Katara stood on the deck of the ship, holding on to the cold metal railing. "Wherever you guys are, take care of yourselves and remember that I love you," she whispered to herself as she looked up at the starlit sky. A small tear slid down her cheek and she immediately wiped it off.
A guard approached her from behind and set his hand upon her slumped shoulder. "Your room is ready. It's located next to Prince Zuko's room, just like he ordered."
"Thank you," she whispered, and continued to face the sky. "I'll go soon..."
"Very well miss," he said politely and walked away.
Miss? Is that what they'll call me? ...Miss, like I'm some sort of welcomed guest? her thoughts were interrupted by an old man's voice coming from behind her. She turned around, slightly frightened, and found Iroh standing behind her, giving her a gentle smile.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" the man asked and stepped up beside.
Katara calmed, realizing that the man was harmless. At least he seemed like he was. She furrowed her brow, trying to remember the man's name. She'd swear to the Gods that Zuko had called him his uncle. "I guess," she answered, a hint of sarcasm in her sad voice. Iroh, she remembered and smirked mildly at her good memory. Prince Zuko calls him Uncle Iroh, I believe...
The General observed her profile for a moment before turning his head toward the heavens.He puckered his brow as though he was trying to think of a story to tell, and after a minute or so, he spoke. "I know you're angry...and upset. This damned war has caused so much misery...," Iroh continued, "...for you, for me, but especially Prince Zuko. But I'm going to give you a piece of advice. Put a smile on your pretty young face and hope for the best, because that seems to be the last innocent thing we have in this world. Hope."
"I can't do that," the waterbender answered calmly and took a deep breath. "I can't put on a happy face and hope for the best. My mother is dead. My father is off at war. My brother is teaching young children how to defend our tribe. And mytwelve year old best friend is being chased by the son of the man who is trying to take over the world." A couple tears escaped her blue eyes, and she immediately wiped them away. She didn't want to seem weak in front of afirebender she barely knew.
Iroh saw her tears and frowned. To see such an innocent person cry was heartbreaking."Calm. You need rest. Everything will turn out alright," Iroh patted her shoulder. "I know it." With that being said, he headed off towards the kitchen.
"Yeah, right…."Katara sighed and left for her room, after giving the sky one last hopeful glance.
"Are you sure we did the right thing?" Aang said concerned, looking back toward the island that they had just abandoned.
"No, but we have to think of a plan before we go invading their ship...My mother was held hostage against my father during a Fire Nation raid, and was accidently murdered when he tried to save her. The fireball that killed my mom was suppose to kill my dad.We have to think of a plan Aang, because I don't want any of us dead,"the hurt Water Tribe boyanswered while petting Momo.
"I could've turned myself in and--"
"It's too late for 'could've', don't you think?" Sokka asked annoyed. "We have to think of a good plan. So start thinking! She'll be OK. Don't worry! She knows how to take care of herself."
"Yeah, I know. Katara's brave like that," Aang said feeling proud of her. She'll be fine, he assured and smiled.
It was mid-morning when Zuko came into Katara's room. She was still asleep, but well in the middle if a nightmare. She was twisting and turning in the bed, and Zuko scowled slightly at the sight as he approached her disturbed body, taking a seat beside her. He glanced around the room and noticed that the girl had taken a bit of her time to re-decorate it. Women, he mused with a soft smile.
"Sokka..." Katara mumbled, making Zuko turn his head to look at her.
He raised his eyebrow at the muffled cry for her brother and frowned. "Hey!" he said and shook her roughly. "Wake up."
The girl furrowed her brow as she entered the world between sleep and conscienceness. "Stop it Aang!" she whined and slapped Zuko's arm off, turning to her side as she did so.
For a moment he just sat there, surprised that the girl had the nerve to call him 'Aang'. "...Don't compare me to that stupid Avatar!" the banished Prince yelled and turned the woman over, waking her completely. "Get up!"
"OK!" Katara yelled, compelling the teenage boy to lean back. "I'm awake," she huffed and frowned at Zuko. "Geez..." She lazily rubbed her eyes and looked at her surroundings. Everything seemed fine until her eyes fell upon her arrogant captor, who was sitting upon a wooden chair with his arms crossed. She smirked. "Were you watching me sleep?"
He froze at the accusing question. What is she implying? That I like her...? He frowned and stood from his place. "NO! I came to wake you up. Breakfast is ready. You can go down to the kitchen to get it."
"Then why are you so nervous?" she asked and crossed her thin arms, one eyebrow raised.
Prince Zuko cleared his sudden dry throat. "What on earth are you talking about? I just came here to inform you that breakfast is ready. My being here has nothing to do with nerves, although you do get on mine."
Katara furrowed her brow at the Prince. "Well, I'm not very hungry. So you can go and boss people around with your arrogance. Besides, it's not lke I'd eat anything that your people prepared." She swiftly got up and passed Prince Zuko, not wanting to face his anger.
Zuko scowled and grabbed the girl's hand while she was in reach. "You should be grateful that I even give you food to eat!" he said furiously as he pulled her in front of him, her blue angry eyes locking with his golden determined ones. "You are going down to the kitchen to eat, whether you want to or not!"
"Let go of me!" she yelled and tried to yank her arm out of his grasp.
Zuko tightened his grip on her weak arm and pulled her closer. "Go down and eat." His voice was threatening...frightening.
"Let me go!"she screamed, wrenching her arm out of his strong grip. "Let me go," she ordered again, her voice softer and more pleading. His grip was beginning to hurt. Didn't he understand? "It hurts," she whispered and felt tears beginning to well up as she continued to pull her arm away from him.
He released her arm, noticing the red mark that his hand had left. She pulled her limb to her chest and rubbed it tenderly."You didn't have to grip me so hard," she muttered angrily but slightly afraid.
Zuko heart sank mildly but not enough for him to apologize. She had pushed him. Now she knows what happens when you push Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. You get hurt. "Well, you didn't have to be so rude."
Katara jerked her head up in indignation, her hand still rubbing her bruising arm. "I was anything BUT rude. How would you feel if you were kidnapped and abused?"
"I did not abuse you!"
"Oh, of course not," she said sarcastically. "I forgot that I asked you to hurt me."
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