Chapter 4

Savior

Disclaimer: Nope…nada…zilch…it's all Mike & Bryan and Nickelodeon

WARNING: dark themes and violence ahead

Katara turned her eyes back to Zuko, watching his back in confusion as he continued walking down the path alone.

"So what are we going to name him?" Katara motioned over to the furry animal currently eating the surrounding sedge. The sun had finally started to ascend into the sky signaling the end of a week's time passed since their first mission together.

Zuko tried to ignore her. "The animal doesn't need to be named. He probably couldn't tell his head from his ass if you asked him." He didn't even look up from what he was doing at his comment. Katara ignored him.

"What about Ducky? You know, because his ears look like a turtle ducks-"

"No."

"Oh! Or how about GonGon? You know, because he won't leave?" She continued unfazed.

"No," Katara looked at the top of his head. She could have sworn her eyebrow had started to twitch.

"Or how about Horny because of his-"

"NO KATARA, I refuse to ride an animal that's been dubbed Horny." He looked up with a scowl on his face when she had been silent for too long. As soon as she saw his face she couldn't contain her laughter behind her hand any longer. Zuko rubbed his hands over his face and growled.

"Gotcha to say it." She couldn't stop her giggles from escaping. After she finally calmed down, she tapped her fingers on her mouth in thought. "You know, I'm actually starting to like the name Ducky."

"NO."

"Then what do you think we should name him? Huh?" Katara was baiting him and he knew it. Zuko looked up at the animal. It was a huge brown animal, with brown fur covering it from head to hoof and had a mane of dark brown hair around his neck and the top of his head. Zuko shrugged.

"Ummm…Brownie?"

Katara gasped, "that's a horrible name! We can't call our ferocious dragon moose BROWNIE?!"

With a straight face Zuko gave "Brownie" a once over from where he sat. "Oh yeah Katara, he's a really ferocious-OW!" "Brownie" had nipped at Zuko's shirt collar and had also managed to grab a part of Zuko. He swatted the animal away. "It's not like yours are any better!"

"How about we just call him both?" Zuko rolled his eyes. She must have been an infuriating keeper of peace in her past life. "What'd ya say? Ducky Brownie!" Zuko groaned.

"No I'm sticking with my name…how about just B?" The dragon moose nudged his head in the middle of Zuko's back and successfully pushed him a few paces forward. Zuko was lucky he had the mind to brace himself before he was sprawled face down on the forest floor.

"But seriously, like just the letter B? I actually think he likes that. Huh B?" 'B' wandered over to Katara and started to nuzzle her neck, his fleshy tendrils tickling her skin. "Fine I guess. B it is. Although I still think Ducky would have been a better choice, but I'm not about to argue with an animal that weights a ton." She scratched his nose the way he liked.

Zuko tied a knot on the strings of the last pack and secured it onto B. After the packs were secured tightly, he held out his hand for Katara to help her up. "You ready…T?"

"You did not just reduce my name to one letter." Zuko let out his signature scoffing laughter and grabbed a hold of Katara's waist, lifting her with ease to settle her on the mount. Zuko let his right hand linger on her thigh to make sure she was balanced. Katara grabbed onto his hand before he could let go and smiled. He looked up at her, the flecks in his eyes sparkling.

"Thanks for the lift." He gave a squeeze before letting his hand slip away. She barely heard a "no problem" as he grabbed onto B's reins and walked with the animal towards the nearby road.

Katara's heart fluttered as she watched his shoulders. She was smiling at the memory of his eyes before he turned away. He might finally be starting to warm up to her. She stopped her thinking, her mind was going down a dangerous path. She watched the movement of his shirt slide back and forth over his shoulder blades as he walked. She definitely needed to stop thinking.

The two had finally managed to find an inn with an attached barn in the city of Omashu. At least they wouldn't have needed to leave B outside the city walls. After settling the animal up in the barn, the two headed towards the main area of the inn. The lobby area was split into sections as soon as you entered. To the left going down a couple stairs was a bar area and towards the right going up a couple of steps was the main front desk. A large staircase in the back going up two floors led to the rooms. Katara and Zuko took two small single rooms with a connecting bathroom, Katara opted for the larger room.

"I'm going to wash up before they serve dinner. Can I just meet you downstairs?" Katara said through Zuko's closed bathroom door. She could hear Zuko mumble "sure" through the wooden door before she heard his bedroom door close and his footsteps retreating down the hall.

Almost an hour had passed by and Zuko was sitting at the bar, staring into his glass of the world's worst mug of ale when Katara finally managed to make it downstairs. He gave her a look before returning his gaze to the collage of posters on the wall behind the bartender. Her laughter fluttered over the busy bar. He looked over at her to see Katara holding a drink of her own and talking to some Earth Kingdom guy. Zuko sulked deeper in his chair. He prayed to the gods that the walls separating their rooms would be thick enough so he wouldn't have to listen all night.

Zuko watched the guy slide his hand around Katara's waist. She laughed again and turned her head looking around. When her eyes finally landed on Zuko she smirked, but it was something in her eyes that made Zuko wary. The Earth Kingdom guy's hand hovered over Katara's drink for a second before dropping a small white tablet. Zuko felt his body turn to stone. She took a sip as the guy whispered something into her ear, making her laugh again. Zuko couldn't place it, but her laughter was getting…slower. He didn't like where this was going. Leaving his ale on the bar he made his way to Katara. She was already half way out the door, the expression on her face catatonic.

"Hey, get your hands off of her." Why in the hell was he was playing hero all of a sudden? She was going to pay dearly tomorrow morning for this.

"Come on man, I saw her first." The Earth Kingdom guy let out a slippery smile. Zuko smacked away the guy's hand that was on Katara with an open fist and moved to put an arm around her. The other guy's face shriveled in anger and lunged for Zuko's neck. He easily evaded, bringing one arm around the guy's neck, and bent the man's body backwards over his knee.

"Leave…her…alone," he couldn't have sounded more threatening if he tried. The guy swung his arm up, aiming for a solid punch to Zuko's face. Shouts around the bar distracted the Earth Kingdom man making him miss by a wide range. They cheered on for a fight. Other drunken supporters tried to start their own brawls. Zuko kept his gaze on his opponent while never leaving Katara's side. She hadn't even moved for the whole ordeal, her face neutral and her eyes glazed over. Zuko felt the beginnings of panic rise in his chest. What in Agni's name did he give her?

"No fighting!" Before Zuko could evade, he was shoved along with the Earth Kingdom man and Katara out a back door that led to a side alley of the building. It took a second for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. A second was too long, a solid fist connected with his temple. Zuko turned away from the punch and grabbed ahold of the man's neck. The headache coming on was almost unbearable but Zuko secured him in a choke hold.

"What did you give her?" Zuko shook him again, "TELL ME!"

The man gargled his words. Zuko looked to Katara and shoved the man against the opposite wall. Crates and old piles of trash crashed onto the street. Never in his life did he think he would be so worried about his partner, the one that was so powerful she could control your body without much concentration. Zuko slowly approached her. He had never seen her or anyone else so completely out of it.

"What did you do to her?" He choked out.

Her long hair hung limply around her face. Her eyes glossed over and missing the spark of blue that Zuko had become so familiar with. She was leaning against the wall, her head flopped to one side. She made it seem like her head was too heavy for her body. But it was her eyes that scared Zuko the most. She wouldn't look at him…couldn't. He felt as if any sudden movement would shatter her.

"Katara, can you hear me?"

"Chill out man, it's only something that makes them nicer to score." The man coughed and spat at Zuko's feet.

Zuko felt anger burn from his chest and seep out like lightening towards the rest of his body. His beloved heat sending sparks around the inside of his chest. Oh how he missed the fire of his emotions.

The man pulled out a small knife and managed to slice against Zuko's upper arm while he was looking at Katara. Grabbing onto his fist, Zuko slammed it with both hands on the nearest wall.

"AH!" He dropped the knife in pain. The guy scrambled to reach towards Zuko's throat in an effort to choke him but Zuko had his hands around his opponent's throat first. The guy tried with all of his strength to pry Zuko's fingers off of his neck.

He felt the pain on his knuckles as his opponent squirmed and clawed at his restraints. But Zuko didn't care. He was feeling his warmth seep into the cells of his body once more. As if his anger fueled his fire. He wanted more, like a beggar seeking a warm fire on a frozen winter night. He needed to be thawed, wanted to feel the burn embrace his skin once more. He was addicted to his flames and in moments like these he felt the burn at it's best.

Zuko narrowed his eyes. He shouldn't let himself succumb to the madness of the heat. But what this man was about to do was despicable. He let his bloody hands seep into the feelings his body desired. Fire followed the pathway down his shoulders to his fingertips. What he was about to do, this was justice.

Zuko knew this sequence too well as he squeezed harder and let the fire roam free from his hands. They claw at their necks like mad men, their faces turn red from all of the blood trapped in their heads. Then their eyes become blood shot, rolling in the back of their head as they slowly slip into darkness. Zuko's face remained just as angered as he watched the light fade from the man's eyes. We all die just like animals, only humans can kill like monsters and Zuko didn't care that he was one of them.

Zuko let go when he was sure the man was dead. Gasping he fell to the floor with the body and grabbed his injured arm with shaky hands. The body slumped against him with a thud. His arm had bleed pretty badly but had seemed to stop amidst the fighting. He glanced over to Katara and let out a few calming breaths to slow his ragged breathing.

He could still feel the heat of desire from the kill rolling around in his soul. Panting, he closed his eyes and grabbed at his shirt collar. He needed to calm himself down or the fire would consume him. He didn't want to be like his father. An old familiar voice drifted through Zuko's head telling him to take control of inner peace that would in turn help him control his dark flames.

Zuko knew the fire that fueled the kill was addicting, he had battled it too many times. Even his sister had lost to that battle. His breath was slowly steadying and the heat was beginning to die down. Zuko looked down at his palms, he needed to get a hold of himself if he wanted to pull off this masquerade of being a non-bender.

Coughing and wiping his hands on his pants, he slowly made it back to a standing position. The shakiness of his hands not helping one bit. He winced as he held his injured arm and moved to stand in front of Katara. She didn't even notice and still stared right through him. Zuko placed a gentle hand onto her cheek.

"…Ka-Katara…stay with me…"

He started to trace his thumb over her cheek but stopped at the sight of his hand. They were covered in dirt, and blood had managed to get underneath his fingernails. She didn't deserve to be around a monster.

Stepping back, he leaned down and grabbed Katara, throwing her over his shoulder. Her arms flopped like deadweight against the back of his thighs.

Zuko made his way to another inn, assuming they wouldn't be allowed back inside their original place until morning. Readjusting his grip on her once more, he walked down the street under complete darkness.

"Oh man, I think I drank too much last night…" Katara groaned into her pillow. She squinted her eyes against the onslaught of light and moved to place the pillow over her head. Oh no, definitely don't move…her stomach wouldn't have any of it. She tried to roll over onto her right side to face away from the window when she noticed someone in her room. She looked at the man. Black and grey clothing, brown armor, black shoulder length shaggy hair, a scar on one side of his face and a scowl that made the other half match. It was the scowl above anything else that made her recognize him instantly…yup that's Zuko.

"The hell are you doing in here Zuko?" Zuko turned his head towards her.

"You should be grateful for the person who just saved your hide last night," he growled out.

"Fine…fine…but you don't have to yell." Zuko stood up abruptly. Katara followed him with her eyes and regretted it, her stomach churning at the slight movement.

"Yes I do! What were you doing last night with that strange man anyways?" Zuko's voice was slowly escalating. "You could have gotten yourself kidnapped or worse if I wasn't there to stop him!"

"Is that worry I'm sensing from my brooding partner?" Zuko glared at Katara.

His voice was a lot softer than she expected. "You got yourself into a dangerous situation last night and with a stranger no less. The least you could do is be courteous to your savior for just a little bit. How the HELL did you even make it this far before you met me? You make UNBELIEVABLE ROOKIE MISTAKES!" Nope, he was back to yelling.

Katara got up off the bed and shoved Zuko, hard. "I'm not as much of a rookie as you think I am. I know you have a god complex but I swear to La you don't have to act on it during every conversation!" Katara clenched her jaw and prayed she wouldn't puke on her partner's feet.

Zuko's glare didn't falter. "I'm not going to argue with a child!" Katara could have sworn the room was getting hotter, maybe it was just an effect of the nausea finally going to her head. Zuko looked down at his hands and walked towards the bedroom door quickly.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?! I'm not done yelling yet!" Katara tried to stumble after him but her legs weren't working as best as she wanted them. She didn't like that her body felt like someone had poured molasses into her veins.

Zuko grabbed his outer robe by the door before turning his head slightly back to her. She traced the profile of his unmarred side with her eyes. "If you keep going down this path you'll be more alone than you realize."

"Well lucky for me I'm stuck with you" Katara said in a mocking voice. Zuko slammed the door behind him. Katara leaned back and slumped over as she sat on the bed. She didn't know why she was so angry. She rubbed her forehead to get rid of the ache, she didn't even remember meeting a guy last night. How could she have let her guard down so easily.

Katara rubbed her temple to ease the migraine that was starting to set in. Her muscles ached as she stood and headed over to the bathroom. Maybe a quick wash up can calm the nerves and her stomach before she packed away their things.

Zuko's feet crunched over the gravel as he headed back to the original inn. He knew he left a bag when he counted their things earlier this morning and found it to be less. If it's not at this place then it's lost forever. He couldn't help the annoyed sigh escape as he opened the door.

Zuko was greeted by the bartender as he walked down the steps. The bartender gave him a smile while he cleaned a wooden cup.

"Did you find any bags left here last night? I think I might have left something here." The bartender threw a brown bag that, sure enough, had Katara's doodles over the leather straps. Zuko grabbed the strings, turned, and marched up the steps.

"So how was she last night?" Zuko stopped in his tracks, halfway out the door.

"What?"

"How was that chick man? I spiced her up with her first drink and I saw someone else give her a double dose later than night. Was worried she'd stop breathin' or somethin'. Must have been some wild ride to have two guys fight over her." The bartender laughed at his own joke.

Zuko let the door slam closed before turning around and checked the front desk through the corner of his eye… all clear. He plastered on a smile as he hopped down the steps in one leap. "Thanks for the nice gesture man, you do that for the new comers often?" The bartender's smile reminded Zuko of an iguana vulcher's.

The bartender leaned over, his teeth blackened around the gums. "You seemed like you needed a pick-me-up and I thought you could use a fun time. You were eyeing her like a fat kid in a candy shop!" He let out another deep laugh.

Zuko slapped his left hand on the bar, his voice low.

"Thanks again."

The bartender started to lean away, weary of the tone in the stranger's voice. Like lightening, Zuko grabbed onto his collar and pulled him over the counter. The top half of the bartender's slender body on the bar with his head over the other side facing the floor. Zuko's right hand slowly started moving towards his broadswords at his back. The sword sung to him as he pulled one of his blades out of their sheath and held it close to the bartender's neck. His left hand held a firm hold on the bartender's clothes. With the blade against his neck, Zuko started to slowly pressed it deeper.

"Thing is, if you did that to anyone else, I wouldn't have given a komodo rhino's shit."

The bartender was whimpering as drops of his blood were slowly dripping down the blade and onto the floor at a faster and faster rate. Zuko's blade dug deeper and deeper.

"But because the woman you picked was my partner…well let's just say I'm not exactly okay with that."

The bartender tried to yell out for help, but Zuko quickly sliced through his neck, effectively cutting off the sound. The bartender gurgled before becoming silent.

He grimaced at his sword from the amount of blood. Wiping it on the back of the bartender's clothes, he grabbed Katara's bag and the coin purse on the end of the bar before walking out.

Katara heard his footsteps outside the door before he knocked. She jumped up from the bed and faced him.

"Where in La's name have you been?! You can't just walk out when we were talking!" Katara walked directly in front of Zuko, never letting her gaze drop from his. "We're a team, if you go somewhere I need to go too. If something happens to you I'll have to find a replacement again and I won't be as lucky the next time."

Zuko stayed silent, looking at her before walking around her and dropped her bag onto the bed.

"You left this at the other inn." He turned and slumped into the chair that sat in the corner of the dusty room near the window. He put his fingers to the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. It wasn't until a few seconds later when he could open his eyes to look at Katara. Zuko had expected a continued tirade but had to make sure she was still in the room with all of the silence. She was looking at the bottom hem of his pants, a shaky finger pointing.

"Why is there…"

Zuko growled, "what?"

"Why…why is there blood on your pants?"

Zuko lifted his left leg up to inspect his pant. Sure enough, a couple drops of rust colored liquid adorned the hem. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the windowsill.

"City's a dangerous place I guess."

Katara gave Zuko another lookover before resuming packing their things.

They were on the outskirts of the city when they received a messenger hawk. Two different missions were listed. Katara leaned over Zuko's shoulder to read them. Neither had spoken a word since the inn.

"Pick which one you want." Zuko looked up confused. She had always been acting like she was the only head-honcho running the show, not once asking for his input. Now she was not only asking his opinion, but letting him take the reins? Zuko gave her a curious look before re-reading the mission descriptions. He noticed that one was close to the village that Sokka and the red-headed chick lived. He figured it would be nice to see other people and Katara probably wanted to see her family.

Zuko motioned towards the top mission. Katara nodded her head in agreement.

"I guess we might as well swing by and meet up with Sokka too. It'll be nice to be back on Kyoshi." Katara seemed to be in a marginally better mood at just the idea.

Silently, Katara started to walk off towards B. Zuko ground his teeth. He knew she was still upset about their argument from earlier.

Before he realized what his body was doing, his arm reached out and pulled on her arm, dragging her back to him. He brought his hand to the back of her neck and let his forehead rest against the side of hers.

"You gotta be more careful than that." His voice was almost a whisper. Katara closed her eyes. She nodded her headed against his and put a hand on the arm holding her.

"I promise." Her voice was just as soft.

She looked up at him. Oh, when did he get so close? His nose was touching hers. She could perfectly see the golden specks that lined his irises. Katara turned away before she let herself be stupid again. She felt like he was setting her on fire with his eyes and especially his touch. His hand was hot on the back of her neck. She didn't want her body to start betraying her, making it obvious to her partner what she had been thinking of. Katara had felt way too warm. She had needed to get out of there before something happened. Katara grabbed B's reins and continued walking, glancing back at Zuko quickly. He was looking down at his hand.

A/N:

I don't know how many times I've gone over this chapter to edit it but I'm throwing it out there before I decide to change something else again…ehhh…

So just as a warning there is darkness and violence throughout the story. This is probably the worst chapter out of them all but since I've only outlined Ch 5 and 6 so far I'm not making any promises. But yeah, hence why I wanted to up the rating. It's so hard keeping the characters true to their nature but in the next chapter there's a bunch of history coming out so you'll understand why I can see these guys doing what they do.

Thanks for all the follows and favs! See you guys in chapter 5!