Just Some Water Tribe Ingenuity
Disclaimer: "Avatar: the Last Airbender" is not mine. That is that.
Note: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter or added this story to his/her alerts or favorites. I was quite overwhelmed by the reception and I'm very glad that people are still interested in the story. Here's the promised update (a lot faster than it took the last time). I hope you like it. Cheesiness and fluff ahoy (and additional disclaimer: I do not do good fluff so forgive me). Such scenarios were necessary evils given such a story.
And yes, there are moments in the conversation where I find myself drifting to "Pride and Prejudice" land so you must forgive me. I simply cannot help it. There may be tinges of "Moulin Rouge" around here somewhere too.
This story will not be as long as "Sojourn in Solitude" or "An Alliance of Traitors." I can easily say that there will only be one chapter after this. No spoilers beyond that.
--
There was no denying the change in the atmosphere of the Western Air Temple after the machinations of Hakoda and his co-conspirators. Their two clueless victims were dancing to the tune they had set very expertly although the progress in the Water Tribe Chief's plans still left much to be desired.
Much to Hakoda and the others' frustration, Zuko and Katara had still not taken any concrete steps to admitting their feelings for one another. It was clear that the "gossip" the others had spread had the desired effect on the victims but it also seemed that Zuko and Katara had followed the roles that Hakoda had specified. Each was now secretly suppressing his or her feelings for the other, afraid of being exposed.
The more Sokka and his father watched things unfold, the more impatient they became.
"Thos two really have more in common than they realized," Toph grumbled one day as she observed the tentative way Zuko and Katara talked to each other, "they're both so hesitant and afraid."
"You're absolutely right," Hakoda sighed in agreement, "while we've managed to get them to realize their feelings for each other, we've also made them even more uneasy with one another."
"They keep avoiding each other now," Haru added while rolling his eyes, "and their struggles are being manifested in other ways."
"Katara keeps to herself or to her room most of the time now," Suki observed, "and occasionally she complains of a headache."
"Maybe she keeps thinking too much," Sokka suggested sarcastically.
"And Zuko isn't much better, either," Chit Sang added, "he's been practicing his firebending like crazy these days. I would know. The kid's outdoing himself, channeling all his energy into his bending. One of these days he's going to hurt himself, you mark my words."
"What are we going to do about those two?" Hakoda said finally after an exasperated sigh.
"Well, for starters, it looks like they need more prodding," Sokka said after getting over some of the frustration, "so that's what we have to do."
"Looks like we have our work cut out for us again," Teo said while the Duke nodded timidly.
"Frustration aside," Toph commented with a grin, "this should be fun."
--
Unfortunately, the task turned out to be more frustrating than fun. In the numerous occasions that the conspirators had deliberately left Zuko and Katara alone together, no progress happened. Despite all their efforts, the two master benders still wouldn't take any steps to lessen their (and everyone else's for that matter) misery.
Even Aang had become reconciled to the idea that Katara was in love with Zuko and vice-versa. In observing the actions of his waterbending and firebending teachers, the young Avatar realized the depth of his own feelings for Katara was of a different kind. A wave of relief had passed over him when he finally understood what Katara meant to him, how she was a dearest friend, teacher, mother, sister. But he was now certain that his crush on her had developed not into something romantic but into the love that one bears for the dearest members of one's family. She meant so much to him, but no longer in the way that he had believed she did.
It came as a colossal relief to realize that he could finally take Guru Pathik's advice and let her go completely. And now, as he watched two of the dearest people to him struggle over their powerful but suppressed emotions, he wanted to help. Aang could see how much Katara and Zuko cared for one another but were afraid to admit.
So the Avatar too became more actively involved with Hakoda and his companions in their campaign to bring the two together. Aang also found that he quite enjoyed an endeavor that was not as serious as the destiny he was facing. While he was training extensively and mastering all four elements, he still did not want to dwell too much on the dramatic showdown that he was fated to have with the Fire Lord. That was why this matchmaking venture was a welcome distraction.
"Maybe restoring balance and harmony with my two dearest friends should be my first step to saving the world," Aang had shared to Toph during one of their "planning sessions". The earthbender had merely rolled her sightless eyes and punched him in the shoulder.
But then, even Aang was frustrated with the hesitation and reluctance of Zuko and Katara. The Avatar joined the others both in lamenting the silliness of their victims and in trying to give those two ample opportunities of confessing to each other.
One of the first instances had been when Katara had just "recovered" from that unexplainable illness she had had after hearing Suki and Toph's clandestine discussion.
Suki had asked Katara to get something while Sokka had asked Zuko to get something else, both of which could be found in only one area of the Western Air Temple. As the two benders came face to face, blushes spread over their faces and they looked away awkwardly. Nearby, behind pillars, atop balconies, acting as statues, the others lay in wait for the desired confession.
But alas, it was not to be. The only interaction between the two which they heard came in this short and mundane conversation:
"Well, um," Zuko had started tentatively while Katara looked away and then down at her feet.
"I hope you are feeling better," the firebender finally blurted out.
"I am, thank you," Katara muttered back. And after a few more awkward moments of silence, each muttered some mundane excuse before turning around and walking away.
Had they lingered a little longer in that part of the temple, Zuko and Katara might have heard a symphony of groans and palms hitting foreheads.
Several more attempts of this nature persisted but to no avail. Nothing seemed to work and even the Water Tribe "geniuses" were running out of ideas. They connived and conspired and planned until even Hakoda decided to put the scheme on hiatus. Sozin's comet was fast approaching and there was still much that needed to be done before then.
All of a sudden, everyone had to turn his or her attention to more serious matters. So while the Zuko-Katara project was not completely abandoned, it had to be temporarily set aside to make way for more important matters.
In a stroke of fateful irony, it was when Hakoda and his cohorts were not meddling that Zuko and Katara finally reached an understanding.
--
Katara had wandered off into the woods near the temple in search of a rare herb that she wanted to use to brew a special healing serum she had learned from Yugoda. She had a little down time before dinner and after her training so she had decided to try and find this fabled herb. The potion Yugoda had described would surely come in handy to the others if there was no healer around to tend to their injuries and being Katara, she always wanted to take the necessary precautions and to be doubly prepared for any emergency.
About an hour had passed since she had entered the forest and she still saw no sign of the plant. But Katara was not easily discouraged so she plodded on, and in her enthusiasm, she quite lost track of time, and also of place. And yet, she had not even realized that she was lost because she suddenly became entranced by the wide variety of flora and fauna present in that forest.
During their travels across the Four Nations, Katara had already seen more than she could have ever imagined. Her world had extended greatly from the confines of the Southern Water Tribe and her experiences had taught her much. And yet, despite all she had already seen, she still never lost that inherent wonder at all things new and exciting. Being overpowered by her curiosity and marvel, she allowed herself to temporarily forget the grim duties that awaited her back at the temple. Doing the dishes was not a pleasant enterprise, even for the master waterbender.
So she continued exploring the forest, ignoring the chilly wind and deepening darkness that was settling over the trees.
--
Meanwhile, Zuko had gone into the woods in search of Katara, out of extreme concern. When he had asked about her from the Duke, the young boy had replied that Katara had gone to the nearby woods. For some inexplicable reason, this answer had caused a pang of worry and unease in the firebender which he masked with rather effective nonchalance. He had been through those woods before and knew of their dangers.
But he did not want to worry the others with an unquantifiable fear. And he knew that Katara was more than able to take care of herself. Nevertheless, the firebender had this nagging feeling that something might go wrong. And as the hours passed, he grew even more concerned but did not want to alert the others yet so he decided to go find her himself.
Later on, he was successfully able to track Katara to her current location without getting himself lost. He had not chased Aang around the world for nothing. In the process, of course, he had learned a thing or two about tracking people with or without a sniffy Shirshu.
But when he found her, safe and sound, content in observing the flowers and trees around her, he hesitated to approach her. With a sigh of relief, he realized that he had just been too paranoid about her. Katara was fine. There had been no need to worry.
Zuko relaxed as he quietly observed Katara from a short distance away. She looked so serene and contented. He did not want to break the seemingly divine trance she was in. And as he admired her figure then under the glow of moonlight, he knew that he had never loved her more than he loved her then.
But soon, his reverie was broken by a slight movement in the bushes near Katara. All at once, his sharpest instincts were activated and the firebender was on his guard, his golden eyes narrowed at the area where he had first detected some motion.
Unlike her secret companion, Katara remained in ignorant bliss of what was going on around her and continued to whimsically admire the shrubbery.
Zuko's eyes widened as out of the bushes just behind Katara emerged a slender, and scaly figure. The slithering creature was almost invisible because of camouflage, but Zuko was certain of what this small snake was capable of.
Much to his horror, he saw the tiny but deadly scorpion adder slither rapidly towards Katara's still and ignorant figure. Throwing all caution to the winds, Zuko made a quick dash for the snake and as soon as a startle Katara whirled around, she was only able to see Zuko grab the green adder by the head and cover the snake's mouth with his hands.
Katara cried out in surprise and whipped out some water and got into a defensive position. But all this was unnecessary. Zuko had already clamped his hand on the snake's head and crushed it between his fingers, killing the creature instantly.
Unfortunately, he had had to absorb the venom as well as the snake's fangs had still punctured his hand and allowed the poison to seep into his system. And scorpion adder's venom being as quick-acting as it was, almost immediately, Zuko felt the stabs of pain all over his body and he dropped to ground in a trembling heap.
"Zuko!" Katara cried with alarm as she ran towards the fallen firebender.
Everything had happened so quickly and as she tried to take it all in, the crushed snake, the long, lifeless scaly body tossed aside, the blood and venom scattered, and Zuko's pained figure. It was all she could do to keep her composure.
He raised a hand in protest as she neared him and motioned to the hand that had been bitten. Katara nodded in understanding and using her bending, she controlled the remainder of the venom, collecting it in a greenish blob and then threw the liquid as far away from them as possible. Having gotten rid of the danger, she knelt down beside the firebender and with teary eyes, she tried to extract the rest of the poison from his system. His hand was bleeding profusely even though the bite had not been too big. The sight of Zuko, bloodied and writhing in pain, was almost more than her heart could bear.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Katara muttered repeatedly and earnestly, as her shivering hands tried to do their work. Zuko's face wore an expression of extreme pain but even as he winced, he tried to reassure her that everything would be fine.
"I was such a fool," Katara continued to berate herself as the water glowed under her hands, "to let my mind wander like that, to put my guard down, to be so completely distracted. And now, you're paying the price. I'm so sorry."
"Shhh," Zuko managed to tell her, "don't worry about it. I'll be all right."
"You were bitten by one of the deadliest snakes in the world and you can still say that!" Katara cried out emotionally.
"Well," Zuko whispered, "I don't think getting overly agitated is going to improve the situation much."
Katara's eyes widened and she continued the healing process, ashamed of her own messy emotional state.
"I was kidding," Zuko offered with a weak smile, which only caused Katara to sob louder. Zuko sighed. He really wasn't good at this.
"I'm sorry, you saved my life, and I'm not doing a very good job of saving yours," she muttered remorsefully.
"Katara," Zuko said, looking at her earnestly, "you owe me nothing."
"But--"
"Katara," the firebender cut her off, trying to add some humor to the tense situation, "don't worry. I've been through worse than this in the past few years. I'm pretty sure I'll make it."
"Oh, Zuko."
The waterbender gave a small smile although tears continued to stream down her face. Fortunately, since she had acted so fast on the wound, almost all of the poison was out now and Zuko's condition was becoming stable. He was not out of danger yet, however, and Katara persevered in her bending.
"I'm so sorry for intruding," Zuko apologized, "I cannot offer any excuse for my following you except the pathetic one of being worried for no reason."
"But as you can see," Katara replied with a grateful smile, "your concern has spared my life. I didn't even sense that snake coming, I was so distracted. Thank you so much, thank you."
"I would gladly risk my life for you, Katara," Zuko replied earnestly, his injury and near-death experience giving him more courage than anything else. He looked at her earnestly.
Katara's eyes widened and for a few moments could say nothing, so overwhelmed was she with emotion. Her face turned red and she found herself for a few moments quite speechless.
"After the abominable way I've treated you," Katara said after recovering from what Zuko had just announced, "I'm so sorry…"
"The way you treated me," Zuko replied as his breathing slowed down and the pain subsided slowly, "was nothing I did not deserve. And it is I who must be asking for your forgiveness."
Katara shook her head violently at this. The healing process was nearly over (in more ways than one) but she continued to clasp both of her hands around Zuko's, as if incapable of letting go. Still wracking her brain for something to say, she merely returned his gaze, this time, as tearless as she could. Katara did not want to look like a colossal blubbering mess, not at this moment.
Zuko was breathing more steadily now but his heart continued pounding, from a different kind of adrenaline rush this time. His momentary courage had faltered under the intensity of her ocean-blue eyes and cliché though it may sound, he felt himself drowning in them.
A gentle breeze blew through the trees and the silence of that night was only accented by the rustling of the leaves. Peace now reigned in that small clearing and the atmosphere was both healing and calming. Daring to look each other in the eye for the first time ever since they both discovered their own feelings for one another, Zuko and Katara instantly knew that this was the point of no return.
Hesitation and uncertainty must end here. No more avoiding the issue, or side-stepping the emotions. It was here and now that nothing must be left unspoken.
Zuko was well out of danger but neither of them had changed their positions yet. He was still lying on the ground with Katara kneeling down beside him, her hands clasping his. This time, the glowing water had been already returned to the gourd at her side and she merely held his hands, feeling their warmth in her cold palms.
They both knew that the revelations that would come as soon as one of them opened his or her mouth would be momentous so they braced themselves. Despite all the annoying delays of this confession, such a thing could not be rushed and in spite of that magical atmosphere, there was still the most fleeting moment of doubt.
But it passed quickly, obliterated by the light squeeze of Zuko's hand on Katara's. With his free hand, the firebender nervously but determinedly reached out and wiped the tears from her face. Katara closed her eyes at the contact and allowed Zuko's hand to linger for a moment on her cheek before she looked at him.
"I had forgiven you a long time ago," she whispered, both of them knowing that there was so much more to that, "and now, things are different."
"I know," Zuko replied, "everything has changed."
Gently, he eased himself up until he was sitting facing her, and then he took both of her hands in his, his eyes still focused on her. Katara's own eyes were glistening and she was almost giddy with anticipation about what was to come next.
"Katara," the firebender said decisively and earnestly, "you must know, you must know, that there is no one in the world I love as well as you."
"Zuko, I," Katara began breathlessly, her eyes glistening. But before she could say another word, she was pulled into a tight embrace by the firebender. She returned the gesture eagerly, and now both of them had tears in their eyes.
"I love you, Zuko" Katara whispered in his ear as she held on tight, and buried her face in his shoulder, "all this time I've loved you so very dearly."
He pulled back slightly from the embrace, then took her tear-streaked face in his hands and brought closer to his. As their lips touched, she flung her arms around his neck and held on tight, savoring the sheer bliss of that amazing moment of release and revelation. Nothing else seemed to matter beyond their little universe.
Then, the dam burst forth. And all the feelings they had kept so well trapped and locked up now began to pour out. For the next several minutes all they could do was hold each other while spewing out everything they had wanted to say to each other for so long. The words came out, mostly incoherently, but most sincerely.
Both benders were now shaking as they held on to each other, simultaneously laughing and crying, and simply exulting in the wonderment and ecstasy of their revelations.
Relief, joy, love, and a host of other positive emotions washed over them as they finally let themselves express their true feelings.
"I've been such an idiot," Zuko blurted out as he temporarily let Katara go to look at her, his hands still on her shoulders, "I don't know what has been holding me back for so long."
Katara laughed lightly, a pure, easy laugh that made Zuko's heart leap. They could be free and open with one another now. The walls of doubt and fear had been torn down. And this new feeling, so rapturous and wonderful, was making them glow without their knowing it.
"I'm the one who should feel foolish," the waterbender replied, "the way I've been denying this even to myself, allowing myself to be blinded by my irrational anger. All this time I knew, but I did nothing but pick fights with you."
Everything seemed so funny and ridiculous now that they both looked back on the past. Dwelling on these memories had been their fatal mistake and now they both knew better.
"I wasted so much time," Zuko lamented even as he smiled at the one he loved, "I had never been so nervous in my entire life. I had been convinced that you hated me."
"Oh, but you could not have known how I truly felt," Katara replied emotionally, "I hadn't known it myself. But I know my heart now, and I'm surer of this than anything I've ever known."
"I love you, Katara," Zuko repeated, "I love you. Why had that been so difficult to say?"
Katara beamed back at him and relished at the sound of those words, words she had been longing to hear, and longing to say. They repeated these words to each other and the feeling of hearing them never lost its magic.
The waterbender gently placed her hand on Zuko's face, lightly caressing his scar, just like she had done not so long ago in the crystal catacombs of Ba Sing Se. But the bitter memories of that day had already been washed away, the sins atoned for. Everything was being born anew.
There was no need for the magical properties of the Spirit Oasis water. No, the healing that was taking place was so much better than anything the ancient spirits could conjure up.
Zuko closed his eyes at her touch, just like he had done then, and he felt himself being purged of all his pain. This time, he knew what he wanted, and he was perfectly content. No longer in conflict, no longer plagued by moral turmoil. Here and now was what mattered, this was his home.
All the pain and suffering he had endured in his life, all the rejection and failure, were now ebbing away from him. He had stumbled and wandered aimlessly for a time but now he had found the right path, and he was ready to fulfill his destiny.
And he was no longer alone in his journey.
Never, the firebender thought, have I been this happy in my entire life.
They both silently swore to keep the memory of that precious night locked away in their hearts forever, pure and untainted.
--
Later on, as the two new lovers were making their way back to the Western Air Temple, they spoke of many things. Hand in hand, with Zuko igniting a fire in his other hand to light their way, they talked openly and easily with one another, enjoying the company they had avoided because of so much stupid doubt and hesitation.
"Toph had said that I had changed so much recently," Katara confessed, "and when I heard that, I realized that I was turning into a person I really did not want to be. And then, I saw how much I had been holding back because of my stupid pride."
"But I was blind to your struggles," Zuko answered, "but I soon realized that I had to make myself more deserving of you."
"Suki and Toph will be so happy when we tell them the news," Katara said excitedly, "happy and surprised, I'm sure. They had believed this to be a one-sided affair."
"Really?" Zuko asked with a tone of suspicion, his eyes narrowing, "and I suppose your brother and your father had no inkling about the true state of things, either."
"Sokka and Dad? Why would they have anything to do with us?" Katara asked, raising an eyebrow quizzically. Zuko gave her a knowing glance.
Suddenly, they stopped walking and looked at each other with wide eyes, the same realization dawning upon them simultaneously.
Then, having recovered from the initial shock, both Zuko and Katara narrowed their eyes conspiratorially and smiled with mischievous intent