Chapter Nineteen
The next morning Zuko woke face to face with Katara snuggled into his shoulder, still sleeping peacefully. He exhaled, last night's conundrum coming back to him. There was something there with Katara, but he couldn't. She was Aang's and he had Mai; it wouldn't be fair. Plus, he didn't even know if she felt the same. Best to forget it all. He exhaled, trying to relive the tension. His breath rustled her hair and she shifted. Her eyes slowly blinked as she focused on him. A shy smile crossed her lips.
"Thank you. I appreciate you letting me sleep here with you. No more nightmares." She said with a small smile.
"That's good." He said, slowly extricating his arm. She sat up, running fingers through her hair.
"I'll get out of here so you can change and I'll get dressed. We should see if Yori and Jeong need anything from town. It must be hard to bring back groceries from so far at their age."
"You go ahead and take a bath and I'll ask."
"Don't you want to wash up?"
"I can clean up at the pump and wash basin outside again."
"You sure?"
"Firebender." He reminded her. "It's not so bad."
When she was in the bathroom cleaning up, he went to the pump and splashed himself with cold water, trying to clear his thoughts. He shook his head, sending water droplets flying. He came back into the kitchen to find Jeong sitting at the table, reading the paper while Yori sat at the stove stirring a pot.
"Sit down Zuko." She said without turning around.
Zuko pulled out a chair and did as he was told. "Is Katara still in the bath?" She asked as she spooned oatmeal into two bowls and set them in front of the two men at the table.
"Yes ma'am and thank you." He said spooning up a big mouthful. When he swallowed he asked. "Was there anything you needed in town? Katara and I are more than happy to go get whatever it is you may need."
"Isn't that sweet?" She cooed as she sat with her own bowl. "As a matter of fact… It takes Jeong and I so long to get into town we rarely go shopping anymore. Oh! I'll make a list!" She jumped up excitedly and bustled about the room looking for something to write on. Katara came into the kitchen at that moment.
"Good morning dear!" Yori called out. "Sit, sit!" She said spooning her a bowl and placing it at the open seat. "How sweet of you two to offer to go to the market for us." She gushed, still bustling about.
"Of course. It's the least we can do. Thank you so much for giving us a place to stay."
They finished breakfast and Yori placed a list before them. "Are you sure?"
"It's not a problem." Zuko said, scooping up the list.
"We'll be back shortly!" Katara called, waving behind her as they strode out the door. They walked the path quietly. Zuko studying the list intently and Katara looking about with a smile. She glanced curiously at Zuko as he studied the list, lost in thought, his brow knit.
"What's on there?" She asked brightly, holding out a hand for the list.
He seemed startled and he glanced up.
"Are you alright?" She asked with a teasing smile.
"Fine." He said quickly, passing the list to her. He turned his burning gaze to the dirt path. His mind still consumed with thoughts of Mai, Aang and Katara.
"You sure?" She asked, a bit concerned this time.
"Just thinking. You know, about after."
She nodded, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder as they walked. "I'm sorry. It must be hard. When we get back, what will you do about Azula? She's already escaped from boiling rock at least once, but she's still your sister."
He paused, his pace abruptly stopping. He hadn't even begun to think about that. What would he do? He had been so concerned with staying hidden until they were back at the palace and the latest developments with Katara and his concerns for Aang and Mai that he hadn't even thought of what he was to do with Azula once he was back at the palace.
"Zuko? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up. We'll figure it out."
He nodded mutely.
"Come on. Everything will be okay." She took his hand, gave it a light squeeze and tugged him forward gently. She changed the subject, still holding his hand. She liked to think it gave him comfort, but she knew it was also a bit selfish. She liked having the assurance of his presence, especially after last night's dream.
They reached the edge of town. Katara straightened the earth kingdom green clothing and Zuko brushed his shaggy hair over his scar. "Your necklace?" Zuko asked, looking her over.
She tentatively touched the pendant at her throat. Her voice softened. "Do you think I should take it off?"
Seeing the unease in her eyes Zuko shook his head. "No. It should be fine."
She relaxed, a subtle motion only someone who had spent a lot of time with her would have noticed. He pointed at the list. "Let's go."
They paced into the open market, delectable aromas wafting on the air. Katara looked down at the list. "Okay, salted saber tooth moose lion, dried platypus bear… Guess they need things that will last a long time, especially if they can't get out here very often." They found the butcher and made their several purchases with the coins Yuri had given them. Then they were off to pick through the selection of fruits and vegetables. They had finished most of the grocery shopping and decided to leave the bulky purchases in the woods near the path so they could continue to shop for the other items unhindered. For the perishables, Katara set them on a pallet of ice she bended just off the path enough to not be visible to a passer-by.
"Well that should keep while we get the rest of these items." She said scanning the remainder of the list.
Zuko read over her shoulder. "I'm pretty sure I saw an herbal shop where we can pick up some of the ingredients and medicines on here."
"Lead the way." Katara said with a smile and following him back into town. Down a side alley way was a little run down shop with plants drying from the rafters and an elderly woman behind the counter with a ledger book. She looked up.
"Can I help you?"
Katara stepped forward, proffering the list. "Yes. We need the items on this list."
The old woman took the paper and squinted at the hand writing. "Yes, yes." She turned over her shoulder and called into a back room.
"Keeta! Customers!" A young girl in her very early teens flounced into the room.
"Yes grandmother! What can I…" She stopped as her eyes drifted over Zuko and her face flushed red. "Can I, uh, do for you?" She finished meekly.
Zuko seemed startled by the reaction and Katara had to suppress a laugh.
"They need these items." The old woman said, handing the list to the young girl.
She tore her gaze from Zuko long enough to skim through the list. "Right this way!" She said and tugged his hand as she led the way through shelves. Zuko shot a confused and slightly terrified look to Katara and she had to stifle her laughter behind a hand. She waved him on, following behind, grinning at his obvious discomfort.
"Grandmother has a garden behind the shop. I tend to it and picked most of these myself." The girl babbled on, dragging an uncomfortable Zuko behind her. "Mallow root is right here, and aspen bark is over here…" She dragged him through the aisles, shoving each item into his free hand. She was about to add a package of thyme sprigs when she realized belatedly that his arm was overflowing with their purchases. "Oh." She looked lost for a moment and turned thoughtful eyes to Katara.
Katara smiled at the exuberant girl. "I'll help him carry it. There's only a few items left, right?"
The girl nodded shyly. "Just the feverfew, yarrow and goldenseal. Arthritis?"
"Uh, yes. It's for my grandmother. Sometimes her hands hurt." She lied smoothly, impressed by the girl's general knowledge.
She nodded knowingly. "Grandmother uses that. It's good for inflammation." With Katara's approving smile, she let Zuko's hand slide from hers. "I'll be right back." She turned the corner and they heard shuffling before she returned with three small sealed envelopes containing the herbs. They paid and as the left the shop the young girl waved enthusiastically.
"Come back soon!"
"Nice girl." Katara said as the set off for the last remaining items. "Jeong needs a new razor and Yori wants some lavender oil." Zuko nodded, shifting the bag that contained all their recent purchases. "Look! I bet there's lavender oil in there!" Katara pointed to a quaint boutique, lavish in frills, lace and all things girly.
Zuko's expression appeared more grim than usual. "It's okay Zuko. I think I can manage this one on my own. Why don't you go find that razor for Jeong?"
A relieved expression crossed his face. "I'll meet you at that fountain when I'm done."
She nodded and parted the flowing curtains of the shops open door. Inside were shelves of perfumed oils, rouges and other make-up, racks of elegant garments and other effeminate knick knacks. She lightly touched the silken scarves, appreciation of their quality and perused the powders used to tint eyes and cheeks. She uncorked bottles and inhaled the sweet scents of the perfumes. She smiled at these little luxuries she'd never been afforded before, expect the time or two in the upper ring of Ba Sing Se. She found a small bottle labeled oil of lavender and reluctantly decided she had taken enough time perusing the wares. She bought the small bottle and tucked it into a deep pocket as she left the store to meet up with Zuko.
She was humming quietly to herself when a rowdy shout startled her.
"Hey!" She looked about as did the few others in that section of the market street. Two young men scowled in her direction. She watched them approach, watching warily as they neared her. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"Water nation from the looks of her." The other jeered, leering at her darker skin and vibrant blue eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat, then took off racing. She'd been found out. There were wanted posters all around this area looking for a water bender with a hefty reward attached, courtesy of Azula, she assumed.
"Water bender?" The first accused.
She shook her head vigorously.
"Doesn't matter. We don't like foreigners around here."
"This is earth kingdom territory. Do you know what I like to do to outsiders?" He made to snatch for her and she jumped back out of his reach. She took off at a dead run with them in hot pursuit.
If they were this vicious knowing she was water tribe, think of what they would do if they found out she was a water bender. She couldn't afford to bend or risk getting caught, not with the posters declaring a reward for water benders. She took a quick turn into an alley way, cutting through the shadows, hoping to lose them. She twisted and turned in the maze of side streets, putting some distance between herself and the two men. She was sure she was about to lose them when she came up short at a dead end. She whirled and braced herself as they slid to a stop at the end of the alleyway. One leaned against the building smirking and breathing heavily as the other grasped his knees panting.
"Dead end." The standing one sneered as they started closing in on her, taking their time and enjoying her panic.
"Stop!" She pleaded, hand extended. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Bending would give her away and she and Zuko would have to flee the island and any hopes of Aang and the others finding them here were gone, but she feared what would happen if she didn't. She reached for the canteen on her hip only to find it missing. She silently cursed as she remembered leaving it at the cabin. A canteen would have been conspicuous. How she wished she had it now.
"Hey!"
It was amazing that a single word could express so much.
Katara slumped in relief.
The two men whirled to find Zuko standing tall and daunting at the end of the alley where they had been moments before.
"Leave her alone." It was a command.
It took them a moment to respond. "What's it to you?"
"She's water tribe and we don't like foreigners round here." The other chimed in. Zuko stood glaring them down in stony silence.
"Hey," one nudged the other. "He looks like he's not from around here either."
Zuko's pale skin and golden eyes made him stand out as much as her tanned skin and blue eyes. "We're leaving." Zuko said, shoving past them, grasping Katara's hand and made to shove past them once again.
"We said we don't like foreigners." One of the men said, thrusting a hand into Zuko's chest and knocking him back a step.
"And I said we're leaving." Zuko growled. Katara could feel his hand tighten around hers and she worried her lip. They weren't going to let them go without a fight, but Zuko and Katara couldn't reveal themselves either.
Zuko took another step forward and the same man who had pushed him back before went to shove him again. Zuko knocked his arm aside.
"Looks like we've got a tough guy." One said to the other as he cracked his knuckles in anticipation. They raised their fists ready for a fight and Zuko dropped Katara's hand, raising both fists in a similar pose. The one who hadn't been pushing Zuko lurched forward with a punch that Zuko easily ducked and drove his fist into the man's stomach, whirling to block another strike from the second man. Katara edged back, not wanting to get caught in the middle as her eyes frantically followed the chaos. The first was back up and went to strike Zuko from behind, but sensing his lumbering hulk, dropped and swept out a leg, knocking the man down. He sprang up and landed a few solid hits in the second ones chest and finishing with a hard blow across the face, sending him spinning to the ground. He stayed down a moment clutching his bleeding nose. The first sprang on him, tackling him to the ground where they grappled for a moment and Zuko threw out an elbow, catching him in the gut, then got a foot into his stomach and launched him back several feet. The man landed heavily and looked like he wasn't getting up anytime soon. Zuko was back on his feet, fists poised, but the two men were no longer any threat.
He grasped Katara's wrist and dragged her down the streets. She was surprised to find that he had taken them back to the fountain they were supposed to have met at. His eyes darted around suspiciously for a moment before he looked her over carefully.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. How did you…?"
"I was just leaving the store and saw you running. I followed."
She nodded and rubbed her bare arms as the chill of the events renewed themselves.
"Not a friendly town."
"I'm sure they're just a couple of renegades. Everyone else has seemed nice." Katara said, always trying to find the best in everyone.
"We should get back. There might be a few more like minded people around."
Katara nodded eagerly and Zuko collected a bag that had been hastily dropped by the fountain when he had chased after her. They kept their heads down and swiftly made their way back to the groceries hidden amongst the trees. Gathering the supplies they started the long trek back to the cabin in silence.
As the cabin came into view Katara halted, Zuko turning to see why. "I think that we shouldn't tell them. There's no reason for them to worry. We'll just stay away from town until Aang gets us, right?" She reasoned, shifting a bag uncomfortably.
Zuko nodded. "It's probably best that way." A relieved smile broke across her face as she headed for the door.
"We're back!" She called cheerfully as she nudged the door open.
"Thank you dear! Such wonderful children you are." Yuri beamed as she poured through the groceries, busying herself putting them away. "Did you find everything okay?" She called over her shoulder.
"Oh, yes. Everything was… fine." Katara said with a faltering smile the woman hadn't seen.
"Is there anything else we can do for you?" Zuko asked.
"No, no." Yuri waved him off. "Why don't you two go for a walk or something and relax?"
"We'll be back before it gets dark." Katara reassured her as she went to the door, Zuko following. "Let's go that way and explore a little." She gestured in a new direction.
Zuko nodded and walked beside her. They walked through thick forest abundant with fro- squirrels, a few hog-monkeys and plenty of birds. The only sound were the animal's calls and squeaks and the light footsteps of the two benders as they explored, lost in thought. Zuko noticed water through the trees and thought Katara would probably enjoy it. He lightly tugged her arm in the direction he'd glimpsed the water reflecting light through the trees. She didn't ask, but curiosity made her follow. Walking behind him on a narrow deer-cat trail, she only saw his broad back as he led the way. Her thoughts drifted as she watched the muscles bunch and relax beneath his shirt as he moved branches aside.
She thought of his loneliness. His mother leaving when he was still a young boy, his sister too vicious and competitive to form a bond with, his father malicious and distant. The woman he cared for gone to a distant land for who knew how long to help her family. Her family, the ones who were supposed to be keeping his sister captive. His deranged sister now free to seek her version of justice for a wrong she thought he himself had wrought upon her. He ruled his subjects with benevolence but they were removed from him as he ran his country in his castle, vacant save for his Uncle. Iroh, the only one there for him. Of course he had friends; her, Aang, Sokka, Toph and Suki, but they were rare to visit. Too busy with their own lives to offer him solace. Guilt fell heavy as she recalled they had only gone to him for help. Aang was busy seeing to the world's new found peace, but did she always have to go with him? He was her boyfriend and she loved him, but she loved her other friends too. Suki went between Kyoshi Island and the Southern Water Tribe where Sokka was with their father rebuilding. And Toph? She was teaching a metal bending school somewhere in the Earth Kingdom.
She ran into something and almost fell.
"Katara?" Zuko asked, steadying her. He had stopped and she'd been so absorbed in her thoughts she hadn't noticed and bounced off him. "Are you alright?"
She nodded sheepishly. "Sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
"Everything okay?"
"Yes." She smiled to reassure them both.
"Well I have a surprise for you." He stepped aside and allowed her a good view of a pristine lake through the thinning trees.
"Wow! Zuko, it's beautiful!" She rushed down the path and came to the water's edge. She turned to find him standing nearby, smiling at her reaction. She looked across the clear waters, rippling in the light wind and sun reflecting off the waves.
Suddenly she stumbled, struck by a memory. She backed away a few steps, arms wrapping around her body as she shuddered and curled into herself. Her tan complexion looked ashy as color drained away. She slowly lowered herself to the ground.
"Katara?" Zuko called, voice full of concern. She seemed not to hear him. "Katara." He said softly as he slowly approached her, hand out. When he gently touched her shoulder she jumped. "I'm sorry. Are you… okay?" There were tear tracks glistening on her cheeks. He knelt beside her.
"Zuko." She said in a hoarse whisper. She clung to him frantically, breathing erratic. Her hands trembled where they were balled up in the fabric of his shirt. "I'm sorry." She murmured, burying her face into his shoulder. He hesitantly wrapped his arms around her huddled form and held her for a bit. "I'm sorry." She said again, grasping for calm. After some time she slowly pulled away and quickly wiped her eyes, allowing herself to stay in the embrace. "I'm sorry." She said once more, looking much better now. "It's just… this lake… it's the one from my nightmares last night."
Zuko said nothing, but his grip subtly tightened and he watched her with golden eyes.
"In that nightmare, they dragged me out to this lake and you were beaten and unconscious. They tortured me like they did in the cave." She shuddered. "Then…" her fingers clenched in his shirt and she leaned into him. "Then she slit your throat." He felt a tremor run through her. "I'm sorry for acting so strange. It just was so… real. So vivid and I was reliving it for a minute." She shook her head. "It's stupid, I know." She leaned back, wanting to put some distance between them, feeling embarrassed by her reaction.
Zuko wouldn't let her go though. "It's not stupid." He murmured fiercely. "I have those dreams too." He deflated at that, his arms falling to his sides. "Often I dream that I'm back there. That they're shooting fireballs at me and I'm helpless. Sometimes," his hands fisted on his legs, grip so tight his knuckles turned white. "I still hear them taking you away and see them dragging your limp body back." He closed his eyes.
She let her hand hover near his face before deciding it was better to lay it over his clenched fists. "You saved me so many times." She whispered. Slowly he peered at her from his dark bangs.
"And you saved me." He turned his hand over and lightly gave hers a squeeze. "All those things we went through… I wouldn't have made it without you."
She shook her head slowly, loose hair cascading over her shoulder. "You're stronger then you think. You lasted so much longer and endured so much. You've always survived, through everything." She reached her fingers towards his face and he sat perfectly still, watching her hand. Slowly, lightly as if afraid to touch him, she brushed the hair from his face then with a feather light touch, ran her finger tips over his scar. His fingers brushed the back of hers and rested atop her hand, pressing it to his face and nuzzling it.
Her cheeks flushed a hot pink and when she started to pull her hand away, he let her, eyes never leaving hers. She lowered her head, letting a curtain of hair hide her face. He moved slowly, agile fingers sliding through her silken hair, gently tucking it behind her ear. She bit her lip. "Zuko, I…" She stopped, as did his heart. His hand hung, lightly resting where he had tucked the strands. The silence echoed for a moment and she gave her head a slight shake. "It's not over yet, is it?"
He looked at her, face solemn. "No. Not yet."
Sarahplainntall here! Holy Cow! 3 years since I've updated! I'm so sorry to anyone who was following this story. Unfortunately, this has been a trend for me in the past where I drop a story, forget about it, then find it again and breathe new life into it. Anywho, I plan on keeping the ball rolling this time! Pretty pretty please leave a comment/review and I'll keep cranking out new chapters as soon as possible. Thank you lovely readers!