Painted Blue (A Zutara Fanfiction)

Ch.7 Just like him

Katara could feel her heart drumming loudly in her ears. She wondered for a second if Zuko could hear it too. The waterbender reached up and with a finger, and lowered the mask that covered the bottom half of her face.

"Katara!?" Zuko exclaimed once he'd recognized her. He jumped back in surprise, immediately releasing her from the vascular hold. Katara doubled over and coughed, the pressure of his forearm against her neck had made it difficult to breathe.

A few seconds after the initial shock had worn off, the fire-bender furrowed his brows. "What are you doing here? Is Aang with you too?" He questioned, suspicious of her motives.

"No. Aang's not with me. He's back at the Earth Kingdom waiting for our meeting with the King." She clarified, rubbing the skin where the choker had pressed against her neck. Zuko turned, giving his back to the brunette. "You should go. You've got no business here..." he told her coldly before resuming his trek down the hall.

Katara stepped in front of the male, blocking his path as she analyzed his weary features. "This is my business." She protested firmly. "You're my friend. I have a right to check up on you and make sure you're ok." Zuko rolled his eyes. "I'm fine." He affirmed.

"I don't believe you." She responded. "That's your problem, not mine." He huffed dismissively. "Why are you acting like this?" Katara asked, the question catching him off guard. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He retorted, turning to face her.

It was against the flicker of the lanterns that his exhaustion became even more apparent. Katara's hands moved on their own, sliding up to cup the firelord's face. "You haven't been sleeping, have you?" She asked, the question more of a statement than an actual inquiry.

Zuko tensed visibly when he felt the water-bender's hands on his skin. Aside from Mai, she was the only one he allowed so close to his scar. A slight warmth filled the fire-bender's cheeks, its subtlety causing it to blend in with the hues cast by the burning lanterns.

"I know you've been visiting Ozai..." she admitted after a few seconds, her thumb barely grazing the edge of his scar. "Last night, while we camped at the edge of your nation, I came by to see if you were okay..." she trailed off.

"I saw you walking into the prison." She admitted, eyes falling to the pristine tile. "I'd also heard of your withdrawal from the HRM and I thought-"

"You thought what? That I'd switched sides again? That because I was consulting with my father, I had forgotten everything we fought for?" He asked, tone irritated. Zuko's hands curled around each of her delicate wrists.

Katara bit her lip and averted her gaze, confirming his accusation. "You're unbelievable." The prince scoffed, lowering her hands. "Zuko. Put yourself in my shoes! In Ba-Sing-Se you-"

"I what? I made a mistake? I've apologized for that and more when I helped you locate Yon-Rha." He reminded. "I know but-" Katara began but he cut her off.

"But what!? You really think I would defy my father, help the Avatar imprison him for life and not know what I want? You think my resolve is so fragile, that a few simple exchanges with him would change my views on everything!?" He asked, his volume rising.

"Zuko, that's not what-"

"I took a lightning bolt to the chest for you!" He snapped, gripping the center of his royal robes as he remembered the sting. Katara shut her eyes, the memory still vivid in her mind, along with the fear she'd felt; the fear of...losing him.

"You think I would've put my life on the line for just anyone? Especially if I was planning to betray you? How insincere do you think I am? You're just like him." He accused. "You're just like my father. No matter what I do, I'll never be good eno-"

"Shut up!" Katara interrupted with a shout. Her voice resonated loudly through the halls. Zuko blinked, her reaction catching him off guard. "Do you even hear yourself Zuko!? When have I ever questioned your loyalty!? After that agni kai with Azula, you know I'd trust you with my life!"

She reminded. Zuko clenched his jaw. "So can you, for a second, stop putting words in my mouth and listen?!" She panted, angry tears welling in her eyes.

"I came here today for the same reason I did yesterday. To check on you!" She scolded, her fists balled as she took an angry step towards him.

"I heard about all the assassinations attempts. I could tell by the dark circles beneath your eyes that you haven't been sleeping! You're under alot of pressure as firelord, so it makes sense that you would seek counsel from someone who's got experience. But think about it. For one second, think about the kind of leader Ozai was. The kind of father he is!

How do you know he's not leading you into a trap or worse, trying to get information out of you so he can get to Aang?! Have you ever stopped to think that the assasination attempts could be his doing!?" She asked, out of breath.

There was a long pause between them, the athmosphere filling with notable tension as she glared daggers at him. "You stopped writing. You..." she trailed off, her anger simmering down into a warped version of loneliness.

"I could've helped you. I could've...advised you." She muttered. "I could've...protected you-helped you sleep." The water- bender swallowed thickly, her voice threatening to crack beneath the surge of emotions she was currently experiencing.

"Mai's right..." she said softly, her eyes trained on his armored boots. "You always try and do everything on your own. You don't ever stop to think about how it affects the people that care about you. How it affects...me." she admitted.

"I was so worried when you stopped writing. Many nights I feared the worst. If I had known what you were going through, what was troubling you, I could've-"

"Could've what? Flown to my rescue? Left your fiancé and brother behind to protect the fire-lord?" He scoffed, the sound prompting her wet eyes to meet his tired ones. "That's why I sent Suki. Because I couldn't be here..."

Zuko arched a brow. "You sent the Kyoshi warriors to guard me? Mai told me she had-"

"Suki told her to say that. I didn't want you to know it was me because I knew you would refuse my help." Zuko narrowed his eyes. "You didn't need to. I was handling it just fine." He protested.

"That's exactly what I imagined you'd say." she huffed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "If you needed advice. Why didn't you contact Iroh? I'm certain he would've been more than happy to help." Zuko shook his head.

"I can't. I promised my uncle he would have a quiet and peaceful life after the war. I couldn't trouble him with something so, so trivial!" He huffed. Katara furrowed her brows. "I doubt he'd think of your sanity and health as trivial." She countered, crossing her arms against her chest.

Her chocolate locks were pulled back into her signature braid and bun style, with her loopies hanging loosely beside her face. "I'm done talking about this. You should go." The fire-lord urged before turning around. After another pause, Zuko resumed his walk, ending their conversation for the night.