Okay, sorry for not updating. I had a few other things I needed to do. This chapter might be a bit longer than usual. But, I am seeing a problem. But first before I discuss that problem, which this is basically branched off of what I am about to say, but anyway- people are not reviewing. I know, I wasn't exactly happy with the results of that last chapter because there was no Zutara, but you people should still have the kindness to review.
I only got eight reviews on that last chapter. Anyway, there will be a little bit of lime, and yes that is the same thing as a lemon, but not much. Something will be left unsaid and I know this story is rated T, and I will get into major detail with everything Katara and Zuko do, but still, there might not be much. Just some casual stripping Katara by Zuko here and there, but nothing more then that.
Now, lets get on with the only EIGHT reviews which I am not happy with at all, by the way. I only got eight and I waited about two weeks. That's not fair. I'm not going to put this story to a stop or refuse completely to update, but if I don't get more reviews then eight, and I'm not talking nine of ten, then I think I'll do some serious complaining and things you probably won't want me to do.
But I'm sure after this fun and fluffy-filled chapter, you won't hesitate to review because you'll want to know what happens next, but if those reviews don't come in- and quick, face the consequences you all will whether you took the time to review or not. You all suffer together. But- I don't want to sound like the wicked witch of the west or anything, so just promise me if you read my story, you'll review it.
Wilderness-writer: Once again as in the second paragraph above, yes, the lime is the same as the lemon mechanism. Thank you for being one of the eight to review my chapter. It is greatly appreciated.
Darkavater13: Okay! Thank you so much for being one of the eight to review my chapter!
Monito: Yeah it was. After I realized I was on my sixth page, I decided to stop the chapter and just end it with something stupid but partially amusing such as that. Thank you for being one of the eight that reviewed.
Zukoscute2: Uh…right! Yes! I totally and completely knew that! -didn't know- Lol. Thank you for being one of the eight to review!
ChocolateSwirlz: You're reviews always sort of amuses me. Lol. Thank you for being one of the eight to review my chapter!
SweetStories11: Yeah, I guess in a way, I did that to build up suspense to the next chapter. I think this chapter may be the most exciting chapter of them all. Thank you so much for being one of the eight to review!
C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only: Hmmm…I've never really understood what your screen name was supposed to stand for. Anyway, thank you for being one of the eight to review my chapter!
Boylessgirl52941: Thanks for being one of the eight to actually review the last chapter. I'm glad you liked the story!
Alright, I can see so far that around 75 people have reviewed. I'm sure that'll change after this chapter, though. But, here I am going to announce the people who have reviewed every chapter for my story so far, not including my one shot, though I don't know why anyone would think I'm including that. Anyway, here they are:
1- Zukoscute2: Thank you so much for reviewing! I really appreciate it and you're a real inspiration.
2- Chocolate Swirlz: Thank you for reviewing! I'm very proud of me and you because you're not even a Zutara lover! But you still supported me and I'm very thankful of that.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar. Wanna make something out of it?
Chapter Seven: The Prince and The Pauper
Katara stayed behind, but close by. It was getting to be a late afternoon and since it was winter, it got darker a little quicker. The sun had already mostly set Katara supposed; so guards were out and about talking and planning and arguing and fighting and everything else. Katara supposed that maybe Prince Zuko's crew ate after him. But then why was just about everyone in the area they were in? Did Prince Zuko eat with his crew? Would Katara be eating with Prince Zuko? I wonder if the crew included Danshu.
They past many rooms and doors and corridors, but they always kept straight. Never went down a different hallway, never opened a door, never went down or up stairs, never closed a door, nothing. They kept straight from Katara's bedroom to their destination. But finally Zuko stopped. Katara banged into Zuko's butt making Prince Zuko uncomfortably turn around on his heel for a short second then quickly turn back.
"You'll be dining with the crew tonight." Zuko said opening to door and turning her direction again. Katara felt something in his voice. "And when I say crew, that does not include me." Katara knew that feeling. But she couldn't think of it. She knew it was on the tip of Zuko's tongue. "Have fun." He said in a small and icy voice. Katara knew it: uncertainty. But why was Zuko being uncertain? Why is there a reason? A cause? What? Katara sighed grimly. For one, she absolutely did not want to dine with the crew, after what she saw happen in the hallways with the low life's, and secondly, she was annoyed because until she knew that answer to why Zuko was uncertain, it would bug her. Katara nodded and stepped through the door letting Zuko slowly close it silently behind her. She heard footsteps get farther and farther away. Then a door opened and footsteps going higher and higher. Katara knew Zuko was from her now and she was stuck in a room with creepy, unhealthy, ruthless, slime ball, devils.
She looked up. Losers from one side of the small room to the other. 'Why would something like this happen to me?' Katara thought. 'Stuff like this never happens to me! Stuff like this happens to Sokka! Not me!' She let a small whine slip up her throat. She swallowed letting the squeal go back down and settle.
There was dead silence in the room. Then a giant loud laugh broke through the quietness and roared with noise. Katara looked around. Then everyone started laughing. Katara had no clue why in the world these strange people were laughing, but she decided to play around and let a small chuckle break through her lips as well. Katara pursed her lips and walked over to a small table close to the ground filled with food she had never seen before. She sat down awkwardly. People at the table she was sitting at around her grew silent and began to stare at her.
"Uh…"
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Zuko strode back silently. His dinner wouldn't be prepared for another half an hour, or so. That's when the crew would most likely be done and Katara would be ushered back to her quarters. That would give him some time to set the 'bomb'. Zuko had one of his hands shoved in a small pocket on his elegant maroon robe. As if, he were playing with something. It was strange. Especially for someone as Prince Zuko to be acting a bit mischievous. But of course, none of the others on the ship cared.
He hadn't gone through a single set of stairs or doorway. Never went down another hallway, either. Just like on his way from bringing Katara to her little dinner party. Zuko was acting incredibly sneaky, too. Whenever he thought he heard someone coming, he shove himself into the closest room and hide. Whenever he thought he saw a threat like a decorated spear or Dao sword, he'd blast some fire. He'd get into fighting position almost after every side-attached corridor. He was trying to act most nonchalant.
But Zuko was hiding something. Something big. Dangerous. Top secret.
"Zuko."
"ARGH!" Zuko whipped around and blasted some fire. He was very lucky at that point the was somewhat much taller than his uncle or Iroh would've gone into a far orbit. "Uncle? What are you doing?" Zuko snapped.
"I could ask you the same thing, young one." Iroh replied daintily.
"I'm going back to-"
"Your room? Isn't that where you always go?" Iroh asked suspiciously.
"It's my sanctuary." Zuko's voice got small and calmer than it was five or six seconds ago.
"Interesting. And what will you be doing in your sanctuary?" Iroh bothered in a slight mocking tone.
"Nothing." He replied.
"Well, how about I join you in doing nothing?" His uncle suggested.
"Sorry, you cannot." Zuko said dumbly.
"And I must ask- why?" Iroh replied.
"Because, if somebody's doing nothing, then somebody joins him in doing nothing- well, then two people doing nothing actually becomes something." Zuko said in a sharp wise tone. One that parents or guardians would be feeling very disrespected by. But Iroh, being Iroh, just left a little smirk of his with Zuko as he turned his back to his young nephew and walked away. Zuko growled and walked away sharply on his heel. He walked back until he reached Katara's room. For the whole way there, he was always every now and then reaching into his pocket, and scratching around a bit. But this time when he went to dig into his pocket, he pulled out the small object that was just big enough to fully fit into the pocket itself.
It was a small box. It looked somewhat similar to a matchbox type of thing. But when he flipped open the lid, there was a tube-like case that held a very powerful bombing weapon- blasting jelly.
Zuko opened the small lid and for a second or so he eyed the small packet of blasting jelly cautiously. Finally, he struggled and fought with himself to dip his finger into the jelly. For even a powerful, strong and brave Prince would be hesitant with such a powerful weapon useful for only destruction. In fact, it was becoming to lethal, that some parts of the world named it illegal. Thank God for Prince Zuko he wasn't in one of those parts of the world.
He opened Katara's bedroom door and stepped in. He slowly and quietly closed the door. Then he slowly smeared the dipped point of his finger along the edge and hinges of the big steel door. He dipped and smeared, and dipped and smeared, and dipped and smeared until the whole outline and hinges of the door was covered in a thick, but not very noticeable outline of blasting jelly.
He stepped back and eyed his 'artwork' so called. He put the little matchbox type thing filled with some leftover blasting jelly back together and shoved it back in his pocket. Then, surprisingly, and kind of obvious, there was another pocket on the other side of the overcoat-type of chic robe.
He pulled out a hand full of small tiny toothpick-like wooden sticks. Thin, well-carved, smooth, small. He crouched down about one or two feet away from the door on the right side. He lined them all up until he got to the door. He rowed them up until the final one was glued into the blasting jelly.
Then, laughter and loudness filled the air: the crew's meal was over. Zuko raced back over to the end wooden stick. He heard footsteps coming closer and closer to Katara's bedroom. It was Katara. She was coming back. Zuko watched as he made a small flame encase his whole index finger. He gently and slowly placed his finger on the last wooden stick. He watched as it blew into flames and made it's way slowly towards the end one that was covered in blasting jelly. Zuko quickly jumped up, and like a ninja he raced into his room and shut the door silently.
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Katara trotted towards her bedroom. No, she wasn't being escorted. Surprisingly, she remembered her way back, then again how could she not, since it was all in a straight line. Katara stopped. Her stomach grumbled. Katara hadn't eaten a thing. Seeing all those disgusting slobs eat made her loose her appetite very, very, very quickly. But she was still hungry. 'No wonder Zuko doesn't want to eat with his crew. Their eating habits are atrocious.' Katara thought. She shrugged then kept walking. Then stopped again. She was close to her bedroom door. It was open, even though she could swear she closed it when Zuko was showing her where she'd be eating. She heard a crackling sound. That's why she had paused the moment before.
Katara arched her eyebrow and pressed her cheek and ear against the steel wall that enclosed her bedroom away from the hallway and Zuko's room, and who's ever or what ever's room on the other side. There was a spark sound. It was moving. Katara let out a small gasp. She felt it moving, so she moved with it. Creeping closer and closer towards the door. But she didn't notice. She was too busy focusing on the crackling sound. 'What is that? Is it in my room? Or between the wall? The plumbing system or something? Think, Katara, think!'
"Huh! Oh no!" Katara gasped. She ran up to the door and leapt in. "NO!" She shrieked. But it was too late. A burst of flames splashed out violently. The door busted into flames and exploded falling onto Katara's feet trapping her. Katara shrieked and cried. Smoke was fogging up her lungs and eyesight. She began to cough. She searched around. She tried grabbing onto the bed, the flames had already gotten to that, as well. She attempted to grab the blanket to pull over her body and protect it from getting burned, but her hands got burned in the process that, so she didn't even get the blanket.
Then the door slammed open. Katara waved her arm around panicking trying to see who was there. She couldn't take it then. Fumes were taking over her nostrils. She couldn't breath. She laid her head on the ground with a smack giving up and letting the flames and blanket of smoke win. She felt footsteps stomping over towards her. Then she felt somebody lift her up bridal style. She attempted to open her eyes.
'Z- Zukkkoo…" She shut her eyes again.
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Katara felt a cool sponge be lay upon her sweating forehead. 'Why am I here?' She was on a new bed. A clean one. A very comfortable one. Rather than her old cell bed or the one that burst into flames. Yes- the fire. 'That's why I'm here- the fire.' Katara thought.
Katara tried to open her eyes. Everything was blurry then went into focus. She saw Zuko. Now she knew where she was- Prince Zuko's bedroom. And she was on Prince Zuko's bed.
"Ow. W-what happened to me?" Katara drearily asked.
"You blew up." Zuko said as if it's something everyone does everyday.
"Well that's not very convincing." Katara whined grimly. Zuko made a jolt of his back.
"That's a little rude for somebody who saved you, isn't it?" Zuko replied not taking that mean comment to heart. Katara shook her head slowly.
"No- you're right. I'm sorry. And thank you for saving me." Katara said sheepishly in a very sincere tone. Katara blushed and tried not to look up at the banished Prince. But she couldn't help herself for some reason. She looked up shyly brushing off her shoulder with a weak smile at the same time. Zuko hid a smile under his deep and straight face. But Katara could see it shine through. Because for that moment and that moment only, Katara was the only person who could actually in a weird way understand Zuko for whatever means it has.
"Well then, you are welcome." He said quietly. He sat on the edge of his bed by Katara's feet, saying nothing during or after the process. Neither did Katara.
"So…will I have to go back into a cell?" Katara asked. Half of her wanted to see Danshu again to talk to him and see if Zuko was telling the truth about him, and the other part was wondering if not, where was she to stay?
"No." Zuko replied slowly after a few quick seconds of Katara ending her question. He stood up again and walked over to a mirror on the other direction's wall. He was just looking. Maybe at the reflection of his past? Or maybe just him. Or maybe how he'll look when he captures the Avatar. Then Zuko stepped aside, still in the mirror's frame, but now has a clear shot or Katara in the reflection of the mirror.
"So then, where will I be staying?" Katara asked.
"In here. With me. Safely." Zuko said.
"What?" Katara asked. Zuko turned around and walked over to her.
"Katara. You must. It isn't an option. We do not know who had set of that bombing jelly. It could've been anyone on this ship and we have no evidence of who did it, yet. Nobody would ever go near you if you were in my room, or ever," Zuko moved Katara closer to his chest. "close to me." He whispered in her ear.
"No. I can't." Katara released herself from Zuko's grip and raced towards the door. Zuko was quicker though and blocked the door before Katara could open it.
"You can, and you will. No option included." He murmured.
"Please!" Now tears were beginning to spill down on Katara's caramel complexion. "I cannot stay! I do not belong here!" She cried. She raced past Zuko and jumped into her old burnt room. She tried to open the door again, but Zuko lightly and gently tossed her out of the way and blocked the door.
"I will not let you leave. Not now, not ever." Zuko said grabbing her wrists and bringing her closer. Katara began to stuttered words that weren't even real. Zuko shook his head stupidly growling at himself. "I'm sorry. That was a little too intense emotionally." Katara huffed and agreed. "Listen, please, just spend the night getting to know the real me." Zuko said putting emphasis on 'real me'.
"I don't know." Katara said unsteadily.
"Please? Katara-" Zuko said putting his finger under her chin and lifting it up making her face at the exact length of Zuko's. They were close- and face-to-face. "Doesn't everyone deserve a second chance?"
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"No!" Katara giggled.
"Yes." Zuko said taking off his shoes and jumping off the bow of his beached and anchored ship into the soft sand. He had ordered the driver and navigator to go towards the closest beach, which just happened to be right on the other side of Avatar Azor's market place. It had taken about the whole night so it was around 11:00. While they were waiting they both had a 'late dinner' together, since neither of them got to eat at the time they were supposed to.
"No way!" Katara shrieked again as she took Zuko's hand allowing him to help her down off the ship.
"Oh yes." Zuko replied.
"You?"
"Me."
"Aang?"
"The Avatar."
"Admiral Zhao?"
"Zhao."
"You?"
"Me."
"The Blue Spirit? You? Saved Aang? The Avatar?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Really, really?"
"Yes!" Zuko was getting annoyed now a bit.
"Sorry. I just still can't believe it." Zuko smirked at her comment. She stuttered and blushed. "I mean- I can see why you did that but- wow. You're the Blue Spirit?" She asked again.
"So you've heard of the mysterious masked one." Zuko asked.
"Well, I saw a 'wanted' poster of him on the other side of a map when Aang, my brother and I were heading to a Fire Festival." Katara shrugged in a bragging type manor.
"You went to a Fire Festival?" Zuko asked.
"Yep."
"You?"
"Oh yes."
"And The Avatar?" Zuko asked astoundingly.
"Okay- now you're doing that short-question asking thing." Katara mentioned. "And you're right- that is a bit annoying." She added jokingly.
"Sorry." Zuko looked around with a wince. "Katara- I'm about to ask you something I've never even though of asking anyone else." Zuko said seriously.
"What?" Katara asked thinking she was about to hear something very important and serious.
"Will you go swimming with me?" Zuko asked looking at the deep sea. Katara turned around. The golden moon was shining the diamond sky. It pushed the tides into the beautiful and comfortable white sand as soft as silk.
"Uh…no." Katara said giving it some deep thought. (Sarcasm, people. Sarcasm)
"You sure?" Zuko asked not giving up on his question.
"Would you be willing to take 'no' for an answer?" asked Katara.
"Well- like I said before. I've never actually attempted to ask anyone to swim with me." Katara chuckled a little at that comment.
"Good point. Sorry- but no." Katara said sincerely apologetically. Zuko shrugged it off and kept walking. They were a good far distance away from the ship now. Far out of sight. There was nothing where they were. Just beach. Maybe so beach tree and shrubs now and then. Maybe a nice rock around- like the kind you can just sit upon all day and write or day dream. But other than that, which only came every now and then, there were only two things: Prince Zuko and Katara.
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Katara looked up at the sky. "Wow. We better be getting back. It's very early in the morning." Katara announced. Zuko scoffed and tried eyeing what Katara was.
"I give up. What are you looking at?" He asked getting very annoyed that he couldn't see what Katara was looking at and how she knew it was very early in the morning.
"The moon. Just like the sun, you can tell what time of the day it is." Katara specified. "That and it's becoming dawn." Katara pointed out stupidly.
"Well, then, I guess we should be heading back." Zuko said.
"Uh, yeah. We should." Katara turned to leave but tripped over Zuko's foot and smashed into the water's surface. Zuko did a little surprised type of gasp. He turned towards her fully and watched as he face peered out of the water. She spit out some water from her mouth.
"I hate salt water. It always makes my lips burn. Blech. Hey- wait a second- you did that on purpose!" Katara cried. Prince Zuko raised his eyebrow.
"Say again? Are you blaming me for this? You're the one that tripped over my foot." He backfired, making Katara unsure if he was joking or not.
"No- you're holding a grudge. I said I wouldn't go swimming with you, so you waited for the perfect moment to 'accidentally' trip me making me fall into the ocean." Katara thought she had Prince Zuko all figured out- that and she used air quotes on 'accidentally'.
"I did not purposely trip you! Now get out of the water! It's freezing! You'll catch an illness!" Zuko said trying not to sound too worried.
"No-no. Actually, this is pretty relaxing. Like a hot spring. Except, you know- it's not that hot. But it is pretty warm." Katara said dreamily. Zuko smirked with a roll of his eyes. Zuko stood up straight and let his hand out for her to take and have Zuko help her up. But instead, Katara (of course), grabbed his hand and pushed him into the water making a big splash.
Zuko did the same as Katara, bursted his face out of the water and spit out the salty-tasting water in his mouth. He looked up dumbly at Katara with a face expression saying 'What the hell just happened to me?'.
"Hey! I was trying to be nice!" Zuko whined. Katara tried to hold in her laugh because she thought it'd be a little to hurtful towards the Prince because he did just try and do something nice for her. She watched as Zuko rubbed his eyes trying to get the water and salt out. Trying to hold in her small chuckle, she twirled her index finger around making a small slither of water dance out from the rest of the body of water.
"Oh Zuko…" She mused. He stopped wiping his face off and looked up. Then Katara splashed him in the face with the lace of water.
"Hey!" Zuko laughed waved his arm in the water as if her were batting making a splash of water come up over Katara like a tidal wave.
The two laughed and splashed and kicked, and even Zuko, the stiff and hardcore, rough Prince enjoyed every bit of it and never tried to wipe the smile off of his face. Finally, after about a half an hour of splashing and acting like small, innocent children, they calmed down. Katara had now crawled into Zuko's arms.
"Wow. I haven't laughed and enjoyed myself this much since-" Zuko thought for a moment or two while Katara closed her eyes and enjoyed listening to Zuko rant. "Well- ever." he finished. The two chuckled again. Katara smooshed her cheek into his chest, rubbing it gently with the back of her hand. The cloth went up and down as Katara touched it. Finally the stitch of the piece of clothing fell apart and the shirt ripped open. But Zuko didn't care- neither did Katara for sure.
"I feel- hot. Kind of like a fever." Katara said waving her hand lazily in front of her face as if it were a fan, trying to cool her down. Zuko innocently send his index and middle finger astray, playing with the sleeve of her shirt and actually pulling it down a tad- that is, until Katara interrupted him.
"How can I feel hot, but you can't? You're a fire bender. You control everything hot. I'm a water bender. I can control everything cold." Katara said astoundingly sounding a bit stressed.
"You seem-" Zuko started off as he massaged her shoulders making both sleeves slip off. Katara had her eyes closed enjoying the sweet softness of Zuko's manly hands on her sensitive shoulders. They both didn't really think the relationship was going too fast. Prince Zuko, of course, was going by his evil plan, still. But Katara had no idea and was just going with it all. "You seem very tense." Zuko repeated. He stopped massaging and let one of his arms wrap around her waist. Katara let a little whiney groan slip up her throat.
"Zuko, we should really be getting back." Katara said attempting to get up from her comfortable spot in the wet sand and the soggy clothing of hers and Prince Zuko's stuck together because they were both so wet.
Katara finally made it to her feet. Zuko tried standing up, but slipped and splashed back into the water. Katara couldn't help but giggle. She began to lend her hand towards him- but then hesitated. When Zuko lent out his hand, she took it and pushed him in the water. Would Zuko do that to her?
"I promise I won't." Zuko said, as if he had somehow heard what she was thinking. She smiled at him.
"I believe you." She said lending her hand out. Zuko took it and stood up gracefully this time. Katara stepped out of the water and Zuko swayed silently after. Katara began to rinse out her hair from all the soggy and salty water.
"Eew, I am definitely taking a shower or bath when we get back to your ship, Prince Zuko." She said disgusted. Zuko scoffed with a tinted laugh.
"Not before me, you don't." He replied. Katara turned around about to ask him about the tern 'ladies first'. But when she turned around, Zuko was putting on his nice, warm dinner robe. He was enriched with a fine silky overcoat, while Katara was standing in front of him soaked to the bone.
"Hey! What about me?" Katara begged. Zuko smirked and opened the robes side and walked over towards her with his arm out catching her. The two began to walk back.
"You do realize by the time we get back it'll be morning, right?" Katara asked.
"Yes- unfortunately." Zuko replied softly.
The two shared one more laugh after that from Prince Zuko's comment, even though they both knew it wasn't very funny at all. After all, how could the stubborn and mean Prince of the Fire nation be funny? Katara didn't know. Then again, how could the Prince of the Fire Nation be this kind and loving towards a Water tribe peasant? To anyone?
A/N: Yeah! Woot! Woot! Go Abbey! Go Abbey! 11 pages long, baby! I hoped you enjoyed! And I do expect a heavy handful of reviews coming at me. I've worked hard for many reasons. But then again, you don't have to review if unwanted to, but it would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I proofread it, but if you see a spelling mistake, please let me know so I can fix it.
Thank you! And I know there wasn't much lime or lemon, or whatever you call it- but I did mention at the top I sort of changed my mind and it seemed too rushed so there won't be much.
Review please!
And I don't want anyone telling my it was too rushed or characters were OC! (Please)