longsufferingly

gaisce is the light of my soul and deserves a million wonderful things, and for the last two weeks I have been trying to think of even one to write for her and coming up woefully blank. Suffice it to say that I love and adore her, and for some reason she loves and adores me even though I am routinely a horrible person at her and I do not deserve it.

I continue to not deserve it, because this right here?

This is a Zutara bullriding AU.

I love you, honey.

Zuko snarled as Bumi bucked and jumped. Karl--Katara, that was her real name, he was sure--held fast, and he held his breath, praying that this wasn't going to be the one that did her in. Zuko knew his protective feelings toward the girl would lead to nothing but trouble; hell, this sport had already cost him his face and nearly an eye, but he couldn't just let her get killed.

She stayed on and dismounted to the cheers and adoration of the crowd, watching a strange silent exchange between her and his former compatriot, Sokka the clown. He suspected Sokka knew her secret too, but he didn't know how, and he didn't know if he was friend or foe. As far as Zuko was concerned, it was everyone versus him right now, and it always would be. Katara just happened to be standing near him; that was the only reason she was getting protected.

*

Katara stormed into her room, throwing off her vest and unbuttoning her shirt so violently she lost buttons.

Damn that Zuko Fernandez!

He was the cockiest, most arrogant person she had ever met. He infuriated her! Of all the people who could have learned her secret, he was the worst. She was sure Aang would have understood, would have accepted her, but she had been hearing stories of Zuko from Sokka for years, and she'd never heard or seen anything good about him.

This isn't a girl's sport. You're going to get killed.

How dare he?

Katara was going to win, going to beat him, going to show Zuko Fernandez how wrong he was.

*

Azula faced him down. Zuko knew, deep down, that Azula didn't know his father had been the one who'd marred Zuko's face. The bull couldn't know that.

But looking into its golden eyes, Zuko swore he could feel the hate.

*

"You don't have to do this, Zuko," said Katara, her hand on his arm, all comfort. "You don't have to prove yourself to me."

It was a shock to Zuko, who had been without affection for his whole life, but he knew it was true, knew that Katara loved all of him, body and soul.

"It isn't for you," he said, voice tender. "I need this for myself, Katara. I've only been half a man all this time. I need to do this."

"I love you," said Katara.

"I love you too."

Outside, Azula stomped and shook, waiting restlessly for the dawn.