Author's Notes: Yeah, I'm still alive. Slowly killing myself between writer's block, two full time jobs, and a bad case of depression. But, I managed to finish this chapter. I hate it so much, just not as much as another... Anywhozits. This chapter is short, but it serves a purpose in the grand scheme of things. Such things being the next part to the story. Some crazy shit is going to start happening soon, and I can't wait to get to it. That's probably why I hated working on this chapter so much. Who knows. Here's hoping Irma doesn't kill me so I can get to finishing the rest.
Also, I started revamping Red Siren to help me get through my funk. It helped. I'll start posting the updated chapters to that soon too.
P.S: I wrote this chapter on my phone, so chances are there are some things I missed in the editing process. To those that are tempted to commit such an act of insanity, I don't recommend it. One would think that it's the same, but it's not. At all!
"Um...Katara," Aang stammered, his voice cracking has his voice shifted in a brief hiccup. The wonders of puberty painted his face crimson again. He couldn't wait for his voice to pick a tone and stick with it. It was embarrassing enough as is, but now that Zuko had to go and explain what was happening to him and why, that just made it so much worse. Aang coughed and tried Katara's name again.
Lifting her head, Katara cast Aang with a curious glance. "Yes, Aang?" she found herself responding. She made no move to get up from her seat next to Zuko's prone form- so close that Zuko's knuckles could tap at the underside of her folded legs. One of her hands was clasped with Toph's to keep her from slipping off of Zuko's back, while the other bent the soup she was preparing to roll the ingredients up from the bottom of the pot.
"Uh...I uh..." Aang fidgeted in place under the combined scrutiny of his friends, knowing that everyone was watching his every move. Would he start another fight? Would he fall prey to another "misunderstanding?" Shame had Aang casting his eyes downwards as he twiddled his thumbs. He made quite the mess, hadn't he? "Can we talk?"
Aquamarine eyes cast a quick glance in Zuko's direction, locking with his warm honey orbs for the briefest of moments. It was the strangest thing: In the span of one moment, Aang could see an entire conversation pass between the two of them. She was nervous. It was plain as day across her face. Yet with a glance and a smile, Zuko was able to smooth the furrow of her brow. His knuckles tapped upwards to rub against her thigh, offering silent comfort with the assurance that it was alright.
Rather than jealousy, guilt surged to the forefront of his mind. Has Katara always looked that way? Aang couldn't help but feel as if he'd seen that cornered look before, only to brush it off as a trick of the light. Now, he couldn't pretend that it was his imagination. Being alone with him seemed to be the last thing she wanted, which in turn only made Aang feel worse. He did that to her. Why didn't he see it before? He had messed up that badly.
"Of course," Katara smiled after a long pause, relinquishing Toph's hand to Sokka. A quick nod in Suki's direction was signal enough for the warrior to take over the cooking. Who knew how long the conversation would take? She was on her feet once her tasks had been handed off, dusting the back of her tunic as she did so.
Katara followed Aang a short distance beyond the camp, following the call of water until the small lion-moose trail opened up to a small spring. A dainty smile of delight lit her features. She had felt its soothing pull from the moment they found their campsite for the night. It was small- so much so that it was perfectly nestled between the roots of a grand oak tree. At most, maybe two or three people would be able to fit in it comfortably. Any more and it would feel crowded. It was perfect for a bath, which was ultimately why Katara chose the spot for the night.
With a twist of her wrist, a serpent of water slithered from the still surface to curl around her body. The head of it hovered over her shoulder, perfectly formed to create a hydra's head. With practiced control, Katara wove her fingers through the air to create a ripple of scales along the sea serpent's body.
Aang watched her in silence for a moment longer, not remembering when Katara started practicing her control through the use of water puppets. It had been so long, that it seemed like she always did it. Each time, the amount of intricate details she was able to mold into her element before her control wavered grew exponentially. So real, the puppet looked as if it would strike at any moment. The creature breathed at Katara's behest as the inner workings were created, starting at the heart and brain.
Having never seen the inside of a sea serpent, Katara just went with what felt right, adding layer upon layer until she could no longer maintain the form with minimal movement. The skeleton wrapped around the organs she had made before hardening into a malleable slush to mimic cartilage. She was not satisfied with the end result, now stunted by both her lack of knowledge and slight resistance from the water. If she allowed it, Katara could take control with a full wave of her arm, but that would defeat the purpose of the exercise.
"You wanted to talk about something?" Katara pressed, running her hand over the smooth scales she had created. A twitch of her finger gave the creature life and made it press into the affectionate touch. The movement frosted the crystal clear water into a gel. Three of the four stages* of water worked together to create near-solid matter: A pet to soothe Katara's nerves.
Aang was at a lost for words: Katara looked every part the celestial being in that moment. Both beautiful and deadly, Aang knew to be awed by her. Katara's image commanded as much. "I...I wanted to apologize for how I've been acting lately," Aang finally managed, forcing himself to look beyond the spell Katara's beauty cast over him. "I didn't realize the amount of pressure I was putting on you. I just..."
Her leviathan slithered around her as she took a seat at the spring's edge, following after the invisible tethers of energy in her fingers. Beckoning Aang to sit next to her, Katara hummed her understanding and silently urged that Aang continue.
He jumped at the invitation. Aang sank to the ground next to her, crossing his legs and flashing her a look of adoration. Any excuse to be close to her, even with the puppet forcing a level of space between them. It did not dawn on him that Katara was forcing the distance. All Aang could see was that Katara had allowed him this much of her personal space. "I really love you, Katara. I just...I don't want to lose you: I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I did. I don't want us to wind up like Zuko and Mai."
"You won't ever lose me, Aang," Katara promised, "even if things don't work out between us. We're family: that won't ever change." Katara reached out to hold Aang's hand, imploring him to understand. He didn't need to try and prove his love to her every chance he had. Katara knew how he felt. That's what made things so hard. "We won't wind up like Zuko and Mai."
Neither of them had that much hate in their hearts. If they were to break up right now, Katara knew in her heart that she could never say such terrible things to Aang, even if it did hurt in the beginning. She could set aside her feelings for the rebuilding of their friendship. She was... mostly sure the same could be said for Aang. Aang would forgive her in the end.
"Because we won't ever break up, right?" Aang pressed, not wanting to think of them as anything but together forever. It would shatter his heart to know that he lost Katara. "We're going to travel the world and rebuild the Air Nomads together. We'll help people, and give them hope to know that the Avatar is there for them. Just think of all the fun we'll have."
Katara did think about it. It all sounded well and good, but that's not what Katara wanted in life. Even without the prospect of being an ambassador looming over her head, she wanted more out of her life then singing the Avatar's praises. That was another part of the problem between them: he never asked her what she wanted. Aang just assumed that living the nomadic lifestyle was what Katara wanted simply because it's what he wanted. "What if I don't want that?"
The smile that bloomed onto his face wilted just as quickly as it formed. That's not what Aang was expecting. "What do you mean?"
With a sigh, Katara tried to formulate her thoughts in a way that wouldn't hurt Aang. Already she could see the glimmer of tears form in his eyes. He was such a tender heart, that any emotional opposition was a physical wall between him and understanding. "I know that you have a great responsibility placed on you, but that's your calling. What if...I wanted something more than just traveling the world with you? What if I..." wanted to amount to more than just a tag-along? "What if I wanted to settle down in one place, and find my own calling. What if I wanted to open up my own school for waterbending? What if I wanted to start a clinic, or hospital?" What if she really, really wanted to be the ambassador between her people and Zu- the Fire Nation? She couldn't do that while traveling place to place, only staying still for a few days at a time.
This was the first time Aang has heard anything about this. It never occurred to him that Katara's dreams were not his own. For the longest time, he thought that Katara genuinely enjoyed traveling the world with him. It always seemed like she was having fun. "We...We can do that too. We can settle down whenever you want! We'll get married, start a family. Everything will be perfect."
No, everything would not be perfect. That was the point that Aang was willfully trying to avoid. "What about your obligations as the Avatar? You can't put them on hold for me. The world needs you-"
"And I need you. If you want to settle down, then that's what we'll do. You're happiness is important to me." Catching her hand in his, Aang held Katara's palm to his heart. Couldn't she see how much she meant to him? Nothing else mattered as long as she was happy. Such was the breadth of his devotion to her.
That was not what Katara wanted to hear, but it should have been expected. Despite his wisdom beyond his years, Aang was still young- essentially a child. "The world needs you more than I need to be happy." One person could not mean more than many. She was not royalty like Zuko, who lead a nation. She was not blessed with a divine purpose like Aang, the Avatar. Her life and eventual death would not have an impact on the world at large. She may want to sign her name onto the pages of history, but the fact remained that the world wouldn't fall into chaos without her.
"But if you're not happy, I'm not happy. I wouldn't be the Avatar I am today if it wasn't for you. I love you, and I need you with me so I can be there for the world. So, you being happy is the same as keeping the world happy. See?" It was silly for Katara to worry about such things. Aang would always choose his love for her over everything else. He refused to let Katara go. She was his everything- his forever girl.
"And if I couldn't do all these things with you," Katara continued, trying to guide Aang to the fact of the matter. "What if I was gone, or couldn't continue traveling with you for whatever reason?" What would he do if she became the Ambassador to the Fire Nation? Her traveling would be restricted almost entirely to the Poles and the Fire Nation- or wherever it was that the Water Tribes needed her. She hoped it was the Fire Nation, but she may have no choice in the matter.
"What do you mean?" Katara would always be there. Why wouldn't she be? "Nothing's going to tear us apart, so why worry about it?" Leaning forward, Aang pressed a kiss to the bow of Katara's lips with the hopes of soothing her irrational fears. "The stress must be getting to you."
The dismissal of her feelings was as painful as Aang's need to not think about life without her. What was she going to do when the time came to tell him about the proposal from the Northern Tribes? She should just tell him now and be done with it. Fear kept her silent. Aang wasn't ready to hear the truth if he wasn't even willing to bend. She'll tell him later.
Looking away, Katara just let Aang flutter away with his delusions that he had somehow pleased her with his ardor. Dread and guilt settled in her stomach like a stone at the thought of continuing this charade solely for Aang's benefit. Just the thought of his obstinacy left her feeling sick. She would just have to get him used to the idea that they won't be together at all times.
Katara rolled her arm out to return her puppet to the spring. It barely budged. Blinking at her construct, Katara felt for the chords of energy that held the leviathan in place. Sightless eyes stared back at her, reflecting her distorted image back at her. A shiver raced down Katara's spine to build upon her fears, making her waver despite the touch of her element. It offered no comfort to her. She would go so far as to say it felt stagnant to the touch. A moment later, the feeling vanished and control returned to Katara's hand.
Banishing the puppet with a wave of her arm, it splashed back into the spring- taking with it the alien feeling. It was unsettling to have her element not respond to her, regardless of how short a time frame. She called another ribbon of water to spiral upwards, and marveled as it obeyed without any resistance. More ribbons and spheres were pulled up until the spring was almost emptied. Still, the feeling of stagnancy did not return. Maybe Aang is right, maybe Katara was tired.
Returning the water back to its rightful home, Katara turned on her heel to return to the campsite. Even from this distance, she could see the warm, welcoming glow of the campfire. She watched Zuko's silhouette as he passed out everyone's meals, his practiced grace soothing her with its familiarity. What she wouldn't give for one of his hugs right now...Katara's step slowed. The thought of sitting down for dinner, as if nothing was wrong didn't sit well with her. Katara just...couldn't.
Her mind returned to the conversation that she had with Aang. The way that he refused to think of a future other than one of his own design made it feel as if her say meant nothing. The worst part was that Zuko had gone through the trouble of talking to Aang. It had helped, just not enough. Barring the one chaste kiss, Aang had backed off and given her the space she had silently asked for. He didn't keep pushing for physical affection which was a definite step in the right direction, and yet...
"Hey, Katara." Zuko greeted upon her return, meeting her with a bowl of soup in hand. The small smile that he wore faded upon meeting her eyes. "Are you okay?" 'Did Aang do something wrong,' his eyes seemed to ask. With so many eyes on them, he couldn't outright ask, or offer her the comfort she so desperately needed. All he could do was step closer under the guise of passing Katara her meal.
"I think I'm going to turn in early," Katara announced, thanking Zuko for her serving of the meal. The weight of everyone's concern settled over her shoulders, making her feel worse. It seemed to be a regular occurrence by now. If she had kept her mouth shut, then maybe there would have been peace restored to their family. Why did I have to go and ruin it like that? She should have known how Aang would react. Now was not the time to be broaching such topics.
Bowl in hand, Katara made a move to approach Zuko's tent, knowing it from the others by the gossamer material. It was a split second later that she realized her mistake; now that Tom-Tom was healthy, she had absolutely no reason to share space with Zuko. As it was, her tent had been set up between Toph's and her brother's- cloistered away from both Aang and Zuko in a bid to protect her from their wayward thoughts and attentions. It was probably for the best, Katara couldn't help but think.
She continued on her way to her tent, playing off her slip by pulling her hair over her shoulder. "Good night," she offered without turning to face anyone. Katara ripped open the front flap of her tent so she could crawl inside, not wanting the others to see how upset she truly was. She set her bowl aside so it could cool, deciding to get ready for bed first before she ate.
"We should probably go to bed too, huh little guy?" Ty Lee asked of Tom-Tom, once his face was cleaned of his dinner. "Time to go to your sister."
"I'm not sleeping with him," Mai declared in an adamant refusal to share her space with her baby brother. The distaste for the idea projected a sneer into her voice. "Let someone else watch him." It was bad enough that she had to 'rough it' in the cold now that she was forced to sleep without Zuko's body heat. Mai refused to sacrifice anymore in light of her loss. It didn't help that there was probably a stream of snot dribbling down from her brother's nose to mix with his drool.
Oh, the horror, Katara couldn't help but think as she listened to the aristocrat's usual complaints.
"I would, but I'm staying with Sokka since Momo ripped up my tent," Suki explained in a kind-of fib. The truth of the matter was that when Suki found the lemur in her pack napping, she'd scared him enough to rip a long snag into the material. It wasn't so bad that she couldn't use it anymore, but no one thought to check the tent itself to verify the extent of the truth. Then there was the fact that she conveniently expanded upon the tear. "It's a tight fit as it is, so we can't take him."
Katara had to roll her eyes at that, stifling a laugh while she worked her fingers through her hair. As an unknown witness to the crime, Katara wasn't inclined to shatter the lie. There was a silent prayer sent out to the heavens that the decision didn't bite her on the rear. Even when they weren't intimate, they would spend hours talking until sleep finally claimed them. With their tents so close to conserve heat, that meant Katara would hear every lilting coo between them. Another reason she really would prefer to sleep elsewhere. She'd even take Toph's tomb at this point since that would offer more of a buffer between her and them.
"Don't look at me," Toph declared with a grunt. Katara could practically hear the scowl, which brought about another silent chuckle. "I had the kid last, it's someone else's turn." Toph had reached her 'Good Samaritan' quota, and was now off the clock. She was still recovering the little bit of patience she never knew she had.
"Okay." Undeterred, Ty Lee giggled in the child's direction. "Looks like it's just you and me, little man."
"Not if you're sleeping next to me, you're not," Mai shot down again, not wanting the child anywhere near her in case he got fussy again as he did the previous few nights. She barely had enough sleep as it was.
"Why not just have him stay with Katara?" Aang suggested. "He likes her, and she's great with kids."
The boast had Katara freezing in the task of braiding her hair. She was not in the mindset to deal with anyone right now, let alone a child.
"For the love of-" Zuko's annoyance had the campfire flare a little brighter before his silhouette cast a long shadow across her tent. Katara turned to face its opening in time to see Zuko lift the child into his arms. Tom-Tom's arms wrapped tightly around his neck in response, content with the warmth Zuko offered. "He'll stay with me tonight, okay?"
No one questioned his decision. Zuko wasn't paying attention if they did. Instead, he looked over his shoulder to face her. As if somehow knowing that her eyes were on him, he gave Katara a small cant of his head.
'Thank you,' she mouthed back, needing a moment alone for once. It seemed she would owe Zuko a lot by the end of this adventure. If only she knew how to pay him back. She watched him pull the flap of his tent aside so he could turn in across from her. It was secured to one of the posts, allowing the light to flood into dark space. When he hunched over across from her, Katara couldn't help but look.
Tom-Tom didn't kick up much of a fuss when he was put to bed on Zuko's meager pallet. Instead he stretched out with a little yawn, having grown drowsy after his meal and warm surroundings. He settled almost immediately.
Zuko watched him for a moment longer, tugging at the sash securing his tunic closed all the while. He shrugged the article from his shoulders so he could wrap it around the child just the same. Fire light traced over the contours of Zuko's body, dancing with the shadows that drew hard lines over his exposed torso. They dipped into the valley of his pectorals to slither along the ridges of Zuko's abdomen. The scar that star-burst over it looked all the more severe, but Katara's eyes were dragged passed it to watch the shadows pool beneath his naval. The flap of his tent was pulled loose not long after, shielding him from Katara's treacherous gaze.
Guilt had Katara looking away. She knew why she was so upset with Aang; why she felt so trapped by the idea that she and Aang could be forever. Katara just couldn't bring herself to put it into words- not even in her own mind.
"Katara."
She only barely turned in time to see Zuko push the flap of her tent aside. Behind him, Katara could see no sign of the others surrounding the campfire. They all must have turned in for the night. The flap fell back into place once Zuko entered the small space of her tent. There was barely enough room for the both of them, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
Katara sat up to allow Zuko more room, holding her blanket up to her chin guard her modesty, exposing her bare feet and a dainty string of beads and shells around the left of her ankles. Her pilfered tunic was stretched out beneath her to add an extra layer of comfort. This left her in nothing more than her loosened bindings. "Is something wrong?"
"Couldn't sleep," came Zuko's easy admittance.
A small smile tugged at Katara's lips, one that was mirrored by the young Lord. "Neither can I." No matter how she shifted, she couldn't get comfortable. It was strange: In the past, all she had to do was lay down and eventually sleep would claim her. Some nights were harder than others depending on the phase of the moon, but tonight... Tonight, Katara felt wild energy hum through her veins. Zuko's natural cologne still clung to the fibers of his tunic, filling her lungs to strum at the chords of tension in her body as it heated her belly and made her core throb.
Zuko chuckled, creeping closer so he could sit beside her pallet. His eyes dragged themselves from the pout of Katara's lips and down the slopes of her barely concealed curves. Thick lashes hooded over gold and honey eyes when they settled over the source of Katara's current condition. Licking his lips, his gaze followed a new path to Katara's eyes where they stayed. "I guess neither of us is used to sleeping alone anymore, huh?"
"I guess so," Katara flushed. As it was, she doubted she'd be able to sleep anyway. Still, it was considerably more comfortable now that Zuko was there. The chill of the night had numbed her toes and made her discomfort all the more unbearable. With Zuko there, Katara could feel his warmth seep into her skin to chase away the cold.
"Would you mind if I stayed here for a bit?" He stretched out on the ground next to her as if already knowing the answer. Zuko pillowed his head over his arm, content to just watch Katara mull over the idea.
Something in the back of her mind told her it would be a very bad idea to have Zuko stay in her tent with her. It was just the two of them. "It wouldn't be appropriate," Katara found herself saying, even as she laid back down beside him. The thin blanket was pulled up to her nose to hide the growing blush across her cheeks.
"I promise I won't bite," Zuko smirked. His eyes narrowed as they locked onto hers just as his tongue swept over his teeth. "That is unless you want me to."
"And why would I want that?" Katara couldn't stop the question from forming.
The grin only grew, becoming predatory as Zuko lifted himself to hover over her. "Tell me you don't." His free hand reached up to caress her face, catching the blanket to pull it down from Katara's loose grip. The course pad of Zuko's thumb caressed her bottom lip, the tip ghosting over the seam of her mouth. It only took the slightest pressure to part her lips.
She couldn't. Try as she might, she couldn't think of one good reason why she shouldn't want for Zuko to 'bite.' Not when the blanket was pushed down to her waist, his caress following every curve of her body until his palm rested low on her hip. It didn't even cross her mind when he drew near, pressing close until the solid wall of his chest crushed against her breasts.
"Tell me no, and I'll stop," he breathed against her cheek. The cloud of his breath tumbled down her neck to make her arch into its heat. Zuko drew her closer, his leg wedging itself between her thighs to press against her core. A gasp escaped her lips as a familiar pleasure raced up her spine. It felt so good; Katara couldn't fight the desire for more. Her leg escaped the tangle of her blanket to hitch over his hip, rocking her hips forward as she'd done all those nights ago.
If only she could- another moan shook through her when Zuko rolled them over. The weight of his leg settled between her thighs to press more firmly against that spot, sending another jolt of heat and pleasure to race up her spine and curl her toes.
Zuko's calloused palm caressed its way down to Katara's knee, hitching her leg higher around his waist so he could settle between her legs. "Last chance."
'No' was the farthest thing from Katara's mind. Consequences be damned, she wanted this. "Yes." Reaching up, Katara wrapped her arms around Zuko's neck to pull him down to rest over her body fully. Her ankles locked behind him to hold him in place, but it was clear Zuko had no intention of moving from that spot. Another roll of his hips against that spot sent another jolt of electricity up her spine.
"Tell me what you want." Zuko's command came with a deep growl. His lips ghosted over the shell of Katara's ear as they dragged lower to find Katara's pulse. A tug at her choker was all that was needed to remove it, giving him ample room to latch onto her neck. Zuko's tongue swiped over the delicate skin there, teasing Katara with his wicked intentions.
She wanted more, but was rendered incoherent. Katara's voice wouldn't work for longer than a moan. They purred from her parted lips, wordlessly praising Zuko's attentions. Cradling the back of his head, Katara silently pleaded that Zuko not stop. Her nails raked over his scalp to tangle into his hair, arching into his touch in time with each roll of his hips.
Zuko nipped at the flushed skin beneath Katara's ear before repeating "Tell me." Another nip dragged his teeth along Katara's vein until they found the column of her throat, and then lower still. His tongue dipped into the hollow of Katara's throat, soothing the abused skin while his free hand tangled his fingers with the bindings that shielded Katara from him.
"I want you," Katara gasped, unrestrained and eager or more of Zuko's touch.
With a smirk, Zuko pulled Katara's bindings free.
Katara awoke with a start, knees clenched tight around her blanket. Just a dream...Shame and disappointment filled her heart at the thought. Here she was in a relationship with Aang, and she was dreaming about someone else- Zuko of all people! After swearing up and down that nothing was between them, her treacherous heart refused to accept that. She wanted Zuko in a way a girl such as herself shouldn't. I'm disgusting. Though she understood that arousal was a natural body response and she knew that it was just a dream, she couldn't help but feel like the adulteress that dream version of herself was. The pleasure that still clenched her thighs soaked through her wrappings, adding to her shame as if to mark her with her crime.
She couldn't be faced with her dark longing. Not now, of all times. She needed to get up: Just the thought of attempting to go back to sleep made her stomach churn. What if she returned to that dream where she pleaded for Zuko to do those things to her body- to recreate that night and more? The thrill of it was as frightening as the guilt she felt for wanting as much.
Zuko's image hovering over hers danced with her consciousness. Body exposed and eyes glowing with that roguish charm he tried to keep hidden... That smirk of his... The way he would lick his lips when he knew victory was close at hand, as if to savor it… The sultry timbre his voice took when his words were just for her… The hard lines of his body pressed firmly against hers… The rough texture of his palms against her skin… The taste of his kiss… The feel of his bite…
Shrugging on her tunic, Katara stood from her pallet to make a hasty retreat from her tent- the set of her illicit fantasy. Maybe she was just energized by the night. That had to be the reason. Certain nights just had her…easily aroused? She was at that age. That had to be it. Any thought was better than the alternative. Some late night bending might clear her mind of the forbidden. Furthermore, a bath would rid her of any physical evidence. Out of sight, or touch as the case was, out of mind. Maybe then she could pretend that she was faithful, and that her heart was her own to command. She had no time to be fantasizing about someone else when she didn't even know if she could get out of this relationship.
Her step faltered when realization struck. Was that really what she wanted? Whatever feelings for Zuko aside, did she really want to leave Aang? Loving Aang seemed like a good idea at the time, but the love she bore him didn't change as she had hoped. There was no carnal desire for him, which was something she should have started experiencing by now. It was as if her internal compass in that regard seemed to point in every direction but Aang. It pointed at… someone she couldn't have, and shouldn't want.
Tui took great delight in rubbing her nose in that fact. Why else would she curse her with such dreams whenever the moon rose above the horizon? The Moon held sway over the realm of dreams, but... Shaking her head, Katara chose to focus on the easier side of the argument taking place in her mind. In light of everything, she knew that it was in her best interest to cut things off now. If not, chances were that Aang was not going to take to the news of her being an ambassador well. If she wanted to be honest with herself, then Katara knew that Aang would probably throw a fit at the prospect of her no longer being at his beck and call. He belonged to the world, and could not devote his time to one nation over the others. Whereas she belonged to her people: The Water Tribes. Soon, that would be inclusive of the North.
"Katara?"
Jumping out of her skin, Katara gasped sharply while drawing the little bit of moisture from the soil to claw her fingers in ice. Eyes dancing with silver, Katara turned to face the intruder on her thoughts. In that moment she was struck by Zuko's image, marveling at his form as her body went lax when realization struck. It seemed that Tui would torment her for a bit longer. How embarrassing. Doesn't she have something better to do, or has she gotten lazy now that Yue has succeeded her? "Zuko? What are you doing up so late?"
"I could as you the same thing." Zuko chuckled at Katara's reaction, though he attempted to stifle it behind his free hand. His other arm held little Tom-Tom to his bare chest, bundled in Zuko's tunic to keep him warm. The child slept soundly due to the gentle rocking motion Zuko maintained around him, despite being held upright. Head tucked under Zuko's chin, the two presented the image of paternal care regardless of the dao blades secured to Zuko's back.
"You're really good with kids," Katara found herself saying.
Zuko had to smirk at that, appreciating the praise given how little he knew about them. Unless he had to, Zuko didn't care to go out of his way to deal with them. "Thanks, though I think he just likes how warm I am."
"I can relate to that," Katara agreed, approaching the fire pit with the hope that she could siphon some warmth herself. "Your body heat would make you very popular in the Poles." So much so that Katara figured that the fact that he was a firebender would be forgotten the moment a blizzard blew passed. Then it would be a fight to see who got to sleep closest. It was a funny thought- definitely safer than the ones that had plagued her moments ago.
Just thinking about a bunch of burly men vying to sleep next to him chased the smile from his face. "Thanks for that mental image," Zuko grimaced. No, the only person he would allow anywhere near him in that scenario was Katara...and maybe Song. That mental image was definitely preferred, which brought him to one of the reasons he was wandering aimlessly around their camp. Between vivid dreams and an unshakable paranoia, there would be no sleep for him.
Katara just laughed at him, her voice light out of consideration for those still sleeping. "So, what has you up and prowling?" Shouldn't he be out of sight, sleeping soundly and not dragging her thoughts back towards impure territories? Dressed down for sleeping, Zuko looked...sinful was the safest word that came to mind when Katara's thoughts returned to her dream. All that was missing was that wolfish smirk of his to complete the lethal combination.
Zuko marveled at the flush creeping up Katara's neck to encase her cheeks. The blush could easily be explained away by the roaring fire, but something about the way Katara kept averting her eyes whenever they found him was...curious. "Couldn't sleep," Zuko admitted, inching closer until he found himself within an arm's reach. "It's stifling. You?"
Only Zuko would find the cusp of winter in the Earth Kingdom stifling, but she guessed that came from his core body temperature spiking as it usually when he wasn't consciously suppressing it. "Same. I've gotten used to the warmer climates. I'm freezing. Plus it's almost the full moon."
Zuko should have figured as much. Katara's pique reached when the moon was highest and fullest. It was the same for him when it came to the day. Once the sun was up, it was next to impossible for him to sleep through it. No matter how tired, he was usually awake once the first rays of the sun lit up the sky. The hangover marked the first time he'd slept in since...childhood? What he wasn't expecting was how quickly Katara became used to being warmed at night. Being cold would never be a problem when sleeping with him. Katara's body temperature was shockingly low as well, so she cooled him down when flush against his body. Then there was the fact that he just felt safer when Katara was around. His senses were the most acute out of their friends, but nothing got passed Katara when the moon held herl sway. "I guess neither of us is used to sleeping alone anymore, huh?"
"I…uh…I…I guess not…" The flush that warmed Katara's cheeks grew brighter when Zuko's husky tone reached her ears. So much like her dream: his sultry voice was satin against her spine. When he drew closer, she almost whimpered. His warmth an eager ache. When his hand found her shoulder she leaned into the touch, breaching his personal space with a newfound greed.
"I figured I'd try and tire myself by bending," Katara volunteered the information as an excuse to pull away, filling the silence that followed to distract herself from the fact that she was virtually alone with Zuko. With her current mindset, that was the most dangerous thing she could allow to happen.
"Want me to walk you?" Zuko offered, growing more curious by the intensity of her gaze. The rush of her breath. The flush that warmed her body. If he didn't know any better, he'd think that-
"No thanks," Katara managed to smile. "I think I can manage on my own. I'm a big girl: I tie my own shoelaces and everything." Katara's grin came with a half hearted salute.
Zuko couldn't help but find it adorable, chuckling at her antics. "Alright; I get it." That didn't mean that Zuko wasn't going to hover around the campfire that much longer. "I'm here if you need me" for anything.
"Careful," came Katara's breathy coo. "I might think you like having me around."
The Fire Lord choked on a laugh at that. "I love having you around," he continued to chuckle at a more acceptable volume. The last thing he wanted was to awaken the others since they needed their beauty sleep.
"Good," was all she could say in the face of such honesty. She gave his arm a pat before caressing little Tom-Tom's head in an act of affection. At least the babe was sleeping soundly. That made one of them. Katara turned to leave then, needing to feel her element in light of the many emotional turns the night offered her. It could be a simple matter of her genuinely not being able to sleep alone anymore. Zuko was a comfortable bed after all.
Such was not what Katara wanted to think about, but the truth of it was hard to deny. She felt warm and safe with Zuko. Loved and cared for. His friendship ushered in the relief from the day to day stressed. That must be the reason why she was feeling the way she was: Her gratitude for the respite he offered was distorting the platonic love they shared. That was the thought she clung to.
Bare feet padded over rich soil and hopped over raised roots. They carried Katara deeper into the forest, farther from the glow of the fire and it's warmth. The shadows elongated to slither around the foliage to create sectors that reached through the growing darkness. Katara watched them each in turn. She was not fearful. Her awareness presented no sign of predators stalking her as it's prey. There were no bandits lurking in the shadows, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Despite all this, Katara was weary. A life spent in war times instilled in her a level of paranoia regardless. It would never be to the extent of Zuko's, but Katara was not above looking over her shoulder to see Zuko's silhouette in the distance, pacing around the fire as he waited for her to return.
He was a small form against the fading horizon, too far to stop possible horrors from happening. Still, Katara drew comfort from his image. She always would.
The skitter of a shadow undulated in the corner of her eye, coaxing Katara to turn sharply. Water was ripped from the air to claw her fingers with icy talons. A flick of her wrist had the ice darting into the brush, stabbing through leaves to embed into the dead branch of a mangrove.
Maybe she was becoming as paranoid as Zuko. Checking over her shoulder, Katara checked to see if Zuko had seen her reaction. It would be embarrassing if he did, so it was fortunate that he had missed her spectacle. Regardless, Katara picked up her pace back to the spring.
It was just out of sight, so there was no fear of Zuko peeking at her. She wasted no time in pulling the tunic from her shoulders. Her wrappings came undone with a sigh, allowing her breasts to fall free. Katara massaged the ache to sooth them while she shimmied out of her leggings. She dare not remove her lower wrappings. Katara didn't want to be faced with the proof of her wanton desires. Instead, she waded into the frigid pool until she was waist deep. Hands feel away from her torso to sink into the water, coaxing streams to slither around her fingers.
With a wave of her arm, Katara bid her serpent to return. It spiralled around her shoulders before spiralling upwards as if to kiss what remained of the moon. At its height the serpent split into twin streams that lined to form a ring of ice. Edge lethal, it sliced through the dead bark of a decaying branch to bring it down to the ground, only to be cushioned at the last possible moment by a newly formed bubble. Water then soaked into the wood, filling it with life before lifting it back into place. It was here that Katara struggled, the glow of her touch glimmered within the water she commanded. It coaxed the wood back into place, meeting sliced edge to sliced edge.
Ice formed to hold the severed branch in place while Katara made the attempt to mend the damage and resurrect it. From a distance she could rejuvenate, but to completely heal what has been done still eluded her. Still she tried, pushing the limits of what she could accomplish at a distance.
The ice fractured and shattered, slipping from Katara's control. The edges jagged as they took the branch down with it. Katara tried to catch it, but the stagnance returned. A heavy weight settled over Katara's spirit, crushing her hold until all she could feel was the oily decay sinking into her being. The feel of the cool water faded until nothing remained.
It was only a moment.
That moment robbed her of breath as she dove out of the way. The branch and ice splashed into what remained of the pool, narrowly avoiding Katara's form. Wide eyes stared unseeing as the water denied her it's caress. For the briefest of moments she had been cut off from her element. She couldn't comprehend why, or how. Reaching out, she tried to awaken it, but it was as if it was far away. So distant that little more than a ripple answered her silent plea for its touch.
She tried again, fighting through the panic that bubbled like bile in her heart. This isn't happening! It was through her force of will that Katara shattered through the barrier that separated her from her element. Her focus was absolute. The spring rose to her bidding, only to splash back into the pool as the darkness of shadows slithered across its surface. Katara turned to face the source of the writhing mass. Many legs skittered over the earth before they were consumed by the shadow of the gnarled mangrove roots.
An animal?
Her paranoia mounted as she doubled her concentration, desperate to get the spring to listen to her again. The stagnance tried to take hold again to create oblong shapes as her will battled with the defiance. Powerless and near naked, Katara turned back to where the shadow had gone to see another mass shift beneath the roots. Creeping. Slithering.
Katara released the water and reached for the blade that had found a permanent home with her belongings. Her hand found the hilt. The other pulled the sheath from the blade. She waited there, poised to attack for what felt like an eternity. The clouds that blocked out the moon passed to grant her more light, revealing a nest of birds.
The adrenaline that pumped through Katara's veins left her in a rush. Her body went limp against the ground as the makings of terror dissipated within her being. Even so, enough remained to have Katara pull her tunic around her torso so she could run back to the camp. Blade still in hand, she ran as the looming darkness crept back over the moon.
*1 - The four states of matter/water are liquid, gas, solid/ice, and plasma. Most people tend to forget about that fourth stage up until season three of H2O: Just Add Water...
Author's Notes: Dun Dun DUUUUUUUUUN!
Sorry for the short chapter, but I did give you guys a steamy moment as a prezzie for my vanishing act.