Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender or any of its characters; do you want fries with that?
AN: I've had several comments about this story being a possible Zutara. I began this story with NO intention for said ship to happen. In fact, it was more toward Kataang. But as my outlines have developed, Katara and Zuko have developed too. Now, this story presently has several Zutara moments in my most recent outlines. Nothing really serious though. I don't intend for this story to be a romance. It's supposed to be centered on Zuko and how he works through his father's latest betrayal.
Gosh we're so far along in season 2, my story seems really AU. To prevent any further confusion about paralleling the show, the first chapter starts after "The Deserter." In fact, we're so far into season 2, my Zuko doesn't even seem to be in-character anymore… Waaaa!
Also, I update my profile page to keep you all informed on the status of the latest chapter. Check it every 2 weeks or so.
Chapter Four: Save Me
Zuko looked down at the weary peasants. They looked very haggard and he knew his orders issued that morning about treating them well had been ignored; the two were still tied up, the boy's face hadn't been cleaned from the fight, the cots hadn't been moved in, and Zuko didn't see any dishes laying anywhere. Hell, there wasn't even a chamber pot. He'd make sure the crew knew his displeasure. The Water Tribe bumpkins may be prisoners, but they were to be working prisoners and needed good food and tolerable living conditions.
The boy's bruised face was stoic, but Zuko could see the rigidness in his body. The girl was looking at Zuko fearfully and, in contrast to her brother, her body was trembling. Zuko took a brief moment to appreciate his intimidating manner and physique before he stepped into the cell. It felt good for these two yokels to be at his mercy after they had caused him so much grief.
"Enjoying your stay?" he asked with cruel sarcasm. Zuko was concerned that they hadn't been better treated, but there was no need for them to know that. This was the time to play the laid back, but stern warden, not the fawning nursemaid. "No?" At this he cocked his one eyebrow. "Perhaps once you see more of the ship, you will change your attitudes." He saw their expressions flicker with puzzlement. Obviously, they had thought the only room they would see was this cell. He smirked; it was good to keep them guessing.
"You are going to be put to work. I won't have you sitting around, being taken care of without earning such kindness." Zuko's reasoning in this matter was that while prisoners usually didn't enjoy being locked in a cell, they had their meals brought to them, their chamber pots emptied, and occasionally a washcloth and water for cleanliness. Not his prisoners. They were going to pull their weight like everyone else on his ship. Only the Avatar would remain shut away for the voyage.
"You'll be treated like the rest of my crew in your duties; I will give you no more or no less work than I expect to be accomplished in the course of a day. You, girl," he focused his gaze on Katara, "will be in the charge of Jiru, the cook. That means you will do as he tells you and not interrupt his duties or the duties of others while completing the tasks he will assign you. Understand?"
Katara only blinked up at him, still shaking. Zuko felt slightly annoyed at her frightened silence. She had been quite the spitfire the night he had bribed her with that necklace and he had been looking forward to stomping out that rebellion during her stay on the ship. But there seemed to be no trace of the feminine insurgent left for him now. He wondered whether the crew had visited the cell after all and had bullied her into such meekness. He'd ask her, but first he needed his answer.
"Did the rats eat your tongue?" he asked coldly. "I'll ask you only once more. Do you understand your situation?" He glared intensely at her. She looked away from his gaze and nodded her head. Zuko shrugged inwardly; it wasn't verbal, but her response would do for now.
He turned to the boy. "You will be put under Corporal Seiji's command," Zuko stated. "I expect the same compliance from you as I expect from your sister." Zuko was never one to repeat himself. The boy had been listening to the expectations of the girl and would grasp his role and duties. "Understand?"
Sokka's eyes held an ice cold loathing as he hissed through clenched teeth, "Yes, your majesty."
The Prince's eyes narrowed. The boy hadn't lost his fighting spirit yet. Back in the cave, Zuko had promised to break the boy's mettle; he'd definitely be keeping that promise.
"Good," Zuko said coolly. He didn't dwell too much on bitter remarks from common prisoners. Besides, the coolness of his reply had caused the Water boy's scowl to falter.
Zuko paused to think about the boy's spite for anyone Fire Nation. How can I keep this peasant's rage from bursting free during his time on my ship? A threat always works nicely.
He bent toward Sokka until their noses were less than an inch apart. He could smell the earth on the boy's face. He put on a smirk and cooed, "And let me just say that I find your sister very enticing and I'm sure my men do as well." He saw the yokel's rage boiling behind those unblinking blue eyes. Zuko continued his taunting, "If, for any reason, you misbehave, she'll be spending an unforgettable time with me in my quarters or I'll give my crew permission to show her an equally good time." He let the innuendo sink into the boy. Zuko knew he was just fueling the fire of hate, but the boy's fear of keeping the girl's virtue from him or his crew would keep the peace. For now.
Out of the corner of his eye, Zuko watched the waterbender. He could see that she was terrified of the very idea of being defiled for the sake of a misstep on her brother's part. And rightfully so. She had been brought up with the idea that the Fire Nation was nothing but evil and Zuko wasn't helping to change her prejudice with his suggestion. Of course, he would never dishonor her that way, but he would use fear to keep her and her brother in check. He knew firsthand how fear could be a great tool. Ozai had always been overbearing and although Zuko idolized his father, he had learned to fear his sire as well. That fear had kept him diligent in his learning and obedient in all aspects.
The peasant boy snarled, his voice harsh as he glared daggers at Prince Zuko, "If you touch her, I will-"
"Let me stop you right there, filth," Zuko cut in harshly. "You will do absolutely nothing. I do as I please with people under my command. On my ship you abide by my rules and I have little patience for disobedience. I hold no respect for your defiance and do not think I will hesitate to throw you overboard if you prove difficult. It is by my kindness that you are still alive and with your sister."
"Kindness!" Sokka laughed bitterly. "You attacked our camp, beat us up, stabbed Appa, done Tui knows what with Aang, left us tied up in this filthy cell all day with no food or water, and threatened Katara's honor!"
"That's right," Zuko snapped back as he straightened his form. "There's little you can do about any of the things I choose to do with you. Your lives are of little consequence to me and I do not have to go out of my way to make sure you are being well-behaved prisoners. It'd be much cheaper and easier to leave you chained up and starved. But here I've arranged for bedding, food, clothing, and hygiene for you both and you spit in my face."
"I don't see any food or bedding," Sokka said while he theatrically turned his head to survey the cell. "And maybe you haven't noticed, but I'm still covered in dirt and dried blood from yesterday. That's hardly hygienic."
Zuko was tired of wasting his time arguing with this peasant. He decided to bring this conversation back down to a tone where he could gently prod the waterbender to report on the crew's questionable behavior toward her.
He addressed the boy in a softer but still authoritative tone, "I said I had 'arranged' those things for you. When you receive them all depends on you." Zuko put on an expression of indifference and he even threw in a shrug. "If you cooperate with my wishes, you shall be rewarded with comforts like food, bedding, and baths. Disobey me, and I take a comfort away. When there are no comforts left to take away, I'll increase your discomfort." He decided to leave the threat open to the peasants' imaginations.
He now turned his full attention to the waterbender. Her expression was blank and her eyes were unfocused. "Look at me," he said as gently as he could.
She blinked and shifted her eyes to his face. She didn't look afraid anymore. Zuko looked significantly at her and put on a concerned expression. "Tell me," he prodded, "have any of my men been in here today?"
She blinked again before slowly shaking her head once. Zuko furrowed his brow. Was she really this defeated by her capture? He'd been sure there were other factors in her passive behavior. Perhaps she was just hungry and exhausted. This reminded him…
He broke eye contact with the waterbender and addressed both of his prisoners, "I expect you both to behave well tomorrow, so I'll give you dinner and cots tonight. You'll bathe together in the morning. Clean clothes will be waiting for you. Meet or exceed my expectations with your chores and I'll see that your meals become more generous."
"Together?" Sokka spoke up.
It took Zuko a few seconds to realize the boy was talking about the bath. "Just for tomorrow," he explained. "I'm not adjusting the crew's morning schedule so you two can bathe separately. You'll get privacy from each other tomorrow evening."
"Two baths in one day?"
Zuko smirked, "You'll need it." He looked over at the girl. A slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips and she was determinedly not looking at him. Zuko knew she was excited about having access to a full tub of water so she could fight. His smirk widened, Little does she know.
"Just so you know," Zuko added, "the door to this cell will be locked when you return in the evenings. Also, you'll be dining separately." The girl snapped to attention at this statement.
"Separately?" the boy asked.
"Must you repeat everything back to me?" Zuko asked sarcastically. "Yes, separately. You'll be dining with the rest of the crew in the mess hall," he explained to Sokka. "And you," he nodded at Katara, "will be dining with me and General Iroh."
The waterbender looked horrorstruck. "She belongs with me," the boy declared, "not you. She'd rather starve than eat in your presence."
"You don't make the decisions, boy," Zuko stated. "Besides, in the mess hall she'd be openly gawked at and maybe even harassed by my men. With me, she'll be exposed to more intelligent company and I certainly won't stoop to harassing her."
"I'd be there to protect her from your men. She doesn't need you!"
Zuko refrained from rolling his eyes before saying, "You are hardly a threat and even so, there will be no brawling on my ship. Especially over a girl."
Actually there was brawling all the time, usually involving Zuko teaching an officer a lesson by way of fists. His men were weary of the sea after two years and the tolerance for Zuko's temper was fragile. Zuko suspected Uncle had a hand in why there hadn't been a mutiny yet. Playing Pai Sho, giving shore leave, and orchestrating music night were all ways the old General kept the peace even though Zuko hardly approved of any of it. These were ways for the men to relax and speak easy, to let go of the ever mounting tension they felt about their Prince and his "unreasonable" commands. Zuko knew he was unpopular on his ship and it bothered him that his men might not be loyal if put to test.
Despite his feelings about being disliked, Zuko always knew that he was a better master than Zhao. Zhao slapped his men if they hesitated once about following orders and a number of other harsh punishments awaited seditionists and the like. He'd heard many stories about the unfortunate "insubordinates" and the tortures they'd had to endure. Zuko didn't indulge in torture. Hitting or fighting someone to keep them in line wasn't the same as restraining that someone and maiming them.
Sokka's next words brought Zuko out of his thoughts. "Why do you want to have dinner with Katara?" he asked suspiciously.
Katara. Yes, that was her name. He remembered now. It was easier to think of her as The Waterbender or The Water Tribe Girl. It made him feel better about attacking and imprisoning her when he didn't think of her as a person. Zuko always had a bit of trouble attacking girls that weren't his psychopathic sister.
"I merely wish to enjoy the presence of a pretty girl," Zuko teased with a smirk. Let him think the worst, the Prince thought smugly. Truthfully, he needed to monitor Katara's intake of the special ingredient that would be in every one of her meals. There was an Avatar at stake and he wasn't going to chance an uprising on Katara's part when her duties gave her access to water.
He watched the boy's brow furrow deeply. At least he's learned arguing is useless at this point, Zuko thought as the peasant remained silent. He decided to take his leave and see to other matters before dinner.
"I'll be back at dusk with your supper," Zuko said dismissively as he turned toward the door.
"What about the whole mess hall deal?" the boy shouted at Zuko's back.
The Prince looked over his shoulder, displaying his scar for the prisoners before he said, "Your normal routine begins tomorrow. Tonight, you stay in here."
He started walking again and had his hand on the door before the boy spat, "Do we have to eat without using our hands?"
Zuko scowled. He'd quickly grown accustomed to the ropes around the siblings' bodies. Of course he'd untie them, but he was already at the door and he was coming back later. They could set awhile longer.
"Maybe," Zuko said coldly before shutting the door. He slid the bar into its slot on the wall and locked it into place with a turn of the deadbolt.
Zuko went back to his room and scooped up the travel bag and the food. There was no sense in the items going to waste. He brought the bread and fruit to Jiru in the galley, the linen strips and the mysterious goo to Healer Rofeh in the infirmary, the rope down to the cargo hold, and the money pouch, waterbending scroll, and bison whistle were left in Uncle's room (more knick knacks for him to enjoy).
Zuko looked in the bag and found all that remained was the world map and hairbrush. He already had plenty of maps and those were much more recent and detailed. The hairbrush he assumed belonged to the girl and Zuko could see no harm in returning it to her. She'd find it waiting with her clean clothes in the morning.
The next order of business was to turn the ship around and head toward the Fire Nation. Admiral Zhao had been thrown off a long time ago and Zuko mentally kicked himself for not changing course sooner. Mere hours could make all the difference in securing prisoners. The sooner his return, the better.
After he put the satchel back in his room, Zuko climbed up the many levels of the stack and entered the bridge. Uncle was winning yet another Pai Sho game against the same unlucky crewmen. Zuko briefly wondered how the idiots kept being suckered into playing after so many preceding losses before he made his way over to Daisuke at the helm.
"Change course immediately," Zuko ordered. "Head South."
Daisuke nodded before slowly turning the helm to make a roundabout. Self-appointed errands done, Zuko started to leave the bridge when Uncle called him back. The Prince waited in the doorframe as the General moved a tile on the game board for the win. After pocketing his winnings, Iroh joined Zuko's side and they walked down the corridor together.
"Prince Zuko, what do you plan to do with your prisoners?" Iroh asked softly.
Zuko arrogantly raised his one eyebrow and looked down at his uncle. "I plan to get them to Azar," he said matter-of-factly.
"I mean while they are on the ship," Iroh elaborated.
Zuko found this inquiry odd. It was unlike Uncle to question affairs of the Avatar. He would offer advice or give meaningful looks, but it was unusual for him to prod like this.
"The Avatar is to stay in his cell and the peasants are to work," Zuko stated before he faced forward again. Why should Uncle be concerned?, he thought. It's not a complicated matter.
"So what kind of work will the water siblings do?"
Zuko stopped walking and fully faced the General. "Do you question my competence? Do you not think I am using caution in every matter?" he demanded. He was working himself up, but anger was nothing new. "I'm not stupid, Uncle! I wouldn't let the Avatar's companions roam about if I thought I couldn't control them! I'm fully aware the girl is a waterbender! I'm educated enough to know freezing locks and hinges can open a cell," he shouted. Zuko harshly exhaled before he added venomously, "Her abilities will be dealt with tonight and maintaining the method of control will be seen to most carefully."
Iroh replied calmly, "I don't doubt your methods of control, Nephew. But I wonder if you're underestimating the power of love."
Now the Prince was thoroughly confused. "Love? Love is emotion, not strength," he spat. At least… that's what he'd been taught.
"Prince Zuko, those three captives of yours have built a friendship. They care deeply about what happens to each other. I'm especially concerned about the water siblings," said Iroh.
"Because they'll try to free the Avatar?" Zuko asked.
"Well there's that," Iroh mused, "but there are other reasons. For one, most siblings care more for the other rather than themselves." Zuko noticed the emphasis on the word "most" and knew Uncle was referring to how the Royal family's sibling bonds didn't seem to be very sentimental. Politics could do that to a family.
"I know, Uncle," Zuko said exasperatedly. "I used that to control the boy. A little threat towards his sister and he eventually accepted my authority."
Iroh shook his head. "You shouldn't have done that," he said gruffly. "He'll comply to your wishes for now, but his determination to keep the girl from danger will multiply his efforts to escape with her tenfold. The people of the Water Tribe have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything."
Zuko scowled. "We will see," he said darkly. Desperate to throw something back at his confidence shattering Uncle, he added, "You said there were other reasons. The sibling bond is only one reason. Can't you count anymore, old man?"
"I gave you two reasons actually," Iroh replied, ignoring the insult. "I also said people of the Water Tribe are capable of great love and adaptation."
"So your other reason for concern is that they are Water Tribe?" Zuko was confused. It was a very weak argument as far as he could see. Your nation didn't determine your nature.
"There is a proverb," Iroh started to explain. Zuko almost groaned. Uncle had an endless amount of proverbs and Zuko had yet to hear one that he liked. "That when water is trapped," Uncle said, "it makes a new path."
"Enough!" Zuko swiped at the air making an arc of fire. "This conversation has been a complete waste of time!" he screamed. "I have everything under control. The Avatar is mine and I will be keeping him! No one will sabotage anything, no one will defy me, and no one will escape!"
Zuko turned away furiously and stomped down the hall, leaving his Uncle, standing as calm as ever, behind him.
He went out on deck and paced, throwing the occasional fire ball at no one in particular. The crewmen on deck hastily managed a disappearing act. Zuko fumed silently about his uncle's "criticism"... What does Uncle know? Thinking I have no control over what people do on my ship! … It's my mission, not his! …Everything will be fine…Senseless proverbs …
Eventually Zuko's temper evened out and he was able to notice the sun was hovering just above the water on the horizon. He had said he would serve the prisoners dinner at dusk, so Zuko turned from the sunset and went looking for Healer Rofeh.
Healer Rofeh hadn't left the infirmary and Zuko immediately ordered the previously purchased depressants to be taken from storage. When all the vials, beakers, and powders were in clear display, Zuko began questioning Rofeh.
"Which are the best for halting bending without interfering with other daily functions?"
Rofeh pushed aside the ones least fitting (ones that clouded the mind, paralyzed the body, or had soporific effects.)
"Which of these," Zuko indicated the remaining drugs, "is best at halting waterbending?"
Healer Rofeh selected one vial. "This one, Sir."
Zuko took the ampulla from Rofeh and scrutinized the ruby colored contents. "Sofmei," Rofeh offered.
"How long until it takes effect?" Zuko asked still watching the liquid gently slosh in its container.
"About a half hour for full potency, but the person is likely to lose ability after 10 minutes. Sofmei doesn't have to be digested and taken into the bloodstream.
"The stomach is the body's energy source, also called 'the sea of chi.' Waterbenders rely very heavily on chi for bending. After a short time of exposure to Sofmei, the stomach stops emitting the essential aura for chi to be drawn from."
Zuko nodded. Firebenders drew power from strong emotions. Their depressants were usually mood levelers. He didn't know anything about waterbending power sources. He'd be trusting Rofeh entirely with this matter.
"How long do the effects last?" Zuko asked.
"As soon as Sofmei completely leaves one's system, the chi can return. It really depends on the person's metabolism. An average amount of time would be 10 hours."
"What are the effects on a nonbender?" Zuko inquired thinking about the boy partaking of Katara's food.
Rofeh shrugged indifferently. "Nothing harmful. Slight dehydration, mild diarrhea, maybe periods of shivering."
"On a firebender?" Zuko pressed further.
"Again slight dehydration. A few extra glasses of water or a pot of tea should take care of that. Maybe the person will have a dry mouth and throat, but again water should remedy it."
Zuko was feeling good again. Katara would be powerless. He could let her serve herself at dinner to not arouse suspicion while the people around her experienced very mild inconveniences. Just a few more questions and he'd go help "prepare" supper.
"What's the dosage?" Zuko asked.
"Five milliliters is plenty for most people," Rofeh said confidently.
"What effects happen if an overdose occurs?" Zuko wondered.
Healer Rofeh's expression darkened. "Extreme dehydration. Nausea, dry heaves. Inability to sweat, pee, salivate, cry. Skin dries and peels. Chills. Women stop menstruating. It's a very potent drug and should be used carefully," he emphasized.
Wow, Zuko thought. Nasty symptoms.
Rofeh continued, "If you used that whole vial at once, the eyes would dry out and cause blindness before blood in the veins would stop flowing, resulting in death."
Zuko subtly gulped but kept his voice cool. "Long term effects?"
"Only after a few years taken regularly does anything show up. Most severe is deterioration of the stomach lining or missing a bleeding for women."
"So nothing after a few months?" Zuko pressed.
Rofeh shook his head. "No. At least in no medical history I've reviewed." Satisfied, Zuko nodded to Healer Rofeh and left with the vial of Sofmei in hand. Now, onto supper, he thought.
As he approached the galley, a number of delicious smells met Zuko's nose. Chef Jiru was obviously putting the freshly bought spices to use. The Prince thought he smelled Yakitori, a delicious grilled chicken recipe.
Zuko's senses turned out to be accurate as he found Jiru absorbed with the task of seasoning the chicken with tare sauce. Iroh's ruby eyed monkey statue watched from a corner. Before talking with the slightly eccentric chef, Zuko walked over to the foods already set out to be served and surveyed which ones would be suitable for his prisoners. Ramen, onigiri, salmon, soba, and steamed vegetables.
He remembered the incident at the abbey and decided if Katara could bend perfume, she could most likely bend soup as well. The crew could have all the ramen tonight. The vegetables and soba noodles were safe. To eat salmon, one needed a fork and that could be a tool for escape. The onigiri rice balls were fine. And Zuko decided that the currently cooking yakitori was too good for prisoners on their first night.
Zuko turned back to Jiru and stared intently at the man trying to get him to look up from cooking so the two of them could talk. Jiru was observant, but when he was in the kitchen, all that mattered was preparing food, so he did not glance in the Prince's direction and Zuko lost his patience. He slammed his fist on the counter and shouted "Jiru!"
Jiru was very touchy about negativity and often ignored people with attitudes like Zuko's to avoid criticism, but now Jiru could ignore Zuko no longer. Before he turned to his employer, Chef Jiru took special care in setting down his dipping tongs and taking one last glance at the stove as if he could make some excuse to not abandon his work.
"You needed something, Prince Zuko?" Jiru said at last.
"From now on, I will be coming to galley before meals are served," Zuko declared. "What I do in this room stays between us."
Jiru bristled slightly. "May I ask what his highness plans to do in my humble galley?" the chef asked looking Zuko in the face. A complete lack of humility before his master.
It's not your concern! Zuko wanted to snarl, but he held himself back. He needed Jiru to be on his side for this. "One of our guests is a waterbender and she is not to use her abilities and jeopardize my hold on the Avatar. I can't trust her to give it up, so I'll be drugging her," the Prince said softly.
Now Jiru's brown eyes widened. His voice became urgent and he gestured wildly with his arms as he said, "You'll taint my delicious food with strange flavors of harmful nature! One ingredient can change the whole flavor of a dish! I put such care into preparing each recipe and you'd come after my labors to undo all of my precision! One cannot throw ingredients together and hope for the best! You must understand that cooking is an art. You say this matter of lacing the food must be kept between us, but the waterbender will taste the difference and your own efforts will be in vain! Put the drug into her tea. I will not stand for extra things added to my food!"
"You do not have a say in the matter!" Zuko boomed, his fist connecting with the countertop again. "I am the only authority on this ship and I plan to put this drug," he held up the vial of Sofmei in his unclenched hand, "in the food! I do not need your approval!"
Zuko forced his voice back to a dangerous, soft tone. "The dosage is five milliliters. I'm sure that's not enough to arouse suspicion from taste."
Jiru blinked several times to recover himself before he said in a relieved voice, "Oh that's only a teaspoon. Not much at all. What flavor does it have?"
Rather than admit he didn't know, Zuko handed over the vial to Jiru for tasting. Jiru uncorked the Sofmei and placed his finger on the top before briefly tilting the container. He then tasted his finger. "It has a mild salty flavor," Jiru said. "Most every recipe has salt. I can make this drug undetectable with no problem. What foods would you like it in tonight?"
"Prepare a separate platter for the prisoners of the vegetables, soba noodles, and onigiri, and spread the Sofmei evenly," Zuko ordered. Jiru looked over at the food set out and frowned. "Do you have problem with that, Jiru?" Zuko asked coldly.
Jiru continued looking at the food as he said, "I was thinking about the red coloring of this…'Sofmei' and how white the rice balls and noodles are."
Zuko scowled. Jiru was right. Although it was dark in the cells, Katara and her brother could definitely make out a mysterious "sauce" coating their food.
"We could add soy sauce," Jiru suggested after a minute.
Zuko shook his head. "The prisoners are hot and thirsty. I doubt they'll appreciate extra salt." There was silence again. Zuko had been planning to give Katara fruit to suck on to relieve thirst until her abilities were gone, but perhaps he would have to give her wine tonight.
He looked back at the food. The only red in the meal was the umeboshi in the center of each onigiri. It could be made to look like the pickle's red dye had bled into the rice…
"Put the Sofmei around the umeboshi, Jiru. No one will notice it then," Zuko said. Jiru nodded and fetched a measuring spoon. While his chef was carefully measuring out the depressant, Zuko retrieved a grapefruit from the pantry to serve as a drink for the Water Peasants.
When Jiru finished arranging the platter, Zuko realized he'd forgotten to mention something to the chef. "Also," Zuko said as Jiru looked up, "this waterbender girl will be in your charge."
"What!" Jiru exclaimed. "I have more important things to do than think up chores for a prisoner!"
Zuko's temper flared up again. "That's my decision! The best place for a woman on my ship is in the kitchen! I won't have her down in the engine rooms where she could fall into a furnace!"
"Put her with Healer Rofeh. He always has a patient or some medicine to cook up," Jiru said.
"Rofeh can manage on his own! Helping to prepare three meals a day for an entire crew will give the girl plenty to do! My decision is final! She works for you!" Zuko finished furiously.
Jiru scowled before he looking away from Zuko's severe glare. "Very well," he said finally.
Zuko nodded and turned to leave. He'd send someone to pick up the platter shortly. And then he'd watch Katara's power fade away as she sought much needed nourishment. Zuko shook his head. That shouldn't amuse him…
Katara sighed. Morning could not come soon enough. She'd have a tub full of water to wield against Prince Zuko. Even if she didn't get off the ship, she could help Aang. But how much longer did she have to wait? Unless Zuko had gone back on his word, it wasn't even dusk yet.
Next to her, Sokka's stomach gurgled loudly as he sat in silence. He hadn't spoken a word since Prince Zuko had left. Sokka always blamed himself for his loved ones' misfortunes and Katara guessed he had really been shaken by the threat to her virtue. Well she had been too, but her hope had been restored and she could see Sokka needed her to share it.
"Sokka, everything will turn out okay. Tomorrow we can find out where Aang is and I can help him with waterbending," she said sweetly.
Sokka didn't turn to look at her as he answered softly, "Katara, I don't want you to try anything until we're absolutely sure to succeed."
Katara wasn't put off. "Zuko said we'd get a bath in the morning and in the evening. If we don't strike in the morning, we get another chance at night. I could just freeze all the soldiers and then we'll find Aang and help him get his glider so he can escape."
Her brother still wasn't enthused and his voice became edgy. "I don't think Zuko is that careless. He knows you can waterbend, so why would he let you have access to a tub? He's got something planned." Sokka turned around. "I'm scared for you," he said. Katara was struck by how brightly his ice blue eyes could shine even in darkness.
"Katara," Sokka said urgently, "promise me that you won't try anything. We'll gather all the information we can through our jobs and plan a strategy. I don't want to make a move at random and hope for the best. We need to be careful. Promise me that you'll wait Katara!"
She realized he was right. Her family was surrounded by enemies on this ship and it would be best to keep quiet until she knew where to strike. Perhaps she could even get more valuable information through dinner with Zuko. She shuddered at the thought of dining with such a dragon.
Katara took a deep breath and said, "I promise Sokka. Will you promise me that you won't make a move when the soldiers try to get you angry?" Sokka's temper could be as bad as her own, especially when it came to the Fire Nation.
Sokka nodded and said, "I promise." If the ropes weren't still around her, Katara would've hugged her brother. Sokka had finally given up on the knots after his failed attempt using his teeth. Katara loved her brother's unbreakable determinism and spirit. It would keep her going through this ordeal in the inferno of a prince. Instead of a hug, she settled on a gentle nuzzle against Sokka's shoulder. She stayed there for awhile listening to his heartbeat and feeling his chest rise and fall. She was safe here.
The grating of a lock broke her feelings of security and she sat up to see Prince Zuko enter as before. Katara hardly had time to adjust to the rush of light before Zuko strode toward her and Sokka quickly. She drew back. Was he going to hurt them?
He knelt, there was the flash of a dagger, and she was… free? She moved her wrists and the ropes fell away as his highness moved to cut the ropes around her ankles.
Completely forgetting her promise, Katara sparked an idea. She gripped the remains of her rope tightly and swung her arms toward Zuko. He did nothing and let the rope close around… the armor surrounding his neck! Katara felt like an idiot. She was in for it now.
"Katara!" Sokka yelled. "You promised!" Her resolve hardened. If she was going to be punished, she wanted to earn it. She tugged on the rope anyway. She wanted to punish this evil youth for hurting Aang and Sokka and Appa! Zuko stiffened slightly but kept his posture erect. She was so weak he could resist her almost effortlessly. He now seemed to be taking his time with her ankles, cutting each layer of the rope lazily, just to see what else she would try. She would give him something to get mad at her for! She slackened the rope just for an instant before she threw her whole weight back and this time, Zuko came with her.
His elbow landed in her ribs as he fell on top of her and his left hand held the knife out of the way. Katara let go of the rope and began clawing at Zuko's face. He hissed before dropping the knife and quickly grabbing her hands. He squeezed hard and she whimpered. She thought her fingers would break. Suddenly the crushing was replaced by heat. Her capture's hands had grown scorching around her own. She screamed as she realized Zuko was going to burn her.
"Katara! NO!" Sokka shouted. Then as soon as it had come, the heat was gone. Zuko let her hands go and quickly stood up, grabbing the knife. Katara looked at her hands. They were bright red but not burnt. She looked at Prince Zuko. His expression was stoic so she couldn't tell how much rage was behind his calm exterior. She only knew that she'd be given far worse than throbbing hands for what she'd done.
"Just what did you plan to do after strangling me, little waterbender?" Zuko asked coolly.
Katara looked down. What had come over her? She'd promised Sokka just moments before that she wouldn't do something like strangle her captor. How could Sokka ever trust her again? How could she trust herself? What had she hoped to accomplish by hurting Zuko?
"Help Aang," she said quietly.
"The Avatar is mine and you shall not have him back," Zuko declared.
Katara looked up at Zuko with pleading eyes. "Please, I just want to know that he's all right."
"It's not a matter of your concern," Zuko said dismissively. He looked down at his dagger and started to finger it delicately, throwing glances at Katara. Katara shivered. Would he mar her in retaliation for the claw marks she had put on his right cheek?
Sokka spoke up. "Katara wouldn't have killed you. Please don't hurt her!" Katara was struck that her brother actually thought her incapable of taking life. But… was she? If she could've, would she really have gone through with killing Zuko?
She heard Sokka's stomach profess its hunger again. The noise rather ruined the effect of his plea. Zuko came over to Sokka and cut him free. As Zuko stood up, he said, "Your sister's punishment comes soon. But now we'll get on with dinner." He turned his head toward the door. "Kanta," he shouted.
A soldier came in bearing a platter. He set it down between Katara and Sokka, bowed to Prince Zuko, and left. Katara immediately looked for a something on the tray to bend, but she saw nothing that could be useful.
"Eat up," Zuko commanded. Katara reached out for a rice ball when Sokka grabbed her hand.
"Wait," Sokka whispered. He then lowered his head to the food and began sniffing each item. When he sat up, Katara saw his dismay that he could find nothing obviously wrong with the scents. Sokka shot Zuko an askance glance before picking up the rice ball Katara had reached for and nibbled at it. He waited a few seconds before handing it to Katara.
She reached out and touched her brother's arm. "Sokka, it'll be okay," she said soothingly. Sokka's gaze locked with hers, his eyes blazing. She understood. If anything tastes unusual, spit it out. She started on the onigiri in her hand. She tasted nothing out of the ordinary and she nodded to Sokka. He began to eat too.
While she ate, Katara observed Zuko from her peripheral vision. She wondered why he had stayed in the cell. Didn't he have more important things to do than make sure his prisoners ate their dinner? Sokka's words came back to her, "He's got something planned."
From what she could see, Zuko's expression was always guarded. She couldn't tell if he was triumphant, mad, condescending, pensive, or anything else. Was he always this reserved or was he trying not to give away any scheme he might have in mind. She also noticed that he had put his knife away. Had he already decided on her punishment or was he thinking of it right now? Katara decided to make it a mission to find out how to read Zuko during her time with him. Something told her it wouldn't be easy.
Several soldiers entered the cell shortly after her and Sokka finished eating. One brought a chamber pot and took the tray away, another gathered the remains of the ropes, two moved in futons, and the last one handed Sokka a slightly dampened rag for his bloody face.
The soldiers took their leave with Prince Zuko, who didn't say another word to Katara and Sokka before departing. Not that Katara cared. She felt oddly drained. The strength she had felt herself gaining from the food seemed to be leaving her. She wasn't any more tired than she should've been. It was a different kind of weariness. She felt incomplete, as if an important part of her had been snatched away.
Katara crawled over to Sokka on his futon and he wrapped his arms around her. "You promised," he whispered.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. She wanted her big brother to keep her safe. This feeling of being incomplete was scaring her. Before she made herself comfortable next to Sokka, she wondered if sleep would really make this new feeling go away. Before she closed her eyes, she wondered what she could expect tomorrow to be like. And before she drifted off, she wondered what Zuko's punishment was and how soon was "soon"?
Zuko examined his reflection. A little girl had put scratch marks on his royal person! He washed the disgraceful lesion thoroughly. Who knew what kind of scum was under a peasant's fingernails?
He emerged from the washroom only to find Uncle waiting for him in the corridor. "What?" Zuko snapped.
"I should ask you the same thing," Iroh said playfully and indicated Zuko's right cheek. "Did you lose a fight with an armadillo-tiger?"
Zuko scowled and brushed past his uncle. "I just came to tell you dinner is ready," Iroh shouted after him.
"Not hungry!" Zuko shouted back before he disappeared inside his room. He undressed himself but for his pants and climbed into bed. The damaged skin snagged his silk pillow slightly and he cursed the girl again.
He didn't give a damn what the crew would think. She had fought dirty anyway. No man would use his fingernails to fight. But what a weakling he was for letting it happen! Maybe he did deserve to be replaced as his father's son. Father was everything strong and powerful. Zuko felt he didn't even come close to measuring up to Ozai.
Zuko had granted Katara mercy after she had screamed. Father didn't even grant his own son mercy. I'm such a compassionate weakling, Zuko scolded himself. Maybe it was better that he was in bed with no supper. It's all I deserve, Zuko thought before closing his eyes.
Darkness swirled around him. Zuko stood in the blackness trying to see… something. Anything. Silence was absolute; he heard nothing but his own breathing. He began to walk, trying to get somewhere that wasn't so devoid of sights and sounds.
Zuko had barely taken three steps when a cry rang out. He turned full circle, trying to locate the source of the noise. He saw nothing as the crying continued. It was a baby without question, but he couldn't see it. Zuko felt uneasy. Something was wrong. He had to find the child, to comfort it. To save it, he thought uneasily.
The crying grew louder, it was all around him. Zuko spun wildly, frantically. The crying was so loud now; Zuko covered his throbbing ears while continuing to search. As he turned in another circle, Zuko paused as he found himself staring at a pair of eyes. They were angular in shape and yellow in color with wide slits as the pupils. Zuko took his hands from his ears. He still heard the crying but he was captivated by those malicious pools of gold. A low growl came from the eyes. Zuko's breathing quickened as he came to realize the eyes belonged to a monster that he was unable to see. The eyes continued to stare, unblinkingly, at him as they slowly approached him.
Zuko stood frozen as he felt the monster's presence draw closer. It was big and didn't make a sound but for the "click clack" of its claws on the black ground. The eyes went past him, but the body was encircling him. Zuko shivered as he felt scales brush his cheek. The eyes came around to face him again. The beast snarled and Zuko felt its hot breath on his face. The heat made his eyes water and the air in his lungs became acrid and dry. The baby let out its loudest scream yet and the eyes snapped from Zuko's face to look past him. The creature roared thunderously and charged past Zuko, knocking him to the ground.
Zuko sprang up and tried to find the infant again. As he ran in the blackness he heard growling and snarling as the baby continued to scream. It was torture for Zuko. He was running as hard as he could, trying to find the infant before the monster did. Sweat soaked his body, his breathing was rapid and shallow, his heart was racing, and tears of adrenaline streamed from his eyes.
In the next instant, Zuko heard the most terrible roar yet. He stopped running and listened to the horrifying sounds in the darkness. Shrieking and growling. There was a loud crack and the crying stopped. Zuko shuddered uncontrollably as he heard a muffled crunching, like many bones being crushed, and then silence.
Zuko slumped to the ground. He hung his head and scraped his fingernails across the black void under his body. He felt helpless and useless. He had tried his hardest to save the child, but it hadn't been enough. Zuko brought his hands up to his face to wipe off the sweat and tears, but paused in horror at what he saw. His palms were glistening with fresh blood. It trickled down his arms and dripped onto his pants. Zuko took stock of his surroundings and found he was sitting in a pool of the red liquid. It was ice cold. Zuko looked back at his hands and screamed.
He drowns in his dreams,
An exquisite extreme, I know,
He's as damned as he seems,
And more heaven than a heart could hold
-"Beautiful Disaster" by Kelly Clarkson
AN: A bit of foreshadowing there… I worked really hard on the first part of the chapter for about 2 months. And the dream was written back in March. Wow! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! PLEASE!
Aang will be in the next chapter, Zuko didn't forget about him or anything. And lots more Zuko/Katara tension.
Okay, I never want to make you guys wait 6 months for another chapter again. So do you want shorter chapters meaning more frequent updates? Or do you guys not mind the wait if you get to read so much at once? Tell me please.
Also, unless the hoped for flood of reviews really inspires me, I'm gonna work on and finish Into the Inferno (Hellfire's sequel) before getting into Chapter 5. Spleef has been very patient and I myself wanna know where my fingers are gonna take the story…