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Bitter Alliance	By : Looneyluna Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female > Katara/Zuko Views: 31138 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter Twelve –

The sun rises, highlighting the hues of orange and red in the air. Zuko was insatiable last night – almost inconsolable. He is asleep now. I almost envy him. Crossing my arms over my chest to ward off the chill in the air, I wince. My breasts are painfully tender. My emotions are heightened. I walk a fine line between tears and laughter.

I test the bars of the east window. The iron is weak and rusted. I can cut through them easily with my Waterbending. The problem with cutting through them and going through the window is where to go after we are out. The ledge is thin and looks as though it will crumble.

Grasping the bars tighter, I pull myself against them and stare at the ground. The jagged rocks look unforgiving, arranged in such a way as to discourage the very thought of escape. Whereas the view from the west window is warm and inviting, the view from the east window is a stark contrast. Even the roof decorations on the pagoda-like structure are turned inward, meant to taunt its occupants instead of chasing away evil spirits.

The weather has worn the ironwork and I cannot help but feel nervous over the instructions that were given to us yesterday. Unless they are able to fly, Zuko and I will fall to our deaths. Perhaps there is another way.

Shivering, I huddle against the wall and swallow the fear that rises in me. As if able to hear my thoughts, Zuko stirs and sits up in bed.

Holding his hand out, he summons me. “Come back to bed, Katara. It is early.”

The huskiness in his voice is unmistakable. Dropping my robe to the floor, I climb into bed and straddle him. I am his blanket. He shivers beneath me and pulls the blankets around me, wrapping us both in a cocoon. I feel him press against me – his body’s natural reaction to the closeness of mine.

His breathing evens out and I rest against him. I cannot sleep.

--

The sun is high in the sky and the meals have gone untouched. Katara is asleep. I have been reluctant to wake her. They will come for me soon. The Sages mean to kill me. My purpose has been served. I have written no letters. I dare not for discovery. I take solace in Katara’s survival, confident that the resistance will either end her suffering quickly or rescue her.

The double doors swing open, admitting the quartet I have come to despise. The healer eyes me anxiously as the Sages take strategic places around the room.

Katara startles awake, sensing the danger in the air. Instead of submitting to the exam, she crawls away from the woman. “Don’t touch me!” she rails angrily. “If you come any closer, I’ll kill it!”

My lover’s hands clutch her midsection as if poised to carry out her threat. The Sages’ expressions are cold masks of fury as they approach Katara.

The Waterbender calls the water from the nearby pitcher, quickly fashioning an ice-like dagger. At first she holds it up and away from her, trying to warn everybody away. But as they continue advancing, she realizes the fruitless action. She looks insane. The look in her eyes is vacant and full of fear.

They crowd her, heedlessly uncaring. She turns the dagger on herself and they freeze in their tracks. I can see their fear – their fear of the threat. They have not anticipated Katara’s resolve. Their plan is flawed.

With each breath, I take a step closer, my hands out in front of me in a conciliatory manner. I cannot let Katara do it. I know not what the resistance is planning, but I know they are close by, plotting something – her possible rescue. I will not allow her to take her own life.

Brushing against one of the Sages, I crawl onto the bed. “Katara, please,” I say, trying to calm her down.

Tears streak down her face as she presses it against the skin of her stomach. My hand covers hers and I seize the opportunity to melt the ice dagger quickly, enraging my lover with my supposed betrayal. Hissing and scratching, she curses me.

I pin her down and subdue her, glaring at the Sage nearest to us. “Tell my father that it would seem I have a new purpose – ensuring the Water Witch does not harm that which grows inside her. Now leave!”

He backs away, summoning the healer and others to follow him. I ignore the look of contempt on the man’s face and smirk. As the locks are put back into place, I loosen my hold on Katara. I can feel her pulse racing beneath my hands.

“I couldn’t let them take you,” she whispers shakily. “We’re too close to give up now.”

I capture her lips tenderly and pull away quickly.

She sits up, not bothering to cover herself as her robe gapes open. “Do you really think I’m pregnant?”

Kneeling before her, I peel her robe away from her skin and place my hand over her flat stomach. I place a gentle kiss on the flesh, not know what to pray for. In a way, I hope she is pregnant. On the other hand, I hope she isn’t. I admire her dusky areolas and kiss each one. Her gasp is one of discomfort.

“I don’t know,” I reply softly, knowing deep down in my gut that she has conceived my child. “It is too soon to tell.”

--

I watch from the west window as the sun dips beyond the horizon with little fanfare. I motion to Katara to make her move. With a precision I envy, she sends a razor thin sheet of ice through the already rusting bars. As she pries the iron from its place several explosions light the twilight sky.

The flooring shifts beneath us and crumbs of the ceiling fall onto our heads. “Get out onto the ledge!” I command, moving toward her.

Katara holds her hand out, moving further into the room. The noises surrounding us are almost deafening. She is shouting something at me, motioning for me to join her. I run toward her, dodging plaster chunks of our prison at it collapses around us. Past Katara and outside the window, I see our salvation.

An outcropping of rock has ascended to the highest level. It sways precariously, as though it will crumble under its own weight. Katara falls to her knees, unable to keep her balance. Scooping her into my arms, I stumble toward the window and pray to Agni that we are able to make it.

The window is small. Only one of us can fit through at a time. I push Katara through it and onto the earthen platform. But she holds onto me, her nails digging painfully into my arm. The inertia drags me forward, causing the remnants of the iron bars to pierce the skin of my chest, hip, and leg.

The platform starts to descend, drawing Katara and me down and away from the crumbling building. I can feel the blood oozing from my chest, hip, and leg as I watch the sections of the palace shudder violently and cave in upon itself. Smoke obscures my vision as I witness pillars of fire descend from the sky.

My father’s wrath is swift and quick. I can feel his anger. It burns inside me. I shield Katara as best as I can, hoping my body will be enough as I prepare for the end. I close my eyes, but the sounds of destruction and the smell of acidic smoke fade as I succumb to darkness.

--

“I won’t leave him!” Katara’s voice shrieks nearby as I feel the cool healing water move through my body. “He needs me!”

“You must!” a stern voice replies. “His father knows he lives. Ozai seeks to destroy Zuko. You are too valuable to risk. The catacombs are yielding to the fire attacks above ground!”

It is difficult to open my eyes, but I force them open. In the ill-illuminated shadows of the underground caves, I see the Waterbender who healed me the first time, working over me. A look of concentration consumes her expression as she focuses all her energy into my chest, hip, and leg.

“Mahari is right, Katara.” Toph sounds frustrated and tired. “We’re losing ground. The fire above us is too intense.”

“So you’re just going to leave him behind? Is that it?” my lover sobs, pleading for my life.

“Katara,” I mumble softly.

“The Waterbenders can’t hold the currents forever,” Jeong Jeong warns nearby.

“Zuko,” cries Katara, kneeling next to me. She strokes my cheek and I lean into her touch.

“Listen to them,” I rasp, wincing in pain. I am sure I have broken ribs. “Leave me.”

“No,” she argues. “We made a promise. We’re sticking together.”

My eyes fall to Toph. She is covered in dirt -- her face caked in mud. “Take her away,” I state. “Protect her. Don’t ever leave her.”

The Earthbender who wanted me dead weeks ago nods and grabs Katara’s wrist.

“No!” Katara hisses and pulls away, trying to push the healer out of the way and gather me into her arms.

Feeling the rise of fever stir within me, I shun her. “Go now!” I bellow.

She takes a step back, her eyes wide with fear.

Swallowing the bile that has risen in my throat, I shudder against the pain of my recent wounds. “Sozin’s comet has driven my father mad. It has consumed him and his bloodline. I can feel it coursing through me, Katara. It calls to me…tries to lure me into the open to accept my fate.”

“What do you mean?” she asks, holding her stomach protectively.

“This will only end when he dies, Katara,” I reply softly.

“We’ll go away! Far away! Where he can’t reach us!” She is openly weeping and clutching her stomach.

It is painful to look at her desperation, but I must be strong. “I am like a beacon, Katara. He can track me anywhere I go. He is relentless. He won’t rest until I am dead. He won’t rest until you are found. I won’t pretend to understand the prophecy surrounding our child.” I feel moisture on my cheeks. “But I know that Ozai wants it. And that cannot be a good thing.”

The other Waterbender assists me as I sit up with great effort. “You must go away, Katara. You must leave me. If you stay, all hope will be lost.”

Falling to her knees, Katara looks at me with wounded eyes. “You knew all along, didn’t you?”

Her words are lost as the earth shudders around us. It feels as though I am on fire as my father reaches out for me. He is close by, seeking that which will make him a god…make him immortal.

“I love you!” Katara declares, clutching my bloodless thigh. I can see the resolution in her eyes and know that I must act quickly.

With a growl, I shove her hand away and clumsily distance myself from her. “I don’t…love you.” The words are bitter in my mouth. “I promised Aang I would take care of you should anything happen. I’ve done my best! You should go.”

My harsh words hit their mark and she shrinks back. “So that’s all I was to you…an obligation.”

“Yes,” I affirm. “An obligation I’ve fulfilled.” I look her directly in the eyes, reinforcing the “truth” of my words.

“I don’t believe you.” She straightens and moves next to Toph.

Watching the interplay of hurt and betrayal arc across her face, I long to take the words back. But I drive the wedge deeper. “Believe what you want, Katara.”

The ground above our heads moans with the weight of its burden. Toph gasps as if in pain. “Come on, Katara. Sokka’s safe. I’ll take you to him.”

I see the flash of hope in her eyes as she listens to the Earthbender. She backs away, her azure eyes never leaving my face. I look away as though I am indifferent, sealing our fate.

When I look up, she is gone.

--

End Act I

A/N – No, this isn’t the end of the story. It’s the end of the beginning. When I started to write this, I had originally intended for it to be much shorter than it already is. Thanks to my wonderful sounding board, Moncapitan, I realized the potential of this story and the delicacy that it would need in order for me to tell it.

I have promised a happy ending and I shall deliver. It will take some time to arrive at that destination. I am merely taking a slight break (probably a week of resting my wrists and brain) so that I can plot out what is to come.

On a personal note, I’d like to thank all of the people I’ve spoken with over the time of writing this. The support has been awesome. Thanks to all the faithful reviewers. All reviews are cherished and welcome.

Right now, I’m preparing for Tropical Storm Ernesto. We are thankfully not in his path, but are expected to get lots of nasty wind and rain. With wind and rain comes power outages and the battery on my laptop only lasts so long…
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Bitter Alliance