Disclaimer: If Avatar was mine, I would have married Zuko years ago…when Avatar: The Last Airbender first appeared. But sadly, other people do…sniffles

A big, hearty thanks to those who reviewed!


Indiehippie, kayko15, latafmodginkianp1618, Spleefmistress, Arya Svit-kona, Lionessmon, kg-rose, Zukoscute2 (I think so, too!), and Mihoshi Shinryoku.


I'm glad that you like my story so far! Cookies and milk to all those who reviewed!Sorry to those whose names I might havemisspelled.For those who are asking, "Where's the Zutara part?" ask no further because the first two chaps were only for explaining some stuff before the real story continues.

And now, I'll end my babbling and get on with it.


CHAPTER 3: Subsiding Tempers

Eyelids fluttered open, revealing foggy amber orbs. Zuko knew that he was in a different place, somewhere that was not in the Fire Nation because he can see a strange blue flag hanging on a wall in front of where he lay which he recognized dimly as a Water Nation flag.

He looked up and saw a face staring at him. The owner of the face had a radiance he himself cannot ignore. The girl, probably a little younger than he was, had this beautiful brownish skin and clear, blue eyes that he would love to stare at forever. She must be an angel, he thought groggily, when he noticed the light blue robes the angel was wearing. Then I must be dead...

"Fire Lord Zuko!" the angel said gently. "Thank goodness you're awake! You had a fever and you were mumbling in your sleep…"

Even her voice is angelic…. Wait a minute? A fever? Where the hell am I? I'm not dead!

The initial fog from his sickness lifted up and he was able to see his surroundings in a whole new light. Zuko attempted to sit up and ask what the hell was going on when two light hands rested on his shoulder and pushed him back down the bed.

"No, Your Highness," a warm voice laced with gentle severity said. "You need to lie back down."

"Who are you?" asked the ill Lord.

The young woman shook her head and sat on a chair beside him.

"My name is Katara and we were supposed to have a meeting about the export of some of our products here in the South Pole when you collapsed due to a fever," Katara explained.

Pieces of his memory came back to him and he shook his head slowly.

"I remember now…well, we can't have that meeting at my state. This fever is so uncalled for."

"You weren't used to this kind of environment and thank goodness your fever had already subsided."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"A few hours, and you really looked like you need it. When was the last time you slept?"

"Two or three days ago…I don't know…. I was pretty busy running up and down the Nation. I didn't realize that many things needed to be done…."

Katara just nodded.

"Did you take care of me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"If your Nation knew that we left their Lord to die of a fever, that would cause a war and we would be slaughtered. We don't want that…."

"Oh," was all Zuko managed to say. He was disappointed. He expected to hear that she took care of him because she cared. What the hell am I thinking? So what if she cared?

Katara, however noticed that displeasure in his voice and smiled, taking his warm hand into her own cool ones.

"I was just kidding, Fire Lord Zuko," she said, her smile more beautiful than ever. "What kind of human am I if I didn't take care of you? It was my honor and I feel very much pleased to see that you're okay because I was able to help you."

Her face was getting nearer to his and Zuko could feel everything around him become blurry again. What is she going to do…? Maybe…? NO!

But to his surprise, her forehead landed in his and they stayed at that position for a while. Shock and anger was all Zuko could feel at the moment.

The nerve of this…peasant…to do this to me! He yelled inside him, outraged. But before he could draw away and yell at her for her insubordination, Katara let go of him and went for a wash basin at the foot of the bed.

"Good, your temperature's gone lower, but we still need to take care of it," Katara said, wringing a washcloth.

So that was all she was doing, checking my temperature….

You expected a little kiss or something from her didn't you, Fire Lord Zuko? Asked a tiny voice in his brain.

NO! I was just surprised at what she did…it was the first time anyone did that to me…. And of all things, a pissant peasant was the first...wow, what a life! I wonder what would my people think if they knew of this? The feared and respected Fire Lord Zuko, incapacitated by a mere illness...and the chieftess of a poor nation taking care of him...

Yes, it was the first…. Zuko couldn't remember the last time he had become that physically close to anyone, much less a woman. All the other women he talked with were either slaves or warriors and officials of other nations. Sure, there were balls and such, but he avoided those loud, giggling women like the plague. All they wanted was a place in his bed and throne, not a place in his heart.

Zuko settled back in his sheets comfortably and closed his eyes. He loved the warm feeling he was getting from all the thick blankets piled on him—the feeling of fire, but it was a gentler kind of fire that no one could burn from. But most of all, he loved having the attention of someone who was willing to give it to him, not because he was the Fire Lord, but because he was an ailing man who needs that attention.

Maybe I should hire her as my personal nurse… he thought idly before drifting back off to sleep, his arrogance and pride getting the best of him. After all, who wouldn't want to serve me, the Fire Lord? She'll say yes the second I tell her I want her as my nurse/assistant.She'll be a great asset to our great kingdom...

With those thoughts giving him much pleasure, he slept soundly, more comfortable than he had been in years...

Unbeknown to the two teenagers in the room, two old men were watching them from a small crack in the curtained entrance, noticing the faint smile that caressed the Fire Lord's lips, something that last appeared many years ago.


Sorry if this was such a short chapter. I'm fairly busy with schoolwork, but fear not, oh faithful readers and reviewers. Send me many reviews and I'll post up a longer chapter with all the Zutaraness you can handle! Rienne ;p