Caution: Some violence, suggestive content, and swearing. But it makes the story more fun, right?
When Katara awoke the next morning, her head felt slightly buzzed and her ears were ringing. The last thing she remembered clearly was drinking that fire whiskey. The rest was a bit fuzzy. Had she gone to bed? She was on a mattress, so she guessed that was correct. Or had someone put her to bed?
Katara tried to move, but felt something keeping her immobile. She opened her eyes and winced as bright sunlight pierced her eyes. She moaned and turned away from it. But she was then faced with a different sight. Zuko asleep beside her, his arm draped across her waist.
Suddenly, everything came flooding back to her. He'd taken her upstairs after she'd almost fallen asleep against him. He'd taken off her sandals and put her to bed. But she'd asked him to stay. Why? He was the enemy. Why would she ask him to stay? Then again, this was very nice and warm.
Zuko shifted and pulled her closer. Katara was wrapped in a blanket of warmth and couldn't help but snuggle closer. Slowly, the buzzing in her head subsided and her eyes closed of their own accord.
"You really can't hold your liquor, can you, Katara?"
She opened her eyes and stared into his golden gaze. He'd been awake the entire time. "You know," she said, "I should punch you for taking advantage of me while I'm asleep."
"Hey, you're the one who wanted me to stay," Zuko said, smiling. "Besides," he moved his leg between hers, making her gasp. "I think you like this."
Katara glanced down at his lips and licked her own. "Yeah, well...you could be wrong," she said, leaning closer.
Zuko smiled. "I don't think so." He leaned in until they were inches apart.
Just then, the door opened and Gawain walked in with Niceros behind him. "Oh," he said, snickering. "Excuse us."
Katara sat up and smoothed her hair back. "Uh, Breber wants you both downstairs and ready to leave within the half hour," Niceros said, trying to hide his own smile.
"Alright," Katara said, standing up. "We'll be down in a few minutes."
Gawain nodded and stared. "You know, if you need any help with-"
"Good-bye, Gawain," Katara said, pushing them out the door.
He turned to look at her and whispered, "Great job, Kat." He winked, but Katara rolled her eyes and closed the door.
She turned to Zuko and bit her lip to keep her groan at seeing him on the bed. He had taken the patch off and was also shirtless. It really didn't help that the sun cast shadows over his hard abs. Katara's grip on the door handle tightened. Oh. Why did he have to look so good?
Katara swallowed and walked over to the bed. She sat on the opposite side of the bed and slipped her sandals on. An arm wrapped around her middle and warm breath tickled her ear. She closed her eyes and pulled her will back before it was completely gone. "I think we should get ready and go downstairs," she said, though she didn't move.
"I guess you're right," Zuko said, though he didn't move, either.
Katara turned her head and swallowed as she realized he was so close. Zuko leaned in for a kiss, but Katara stood abruptly and said, "I think I'll go get some breakfast." She headed toward the door. "See you downstairs, Zuko." As she closed the door, she leaned against it and let out a breath. That was close.
Katara headed downstairs and found the group already having their meal of bread, cheese, fruit, and meat. She slid into a spot next to Jack and grabbed a slice of bread. Gawain leaned over and said, "Have a good night?"
She shot him a glare. "I don't see how that is any of your business."
"Someone's in a snippy mood today," he said. "What, wasn't it any good?"
"What wasn't good?" Zuko said, joining them.
Gawain flushed a bit, but covered. "The mattresses here. Mine was really lumpy."
"Too bad," Zuko said, taking a seat. "Mine was quite comfortable and warm."
Katara blushed and took a drink of water. She felt the glances her team was giving her. Breakfast was finished quickly and they went to get their ostrich-horses. Breber pulled her aside while the others got the mounts and gear. "Did anything happen last night?" he asked.
Katara shook her head. "No. I only went to bed," she said. She lowered her voice a bit, "And kind of asked him to stay. But nothing happened," she assured him quickly.
"Nothing?" Breber asked.
"Nothing," she assured. "I was drunk and Zuko just put me to bed. He was being kind and that is all." Katara sighed. "Look, chief, I'm not so naïve as to believe in any of those fairy tales that a girl from a lower class grows up to marry a prince. I'm not going to start anything up with Zuko."
Breber nodded. "Good. As long as you know that." He stared off into the distance and sadly said, "Soldiers and royalty don't mix."
Katara nodded. She turned to go, but turned back after a pause. "Breber," she said.
"Yes?" he asked.
"I may not be able to have a relationship with Zuko, but that doesn't mean that you should give up on Azula."
Breber jolted in surprise. "What-"
"It's no use hiding it to me, Breber," Katara said. "Any woman can see that you pin after the princess. And it's because she's a princess that I say go ahead with it." Now, Breber was confused.
"What does that have to do with anything?" he asked.
Katara smiled. "She's a princess, not the Fire Lord. The Fire Lord has to marry someone for political reasons above anything else. The princess is basically in the back ground. If she struck up a relation with a soldier, and not just any soldier, a Nonpareil soldier; not many people would really care. Some would even encourage it by saying that you could protect her."
As her ostrich-horse was pulled up beside her, she mounted. "Anyway," she said, slipping her feet into the stirrups. "You seem to be the only man that she's comfortable talking with on a flirting level."
She left Breber thinking over what she'd said, and headed over to Riom. He was slouched in the saddle, carving away like he always did. "Good morning, Riom," she said.
He looked up and nodded. "Morning." He stopped his carving for a moment and leaned forward. "Hey, how did you learn those acrobat tricks and that tightrope walking so fast?"
Katara shrugged. "Jack and Gawain taught me a few things before left. You know, after your dance lessons."
Riom nodded. He looked over at Breber. "You giving Breber advice on his Azula problem?" he asked.
Katara looked over at her captain, who had finally mounted his ostrich-horse. "I told him that not many people would look down on him if he started a relationship with her. But the rest is up to him, I guess. If he wants to date her, then he'll have to do that himself."
Riom shrugged and went back to his carving. It was starting to look like the woman Katara had seen in the ball room. Mai, Zuko had said her name was. It was life like in its detail. "So, what about you and Zuko?" Riom asked suddenly.
Katara jerked a bit, pulling on the reins. Her ostrich-horse sidestepped and she hurried to get her mount under control. The group looked at her, but she smiled sheepishly. They turned back to their own gear after a second.
"What?" Katara asked, forcing a laugh. "Zuko and I do not have anything going on, so there is nothing 'about' us." There never could be. For obvious reasons.
Riom smirked. "Then why do you defend yourself so quickly?" he asked. Katara stared at him and watched as he clicked his mount into a walk.
The team was heading out and she hurried to join them. Some people waved them good-bye, requesting that they come back soon to perform again.
They traveled for a while, stopping for lunch and rest breaks. Gawain and Jack practiced a couple of acrobatic tricks and Niceros napped under a tree. Katara spent this break learning wood carving from Riom. She messed up a couple of times, but Riom said that it was alright. "If you make a mistake, try and make it into what you're carving." he said.
"I never thought carving could be so difficult," she said, nicking off too much of the wood. She sighed. "I'm never gonna get this, Riom."
Riom smiled and nudged her shoulder. "You will, Katara. Don't expect to learn everything on your first try. When I first started, my cat looked like a lopsided giraffe."
Katara laughed and went back to her carving. She looked around quickly and noticed that Breber and Zuko hadn't come back from getting fresh water. "Where's Breber and Zuko?" she asked.
"They're a bit tied up at the moment," a voice said behind her. She turned around, knife at the ready and froze as she saw her captain and charge bound and gagged against a tree.
A tall man with his black hair pulled into a pony tail, was standing next to them, dressed in a blue Water Tribe tunic. He stepped out of the woods and said, "Capture them." A swarm of people jumped out of the forest, grabbing them and holding their arms behind their back. Two men grabbed Katara's arms and pinned them behind her.
The man walked up and smiled down at her. "It's been a while, Katara," he said.
Katara's heart picked up. This numskull was going to blow her mission if he lets too much out. "I can't say I'm happy to see you, Koda." she said, glaring at him.
"You know this guy?" Jack asked, struggling against his captors.
Katara hoped Koda would understand her. "We met back at the Colonies. Can't say I cared for him there, either."
Koda chuckled and cupped her chin. She leaned away from his touch. "You had a smart mouth then, too," he said.
"Smarter than you could ever be," she said. Koda raised his hand and slapped her. Her head turned and she gritted her teeth at the pain. She knew that the slap was necessary to sell her cover, but it still hurt! She saw her team yank at their bonds, but, what surprised her the most, was the angry look in his eyes. He cared that much?
Koda leaned forward. "Don't back talk to me, you filthy Fire Nation whore," he hissed. He captured her chin again, leaning forward. "You been giving the goods to all of these men, why not give some to me?" He slammed his lips over hers.
Katara cringed and tried to pull back, but Koda pulled her closer, pinning her arms to her sides. She struggled, but his grip tightened as he tongue tried to force its way past her lips. Katara reached into her pocket and grabbed a knife. Instinct kicked in, then. She was beyond caring about the cover, now.
Her body drew her knife out of the pocket, brought it up, and sliced his arm. Koda released her and grabbed his arm. "You-"
"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you, Koda," she warned, dropping into a protective stance and drawing out another knife.
He glared at her. "We've never hurt a woman before and we've orders not to," he growled. He jerked to his men and they vanished into the forest. Koda advanced toward her for a step, but stopped when Katara pulled one of her knives back. He stepped back toward the forest. "You will regret this, Katara. You'll die by our hands." Then, he vanished.
Katara waited for a moment, listening for an indication that they weren't alone. When she was sure, she hurried to Breber and untied him. "What happened?" Katara asked as she worked on Zuko's binds.
He pulled the gag out and sighed. "We were getting water and they jumped us. Their waterbenders used water whips to freeze us so the others could bind and gag us," Breber said, rotating his shoulders.
Katara stilled her movements. "Waterbenders?" she said.
"About three. Two men and one woman with white hair. All young," Breber said, standing up.
Katara went back to untying Zuko. A woman with white hair. That must be Yui, the leader of the North Pole Waterbenders. So, it was one of the most dangerous tribes the Elders had sent. And she'd just made the second in command mad beyond all reason. She was dead.
She finished untying Zuko. He reached up and touched the bruise. Katara flinched. "I should have killed him," he growled.
Katara smiled weakly. "It doesn't hurt that much," she said.
He raised his thumb and rubbed it over her bottom lip. Katara shivered. He watched her and stared at her lips. "I should dismember him for kissing you," he said. Katara stared at him in surprise. Zuko felt this strongly about the incident?
Zuko pulled her closer and touched his lips to hers. Katara was so shocked, she was frozen in place. Slowly, her eyes closed and she leaned into the kiss. Zuko cupped her face and pulled back slightly. "There," he said. "Now you have my taste on your lips instead of his."
Katara was shocked speechless. She had just kissed her enemy and target...and loved it! She stared at him and licked her lips. They tasted like dark charcoal and strong mint.
"Katara!" Breber called. "Hurry up and mount. We're moving out before those rebels get too far."
She nodded and stood. Zuko stood, as well. Katara turned to him and said, with a smile, "You taste much better than him, Zuko." She turned and climbed into her saddle.
Zuko mounted beside her and smiled. "That's always good news," he said and slapped the reins.