Act 2

The Fisherman

Scene 5

He'd woken up (in the main cabin this time, not the aft bedroom) to the curious site of the water bending girl sitting on the floor beside his bunk, hunched over a book. Her profile was at the same height as his, so that when Zuko opened his eyes the first thing he saw was the place where her ear curved into her jaw and cheek.

He gritted his teeth, and cleared his throat. She turned to look at him with a smile. Good god, why was she smiling?

"He has books!" she whispered. Books. Zuko was thrilled.

"Why are you whispering?" he asked, deliberately loud. The smile dropped a little, and her eyebrows pulled together. Then the smile was back full-on again.

"You can't ruin this for me. He's got a tiny library in here! Actual books, not scrolls. I guess it makes sense because he's obviously been out on the ocean for a while, but he's got as many here as we have in our entire village!"

Zuko thought about the fact that his father's library was the size of her entire village. The memory did not make him happy. The last time he saw it he was a foot shorter and young enough to still imagine all the answers could be found there.

It probably wasn't even as big as he remembered. In fact he doubted he'd even be impressed if he saw it now.

She probably would though. Barbarian.

"It's a miracle you even know how to read," he spat.

Katara just grinned even wider. "You're jealous you didn't find it first."

Zuko flopped his head back down on the bunk and glared at the ceiling instead. "I really could not care less."

"Well," she continued, voice high and gratingly cheerful, "if you'd bothered to wake up earlier you could have had first choice of the books. But instead you thought it would be more rewarding to yell at everyone then faint. Very amusing display. Very mature."

"Yeah, I was sleeping," he grouched, refusing to repeat the word "faint" since such a word could never seriously be applicable to himself. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I carried you all the way to this stupid bunk, Mister."

"And?"

She glared at him. "And then I got distracted by a book so I've been sitting here reading! You're much better boat company when you've fainted."

"Passed out."

"Whatever."

Notes:

This is the last one for now-- I have to rewrite the next two before posting them, as they're still mostly dialogue without context. So who knows when they'll be up. Tomorrow? Next week? Whenever I feel up to writing them.

Two people asked if this was a Zutara fic. Hm... let me put it this way: This is my non-Zutara Zutara fic and my obligatory torture!Zuko angst fic and my mental song fic all rolled together. Not with any actual songs, though, just the ones playing in my head as I go.

Caeria's review said that Zuko is not allowed to have any dignity. I just want to say that this is absolutely true. I love Zuko's character, thus it is my duty as a fanfiction writer to torture him. Repeatedly.

FANFICTION IS PAIN. I repeat this to myself often, and find it a most inspiring mantra.

Boat facts: Okay, I am playing really free and loose with facts here, because I know a lot about sailing boats but not that much about fishing boats. Nor, really about what powers the iron ships in Avatarverse, except that they're some sort of engine. But assume that this is a fishing boat, approxminately 40 feet long, with bunks underneath for crewmembers to sleep in, and a small kitchen area with a table, and a bathroom. And at the stern of the boat (beneath the stern deck) is an aft bedroom on one side and a large storage area for equipment on the other.
Think vaguely of the boat in The Perfect Storm... only not really because it's been years since I watched that movie so I don't remember what it looked like. Either way, this is a boat that is powered by an engine so it could be steered and guided by one person alone (though he'd need help docking it) as opposed to a sail boat which would require two people at that length, and he can set a course while he sleeps at night. There! I hope that was helpful, though I'm sure it just left you guys even more confused. I know I am, a little.