witchesreign | 008 - [Week IV, HEC 101, T1600]

[Ever since last week's incident, Zuko's taken to avoiding Katara entirely. Or just outright ignoring her existence. He barely acknowledges that she's even in any of his classes. All last week he got his notes from other students and kept to his room meditating and studying most of the time. Of course the potted plant she'd replaced sat on his nightstand, some green beginning to peek through the black soil.

Zuko's lost track on how long he's had his arm in a sling and bound tightly to his chest, but after a trip to see Dr. Kadowaki over the weekend she had promised that the sling would be removed this mid-week. Which was a great relief to hear.

Right now, Zuko's late by a few minutes. The instructor pulls him to the side to explain what they're doing and she nods to where Katara's crouched. Great. His jaw sets and he doesn't argue. He just stands there after the instructor leaves, watching the waterbender. After a few moments he finally forces his feet to move and take him to stand next to him. He says nothing and drops to his haunches, eyes going over the labels to see if there's anything of interest he can plant.

After the weird dream he'd had last night, she's the last person he wants to be around right now.]

[When she feels someone at her side, Katara lifts her eyes to glance up, her expression one of surprise when she sees who it is. She isn't stupid-- she knows that he's been avoiding her and she couldn't really blame him. The whole debacle last week did look pretty painful...

Katara is a bit nervous now, her eyes glancing from the row of plants back to Zuko. While she had left a note of apology to the plant she had replanted for him, she figures he deserves a verbal apology as well-- she still feels pretty bad about the incident. So awkwardly she clears her throat, her blue eyes fixed on the label of a pomegranate tree as her fingers absentmindedly sift through the packages of seeds.]

Are you feeling better?

[Zuko doesn't answer her. Only leans forward to snatch up a packet labeled with S T R A W B E R R I E S.

Why would she care anyways? Even if it was his own fault for last week, it was her fault for losing control of her temper and element. Or that was what he liked to think.]

[Yeah, she hadn't really expected him to actually answer her. Zuko seems pretty determined to keep ignoring her, but Katara is persistent. She isn't quite sure why it matters-- they're enemies after all, and it's probably for the better if they never talk again-- but she blames it on the fact that she doesn't want to keep feeling guilty. She shifts onto her knees, a hand smoothing out her skirt almost in nervous habit as she bites the bullet.]

Uhm, about last week... I-- I'm sorry about your plant. [Because naturally that's the most important thing to apologize for.]

[Damn right Katara is stubborn. But so is Zuko. Who grabs a second packet of S T R A W B E R R I E S just in case there's not enough with just one.

Without saying anything he then moves away to where some other cadets are already digging around in the dirt to get their stuff planted, and he finds himself a spot just further away from them where the tools have already been laid out, each cadet getting a row for their plants/veggies/fruits.]

[Katara bites the inside of her cheek to stop herself from saying anything she might regret later-- like how rude he was being when she was trying to apologize! It's not every day that Katara swallows her pride. But his attempt to move away from her is futile; Katara simply follows, though instead of crouching down beside him she stands to his side.

Really, she doesn't like the fact that other cadets are around-- it makes it all the most embarrassing while she's trying to actually apologize to the guy. So her fingers begin to idly twist at the hem of her skirt as she starts to ramble.]

I know it's a really big part of our grade and everything and I felt bad that it dropped and broke like that, so I went and replanted it for you-- I don't know if you got it. I made sure I got the same seeds and even the same pot and hopefully it's fine now.

[His brow twitches because the first thing he notices when he glances from the corner of his eye is dark caramel skin. All leg. Then he realizes that she followed him. And then he catches the way her fingers toy with the hem, only causing it to lift the side a little higher.

The muscle in his cheek clenches.]

... I hope you're wearing shorts under there. [And that's ALL he says.]

Edited 2010-09-06 16:30 (UTC)

[Immediately her hands still before quickly smoothing her skirt down, trying to get the short hem to cover some more of her legs. His sudden remark surprises her, and she feels the blood rush to her cheeks as she lets out an almost indignant squeak.]

What does it matter what I'm wearing under my skirt!

[He realizes a little too late that maybe he should have mentioned about the lack of an undershirt again because really. That midriff of hers peeking out if he lifted his eyes...

Zuko shrugs, feigning disinterest.]

It doesn't. Why would it?

[Katara crosses her arms in a small huff, and she has to mentally count to calm herself down. It wouldn't do any good to get mad at him at the moment. But her impatience peaks through at her next qustion:]

Have you been listening to what I've been saying?

[Zuko falls quiet then and leans forward on a knee, beginning to run his little hand-shovel through the soil, packages between his teeth. Now he's choosing to ignore her, preparing the soil.]

[Clearly he's still determined to now acknowledge her existence. Katara takes a step closer now, and she begins to push around the dirt with the tip of her toes, her blues suddenly finding the action to be especially intriguing.

She takes a deep breath, before finally speaking again, her voice soft and lowered just so he can hear.]

I guess I'm just trying to say that I'm sorry about what happened last week. I didn't mean to make it worse for you-- I was just trying to help. And I shouldn't have hit you in the face with the water whip. [As much as you deserved it, she mentally thinks to herself.]

[He doesn't answer her, not at first. Instead he shovels out dirt to form a rut. Stabbing the shovel into the ground Zuko then uses his teeth again to open the packages but this time he's careful not to use too much force like the last time.

He's determined to get this done as quickly as possible so he can get the hell out of there and grab something from the Cafeteria and take it to his dorm and meditate.

Zuko leans over the rut, balancing perfectly, as he carefully and slowly sprinkles out the seeds into the line he'd formed. Then he packs the dirt over top and moves a little further away from her, standing and then crouching down again, repeating what he'd just done with the dirt and seeds.]

... You're the first person I ever let touch my face since my father burned me. [And he'll let her clue in on the rest, even if he knows himself that he really did deserve it. Kinda.]

[Katara is practically frozen in place when Zuko lets the little piece of information slip. Her mind is momentarily blank, before a sudden rush of thoughts stream through. His father...? That scar? Suddenly she remembers the conversation she had with Jet so many months ago, when the Freedom Fighter had confronted her about Zuko's past.]

Your father... gave you that scar? [Her tone is gentle, but there's no mistaking the slight mortification in her voice.] Jet asked me if it was true, but I didn't know...

I was only thirteen. And I was naive, stupid, undisciplined. Too concerned about the welfare of others.

[Zuko packed down the soil and then gathered up the empty packages and shovel, rising. He turned to face her, eyes lowered to meet hers, the look in them guarded, hard.]

Shortly after that my father banished me. I was to learn respect and suffering would be my teacher, he told me.

[Why was he telling her this? That thought was running through his head. She didn't deserve to know any of this.]

[Her eyes follow his movement as he rises, and suddenly he's towering over her. She sees that guarded look in his eyes, and for a moment her compassion overrides the hate she once held-- still holds? -- for him. Katara is almost tempted to reach out, to place a comforting hand on his shoulder, perhaps even draw him into a hug-- but she knows that her physical comfort would be unwelcome. She can't imagine anyone ever deserving to be hurt by their own father in the way that Ozai has hurt Zuko.]

Suffering is never a proper teacher.

[If she'd done that -- Zuko would have knocked her hand away. He doesn't want or need her pity.]

You're wrong. It's made me who I am today.

It's made me stronger.

It was wrong and cruel of him to do, to use such a severe punishment on someone as young as I was. But without it... or my uncle, I wouldn't be here today.

[Katara supposes that he's right, but then again it seems as though because of his father's rather violent lesson, he's been taught that the wrong things are right. At least, that's what it was like the last time she had faced him, back in their world when he was so close to making the right decision only to betray them. Katara is hesitant to ask, but she needs to know.]

Are you still going to capture the Avatar for your father's approval?

[The look on his face darkens. Zuko then moves around her; obviously the conversation's done.]

Stay out of it.

[Her hand snatches out this time to grasp the wrist of his good arm.]

Zuko, I just-- you have to make the right choice.

I'm not obligated to do anything! [Quietly hisses, yanking her closer by tugging his arm in close to his body.]

It's not an obligation-- you should want to do the right thing! [If he's trying to intimidate her, it isn't working-- Katara simply digs her heels into the ground, her chin tilting up so her blue eyes meet his golden ones.]

[Braving the twinge of pain in his neck, Zuko lowers his head until their foreheads are nearly grazing one another. He really hates it when she gets that defiant look in her eyes. Were he not handicapped at that moment with the fracture and the sling, he'd step up to the wordless challenge.

Zuko opens his mouth to answer her but their Instructor has suddenly appeared at their side, quietly clearing her throat. He leans away and says nothing to either of them, only glares down at the waterbender.]

[She's telling herself that the increase of her heart rate is simply due to the fact that he can really get under her skin and flare her anger without even trying-- not the fact that he's suddenly so close.

When she hears a throat being cleared, Katara immediately releases Zuko's wrist from her grasp and turns to face then instructor, a sheepish smile on her lips.]

I was just, uhm... helping him plant his seeds. [The instructor perks a brow at the young cadet's choice of words, her eyes flickering between the two before stating, 'Just don't get too off track-- this is a major project, after all.' and she moves on to help a group of cadets hunched over to the side.]

... 'Helping him plant his seeds'? [While his expression is incredulous, his tone is deadpan, and just as disbelieving.

Really, Katara? Really?]

Do you even have any idea what that means? No- don't answer that. Agni...

[It takes a moment for Katara to fully realize her words, and when she does she instantly reddens.]

You were planting seeds-- Spirits, I didn't mean it the other way!

You weren't helping me do anything! You were just standing there, playing with your skirt.

Wait-- how do you know about the 'other way'?!

[Even if his cheeks are reddening like hers and his body temperature is rising, Zuko takes a step back to fully look her up and down.

Wasn't she something like thirteen? Or was it fourteen?

Hell. Zuko doesn't keep track of those things!]

You have to learn about the male and female anatomy when you're a healer! [And she was going to leave it at that-- while the lessons she'd learned in the healing hut in the Northern Water Tribe barely scratched the surface, it had taught her enough.]

And I was just trying to think of an excuse so we wouldn't get into trouble!

You're the only one who'd get in trouble. You haven't even started your planting.

[Resists rolling his eyes.

Good ol' Katara. Always thinking about others over herself.]

[She presses her lips into a thin line.]

Well I was busy trying to apologize to you, but I can see that isn't going anywhere.

I don't expect you of all people to understand why I chose to ignore your "apology".

You should appreciate the fact that I'm even bothering to apologize in the first place!

What you did was unforgivable. As unforgivable as the pain and suffering he had caused me.

[Deep, Zuko. Way too deep. And probably foot in mouth.

But like he said, he didn't expect her to understand.

As he steps to the side and walks away from her, he silently begins to count how many steps it'll take before she explodes.]

Edited 2010-09-06 19:56 (UTC)

[But she doesn't explode with anger-- his words make her stomach drop, and for a moment she's paralyzed.

Katara recovers soon enough though, and she steps forward to grasp his hand, tugging gently.]

Zuko, you can't... you can't honestly think I'm like him, can you? I offered to heal you. [Her eyes are wide and searching as she looks up at him, a hint of desperation in the blue orbs.]

[He turns with the tug, facing her, brilliant gold meeting equally bright blue eyes. Zuko looks down at her, the desperation obvious in the way she's looking at him; he doesn't answer her, trying to think with his head and not his temper for once.

Iroh would be proud to know that he is in fact thinking with his head, perhaps even with a bit of his heart.

His feelings are mixed. Way too mixed -- he doesn't like it.

With the feeling that they're suddenly being watched, Zuko breaks the eye contact and shifts his weight to turn his body slightly to his right. Sure enough, their Instructor's watching them with a curious but knowing look. But he looks back to Katara, more than aware of her hand holding his. She's probably got some of his crumpled seed packets digging into her fingers.]

... Finish your project. Now's not the right time or place to be talking about this.

[Reluctantly his fingers release hers. Very reluctantly.]

[As much as she knows when to push, Katara also knows when to stop. She can tell that this conversation isn't going to go anywhere (especially during class where the cadets are trying hard not to seem obvious with their eavesdropping), so she drops his hand and takes a step back.]

Well, if you want to talk about it... let me know. [There's a small, noncommittal shrug; she doesn't expect him to take her up on the offer. And just as she's about to turn around to make her way back to the row of potted trees, she remembers something.]

Dr. Kadowaki told me about your physical therapy. If you need any help, maybe I could--

[There's a vague wave of her hand to finish the offer of help, before Katara really does turn around this time to crouch by the pomegranate tree she's chosen to plant.]

Edited 2010-09-06 21:02 (UTC)

[I would like that...]

Maybe later... [Zuko shrugs his good shoulder.] And uh-- don't worry about it. I'll manage. I always do.

[He turns away and finally begins to head towards the table to lay down his hand-shovel and throw out his garbage. But not without throwing a 'I'll... see you later,' over his shoulder, frowning to himself.

This is definitely something they need to talk about.]

[She catches his words, as well as the slight parting message just as she picks up a spade. Surprised that Zuko has seemingly actually agreed to talk to her later on, Katara throws a glance over her shoulder, watching him walk away for several moments before refocusing her attention on the plot of earth she's supposed to dig through.

Oddly enough, there's a strange sort of satisfaction which alleviates a bit of the weight she isn't aware is on her shoulders, and there's a small twinge of relief -- why, she doesn't know -- that Zuko is finally acknowledging her again.]

008 - [Week IV, HEC 101, T1600]

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