I don't own the Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters.

All I Need

Chapter 14 - Least Said, Soonest Mended

Story by Last Butterfly

Summary: While the gaang's looking for Appa in Ba Sing Sei, Zuko had his own reasons to go and find them, and he's also forced by two freedom fighters to look for their disappeared leader. What will happen if they meet?
It's a continue after Ep36. Zutara, Blutara

Katara stood at the doorway with clenched fists and darkened face as she watched the two going to eat. Her face slowly turned back to normal as her anger flew away. She turned and looked at the prince who still sat beside the candles, his back towards her as the little lights grew and reduced slowly.

She wondered whether he didn't want to draw attention upon himself while she was angry or just didn't hear her. „Zuko…" No movement. No answer. She frowned. „Dinner is ready!" She said a bit louder.

I heard you the first time already… „I'm not hungry." Zuko answered but didn't even peek at her.

Katara narrowed her eyes. Iroh told her he'd say something like that just to be left alone. But that was not what she's going to let. In fact she felt a bit guilty… after Sokka picked at him all day finally her actions made him leave. She knitted her eyebrows and went to the windows. She didn't feel that guilty that she'd admit it anyway.

As instead of leaving the waterbender crossed his room Zuko opened his eyes narrow to watch what she wanted.

The girl peeked at him with a slight smirk then grabbed the covers on the window and pulled it fully away. Zuko hissed and covered his eyes with a hand from the setting sun when she spoke. „No more sitting in the dark! It's not healthy."

While he was rubbing his eyes she sent the water from her pouch to the candles in front of him and unlit them. He watched her angrily but remained silent.

Katara put a hand on her hip and made a slight smirk. „No wonder why you're so pale if you always sit in the dark…" As he narrowed his eyes she added teasingly. „Sokka started to call you white boy."

Zuko gritted his teeth and slammed his fist to the floor. „I don't care what that idiot brother of yours says!" He growled.

The waterbender crossed her arms. Finally he moved! She managed not to smile as she answered. „That's good. He's just testing you anyway…" The prince snorted which she took as a 'Yeah I know that thank you.' She sighed heavily. „Now come and have something to eat."

„I was not finished." Zuko stated. His voice showed he was annoyed.

Katara raised an eyebrow. „Now it doesn't matter I guess…" She waved towards the unlit candles. „You can continue later." She said and crossed her arms.

„And I told you I was not hungry!" He answered loudly as his anger rose. He pointed at the dark cloth in her hands. „Now put that back." He didn't ask. He ordered.

Katara knitted her eyebrows. „No."

He jumped up and went to her frowning. She didn't move an inch as he reached her. For a moment he just stood before her, watching her eyes through narrow ones. Then he lifted his hand between them with his palm upwards. „Give. Me. That."

His voice was cold and even his eyes ordered but she didn't care a bit. She knew he was stubborn but she was as tough as him. If not more… She lightly smirked at the thought then she hid the cloth behind her back. „No. You can't have it unless you've had dinner." She answered without a blink and firmed her expressions. I don't care if he's a prince… he's going to get used to us even if he dies in the process!

He frowned at her just inches from her face. She was stubborn… she didn't care how angry he could get. She didn't care if he ordered. She stood still as a rock and kept their eye-contact. Her eyes reflected all the power of the storms while his ones burned with the fire he controlled. This was it… they would settle this now.She'd better realize who's in charge. „Give it to me!" He demanded and leaned closer to her.

His eyes filled with determination as he reduced the distance between them. She kept watching his eyes and frowned harder. „First you eatthen you can meditate!"

„I didn't ask for your permission, peasant!" He spat out.

Her face turned dark immediately then she lifted her hands and pushed him away fiercely. „Why is that you're absolutely unable to any kind of cooperation?!" She yelled at him.

His face darkened. „And since when do you think you can order me around?!" He shouted.

Katara frowned angrily and from the back of her mind came the answer. „Since you've almost got killed because of me!" At this point both of them were taken aback.

Her words even surprised herself. Just as she said it did she realize that's why she felt guilty… because of a variety of 'what could have happened if'. And that's why she was so mad at him! Because he so didn't care about it! About himself! What the heck happened with him that made such a change?He was so obsessed with capturing Aang just to 'restore his honour'… and now what?

Though she knew it was not the time to ask him. At the moment he'd just yell at her again without any reasonable answer… She put her hands on her hips and stared at him angrily as he calmed down.

Zuko's anger was changed by confusion. He expected something from her like the usual 'just because you're a prince you're not better than others so don't think so much about yourself!' He frowned. I already had such a good answer to that! Why did she say this? He averted his eyes from her. He never really understood girls but he definitely didn't understand her.

After what she said when he woke up he thought she did not care about his efforts to help her… His expressions softened as he finally spoke. „Look… I'm fine. You don't owe me." He said. „So if that's why you're here then go back to the others…"

She knitted her eyebrows again. Incredible how he doesn't get that I do care about him… Not just because of what he had done but the fact that he was part of the team now. And as a part of the team she felt responsible for him also. As she watched him the prince seemed calm but still far from convinced that he'd go anywhere as he crossed his arms over his chest.

„I just don't want you to starve… you've eaten nothing since you woke up." He only shrugged as an answer. She sighed and closed her eyes. To her surprise and annoyance her brother's words came to her mind. Maybe you should ask me nicely. Boys like that you know… Her mouth turned into a narrow line as she opened her eyes. She saw he still didn't look at her and she frowned again because she was still angry at him whether she wanted it or not… So she started unwillingly through gritted teeth. „Please…" Finally Zuko peeked at her with a raised eyebrow. Only from the corner of his eyes… but he did it. „Would you come and have dinner with us?"

Katara – still annoyed because of what she'd said – waited for his answer but all he did was just looking at her… His amber gaze thoughtfully remained on her and this time it was her turn to look away. She cleared her throat and asked. „So?" When she peeked back he was smiling.

At first he wanted to simply nod or shrug… when he remembered something from earlier and made a smile. „That had to hurt…" He started as she arched her eyebrow at him. „To ask such a…" He lifted his hand and slowly stretched out his fingers one by one to his next words. „Stupid, stubborn, annoying jerk like me."

His voice was filled with sarcasm that Katara just hated to hear from him. It was annoying enough from Sokka…

He narrowed his eyes then smirked even more as her face darkened again. „If I remember well that's what you've said." He added.

The waterbender frowned and clenched her fists. She groaned then crossed her arms. „Actually it did! " She hissed then turned on her heel and headed out of his room. „Whether you come or not, I don't care anymore!" She yelled back. „If you want to starve just do it!"

He snickered as she slammed the door behind her. „I've won…" He turned around the room. Now put back that thing… He stopped as he turned all around then knitted his eyebrows. She took it away?!! He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. Ooooh I hate her! He stormed out of the room just to find the waterbender next to his door smirking. The window cover was not with her. „Where have you put it?!" He grunted.

Katara raised an eyebrow. „You're not in position to ask." She said. „Go to the kitchen…" He frowned at her again then she added. „I've won…" She said imitating his tone just from a moment before. Her smirk still on her face.

„Don't mess with me you…" He gritted his teeth then waved his hands and pointed at her. „You… you!!! You little…" He was fuming as Iroh stepped out from his room and frowned at him from behind.

„Nephew! I hope you behave." The prince shut his mouth as he heard the general. „Don't forget we're guests here." Zuko's face darkened more but he let his hands fell beside him. Then turned on his heel still fuming and left them without a word.

Katara smiled as she saw he headed towards the kitchen. She peeked at the old man. „Thanks for hiding it…"

Iroh smiled back at her and patted his belly. „Whenever you need me to." His smile widened too. „And thanks for bringin' him out."

The waterbender's smile widened as she looked where the prince disappeared and she giggled lightly. „It was a pleasure."

To everyone's surprise the dinner went on rather peacefully. In fact it was the only part of the day when no one was fighting…

While Sokka was eating he kept his mouth shut so he didn't start another argument between the prince and any other person at the table.

Iroh led most of the conversations not surprisingly. The avatar, his blind bending master and the waterbender liked his stories and cheered when those included one of them or the prince who whenever heard his name scowled and intended not to listen…

„…and so just imagine what I thought when those pirates started to talk about you!" The old general slowly shook his head as he looked upwards. „We had such a good time and Boom! Here came that thing again and he just slapped his head up and…"

Zuko gritted his teeth. „Uncle they know what happened after that." He said sharply.

„Well in fact…" Toph started and frowned at him. „I do not."

Iroh had a peek at the girl than at his nephew. „"You see? She doesn't."

The prince's mouth turned into a narrow line and he clenched his fists under the table as his uncle went on with the story.

„…and I'm sorry for that capturing thing…" The retired general said with a slight glance at Katara then at the other two. „…from all of you."

„Sure." Aang said and shrugged. „Things like that happen… Sokka?"

„Yeah, whatever…" Sokka said and shrugged also as he poked a vegetable on his plate. Why didn't Aang get the greens? I just hate them…

Katara made a slight nod and wanted to answer but Toph was faster than her. „Oh Zuko already apologized to her for thaat…" She said with a smirk and suddenly everyone was looking at the prince who raised his eyebrows.

„Really…?" Asked Iroh and arched an eyebrow at him.

Zuko unclenched his fists and raised up his hands just to cross them over his chest. He didn't say a word as the blind bandit continued. „Sure he did."

After a while the old man continued with a slight grin after a sigh. „Though those pirates are not the ones they used to be… know nothing of honour and do everything for a bit more gold." He rolled his eyes. „Just that time when they were paid by Zhao – I'm sure you remember him – so he ordered them to blow up our sh…"

„Uncle!" The prince slammed his fist at the table to make him stop.

„What? Come on it's a good one!" Iroh proclaimed.

„No, it's not." He grunted back and stood up from the table. „Now if you excuse me… I'm going back to meditate." He said then peeked at Katara who made a slight smile.

„It's in your uncle's room." She said and the prince snapped his head at the general who made a sheepish wide smile as he stormed away.

Sokka straightened up and looked at the general frowning. „Zhao? Why would he have tried to blow up your ship?"

The waterbender raised an eyebrow also. „And when?"

Iroh knitted his eyebrows. „Shortly before the North Pole. He took away our crew after he got permission to do whatever it took to capture you." He said and peeked at Aang who darkened his face. „And even so we were quite out of his way, he ordered those pirates to blow it up…" He peeked at the door's direction. „…while Zuko was on it."

There were some gasps at the table. They didn't seem to know how dark things could get in the fire nation if you're in the way of someone who had power to reach his goal.

„So… that's why…" Katara started. „That's why he had those bruises…?" She waved a hand around her face.

The old general could hear care from her voice and his eyes seemed smiling as he nodded to her slightly.

Who cares about bruises?! Sokka frowned again. „Whydid he do that?" He asked slowly just to make them realize what held the most importance with that.

Iroh already opened his mouth to say something about how greed people can get these days in the army as the avatar spoke on a low voice. „I think I know why…" All their heads turned towards him except for Toph. She knew she already heard that story. And as far as she was concerned… she had other questions on her mind she wanted to get answers to.

As Aang made a sigh and started to tell the rest of them about the first time he'd met with the Blue Spirit, the blind bandit left the kitchen to find herself something that would make her curiosity fade…

The prince found the covers where he was told. Though hardly did he enter his own room again there was a knock on the door. He groaned and threw the stupid thing to the ground as he looked who that might be.

The door opened slightly and an angry pair of golden eyes peeked out to see the blind girl outside.

Toph smiled up at him and asked on a cheery voice. „Can I talk to you for a sec.?"

Zuko frowned then slammed the door and leaned to it with his back. I had enough of you today… He made a sigh and slight smile came to his lips as he heard that the girl stepped away from his door. But in the next moment there was a loud noise next to him.

When he snapped his head at that direction he could see the girl walk through a little doorway-like hole in the wall. When she got inside she stomped with her leg and the hole disappeared. „That's why I like to be an earthbender." She made a smirk. „I don't need doors to get through a wall…"

He narrowed his eyes. „What do you want?"

„About what Jin said…" Toph started and he looked away. Unfortunately she didn't forget that one… „Who is she?" Sounded her question.

The prince made a smirk. She doesn't know! Thank Agni… He crossed his arms and turned away from her. „I don't have to tell you anything."

You don't have to… The blind girl's smirk widened. But you will. Then she suddenly changed her expression to a sad and almost understanding one and with all her sincerity she could bring together she asked him. „She's one of Azula's friends, isn't she?"

Zuko surprised again. Sure, it's logical if she thinks I like one of them. As much as Toph knows about me… I could feel something for those who were around my sister back in the Fire Nation… That's it! Take the occasion while you can mislead her! „Yes…" He sighed and also tried to sound honest. „I didn't know that's so… obvious."

Little liar… let's make him ruin his own lie. „Which one?" Asked the girl.

For a moment Zuko just stared at her. What were their names…?

„Mai or Ty Lee?" Toph helped him out and slightly smiled already.

Choose the shorter… the shorter! „Mai?" He almost slammed himself. You couldn't be less convincing!

„Really?" Toph smirked. „Did you know her hits can take bending abilities away?" She narrowed her eyes. Trap ready…

„Err…" The prince hesitated. Wait a minute! Wasn't she the one with the knives…? Toph was smiling at him strangely. It reminded him Azula's tricky questions… Then it hit him. Toph. Blind. Bender. She knew he's lying. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. „Ooh… dammit…"

The earthbender burst out laughing. „I waited… when you'd remember!" Zuko crossed his arms annoyed. „You know most people are lying easier than telling the truth." She raised an eyebrow. „Though as you lie, well… you must have had a rough childhood."

He turned away from her. Then you were short… „That's what I hated in Azula the most…" He rolled his eyes. „She always knew if I was lying." Then he peeked at the blind bandit with narrow eyes. „At the moment I'm not fond of you either."

„Oh, you just need time to get used to my charming personality." The girl smirked at him as she continued. „I'm simply curious… that's my bad habit."

The prince turned away ignoring her. He hoped she'd get bored and leave him alone. But she was not the type to give it up so easy.

Toph cleared her throat. „You know there were only three persons I could think about…" In an instant Zuko's eyes rounded. „And you just closed out two."

„I don't know what you're talking about." He said firmly as he turned back.

„You said I knew her…" The blind girl added.

„I've never said that." He narrowed his eyes.

Toph raised and eyebrow. Yeah, now that you remind me you lied about that too… She smirked slightly. „Admit you thought about Katara." She demanded.

The prince frowned hardly. „No!" He brawled.

Lie.You're making your situation worse… The earthbender's smirk spread across her face. „You do like her!"

„I'm not answering you!" He yelled and headed to the other end of his room. Why can't I bend when it would be the best option?!

„Silence means agreement." She added.

Zuko gritted his teeth. „Leave! Now!" He shouted and pointed at the door.

Toph crossed her arms and pouted. „You're starting to be boring."

The prince glared at her and if eyes could kill…

The girl turned her sightless gaze upwards as she started smiling again. „You know it's such an interesting topic. I sense I have to talk about it with someone…"

He raised his eyebrows as she continued „I mean… a little girly chit-chat." She smirked. „And you know who's going to sleep in my room." The prince's face fell. „I might as well talk in my dream." She said finally and turned to do what he said and leave the room. „But if that's what you want…"

In an instant Zuko appeared behind her and turned her away from the door.

She examined the prince before her. Changing heartbeat, a hardly audible sigh, then he opened and closed his mouth without saying anything.Perfect…„So?" She smiled triumphantly.

Zuko closed his mouth and tried to bring his thoughts clear. He knew the blind girl wouldn't leave him alone with 'empty hands'. But whatever he's going to say she'd remember it later…

„I'm still waiting. But staring doesn't suit me you know… I'd rather listen." She said and narrowed one of her eyes.

He let out a sigh as a final acceptance to the situation and said on a low voice. „Look, I don't know what you're thinking about but I can tell you that you're wrong."

„Oh, and what would I think about exactly?" She asked with a little smirk. But he just answered to it with a cold glare so she knitted her eyebrows and went on. „Jin said you'd wanted to be with someone else." He rolled his eyes. „And we both know who that mysterious somebody is…"

„I-it's… this… it's not like that!" Zuko snapped.

„So it's like what?" She asked. And as he hesitated she added with another smirk of hers. „I didn't know you stuttered if you're nervous…"

„I don't stutter!" He narrowed his eyes. „And I'm not nervous!"

„Yeah I can tell…" She said and it made him clench his fists beside him. „So what do you think about her?"

„What do I think?!" He grunted. „I think she's crazy! She's annoying, big-mouthed and bad-tempered!"

„Look who's talking about temper…" She said.

„No, really… haven't you heard us?" He went on. „If we weren't here so I could bend also, one of us would be dead by now!" The blind girl smirked but remained silent while he ranted more. „She is soo… arrgh!"

„Bossy?"

„Yes! She is bossy! And…"

„Freaks out all the time?"

„Yeah…"

„And sometimes makes you wanna yell and break things?"

„Absolutely!"

„And still you like her…"

She only had time to blink before his yell came. „No!"

Toph narrowed her eyes. „Are you willingly that stubborn or you have no idea what's inside of you?"

„There is nothing inside of me that would need your help or your curiosity!" Zuko snapped.

She frowned and crossed her arms. „Ok. Let's do this step by step… So, what happened when you've met her and Sokka yesterday?"

„What…?" He raised an eyebrow. „Does it matter? I mean how is this connected to…?"

„Just answer me."

„Right…" He murmured. „I was looking for Jet and his friends at the moment and also I needed to find you because of uncle's… state."

You mean her… She smirked lightly again. You don't want to bring her up as the only reason… another defensive move.

„Then I heard her and thought 'why not now'?" He went on. „But as they came into my sight Azula was already there…"

„Aaand?" She smirked lightly. Think about you motives… come ooon… you knew they fought against her already… why did you interrupt?

„There's no and…" He said with confusion on his face. „I didn't want Azula to hurt anyone… That's why I started to fight against her."You'd understand if she were your sister… He suddenly narrowed his eyes. „I wanted to give them time to flee! And she was that stupid to come back!"

Finally we're talking about the right person… „You know it's quite like Katara… helping those in need."

„I was not in need!" He spat out again.

„So how was it she ended up healing you?" She smirked at him.

He looked at her with round eyes. She knows this too? He frowned. They really have nothing better to do than chat all day long? „That was because she distracted my attention from Azula! I didn't need help!" He waved around. „Or healing!"

„Distracted your attention, hagh?" She twitched her eyebrows. But he only growled then remained silent. „Aaall right… I guess that was enough of that." Toph scratched her head. „And what about today?"

„What about it?"

„Well you got a full lightning instead of her if I remember well…"

„I told her and I tell you know: it was the best solution in that situation!" Zuko frowned. „Nothing more!"

She could tell he was not telling the full truth, his body betrayed him.He doesn't even know he's lying. She smiled lightly and stood in her place with crossed arms. Let's give him a hint… „She really worried about you…"

The prince looked away from her and remained silent for a moment before he finally asked. „Why would she do that?" He peeked back at the blind girl. „Why would she care?"

She smiled lightly. „I don't know… you should ask her."

Yeah, sure… what a good idea. He snorted then pouted. Like I would care… He rolled his eyes. Which I don't! He reassured himself.

She frowned. This isn't working either… how could I make him confess? She raised her eyebrows as an idea appeared in her head. Yeah… let's anger him a bit. That'll work. She made a smirk then started suddenly. „Jin said you'd admitted that 'you'd wanted to' be with someone else…"

Again he turned back to the defensive. „I didn't admit it! I simply didn't deny it!" He spat out then blinked. Wait… that didn't sound like that in my head…

Toph smirked. „Then why do you do it now?" She asked teasingly.

He shook his head. „I just wanted her to leave me alone!" Let her believe what she wants to… bravo.

„So you could be free to be with someone else?" She asked and raised an eyebrow.

„Wha…?" Her quick questions made his balance unsure. „No!"

Toph's smirk turned into a frown. „You've kissed a girl…

„She kissed me!" The prince hissed. His anger rose with every one of her words.

„…then ran away! Why?"

„I didn't even want to be th…!"

„Did you feel bad because she was not who you wanted her to be?"

He realized she didn't even listen to what he was saying and it only raised his fury. „I told you it's not like th…"

„Or Jin was not a challenge for you?"

He clenched his fists. „At least would you let me fin…?!"

„Not like a proper waterbender?"

„I ran away because I thought it was her!" He yelled furiously then as he realized what he said he took a step back. Shoot, shoot, shoot! Toph's mouth stayed open.

He groaned and continued angrily. „Are you happy now?! I freaked out so much from eventhethought that I ran away!" He stood with clenched fists and pinned his mouth to a slim line.

Her eyes were round for a while then she cleared her throat. „Well…"That's more than I've expected. She started smiling. „Then I have just one more question…" The blind girl started while he didn't move. „Did you kiss her back?"

No! Say no! His mouth opened but somehow not a single sound left him. Say no! Say something! Come oon! His eyes widened as his face heated up. This is ridiculous… it's not true. It's simply not true. As the girl before him raised an eyebrow he had to thank for his little luck. At least she can't see…

Toph bowed her head a little towards the ground then with a smirk she turned to him again. „You're blushing."

His jaw dropped and couldn't stop his surprise. „But you can't see!"

„I know... I bluffed." Her smirk widened from ear to ear as his face paled. „Got you, Zuzu!" She giggled and pointed at him.

His face hardened as he heard his nickname and opened his room's door fiercely. „Get. Out." He ordered.

„I've already got what I wanted…" Toph said with a grin and for his relief she decided to go. As she reached the door she continued and turned her head towards him. „You know: less yelling would make things easier for her."

She walked slowly. In his opinion too slow. Come on… He frowned harder as she spoke again. Just two more steps! „And just a little less denial…" That's it! SLAM!

In the middle of my sentence! Toph frowned as she turned just to face his door again. „Would make your situation easier!" She yelled furiously but her anger disappeared as she heard a sob and could feel the vibrations of a running Katara from the kitchen's direction.

„Katara, come back!" Sokka shouted, though he didn't follow her just watched as his sister ran to Toph's former bedroom.

„Leave me alone!" She yelled then ran beside the blind girl and stormed in their room.

Toph listened to the others' vibrations. Katara fell on the bed and she had to realize she was crying.

Aang – who was talking with Iroh – now hurried out of his room with the old man.

She let her lips curl up to a smile as she felt that even Zuko came to his door. He reached out for the doorknob but stopped before holding it. Then he let his hand fell next to him. He listened just like her…

Sokka stood in the kitchen's door still looking where his sister went and as she focused on him she felt stunned. The water tribe warrior was also crying. He rubbed his eyes as the avatar arrived and looked around.

„What happened?" Aang asked and looked from Toph to Sokka.

The blind bandit turned towards the water tribe boy. „What did you say to her?"

Sokka's expressions were dark and sad but also determined. „What she needed to hear." He said and looked at the old general from the corner of his eyes - who stood behind Aang - before he turned and went back to the kitchen.

Aang started to go after the waterbender when a hand stopped him by the arm. Toph turned to him with her sightless eyes and said lowly. „Go speak with Sokka."

„But Katara…"

„I'll go see her. She's in my room anyway."

„But she's crying… she never cries…"

„Not she's the only one who does." She turned her head to face the kitchen's door and the avatar understood what she meant. „You're the guy you'll talk with him. I'll handle her…" Aang watched the girls' bedroom door for a while then sighed as he turned to go the other direction.

Toph stood still on her place as the avatar left. Iroh also remained on his place but now he looked at the blind girl. „I'm afraid that this was connected to us…" He said to her and she nodded slightly.

„Yeah… I'm afraid of that too."

A/N: Long... long chapter. But finally it's done! But the bad news: I've realized that I can't write as quick as I'd like to update... mostly because I'm tired... I should learn (damn...) but I soo don't want to do it. :/ I'd like to spend my days reading, writing and doing Nothing. :) That's the life!

But: I love Zuko and Katara still and 4ever:) And Toph! ;) I've just deepened Zuko's inner turmoil... But don't worry he'll get his revenge! XD

Well I hope you liked it. R&R please, a writer is nothing without readers :) so tell me what you think! Bye