Just an Ordinary Girl

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Disclaimer: I do not own "Avatar: The Last Airbender" nor do I make any money from writing this.

Note(s): So very sorry for the delay, guys. A lot has been happening over here. Plus I took some time off this to start some one-shots and other projects as well. Also, it may not be as long as usual. I've been a bit sick lately. Hope you all enjoy!

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Just an Ordinary Girl

Chapter Twenty-One: Vision

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"Why isn't he dead?"

Ty Lee turned around to peer at Mai, a worried look on her face. They had obviously been watching the two for a rather long time. Both of them were eagerly awaiting the prince's demise. So when it neared late into the night and the young man was still as healthy as ever, they began to worry. If he wasn't going to die then they were. At the hands of Azula nonetheless. They knew better than to want that.

"I'm not sure," Mai shook her head. "Did you follow the formula exactly?"

"Of course I did!" Ty Lee replied indignantly. "It was eating away at the bottle for goodness sake!"

"He really should be dead by now," Mai looked even more concerned. "Or at least showing signs of ailment. Something's not right."

"What if…" Ty Lee blinked with sudden realization. "He figured it out…and didn't use it?"

"Impossible!" Mai shook her head again. "You saw what they were doing when we snuck in. No way would they have noticed."

"Don't remind me Mai, please," a pink blush tinged Ty Lee's cheeks. "Anyway, yeah I suppose so…Unless one of them figured it out later."

"Well," Mai crossed her arms. "If one of them figured it out then it's their fault, right? Azula knows we would've had no control of that. We'd be in the clear anyway."

Ty Lee sighed, "Mai, you know Azula. Even if it's not our fault we'll still be to blame. Who knows what she'll do to us?"

"Oh spirits forbid she doesn't allow us some of her gourmet ice cream," Mai rolled her eyes. "It's not like she'll kill us. We're her best friends after all."

"Oh blessed be, I do hope you're right Mai," Ty Lee looked ever more worried as she stood up, hauling her knapsack over one shoulder. "It's almost midnight and I have to be home soon before my mother pokes her head in to 'check on me'. Wouldn't want her to find I'd gone out."

"Want me to walk you back?" Mai asked casually, standing as well.

"I'd appreciate it, yeah," nodding, Ty Lee helped Mai gather her things and they snuck off along the path.

Much to their fortunate luck, Zuko and Katara didn't take notice to the fact Mai and Ty Lee had not been far away. The two girls were able to sneak away and find a way out without being noticed. Good thing Azula showed them all the escape routes when they were younger. It'd have been awful if they had been caught. Quietly, they tiptoed down the path until they were out of hearing range and broke into a sprint. It didn't take long until they made it to one of the gates and were able to jump it fairly easy. From there it wasn't a far walk back into the depths of the city. Ty Lee would make it home just fine.

The next morning both Katara and Zuko lazed around in bed for a few minutes. The alarm was buzzing, a very bright and early six o'clock A.M. for them. Katara really didn't want to face another day at school but she knew she had no choice. There was still a lot of things she had to catch up on and skipping out wasn't going to help her any. Sighing, she rolled over and draped her arm across Zuko, splaying her fingers on his chest. He smiled at her, and brought up his own hand to place on hers. They both let out a contented sigh in unison, glancing at one another. Outside the window a few early birds chirped their songs, giving both of them a peaceful ambience. After the rather romantic motorcycle ride and the kiss by the lake, Katara was left aflutter and could hardly sleep that night. Though when she did manage to give into exhaustion she went out like a light. Zuko on the other hand was just happy that he had succeeded in romancing her and did not mind one bit hearing her protests about "School is lame" and "Sleep is for losers" only for a few minutes later to watch her pass out. It was quality nighttime entertainment for him.

"Hey Zuko," Katara said in a light whisper.

"Yeah?" Zuko blinked at her. "What's up?"

"What're you going to do today while I'm at school?"

"Oh," sighing, he looked up at the ceiling. "Hm…Well, I've got work to do of course. May visit Aang again if he's up to it."

"How was he?" she asked softly. "When you saw him yesterday?"

"He seems to be doing better," Zuko smirked. "Certainly acts like it."

"And you two…?" her voice lowered a bit. "Are really…"

He sighed, "Yeah…It's over I guess."

"You didn't have to…because of me…" Katara told him, though she couldn't help feeling disappointed as well. The way those two acted around each other amused her greatly. Not only that, but she was starting to harbor secret hopes that one day she could join in with them for…No! Bad Katara! Now was not the time for such fantasies!

"It's not just that," he shook his head. "We didn't have much of a relationship. More of a hate-sex sort of deal. Nothing ever really came of it. Probably for the better that it's over."

Smiling, Katara maneuvered herself so she was looming over him, peering down at his face. He looked so amazing when he'd just woken up. His pupils were dilated, his lips plump, his cheeks flushed, his hair rumpled in the cutest way possible…It was all she could do to not just eat him up right then and there. Her hair, having been taken out from the usual braid when she had gone to bed, hung in loose waves over her shoulders. He looked up at her and brought his hand up to cup her face. The way her deep blue eyes peered into his own golden hues made him feel like the most loved man in the city. This was what he wanted. A loving, beautiful woman. He'd have traded a million publicity-stunt relationships before for something like what he had with her. After a moment of just gazing at one another, Katara leaned in and brushed her lips against his. He kissed her back chastely, entwining his fingers in her hair. There was serene silence around them as they just kissed each other. It was just too perfect an opportunity not to give into.

"Don't you have school?" Zuko asked with a smirk when the kiss had broken.

"Yeah," she sighed, rolling her eyes as she slid off him and the bed as well, setting her feet on the floor. "I guess."

"Delaying the inevitable?"

"Could say that," Katara replied, checking herself out in the mirror before getting her things ready for dressing.

"People weren't so pleasant after last week I take it," Zuko said as he swung himself around so his legs hung over the edge of the bed. "It'll blow over eventually I'm sure."

"I know it will," she nodded when she finished gathering her things and headed for the bathroom. "It's just annoying to deal with at the moment."

"If I had a gold piece for every time I had to deal with something annoying…Well, let's just say I'd be a million times wealthier," he grinned broadly.

Katara rolled her eyes at him and opened the door to the bathroom. "You're lucky you're cute." And with that, the door slammed closed and the sound of the shower running was heard.

Sighing, Zuko lay back on the bed, his arms crossed behind his head. He peered up at the ceiling, his eyes lazily making pretend constellations with the peculiar pattern the random lines and dots made. For the first time since Aang got shot he'd finally been able to settle down and relax. Even the apprehension of the next potential move by Azula couldn't fight this out of him. He'd just had a wonderful night with the young woman he was falling for and woke up with her still by his side as well. Life seemed almost perfect. It wasn't long until Katara kissed him farewell on the cheek and left for school. After the door was closed he got up to dress as well, making sure to check all of his washing supplies to make sure nothing else had been tampered with. When he was sure he too began to prepare for the day.

Later that afternoon, a black limo pulled up in front of the private school in the Upper Ring. The back door opened and Mai and Ty Lee climbed in to sit next to their friend, Azula. After the door slammed shut behind them the car began to make its way to the estate. The three of them sat in silence for a moment. Mai fiddles with the straps and zippers on her knapsack. Ty Lee stared idly out the window. The whole time Azula watched them coyly, trying to decipher if anything had happened behind her back. There was one thing she knew for sure…They had failed. And she was almost positive they were more than well aware of that fact as well.

"He's not dead," Azula said rather calmly.

"Guess not," Ty Lee shrugged, still not taking her gaze away from the window.

"Care to answer my question as to why?" the older girl smiled.

"Maybe he didn't shower?" Mai suggested, also not looking up from musing with her knapsack.

"I heard it running," Azula waved that suggestion off as if it were a fly. "He definitely bathed."

"Different shampoo?" Ty Lee's question was said rather flatly, as if she didn't really care.

Azula shook her head, still smiling curtly. "My brother only uses one brand."

"We…failed?" Mai's voice was soft as a whisper, as if she really didn't want Azula to hear it.

"Quite right," Azula's smile turned into a grinned. "You're both miserable failures. It makes me wonder why I even consider you two to be my friends in the first place. Did any of you tip him off? Mai?"

"I swear," Mai shook her head. "I didn't speak to him at all."

"I've been with her the whole time," Ty Lee added. "None of us told the prince about it. He must've figured it out on his own."

"Then we'll have to do better next time," Azula stretched out so her legs draped across the two girls' laps. "Won't we?"

"Yes Azula," both the girls nodded in unison.

"Good," the older girl smirked. "Because we really wouldn't want to let a certain little secret slip, would we?"

"No, Azula," they both nodded again.

"Then tonight," her voice had a deathly tone to it. "We plot."

Meanwhile, Zuko was at the hospital and quietly knocked on Aang's door. Much to his pleasure, Aang answered in a happy tone and he stepped in. The boy had even less wires attached to him than before and that made the older teen even more pleased. All he really had was an IV, some sort of weird monitoring contraption, and the usual bandages. He closed the door behind him and went over to sit on the edge of the bed. Aang flashed him a smile and sat up even more, peering at him with widened eyes. It was slightly awkward, to say the least.

"Feel any better…" Zuko asked quietly. "Since yesterday?"

"Yeah," Aang nodded, crawling over to sit on his knees behind the older teen. "They said I could go home in a couple of days."

"I'm glad," the prince flashed him a smile. "I still feel horrible for what happened."

"It's not your fault," Aang shook his head then rested his chin on Zuko's shoulder. "Your sister's just psycho."

"That she is…" Zuko went quiet for a moment before speaking again. "…I told my uncle…About us…"

"You say 'us' as if it were an illicit relationship," the younger teen frowned. "Like it was some horrible thing."

"Didn't mean it like that…" Zuko faltered for a moment. "I just, you know, confirmed his suspicions brought up by that stupid article."

"That was a nightmare I'm sure," Aang brought his lips ever so close to Zuko's neck…

Zuko shrugged a bit, backing him off. "No kissing," he reminded him. "It's over."

"You still want it don't lie," Aang smirked, dragging his fingertips lightly up his chest.

"Do I have to tattoo 'property of Katara' all over me to get you to not do that?" the older teen peered over his shoulder.

"Might help," Aang looked disappointed for a moment before resuming his chin's position on Zuko's shoulder. "So…what did he say…your uncle, I mean?"

"Said I need to take a step back and think about things," Zuko explained. "Ask myself 'why' and all that other shit old people are supposed to advise."

"You don't normally curse like that Zuko, are you alright?" Aang asked softly.

"I just wish I wouldn't be told to question everything. Must things always have to have a reason behind them?" the older teen's voice lowered.

"You know why we started what we did…It was an escape," Aang told him. "A rather nice escape…" He pressed his lips behind Zuko's ear to prove his point.

Zuko glared at him, "I know …" He sighed, slumping in his seat slightly. "But now I have Katara and…"

"I'm well aware," the younger boy snapped and pulled away hastily, refusing to meet Zuko's gaze.

"Oh shi-" Zuko realized how that must've sounded. "I'm sorry…Didn't mean for it to come out like that…"

"You're the guy who always has everything." Aang muttered. "All the money, the fame, the power. Now you have Katara too, the one girl I've ever had any genuine affection for. Unlike all the other celebrity floozies my agent tried to force upon me. I loved her, Zuko. I still do…"

"I-I…" the prince was suddenly at a loss for words as he realized what Aang was going to say.

"What do I get?" Aang tried to suppress the small bit of rage boiling inside him. "I get shot, Zuko! I could've been killed! For you…" He finally turned his head to lock his gaze fiercely with Zuko's surprised expression. "And now that I know I can't have us either…It's like a slap to the face. All I have is a legion of stupid fangirls and an agent who overworks the hell out of me. I get no one to try to blow if all off with."

"I'm sorry," Zuko sounded genuinely concerned as he loosely wrapped his arms around the younger boy. "Really, if I had known this was how you felt I would've…"

"You would've what? Give up Katara?" Aang's voice lowered as he leaned into Zuko's embrace. "Yeah, right. I'll believe that when I see pigs fly. I know what she's like…How impossible she is to let go…" He sighed, his head against Zuko's shoulder, closing his eyes. "I know why you want her."

"It was your idea to stop our fun," Zuko told him softly. "For her own good remember?"

"I know," the boy had finally given up trying to sound angry. "It's just…I feel so empty without having something to fall back on. At least I had you to feel relief with."

"You still have me," the older teen whispered softly. "Just not the physical side."

"Really?" Aang peered up at him.

"Of course," Zuko nodded. "You think after all the times we swapped spit I'm just going to dump you on your ass? Get real."

Aang rolled his eyes. "Classy, Zuko," he scoffed. "Sometimes I question if you really are royalty."

"I had my lessons in proper manners," Zuko grinned. "I just chose to forget them."

"Obviously," Aang chuckled. "…" An awkward pause. "If we're not going to be physical then why are you holding me like I'm your girlfriend?"

"Oh, right," Zuko let go and scooted aside like he was on fire. "Sorry. Just trying to comfort you."

"It's all right," the younger boy smiled. "I don't mind all that much. It's not like hugs are a common thing I receive anyway."

There was a moment of shared laughter between the two and then Zuko spoke up. "You know…Next time Katara and I uh…yeah…Want to join?"

"…" Aang snorted. "Psh-yeah, if she's okay with it." He rolled his eyes. "I know you like your girls all to yourself anyway."

"Wouldn't mind sharing the fun with you," Zuko shrugged.

"I'm barely even fifteen," Aang reminded him. "I think I've got plenty of years ahead of me filled with threesomes."

"But will they involve Katara and I," the older teen grinned broadly. "Now that's the question to consider."

"True," Aang smirked. "Ask her then. And let me know what she says."

"You're such a teenager," Zuko chuckled, and nudged the boy in the side.

"And you're a…a…Whatever you are!" Aang in return gave him a playful shove.

"That's mature," Zuko rolled his eyes. "Really."

"You wanna take this outside?" Aang threatened in a jokingly manner.

"You're in the hospital," the prince snorted. "You can't go outside just yet."

"Still doesn't mean I can't cream you right here and now."

"We'll see about that…"

"So if we're not macking we're fighting? Is that it?" Aang laughed, falling back on the bed.

The older teen smirked, "Seems like it. Is that bad?"

"Nah," the boy shook his head. "I'd rather whoop you in an argument than not have you around at all."

"Touché," Zuko nodded, getting himself more properly situated on the bed.

"Besides," Aang grinned like a Cheshire cat. "It's fun."

"Very…"

Suddenly, the door opened to the room and two figures stepped in…

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Note(s): End of chapter twenty-one! Hope you all like it! (More plot developing) Will update as soon as possible!

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