Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. If I did, I would have killed Lord Ozai long ago for giving Zuko that horrible scar…but he's still cute….drools
(…) - Indicate Katara's subconscious
CHAPTER 7: Penguin Slides
"Oh, look over there, Zuko," said Katara with a sense of excitement, pointing to a small hill at the distance. "They're playing penguin slides! Come on, let's join them!"
"What are penguin—" Zuko started to say, but Katara already got hold of his mittened hand and was leading him to the hill. They saw some kids around the age of ten to twelve, trying to catch some penguins and using them to slide down the snow hill.
"It's a game Aang taught us," explained Katara, scanning the area for a free penguin. "You just catch a penguin and use it to slide down the hill. It's really fun, kind of like a toboggan, but a bit more extreme. I almost died when I first tried it. Let's go look for a penguin, then."
"I will not," snapped Zuko, folding his arms. "This is a purely juvenile activity and I'd rather do something more productive, if you don't mind. Unlike you, I take my responsibilities of governing a country very seriously."
"Don't be such a stuffy prick," replied Katara calmly. "Come on, your uncle told me that you almost never rest or have any fun. All you think about is your nation and Firebending. Don't you even have a life?"
"I have."
"Yes, and it revolves around your country. I do my duties and responsibilities to the people and still get some time off. Haven't you heard of, 'All work and no play makes Zuko a dull boy?' Can't you even thank the heavens for your ship breaking down? At least you get to have some rest. And besides, Uncle Iroh said that you don't have anymore work left, so he asked me to continue your tour of the village and nearby places." Her hands were on her hips now.
Zuko grumbled viciously. He knew he should have never left his ship. Iroh had nagged him constantly that night about not having time for himself anymore, and interacting with the children yesterday was about the most fun he had for years.
"You need some socialization and some time off," Iroh had said, sipping his tea. "If you don't, you'll find yourself going crazy with all that stress you've put on your shoulders and find what's left of your hair going white at the age of twenty."
"I don't have time to fool around!" barked Zuko, slamming his fist on the table. "There are many things needed to be done! I'll take the time off when everything's okay!"
"And that will happen in the next decade," answered Iroh calmly. "The damage is too great…I'm sure you yourself understand that as well."
"That's why I don't want to slack off. What will the people think when their king is some lazy ass?"
"They will no think less of you if you do have moments of complete entertainment. You're still a teenager, after all. Just relax and enjoy what's left of your younger days. The wonderful Miss Katara will be glad to accompany you around their village."
Zuko looked at his uncle closely. "You know," he drawled, leaning back in his chair, "I've noticed that you are really getting close with that girl and you always seem to be pushing us together. What's the deal with that, uncle?"
Iroh put down his cup on the table peacefully, his face not betraying any emotions he felt.
"You are very sharp, my nephew, but I'm afraid you got me all wrong. You see, Miss Katara happens to be the release you need in your hectic life. She's free-willed, strong, smart, affectionate, and fun. Who wouldn't want to be with a girl like her? If I were only years younger, I wouldn't think twice of asking her to be my bride. Plus, you need to be on her good side, like I've told you."
Zuko's ears flamed when he got the gist of what Iroh was implying.
"I will not, repeat, will not associate myself or even think of marrying that peasant," stormed Zuko.
"She's not a peasant anymore."
"And why would she be glad to accompany me, as you say? She hates my guts."
"And that is your own doing. It's not too late to change that."
"Here, Zuko, I caught one," yelled Katara excitedly, holding up a fat penguin. Zuko shook his head and woke up, seeing the smiling girl in front of him. He took a step back when he realized that she was close—dangerously close and almost at his personal space.
"So?" He tried to sound bored and uncaring.
"So, it means we can play," she said as if talking to a three-year-old.
Zuko sighed and resigned himself to whatever will happen in the next few minutes as Katara lead him to the top.
"You do it like this," instructed Katara as she lay the penguin in the snow facedown. "Sorry, little buddy," she cooed to the penguin and it gave a small sound. She sat on the back of the penguin, thankful that she wore her boots and pants today. "And then, this!"
Katara made a small move and the penguin began to slide down the hill in a fast speed, sending snow behind them as they made their way down. Zuko watched with keen interest, though he tried to hide it, but as Katara was about to land at the base, he sensed something was wrong and something wrong did happen.
A small boy in a blue parka was chasing after a penguin and had the bad luck of slipping and falling down on his face, at the exact same spot where Katara was about to land.
"Get away from there!" screamed Zuko and with speed he acquired through years of hard training, he grabbed a penguin from the kid behind him and slid down the hill, maneuvering his way to go beside Katara.
"NO!" Katara was about to scream as they were a few seconds from collision but Zuko got hold of her in time to steer her and the penguin away from the fallen child. They landed in a soft snow bank a few feet away from the boy.
"Ouch," said Katara as she tried to get up, and noticed the very awkward position she was in. Zuko was below her, his arm never leaving her slim waist since he caught her. He was staring at her, transfixed, as if he just saw something scary yet…how can she put it into words? There was amusement in his eyes, and yes, fear.
"I'm sorry." Katara scrambled up and holding out her hand to pull Zuko up. Zuko raised his remaining eyebrow but didn't accept the hand she offered and got up on his own. Katara looked affronted.
"Katara!" called a girl from the distance. The two teens looked up and saw Fei at the top of the snow hill. "Are you and Lord Zuko okay?"
"We're fine, Fei! Zuko saved me!"
"Be careful next time!"
"I will!"
When Fei was satisfied that her friend was okay, she returned back to her group.
Katara faced Zuko shyly.
"Um, Zuko…thank you."
"Whatever, but you could have seriously hurt that kid. Fortunately for you, I was there and you both were saved. At least you know that such imbecilic games are not worth your time. You should just leave those to children, who have nothing better to do than drool and ask their parents if the food is ready," he jeered with all his arrogance, making Katara more angry than grateful.
"I know that what I did was childish, but you didn't have to say it that way! You make it sound as if I'm a childish moron and not fit to be the chieftess of this tribe!"
"That's exactly what I'm saying." Zuko used all his effort to sound calm, but even he was atthe point of breaking. Never did such a woman scream at him like that and do it almost everyday since he came to the South Pole. "You should leave the governing to real men like me. Your brother would do a far more satisfactory job than you can."
Katara didn't spend time in thinking what she was doing. Her hand raced faster than her mind and it was until she felt the sting on the palm of her hand coming in forceful contact with Zuko's face did she realize what she had done.
Zuko faced her with satanic eyes that were full of spite and fierceness that Katara wanted to melt on the spot. He grabbed her arm in such a tight grip that she cried in pain, but his other hand silenced her. She glanced at the direction of the children and tried to scream to them, but they were all to engrossed in their own activities to pay attention to what others were doing. He dragged her to a small cave at the corner of the village where no one could see or hear them.
"What are you—"
Before she could act, Zuko had slammed her into the cave wall, his hand twisting her arm behind her back.
"I will show you how I treat insolent bitches like you!" he raised a fiery hand and was about to attack her but he stopped when the fire was mere centimeters from her face. The flame was gone and he took her chin and made her look up at him, letting her see the pure contempt etched on his face. Katara had never seen him look so demonic that she almost screamed in fear, thinking what he might do to her.
"Chieftess or not," he said slowly in cold fury, as if trying to hold onto himself with all the control he had, and seeing the tears forming on her pale sapphire eyes, "I will punish you for what you did. I have never been humiliated like that before in my life, especially by someone in your level. I don't care if another war will start because of this. I'm prepared to fight."
"You wouldn't dare…" she began, but Zuko screamed for her to keep quiet and she obediently closed her mouth.
"And now, I'll show you the worst punishment you could ever have. Would you like to hear what it is?" The look of scorn did not leave his face, but there was a strange gleam in his eyes that Katara couldn't place.
Katara stared at him, horror and panic in every fiber of her being. Her mind reeled, thinking about what he was going to do. Will he kill her, scar her with his flames?
But before she could open her mouth to protest, his arms went around her in a strong squeeze, crushing her slender body to his hard-muscled one. It was like crushing into rock.
"Look at me," he ordered and she was compelled to look up. When she did, his mouth came crashing down into hers, giving her a kiss that was more pain than pleasure. His rough lips were brutal in its claiming of her own soft ones as he strove to make her suffer in his arms. He moved violently against her, trying to make her open her mouth and when, finally beaten, Katara obeyed, he delved inside her, tasting her sweet warmth.
But as his kiss deepened, she felt that his arms were no longer chaining her to him, but rather embracing her with gentleness and his kiss didn't feel as offensive as before. However, Katara knew she had imagined it because Zuko was already detaching himself from her and throwing her back into the stone wall.
He faced her.
"If you ever dare to humiliate me again, the next punishment won't be so easy. If you like that kiss, keep on annoying me, but if you don't, which I really doubt, then you stick to your business and I'll stick with mine. Got it?"
He threw her one more contemptuous look and exited the cave.
Katara's knees gave way and she collapsed to the floor, trembling violently as her fingers traced her lips, which were still swollen from the contact. She wiped her lips angrily with the sleeve of her parka and felt like vomiting.
That was so gross! How dare he do that to me? I need a whole room of barf bags!
But would you rather he kill you? Asked a part of her.
Of course not, but he harassed me!
Which you clearly enjoyed, admit it. Deep in your heart, you did enjoy it.
It was my first kiss…and when I wanted to give it to someone I really loved, my dream man, he comes in and takes it. The bastard!
It's too late to do anything now, and you can't tell anyone about it. Trouble will follow if you do.
I know.
She got up, though still a bit shaken. She decided not to tell anyone, mainly because how would it look like? She couldn't just go home and say:
"Gran-Gran, Uncle Jing. You see, today, Zuko and I went for penguin slides but I had some trouble and he saved me. I said thanks, of course, but he insulted me. So, I slapped him in the face. He got angry with me and as punishment, he kissed me. Now, I want to declare war against the Fire Nation. Gran-Gran, please write to King Bumi and tell him to attack Zuko's country at my signal, okay?"
It was just too stupid, and instead of symphatizing with her, Mr. Jing would jump up in joy and demand that she and Zuko get married at once because Zuko already 'touched' her.
Now what the hell am I supposed to do? Crap, now that kiss and his fucking masculinity are all I've got in my head right now. Damn him to hell! I hate you, Fire Lord Zuko! Why didn't you continue that kiss? You left me hanging!
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What the HELL did I DO? Zuko yelled furiously inside of him when he got back to the safety of his room on his ship. What devil made me do it? What possessed me and made me kiss that disgusting girl? Why didn't I just kill her? There were a number of punishments he could giver her, but when she looked up at him, all he could think about was how pale her lips became from fear of him and he...
Zuko punched his fist on the wall with all his strength.
What's happening to me? I know it; I'm getting too soft for my own good. But his mind went back to the moment before he broke apart from her.
I was about to give her a real kiss…what the fuck came over me? Why did she have to look so damn tempting even when crying and afraid? Stupid hormones…stupid puberty, stupid adolescent emotions, stupid girl….
"Zuko, I heard some noise, what's going on here?" Iroh came inside his room, worry on his face.
"It's nothing," Zuko snapped and dropped himself on the bed.
Iroh saw the agitation on his nephew's face and nodded.
"I'll leave you alone, then." He went for the door, but before he went out, he said behind him, "A word of advice, Zuko. Before you get out of this room, I suggest you put some ice on that nasty red mark on your face and wipe off that lipstick. What would the soldiers think when they see their leader wearing cosmetics?"
"Get out!" Zuko grabbed the candleholder by his bedside and threw it to the door Iroh closed quickly. He wiped off the lipstick on his lips with his pillow.
Why does she even wear cosmetics? I need a bath…a long, cold one that will put some sense into me…. Where can I get some ice?
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"My friend, our plan is working very well," declared Iroh, nodding happily to Jing.
"How can you be so sure?" asked Jing, unable to send away the sight of Katara so depressed when she came home a few minutes ago.
"My nephew already made the first move! I just saw the irrefutable evidence!"
"So that was why Katara was…."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"All right, phase two is up next."
"I'm ready."
O.o What are Iroh and Jing up to next? I hope you had fun reading this, 'cause I did when I wrote this. I didn't want the two to get all so mushy and stuff so soon, but I just couldn't resist, so sue me.
It's a mark of how naïve I am when during the part where I describe Zuko and Katara kissing that I had to interview five people who at least know what it feels like to be kissed. I have absolutely no clue. So make my research worthwhile and send me a lot of your beautiful reviews whether you like this chapter or not. Out of the 150+ people who read the last chapter, only three or four reviewed. That makes me so sad…. And from now on, I will decrease the Zutaraness and make the two suffer! Heheheheh…just kidding, I love you, my readers and reviewers, too much to do that. Now, on your mark, get set, REVIEW!
Rienne ;p
