Charred //ZUTARA

Chapter 51 - ''I'm just making sure you know that.'' 18+

WARNING: sexual abuse. 

It's been three days since Zuko had his heart broken by the only person who made it worth beating. He knew she didn't mean it. Convinced himself it was for the show; so everyone in that damn cave would believe Katara truly resented him. Especially Mai.

For some reason though, he could not get over how serious she seemed to be. He wasn't going to pretend she didn't excel in lying. He knew she could spill utter nonsense and people would believe her every word. 

But those lies stuck to him like honey and he couldn't get them out of his head. The worst about all of it was that a part of him he long thought gone wanted to get back at her for it. He wanted her to feel the embarrassment that followed him to this day, the confusion that was surely written across his face while he listened to her and the devastation that didn't last long once he's realized it wasn't true but still struck him for a good while. 

Though if Katara was good at lying, he was even better at hiding his emotions. So he choose to play along, smiled like she didn't just offend him and went about his routine of trying to get the information out of Mai, while trying to keep his sanity in check. 

The plan concocted by the waterbender was perfect. She denied her feelings for him in front of everyone and because of that, Mai was already cooperating. She still resisted to tell them the exact location but from what he's managed to gather so far, it was most definitely in the Fire Nation, just like they suspected. 

He was now sitting by himself in the deepest corner of the cave, hoping no one would need him for the rest of the night. He could hear the laughter from the bonfire they build near the entrance and wished to the shadows surrounding him that they would soon swallow him whole. 

....................................

Katara promised to let him go. Perhaps it wasn't what she meant but it worked nonetheless. She grew wary of the worried glances from Chan and happiness that seemed to rise within everyone but her. To keep the balance in the world, to save the Air Nomads, she risked her relationship with Zuko to ensure Mai would give out the information. Which was going swimmingly so far. 

She knew she was cruel in executing her desperate plan but it was her decision. Her sacrifice. Then why did it still hurt every time she'd spot Zuko anywhere near his previous girlfriend, whispering like old friends and smiling from time to time?

''Katara!'' Aang shifted to his feet from his lotus position on the ground next to her. Air lifted with him, causing the flames to dance dangerously close to her feet. He sent her a quick apologetic look and smile sheepishly. He then offered her his hand. ''Would you care to go for a walk with me?''

''Sure, Aang.''

She was just about to reach for his hand when out of the corner of her eye, she's noticed Sokka dragging Mai to where Zuko currently sat by himself. She almost turned around to watch whatever was going to unfold but the Avatar already grabbed her and took her out of the cave with him.

Stumbling on her feet, she only sighed in annoyance. Then acknowledging that observing the interaction between past lovers wouldn't make her feel any better, she followed the airbender with no hesitation. 

The cold wind hit her in the face but she welcomed it. The Moon greeted her as usual, reflecting it's light on her skin. 

''Where are we going, Aang?'' she asked curiously, looking around the beautiful night surrounding them. 

She didn't recognize the way he was leading her towards though. 

It seemed like some sort of forest. Tall, weirdly shaped trees grew out of the soft ground. Aang kept going, never letting go of her hand. She stepped on so many small branches, her feet already started hurting.