Sozin's Comet - Katara POV CHAPTER TWO
The night was getting colder as the comet drift far away by the second. We haven't caught a break since Azula was under control. I watch Zuko talking for what could only be person number eighty-two, he is in a lot of pain, I could tell. His forehead wore a shiny coat of sweat and his movements were very stiff.
I was very tired, I smell horrible, of sweat, animal (because of Appa) and burning hair. Zuko needed another session of healing.
As soon as Azula was in chains, people began to gather around us, guards left in the palace, Fire Sages, loyals to the crown, they all wanted to know what would happen. Those loyal to Zuko's father left, we didn't have the energy to fallow them.
"Tomorrow gather all the people who work in the palace in the throne room" Zuko was saying to an old lady and an old man, I have never seen them before, but he seemed to know them. "We need to clean this place from the kitchen to the Fire Sages."
"Of course, Fire Lord" they say in one voice, bowing respectfully.
"Thank you, Nato and Gia. Finally, we will be needing food in my chambers. " He said, his voice was getting raspy.
I took a step and hold him, surrounding him with my left arm. Nato and Gia took a step forward, their hands in front of them waiting to catch Zuko. He turns his head a look at me, he was about to pass out, his smile was sweet and tired, I smiled back at him.
Slowly we make our way thru the palace to his room. He didn't trust anyone enough to leave me alone, his words not mine, he asked me if I would mind sharing his room until he settles things down in the palace, I didn't mind so I accepted. I didn't trust anyone either, I won't leave him alone in his state.
"We need to take a shower. "He said letting out a breath while he sits down on his bed.
"I know" I reply sitting next to him, we were exhausted. "I would love a bath right now."
"Let's go then" he said, grabbing the post of the bed to help himself up. I push him a little bit with my hand on his back. "Thanks, the bathroom is right here, I can heat the water for you".
The bathroom was almost as big as his room, an enormous bathtub was in the middle of the room, filled with clean water. A small living room was to the right, and to the left a mirror and a table with personal hygiene items.
"Do you like the water very hot or warm? I personally like it extra hot, almost boiling" He said sitting next to the bathtub a placing one arm inside. "It's really cold"
"Warm is fine" I assure him, sitting next to him.
He let out a breath and the water started to issue steam.
"Done." He said shaking his hand removing the excess of water. "Here is everything you need" Next to him was a little table with a towel, soap, lotion, and even a hair comb.
"What about you?" I asked he needed to wash his injury. "I need to give another session of healing; you need to eat and rest as well."
"You need to eat and rest too, Katara. You look exhausted, please shower and rest. I will guard while you shower, then you will take the guard for me, okay?"
Well, if he says so. I truly needed the shower.
I stand at the same time he did, he was standing in front of me. In the aftermath, we look horrible. I can believe that we kiss merely hours ago, it feels like days.
We take a step at the same time and embrace each other, we did it. We are alive, and tomorrow we will know what happens with the others. The war was ending.
"We did it" He said in my ear, I want to kiss him so badly but I feel like I smell and taste like ash.
"I know" I said kissing his cheek carefully "I can't wait to see the others."
"I know" he repeats and he was looking my lips in such a way that warm was beginning to spread from my chest to other places.
He leans forward, wanting to kiss me, but I place my hands in his chest and lean backward. "Zuko I smell horrible" I laugh, I need to shower.
"I don't care." He says with a smile, grabbing me by the waist with both arms, pulling me close to him and kissing me all over with tiny kisses. My mouth, my cheeks, my neck….
I laugh, resisting him a little bit and fighting with little effort to get free. "That is gross" I said, laughing. "Seriously, get out." I smile holding his face with both my hands and I place my lips hard on his. I give a step back and gives him a little push to the door.
He was smiling, suddenly we both forgot how tired we were and enjoy the moment.
"Out" I yelled pointing to the door, a smile on my face, reluctant to leave.
"Fine" he said raising his arms to the sky, "If there is no other way, I will go…"
I quickly take off my shoe and throw it at him just for fun, he dodges it effortlessly and leaves the room not before throwing me another glare, just in case I change my mind. I didn't.
I take my stinking clothes off, leaving them on the floor next to the bathtub and go inside carefully. The water was warm and delicious against my skin. The water pouring down the edges of the tub while I let out a sigh and I sit down. I feel better instantly.
"Katara?" I hear Zuko's voice saying. Slowly I open my eyes, the water was not warm anymore. I felt sleep I realized, Zuko knocks one more time in the door "Katara, are you okay?"
I rubbed my face with both hands, trying to wake enough to talk.
The sound of the door opening makes me put my arms down, Zuko was next to me in an instant. "I am fine," I say sleepily, "sorry, I felt sleep" I was cold now, the skin of my hands to soft.
"I can tell" Zuko answer smiling a bit. He was already shower, his long hair was still wet, he was wearing no shirt and only some pajama pants, his wound strikingly red against his pallid skin.
"Hey," I say pointing at him, "you shower already, what about the guard?" I shiver, I needed to get out.
"I ask Gia a favor, I trust her. I know her since I was a kid, she has worked here her entire life." He kneels, places one hand in the water and heat it one more time. I hum with the pleasure of the hot water. "Is that better?"
"It is but I need to get out, my skin is itching. How long was I asleep?" He was trying not to see me naked I can tell, the soup leaves a delicate white coat, that was the only thing preventing him to see everything. I swallow.
"Okay, I just wanted to see if you were fine. They bring us food. I assume you are hungry; I am starving. I was waiting for you."
"Yes me too, I will be there in a second." He smiled and leave the room.
I stand and get out of the bathtub; with a simple movement, I bend the excess of water of my skin and let it back in the tub. I use body lotion and comb my hair. Alongside the towel, was a red robe, given that I didn't have any clothes and mine were so dirty I decided to use it.
"Wow," Zuko says as I close the door behind me, the satin fabric of the robe seemed to be flouting thru the floor while I was walking, it was so soft " you look like a fire lady" he said, chewing something in his mouth, a grape. A plate was in front of him, fresh fruit and two bowls of something smelling delicious.
"Oh really? That's funny, I believe I heard that I looked like a filthy peasant" I said crossing my arms in front of me.
He closed the distance between us and without waiting one more second, he kisses me, he tasted sweet and fresh, it was just like the first time we kiss. What I feel for him is real, and greater then I imagine, I guess I never permitted myself to dig into it, I never give way for this kind of emotion or care for him. But there was no way back now, I want him, I care too much about him. I always felt this attraction between us, but I never realized the intensity of these emotions. I have hungry for him, having hi this close wasn't enough I wanted more. I grab him by the neck and pull him against me, my breast touches his wound and he winces. "Oh, I forgot." I said taking a step back. "I am sorry, I need to heal you".
"No" he said pulling me again toward him "I don't care I just want to kiss you; you smell so good." His nose was caressing my neck, the familiar warm spreading thru my body again. My skin was hot and I miss his lips on mine. He goes up my neck kissing me now, I lean my head to the side, giving him space.
The sound of the door startles us, and we both stop and look. Someone was knocking.
"Now what?" Zuko growl, his forehead resting on my shoulder. "What is it?" He screams, walking to the door.
"The kitchen forgot your beverages, Fire lord." A man said, Zuko open the door and a fat short man was caring a tray with a couple of glasses and two jars, I couldn't tell what was on them.
"Do not disturb us if is not a matter of life or death" He took the tray and close the door in front of the poor man.
"That was rude." I said crossing my arms and frowning at him. He was very rude sometimes when talking to people and I didn't like it one bit. With me even his tone of voice changes, but with other people, his voice was as cold as ice.
"For all I know, this water is poison Katara. This food too, by the way." He places the tray alongside the food.
"That is not funny"
"It wasn't a joke." He sighs, "My father loyalist won't be happy with my taking the throne, I would face a lot of resistance, of that I am sure, they will try to kill me many times over."
A vail taste formed in my throat, this wasn't over…. Zuko will keep fighting who knows for how long.
He grabs my hand and pulls me to him with a smile, "don't make that face, I would be fine, If not you heal me, deal?" He joked with a playful tone of voice.
I would love to tell him that we should go away, found something that makes me happy far away from this evil city, but I know that he is the only one who can make it better. Besides, I think that this is what he wants, he wants his home to be a place when people can be happy, and not only think of death and pain when someone is talking about the Fire Nation.
"Well, for now, I can take care of this" I took a step forward and place my hands over the food, I close my eyes and let my healing powers flow, searching inside the water of each fruit, then the soup and the easiest at the end the jar of juice and water. "The food is safe" I declare.
"What did you do?" Zuko asks crossing his arms in front of his muscular chest. Still shirtless by the way, it was a sight.
"I tried to find something wrong with the water on the food as if a disease."
"Clever girl" He said placing a kiss in my cheek. "You are amazing with your healing, is this what you would like to do in the future?
The future… I haven't even thought about that. Where is my future, should I go back to my home? I have no idea…
"I don't know…" I said taking a grape and placing it in my mouth. With a bite, the fruit exploded and a splash of sweet juice makes my mouth water. It was delicious.
"Well, I will help you with whatever I can"
We ate, a little bit, we were more tired than anything. In his bed, I care to his wound living me even more tired.
"This scar will never go away" I say to him, dragging my voice, I need to sleep.
"This won't be the last one" he said, his arms resting under his head, his eyes closed.
He was accepting his violent and disturbing future very dramatically.
I did what I could, Zuko was half slept by the time I finish, but when I took my power away his eyes shot open, he pulled me to him, I comfortably lay on my side, his body against my back fitting like a glove. "Thank you, Katara" He whispered in my ear, and I drift away, falling in a pleasant sleep feeling like a whole new person with him at my side.
