Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Breathe Again ❯ A Kiss Goodnight ( Chapter 10 )

Sadly I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender :D It belongs to Nick and its Original creators.

 

Breathe Again

~Chapter 10: A Kiss Goodnight~

 

“I'm so sorry…”

 

Iroh stared at the young woman before him blankly, she seemed familiar but he still couldn't place her. “Oh Iroh!” She whined dramatically, “You don't recognize me?”

“No… I don't. Can you refresh my memory?” He asked with a nervous chuckle, she crossed her arms and glared at him, “Akai?” She stated bluntly, his eyes widened and the girl suddenly found herself struggling for breath in his strong embrace.

 

“You've grown into a fine young woman! Though with this filthy thing on you look more like a pirate…” He mused; she gasped relishing the flow of returned oxygen as he released her. “Well I have been on a ship for two days Iroh; we just made port about an hour ago.” The old man leaned in close to her, “Oh… Is that the reason for the smell…? OWWW!”

~

Katara sighed to herself as she sat down on the futon, she had discovered a small room next to Zuko's which was one of two leading out to the Palace court yards on the East side. She had also taken the liberty to open several windows and light a few candles to lighten the broody Prince's chambers, `Maybe it'll be too bright for him…' She thought with a snicker.

~

Zuko growled to himself as he scrubbed the last of the makeup from his face, “Why is this stupid stuff so hard to get off?” He asked aloud as he began to clean the rest of his body as well. Once satisfied the Prince took the time to soak and relax in the soothing warm water, `She hates me now… Probably even more than she did before… I'm such an idiot.' He thought sadly, it was true, what he had done had been stupid in some ways but it made sense a little also.

 

Even though they could have defeated his sister and her lackeys with some time, they probably would have been too late to stop the Dai Le from carrying out the assassination of the Earth King and overthrowing of the Earth Kingdom. “Oh stop,” He grumbled, “Don't make excuses just because you acted like an ass…” He told himself as he got out of the bath and dried himself off.

~

Katara could feel sadness sinking into her hear again as the sun began to set and thought of her friends entertaining her lonely mind. She had never been so scared in her life, the fear was not only for her own well being but mainly for that of her friends if they chose to come and save her; which she knew they most likely would.

“….I don't want to loose anyone else….” She whispered softly, tears pulling at her eyes as she thought about Jet and how she hadn't trusted him until he lay dying. She'd been lying there for several minutes just letting herself cry away the pain when she heard the door open. Zuko's footsteps grew close to her door and she could see his shadow on the floor, clamping her eyes shut tightly she feigned sleep as she heard him begin to move closer.

 

“You can have the bed if you want, I'll sleep he...” He stopped mid sentence which helped to calm her racing heart slightly, `Good… He thinks I'm sleeping…' She thought to herself.

 

Zuko's eyes widened, she was crying in her sleep! He kneeled next to the futon watching her sleeping form in silence. He then moved his hand to her cheek on a whim and wiped away her tears softly, every brush of his hand against her soft flesh sending a shiver down his spine. She had no idea what she was doing to him, what she HAD done to him. “I'm so sorry…” He whispered, kissing her gently on the forehead before leaving her side.