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One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Zuko waited until dark to go back to his room. He entered cautiously, but saw only a dark shape on the bed. Sighing in relief he snuck round to the bathroom, getting ready for bed quickly before creeping back in. He got into the bed slowly, wincing at every sound. He turned over and tried to push down all the thoughts of what she had said to him, how much it hurt that his kiss could be doubted. It was not as though he dismissed her distrust, but he never thought that she would think so little of him, that he would stoop that low.

"Zuko."

He stilled completely.

"Yeah..."

"Turn over."

Zuko obliged, slightly puzzled. Katara was lying there facing him now, one hand propped under her head as a pillow, eyes holding his in their gaze.

"Was...was the kiss a trick?" She asked hesitantly, afraid of the answer.

"No."

She bit her lip, looking away.

"I'm sorry I said that."

Zuko looked at her. It was hard to make her out in the dim light.

"Katara...do you want to get out of this room?"

Did she! That's all she'd thought about for days, well... not quite all...

"Yes."

He swung up out of bed with an almost electric energy. Katara sat up slowly, unsure of herself. He walked around the bed and grabbed her hand.

"Come with me."

He pulled her up and they walked out the room, picking up the pace until they practically jogged up the corridor. Zuko led her through the maze of the Palace, out some double doors, and into the fresh night air. The moon was almost full, bathing everything in a silver light.

He led her further, over a small bridge and through an iron gate and into a small courtyard. A huge willow tree dominated the garden, hanging low over a pond bordered by firelilies. Blooms of every kind grew in a glorious tumble, birds cooing from their roost in the tree.

Zuko pulled Katara to the edge of the pond, regretfully letting go of her hand, lingering as long as possible. She looked at the moon's reflection on the pond, sighing at the feel of a cool breeze as it stirred her long tresses.

"Zuko...it's beautiful."

"It's my mother's garden."

Katara glanced up at his face, quickly averting her eyes.

"Where is she?"

"I don't know, she disappeared when I was 11," he replied, looking steadfastly up at the moon.

Katara wasn't sure why, but she took his hand. "My kiss wasn't a trick either."

He faced her and reached up to gently stroke her face. His thumb brushed over her lips almost absently.

"Katara, may I kiss you again?"

She closed her eyes. "I don't think we should, things are complicated enough as it is..."

He grasped her chin, tilting her head up to face him. "I didn't ask if I should."

She opened her too-blue eyes. "Yes."

He kissed her, long and lingering. Without missing a beat she stood on her toes to reciprocate. Heart pounding, butterflies tingling in her stomach, Katara felt electrified.

Zuko deepened the kiss, surprised when she let him in; he pulled back after a second, her teeth just barely grazing his bottom lip, sending shivers down his spine.

Both were breathing just a little harder.

Zuko swallowed, "Come on, we should get some sleep."

But he didn't let go of her hand as they walked back to his room.

Katara woke the next morning to find herself folded into Zuko's warm arms. His chest rising evenly behind her. She was...confused, or something more than confused, conflicted.

He's my enemy. But he saved my life. But he's the reason I'm in this mess. But he's trying to help me. Does he actually like me? Why are we doing this?

She tried to pull away but he merely tightened his grip, sighing sleepily.

"Zuko."

"Hmmmm...?" He mumbled.

"You're crushing me."

"Oh...sorry." He said opening his eyes fully.

Instead of pulling away, she rolled over and looked at him.

"Do you think we should talk?" The dreaded sentence came out a whisper.

Zuko threaded his fingers through hers, looking at their folded hands, admiring the contrast of mocha and ivory. "No. No talking...Let's just live for the day until we can't any longer."

Katara bit her lip, thinking of what this meant. She hadn't been able to let go of worries for years, but should I really just let go when there's so much complicating it?

"I don't mean forget the world or where we are...just let's not stop what's happening from going anywhere just because we're afraid of what tomorrow might bring."

Katara smiled,"When did you get so wise?"

"Spending four years with my uncle will do that to you."

She chuckled lightly and shifted closer to rest her head on his chest, snuggling close, his arms automatically folded around her as she fit perfectly into them.

"Alright, let's let go for a while."

Zuko smiled at this, the scarred side of his face becoming less prominent (or so Katara thought). His hand moved to her waist, rolling her over slightly and planting a lingering kiss on her tingling lips. He pulled back when she pushed ever so lightly against his chest. She glanced first at her hand in its place over his muscles, blushing, then up to his face.

" But...Zuko...we can't go too far."

Regretfully, he knew her meaning but nodded still, kissing the top of her head and rolling her back to rest on his chest. "I know."

Together they just lay there and watched the sun rise.

The next day or two were weirdly calm, almost happy. Zuko was quite giddy around her, sweet and romantic. He took her out at night around more of the gardens, showing her his favourite spots. He had not had not had a nightmare since that first time, not touched her in any way that wasn't as gentle as though she might break.

It ended the day she set a foot out of his room.

The servants were late with breakfast, unusually so, and Katara wasn't sure what to do. She tentatively opened the door and peeked out. She wandered down the corridor and looked around the corner, jumping almost out of her skin when she saw Azula leaning against the wall.

"Oh don't be afraid little peasant, I'm not here to hurt you. No I just wondered if you were enjoying your stay with my brother." She smiled cruelly. "I hope he's treating you well, of course you are really no more than a plaything to him now. He just sent an assassin after your brother and friends, to make perfectly sure there would be no interruptions on the day of the eclipse."

Katara gasped, head reeling. "No, no he wouldn't..."

"Aw, but I'm afraid he would." Azula got uncomfortable close, backing her into a wall, lifting two fingers, blue flames springing out of their ends. "I do hate it when Zuzu gets a new toy, maybe I should make it a little less fun for him to play with you?"

Katara had no water, but she had her wits. She kicked Azula squarely in the middle, surprising the princess for perhaps the first time in her life, and sprinted away. She rounded a corner and ran straight into a hard chest. It was Zuko.

His face fell when he saw it was her. "What are you doing out of my room?!"

"Azula...Azula she...she"

Zuko's eyed darkened in rage, and he grasped Katara's wrist just a little too hard, striding around the corner back where she had run from. "Azula isn't here Katara." He said, pulling her up closer sharply with one hand.

"She was, she threatened me!" Katara said desperately, seeing where his mind was going.

She tried to leave...she tried to leave me. She's mine and she tried to leave. She's mine.

Zuko's face twisted in rage,"My sister is supposed to be in Council with my father today! Don't lie to me Katara! You were trying to escape!"

"What? No Zuko!"

He was incensed. He pulled her back to his room. But she was afraid of him, she'd never seen him so angry, and so she fought him. His fingers wrapped around her wrist like a vice, her attempts to pry him off were ineffective. She refused to walk, he forced her the last few steps, practically carrying her.

He threw her bodily into his room. She cried out as she hit the desk. It was that that finally stirred Zuko, clearing his vision and rousing him from misted rage. He ran his hand over his face and walked over to her, crouching down.

"I thought...I thought you were leaving me," He said as she sat up slowly.

She coughed, clutching her side, "And I told you, I wasn't."

He tried to help her up.

"No don't touch me!" She flinched away from his hand and pushed herself up, he stood also. "You sent an assassin to kill my friends! How could you?!"

"What?! How could you know that?"

"So it's true, you did do it! I thought you were better...I thought you cared! My mistake!" Tears welled in Katara's too-blue eyes as she pushed past him.

She ran into the bathroom and sank down against the closed door, trying to stifle her sobs.

Zuko stood on the other side of the door, finally sinking down to sit on the opposite side. She was telling the truth...Azula must have baited her. How could I have hurt her... he felt sick at himself.

Seconds passed, minutes, both just sitting on either side of the door.

After a while Zuko said softly,"Katara, please come out. I need to explain."

She felt drained. Exhausted of emotion. She felt nothing anymore, just wanting to disappear rather than fight with him

Not answering, Katara closed her eyes, allowing the last of her tears to trickle down her cheeks.

"He wasn't an assassin, I ordered him to investigate not kill...please come out."

She came out hours later, thinking Zuko would be in bed by then, asleep.

He was asleep, but propped up against the desk, facing the bathroom door. His tousled black hair falling across his eyes, a tiny crease between his eyebrows.

Katara's resolve not to feel softened and she fetched a blanket, draping it over Zuko's sleeping form.

Looks like our time for living for the day is over...who were we kidding.