DISCLAIMER: I do not own Avatar...I do own a lovely pair of fuzzy purple socks but not avatar
WARNING lemony references ahead tell me if you think the rating should go up
I don't think its bad enough for a M rating but ... yeah
Chapter 10 Push Me Over The Edge
The stars were just starting to come out as Zuko walked hurriedly down the silent hall's. His mind was spinning, Katara had coldly ignored him for the past to days. When he had gone to her room to make amends she refused to open the door. At dinner she never talked or looked up from her plate.
Dogging through the halls she always managed to outrun him despite his best efforts. That was in fact what he had been doing a minute ago, trying to chase her down. But she had sloshed a puddle of frozen water on the floor and he had slipped, she was gone by the time he had struggled to his feet.
"Katara" he sighed rubbing the arm he had landed on. Why was this so complicated, he just wanted to apologize, he had been out of line. But she had kissed him back...that was something, maybe she was just feeling as confused as he was.
He heard the soft thud of footstep's and looked up hopefully, but it was only Suki. The front of her dress budging a bit, she looked over at him and shook her head.
"Your lost her again?"
Zuko stared at her "You...how?"
"Oh please its not like the two of your have been very subtle with this whole thing, dancing around each other like that" she rolled her eyes "come on"
She grabbed his hand and lead him to a small simple garden, sitting down on a stone bench with a sigh she rubbed her belly slowly waiting for him to sit down next to her.
"So whats the deal with you two?" she asked point blank when he did.
"Deal? There's nothing like that...we're just friends"
"Sure" she stared him down "So what you to do?"
"Nothing!" Zuko exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air "that's why I don't get why she's avoiding me!"
"Nothing..."
"Well...that time we went out together to have lunch...things got kinda personal"
"There you go" Suki exclaimed like it was the most obvious thing in the world "Stupid! She's engaged! And she probably feels like she's betraying Aang when you two get 'personal'!"
"But it wasn't like that...I just want to be friends" he muttered not sure how true that statement was.
He thought back to the briefest moment when he had kissed her, the peace he felt when she worked to heal him all those times, the fear when the lightning had been shot at her and when he had seen all her blood flowing freely on the floor. Even before then, when she had offered to heal his scar even after all he had done to her.
He thought about the laughter, the tears, how he had cried on her shoulder and how she had leaned against him. Fighting by her side and traveling across the sea with her. How she felt against him when he hugged her or carried her when she was hurt. When she had raced to help him and he had thought she was an angel...
Some where along that line from enemy, to alley, to friend, he had grown to care for her.
To...love her.
The realization hit him hard in the chest and made him gasp slightly. Was it really that simple? Was all of this leading up to that one truth, a truth he hadn't seen sitting in front of him in plan view?
"Well thats good!" Suki smiled completely oblivious to his own private epiphany "You two did seem really happy, but not like a couple or anything...She'll be glad to hear that"
'That I love her' he swallowed dryly 'if only I had realized that sooner, much much sooner'
Suki stood up and rubbed her back "Talk to her, but make your intention clear...you don't want to send her the wrong message"
She gave he a smile before walking off muttering under her breath about back pains. Zuko stood up slowly, the weight of his discovery making him dizzy. Now he really had to talk to Katara...but not about being friends.
Standing up he was about to charge over to her room when he noticed she was standing right there. He stared, after days of ignoring and running away from him, what had made her come?
She saw him looking at her and turned red "I-I heard Suki so I came to see what she was doing..."
"Did you hear ...what we talked about?" he asked slowly
"Some" she looked away
"I just wanted to talk to you" he walked over until he was standing in front of her
She looked up her eyes reflecting the stars "I heard...I"
He looked down at those beautiful eyes, that beautiful face, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. To his delight she didn't pull away, her blue eyes widened but they sunk close as she twisted her lips to fit his.
Zuko reached out and wrapped his arms around her. That movement however, broke the spell and she panicked. Pulling away from him, she stared wide-eyed.
"Katara...I"
But she was gone already, running away from him again.
ZKTZKTZKTZKTZKT
Katara's heart fluttered around and around her chest like a caged bird that was fighting to be free of her. She pressed her hand against it, trying to get it to settle as she raced through the halls to her room.
"Katara!"
He was behind her, she picked up the pace and when she reached her door she slabbed it shut. Leaning against it she fought to catch her breath praying he's keep running and pass her right by. She couldn't believe she'd just kissed him again. Even worse, she couldn't believe she had enjoyed it.
"Katara?" he knocked on the door, making her tense up.
"I know your in there"
She put her ear on the door so she could hear him.
"Please let me in...we need to talk about this"
"But I don't want to" she muttered through her teeth gripping the knob with clammy fingers.
He was silent for a long moment, and the horrible thought that he might have heard her comment made her freeze. She bit her lip and tried to relax, maybe she should talk to him. She had always been told it's best to face your fears.
"Please let me in" he moaned exasperatedly from the other side of the door.
With trembling hands she turned the door handle and pulled it open. Zuko's amber eyes blinked in surprise, apparently he hadn't counted on her caving in so easily. She stepped to the side and let him venture into her room. Shutting the door behind him she managed a deep breath and turned to face her fears...literally.
"Listen Katara..I'm sorry"
"You don't have to apologize" she whispered sliding past him to stand by the window so she wouldn't have to look at him.
He came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder gently "I...Katara...this thing with you and me...I"
"Please" she turned to face him taking her hand and cupping it between her own "Don't"
He shook his head "I have to finish... Katara lately my life's been turned around so much I actually feel dizzy and sick from all of it. And you...your standing there pushing me around faster and faster."
She stroked his hand her heart beating faster, this was all happening to fast, to soon.
"Every thing's different now and when I look at you...I feel..."
She looked up at him wanting him to go on, but it seemed all words had failed the great fire lord.
Katara thought back to the moment when he had kissed her, the pounding of her heart and the peace she felt flow through her. The calm she felt when she worked to heal him all those times, the fear when the lightning hit him and when he had fallen, the lighting still flickering about his fallen body. Even before then, when she had offered to heal his scar in the caves.
She thought about the laughter, the tears, how he had cried on her shoulder and how she had leaned against him for support. Fighting by his side and traveling across the sea with him. How he felt against her when he hugged her or carried her when she was hurt and needed him the most. When she had seen him on her wedding day as he unknowing crashed her wedding.
Some where along that line from enemy, to alley, to friend, she had grown to care for him.
To...love him.
Here it was, the edge, she could feel it, one wrong step, one wrong word and the chaos would take the reins. She would be left at the mercy of fate, the wind and tide ...and Zuko. Did she want to jump? Did she dare...
She pulled his hand up to her lips and kissing it softly, before letting it fall back to his side "I think I understand..."
"Do you?" he challenged grabbing her shoulders a bit ruffly
"Do you know what all this had put me through?" he went on, she looked into his intense eyes burning down at her and swallowed dryly.
The edge was growing closer
"Do you?" she asked him stepping closer so that their chests were touching "Do you know what all this...what you have put me through?"
So close...
"I..." he started but she reached out and touched his face freezing him
"Do you understand" she whispered tracing his scar with her fingers.
Leaning forward she pressed her lips against his softly, answering all questions, for both of them.
She jumped off the edge...
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him, her heart was thundering in her ears, blocking out the million little voice all screaming why it would never work, but it was to late...
She was falling and she was taking Zuko with her
Katara lifted her arms up and ran her fingers though his long hair pulling his head closer to her, like she had been starving for him this whole time and had never known it.
He took his lips away and started kissing her face, jaw and neck. She giggled, she had never done this before. The only other person she had kissed even close to like this was Aang and Aang was simple, Aang was safe.
Aang was not here.
Katara kissed his forehead and slowly coaxed his mouth back to hers. He stroked her sides slowly making her shiver despite the warmness of the night. She intern, ran her fingers over his back and chest making him sigh and pull her closer.
Giggling slightly from the insanity of the situation, she pulled him over to her bed and playfully pushed him down, smiling wildly as she sunk down next to him finding his lips once more. She was falling faster and faster spinning out of control dancing on the slim line of sanity and blind lust. Dancing faster and faster away from all she had grown to know and trust.
Zuko froze suddenly as she started to slide off his shirt, he took her face in his hands, his eyes wide "Are you sure?" he asked his voice barely a whisper
But it was to late to think about it, she couldn't deify gravity and fall back up. She shushed both their doubts with a breath stealing kiss, Zuko smiling slightly flicked his hand making all the candles go out.
ZKTZKTZKTZKTZKT
"Please" he begged jumping on and off the ground so much Toph could barely tell where he was and were he wasn't. Maybe it had been a mistake to come out here with him, it was the middle of the night and she felt like she was about to keel over from exhaustion.
"Will you ever stop that?" she snapped trying to repress a yawn
"Will you ever stop being so stubborn?"
"Hey answer the question"
She heard him sigh and he fell back to the earth directly behind her "Please"
"No, you know what happened last time"
"But it would be fun!"
"Maybe for you" she sighed rubbing her face "I don't like feeling vorniable like that"
"I'll be with you"
"You could always drop me"
"Like I would do that, I carried you fine last time"
"You could on accident, I don't trust you that much"
"Ohh, I'm hurt"
"Your about to be hurt for real unless you let it go"
"Please, I promise I wont drop you"he reached out and grabbed her hand, she immediately felt light and weightless, as she felt her feet leaving the ground
"Put me down" she said dangerously
"Come on" but he did let her go, and she dropped gently back to the earth.
"Thank you" she sniffed turning and walking out into the direction she hoped he wasn't, but of course ...he was.
"Okay if you don't go by choice I'm going to have to force you"
Suddenly Toph was flying, she screamed as she felt herself be flown up far from the earth. She reached out and grabbed his waist for dear life making him laugh
"See it isn't so bad is it"
"I cant see" she barked back holding him tighter "This is horrible its like...
"Your floating in nothingness" she heard him sigh "I know its beautiful isn't it"
"But you can see" she managed to choke out
"No I can't, I close my eyes when ever I fly"
"OPEN THEM YOU IDIOT WE COULD CRASH INTO SOMETHING!"
"No we wont" he sighed peacefully "we're too high up"
"Not making me feel any better"
"Did you know I'm color blind?" he asked suddenly
She was silent for a second "You've got to be kidding me"
"Nope all I see is black and white...and a few shades of gray"
"Not as bad as being blind" she sighed silently enjoying the soft night breeze's
"No I guess its not, but you seem to be doing better than I am"
She laughed feeling herself relax, it was just like he had said, it was like floating in nothingness, feeling weightless and free. They floated in silence for a while before she suddenly felt her feet scratch the ground and suddenly she could see again.
"Hey, thanks for that" she muttered letting go of him feeling a small blush grow on her cheeks
"You welcome" he sighed kissing her on the cheek
"What was that for?" she snapped rubbing her cheek like she was trying to clean some dirt off
"It just seemed right" he sighed "Be glad I didn't kiss your lips"
"You little"
"Bye Toph" his voice was faint as she could tell he had flown away.
Sighing she sat there feeling with her feet, taking in everything around her before heading back to the palace, her heart almost as messed up as her head.
Kiss
me too firecly And just for this moment
Hold me to tight
I need help believing
You're
with me tonight
My wildest dreamings
Could not forsee
Lying
beside you
With you wanting me!
As long as you're mine.
I've lost all resistance
And
crossed the border line
And if it turns out
It's over too
fast.
I'll make every last moment last
As long as you're
mine.
-As long as your mine
Wicked
(no I do not own the song either)
On a last note there was no actual jumping off anything during the story it was simple symbolism nothing more