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Rises with the Heart	By : AngelaBlythe Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female > Katara/Zuko Views: 11670 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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.

Chapter List
- 1-PART I
- 2-PART II
- 3-PART III
- 4-PART IV
- 5-PART V
- 6-PART VI
- 7-PART VII
- 8-PART VIII
- 9-PART IX
- 10-PART X
- 11-PART XI
- 12-PART XII
- 13-PART XIII
- 14-PART XIV
- 15-PART XV
- 6
- 7
- 8
RISES WITH THE HEART
VII.I
Katara had not been in favor of staying and training in the Southern Air Temple. They had several factors working against them – including the isolation from food. But it wasn’t only that. If they needed to practice waterbending or earthbending, they had to fly down on Appa to a servable river or patch of land. Flying bison were quite visible despite cloud coverage, so that meant they’d have to travel during nighttime hours. They might be spending nights out in the open as well…
The only good thing Katara could see about the Southern Air Temple was how defensible it was. If there was an enemy they either couldn’t get to you or you could see them before they did – and with a flying bison they could escape safely within a moment’s notice. Katara had voiced her opinions, but they had fallen on deaf ears. So she had quit complaining and dealt with the difficulties of the Southern Air Temple.
Currently, Katara was standing knee-deep in chilly (though pleasant) river water, attempting to instruct Aang in some of the techniques she’d learned recently. Though she was in her underclothes she didn’t feel self-conscious or uncomfortable – Sokka was her brother, Toph was blind, Aang had seen her before, Iroh was old, and Zuko…well, Zuko was staring… Katara was determined to ignore Zuko for a while, give him space and time like Iroh had suggested.
“That’s good, Aang!” she exclaimed, turning her attention to her pupil. Aang beamed, showing her the series of icicles he’d formed.
Though she had only instructed him twice since they had begun training a week and a half ago, Aang already had a good concept of almost all the techniques Katara knew. It was more and more difficult for her to teach him anything. She knew it was the same with Toph – who mostly relaxed on the sidelines during these kinds of training sessions. Even if Aang masters the techniques, Katara reminded herself, he still needs a lot of practice.
And firebending wasn’t exactly going well. Aang had a bit of a complex about using fire. She remembered not long ago he’d been excited at the prospect, but after accidentally burning her while training with Jeong Jeong, he’d vowed never to bend fire ever again. That was, of course, impossible – he could never be the Avatar if he never learned firebending. And Katara had a nasty suspicion that he would really need it. Azula and Ozai…they terrified her…
They had taken a break for lunch, and Katara put on her robes and leggings after bending the water off her undergarments. It was getting a little warm down in the lowlands – it always seemed chilly up on the peaks of the Patola Mountain Ridge where the Southern Air Temple was located. For a moment, it struck Katara as odd that she should consider today a normal day. After all, who would have thought that Aang and Zuko could ever even look at each other without fighting? Katara reconsidered – technically they were sparring, and Zuko was pretty much kicking Aang’s butt with firebending.
Iroh had been an amazing teacher. He was exactly what Katara envisioned as a master for Aang. He was patient and knowledgeable, and even slipped in positive reinforcement once in a while. She watched Aang and Zuko training under Iroh for a little while longer before she went downstream.
“Katara! Wait!”
She paused as Sokka ran to catch up with her. He had a troubled look on his face, and it seemed to Katara as if he was actually serious…for once. They picked their way downstream in silence, Sokka not making any attempt at conversation and Katara waiting for him to say what he needed. He hadn’t spoken much since his return – Katara noticed he watched her closely, however.
Finally, he looked at her and scratched the back of his neck. “You’ve gotten a lot stronger, you know,” he commented. She had told Aang, Toph, and Sokka about her experience with Tui and La, though she hadn’t spoken with Sokka privately about Princess Yue.
“It’s all a little overwhelming still,” Katara explained. “But with all I know, Aang is sure to be a true waterbending master in no time.”
Sokka nodded.
“What is it, Sokka?” Katara knew her brother better than he thought. And she knew that look on his face – the look that meant a thousand and one things were going through his mind.
He shrugged, trying to play it off as insignificant. “I dunno, you just seem different, that’s all.”
Katara bowed her head a little. “I went through a lot trying to get you and Aang back. Traveling with Prince Zuko and General Iroh…and thinking I’d killed Toph…”
Sokka seemed to disagree. “I don’t think that’s it, Katara.” Then he paused. “What exactly happened while you were traveling with Zuko and Iroh?” he asked her point blank.
“What do you mean?” she asked in surprise. “I told you what happened. I healed Zuko and Iroh and went off to find you.”
“I know,” Sokka said a little impatiently. “But how did you convince them to do it? I mean, I know Zuko wants to turn in Aang to the Fire Nation, but he didn’t need to bring you to do that. Why would they want one of the Avatar’s friends around, making things difficult for them?”
Katara had wondered this herself a few times. She had figured they’d done it out of some warped sense of honor. Since she’d saved them, they at least had to give her the opportunity to get killed trying to save Aang. “Iroh made the decision,” Katara confessed, her eyes focused on the sand at her feet. “Zuko wanted to desert me at the cave…but Iroh was the one that allowed me to come along.”
Sokka frowned at the water. They’d stopped and sat on a large boulder. The river lapped at the underside of the rock, and they could only just barely see Aang practicing waterbending, and Zuko and Iroh sparring. “I don’t trust Zuko,” Sokka said finally. “But his uncle…he’s different. I can’t ever tell what he is thinking. …And he helped Aang a lot at the herbalist’s…” His thoughts drowned into silence and rushing water.
“I know what you mean,” Katara agreed.
For a moment she considered telling Sokka about possibly trying to get Zuko and Iroh to help overthrow the Fire Nation. The more she thought about her plan the more she thought it would work. But it hinged on the fact that Zuko could betray his father…his country… Katara didn’t know if he could. He still yearned more than anything to be accepted by his father. But surely even he realized his father’s insanity. And the insanity of this war.
“Sokka,” Katara began, trying to change the subject. He grunted at her. “I have to tell you something,” she continued, looking his way with a sideways glance. “But it’s kind of…delicate.” She paused again. “And private. I would have told you earlier, but I didn’t want other people to hear.”
He cocked his head in curiosity. “Princess Yue mentioned you…when I had that vision,” she said softly.
Sokka’s face became a blank, but the pain in his eyes was apparent. Katara stepped off the rock and looked her brother kindly. Their matching eyes met. “She says she can hear you,” Katara whispered. “And she loves you.”
She left her brother alone for a while.
VII.II
The tempting sway of Katara’s hips was particularly irresistible that night. It was usually about that time Zuko found it most difficult to resist temptation. After a long, stressful day of helping Uncle Iroh to train the Avatar and actually getting sparring in, all he wanted was to feel something. Katara made him feel something. She was the only one that ever had.
The reason why she was particularly irresistible that night was because she and Aang had been training with waterbending…and Katara was only in her underclothes. Her very brief underclothes. He had a perfect memory of her toned muscles moving sinuously under her smooth, rich skin. The water sliding down her back and stomach reminded him painfully of the day he’d run into her bathing…
He watched her with hooded eyes from his secluded campfire. Her eyes glistened in the light of the fire, and her bell-like laugh echoed through the cavern. Then Sokka turned to him with a brief glare before returning to the conversation. Yes, Sokka was mistrustful of Zuko, and didn’t even pretend to like him. This suited Zuko fine, he wasn’t interested in Sokka…
As the night dragged on, the four companions brought out their sleeping furs and fell asleep. All, Zuko noticed, with the exception of Katara. She moved restlessly in her bag before sitting up and catching Zuko’s eyes. She held his gaze for a long time, staring across the fire into his thoughts. For a moment he felt as if she really could read every thought in his head. Then she drew her brows together and turned away from him, pulling her bag over her shoulder.
Zuko sighed and turned back to his fire. Iroh had gone to sleep hours ago. Zuko knew he should sleep, too, but he couldn’t. He kept on thinking about the future, what would happen when the Avatar opposed his father... What would happen when the Avatar opposed Azula… It didn’t seem possible that the boy could ever master firebending. He was afraid of the element. Zuko’s hand went to his scar. The Avatar had a reason to be scared. But he couldn’t allow that fear to control him.
And if the Avatar DID defeat Zuko’s father and sister? Then what? It wasn’t exactly as if Zuko could go home. Another in the royal family would claim the title Fire Lord…though it would probably cause a civil war. After Azula there was no one with a direct right to the Burning Throne. With Iroh disgraced and Zuko banished, if Ozai and Azula fell, no one would have a concrete right to the throne. Zuko bit out a growl at the thought of his nation at war with itself. It would be absolute chaos. The Fire Nation might never recover. But if Iroh could find a way to regain his honor…or if Zuko could find a way to be pardoned… In any case, neither was particularly likely.
A shadow passed across his peripheral vision, and Zuko turned to see Katara’s empty bag. He rose immediately and followed in the direction of the rogue shadow. As he entered the courtyard where the well and fountain were, he saw Katara’s silhouetted form racing down the deserted passageways of the Southern Air Temple. Following Katara, Zuko noticed how bright it was out – the moon was nearly full.
Katara was standing in the wind, facing the moon with her hands hanging at her sides. For a while, Zuko just watched her – watched the way the wind moved her hair and robes, watched how the moon lit her skin, watched how she turned to him with big, glowing, blue eyes.
She smiled sadly, apprehensively approaching him. “The moon is reaching fullness,” she stated plainly. “It’s difficult for me to sleep during this phase.” Then she paused and bowed her head. “Are you truly not able to forgive me, Prince Zuko?”
Zuko frowned. No. He wasn’t. Like his father and sister, forgiveness wasn’t in his nature. To forgive would be weakness.
She took his frown as her answer and nodded. “I see… Then we have a problem,” she solemnly told him.
He snorted in derision, leaning against a wall of rock and crossing his arms. “Oh? And what might that be?” He thought about calling her a peasant.
Her shadowy eyes were a color of midnight blue as she looked at the ground. She seemed unable, or maybe just unwilling, to look at him. Finally, her face painted with pain, she gently unfolded his arms and put her hands on his chest, leaning against him. “Because I think I love you.”
And the only forgiveness he could give her was to grasp her shoulders harshly and seal his lips to hers. One of her hands slid to the back of his neck as she kissed him frantically, anxiously. Zuko crushed her shoulders with his fingers, the only way he could control himself from taking her right then. She would have five fingered bruises in the morning. But bruises would heal just as easily as she had healed her own betrayal. What words to say to him! She loved him? How could she? Why?
Zuko didn’t care as her soft body melted against his, her warm lips moving to his jaw and neck. A deep growl escaped his throat when her foot rubbed against his ankle and calf. A vision of her feet crossed behind his back as he drove into her flashed in his mind, and he struggled with himself to keep control. Instead he slid his free hand down her backside and brought her right thigh up against his hip. Moaning in return, Katara seared him with kisses until Zuko almost felt defeated.
At the same time he felt the victor as he reached under Katara’s robes and found her breasts bare. Blatantly staring, he exposed one of her perfect nipples, bringing his mouth to it. She gasped on contact, arching into him and gripping his shoulders. He had never tasted any nectar so sweet as her skin, nor heard anything more musical than her aroused sighs.
He turned swiftly and pinned her against the wall. Both were breathing heavily, their chests moving as one. Zuko rested his temple on the top of her head, drawing her into his arms. Now was not the time nor place to let that go any further. In his own way, he had forgiven her. And she had given so much to him. I think I love you… The words echoed softly in her voice.
For a long time he held her, pinned to the wall, breathing together. The passion and desire that filled him was nearly unbearable as he pulled away and looked into her starry eyes. “I’ll never leave you,” she whispered. “I need you, Zuko.”
Zuko continued to hold her, pressing her against the wall. It was as gentle as he could be…
VII.III
It was an early morning for Toph. She found herself unable to sleep last night – what with all the commotion. Not that anyone else really noticed. But even the slightest vibrations of feet could wake Toph when she was focusing. Even in sleep, up in the Patola Peaks, Toph had reached out with her element to detect enemy movement. She could possibly be their only warning if someone discovered their whereabouts. Well, she had woken at the sound of Katara’s footsteps and paid them no mind, but when they were joined by a certain fiery Fire Prince’s footsteps – THAT was when she took notice.
At first she couldn’t be sure if it was a coincidence, but Zuko followed the same path Katara took to one of the temple’s overlooks. Of course, she couldn’t hear words being spoken, but Toph couldn’t think of any other thing they could be doing so close together…other than kissing… At first the prospect had bothered Toph, but then she thought to all the time that Zuko and Katara had been forced to spend together…and the angry fight they’d had when Aang arrived…and the infinite patience Katara extended in the way of the Fire Prince… Toph didn’t care about relationships or boys or dating or marriage. Actually, she more or less detested the whole institution of marriage. But she had found it in herself to care about this.
Katara was her friend. Sure they’d had differences, but Katara was like family now. Katara, Aang, and Sokka were all her family. Even Momo was beginning to grow on her. Toph didn’t relish the thought of her friend being hurt – nothing good could ever come of a relationship with Zuko. He was selfish, possessive, arrogant, vicious, insensitive, angry, and a prince of the Fire Nation. How could anything have even started between Katara and Zuko? Had Katara just seen something that needed to be healed?
They were almost perfect polar opposites. Where Zuko was rude and heartless, Katara was kind and full of compassion. Where Zuko was aggressive and violent, Katara was peaceful and sensitive. Zuko didn’t care for people, and Katara didn’t have an intolerant bone in her body – save people from the Fire Nation. …And pirates… But, not only that, the elements of Fire and Water – which Zuko and Katara personified almost perfectly – were complete opposites. Fire destroyed where Water healed. Fire emptied where Water filled.
So how did they end up, on the Southern Air Temple’s eastern overlook, kissing? The mystery continued to elude Toph. As did sleep. So she lowered her stone tent – mostly set up for warmth – and took some fruit out of a basket for breakfast. She wasn’t the first up. In fact, Iroh was moving about his fire. Toph suspected he was making tea.
“Little traveler,” he called out to her. “Will you not join me this fine morning for a cup of tea? It is most delicious.”
He had taken to calling her ‘little traveler’ because of their encounter in the mountains two months back. The nickname made her smile. On the inside. Toph shrugged and Iroh worried over the tealeaves. Zuko’s heartbeat steadily on the ground – he was sound asleep. Everyone was sound asleep.
Taking a seat next to General Iroh, Toph sipped her tea in early morning silence. She still had a lot of issues to consider – the least of which being Katara and Zuko. As if they were the center of her select universe…
Iroh began to chuckle. “What?” Toph snapped.
“I was only imagining what I would have thought thirty years ago if I had known I would end up camping with the Avatar, two Southern Water Tribe children, and a crabby earthbender,” he mused.
“I prefer cantankerous,” she mumbled.
Iroh chuckled again, pouring himself another cup of tea. “Touché, my little traveler. Touché.”
The tea was a little sour for her taste, and she said as much, and a general wake-up time was decided upon when Aang began bugging Sokka to play Air Ball. The usual early morning chaos was replaced by early morning training, which was in turn replaced by lunch and then afternoon training. Night descended again…and the whole process was repeated.
VII.IV
Things went on like this for quite a while. For almost a month and a half Aang was trained by four of the finest benders the Kingdoms had to offer. And for almost a month and a half Aang made the most startling jumps in water-, earth-, and firebending. Toph found it amazing how fast the Avatar could learn, how hard he could push himself, and how determined he was. Toph didn’t think she would have had it within herself to become disciplined in all four bending techniques before her thirteenth birthday – which was weeks away.
But for all Aang’s training, and all the benders’ instructions, they were still no closer to deciding what was to be done about the forthcoming comet. The general plan was the stop Ozai and the Fire Nation from harnessing the power of the comet, but the whole free (and not so free) world was attempting to do that. Toph realized that only Aang could put in motion a strike so effective as to stop the Fire Nation dead in their tracks. But how?
The summer nights were warm atop the Southern Air Temple – warm, but not hot. Still, a fire was needed for food and light, and tonight everyone was sitting around a central fire pit. Somehow the two had become one over the last month and a half. Toph was seated between Iroh and Katara, drinking tea and suffering Katara’s attentions. That meant her hair was getting pulled.
Iroh, who was more or less the leader-by-seniority of the mismatched troupe, was visibly serious and disturbed that night. He was brooding, which Toph knew to be unlike him. And his tea was virtually untouched. He had made a special trip to the herbalist’s for that tea. He absolutely adored it. Toph frowned – not just because Katara had just successfully unknotted a particularly fickle hair-rat.
As the leader, everyone became quiet when Iroh spoke. He did so slowly and calmly, but the sense of urgency behind his voice was apparent. “Sozin’s Comet comes at the end of summer, according to the astrologers of the Fire Nation,” he began. “If we do not have a plan to stop Ozai and Azula…peace will never exist…”
The knowledge had been there, but to vocalize everyone’s fears so clearly and plainly made the realization so much more terrifying. Toph felt Katara shift behind her, blissfully setting aside the blind girl’s hair.
“We have a chance if we can get the Avatar into the Fire Nation,” Iroh continued, his voice low, conspiratorial. “But we only have a few weeks to do so. Remaining undetected may be the bigger issue.” Iroh stood up and began pacing as he spoke. “The Fire Nation is efficient, a machine oiled by years of experience in warfare. We’ve dealt with uprisings, saboteurs, assassins, and invasions. If there was a point in time when the Fire Nation could have been defeated, it is fifty years passed.” Toph could feel the uneasiness in his steps, and hear it in his voice. “Nevertheless,” Iroh murmured, “if we do nothing, the peace that is so needed will be destroyed.”
The wind echoing through the air temple caverns was the only sound.
“What if…” Katara began softly. Then she shifted uncomfortably again behind Toph. Toph wished for a moment that she could see Katara’s face. “Second to the Avatar, who does Fire Lord Ozai hate most in the world?”
“Well, me,” Iroh answered.
“And if Zuko was to turn in both you and Aang, do you think Ozai might restore his title?” she inquired.
There was another silence, in which Zuko perked up from his normal detached, fireside manner.
“Hear me out,” Katara pled. “If Zuko turned in you and Aang, not only would he regain his honor, but he would be the Fire Prince again, the rightful heir to the Burning Throne,” she reasoned. “So that gets Aang and General Iroh within relative distance of Ozai and Azula around the time of the comet. Once Zuko is inside the palace, he can get a few select warriors in key positions at the right time, and we would be able to attack Ozai and Azula when and where they least expect it.”
Katara fell silent.
“He won’t take the bait,” Zuko said harshly. “He would never forgive me. He would never believe me.”
Iroh grunted. “Maybe not. But he doesn’t have to forgive you to restore you, Zuko. Katara’s right – I’m the perfect bait. If it was just Aang he might see through a trap. But he hates me with blinding fury. Blinding…” he murmured.
“If you’re visibly public about turning in your uncle and the Avatar,” Katara said to Zuko, “then your father will be pressured politically to restore your title. Aang and Iroh would already be in the castle, and a few people could infiltrate with your assistance.”
Toph could tell Zuko was hesitant. If this didn’t work, he would die, and would have killed his only hope for reclaiming his birthright. But it would be difficult – his father would never trust him, but political pressure might force his hand. Toph knew about political pressure, for her father was a political figure that was able to apply pressure.
“We should return to Kyoshi,” Zuko said quietly. Toph felt Katara jump slightly. “My sister will be searching for me elsewhere by now, and a small fleet will have been left behind.”
Iroh made a disgruntled sound, but did not voice his concerns.
“We need to alert the leaders of Ba Sing Se, Omashu, the Water Tribes…” Sokka said, his first comment of the night. His voice was made of stone, a tone Toph hadn’t heard before. “They know about the comet, but if they think the Avatar has been captured they’ll launch a rescue mission.”
No one spoke up. “Well, if no one else volunteers, I guess it’ll be me,” Sokka grumbled.
Toph snorted. “You won’t be much use in the Fire Nation,” she snapped.
“Hey!” he cried. “I resent that!”
Toph shrugged. “Well I’m in for a breakout. If Z can get us in, I’ll get Aang out.”
“Me, too,” Katara added quietly.
“Me, too,” a great, booming voice said from the entrance of the cavern.
- 6
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Rises with the Heart