Author: Foxfire_Inari
Prompt: #057 Strangers
Title: Strangers 'til Now
Word Count: 625
Rating: G
Summary: Zuko asks a delicate question in a very indelicate manner.
Author's Notes: This drabble is inspired by one of my favorite scenes in one of my favorite books.
When Katara saw Zuko step into the path from the shadows her hand automatically flew to her waterskin stopper.
"No. Wait! I mean you no harm!" Zuko raised his arms placidly, as if to illustrate his point.
Although she still eyed him warily, her hand slowly lowered back to her side. "What do you want, Zuko?"
"I want to—that is, I came to ask …" he abruptly stopped himself and closed his eyes in an attempt to gather his thoughts. Katara watched him curiously, her interest piqued by his odd behavior. "Katara, I want you to … to be my girlfriend. It's crazy, I know. Believe me, I've thought it over many times and it never stops being crazy. I like you. A lot. Against my will, my better judgment, and the concerns of my family and the prejudices of my people. Our backgrounds could not be any more different. My family can be traced for one dozen generations, royalty all, and I am a prince. You are practically an orphan with no connections. I bet your family has never even left the Southern Water Tribe." Katara's eyebrow began to twitch at his proclamations, but Zuko took no notice. "Plus, we already know my family hates you. Azula would like nothing more than to have a waterbender barbeque. Our nations have been enemies for one hundred year; that's a lot to overcome! Of course, we can't overlook our natural elements. We're polar opposites, and everyone knows that your best match is within your own element! It's against my nature to want something so obviously wrong for me, I know my duty, but my feelings for you cannot be repressed! I love you, Katara! I won't be happy until you are by my side."
"You love me. You love me despite your better judgment, your will and even against your very nature?" she asked in a slow, flat tone. At Zuko's affirmative nod her expression darkened. "Are you insane? No! No, I will not be your girlfriend. I will never be your anything!" The young prince stared incredulously as she stomped her foot.
"How can you reject me like this? I won't be tossed aside! "
"That! That is how I can reject you! How can I not, after your blatant disregard for the feelings of others and your holier-than-thou attitude? Just because you say you love me? After you told me you like me against your own will? It doesn't work like that in the real world, Fire Prince! My family is none of your concern, especially when it's your nation's fault that I'm 'practically an orphan.' You may as well have said you think I'm trash." Katara screeched when she saw the horrified look on Zuko's reddening face. "You do! You think I'm trash!"
"I didn't say that and you know I didn't!"
"You're right, you didn't say it. Don't act like you weren't thinking it. How can you possibly deny it after all the things you've said?"
The Fire Prince facepalmed and groaned in frustration. "So, this is what you think of me?"
"Yes! But, I have other reasons and you know it. You've kidnapped me and held me hostage, you've pursued Aang relentlessly and you've tried to kill all of us more than once. Do you disagree?"
"No, but to restore my honor I had—"
"I know all about your honor, Zuko, and it means nothing to me! You know what? I don't want you explanations." To emphasize her assertion, Katara spun on her heel and stomped back the direction from which she came. Angrily, she called over her shoulder, "And, don't follow me!"
Zuko blinked owlishly after her retreating for and wondered, dejectedly, if salvation could still be possible.
