Zutara - Listen To Your Heart

I started this picture on Saturday and I was going to finish and submit it yesterday, but today was a bit more convenient.

(Oh, and I want to thank ~Didly-The-Ninja for my awesome new Zutara icon! Thanks so much!)

As you can tell by the title, this picture was inspired by D.H.T.'s - Listen to Your Heart. (For you copyrighting people, I do NOT own it.)

The plot for this is that after Aang masters firebending, Zuko remembers what his father told him about his mother and how she may be alive. He makes the dramatic decision to try and go look for her before the scheduled attack on the Fire Nation. One night, he packs up and starts to leave, hoping no one would notice until the next morning.

Zuko placed his sword over his shoulder and was walking along the marbled floor of the temple on his way to the surface. Zuko stopped in his tracks when he seen Katara standing in the moonlight, leaning up against one of the poles.

"Where do you think you're going?" Katara asked in a threatening tone. She had caught wind of this plan when she seen him hurridly eating dinner and excusing himself without a word. Getting to know his habits over the past few months, she knew that was very strange behavior for him.

Zuko tried to quickly think of an excuse, but after everything he'd put this woman through, he knew that the easiest way was to just tell the truth. With that thought, he told her about what happened on the day of the eclipse.

During the whole story, Katara's expression never changed. The same uncaring look throughout the whole story remained. After everything he'd done to her, after every tear she cried from something he did to her, and especially after being part of their group for a few months and slowly starting to regain her trust in him, it all fell away when he told her he was going to leave.

"My mother may be alive, and I need to find her." Zuko whispered softly as he tried his hardest to keep his tears from falling.

When Katara heard those words, she recalled the day she lost her own mother. If she knew her mother may be alive, she would have left a long time ago. Knowing Zuko stayed long enough for Aang to master firebending in order to win this war, she knew he deserved this, but she wouldn't show it.

"Go then." Katara replied with no emotion in her voice, knowing fully well he might not come back. No territory was safe after him betraying his father, and the reward for his head must be astronomical by this point. With the war getting worse, no one would even hesitate to kill him where he stood.

The sadness that grew in her chest didn't show on her face. She couldn't let it. She'd shown too much weakness to this man, and showing more at this point wouldn't be worth it. That wasn't the hardest part though. It was the fact that she had fallen in love with him and sending him to his possible death was tearing her apart.

Zuko's eyes grew at her answer. "Really?" he asked with a sad smile but hopeful eyes.

Katara just nodded as she tried to control the sob rising in her throat.

Zuko noticed her struggle as she tried not to fall apart. It hurt him to leave. He wanted so bad to stay and continue to work things out between them, but the fact his mother may be alive was eating away at him. He knew fully well he could die trying to find her, but he knew if there was even the smallest chance of finding her, he would gladly give his life to that cause.

One thing holding him back was the look in the waterbender's eyes. The eyes that he had come to love. Yes, he'd admit it. After the months that he was a part of the group, he'd fallen in love with her. He had no idea how with her constant threats and anger, but he also noticed every trait he could have wanted in a woman, and she fit them all perfectly.

But he knew loving her was a hopeless cause knowing she'd never feel the same, but as long as she was happy, he didn't mind.

"Thank you..." he whispered softly, snapping his attention from his thoughts and to the reality happening in front of him. He turned and walked by her. After he was only a few steps away from her, he looked back at her.

The wind softly billowed her hair along the contours of her body as the moon cascaded along her, making her glow like an angel. The sadened look on her face remained as she silently watched him possibly walk out of her life forever. Zuko's smile fell from his face as he waved goodbye.

Katara's eyes glazed over as she watched him look back at her and give a sad wave. Her heart screamed at her to say something, to do something that would make him stay, but if she listened to what her heart was telling her was up to her.

--

I think this may happen in the series. If the gaang doesn't go to help him find his mother, he'll go on his own. And inevitably, he'll have to say goodbye to Katara, and I'm just hoping she'll listen to her heart and realize Zuko is the one for her before he does.

I still don't know when the new episodes are going to air in the U.S., but I hope it's soon! As always, Zutara Forever!

Lyrics:

I know there's something in the wake of your smile.
I get a notion from the look in your eyes, yea.
You've built a love but that love falls apart.
Your little piece of heaven turns too dark.

Listen to your heart
when he's calling for you.
Listen to your heart
there's nothing else you can do.
I don't know where you're going
and I don't know why,
but listen to your heart
before you tell him goodbye.

Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile.
The precious moments are all lost in the tide, yea.
They're swept away and nothing is what is seems,
the feeling of belonging to your dreams.

Listen to your heart
when he's calling for you.
Listen to your heart
there's nothing else you can do.
I don't know where you're going
and I don't know why,
but listen to your heart
before you tell him goodbye.

And there are voices
that want to be heard.
So much to mention
but you can't find the words.
The scent of magic,
the beauty that's been
when love was wilder than the wind.

Listen to your heart
when he's calling for you.
Listen to your heart
there's nothing else you can do.
I don't know where you're going
and I don't know why,
but listen to your heart
before you tell him goodbye.

Listen to your heart, mm-mmmmmm

I don't know where you're going
and I don't know why,
but listen to your heart
before you tell him goodbye.