The guards dragged me as I thrashed in their grasp desperately trying to go back to Aang. NO! He can't be gone, he can't, he just can't. I tried to kick one of the guards but the other one just slapped me across the face.
"Stop it!" The guard yelled at me, as I glared at him. "Don't test me girl, you will probably be fed to the barracuda sharks after we have the Avatar." He growled at me, but soon realization hit me; he was the guard that had been the first to be knocked out in my attempts to escape. A smirk played its way across my face,
"Oh yes I wouldn't want to mess around with you, phew, with that effort you tried putting in our battles there's no wonder why you were the last one standing." I sarcastically remarked as I heard the other guard chuckle, while the guard I was insulting was taken back and furious.
"Why you little-" He was about to hit me again but the other guard interrupted.
"Tao, leave her alone she's going into the cells anyway." The other one replied as Tao eased up. My smirk still was pasted on as they made me walk down into the haul of the ship. The stench of dead rats filled my nostrils as I cringed back as Tao pushed me further down the dark, wet steps. Wait! Wet? Water! I couldn't help but smile as they locked me in my cell. "Now Prince Zuko will be back, do not cause troubles for us or you will be punished."
"Oh, I'm so scared." I sarcastically remarked as I walked to the tiny window space watching the water sprits against the glass.
"Look here missy you better learn some respect or-" I cut Tao off still looking out the window trying to find any sign of Appa flying away.
"Or you'll what?" I demanded, turning towards them looking Tao straight in his eyes walking to the steel bars. Our eyes were locked on each other as we both glared, daring each other to make a move. "If you remember correctly you were the easiest to defeat, so what could you do? Honestly?" I asked as I saw fire spark in between his hands. "Aww looks like Sparky has a temper so sad." I sarcastically remarked, and right before he let loose a fire ball the other guard held back his hand.
"Don't; let's go back to where the battle is being fought." The guard dragged Tao away as I turned back and walked over to the window.
"See ya Tao, don't get knocked out this time." I threw over my back as I heard a loud yell echo from the stairs. I stared over the water trying to look up at the skies, but as I glanced to my right I saw a white moving mass moving away from the island. They made it, I sigh in relief as I slumped to the floor watching the water from the pipes leak down into my cell. I grinned as I began to collect the water slowly manipulating it to my will, You stupid, stupid man, Zuko.
I slumped to the floor, my back pressing into the bars of the door; I waited in the dark cell for what seemed like hours, the sun was beginning to set over the horizon and I couldn't see Zuko or any sign of life outside my small window. Really, they couldn't have just made these things bigger. God, who ever built this was one cruddy engineer. I sarcastically huffed out as the water at the bottom of cell was increasing in size. I managed to manipulate the water into a small figurine resembling Zuko. I made it walk and talk, "Oh look I'm Zuko and I'm a hot head who doesn't consider other's feelings. I just want honor this, and honor that." My voice was imitating his as I made his arms cross over his chest, "And maybe when I'm older I'll be King of Emotionless, who doesn't give a damn about anyone, because I can't keep my lust driven emotions in check while I'm around Katara." I continued to imitate him, but I was struck out of my thoughts, by a voice behind me, their breath tickling my ear.
"You are really bad at impersonations." The water dropped out of my hands and spilled across the steel floor. I was almost paralyzed, but I willed my body to get up and look at Zuko in the eye.
"Oh so the infamous hero returns, where's a parade when you need one." I sarcastically remarked back, but I glanced down to see a motionless body slumped at the feet of Zuko. "No," I couldn't hold back my fear as I drop down to the floor again; I reached out my hands through the bars as I cupped the figure's cheek. "You didn't…" I trialed off as I stared at Aang, trying to find a pulse anywhere.
"Did I kill him? Of course not. If I had killed him then he would just be reborn and I would have to go on another search for the Avatar, and my father wants him alive." Zuko dead planned, as I saw Aang's fingers twitch; I breathe out another sigh of relief. "But he's not the only one who will be locked down here with you." I immediately pull myself up and I stare him in the eyes,
"What do you mean?" I ask as I glared at him, a playful smirk played across his face as he whistled. Two men brought down two motionless bodies, but I could tell who they were.
"Put them at least a cell width apart, I do not want anyone to have any physical contact with one another." Zuko ordered as the two guards dragged Toph and Sokka down the stairs and into cells. I almost wanted to cry, but I stayed strong. Then the realization hit me,
"How could you defeat all of them Zuko? You could barely defeat me, what dishonorable thing did you do this time?" I asked, as I watched him throw Aang in a cell one away from me.
"Let's just say I had some help," With that said, almost on cue, someone walked down the stairs, and I had a pretty good idea of who it was.
"Zhao, I thought you drowned up in the North Pole." I glared as he came over to my cell.
"You'd think so, but I'm not easy to kill," My face twitched in disgust as he came over to me as I smelled burned remains, and I couldn't help but want the smell of apples and cinnamon that Zuko always seemed to emit.
"So….what? You guys teamed up like a super villain thing?" I sarcastically remarked, as Zuko let out a chuckle,
"No, we both just happened to be at the same place at the same time. We decided to put our differences aside for this matter of course," I slowly bended the water from behind me into a shard of ice,
"So what is going to happen to me and my friends then? Because if what Zuko said was true, the Fire Lord won't kill Aang because he would just get reborn. But what about us then?" I asked, and Zhao smirked,
"You are correct, but Aang will just be barely alive so he can suffer. However, your brother will probably be executed since he is no use, your blind friend over there will also share the same fate."
"And me?" I ask, but the evil smile that seemed to crawl over his face said enough.
"And you will be a concubine…..for me." I almost died as he continued to smile; I tried to regain my posture.
"Never," I spat back, more specifically in his face. He growled as his arm shot out and wrapped around my neck,
"You will know the meaning of respect even if I have to break you over and over…." He trailed off, I spit in his face again as I tried to jab the shard into his neck, but he barely moved out the way. So instead, the shard pierced in his collar bone. He lets me go as fire erupted from all around him, "You will NO-" But Zuko cut him off,
"You have over stayed your welcome, she is still mine make no mistake of that Zhao. We will rendezvous with you tomorrow morning. Now leave!" Zuko threatened, as Zhao barely managed to stand up, let alone walk, he turn to look at me as the guards help him.
"You just made a great mistake Katara." He spat back at me as he disappeared from the stairs, I crumble to the floor, tears threatening to spill out. I heard my cell open and Zuko walked over to me and put his arms around me,
"Do you want to stay in my room?" he asked me as I nod my head, slowly resting my head into his chest. I felt my body be lifted out of the cell as he carried me into his room and set me down, cuddling with me. Soon my emotions and tears were pouring out,
"How could you!" I was on the brink of tears as I pounded my fists in his chest. His hands grabbed a hold of my fists as he held me back. I felt the gold dress slide down my chest as he pulled me closer.
"I'm sorry," his voice was sincere, and I couldn't help let out a whimper.
"I don't want this! Please let us go!" I yelled as he pulled me closer, his warm embrace wrapping around me tighter as his apple and cinnamon smell covered me.
"I can't, and never will. Just cry Katara, just cry." And so I did, in his arms as he guided me to his bed and I snuggled up to him. My tears running down my face and onto his bare chest, "I promise I will get you out and your friends. I promise." I stopped my tears and shook my head as he squeezed me tighter, and for a second I almost believed him. After a lifetime of crying, I stopped and I began to close my eyes as he rested his head atop of mine.
"Don't promise me things you can't keep." I whispered, and with that I fell asleep, but I failed to hear his last words to me,
"But I care too much for you, to just let you go."
I awoke to the soft embrace of two arms wrapped around my waist, my head rested on top of something warm, and my legs were entwined with another pair. My heart quickly sped up as I jerk awake taking in my surroundings; Zuko was under me and I quickly glanced down to see my clothes still on. Thank Agni, Come on, you know you kinda wished you had, Shut it! I inwardly yelled at myself as I look down at him. I felt him stir as he amber eyes flutter open and stare into mine,
"Hey," He greeted as his rough voice interrupted my thoughts,
"Hi," I said, his hands held me tighter, as he brought me in closer out lips hair's length away,
"Are you okay?" He asked, and I knew it was a stupid question, and I sighed,
"No, I mean how could you Zuko? I thought you cared about me? But clearly you didn't because if you had then you wouldn't have captured my-" I was cut off by his lips on mine, but this kiss was heated and aggressive but filled with something else. I responded back as my hands wrapped around his neck and pulled him in closer, his fingers were caressing my stomach and lower abdomen. He broke the kiss and stared down at me,
"Don't you think for one moment that I don't care about Katara, I really do." I could hear the sincerity in his voice, as I tried to find mine.
"Bu-but," I shook my head clearing my thoughts, "Then let us go Zuko, please, do this for me." I pleaded as he let me go and he sat up.
"You know I can't Katara, my ho-" This time I cut him off,
"I know about your honor Zuko, but how long has it been since you've been scarred? Three, maybe four years?" I ask as he hung his head, "Zuko, you don't need to please any one, I know this feels like the only thing you can do to feel whole again, but trust me you still will have that emptiness inside you. And the only way of filling that up is by moving on." I pressed my body into his back and wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, "If you let my friends go, just say that they escaped or that I helped them. Let them go and I will always be with you, I will not try to escape or do anything to attempt, you know that I care for you and want to be with you. But I need your word Zuko, not as a prince but as a man." I heard his breathing become labored as he turned towards me and looked at me; I could see the confusion and the inward battle fighting in him, "I don't care about this thing about you trying to regain your honor, because I already know you have. Not by your father, but from both your Uncle and me. Isn't that enough Zuko? We can just forget all about this and run far away; I just want you Zuko." I saw his eyes brim with tears, but they were soon blinked away,
"But if I'm a King I can-" I stopped him,
"Stop! Please! How do you know that will be enough to put an end to all of this! Can't you see that if your father hasn't tried to speak to you now what makes you think that he will?" I yell back at him, and his whole expression changed, and I briefly saw a flash of anger.
"You know nothing about my life! You know nothing about how I need this!" He yells back at me, and I stand up staring at him straight in the eye as I hid my hand behind my back.
"Well I do know that if you choose this path then we will never be!" I yell back and he was taken back for a second,
"Please Katara don't make me choose,"
"You have to! I will not have be friends die at the hands that I loathe most and become a concubine to that him!" I saw sparks of fire come out of his hands as he struggled to remain in control, but I had already bended water from the air and was now literally encasing my whole hand in warm water. As we continued to glare, he snarls,
"You do not make the orders around here! If you have to make me choose than you are nothing to me!" He yells back, and I could tell he regretted saying that and I could feel tears prick at my eyes but I struggled to remain in control.
"Fine! You are dead to me," I whisper, and before he had time to react I iced him to the steel wall; his lips were quickly iced shut and the water in his blood located in his arms I made the water turn to ice. So he can not feel or fire bend until the ice in his blood starts to thaw, and given that he is a fire bender, that will be shortly. "Goodbye Zuko, because if you really wanted to hurt me, you did a pretty god damn job at it, and so much for never letting me go." I snarled back as I sealed his door icing the lock buying me more time. I run down to the haul of the ship and I could see everyone was awake.
"Katara!" I heard Sokka yell,
"Hang on," I whisper as I break Sokka and Toph out.
"Glad to see you alright Sugar Queen," Toph teased as she hit my arm and I had to suppress a yelp. I quickly run over to Aang.
"Come on let's get you out of here." I slowly bended the water and slashed through the lock. Aang stepped out and hugged me,
"I thought I lost you," I was taken back as I peeled myself away from him.
"Come on we have to go," We ran to the deck of the ship and Aang took out his Bison whistle and blew, and I could hear the faint moan of Appa.
"He's close! Aang smiled,
"But we have company," Toph pointed to the door as I saw Zuko's men come running out, I laugh
"This is nothing trust me, just make sure every last one is knocked out." I say as I bended the water from the ocean into my hands, Aang got out his staff, Sokka brought out his sword, and Toph made a metal boulder from the floor. As were about to attack I saw Zhao's ship connect with Zuko's and I saw him stalk across the connector and straight towards us with his men, "Then again this may be a problem." I huffed out as I heard Sokka groan,
"Wait! How is he alive? AW! Come on!" Sokka yelled out as Zhao was stalking straight towards us, but his eyes were glued to me. I better get off this god damn ship! I thought, and before I knew it I see Appa coming our way. He hovered above us a few feet above so he would be able to dodge the fire blasts.
"Come on guys," I threw the water on the guards slowly freezing them to the floor as Toph threw the boulder at Zhao's men making them fall over board. Sokka quickly ran over to Zuko's men and knocked them over the head making the crumble to the floor; Aang jumped in mid air and shot air at each ship slamming each man into the ship's railing. "Hop on!" Aang first brought Toph up, Sokka grabbed onto Aang as he threw him on Appa's saddle. "Ready?" He asks as he holds out his hand, I smile taking his.
"Yes," I whisper, but I could smell the faint apples and cinnamon on board. No…
Soon fire was sent spiraling towards me and Aang. We quickly let go of each other, while I bended the water around me making a shield as blasts of Zuko's fire was heading straight towards me. I see Aang above me trying to deflect the blasts, but soon the guards were getting up.
"Come on guys hurry!" Sokka yelled from above, and I just looked at Aang slowly lowering my water, and throwing it at the fire benders knocking them down for a second.
"Go! Don't worry about me you have to get out of here!"
"No I'm not going to leave you again!"
"You have to please just go I'll find my own way out!" I yell, Aang looked at me with sadden eyes as he jumped up on Appa. "Go!" I yell again as I deflected another fire blast, I see them take off and I felt my smile, but I didn't see the fire blast coming straight towards me, I tried to move but I was knocked of the boat. I gasp for air and I could hear someone shout
"Yes I got her!" And right before I was dragged down I could see Tao's face as he leaned over the ship's railing. I tried to water bend but I was being quickly pulled down by the current; I desperately shed off the dress so I wasn't being pulled down as fast as I was, but now I was only in my bindings and the water was getting colder as I was dragged down.
I could feel lungs desperately needing air; but I couldn't even move a muscle the fire burn was etched in my side preventing me from using my right arm, and I was slowly losing consciousness. As I began to sink the pressure began to increase and darkness was beginning to cloud my vision.
However, as I glanced up trying to see anything, but all I could make out was the faint outline of Zuko's ship above me as I began to sink further. But before I blacked out I felt someone's hands come around my waist, and I the last thing I saw was the sun shining through the water as I began to draw closer to the surface.