Maybe she doesn’t WANT to be your friend.
the little voice in his head told him, but the young boy kept a straight face and just patiently waited for her answer. When she nodded and agreed to really be a friend he smiled lightly. –here in the palace he didn’t have many friends except for Mai, and she mostly was with Azula and Ty Lee AND THEY mostly just made fun of Zuko and laughed at the way Mai looked at him.
“Wonderful! You see – I will make sure nothing happens to you” he assured her with a nod before he held out his hand, his palm facing the sky he stared at it for a moment, his expression making it obvious that he was concentrating while a really small flame made it’s way into his hand. “Because I am a Firebender, I will be ABLE to protect you …- when you can’t protect yourself” he then added while the flame vanished again.
He didn’t know much about Waterbenders, but he was sure that they were just as powerful as any other bender was and maybe this untrained bender didn’t even NEED protection from a boy who couldn’t even manage the most simple forms of Firebending yet.
For another moment he was quiet then. His hands folding behind his back while he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, gazing around the garden, his eyes stopping at the flowers Azula had burned earlier he shook his head slowly before he turned his attention back to Katara.
“Is there a chance you want to go and feed the turtle ducks with me? My mother promised to do it with me but now she seems to be busy with something else” he said while a shrug rolled off his shoulders. His golden eyes still showing nothing but kindness for the girl in front of him. Again he was silent before he held out his hand for her to take it. “Come on - you will like the little turtle ducks, they will cheer you up”
It’s almost cute with which FIERCE DETERMINATION Zuko promises to protect her. The concentration it takes him to summon the flame does not pass unnoticed, yet she does not look down upon it. It is an effort well known to her. He is perhaps the first firebender she is not afraid of, though it takes quite some power of will not to flinch when the flame appears. The frightening effect is heavily decreased by the look on his face.
But in the end, how can he protect her? She is utterly at the Fire Lord’s mercy and while Lady Ursa promised that no harm would come to her, Katara finds herself in doubt. What if one day Ozai changes his mind, decides it is too much of a risk to keep her alive? As much as she wishes to believe Zuko can protect her, she doubts he can overpower his father and for lack of waterbending training, how can she fend for herself?
❛ Turtle ducks? ❜ She repeats, looking somewhat surprised. She’s never heard of those animals before and curiosity awakes. ❛ Um, sure. I’ve never seen turtle ducks before. ❜ A little less timid than earlier, she takes his hand, her dark skin in bright contrast to his.
While she walks with him, Katara finds herself looking around, taking in the palace gardens with wide eyes. So much green in one place is new to her. The sun burns hot and her dark hair heats up quickly. ❛ Is it always this warm here? ❜ Katara asks, turning her eyes to Zuko.
