Zutara Week - Blood

Zutara Week - Blood

"Ouch!  Damnit!  That hurts! Stupid knife, don't even see why I have to help cook anyway..."

Katara rolled her eyes at him, biting back a giggle.  This may very well have been her best idea ever.  It's not that she still held a grudge against him; he had proven himself long ago.  But now, on the aniversery of the end of the War, the old gang had gathered together for a little party, a little celebration.  And Firelord Zuko was helping her in the kitchen.  Katara grinned as she turned around to help with whatever he had done now.

Zuko glared at her, annoyed by her flippant attitude.  In one hand was a kitchen knife, dripping rubies onto the floor.  The other had a short, straight slash along his pointer finger. Blood was beginning to pool around the spot, a crimson bubble forming along the skin.  "I assume this is not the way you slice sea prunes."

Oh, she couldn't help it, Katara threw back her head and laughed.  Zuko grimaced.  "Here," she said between giggles, "Let me help you with that..."

And then the scent hit her like she had run into a wall.

Katara stopped laughing immediately,  suddenly overcome with an emotion she didn't quite know or understand.  

It was the most beautiful thing she had ever smelled in her life.  

Entranced, she stumbled forward.  Was Zuko wearing some new sort of cologne?  It smelled amazing.  It was like drowning in a pool of pleasure.  The scent wrapped around her and her eyes fluttered closed and she inhaled deeply.  

"Katara?"  Zuko's voice sounded garbled and warped, hardly reaching her through the haze.  Unfazed, she traipsed forward towards the cource of the ecstasy.  She needed it.  Now.

"I want..."  she murmured, eyes locked on the rubies.  "I want..."

"Katara!"  Zuko gasped, as she fell forward to him.  "Katara, what the hell is the matter with you!?"  he exclaimed, catching her in her downward spiral.  So close, so close...

"Katara, look at me!"  he yelled, shaking her shoulders a bit for emphasis.  "Katara!"

Ripping her eyes away from the beautiful crimson, Katara found herself face to face with Zuko.  "Wha-?" she whispered, confused as the haze deepened.  Each heart beat had a name, a voice:  taste iit, taste iiiit, taaaaste iiit...   She tried to ignore.  Something was wrong.  Something, different.  Not her. Not her.  She was not herself.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to regain herself.  What was this?  What the hell was happening to her???

"Katara!"  Zuko shouted, as her legs turned to jelly.  Strong arms.  Messy thoughts.  Someone's arms around her.  Picking her up.  Where are we going?

Then there's a light behind her lids and her head is buzzing as she forces streaming eyes to open.  Gold eyes, red scar, gold sun, red blood.  Want. Need.  Resist.  Monster.

Scattered thoughts. Can't think straight.  "I want.."

"What!  What?  What the hell is going on?"  Familiar voice.  FireLord's voice.

"I want..."

Sun is too bright.  Take me out of the sun.  It's burning me!  Get me out!  She didn't realize she was screaming, but then he was shushing her and it was dark again.   Nice, cool, lovely darkness.  

"I want..."  she murmured, one more time as she was lowered onto something soft.  Pallet, maybe?  Can't open eyes to check. Exhausted.  

"What?  What do you want?"  came the desperate inquiry, full of concern.  

Too tired, can barely mouth the words.  The night is calling my name.  I will follow it wherever it will take me.  Must answer his question, though...

"Blood."
...