The Beach: Sunday Morning

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't be a real day without Katara waking up early to practice her waterbending on the beach.  And, since Sunday was a real day, she was there bright and early to work through the forms, thinking about nothing but water and the movement.  The push and pull of the ocean's tide, the chi in the water pulsed through her as she manipulated it first up into a cyclone then a huge wave crashing over her.  Spinning with glee, she set herself again, trying new movements, new forms she'd been working on.


[OOC: Open.  Cause beaches don't have doors]

Comments

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

Zuko felt only slightly stalkerish as he watched Katara work on her waterbending while he tried to summon the courage to approach her. Just like with Mel, he had very little doubt that this conversation would go the wrong way. Unlike with Mel, he couldn't quite predict how wrong it would go. He couldn't put it off forever however.

Deciding that it was best not to stand around until she noticed him, he moved further along the beach and only managed to come up with a rather lame "Hey" to give her a warning that he was there.

Very smooth, Zuko.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"Hi," she called, assuming he was just a new kid and wanting to finish her form before talking to him. "Just a second."

Katara finally let the water fall, looking pleased with herself and began talking happily before she turned back to Zuko. "Hi, sorry, I wanted to fin - Zuko." Her hands twitched like she wanted to pull up a flow of water again, but she refrained.

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

He was already bracing himself for getting hit by a waterwhip or whatever she wanted to throw at him, eyes closing for a brief second. Nothing came and he slowly opened them again, wishing he'd rehearsed this particular meeting better.

"I'm sorry," he blurted out.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"For what exactly?" she asked, still in a fighting stance, still confident she had her element just behind her, but not yet starting to attack.

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

Zuko didn't move into a defensive stance, leaving himself completely open if she chose to attack. "For betraying you, for picking Azula's side, for firebending at you, for..." he swallowed. "For everything," he said quietly, hanging his head.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"You broke your promise," she shouted. "I trusted you."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

He swallowed and nodded slowly. "I'm sorry," he repeated.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

Katara eyed him and spun back to face the water. "Where's your sister now? She just waiting to do...whatever it was she wanted in the first place?"

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

"She's back in the Capital most likely with my father," Zuko replied, watching her back. He wasn't sure if he should continue talking, if any explanation actually mattered.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

She glanced back over her shoulder at Zuko, wanting to ask the important question and afraid to. "Did you two kill Aang?"

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

He glanced down at the sand. "She hit him," he said softly, "but he's alive. I think you saved him with the water from the spirit oasis;"

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

Her hand flew to her neck, and Katara turned slowly back to him. "Why are you back?"

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

He stayed quiet for a long moment and finally sank to his knees in the sand, his head bowed and his fists resting on his knees. "I was wrong, about everything. My father couldn't restore my honour, I have to earn that. Like I have to earn your forgiveness."

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

It's was...really unfair of him to do that.

"You can start by getting up," she snapped. "And that wasn't an answer. Fine, you have to restore your honour. Why are you here to do it."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

He glanced up at her and pushed back to his feet. "Because I let you down and if I want to be able to go on, I need to start by setting things right here."

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"You better talk to Mel then," Katara said. "And not go breaking your promises to people."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

"I did talk to her," Zuko said, not that there had been a whole lot of talking, but he didn't feel like he had a right to push her. "I just... I thought you should know that I'm back. I don't expect you to forgive me."

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"Well, I don't," Katara said quickly. "So good."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

Zuko nodded slowly, his hands fisting by his side for an instant before they relaxed again. "I'll go then," he said quietly.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

She turned to face the ocean again, well-aware he was at her back but convinced he wasn't going to strike. "Bye, Zuko," Katara said quietly.

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

He wondered what else he had expected as he watched her turn away from him. Not replying, he simply turned and left again, reminding himself that this was going to take time. A lot of time.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

Katara waited until she heard his footsteps on the sand fade away before she sank down herself, drawing her knees up to her chin and watching the waves, wondering if there were any better answers anywhere.