Zutara - SW - Epilogue

Zutara - Southern Waterbender - Epilogue

Anger filled me as I saw that face again. The face I had now come to hate with all the hatred I could summon. He had hurt me too many times, me personally. "Why did they throw you in here! Oh wait, let me guess. It's a trap!" I yelled and paced the gem-lit dungeon. My anger would not settle. What new plot was Zuko sceming before me as he sat there, back toward me. "You're a terrible person, you know that?" I stopped pacing to look at him.

No answer. He just sat there. This angered me even more. I started pacing again. My mind dweled on all the horrible things that he had done to me and my friends since that day the Blue Spirit rescued us from Zhao. What a horrible man Zuko was. I had often thought I must have been wrong about the Blue Spirit, perhaps it wasn't Zuko after all. How could he save us, than turn around and try to capture us again? Greedy bastard, he just wanted the avatar to himself.

"Katara," The whisper stopped me dead in my tracks. All thoughts vanished.

"What?" I just stood staring at the back of his head. Did he just say… Did he remember…. My name?

"I said… Katara," He looked back at me partially, but still sat slumped over, his back to me.

"So?" I said spitefully, hiding my shock. "You remember my name. What does that matter? It doesn't change anything."

"My business wasn't with you." His voice stayed calm and quiet, contrasted against my angry yells.

"I know, it was all about Aang. That's why you are so terrible! Always following us, hunting the avatar. Trying to capture the world's last hope for peace!"

"I told you when you were on my ship, I only wanted the avatar to help me regain my honor and return home. I don't care about the war. Besides, never once did I fight you with any intention to hurt you." His voice was still soft and calm.

"But you still fought us anyway. And you did hurt us! You hurt me!" I turned away from him and sat down, huddling into a ball of my pain and anger.

Zuko turned around, looking at my back that now faced him, "How did I hurt you?"

"After I was on your ship…." I blocked out the images that came to mind, trying to find the point I was trying to make. "I thought maybe you would let us go."

"Why? When would that have changed?"

"Well…" I bit my lip nervously. My hands started shaking. I slowly looked back at him. "After you…. Saved us from Zhao."

He looked away suddenly hiding his face from me. "No-no I didn't!" he studdered.

"Yes, Zuko."

He went silent and I turned my body to face him. I heard him sigh, "…How did you know?"

"I found your mask while I was on your ship. It was in your room."

"How long did you know?" I wanted to know what he was thinking and feeling, but he kept his face out of my sight. So I was patient and answered his questions.

"Since I first saw the mask when you were fighting Zhao. And you gave me the water. You knew I was a waterbender and knew that I had the power to use it. None of my friends would have done that."

"So… you knew the whole time. Even.. when you said thank you?"

I blushed and bit my lip looking away from him. Incase he turned around, I wanted to hide the redness on my face. "Yes."

"Then I just turned around and stabbed you in the heart, didn't I?" His voice sounded weak. Finally he looked back at me again.

I bowed my head and nodded, not wanting to make eye contact. He sighed at looked away again.

"I'm so sorry. But I know sorry isn't enough. You can't trust me and I don't blame you." His voice was so sincere and pained. He truly sounded ashamed. He was really sorry.

I got up and went to him, I couldn't not deny the compassion in my spirit. Placing a hand on his shoulder, I sat down next to him. He didn't face me, but I felt his muscles tense at my touch. "You could gain my trust. Prove yourself to me."

For the first time in months, his eyes met mine. They were tender and glowed gold like faint candlelight. I breathed deep, trying to relax my beating heart. What was it about this boy that caused such a physical reaction in my blood.

"How?" he whispered.

"Stop trying to capture the avatar. Let him go."

Zuko looked away from me. It seemed this wasn't the answer he was looking for. "It isn't that simple. He is all the hope I have to return home."

"Then don't."

Zuko frowned than looked at me again, he didn't understand what I meant.  

"Join us. Help us make peace."

"Betray my father completely. The firenation would never accept me again."

I clenched my jaw, anger poisoning my thoughts. "Why should you care!? They are destroying everything! You could help us stop this war and let the nations live in peace together." Zuko's face was still distraught, torn by the reality he had known his entire life and the new destiny lying before him. "You could fight with us! With me."

I watched his face waiting for an answer as he stared off in thought, a confused expression marring his features. His relunctance pained me. My hope about him slipping. I had little trust or hope to base this on, and I was starting to see it wasn't enough. I sighed sadly and turned away, about to stand up and leave him to his thoughts.

But his hand caught mine, stopping me. "Katara," he whispered my name again, his voice so soft andenchanting. My blood turned to ice and my pulse quickened. "Yes, I… I want that."

I looked at him in shock. Really? I couldn't speak, he didn't let me. His mouth met mine before I realized how close we were. His hand softly gripped my neck, securing my face against his. All coherency left and I melted at his touch. His lips left from mine enough to whisper, "I want you, Katara."

He kissed me again and I returned it with passion. How many nights I had secretly dreamed of these lips? How long had I longed for this boy to be on our side? And now he was with us. Now he was mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and his hands slipped around my waist. We let gravity pull us until we lay interwined on the stone floor in bliss.

We were completely unaware of who was about to break through the wall in a matter of seconds and catch us, nor did we care.