A/N: Round Six EXTRA STORY!

Team: Water Tribe

Category: Themed - Ambition

Prompt: Greek Mythology AU, Spirit World

Word Count: 2278

Note: This is an extra themed story but it is a continuation of the previous chapter :)

Katara soon fell into a pattern. When she woke, she would go to the garden pond and practice her bending until one of the servants came and told her breakfast was ready. After breakfast, she'd either go to the library and study scrolls about the Spirit World or she would explore the mansion. Every time she thought she'd found everything, she'd stumble across a new hallway that led her to a completely different part of the house. Part of her suspected the house had no end, and was constantly updating itself to keep her occupied.

In the evening, she'd have dinner, then go to her room and wait for Lee. The lights would go out, and then they would talk until Katara was too tired to keep up a conversation.

Lee was funny when he wanted to be, full of dry wit and sarcastic asides. He was also full of knowledge about the most surprising things - he knew the most about the Fire Nation, but he would also tell her stories about the Earth Kingdom and the Air Nomads, which she listened to with fascination.

She often complained about not being able to see him, but as time went on, she began to care less what he looked like, what his true identity was, and more about what she could say that evening that would make him laugh, or finding some new fact that would surprise him.

She'd been there about six months when she realized she was falling in love.

o0o

One night, in the seventh month since she'd arrived at the mansion, Katara was silent, thinking of home and family. Lee tried to get her to cheer up, obviously sensing something was up, but nothing he said could change her mood. Finally, he gave up and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I think I'm homesick," Katara said with a wan smile.

Lee was quiet.

"I know I can't leave," she continued. "But I was wondering - could you bring Sokka here? Just for a short visit?"

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Lee said reluctantly. "Could you trust him to keep quiet once he went back?"

"Sokka knows how to keep a secret," she said, conveniently forgetting her brother's tendency to blurt out anything on his mind.

"I guess Vaayu does still owe me a favor," he said slowly, and Katara knew she had him.

"Thank you!" she exclaimed, and reached over to give him a hug. She felt his arms go around her. After a second, she felt a soft laugh against her hair. She pulled back.

"What's so funny?" she demanded.

"Oh, nothing," he said, and she left it at that.

o0o

Vaayu deposited Sokka in front of the garden pond with a wild gust. Katara hurried forward to greet him.

"Sokka! You made it!"

"What just happened?" Sokka gasped. Then he looked up. "Whaa… Katara?!" His mouth fell open.

She smiled at him.

"But you - you're - you - " he stammered. He slowly got to his feet and walked toward her, setting his hands on her shoulders as if reassuring himself that she was really there.

"You're alive," he finally managed. "How - why - " He suddenly crushed her in a massive hug, which Katara returned.

"I'll tell you everything, but why don't you come inside?" she said when he pulled away, leading him up the porch stairs and into the mansion.

"So how are you alive? Are you alive? I'm not dead too, am I?" he demanded, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

She laughed. "Yes, I'm alive. I was rescued by the same air spirit that brought you here."

"Where are we?"

"The Spirit World," Katara said.

"So whose house is this?" was Sokka's next question.

She hesitated. Should she tell him about Lee? She didn't know… "It belongs to a spirit," she said finally, because lying to Sokka would make her feel guilty.
"A spirit? Which one? The air spirit?"

"Not the air spirit; he's a Fire Nation spirit. But that's all I know," she replied.

"A Fire Nation spirit? Wait - he? Who is he?"

"I don't know! I've never seen him, it's always dark - "

"Are you telling me you've lived here for - what, seven months? - and you don't know who owns the house you've been living in?" Sokka said, incredulous.

"He said it would be dangerous if I knew his identity!" Katara said defensively.

"He said - wait, you've talked to him?" Sokka's eyes were practically popping out of his head.

"He can't tell me his real name; he just told me to call him Lee. We talk every night after dinner. He turns all the lights out first, though, so I've never seen him," she explained.

Sokka stared at her, his mouth open, meal forgotten. "Katara! How could you - he could be a monster!"

"He isn't! He's clever, and kind, and funny - and definitely not a monster," she said angrily.

"Katara, I know you only see the good in people, but this is too much," Sokka said, looking worried. "Don't you remember what the Avatar said?"

She did, perfectly. She will face a monster that even the great ones of the spirit world fear. A tiny bit of doubt began to worm its way into her mind. But Lee wasn't a monster… was he?

"I know he might seem perfect, but he's a spirit, and spirits aren't always as they seem. This… this could be bad, Katara," Sokka said, still concerned.

Katara bit her lip.

"Here," Sokka said, reaching into his pocket. "I've got some matches. Keep them with you, and the next time the spirit shows up, use them to get a good look at him. I don't want you being deceived by a monster who can put on a pretty act. In fact, I'll stay with you - "

"No, Sokka," Katara interrupted, though she took the matches from him. "It's just a short visit. Vaayu will be back to take you home soon. But you're right - maybe I do need to be more careful. I'll - " Her voice broke as she considered the thought that Lee could be a monster, trying to trick her for some nefarious purpose. "I'll keep the matches, just in case."

All the tension went out of Sokka's shoulders. "Good." He stood up, and Katara did as well. He pulled her into another hug, holding her tight for a minute.

"I'm glad you're not dead," he said finally.

Katara couldn't help but laugh. "Me too," she said. "I've missed you so much."

Suddenly, a breeze blew through the dining room. It is time for him to go, little one, said the voice of Vaayu. He will be missed soon.

"Already?" the two siblings demanded in unison, then briefly smiled at each other.

Yes, said Vaayu.

"I love you, Sokka," Katara said, hugging her brother one last time.

"Love you too," Sokka said, eyes glittering with unshed tears. The wind surged up around them, and Katara was forced to her knees as the air spirit howled away with her brother. When she could stand again, they were both gone.

o0o

"How was your brother's visit?" Lee asked that night.

"I hadn't realized how much I missed him until he was actually here," she said, truthfully.

"I'm glad you could see him again," the spirit said warmly. "That was one of the things I most regretted - making your family think you were dead."

Katara had no response for this, and so they sat in slightly awkward silence for a while. Sokka's words were replaying themselves over and over in her head. He could be a monster. Don't you remember what the Avatar said? I don't want you being deceived.

Finally, she faked a yawn and told Lee she was tired from her visit with her brother.

"Of course. I'll let you get your rest," he said immediately, and the bed shifted as he stood.

He could be a monster.

"Good night, Katara," he said from the doorway.

Don't you remember what the Avatar said?

"Good night, Lee."

o0o

Katara stood with a lit candle in front of her, her back to the door.

"Katara?" She heard the door creak open, but she kept her back turned. "Katara, it's me - it's Lee."

She slowly turned toward his voice, keeping her candle in front of her. The light showed the dim outline of a young man.

"Who are you?" she asked.

The outline took a step closer but grew no clearer. "What do you mean? It's me, Katara."

"Who are you?" she repeated, the candle trembling in her hands.

Another step closer, yet still he was just a dark outline.

"Katara," he said, sounding pained, "don't you know me? All this time I've been your friend - I thought you trusted me. Don't you trust me?"

"I - I do," she said.

Lee's shadowy figure spread his arms wide. "Then why are you afraid?"

A wave of calm swept over her. "I'm not," she said, setting the candlestick on the ground.

"Good," said Lee, and his dim outline began to coming closer - but he was still only an outline; she couldn't make out any detail. "I was waiting to hear that." He was facing her now, only inches away, and the truth of his appearance finally struck her - he was nothing. He was an empty void, a blank space, pure darkness. He grabbed her wrist, and it was as if her whole body turned to ice.

"Lee - " she gasped, before her throat seemed to freeze as well.

He let out a dark chuckle. "I'll enjoy consuming your soul," he said conversationally. "Getting you to trust me was the best part." Then the darkness that was Lee suddenly expanded, engulfing her as she silently screamed in terror.

o0o

Katara was still screaming when she woke up.

The door burst open. "Katara? Are you alright?" Lee asked, sounding frantic. She recoiled from his voice, pulling her blankets up to her chin.

He could be a monster.

"Were you having a nightmare?" he asked. She could tell he was sitting at the foot of her bed. "Do you want to tell me about it?" he asked, more gently.

"No," she croaked, terrified at the very thought.

Don't you remember what the Avatar said?

"Hey," he said, and there was a touch on her shoulder. She flinched violently. "All right, I won't touch you," he said, still in that calming tone of voice. "But I'll stay here. I won't let anything get by me."

Despite herself, she began to relax. It was just a dream.

"I'll stay right here on the floor," Lee said from a little farther away. "If you need me, I'm right here."

Katara lay awake for a while, listening to the sound of Lee's breathing; it was deeper and more even, now. Was he asleep? Did spirits even sleep? Katara felt the small pouch of matches against her leg in her dress pocket. Now was her chance to settle her mind once and for all.

Slowly, silently, she pulled out the soft leather pouch of matches and lit the oil lamp that stood on her bedside table. She sat up and, lamp in hand, peered over the edge of the bed to where Lee slept on the floor.

He was breathtakingly handsome. Dark hair fell over his eyes. His smooth, even features seemed to glow slightly in the lamplight. He wore simple red clothes, but as he stirred a little, the light caught the flash of gold embroidery.

Katara's hand was shaking. She'd read enough books on Fire Nation spirits over the past months to recognize him - Zuko, son of Agni, a warrior spirit of the Fire Nation. No wonder he was concerned about his father. The Spirit of Fire was known for his contempt of the Water Tribes - and his fiery temper.

It seemed to happen in slow motion: her trembling hand finally upset the delicate balance of the oil lamp. A splash of hot oil slopped over the side and, as she watched, landed directly on Zuko's face.

Katara dropped the lamp, horrified; it landed with a crash near his head.

"My - face - " he groaned. Katara inched backward, away from the edge of the bed. "What happened?" Lee demanded, sounding more awake. "The lamp - " He stopped.

Katara held her breath.

"You looked." It wasn't a question.

"I - "

"You know who I am."

She sighed. "Yes."

He snarled, and all the lights came on. He stood before her, face contorted with pain. There was an angry red burn covering his eye from where she'd spilled the oil. "What part of you can't know who I am; if you do, you'll die did you not understand?" he demanded, furious.

She stayed silent, unable to look away from his burned and blistering face. Why had she let Sokka's words instill such doubt in her?

He hissed in pain. "You - I thought you were happy here. I thought - we were friends, we - " His breath was coming in pants now.

"I can help - " she started, pulling water out of the bending pouch that lay on her bedside table, but he backed away from her.

"Don't touch me," he spat, and her hands fell to her sides helplessly. "Idiot waterbender! You've ruined everything! Why did you have to look?"

She couldn't reply. Her throat burned with the effort of keeping her tears back; they filled her eyes, and Lee wavered in her vision.

"The magic that held this place together is deteriorating," Lee said, breath hissing through his clenched teeth. Katara couldn't meet his gaze. "It's no longer part of the Spirit World. Get out now, before my father learns what's happened and finds you."

"Lee - " Katara managed.

"LEAVE!" the Fire Nation spirit roared.

Katara fled.