Hello again! I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. Well here we go!
The next few days were torture. Zuko tried to talk to Katara multiple times, but she was avoiding him. It couldn't have been easy, because she spent hours every day sitting between him and Aang. They sat at the long meetings on reuniting to Northern and Southern tribes and reinstating old trade agreements. There was rebuilding to do and restructuring to complete. The water tribe army had to be disassembled and settled back at home. There were countless things to do and Zuko had offered the Fire Nation's help on every issue.
Katara sat in her chair with a stiff back and clenched hands. She sat on the very edge of her chair and stayed as far away from Zuko as she could. Whenever Zuko made a suggestion she was sure to support it, but she flinched when she caught him looking at her. He always tried to talk to her at the end of the meeting, but she would pull away. Saying simply, "Good bye."
Katara still spent as much time as possible with the rest of the gang, but whenever he approached she would slip away with a weak excuse on her lips. He tried to sneak up on them or to approach her when he knew she didn't have anything to do, but she always looked up at him with her big blue eyes and whispered, "Good bye."
The council sessions grew sparser and soon the Southerners began packing up their things and sailing back home. Zuko ran out of reasons to stay in the North, and he got several letters - asking about when he was returning - every morning. He also realized that we had been depending on Chief Arnook's hospitality for long enough. The Firelord and his party started preparing for their departure and it wasn't long before Zuko found himself standing at the docks again. Chief Arnook, Master Pakku, Sokka, Katara, and Gran-Gran stood at the front of the crowd that had assembled to say farewell to the young firelord. Chief Arnook and Master Pakku gave him a couple of very firm handshakes and wishes of a safe journey. He watched Katara hug Suki and Toph close and give Aang a small peck on the cheek. She smiled broadly at them and he could just barely see tears well up in her eyes. Sokka gave everyone hugs and a long kiss to Sukki. He gave Zuko a hug as well and asked him if he was doing alright. Zuko simply nodded his head and moved on to bow to Gran-Gran. The tiny older woman surprised him by clutching him close and whispering in his ear, "She'll get over it." He wasn't allowed to react, because she drew away and shoved him towards Katara. She stood on her tip-toes and kissed his cheek. "Goodbye," she whispered.
He wanted to grab her and shake her. He wanted to seize her and kiss her. He wanted to fall on his knees and beg her to join him. But he didn't do any of that. He bowed stiffly and turned his back to her.
Katara stepped away. She was watching Zuko discuss the ship's departure with the captain, when Toph approached her and tugged at her robes.
"I need to talk to you," she hissed.
Katara followed her off to the side of the dock and sat down where Toph indicated. Toph started pacing. Just when Katara was getting worried and thinking about interrupting, Toph spun on her heel to face her.
"Are you in love with Aang?" she blurted out. "I mean I just. I might have been thinking that-. But he used to… so I just had to... Well are you?"
Katara did her best to cover up her smile before answering. "No, I'm not in love with Aang."
Toph let a huge breath of air and flopped down next to Katara. "I didn't think you did. You can start teasing me now."
"Why should I tease you."
"Because I've got a crush! I've never really been the giggly crush-having kind of girl."
"You don't have to be giggly to have a crush. In fact, I think Aang would be very much concerned if you started laughing at everything he said or started fluttering your eyelashes." Toph still didn't look very happy and she still seemed very embarrassed. "I think he likes you back."
Toph's head snapped back up and a deep red flush crept across her cheeks. "I always feel like he is giving me extra attention, but I thought it was just my imagination."
"I don't think it was." Katara moved her arm to hug Toph again. "I can't imagine a better couple."
Toph pulled away again and Katara was surprised to find a mischievous smirk on her lips. "Then I guess it wasn't my imagination that you and Zuko can't take your eyes off each other. Why the hell haven't you guys been talking?"
"It wouldn't work for us. He's the Firelord, remember?"
Toph stood up suddenly, shaking her head. She punched Katara's shoulder and muttered, "Idiots," before heading back to the boat.
Katara stayed where she was and watched as Zuko gave everyone a last round of bows and handshakes. She watched her friends board the ship. Zuko left the dock last and just before reaching the plank he turned around. Somehow his eyes found her and he raised his hand for one last wave. Katara raised her hand in return, and she wanted to run to him and hold him close. Something in his gaze suggested that he wanted to push through the crowd and stand at her side, but he didn't.
Katara watched the ship sail away. The ship passed the great white gates and Katara crumbled into a heap. She could barely breathe through the sobs that ripped through her body. She gasped for just a moment and thrust out one final shuddering "Goodbye", before sinking completely into her pain and grief.
So, super short chapter this time. Sorry! Please review and let me know where you want this story to go! I have a general idea of where this plot is going to end up, but I want to see what you guys think! A little more TophxAang in this chapter. I don't know how far I'll be going with that, but it is present! Please, please, please review!