Disclaimer: Oh, the possibilites...
A/N: I may, that means there is a possibility I won't, carry on with this and it's sequal onto a seperate story, it depends on your feedback. I posted this in my deviantart account, too, if any of you are wondering why this is familiar.
A/N 2: This is twoshot... yes, I think I just made that up, not particularly sure...anyways, here it tis! Hope you enjoy!
zzz
Turbulence:
"Come on, Aang! Pay attention!" I shouted, trying to get Aang to concentrate on the spar. He glanced at me and let out a yelp, raising a wall of water to block the icy whip I had created.
"Rock like!" Toph shouted, flinging three admittedly vicious looking spikes of rock at Aang. He stood his ground, turning his attention onto the more threatening matter. I let out a hiss of frustration. I'm not going to let someone who bends mud think they are more threatening than me. I thought, summoning an ice spear. Silently, I hurled it at Aang. At the last possible split second he turned around and his eyes widened. I wonder how it would feel to see a lance of impossibly sharp ice coming at you and you had no time to react before…
I melted it with an easy flick of the wrist, letting it come back to me in a dance of droplets.
"You have to be on your guard for the unexpect-" A wall of ice formed in front of me, blocking the huge ball of earth Toph flung at me.
"How's that for unexpected, Ms. Splash?" She cried triumphantly. Calmly, knowing she couldn't sense anything out of her element, I bent a whip and lashed at her, effectively hitting her in the side.
"Now look who's talking, mud squatter." I murmured, knowing I was being harsh. Silently, I apologized to her. A twig snapped behind me and I tensed, letting myself feel all the vibrations that thrummed through the lake around me.
Without looking, I raised a jet of turbulent water and sent it at the rock Toph had furiously thrown at me, noting how sloppy she got when she was angry. I whirled in the water, raising myself with a column of water.
With a quick scan of the forest around me, I decided it was just my imagination. I let my element collapse in on me, carrying me into a tunnel underwater. I could feel the movements of Aang and Toph above me, trying to figure out where I went. Aang could have easily found me if he just learned to trust his senses and feel for me. This trick I had learned on myself, as is tradition for every Water Master, and so would Aang.
"I'm hungry, are you?" Aang asked, looking from me, to Toph, to Sokka. They all agreed, wading out of the lake. "Are you coming, Katara?"
"Nah, I'll just stay here for a bit." I answered, somewhat disappointed.
They traipsed through the forest to our campground. Shaking my head, I turned and froze the lake over. That's when I heard sizzling behind me once more. I whirled around, letting go of my hold on the water.
"Zuko!" He charged at me, but I didn't waver as he summoned what looked like blue fir-
"No… it's lightening." I whispered in horror, watching as he moved his arms slowly, only his middle and index finger uncurled from his fist. I recognized his stance: it's one of the water tribes basic training moves.
He lashed out with his element, adding fire to the mix. I raised my arms and thrust forward, feeling two great jets of water rush past me and meet his assault. While I was occupied by his attack, I didn't notice him slip away.
At least, not until a few seconds later. "Aang! Help!" I was about to yell, but then I realized I'd just be leading him straight to his imprisonment. I turned around to find the banished prince. I grinned. He was in the lake.
I dove in, and was quickly at his side. Or should I say a log's side. He stood, leaning against a large boulder, smirking, quite dry and on the shore.
"It's just you and me, water peasant." He sneered, unfolding his arms and slipping into stance. I repeated the column I had made before, rising above him by at least ten feet.
A huge jet of flames broke the flow of water just below my feet, surprising me. I gasped, my concentration gone. I fell into my element, practically feeling the triumphant smirk of Zuko's.
That jerk.
I began to feel myself weaken, all too knowingly that the spar between Aang and Toph was beginning to take its toll. Now, on top of everything else, I had to fight an energized Zuko while Aang, Toph, and Sokka were merrily about a mile away, munching jovially on food.
I felt him wade into the water, no doubt eager to take the final death blow. I waited.
zzz
I waded into the water towards the Water Peasant's body before she sunk any lower. I couldn't wait to strike the final blow. Yet, something felt wrong.
Eagerly, I pulled her out, yanking her to shore. She lay limply in the sand, her hair streaming out like a soaked halo. Sand laced the rivulets of water that trailed down her flawless tan skin.
I raised a flaming fist, kneeling over her body. I could here her companions' shouts as they got more distant. I stared at those eyelids that covered the eyes that haunted my dreams.
A sudden flash so vivid, I thought she opened her eyes; she was glaring at me, poised with a whip of water. We were in the oasis, fighting over Aang. The moon reflected in her deep sapphire eyes, hardening with determination.
I blinked, staring at her motionless face. Slowly, they opened. It looked as if the sky of dusk was slowly becoming unveiled, the eyes of such a deep, emotional blue, caused my arm to relax its position.
She stared at me.
zzz
He was kneeling over me, his fist raised and flaming, ready to burn me. But something in his eyes… His body block the sun, making most of his features in shadows, but his eyes, so the palpable daylight, was as clear as the sun in a cloudless day. His eyes had softened somewhat, as if he was recalling some stowed away memory. And then they hardened with the same determined, ruthless gold.
My mind raced, trying to think of something to save my life.
I found something, but I thought, No! There's no way I'm doing that!
It's to save your-
Oh, alright!
And I did it.
zzz
Her eyes widened as if she sensed my resolution. I raised my fist higher, pulling my arm back to gain momentum. That's when it happened. It was as if we were moving in slow motion. As I let loose my arm, she moved in the same split second, raising her head, her hands reaching towards my neck.
At first, I thought she was going to throttle me, and I felt my hand connect with the sand where her head had previously been. Time stopped as my vision connected with her steady, unwavering, ocean-colored gaze. I felt her cool hands rest gently on my hot neck, the sun beating down on my back, the water dripping from my clothes and skin.
Huh, I must've gotten wet. I vaguely thought, never breaking the gaze with her. She was so close! I could see the deeper blue streaks in her cerulean eyes as her lips parted. We were inches apart…
zzz
I could see every fleck of pure gold in his cold irises; feel the heat of his flaming fist as it rushed past me, connecting with the sand. No doubt that would leave a mark later. Water dripped from him onto me and then onto the sand, sizzling as some dropped onto his fire. The only thing holding me from falling back onto the flame was my hands wrapped around his neck.
I swallowed, slowly watching as my plan unfolded. I started to close my eyes, my lips expectantly parting as I pulled nearer. I could feel him lean in, when-
"Don't worry Katara!" A vaguely familiar voice called, reminding me of Aang. Aang! My eyes snapped open and I stared revoltingly at the young man leaning above me. His own eyes had just flared open.
I fell back, letting out a scream as I fell on the flame meant for my face. Then all went black.
zzz
"…Katara, wake up!" A hazy, soft voice urged. Grudgingly I opened my eyes to see Aang leaning over me. Clouds floated by, colored finely with the sunset. Wind gently streamed around us, and slowly, I gathered we were flying on Appa.
I groaned, about to sit up when I felt a searing pain lance through my back. I bit my cheek to muffle a scream and fell back heavily.
"How long…?" I croaked, closing my eyes. The sharp pains had dulled somewhat, but nonetheless, they were there.
"Have you been outta it?" Aang asked a worried glint in her warm grey eyes.
"Oh, just a few hours. You should have seen how badly Aang got Zuko! Man, was Aang furious!" Sokka exclaimed from his position in steering. I heard him whistle, a smug tone catching into his voice.
"What happened?" I asked dryly, trying to uncap my water-skin. Toph gently helped me into a sitting position and I thanked her. Aang uncapped the skin for me and I wet my parched throat.
"Well, after you…" Aang trailed off awkwardly, gesturing to my back. I winced but nodded in understanding. "I… well, there isn't much to say. I just got really mad and sorta… I dunno, just…did it." He finished lamely, shifting uncomfortably.
I suddenly remembered something and looked to Toph. "I'm so sorry, Toph, I shouldn't have let my anger make me say those things." I said softly. She shrugged, fixing her vacant, yet somehow fierce eyes on me.
"It's okay…" She trailed off, a grin slipping on her face. "Ms. Splash." I laughed softly, wincing as another wave of pain washed through me.
"Boy, you shoulda seen it, Katara! It was pretty amazing! Aang sent a huge wave at Zuko, knocking him against a bould-" Sokka was silenced when Toph his him hard in his head with the small rocks she kept in a belt-pouch.
I watched Aang's reaction. To my surprise, he looked…sad. He caught my questioning look and shrugged, looking out at the lowering sun.
"I sometimes wish that we could've been friends…" He trailed off, turning away from me.
"Are you kidding, Aang? How could you want a friend like Zuko?" Sokka cried arms akimbo. Appa groaned, shaking his head, but Sokka being Sokka, didn't catch the hint. He continued to rant on.
I reached a hand out to Aang, blushing slightly as I remembered how close I was to kissing Zuko.
"Don't worry about it, Aang. I'm sure someday Zuko will realize some bounties aren't worth the hunt." Katara whispered, her mind flashing back to the exiled prince's golden orbs.
"Yeah, but who's the bounty?" Aang snorted ruefully, turning away from me once more.
"What are you talking about, Aang?" I asked.
"Oh nothing, just… something Zuko told me one time…" Aang trailed off.
"Will you tell me?"
"Someday… someday, Katara." He whispered, and then he turned to me, his eyes bright and a manic grin on his face. "You want a hint?"
"Sure."
"Well…" He began.
zzz
-And THAT my loverlies, is for three days from now...
-yes, I am aware of how OOC they all are...
P.S. I like the smell of Caress: Evening Silkening...