PROMPT : Wealth
PROMPT # : 3
AUTHOR : Zuko of the Water Tribe
AUTHOR'S NOTES : I was listening to about eight songs while writing the entire thing in one sitting. Okay, let's see... "Hangin' By A Moment" by Lifehouse, ALOT of Hinder songs (including "Lips of an Angel"), and the entire Owl City : Ocean Eyes soundtrack. So this may come out a bit random. XD
I watched her carefully, not wanting to disturb her slumber.
It was hard, to see her lashes laying over her cheeks as she slept, and to not reach over and trace her face. Her lips were slightly parted, and hair spread out behind her as she shifted slightly and mumbled.
I smiled.
She was so beautiful.
But I could never let her know it. Not because I didn't want to. Everytime I saw her... it was stronger sometimes. When I first met her, with the snow falling around her and her big blue eyes. An angel on earth, totally innocent (then, anyway, I reminded myself with a smile). Even then, I was totally weak-kneed. But then, she had been a girl.
It was a peasent, I reminded myself, and the feeling soon passed.
Still. Just because feelings leave doesn't mean they were never there. Or that they aren't just lurking in the corner.
And then, again, when I'd "met" her. When she'd practically thrown herself at me (I wish) and I'd had to catch her to stop her from tumbling into me. And to stop myself from letting her. Then, with her soft hands just above my rough ones, with her sea-blue gaze holding mine - if not filled with terror - back when I'd been able to intimidate her. Even then, I'd was totally dizzy-headed. But then, she'd just been bait.
She was a peasent, I told myself, and the feeling passed.
It was just a little harder this time, especially when she's been so helpless and tied to that tree.
And everytime I saw her, the feeling grew stronger and stronger and I'd have to fight it off.
And then, again. In Ba Sing Sei, when I'd tumbled down into that cave. When she'd glared down at me, her blue eyes fiery, an arch-angel. She was no longer innocent. Her hands on her hips, her voice level and unafraid. Even then, I was totally starry-eyed. But then, she'd just been the Avatar's girlfriend.
Katara was a peasent, I had to force down my throat. The feeling had almost gone...
And then she started crying.
And those big blue eyes had glimmered. Shone, sparkled, glittered, glowed. My heart had kind of faltered and I'd let my guard down. I didn't want to fight anymore. What was the point? I couldn't hurt her.
That's when I knew I was falling for her. This terrified me. Firstly, because I had a girl back home, waiting for me. Second, she was a peasent. She was poor, unworthy to clean my shoes.
...
I told myself.
And because of this fear, I'd ruined it, of course.
Long story short, I'd ended up finding her again. I was beginning to wonder what she had done to me. I was following the Avatar, of course, but this girl was seriously messing with my head. I was there to teach the Avatar, of course. This girl was a distraction, and I'd get over it. I just kept picturing the little angel I'd met first.
Ha. After all this time, I'd become desensitized.
When I saw her again, it was like a lightning bolt through my heart. I was angry with myself... because those old "OH-AGNI-I'M-FALLING-INTO-THIS-PIT-IN-MY-HEART-AND-I-KNOW-IT'LL-HURT-WHEN-I-HIT-BUT-I-JUST-WANT-TO-KEEP-FALLING-BECAUSE-IT'S-TOTALLY-WORTH-IT" feelings roared back into my heart and it faltered again.
"Uh," I said.
She was no longer the little angel girl I'd expected like a fool. She was a woman now, with curves in all the right places, just barely, but there for sure. Her eyes burned furiously at me, anger smouldering there just below the surface. I was terrified. Even then, I was struggling not to let my heart burst from my chest. But then... but then... I could come up with nothing.
Katara was a peasent, I choked down. My heart abruptly screwed me over and puked the feeling right back up so I stuttered and sputtered to the Avatar and his friends.
Eventually, I'd gotten in.
And then, I'd saved her life. When my demonic sister had decided I wasn't good enough and she somehow knew the only thing worse than killing me would be killing this girl I was totally in love with. That... right then... that was when I knew I loved her. It wasn't just a little crush anymore. I would die for her.
And I had fully intended to, stepping into that bolt.
Her eyes glowing blue for an entirely different reason. Lightning flashed all across her cheeks and her hair, and she was beautiful even when terrified. Even then, I was totally slack-jawed. And then, she'd been everything. This worthless, petty peasent, this silly little girl.
She saved my life.
She brought me home.
She made me feel like the richest man in the world, with a simple smile or even when she insulted me. I just sat there, drooling in my head, "She TALKED to me."
And now, as she slept, a couple of weeks later. Just after being initiated into Fire Lord-dom. I had invited the gang I'd grown to love to stay with me.
It may have been a little creepy, me sneaking into her room every night to watch her sleep, to watch her dream, to watch her simply sleep.
Even now, I was totally starstruck.
I stood, intending to leave, glancing back at her.
And then she stirred.
Her eyes opened and she looked directly at me.
I stared back at her, caught.
Her eyes didn't look so drowsy. In fact, they looked bright and aware. I felt dread dropping into my stomach as she piqued a brow and grinned. "Leaving already?"
"Ah..." I scrambled for an excuse. "I... thought you might need more blankets."
"Right." She stood, easily, and the dread made a home in my gut. She'd been awake the whole time. Katara walked until she was very close and leaned over to peer into my face, a playful smirk on her lips.
Ah, temptress, leave me be.
"I won't tell if you won't." Her lips abruptly dropped and her eyelids fell halfway down in an extremely sensual look.
"Zuko..."
Even now, I was brain-dead. "Uh-heh?"
And she reached up and pressed her lips against mine.
This girl, this poor angel, made me the wealthiest man in the world.