You Don't Hate Me

by

Lucibell

Chapter Nine

I yawn widely, stretching my arms as far as my knotted muscles will allow, and am surprised to feel soft, firm hands grip my shoulders and knead them. I lower my arms, moan a little, and let my head loll forward like a rag doll's. Katara pressures her thumbs into my taut muscles and I feel myself relax under her touch like I've never done before.

I'm really starting to wish I was sick all the time, because in all honesty, what man in his right mind would not want to wake up to this every morning? And from a gorgeous, charismatic girl like her?

I regret not joining the Avatar much, much sooner.

She continues to massage my back, sides, and shoulders and asks me how I'm feeling. I moan in response and I swear I can feel her smile behind me. After a time I can tell that her hands are getting tired, so I take them in mine and pull her around to face me. She follows the motion willingly and all but falls into my chest as I pull her towards me. I hug her softly, trailing a light hand up and down her back. I bury my face in her neck and breathe, taking in the scent of her skin, which is a light, surprisingly woody smell. I exhale and feel her embrace me just a bit tighter. I smile.

"Thank you," I whisper into her hair. She grunts.

"It was the least I can do after letting you nearly freeze to death." Her voice is muffled and I feel her hot breath on my shoulder. I give her a good squeeze.

"It's not your fault, Katara. I knew I was too cold. I should've come inside anyway. It's okay." She raises her head to look at me.

"Are you sure you're feeling better?" she asks tentatively, giving me a considering look.

I nod, smiling. "Much better, thanks to you. That tea really worked wonders on my head. What was in it?"

She rested her head back on my chest and closed her eyes, sighing. "Honey." I furrow my brow.

"So when I'm sick I should just drink honey?" She giggled.

"No, you silly goose. The honey just sweetened it and made it smoother. It was the tea that made you feel better. It has antioxidants in it. It helps speed up the healing process." I nod, knowing full well she can't see me.

"Where did you learn all this?"

She shrugs. "Here and there…" her voice is trailing off and I can tell she's falling asleep. I feel a yawn of my own rising to the surface and can't make myself stifle it. I decide that a nap is probably something we both need and I lay down, pulling her with me.

She makes a motion to get up, mumbling something about me eating, and I pull her back down. She looks up at me and I feel my gaze soften considerably.

Quietly I say, "Stay. Sleep. You're tired." She goes to protest and I shake my head. "It's okay. Please stay…" Now I'm just pleading. I just don't want her to go. Not yet…

Thankfully she agrees and rests her head on my chest as I wrap my arms around her small frame, pulling the coverlet over the both of us. I bury my face in her hair and breathe deeply, taking in the smell of her once more. I smile as I feel her breathing even out, knowing that she's sleeping peacefully.

Soon I allow sleep to take hold of me as well, planting a feather-light kiss on her head before doing so.

A Brief Interlude

Aang knocked lightly on Sokka's door, and hearing a muffled response, he assumed it was okay to enter. He quietly opened and closed the door and moved to Sokka's bed, flopping down on it meditation style. He grabbed his ankles and rocked back and forth, giving the Water Tribe Warrior a contemplative look.

Sokka had been lying on his back, his head resting on his hands, staring up at the ceiling, brow furrowed in thought. He looked over at Aang as he sat down, then flicked his sapphire gaze back to the cold iron above him.

"Sokka?" the Avatar said tentatively. Sokka grunted in answer. Aang pressed on. "What's wrong?" Sokka sighed and sat up.

"Have you talked to Katara lately?" Aang nodded, smiling.

"Yeah, she said Zuko had kissed her." Sokka gave him an undecipherable look.

"And you're okay with that?" Aang frowned.

"Sure, aren't you?"

Sokka shrugged. "I don't really know… I mean, I want her to be happy, but I just don't want her to get hurt…"

Aang looked away for a moment, contemplating the situation. Zuko was a banished prince of the Fire Nation, and considering he had the Avatar in his hands, there was the possibility of betrayal. And he may just be using Katara to achieve the trust level needed to do such a thing.

But Zuko was also passionate in his loathing of his father's war. He hated Zhao and all he stood for, and he hated the fact that saving lives had gotten him here. After having had several intellectual conversations with the prince and the retired general, Aang had pretty much deduced that Zuko had more reason and was more likely to gain something out of rebelling against his father rather than bending to his will and taking the Avatar to him.

That and it was natural for Sokka to doubt Zuko's loyalties as his sister's beau. He was the elder brother, her protector, and in the absence of her father, the man that would see to her marriage should she be married before her father returned or was killed in battle.

Aang looked back at Sokka and sat there, staring at him for what seemed like ages. Finally he spoke. "Sokka, I don't think you've got anything to worry about. Zuko seems like a nice guy—" Sokka snorted derisively. Aang smiled. "Really, he is. Beneath all that bitterness and his temper, he's a great guy with good intentions. I don't think he'd intentionally hurt Katara."

"Yeah, I know… but what about his temper? What if she upsets him or I upset him or something happens and he loses it? What if he can't control it and he hits her or he—he—"

"Sokka, I don't think you have to worry about that."

Sokka looked up hopefully. "Really? Y'think so?"

Aang gave him his characteristic cheesy grin. "Absolutely! Haven't you noticed that Zuko's temper has gotten a lot less brutal since he and Katara started talking to each other? She helps him. I think it's good that they're together."

Sokka grinned, nodding, then looked back at the Avatar. "But I thought you had a thing for her…"

Aang blushed lightly and rubbed the back of his neck nervously, looking away. "Well—um, actually, uh, Avatars don't—haven't—well, they don't… usually get married…" He looked back up at Sokka, whose mouth was agape in wonderment.

"What!" he asked. Aang smiled.

"It's in an Avatar's nature to love all life equally. We don't fall in love with any one person. We love everything as it is like one would love his spouse. The only difference is that we never get married or have children."

Sokka was in awe. "Why?"

Aang shrugged. "We don't see the need. We don't love any one thing above everything else."

"Then how does the cycle work if you don't have kids?"

Aang stifled a laugh. "Reincarnation."

Sokka gave him a disbelieving look. "Don't tell me you believe in that stuff…"

Aang smiled. "I kind of have to, Sokka. It's my past and future. The Avatar isn't chosen by bloodline, like royalty, because if he was he'd always be born in the same Nation. We're chosen by destiny and birth."

Sokka nodded, then stopped abruptly. "Aren't there girl Avatars too?"

Aang shrugged. "There have been in the past, so yes, I suppose so."

"How do you know all this stuff, Aang? You're just a goofy kid…"

Aang laughed. "I just do, Sokka. It's like instinct. Although my Avatar instinct tends to be better than yours." He laughed again, this time for a much longer span of time.

Sokka's eyebrow twitched.

"Yeah, yeah, very funny. So you really think Katara'll be okay with Zuko?"

Aang nodded, stifling chuckles. The tick in Sokka's eyebrow got worse.

"It isn't funny!"

Chapter Nine (Continued)

I stare down at her peaceful form, stroking her hair as she sleeps. Every now and then she stirs in her dreams, but she always settles back into me like a pillow. I feel like a giant stuffed toy. But that's okay, because it's Katara.

I smile as she moans, her eyelids fluttering. I know that she's coming to, and it's about time. The sun is already setting and she needs to eat much more than anyone else on the ship. She's not eaten for nearly a day and a half now, and I don't care what she says, it's weakened her. Her eyelids flicker open and her glassy, cerulean gaze glimmer in the faint light coming from the candles across the room.

"Good morning, sunshine…" I whisper lazily into her hair. She looks up at me, and after a moment's consideration of who I am, smiles.

"I don't actually think it's morning…" she says groggily.

I chuckle, burying my face further into her hair, wanting to stay there. I reach back and untie the leather thong at the end of the braid, running my fingers through the lush, brunette waves. "No, it's nearing dusk. And you need to eat."

She sighs, leaning into me. I remove the pin from the bun at the base of her neck and her hair falls to frame her face, the wooden beads on her forehead slipping out of the silken strands. I catch them and put them on the bedside table along with the pin and thong. She looks up at me, frowning. I know she's going to protest and I put a finger to her lips.

"Your hair is beautiful…" I smile affectionately at her and gather all of her strands in my hands, and push it behind her shoulders. I pull her close and run my fingers through the thick layers of her mahogany mane.

"Katara…" I breathe, resting my chin on her head, feeling her hot breath in the hollow of my neck. It sends little shivers down my spine that I'm barely able to suppress.

"Hmm?" she responds.

"Why did you choose this?"

I feel her features change and I know that she's frowning. "Choose what?"

I hesitate for a moment, the rhythmic stroking of her hair faltering for the slightest of beats. "…Me…"

She pulls back and looks at me, her blue eyes searching my amber ones.

"Why wouldn't I?"

I give her a sad smile, the motion not quite reaching my eyes. "Katara… I'm banished. I'm a disgrace to my Nation. I can't give you many riches or a luxurious life. Not now that I'm going against my father—Not that I regret it, because I don't—I just… I don't understand… Most people—women especially—won't even give me a second glance because of my temper."

She smiles, putting her hands on either side of my face. "Then I'm glad I took that second look…"

I put my hands on hers and stare into her warm gaze, the serenity of the water-like quality of them calms me. And as much as I hate it, I can't help feeling the unfamiliar prickle at the back of my eyes.

"You don't mean that…"

She tilts her head. "What makes you say that?"

I shake mine. "You don't."

She pulls me to her, resting her forehead on mine gently. "Of course I mean it! I love you, Zuko…"

And with those words, I break. The prickle in my eyes turns into tears and they blur my vision. I blink quickly, trying to make sure she doesn't see, but she already has. The blinking only causes them to fall down my face, leaving hot, salty trails in their wake. More keep coming and I feel so weak. She pulls me to her, holding me as I cry.

My voice breaks as I return her words.

Author's Note: I'm a bit iffy on this chapter, save for the end. I love the end. I'm noticing all your requests for more fluff, and yes, there will be more. I hope this was enough to satisfy you. If not, there'll be more later. In the next chapter I think I'll actually have them waterbending and such. Actually at the North Pole, don'tcha know. Anyway, here are the review replies. I love you guys so much! BTW--HP 6 was AWESOME! No more on that, don't want to spoil it.

iloveprincezuko: (Me too. I'm going to say this every time you review.) I read HP at top speed. It only took me a day and a half. WooT!

starlightz1112: There actually wasn't much about the cold. Zuko's still got it, he's just feeling better. Because we all know that colds don't go away THAT fast. If they did, they wouldn't be so mammajamma-annoying.

jerseygrl246: Yeah, poor thing! But I love him anyway, cold or no cold.

Boylessgirl52941: Thank you! I liked the ending to the last chapter, too! And the ending to this one.

Lady Meko: No, no, nothing more life threatening. Not yet. -gives an ominous laugh- Oh, yes, there's something coming. Trust me, there's something coming.

Suave Boogie: (I love your fics by the way. Checked 'em out last night.) Anyway, are you saying that I'm bad at first person or good at it or just mediocre? I'm lost... Thanks for your review!

.CrimsonMysteryOfARose.: You know what? I love those three words...

taybay500: WOW! Thank you! That's such a compliment, you don't even know how that makes me feel! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Katuko: You got an interlude this time. Hope you like it. Thanks!

Julia: Jeez, so demanding... Okay, okay, so here's your update. LoL. I loved your review, by the way.

LoneWolfLink: Lemme know when you finish HP. I need someone to babble to about it.

sanriochica333: Wow, I left you speechless? This makes me feel so much better. It's actually giving me motivation to go and work more on my Zelda fics. But the people around that section are so darn picky. They don't like certain things. Personally, I honestly don't care so long as it's written well.

AwakenDreams: -bows- Thank you, ever so much.

Saucy Noodles: Yar? Who says 'Yar'? Since when did you go pirate-savvy on me?

Hope you all like it!

Luci