So, does this make up for a month of an absence? Two chapters in as many days.
Starting monday is Zutara week :D Anyone else looking forward to it? As my tribute I'll have a chapter up every day. At least that's the plan. Anyway, please enjoy the chapter, I'm dieing to know what you think.
Chapter 11: Fire festival, Fire water
Katara cradled the fragile infant in her arms, protectively watching over her sandy skin, and white hair. How in Yue's name did this happen? She knew of reincarnation, it was the entire existence of the avatar. But was it possible for everyone else to be reborn? Or just the spirits? This precious little soul couldn't really be the moon, could she? Katara shook her head lightly, causing a few curls to flutter silently. Of course she isn't the moon, she'd seen it herself, the moon sat ever knowing in the sky, watching them all. Even still, Katara knew without a doubt that a bit of the moon resided in the small girl. She could feel it. Holding her was like getting dose of pure moon light. Her skin tingled coolly, her blood flowed more freely, powerfully, and her mind felt so free.
A glowing hand rested over the infant, checking all possible vital signs, not letting a single threat through. Katara couldn't stop herself, before she realized it she found herself fantasizing, dreaming of the babe being her own. Her own flesh and blood, her own daughter. She'd have her own love, her own family. Silently an exhale escaped her lips as she smiled, passing the gracious child back to her mother.
"It's truly a blessing, a miracle. I don't know how it could have happened, but here it is."
"I know." Suki cradled the child back in her arms, carefully brushing her thin hair, never bothering to look up, "I used hate it, the way he looked at the moon. The way his eyes grew haunted and empty when he sat alone under the stars. I hated the way his voice seemed to float when he talked about her. I hated that she was gone… yet she still held a part of his heart."
Katara watched her curiously, sitting herself on the corner of the bed, simply watching how soft Suki's eyes were as she watched her babe.
"Maybe that's why our child pulled the spirit of the moon to her… Maybe something, somewhere recognized… Something." Suki laughed and shook her head, "I don't know. Listen to me ramble, you must be tired of listening to me."
"Of course not," Katara offered her best healers smile, "it's good to rant. What you're going through, is not exactly normal." A glowing hand hovered just above Suki's head, invading the last corners as she did to the child, checking, snooping, investigating until she was positive no unwelcomed ailments sat anywhere.
"Alright, you're fine. Just fatigued."
Suki laughed, careful not to jostle the precious girl, "I could have told you that—would you?" Suki gestured to Katara, asking her to take the child. Without question or delay, Katara obliged, sitting comfortably on the end of the bed. "Are you ok?" Suki was pulling herself up, working some stiff muscles, "Your kind of working overtime with this healer thing. We're both fine."
"No, yeah I'm fine, I just don't want anything to happen on my watch." Suki had managed to sit up, leaning forward ever so slightly towards Katara. Her grin was half-cocked and an eyebrow raised in disbelief. "Ok, fine. It just… I don't want anything to happen on my watch. You—and Sokka have what I've wanted for years. And I'm jealous, and I'm hopeful… This child is hope to me that someday—" She paused, breathing deeply. That pain was settling in her stomach again, empty hopelessness threatened to engulf her, but she had to fight it, and she could fight it, if she wanted to, "Your child gives me hope that someday, I can be there too." Suki merely smiled, her gaze understanding. Between the two no words could truly comprehend.
Zuko leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed against his chest. What he stood there witnessing simply stopped his heart. She'd managed to clean up, her hair was clean, pulled back into a braid like she used to wear years ago. His memory somehow managed to pick up that the braid was longer now then it was then. Much like the first day she was adorned with a thin, short kimono, the collar pushed down around her shoulders, allowing the warm Fire Nation air to sooth her skin. Though the red fabric resembled the blue one she first wore, this one was much more practical then formal, the large billowy sleeves were replaced with short, arm hugging ones, which danced lightly around her elbows. Her brown arms cradled the small bundle as if it were a cloud. The hem of her short dress fell inches above her knees. He was impressed, normally the look would come off trashy, but she looked like a goddess. Beneath the thin fabric, her legs were covered with black leggings, hugging her forms. Her delicate legs were crossed at the ankles, pulling a smile to his cheeks he noticed how bare her feet were. When had she become such an earth child? She reminded him of Toph.
As beautiful as she looked today that's not what made him weak in the knees. She looked so… so… so peaceful with the small child in her arms. Her words dripped honey of her passions. He'd never seen a woman so purely radiating her emotions. Her eyes were like open doors, right into her heart, her touch so calculated, so smooth. She looked like a mother. Her slender arms a shade darker then the baby's, it's hair white as snow.
He didn't know the girl, Yue, but he remembered her from so long ago.
Zuko felt a warmth filling his bones, if it were their baby, his and Katara's, it could look like that. It's skin darker then his, lighter then hers, probably with black hair. What color eyes would their baby have?
As soon as the thought escaped him his body went rigid, his eyes wide with shock. Had he honesty just thought the words? For a moment he couldn't breathe, he couldn't think, his heart wouldn't beat.
"There you are." Sokka's exclamation broke through his trance, allowing him to regain his composure. Both of the girls looked up as Sokka entered the room, causing them to also see the previously hidden Zuko.
"Oh hey Zuko, how long have you been there?" Katara smiled, her icy eyes tearing through his heart. He felt so naked, so bare in front of her. Did she know what he had just thought? Could she possibly know?
"Not long, just came to see what you were up to."
"Just checking on these two lovely ladies." Her smile beamed sincere as Sokka took the babe from her, allowing Katara to walk over to Zuko.
"So, you ready?" Katara nodded stepping out of the room. "Well, the festival doesn't start until dark, but since you slept all day, that's not too far away."
Katara glanced sideways at him, slapping at his arm. "If you hadn't kept me up so late I'd woken up earlier."
"Whatever" Zuko smirked, raising his hands, glad that she was able to joke over it.
"Zuko! Look at this!" Katara yanked on his hand, pulling him to a puppet booth with little people acting as them at the end of the war. "It's me." Her eyes sparkled like a child's at Christmas.
"I know, your famous."
"Oh stop it." Again she slapped his arm feigning hurt anger but she was clearly having too much fun to pull off the appearance. A moment later her attention was being pulled to somewhere else.
"Damn sparky, look at her go." Toph stood at his side, enjoying the scene as much as he was. The short Earth Bender was the only other one from the palace to join them. The change in her over the years was astounding and to be quite honest, shocking. How had the least graceful, least delicate, singularly most vulgar girls grown to appear to be everything but. Her form was petite, slender with delicate curves. Her face was sharp, with big green eyes, long lashes. Who knew that at any point in time, looking at this girl would actually confirm her gender.
"Give her a good rompin' did you?" Even still, the was the least graceful, least delicate, singularly most vulgar woman alive.
"No Toph, I think she's just glad to be out of the Air Temple."
With a less then gentle elbow jab to the ribs Toph gave a wink, "Well, why not? I would've. In bed with you all night, and barely dressed I hear…" Toph sighed dramatically, "I would have been all over that." Zuko was stunned silent. Some things hadn't changed, her jokes merely grew with her age. "Oh, I have something I know she will like." Suddenly Zuko was scared for what the little woman had up her sleeve and in her mind.
"Hey sugar queen, you ready for a real party?"
Katara turned around, her bright blue eyes curious, "What?"
"My last trip to the Fire Nation a man at a restaurant gave me this drink, you gotta try it." It was Toph's turn to take Katara's hand, pulling her towards a building. Finally to the man behind the counter, "Two fire waters please."
Zuko groaned internally, with the alcoholic beverage added to the night, Katara was going to hate tomorrow.
"Want one Zuko?" Toph turned, holding up a small glass. Sake, how treacherous you could be.
"No, I'm alright, thank you."
Katara however, eyed the glass curiously, her gaze "What is it?"
"Do you remember when Sokka drank cactus juice? Well, it's like that, only safer."
"What? No I don't want to do that!"
"No, no it's safe Katara." In one smooth motion Toph tossed back her glass, emptying the whole thing. A small shudder ran down her spine, but she forced herself to turn to Katara and smile, "See? It's safe."
Katara 's attention turned to the glass, her voice quiet, "Alright…" Then following Toph's led she tossed back the glass.
"No—" Toph warned her too late, the girl was sputtering and choking on the drink.
"Damn it, I thought you said it was safe."
"It is, but you should go slow at first. Sip it." Turning to the counter Toph ordered two more. Handing on to Katara, "Now, just sip off it and it will last you a while. Only shot it after you feel comfortable with it."
Katara nodded, sipping off the drink. In small doses it was incredibly pleasant. The liquid seemed to warm her from the inside, radiating pleasant warmth through her body. She could see why it was called Fire Water. It was like she had swallowed liquid sun. "It's good."
"See?" Toph punched her arm, not sparing any tender arms, "What did I tell you?" Toph laughed loudly, walking away from the stand.
"Have you tried this?" Katara looked to Zuko, sipping off the porcelain glass.
"I have, please, be careful."
Katara laughed, wrapping her arms around his middle, "Oh Zuko, relax, I'm having fun!"
He smiled, looking down at her and her sweetest smile. He sighed reluctantly, wrapping his own arms around her shoulders, holding her close, her body pressed to his. Every muscle every curve of hers fit his form perfectly. Slowly her smile faded as did the world around them. Everything dissolved to endless colors, mindless babble, a whole world of things that just didn't matter. For a moment in time in it was just them.
His heart stuttered in his chest, the second time today he couldn't breathe. He wanted her, so bad. Not just as a friend, not just as a physical companion but as a part of him, forever.
He wanted her so bad it hurt. It tore holes in his stomach, it squeezed the oxygen from his lungs, it twisted the very blood in his veins. He lifted one hand from the small of her back, resting it against her cheek. Her skin was so soft against his fingertips sending electricity up his arm. No words could describe what he was feeling.
His fingers snaked further back, past her ear, resting behind her neck pulling her mere centimeters closer. Katara's pointed chin angled closer, her toes pushed her closer, only air between them, only centimeters left. Her breath came in short, labored bursts against his lips. He was so close to her, both literally and metaphorically. Something about her touched him inside, somewhere Mai never could reach.
"Zuko, I—" Her voice was barely above a whisper but Zuko stopped her, pulling the hand behind her neck, pressing a finger to her lips.
"Shh…" Please don't—he begged inside—please just let me pretend, at least for a moment let me pretend. With a small smile he pulled away, stepping back before anything happened, before he got carried away.
The night was long, full of fun and party. The trio stopped at every attraction and every show, every booth and every stand to order two more shots of fire water. By the end of the night Katara could toss them back just like Toph and it became sort of a war between them, who could do it the best? Who could down them the fastest?
"Oh Zuko! I had so much fun!" Katara was standing in the court yard, spinning around, her arms out like a bird. "Do you think I could fly?"
Finally Zuko had managed to get the two girls back to the palace, it wasn't easy seeing as they were both completely drunk, convinced they were having the best time, not wanting to go home.
Toph smashed heavily into a pillar, almost knocking the massive column to the ground. Zuko made note of its lean now, and also made note to make the Earth Bender fix it when she was feeling better. "Zuko!" Toph slurred loudly, "You are such a party pooper! You didn't even share a single drink with us. Why did we have to come home?"
"Because everyone else in the festival was going home."
"Zuko, this is where I saw you last, as I was sailing away on Appa. Up and up and up, I went away." Zuko turned his attention back to Katara who was still spinning, her face angled to the moon, "And then I ran away with Aang to live Happily ever after." Finally Katara fell backwards in the grass, her eyes still angling up. "Didn't turn out so happy did it?"
Zuko walked closer to her, strangely interested in her babble.
"It's ok though… I didn't really love him. I'm over it."
Toph smirked, her eyes half-lidded as she witnessed how the two were together, she didn't need to see to see it. Silently she slipped away, leaving the two alone. Toph's job was done. Katara was plenty relaxed and nothing could keep them apart, she could feel it I their pulse whenever they got close. Being an Earth Bender was fun. Without a word she turned and slipped into the darkness, this wasn't the first time she'd spent all night drinking, she could handle herself enough to get back to her room.
"Katara, we should get you back to your room."
"The world keeps spinning, I can't make it stop."
He offered her his hand, which she took with a devious grin. With all the strength she could muster, and a little ice under his feet she pulled him to the ground with her.
"You seem to have fallen Zuko."
"With no help from you I'm afraid."
"I don't know what you mean." Zuko rolled his eyes but when Katara cuddled up next to him, he didn't argue.
"Yue's got something special up her sleeve, I know she does. That little girl calls to me. She calls to the Water Bender in me."
Zuko tilted his head, looking down at her, her eyes were angled to his, a wide smile on her face, "Zuko, do the girls ever tell you how hansom you are? Like a regular prince."
Zuko laughed, his chest rattling with the sound. Katara's eyes grew wide, "Zuko, you made the winds laugh, it's so strange!"
"You're drunk, don't worry you'll feel better in the morning."
She pushed away, rolling herself over in the grass pretending to be offended, "I am no such thing! Don't say that about me."
Zuko laughed again, rolling over to meet her, "Ok, I'm sorry—" his voice stopped as he recognized the smile-less intensity of her eyes. Hovering just above her he felt his self control trying to wash away.
"Zuko… I—"
"No, please don't." He begged her again, please don't ruin this, please…
"No, I-I want you to hear it. Zuko I just, I missed you, so much. I don't ever want to be without you again."
"Katara…"
"I've been so alone, for so long… I don't want to be alone again. I don't ever want to be alone." Zuko brushed back a strand of her hair, pushing it out of her face. The gesture shifted the light, causing it to reflect off a stray tear sliding down her cheek. With his thumb he brushed it away too. Silently her lower lip trembled through sharp breaths, fighting back what threatened to break through.
"Hey now, there's no need to cry, you don't have to be alone." He leaned in slowly, his hair brushing against her face letting his warm scent fill her nose. Despite the air around her, a chill traveled down her spine as his lips brushed against her cheek. His voice was warm against her ear, "You don't ever have to be alone." He wanted her to be happy, that's all he wanted when he let her fly away like that, so many years ago. A whole lot of good that did. Smiling he pulled away still holding her.
But Katara wasn't smiling, she looked scared but tired, a stifled yawn forcing its way through. "Come on," Zuko pulled himself to his feet offering her his hand again, "let's get you to bed."
"Carry me. I like it when you carry me." A chuckle escaped his lips as he scooped her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest like a baby. "Mmm, Zuko?"
"Yes?"
"Please promise me you'll never leave me?" Her voice was quiet sleep hovering at the end of her words.
"Don't worry Katara, I'm not going anywhere."
"Never?"
"I'll never leave your side, promise."
"Mmmm…" Zuko didn't see her, but he felt the smile against his chest.
He wasn't sure when she'd fallen asleep, but she certainly wasn't awake when he got her to his bed, tucking the thin blankets around her shoulders. One kiss on her forehead was all he offered as a parting wish. Just at the door he turned, admiring quickly how even in sleep she looked stunning, "Good night Katara…" There was something else he wanted to say, he felt it in his heart, he just couldn't not yet. Without a word he closed the door, closing his heart with it.