Blazing Melting Blades Chapter 6
By Animanganerd01
A/N: In apology for my last short chapter I tried to update a bit sooner.
Disclaimer: It really hasn't changed from the last chapter and if you think it has you're crazy and I'm going to tell the nice men in the white coats to bring the 'sleepy shot' with them (i.e. I don't own Avatar or The Cutting Edge).
Christmas rolled around with little fanfare. Zuko, in hope of a peace treaty with the ice princess, decided that a present for her was in order. He had already picked up a tea set for Iroh, a boomerang polishing kit for Sokka (A/N: yes, Sokka still has a boomerang in here. He's too attached to it for me to get rid of it), a trashcan with a basketball hoop as a practical joke for Hakoda, but he had no idea of what to get Katara. What was there to get a rich girl?
Zuko paced his room trying to think. His eyes suddenly landed on a bundle on the floor. 'That's it!' he thought snatching up the cloth. He would be loath to part with it, but it was the best thing he could think of. He quickly wrapped it in that morning's newspaper; Iroh wouldn't miss it too much.
On Christmas morning Katara was sitting on her windowsill brushing out her hair after her shower, a towel wrapped securely around her lithe body. She began to wonder if Zuko would come visit. For some unknown reason she had gotten him a present. 'Perhaps… no…' she thought running the brush through her long chocolate waves, 'I'm NOT falling for him! He's arrogant, rude, brusque, mysterious, sexy… whoa! Where did that come from?' Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock on her door. "Just a minute," she called putting down the brush a getting a shirt, thinking Sokka had dropped by.
Suddenly the door opened and Zuko poked his head in. "Katara!"
"I said just a minute! JEEZ! Do you ever listen to a word I say?" snapped Katara, hugging the shirt to her chest.
"Katara, it's not like it's a mystery to me. I mean, I have to pick you up every practice," he said, a light tint coloring his cheeks.
"Get out." She didn't care if this could potentially ruin a chance at anything with Zuko. She just wanted him out. She spun around to snap at him again only to find herself staring at his chest.
"Here, I got you something," he said, holding out a newspaper wrapped parcel. "Go ahead and open it. Oh and merry Christmas." He rubbed his neck, embarrassed. " I uh, wrapped it myself."
"I can see that," she said carefully unwrapping the package. Out of it fell a old jersey. She held it up and examined the large number 07 under the name 'Johnson.' "An old shirt?"
"'An old shirt?'" asked Zuko incredulous. Katara looked up at his voice. "That's Allen Johnson's game sweater. You know what, here, just give it back, I'll go buy something." He reached out to take the shirt back.
"Oh no, I like it, really, Zuko," said Katara hurriedly, holding the precious jersey to her chest. His scent reached her nose and she inhaled softly. Surprisingly, his scent was comfortingly familiar. It suddenly struck her that she had seen him wear it before, and he protected it with almost frightening ferocity. 'He gave me one of his prize possessions!' she thought, amazed. A small blush rose to her cheeks.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Well… okay then. I guess I'll go. I've got other gifts to deliver any way." He turned and moved to open the door.
"Wait!" said Katara as his hand grasped the doorknob. He turned, his eyes questioning, but otherwise masked. "I um, I have a gift for you too." His face filled with surprise and he released the knob.
Katara laid the precious jersey on a chair and went to her closet to retrieve a gift bag marked 'Zuko.' "Here," she muttered, holding it out.
Zuko took it, not really knowing what to expect. He moved the tissue paper aside and pulled out a book. "Great Bending Forms and Sequences," he read. He looked up at her, his expression inscrutable.
"Well it was that or 'Curious George Plays Hockey.'" She smiled. " I took a chance."
Zuko flipped through the pages taking in forms from all four elements. He looked up and smiled. Katara's heart gave a start. She had never seen him smile like that. He actually looked… happy. "Thanks, Katara," he said still smiling softly, "I really like this kind of stuff. Did Uncle tell you?"
"Um… no, I just guessed," she admitted. It was true; after observing Zuko for a few weeks she had guessed that this would be something that would interest him. It had surprised her to find him practicing a firebending routine that included a waterbending move. He had told her that his Uncle had explained that the elements were all balanced and that he could only benefit by learning other forms. Secretly, she agreed, and soon discovered she could use certain firebending moves to enhance her waterbending forms.
Zuko's small chuckle brought her out of her thoughts. "Well, you guessed right. Perhaps we can help each other. You know your feet should be farther apart when you use that firebending move. I'm sure my attempts at waterbending are just as choppy." His small smile explained he meant no offense.
Katara nodded. "I'd, uh, I'd like that. Thanks Zuko. You know, you're not that bad."
"Neither are you, little ice princess." His name 'ice princess' was almost an affectionate term now. He smiled again and left quietly.
Katara stared after him for a moment, trying desperately to collect her thoughts. Slowly, she walked over to the chair and picked up the jersey and brought it up to her nose. She inhaled the smell of sweat, something spicy, a subtle aftershave, and something that was originally Zuko. It was a good smell she decided. Katara suddenly couldn't see a future without it. 'What's wrong with me?' she wondered. 'It's just Zuko. I mean he waltzes in here, acting like no one matters, and now he's acting all sweet and human. I… no…I can't be falling for him! Am I?' A small feeling in the pit of her stomach told her the truth, and she wasn't sure she liked it.
A/N: And that's it. I'll write the New Year's part next. Oh, and I don't own Curious George either. I just couldn't help putting that line from the movie in. Well, I guess all that's left is to thank my reviewers. You guys have no idea how happy you make me when I see that little review notice; so, this chapter is dedicated to you! Arigato-gosaimasu!