Katara
When I wake up, I feel a throbbing pain in my head, but otherwise I'm okay. Opening my eyes, I check my surroundings. I'm in a cell, and I can tell it's on a ship because I sense the ocean around me. But bending's no use, my hands are shackled to the head of the rack I'm laying on.
"Spirits, help me find a way out of this," I pray.
Hours go by. A couple times, guards come in to give me water, but I almost wish they wouldn't. I don't like the way they're looking at me, like I'm a meal they can't wait to devour. And when they give me the water, my hands remain shackled too far away for me to drink by myself, so they have to hold it to my lips. They're rough as they do so, and more water goes down the sides of my face than does in my mouth.
I don't know how long it's been when I hear the cell door open again, and I sit up as the man walks in.
"Good, you're awake." Zuko says. "Here." He says, and pours water from the pitcher in the corner into a cup. I want to spit the water back in his face so badly, like I have wanted to do to each of the other sailors, but I know I need water to keep my strength up. When Zuko holds the water up to my mouth, though, It's not like when the other men did. He's gentle with it and nothing spills. Once I've drained the cup, he sits on a stool in front of me. "My medic examined you, you have a concussion but you'll live. Now, we need to talk."
"Thank you for the water, but You're about to be very disappointed, Fire Prince." I snarl at him. "I don't know where he is."
"Yes, you do. Of course you do! You and your brother are the only ones he's close with, you have to know! We know he's heading to the North Pole to find a waterbender master, just tell me where his next stop is, and you can be reunited with your brother and set free. We have no interest in the two of you, only him."
"We never make camp in one place for more than a couple of days! I don't know where they're going next, because Aang always picks the location himself at the last second when he thinks there's something fun to do nearby!"
"Like what?!"
"I don't know! Whatever his 12 year old ass thinks looks fun!" I shout, grateful I don't have any real information to share. I remember Zuko threatening to torture me back on Kyoshi, and while I hope it doesn't come to that, if it does it won't do him any good. "I'm telling you the truth." I say, looking him in the eye. He stares back, and sets his jaw.
"Phoenix Shit." He mutters. "You're being honest."
"You-You're not going to-"
"Torture you? No. I said that on Kyoshi to scare you. I'd never torture a defenseless girl, especially when there isn't a reason to." He gets up and turns around. After a moment of being still, he lets out a yell and throws his stool against the wall, making me flinch. "It doesn't matter. He'll come for you, I'm sure of it. When he does, I'll capture him and let you go. Until then, get comfortable." He says and starts heading out the door. He stops at the door frame and looks back at me over his shoulder.
"Katara, I know this must be scary for you. I won't pretend we're not enemies. But you have nothing to fear on this ship. You won't be harmed."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Why would I lie? I've instructed my men they're not to touch you, and you'll be given 3 meals a day. If you're here long enough for it to be necessary, you can bathe, but you'd better not bend when you do or that privilege will be revoked."
"Why are you doing this?" I ask. He sighs, and comes over, unlocks the shackles around my wrists, and puts something in my palm. I look down and see my mother's necklace.
"Because, Katara, despite what you might think, not everyone in the Fire Nation is a Bloodthirsty cur."