Third Floor Common Room - Thursday Morning

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

Katara had woken up early and slipped out of her dorm room quietly. She considered going outside for a moment, but she decided to explore the floor she'd ended up on.

Finding herself in a big open room with several couches and tables and quite a few big boxes she had no idea about, she up a small floppy book made out of shiny paper and began to flip through it, looking at the pictures.


[OOC: Open as a Common Room is. Though I might be under periods of SP as it's my first day back at work after a week.]

Comments

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

Zuko knew that if there were people in the common room, that usually meant there was food too. He smirked when he noticed both Katara and Sokka in the common room, pretty sure that it meant that Aang wouldn't be far behind.

"Didn't find your way back yet, peasant?" he asked.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

Katara turned to glare at Zuko. "I wonder that you're still here. Shouldn't you have better things to do in the Fire Nation."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

"My business here is not of your concern," Zuko replied, moving to the table to grab a doughnut. "But perhaps you are right to be worried."

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"I'm not worried, Prince Zuko," she said, spitting out his name. "And I don't care about your business."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

"Really?" he asked as he took a seat on the couch, making himself rather comfortable. "So you don't care that my sister tracking the Avatar as we speak?"

He didn't know what his sister was doing, but he was certain that the Avatar was still a priority to his father.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

Katara froze, her eyes darting to Sokka and wishing once again that one of them was with Aang.

"You're bluffing," she said, shaky but trying to hide it. "You'd never let someone else catch him if you had a chance."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

Sometimes being predictable was a drag, but he wasn't really lying and if he had to, he would free the Avatar from his sister's clutches so he could drag Aang personally back to the Fire Nation.

"Do you want to risk it? You saw what she can do, all of us together couldn't stop her. Do you really think he can handle her on his own?" he asked.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"He's the Avatar," Katara replied insistently, trying to ignore the implications that Zuko was making about them working together. "He'll bring peace to the world and you'll not be able to stop it."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

"He can't even keep his companions from getting lost," Zuko sneered. "How would he be able to save your little dreamworld?"

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"He's not responsible for me," Katara flared. "And he'll save the world alright. I hope you're there to see it."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

"He's the Avatar. Isn't he responsible for everyone? Or did you think yourself responsible for him?" Zuko asked, his tone arrogant. "Yes, I will be there when the Fire Lord locks him up in a steel prison for the rest of his life."

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

Katara's first reaction was to attack him, but she halted her hand on the way to the skin, mindful of the restriction put on them.

"That, you illegitimate son of a cowpig's ass, is never ever going to happen," she said, very, very quietly. "And I can promise you that I will make sure of that."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

Zuko narrowed his eyes at her. Fighting was very tempting, but he was getting to her. "You'll have to find a couple more masters to teach you first," he growled.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"Keep telling yourself that," Katara snapped, restraining her temper as much as possible. "If that makes you feel better after we were the only ones that kept you from dying on the North Pole."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

"I didn't ask for your help," Zuko growled.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"And I would have wish it hadn't been given," she flared back.

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

"Then we agree on that much," Zuko snapped back, hating to be agreeing on anything.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

Katara stared. "We don't agree on anything," she said precisely.

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

Zuko snorted. "So you changed your mind and don't want me dead anymore?"

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"No." Katara snapped. She flailed for a second, trying to find something else to say. "I want you to see Aang win."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

"As long as I'm alive, I won't let him win," Zuko threw back, intrigued that this was bringing her off balance.

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"Fine. I'll beat you myself. And I won't need more masters to do it."

With a swift gesture, she unlatched her waterskin and summoned water out of it to dump over Zuko's head.

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

Which left Zuko pretty wet. It was tempting to lash out in return and send a flame towards her, but Zuko managed to keep his temper under control. His clothes were steaming as he heated them up, but he didn't show a sign of being conscious of his firebending.

"Careful," he warned smoothly, his eyes flickering with something more serious than mischief. "You don't want me to have to tell principal Washburn about you breaking the rules. She can see everything that happens inside this building."

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

As the steam rolled off Zuko, she called it back to her waterskin slowly. "I won't believe your lies," she said. "And if you've reached the low point of running to tell tales, well, I see why you're here."

[thebluespirit.livejournal.com]

"You have no idea why I am here," Zuko snapped, getting back up from the couch. "So keep your assumptions to yourself, waterbender." He spat out the last word.