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.
It didn't take long to use up the water that Cai had brought. Despite this, Zuko's stab wound would not fully heal, something that troubled both Katara and Cai immensely. Cai suggested that the knife had been dipped in poison, but Zuko (being conscious and lucid at this point) immediately dismissed this idea, stating that the men who attacked him were too stupid to think of that. Forced to agree, Cai began speculating once more. Katara didn't listen to Cai's theories, just concentrated on getting Zuko better, even though she was exhausted. As the last of the water supply ran out, Katara wearily handed the jug to Cai, murmuring her thanks.
"I'll get some more." Cai said, taking the jug and standing up. "You should get some rest, Katara."
Katara didn't reply, but gave a non-committal tilt of her head. How could she sleep? Whilst it was true that Zuko was more comfortable (Cai had insisted they move Zuko to his mattress, something which Katara had done much to her and Zuko's reluctance), what if something happened? He was almost fully healed, but what if he took a turn for a worse? What if he died?
As she was thinking this, Cai just looked at her and walked out, shaking his head and muttering. Ignoring him, Katara stifled a yawn and sat back against the wall, enjoying the temporary rest. Healing took a lot of effort, especially with an injury such as this, and Katara hadn't rested once yet. She shut her eyes…but just for a moment. Or so she told herself.
"You really should get some rest." Zuko told her, breaking the short silence. Katara opened her eyes, hating the heavy feeling and the strain on her eyelids.
"I can't." She replied, standing up. Her legs felt as though they would collapse any minute, so she sat back down on the edge of Zuko's mattress.
"What if I died because you were too tired to heal me?" Zuko asked, playing on something that he knew that Waterbender would respond to. However, Katara just shook her head.
"And what if you died because I was asleep, so I couldn't heal you?" She asked back, quite proud of herself for thinking up this argument whilst she was so tired. Zuko rolled his eyes, wondering why the girl had to be so stubborn.
"Just go to sleep." He said through gritted teeth. "If you're that worried about me, then sleep on my mattress."
"What?" Katara asked, eyebrows slowly rising.
What!? Zuko asked himself. Where did that come from? Quick, think of something else to say!
"If I feel like I'm going to die then I can…kick you or something. It would wake you up and you could heal me." Zuko said, hoping he sounded nonchalant. When Katara didn't reply, Zuko added lightly, "Just a suggestion."
After a moment, Katara sighed and shrugged her shoulders, relenting. "Fine." She was too tired to argue properly, and Zuko's plan did make sense, even if it didn't appeal to her. She just thanked the Gods that Cai had brought Zuko another shirt to replace the bloodied one.
She lay down at the edge of the mattress, as far away from Zuko as she could get without falling off. Zuko noticed this and rolled his eyes.
"Try anything and I'll kill you myself." Katara told him, closing her eyes.
Zuko laughed scornfully. "You have nothing to worry about, trust me."
"The last time I trusted you, someone I care about ended up dead." Katara whispered, but just loud enough so Zuko could hear. She turned away from Zuko and allowed sleep to wash over her, embracing the idea of not having to worry about anything for a few hours.
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In all honesty, Zuko had expected a jibe from the girl when he had mentioned trust. He hadn't said it intentionally, it just sort of…slipped out. What he hadn't expected, however, was the hurt in her quiet voice when she replied. Normally whenever he brought up the subject of what had happened (intentionally or not) a shouting match would ensue. But it was as though now the girl was too tired to pretend anymore that what had happened hadn't upset her.
Speaking of tired…Zuko thought, his eyes drifting shut once more. He hated being like this, helpless and having to rely on others, but he had no choice. Every few hours sleep would overpower him and he had no choice but to submit, however grudgingly. His injury stung from time to time, but since Katara had attempted to heal it every hour or so it didn't hurt anywhere near as much as it did. Just before Zuko allowed sleep to overcome him, he wondered briefly why the Waterbender was helping him.
Maybe she doesn't hate me as much as she pretends to…
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Staggering along the corridors, Cai was careful not to arouse too much suspicion amongst his fellow agents. Well, as little suspicion as was possible when he was carrying around a large jug filled with water that was by no means light. When Cai had first heard about the Fire Prince's fight, his initial reaction was: so what? But as the fight had been described in more detail, Cai felt the urge to help in any way he could. It was true that Prince Zuko was related to the bitch that had killed Cai's father, but Cai supposed that people couldn't help who they were related to.
After all, look at the boy's uncle, Cai thought, staggering down the corridor with the jug, I've never met a nicer man…even if he is Fire Nation. Meeting with General Iroh was another thing that influenced Cai's decision to help the Fire Prince. Although Iroh was understandably angry and upset at his nephew, Cai could tell by the way he talked that he still cared about the boy a great deal.
It had taken Cai awhile to figure out how he could help Zuko. Then he remembered that the girl - Katara - was a Waterbender, and would help her cell mate.
That is, if she hasn't killed him already, Cai mused, arriving outside their cell. Carefully setting the jug down, Cai retrieved the key from his pocket and unlocked the door. Placing the key back and picking up the jug, Cai nudged the door open with his foot and walked inside.
The girl was on Zuko's mattress, facing him in her sleep, her head nestled on his chest. The Fire Prince himself was sleeping also, his head slightly turned to the Waterbender. Placing the jug down just outside the door, Cai couldn't help but smirk.
Wait until Iroh hears about this…he thought, closing the door gently so as not to wake the sleeping couple.
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Katara woke feeling well-rested and better than she had in a while. She didn't open her eyes, enjoying the warmth around her. In her sleepy state she didn't bother to wonder why she felt warm in a normally cold dungeon cell, she just enjoyed the feeling. For once there had been no bad dreams, or no worrying plaguing her sleep, and even troubled thoughts of her brother and Aang did not surface. In fact, it took Katara perhaps half a minute to register that something was different. Her head was at an odd angle, and on some sort of fabric. Her knees were brought halfway up to her chest in a position that was very comfortable. In fact, she might never have moved had a somewhat amused voice not interrupted her calmness.
"What are you doing?"
Katara's eyes shot open immediately. They widened as she realized her current position: using Zuko's chest as a pillow as he smirked down at her. She must've rolled over in her sleep…only instead of falling off the mattress she just had to have rolled the other way, closer to Zuko.
"Comfortable?" He asked, noticing her eyes widening. Katara quickly rolled over and stood up, the weariness she felt at waking up now gone. She opened her mouth, about to shout and scream at Zuko, but he held up a hand.
"Before you blame all this on me, I'd like to point out that it was you lying on me." He said smugly, pushing himself up and ignoring the faint pain in his stomach. Katara was about to argue against this, but then realized he was right. Not that she would admit it out loud. Ever. So she shut her mouth, instead settling for shooting killer glares at Zuko.
"How're you feeling?" Katara asked after the urge to hit Zuko had subsided. She sat back down on her own mattress, but it felt distinctly colder than her previous resting place, something which she noticed with annoyance.
"Like I've been stabbed." Zuko replied dryly. Katara rolled her eyes and stood back up, throwing up her arms.
"I don't know why I bother trying to be concerned, you just-" She trailed off however when she noticed the filled water jug sat by the door. Her eyes shut momentarily in embarrassment. Cai must've seen her and Zuko and probably jumped to the completely wrong conclusion…Oh Gods.
"I just…?" Zuko prompted, but Katara ignored him. She didn't know what she had been about to say now anyway, but it had no doubt been something insulting.
"It doesn't matter." She told him. "Do you need healing or not?"
As soon as she said it, Katara realized it was a stupid question. Zuko wouldn't accept her help willingly even if he was hanging onto life by a thread. He was just too proud. So instead of waiting for an answer, Katara walked in front of the large jug and concentrated on the liquid inside it. She steadied her hands over it and rose them so the water followed, shimmering as it went. Slowly walking over to Zuko's mattress, Katara formed the water into a ball so it was easier to transport. Her eyes focused on the water, she addressed Zuko.
"Take off your shirt." She ordered, transfixed by the liquid. Zuko didn't argue (something which surprised Katara) but muttered to himself:
"Fine. Try anything and I'll kill you myself."
He was mocking her. She was trying to help and he was mocking her. Rolling her eyes and making a sound of disgust, Katara accidentally bended the water…all over Zuko's head. She couldn't keep the triumphant smile from her lips as Zuko registered what she had just done and glared at her, his hair dripping.
"Whoops." Katara said icily, the smile turning into a smirk. However, seeing Zuko sitting there sodden made her feel guilty, especially as he was in no position to fight back without risking his injury worsening. Sighing, Katara motioned for the water to act in reverse, retreating from Zuko and staying in the air waiting for Katara's next command.
"Are you going to attempt to heal me or are you just going to stand there?" Zuko asked after a minute. Surprised, Katara nodded and moved forward. Honestly, she had been expecting Zuko to shout at her, perhaps insult her a couple more times. She sat at the edge of the mattress and looked at his wound.
"It looks better. I'm not sure why it hasn't fully healed up yet, but it will soon." She told him, water encasing her hand as Zuko lay back down on the mattress. Placing her hand gently over his stomach, Katara watched as the water shone brightly and the wound closed up a little more. Zuko winced, although tried not to let his pain show.
"If your brother came in now…" He said, gritting his teeth against the sharp stinging. Katara smiled slightly.
"Then I'd be free and you'd be dead." She said, taking away her hand and inspecting the wound some more.
"He'd kill me for being healed?" Zuko asked, sitting back up once the pain had subsided.
"He'd kill you for everything you've put us through for the past few months." Katara said lightly, although there was a harsher undertone to her words. She stood up and made her way back to her own mattress.
Zuko looked away for a moment, ashamed to admit to himself that Katara was probably right. Then, remembering what his conscience (or whatever the voice was supposed to be) had told him before he had gotten stabbed, Zuko looked back up.
"I'm sorry." He said suddenly. "For siding with Azula."
Katara stopped dead in her tracks and slowly turned to face Zuko, her forehead creased in confusion.
"It was stupid and…I'm sorry." Zuko continued, ignoring his pride. Katara was speechless for a moment. She had never expected Zuko to tell her that he regretted something, much less something on this scale. She soon found her tongue however, and it was a sceptic one.
"If it was stupid then why did you do it?" She asked.
"I said it was stupid, I didn't say it was wrong." He replied before he could stop himself, then immediately regretted it when he saw Katara's face. For the third and final time:
"I'm sorry." He murmured. "For hurting you."
For a long time Katara didn't respond. She sat back on her own mattress and frowned at the floor for awhile. Just as Zuko had given up hope, she spoke softly.
"Do you mean it? Are you sorry?"
Getting tired of repeating himself, Zuko just nodded and replied 'yes'. Katara gave him a small smile and turned away as he fastened his shirt back up.
Does he mean it? She wondered. Probably not. But, the more she thought about the Zuko she had grown to know and…not feel hatred for, the more Katara knew that it was possible he was sincere.
"Thank you." She said to him, smiling at him again. "If you mean it, then that means a lot." She stood up and walked, stopping just in front of Zuko's mattress, sitting on the floor facing him.
"That agent will be back soon. You should ask if he can get us something to eat that doesn't taste like it spend three months in a sewer." Zuko told Katara, unsure of why she was sitting in front of him instead of on her own mattress.
"Why should I be the one to do it?" Katara asked indignantly. If Zuko replied because you're a girl then she would hit him, stab wound or no.
"Because you know his name?" Zuko suggested. Katara shrugged as if to say 'good point'.
"You're not planning on sitting there all day are you?" Zuko asked, moving aside slightly to allow Katara some space on his mattress. She stood up gratefully and sat down next to him, pleased that he would show at least a little consideration towards her. A sly smile spread across her face.
"You know, I'm not the only one you need to apologize to. There's Aang, your uncle, Sokka-"
"Don't push it." Zuko told her, smiling despite himself.
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A/N:
Well, here's the latest chapter, hope you enjoyed! Thanks for the reviews, please leave one on your way out! And thanks to Shirozora for the advice :D