ZW 2013 Day 7: Spark
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Captain Obvious
Katara wouldn't have done it if Zuko hadn't been so infuriating.
Katara has been trying to light a cooking fire for almost an hour-and no, she's not going to ask Zuko, he can't be trusted, thank you very much. Aang wanders by shortly after she concludes it's just not happening today and they'll be eating fruit and jerky for dinner. "I haven't learned firebending yet," he mourns, looking at her dolefully. "Zuko can still make a few sparks though if-"
"I don't want Zuko's help," she snaps. "It's just all the rain from last night making the wood wet."
Aang shrugs, clearly trying not to impart unsolicited words of wisdom about dealing with (barely tolerating) Zuko. He shifts from foot to foot in front of her, silently, for a few moments, deliberating. Then: "Can I make a suggestion?"
"No!"
"Okay, geez." Aang raises his hands and slowly backs away from the pulsing vein in Katara's forehead. "Watch out," he whispers to Sokka, who has slunk in from the woods with a basket of berries and a few suspicious red marks on his face. Aang doesn't dwell too long on whether it's from the berries or Suki's lipstick.
"I'm out of here!" Sokka squeaks, and he skitters toward the center of camp, plunks the berries down at his sister's feet, and careens up on out of there.
Fuming, Katara crosses her arms over her chest and Aang swears her eyes bug out of her head. "You weren't even going to ask if I needed help?!"
Sokka makes for the safety of the temple, and Aang surreptitiously airbends a large, chaotic rustling in the bushes. Katara flings a wave of water into the nearest bush, and while she's distracted, Aang tiptoes after Sokka. Turning her attention back to the pending meal, Katara misses Zuko quietly stepping into the courtyard.
"Sokka said you were having trouble with the firewood."
Her head snaps up and she glares daggers at him. "Yeah."
"So uh, do you need any help?"
"Not from you!" She snaps, whipping back around and picking up a few bowls.
"What's wrong with the wood?"
"It's wet, okay! Just leave me alone. I don't need or want your help."
Zuko crosses his arms and narrows his eyes. "Look, I'm on your side. Why can't you accept that?"
"You betrayed me! You betrayed all of us."
"I was never your ally before. How did I betray you."
"I offered to heal you!"
"Well you didn't heal me, Katara. You walked away and left me to pick between going home to my family and your good graces, which you're obviously not very generous with!"
"You know what-you're just so-UGH!"
"Powerful waterbender, and articulate too, huh? Why didn't you think to waterbend the water out of the wood?"
She huffs and pulls the water out of the logs, flinging it wildly in the general direction of Zuko's head.
"Thanks," Zuko says, his hair dripping into his eyes. He flicks a spark at the wood, and it catches.
"You're welcome," she chirps, and bares her teeth in what could have been a smile. He stomps away, steam rolling off his head.
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A/N: I'm not sure this is all that shippy. It was fun though. Thank you to all readers and reviewers.
