I'm in the midst of editing two more chapters. I'm bummed so no more writing past that tonight. I hope you enjoy!
Zuko stood in the small room of his Uncle's, his entire body was clad in black. He held the blue mask in his hands, sighing as he thought of the long trek ahead of him.
"I thought you got rid of that mask." Iroh said from the doorway.
"I found a similar one; I just needed to paint it blue." Zuko placed the mask over his face.
"You be careful." Iroh said. The blue spirit nodded at him before quietly jumping out the window. "Be safe…Fire Lord Zuko."
The blue spirit darted across the building tops, quickly navigating his way through the rings. He looked toward the horizon which had finally lost the light blue glow of day. He leaped from one roof to the other. A flash of blue caught his eye and he backtracked, jumping down into the street.
"Who's there?" The woman asked. The blue spirit walked closer and then stopped dead.
"You want to have some fun?" The woman was not Katara. She wore a blue halter that was ripped in several places, her short skirt was ratty and she wore a blue strip of cloth around her neck. Her hair was down and giant beads hung on the side of her face. She had a black eye and blue eye make up covering most of her face.
Zuko gaped in horror behind the mask as he slowly backed back into the shadows. He ran as fast as he could; trying to erase the image from his mind. Quickly he scaled up ladders reaching the rooftops yet again. The beating of his heart was starting to hurt his ears.
Stopping he realized that it wasn't his heart but loud drums. He looked from the rooftop to the huge house that had many sillouhetes of dancing teenagers inside.
"How's about we go into that alley over there?" Zuko looked down to see a dirty man approaching a young woman in green. Seriously, how many hookers are in this stupid city?
"OH MY GOD! I AM NOT A HOOKER! GET IT THROUGH YOUR STUPID HEADS! I AM NOT A FUCKING HOOKER!" the woman screamed. Zuko narrowed his eyes. I must be losing it, she sounds just like…
"That's good." The man grabbed the woman's wrists. "Because I wasn't planning on paying."
Zuko's eyes widened. Within seconds he lept from the building, using his gloved hand to slow him on the way down. Rushing toward the two he took out the dao swords, slicing them everywhich way.
The man let go of the woman's wrists, immediately backing into a wall, which Zuko stabbed his swords into, crisscrossing them over the man's neck. Zuko leered at the man before removing the swords and gesturing for the man to leave. The man whimpered and ran into the darkness.
A pain hit Zuko in the head and he turned to see defiant blue eyes. Katara's eyes. Zuko gaped at the waterbender who had her waterwhip ready to strike again.
"You stupid Ass!" She growled. "I was perfectly fine! I could have taken that jerk easily." She whipped the water at him again, which he dodged.
"I didn't need your help!" She yelled. Zuko stayed crouched against the ground waiting for her next attack. "I swear to god, I'm going to kill the next jerk that dares touch me!"
Zuko tilted his head in question.
"First everyone thinks I'm a hooker. Then Haru kisses me. And next thing I know I have some dirty ass man trying to rape me!" Katara began to pace. "Seriously is that how everyone sees me now? Is that how you see me? Some defenseless girl who wants to give it her all? Well hows about it Blue? Five Gold pieces sound right to you?"
Zuko had to keep himself from checking his pocket for money.
"I hate men! They are all stupid, arrogant dumbasses!" Katara threw her hands up in the air. She turned to look at Zuko who decided to go ahead and stand. Zuko looked back at her, again tilting his head in question.
"I mean how dumb can he be? I did what he said! I left the guy to be with him!" Katara frowned.
Zuko stared at her. Is she talking about me? Or Aang?
"And now I can't even be with him…." Katara sniffed. "I really need to hit something."
Zuko took a step backward.
"Have you ever been in love Blue?" She stared up at the moon as she asked him. For a moment she waited for the answer then turned to look at him. He nodded at her.
"You don't talk do you?" Zuko shook his head.
"But you know what its like to love someone with all your heart." Zuko nodded again.
"To know their smile will always make you feel warm inside, that you can't live life without them?" Zuko nodded again.
"That no matter how much you push them away they always come back." Zuko shook his head.
"You're the chaser then." Katara smiled at him. "It used to be that he chased me. Now I'm sitting here chasing him."
She looked over to Zuko who put his hand over his heart and then tilted his head in question. Katara stared at him confused for a moment.
"Do I love him?" Zuko nodded. "Yeah I do." Katara sighed. "I love him with all of my heart."
Katara sighed and began to pace some more.
"This is crazy! I wish he just understood! I wish I just had the guts! I mean I did travel all the way to Omashu but that didn't work out for me did it?" Zuko took a step backward. You did go to Omashu.
"Now I can't leave here and I have that idiot hitting on me." Katara gestured inside. She sighed again looking around her. She blinked for a moment as she watched the blue spirit turn to look at the massive wall. I can't listen to you say that you love him. I won't.
"The wall…" Katara looked past Blue. "I should…." Zuko turned to her confused.
"I shouldn't be here. I should be with him!" Katara smiled. Zuko stared at her.
"I'm sorry Toph." Katara looked back at the house. "But I can't wait any longer." She turned back around but the blue spirit had already vanished.
"Blue?" she looked around for him. Shrugging she smiled at the looming wall. She took off, running as fast as she could for the docks.
Zuko watched her looking for him on the ground below. I just want to go home. Zuko watched Katara run toward the docks. I'm tired of watching her run after him. I'm tired of hurting. I'm tired of all of this. I'm going home.
"She ditched us!" Toph growled angrily as they walked the middle ring. "She just left in the middle of the freakin night and ditched us!" she held her head as the massive headache throbbed behind her eyes. She could tell by the warmth of the ground that it was almost midday. Last time I party that hard.
"Didn't you feel her leave?" Haru asked as he scanned the crowd.
"I could see people around me because the vibrations were so loud but I couldn't destinguish people's steps that well. Once Katara moved away ten feet, she was lost in the crowd." Toph stomped her feet, attempting to expand her sight.
There was a loud thump in front of them that felt almost earthbendish. She tilted her head in question as the man moved into his usual stance.
"Aang?" Toph asked hopefully.
"Where's Katara?" Aang asked. Immediately a rock flew at his face. "What the hell?"
"Go fuck off!" Toph stormed past him.
"What's your problem?" Aang asked angrily.
"How about 'hey, Toph. Good to see you. I missed you.' And then ask about your ex." Toph glared into the air in front of her.
"Toph, I'm sorry i-"
"NO! Just leave me alone!" Toph stormed off. She clenched her fists and felt the earth cracking underneath her. I will not live in her shadow! I will not stand there smiling as you ask and wonder about her. I may love you but I will not become your helpless woman.
"Hello there," Toph stopped as she recognized the voice.
"uh oh." Toph backed up away from the Waterbending Master.
"Where's my daughter?" Hakoda asked from Pakku's right.
"Dunno. She ran off somewhere." Toph shrugged.
"Is that so?" Pakku frowned.
"She's not here?" Pakiq asked.
"Apparently not." Nanuq crossed his arms. They followed the chief and master walking in the direction that the blind earthbender had come from. They headed straight for the Avatar who was talking with an earthbender.
"So, you think she went to the Fire Nation?" Pakku asked as he walked behind Aang.
"Uh…." Aang's eyes widened.
"We don't know where she went." Haru shrugged. "She left sometime last night."
"Then we are headed to the Fire Nation." Pakku declared.
"I am not going." Pakiq stated from behind him. The men all turned to look at him.
"I am not chasing after some woman that can't be controlled." He snarled. "I'm leaving." The man turned on his heel, stomping away from the small group.
"Me too." Nanuq frowned and followed the other man.
"We just need a fast ship to the Fire Nation." Hakoda frowned. He looked over the remaining three men. We are down to three. Which one should I pick? Will there be any left by the time I reach her?
Zuko threw open the doors to his office. He wanted to hit something, burn something, cause something unimaginable pain. A whole fucking week! I might as well have taken the damn boat! Zuko stormed over to his desk that was piled high with letters. He picked up the first one and tore it open.
'Fire Lord Zuko,
We need to talk about your marital status. We shall be sending a few women to meet with you. You have been ignoring the face that if you do not produce an heir soon that-'
The rest of the letter was lost in the flames. Zuko couldn't help but snarl over the letter, anger overtaking him. Marry? That's all you boneheads ever think about! Zuko grabbed the edge of his desk and flipping it onto its side. The letters fell to the ground in a heap.
Why Katara? Why? Zuko held his head in his hands.
"So you're back." Azula said as she opened the door. "You may want to know that your council is getting angrier about-"
"Get out." Zuko growled. He moved his hand glaring at his sister. Azula frowned as she recognized the snarl.
"Yeesh, whatever you say Dad." Azula turned to leave.
"GET OUT!" Zuko roared as static crackled around him.
"Fire Lord Zuko." One of his councilman walked in. "We must talk."
"It can wait." He glared at the man. The man took a step back as Zuko turned to lean against the window sill.
"Um but sir, you have many people that have needed you in your absence." The councilman backed away from the glower that Zuko gave him.
"Get out!"
"Fire Lord Zuko?" Came a voice.
"Sir?" Another person entered.
"Fire Lord?" It was as if the whole palace was trying to get into his office.
"Zuko?" Zuko turned toward his mother.
"I just need to…" Zuko turned to look out the window
"Fire Lord Zuko?" Another guard walked into his room. How many people are going to come in here?"
"Can I just get one moment?" Zuko roared as flames surrounded him. "Get out!" he slammed his fist on the wall creating a small explosion. He turned to see the smoldering hole in his wall.
"I just have a woman to see you. She say she's actually the-"
"I will not see any women! I don't want to get married! Now everyone get the hell out of here!"
There was a scramble behind him as everyone poured out of the room. He leaned against the sill again, holding his forehead in his hand.
"Zuko?" Ursa tried.
"Please…I just want to be alone." Zuko sighed.
Ursa paused for a moment as she debated whether or not to go, She sighed and walked out the door. I must write to Iroh. Something must have happened. Her eyes caught the green skirt whipping around the corner as a woman ran away. Poor girl. Those stupid councilmen must stop sending their daughters and neices.
Yeah yeah yeah. It's short. I know. I have two more heading your way. So It should be fine.