Chapter 10 - Plans Unravel
Zuko really wished he could include Katara in his work. He wished the two of them could be a team working together to capture the avatar. But, he knew better then to expect that. Despite her choosing to come with him the avatar was still her friend.
Before they separated Zuko discreetly pointed out Jee Lee to Katara and suggested she stay clear. She had recognized him as the soldier who knocked her unconscious and had no problem with staying away.
Zuko now stood up on deck with a few trusted soldiers going over maps and battle plans. Every soldiers on the ship had been informed of Katara as much as was necessary for them to be. Wisely, no one so far had chosen to ask questions or bring her up.
"Keep heading north and we're bound to get a sighting," said Zuko. "Maybe we'll even get lucky and he'll think we've kidnapped Katara and come straight to us."
"Did we kidnap her?" asked one bold officer.
"I've told you to follow her orders as well as mine. What do you think?" responded Zuko.
"I'm just asking. If this is some kind of scheme we would like to know now before we get... attached," he continued.
"Because a lot of us are already starting to like her," added another.
Zuko straightened himself up as he regarded his soldiers. They meant it, he could tell Katara had already wormed her way into their hearts. "Katara is here to stay," he finally said.
Zuko as always got lost in his work. By the time he had even thought to take a break it was dark. It was only his stomach that forced him to stop. He hadn't had anything to eat since that morning and he was just now beginning to feel it.
By the time he made it to the dinning room, Katara and Iroh were already seated with their food and deep in conversation. Iroh was the first to notice him. "Ah, there you are Zuko," he greeted "We were beginning to wonder if you were going to skip dinner as well."
"There was a lot of work to be done," was Zuko's reply.
"There always is," Iroh responded. "You missed quite the show today from miss Katara. She's an amazing water bender."
"Your uncle highly exaggerates," Katara replied blushing at the praise. "Iroh was kind enough to teach me a few things today."
"Did that help?" Zuko asked. "I mean with you being different elements."
"I learned a lot," was Katara's reply.
"Although there are differences when bending different elements, the basics are the same ,"responded Iroh. There is also nothing wrong with learning a different way of dong things. I will teach you all you are willing to learn Katara. But, you should still look for a water master as well."
"Thank you Iroh," Katara replied.
"I'm disappointed I missed your bending. I haven't seen it in years. I'll have to stop by tomorrow," Zuko told Katara.
"If your able to drag yourself away from those maps long enough," she teased.
He ignored her and attempted to change the subject. "It seems my crew has taken quite a liking to you Katara. They wanted reassurances from me that you were staying." His voice was teasing. But, his eyes we're questioning.
"Well you can tell then that I have no plans on going any place else," was her response.
"That's what I told them. They seemed very happy to hear it," responded Zuko.
"I bet they did," replied Iroh. "I saw a few smitten young men on deck today while Katara was training." Both men laughed at Katara's red face.
"Is that so?" Zuko asked teasingly.
"Yes, it seems you have competition Zuko," replied Iroh. It was Katara's turn to laugh with Iroh at Zuko's shocked face.
He rolled his eyes after he had gotten over his uncle's comment. "Very funny," he said.
After dinner Iroh headed off to his room to enjoy a new scroll he'd found at the last port they had been on. Zuko and Katara decided to spend the rest of the night up on deck. Zuko noticed that once again Katara was giving his face a few curious glances. Zuko was grateful that she hadn't asked up to this point. But, he knew that eventually he was going to need to explain and judging by the determined look on her face he would have to talk about it soon.
"So, what happened?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"Does it bother you?" he asked never before being so self conscious about his scar.
"Yes, of course it bothers me," she responded in a voice that told him he should have know that already. He did. But, it still hurt to hear. "How could I not be bothered when the evidence that my best friend has been in a lot of pain is right in front of me. And judging by the type of injury it was no accident either."
"It wasn't an accident. My father did more then banish me that day," he responded.
Katara grit her teeth and shook her head in anger. But, after a few moments she loosened her back up and looked at Zuko. "But, back to whether it bothers me. No Zuko it doesn't bother me, not in the way that you were thinking." She paused a little before continuing. "And I know looks don't matter much. But, you are a very good looking young man, Zuko," she told him while bumping his shoulder with hers.
He rolled his eyes at her. "Sure," he said sarcasticly. But, he couldn't help the grin that had settled on his lips. "But, thanks. Even if its a lie, its nice to her from someone like you."
"Someone like me?" he repeated questioningly.
"Well you know," he responded. She gave him a look that clearly said he needed to elaborate. "Coming from someone as gorgeous as you," he elaborated.
"Thanks," she told him after a pause.
"Come on, you knew that already, Its obvious," he said just slightly embarrassed at having to say it out loud.
"Maybe to you," she responded back. "How am I to know how I look to boys my age. The only males I've spent any time with since I was eleven was my brother and a twelve year old boy."
"Well, that's certainly changed. Your on a ship filled with men, a lot of them your age," responded Zuko. "Pretty soon I'll have to be beating them off with a stick."
She just rolled her eyes at him. "You wouldn't have to resort to that to get them to do as you say. I've just had one day on this ship and I can already see how much these men respect you," she told him. "I'm assuming its not the same back in the Fire Nation?" she asked him.
"Well, to my men I'm already Fire Lord," he told her. "But, when we are in the Fire Nation they have to follow Ozai to keep up appearance. So, do I."
"So, what's going to happen to me once you catch Aang and return to the Fire Nation?" she asked him.
"I'll keep you safe," he told her. He didn't like that she had used the avatar's name. He preferred not knowing. It was difficult enough knowing he was a child and Katara's friend.
"But, you just said yourself. I'm safe on this ship with you and your men. But, we would both be delusional to think that I would be safe in your father's hands," she insisted.
"You wouldn't be in my father's hands. You would be with me," he half yelled in defense.
"But, I would be in your father's hands. You said yourself that you have no control over even your own men back home. I'd be put in a dungeon along side Aang, or worse," she yelled back.
"I wont let that happen," he defended.
"You keep saying that. Tell me how you wont let it happen," she insisted." "And what about Aang..."
"Stop saying that!" he yelled.
"Saying what? What part?" she yelled back.
Zuko took a deep breath to control himself. "I'm going to bed," he finally said stiffly. "I'll see you in the morning. He turned around and stocked off only hearing a bitter good night before he was out of earshot.
He had told Katara he was going to bed. But, even as he said that he knew that wasn't where he was going. Iroh received no warning before his nephew came storming into his room. "Now I understand why women are rarely aloud on ships!" he shouted. "She knows I'd never let anyone harm her. And she knows there's nothing I can do about Aang's fate. Damn it, now she's got me saying it!"
"Something happen with Katara," Iroh asked? Zuko glared at the amused look on his uncle's face.
"There is nothing funny about this. One minute were complimenting each other. The next we're arguing," shouted Zuko.
"You both are rather stubborn and hot headed. Arguments are bound to happen, Zuko. What was the argument about?" Iroh asked.
"Katara is worried about what happens to her when we get back to the Fire Nation," responded Zuko.
"Rightly so," Iroh responded. When Zuko gave him a disbelieving look he continued. "You and I both know that Ozai is not going to be okay with a water bender living in the palace. She would be sent to the dungeons, no matter what you said. You know this already."
"What am I suppose to do," responded Zuko.
"I know you don't want to hear this. But, it may be best if she left with her brother after you capture Aang," said Iroh patiently.
"Damn it, now even you are saying that name," he shouted.
"It would just be until your Fire Lord," responded Iroh.
"Uncle, I just found out that she is still alive. We've only been together again for one day. Are you telling me that moment I am finally able to capture Aang, I'll need to say good bye to Katara?" he demanded.
"Unless you want to see her locked away in a dungeon with who knows what done to her, then yes." He responded.
Zuko knew his uncle was right. But, he still didn't like it. "There's got to be another way."
"Is there?" asked Iroh. "Can you think of a way to keep yourself and youg Katara together and still end the war?"
"I will," Zuko told him very determined.
"There are casualties when fighting a war Zuko," Iroh told him.
"I've already lost everything fighting this war. Now that I've gotten one of those things back, I will find a way to keep her with me," responded Zuko.