AN: Hey guys! I hope you enjoy this chapter, the next should be posted soon!
He tried to remain calm. The surging nerves that had twisted inside his gut suddenly became active. He didn't want to escort the concubines around the palace city today, especially with that Water Tribeswoman there.
It was the exact moment that he laid eyes on her that he knew this was going to be an interesting day…let alone an awkward one at that.
With a deep sigh he pinched the bridge of his nose before straightening his shoulders, "Ladies," he called them to walk with him, "shall we?"
The flustered giggles and soft whispers mulled into a blurred buzz in his ears as his eyes scanned up and down the water tribeswoman that stood before him, next to his personal guard.
His eyes narrowed some as he saw the two conversing, how the light shade of pink rosined her cheeks and how a bashful appearance befell upon them both. But the moment Tyre had caught sight of him; Zuko noted that his guard straightened up right away.
He couldn't help but feel a surge of jealously course through his veins. Why? Well he didn't understand that factor. All he knew was that he couldn't help but wish to push Tyre off the side of the cliff, or burn his eyes from his skull. It was a rather horrid feeling, how a woman could make a man feel and vise versa. And he didn't even know this woman!
But there was something about her, something that seemed eerily familiar. He couldn't quite place a finger on it, but he felt some form of connection between them.
'I have to know her,' he mused as he and his concubines approached.
Suddenly a slender hand slid into the groove of his arm, wrapping delicately round his arm, "It's a lovely day is it not your majesty?" a cool voice swept across his ears.
He suddenly felt a dizziness fall upon him and found himself leaning on the concubine for support.
'What is her name?' he thought as he glanced down at the slender figure beneath him. Golden iris's stared up at him innocently, rimmed with a hazelwood green.
"Beautiful," he murmured, he watched as her eyes slowly dipped as she gave a bashful chuckle.
"Thank you, my lord," her eyes slowly rose back up towards his face in a seductive motion, sending sensations through his body.
Suddenly the dizziness that had befallen him went away. He found his head no longer clouded and his body no longer limp and heavy.
'That was weird,' he thought.
His eyes glanced upward and he could see his guards approaching with haste, concerned looks evidently present. But he held up his hand, assuring them he was alright.
"I'm fine," he stated, "just had a faint spell is all," his eyes swept over to the Water Tribeswoman's face to see if any concern stilled her features and much to his amusement her face was revealing of such emotions.
He couldn't help but smirk at this…but why was he smirking?
Katara stood firmly next to Tyre, watching as Zuko approached with several concubines trailing behind him. She watched as one bolded to touch him, to slip her arm around his and snuggle up to him.
This made her blood boil. She hated seeing such things but she couldn't exactly rush over and say, 'Hey! Get your hands off him!' without probable cause…well, probable cause that would make a lick of sense.
Instead she just stood there, rigid and void of all emotion watching as Zuko glanced down, a smile breeching his lips, while she stood wishing, no begging that it was her instead.
But then something happened. He collapsed slightly on the young concubine! Katara couldn't help herself, she suddenly bolted from her position, Tyre and the others following suit.
But before they could reach him, before they could question what happened, Zuko propped himself up just fine, shaking his hand at them.
"I'm fine," he cooed.
'He's fine?!' Katara couldn't help but look panic stricken. But she tried to regain her composure. Only after her eyes slowly rose to meet his did she see the smirk plastered on his face, his eyes already on her.
'What is he smirking for?' she thought. She couldn't help but wonder if he did it on purpose or if he truly had a 'fainting spell' as he put it.
But then she couldn't help but gaze over at the young concubine on his sleeve. She knew her, she had ridden with her to the palace the first go around of this…but she couldn't remember her name.
But the way the concubine glared back at Katara made her weary.
"Come, we are wasting a beautiful morning," Zuko instructed, his hand patting the top of the young concubine's before giving a sly smile Katara's way.
She couldn't help but be flattered that he was already noticing her, but then again thought it was weird that he was showing interest at such an early stage. It had only been two weeks for La's sake!
And yet, it seemed like two weeks too long.
For a moment she seemed in a haze as Zuko and the concubines began to stroll past her and the guards. But as always, there was someone who dragged her from her thoughts.
"Let's go Tara," Tyre's breath tickled her ear, she couldn't help the blush that over came her as she turned flustered somewhat.
She blinked rapidly, clearing her throat momentarily, "Oh! Right," she nodded before brushing past him, following the Prince and his ladies.
They had walked around for hours. Katara had never taken a tour of the palace city before…well at least not this long of a tour!
Every shop they passed, the concubines would squeal in excitement, gazing pleadingly over at Zuko as if he would actually buy them trinkets.
And much to Katara's surprise, he did! The one who clung to him the entire time, Katara would often see her squeeze his arm gently, then blush and cast her gaze afar as if embarrassed.
She watched as Zuko would smile down at her, curious as to why she would turn her gaze and merely continued onward, patting her hand every now and then.
Katara couldn't help but feel jealous, watching as the love of her life flirted carelessly with another woman! But it wasn't his fault. He didn't know of anything, let alone her feelings for him. But she would be damned if she let her feelings go unnoticed for long.
After several hours of walking they stopped at a small boutique shop, jewelry and trinkets galore. Katara stood back near Tyre for several minutes, watching as the women began grazing over the various items. Giggling as they held necklaces up to one another's throat, or sliding rings on their fingers and pampering off their decorated hands.
"Are they almost finished?" the words slurred from her lips subconsciously.
In a dart, she slapped her hand over her mouth, shooting a glare at Tyre as he merely chuckled.
"Not even close," he whispered.
Katara muffled a response through her hand, her brow knitting as she spoke, "Noof doumn het?"
Tyre couldn't help but laugh.
Reaching forward, his fingers curled round her own, pulling her hand from her mouth, "What did you say?"
She licked her lips before dropping her hand from his grasp, "I said," she began, "not done yet?"
He nodded, "Yea, after shopping they normally take a stroll through the City Gardens," his eyes rolled, "then are treated to dinner and a show…" he trailed off.
Katara's brow cocked slightly, catching Tyre's attention, "Love Amongst the Dragons," again his eyes rolled to the back of his head as they began walking, "and the troupe that are performing, horrible! Absolutely horrible!" he exclaimed, catching Katara off guard.
She remembered one group…the Ember Island players? Zuko had said something about how they butchered plays all the time. Love Amongst the Dragons was one of the many!
"Are they the Ember Island Players?" she asked, catching Tyre's gaze.
He nodded, "Look at you," his shoulder collided with hers as he gave a little bump, "only here for a few weeks and you already know the worst group of actors in the nation!"
They laughed, catching the attention of all…especially Zuko.
Her laughter, sounded so familiar to him. It rang a heavenly tune in his ears, but was over shadowed by another…his eyes darted over to where her laughter was emitting and he couldn't help but narrow them.
'Tyre,' he thought to himself.
She seemed…happy? Odd sort of emotion to have when you're a captive, forced into labor by the very nation that holds you prisoner.
'What is she laughing about?' he thought as he glanced up at them again, watching as she nudged Tyre playfully.
Angered by seeing her openly flirt with his guard, Zuko was going to call her on it but something caught his attention.
"What do you think of this my lord?" he glanced down, the same concubine who had been on his arm all day held a necklace to her throat, red rubies gleaming in the light. She fluttered her lashes innocently and it disgusted him at first, but then suddenly, he found the action adorable?
'What is wrong with you Zuko?' he thought as he shook his head slightly, his hand coming up and rubbing the back of his neck.
With a deep breath he smiled genuinely at her, "It's lovely."
Again she batted her eyes, blushing faintly as she turned away, "I'll take this one please," she cooed.
He couldn't help but roll his eyes at this. Just because he thought it was lovely, didn't mean that he liked her per say…he just liked the necklace. And he wouldn't court or bed her because of some jewelry.
Women.
Sighing he glanced up to see Tyre and the Water Tribeswoman chatting away once more, laughing and flirting…it disgusted him. For some reason he couldn't help but long to be the one she talked to, the one she batted her dark, lush lashes at. The one she giggled at when a funny joke was made, or have her brush his arm playfully.
'What is this woman doing to me?!' he raged inside.
"My lord," Tyre called to him, dragging him from his thoughts.
Zuko cleared his throat, glancing over at the guard for a brief moment, nodding for him to continue.
"Shall we head to the gardens before dinner? The performance will start in a few hours."
His eyes shifted over to the women, then back to his guard before nodding, "Yes," turning on his heel, he stated, "ladies, shall we stroll through the gardens then proceed to dinner?"
They giggled, which made him sick, then darted off in a flirtatious trot down the path that lead to the gardens.
Zuko couldn't help but groan in agony, "I swear Tyre," he began, not minding the woman that stood at his guard's side, "these women will be the death of me!"
Both Tyre and Katara laughed, but Katara soon suppressed her giggle as she saw the glare Zuko shot at her.
Tyre on the other hand continued to laugh, apparently not phazed by the Prince's.
Suddenly his arm snaked around Katara's shoulder, pulling her close, "Come on, it's time for a stroll in the gardens!"
So what did you think guys? Let me know!