As soon as those words left my mouth, I instantly regretted saying them. They were stupid words said at a stupid time and I sounded a lot angrier than I had wanted. I never meant to be seriously disrespectful and rude. I had only meant to have a bit of fun and tease Zuko right back just as he had, but it was definitely not the time to do so.
Zuko exhaled deeply in a way that men do when they get agitated at one another. He knew something bad was coming and it wasn't going to be easily stopped. He glared at me, telling me I should not have said that.
Zu-Long's nostrils flared and his hands tightened into fists. He glared so deadly at me that I had a knot of fear and worry plunge to the bottom of my stomach. He turned to Zuko, his eyes a blazing inferno. "Are you going to let her disrespect you like that? I never believed that you were such a coward as Zhao had described you as, and even now I don't because you are much more of a coward than he said you were if you let her go unpunished," he snarled.
Zuko cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "There is no need for a punishment," he said sternly.
"Of course there is!" Zu-Long shouted. "Are you going to stand there and let her walk all over you? A Water peasant?"
Anger boiled inside of me. How dare he call me a Water peasant! I glared poisonously at him.
"Her actions are not in need of a punishment! If you were in her place wouldn't you lash out?" he asked, already lost his patience with the both of us.
"You're a disgrace to the Fire Nation," he spat.
More anger built up in my throat. Zuko was not a disgrace. There was good in him that I never thought was possible in someone from the Fire Nation. He chose to defend me rather than punish me. He deserves more than to be known as a disgrace!
"He is not a disgrace," I said firmly, my eyes staring steadily at Zu-Long. I wasn't going to back down from what I knew was the right thing to do.
Zuko eyed me, silently warning me.
"Of course, he is," Zu-Long said, turning to me. "If you have any ounce of wisdom in you, then you'd better keep your mouth shut." He turned back to him. "If you weren't a disgrace, don't you think your father would have welcomed you back already?"
The Prince looked down in remorse. "That's not true," he muttered.
It made my heart ache to know that he thought that as well. His father didn't love him. His father didn't even know what love is!
"You have the scar he gave you to prove it." He grinned evilly. He knew he had hit a pressure point in him. He knew that he would lash out, rage filled. Zuko was right, he was much worse than Zhao.
I gasped out loud. His own father gave him his scar? What kind of a world did he grow up in? How could he have turned out to be so… so…normal even though he was given such a horrendous and heinous reminder like that?
"Rah!" Zuko shouted, standing up abruptly. "Maybe you'd like one too!"
He smirked. "What are you going to do? Challenge me to an Agni Kai?" He chuckled. "No, you won't because you know that I will defeat you and you'll lose your little girlfriend," he gave me a sneer. "You'll have even more disgrace and dishonor brought upon you, isn't that right?"
Zuko kept his eyes down, not willing to look up at him. He knew he'd lost to him. There was no possible way he could pull through in this verbal battle. Zu-Long had hit home with Zuko and hit pretty hard, but still he looked up coldly at the cruel admiral. "I think it's time for you to leave," he threatened.
"I think you are right," he said as-a-matter-fact. "I'd best get back to hunting the Avatar. You know, Prince Zuko, you should probably just give up now while you still can because the Avatar will be in my hands before you can even pull up your anchor." He smirked again. "And soon enough she'll," he nodded his head towards me, giving me a pang of fear that shook me from the inside out, "be mine also." He turned on his heel and walked out of the room.
As soon as he was out of earshot, I ran to Zuko. I placed my hands on his shoulders, trying to soothe his growing anger and pain. "I'm sorry, oh, so sorry. This is my fault. I shouldn't have disobeyed you. I'm sorry," I apologized as the realization of what I had caused dawned on me. I felt tears began to sting my eyes as they threatened to fall.
I don't know why I was so shaken by what had happened, but it really hurt me to see him in that much rage and pain. It was scary and upsetting. I had seen him go through a mild case of it when I pried deep into his secret heart, and it sometimes really hurt him. I didn't want him to go through that again on a much larger scale on my account.
"It doesn't matter," Zuko mumbled. He pulled away from me. He padded out of the room, leaving me alone as tears started to fall.
The next few days between Zuko and I were extremely tense. Ever since Zu-Long had come aboard the ship, Zuko had been in a bad mood. He would totally write me off when I would try to speak to him. I barely saw him aside from when we went to bed, but even then things were exceedingly hard. It had been a week since Zu-Long had been on the ship, and Zuko still didn't seem to be snapping out of his silence or depression.
"Zuko," I sighed one night, "you seem to be in a sullen mood lately. Talk to me."
"It's complicated," he said, evading my question and trying to write me off instantly.
"I know that what happened was horrible and traumatic for you and it really cut up some old wounds for you." I paused, not so sure I should go on, "but," I bit my lip, "you have to understand, for the people who love you, watching you be in this much rage and pain is really scary." I crossed my arms out of fear and feeling strangely chilling.
Thinking about Zuko totally losing it from anger and pain was a frightening thought. It was scary enough to fight him and see that side of him being completely released towards me, but to not even be fighting was a horribly shaking thought. It sent goosebumps all along my arms and chills down my spine.
"My honor, my throne, my country, I'm about to lose them all," he numbly said. He squeezed his eyes shut and grimaced as if he was withholding a cry of pain.
That wasn't true. He had his honor, he always had his honor. He never lost it because his father is an unfair and cruel man. "How can you say that?" I asked shocked and a bit outraged. "You sound like you've already given up!"
He gritted his teeth, suddenly becoming angry and unable to hold it inside of him. "You don't understand!" he shouted at me.
I flinched. I never expected him to lash out at me like that.
"You don't understand the position I'm in! Zu-Long is going to steal the Avatar away from me! I'm never going to earn back my honor! I'm never going to earn back my father's-" His face paled and he took steps back in shock. He had said too much for his own comfort, but I understood perfectly well what he was about to say.
His talk about losing his honor and his father's love made me sick. His father was not fit to be known as a father. He based his love off strength and brutality. How could Zuko justify that as actual love? How could Ozai justify that as actual love, a father?
"Your father knows not of what love is," I said, shaking my head and taking a step toward him. "Only cruelty and malice. He is undeserving of being Fire Lord and undeserving of your love," I said, holding firmly to my courage to speak up against Ozai. I walked to Zuko, gazing up into his eyes. They were full of pain and hurt. It broke my heart to see him like that. "Whatever you think your father's love is, is not true love. It is only based off greed and want for power.
How can you still strive to have the acceptance of the man who gave you your scar?"
He looked away, staring at the floor.
"You father, he bases love off strength and how merciless you are. But you aren't merciless, Zuko. You are strong even if your father cannot see it because I can," I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him. I didn't care if he didn't hug me back or if he pushed me away. It didn't matter. "And," I went on, not sure I should add it in, "there's far more people worthy of your love."
Slowly, he wrapped one arm around me too. It was so shocking and surprising that I almost pulled away. "Thank you, Katara," he whispered in my ear. He clutched me tighter as he pulled his other arm across my back.
"Zuko!" I shouted as I sped down the hallways. That boy was never where he said he was going to be. "Zuko!" Where was he? I finally reached our room, panting and about ready to pass out. I had run all over the ship in search of him. Apparently no one knew where he was. How convenient.
I swung our door open, and, of course, there he was, sitting at his desk. He was hunched over scrolls. He twisted around as the sound of the door opening. He stood up with a confused look on his face and a smirk on his lips. "Why are you all out of breath?" he asked. "Pirates chasing you again?" he smirked.
I playfully glared at him. "Har, har, har. You would know a lot about that, wouldn't you?" I bent at the waist and held my hands on my knees as I tried to catch my breath. Tendrils of hair fell into my eyes, but Zuko pushed them back. I smiled and blushed slightly at his kind gesture.
He's been such a sweetheart lately. I wonder what's going on. It all started five days ago when I was comforting him and we hugged. Then four days ago, he asked to have tea with me. Three days ago when we stopped at that fisherman port, he picked a flower for me. And yesterday he came up behind me and scared me and gave me a kiss on the cheek, leaving me shocked for a few minutes. Could all those things have something to do with when we hugged? No, it can't be, but why has he been acting so sweetly?
Could it be that he loves- No, Zuko couldn't have fallen for me. I mean, after all, I am the "Water peasant". Why would he have fallen in love with me?
But…if he…is in love…with me…does that mean I return those feelings…? No! I'm not in love with anyone, let alone the Fire Nation Prince! I would be turning my back on my own people if I said I was in love with Zuko. No chance. No way. I couldn't be in love with him.
When I finally caught my breath, I stood up straight with a wide grin on my face. "There's a market at the port we've stopped at. Can I go and look around? Please?" I asked.
"No," he instantly said.
Is he really going to be that adamant about me not going? "No? What do you mean, 'No.'?"
"I mean, no," he said as he turned around and walked back to his desk. I followed close behind on his heel. He sat down in his stool.
"Why not? Do you not trust me?" I asked with pleading eyes.
"As a matter of fact, I don't," he admitted.
"But... why not? I won't cause any trouble!" I promised.
Zuko gave me a condescending glare. "Of course, you'll be trouble!" he cried. "You're always trouble! Trouble follows you around like a lost puppy," he said as he pointed a finger at me.
I sighed, thinking I had been defeated. "Please, Zuko," I tried one more time. "You can come with if you want. I won't be any trouble, I promise! Just please let me go! You can come with if you want and chain me to your wrist if it makes you feel better!" I said, not completely sure I was going to let him if he actually decided to do that. But it was worth it if he let me go, embarrassing, but worth it.
He turned to me. He stared at my face, trying to find any hint of dishonesty. "You promise to stay by me at all times?" he asked, his eyes not leaving mine.
"Yes." I nodded my head.
"You promise not to go anywhere I say you cannot go because we've had problems with that before."
"I promise, Zuko," I said, my patience running thin. I was practically bouncing up and down from excitement. "So can I go or are you just doing this to torture me?"
He sighed and rolled out of his seat. "Fine, let's go."
"Yah!" I shouted as I jumped into the air.
The market was just as I remembered it being. It was full of people walking around, shopping for things. Everyone was running about, shouting their wares, looking for something to buy. There was so much hustle and bustle. It was so exciting! I couldn't remember the last time I'd been to a market!
I clapped my hands like a child from my enthusiasm. It had been about a month since I had been outside. I hadn't been outside since Zuko let me watch him train, but even then there wasn't much amusement. No, there wasn't any amusement at all. It was going to be a fun day, I just knew it.
Zuko looked at me with a chuckle. He probably thought I was being silly and childish, but I didn't care. I was going to have a good time shopping around and dragging him into shops that he didn't want to go into.
We walked off the plank and onto the ground. After being aboard the ship for months, it was going to take me awhile to get used to walking on solid ground. It took me long enough to get used to the bizarre sway of the metal ship. I was going to be walking around as if I was drunk.
We shopped around for some time before we got tired and hungry. We bought some food from a local vender and ate as we were walking.
"So, do people know who you are when you come to places like this?" I asked casually as I was examining some flowers outside a shop. I turned behind me and pulled my swooping hair out of my face.
He was leaning against a wooden pole used to hold up the canopy. He had a look on his face that looked like he was annoyed and yet in love that made me smile. "No, not usually. I've actually never had a problem like that," he answered.
"Let's hope I didn't jinx it," I chuckled as he smiled.
We walked through the market some more and went into shops of all sorts. We talked casually as if we were old friends, and strangely, I enjoyed his company. There was something different starting to bud inside him and bloom. There was something there. I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was something. Something sweet and almost kind.
It was so weird to think that he was sweet and kind, since he was mean and coarse and unrefined when we had first met and when he had captured me. He had been gruff and brutal with his words. But…he was dear and somewhat unsure. I wondered why I hadn't seen it until just a few days ago.
"Ok," Zuko said, looking up into the sky. Clouds were starting to gather in the east, warning us of a storm that was approaching, "We have a little bit more time before this storm comes. We should quickly look at one more store and then leave." He glanced down at me.
"Mmm," I grunted my understanding. I wasn't really paying attention to him. I was more focused on the shop across the road. It was full of beautiful dresses in the windows. There was even a purple dress! I couldn't believe that the small store had a purple dress. Out of all the stores that I had seen, there was not one purple dress.
"What store do you want to go in?" I barely heard as I started walking towards the shop. I ambled through the doorway, and I heard, "Katara?" from still out in the road. I imagined Zuko swirling around, looking frantically for me and then grumble and mutter curses under his breath. I chuckled to myself.
For about ten minutes, I wandered around the store, gazing at the beautiful dresses. I had never in my life been to a shop that had dresses like those. They were exquisite! Completely perfect in every way!
I suddenly felt a shadow loom over me. I turned around to see an irritated Zuko standing fiercely over me.
He pulled me away from the racks and into a corner. He rested his hands on the wall, cornering me in. "What are you doing here?" he gruffly asked. His golden eyes board into me.
"Looking at the dresses. What does it look like?" I snapped, already agitated.
What is it with men and shopping?
The Fire Prince growled, letting small wisps of smoke escape his knuckles. "You promised that you would stay beside me. Do you remember that or has it already slipped your mind? If you keep this sort of thing up, you'll blow our cover," he warned through gritted teeth.
I squinted my eyes. I was not going to blow our cover. His words hurt and were meant to bite, but I knew he was merely looking out for me. I appreciated his actions, but pulling me away from the clothing racks and into a corner to interrogate me was far too much. If he was going to protect me and watch over me, he was going to do it with respect and above all else personal boundaries.
"Excuse me, but I know how to keep my mouth shut. Unlike you. It's your fault that Admiral Zu-long is after us; not me," I retorted.
Zuko scoffed. "Oh, please, don't flatter yourself. You know very well why he's after us."
I shrugged, sighing. "Whatever," I said as I tried to walk back to the rack I was looking at, but he pulled me back as he crossed his arms. A smirk spread onto my face, "At least I'm not the one dragging girls off to corners while their shopping."
Zuko's cheeks turned rosy pink with embarrassment at the realization of how his actions looked. He looked so innocent and humble and somewhat cute when he blushed. I took note that I would have to get him to blush more often.
His face lost its rosy hue and turned back to its usual stony gaze. "Be that as it may, I'm merely looking out for you. I am your guardian after all."
"Guardian?" I scoffed. "You were the one who captured me in the first place, and since when are you my guardian?" I asked as I tried to chock back laughter. Zuko being my guardian was the most ironic thing ever. I never imagined that he would even say that he was my guardian, let alone take heed to it. "I did not ask you to watch out for me."
He glared at me. "I took on the position since Zu-Long declared that you were going to be his," he answered. "Remember?"
A shiver went up my spine and my stomach dropped. I had forgotten about that.
His eyes lowered and his voice dropped to a whisper. "If anything were to happen to you, I couldn't forgive myself."
I felt my face blush a little. I didn't expect him to say something like that. It made me happy to hear him say that, but also uncomfortable. It made me feel a bit out of place because he was clearly hinting that he felt something for me, but… I didn't think- No, I did not feel anything for him. Nothing other than some sort of bond of friendship. And even then, it was a fragile line.
I huffed, "Well, I can take care of myself, thank you very much!"
Zuko growled. It was quite obvious that he wasn't going to back down and leave me alone. I wasn't going to back down either. I was as strong as he was, - possibly as stubborn and headstrong- and I was going to prove that to him.
"No, you can't because I know you, and you attract trouble like fire attracts smoke."
My brow furrowed with confusion. Fire attracting smoke? That did not make any sense. I crossed my arms. "Smoke comes naturally from fire. It doesn't attract it."
"My point exactly," he stated. "It comes naturally."
I glared at him one last time before sighing. "Alright, fine." I shook my head a little. "Let's go back to the ship."
"Good." Zuko nodded his head and turned on his heel. He walked swiftly through the store with me following closely behind him. He got to the door, opened it, and stopped abruptly.
"Umph!" I grunted as I ran into his back. He looked back behind him and gave me a look to which I glared at. I moved beside him to see that it was pouring down rain. There weren't a lot of people in the road, but there were a few who were running frantically, trying to get to some shelter. It appeared that we would have to be one of those people also.
"I told you we'd have to leave soon before the storm came," Zuko growled, giving me a condescending glare.
I stuck out my tongue at him. True, it was childish, but it felt, oh, so good to do it. "It's not like we just can't wait it out," I said, shrugging.
He shook his head. "No, we need to make it back to the ship."
I sighed. "So that means…" I drifted off, not really wanting to voice the thought of having to run through the rain.
"Yes," he nodded his head.
I grumbled curses under my breath. I had not planned on being soaking wet by the time we got back to the ship. True, I could simply waterbend the water out, but, to be honest, I didn't expect to need to waterbend water out of my clothing. I expected the day to end with a nice walk back to the ship with the sun high in the sky and big, white clouds spotting the sky. And not grey and bleak skies and cold rain.
"Aren't you a waterbender?" the Fire Prince asked with a condescending scowl on his face.
"Yeah, where have you been for the last year?" I sarcastically asked.
He glared at me with his 'You know what I mean' look. "I mean, don't you love being in water?" he corrected.
I breathed in deeply, taking in his question. I never actually thought about it like that. "Well, sure, I like swimming in the water and bending it, but I don't really like the rain." I gazed up at him, a smirk just barely evident on my face. "Since you're a," I lowered my voice, "firebender, don't you like to be on fire?"
"No, I don't like to be fire!" he shouted, shocked that I would ask such an idiotic question.
"Well, there you go!" I said, making my point clear. "Just because I'm a waterbender doesn't mean I love to be totally drenched unexpectedly from rain when I expected to be walking home in nice weather underneath a bright and vibrant sky. I mean, sure if I had planned on being caught up in the rain, then maybe, sure, but not like this," I explained.
Zuko nodded his head in understanding. He looked at me. "Ready?"
I bit my lip. No, I was most certainly not ready, but I knew that we had to make a break for it sooner or later. "I guess," I mumbled.
"Ok."
We made a mad dash out of the store. Instantly we were drenched with water. My hair began to cling to the sides of my face. My clothing turned a shade darker and water dripped and rolled down my limbs and nose. Tiny droplets settled themselves onto my dark eyelashes. With each blink, I pushed them off, but as I pulled my eyelids back up, new raindrops took their place.
Surprisingly, I started to laugh as soon as we were a few yards away from the store. It was an extremely ironic moment; something I never thought would ever happen. Fate seemed to really have a sense of humor. I never thought I would experience running through the rain with Zuko, the Fire Prince. But…I don't think I'd want to experience it with anyone else.
For some reason, it just felt so right. The way he ran next to me, the way his figure loomed over my own, it was so…so… perfect. I don't know why, but it did. And for some other strange reason, I was comfortable with it. After all, Zuko wasn't as much of an enemy as he had been before I had been captured. In fact, he was more of a friend than anything. There was just some sort of bond between the two of us that had somehow formed over the six months we had spent together.
Zuko glanced over at me with confusion quickly spreading across his features as I laughed and held out my arms. "I thought you hated the rain?" he huffed as he tried to talk and run at the same time.
"I don't hate the rain; I just sometimes dislike it." I looked up at him. "And for some reason, I don't mind it!"
"Why?" he asked, still, oh, so confused. "You just said that you didn't want to be out in the rain."
I shrugged. "I don't know!" I laughed. I stopped running and just stood still. I felt the tiny droplets fall onto my face, arms, skin, everywhere. It felt so refreshing and good. I closed my eyes and breathed in the fresh air. I don't know why, but when it rained the earth and sky always had a certain clean smell to it. I opened my eyes and turned to Zuko.
"Come on, you scardy cat!" I shouted out at him, smiling all the while.
He looked unsure, as he had been watching my little performance, about what to do next; whether join me or walk away like a total jerk. He bit his lip in uncertainty then ran towards me with arms open wide, yelling and shouting in ecstasy.
I never once thought that in all my life would I hear Prince Zuko shout and yell in ecstasy, but nevertheless, it made me smile even bigger and brighter. It was like we were actually real friends or like we were a- No, we would never be a couple. That was totally and completely out of the question. I could never, ever be in love with him. And even if I did, it wouldn't work out. We came from two totally different worlds.
But…maybe I did feel something for him. Something much more than just a friendship. Would that be wrong of me? Would I be turning my back on my own people, my family if I admitted that I truly did love-
I mentally slapped myself. No, I couldn't love him. I couldn't admit such an absurd statement.
Zuko wrapped his arms around me and I laughed out loud. His arms were still as warm as ever even though we were sopping wet.
I smiled as I wrapped my arms around him and clung closely to his warm body. I took in his intoxicating scent of ash and timber wood.
"Alright, play time's over," he said as he let go of me with his right arm and leaned down. He scooped up my legs and hugged me close to his chest.
I instinctively hooked my arms around his neck, to keep myself up. "Don't drop me."
"Have I ever dropped you?"
My face fell. "You've never picked me up," I corrected.
"Well…" he said, thinking for a moment. "There's a first time for everything."
My eyes widened in fear. I clung even tighter to his neck. "No, seriously, don't drop me!" I squealed.
He gave me a condescending look. "I'm not going to drop you," he promised.
I bit my lip and nodded.
Zuko set me back down on the cold metal of the deck. He had surprisingly carried me all the way back to the ship without complaining of my weight- which I was sure some crack about it would escape his lips.
The rain had subsided to an extent. It wasn't a rumbling shower, but a light shower instead. The sky was still pretty dark and grey, and the raindrops made an eerie echo sound as they sloshed onto the metal.
I started to walk off the deck to go to our room to change, but Zuko grabbed my hand, enveloped my slender hand into his large, warm hand. He spun me around so that I was facing him again.
I blushed immensely. I looked down then back up at him. I gazed into his golden eyes.
The light rain fell against me and rolled off my arms as I stretched them out onto his shoulders. I could feel the cool raindrops slide down my nose and drop off the curve of my lip. I could feel droplets being dragged from my eyelashes to my cheekbone. I could feel his warm arms wrap around my waist also. That was all I could feel- the rain and him. And that was enough for me.
I let myself go. I let my inhibition go, throwing it out the door. I didn't know exactly how far things could escalate, but I wasn't about to let myself think too much and stop something wonderful from happening because living in that moment with him was all that I could ask for. It was perfect; the world seemed to be perfect with him standing in front of me. The whole ordeal, where we were, who we were, how we had come together, seemed to be so strange, but so perfect all the while. There wasn't one thing I would've changed.
He leaned in closer, his eyes ablaze with passion and- Could it be that the Fire Nation Prince, the ruthless and cruel Prince could hold love within his eyes? I believed it to be so.
I moved my hand to his cheek, caressing it. My eyes moved upon his scar, his wretched scar. My fingers grazed it, feeling its roughness and leather-like feel. I wanted so desperately to heal it, but I couldn't. I bit my lip, feeling empathy for the young man in my arms and sorrow for not paying closer attention to Yugoda at the North Pole.
I pushed those regrets and ruining thoughts away. There were more important things at hand. I placed my hand on his scar then pushed it away, moving back down to his neck.
He pulled me closer and pressed me against his masculine chest. He stared intently into my eyes. He moved his hands from my waist and twisted them around my shoulders. Zuko clasped my head in his hands, pushing back my wet hair. He smiled a little and rested his hands back around my waist, not breaking our gaze.
My heart pounded in my chest. It something I had ever felt before. It was a feeling so unknown and uncharted. I was afraid I would mess up. I faltered and looked down, feeling inexperienced when, of course, I was, but…was Zuko inexperienced?
Probably not…
Sensing my uneasiness, Zuko hooked his index finger under my chin and pulled my head up. We were inches apart. His breath mingled with mine. His warm hands grew warmer and warmer with his longing and passion. He slowly moved in, his eyes closing.
"Do you remember when you said that there are far more people worthy of my love a few days ago?" he whispered in that husky tone that always made me melt.
I nodded my head.
"Well, I found someone."
I inhaled, taking a deep breath.
So this is why… but… Do I return these feelings? I-I-I don't know. Maybe. Do I l-love him, Zuko?
Realization dawned on me. I could finally see it. How could I have been so ignorant and unwilling to swallow my pride? I did love him. It took me long enough to realize that I loved him, but I did nonetheless.
I closed my eyes and leaned in, closing the space between us.
It was nothing like any of the other girls back at home had said it was like in their fits of giggles and squeals. Quick and sweet and small. But then again, they had never had a kiss with a firebender or with a man that they truly loved and knew that they felt that in return rather than just some silly crush.
I was instantly filled with electricity thrumming through my veins as soon as his lips touched mine. I felt on fire as we deepened the kiss. He lifted his mouth and kissed my upper lip and tightened his arms around me. I felt as if I had been struck by lightning, but my wildly beating heart told me I was much too alive to have been.
Our lungs screaming for air, we finally broke apart for lack of breath.
I panted and tried to calm my heart, looking deep into his eyes. The eyes of Zuko, the Fire Nation Prince, the man I had somehow and almost mistakenly fallen in love with. But that was alright. I opened my mouth and nothing came out.
…But no words were needed.
He stared into my sapphire eyes, filling me with one of the best warmth of all time, aside from when we had kissed. He smiled one of his rare and genuine smiles. He leaned down and whispered in my ear, "I think it's time we went inside."
I nodded and happily let him lead me back into the ship.
Ahhh! The moment you all have been waiting for- the kiss!
Ok, for once I was not late. I am actually early! I got to work right away on this chapter. Mostly because I knew what was going to happen in this chapter and I couldn't wait to have it out. And I'm ashamed to say that while I was writing this chapter, I was giggling like a silly little schoolgirl. lol.
I know this chapter is extrememly long (it's like 6,000 words!) but I really wanted to have all those scenes in one chapter and in this chapter, but it wouldn't have worked out with all the little extra stuff, so I gritted my teeth and kept writing until they kissed. Which by the way, how was it? Did you guys like it? Did it live up to expectations? Was it too early in the story? Yeah, it was a little bit earlier on than I had hoped, but... I think it works out better this way. What do you think?
This is by far my FAVORITE chapter (and you guys can tell ;)) I really enjoyed writing the kiss and the market scene. I couldn't stop smiling and giggling when I was writing it haha.
No, but, seriously, if you guys hadn't have been so supportive, I think I would have dropped this story a LONG time ago, so I really do want you guys to know that you are appreciated, and I actually DO read your reviews and reply back to them, in case any of you think I'm just some mean person that doesn't say anything about it. (That's happened to me before, on a many occasions sooo...) So, yeah! Thank you guys soo, soo much!
Please review!
-Neon