Katara had been on edge ever since the Fire Prince had joined their group at the Western Air Temple. She still could not believe that they had allowed him to be a part of the Gaang.

After everything he had done to them, after the numerous vicious encounters, after she had put her trust in him at Ba Sing Se, it all came to nothing in the end. Zuko was here with them, and he was Aang's new firebending teacher. Nothing could be done about that. But Katara had grown to cringe at the sound of Zuko's somber voice.

And after a few days, Katara was going out of her mind. Everyone made sure to steer clear of her after their initial acceptance of Zuko into their group. Katara seemed to be the only one who completely detested the idea. She would barely say a word to Zuko… except when necessary.

It was difficult for Zuko to attempt to befriend Katara, especially with her death threat hanging ominously over his head. But that didn't stop him from trying. He would often make small gestures toward Katara, such as informing her of areas on the mountainside that he had found to harbor water or clearing her plate after dinner. But she continued to be spiteful towards the Fire Prince, even after his numerous peace offerings.

This did not dissuade Zuko however. He was bound and determined to create a connection between him and Katara.

He simply did not anticipate what kind of connection this was going to become.

"Katara!" The young waterbender heard her name from an all too familiar tongue. Zuko. Katara ground her teeth together and furrowed her brow, concentrating thoroughly on ignoring him. It was not until the third or fourth time her name was called from the Fire Prince that she felt he deserved any sort of response.

"What?" she screeched savagely, turning on her heel to see Zuko standing directly behind her. He stared at her blankly. Her breathing became unsteady with rage.

"Sorry Katara, I didn't realize you were so close." He gave the young waterbender a second to calm herself.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I wanted to avoid this" she made a motion with her hand in the space between them "Us talking."

"Oh" he replied, his voice low. "Well, I was only wondering if you wanted to come watch Aang and I train. He's doing well. I thought you would like to see how he's coming along."

"Well" she replied hotly "If you're present count me out."

"Katara, I have to be there to teach him…" His voice was unnervingly steady.

"Then go teach, and leave me alone! You're wasting my time and Aang's by speaking to me." After this acidic statement she felt the temperature in the room rise a number of degrees. Although she knew it wasn't fair to provoke the young Fire Prince, she thoroughly enjoyed getting a rise out of him.

"What?" she asked coyly, "Did I make you angry?" Zuko stood in silent fury before her. He knew he could not say a word, or he risked being persecuted by the livid waterbender. All he wanted was to make peace.

"Well?" she asked. Zuko took a step toward her.

"Katara..." he began softly.

"I'd watch it if I were you Zuko" Katara growled. Zuko took another step toward her, close enough to strike her.

"Katara, please..." he said, now with a stern edge to his voice.

"Zuko, I'm warning you, if you take another step I swear I will freeze the air from your lungs" she spat.

The events that ensued seemed to happen in a rush. Zuko moved closer, not to attack, but to reason with her. All he wanted was for her to forgive him, and that did not seem to be an experience that was going to occur between them in the near future. Katara, in a rage, froze the solid ground beneath Zuko, causing him to slip and topple onto the disoriented waterbender. For a moment, neither of them moved. The air had been knocked from their lungs due to the sudden fall. As soon as Zuko regained his breath, he propped himself up on one hand. His other was resting gently on the waist of Katara, who was still as stone beneath him.

At first, he didn't know what to do. He was surprised that she hadn't already accused him of assaulting her. But there she lay, calm beneath him.

Something about their closeness made Katara's mind begin to wander.

'He has a handsome face' she thought fleetingly.

'Handsome and sincere.'

She stared up beseechingly into his amber eyes, resting one hand gently on the scarred side of his face. Heat radiated from the young Fire Prince through her fingertips. Her breathing was ragged, but no longer from rage.

Zuko was visibly stunned by the girl's tenderness. He suddenly remembered a past instance in which she had touched him this way at Ba Sing Se. It was only a fleeting touch, but he could recall her trembling fingers resting on his lips, a comfort he would never forget.

All rational thought began to slip from Zuko's mind. He could feel the heat slipping from his body, causing the ice beneath them both to melt away.

'Could this be the way to forgiveness?' he thought.

He inched his face closer to Katara's, and his hand moved softly over the skin of her stomach, cautious but yearning.

'What am I doing?' he thought, stopping himself for a moment. Katara's eyes were closed in comfort, as if she were in a deep and dreamless sleep. Zuko knew what she desired, he just couldn't make himself believe it.

Katara could feel Zuko's warm breath on her face, her lips. He smelled of cinnamon and fire. Danger and wickedness.

It was twisting the thoughts in her head. The warmth, instead of fueling the hate she held for Zuko, channeled a different wanting in the labyrinth of her mind that she had kept hidden since their first intimacies.

Her skin burned from his touch. She closed her eyes and parted her lips, waiting for him.

Zuko took one last look at her, one last unbelieving look, and then slowly lowered his head to envelope her soft lips in a kiss.

Katara gasped as she bolted upright from her place on the floor, sweat pouring down her forehead.

'How has it become so suddenly hot in here?' she wondered breathlessly.