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Out Of Key

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~Zutara Week 2010--Harmony~




Why, Katara wanted to know. Why did he have to screw up everything she had worked so hard to perfect, all order in camp, the group's entire schedule?

She always had a planned outline of her day that she followed strictly. Roll up her sleeping bag, wash her face, brush her hair, slip her dress over her bindings, and go out to start breakfast. Clean the dishes after the morning meal and then gather laundry so everyone could have clean clothes. Lunch was a free-for-all: if you were that hungry, get up and make your own food.

Training sessions were always next, when the sun was almost exactly overhead. First she would spar with Toph, then with Aang, then with Zuko. She alternated days training in hand-to-hand combat with Suki, learning how to knock out a grown man in a single punch, between days where Sokka would teach her how to properly hold a dagger or a sword. If it was Thursday, her training would be abandoned and replaced with a trip to the nearest market or out into the wild to forage for food.

She'd allow herself a break after that, going for a relaxing swim or taking a quick nap before she went to start dinner. The evening meals were always a group effort. Toph and Aang attended to Appa and Momo, Suki and Sokka unloaded dishware, and Zuko brewed whichever kind of tea that they could find that week. Katara was the ringleader, assuming the most important role--preparing the actual dinner--and making sure that everyone was doing what they were supposed to be doing.

They'd eat dinner and then scatter, off with their own business to see to. She would take two trips to the nearest fountain or lake or river--it all depended on where they were--wielding all the dishes by faint moonlight where she would wash them thoroughly and let them air dry. In the time it took for the dishes to dry, she would bathe quickly, scrubbing the dirt and sweat from her skin. The bowls and cups would be packed away neatly and then, with no more chores left for the night, she would turn into her sleeping bag until the sun pried at her eyelids and the entire process unfalteringly started over again.

Which, of course, what why Katara was severely irritated when Zuko decided to change her day around.

"Are you ready to get your butt kicked?" she asked good-naturedly, cracking her neck a few minutes after her training session with Aang.

"Later," Zuko said dismissively, walking away casually and leaving Katara shocked and more than annoyed. Since it was a Monday and it was her day to train with Sokka, she sought out Suki to make up for the practice that she obviously wasn't going to get with Zuko.

Afterwards, when stomachs were comfortably filled with stew and day-old bread, Katara continued her nightly routine, carrying and armload of bowls down to the lake's edge and then an armload of cups during her next trip.

She was reaching up to tie her hair back when the first of several spheres of fire landed dangerously close to her. Directly in her central line of vision, she could see Zuko through the trees, his arms and legs locked in solid, angular bending stances.

"What are you doing?" she shouted at him, drawing up water to shield herself from the fire he sent toward her.

"Fight me," he responded simply, sauntering closer.

"What?" she exclaimed. "No! We were supposed to do that earlier! And now I have the dishes to wash. So unless you want to help, go away."

"Fight me," he said again. "You have a huge advantage with the moon. I want to practice when you have the upper hand.

Katara stood up then, crossing her arms over her chest, her lips drawn impatiently and her eyes not amused. "Let me get this straight. You messed up my entire day and now you expect me to obey you like some gopher-dog? Something doesn't seem quite right to me," she ended sarcastically.

"Please," Zuko tried again. "Just do it."

"I might consider it, if and when you learn to do things the way the rest of us do. You're the only one who refuses to go along with our schedule.

Zuko moved even closer still, keeping his arms stiff and defensive. "Well, I can tell you right now that that's not gonna happen," he snorted. "You don't get harmony is everyone sings in the same note. Sing out of key for once."

The scowl on her face softened a bit. "Help me first and then I'll see what I can do."

"Deal," he complied without a moment of hesitation. It was the closest thing to an agreement he had gotten all day and he wasn't going to risk losing it. Soon, there were two precise rows of dishware laid out on the shore, and Zuko managed to convince the Ice Queen to step out of rhythm and create a new melody of fire and water.
Zutara Week. Day Five. Harmony.

Yeah, I don’t know what possessed me to make Katara have OCD. xD Lol. For this purpose, I thought it was acceptable. Though it does kinda remind me of myself…if there’s a late start at school or a fire drill (or something similar) and the day is different than how it normally is, I’m usually in a worse mood than I was before. Usually.

I own nothing! Zuko, Katara, Suki, Sokka, Toph, Aang, Appa, Momo, and everything else recognizable belong to Mike/Bryan/Nickelodeon/Viacom!

Zutara Week 2010 is, of course, run by the lovely *GreenifyME, as well as =AnimantX, *Irrel, and =trishna87. n_n

Links~!
Day One: Family.....[link]
Day Two: Change.....[link]
Day Three: Pain.....[link]
Day Four: Date.....[link]
Day Five: Harmony.....[Here]
Day Six: Alternate Universe.....[link]
Day Seven: Storm.....[link]
© 2010 - 2024 IFeltHope44
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the-rose-of-tralee's avatar
Awe! :iconblushplz: that is so darling! :love: :tighthug: very cute! :D