She had to do it.
At least that is what she told herself, in order to wake up every morning. Even if she was waking up in a cell, on his ship, she was still alive. And that was more than could say for those she betrayed. She was sure he would kill them, it was what he had always wanted to do. What he was meant to do.
She tried to wish him away with her thoughts, tried to wish away his entire ship and his crew. Tried to wish away what had happened, everything that she had done. But she could not. This was her fault; this was all her fault. She had caused the downfall of the entire world.
The newly reinstated Prince of the Fire Nation stood at the bow of the boat. He had a stoic expression on his face, but he was happy. He had the Avatar, had his little friends in the hold, and it was all thanks to his waterbender. He had all he ever wanted.
Maybe more.
He remembered when they captured her, when two of his soldiers had stumbled across the camp. They knew they were no match for the Avatar, but figured they could not come back empty handed. They stole her right out of her sleeping bag, bound and gagged her, then dropped her at his feet. He could not have asked for a better hostage.
She had told him everything he needed to know, everything he could ever want to know. Though, he would never tell her that she was forced to do it. That he had given her a truth drug, because then she would not feel the way she did. He knew she blamed herself, and that's what he wanted her to feel. It would make her vulnerable, so he could take advantage of that.
Katara heard him outside the cell before he opened the door. She made herself as small as she could and pressed up against the wall. He only came to visit her if he wanted something, and she had given him everything she knew. There was really no reason for him to come to see her and that scared her.
"Good morning, Katara" Zukos voice rang in her ears. She did not look at him or answer. "Come now, don't be like that" he stated as he sat on the cot next to her. She moved away. "I have come to tell you, that I request your presence today"
She casually looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Me?" she asked in a whisper.
Zuko laughed. "Who else?" he watched her turn away, but he grabbed her chin and turned her to look at him. "I am not asking, I am telling you"
She closed her eyes, so she did not have to look at him. All she could see were the lives of her friends and the fate of the world in his eyes. She could not bare that.
He grabbed her wrist and made her stand up. "I'll take you to wash" he stated. "And get changed" he noticed that she was having a hard time standing. Carefully he picked her up in his arms and felt her tremble. She did not resist him, she did nothing but lay in his arms and he had to smirk. This was what he wanted.
Zuko carried her to the place his soldiers used to wash. He had already given them instructions to fill a tub and to stay away. Not that he would not be standing guard, he just did not want to have to attack one of his own men.
He set her down next to the tub, she knelt beside it, still unable or unwilling to stand. "I'll bring you something to wear" he told her as he left.
She waited until the door was closed to even look at the tub. She could feel the warmth radiating from the water. Carefully she stood on her knees and looked over at the water. It looked so inviting.
She thought about bending it and escaping, but she had already tried that. She knew she could not get away. And he had already punished her for trying. She stripped out of the tattered clothing she wore. She had been trapped for weeks and a bath would feel so nice.
Slowly she got into the tub. She had not looked at her body in a long time and it was almost foreign to her. She was skinnier than she remembered, her ribs were seen under her skin and she was paler than she remembered, and her skin hung off her awkwardly.
She sighed as she enjoyed the water lapping over her. She did not even have the strength to move her arms and try to bend it.
"Here are some cloths" his voice snapped her from her daze. She immediately covered her chest and brought her legs up to her arms. He laughed, he had already seen parts of her. "Take your time" he stated as he set the clothes down on a table. He turned back to her, and saw the burn on her right shoulder. It circled all over her shoulder and went down her arm slightly. It looked smaller than the last time he saw it; when he did it.
As he walked back towards the tub he picked up her rags and burned them. "You won't need those anymore" he laughed as he let the ashes fall. "Just knock when you are done" he stated as he left.
She waited a few moments after the door closed before relaxing again. She tried to conceal her tears, but they made ripples in the water anyways. And there was no one here to see her, so it did not matter.
After an hour of soaking, Katara got out of the tub and foung a towel. It was warm and fluffy, she basked in it a moment, then dried herself off. She kept it wrapped around her as she looked at the clothing he had brought for her.
It was red.
It was Fire Nation.
She did not want to wear it.
But he had burned her other clothes, so it was either them or the towel she was wearing. Neither option suited her, but she knew that at least the clothes would stay on her frame better than a towel.
Carefully she picked up the dress, if it could be called that. There were a few strips of material and some ties, possibly a skirt. She sighed as she dropped the towel and tried to slip into it. It took a few tries but she managed, at least she thought she did.
There were two strips of material that barely covered her breasts and attached to a peice of material that went down the middle of her legs. There was another at the back, leaving the sides of her legs exposed, as well as her entire back. She tied the material from her chest around her neck. It looked like it should be like she had it, but she was not sure.
"Leave your hair down, it looks much nicer" she jumped at his voice. When she turned around she saw Zuko leaning against the door. "You look nice" there was something in his voice that made her cringe and she tried to cover herself but there was alot exposed and she blushed. "Don't cover up" he stated as he walked towards her. "There is a reason I picked that outfit" he stated as he took her wrists in his hand. She could not resist as he pulled her close. "You look very nice" he leaned into her. "Shall we?" he asked.
She shuttered as she felt his breath on her skin. The only time he had been that close to her was when he punished her for bending a few of the guards and escaping to the top deck of the ship. She could see the burn out of the corner of her eye and she was slightly scared.
Her legs gave out and she ended up in his arms. He had a smile on his face, but she could not see it. He wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her towards the door. He helped her towards his quarters as well, passing a few of his soldiers, who did not dare look at them.
He opened up the door to his quarters and led her to a chair around his table. He set her down and went to his own chair. "Thank you for joining me" he smiled. She was fidgeting, trying to cover herself. "Quit it" he snapped and watched as her hands dropped to her sides. "Good" he grinned. "Hungry?" he motioned to the food on the table.
She cautiously took a piece of fruit and ate it. She felt his eyes resting on her and it made her feel uncomfortable. "Stop looking at me" she mumbled.
He clenched his fist. "I will look at you, all I want" he told her. "I can do whatever I want"
She took a deep breath and sat back in the chair. "I won't let you" she whispered.
It make Zuko grin. "You don't have a choice" he stated as he ate some of the fruit as well.
Katara felt sick to her stomach. She could not eat anything else, but sat pleasantly while he ate. He kept looking at her, and she wished she could feel water in his quarters, she would wash away his smirk.
"There is no water" he stated and watched her reaction betray her thoughts. "I know you want to get rid of me" he told her. "And you can't" he snickered.
She shuttered, not from cold, but from the feeling that washed over her. This was not like the other times he had come to see her. There was something else in his eyes, something that she did not want to interpret.
Zuko smirked as he stood and walked around to her chair. "Relax, Katara" he put a hand on her unburned shoulder. "This is suppose to be enjoyable"
Her eyes flared as he touched her. She could feel the heat he radiated through his touch, and though it should have warmed her but it just created goose bumps instead. "I don't want..."
She was cut short when she felt his breath tickle her ear. "You don't want to what?" he asked in a whisper. His hand went down her arm. "You might as well surrender" he stated as he moved his hand back up her arm and moved her hair away. "You've already given me everything else, the only thing left is your body" he gently kissed her neck.
She gasped and moved away from him. "I am not giving you anything" she stated, almost breathlessly.
He grinned. "But you seem to be reacting to me" he stated with delight as he looked at her chest. "besides, why else would I have brought you here?"
She took a deep breath and kept her eyes forward. She was not about to cave to his will. She tried to move away from him, but he held her against the chair.
"There is no need to fight me, Katara" he was gentle with her right shoulder. "You know what happens when you fight me" he gently touched the burn scar on her shoulder. She shuttered. "Just relax, this will be pleasant, I assure you" he moved the chair away from the table. He offered her his hand but she refused to take it. He smiled. "You can't refuse me" he stated as he picked her up in his arms. "I won't let you"
He brought her over to the bed and let her stand beside it. She was wobbly, but she managed to stand on her own. He took a step back and looked at her, biting his bottom lip. He could see all of her womanly curves, all of her attributes, but he wanted to see more.
He reached for the ties at her neck and felt her pull away. He smiled and stepped closer to her. She was against his bed, there was no where else to go, so she stood there and watched as the dress fell away from her body.
She tried to cover herself, but he grabbed her wrists, holding her arms away from her body and stepped closer. He took in her naked form, hungrily. Her legs gave out and she fell into his arms. He smiled. She was too weak to fight against him. He was gentle as he laid her on his bed and laid beside her. For the first time she looked at what he was wearing, and realised it was just a robe. She could only assume that he was naked under it.
"Just relax" he whispered as his hand rested on her stomach.
She could feel the heat from his hand expand to her whole abdomen. It was soothing, not the touch of someone who wanted to hurt her and he felt her relax just slightly. He smiled as he leaned in and kissed her neck again. She moved her head so he could kiss more and he took advantage of it. He kissed all over her neck and ended up hovering over her.
"Why?" she managed to ask as she stared into his golden eyes.
He delicately moved her hair from her face. "Because, in your own way, you are beautiful" he told her. "And you are the only woman around for miles"
She frowned and tried to move away. "I won't..."
"You have no choice" he told her. "Just enjoy what I can offer you"
"I don't want..." she tried to hit him, but he caught her arms above her head. " Please.. don't" she pleaded.
He smiled. "There are countless woman who would kill to be in your place" he stated.
"Then get one of them" she tried to move, but he had her pinned.
"There is that spirit" he laughed. "I thought maybe you'd lost it" he leaned down and bit her neck then softly licked it. He heard her stifle a moan. "I know you liked that" he whispered in her ear.
"No" she shook her head, attempting to convince them both.
He laughed as he did it again and she moaned out loud. "You can't lie to me, Katara" he bit her neck again. "Just enjoy this. Its going to happen whether you are willing or not"
She felt his lips trail down her clavicle to her chest. She gasped when he took her right breast in his mouth. She clenched her fists as his tongue swirled around her nipple. He felt her tense, but he did not stop and went to do the same thing to her left breast.
Katara was breathing heavily and could feel her body betraying her. His touches were creating a fire within her, sparks were flying everywhere. It was something she had never experienced before and she was uncomfortable but enjoyed it alot.
As he started kissing down her stomach, he let go of her wrists, but she did not move. He smiled as he saw her eyes were closed. She inhaled deeply as he kissed her naval and felt her tense when he kissed lower.
He opened her legs to him and gently kissed the inside of her thigh. She tried to close her legs but he held them firmly. "Relax" he whispered as his tongue began a bombarment against the very centre of her pleasure.
After a few minutes he penetrated her with his tongue and could taste her essence. He grinned as he kissed his way back up to her neck.
Her eyes were closed tightly, her fists still clenched and around her head. She was breathing deeply, her chest pressing into his. She closed her legs and tried to move away but he covered her body with his.
"Katara" he sang as he kissed her neck again. "Open your eyes" he stated. She shook her head. He grinned as he kissed her jaw and then her lips. His eyes were open and he watched her eyes flash open. He grinned as they closed again and she tried to resist. He laughed. "You can't resist me" he told her, his lips grazing hers.
"You... you can't... have.. .me" she stuttered.
He grinned. "I already do" he kissed her again and felt her respond. He opened his mouth and tempted her to open hers. She resisted a moment but gave in when he kept persisting. She felt his tongue invade her mouth and met it. They played in each others mouth, little moans escaped both their throats and it left them breathless.
Zuko grinned when Kataras eyes flashed open and she blushed. She looked away from him, tears in the corners of her eyes. She wanted to cry. She had just kissed him, she had enjoyed what he was doing to her. It was bad enough that she had betrayed the Avatar and her brother, she did not need to add this to her conscience.
"What is it?" he asked, noticing her eyes were far away.
"Please let me go" she asked, her throat on the verge of closing.
Zuko smiled. "After I have you" he stated as he reached for the tie of his robe. He discarded it quickly and hovered over her, naked. "Have you ever been with a man?" he asked as he spread her legs with his knees. She shook her head. "I promise to be gentle then" he kissed her lips as he entered her.
She tensed. It hurt. She tried to move away, but found her legs immobile. "Relax, Katara. It will only hurt for a moment" he assured as he moved inside her more. She tried to relax but it felt like he was tearing her. "Relax" he whispered as he moved in more still.
She bent her knees, to try and get away from him but it positioned her differently and it did not hurt. In fact it felt... nice. She gasped when the thought crossed her mind. She began shaking her head and trying to move away.
Zuko sighed as he grabbed her hands and pinned her to the bed. He could tell by the look on her face that she was beginning to enjoy it. "I told you it would only hurt for a moment" he stated.
She moved her pelvis slightly as he moved in and out of her. It was much more comfortable now and she gasped when he was fully inside her. Zuko smiled as he bit her neck. She moaned loudly, though she tried to stifle it.
"Be as loud as you want" he whispered as he made her moan again. He enjoyed the sound, he had never been with a woman who moaned like she did. It was intoxicating and he kept making her do it, as she was getting louder.
He thrust inside her faster and faster. He was nearly his peak and with her moaning, it was not hard. He sucked her neck as he spilled himself deep inside her and collapsed, his head in the crook of her neck. She smelled so sweet and he inhaled deeply.
Kataras eyes were closed, water trickling down her cheeks, as she realised what she had let him do to her. He had broken her completely now. He had already destroyed her mind. Now she could not even consider her body a safe haven, he had taken that too.
"Don't cry" he stated as he whipped away the tears.
"Leave me alone" she tried to move away from him.
"Stop fighting me" he whispered as he gently kissed her neck. "Just accept this"
"I don't want to" she whispered as she began to cry more.
Zuko sighed as he sat up. He grabbed his robe and put it on before manoeuvring her into his lap. "You have to accept this" he stated. "There is no going back for you"
She took a deep breath. "What... what do you mean?" she asked as she let herself be hugged by him.
"There is nothing left for you in your old life" he sighed and made her look at him. "Do you trust me?" his tone was so sincere but she shook her head. "Well you should" he kissed her forehead. "Accept what has happened and where you are. There is no going back" He set her on his bed again. "I'll be back later"
He listened as she began to cry. He had not meant for her to cry, but he got what he wanted. Her body was his, her mind having been his long ago. She was all his now. And he would remind her of that everyday.
They arrived at the Fire Nation just under two weeks after Prince Zuko had taken Katara into his bed. She was not allowed to leave his quarters, without him as he locked her in. And though she wanted to, she could not resist him when he came to take her. He was gentle, and since the first time, it did not hurt. She was beginning to respond to him with something more than hate, but she did not want to admit it.
Since he had burned her, in her first week of capture, he had not hurt her again. Even when they had sex, he was gentle and gave into her subconscious desires as she would never voice them. He loved listening to her moan and he would do anything to hear it.
He gave her food and let her bathe whenever she wanted. She was content. Perhaps not happy, as she still had a lot of guilt on her shoulders, but she was content. The only thing she wanted now, was to see her brother and the Avatar. To make sure that they were all right. Prince Zuko assured that they were fine, but she wanted to see for herself.
And as they neared the shore of the Fire Nation, she got her wish. She stood along side Prince Zuko, on the top deck at the boat at the bow. Below them, Sokka and Aang were let out, in chains and looking like she had, to watch them approach. She was glad to see they were all right.
"Thank you" she whispered as she pulled her cloak around her body more. She was only allowed to wear the dress he had given her, but he knew it was colder outside than in his quarters, so he gave her a cloak to wear. The dress was also a guilty pleasure for him, he was not about to share that with everyone.
"I told you they were fine" he stated as he thought she looked very regal as she stood there with him.
"Prince, it is high tide, we can bring the ship right in" a crewman told him.
"Do so, then" he stated as he turned back. He could see Katara out of the corner of his eye, her hair blowing in the wind and had a small smile on his face. She was beautiful, she was spirited, and she was no one else's.
Sokka looked at the approaching land and sighed. He hoped his sister would be out with them, so he could make sure she was all right. He knew that she had led the Fire Nation to them and though he tried not to blame her, it crept up every once in awhile. But though he blamed her, he was also worried for her.
He sighed. Maybe she was too sick to be brought up or... worse. He shuttered. He may blame his sister, but he would never want her to be gone forever.
"Sokka" Aang whispered, ketching his attention. He looked at him. "Look up there" he motioned behind them. Sokka casually looked back. "Is that..."
"Katara" he whispered. He would know his sister anywhere. He smiled, she was all right, she was safe, she was wearing red. His mind raced as he tried to figure out why. As if on cue, Prince Zuko rubbed the shoulder opposite him, as she shivered, and she let him. Sokkas eyes went wide. "Katara" he yelled. She did not look at him. "Katara" he yelled again, trying to get around the guards that held him and Aang. "Katara"
She watched her brother struggle. She wanted to answer him, wanted to run into his arms and have him wash all of this away, but she could not. She could just stare at him and feel the fire on her left hand. She knew Prince Zuko was holding her hand but she was not sure why.
"I betrayed them" she whispered as a tear fell onto the cloak.
Prince Zuko looked at her. "It would have happened with or without you" he told her. "You just made it easy"
It pained her and she felt sick to her stomach. She wretched her hand from his grip and ran to the side of the boat. One of the soldiers on deck went to stop her, but Zuko stopped him. He casually walked over to her and held her hair back as she threw up.
"Why didn't she talk to me?" Sokka asked more himself than Aang.
"I would say that she didn't hear you" he held his breath to pop his ears. "But the whole bloody ship heard you"
Sokka kept looking at where his sister had been standing, before running off, the Prince right behind her. He could only imagine what the monster had done to her, what he would continue to do to her. Sokka shuttered. "We have to free her Aang" he whispered.
Aang nodded. He had been upset at Katara for telling the Fire Nation Prince where they were and where they were going, but after weeks of being imprisoned in the hold of the ship, he was not angry anymore.
"We have to free ourselves first" he reminded Sokka.
"True" he reasoned as the ship was jarred from landing on the shore. "And.. how do we do that?"
Aang shrugged. "I was kinda hoping you'd have a plan"
Sokka sighed as they were shoved along the deck towards the plank.
"Prince Zuko, welcome home" It was the leader of the Provincial government, Lord Cheng, who greeted him.
"Thank you" he smiled widely as he stepped on the soil of his homeland for the first time in five years.
"You have been granted an audience with Fire Lord Ozai for later this afternoon" he nearly whispered.
Zuko smiled. It was what he wanted. "Am I to present the Avatar at that time?" he was not going to make any mistakes this time. He had learned his lesson.
Lord Cheng nodded. "Until then, I will show you to your room and the guards will make sure you're prisoners are taken care of" he motioned to his guards, who took Aang and Sokka in their grasps once they were on the ground.
As Lord Cheng looked up he saw Katara and was stunned a moment. It was obvious that she was not from the Fire Nation, but she wore a cloak with the emblem on it and she was not chained.
"My Prince, what about the woman?" Lord Cheng asked, once he was able to break his stare away from her.
Zuko smiled and looked back. He could see what Lord Cheng saw, she looked radiant against the backdrop of the ship. She was just standing at the edge of the plank, waiting for some sort of direction. He lifted his hand and she began to come forward.
She walked passed Aang and Sokka, without so much as flinching and ignored their calls to her. She delicately took his hand and stood beside him. "Lord Cheng, this is Katara" he stated.
Lord Cheng looked from the Prince to Katara and back. "Welcome, m'lady" he bowed.
Katara went to correct him, but Zuko stopped her. "Shall we then?" he asked of Lord Cheng. The Lord nodded and turned so they could follow him.
Prince Zuko took a deep breath before he opened the doors of his fathers throne room. Their were two guards with the Avatar between them, who followed him in. He was confident as he approached his father, though he truly felt sick to his stomach.
The pit of fire that surrounded his fathers throne, shielded him from sight, though Zuko could recall what he looked like with precision. It had been seven years, but surely he would not have changed that much.
"Welcome, Prince Zuko" his fathers voice boomed throughout the room.
"Thank you, Fire Lord Ozai" he was on his knees bowing deeply.
"I see you have finally brought the Avatar to me" there was almost a hint of pleasure in his voice, which startled Zuko.
"I have" he motioned the guard forward. "As well as one of his companions" he smiled. "I figured you would not kill the Avatar, so the Water Tribe boy can be sacrificed instead"
The fire around his father shot upwards, but not in rage. "You are finally starting to think like a Fire Nation Prince" he paused. "I graciously accept your gifts and officially welcome you back to the Nation"
"Thank you, m'lord" He tried to hide his smile, with all his might, though he was sure that some of it leaked out.
"I also want you to set up the execution of the Water boy" Fire Lord Ozai stated.
"Of course" Zuko waited for his father to say anything else, but there was nothing. He carefully got to his feet and motioned the guard out. None of them turned their back to the Fire Lord and were finally able to breath once the doors were closed. "Take the Avatar to the dungeon" he instructed.
"I won't let you kill Sokka"Aang told him.
Zuko laughed. "Like you have a choice" he walked off in the opposite direction, ignoring the threats Aang was shooting at him.
Katara paced Zukos quarters, the cloak twirling as she moved. Though the Fire Nation was in its summer, she did not want to take it off. She was nervous. She knew that he was going to see Fire Lord Ozai, that he had probably already done so, and given Aang away. Her betrayal was complete. She did not even want to think of the fate that awaited her brother. Zuko would not talk to her about it, and she knew it was because he did not want to upset her. And that made her more upset.
The movement from the door made her jump and she was at Zukos side in seconds. "Well?" she asked.
"Well what?" he demanded, in a huffed manner.
She stepped back. He was in a bad mood. "What's gonna happen to Sokka?" she asked, not caring what his mood was, she wanted to know.
He turned to her sharply, his golden eyes glaring. "I am not going to get into this with you"
She pursed her lips together. "That pretty much answers my question" she whispered as she turned away from him, her eyes watering. She hugged her arms as a chill began creeping up her body, she was trying not to think about what would happen to her brother, but it was hard.
She heard him shuffling behind her and was surprised when he hugged her. He did not say anything, just held her as she cried. The warmth from his body made her stop shivering, but nothing could take away the feeling from her stomach and heart. She felt like both were cracking under the pressure of her actions.
"I made you do it" he whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear. "I gave you a truth drink"
She sighed as the tears stopped. "I know" she still let him hold her. "I could taste the root in the drink"
Suddenly he whipped her around to face him, holding her wrists to his chest. "Then why'd you drink it?" he demanded.
Katara was shocked at his reaction. "If I hadn't, would you have stopped what you were doing?" her voice was strong. It was getting stronger each day she spent with him. He shook his head "You would have forced it on me and we'd be in the same place" she looked at her arms. "Or I'd be dead" she felt him hold her tighter. "I betrayed my friends, I can live with that. I have to" she whispered "But..." she began to tear again. "The thought of dying scared me more, so I choose the cowards way out" she spat at him as though it were his fault.
"You are a coward" he told her and loosened his grip on her wrists but did not let her go "But I am glad you did it" he whispered as he let her go and turned away from her.
Katara was stunned and still crying. She fell to her knees, her hands in her lap. "What do you want from me?" she asked, confused. She was not sure why any of it was happening, though she was not sure she would change it.
Zuko kept his back to her, trying to sort his own emotions. He did not answer her, as he had no answer to give her. So he merely walked out of the room and left her crying on the floor.
Sokka sighed as he tried to wriggle free of the restraints holding him to the wall. Aang had reluctantly told him what the Fire Lord had planned for him and ever since he was futilely trying to get away from the shackles. He grunted and wriggled as he fought against the iron, but it was no use, he was not going anywhere.
"So.. when is this execution?" he asked, in a meagre voice.
"Whenever... Prince Stupid Head plans it" Aang stated and listened to Sokkas laugh. "What?" he asked.
"Stupid Head?" he asked. "You could have come up with something better" he pointed out.
Aang chuckled. "I suppose" he shrugged. "Its just not worth the effort" he sighed as he rested his head against the wall.
They were in silence a long while before Sokka spoke again. "Do you think he has my sister brain washed?"
"I don't know. I don't think that is possible" Aang sighed. "She seemed very much aware of her actions"
Sokka sighed. "That's what I am afraid of" he closed his eyes. "Do you think she'll fight us if we break out?"
Aang nearly gasped, but he had been wondering the same thing. "I hope not" he stated. "I may be the Avatar, but she can bend me out of the water" Sokka laughed because he knew it was true. "Then again, how much water can there be in the Fire Nation?"
"They have to drink something" Sokka reasoned.
"I hope its poisoned" Aang whispered.
Sokka was about to retort when he heard foot steps coming towards their cell. His stomach tightened, his eyes began to nervously water, and his voice was caught in his throat. He hoped the foot steps would keep going, but they stopped and they heard a key unlock the cell.
"You've a date with the fire pit" the guard laughed as he pointed to Sokka. The man whimpered, as his legs gave out. Where he not fastened to the wall by his hands, he would have fallen at the guards feet.
As the guard moved his key to Sokkas iron handcuffs and unlocked them from the wall, Aang took a deep breath. The guard bound Sokkas hand behind his back in another set of cuffs. If he concentrated all his wind, Aang figured he could send the guard into the wall and render him unconscious. Then he and Sokka would get out of here...
He began to blow and noticed that the guard turned around, his hand ignited in fire. He blocked the wind but did not shoot anything at the Avatar. Aang nearly pouted, but decided to try again.
The guard blocked his attack again, though it pushed him against the wall, though his grip on what remained of Sokkas collar was not lessened. Sokka was trying to struggle, but the guard had a firm grip on him, and Sokka laid more on the ground than anything.
Aang blew again, but this time the guard let his anger flare and flames were sent towards the monk. Aang tried to blow them away but his breath was not strong enough. He closed his eyes and waited for the burning sensation to start.
Instead he felt water splash on his face.
The three men looked towards the door as saw, what they thought was a spirit. Her hair was widely blowing on an imaginary wind,, water was swirling around her body but it looked like she was not controlling it. All three blinked and finally realised it was Katara. She wore Fire Nation colours, but their was no mistaking that she was a waterbender. She wore the dress that Zuko had given her but she put a shirt she had found in a dresser in his quarters over top. Her legs were very exposed, but she had covered her torso. She looked radiant.
"Katara" Aang exclaimed in happiness as she moved into the cell.
Her eyes never left the guard, as she challenged him to make an attack. The guard tensed and let Sokka go. He kept his eyes on Katara, watching as she took the keys from his hand and unlocked Aang.
"Get out of here" she stated as she held the guards attention.
"Not..." Sokka began as Aang went to unlock him.
"Shut up Sokka and leave" she yelled.
He was surprised, she had never been so forceful with him. And in her current state, he was scared of her.
The guard looked at the two out of the corner of his eye then glared at Katara. "They can't leave" he stated.
She gasped and let the water drop around her. Aang and Sokka waited to see what would happen. "Zuko?" she asked, though she knew it was him.
He sighed as he took off his helmet. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Saving them" she pointed to the two men.
"I was doing a find job on my own" he snapped.
She took a deep breath. "Why?" she managed to ask.
He sighed. "I know... my father is a horrible man" he let the helmet drop. "And I know I can't defeat him..." he pointed at Aang. "The Avatar can... even if he is not at his full potential" he paused. "I gave up a long time ago, to try and get in his good graces..."
Aang looked from Katara to Zuko. He had not been paying attention to their interaction, but saw this as an opportunity to rid them all of the Prince. Or at least get away from him. He quietly called the water around Kataras feet to him.
He was careful as he moved, getting into a better position to hit the Prince. But Zuko was moving closer to Katara, so Aang acted quickly and sent ice daggers at him.
"Move" Katara pushed him out of the way and made most of the ice return to water. One caught her on the right shoulder, but just ripped the sleeve of her dress, revealing her fire scar. Though the light was low, Sokka could see it and gasped.
"Did he do that?" he pointed to Zuko. She looked at the scar and nodded. "And still you protect him... why?" he demanded.
"I don't answer to you Sokka" she screamed back. "Now... go" she waved them away.
Zuko was stunned and just watched as she tried to hide the scar on her shoulder. She had actually saved him, and much like her brother, Zuko wanted to know why.
"Go where?" Aang asked.
"I don't care... go stop Ozai.. go home.. just go"
They turned towards the door but did not hear her coming behind them. Sokka looked back. "Aren't you coming?" he asked.
"No" she shook her head and looked at Zuko. "I am staying here"
Sokka whipped around. "With him?" he nearly screamed. "C'mon, Katara, he's got you brainwashed or something..." he walked back and went to reach for her.
"No... not any more" she slyly stated. "Just go.. I'll be fine" she assured.
"No you won't... not with him" he sneered the word.
Zuko snorted. "She said leave" he told Sokka.
The man turned to him. "I am not talking to you. Now release my sister of whatever you've done to her" he stated.
"Or what?" Zuko crossed his arms over his chest.
"Or..." Sokka thought a moment. He was not in any shape to fight him. Even when Sokka was at his peak, Zuko was just that much better.
Before either could speak again, a gust of wing threw Zuko against the wall. He hit hard, his head smacked with a sickening sound, and he fell to the ground. "There... now lets go" Aang stated impatiently.
Katara looked at the sprawled Prince. She could run away with her brother and her friend. She could leave him there, he would be taken care of. She could do whatever she wanted.
"Go" she yelled to Sokka as she knelt down beside Zuko.
"Katara" Sokka gasped. He stalked over to his sister and grabbed her arm. "You're coming"
"No.. I am not" she ripped her arm from his grip.
"But..."
"Now, Sokka" she stood and pushed him towards the door. "I will bend you if I have to" she called the water and began looking like a spirit again. His little sister was scaring him and she knew it. "I'll be fine. You take care of Aang" she smiled.
Sokka sighed. His sister was stubborn but there was something else. "Fine" he moved towards the door. "Becareful" he whispered as he pushed Aang out the door.
As she knelt back down to him, bringing water into a healing glove, she could hear them bickering as they walked down the hall. She knew they would find their way out of the dungeon, it was not complicated.
She brought her hand to Zukos head and healed the concussion he suffered from. She felt his stir, then moan, before he flipped onto his back. He smiled when he opened his eyes and saw her hovering over him.
"Why?" he asked.
She sighed. "I don't know"
He found her hand and held it. "Thank you" he smiled, genuinely at her and there was something in his eyes that she had not seen before, something that made her blush.
"You're welcomed" she squeezed his hand and smiled back.
The weight of her betrayal was lighter now. Though, much like him, she would have a constant reminder whenever she saw the scar on her shoulder. But it would not make her hateful, like him. She had redeemed herself to her brother and her friend and now to him. She was not sure why she did it. Not sure why she wanted to. All she knew, without a doubt, is that she had to do it.