Hello there! How y'all doing?

XD

All that aside, here is chapter 9 of The Color Red. Let the "ZOMG THIS IS SO LATE *SHOOT THE UNWORTHY DOG*" s commence. XD.

This chapter is dedicated to Written-Parody, for dedicating so many things to me (Seriously-love) and like cyber spanking me to get this written and posted, and to my anon reviewer Unu for her amazing review-hope this isn't too late ;).

DISCLAIMER: I don't own ATLA or Mohsen Yeganeh's amazing voice.

The next day proceeded normally, in the eyes of the Gaang. Breakfast was served, and in the brief period of relaxation that followed, Sokka illustrated the day's plan for them.

Good thing Toph was blind. Zuko and Katara were giving off so many different vibrations, even though they sat at opposite ends of the courtyard, that Toph wanted to butt their heads together and tell them to shut up.

She had barely gotten any sleep last night because of those two. It was unforgiveable. She tuned back in to Sokka, if only to take her mind off the two benders giving her so much strife (and they didn't even know it, the bastards).

"To start off the day, we're going to have some more sparring sessions-" cue protest from everyone except Zuko "-but not for long. Hopefully, by the afternoon you'll all be free to do whatever the heck you want. Geez," Sokka said, holding his hands up in protest. "They're so lazy," he stage-whispered to Suki, who giggled and rolled her eyes.

"So first up will be-"

"Zuko and Katara."

Sokka stared at Toph in annoyance but she paid him no mind.

They were going to pay dearly for her lack of rest.

"Excuse me, Rocky, but last time I checked-"

"Oh get over it, Snoozles. You were going to have them fight together sometime today anyway. Don't even try to pretend otherwise."

Sokka harrumphed, but mentiond for the two fighters to commence.

Katara stood and stretched, careful to keep her heart off her sleeve. Stripping to her under garments, she squeezed her eyes.

Spirits, help me get through this.

She hadn't forgotten the events of last night. Or the events of the past several months. She knew she would have to make a choice and soon.

Why was it all so complicated?

Zuko followed suit and took off his loose red shirt, watching her closely. To the rest of the Gaang, she looked normal, but he could tell she was thinking and fighting and struggling to hide everything under her normal expression: clear eyes, raised eyebrows and a slight smile.

But oh, were her eyes dirty.

He knew she was thinking on last night and their words and actions. He knew she was fighting what if's and they think's and what I want's and what they want's. He knew she had to make the Gaang think everything was fine and normal and nothing had changed. Between her or anyone else. Because otherwise they would worry and ask questions and he could tell she wouldn't be able to handle all that.

He knew all this and yet he wished he didn't. Because he was going through the same thing-he was just better at hiding it.

As she gathered her water, Zuko marveled at her strength. And not just her physical capabilities. Katara was probably the strongest person he had ever known, and he doubted he would meet anyone more so.

Who else could put her own feelings of want and need aside like no big deal? Who else could firmly say no the way she did?

She attacked first and he could see it in her eyes; she wanted to get the "training" over with. She didn't have the energy to fight, not after what she knew she would have to do. He blocked and countered half-heartedly, watching her strength unfold in his mind.

She had survived her mother's death, had shown mercy in the face of the killer, and had forgiven the Fire Prince. She was always there with a smile, no matter how bad things got, and a hug was always ready for whoever needed it. She knew what to say in any situation and could smooth things over or kick someone's deserving ass. She offered comfort and love to all and shrugged off her own needs, but Zuko had to wonder when it would all become too much.

Everyone had a breaking point, and he thought her's had been last night on the shore, but her eyes today told him she wasn't done pushing her pain aside. She might be a sparkling, rushing river, but there were too many dams being built. All that pressure built up, and would release.

And he knew, soon.

To keep up the normal facade for the Gaang, he sent some easy-to-doge flames and insults at her, watching her carefully all the time. The insults were enough to earn some retorts, and he smiled to see her smirking as a wave of water pushed him to the ground.

Snapping back up, he quickly shot some fireballs, maybe a little harder than was necessary. He had his pride, and she had to wake up. He didn't want to see her moping or holding it all in-he wanted to see her angry, alive, and he wanted her to let it all out.

Katara's instincts barely helped her to dodge the firebender's surprisingly fierce attack. She almost thanked him for the challenge, and with a cry, sent ice daggers racing towards the boy-or the man?-who had come to be her biggest source of confusion. All the feelings she had felt and continued to feel towards him-hate, pity, sympathy, irritation, elation-made her want to explode.

And as she watched him send flames towards her, in all his shirtless glory, she felt...natural.

And her darn hormones certainly weren't helping. Oh she'd seen him shirtless countless times before (and blushed every single time), but this?

It was his eyes. They held humor and a challenge. They were serious and warm and-was it?-just a bit sad. They bore into her, making her feel like her soul was bare before him, that he knew everything.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Aang's face and his wide eyes. And everything collapsed.

Fighting back her tears, she sent her frustration into a single attack-she bent all the water she could-from the air, from her sweat, from her original supply-and thundered it all down on Zuko. Before he could recover, sputtering indignant curses at her (she tried not to smile because she knew if she did, her lips would tug at her heart and the tears would come gushing out of the hole that resulted), she froze the water around his limbs and bent a dagger over his neck.

No matter how much she tried not to look at him, his eyes found hers. His golden eyes held questions and his slightly furrowed brow as he took her in silently made her lips tremble. Dazed, she was scarcely aware of Sokka announcing her as the winner and telling Zuko he'd have five minutes to rest before he fought Aang (to Zuko's vehement protests-she caught an analogy comparing himself to a fight dog in there to which her brother replied condescendingly, "You should be glad I'm even giving you so much-during the invasion your opponents certainly won't give you anything resembling a break. Unless they're breaking your bones. Or if you're about to kill them." Oh, Sokka).

She was very aware, however, when Aang came up to her with a grin on his face and sad hope in his eyes.

"Congratulations, Katara!" he beamed up at her and inhaling slowly, gave her a wary hug. She hesitated only for a bit, then gingerly hugged him back, breathing in his scent.

His scent.

Oh, Yue.

Nostalgia attacked her like a butterfly-wasp, and she remembered all the previous times she had been in his arms. She was either saving his life or he was making her laugh.

He was her friend. He was maybe her best friend and Katara asked herself how she could ever make him sad. Were the months they had known each other good for nothing? This was the boy she had saved from the iceberg, this was the boy who had always made her smile, the boy she practically had memorized, this was the boy who showed off for her whenever he could, this was the boy who loved her. Could she really be so selfish as to not choose him?

It wouldn't be that hard, she told herself. I can love him. I do love him. She hugged him back harder.

But not as a lover. As if in agreement, a pair of flashing golden eyes quickly passed over her mind.

I'm sorry, Aang...I'm sorry...Zuko.

Aang almost gasped when he felt Katara's squeeze. His eyes grew wide and he pulled away, giving her such a brilliant smile she wanted to weep. She attempted to smile back but he had already turned away to chat with Zuko.

Who had witnessed it all.

Toph's feet had started to ache with all they had felt. She spit into the dirt, congratulated Sugar Queen for putting Sparky in his place, and allowed herself to kill them all in her head. Why couldn't they just do what they wanted to and stop abusing her poor feet?

She could feel Katara's pain and her attempts at hiding it. She could feel Zuko's confusion, jealousy, surprise, and desire. She could feel Aang's ecstatic hope that Katara had 'returned'. The blind girl almost chuckled as Zuko and Aang prepared to spar.

Things were about to get interesting.

Zuko could hardly believe his eyes when he saw Katara and Aang embrace. If the Gaang hadn't gone to see the Ember Island Players, he wouldn't have cared so much.

But they had gone. And Katara had confided in him and they had shared moments that made his skin tingle and his heart soar. And he had come to terms with his feelings.

About Mai.

About Katara? Not so much.

At least he was used to the stab of jealousy that attacked him as Aang hugged her. But when she hugged him back?

He wanted to scream, to remind her she wasn't sure of anything. You told me you didn't know who you wanted! he accused her in his mind. And then he wanted to scream at himself, appalled at his thoughts and to ask just what was wrong with him? He wasn't even sure what he wanted, he didn't dictate her decisions, she could do whatever she wanted, it was just a hug for Agni's sake, never mind that the two had kissed before...

The stab turned into a punch.

To make matters worse, Aang had a big freaking grin on his face when he turned and prepared to fight him.

"You ready, Sifu Hotman?"

The kid was way too happy. It was all Zuko could do to control himself and give a noncommittal grunt in response.

"Begin!" Sokka hollered and all hell broke loose.

Well, not entirely. It started out innocently enough; Zuko punched fire at the young boy, and he flew out of the way, sending some flames back. The prince practically scoffed as he easily blocked and retaliated with a huge fireball. Aang dodged again, but this time before he could attack, Zuko was nearly on him, snarling and shooting quick, small flames from his palms. The younger boy yelped and barely deflected the attacks as he was forced to retreat.

It wasn't so much as he didn't have the ability to, Zuko knew. It was that Aang didn't expect this kind of fury from one of his friends.

He started to feel a little ashamed when he saw Aang's scared and bewildered face as the younger boy stumbled backwards and bent air in a shield around himself.

Then he noticed Katara's hand clenched into a fist and the other one moving slowly, water following it towards the "battle." Her eyes were fixed on Aang.

Any feelings of shame or pity for the airbender burned away. With another growl, his lip curled back, his jaw clenched, and his eyes comparable to hell, he sent a storm of fire towards the Avatar.

Aang gulped, but narrowed his eyes and brought up a wall of rock, completely deflecting the flames. Jumping up, his directed his own formidable blast of fire at the Fire Prince.

Zuko almost smiled. He had taught him well.

Not missing a beat, he shot a long stream of fire at a space above Aang's head. The young airbender miscalculated and dropped to the ground.

His opponent was ready.

Flames licked at his tattooed feet, and the boy cried out in shock more than pain. Katara's incredulous, angry gasp was the only thing the firebender heard.

Emotion raged inside him like an angry ocean, and he wanted to scream his frustration. At what, he wasn't sure. Maybe it was because Aang always got all of the attention. Maybe it was because everything always seemed his fault.

Maybe it was because the hero always gets the girl.

With a lump in his throat, he gave a hoarse cry and charged. Aang bounded backwards, hissing whenever his feet touched the ground.

Somehow the two found themselves in the vacation home. As Zuko sent yet another powerful blast of fire at him, Aang realized they were in a corridor and he was trapped. He didn't want fight Zuko. Not like this.

"Enough."

The Avatar's firm and angry voice made Zuko stop in his tracks. Just as well, because right after, a blast of air so strong his breath was knocked right out of him blew him out of the house and onto the sand in front of the Gaang.

In front of Katara.

Spitting out sand that had found its way into his mouth, he started to get up when her voice cut through.

"What the HELL was that?" Zuko spit some more in response.

"What is WRONG with you? What were you thinking? You were trying to-did-incinerate Aang! I don't know about everyone else, but when we let you join our family, there certainly wasn't anything in there about letting you hurt him. Again."

She glared at him in genuine rage and he wanted to scream. Again.

The rest of the Gaang stared at him speechless, and he was vaguely aware of Aang returning to them.

"Well?" Katara put her hands on her hips, her eyes as deadly as ever. She noticed Aang's presence and remembered his feet.

"Like burning people's feet a lot, don't you Zuko?" she seethed, walking over to the airbender.

And was burned instead by his eyes. She almost stopped. Almost.

But Yue, were his eyes angry.

It was as if Agni himself had manifested as little orbs of fire instead of little orbs of water in place of Zuko's eyes.

"You don't know anything," he muttered, so quietly only she could hear. His expression terrified and excited her, incensed and pleased her.

Sputtering, she attempted to yell at him once again, but he just waved her off and spun on his heel and stalked away.

Everyone stared in silence.

"I got him," Toph yawned and stood, stretching her arms. She left before anyone could object, almost laughing at Katara's pounding heart.

She found him on the other side of the vacation home, leaning against a coconut tree and whittling a small branch with a knife.

He saw her, but said nothing, not even when she sat down next to him, absently playing with the sand.

They remained quiet for a few more minutes and Toph felt his anger draining away slowly.

"Well." She was getting impatient. "Never thought we'd have a romantic drama playing on our hands."

Zuko grunted. "Between Sokka and Suki?"

She snorted. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, Sparky," she retorted, punching his arm. Before he could stammer out anything, she stood up and faced him, hands on her hips.

"I'm not blind, Zuko. Yeah, I can't see this," she waved her hand in front of her face, "but I can see this." She poked Zuko's chest.

"And I can see Katara's. And let me tell you something. Before you went all psycho on Aang, Katara's heart seemed resigned. Heavy. Like she regretted something. But then she just got pissed. I'll bet you a thousand gold coins though, Fire Prince, that after Sugar Queen cools down, her heart will feel just the same as it did before. Something happened to change her, something big, something recent."

Zuko blinked, stunned. Katara's open smile, her infuriating smirk, her murderous glare, and her closed eyes filled his vision for a second.

"B...Kat-..." he started to stammer out but stopped. Zuko had no words.

Toph punched him again. Then, as if to the side, she remarked "Although you still didn't have to attack Aang that furiously. Everyone's trying to relax a bit, after all."

Something clicked in his mind and he stared at her, incredulous.

"Wh-Sozin's Comet is four days away! Relax? Are you planning to surrender or something?"

The earthbender turned and gave him a weird look, addressing his elbow. "Didn't anyone tell you? Aang's not going to save the world until after the comet-your daddy already has everything under his control; there isn't much more we can do. So the plan is to wait for the comet to pass, all scary firebending waited out, and then attack."

Zuko stared at her in horror. She felt his heart slowing down, then speeding up alarmingly.

"What?"

" 'What'? You want to know what? My father plans to go all out on Sozin's Comet. He told everyone at a war meeting I attended before I joined you. He plans to use the comet's destructive firepower to burn the entire world-and have it emerge as a new one, everyone that survived under him-'The Phoenix King'. If you don't stop him before the comet, there will only be ashes to save. He's gone crazy."

Toph's eyes widened and she paled-sure signs this was serious.

"This... is not good," she finally managed, pulling him up forcefully. "We have to tell the others."

She practically pushed him in front, yelling at him to run faster.

"Why didn't you tell us?" she called, her legs pumping. He gave a stunned sputtered.

"I assumed you were going to stop him before the comet! No one told me!"

She huffed. "Shut up and run, Sparky."

When they reached the Gaang, Katara and Suki stopped sparring because one of them walked away to yell some more at a certain prince.

"You-I wasn't finished talking to-" Katara said, starting to stalk toward him, but was stopped by Toph.

"Shut it, Sugar Queen. This is more important than your chit chat." At Katara's indignant cry, the earthbender pointed to Zuko.

"Tell them."

Arms crossed, he obeyed. When he finished, everyone was staring. All at once, the space erupted into chaos.

"Oh my Spirits-"

"Ya think?"

"This is NOT good-"

"But I'm not ready yet!"

Eventually, though, they all turned to "Why didn't you tell us, Zuko?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "If I had known before you would be relaxing your butts off, you would have known before."

Sokka rubbed his forehead, but stood up to take charge. "Yes, this is bad, the spirits know it is, and Aang-you're as ready as you ever will be. But now we need to move things up a bit." Everyone murmured in agreement. "Tomorrow, we'll do a mock war simulation and then we'll go round everyone up and tell them the plans have changed. As for today...spend it how you will. I'm going to get Hawky to deliver the message to whoever he can. Be ready tomorrow morning at dawn."

The teens grunted, strolling off as if they were all in a daze of some sorts. Aang went to meditate, Suki and Sokka went to detail the plan even further, and Toph went to punch some rocks. Katara caught Zuko's eye and gave him a look that he was still trying to figure out when she walked away.

Well there you are. Review please? Suggestions, con crit, recipes, good music, anything is welcome. :D Peace.