"Come on, you're taking forever!" Zuko's voice came bouldering up the stairs.
After contemplating over what to do for half an hour, they decided to first go to Katara's apartment, that was left unlocked by Toph.
Katara was getting ready so that they could go to the park where a carnival was being held. Strangely enough, it was Zuko who suggested it. She was surprised at first because he didn't look like he was the kind of person to enjoy such things or even look around for them. But she just figured that it was something that he learned to like while going out with Mai.
I wonder if their still together?
She dismissed the thought at first, saying that it was none of her business, because it wasn't. But even now she couldn't stop wondering...
"I'm coming!" Still putting on one of her shoes, Katara came down the stairs wearing a beautiful light-blue lace dress with long sleeves that flowed to right above her knee. Her hair was loose with a tiny side braid that kept her hair out of her face. She had just the right amount of make-up on to look radiant but still natural.
Zuko who was wearing a plain white, long-sleeve shirt and normal jeans, looked at her in awe for just a second before he could composed himself again.
"Better grab a coat, it can get very chilly here." Katara said. She was trying to brake the silence, not that it was awkward but she didn't feel exactly comfortable with Zuko just staring at her.
Why do I suddenly feel so nervous? And did I see Zuko flinch?
Walking faster than she needed to, she went to the coat hanger and grabbed both of their jackets. She slightly blushed when she had to give him his and their hands touched. She didn't know what it was she was feeling, she just assumed that she felt exposed now that he knew all of her secrets.
Despite the uncomfortableness earlier that morning, they had had the best time at the carnival. Zuko wasn't used to the games or entertainment that they had here so Katara got to show him the ropes. At first she would win the game and he would justify himself by saying that that's not how you do it, but once he learned the right way of doing those things, he was a fierce component. They had the best time challenging each other. When it was time for the penguin dancing, they sat next to each other in the front row, cheering as loud as they could.
It was only know that the carnival was packing up and they didn't know where to go that they didn't know what to say to each other again.
Neither of them wanted to go home so they went for a walk around town, finally resting when they reached a pond with benches around it. The bench was small, but big enough for them to not touch.
They walked in total silence the whole way, but they were more comfortable with each other than ever.
It was still light out and you could see the fish swimming around in the water. They looked so peaceful.
"Hey, Katara" Zuko asked.
"Yeah?" she replied, wondering what it was that he wanted to ask her.
", Do you really blame yourself for what happened to your father?"
She was cought off guard and didn't know what to answer. She ended up telling him that she did because she left him alone. She also told him about some of the nightmares that she's been having.
"I'm sorry."
He sounded really apologetic that he didn't know what she was going through.
"But ever since you told me a bit about your life last night, I couldn't stop wandering about the rest. I shouldn't have asked."
She told him that it was alright and she actually ment it.
She didn't know why but she felt okay telling him about her struggles and wanted to tell him more. Yes, it was an uncomfortable subject but she felt that she could trust him.
And before she could stop herself, she started telling him every detail that he didn't know before.
She shed a few tears and he wiped them away.
He asked if she also regretted not following Aang, not career wise and not about what happened, but if she still had feelings for him. He looked if he instantly regretted asking.
She answered anyway saying no, that she didn't think that it would ever work out or that they were ment to be.
He looked kind of relieved and she wondered what he was thinking...
When she was done telling him her story, she encouraged him to tell her a little about what happened to him after the war reasoning that it was only fair.
He told her about how hard it was being crowned king of thethe Fire Nation and learing to rule, how he had to banish his own sister, and how his life and become extremely difficult when Mai broke up with him. Apperently she just left in the middle of the night leaving a note that said that she was sorry but it was over.
They both comforted each other and must have looked really weird.
It was getting dark and they were both thinking to themselves when Katara's phone rang, it was Sokka. When she answered his voice sounded urgent, telling her to come to the hotel immediately, that he had news.
She jumped up and quickly informed Zuko while they were running to the hotel. She was sad that her time with Zuko was interrupted, but worried over what news Sokka had.