Katara stopped crying two hours later, her head pounded like the raindrops that were now slamming into the roof. The memory of the tears in Aang's eyes gnawed her mind. As if trying to physically shun her thoughts, she rolled over. Something hard and round poked her in the ribs. Feeling around, she smiled at what her hand retrieved. Dragon Sap.I must have put it away when Toph screamed. She stared at the blue stone for a few moments before tucking it into her waistband, smiling. Zuko's golden eyes flashed in her mind and her smile involuntarily widened. As she lay there in bed she felt the rain droplets outside calling her to join their dance. Each rhythmic pound on the roof was a whispered command to go outside. She glanced at the sky and waited for lightning or reason to chain her inside; neither did. She looked at her mat and sighed. I'm not gonna go back to sleep anyway.
The outer courtyard was quiet and had taken on an ethereal quality in the drenching rain. She stood next to an airbison statue. The rain fell harder as she made her way toward the center of the courtyard. It muffled her footsteps as it crept into every crevice of her body. She spun in a circle making sure every inch of her was drenched. The water coated her skin, and enveloped her. A smile, and then a laugh escaped from her lips as the water worked away the tension that clung to her frame. The alien sound of her laughter echoing in the pavilion frightened her into a momentary stand still. She resumed moving, with a new intensity.
The rain drops bent under her instruction. They clumped and swirled together forming shapes and arcs in the air around her. She spun faster with each arc and twist she made. Joy surged in her veins as she made the rain drops dance along with her. If she spun they matched her speed, if she leaped they followed as she cut through the air. And for one moment, there were no mounds of laundry, and no worrying about whether there'd be enough money to buy food for the week. She wasn't trying to change Toph's mind on hygiene or talk Sokka out of his instincts. It was just the rain and Katara: master water bender, teenage girl. She laughed again, just to hear it echo throughout the empty courtyard.
''You know people are trying to sleep?''
She turned to see Sokka standing by a statue. His ponytail drooped oddly from the rain. A weak smile found its way to her lips and she continued bending the rain drops. He stood there watching her, and suddenly self conscious, she switched to practicing her attacks.
''I was talking to Aang and he seemed pretty bummed.''
Her hands fumbled and she dropped the water whip she had been forming. ''Really?'' She tried to sound disinterested.
He shrugged his shoulders. ''Okay, so maybe talk isn't the right word.; more like saw him run past my room sniffling.''
She stiffened and tried to focus on making a whip again. She got the form right, but when she tried cracking it, the shape dissolved and fell into a puddle at her feet. Sokka moved towards her, "Is everything okay?''
She turned towards him, relieved that it was raining. If he saw her tears he'd want to start a conversation for sure, and she definitely wanted to be left alone to wallow. She bit her lip and waited for him to leave. Instead, he placed his hand on her shoulder, ''Katara.''
She looked him in the eye and tried to feign sleepiness. ''Sokka can we talk about this tomorrow. I'm tired and-''
''Did something happen with Aang?''
His instance broke her and the image of Aang crying in his room cut her through the heart. She felt the urge to comfort him, to tell him that everything was going to be okay; like she had always done. ''Sokka, I'm a horrible person.''
'' You. A horrible person.'' She could tell he was amused.
''No, really. You'll hate me.''
He sighed and drew her into a hug. ''Katara, just because Aang has a crush on you and you don't feel the same way-''
''I kissed him Sokka.''
His mouth fell open in disbelief. He held Katara tighter. His baby sister had kissed someone, a twelve year old someone, but a someone none the less. ''Katara, just because you kiss someone doesn't mean I'll hate you.'' He laughed. Did he really seem so paranoid?''But there's one thing I don't understand. If you feel the same way...''
''That's just it. That's why I'm a horrible person. Because of how I feel about him I've ruined thousands of lives.''
A sniffle escaped, and Sokka could feel his already drenched shirt, being saturated with tears. He sighed, ''Katara, I highly doubt that many girls wanted to be Aang's girlfriend.'' He tried lightening the mood. ''He's bald remember?'' He laughed and waited for a least a giggle
She withdrew from his embrace. The jokes jarred her frazzled nerves, " It's not that!''
He held her at arms length at tried to find the answer in her eyes, '' What is it then?''
The words were frozen on her lips. She took a breath and tried to force them past her teeth. ''Because of me…'' Her words were muffled by the rain; She breathed again and tried to speak loudly. ''Because of me, Aang can't go into the avatar state."
His fingers on her shoulders tensed, ''What do you mean?''
Lightning flashed and Katara hoped the next one would strike her. ''Aang can't go into the avatar state until he let's go of me; that's why the invasion failed. I kissed him before I knew he had to let go of me. I just wanted him to be happy, and I do love him, but not that way.'' She paused. ''People died.'' Her breath came out in uneven rythms.
He held her at an arm's length and looked her straight in the eye. ''Just because you kiss a guy doesn't mean your bound to him eternally.'' His eyes bore into hers; hoping that his words would find their way through the fog that veiled the blue in her eyes. '' Aang needed to let you go. You would have willingly let him go if you had been in his place. If you had known about this from the very beginning you would have done everything in your power to make sure he never became attached.'' He searched her face trying to distinguish the raindrops from the tears. '' The invasion, the thousands of people aren't you're fault… if anything they're Aang's.'' There was steel in his voice when he said that, and he wiped what he thought to be a tear from her face.''You might think you're supposed to be perfect but you're not.'' He sighed. ''None of us are.''
She wondered if this was what his instincts were telling him, and bit back a smile. "I guess that makes sense. Thanks."
His moment of sagacity was over and he looked down at her. ''Can we go inside now? I'm freezing.''
Sokka entered his room and laid down next to Suki, he traced the scars on her neck with his lips, causing her to wake up. ''It looks worse than it actually is, " she muttered this as nonchanlantly as she could; trying not to think of the hours she had spent wondering what he would think of them.
The blood inside him boiled as he pressed his lips to the marred skin on her wrists. He clenched his teeth as he thought back to what Azula put her through. Her nightmares had been increasingly worse over the last few days; but she still smiled, still kissed him and he knew that deep down inside she still hoped. She's come so far and now we might not even make it out of this alive. He wondered if her capture could have been avoided if Aang had pulled it together in time. He sighed and instead pulled Suki tight against him; he probably wouldn't have been able to let Suki go if the war required him to. He turned her over and kissed her fiercely, as if daring the spirits to take her from him.
As he pulled away, she wrapped her arms around his neck. His kiss had tasted like something between desperation and sorrow. ''Sokka? Is everything okay?''
''I just want to hold you.''
She peered at him suspiciously. ''I'm not going anywhere.''
He smirked and tickled her. She rolled onto him laughing and he pressed her tight against him. ''Shh.'' He whispered in her ear. She snuggled against him and he wrapped his hand around her waist.
She gave him peck on the lips and turned back on her side, but he drew her in for a deeper kiss. She laughed before giving him another and then another; somewhere in the night they drifted off to sleep.
Katara awoke to Zuko, sitting in a patch of moonlight on the floor, meditating. She rose slowly and his voice broke the silence. ''You're still weak; Stay in bed.''
''They make them tougher than that in the water tribe. '' She noticed it was pitch dark outside. A faint memory of dancing in the rain and the conversation with Sokka stirred inside her. Eyeing the tray at her feet she tried not to let the surprise at the gesture show. She had focused so much of her hate on Kendo that she wasn't exactly sure how she felt about Zuko. She knew she didn't like Aang. ''How long have I been asleep?''
'' It's been a day since Aang came to see you.''
She flushed remembering their conversation. ''You know about that?''
He moved for the first time since she had wakened, and nodded. ''Everyone knows about that. You should probably eat your dinner before it gets too cold.''
She grabbed the bowl and peered at its contents suspiciously. She took a bite and swallowed. ''It's pretty good. What's in it? ''
He smiled at her. ''Grain, honey, some oats and Appa's spit. It's a recipe for a Western Air Temple delicacy. I found it in a scroll while I was looking through the library. ''
Her head snapped up and she saw a grin make its way across his face. '' Kidding.''
She took a bite of the cream colored mush in her bowl and grabbed her throat choking. Her coughs racked her body and Zuko kneeled over her. She was laying on the floor, convulsing. He grabbed her face, trying to get her eyes to focus on him. ''Katara?''
''Poison.''
He leaned further over her and she saw the panic in his eyes. She laughed. "Gotcha."
He stayed leaning over her, his face turning red. ''That's not funny.''
Katara wiped the tears away from her eyes . ''I think so."
His face grew grim until a curious expression flitted across his face; it turned into a slow smile which she felt in her toes, ''Zuko?''
He lowered his face to hers, his golden eyes shining. Placing his fingers in her hair he drew her in; Her breath quickened. He was so close to her. He saw her blush as cradled her face in his hand; All the while he was trying not to let the smell of her hair cloud his mind. She can't love you and you shouldn't love her. Her blue eyes shone and he smiled. He leaned in as close as he could; their lips almost touching and then quickly stood up. He winked at her and walked out the door. "Everyone's outside; they'd be happy to know you're okay." She gaped at his retreating back, "Damn him."
Katara entered the pavilion and was greeted by The Duke, dancing on top of her overturned cooking pot. He sang a drinking song that Iroh had taught him, while everyone sat in a row before him. He sang that last off key note and hopped off the pot while everyone politely clapped.
''Katara!'' Aang cried. She expected him to run up to her and hug him. Instead he nudged Kendo with his elbow. ''Kendo's been worried sick about you.''
Sokka shot Aang a dark look. ''We've all been worried about her. ''
Suki removed Sokka's arm from around her waist and gave Katara a hug. ''I'm glad you're feeling better.'' She nestled back into the crook of Sokka's arm as she sat down.
Toph spoke up from where she was picking her toes on a rock. '' It was really boring not having someone to mouth off to.'' She flicked whatever that had been in her toes at Kendo. ''So I had to make do with pissing the peachpuff off. '' She sighed and settled contentedly on her rock. ''Still not the same though.''
Katara sat down on the other side of Sokka. ''Where are Dad and Iroh?''
Sokka shrugged. ''I think they're in the library somewhere.'' A look of worry flitted across his face. ''they've been in there ever since Zuko carried you here.'' She stiffened. They're probably discussing the letter. Why didn't I ask Zuko about it? She remembered Zuko's face being inches form hers and blushed.
Sokka pursed his lips, and Katara looked around the room and feigned interest in the ancient torches around them. ''I like what you guys did withthe torches.''
Aang who had been watching a game of Pai-sho between Teo and the Duke spoke up. ''Kendo lit them.'' His voice was exceedingly cheery. ''Did you know Kendo's a firebender?''
Katara smiled through clenched teeth, ''Yeah, but it was suppose to be a surprise and I didn't want to ruin it.'' Surprise, your new Sifu would love nothing more than seeing you dead. He's probably just waiting for the right moment to douse you in oil and set you a blaze.
Aang smiled. ''He gave me a lesson today. ''
She pretended to be remotely interested. ''Did you train with Zuko today too?''
His face became less cheery when she mentioned his name. ''A little. But Sifu Kendo taught me some things I didn't even know you could do with fire. '' His grey eyes widened. ''Did you know you could make fire fall like rain?''
She hoped her voice had the right hint of delight and widened her eyes, ''Really?'' Great, that's all we need; hell raining down from the sky.
Kendo smiled at her in what she guessed was suppose to be an alluring way, but just caused the mush she had been eating earlier to rise to her mouth, ''I could also teach you things that you never knew could be done.'' He sounded like a perverted old man.
A vein appeared in Sokka's forehead. ''Okaaay! Who wants to go next?''
Katara gave Sokka a puzzled look as he was trying to decide between Teo's wheel chair dance and Aang's impersonation of Appa.
Suki tugged her arm and mouthed the words, Music Night and Iroh's idea.
Toph spoke up from her rock just as Zuko walked in.''I say Sparky should entertain us.''
Zuko stood in the entrance of the pavilion and rolled his eyes. ''I'm going back to bed.''
''You owe me remember?''
He sighed and leaned against a pillar. ''How could I forget.''
Katara noticed that Kendo was inching his way closer to her. Oh, for heaven's sake.
He walked towards the center of the pavilion and motioned to Toph. ''What do you want me to sing?''
She thought a moment then smirked. ''Who says your singing?" She motioned to Teo and the Duke who pulled instruments out of the bag that hung off of Teo's chair. ''You're going to dance.''
Sokka scratched his head. ''You guys can play?''
Teo shrugged. ''There's not much you can do at a dance in a wheel chair.''
The duke smiled at them from under his oversize helmet. ''We captured a fire nation musician once. He taught me.''
Toph sighed with impatience. ''Get on with it.''
''This is ridiculous. Why would I do something stupid like that?''
''Don't be such a baby!'' She bended a clod of dirt at him. "You've got to know at least one good dance. They don't have parties in the Fire Nation?"
''But I don't like dancing!'' He sputtered. ''You can't even see me. I mean you'd at least be able to hear me sing.''
She played with a piece of earth. '' No offense, but I have sensitive ears and your voice sucks.''
Katara felt Kendo's arm making its way around her waist. His clammy hand rested on her thigh. She flashed a helpless look at her brother.
Sokka made eye contact with Haru and they both made fists. He smiled at her through clenched teeth. ''Just say the word.''
She shook her headand tried to think of some other means of escape. Suddenly she stood up and made her way to the center of the pavilion.
The surprise on his face was evident and he clenched his teeth. ''What are you doing?''
She looked back at Kendo's glowering face. Understanding lit up in his eyes. ''Ah, trying to avoid your prince charming.'' He studied her and then sighed ''Whatever. You owe me big time.''
She stood closer to him as Teo and the Duke tuned their instruments, ''By the end of this you'll owe me.''
Toph smiled. ''I didn't see that coming.'' She leaned forward and placed both hand on the ground; her sightless eyes somehow focusing in their direction.
Aang felt something inside him die as the music started. They looked perfect together; like ying and yang.
Zuko glared at Katara who glared right back. ''So your genius plan is what?'' His words mingled with the hiss and crackle of the torches around him.
She stood in front of Zuko and smiled at him through clenched teeth. ''Just pretend you're sparring.''
''What are you talking about?''
''Just listen to the music and spar.''
They moved slowly. Their footsteps matching the melancholy rythm; they circled each other. The tension left his face when he realized his slow movement matched the somber notes. He missed a step as the tempo quickened. Katara laughed and took a bending stance. As she came at him he heard a faint voice behind him whisper. Trust her.
He smiled and ducked her attack as a staccato note pierced the air. His punches matched the rich bass notes of Teo's instrument; and her fluid movements matched the high notes that weaved through the air. Sometimes they were three feet apart, and other times there wasn't an inch between them. The adrenaline coursed through his veins as he grabbed her by the waist and set her spinning across the floor. Some of what they were doing reminded him of the steps that had been pounded into him at a young age. The ancient routine passed on from the first benders of fire, to countless generations. But then there were moments where they made thier decisions at the last possible second, inspired by the plucking of a string or the hum of a note as it echoed in the pavillion.
Katara floated at Zuko and was surprised when he took the lead. She weaved to the left and the right and noticed that they what they were doing now resembled dancing more than it did sparring. She jumped over him and he leaned back. Just like I did with Aang. She ventured a quick look at Aang hoping he hadn't noticed. He had. Then she realized something that both thrilled and scared her. She was having fun.
As the last chords faded away, the pavilion erupted into cheers. They pulled apart and bowed. Zuko saw his Uncle leaning against a pillar. He groaned. How long has he been standing there? By the way his uncle smiled triumphantly he guessed long enough.
Toph smiled and handed Katara something. ''You dropped this. '' She placed it in her hand and whispered .'Your heart's beating pretty fast Sugar Queen.''
Katara flashed her a look. ''Because I was dancing.''
Toph rolled her sightless eyes. ''You just keep telling yourself that.''
Katara sat down next to Aang and he peeked at whatever it was Toph had put in her hand. It was the Dragon Sap stone, ''What is it?''
''It's um, Dragon Sap.'' Remembering his face when she had mentioned Zuko's name earlier she tagged on the rest heistantly. "Zuko made it for me."
''Oh.'' It bit into him more than seeing them dance.
They sat in silence the rest of the night.
''Library, in an hour.'' Hakoda whispered as Katara was on her way to bedroom. ''Tell Zuko.''
She nodded and followed Zuko to his room. ''Library, in an hour.'' She murmured and she walked off. What she didn't notice was that Sokka had seen the entire exchange and had formed a very different opinion as to what their nocturnal activities entailed.
An hour later Sokka followed Zuko and Katara as they entered the ancient library. He would have lost them in the darkness had it not been for the fire that burned brightly in Zuko's palm. He was about to jump out at them when he realized that his father and Iroh were also standing there. Okay, this is weird.
Hakoda looked grim and held out a scrap of paper towards Katara. She looked at curiously. ''It looked bigger when it was hanging of the zebra sloth's neck.''
''It's a copy. We can't let Kendo suspect that we know, so we take as much precautions as possible.'' There was a fierce note in his tone and he looked at Katara like she would disappear before his eyes.
She fingered the scroll. ''But how did you find that exact Zebra sloth again?''
Iroh interjected. ''My young flower, it is not important how we did it. '' He looked worried. ''I think you should just read the note.''
She read the scroll and gasped. ''it's all about me. '' She scanned it again. Everything about her was on the piece of paper: age, birthday, height, family lineage. Even her weight was on there.
She handed the note to Zuko. Who glanced it over. ''So Kendo's a psychotic stalker.'' He shrugged his shoulders. ''I'm not surprised. ''
Hakoda handed her another note, '' This is the first part of the message they sent. ''
Katara cleared her throat and read the message aloud.
Kendo,
Father has requested that the person you were told to assassinate be sent back with Zuko. Alive. I don't know what changed his mind. You can do what like with the others. Perhaps you can use them to persuade them both to come quietly. But the important thing is that you obey his order. All the information you need on this prisoner will be sent to you via another messenger. Since you are traveling with my nosey uncle it should be obvious that secrecy is more than prudent.
Azula
''Wait, does she mean Katara?'' Zuko's voice was a mix of breathless fear and worry.
Hakoda was quiet for a moment. '' Yes. ''
The note had slipped from Katara's hands. They wanted her. Her mouth was set into a grim line. She was to be a prisoner of war.
Zuko slammed his fist against a book shelf. ''Uncle think of something. '' Before I go in there and kill Kendo myself.
Katara's hands crumpled into fists. If the Firelord wanted her she would come and bring hell with her.
''I'll go.'' She said softly.
Zuko whirled around and faced her. ''Are you crazy?''
She shook her head. ''I'm going and you're coming with me. ''
Sokka jumped out from behind a bookcase. ''No!''
They all, except Iroh, stared at him slightly puzzed. Sokka rubbed the back of his neck. ''Hey, everyone.''