Katara stares, wide-eyed and nervous. She can't even open her mouth to reply. This - This was not how she expected this meeting to go.
Before she can start talking to defend herself - or explain, whichever got her into a good position again - the flap behind her opens and she snaps her head around to see Zuko behind pushed inside the tent as well.
The Prince's guard isn't nearly as soft-handed as hers was. He lands on his knees before staggering up, hands clasped behind his back like hers are.
He seems just as shocked as she does. But he manages to quickly cover up his face and fix it in a mask of a cool blank stare that she quickly borrows. If he's not going to show his panic, neither is she.
His heart though, that's not something he can hide. Not from her. It's racing and frantic and she tears her eyes away as his guard shoves him again towards where she and the commander are.
The Prince falls into a chair beside her, Katara looks straight ahead through the commander's stomach because she really needs to figure out something to get her out of this mess. She was so close - she was so damned close and then Zuko had to go ruin it all by opening his mouth.
What did he expect would come from revealing that? Her relationship with the Avatar was causing a lot more problems than it solved.
Zuko manages to shift around until he's sitting up right. Katara glares at him from the corner of her eye. She hopes that they made his manacles extra tight on his wrist. See how he likes it.
The commander leans back on the desk. He crosses his arms over his chest, looking down between the two and she half-expects to be reprimanded over something petty.
But this isn't petty. And she highly doubts that they're simply going to be reprimanded like children.
"Now, how about we start this off with a bit of honesty, shall we?" He asks. It doesn't sound like a question, more like a command than anything.
"When my father hears of this -"
"Throwing around that title yours isn't going to do you any good here, Prince," the commander interrupts, shutting Zuko down immediately. "Especially when your father doesn't seem to care about the fact that you've been missing and presumed dead for the past week."
"I'm still your Prince. You should still treat -"
The commander's hand flames and he narrows his eyes at the other firebender. Katara leans back - this is...interesting. And terrifying. Surely he's not going to kill Zuko now -
"You really are naive if you think that your title gives you power. I have dozens of men out there who won't even bat an eye if I strike you down right here, right now. You want to know why?" The commander flicks his hand, the fire evaporates. "Because titles don't give you power. They don't give you respect. That's something you need to learn right here, right now."
Silence. Zuko's eyes are downcast, cheeks burning. Katara would take pleasure in the fact that he's been put in his place but she can't feel anything. There is also the other pressing issue. Like getting out of here. Quick - what would Sokka do?
Reason. Logic. Sokka would talk to get out of this, not remain quiet.
"What do you want?" Katara breaks her silence. It's not exactly wise to direct attention back to herself but it would be something Sokka would do. And for some reason… The crazed, torn beating of Zuko's heart makes her realize that this information - these facts of life - are - well they're destroying him right now.
And she's the only one who can tear him down. Especially after he just got them into this mess.
The commander seems to remember that she's still in the tent. "I want the truth. I want to know who you are and what you're doing with the Prince."
"I explained this yesterday -"
"I think we both know that you're not really fucking him. I'm a man. If Zuko here had he certainly wouldn't be so quiet about it." He gives her a sardonic smile and leans back against the desk again. Relaxed. "So, tell me the truth. Or else you'll both pay."
"There's nothing to tell," Zuko mutters. "You already know everything."
"I'm hearing two different stories here and I want to know which is true."
Silence.
"Fine. There are other ways of making you two talk." He motions with his hand and Katara feels thick hands on the neck of her tunic, hauling her up. The big guard that had led Zuko in was now leading the both of them out.
Katara is pushed into the chest of another guard when they're by the tent's flap. She's losing her chance -
Wait. "No! Fine - I'll speak. I'll speak!" She exclaims, whirling around in the guard's arm to face the commander. "I'll speak. I'll talk. The truth - everything, it's yours."
He raises an eyebrow from where he's sitting at the desk.
"Katara," Zuko hisses.
"I'll tell you whatever you want to know. I told you the truth last time but I may have left some things of importance out… Just let me explain. Let me talk, and I'll tell you everything." She ignores the Prince beside her, focusing everything on the man who does determine their fate.
"All right." He motions again with his hand and she's being led forward again. "I'm listening. Talk."
"I have worked with the Avatar in the rebellion before. The part about Zhao hunting me down for the coup is a lie. He wants me so he can find the Avatar himself before anyone else can." She swallows, tries to look as truthful and honest as she can. "But everything else was true. I can't help that the Prince isn't as boastful as you would like."
"Or maybe you're just lousy," he scoffs, "but that's none of my concern. I don't care who or what the Prince touches even if it is a tribeswoman. So you do know where the Avatar is?"
"I have some ideas. If you let me live - let me go - I can help you track him down. But you have to give me what I asked for in return. In exchange for eternal fame and the Fire Lord's favor, I want the Prince and freedom."
Zuko's heart pounds a little harder at her words. She swears she hears him - or someone behind her - gasp.
"You show me where the Avatar is in exchange for your freedom and the Prince?" The commander sits back in his chair, appraising her. "How do I know that you're not lying?"
"I don't get my end of the bargain until you get yours. But I will not be harmed in any way until then and I will not be held as a prisoner in chains."
"I'm not exactly keen on trusting you."
"Then don't," she shrugs her shoulders. "I'm not going to live the rest of my life running away from firebenders though so you won't have to worry about me trying to escape when you dangle freedom in front of me. These past few days of running have been more than enough to last a lifetime."
The commander temples his fingers again. His heartbeat is smooth - steady. She hasn't grasped him yet, hasn't won him over.
Katara tilts her chin up. "By all means, live under Zhao's shadow if that's what you wish. He's going to take full advantage of the situation and leave you in the dirt. I'm merely offering an opportunity for you to do the same. All I ask is for a little cooperation."
Amber eyes stare her down. She doesn't back away. Weakness will not work here, only strength.
One minute passes in silence. Then another. All she can hear is Zuko's pounding heartbeat mingling with her own because this is it - this is her last chance -
"Do you presume that I am a weak commander?" He asks, tilting his head to the side. "That I need to somehow prove that I am more worthy than Zhao for the honors the Fire Lord can bestow?" He rises from the seat. "What do you think my man will wonder when they see - and hear - of me bargaining with the likes of you? And all in the name of personal glory."
Katara takes a step back - no. This isn't - This isn't how this is supposed to work - she was sure, she was so sure that she could convince him - he seemed so willing the day before - !
"So unless your little plan gets something for them as well, then I don't care to listen to it any longer. My men are my priority. How Zhao handles his is no concern of mine." The commander lifts a hand and motions. Katara feels herself being dragged back again. This time, she doesn't struggle. She was so sure.
She stumbles a bit but she's being pushed out of the tent along with Zuko with a bit more force than necessary. Staying upright as best as she can, she bites on the inside of her cheek as confusion slams against her. So sure - she was so sure!
It's all falling apart again and she has no idea how she's going to fix it up.
The guard behind her shoves her forward and she's thrown into the cell from the day before. Her back crashes against the bars and she scrambles to sit up, eyeing the men carefully as they throw the Prince in with her.
No. No. They're locking her and Zuko in together?
Zuko's head hits her shoulder when he's tossed in. He's slower than she is getting upright.
The doors close with a slam and Katara tries to focus on the one positive here: at least she's not tied to that damned pole again.
But that's it. That's the only positive and she has to force out a breath to remain calm. The cage. Again. What is it about firebenders that make them want to keep her locked up?
The firebender at her side slides away from her and she tries to force herself to relax. When she glances over at Zuko he's glaring at her with a look so disdainful that it's almost shocking. Almost. Then she remembers what he heard in that tent and really, a look of hatred - something that's become a regular between the two - isn't that bad.
"What?" She snaps anyway.
"You were going to try to barter with them? Are you out of your mind?"
Katara scowls. "Like you wouldn't have done the same thing. Sorry that I had a chance. Not my fault that they were more interested in keeping me alive than you. Of course I was going to play that up. And - what were you thinking? Throwing around your title like it actually meant something. Are you out of your mind?"
He shifts uncomfortably and she knows that she hit a nerve there. Good. Prince could use a bit of humility in his blood.
"Look Zhao's coming to get us. That much I know." She leans forward, dropping her voice to a whisper even though she doesn't sense any other heartbeats around them. "What I also know is that your old friend wants you dead."
"No. Zhao - he wouldn't even -"
"Are you seriously going to say what I think you're going to say?"
" - Zhao is a Captain of the Fire Nation. He wouldn't dare jeopardize his position by killing me."
"You are so full of yourself," she sneers and backs away. "He already started rumors that you were dead. Kidnapped and killed by me after we got off that boat."
He's quiet for a moment, absorbing it in. Katara wonders how he feels, knowing that he's going to die and there's nothing that can save him now. Zuko swallows, throat bobbing. "And just how do you know this?"
"The commander told me yesterday when I was trying to make a deal that would save both of our skins."
"Was it like the one you offered earlier? Because that one seems to only be saving yours."
"I told the commander that I would kill you - that I wanted to kill you, which if we're being honest isn't that big of a lie - and in exchange, I'd give him information - outdated - about the Avatar."
"And he didn't believe you," Zuko says flatly.
"Well of course he didn't. Otherwise I wouldn't be stuck in here with you."
Zuko mutters something under his breath but Katara can't even bring herself to attack him and make him repeat what he said - which was undoubtedly something about her. There are bigger, more important things to worry about than his snide comments. How is she going to get out of this cell again?
Stupid commander and his slightly-honorable ways. If he had just been as self-absorbed and ambitious as Zhao was - or even a tiny bit as much - this would be no problem. She wouldn't be back in a cage and she'd get the opportunity to get as far away from the Fire Nation as possible.
She adjusts her legs and leans against the bars away from the Prince. Really - she can't even look at him right now. If he hadn't started talking about the Avatar - well...honestly after what the commander had said earlier when he rejected her plan...maybe his disdain didn't all come from Zuko - but still. The Prince was the one who had planted that seed of doubt and made her look more trustworthy than before.
Firebenders. All of the troubles in her life could be summed up with just that word.
Spirits, she's angry. Why does she keep getting into situations like this? First Zhao, then Zuko and now this commander.
For once, she wishes that - for a moment - all of the fire commanders would be as zealous as Zhao.
She just knew she had him pegged. The man hated - hated - Zhao and she offered him the perfect opportunity to get ahead. He even seemed interested in it yesterday, yet here she was. In a cage. With Zuko. In the heat. With her arms sore and still locked at the small of her back.
"How was your deal going to help the both of us?" Zuko asks.
Katara gapes at him, caught off guard a bit by the sudden break of silence. "What?"
"Your deal. You just said that your deal would have saved both of us." He's not shying away from looking at her now - she's the one that squirms as she blinks, trying to think back to that particular point.
"Oh - right. I just told the commander that I - well - wanted to be the one to kill you after he told me what Zhao was going to do. Said that I hated you because you betrayed me - which really isn't that big of a lie - and I was just going to… not do it, I guess. Get us both out of here before then."
Now Zuko is the one who blinks. "Why? You seemed to hate me yesterday and we haven't exactly been on the best of terms up until now. Why would you make a deal that included getting me out of here?
Katara doesn't like this conversation. Not at all.
"I didn't get away from Zhao and drag you all the way through the Earth Kingdom to just let him kill you," she settles into one of the half-truths. "All of this would have been for nothing if I showed up at the Tribes empty-handed."
Silence.
Katara knows that it would not be wise if she told him the other reasons. That she pitied him because he had no idea what was coming - that it was unconscious payback for the times when he had helped her out - that the commander just assumed so she went with it - that she realized she didn't exactly hate him as much as she thought - that he's actually not half-bad.
Not wise. Not wise at all. So she settled for the half-truth that seemed appropriate. The one that she only thought of after she offered the deal to the commander - a fact that unsettles her a bit.
Zuko's back is stiffening - she doesn't know if he can tell that she's sort of lying or if he's reminding himself of their situation, of the fact that despite their shared cage, they are still enemies.
Katara crosses her ankles. Then she uncrosses them.
"I thought that if I told the commander of your - our - situation, he wouldn't harm you too much. I actually," he chuckles, "I actually tried to get him to let you go after you told him about the Avatar."
"You tried to save me, too?"
"Yeah." Zuko looks back up at her. "Funny, right? We both tried to save the other and only ended up screwing things over."
Well… this - this certainly...is interesting.
She blinks. "Why?"
Zuko shrugs. "You'd wind up with Zhao again. Those two days already gave you enough scars. You don't need any more than that."
Something weird twists in her stomach and she frowns. "Looks like we both just managed to mess everything up," she says and looks away. This side of the camp is dead and quiet. "But still, I doubt he would have ended up following through."
"Doesn't seem like it. Finally find a half-decent commander who isn't looking after his own skin and it works against us."
She can't help it - she laughs. After a moment, Zuko does the same and she almost stops because it's so weird that they're laughing together in a cage, both prisoners of the Fire Nation. And yet, it's so nice at the same time. Comfortable. Even though it shouldn't be.
But really, what else is she expecting? In a few hours, he'll be dead and she'll be back with Zhao. Then, in a few weeks or maybe even days, she'll be dead.
That sobers her up quickly and the laugh dies in her throat.
Zuko is going to be dead.
"Weird," he chuckles but this time there is no humor, "I'm not as...upset as I thought I would be."
"About what?"
"Death - dying. It's like… I don't even think it's going to happen. But at the same time, maybe it would be okay if it did."
There's something so sad, so pathetic and horrifying in that statement and in his voice that nearly breaks her. But more than that - it angers her because that means he's giving up and he shouldn't.
"Stop - no don't say things like that. You can't talk like that. It's not right - it's not good."
"You and I are both out of ideas here, waterbender. You're going to Zhao and I'm going to die." He shrugs his shoulders - Katara gapes in pure horror because he seems so complacent. "There's nothing we can do to change that."
"Would you listen to yourself?" She snaps. "You're giving up. You're letting them win! Damnit, fight - fight. There's still a chance. Don't tell yourself that there isn't."
He looks up at her, and there's so much sadness in them that it hurts. "If what they're saying is true then I don't have anywhere to go even if I do escape. You were right -"
"No - don't even say that right now. Whatever I said - whatever it was that happened that ever made you think I was right - forget it because it - I - wasn't," she's sliding closer to him. It's difficult because her hands are behind her back but Spirits he can't just give up.
It's just - it's just not right. He's a firebender - known for strength and heat - and he seems so cold now. He's so cold and it scares her because she's only known him for a few days but she feels like she knows how he should be right now. And this is not it. He should be like her - fighting back every step of the way. That's what he did to her - why not do it to them?
"Listen - Zuko -" his head snaps up when she says his name but she keeps going, "I'm not going back to Zhao. I can't - I won't. I know that you like me just about as much as I like you but we need to get out of here to save both of our heads. But I can't get out of this alone - I need you to help me - to help us."
She makes sure that he's looking straight into her, that he's hearing everything that she's saying because she's right - they don't mesh well and sure, they get on each others nerves and the best thing she can hope for in this is that they don't kill each other at the end - but they still need to work together.
Because she'll die before getting back to Zhao. And even though she just raised from hating Zuko to he's-sort-of-okay, she doesn't want to see him dead.
"So can you please - please - work with me so we can get out of this mess together? Because I cannot do this on my own. Besides, you're going to die anyway. What do you have to lose?"
She holds her breath, waiting and watching the firebender. She can't read him - his eyes are still blank and even though she's staring right into them she can't pick up any hint or detection of what he's about to say. So she waits. Waits.
Zuko's amber eyes meet hers and he nods. "Fine. You're right. What do I have to lose that I haven't lost already?"
A smile spreads. "That's the spirit. Now, the fire commander - what do you know about him?"
-/-
The plan isn't a plan really because what sort of plan can they conjure when their hands are still behind their backs?
Zuko doesn't know who the commander is - neither of them even known his name - and it's impossible to try to guess when and where they will be taken.
They know they can't be expected to remain in the cage forever. At some point, some guard is going to come and take them to relieve themselves or bring food and water - they hope. The commander is predictable - both of their plans have failed so Zuko isn't keen on trying to make another even if they are working together this time - but he's not Zhao. He doesn't seem evil or sadistic.
The firebender Prince also doesn't show any deep understanding of how most fire commanders govern their troops. She's not really surprised - the Tribes don't really have a system set up anyway and she didn't think that Ozai would concern himself with making sure each and every camp was run in a specific way.
So basically, the plan is that there is no plan. They'll just...wait. Then fight. Zuko can bend even though his hands are behind his back and Katara...well she can kick and cause a distraction?
Katara is used to these types of plans. They're the only ones that the Rebellion can really come up with most of the time.
If they are let out during the night she'll be able to bloodbend. But that's at night only. Zuko will be weaker because of the dark but she'll be stronger. If she can get the manacles off, she and Zuko just may have a chance of getting out if there are not that many guards that come to get them.
If more than three come, there will be some trouble. Two is stretching it. Bloodbending isn't exactly easy and she's not Hama.
The good thing is - the only good thing from her perspective - is that Zuko isn't giving up. Their chances are not the best. They're dismal - pathetically so. But he's going to fight and not accept the defeat with a hanging head.
Even if he is to die - and she die as well because she is not letting Zhao get his hands on her again - it doesn't matter. He's - they're - still fighting.
But she tries not to focus on the death part. If she does, it's almost admitting defeat and she's just not ready to do that yet.
Now that they're finished talking about their plan - that really shouldn't be called a plan because it isn't but it makes them both feel better since it sounds more organized and might actually work - they're just...sitting there.
She doesn't want to bicker even though that's what they normally do. But she doesn't know what to talk about either. The silence isn't comfortable either.
It's a fairly awkward time. The moments when they have to work together usually are.
"Did you know?" She asks because the question has been burning her mind and she just needs to know. "About the firebender camp - did you know?"
He looks up at her, swallows, and nods. "I knew there was one nearby."
"And?" Her voice is tight with controlled rage - traitor - "Did you plan on us getting caught?"
"Planned? Yes. All of the camps have well-surveyed areas. Ambushed? No. No, that was a surprise."
It takes her a minute of inner wrestling before she can force herself to nod, releasing that anger because she can't hold onto it any longer if they're going to work together. But it's not until a little later when she can look at him again.
He's not going to apologize for betraying her - and really, is it betrayal? No - no it wasn't. But that doesn't make the hurt lessen any.
And to be honest, she'd be disappointed in him if he hadn't tried to make another attempt at getting the upper hand.
"Back on the ship when I had the knife - you were trying to interrogate me with tea - how did you know that I had it with me?" She asks. The question has been on her mind since that day - she frequently forgets about it but it always comes back - and well, reminiscing about the times when they despised each other is better than sitting in heavy silence.
Zuko smirks at her. "You walked funny. I noticed it the moment you came in. It was like you were afraid that you were going to stab yourself. You know you're supposed to put unfamiliar weapons on the outside of your legs, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so," she chuckles. "But to be fair, I had a good reason to keep it close."
His smile fades. "I guess you did." Another awkward pause. Great. She looks away, finding the space between the bars more enticing than Zuko's lowered eyes. "I wouldn't have hurt you… like that."
"What's done is done," she shrugs her shoulders. "It's practically expected even if we don't like it."
"I let my men do it sometimes," he continues as if she hasn't even spoken. "They get restless. And father - Fire Lord - he encourages it if the women aren't benders or if they're high priority prisoners."
Katara could tell him it's okay. That he shouldn't feel the guilt that she can hear in his voice. But she'd be lying and Zuko would know that she was lying. Because really, it's not okay. To be honest, it even unnerves her a little. Doesn't surprise her, but it...does make her a bit uncomfortable.
He sat by and let it happen. Heard it happen. Knew what was going on behind closed doors and yet did nothing. His hands might have been tied but...she still can't not blame him somewhat.
She blames him like she blames herself. Because the same things happen on Water Tribe ships from time to time yet she - no one - stops those either.
"Like I said: it's expected." Is what she says. And it's true. It's not accusatory or comforting. Just a cold, hard truth that makes her stomach twist. "Your uncle. He was really nice."
His shoulders relax the slightest at the change in conversation. "He's practically raised me. I left the Fire Nation with him when I was fourteen and it's been him and me ever since."
"When was the last time you were in the Fire Nation?"
"A few months ago." He shifts in his spot, legs splaying in front of him. They're a lot longer than she thought. "It was Azula's seventeenth birthday party. Iroh and I have - had - to make stops there every few months for provisions and would stay for a week or so. I was always happy to get back on the boat though. Quieter."
"But you wanted Aang so you could return permanently?"
His lips twist into a smile. "Hadn't thought it through. And yes, I still want what is rightfully mine by birth. It will be - would be - better if I got the throne anyway. If you ever met Azula, you'd understand."
"I haven't seen the Southern Tribe - well, what's left of it anyways - since I was thirteen. Once I started bending, my dad realized I need a master. So he took me to the Northern Tribes to learn." She tucks her legs underneath her, getting into a more comfortable position. "It was also becoming more dangerous. More raids. I don't remember much except that it was really nice…. Beautiful." She smiles, tucks her head away so that he doesn't see it.
"Uncle Iroh had been to the Southern Tribes before. He used to say that if it wasn't so cold he'd live there in a heartbeat," Zuko says.
"It used to be bigger. Not quite as big as the Northern Tribes from what Gran-Gran used to say. She told me they used to have buildings and towers of ice and rivers cutting through the snow." The smile disappears and she frowns, twisting in her spot. "That was before it was - "
"Melted by fire," he finishes. Katara glances up, expecting to see fire in his eyes but there is only cold. "I - "
" - if you're going to say something stupid like 'sorry for destroying your home' then I don't want to hear it, Zuko. You weren't there and not even alive when it happened," she interrupts. "Don't feel like you have to say something just because you might die in a few hours if we don't get out of here."
"I was going to say that I wished I could have seen it…" he trails off and Katara reddens because her words sound more snappy now than they did a moment ago.
"Oh. Um...sorry."
He shrugs. "Don't be. I don't want you to feel like you have to say something just because you might end up on Zhao's ship again in a few hours."
"You know - sometimes you're kind of a jerk, Zuko." She sighs but she's smiling. What else can they do now but smile?
"Odd. You're quite the little jerk yourself."
It should be inappropriate - or at least to feel that laughing and joking is - at a time like this but...she doesn't want to just sit in heavy silence. Not now. Not when they both might very well die. Besides, this, this actual conversation in which neither one of them has blown up at the other, is actually pretty nice.
Nice enough for what could be their last.
Morbid. She's starting to sound like Hahn now.
Katara looks over at the firebender. He's propped up on the bars like she is, legs splayed to the side so that she can have hers in front. The cage is small - too small for the both of them - and the pole ramming through the center isn't making anything better. They're cramped but she - they're - not uncomfortable.
She wonders why.
He's cleaner than she is. He must have gotten a decent bath the night before because his pale skin glows from his inner fire, his hair darker and richer looking. When he notices that she's staring at him, he looks over at her and she sees his amber eyes before the angry red scar.
If they make it out of this alive, she will ask him how he got it. She's asked before but he wasn't comfortable with telling her - not that she blamed him. It seems that every day in the forest was a battlefield between the two whether it was in words or in ice darts and fire balls.
Katara must have been looking for too long because he lifts his brow and she jerks her eyes away before he can say anything.
Does the scar on her back match the one on his face? She's wondered, but she's never been able to see it.
Will she ever get the chance to see it?