Clash

Nothing is like this.

Nothing is as painful, as tormenting as this. He's closer than he was a second ago, I know it. His hand is inches, moments away from mine. And there it is, his fingers entwined with mine, as if they had been there forever.

Holding this boy's hand is...surreal. How am I doing this? How did it come to this? Prince Zuko, the boy who had chased us for months, had nearly brought about our deaths and haunted our nightmares is holding my hand, gently, but I can still feel his racing pulse brush against the inside of my wrist.

"Zuko..." I breathe not knowing what to say.

"Don't talk." He told me. I flare instantly as I wrench my hand from his.

"I'll do what I feel like, you can't silence me." I hiss at him, determined to defy him, to clash with him.

"Katara, jumping for any chance to hate me isn't going to help. I meant don't talk as in just enjoy the view." He says calmly, looking mildly surprised as he gestures to the mountains and mist that are below us as we stand at the brink of the Western Air Temple. "Also, you would only say that you hated me, maybe I want a break from being despised for a while." He adds, a look of bitterness flashes across his face, just for a second, and then it is gone. I soften as I watch him hurting.

"I'm sorry..." I tell him, wanting him to believe me, but even I don't believe me. I watch him a second longer and turn to leave.
"If you're going back to the Avatar-"

"His name is Aang." I snarl, spinning round to face him, but he is still watching the view as if something is about to happen, his back to me, "When are you going to call him by his name?"

Silence.

"If you're going back to him, you'll only distract him. I've set him some breathing exercises and if you want him to accomplish fire bending in this short time then you'll know better than to distract him."

"I'm not a distraction." I spit indignantly, "I'm one of his teachers too, Zuko, I have every right to go and see him!"

"So you are going to see him." Zuko says, still infuriatingly relaxed, his likeness to Azula and her laidback mind games shining through, "It was only a suggestion, after all. He doesn't know how lucky he is..."

I boil to the breaking point. Before I know what I'm doing, my water pouch is open and a water whip streaks through the air-

SMACK!

The prince stumbles forwards, only just manages to stop himself so he doesn't tumble down to the rocks hidden by fog below. I wait for his reaction, for the flames to erupt from his fingertips. But all I see is a cloud of steam from his nostrils. He turns; his brow furrowed and pushes past me, his shoulder colliding with mine. But just as I'm certain he's leaving, his hand slips into mine and he pulls me after him.

"What are you-" I begin, stumbling as I hurry to keep up with his fast pace.

"Don't. Talk." He repeats simply. This time I obey, not sure if he's going to hurt me or worse, try out some more romantic advances.