Title: A Love That Couldn't Be Part 2: A Trying Love
Author: WishHe-LovedMe
Pairing: Zuko/Katara
Chapter: 21. The Reaction
Summery: Katara, fearing for her friends' lives, makes a hard decision, and decides to live with Zuko in the Fire Nation as his Fire Nation Princess. There, she meets many people with dark pasts, and a Royal Family with even darker secrets.
Author's Note: First off, I'd like to apologize for being gone for, what, like five months? Let's just say that the shock of the fact that the love of my life is leaving and my parents—whom have been together for sixteen and a half years and have always promised that they'll stay married—have decided to get a divorce has finally wore off. But that's about it. But now I'm back, and I plan on finishing this story as fast as I can. But, I do have standards, so reviews do help get the chapters out faster. I'd also like to apologize for the short chapter. But as I stated before, if you review, I'll post the next chapter up soon. Plus, the next chapter is extra long.
The Reaction
When I was done I asked Kezi, "Now what?"
"You wait." She said simply.
"For what?" I was a little unclear on the entire situation. Obviously, living in a small village in the Southern Water Tribe, I had never been to a ball, or any other type of formal gathering. Even if they held such things, I would have been called 'too young' and they wouldn't have let me go anyway.
"For Zuko." She replied calmly.
"What?" I started to freak out. "After what happened between us last night, I don't even want to be in the same room as him, let alone his date."
"Honestly, Katara, you had to know that you would be going with your husband." Kezi rolled her eyes. "You know…" she had a teasing smile on her face. "You shouldn't be afraid of him. Eventually you will be doing more than what you claim you did last night."
My eyes widened in naive surprise. "For the last time, nothing happened." I insisted hysterically.
"What ever you say, Princess," Kezi laughed.
"Go—go do something." I commanded, not sure what to say. "I just need to be alone right now."
"I didn't do anything…. Did I?" she wondered, frightened at what I might say.
"No, it's just…this is all a lot to handle right now, and I need time to process everything." I explained, remembering how sensitive my friend can be.
"Okay, I'll straighten your bedroom and bathroom." She started to hurry off.
"Kezi," I called.
"Yeah,"
"If you get done with that before the ball ends, you can always borrow one of my dresses and come before the plan." I suggested. The truth was: I wanted someone familiar to be there. I wanted to know someone so I could talk to someone.
Kezi smiled at the offer. "Yes," she said, "I'll be there."
After Kezi left, I took some time to think over everything. I contemplated over when I should tell Zuko about Kezi—his half-sister. I knew I had to tell him tonight, and I was afraid of his reaction.
I knew he wouldn't hurt me—I figured that out last night—but what if he interrupted Azula's and my plan? He could mess up everything without even knowing it. I was hoping he would not act out on impulse, but I knew I couldn't guarantee anything. I knew he was basically a ticking time bomb, ready to explode any moment. I also knew that he looked up to his father—to a point anyway—and wouldn't want to accept anything he didn't want to hear.
"Please let this all work out." I prayed out loud. "Please let everything happen how it needs to."
I was so scared. Azula, Kezi, and I were walking on dangerous ground in doing this. Plotting to overthrow the Fire Lord was a serious crime, I knew that, and I figured we could all get thrown in the dungeons…or, we could get executed, but I tried to get those thoughts out of my mind.
There was a knock on the doors to my quarters, and I sighed. I knew it was Zuko, and I knew what was about to happen. This could very well be one of the last hours of my life, and this was how I was spending it? Oh, well, everything will work out…Well, that's what I liked to hope.
I opened the door and, like I predicted, it was Zuko. "Um…wow…" was his reaction to seeing me in the dress.
I smiled at him. "Thanks," I said, "You look nice too." He blushed furiously. I laughed. "That's a first." I commented.
"What's a first?" he asked.
"You not having anything witty to say, and, instead, not saying anything at all." I replied, liking how I could make Zuko wordless.
"I—um…"
"It's okay, now come on." I said. I held out my hand and he took it.