You Don't Hate Me

By

Lucibell

Chapter Five

I can't stand this insufferable cold. How the waterbender and her brother live in these kinds of conditions is far, far beyond what my brain can comprehend. Even the fire in my blood isn't enough to ward it off. It just seeps into my skin and crawls through my bones and invades my very fiery being. It's so abominable…

I stand on the deck of the ship and stare out at the minute block of ice that classifies as the North Pole. It took us enough time to get here that Sokka and I are actually agreeable with each other and I've started calling Aang by name. The girl and I have actually become something of friends. Which I don't regret.

Because she listens.

At least, that's what I keep telling myself. There's a voice in the back of my mind that begs to differ. You know, the one that's controlled by hormones. Yeah, that one. It keeps telling me otherwise, but I do my best to ignore it.

Obviously my best just isn't quite enough.

I'm getting soft.

That and I've become less irritable since she woke up. Ever since that day, we've talked at least once a day. Mostly about the traveling or the terrain—if the ocean can be called 'terrain—but sometimes we talk about our homes and what our lives were like before we got so venomously shoved into this putrid war. But talking about those things is sparse. It hurts—both of us. Other times we talk about simply nothing, finding conversation in the light of day or the dark of night. We're comfortable like that. And it's nice. I haven't felt like that since…

Since long before I was banished.

But the talking seems to make me feel better. Sometimes I talk to her when I'm angry, telling her why even though she may not understand what I'm talking about. She doesn't complain, she just listens and helps me through. She gives me advice on what to do and lets me know that she's always there to listen.

That's the best part.

At the end of every conversation, she tells me that she's always there and willing to listen. Like she really cares, you know?

And sometimes I wish she would care. Like I care about her. But that's just my imagination running away with me again. I don't care about her. I can't. There's no way.

I don't care about anybody.

I look over at her, talking animatedly with Aang. Her blue eyes are lit with a light that comes from only her. I feel a smile tug at the corners of my mouth.

I don't care… I tell myself. I turn back around, scowling. I shiver thoroughly.

It's just so darn cold!

I hear footsteps behind me and I turn. Katara's walking toward me with a bright smile on her face and I see Aang opening the hatch and heading inside, probably to warm up. I'm still shivering uncontrollably. I hate this goodness forsaken cold. As she steps up beside me, I feel her body heat and the fur of her parka brushes my arm. Once again I shiver, this time more violently.

I pray she doesn't notice.

"Are you cold?" she asks.

Someone up there hates me.

I look at her. "A little," I admit. It's a lie—I'm freezing. I'm not used to it. I'm used to the extraordinary heat of the stadiums and rooms back home in the Fire Nation. I'm used to fire—not ice!

She gives me an incredulous look and I slump, sighing and letting myself shiver like I want to. "Alright! I'm freezing. I don't know how you live in this winterfest! It's awful!" I around and lean my back on the railing, looking at her. She smiles, gazing out at the speck that's slowly but surely growing as we grow closer.

"It's not awful," she whispers. Her eyes are glassed over and her tone is nostalgic. I know that she's remembering a time left behind. I nudge her.

"What're you thinkin' about?" It's a question she asks me all the time, but I've never asked her. I hate the question myself, but at the moment, it just seems appropriate.

She keeps staring, and her eyes keep that glaze, but she answers me. "I was just remembering…" I scowl and reach over, poking her arm. She shakes her head and looks at me, smiling. God, I love her smile.

I don't care about anybody.

I look away. "I didn't ask you…" I murmur. She frowns.

"Ask me what?"

My eyes snap back to meet hers. "I didn't ask you… if you would… dine with me tonight…" I wince inwardly. Real smooth, Zuko. Ask her to dinner. She's never been to dinner with you before! Idiot… I want to kick myself physically but decide against it. I don't want to seem any more disturbed to her than I already do.

She stares, obviously surprised, her mouth slightly agape. And for a moment, I think it's the cutest thing she's ever done, being surprised like that.

But only for a moment.

"Are you… Do you mean that?" It's so quiet I barely hear her. I raise my eyebrows.

"If you want to, yes."

She pulls a sly smile. "And if I don't?"

I look away, out to sea, and cross my arms over my chest. I close my eyes and shrug. "It's up to you." I feel her shift beside me and I peek open my right eye to peer at her.

She's standing with her hands on her hips, her weight resting on one leg, a deep scowl on her face. "You're so arrogant, do you know that!" she tells me.

I feign hurt, placing a hand over my heart and grimacing. "That hurts, Katara. Arrogant… Don't you think that's a little harsh?"

It's a game we play quite often, she insults me and I give some witty comeback. Somehow it leads to a deeper conversation, and I honestly think she's preparing me for the insults she knows I'll come across in life.

How caring of her…

But I don't care about anybody.

She shakes her head. Then her face softens and I can't help but want to touch her cheek. I swallow the notion and focus on her eyes. They're so clear… so blue… so beautiful…

"Really, did you mean it?" her eyes looked hopeful and I couldn't deny her.

Because I care about her…

I nodded. "Yes."

She smiled. "Then I'd love to."

I allowed a small smile to escape and I nodded again. "I'll have a dress brought to your room."

I really care about her…

A Brief Interlude

After being invited to dinner by Prince Zuko, Katara was elated. She knew that had it been a month ago, she would've been infuriated with herself. But now, she just didn't care. Zuko was a nice guy, behind all that bitterness and pain that he tried so hard to hide behind his fury. But really, he was sweet when you got down to it.

She smiled sadly, he was so broken, that she could tell from just hearing him talk and give orders to his men. The tiniest things would set him off, and when he talked to her about it, he admitted that he really didn't know what he was mad about. Little things—along with big things—just upset him.

She'd begun to learn what those things were.

Delays in travel, his uncle Iroh, interrupted meditation or training, his uncle Iroh, an injured or sick crewmember or friend, his uncle Iroh, Sokka's male arrogance,—the fact that he was arrogant in turn didn't matter—his uncle Iroh, not enough sleep, his uncle Iroh, mention of his banishment, his uncle Iroh, Admiral Zhao, his uncle Iroh, any mention of Zhao, and several other things, along with his uncle Iroh.

Basically Iroh was just a zit on the side of the Prince's nose that wouldn't go away. Katara actually found the old man funny, but that was beside the point.

Once you knew Zuko, it was easy to keep him from going off on you. That, and you began to figure out ways to calm him down. Or at least, she had.

Obviously Iroh had been unable to do so, because he'd been stunned the first time Katara had calmed him down from an extremely bad flare of temper one day.

"How?" he'd asked.

She'd shrugged. "You just learn," she'd replied.

She smiled again, opening her door. Zuko had been quicker than she'd thought to get the dress to her room.

It was already lying on her bed.

She quickly moved to the bed, picking up the silken fabric. It was a long, flowing, midnight blue dress that had orange and blood red undertones. She gasped in awe, noting the Fire Nation's symbol on one of the sleeves. She laid the dress down again and removed her other clothing.

As carefully as she could, she slipped into the dress, feeling the soft cloth slide gently over her skin. The neckline dropped below her collarbone—a mite lower than she was used to, but not uncomfortable—and the bodice hugged her curves, accenting her figure. She skirt flared out, flame designs interwoven into the bottom of the deep blue cloth. She moved and the dress itself shimmered, catching the candlelight in the room.

She moved to the mirror and pulled her hair down, trying to figure out what to do with it. After staring at her reflection for quite some time, she simply ran her fingers through it and shook her head back, letting it fall in soft waves over her shoulders.

Soon enough, a servant came and retrieved her for dinner.

Author's Note: Okay, Zuko even seems a little OoC to me in this chapter, but that's okay. I still firmly believe that he's a softy. End of discussion, thank you very much. Also, I keep forgetting to add a disclaimer, so for the rest of the story and the chapters before, here it is: I DO NOT OWN AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER. There, that said, I can move on with my life.

Thanks for all the reviews guys, it means a lot. And please, check out my site. http/ www. geocities .com/ lucibell88. Be sure to sign the guestbook, too. And on to the reviewers:

Arwey: LoL, I've noticed that too about some fics. I'm always like, "WAIT! How did they get to this point? There was no transition! First they're spitting fire at each other (huh, like my pun?) and now they're--Gross!" It's always really funny for anyone in the room with me, cuz I start freaking out.

jerseygrl246: Yeah, could you imagine being in his position? I'd freak out.

Amandakity: Are you sure? I didn't think that he had to learn them in a certain order... I just thought he had to learn them all. I don't think it would really matter when he learned which, I simply thought that they were doing waterbending first because it'd be the easiest to access--Katara being a waterbender and all, and they were going to save firebending for last because it'd be the hardest to get to. Oh, well, if I'm wrong, it's AU. Anyone who disagrees can shove it.

TrueLoveHurts: Thanks, a guy in my English class told me I transitioned well today, too. It means a lot.

darkanger: Yes, this is a ZukoxKatara. And yes, the Prince is extremely cute. Despite that God-forsaken scar that his God-forsaken father gave him...

zukosfire5: Thank you. Why didn't you sign the guestbook? You'd've been the first! Anyway, thank you ever so much.

humblelion717: Thank you so much!

momofthree: I don't really understand what you mean by recanting. But I'll try to work on it... whatever it is... LoL. Thanks for your review.

Katuko: Thank you!

Zukos Girl: I know you're going to think that Zuko is OOC in this chapter. I'm sorry. But there will be more Zuko-ness ahead, I promise. Keep the teaser in mind, it's a big part of that.

Violent Tomboy: Thank you!

1kenhsinlover: I -heart- Kenshin too! Anyway, thank you.

Aangluva: Thank you!

Purpurroter Schatten Drache: Muchas, muchas gracias!

justanotheravatarfan: Thank you!

swimchick1614: Thanks.

Waterea: Thank you, I'm glad you like it.

And next chapter: The dinner scene! And some input from Sokka... eep.