I can't believe I'm doing this. Why am I doing this? Was I dropped on my head as an infant? Have I finally lost my mind? I'm going crazy. That's the only logical explanation. I'm crazy.
That was what was running through Zuko's mind as he and Katara made their way to an inn that they had passed when they were looking for the earthbending school. He still couldn't fully explain his (definitely questionable) decision to himself. He didn't care about this girl or what happened to her (so he told himself).
He also couldn't fathom why she wanted him with her. She hated him! She'd said so herself. They were enemies. But do we have to be? she'd said. A week ago, Zuko would have resolutely said yes. But now...it was a hesitant yes. She was a companion of the Avatar's. He was the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. Was there really another option? Could they be more than enemies?
And Zuko was a man with integrity, and she'd asked for his help. Asked for it with wide, scared eyes. He could tell that she was afraid to be alone, to search for her brother and the Avatar without any backup or protection. Being alone wasn't easy. Zuko had learned that firsthand since separating from his uncle.
And who knew? Maybe by the time they caught up to the Avatar, he'll have come up with a solid plan to capture him and get him back to the Fire Nation. Or not. Zuko wasn't sure what he wanted.
They reached the inn. Zuko and Katara approached the innkeeper, who offered each of them a friendly smile. It was a nicer reception than the one they'd received in Kuchon, at any rate. He didn't want to look like some abusive boyfriend or evil kidnapper, or whatever it was people had assumed of him.
"Would you and your wife like a room, sir?" the innkeeper asked.
Zuko nearly swallowed his tongue as his eyes bulged in their sockets. "She's not my wife!"
Suddenly, Katara stomped on his toes and looped her arm through his as she leaned her head against his shoulder and offered the innkeeper a bright smile. "What Lee means to say is that I'm not his wife yet. We're engaged."
Zuko resisted the urge to glare at her. Why, why did she have to talk so much?
"Oh, I apologize for my mistake. Congratulations to the two of you, then. It's not so easy to find love in times of war," the innkeeper said. "Would you like one room then?"
Zuko would have much preferred two rooms, but he knew that they were running low on funds, and it would be cheaper to share a room. And they'd shared a room at Bian's house. It couldn't be that bad.
"One please," he said gruffly as he pulled out his coin purse.
The innkeeper produced a key. "Ten copper pieces please."
Zuko paid the woman, and after getting directions, he and Katara headed upstairs and found their room. He was more than disappointed when he opened the door and found one single bed along the far wall. His shoulders slumped as they went inside.
"One bed, I see," Katara muttered. When he glanced at her, he saw that her cheeks had grown red.
"Well, if you hadn't told that woman we were engaged, maybe we could've gotten a room with two beds!" Zuko snapped. "But no, you insist on giving everyone a backstory!"
Katara planted her hands on her hips and scowled up at him. "Better than you! She's not my girlfriend?"
"Well, you're not!"
"No shit, but the way you said it made the idea sound absolutely horrible" Katara snapped. "And suspicious. You're lucky I was able to salvage it at all!"
Zuko threw his hands up in exasperation. "Whatever! It doesn't matter anyway. What's done is done."
She crossed her arms over her chest and stuck out her bottom lip. "Yeah, whatever. But just so you know, you're sleeping on the floor."
"Like I'd assume anything else." Zuko stomped over to the window and looked out. It was getting late.
"We should go find somewhere to eat," Katara said, her irritation dying out just as quickly as it had ignited.
"Why, so you can tell people we're out to eat to celebrate our engagement?" Zuko snipped, unable to help himself.
Katara glared at him. "It's not a big deal!" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Whatever. I'm hungry. Are you coming or not?" She turned back towards the door.
"Well, since I've got the coin—"
She had uncapped her waterskin and flicked a thin stream of water at him that Zuko barely ducked.
"Shut up!" she shrieked as she stomped through the door.
Zuko couldn't contain the half-smirk that crossed his face as he shook his head and followed her out.
Katara didn't wait for Zuko to catch up as she stormed out of the inn, already wondering if his company was worth it. He was so...so infuriating! With his stupid little remarks, and his stupid hair, and his stupid face, and—and—ugh! Why did she think this was a good idea again?
She pushed through the door of the inn and set off down the street, heading towards a restaurant that she'd noticed earlier. Katara caught the smell of woodsmoke and spice, and she saw that Zuko had managed to catch up to her silently on his long legs from the corner of her eye. She scowled and kept her eyes forward resolutely.
Thankfully, he didn't say anything to her.
They reached the restaurant and were shown to a table in the outdoor courtyard. Zuko sat with his arms folded on the table in front of him, his expression molded into his usual scowl as he looked out into the night. Katara fidgeted with her chopsticks and napkin as she tried to decide if she was ready to talk to him or not. A waiter brought their meal out to them, and neither had broken the silence as they started to eat.
They were halfway through their meal, and with food in their bellies, both of them seemed to be in a better mood. Katara studied Zuko for a moment, noting his more relaxed posture, and decided to speak.
"It might not be a bad cover story, you know," she murmured.
Zuko looked up from his plate of dumplings and noodles. "What?"
She felt heat rise in her cheeks and she bit her lip for a moment before she answered. "You know. Telling people we're engaged. Or dating. Or whatever."
His brow creased, but in confusion rather than anger. "Why?"
Katara shrugged, almost feeling foolish now for bringing it up. "I don't know. It just seems...more believable? The innkeeper bought it."
Zuko looked down at his plate contemplatively. "Yeah. Maybe. That merchant in Kuchon thought it was weird for us to be traveling together, with you not being married and all."
"Really?" She looked up at him in surprise.
She saw color rise in his unmarked cheek. "Yeah."
"Oh." Katara picked at her rice with her chopsticks. "Well, I'm just saying. I'm fine with telling people that, when need be." She couldn't bring herself to look up at him as she added, "What about you?"
"Uh...yeah. I guess that's fine."
She took a sip of her moon peach juice. "So now we need to figure out where to go. That wrestler didn't seem to know where my brother and Aang went, so we need to find out."
Zuko mulled that over for a moment. "We could ask around town, see if anyone heard anything about the Avatar being in the city."
"Yeah, that's probably our best lead," Katara agreed, her brow furrowing as she considered it. "So that's what we'll do tomorrow. Hopefully someone will know something."
They finished their meal. Zuko paid for it, and then the two of them went back to where they had left Dusty at the town stables to retrieve some of their belongings. Then they went back to the inn.
"I'm gonna go get washed up," Katara said, gesturing to the small washroom that was attached to their room.
"I can uh...heat the water up for you," Zuko stammered out. His cheeks had taken on a red hue again. "Um, if you want, of course. I don't have to—"
She frowned. "Should you risk firebending like that?"
He rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I mean, it's not like anyone's going to see or anything."
Katara considered that. "A warm bath does sound nice."
So Zuko lit the bed of coals beneath the water basin, and soon Katara was able to clean up with warm water for the first time in...well, she really couldn't say. He's sort of useful, she thought as she soaped up her hair.
She even took the time to wash her clothes, including the torn-up blue outfit, before she wicked the moisture from it. When she went back out into their room, Zuko was sitting cross-legged on the floor, clearly meditating, although this time he wasn't using any flames.
"Washroom's all yours," she told him.
Zuko stood up and inclined his head. "Thanks."
He ducked into the washroom. Katara fetched a sewing kit from their packs, given to her by Bian, and sat cross-legged on the bed to stitch up her outfit. She probably wouldn't wear it again until she was reunited with Sokka and Aang, as she blended in better with the outfit Bian had given her, but she wanted it to be in good shape. Her clothing was some of the only pieces of home that she had left.
She was nearly finished with her sewing when Zuko emerged in a fresh change of clothing, his short-cropped hair (which looked infinitely better than that spirits-awful ponytail he'd had before) still glistening with water droplets. He momentarily observed what she was doing before he crossed over to their stuff and grabbed his bedroll. He spread it out over the small floor space before he settled down on top of it, tucking one hand behind his head.
They didn't speak as she finished up her sewing and put her things away. Once she had settled into bed, Zuko snuffed out the candles and oil lamps with a wave of his hand. Exhausted, it didn't take her long to fall asleep.
But she woke up at some point, from some nightmare reminiscent of the swamp. She rolled onto her side and glanced down at Zuko's bedroll. She was shocked to see it empty. With a gasp, she sat upright and hurriedly lit a candle. Her eyes roved over the room, wondering if he was in the washroom—but the door was open. Then her eyes landed on their belongings. Nothing appeared to be missing.
Maybe he just went for a walk to clear his head or something, Katara thought to herself as she blew out the candle and laid back down. There's no reason to think he left you.
But she was not easily convinced, and it took a long while for her to fall back asleep. Zuko still hadn't returned.