Author's Note: I've been thinking, should I continue to alternate perspectives each chapter, or stick with one? However, if I were to choose one, it would definitely be Zuko. Thoughts, and opinions on this? Anyhow, reviews are appreciated, thank you for reading!
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters.
This had been, without a doubt, the most stressful day Katara could remember. The preparations, the waterbenders, and that damned prince. Why him, of all the people?
Having shown her guests to their rooms a few hours prior, Katara sat in one of the few lounge rooms inside the palace. Warm flames crackled in the fireplace and lit the space in a golden glow. She breathed a deep sigh, trying to ease a bit of the tension that had rooted itself in her shoulders over the course of the day.
So…Zuko was to be her servant now. Katara wasn't quite sure how to feel about this. Something about a personal servant didn't sit well with her.
Since the end of the war, Katara had been adamant about not becoming a spoiled, pampered, palace brat. She preferred to do things herself, with the exception of Lina, whom she called upon every so often to run small errands. Unlike most nobles, Katara didn't view servants as possessions. They were people, like her, with feelings and ideas.
But then there was Zuko.
That monster has no feelings, Katara was positive of this. Surely no human with half a heart would attack a village, her village, of defenseless children and elders. Nor burn down a peaceful town.
Though she could not deny the small twinge of satisfaction at the thought of Zuko as her servant. The high and mighty prince, catering to her every whim as she saw fit. Agni knew he deserved it, after all he had done.
I could make him do whatever I want, she realized. Sudden thoughts came unbidden to her mind, involving certain...parts...of the prince. A fierce blush spread across her cheeks and she shifted uncomfortably. Not like that! She told herself. Like I would ever dream of putting my hands on him.
But that didn't change the fact that he was hers, now, despite his resilience.
"I don't believe it!" a sudden shout startled Katara, making her jump.
Sokka walked into the room and slumped on the sofa next to his sister. She bounced slightly and her eyebrows furrowed with slight annoyance.
"Prince Zuko?! The Zuko that chased us all over the world?!" he exclaimed, big blue eyes boring into Katara.
Katara smirked slightly. "So you heard?"
"Who hasn't? The whole place is raving about it," Sokka informed her, picking at his shirt sleeve.
His sister groaned. Great. Just what she needed.
"Why him?" she asked in a faraway voice.
"Because he's bad news? Karma hates us?" Sokka offered helpfully.
A huff in reply. "That was a rhetorical question, Sokka."
Her brother shrugged, then, "Well if you ask me, he got what was coming to him." His blue eyes narrowed. "Filthy, no-good, bast-"
"What should I do?" Katara cut in. "We both know he's dangerous."
He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yeah, he's dangerous, when he can firebend. That's easy enough to fix with those funky-looking herbs."
"Yes," Katara agreed, "but is it really a wise idea to have him under the same roof? He's unpredictable."
"Come on, Katara, you're a master waterbender!" Sokka gave her a lopsided grin. "Against you with your water, and me with my boomerang, he's got no chance."
Silence for a beat. Then, "I know it's wrong, but there's a part of me that wants to hurt him. Humiliate him, for all the things he did to us." Katara stared down at her hands.
Her brother looked at her. "You shouldn't be ashamed, Katara. There's no excuse for the horrible things to you, me, and our friends."
Two sides of Katara battled. One side, the bright, caring one, knew that it was wrong to seek revenge. Revenge led to anger, and anger led to suffering. The prince himself was a testimony to that. But the other side, the one that she kept carefully hidden from sight, wanted him to pay. Pay for all the pain and fear he had brought upon her.
Forcing a smile onto her face, she looked back up at Sokka. "Thanks for talking."
She was returned with the usual smirk. "I'm professional, I know."
Katara rolled her eyes, but the smile remained as Sokka stood from the sofa and turned to exit the room.
His footsteps halted a few moments later.
"You know what we should do?" mischief evident in his voice. "Make him drink some cac-"
"No cactus juice!" Katara turned and pointed a finger at him, narrowing her eyes.
Sokka scampered out of the room, leaving his sister in silence once more.
It was settled, then; Zuko was Katara's servant. She marveled at the thought.
She stared into the flames. The tongues of fire licked at the logs, flickering and casting unearthly shadows across her features. They look like Zuko's eyes, she thought absent-mindedly. Burning, and bright, and golden.
Katara remembered the way those same gold eyes had glared at her accusingly just hours before. I never asked for this, she reminded herself. She couldn't help but wonder if it was fate, somehow. Out of all the people…it was him the waterbenders had brought.
With a small sigh, she lifted herself onto her feet and padded silently out the doorway.
The day had seemed to last forever, and she wanted nothing more than to curl up under her warm covers and sleep her troubles away. Troubles that were under the same roof. With burning golden eyes. Most likely plotting her destruction.
I'll deal with him tomorrow, she decided.
Katara stepped into her room, combing her fingers through her dark brown, wavy locks. She carefully removed the silver threads from her hair, placing them on her vanity. She spared a glance at herself in the mirror.
Big, shining blue eyes stared back at her.
It was no secret that she was beautiful. Her soft, smooth skin seemed to glow in moonlight, and her body had filled out rather nicely over the last few years.
Stripping off the stiff, formal dress, she dropped it unceremoniously onto the floor. She was left in her white under bindings, and sparing a final glance out the window at the courtyard, she slipped under the silver sheets of her bed and fell into a deep slumber.
Throughout the night, her dreams were plagued with visions of burning, golden eyes.
:: Review Responding ::
Yungsun: We shall see, we shall see. Anger that builds slowly is often the worst kind… Thank you for your review!
Breyannia: Indeed, without balance among the four nations, things are bound to get a bit sketchy. Iroh will make his appearance when the time is right. So like him, really, to be fashionably late XD Thanks for reviewing!
RumorHasIt: My pleasure! I enjoy conversing with my readers :)
crash and burnn: No problem, I'm glad I was able to clear things up. That definitely sounds like Zuko! Thanks for the ideas, and your review :)