Hey guys, new chapter. The next one will have the games. I promise. Please review! I have LOVED ALL of the reviews you guys have given me! It keeps me going!
Disclaimer: Nope.
"Katara!" Zuko shouted, thrashing around in the cuffs. The woman had just whipped Katara on the back, which was now burning with agonizing pain.
"Quiet fool!" The woman hissed at him as she whipped Katara's back again and again.
Katara's screams turned into hisses and grunts. She refused to let this woman get the best of her, no matter how much blood she was spilling.
"Stop!" Zuko ordered, bowing his head. He couldn't bare watching Katara get hurt anymore.
"Aw, can't bare the pain anymore?" The woman teased. "Even though it's your girlfriend getting the punishment?"
"What did we do wrong?" Zuko begged.
"You mean you don't know?" The woman baited. Zuko looked at her as if she was trying to remind them of something, but he couldn't remember a single thing he has done wrong.
Standing straight, the woman took a step back. "Get them out of my sight." She hissed.
Dai Lee agents surrounded the two, picking them up and carrying them back to the hand made prison cells made from earth. There was two cells made, metal bars connecting them.
Throwing Zuko into one cell, and Katara into another, they locked them up, taking off their cuffs and chains.
Unfortunately for Katara, she was thrown onto her back, causing even more pain for her. Immediately, Zuko crawled over to the metal bars separating them, holding the bars in his hands.
"Katara," He whispered. She laid still on her back, her leg was bent the wrong way and her hair was sprawled all around her head. "Katara please, can you hear me?"
She stirred, her body aching everywhere. She could hear her name be called, but she couldn't move, it hurt too much.
"Katara, I beg of you, please wake up." Zuko begged, dropping his head low. "I don't know if I can live without you.
He didn't see nor hear Katara get up and crawl over to where Zuko sat on his knees, his head low. Reaching through the tiny space, she placed her hands on Zuko's cheeks and kiss his forehead.
Blinking back tears, Zuko quickly looked up to see the smiling face of the waterbender he has come to love and care deeply for.
"Thank you for coming after me," She whispered.
"If I had known where they were keeping you, I would have come sooner." Zuko admitted.
"It's fine, really," Katara reassured him.
Zuko instantly crushed his lips to hers, surprising her for a split second before kissing him back.
"H-how much. . .did they. . ." Zuko tried to speak, but his voice cracked and he closed his eyes.
"Hurt me?" Katara asked for him. After he nodded, she answered. "It wasn't anything I haven't suffered before. Maybe a few burns, but it's nothing major. I think they were saving the whipping until you came."
Zuko shivered. It was his fault she got hurt. He wasn't strong enough to protect her.
"Can you heal yourself?" Zuko asked, looking up into her eyes.
Shaking her head, Katara sniffed and wiped her wet eyes. "They blocked my chi so much I won't be able to waterbend for at least a month."
Reaching up and wiping her tears, Zuko tried to kiss her again. "Please don't cry, it hurt to see you in pain."
"These are tears of relief Zuko," Katara laughed once without humor. "I'm just so relieved you're here. I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, I couldn't eat nor sleep, I trained the entire time you were gone. I'm so sorry this happened." Zuko apologized.
"You're forgiven,"
"No, how can you forgive me so easily? I failed you and your father, and Sokka, and Aang. . ." Zuko shook his head, coughing out the thickness in his throat.
"No, Zuko, you are not the man you used to be. You are stronger and wiser and freer than you ever used to be." Katara smiled at him.
Zuko chuckled. "Uncle said the same thing in Ba Sing Se."
"You learn a lot from hundreds of Pai Sho games with him," Katara giggled.
"I really wish these bars were gone," Zuko and Katara looked at each other in the eyes. "I really want to hug you."
Katara smiled, leaning her head against the bars. She was holding both of Zuko's hands in hers. Zuko also leaned his head against the bars, closing his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Katara began to sing.
I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, "I'll never let you go"
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Don't you dare look out your window, darling,
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Gone
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
La La (La La)
La La (La La)
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
La La (La La)
Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound...
Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh oh oh. [x7]
"Where did you learn that?" Zuko asked, sitting up when Katara was done.
"My mother taught it to me," Katara replied, raising one hand to touch her mothers necklace. "it's an old Water Tribe song that has been sung to children for the past 100 years."
"During the war," Zuko murmured, his voice soothing.
"Yes," Katara admitted, looking down at their hands, fiddling with his fingers. "it was written about the war. It was to bring hope back into the world. The sun going down means that the firebenders aren't as powerful as they were when the sun is up, meaning waterbenders have more control. Everything's on fire means that the firebenders are winning the battle, and the war is still raging on." Katara paused, thinking about her home. "Our tribe, has this tradition. . .where we all watch the sun go down together. It lets us know that we survived another day, and we still have hope for a better tomorrow."
Zuko was quiet as he listened to the short history lesson. It was a song, about his people killing hers. It was a song about death and hope, safety and protection all at the same time.
"I feel as if this is all my fault," Zuko sighed, lowering his head to avoid Katara's eyes.
"No Zu-"
"Shh. . ." Zuko murmured. "forget what I said, just try and get some sleep. You'll need your strength."
Katara smiled at that last sentence. He said the exact same thing on their journey to find the man that killed Katara's mother. Only then she blew it off and claimed she had enough strength. This time, she'll take up on that offer."
"You don't need to worry about my strength," Katara yawned. "sleep will replenish it."
Zuko chuckled and tightened his hands around Katara's.
This is why he fell in love with her.
Hope you guys liked it! Yes, I used Uncle Iroh's old quotes, I will be using more, just wait. Please review. I also hope you noticed that i used the Safe and Sound lyrics from Taylor Swift. I don't own that either.