A/N- I rewrote this chapter THREE times, so you better like it! -foaming at the mouth- Ahem, I mean…I hope you like it.
That day had passed by fairly quickly. Prince Zuko went to check on Katara after having that talk with his uncle. She spent the rest of the day with him and they conversed about the way things used to be, 100 years ago. How all four elements used to live in perfect harmony…
He explained to her that he didn't want this war anymore than she did, but that there was no way that he could stop it. His father had all the power, and even if he didn't, the Fire Nation was too into the war to just suddenly stop.
She talked about how everything was perfect in her home, until the Fire Nation decided to attack them. She told him the sad story of losing her dear mother, and about her father having to leave her brother in charge because he had to go fight in the war. She told him, that deep in her heart, she knew that Aang was going to save the world and everything will return back to how it was…
Because she knew that the Avatar's sudden return had a purpose.
"Are you still thinking about Katara and your 'special' feelings?" Aang asked while preparing himself for a good night's rest.
"No," Sokka lied. He couldn't tell him that instead of having ONE hunch, like before, he now had two. Aang just had to put the idea in his head that Katara was in love. She can't be in love, there's no one she could fall in love with on the Zuko's ship, he argued. He got his bedroll and placed it on the ground uneasily.
"Yes you are," Aang insisted. "Tell me what you're thinking."
The Water Tribe warrior sat down on his sleeping bag. "I don't know what to say," he sighed. "I just know that something isn't right. Something weird is happening on that ship."
"Again, I'm convinced that you're weird. There is no way that you know that."
"Maybe you're right," Sokka said uncertainly and laid himself within the sleeping bag.
"I know I'm right," the young Avatar declared convincingly. He laid a blanket over the hay and sat upon it. Bringing his knees up to his chest, he looked over at Sokka and smiled. "Just forget about it. We're going to see her the day after tomorrow, you can ask her then."
Sokka turned on his side, and closed his eyes. "OK, I'll try to forget about it," he alleged. "Good night"
"Good night." Aang yawned and laid down on the blanket. "Good night Katara, wherever you are," he whispered and fell asleep.
"Love- We think about it, sing about it, dream about it, and lose sleep over it. When we don't have it we search for it, when we discover it we don't know what to do with it, and when we have it…we fear losing it. It's the constant source of pleasure and pain, but we can't predict which it will be from one moment to the next. It's a short word, easy to spell, difficult to define, and impossible to live without." -unknown
Katara slipped into some large black pants and a red shirt. It was no nightgown, but it was comfortable and safe. There was no way, that anybody could find her sexually attractive in those rags.
She laid on the bed that had twisted her fate, a few hours earlier, and pulled up the covers up to her chin. She was still scared. There was no other way to put it. Today's episode had scarred her for life. "I'm ready," she yelled shyly across the room.
Prince Zuko opened the door and frowned when he saw Katara's deplorable state. "I'm not going to do anything to you," he said, trying to get her to loosen up.
"I know. I'm just cold," she lied.
"You can still have your own room," he said. "You don't have to stay here with me, if you're not comfortable."
"No, I'm good."
"I'll sleep on the floor tonight. OK?" He walked over to his closet and reached for a blanket. "That way, I'll be in the room but not on the bed with you."
Katara felt her heart drop down to her stomach. She was pushing Zuko down to floor, just because she couldn't get over her dumb fear. "No, no," she said and sat up. "I don't want you to sleep on the floor. Sleep here, I'm good."
"Katara I--"
"No, put the blanket back. I'm fine."
"But--"
"Come now," she said and patted the space beside her.
The Prince sighed in frustration and placed the blanket back on the shelf. "You are so stubborn." He walked over to the bed and smiled at her, "Move over." Katara willingly moved over by the wall and set herself back down on the soft mattress, closing her eyes. He laid down and turned his head over to look to her. "Are you sure, you're OK?"
She nodded softly and turned her head, facing him. "Prince Zuko, why did you get your fever yesterday?" They hadn't really discussed it, unless you call a temper tantrum…discussing.
He looked up at the ceiling and frowned. "I'm not sure," he lied. "Stress perhaps."
"Oh," she whispered. She smiled when she saw his face contorted with worry. "What are you stressed about?"
"This whole…Avatar thing," he sighed.
"I don't want you to get your fever again," she declared.
He laughed softly and turned on his side, facing her. "I won't. I promise." He placed his hand on her cheek, and she closed her eyes. "Why don't you want me to get my fever again?"
"Because I don't like you sick."
"You don't like me in general," he laughed and pulled his hand away.
She opened her eyes, and frowned at him. "Where did you get that idea?"
"I can tell those kind of things," he said and laid on his back again.
"Well, you're wrong," she announced and sat up.
"Oh?" Zuko looked up at her, and noticed her expression.
"Yes," she huffed. "Don't be assuming how I feel about things."
"I can't believe this," he said and began to laugh. "You're mad."
"Am not," she said defensively. "All I'm say--"
Zuko sat up and looked at her. "Why are you mad?"
"I'm not mad," she paused. "You just…frustrate me."
He laughed at her. "You are so strange." Zuko laid back down, sighed, and closed his eyes.
"Why do you lie to me?" she asked all of a sudden.
"Huh?" he opened his eyes and looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Stress didn't cause your fever. Stress isn't an emotion. What caused it, Prince Zuko?" She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Don't start this again. It's late. Lets go to sleep," he said uncomfortably and turned his back on her. Don't go there Katara. I'm not ready to tell you…
"I'm not tired."
"Well, I am!"
"Tough luck," she insisted and pulled on his shoulder, making him lie flat.
"Why aren't you like a normal girl, and go to sleep when you are told too?" he asked and smiled up at her. She made a small 'humph' and gave him a questioning look. "Fine, what do you want to know?"
"I already told you."
"I don't know Katara," he sighed. "I don't."
"You're lying!"
"What do you want me to tell you?" he inquired with frustration in his voice and sat up.
"I don't know," she said and leaned against the wall. A lump in her throat made her voice crack and tears began to form in her eyes. "I don't know."
"Katara?" Oh no…
"I'm so confused," she cried and placed her hands over her face. So many things were rushing through her head. Images from earlier were flooding her with insecurity and her emotions were confusing. Her feelings went from hate to love in seconds…She needed to let it out. "Zuko, what am I going to do?"
"What's wrong?" he sat up and moved closer to her. She's having a nervous breakdown...
She wrapped her arms around Prince Zuko and cried. "I was so scared. He wouldn't leave me alone. I told him I didn't want to, but he continued. Ignoring my cries and pleads. Touching me, kissing me…against my will. I thought I was going to die. I hate him so much! I want him dead. I hate him…Hate him…All of him…"
He tightened the hug. "I know you do. God, I'm so sorry," he whispered.
"He wouldn't stop. Why is he like that? I didn't even do anything to him. Maybe if I had…I caused it…I caused him to be so evil…"
"No, you did nothing. He was born that way."
"I don't want you to end up like that. I don't…Please don't…" she begged. She really needed to tell him how she felt. She really needed him.
"No, I won't. Don't think like that Katara," he hushed.
"I miss my brother so much…Why isn't he here? He's suppose to rescue me…Where's Aang? Don't they care? …Don't they?…"
"Yes they do…"
"No…they don't," she sobbed. "I bet they're having the time of their lives without me."
"Katara," he began and pulled her away. "They are looking for you. I know they are."
She wiped her tears and shook her head. "No…they aren't."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Because it's been days…SIX days and no sign of them! Nothing," she said and took a deep breath. "You did this to me! You are the main person that is causing all of my suffering! You!"
Prince Zuko looked at her in amazement. Was it just him, or was she crying on his shoulder just seconds ago? Geez, talk about mood swings. Well, mood swings or not, she was right. He did do this to her, and he regretted every moment of it. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"No, you aren't!" she yelled and stood up. "If you really were sorry, you would have let me go days ago! But you didn't, you haven't, and you probably won't until you've got the Avatar in your filthy hands!"
She didn't believe him. And it hurt.
"Well, I hate to break it to you, but you'll never have Aang. You want to know why? Because he's not coming to rescue me! I'm trapped here, with you," she spat bitterly.
"Are you listening to yourself?" he argued. "You truly believe that your friends would desert you?"
She crossed her arms. "I want my own bedroom. I don't want to sleep here anymore."
Ouch. Rejection. She was rejecting him. His being, his apology, his feelings… "Alright," he answered despondently. "If that's what you want."
He stood up and slowly walked towards the exit. He grabbed a pair of keys that were hanging beside the door and paused for a moment, just in case she wanted to change her mind, but she didn't. She just stood there, arms crossed and slowly tapping her right foot. He opened the door and stepped outside. She followed closely behind him. They went down a narrow hallway and turned right into another.
Funny, I've never seen this entrance before, she observed as they walked within the corridor. He went through the keys, trying to find the right one for the door that they had just stopped at. Finding it, he placed it inside the keyhole and turned the knob.
The room was like his, except the closet was much smaller and there wasn't a window in sight. He walked inside and lighted a candle that was on a table beside the bed. "There are blankets inside that closet, incase you're cold during the night," Zuko told Katara frigidly.
Katara walked inside the room and inspected it. She sat on the bed and tested it's strength. She nodded and whispered a 'thanks'.
He walked to the door and stepped outside. "I'm going to lock the door, so no one can come in during the night. I'll unlock it when I get up in the morning," he said over his shoulder and shut the door behind him.
Katara sat on the bed and looked at the knob as it turned, when Prince Zuko locked it from the outside. She laid down and looked up at the ceiling.
You went too far.
I know…
Why did you say those things to him?
I don't know…
He loves you.
I know…
Prince Zuko slammed the door to his room and punched the wall, continuously. He stopped when his knuckles began to bleed, but he didn't care. He felt nothing. He hurt her and she made sure that he knew it. He apologized and she made sure that he was not forgiven.
As far as he knew, he deserved what he was feeling.
"I'm sorry Katara," he whispered to himself. "Please forgive me." He walked over to his bed and laid down. God, he felt so awful…so empty.
He blew out the candle that lighted his room and closed his eyes.
It's funny how people can grow to hate love…
A/N- I don't know if stress is an emotion or not, so just work with me…