DISCLAIMER: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor am I in any way affiliated with Michael Dante DiMartino or Bryan Konietzko. This story is purely fan-made.
The following morning, Zuko woke up at his normal time (sunrise) and began to meditate. The soft light from the flames illuminated the cell slightly, and Zuko noticed that Katara had fallen asleep grasping her neck - obviously reaching for her mother's necklace protectively.
Like I'd steal it again, Zuko scoffed, considering the hell she gave me last time.
Focusing back on the flames, Zuko closed his eyes and allowed his breathing to stabilise. Slowly all his surroundings began to slip away from him and he became aware of nothing but his own breathing.
That was, until, the Water Tribe girl managed to roll into the stone wall and cried out.
Opening his eyes abruptly, Zuko snapped his head over to the girl's mattress to see her rolling back over to face him, a frown on her face.
"Stupid wall." He heard her mutter. She appeared to be still asleep, or in the process of getting back to sleep.
Surely not even she can manage to collide with a wall in her sleep? Zuko thought, with a half-disparaging, half-amused final glance to the Waterbender. Her hair had become tousled in her sleep, and if she were anything like the girls he had encountered in Ba Sing Se, she would be rapidly trying to fix it when she woke up.
For his own sanity, he severely hoped Katara hadn't suddenly become like any girls from Ba Sing Se.
Allowing his focus to drift back to the flames, Zuko steadied his breathing once more. If he was lucky, the Waterbender would stay stationary in her bed long enough so that Zuko could continue to meditate.
Sure enough, it was at least another two hours before the girl stirred again. Zuko heard her movements and opened his eyes, watching her clumsy, still weary movements. She sat up on her mattress, rubbing her head slowly.
"Something wrong?" Zuko smirked. He didn't know if the girl could remember smacking her head on the wall, but she seemed to be feeling the effects.
"My head's just a little sore…" The Waterbender frowned. She looked up to see Zuko smirking at her and her frown deepened.
"What's so funny?" She snarled. Zuko knew it was probably not best to infuriate her more when she was like this - unless of course he wanted his head bitten off again.
"Nothing." He replied, turning back to the lantern. However, the smirk was still on his face. Talk about the bear with a sore head…Zuko thought, wondering when the Water Tribe girl's mood would increase. While it was true, Zuko wasn't much of a conversationalist, it was disconcerting to be in the same room as a girl who wouldn't talk.
Katara stood up after about ten minutes of rubbing her head. To be honest, after the first two minutes it had stopped hurting, but she just wanted to sit down without appearing lazy. She really wasn't a morning person. In fact, it could take her up to an hour to wake up. Katara didn't know if this had to do with her being a Waterbender, or just more of a night person, but it was quite annoying.
On the bright side, at least I'm not as bad as Sokka…Katara thought, smiling sadly at the thought of her brother. I wonder how he and Aang are getting on?
It took Katara perhaps three seconds to realize that there had been no point in standing up, as there was nowhere to go. With a defeated sigh, she slumped back onto her mattress. She was hungry and needed the bathroom desperately, and hoped that one of the Dai Li would come soon. There was a silence in the cell that Katara didn't like. She was used to noise. Be it Sokka complaining about the lack of food, or the lack of sleep or…well, just complaining about things in general. But there was nothing she wished to say to Zuko.
Well, that wasn't strictly true.
She wanted to ask him why he had done it. Why he had sided with his sister and aided in killing the Avatar. Why he had gone against his uncle in favour of honour. But if Katara asked this then she knew that she wouldn't get an answer, so she saw no point in trying.
I suppose I can live with silence…Katara thought, although she didn't really have much of a choice.
Zuko seemed to be equally bored, if how he was sat was any indication. He had resumed his normal position of leaning against the wall, legs stretched out in front of him, expressionless.
There was a sudden rap on the door, and Katara stood up, grateful for the break from silence. A Dai Li agent entered, carrying two bowls filled with the same "soup" that had been served yesterday. A quick look at Zuko told Katara that he felt the same way she did about their food.
The agent set their bowls down, then informed them that he would be escorting them to and from the bathroom. Katara, relieved at this statement, walked towards the agent, who nodded curtly and led her out of the door. Katara had no idea where she was going, but it was nice to be able to stretch her legs more than she had been able to the past day or so. There was obviously no natural light down here, so there was no means by which to tell what time it was.
Well, there's Zuko who apparently "rises with the sun"…I suppose he's a good way to tell when it's morning, Katara thought, as she followed the agent through the corridors. Every so often, the agent fleetingly glanced back to check that she was still there then nodded in approval, his gaze lingering a little longer each time. After two long minutes of walking, they reached a stone corridor, with nothing but a metal door there.
"Through there." The agent muttered, opening the door and roughly shoving Katara through.
Katara was in and out as quickly as possible; there was an irrational paranoia that she was being watched everywhere she went, and here was no exception. After shutting the door so hard that it echoed dimly around the corridor, Katara followed the agent once more, wondering as she did if all the doors were metallic. She felt more refreshed now, more awake. She desperately wanted fresh water to wash her face, but obviously none was available. Katara knew that if she asked for any, she would be laughed at for a lengthy period of time. So instead she kept quiet and followed the agent back along the maze-like corridors, only realizing that they had reached her cell when the agent opened a door and shoved her inside.
"Do you need to shove?" Katara asked hotly, jerking away from the agent and sitting back down on her mattress. For some reason, she saw Zuko shake his head as thought exasperated as he stood up and followed the agent.
Seeing this as an ideal time to bend the soup, Katara crept over to her bowl and sneakily bended the liquid inside of her pouch. Furtively, she glanced around and then sat back down.
Was there really a need for such dramatics? Katara asked herself, you knew you were alone and that no one saw you. Katara sat for a few minutes, wondering when she would next be able to see Toph, until Zuko came back. He noticed Katara's empty bowl and raised his eyebrows at her.
"I was hungry." She shrugged, hoping to seem nonchalant. Zuko didn't believe her, it was written all over his face, but didn't comment further. In fact, he sat back down and closed his eyes. Katara began fiddling with an out of place strand of hair absent-mindedly, when she noticed the agent was still in the room. He was looking at her strangely, and Katara suddenly had the feeling that he had been for the past minute or so.
"Is there a problem?" Katara asked icily. She tucked the strand of hair behind her ear and stood up to face the agent. He shook his head and smirked.
"Not from where I'm standing." He said, glancing up and down at Katara appreciatively.
Katara raised her eyebrows in disbelieving disgust. There is no way this man just said what I think he said…she thought, narrowing her eyes at him. Out of the corner of one of her narrowed eyes, she could see Zuko's eyes open swiftly and dart to the agent in front of him.
"I can get you access to your friend and the old man." The agent said, looking steadily at Katara. "For a price." He added.
"We don't have any money." Katara told him hesitantly. Surely he would know that? Unbeknownst to Katara, Zuko's eyes were flashing dangerously and his fists were beginning to clench.
"Trust me, money isn't what I had in mind." The agent said suggestively.
Before Katara knew what was happening, Zuko was standing and had rammed his fist into the agent's face. The agent crumpled onto the floor in pain, blood spurting from his nose. Zuko was breathing heavily, steam emitting from his nostrils and his fists still clenched.
Katara's eyes had widened at this scene, and seemed permanently stuck that way. She stepped away from Zuko, who looked angrier than she had ever seen him.
"I suggest you learn some respect." Zuko told the agent coldly. He glared down at him until the agent, whimpering slightly, stood up with difficulty.
"You won't get away with this." The agent sneered. As he was clutching his nose, his words sounded odd and muffled, but still distinguishable.
"Next time I'll use fire." Zuko promised, in the same hard voice. The agent flung the door open and, leaving whatever dignity he had in the cell, slammed the door shut again.
Katara stood staring at Zuko for a few seconds, not understanding why he had just done what he had. And for her. Zuko had not moved, and his breathing was still harsh. When it had stabilised, he turned around to face Katara who, despite herself, took another step back.
"I'm not going to hurt you." Zuko said, arrogance in his voice. Feeling slightly stupid, Katara nodded but did not move.
"Thank you." She said, looking up at Zuko.
"I may have been brought up in the Fire Nation, but I know about respect and honour." Zuko told her. "And that man was neither respectful nor honourable."
Katara nodded again, finding nothing to say. To be honest, she was a little embarrassed, but made her way to her mattress and sat back down on it again. As Zuko did the same action, Katara couldn't help but wonder if maybe he was changing after all. Maybe he truly regretted siding with Azula. Maybe he wasn't so bad.
Or maybe she was in denial.
A/N:
And this concludes our two-chapter-for-one special, lol. I promise this story is about to pick up, thanks for sticking with it.
I hope you enjoyed whichever chapter you were reading, and thanks to my reviewers so far, you all rock :D
Oh, hey, extra incentive to review: tomorrow is my birthday, so please let me wake up to reviews lol.