Chapter 21

When Katara was back in her room, she let out a breath she had been holding for some time. Then her breathing began to quicken, and she found herself hyperventilating once more. She couldn't understand why she was having such an issue. She had killed people-many people-before, and never had a problem.

"Maybe Aang was right," she muttered.

"What was that?"

Katara jumped in shock, swinging around and controlling the person's blood before she could even think. Zuko stood stock still in front of her and Katara released his blood with a sigh.

"Oh, it's only you."

"We don't have to worry about bugs. Azula turned them off."

"Okay," Katara sank down onto the bed. Her hand had started shaking, and she tried to stop it.

"Katara, you've got to talk."

"Just leave me alone." She heard him circle the bed until he was on the opposite side from her. It sunk under his weight, but she refused to look at him.

His strong hands were on her shoulders, and still she ignored him. She didn't expect it when he pushed her off the bed. Indignantly, she turned with angry words already on her tongue, but he was attacking her. Fist raised, he was jumping towards her, and she scrambled to her feet.

"Are you cra-" His fist caught her jaw, and Katara fell into the table, her back hitting the corner and forcing her into a painful arch. Zuko came towards her again, but this time Katara was ready. She leaned back on the table, using it as she pushed off towards him, catching him in the chest with both feet. She had him down, almost pinned, but he managed to get his right arm free, since she had nothing to grab him with on that side. His fist came up in a painful jab at her already-sore jaw. Katara hissed through her teeth, but was thrown back, Zuko's heavy weight on top of her.

In a second, things had changed. Katara felt a haze coming over her . . . he felt like Zhao, Zhaos' weight, his hands, his anger . . . She was choking Zuko with one hand. He was trying to say something. Choked noise, but Katara would never listen to Zhao again. He would die, just like he had before . . . Her eyes found Zhao's-Zuko's, not Zhao's, golden, not brown-and Katara let him go with a faint cry. He lay on the floor, coughing.

Her hand was trembling again, Katara backed into the table and slid to the ground. The tears came, and she was sobbing.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry . . ." She hugged her knees. Katara had never considered suicide an option before, but it flitted across her mind . . . she was so dangerous.

Zuko's coughing had died down. Katara wouldn't look at him, the guilt in her forbidding her from raising her eyes.

"Katara." A hand on her face made Katara flinch. "Katara, look at me." His voice was hoarse.

Katara only shook her head and shrank away.

"Hey. If you're mad at me, that's fine."

"Mad at you?" Katara let her eyes look into Zuko's. "Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because I antagonized you so much. On purpose." Zuko rubbed his throat. "It's my fault."

"Why did you attack me?" Katara looked at him reproachfully.

"I was mad at you," Zuko said, "You were so withdrawn, and . . . I didn't know what to do."

"So every time you get mad at me, I've got to prepare myself for a fight," Katara muttered.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Zuko half-smiled. His face became serious a moment later. "Katara, what was going on with this?" He pointed to his throat.

"Zhao," Katara whispered.

"I'm sorry, Katara." He didn't ask anything else, just helped her to her feet and hugged her. "You're going to be all right."

"No, I'm not," Katara thought to herself. Zuko didn't know the rest of the plan . . . nor did he need to. He would learn soon enough.

"I know you're not okay. Here's some food."

Katara silently accepted the protein bar.

"You've got to stay strong. Make a choice, either enjoy what you do or despise it. Don't try to stay in the middle and moralize about it."

Katara felt tears threatening, and suddenly hugged the girl next to her. Azula's eyes widened, but she didn't push her away.

"Does Zuko know?" Azula whispered in her ear.

Katara shook her head.

"Well, we're nearing Paris. If you're going to tell him, do it soon."

Azula left Katara, going to the front with the pilot. Katara remained standing in the middle of the plane. Only a few people were scattered through the seats. Zuko was in the back. Katara walked towards him, thoughts completely jumbled.

"How are you doing?" She blurted out as soon as she was close. Zuko looked up.

"Good. What's up?"

"I dunno." She sat down across the aisle, looking everywhere but at Zuko.

"You ready for this?"

"Yeah. I just hope Aang can handle it."

"He'll be fine. Azula's going to go along with everything, I'm actually just worried about the D-1-LE."

Katara could do it. She had an opening to tell him, but she just nodded, then meandered to the front of the plane.

"Everyone strap in, we're landing."

"Time to go shopping, everybody, we're in Paris." Azula's voice was lighthearted over the intercom, and it made her sound like a completely different person. How did she do it? Staying sane while killing so many . . . Katara gripped the armrests and stared out the window.

"I'm coming, Sokka. I just want to see you again," she whispered as Paris spread out beneath them. Katara winced as she saw the Eiffel tower's mangled remains. "Here we go," she said to the world beneath her.

"Zuzu, you need to get some sleep."

"Azula, we are about to make the biggest move in . . . well, since they froze the Avatar in that cryogenic junk. I can't sleep." Zuko leaned back in his bed.

Azula shrugged. "Fine. But you fall asleep during the meeting and I'll set your pants on fire."

Zuko tried to smile and frown at the same time and felt his face twist oddly. "You've done that already. Remember? Three years ago."

"Oh yes . . . that was fun." Azula walked towards the door. "See you tomorrow, brother."

"Wait, Azula."

"What is it?" Azula turned, hand on the doorframe.

"What's going on with Katara?"

Azula could make her face expressionless, and Zuko felt like huffing angrily at her because of it.

"Ask her," she said woodenly, and closed the door with a snap.

"I wonder where they're hiding."

Zuko gave the girl at his side a discreet glance. The wind was blowing through her short brown hair, making it swirl into her eyes.

"Probably underground."

"I'd never want to live underground. Even for survival." Katara knelt, touching the stone at her feet. "I can't imagine it."

"I suppose." Zuko flicked his eyes away.

"You're awful twitchy," Katara commented.

"Am I?" Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Katara rise.

"Yes."

"Well, I'm nervous about today. What if it doesn't work?"

"It'll work," Katara's voice was calm, "I just want to see Sokka."

"You guys are close." Zuko made his voice conversational.

"Yeah. Did I ever tell you how he saved my life?"

"No."

"It was when we were in Antarctica. We were out ice fishing, and we saw some penguins, and of course I gave chase. Sokka chased after me. The penguins began sliding down some ice, and being the intelligent child that I was, I followed. They slid into the water, and I did as well."

"But you're a Water mutant."

Katara smiled. "Yes, and of course Sokka came down after, not sliding as I did, so he stayed out of the water. He was shouting at me to come out, but I wanted to show off. I splashed around, keeping the water warm instinctively with my ability. That's when the snow leopard came."

Zuko couldn't help an intake of breath. Katara laughed lightly, for the first time in 12 days. Not that he had been counting.

"Sokka has good reflexes. He threw his spear and hit the seal, giving me enough time to get out of the water." Katara hugged herself.

"He's a good guy."

"I just want to see him." Katara's happiness seemed to have evaporated. Zuko felt like he should say something, but didn't know what to talk about.

"We should get going. It's a bit of a walk to the meeting point."

"Yes."

They reached the building first. Zuko had to admire Sokka's planning. It was a huge abandoned hall, surrounded by small houses, no tall windows for snipers to take advantage of.

"This is it," Katara murmured.

"You two doing okay?" Azula walked up to stand next to them.

"Almost. How are we going to explain everything to the Fire mutants?" Zuko kept his voice low.

Azula waved a hand. "You'll see, they're as tired as we are with this war. They just kept at it because of father."

"Azula, I have one question." Katara had turned to his sister, and Zuko watched silently at their locked eyes and tense postures. "Who killed my mother?"

Azula winced. "I didn't really expect that."

Katara was silent, staring at Azula. Zuko tried to catch Azula's eyes but failed.

"What age were you when your mother was killed?"

"I was twelve."

"So was I. Zuko was fourteen."

Zuko waited, tense, as Katara's blue eyes darted between the two of them.

"Azula, what are you saying?"

"It was our second assignment. I'm sorry, Katara."

Katara was breathing deeply, slowly . . . controlling herself. Then she turned to Zuko, who automatically flinched.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Her voice was soft, and Azula silently left them.

"I didn't want you to know."

"You knew I wanted to know. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was scared that you would hate me."

"And you thought you could hide it forever?" Katara turned away from him. Her shoulders were rising and falling.

"Katara . . ." He placed a hand on her shoulder. She whirled around, and her hand reached his throat-not her hand, left hand, what . . .

"What is that?"

Katara took away her hand. Made of ice and water. Zuko couldn't help gaping.

"How did you do that?"

"I don't know. Instinct." Katara glared at him. "Don't change the subject."

"Please, forgive me." Zuko said. He felt a sudden wave deja vu and couldn't help smiling.

"What are you smirking at?" Katara growled.

"It seems like I'm always apologizing," Zuko blurted out. He realized how blunt he sounded and backtracked, "I mean, I just think it's funny. I can't get anything right."

He got a reluctant smile out of Katara.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews, guys :)