A/N: I really wanted to get this out before Mike and Brian ruin my life. But I didn't really, I got it out a little after the end of the comet finale, but I haven't watched it yet! I'm babysitting! Ak, now I'm going to go watch it since this is done, ha ha.
This isn't quite up to my usual standards 'cuz I didn't feel like editing right now, but mostly ok, I think. I'll get around to it.
I am sorry, I am a true blue Zutara and am going down with this ship. I don't know what happened, but I do not care.
Damn straight XD
Disclaimer: If I owned Avatar, it wouldn't say "before Mike and Brian ruin my life," up there.
Collateral of the Inferno
Chapter 2:
The Captive and the Captivated
Ever since that day, that day that seemed so long ago and yet so clear in memory, his life had changed.
He had already begun his transformation. He understood compassion and his natural sense, justice, and empathy had started to show more often than not, making him incredibly happy when he could help others. It was an odd feeling, but he was getting used to the kindness and gentleness that his heart wanted to express, and he balanced it well with his stoic and usually unreadable personality.
He had been very lucky, he knew, to have fallen in with "Team Avatar." Of course he had chosen to "be good," but it had been so hard. . .
Sokka, surprisingly, had been a great help. He hadn't really found a problem with him after he had proven himself. He had kidding around with the awkward former-heir and hadn't taken the offenses against him in the past very seriously.
After they worked together extensively—Zuko grinned. Sokka always had his back. And they had clicked; instinctively, they knew how to move, when to be serious, when to joke, why each made their moves, how to work seamlessly together.
Suki had managed to get along well with him; Zuko personally thought she and Sokka were incredibly mushy and ostentatious, but Suki had really never tried to get back at him for "burning her village" as she said. And there was some sort of understanding between them because they could respect each other as warriors. She'd forgiven him, and he was glad for it.
After the small misunderstanding with Toph, he saw her as a confusing anomaly that had a horrible habit of seeing right through him. He found himself confiding in her, and listening to anything she had to say in return. She never judged him and he came in contact with a side of himself he had rarely used before, the compassionate side that could give advice as freely as his uncle Iroh. They had helped each other understand the different cultures and Toph had carefully integrated him into her "family."
She had stayed in the Fire Nation after the downfall, ostensibly to keep Katara company, but Zuko knew the truth. The two of them had connected in such a way that he highly doubted that they could live apart very long. Toph had never had siblings, and Zuko had never had a real sister. The two were so alike.
Toph was his little sister. And she let him protect her against things she couldn't deal with as he let her guide him through social affairs he was still struggling to understand.
And there was Aang—the first person who had ever really believed in him. And ever since then, he'd stayed by his side. Zuko liked their relationship too, because Aang had made him feel powerful and respected, Aang had looked up to Zuko like a big brother. Of course, now Zuko wasn't so sure if he was still in the palace because Toph happened to be there, or because he was still supporting the man who had paved the way for his destiny.
So he'd gained two siblings, an annoying best friend, the annoying best friend's fiancé, and. . .well he still wasn't sure what he had gained in Katara. . .
And there he was, back at the heart of the problem, and he groaned.
What could he do?
- - -
"So she'll be fine? Definitely?" Toph asked Zuko as she hurried after him. He was already late for two treaty negotiations and a council meeting.
"Of course she'll be fine," Zuko retorted, casting a sly glance at the younger girl. "Never tell me you were worried."
She blushed brilliantly and Zuko smirked. "I didn't say that, Firefly!" she snapped. "I just wanted to know if all the danger was past so that I could stop sitting in that boring room everyday!"
"Sure—ah, Foreign Minister Tao! How are you this fine morning? I was on my way to our meeting."
Foreign Minister Tao bowed somewhat stiffly, his eyes warily on Toph. The two of them had had a brief dispute the day before, and Zuko definitely didn't want that to happen again. "Fire Lord, Lady Bei Fong," he murmured solicitously, "I was hoping to see Lady Katara."
With a start, Zuko realized that they were in fact at the mouth of the hall that led to her rooms, where she was still a bit too weak to be getting around properly. Zuko hadn't the heart to inform her of her uncle's actions quite yet, and his heart ached painfully for some unknown reason. He felt slightly light headed, and vehemently denied an unspoken thought that he had felt this same slight tingling sensation, the same dryness in his throat, the same shocked feeling when he had first liked Mai.
Impossible.
"Of course, we will merely negotiate our trade embargoes with Foreign Minister Ming Ha before getting to your considerations," Toph stepped in for him, her voice shedding some of its girlishness to acquire steely overtones. Her slight side glance in Zuko's direction tipped him off; she knew something was up. "Her rooms are at the very end of the hall. See you shortly, Minister."
Toph literally dragged Zuko away and into another side hallway.
"Ow! Toph, what?!"
"What's got you all edgy about Sugar Queen?"
"What?" Zuko spluttered, caught off guard, and like usual, not real able to lie. "I—I don't know what you're talking about."
Toph glared in the general vicinity of his head before grinning manically and thrusting her small finger in his face. "Youuuu like her!" she crowed.
"I—" Zuko tried to muster all of his retorts about rank, race, custom, but they all fell short in the light of Katara. Why did he have to care about Katara's peasantry? From what he could tell, now, she was technically royalty. Why did he have to care that she was a waterbender? He'd been working with the other nations for some time now, and he knew that just because she was his opposite she was still very much human, just like him. Why did he have to regard custom? If he had regarded custom, there was a very good chance that his father would be ruling the world right now. Custom be damned. His shoulders slumped, and he rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. "—wow, Toph, what gave you that idea?"
"I'm right," she smirked smugly as she clunked back against the wall. "I can just see right through your angst now, Firefly!"
He slumped against the wall too, crossing his arms and letting his shaggy hair fall gracefully across his forehead and into his eyes. He hadn't gotten around to cutting his hair, which he didn't want to do, and he hated pulling it back, so he usually settled for a ponytail at the back of his head that left quite a lot of it down when going into meetings, nothing like the formal top knot. He wasn't ready for that again. Maybe he never would be. He had grown used to his hair, and it was comfortable. And he knew he was brooding about his hair to avoid Toph's inspection. "I'm not angsty," he growled.
That, of course, sent her into peals of her surprisingly girly laughter. "Oh, Zuko," she said in a reflective sort of way, the tone he had come to recognize as the herald for a brief bout of complete seriousness. "Let me know when you want to come out of denial. Ming Ha is waiting for us/you. You don't want the Fire Nation going to the dogs just because the conquerors died out, do you?"
- - -
Zuko exhaled again, wishing his memories weren't so clear. It had all started then. Toph had wisely chosen to leave him mostly alone, but he still got occasional smirks, nudges, winks, and exasperated looks from his adopted sister. She was patiently waiting for him to overcome his denial, if it was denial, and move forward like a man.
Fire bathed the floor gently, hardly scorching it as he breathed out again. The past year had not been easy, especially not with this growling inferno growing larger and larger with each coming week.
Now, on top of this agony he knew was from his smoldering heart and his indecision, he had to finally deal with the complications that had created the fire, namely Katara's virtual imprisonment. . .
- - -
It was a few days after his very short conversation with Toph, and he realized with increasing suspicion that most of the Ministers liked to talk to Katara before doing anything that involved negotiating with him.
And he also realized that the Ministers were growing increasingly uncomfortable.
"Hey, Rocky Road!" he yelled to Toph from a window that overlooked the training courtyards. "Come here, will you?"
Toph obligingly blasted a column of rock up to his level amidst the protests of the firebenders in the arena with her and bended herself into the room with only enough of a shake to unsettle some dust. "Oh, shut up, you pretty boys," she yelled down to the three grumbling nobles who she had been pummeling. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
She turned from the window, dusting her hands off with a decidedly evil grin. "Hmm. Heart jumping a little too fast, pacing like a madman, confusion tensing those back muscles, a hardly touched glass of your favorite pomegranate juice on the sideboard—this has to do with Sugar Queen, doesn't it?"
Zuko groaned. "Why don't you just sign up for the post of Goddess and have done with it?"
"No need, there's already a few shrines up. I'm well on my way, and I can still stay here, terrorizing you and the rest of the fam. So what did dear old Sweetness do this time? She didn't turn on her psycho bitch alter ego on you again, did she?"
"No," Zuko grumbled. "I was wondering if you know why all the Ministers were getting all shifty on me."
She deflated a little. "Oh. That. I was hoping it would blow over before you noticed."
"Yeah, and that worked out real well," he huffed, wondering how his uncle was managing in the state meeting right now.
"Oh gods," she breathed. "We have to get to the state meeting."
Did she read minds? "Wait, what? Why?"
"They'll make their proposition to Iroh," she explained tersely, suddenly dragging him out the window, ignoring his surprised, "Whoaaa!"
"Ouff!" he gasped as she caught them with her pillar of earth and brought them back to ground level. "What proposition? What is going on?"
"Have you seen Sugar Queen in the last few days?" she asked, beginning to surf her way through the training grounds, leaving no mark of her passage behind her but creating quite a stir. "I thought you had."
He gulped as he clung onto her enormously strong hand so that he wouldn't fall from their precarious sail barge. "Well, I saw her yesterday."
"And. . .how was she?"
"Asleep, mostly," he replied sheepishly.
Toph groaned as she deftly maneuvered her way around the arenas' entrance and made a beeline for the council chamber. "I knew it," she muttered. "This is going to be ugly."
"What is going on!" he yelled at her over the wind, hoping she would have enough sense to stop and let them walk when they got to the main hallways of the palace.
"Don't you see, Firefly? You didn't tell her about the whole arrest misunderstanding, did you?" Zuko's face went a sallow pale and she took that as a yes. "Of course you didn't. Damnit, this is going to be ugly!"
"Oh Agni," he breathed as he jumped with her into a dead run down one of the back halls leading to the council chamber. "They are going to demand for her release."
He came to a screeching halt, pulling Toph up short. "I'm going to see Katara. You go handle the mess with Uncle. Please?"
Toph gave him one of her exasperated looks, and that marked the first real favor in a long string of political favors that Toph routinely began to do for him. Honestly Zuko knew that his world would have fallen apart without Toph handling administrative and interracial jobs with such a skillful expertise. Cooped up in her parent's home when she wasn't bending, the girl had cultivated a highly intelligent mind which could comprehend and understand much beyond her years. And, of course, she could deal with all matter of state affairs because of her schooling and experience in the nobility rings of the Earth Kingdom.
Zuko sprinted down the other side of the hall, away from Toph, away from what was probably becoming a disaster in his council chamber. Towards Katara, towards what was probably about to disintegrate into another disaster.
He knocked swiftly at her door, and it was yanked open before he had time to take a breath. He strode into the room, only to be knocked back against the door by a water whip. "Uhnn!" he groaned, hastily steam drying his upper clothing and shaking his head to get rid of the sting. "Hey! What was that for!"
Katara glared at him, her hair down in its wild mane, not even secured by pins of her cultural hair loops. She looked positively primeval with her hair dancing, clothing not much more than an unadorned hospital slip, and the water dancing in the air behind her. "What was that for?" she snarled. "I can tell you what that was for!"
He ducked and rolled, thankful for his light, informal clothing, neatly avoiding her trail of icicles and another water whip without having to resort to firebending. She growled angrily and lashed out at him again, attempting to force him into attacking her or defending himself. She caught him a few times, but he merely jumped and moved or blocked with his heated arms until he managed to flip up over her, pushing off a wall, and landed directly behind her. He neatly caught her up in his arms, preventing her from doing much more than curse and wiggle, the water dissipating around them. She hadn't been trying very hard, been confined in a small space, was still weak, and was totally incapacitated by blind rage. An utterly horrible combination.
He swallowed, remembering the day he had pushed her to safety so that she would not be crushed by falling rocks. The same feeling, so frightening to him then, was invading him now. A fierce need to protect and calm her, to hold her tightly so that she couldn't endanger herself further, enveloped him, and he squeezed her gently, trying to be comforting.
She slumped, and all the water sloshed back into its proper basins or disappeared, evaporating. "Why?" she whispered.
"Katara—"
She began to cry, utterly exhausted, confused and hurt. "Why am I a prisoner? I've spent all my life free and happy or trying to avoid capture and a cage—I can't stand the idea!"
He turned her around and his eyes widened when she clenched her fists into his robes, sobbing uncontrollably. Her head rested against his chest, and he couldn't stop the dryness in his throat, the pounding of his heart. Toph would be having a field day if she were here right now, he thought sulkily.
"Katara, please calm down," he pleaded, his firm grasp slackening even farther, one arm sliding around her waist in an easy, natural sort of way. "Start from the beginning."
If he could listen from the beginning.
This was going to be a problem. He could hardly think with her heady scent of clean smelling rain and some sort of flower, probably the moonpeach blossom mixture that was one of the rare shampoo essences used around the palace. Zuko smiled grimly. Katara was probably using Azula's supply.
Besides the somehow overpowering scent of her hair, her whole body was a danger to him, as was her voice. Her voice sent shocks through him, the feel of her skin made him want to—oh gods, he was in trouble.
"Iroh told me—"
He listened as she recounted tearfully how Iroh had explained the confusion of the Fire Nation and how they had blamed her for his father's demise. He had been very gentle when he broke the news to the still-fragile teenager, but Katara knew that she was virtually trapped in the Fire Nation as a convicted murderer. Iroh hadn't been able to soften that blow.
"Oh, Zuko!" she cried out again, squishing her body even closer to his, and he felt as though she wouldn't be able to support herself if she tried. "I killed him! I've never really done that before! I mean I know he was a monster—" she gave a little catching gasp there, and hurriedly backtracked. "Oh, Zuko, he can't really have been all monster, he was your father—"
He laughed, and she was so close that he was sure she could feel his light and characteristic laugh reverberating through his chest. He carefully gathered her legs and supported her around the waist a bit more firmly and lifted her effortlessly up into his arms. Carrying her back to her bed, he sat down on it, cradling her gently.
He realized the sobbing wasn't just for the impending doom that waited her, or the indeterminate imprisonment that would be that alternative. It was also for the loss of her childhood, her mother, her home, and all the people who had been killed during the century and more of war. And, of course, it was for all the horrible things she had been forced to do during the past year and more in order to ensure the salvation of the world—things no teen should ever have to do.
He was still laughing. "Remember what you called yourself? Something like an emotional tear-jerker? Maybe that is what you are after are, if you can cry over the perceived lost goodness in a heart as black as Ozai's."
She turned her tear-streaked face to him, half-smiling at his joke. "You don't hate me?" she choked.
He shrugged. "Why would I? You rid the world of a very cruel, tyrannical man who would have swept the world clean to get what he wanted. He was my father, yes, but I came to terms with that. And I can't say that it hurt, a little, when he died, but I know that there is no way he could have been saved. Katara, you saved my nation, our world. All I can say is that I admire you, and thank you for all you have done. No one in their right mind would hate you, Katara."
"You really think so?" she hiccupped, still grasping his shirt.
"Yeah, and I also think that, um, crying can be a good thing? Some. . .times." He didn't know what to say about her emotional exhaustion. "Uncle always says that. . ." he searched for something simple, "it is always darkest right before dawn."
Why was he even trying?
But she seemed to take it well, her sobbing evened out and became quieter at any rate. He awkwardly stroked her hair, suddenly very confused as to how exactly he had ended up in her bed with her sprawled in her lap. He knew he had natural charm because his uncle had pointed it out at every turn, but, really, he had no idea how he had managed this. And it wasn't entirely uncomfortable, only somewhat embarrassing if anyone walked in.
He let her cry a little longer, and then he shifted enough to stir her from a comfortable position. "Zuko?" she murmured shakily.
"Katara?"
"What am I going to do?"
"You aren't going to do anything. I'll take care of this, I. . .well, Katara, I know you might hate me for this, but I don't know how I'll be able to get out of this mess. Iroh has limited powers as regent, and there are so many restricting laws that are automatically enacted when a regency is in place. We can't even hold a trial, or probably release you! The nobles will go up in flames if I start breaking laws—"
"I understand," she said softly.
He could hear the heartbreak in her voice. "Katara, I promise you, I will do everything within my power to make this as easy as possible for you. I will not let anyone harm you again, do you hear me? Katara!"
She had stopped crying, but hadn't loosened her hold, or lifted her head from where she had buried it again against his chest. She seemed frozen, and he shook her. She slowly drew herself away from him, regaining her composure, piece by piece. "Thank you, Zuko. It means a lot."
"And there will be no cages involved," he smiled. "And I'll be here, with you, the whole time. That's a good thing isn't it?" He shrunk a bit at her completely incomprehensible look. "Maybe not. Katara—"
She sighed, cutting him off. "I get it, Zuko. And really, thank you. I can see that you are bound by laws just as everyone else is. It makes sense—I think."
Zuko looked at her still watery eyes for a moment before being struck by an idea. "Hey! Come to the council chamber with me. I have an idea as to how we can work this out. Really. But you have to get dressed."
"Walking?" she asked skeptically.
"I'll carry you there, you'll only need to show strength in the actual chamber, seriously."
She was looking at him like he was mad, but he didn't care. He bounded up, still clutching her, and went to the wardrobe in the room. "Azula had to have something in your size remotely presentable."
"This is Azula's room," Katara asked flatly.
"Not. . .really. One of her old one's. Her formal wear is in here, luckily. Here!" he flourished a straight cut gown, one that was cut low in the front but with a high collar come out form behind. The sleeves were tight and it was a deep red color, one that would go well with her skin. "Perfect. Azula only looked ok in this, but it'll look great on you!" He stopped and back tracked, "I mean, you know. . ."
She rolled her eyes and struggled enough so he let her down. She grasped the dress and sighed. "Sure, sure, I'll fit in this, of course. . ." the sarcasm was not lost on Zuko, but he just smirked and leaned back against the wardrobe, waiting as she went around it and behind a screen to change. He heard her muttering sullenly, but at least her bout of anger and depression had passed for now.
She emerged only a minute or two later, and he turned, ready to say something a bit snippy, but instead his good eyed widened. "Uh," he muttered, a hand rubbing at the back of his neck. "that does look great, Katara."
"Whatever, I swear Azula was skinnier than me," she huffed, rummaging in a dress for something as her shapely hips swung in front of him.
Big, big, trouble.
"Er, well, sit down," he told her with false cheerfulness.
She looked at him suspiciously. "Why?"
"Because I'm going to fix you hair, that's why."
She started laughing, and he rolled his eyes with a disgruntled expression. "Just sit down."
He found one of Azula's flame pins, one that wasn't really meant for royalty, just expensive and delicate and proceeded to wind Katara's masses of hair into a rather neat topknot, securing it with the pin and a band. "There," he stood back, looking over her shoulder into the mirror. He had to look away. "Let's go."
She tugged uncertainly at the hair and turned, beaming in a slightly surprised way. "I must say, Zuko, I'm impressed. I look like one of your nobles."
He shrugged, ignoring the slight tingling in his stomach. "Of course you do. Theoretically, you're a noble. Toph should be at the end of her capabilities by now. Even she can't control them for very long."
He effortlessly picked her up and kicked the door open, striding down the hall. A few guards looked at him in shock, but he ignored their hurried attempts at snapping to attention. "Did you just almost admit that I'm not a peasant, Fire Lord?" she asked in an almost playful manor, her brilliant blue eyes dancing with mirth.
"Did I say that?" he rasped, almost grinning again himself. "I don't think I did."
He enjoyed her lighthearted bickering, a refreshing change from her previous biting sarcasm and enmity, until they reached the throne room. He didn't put her down though. "If I'm right," he whispered to her. "Toph will come out here in just a minute—"
The doors burst open and Toph stood there, a distinctly unhappy look on her face. "What took you so long, Firefly," she hissed. "There are some major problems in there!"
"I know, I know!" he growled back, pressing back where no one would be able to see them the chamber. "I had to get Katara first!"
"They are demanding her release, and the Fire Nation nobles won't have it, they clearly don't trust each other—"
"Exactly as I suspected," he smirked, one fist pounding into his other hand. "Katara. Listen. I need you to stride in there, tell them that you are willing to stay here as a political prisoner in order to ensure peace between the nations. If the Earth Kingdom or the Water Tribe breaks faith with the Fire Nation, then we will have collateral! I know it sounds horrible, but this will show that you at least trust the Fire Nation! And, of course, if the Fire Nation does something against any of the other nations, then you have it completely within your power to kill me, or Iroh. They know that, I know that, it's perfect! I know it's a little shaky, but if you convince them you are willing then I can uphold the laws until I ascend the throne and find a loophole and we'll have a physical entity that represents peace!"
Toph blinked. "Wait. You came up with that by yourself, Firefly?"
"Oh, shut up, Toph."
Katara's brow was furrowed. "It is a rather good idea, Zuko. I'll give you that. And I don't exactly see any alternatives." She sighed. "You are very lucky Sokka and my father trust you. "They are going to have a fit."
"Sweetness," Toph said slowly, coming over to feel her gown. "What is this? How did you do this? My feet seem to think you look awesome."
Katara blushed, and Zuko's heart seemed to flutter, which earned him a smirk form Toph. "Zuko found it in his sister's closet."
"Great, way to be, Firefly, you did something right, for once. Go stun them, Katara. I can't take those knuckleheads any longer."
Katara's face hardened in concentration, and then she turned her sharp gaze on Zuko. "Come in behind me?" she demanded more than asked.
"That was the plan," he replied, straightening out his tunic, not really caring he didn't look very formal at all. As long as Katara looked amazing, that was really all that mattered.
She turned, and strode through the door into the large room filled with snooty and argumentative voices. Iroh was calmly drinking tea, ignoring a seedy looking Fire Nation noble attempting to chat animatedly with him.
"Stop this foolishness at once," Katara's voice cracked through the room like one of her water whips, and all was silent. Toph and Zuko slid into the room to flank her, standing slightly behind the dramatic figure she cut in the brilliant court gown.
Every eye turned to look at her, and gasps of wonder and looks of unrestrained awe or stunned amazement were almost unanimous. "Lady Katara!" a Water Tribe man exclaimed. "You are alright!"
'I am perfectly healthy, thank you. The healing of course took some strength out of me, but I am perfectly capable of putting certain thing sot rights again. Like the peace of the world, for instance." She drew herself up, and Zuko thought back to all the magnificent things he had seen her do in the past few weeks, realizing that she was, in her own way, even more dangerous than Azula had ever hoped to be. "I understand that there has been some question as to my 'release,' as you would say. I will not be released. I am staying here, of my own free will, to fulfill the laws of this nation and to act as a safeguard against treachery. I am offering myself as collateral to the Fire Nation, the
Earth Kingdom, and the Water Tribe."
She held up her hand as shocked protests began. "I have nothing else to say in this matter. As the daughter of Hakoda, Chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe, this is my duty. I'm sure the details of my hostage political prisoner state can be worked out by you fine gentlemen. Good day," she said, and then she turned on her heel and majestically stalked out amidst stunned silence.
"Katara—"
"Don't go anywhere, Firefly," she said under her breath. "I need you to carry me back to my rooms."
It was only when she was comfortably settled back into her bed, happier but tired did she speak again. He had drawn the curtains, suggesting that she take a short nap. "Zuko?" she murmured.
He left one candle burning and leaned over her bed. "Yes?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him down so she could whisper, "Thank you for letting me keep my honor," although he could hear the slightly mocking tone in her voice, he knew she meant it because of the small kiss she planted on his cheek before releasing him. "Let me know what those silly ambassadors decide," she yawned drawing away form him.
"Of course," he muttered, turning to hide his blush. He was horrified to find that he would like nothing better than to lie down beside her and find those lips again in the semi-darkness. Why could she do this to him? "Sleep well, Katara."
- - -
Zuko began pacing again, remembering the promise he had made to her that day.
"I promise. . .I won't let anyone harm you again."
And he wanted to keep that promise to his grave, at the cost of his own life if need be. His wanton desire and protective streak towards Katara was so powerful, it still scared him. He tried to suppress it, but however hard he tried, the flames of his raging lust and love for her only grew hotter, eating away at his defenses. He couldn't focus any more, he grew more and more melancholy every day he had to endure her presence without being able to be close to her. . .
This couldn't go on.
He stopped to stare silently down at his meditative candles.
Tomorrow, he could set this mess aright, release Katara from her servitude, allow her to free.
But at what price to him? She would never want to stay in this hot country away from her family. Would she? And if she left, how could he survive? Not seeing her at all was even more agonizing than not being able to have her.
He would release her, and he would try to win her over, bit by bit. Maybe. . .maybe if he pretended to have problems with the law, if he took long enough to find a solution, he could win her over.
He doused the candles and strode from the room, going to find Toph. It was time he actually discussed this with her.
And it was time to enter this inferno full force so that he might enjoy its warmth instead of bear its pain.
Katara, wonderful, strong, intelligent, beautiful Katara, would be off-limits no more. Custom be damned, as he had once decided. It was time to finally conclude his subtle courtship.
And end this collateral business once and for all.
A/N: I didn't really know how to end it, so it petered out.
And wow, a lot of things have happened. . .Zuko became beautiful and sexy and mushy and squishy and amazing while Katara became a bitter psycho bitch. Thank you, Mike and Bryan.
AHHH I am so psyched for comet!! Going NOW to watch it!!
But, it's all over! Gah! I can't believe it! Ozai. . .will finally fall? Weird as hell. I don't think I'll believe it. He'll be featured in the next Mummy movie or something.
The Mummy: Flames of the Phoenix or some rot like that.
More Zutara goodness soon! (No matter what!)
Review, or Azula will use her jetpack to burn you! (Dude, you all know it was Boba Fett's jetpack hiding underneath her armor.)
Until I recover from Sozin's Comet,
Conterra
SPOILER WARNING for THE COMET
what. the. hell.
my life just ended.
that pretty much sums it up.
what was I expecting? It is a kid's show technically. aw, hell. VIVA LA ZUTARA.