Author's note: A big thank you to doctor anthony, HPGal3, Handerra, ArrayePL, MidnightThief15, pureangel86, zutarafan11, and hellokitty95, the lovely people who dropped me reviews/suggestions and appreciated my story!

Friend (by Kaitlyn)

I like to,
be around you,
when you're not trying to be somebody.

Zuko found it hard to believe that the once fiery Waterbender (excusable oxymoron) was so fragile and quiet, sitting on the stone cold floor and staring into space. He would understand if she was nervous or feeling any fear towards the upcoming interrogation that Azula had it in for her, but Katara didn't even twiddle her thumbs, let alone utter a word. She just sat there, her shins tucked underneath her thighs in a kneeling-fashion, her lips pursed, her eyes hollow; silent. In those two very miserable days of poor treatment in the prison cell, her weight whittled away. And the guards weren't the only ones who noticed this.

Zuko shot a furtive glance at Katara, keeping his head in low profile, his body facing the other end of the rectangular prison cell. She was still beside her dingy mattress, the same motionless stare cutting right across the cell.

"Peasant," he growled, his voice hoarse. He hadn't been treated any better than Katara – his meals were only twice a day, a watery mixture with a few pieces of lard thrown in for good measure to avoid being charged for mistreating prisoners.

Silence.

"Don't ignore me when I'm talking to you!" he hissed loudly, flinging his head around to glare at her. Katara lifted her head slowly, as if in excruciating pain, and then glanced away to the depths of her side in the cell, where it was dark and wet. A lone tear dripped past her cheek and hit the floor.

Zuko let out a haughty breath. "Go ahead and pretend to be depressed, I don't really care. But I still want my thanks for saving you back there in the catacombs." A shrill laughter filled the place, biting through the cold air. Katara flicked her eyes to him, her face contorted in rage.

"It's all your fault!" she screamed, jabbing her index finger in his direction. Although his face was half hidden in the shadows, it was clear that he too, thought Katara must have broken down, her mind teetering near insanity. "Aang wouldn't have left me! It's all your fault!" she repeated the last sentence again, this time with more anger and contempt, and she let out a bitter laugh.

The last laugh sounded more sad than bitter, and it slowly faded away as her shoulders slumped and her body automatically curled, somewhat defending herself. Zuko flinched back as her laugh continued echoing, disgusted at her audacity to blame everything on him. He turned away, his back facing her.

"You know it isn't." Katara narrowed her eyes at his reply, and felt the desire the hurl more accusations at him, when the door was flung open.

"Well, am I not interrupting a slanging match, here?" a cold voice announced, the question sounding more like a statement. A tall, slightly elderly man entered in swiftly, standing just in front of the prison cell's tightly locked gate.

"The banished prince. Today's my lucky day," he snarled, his eyes taking in the straight and alert posture sitting in the far corner on the left side. A satisfied smile formed over his lips. He glanced over to Katara, who was stiffly kneeling on the right side. "The Avatar's friend. It's all such a little perfect deal I could cry." He laughed in contempt before nodding at some guards outside.

"Take the peasant girl to the interrogation room, and Prince Zuko to the New Chamber." He turned back and smiled. "This is the best day ever."

The olive-skinned guard interrupted the man who was seemingly in-charge of the Boiling Rock prison. "Sir, but which chamber do you mean by the New Chamber? Do you mean the Old Chamber?"

The Old Chamber was the infamous name that everyone referred to in the Boiling Rock. It was a tight room that had a narrow top. It had no ceiling, but just an open square of sunlight, and everyone who sat there would suffer, seeing that freedom was just a foot away, but yet unable to do anything for if they were to move, they would get whipped by a nearby guard on duty.

"Yes I mean the Old Chamber!" the elder snapped, losing his patience. "It was newly refurbished! But it still retains its name!" Zuko, even though fully aware of the pain he was in for, couldn't help but let a smirk adorn his face. Katara, however, shot daggers at the one in-charge, her eyes solid as steel.

The guard bowed quickly and began to go on his way, when he paused to contemplate something. "What would I tell them if I were to pass this orders?" The elder scowled.

"Do you want me to fire you? Because I'm clearly thinking about this at this exact moment!" He shouted, his voice echoing in the cell. The guard flinched, but he stayed, still wanting to get his answer. "Incompetent fool! Tell them a rephrase of our earlier conversation." He exited, his long crimson warrior robe swishing on the floor. The guard chased after him and bolted the door behind, asking another question.

"Sir, so shall I call it the newly refurbished Old Chamber, or the old torture New Chamber?" His question was heard outside the corridor and beyond the door, his voice clear although panicked.

Zuko could have sworn he heard a scream of frustration tearing the air, even from within his prison cell.

Another day passed, this time uneventfully. Katara was still in denial, silent and not speaking a word unless spoken to. Zuko stayed quiet, not moving unless to eat. It was almost night until the game of charades stopped.

"I know you won't answer me anyway," Zuko began, shifting his tone to be friendlier and warmer. "But I hear you cry when you sleep every night. What's wrong?" Katara was slightly taken aback by his attempt to be nice. It sounded surreal and just…wrong. She narrowed her eyes in disbelief.

"I can keep my problems to myself, thank you," she snapped, turning away and clutching her mother's necklace.

"It's the necklace, isn't it," he stated simply. Then suddenly understanding dawned on his face. "No wonder you were so touchy when I got hold of it!" Katara threw an impolite curse at him.

"You stole it, you moron!" she shouted, writhing on her mattress so he couldn't see she was still holding her necklace protectively.

He lost his patience. "I did not steal it!"

"You did!" she screamed back, in equal indignation.

"No I didn't! Don't be stupid!"

"You did!"

"I found it in a Fire Nation base! Where they kept the Earthbenders! You dropped your own precious little necklace!"

"You di – what?" she paused halfway and turned her body around to face him, genuinely interested. "Why didn't you just say so? Instead of denying it all this time."

"I just – uh. I don't know!" he curled further into the wall. He stole a look at her, and she was tearing up again, her eyes shimmering in the dim light provided by a single torch in the corner.

"Oh great, you're crying again. Sozin help me, I just can't understand girls!" he sighed, sounding less angry than he initially intended to.

"Zuko," Katara said, getting his attention. "Why did you suddenly save me in Ba Sing Se? I don't understand. Pride and honour was all you lived on." Zuko rolled his eyes.

"You're welcome," he added sarcastically.

"Why?" Her voice was persistent.

"I – don't know. Instincts and feelings, I guess."

Katara kept silent for awhile, turning back to the wall again.

"Thank you," she whispered into the still prison air. Even though it was soft, Zuko let a small smile creep onto his lips.

"Tell me, peasant, how was your little trip here?" Azula demanded, circling around a chained Katara. Heavy metal contraptions pinned her limbs to the ground, and it was even a pain just to lift her head up.

The trip, in honest, wasn't all that lovely either. A burly guard had grabbed her by her mother's necklace from the back at first, but she had put up a strong fight, summoning all the water she could from the corners of the cell. Azula sent the bruised guy back in the day time instead of night, when she wouldn't be powerful enough. Although the tough fourteen-year old young lady kicked, screamed, and yelled, she was nevertheless dragged all the way to the torture room. Down the stairs, and up again, for the man said he had 'forgotten' the way there, making it obvious he wanted to teach her a lesson for her previous attack. Each time they went down the stairs, her bottom would hit against the step below, her tailbone aching, and each time they went upwards, it scraped her tailbone again. By the time they reached the room, Katara was bleeding all over, bruises covered her arms and legs, and scratches showed up wherever it was possible.

Azula spat in her direction again. "How was your wonderful trip?" She spoke louder and slower, indicating that she thought Katara to be an idiot.

Drawing all the energy she had left, Katara lifted her head, her once beautiful eyes now shaded with anger and pain. The glare she gave the Fire Princess was so deadly, that even the hard-hearted guards had to step back, flinching. But not the heartless. Azula continued to stand there, a satisfied smirk on her face in response. She scuffed her right boot on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust that went up Katara's nostrils directly. She coughed automatically, her eyes tearing.

'Is this what my life is going to be like? Will I allow myself to be tortured progressively by this evil witch, taking all of it without retaliating?'

Finally, in one heart-stopping moment, she contemplated something, but then looked down in defeat, instead of putting up a fight and let the princess continue with her mocking and probing for the whereabouts of Aang.

'I'm no longer the helpless little girl I once was when they wrecked my village.'

"Azula, please. I beg you, let me sit on a chair. You've tortured me enough coming here," Katara looked up, her eyes pleading.

"I have to say, peasant. I'm impressed. You dare try tricking me?" Azula snarled, her upper lip curling back in disdain. "Worthless peasant!" She kicked again, conjuring up another dust cloud. Katara didn't give a reaction, her head still hung. Her body was crouched, still in a defensive position.

"Once I come back, I expect my answer. You'll tell me where the Avatar is already, or there won't be much of you left to torture," Azula snapped, striding out of the door. Another guard, that had a slightly different outfit walked in, and behind him other guards took over, standing in front of the only door to freedom. The lieutenant with baby blue eyes came over and tentatively held her head up by the chin.

"You…peasant! Tell us – or we kill your friend!" he tried threatening, but he obviously wasn't used to these kind of things. Katara looked up at him, her cerulean eyes glistening with tears. She looked pitiful, her body small, like a little girl crying for help. It hit the guard hard, for he too had a little sister whom had died in an accident a long time ago. Shaking, the guard dropped his hand and broke eye contact.

"Is the full moon soon?" Katara whispered, his voice rasping against the cold metal in the room. The guard looked shocked.

"Why do you want to know?" he asked, his voice incredulous. Then he cleared his throat and asked again, this time changing it to sound as if didn't care. The other guards stood nearby, silently protesting, but what could they do? The soft-hearted guard was the lieutenant.

"I just – I just want to know if I could die on the full moon. I have a special meaning to the day." The guard widened his eyes, then looked around, wanting approval from the guards. They all nodded, seeing it pointless to disagree with a person from a higher ranking.

"Chen!" ordered the lieutenant. "Find out the day when there's a full moon!" Katara's head perked up as she heard him. Then he began to walk out of the room, and she panicked.

"No wait!" she breathed, her voice soft. "Azula won't let me have my wish!" She coughed to the ground, feigning ill. The lieutenant stiffened.

"Wait a minute…" he looked skeptically at Katara. She glanced up and realised he might know something. She cursed at herself quietly and bit the insides of her cheeks, waiting for her predicament.

"…I heard another guard telling me his other friend of his was stupid or something by going all the way back to the Water Tribe up north, to celebrate some Yue Moon Spirit Festival, like that." Katara, as much as she wanted to jump out in joy, held back and tried holding back a smile.

"When is it?" she asked, keeping the tone of hope hidden.

"Tonight."

The door of the New Chamber was flung open, and Azula came storming in.

"Greetings, traitor." She spat out the last word so bitterly that saliva flew in Zuko's direction. "You're going to do something for me." She edged closer to the slumped figure in the chair. Zuko was badly tortured, whip marks all over his body, and the guard holding the whip standing behind bowed slightly and stepped back.

"I won't be a part of your evil plans, Azula!" he growled, his voice strained with fatigue. He tilted his head to look upwards at the dark sky in defensive response. Even though he couldn't see a single star in sight, he found it better looking at it than looking at his crazy sibling. She gripped him by the chin, her nails digging into his pale flesh painfully. She pulled his face to her flawless one just inches away, forcing him to look at her. Their gold eyes locked for a second, before she spoke, her breath heating his face.

"You will do as I say." Her threaten dripped of anger and annoyance. Both brother and sister continued to glare at each other in silence, her threat still hanging in the air.

And then the guard unlocked his chains.

Azula barged through the door, knocking a guard standing in front. "Well, peasant. I hope I'm going to be setting off to find the Avatar by tomorrow sunrise." She stood a foot away from Katara's crouched figure. "Indulge me."

"What hope, Azula? You have no hope in that empty life of yours," Katara stated, narrowing her eyes at the Fire Princess. This accuse particularly flared her up.

"Shut up!" she screeched, slapping her across the face. Then she calmed herself, breathing slowly. "I've brought somebody here for you." A smirk formed on her lips.

Katara whipped her head up, wondering what she meant. Azula lifted a slender hand and beckoned in somebody outside the door. A guard came in, pulling Zuko behind him, handcuffed. Katara's eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Zuzu, tell this child why you're here for," she said, her lips pulling into a grin. Zuko glanced away, and avoided eye contact with Katara.

"I – have to – " he looked up into Katara's eyes, and then he felt his heart shatter.

"Go on!" Azula prompted, folding her arms in satisfaction at the amount of hurt she was causing today.

"…torture…" he choked on the word, and quickly continued, not wanting Azula to interpret wrongly. "…you?" The last word came out like in a questioning manner.

Katara flicked her eyes from Zuko to Azula, and understood straightaway. Cruel evil Azula, no surprise there.

The lieutenant handed a whip to the banished prince, his hands shaking. Zuko stared at the whip longer than intended to. The very same type of whip that was used to break his epidermis apart, not an hour ago. He stirred with disgust inside, and took the whip out of the lieutenant's grip slowly.

"Go on!" Azula shouted again, clearly impatient. She was obviously late for something important such as an all-important war meeting, but yet inexplicably excited to watch this torturous event unfolding before everyone's eyes.

In Zuko's right hand, he continued to grip the whip tightly, staring unfocusedly at Katara.. He began to swing his arm to the side, lifting the whip high up.

Katara looked at him, her eyes shining with tears.

Azula looked on, a smirk on her face.

The lieutenant stood there, glancing away, unable to witness the horror of it all.

The guards stuck around, waiting with bated breath wondering what would happen in the course of the following few minutes.

And in the end, if the only choice that life has left you, is a choice between something and nothing, don't you in fact…

…have no choice at all?

Commentary:

- Yes, Katara was contemplating about bloodbending, so thanks to hellokitty95 for that lovely idea!

- The 'old chamber' and 'new chamber' crap stuff was a steal from that episode when Aang met King Bumi.

- The necklace talk came because I realised the whole show didn't mention Zuko telling the truth. He just took it that Katara thinks he stole it, since after all, she accused him of that again in the episode The Western Air Temple, and he didn't clear his name on that.

- I took the last paragraph from Miki Falls (Winter), a book by Mark Crilley and I think that whole series is awfully awesome.

Thanks for all the reviews.

xoxo
- Scarlet