Chapter 8:
Katara had arrived to Zuko's estate early that morning. Actually eager to get to work. She needed this money to get her own apartment and finally move out from her father's house. Her dad doesn't even allow his 24 year old daughter to bring a guy to the front door. She needed some sort privacy. Though she appreciated her dad letting her stay with her while she was looking for a new job and trying to pay off her student loans, but it was right about time Katara got her own space. Working in a rich guy's house everyday certainly didn't help.
Speaking of a certain rich guy he proved himself to be in particularly good mood today. Katara couldn't help but feel invigorated to work by the positive energy Zuko was giving off.
"Good Morning Ms. Sapphire. How are you?" Zuko asked in an inviting tone that was rather peculiar for him. Look at him actually caring about how well being! He really was putting in some effort with this whole "friend" thing.
"I'm doing well Mr. Agni. Thanks for asking. You're in a good mood today?" Katara wanted to know what exactly was it that caused Zuko to turn over a new leaf.
"Yes, although my mood will not spare you from doing all the tasks you usually do. Basic vacuuming in addition to cleaning the bathrooms. Also the chandeliers need to be dusted down. I don't want one speck of dirt on them. I expect an exceptional job today Ms. Sapphire. Please do not disappoint me." Zuko gave a smirk at Katara and headed upstairs.
This was a pleasant surprise, Zuko being anything other than angry or void of emotion was refreshing.
"Yes Mr. Agni. I understand."
He WAS getting better with his communication. For once it didn't seem like he was scolding her like a child or a servant. Katara was happy to see a smile on his face, it seemed like he was really trying.
Katara was busy standing on a ladder cleaning the stupid, unnecessary crystal chandelier in Zuko's dining room that probably could substitute for Katara's who student loan balance. Why did expensive things attract so much dirt? At least she was occupied by Azula when she barged into the house in the tightest dress known to man.
"ZUZU! Get down here right now!" Azula seemed like she was about to pass out. "Oh hello Help Girl. Where's my brother?"
She wasn't in the mood for correcting Azula today. First she was the maid now she was "the Help Girl", what was next? Was she going to be called Zuko's personal slave next? Katara only sucked her teeth and continued what she was doing. She hoped she could at least create a pleasant tone.
"I believe he's upstairs Ms. Agni." Katara continued dusting as Zuko came running downstairs.
"Azula, what are you doing here? I have to be at the office in an hour." Zuko was tying his tie and fixing the collar of his shirt, completely confused as to why his sister was here. She could tell he and his sister didn't exactly see eye to eye.
"Father told me you threatened to kill him yesterday. Really, ZuZu you're lucky he doesn't disown you."
"Can we not talk about this now Azula? Don't you have anything better to do than bother me?"
"Oh" Azula let out a more than creepy chuckle. "I get it. You don't want to talk in front of the Help."
"Her name is Katara and contrary to popular belief I don't want my employee hearing about all of my personal life."
She liked the sound of Zuko saying her name. It sounded so breathy and intimate. It sounded way better coming from his mouth than anyone else who had ever said it. Katara just kept dusting like none of this was going on.
"Oh is that your sorry excuse now ZuZu? You just don't want her to hear anything negative about you because you're trying to get her into bed with you!"
"AZULA!"
"No! I see the way you look at her and don't act like you weren't going to be all over her that night at the club. It wouldn't be the first time you seduced a poor girl. Mai was innocent once before she met you!"
Katara could almost laugh. Zuko was getting so angry. Azula was only saying this because she knows it agitates him. She knew full well Zuko didn't want to sleep with her, as entertaining as it was to watch Zuko get all flustered.
"What do you know about anything that happened at the club that night? You were stone drunk. Don't speak about things you know nothing about, Azula. Now, it's time for you to go." Zuko rushed her out the door and slammed it behind him. He then let out a loud groan. He seemed extremely frustrated. He startled Katara when he slammed his fist into the wall, causing her to stumble off the ladder. She hit the ground with a soft groan, the ladder came tumbling down after her.
"Katara!" Zuko shouted running over. He leaned down over Katara and cradled her in his arms.
"Are you okay?" He whispered in a low voice.
Katara was fine but having Zuko's golden eyes piercing into her was distracting. His body was so warm and she could feel his warm breath on her neck. She felt her face getting really hot. Suddenly she forgot how to talk. The way his muscles were flexing under his white button down shirt left nothing to the imagination.
"Katara." He said softly again. Him saying her name like that certainly wasn't helping her heart beat any slower. In this moment Katara suddenly understood why all the women fell for Zuko. He was absolutely gorgeous. She could feel herself blushing.
"Um, yea I'm fine Mr. Agni. Thanks ha. I'm just so clumsy." Katara awkward laughed it off as she sat up. Now she and Zuko were face to face, lips just barely touching. There was dead silence between the two of them as they stared at each other. Katara thought the silence and suspense would kill her.
"Um Ms. Sapphire."
"Yes, Zuko?" She said in an amorous tone.
"If you aren't hurt, I have to get to work now. Try not to hurt yourself again, okay?" Zuko got up and quickly walked away.
"I have to get these ridiculous thoughts out of my mind and get back to work. He's just my boss." Katara said to herself.
~/~
Zuko came at nine that night. He looked exhausted. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, threw down his briefcase, and collapsed on his couch. Katara was packing up her things downstairs and was about to say good night when Zuko's phone rang. She decided to wait until after his conversation was over, figuring it would be rude of her to leave without saying goodbye. His face lit up immediately. Katara could take a guess at who was on the other line.
"Hi Maya! I miss you too Gorgeous. You lost another tooth! Well the tooth fairy has to pay you some big money tonight right. Huh? You want to go swimming again this weekend and get ice cream? Well I'm sure you and I can make that happen. Of course Ms. Katara can come. Okay, okay, okay. I'll let you talk to her." Zuko handed her the phone with a large grin on his face.
"Hello? Maya."
"MS. KATARA!" Maya sounded beyond excited to hear from her. "I miss you. I had fun with swimming with you and Daddy."
"I had fun with you too."
"Daddy said we can go out for ice cream! I'm inviting you too. Daddy's no fun without you!"
Katara laughed, she was honored that Maya wanted to spend time with her. Maya was absolutely infectious with her level of adorable.
"I'm sure your Dad will let me come along Maya. I'm going to give the phone back to Daddy now."
"Wait Ms. Katara!"
"Yes, Maya?"
"I wanted you to know that I really like you and I think you're very pretty and I want you to meet my turtle."
"Thank you Maya, I like you too. I look forward to seeing you and your turtle this weekend. Good bye."
She handed the phone back to Zuko, who looked ecstatic to have gotten the phone back.
"Good Night My Angel. I love you more than the sun rise." Zuko hung up the phone
"You're a great father, Zuko. No matter what the media says no one can take that away from you."
"Thanks. No one would ever believe I had a seven year old even if I did a personal interview with her beside me tonight. Maya really likes you, you know. I'm sorry if I forced her on you."
"No, no it's fine. I'd be more worried if she didn't like me. It's my job to make Maya feel comfortable here. It's no problem at all Mr. Agni, well I have to get home. I'll be late for my bus. Good night Mr. Agni."
"Good night Ms. Sapphire. Try not to fall on your way out." Zuko said smirking at her.
For some reason Zuko's smirk was a nice ending to her long day at work. She hoped she wasn't getting in too deep with Zuko's daughter. Katara really enjoyed Maya and thought she was a wonderful little girl, yet she didn't want to have Maya get attached to her. This job wasn't going to last forever, it was only here until Katara needed it. Zuko was acting far too nice and that whole thing with Azula today? She was just waiting for him to blow or for him to go back to the Zuko she had first met. She did wonder what the big fight with his father was actually about. What would drive a man to threaten to kill their own father?
~/~
Katara had just gotten out of the shower, bowing drying her brown curls when she got a message from her phone.
Toph: So I met a guy you could be interested in. He's tall and nice and has big gray puppy dog eyes. Totally your type.
Katara sighed. What was up with everyone playing matchmaker with her nonexistent love life? She didn't need a boyfriend. Katara was perfectly fine with being in an exclusive relationship with her bed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Katara typed back.
Katara: I don't need a boy Toph. I work way too much.
Toph: That's code for I have a hopeless crush on my boss and need to get out more.
Katara: I do not have a crush on him. He's just not what I expected.
Toph: ABORT MISSION SUGAR QUEEN. Stay away from the fire.
Katara: I am NOT in the fire.
Toph: Yea, yea. All the more reason to go on date with this guy so you can have a break from the Zuko wet dreams. I promise he is hot.
Katara: Shut up Toph. Do I know him?
Toph: Um, perhaps, maybe, somewhat. I already gave him your number soooooo…
Katara: TOPH!
Toph: I may or may not have given your number to Lame Aang from high school when I ran into him at the gym the other day. He said he had a bit of a crush on you in high school and the opportunity presented itself so I thought I'd be great for you to reconnect.
Katara: WTF?! Why would I want to reconnect with the dorky guy that stalked me all through high school?
Toph: I promise he is not as boring as he was before. And he didn't stalk you he just happened to show up outside out of all your classes…everyday…for four years.
Katara: Tell him I don't want to see him.
Toph: Ummmmm see too late. I kind of told him you'd go out with him tomorrow and he'd pick you up tomorrow at 3.
Katara: Toph! This my only weekday off! What if I wanted to, idk, REST AND RELAX?!
Toph: Yea I know. Sorry. Just try to go out with him. It'll be good for you to get away from his Royal Highness for a while.
Katara slammed her phone down. She was not excited about hanging out with Lame Aang tomorrow. He was a total nerd in high school. He was absolutely obsessed with airplanes and flying, always talking nonsense about designing a special air glider one day. Katara had tried to avoid him but there he was outside of every single one of her classes like a bad shadow. This couldn't have possibly been a good idea. Even if she did like Zuko there was no way that Lame Aang could ever measure up to Zuko. Katara buried her face in her pillow, dreading tomorrow epically.
Author's Note: I was not going to originally post a chapter today but I decided to do it anyway. I have a question for you readers: Do you like my current update schedule or would you like to see it change? It only takes me two minutes out the day to post a chapter so a change in schedule doesn't affect me too much. Anyway, we got some Maya this chapter, also a sort of kind of Zutara moment. You guys think she's growing too attached to Katara? You guys like the secondary characters like Toph and Azula? Finally, Aang AKA Lame Aang will be introduced next chapter. I'm excited for you guys to meet him. I promise he won't be TOO Lame. ~Brie