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Zutara month 2012 ~ Day 4: Change

It was too early, she noticed. She knew that the rest of her friends were still asleep and she tried to catch up a few more hours of precious sleep but she couldn't, so instead, she decided to take a short walk before breakfast.

Slowly and silently, she started walking to the woods. She briefly looked to the rest to be sure she didn't woke anybody, and her gaze rested a little bit longer in the male figure with dark hair and scarred skin resting in the bison tale. What a little liar, prince Zuko. Why does anybody but her saw that there's no such thing as a new Zuko? It was impossible for him to change. Why would he? What where his motivations? Absolutely not the Spirits kicking some sense in his selfish mind, that's for sure.

'He has not changed. He's Zuko, for La's sake. The creep that kept following us 'till the end of times just to capture the Avatar' She thought, completely sure that it was the only and absolute truth.

But she had noticed him act so different lately. He was polite, he was always helpful, he was damn good at planning -just as, or may be even more than Sokka- and he was so patient with her attitude towards him.

Toph had even found him a pet-name! That meant she believed and trusted him! Toph Beifong!

She was the only one in the group that he couldn't fool, thankfully. She knew he was trying something but she was succeeding in ruining everything just by not trusting in him.
'At least he acknowledges my strength' she considered but immediately changed her mind.

That was accepting that he had changed in the minimum way and she would not fall for it. He must still be thinking that she was just a peasant; a weak waterbender that could not beat him in a fight. A useless little girl.

She scoffed angrily. Even when she was trying to have a peaceful morning, he was bothering her, haunting her.

"Why are you up so early, Katara?" his confused and drowsily voice found her ears. She stared hard at him.

"None of your business, Prince Zuko" she scoffed.

His eyes focused in hers with such a hurt expression that she had to look the other way. His eyes were so expressive. It made her fill like she was offending or hurting him –which should be something she enjoyed, but some way it wasn't. It made her consider her opinion and the possibility that he had indeed became a better person; and that was betraying her own thoughts. She couldn't stand that.

He sighed, the sound so defeated and tired and then he spoke, softly, politely and carefully.

"Do you mind if I join you?" she stared at him.

"Well, actually yes. I'm not entirely sure that you won't try to kill me or something" she crossed her arms and closed her blue eyes. "Live me alone"

"We need to speak" he begged desperately, a couple of minutes or so, losing his patience for the first time since he joined the group. "We can't keep attacking each other. We are a team now. I need you to believe in my word, Katara. What do I have to do to prove it to you? I want to be your friend. I would not hurt nor you or anybody here –not anymore. Your opinion means a lot to me so. Speak to me." he took a big breath and continued his eyes looking through hers. "Punch me, kick me, insult me, but say something, Katara. Let me explain everything to you."

She stood still and quiet. She had never seen him like this –so lost and deeply sorry, trying to apologize for the things he had put her and her friends through.

A voice rang in her head 'He has said nothing but the truth to you. Give him a chance. Maybe he did changed after all'.

Her body relaxed and she sighed. He was still looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to tell him to fuck off and let her enjoy her peace alone. But he did not expect her response.

"Ok, Zuko. You have just one more chance to explain to me whatever you need to explain." she couldn't help but feel guilty at what she saw in his eyes: relief, excitement, promise, respect, even affect. Could it be that he was so concerned by her and her opinion?

She had never even dreamed of him, expressing such strong emotions in any way. He had indeed changed. Even if she just noticed in that apparently meaningless moment, she had to admit that he had changed.

The last thing she gave him that morning before everybody woke up, was a sincere and encouraging smile that said that she will try to understand and trust him, but that it will take time.

The last thing he gave her that morning after her defeated but careful acceptance, was a soft squeeze in her hand and the deepest and most sincere 'Thank you' she had ever heard somebody said to her.

Description
Zutara month 2012 ~ Day 4: Change

It was too early, she noticed. She knew that the rest of her friends were still asleep and she tried to catch up a few more hours of precious sleep but she couldn't, so instead, she decided to take a short walk before breakfast.

Slowly and silently, she started walking to the woods. She briefly looked to the rest to be sure she didn't woke anybody, and her gaze rested a little bit longer in the male figure with dark hair and scarred skin resting in the bison tale. What a little liar, prince Zuko. Why does anybody but her saw that there's no such thing as a new Zuko? It was impossible for him to change. Why would he? What where his motivations? Absolutely not the Spirits kicking some sense in his selfish mind, that's for sure.

'He has not changed. He's Zuko, for La's sake. The creep that kept following us 'till the end of times just to capture the Avatar' She thought, completely sure that it was the only and absolute truth.

But she had noticed him act so different lately. He was polite, he was always helpful, he was damn good at planning -just as, or may be even more than Sokka- and he was so patient with her attitude towards him.

Toph had even found him a pet-name! That meant she believed and trusted him! Toph Beifong!

She was the only one in the group that he couldn't fool, thankfully. She knew he was trying something but she was succeeding in ruining everything just by not trusting in him.
'At least he acknowledges my strength' she considered but immediately changed her mind.

That was accepting that he had changed in the minimum way and she would not fall for it. He must still be thinking that she was just a peasant; a weak waterbender that could not beat him in a fight. A useless little girl.

She scoffed angrily. Even when she was trying to have a peaceful morning, he was bothering her, haunting her.

"Why are you up so early, Katara?" his confused and drowsily voice found her ears. She stared hard at him.

"None of your business, Prince Zuko" she scoffed.

His eyes focused in hers with such a hurt expression that she had to look the other way. His eyes were so expressive. It made her fill like she was offending or hurting him –which should be something she enjoyed, but some way it wasn't. It made her consider her opinion and the possibility that he had indeed became a better person; and that was betraying her own thoughts. She couldn't stand that.

He sighed, the sound so defeated and tired and then he spoke, softly, politely and carefully.

"Do you mind if I join you?" she stared at him.

"Well, actually yes. I'm not entirely sure that you won't try to kill me or something" she crossed her arms and closed her blue eyes. "Live me alone"

"We need to speak" he begged desperately, a couple of minutes or so, losing his patience for the first time since he joined the group. "We can't keep attacking each other. We are a team now. I need you to believe in my word, Katara. What do I have to do to prove it to you? I want to be your friend. I would not hurt nor you or anybody here –not anymore. Your opinion means a lot to me so. Speak to me." he took a big breath and continued his eyes looking through hers. "Punch me, kick me, insult me, but say something, Katara. Let me explain everything to you."

She stood still and quiet. She had never seen him like this –so lost and deeply sorry, trying to apologize for the things he had put her and her friends through.

A voice rang in her head 'He has said nothing but the truth to you. Give him a chance. Maybe he did changed after all'.

Her body relaxed and she sighed. He was still looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to tell him to fuck off and let her enjoy her peace alone. But he did not expect her response.

"Ok, Zuko. You have just one more chance to explain to me whatever you need to explain." she couldn't help but feel guilty at what she saw in his eyes: relief, excitement, promise, respect, even affect. Could it be that he was so concerned by her and her opinion?

She had never even dreamed of him, expressing such strong emotions in any way. He had indeed changed. Even if she just noticed in that apparently meaningless moment, she had to admit that he had changed.

The last thing she gave him that morning before everybody woke up, was a sincere and encouraging smile that said that she will try to understand and trust him, but that it will take time.

The last thing he gave her that morning after her defeated but careful acceptance, was a soft squeeze in her hand and the deepest and most sincere 'Thank you' she had ever heard somebody said to her.