Sorry been working hard the last week. I've been writing on my breaks though. The next one should be up pretty quick as I have tomorrow off too. Also, I've been watching avatar with my man, who has never seen it. Sadly he does not understand the Zutara-ness. But I have realized that Iroh layed siege to Ba Sing Se 600 days not a hundred, whoops! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you so much for the reviews. DofD you rock for reviewing so much!
Katara scrambled about on the floor. I got to find those bindings! She held her arm across her breasts as she sifted through the mess of blankets, pillows, and clothes. Her finger grazed over some tattered clothing. She pulled up the very burnt remains of her breast bindings. He burnt my clothes! AGAIN! I swear, the next time he burns my clothes off… She looked over at the mostly naked firebender. He was sleeping on his stomach, his face turned so the silky red sheets covered his sighed; I'm going to kiss him senseless. She crawled up onto the bed and snuggled up to him. He's always so warm. She looked into his face. His hair fell over his eyes and moved as he breathed in and out. She reached out and gently touched his face. He looks so different without his scar. I wonder when he got it. Toph said that he shouldn't have one. She leaned in and nuzzled her nose over his. His eyes clenched then slowly open. After blinking a few times he smiled at her and brushed her hair back over her ear.
"How's my favorite waterbender?" he whispered.
"Awake, I couldn't sleep," she sighed.
"Something on your mind?" He tilted his head in question. She sat up; Zuko couldn't help but notice that she had yet to cover her breasts.
"No…yes…I don't know," she fidgeted with her hair. She sighed, "How, I mean…what are we?"
"Benders?"
"I mean, we can't be together. But here we are. Again."
"Yeah." He leaned up and began kissing the back of her arm, moving up to her shoulder.
"Zuko!" she stood. "This can't work! What would my brother do? What about Aang?"
"What about you?" he demanded.
"What about Mai?" she demanded back. Zuko's eyes widened, then he turned away.
"You're the only thing that makes me happy right now," he whispered.
She sighed, "Could it hurt?"
"Happiness? I wouldn't know." He said bleakly.
"No, I mean…to do this. Just for a little while." She blushed.
"You mean be together?"
"Yeah. I mean just for a little while. I mean, no one has to know. So no one has to get hurt."
"So, no avatar state or boomerangs coming my way?" Zuko smirked as Katara sat next to him.
"Exactly." She blushed furiously as Zuko flicked her nipple. "Zuko!" she crosssed her arms over her breasts. She then glared at him. "I'm mad at you!"
"What did I do?"
"You keep burning off my clothes!"
Oooooooooooooooooooooo
Katara stared at the waves crashing on the beach. She wrapped her arms around her knees. It's been a few days since they had decided to be together. To have each other for the meantime. "So, how are things Sugar Queen?" Toph sat next to her. Katara blushed.
"Good. Things are good. How goes the sand bending?"
"Becoming a little less fuzzy, could use a little more work."
"Ugh! Men!" Suki walked up, her fists clenched. "Zuko is attempting to cook the meat, while Aang is protesting eating animals WHILE trying to practice firebending. And Sokka is trying to tell everyone how to cook meat while dodging fireballs."
"Katara!" they all turned to see a sooty Aang running toward the group with two plates. He hopped into the air and used airbending to slowly lower himself into sitting position next to Katara. He smiled as he handed the plate to her. Katara took the plate from him, but frowned when she looked down. No meat and a ton of papaya. I hate papaya!
"Suki!" Sokka ran toward her with two plates loaded with meat. Zuko was walking behind him, also carrying two plates. Sokka sat next to Suki and they began talking about fireballs. Aang turned to talk to Sokka. Katara blinked in confusion as Zuko sat next to Toph. Toph suddenly grinned broadly and leaned and whipered into Zuko's ear. He suddenly smirked. Why is he sitting next to her? Why is he smiling? Zuko doesn't smile! Or at least he shouldn't unless I make him.
"Wow, those are some major waves," She heard Sokka say. Breathe, Katara, breathe. This is ridiculous, Toph is 12 years old! I should not be jealous. She closed her eyes in attempt to calm herself. When she opened themshe saw Toph and Zuko whispering some more then both of them laughing.
"Um, Katara?" she turned to see a huge wave headed for Sokka. Oops!
"Are you, OK?" Aang placed his hand on hers.
"Yeah, Sugar Queen is something wrong." Toph grinned mischeviously. She's toying with me isn't she? Katara sighed. Zuko leaned over to Katara and scraped some meat off of his plate onto hers. She smiled appreciatively. They began discussing bending techniques as they ate. Katara finished all the food, but left the papaya.
"You don't like papaya?" Zuko asked.
"No, I usually try to avoid it."
"Then why did Aang get it for you," he motioned at the young avatar who was deep in discussion with Sokka. Suddenly they both looked up at Zuko then began talking again. Zuko's eyes widened.
"He saw me getting it when Aunt Wu told my fortune."
"A fortune teller?" Zuko was becoming fidgety and scooting away from her.
"Don't ask" she sighed. She looked to see Sokka frown in concentration as Aang whispered in his ear. "Um, Zuko?"
"I've noticed. Toph?"
"Hmm?" Toph was busy trying to make a mini house out of sand.
"What are Aang and Sokka talking about?" Zuko asked. Before Toph could answer Sokka stood up and walked over to them.
"Hey Zuko, can I talk to you?" Sokka eyed the two girls, "Alone?"
"Uh, yeah." Zuko stood and they began to walk to the house. Katara's watched as Sokka seemed to be explaining something. Zuko shook his head. Sokka pointed toward the house and they both walked away. Oh, No!
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"These are totally awesome!" Sokka pulled the dao swords out of the sheath. "Are you sure that you can't train me?"
"Like I said before, with us this close to the war, you should just work on perfecting the broad sword." Zuko took the swords from him. "But why didn't you want the girls to hear us?"
"Aang mentioned that you have been keeping the sword thing secret," Sokka shrugged.
"So let's go practice," Zuko led Sokka out to an open spot outside. Sokka unsheathed his sword, they both stared at each other for a moment. Sokka let out a war cry as he lunged at Zuko. Zuko easily dodged it. Sokka swiped again, Zuko unsheated his swords and blocked. "Sokka?" Sokka lunged again as Zuko blocked with his swords. "Are you holding back?"
Sokka suddenly lunged with much more ferocity and pushed Zuko back as he blocked. "I wasn't sure if you could take the heat." Zuko grinned. He spinned and lunged toward Sokka. Blades clanged as they lunged and swiped their swords.
Katara had immediately excused herself when the boys had left. She ran as fast as she could when she heard swords in the distance. Oh no! Sokka must have figured it out! She heard the others running behind her as she ran around the corner. She stopped dead to see Zuko lunging at Sokka. Zuko threw his sword out to prevent himself from colliding with the wall of ice that had formed between the two of them.
"Katara, What are you doing?" Sokka glared.
"Me? You two are trying to kill each other! Sokka-"
"We were just sparring!" Sokka gestured to their swords.
"Wow, you know how to sword fight?" Suki spoke. Katara jumped. She had forgotten that the others had followed her.
"When you grow up with Azula, you have to pick something up."
"You firebend though," Aang mentioned.
"Azula firebends better." Zuko shrugged. "And had no issues on using it against me,"
"Uncle?" Zuko whispered. He hoisted himself up as high as his seven year old self could manage.
"Zuko?" Iroh blinked his eyes and grimaced as he saw it was still dark out.
"Can I sleep with you?"
"What's wrong with your room?"
"Azula set it on fire."
"HYAAAAAAAAA!" Zuko turned to see Sokka lunging at him. He dodged to the left and skidded to miss Sokka's next blow.
"This is great, I haven't gotten to practice in a while," Zuko rushed Sokka.
"When's the last time you practiced." Sokka grunted as he deflected blows.
"Aside from threatening my father? It was in Ba Sing Se." Zuko rolled as Sokka slashed right where his neck was.
"Wow, why did you have to fight there?" Sokka jumped up on the wall and used his sword to deflect.
"This crazy dude was attacking me because he thought I was a firebender." Zuko jumped up and chased him along the wall.
"But you ARE a firebender." Sokka stopped and began to slash at Zuko's oncoming form.
"Yeah, but we didn't firebend in front of him," Zuko ducked as Sokka's sword took a few pieces of his hair. "Except uncle once warmed up a glass of tea."
"Figures, so this guy just openly attacked you?" Sokka rushed for Zuko as Zuko did backflips to get away.
"Right in the middle of the tea shop a while later." Zuko stay down in crouching position, waiting for Sokka's attack.
"Wow, that's insane." Sokka ran up to Zuko and stabbed at him.
"Yeah. It was the last time that I ever saw Jet." Zuko dodged and slashed through the sleeve of Sokka's shirt. "Are you ok?" Zuko stopped.
"You fought Jet?" Sokka stood in disbelief.
"Yeah, do you know him?"
"We ran across him trying to drown a whole town to get rid of some firebenders."
"So, I got off easy."
"Definitely."
oooooooooooooooooooooo
Katara was beginning to get annoyed. No, she was way past annoyed. I am happy that Sokka is getting along with Zuko, but how am I supposed to see Zuko tonight if Sokka won't leave him alone? She sighed as she watched the men talk animatedly about swords. I never knew he was so talented with swords, or liked them so much. Zuko got up mentioning something about sleep. Katara smirked to herself. Maybe I will finally get to spend a little time with him. Sokka stood up too and began to walk Zuko to his room. Katara sighed and waited a few minutes till she headed for her own room. She passed by Zuko's to see Zuko leaning against his doorjam listening to Sokka about his sword lessons. She barelyy caught the glance that Zuko sent her way. She headed in her room. She paused at the door to catch a few words of the conversation.
"I could teach you the dao swords after the war."
"you mean if we survive it. Well I could teach you the broad sword if you like."
"I could never get the hang of it."
Guess it's just me tonight. She entered the room and crawled into the massive bed, curling up underneath the sheets. This bed seems so much bigger. And colder. Without you.
ooooooooooooooooooooooo
Zuko was underneath the dining table playing with one of Lu Ten's knives. He made a few swipes in the air and giggled. He heard shuffling footsteps and became quiet.
"How can he do this?" Lu Ten's voice sounded angry. Zuko slid further underneath the table. He had never heard his cousin this angry before.
"It's none of your concern," Iroh said quietly.
"He gets mad that his firebending is off and then when a solution is presented-"
"He does not want him to know."
"But why? What could it hurt?"
"He thinks that he will take after his great grandfather, and end this war." Iroh moved closer to the table. Zuko hear the clinking of china and liquid being poured.
"It's his dreams isn't it?" Lu Ten questioned. Zuko froze.
"I think it does have your grandfather slightly worried. He sees the idea of Zuko's heritage-"
"Then why didn't he stop the marriage?"
"He tried." Zuko peered out from underneath the table cloth. Iroh's back was to him. Lu Ten glanced in his general direction. His eyes widened as he saw him.
"I think Zuko should know," Lu Ten turned toward his father.
"We have been forbidden from telling him."
"We cannot prevent what he overhears."
"Lu Ten!"
"He needs to know that his great-grandfather was-"Iroh covered his son's mouth.
"Sneaky as Sozin," Iroh commented. "Come on out Zuko." Zuko stood up and dusted himself off.
"Zuko, tell me about your dreams," Lu Ten kneeled down. Iroh pursed his lips.
"There is the blue dragon," Zuko began, "and a red dragon. And two really old men. They were on top of a volcano!"
"What happens to them."
"Lu Ten!" Iroh barked.
"Uncle, why are you so mad?" Zuko asked.
"For starters, you have cut yourself with a knife."Zuko looked down, his thumb was bleeding from where he had gripped the knife as he listened.
"Oh, no he didn't," Lu Ten smiled as he wiped away the small sliver of blood, "he just stubbed his finger."
"I'm starting to recall a lot of stubbed fingers." Iroh stroked his beard.
"Uh…." Lu Ten turned red.
"Lu Ten says it's okay as long as I don't tell Mom!" Zuko smiled as Lu Ten face palmed himself.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Katara opened her eyes. She shivered as she pulled the covers closer. I can't sleep. I wish he was here. I wish he was holding me right now. She pushed the covers away and stood up. She opened her door and peered out. The coast is clear. She walked down to Zuko's room and slowly opened the door. Zuko breathed in softly. He was turned on his side so that his scar showed. She closed the door behind her quietly and strolled up to him. She smiled as she noticed a smile on his face. It must be a good dream. He's so handsome as he sleeps. She reached out to trace his scar when his hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her by the wrist. She gasped as a face full of anger glared at her. He blinked and breathed out and smiled at her.
"Sorry," he yawned.
"Y-you almost attacked me," she backed up.
"Katara, who did I grow up with? Of course I started to attack someone who comes at me from no where while I'm sleeping…what are you doing here?"
"Oh…I….couldnt' sleep." She fidgeted, "couldn't I come to visit you once."
"You usually wait for me," he shrugged. "Well aren't you going to join me?" He lifted the covers so she could join in.
"Can we," she snuggled into his bare chest, "just lay here?" he tilted his head in question. "you know. Not doing anything but sleep?"
"Of course, we can." He smiled and held her to his chest, his chin resting on the top of her head. She snuggled closer. Minutes passed as she just embraced him, an intense joy filled her chest. Her fingers curled around his dark locks. She smiled as his warmth encompassed her.
She nuzzled her nose further into his muscular chest, "I love you." She stilled. What did I just say? I couldn't have. No! she slowly turned her head upward and looked into Zuko's face, afraid of what he might say. His eyes were closed and his breathing steady. He's asleep. He didn't hear anything. A huge relief filled her closely followed by an empty feeling. He didn't hear me. Why do I care that he didn't. Why does it hurt? She pulled away and stood. Zuko groaned in his sleep and reached for her. His hand grasped only thin air. I'm sorry Zuko. This has gone too far. I can't do this anymore. Not without hurting people. Not without hurting you. She reached the door, opening it. All I wanted was to have one night. Be able to do something for myself. But as always, it just blew up in my face. I'm sorry Zuko, but I can't love you. It would hurt too much.
So, don't hate me! If it makes you feel any better; that one night I mentioned in the summary hasn't happened yet (evil grin). Let me know what you think. Also if you have any ideas or criticism (you know stuff I can work with, and make better) please let me know :D
