Katara warily approached Zuko. "You wanted a word?"
He nodded slowly, "Yes."
She knelt by the sleeping bag and traced the rim of one of the canteens with a finger.
"Well," he began. "I believe you are aware of the fact that you rescued me from death."
She nodded. Did he always state the obvious?
"In my nation, we have a tradition. In actuality, it's more like a law. Well, when one person saves the life of another, the saved becomes indebted to the savior."
Katara blinked, "What are you getting at?"
"It would be my honor," his eyes narrowed and his face contorted in umbrage as he ruminated his next words. "It would be my honor if you would allow me to stay with you until I have repaid you by saving your life, as you have saved mine."
Katara stared at him. Was she dreaming? Was the Prince of the Fire Nation indebted to her, a mere peasant from the Southern Water Tribe?
"And?" The Prince snapped at her blank expression.
"Oh, um, I suppose you could… But, um, no attempts at capturing Aang, promise?"
Zuko sniggered, "Because I would surely escape with the Avatar on my nonexistent ship with the help of my nonexistent crew."
Katara blushed. She had forgotten Zuko's current susceptibility. "I suppose you're not exactly on their side anymore? Erm, I mean the Fire Nation's side."
He glanced at her and chortled, "I'm not exactly on your side, either."
Katara looked down and realized that she had not yet healed his wounds. "Well, anyways, take off your shirt."
Zuko cast Katara a sidelong glare and slowly lifted his shirt. He winced, and she gently leaned forward to succor him. She placed the shirt aside and examined his body.
Under the scarlet wounds that scintillated iridescently in the eerie glow of the morning lay well-sculpted muscles. Katara bit her lip as she tried to ignore the silly rush of hormones. She bid a cool trail of water out of her canteen, and she fastidiously enveloped the wound on his stomach.
Zuko recoiled at the coolness of the water, but he gazed agog as he watched the wound heal before his eyes.
Katara simpered at Zuko's surprise. When she withdrew the element, his stomach had recovered a layer of flesh, and it was as it had been before the attack. She continued to heal the rest of his body, and he stared in marvel at the puissance of water.
As she finished tending to the wound on his right leg, Iroh walked over.
"Your brother has true aptitude when it comes to metalworking," he smiled as he held out his emancipated hands. "He has much skill in that respect." Examining Zuko's newly healed body, he grinned broadly. "And it appears that you are quite adroit in the art of waterbending."
"Oh, healing is just a skill I picked up along the way. It's nothing really." Katara turned to Zuko. "I'm going to go to the village. I'll pick up a new shirt for you."
Zuko stole a glance at his blood-stained tunic and eschewed a protest. He considered thanking the girl, but he thought better of the notion and checked himself.
Katara stood up and walked to Aang. They exchanged a few words, and he handed her a leather pouch.
Katara walked back to Zuko and Iroh. "I'll be back by sunset. Is there anything else you need?"
"Why are you treating us like guests?" Zuko demanded, staring at her as she ambled into the forest.
"Because you are guests," she whipped around.
"If you don't mind, could you pick up a tea set?" Iroh flashed a grin.
Katara raised an eyebrow, "I suppose."
"And could you pick up some tea while you're at it?" Iroh called as Katara disappeared from view.
For a majority of the lapse of time between Katara's egress and her return, Zuko observed the Avatar and the other boy busy at work.
"Katara said we would stay here for about a week," the Avatar's puerile voice drifted through the wind.
"Did she say why?" The other boy asked while gathering wood for the campfire.
"She said everyone needs a rest, especially Appa. It's not like we can't use a rest."
"Well, I can't really complain. But listen, Aang, I have to talk to you about them." Sokka jerked his head towards Zuko and Iroh. The Avatar and the Water Tribe boy then absconded from view.
Zuko scowled, "I despise the Water cretin."
Iroh chuckled, "Now, if you were in their position, would you trust us? I certainly would not. I admire their prudence."
Zuko surveyed his vicinity. "Uncle, I'm going to have a look around."
"Then you won't mind my taking your bed?" Iroh collapsed blissfully onto the sleeping bag as Zuko stood up and headed towards the forest.
Zuko examined the thick verdure of the vegetation in the forest. He wandered deeper into the forest, thoroughly disgusted with the rampant density of the forest. His pants caught on a growth of thorns, and he cursed as he snatched them out of the entrapment.
Was this how the high and mighty Avatar lived: in a crudeness that bordered on boorish savageness? The romantic visions of a hero endowed with fortune, comfort, and opulence didn't quite fit.
As Zuko wandered farther into the forest, he stumbled upon a gurgling stream. Following its path, he discovered a rather voluminous lake. As he peered into its contents, he spied a pair of fish gliding gracefully into the nebulous depths of the water.
When he was about to walk closer to the edge of the lake, he heard a rustle in the bushes behind him. He lunged behind the closest formation of rocks and peaked at the newcomers.
Katara emerged, supporting an elderly man.
"So this is the lake?" She inquired courteously.
"Yes, this is it. You're quite welcome to use my boat anytime you need it," the old man smiled as he turned to leave.
"Will you be able to get back to your home by yourself?" She called as he perambulated away.
"Of course! I've been through much worse. Thanks again for your help!"
Katara waved and turned to gaze at the lake. Zuko emerged from his shelter, and Katara jumped in surprise.
"I didn't know you were here!" she remarked, laughing skittishly. "Let's head back to camp."
"What was that all about?" Zuko asked nonchalantly.
"What?"
"The old man, and whatever he was talking about."
"Oh, I just helped him with something. He needed a waterbender. In exchange, he's letting me use his boat on this lake anytime I need it." Katara then threw Zuko a pristinely white tunic. "Here, I got it for you at the market."
He squinted at the coarseness of the fabric. "I can't put this on."
"Why not?'
"It screams destitution all over."
Katara wrinkled her nose at the remark, "Well, Your Highness, I apologize for our current lack of funds. Do accept my sincerest condolences."
The two remained silent as they returned to the encampment. Iroh opened one eye at the sound of their approach and gleefully helped Katara with the tea set tottering in her arms.
"Thank you so much! I didn't think you would actually pick this up!" Iroh began to assemble the earthenware like a child playing with neoteric toys.
She smiled and began to prepare the stew for that night's dinner. As she worked, she eyed Zuko out of the corner of her eye. He glowered, leaning against the trunk of a nearby tree. Finding that he was being watched, he scowled and tossed her his new shirt.
She waited for it to land on the ground before she kicked it to Appa. Turning back to her chore, she began to chop roots and carrots.
That night's dinner was particularly scanty, taking into consideration the increment of the number of partakers in the meal. Zuko stared into the dismal food, and he scoffed at its discolorations and the ambiguous components floating lugubriously in his bowl. He pushed the food away, affirming that a Prince would never eat such trash.
Iroh shook his head, "Prince Zuko, it is rude to refuse such a splendidly prepared dinner. It is truly quite delicious; I implore you to at least sample some of it."
Zuko stared at the fire and ignored his uncle.
Soon after, Aang and Sokka crawled into bed. Sokka's discordant snores soon permeated the night air, and Katara winced as she turned to Iroh.
"You can have my sleeping bag. I don't really need it." She whispered as she proffered her bedding.
"I'm an old man, Katara. You needn't concern yourself with my comfort," Iroh smiled graciously at the girl. She showed much more deference and propriety in that one gesture than he had come to expect from his nephew in a month.
"I'm used to sleeping on the ground. If you don't use it, the bed will just be empty tonight."
"Point taken," Iroh chuckled as he crawled into her bed.
Katara turned to the campfire and saw that Zuko was still gazing pensively into the flames.
The night air was brisk, and she saw a subtle shiver escape from his arms. She walked over to Appa and picked up the shirt that she had so unceremoniously kicked earlier. Placing it next to Zuko, she lay down on the opposite side of the campfire.
Katara surreptitiously observed his every move. For the first half hour, he remained still, continuously moving his fingers as a minute flame danced from digit to digit. As time ebbed on, Zuko quickly peered at Katara, and she swiftly shut her eyes. After a minute, she opened them and saw that Zuko had reached for the shirt and started to don the epitome of peasantry.
He then peered again at Katara. Believing that she was fast asleep, he reached for his uneaten bowl of stew. Sniffing it, he soon found himself taking a sip. Then, slowly but surely, he devoured the remainder.
Katara decided to seize the opportunity to derogate his pride, as he had so aptly wounded hers. She wandered silently next to Zuko as he picked at the dregs of his meal.
"Hey there," she smiled innocently.
Zuko choked and began to cough violently. "You-"
"I see you changed your decision. Or rather, two decisions."
Zuko's cheeks rouged as he pouted. He seemed to be at a loss for words.
"No matter. Now tell me, the stew wasn't too shabby, was it?"
He turned away and ignored her again. She hated his silence; whether it was his prejudice or his pride, she couldn't tell. But she knew that she had to do something about it.
The next day, Katara decided to take the old man up on his boating offer. Several robust young men from the village had brought the boat to the lake, and Katara waited eagerly for her excursion.
She insisted that Zuko accompany her to the lake, and the two headed out to fish. After they climbed onto the boat, Zuko rowed them to the middle of the lake.
Katara bent several fishes out of the water, and Zuko watched with seeming disinterest. He gazed upward at the exposed patches of sky through the canopy of leaves.
After Katara had caught about ten fish, she became disgruntled at Zuko's blasé manner. She conjured up a large stream of water and hurled it towards his head.
He was completely thunderstruck at the gesture, and his face grew livid as he fought the urge to firebend. Scrambling in the boat, he grabbed a bucket and filled it with water from the lake. He then flung its contents at Katara, but she swiftly froze the water, falling limply as ice to the floor of the boat.
Zuko then stood up, causing the boat to rock violently from side to side. Finding his position dangerously precarious, Zuko then took a small step forward. Unfortunately for him, the boat completely tipped over at that point, sending its riders into the icy water.
As his head emerged above the surface of the water, he was inundated by large bursts of water. He began to splash blindly back in every direction.
He heard a giggle as a river of water came flying towards him. Thrusting his head underwater, he managed to evade the volley.
Thinking quickly, he began to kick wildly in the direction of the aforementioned assailment. He grinned as he heard a whimper, but he soon regretted his action as a large deluge soon washed him onto shore.
Katara swam after her artificial wave and found Zuko lying on a pewter boulder. He looked absolutely furious, and she blushed at her own gaiety. As he sat up, he gazed at her.
Then, they both broke out laughing.
A/N: Hello my dear readers. It's been a long time since I wrote a piece of fanfiction, and I must admit: it is absolutely liberating! Yes, I am a veteran writer, but my other pennames are secret.
In any case, I promise that the action/adventure part will come soon! I have a mental outline for where this is going, and I swear that it is going somewhere ;-)
I LOVE reviews, so REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! The more reviews I get, the faster I update :-)
Hopefully, this will keep Zutara fans fairly amused during Avatar's hiatus.
I believe the new episodes will come out soon (I heard February at the earliest?) I also heard that there will be Zutara embedded in the coming season; cross your fingers!
Happy holidays everyone. Much love 333333333,
witheringheights