Disclaimer: It's hard coming up with new and interesting disclaimers. So, I give up. I do NOT own Avatar: the Last Airbender. But I wish I did.
Chapter 9- Discord and Dreams
Relationship! What is uncle thinking! Prince Zuko had immediately hid his face as a deep crimson blush rushed to the surface. "I'm done with my meal, Uncle. I will be turning in as well." Zuko left his uncle in his giggle fit and proceeded to follow the waterbender down the hall.
"Katara! Wait!" he called. She stopped, turned around, a look of annoyance still present upon her face. But, there seemed to be something else there, too…
"What do you want?" she snapped.
"I… I'm off to bed. Might I escort you?" He bowed low and gestured for her to lead.
"Um… sure…"
He smirked at the uncertainty in her voice as she turned down the hall. "Did you enjoy your dinner?"
"Yes, thank you." She was quiet for a short moment before asking, "Why are you doing this?"
"Walking you to your room? No reason, really. I figured since we were going the same way-"
"Not that, exactly. I mean going after Aang. Why are you chasing him?"
Zuko stopped and grabbed her arm, pulling her to face him. "It's no business of yours. But I'll tell you this; we will not be saving the Avatar. We are going to steal him away from my sister. Understood?" he hissed.
He never saw it coming. With all his speed, he still never saw her hand fly from her side. She wretched her arm from his grasp and stormed down the hall. She hit me. Zuko rubbed his cheek. That smarts. What was that for? Stupid water peasant.
Why aren't you following? Don't you want give her what she deserves for hitting a prince? The voice of his conscience had returned to berate the prince on his actions again.
I- I don't really know. I just… don't want to… he thought as he watched her turn and enter her room.
I know why. You like-I don't like her!
Why do you keep lying to yourself?
It's true. I do not care for her.
Suit yourself.
Confused by his own conscience, Zuko shook his head, and passed the girl's room to enter his own. But in passing, Zuko heard the muffled sobs of the young girl, and, for now, he kept walking.
Zuko looked over the water at the sunset; shades of red, orange, and gold played upon the water. In his arms, the waterbender stood, and looking up at him, she sighed. It was a happy contented sigh. Nothing at all like what he had been hearing from her for the last few weeks. Those sighs were all full of despair and longing for freedom, and, of course, annoyance. But this, this was different. And he liked it.
"Katara, you have the most beautiful eyes." Her beautiful eyes lit up. I like that too. She smiled, something new to the prince. Zuko leaned forward, pulled her close. I'll like this even more…
Inches separated them.
Her eyes closed.
An inch.
His closed.
Half an inch.
Zuko gasped as he awoke with a start. In his bed. Not with her. Alone. What was that? What kind of dream was that? Why did I dream that? Why!
The prince crossed his legs beneath the sheet and, resting his elbows on his knees, he held his head in his hands. The ship was almost perfectly quiet. Every now and again there was the bump of pipes, all quite normal of a fire navy ship. But there was something else.
Curiosity drove the prince out of his bed and to the door. He opened it slowly and stuck his head out, searching for the source of the noise. It was louder here, but it sounded muffled. Zuko turned to he right and took a few steps and stopped. Quieter. The prince turned and passed his door. Definitely louder. Past the girl's door and her sleeping guard slouched in his chair. Quieter again! Her room, maybe…? He pressed his ear against her door. The noise was coming from her room.
"Katara?" he whispered. Zuko tapped the door lightly. "Is everything alright?" No answer. He turned the handle and slowly pushed the door open, dreading what he might see.
Moonlight splayed across her bed through the open window. She was tossing and turning, talking in her sleep. Zuko saw that she gripped the sheets in a fist, and her knuckles were white, even in the pale light.
"Mother… no… don't hurt her… MOTHER!"
Zuko rushed to her side. "Katara! Wake up. You're dreaming. Wake up."
She sat up as quickly as he had only moments ago, gasping for breath. And then she began to cry. Zuko was starting to get really tired of this endless crying. "Stop crying," he said gruffly. "It was just a dream."
"Just because you're an emotionless pig, doesn't mean that the rest of us have to be, too," she hissed through her tears.
He turned, debating whether or not to slap her out of hysterics, but then he caught sight of her pitiful face. "What was it about?" he asked quietly.
"What do you care? I'm sure it's just another thing to harass me about." Even in her teary state, she still had bite. "Just leave me alone. I want to go back to sleep. Or is sleep deprivation a new torture technique?" she snapped, but then tried to compose herself. "I just really, really don't want to talk about it. Leave me alone," she sighed, dropping her head into her hands.
Zuko stood and left without saying a word, only a grim look crossed his face as he turned his back on her and stepped through the door. After he left, the girl hugged her knees and began to sob quietly.
His generosity scared her. Nothing could ever come of their friendship, if ever you could call it that. And she was certain he detested everything about her; her heritage, her family's social standings, the company she kept. She never was old enough to have a good talk about boys with her mother, and the boys in the village were either too young for her or off at war. And now, what she really needed most, that which she could not have, was a mother.
"Mother," she whispered to herself, "why did you have to leave me… why?"
"So. Another commonality we share," the prince spoke quietly to himself. And with that, he turned, entered his room, and lay sleepless in bed, much like a certain waterbender next door.
Sorry for the late update. I think my chapters might come a little slower, but I'll try real hard and get 'em up real quick! Those of you that read my other lil "crackfic" I thank you. Since I couldn't update this, I figured you guys deserved something. For those of you who didn't, it's right there on my profile.
I was actually planning on making this longer (by 3 pages to be exact) but I wanted to update and I had no idea what was going to happen in the next chapter. But that's ok, right? You guys can wait!
I have just recently noticed that I am focusing on Zuko through most of the story.
And by the way… WHAT'S THIS I HEAR ABOUT MAKO!
Hope you liked this chapter, please review, and stay tuned for the next installment of Catch Me When I Fall!