Too Close

tired

Zuko sat in his room as he only had a few hours left before his father calls him again. The offer he had for him...

He rolled on his side with a side but looked over seeing durk sitting on the ground innocently watching him. 

"Hey creep," he reached down and rubbed behind his cats ear.

He picked him up and durk settled laying next to zukos side and purred. Zuko gulped as his throat burned, it hurt as he kept his emotions buried deeper and deeper. He checked his phone seeing jin hasn't texted or called him back, he tried calling her twice and was left on voice mail. He could take a hint.

Knock knock

Katara peaked in before he said anything.

"Hello!" She sang closing the door behind her as she wore a skirt and sweater. 

"Oh hey," he looked at her calmly.

"Wow no yelling at me? I knew you were sick," Katara handed him a cup of tea from downstairs that iroh gave her and sat at the foot of his bed.

"Your uncle said you haven't left you room, you missed school, are you okay?" Katara asked seeing he didn't move as he laid in bed.

"I'm fine," he closed his eyes laying on his side.

"Obvious lie," she rolled her eyes.

"I'll handle it myself," he tried again.

"What are you handling?" Katara raised a brow and he shook his head.

"I just have to make a big decision, I don't know what to do," he gulped as he hugged durk to his chest and the cat nuzzled against his neck.

"Can you talk to Jim about it since you won't talk to me?" Katara smiled kindly hoping he'd look at her again.

"She won't pick up," zuko got quieter.

Kataras heart sank, she was the other thing that got Zuko to open up and smile about, he adored her and missed his only friend that knows him... why wouldn't jin answer?

"What would you do if you had to choose between a lot of money but there was a cost that you didn't know the consequences of... or stay clean but be stuck in this town and risk everything you worked for?" Zuko sat up and looked at her sadly.

"There's not a lot of detail I can go off of Zuko," Katara sat in front of him.

"That's the easiest way I can explain it," he gripped his jeans a little.

"Are both options bad?" She asked not understanding. He nodded.

"Which one would less people get hurt?" She asked again.

"The first one," his voice broke.

"Is that something you care about a lot?" Katara touched his hand and he nodded again.

"Okay then..." she whispered as she held onto the top his hand hoping to comfort him.

"Is there a third option that you don't have to do anything?" Katara tried to joke but he shook his head.

Suddenly zukos phone rang and he picked it up without looking at the name in hope it was jin returning his calls.

"Someone's eager," Ozai answered.

"Do you have an answer for me?" He asked and Zuko clenched his jaw to try stopping it from shaking.

"Yes..." he whispered.

"I'll do it, I'll take the job," Zuko couldn't look Katara in the eyes but could feel her grip tighten on his hand.

"Good to hear boy, come back on Friday, we'll discuss what's on and off limits for you, being a minor and all," ozai chuckled.