A/N: M'kay, remember how last chapter I said there would me many, many unsolved murders if folk didn't review…? Well, I think that I may have just knocked off everyone who read the damn story, bar one….! –scowls- Don't make me do the whole "I-want-so-many reviews before I update!!"
Well, this turned out to be a Katara chapter, but don't worry! Zuko is (indirectly) in here also. And yes, you will be seeing some Zutara action this chapter! :D
The quote for this chapter is a song by Josh Groban who just so happens to be my new favourite artist :D He's the guy who sings "You Raise Me Up" yeah, everyone knows that one…haha.
Disclaimer: Ahem –clears throat- It has come to my attention that, despite my best attempts at murder, hostile takeovers, coups, and throwing fits, Avatar: The Last Airbender STILL doesn't belong to me… -tear-
Chapter Eleven- Always Be There
"Who can say for certain? Maybe you're still here… I feel you all around me, your memory's so clear… As my heart holds you, just one beat away, I cherish all you gave me everyday. 'Cause you are my Forever love, watching me from up above…" To Where You Are by Josh Groban
Katara awoke to the sound of soft knocking on the door to her suite in the Northern Water tribe palace. The room was somewhere in between a lavish bedroom and a small apartment. When Arnook had opened the door for her earlier in the day, she had gasped in awe as she walked through the living area. Off the left hand side was her bedroom, large and spacious, overlooking the ocean, filled with pelts and furs to keep her warm during the cold water tribe nights. To the right was a serene, tastefully decorated bathroom containing a large tub made of glass, a basin and a low latrine. Thankfully, the Northern Water tribe had thought to import woods for surfaces touched by places you would rather not have frozen.
The wholes suite was decorated in shades on blue and white, furs lined the couches and beds, the floors were littered with mats, some animal skin, and some plant material. Katara had toured it alone, knowing she would probably be spending the next few months here, among people of her sister tribe. Arnook had things he needed to do anyway, but he promised he would send someone to fetch her for dinner. Which, apparently, was now.
"Coming! Give me a few minutes!" she called from her bedroom through the door.
Surprisingly, a female voice answered her. "Master Katara, Chief Arnook sent me to help you dress…"
Katara groaned into her fur pelts. Couldn't she just wear her ordinary outfit?
Still a tad grumpy, she rolled out of bed to open the door.
Best to get this over with… she figured.
She blinked as not one, but five girls poured themselves into her room, immediately pulling, primping and smoothing her appearance. Fortunately she was pushed behind a changing screen to slip a new robe on. It was in the designs of the Northern Water tribe, similar to the Southern Tribe, but a darker blue and higher quality material. Clearly the Northern Water tribe had busied itself in trading with the Earth Kingdom for finer material.
Katara briefly considered sneaking the outfit into her pack when she left.
After what seemed like half the night, the five women finally let her out the door where she was instantly escorted down to the dining room by one of the warriors. He looked vaguely familiar, but she shrugged it off. Naturally, when she had been here last winter, Katara had noticed her fair share of handsome young warriors… perhaps he had been one of them?
Soon, they reached the dining room, and as the guard at the door announced her arrival, Katara suddenly realised that this might be a fancier than a simple meal with the Chief and Novik. As she stepped into the room, her eyes fell immediately on the long, low table don't he centre of the room. It was filled with more water tribe delicacies than she could ever imagine. It almost made her forget the eyes staring at her.
She blushed lightly, bowing her head respectfully at the chief before taking her pace around the table. To her surprise, the escort moved to sit beside her.
"Do you mind, Master Katara?" he asked at her questioning and slightly confused look.
She shook her head and gave him a warm smile. "Of course not…" she trailed off.
The warrior smiled in return, taking his place next to her. "Hahn." He provided.
"Hahn." She repeated, somewhat finishing her previous sentence. But wasn't he that warrior betrothed to Princess Yue, that ego driven pompous-
Her thoughts were interrupted by Arnooks voice. "I believe you two have met before…?" he enquired.
Katara's eyebrows furrowed. Had they? Before she could answer herself, Hahn jumped in. "Not directly, Chief. I was with her brother when we were preparing for the siege." He glanced back at Katara. "He had some very… helpful… ideas on how to stage the campaign."
Arnook nodded as Katara used the opportunity to study the other occupants at the table. At the head of the table was Arnook, with Novik to the left, and Hahn to the right. She found it odd that Novik was on the left hand of the chief. It showed that he had important standing in the tribe… Hahn on the right was understandable, as he had been betrothed to Yue. On the other side of Katara sat Arnooks wife, Ikali, tending to a small baby boy she could only assume to be the new heir to the Northern Water tribe. But what drew her interest were the man and woman sitting next to Novik. She caught Novik's eye across the table and sent him a questioning glace, practically pleading him to introduce her.
Novik laughed at her expression. He had been wondering how long it would take before she would ask to be introduced. She really was too curious for her own good. He nudged his friend, drawing Senu's attention from Hahn and Reonets from Ikali.
Quickly he made the introductions to Katara and as they started uninteresting small talk Arnook rose to make quick speech. He raised his goblet in front of him and cleared his throat.
"I would like to welcome, firstly, Master Katara back to the Northern Water tribe. She was a great help along with her friends in defeating the Fire Nation last winter, almost twelve months ago. I hope she will be planning on staying for our annual Lunar festival in a few weeks." He looked at Katara, and she nodded her head once. She might as well. "In addition, I would also like to welcome back one of our own warriors, Novik, as he returns from the Earth Kingdom. And lastly, I would like to congratulate Senu and Reonet on their betrothal; may your marriage be filled with less bickering than your friendship has been!" To which everyone chuckled politely at as Arnook settled back down on his seat and indicated for his guests to begin their meal.
The light hearted chatter lessened somewhat as the meal progressed, sometimes the silence stretching on for minutes. But as far as anyone could tell, all the guests were comfortable around each other, perhaps this was more like a family gathering than a formal dinner, and for that Katara was glad. She had not been subject to the training and etiquette for a formal occasion and would have been hopelessly lost.
Watching this close group of friends interact, Katara was sorely reminded of the times the Gaang had sat around the campfire exchanging stories, views and humour. She was hit with a strange sense of longing to go back to those days that seemed unreachable, though in reality it had only been one month, Katara felt as though years had passed her by and those particularly happy memories were simply that; memories. With a pang through her heart, she realised that her most cherished memories included and revolved around Zuko; her mind immediately flashing back to the first time they had kissed.
CueFlashback
It had been nearly a fortnight since Zuko had helped Katara avenge her mothers' death and since then the two had come together in close friendship. They were down by the river washing the dishes from dinner. Zuko had been too slow to 'un-volunteer' himself from helping Katara clean up, so while the rest of the Gaang scattered to god-knows-where, Katara had hauled his tired, whinging hiney down to the river to help her. Though, truthfully, Zuko didn't really mind helping out; it meant he was able to spend a bit of time with her without worrying about her brother getting all 'protective' about it. Since their 'field trip' Zuko had felt an increasing attraction to the young water tribe girl, which perplexed him. He had Mai back in the Fire Nation, but did it count that he had left her with nothing but a note? Did that count as a break up…? He often found himself if she was waiting for him to come back… but then his attention would be captured by Katara and all other thoughts were subconsciously banished from his musing.
In a way he supposed it would be easier on both him and Katara if he just kept his feelings to himself, suppose she didn't feel the same. How bloody embarrassing.
"We're both looking for something
We've been afraid to find
It's easier to be broken
It's easier to hide"
So far the Fire Nation Prince had decided against letting her in on his little secret, but she was so damn cute it took all his self control to stop himself from kissing her right there and then. Why shouldn't he be selfish once in a while? Screw her brother. But then, if she rejected him, he wasn't so sure that he could handle that, whether his heart could take that blow and still continue beating. Somehow he knew it would be worse than when Mai broke up with him on Ember Island.
"Looking at you, holding my breath
For once in my life I'm scared to death
I'm taking a chance letting you inside"
"Zuko…?" Katara called, noticing his glazed eyes staring at her.
Zuko snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of her voice.
"Sorry," he started, "I was distracted." He smirked at her blush, mostly to cover up his own at being caught out. At strangely sporadic times during the day and night Zuko would find himself being jolted out of his dazed thoughts of Katara. Sometimes, in his mind, they would be kissing, sometimes sparring, and at other times simply sitting in each other's company, but one thing Zuko knew for certain was that, while it was simple fantasies, he felt content and happy with himself, with her and with where he had taken his life. A far cry from the consuming anger in him a few months back.
"I'm feeling alive all over again
As deep as the sky, under my skin
Like being in love, she says, for the first time
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm feeling right
Where I belong with you tonight
Like being in love to feel for the first time"
When Zuko proceeded to say no more than that, Katara scooted closer and rested her hand on his forehead, her brow wrinkled cutely in concern. He closed his eyes and shivered under her intoxicating touch.
"Are you feeling alright?"
Oh, if only he could tell her. He opened his eyes, his breath hitched in his chest as her blue gaze locked onto hers. In her eyes he saw concern, friendship… something he was unused to, and it took his breath away. To think that after all these years of being hated, despised, that he had finally found a place where he had friends, where people cared for him and for what happened to him. It was overwhelming. Despite his barrier he had on his emotions, he felt an unfamiliar prickle behind his eyes, his golden eyes glassy as they were held captive by Katara's blue orbs. Her eyes promising him so much… that while she was still breathing, she would do everything she could to help his future, and his present become what he dreamed it would be.
"The world that I see inside you
Waiting to come to life
Waking me up to dreaming
Reality in your eyes"
Her brow furrowed further, alarmed at his teary eyes. She moved her hand to cup his scarred cheek, her gaze never leaving his. For some unknown reason she couldn't look away, she too was held captive in the emotions swimming in his golden eyes. In all honesty, Katara was slightly afraid by this development. Of all her friends, Zuko was easily the least likely to cry… or show too much emotion and she was unsure of how to proceed. It would be outright lying if she denied any sort of attraction to the Fire Nation Prince, he was now one of her closest friends, but she had truly never entertained the thought of being something more, so when Zuko slowly leaned forward and rested his forehead on hers she didn't completely understand why it was suddenly hard to breathe with him this close to her, but at the same time, there was no way she wanted him moving away.
"Looking at you, holding my breath
For once in my life I'm scared to death
I'm taking a chance letting you inside"
Zuko relished the feeling of Katara being this close to him. If she rejected his advances tonight, there was no going back; he would never be able to pluck up the courage to get this close ever again. With their eyes still locked on each other he moved his arms to rest around her waist, subtly pulling her body closer to his. He breathed slowly, gathering courage from the crisp night air. A little by little, Zuko moved his lips closer her Katara's, fully expecting her to pull away any moment. But she didn't, she kept his gaze, and when his lips finally made contact, the tears in Zuko's eyes broke free.
"I'm feeling alive all over again
As deep as the sky, under my skin
Like being in love, she says, for the first time
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm feeling right
Where I belong with you tonight
Like being in love to feel for the first time"
When his lips covered hers, Katara's eyes fluttered closed. Of all the things that she had imagined happening, this was had definitely not crossed her mind. But as Zuko's lips lingered on hers, she found herself enjoying the brief caress. She had not been kissed like this before. Her only other experience was with Aang just before the invasion, and she had been so shocked she had not realised what was happening until it was all over. Since then she had been weighing the pros and cons of dating the young Avatar against each other… But now, with the Fire Nation Prince kissing her, all thoughts of dating Aang flew out of her mind. Her senses heightened to a point where she could only feel, smell, and see Zuko in front of her. Instinctively her hands snaked up behind his neck, holding him to her as she tentatively moved her lips against his. And when she tasted his tears on his lips she pulled him closer, offering him comfort, affection and safety in her embrace, silently conveying to him that it was okay and that she would always be there for him.
"We're crashing
Into the unknown
We're lost in this
But it feels like home"
Zuko felt her silent promise in her embrace, and pulled back to see her expression, to see that what he had felt was not a hoax, some cruel sick joke. He almost expected it to be. But when his eyes caught hers, all he saw was honesty, affection, and it scared him slightly, that he was going to entrust his heart, his only possession his father had not been able to damage or take from him. But as he gazed into the hypnotizing pools of blue, he saw that she had done the same to him. Zuko realised that he now held her heart in his hands and he had never felt such a protective desire in him before. She was trusting him with such a fragile piece of herself he almost regretted his actions. Zuko was unsure of whether he was capable enough to take care of it for her. He didn't want to fail her.
Katara saw the conflict in the Princes eyes, for what she was unsure, but she was pretty certain that he was scared. Scared of what such a bond may do to them. History isn't always kind to its subjects, and in Zuko's case, he had definitely suffered more than his fair share. The thought of his suffering brought tears to her eyes, and although she fought desperately to keep them back a few leaked out, startling Zuko. The Prince moved a hand up to her cheek to wipe the few tears away, giving her a wan smile. She saw they worry enter his eyes a smiled gently up at him before burying her face in his neck, holding him tight.
Slowly, she felt him tentatively embrace her back, resting his chin on top of her head, holding her securely against him.
"I'm feeling alive all over again
As deep as the scar that's under my skin
Like being in love, she says, for the first time
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm feeling right
Where I belong with you tonight
Like being in love, she says, for the first time
Like being in love to feel for the first time"
Neither Zuko nor Katara knew how long they stood there wrapped in each other's arms, it could have been a few seconds, it could have been a few minutes. But what they were both aware of was the feeling of pure contentment that came from the intimate act. Of letting someone else hold their heart and trusting them to not break it. What they knew was that from this moment forward nothing would be the same; that they had stepped onto a path of love, happiness and safety; a path that promised to lead them home.
EndFlashback
"Katara." A hand waved in front of her face, another resting on her shoulder. "Katara!" The Water Tribe girl looked quizzically up at Novik, leaning down to her.
"Huh?" It was then she noticed the other occupants at the table, all looking at her, concerned.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his face full of concern. She shook the memory out of her mind. What good would it do anyway?
"Huh? Oh, Yeah." She shook her head again, just to make sure it was clear. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
Novik looked at her strangely. "You zoned out for a couple minutes and you were crying…"
She slowly reached a hand up to touch her face, and indeed it was slick with tears. Suddenly mortified, Katara hurriedly stood, turning to Arnook she gracefully excused herself and exited the room with what little dignity she had left. How bloody embarrassing.
Once out of the Palace she started to run. She ran until she was puffing for her breath, the icy air feeling like a knife in her chest.
When she eventually bothered to look around she found that she had ended up on top of the cliff behind the city. From here she could see the faint, soft glow of lights in the houses, the slow, relaxed pace of the townsfolk walking along the city streets. She could see for miles over the ocean, the horizon never once giving away what may be beyond it, taunting the curious and bold to take up the adventure, daring them to live a more exciting, dangerous life.
She sat down on the ledge, letting her feet dangle over the edge as she looked out towards the horizon. She couldn't help but wonder what she would be doing right now if Zuko hadn't died, if the Gaang was still together. Actually, now that she thought about it, she wondered what the three remaining friends were up to. Perhaps she should have gone back to them after Ba Sing Se... Maybe she should still go back. They needed her. Perhaps she needed them too.
She sighed in frustration. Why did life not come with a manual? She was fifteen; she wasn't supposed to need to make decisions that affected the whole damn world! Had she been standing, Katara would have stomped her foot. Maybe it was for the best she had come here, just for a break. She could go back after this 'Moon Festival' thingit, and help save the world and then… she shrugged inwardly, then… she had no idea what would come after the war. Looking at her options, Katara supposed she could stay here, in the Northern Water Tribe, or go back to the Southern Water Tribe… but really, until a month ago she had placed her future wherever Zuko would have been; most likely in the Fire Nation…
Obviously, that option was now void.
So it was now down to either the Northern Water Tribe or the Southern Water Tribe. She supposed that the Southern Water Tribe would be the better option. It was her home and the tribe will need help being rebuilt… so it was the most logical option. Perhaps she could drag Novik down there to help her out.
Footsteps behind her alerted her to someone's presence, though she had a fairly good idea who it was.
Novik sat down next to her, mirroring her position. "Hey." He greeted softly.
"Hi." They sat in silence for a bit.
"You okay?" He asked, turning to look at her.
She nodded. "Yeah, just a bit embarrassed…" she smiled weakly.
He chuckled. "It happens every now and again. I've been in more embarrassing situations, believe you me…!" he paused. "Can't think of any right now, but…"
She laughed softly. "Thanks."
He looked at her. "For what?"
"Just being here. Helping me…"
He nodded, turning his gaze back over the horizon. "What are friends for?"
She nodded, closing her eyes and pulling her knees up to her chest. "Just… thanks."
After a few minutes, Novik stood, extending his hands to her. "Come on. It's getting late. Reonet wants to take you shopping tomorrow for clothes for the festival." He rolled his eyes. "She thinks us 'guys' don't give an honest opinion…"
Katara took his hand and he pulled her up. "Sure, it will be nice to do something not related to the War for a change…"
Novik grinned. "I think you will find that shopping with Reonet is like a war in itself."
Katara cocked her brow. "She can't be that bad…?"
Novik scoffed, walking back towards the Palace. "You have no idea…! The War is nothing compared to her shopping habits!"
Katara's face fell. "From what I have seen of the War so far.. nothing can top that, Novik." She said quietly.
Quickly realising his mistake, Novik slung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "I'm sorry, Katara. I didn't mean-"
Katara shook her head, cutting him off. "It's alright; it's just been one of those days…"
"No worries." They came to a stop just outside the Palace doors. "You know where to go from here?"
She nodded. "Yeah, thanks again. 'Night." Novik returned the sentiment as she pulled out from under his arm and walked through the doors towards her suite for a good night's sleep.
A/N: Haha. I bet I tricked you all with the "Zutara Action" bit at the start, eh? I am so damn sneaky o
Yeah, well, I was listening to the song (Which, btw, is First Time by Lifehouse; download it, its bloody brilliant!) when I thought up this scene… I was going to do an oneshot with it, but it just fit in my story, so there you go; their first smooch!
Also, I have am planning on a Zuko chapter next, then either another Katara, or the big reunion…! I think it will depend on how many reviews I get. Say… if I get OVER 5 reviews, I will move the reunion closer, but if I get LESS than 5 reviews, it will be quite a few chapters away yet. Mwah uh uh uh! Damn, I'm nasty!
Oh yeah, before I forget… again…heh… I am going to be editing the previous chapters over the next few weeks as the Victorian School Holidays start this weekend, and I won't have time to get a great chapter out… so I will have to do it bit by bit.
Also, I deleted the Authors Note in the middle of the story, so now all the chapter numbers add up! Yay! OCD much? lol
So send me a quick review!
Cheerio,
Chip 8D
