ZW 2010 Day 3: Pain
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Semantics
"One thing you're going to have to remember, Zuko: Sympathy and pity aren't the same thing."
The third assassination attempt in two weeks is moderately more successful than the last. Zuko cradles a broken arm and blood drips from the deep cut across his forehead. "You didn't have to come." Gingerly, he sinks into bed and leans back against the headboard.
Katara rolls her eyes and pulls water from her pouch. "It's not like I came from the South Pole, Zuko. I was at the market."
"The palace doctors could have handled it." He hisses as she stretches the broken arm out. "Ow!"
"I'm sorry but I have to set it."
"Just go back to your shopping."
"No. Zuko, what's wrong? Just let me heal you."
He glowers at her for several moments, until the silence becomes uncomfortable. "I can handle this myself," he mutters.
Katara huffs as she swirls the water around his arm. It glows bright blue, and he grits his teeth. "You don't have to handle things yourself. That's why you have friends. We want to help you."
He narrows his eyes at her. "Why?"
She buries the urge to throw her hands in the air or put them on her hips. "Haven't you ever had friends? That's just what people do for other people they care about."
"No."
Katara pulls back and eyes him, shifting between surprise and sadness. "You've never had a friend before?"
He shrugs the shoulder not attached to his slowly healing arm. "Azula scared most of them off. And I'm the Fire Lord. I don't have friends, I have people trying to kill me and people who tolerate me living."
"Oh, Zuko." She gently lays his arm down on some pillows and cautiously reaches to hug him. He pulls away.
"I don't want your pity."
"I don't pity you."
He looks at her blankly. "Sure."
"I don't! I have sympathy for you, Zuko." She takes a deep breath. "I feel horrible that you didn't have this kind of support, but that's not pity. Feeling for you isn't the same as feeling sorry for you."
"What's the difference." His gold eyes challenge her, and the scarred side looks angry.
She reaches for the cut on his forehead, hand gloved in water. "Sympathy doesn't look down on people." He has nothing else to say, but she's not sure he's convinced. "One thing you're going to have to remember, Zuko: Sympathy and pity aren't the same thing. Friends can share your feelings. That's sympathy."
He flexes the fingers of the freshly healed limb and averts his eyes. Katara wonders if she's reached him, or if he's still convinced she pities him. She knows the pain of feeling pitied. She felt it after her mother died, for the poor little girl, the little victim of the Fire Nation, the latest of many. She felt it from the Northern Tribe when Pakku embarrassed her during their fight. What she feels for Zuko is nothing like that.
But he still won't look her in the eyes. Maybe sympathy is given, and pity is felt.
A/N: Guess I was feeling philosophical? Thanks to everybody who has reviewed so far; y'all keep me inspired.
