to get her paired up with someone else for her happiness.
Aang shook his head regretfully, "Sorry I shouldn't have said that! I thought you were feeling uncomfortable to talk to him with me being around. I do not want to be in between your love like a platypus bear. Therefore, I decided to fake a love letter by forging your signature... you know to speed things up. Sorry about that. I will not get in your way anymore."
Katara cleared her throat and began.
"Aang I don't really like Zuko. I like someone else." Katara said, closely watching Aang's response.
"Oh really!" Aang spoke with fake enthusiasm.
Katara smiled slyly and spoke, "Can you get him for me? Please?"
Aang's forced a smile as he internally started cursing Katara, "What's wrong with her? Does she even consider me as a human?"
"Can you tell me his name so that I can ask some of the fire nation guards to search him up?" Aang asked as he turned away from her.
Katara could clearly see Aang starting to her curse her silently. She smiled evilly and said, "oh I don't know I just met him a few days ago during the ember island play."
Aang smacked his palms on his forehead in annoyance, "She loves someone she just met a few days ago at a stupid play but not me? What is wrong with me, am I that bad?"
"Can you tell me the reason why you like him because I am really concerned if you are going to love someone you don't even know?" He asked with deep indignation.
Katara couldn't help but giggle at his reaction, "you deserve it Aang for even thinking that I would love someone else, not to mention Zuko."
"Well I don't know. I just felt this attraction ever since I met him…" she traced her hands over to her mother's betrothal necklace and spoke, "When my mother died, I had to take care of the entire tribe on my own. I was cheated of my childhood badly. However, he managed to bring it back all the joy to me on the day we met. He has the kindest heart that he wouldn't even hurt a fly for his own needs. Even when he is in deep pain he always considers others feelings. He even…"
Aang cut in her elaboration in apparent frustration, "Enough Katara, I can see he is a perfect match for you can you just tell me how he looks so that I can convey the message to the fire nation guards."
Aang groaned and thought, "How can one find out so much about a person within one day?"
Katara forced herself to stay resolved as she played along for a while,
"oh right… he is definitely not older than me…he is not any taller than me…but he can surely make me laugh whenever I need it…he looks really charming... he has sparkling silver eyes…he also has the most contagious smile." Aang nodded silently, "He is also like one of the most powerful benders…oh and did I mention he can bend air…" she dragged on hoping he got the hint.
Aang's ears shot up as he looked back at her in disbelief and shouted, "Katara where on earth am I going to find an Air bender? I am the last air bender! There is no one else in the world who can bend air!"
Katara's smile widened and said, "That's because there is no one else in the world who is in my heart, you silly"
Aang could not believe what he was hearing. His eyes widened as he asked, "What do you mean?" however before he could even finish Katara leaned closer and pressed her lips gently over his. Though Aang was startled at first, he soon gave in without much hesitation. Both of them melted away into the kiss as she threw her arms around his neck. Aang instinctively wrapped her waist and deepened the kiss. It was a magical moment that both of them shared.
Aang slowly pulled away and he asked , "Katara I don't understand. Not that I am complaining but…back at ember island…" Katara cut him off by placing her fingers on his lips.
"Aang I am sorry for that. Honestly, I was a real jerk. I thought I could get you to focus on the war if I rejected you but I just realized how much pain I put you through. I am extremely sorry about that." She continued, "But now I am clear. I love you more than anything, Aang"
Aang gave his signature smile and confessed, "I love you too, Katara," as they embraced each other tightly.
They slowly leaned to kiss once again when they heard a sound that made their hearts skip a beat.
"AAAAAANG! STOP HARASSING MY BABY SISTER! Katara don't worry I got him," the overly protective brother wielded his boomerang, running towards Aang. However before they knew anything a huge earth wall shot up in front of the poor brother sending him to the floor. The couple looked behind him to see the blind earth bender standing together with her friends smiling at them.
"You may continue twinkle toes!" Toph said jubilantly, as though approving their love.
The couple blushed madly under the evening sun. It was the beginning of a new era of love and peace not only for the world but also for the most special couple.
The end.
Hope you like the story. Thank you for your support! Please REVIEW/COMMENT!
