Hi!
I have a really good reason for such a late update! Everyone who's reading my other fic "Love of Fire and Water" already knows. I had the final exams of this semester this week and had to study last week, that's why this update is so late. But after coming home today from my last exam (I am so happy the exams are over and I don't have to study anymore! for two months) I immediately sat down to write another chapter. And here it is! I hope you guys like it! And if you do, then please review (rhyme not intended)!
I do not own Avatar The Last Airbender, nor any of its characters.
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Chapter Four
Zuko was pretty sure that this had been Jet's doing. Somehow he had managed to get Katara and him into the same coffee shop at the same time. Although, considering Zuko's bad luck, it could also just be a coincidence. Either way, he hated it. He only wanted to get out of this situation and that as quickly as possible.
Sokka looked mostly annoyed, as if a great day had turned into something nasty. Zuko felt the same way.
But Katara looked threatening and accusing. That was normal for him, although he had no idea what she accused him of. It had been the same thing in high school, really. If Katara's locker hadn't opened or her sandwich had fallen on the floor it had always been Zuko's fault.
"Jet, you, uh...," Zuko began, not knowing how to say "I will not sit down here, so let's get to another table" without offending Katara and Sokka. Or making them hate him more. Was that even relevant? Didn't they already hate him?
"Yes, I'm going to get us coffees, Zuko," Jet exclaimed, standing up and began to open Zuko's coat.
He snarled, catching Jet's wrists. "What the hell are you doing?"
Jet raised his eyebrows. "Taking off your coat. It will be much more comfortable for you when you sit down." He gestured to the seat next to Katara.
Katara looked up, her eyes wide with shock, probably matching Zuko's expression. He couldn't stop himself anymore. "You want me to sit down? Next to her?" he specified, his voice sarcastic.
Katara gasped. "Excuse me?" She looked highly offended and crossed her arms under her breasts.
Zuko shot her a glare. "As if you wanted me to sit there." He let go of Jet's wrists. "When you've finished here, Jet, I'll sit on the other end of the shop."
He kept his voice cold and a bit arrogant, doing so on purpose. Something about Katara always brought out his bad side. He didn't know why it was he couldn't stand her. She wasn't annoying or evil or arrogantly full of herself. She had acted that way with him, but she had also gone berserk on anyone who dared to treat another person in an unfair way. And he actually had always liked and admired that about her. Too bad her mere presence put him off. So bossy and demanding and way too many emotions for one person to handle. Okay, maybe he did know what he didn't like about her.
He wanted to turn around and leave without another word, but a hand grabbed his arm. He looked at Katara, raising one eyebrow. She glared ice daggers at him.
"Are you actually serious, you jerk? You're too good to sit with us, or what?" She stood up and went toe to toe with him.
He really much wanted to back away, but something kept him glued in place.
"You think because you're from the capital we are not worth your presence? Because we're only southerners?!" she spat at him.
Zuko let out a low growl, feeling that his self-control snapped. He hadn't got so angry in a long time. "You're calling me a jerk? Oh right, because only jerks don't want to sit next to people who hate them? If you think I don't want to sit with you because of what region you're from you couldn't be more wrong!"
"What are you talking about? Sokka and I don't hate you!" she shot back, stemming her hands on her hips.
Sokka twisted his mouth and raised an eyebrow. "Speak for yourself, sis," he murmured.
"If you're gonna sit at another table, it'd be because of your prejudices and not because Sokka's and my presence is not enjoyable!"
"I don't have any prejudices against you!" Zuko snapped, not caring who else heard them.
"Prove it!"
Narrowing his eyes he wondered if he could get out of this situation by doing something other than sitting next to her, but as he calmed down he noticed people pointing fingers at him and whispering. His family name was uttered and Zuko stiffened. If his father heard of him arguing with a girl from the south in public...
He blinked, laying his hands on Katara's shoulders, feeling half afraid that she would bite him and shoved her back on her chair, so that he had space to sit down next to her.
He sat stiff and upright, almost not moving.
Sokka's mouth stood open and his chopsticks were still on the way to his mouth.
Zuko let go of Katara's shoulders and turned around, staring straight ahead.
Jet grinned to himself and murmured that he was going to get them coffee.
Zuko wondered if sitting here was enough. Or did he have to talk to the siblings? His personal high school nightmare?
oOo
Katara swallowed, fidgeting with her long braid. She hadn't expected Zuko to really sit down. And she had lied. Sokka and she did hate him, but she hadn't wanted to be accused of something like hatred.
Katara was a nice and honest person and she was always friendly to the people around her. To everyone except for Zuko. But still, to be accused of hatred... This was too much.
Her eyes had gone so wide when he had touched her shoulders. She had been caught by surprise and didn't have time to react to this.
She gazed desperately at her brother, wanting him to make Zuko leave. But Sokka would have nothing of that. He only raised an eyebrow, meaning "You got yourself into this situation. You have to solve it."
Katara sighed, gritting her teeth. She was no person who hated. And if this was really Zuko's only reason for not wanting to sit next to her, then maybe he wasn't as arrogant as she had thought. He had said that he didn't care where she came from. But he was a Kasaishi. How could he not care?
"Soooo, Zuko. What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to sound nice.
"You said I needed to prove that I don't have prejudices," he replied stiffly.
Katara rolled her eyes. "No, I meant in this coffee shop at the university. Are you studying here?"
Zuko glanced hesitantly at her. "Yes. I'm studying economics and law."
Katara widened her eyes. Oh no, they had something in common?
He cleared his throat. "And you? Are you two studying here, too?"
Sokka was still eating and looked at Katara to answer for him. "Yes," she said cautiously, feeling as if she would give an enemy too much information about herself. "Sokka's studying engineering. He's nearly finished. And I'm studying law... too."
Zuko nodded as if he had expected this.
Katara narrowed her eyes instantly. "What? You knew this?"
"Jet told me," he said, as if he didn't care at all.
"Then why did you ask?" she hissed.
"Because I didn't want to seem impolite by not asking you back," he snapped, eyes blazing with anger.
She opened her mouth, ready to retort, but nothing came to her mind. "Oh," escaped her lips and she couldn't help feeling surprised.
Sokka had swallowed and chuckled a bit.
"What?" Katara and Zuko snapped at him at the same time.
"I just did never think that Zuko could actually try to be polite," he said, laughing as if he had made a good joke.
Zuko scowled at him, putting his elbows on the table and burying his face in his hands. He grumbled something inaudibly.
Katara wanted to know what he said, but didn't want to ask. She chose to pretend Sokka's idiotic behaviour didn't happen. "Then you're almost finished with studying, aren't you, Zuko?"
He looked up at her. "No, I'm not. I started this semester."
She frowned. "Then what did you do before?" Being a bad influence on Jet?
"I studied at a military academy for three years."
Sokka raised his eyebrows, looking impressed. After all, their dad had been to a military academy, too, and Hakoda was Sokka's hero.
"Really? What was it like?" he asked.
Zuko looked thoughtful. "Okay, I guess. They were strict, but we learned some interesting stuff about the military and battle strategies and weapons. It..."
"Really? Did you learn how to slaughter or torture your own people for no sensible reason there, too? For example how to burn or whip people?" Katara asked in a sweet voice. She hadn't been able to stop herself.
Torturing southern women to get them to admit that they were working with demons had been normal those days. And burning and whipping had been the most used torture methods. Katara had learned that at school. But she didn't know so specifically what the Kasaishi kings had ordered to do with the Mountainers.
Zuko just mentioned casually the military, as if a hundred years ago, it wouldn't have done anything his ancestors wanted.
But she regretted saying this as soon as she had. She might not stand him and regardless what he'd said, he definitely had prejudices against her people, but he hadn't slaughtered them. It was not his fault.
Zuko looked shocked and hurt, as if she had kicked a puppy and asked him if he wanted to eat it. She quickly mirrored his expression, not understanding why she had said this.
But a scowl was soon to hide Zuko's feelings and he snarled. "I knew it," he muttered, more to himself as he stood up and left, not only went to another table, but actually left the shop. Through the windows Katara saw that he was crossing the square in front of the coffee shop, walking towards the end of it, where the university library was.
Katara stared at his back, feeling confused at how much she wanted to apologise to him. She knew what she had said was wrong, but she didn't think she would want to make him feel better.
Sokka whistled. "Wow, that was low. Incredibly low, sis."
"I know," she groaned, pressing her fingertips against her temples. "I didn't mean to say it. It just... happened."
"It was unfair," Sokka stated. "I think he actually tried to be nice and..."
"Shut up! You were only listening, because he talked about the military!" Katara barked at him.
Sokka hadn't expected such an outburst and flinched.
"Where did Zuko go?" Jet suddenly asked, standing next to the table, scratching his chin.
"Katara drove him away. Very efficiently," Sokka explained, having a tone of accusation in his voice.
"What?" Jet hissed.
"She made a very dumb comment about his ancestors. You know, because they killed and tortured our ancestors. And Katara gave nice examples of torture, for example whipping," Sokka said uncaringly and ate his last bite.
Jet stared at Katara, his eyes narrowed and his eyebrows contorted.
Katara knew she had screwed up when even Jet looked disapprovingly at her.
"Should I...," she hesitated, glancing alternatingly at Sokka and Jet. Finally she groaned and got up. "Fine, I'll follow him and apologise."
She quickly walked around Jet, who caught her by her elbow. "Mean it, when you apologise," he said seriously.
She frowned, noticing that this meant that Zuko was important to Jet, which she could totally not understand. Jet being serious was in any case really strange.
But she nodded, turned around and ran. She just ran straight forward and realised that she had forgotten her coat in the shop. Biting her teeth together she didn't even think of turning around when she spotted Zuko's back. She really didn't want to see Sokka's bemused look if she would come back for her coat, and also not Jet's angry look.
"Zuko, wait!" she shouted when she was close enough.
She saw him stiffen, but he just kept walking and Katara nearly roared with rage. How dare he ignore her, when she wanted to apologise?
"Zuko, stop!" She laid a hand on his shoulder and wanted to turn him around, but he was awfully stubborn and tense.
Groaning in annoyance she stood before him, planting her hands on her hips. "Okay, look, I'm sorry for what I said, okay?"
She stared at him and saw his contorted face. The way his brows furrowed, his jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. Apparently he was still angry.
"Sure you are," he said dryly and tried to continue walking, but Katara stepped in his way again and held her hands up, so that he did not fall right on her.
"No, I really am." She swallowed and looked at the ground, sighing. "It was wrong to say this, I know that. You didn't have anything to do with what your ancestors did and I... I shouldn't have let my anger out on you. It's just that... well, every time I see you or think of you I just get angry and all I can think of is how to... uh... insult you. I know that's really childish and I know I just went too far. That wasn't okay." She looked up at him, wanting him really much to accept her apology, because she didn't like it when she did something wrong and people stayed angry with her.
Zuko's facial expression was full of surprise. "Wow. You actually mean it."
"Of course I do," she snapped. "Now, do you accept my apology or not?"
He twisted his mouth and crossed his arms. "I don't know. I guess I'll have to think about it."
"What? Come on, Zuko, I didn't mean what I said!"
He shook his head. "No, you did. You're realising you went too far, but you meant it. You hate my family, you always have. I just don't get why. If you really understand that I had nothing to do with my ancestor's crimes, then why don't you understand that the rest of my family is just as innocent?"
His questions surprised Katara. Zuko had never argued back or accused her of something like that. Accusing her of shoving him into the dirt or of stealing his food, yes, but not something as deep as this. How did he even get it that Katara's hatred was so deep?
She looked away. "I... I guess I understand that, too. But... They are your ancestors. Their blood runs through your veins. How could you not be like them? You might not have done what they did, but who says you won't? That your father won't if he gets elected president?"
Zuko laughed dryly. "Are you serious? You really think that, don't you?"
Frowning she nodded. "Yes, I do. I've heard it all my life, the stories about the old evil Kasaishi kings. What they did to my people and so on." Nervously she fidgeted with her hair. "I've known since forever that there were still Kasaishis among us. Our elders told us, that if we would let our guard down and feel safe, you would continue your ancestors' work and completely destroy us."
Zuko blinked. He looked surprised and shocked at the same time. For a few seconds he remained still. Then he opened his mouth. "You southerners really believe this shit?" He didn't sound angry, only confused and shocked, which made his voice sounding raspy.
Katara was still fidgeting, because she feared that she made herself and her people look like dumb idiots. "Yes?"
Seeing Zuko's disgusted expression woke her anger again. "But when I left the south and lived in the east, I learned more about history there, and I couldn't believe that you would actually want to take back control over the country. Most people never tried genocide again. It was only when I met you that I thought the elders from the south could be right after all."
Zuko flinched. "What? Do I look as if I wanted to take over Elementia?" he snapped.
Katara looked him up and down. Well, he did look rich and posh, because of his combed-back hair, the cashmere scarf and the disturbingly English looking coat. But he didn't look evil. But still, no evil person ever looked that way.
"I really got better things to do in my life," Zuko went on. "And as far as I'm concerned I could have stayed out of politics for the rest of my life, too!" He paid attention not to say the last bit too loud.
"Then what do you want to do?" Katara bored, feeling sure that he was lying.
Zuko looked even more confused and Katara got annoyed by that look. He shrugged. "I guess I'll just take over my father's company. If he gets elected he won't have time for that anymore and when I'm finished with studying, then I'll get a job there anyway."
Katara frowned and looked miserable. Her own stupid situation came back to her mind. "Would it really be so easy for you to get a job? Even somewhere else? Just because of who your father is?"
"Not everywhere, no. If my interviewer would be from the south or the mountains, I guess I would be rejected," he said matter-of-factly, and Katara felt quite taken aback by this.
"But I don't think that every southerner or mountainer- is so prejudiced as you are," he said, leaning a bit forward, a smirk pulling at his lips. "I guess the one with prejudices is you."
Blinking Katara stepped back and shook her head. "No, it is because of you that I started to think like that. You got along with everyone in high school! You were only mean to Aang, Sokka and me! This totally confirmed my believes!"
Zuko blinked again, rubbing his neck. "Oh, yeah, you're right there. But if it helps... In the beginning I also couldn't stand Jet. Or Toph. I just... got used to them. And they didn't insult me the whole time. So if you think I didn't like you because you and Sokka are from the south and Aang from the mountains, you're wrong. You were just annoying."
Katara huffed and stemmed her hands on her hips. "I only annoyed you, because you were an arrogant idiot!"
Zuko twisted his mouth and shrugged. "Yeah, I was. But you weren't better. You used every opportunity you could to get on my bad side."
Katara frowned, noticing that he was right. She hadn't tried to get along with him, not even tried to get to know him. She had thought of talking to him when he had been new, but then he had made Aang cry and that had been it. One mistake and she had sworn to hate him forever. Of course, he had hurt her friend, and Katara was a loyal and protective person, but had it been wrong not to give Zuko a chance?
He sighed and shouldered his bag. "Whatever. I accept your apology for what happened before. I guess I get why you thought like that. Uh... I have to go now to the library...," he said slowly, pointing at the large building in front of them.
Katara didn't know what she was doing, only that she was doing it. She stopped him from walking away. Maybe she had felt sorry for him or she wanted to make things better between them. She didn't know. But somehow an apology didn't feel like enough.
"Wait, uh, you wanted to meet with Jet, didn't you?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Yeah... But that's not really necessary. I see him every day, it's not that big of a deal."
"Still. Erm... Let's go back to the shop. I'll pay your coffee."
He frowned. "You don't have to do that. I already said..."
She didn't want to listen to this and grabbed his hand, pulling him in the direction of the coffee shop. He yelped in a surprised manner, but followed her. She noticed that his hand was really warm. As soon as she noticed he was walking next to her, she looked at him and they both let go of each other's hands, as if they had the rabies.
Katara bit down on her lip and heard Zuko clearing his throat.
"Why do you see Jet so often?" Katara asked. "Are you maybe a couple?" she asked curiously. It had always been strange to her how Jet could like such a taciturn and grim looking person. But when Jet had just remembered her to mean it, when she apologised, she had felt remembered of how he had behaved when someone had hurt her in high school.
Zuko pulled the most disgusted and shocked grimace ever, which was actually pretty fun. His face normally didn't move a lot, only a scowl looked intense on his face, but every other emotions were very restricted. "What? No! No, never!" he shouted, waving his hands a bit.
Katara felt surprised that this uptight young man next to her gestured around like Sokka always did.
"Jet is just... my best friend and we're also not gay! I guess Jet wouldn't actually mind being with a man," he mused. "But I would mind! I don't have any prejudices against gays, if you think that now, but I would actually be disgusted at that prospect."
Katara grinned to herself, finding it funny how he got so worked up by that. Guys with too much testosterone...
She wrapped her arms around herself, wishing the cold wind would leave her alone.
"And we're roommates. That's why I see him every day," Zuko explained.
"Oh, really?" Katara asked, sounding surprised. "So you've been together since high school?"
He shot her a glare.
She rolled her eyes, chuckling. "Not like a couple, just... together. You both went to the military academy, after all."
Zuko nodded. "Yeah, we actually were roommates then, too."
"You know, I never understood why you two were friends," Katara confessed and rubbed her arms.
Zuko shrugged. "I think it's really easy. You never liked me."
She felt a pinch of guilt. "I didn't mean that. I just meant your personalities. I always thought you wouldn't stand someone as lively and talkative as Jet. And I always thought you would just be a posh, rich, and arrogant boy to Jet."
He made a face as if he was thinking about it. "This is true. Jet's personality really annoys me sometimes. And he's always teasing me, because of my clothes and what I'm eating and stuff..."
"Okay, now I understand nothing."
"Yeah, me neither."
Katara nearly laughed. Had he just tried to be funny?
She looked over and saw that he was taking off his coat. Her jaw nearly dropped. "Are you crazy being hot? It's freezing!"
He rolled his eyes. "I'm not hot. But I don't get cold fast. And the winter here is still a lot warmer than the one in the south, isn't it?"
She nodded, admitting it.
"The coat is for you," he said and draped it over her shoulders.
She stiffened when his fingers touched her neck. "What? No, I'm okay!"
"You're freezing," he just said and stared forward, keeping walking, as if this was a totally normal thing for him to do, lending his coat to other people.
Katara just stared, nodding. Yes, she was freezing. But that he... really lent her his coat?
"Uh, thanks. It's not necessary, since we're almost there..." she murmured, but pulled the coat tighter around her shoulders. It was still warm from his body.
Zuko shrugged. "Don't mention it."
She nodded and thought of something else to say or ask. Now that she thought that he really wasn't so bad or prejudiced she wanted to be nice, and asking about his life would be something nice to do.
"Do you often come to this coffee shop?" she asked, biting on the inside of her lip. Who did ask such a dumb question? Urgh!
"Yeah. I like the tea there," he said and Katara nodded. Ah.
"And what about you?" he asked and surprised her with the question. But right, he asked back to be polite.
"I've been here for the first time now. I normally go to another coffee shop, Coffee Cups," she explained. "It's just Sokka who wanted to come here, because of some girl." She chuckled.
"Oh," Zuko said. "And I thought it was Jet who..." he trailed off, suddenly a red colour spreading on his cheeks.
"You think Sokka wanted to see Jet?" Katara asked incredulously.
"No! No! I just meant that I thought it was Jet's doing that we met today."
Katara's frown deepened, and her confusion increased. "And why would Jet want us to meet?" She gazed suspiciously at him, but he opened the door to the shop and avoided to answer her question by shoving her into the shop and walking straight to the table where Sokka and Jet said.
Both stared at them, looking surprised. Katara quickly gave Zuko back his coat and sat down. Zuko sat next to her again and they looked both at Jet and Sokka, then at each other and decided to act as if nothing happened. It was slightly embarrassing to both of them, after all.
"What do you want to drink?" Katara asked Zuko, paying no attention to Sokka's slack jaw.
"Green tea," he said, the ghost of a smile visible on his lips.
"I'll get it!" she exclaimed and stood up, going to wait in line.
"Wh-wh-what?!" Sokka gasped. "What did you do to my sister?"
Zuko raised an eyebrow. "Nothing."
"But she's nice to you! She's getting your tea! And wait, is she paying it, too?!" Sokka gestured wildly, looking as if his whole world had turned upside down.
Zuko wondered how becoming older didn't change Sokka one bit.
Jet grinned, leaning back. "See? I told you Katara wasn't that bad."
Zuko looked at him and had to admit that he was right. She wasn't awful. And she tried to be nice. Maybe... Maybe it was worth a try.
/
The next chapter is almost done, I hope I'll get to update it soon. Please review if you liked this chapter! Reviews are keeping the fanfiction writers going and are to me like money, food and love for a normal author.:) So a big thank you to everyone who already reviewed! :D
