ZUKO POV
The days were beginning to blend together. I rose with the sun each morning, went down to the training rooms to wake myself up a little, and came back to my office to work on paper work for the rest of the day. Occaisionally, I'd go to meetings or visit with some sort of nobleman.
But it was all based on the same thing- the Fire Nation's well being. A sort of weariness set into my bones, permantely marking with the battle scars from boredom.
The only thing that spiced up life a little were my frequent trips to visit my dear friend Katara. She made me laugh, refreshed me from the dryness of the day, kept me sane. I chuckled a little under my breath at the thought of her, the fiery warrior who fed the turtle-ducks with me.
I shifted my weight around on my bed, folding my arms behind my head and sighing. Sometimes the quiet was stifling.
Suddenly, someone knocked on my bedroom door. I gave a start, my eyes flying open. I shot up, moving into a defensive position.
"It's me, Zuko. Are you awake?" I sighed at the familiar voice and nodded to myself.
"Yeah. Come in." I stood up swiftly, pulling on a shirt over my bare chest. Mai entered the room, wearing a black satin robe. Her raven tresses fell about her face, trailing over her shoulders and back.
"I know it's late, Zuko, but I had to speak with you." She perched herself on the edge of my bed, folding her hands together in her lap. I raised an eyebrow towards her, and sat down beside her.
"What's going on, Mai?" I murmured, putting a hand on her shoulder. She closed her eyes for a moment before brushing my hand off.
"Zuko, we hardly ever see each other any more. I don't know you anymore- you're different from the little boy I fell in love with." Her voice was choked with the slightest of emotions- a smattering of sorrow. I sighed heavily.
"To be honest, Mai, I don't know you very well either anymore." Each word I uttered was laden with a heavy weariness. Mai reached for my hand, tracing her bony fingertips along where my veins stood out.
"You promised you'd never leave me again..." She whispered, swallowing hard. I bit down on my lower lip, unsure of what to say next. She released my hand, placing it gently back on my leg. Mai took a deep breath, preparing herself for the apparant plunge ahead of her.
"But it seems you've already left me, Zuko, and the only way I could possibly stay with you is if you stayed with me. You broke your promise, and so, this is where I say goodbye." My eyes widened. She shook her head.
"Don't be alarmed. I know you saw this one coming. But with Azula locked away inside her mind, with no hope of ever emerging, and Ty Lee off with her circus, there really isn't anything left for me here. I always knew that we wouldn't last all that long, you and I." At the end of this quiet speech, which sounded painstakingly rehearsed, she got to her feet and moved towards the door.
"We grew up, Zuko, we're not children anymore." Her lips twisted upwards in a sardonic smile. I nodded slowly, looking away from her.
"This seems best... For us." I muttered, casting my gaze back to her.
But she was already gone. The only thing that remained to remind me that she had been there was the sound of agonized sobs echoing down the hallway outside of my now open door.
Guilt stirred in my heart, and I leaned heavily against my door frame for support.
"Zuko?"
This new voice, wrought with worry and concern, pulled me from the depths of my dark emotion. I glanced upwards, a smile curving my lips.
"Katara." I acknowleged her prescence, a welcome change from the last company I'd had.
"Are you alright? You look so upset..." She was at my side in a moment, gathering one of my hands in hers. It was the same hand Mai had just held.
The only difference?
Tingles spread up my arm from where her skin met mine, sending a feeling remarkably similar to being struck by lightening.
On a smaller scale, of course.
"Zuko?" She peered up into my face cautiously, making me jump back awkwardly.
"I'm fine. Would you like to come in?" I asked, speaking before my mind could figure out what I was saying. Katara nodded once, grinning up at me.
And so it began- the conversation that seemed to change everything.
"I saw Mai run out of your room, is everything alright?" Katara asked softly, taking a seat in a chair beside my window. I sat on the edge of the bed, and ran a hand through my hair.
"Well, I guess so. She came to tell me she was leaving me." I said it with a sort of dark chuckle accompanying the words. Katara gasped, her hand flying to her collarbone in a reaction to what I had said. I shrugged.
"Oddly enough, it didn't really bother me." I left it at that, allowing my gaze to dance across my room. My eyes settled on the doors to my balcony, and it suddenly seemed like a great idea to be on a balcony at the moment. So I rose stiffly, crossing my room to open the doors. I felt Katara's gaze on my back the entire way, watching my every move, my every breath, every rise and fall of my shoulders...
Or was I just imagining the burning of her eyes?
As I flung open the doors, a breeze rushed across my features to blow my hair out of my eyes. It had long since fallen out of the topknot, and now was arranged messily about my face. I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment to walk onto the balcony. I rested my hands on the railing, opening my eyes as I heard the pitter-patter of feet behind me.
Katara joined me at the railing, a gentle smile adorning her peaceful face. Her hair fell about her shoulders, drifting lazily to her hips. She wore a light blue robe that blew about her, exposing bare feet. Her eyes twinkled in the moonlight, so wide and blue that I was losing myself in their depths...
I had never seen someone so beautiful in my entire life.
We talked idly for another hour at least, before she bade me goodnight and left the room. I sat down heavily on my bed, my eyes wide with what had just happened.
I replayed the moment over in my head, tasting the memory until I realized exactly who I was thinking about. I groaned heavily, dropping my head into my hands.
If Sokka ever found out I was thinking so much about his sister, he'd kill me...
ZUKO
As I gazed up at my ceiling, I wondered vaguely how I had ever gotten to sleep. My dreams had all been plagued by blue-eyed women.
Well, okay, just one blue-eyed woman.
I sighed, rolling over onto my side. Rays of the newly risen sun dripped over me, as slowly and deliberately as the trickling of a lazy stream...
"Gah." I huffed, shaking my head and sitting up. I needed to get all this water out of my mind. Katara was my friend, nothing more. I especially needed to focus today, I had a very important meeting on the economy.
So I rose, dressing quickly and pulling my hair into a neat topknot. I stared at my reflection for a moment before taking a deep breath. Katara shouldn't even be a factor- just a helping hand to the many woes of my life.
As I walked down the hallway, my usual cold mask in place, every woman that passed me appeared to have blue eyes. Once I reached my office, I bolted the door in agitation and stormed to my desk.
"I should NOT be thinking about her!" I snarled, rifling through the many papers on my desk. They all looked like rubbish to me, except one. I froze in my rantings, my eyes widening in horror.
"Katara's Water Tribe needs an ambassador?" I whispered, lifting the paper to my eyes. Her father hadn't agreed to place her higher than any other woman, it seemed. I frowned, crumpling the paper in one hand and allowing the ashes of its remains to trickle onto my desk. I brushed the pile neatly into my trashcan.
"Katara would be proud to see me tidying this mess up." I chuckled a little, before realizing what I had just said. I growled in irritation, fisting my hands in my hair. The ornament that held my hair in its topknot clattered to the floor, allowing my hair to fall across my face.
I didn't even notice.
Anger was working its way through my veins, as poisonous as the emotion was. It spread quickly, as quickly as fire spread... as quickly as water spread.
"Stop it!" I roared, banging my fists upon my desk. Fire spurted out between my closed fingertips, and I barely managed to contain anything worse.
I had to clear my head. No matter how I did it. I had to clear my head.
This confusion really wouldn't do. I had an important meeting today, meaning I had a few hours to burn off this whole sudden obsession.
I exited via my office window, slipping lithely down the rooftop to land on the balls of my feet. I took off in a sprint towards the training barracks, ignoring all the people who attempted to speak to me or anyone who got in my way.
Once I came to the building, I came to a fluid halt, my chest heaving from my dash.
I entered the training ring, my shaggy hair hanging loose from its normal top knot. I shrugged off my stately robes, leaving them on a heap by the door, and stripped off my shirt. I tossed my head once to ready myself, and I strode to the center of the room.
I took a deep breath and began to execute several complicated poses, shooting fire in accurately aimed places.
It wasn't long before I was lost in my bending.
KATARA POV
I felt bad for snapping at Aang the other day. I had avoided him for a couple days, dodging any kind of odd encounters. I was sitting awake in my room, having woken up early. I knew that with Sokka, it was best if he cooled off after an argument.
But... Aang? Sweet, childish, innocent Aang? I sighed and turned to look out of my window. I noticed Zuko sprinting in the direction of the training grounds.
My forehead wrinkled with thought, and I groaned in misery. Zuko.
I had gone to his room last night, and he had spoken of Mai leaving him. But in the process of talking to him, I found my eyes trailing to him a little more often then usual.
I felt awful. Mai and I weren't exactly best friends, but it wasn't kind of me to be staring at her ex boyfriend moments after she had left him. I ran my hands through my thick, dark hair, and closed my eyes. Zuko was being so kind to me, a true gentleman in every way. Everything about him was soft and teasing and unknown, hidden under years of stress and abuse.
I liked this new Zuko quite a lot, and enjoyed his company more than Aang anymore.
Chagrin made my cheeks redden.
I hadn't spent much time with Aang lately, had I? Yes, that's right, I'd been spending all my time with Zuko.
"Stupid girl." I chided myself gently, shaking my head in frustration.
So what if Aang was younger looking than Zuko? Aang had a heart that Zuko didn't.
Well... That wasn't exactly true. I sighed heavily and bit down on my lower lip. Zuko was so passionate about everything he did, and fought for things if he believed them to be right. He loved his Uncle with every bone in his body, whether or not he'd admit it... I chuckled lightly, shaking my head. Alright, so Zuko had just as much heart as Aang.
Maybe even more.
I gazed out the window, noticing Zuko gallavanting off into the distance. I swallowed against the growing lump in my throat, pushing back the emotions that were sure to emerge. Sokka had always told me I was bad with men...
"Gahh. I should follow Zuko's example and go spar." I muttered, scratching my head.
I got to my feet, and felt an odd exhiliration. That's what I needed- good training to clear my head.
I always knew I thought too much.
I walked in the direction of the training grounds, and saw a furious, concentrated Zuko bending with conviction. He spun elegantly in cartwheels and intricate kicks, fire glittering upon his fists. Sweat glistened on his bare chest, making him glow in the light of his fire. I had to force myself to stop staring.
"Really, Katara? Was that entirely necessary?" I reprimanded myself.
"It's not as if he's any sort of good-looking, or anything." I felt silly, talking to myself. But what did it matter? It helped me focus.
I watched for a moment, then began to take a step closer to him. A sparring partner would be good. Perhaps he had just begun to feel the effects of his and Mai's breakup?
"Katara!" Called a voice from behind me. I froze in my tracks, my eyes widened with horror. Aang. I turned around, very slowly, and peeked over my shoulder. Sure enough, he was standing behind me, hands on his hips and a wide smile baring all of his teeth.
"Aang." I acknowledged him with a stiff little nod, unsure of what to say to him. The last time we had spoken, jealousy had reigned over his every word.
"I came to apologize." He said, his eyes a little hurt at my unenthusiastic reply. I deliberated for a moment over what to say before nodding slowly.
"You don't need to. It was my fault. I'm just not adjusting to a relationship very well, I suppose." I muttered, not thinking before I spoke. I gasped and slapped a hand to my mouth, hardly believing my own words. Aang looked up sharply, and I saw betrayal in his large brown orbs now.
"Katara?" He asked, and his voice was hesitant. I bit down on my lip and shook my head. I'd only screw up any sort of apology that I attempted right now- my stupid head was clouded with Zuko. I inhaled sharply before uttering the quickest way out I could possibly think of.
"Just let me be. I need to clear my head." I whispered, turning and running. The easiest way for me to calm down was to find water. So I closed my eyes, allowing my senses to take over. As I began to run, the tug increased. That meant some sort of water was near to me. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips- relief was coming. I felt it nearby... so close...
And I ended up in the training ring. The same one Zuko had just entered.
A puddle was on the floor near the back entrance.
Great.
AANG POV
I couldn't believe it.
Katara had sat in front of me, with eyes clear and focused, and accepted our relationship.
She had started the whole thing by kissing me at the end of the battle, hadn't she? She wouldn't just randomly kiss someone, would she?
Well, maybe, out of relief?
I rubbed my head, my eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. No, Katara wouldn't lead me on like that. She was always so kind, and caring, and motherly... This behavior was so unlike her. Why would she lie to me? What possible reason could she have to doubt our relationship? I watched her run away, and noticed her eyes were closed. I sighed heavily.
But then I saw her turn to the back of the training ring.
Zuko was in the training ring.
I knew that they were friends, of course I knew that. I watched them everytime they were near each other, and flinched each time they embraced.
That was the typical protective boyfriend reaction, wasn't it?
"Really, Katara?" I muttered, childishly.
I knew I was younger than her, but I'd never thought it was a problem. The fact that I was younger than Zuko, less muscular, less mysterious, was glaringly obvious. Perhaps I was too young for her, too innocent, too naive. I thought my bending made up for it. I supposed not. I swallowed noisily, dropping my hand from my head, and finally turned away.
KATARA POV
I stared at the back door for a moment, deciding whether or not to enter. I could feel Aang's grey eyes burning into my back, accusatory and betrayed. I cast a worried glance over my shoulder, half wondering if I should have gone back to fully apologize.
I really hope I didn't hurt him... Poor Aang.
I shook my head. Carefully, I extended my hand towards the knob of the door and turned it. The door swung open with a creak. Inside, Zuko was bending furiously. He seemed to be upset about something. I looked down at my feet for a moment, recalling the events of the attack that had occured those few days ago.
But what disturbed me more were the events from last night.
Flashback
I watched as Zuko threw open the doors to his room, and felt my mouth fall open in awe. The breeze burst over his face, caressing him with the touch of an old friend. His eyes closed slowly, lazily, making him look as peaceful as he ever had. The palms of his hands faced outwards, towards the open doors. Ebony locks tossed about, bashfully hiding his expression from view.
But what truly forced my legs to move was his mouth.
His lips were curved up into a soft, achingly gentle smile that tugged at my heart in all the right ways.
I lifted myself from where I sat with an unusual stumble. Thankfully, the miniature fall didn't disturb the delicacy of the moment.
I followed Zuko out onto the balcony with a sigh. The evening was warm- no surprise there- but oddly quiet. The breeze danced through my hair, making the hem of my skirts morph into a constantly shifting, moving, breathing piece of fabric. I laid my hands upon the railing, pretending to be immersed in the view before.
I pretended not to notice how his eyes swept over me in such a careful way. My heart was pounding within my chest, begging to be released and fly right out. It sang out a song, one I didn't know the words to.
Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer. I lifted my eyes from the world beneath us to his golden eyes, filled with wonder and hesitation.
I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life.
I'd always known him to be guarded- cold, even- but never like this. This was a whole new Zuko that I'd met in the past few weeks. He was a mystery, all unspoken words and tumbling emotions.
I wasn't sure how exactly this had happened. I'd forgiven him so long ago that I'd forgotten what it was like not to be comfortable around him.
There was a whole new air to this evening, filled with shy glances and hidden blushes.
What was I getting myself into?
End Flashback
I was almost ashamed of what had happened. True, we hadn't done anything- not even harmless flirting- but I still felt as if I had betrayed Aang. I glanced up at Zuko, swallowing nervously.
I really needed to clear my head. Zuko was starting to burrow his way into my thoughts, and that would only wreck all of my carefully made plans.
Chaos didn't fit into my life very well.
But then again, this wasn't really my fault, was it? I wasn't the one trying to be attracted to Zuko. He was making himself so very wonderful... I couldn't help but fall under his spell. Of course, I had no fault in this mistake.
My eyes were under a trance, moving wherever he directed them to go.
My thoughts wandered to Aang's hurt face, the odd jealousy and anger he had used to put up walls around his emotions. That was all Zuko's doing.
We looked as if we were more than friends, to Aang, I suppose. He's such a child... I hurt him so easily... It's Zuko's fault I hurt him. I hurt Aang. My dear friend. Hurt. Zuko's fault.
I was repeating this strange mantra to myself over and over, trying to find someone other than myself at fault for Aang's hurt and betrayal. I hadn't done anything wrong... had I? I'd told Aang... that we had something. And then he'd seen Zuko and I together... Holding each other... My mind flashed to the moment, to the comforting warmth of Zuko's protective embrace...
No! I forced the image away, replacing it with all the times I had ever seen Aang upset. That was enough to light the fire- now I needed to start the burning.
All... Zuko's... fault...
I felt anger begin to rise up from the depths of my heart, burning a path steadily up to my mouth. My lips parted, and I grimaced at the masses of emotions bubbling beneath the surface.
ALL HIS FAULT! Aang doubted me now.. he was hurt now... ALL ZUKO'S FAULT!
He had caused all this confusion, these poisonous feelings.
I took the step that brought me inside the training ring, and let the door slam behind me. Zuko didn't even look up. I let my water pouch spring open, and with a flick of my wrist, sent a water whip towards him. It hit him in the stomach, knocking him to the ground. I walked towards him, my eyes icy with fury. Zuko looked up, his eyes burning with an uncontainable anger that stopped me in my tracks for a split second. It rivaled my own formidable temper. I shook myself and continued forward, standing closer.
"You. Me. Now." I hissed, easing into my familiar fighting position. Zuko narrowed his eyes and nodded curtly.
"Now." His voice dripped with venom. I'd forgotten what Zuko was like when his temper flared.
But it didn't phase me.
I smirked with the exhilaration that coursed through my veins as he lit his fists with fire. I bent low to the ground, beginning the low sweeping motions that usually knocked his footing off balance.
"Begin. You'd better hope, for your sake, that this amuses me." Zuko mocked, tossing a perfectly aimed fireball in my direction. One corner of his mouth twitched upwards. I smoothly threw up a water shield, swaying wildly from side to side to enlarge it. From there, I pushed all my weight forwards to force the wall towards him. Just like the unforgiving waves of the ruthless ocean. He cartwheeled out of the way, using his feet to send more fire towards me. I pulled my arm back and aimed a water jet at him, and it hit its mark.
"Losing your touch, Zuko?" I jeered. He only growled in response, opening his mouth to blow a stream of fire in my direction. I dodged, and felt the heat of it graze me. I quickly fashioned an ice spear, throwing it with deadly accuracy. It hooked on his pants, pinning him down. He grasped it with one hand, melting it easily.
"You seem to forget fire melts ice, Katara." When he said my name, I felt a shiver dance up my spine. I glanced up into his eyes, and felt my world rock with the fury that boiled within the golden slits.
Not all that long ago, hadn't they been soft? Forgiving? Hadn't his expression been smoothed out into a peaceful smile, not twisted into a snarl? My eyes widened in distress, and I lost my control for a moment. What was I telling myself? This wasn't Zuko's fault...
It snapped me out of my strange trance as quickly as I had slipped into it. How had I talked myself into this?
Why am I fighting him? What did he do to me?
It isn't his fault. I realized with a start. Oh, I felt stupid. This was both of our faults...
For once, my temper shrank and cowered before Zuko's smoldering enmity.
Hope you liked it! heheh, katara and zuko fighting!
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~nightfall26
