005 [training center]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Since the incident down at the beach, Katara has been mindful to keep her bending under wraps, careful to only utilize her ability when in the Training Center. It's rare that she even tries to bend the waters of the pool anymore-- it doesn't feel right anyways, the water weighed down with an unnatural substance.

Katara is in the heart of the Training Center now, standing at the edge of the creek which runs through the jungle setting. The area around her is devoid of monsters-- the Grats and T-Rexuars seem to be roaming elsewhere at the moment, which is just fine with her. Instead, she uses the opportunity to meditate, her body moving through the familiar waterbending poses, though dramatically decreased in speed to allow her to really feel the water-- without looking, she knows that the water of the creek has risen to mimic her body movements, slowly threading through the air.

Her eyes are closed, breathing even as she continues this exercise.]

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[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[It was a restless night for Zuko. One of many recently. If there's not a war in his own world, then there's one here in another. It's almost inescapable. War. And it irritates him to no end. But there's little he can do about it regardless, so Zuko's taken himself to the Training Center. He's unaware of Katara being there, really just thinking about what his sister had said at the Dollet Pub at that girl's party about the Avatar.

He's almost wondering if maybe he should find Sokka and warn him. Or even seek out Aang himself to tell him.

Since that time at the pool where they'd all come together, Zuko had found Katara's necklace at the bottom of the pool. And since then hadn't exactly bothered to find her to return it, the necklace the least of his worries. It hung from his left wrist, wrapped around twice. And speaking of the waterbender - there she was, he could make her out through the foliage, eyes narrowing and watching her move through her exercises, stealthy and as silent as ever. He crouches down behind the thicker bushes and watches her still, remembering their first encounter here. As well as their fight in the Old Catacombs.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[If she had been paying attention, she might have noticed the smallest change in the atmosphere, the sudden dryness to the previously humid air-- but Katara is far too focused on the act of meditating, mind concentrating on the flow of chi coursing from her core and into her movements. A step forward, an extended hand, a twist of her palm, refocusing the center-- they're familiar movements which she hardly needs to think twice about.

The water behind her swells, unconsciously pulled forward by her movements. And though it's moving, there's a stillness to the element, the volatile waters calmed through her meditation.]

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Zuko continues to watch her, as silent as before. He's reminded a little of what his uncle had told him when he had taught him to redirect lightning. The movements they'd gone through together, the fluidity of the motions, the calming feeling that had overtaken him. He wonders if that's how she feels now, eyes watching her face then, catching the look of serenity and calm on her features.

Unconsciously he leans a little too forward and a twig snaps beneath the shift in his weight. And freezes, eyes widening.]

Damnit...

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[The snap of the twig is all that's needed to break her out of her reverie. On edge giving her current setting, Katara immediately whips around to face the source of the sound, expecting to be met by the sight of a Grat-- but instead, it's Zuko.

Close enough.

Her body stiffens and her arms are still held out in a defensive stance, blue eyes narrowed as she gives the Firebender a wary look.]

Why are you hiding behind the bush?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Zuko actually has the grace to look a little embarrassed, having been caught. Not enough Blue Spirit training it seems. He stands to his full height and seems a little hesitant on coming out from behind the trees but he does, meeting her eye for a moment and then takes to looking around the area she's taken to practice in.]

I wasn't 'hiding'. [Shrugs.] I couldn't sleep.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[She notices that he hasn't taken to a fighting stance, which is a bit unusual for the two of them-- it seems like all their encounters have sparked some sort of a clash between them. Katara is about to lower her defenses when her eyes catch sight of a flash of blue encircling his wrist, a color that is foreign to his alabaster skin-- she's only ever seen him in the colors of the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom.

But her breath hitches upon closer inspection. That blue silk... her blue silk necklace!

She points an accusing finger at Zuko, a dangerous amount of anger flaring up within the waterbender.]

Why do you have my necklace!

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

Your... [He blinks, a little lost at first at the accusation and then it clicks. Necklace. Zuko looks down at his one arm and then brings it up, showing the necklace wrapped around his wrist for the both of them to see better.]

This? --Because you were careless!

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[A hand immediately flies up to brush her fingertips along the vacancy at her collarbone, where the weight of her necklace pendant should be resting.]

Me? Careless? I've been looking for my necklace everywhere and you--

[And memories of a similar situation surface in her mind-- being tied up to a tree, Zuko holding her most prized possession in a taunting manner before her. The flashback is enough to make her blood boil.]

Give it back!

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

I found it at the bottom of the pool. [He isn't making a move to untie it. Blue doesn't look so bad on him, see Katara?]

I would have given it back sooner but I've been a little busy with other matters.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Katara falters slightly, but refuses to acknowledge that it could have been her fault that the necklace was lost-- it's easier to peg the blame on Zuko, especially since he had done something similar in the past.]

And what matters were just so pressing? You know how important that necklace is to me!

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

Your brother cornered me. [Shrugs.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[She crosses her arms and though she doesn't want to express any interest in what the two could have possibly conversed about, curiosity gets the better of her.]

What did he have to say?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

... A lot of stuff.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

Like what?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

I confronted my father.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[She looks confused.]

What do you mean?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

On the day of the Black Sun. The eclipse.

... You didn't know?

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[She averts her gaze for a moment.]

No... I came before the Day of Black Sun.

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

... Right. Uh. [Awkward silence here.]

[watertides.livejournal.com]

... So what happened?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Says nothing at first, just awkwardly shifts his weight from one foot to the other, and brings up his hand to rub at the back of his neck, eyes averting after he glances at her briefly.

Does he really want to tell her?] ...You really want to know?

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[For some reason, the question makes her feel uneasy. Does she want to know? And why does it matter? An uneasy silence passes them before she shifts her weight, a hand grasping her other arm in a (hopefully) nonchalant stance. After all, Sokka wants her to make nice with Zuko.]

Would you tell me?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[And Sokka gave him HELL for what had happened...

There's a little more awkwardness there. From him.] Uh. I guess.

[Nods.] Yeah.

[watertides.livejournal.com]

[Katara is a bit surprised by his answer-- they're enemies after all, why would he tell her something that seems rather personal? -- but she tries not to let it show.]

Well... then tell me. What happened?

[pyromatics.livejournal.com]

[Zuko catches that look of surprise and lets his guard down just slightly, looking directly at her.]

... I don't know. [Shrugs.] Your brother just told me that we had attacked the Fire Nation. And I confronted my father.