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Chapter 12 Kila Atvsgi
Katara stood awkwardly in the open corridor gawking at the western-styled home. Parts of the marbled floor was revealed through the gaps between dark colored rugs, sunlight seeped along the bottom of the thick rose-colored closed drapes, and there was a delicious aroma that she didn't recognize coming from the kitchen down the hall. Zuko dropped his keys on a coffee table in front of two loveseats and a fireplace as Katara walked slowly ahead, admiring the shiny-wooden stair rails and a family portrait that hung along the otherwise empty wall.
"Are these your parents?" She asked as she stared into the eyes of an unfamiliar man.
He walked up behind her. "Yes. This was done a few years ago."
She smiled and tilted her head his way. "I can tell. You look so small."
Zuko, embarrassed, put his hand on the top of her head and playfully twisted it away from the picture. "Come on. The beach is this way. Do you need to get changed?"
"Yeah, can I use a bathroom?"
"Sure. It's down the hall. The only door on the right." He pointed. "I'm going to get one of our staff to get the boards on the beach for us."
"Staff?" She smirked at the word. "Fancy."
Zuko mimicked her expression before walking out to the kitchen. Once he had changed into his swim trunks, he found Katara, in her usual long wet suit, staring at the same picture again.
"You really like it, huh?" He asked, startling her.
"Yeah. It's really nice. I've always wanted to take one this professional with my family but it's expensive. So anyways, are you ready?"
"I'm having second thoughts about this." Zuko admitted.
Katara giggled and pulled his arm. "No backing out! We're in this together. Let's go!"
The same way she taught Aang she used on Zuko. She first had him laid out on the beach practicing the feel of holding onto and standing on the board.
"This feels stupid."
"Then let's try in the water."
She led him out waist deep and helped him lay on the board. She held onto the side steadily against small waves and headed out deeper.
"This next one looks good. Stand up when the wave starts pushing you. Ready?"
She kept her gaze on the way, not expecting an answer from Zuko. She didn't get one anyway.
"Go!"
The wave roared louder than normal to Zuko's ears. He felt his heart in his throat and didn't realize when he was already on a crouch position. He lost balance as he stood up and fell over.
Katara swam over laughing and grabbed hold of his drifting board as Zuko rubbed his eyes.
"Are you laughing at me?"
She covered her mouth. "No."
"Yes you are."
A few giggles escaped through her fingers. "No, I swear."
He half swam, half walked, closer to her and began splashing at her. "You are laughing!"
Her laughing grew louder. She turned her back to him to keep water from entering her eyes but this encouraged him to close in. He hugged her waist tightly as she struggled out.
"If you can just admit it, I'll let you go." He promised.
Her laughing started to die down as she felt an uncomfortable feeling in her heart.
"Ok, ok, yes I was laughing! Please let me go!"
He obeyed and went for his board. "That's all you had to say." He laughed it off, not noticing her with a hand over her chest and blushed cheeks.
"I'm going to try this again." He pushed the board farther out and she followed behind.
From the glass wall of the second story that oversaw the ocean, a gray-haired man watched Zuko and Katara with a satisfied smile on his face. Ursa, holding a book as she left the study, moved to his side and searched for what it was that captured his attention.
"What is it Iroh? You've been out here for a while now." She asked not recognizing her son and friend.
"Just enjoying the view." Her brother-in-law Iroh answered with a sigh.
"The ocean is very beautiful at this time of the day." She agreed.
"No, I wasn't referring to the ocean."
"Then what?"
Iroh met her gaze and held it for a second before answering, "Youth."
Translations
Kila Atvsgi: youth