Katara: Unspoken
Wednesday.
You IDIOT! She berated herself. "Like a brother"... What's WRONG with you?!
Katara was tough enough to handle this. She had let Aang kiss her, hold her, love her all this time, hadn't she? She'd kept up the charade since Ba Sing Se! It was bad enough that she'd had to let her true feelings remain unspoken, but now she'd lied openly to the one she REALLY needed to have in her life...
Safely out of sight of the rest of the gaang, she ran towards the sound of water, seeking solace, letting the tears flow unchecked. Finally she reached a bridge and sat down, swinging her feet over the edge and letting the river wash over them as it always did.
The river never changed- always running onwards, gliding smoothly past any obstacles and never giving the creatures that made their home in its waters a second glance. The river adapted to change easily, never losing sight of its sole purpose- to keep going. Why can't I be like that? It was so much easier before he came.... I wish he never had....
She sighed, knowing that wasn't true. Her thoughts flew to that night in Jang Hui. It seemed so long ago now....
--
"Momma.... Momma, what's happening?" A little boy tugged on the hem of his mother's ragged clothes. "I'm so hungry...."
Katara stopped at a small stand. "Excuse me sir, one fish please." The man handed over a small fish and she gave him a few coppers, then turned to give the child the food. "Here. For you." She smiled sadly, hoping it would help.
The boy thanked her, then turned around to see his mother resting on the ground. "Momma...? Momma, please talk to me... Here, the nice lady gave us a fish! You can have it, too, just please talk to me...."
Sokka made a helpless, regretful gesture and the gaang walked quickly away.
***
It was night now. The others were asleep. Katara looked around to be sure, and then her hands flew to the mask she had kept hidden for so long. She stroked its intricate surface.
The sightless face of the Blue Spirit stared back.
"Zuko did it... So can I..."
***
"It's-it's-it's the Painted Lady!"
***
Zuko had been waiting for her when she got back after that first night. He'd smiled. Proud of her. He'd reached out and touched her shoulder, gently, approving, the smile still-
---
"Zuko!"
dun dun DUN.... I know, I'm sorry my chapters are so short, but next up we have Aang! Not sure exactly how that's gonna play out, but we're about to find out what happened when Zuko and Katara were alone.... Stay tuned and don't forget to R&R!
