So if you've ever seen the movie Count of Monte Cristo than you'll know where I got the idea for this from.
This takes place in season 3 just so you know!
Please enjoy!
"There are so many stars," Katara pointed her index finger towards the sky, noticing just how small her hand looked in comparison to the dark indigo expanse.
Zuko, with his arm wrapped lazily around Katara's shoulders, smiled up at the sky. "When I was little, my mother and I would go out into the palace courtyard and gaze up at them," he said fondly.
Katara leant her head on Zuko's shoulder. It grew silent for a few moments, but the pair was comfortable. They sat ways away from the camp where their friends were while they slept. There was the very real threat of being caught still hanging over the two of them, but in that calm moment they did not care.
"Will you let me star gaze with you in your courtyard, Zuko?" Katara asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Zuko looked down at her, slightly shocked and a bit hesitant. "If we win, yes," he said lamely. He was partly lying. He knew that could never happen, not if Aang wanted to take Katara for himself after the war...if they did win.
Katara sat straight up, her blue eyes like daggers. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Zuko sighed, taking her hand in his. "I'm not saying we won't win, Katara, but there's always the chance of...something happening," he looked towards the camp sadly as he thought about the very real possibility of Katara being obligated to be with Aang and of course the chances of any of them being killed.
Katara deflated and squeezed Zuko's hand as her eyes followed where he was looking. "I know that, I'm sorry," she felt tears welling up. "It's just so hard to think about the two of us not being together."
Zuko cupped her small, petite face in his large hand, offering Katara a small smile. "How about I make you a promise, alright?"
Katara nodded and smiled. "Alright."
"When we win, I'll come for you, and we'll elope," it was the most daring and irrational statement he had ever made in his life. Zuko knew that it was foolish to make a promise he most likely couldn't keep, but as he looked at Katara's beautiful face, he knew he could never be with anyone else.
Katara gasped and covered her mouth. "Zuko! How could we even begin to pull something like that off?" She had known Zuko to be high tempered, but she had never seen this irrational side to him.
"I know, Katara, but hear me out," Zuko drew her near him. "I can't see myself with anyone else and I know you can't see yourself with him either!" He pointed towards the camp and Katara knew who he was referring to.
After a small pause, Katara locked eyes with Zuko and sat up straight. "Alright, Zuko, I'll hold you to that promise!"
"Good," Zuko sighed happily.
Katara began fidgeting with her fingers and after another moment of silence, she started talking again. "Is it true that in the Fire Nation you use rings for marital promises?"
Zuko was shocked to hear her question. "Uh...yes.."
She didn't say a word while she suddenly pulled at Zuko's tunic, retrieving a small red string from it. The was a slight run at the end of his sleeve but she paid it no attention. "Here," she spoke as she wrapped the string around the ring finger of her left hand, tying a knot to keep the string in place. She showed off her hand to Zuko. "I'll never take it off as long as you keep your promise."
After the confusion wore off, Zuko gazed upon her slim finger where she had tied the red string from his tunic to. He smiled at her and took her hand and kissed it.
It was just a simple red string, but the meaning of it was so powerful. It was a symbol of their love and of the promise to each other.
Zuko swore in his heart that no matter what, Katara would always have a reason to keep that red string around her finger.
