ATLA: Sacrifice LovDes Ch.27

Chapter 27


- Previously -


Taking concern with his feelings, she sat beside him, "what does it involve then?"
"Us…" he replied quietly, and heard her laugh.
"I know that much, but what about?"
"…" Zuko didn’t say a word to her as he looked down.

She didn’t want to press forth on the troubled fire bender anymore than she had to, so she gave up on finding out what it was and leaned against him, "do you know why it keeps exploding?" Zuko gave her a nod and so she questioned a little more. "Can you tell me what it is then?"

"At the very last moment, I have doubt… and so the negative charge overthrows the positive, so it falls through an unbalanced discharge." Zuko replied quietly.
"What do you have your doubts about?" She asked absent mindedly.
He looked to her with a depressed frown, "us," then looked away, "how you won’t even accept me anymore."
"Zuko, what on earth are you talking about? I accept you."
His head shook, "I mean that you don’t want to be with me."
"I always want to be with you Zuko," she kissed his scarred cheek and then leaned her head on his shoulder, "I love you."
As much as he enjoyed saying ‘and I you’ and ‘same,’ he replied by leaning his head onto hers and whispered, "I love you too."
She smiled, "do you want to try once more before heading back to camp?"
"…sure…"

The two got up with each others help and they got into their positions for the final time that night. Zuko took his time carefully and balanced the positive and negative charges through his body and visualized what he wanted that kept him calm, and kept that into focus with Katara’s words not long ago. He went through the motion slowly with everything still intact with himself, and shot out.

Lightning passed through his fingertips in a flash and it shot towards the starry sky in gray and white colors. Zuko stared at his hand for the moment and smiled at his success, and it was all thanks to his water bender. He felt Katara release him, and then a thump on the ground and turned around in slowly curiosity to find out that Katara fell to the ground and in serious pain as she held herself while screaming inaudibly at the dying pain. Immediately he went to her side and she lost consciousness as her body trembled.

"KATARA!!!"


- Now -


Eyes began to shutter and opened slowly with a blurry vision for a while till they decided to focus clearly. Looking around little by little, it turned out that she was in a room, so she could only assume that they were at a village. As she sat up in pain, she tried to look around and found nothing really familiar about it, and then someone entered the room to make her seem fairly surprised.

"Kinto...?" Katara asked out tiredly. (Click name to refresh your mind.)
"It’s about time you woke up; you’ve been here for four days." He chuckled.
She tried think of what happened, but couldn’t, only remembered something else that was important, "where’s Zuko?"
Kinto raised an eyebrow, "that scarred guy? He’s in his room sulking."
"What do you mean by his room?"
"Aunt Wu gave you guys some rooms to stay in, everyone’s separated."
"Why are you here?"
He laughed, "I saw Appa flying passed, so I came to this village to see you."

Katara tried to think of who Aunt Wu is, and remembered the old fortune teller of the village a while back. Rubbing her forehead, she stood up in her garments and went to her clothing to place on while Kinto watched. After she placed her clothes on, she assumed this was her room because all her belongings were in there, and then turned to Kinto in the end.

"Where’s Zuko’s room?" She asked softly.
Kinto scoffed, "the fire bender is five rooms to the right on the other side."
"How did you know…?"
"I’ve been traveling remember? I’ve seen the wanted ads on the Fire Nation prince and the old guy."
"Please keep it a secret."
"Sure, but at a price that I’ll state later."
"Fine…"

The female water bender slowly walked out of the room and made a right and passed four rooms and stopped at the fifth. She knocked on it softly and there was a rude reply saying ‘get the hell away’ and it made her smile lightly. Katara knew that he had know idea who was at the door, so she opened it quietly, entered, and closed the door as she leaned against it carefully.

"What if I don’t want to?" She asked in a soft voice.

Zuko sprung from his futon and looked at her as if she was the living dead whom came to haunt him or something. Just in case, she locked the door behind her, and slowly walked over to him and caressed his cheek. Immediately he turned away, and tried to stop himself crying, but he just couldn’t.

"What’s wrong Zuko?" Katara frowned.
"Are you okay?" He asked in a whispered.
"I’m sore, but I’m alright. What about you; you look shaken?"
"I didn’t mean to get you hurt Katara, it’s my fault."
She laughed lightly, "I don’t even remember what happened."
"We were on the cliff, so I could practice doing lightning." Zuko replied.
"Did you shoot your lightning?"
"…" He slowly nodded.
"I’m proud of you then," she smiled and stroked the side of his face.
"You got hurt!" Zuko roared as he shot up from the bed to tower over her.
Katara wiped away his tears, "sacrifices have to be made, but at least you know you can do it now."

He wanted to get away from this subject, "the others, their worried about you."
"And I’m sure you are too, so I came to you first." Katara smiled.
"Thank you," Zuko smiled at her lightly in return.
"Wanna escort me around to find the others?"
"Sure."

--

They walked around the village slowly and Katara was both greeted and congratulated on her recovery which made her a little embarrassed that everyone knew she was hurt. Kinto came rushing over to the two and told Katara that she shouldn’t have left the house yet. Katara said that Zuko was making sure nothing would happen, and so Kinto asked what they were even doing outside.

"We’re looking for the others." Zuko stated.
Kinto glared at him, "I didn’t ask you, fire bender."
"Kinto!" Katara scowled.
He frowned, "sorry Katara."
"No, apologize to him."
His attention went to Zuko and then back at Katara, "no."
Zuko looked to Katara, "don’t worry about it."
She frowned at him, "okay."
"Listen, I have to go for now, but I’ll check on you later," Kinto kissed her cheek and ran off, " I’ll tell Aunt Wu that you’re up!"

Zuko scowled at her, "ex-boyfriend I presume?"
She blushed, "no; he’s the number one prankster from the Northern Water Tribe."
"Sure he is," his eyes rolled.
"Fine, don’t believe me." Katara began to walk off slowly because of the pain.
"Okay, okay," he rushed over to her side, "I was just playing."
"That’s the first." She muttered.
Zuko went in front of her, "okay fine, I’m sorry alright."
Katara smiled, "I know, now let’s find the others."

As they did before she was injured five days ago, they walked at each others side, but this time, Zuko was the one who wanted to hold her hand. Katara looked at him curiously and saw him only look forward as if it was nothing, so she entwined their fingers for the heck of it and carried on. Zuko looked at her to see her not mind it at all as she smiled, and so he smiled lightly as they walked in search of the their friends.

‘Friends…’ Zuko whispered in his mind, </I>‘is that what they are to me… is that what I am to them?’</I>

"Something wrong?" Katara asked curiously.
His thoughts were interrupted, "what makes you think that?"
"You always do that face when you’re thinking of something serious or important."
"Since when did you notice?"
"When you tied me to the tree and told me of how you needed to restore your honor."
"Oh…" He then became quiet.

Katara then winced in pain and started to lower her body but Zuko helped her stay on her feet. She couldn’t stand anymore as she whimpered in pain, and started to lose consciousness. Her body was picked up by Zuko in bridal style and he carefully walked back to the house and to her room.

"Come on, stay awake," Zuko whispered quietly to her as he laid her on the bed.
"It hurts," she spoke in a dazed tone as she kept dozing off.
"Where?"
"I… don’t know…"
He gave her his hand, "show me where."

Her hand brought his hand across her body and on the side of her waist, indicating that it was the place that hurt the most. Zuko instantly remembered that it was the place where she had the water canteen and slowly placed a little pressure there which caused her to whimper. Lightly, he stroked her side and her whimpers started to quiet down, and Aunt Wu came in and gasped at the scene then immediately closed the door.

"What do you think you’re doing?!" The old woman hissed.
Zuko looked at her, "she says this is where it hurts the most."
"Get out and I’ll check," she stated while trying to shoo him away.
"I’m not leaving her," he said sternly, not caring if he showed emotions.

Aunt Wu scowled and made him move his hand so that she could untie her obi and remove her clothing except her garments. Katara began to whimper in pain again and Zuko scooted over near head and caressed her face to calm her. The fire bender wasn’t paying attention to the old fortune teller until she placed pressure where it hurt and Katara whined in pain, causing Zuko to get pissed.

"You’re hurting her!" He hissed.
Aunt Wu shook her head, "she has damaged muscles in this spot, the water bender in the other room doesn’t know how to heal her, but I’ve heard that she could."
Zuko scowled, but looked to Katara, "can you heal yourself right now?"
"…" Katara’s head shook painfully and dozed off.
"This is beyond my repair I’m afraid," Aunt Wu stated.
"I’ll see if she can heal herself after she rests the pain off."
She nodded and saw how worried he was, "don’t worry young man," she spoke and he looked at her, "she isn’t going to die; it won’t be her time for quite some time."
Zuko nodded and replied in a bare whisper, "thank you."

--

Supposedly three of four hours passed and Katara woke up sorely as she looked around at what she could. On her right side, Zuko was sitting there lazily but he was sound asleep against the wall. Katara smiled softly and brought her hand to his leg and rubbed him softly, and soon he started to stir awake.

"Hey sleepy, what are you still doing in here?" Katara whispered.
Zuko stretched tiredly, "are you better now?"
"A little…"
"Then heal yourself; you have damaged muscles that you have to repair." Zuko stated.
She slowly nodded, "but it hurts to move my stomach."
"I’ll help you up."

Zuko grabbed Katara from under her arms and the brought her over to lean against him and she winced. She called forth the water that was in a bowl on the night stand and brought it to her stomach and healed her self slowly then sighed. He the rubbed her arms gently in a loving way while kissing the back of her head and the water bender began to get suspicious of it.

"What’s with you?"
Zuko whispered to her, "You’ve been scaring me, badly."
Katara turned her head to him, "I’m sorry."
"Don’t be, it’s my fault," he gave her a kiss.
"I’m not going to argue with you," she smiled.
"I’ll be back," he whispered, "I… need to talk to someone."

"Okay, I’ll just get cleaned up then and go look for the others."
"No, just wait for me to return for you, and we’ll go together."
"We’re not a couple Zuko." Katara laughed humorously.
"Doesn’t mean I can’t worry," he got off the bed and went to the door, "stay here."
"Yes your majesty," she smiled.
Zuko blushed and muttered, "women," then walk out and closed the door.

The fire bender left and walked down the hallway, nearly at the entrance till he came to the fortune tellers’ meditation room and knocked. Aunt Wu said for him to come inside, and so he slid the door open, went in, and closed it behind him. He came forth to her and she said to have a seat next to her.

"Is the water bender awake?" Aunt Wu asked wisely.
He nodded, "she healed herself before I left the room."
"What troubles you?" She asked softly.
"You can see into the future, of how life can be like?"
"Yes I can."

Zuko paused on his thoughts, but spoke them out anyways, "do you… do you know if I’ll marry Katara in the future?"
She laughed, "I don’t know who or if you marry by dear boy."
"…" He sighed in annoyance; humiliating himself for nothing.
"Give me your hand."

Though he didn’t want to trust her, he obeyed anyways and gave her his hand reluctantly in which she began to trace his palm. As if it was a normally thing to do, he began to have doubts about having his relationship back with Katara in the future. Aunt Wu chuckled lightly and released his hand and he looked at her.

"You will get married in time, and to a strong bender as well for that matter."
Zuko smirked, ‘only strong bender I know is Katara anyhow, it’s not like I’d marry Azula.’
"The water bender boy had the same future as well, surprising really."
He scowled at that and stood up with a bow, "thank you," and began to leave.
"Keep her close to you," Aunt Wu stated seriously, "someone will plan to take her from you and succeed, leaving you with nothing if you become the Fire Lord."
Zuko whipped around furiously when hearing this and yelled, "you’re lying!"

The fortune teller didn’t reply to him and he began to panic at the no response, then immediately stormed out of the room and ran Katara’s and slammed it open. Katara and covered her bare chest from his view in shock, and he slammed the door closed. Zuko turned around after slamming it shut and locked it before turning back to Katara and walking to her.

"Zuko, what are you doing; you should’ve knocked-!" Katara was caught off in her mid-sentence by the fire bender.

Zuko wrapped his arms around her and pushed her to the bed and kissed her as rough and deeply as possible. Katara tried to break free from his grasp, but he wouldn’t allow it to happen as he kept kissing her till he could calm down. Freeing her arms, she placed them to his face and he slowed down in ordered to gain his breath.

"Don’t…" he whispered to her.
Katara looked at him, "don’t what?"
"Don’t ever leave me."
"What on earth has gotten into you?"
"Don’t leave me for anyone."

"Zuko," she forced him to calm down and looked at him softly; "I’m not going to go to anyone. So what the heck is making you so paranoid that you have to smother me with hugs and kisses?" Katara asked worriedly.

Zuko frowned, "I went to the fortune teller, and she said that someone would take you away from me… and succeed."
"…" Katara’s eyes widened a bit in fear as she remembered the words Iroh told her.
His eyes hardened when he saw the fear in her eyes "is there something I don’t know?"
"I don’t-… no, I can’t tell you," she whispered.
"You’re not cheat-"
"No, I’m not," Katara interrupted, "it’s just something I remembered that Iroh told me."
"Okay…" he then returned to kissing her.

--

Around two hours later, Zuko was convinced by Katara that even though they weren’t together, that she wasn’t going to go to anyone else. A knock came on her down and Katara placed her upper clothing on then left the bed to unlock and open the door to find it to be Iroh at the doorway, so she let him in then closed the door. She returned to her bed and sat next to Zuko who was glaring at his uncle.

"I’m not interrupting anything am I?" Iroh asked curiously.
"Perhaps," Zuko replied sternly.
"Zuko…" Katara sighed and looked to Iroh, "do you know why I blacked out after Zuko shot out his lightning?"

"He was the one doing the lightning technique, if you were touching him, then of course you were attacked by it, causing your body to go into deep shock." Iroh pouted to her, "the canteen conducting plenty of shock wave to her body to kill you, but didn’t because the white flames protect you through the lightning."

Katara looked over to Zuko with a small smile, "thank you, I guess."
"You’re delusional, I didn’t do a thing." Zuko replied.
"If you say so," she laughed.
He scoffed with a light blush, "humph."

"Miss Katara, are you still uncomfortably with the information from before?" Iroh asked.
Katara stopped laughing, "I won’t disagree of what can happen, but yes, I’m still a little uncomfortably about it."
He nodded, "till you feel alright with that fact, I will wait till giving you the full story, of why Lu Ten attacked you Water Tribe."
The two teens looked at him, and Zuko spoke, "did you know he was going to go there?"
"Yes, but the results I didn’t know of till later."
"…" The prince began to get angry.
Katara placed a hand on Zuko’s chest and talked to Iroh, "that’s enough information for now; I’ll let you know when I’m prepared."
"You will be prepared when you are able to tell Prince Zuko on your own." Iroh bowed.
"…" Katara was silent.
"Aunt Wu said dinner will be ready in an hour or so." He then left.