This chapter doesn't require any trigger warnings. This is a Zutara heavy chapter, even as other things are moving. Not much to say, except, enjoy.

And as usual, make my quarantine blues go away with your lovely words.

PS: Next update might be late, as I'm a little unwell. Nothing serious.

Chapter 19

Zuko broke the surface of the lake and his eyes automatically found Katara. He surprised find her face pinched in evident annoyance. He eyed the two benders and realized that both of their bodies were taut. For some reason, seeing Katara so annoyed at her ex gave him a savage pleasure. Good. His presence irritated her. Nothing could have been better.

What are you thinking, Zuko? He shook his head. How she feels about her ex is none of your business.

Giving himself a mental shake, Zuko waded through the water and walked up to them. "I'm done. If it's not too much to ask, can I get something to shave?"

Katara's eyes flicked to him and a strange expression flickered in them for a moment, before her stoic mask slid back in place. At that instant, he was back in the war camp, looking at the unfazed Water Bender who had challenged him in every step of the way.

"Yes, I'll have a razor sent to you," Haru said. "Here, Katara, your clothes."

Katara sighed and said, "Can I go now?"

"Katara, wait," Zuko said.

She spun around; her eyebrows raised in a question.

"Could you dry me? They haven't given a towel."

In response, she smiled. To Zuko, it felt as though the Sun had broken through a pall of dark clouds. His element sung within him, and he forgot to breathe. Unaware of the effect she had on him, she raised her hand and pulled, drawing the water from his body and dropped it into the lake. It was a strange sensation, being sopping wet in one moment and absolutely dry the next.

"Will that be all?"

Not trusting his voice, Zuko nodded. Katara turned to get into the water but paused, biting her lower lip. It was almost as though he could hear the dilemma in her mind. He turned to Haru and said, "Build her an earth tent. Give her privacy."

Haru nodded and raised his hands, building a rock tent. He lowered one end of the tent, allowing Katara to step inside, before raising it back again. Next to him, Haru shuffled uncomfortably. The two men stood in silence, both looking out at the lake.

"May I say something, Prince?" he said after a while.

"Hmm?"

"Look after her, will you?"

Zuko snorted, "She doesn't need looking after."

Haru licked his lips and scratched his forehead, "I know, I know. It's just that… she projects this tough exterior, but she is actually a softie on the inside. And you look like someone –"

Zuko held up a hand, making him pause, "Hold it. The way you're talking, it almost seems like you think that Katara and I are somehow involved romantically. Then allow me to disabuse you of your notion, we are just two people stuck in a nasty situation together who need each other to survive. That's the extent of our relationship."

While they were speaking, the Water Bender had made her way into the lake, unnoticed by either of them. It was only when she broke the surface of the lake, that Zuko realized she was in the water. She splashed some on her face, the joy of submerging herself in her element evident in the form of a wide smile. For Zuko, no sight in the world had been more beautiful.

Strands of wet, black hair draped over her dark, delicate shoulders. Water glistened against her cheeks like tiny flecks of diamonds. Zuko wanted to reach out and touch her. In his mind's eyes, Zuko saw him pull her against himself and lick off the water droplets from her neck. He wanted to suckle on the delicate skin where her neck met the shoulder. Just then, to make matters worse, she stood up, with the water lapping around her waist. Zuko thanked every Spirit in existence that she had kept her breast-binding on. Had that not been the case, Zuko did not know what he would have done.

A short gasp next to him reminded him of the presence of Haru. He turned to look at the man who was watching Katara with a pained expression. His first instinct had been to punch the daylights out of the Earth Bender. In fact, one of his hands had curled into fist and a flame had lit up, but then, he realized how hypocritical it would be of him to punch Haru for doing exactly what Zuko had been doing as well. He let the flame die and cleared his throat to draw Haru's attention. The man had the decency to look embarrassed.

"Turn around?" Zuko suggested.

"Yeah," Haru agreed and the two of them spun on their heels, both their cheeks taking on a light color. The two of them stood in awkward silence, each lost in their own thought. Zuko took in a deep breath and tried to clear his mind of this intoxicating lust that was controlling him. He kneaded his temples, telling himself to get a rein on his wayward thoughts and desires.

When the door to her cell opened, Suki held up a hand to block the light from hitting her eyes.

"Come on Fan Girl, on your feet."

Suki felt her temple throb at the onslaught of light. She scrunched her face but remained where she was.

"Fan Girl, up."

Using the wall as a support, Suki got on her feet, teetering slightly.

"Come on," the guard said and yanked on her arm.

Suki walked in silence, allowing the guard to drag her through the sea of orange, cutting through the bunch of inmates. The time spent in solitary confinement had been downright maddening for her. If there was one thing she understood, it was that she had no desire to go back in there, if that meant she had to do as the guards said, she would do it. As long as it did not involve doing something she was morally opposed to, she would play along and not antagonize the guards. The guard led her to a cell and showed her inside. Left alone, Suki slumped on the floor. Despair threatened to overwhelm her, and she had to bite back her sob.

"Sokka. I miss you."

Enroute to the Bei Fong Mansion, the carriage came to a halt in front of a tea shop. Utakata hopped off the carriage, while on the other side, his niece did the same. Retrieving a package from the back of the carriage, he handed it to his nice before leading her into the shop. They had barely settled down at a table when the server reached them.

"Hello Sir. How may I assist you?"

"I would have a jasmine tea."

"Same for me," Toph added. "And I need to use your restroom."

"Sure, this way Madam."

Toph picked the package and followed the man as he led her to the restroom. Once alone, Toph unwrapped the package and quickly changed out of the tunic and into a kimono. That done, she walked out and joined her uncle.

"I'm not ready to go back," Toph grumbled after their teas were served.

"Toph," Utakata said with a sigh. "Not again, please."

"I know, I know. Doesn't mean I'll stop complaining. I want to be out there, fighting. Earth Bending. Being useful. Not be trapped in the ivory tower."

"Toph, please, please don't make things more difficult for me."

"How am I making things difficult for you?" She snapped. "I'm doing as you asked, am I not? But am I not even allowed to complain about how unfair it is that the greatest Earth Bender alive is spending the war pretending to be someone she is not? Please, uncle, don't make me do this."

Utakata ran a hand over his face, "Please. Please. Don't make it more difficult than things already are. The Dai Li don't know of your existence. I would like it to stay that way. If the rebels are caught, you would still be free to fight the good fight. But if you are there and get caught with us, then what? Who fights on behalf of Earth Benders? The Fire Benders get a free rein. I need you to be my backup. Please, can you do that for me."

Toph blew her bangs and nodded.

Iroh blew on the parchment, drying the ink. He read through the message he had written and nodded to himself, satisfied. He folded the parchment and sealed it with wax. That done, he gathered the three letters he had written and walked to the hawkery and selected a hawk.

"Take this letter to King Bumi. Go fast, my little friend. We need speed."

Releasing that hawk, he turned to the tiny woman who had walked into the hawkery. The woman bowed and presented a small, circular object to him which made him smile. "The White Lotus opens wide to all those who know its secrets," he said.

"What may I do for you, Grand Master."

He handed the two sealed parchment to her, along with a folded piece of paper, a pouch, and said, "Go to the address on the paper, and hand these to the bounty hunter June. May the spirits be with you."

Just when the first rays of Sun cut through the dark, Zuko's eyes snapped open, as was his habit. He sat up, groaning slightly at the soreness of his muscles. While Katara had healed the majority of the injuries, some of them still lingered. Sleeping on the rocky floor was not doing him any favors. Even though he had been brought up in the lap of luxury, he had slept on floors before. That was one of his father's more milder punishments, one that he loved to dole out. Zuko had lost the count of the number of times he had slept on the floor. But even then, it had never lasted for more than two days in a row. But now, when his body was already bruised, every part of him seemed to be aching.

Some way away, Katara was sleeping peacefully, the single tattered blanket covering her feet. Being a Fire Bender, he was generally warm. As he had noticed, Katara's skin was a lot colder than his. In fact, her feet were downright icy at nights. He had given her the blanket since he really didn't need it. Using his time alone, Zuko did some basic stretches. He raised his body temperature to loosen the tight and sore muscles in his body. He moved to a more complex set of exercises and began to lose the stiffness of his body. He was in the middle of a Fire Bending kata when he heard Katara.

"Starting early, are we?"

Without breaking his kata, Zuko said, "Sorry, did I wake you up?"

"Can't sleep very well on stone. Too hot."

Zuko nodded. While he finished his katas, Katara cleaned her face and mouth with the little water they had. Just as he was finishing his exercises, she began to do a few stretches of her own. Finishing his own workout, he leaned against the wall to give her more space. After a while, he said, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why Haru? Was it the hair or the mustache?"

Katara giggled, continuing her stretches, "He didn't have the mustache when we were dating. Besides, he's not a bad guy."

"Then? What happened?"

She shrugged, "We didn't click."

"Ah, looking for the click are you?"

"Yup," she paused and turned to look at him. "Anything wrong with it?"

"No. None at all. Experienced it yet?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Not sure. What about you?"

"What about me?"

"What are you looking for?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "Don't know. Sanity?"

Katara gaped at him, "Are you asking me or telling me?"

"I'm telling you. Yeah. I want sanity in my partner."

She shook her head in amazement. "Your bar is so high," she said sarcastically.

Zuko snorted. "So, just out of curiosity, what happens if you do click but with the wrong guy."

"What do you mean?"

"You know, someone like Jet. Say you click with Jet. Then what?"

Katara groaned and slipped down on the floor, leaning against the wall. "Zuko, if I ever tell you that I feel anything romantic for Jet, please kill me. Burn me to a crisp."

Zuko grinned, "Okay, okay. Not Jet. Someone else. Someone who's wrong."

Katara frowned, "Wrong? Like how?"

"Like… say… me. What happens if, hypothetically speaking, you feel that spark with me? What then?"

He didn't miss the long pause she took before irritably replying, "Why are we talking about this? We are stuck in a prison!"

Zuko smiled but allowed her to change the subject, "Right. So, how many days to full moon?"

"I think five more."

Zuko nodded thoughtfully. "We should make an escape plan of some kind, shouldn't we?"

Katara nodded. "I checked the lake yesterday. Went down to the place where the river feeds the lake. I can pull the water and flood this camp. But there's one problem."

"What?"

"I can't pull it out from here. I need to be closer."

Zuko's eyebrow rose, "Right. Let me see if I understand this. We need to get out of this prison, which is made of Earth, an element that neither of us can bend. If that isn't enough, we need to go out, cross a camp that has thirty odd Earth Benders, not to mention the non-bending warriors. And we just have your bending, which is dependent on the element and my bending, and a knife. Wow. I love our odds."

"You got a better plan, Your Highness?" Katara snarked. "Are you hoping Fire Lord Ozai will send you help?"

Zuko rolled his eyes, "I'm not dissing your plan, but hey, the odds are pretty high, right?"

"I'll have my Blood Bending with me."

Zuko ran a finger along his chin, "What all can you do with it?"

"I can make people do what I want. I can –" she paused, her eyes widening. Suddenly, she shot to her feet and peered out of the window. Her face was ashen when she whirled around and ran to him, clutching his shirt. Her eyes were wide in sheer terror. "They're coming. They're going to do it again."

A prickle of fear began somewhere within him, along with a surge of joy at having her so close. Zuko pushed himself off the wall and cupped her face with a hand, while wrapping his other arm around her back. "Katara, don't show them your weakness."

"But… Zuko, they are going to hit you again."

He tightened his arm around her, lay his forehead against hers, and said urgently, "I know. Can you do something for me?"

"What?" with a trembling voice as she pulled him closer, to the point that their breaths mingled, and their lips were almost touching. Of their own accord, his eyes closed, drinking in the feeling of holding her so close. He would not admit it to her, not when she was so terrified, but he was scared too. He knew what was coming and fear was pooling in his stomach. He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent, "Don't look," he whispered, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke. "Don't let them see your weakness."

When she didn't respond, he pressed on, "Katara, promise me. You won't look."

Taking a deep breath, Katara soke against his lips, "I promise. I won't look."

The wall dropped and Vamik stepped in. "Come on."

Zuko gave a small and quick peck on her lips and was about to step away when her arms tightened around him and she whispered, "I'm there with you."

"I know," he said and took a step back, so their eyes met. One look at her pain-filled blue eyes almost broke him. But then, as though reading his thoughts, Katara straightened her spine and nodded at him. Something about that look made his fear melt away. She was there. He drew his strength from her. He kept his eyes fixed on her as he said, "Come on, Vamik. Let's go."