Judgement
Chapter Three- Talking With Iroh and Zuko
A/N: I don't really go back the the GAang in this story. It's all focused on Katara and Zuko. Where the GAang has been and everything will be explained though later in the story
A man cannot free himself from the past more easily than he can from his own body.
-André Maurois
Katara woke up with the sun shining on her face. She squinted her eyes trying to keep the brightness away. She laid there a moment waking her body up. She yawned before she fully remembered where she was.
When she did, she looked at the other side of the bed. Zuko was gone and she was thankful. She slowly sat up and stretched her body, surprised at how well she actually slept. It had been a long time since she slept in a real bed.
She looked around for her clothes but got very confused when she couldn't find them. She looked around frantically but not getting out of the bed. In the middle of her search, there was a knock at the door.
"Miss Katara," She heard Iroh call from the other side of the door. "Are you awake yet?"
"Uh" She stumbled a little. "Yeah. Come on in." She raised the covers a little more even though the nightgown did cover her properly.
"I brought jasmine tea." He said excitedly as he came in. She smiled at him.
"Would you happen to know where my clothes are?" She asked shyly.
"Oh yes." He placed the tray with the tea, some bread, and some fruits on it down on the bed in front of her. "Prince Zuko is having them washed for you."
"Oh…" She found that a little odd, and it apparently showed on her face.
"He's not as bas as he seems." Iroh said pouring them both some tea. "You should get to know him."
"I think I already know him enough." She picked up a cup and took a sip. "He's not exactly social anyways."
"He's just got a rough exterior. He did stop that guard did he not?" Iroh asked drinking his own tea. Katara winced slightly at the memory. "There's good in him. It's just that his past tells him he needs to be tough."
"How in the world are you related to him?" She laughed. "You seem to find positive in everything. I mean you're like Santa and he's the Grinch." Iroh laughed as her analogy.
"Yes but the Grinch turned out good didn't he?" He pointed out.
"I guess so." She shrugged drinking some more.
"Enough about my nephew and me. Tell me about yourself. How old are you?"
"I'm fourteen." He nodded.
"Only two years younger than Zuko."
"I thought you said we were done talking about Zuko." She smiled.
"Oh yes, I'm sorry. Please tell me about yourself now." Katara laughed and continued to tell him more about herself. She felt comfortable around this man, like he was a friend, not an enemy.
Katara wasn't sure how long they sat there talking but it was enough time to go through two cups of tea. (Four for Iroh) She tried not to share too much, especially anything personal, like her mother. She did feel comfortable around him but she still wasn't sure she should trust anyone on this ship.
All of a sudden the door opened and Zuko stood there in his armor. He looked freshly showered and well rested. Zuko was quiet for a few moments, shifting his eyes from his uncle to Katara. Then he settled his eyes on Iroh.
"Uncle, the troops would like your assistance." He said.
"Oh okay." He stood up off the bed and picked up the tray. "I was nice talking to you Katara."
"You too, Iroh." She smiled and watched him walk out. "I like your uncle." She told Zuko. He just shook his head.
"Here are your clothes." He said throwing her folded clothes on the bed. It was then she realized she was still in the nightgown. She pulled the covers up some more.
"Thanks." She whispered, not moving. "What time is it?"
"It's about noon. You slept for quite awhile." He said standing over her. "Get up and I'll take you to the bathroom where you can chance and shower." He said walking towards the door. He looked back and realized she wasn't following.
"Can't I just dress here?" She asked.
"Why would you-" Zuko stopped and looked at her. She was decent but the fact remained that she was in a nightgown and his men would like that, a lot. He felt a sudden rush of guilt wash over him. "Oh uh, fine. Knock on the door when you're done." He said stepping out.
He took the time waiting to think about the girl currently dressing in his room. He was treating her differently than any other prisoner. He was sure it was because he needed her unharmed. But then again unharmed did not mean clean clothes or tea with his uncle.
There was also that ringing in the very back of his head reminding him how he felt when he woke up this morning. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was her sleeping peacefully. A feeling washed over him but he didn't know what it was. All he knew was that it was nice.
His thoughts were broken by the knock on the door. He opened it to find her dressed with the nightgown folded on the bed in place of her clothes. He didn't say anything as he motioned for her to go with him.
"You're uncle said something that interests me." She said.
"What would that be?" He decided to humor her. As she started walking by herself to the bathroom, he grabbed her arm, lighter than he had before. She glared at him but didn't protest.
"He said I should get to know you." She told him.
"There's nothing to know." He said tensing up. I am not having this conversation. He thought.
"There's a lot to know." She said turning to look at him, mainly at his scar. They both stopped walking to look at each other. Her expression was soft and curious but his stayed hard and frozen.
"I'll be back in a half hour to get you." He said breaking away and kept her walking. "If you're done by then, you can wait. If you're not done…" He paused not sure what he'd do. "Just be done by then." He said approaching the bathroom which was currently guarded by one of Zuko's men. She froze. "This is my most trusted guard and he will be outside the door the entire time to make sure you don't try to go anywhere." He saw the uncertainty in her eyes and turned her toward him. "I promised you would not be harmed. I intend to keep it. You can even lock the bathroom door if you like."
"Okay." Katara nodded as Zuko pushed her gently into the bathroom. He heard her lock the door then nodded to the guard and left.
Zuko walked around his ship a little before settling to stay on the side railing looking out into the sea. His thoughts traveled to what Katara had said. She wouldn't want to get to know him. All she wanted was to find out a weakness. He knew his weakness was written all over him though in invisible scars and one clearly visible one.
His weakness was his past. It clung to him like a leech and followed him like a shadow. It already haunted him. He didn't need anyone else knowing and looking down on him. He already knew where he stood until he got his honor back.
He'd have to talk to his uncle about talking to Katara. He would not allow his uncle to fill Katara's head with ideas like that. He figured she was the kind of girl who wouldn't leave it alone once it started. He was determined not to let his past slip through his lips and into her mind.
Something hit him. It was like a swift kick in the gut, but it didn't hurt. It felt… odd. He ignored it and put his mind onto something else.
Katara finished her shower and redressed. She looked in the mirror and put her hair back into its normal braid before sighing and looking around. The bathroom was small. There was just enough room for the shower, toilette, and a sink with a mirror above it. It was actually quite clean too, which she was grateful for.
She heard a knock on the door then Zuko telling her to get out. She rolled her eyes and opened the door to see him standing there looking down at her.
"Let's go." He said grabbing her arm a little roughly. She quickened her step to make sure she didn't fall over.
"What's the rush?" She asked but he didn't respond. "Hey, I'm talking to you." She quickly yanked her arm out of his grasp.
"I don't have to answer to you, peasant." He spat then reached for her arm again but she twisted so it was out of his reach.
"I can walk myself thank you." She said distastefully before walking ahead of him in the direction of room. He shook his head as he caught up with her. She walked in before turning around and facing him. "See? I'm a good little girl." She said with venom and sarcasm dripping from her words.
"So it seems." He returned with a sarcastic smile. "I'll be back at around sunset to bring you dinner." She rolled her eyes knowing that was hours of boredom to endure. He just closed and locked the door without another word.
Katara groaned and went to sit on the bed that had been made during her shower. She sighed and wondered why she wasn't as frustrated as she should have been. She was by no means happy or even content but she wasn't really angry either.
She just hoped that Aang would hurry up and come to save her.
At around sunset, just as he had said, Zuko was approaching his room with a tray of food for Katara. He balanced the tray on one hand as he put the key into the hole in the door. I feel like a waiter. He thought rolling his eyes.
He opened the door to see Katara staring out the window, watching the sun set. She didn't even turn her head when he walked in. He cleared his throat in a somewhat awkward manner. Her head whipped around startled.
"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking." She explained. He nodded then set the tray down. "Thanks." She said moving toward the tray filled with food. She picked up some of the fruit and bit into it.
"What? Not going to ask if it's poisoned?" He asked watching her eat the fruit hungrily.
"I don't think your uncle would let you poison me." She smiled at him. Zuko shrugged and looked away from her. "So what do you do all day?" She asked seemingly randomly.
"I train, build strategy, make sure everything's in order." He answered.
"It sounds boring." She said.
"What are you doing?" He asked looking back to her.
"I'm eating and making conversation." She answered a little confused.
"Why?" He asked just as confused himself.
"Because I've been bored for the past 24 hours and you're just standing there." Zuko shook his head. He did not want to talk to her. It wouldn't go anywhere good.
"I'll be back in a while to get the tray and take you to the bathroom." He said walking to the door.
"Okay." She said looking back down at the food suddenly feeling disappointed. He walked out and she heard the same sound she'd been hearing all the time, the locking of a door.
Zuko came back fifteen minutes later and walked into the room. He saw she was done eating and was currently laying down on the bed, tray aside, eyes closed, breathing softly. She was asleep.
He slowly and quietly crept up to get the tray but ended up passing the it at the foot of the bed and ended up standing at the head, right next to her. He didn't know why but he couldn't stop looking at her.
She was like a mystery to him and he didn't know why. He had the sudden urge to reach out and brush a strand of hair off of her face and he almost did but caught himself before he did. He broke his gaze from her and went to go get the tray. He picked it up and went to the door.
He turned to look at her one more time. She moaned and turned over. He let a small smile tempt his lips then shook his head not liking what was happening.
Just as he shut the door, Katara stirred and woke. She looked around and saw the tray gone. She figured he had come to get it already. She must have fallen asleep after eating. She sat up and stretched but found herself still tired.
It must have been sitting around all day that made her this tired. Which didn't quite make sense to her. She found the nightgown folded on the very end of the bed and quickly put it on, not sure when Zuko would return. Just as soon as it fell below her knees Zuko came in.
"Would it kill you to knock?" She yelled jumping a little. "I don't like the idea of you coming in when I'm changing." She blushed and looked away from him.
"Sorry." He whispered blushing himself. "I'll knock from now on." He tried to get the image out of his head. He took a good look at her. It was the first time he'd seen her in the nightgown fully. She was always under the covers and covering herself when he came in. She definitely looked nice.
Katara saw him staring and she suddenly felt very, very awkward. She crossed her arms across her chest as if it would help. She tried to look anywhere but him but it was hard. She felt strange with him looking at her like he was. He wasn't really checking her out but rather, admiring her.
Katara finally broke away from the gaze and moved towards the bed to climb under the covers. Zuko stopped watching her when she moved and then moved himself. He went to the wardrobe and removed his armor to put in it.
When he turned back, she was already laying down on her side, ready to sleep. He normally didn't go to sleep this early but something was pulling him to lay down beside her. He didn't quite understand it, but he did listen to it.
Katara felt Zuko lay down next to her and she turned to face him. His eyes were closed but she knew he knew she was looking at him. She looked at his scar and had the urge to touch it but she didn't. He seemed to be a little touchy when it came to his past.
"What?" He snapped at her turning his head and opening his eyes. She didn't even flinch this time.
"Nothing. Just getting comfortable." She lied. What is with me? She wondered. She watched Zuko roll to face away from her and she did the same.
I feel a little iffy on this chapter and I'm not sure why. I'm going to heat things up between Zuko and Katara probably in the next chapter because that's what I'm better at writing. Don't forget to review! (I'm home from school sick again so I'll be writing a lot again)