Okay Soooo Tired Finished this Tiny Chapter lol, Review, Blah Blah, Thank You! I Do Not Own ATLA so sorry. Leave a review or comment-TOP
Back, Ugh Puppy ate the Laptop charger lol Sorry, Started this as fast as I could...Read Review, Mostly Read and then A Nice Big Review lol! Go!-TOP
Zuko knew he was on a short leash, he was going to have to walk on egg shells. Satisfy to the best of his abilities, Please them with all his might. He stared at the ceiling. Dinner was in a few minutes he could smell it in his room. He swallowed heavy. How will I face her? Do I face her? "Keana." he sighed out loud. "I miss everything about you, I was a fool. Take me back." He knew those words would never win her over, she wasn't simple minded, she didn't just want the brag rights of having the Fire Prince chasing after her. She was so much better than that. "So much better." he whispered.
Tension between La and I was strained I could feel it. I didn't want him the way I thought I did, right? I don't love him the way I love Zuko. I watched him as he washed his face in the fountain, then his arms and neck. I came up next to him and copied him. We didn't speak. He sighed Long and heavy, stepping past me and into the fountain sitting on the ledge. His back was to me, showing off his strong shoulders. "La." I tried to say but it came out only a whisper. He tensed when ever I called him that. "When will you be leaving?" I asked.
"I don't know." He replied, distant.
"Oh." was all I could say. "Oh" I repeated only a whisper. "La-"
He spun around "Listen I-"
I jumped him, pressing my lips to his, he tried to speak. "Hush." I urged. He was quiet, kissing me back but hesitantly. I felt guilty but I couldn't love Zuko anymore, it was useless...My defenses before his, he'd only hurt me again, at least Zander wouldn't, at least I knew he was going to leave sometime soon. I grabbed his hands and ushered them to my back. I moaned. He became water, refreshing, life giving, amazingly gentle yet rough,smooth. He lifted me up, my legs around his waist, we moved...no...glided. I don't know how far we had gotten but I was restless, palms heating up, I pressed him against the wall, I pulled off my t-shirt. His hands slid over my almost bare back realizing I was shirtless, His lips detached from mine and slid down my cheek, my neck...he breathed against my tattoo. "Yes." I sighed.
Zuko wandered around the halls. Lost. He scratched the back of his head. Follow the Smell of Food. That was his plan, It didn't work. "Damn it." he mumbled circling the same hall. Then he heard voices, heavy breathing, panting? His heart tightened...Keana? He didn't want to believe it, he followed the sound, skulking silently through the corridor. "Yes." Someone breathed. A woman. Keana! He was sure of it. He ran soundless turned the corner. "Uh" He froze, silently, blushing. "Sorry." he stuttered. Katara screamed and Aang covered her mouth.
"Sokka doesn't know." He whispered.
"How did you find us!" She whispered harshly.
"I-I got lost Lost, I'm sorry, really." Zuko pleaded,cried, he didn't wish to be cut out of their group.
"It's okay." Aang replied. "But If you tell Sokka-"
"I Won't." Zuko replied trying not to luagh at the Avatars state. "Even The Avatar has his needs." he mumbled.
Aang smirked, looking around for his missing sock,shoe, and shall. "The Dinning Hall is that way." He pointed East. "The food will be cold if you don't hurry." he urged.
"Thanks." Zuko replied quickly running off. He sighed heavily, relief, It wasn't Keana. Thank Agni. He found the Hall.
I knew I was going to miss him, for one reason or another. I felt his cool lips against my shoulder, I rolled over on my side to face him. I smiled.
He kissed me gently."Are you hungry?" He asked.
I thought about it for a minute then my stomach growled.
"I'll be right back." He smiled sweetly.
"Hurry." I called as he vanished. My grin fell from my face. What am I thinking?
"So" Toph smirked sitting comfortably in Teo's lap. "Sugar Queen."
Katara looked at the Earth bender. "yes?" she asked sitting a comfortable distance from Aang.
"You and Haru? You two ever have a thing?" She asked.
Katara shot her an evil glare and Haru fell over. "Oh hell no!" he shouted. Katara glared at him.
Haru sat up. "No offense, It's just that I know how Aang feels about her and I would not want him to have me on his 'kill' list."
Sokka stared at Aang. "What about my Sister."
Aang shoveled food into his mouth. Zuko chuckled into his bowl.
"Hey anymore food?" Zander asked appearing out of no where.
Katara nodded. "Yeah here, hey, where's Keana?" she asked handing him a bowl and chopsticks.
Zander smirked inwardly then answered with "I'm going to need one more bowl."
Zuko watched the Water Spirit closely, there was something different about him and then he asked for two bowls. He tensed.
There was a knowing silence resonating off of the everyone except The Duke.
"Is she okay?" The Duke asked innocently.
"Honey, She is more than okay." Toph answered giving him a full faced grin.
Zander smirked, a noticeable smirk this time. "We'll see you tomorrow." He replied holding both bowls then disappearing.
Zuko put his bowl down with a little unnecessary force. "Excuse me." He whispered harshly and left.
Everyone was silent.
"Well."Teo started, then stopped.
"Teenagers are so weird." The Duke sighed.
Next Day...
"Respect it." Zuko shouted. "Respect Fire and It'll respect you."
"Okay." Aang nodded ready. "Respect fire." he told himself.
"But, I f you don't respect it, it will chew you up and spit you out like an angry Kimodo-Rhino!" He shouted.
Aang tensed up.
"Feel it Inside of you." Zuko paced around Aang. "Do you feel it?"
"Um, no." Aang replied disappointed.
"Just breath." Zuko inhaled. "And then!" He punched his hand forward a tiny flame exploded from his fist.
Aang clapped.
"What the Hell was that!" Zuko asked himself.
"I thought it was...nice." The Avatar said as sweet as possible.
I placed my hands in the fountain and concentrated. Heat. The water began to bubble and steam. I stripped down to almost nothing and sank in. "Ah." My body maintained the heat while I soaked in my version of a hot tub. I needed the peace. I opened my mind to Aang to view his progress. So far nothing. I sighed and closed my mind again. It felt good just to be relaxing.
"Keana?" A voice called to me.
Opening my eyes and behind my neck back I stared at Teo upside down. "Teo, What's up?" I asked worried.
He wheeled in, his face full of something I couldn't recognize. I sat up to face him. "What's wrong?" I asked worried.
"I hear you can do some pretty amazing things." He replied getting closer. "Keana, I love Toph."
"Want me to put in a good word for you but, I mean, I've got to tell you, I think she already likes you."
He shook his head. "I know you're not from around here but where I come from a man takes care of his wife, and keeps her happy and loves her in every way he can. I can't do that for her, I can't have her taking care of me and kids, how will we have kids?" He asked now right in-front of me. "You healed Toph, you gave her sight. I beg of you Avatar Keana, Heal me too."
"I-I can't make any promises Teo. Are you sure about this?" I asked nervously. "Toph loves you for who you are and you two can easily have kids...I mean...*I wiggled my eye brows* There is a position which will allow the conception of kids."
He sighed. "No, I know but, I need to feel happy I don't want to be the cripple husband the burden...especially when we grow old."
I ran a hand through my silver hair, my energy was pulsing and the urge to 'heal' him was eating away at me. "I'll try." I replied. "No promises."
"I owe you my life if this works." He told me.
I nodded. "Um, take off your clothes."
He shed his shirt and goggles that were on his head. He was actually quite handsome with is ragged dark chocolate brown hair and he was very muscular in the chest and arms department. Not an insanely buff way but, in that tall and skinny yet secretly sexy way. Now he had to undo the bindings on his legs. "Don't look."
I turned away. I felt the water rise as he slid in next to me. "I'm ready."
I nodded and faced him. "I may need to touch you, so...here it goes." I closed my eyes and focused, I urged every particle in my body to heal.
"Is it working?" I asked.
"The water is glowing and swirling so I think that is a, yes." He couldn't hide the excitement in his voice. I began to relax. "Whoa." He breathed.
I grabbed his waist and gently slid my hands down his thighs, over his knees, down and around his calves to his ankles and feet and repeated . He cleared his throat. "Um, You're kind of...um, My body is...reacting to that in a very primal way." he managed to say.
I looked at him. "Sorry, but you'll just have to restrain yourself." My voice seemed to flow like water.
He nodded. " I just wanted to warn you in case-I-made-any-sounds...whoa,Your glowing, your eyes, your hair, your voice carries like its floating in the wind." He said in awe. "I am so glad you are on the Aangs side." He whispered.
I smiled at him. "Close your eyes and focus on healing and running." He nodded and we continued in silence with his occasional heavy breath which made me blush.
Then It was dark.
Light a blinding blue light lit up the entire Air temple threw every open doorway, hall and window the light rushed through. I was brought up out of the darkness and found myself in the fountain gasping for air. Teo was in the fountain half out, one arm bent on the edge which his head rested on and the other drooped over uselessly the water covered the lower quarter of his body and the water still steamed and bubbled. I jumped into the fountain and rolled him over, he spat out water and looked up at me with his deep brown eyes. "Did it work?" He asked. I shook my head my black curls bouncing.
"I don't know." I choked out. He lightly handled a strand of hair.
"Did I do that? Are you okay?" He asked his voice a low whisper.
"I'm fine-I'm sorry, I thought it would work-I-" I slumped against the edge of the fountain completely and utterly exasperated. "Damn it!" I slammed my fists into the water and it seemed to splash up in slow motion, the water droplets slowly separating and then they each rained back into the water. Salty tears slowly fell down my cheeks.
"Keana."
I shook my head. "I really am so sorry, Teo."
"No, Keana, look." He shook me gently then stared in the direction of his toes. He was lifting his leg in the air.
I screamed clapping my hands together. "Yes!"I screamed again. Tears streamed down his face and he took me in his arms jumping in the air and holding me.
"Thank you! Thank you-" His new legs shaky beneath him caused him to topple backwards me landing on top of him. He smiled up at me. "Thank you so much, Keana, I owe you everything, I, I can't believe it."
The Plan was set. Teo and I would work on his walking skills, well, stability skills until he had full confidence in his ability to show everyone he could walk. He dressed and we went our separate ways. I couldn't hide the excitement I had to tell Aang.
Aang and I were in a corner talking. He looked rather upset. "This isn't working out." he said.
I frowned. "why not? What did Zuko do?" I snapped the last part.
"Nothing, that's the problem."
Elaborate.
He's lost his stuff. He can barely Fire Bend.
"Not good." I mumbled out loud.
"Yeah, I know. What are we going to do?"
I shrugged. "I can Fire Bend but, I don't have the right techniques. I won't know how to get you to respect and understand it but, I can show you it."
Aang nodded. "I have an Idea-" He stopped. "Why are you excited and your hair is black."
What did you do? Aang asked worried,confused and intrigued.
I healed Teo. I beamed.
"What!"He shouted. I pushed him up against the wall a hand over his mouth.
"Sh-h" I snapped. It's a secret, He's not used to his legs so we will be practicing using them together, okay. It's a surprise for Toph.
Aang nodded. "Fine. Wow, I can't believe you did that."
"I know." I whispered. Anyway, your idea. What was it?
Aang took my hand and dragged me over to Zuko. Aang? I asked nervously my heart fluttering like a million little butterflies were stuck inside of me.
"Zuko." The Avatar stomped over to him.
The Fire Prince looked at us both, his face looked wary and unsure.
"You can't bend but Keana can. I want you to teach me through her."
I looked at Aang. "What?" My voice echoed, apparently Zuko wasn't to fond of the idea either.
"Keana Fire Bend." He ordered.
"Excuse me?" I looked at him with a 'who-the-HELL-do-you-think-your-talking-to' look. He swallowed heavy.
"Please." he added quickly.
"Back up, just a little bit." I murmured. They did. I looked at them and cupped my hands together. With a smile i threw my hands into the air and a colorful spew of flames danced in the sky above me and gracefully fell to the ground.
"How did you-Impressive." Zuko suppressed his happiness.
I looked at the Fire Prince. "Thanks." I replied a bit too, cold.
The tension between us was starting to grow. At least now, I was beginning to feel it. Zuko turned to Aang.
"I actually had a better idea. I heard that there is a temple not far from here. A place where the first Fire Benders began. It is long abandoned but, I believe if we go there we may learn something amazing...the truth to Fire Bending."
"The truth?" I asked staring at Zuko. "Your sounding a bit like Uncle." I paused. Zuko and I weren't together anymore so Iroh wouldn't count as my uncle anymore. I cleared my throat. "Iroh-You sound a bit like Iroh."
Zuko stared at Keana. Uncle. He loved hearing the words flow from her mouth. He wanted her part of his family. What family? He thought to himself. The broken Mess you've caused. Iroh gone, Keana so close but so far. He shook his head. A glimpse of hope. I could rebuild my family, Starting with Keana. With her I can start a new.
The silence was too long. "How is Iroh?" I asked. "I miss him." I added accidentally, my mouth moving before I could process the words.
Zuko's gaze intensified. "I don't know." he replied. "When I went to free him from the Prison during your Attack he was gone...missing."
"WHAT!" I shouted. "Prison! Why the HELL was Iroh in prison!" I was mortified.
Zuko flinched. He was only a disappointment to her. Everyone watched intently, the all feared Fire Prince Zuko was cowerering at Keana's anager. "Kea-I-you know my-Problems-I'm not-"
"Oh save me the sob story!" Tears of Frustration slid down my cheeks, quietly. "He did nothing-nothing but, take care of you, protect you, help and heal you and you imprison him!" My hand ablaze and a blur flew through the air and slammed into Zuko's face. The Fire Prince went sprawling across the ground holding his left cheek, blood spilled from his lip. The Silence in the sanctuary permeated. Nothing, made a sound. My heavy breathing broke the silence. A hand covered my mouth, my hand. "Oh my God, Zuko." I ran towards him and fell to my knee's. "I'm so sorry."
He shook his head. "I deserved it, everything you said, was and is, right." He spat a clump of blood across the floor. "I knew it and I realized it and I tried to set things right as soon as a could but, It was too late. Iroh was gone, You the only person I've ever-he spat again- You were gone, My father wants me dead and They do not want me here."He looked to the people watching, Katara, Sokka, Aang, La, The Duke, Teo,Toph and Haru. This time he swallowed, ignoring the copper taste and wiping his mouth. " I was blind to what I had, I wasn't happy and now I must live with the regret and pain of knowing everything I gave up. I had a family, one who cared, I had you and Uncle and Uncle loved you so much." He froze as If contemplating his next words. "I-Love-you so much. When I found you in that river, when you put your arms around me for the first time. How jealous I was when I saw the way Jet looked at you. I promised myself I wouln't hurt you and I did, I still hurt you. I Killed You." He leaned forward and cried into my shoulder.
I couldn't move, I felt paralyzed. I turned my head and glimpsed the crowed behind me. They felt it too, they too, were paralyzed. Slowly I turned my head back.
Ï watched you die infront of my eyes, I knew you'd save Aang and I should've helped you fight Azula. I didn't I was weak, Stupid. SO, so stupid. Iroh didn't look at me, and why would he, I couldn't look at my self. I tried to kill myself, but I couldnt bring my self to it. I thought maybe you were alive that i could set it all right. Honestly, I didn't know what I thought. I only knew that I had to change, then I got your ring." His body shook against mine. The buble logged in my throat dissolved, I could finally move. Gingerly I smoothed The Princes head, one, two, three. I soothed him, crooned to him. "I don't hate you Zuko, I never blamed you, I was only disappointed in you. I-I am confused too, and that's why we 'loved' eachother. You accepted me when I couldn't accept myself and I did the same for you." I whispered hoping that only he was hearing my calming words. Well with the exception of Aang, who knew everything that was going on, as he sat on the fountain holding his chest; Katara sitting next to him a worried hand on his.
I closed my eyes and realeased a depth breath. Aang, please, have everyone leave us.
Sure thing.
Zuko sat in my arms a while longer, and, I didn't mind. Not one bit.
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