I do not own Avatar or any of the charactors.
A Quiet Meal Together
They settled into camp before sundown. The mood was still very somber and quiet. As she prepared dinner for them Katara thought back to her earlier argument with Zuko. She shouldn't have let herself lose her control like that, but he could make her so angry so quickly. Why was that, she thought? Why is it that whenever I'm around him I don't know whether to laugh with him or ring his neck. He was so different from every other guy she knew. At first he had always seemed so angry. His need to capture Aang drove him to go to incredible lengths causing him to do some pretty mean things to them over the past few months. In fact she had never known someone so single minded in his determination. Yet after their conversation this morning she could start to understand why he was like that. She had gained new insights into his character that she would never have thought existed. She had always seen him so one dimensionally. She never stopped to think of his life before. The Fire Nation had always been the enemy. It was hard to picture them as having families and homes just like the people from the other nations. Yet he had had a family and then in a moment he had lost it all. His pain had been so clear on his face as he recounted the story of the agni kai. How horrible that his own father would disfigure him and then worse send him away on a mission that was seen as futile. It was obvious to her that the Fire Lord never intended for Zuko to return home. She wondered if Zuko realized that as well.
She had promised Zuko not to pry into his past but she really wanted to know more. She knew that she was treading on dangerous ground. The more she learned about him the more she felt closeness with him. If she wasn't careful she might find herself falling for him. No stupid, she chided herself that would be disastrous. But still she couldn't help but want to be with him.
She roused herself from her thoughts as she finished the meal. "Food's ready!" she called to everyone. It didn't take long for Sokka to come over with a plate ready to eat.
"It's about time Katara, I'm starving."
"You're always starving" Toph interjected as she came up to the fire.
Katara served their meals and then noticed that Zuko hadn't gotten up. He was looking away lost in thought. She prepared a plate for him and brought it over to where he sat. "Food's ready. I thought you might be hungry."
He looked up a little startled by her words. "Oh, I'm sorry I was just thinking about things. I didn't hear you." He reached out and took the food from her. "Would you like to join me?" he asked in a soft voice. He sounded sad as if something were troubling him.
"Of course I would. Let me get my food and I'll be right back." She went back to the fire and prepared her plate. As she stood to leave Sokka spoke in a hushed voice. "Where are you going?"
"Zuko asked me to sit with him."
"Katara I don't think that that would be a good idea. You two are already getting too close for my comfort. He still is the enemy, remember?"
"Sokka I'm fine. Just relax ok. I'm a big girl and I can handle myself." With that she walked over and sat next to Zuko on the ground.
"Is everything ok with you and your brother?" he asked.
"He's fine. He just needed to remind me to be on my guard. You know I am fraternizing with the enemy." She replied with a little giggle.
He looked at her with a serious expression on his face. "You know Katara you shouldn't just brush your brother's words of caution aside. He's right to be concerned about you."
She looked at him and said lightly, "I don't think that you're going to do anything to hurt me right at this moment."
"I've hurt you in the past" he replied," What makes you so sure that I won't do it again?"
His expression was so serious that she was momentarily taken aback. "Zuko, we do have quite a history when it comes to hurting each other. Over the past we have really gone at it, but I think for the moment we can call a truce. Don't you?"
His expression softened just a bit. "Yeah, a truce would be nice. I'd like that."
She gave him a smile and then said, "Well then eat up. The food is safe."
He laughed at her remark and started to eat. For awhile they ate in silence and then he spoke. "You know I wanted to apologize about this afternoon. I had a lot on my mind and I just kind of snapped."
"I was a little out of line too," she returned. "It's just that sometimes you can really make me mad."
"I can make you mad! The same could be said about you." He teased. "You are not the easiest person to get along with."
"Oh and you are the model of friendliness and good cheer." She laughed.
"Hey I'll have you know that my easy going nature has made me many friends over the past few years. I mean look at Admiral Zhao, he and I got along famously."
"Yes well he was a little crazy. In fact he was a lot crazy. I always wondered what happened to him."
Zuko looked pained and the teasing banter stopped. "The Water Spirit took him at the North Pole. I tried to help him but he refused. In the end he let it take him."
"Why would you try and save him. He was a horrible person. He could have destroyed the balance of the entire world."
"I can't explain it. I knew he was crazy and I really hated him, but I couldn't just let him die. It's funny because moments before we had been fighting. I would have gladly killed him, but somehow that was different. I mean he had tried to have me killed just a short time before. I wanted payback."
"What do you mean he tried to have you killed? You're the prince of the Fire Nation. I would think that killing you would be treasonous."
"Not the way Zhao saw it. He discovered that I was the Blue Spirit and decided that I was the traitor and should die."
"You are the Blue Spirit!" she said amazed. "How could that be? I mean you rescued Aang from Zhao?"
"Yeah that was me. I thought that the Avatar would have told you."
"He never said that he knew who it was, least of all you. I can't believe you rescued Aang from being turned over to the Fire Lord."
"Well I did." Zuko said. "But I didn't do it out of sense of honor. I couldn't let Zhao take the Avatar. I helped him escape so that I could return him to my father."
"But it didn't quite work out like that."
"No. In the end it was the Avatar who saved me. He found out who I was after I had been knocked out. He could have left me to Zhao, but he didn't. I never understood that. He should have left me."
"Aang would never do that. He cares for people too much. He knew what Zhao would do to you so he took you with him."
"Well in the end Zhao discovered it was me. He hired the pirates from that market to blow up my ship. They gladly agreed."
"He blew up your ship!"
"With me on it. I was lucky to have escaped with my life."
"Unbelievable." She said.
"Yeah, well our history went back way further than that. We actually dueled shortly after I discovered that the Avatar had returned."
"You and Zhao fought an agni kai?"
"Yes we did and I won."
"But I never noticed any scars on…" she stopped herself before she said it, but she could see that it still hurt him.
"That's because in the end I couldn't do it. I had him beat and I could have left him just as scarred as I was, but I couldn't. The memory of the pain of my burn will live with me forever. I would never want to inflict that on anyone."
"How did he take the defeat?"
"Not well. He tried to attack me when my back was turned. My uncle stopped him. He said that I showed more honor in my exile than Zhao did as a Fire Nation Commander."
"Your uncle was right" she said.
"Thank you." He simply replied.
Again they ate in silence. When they had finished he turned to her and said. "Here let me take your plate."
"Oh it's ok I'll get the dishes."
"No really, let me do it. You made the meal. Let me show my gratitude by cleaning up for you."
"Alright if you insist, but I'm just a little curious to see how you're going to do that with just one arm"
He smiled at her. "Well I posses many talents that you haven't seen. I guess you'll just have to come with me and observe for yourself."
She found herself smiling at him. "I'd hate to miss it. But I'll tell you what; I'll collect up the other dishes and meet you over by the stream. That way the entertainment can get started quickly."
"You're on." He stated and started to walk away.
If she hadn't known better she would say that they were flirting with each other. No, not flirting, she never flirted and she couldn't believe that Zuko would even know how. But still she had a hard time hiding the silly grin that spread all over her face as she thought about it. She collected the other plates and was headed to the stream when Sokka stopped her.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?"
"Well let me see, I've got dirty dishes from the meal and I'm heading off towards the stream, I'd say I'm going to go wash up after dinner."
"Yeah funny, but I just saw Zuko head in that direction as well. Somehow I can't believe that he's going to help you."
"Oh he's not, Sokka. He's going to do it himself."
"Sure he is, by himself, broken arm and all."
"Yeah, that's what's going to make it fun to watch. Come on Sokka, it's not everyday that royalty washes your dirty dishes. And since you never volunteer to help, I guess I just have to stick with Zuko."
"Very funny Katara, but I think you're missing the point. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are getting way too close to this guy and he is going to hurt you."
"He can't do much more than he's already done. Come on Sokka, lighten up. I can deal with him."
"Katara you are playing with fire."
"Well it's a good thing that I'm skilled in water bending then. Any fires he starts I'll just put out."
"Not funny, Katara. Please use a little common sense here."
She started to get a little annoyed with her brother. "I'm not the one who acts before he thinks. In fact I'm pretty responsible. I can handle Zuko just fine." With that she turned and walked off towards the stream. Brothers, she fumed, they think they know everything.
He knelt down at the water's edge and placed one of the plates in the shallow water. Using his right hand he rubbed at the leftover food on the plate. He looked up as Katara approached and he noticed that her playful expression from earlier was gone. He wondered if he had inadvertently done something to make her mad.
"Something bothering you?" he asked a little hesitantly.
"Oh, it's just that brothers are such idiots!" she said angrily.
"Well in the case of your brother I would have to agree."
A smile crept on her face and she said, "Augh! Sokka's not really an idiot he just makes me so mad. He acts like I can't think for myself. If I have to hear any more warnings from him about being careful, I think I'm going to scream."
"You know your brother is not one of my favorite people, but I can tell that he cares about you. If he's concerned it's probably with good reason."
"Good reason!" she exclaimed as she laid the rest of the dirty dishes next to him. "I have never given him good reason to doubt my judgment."
"Never?" he inquired as he laid the first cleaned plate on the grass by the stream... "I seem to remember a time when you stole that scroll from those friendly pirates. That could have got you killed and it almost cost your friend his freedom."
"Enough about the scroll. They were pirates. They tried to kill you. You should be the last person defending their rights. And let's not forget that it was your desire to capture Aang that led the pirates to our camp anyways. Besides it's my judgment where you are concerned that he is always questioning. Maybe I should just listen to him and leave you alone to your work." She said rather hotly.
You should listen to him, he thought to himself. Again he questioned what he was doing with her. He shouldn't be here. He shouldn't encourage her, but his selfish desire to spend time with her seemed to override his better judgment. "Whoa, slow down Katara."
"Yeah, slow down when it means I might leave you with all the work."
"The work I intend to do by myself. It's the company that I don't want to lose." As soon as the words came out of his mouth he could have kicked himself. Don't sound like such a wimp. Don't plead with her to stay.
Her cross expression instantly changed to one of surprise. She seemed like she was going to say something and then thought better not to. He noticed a faint blush color her cheeks and then she looked down.
Still feeling foolish for his last comment, he found that he was at a loss for words as well. Quickly he picked up another plate and turning back to the water he started to wash it. He felt embarrassed. Why was he getting so tongue tied around her. After all he was royalty. He was used to being around important people from all over the Fire Nation. Making conversation was never difficult. But with her it was different. She was actually making him nervous.
He finished the next plate and was about to set it down when he sensed Katara kneel down next to him. Silently she put out her hand to take the plate from him. He handed it to her and as she took it their eyes met. She smiled at him and he couldn't help but smile in return.. He then went back to the task at hand. Slowly and silently they finished the dishes. He sat back and let out a deep breath. The chore had been harder than he would have thought, but he had done it. He noticed that she too had sat down.
"Thank you for your help." He said. "That was a little more work than I expected."
"Hey I should thank you. No one else around here ever thinks to help out with the cleaning. Somehow its always left to me. It's nice to have willing help." She replied. From her light tone he could tell that it really didn't bother her that much. In fact it seemed as if this little group ran pretty smoothly with everyone for the most part sharing in the responsibilities. Maybe that's why he had wanted to help out tonight. It made him feel included, like he belonged in some way. But he really didn't belong he reminded himself. Even if he wanted to, they would never accept him.
Slowly he started to rise. "We should get back to camp."
He noticed her expression change again. She almost looked disappointed. "Well if you want to go back to camp, I guess we could. I just thought that you wanted to talk some more. I mean after that comment earlier I just assumed…" She cut herself off and stood up rather abruptly. Grabbing the plates she said in a more brusque voice, "you know you're probably right we really should head back."
"Katara," he said and then stopped himself.
"Yes?" she looked up with a hopeful expression.
Once again he was tongued tied. "I do enjoy your company. I mean you're different than I thought you would be."
"Different? How is that?"
"I don't know I just thought you'd be a little more irritating."
"A little more irritating! A little more irritating than what Zuko? I mean if we want to talk irritating I think you might take the prize."
"That's not what I meant. You're twisting my words!" he replied heatedly. "And just what is that supposed to mean that I would take the prize. I am not irritating."
"Oh really? You have an unbelievable ability to show up at the worst possible moment and then harass us mercilessly. You are like a bad headache that won't go away no matter how much you want it to. I would call that pretty irritating!"
He stood with his mouth open. Words wouldn't come. How had he gotten into this? "Look," he finally said, "I didn't mean to insult you. Actually I was complimenting you. I thought you would be irritating, but you're not. It was a compliment. You just took it wrong."
"A compliment? Being told that I'm not as irritating as you thought I would be is a compliment?"
"Yeah… well sort of… I mean…" with that he turned away from her. Once again he had made a mess of things. Why couldn't he just say the right thing around her? Nothing ever came out the way he intended it to. Suddenly he felt the sting of water smacking him on the back of the head. He turned to look at her with anger in his eyes. "What did you do that for?"
"You deserve it for being such a jerk!"
"A jerk! I was just being honest, but you know I'm beginning to think that maybe I was wrong." As he spoke he covered the distance between them and getting right in her face he said, "You are a lot irritating!"
"Back off Zuko." She said with anger in her voice.
"Why should I back off? You started it."
"I started it!"
"Yes, you hit me in the head with a water whip."
"And you called me irritating."
With that she backed up a step to get away. Forgetting her footing on the creek side, she started to slip backwards. Instinctively he put out his hand to catch her, but the force of her fall pulled them both into the water. He landed on top of her in the shallow water. Instantly they made eye contact. Suddenly all his anger gave way to a new feeling. As their eyes held he said, "Katara that all came out wrong."
"Really?" she replied rather breathlessly.
"Yes I was trying to compliment you; it's just that when I'm alone with you I get…well nothing comes out the way I intend it to."
"Oh" was her simple reply.
As he watched her mouth form the word he felt a heat start to warm him from within. Without thought he started to lean in towards her lips. When he got within inches he spoke softly. "Really, I just wanted to say that I enjoy being with you."
"Oh." She said again.
"Yeah really." And then instinctively he brought his lips to hers in a kiss.
As soon as Zuko's lips met hers Katara felt as if a jolt of electricity was coursing through her entire body. His lips felt so good against her own. They were so soft and warm. It was hard to believe that with these same lips he had uttered such insulting words only moments before. Of coarse all of that was forgotten as soon as he leaned in for the kiss. She would never have imagined that Prince Zuko could be such a good kisser.
Prince Zuko, she suddenly thought. She was lying in a shallow stream kissing Prince Zuko, her enemy for almost the past year. Instantly her eyes flew open and placing her hands on his chest she gave a push. He fell back with a grunt.
"Why did you do that?" he asked in a somewhat dazed voice.
"You're Prince Zuko!" she exclaimed, as if that would explain everything. He looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
"Ok we both know who I am, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"We were kissing!"
"Another obvious fact." He replied beginning to sound a little terse.
"Well I can't kiss you…you've chased us all over the world …you're trying to capture Aang… besides Sokka would freak if he saw us together kissing…I would never hear the end of it…"
"Enough!" he said and started to rise. "I get the point. Look I just got a little carried away ok?"
"A little carried away?" she asked, then thinking about it she said, "Of coarse that's it we just got carried away. I mean it's only natural." She let out a nervous laugh and then looked down. The dishes were scattered at her feet in the water. She had dropped them when she fell. She leaned down to pick them. As soon as she had collected them she stood up and started to get out of the water. Zuko stood on the bank waiting for her. "I guess we should head back to camp."
He nodded his head, but remained silent. Quietly they started on their way. As they got nearer to camp she said suddenly, "I think it would be best if we didn't mention this to anyone."
He turned and looked at her, but his expression was unreadable. "Whatever you say." He responded.
"And I should probably bend the water out our clothes or they'll wonder why we're all wet."
"I guess." He responded tersely. They stopped walking and using her bending she dried their clothing.
"Alright then, I guess we'll just keep quiet about it; kind of like it never happened." At that he stiffened and looked at her. "What!" she asked feeling uncomfortable under his gaze.
He continued to stare at her and then nodding his head he said, "Fine!"
With that he continued on, no longer waiting for her to catch up. She stared after him feeling completely confused. He agreed with her about keeping quiet, yet he now seemed mad at her. She couldn't win with him.
When she reached camp he was already laying out his blankets and preparing for bed. Sokka met up with her and said, "So I guess he left you with the dishes after all."
Glaring at him she shoved the clean plates into his hands and said, "No Sokka, not everyone is as lazy as you, but if wouldn't tax you too much maybe you could pack them away for me." With that she turned and stomped over to her sleeping bag. She sat down and looked over at Zuko. His eyes met hers and then he rolled over to his right side, giving her his back. Yeah, he was mad. Well he shouldn't be, she thought. In actuality it was she that should be upset. After all he kissed her.
At the thought of that kiss she could feel her cheeks flush. She still couldn't believe that he had kissed her. And it had been a good kiss. Her first real kiss if you didn't count that one with Aang in the tunnels on the way to Omashu. Aang was more like a brother to her. She had just let the whole story of the two lovers get to her. It was a momentary lapse of judgment. But Zuko was something else entirely. With Zuko she had felt tingly all over, like every nerve in her body was awake. Her response to him scared her. Maybe that was why she acted like a complete idiot when she realized it. Augh! No wonder he was mad. She had really blown it with him. She stared at his back. Why did he have to be so complicated? And why did she have to start having feelings for him? After all he was still the enemy wasn't he? No, she thought, he stopped being the enemy four days ago when she healed him. No matter what she would never be able to look at him that way again.
A.N. This is the last of my prewritten chapters. I completely rewrote it from the start of the dish washing scene. They kissed in the original one as well but it was more mushy after that and I liked the tension that this slant on the story creates in the future chapters that I am working on. I hope you enjoy it.