No own.

Song for this chapter is Hot N Cold by Katy Perry. I felt like this chapter needed a lighter song, and there's nothing frothier than Katy Perry. It's a bit of a mood setter. Enjoy! And find it here - http://wwwDOTyoutubeDOTcom/watch?v=rYZ9HZW7RYk - replace DOT with .

Chapter Nine - Schandenfreude

Just because Katara tolerates Zuko now doesn't mean she won't laugh as he struggles to rise from the bed. She leans against the door, enjoying watching him fail after he declared at least five times that he is okay. She can feel the smirk spreading across her face and his desperate attempts to avoid humiliation. She could tell him that it is too late for that.

She has come to his room this morning for the precise reason that he insisted was unnecessary. He doesn't need help, of course not. He is fine! It was a knock on the head, which is better now! Katara decides she will heal it completely today. His failures at mind-body coordination are funny, but a little worrying.

Drawing enough water out of her skin, she moves towards the protesting Zuko and places the healing glow around his head. She feels some bruising around his head, but is relieved to find that he is otherwise fine. Quickly she heals the damage, and then watches in satisfaction as he is able to rise from the bed without incident.

Suddenly, she realizes what she had forgotten in her amusement. She doesn't really know how to behave around him, although it seems natural to joke with him, she has to remind herself he is not her friend yet, not really. Zuko is a nice person, perhaps he did not betray them, but it seems strangely sudden to give up her animosity, as though it is a habit that is hard to get rid of.

Katara draws back quickly, and Zuko notices her involuntary steps back. He carefully does not show any emotions, also slightly confused on how to treat her. He is used to anger at her, despair at her unforgiving nature, regret and sadness. This, however, is something entirely new. Not quite friendship, but it might be.

"Thank you," he says, to break the silence that has formed between them. She smiles slightly, reminds him of his sister when she was younger, although there is no cruel undertone to Katara's smile.

"Want some breakfast?" she asks, makes him grateful for this gesture of friendliness. "Yes, but I'm not sure I should go down with this," he says, gesturing to his scar slightly self-consciously. He is surprised to find that the slight dull pain that normally comes while discussing it is almost gone. It had been a sharp reminder of his failure at first, and now he was somewhat...proud of it, it shows his refusal to conform with whatever is wrong. These are Iroh's words, not his, yet they console him. He reminisces slightly on how useful Iroh has been in gently guiding Zuko's path.

His mind is brought back to Katara as she fiddles with the curtain tie. "Couldn't you...disguise yourself or something?" she asks. Zuko considers the possibility, then decides it has been a long time since he was able to relax and enjoy a meal. "I could try," he says. Despite Katara's giggles that he is better at make up than her (for this is what the powder seems to be, apparently Mai's complexion is probably not naturally white) the scar is soon faded enough to be unnoticable in the dimmer light of the dining room of the inn.

He turns to leave, but notices that Katara is still rooted to the spot. "I could still heal that, you know?" she says, turning it into a question. Her hand half raises, and Zuko is reminded of the night in the cave. His hand gently brings down her hand before it reaches his face. "I think I've accepted it, it is a part of me now. I can't imagine myself without it," he explains. Her expression remains tentative, but her face lightens a little. She hopes that he has recovered from the night before. To have your own father...she cannot bear to think it.

They are soon down in the dining room, tucked out of sight in the dingiest corner. Zuko leans back into the shadows, away from the people in the room. There are not many at this time of day, too many are suffering from sake-sickness. He wonders whether this is truly the best inn he could have found. Of course, he had been in a hurry to find Katara at the time. With this new old Katara* he would probably have to rescue the pirates from her.

It is a relief to not have to worry about anything. Not the Fire Lord duties, nothing. He now realizes what a burden it has been the last few months to bear the weight of the kingdom. He never allows Iroh to help him, believing it is unfair to Iroh. Although he had been unwilling to admit it, he has been slightly excited about the mission. It is slightly pathetic how he has longed for some kind of adventure in his life once more.

Katara is polishing off her food and he realizes with a start she is soon going to start on his if he does not watch out. He quickly pulls his plate towards himself and begins to gobble not too dignifiedly, this isn't a state dinner. He's glad for it. He had seen her hand slinking along the table toward his food.

She draws back with a disappointed look, he thinks just for a second about her childishly droll expression before triumphantly eating. She sticks out her tongue.

"Very mature Katara," he says loftily. She splashes some water on his head and he begins to steam before realizing they could be attracting attention. A few people around the room look curious. This is not a good sign, they are still in the Earth Kingdom docks, not the safest place for the Fire Lord and the people in this room this early are the ones who are still inebriated from the previous night.

Some of the revellers are moving towards Zuko and Katara in drunken confusion. They have not yet figured out their identities, fortunately. This is evidence of their intoxication, as Katara's identity is not extremely hard to guess, especially with her spirit back. Katara begins to grow worried. A familiar looking man stumbles towards Zuko. She thinks she has seen him in the Earth Rumble...was his name The Hippo? He is recognizable from his distinctly large teeth.

Zuko swallows. To begin a conflict here is not possible. He draws back, trying to hide his scar in the shadows - the back of his chair touches the wall, there is no further to go.

"Oof!" Zuko gasps, as a warm weight lands in his lap and arms encircle his neck. He starts and is about to throw off the person when the arms tighten around his neck and a familiar voice whispers in his ear.

"Shut up!" Katara mutters. "I'm hiding your scar for you. And this way we'll seem more like the type of people that do live here." She leans back slightly and appears to tip over from the effort, causing him to reflexively put his hands around her back to stop her from making them both fall from the chair. "Good," she leans in, artfully letting her hair fall over his face. He gulps.

Bam. The door slams into the wall as someone stumbles through in a hurry and both of them jump. He can smell her - she smells fresh somehow, a bit like sesame. Both of them miss the man's initial statement but all hear the cheering at his next words. "The Dragon of the West's gone!"

*(A/N - That's NOT a typo)

AUTHOR'S NOTES: A nice break from action. SO hard to write! Sorry for the cliffie :) Most people have another word for sake-sickness! Obligatory shoutout to fandomme included in this chapter. Read her story Stormbenders if you haven't already!

I loved the amount of reviews I got last chapter. :) The title of this chapter means enjoyment in another's misfortune, and is perfectly applicable for all of the chapter!

Thanks for YET more fanart. I love you all! Look at my profile for links.