¤ 27 - A Challenge

[honorinflames.livejournal.com]

[though he's been too wrapped up in his own 'problems' to really follow whatever has been brewing in much of the rest of the castle, he can't dodge the tension. The air feels tangibly charged, people seem to be getting ready for something, and it's very contagious.

With him wanting to test out his newly-healed shoulder, and this whole place feeling like it's itching for a fight... it seems like an obvious combination]

Anyone who wants to blow off steam-- I'll be out on the castle grounds. [and then a pause, as the voice of a certain piratess comes to mind. He better clarify--] ...For sparring.


((ooc: it's been a while since Zuko's been in a good fight. Open for training or whatever else. Come at him, bros!))

Comments

[waterbends]

You could have!

[And now? We get to the root of the issue.]

You ruined my shirt!

[honorinflames.livejournal.com]

[--oh THAT'S how she wants to play this? He grabs the collar of his shirt and jerks it to the side, revealing part of the athletic brace wrapped around his shoulder]

And you pulled my arm out of the socket!

1/2

[waterbends]

[Katara stares for a moment at the brace. Guilt briefly flashes across her face, before --]

[waterbends]

You should have warned me that your arm had been injured. It's not my fault you didn't.

[honorinflames.livejournal.com]

And you should have warned me that you were going to cry over your clothes.

[waterbends]

I'm not crying! I just expected you to use a little more caution when fighting with, you know, not the evil enemy?

[honorinflames.livejournal.com]

Excuse me for wanting to push myself!

If I knew you were going to be such a baby, I would have told you to go back in the castle!

[waterbends]

A baby? Did you just call me a baby?

[She is about to just push him.]

[honorinflames.livejournal.com]

Yes. I did.

[waterbends]

That's hilarious! Because just between me and you? You're the whiny baby!

1/2

[honorinflames.livejournal.com]

2/2

[honorinflames.livejournal.com]

What??

[waterbends]

Oh, you know what I'm talking about! 'Oh, poor me, I'm the angsty Fire Prince that no one understands, I'm going to pretend to be better than everyone else and be really grumpy all the time to push people away!'

I've seen through it, Zuko. I know who you are.

[The weight of her words might be lessened slightly by how incredibly petulant her tone is.]

Or maybe you just need to get over yourself!

[honorinflames.livejournal.com]

[there is a moment where his shock increases exponentially, leaving him momentarily stunned. It takes him a moment to absorb it all and process it, realizing that yes she really did just say all that. ...And then comes the rage, pouring in until his blood felt molten, twisting his face up into a snarl]

I need to get over myself?

What about you? Pathetic and clinging because-- 'oh no, I don't have my family and big group of friends around me anymore!'

Well, guess what! Nobody here does! So, get used to it and leave me alone!

[waterbends]

[This is always what it boils down to, isn't it? Katara would take some of the blame on her shoulders -- she pushes him too much, too fast -- if she weren't so sick with anger over his words.]

I'm not pathetic, and I don't cling--

[--but she is hurt for a moment, visibly shaken, cut to the bone before her anger boils over again and she nearly shrieks in his face:] Fine! Be angry and lonely and bitter as much as you want and see if I care anymore!

[She backs up then, before turning and heading toward the castle at a dead sprint.

Zuko, you suck.]