Icarus

It burns

Katara missed Lu Ten, almost as much as she missed Genera Iroh. Zuko smiled less, and looked smaller since he had been gone. Katara supposed she couldn't blame him, his father terrified Katara to an insurmountable level. Sometimes when he looked at her, Katara's legs would shiver and small little bumps would travel up and down like when it got too cold in the south.

Sometimes he'd open his mouth and whisper to her a word, Katara could never tell what the word was, but she'd swallow the lump down her throat and look away until Zuko or Iroh came to her and dragged her away.

She can close her eyes and see him starring at her. Katara thinks he likes to look at her, to remind himself of her dying race. She thinks it brings him pleasure to see someone who will never see their world again, who will die without kin and leave her ancestors empty handed.

Zuko didn't remind Katara of his father at all, Azula on the other hand was a spitting image, expect for when Katara looked at her in the eyes. His eyes showed fire and maliciousness, but Azula's eyes were nothing like she had seen before, if Ozai looked like fire Azula looked like lightning, a rare ability Katara found out Azula could produce, her eyes were a word deeper than sharp and a emotion further than fire. She looked like a psychopath and Katara felt like one of her dolls.

When she spoke to her, Zuko usually got between them, she'd open her mouth and Zuko would already be telling Azula to beat it. The rare times Azula got her alone she was authentically friendly, it made Katara feel less alone, which scared her more than anything her father has ever said.

Katara knew if she didn't trust Zuko, she'd love Azula, and loving Azula was a dangerous game. Her love was a debt that she would have to repay. One way or another.

Azula's heels rasped along the waxed black tile floors, and Katara stiffened, turning around to head the other way.

"Now now waterbender," cold hands that were uncommon in the fire nation grasped her arm, "I've been meaning to talk to you."

Katara starred at her, and she realized what Azula's eyes looked like, a fire that was so hot it felt cold, burning you while you shivered seeking warmth in the very thing turning you to ashes.

"Hello Princess Azula," Katara bowed, "how has your highness been."

Azula pulled her along, "skip the small talk Katara, it's beneath you."

Katara pursed her lips, "where are you taking me."

Azula laughed, and Katara found herself wanting to be friends with Azula, in a cold callous way. She seemed so real unlike the falsity that graces so many people she knew.

"Father wants to see you, it's no wonder why." Azula looked her up and down and Katara felt cold.

"Oh." Katara whispered.

Azula rolled her eyes, "don't be so cynical. Iroh has sent for you."

"To go where?" Katara asked.

"Isn't it obvious waterbender." Azula flicked her on the forehead and Katara felt a lot like Zuko right then.

"Azula!" Zuko ran forward, pulling Katara back by the shoulders.

She could feel his chest behind her back, how solid and warm it felt, each breath which came quicker by the second. She could feel his thumping heart beating against her eardrum.

"Prince Charming," Azula greeted, "I was waiting for you."

"What's going on Katara," Zuko looked between her and Azula, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Father has sent for Katara," Azula looked Zuko in the eyes, challenging. "Just like you thought."

She could feel Zuko's heart skip a beat, quite literally, and she could only hold her breath. Too cold to shiver, too warm to sweat.