Hello everyone, here's a Zutarian story that we all love. I'll tell you in first place that I can not stand Maiko and Kataang so I hope you like my story. Comments are welcome. I can not post very often because I am very busy with my studies, but if you are patient you will enjoy the fanfic well. #zutaraforever

He was in the Earth Kingdom, somewhere in the suburbs of Ba Sing Se. He knew how risky it was to sneak around, especially when he was being sought by his own country. The Fire Nation had rejected him and his own father had abandoned him to disgrace. It was not the first time Zuko wished he'd ever been born.

After all his failed attempts to capture the Avatar, he had given up for the good of his uncle. The old man never gave up on him, even when he himself had given up. Living as a refugee was hell for Zuko who always had a princely life. Now none of that matters, he had to survive. "Never give up without a fight," said the corporal of the blade that his uncle had given him.

Zuko smiled at the memory. Now without his goal of capturing the Avatar he did his best to thwart the plans of the Fire Nation. Almost every night he sneaked through the shadows of Ba Sing Se, like a night watchman wearing a blue demon mask.

He could not help himself, the tea shop was Uncle's thing. He could not be content with just serving tea. He needed to move, he needed to feel the adrenaline in his veins and sweat trickling down his temples in the burning of his inner fire.

And so he found himself in a dark alley, watching a bunch of rowdy thieves form a circle around a victim. That by muffled sounds was a female figure. Zuko never tolerated dishonorable acts and is not now after banned that he will tolerate.

He counted a total of five idiots, because the sloppy way they moved would be a piece of cake. He was about to draw his swords when he heard male screams. The circle was undone when a whip knocked over the mass of bodies. Zuko panicked when he saw a woman with a long braid swinging from behind.

He sighed, the woman was green, it could not be her. The relief was short-lived as she faced him as she shot the thugs lying on the ground with a freezing blue gaze.

"What the hell is she doing here?" He cursed in thought. The last thing he needed was to come face-to-face with Avatar's Waterbender.

"Who is the little weak now?" The girl grumbled.

A particularly large man stood up with a scowl. "You fucking bitch." The poor idiot had barely finished his sentence when ice sheets had stuck the filthy tunic on the wall.

"Come near me again and be dead." The Waterbender girl threatened furiously.

Zuko remembered that he was in the shadows and held his breath before the girl noticed him. Not that he was afraid of her, he knew that if he wanted to he could take her. The point was he did not want a confrontation now. Not when he was avoiding attention. Then as soon as the Water Tribe girl left the alley with confident steps, he climbed onto the roof and returned to his small apartment upstairs in the tea shop.

He knew that if the girl was here, then the Avatar was not far off. The question that was bothering him for an unknown reason was: why was she alone? Zuko barely recognized her in the traditional clothing of the Earth Kingdom. She was different, more mature. Of course, it had been some time, he himself had changed, his hair had grown and already hovered over his eyes. What made him recognize her were the eyes, those eyes that were cerulean and full of challenge. The same eyes he faced in the Northern Tribe months ago.

Zuko snorted as he lay on the bed. Enough of thoughts about the Avatar's girl, he had to sleep to help his uncle early tomorrow.

...

"Lee take those pies to table three!" Shouted his uncle from the kitchen.

"I'm coming," Zuko replied. Lee was the name his uncle had chosen for his stay in the Earth Kingdom, they simply could not walk around with their real names. Mushi was how his uncle was known. He landed the position of store manager because of his talent for teas. Already Zuko graced by the gods as he was stayed with the position of waiter.

Which was horrible since he had to approach particularly perverted women. He could not understand how those women did not feel disgusted by his scarred face.

Today was a particularly busy day, as it was a holiday on Ba Sing Se. The store could not be over crowded and Zuko could not be more irritated. "Steam is coming out of your nostrils nephew. "Iroh commented with a smile.

Zuko glared at Uncle before picking up the tray with pies. He had not been able to sleep after seeing the Waterbender. The unease of the Avatar's nearness passed through his body as an instinct beyond his control. He could not let it go. The banished prince knew that the right thing to do was to tell Iroh about what had happened. No, Zuko decided. He should not worry your uncle. After all, the girl did not even saw him.

With a resigned sigh, the scrawny young man returned to serve the store's clientele.

Katara.

"I'm so screwed!" Exclaimed the Water Tribe girl. Katara walked exhausted through the streets of Ba Sing Se looking for the neighborhood in which her group was installed. For the thousandth time, Katara deeply regretted that she had left the complex of chic houses for a stroll through the city. To the contrary, she had to admit that her brother was right. She should not have left alone. And that was last night, the sun was already resting in the middle of the sky indicating the half day that passed.

Your friends should be crazy behind her, especially with Dai Li releasing her. If only Aang could fly with Appa. Unfortunately destiny sometimes reserved cruel moments. Her luck was that yesterday was a full moon night, which gave her greater advantage against the stupid idiots who tried to rob her. She was looking for the way back home when she came upon the nasty pack. Even after they had finished with them, she had a slight impression of being watched. The only thing Katara saw was the shadows of the alley. With a confident step she left leaving her attackers behind in a bloody pulp.

At this moment she was tired and hungry for having wandered all night in search of her friends. The only hope she had was for Toph to find her with Earthbending.

"Mommy, who are they?" Asked a boy, clutching his mother. Katara turned her face in the direction the boy pointed and noted the movement of the civilians. As she glimpsed the Dai Li's green hat, Katara hurried through the crowd.

"Shit, shit, shit," cried Katara.

She was beginning to feel dizzy from exhaustion. If she did not hide, she would be recognized and whatever they did with her would be known. With an iron will, Katara ground her teeth and started to run. Her vision was getting stained and she could hear footsteps behind her. Before they reached her, she squeezed into a breach in the wall and dragged herself to where the narrow space between the walls took her.

Breathlessly, she found herself on a street busy enough to mingle with people. When she saw that the Dai Li were around the corner, she walked into the first store she saw. Katara could hardly stand when a wave of dizziness passed her. The young woman faced a hard wall only to discover that it was not a wall but a back.

"What the he-!" A familiar voice sounded in her ears. Before she could digest, furious yellow eyes met hers. Shock passed her face before she fell into unconsciousness. The last word that came out of her mouth was the name of the boy who had once tied her to a tree. Zuko.

Well, that's it, what did you think of the first chapter? Ps: English is not my native language ^^