sorry i haven't updated in a few days, it took me a little while to figure out how to do this bit. it's pretty angsty, i warn you. please tell me what you think!
Every detail was thrown into stark contrast by the silver light, and Aang was aware of it all, even in the Avatar State. He noticed that Katara was being kissed, and that she was kissing back. He had dark hair and pale skin- decidedly not Water Tribe, but there was something familiar about him. She wore white robes that seemed almost to reflect the moonlight, while the monster to her left had a tunic blacker than the night itself. Their expressions were painfully visible to the Avatar- those of two people deeply and passionately in love.
The two were breaking apart now. "Katara..." the boy warned her, putting a hand around her waist. Aang froze. He knew that voice!
Under normal circumstances, Katara would have resented that hand at her side. She hated being protected. But tonight, she felt as though she needed it. One glance at Aang, though, and she knew this wasn't the right time for Zuko to hold her close. She broke away, but he didn't seem to mind. He just turned to stare almost defiantly at the Airbender, who was now returning to his normal state.
"What did you do to her?!" Aang's voice was hoarse and filled with rage. The boy had turned to face him, and he had seen the scar. "Zuko..." the warning had a growl that she had never heard before.
Zuko took a moment to acknowledge that a week ago, when this mess had started, he would have told the Airbender to go ahead and take her. He understood that this wasn't the case now. He realized that Aang was no longer his friend.
Those thoughts took a split second. Then he stepped forward and looked down at the other boy, his golden gaze locking on the silver one, and asked coolly, "What's the matter, Avatar?"
--
"I'm bored. I miss Zuko." Mai's flat tones echoed through the chamber.
Tai Lee looked up from her handstand and flipped neatly back into standing position. "If you miss him so much, why don't you marry him?" she laughed hysterically at her joke, no doubt one she'd picked up from that water witch.
Why don't you marry him... The pathetic joke made her pause, knife only half-sharpened. Zuko had never taken that step. He'd kissed her whenever she wanted, and would have gotten her all the fruit tarts in the world, complete with rose petals. But never would he have knelt down and spoken those words for her.
He was in love with someone else. Probably the sea slug. But... Mai thought as she continued to sharpen her favorite weapons, those things can be attended to...
--
"You know what's the matter, Zuko! I leave for a week to go to Ba Sing Se and suddenly you're kissing my girl!" Aang exploded.
"Wait, I'm your girl?" Despite the fact that this was clearly between the boys, Katara felt the need to intervene. "I'm no one's girl, Aang! I have my own life, and, and-"
Zuko stepped between them. "Listen! You were never there for Katara: always flying off to some stupid meeting without even asking if she'd want to go along! She deserves someone who respects her- and at the moment, you don't seem like much of a candidate!"
Katara was shocked. She hadn't talked to Zuko about that at all- maybe mentioned it in passing in that letter, but not like that. How did he know what was bothering her?
"And I suppose you would respect her more than I do?" Aang's voice was no longer husky- now it was cool and crisp.
Zuko looked to the girl who was still at his side. He wasn't really sure how she felt about him: 'I don't hate you' was hardly the same as 'I love you'.
"I don't know. But I think Katara has the right to lead her own life, so I hope whoever she chooses will give her what she wants from it."
Again, Katara found herself startled. Zuko was willing to give her up to make her happy. But will I ever be able to do the same for him?
"Don't pretend to be so humble! Everyone here knows you're a proud, arrogant Fire Nation leader who thinks he can do anything he wants! Just like your father!"
Zuko stepped back as if the blow had been physical. No reaction showed on his face except in that beautiful amber gaze. His eyes flickered with shock, hurt, pain.
"Aang! You know that's not true! Stop being such a monster!" Katara felt a kind of rage she'd never had before at seeing the one she loved hurt this way.
"I'm a monster? At least I don't cheat!" he shot back.
"Zuko didn't cheat you idiot, I did! This should be between you and me!" She longed to explain that she hadn't cheated, that this had all been a terrible mix up, but she knew that this wasn't the time.
"Enough of this!" Aang cut his hand through the air angrily, flames fanning out and causing Katara to take a step back into the safety of Zuko's arms.
It made the Airbender furious to see them like that. What had he done to deserve this? "We're going to sort this out once and for all." He lifted his hand to face level and pointed to Zuko. "I challenge you to an Agni Kai!"
--
Mai fingered her knives, her dull gaze looking them over idly. She was even more bored than before, but whenever she looked at Tai Lee that stupid joke came back to her.
Why don't you marry him...
Dumb joke. Forget about it, Mai. Get a hold of yourself. A messenger hawk scratched impatiently at the window and, glad of the distraction, she opened it.
She glanced at Tai Lee for a moment to see if she'd noticed the bird.
Why don't you marry him...
Ugh! It wasn't even funny!
Mai scanned the letter, irritated and emotionless at once, and her eyes widened in surprise.
She already had!
--
"What?!" Zuko and Katara spoke at once. The Firebender nodded in her direction and she went on. "Aang, this is stupid! You can't possibly fight an Agni Kai over-"
"I've lost my honor, Katara- and you. I'll do whatever it takes to get them back." Aang's voice was hard, and she was painfully reminded of the old Zuko.
"I know all about that, believe me. Enough to know that you're making a mistake." Zuko was attempting to calm him now, but it was making things worse.
"Are you too much of a coward to fight me, Fire Lord? Don't think you could take your own student in a fight?"
Katara knew that glimmer in Zuko's eyes. He was angry.
And if she didn't do something fast, one of them wouldn't live to see daylight.
dun dun DUNNNNN... sorry to end it like that, i promise i'll get the next chapter up soon. R&R please!
