Disclaimer: I've been a bad girl this year! So no Avatar in my stocking!
Chapter 13
Traversing the long walls, the lone figure sighed, berating himself for the nights occurrences. How could he allow him self the luxury of thinking he could miss use such a woman? Why couldn't he control himself? Hadn't he told her he loved her? Is that how you treat someone you love? But if he hadn't made her cry, Agni only knows what he would have done. He thought of her, 'Oh Agni, she tastes of the sweetest confection!', her lips were so soft under this touch. Her breath was as warm as the most inviting hearth, a lite with the flicker of a once noble flame.
Why did he have to show her more of the beast she hates. Treating her like that, making her fear him all over again, after all he had done to prove he loved her. He pondered these things. Forsaking his nation to join her friend. He had done that. He had done it for her, even when he had thought she would never feel for him the way he did for her.
Leaving thoughts of a home to go back to behind him was the hardest thing he ever did. Not that home would ever be the same as it once had. Now he would never have a home to look forward too. But maybe uncle was right, the gentle touch of the woman you love could mean more than what any home had to offer. What would he do if he had chased her away with his actions? He did not know. He didn't want to think about it, a life with out her.
Making his way to his room, he spotted his uncle out of the corner of his eye. He cringed at the thought of telling his uncle what had happened just moments ago. Knowing his uncle would find out any way, it was far better if he told him now. "Uncle, what are you doing up so late?" He thought making small talk could ease him into the conversation he was dreading. It wasn't helping.
"I was just going to ask you the same thing, Prince Zuko." The old man asked his nephew, concern written all over his face. Zuko tasted a metallic sensation on his lips. Averting his attention from his uncle he scanned the halls for prying eyes. Having found none he allowed himself to relax a little. "It is hardly the time of night to be up and about."
"I couldn't sleep, Uncle." He said rather plainly. Leaning his head against the coarse surface he closed his eyes. Not wanting to see the reaction of his dear uncle. "While I was walking in the garden I saw Katara." With great effort he raised his hand to his forehead, and he continued. "We talked for a while... I...I kissed her again. I was over come with her beauty, Uncle." Not used to stumbling over his words he turned, chancing a glance at his uncle.
"Young lovers talk so sweetly. Everything is flowery..." The wise man paused, "You say you were over come by her beauty but what you mean is you were forcing yourself on her?" The prince should have know his was perceptive by now, but he was still blow away by his accuracy.
Slumping down the wall he drew his knees into his chest. He was so ashamed of his actions. He felt a worn but firm hand on his shoulder. "Uncle, I've only been in her presence for one day. Why cannot I control myself when I am around her?" He pleaded, Not raising his head from its resting place. "If she didn't hate me before she does now."
"Come now don't be so quick to judge. I doubt it could have been as bad as you think." The prince looked up. "You didn't force yourself on her completely, did you, my prince?" The old general had to fight the erg to panic. He saw his nephew shaking his head in denial. Calming himself he breathed once more, "Good." A wave of relief washed over him. "So tell me then what troubles you so?"
Finally his visage shifted from obscure to that of regret. "I told her I didn't want her there, with me even though I did. I couldn't let her stay one moment more, Uncle." His uncle noticed the tears pricking his nephews eyes, but said nothing. "I made her cry. She probably hates me all over again."
"Stop saying that. Zuko, in the morning light you will see things more clearly than you do now. Don't give up hope as she is kin to love and you, my boy, need them both." The wisest men on the earth could not have said it better. The prince was not so sure if things would get better. All he knew was he was drained. He longed to slumber peacefully the way he did so long ago.
Standing he said nothing only moving by shear force of will, and will alone. He heard his uncle mumbling some nonsense about 'Go to sleep you'll feel better in the morning.' Some how he felt his problems would only double when he woke. Of that he was sure of.
Running as fast as she could to the safety of her room. She paused at the door, trying her hardest to collect herself. She leaned on it for the want of something stable. Just as she let out a sigh the door swung opened, "Ouch!" She tried not to yell, hand instantly rubbing her forehead. Her eyes when wide as she heard Sokka mumbling how sorry he was.
"I saw you went in bed so I thought I would go look for you." He noticed in the lamp lit hallway how ruddy his sisters eyes were. He grew preoccupied with the thoughts of what could have done this to his little sister. Only one thing came to mind. Zuko. Taking her arm in his, he lead her away from the slumbering Avatar. "Lets not wake Aang."
Following she nodded in agreement. He preceded to a waiting area just down the hallway from their room. Gesturing for her to sit he sat as well. "Katara, Tell me what happened. Why have you been crying?" As if on cue fresh tears welled from his sister. He held her as any caring brother would. Rubbing her back as she tried to calm the heaving sobs, "Its okay. Shh shh. I'm here now." As soon as th prince entered his mind he pushed him out. He would deal with him later. Now his sister needed him.
Wiping her tear stained face on his shirt, she wished she had stayed in bed this night. If he hadn't opened the door and saw her she probably wouldn't have the nerve to tell him what had just happened. "Sokka, I couldn't sleep as usual. So I went for a walk in the garden."
"Some how I doubt the flowers moved you to tears." Her brother hoped that some humor would put her at ease. She offered him a feeble smile. "Was it someone in the garden? A guard maybe?" He wished she would say a guard yelled at her. Please don't let it be Zuko, he pleaded to those above.
"No, Sokka, it wasn't a guard." She sighed out her mouth, "I was alone for the most part. Then Zuko came and we talked. I think I mad him mad." Sokka was shocked but tried to stay calm for her sake. He only listened, he would speak when she was done. "I was so afraid, Sokka. Even in the past when I fought against him, I was never that scared... It's almost like it was a different kind of fear."
Sokka knew it was indeed, the fear she spoke of was far more primal than any she had ever felt. He nodded his understanding allowing for her to continue. "Ha grabbed me and kissed me again, Sokka. I know I wanted him too. But this was so different from before. Then he told me to leave. He didn't want me with him. " She tried to form how it felt into words, "It hurt."She could barely hear her own words, "My whole body ached."
She was expecting him to laugh at her, but he only smiled at her. "Your stomach was in knot's. Your heart was racing to get out of your chest. And your mind left you, for where you will never know." He looked up to appraise her response. Wide-eyed she looked at him in disbelief, "You think I've never felt that way? Well, I have. Do you even know what it is you were feeling?" He paused waiting for her to answer.
"Some kind of fear, I was so scared." Was all she could offer as chills ran the course of her spine. Her brother stood, this was going to be a long night. Turning to his sister he squatted down in front of her. Placing both her hands in his. Not bringing his gaze to hers, he wondered what his dad would say.
"Katara, if dad were here he would have some things to tell you that would put your mind at ease. And you would go crawl into bed happy as a penguin" He raised his head to examine her. He tried to see what Zuko saw in her, he knew she was pretty and strong. But was there something more that he could not see? "Katara, you know where babies come from don't you?"
She was shocked. Of course she knew. Was her brother so dumb as to think she didn't... 'Ohh... is that what he's talking about?' She thought for a moment, "If he was thinking that then why did he have to be so rough?" Tears were threating t fall once more.
"I don't think he meant to hurt you, Katara. Maybe he doesn't have a lot of girlfriends. I mean, not even mentioning his 'good' looks, he isn't exactly the kindest person I've ever ran across." he smiled upon hearing his little sister stifle a small chuckle. "But I really do think he does like you."
Raising the back of her hand to his forehead, "You don't have a fever." She looked into his eyes, "Are you sure your my brother? My brother would have never said that." She was finding herself wondering if Zuko and Sokka could ever be friends.
Sighing, "Katara, if he was just using you to get to Aang you wouldn't be here with me right now." She was just going to ask what he was talking about when he continued, "You would still be in the garden, your cries muffled by his hand..." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "But he cares for you. So he chased you away. Lets go to bed and in the morning we'll all feel better." Offering his sister a hand he guided her back to their room, "Katara, just to be on the safe side, no more late night stoles for a while. Okay?"
Sleepily nodding, she wondered if the prince had made it back to his bed. "Sokka? Are you asleep yet?" She heard a grunt. Suppressing a tiny giggle, "Sokka, I just wanted you to know, I'm happy as a penguin." Sokka couldn't help but smile into his pillow. She whispered as loud as she could so not to wake Aang. "I love you. Good night." Hearing her brother grunt she rolled over and found sleep staring back at her.