driftfleet | mingle part deux

[ katara falters for a moment, because it's not until right then that she realizes how the statement could read. her voice is quiet now, and she's busying herself with seeking out any other injuries since he didn't answer her question outright. ]

I'm saying that because I believe it. But- no. I don't know for sure.

[ a long exhale, because zuko had been expecting that, and he hadn't had his hopes up. but -- katara is a bad liar. sokka didn't tell her anything, or if he did, he left out whatever would have freaked out zuko so badly. ]

... I'm fine, I think you got it all.

[ it's murmured, and he straightens. ]

Thanks.

[ he straightens, but that doesn't change the weird, guilty weight that's settled on her. it's stupid, she knows; none of this is about her, none of this is something she can change. regardless- ]

Zuko-

[ ugh. where was aang for this? he'd know exactly what to say, how to start fixing things. ]

We're going to be there for you no matter what happens. You know that, right? If it takes all of Team Avatar searching high and low to look for her, we'll do it. You're part of our family. That means she is, too.

[ he pauses in getting up, when katara speaks -- and he really hadn't intended on talking about ursa today, he had been thinking about what was causing him trouble, and not knowing the future was one of those things. and now that he was on the topic of his mother (a wound that's really never healed, and that zuko has never given himself time to focus on), zuko isn't sure he wants to stay on it.

but the reassurance actually causes the weight in his chest to dissipate, just a little bit, and replaced by something warmer. allowing himself to get so wrapped up in azula, and his own problems, and stuck in his own head had been stupid -- not because zuko doesn't have legitimate things to be stressed over, because he does, but because he has a support system. right in front of him. and he hasn't used it.

it's still a new thing, having family to rely on, instead of family that just wants to kill you. ]

... thank you.

[ it's said quietly, but genuinely. ]

[ and he draws in another breath before pushing himself up off the desk, to stand. ]

But Team Avatar is still a stupid name.

[ enough of this talk, thank you.

but he seems to be in a much more comfortable spirit. ]

[ it's easy for katara - who has always had an ally in her brother, who trusts and loves and relies on him more than she could ever put into words - to take having the support of your family for granted sometimes. later, she'll probably reflect on that, think about how much it's grown; for now, she's just going to give him a genuine smile that she's trying to make seem long-suffering. ]

Yeah, well, so is "Zuko," but you don't hear us complaining about it.

Yeah, well, 'Katara' isn't a very common name in the Fire Nation, either.

[ with a slight roll of his eyes, and zuko collects up the bandages to deposit in the trash can near his desk. ]

Thank you, again. [ he means it. :c ] -- and I'm sorry, for how I acted earlier.

[ she's obviously not upset with him, but he still wants to apologize. ]

Stop thanking me. And don't apologize. [ did you ever think you would hear those two phrases said back-to-back by katara, zuko...

she goes to take the bandages from him, just because he is the patient!! she should be the one disposing of things like that. aka she's going to mom him to death probably. ]

You were stressed out and it was stupid of me to charge in the way that I did. But- thank you for apologizing. It means a lot.

You tell me to have manners, and then you tell me not to use them...

[ it's said under his breath, in slight exasperation -- but he lets katara take away the bandages, now frowning.

katara had told him to stop apologizing but what he had to say next definitely counted as a continuation so now he's just

done talking apparently

#awkward]

Manners are good! You should have them. But 'manners' doesn't mean 'apologizing to me when I feel like I should be the one saying I'm sorry,' okay?

[ she finishes tidying up, before rounding him stand in front of zuko and giving him a tight, impulsive hug. ]

We've got this, okay? Never forget how many people here have your back.

I didn't know you --

[ but then katara hugs him, and he immediately stops talking, a little startled. he's been running on adrenaline for the past week and has generally avoided people touching him. he refused to have ino heal him because he didn't trust her enough, and now katara is hugging him, and has she hugged him since he's been here? the last time was probably adstringendum -- right? probably.

but the hug is comforting, and suddenly zuko is struck with the sudden urge to hug her back, and then katara squeezes him a little tighter, and --

-- ow. ]

Katara --

[ omggg she's just going to bicker at him for not telling her about the kick to the ribs. and he doesn't really feel like undoing his shirt so she can heal everything, and so zuko draws in a breath and lets it out quietly, looping his arms loosely around her for a hug.

whatever. he can just tolerate it. ]

[ he gets off lucky this time: when she feels him freeze, she assumes it's because he's surprised, not because he's in pain. she lingers for a moment when he returns the embrace. with the way people came and went in adstring and paradisa - with the way they seem to come and go here - she should probably take the time to appreciate the people she has with her more often.

but she does back off after a moment, fixing him with a quiet smile. ]

Did you need anything else?

[ he has a laundry list of things he needs, but nothing katara can magically procure now. and so he lets her go, awkwardly crossing his arms over his chest, in order to do something with his hands. ]

No.

{ just sleep, he thinks. ]

mingle part deux

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