-=3=-
"Eugh..." Katara groaned. She felt like crap, and her whole head seemed to be throbbing with every heartbeat. And why was the ground so far away?
Zuko stopped walking. "You're awake." He said, his voice impassive.
On her place, lying awkwardly across Zuko's shoulders, her head was hanging limply, her hair covering her face and blocking her vision. Groggily, Katara attempted feebly to swipe it away with a hand... And realised that her hands were tied together behind her back.
"What the..?" Thrashing wildly, she managed to worm out of Zuko's arms and crash to the snow below, knocking the breath out of her. Zuko turned around slowly, gazing at her coolly, expressionless, the Princess tried to worm her way out of the coil of rope keeping her from waterbending. This was it; either she wouldn't be able to bend now, or she would escape easily. If that happened, nothing Zuko did would change it. He would go back to the Fire Nation an outcast, his name scorned and mocked. The humiliation of such a defeat was already unbearable. To return without the Princess would be a total and utter disaster, from both a personal and military perspective.
Katara hadn't really thought through her escape plan. In hindsight, it had been pretty pointless. The man who had taken her, presumable the one who had tied her hands together, was looking on from a few feet away, a mocking expression on his face. Oh, how she wanted to wipe that smirk off and give him something more permanent. How about another scar, to match the one already covering half his face.
Finally, she stopped struggling and glared up at the man in front of her.
"You tied me up?" Katara demanded, straining to keep her voice calm as she said it. It wouldn't do for him to know how scared she felt right now.
The man in front of her didn't speak, just nodded warily.
Katara had to take several deep breaths before she trusted herself to speak without her voice breaking. "May I ask why?" She said, a menacing tone creeping into her voice. Zuko eyed her cautiously. She didn't sound like the sort of person he wanted to cross.
Completely unsure of how to answer such a question, Zuko opened his mouth, then shut it hastily, choosing to remain silent. Judging by the look on her face now, if she ever managed to escape, she would make sure he regretted this day.
Glaring at Zuko, Katara vowed to make him pay.
o-o-o
"Have some water," said Zuko walking towards her with a canteen. "You'll need it."
They had stopped to rest for a while, and Zuko had decided that now was as good as time as any to eat. After all, the entire South Pole was the same. No place was better than any other.
Katara remained stubbornly silent, and resumed glaring at him in a way that promised violence. She would win this battle of the wills, even if it was a small one.
Zuko looked at her expectantly, then realised no reply was forthcoming. "Come on. I don't want to have to force you."
Katara kicked out at him, twisting into a powerful side kick, which was blocked easily by the firebender. Furious, she sent some more his way, which were all carefully avoided or deflected. Obviously the firebender was far more skilled in close combat than she. Not to give up, she charged him, catching him by surprise. Despite the fact she couldn't fully tackle him, Zuko lost his balance and tripped backwards, Katara unable to steady herself and falling down on top of him. Zuko began to scramble backwards, but stopped, astounded to see the water tribe girl sobbing over him. Tears ran down her cheeks, dropping from her face onto Zuko's chest, wetting his shirt.
How had that happened, the girl seemingly so full of spirit and life descended into a shaking figure in just a few seconds. What had he done to her?
The pain had just been too much to bear. She hated him, with all her thoughts and emotions, lashing out at him, trying to hurt him in any way possible. Anything to ease the consuming sadness developing within her. Was this to be the future of her life; getting hauled around by the enemy as thy slaughtered her people and family? It had hit her then, like a bolt to the chest, and she had collapsed, coughing and spluttering, trembling in Zuko's grasp.
A hand reached up, parting her black hair and stroking it gently, trying to soothe the girl. "It's okay, it's okay. You're fine, I won't harm you, I swear. It's okay." He said anything that came to him, and they just lay there, one on top of the other. After a time, he stopped talking and simply brushed her hair back, again and again, holding her tightly with his other arm wrapped around her. Eventually the only sound left was that of their breathing, the only movement the continuous rise and fall of their chests. Zuko disengaged himself from the embrace, realising Katara was asleep. Her cheeks were still moist, her hair in an untidy sprawl from the brief but intense melee a few seconds previously. Dimly, he realised that the girl was far more manageable asleep. More importantly, despite what had just happened, he still needed to get further away from the Water Tribe.
o-o-o
Aang watched the two figures from a distance, his eyes following their every moment, but his head remaining motionless. It would not bode well for him to be seen by a stray glance. They were interesting. They had fought for a time, then the female had almost collapsed, and the male had started comforting her. There was something between them, not companionship or even the slightest liking of the other, but they didn't attempt to harm the other, as if there was a grudging respect for the other. As if they were attached, bonded over what they had done, even after just half a day. What did that mean? And more importantly, he mused, what could he do about it?
o-o-o
Zuko stared grimly into his small pack. Reaching in, he carefully extracted the last few crumbs of the bread inside, in conflict over whether to give any to the girl. Or would she just throw it all in the snow, leaving him worse off than before. He sighed, trudging over to where she sat on the snow, and tapping her gently on the shoulder. The look he received was one of contempt, anger, and utter defiance.
Zuko pointedly ignored her glare and tried to speak impassively; "You hungry?" His voice cracked, sore and dry as it was. It had been a long time since he had gone without food for any long period of time.
At this, Katara smiled crookedly, almost shyly, even, an extremely disconcerting expression on her. Like this, she was the epitome of sly innocence, hair parted around her face, guiltless eyes glinting with the sunlight, with a cheeky grin etched on her jaw. Or maybe a snarl.
"Can I get my hands untied?" She asked sweetly, smiling up at Zuko.
He blinked. She started laughing at him. It started with a small giggle, but she couldn't stop, not with that bemused expression covering Zuko's features. He was quite obviously astounded by her suggestion, as she had hoped he would be. After all, it was pretty funny, she thought to herself.
"Oh my... Your face! Aha... Haha! Oh, your face was amazing!"
"I don't quite see what's so funny." Zuko commented idly, completely clueless as how to react to her. What in the world was with her anyway?
Katara snorted. "That's because you have no sense of humour, Prince Zuko. Learn to laugh once in a while, loosen up. And give me that food you promised."
Zuko frowned as he tried to see past her act and discern what she was planning. She knew who he was, obviously. Was she planning something? Or was this just the way she normally acted. And which was preferable anyway? Rubbing his temple, he sat down beside her and began tearing off small pieces of the remaining food. She looked at him and looked at him as if holding back another laugh, as he continued to systematically divide the food between them. He looked up and jumped a little at her azure blue eyes gazing evenly at him. Zuko swore they went right through to his soul.
He shuddered a little, and brought the meager piece of stale bread up to her mouth, dropping it in as she opened her mouth, letting her feed him. Well, this was certainly the most awkward experience of his life to date.
o-o-o
He was barely a boy, she saw now. Almost shy, so it seemed. Pathetic. A prince, he was. Wasting his life away lugging her around. Oh yes, he was fit. Physically capable too. But physical power was nowhere near as strong as the power of words. Fighting to defend the city is one thing. If the southern tribe was lost, almost a quarter of the Water Tribes' potential for navy and battle ceased to exist. But from the Fire Nation perspective, Zuko was in a poor position. Why would a prince venture out of safety and risk capture, just to attack a few innocents. The Fire Nation was despicable as a whole, but even this seemed beyond their idiocy. A selfish move, obviously, by Zuko. If he was taken, then their Nation was put in a perilous position. And he would be captured. Katara's heart skipped a beat.
In the meantime... Trying not to break down was ideal. The boy with the scar may seem aloof now, but Katara knew people. All she needed was time, then she could flip their positions in an instant. All she had to do was get closer to his heart. What did it matter, anyway? He thought he had already won. He wouldn't suspect a thing.
Chewing on the brown, spice filled bread of the Fire Nation Capital, Katara moved a hint closer to Zuko, pressing her form against his broad shoulder, eyes flashing with satisfaction as she felt his body stiffen beside her.