Authors note: This is an alternant version of The Waterbending Scroll, where Katara is tied to the tree—thanks to Zuko.
A Different Kind of Torture
"You'll never get him." I say. "He's to smart for that." In truth, I'm not so sure about that, but I can make a threat if I want to. I'm not as calm as I'm trying to appear. Really, I'm frightened beyond belief, but I hide it…for my safety as well as Aang's. He moves around me, moving closer ever time he makes a complete circle.
"Come off it, we both know that's an empty threat. A lie even." He's whispering in my ear now, and I'm fighting myself to stay calm. A shiver goes through my body at his close proximity. I'm sure he can tell that I'm not as calm as I wish I was. I never needed to practice this back home, there, it wasn't a necessity. "Anyone with half a brain knows that the Avatar cares too much about you to leave you here…with me."
He's right, of course, but he doesn't need me to confirm what he already knows. Let him have a little doubt. "Actually, we recently got into an argument." I tell him. It's not a total lie, an almost truth, really.
He smirks. "Let me guess, you fought over the scroll?" I hate that he's always right. "That would surely explain why you snuck away alone now wouldn't it?" he circles me again and I can feel a shiver go down my back. I struggle against the ropes binding me to this stupid tree. "It won't do you any good." He announces, and can sense the pride in his voice. "The ropes are expertly tied. A simple Water Tribe peasant like you couldn't break them."
I glare at him. "Just watch me." I spit, my eyes and words as cold as ice. I keep struggling, but even I know it is pointless. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him smirking. He catches me looking at him and I can see him pull out a knife. I try really hard to hold back a gasp, but find it increasingly difficult. And as much as I try to keep it down, to no avail, I gasp; scared of what he'll do. As he walks toward me, I close my eyes, but force myself to open them once again. I look into his empty eyes and hold his gaze. The knife grazes across my throat smoothly, not enough to draw blood. Then, in one swift motion, he cuts through the ropes holding me to the tree.
I think he expects me to be so stunned and surprised that I stay there, but I know when to take a chance, and in that moment I kick him in the stomach and as she stumbles backward, I run as far away from him as I can get. As I run, I look back—a mistake, I know, but I had to make sure he was alright, and that I didn't hurt him. He's fine; more than fine, he's chasing after me. I hold back a scream and dart forward. I find a bush and, in a moment of fear stricken panic, crouch beneath it.
"Come out, come out wherever you are." I hear him calling. My breathing is heavy and it takes everything in me to keep from screaming. "You can't possibly hide forever."
After a few minutes, I notice how quiet it is. I don't here him around, so I sigh and get up, but unlucky me, he is right directly behind me. A knife appears in frond of my throat, and my body is forced up and is pressed against his. A yelp passes my lips and I try to struggle, but he's too strong. The knife, I realize, is tilted so it can't hurt me and I shiver as he guides the knife across my throat and down my left arm. Then the knife is guided back up to my throat and the process is repeated down my right arm. "Don't," I whimper. I don't necessarily want him to stop, but I know I can't let this continue. I can't let this happen, but I can't fight. I lost all will to fight long ago. This is the effect he has on me, and it's too strong to break.
"Don't tell me you're not enjoying it." He taunts, knowing exactly how I'm feeling.
"I'm not." I force myself to say, lying through my teeth. And he knows it.
He laughs, "Don't lie to me, Katara." He reprimands.
I force my breathing, making it slow and steady. Trying to disguise exactly how I feel. I can't let him win. I won't let him win. "Why would I lie?" I ask smoothly. Strangely enough, I find it easy to lie to the Banished Prince. I look into his eyes, his fierce determination mirrored in my eyes.
He pulls my head back ever so slightly and puts his lips to mine. For a moment I find myself enjoying it, knowing that that's exactly what he wants, and then I realize exactly who it is that I'm kissing. His hands are around my wrists, and I twist my hands to try to free myself. As quickly as the kiss happened, it ends. Then he's gone.
"He was torturing me." I realize, "That was sure a different kind of torture."