Author's Note: I'm back. I'm so incredibly sorry for being gone for so long. Life decided it hates me, to say the least. I've been without my computer for about a year, so I couldn't even write up my posts. I lost my home, so I'm living with a friend's family until my mom can get approved for disability, and I've been working two jobs just to survive. I haven't forgotten about all of you though. I came back as soon as I could! My computer is mostly fixed, so I can write again, and I now have the green light to write when I'm at work, so I promise to post as soon as I can as I finish. I don't have interwebz at home, so it takes me lugging my laptop to places with wifi. With my schedule...that won't be as regular as I'd like. But, with that being said, I will post as I finish, so who knows: maybe that will mean two to three chapters in one go sometimes since writing is the only thing keeping me sane between making jewelry. I almost have enough pieces to open up my own shop :).
Love you guys, I hope this post is worth the wait!
P.S: I lost my Microsoft word, so I lack spell check. Please ignore the misspelled words as best as you can until I'm able to fix it.
"Song?"
She was just as Zuko had remembered her. Her long brunette hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her petal pink lips were tugged into a warm loving smile that could probably rival Katara's in the amount of comfort one could draw from it. Probably. Her white and pink hanbok was traded in for something more travel friendly; a pair of women's traveling pants and a peasant's top that cinched tight around her waist. Over it a loose tunic was sashed closed over her torso. The pink silk's ends dangled at her hip, securing in place what looked to be a pouch of herbs.
"It is you," she beamed before putting down a basket she balanced on her hip. With her arms free, she walked over to Zuko and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She had been so worried about him. "It's so good to see you. I've been worried. Is your Uncle Mushi around? Is he well?" Pulling back, Song held Zuko at an arm's length so she could truly look at him. He looked so much happier now; nothing like the shadow of a man she'd met not so long ago. Her heart soared and her smile brightened. Life had been good and the tragedy that forever loomed over Lee's head was gone. To see him like this made everything done in the past seem worth it.
"Zuko? Who's this?" Mai's voice inquired, slipping closer to Zuko's side and wrapping an arm around one of his own. The act was possessive, but also a warning for Zuko. She was far from pleased: First Jin* and Katara, now this…Song? The cold stab of jealousy plunged deep into her heart to cleave open old scars to inflict new wounds. There was another woman to contend with, vying for Zuko's attentions and crown. Those things were rightfully hers. Mai had been with Zuko for years. She'd known him even longer. How was it that Zuko could so easily replace her? Mai didn't understand. She couldn't. How dare Zuko even look at other women when he belonged to her?
Song looked at the man she'd come to know as Lee with an inquisitive eye. Zuko? She'd thought his name was Lee. He responded to it, and clearly knew her. "Zuko? I thought your name was Lee?" Song couldn't help but ponder the significance of the name and the ring of familiarity it carried.
"Lee is the name that I used while traveling." Zuko looked away in shame. It wouldn't be long before realization dawned on the young woman. Song had suffered so much at the hands of the Fire Nation, it would hurt her to know that the men she had helped were the nobility of the ones who hurt her. Even more so, it would hurt her to know that he had kept this truth from her even after the reveal of something so intimate.
Her injury, her ruined leg, was something that was as deep and as soul branding as his own scar, and he knew the level of trust one would have to garner to reveal such pains. Song shared that part of herself with him, and he was not the man she believed he was. The words 'I'm Sorry' wouldn't come close to cutting it. He had much to apologize for.
A sudden chill crawled down Song's back, bringing two possible answers to the forefront of her mind. She didn't want to believe it. Heat of painful memories played out in her mind's eye as if to lash out with the horrors of the past. Lee had been hurt by the Fire Nation, and yet he was the Zuko that now ruled it. It didn't make any sense. "There is much to share it seems. Come, why don't you come to the house my mother and I are sharing? I'm sure you must all be tired from your travels."
"I don't think that would be wise. I…" Zuko started to argue, not wanting to impose on Song's kindness after all he'd done.
"Not this again," Song smiled before beaming brightly. "You are a friend, so regardless of who you are, you are always welcome." When Lee, or rather Zuko, spoke to her the first time Song knew he wasn't lying to her. The name made no difference. Even as the pain of the fire nation still seared her leg, this was still Lee. He was still the tortured youth from back then. He had hurt her when he left, taking with him her ostrich-horse, that much was true. But, as with the truth of his pain, Song was accepting of it. His nationality didn't change the fact that there was a good person deep inside of him. This Zuko made plenty of mistakes by her, but who hasn't. In truth, Song knew from the beginning that things were not going to end happily. Still, Fire Lord? Song wasn't prepared for that particular truth to be revealed.
"Then we would be honored," Aang offered with a ceremonial smile. "We do need to talk to the village leader first to let him know that we'll be here for a short while."
"Alright," Song agreed before returning to her basket. She then hoisted it back up to balance against her hip and started towards the gate again. "Why don't you all meet me back here in an hour or so? I have to go finish collecting some medicinal herbs anyway."
"Are you sure that's wise? We only just barely avoided a few bandits. It's not safe to go out alone." Worry was thick in Zuko's voice as a small panic crept up his spine.
"Bandits? Are you sure?"
"Very sure. If you absolutely must, I'll go with you. The village leader has no love for me anyway, so it would be best if I not go along,*" Zuko suggested, inching closer to Song before sending back a look.
Understanding him completely, Katara nodded and ushered the others ahead of her. She made no move to follow however, instead choosing to hang back and stick with Song and Zuko. There was a small spark of jealousy in her heart to know that Zuko was a bit of a lady's man. But even more than that, Katara was curious to know about Zuko's time on his own. Though he'd shared with her a great deal of it, Song's name had been left out. Instead of wondering why, Katara wanted to focus on what others saw of Zuko's life since he was so hard on himself. Zuko's telling wasn't a fair one, and was full of self-depreciation. He'd gotten a little better now, but the past was still so full of guilt when he told it.
"You really don't have to," Song insisted, worrying for her friend and his companions. It was alright for her to take the risk since the herbs were necessary for her mother's practice, but to ask the same of others was unheard of. She couldn't in good conscience allow for others to risk themselves. "I wouldn't want for you to get hurt if they came close to the village again."
"We'll be fine. It's you I'm worried about." Zuko pressed. He could fight in about any situation; he doubted the same could be said of the young nurse. With one last parting look, Zuko shrugged off Mai's hold on his arm and moved closer to Song. The two waited for Katara to join them before slipping back out of the village through the gates.
There they go again…Aang glowered as he watched Zuko leave with both Song and his Katara. Aang had hoped that with the arrival of a new girl's face, Katara would realize that Zuko was turning out to be a playboy. He would only hurt Katara, and yet she still went off with him as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Small fists clenched tight until his knuckles were bleached white from the force. Aang should have known.
"We should get going," Sokka declared once his sister vanished from his sights. He was glad to know that Song would be safe now that Zuko and Katara were with her. Though he didn't know her personally, Sokka's heart managed to ram its way into his throat when he heard Song was going out on her own. Sokka knew he should kick the habit, because he genuinely was no longer a chauvinist, but to see a young girl go anywhere unprotected frightened him. He was not naïve to think that she would be safe to do as she needed on her own. It was a sad fact of life, but women were always in more danger than men.
A bandit would kill a man for money, but for a woman they'd do far worse. They'd force her to watch the deaths of her companions if there were any. They'd take everything from her. They'd abuse and rape her; keep her prisoner until their lust had been slaked or they grew bored with her, and then they'd kill her.* Death would be a mercy after the torture. If she could defend herself, Sokka wouldn't worry as much. The worry would still be there, since no matter how prepared or strong, there was always the chance that it wouldn't matter in the end. Still, being able to fight was what made all the difference. One look at Song's hands told Sokka that she was no fighter. The callouses were those of a healer. Song wouldn't know the first thing about using a sword or curling her fist.
"We should also tell the village leader about the bandits as well before sending out a messenger hawk with their whereabouts to some local guards." Suki trusted Zuko and Katara to keep the girl safe, but still she worried. Hearing that the girl was going to go off on her own gave her quite a scare. Suki could only hope that word of such dangers would promote awareness within the village so that they'd practice safer habits when leaving the village. To send a non-fighter out into the woods alone was ridiculous even without the bandits. What if something happened like some wild animal attacking or some such thing? There was safety in numbers, especially when someone had the most basic understanding of self-defense. Sometimes Suki wondered what when through the minds of people.
"Yeah….we should probably get to that now." Aang wasn't all there when he spoke. His eyes lingered on the gate where Katara left with Zuko and Song. Or rather, Aang was still focused on the after image of Zuko placing a guiding hand on Katara's back. However brief the action was, that one image was burned into his retinas. The sound of footsteps walking away from him brought Aang back to the present. Sokka, Suki, and the others were already heading towards the main house, leaving Aang behind to follow. "Mai, you coming?"
It didn't take Mai long to realize that the Avatar was speaking to her. She had been glued in place by how fast Zuko had shrugged her off to be with girls that weren't her. She was losing him. Mai wasn't so stupid that she couldn't see it, but she couldn't bring herself to fully comprehend why. Why was she losing Zuko to peasants? Wasn't she everything he needed and wanted? What was wrong with her? Mai couldn't understand it. She was raised to be the perfect noblewoman, and yet so easily less cultured girls were able to sink their claws into Zuko and his attentions. It was wrong, and the pain of it was a dagger in her heart. She would not forgive any of it. Whatever it was those girls were doing, Mai would never forgive them for it. Wordlessly, Mai turned her back to the gate and followed Zuko's friends.
Zuko watched with curious eyes as Katara and Song hunkered down to pull plants up from the ground. To him, there was little difference to be discerned from them. In the fire Nation, he could recite from the top of his head the differences between plants and their uses, but those of the earth kingdom all looked the same to him. It was a wonder Katara knew enough to be of help. Zuko almost felt useless, but that feeling didn't have time to fully set in. His eyes remained alert, keeping note of his surroundings as he maintained a guarded walk around Katara and Song.
Katara looked up from the herbs she was collecting for her own uses to check on Zuko. He was on edge, but his swords were stills secured to his hip. They were still safe. That was a good sign. Zuko was usually paranoid, but to see that he was unarmed and there was no rigidness in his posture meant that all was clear for the time being. He wouldn't feel completely safe until the high walls of the village surrounded them, but at least there was enough comfort to be drawn from around them. Birdsong and humming insects provided a jovial tune to the menial work, further assuring that all was safe. Zuko should really enjoy the moment for what it was. As if he knows how to relax, Katara sighed with a roll of her eyes. He was far too protective and paranoid for his own good.
"So, how long have the two of you been dating?" Song found herself asking once she'd checked off the first few items from her list. Though the sounds of the birds and the bees were calming, and there was no real awkwardness within the silence, Song still longed for the sound of idle chatter. Also, she wanted to know what life had been like after Zuko had left her home. He was obviously doing pretty well for himself if his lovely girlfriend was anything to go by. For a noble to come by such a nice person who held no real interest in monetary gain was hard to say the least. For that, Song was truly happy. Zuko and Katara made such a lovely couple, and it filled Song with such hope to see an interracial couple flourish. During the war, such things were almost unheard of.
The herbs that Katara had collected fell from her arms and Zuko stumbled over a knotted root. "Oh, we're not a couple!" both Zuko and Katara exclaimed nervously, faces painted crimson with bashful nervousness.
"You're not? But I thought…Oh, I'm sorry." Song blushed at her mistake, finding her quest for light talk during their work backfiring. "You two are obviously so close, I just assumed." Their body language screamed the intimacy of their relationship that it wasn't that hard of a conclusion to make. However, apparently Song was on a losing streak when it came to reading Zuko. How much else would she get wrong about his person before the truth came out into the light? Song could only hope not many.
"It's alright," Zuko soothed before clearing his throat. "It happens all the time." Normally, such accusations were followed by pouts and glowers that made him feel guilty. It was strange not to have either, if not a little nice. Zuko even allowed himself a little grin at the thought of his frequent predicament with Katara. Zuko was tempted to start up an ongoing tally with all the times it had been assumed he was with Katara.
"I can see why," Song chuckled. "So I take it you both are…single?" Delving deeper, Song's curiosity took a hopeful turn.
"Oh, we're dating, just not each other." Katara explained, though her expression wasn't as humored as Zuko's. Even with the distance the both of them were putting between each other, the effort was coming up moot. It made it all seem pointless.
At Song's confused look, Zuko sat down on the ground near her to clarify. "My girlfriend is Mai, the girl holding my arm before we left. Katara's boyfriend is Aang…the Avatar." Zuko wasn't pleased with how things were, but there was nothing that could be done in regards to that matter. At least he and Katara had these misunderstandings to entertain them. Zuko desired more, and for the plot for distance to be shelved. But he doubted both would happen any time soon. Still, to have his relationship with Katara called into question so soon after they came to the agreement was funny. Zuko could feel another laugh bubble up at the mere thought of it.
"I thought she was your sister." Song continued guiltily, though Zuko's laugh assured her that there was no harm done. The flush that painted her cheeks deepened as Song took in how utterly beautiful Zuko was when he laughed, more so than she ever thought possible. There was something so roguishly handsome about him, and yet regal at the same time. Such was to be expected of the Fire Lord, but to Song it went beyond that.
"Don't let her hear you say that. Mai's a deadly knife thrower," Zuko explained with his mirth still heavy in his voice. His eyes lingered on Katara's form, who was trying so hard not to be noticed. Her free hand was held over her mouth to stifle her laughter, and all Zuko could do was continue smiling.
"I can attest to that." Katara agreed once she controlled herself enough. Approaching both Zuko and Song, Katara dropped herself back onto the ground so she could get comfortable in the short moment of reprieve. Her arms couldn't carry much more of the plants she'd harvested. Song still had a ways to go from what Katara could deduce from the list pinned to the still mostly empty basket. Katara was tempted to just give Song the herbs she'd gathered and start again from the beginning so that things would move faster, but it was so nice to simply not be surrounded by the suspicious auras of Mai and Aang. Not to sound like Ty Lee, but Katara could feel them bogging her down like a sickness. It was good to be away from all that.
"She sounds rather frightening," Song admitted with no insult intended. With how laid back both Zuko and Katara were, Song felt as if it was alright to be so open and honest even in regards to their significant others. Song doubted the validity of their statements, finding the fact that the two of them weren't dating each other rather odd.
Zuko nodded, knowing better than most that Mai was that and more. He didn't say much beyond that. Instead, he crept closer to Katara's side to tap her shoulder. Offering a smile and an arm, Zuko silently asked to be allowed to carry the rose-peonies, lavender, aloe, and other herbs that he didn't really know. When she accepted, Zuko shrugged off his traveler's tunic so that he could fold the plants into it. He didn't want to lose anything that could be important for later on. Zuko didn't hover by Katara's side for too long, keeping in mind the little wager. He wanted to. Pride however kept him fast. He only needed to last the week.
Katara stretched her arm out to relieve the cramp before climbing back onto her feet. "I think we should move on to the next clearing. You said there were more places to find the herbs you needed, right?" Katara asked with her arms reaching high towards the heavens. The clearing they were in was a small patch of grasses and bushes off the side of the road. However, Katara knew from previous travels in the area that there was a larger meadow for which they could collect. It was closer to where the burnt forest lay, but the plants growing from the ashes were sure to be of greater use. The fact that they were able to grow from the ruins of such a grand forest was testament enough to that.
"What?" Song stammered, distracted by Zuko's exposed chest. She didn't mean to stare, but when Zuko shrugged off his tunic it was all Song could do. It hadn't even crossed her mind that Zuko was without an undershirt, but now that she could see it, Song was without words. Zuko was absolutely stunning. Before, Song could say she had a little crush, but now that couldn't even come close to the spark of emotions pooling within her belly. Mai was a lucky girl. even if Song didn't really think that she was Zuko's girl. If anything, Zuko was more into Katara than anything else. Did it mean that Zuko was the unfaithful type? Song doubted it from what she'd learned over the short time she'd known Zuko as Lee. If anything, his affections for Katara, as well as hers for him, were in some way forbidden. Why else wouldn't they be together? Such thoughts were so romantic, that Song couldn't help but sigh while gawking at Zuko's chiseled body.
Katara wasn't stupid. She knew that Song was staring. Not that Katara could blame the girl. Very few boys their age had bodies like Zuko's, even amongst benders. Still, Katara felt the hiss of a viper fly build up, only to be squashed down by Katara's force of will. It wasn't like Katara didn't take the chance to stare whenever she could. It was just that Katara wasn't allowed even that much. Looking was something she gave up when she started dating Aang, so getting rid of the habit would be best. Still, it was a hard task to go through with when Zuko decided to flaunt himself in front of her and everyone else due to his increasing lack of modesty. It was as if he was trying to torture her by teasing. Song was lucky; she was able to stare and drool to her heart's content without real consequence. Rolling her eyes, Katara allowed herself a calming smile. "We should move on further into Hei Bai's forest."
"Hei Bai?" Zuko cocked his head to the side curiously, scooping up the herbs bundled in his shirt before taking Song's basket to carry. Since he was unknowledgeable in most medicinal herbs of the Earth Kingdom, he could at least be of some use by carrying everything. If anything, he could familiarize himself with what was collected. One could never be too prepared.
"He's the spirit who guards these woods," Katara explained, seeing that neither Song nor Zuko knew of the spirit that guarded the forest and the village. "When we last came here, Hei Bai was a rampaging spirit who would attack the village out of anger. Every night he would come to the village, destroying homes and taking away villagers one by one to the spirit world. Aang managed to stop him, now he guards both the village and the forest peacefully like he once did."
"What set him off in the first place?" Song asked, following Katara since she knew the way just as well.
"Well, there was a battle between the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation nearby, which set the forest on fire. It was almost completely destroyed. Having lost his home because of the battle, Hei Bai gave into his fury and became a terrifying monster." The memory of the creature's face still sent chills down her spine. Of all the sights she'd seen, nothing came close to such a tragic horror. Of all the victims of war, Hei Bai broke her heart so deeply that the memory would forever leave a scar.
Zuko turned his eyes downwards with guilt feeling responsible as the new lord of the Fire Nation. The victims of war kept growing in number, filling Zuko's head with unknowable faces. The wars of men didn't just target those who fought. It hurt everyone. Even the forest was hurt and angry. Zuko could recall with crystal clarity how easily his father would burn down entire jungles just to chase out a few "rats." That show of power was never without consequence. Now Zuko could only wonder how high the numbers would climb. How did he go about apologizing to a spirit? Did he have a right to? The other nations were giving him a hard enough time as it was, where would Zuko start in regards to everyone else?
A cool, comforting hand rubbed gentle circles against his back, bring Zuko back down to the present where cerulean eyes were smiling up at him.
"I appreciate your concern, and thank you for informing us of the bandits young Avatar, but there is no need to worry," assured the village's leader. He sat relaxed on his cushion in the main room of his home, enjoying a pipe and a brew of sweet honeyed tea. The warning of bandits did little to stir him from enjoying such simple pleasures, for there truly was no need. "The great spirit Hei Bai protects these lands. No one would be foolish enough to do this village or this forest harm or else risk the spirit's wrath.
Aang and the others only relaxed somewhat, already knowing the story or trusting the relaxed stature of the others. Still, there was always reason to worry. Not everyone knew of Hei Bai or the threat he could become should that threat be realized. Surely the village understood that? Not another word was spoken over the matter however, due to the lot of the group being ushered out. They were going to be taken to their rooms, but Aang had no interest in just being lead around. He trusted Sokka to take care of matters in that respect as well as in regards to the issue with the bandits. Sokka would know what to do and how to press the issue on fortifying the village defenses for just in case purposes. So, instead of following the others to their assigned quarters, Aang made his way back to the assigned meeting place to wait for Katara.
Finally on his own and without the voices of others filling his head, Aang was finally able to think. Even Momo had opted to stay with the others. Aang didn't know what to do. He knew that he was losing Katara, but at the same time he didn't know how to stop it. Everyone was telling him to talk to Katara so that everything could be put out into the open. In communication there could be understanding as well as the patching of broken bonds. However, Aang didn't know how to start the conversation. He'd never had to be the instigator of such a tough topic to talk about. That was always left to Katara, who always knew what to say or how to say it. In his mind, Katara should already know what was wrong and be telling him how to fix it. Or rather, she would if she wasn't so distracted.
Zuko seemed to be all Katara was focusing on. In his mind, Aang knew that the statement was a lie, but his heart felt as if Katara's world was now revolving around Zuko. Aang always had Katara's attention, and as such to even have to share was a painful experience. To lose that attention so completely was debilitating. Aang didn't know what to do with himself and his selfish desires. As a monk, he'd been raised to know the difference between wants and needs. But with Katara, that all vanished. He didn't know where needs ended and wants began, and as such he was desperate for all of Katara so that he wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Katara was his everything, and yet he clearly wasn't hers. At least, that was the case now.
There was an actual child in need of mothering, taking up Katara's time and energy. That child was demanding, and greedy, and selfish. It needed everything and anything it could get at the slightest whim, and that wasn't Tom-Tom's fault. It's how babies and toddlers were until they were able to do for themselves. But that didn't change the fact that every tantrum he threw had Katara and Zuko both fretting like a couple of parents. Now, Zuko and Katara spent every waking moment together. They even slept together. There was no time for Aang in Katara's world, and it was all the fault of Zuko who didn't allow for anyone else to take the roll of substitute father. That's how it worked out in Aang's head.
At the sound of familiar footsteps, Aang perked up to see the return of his "friends" and Song. The three of them were laughing at something or other, but Aang couldn't bring himself to care about what. Instead he focused on the closeness the three of them seemed to be enjoying. Katara gave Zuko a hip bump, which nudged him into Song's side. Both his arms were thrown over Song's and Katara's shoulders, bringing both in close. They looked to be having fun. Aang remembered when that was him with Katara, instead of the topless Zuko.
"Hey Aang," Katara greeted brightly, "Is everything taken care of?" Katara noted with a slight dip in her smile, noting that Aang was currently brooding. Because of this, Katara righted herself and gave the arm over her shoulder a pat. As it fell from her, Zuko took hold of the bundle of herbs from her hold and took a step back. Katara didn't need to see or hear him to know that he had backed away from her. She could tell simply by the sudden chill caused by losing his body heat.
"Yeah, the village elder's gonna let us stay with him…however…um…" Aang fidgeted in place with the contingency attached to the lodging.
"What is it?" Katara pressed, stepping closer so that Aang knew he had her full attention.
"It's about Zuko…he can't stay in the house. He'd have to find somewhere else." Aang's words came out in a rush, as if he had hoped that Katara wouldn't hear or understand his words. She understood just fine, dashing Aang's hopes, but he at least tried. Aang flinched back just to be safe.
"What?!" Katara exclaimed vehemently, eyes narrowing into deadly glares. "What do you mean he can't stay?"
"It's just that, with the war and all…" Aang cowered back another step, fidgeting and casting his eyes down to her feet.
"That's no excuse! He's our friend, which should be reason enough to let him stay with us!" Katara took a step forward, forcing Aang to step back to escape her shadow.
"Katara, it's alright." Zuko insisted, placing a calming hand on Katara's shoulder with the hopes of stilling her anger. This wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last. The Fire Nation had committed many wrongs during the war. Such wrongs wouldn't be forgotten overnight. Those things took time.
"That's right; he can stay with my mother and I. It's okay," Song assured Katara that Zuko would have a bed to sleep on and a roof over his head, but the indignant rage Katara felt echoed within her own heart. Song understood more than most what the Fire Nation had done, but Zuko was a good person. Regardless of nationality, good people didn't deserve to be treated in such a way. It wasn't fair at all.
"No it's not. It's wrong and you both know it. I'm gonna go talk to that man right now and set him straight." Here cerulean orbs flashed in her anger, holding Aang partially responsible for lacking the backbone to stick up to the chief. It was so typical.
"Sokka's already talking to him about that now, so there's really no need." Aang knew that Katara would probably get them all in trouble if he let her go off on the village leader. More than that, he knew that in the end she'd probably get her way. They were all going to be sharing one room, which was large enough to accommodate them all comfortably, but that meant that Katara and Zuko would be able to find an excuse to sleep together again. In truth, he really didn't want for Zuko and Katara to be sleeping in the same house, let alone the same room. He didn't fight it when the village's lingering feelings towards the Fire Nation painted its leader's decision. Aang was so lost within his own misery that the thought of continuing with his responsibilities as the Avatar didn't even cross his mind. He knew he was being selfish, but Aang was still too emotional to care in that moment.
"There, you see: nothing to worry about. Sokka will have no trouble repealing that rule," Zuko smiled. The expression didn't quite reach his eyes. It touched him to know that Katara was so indignant and angry for him, but as with back at the Earth Kingdom's palace Zuko knew that such things would happen to him. It hurt, but as with all other times Zuko refused to let it get to him as it did Katara.
"Doesn't change the fact that it's not fair at all. Are Ty Lee and Mai not allowed to stay as well, or is Zuko the only one so special?"
"As far as the village is concerned, Ty Lee is another member of the Kyoshi warriors and Mai's an Earth Kingdom noblewoman. If the village leader were to find out that there was more than one member of the Fire Nation here he would have freaked. The only reason Zuko was found out was because…well…"
"Say no more," Katara growled, not needing Aang to connect the dots for her. Zuko was probably the most recognizable face from the Fire Nation in the world. She clenched her fists tight before turning sharply on her heel. "Song, would it be alright if I stayed with you too?"
"Of course," Song answered without a thought to the contrary, ignoring both Aang and Zuko who insisted that such actions weren't necessary. It would only be right that Zuko not be separated from all of his friends. If she could, Song would extend the invite to all of them, but there wasn't much room for everybody within the small house that she and her mother were sharing. "Do you want to head over now, or do you want to go grab your things first?"
"Why don't we head to your place first?" Zuko suggested before Katara had a chance to. In her mood, Katara would probably have the entire house torn asunder. However, if Katara was allowed some time before seeing the village head, then maybe she'd cool off some and see reason. She didn't have to stay with him. Zuko trusted Song and her mother, so he knew that nothing bad was going to happen. That didn't change the fact that it wasn't fair, but he still had a place to stay.
"It's this way then," Song informed them before taking the lead.
The walk was a short one since the village was small. The small housing unit that made up the current home of Song and her mother was tucked away in a corner near the village wall. It was small, and framed by a few other houses that were near identical to the first. Outside of the lived in house was Song's mother, sweeping the front stoop dutifully. Without prompting, the woman rose her head to find her daughter's smiling face approaching. That smile turned into a shocked one when another familiar face came into view.
"Oh my stars," the woman gasped before resting the broom against the nearest wall. She then moved with the speed of a younger woman to catch Zuko by the face and pull him in for a hug. "Lee, it's good to see you've come back to us." The woman cooed. "You look so good and healthy. Things must have turned out alright for you, I'm glad. I see your uncle Mushi isn't with you?"
"It's good to see you again," Zuko managed after the initial shock. Twice in one day he'd been hugged by people that weren't Katara, a sure sign that something bad was going to happen. People that he'd hurt didn't just come out of the woodwork to hug him. Zuko's mind was still reeling while both Song and her mother chittered round him, beaming at how much he'd improved. Unable to fully comprehend what was going on, Zuko turned to Katara for help. Something was wrong. There had to be something wrong. Zuko didn't know if he was dreaming or if it was some sort of trap. What he did know was that the entire event was surreal and just shouldn't be happening. Shouldn't Song's mother be angry with him?
Katara simply smiled at Zuko's expression, finding it rather cute that he didn't know how to handle such happy greetings. It almost made her feel better about the forced separation within the group. Katara was still livid, but the moment of happiness allowed for Katara to offer a pleasant and happy smile when the introductions went around. When the question was asked, Katara really wasn't all that surprised to hear that Song was more than happy to let Zuko and Katara stay within their humble abode, so long as they didn't mind the small space. Katara felt that the small family was so happy to see Zuko again, that they probably would have forced him regardless of what his sleeping arrangements were. It was good to see that there were those that were willing to overlook the past and accept a person for who they were in the present. Not many people could do that, and such a quality endeared the two women into Katara's heart.
Idle chit chat soon ended when Aang reminded all that a return to the main house as in order to get the last of everything situated. So, with bright smiles and a considerably less strung up Katara, the group left once the herbs were put away in their proper places. Katara and Zuko both waved their farewells and promised multiple times that they would be back with empty bellies. But, still Song and her mother called after them to remind them not to eat before returning. It was sweet and uplifting; an experience both Katara and Zuko had gone without for a while. It was nice.
Zuko shot Aang a look when he noticed Katara's smile remaining fastened to her face. There was a chance she would be calm enough to enter the main house without starting anything with the village head. Dare the two hope? Aang's look was laced with the shadow of darker emotions, but there was understanding in the returned glance. Aang was hoping the same thing as Zuko, because both didn't want for Katara to be put out. The house Song and her mother stayed in was tiny, so much so that they would be packed in like sardines in the one bedroom house.
Hope grew to fill the two males, only to burst when Katara's expression soured. The main house came into view and the village leader was standing at the main entrance with a guard at his back. It truly was too much to hope that the justice seeker Katara would let the slightest thing go. Aang sighed, and Zuko cringed. This was going to get messy real quick.
Katara didn't win in the regard of having Zuko allowed to stay with the rest of the group, in truth in her mind it was the best option that Zuko not stay since Song and her mother genuinely wanted to have Zuko with them. So when she tore into the village leader, it was the lecture of lectures about forgiveness being given to those who deserve it. The man felt smaller than dirt when Katara was finished with him. Half the group enjoyed every second of it, but the rest felt a small level of pity for the man. To have an almost woman completely castrate the man with nothing but the force of her words was painful to watch. The man was spewing apologies left and right and was throwing offerings of food and supplies and anything else he could dream up to get Katara off of his back.
Zuko himself was counting all his blessings since he never had to suffer such…brutality from Katara. He legitimately felt sorry for the man, but at the same time was kind of happy to know that he had such a powerful and influential weapon in his corner. This was only a reminder for him not to ever piss her off ever again. Zuko even told Katara as much when the group parted to find something to do to pass the time. He had to gather his belongings from the room the group had been given. It had already been explained that, since Zuko would not be staying with the group, he was going to be staying with Song and her family. When no one volunteered to stay with him, Katara expressed that she would as well. Thus Tom-Tom would be left to Sokka and Suki for the night. No one complained over the matter, and Aang was silenced by the Katara's conviction and the fact that she still had energy to rip into anyone else who dared question her.
So, when the celebration was held that night in honor of the visiting avatar and his friends that didn't include Zuko, everything was starting to run smoothly. Clothes had been delivered, Zuko and Katara had eaten their meal with Song and her mother as promised. All was going well. In the center of town a massive bonfire was blazing and fast upbeat music filled the night air with its jovial tune. Food, honey mead, and wine were circulated around for all to sample, and all seemed to be perfect. Everyone was having fun.
Everyone except Zuko and Katara that is.
The party came at an opportune moment, and the two were lurking in the shadows to watch the festivities and the condition of their friends. Katara had shed Zuko's tunic so that the shadow black garb she had purchased in the previous village was all she wore. Her hair was pleated tight into a long braid, and a long dark blue scarf was wrapped loosely around Katara's neck. Zuko was dressed similarly, wearing a black form fitted shirt that was tucked into his pants. The long collar pooled around his neck, waiting to be pulled up over the bridge of his nose. No one questioned their choice in cloths, given the night's sudden chill. More than anything, Katara's removal of Zuko's tunic was accepted warmly by Aang and Mai, both of which hovered around them still.
Aang, in his naiveté, had accepted one too many mugs of watered down mead, which had been offered to him since he was the avatar.* It was only polite for him to receive and drink some, but he'd clearly overdone it. The warm flush of the alcohol's buzz painted Aang's cheeks and had him leaning against Katara's side as it made him drowsy. Rather than chastise or lecture, Katara simply waved all additional offerings away and waited for Aang to graduate from drunken lethargy to dozing to sleep it all off. Avatar does not a booze tolerance make. Katara knew this from all past experiences with alcohol. So, when she saw it coming, she seized the opportunity such a drink would offer her. Katara knew that she could easily slip away from Aang and seek out the bandits now. However, there was a hitch still keeping her glued to her spot. Mai. She had been glued to Zuko's arm and glowered at anyone who dared approach. One dainty hand still held the first mug she'd been offered, while the other snatched up all offered cups for Zuko so she could present them herself. As it stood, Katara feared that Zuko would soon suffer the fate of Aang and become too inebriated to partake in their little mission. He showed no outward signs of drunkenness, but for how much longer?
"Mai!" Ty Lee called, dancing around the village boys that milled around her with hearts in their eyes. "Come on! Dance with us!" she pressed, gripping the wrists of Sokka and Suki tight in her hands. Toph had recently excused herself to take over babysitting duty, looking for any excuse to be free. Thus, the young acrobat was without a third partner. Who better to join her than the brooding Mai? The girl needed to relax, and Ty Lee was just the girl to help her do so.
"You should go, Mai," Zuko pressed, smiling down at his girlfriend as best as he could. There was an underlying sense of urgency in his voice, but overall it went unnoticed by all but Katara who knew what to look for. "Go have fun. I plan on turning in for the night anyway." To further lay the part, Zuko forced a yawn and reached his arms upwards to stretch. Very real pops and cracks sounded down his back due to the partially hunched over position he'd taken as he leaned against the wall.
"See," Ty Lee beamed. "The boyfriend says okay. So let's go!"
Katara, Zuko, and a very tired Aang waved their farewells to the departing group. Once gone, Zuko took over supporting Aang by lifting the smaller male up and over his shoulder. Aang muttered something in protest, but those words went ignored as Katara lead the way back to the main house where Aang could be safely deposited into Toph's care.
"Don't get yourselves killed," Toph expressed, leaning against the wall with a sleeping Tom-Tom draped over her chest. Nothing got past her, so neither Zuko or Katara even tried to deny or correct anything Toph believed. It would be a wasted effort and a waste of precious time.
Katara nodded before turning to watch Zuko force open the nearest window. He had already pulled his collar to cover his face, and now waited on the window's ledge for Katara to do the same. He balanced himself with his back against the jam, one hand checking the fastenings for his dao blades while the other waited to help Katara over. "We'll be back by morning," Katara explained to Toph before accepting that hand. Up and over she went, pulling up the scarf to hide her features from the rest of the world. The window slid shut. The mission began.
Even in the pitch darkness of the dense bamboo forest, the two ran side by side with the ease of air. The moonlight gently filtered in between the shoots of tall grass, supplying all the light they needed. Finding their way back to where they found the bandits first was simple, almost laughably so. Skidding to an abrupt stop, the two crouched low to the ground and ducked into the cover of nearby underbrush. The darkness was lit up by the faint glow of yellow and orange as Zuko ignited the tiniest of flames over the palm of his hand. The map was unfurled, and all the markings of hypothesized locations of the bandit strongholds became visible for both to discern. The two conversed without speech, debating between the two choices they've narrowed down before killing the light and allowing themselves to be swallowed by the night.
The choice was made: the two would go east, deeper into the forest where the pathways grew narrow and the marks of man grew sparce. Neither of them took the time to question whether or not their guess was the right one, knowing that failure was not an option. If that night proved barren of success, then the two silently agreed to do whatever it took to keep them in the village for another night. The bandits would be dealt with by them before their violence found new casualties.
The light of the stars and moon was slowly choked out as the trees and shrubs grew tightly together, forcing the two to run closer together as they naviated the gnarled roots and tangled branches. Not a sound of complaint was uttered, nor an attempt to rectify their lack of light was made. There was still just barely enough to distinguish masses of deeper darkness within the void.
Regardless, the concern for light became a moot point as distant fire light glimmered like stars against the blanket of black. This gave the pair pause as they slowed their brisk pace to a slower stalk. Zuko first, his arm extended to catch Katara against his back. Though she knew he slowed to a halt, Katara allowed herself to collide softly against his larger frame. His body was rigid against hers, a solid wall of muscle and coiled energy. A comfort of warmth against the chill of the air.
Still too far to make out more than humanoid shapes, the two ducked into a cluster of bushes to survey the area, discovering a shody fort - if one could call it that. Several trees had been felled and lashed together, stripped of their bark and branches to form a high wall. A few of the trees had given away to rot, and had snapped to form ramps into narrow windows where the firelight could flicker through into the darkness. However these windows did not prove a viable entryway. Not initially. At each makeshift window the shadow of a sentry could be seen, distinguishable by the torches that lit up the perimeter. From their angle, the two could make out three, but the faint sounds of boisterous laughter in the distance hinted at many more.
Zuko signalled for Katara to follow him, leading her in a slow circut around the encampment to discover two guarded entryways into the fort. Many more breaks in the wall revealed a higher count of ten men armed with arrows stood watch over the surrounding foliage. From what they could see inside, there were clusters of tents circling a roaring flame where many more bandits drank and made merry.
Sneaking in would not be a simple task.
The rush of anticipation pulsed through their veins as they inched closer to the very edge of the shadows. Flirting with discovery, the two began to test their defenses. Simply at first: a rock thrown to rustle some bushes, the water in a tree bent to make them groan loudly. Each test was met with arrows shot without thought for whatever may have created the sound. Reflexes quick, if not little jumpy, the guards proved deserving of their stations.
The rush quickly became a thrill.
Steadying her breathing, Katara pressed against Zuko's back just long enough for him to know she was taking a turn to act. Painstakingly slow, and acting with a level of patience that Katara didn't think she had, the bender drew the moisture from the air. She called it from the leaves and the condensation. She drew it from the moisture in the earth. It danced to her call, flickering and shimmering as the water formed a mist at Katara's behest. From everywhere at once, a rolling fog wafted closer to the encampment. Slowly -so painstakingly slow, did it creep closer to the fort. Too slow to give the bandits reason to question the phenomenon, and prompting them to dismiss the event as a natural occurance.
Even though all he could truly see was her silhoete, Zuko could not help but marvel at Katara's skill and control over her element. Distracted by how her arms wove through the chilling and damp air in intricate, beautiful forms. When her arms breezed passed his, not truly touching but setting his nerve endings on fire as if she had, his breath hitched with the desire to touch her back. Fully in an intimate embrace. Zuko could watch her bend her element and never tire of the sight.
When it came time for Zuko's turn, he took several deep, calming breaths as he reached out to his own element. The lights along the perimeter flickered before one simply died down as it was swallowed by the mist. This, the nearest sentries did investigate, leaving two windows unguarded.
Using the fog as cover, the two wasted no time in dashing towards the wall of aged and rotting wood harvested from the surrounding bog. Hand holds of ice pushed from the wood, which Zuko and Katara climbed up without so much as a shift in pace, or a change of breath. The ice melted behind Katara, who followed after Zuko. Her keen eye watching as Zuko made it to the top and checked to see if they were clear. When he vanished from her line of sight, she knew that it was for the moment.
Once on the platform, Katara coaxed the mist to blanket the ground completely. The men below the platforms that hugged the wall complained about the changes in the night. Their gruff voices lamented the introduction of the wet air that mad it hard to see the ground beneath their feet or the ways to their individual tents. The torches flickered until one by one they were snuffed out.
Suddenly there was a sharp cry from above, one that was cut short by a distant thump. Katara could only imagine what it was, but there was a sudden surge of panic that rushed through the encampment. Then there was another cry. Then another. Each cry was cut short, even as their echoes rung deep in her cranium.
Katara almost felt guilty for smiling as she ducked into the shadow of a nearby tent. Almost. Calling the water from soil, Katara slipped into the tent only to gag at the smell. Body odor so thick filled the cramped space as a lone bandit spread out across the floor with nothing but his small clothes to shield her virgin eyes from the proof of his gender. His snores drawned out the startled cries of the bandits outside, even as the commotion escalated in their search for the intruder. He did not stir at all, reminding Katara of her brother for the briefest of moments.
Not another moment was wasted as Katara froze him to the ground. The sudden cold encasing his extremeties prompted him to wake, only to plunge back into the darkness of slumber when a club of ice struck hard against his head.
Threat neutralized, Katara took advantage of the din so she could quickly make her way into another tent. There she wasn't so lucky to find the pair of bandits already sleeping. Instead, the two had been stirred awake and were in the process of arming themselves when Katara entered from the back. The shock of seeing her hd them frozen in place long enough for Katara to whip them both across the face and freeze them together up to the mouth. Their eyes stared wide at her, groaning and making as much noise as they could. Every sound they made was swallowed by the ice.
One by one, tent by tent; Katara made sure to knock out or subdue every bandit she came across within the tents. She took advantage of their ill-prepared states and the chaos that Zuko was creating within the mist she had created. It didn't take her long to make a full circuit, only to stumble upon the prone body of one of the sentries that guarded the fort from the platforms that hugged the walls of the encampent. His body was twisted uncomfortably, knocked cold from the fall he suffered. His breathing was labored, and his arm was probably broken given the swelling. Katara nudged him onto his back with her foot; the healer in her unable to be silenced until she at least took the weight off of his arm.
A sudden presence behind her had Katara turning in prepartion to attack. Her arm pulled back and her fist curled to give them reason enough to back off. A powerful hand, warm and familiar, encircled her wrist as a massive body rolled against her arm until Katara was chest to chest with Zuko. His breath was deep, and the rumble of a chuckle reverberated through her body to travel down her spine and settle in the pit of her stomach. Her own breath hitched as her lungs filled with Zuko's heady scent, heating her in places that had no business reacting to his presence.
Zuko's hands settled on Katara's hips, lifting her so that the both of them could be moved deeper into the mist and shadows. She did nothing to stop him or to seek control of her own movements. Her hands settled on Zuko's shoulders to fist the fabric in her smaller hands. It wasn't until Zuko chuckled at her again that she gave his shoulder a smack and glared up into his glowing amber eyes.
"Eight," she hissed indignantly, her voice barely a whisper.
Again, Zuko chuckled. Unimpressed and undaunted by Katara's expression as he lowered his mouth to her ear. His hot breath ghosted over the shell of her ear as he licked his lips to moisten them. The wet muscle ghosted over Katara's flesh to bring about another shiver. "Twelve."
She almost didn't hear him. Too focused was she on the heady scent of her partner in crime, the feel of his hard body against her softer one, and the way his hot breath felt against the sensative skin of her neck. When his deep rumble was felt, rather than heard, Katara almost wished for the briefest of moments that she could experience just a little bit more of him. But then the number registered, as well as the unvoiced brag. Katara pushed Zuko away before smacking his arm gain. She then slipped deeper into the mist until she vanished from his sights. For added measure, she called even more of the mist to encase the camp in a cloud.
The remaining bandits began to panic as more of their sight was impeded, forcing them back into a cluster. Armed and paranoid, the bandits kept the last remaining light at their back as they sought out the assailant. But then even that roaring flame flickered and died down to the faint glow of embers.
One bandit even turned to try and coax the blaze back to life, only to feel a frigid cold gel wrap around his middle. A sharp cry was ripped from his lips as he and a few others were snatched back and thrown hard against the far walls that once served as their protection.
As the four men went flying, Zuko directly behind the group of cowaring men and brought the flat side of his blades hard against the skulls of three bandits, knocking them out cold and possibly leaving one with a concussion. Another dive had Zuko swallowed into the blanket of white where he found Katara waiting for him as if she knew exactly where he'd be. When he rose to his feet, he could only barely see her smile through the fog, one that was as much a challenge as it was a greeting. He didn't understand why she was smiling though since he was still leading the tally.
He made a move to give her a light shove, but a rumble in the ground changed his action into a reaction. Zuko only had a split second to wrap his arms around Katara and roll them out of the way when the earth beneath their feet opened up into a fissure. A giant of man gave another stomp of his foot, resulting in another tremor in the ground, forcing Zuko to maintain his hold of Katara to escape being impaled by a spire of stone stabbing outwards followed by many more.
A ring of spires grew high off the ground thick enough for Zuko to maneuver himself onto one and start a slide against the rough wood. He could feel the friction eating away at the soles of his shoes, but ignored it in favor of maintaining his balance while simultaniously keeping Katara craddled in his arms.
Once Katara caught her breath, she bent some of the mist to encase the leather of Zuko's boots, protecting his feet while accelerating the slide down towards the earthbender and his fellow bandits. She then braced her palms against Zuko's chest in silent warning before she pushed out of Zuko's arms and dropped onto another spire. Even more of the mist was pulled to guard her own feet and smooth out the rough stone that meant to impale her and her partner.
The more mist Katara bent from, the thinner the fog became until the constant movement revealed both Zuko and herself to the bandits' eyes. The earthbender cursed them before stomping repeatedly to lift chunks of earth and stone from the ground. A series of kicks sent the boulders flying.
Zuko jumped from the spire he slid down and maneuvered onto the one next to him in time to avoid getting crushed. He then dropped even more to a lower spike that was hidden even deeper in shadow. Katara did not change trajectory however, instead pulling the remaining mist to condense around them until all the bandats could see was a looming darkness that not even the light of the stars and the moon could illuminate.
"Where did they go?!" One of the bandits managed to howl, cowaring behind the giant earthbender. There was only six of them now, and the man was no longer brave in the face of their mysterious attackers as panic started to grip his voice and form.
It was pathetic. Zuko could only glare at the poor excuse of a man. They didn't spare a thought when they attacked those weaker than them, but when in the presence of an equal or better, the "strength" they wore like a badge crumbled away. Drawing his dao swords, Zuko deemed it time to bring their little game to an end as his strong legs launched him forward. The mist parted for him as he soared through the air, blades poised to strike as the silhoette of his target solidified to reveal the earthbender who had alswer drawn a rusted Katana.
Zuko felt no concern for his own safety, crossing his blades to push the katana back. The force of his weight and the hold of gravity had him bearing down on the other bender until the bandit was forced onto the ground. Zuko brought his knees up just in time, his ice encased feet digging deep into the man's stomach as he landed. The man's breath came in a desperate gasp for air, but Zuko didn't care. He took advantage of the man's weakness as he swept the katana to the side. He then tighten his hold on the hilt of one of his blades and brought his fist hard against the earthbender's temple. Zuko's fist reared back as if to deliver another punch, but he ducked instead, delivering a headbutt all the while when a geiser of water blew passed him.
The winded earthbender's cranium bounced off of the ground from the force of the blow. Two men were thrown over his back by the intense water pressure, while the remaining two were lifted off the ground by Katara's tentacles only to be slammed hard into the ground repeatedly until their bodies fell limp. It was then that the mist cleared, revealing a grinning Katara.
Raising an eyebrow at her, Zuko stood fromt he unconscious body beneath him so he could survey the surrounding area. Not a body stirred. "I think that's everyone."
"It is," Katara assured him as she made her way to Zuko's side, her grin still in place. "Seventeen."
"Wait, what?!" Zuko did a mental recap, counting the number of bandits that he'd taken out and comparing them to the number under Katara's belt. It was then that he scowled at the grinning minx. "I let you have them." Zuko tried in an attempt to sound nonchalant about Katara's little victory over him.
"Sure you did," she cooed, her grin only growing when Zuko's scowl actually turned into a pout.
She didn't get to rub it in much though, since the two of them had more work to do in making sure that the bandits could do no more harm against any of the nearby villages. It would take another hour to get the men all in one spot and bound up with the rope that was used to secure their tents. If one started to wake, Zuko made quick work of rendering them unconscious again. Katara refused to let Zuko add them to his count, regardless of Zuko's rationalizing and prodding.
When they finished, Katara called the water back into her control to create a thick dome of ice around the men to ensure that none of them escaped. There was a silent prayer sent out in hope that the guards from the nearest village recieved their messenger hawk in time. If the dome melted before they could be reached, then everything would have been for nothing. It didn't even occure to Katara to wonder how the guards would get them out of the dome, or that if too much time was taken then the men could potentially starve.
Zuko thought of these things, but said nothing since it was the men's just desserts for all they've done. So once Katara finished wrapping the present for the Earth Kingdom soldiers, he took to leading them back to the village where they were supposed to be staying.
"Shhhh!"
Zuko turned to Katara, trying to glare as he struggled to jimmy the window's shutter open so he and Katara could slip into Song and her mother's lodging. Unfortunately, the hinges along the window were rusted over and let out the occassional creak when Zuko's hand slipped. At first he wanted to use one of his swords to pry it open, but a loud groan resulted in Katara shushing him. It didnt' help that he was dripping wet from head to toe, making his fingers slip. He almost wanted to ask for Katara and her nimble fingers to take over, but with another groan the latch came undone.
Katara shushed him again when the window groaned open. Her cerulean eyes darted around to check to see if anyone was around to notice them, suddenly paranoid that someone other than them would be up at such a late hour. "Go, go, go," Katara urged silently, shoving Zuko forward so that she could climb into the abode. She was careful not to drop her precious cargo, feeling a rush of adrenaline not unlike what she felt when raiding the bandit encampment.
"Katara!" Zuko gasped upon his unceremonious landing on the wooden ground. His voice was only a small decible louder than hers, but still he flinched in fear that he would be heard. The flinch that followed had nothing to do with their volume, and everthing to do with Katara landing on his foot in her hurry to be inside where it was warm and the chances of discovery was slim to none.
A candle illuminated the main room the two stumbled into.
So much for that plan, Zuko looked behind him to see a drowsy Song approach in a simple nightgown, her free hand rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Lee...?" she yawned, using Zuko's alias since she was still only barely functioning at such a late hour.
Zuko tried not to sound guilty as he rolled onto his feet. "Hey Song, what are you doing up?" He questioned, ignoring the heat of Katara's glare behind him.
Song yawned again as she took in the dark attire of the two with growing concern. "I was worried since I couldn't find you. Where did you go?" Song then noticed the puddle growing under Zuko's feet and how form fitted his black garb was against his muscular form. A few blinks had the nurse pinching her cheeks to make sure she wasn't dreaming. It wouldn't be the first time one of her more heated fantasies started in such a way. Sans the other woman...usually. "Why are you wet?"
"She did it," Zuko pointed unabashed as he pulled the collar of his shirt from his face.
Katara didn't even look ashamed of her actions. Instead she held up the dark brown jug held tightly in her arms in silent offering. Her bright eyes flashed wickedly before a more innocent smile settled across her lips. "Rum?"
Song just stared at the two of them before shaking her head. Might as well if she wanted the truth. Daring to risk her white nightgown, Song shuffled passed the soaked Zuko so she could latch the window closed. If there was rum involved, this was probably going to be pretty good.
Author's notes: I hope you liked the chapter, the next one is mostly done already, so it'll be posted soon. I'm just missing a chunk out of the middle since the beginning and end came out smoothly. The middle...not so much. I'm tweaking the transitions between scenes. With that being said, I'm almost done with Red Siren, too. I just need to finish one fight scene and it'll be posted. Same for Falling for the First Time. You will all be so proud of me when you see all the work I did! My Red Siren fanfic has all the synopsis finished for all three books and most of the actual fanfic writing is almost completely blocked out. I've been busy in my pursuit of sanity :)