This has been edited and I feel it's quite different, so if you've read it before you might want to read it again.
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Katara hadn't seen her Dad in 3 years. Perhaps that's why it didn't occur to her that it might be slightly difficult to find private time to figure out her connection with Zuko while living on a ship with the Chief and his warriors.
After they had seen the Earth King off on his world tour, been reunited with her Dad, explained Zuko's presence, and successfully captured a Fire Nation ship, happenings on the boat had slowed to a crawl. After several months of traveling on the back of Appa on the run from the Fire Nation, she had grown used to a 'fly by the seat of your pants' lifestyle. Being on this ship felt like back at the South Pole, with more people to care for than those who would help, and all the upkeep duties had fallen to her because she was a woman. The most exciting thing that had happened in the past week was finding Duke and Pipsqueak at a small harbor as they sailed west away from Ba Sing Se. And that had been two days ago!
She sighed, looking at the dirty water the clothes she had been scrubbing harshly as she thought had produced. She wrung the clothes out and took them out of the basin, using her waterbending to quicken the process. Finished, Katara looked at her hand and sighed.
A week ago, she had been using her Master Waterbending skills to take out whole legions of Dai Li warriors in one of the most decisive battles of the war. Now she was using it to do laundry.
Had this really been what it had come to?
Katara could have rolled her eyes at herself. She was being unreasonable. Aang was still unconscious, so it's not exactly like they could go anywhere anyways. They all needed the stability the ship afforded them, as it gave them the time they needed to allow Aang to fully recover.
Besides, there's one other exciting thing on this ship, we just have to figure out how to meet in secret again, Katara's brain butted in unwelcomely. A small smile and blush rose to her cheeks as she thought about bumping into Zuko on the lower decks of the ship a few days ago.
"Possessiveness?" Katara asked, trying to sound disapproving. They were leaned lazily against one of the warm pipes in the utility closet they had taken refuge in, Katara nestled in the Prince's warm arms.
"Well, maybe that's not the right word…" Zuko back-tracked. Katara surprised herself by smiling coyly.
You sounded pretty sure.
He winced. When you're not around me, that's when I want...to possess you. I get angry, that you're not with me. And when you're with me, I feel...calm, cooler. Soothed? He extricated one of his arms from Katara's grip to rub the back of his head sheepishly. What does it feel like for you?
Katara frowned. She felt like Zuko's feelings should bother her, but they just didn't. A part of her that felt like it had been awakened with their connection purred contentedly at hearing the Prince say he missed her. She hated admitting to her weaknesses, and though she felt at her most powerful with Zuko, she had never felt weaker than when away from him.
I feel cold and...anxious. LIke I'll never be happy again. She shivered with remembered cold. But, when I see you, everywhere...we touch, she blushed, I feel warm and safe. She frowned in thought. It's kind of like we're―
"Opposites," Zuko completed her thought out loud. They had looked at each other in disbelief, and Katara shivered as she met the Firebender's intense gaze.
"W-well, opposites attract, I guess," Katara stuttered, embarrassed. Zuko shook his head.
"Yeah, but not like this!" He exclaimed, frustrated. I don't want you to have to be around me just because some...freaky bond is forcing us to!
Katara's gut reaction was to yell back, to tell him if he didn't want to be around her, then fine! But, from her spot in Zuko's arms through their tingling connection, she could feel his insecurities. She struggled through the heaping of shame basically being broadcasted from his brain and did something simple: she hugged him.
He stiffened at first, then quickly melted into the embrace. Even through their layers of clothes, the bond tingled furiously as Zuko's chi practically enveloped hers, sliding over her like warm bath water heated just right. From her place nestled in his chest, Katara mumbled softly, "I don't feel forced at all."
Since that day, the challenge of finding some alone time with Zuko had been fully occupying her mind. Katara had basically skipped away from the utility closet floating on a cloud, going about her chores for the rest of the day even sunnier than usual, but by the next morning she felt even worse than she had before, shivering violently with cold even in the warm, Earth Kingdom waters. Though they found moments to touch at meal times and when Zuko tried to help her with chores, holding hands and the occasional touch couldn't compare to the catharsis she had felt when Zuko simply sparked a flame in front of her, or the warmth and security she felt in his arms. Katara had taken to wearing one of the smaller extra Water Tribe parkas on hand everywhere on the ship to keep the cold at bay, telling anyone who asked that she had just missed wearing one. She noticed that Zuko was always meditating when he was not sparring with the warriors, who had been wary of him at first, but started warming up when they found out how good he was with dual broadswords through Katara's glowing recommendation. She wondered if the meditating helped him from feeling like he was overheating. He did seem slightly more comfortable than herself when they weren't touching.
Of course, while the bond had no physical effects—her cold never actually resulting in frostbite, despite how much it felt like it would—mentally, it was torture. She and Zuko had tested how long they could be apart yesterday, making sure to bend, cuddle and hug in preparation as they had done in the closet before. They had lasted a few hours before the longing and anguish became too much to bear, and Katara interrupted Zuko's on deck meditation under the guise of wanting to learn how he did it so she could sit next to him and hold his hand.
She could understand the gratefulness in his eyes even though he didn't voice it.
Out of everything they were experiencing, the ability to communicate in their minds scared Katara the most. Zuko was far more educated than herself, and even he had never heard of anything like this before! Though they had had limited time to test this, it seemed like it was only possible when touching. They didn't get actual words and instead got...impressions? There had been no word for things like this in the Water Tribe, but that had been the best thing they could come up with. The impressions were just so specific that it was almost like hearing the other person speak out loud.
Katara sighed again as she started to fold the clothes she had just bent the water out of. Thinking about the bond between her and Zuko had her trying to think of a plan to see him again. Somewhere that wasn't a utility closet. Selfishly, she wanted to figure everything out with Zuko before Aang woke up, before he began to monopolize Zuko's attention as his Firebending teacher, they left this ship, and she was caring for everyone while fighting for her life again.
Against her better judgement, the more she got to know Zuko, the more he made her feel safer than anyone else, even Sokka and her Dad. She wanted to keep this feeling all to herself for as long as she could, until a future where they could be together actually seemed possible.
Katara tried not to let her thoughts get away from her as she imagined what kind of future that would be.
She needed to get a grip. The reality is, she barely knew Zuko, and over half of the time they've spent together has consisted of them fighting each other! She didn't know how she feels about him, she didn't know why they have this strange connection, and she didn't even know what will happen tomorrow.
All of a sudden, it was all just too much. Katara fell her to her knees next to the pile of clothing waiting to be folded, tears pricking at the corner of her eyes.
She knew nothing! She was adrift in a sea of choices and chi without so much as a life vest. The emptiness was clawing its way up her throat, it threatened to choke herㅡshe looked down at her hands trembling with cold and despair, tears coming even faster at the moonlight illuminating her fingers through the porthole.
Katara had never missed home and her Gran-Gran's confusing advice more. What would she say if she were here? She thought in desperation.
She knew the answer, and with a deep breath, gathered what little composure she had left and looked out the ship window to the crescent moon hanging in the sky. She closed her eyes hard, blinked, then blinked again.
Did the moon have a face?
She quickly got up and ran to the window, opening the hatch so she feel the cool night air on her face. The Waterbender gazed out at the moon, staring hard, and the words drifted to her on a breeze, barely a whisper that she had to strain to hear.
The divisions between us are thinnest when we are sleeping and unable to create them.
Katara stared harder, holding her breath in order to listen better for some time. Unlike when she was a little girl back in the South Pole, she knew more about the moon her ancestors had praised for centuries than they ever had. She had personally known the moon spirit, after all.
"...Yue?" Katara questioned out loud. She felt silly waiting in silence for a planet in the sky to speak to her, and Yue said nothing more. Katara sat down, thinking hard about what she had heard. She had been trying to find a way to spend time with Zuko where she could learn about him and their bond and no one would interrupt them….
Her eyes suddenly widened, then she blushed all at once.
Was the Moon Spirit actually telling her to go sleep with Zuko?
She looked at the Moon once more, hoping to get some more advice, but Yue (if it was Yue talking) had apparently decided to stay silent. Katara buried her face in her hands in frustration.
I can't sleep with Zuko….can I?
Though Katara didn't want to admit it, she had no idea what Zuko might expect of her.A smallーvery smallーpart of her was excited at the thought of what Zuko might want, but she quickly shoved those thoughts out of her brain. The men of her tribe had left when the Waterbender was only 12, and she was 15 now. She had no experience with boys her age other than her brother and Jet, and she had only kissed him. Of course, she had helped her Gran-Gran deliver babies all her life back home, so she knew where babies came from and that there was absolutely no sleeping involved, but she didn't know much beyond that. Zuko was older, more experienced, and a prince. Surely he would know more and be willing to teach her...
Katara blushed, she hadn't meant to let her thoughts get away from her. Besides, that wasn't why she wanted to sleep next to Zuko. She wanted to know more about him, she wanted to know him if she was going to share this...this bond with him.
She thought again about what Yue said, the divisions between us...could I possibly feel even closer to Zuko than I do now? These past few weeks on the boat had made one thing about the connection they shared clear: the more they touched, the better. So maybe if we slept next to each other, touching the whole time…
That thought firmed her decision. If there was any chance to understand the bond better and make it so that she didn't have to feel that cold emptiness again, she would take it.
Before she could lose her nerve, Katara quickly folded the few remaining garments, picked up her stack and left the laundry room. She dropped off certain piles to different men as she went, saving Zuko's belongings for last as she wandered down to the Royal wing.
Once the Waterbender reached the correct hallway, she started walking slower, realizing she couldn't remember which of two doors was his. She supposed no one else was sleeping in this wing, so it wouldn't hurt to just check both. As Katara reached for one door, she suddenly felt a pull towards the other one.
The door knob sounded like it was...buzzing?
Katara wondered if this was another extension of the bond they shared, can I actually sense him?! The thought made her feel fuzzy and even more nervous than she had before. She stood before the door indecisively for several moments, lost in thought, when it was suddenly wrenched open from the other side.
"I一Zu-ko, hi, fancy seeing you here," she smiled brightly, putting one foot behind her, "I didn't mean to bother you so I'll justーI'll just be going if that's okー," she was suddenly cut off by the Firebender's warm hand covering her mouth, the tingling warmth of their connection spreading across her cheeks.
"Aren't those mine?" He asked, pointing down at the pile of clothes she hadn't realized she had dropped when he opened the door.
Katara tried to answer, but his hand was still over her mouth and the buzzing was making it hard to think. She blushed deeply, then settled for a nod.
He looked at her for a moment then, seemingly satisfied, he removed his hand from her face and picked up his pile of clothing.
"Well, are you coming in then?" He asked with a smirk. Katara blushed, then shivered violently at the sudden chill that traveled down her spine at the loss of his touch. She remembered what Yue had said and tilted her chin up, firmed her shoulders, then followed the Prince inside making sure to close the door behind her.
She stood awkwardly in the center of the room for several seconds as Zuko watched her from the dresser where he was putting away his freshly laundered clothes. After he finished his task, he walked over to her and offered his hand.
"Do you want to sit?" He asked out loud. You seem like you have something to say, were his unvoiced thoughts.
She tried not to blush as he took her hand in his own and led her over to the bed. Despite her natural feeling of comfort in his presence, she was tense. Even with all her wondering about the act of sex, she didn't feel she was ready to participate in it yet. They were not boyfriend and girlfriend and had had no discussions of the sort (despite how much...cuddling they had done), but she did not know his culture or his people. Maybe girls in his culture only showed up outside someone's door at night if they were planning to…
"I'm not planning anything like that, you know," he said amusedly beside her.
Oh right, Katara thought, he can feel my thoughts. In her downward spiral she had completely forgotten she was holding his hand.
Just calm down, his soothing thoughts enveloped her body all at once. Katara had never had a warm bath in the South Pole, but she imagined this is what one might feel like.
"We can talk about you and me later," Zuko said out loud, "You, uh一you said you came here to talk to me about something."
It seemed important.
Katara felt awkward talking about the Moon, who was effectively Yue, in front of Zuko, who had witnessed the whole scene of her death and sacrifice during the battle at the North Pole. However, his worry for her clearly overcome that awkwardness as she told him what Yue had told her, and what she thought it meant.
For all his bravado earlier, now he was blushing now.
"Think about it Zuko," she found herself saying, "if I sleep with you, we would feel like we do when we touch all night long! It might even last all day! And we could, maybe, I don't know, talk? A little?" Her voice was near a whisper at the end as she suddenly felt unsure of herself. He looked surprised and more than a little pleased.
"You want to talk to me?" Zuko asked seriously.
"Of course!" She exclaimed, "I want to get to know more about you. I…" She took a small pause, faking a cough to hide her nervousness.
"You said before we would talk about you and me," Katara tried instead, squeezing his hand lightly. He looked at her teasingly.
"So there is a you and me?" He asked with a smirk. She hit him lightly on the leg. He sobered up quickly.
"We have this connection, but we don't have to be together. Do you...do you want to be with me?" The Prince asked hesitantly. She felt a little put out. Of course they didn't have to be together, but why would they want to be with anyone else? For the first time in this whole crazy scenario, she started to feel doubt. Did he not feel what she felt? Before Katara could get too worked up, he spoke again.
"Stop thinking like that! Listen!" Zuko yelled in frustration. He got up, letting go of her hand, took a deep breath, and turned to her. He slowly got on his knees as her eyes widened. She opened her mouth, but he held up a hand to stop her.
"Listen," he began slowly, "You're...kind of amazing. I'm not sure if you don't see that or why, but you are. You didn't know me, you had every reason and more to hate me, and despite all of that you still offered to heal me in Ba Sing Se, when I least deserved it." He breathed out slowly, then continued, "I don't think I can ever repay you for what you've done for me. You forgave me...before I even apologized." He paused again as Katara shook her head. He wouldn't let her speak though.
"And I know一I know we don't know each other well, or haven't known each other for that long, and I know our future is very uncertain and we're from opposite sides of the world," the words were coming out in a rush, "and I know that we haven't talked about this before and this may come as a surprise to you that I think you're incredibly beautiful, and that's not the only reason I like you but no one has ever been this nice to me and I really want to help you and make you happy and I've never felt like this before?" The last part came out like a question, thoughts he had never voiced aloud.
For a few moments Katara was silent. The she blushed.
If we're together...doesn't that mean you should kiss me?
He looked at her in surprise.
Do you want me to kiss you?
He tried not to make his 'impression' too hopeful, but it didn't matter. He couldn't hide his thoughts from her.
Instead of answering him, she simply maneuvered her face down towards his to meet him where he sat on his knees. He got up surprisingly quickly and met her halfway.
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Author's Note:To be honest, this should have been chapter 7. However, the little Zuko bite sized chapter that I would have put before this is not quite finished and I really wanted to put this up. The Zuko chapter shall have to come later.
I very much want the relationship between Zuko and Katara to be realistic and reasonable. Don't expect them to have blistering hot sex right away (though there will be sex ;) On the other hand, the bond they share would really make a relationship move faster, I think. You're being forced to cooperate with someone and coordinate times to touch, you share your thoughts with a person, you feel comfortable with a person...i think it would be very hard not to be with that person you already feel so close to. I also think it's reasonable for Zuko to have some admiration for Katara, since this commitment to her was formed by his surprise for her acceptance of him.
A note on Zuko's personality: this is a Zuko who is much more secure in his beliefs than in the show. Because of that, he's a much more relaxed person. We don't get to see a lot of nice Season 3 Zuko because he is not fully accepted into the group and at peace until Katara forgives him in Southern Raiders. This Zuko did not face that fight, and he has Katara rooting for him and believing in him in a way she did not do in the show. I imagine this would have a significant effect on his personality.