Had to feed my inner Zutarian with only 9 episodes to go. (Zuko, don't screw it up!)

BTW, if you haven't checked it out yet, I've started a sequel to "Til Death Do Us Part" called "In the Family Way."

Protection

Katara didn’t turn at that voice, a sound both rough and soft, grating and sensual. Since Zuko’d joined them, she hadn’t been able to escape that voice, or those hard gold eyes that seemed to follow her everywhere.

“What are you barking about now?” she sneered, back still to the Firebender as she carefully packed her bag.

“Cut the rhino leavings. We’re going into battle tomorrow, Katara.” Zuko appeared at her side, his expression set into its usual tight-jawed scowl. “And you don’t have the right equipment to fight.”

“Equipment?” she scoffed. “I have all the weapons and armour I need.” To demonstrate, she drew moisture straight from the air and let it pool in her hand, forming a gauntlet of ice, which she flexed smugly. “Your concern, however, is duly noted.”

She turned to go, but Zuko grabbed her wrist and, with a hot flash from those sculpted ivory hands, melted her ice glove, letting it slough wetly from her skin.

“Hey, watch it! You could have burned me!” She snatched her hand back.

“Sokka has his sword and a whole array of weapons, plus hand-to-hand training. Aang has his staff and self-defense techniques. I have my broadswords. Even Toph has that space metal bracelet. You, however, have no backup.”

“Backup? I don’t need—”

“If you suddenly found you couldn’t Waterbend, what would you do?” He cut in ruthlessly. “You’d be completely defenseless. That’s unacceptable.”

“I wouldn’t be defenseless,” she argued hotly. “I’d…I have—” she floundered.

“You have this, now.” He thrust something clutched in his fist at her.

“What? What is…”

“It’s not much, but…just take it.” And when she didn’t accept it immediately, the prince grabbed her hand and shoved it into her palm.

The heated contact lingered, lingered, and she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Zuko’s quickly softening features. The severe slant of his mouth pursed, gaped a little as he inhaled sharply. And then he let go.

Katara stared, dumbfounded. She turned the worn but obviously well-loved object in her light grasp, sliding her fingers reverently over the leather sheath and up to the hilt. She drew the blade smoothly from its casing, studying the perfectly honed edge and brilliant surface.

“Never give up without a fight,” she murmured, reading the inscription. She looked back up at the Firebender. “Zuko…this is beautiful.”

“It’s not for you to keep,” he snapped.

“Oh.” She averted her eyes. The pearl of affection that had welled up inside her was suddenly swallowed back down.

“It’s a loaner,” he elaborated flatly. “It’s sharp and it’ll stay sharp. Just…if you have to use it…” his lips thinned in a bleak grimace “…make sure to clean it off afterwards.”

“I understand.” She sheathed the dagger as smartly as her emotions. “Thank you for this.” She bowed perfunctorily at the waist and turned to go.

“Katara,” Zuko growled on an exasperated rush of breath. She halted in her steps. The intense, earnest look in his face made her heart surge with confounding hope tainted with just a little fear. “Make sure you get it back to me,” he said lowly.

She scowled again, disappointed. “Don’t worry, your highness, I won’t let anything happen to your precious knife.”

“I mean, I want you to return it to me.” He loomed closer. “Personally.”

Katara stared up at him, unable to decipher the look in his face. “O-kay...”

“Promise me,” he emphasized, but more quietly, his harsh rasp turning into silk. “Swear you’ll bring it back to me. That you’ll…that you’ll be able to give it back to me. I can’t lose…it.” Only inches away, she could see his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed thickly. “It’s…precious to me.”

The Waterbending master clutched the knife to against her heart, fingers curled jealously around the sheath. Forcing the words past her suddenly dry mouth, she said, “Yes. Of course. I promise. I will.”

Their gazes tangled for a long moment, unspoken words reaching across that minor but vast space between their lips, twining meanings, engaging, understanding. Zuko moved as if to touch her again, to say more, and Katara arched to receive his benediction—

But his hand stopped midair.

And then they parted.