Tranquility

The next morning, Katara awoke to find Zuko sleeping beside her.

Smiling, she sat up and simply stared at his dormant figure.

"You know, watching people sleep is considered a form of stalking." His voice suddenly broke out.

Katara drew in a shocked breath, "I wasn't watching you sleep."

"Really now?"

"Fine…but only for a few moments! I just can't believe we're here…doing this."

"I never really expected this myself."

"I wish we didn't have to pretend. I wish I could hold your hand and kiss you in public. Without…half the law at my feet." She looked away.

"Listen, Katara, there's this event I have to be at later tonight, it's at a casino. And I sort of need a date to come with me…"

"A date? Zuko, I can't!"

"Let me rephrase that. I'm expected to arrive with a date."

"Well, it's not going to be me! That's absurd! I'm going to be married in two weeks and look at me sneaking into casinos with the Fire Lord!

"You're still getting married to him?" Zuko looked away.

"Zuko, I-"

"No, I understand." He started to stand up.

"I don't know what I'm going to do! I have to tell him…"

"You should leave."

"But, I-"

"Leave."

Katara's face drained of all colour as she felt the streams of water droplets ready to pounce from her eyes. Almost as if in a trance, she walked out of the room and shut the door behind her.

It was from that moment on, right in the very depths of her misery, she knew what she was going to do. And so it was that she turned on her heel and headed off to the nearest wig shop.

The night sky of Ember Island sparkled against the sight of the iridescent Ember Casino. Katara stepped forward to take it all in: the way it glittered and shined, and how you could hear jazzy music that simply drew you in all the way from the French doors of the building.

Katara, herself, was quite the figure. Her usual maroon hair now glowed of silk black. Upon her eyes she wore charcoal black contacts that twinkled with a mischievous sense to them. On her lips was bright rouge lipstick that made her look like a movie star. Her dress, however, was stunning. A fiery red evening gown that fit her figure perfectly shimmered in the night. She was dressed to kill, and she played the part as well.

Scanning the entrance, she waited until her eyes spotted her target: The Firelord.

Running up to him, a figure in scarlet, she grabbed his arm and placed herself between him and the entrance.

"Katar-"

"Katsumi," she whispered as she kissed his cheek, "your date."

And with that she linked her arm with his and they strolled hand in hand into the flashing Ember Casino.

There was something, just one little thing, that made Katara love Zuko. Around him, she felt like they were inseparable, and she found herself happily playing along with whatever he had up his sleeve. When she was with him she seemed almost braver, a bit more daring. Like no matter what they went through it would all work out in the end.

Although she relished the busybody atmosphere of being Zuko's date, she was thankful when Zuko finally pulled her outside to one of the balconies.

"Zuko, listen to me," she hissed and looked up into his face. It was a pale-like wintery colour except for the deep, red scar that cut through his face.

"I'm going to call of the wedding." Her voice was a whisper that seemed to hang in the air for a few seconds.

"Katara, you don't have too. I'm sorry for how things worked out."

"No. I do," she paused for a moment to take it all in, "After we had that fight…I don't know, a part of me was broken. I was terrified of losing you. Terrified of being separated from you again. It was like the battle against Azula. When she hit you and you collapsed…I was so scared that you were going to die. I didn't know how in the world I could stop you from it," a single tear fell down her cheek, "I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I can't marry Aang. Not now. Not ever."

"Katara," he cupped her tan face in his hands, "I want you to know that I love you no matter what happens," And then, very softly, he kissed her.

Smiling sadly up at him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest all to the rhythm of a flashing camera snapping a photograph.

"Please, another picture!"

And to the scene of all these crowds of people, she gave a wicked smile and kissed him on the lips.