Part 3:

It feels like someone is driving daggers into his arm.

"Did you see his scar?"

"It's the banished prince of the Fire Nation."

"What's he doing, washed up on some abandoned island?"

Their conversations give him headaches.

"Ozai would pay a high price for this one, I'm sure."

Zuko groans and tries to open his eyes. They fight him at first, but eventually, he is able to pry them open. He is tethered to two posts and on his knees still. They're cramped up pretty badly, making it impossible to shift his weight without feeling a ton of pain. And his arm...

His arm stings, but it's been bandaged with some pretty flimsy material. The blood seeped through it, painting it red, but it seems to have stopped. He clenches his jaw in agony and feels something heavy scrape his teeth.

Confused, he flips his tongue around in his mouth. The soft, soggy, ribbon slides against his gums. That's when he remembers popping Katara's necklace in his mouth for safe keeping. He is surprised that it worked.

"I heard that the Fire Lord wants him dead."

"Yeah, but I heard that he want to be the one to kill him."

There is a collective chuckle among the guards and Zuko rolls his eyes.

They've put him in a jail cell, although its the only one in the little room. The guard must be standing outside the door as they chat. Zuko tugs at the chains that hold up his arms and dig into his wrists.

You really screwed up this time, Zuko.

A rattling outside the door makes him jump. The sound of something heavy hitting the floor peeks his curiosity. He shifts the necklace in his teeth and opens his mouth.

"Hey!" His words are muffled, but audible. "What's going on out there? Let me go!"

Another low thumping sound and something shatters. There is a short yell but it is quickly cut off, followed by another thump. Zuko clenches his fists together, feeling heat at his finger tips, but his arm hurts too much for him to do any bending.

That's when she walks in.

"Katara?" Zuko's muffled question makes the waterbender smile. She dangles a set of keys in her hands and moves quickly, unlocking the metal cage. Zuko drops the necklace from his teeth, at his knees. Katara raises an eyebrow in slight disgust but smiles, still.

Why is she smiling? What's so funny!?

She bends down in front of him and scoops up the wet necklace, stuffing it in her pocket with a silent thanks before working on the chains that hold his wrists. Her eyes fall on the bandaged wound and she frowns.

"What have you gotten yourself into this time, Zuko?" She says it without scolding, without irritation, but with a taste of laughter.

"Shut up," he says, wincing as she lowers his injured arm, gently. Katara only smiles wider.

"Toph said you wouldn't be able to resist a little adventure..."

"I only came because I was worried that you had gotten caught!" He snaps.

She shakes her head and chuckles.

"You have no faith in me, Zuko." He rolls his eyes and bites his lower lip to keep from yelling in pain, as she works to unchain his other wrist.

"What I lack in faith, I make up for in keeping my damn promises." He says through gritted teeth. Katara smirks.

"Yeah, thanks for that. It wasnt exactly what I'd had in mind, but I won't complain." She quirks an eyebrow and shakes her head.

"Would you two hurry it up in there!" Toph's sharp whisper cuts through the air from somewhere outside of the room. "I can feel some more of them coming this way!"

The final chain snaps out of place and Zuko flexes his fingers.

"Thanks," he says. Katara presses her palm against his cheek and smiles.

"No problem. I figured I owe you one." Zuko narrows his eyes.

"What do you mean?" Katara smiles, her cold fingers, lingering on the pink-skinned scar that marks his face. Their eyes lock and she almost laughs.

"This time, I'll save you from the pirates."


Author's Notes:

This really was just supposed to be one big part but I decided to elaborate and now... Here we are.

Its kinda dinky and sorta fluffy but whatever xD I had fun!