Chapter 8

Katara awoke to the door opening. She immediately jerked to attention, hoping for the secret messenger. Instead, Zuko entered.

He was carrying Kya in his arms, bridal style. Katara quickly reverted to her previous position, feigning sleep as Zuko set her mother on the bed. He paused for only a moment, before sighing and exiting, the door creaking shut behind him.

After his departure, Katara inspected her mother. She seemed peaceful.

Katara was relieved. Their late night had raised more and more questions, most of them very suggestive. She had been worried that Zuko had just decided to do the deed and had laid awake for most of the night. She was confident that Kya wouldn't be so peaceful if she had just been raped.

She looked over Kya one more time, than turned to go back to sleep.

Her turn would come soon enough.

"It's time to rise, Tributes!" Menolda's voice echoed through the small room. "Wake up!"

Katara groaned. She hadn't slept very well at all last night. With Kya's absence, worries had stirred in her mind, almost unbearable in number.

Kya had yet to wake. Katara shook her awake, feeling guilty. "Kya," she said gently, "It's time to get up."

Kya gave a reluctant sigh and lazily sat up, stretching. She was smiling.

Ty Lee was instantly beside them. "You're back! So how was sleeping with Zuko?"

Kya eyes snapped to her. "What do you mean?" she asked warily, now fully awake.

Ty Lee smiled. "You know…" She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

Kya shook her head, annoyed. "We just talked. I promise." She looked to Katara as she said this, a blush rising on her face.

For Ty Lee, this was the ultimate proof. "You totally did!" She bounced away excitedly to share the news.

Katara eyed her mother suspiciously. Why did she blush? There's no way that she actually…

Kya saw her looking, and sighed. "Katara, we did nothing of the sort. I'm just a bit flustered, that's all."

The first part sounded sincere, but the second statement rang a bit false. Katara was trying to figure out exactly what had happened, but Ursa's voice interrupted them.

"Katara, it's time for your meeting with the Prince. Get ready." Ursa stated, looking her up and down. "At least change into something less wrinkled."

Katara gawked at her. "But it's still morning!" she protested. She had been hoping for a little more time to process everything.

Ursa shrugged. "He has meetings all day. He requested you come in the morning." Her gaze remained firm. "I suggest you comply."

Katara nodded and swung out of bed. If she couldn't go as she was, she would have to wear the Fire Nation stomacher from the clothing merchants. She sighed. Not exactly her ideal first meeting with her "master."

To her surprise, there was a Water Nation tunic, finely crafted. Katara was a bit confused, until Kya smiled. "You bought this?"

Kya gazed at her lovingly and kissed the top of her head. "Get dressed."

Katara did so quickly, relishing the feel of lion-seal leather on her flesh. She had missed it dearly.

Ursa sat nearby impatiently. "Are you ready?"

Katara hesitated, trying to think of an excuse, but failing. Kya interrupted.

"She's ready."

A guard escorted Katara through the palace, upwards until they came outside. Zuko was there, sitting next to a pond. Water! she thought, realizing a second later that it did her no good. But it was still comforting.

Katara was escorted to where Zuko sat who glanced up at her arrival. He rose to greet her, and she inspected him thoroughly for the first time.

He had changed clothes since this morning, now dressed in an outfit that could be almost called common. It was brown in color, and relatively lay close to his skin.

But she couldn't keep her eyes from his face. The scar lay there, daunting and mysterious, out of place on his smiling face. She knew you couldn't get that from a mere accident. Knowing that one of his own had given it to him made it that much harder to hate him.

The guards retreated, leaving Katara and Zuko alone.

There was a beat of silence before Zuko spoke. "Do you know how to fish?" he asked, extending a rod to her.

She scowled. "No," she replied venomously. "Do you assume all Water Tribe people can fish?"

He blinked. "I just meant-"

She wasn't done. "You take us from our home and assume you know us?" She was heating up. "We have lives, a home. You took that from us. You-"

"I had nothing to do with it." His voice rose in reply. The fishing rod lay on the ground, forgotten. "You think I wanted this? I never asked for a Tribute!"

Katara snorted. "Of course not, not with your 'courtly graces.' But you certainly didn't resist the idea, I noticed."

He backed down. "You have no idea what you're talking about," he muttered.

Something in his voice stopped her, and she took a closer look at his emotional state. Nothing in his posture spoke of anything false, and she immediately felt ashamed. Granny's words about her temper entered her mind.

"I'm sorry," she said, disgruntled. She picked up the rod. "Let's go fishing."

Apparently, the question had been honest. They both knew the basics of how to do it, but the rods were foreign to her and completely new to him. Hours later, they had only mastered the very basics. Neither of them knew how to function a fishing rod properly, but they got a few bites apiece. None of it had resulted in anything.

Zuko claimed that the small pond was stocked with tons of fish yearly. He had watched his uncle pack home several fish longer than his arm. They passed the time talking about the most basic of things. Anything to avoid further discussion of their… situation. At least he wasn't as pushy as she thought.

He asked her about her home, and she answered as honestly as she could, without revealing her and Kya's secret. She told him that since their mother was old, Kya took over care for her. He nodded, and allowed her to continue without skepticism.

She told him of her (their) little brother, Sokka. He was one of two men left in the tribe after Ozai's raid, while the other was… less of a man since.

Zuko's face darkened at the mention of his father. Again, she couldn't help but wonder at the scar. She hoped it wasn't what it seemed like.

She told him about daily life in the Water Tribe, and he seemed genuinely interested, curious beyond anything she could muster.

Eventually, she turned the conversation back onto him. She asked about his normal life, to which he gave an abrupt laugh. Nothing was the same now that he had a tribute. Everyone treated him like some sort of hero.

"Getting a tribute is supposed to be a great honor, only given to the best of men. I did nothing to deserve it," he said bitterly. "But my father is a Fire Nation hero. When he suggested it, everyone instantly agreed."

Katara looked puzzled. "Why didn't he just appoint himself? Didn't he want a tribute?"

Zuko shook his head. "You can't appoint yourself."

"Oh."

She thought about that for a moment. She had always assumed that it was this spoiled prince who wanted to fill his bed with exotic women, but he wasn't acting at all like she expected, He was homely, almost kind…

She shook herself out of her thoughts. "What about your sister? Who's the better bender?"

Zuko's face flushed, and he turned away. Katara wondered about his reaction. Was he really bad? Really good? Or…

"Aren't the entire royal family benders?" she thought aloud. "Why would-" The realization struck her. "They took your bending."

He nodded. "Permanently."

Chills raced down her back. "They can do that?"

Zuko shrugged. "With the right herbs."

Again, she couldn't help but wonder at the scar. A twinge of pity struck her.

"Can I tell you a secret?"

Zuko turned to her, a small smile forming at the corner of his mouth. "Please."

She set down her rod and pulled her knees to her chest, rocking back and forth. She hesitated, trying to think of the right thing to say.

Finally, she spoke. "I'm a waterbender."

Zuko sat up in shock. Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn't that. "What?! I thought they were all gone!"

She nodded knowingly. "Most people do." She lowered her head. "Mom says that it's my responsibility to continue the bloodline," she said sheepishly.

Zuko cocked his head, confused, until the meaning of what she said came to him. He sighed.

They sat in silence for a moment. Suddenly, Katara's grounded rod jerked, nearly getting pulled into the lake. She quickly snatched it, and began attempting to heave at the line. She gave a small cry as the line kept pulling, her feet skidding to keep from flying into the lake.

Instantly, Zuko was beside her, also pulling the rod. "What in spirit's-"

With his added strength, the line snapped out of the water, toppling Katara and Zuko with the sudden release.

Katara lay for a moment, stunned. Then she noticed the fish. A half-inch long, dangling on the end of the hook. Zuko noticed as well.

They burst into laughter as the string swung back and forth between them. Their laughter finally finished as Katara looked up into Zuko's eyes.

She only then realized their position. She had fallen onto his chest, practically laying on him. Her face flushed, and she quickly scooted off of him, cursing herself for not having noticed sooner.

Why hadn't she noticed? The answer came quickly. It felt…right. Not just nice. Perfect. She couldn't explain it. She had never felt that way before.

Zuko's face had become bright red as well. She gave him a shy glance, which he returned with a sheepish grin. Her heart did a flip. Forget nice. He was handsome.

Clearing his throat, Zuko rose and offered Katara his hand. His eyes darted to the sun, and he sighed. "I guess our time is up, then."

Disappointed, she took it and stood up. Though she only came to his shoulder in height, their eyes met. Instantly, she felt his eyes boring into hers, an intensity waiting. It was peaceful, though, the same feeling as a tamed seal-lion. Only stronger. She ducked away to where the guards were waiting.

"Farewell." Zuko stood patiently beside the lake.

He was in trouble.

Sorry for the short-ish chapter. I wasn't able to write this very well, even for me. Oh well. Hope you guys are enjoying the plot, at least.

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