Hey! This is a work in progress, there will be more of this. And I apologize to anyone in advance if I make you hate me. Zutarians and supporters of Kataang both. I honestly am okay with both. On the one hand, I think Zuko and Katara are perfect for each other but I also can't bear to see Aang's heart broken, the poor guy. So, yeah, try not to hate me, I'm just telling it like it was on the show. Please review! Reviews are VERY appreciated. Please and thank you!
Disclaimer: I do not, and never will, own Avatar: the Last Airbender
"Ugh. I hate the catacombs. Stupid prison. Stupid crystals. Stupid Azula."
Katara muttered darkly under her breath as she slumped against the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees. She had been thrown into the crystal catacombs under Ba Sing Se by Azula and the Dai Li. Katara was allowing herself a brief moment of weakness instead of immediately trying to escape. But before she could lament her fate too much farther, the harsh shriek of metal as it was dragged across stone sounded in the stuffy silence of her prison.
"Here, you got company!" a guard yelled down before the thump of something being thrown to the stone floor was heard. Katara stood and whirled around in fluid motion, automatically slipping into a bending stance, her pouch of water at the ready. When she turned, she saw who it was slumped on the ground. It took her a moment to realize who it was, for he was wearing the ratty clothes of an Earth Kingdom peasant instead of his usual red royal robes. Even more startling was that he had a full head of dark shaggy hair as opposed to the tight ponytail and shaved head.
"Zuko!" she cried, surprised, the hatred not yet in her voice. But the moment passed and she glared at him as he righted himself and burned off his rope bonds. He was kneeling on the ground facing away from Katara as she ranted and raved behind him.
"Why did they throw you in here? Oh wait, it's another trap, so when Aang comes to save me, you'll have him in your little fire nation clutches," the sarcasm in her voice was tangible, the scorn so evident.
Zuko's only reaction was to turn his head slightly to glance at Katara before shifting back to his former position.
Frustrated with his lack of reaction, Katara yelled again.
"You're a terrible person, you know that?! Always hunting the Avatar, trying to capture the world's last hope for peace! But what do you care," the teenager muttered bitterly,"You're the Fire Lord's son. Spreading violence and hatred is in your blood,"
"You don't know what you're talking about," Zuko stated, bitterness and a hint of anger in his voice.
"I don't?!" Katara yelled incredulously, "How dare you! You have no idea what this war has put me through. Me personally!" the waterbender turned away, her eyes tearing and her hand reaching up to touch the necklace that was all she had left of her mother. Falling to her knees, the tears escaped her eyes and fell freely.
"The Fire Nation took my mother away from me," she finally explained.
The banished Prince turned his head to look at her, his eyes growing wide in astonishment. He truly looked sorry as he said, "That's something we have in common, then,"
Now it was Katara's turn to be surprised. Her face was shocked as she stood up. The two enemies faced each other before Katara turned away.
"It's just, for so long now, whenever I imagine the enemy, it was your face that I saw," Katara said softly.
"My face," he looked at the ground as he self-conciously touched his scar, "I see,"
"No, no! That's not what I meant,"
"It's all right," he said, "I used to think that this scar marked me. Marked me as the banished Prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever. But lately, I've realized hat I'm free to determine my own destiny, even if I'll never be free of my mark,"
"Maybe you could be free of it!"
Zuko's eyes widened and a flicker of hope kindled in his eyes. When he turned to face Katara, the two suddenly find themselves very close together, though neither noticed the intimacy of the situation in their growing excitement.
"I have healing abilities," Katara began. But before she can continue, Zuko's eyes harden and his fists clench, the flicker of hope extinguished.
"It's a scar. It can't be healed,"
"Maybe." the waterbenderreached into her robes and pulled out a vial, "This is water from the Spirit Oasis in the North Pole. It has special properties so I've been saving it for something important,"
Even in his hope for his scar to finally be erased, Zuko is startled that she would consider healing his scar to be important.
"I don't know if it would work, but...."
Zuko bowed his head, his eyes closed as he contemplates the news that if he accepted, he could finally be rid of his scar. In an attempt to comfort him, Katara reached out to touch his scar gently with the tips of her fingers, looking up at him with something in her eyes that couldn't be put to words.
Suddenly, there was a crash, sending rocks and crystals flying into the air. Zuko and Katara's eyes flashed open and both turned to look at the source of the crash.
"Aang!" Katara ran up to the young Avatar, hugging him ferociously as Zuko looked on, startled and left out. Aang's eyes glanced happily at Katara before turning to glare at Zuko, suspicion and warning in his eyes.
Smiling, Katara pulled out of the hug slightly, "Aang, I knew you would come," and with that, she embraced him again.
"Uncle! I don't understand! What are you doing with the Avatar?" Zuko shouted, pointing accusingly at Aang as he faced his uncle.
"Saving you, that's what," Aang retorted angrily.
"AARGH!" Zuko growled, lunging to attack Aang, stopping only when Iroh stuck out an arm to hold him back.
"Zuko, it is time we talked," he said gravely. To Aang, he smiled kindly, "Go ahead. Help your other friends, we will catch up with you,"
Aang smiled and bowed respectfully to Iroh before running off into the tunnel. Katara followed at a walk, her steps measured and paced as she cast one last sad glance back at Zuko, her eyes filled with sadness and longing, perhaps wishing their moment hadn't been destroyed.