Woot! The first out of seven has arrived. Enjoy the topic family.
p.s. I have to say, this chapter isn't entirely my own, it was inspired by one that I read months and months ago... if anyone knows who's story it was I would love to give them credit, I just can't find it.
I do not own avatar or zutara week.
Chapter 12: Zutara week, Family
Katara groaned, covering her face with a cool satin pillow. She would never forgive Toph for doing that to her. Somehow her pulse had moved to her head, each heartbeat pounding in her brain unlike anything she'd felt. "Make it stop." Katara groaned into the pillow, immediately sorry that she spoke at all. She just wanted to cry but she knew that would only make it worse.
Suddenly she started laughing, so hard that her head threatened to split in half. She laughed so hard she cried, she laughed so hard that her stomach hurt. She laughed when she remembered everything she'd said last night. She couldn't believe she had actually done, said all that. She'd be willing to bet right now, that Zuko was laughing as hard as she was, he should be, she made a fool of herself.
What hurt the most was that it was all true, even if she didn't want to admit parts of it. How could she ever bring herself to face him now? He'd probably laugh at her. She'd never meant to say any of it, she'd never meant for her heart to be so bare to see. Even still, she felt a pleasant tingle in her cheek where he'd kissed her.
Elsewhere, the sun hung relentlessly in the sky. It's traditionally warm rays seemed to magnify Zuko's emotions today. He'd awoken with many thoughts today. Up to now his "vacation" had been incredibly… well fun! He loved the company, he loved the way it seemed to lighten the very air in the palace. Aside from the unfortunate life changing speed bump, everything was perfect.
But today the first of his normal life couldn't be ignored. Every week, on the same day, at the same time, he visited his sister. The task tore him apart, his emotions and rationality were being pulled into two separate directions. On one hand he couldn't forget, he could never forget her and every twisted disgusting moment she tried to ruin his life, or every stunningly orchestrated plot to bring an end to the balance of the world. He couldn't forget every lie that dripped from her lips like poisonous honey.
But on the other hand, he was his sister, his own flesh and blood. He was her older brother, it was in his blood to take care of her. In a different world, and a different time she was his baby sister, he was put on this earth to protect her.
Today's the sun rays seemed to magnify his emotions. It was an incredibly good thing he had some time before his visit. So for the time, he was just going to sit and think.
Zuko sat under a tree where he and Katara had been the night before. She had been so enthusiastic, bold even. He honestly didn't know the water maiden had "coy" under her description. His lips tingled momentarily, electricity shooting through them as he remembered how cool her skin had been under them. One thing was certain though, today she would be hating life and possibly cursing his very name. Perhaps the breakfast he left for her would help sooth the potentially hostile water maiden. He admits it, sneaking in there this morning was risky, but what was even more dangerous was the prospect of someone with her power and temper, hung over with no food. Still, he couldn't resist admiring for a moment this morning, in the dim light her skin teemed with shadows, haunting her appearance. Her hair had been pulled from the braid it was in when he left her last night, causing the curls to spill over the pillows like seaweed. Her arms were raised above her head which was cocked ever so slightly to the side. Her fingers sat curled ever so slightly, her dark eyelashes spilt over her cheekbones. He found his attention lingered on her supple lips, barely parted with a pool of uncharacteristic drool gathering on the pillow.
The memory brought a gentle smile to his lips and a flush cheeks. She was so sweet, so incredibly cute. He could see why the Avatar had fallen for her to begin with, but what happened? What changed between them for it to go so incredibly askew? It seemed like he'd been crazy about her one day, uninterested the next. How would Aang feel with Zuko's new found emotions? They were friends (or at least he thought) would Aang be happy for him? Agni knows he wouldn't want to accidentally start another war.
Yesterday he'd made a fantastic discovery about himself and he wasn't entirely sure how well it was going to sit inside him. Would it sit quietly? Or would his new secret slowly kill him? He didn't know but right now he couldn't really do anything but wait.
A quiet resigned sigh escaped his lips, it had been two days. Two days since she had arrived, and somehow things had flipped in circles. He'd seemed to have his friends back together, and acting like a family again, oh how he missed his pretend family. He had seemed to lost Mai though, in all reality he should be upset about that, the two had been together for many, many years. Their connection should have hurt breaking a little more than it did. As it was, he felt little more than frustration over the whole situation. Frustration mingled with underling relief. The only possible explanation was that they could have just…outgrown their relationship. The gaang showing up seemed to just be the extra push they lacked.
Zuko closed his eyes, resigning himself to simply enjoying the sun for a moment. Through the shade of the tree not much light hit him, but his skin tingled anywhere it did, fueling his energy and his mind. Maybe he didn't have the answers to everything but one thing he'd learned over the years: the world has a strange, strange way of working out. In his time as prince he'd managed to be banished, try repeatedly to kill those closest to him now, earn some trust, brutally betray said trust, run away from his nation and still, he'd managed to end up as Fire Lord, with people who liked him even. In all that he deserved according to karma, he should be alone, wasting away somewhere, but here he was (mostly) happy.
Somewhere off in the not so distant courtyard Zuko heard soft, tender whispers. A brief second and he'd managed to place the voices, Sokka and Suki. Zuko opened his eyes with renewed energy, just as he suspected not far off the young parents treaded around the grass, a small bundle rested in his arms.
It was Suki's first day outside since her birth and Zuko idly wondered what it was like for the warrior to be so confined? Did her warrior or mother instincts take over first?
For some reason, he couldn't seem to be able to look away. All the tender emotions and soft glances pulled his mind back to what he'd spied yesterday. Dangerously he let his mind stray there again, even though he knew the thoughts should be far from him. She'd looked so peaceful, sitting there, so natural. Love, compassion, and hope sat on her face, plain for everyone to see, plain for him to see.
What if—he knew what thoughts were forming, but he felt bold in allowing them—what if he could inspire that very scene? Could she sit there with that sparkle in her eye as she looked at their child? Their baby girl with skin the color of honey, and hair as coal. She'd have her father's nose, but her mother's grace. Would she be hot-headed like a Fire Bender, or cool like water? Would she—
"Good morning Zuko."
The young man jumped out of his skin, caught red-handed.
She however didn't even seem to notice what he was thinking, she merely laughed and invited herself to sit with him.
"How're you feeling?" Zuko forced a casual smile on his lips, trying to stay nonchalant.
"Like hell to be honest. My head hurts so bad. Though someone left me breakfast, which helped."
Good, she enjoyed it. An undeniable feeling of satisfaction sat in his bones knowing he had done good.
"I checked on Toph, she's still passed out, I'm not entirely sure she plans to wake up today." A mild chuckle escaped his lips, it wouldn't surprise him one bit if she didn't wake today, for someone so little she drank, A LOT.
Silently Katara glanced around the court yard, her head pulsing with a new jab of pain at every memory. Her gaze froze on the bent pillar, "Did… did we do that?"
"Toph, more specifically. She'll be fixing it first thing when she wakes up."
"Oh god Zuko, I am so sorry about last night, I was acting like such an idiot, I don't know what I was thinking."
Panic and shame was written all over her face, distorting her features, "Hey, don't worry about it. No harm was done." He fought with all his might not to chuckle. She was embarrassed, her cheeks flushed, her eyes angled down to her fingers which fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.
"Oh honey" He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "it's ok… really. Relax."
"Are-are you sure? You're not mad at me?" she'd finally looked up, her icy eyes glazed over.
"Katara, why would I be mad at you? You had fun, you had a good night. Isn't that why I took you out?"
"Well yeah, but—"
"No but. You had fun and I'm happy."
All Katara could do was smile, the corners of her lips tugging happily skyward, her fears slowly dissolving. She just wished her headache would dissolve, at least she'd made it out here and that's what matters right now. That and his shoulder, strong and sure against her head.
"So, hey, Katara, I had an idea... a question really."
She lifted herself, his tone striking caution in her and not the good kind, "What's up?"
"Well, I have an appointment today, but I… I was curious if you wanted to join me."
Katara knew something was brewing deep inside him something he wasn't entirely feeling sure of, "Ooo," she cooed, poking at him a little… she just couldn't resist, "Who is it? The general? Ambassadors?"
"No, someone more scary." For a second it was obvious to her he wasn't kidding, "It's my sister. I do this once a week and I just… I don't really want to go alone. She's completely harmless, and there's nothing to be afraid of. I just, it's draining and I'd feel better if you'd join me, but I understand if you don't want—"
"Hey Zuko. Who's telling who to relax? We can do this. Don't worry." Finally, it was her turn to be supportive. "We can do this." Her smile radiated through them both, pulling strings inside. Apart they both knew how alone they were.
But now, side by side their friendship was stronger than that. Together they felt stronger.
"So, when you said we were going to see your sister I thought we were going to like… a maximum security prison." Katara looked around the strangely friendly building in a remote, quiet corner of the city. The trees here were overgrown, ivy climbing over wooden surfaces. It looked like a home, completely lost to time, but a home all the same. "I didn't know we were bringing her flowers."
Cautiously she followed him through an iron gate "Zuko we are at the right place… right?"
"A couple of years ago she was moved here, from the prison. Holding her there was no use, she can't do anything. Her mind is lost."
Katara huddled against him, still cautious of the situation, "yeah, but what if something happened, shouldn't there be a little more protection than just a gate?"
The bell at the front door rang out hauntingly, drifting away on the wind. Almost immediately the door was opened by a brave looking woman. Upon seeing her guest she balled her fist in a traditional bow of respect, "Good afternoon Fire Lord, pleased to see you again."
"Hello Suri, any news?"
Her porcelain cheeks dimpled welcomingly, "I'm afraid not sir. We've yet to make sense of her. But she does seem steady, it's been a long time since her last relapse."
"Thank you Suri, you and your girls have been wonderful. I'll go to her now though."
Without another word the girl bowed again, some vague familiarity struck Katara with her motions and the very way she moved. The power behind her voice.
"You see…" Zuko followed the same carpet without much thought to it. The path was always the same, the visit always the same, but it was nice finally having company. Absently he reached for her hand, guiding her through the house. "the nurses are Kyoshi Warriors who agreed their services here. They seemed like perfect candidates, strong, self reliant able to defend themselves." Katara watched as panels in the wall passed, his pace was slowing, they had to be close, "But they also have the appropriate training to be qualified as nurses. I've even heard that some of the girls have grown quite fond of my sister"
"Fond, of Azula?" The words simply didn't seem to make any sense to her, like a foreign language.
"Oh yes, some have dedicated themselves to rehabilitating her. They believe she has good in her heart that can be nourished." He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, "You'll see in just a moment."
Zuko's fingers wrapped around the notches of a sliding door, "Ready?"
"Oh! You want me in there, with you?"
One of his dark eyebrows angled upwards, "Well yeah, what did you expect?"
"I don't know… I thought you'd want to be alone with her…"
His fingers released the door, instead wrapping around her waist, hugging her close to him. He knew he had other things he should be doing, but he couldn't resist the moment of holding her. "Now, why would I want to be alone with her?" He couldn't resist smiling down at her, even in a sulky Tuesday chore he managed to find peace with her. "Come on, let's head it. I warn you… it'll be a shock."
Disgruntledly she let him release her, his hand going back to the door. Her breath locked in her throat in anticipation. The last time she'd seen this woman had been on the day of the comet. She had tried very hard to end her life completely. But what she saw just inside was far from expected.
The girl sat, huddled in a plush chair by the window, her posture calm and relaxed. It wasn't until after both her and Zuko had entered the room that she bothered to look up.
Those amber eyes which used to be once full of rage and hate now seemed empty. "Oh Zuzu, you're here." Malice used to drip from her tongue, but now her words were as soft and melodic as a songbird's. An innocent smile spread across her lips as her head tilted limply to the side.
Leaving Katara, Zuko walked over to his sister, sitting in the chair directly across from her. "Hello Azula, how are you feeling today? Feeling well?"
Though he spoke to her, Azula seemed to take no interest, instead her eyes were locked on the Water Bender, suspicious curiosity spread through her features, "Who are you?"
"It's Katara, remember her?" Zuko took one of Azula's hands in his, gently stroking the skin.
"Is she your girlfriend? You never bring your girlfriend to me."
Katara was too entranced by the scene before her to even flush at the idea. Azula had changed, malice was replace with childhood innocence. Poison was replaced with kindness. Manipulation had been replaced with interest. To be completely honest Azula looked like a feeble young woman, completely and utterly helpless.
"She's Katara, remember? She's a Water Bender."
"Zuko!" his words seemed to distress the poor girl.
"Honey, what's wrong?" He lifted himself from the seat, smoothing the hair on her frazzled head.
"I've lost my fire! Mother said I've lost my fire."
A sad smile spread past his lips like they were playing a stupid game, and he knew he'd just lost, "Mother was here?"
Both Fire Nation Royals settled backwards in their seats, "She came yesterday and we talked, and she brushed my hair back for hours. Zuko, I think momma's magic. I didn't see her leave but suddenly she was gone, she forgot to say goodbye Zuzu. She doesn't love me anymore."
"No honey, I'm sure you just forgot."
"So, mom still loves me?" Her face was so sad.
"Of course she still loves you."
That sweet smile sat on her cheeks again. "I like the girls here, they remind me of Momma. Zuzu, who's that?" Again her eyes were focused on the Water Bender again.
"You remember Katara don't you?"
It broke Katara's heart to watch this, the same sentences over and over again. Every few minutes they would have the same conversation again but Zuko never seemed to lose his patience with her, he never once snapped angrily, or became short with his words. When it was finally time to go Katara was taken back, shocked by what she heard.
"Zuzu?" Azula looked up at her brother just before he was about to leave the room, "Please come back again."
His smiled a second, his heart and eyes soft for her, "Don't worry sister, I'll always come back."
"I love you Zuko."
"I love you too Azula." The last thing Katara saw before the door slid shut.
Silently the two walked back, Katara was stunned into silence. The scene was the absolute furthest from what she had ever expected to see. Memories of that last fight, and every one before that drifted to the front of her mind. The Azula she'd witnessed then was so different then what she had seen today. How could she possibly feel the same hatred for the girl sitting in that room? How could they possibly be even held on the same level of contempt?
What could Zuko possibly be feeling right now? Would the shock have worn off by now or did the scene evoke the same speechlessness after every visit. His eyes were dark and haunted, full of unspoken emotion, without a word between the two Katara slid her fingers between his, giving a light squeeze of support. This couldn't be easy. But he was being so strong, a smile even managed to tug at the corner of his lips.
Thank you Katara.
