Zutara I

Chapter 16- Unpleasant Surprises

I pick up my feet to run over. What could this possibly be? Is Sosuke hitting on my Zuko? I swear if he is-

I approach the door, and swing the it open with a force I didn't know I had in me.

Of course, it was nothing.

Zuko was ticklish, so Sokuke wanted to test it out. The scream was merely a scream of joy. I feel a little bubble of anger boil up inside me.

"You can't just go screaming around, dammit! I thought something was wrong!!," i yell.

Zuko wipes his pleasant grin off his face. "Sorry, you're right,"

"Sosuke, the family needs clean water. You can come with me to get it as punishment. Zuko, I swear. Don't worry me like that," The room goes quiet for a moment.

"Sorry, Katara. I was just having fun," Sosuke said.

"I don't care if you have fun, I just hate being worried to death over trivial things," I sigh, attempting to soften my voice. "Lets go, Sosuke"

I hate being the bad guy.

Or girl, for that matter.

Sosuke and I walk out onto a gravel path facing northwest. Our boots are soon scuffed and the dust quickly covered our faces. I don't speak at all, mainly because I don't think he wishes to speak with me. I pick up my feet a bit more so the scruffy noise dies down a little. Worst part is, whenever you're walking to get water you're always thirsty. But when you get to the water, you can't drink it until you purify it. Its hours of long walking and heavy carrying. Usually Aang would do this sort of thing.

"Did you talk to Toph?," His words interrupt my thoughts.

"Yeah, I did. She seems to really miss you,"

"Bull,"

"She said she did." I say.

"Oh, really? I suppose she also gave you the talk though,"

I swallow loudly. Shit. "The talk?," I laugh.

"You know, how I get too close to all the guys," Sosuke says with seemingly a little bit of sorrow.

"Sosuke, no one cares here if you're gay. We just take precautions," I try for a comforting smile.

"I'm not gay,"

"You're not?,"

"Not even the slightest,"

My mind races with a million different thoughts. What? What?? If he's not gay, then why would Toph say that? And how does he know she said that to me? I rub some dirt off my eyelid to break the awkward silence a little.

"But then...," I begin, not knowing how the hell to finish.

"The only reason I seem to get too close to the guy friends is because in reality I'm just trying to get with the girls," Sosuke smirks a little.

"Oh very funny. I said it was fine that you were gay Sosuke," I start to get annoyed.

"Katara, I'm not gay. I'm serious. Think about it. I can get really uncomfortably close with Zuko, and he'll force me out of his room. My sister isn't going to want me to stay in her room, and Zuko will probably be too embarrassed to even say anything about it. Aang is his own person, he doesn't want to share a room with a random guy. Which leaves you. If I wanted to, I could get really close to you however and whenever I wanted. You could tell other people, but because of Toph they all assume I'm gay. Zuko wouldn't believe you either. It's a flawless tactic that always works,"

Holy. Shit. Crap. Darn. Damn. Fudge. What the. Oh my. Shit. How...WHAT???? Why??? I don't know what to do at all. I'm screwed. I am so so so so so so so so so so so screwed!!!

Sosuke taps my shoulder. "I know you're freaking out, but my plans aren't to have sex with you. I really want to have a fun time with all of you guys and have a new family,"

A small wave a relief flushes over me. But theres always that thought in the back of my mind now thats going to stick there.

"Thank god," I crack a smile. "Looks like were here,"

The swooshing noise of the waterfall calmed me a lot more. I felt at peace, and Sosuke kept at least a 5 foot distance from me at all times. I had nothing to worry about.

I bring up my pail into the rushing clear water and it sprays all over me. I was in heaven. I glance over at Sosuke and he's tasting it. Wait...

"Sosuke don't taste that! It's not purified yet!!,"

As an instinct, I run over to push his hand from his mouth. Unfortunately this gets my clothes stuck on a nearby twig. I reach over to Sosuke for support, but because I grabbed him I just dragged him down with me, into the waterfall. Which caused my clothes to rip off. What a series of events. I swore I wouldn't let Sosuke ever take advantage of me, and here I am, basically naked and wet and alone, clinging to Sosuke.

Sosuke grabs my waist and hoists me up a bit. This gesture causes me to squirm, which causes Sosuke to sink his arms in harder. "The current is too much for you Katara,"

"The current my ass! You think you can just save me and I'll be all yours!,"

Sosuke gets furious. "I'm trying to save your damn life woman! I can let you drown if thats what you wish!!,"

Freezing water splashes over my face, causing me to choke and shiver. The water sinks into my pores and suddenly it doesn't feel so good. The sun starts to set and clouds begin to form in the sky. Sosuke and I shouldn't be fighting at a time like this. He starts to release his grip on me, and I cling my chest to his back, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry! Just swim!!,"

Sosukes arms lunge out and in with great force to get to the shallow edge. His face is red and tired, along with his arms. His shirt is frail and practically hangs off his body. He breathes in long but short breaths. I can feel him wearing down.

"Come on, Sosuke!!,"

We reached it. The edge. Sosuke passes out all together and I shiver in the cold. I shouldn't have judged him. He clearly stated from the beginning what his intentions were. Even though I had concerns for him, I was freezing. And there were no clothes near me to spare.

I brush Sosukes hair back, and take a deep breath. I then shove my leg into his crotch and watch as he screams and wakes up. I didn't really know how else to wake him up.

"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT WOMAN?!?!?!,"

"I'm freezing, you're freezing. It's dark, we're both hungry. I can't be having you pass out right now,"

"How the hell do you have a boyfriend? I just saved your life, and you kicked me in the balls," Sosuke groans in agony.

I kneel beside him. "Sosuke, I'm grateful that you saved me, I really am. But I still need you. So, if you could not die on me, that would be great,"

"If you weren't naked and pretty I swear I would've left by now,"

Oh right. I've failed to remember that I'm in nothing but underwear.

"If we could just focus on the not dying part please," My face was beet red and I knew it.

"Help me up," Sosuke moans.

"Fine,"

~