"Damn it!" Katara yelled in a horsed voice. Frustrated tears began to slide down her face as she clenched her mouth tight to hold in the painful cries. Her whole body was beginning to go numb from hanging in the same position and she knew her arms weren't pretty. She didn't want to admit defeat, but she had to be honest with herself, Zuko had her until she could get free.
'Finally the peasant gives up' Zuko thought when he felt the waves begin to calm down, but he had to hand it to her for holding up this long. He scanned the food in front of him before bringing them up to his uncle who was sipping his favorite beverage. His eyes must have lingered on him for a while because he saw his uncle put his cup down ready to speak to him.
"Are you at least going to bring food to her?" he spoke with a frown on his face. Zuko shot his eyebrow up in shock since he wasn't expecting that to be the words to come out from his mouth.
"How did you know?" He never saw him go down to the cells. At least he seemed to always spot his uncle up here, but then he wasn't always around him.
"The ocean gave it away," Zuko didn't see how that was possible. If he wasn't the one who locked the water bender up he wouldn't even think the oceans sudden current change was due to a bender. "Going from calm to crashing waves when there is not a single cloud in the sky isn't common. Especially with the way it's been on and off." Zuko only grunted before looking down at the food. "I know you wouldn't want her to starve to death?" The fire prince kept his eyes glued to the table, but he had to agree with his uncle. Not feeding the water bender for a day wasn't a big deal for him, but he didn't want to see her die from hunger. With a nod of his head he stood up while grabbing the tea pot, a cup, and a few stuffed buns. He could feel his uncle's approving smile while he walked towards the cells.
Another disturbing growl escaped from her body as she groaned in agreement. All she could do now was listen and rest. Her strength wasn't with her anymore and her body was gone of all feelings. She thought Zuko captured her to get the avatar, but now she was thinking he wanted her dead.
Her head shot up when she heard footsteps outside her cell, but a silent cry escaped through her lips from the movement. 'What does he want?' She thought in annoyance with having to see him. 'Probably wants to get pleasure in seeing me suffer' she answered her thought.
Zuko heard nothing from behind the door for the first time. She always seemed to be doing something anytime he came to see her, but not this time. His jaw clenched tight as he waited in front of the door wondering what he would see when he went through. 'It's only been one day since locking her up' he told himself so the possibility of finding her dead wasn't a concern for him. With a shrug of his shoulders he pushed the door open to see her eyes looking right at him.
"Exhausted yourself?" his words sounded like a question, but his tone made it a statement.
"Resting" she responded. She may had admitted he had her for now to herself, but to him she wouldn't. She watched as his eyes scanned her whole body, but she wasn't going to show any sign of discomfort.
"I can see" Katara lips frowned deeper, but she was truly exhausted to continue this act of being strong. "I'm going to unlock you so you can eat," the words rang through her head over and over, but she didn't know how she felt about it. She couldn't even feel her body right now so putting up a fight to escape didn't seem possible to her. "But try anything and you will regret it." Zuko put down the cup and tea pot, but his eyes didn't move from the pot. He knew she could bend the tea and he had no doubt she wouldn't try to since she wasn't dense, but he wasn't going to show his concern about it. He balanced the two stuffed buns on top of each other over the cup so not laying on the dirty floor before walking over to the water tribe girl.
Katara watched as he first unlocked both her feet with a smirk on her part. "Afraid I'll start bending?" she asked with pleasure in her voice.
"Not afraid," he replied while taking notice of the red on her ankles before pushing up to begin on her arms. "But I wouldn't let it pass you to try something." His eyes widened at the sight of her wrist. They looked to be three times the normal size with the skin looking irritated and red as it pushed against the metal cuffs like they were locked too tight.
"Decided to not unlock me?" Katara asked when she didn't feel the pressure of the cuffs lessen. It didn't matter to her either way since she couldn't feel the pain anymore.
"I told you I was going to" she was going to make a remark, but her body crumpled to the ground when the last cuff was unlocked and all the pain that she wasn't feeling came back so sudden that an actual scream escaped from her with such force she swore she saw Zuko cringe. "Calm down I got you!" Zuko yelled over her, but she didn't hear.
'Shit!' Zuko thought while he held her in his arms hoping she would shut up. He had no doubt she was in a lot of pain with the way her legs and arms looked, but he didn't think about what would happen when all her weight went back to her legs when he freed her arms. Luckily he was close by to fall with her so he could protect her from seriously injuring herself.
Katara could only feel pain after pain surge through her body. It felt like burning needles where stabbing every part of her body as a hammer was hitting them in deeper. She tried to take deep breaths to calm herself down, but everything that was happening was too much. Her body was beginning to shake and her arm and legs were starting to pulse.
"Katara you need to relax" she heard him speak her name, but following his order seemed impossible with her mind stuck on the pain. "Take a deep breath in" she heard the ordering continue. Couldn't he see she was trying that? With each exhale her body shook in pain. "I'm going to try to stand you up."
"I can't" her voice was strained. Zuko didn't listen, she felt him begin to shift causing her body to feel the needles more. "Stop!" she didn't expect him to listen though.
"Try to help yourself stand up with me" Zuko looked down at her face when he got to his knees from his sitting position causing Katara to kneel as well. "I'm going to count to three so you can prepare yourself" every word he spoke was serious. She didn't hear concern in his tone, but maybe irritation instead. 'Jerk' she thought. "One," his grip tightened at the side of her shoulders. "Two," she felt her body being to tense up, but saw him preparing to stand. "Three."
"Ah!" she tried to help with standing, but it seemed he did the most with forcing her. Her legs wanted to give out again, but she felt Zuko tighten his grip to ensure she wouldn't.
"If you collapse again I'm going to leave you on the ground"
"Thanks."
"You need to move your legs so you get feeling into them," Zuko watched as she started to step forward causing him to have to move back. His eyes studied her facial expression with each step seeing her try to hide the pain from him until his back hit the cell door. "I'm letting go." Katara gave a nod so he loosened the grip he had slowly to make certain she was firm on her feet. "I'll have my uncle bring you something for the pain"
"What pain?" she wasn't hiding it in her voice, but for some reason she had to say something. Zuko didn't say anything else as he turned to leave the cell. When the door closed with a click she let herself fall forward, but only so she was leaning against the cool metal. Katara didn't want to sit in fear of not being able to stand, but she had to have something support her.
'This is pathetic' she told herself silently while turning around so she had her back against the cell door. Her eyes spotted the stuff Zuko had carried in with him before all of this, but the tea had spilled and the buns had dirt on them as they laid on the cellar floor. 'I guess they got knocked over when he fell with me'
Zuko felt a part of his clothing cling to him due to the tea spilling and him being in its path as it did while he was forced to the ground. None of this would be happening if Katara didn't try so hard to break free. She may have been numb for hanging too long, but they wouldn't have been swollen like they are. Now he had to ask his uncle for help, because he didn't know what to give her, but he was not going to deal with her being in pain.
He looked in the dining hall where he last saw his uncle, but it was empty. Next was the kitchen, but when he asked the cook where he went he shrugged his shoulders with little fear in his eyes. Zuko walked over to the deck, but when that failed he went towards the room where uncle Iroh was staying.
Zuko knocked on the metal door when he finally reached the room which was a few doors down from his, but no response. 'Where is he?' he tried again.
"Who is it?" he heard his uncle's voice from the other side.
"Your nephew" He heard the click of the door and saw Iroh move away so he could come in. "I need you to bring medicine to the water tribe girl"
"Is she sick?" he heard the concern in his uncle's voice. He seemed to have concern for everyone, but then that's was one of the things he liked about his uncle, beside him seeming to know what to say in every situation.
"No, but she is in a lot of pain and I don't want to deal with it" He saw his uncle's eyes narrow before relaxing with a small smile.
"Has she eaten?" Zuko shook his head thinking about the mess down in her cell. "Well while I get the medicine you can bring the food. I don't want her to have an empty stomach when taking it, because it can make her sick" Zuko nodded as he walked out of the room towards the kitchen.
Katara studied the small puddle the tea made as it began to create a little river while it spread across the floor. If it didn't hurt to move her wrist she would bend the tea, but it wasn't worth it right now. 'You still need to find Sokka and Aang' then what good would it be to fight if she wasn't going to win? She hated to admit it, but she couldn't continue on until she was at least able to bend without so much pain.
"I guess you win for now" she mumbled in disgust. Her eyes widened when she felt the door she was using for support start pushing forward causing her to stumble and put more pressure on her still painful legs.
Zuko had the chef make another pot of tea and warmed up a bun for Katara to eat, but he had to admit that he was beginning to get angry with everything. He should be searching for the avatar not taking care of one of his friends. When he did reach where the girl was being held he swore he heard her saying something, but then that was nothing new. What was new was that something seemed to be against the door since he had to put more effort in opening it.
"Why were you blocking the door?" he questioned as he watched Katara get her footing. "Making sure I couldn't come in?"
"That would be a pathetic attempt on my part. I was leaning against it to rest"
"There are other walls to lean on" Zuko handed Katara the cup while looking at her wrist. "How much does it hurt to move?" he watched her knit her eyebrows together as if he spoke another language.
"It doesn't" She wasn't going to admit she was in pain.
"The tough act does get tiring" he began to pour the tea his eyes never leaving her wrist.
"Then it's good for you to know that it's not an act"
"My uncle will be coming to give you medicine, but he wants you to have something inside of you so you don't get sick"
"Here I thought this was on your own accord" she took the bun from him, studying it.
"I didn't do anything to it" Zuko watched as she took a bite before walking to pick up the other pot and cup. Katara kept an eye on him, but quickly looked over to the door when she heard a knock. "Come in." She saw Iroh walk in with a cup in his hand and a smile on his face. She seen him before when Zuko was chasing them around everywhere, but he seemed to be in the background watching, she never took him as a threat.
"Hello Miss Katara" she gave him a smile since she had food in her mouth. Her eyes watched as he looked down to her wrists and then her legs. Her mouth mirrored his frown when he took her hand gently to get a better look. "This doesn't look good" Katara knew it wasn't but hearing it from someone else didn't help. "Here take this medicine it should help with the pain." She took the cup and studied the thin brown liquid inside. It didn't look at all appealing to her and her stomach agreed with a light growl that made her feel nauseas when she got a whiff. "It's easier if you don't smell it and do it fast" he gave her a reassuring smile so she returned one to him.
She flung her head back while gulping the whole cup in hopes to not get the taste staying on her tongue, but when the medicine started to go down it wanted to go right back up. She forced another swallow to keep it down, but she felt sicker doing that. She forced a smile to Iroh as she handed the cup back.
"Hopefully it will kick in soon, but you may start to feel dizzy as a side effect so I would lie down"
"Thank you" she followed his eyes around the room when he didn't say anything else.
"You shouldn't lay in this cold and dirty cell" she heard him speak. "Zuko will find a room for you to stay" with his name bought up Zuko shot a look to his uncle.
"Where do you expect her to stay?" Katara rolled her eyes at him, but she was ignored as Zuko continued with his uncle. "There are others on this ship that already taking up the rooms we have. Plus she isn't on our side if you haven't figured that out?"
"My dear nephew," Iroh began and Zuko hung his head when hearing this knowing he would be the one to give in. "There is plenty of rooms on this ship and I know you will figure it out. Katara may not be on our side, but that gives you no right to treat her like a prisoner" Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head lightly.
"She is a prisoner. She snuck onto the ship" he mumbled, but he was ignored when Iroh continued.
"I know you will do what is right" before Zuko could argue anymore Iroh turned to leave leaving the two opposite benders alone.
"Even with the room the door will always be locked on the outside with me having the key to it," Katara listened a little surprised Zuko was actually doing it. "You will not be by any water and you will not try anything. I am in control."
"Seems like your uncle is" She heard a growl escape from him, but she only laughed.
"Just start walking" Katara bit her lip afraid to actually step forward with no support, but she saw Zuko becoming impatient. As expected it didn't go easily with her first few steps, but she didn't fall so it was something.
"I don't know where I'm going"
"I'm surprised since you seemed to have searched every room when you snuck on" She ignored his remark as she walked forward, but when she hit the stair she became worried. "What's wrong?" She could feel he was close behind when he spoke, but her mind was on what she could do to get up the stairs. Without an answer she grabbed the railing, but with her wrist it wasn't helpful. "Are you in pain?"
"I'm okay" she hoped she sounded convincing, because when she took the first step pain shot up her leg. She clenched her teeth tightly and inhaled hard to hold in the scream that wanted to come out. Zuko was right behind her so she didn't want to show she was struggling with the steps. Instead she kept her mouth closed tight and shouted in her head with each step, but it was beginning to be too much. 'How many steps are there?' she cried to herself. She knew the medicine wouldn't take effect yet, but this was torture! She was beginning to sweat from the pain as she continued up, but when she hit the last one she let out a sigh of relief.
"The medicine should kick in soon" She looked up at Zuko not able to get a word out, because she was exhausted from the amount of energy it took to keep the pain in. "If it's hard then you can use me for support" He watched the shock spread across her face while staring at him as if he had two heads.
"I don't need your help," it wasn't meant to be harsh, but she cringed at the way it sounded. "But thank you." Before she could see his expression she continued on. 'That's probably the only time I would say that to him'
"Walk down this hallway till you hit the eighth door" he saw her nod and they continued walking in silence, but he could catch her grunt every now and then as she pushed herself to be strong.
'One…ow…two…ow…three…keep going Katara…four…only four more…five…I think I feel the medicine kicking in…six…don't lose your footing…seven…one more…eight' She didn't care anymore if Zuko knew or not. She was done with pretending as she leaned against the wall, but accidently hitting her right arm against it. She looked over to Zuko who walked past so he was in front of the door taking the key out.
"Is it strange to already have the key for this room?" Katara asked studying the metal.
"No." she understood that he didn't want to continue talking and that wasn't a problem for her. When he got it open he waited for her to walk in first before following.
Her eyes scanned the room that was obviously bigger than her cell, but maybe by four cells put together. It still had the metal walls, floor, and candle stands at each corner of the room so it wasn't dark which she noted had no windows. She saw a bed with red and gold sheets on top and two wooden night stands on both sides of the bed. One held a small single candle and the other was bare or anything.
"This room isn't much different from the cell" she mumbled when she finished looking.
"Good"
"What if I have to use the bathroom?" she added noticing the absent of one.
"Then I or my uncle will bring you to use it" Katara spun on her heel almost banging into him in the process.
"I don't want either of you watching me go!" She knew Zuko was a bad person, but not perverted.
"We wouldn't be watching you," he snapped at her. "But restricted so you don't escape." Katara narrowed her eyes before widening them. "What's wrong?" he watched her stumble back a little, but before he could reach her she got her footing. "I think you need to rest. I will come back in a few hours. Don't try anything."
"Like I could anyways" she spoke when he was gone. She turned to head to the bed, but swayed a little from the turning. "The medicine does make you dizzy" she confirmed out loud as she staggered to the bed.
Yay another chapter for MISTAKE.
I'm sorry I haven't been on my toes for updating, but I realize that it's hard to continue to keep up with college and everything else.
I haven't forgotten any of my readers though.
I love you guys.
I hope you haven't forgotten me!
Enjoy this Chapter!
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