The Wolf – Hello all! It has been a really long time since I have written anything. I found these chapters on my computer and decided that I wanted to continue the story even if it has been a little while. Sorry for the wait and I hope that you still like it.
Walking behind the Lady, Zuko was nervous. He wasn't sure if it was because of going to see a real bending arena or if it was being so close to the Lady. He chose to believe it was the first but a secret part of him, one that he didn't want to admit, knew it was a little of the latter. Things had changed between them and he had realized that as soon as she had walked up to him while he was with Shingi. She had seemed awkward and nervous in a way that he thought was oddly a little charming. He was so lost in thought about how things were changing between them that he didn't notice the bending arena in front of them.
"Here it is," she said with a bit of strain as she pushed the heavy doors open.
Walking inside the arena, Zuko had to admit that he had never seen anything so grand. The lowest level beneath them was a ring that was surrounded by 10 ft walls of stone and he could see an assortment of all of the finest weapons that money could buy in each of the corners. The main level was separated and decorated in the four nations. The northern seats were a hue of reds and golds and the Fire Nations insignia hung proudly on the wall behind. The eastern seats were covered in light airy pillows and it seemed a cloud had been spelled into their insignia and hung just above the topmost seats. The western seats had the rough edge that most earth benders seemed to carry and their insignia was resting securely between the paws of what looked like a giant blind badger mole. The southern side was left and it was behind him and had an ocean of blue seats and pillows, the water nation insignia was front and center and glowed like their healing bending. Zuko had never thought a place was more wonderful.
"This is amazing," he whispered as he kept looking around trying to see if there was any details that he missed.
This comment seemed to make the Lady smile, and Zuko felt himself starting to blush a little bit so he turned away. "My parents had it built a long time ago to celebrate nations coming together and working in harmony. They collected scrolls for all levels of benders so that anyone would be able to learn and train here. Do you like it?"
Zuko looked at her again and saw that she was waiting for an answer and he realized that she looked less like a monster and more like a girl his own age. "This is the most amazing place I have ever been. Not that that is saying much mind you. My Uncle has told me of places like this but I never imagined that I would ever stand in one." He was looking at the twin swords and wondered what it would feel like to have them in his hands and felt excited.
"If you like it so much then it is yours," said the Lady with a small smile that he almost missed.
Before he even knew what his body was doing he had pulled her into a hug. "Thank you," he whispered into her ear. She felt good in his arms and he was surprised at how natural it felt to have her there.
She pulled back blushing a deep shade of red. "It's nothing…let's get to sparing shall we." The Lady was moving awkwardly towards the stairs that would lead to the lower level.
Zuko and Katara started to spare and move in a way that looked like they had been doing it all their lives. It was a dance that they seemed to know in their bones or a silent conversation that the elements were having through them. As the two spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon neither noticed that they were being watched. As the staff of the palace started to dance and cheer as the two got along another was throwing her Uncle in prison enraged by the turn of events.