Good Night
"How is this supposed to help again?"
I was leaning against the rim of Appa's saddle, Katara studying a deep gash on my left arm. We'd just previously left our last campsite, once they realized I had gotten in a fight with a pack of LionWolves when I began to yell at them because they took a rabbit from me that I had hunted for an hour and then finally killed.
I received many nasty gashes, and one huge rip of flesh on my back.
"Stay still, Zuko! As we've told you so many times, I can heal with water. Now stay still!"
I grumbled, but did as I was told. When Katara began to heal, I flinched and move away.
"Zuko! Stop it! Do you want me to heal it or not?"
"No! This was your idea anyway! I'll be fine without your stupid 'healing powers'!"
"Fine! Don't let me help! But when you get violently ill and die, don't say I didn't tell you so!"
"Hah! Save your breath! I don't need your help, or your pity!"
I stood up and gasped in pain. Katara snorted and walked over to Aang, at the front of the saddle.
Falling back down to my knees, I grab my shirt and try to dress my back wound.
"You should let her help you." Toph's voice said from beside me.
I snort. "Yeah, like she'd really want to help me after that."
"You'd be surprised," Toph says, not looking at me-although, technically, she can't. "It's in her nature to help, even if she can be naggy."
I look at Toph. Her blank eyes reveal nothing.
I sigh.
"Katara. Katara!"
She whips around and glares at me. "What?"
Anger wells up in me, but I push it down, along with my eyes. My face burns.
"Iwanyoutohelpme."
"What? Sorry, I couldn't hear you."
" I. WANT. YOU. TO. HELP. ME.," I yell, looking up and glaring at her.
She grins. "That's what I thought you had said."
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I walk over to where Zuko was lying, next to Toph. He looked very resigned. My head pounds like crazy. His shirt was tied around his chest. It was probably soaked with blood by now.
"Okay. This might hurt," I said, kneeling next to him. I gently untie the shirt so he's lying on it. He doesn't move, just stares above my left shoulder.
I take out a bit of water and begin to heal the cuts on his arms. His whole body tenses as my fingers skim the cut. His arms are hard, but wiry. His whole body is like that. Lean, but muscular. The cuts close, leaving faint white scratches that slowly disappear.
"Your chest and arms are done," I say. ",now you have to roll over so I can do your back."
He frowns, but does what he's told. When the pain becomes too much, he takes a sharp intake of breath, but doesn't show any other signs of discomfort, other than his tense body.
The cut was gushing blood. I quickly stopped the flow so I could heal it with visibility. It was deep, but not to the bone, gratefully.
I took out all of my water and slowly went to work closing it up. When I was done, there was a dark red cut, but it wasn't serious.
"Okay, you're done." I quickly pull away.
He rolls over slowly, testing out his body. He sits up and stretches.
"Thanks Katara," he mutters, not looking at me.
"Your welcome," I say curtly, and turn away from him, meaning to go back to Aang, but his hand catches my wrist.
I turn around, and then I'm in his arms. I still, frozen.
What's going on?
He's hugging you, duumy.
Yeah, I got that. But why?
Who cares? All that maters is that he's hugging you. Well? What are you waiting for? HUG HIM BACK!
I listen to the voice in my head and wrap my arms around his waist. He feels so warm, so hard. I feel safe in his arms, and when he lets go and walks away, I stay sitting, stunned, strangely wishing he was back, and I was still in his arms.
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Later, when we land, I can still feel Katara's body against mine. I didn't mean to hug her. I just did it, and to be honest, I don't regret it. She felt so right in my arms.
Aang had picked a small clearing in the middle of a forest. Katara and Toph went exploring, and came back told us there was a stream in the forest.
"This must be a popular place to camp out," Katara had said, "because the path is well-worn. We shouldn't stay here long, in case someone shows up who doesn't like us."
We decide to hit the sack, so we can wake up early and have enough time to eat before we leave.
When we're laying out our sleeping packs and blankets, Katara sets up next to Aang, Sokka sleeping next to him. Toph had made her usual rock tepee, leaving me.
I lay down my blankets away from Katara, but close enough to see her breathing.
Right before she drifts off to sleep, I hear her murmur something. Aang, already asleep, didn't hear what she said, but I did.
And what she said stirred my thoughts so much, I knew I wouldn't sleep at all that night.
"Good night, Zuko."
