Too Close

sides

Zuko was cleaning the kitchen as he saw Katara walk through the door after a soft knock as she peaked in and saw him. 

"Did you talk to jet?" He asked no longer phased that Katara sometimes just shows up at his home now. 

"No, I want to hear what you have to say first, if you meant what you said earlier, I trust you," Katara walked over after taking off her shoes and sat at the counter while Zuko wiped down the white counter.

"What do I have to lose?" Zuko shrugged and Katara nodded softly.

"So you and jet were friends? When?" She asked softly. 

"During middle school and that summer before high school  we were closer but he found out about my father and hates my family for it," Zuko sighed a little.

"His parents use to work for my fathers company and we're killed on the job when he was younger,"

"What..?" Katara breathed in horror.

"And I kind of disappeared during summer, so that first week of high school we both kept getting into fights and his friends too, and I finally snapped and had like a blind rage that sent kids to the hospital," he explained setting the towel down and looked at her calmly. 

"Why did you disappear?" She asked seriously. 

"I had.. and accident, it's how I got my scar, I was in the hospital for a week and my father sent me away for three more," he nodded looking at her, every work was the truth and she knew it. 

"Can I ask what happened?"

"No," he shook his head. 

Katara nodded understanding and listened to him still. 

"But jet landed the first punch, I never hit first and I never hit a girl," Zuko inhaled deeply. 

"What about Suki?" Katara asked flatly. 

"Red head?" He asked.

She nodded. 

"Okay I threw a boy at her," he said quickly and Katara crossed her arms. 

"I'm sorry for ever hurting your friends," Zuko looked at her sincerely. 

"That's why I went to the mental hospital and moved away, so I didn't have to be that person anymore, I'm still trying to not go back to that direction," he gulped softly and Kataras face softened. 

"But that's my side, any questions?" Zuko sighed running his hand through his hair looking to the side so he didn't have to see the way Katara looked at him. 

"How did it even get that bad?" Katara whispered concerned. 

"I.. Ive been teased and harassed bout my mom since the word got out that I lost her, that's how jet and I became friends because he stood up for me once, and since she died it's just been going down hill since then, we found out about drinking and other stuff in seventh grade," he closed his eyes leaning against the counter remembering those days. 

"It was really bad,"

"So what has jet told you?" He smirked at her opening his eyes.

"That you were a violent bloodthirsty psychopath, who put half the students in the hospital with no reasoning and was dangerous," Katara said simply. 

"So nothing that was true," she smiled up at him. 

She smiled more seeing Zuko smiled back and laughed a little. 

"I am actually sorry though for how I treated you, but I've been told I need to open up more so I'm not miserable... so thanks," Zuko pursed his lips a little and Katara blushed softly. 

"Thanks for what?" She asked with a smirk. 

"For sticking around," he nodded. "Not everyone does,"

Katara bit the inside of her cheek a little as she felt guilt sit in her chest, he wasn't a monster that everyone saw him as. Zuko was kind and just had trust issues from his past, from jet betraying him like that and whatever happened in his family, he wasn't a bad guy. 

"Zuko.." she inhaled deeply but stopped herself. 

Should she tell him? That it was a bet to make him her friend, to gain his trust so she could break him one more time. She didn't know what to think anymore. 

"Yea?" He smiled a little at her waiting for her to continue. 

"Shit I forgot what I was gonna say," Katara whined covering her face but heard him laugh a little more. 

"Hey kat, wanna go for a ride?" Zuko asked walking away from the kitchen. 

"Where?" Katara looked at him confused. 

"I don't know, but it's to stuffy in here, do you have anywhere to be?" He asked grabbing his boots and sat on a stool next to her putting them on. 

"No... I've never been on a motorcycle," Katara looked at him confused as Zuko bounced back to his feet. 

He looked her up and down seeing her outfit of her light blue jeans with a few rips and a lilac purple tank top that was cropped right above her bellybutton.

"I can tell," he rolled his eyes and grabbed his leather jacket on the rack. 

"Wear this, you can't have that much skin showing on a bike, you never know what'll happen," he threw it at her and Katara squeaked as it landed on top of her head.

"I don't have a helmet," Katara told him. 

"Sucks for you, you have to wear my uncles then," Zuko smirked at her as Katara groaned but agreed. 

—

"You ready?" Zuko put his helmet on as he sat on the front of his motorcycle as Katara climbed on the back carefully with a sage green half helmet on as Zuko wore a sports bike helmet with a clear visor over his eyes. 

"Do I hang onto you?" Katara asked awkwardly.

"Or the sides," he shrugged. She planted her feet and grabbed the sides as Zuko started the bike up with a roar that made her jump.  Without warning Zuko zoomed out of the drive way and Katara immediately wrapped her arms around his chest and pressed her body to his tightly in fear.

"You asshole!" She screamed closing her eyes as Zuko smiled and went faster down the road. 

"Open your eyes, it's not to bad," Zuko called back to her.

"No! I regret getting on!" She cried pressing her face into the back of his shoulder. He turned the corner sharply and made Katara scream again as they went towards the backroads with a forest and flat land while the city was behind them now.

"Open them now," he said gently as he slowed down for her. 

Katara tightened her hands on his shirt as she forced her head up to open her eyes. Katara gasped a little in awe seeing the green around them with the blue sky above. 

"Wow..." she whispered resting her chin on his shoulder with her hair blowing behind her that didn't fit in the helmet.

"Not so scary now right?" Zuko smiled as she relaxed behind him and her arms hung around his stomach. 

"Fine, you were right," Katara giggled enjoying the cool air around her as his leather jacket kept her warm, it was heavy with the elbow and spine protection in it but it was comfortable and made her feel safe.

"So where are we going?" She asked again smiling brightly as she looked at the road over his shoulder.

"I don't know, I've never gone this way, just tell me left or right at the stop signs," Zuko told her and she laughed at him, agreeing to his terms.