A Mermaid's Tale.
Warning: Rated MA for violence, swearing and plenty of sexual content.
Disclaimer: do not own, if I did the story would go with how it ORIGINALLY was. With Zutara.
Note: Aang is just a air-bender, there is no war, people are at peace, even working together... for now...
'Katara's thoughts'
'Zuko's thoughts'
Well aren't we sending off mixed signals...
When Zuko stepped on deck there was a crowd surrounding the edge of the ship. He walked towards the spectacle and the crewmen parted ways for him. He briefly registered footsteps behind him, but he was completely taken away by the girl in the water. Zuko's eyes took in first her wavy brown hair, strung with pearls, down to her pearl pink lips, down that smooth neck and to the satin blue material covering those perfect tanned globes. His eyes visibly hooded as he stared down at her. "Close your mouth brother, lest you catch flies." Azula purred haughtily. Zuko growled but didn't take his eyes off the girl in the water.
Katara refused to meet his eye though. She wasn't sure what to think and his sexy eyes raking over her would just make her go weak in the... tail. Even in her element she made her feel small. But even underwater he wouldn't have that effect right? She snapped her head up and looked Zuko straight in the eye. He was still staring at her. She smirked cockily, and he reciprocated. Did he always look that sexy when he smirked. Katara's attention drew to his lips. She briefly wondered how soft they were before her brother nudged her and she shifted her eyes to the people behind him. She glanced at Zuko briefly before nodding to Sokka. Katara raised her arms out of the water, a large stream of water following her movement. She turned it to ice, a large, human sized hole opening the giant ball. Everyone stared at it in fascination. At the raised brows, Katara explained.
"This-" Zuko's eyes snapped to her, along with everyone else's'. "-is what you will travel in. I made enough room for four. Only the leaders please." Everyone looked warily at it, even Azula. Zuko quickly cast a glance at Katara, who raised a daring brow. He smirked and inclined his head. He then jumped off the ship and rolled into the globe. Azula, not to be out-done by her brother, hopped in behind him. Then in went Aang, glaring at Zuko. He used his air-bending in order to help Toph into the orb of ice... at which she yelped and clung to him for dear life. Katara giggled at that. Zuko blinked. She had a nice laugh.
When the ice-ball moved down to the water, Toph all but jumped on Aang. He in turn jumped out of his skin and tried to move the girl away from his neck, she was choking him. Sokka was holding his sides and doing spins in the water while Katara had tears in her eyes for laughing so hard... not that you could actually tell.
Zuko was fascinated by her throughout this entire ordeal, he even found himself unable to focus on the spectacular views around him. He had one hell of a view of his own. Zuko licked his dry lips with an equally parched tongue... ironic considering he was surrounded by water. Her tail shimmered with every move and wish and her smile was so damn... cute. He felt himself smirking lightly as he watched the mer-girl. Azula observed this with interest. 'Zuzu does actually have a crush...Mai will be devastated... how delicious.' A plan started forming in her head and she smirked cheshirely.
Now just cause Katara was caught up in her laughter, did not mean she wasn't completely aware of the hungry gold eyes shamelessly raking her form. Oh no, she was totally aware of it... and she kinda liked it. Blushed heavily, Katara blamed it on her giggling fit. It's just, yes she was pretty, but as a 'princess' in a totally sexist race/kingdom, she was used to being treated as beneath others... as a girl. She glowered. But his stares where different. He treated her as an equal. She didn't know if that was his people's way, seeing as he admitted to his sister being stronger than him but... it made her feel powerful... sexy even. She shivered as she swam, ignoring the extra swish in her tail and the sway of her hips, she could practically feel his eyes on her ass. She grinned and bit her lip. Then it hit her. His people's. The fire-nation. She instantly stopped her actions. She couldn't be swayed, she wouldn't let herself get swept up by his gaze. He was still guilty.
"Yo sugar queen, can this ride move any faster!? I'm losing years off my life here!" Toph shrieked... right in Aang's ear. The monk wanted to cry. Zuko sighed and turned to the girl clinging desperately to the avatar. This had gone on long enough. He walked towards the duo and gently detached Toph from a grateful Aang. He shifted her on his back and petted her head. The child instantly calmed down and snuggled into Zuko's warm back. Everyone stared speechlessly at Zuko. He just shrugged and indicated a stunned Katara to keep moving. She wordlessly complied, turning to the front. A slight stab of jealousy struck her and she frowned, shaking it off. But still, she couldn't help but tune into the conversation behind her.
"You know, you're not too bad sparky." Zuko smirked, Katara narrowed her eyes.
"Yeah?" he just shrugged, Toph clung tighter and Zuko apologized. Katara looked behind her.
"Well yeah, you seem pretty chill even though yr stiff half the time, and even though you have yr scary ass moments." Zuko's brow twitched. Katara had now fully turned around, her brother eying her weirdly and the rest of everyone's eyes on the odd two.
"I will drop you." Toph just chuckled.
"Even without earth I can tell you're lying." Azula added to the conversation at this.
"Yes well, my brother has quite the temper as you know, I don't know where he gets it from." Azula rolled her eyes. Now Katara wasn't one to be jealous of a relative... but damn...
"Says the crazy she bitch." Zuko tensed at this and Azula glared.
"Guys c'mon don't use bad language!" Aang winced.
"Don't tell me what the fuck to do!"
"Fuckin hell, lighten up twinkle toes."
"Could you guys not-"
"Enough." Zuko boomed, his voice commanding and oozed authority. Katara felt herself shudder involuntarily. "All of you cut it out, we're about to meet two kings and for fuck's sake Azula, you're arguing with 11 and 14 year olds." He then shifted his grip. "No offense."
"It's my age sparky, no harm no foul." Toph shrugged while Aang pouted but sighed and nodded. Azula just humphed and looked away. Zuko groaned in annoyance. Scratch that, she was less mature than children. Katara just watched the little girl get closer and closer to Zuko with rage creeping into her system. Okay, so she admitted she was attracted to the guy, hell, she'd even go as far as to say his scarred face was sexy. Drop dead in fact. I mean that voice, and those hands, dear lord give her one night so she could push him down and- Katara was getting a little off topic.
"We're here!" Katara called out, eyes still narrowed and arms crossed. Zuko turned to her and she felt her rage collect a little more. 'Finally realize I exist?' Katara blinked. Where did that come from. He smirked a little at her expression, as if he just knew. She jerked the ball inside and frowned as all he did was falter. She wanted the haughty prince to fall on his face, no fun.
Zuko looked up to find himself staring at a hall. There was a long coral table smack dab in the center of the room. Sitting at either end was too mer-men. One older looking than the other. "Daddy."/"Dad" was sounded from beside him and he watched as the two mer-teens embraced the closest figure.
"Toph, I'm going to let you down now." Zuko crouched low and Toph stepped tentatively on the ice, grabbing Zuko's hand.
"Katara, I wish to speak to them individually." Hakoda told his daughter. "Young man, please let go of the girl." Hakoda didn't know why Zuko refused him, so he narrowed his eyes.
"I mean no disrespect King Hakoda, but I can't do that." Zuko said, taking in Toph's panicked expression.
"I command you to let her go." Hakoda narrowed his eyes. Katara opened her mouth to speak but Zuko shot her a look. She shut her mouth and glared at him. Hakoda raised a brow at this. Zuko gently handed Toph to Aang and shot a warning look at his sister. Azula smirked, he knew her so well. How sickening.
Zuko then motioned Katara to let him out. She sheathed him in ice and brought him closer to her father. "You are not my king, and you do not command me." Zuko said firmly, in his gravelly tone. Katara winced, her dad didn't like being told no to. "But, I recognize that you are someone of a higher power and deserve my respect. However, I ask you still treat us as royals of our separate nations." Zuko could see where Katara got her temper and short fuse from.
"And why should I show any respect for you murderers, the only reason I haven't drowned you yet is because it would cause a war." Hakoda narrowed his eyes.
Zuko narrowed his eyes. Again with the accusations. "I apologize if I have done something to offend you... but I cannot make amends, or understand, if you don't tell me what we have done." Zuko said, his eyes betraying his confusion.
"How could you ever atone for killing my wife." Even Azula was speechless. Zuko grit his teeth and clenched his eyes after a moment of shock. Zuko then fell to his knees and bowed at the king's feet. The entity was taken aback by the sudden action. So was Katara.
He lifted his head to speak. "I do understand, and I know I can never atone for what my people did... they hurt me the same way... the rebels took..." he turned to Azula, who looked away, tears prickling her eyes. "They took our mother away. They tried to kill us all in a fire... ironic right?" Zuko chuckled mirthlessly, fighting to hold in the tears. He was now on his knees, staring down at the fists curled on his lap. "I was eight at the time, and it was during an eclipse... my mom tried to save my life... she died in my place... leaving this scar as a constant reminder." Katara gasped lightly, hands at her mouth, she almost lost grip of the orbs. How could she think that she was the only one suffering? He had it so much worse... betrayed by your own kin... and the horror of seeing your mother die before you... as a child no less.
"...I see..." The king looked away and a moment of silence was shared for both families. Sokka watched the teary-eyed Azula worriedly. Hell, she was still a girl... and this made his protective instincts come out.
"Rise young prince." Hakoda said, patting the boy's ice-covered shoulder lightly. No one deserved that in their life. He shot a sympathetic look Azula's way, but she refused to meet his eye. "You have gained my respect, you needn't bow." Zuko smiled ruefully and stood.
"Well, now that we had that nice little heart-to heart... can we get on with the meeting?" A voice from the other end of the hall called. The northern tribe did not like being forgotten.
Well that escalated quickly... O.O juuuust kidding. I hope you enjoyed~! The other chapters may or may not get a little shorter in length from now on, just a warning.