Zutara Week Day 2: Blood

Katara sighed, frustrated, as she stared up at the full moon high above. She could feel its power rushing through her veins. This place was so serene, quiet in its power. But how could she be calm now?

How could you ask that of me, Aang?

“Katara?”

She jumped, spinning around. Zuko stood back awkwardly, his face silhouetted by the gentle flame he held in his hand.

“Zuko…”

He smiled gently, stepping closer to her. “You’ve been out here for a long time, Katara. Everybody else has gone to bed already. Are you okay?”

She gulped, nodding. “I’m fi- I’m fine.” Her voice cracked, giving her away.

“No, you’re not.” It was a statement, not a question. Zuko put out the fire, closing the remaining feet between them. He put his hand firmly under her chin, tilting her head up until his ember eyes met her sapphire ones. “Let me help you, Katara.”

His hand is so warm.

Katara closed her eyes, focusing on just the gentle comfort of his hand on her chin, the thumb that stroked her jaw line. “It’s Aang. He wants me to use my bloodbending in the Final War.”

“Zuko’s thumb stopped moving, and Katara opened her eyes. “Bloodbending?” His face was stony, but Katara saw the fear and confusion in his eyes.

Her voice cracked again. “Yes. Blood is made with so much water, that I can control it from within a bird, an animal…a person…”

The fear became more evident in Zuko’s eyes, and his hand slipped from her face and landed awkwardly by his side. Katara closed her eyes again. “And Aang actually wants you to do that?”

Tears slid from beneath her closed eyelids. “Yes. But I can’t…it’s not right. I won’t.”

Zuko’s eyebrows furrowed. “He has to understand that.”

With a sigh, Katara sank to the ground, drawing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them as she stared at the moon. Zuko sank to the ground next to her, an arm sliding around her shoulders. “He should understand that. A vicious old lady bloodbended on him once. And Sokka. She pitted them against each other, making them fight. They almost killed each other. Until…until I bloodbended her.” A sigh rattled from between her lips. “I had no choice. It was her or them, and I chose them.”

Zuko released a long breath. “Wow. What…what was it like?”

Katara scowled, her eyebrows pulling low over her eyes. “It was horrible. It felt so…wrong. Unnatural.” Katara shuddered slightly. “And I had never been more powerful. It is only something that can be experienced on the full moon, when a waterbender is at his or her strongest. But Aang seems to think that I can bloodbend whether there is a full moon or not.”

“Wow,” Zuko said again. He considered the idea. “I can’t even imagine what that would be like. For the one being controlled, I mean.”

He’s not afraid of it? He’s not afraid of me?

Katara felt her mood lighten considerably at the thought. She eyed him suspiciously, the corners of her lips pulling up a little. “What are you saying?”

Zuko shook his head, frustrated. “Nothing. Just…” He hesitated. “I just kinda want to know what it’s like, that’s all.” He glanced quickly at Katara before looking away again.

“Well…” Katara considered the idea, playfully. “Maybe I’d show you what it’s like. Provided that you tell me if it starts to bother you, and it’ll only be for a minute. It’s not like I’ll be using it seriously or anything…and tonight’s a full moon, after all.”

Zuko grinned and jumped up like a four year old boy. “Okay! Let’s try it!”

*****

A few minutes later, Katara raised her hands, and Zuko tried to stand still. But it was hard. He hadn’t been this excited in a while. This was so new to him, so interesting…and it wasn’t like there were many waterbenders he could ask about this, after all. And there were even less bloodbenders. Because, apparently, Katara was the only one left.

And then, as if by magic, he was moving. Slowly, at first, and then faster, faster. And he was running, straight towards Katara. It was a weird sensation, running without actually running. He felt like he was doing nothing at all. And in truth, he wasn’t.

With a quick flick of her wrists, Zuko stopped, breathing heavily, just a foot away from Katara. She looked a little nervous, but the muscles in her face relaxed as soon as she saw the wonder in Zuko’s.

“Weren’t you…weren’t you nervous?” she asked.

Zuko was still staring at her with wonder. “Not really. If someone else was controlling me, maybe. But it was you…I trust you.”

Katara grinned. “So…it wasn’t bad?”

Zuko grinned back. “No. it was fun. And I would have been running to you anyway. I mean…look at you. You’re gorgeous. And with the moon shining behind you…” he shook his head, watching her eyes sparkle.

Katara laughed, raising her hands playfully. “Well, maybe I’ll just have to bring you closer.”

Zuko wrapped his hands around her waist, leaning down until his face was only inches from hers. He couldn’t help himself.

“You know…I’m not controlling you any more,” Katara pointed out as a light blush crept across her features.

“I know,” Zuko murmured huskily, leaning in closer.