It is sheer luck that there is a village just a few miles away.
Katara's steps are practically skips - she holds her head high as the firebender ducks his low and to the side as if he is trying to hide his scar. Like he is afraid of being recognized in this random, tiny town that appears just a bit larger than Haru's village.
No comment comes from her though. She presses her lips into a smile and keeps walking in front. Wandering through the darkening streets, she feels lighter than a feather as the sun disappears behind the buildings.
It is a full moon night. She will finally replenish herself completely. It's been far too long.
Katara is the one who spots the inn first. It is a dusty looking thing but it looks pleasant enough and she'd pick this over a tree branch any day. An actual bed is preferable to her little bedroll.
Zuko dips his head lower as they go in and she throws him a confused glance as they go from the dusky streets to the darkness of the tavern-inn. He's moving stiffly. His eyes keep shifting around in the room as Katara weaves her way through the tables and up to the bar.
Perhaps the odd behavior is because she's knocked him off his course? They're no longer heading in the direction that he originally planned. Maybe that's the reason why he's acting so - Katara takes the moment to inspect him again - strange. Shifty. Like he is a thief carrying precious, missed cargo.
The Prince acting like a common criminal. Katara sniffs. How amusing.
"Two bedrooms." She's gruff. Niceness - much like with Zuko - will get her nowhere with the stout barman with the dark mustache and thick arms. "We have fur to trade."
The man's eyes wash over her. It's not much, there's the high bar in the way and she refuses to flinch even the slightest. She's got her own on him, steady and calm like she isn't walking through the Earth Kingdom with the Fire Lord's son.
"What pelt?"
Katara's tugging open the clasp of the backpack and she already has a nice-sized portion of the armadillo lion's hide stretching out on the table. She runs her hands over the fur to soothe it out, then crosses her arms over her chest so the man can feel it.
It's nice fur. Even if it's not good-quality Polar Beast.
"It's raw." The barman shakes his head as if he's disappointed. "You won't get two bedrooms in the filthiest place for this."
"One bedroom then." Katara replies flatly. Beside her, the firebender stiffens and he looks at her. Then he seems to remember that he's trying to hide his scar - and failing because there's people starting to look at them - and he turns his face away.
"Got anything else?"
"No. Take it or I'll go elsewhere."
The man chuckles, eyebrows rising on his small forehead. "I doubt you'd get a room anywhere with raw pelts." He runs his hands over the fur again. "But it's cut decently and it's a good size. I can get you a bedroom for a night only. Gotta be out by tomorrow evening."
"I suppose that's good enough." The waterbender sighs. "Thank you for your hospitality."
He grunts. His large, beefy hand digs around underneath the bar and he pulls out a single key. Slamming it on the table, he pushes it toward her.
"Don't break the bed."
Katara simpers, eyes bright. "Only the windows and the doors." Sokka showed her how to handle people like this.
Zuko starts coughing uncontrollably. But the man in front of her guffaws.
He removes his hand from the key. Katara takes it, pushes away from the counter. "Which room?"
"Third door on your right." He's stepping away now, another customer - more drunk than he probably should be - is commanding his attention.
She slides the edge of the key around her finger as she heads towards the stairs. When she regards Zuko, she's pleased to see that the other side of his face almost matches his scar in redness.
Apparently, she has embarrassed the little Prince.
A new sway in her hips and a coy smile on her lips, Katara strides up the steps and tries not to sashay too much. Maybe she likes teasing him more than she should.
But she's a waterbender and it's a full moon. The anticipation of the power she's going to have tonight so irresistible that she can feel herself becoming cockier and more arrogant the closer it gets to nighttime.
She's more than ready for the sky to darken. And it's not because she's going to be in a bedroom alone with the firebender breaking any beds or windows.
The room is nothing special. Not that she expected much from the looks of the outside. It's adequate, simple and rustic. A bed that's large enough for two in the corner, a small washbasin, a window - she can't help that her eyes twinkle when she sees it - and a chair.
At least it's clean. Smells a little musty. Like a man had just left and she can't have that.
Wrinkling her nose, she crosses the room to flick the latches and open the window. The dusk breeze blows in, the smell of earth more than welcome in comparison to the musk.
"I'm not sharing a bed with you," the Prince utters distastefully.
Katara peeks over her shoulder at him from where she's leaned up against the wooden wall near the window. He's still standing by the door.
"Looks like you don't have much of a choice. Unless you want to spare that last gold coin of yours to get yourself a new room."
"We have enough pelts to exchange for another."
"Those pelts are going to get us food and supplies. Since I'm the one that skinned it, I'm the one that decides what we're going to do with it. And I say we don't waste it just to spare your pride."
"I just think… It'd be best if we did."
Katara snorts. "Oh really?"
"Yes."
"I don't have water peasant germs if that's what you're worried about." She turns from the window to face him fully. Her hands plant on her hips. "And just so we're clear, I'm not exactly thrilled to be sharing a bed with you either. So you're more than welcome to make a pallet on the floor if it bothers you so much."
"Princes don't sleep on floors." He sneers.
"First time for everything. You might start a new tradition."
Zuko grimaces. She can see the hackles rising on his neck.
"Besides," she interjects before he can start losing his cool right then and there, "I don't plan on getting much sleep tonight. Full moon and everything." A slow, sly grin spreads across her face.
Even though she never gets to sleep on full moon nights, she still loves them. Tomorrow she will be a bit sluggish but she'd take the power surge with the drainage any day. Hopefully, the firebender doesn't know about that.
When his expression doesn't change from the grimace, Katara shrugs her shoulders and takes the bag from his hands.
"I'm going to go see if we can get any supplies while the sun is still somewhat up. You're welcome to stay and sulk in the room if you wish," she calls over her shoulder as she closes the door behind her.
The tavern below is getting busier. The men are louder, the women less dressed. Katara keeps her head up as she weaves through the growing crowd. Her first instinct is to look down and avoid eye-contact, but when it comes to these types… Sokka had always told her looking up will attract far less attention.
If she looks down, she's prey.
With a broad piece of pelt, she's able to get them a few real hunting knives - she'll need to sharpen them because they're rather dull - and a tent for when the nights get cooler, more rope, a small canteen and a skillet.
She smiles and bats her eyes as the merchant tries to sell her more things. The playfulness gets her a worn leather belt. It's used, old but it fits around her waist and she thanks him anyway. She bundles the newfound items in the backpack and latches the skillet onto the outside.
Katara nibbles on a piece of fruit that was in the pack as she meanders back to the inn. She's not in a hurry. The firebender has been grating her nerves down to nubs ever since they got off the ship. It's bad enough that she can't get her own room, now she is going to have to share one with him.
Even if it is just for a night, it still makes her fists clench at her side. Zuko - he is a piece of work. Acting all… annoying. The trip back to the Northern Tribe can't be quick enough.
The inn's door is in front of her far too soon. Like before, she keeps her head high and the pack close to her back. She slides and slips through everyone easily. It's a bit busier than before, even. When the sun goes down it seems that everyone flocks to the nearest tavern.
She feels a hand brush against her backside, but the weight of the pack doesn't change and touches like that don't really startle her anymore. The waterbender tenses but she keeps moving - it was probably an accident, anyway. Smells of ale and firewhiskey are strong in the air, as well as the stench of working men.
No one stops her when she goes up the stairs. She's a predator, tight shoulders and eyes that are far too perceptive to be fooled. Katara tries to ignore the clamors of heartbeats that pound in her senses.
They're too excited. And she's too strong to not hear them.
It's sad to believe but the room with the sole firebender is a sanctuary when she goes in. The door slams and rattles when she closes it. Zuko, alarmed, lurches up from where he is on the bed.
It looks like he's prepared for a fight. Katara chokes down a laugh and holds up her hands in mock surrender. The pack slips down from her back and lands on the floor with a heavy thud. Seeing that it's just her, the firebender huffs and sits back down.
"Hope I didn't wake you," she teases. Katara picks up the sack and tosses it onto the bed.
Zuko scoffs. He turns so that his back is to her.
She cocks an eyebrow but doesn't speak. Just stares at him lying on the bed. Blinking, she realizes that she's been watching him for far too long. She reddens and looks away.
The window is still open so she crosses the room to throw the eaten fruit outside. Leaning against it, she watches as the streets start to clear now that it's almost dark. Full moon. Her eyes flick up to the sky. It's almost time.
Grinning, she closes her eyes and rests her head against the window frame. It's not even that she wants to show Zuko how powerful she can be - Katara is just so damn anxious for that rush of power that she can't stand it. Her palms are itching like crazy. Her heart is thumping. Her blood is running wild.
She's just ready. More than ready. It's similar to how she felt that night that Ji attacked her. When she had been out in the hall before Lee stopped her. She just wants the full moon to replace everything Zhao had stolen from her. She needs it.
The grin disappears when the cacophony of heartbeats from down below overwhelm her. Maybe deciding to throw off Zuko by coming to a village was a bad idea. Staying in a tavern inn was certainly one.
So loud are the heartbeats downstairs that she doesn't even register the one directly behind her.
A startled gasp escapes her when a heated hand grabs at her right wrist. She barely has time to smash her elbow into his chest - Zuko grunts - and then he snatches that one, jerking them together behind her back with her palms facing each other.
Katara wriggles - she can't bend with her hands where they are - and he gnashes his teeth as she stomps on his feet and tries to buck him away. Her hips collide against his and she manages to push him away for a fraction of a second before he's yanking at her again.
She elbows, kicks, grits, pushes but he's a lot stronger than she is and she can't get her hands or feet free enough to waterbend him away.
Her elbow buries into his stomach and she pushes it up, smacking it against his chin when he finally catches it again. The heated grip is tight around her thin wrists and she can feel him squeezing so tightly that she's sure bones are popping.
The heat leaves and something cold and hard is clasped around her wrists. Katara shoves her foot into his kneecap, spins around so that she can snarl at him. He surges forward - one hot hand covering her mouth and the other pushing her chest back so that she's teetering against the open window.
The only thing stopping her from falling out of it is her legs. Her back is meeting nothing but air.
"I know what you're trying to do." He growls, eyes narrow and irritated. Zuko pushes against her more. Her hair falls completely backwards, abs straining to hold herself up as much as possible.
She's starting to shake. Her eyes are wide and she's trying to keep her breathing calm. If she can just get a leg up -
He slaps her knee down when he feels the movement. Smoke streams when he breathes out. His hands are getting warmer.
"I'm not an idiot. You're trying to get me off course."
Katara's hands are buried between the wall underneath the window and her lower back. The manacles are cold - metal - biting into her skin and it hurts.
But all she can think about is the fact that she's being pushed out of a window.
"You can try and imagine that we're some sort of allies all you want but we're not. I'm still going to get you to the Fire Nation and you're still going to tell us where the Avatar is."
Her eyes are so cold they could cut glass. The blood in her veins starts to freeze. Does he think that she is the deluded one? That she needs to be reminded of this?
"Just because we fought together and haven't killed each other doesn't mean that I've forgotten what I need to do. I will take you to the Fire Lord."
Katara snaps at his hand with her teeth. She bites him, hard and he hisses, jerking his hand free of her mouth.
"You don't think I know that?" Katara snarls. "Do you think I'm some foolish little girl? Because I'm not. But maybe you should be a bit more appreciative - I've saved your ass."
"I could have been cruel to you when you were my prisoner but I wasn't. I had every right to do what Zhao did and more." Zuko presses against her. Katara dips even further outside the window. "But I didn't. Maybe it's you who should be more appreciative."
"It's not my fault that you didn't seize the opportunity."
He gnashes his teeth together. Katara teeters further and her heart starts leaping into her throat. She tries to keep the fear out of her eyes as her body rocks in open air, the wood molding of the window digging into the back of her knees. She tries but she thinks she's failing.
It hurts. But she isn't going to let him know that.
Zuko clenches his hands around her arms. "Are you telling me that I should have done those things? That I should have been brutal and sadistic?"
"I'm only telling you that it's not my fault if you didn't seize the opportunity. Not that it would have helped. I wouldn't have said anything to you."
Something dark creeps into his eyes. A sinister smile that she hasn't seen before sends a chill down her spine. The firebender tilts his head down a bit, meeting her stare fully and his hair falls into his eyes.
"I'm sure we could have worked something out."
Katara gulps. "No. No we couldn't have."
"Are you sure?" He tilts his head a little to the side. "I can be very persuasive."
"You're about to push me out of a window. I'm sure this is about as persuasive as you can be." Katara tugs on the metal clamps. They're too strong to break but her fingers are free even though her hands are close together. If she tries… she might be able to…
The hand on her chest presses further. Her body trembles - stomach sore from holding herself up and she can feel herself start to fall as her legs begin to slip, feet sliding on the floor.
Zuko slips his other hand underneath her back. He's supporting her just enough to make sure that she doesn't fall over the edge. But it's not enough to stop the burning in her stomach and the quiver in her body.
He's arching over her now - both of them are hanging outside the window and it's getting so dark that she wonders if anyone who happens to pass by can see them.
She's breathing. The breaths are short and shallow but it's regular. Zuko's is hot - too warm on her face and neck. She wonders if the trembles she feels are just from exertion. Then she scolds herself because of course they are.
"That's only because you don't know me." His voice is lava. Warm, slick and smooth. The hand on her chest slides up to her throat. He wraps his fingers around it, squeezing just enough to give her a low warning but not enough to cut off her air.
Katara glares at him. "I don't want to know you."
"I can kill you right now."
"I know." Katara swallows. "But you won't."
The firebender stares her down for a few more minutes. Eyes locked in a battle that neither is willing to give up, he is the first to break. Smoke exhales from his lips as he stands back up. The hand at her back pulls her up with him, and she sighs in relief now that she's not straining.
He's still too close though. Way too close. Her spine stiffens and she wants him to back away. The waterbender refuses to move. He's the one who has her backed up against a window - he's the one who should move.
"How is this for cruel: I'm going to leave you here, hands shackled behind your back in a corner. The window will be open, you'll be able to see your full moon but you won't feel it on you. You won't be able to bend or anything. Just sit, wide awake, while I watch you squirm."
"You - " She's cut off by him grabbing onto her elbow. He hauls her around him, flinging her into a corner where she collides against the wall. She grunts, hisses at the way her hands are pushed into her back.
When he walks towards her, she growls.
"Get away from me."
Zuko is a few feet away when she attacks. The manacles - they're not made for benders - if she can just -
Katara kicks, water from her water skin bursting out and she twists her fingers so that it comes directly towards her. It covers the chain in between the manacles and she freezes it before she rips her hands apart.
It hurts, and there's a sharp, blinding pain for a second just before the metal gives. And then her hands are free. The metal is still wrapped around her wrists but the short chain is broken.
Zuko sends a flaming arc towards her and Katara ducks to the side. The water that covers her hands blocks the flames that come too close to her face.
Katara twists and the water flies off her hands as it turns to ice. The spinning wheel of iced water collides with the firebender's chest, pushing him far back where he lands on the floor near the back wall.
She keeps going while he's down. She twists and turns, pressing - slamming forward - forcing the ice into a solid brick with a few flicks of her fingers - and keeps pushing forward and up. She has it pressed against his chest, the force of the ice block pressing him up against the wood.
He grimaces. Katara keeps twisting. Hard, solid movements that bury the ice across his chest and pins him against the wall.
The moon starts to fuel her. Her legs stretch and her blood helps her put force into her attack. After he nearly pushed her out of the window - spoke to her like he did - making him hurt feels better than it should.
Katara's hands and arms snap up and the ice at his chest forces itself up into his chin.
It's just the right hit that knocks him unconscious.
The firebender's eyes screw shut. His head lolls back then falls to the side before his body sinks to the ground in a heap.
She tries to sharpen her focus to on his heartbeat alone. It's weak, light. He's gone.
Katara unfreezes the solid block of ice and bends it back into the waterskin. The loose, short chains around her wrist clang against her forearms.
The waterbender huffs, glancing down at the manacles on her wrists. How is she supposed to get these off? She checks for a lock around the side but can't find any. Great. Now she's stuck with them on until the firebender wakes.
She smirks. She could wake him now…
A quick glance out the window tells her that the sun has gone completely down now. A huge smile on her face, she races over to the window and leans outside. The full moon is bright and beautiful - she beams as much as she does as she looks up at it.
Power. She feels strong, vigorous. Somewhere deep inside she can feel her energy stores being filled again. Stores that had vanished under Zhao's burns. She's renewed.
That means…
Katara wheels around to the Prince. He mumbles something but he's till out cold.
Her fingers and hands start to stretch, twisting and she tugs on the blood in his veins. It's a little difficult at first - the echoes of all the other heartbeats downstairs make her have to focus harder on Zuko's.
But she does it. Rotating her wrists and bending her fingers, Katara tugs on the invisible strings around Zuko's body and it happens - his chests arches upwards and he rises. She reels him in, pushes him a bit to the left and then drops him. Zuko falls against the bed, head hitting the wooden headboard.
She grabs the rope from the backpack and unravels it. After a few moments and a few solid, reassuring tugs, she ties the Prince's hands above his head with his palms clasped together. They're attached to the headboard, woven through it and it's one of her better knots.
Being from the Southern Tribe and living on a ship for years has it's advantages.
Katara pulls the ice from the waterskin and cools it down so that it's almost freezing but isn't solid. Then she splashes it on Zuko's face, pulls it back in and then drenches him once more.
The water is tight around her waist as he sputters, choking on his own air as his eyes fly open in surprise.
"My, how the tables have turned." Katara taunts him. Her hands are on her hips and she is gloating.
The firebender that's being teased glowers in return.
"What do you think Prince? Am I as persuasive as you?"
"You will let me go."
"That sounds like a command." She leans forward just slightly. "I don't respond to pathetic commands."
Zuko's about to kick at her and she snaps her hands back up. Her hands and fingers reach and brush against his blood before she gets a good grip on it. He freezes instantly.
"Wh-What are you doing to me?" He whispers. His eyes widen as he fights against her. Katara grits her teeth and tightens her grip on him. He's pinned to the bed by the rope and her bending.
"You should have never tried to take me prisoner again."
"Waterbender -"
"That is not my name!" She hisses. Katara squeezes too tightly and the firebender arches forward. He's being tugged up and down at the same time and he bites his lip against the scream that she can feel building in his chest.
She lets go a little.
Her eyes close and she takes in a deep breath. On the bed, Zuko's eyes are wider and she can feel his heart start to race. Panic. It feels delicious.
"You're… inside me."
"I'm in your blood." Katara waves her fingers and he's forced into an upright position. It's uncomfortable. The way that she tied his hands means that he can't sit up too far. But it proves her point and she waves them again, letting him lie back down.
The firebender swallows.
"I could kill you right now. I could be cruel and sadistic like Zhao - like you. But I won't because I'm not a monster." Katara can feel her blood start to freeze. She needs to regain control.
"You're in my blood. You're controlling me."
"Let's get one thing straight here, firebender. You're my prisoner now. This isn't your ship. This isn't your nation. This isn't your anything. I'm the one in charge here. Me - not you. I'm the jailer now and it'd be best for you to accept that right now."
He breathes out smoke. His body tenses. "And if I don't?"
Katara lets a smile that looks like the one he had given her earlier slide across her lips with the ease of water. "I'll force you all the way to the Tribe." She tugs on the strings and he snaps up again. He hisses at the pain in his shoulders. Katara pushes him back down into the mattress.
There's so much force behind it that his head bangs against the headboard.
"Do I make myself clear?" She asks. Katara twists her wrist again and his body tightens. Just to prove a point, of course. It's not just because seeing him grimace in pain makes her feel exhilarated. But it does. "Where did you get the cuffs?"
She isn't even sure if he's going to bother replying, but after a moment of waiting, he does. "Bought them with the last coin. You shouldn't leave prisoners alone."
Katara rolls her eyes. "Money well spent."
Zuko's jaw is taunt. He's grunting, tugging at the ropes over his head but they're not giving. She sees a spark of fire and she grips at him tighter to prevent him from firebending. He struggles but she's the stronger one this time.
"Don't try to firebend. It's only going to be painful."
Watching him carefully, Katara eases her grip back. The strings that connect her to him blood drop from her fingers. He relaxes somewhat but he's still tense.
The waterbender doesn't turn away when she goes to stand by the window. The moon's light bathes against her skin. She relaxes against the window molding, arms crossed over her chest.
Zuko doesn't try to firebend.
"You'll regret this," he spits out.
Katara quirks an eyebrow. "Don't be a sore loser, firebender."
"You're crazy."
"You attacked me first."
"You're a witch."
That makes her tense up. Katara looks away from the moon to fix him with a strong glare. "Come up with better insults. I've heard that one before." She turns her attention back to the empty streets. "I've heard them all before," she adds quietly.
He snaps his lips together. She can hear his heartbeat. It's a pounding, hard beat that feels and sounds like one of those loud earthquakes earthbenders make. She focuses on it. If he starts firebending, she'll need to know before he starts trying to burn her.
It stays steady. That same violent beat that should shatter his bones.
"You picked the wrong night." She can't resist. She has to rub her victory in. It's probably one of the things that she shouldn't do, but he had been so arrogant and condescending.
Maybe this will knock him down a few notches. Then he might be somewhat agreeable.
The waterbender stays awake that night. The full moon keeps her fully energized and she can't imagine closing her eyes for a moment. Zuko keeps his eyes open for as long as he can. But she can tell that her bending made him tired and he lolls off to sleep an hour or two past midnight.
Katara keeps herself entertained by playing with the water wrapped around her waist. She eventually tries to slice through the manacles around her wrists and it works. She's freed and the metal clangs when it lands on the floor.
After getting bored with that, she reaches out to hear the sluggish heartbeats of the drunks downstairs. She contemplates joining them, but she's not going to leave the firebender without a minder.
So she stays propped up on the window with the water streaming around her hands. Katara does a little target practice for a bit. Aiming and hitting targets that get further and further away entertain her for a bit.
It's weird. Having a full moon and not being able to do anything.
She's used to battles during the full moon. Battles or spars on the deck of ships. Pakku, Hama and Sangok - after a bit of coaxing - were the only ones who ever sparred against her. The majority of Northern benders didn't care for her southern-heavy style. Or the fact that she was a woman.
The North had the blessing of having more than enough men warriors and female healers that they didn't have to interchange. The South didn't have that luxury. Hama and Katara were the last two free southern benders.
Both practiced the two bending arts. And… the third unofficial bending art.
She almost wakes Zuko up for a bit of fighting. That... might get out of hand and she'd rather not deal with blows meant to kill.
She's not sure if he is going to hold back when they do have to leave. Katara sighs and bends the water back into the waterskin. She watches the sun come up with her arms crossed over her chest.
The night had been so long and dull that she's almost happy when the firebender stirs.
But then his eyes open. They're bleary at first. When they skirt over her though, the ambers turn into coal and narrow as he fixes her with a heated glare.
Great. She's going to really have to watch her back now.
With a cheerful smile, she straightens from the windowsill and goes around the bed. Zuko watches her. His heartbeat is steadier than it was yesterday. Her fingers reach out - she doesn't miss the way he winces - and she brushes them over the knots in the rope.
"Are you going to be good today, firebender?" She keeps her voice soft. It'll drive him crazy. She just knows.
Sure enough, the frown dips into a scowl and all of the hostility of yesterday returns. Fun. She smiles.
"Remember my warnings." She moves one hand in front of his face to repeat the familiar gestures. Zuko tenses, but she doesn't pull at him. Not yet.
He glares at her. She can just imagine the fire daggers piercing her skin but they don't hurt. They make her grin grow because she's winning. She's getting to him. She's doing it far more quickly and far better than he is to her.
After a few moments, the firebender gives a jerky nod. Katara's fingers slip through the knots easily and they're off. She coils the rope back up before pushing it into the bag.
He's standing quicker than she expected. Katara can tell his arms are sore and the bags under his eyes are dark. Good - she's weak today and he is exhausted. Looks like neither one of them will be making any death movements today.
"Now that you know where we stand, I guess we can go back to the river." Katara makes sure all of their things are in the bag. They don't have much. But it's enough to miss something if it's lost. "And we're going my way."
-/-