A/N: Thanks to my TWO reviewers for this chapter. Hey, I know it wasn't the best chapter, but it was just to set things up for future events to come.
KC2016: Yeah I'm not much of a Taanger either. But it didn't feel right just leaving them hanging like that.
10pandaluvr10: I like pandas too. And thanks for the review :)
Zuko awoke to the scent of fire lilies and potato soup. A bundle of brown hair tickled his nose and a smooth, warm, soft surface fell under his hands. He felt her shift beneath him. Instinctively, he grabbed her tighter, and nestled his head into her hair. He drew soft circles around her navel, and with his free hand, caressed her stomach. Wait a minute, what? What is she doing here?! Zuko was finally fully alert, and completely aware of the entirety of the situation. Oh no. I must have sleep-walked into her cot last night! He looked across the cell and noticed that Katara's bed was empty. This doesn't make- Oh. It finally dawned on him. She was in his bed. She got up in the middle of the night to come to lay with me. Zuko already had to next few minutes planned in his mind. She'll wake up, but I'll still be 'sleeping'. She will either quietly go back to her cot and pretend like nothing happened, or jump up and start screaming and accusing me of violating boundaries and taking advantage of her. Zuko already knew it was going to be the latter of the two. Katara will start yelling and get all worked up, but then I'll just smile and say she's in MY bed. Zuko couldn't wait for the look of embarrassment on her face when she comes to the realization. Strangely, he felt sympathy for her and promised he wouldn't bring it up if she didn't. Just when he was finishing his last thought, a body began to move beneath him.
Oh that little piece of- She realized she was staring across at her own empty bed. Katara quickly put the pieces together and tilted her head upwards to see if his eyes were open. Oh thank Yue. She slid out from his tight grip, and crawled back to her cot. Staring at the ceiling, she tried to grasp what has just happened. I can't believe I just woke up in Zuko's arms. Wait did we- No! We couldn't have! No way! It's not possible. For sanity's sake, she shoved that creeping thought to the back of her mind. Oh Katara! You know you shouldn't have gone to bed like that! Remember in the South Pole, every time you would go to bed hungry, you would wake up, and the entire supply of seal jerky would have mysteriously disappeared! You need to watch yourself better. This time you got lucky, next time maybe you won't be.
Slowly, Zuko got up and stretched. He wanted it to look like he hadn't been watching her for the last ten minutes. "Are you awake?"
"... Huh? What?" Katara tried her best and let out a phony yawn. "Oh yeah... I guess. I am now."
"How did you sleep?" Zuko was dying of anticipation.
"Alright I guess. Pretty cold actually."
"Yeah, I saw you shivering so I gave you my blanket."
"Oh so that's where this came from." Katara lifted the wool spread up from her cot. "That was nice of you."
"I had an excellent sleep. Fantastic. As a matter of fact, better than I have in a long time." He tried to hold back a smirk.
"I'm glad to hear that." She wanted to change the subject. Fast.
"I had the weirdest dream though."
"Oh really?" This is it.
Zuko wanted to keep his promise and wait to see of she said anything.
Katara cleared her throat. "So, you wanna tell me about it?"
"Ehhh... No that's okay." Zuko wanted to give her an open chance. "Did you have any strange dreams?"
"Um well no not really." Katara could see she wasn't getting out of this. "... Zuko, there's something I have to tell you."
This is it. Zuko tried to pretend he wasn't interested. "What is it?"
"Well last night... I kind of... accidentally, through no fault of my own-"
"Breakfast. Eat fast. I'll be back in ten minutes." The door slammed behind the old man.
Dammit! Really? Now of all times! Zuko casually picked up the bowl of potato soup and stirred it with his spoon. "So what were you saying?"
"Oh nothing never mind."
"C'mon. Just tell me."
"It doesn't matter anymore. Just forget it." Katara had lost her nerve.
The awkward silence began to creep in. Zuko could tell Katara really wanted to tell him. "You know, as a Firebender, I have a really high internal heat."
"Yeah, so?"
"Well it comes in really handy when its cold, like a heater."
"Okay?"
"If your ever cold, at night I mean, if it wouldn't be too weird," He started to stumble on his words. "You could always, well... sleep with me..."
Katara coughed up her soup.
"I mean! Not sleep with me! But like sleep beside me. To be warm. Only to be warm."
"Well thanks for the offer." Katara blushed. C'mon he totally knows. Just say it. "Speaking of sleeping beside each other, I was really cold and sorta well... slept next to you last night."
"Oh really?" Zuko tried his best to look surprised. "I didn't even notice." He slurped some soup.
She wasn't buying it and put down her spoon. "You already knew, didn't you?"
"...Yes." He looked down and blushed.
"I'm sorry. I was afraid you'd be upset."
That shocked him a bit. Upset? Why would I be upset? "Well I wasn't."
The door opened. "C'mon. Give me your bowls. And boy, its your turn to use the bathroom." Zuko and Katara gobbled down the last bit and handed their bowls to the old man.
Before leaving, Zuko turned back. "It was kind of... nice actually."
"I'm going into town, does anyone need anything?"
Toph practically jumped out of her seat. "I'll go with you!"
"Uh, okay." Aang was a little confused at her enthusiasm. "Anyone else?"
"No, you kids have fun." Suki tried to discreetly wink at Toph, but it didn't get by Aang. Oh wait. She can't see.
"Well let's go now before the sun sets Toph."
"Let me just get my purse." She ran upstairs to her room.
Purse? Since when does Toph carry a purse? She doesn't seem like the 'purse' sorta person. "You ready?"
"Yes." She tried to bat her eyelashes.
"Wait- Toph. Are you wearing make-up?"
"Why yes I am."
"But- why?" Aang was extraordinarily confused.
"Well I'm almost 13. I thought I would start acting more like a girl."
"Well um, okay."
"Do you like it?" Wow don't I sound desperate.
"I guess it looks nice..." Aang rubbed the back of his head in confusion. "But it's just so unlike you."
Aang and Toph began to walk down the long windy, path to the center of Ember Island.
"Oh, when we pass by the perfume store will you remind me to pick a few things up?"
"Alright Toph. What's going on."
"What do you mean?" She tried to look as innocent as possible.
"Your acting so different! Why?" Aang wanted to know what was going on. Now.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Toph just tell me."
"Well you know how I may have a tiny, insignificant crush on you?"
Aang blushed. "...Yeah?"
"Well I was just trying to show you that I can be a cute, girly, pathetic water lilly."
"Oh." Aang didn't even think of that.
"But you don't feel the same way about me?" Toph wished she could trade places with the puddle of mud beside her.
"It's not that... It's just well... I like Katara... and everything is just so crazy right now."
"Its alright. I get it." That mud puddle was looking really good right about now. "Forget I said anything. I'm going back to the house.
Toph tried to hold back tears as she approached the house.
"Oh hey Toph! Back so soon? And we weren't doing anything..." Sokka backed away from Suki.
"Where's Aang?" Suki could tell something was wrong.
"Don't talk to me!" Toph threw down her purse and marched stairs.
"Wow. What's her problem?"
The sun was setting quickly. The orange autumn color reflected off Katara and Zuko's hair, giving them a godly aura. They were both silent, immersed in thought. Mostly of each other. While quietly searching through his mind, Zuko remembered something important.
"Tomorrow we're docking in Fire Fountain City."
"What? How do you know?!" Katara jumped off her cot.
"Well I overheard some soldiers talking about it."
"And you didn't think to tell me this sooner!"
"I'm sorry! I forgot okay!"
"Well we need a plan then!" Hope was beginning to return for Katara.
"Didn't we already talk about this?" Zuko stood up, face to face with Katara. "We aren't going to try escaping-!" He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Escaping remember!"
"Zuko, I don't think Aang is going to come and face Zhao." Katara whispered.
"Of course he is!" Zuko was nearly yelling again.
"Shh!" Katara covered his mouth . "And he knows facing the Firelord is more important." She released his lips. "I think we should try to escape."
"If we do escape, where are we going to go?"
"Well, you said its a big city. I'm sure we can find a place to hide."
"I don't know Katara." Zuko stepped back from her. "Its pretty risky."
"Just trust me okay?"
"We're going to need a plan."
"Already done." Katara smiled smugly.
"How? We just decided we were going to escape less than five seconds ago?"
"Unlike you, I always have a plan."
"That's not true!"
"Really? I think it was your lack of planning that got us stuck on this ship." Katara knew she got him there.
Zuko stepped into her face. "And who's the one that agreed to go along with my obvious lack of planning?" He smiled.
"Hmph." Katara retreated back to her bed.
"Zuko." Katara called in a harsh whisper from across the dark room. "Psst! Zuko! Are you awake?"
"Yes." How am I supposed to sleep with you laying ten feet away from me?
"I'm sorry I just can't sleep." Katara rolled over to face him.
Zuko rolled over too. "Me neither."
"Do you think the plan will work?"
"Do we have that option?"
"I mean what if it doesn't? What if we get caught?"
"We won't." Truthfully Zuko though oppositely. "We can't."
"Zuko can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"And be honest."
"Alright."
"Why did you dance with me that night?" Her blue eyes glowed in the dark.
"Honestly?"
"Honestly."
"I don't know."
Katara rolled back over her back and stared up, trying to understand.
"Hey Zuko?"
"Yes?"
"Can I take you up on that offer?" Katara stood up and began to walk over to him before he could answer.
He nodded silently in the dark.
Katara laid on her side, back pressed up against his chest, her legs adjusting to the curve of his. They both stared out the window at the crescent moon. Zuko rested his hand comfortably on her waist and slowly exhaled hot breath on her neck. She shivered.
"Are you cold?" Zuko's voice was low in her ear.
She intertwined her feet with his. "No."
A/N: Thank you to all my readers :) I'm serious it means a lot. It would mean even more though if you would review though. Just any thoughts you had after reading this chapter, type into the little box right down there. But, if you're still going to be stubborn and refuse to review, just tell me what comes to mind when you think of 'Shadow Vigilante'. Thanks again :)
