Work Text:
Returning from ashes
The sound of the sea at night was different, more agitated. Zuko was staring at himself in the mirror of his room, the silver scissors on his hand weighing a ton. His hair was longer than he liked, his fringe kept falling into his eyes, bothering him. He was lost and it wasn't like he could just ask for anyone to help. Hair was a big deal in his culture, was the base of the spiritual connection, it holds memories, cutting it symbolizes a fresh new start, but he doesn't quite know how to cut and nobody there could do it… actually, almost no one.
He loved his friends, truly loved them, but only family could touch someone's hair, or the person he chose to spend the rest of his life with, the person that owned his heart and soul, and that person was there but she didn't know anything about this, neither his culture or his feelings. Thoughts of her pretty and delicate hands running through his hair invaded his mind, her sweet ice blue eyes staring at his, helping him create his future.
He threw himself back, now laying on the ground, let out an exasperated sigh, how could nothing go right in his life? Maybe it was Agni punishing him for his sins, if it was, he wouldn't complain, he deserves it. The crack of his door made him sit straight again, but before he looked, he already knew who it was, her scent was engraved on his mind, Katara, she looked at him worried, door barely open, she looked nervous standing there
“You never came down to dinner,” her voice was better than any song he has ever heard “I was worried.”
“You?” He babbled without thinking.
“I meant we, we were worried,” she corrected herself nervously.
“Sorry, I’m sure your food was amazing as always,” he smiled slightly and could swear she blushed. “I’m just going through something right now.”
“Can I help?” This was his time to blush, there was a way she could help, she was the only one who could, he just wasn't sure she would like to.
He got up and started to mumble nonsense, his hands fluttered nervously, “Zuko, stop.” He obeyed the command, standing still, watching her enter his room. “For the scissor in your hand, I would guess you want to cut your hair, right?”
“Yes” he sighed, relieved by how smart, perceptive and attentive she was.
“So, it’s your lucky day, or night, I cut everyone’s hair in this house, except for Aangs, but that's because he doesn't have any.” Zuko laughed at her little joke and she accompanied him. He knew how funny and free Katara could be when she wasn't busy taking care of everyone, selfishly he liked how these moments were only with him
“You would do that?” His voice trembled a little.
“Of course Zuko, you are one of us, how many times will I have to remind you of this?” There she was, using I again, making his heart flustter, she held out her hand, asking for the scissor, he gave it to her with shaking hands. “Go to the balcony, I don't want to get your room dirty with hair, I will just let everyone know you are okay and will be back,” he watched her leave.
He took off his tunic, the last and only time Zuko cut his hair was when he was banished and he remembered how the hair got into his clothes, shorn hair is a nuisance to get off of clothes. He sat on a bench he had on his balcony, waiting for Katara. Zuko was always good on following orders.
“I’m baack,” she sang slightly and he couldn't hold back his smile. In a jump she was at the balcony studying his hair, she had a bowl of water on her hand, the scissors on the other and a towel in her shoulder.
Katara was staring at his shirtless self, he stared back, his heart was bumping so fast he was afraid she could hear it, he was a little embarrassed, he was used to being shirtless and she was used to seeing Zuko like this, but it felt different, the two of them on his room with only the moon watching them, he couldn't stop studying how her face as she studied his body.
“So what do you want?” she asked, putting the things aside and resting her hands on her waist.
“Could you trim?” He liked the way his hair was, it was just too long and there was not much left of his disturbed family on him, trimming would be like cutting off the rest of them.
“Trim?” She laughed and he looked at her confused, “Spirits Zuko, you were so nervous back there that I thought you wanted something difficult." If only she knew why he was nervous, “I was afraid that I would ruin your beautiful hair,” he tried to brush off the beautiful.
“It’s already ruined.”
“Stop being dramatic!” Zuko couldn't avoid it, drama was in his family blood
“I trust you, Katara” she stared at him stunned, cheeks burning.
“Let’s start it then,” he didn't notice but her voice was shaken. With a quick movement of her arm his hair was now wet, the cold water dripping on his hot body made him shiver a little. “Oh sorry, the water is probably even more cold against you body,” he sighed in answer, “Are you always this hot?” she asked with an innocent curiosity.
His body is usually hotter than average but if she only knew what made him this hot. “Yes,” he lied.
“Must be good not feeling cold, then.”
“It has it’s perks,” he was talking lowly and softly, afraid to disturb her, she didn't know but this was a sacred moment for him. Good thing she thought he was shaking from the cold, if she knew why he let her cut his hair, would she go away or would she stay? If he told her the truth, what would happen?
Wasn’t this his idea? Why can’t he calm down? Maybe it was a terrible idea, her hand combing through his hair was sending him to another dimension. Snip, the first lock falls, almost weightless, toward his feet, the same sound from when his mother cutted his hair as a child, the same delicacy, but a different type of love. Less hair and more space for a new Zuko grow.
Snip, snip, snip, each time he heard it he ached to tell her the truth, to tell her what this meant to him, what she meant to him, that she made him more nervous than this whole war and the thought of going against his family. She was now in front of him, cutting his fringe, the last part, Katara was so close to him, he could look at her like never before, her beautiful blue eyes and long dark lashes, the way her tongue sticked out when she was concentrated, how her skin shined like gold and how sweet she smelled. “Done,” she whispered.
She combed his hair with her cold hands a few more times, seeing if she missed something, then she took his hand, he noticed how soft her hands were, and guided him to the mirror, standing behind letting him look at his new self. It was almost the same, but better, maybe because he no longer had nothing to do with his family or maybe because she was the one that did it. “You like it?” She whispered, barely audible.
“It’s perfect,” she was perfect. “Thank you, Katara.” Her name danced on his tongue, he turned to look at her smiling proudly of her work.
What just happened between them made him feel naked, the way she was looking at him, the moment they just shared, he was not the banned prince, he was Zuko, he did not feel the weight of his responsibilities or the future, he felt new, free. “Thank you, Katara.”
“You don't need to thank me, Zuko,” but he did, she had no idea of what she had just done. “You look different, a good different," she played with his hair one last time before going to her room, he watched her leave, hands trembling, he felt different, a good different. He went to sleep a new person.
Tangled feelings
Katara woke up soaked, it wasn't the first time it happened, the closer the battle was, the worse her dreams became. The nightmare was always the same, at least what she could remember, it wasn't very clear, fire, lightning, her friends hurt, and Zuko. Zuko was dead in her arms and there was nothing she could do about it. She had already admitted her feelings to herself, she tried really hard to deny it, but the fire bender made it really difficult.
More and more they shared moments together, she didn't need to take care of him, so she could be herself, she could be free with him, the way he talked to her, listened to her, let her be herself. She caught herself falling for him during these intimate moments, the warm way his hot brown eyes looked at her, how he smiled unconsciously at her, the way he seemed like the sun in her life, giving her light.
She tried to comb her finger through her hair but it was physically impossible, her hair was a wet tangled nest. She sighed in defeat, it was better to focus on calming her heart and her breath than untangling that damp mess. Katara thought about what her granny would say, in the water tribe culture, the hair was a way to the soul, your hair showed your true emotions. Granny would say that her hair was showing just how tangled her emotions and thoughts were.
Also couples were the only ones to touch each other's hair, of course families touched their children's hair, but as you grew older, only a significant other would help with your hair. Her granny also used to say that she should let someone help her, that trying to do everything alone would only let her to ruin, and well, there was only one person there that she would let get close enough to touch her hair.
Incable of standing still, she grabbed her ivory comb and went to the balcony at the end of the hall. Looking at the moon reflecting on the ocean, she prayed to Tui and La for some guidance, going to war with her mind full of other things probably wasn't the best plan. She felt foolish worrying about romance and feelings when the destiny of the world was partially on her hands. She sat on the bench and tried to comb her hair
“Katara,” the voice she adored called her from behind scaring her, she turned to see Zuko standing on the balcony entrance, just in his pajama pants making her blush and her heart race, his new hair was messy, making him look younger, less serious.
“Oh hey, Zuko, couldn't sleep either?”
“Don’t know, I was sleeping and just woke up feeling the need to come here and here you are,” he laughed faintly.
“Here I am,” she laughed too.
“Are you okay? You seemed kinda worried."
"Just nightmares,” she shrugged her shoulders, she didn't want to worry him. He sat on her side.
“You can talk to me you know, I wont judge, just listen.” he sat by her side
“It’s just hard Zuko, the war and everything,” they just stared at each other, letting their eyes talk instead of their mouths, felt too close, too intimate, Katara couldn't help but look at his lips, imagine how soft they would be against hers.
“What happened to your hair?”
She laughed, “I know it's a mess.”
“Can I help?” She looked at him, and he was already looking at her.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course, you trimmed mine today”
“I guarantee you that this is going to be much worse.” She was actually avoiding the answer, she would love for him to untangle her hair, to help her untangle the thoughts of her mind, but if she let him do that, she wouldn't be being honest with him.
“Stop thinking, Katara, just come here,” her comb was already on his hands. She sat on the floor between his legs, shaking on the way down, she could feel that she was getting warmer just by getting closer to him, he was truly like the sun. “I will touch it now, okay?” She didn't understand why he was nervous too, he was the one to offer.
“Okay,” her voice barely a whisper. His hands were on her hair, studying the best way to help her, they were big, warm and incredibly gentle.
He started to untangle at the bottom, so softly that Katara almost didn't feel anything. Every time he caught a knot, he whispered a soft sorry, she smiled in response. Zuko couldn't see, but he knew, he knew her very well. Every time his hand brushed on her back or neck was like an electric chock, like the universe trying to make sure she was alive, that she was feeling, and in that position, with his dedication to her hair, she was very aware of her feelings.
“Do you wanna talk? You know I’m a good listener,” he smiled smugly.
“You are, but you already have so much on your mind, I don’t wanna feel it up more.”
“I always have space for you in my mind,” she got goosebumps. “Sorry, did I pull your hair?” “
"Don’t worry,” she tried to brush it off.
“Impossible,” he whispered, thinking she hadn't heard, but she did and her heart raced.
“It’s just nightmares about the war, I think I’m just scared of what could happen, it’s not that I don’t trust Aang…” she started rambling, he paid attention to every word just like he was paying to each strand of her hair.
“It’s okay, Katara, I have the same worries, too.” She could feel his hand parting her hair, she turned back astonished.
“What are you doing?” He put his hands in the air like she was accusing him of crime.
“Sorry I was just going to braid it, so it wouldn't bother you.”
“You know how to braid?” She repositioned herself, allowing him to start braiding, she remembered back at the water tribe, how couples would do each other's hair in the morning, a final moment together before going to face the world.
“My mom taught me, I liked playing with her hair when I was a child, it’s one of the most vivid memories I have of her,” Zuko smiled thinking of his mom.
“My mom was the one that taught me how to do my hair, the blue beads I use were hers.” There they were again, sharing the more intimate parts of their lives to each other.
“I miss seeing you wearing blue,” he said without thinking,
“I think it would be nice to see you wearing blue.” she said back the same way
“There you go,” his hands were out of her hair and she already missed the warm comfort of them.
“How did you tie it up?” She asked curiously, getting the end of her braid on her hand and there was a pretty red satin ribbon. “What is this?”
“It was my moms,” he looked away shyly.
“Zuko, you didn't have to.”
“I wasn't gonna let my effort go away, I needed to tie it up,” he scratched the back of his head.
“But it was your moms.”
“And now it is yours.” Katara was now sitting on his side, “She would have liked you, you know?”
“Do you think so?”
“I’m sure. I think in another life, she would have helped us”. She rested her head on his shoulder and he left out a sigh before resting his head on hers, their hands brushing as they watched the ocean just as much as the moon was watching them.
Sealing
“Nice braid.” Katara jumped and almost cutted her finger.
“You scared me, Suki!” Her friend laughed.
“Just came here to see if you needed help.”
“Katara, do you need...” The two friends were interrupted by Zuko, who also had come to see if Katara needed help. The two of them just stared at each other, as if something had changed after last night, their cheeks were equally red and hearts beating simultaneously. Suki connected the dots and looked at Katara, rising a brow, Katara broke her eye contact with Zuko and got even more red for being caught. “Ookay, I’m leaving, lovebirds,” she whispered the last part.
“Toph!” Suki whispered a scream.
“Oh, I already know everything about Sugar Queen and Sparky,” the blind girl whispered back.
Suki sat by her side on the sofa, “How do you know?”
“Their hearts POUND like crazy when they are next to each other, their voices shake, it’s unbearable,” she rolled her eyes.
“I know, they blush around each other, they don’t look each other in the eyes, but are always brushing their arms in that damn kitchen.”
“You know what happened yesterday?”
“WHAT?”
“Shhh,” Toph put her finger on Sukki’s mouth.
“Sorry, but no, Sokka and I went to sleep early.”
“You and Sokka, huh?”
“Shush, this is not about me.”
“Whatever, Katara went to his room and they had a moment in the balcony.”
“Oh… My… God… ”
“But I’m glad, maybe if they kiss, they will stop this madness."
“It would be my dream.” They laughed together.
Zuko stayed in the kitchen “You are still with the braid,” she touched it unconsciously.
“It’s pretty, it would be a shame if I just took it off.”
“Yes, very pretty,” his voice was soft, almost a whisper, she was so focused on the breakfast that she didn't notice that he was staring at her, admiring her.
“You needed something?” She made the mistake, she looked at his eyes, once she looked at them she couldn’t look back, the honey warm eyes were hypnotic.
“I just wanted to help,” his smile, oh his smile.
“I don’t need help now, but thanks,” she just didn't know how much longer she would be able to control herself and not jump on him.
“But can I keep you company, anyway?” She blushed and looked away, muttering a yes, something awakened on him last night, making him bolder.
*
Zuko was tossing and turning in his bed that night, he couldn't stop thinking about Katara, the moments they had, he felt like a dick, he knew Aang liked her, everyone knew, and he was the avatar. How someone would choose him, the banished prince over the avatar? He knew he wasn't worthy of her, but he would do everything to be, and he couldn’t let her escape, even if it seemed impossible, his life was full of regrets already, he couldn't have more.
Meanwhile, Katara was sittin on her bed, she couldn’t sleep, she was already certain of her feeling for Zuko, but she didn't know how to turn Aang down. She didn't want to lie to him, but didn't know what the rejection was gonna do to him, with the war coming closer each day. But she knew this wasn't fair to her, she had to be her top priority, at least this time, at least once she would put herself first. Maybe Zuko didn't even like her, she wasn't like the noble girl of the fire nation, she is loud, dramatic, full of scars and a lot of other things, but she had a war to face and didn't want to carry any regrets with her.
They bumped into each other, in the middle of the hall, the impact made Katara lose her balance, Zuko grabbed her by the waist, the feeling of his warm hand against her cold skin made both of them blush. The light of the moon illuminating their faces. “I need to talk to you,” she said at the same time as he said, “I need to tell you something.”
“You can go first,” she said, fidgeting with her hand.
“You sure?” Katara nodded. “I’m in love with you.” Zuko blurted out, if he thought more he would chicken out.
“Me?” Her voice barely audible, he didn't listen to her.
“And i know you probably don’t feel the same, I mean look at you and look at me…” He kept babbling until she covered his mouth with her hand.
“You are in love? With me?”
“Of course, how could I not be?” Zuko lowered her hand.
“Because I’m not like a noble girl, I’m loud, dramatic…”
“I’m gonna stop you right there, when I look at you, I see someone worried about their loved ones, who would do anything for them, and about the loud part, you need to shout to be heard in this house,” they laughed together.
“I don’t want to force you to like me back or anything, I just couldn't keep it a secret anymore.”
“Huh?”
“Please don’t fill your head with this.”
“Zuko, are you dumb?”
“Katara,” he looked at her stunned.
“Why do you think I'm so shocked you are in love with me?” He loved how she gestured with her hands, “I’m in love with you too, silly,” his eyes sparkled like never before.
“Me? Why me when you have the avatar.”
“Now I’m gonna stop you right there, I don’t like Aang that way, I like you, the honorable dedicated prince,” she caressed his face, her thumb brushing his scar.
“Katara,” he whispered.
“Zuko” she whispered back and he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as he caressed her cheek, she leaned into his touch. They were unconsciously getting closer, she got on her tip toes and he lowered his head and with a last breath, they sealed their lips. It was like magic, their lips fitted perfectly, they only parted away when they got out of breath.
“I haven’t been completely honest with you,” she looked at him in shock, almost angry.
“When you cut my hair, I only let you do that because it was you.”
“What do you mean?”
“In the fire nation, only families touch someone's hair, parents when you are a child, and your significant other when you are older.”
“Oh,” she blushed and laughed.
“What? Have you been hiding something too?” Zuko asked jokingly.
"I did the same thing to you, in the water tribe, only married couples touch each other's hair.”
“So you are saying we are married? How quick, not that I’m against it,” he said provoking her and she pushed him jokingly, but he grabbed the hand on his chest and pulled her into a hug, resting his face on the top of her head, smelling her perfume. “I truly love you, Katara.” And so, finally something was right in his life.
“Me too, Zuko,” she hugged him back, snuggling into his chest, finally she was putting herself on top and it was so worth it.
Toph smiled from her room, she had so much to tell Sukki, but she also was happy for her friends, and just a little bit worried about what Sokka would do to Zuko.