(no subject)

[waterbends]

[Katara has never had issue with the beds in Paradisa. They were warm, comfortable, but as snug and content as she is in the blankets, she can sense that there’s something maybe just a little off. There’s pressure against her arm and side - something is cuddling her.

Momo isn’t in Paradisa. So what in the world —

She shifts just a little, groggily opening her eyes and looking to the side.

Oh. It was Joshua.

Joshua was cuddling her. Of course.]

[Katara flings herself back, knocking her journal off of the bedside table — and this is where it begins transmitting. She screams.]

What are you doing in my room? What are you doing in my bed? [Her voice just gets shriller and shriller.] Out, out, out, out, out!

[ And while anyone listening might expect just as loud of a reaction (After all this is a rather commonplace scenario here, isn't it?) from whoever is invading the poor girl's bed, instead there's just a soft grunt of irritation. He's half-asleep and not placing the voice, but the shriek sure sounds familiar. He mutters groggily, ]

Huh, Langley...?

Joshua?!

[Another shuffling sound, and the sound abruptly stops as Katara scoops the journal off the floor.]

Comments

[waterbends]

-- you know, I really shouldn't be surprised that you would pick the most inconvenient time possible to act like you care about my wellbeing at all.

[ofhope]

What's all the racket? I'm trying to take a nap.

[waterbends]

Just go back to sleep, Joshua. [Longsuffering.] I'll be quiet.

[honorinflames]

[he might not exactly be at his most rational at the moment.]

He's evil!

[waterbends]

[Katara winces.]

I'll check in with you when I get out of here!

[And then, because she doesn't know what else to do, she just sort of. Shuts the journal.]

[honorinflames]

[he really tries to stay put. Really.

...it doesn't last long, however. He can't get himself to believe that everything will just be perfectly fine. He can't brush it off as definitely something the castle is causing that they can't do anything about. For all he knows, Joshua could be the one causing it.

So, after a little bit of deliberation and a valiant effort not to go storming off to Katara's room... he totally does go storming off for Katara's room.


Once there, he bangs on the door--] --Katara!

[ofhope]

[ Jeez, Zuko! Joshua heard that, you know. And it was ruuuude. Just for that, he's getting punished! Joshua can't hurt him of course, so...

There won't be any answer when he gets there. Unless he listens closely, there's the distinct sound of creaking mattress springs. In an uneven rhythm. Not very quiet at all, really. ]

1/2

[honorinflames]

[...he does catch that, actually. He has fantastic hearing, after all.

It's not a sound he really expected to hear, and it confuses him for a minute. Pausing to listen closer...]

[honorinflames]

[--and then something clicks in the worst way possible in his head, and a weird sort of panic floods in.

He can't actually be hearing what he thinks he's hearing--]

...Katara??

[ofhope]

[ At that, the creaking stops, and there's a stretched out silence, before Joshua bursts into dry laughter. He heard that odd catch in Zuko's voice. That was definitely worth it. ]

She's in the shower.

But my goodness, Prince Zuko... You must not think much of the lady Katara, hm? To suspect she'd go that far on only the third date?

[ There's a small 'tsk'ing sound, and then abrupt silence. ]

[honorinflames]

[the rage that hits him--a multi-part kind that has relief and embarrassment and whole bunch of uglier things mixed in--slams into his gut until it makes him feel sick. It totally sweeps him up before he can even hope to slow it down.

As soon as he can drag in a breath--] Joshua!

[he's twisting the doorhandle and shoving... and then, when it doesn't give more than an inch, fists follow, smashing into the wood]

[ofhope]

[ And Zuko can keep that up, but it won't budge anymore. He's just denting the door, something may spinter, but the only visual offered is the smallest crack in the opening. It's completely still and silent on the other side, until the prince eventually quiets down a touch.

Then he's there, right in front of the door, eye glowing red for a moment as he murmurs out the next question, sing-song and heavy all at once. ]

Why am I evil, Zuzu? That's not a very nice thing to say.

[honorinflames]

[the reaction is an automatic one-- though it's certainly not one that he'll regret.

That voice, the eyes, the nickname that he shouldn't know... the only way to answer that is with fire. It's an immediate reflex, throwing out his hand toward the crack in the door and a punch of flame with it]

[waterbends]

[Katara is fully clothed but dripping wet, thanks to her hasty exodus from the shower. Those sorts of things sort of get cut short when you hear yelling from the main room, and -- yes, that's fire.

She screams.]

Don't set the door on fire, we're trapped in here!

[Because one room fire was enough!]

[ofhope]

[ Aaand Joshua is turning to watch her walk out of the bathroom and over to the door, politely stepping out of her way as she proceeds to scream Zuko's ears off.

Wow, that sure is a sore spot for her, isn't it? ]

No kidding! That's incredibly irresponsible.

[honorinflames]

[he doesn't even know what to do with himself. His fists are wound so tight that his knuckles hurt, frustrated anger pretty much overwhelming him.

All he can do is scream back.]

Stay away from him, Katara!

[waterbends]

[And, for a moment, Katara is quite literally rendered speechless. She opens her mouth, gapes for a moment -

He's worried about her. Honestly worried, especially if he's going to trek up her tower just to yell through the door like that. Katara is visibly floored.]

Zuko...!

He's not going to do anything to me. When the castle lets us go, he'll leave. It's okay! --Joshua, please tell him we're alright.

[Oh, well. She might be pleading a little now.]

[ofhope]

[ Quiet for a bit. Then a low hum, and he steps up beside Katara, draping an arm around her shoulders affectionately while smiling at Zuko. ]

We're doing great. Bonding, even. Have you tasted her omelets?

[honorinflames]

[--seeing Joshua with his arm around Katara causes something in Zuko's head to break. He can almost hear the little snap. The only answer he can manage is to slam his fist into the door again.

And then he has to move. Turning, moving to where he can't see them through the crack in the door, his back against the wall next to the doorframe, he just needs to take a moment to breathe. It feels like his lungs are just too full, and the first breath he growls out is literal fire.

He knows Joshua's playing him, and he still can't get himself to stop giving the monster more fuel. Everything running through his head would only make it worse, probably exactly what Joshua wants-- more fire, more yelling, maybe trying to knock a hole in the wall if the door won't budge. He knows that none of it would actually help, and if he actually makes Joshua mad while there is still someone that he could easily hurt nearby...?

No, he... he's just got to breathe for a minute. Fingers still in fists, the heels of his hands pressed against his eyes, he tries desperately to calm down]

[waterbends]

[He disappears from sight beyond the crack in the door and Katara's hand shoots out, fingers curled, as if she wants to tell him to wait. Instead, she just sort of shakes Joshua's arm off of her shoulders, shooting him a frown and shaking her head.

Her voice is quiet when she speaks, addressing Joshua, though there's no telling if it'll reach out into the hallway.]

Can I talk to him? Alone, please? I think - I think he might be actually worried.

[She flicks some water from her dripping hair at him.]

[ofhope]

[ He looks a little irritated, rubbing at his face with his sleeve. Really he's not done with Zuko yet, still annoyed at being called evil earlier, and wanting a real explanation.

But clearly the bipolar teen was too easy to snap, and isn't coming out to play any time soon, so Joshua waves a hand dismissively while turning away. ]

Hm, fine. It's not like I enjoy all this noise. I need to remember to go easier on him.

[waterbends]

You could probably stand to go a little easier on everyone.

[But her tone is soft, non-confrontational, and Katara approaches the door again as Joshua turns away.]

Zuko? Zuko, are you still there?

[honorinflames]

[another purposeful breath--it really shouldn't be such a struggle--before he can answer]

Yeah.

[waterbends]

[And she wiggles her fingers through the crack in the door at him, as if saying hi.]

He hasn't hurt me. He's not going to.

[honorinflames]

You can't tell what he's going to do.

[he doesn't look over]