An Avatar the Last AirBender Fanfiction: Alive

The Dynamics Have Changed

     Fire Lord Zuko was strolling back from the gardens with a happy smile on his face. Sipping champagne under the stars with Mai had been wonderful, absolutely wonderful. He would have loved for her to go back to his room with him, but due to their marital status, certain whispers were going around the kingdom. So, for the sake of Mai's respectable reputation, they decided to sleep in separate rooms until the upcoming wedding. The point was, Zuko was strolling back to the palace, back to his room, alone. He was just passing a certain fountain when Zuko heard wrenching sobs coming from inside an adjacent hall, the hall of the Avatar and his companions.

    Curious, Zuko lept over the waist-high hall wall and was startled to find Katara crouched in a heaving ball, tears flowing freely over her silk dress. Ashamedly, the Fire Lord's first instinct had been to turn around and walk away, for he felt this was not his problem to fix. But the Fire Lord, remembering Aang's message of empathy and compassion, decided to help the poor girl out. On a deeper level, Zuko felt a kinship to this girl, this waterbender who had hated him so much. Their relationship had started out as nothing, he saw her as the Avatar's girl, thus saw her as bait. And then he betrayed her, even though she had caressed his cheek so tenderly. Then she hated him with all the fibers of her being, and it took a while before they were on speaking terms. And then, then...they had fought Azula together. Zuko could still remember the terror he had felt when Katara had been at the mercy of Azula, and he wasn't quite sure why.

"Katara?"

     Startled, the waterbender glanced up. When she realized who it was, Katara cursed under her breath, stood up shakily, and turned around. She felt embarrassed for her tear stained appearance and, using a quick blood bending trick, lessened the swelling underneath her eyes. She wiped the tears off her face quickly, and blew her nose discreetly. Though she had improved her appearance, Katara refused to turn around.

"What do you want?", she said roughly

Taken back by her venom, Zuko stumbled for words, "W'well, uh. Um, are you okay?"

"Go away."

"...Katara."

Tears threatened to fall again, and Katara's shoulders began to tremble.

"Please, Zuko. Just go away."

She suddenly felt a reassuring pressure on her shoulder.

"I won't go away. Not when you're like this."

She started sniffling.

"Katara, look at me please."

     Slowly, the waterbender turned around to face the Fire Lord. She lifted her azure eyes to meet Zuko's, and felt her heart melt a little at the warmth she found there. A single tear escaped and traced a shining path down her caramel cheek. Zuko lifted his hand and wiped the tear off the girl's face. Katara jumped at the sudden touch, and her eyes stayed locked on those amber eyes. How long has it been since Aang had last looked at her. How long has it been since Aang has really seen her? Seen her as a girl in love? A girl in love with him? Too long.

Suddenly, without warning....well, without much warning

She kissed him.

*************************

     Iroh was taking a nice stroll down one hallway or another, thinking philosophically wise thoughts. He enjoyed the stars tonight, they had twinkled with the splendour of diamonds. He also enjoyed the dinner tonight, Mai had really outdone herself with the selection of food. A brown sugar-ginger glazed rhinodeer slow roasted over an open flame with wild fennel and jasmine rice. Iroh smiled contently, patting his rotund tummy. He thought back on the dinner and decided Mai wasn't really that bad. He had first thought she was much too pessimistic, and would reverse whatever improvement Zuko had made in his anger management. However, after spending only a few hours in their company, Iroh knew Zuko loved the pale, beautiful girl with the attitude problem. He chuckled indulgently. Such is love. Thinking these thoughts, Iroh happened to look across the hall....

Such is love.

Zuko, who is in love.....

Is kissing Katara.

***************************

     Storm-gray eyes took in the scene before him with half-piqued interest. At this moment of time, he knew what he should be feeling. He should be feeling jealous, angry....pissed beyond belief. Aang watched the waterbender fling her arms around the firebender desperately. He watched as the boy stiffened. The Avatar watched the Fire Lord stiffen, but not turn away. At that moment, Aang diverted his eyes.

He did not feel a thing.