Chapter Three: Fever

Azula's Point of View

On the fifth day since escaping, I threw up. On the sixth, I collapsed. On the seventh, I found I could not stand when I awoke. Katara (whose name I had finally learned on the third day) decided I should eat. Because apparently in the water tribes, where nourishment can be far and few between, most sick people need food.

She sat in the cave we'd stumbled across stirring a broth that she'd taste-test every once in a while. I insisted I didn't need it, didn't want it but she ignored me. Which I supposed was pretty easy when I was as weak as I was.

And that made me hate Katara, because she had seen me in all my weakest moments. When I was assaulted by that man; when I started the bleedings; sick as a fucking dog-bear. I was still smarting over the whatever-she'd-called-it thing; big word that began with M.

And the healing. I had never known about the healing. My teachers told me only horror stories, about cyclones and avalanches. I could still remember the feeling of her hand, calloused and gentle slipping beneath my waistband.

But then I remembered others have done that, others had tried to come close enough to taste my skin to catch my lips and I'm always too quick for them. She didn't do those things, but the difference was that I wished she had. It startled me, for never before had I given many thoughts to lust. Poor Katara just kept giving me reasons to hate her without even knowing.

"Here. Secret Water Tribe recipe," she promised, cheerily thrusting a spoon down my throat. I gagged and it dribbled down my chin.

"You're trying to kill me!" I sputtered, wiping my mouth angrily. Katara frowned and put her hand on my forehead, causing me to blush.

"Paranoid delusions. Never good," she mused. "Maybe I need to go get some different herbs . . ."

"I am not having paranoid delusions," I stated, crossing my arms and glaring at her. Katara sighed and bit her lip.

"Would you just eat the soup?" she asked, offering another spoonful. She looked so hopeful I couldn't say no.

"Fine," I conceded. She raised it, probing my lips. "I can feed myself!"

"Of course. Now open your mouth," she brushed me off. I did, to tell her off, but she used it as an excuse to shove her spoon down my throat.

"Mmmpphh!" no good protesting. She held her hand over my mouth until I swallowed. "Agni! What was that?"
"Boiled willow bark," she said.

"It's disgusting,"

"Yes, but it will make you feel better. It slows the fever," she promised. "Here, now have some real food," she handed me a packet of hot berries that I ate begrudgingly, not wanting to admit how good it tasted burning down my throat.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked quietly. The question caught her off guard and her eyes were wide with surprise.

"What do you mean?"
"Why are you being so nice and helping me? Why don't you just let me die? It's easy. And you don't have to feel guilty,"

"I would feel guilty. I'm a healer; I'm supposed to help people," she said, reaching up to press her hand against my forehead. "Maybe the fever's getting worse," she muttered worriedly. I pulled away.

"I'm fine," I said, swatting her away.

"Azula, you are not fine," Katara grumbled. She smoothed back my hair, and almost subconsciously I found myself leaning into her touch. "Hmm," she placed her hands on either side of my face and kissed my forehead.

I knew enough of medicine to know that it wasn't a sexual thing, that she was just using a more accurate test by using the more sensitive lips, but it felt good. Much better than it should have. Shocks ran up and down my body, pulsating pleasantly. She pulled away and I was left breathless.

How did you do that?

"I guess it's not too much worse. I'll watch you, see if we need a real doctor," she said, smoothing back my hair.

"Uh-huh," well, it certainly wasn't the most intelligent thing I could have said but it would have to do for now. I laid back, falling into the soft cloth. She pulled the covers over me, fussing like she was my mother or something. It both maddened me to the point where I could've killed her and endeared her to me beyond words.

Perhaps I was sicker than I'd thought. . .

I inhaled deeply, letting a mist of hot breath settle over my face. Katara continued playing with potions and splashing around in her little puddles. I shivered and gave myself over to sleep.

"Azula?" I awoke to the sound of her voice and the heavy feeling of her hand on my forehead again. "Oh, Azula. You're so sick," she said worriedly. She pressed a wet cloth to my head again and gasped in horror as it steamed upon contact. "Your fever! We need to find a real doctor, I can't do this," she wrapped blankets around me and I struggled only a little. It was useless; I was so drained.

"Ugghh. . ."

"Hang in there. Don't die," Katara begged. She grunted as she picked me up and pain burst in my abdomen. I cried out as white lights danced before my eyes. Agni have mercy on me and I'll even be nice to Katara. . .

"Shh," she tried to sooth me but was unable to keep the tremble out of her voice. Another rip of pain and I buried my face in her chest, trying to concentrate on breathing through the pain as my father had always taught me. I felt Katara bending snow beneath us, propelling us around much faster than walking ever had. Dimly I wondered why she hadn't tried this before and realized again how easily she could have run from me and saved herself.

"Kaaaa. . ."

"Don't talk," she chastised. "Hold tight, okay? Grab my neck," I tiredly obeyed and gasped as a fuel of snow propelled us into the sky. New thesis: she had every intention of killing me and not only wanted to be there to watch me die but wanted to kill me herself. I tried to scream in protest but it came out like kitten's strangled mew. Would she freeze the water in body for a painful death? Impale me on a spinneret of ice? Drive spikes through my head? Bury me alive in an avalanche? Drown me? Or just drop me from this height so I could fall screaming. . .

"There!" she shouted in relief. I tightened my grip around her neck almost but not quite unconsciously as we began to move. A long time seemed to pass, during which I drifted in and out of sleep and surprised myself with how comfortable I was with the idea of dying. It was sunset when she finally stopped and we began to come down.

"We'll be safe in this village. I think they have a doctor," Katara said. I just sighed in relief when her feet reached hit the ground and became apparent that, at least for now, she didn't seem to have any plans of killing me.

"Is there a doctor? Somewhere? Anywhere?" the villagers stared at us, probably unsure of what to make of the young, frantic waterbender girl so far from home and the ailing firebender who might just be the princess.

"I am," a young man announced, coming forth. His normally dark skin was stretched white over his knuckles as he gripped his medical bag. He wore traditional earth kingdom dress and had black curls that were beginning to whine for a haircut. My stomach lurched and I groaned. Agni, please don't make me throw up all over Katara.

"Thank you. I'm um, Kua Mei and this is, um, Aza," her lying skills left something to be desired, but it would have to do until I could teach her to lie properly. He pressed a hand to my forehead and frowned.

"She's very ill – we need to get her inside," he said. Katara nodded and quickly followed him. The villagers stared and I could feel her stomach warm as she blushed. She blushes all over – I wonder what that looks like. . .

"Aza, can you hear me?" the doctor asked as Katara laid me down on a futon. "My name is doctor Surresh. I'm going to take care of you," he pulled blankets over me and pressed a cool cloth to my forehead. I shivered and threw up.

"Oh spirits. . . shh, shh," Katara said, pulling back my hair as I spat blood, water and something that burned. The world spun into blackness and I slumped into Katara's embrace, desperate for protection.

". . . might not survive the night," I awoke the sound of Surresh's voice and the fine clinking of china. Everything hurt.

"Isn't there anything else we can do? I can't stand to watch her like this. Can't we make it warmer. . .the cold is killing her," Katara pleaded. There was a beat of uncomfortable silence.

"The only thing I can think of is the sharing of body heat . . . but I must stress that even that would be no guarantee," he warned. "Really, all we can do now is wait," I heard Katara sigh and felt her crawl over. Her hand touched my cheek and I forced my eyes open.

"Oh!" she nearly pulled back. "I didn't mean to wake you," I glared, trying to breathe through the pain. Katara bit her lip.

"Please, I have to do something! Can't you see she's in pain? She's just a girl, like me! She's a firebender – if only the sun would come out," Katara said, sweeping my sweaty hair back from my face. "Do you have enough water for a bath? If I could just get her some warmth back, I know she could protect herself. . ." her voice trailed off into worry and I dug my nails into my palms to fight the racking tremors. I closed my eyes again.

"We wouldn't be able to get it warm enough," he said sadly. I heard Katara inhale sharply. She left and they spoke in quiet tones for a minute that I might have understood had my head not throbbed so painfully. There were pinpricks of light going off in the distance and I was beginning to worry about hallucinations. I jumped at the sound of a door closing.

"Azula," her voice was gently, like her hands as she pulled off my top. "I'm doing this to save your life, alright? Shh, shh," I opened my eyes and could see her in front of the fire, flames illuminating her natural beauty. Her outer clothing was shed and she was starting to undo her chest wraps. I blinked, staring wordlessly she blushed and undressed. "Alright," she mumbled under her breath, sliding next to me. "Tell me if you want me to stop. . ." her hands touched were wonderfully, surprisingly warm as she took off skirt. She hesitated a minute then pulled me against her when the warmth I'd been aching for hit me almost overwhelmingly. I leaned into it and sighed in bliss as the pain finally began to let up.

"Katara . . ." I let her name rest lazily on my tongue, trying out its weight. I felt her all over me, so intimately close.

"Please don't die," she whispered, tightening her grip around my weight.

"No," I said. The blackness was coming back but now it was a comfort, a downy velvet. I gave myself over to sleep.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender