In the last chapter, I tried to play up Zuko and Zana's budding relationship, but still show how there were many, many flaws in the whole idea of it. I REALLY hope that I was able to show that and not make it seem like the two of them were just falling completely head-over-heels for each other. I was trying desperately to make it read as realistically as possible. COME ON GUYS! I have almost 1,350 hits and VERY few reviews! I really need those reviews for my writing! Please help! Read, review, and enjoy Chapter 14!
Afraid
Zana left Sokka, Aang and Katara in her wake as she began searching for Zuko. She traveled in the direction that he had stormed off to, but there was no sign of him. She couldn't help but feel slightly bad for the young man-he had so many responsibilities to worry about and then, as of a few minutes before, he had to plan out how he was going to defeat his own father.
Soon, Zana reached the edge of the tall treeline and peered in the brush. Though it was midday, the forest was a lush, deep green hue from the high canopy filtering the sun's rays. There was suddenly an abrupt glow that flickered from somewhere deeper in the trees. Zuko... Zana thought to herself. He was still pissed from his encounter with Iroh and she wanted to get to him before he caused the entire woods to burst into flames. She slowly and stealthily crept through the fallen branches and avoided any leaves that might give away her position. She quickly came apon Zuko, breathing heavily, his fists clenched from his most recent outlet of fire. Zana thought twice before revealing herself from behind the large tree with which she was concealing herself. She was curious.
Zuko gave a gruff and unhappy sigh as he tilted his head back and ran his palms frustratedly over his nearly smooth skull. His hair had begun to grow back and it made him feel rather unkempt. They slid over the spot where his Princly top-knot had once been. It was an odd feeling for him. It had been so long since he had allowed his hair to grow out back to its style of that of a young Prince's. The look was so long gone from his memory that it was actually difficult for him to picture himself with anything other than his cleanly shaven skull. One of Zuko's hands found his old silk sash, still fastened to his wrist. He held it up to his face and cooly examined the brilliant gold color. He quickly became bored and allowed his hand to drop back to its place by his side.
Part of Zuko couldn't take the anticipation of the upcoming battle with his father, the Fire Lord, but the other half dreaded it. He knew what his father was capeable of and it was not exactly the most pleasant thing to behold. Zuko frowned, creating deep creases above his amber eyes. "Everything has changed so much..." Zuko mumbled to himself, "I can never go back home without creating a deadly outburst, I am actually traveling with the Avatar, and then, there is Zana..." His voice had trailed off softly. There was an odd look in his gaze. There was something there that had never been apparant before-some new strange emotion that Zuko was too desperate not to show to anyone. His eyes shut and there stood Zana in front of him. She wasas beautiful as always, but not as one would expect the average girl to be attractive. Sure, she had a very aestetically pleasing body, but she had the will and the ability to verbally or physically, if need be, put Zuko in his place. No one except for his father had had anywhere near that type of power over him. To Zuko, the control his father had was torturous and infuriating, whereas Zana's was attractive.
There was a muffled rustle nearby, causing Zuko's eyes to spring open in surprise. He automatically slid into a ready stance just as Zana stepped out of the trees, "Zuko?" her voice was soft with emotion, but he was unable to place the feeling. Zuko righted his frame as she approached him. "Zuko, are you all right?" Zana had a look in her glistening blue eyes that perfectly personified her words. "Yes!" his voice was a little louder than he had intended it to be. "No you're not," she argued right back with an equally defiant and loud tone. It didn't really surprise Zuko, though, he was used to it. The scowl plastered on his face softened slightly. Zana was standing in front of him, her body only inches from his, and she reached one of her strong but slender hands up and traced her thumb along the base of his steady jaw line. The soft sensation sent slight tremors up and down Zuko's body. He didn't want the contact to end: he wanted her to continue touching him like that forever...
The young man was having a hard time controlling himself and keeping his promise to Zana. He cleared his throat and stepped back from her hand. The line that she had traced was growing increasingly colder as he spoke, "There really in nothing wrong. It is just my Uncle...he-" "You are afraid. aren't you?" there was a quizzical look in her eyes, but Zuko was able to tell that her words weren't meant to hurt him-Zana really was sincerely worried for him. Zuko had to find words, but it was difficult, "I do not feel fear," he turned away from her with a grunt. There was no need to seem weak in front of the girl he had just been dreaming about seconds earlier. Besides, Zuko just did not show fear-even if that was the way he had been feeling.
Taking a step up to Zuko, Zana cupped one of her hands atop his broad shoulder and turned him to face her. She knew if he hadn't really wanted to look at her, he would have refused her touch. Zana gave him a meek smile, "There is no shame in fear, Zuko-" she was abruptly cut off by his angered, rumbling voice, "I told you, I am never-" Zana clapped her hand over his mout before he was able to complete his repetitive sentence. There was aslightly stunned look in his piercing eyes-obviously no one had shut him up before. The thought caused a grin to begin to blossom on her lips. "There is no shame. No matter what you think, it is a completely human thought; and that is exactly what you are-a human," the words registered and caused something to click inside of Zuko. He had never actually considered himself a human being, not since his banishment had begun. He felt as if he were the only one who knew the pain he felt and the suffering and shunning he had been forced through, but then Zana had come along. She was banished as well and her own father had caused her as much, if not more, pain as Zuko had been through. It was an oddly warming feeling that plesantly coursed throughout his entire being. Zana had considered him to be an actual human and not just some title or a misunderstood teenager.
The very thought caused him to give a minute smile on the inside-not to mention at the humor of the situation. The girl firmly pressing her hand to his mouth truly cared for Zuko in a way that he had never been before in his life. Zana's face was no more than a finger's width from his own and she searched deep into his eyes. "You know, you don't have to hide anything from me. Who am I going to tell? Momo?" The comment illicited a smile from the silenced teen. She felt Zuko's lips curl softly against her hand and she released him. "There, now. I did tell you that I would appreciate the old Zuko back, but I don't think I can live with a temper-tantrum every hour," she grinned. "Excuse me?" he mocked anger, but was unable to conceal a laugh on the end of the sentence. Zana thrust her arms around Zuko's neck and he automatically slung his hands around her hips.
Zana blushed. She was still not quite used to all of the affection she was receiving from Zuko. All of the years in the Fire Naton's Academy for Girls had caused her to guard her emotions very carefully, but there really was no hiding her true essence-a normal, outgoing teenage girl. She was a fantastic warrior, but she still cried when she was hurt, bled when injured, laughed when happy, and was able to feel love-exactly like Zuko. The young man's features softened dramatically as he studied Zana. She was unsure about the attention, but, whatever it was for, she secretly enjoyed it. Zuko bent forward and just when she thought he was about to kiss her again, he leaned his smooth forehead against hers, tugging slightly at the hair cascading across her features. His eyes were closed and his dark lashes grazed her eyelids softly and tickled. Zana stared at Zuko's face. His scar took up most of her line of sight and seemed a dark hue of purple in the dim forest light. She found herself wondering what it was he was thinking so intently about. His strong arms pulled her up against his body and closed the slight gap between them.
Her eyes grew wide as she felt every part of his frame conform to fit her in his comforting grasp. Zuko's muscular arms undulated against her back as he shifted to rest his head atop her shoulder. Zana gave in and hugged back. She knew by his movements that she had been correct about his fear. Zana's eyes closed with the warmth from his body against hers. There really was no need for him to admit aloud that she was right, his actions were more literate than he ever could have been.
Zana relaxed and further gave into Zuko's embrace. She knew how very difficult it was for him to show even that miniscule amount of, what he considered to be, weakness.
The two of them stood there in silence. Zuko was motionless, but his mind raced so fast that it was hard to decipher all of the different thoughts running through it. He wondered about the plan the girls had brought up-how they were going to get to the island unnoticed, how they were going to enter the Fire Nation safely, how he was going to battle his own father… It would have been a much harder task if he actually cared for the Fire Lord, but then again, most things are made more difficult when matters of the heartwere dragged into the picture. Zuko squeezed his eyes shut tighter and hugged Zana closer to his own body.
Aang dropped his head back in a sigh. There was just too much information for his mind to comprehend. He sat down alone at the river's edge with a large mango held tightly between his hands. Momo hopped up on top of his narrow shoulders and also stared longingly at the fruit in Aang's grasp. The boy gave a smile, "Here, you can have it, Boy. I'm not really hungry anyway…" With the last words that slipped past Aang's lips, the Flying Lemur happily snatched up the mango and bit into it with his fangs. The boy gave a little laugh and looked back up at the setting sun. He knew that he would have had to go up against the Fire Lord sooner or later, but he had not really expected it to be a few weeks after he was at the North Pole.
The Avatar wasn't cocky enough to think that it would be easy for him to fight the Fire Lord-he hadn't even learned Earth or Fire Bending yet. Well, there had been that time when he was able to control the fire, but Aang had ended up burning Katara. In a way, it had been a very good learning experience coupled with pain as she was able to discover her healing abilities. Fire Bending… he thought and clasped a hand over his forehead in stupidity. He had been traveling with not one, but two Fire Benders for a week or so and he hadn't even thought of asking themfor help with his Bending abilities. Aang felt so idiotic. He sat forward and pivoted, looking for said teenagers, but they were nowhere to be found. Come to think of it, none of the others in the group had seen them either since Zana went to go find Zuko. Aang hoped they were ok, but those two were probably some of the most capable warriors around and they could probably handle themselves.Aang promised himself that he would ask one of them to teach him Fire Bending, but he would do it when there was more of an opportunity for him to learn it correctly.
Zana ran her hands up and down Zuko's forearms. Their embrace had ended in silence and the two of them were speaking with their piercing eyes. She gave a contented sigh through her nose and shifted her gaze to the top of Zuko's head. Zana's smile grew wide and she reached her hand up to the crown of his skull, "Your hair…it's growing back." He obviously not been able to keep up his clean-shaven look while they were out in the forest, causing a small covering of stubble to graze his head. Apon closer inspection, she was able to tell where the flesh of the side of his head had been scarred so badly that it was impossible for hair to grow-causing a jagged line to invade his scalp. Zuko gave a snicker and ran his own finger tips back and forth over his head, "Yes, I-" "I like it," Zana piped up and shot him a flirtatious smile. Zuko returned it and dropped his palms.
Zana truly thought Zuko looked handsome. She saw through his scar and outward toughness, and she really enjoyed the view. Zana gave yet another of her reoccurring smiles and slid her hand into Zuko's. He focused his amber eyes on their contacting palms. She gave a barely audible snicker at his odd behavior and tugged him along after her.
Zuko followed along in Zana's wake putting up no fight at all. It was a little hard for him to give up some, if any, control; but with Zana in the lead, there was no halting his new and submissive attitude. He didn't give any thoughtto where she was leading him, but it wasn't of any importance in his mind. Zuko watched as the girl led him, weaving, through the trees. Zuko contemplated allowing her to drag him along, but then he recalled how she had seemed like she wanted to say more back when she'd first 'stumbled' upon him.
He dug his heels into the leaf-littered forest bed, "Wait, where are you taking me?" Zana stopped and turned to him, "I wanted to head back to the camp-" Zuko felt odd that he had a pang of disappointment that that was where she had been taking him, "-the others will be worried that we have disappeared for so long, and I did need to tell you that if we still want to go along with our plans…it may take quite a while to reach Appa…" she looked sincerely disappointed that she had had to tell Zuko that.
His face dropped and he pulled his hand from her soft grasp. Zuko's face deepened in a frown. He was extremely disappointed. Zuko had wanted to reach the outskirts of the Fire Nation as soon as he possibly could, especially since all the talk of the inevitable match between him and his father had been brought up. Though he knew that deep down he was nervous and, possibly even, slightly fearful for the encounter, Zuko knew it was the thing he most had to do-as much for himself as for the rest of the innocent world. Zana had brought that much to light in front of his eyes.
Zana simply stared at Zuko's pondering face. She knew she shouldn't have brought it up so soon after his argument with Iroh, but she had to tell him sooner better than later. Zana felt he could be so confusing sometimes-one minute, Zuko was practiacally begging to be in her arms for silent comfort, but the next he was pissed because it would take them a little longer than expected to reach their destination. "It won't be that much longer until we reach the island, maybe a week or so longer than we anticipated," she said, hoping to quell whatever was welling up inside of the young man in front of her.
Zuko released a self-regulating sigh to calm his nerves. Inside, he knew that there was really no reason to blame Zana for the lengthy delay, but there had to be a way to get there faster. He was dying to just get it all over with and have his precious revenge. Even through his angry thoughts, there was no stopping the growl from the pit of his stomach. The sound was nearly painful it was so loud. Zuko froze, hoping that Zana hadn't heard anything, but there was no letting anything slip past her, "You haven't eaten, have you?" He gave a pale blush from the high point of his cheek bones-he was able to be embarrassed: he had a stone front, but Zuko was still a teenage boy-easily flushing in front of the girl he wanted to prove so much to. "What am I going to do with you?" Zana grinned playfully, slipping her arm through the crook of his and began again to pull him back to the others and the camp.
Later, after the sun set and everyone who hadn't eaten filled their stomachs with what was left of the fruit, they decided what the order of the watch was going to be. It turned out that both Zana and Zuko were going to have to keep watch much later in the night, so both of them settled in for a bit of rest. Zana, wrapped tightly in her cloak, was out nearly instantly, as was the rest of the group. Aang paced back and forth at the river's edge, occassionally twirling an orb of water to occupy himself as well ashis short attention span. Zuko rolled over and studied Zana's exhausted features beside him. He knew that if he touched her, she would wake; as did all trained warriors at the slightest hint of surprise or danger, but it was such a difficult urge to fight. Zuko allowed his gaze to slowly travel up and down her body. Though most of the curves were hidden in a sea of fabric from her cloak, he gave a sly, knowing smile as to what was underneath it all.
Suddenly, however, he was hit with a thought as if by one of the Avatar's powerful wind gusts, causing his eyes to grow wide: what happens when we defeat father...what happens to me and Zana? The thought shocked him as he hadn't really thought about the idea before. He knew that he would be expected by the people to marry, as was custom for all eighteen-year-old men, but the very thought sent dread shooting up and down his spine. As he had yelled at Iroh earlier, he was nearly seventeen and, if he hadn't been banished, he would have been preparing for a wedding in the near future to his betrothed. Since he left at fourteen, however, he didn't find out who he would have been forced to marry-that right was reserved for sixteen-year-olds. Though the very notion disgusted Zuko, he couldn't help but feel curious about who it had been that he was arranged to marry.
His eyes stayed focused and unblinking on Zana's closed ones throughout the discussion in his mind. Zuko came to the conclusion that, even if he wanted to marry and was able to marry whomever he wanted, the Fire Nation would never approve of Zana-Wait! What the hell am I thinking? There is no way that I like Zana that much-I don't even want to be married in the first place-too much shared control...or maybe... Zuko blinked hard and rolled to look away from Zana's face to dismiss any and all thoughts like the ones he had been contemplating. He had never had any intentions of being married-since he had been banished-just because custom said so. Zuko closed his eyes and wondered why it was that when he looked at Zana, she evoked the strange thoughts that had run so briefly through his head.