Prisoner of War
Post-"The Crossroads of Destiny"
Rating K (G)

She had given up struggling against the chains hours earlier. It was a hopeless cause. The could wrought iron was starting to cut into her skin, and after lacerations on both wrists, she figured it was for the best to stop.

Somewhere along the line, the binding that held her chocolate hair back in its braid had fallen out, her locks cascaded over her shoulders messily. Not that she cared.

Two pointed grey boots came into view. She raised her head, tracing up from the floor to recognize the owner of the boots.

The grey-brown pointed boots ended at her captor's knees, continuing to grey pants and dark red armor. Different shades of red and black decorated this armor, and Katara did not even have to look up to see the rest, past the golden-threaded collar.

If she had, she would find two golden eyes, one surrounded by a flame shaped scar.

In the bottom of her chest, she felt her heart hardening.

No words were spoken, none needed to be. Katara refused to look up, hanging her head along with the rest of her tired body, suspended only by the iron chains connected to the wall behind her.

The cell's door was opened, the iron bars sliding back to present an opening for access.

Katara clenched her teeth, closing her eyes tightly, refusing to acknowledge the other person's presence.

She tried her hardest to be somewhere else.

The locks on her chains were undone, and she slumped to the ground before standing up. Her blue eyes met two golden ones, and a mess of black hair, unruly in the night.

No words were said.

She simply followed him, like a dog and its master, out of the cell and to the next door in the warship.

He opened it silently, no conversation in either of the two teen's minds. The room was originally designed for the launching of landing craft, the same sort of room Zuko escaped from Zhao's ship on.

This time, there were no landing boats, just the wide open window.

This time, there was no plan for infiltration, no espionage or spying.

This time, there were two teenagers, two enemies, who did not know what had become of them.

This time, it was Katara and Zuko. Not Prince Zuko and the Waterbender.

Last time was a forever ago.

And forever can change alot.

Katara glanced at the opening, a means of escape. Finally, she dared to look at the exiled Prince.

"I don't understand you."

Zuko closed his eyes, sighing tiredly. "I don't either."

The opening in the ships hull was there for a landing boat's storage, but currently, the small room was empty, with only the open air window, ten feet long and eight feet high.

"Why are you doing this?" Katara asked, walking toward the opening. She turned back to Zuko, who slowly followed her to the edge of the hull.

"I don't know."

There was silence as Katara looked out to the midnight sky. A light breeze blew off the ocean, waves lapping against the huge warship's hull.

"I don't want to trust you." She finally said, the consequences of the last time she trusted him clear in her mind.

"I wouldn't want you to. You, whether you like it or not, are different from me, and I from you."

"And I am not complaining about that."

Somehow, that's always how it was. Harsh words and fighting, hatred and obsession. At least the relationship between the two was habitual.

"Zuko..."

"Just shut up and go."

Katara looked flabbergasted. The boy's temper had reverted back to its original, pre-refugee state.

She did have to admit, even with his ragged hair, the sight of him in his armor again made him look regal. And scary.

And so much different from the person she was trapped with in the cave.

"I just..."

Zuko grabbed her arms, tightly holding them as Katara looked horrified. "Go."

Shaking her head lightly, she gazed into his hard, but tired golden eyes, captivated. "Maybe...you did change..."

The Prince gritted his teeth, "One good deed does not forgive a lifetime of bad ones."

"What?"

Zuko shook his head, a forlorn look across his face. Almost painfully, he whipped his arms out toward the sea. Katara gasped, her body forced into the air violently.

She felt his grip on her arms let go, her feet leaving the ground, her body flying backwards.

Time stopped in that moment.

In that moment, Katara seemed to float in the air, two stories above the ocean. Her body flailed as she was thrown from the ship. She had a horrified look on her face.

Zuko stood still, a remorseful and almost regretful look crossing his features. Katara couldn't pry herself from those golden eyes, in that one instant they remained connected.

Then time started again. Katara plummeted into the seas, taking a few moments to regain her watery prowess. A bubble of air surrounded her as she dove deeper, propelling herself in the general direction of the shore.

Zuko watched her escape to safety, and however small, however minute, a weight was lifted from his chest.

He could hear footsteps from down the hallway. All he needed to do was turn around to wait for the door to open.

The iron door opened slowly, with slender fingers pushing it back.

There was no need for words. Both knew exactly what was going on.

Zuko just gazed back to meet equally golden eyes. He didn't need anything anymore. He was torn in between two lives, two people, two halves of himself.

And Azula simply glared.

Lady Windsong
December 8, 2006