The darkness of night was perfect for Zuko. He loved being able to glide quietly through the forest (as the Blue Spirit), and the dark had always been his friend. Besides, he couldn't risk traveling by daylight, lest the Avatar and his friends notice him. Zuko stopped on a branch above their campsite.
He saw a young girl training, using water from a pond. He raised an eyebrow, although it wasn't the girl training after dark that surprised him; after all, he had watched her train in the pitch-black of night for a long time. It was her body language; today she seemed a bit…troubled.
The "peasant girl".
Katara.
She had been having a fight with Aang, the Avatar, the one thing that Zuko sought above all else. He didn't really want to kill the Avatar, or even send him to the Fire Lord, but he was Zuko's only hope. It was just the hand he had been dealt.
What's this? Zuko thought to himself. Katara had collapsed. Her friends were asleep, they couldn't help her…Zuko made to jump down from his perch, but stopped. She started crying.
Why…? It hurt him to see her cry, for some reason. Stop thinking like that, you fool, he said to himself, she is your enemy.
We could be friends, another voice in Zuko argued.
You'll kill her.
I'll protect her.
She is evil.
She is good.
She is hideous.
She's beautiful.
He decided to drop down and help her up, despite the consequences afterwards. He jumped and landed on the ground silently, making sure the others wouldn't hear. He touched her hand, and her fingers clenched into a fist. She was asleep.
Zuko pulled back from her. If she's asleep, let her sleep. But he couldn't stop himself. He held her hand and put it to his cheek. She felt so warm. He stroked her hair carefully; he didn't want her to wake up.
She sighed in her sleep. As Zuko looked at the pond where she had been bending, the water reflected his image, and he saw his scar. He shook his head sadly, and got up.
"Katara, I want you to know," he tried his best to keep his voice from cracking, "I'll protect you."
He smiled at her. "I know you don't need protecting. But I'll be there, just in case. You may not see me, but I'm there. Okay, Katara?" Zuko whispered. "I have to go, but I'll be with you, always."
You hate her.
You love her.
Zuko kissed her cheek, jumped into the trees, and faded back into the night.