Judgement

Chapter Four- Forbidden Charm

I want to give a thanks to ML7, Sahlili20, aniek90, 12manytears, wolf-girl87, and Miss Hiss because they've reviewed on more than one of my chapters! Thanks guys! (Sorry if I missed anyone. Let me know and I'll put you in the next chapter.)

Forbidden things have a secret charm.
-Publius Cornelius Tacitus

Katara woke once again to find Zuko and her clothes gone. This time she wasn't so surprised though. She noticed that the sun wasn't too high in the sky so it was still early which also didn't surprise her. She had fallen asleep very early the night before.

She stretched out and laid back down sighing. She was very comfortable in the bed. It was warm and soft, too bad she couldn't just sleep all day. As she closed her eyes she heard a hard knock on the door.

"Yes?" She answered not moving. She heard the door open and she didn't even need to open her eyes to know it was Zuko. There was a tension that filled the air the second he walked in the room.

"It's time for breakfast." He said throwing her clothes on top of her. "Get dressed and knock on the door when you're done." He ordered then walked out. She looked at the door a little confused. Why do I need to dress just to eat in this room? She shook her head and decided it would be better just to follow his orders for right now.

After she dressed, she knocked on the door and waited for Zuko to open it. He did quickly and she just stared at him for a moment.

"What? No tray?" She asked.

"You're eating breakfast with my uncle and me." He answered curtly then took her arm again.

"Why?" She asked almost too surprised to manage anything else.

"Do you really care?" He rolled his eyes and led her slowly through the corridor.

"I…I'm just…" She stumbled with her words. "I just don't understand. I thought you said I'd stay in the room at all times."

"If you'd like to stay there then-"

"No, no, no!" She cut him off. "It's fine." She felt his hand shift to get a better hold on her arm, but it wasn't a rough hold, rather than a soft touch as if he was holding her hand. "I thought you understood I could walk on my own." She said looking at his hand.

"You don't know where we're going." He said looking forward.

"But I could just follow you, you know." She pointed out. He didn't say anything as he let his hand reluctantly fall from her arm. "Thank you." He just ignored her and kept walking. "So will I be eating with you two from now on or is this a special occasion?" She questioned.

"It depends on weather or not you behave." He answered walking a little faster.

"I've been 'good' so far have I not?" She shot back, keeping up with him. He ignored her again and kept ignoring her until they reached the room they would eat in.

Katara walked in to see it was a fairly large room with a table in the middle to eat on. There was a door in the back probably leading into a kitchen. She saw Iroh already sitting at the table waiting for them.

"Oh Katara!" He greeted. "How have you been?"

"I've been as good as I can be in this situation." She smiled at him.

"Please sit." He said motioning to the seat across him. "Zuko sit down too and join us." He said as Katara started sitting down. Zuko groaned but sat down in the seat next to Katara. "Breakfast should be served soon."

"How have you been Iroh?" Katara asked politely.

"Oh I've been fine. Has Zuko been giving you too much trouble?" He asked as the food was brought in and set down in front of them. Katara took a quick look at Zuko but he was just giving his uncle a strange stare.

"No, he's actually been somewhat civil." She smiled when Zuko turned to her surprised by her answer. "He's still a pain though." She followed up her answer. Iroh just laughed.

"That's expected though." Iroh responded pouring himself some tea. "Would you like some?" Katara nodded and he poured her some as well.

"Thank you." She said reaching over to take her cup of tea and drink some of it. She looked down at her plate to find it filled with bread, assorted fruits, and a few eggs. "How do you get such good food all the time?"

"Oh we have a great cook who stashes up on many different foods every time we stop." Iroh answered starting to eat. "Zuko, maybe after breakfast Katara would like to stretch her legs. Maybe you should show her around the ship." Iroh suggested. They two looked at each other a little uncomfortably.

"I have a lot to do today. I didn't get a chance to train this morning." Zuko answered quickly.

"Is that why you're gone so early in the morning?" She asked him. "You go to train?"

"As soon as the sun rises every morning." He said continuing to eat.

"I say he trains too much." Iroh whispered causing Katara to giggle a little. She shifted her feet under the table and accidentally hit Zuko's foot with her own. He turned to her and gave her a questioning look, assuming she did it on purpose. She just tried not to blush and looked at Iroh.

"So Iroh," She started talking. "What do you tend to do all day?" She asked. She tried to pay attention to what he was saying but it was hard when she knew Zuko was looking at her.

She was finally started to concentrate on Iroh's words when she felt Zuko's foot gently push her leg. She squinted her brow a little confused as she looked at him. She found him staring directly ahead as if he hadn't done anything. It was an accident I'm sure. She reasoned with herself. But that thought slowly faded when she felt his leg shift and rub against hers. Against her better judgement, she reacted by pushing her leg back against his.

Iroh noticed the blush that slowly creped up onto both of their cheeks but wasn't quite sure why. He just smiled slyly and kept talking. He always thought there was something between them.

The gentle pushes and nudges became harder as if it was a game they were both getting competatitive over. At one point he actually kicked her slightly. She responded by kicking him back, a little harder. Zuko was about to kick her again when he stopped and his foot hovered by her leg.

What the hell am I doing? Zuko asked himself as he quickly pulled his leg away from her. She was the enemy, a prisoner. He was not supposed to be… flirting with her! He cleared his throat before standing up.

"Are you finished?" He asked Katara quickly.

"Oh, yes." She answered still confused on what had just happened. "I guess I should get back to the room. It was nice to see you again Iroh." She nodded toward him.

"I'll see you later Uncle." Zuko said before walking out the door, Katara following. Iroh nodded to his nephew and smiled behind his tea cup.

"This will be very interesting." He said to himself.

Zuko walked somewhat fast to get her back to her room. Katara was pleasantly surprised that when she caught up to him, he didn't grab her arm to pull her along. Although that was probably just because of the awkwardness of the moment. Neither of them really understood why or what exactly they did.

"So, uhh…" Katara tried to break the tension. "I assume you're training tomorrow?" She asked. All he did was nod in response. "Maybe I could join you?" She asked.

"What?" Now he was bamboozled. (A/N: sorry, I like that word) "Why?"

"I've been very bored and kicking your butt could liven things up a little." She smiled. Zuko gave a curt chuckle.

"If I remember correctly, I got you onto my ship by force." He slowed his walk slightly.

"Are you afraid?" She asked as they approached the room.

"Fine." He opened the door up and she stepped in. "Tomorrow morning, you'll come and train with me. Don't be expecting a victory." He warned. She just smiled at him as he gently closed the door and, once again, locked it.

Katara had spent the day looking out at the ocean bending bits of it to keep herself entertained. She had thought a lot about Aang, Toph, and her brother, who was probably driving the other two insane by now. She wondered why they hadn't found her yet but knew there must be a good reason.

When she wasn't thinking about them, she was thinking about breakfast with Zuko. Every time she did, she felt her cheeks heat up just slightly. This morning was fun if she got rid of the fact that it was awkward and it was Zuko. It was like playing with fire… well… She kind of was. She shook her head. She pushed the idea that he wasn't that bad and that he could be someone she could like into the back of her mind.

He was off limits, forbidden! Which is okay because he's nothing more than an enemy. She told herself.

Zuko knocked on the door and waited for her to answer before he went in. He saw her sitting on the bed already in the nightgown, running her fingers through her untied, flowing hair. He felt something hit him and his body heated up involuntarily. He ignored the feeling for what seemed the hundredth time today.

"How was your day?" Katara asked.

"Normal." He answered removing his shirt and shoes. "Yours?" He asked for reasons beyond his own mind.

"I've been stuck in this room nearly all day, same as the day before. So how do you think it was?" She asked sounding like she was more joking rather than being snappy. He just shrugged and sat down on the bed next to her. "So tomorrow, I'm training with you right?"

"If you still insist on making a fool of yourself." He said smirking at her. She lightly pushed his arm and shook her head at him.

"We'll just see about that tomorrow." She said watching him bend the candles out and lay down on his back. "Good-night." She said in a mocking tone. She then laid down and closed her eyes ready to sleep. She didn't even notice that she turned over on her other side so that she was now facing him.

Zuko noticed though and allowed himself to absentmindedly roll over to face her as well. He looked at her through the dark and saw that she had quickly fallen asleep. It was then that he closed his own eyes and bent his knee so that it up against her thigh. He smiled and fell asleep quicker than he had in months.

Things are heating up slowly. By the way, the footsie thing, I drew that out of my own expirience, hoping it's not too OOC. Review to let me know if it's too OOC or if it's okay. If it's okay, I might be putting more things like that in. If not, then I'll leave it out and change it.

By the way, has anyone else had something like that happen, you and someone you really shouldn't be playing footsie with are in fact playing footsie but you both ignore it completely! It's kind of fun but very awkward, especially when it's your ex. (cough)logan(cough). Lol. Sorry, short ramble. Anyways don't forget to review! Reviews seem to rise and fall between chapters. I'd kind of like the to keep rising! I should be updating soon!