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cue the over-enthusiasm
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"No one's fighting," she hissed, her hands spread but shaking, the faint glow of the fire lighting her furious glare. "Got it? No one's fighting."
Sokka stared at her, eyes wide, his jaw dropped and hanging. He was stunned, the blade still raised in his hand, but he had momentarily forgotten the enemy that stood before him. Aang was paralyzed, completely baffled at the water bender's odd request. He blinked his eyes in rapid succession, rubbing them hard but briefly, and refocused his gaze on Katara as if she was some sort of ghost. Zuko just stood and gazed at her, expectant, the angry fire still threatening his inside as he struggled to keep it in control.
"Katara...what are you doing? He - he -" Sokka's stuttered, lost for words. His eyes watered suddenly and his lower lip began to quiver; then he dropped his hands and burst out into a series of tremendous, howling sobs. "He...broke...my boomerang -"
"Sokka, we can fix your boomerang..." said Katara slowly, even though the weapon lay in pieces on the ground and seemed beyond any repair. Yet even with her heart aching to grab her despairing brother in a fierce hug she knew she had to keep peace. Her arms remained in bender position and she continued her glare. "But we're not fighting. We're going to talk, honest and slow, and figure this out. And if any of you tries anything, I recently mastered a higher level whip that you do not want to mess with."
Aang stared, bewildered, the Fire Nation Prince momentarily forgotten. He stood, using the glider for support, and blinked again, utterly dumbfounded.
"Katara...do you realize Prince Zuko is standing right next to you?"
Katara gave a nervous laugh and remained in her stance.
"Yes, Aang. But if this whole pursuit thing is ever going to stop, we need to -"
"I have to bring you to my father, Avatar."
He said it very shortly, very blandly, and right to the point. Sokka struggled to his feet and fire glittered between the Prince's fingers, preparing for an onslaught.
Aang stared at him, completely lost to the reality of the situation. He knew the Prince was trying to capture him, he had chased him halfway around the world in pursuit; so why wasn't he sending flames at him, roaring and stumbling through the dirt to catch him, as he had so many times before? And Katara - she was standing right beside him, fearless, not in the least disturbed by the enemy that remained close enough to reach out and send a flame right into her chest, draining the life from her in one brilliant flash...
"Why aren't you attacking me?" said Aang, his eyes squinted in confusion, determined to understand the seemingly peaceful situation. It was then that he began to fear that this was all an underhanded trick, that the Prince had fooled Katara into being peacekeeper in order to buy time; there were probably fire nation soldiers everywhere, waiting for the Prince's signal from within the trees, inside the temple. His heart began to race in panic as he listened for footsteps around him, looked for the light of a flame flashing through the air -
"She said no fighting. Didn't you hear her?" said Zuko smoothly, clearly annoyed. Sokka did a double take and stared, pointing a quizzical finger at the Prince and cocking his eyebrow.
"Since when do you listen to Katara?"
The Prince shot him a death glare and the warrior shrank back. Aang chanced a glance at Katara, whose eyes were now focused on the ground. She was debating whether or not she was, in fact, doing the right thing...but Sokka and Aang had to understand that Zuko was not a demon, he felt as deeply as they did, cared for what was honorable, cared for the well being of the people around him. Even when his untold fury consumed all the reason and rationale in his body, he could hardly stand to cause pain in ones he cared for.
He was, in fact, a lot like Aang.
"I'm not going with you. I don't care about you or your father. Now get away from Katara," hissed the air bender, the wind beginning to swirl around him. As wild gusts formed around his clenched fists, Zuko fell back into stance, but this time it was defensive.
"You're the only thing that can win back my honor and my father's respect," said Zuko slowly, his fingers to lighting with red flame. "I will bring you back."
Katara was at a loss, torn between the tortured yet hopeful soul of Zuko and the angry faces of her friend and brother; but she could not let the Avatar be defeated, or the world we be lost forever to destruction and death...she couldn't let Aang suffer for Zuko's sake, couldn't let the Avatar go and doom the world...couldn't stand the look in Zuko's eyes after she had attacked, leaving him battered on the ground as she soared away on Appa...and it wasn't even Zuko's fault, all of this, it was his stupid father's -
My father is a coward and a murderer...you will never, never compare me to him...
Then something clicked in Katara's brain. Aang, oblivious to her revelation, drew his arm back and sent a hurling sphere of wind at Zuko, who ducked down into a roll, the dirt flying in a whirlwind about him. He flexed his arm and roared, letting loose the wild fire in his veins, the terrible, blazing fury that flew with precise aim towards the elusive Avatar. Aang responded after stirring the air about him in a fearsome tornado, finishing with a giant thrust of his own arms, wrapping the swirling winds around him and sending a channel of air to meet the fire bender's attack.
Both of them stumbled into disbelief again when Katara, fuming, flung herself between the attacks and canceled them both with a massive water sphere. The fire vanished instantly and the air repelled towards Sokka, who gaze a startled gasp and ducked out of the way just in time.
"For the last time," growled Katara, her fists shaking, the water still bent around her hands, "NO FIGHTING "
She looked between Aang and Zuko and they both gave a nervous smile. Katara relaxed, feeling the water calm her again as it flowed back to her canteen. To keep the situation under control, she needed control; she closed her eyes briefly and let the flow of serenity, the soothing presence of water's gentle essence, enter into her again and her body lost all tension. Then she remembered her idea and turned to Zuko, who was glancing between her and the Avatar.
"Your father, Zuko. Why do you want to gain his respect if he did all this to you?"
Zuko stared at her, bemused, taken back by the sudden bluntness of her question. Wasn't it obvious?
"He's my father, Katara -"
"But he's a coward and a murderer. You said so."
Sokka looked at Aang and gave a very confused shrug. Aang stood up and walked over to Katara, keeping at a safe distance from the Prince. But Zuko had momentarily forgotten him, his thought lost in conflicting emotions over his father, varying in extremes between his undying loyalty and a brilliant hatred. His father was the scum of the earth, not worthy to be called Lord...but he was still his father, right? Yeah...
"He is, but he's still -" He stopped abruptly when her fingers brushed his for a brief moment.
"He's the reason your trying to capture the Avatar," said Katara quietly. "He's the reason there's a war...which means if we defeat him, then the war can be put to an end, and you won't have to keep hunting Aang..."
Zuko stared at her, blinking just as Aang had been. Sokka finally got the energy to walk over and scratch his head, still at a loss as to what was going on.
"Katara I hardly think we can stop the Fire lord, and this guy definitely isn't trustworthy -"
"Look, everyone be quiet," she hissed. "If you'll just listen, I have an idea..."
The Captain struggled up the cliff as dawn broke, exhausted from another night's searching, angered by the constant hunt for the Prince that had now become each day's painful and aggravating duty. He grabbed a rock and pushed himself up, only to discover too late that the stone was just a loose belief he personally had no faith in. It upturned and he caught himself with his left hand before scrabbling back onto the mountain, his face glowing red from both sunburn and fury.
"Old fool," he muttered, clearly taking out his irritation on Iroh, "the kid's probably dead at the bottom of the ocean somewhere, stupid old fool..."
"Be careful how you talk about my Uncle, Captain," hissed a voice from above him.
The Captain's head shot up at the familiar voice, sharp-edged and snarling. Zuko's scarred eye was glaring at him, furious at the unwilling rescue, and the Captain began to stutter an apology as he crawled onto the cliff, standing up straight and saluting the Prince.
"Sorry, sir, I was just - the heat -"
"Save your excuses, Captain," hissed Zuko. He could feel unbridled anger beginning to flow through his veins, the fierce desire to burst into flame and punish the Captain for his offensive words. Of course, he restrained himself and turned back towards the ridge.
"It took awhile for you to find me, didn't it? All for the better. You will help me carry these hostages down the cliff. And don't complain to me about the heat."
The Captain looked startled as Zuko stalked over to his broken campsite, where he leaned down over a motionless body sprawled across the earth.
"A captive? But who -"
He gave a stunned gasp as Zuko turned back to him, Aang laying unconscious in his arms. He walked briskly past the Captain and swung the Avatar over his shoulder, beginning the descent down the cliff side.
"Get the other one. He's just a warrior, so he shouldn't be much trouble."
"Sir you - the Avatar -"
"I know, Captain," Zuko hissed, his voice growing quieter. "Now we will get them to the ship before they wake up. Or would you rather sit here and await the wrath of the Avatar?"
The Captain blinked in shock and fumbled over to Sokka, who made a muffled groan as the man picked him up and flung him across his shoulder. As both fire benders climbed down the cliff, Katara crept from the underbrush in the woods with Momo at her shoulder.
"Your father will be very proud when he sees you again, Zuko," said Iroh quietly. Zuko noticed the soft tone of praise in the deep voice and turned to his Uncle, who was sipping his tea with almost too much delight.
"I have finally captured the Avatar. Now I can return to my home and reclaim my honor."
Iroh looked down into the dregs of his tea and gave a relieved smile. A few rooms down, Aang and Sokka lay in their holding cell, still unconscious. Both had been bound and gagged so that if they awoke during the sail back to Fire Nation, they would not be a disturbance to the crew. Iroh patted his stomach as he finished his drink and stood slowly, bowing respectfully to the Prince.
"I am overjoyed that you will be returning home. I am going to play with the sailors below deck...they're getting better each time we play! Soon they may have a chance at beating me...but I wouldn't want to get their hopes up too quickly, I suppose..."
He shuffled out of the room, teacup still in hand, mumbling delightedly about the souvenirs he had bought and the way the Captain couldn't really play the pipes. Zuko watched him go, waiting in patient silence until the door clicked and closed. Then he leapt from his chair and bolted it shut.
He crept back into the room, knowing the smooth precision he would need to pull off the daring deed. Heading to the port window on the side of the ship, he clicked the rusty bolt open and the glass swung inwards. Cold wind rushed through the opening, making his eyes water and his nose sting with the sudden onset of the salty odor. He leaned out, but only just; he looked down towards the water, but his view was blocked by the swimming form of a great, brilliant bison.
Katara reached up towards him and he took her hand, pulling her into the ship. Momo made a nervous little squeak but remained on Appa, who turned its giant head and gazed up at the water bender, perplexed.
"Appa, follow the ship, but stay hidden," Katara whispered gently. Appa gave a quiet groan and Momo looked despairingly at Katara, who smiled kindly at the lemur.
"Don't worry, Momo, it won't be long. Now go before someone sees you!"
The ship was passing several large rocks and Appa managed t duck behind one before the guard, pacing on deck, could spot him. How she had managed to get a monstrous beast like Appa to swim up so close to the ship without being discovered was something that Zuko did not think she had time to explain.
Katara turned back to him, smiling that wonderful, gentle smile she always held for him; he felt his heart slow and he stumbled back to the table, where the pot of tea Iroh had left was still warm.
"Here...do you want some?" he struggled, but Katara shook her head.
"No thank you," she whispered. Zuko nodded, hesitated, and crossed the room to a large closet. He opened it and Katara could see rows of clothing hanging, the shelves filled with plates of red armor.
"If someone knocks, you can hide in here...but if you want to walk around the ship, or see the others -"
He pulled out a very tattered looking cloak, frayed about the edges and covered in grime, that didn't seem washed in ages; in his other hand he drew a matching hat, ripped at the rim but low enough to cover her face.
"You walk around the ship with a mop and pretend to be a servant. No one will talk to you - it's a rule that soldiers don't speak to the servants. Just keep your head down and they won't notice you."
Katara nodded and took the clothe from his hands, but cringed slightly at the filthy state of it. She threw it around her shoulders and fastened the clasp as Zuko watched, his gaze turning soft. He took a step towards her and she paused, meeting his gaze as he searched through the cool tranquility of her eyes.
"You really think this will work?" he whispered, expecting to find a doubt fluttering beneath the icy surface, an uncertainty drifting through her eyes. "You...you really think I can..."
"Yes," Katara said, her tone so beyond doubt that the Prince couldn't help but smile. He nodded and began to turn away, but something in the water bender's heart pulled as he began to leave.
"Zuko..."
Her voice called to him, irresistible as it had always been, and his golden eyes fell on her again. She paused, taking a long moment to take in the scar she had gotten so used to seeing.
"Could you..." she smiled gently and stepped towards him, breaking his gaze from embarrassment. "Before you go...can you...I mean -"
Zuko wondered, briefly, what she could mean by her constant stuttering; but when she made a motion with her hand he realized it indicated fire bending. She felt his hand touch hers lightly and she looked up into his eyes, seeing a smile spreading across his face. For the second time he raised his hand, letting the flames slide gently up his fingers, and her eyes fell upon the gentle light of the red rose. She smiled back, no longer minding the soft heat against her face, the dangerous yet beautiful thing that curled delicately before her. Her eyes left the rose and she looked up into the lighted features of Zuko's face, giving a quiet thank you.
And when Zuko's hand fell gently on hers, she did not resist. When their fingers entwined, briefly but tightly, she did not pull away. And when Zuko felt the soft lace of Katara's necklace slide into his palm, he knew what quiet promise she had made.
As Zuko shut the door to his room he opened his hand and let the light glitter gently across the sacred necklace. Then he tucked it behind his breastplate, shielded from the world by both armor and heart, and smiled as he approached the deck.