Even when I win, I lose. --Zuko
Beating down mercilessly, the rain never seemed to stop.
But neither would he.
Ever.
Zuko wiped his eyes the water seemed to never stop seeping into his line of vision. He hated water. It was cold and he just hated it, perhaps out of nature.
But not as much as he hated HER.
"Don't get up" She threatened
His eyes blazed with fury yellow orbs retracting. He was in the prone position his hands came up from under him he leapt turning to face her.
"I said…!"
A blast of water shot him back against the wall of a cliff. His back shot with pain, but he was used to it. He glared again from his knees at her.
"…NOT to get up!" she finished brows furrowed hands tossed in anger her shoulders taut.
"..I..I" he coughs "…do not take orders from peasant water tribe girls!" he stood blasting fire bolts one after another.
She deflected them easily her strength increased ten-fold by the rain.
He cried out, charging her.
Blue eyes widen as he tackles her middle throwing her to the ground her head bounces crudely on the ground; he turns sliding in the mud his back stops against a log. He sprints back to her sprawled form she's covered in mud. He lifts an arm to attack, to make the final blow. Brows furrowed angrily, eyes aflame.
She doesn't move.
He stops his form relaxing. He feels the familiar sore pain seeping into his arms and legs then he falls to his knees; mud seeping into his clothes.
He stands up lip upturned facing the sky.
He hated the rain.
He walked away not looking back.
That was his mistake.
His spine might of broke, as the blast was shot straight into the middle of his back his face hit mud, blood pooled in his mouth and nose.
A very angry Katara stared down at the "prince" of the fire nation. Almost a smug grin on her face
"I win"
"Katara!" Aang races out of the woods screeching to a halt beside her eyes bulging suddenly.
"You—"
"…Have to get out of here, I don't know when he'll wake up again."
"You..? Just want to leave him here? He doesn't look so good."
"I don't care, he tried to hurt you, he hurt my brother. HE doesn't matter." She relaxed a little. "..Okay?"
Aang studied her worry clear on his face.
"Katara--?"
"No! Stop it. Just listen to me I want to leave, and I want to leave…now" Her eyes were pleading "…please" she glanced at Zukos discarded body face down a glint of red shining in some invisible light. Aang wondered if it was really her fear of Zuko she wanted to leave behind—or something else.
"..Okay, but we have to get Sokka, he's still out cold." Katara tensed eyes down cast. Aang added quickly "--But he'll be fine! Lets go, Katara."
They hurried away. Leaving Zuko alone.
Rain battered harder blowing in bursts and swirls in the air.