Just Some Water Tribe Ingenuity
Disclaimer: "Avatar: the Last Airbender" is not mine. That is that.
Note: Set after "The Boiling Rock."
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Zuko had just finished his routine morning exercises and was taking a stroll around his favorite spot in the Western Air Temple. He had unofficially claimed this area as his private refuge, away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the Avatar's group. He loved the almost divine atmosphere and came here to train on his own and to think.
The ancient sacred grounds seemed unusually quiet today and the place looked as deserted as it had been when he had first come here three years ago. He surveyed his surroundings and was puzzled at the strange silence. Although he enjoyed a little peace and quiet every now and then, he also felt so alone in such a calm atmosphere. Alone and suspicious.
Cautiously, the firebender walked along the sacred halls of the ancient refuge, his eyes darting here and there, wary and alert for the slightest movement. It wasn't that early in the morning any more but there were hardly any stirrings or movements from anyone around. Surely they were not under attack. He entered one of the stone hallways and listened intently for any slightest noise.
As Zuko walked past several of the ancient pillars, little did he know that he was being watched. Seeing that Zuko was right where he was expected to be, the Duke ran to alert the others. So by the time Zuko was about to turn the corner to the main training area, the trap had been set.
"Hey, Dad," Zuko heard Sokka saying, "you have got hear this."
"What is it, Sokka?" Hakoda asked innocently.
Hearing the normal sounds of conversation from some of the menfolk, Zuko felt relieved and was eagerly about to join them when he heard something that stopped him in his tracks.
"Katara's in love with Zuko!" the Water Tribe chief said loudly.
Instantly, the firebender in question hid behind one of the pillars, leaning back against the sturdy stone, eyes wide with shock and with one hand covering his mouth, smothering a loud gasp. Chit Sang, Teo, and the other men snickered at this reaction. Aang was not with them as he had excused himself saying something about doing more training with Toph and Katara. Haru could see one edge of Zuko's boot sticking out from behind the pillar and he whispered to Sokka and Hakoda.
"Bait the hook well," the earthbender said, "this fish will bite."
Sokka and Hakoda nodded at each other before continuing their conversation.
"I've seen Katara fall in love before," Sokka said loudly, "but I never ever imagined that she would fall for Zuko."
"All I've ever seen her do," Teo observed, "is either argue with him or give him the cold shoulder."
"But that's what girls are like when they like someone," Chit Sang said knowledgeably, "they act as if they don't."
"How can you even be sure about this?" Haru asked Sokka.
"One day, I confronted her about her attitude towards Zuko," Sokka explained, "and it was then that she spilled the beans."
"What exactly did she say, Sokka?" Hakoda said loudly. At this Sokka motioned for the others to huddle up while he whispered something to them. From his place behind the pillar, Zuko craned his neck and tried to hear what they were saying but he simply couldn't do so without the risk of being caught.
Chit Sang, Teo, Haru, and Hakoda got out of the huddle with surprised grins.
"Really?" Haru said emphatically, "she said that?"
"Mm-hm," Sokka replied knowingly, "every word."
"Seems like she was hit hard," Chit Sang said with a whistle.
"It sounds really serious," Teo added.
Zuko was now exceedingly curious about what they had heard and only wished that he could join the conversation. But of course, this was impossible so he would have to content himself with whatever he would overhear.
"I think that she should tell him how she feels," Hakoda said, "instead of acting like she hates him."
"That's what I told her too, Dad," Sokka explained in a slightly saddened tone, "but she refused."
"But why?" the others asked and even Zuko had been tempted to voice his thoughts. But he restrained himself and continued listening.
"She is afraid that he would reject her," Sokka explained with a sad sigh, "no matter what I said to convince her that telling Zuko would be a good idea, she never gave in."
"Maybe she's just not ready," Teo surmised, "and she needs more time to figure things out."
"That's what I thought too," Sokka answered, "but she told me that she will never ever tell Zuko about her feelings for him. It was just too hard for her."
"Maybe she feels guilty about the way she's been treating him and thinks that he might be angry at her for that," Hakoda observed, "but I know that Zuko doesn't hold a grudge against her."
"Yeah, but how do you know that Zuko would reciprocate those feelings?" Chit Sang added.
"You have a point," Sokka agreed, "even if he rejects her gently, it would still hurt her."
"I don't want to see Katara in pain," Hakoda added seriously.
From behind the pillar, Zuko bowed his head, deep in thought. At first it had seemed like this whole discussion was some sort of practical joke. But he didn't doubt its truth anymore since Hakoda was involved. The young firebender had a great respect for the Water Tribe chief.
"Why don't we tell him about it?" Teo suggested, "because maybe he does reciprocate those feelings and is similarly afraid to admit it."
"That's not a risk I'm willing to take," Hakoda replied gravely, "I believe that if he hasn't shown Katara any manifestations of feelings deeper than friendship by now, then perhaps there's nothing more to it."
"Katara's a great girl," Haru said, beginning to enumerate her positive qualities, "she's smart, beautiful, and strong. If he hasn't noticed that by now, then, he is a fool."
"I like Zuko well enough," Sokka said, "but if he hasn't realized just how wonderful my sister is, although she can get scary sometimes, then maybe he doesn't deserve Katara."
The other men there nodded in agreement. From the corner of his eye, Chit Sang spotted where Zuko was hiding, his brow furrowed, and his face filled with a familiar emotion. The old firebender winked at his accomplices and they realized their cue.
"Anyway," Sokka announced, "I think we've talked enough about those two. I have a craving for meat. Want to go hunting, guys?"
"Sure," everyone answered before leaving the hall, suppressing their laughter.
Zuko stepped out into empty hall, and pondered over all that he had heard. It was almost impossible to believe. But he could not deny that he was wide awake, that this was not some crazy, fatigue-induced dream. He had heard it himself. Katara was in love with him.
As for the question on whether he felt the same, Zuko thought long and hard. He completely agreed with them on Katara's list of virtues. She was beautiful, no doubt about it, and she had the deepest and most penetrating gaze he had ever seen. Of her strength and prowess in battle, he had no doubt. After all, she was a master waterbender. He admired her courage and conviction and her willingness to fight for what she believed in. He admired her sense of responsibility towards them and all her efforts to keep things together. She was smart as well although loving him might not have been one of her wisest decisions, he now knew that such a love was precious and beautiful and that he wanted it too.
The more he thought about it, the more Zuko realized the existence and intensity of his feelings for the waterbender. He had always admired and respected her for her abilities and achievements in keeping the whole group in order. And he had always valued her opinions on various matters although he had yet to admit this out loud. And they had constantly argued with one another because she had been reluctant to trust him and he was determined to gain her trust because, among all the people he had to make amends to, it was her opinion of him that mattered the most to Zuko.
More than he had realized, he had often found himself thinking about her and about how he could possibly earn back her trust. He had often imagined what it would be like for her to finally see him as a true ally of the Avatar. And as he recalled everything that they had been through, Zuko remembered that when he had decided to finally join the Avatar, something inside him had hoped, beyond hope, that Katara would forgive him and welcome him with open arms. This had been an illusion, of course, but a very revelatory one.
There had been something missing in him that had been partially filled when he had joined the Avatar. At first, he had thought that it was the fulfillment of his destiny which would close the gap but even with the Avatar's group, he had felt uneasy and incomplete. There had always been someone, a face which had haunted him, and continued to haunt his dreams and he had spent many a night tossing and turning, trying hardest to remember who it was who tormented his heart and soul so much. And now, he knew.
He had been held back by hesitation, doubt, and stupid uncertainty from admitting his heart's desire, even to himself. He had been a blind fool. But now that he knew there truly was hope and a chance to finally be complete, Zuko knew that he would have to act decisively and with initiative if he was ever going to resolve this crisis. The firebender turned his thoughts to the waterbender once more, a smile coming to his face. He would put them both out of their agony.
He would make things right.
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Note: I have about two more chapters planned for this but there's no way that I'll be able to finish them before the finale (partly because I'm so looking forward to it in a mixed-emotions way). But have no fear, I will finish this story. I don't like leaving anything hanging. But I'll totally understand if you lose interest after the canon finale. And I'd like to say thank you in advance to those who will still read this after Avatar has ended. Thank you.