Summary:
After the betrayal of Jet, a polished rogue in the King's Guard, Katara of the Watertribe refuses the affection and offer of any man. Due to rising rebellion in the Earth Kingdom's Island Colonies, and its capital of Ba Sing Se, Chief Hakoda strives to protect his daughter and his people's way of life. Firelord Iroh pushes his nephew to marry Katara, whilst they struggle to have nothing to do with the other. Meanwhile Jet comes to win Katara to find an angry Waterbending Master, that refuses his lies and casts his true self into the light in the high society of the Earth Kingdom. Humiliated he seeks his revenge on not only his parent's murderers, but the country of their origin, and a prize he failed to gain, a blue eyed waterbender called Katara.
A.N
OMG! Do ya'll all see the NYCC trailer for avatar? Zutara! The main reason I say that is because they said Katara would end up with either Zuko or Aang, and the biggest Zutaraish moment in the clip was after she rejected Aang! Victory! Go look it up on youtube! Its sweet! Alright. Fangirl rant over. I honestly like this chapter a lot. A little drama :), and some good old fashioned Toph wisdom. I would love to see fanart for this fic and more reviews! A lot more people read then review. So... REVIEW!! Yes, the wedding will be next chapter. 200th Reviwer may request a one shot.
Disclaimer: I do not own avatar, nor do I make any profit from this story
Arc II
Rating: T
Chapter 13: Dimensions of affection
Katara and Zuko
Zuko stared at Hakoda helplessly.
"What?"
Hakoda's eyes narrowed.
"Jet."
Zuko's confusion was obvious.
"Who's Jet?"
Hakoda's eyes widened slightly, but his face remained cold and stern.
"Has my daughter told you nothing?"
Zuko shook his head. "The name has never been uttered."
Hakoda's posture remained tense and guarded, and he searched for sincerity in Zuko's face.
"She loved him."
The words tore a deep gash into his affection. The horror at himself was uncontrollable.
She had given up her home, and now he found she'd given up the man she loved.
Hakoda watched the disgust ripple across Zuko's face.
"You need to ask her."
Zuko looked up.
"It is not my place." Zuko's voice was flat with pain. So much for being honorable.
Hakoda studied him for a long moment. "Stop."
"What?"
"Do not follow the trend of young fools. Make no assumptions. Reserve your thoughts until you've spoken with her."
Zuko gaped at him in amazement. At the very moment Hakoda spoke, theories had ran rampant through his mind.
Does she still love him? Does she resent me for it? Is that why she's always tense and awkward?
Hakoda's brow raised. "Too late?"
Zuko only nodded.
"Good. You need to appreciate what she's done."
Zuko bowed his head in shame, but not before he caught the look of satisfaction crossing Hakoda's face.
Zuko only felt ill.
The Firelord watched as Kanna sat with the grace of a true lady. He had never doubted she would be, after all, but her elegance was a delight.
Katara had protested leaving her grandmother, but Kanna had shooed her insistently. Iroh was pleased they could chat without censuring themselves.
Katara had grumbled and strayed to the stables with Aang. Sokka had eagerly stood outside awaiting the other carriage that held his father. Suki wisely left him be.
Iroh went about the business of brewing his favorite tea, jasmine. He hummed contentedly, both him and Kanna possessing the patience to wait for the warm drink.
The tea seeped and he poured it lightly into two porcelain cups. Despite the endless number of servants at his disposal, Iroh still took simple joy in creating the perfect blend.
He pressed a cup into Kanna's hands and took a seat across from her.
She took a small sip before raising her eyes to his.
"He's a good boy."
Iroh nodded, pleased that she found him so.
"Indeed."
"How have they gotten along?"
"Tensely."
Kanna chuckled.
"My Katara will never back down."
"The problem is, neither will Zuko."
Kanna considered that.
"And if they did?"
Iroh smiled.
"Grandchildren."
Katara smiled as she watched Aang feed Appa. The horse was massive, a rare breed that towered above the rest. With his saddle, Appa could easily hold four people.
Aang had always enjoyed spending time with animals, and seeing his simple pleasure after days of a quieter, solemn Aang, relieved Katara.
He saw her smile and returned it one of his own, patting the white horse's flank before coming to stand before her.
"How are you?"
Aang's words were earnest and heavy. The double meaning hung low between them.
"I've been better."
Katara smiled reassuringly. Zuko really wasn't so bad. She would be fine. Eventually.
"I don't doubt it."
He eyes shadowed over.
"What?" Her voice was gentle, pleading in its persuasive tone. He had never kept secrets from her before.
"It hurts."
His eyes snapped to hers and she was stunned to see the raw fury there.
"To have to watch you do this."
"Aang… ," she kept her tone light, soothing. " Its really not that terrible or strange. Women younger than me have married for politics."
"But you shouldn't have to!"
His outburst was startling. Her face must have shown her shock, because he turned away from her.
"You have no idea! I have to sit here and watch you be joined to a man who cares nothing for you! Do you know how guilty I feel that you have to do this! That anyone has to!"
His clenched fists were trembling.
"Why?" Her question was quiet, blameless.
"What good am I if I can't even secure peace? This marriage is proof that I'm a terrible Avatar!"
She was stunned. Katara stepped forward placing her hand on his shoulder.
He turned around suddenly and the immense love there shocked her.
"Aang…"
He grasped her arms, pulling her to press against him, and his lips dipped to meet her own.
They were soft and gentle, full of a love she'd been utterly blind to.
The door of the stables thudded as it swung against the wall.
Aang released her from the trap of his arms reluctantly, and they turned to face the intruder, Aang brimming with nervous excitement, and Katara ready to weep in grief and guilt.
Zuko eyes were cold as he watched them. He glared at Aang, burning into his eyes until Aang was forced to look away. Then he lifted his eyes to Katara's.
The fury clashed with hurt, battling for dominance. He stared at her unblinking, before he turned away, proudly striding away from her, closed off from her.
Aang started in shock as Katara sunk to the ground, weeping bitterly. He tried to reach for her, but her hands smacked him away.
He left, feeling terrible for causing her tears.
Katara remained on the stable floor, sobbing.
It was all too much.
The guilt of having been naïve to Aang's affection, the horror in having to reject him and crush that same emotion, and now ruining her chances of a happy marriage with Zuko.
Zuko.
Her heart ached as she recalled the desperate hope in his eyes. Hope that no, he wasn't watching his bride in the arms of another man. It had been clear from his increased attentions that he felt some kinship with her, and she felt horrible for inadvertedly rejecting that.
She had been tense around him because of the affection, on guard for alternate motives and shocked at the sudden warmth of his gaze. Her whole being had felt burned beneath his gaze.
She was honestly lost when it came to the growing attraction between them. He had teased and laughed, made her nervous and frustrated. She always felt on edge, waiting for the same cycle to begin again.
Push and Pull.
He would hold her close before making a comment that angered her. He found her throughout the day to rile her up before walking away chuckling. It was strange how her heart danced at his presence before her pride crouched in preparation to attack.
She found it poetic justice that she had the same affect on him.
He'd smile when she'd relax into his embrace, and then she'd turn and drop a sarcastic comment that made him chase after her, demanding an explanation.
It was almost…carefree…to banter with him. Anger and joy balancing in equal measures.
Now it didn't matter. Whatever warmth in their relationship had been crushed by one boy's zealous affection, and her foolish tongue for remaining silent.
She felt soft breath against her hair, and looked up to see Appa nuzzle her comfortingly.
"Thanks, boy."
She stroked him for a moment before standing, walking out of the stable and to look for her grandmother.
The rain fell softly on her shoulders.
Zuko stormed to the training grounds, passing his concerned Uncle, sitting in a pavilon with her grandmother.
He had never felt so utterly foolish in his life.
He had been eager to find her, willing to listen to her story and beg for her forgiveness.
His guilt over her sacrifice's had come back ten times worse at Hakoda's words.
Despite his contempt for the words, he did not fault the man for needed to say them.
That guilt had drowned under a deluge of righteous fury.
If she had loved this Jet, why was she found in an intimate embrace with that child?
His anger was the result of pain and wounded pride. He had newly resolved himself to giving her all she could, only to find her like that.
Zuko was shocked to see that under the bitter anger and humiliation, lurked the ravings of a jealous man.
The avatar had kissed those lips.
Those damnable, soft, pink lips!
He had been careful to not overstep his boundaries again, despite his male body urging to claim her sweet mouth.
He chuckled lowly at the irony. She would be his wife, but never would she look at him and see more than a partner.
The knowledge stung not only his heart, but his pride.
Who the hell does she believe she is?
A rock thudded against the side of his head, and he turned ready to incinerate the fool that had interrupted him.
His eyes were met with the unwelcome sight of the little earthbender.
"We need to have a talk."
She strode forward seemingly uncaring of his lethal glare or the heat that radiated off him in anger.
"Leave."
The command was short and rough, unheeded of the polite decorum he had been raised with.
"No," she said easily.
"NOW!"
She looked at him unimpressed.
"Aang told me."
At the mention of the boy's name his anger spiked higher, sending his heart racing in want of a fight.
She lifted a dark eyebrow.
"Angry?"
He snorted steam from his nostrils.
"Furious."
For some odd reason she smiled, blowing night bangs out of her glazed eyes.
"You should be."
Her words shocked him out of burning her where she stood.
"What?"
He had had the impression that this earthbender and her were close.
She smiled again.
"At Aang, not Katara."
He snorted.
"I suppose she simply forgot our wedding is in…oh…two days?"
Toph shook her head. " She didn't know."
"What do you mean by that?"
Her face hardened. "What I said."
The change in tone gave him pause.
"You're very good at making rash assumptions. Your uncle said it was quite common for you."
He growled. "What do you know?"
"I know that my sister is bawling her eyes out over a boy she doesn't even consider romantically, and over one that she's afraid to hurt."
Her words stopped him again.
"What?"
"She never liked Aang that way. We all knew, everyone but him. He kissed her. There was no mutual affection exchanged."
He shook his head in disbelief.
"I doubt it."
She grew obviously angry.
"She came to be your wife. I never want to hear you imply she wouldn't remain loyal to anyone she was bound to."
She turned her heel on him, sliding her foot across the stone arena, making him fall on his backside.
"And why you're sitting there on your useless arse, why don't you think about how you're going to comfort your bride?"
She kept walking, ignoring his flaming outburst and continued into the marble corridors of the palace.
Just as Hakoda had warned, he had jumped to assumptions.
He reigned in his temper determined to reserve his judgement until he spoke to her.
Now that he felt thoroughly reprimanded, (once again), he recalled Katara's shocked face and sad eyes.
The only thing he could know for certain was the airbender's foolishness.
He should know better than to kiss beautiful, engaged women, clearly above his reach.
He had kissed Katara. Zuko's bride.
His jealously roared at the thought.
On the other hand if he had forced her into that, and thus driving her and Zuko apart, and seemingly causing her great distress…
He will pay.
Katara had stumbled to her room in a daze after giving up on finding her grandmother. Her time in the palace had done very little in explaining its mysteries
Her tears left her exhausted and disheveled. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in the soft bed and wish this afternoon had merely been a dream.
A soft rap at the door prevented that and she was stunned to open it and find the object of her tears towering over her.
Zuko swept past her into he bedroom. He looked haggard, and the gleam in his eyes made her wary.
She walked over to her bed and was shocked when he shut her door quickly and grasped her arms, pulling her into his chest.
She lowered her watery eyes in shame.
"What happened?"
The unexpected question was gentle, concerned.
Her head raised and she met his eyes. She blinked.
"I thought you saw," she murmured disheartedly.
"What I saw and what happened are different matters."
She ducked her head.
"He kissed me," she whispered.
"Out of nowhere?"
She felt foolish. Was there something she could've done to prevent that?
"I suppose not."
"Explain." His words were tense and she didn't dare lift her face to look at his.
"He was angry that I had to marry you. That he couldn't stop it. Then he just pulled me close and…" She didn't feel the need to repeat it, they both knew.
"He forced you?"
Katara frowned at his tone. Despite the situation, Aang was still her friend.
"I wouldn't say-"
"Did you want it then?" His voice was low, pained. He lifted her chin to look into her eyes.
"No," she whispered.
She was shocked at the relief that crossed his face, but it was swiftly replaced by anger.
"He won't touch you again."
She protested. "He was confused and hurt! You can't condemn him for loving someone!"
He shook his head, the odd gleam bright in his eyes.
"No, but I can condemn him for kissing my bride."
She gasped before his lips met hers, rougher than the childish peck of Aang.
He nearly crushed her to him, refusing to let her back away. The kiss was not violent, but it was demanding. He pressed his mouth insistently against her, opening her lips beneath his and drawing her bottom lip into his mouth. She gasped again as his tongue swiped across it, before venturing into her own mouth. She squirmed slightly at the sensation of the foreign flesh tangling around her own.
He instantly slackened his grip and withdrew, keeping them attached, but giving her the option to pull away. He gently, chastly now, held her lips with his. She melted at the tender touch and clung to him. She felt as if she were soaking in a bath, surrounded by pleasant warmth and strong aromas.
He pulled away then, smiling down at her. She felt her heart quicken at the joy and forgiveness she saw in his eyes.
Her breathing way heavy for a few moments, not helped by the fact that he still held her close to him.
He tenderly brushed a lock of hair behind her ears and then followed through with the caress, wiping away the signs of her earlier tears.
She smiled shyly at him, before poking him.
"Let me go."
He obeyed, looking anxious and slightly bewildered.
She had to stifle a giggle at the picture he made.
He saw her laugh and growled, reaching for her again, but she backed out his grasp, smirking good naturedly.
"Come now, Prince Zuko. I thought surely you were faster than that."
He lunged, tackling her into the soft pillows on her bed.
Her mocking smile abruptly disappeared at the heated look in his eyes.
"Zuko…"
Her voice was a warning as well as a plea.
He shook his head as if clearing it before he kissed her forehead.
"Do you wish to know why I was looking for you earlier?"
His tone was somber and she tensed as a reaction.
She nodded anxiously. She had wondered if he had been looking for her, and a fresh stab of guilt filled her at the thought of what he had found.
"Who is Jet?"
She froze.
He was watching her intently.
"Where did you hear…?" Her whisper was pained and broken.
"Your father demanded I prove myself better than him."
She shut her eyes in pain. She really did not wish to spoil the newly found light hearted warmth between them.
"No one important."
"Your father said you loved him."
Despite his attempts at sounding impassive she heard the anxiety in his voice and could only imagine what he was thinking.
"I thought I did," she murmured.
He pushed himself into a sitting position. She sat up beside him on her bed, their shoulders touching.
"Was it my fault…?"
She shook her head vigorously. Who could've imagined him feeling guilty for a lost love? It was unbearably endearing.
"He…used…me…and…he...hurt…me."
She felt a sudden heat at her side.
"What?" His voice was low, his words hissed.
"It doesn't matter," she said quickly trying to cool his anger.
A rough, but gentle hand grasped her chin and turned her to face him.
"It matters to me."
She smiled softly at him.
"Thank you."
His eyes burned into hers.
"I won't ever."
She smiled.
"That's impossible. We receive too much joy in sparring with words."
Her comment earned a low, husky chuckle.
"True," his eyes turned cold once more. "He will pay."
She frowned. "I can take care of myself."
"I know!" He amended hastily, earning an amused smile.
She leaned forward to press a soft kiss to his cheek.
"As long as we're clear."
He nodded, looking sorely disappointed her lips hadn't sought his own.
She caught the look and smirked.
"You're becoming far too spoiled, my lord."
"I am not."
"Quite so."
"Never."
"Yes you-"
He pressed a light kiss to her lips.
Then he sighed.
"I will never get tired of that."
She giggled at his dazed look, feeling slightly breathless herself, and swatted him till he stood from her bed.
"Out."
He frowned down at her.
"Nag."
She stuck her tongue out in a rather unladylike gesture.
He chuckled and stroked her cheek before leaving, extinguishing the lantern on his way.
"Thank you."
"Your welcome."
"Zuko?"
He turned back slightly.
"Yes?"
"Don't let Sokka see you leave."
He smiled, but it was lost in the now dark room.
"Of course not. Good night Katara.'
"Good night Zuko."
He shut the door behind him.
His smile faded as he recalled their conversation.
"He…used…me…and…he...hurt…me."
Never again.
A.N: Other than what I've read, I know nothing about kissing. I hope it was satisfactory. Yay Toph for knocking some sense into Zuko's hard head. Hope you enjoyed. REVIEW!!