Never Let Me Go

by thevictorianghost

When Asami Sato, treasure hunter, stumbled upon a drawing buried at the bottom of the ocean, she found the love story of a lifetime. In 1912, when Zuko Kai and Katara La, a firebender and a waterbender from two different worlds, boarded Titanic, they had no idea that fate, destiny, or perhaps luck, would allow them to find each other. Just in time. Zutara Titanic AU.

10. Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

Found a place to rest my head

Never let me go, never let me go

Katara couldn't believe her bad luck.

She had been handcuffed for the second time in one voyage. This time, though, she was dragged way down below to the Master at Arms' room. And tied around a pipe. The Master at Arms sent her one pitied glance. Katara rested her head against the pipe and bit back a bitter remark. It was that or falling to her knees. Crying.

How could everything go so wrong so quickly?

"Here you go, young lady," said the Master at Arms.

Katara barely listened. She had to go back. She had to tell Zuko. She had to make him understand! Katara closed her eyes tight. She hadn't stolen that diamond, she hadn't! She could see him, she could see his face, printed on the back of her eyelids. She could still see that pain in his eyes. The way he'd looked at her… the doubt, the betrayal… it made her heart ache. How could they do such a thing to him? How could they be so cruel? He didn't deserve any of this!

He deserved happiness, love, peace.

He deserved the world.

"I didn't do it," said Katara, looking up. "They lied. And you believed them."

The Master at Arms rubbed the back of his neck. He cleared his throat.

"Look. I'm sorry. But even if you didn't steal that necklace… it was found in your pocket. In the pocket of the coat you'd stolen."

"I told you. I wanted to give it back."

"That's still stealing."

Katara breathed out. Whole body slumping in defeat.

"I just wish I could have told him…"

"Sir?"

The Master at Arms turned around. A crewmember had just barged in through the door. He looked… disarrayed. To say the least. Eyes wide. Scared.

"Yes?"

"You're wanted by the Purser," said the crewmember. "Urgently."

Someone else spoke then. A familiar voice. An unfortunately familiar voice.

"Go on. I'll keep an eye on her."

Azula.

Katara's eyes landed on her. Azula stood in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest. She leaned against the door jamb, a sardonic smile on her face. The Master at Arms excused himself, followed by the crewmember. The door closed behind them.

They were alone.

"CQD? Sir?"

Senior Wireless Officer Jack Phillips looked on, confusion plain on his face, as he watched Captain Smith write… something… on a piece of paper. Was this real? Was Captain Smith really asking him… asking of him, of them, to use the distress call?

Was the situation so dire?

"That's right. CQD. The distress call." Captain Smith offered Phillips the piece of paper. Phillips took it with shaking hands. "That's our position."

Captain Smith removed his hat. Looking… distressed. To say the least.

He breathed in. Deeply. Deeply troubled.

"Tell whoever responds," said Captain Smith briskly, "that we are going down by the head and need immediate assistance."

Phillips stared. Wha… What?

Captain Smith put his hat back on. With a curt nod, he walked away.

Junior Wireless Operator Harold Bride turned to Phillips. Mouth open.

"Blimey," said Phillips.

He put on his headphones and started tapping. Communicating.

"Maybe you ought to try that new distress call," said Bride. "S.O.S."

Phillips nodded.

"It may be our only chance to use it."

They were all alone at sea. But maybe… just maybe… someone would come for them. Maybe. That was what Phillips hoped.

"Right! Start the loading. Women and children!"

They'd stopped at the back of the crowd, in front of the first lifeboat on its way to being launched. Father and Mai stood a little off to the side. She kept sending Zuko glances, but he'd stepped a few feet away. With Uncle. A breeze blew in. Freezing them all to the spot. This looked like a bad dream, a terrible nightmare. The band was playing a tune. Outside. Under the inky black sky. Officers started loading the lifeboats. Others ushered more and more passengers out into the cold night air. The deck was packed. People in lifebelts looked concerned. Mildly distressed.

They were finally starting to realize something was wrong about this... situation. Finally. Someone was holding a little dog, another his luggage. A woman was even barefoot. Zuko stopped paying attention as he bowed his head.

He mulled over what Uncle had said earlier. About Katara and the Heart of the Ocean. They had told him she had stolen it. What did he believe? Who did he believe?

Did he believe his gut and Katara or Father and Mai?

"My brooch," said Mai. "I forgot my brooch. I have to get back."

Father grabbed Mai's wrist. He twisted it.

Zuko saw fear in her eyes.

"Stay. Here. Mai."

She had probably felt fear for the first time in her life.

Katara spat. At Azula's feet.

"Well, well, well!" cackled Azula. "I knew you were a waterbender, but I didn't think you'd lower yourself to spitbending."

Katara gritted her teeth.

"Leave me alone. Go away."

"No, I don't think I will."

Azula took a seat at the Master at Arms' desk. Blue fire appeared at the tip of her finger. Taunting her. Katara leaned her face against the metallic pipe. It was cool against her cheek. The cold settled her. She tried to reach for the water in the pipes, for the water all around, but with her hands and body stuck like this, there was no way she could use her bending for offensive purposes. Not when she faced Azula.

Instead, Katara focussed on him again. The same thought raced through Katara's mind. She had to get out of here. She had to find Zuko. Over and over and over again. She had to get out of here. She had to find Zuko. She had to make him realize… had to make him see… They'd put the diamond in her pocket and she would bet everything she had that Azula had done it.

Why else would she be here?

"Why do you do this?" asked Katara.

Azula looked up. The blue flame flickered on her finger.

"Hm?"

"Why do you treat him like this? He's your brother."

"Zuko is weak." Azula clicked her tongue. "That was always a fact. Father could see it even when we were children. Zuko was never like us. He's always been a mama's boy. The runt of the litter. He could barely firebend, struggled with all his lessons, was an all around embarrassment. He still is, honestly."

"I think he's sweet. He's sweet and kind. He respects me. And he deserves respect."

Azula arched an eyebrow.

"Hm. I never thought I'd meet someone as softhearted as Zuzu. Apart from Iroh, of course. I guess you two do deserve each other. Ironic, really." Azula arched the other eyebrow and continued: "You think he respects you? Why do you think you're here?"

"You staged all this."

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. You can't prove it."

Katara's lips formed a thin line. Azula wasn't wrong. Not that she'd ever admit it. No, she wasn't wrong. Katara couldn't prove it. She couldn't prove her innocence.

She was truly trapped.

They remained in silence for a while. All that while, Azula was eying Katara. Studying her. Like a particularly stubborn riddle she needed to decipher.

"Why are you here?" asked Katara.

Azula shrugged.

"I just want to be sure you don't make a run for it. And gathering information is the first step you have to take when you want to know more about your enemy."

Azula pursed her lips.

"So what's your deal, hm? Katara La? You're not doing this for nothing."

"I don't want your money, if that's what you're wondering."

Azula cocked her head to the side. She was silent for another while.

Then, she tsked.

"Say I believe you. Why did you do this, then?" A cruel smile spread on her face. Azula tapped her cheek and spoke in long, stretched out syllables. " Hmmm… Let... me... guess. You made a bet with your little friends in steerage."

Katara's eyes widened. Snuffing her fire out, Azula put her hands behind her head.

"I hope it was worth it. How much did you get? Two bucks to swap spit, five to draw him naked and ten to get in Zuzu's pants?"

"No!"

Katara pulled on her handcuffs, clanking them against the pipe. Clang, clang, clang!

"What is wrong with you people? First Mai, now you? I love him, all right! How is that so hard to understand? Or is it the whole arranged marriage thing? Are you so incapable of believing that you can love someone without any strings attached?"

Azula twirled the little blue flame on her finger again.

"Feelings are for the weak. You think friendship, family, human connection, you think any of it matters? I don't have friends. I have assets. Allies. We're at war, here, La. At war against the world."

Azula sniffed.

"Besides, what were you expecting? He's well-bred. Compared to you."

Katara tried to cross her arms over her chest. No good when you were tied around a pipe. So she settled on glaring at Azula instead.

"I wasn't expecting anything. Do you think I planned any of this?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out."

"Oh, really?" Katara barked a laugh. "You think all this is my grand plan to steal away Zuko Kai, heir to the Kai family? I didn't know you guys existed four days ago! I won my ticket in a game of poker! I was sleeping under a bridge before this, for Spirits' sakes! Not everything is calculated!"

"Maybe not, but everything happens for a reason."

Silence fell around them. Katara wanted nothing more than to punch that grin off Azula's face. If only anyone but her was here. If only she could send word to Sokka, to Suki, to Toph, to Aang, to Jet, to Zuko, to anyone. She couldn't stay here.

Katara remembered the iceberg. She remembered the worry on the Captain's face. On the officers' faces. On Mr. Andrews' and Iroh's faces.

What was happening, up there?

Azula didn't seem to be finished, though. Examining her nails again, she said:

"You said he respects you. What would you know about respect?"

"You learn a thing or two about that when you're a woman in this world."

Azula's eyes focussed on Katara once more. Deadly focussed. She grinned even more.

"Then you know how hard it is for us to be admired."

Katara's eyes flashed.

"We are nothing alike."

Katara and Azula stared each other down.

Zuko looked away. He looked at the crowd, at the dozens of scared people, gathered all around, gathered in the cold. He looked at them, he looked at them all, at those poor people who were… who were like Mai. Scared. Human.

Human. Mai was human. She wasn't infaillible. No one was, no one could be. Wasn't that why they'd hit that iceberg in the first place? Something - faith? longing? yearning? - flickered in Zuko's chest. Maybe… just maybe…

Maybe she'd gotten it wrong. Maybe he'd gotten it wrong.

"Uncle?"

Uncle looked up. He had been… sorrowful, up 'till now, as he'd been standing next to Zuko. With his hands in his sleeves. Uncle arched an eyebrow.

"Yes?"

"When I told you… about Katara… you said they told me she did it."

Uncle nodded. "I said that. Yes."

"How could you be so sure she…?"

"Didn't do it?"

Zuko shrugged. Noncommittally. He couldn't allow himself… Hope sounded too good to be true. Hope was too good to be true.

"A part of it was logic. If she wanted to steal from us, why did she give back the dress and jewels I lent her first? And with professional thieves, things usually start mysteriously disappearing as days go by. But nothing of the sort happened. So why would she take that diamond and only that diamond?"

"That… seems sound."

"But there was also a part of it that wasn't logical. Katara… she spoke of you with an honesty I've rarely witnessed. She respects you. She loves you. She'd never deceive you."

"If you say so."

A moment of silence settled between them. Broken up by shuffling as they were jostled by people growing anxious. The crowd was soothed by the band playing. Playing a cheerful tune. And still Uncle, by Zuko's side, seemed to have more to say.

"So. When you went to her. How did it go?"

"It went… well. Very well. Too well."

"I see…!"

There was more jostling in the crowd. And more growing anxiousness.

"We should find another lifeboat," suggested Father.

So they started to walk away from the rapidly growing crowd, Father and Mai at the front and Zuko and Uncle bringing up the rear, a few steps behind. As they walked, Uncle removed one hand from his sleeves and tugged on his beard. Pensively. He kept shooting Zuko glances. Amused glances. Annoyingly amused glances.

Zuko couldn't take it anymore.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"There's never 'nothing' with you, Uncle."

"Ha! You're not wrong."

A sly smile spread on Uncle's face. His eyes twinkled.

"It's just that… I'm sure it was… satisfying. For the both of you."

Zuko squinted his eyes at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh! Well…" Uncle waved a hand dismissively. His voice turned teasing. Casual. "If there's anything I know about you, Zuko, it's that you never do things halfway. And dedication is a commendable quality to possess when it comes to lovemaking."

Heat cut through the cold, from Zuko's toes to his flushing face. He gaped at him.

"Uncle!"

Uncle raised his hands defensively. Palms out. "You can't say that's not true."

Zuko crossed his arms over his chest. He pouted. Like a child. That definitely wasn't what he wanted to hear right now. It definitely wasn't.

Uncle sighed. Looking pained.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be teasing you about this. It was… special for you and Katara and they ruined it. You allowed yourself to be vulnerable. You opened up every part of yourself to her. And now you think it's all been just a sham."

Zuko cleared his throat. Salt burned behind his eyes.

"It wasn't just… physical."

"I know! Trust me, I know. You love her. Mind, body and soul."

Zuko dropped his arms. He bowed his head. That was true. And maybe that was exactly what made her betrayal so hard to swallow. So hard to understand.

A warm hand rested on Zuko's arm. Uncle's hand. He was smiling.

"So, Zuko. What do you think really happened, tonight?"

Before Zuko could answer, Uncle followed after Father and Mai. Leaving him in the dust.

Sokka followed after Jet on his way through jam-packed hallways. People were there with luggage, with children, with pets and with loved ones. Some spoke languages Sokka had never heard of and he thought about how scared they must be, stuck in this confusing mess without being able to understand the stewards shouting orders. And they were shouting orders, making tensions grow high. Children covered their ears. Sokka had a feeling they were much more accomodating with the First Class folks, but he didn't say it.

Behind Sokka, he could hear Toph and Aang, then Momo and Appa. When they walked by a steward offering lifebelts, Jet grabbed one and put it on. Sokka grabbed one for Suki. There wasn't enough for all of them, so he figured she should have it first. When he looked over his shoulder, he saw Aang wrap another lifebelt around Toph's shoulders.

He smiled at that. Those two were good for each other.

Speaking of good for each other, he wondered how Katara and Zuko were doing.

Well, he didn't really want to know what they were doing. He knew Zuko would never hurt her and Katara was… well, Katara was Katara, and he didn't want to know what his sister did behind closed doors. But he still wondered if they were okay. He hoped they were.

Sokka's face broke into a grin when he saw a familiar head of short brown hair.

"Suki!"

Suki spun around towards him, then looked down when he offered her the lifebelt. When Sokka reached her, he realized she was…

Oh. She was already wearing one.

At first, he felt… somewhat uncomfortable. Had he done the wrong thing? He wondered that until Suki looked up at him with those eyes. And that smile. Kind. Affectionate. Sokka felt himself melt inside a little. Just a little. Then Sokka blushed at Suki's quizzical expression.

"Oh!" He scratched the back of his head, flashing her a wide grin. "I got one for you. I thought maybe… um... maybe you didn't have one and you needed it. You…"

Sokka's flow of words was interrupted. Suki wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him. She kissed him full on the mouth. With a chuckle and a smile. His hands immediately found their way to her waist. Holding on to her. Then, Suki pulled back. She stayed there. In his arms. Sokka's eyes widened.

"Wha… Wha… whuh…"

"Thank you. You're too sweet. Now put it on!"

"Yes, ma'am."

Once he'd shouldered the lifebelt, Suki wrapped an arm around Sokka's and they walked at a brisk pace down the hallway. They reached the foot of a stairwell leading up. A crowd was gathered around closed gates. Locked. Sokka felt his stomach drop.

"Stay calm, please," said the steward on the other side. Sokka had a distinct feeling they wanted them trapped. "It's not time to go up to the boats yet."

"Oh yeah?" groaned Jet. "I wonder why."

"What are we doing, Mummy?"

Sokka looked down. A little boy was standing with his mother. He was looking up at her with big, round, tearful eyes.

Sokka's heart broke.

"We're just waiting, dear," assured the kind-looking woman he'd seen walking the hallways once or twice. She put on her bravest smile. "When they finish putting First Class people in the boats, they'll be startin' with us, and we'll want to be all ready, won't we?"

Sokka swallowed. He really wanted that to be true. But he bet they'd be left to fend for themselves. To be slaughtered. While the rich survived.

And where in the Spirits' sakes were Katara and Zuko?

Katara wanted to scream.

She wanted to pull out her handcuffs even if it meant ripping off her hands from the wrists down. She wanted to be free, to find Zuko, to find Sokka, to find Suki or Toph or Aang or Jet. She wanted to know if they were safe, if they were all right. When the ship had started to tip, she didn't really feel it. But now when she looked through the porthole near the pipe, she could see the water closing in on her.

There must have been some irony in that. A waterbender. Drowned.

With only Azula for company.

Katara sent Azula a glare. She was currently twirling that small blue flame around her index finger and watching it with quite a lot of interest. Katara didn't understand her. She'd grown up in the same environment as Zuko had. She was literally his sister. Yet where he was loving, awkward, sweet, good-hearted and so gentle, she was all sharp edges, mocking smirks, cruel remarks and ruthlessness.

What had happened for the two of them to be so different?

But then again, she and Sokka were different in a lot of ways, too.

And Azula had said Zuko was a mama's boy. So she figured he was a lot like his mother had been, too. So if Zuko had been like his mother, Azula was like her father. Ozai. Katara shivered at the memory of that smile he'd had on his face at dinner the other night. That man didn't care about anything but himself.

"What are you thinking about, peasant? Plotting an escape plan?"

"No, I was thinking about your shitty family. And about you."

Azula stiffened at that. "About me? You know nothing about me."

"I know of you."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. I know Zuko wasn't considered a firebender for a long time, you're a prodigy and your fire is blue. The hottest fire, right? So tell me. How is it that you turned out so cruel? Was it because you were never good enough?"

"Stop it."

"Ah, that's it!"

But when Katara considered it for a moment, she said instead:

"No. That's not it. It's not that you were never good enough. It's that you never considered yourself good enough. I know girls like you. They walk around thinking everyone is beneath them because it makes them feel powerful. They make others feel lesser because it's easy, because it's fun, because they can't find anything in themselves that would make them proud. You're one of them. You put down, put down, put down. The last one standing, huh? Pathetic."

Azula rose to her feet. Balls of blue fire burst from her hands.

"I said: stop it!"

Feeling bold when she probably didn't have the right to be, Katara shot back:

"You want to make me stop? Then shut me up!"

"With pleasure, little peasant." Azula smiled a smug smile. "I'm sure Zuzu would enjoy it if his girlfriend had a matching scar."

Katara froze.

"What do you mean? Did you do that to him?"

Azula laughed. Her fire was extinguished in the blink of an eye.

"Oh, he didn't tell you? You aren't as close as I thought, then." She sat back down in her chair, feet propped up on the desk. "Let's just say, Zuzu spoke out of turn. And Father doesn't like it when people speak out of turn. So, you know." Azula put her hand over her left eye. Making a mockery of Zuko's scar. "He decided to remind Zuko of his place."

Katara pulled on her handcuffs so hard, her arms hurt.

"He did not!"

"Oh, yes, he did. And I'm about to do the same to you."

Azula rose up. She opened her hand. A ball of fire appeared once more, bright and blue. Bright and blue and hot. So hot. Katara could feel it from a few feet away. She squirmed. Azula grinned. She walked closer, bringing the ball of fire close, too close, to Katara's face. Dangerous heat flooded her. Katara closed her eyes. Waiting for pain.

It never came.

When she opened her eyes, Katara saw that Azula was looking at the water, over her shoulder. Her eyes were wide. Showing no small amount of fear.

Azula was scared.

"You know... I believe this ship may sink."

"No kidding," mumbled Katara.

Azula's eyes focussed on her. The ball of blue fire was snuffed out.

"I should get going." Azula spun around. Before she could make one more step, though, she turned around. "Oh! I almost forgot." She spun around towards Katara. "I've been asked by Mai to give you this small token of our appreciation…"

Katara saw the punch coming before she felt it. Pain burst through her stomach, spreading through her entire torso. She groaned, dropping to her knees as far as the handcuffs would allow. Katara breathed. In and out… In… She shut her eyes. Iron burned on her tongue. Katara didn't see Azula grab a small key before it disappeared in her pocket.

"Compliments of Miss Azula Kai."

Azula sashayed away, sending Katara that satisfied grin before she closed the door.

As minutes went by, more and more people - women and children only - were stepping in lifeboats. Officers were lowering them to sea. Zuko could plainly see some boats were half-filled. Some even less than that. He tried not to let his anger get the best of him. Tried. But how couldn't he? There already weren't enough lifeboats! How could they let them leave while not properly full? Then again, he pondered, with the time it took to lower just one of those lifeboats… perhaps when it was time to get those in steerage to safety…

It'd be too late.

Zuko thought about Katara. Where was she? How was she?

Zuko jumped when a hiss came from behind him. They all looked up as a light lit up the sky. Some gasped. Awed. A little girl looked up with a smile on her face. As if this was a fireworks show. But if there was anything Zuko knew, it was fire.

Those rockets weren't fireworks. They were distress flares.

It dawned on him. Clear as day.

"They're not all going to make it," said Uncle.

Zuko shook his head and did nothing more. What else could he do?

"Captain!"

Junior Wireless Officer Harold Bride found Captain Smith. He trotted after him, while officers came and went. All of them looked disturbed. But not as disturbed as the Captain. The poor man looked like a ghost. A shadow of himself. He looked destroyed. Devastated.

"Carpathia says they're making seventeen knots, full steam for them, sir."

As Bride stopped his run next to him when they stepped out on the open deck, Captain Smith opened his mouth. Closed it. He breathed out deeply.

"And she's the only one who's responding?"

Bride nodded.

"The only one close, sir. She says they can be here in four hours."

Smith did a double take. His mouth hung open.

"Four hours?!"

Bride nodded again. What else could he say? Or do? Captain Smith looked at nothing in particular. His jaw was set, his eyes saddened. Looking… troubled. Deeply troubled.

Again. Devastated.

"Thank you, Bride."

His stomach twisting in a knot, Bride walked away. He hoped it was enough.

It probably wasn't, though.

"Come on, you heard the man," said Molly. "Get in the boat, sister."

Molly Brown helped Mrs. Beifong in the lifeboat. Zuko couldn't tear his eyes away from a young couple, crying in each other's arms. The woman leaned her head against the man's arms and he whispered words of encouragement in her ear. She didn't want to let go. She didn't. But as an officer took her arm and guided her forward, she had to. The woman climbed in the lifeboat.

A lump formed in Zuko's throat. For a second he saw another woman in her place. A woman whom he loved more than words could tell. Whom he hoped would have the time to get in one of the lifeboats before… before it was too late.

Katara. He saw Katara.

"Will the lifeboats be seated according to class?" asked Mai, hands clasped together and back straight. Poised. The perfect rich girl. "I hope they're not too crowded."

Zuko gritted his teeth.

"Oh, Mai, shut up!"

She looked at him, eyes wide and mouth agape. Zuko couldn't contain himself anymore. He couldn't repress his feelings anymore. His inner fire roared to life. It couldn't be stifled. It couldn't be contained. He was angry. No. He was furious. At that iceberg, at Mai, at Azula, at Father, at everyone keeping him away from Katara.

Zuko shared a glance with Uncle, who was standing off to the side, in silence. Iroh nodded. Fire blew from Zuko's mouth when he breathed. His skin steamed with anger.

He couldn't be the compliant son they wanted? Fine.

He didn't want to be the perfect son.

Not anymore.

"Don't you get it?! The water is freezing and there aren't enough boats... not enough by half. Half the people on this ship are going to die!"

Silence followed his outburst. People stared. Zuko didn't care. It needed to be said.

"Not the better half," pointed out Father.

"Of course not, Ozai. We are up here." Turning to Zuko, Mai arched an eyebrow. "You know, it's a pity I didn't get that drawing. It'll be worth a lot more by morning."

Another rocket lit up the sky. It exploded, inciting more gasps from the crowd.

Zuko stared at Mai. He gaped at her. Had she… Had she really…? Had she said that?

Yes. Yes, she had.

She had said that.

Zuko blinked. Quickly. He looked down. Everything was becoming clearer by the second. Pieces of a puzzle falling together.

Azula in the hallway.

The diamond in Katara's pocket.

Mai's smug anger.

Zuko's mind wasn't foggy anymore. He understood.

He understood so many things.

It hit him. It hit him hard. Like a punch in the gut. Mai was going to survive while Katara was chained up. Below deck. Mai was going to survive. She couldn't have predicted the iceberg, but she could have predicted Katara's arrest. She had put Katara in jail so that when they'd get to America, she'd become Mai Kai. His controlling wife.

He'd gotten it wrong.

So wrong.

Mai had done it on purpose.

She'd framed Katara.

He should have known. He should have known, he should have… No, he had known. He just hadn't been able to admit it to himself.

He'd known. He knew.

"Come on, Mai," Molly said, somewhere far away. "Get in the boat. These are the First Class seats right up here. That's it."

Mai followed Molly's instructions. Once she was sitting safely in the lifeboat, she shot Zuko a rare smile. Full of contempt. Zuko felt his stomach churn. Repulsed. Disgusted. Bile burned his throat. He'd believed Mai and he'd left Katara to fend for herself and now… and now…!

Spirits, what had he done?

"You unimaginable bitch!"

Mai gaped at him.

"Zuko! What has gotten into you?"

"I've had enough of your bullshit!" Zuko removed his lifebelt and slammed it against the deck. As soon as he started, Zuko realized he couldn't stop. His hands balled into fists at his sides. "I never wanted to marry you, you make me sick to my stomach whenever I look at you! You're a self-centered, selfish, uncaring, egotistical bitch who never cared about me. You say you love me and then you hit me! You… You threw things at me! You forced a kiss on me! I'm sick of you, I'm sick of this and I don't want to spend a second in your presence anymore!"

Mai's jaw touched the floor. She closed her mouth, opened it wide again. Her eyes were wide as saucers. Like a fish gasping for air.

Zuko stood up straight, chest puffed out, head higher than it had ever been in his entire life. Uncle, standing off to the side, looked at him with wet pride. He smiled a wide grin, eyes sparkling. Zuko stared back at Mai.

"I'm going to set things right. Farewell, Mai."

"No! Zuko, I forbid it!"

"I said farewell!"

Zuko started to walk away. He barely heard Mai call after him. No way was he going to listen. He was leaving. More importantly, he was going.

He was going to find Katara.

A snarl came from behind him. Zuko only stopped when an iron grip squeezed his arm. Tight. He was forced to spin around. Golden eyes met the exact same shade of gold.

Father.

"Where are you going? To her? Is that it? To be a gutter rat to that whore?"

Zuko looked his father in the eyes. He'd never stood up to him.

Not since he was thirteen.

Not until today.

"You think I'm the gutter rat in this relationship? Think again."

Father froze. He stared, eyes wide.

"I'd rather be her whore than your son."

Father stared at him. As if at a loss for words. Zuko had never seen Father at a loss. It only lasted for a second, though. Father bared his teeth.

"No!"

Father shook him. Hands clawing at Zuko's shoulders.

"No, I forbid you from walking away. I forbid you!"

Katara's face flashed in his mind. Zuko remembered her lesson in spitting on this same deck a few days ago. Why not put it to good use? He hawked saliva down. HHHNNNK!... It rolled on his tongue, up to the front, then he took a big breath and…

PLOOOW!

He spat in his father's face. Spittle dripped down his nose. Father's jaw dropped. He didn't talk. He only stared.

At a loss. Again.

Zuko didn't take the time to savour his victory. He had a job to do. Zuko tore his arms free from his Father's slack grip. As he ran away, Zuko called:

"I love you, Uncle!"

Uncle Iroh's voice was jubilant when he immediately answered:

"I love you too, son!"

Zuko heard Mai call after him again. Twice.

"Zuko! ZUKO!"

Zuko never looked back.

"Oh, stuff a sock in it, would ya, Mai?" said Molly. "He'll be all right."

Katara was going to die.

It hit her suddenly. It hit her harder than Azula's punch in the gut. She was never going to see her brother again, or Suki or Toph or Aang or even Jet. She was never going to see her Gran-Gran or her Dad again. She was never going to see Zuko again. She'd never get to be a Master waterbender. She was going to spend the last few hours of her life handcuffed to a pipe.

Then she was going to drown in ice-cold water.

Alone.

So alone.

Katara clenched her fists so hard, her nails dug into the palm of her hands.

No. She couldn't lose hope. It was all she had.

She rattled her handcuffs against the pipe. Cling! Cling! Cling!

"Can anybody hear me? Help! HELP!"

No one answered. The hallways were quiet. So quiet. Katara put her arms further up the pipe and touched her mother's necklace. She breathed in deeply. The silence weighed down on her. Katara pushed past her fear. She clanked her handcuffs against the pipe. She called for help again. And again. And again. Until her voice was hoarse.

"Please! Somebody, HELP!"

Again. No one answered.

She was alone.

Zuko ran.

"Mr. Andrews!"

Zuko almost ran past him, but he stopped at the last second. Mr. Andrews was walking out of a room. He was opening doors, telling people to get up and please, would you please go outside to the deck? Breathing heavily, Zuko ran up to Mr. Andrews, putting himself in the man's face. He had no time to think.

Katara was in danger.

"Mr. Andrews, thank the...!" Zuko breathed in. Breathed out. Tried again. "Thank the Spirits! Where would the Master at Arms take someone under arrest?"

Mr. Andrews stared. His whole face frowned. In disbelief.

"What? Why?"

"It's Katara, sir. Katara La. The… The wonderful woman from dinner the other night? Surely you remember her? You must!"

Mr. Andrews blinked. He opened his mouth. Closed it.

"Yes. Yes, I remember."

"She's in danger. I have to find her. And I'll do this with or without your help, sir."

Zuko swallowed.

"But without will take longer."

Mr. Andrews shook his head. As if to clear his head.

"All right. Listen."

He wrapped his hand around Zuko's arm, pulling him along. "Take the elevator to the very bottom. Go left. Down the crewman's passage. Then make a right." Zuko stared in the man's eyes. Listening. Carefully. "Did you get all that?"

"Bottom, left, crewman's passage, right. I got it."

"Hurry, Zuko."

"Yes, I will. Thank you, Mr. Andrews!"

Zuko ran away.

Everything was going to shit.

That's what Katara thought when water poured, inches deep, under the door. Her stomach dropped. Oh, no, oh, no, oh no...

"Shit."

She pushed herself against the pipe, making sure it never touched her. When it poured in too close for comfort, she used the little bending she could to push it away. She barely made any waves. Katara could barely do any bending. Not in her awkward position.

The water was going to come up fast. She was stuck here and she was going to drown.

Katara pulled and pulled and pulled on her handcuffs. Until her skin was raw.

No good. She was stuck.

"HELP! SOMEBODY! Can anybody hear me?!"

Zuko ran. He ran past the grand staircase, past the few passengers and crewmembers still gathered in the First Class section. He ran.

Zuko ran faster than the Blue Spirit had ever run. He ran until his limbs hurt, until there was nothing left in his mind but his goal. He had to get to Katara. He had to. People gasped when he pushed past them. He barely registered saying sorry.

Zuko made it to the elevator. The operator lifted a palm. Zuko stopped.

Dead in his tracks.

"Sorry, sir. Lifts are closed."

Zuko gritted his teeth. A now familiar fury came upon him then. He put a hand on the man's chest and pushed him inside the elevator. Voice loud in his ears, Zuko said:

"I'm through with being polite, Spirits be damned! Now TAKE ME DOWN!"

Without a word, the operator activated the machine. Zuko closed the gate. They started to go down. Slower than Zuko had hoped. Come on, come on, come on… He kept repeating what Mr. Andrews had told him earlier. Bottom, left, crewman's passage, right. Bottom, left, crewman's passage, right. Bottom, left, crewman's passage, right.

There was a long, long moment of silence. Until...

"Are you looking for the Painted Lady?"

Zuko looked up. He looked at the operator. The man had been eying him for a while and Zuko had barely paid him any attention. But now that he did… It dawned on him. This was the same man who had brought them down when they were fleeing from Azula. Dressed as the Blue Spirit and the Painted Lady. Had that been really only a few hours ago? When they'd been so happy? So carefree?

How could things go so wrong so quickly?

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"I hope you find her."

"Me too."

Soon enough, they made it to the bottom floor. Zuko gasped. Ice-cold water burst in the elevator, up to their knees. Zuko yelped. It did feel like a thousand knives stabbing him.

Katara had been right.

"I'm going back up!" said the operator, voice shaking with fear and pain.

"NO! No, no, no, no!"

Zuko wrestled with the gate. He opened it and dropped in a foot of water. He barely saw the elevator going back up. Leaving a small waterfall in its wake.

Zuko tried to think. What had Mr. Andrews said again? Left. Crewman's passage.

He waded left. Zuko pushed through the water, thinking only of her and his destination. There was no one around, no one there. He thought of Katara, down here, trapped and alone. How could he have thought she was the culprit? How?

How could he have trusted them?

He waded past the crewman's passage. Good, good, good. Almost there. Now, he turned right. Zuko reached a corridor full of doors. Full of doors. Zuko's heart pounded in his ears. Where was she? Which one was the right door?

How was he going to find her?

"Katara! KATARA!"

No answer.

He looked around. He was losing hope. Where was she?

"KATARA!"

Katara looked up.

Was that… Was that really…?

Hope sparked like a fire inside her. Yes. Yes, it was! That was Zuko's voice. She could swear it was. Or was it her mind playing tricks on her?

"KATARA!"

It was him! It was him, it was him, it was him!

She clanked her handcuffs against the metallic pipe. Again and again.

"ZUKO! I'm here! Follow my voice!"

Zuko was about to start looking through every Spirits-forsaken door in this Spirits-forsaken hallway when he heard a sound. Metal clinking against metal. Cling! Cling! Cling! Cling! Cling! Then came her beautiful voice.

Her beautiful, beautiful voice.

"ZUKO! I'm here! Follow my voice!"

He spun around. Zuko started down the hallway. When he pushed the right door open, a small wave followed. Zuko didn't care. For a moment, he forgot the sinking ship and the rising water. He could only look at her. There she was. There she was! Katara, Katara, Katara…! She was… She was handcuffed to a pipe. But he couldn't think about that for now. He didn't want to, anyway. Zuko's face broke into a smile. Joy bubbled in his belly. She was there, she was really there, he'd found her! He'd found her!

"Katara!"

"Zuko! You… You came back!"

"Oh, Katara…! Katara, Katara, Katara…"

He couldn't reach her soon enough. Zuko cupped Katara's face with his hands and he kissed her. He kissed her like she had kissed him when he'd told her he wanted to run away. He kissed her with quick, hasty, urgent kisses. He kissed her with the desperation of a man drowning at sea. Again and again. And Katara kissed him back. Again and again.

Zuko pulled back. Breathing loudly.

He hadn't thought he'd be able to kiss her ever again.

"I'm so sorry, Katara, I'm so sorry!" He put their foreheads together, looking directly into her eyes. Tears blurred his vision. She was crying, too. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry! I can't believe I listened to them! I'm so sorry!"

"Azula put the diamond in my pocket!"

"I know, I know, I know!"

Zuko threw his arms around her neck, hugging her as tightly as he could with her tied to that pipe. Katara's head rested in the crook of his neck. For just a second. He lifted her head back up. Zuko kissed her again. One long, sweet, oh so sweet kiss.

Katara was the first one to pull away.

"Trust me, I… I'm happy to see you too. So, so, so happy. But you're going to have to do something for me first. All right?"

"Anything. Anything you want."

"See if you can find a key for these. Try those drawers. It's a little brass one."

Zuko nodded. He rushed over to the cabinet. The glass doors creaked open and he started to look. His hands shook, palms running over the clinking keys. No, no, no. Not that one. Not that one either. There was nothing. Not the right key. No, no, no…

"Zuko."

Zuko stopped moving. Waiting for Katara to continue.

"Yes?"

"How did you know I didn't do it?"

Zuko looked over his shoulder. Katara was still hugging that pipe. But that smile was wider on her face now. It reached her blue eyes. Her beautiful, beautiful blue eyes...

"I didn't," answered Zuko truthfully. "I just realized I already knew."

They shared a look. Katara nodded. Zuko returned to his keys. He searched and searched and searched. The bronze key was nowhere to be found. Okay, okay, okay. Think, Zuko, think. Where else could that key be? He thrashed the room around. Overturned the now floating desk. Looked through drawers.

Nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing.

"There's no key in here."

Zuko stared at nothing in particular. His hands gripped his hair. He couldn't do anything, he couldn't help her. He felt useless. Completely useless. He'd come down all the way down here to help her… and even now she was still tied to that pipe!

"Zuko. Look at me."

Her voice was calm. So calm. Soothing. Zuko did. He looked at Katara.

"Yes?"

"It's okay. You can do this, I know you can."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"You'll have to go for help."

"Find help, find help, find help… okay. I need to go find help."

"I told you. I know you can. Okay? I believe in you."

"Good, good, good…"

Zuko waded over to her. He kissed Katara. One more time. Just for good measure. To give himself a little courage. He rested his forehead against hers. Smiling.

"I'll be right back."

Katara nodded. With that, Zuko ran off. Wading through cold, cold, cold, cold water. Just as he was going out the door, Zuko heard Katara's small voice say:

"I'll be waiting right here."

Zuko splashed around, trying to find a stairwell up. He eventually found one and was finally, finally able to step out of that water. Zuko's skin still prickled. He concentrated on his inner fire and tried to warm himself to the bone. It worked, but barely. Zuko ran through corridor after corridor, desperately trying to find help. Trying to find someone. Anyone.

"Hello? Somebody? We need help!"

A man appeared at the turn of a hallway, suitcases in hand. Hope burst through Zuko's chest. He'd found someone, he'd found help! But when Zuko tried to stop him, pleading for his help, the man didn't even seem to hear him. He ran right past Zuko and down the hallway. The man disappeared at the turn of the corner.

Zuko stopped. He was gone.

Maybe his only chance for help was gone.

There was a loud groan. Metal straining. The lights flickered. Electricity sparked. Oh. Oh, no… Zuko braced himself. Then the lights went off. Completely off. Pure, unadulterated darkness surrounded him. Fear gripped his insides.

It was the most terrifying few seconds of his life.

Until the lights turned back on. Zuko breathed. Okay. It was over. But he couldn't give up. Not yet. Zuko started again down the hallway.

"Somebody, please! We need help!"

A steward ran around the corner, holding lifebelts in his hands. He looked… disgruntled. To say the least. The man sent Zuko one stunned look.

"Oh! What are you doing here?"

Zuko opened his mouth to speak. The man didn't let him start.

"Do you speak English, sir?"

Zuko stopped and stared.

"I'm sorry?"

"Good, good! You speak English!" The steward grabbed Zuko's arm, pulling him after him. "Come along, sir, come along…"

"Wait…!" Zuko found his voice again. "We need help!"

"Come on, then. Let's get you topside, sir, that's right."

When the man talked, Zuko only heard an adult talking to a child.

"No worries, just follow after me."

"Wait, wait! Spirits… I need your help. There's a woman, she's…!"

The steward didn't listen.

"No need for panic, sir. Come along!"

"No, let me go! You're going the wrong way! Listen to me!"

He wasn't listening. And he wasn't letting go.

For a moment, all Zuko saw were the hundreds of people who had once been in his life, in Father's life, in Azula's life, in Mai's life. Business partners, allies, acquaintances, gossip fodder. People chatting and never listening to him. Zuko shouted for the man to let him go again. He pulled against him. Again, the steward didn't listen. Instead, his grip dug deeper into his arm, almost dragging Zuko along down the hallway.

"Enough!"

Zuko tugged his arm free.

When the man spun around, Zuko punched him square in the nose.

The steward fell against the wall, face bloodied.

"What is wrong with you?"

A shaking hand reached for his nose. With that, the steward walked away. Ran away. His footsteps echoed in Zuko's ears. Until they were gone.

Zuko stood there.

Once again alone.

So, so, so alone.

Zuko's breathing came out hoarse. He was lost. Maybe not lost, per se. He knew how to find Katara again. But what was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to help her?

A hand reaching for his forehead, Zuko looked around.

What to do, what to do, what to do?

Zuko leaned against the wall. The ship groaned and the lights flickered once again. They were sinking, they didn't have time! They didn't have time to find help. He had to act. He had to do it. Quickly. He ran his hands through his hair.

Think, Zuko, think.

Zuko spun around.

His eyes found it. A glass case on the wall, with a fire-axe inside. An idea sparked in his mind. Yes. An axe! Determination fueled the fire in him. Zuko grabbed a discarded suitcase and smashed the glass.

He knew what he had to do.

With the blood red axe above his head, Zuko started down the stairs back to the Master at Arms' room. He stopped a foot above the water. It would reach his chest when he stepped in. Zuko removed his soaked coat. It would only weigh him down. Then, he closed his eyes. And breathed.

Firebending comes from the breath.

Zuko dropped in the water. It felt so cold, a thousand swords slashing at his skin.

Zuko never stopped.

He grabbed onto the overhanging pipes, pushing himself forward in the rapidly flooding hallway. It was a dangerous balancing act, with the axe propped up under his arm. When he waded into the room where Katara was waiting for him, he found her searching eyes. They landed on the axe. Above his head.

"I've found help."

Katara frowned.

"Are you sure about this?"

"This mustn't be harder than dao swords, right?"

She didn't look certain of that. Zuko bit his lip.

"Look. I'll test it out. Okay?"

"Yeah. Okay."

He turned to the tall cabinet and lifted the axe over his head. It slammed into the wood, sending splinters everywhere. Zuko swallowed.

"Now do it again," encouraged Katara.

He did. And missed by a mile. From nerves or something, he didn't know.

"Oooo… kaaaay... It's not… bad."

Zuko bit his lip. Katara was... nice. But nice wasn't what Zuko needed to hear. Not bad wasn't safe. Not bad meant he could hurt Katara. Not bad meant he could tear Katara's hands off. Not bad meant he could kill Katara. Zuko looked down at the axe in his hands. It almost glowed red, stark against the pale blue water.

No, no, no, no, no. Not bad wouldn't do. It simply wouldn't do.

Zuko weighed his options.

He could try it. He could succeed. But again, if he did, he risked injuring Katara. He could put down the axe and run for help again. But there was no one for miles. And going back and forth would only tire him. He couldn't allow himself to tire. Not on a sinking ship. So should he try it? Shouldn't he? Zuko's shoulders slumped.

To axe or not to axe?

Another idea sparked inside his brain. He spun around.

"Actually? I think I want to try something else."

Katara looked unsure. Mouth hanging open. Still, she nodded.

"Okay. What do you want to try?"

Zuko put down the axe on the floating desk. As securely as possible. He waded over to Katara, jaw clenched. Zuko stood next to the pipe. He started to rub his hands together. Faster. Faster. Heat blossomed in his hands. First step.

The first step for fire.

"Do you know how swords are made?"

Katara nodded.

"Yeah. Sokka was an apprentice blacksmith, once upon a time."

"Good. Okay, well, you know how they melt the metal to forge its shape?"

Katara's whole face opened wide with understanding. It seemed it had dawned on her. She knew what he wanted to do. Zuko was certain of it.

"You want to cut the handcuffs with your firebending?"

Yep. She'd gotten it right.

"You got a better idea?"

"No. No, I think it's brilliant! Do it! Just… don't burn my hands off."

"Come on. Who's the expert on burn scars around here?"

Katara looked stricken at his lame joke. She grimaced. But she didn't seem to have time to explain. She shook her hands, rattling the handcuffs against the pipe. Zuko nodded. He stepped forward again, rubbing his hands once more. Cold, it was so cold…

No. He had to concentrate on heat. On his inner fire. Concentrate...

"Zuko," said Katara. "I trust you. You can do this."

"All right. Let's see how this goes."

Zuko put his palm up. A ball of fire appeared. Orange and yellow flickered off the pipe and created shadows on Katara's face. Black smoke erupted from the flame. Too strong. Zuko breathed in. Deeply. His fire became smaller and smaller, until it was only a beam of light. The tiniest flame. But a concentrated one.

"Are you ready?"

Katara had been staring at his hand. She looked up from the ball of fire. Her smile grew on her face. A little shaky, maybe. But still there. Warm.

"Yes. I trust you."

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in… Zuko closed his eyes. Concentrate, concentrate… He couldn't allow the fire to grow too strong or he could lose control.

Control. That was it. He had to focus on control. Zuko turned his fire against the handcuff's metal. Right between Katara's outstretched hands. At the weakest part. For a second, nothing happened. Until orange sparks bloomed from the metal. Katara jumped, but managed to stay steady. The metal hissed. It turned a bright orange, almost red, as it started to melt. The pipe underneath burned black. Zuko felt sweat bead at his brow. He ran his hand along the chain.

Slow and steady. Slow and steady.

Come on, come on, come on…

Slow and...

Schling!

Katara gasped.

The chain fell away. Cut - if a little jaggedly - in two. Katara lifted her hands. Identical smiles spread on their faces. Zuko and Katara laughed at each other.

She was free.