Check out my one-shot called They Don't Know About Us if you want a little break from a story. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Katara tried to open her eyes, but they were like heavy weights and they wouldn't budge. With a groan, she sat up expecting to see Zuko near her or at least hear his voice. She vaguely recalled falling overboard, coughing up water, and then propelling them to the nearest land mass.

But then nothing.

Darkness.

"Open your eyes, Little Bird," a voice cooed sweetly. But she knew who that voice belonged too and he was anything but sweet.

That's impossible, she thought.

He was like the deadliest plant; sweet looking, but one touch and the poison could infiltrate your body and suffocate you.

When Katara didn't obey, two thin fingers gripped her chin harshly and gave her a quick yank. She didn't mean to let out a whimper, but the two digits were digging into her skin.

Sluggishly, she looked up into the eyes of her tormentor.

A pleased smile spread across his face and she used her hands to scramble away from him on the ground.

Frantically looking around, she noticed that she was in a cave of somesorts, a small fire burning brightly, and Zuko nowhere to be found.

Ozai loomed over her, his height seeming to take up the whole length of the little space.

"Where's Zuko?" Katara asked; her voice a lot more raspy than she was used too.

Dehydrated. That's the feeling.

Running her tongue around her mouth, she tried to gather as much moisture as possible. If she could, then maybe she could bend her saliva and get the hell out of there.

Ozai's face darkened and he stalked forward. Katara tried to get up, but she was paralyzed in fear as the Fire Lord gripped her shoulders so tightly that she felt bruises instantly form on her shoulders in the shape of two hands.

"I only have so long here and I will NOT waste it talking about my treacherous, disgraceful bastard of a son," Ozai spat down on her. "Tell me where you are and I won't have to hurt him much when I find you. And you know, Katara," Ozai cooed, "I will always find you. No matter who you're with, no matter where you run off too; I. Will. Find. You."

This was it. She might not understand how Ozai was standing over her. She might not understand his meaning. Like how was he in front of her but he didn't even know where they were? That made no sense to her. But all that didn't matter. She knew what she had to do in order to save her and Zuko.

"What makes you think I care about his safety? He's your son. Kill him for all I care," she spat.

She sounded a lot more brave than she felt considering the Fire Lord was still gripping her shoulders and was within an inch of her face.

"Such brave words," he trailed his right hand down her arm and up her torso so his nails scraped alongside the curve of her breasts. She flinched away, struggled as much as she could, but found she could barely move. "For someone so scared. Let me make one thing clear, little bird. If I sense that you're going to spread your legs to fuck my son and complete the ritual with that bastard, then me torturing you is the least of your problems. You know you can't win against me, so you might as well give up now."

His hands started to heat up, and she knew this game.

He would heat her skin, leave burns and cuts and bruises until she passed out from exhaustion. Sometimes he would bring in a healer so he could start all over again, and other times he would leave her to scar.

The only reason why she didn't show any marks was because of a trick Yoguda, from the North, taught her with spirit water.

As long as Katara had spirit water, she could spread it onto her skin, use her healing, and the marks would disappear to everyone's eyes; everyone but her.

Katara knew her body was scarred beyond belief. Zuko's eye was nothing compared to what her back, torso, hips and waist looked like.

And it was all thanks to Ozai.

"Tell me, stupid girl," Ozai hissed. "Where are you and that traitor?"

"Go ahead," she croaked. "Kill me. Kill Zuko. Like I said, I feel nothing for him and that makes him indispensable to me."

She refused to let Zhao or Ozai use her friends against her again.

She would show no weakness.

But then fire encased her shoulders and she was screaming. It was a blinding white pain and it wouldn't stop.

"No!" She yelled, thrashing, trying to pry his hands off of her.

But he wouldn't let go.

"KATARA! WAKE UP! KATARA!"

Zuko had been in the middle of cooking their dinner. He had luckily trapped a wild chicken-swan, but in the midst of cooking Katara had started screaming.

No sounds had come from her in two days, and yet, the first thing that came from her mouth were terrified screams.

He didn't like it. Not one bit.

"Katara," he yelled again, grabbing onto her shoulders and giving her a good shake. "Damn it! Wake up!"

She did. Her breath was labored, her eyes wide and frantic, searching around them, tears filled her vision and for the very first time since meeting her, Zuko didn't see one ounce of fight or strength in her small body. Only despair and pain.

"Katara?" he whispered, her bewildered expression pulling at strings he didn't know he had. "What's wrong?"

She looked around the small cave that they had taken shelter in the past two days and opened her mouth to say something, but she quickly closed it and stood up in a mechanical sort of way.

Zuko stood with her, but didn't take a step towards her the moment she ran to the mouth of the cave. Her small body hunched over some bushes and he could see her retching what little was in her stomach.

Stoically going to her side, he pulled her hair back that wasn't in her braid and held her hair as she trembled on the ground.

He didn't rush her. He didn't say anything. He didn't let the putrid smell of vomit affect him.

After a few minutes she straighted her back and he knew it was time to let her up.

Zuko watched Katara pull herself together. Her breath came out in regular intervals and her face flooded with color and strength again.

"Are you okay?" He blurted out when she just stood there, not moving at all, as she scanned the small cave.

She didn't answer nor did she really even look at him. She didn't even offer so much as a 'thank you for holding my hair back as I retched up most of my stomach contents and I know that was probably gross for you to watch and hear'. Instead, she walked back to her sleeping location and stared quite fixedly on a spot against the cave wall. It was as if she could see something that he couldn't.

"Impossible," Katara murmured quietly, but it was still loud enough for him to hear.

"What is?"

This time, it was as if she did hear him because she jumped as if he snuck up on her.

"Are you okay?" He tried again, concern painted across his face. The dinner he was cooking had long been forgotten over the open flames.

Katara took a breath before turning towards him with renewed strength and energy. "Sure," she said, way too chipper. "You?"

Zuko frowned. "Me? Yeah, considering I wasn't the one puking my guts out a moment-"

"Is that food?" She cut him off. Katara took a deep breath and inhaled. "Mmh...chicken, my favorite."

Zuko watched intently as Katara pulled the meat from the fire. She didn't question where he got the utensils, the knife, or the backpack filled with mundane items that would keep them alive in the forest.

Instead, she cut the meat up and split it into two servings. She offered him half and settled herself down comfortably.

"What are you doing?" He asked the moment she took her first bite. He sat down across from her, and stared at her with wide eyes.

He was sure he looked comical to her but he had no idea what he was seeing.

"Eating?" She questioned. "I'm famished. How long was I down for this time?"

"This time?" He exclaimed as if it were an everyday occurrence. "What do you mean this time? This has happened before?"

"Once," she admitted. "When I was up North-during the Siege of the North about two years ago."

That was the same time Zuko was busy conquering Ba Sing Se and Zhao had led the attack on the North that had failed.

"I'm typically pretty good at not overdoing my bending, but sometimes we're put in circumstances that we can't avoid."

Like floating, abandoned, in the middle of the ocean.

She had willingly hurt herself to save him.

He owed her more than his life.

"You were down for two days," he finally whispered. "Katara-"

"I know Barden because after we won up in the North, my friends and I started traveling again. We were making our way to Omashu, but along the way we had to stop at certain places. Barden was at one port we were near and his whole crew had come down with the plague. I helped heal him and all his men. That's how he knows me."

"You healed him?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"What?" She snapped, her deep, blue eyes piercing his now. "You've seen me do it before. That's the truth."

He wanted to ask why she was traveling. How did she end up North to begin with when she said she was from the South? Why did she have to stop at so many places before Omashu?

But Zuko knew she would never answer.

Afterall, they were just strangers travelling together. At least that's what they agreed on.

"You have more questions," she stated. She wasn't accusing him. "I know you do. Ask me one thing and I'll answer as honestly as possible."

"Why were you traveling after the North?"

Katara hesitated when she looked at him.

"You promised," he reminded her.

"You were right in a way. I have a past and I was running from someone and the South was no longer safe for me. I was fourteen at the time the North was attacked and after it wasn't safe for me there. So my friends and I travelled and after healing Barden and his crew….well, my past caught up to me."

Katara stared at him, her eyes full of something he couldn't read yet.

"What happened?"

She shook her head, her eyes dropping. "That doesn't matter."

How does that not matter? His mind screamed. She had reassured him that she wasn't some damsel in distress with a broken heart, but that didn't mean someone still wasn't out to get her.

"Why are you telling me this if you aren't going to explain what happened. Why even bring this up?"

"Because I'm about to ask you something and knowing you, you wouldn't answer unless I told you about Barden and something about my past in return."

"Smart girl," he commented. "What do you want to know? You going to ask how we ended up in this cave? You gonna ask how I got you into new clothes that weren't torn and battered? You gonna ask how I know how to hunt and trap?" He kept firing off questions. Questions that she should have been asking him because he was a stranger and she shouldn't trust him.

Katara looked down at herself for the first time and frowned when she noticed the long sleeve green top she was wearing. It was still cropped under her breasts but it wasn't torn. She was also wearing new green leggings.

But what she said surprised even Zuko.

"I want to know how you're going to defeat Ozai. I need to know how you're going to take him down."

"Why?"

She swallowed hard, her hand reaching up to her neck as if searching for something that wasn't there. Now, Zuko knew a thing or two about Katara, and whenever she touched her neck that meant she was nervous.

"Katara," he pressed again, "Why now?"

"He-" she hesitated, clearing her throat and putting her untouched food aside. So much for chicken being her favorite.

"What?"

"He's in my head. Or, at least, he was in my head."

"Who is?"

"Ozai."

Zuko knew all too well how Ozai could cause fear. After he was burned across the eye Zuko had nightmares of his father as well.

Zuko smiled sympathetically. "Of course he is. We're literally on the run from him and The Black Wings. And after what you just went through, it's normal to be scared and thinking of him."

"No," she whispered, her eyes soft on him but yet determined to get him to understand. "He's literally inside my head. When I had my nightmare he was there. Physically, it was as if he could touch me."

Once again, Zuko's stomach clenched. "Katara, having nightmares is normal. Why do you think he can touch you?"

"I don't think. I know. He was talking to me and he wanted-" Katara cut herself off and Zuko frowned.

He would kill his father.

"He wants to find us," Katara whispered weakly. "He says he'll make us pay for running and for thinking we could escape. And I believe him."

"You're safe. I swear."

"Then how can you explain these?" Before Zuko knew what she was doing, her green top was being pulled over her head, and flung to the side, and she was left in white breast bindings.

If it were any other time he would take the time to appreciate the swell of her pert breasts being put on display for his eyes, but what caught his attention was the two hand shape burn marks that were scorched on her bare shoulders.

He strode over to her and cornered her against the cave wall.

"When did-How-why-" Zuko couldn't form a coherent sentence.

He wanted to ask when the marks appeared.

He wanted to question how she could hide this from him when he knew just how painful burns really were.

He wanted to scream at his father and demand to know why he would mark such perfect skin.

"Do you believe me now?" She murmured.

He slowly reached out a hand and touched the area outlining the hand prints. She flinched away from his touch before she slowly relaxed and let him run his fingers over the unmarred skin.

"I don't know how he could have done that through a dream, but we'll figure out a way to stop him," he vowed.

Zuko had promised to protect her. How was he supposed to do that when Ozai could visit Katara's dreams?

"I just need water. I can heal the marks," she reassured him. She cleared her throat when he was taking a moment too long to stare at the marks. His own branding haunting his thoughts. "Zuko? How are you going to stop Ozai?"

He could see how desperate she was to get her answers, how much she needed it, and Zuko understood why. He understood better than anyone. Having his father in her head had to be horrifying. But he couldn't appease her. It wasn't safe. If it was just his life on the line then he would tell her in a heartbeat, but the plan affected his Uncle as well. Telling Katara could jeopardize the plan. And Ozai had to stay in the dark. If he could access her dreams he didn't want to find out if he would eventually be able to access her thoughts as well.

"Katara," Zuko said, his voice the softest it's ever been, "If he's in your head then it's not safe. If Ozai finds out the plan, then we're screwed."

"I need to know," she begged. She was grasping at straws as she clutched onto him. "Please. I need to know that this will work."

"It will."

"And if it won't?"

"It will. It has too."

"But if it won't?" She persisted, her eyes hard.

"Then I will find another way to protect you. I will keep you safe."

Her gaze softened, but the anxious feeling never left. "I don't think I'll ever be safe with Ozai out there."

Zuko gave her a weak smile. He wanted to promise her that he would keep Ozai away, but how was he supposed to fight his father when he was accessing her through dreams? This had to be some form of witchcraft. And luckily, they had washed up on shore not too far from the one person who might be able to help them.

"We will figure it out. You're not the only one who knows people. I've travelled for a long time and have made my own acquaintances."

"What do you mean?" Her voice sounded so small.

"He means," a voice cackled from behind them. The Earth Kingdom witch-healer hadn't even made a nose from where she came from. "That I can help you with your dreams and your burns."

The crazy, old woman was holding her cat, Miyuki. And although the woman looked to be close to one hundred, had manic eyes at times and would never leave her white cat alone, she was one of the best witch doctors he had ever met on his travels.

"Great," Zuko said, standing up and offering Katara her shirt back.

She shyly put it on again and he didn't miss the way she winced as the fabric fell over her burns. He really had to get her some water so she could heal.

"Katara, this is Mizumi and her cat, Miyuki."

"That's not confusing," she muttered only for him to hear.

Zuko smiled. "Mizumi, this is-"

"Katara, from the Southern Water Tribe," Mizumi cut him off.

"How did you know that?" Katara crossed her arms defensively.

Mizumi cackled again. "Oh, I knew you'd be a lively one!"

"Let's just fix Katara and we'll be on our way."

"I said I could help her, fire breather. I didn't say I would. Plus," the older woman rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "I owe you nothing more. I already gave you supplies, changed your friend and patched her up, and let you stay in my cave for two days."

"I gather you two aren't exactly close?" Katara asked wryly. "What did you do, Zuko?"

"Why do you assume I did anything? What if she's the one who-"

"He burned down my village."

"Zuko!"

"I'm not proud of it," he mumbled.

Katara shot him a dirty look and even though he had repent and paid for his sins she still somehow managed to make him feel even guiltier.

"We shouldn't even be here asking for help! You owe her everything and now we're just expecting her to help us? What is wrong with you?" Katara snarled at him.

Mizumi hummed with mirth. It made her look a little bugged eye as her cat purred. "I like you girly. I'll help." The woman turned her back on them and started walking into the cave. "Come."

When they both started forward, she turned around with narrowed eyes. "Not you, Fire Nation. You stay here."

"Like hell," he hissed.

"Breathe," Katara laid a hand on his arm. "It'll be okay."

"Katara, if something goes wrong, I won't be there to stop it. I can't protect you from here."

"You're being dramatic," Mizumi rolled her wrinkled eyes. "Now, I don't know what you've heard about witchcraft before, but what I'm about to do will take a while and it won't be pleasant. Are you sure you want to do this?" Mizumi looked Katara up and down. "Such a frail girl. I don't know if you'll be able to handle it."

"It can't be any less pleasant than having Ozai in my head."

"It can and it will be."

"We're leaving," Zuko growled.

"We can't, Zuko. You're right. As long as Ozai is in my head I'm not safe. Who knows how long it'll be before he can start talking to me while I'm awake. We have to try."

"Katara, if something goes wrong-"

"Nothing will go wrong," she assured him. "Just sit down, eat dinner, and wait for me."

He really hated that the first word that popped into his head was always.

"Fine," he growled. "But if you need me, scream, and I don't care what the old hag will do, I'll be right by your side."

"Just breathe," Katara soothed before stepping out of his reach.

That was the last thing Zuko heard before Katara followed Mizumi into the dark cave, leaving him near the dying fire without any clue as to what was going to happen.

What the hell is taking so long?

The night was almost over and Zuko had died about a thousand times with worry. At one point, he considered storming into the back part of the cave to demand answers on what the fuck was going on...but then he'd realize that Katara was back there too and that could potentially put her at risk. And so he stopped himself.

However, storming back there was starting to resurface once more the moment the sky started turning a lighter shade of black and there was still no sign of the water bender.

If Mizumi had hurt Katara…

Just as Zuko's mind was drifting to different scenarios of hurting Mizumi for hurting Katara, he heard footsteps.

Stepping from the blackness of the cave wasvthe old woman.

"Where's Katara?" He demanded, instantly on his feet.

The old woman is not phased by him and merely smiles. "Katara is resting. Healing one's mind is tiresome and painful work."

"Did it work though? Were you able to heal her so Ozai can't get to her?"

"Her burns were superficial and she healed herself the moment we went back there. Her mind...took a lot more effort than I anticipated. Whoever is working for Ozai is strong."

"You mean, he does have a witch on his side?"

Zuko didn't know how he felt about that.

There were some people out in the world who had unique abilities that played tricks on the mind. Common people liked to label those types of people as witches because they didn't understand their powers.

Zuko was unsure of what he believed.

"I would presume so," Mizumi finally said. "Come. You may see your girl now."

Although Zuko had never gone to the back part of the cave before, he still walked ahead of the woman, itching to get to Katara.

The cave opened up to a giant space filled with green crystals that hung from the ceiling. There was a small waterfall that poured into a tiny pond. Bottles of medicine were scattered precariously amongst several tables and in the middle of the room Katara was laying on a table with a blanket wrapped around her small form.

"Katara," he called as he rushed up to her.

"Hey," she smiled. She sat up slightly and he didn't miss the way she winced.

"Are you okay?"

"I told you she is fine."

Katara nodded, ignoring the woman. "I'm great."

"Did it hurt?"

"I'm tougher than I look."

"That's a yes, isn't it?"

Katara avoided his eyes and that look told him everything he needed to know...and he respected that she didn't want to talk about it. Even though he really really wanted to push her for details. But, reluctantly, he dropped it as he watched her lay down on the table again, snuggling into the pillows surrounding her head.

"Why don't you go back to bed," he said when she started to yawn.

"We should keep traveling," Katara murmured, her eyes already fluttering closed. She was fighting so hard to stay awake. "Mizumi told me we have at least a week before we get to the outskirts of Omashu."

Zuko waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "We can stay for a few hours."

"No, really," she insisted stubbornly. "It's fine. We should-"

It clicked in Zuko's mind.

"You're afraid it didn't work, aren't you?" He asked the question even though he knew the answer already.

Katara sucked in her bottom lip. "If he's still in there, he's going to be really mad I tried to force him out. What if he's not gone?"

"I'll wake you if I see you're having a nightmare."

Katara was still hesitant.

"Okay," he rumbled, crouching down. "Give me your hand."

"What? Why?"

He held out his hand, waiting for her without giving her an answer.

Her little hand slipped into his, her eyebrows knit together in question. "Now what?

"Now you sleep," Zuko said. "And when I notice something bad is happening I'll squeeze your hand and wake you up. Or pull you off the bed if that doesn't do the trick," he added lightly as a joke.

She frowned, her lips twitching. "You're going to sit there, like that, for hours? That doesn't look comfortable."

"It isn't," he agreed, smiling himself. "Now lay down and sleep."

She stared at him for another moment, her eyes warm on his and then, finally, she laid her head back down and her eyes closed with her hand securely in his.

"You won't let go, right?" She checked after a few minutes.

"I promise. On my honor.," he whispered back. "Now go to sleep, Katara."

He smiled as he watched her body prepare for sleep and her chest even out with deep, peaceful breaths.

"Hey, Zuko?" She whispered in a drowsy voice.

"What?"

"I'm really glad we're talking again."

His heart jumped at hearing her speak those words; her confession robbing him of speech.

As Zuko sat there, watching the light from above the waterfall start to fill the cave with her hand in his, he tried to wrap his mind around how much things had changed in just a few hours. That wall he had put up was crumbling quickly, even though he knew he shouldn't let it. He should be stronger with his feelings. The Black Wings were coming for him and inevitably he would face his father once more. So, he had to focus, he had to keep his head straight, he had to start thinking about a plan instead of her.

He had to start thinking about anything but her.

With everything going on that shouldn't be too hard to do.

Right?

Leave a review. I promise the smut is coming!