Katara, of the Fire Nation

Chapter 14

Katara's heart throbs in her ears, drowning out the sound of Zuko's voice, drowning out the sound of the wind that roars outside the tent.

"Katara," Zuko says, his voice hard and full of anger as he stares at the scars marring Katara's back, "What are those?"

Katara holds herself tightly, her flesh becomes covered in goosebumps as she stands and faces Zuko.

"It's nothing," she hears herself say.

"Bull shit," Zuko hisses, stepping further inside and letting the tent flaps close behind him, "Bull shit, Kat."

"Zuko-"

"Did he do that?" Zuko asks, his face twisting in rage.

Zuko looks over Katara's shoulder, staring at the tip of a scar, and everything suddenly makes sense.

"Why?" Zuko breathes.

Katara stares at her feet and then looks up to Zuko, but she remains silent.

"How?" Zuko asks, Katara sighs and then turns to pick up her chest wrap, "Katara, how?!"

"Stop it," Katara says, holding her wraps to her chest, "I'm tired."

"Katara," Zuko says softly as Katara sits on her bed mat, "Katara, please."

"Fine!" she snaps, standing back to her feet, "You want to know what happened?! Your father knew that you were pulling punches, he knew that I was also pulling my punches, he knew I was taking the fall for you and he punished me for it! You weren't the only one who got burnt on that day, when I was packing my things, he came for me."

Zuko's face blanches as Katara continues, and Zuko could swear that he could smell the tinge of burning flesh, the same smell that filled his nose on that horrible day. Zuko remembers that night, when he was helped onto the ship he could smell burning skin wherever he went, he could smell it all over Katara, and now he knows why.

"His fire was hotter than anything I've ever felt," Katara continues blinking back her tears and hoping Zuko can't hear the shake in her voice, "He lashed me twice, then he hit the back of my heart, telling me... telling me that..." A tear falls from Katara's eyes and she wipes it hastily, flicking it from her fingers as she takes a deep breath, "He knew... he knew that I cared for you... so he burnt my heart, burnt it so that I knew what fire would 'inevitably' do to me."

Zuko looks Katara up and down, his stomach twists in knots as he steps towards her. Zuko watches Katara closely, he watches as she hiccups and tries to swallow her tears.

"It hurts," Katara whispers, "There are times where it hurts so bad..."

"So bad that you can't think of anything else?" Zuko finishes, he places a finger under Katara's chin and tips it up so that she looks into his eyes.

Katara's lip trembles as she looks into Zuko's eyes, into the golden fire that seems to echo within her own self.

"I'm tired," Katara sighs, shying away from the fire and pulling out of Zuko's hold.

Katara turns her back and wraps her chest, she lays down with her back to Zuko as he sets up his own bed. The tent they share isn't that spacious, so it's no surprise when Zuko finds himself squished between the wall and Katara.

"Kat," Zuko groans, his voice raspy, "You're squishing me."

Katara groans and then rolls away from Zuko, putting her back to the prince as the moon shines above them. 

An hour passes and Zuko rolls over in his sleep, his arm wraps around Katara's waist and pulls her back to him. They fit together like a puzzle piece, they always have, ever since they were little. Their legs become tangled and Katara melts into Zuko's warmth while Zuko cuddles closer to Katara's coolness.