"Look at me!"

She was fed up with this game, fed up with the insecurities and the worries and the pointless run-arounds he gave her. Couldn't he tell that he was the only person on this forsaken planet that gave a damn? She could tell he knew what was coming, that she was going to let him know just how ridiculous he was being. Could she really blame him for stalling?

"I SAID LOOK AT ME!"

Her voice seemed to echo throughout the small stone room she had trapped him in. There was silence inside and out and her voice boomed off the walls of his head, slightly frightening him. He tried to bit back flinches and unnecessary memories. He wanted to yell at her. He wanted to tell her that she was better off with the Avatar than him because he was nothing and she meant everything.

He not complying with her demand only succeeded in pissing her off even more. She could feel her insides shaking and hot tears forming in the base of her eyes. Why does he have to be so unrelenting about this?! A string within her broke as she roughly grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him toward her before pushing him in the wall beside them.

"What is your problem?! Why can't you see that it doesn't matter? You think you're the only one with a scar you don't want people to see? I've got tons of them! We all do. Your scar doesn't define who you are. You define who you are and you are an amazing person. You're the only person here making up excuses for us not to be together. You're the one pushing us apart with this stupid scar business—"

"It's not stupid! You think I like having this—"

"We all know you hate it, Zuko. There's nothing you can do about it. We've tried."

She watched as he hung his head. He knew he was defeated. Every argument he had in him was foreseen and planned for. She had him and sooner than he wanted, the truth would spill. Katara placed her hands on his face and forced it to level with hers. He couldn't help but flinch, despite knowing that it wouldn't hurt if she touched him. Old habits die hard after all.

"Zuko, I love you. And I know you love me, even if you haven't said the words yet, but that doesn't matter to me. I love you for who you are and not for what you look like. However, since we're on the subject, I need you to know that I'm not disgusted by it or ashamed to be seen with you because of it. You know what it shows me? It shows me the loyalty to courage you possess. Your courage to go through life everyday with it. Your loyalty to your family and nation. "

Katara gave him a small smile and gently slid her fingers over the rough skin and brushed her lips against his.

"Plus, I think it's kind of sexy," she whispered against his lips.

Zuko gave a small chuckle before capturing her lips. He's hands moved to cup her face fiercely as he deepened the kiss, his emotion pouring out of him and becoming almost too much for him. Her hands slid from his face to fist his shirt as she tried to hold on to him. His lips broke contact with hers to breeze over her face as he whispered "I love you" before each kiss.