Disclaimer: I asked Santa For Avatar the Last Airbender for Christmas. But he said I couldn't own it cause I'm on the BAD GIRL list!
Chapter Eight
She laid there in between sleep and consciousness reliving the kiss. She was so shocked, it had been so gentle. It had been her first kiss, and had been a very good kiss, but it had been a kiss from the fire prince. Just like in her dream she found herself confused. Her finger tips trailed the edges of her lips they were still warm and tingling. It had been a good first kiss. She wanted to recapture that kiss.
"Find yourself wanting another?" She bolted upright when she heard him speak. Hand quickly going to her temple. She grunted in agony hopping for the pain to stop. Looking over she saw the prince standing with his arms crossed closing the distance between them. She closed her eyes hoping she would not have to fight him again. She didn't want to fight him. Just then she felt a hand on her back and looked up to meet the golden eyes of the prince. He was kneeling by her side. Was that concern in his eyes?
"Are you alright?" She was beginning to think this was just another one of her dreams. But it felt so real. His tone was genuine. His touch calming. He really was worried. Worried for her! This had to be some ploy, He had to be using her. She shook her head unable to speak. She wanted to believe what she was seeing. She wanted to believe what she was feeling. She gazed at his visage for what seemed like forever to her. Then she felt very sheepish in his presence and looked away from his gaze. He took her chin in his hand forcing her to look at him. "I... I'm very sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen... I didn't want to make you feel... embarrassed."
Embarrassed? She looked at him. Yes, she did feel embarrassed. It isn't every day a girl gets kissed. Hell it isn't everyday a girl gets kissed by a prince. Much less the prince of the fire nation. It was wrong. He shouldn't have kissed her. But he did. The prince of the fire nation had kissed her. She could not chase away the images of him just using her to get to Aang. Then where was Aang? Did he capture him? Or was she really dreaming? She thought of pinching herself. "Ouch!" She glared at him. Hand rubbing her sore arm. "What did you do that for?" Demanding an answer.
The prince of the fire nation tried to stifle a chuckle, but could not. "I thought it would prove to you that you are not dreaming." He leaned down to her and captured her lips in his once more. Her eyes went wide with shock but she didn't pull away. She had wanted him to kiss her so badly, just like in her dreams. She didn't care if he was using her. It was just like in her dreams, he was so tender, just like now. The other kiss was good, but it could never compare to this kiss. It was so saturated with desire and the promise of hope. He released her and rested his forehead against hers, gazing into her eyes. "You are most definitely not dreaming." His voice a little raspy.
She blinked her eyes she didn't know what to think of all this. It was as if the world had sped up some how. This was going much to fast for her. She had to find her voice. She had so many questions for him. But all that she could seem to manage was a quite, "Why?" She tilted her head towards his looking him in the eyes. She wondered if she would get trapped in those eyes of fire. She new she already was.
"Why did I... kiss you?" He exchanged a glance with hers. She nodded in reply. Feeling tears biting at the corners of her eyes. He felt bad now he had made this proud woman cry even though she was trying now to show it. He wondered if he had done the wrong thing by kissing her. 'She is a lot like me. Proud, strong willed, and as uncle would say stubborn.' He laughed in spite of himself. A hot glare from her tear streaked eyes told him he should have contained his laugh. But he couldn't help it lately. He rolled his eyes toward her and simply stated, "Because I wanted to." Then he thought maybe she didn't feel the same about him. Maybe she only let him kiss her again because she was scared of him. Maybe she didn't share his feelings? He felt like such a beast.
He mumbled something she thought sounded like an apology and moved to stand up. When he felt a gentle hand on his. He looked to her to see her eyes shimmering with th remnants of the tears that had fallen. "What are you sorry for?" Trying to keep him there with her. What was she doing? She wanted the prince to stay with her? She had wanted that kiss so badly, but fought not to show it. Did she want him to kiss her again? Knowing the answer but feeling guilty she looked away. "I've been thinking of you a lot lately." Sniffling through her nose, "That still doesn't give you the right to kiss me like that." She shot him an angry glare that immediately softened. Cupping his face in her hand she gave a gentle squeeze, "You don't take a kiss from a maid without her permission." Sighing she said, "But I'll forgive you this time. Only and I do mean only because I... I." Speaking in a hushed tone, "I like you."
Silence. He was lost for words. Did she just say what he thought she did? "Katara?" As if she wasn't still shocked from the kiss the sound of his voice when he said her name sent shivers all though her body. "I think I'm in love with you." Her ears were on fire at the sound of his his words. Thinking her hair was going to catch fire she shook her head. He was in love with her! Love? This to much for her to cope with. He didn't even really know her. She didn't know him for that matter. But she wanted to. He shifted from his kneeling position and sat by her side. Heaving a heavy sigh he spoke in a soft tone that felt so foreign to him, "I've never felt like this. It makes me uncomfortable. Some say love is a weakness. I refuse to be weak. But I can't stop thinking of you. Believe me I've tried." She didn't know what to say so she just listened. "But then my uncle says 'Weakness can be come you greatest strength!'... Katara? I would wish that you were a strength. I really don't know how to treat a woman. I've never really been around women."
Smiling at him she could not help but think he had wanted to say more. But he had said enough for now. There were so many things she wanted to ask him. Was this the fire prince she knew? But she didn't even know him. What were the things he liked? What was his favorite color? She wondered if it was red. Probably. Where did he learn to kiss like that if he had never been with a woman? She desperately wanted to find out. But she would wait, things had to slow down a bit for her. "I would like that... I mean to get to know you." She thought she saw a glimmer to his eyes but she continued. "though I'm not sure if I'm in love with you. But I do like you and I would like to get to know you better." Her heart sank when she saw his face. She had hurt him with her choice of words. She wanted to slap herself. Oh she could scream. She was sure she was in love with him. So why couldn't she say it? Jabbing him in the side, "That doesn't mean that after I get to know you better I wouldn't be apposed to falling in love with you."
"Apposed? What kind of word is that? You take pity on me?" He shook a hand at his person. What was he thinking? She wasn't good enough for him. She was nothing more than a peasant. Oh how he loved her why didn't she feel the same? Uncle had told him not to get his hopes up. He was amazed that his feelings faltered so quickly. He knew he loved her, and would always love her. Like uncle said he can not force her to feel for him. Uncle said women feel different than men. At the time he thought uncle meant touch. But now he knew different. He felt so stupid. And look at what the fool he had made of himself.
A soft hand had found its way into his own. "Please, if you do feel the way you say you do wouldn't rush me into saying it." She rested a hand on his chest and heaved a sigh. "A maid can only give her heart truly once in her life. So please don't not rush me. Let me get to know you. Please?" Placing her head on top the hand that rested on his chest she silently pleaded for him to understand.