literature

Zutara - Manipulative Dances

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Literature Text

“Come on, Zuko!  Dance with us!” Katara called from her spot near the campfire.  Aang paused in his movements to watch his partner.  Sokka and Suki just twirled past, Suki quite a bit more gracefully than her boyfriend.

Zuko looked up from the ground where he sat slouched against Appa’s side.  Katara imagined he was contemplating her offer, but the thoughtful look in the firebender’s golden eyes quickly vanished.

“That’s okay.  I don’t dance.”

“Don’t like to, or don’t know how?”

“… Don’t like to.”

Katara smirked.  “Then I’m sure you can dance better than any of us,” she argued.  “You’ve obviously had dance lessons, right?  Come on, show us something.”

Zuko folded his arms.  “No,” he said with finality.  Katara frowned at him, but the firebender refused to give in, so she returned to her dance with Aang.

That day had been nothing but rain, the first rain in the Fire Nation for months, making firebending practice impossible.  Earthbending was difficult in all the sticky mud, and they could only practice waterbending for so long until it got boring.  With all that time doing nothing, the gang had to do something.  And so they decided to throw themselves a good-old-fashioned dance party.  Toph decided to sit it out, but Sokka heartily agreed, soon convincing Suki of the same, and Katara couldn’t resist a bit of fun.  Now all she had to do was get Zuko in on it.

Katara forcibly slowed her movements, exaggerating the steps and moving her arms in gentle, graceful sweeps.  Aang followed perfectly around her, ducking as she sweeped, bending as she bent, turning with her and leading and following at once.  Proud of her pupil for his amazing flexibility, Katara momentarily forgot about Zuko sulking over by Appa.  She could feel the music playing at the Fire Nation dance party moving through her limbs at a slower beat, guiding her and the Avatar in their steps around the quivering fire.  The rain outside added a steady drumbeat.  She could feel that too, giving her movements hard edges at times, and then the beat dulled, letting her regain her grace.

It worked.  Zuko looked up.


Zuko watched through narrowed, though nevertheless awed, eyes as Katara spun around the campfire.  She was showing off, he could tell, but what did she expect to gain?  Make him feel bad?  That didn’t seem like the reason.

She’s trying to impress me, he suddenly realized, smirking and horrified at the same time.  She knew he liked her, and now she was taking advantage of it.  Too bad it was working…

How could Zuko not admire the grace of her lines, the fluidity of her turns, the way the light flickered over her tanned skin as she leaped, the way her eyes flashed with shy pleasure when she caught him staring.  How could he not get up and join her?

And then the firebender spotted the way Aang moved as one with his partner, the way his eyes glowed when Katara sent a friendly smile his way, and he knew why.  He would never trust me again…

It seemed like the only one who didn’t know about Aang’s crush on Katara was Katara herself.  Even Zuko, who had only known the young airbender for a few weeks, could see how the young boy cared for his waterbending teacher.  If Zuko stepped in… the Avatar would turn on him.  It was that simple.  And yet, it was so complex.

Zuko liked Katara.  He really, really liked her.  And it had gotten to the point where he was sure Katara liked him too.  But with the Avatar still needing to master firebending, and adding in his obsession over Katara, it made it impossible for Zuko to show anything more than friendship towards the Watertribe girl.  So that, in the end, was why he couldn’t dance.  At least not here and now.


He found her that night in the empty marble courtyard, sitting on the rim of the fountain, staring up at the full moon and all its twinkling stars.  She sensed his approach and smiled, scooting over so he could take a seat beside her.  Zuko remained standing.

Katara gave him an awkward look as he just stood there, silently staring at her.  “Um… Zuko?  Are you okay?”

Zuko sucked in a breath and let it out in a quiet puff.  He couldn’t find the words.  There were too many, and far too confusing.  In the end, he just held out a hand, inviting Katara to join him in a secret dance under the moon, where no one would see them but each other and the moon above their heads.

Katara stared at his had, then into his eyes.  “Zuko…?”

“Would you… would you like to dance with me… now?”

Katara’s face went suddenly hard.  “Why wouldn’t you dance before, when everyone else was around?  What are you so ashamed of?”

“Nothing,” Zuko answered quietly, completely patient.  “I just… I wanted this to be special.”

Her frown dimmed, and Katara stared again at his hand, a small smile coming over her face.  “I knew I could convince you,” she replied smugly, taking his hand.  

Zuko pulled her up into his chest, letting their noses come within centimeters of each other.  He liked having her this close and not be her enemy, to hold her hands and gently grip her wrists without planning to tie her to a tree.  He liked how she moved with him, in his arms, perfectly willing to be led for hours across the courtyard in graceful circles.  And when Katara rested her head against his shoulder and sighed with perfect contentment, Zuko knew who had really won who over that night.
Late, I know. Too tired to care. More in the morning. Sleep now...

[EDIT]

Okay, so personally, I'm not sure if I like how this turned out, but it was nice enough in its own way and fluffy (I love fluff <_<;) so I posted it. This is my late entry for the Manipulative day. And they're not at the Western Air Temple in this fic. You know that stone courtyard kind of place where they were at the beginning of the Ember Island Players clip? That's where they are.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this, and let me know what you think!
© 2008 - 2024 FlameoZutara
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Livelaughloveanime's avatar
its so fluffy im gonna die!!!!:faint: teehee jk:giggle: but still i LOOOOVE it!!!