A/N: Well, this is just a fanfiction I thought of after I watched Season 3.
This fanfic takes place during "The Western Air Temple" after Zuko's first visit to the 'Gang'.
Disclaimers: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender! (Duh)
Captured Trust
"Why would he try to fool us like that!" Katara yelled as Sokka, Aang, and Toph set up their camp.
"Obviously he wants to lead us into some kind of trap" Sokka answered, taking a step toward his sister.
"This is just like when we were in prison together in Ba Sing Se!" the waterbender cried angrily, "he starts talking about his mother and making it seem like he was an actual human being with feelings!"
"He was you to trust him and feel sorry for him, so you let your guard down, and he strikes," the watertribe warrior said flatly while picking up a sleeping bag.
"The thing is, it worked" Katara said in a hushed voice. "I did feel sorry for him, I felt like he was really confused and hurt!"
Katara took a deep breath and sat down on her knees before continuing. Sokka noticed a slight note of compassion on the waterbender's face, but it disappeared with her next words.
"But obviously when the time came, he made his choice, and we paid the price."
"We can't trust him!" she added, raising her voice so that Aang and Toph could hear her.
Aang slowly walked up to the area where Katara and Sokka stood, and turned his head so that the siblings couldn't see his face.
"Actually….I have a confession to make." the airbender said.
Aang slowly told the pair about the incident with Zhao and the Yu Yan Archers. When he got to the part about the Blue Spirit and the identity behind the mask, Katara and Sokka wore shocked expressions at the mention of the firebender. Toph stood silently against a pillar, absorbing the new information.
"NO way," Katara exclaimed, crossing her arms in a X-shape to further her point.
"I'm sure he only did it so that he could capture you himself"
"Yeah, face it Aang," Sokka added, "You're nothing but a big prize to him"
The Avatar lowered his him in disappointment.
"You're probably right," he said with a sigh.
Katara, clearly was not satisfied yet.
"And what was all that stuff about setting Appa free?" the waterbender yelled. "What a liar!"
"Actually, he wasn't lying," Toph said quietly.
The threesmome turned at the sudden presence of the earthbender, clearly not believing what they had just heard.
"Oh, hooray," Sokka said," In a lifetime of evil, at least he didn't add animal cruelty to the list."
"I'm just saying, that considering his messed up family, and how he was raised, he could have turned up a lot worse!" Toph said, clearly irritated.
"You're right Toph, let's go find him and give him a medal." Katara said sarcastically, "The Not-As-Much-Of-A-Jerk-As-You-Could-Have-Been Award!"
"All I know is that while he was talking to us, he was sincere. Maybe you're just letting your hurt feelings keeping you from thinking clearly." Toph said.
"Easy for you to say!" Katara cried.
"You weren't there when he had us attacked from pirates!"
"Or when he burned up Kyoshi Island!" Sokka added.
"Or when he tried to capture me at the Fire Temple!" Aang shouted.
"Why would you even try to defend him!" the waterbender hollered.
"Because, Katara," the Blind Bandit said, taking a few steps toward her.
"You're all ignoring one crucial point!"
Toph emphasized her point by stomping her foot into the ground, causing cracks to appear in the gound.
"Aang needs a firebender to teach him!" she cried, jabbing her finger in the Avatar's chest.
"We can't think of a single person to teach him. Now, one shows up on a silver platter, and you don't even think about it?"
Katara looked over to Aang, who had started to talk.
"I'm not having Zuko as my teacher," he answered plainly.
"You're darn right you're not!" Sokka replied, taking his side.
"Well…I guess that's settled," Katara said, although feeling bad about what the earthbender had stated.
"I sometimes wonder who's really the blind one here is," Toph said before storming off.
Katara kept her face an emotionless mask as her friend left the building, but under the mask, the waterbender didn't want her friend to go. She sighed as she returned to her work, setting up the temporary camp with Sokka and Aang.
"STUPID!" "Why was I so STUPID!" Zuko yelled into the air.
"Why did I tell them that I sent an ASSASIN after them! I should have told them Azula did it! They would have believed me!
"STUPID!" the firebender added, spreading his arms out in front of his face.
The frog merely croaked at the angry boy before hopping away. Irritated, Zuko flopped down on his back, silently cursing.
"Why am I so bad at being GOOD!"
That night, Katara lay awake, staring into the clouds that obscured the stars. Toph was huddled under an earth tent in a corner of the building, sleeping away from the Gang, obviously still furious at them.
Silently, she thought about the young earthbender's protests that afternoon. Katara knew Toph was right, but she didn't want to give Zuko another chance.
Thinking about the said firebender caused Katara to unconsciously clench her fists at her side. No way was she going to give that idiot another chance!
Maybe I should, another part of her said. For Toph.
Silently, Katara made her way out of her sleeping bag, trying not to wake anyone else up, especially Toph. The blind girl would surely sense her movements and wake up. The waterbender stepped over a sleeping Sokka, flinching at the sound of his noisy snores. Looking back around her, Katara glanced in the earth tent's direction and let out a sigh before heading into the forest. Oblivious to the walking girl, Toph smiled before letting sleep overcome her again.
The banished prince lay under his makeshift tent, letting the day's events run through his mind. How would he ever gain the trust of the Avatar's group? Especially that watertribe girl. Surely, she hated him for what he had done in Ba Sing Se. Zuko let out a frustrated sigh, this was going to be a long night, he said to himself.
Suddenly, a rustling of leaves alerted the firebender to his senses. Without thinking, he shot a fire blast in the sound's direction, guessing the intruder was an enemy. No sooner had the flame left his palm had he realized his mistake.
A sharp cry of pain echoed out from the 'intruder's' hiding spot. The cry was too high for a man, almost girly. A pair of angry blue eyes and tanned skin emerged from the forest clearing. Zuko knew those eyes from anywhere.
"K-Katara?..I-I'm so sorry!"
A/N: So what do you think? How is it? :D Reviews appreciated. It's my first fic after all :P