****Yay! Another update! Aren't you guys proud of me? :D
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN, NOW CLAIM TO OWN, AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER. ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED FOR ITS ORIGINAL OWNERS.
Natural Beauty
To say that Katara was practically terrified of stepping out into that ballroom filled to capacity with eyes dead- set on judging her would have been a massive understatement. Her heart was hammering against her ribs, the bones reverberating simultaneously with each thrum of the vital organ.
As she pulled a gust of air into her awaiting windpipe, she attempted to calm herself, thinking rationally about the outcome of tonight. Surely she was simply overreacting; surely the night wouldn't turn out to be a total disaster… maybe.
Shaking her thoughts away, she stared into the mirror, admiring her ensemble for the evening from every angle, searching meticulously for any hairpin or accessory that might be out of place. Thankfully, she found none, but, to her utmost dismay, she was still unable to quiet the blood that pounded uncomfortably in her temples.
To attempt another diversion from her anxious thoughts, Katara turned towards the mirror again, squinting slightly as she investigated her painted face, bewilderment soon overtaking her as she studied the accuracy of Suki's steady hand, the perfection of the lines of makeup adorning the Southern Water Tribe native's face. Azure eyes were ringed with fine black lines, and full lashes. Mocha skin was heavily powdered; an innocent pinkish tint glided across her cheeks, merging with a bronze shimmer that highlighted her cheekbones. Katara smiled silently, watching as foreign, bright red lips extended upwards in order for her teeth to show.
As the waterbender stared at her reflection, she felt the emotions of nervousness and anxiety gradually leave her. She felt herself slightly relishing the way that the face paints had transformed her appearance; the nineteen year old felt a bubble of warm contentment and confidence burst within her core, splattering everything in its path. Although Katara had worn makeup before, Suki's precision and creativity was something that anyone would take time to admire. She felt her smile widen almost as much as Sokka's mouth on Meat Market Monday.
Smiling widely, she hiked her red skirt slightly just below her ankles to avoid stumbling over the hem of the pretty dress, and exited her room, leaving any and all negative thoughts and feelings behind her.
While the girl basked in the warmth she felt due to her newly acquired confidence, she didn't hear the nimble footsteps behind her, pairs of soft padding sounds on the flooring of the hallways.
Two arms snaked around her waist; she immediately jumped, and turned to face her captor. His eyes were alight with laughter when blue met gold.
His grin slowly slackened as he scrutinized the mingling colors on the canvas of Katara's face; he didn't look displeased, only curious and surprised.
A solitary pale finger stroked her cheek, and Katara knew a small amount of the blush and powder had been deposited onto that finger. She wanted to frown at him disapprovingly; Suki had spent all this time 'prettifying her' as the warrior had put it, and it would be mocking the girl if the Fire Lord tarnished all of that hard work.
When he still hadn't spoken, his eyes still slowly crossing her face, taking in every inch of skin that had been blended with makeup, Katara found her voice.
"Suki said that I should wear makeup for tonight," she mumbled, still following his eyes, seeking a glimmer of what he might be thinking, "I went along with it. I want to make sure that I make a good impression."
The ghost of a smile played across his lips, his finger was still tracing her skin, drawing invisible symbols there on her cheeks. His eyes looked deeply within hers, and it was as though he had pushed past all of the barriers she had constructed in order to protect her heart, and found her soul; the look he was giving her made her think that he had found that intimate part of her, that something that she was terrified to allow anyone into, and was worshipping it, "My people are going to love you. That, I can assure you of."
She smiled brightly, content with remaining twined into his arms for the rest of eternity. She didn't want to move; she wanted to stay attached to him, feeling his fingers flicker across her skin, wisps of his breath sweeping across her face.
His finger had made contact with the sensitive flesh of her bottom lip, and she sucked in a breath of fervent need; she needed him to lower his mouth to hers. Pushing herself onto the tips of her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and tried to connect their two sets of lips, lips that seemed to fill the spaces of the other set.
Right when their lips would have made contact, and a white- hot explosion would erupt in both of their veins, Zuko placed his finger against her painted lips. She looked at him, confused and hurt, rejection reigning dominant in her veins, he gently swiped the red gunk away on the back of his hand, revealing her small, rosy tinted lips that had been masked beneath.
"Perfect," he whispered against her mouth.
Once they had parted, Katara had retreated towards her room, and removed the remaining makeup from her skin, ignoring Suki's looks of hurt and anger the rest of the night.
****Aww, some sappy Zutara goodness. ;D So... did you like? love? hate? Whatever your answer to this question was, please tell me!
-Have a wonderful rest of the week!
P.S: Guys, I have read this thing ten MILLION times but something is up with document manager; it's jacking up all my files. :( So, if there are mistakes, please tell me so I can fix them. :) Thanks!
~Moonlit- Silhouette