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Bitter Alliance	By : Looneyluna Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female > Katara/Zuko Views: 31138 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Act III

Chapter Eleven

--

Sand and wind sting the skin of my hands as we traverse the barren landscape of the desert. It is a welcome sensation. Any sensation is welcome. The wind is deafening, and it takes my breath away, even through the protective cloth that covers my face. I see very little as I peer through the eyewear the Sandbender gave to me.

I ignore the monotonous dunes and focus on Katara. She huddles close to the edge as though poised to jump off the first chance she gets.

Katara…

Her presence is like an affirmation of life for me. She is strong and resourceful. I have no memories of that, but I know that it is true. As if sensing my scrutiny, she crawls across the canvas bottom of the glider and takes my hands in hers.

She tries to tell me something, but I cannot hear the cadence of her voice over the harsh howl of the wind. She pulls my hands into the folds of her garment, and I feel warmth spread through me.

The act is not meant to be seductive. It is one of kindness and reassurance. It is an act of love. The woman that shields me from the nip of the sandy wind loves me. It’s reflected in her eyes whenever she looks at me. I wish I could see her eyes now. But, like mine, sand goggles cover them.

Did I love her?

I do not want an answer, but the brutality of my dreams has already shown me the truth. I should have found a way to love her. I should have fought to the death to protect her. Though I sense an underlying strength within her, she is a gentle soul—one that should be cherished and loved.

Am I up to the task? What if I cannot protect her again? Should I push her away to save her? How do I sacrifice the purity of her affections when the beast within me growls for more?

She evokes emotions I buried after I woke. She touches me, and I feel it!

Time is a concept that is lost to me. I was reborn to pain years ago. I have no past to draw from to guide the errant thoughts that whisper to me. Madness haunts my soul. The delicate balance between insanity and reality tipped when Katara came back into my life, but did it tip for the better… or for the worse.

I should not encourage her affections, but the selfish creature that I am will not sacrifice that small measure of happiness.

A shout interrupts my introspective musings. The sand glider shifts direction and heads toward a small selection of crude buildings that break the endlessness of the desert lands. The sun is setting over the horizon, illuminating the burnt orange colors of the sky and the small village that looms before us.

Doubts resurface as I remember my conversation with Jeong Jeong months ago. “Tell me nothing of them. I am obviously the monster my dreams reveal me to be. They are hidden from me for a reason and shall remain that way.”

Danger follows me. I should not be here, nor should I acknowledge the children as mine, but the selfish beast within me will not deprive himself of Katara’s company.

Wherever she goes, I will follow. That is the nature of the beast.

--

Zuko helps me off the sand glider and glares at the Sandbender who tried to help me down. I would reassure him and tell him his jealousy is unwarranted, but I have missed my children and need to see for myself that they are well.

Stripping off the sand gear and goggles, I run toward the hut. Desperation claws at me. Kaya and Iroh should be in bed by now, but I had envisioned both my children running toward me with open arms.

As I draw closer, the rickety old door opens and Toph walks out.

“Thank the Goddess you’re back!” she shouts. She looks harassed and tired. Of course, Toph normally looks a little rough around the edges, but to see her like this alarms me.

“Where are Kaya and Iroh?” I ask quickly, tearing at the protective gloves that cover my hands and throwing them onto the ground.

“They’re in bed,” she answers, her head cocking to the side as she “sees” Zuko behind me. “I don’t believe it!” gasps Toph. “Kaya said you’d find him.”

I want to ignore Toph’s summation of Kaya’s prophetic statement, but I can’t. I rush past her into the cramped hut where my children have lived like beggars these past years.

The light of the fire casts shadows about the room. Though it is hot during the days, the nights are always cold. My eyes scan the occupants of the bed.

Iroh is asleep on his stomach, his ass in the air, and his thumb in his mouth. It feels as though I have been away from him longer than I have. His brown hair has lightened, undoubtedly a result of playing too much in the sun. His cheeks are red with sunburn. My son shudders in his sleep and sucks on his thumb. He is gifted with the ability to fall asleep quickly.

Kaya’s blue eyes are heavy-lidded, but they open wide when she sees me. “Momma!” she whispers excitedly, crawling over her brother in her effort to get to me. She stifles a yawn and wraps her arms around my neck.

I inhale her clean scent. Like her brother, her cheeks are sunburned.

“I knew you would be back tonight,” she announces excitedly, bouncing up and down on the pallet. I scoop her into my arms and hug her tight, raining kisses upon her cheeks. Bundling her up, I carry her outside.

Her chatter reminds me of Momo, her words nonsensical as she tries to tell me about what she and her brother have done while I was away.

Kaya looks over my shoulder and gasps. Toph and Zuko are standing next to the muddy spring, both silent and content to watch the happy reunion between mother and daughter.
She wiggles out of my grasp and runs toward Zuko, stopping short as if someone has pulled her back.

Zuko kneels before his daughter, uncertainty flickering in the shadows of his amber gaze.

“He said you would come,” Kaya whispers, her tiny hand cupping Zuko’s scarred cheek. “You’re right, Uncle. He is handsome.”

Toph shudders, doing an odd side-step dance away from them. “Stop it, Kaya. You’re freaking me out!”

Kaya goes to move away, but Zuko covers her hand with his.

“Toph?” I ask, looking from the Earthbender to my lover and daughter.

“Aunt Toph doesn’t like it when I talk to Great Uncle Iroh,” Kaya states solemnly. “You told me that I wasn’t allowed to talk to strangers. Seeing as he, Aang, and Aunt Azula aren’t strangers, I figured that it was okay to talk to them. I –”

“Azula!” I gasp in horror.

Toph shuffles her feet in the sand. “Oh yeah! Apparently, Iroh, Azula, Appa, and Momo showed up shortly after you left.”

Unperturbed by her preternatural sight, Kaya studies her father. Her tiny hand traces his misshapen lips. Zuko closes his eyes.

“Don’t worry, Daddy,” the little girl soothes. “I’ll fix you once I learn to Waterbend. Once we go to the North Pole, you’ll be fine. Uncle says the pool where Tui and La swim will heal your scars… all of them, except this one.” Kaya lovingly touches the old scar over his left eye. “Uncle says it is a symbol of your honor.”

I cannot stop my tears, and I cannot intervene. My daughter is the Avatar. Though circumstances were manipulated surrounding her conception, she was born to restore the balance – a task that is even more daunting than before. Is it not right for her to start with her father? Is it not right for her to try to heal him?

--

Like her mother’s touch, I feel the gentle caress of my daughter’s touch against my flesh. She has Katara’s pale blue eyes, surrounded by midnight-black lashes. The contrast is made even more remarkable by her pale skin. Her cheeks are reddened, her fair complexion having yielded to the punishing rays of the sun.

“That’s not all,” the stocky Earthbender sighs, addressing Katara. “Iroh is a bender.”

Katara’s eyes widen. I can see the fear and uncertainty in them.

“Iroh’s a Firebender like daddy!” Kaya announces with a wide smile as she continues to investigate the ridges of scars. “He’s going to teach me once I master the other elements. Mommy will teach me Waterbending. Aunt Toph will teach me Earthbending. Daddy and Iroh can teach me Firebending.”

She speaks to me as though I have always been with her. I yearn to know more of this enchanting child.

“Aang has already started teaching me how to be an Airbender,” Kaya says with enthusiasm as she turns toward her mother. “Watch this!”

My daughter steps back and runs around the bubbling mud spring. It is a feat that most parents would applaud without looking, but Kaya ran around the decrepit railing in the blink of an eye.

Proud of her accomplishment and a little short of breath, she stops in front of Katara and looks up. “I know you told me not to run, but Aang taught me how to breathe, and I don’t need the mud anymore. Tomorrow, he said he would teach me how to make an air scooter.”

Katara’s eyes are wide. She sways on her feet, and I move to catch her as she crumples to the ground.

“Mommy!” Kaya cries out, rushing to her mother’s side.

“I’ll go get some water.” Toph walks toward the row of huts.

“I’m fine,” Katara whispers shakily, pushing against my chest to sit up.

“I’m sorry, Mommy,” Kaya sniffles, wrapping her arms around her mother’s neck and needing comfort. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I’m fine, Kaya,” she tells our daughter, hugging the child and stroking her hair. “Toph is right. I just need some water.”

Over the top of our daughter’s head, I see the worry in her eyes. She cannot conceal the shimmering tears as she succumbs to the fear. I wipe the tears away with my thumb.

“You need rest,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “A gain makes me sing; a loss makes me sullen. Worries and regrets are always around. If there is wine today, then today is the day to get drunk. Worry about tomorrow's worries when they come tomorrow.”

Katara gasps as I quote an ancient philosopher.

Kaya giggles. “That’s what Uncle always says.”

--

TBC

Author’s Notes: Zuko is actually quoting a poet of the Tang Dynasty, Luo Yin.

Oh my Goodness! How long has it been? Too long, I know. My hands have no improved. I have two of them and am facing my fourth surgery. But that isn’t the only reason the updates on this story have taken so long. Sniff! I’ve lost my Avatar muse. Has anybody seen it? I thought by now that season three would have started. I was counting on season three to bring forth a ton of inspiration. Well, so far… No season three.

As many of you know, I write Harry Potter fan fiction. To say the least, that muse is creative and fruitful right now. So, if you see updates from me… I’m not ignoring my Avatar stories. I’m just not inspired to work on them.

As always, I must thank Moncapitan for shooting down stupid ideas and making me look at the big picture. MC, you rock! Thanks for the help and the not-so-gentle nudges.
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Bitter Alliance