Eheh. Sorry for updating so late. I was having lots of laptop issues which made me lazy. So I've started updating everything lately. And started another story, Korra/Hunger Games-ish au, which you might like to check out, I won't spoil anything there. It's called The Republic City Games. So...expect another update pretty soon, maybe even within tomorrow or Monday? Depending on hw. Anyways I'll shut up now, Read and Review, and as always Enjoy! :)

Four: Awkward Conversations

Four

"Are you sleeping?"
"No."
"Ok."

"…"
"Do you want to-"
"Yes." Zuko took the invitation and sat next to Katara on her bed, where she remained lying down. He took her hand, how we was so accustomed to doing in friendship, and asked her, "what do you think?"
"I think many things," Katara replied. "I don't know what we're going to do. She seemed so normal and empty at the same time."
"Until she had a fit," Zuko added.
"Until that," Katara assented. "There's something there that broke."
"No kidding," Zuko snorted. Katara hit him and he glared at her. "You know, I'm getting lot's of bruises today. I wonder why?"
"Deal with it. Anyways, are you gong to be sitting in on all of our sessions?"
' "Yes," Zuko gritted his teeth. "miss, take the handcuffs off of the crazy prison-OW!"
"Shush! They'll hear us!" she scolded him. "And then what will they think?"
"What will they think?" he raised an eyebrow at her, and she blushed.
"I- you- that's not what I- Zuko..." she averted her head. Part of her wished that it was true, that the guards would have something to make fun of. That she could be his wife. If only they got married. But they weren't even together yet! Four years of denial and awkward tension, they treated each other like their other half, yet restrained themselves from taking the step from close friends to romantic intimacy.
"What did I mean?" he teased her, and she hit him with his pillow, and he actually slipped forward and the two were in a very compromising position. There was silence that hadn't seemed to end. Part of her brain pleaded for him to stay like this, and the other was terrified. He couldn't seem to move away, until she saw the familiar blush in his cheeks that she had dreaded, because that was when he would move. And sure enough with his cue, he sat up flustered and coughed. She sighed internally. She was as much of a coward as he was. What was it going to take to get them together?
They were there for each other. For their break ups.
Mai had left Zuko when she felt like he was keeping too much from her. And Zuko had ended it there. He didn't want someone so flighty, as soon as something was wrong. He was an idealist. He believed that if someone loved him, they would go through the thick and thin, and struggle through it. Not just abandon him.
And Aang was the flightiest person they all knew. He was loyal, and would defend his friends to the end. But he was a kid, and still wanted to see the world. Whereas Katara, she just wanted someplace to call home.
They spent many times comforting each other, reassuring each other that the other was not wrong. He finally let out a laugh to break the tension. "You don't know what they think already?" he raised an eyebrow at her.
"What?" Katara asked with a blank expression.
Zuko started to laugh. "Katara, you don't know what they think? People will always make something out of nothing. And this nothing is something, even though its nothing."
"I have no idea what you've said, you're starting to become like Uncle," Katara told him.
He gave one last chuckle and got out of her bed. "Don't worry about it." He hesitated before reaching down to kiss her forehead. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," she said back, and as he left the room, she rolled on to her front, burying her head in her pillow, and letting her backside up into the air. It was agony. She squirmed around and thrashed a bit in frustration, and finally just slumped back down, trying to let herself to just sleep and forget everything. It was going to be a long day.
Katara returned from the breakfast hall with a sense of purpose. Zuko insisted that they give Azula a break for the day. She thought that she would just relax with Azula and chat. Treat her like a person instead of just a patient, or just a prisoner. It was going to be a lot of work, she knew. But it had to be done. She navigated her way through the halls until she came upon the room that she was searching for. Unfortunately, there was a guard in front, and she had a bad feeling that Zuko had given them certain instructions. Pesky Zuko.
She strode confidently forward, and as she knew, a guard put her hand out. "Fire Lord's instructions miss. Don't let anyone near her today. Especially you."
"Really?" Katara said feigning innocence. "But he just asked me to go ask her what she'd like to eat?" The guard narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "I mean, yes, he didn't want me to, but...a girl does have her ways…" she said immediately regretting it. Way to fuel whatever rumors were talking about. The guard snorted.
"Well I suppose we girls do know how to get what we want. Alright then."
"Thanks," Katara went into the room, feeling slightly guilty about the trouble the guard would be in. She could make him see reason and take the blame later. She found herself face to face with Azula. "Um...hello…" Katara ventured.
"Well look at you," Azula said, giving a smirk. "It seems that you're pretty good at lying yourself.:" Ah, it seemed that Azula had heard the exchange. But those doors seemed so thick. Maybe that was how gossip spreads so fast around the palace. "But, then again, it probably comes from the practice of lying to yourself, everyday." Azula was circling around Katara, almost purring her words.
"What are you talking about?" Katara asked, with no hostility in her tone.
"You know," she rolled her eyes. "You and Zuzu? You both are repressing yourselves. It's very obvious."
"I don't-"
"Cut to the chase, how long has it been? Five years? Gosh, that sexual tension must be tearing you apart," Azula said.
"You know, there's more to relationships than just sex." "True. I guess the two of you could've fucked each other by now," Azula said this so nonchalantly, just staring at her nails, that Katara was taken aback.
"Well...That's so...crude," Katara found her self pathetically replying.
"It's true isn't it?" "Not neccessaril-" "Tell me, how is the Avatar in bed?" Azula cut her off. Katara was staring at her, her eyes wide. Were these questions on the spot, or were they premeditated, and Azula just built up to them.
"We haven't...done it…" "No?" Azula said, shock in her tone.
"Well we got serious when he was only thirteen, so I don't think that was the right time to…" "You're a virgin! That's funny," Azula laughed.
"Well why?" Katara humphed, her hands on her hips.
"Well Zuko spent nights with Mai…" Azula said, her eyebrows raised.
"But they never did anything!" Katara shot back.
"How do you know?" Azula challenged her.
"Because we talk. A lot. So there." And with that Katara turned away and stomped away from her almost out the door.
"Weren't you going to ask me what I wanted to eat?" Azula taunted her.
Katara turned her head an inch toward Azula, and with heavy sarcasm asked, "What would you like Princess?"
"Some soup. Extra hot."
"I'll show you extra hot," Katara muttered as she stepped out of the room and stumbled into the Fire Lord. A very displeased Fire Lord.