So here we are again XDDD hope you enjoy
Katara had awoken late that morning, her mind was unsettled and her sleep had been less then pleasant, twice she woke up with images of smiling golden eyes, Twice she cursed herself for even thinking about him in her dreams. And twice she hated that thinking back on her dream, she ended up smiling.
Zuko was a torment to her. Not because he was unpleasant, but because of his agreeable nature all of a sudden. If asked right now which she would prefer, Zuko chasing them, or Zuko being Nice to them, she would choose the latter.
Why?
Because an angry Zuko was a Zuko Katara was comfortable around. She liked being on edge around him. And she was trying to come up with reasons to justify her anger, but it was getting harder and harder. Last night should have been a simple healing, nothing more. But his reaction to her, the almost shocked look on his face, the compliments, but mostly the trust. Zuko trusted her. She knew that right from the moment she lay a hand on him, she felt the swelling and knew he must be in pain, yet he sat there in silence and let her poke and prod him.
It was infuriating!
She was walking around aimlessly when she came upon Aang and Toph talking. She began to make her way over in that direction, but words halted her.
"I dunno twinkletoes. I think he needs this as much as I do"
"But Toph, Fire is really dangerous; practice is practice, but an all out fight?"
"You saying I can't take him?"
"He is really strong"
"And I am not?"
"No no, that's not what I mean… I just don't want you to get hurt"
"Or Zuko"
"I know you won't hurt Zuko…"
"But he might hurt me?"
"Not intentionally… but… Zuko is… he seemed distracted this morning…"
Katara held her breath without thinking, Zuko was distracted? Why did she think it had anything to do with her? And why was she not going to join in the conversation
"Aang. Sparky needs to learn how to relax around here, and I am going to show him how to, I wont be taking it easy on him, so you don't have to worry about me, Besides, I am sure Sugar queen will help us out, Right?"
The last bit of the conversation was directed at Katara, and Aang turned around to look at her, a blush hit his cheeks as soon as eyes met, but there was something else written on his face that Katara could not read. The waterbender frowned and then walked over to the pair.
"I will heal yes, but Aang is right, I am not sure this is a good idea. You really hurt Zuko last night… and he might be angry about that…"
"Katara, I don't think Zuko is angry, but he did seem distant today… he kept… smiling and looking out to the sunrise"
Katara frowned and fixed her dress about her
"Well, maybe we should ask him if he wants this fight or not, and let him decide…"
"That's what I said, but Toph is insistent on fighting with him"
"Hey don't talk about me like I am not here, Blind, not invisible you know"
"I know Toph, but, I am just worried about…"
"Look!" Toph stood and pointed a finger at Aang " You can worry all you want, but this is the first time anyone has excepted to fighting me seriously in a long time, and I am not about to pass this up. So you can take you worrying and stick it in your ear, cause I am not listening!"
The girl stormed away leaving Katara and Aang looking to her retreating back. Aang broke the silence with a sigh. And Katara patted his leg softly.
"It's okay Aang; she just doesn't see that you care for her that's all"
Aang nodded and stood as well
"I am going to try and talk to Zuko, try and see what's wrong with him; you want to come along Katara? I mean your better at this kinda thing then I am"
Talking to Zuko was not something she had planned on doing today, but a few minutes later and she found herself walking to the river bank where the prince was sitting.
Zuko woke that morning from a relaxed sleep. His shoulder was numb but the pain was tolerable enough, he was to practice this morning with Aang, but before he got ready to do so, he went to his uncle's picture and touched a hand to it
"I hope you are well Uncle, do you know what day it is today? I think this will be a good day today. The first time I can remember just looking forward to just having this day with friends, no fuss and no empty feelings, but I don't think I will tell anyone. I will just keep it to myself."
Zuko smiled and began changing into his clothing. He left his arms bare today, just opting for the tunic. It was warm and with training, it would help to keep somewhat cool. Leaving his room he met with Sokka, who was dragging some kind of bird behind him.
"What is that?"
"It's a… well… its dinner"
Zuko bent down and poked the animal, nothing happened, not that he expected it too, he then looked back at Sokka.
"Where did you find it?
"It was at the river when I was washing… I think it's edible…"
"Possibly… I have never seen anything like it before"
"Me either, but then again, Half the things I eat I had never seen before, south pole doesn't have a lot of variety"
Zuko stood and lent to the wall
"You must miss home"
"Yeah well I do sometimes, but then again, I do love variety"
Zuko smiled and Sokka seemed taken bake suddenly
"Wait… how come you are mister sunshine all of a sudden?"
Zuko just smiled some more and shrugged
"It's a new day Sokka"
Sokka watched as the fire prince made his way towards the training grounds. A torrent of thought whirling about his mind, Haru came up beside him and gave a questioning look to the 'bird'
"What is that?"
Sokka frowned and stroked his chin and then looked at Haru
"A kind of meat I am thinking… more importantly… What has Prince Jerk face so happy… something is amiss Haru"
The young earthbender blinked, he was at a loss for words, but Sokka had words enough for him, the worst kind.
"Let go snooping"
Training with Aang had been calming. Zuko was trying to showing him one advanced set, but also working on the basics. But the sun was warm on his face and he found himself looking out to the rising sun and smiling. His mothers words ringing in his ears from a time long past
"You see that Zuko?"
"It's just the sun rising mother"
"Yes, but on this day, the warmth of the sun, and the light it provides, are sent to you, and when it sleeps, the moon will smile upon you and bid you a sweet slumber."
"Really?"
"Yes my little munchkin, so on this day, when the sun and moon smile at you, you should smile back"
'zuko… Zuko… Zuko!"
'Huh?"
Zuko turned around to look at Aang, it seemed the airbender had been trying to get his attention for a while, but he had been lost in thought so he had missed everything that had been said.
"Sorry what?"
"I asked if I did it right…"
"Oh… oh… yes... fine, it was fine… Why don't we… take a break for today? Sokka brought back a bird for dinner, so I guess I could help by finding something for you to eat, you don't eat meat do you?"
"Well no… but…"
"Alright I will go find something… Momo can come with me, keep me company, and you… maybe you could find a nice place for Toph and I to spar tonight?"
"I think Toph might have an idea of somewhere already…"
Zuko turned to him and smiled softly, Aang did not really know what to make of this so he just smiled back.
"Great, then why don't you and Toph go and take a look at it, and you can tell me what you think when I get back?"
Aang was the second person to watch Zuko with a confused suspicion as he walked away from him. Not that the Avatar thought Zuko was planning something, but there was definitely something not right about how he was acting.
Zuko was situated under a tree, beside him where two roots vegetables that looked somewhat like Turnip but a bit longer in the root. He had taken a small bite of one, as had Momo and so far they both seemed to be fine. No itching, no swelling, no stomach complaints. He had also found a nice supply of berries, one of which he popped into his mouth.
Momo was sitting on his lap, enjoying the attention he was getting; the prince would occasionally stop petting him to give him another berry, and then resume the petting. Life was good for the lemur.
An hour or so like this and the prince had fallen asleep, the heat of the sun providing a warm blanket, yet the shade of the tree, keeping them from being uncomfortable. Momo had curled up on his chest and was snoozing lightly upon it.
And that was how Katara found them, Aang had told her that Zuko went looking for food for him, and that they should spilt up to look for him. She was meant to bring them back to camp when she found Zuko, but looking at the pair of them sleeping, she didn't want to wake them up.
She sat down beside them and peered into the bag he had with him, not a lot of berries where left and she smiled thinking Momo might have had a lot to do with that, and the Camots where a good size (the turnip things) he had collected a few herbs also, and Katara found herself looking back to him.
She did not expect to see golden eyes looking back at her, and certainly did not expect to see him smiling… her eyes went a bit wide and she straightened up a bit
"I was just"
"Good morning to you too Katara"
Zuko's voice was soft as he said this and that made Katara a bit uneasy.
"Aang was looking for you"
Zuko just nodded and poked the lemur
"Come one buddy, we have to get going" One green eye regarded him and then closed again, though undeterred Zuko raised him from his chest and settled him in his arm. Picking up his bag he then smiled at Katara again. "Do you want to take me to him Katara?"
"Stop that"
"What?"
"Saying my name"
"What?" This sounding rather confused
"It's… Annoying, and uncomfortable… and… just… stop saying it"
"O…Kay… then what should I say instead…" His smile had lessened a bit as he was looking at the girl, but he was still in a good humor, Katara frowned and the waved her hands
"I don't know, call me peasant, or Girl, or something"
"You want me to call you peasant?"
"Yes, yes it is better then using my name"
Zuko frowned a bit but then nodded
"Alright Peasant, but if I cant use your name, then you can't use mine"
"What!"
This reaction brought the smile back to Zuko's lips and he shrugged
"Hey it's only fair… Beside, now that I think about it, since you are after all a lowly peasant, you should be regarding me as highness or prince or"
"Stuck up Snotty Arrogant Urgh! You think you so great! You think that the world revolves around you! You're nothing But a… a... Snob!"
"Snob! Perfect!"
"What?" it was Katara's turn to look Confused.
"Well if I am to call you peasant, then you call me Snob, deal?"
"That's not how this works Zu" Katara found her words halted with his finger placed to her lips, and the smile he was giving her made her cheek redden slightly
"I am going to do what you tell me Katara, but there has to be a little give and take, if I am doing something to annoy you, then I will stop. But it's only fair that you should do something for me too"
Katara's brow furrowed a bit, and when she spoke, her words where quiet, almost a whisper.
"And just how is my calling you a snob, doing something for you?"
Zuko just smiled and raised the bag over his shoulder.
"It doesn't matter, it's just what I want, Okay Peasant, lead the way"
Katara was leading Zuko back to the camp, and even though he was doing what she asked, he was not… doing it right, he was calling her peasant like a pet name, and it almost sounded endearing. Though she could not just tell him to stop saying it nicely, that was taking things a bit too far.
Aang came back into camp about half an hour after Katara, and smiled to her as soon as he seen her, she gave a weak smile in return and then inclined her head towards zuko, who was playing with Momo at the fountain.
"Don't get me wrong Aang… I mean its not like I am mad at him being happy or anything… but… I don't get this change of attitude"
Aang had to agree, a happy Zuko was just…well, creepy, He made his way aver to the Prince and sat down beside him, Zuko looked at him and just smiled again.
"You were looking for me?"
"Yeah… it's about this fight with Toph…. I don't know if…well you don't seem yourself today Zuko, maybe it would be a good idea if we held off the fight"
Zuko lay back and looked up at the temple ceiling, he said nothing for a moment, letting the silence draw out, but when he did speak, it was light and unworried.
"I am actually looking forward to it. It will be nice to let go for a change. No offence Aang, but its not easy having to drill the basics over and over, a bit mind numbing"
"Is that what has you in such a good humor?" this was from Katara, Zuko just let his gaze drift over to her before answering.
"Something like that… it's just, a good day, that's all"
They pushed no further on the matter and Zuko said anything more. It was about that time that Sokka came barreling over.
"Okay! So I spoke to the Duke who spoke to Teo who said that we were wasting his time and to go to Toph who said that I should not be snooping into other peoples business but told us that Katara had been to your room last night! What did you do to my little sister that put you in such a good mood?!"
"Sokka!!!"
Katara strode over to her brother fit to kill him, Aang was looking at Katara wide eyed and Zuko just raised his eyebrows.
"I didn't do anything; she healed my shoulder, that's all"
"I wouldn't do anything with Zu… That Snob!" Zuko smiled a bit as she said that "How could you think of such a thing!"
"Well, he was all smiley and floaty, and Toph just said that was the only thing she felt last night… and he was all defensive of you before…"
"That doesn't mean anything! Sometimes you're such an idiot!"
Katara stormed off leaving the three of them alone, Zuko looked to Sokka and shrugged
"So you figured out what the meat is yet?"
I write this Haiku
If only to ask of you
Please won't you review?
Genesisgoboom
A name that I have taken
Artist and writer.
XDDD Haiku writing is Fun!!
but seriously Please review