Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or any of the characters from the series.
Chapter 6: The Two Spirits
Month 4: I'm going to go insane! I can't take it anymore! I feel like a spirit walking in the world of the living- unseen, unheard, alone. I'm starved for human contact, but that damned prince is avoiding towns and cities. And being a refugee prince's shadow for weeks on end doesn't leave much time for socializing. I can't even listen to him talking to Iroh because that fool left his uncle alone in the middle of the woods. I must do something soon, or I'll be as crazy as the king of Ohmashu. Luckily, I have a plan…
Zuko was walking through the woods, his blue mask hiding his face and his Dao swords sheathed across his back. He had hunted for food, but no one was traveling in this part of the woods. Maybe word had spread about the thieving Blue Spirit. He was heading back to camp, but decided to fill his canteen in the river first. No point returning empty-handed.
The sound of water splashing alerted Zuko of another's presence. Leaping into a tree branch above his head, he peered through the concealing foliage. What he saw made him almost lose his balance.
She was bending the water around her, body sweeping and curving in flowing, graceful movements. Her wet skin glowed silver in the moonlight. But she didn't look like a waterbender. The red silk that clung to her curves and the gold bands on her arms were definitely Fire Nation. When she turned around, he saw that her face was painted with red lines.
Something must have alerted her of his presence because she stared directly at him when she said, "The Blue Spirit. Welcome. Come down from there."
Before he thought of the many reasons not to, Zuko leapt silently onto the riverbank.
Katara kept the water pushing against her feet, giving the appearance of walking on water. As she approached the masked man, she made sure to keep herself elevated to his height so that they were eye to eye. She reached up to remove the blue mask, but he caught her wrist.
"You have no reason to hide your face from me, Zuko," Katara said softly. With her free hand, she swiftly snatched the mask away.
Zuko tried to turn his face; he didn't want to see her expression when she saw the scar. He was sick of the pity, the revulsion, the disdain, and the mocking that was on every face that saw his. But the strange woman didn't show any of these emotions. She just smiled gently. She didn't even seem to notice the scar. 'Impossible. How could anyone not see it?'
The unmasked Blue Spirit searched the woman's eyes for questions he could not voice. Katara kept her gaze firmly on his golden eyes, knowing only that would keep him frozen in place for any length of time. She had dropped the mask and rested her hand on the unscarred side of the firebender's face. He still held her other wrist.
Before she had time to lose her courage, Katara leaned forward and kissed Zuko. He didn't kiss her back, but didn't pull away either. 'Not a bad start.'
"What was that for?" Zuko asked, breathless and baffled, as she pulled away.
"I told you, Zuko. You have no reason to hide yourself from me," she replied, not really answering the question. She began backing into the water.
"Who are you?" Zuko trapped both her wrists in his grip this time- unwilling to let her slip away so easily. Something tugged at his memory, but he shoved it aside and focused one the present.
"Just a fellow wandering spirit." Katara pulled free of his grasp and walked out to the middle of the river. With elaborate movements of her arms and wrists, water swirled up to conceal her.
When the water fell again, Zuko looked, but there was nothing to see. The river spirit had disappeared without a trace- not even a ripple in the water gave evidence that she had ever been there.
'I must be hallucinating. I really do need to find some food. And maybe a day of sleep wouldn't hurt, either.' Zuko shook his head. But when he bent down to pick up his mask, he saw proof of the painted lady's existence. A single, perfect red rose lay on top of the blue mask.
'Strange. Who was she?'
Month 4, day15: I just can't abandon someone in need, especially so critically. Besides, I like Iroh, and he doesn't deserve to be in so much pain. On top of that, it's a good thing that Zuko talked to me. I can use this to gain his trust. It was beneficial to my mission.
At least, that's what I tell myself when I try to stop cursing myself for stupidly intervening- and then getting caught- when I was only supposed to watch.
Katara watched from the woods as Zuko carried is uncle into an abandoned house after Azula's lightning attack. It was really more of a glorified shed, but it was warm, sheltered, and- best of all- out of sight. That was two things more than Katara could boast about having. Both Katara and Zuko cursed the princess for what she had done.
Katara watched as Zuko did what he could to help his uncle. His healing skills were limited and supplies even more so. The old man was surely in pain.
Katara watched as Zuko made a small fire and a pot of tea for his uncle. The prince's skills in this, too, were limited. And there wasn't exactly an abundance of tea trees growing nearby. Katara watched. And watched.
And finally, Katara couldn't just sit there in the shadows any longer. She had to do something. She pulled out her Painted Lady guise, added a veiled hat, and waited until both men were sound asleep.
The waterbender crept soundlessly into the hut. Over the sleeping prince. Around the dying fire. Past the meager supplies. To the injured general. She unwrapped the bandages and examined the wound. It was bad, but not fatal. With a wave of her hands, she had water coating her fingers and healing the burned skin.
Zuko woke to a blue glow flickering through the darkness. Sitting up, he saw someone bending over his uncle. "Hey!"
The figure looked up, startled, the glow disappearing. Zuko caught a glimpse of the red silk and painted countenance. Then she darted out the door and into the night, leaving Zuko to scramble after her.
"Hey! Wait!" Zuko caught her wrist. The river spirit he had seen before half-turned towards him, listening, but ready to dart into the woods the instant she got the chance. Zuko tightened his grip on her wrist.
"What did you do to my uncle?" He demanded.
"Your uncle is fine. He is healed. His injury will not pain him so much."
So many things jumped around Zuko's head, questions demanding to be answered. He started with the simplest thing he could manage. "Thank you." She nodded.
"Who are you? Why do I keep seeing you? How did you heal him? Wh-" All his questions rushed out, but Katara interrupted him.
"That is not for you to know. Not yet." Feeling a sense of déjà vu, she leaned up, pulled back the veil with her free hand, and pressed her lips to his. As she had intended, the kiss caught him off guard, causing him to lose his grip on her wrist.
Tearing away, Katara disappeared into the woods without another word, leaving nothing but a single red rose in behind.
