Alright here is Tuesday's edition of Zutara week! Today's prompt is… electrifying. I hope you guys enjoy and please review!
I don't own Avatar or Zuko or Katara. End of story.
The gang still hiding in the Fire Nation was at another poor, run-down town where the villagers were struggling to survive. Katara was not sure how much more she could take of these villages. Seeing all the children and their families this close to death tore at her heart. She knew it was once again time to become the Painted Lady and help these people before she did something drastic. By drastic I mean marching up to the Fire Lord and waterwhipping him into shape; which would kind of blow their whole undercover, staying hidden concept. Tonight she was going to do something for these people.
Zuko had been with Mai on a romantic gateway. Zuko was pretty sure that his father wanted him and Mai to produce heirs soon and by sending them on a trip he hoped to speed the process up. Zuko though was not ready for that step in his and Mai's relationship though; he wasn't even sure that he would ever be ready to do that with Mai. Mainly due to the fact that he wasn't even sure if he even loved her way she supposedly loved him. So in that aspect the trip had been a disaster. Mai and Zuko had been on their way back to the palace when Zuko had spotted the town. At first he thought it was deserted, a ghost town, then the shadows moved. It was then Zuko realized that the town was in fact inhabited, but not for long by the looks of it. He was so upset once he saw the town that he convinced Mai to head home, if you could call it home is was more like a prison, without him. He had told her that he had seem something he needed to get and that he would see her soon. That wasn't really the truth. No in fact it was more like a downright lie. Zuko wasn't going to get something; no he was going to do something. Zuko was going to help these people, his people, with the help of his old friend. The Blue Spirit.
Katara crept into the home; in her hands she carried food. Granted it was not enough food to help the villagers forever, but it was enough to sustain them for now. She dropped the food off and then went to the hospital. There she silenced a cry, the hospital was filled to capacity. Yet it couldn't even be considered a hospital, more like a great room for the sick and dying to lie. She went to work drawing water from the air and letting it form into her healing glove. A determined look spread out on her face, she was going to heal and save every last person she could in this town.
Wearing the Blue Spirit mask brought back memories for Zuko. Good and bad ones. He thought of his Uncle and how he had used that mask so they could live. How he had stolen from the rich and gave it to the poor, him and his uncle being the poor. Now he was doing it again, but this time the rich man was his father and poor were his people, the people who should not need his help but did. He had read about an Earth Kingdom legend like that one time. He believed the hero in the story was called Robin Wood or something like that. Zuko was dropping off gold pieces on each doorstep when he saw the light. He snuck under on of the building's windows and looked in. There inside was a female spirit now doubt. She was bent over a male with her glowing hands. The man's breathing had been erratic, even though he was asleep, but when the spirit removed her hands his breathing was normal. Zuko then knew that this was a kind, healing spirit. One who was like himself going to do everything they could to help the town. She quickly moved on to the last person whom she had to heal, a little boy whose arm was burnt; Zuko could still faintly smell the smell of burning flesh. Or maybe that was the smell that the room gave off, the smell of death itself. In a matter of moments the red and peeling flesh that had been the boy's arm was healed, no longer red but a pale healthy peach color. Then as if sensing that someone was watching her work, the spirit looked up, her eyes settling on Zuko. He froze; he didn't know what people do when they are caught watching a spirit at work. Should he bolt, fleeing like a coward, or face her and let her know she had an ally in aiding the town. Then she moved, and Zuko couldn't move he was in a trace of some sort, at least he though he was. Maybe he was just memorized by the way the spirit moved. He didn't know.
Katara had been healing a boy's burn when she felt the gaze. It was the most intense gaze she had ever felt before, it spoke of the passion of the person looking upon her. The gaze sent shivers down her spine, no one had ever made her do that before, not Jet, not Haru not even Aang in the Cave of Two Lovers. She turned and had her breath stolen from her. It was the Blue Spirit. Katara had read about him, she respected him one who was so bold in rebelling against the Fire Nation. He stared at her still, she couldn't read his expression due to the mask, and so she had no idea on what was running through his mind. So she took action, after all Katara didn't like to sit around for long, she approached him.
"Hello." Katara said in a voice that did not sound like her own. She was trying to mach the voice pitch of the real Painted Lady whom she had met not to long ago.
Zuko nodded his head daring not to use his voice. He was sure that the spirit would know who he was, but he didn't know if she supported or even liked him. No doubt she hated his father, he knew most spirits most likely did.
"Are you here to help these people?" Katara asked, a little surprised why he hadn't answered her with his voice. But she could understand his reasoning; he obviously did not what his voice to be heard.
Zuko nodded his head again. Holding up the bag of money. On the bag was the symbol of Fire Lord Ozai so it was obvious he was giving Ozai's money away.
Katara felt a smile break apart along her face. So the Blue Spirit was giving away Ozai's money to help these people. The money was really needed for the villagers it would really help them. "Thank you." She said as she bent down and kissed his the top of his mask.
Zuko froze she had kissed him. Granted it was on his mask but unleashed a fire within him. He lifted the mask up and over, but just showing his lips. That way his identity was kept hidden. Then he grabbed her face and brought her mouth to his. The only way to describe the way he felt when her lips met his was electrifying. He never felt this way when he kissed Mai, never not even once did he feel the way he felt now.
Katara's eyes widened when he kissed her but then closed and gave into the kiss. She didn't know how long she was kissing him but she knew how it felt. It felt like electricity, lightning was flowing through her veins. Soon though, too soon, they broke apart for air. Katara smiled then whispered in something in his ear. Then she backed up and her fingertips twitched summoning water to her. She created a cloud of mist and when it cleared she was gone.
Zuko couldn't think. The only though processing through his mind was that she wasn't a spirit but a person. Not just any person though, but she was the Avatar's waterbending teacher. He had just shared the best kiss of his life with a girl from the Southern Water Tribe. Wow, that was something he was not expecting. This trip might have been worth the trouble after all.
When Katara returned to camp and she was asked how her nighttime walk was, the only thing she could say was, "electrifying."
Well, was it better than the last one? I hope it was. Stay tuned for tomorrow's one-shot.