Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender or any of the characters.
Katara did as she was told and sat on the cushion like Ty Lee had said. A few minutes passed and Katara heard the door to the room open behind her. She heard a quick intake of breath from the person who had entered the room, but she did not turn around. She did not want to be here. She missed the Gang, but she had to be strong for them. She would not let Zuko see her cry. The door shut again behind her and there were foots steps coming toward the table. Katara still didn't look up until the person had seated themselves across from her.
"You won't look at me?" asked the person. Katara took a deep breath and raised her head. She stared straight into her captor's eyes. Zuko wore armor like usual but it was more formal in appearance. Instead of the maroon, red, and brown colors, it was black steel with gold metal trim and a red, silk sash. He smiled slightly, and this confused Katara until she saw what he was smiling at. The necklace. Katara quickly looked down, afraid that it might have started glowing, but it had remained dormant.
"That necklace suits you. Its called the icefire heart," Zuko smiled slightly again. When Katara did not answer his voice grew icy. "Dinner will be served shortly. You might as while speak to me while we wait."
"I have nothing to say to you," said Katara. She looked deep into his eyes that smoldered with barely restrained rage. "You take me away from the only people I have left in this world, throw me in a cell, have your guards attack me, and then expect me to be kind and courteous and make small talk. I won't do it! Unlike you, I am not alone in this world. My friends will come for me if I don't escape first. I will get out of here and there is nothing… NOTHING you can do to stop me!"
Instead of retaliating, Zuko's eyes softened into a kind of sadness, "You have the grace of a waterbender… but the spirit of a firebender…" and then his face hardened again, "I am not alone in the world! I have a whole nation ready and willing to do my bidding! And you will not belittle me. I am the prince of the fire nation and you will do as I say. I have showed you respect and courteousness. I have kept you alive and yet you spit at me like a raging mongoose-cobra. Have you no manners at all, peasant?" he sneered and waited for Katara's reaction.
Katara pulled her mouth into a sneer to match and said, "You are not my prince, and I am not a peasant. I am the chief's daughter, royalty of the Southern water tribe. How dare you disrespect me?!?!" Katara bit her lip as soon as the words were out. She never used her title. Never. Why had Zuko brought it out of her? Why had she let him get under her skin?
Zuko leaned back in surprise. Royalty? And he had been calling her a peasant all along? He had just assumed she was a peasant because she didn't have all the finery he had expected the royalty of the water tribe to wear. It was only now that he realized that she did carry herself with an air of authority and confidence. It was only now she appeared modest, humbled by her title, and unwilling to accept it as her own.
It was at this time that the food was delivered to the table. It consisted of white rice, dragon fruit, fire crisps, and spicy roast platypus-duck. Drinks were poured for both Zuko and Katara. There were three glasses each, one of water, one of sweet tea, and one of a liquid that seemed to burn the back of your throat.
When the servants backed out of the room with a bow, Zuko picked up his chopsticks, and Katara picked up hers. She waited, like Ty Lee said, until Zuko had taken his first bite end then she took a bite of the dragon fruit. It was bright red with pink streaks on the surface, and the juice was sweet. Very sweet.
Katara kept her head bowed. She didn't want to play her title. All she wanted was to go back where she belonged. Neither spoke until dinner was finished. The Zuko stood. He looked down at Katara with eyes that appeared to be full of hate. He quickly flowed out of the room, his armor barely making a sound. Zuko turned down the hall way that led to the high security cells of the ship
Katara was left in Zuko's room, alone…
