Quillbending

Disclaimer: I do not own any of “Avatar: The Last Air Bender's” characters, fandom, etc. This story is for entertainment purposes only and not for profit.

QUILLBENDING

Pairing: Aang/Katara (Zutara)
Word Count: 247
Rating: K

Conflicted

As the torch flared one last time between them, they both leaned forward, their eyes half-closed with both tension and curiosity. As the last embers sparked and turned an angry, defiant red, Katara could feel his warm breath feathering across her trembling lips. She leaned forward, her eyes closing, as the embers glowed and died, and thought that she might receive her first, real kiss.

But something jerked on her shoulder, tugging at her attention and taunting her from the back of her mind with guilty knowledge. Her eyes widened, and her treacherous thoughts wailed, *I can’t do this! I can’t…Aang, I’m sorry!*

For there was another that burned in her darkest memories, one who had etched himself in fire across her guilty consciousness.

“But I---I rise with the sun!”

Damn him! He mocked her, even now, when all was lost in desolate darkness. She looked up, trying to blink back the sudden, sharp tears in her eyes at the conflicts held secretly in her heart, and she gasped as she saw the luminescent stars spangled above.

“Aang---look!”

As her young companion stared up in awe, Katara smiled, the tears still sparkling in her deep, blue eyes.

*You may haunt me yet in the dark, Prince Zuko, but I will always rise with the moon---and stars.*

And suddenly she was enfolded in his arms, and Katara hugged him back, pushing the fiery conflicts of betrayed loyalties and forlorn love aside to grasp at what she had---a friend.