Disclaimer: Why do they have to make us recall in every single chapter that we do not own this wonderful piece of animation and art? WHY?
Many thanks to my reviewers:
Spleefmistress, DarknessinShadows, reginastar, C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only, dymphana, Lady-Maerad, pureangel86, sweet-but-evil, clearsunrise, Arya Svit-kona, Storybender, kayko15, Writer2TheEnd, Badgrl74, Zukoscute2, sunshine60, almostinsane, Monito, Lionessmon, and Rashaka.
To the ones whose names I might have misspelled, my apologies.
CHAPTER 10: Shimmering Nights
People twirled around the room, skirts and robes flying in the air. The music was loud and had a fast tempo the Fire Lord was all too familiar with. He tried to smile as widely and politely as possible while talking to a beefy man with breath that smelled of garlic and piss. The man was a very influential merchant in the Earth Kingdom and King Zuko knew that offending the smelly man would surely destroy the wonderful night.
After a while, Zuko grew tired of the happy scene before him. The bright lights overhead the massive ballroom was giving him a headache; add to that the fierce reflections of the many jewels the ladies wore piercing his eyes. Some idiot had also the audacity to request a popular song of the Fire Nation—the one that had loud, deafening drum beats and annoying guitar strums.
With an ever courteous nod to his guests, he excused himself, saying that he needed to oversee some things. The smelly merchant clapped him on the back and Zuko felt his world spin when he gave a breath of death. Instead, he just closed his eyes, nodded again, trying to get away from the many noblewomen crowding around him, trying to ask him to dance. Zuko saw his Uncle Iroh give him a small smile and the Fire Lord returned it with a scowl.
After wriggling out of the grasps of those loud girls, he took off for the gardens, where the scent of the flowers permeated through the air and he welcomed it all, letting aroma of jasmine, honeysuckle, and roses fill his nostrils and lungs with welcome oxygen.
He snapped an order to his guard to never let anyone be on this part of the gardens for the rest of the night. Agni knows that being pestered by those gaudily made-up women and escaping from their three-inch talons were straining him more than a war with any rebels. The guard gave a sharp nod and proceeded to secure the entrance to the east side of the gardens.
Zuko, his mind hazy with the aromatherapy of the flowers, went eagerly to his secret spot. He got lost a few times in the labyrinth of hedges, but he finally snaked his way to his favorite corner. With a small laugh, he realized that he had been living in the Fire Palace for more than a year now, and he was still getting lost around the gargantuan estate and intricate complex of buildings.
Stupid Uncle Iroh, he thought a bit savagely as he came nearer to his goal. He had set up this ball for him. It was intended to be a short, simple party for the council members, but Iroh made it into a full-scale ball, inviting nobles, rich merchants and their daughters, in the hope that Zuko would choose a bride, marry and have kids. It seems now that the only goal of Iroh's life was to have grand nephews and nieces off Zuko.
"Then why don't you search for a wife instead to fill your lonely nights?" Zuko had snapped when Iroh mentioned again of his life being lonely with no children around to take care of, with Zuko grown-up and already managing a nation.
The old man's tummy bounced as he gave a loud chuckle.
"Oh no, Lord Zuko, I am too old for that, and I'm afraid my arthritis will get in the way when I even try to carry anyone to my bed."
"Then get a strong woman who will be the one to carry you to the bed."
For a moment, Iroh looked thoughtful and a mischievous smile played across his lips.
"You're not thinking of the bounty hunter, are you, Uncle?"
"You mean Miss Jun? Ah, the epitome of the warrior woman. I would love to have her as my consort, but then again, you will not have any peace at nights again. We will be too noisy, with her whipping me with that charming beast whip of hers."
Zuko didn't speak and resisted the urge to stuff his fingers in his ears to drown out the horrid images his uncle was planting in his mind. He bent back to his scrolls with much more concentration.
"But I think the screams of an old man at night would give everyone nightmares. A scream of ecstasy from a young king would do more for the happy and peaceful dreams of an old man and his servants."
Zuko shook his head as he remembered that scene and how fire flared through his nostrils and ears, earning him a clap from Iroh, applauding him for the new trick.
He was only a few steps away from the area when, to his dismay, another person was already there. This was the second time in a day that his sacred spot was intruded. He was not in a very forgiving mood and wanted to shoot a fireball at that person—until he recognized who the person was.
It was Katara, the fiery Water Tribe chieftess. But it couldn't be her. The fairy, goddess, whatever, in front of him was a stunning vision in silver blue, the hem of her robes fluttering dramatically with every sigh of the wind. Her skirts were sort of puffed up and the sleeves reached all the way to her wrists. The dress/robe was elaborately embroidered with silver thread and sparkling ice crystals. The wide silver sash that held the robe closed was made from the finest silk available in the world. Blue crystals hung from it, also winking at him from the distance. The only thing destroying the breathtaking image was the white mask Katara had over her face. The event wasn't a masked ball, so why should she wear one? If Zuko didn't know any better, he would have surmised that she was the legendary North Star goddess, whose shining light was the compass lost travelers used to find their way home.
With a frown, Zuko become conscious of the fact that the dress was oddly familiar. Then a memory shot through him with the force of the Fire Nation armada: A little boy, not older than five, dancing happily with a young woman wearing the same blue dress Katara wore.
It was her mother's favorite dress, but Ozai had deeply disapproved of it, as it was of Water Nation colors. The dress also caused many rumors to spread across the country, rumors of how their queen favored the colors of a barbarian and lowly nation. In an effort to please her husband, the queen had it locked away, and Zuko clearly remembered the anguish in her eyes when she had it stowed in a trunk, meant to be forgotten. To tell the truth, Zuko also loved that dress, how it highlighted her beautiful brown eyes and dark hair, making her look like the many fairies of her stories.
But why is it now being worn by this stupid water wench? It seemed that wounds that never healed are cut again.
Zuko took a deep breath, trying his darnedest not to set the whole gardens on fire. He approached her silently and spoke behind her.
"It is such a beautiful night, isn't it? I wonder what a beautiful lady like yourself is doing here and not enjoying the festivities inside."
Katara jumped a mile when she heard his voice. She just nodded and tried not to speak, or her mask would have been for nothing.
"May I sit down beside you?" he asked, indicating to the vacant place on the bench.
Katara nodded again. For a few minutes, they just sat in silence, looking at the sky.
"You know what would make this night perfect, my lady?" he said finally, breaking the serenity.
Katara shook her head.
"I just wish that I could see your face behind that mask so that I may see the beauty that is trying to elude me. My lady, please give me the honor of me even seeing a flutter of your elegance, so that I may sleep comfortably at night with the enchantment of an angel instilled in my soul."
Was Zuko playing with her? What has made him all so dolled up like this? She didn't know that he could be poetic. She shook her head again, this time more urgently.
As she made to stand up, Zuko caught her wrist and ordered her to sit back down. She obeyed and glued back her butt on her concrete seat.
"Katara, it's no use hiding behind that mask. I know it's you."
Katara's eyes widened and slowly, she took the cover off her face, letting Zuko see the light make-up and glitters a servant had forced her to wear. Her hair was arranged in an elaborate bun, with loose, curled chestnut tendrils framing her face. Add the dress and she was a goddess in his eyes. His fury at her wearing his mother's dress disseminated as quickly as it had come.
"What are you doing here?" she snapped. "How did you know it was me? And when did you become oh so poetic and charming?
"I should be asking you the same thing. First, you're wearing your mother's necklace; I know of only one person to have that necklace. Second, this is my palace. I'm free to do as I wish. Thirdly, this is a trick taught to me by some of my stupid instructors: Try the smooth talking first before charging like a rampaging Komodo Rhino. It prevents you from wasting too much energy when you could get what you want at a pace where everyone is happy. And now I can see it works and I didn't have to create, much less shoot a single fireball. He might have some brains up in his attic. I should offer him a raise. You think I am charming, huh? You never get to see me when I really am trying to be charming." You'll fall in love with me in an instant.
"Fine," said Katara, getting up. "You stay here and I'll go back to my room."
"Stay," he commanded, grasping her arm and pulling her closer. Katara grumbled but complied. "So what are you really doing here? Do you not enjoy the party?"
"The music is too loud, the mixed perfumes of all those nobles are giving headache, and there was this guy who kept on hitting on me. I needed to escape somewhere. What about you?"
"Same reason, except I'm being chased by a hoard of garishly dressed girls of ages that range from twelve to sixty-five, all vying for the title of Fire Lady and my consort. So yeah, I needed to escape as well."
"Then why not get a woman to stand as your partner so those girls won't chase you anymore?"
"Let's just say I couldn't find a woman worthy enough to be at my side."
"I'm at your side as of the moment. Does that mean I'm worthy?" But she instantly regretted it when the words were spoken. Zuko glanced at her coyly and he didn't need to speak for Katara to know what he meant.
"Do you want to be that woman? With the way you're dressed tonight, you'll pass up as my concubine."
Katara fumed and tried to stand up angrily but Zuko still had his hand on her arm.
"I will not stay here and be insulted!"
"Relax, I was just kidding. The problem with you is you are far too stern. Lighten up, okay?"
Katara sneered. How dare he say that when just a year ago, he was the one who was too severe and probably didn't even know how to laugh? Huffily, she sat back down, not noticing how his hand went from her arm to her hand.
It was a while after Katara spoke again.
"Lord Zuko…."
"We're alone, just call me Zuko."
"Zuko…I…I'm sorry for slapping you that time."
"No problem. I probably deserved. I should be the one apologizing; after all I took your first kiss."
"H-How did you know it was my first kiss?" Great, he knows. The whole world probably knows now that she still keeps her rabbit plush toy under her pillow.
"Your kiss was inexperienced, and from your reaction, I figured as much. But your inexperience intrigued me, so much that I was dying for another kiss. In fact, I'd like one right now."
"Stop being a pervert."
"I'm not. For your information, I thought that I was being honest, not being a pervert."
Katara tried to hide a blush. Zuko wanted her?
"Katara, tell me something. Where and how did you find that dress?"
"I just found it in the closet in my room. I fell in love with it and just had to wear it."
Zuko sighed.
"What's wrong, Zuko? You don't like the dress? I knew it was too flashy, but they said I look good in it…and that I remind them of someone long ago…"
"No, the dress fits you perfectly. It's just that…" he looked at her with a pained expression, "the dress used to belong to my mother. She had it hidden before she died."
"I'm sorry…I didn't know." An awkward pause. "Wait here, Zuko."
"What? Where are you going?"
"To my room. I'm taking off this dress. I have no right in wearing this."
"No, just leave it be. I kind of like seeing you wear that. You look very pretty in it, and I swear, if you only had dark hair, brown eyes and lighter skin, you could have looked like her, my mother I mean."
"All the more reason for me to take it off—I'm reminding you too much of something you've lost."
"It would displease me more if I see you remove it. Although, I would very much like to discover what is under that dress."
"You're being a pervert again."
"Your words wound me."
They laughed, their voices ringing through the noiseless night.
As soon as Katara stopped laughing, she observed him critically. She had never heard him laugh before and he had a nice, hearty laugh. For once, he was wearing something that wasn't his armor or training clothes. His robes were a deep red and embroidered in gold. He looked like his rank, only more majestic. He still had his hair in a single ponytail, though. Katara knew that without his scar, he would look so much more handsome. But the scar had its advantages—he looked sexy and mature with it.
Katara mentally slapped herself. Her hormones were taking over her reasoning again.
"Katara, you look very beautiful tonight," he said suddenly, catching her off-guard, and it seems that while she was observing him, he was eyeing her as well, albeit not as obviously.
Katara blushed. "Thank you and you don't look so bad yourself."
"Uncle made me wear this. I wanted to go to the party in my armor. Do I look like an old man in this?"
"Yes, but not as old as your uncle anyway; you look very mature…like you're already twenty or something, and you look very royal. And who in their right mind wears an armor in a gala?"
"Now you're the one who's being desirous."
"Huh?"
"You want me, I know, and I can't blame you. I look too dashingly handsome for my own good."
"Shut up."
"You're the only person who has told me to shut up, you know."
"Good. At least you know that you're still human."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"You know what I mean. You're a king, everybody bows down to you. You'll find that it helps for your sanity to have someone give you orders for a change."
"You may have a point, but I'm still in the enjoying phase of getting to order everyone around."
Katara sighed, and then heard faint music.
"Hear that? They're playing a slow song. I actually know this one!" She got up and offered a hand to the king. "Since we're all dressed up to dance and neither of us is dancing, would you give me the honor of this one?"
Zuko raised his remaining eyebrow. He sighed and too her hand.
"Fine, but one dance. The training I had isn't exactly dancing lessons."
"I never had any dancing lessons either, so let's just sway, okay?"
They revolved and swung to the beat of the music. The song was a bit long and Katara found herself wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning her head on his shoulder.
"This night didn't turn out as bad as I thought it would," she remarked sleepily.
"As did I; I never thought that I could be as calm as this."
"Hello, you're with a Waterbender. They say we have that effect on people."
"And you also have the effect of making me feel crazy."
"I do?" she stared up at him, her sapphire eyes wide.
"Yes, just looking at you makes me want to kiss you for the rest of my life. All of what I'm thinking when I'm with you is so…illogical yet it makes me happy. See? I really am going crazy."
"Then I'm crazy as well…."
"What?"
"Because I feel the same way…you do…"
Their lips met, hunger and passion the driving force behind each kiss. Zuko tried to make it chaste, just a light peck to satisfy the pleas of his mind to kiss her again. But when she reached up and captured his mouth, he knew that whatever will happen afterwards wouldn't be so innocent anymore. Fire encompassed their burning bodies and they knew they had to stop before everything goes out of control and they might do something they'll regret later.
"Now that kiss wasn't so juvenile anymore," Zuko whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her.
"I had a great teacher," Katara murmured as his lips trailed to her neck.
"Who?" he removed his face from her neck and stared at her. She had another man during this past half year? That was completely unacceptable!
"Shh…you idiot, you're the only one I've ever kissed. Does that satisfy you?"
"In that case, you learn quickly. I just wonder what you did all those six months I wasn't there to kiss you. I was right, you do like my kisses."
Katara chose not to answer before she betrays her emotions too much and have her spilling on about how she's almost in love with him.
"We better go back to the party. They might be looking for you, Zuko."
He pressed her closer to him. "Can't we just stay here?" he complained like a little boy.
"No, because the people by now are wondering where their king is and could possibly launch a full blown search party."
"Fine." He gave her one last kiss and they went for the exit.
"Has anyone searched for me?" Zuko asked the guard at the east garden entrance.
"Only your Uncle, Your Highness, and a handful of women, but I fended them off as you wished."
"Good."
Zuko pulled on Katara's hand and together, they went back in the master ballroom. The sentry permitted himself a small smile as he stared at his master. He must be a god, he mused, to enter this garden alone, and have an angel at his side when he comes out.
----------
"Everything is in order, dear friend," Iroh told Jing. The party was still going strong and the old men retreated to the corners where they couldn't be bothered or overheard.
"What did you do?"
"There was this special dress I had snuck off to Katara's room. It's his mother's and I have a feeling that it would help them a lot. Just a few minutes ago, a soldier just told me that he entered the gardens and then came out with Katara. He also added that they were holding hands and having weird dreamy expressions on their faces."
Jing lighted up. "This is great news! You are one devious son of a bitch, Iroh. I applaud you for it."
"You can thank me by dong the next step."
"I already did. All they have to do is step in the trap, and then poof! grandchildren!"
"Now that we have that out of our hairs, please excuse me as I see a lovely young lady waiting for me."
"Damn, you dirty old bastard. Where did you get her?"
"An acquaintance of long ago. Her name is Jun; she's a bounty hunter. She's mine, so get your filthy paws off. Find your own."
"Ask her if she has a sister."
"Tried that already—the poor girl is already betrothed to the smelliest man I have ever met; but he's rich, so, the girl couldn't complain that much."
"There goes what I hoped to be was a fun night for me."
"No matter, there are a lot of girls here."
"You're right. Better get going then. I wouldn't want all the good ones taken away."
"And I'll be sure to tell the servants to put extra springs in your mattress."
"You are the bestest friend a guy could ever have."
"Your approval touches me deeply."
"Go to your woman while I find mine. She's already tapping her foot—she seems to be impatient."
"She just couldn't get enough of Iroh, could she?"
Jing pretended to gag as Iroh walked off. Straightening, he scanned the area for a possible prey.
Not only young ones get to have some fun once in a while….
Okay, this chapter was a bit crappy, and Zuko is OOC, but take note that he's not as bitter as before, with him being king and gaining the love and trust of his people once again. This chapter is also full of lovey-dovey 'cause it's Valentine's Day in a few days and one of my fans wanted some more Zutara action, so this is the best I can do. Zuko will be back to his grouchy old self and Katara will be…Katara in the next chapters. The only thing in my mind right now is my exams, and when I wrote this story, I almost made one of characters shout out 'Ad Misericordiam' or something about molality and molarity. Please check out my new songfic, Infinite Abyss. It's ZukoxKatara and very angsty and dark. Also my short drabbles, Agateodrabbles. Thank you.
And now, (drum roll please) REVIEW! If I get many reviews, I'll update as fast as I can.
Rienne ;p
