Sokka groaned loudly as he forced the last spoonful of fish soup down his throat and slumped back in his chair. Aang was sill stuffing Leechy Nuts into his mouth, nearly inhaling all the food on his platter as Iroh sat by him, delicately sipping his teeth. Zuko grinned at Katara, who had just finished her bowl, and caught the young Avatar's eye across the table.
"Hey Aang, I thought tonight we could work on that -"
" - the fire kick? I've wanted to try that for a week! I saw the form you used when you were practicing, but when I tried to swing my leg out -"
"Now Zuko," said Iroh firmly between gulps of his steaming tea, "The Avatar has already trained enough for today. Really, if I weren't here to stop you, you two would do nothing but fire bend! Katara's had to drag you down to eat the past few nights -"
'That's not because of the fire bending," said Sokka sourly, glaring pointedly at the bland, tasteless bowl of fish soup set before him. They all prepared to laugh, but suddenly his abdomen gave a loud, decisive growl and all eyes turned to the young warrior. He gave a grimace and struggled to smile, but a hand flew to his mouth as his face faded to green and his upset stomach raged angrily in response to the trout.
"I..I'll be right back -"
He ran from the room, half-tripping as he fumbled on deck, and Aang couldn't help but give a friendly laugh as his best friend floundered on deck with his meal fighting back.
"No wonder Sokka doesn't like the soup..."
"Young Avatar, I have something to teach you tonight - that is not fire bending, I'm afraid," said Iroh calmly as Aang jumped up into bending position. The Avatar groaned and slumped back to his chair, thoroughly disappointed that he could no longer train today. He was becoming quiet good, and had caught both Iroh and Zuko off guard several times, which made the young boy wild with success and seek longer hours of training. Iroh, of course, knew that such fast progress could harm the boy, so whenever he said training was over - training was over.
"You can learn to save the world some other time, Aang," said Katara cheerfully. Aang sent her a 'ha-ha-that's-funny' face and Zuko let out a small laugh. Iroh stood from his chair and walked across the room, where he stopped efore a large, rusted door and put his teacup down.
"Now, Avatar, I will teach you how to-" he flung the door open and it banged dramatically against the wall. The room was illuminated with candles like some sort of meditation room, but in the middle sat a large game board with the pieces set up and ready to begin.
"- play Pai Chow!"
Katara's fingertips glided across Zuko's, smooth as silk, cool and calm as ocean waves. Zuko could feel the delicate rush of serenity flow through her again and his spine shivered in a terrifying, wonderful way; his insides caught fire and Katara trembled slightly as the heat drifted from him in the soft, protective embrace she had come to know so well. She was not aware of his arms around her, his breathe against her cheek, the slight waver in his voice when he said her name. He was flaming, desperate passion that stirred her from rest and released the fearsome, river contained inside her; and she was soothing beauty that captivated him, made his head spin, his body relax. His whole being fell completely under her control.
Zuko kissed her, gentle as she was beautiful, practically starving for her soothing touch. Katara slipped her hands around his shoulders and her fingers glided down the back of his neck, her lips falling across his in a deep, silent dance. Zuko faltered and his hormones began to cloud whatever conscious thought he had left; he gripped her waist in despair and struggled to look away.
"I wish...you wouldn't do that..."
Katara's hands slid from his neck and she averted his gaze, blushing deeply.
"I'm sorry..." she began, but Zuko shook his head, ashamed that he had made her embarrassed.
"No, no...I mean, I like it - but, its - its hard to explain - um...just..." he fumbled over his words as Katara began to laugh quietly. He grinned despite himself and leaned into her again, brushing his nose against hers.
"You just...make me dizzy, that's all..." he whispered. Katara's giggles fainted and her gaze lifted to his. Golden eyes froze as ice pierced him. Zuko's breathe caught as the intensity of her beauty poured forth, flowing from those gorgeous, forgiving, peaceful eyes, the ones he knew were his alone, his angel, his love...and once again his annoying, sinister hormones took over.
They were standing in the hall outside Katara's bedroom door. Sokka had retired to his room awhile ago, after discarding all the offensive fish from his stomach. Iroh was still playing Aang, who - despite all his Avatar skills and bending techniques - could not win a single game of Pai Chow against the crazy Uncle.
Katara began to fade from reality as Zuko's lips caressed her neck. He wasn't holding her too tight, but he wasn't letting her go either. She thought briefly of inviting him inside - an idea that had become harder and harder to resist as the days wore on - but knew that their love had to be tested, even til this breaking point. She nipped Zuko's ear softly and the Prince swallowed, placing a light kiss on her before pulling away.
Katara looked at him for a moment before placing a soft hand on his scar. He didn't flinch; Zuko was used to her gentle touch and he wasn't ashamed of his scar anymore. He could still see only in blurs, it still burned from seawater, but Katara's touch brought him no pain.
"Tomorrow...when we get to the Water Tribe at the North Pole," whispered Katara sadly as Zuko gazed silently at her. He smiled gently and leaned in, kissing her forehead.
"We'll be married," he said slowly. Katara smiled at the prospect and kissed him again.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too," said Zuko, no longer fearing those words. "Goodnight...and sweet dreams."
"Only of you," said Katara quietly before she slid away from him, stepped inside her room and closed the door. As her hand left the doorknob, one half of her mother's necklace glittered at her wrist.
Zuko thought about skipping down the hall, but he decided against it for fear of waking Sokka. He turned the corner into a chamber where he could hear Aang fuming about his twenty-third loss; as he entered his bedroom, the half-necklace on his upper arm glittered in response to Katara's.
"Admiral Zhao, we have news of the Avatar -"
Zhao leapt from his seat and sent maps, pens, and ink fountains flying through the room. A candle fell to the floor at his feet and the flame vanished in a flash of smoke.
"What news? Report, or I'll make it so your throat burns to speak," he snarled, glaring at the messenger. The man straightened up as sweat poured down his forehead from fear.
"The - the Avatar is with the Prince, and they are pulling into the Northern Water Tribe tomorrow. We are only a few days march from there, Admiral -"
Zhao gave a great, terrifying laugh and slammed his hand onto the table, causing the legs to wobble dangerously. His shoulders were bent, but thankfully they were not lit with flame. The messenger relaxed a little and continued with his report.
"Also, sir, there's a small army of earth benders coming up the West Pass. My companion and I tried to send a spy in, but they discovered us before we had a chance. They are only three days away, but if we move quickly -"
The messenger would have gasped, if it hadn't have been for the hand on his throat. Zhao was flaming again, his rage unpredictable, his wrath death.
"Do not tell me how to run my army," he growled, throwing the man to the floor. As the messenger gasped for air the Admiral left briskly from the cabin and strode out into the cold air.
Soldiers were cooking various sized fish over blazing fires as their companions pitched tents, shivering right down to their Fire Nation bones. Others were throwing blankets over the horses and feeding them barley, an attempt to save them from the bitter Northern winds. Still others played with the dogs, feeding them leftover fishbones and talking with old Generals who retold glorious stories about the Nation's rise to power.As the Admiral strode between them, the camp hushed instantly. Zhao was absolute terror, and no one under his command dared to speak out of line when he was present.
Zhao glared at them all with this sickening, insane smile. With oone swift flurry of movement he spun a dagger from his belt and it thudded, quivering, into the snow.
"Most of you will stay here...prepare for battle. There's an army coming and you should be able to defeat them without problem. But do not kill them all. I want as many alive and captured as you can manage. The rest of you will come with me to the Northern Water Tribe. I have business with some of its visitors."
There was a silence stemmed from the army's great fear of their Admiral. Zhao's smile faded.
"WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT? GET TO WORK!" he roared, the fire licking his shoulders. The men started and floundered through the snow to prepare, their motivation thriving from their terror. Zhao watched them all carefully and the guard from the previous day, his neck bandaged and inflamed, approached the Admiral.
"Who will go with you for the Avatar, sir?" he asked quietly. Zhao turned to him, the very essence in his eyes on fire, his soul baring from his gaze like a greedy, fiery demon in search of fresh blood.
"I will decide that. You will stay with the army. Front line. Do not..."
Zhao's hands flickered with flame and the burns in his palm deepened.
"...disappoint me."