Chapter 4: The Storm
The next week was extremely busy for Katara. She was prepping to leave for the Northern Water Tribe in a couple days and had been in back to back meetings. She had barely seen Zuko, even in passing, which was a relief because every time she thought of their time together she became incredibly embarrassed. She wanted to get him alone to apologize for kissing him out of the absolute blue. She was also afraid to be alone with him again because she was afraid they would continue what they started. Spirits, she wanted to finish what they had started— greatly. She had never felt such an intense pull and desperation to be with a man before. It was startling. The strong tug of sleep became unbearable after her long day, so she showered and got into bed as soon as her last meeting had finished. She dozed off right after sundown.
Lightning cracked across the night sky and illuminated Katara's large sleeping chamber in a flash. Katara instantly awoke from a deep sleep. She was dazed and confused, but once the thunder rumbled through the palace, she jumped out of her bed. There was a particularly bad thunderstorm rolling over the palace, and now that she was awake she noticed the constant lightening flashes. Katara was terrified of thunderstorms after multiple encounters with Azula during the war. Lightning had almost killed Aang. Lightning had almost killed Zuko. Her breathing became ragged as the memories of both Aang and Zuko's near-deaths flashed before her eyes. Lightning struck less than a mile away, and she fisted the sheets in her hands.
Thunderstorms always caused her to have anxiety attacks. She jumped out of bed and stood by the side of her bed, unsure what to do. In this situation she would always go to Aang, but that was not an option now. She grabbed her robe from a nearby chair and slipped it on along with some sandals. She snuck out quietly from her chambers and slipped out into the darkened hallway. However, the hallway was easy to navigate with constant lightening strikes illuminating the narrow hallway. The pounding rain made the entire palace sound like it was roaring. She padded softly down the hallway and found herself in front of Zuko's chamber's door.
This was a long shot. She attempted to open the door, but it was locked. So, she gently knocked on the door in order to not alert the Royal Guards that constantly did rounds. Minutes passed before she turned to leave. However, right as she took her first steps away, she heard the latch on Zuko's door unlock.
She turned and found the Fire Lord peaking out of the cracked door. He looked incredible grumpy, but his face softened when he saw her standing there obviously defeated. All he wore was red draw string pants and his hair was down and covered his face a bit. The sight of shaggy hair and a grumpy expression made him look sixteen again. He seemed to realize the cause of her fright when another lightning bolt shot across the sky and resulted in a loud bang and Katara jumped.
He didn't say a word, but instead, he opened the door completely and nodded for her to enter. She walked past him as he illuminated the room with a small fireball in his palm. Katara acted as if this was a normal thing they had done many times before and hurried through his study to quickly climb into his bed where he been sleeping. He also got back into his bed, and the waterbender took the liberty of burrowing under his arm and curling up against his chest. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but her eyes were closed as her cheek was pressed into his warm chest.
Katara instantly reveled in the skin on skin contact of her face on his chest. It was incredibly soothing until another clap of thunder jolted through the palace. Zuko held her close as she trembled. His energy enveloped her like a warm blanket and she sighed. She took her palm and placed it flat on the lightening scar on his chest. "I'm sorry," she whispered and lifted her head up to look at him in the dark. "I shouldn't have run away from what happened all those years ago. I let so much time pass. I should have been here for you." She whispered and laid her head back on his chest.
"Shhh," he responded tightening his arms around her. He didn't want to hear her apologies. "You're here now."
His words soothed her worry and his hand began lazily stroking her back. He heard her breath hitch in her throat as another particularly loud lightning strike crashed across the sky. "You're safe with me." He whispered and hugged her close again.
Katara believed him and allowed her body to melt into his. It wasn't long before she was drifting off into a warm and comfortable sleep.
Zuko awoke first as the first signs of dawn slowly drifted through the window of his chambers. However, he did not instantly jump out of bed as usual. This morning there was a beautiful woman pressed to his side that he didn't want to leave. Katara had turned in her sleep so her back was pressed into his side, while she hugged his arm and used it as her pillow. Her long curly hair was fanned across his chest and he touched a soft brown curl with his free hand.
He hadn't expected her to come to him for comfort. It made complete sense to him why she would be afraid of lightening storms after what his sister had done to her and all of the people she loved. Zuko didn't want to admit it, but he enjoyed comforting her. He turned to spoon her, and she made a soft appreciate noise when his arm hooked around her waist.
Katara was doing crazy things to him. He wanted to please her desperately. That was unusual considering his usual knack with women. It was all too natural with her. They had been close friends and he knew her well. After their kiss a week ago, she had been on his mind constantly. Yet, he wasn't trying to push her after her breakup with Aang and he didn't want the full brunt of the Royal Council up his ass if they found out he was romantically involved with a waterbender. Somehow none of that mattered any more when she turned in her sleep to face him and cuddled her face back in to his chest.
Agni, what was this woman doing to his cold heart. Zuko let himself drift back off to sleep.
It wasn't much longer until Katara awoke. She awoke slowly languishing in Zuko's warmth and the feeling of being held. She slowly began to open her eyes and found herself tucked under his chin with her entire body against his. This close to him she could see that his pale skin was marked with burns after years of training. She spread her fingers across his chest to feel the smooth skin and soft raised flesh of the burns. She visually noted the contrast in their skin, deep olive and pale.
"Zuko! You're late!" Iroh called and suddenly burst into the large bedchamber.
Katara could only tense and stare with bright blue eyes as the older man entered the room suddenly. She had no time to react or move off Zuko.
Zuko only managed to shoot his head up before Iroh made a sound of fright and turned his back to them. "Zuko, your advisors are waiting in the throne room." Iroh said quickly and then exited. The older man sprinted from the room.
That was not something I expected to see, Iroh thought to himself.
Zuko didn't seem nearly as mortified as her as he kissed her forehead for a moment and then jumped from the bed with cat like grace.
He retrieved a set of royal robes from his closet and began dressing in them all as Katara lazily exited the bed. She wrapped herself in her robe and slid on her sandals as Zuko finished dressing and threw his hair up into an effortless top knot. He placed his crown in his hair as she exited his room.
Zuko followed behind her as his Royal Guards shot surprised looks at each other as a hurried Fire Lord exiting his bedchamber behind the sleepy waterbender.
Katara swiftly exited his chamber and took a left toward her room. Before she could get far Zuko grabbed her by the wrist. "I'm sorry for the rush. I hope you're feeling better today." He stated quickly before he pressed another kiss to her forehead.
He hurried off in the other direction with the guards, and servants alike wide-eyed at Fire Lord Zuko's public display of affection. She didn't like the way they all looked at her as she quickly returned to her chambers. It made her heart happy that he was still concerned for her after she came to his room an absolute mess. He could have simply hurried off to his meeting, but he stopped to make sure she was ok. He seemed so different since she had come back to the Fire Nation, but it eased her mind to know the Zuko she knew was in there. Even if she didn't find his fiery side until they kissed.
Katara sighed. She had to prepare for more meetings. At least in these meetings she was preparing for her trip to the Northern Water Tribe. She was also a bit excited because she knew this was the time of year when Gran Gran lived with Master Pakku in the north.
A full day had passed and Katara still had not seen Zuko again. She wondered if she would even see him before she left for the Northern Water Tribe in the morning. She was busy packing her trunk with warm clothes when she heard a light knock at her door. Great, she thought. It was likely a messenger that would tell her that they would be leaving at the crack of dawn.
She opened the door with annoyance but her face softened when she saw it was Zuko. She silently took a step back and welcomed him in.
He looked distraught and nervous. He walked into her room and then turned around abruptly with the nerves more evident on his face. "Look, Katara we have to talk about what happened last week."
She nodded and sat down on her bed in front of where he stood. She couldn't agree more. "We do." She said quietly.
"I love you as a close friend of mine," he said nonchalantly and her eyes went wide for a moment. It wasn't normal for Zuko to tell her he loved her even as a friend. "And I would be blatantly lying to you if I told you that I did not enjoy myself when we…came in contact."
She smiled. He was so awkward. She remained silent as he gathered his thoughts as he paced in front of her bed.
"I lost my cool and for that I apologize." He stated and looked at her for only a brief moment. "But, it was all only because we were both so vulnerable from our losses that we just... came together like that." He continued pacing.
Katara nodded. She could see what he meant. They had been friends for a long time so maybe their momentary lack of judgment was from their vulnerability over sharing intimate memories. Katara stood up. "I agree Zuko. You don't have to apologize. I'm just as to blame." She explained.
He gave her a brief smile. "I'm glad to hear that. I don't want our relationship becoming strange. You're very important to me." He said as he approached her. He laid a quick kiss on her forehead before he turned to hear back toward the door.
Katara shook her head as soon as he had his back to her. She wanted to say that kissing her on the forehead had to stop too, but she couldn't bring herself to. She had grown extremely fond of his small act of affection. It made her feel safe and cared for.
"Good luck in the Northern Water Tribe." He smiled and then he was gone as quickly as he arrived.
Katara fell back on her bed a sighed loudly. It would be so much easier now. She wouldn't betray Aang, and he wouldn't be going against the laws of his nation. She should feel relieved, but instead hot and angry tears slid from her eyes and on to the bed. She had feelings for Zuko and she had had them for a long time. What a mess she had fallen into.
