This is a bad sign. I'm starting to get sucked into writing Zutara drabbles (it's like... eating sour jellybeans, freakin' addictive. (ahem!)). This may or may not becomea series, but at the very least, this drabble was inspired by Rashaka-san's Insta!Fic 24-hour challenge on katarazuko (LJ community). The prompt was: "I don't really know you at all," came the whisper, "But..."
Disclaimer: Still not mine, tho I own the first 2 DVDs now!
Know Thine…
"I don't really know you at all," came the whisper, "But..."
Hands paused, hovering above torn flesh, the silver-blue glow of healing fading slightly.
"… you've always been my enemy. Why do you think that is?"
No answer; the healing hands descended, the soothing water mending muscle and skin with ease seemingly unremarkable.
"I mean, to really hate someone, you'd think you'd have to have some idea of who they are first, right?"
Almost finished - there would be no scar, no hint at all that lifeblood once gushed forth from this smoothed flesh.
"And yet… that's how we got this way. I hate you, you hate me, and we're enemies."
No point in trying to save the water once it had served its purpose; the thirsty earth drank deeply of the sacred offering.
"Other than that, all I know is that you're the Avatar's follower - if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have given you a second glance. I wouldn't even have a reason to know your name."
Temptation to answer, to retort with all the cutting hostility such heedlessly insulting declarations deserved, swallowed with discipline only recently learned.
"So, logically - if we did know each other better, we might learn we had no reason to be enemies anymore."
'Or we'd learn we had even better reasons to stay enemies.' Unspoken bitterness, moving away to attend to something else, something to distract from the present unwelcome company.
"Or we might become worse enemies; that's just as likely. More likely."
Nodding unconscious agreement; hands once set to saving and healing set about to nourishment and feeding.
"Katara…"
"Yes?"
Amber eyes, stone-dark with fading fever and diminishing pain, flickered to victorious life. "I know something about you now."
"What would that be?"
"You're really stupid, saving the life of an enemy. That doesn't surprise me, though."
"Zuko…"
"Yes?"
"I know something about you, too."
"Hm?"
"You're a real jerk. But I'm not surprised either."
Death-silence, and then, ever-so-softly, shared laughter from two enemies.
Because Zutara is all about the snark, and you know it.