"So, I was thinking, maybe it's time I return home." My eyes grow large as I stare at her, surprised by this. "It just…it seems like I'm causing you problems by being here." Her eyes downcast and her voice small, I look at her as though she were speaking a different language.
"Do you…do you want to go home?" She glances up at me then back to her fidgeting hands.
"I guess so, I mean, I haven't been home in a year; it'd be nice to see everyone and everything." Why is she saying these things? Her body language doesn't really seem to share the sentiments she's saying. Doesn't she know I need her here? What will I do if she leaves?
"I guess if you want to leave; it's not like you're a prisoner here." I say coldly, not being able to help the wall that's already going up to protect myself. It's what I've been taught to do since I was born.
"I know that." She whispers, standing there fidgeting, looking like a little child. Was she waiting to be told what to do?
"Do you want to leave?" I finally ask, looking at her with squinted eyes; is this some kind of test?
"I don't know. I just don't want to cause you any more problems." I take in a deep breath as I roll my eyes.
"Dammit, Katara, how many times do I need to tell you; I don't care what they think." She finally looks me in the eye, her fingers ceasing their nervous wringing. "Don't leave because of some jerks, leave only if you want to." Her eyes are sparkling in the fire light, possibly getting ready to cry, and I finally notice; her nose is red, her eyes slightly puffy. "Have you been crying?" She turns away from me, trying to shield her face. "What is it, what's happened?" I ask as I finally stand from my desk and go to her, pulling her to my chest as she begins to cry again.
"They just hate me, so much…last week it was the poisoned food, this week the dead birds at my door, then this morning…" Her voice trailed off as she sniffled, my hands rubbing her back as I begun to seethe. "They threw rotten vegetables at me, Zuko! In the city streets, some merchants threw them at me, and it was like they had saved them just for when I'd walk by!" Her sobs begun as I clenched my teeth together in anger. "What have I done to deserve that?" I close my eyes as I hold her head to my shoulder, shielding her though I had failed to protect.
"Nothing, you've done nothing." I say, wondering why I had not been notified sooner. I the cook tried then hung after he had poisoned her as an example to all others, I demanded more security around her room after the birds appeared and I will surely make a public spectacle of these merchants tomorrow. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It only seems to make things worse. They hate me more with each time you defend me!" She stepped away and wiped at her tear stained face. "I'm tired of you having to come to my defense."
"So do it yourself." I say coldly, not towards her, but at the idea of what would have happened if she had simply frozen those merchants to their stalls.
"What?" She asks, looking at me curiously.
"Assert yourself, Katara. You are not a weak person by any means…stop allowing them to push you around for my sake! You are doing me no favors when I have to worry about you!" I point to her waist. "You don't even carry your water skin anymore!" I place my hands on her shoulders as I stare into her eyes. "I appreciate you trying to fit in, I really do. I love that you are trying to, but they forget you are a Master Bender, they are thinking you are weak, show them you're not!" I smile sadly at her as she nods. "Stay, stay here with me, you don't have to go anywhere." She finally smiles as we embrace again.
"Thank you." She says quietly as I squeeze her tighter.