Disclaimer: Roger & Mark sing: "And when you're living in America, at the end of the millennium, you're what you own. So I own not a notion. I escape and ape, content. I don't own this story- I reeeeent!" Yeah, I'm a RENThead, what's it to ya? Don't own Avatar. Sadly. God I wish…-daydreams-

Ignition

Chapter 6: Kindling

The wind felt oddly cool against her skin, particularly around her arms. Katara opened her eyes gradually and allowed her eyes to adjust to the darkness surrounding her. She had no way of knowing whether it was early evening or just before dawn- the trees around her blocked the sun or the moon from view. The stars above her twinkled, their tiny light sifting down through the leaves above her. The small brook beside her played a comforting yet unfamiliar melody. She was on her side on a cold, flat rock. Behind her she felt Zuko, his body a warm and sinewy wall, more comforting to her than the rushing water by her head. His breathing was slow and deep, his breath a gentle tickle at the nape of her neck. He was sleeping. After a moment's hesitation, Katara turned to get a better look at his slumbering face.

Pain shot through her like lightning as she attempted to raise herself enough to roll over. She instantly slumped back onto the rock with a not-so-delicate thud, and cried out in pain, causing Zuko to awake with a start. She looked down at her arms, wrapped in shreds of what appeared to be the remnants of Zuko's tunic. She had no time to properly enjoy that thought, as the notions were pushed out of her mind completely by the thought of what lay beneath those makeshift bandages. "You attacked me…?" she mumbled, still a bit unsure as she unwrapped the bandages on her left arm. The livid red burns stood out clearly against her skin and wrapped around her arms like scarlet snakes. "You attacked me!" she repeated, indignant.

"Katara, I-" Zuko stammered, quite at a loss for words. In the first place, he was only half awake, and not at all coherent. Second of all, he had no words with which to explain himself or to convey his sense of guilt, even if he had been capable of forming complete sentences. "I don't…accident…tried to help…water…" he mumbled incoherently.

Katara raised her arms over the water. Nothing happened. She glared and tried again with the same effect. It hurt immensely to move and she assumed that had something to do with the fact that she could not bend. Angered, she hung her foot over the edge and kicked hard, splashing Zuko with the icy water. "Stop your sputtering. You have some explaining to do." she commanded, her icy blue eyes narrowed.

Zuko wiped the water from his face and shivered. Well now I'm awake… Suddenly, his temper flared as Katara yelled at him. "I have some explaining to do? I do? You can't be serious. Where the hell did you come from? You shouldn't have followed me. I didn't want you here in the first place!" he spat angrily. He was convinced this had to be his journey, one he had to complete alone. Anyone else would only burden, distract, and slow him, of that he was sure. Anyone, but especially Katara. He could not focus on anything else while she was near. Her presence was…intoxicating. And he could not stand to be distracted from something he considered to be so vital. His face fell when he saw Katara's face crumple slightly, hurt. His resolve crumbled almost before his very eyes and his shoulders slumped as he reached forward to take her unburned hand. Of course, she instantly snatched it out of his. He reached for it again. "I didn't mean that." he said quietly, unable to look down at the pained expression upon her face.

This time, Katara did not pull away. She too averted her eyes. "I shouldn't have yelled, I'm sorry." she muttered. After a few seconds, she added, "I shouldn't have crept up on you like that either. It was foolish of me."

Zuko's face curved up into the crooked smile Katara so adored and nodded. "Well…yeah." he said with the tiniest hint of a laugh.

Katara smirked as well before looking down at her arms. Her face grew darker as she frowned. "Well I suppose I'll have these as a reminder, won't I?" she mumbled.

"Can't you heal them?" Zuko asked, confused. He had been sure she could heal…she had offered to heal his scars once. "You had that special water…"

Katara grimaced. "Had being the key word." At his confused look, she explained. "After we escaped from you and Azula in Ba Sing Se, I had to use it on Aang. To heal the burns from the lightning. I can heal the internal damage, yes. But I think the scars will be rather permanent." she finished sadly, talking more to herself than to Zuko. She sighed as she turned her arms back and forth delicately, examining the damage.

Zuko looked away, feeling guilty. He could not even muster the words to apologize. Instead, he bowed his head. How many things can I possibly fuck up in one lifetime?

Katara continued her thorough examination. "You're good you know." she mumbled.

Zuko didn't even meet her eyes. "Yeah. Burning? I'm pretty damn good at that."

Katara shook her head, her hair falling about her shoulders as she did so. "No, I meant for a fire bender, you know a little about healing. For someone with limited experience and supplies, this isn't half bad." she remarked. She allowed her throbbing arms to fall back into her lap. "Stop feeling so bad Zuko. Please." she whispered, looking up at him and willing him to meet her eyes.

Zuko resisted the urge to look at her for scarcely a moment before crumbling. He stared down at her in silent hidden awe. She was so unlike him, it was amazing. She was so forgiving, so kind, so undeniably good, yet she had experienced a similar life. She had lost her mother, she had left her family, her friends, and her home...how could they be so different? Zuko glanced down into the water for a moment as it came to him. Katara had made sacrifices for others. Aang, Sokka, Toph, everyone. She had allowed herself to make friends, even though it cost her and taxed her to have them rely on her and look to her for guidance, to be the voice of reason. It was something Zuko had never done. All the young prince had done was to build up walls and to shut people out ever since his mother was banished and his father showed his true colors, his dark side. As he glanced once more into Katara's clear blue eyes, he decided that perhaps it was time to stop building walls and to start building bridges.

Katara reached out and placed a hand gently on his shoulder, fighting back a grimmace as her skin stung slightly. "You can't go through life blaming yourself for everything. Some things just happen Zuko, accidents. Sometimes they're beyond your control. You reacted to a potential threat instinctively. If you had responded in any other way, I would have been very disappointed." she muttered.

Zuko cocked his head to the side, confused. I -burned- you...what is going on? He merely stared at her, hoping for some clarification.

Katara blushed slightly, the pink tinge creeping across her cheeks suddenly. Zuko couldn't help but think it to be cute. She looked away and her hand dropped to her side; she was obviously embarassed. "It's...nothing, nevermind." she muttered, her eyes averted.

Zuko smirked. "No, no. That's cheating. You can't just leave me hanging like that, it's not fair." His tone became slightly more serious, concerned. "What is it Katara, is something wrong?"

Katara seemed to be looking everywhere but at Zuko. Her silence was prolonged and rather awkward as Zuko awaited her response. She sighed. "Just...don't let anything happen to you...please. I...I don't think I could take it." she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zuko frowned. He paused before leaning forward and brushing a strand of her dark brown hair behind her ear, tilting her face upwards so she would meet his eyes. "I can't promise you nothing will happen to me. That would be a lie, a promise I cannot keep." he said, his deep voice calm and quiet, his amber eyes staring straight back into Katara's.

Katara glanced downwards, obviously disappointed as she considered his words.

"Katara..." Zuko whispered. "I don't know what is going on, what you've done to me...but I can promise you that I will make every effort to come back to you each and every time. On one condition." he said.

Katara glanced up to meet his gaze. Anything...

"You have to promise the same thing." he whispered.

"Done." Katara began, but before she could form the end of the word, she was breathless. His kiss distracted her, everything else fell away. And for once, she let it all go. She allowed herself to forget everything but the electricity of his touch, the warmth of his body, and the crushing comfort of his lips upon hers.

What am I doing?

Author's Note: I just wanted my angst-fluff. Because what is a Zutara fic without angst-fluff? : )