Ok, so I suppose I must disclaim. This 'verse and its characters do not belong to me. I'm only borrowing them. Also, I know that the "missing moments of TSR" has become a popular subject. No infringement is intended to other authors, either.
Part I: Approach
It started at the Western Air Temple, when she was still too blinded by anger and bitter disappointment to see things clearly. When everything seemed to be falling apart despite her best efforts to keep it together, and nothing seemed to be coming easy.
When on a rare quiet evening, Toph sat down next to her and said, "You're upset."
"I'm not upset," she responded, "Where did you get that idea?"
"Your pulse. It's all stuttery. Means you're upset about something." Toph folded her bare feet underneath her, and splayed her hands against the stone. "What's going on?"
"Nothing." Katara set five bowls out in front of her and stirred the large pot of soup with a wave of her hand. "Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."
"You're lying."
"So what?"
"So I'm trying to help here. You're upset. Let's talk about it. Isn't that what friends do?"
"I'd prefer for "friends" to help with dinner, but I'm assuming that's not going to happen."
Toph raised an eyebrow. "Does it ever?"
"No."
"Well, there you go then." Toph wrapped her arms around her knees. "Let's talk. This is about Sparky, isn't it?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Oh, I don't know. The fact that whenever he comes within ten feet of you, your blood pressure skyrockets?"
She cast an unnoticed menacing glare in Toph's direction.
"He's a good teacher for Aang," she said, "But that doesn't mean I have to like him and that definitely doesn't mean I trust him. He's played this game before. I'm not buying it."
"Right," Toph said, "You've made that very clear, but I'm still having a little trouble understanding where this hatred is coming from."
"It's coming from reality. I'm being realistic. You'll see. It's only a matter of time before he reveals his true motive for joining us."
"Um...Katara, he has revealed his true motive for joining us. He wants to help Aang."
"Zuko doesn't help other people. He only helps himself."
"And how would you know that?'
Katara laughed without humor. "I've seen it," she said.
Toph tilted her head.
"When?" she asked.
Katara flicked her wrist and bent five servings of soup into the bowls. "Ba Sing Se," she said, "When he...when I tried to help and he turned and walked away from me."
"Really? The way he tells it, you were the one walking away from him."
Katara raised her head. "What?"
"He told me you were the one that walked away first."
Katara's hands curled into fists. "No. He walked away first. He had his chance and he turned away. He chose his honor and that...monster ...over doing the right thing!"
Toph sighed, blowing her growing bangs back away from her forehead.
"Fine," she conceded, "But that's not now. And don't you think that if I had any reason to believe he'd do something like that again, I'd bend him right off the edge of this cliff?"
Katara said nothing.
"He's a good guy," Toph went on, "A little high-strung, but good. You're holding onto your anger because you don't want to admit he's not the boy who chased you halfway across the world any more."
"But he is," Katara said, "He is that boy."
Toph shook her head. "No," she said, "He's not. But rather than argue with you, I suggest we cut this conversation short."
Katara was about to ask her why when she caught the sound of voices in the distance. The boys were returning. She busied herself finishing the remainder of the dinner tasks.
Moments later, the boys turned the corner and came into sight, their forms silhouettes against the setting sun. They greeted her boisterously, and she handed them their soup as they regaled her with tales of "warrior training" by the river, and subsequent bigger tales of "the platypus bear that got away."
"Sounds exciting," she said politely, "You must be starving."
And of course they were. She actually had to make a second pot of soup for them, and they continued laughing, talking and eating until the light faded, leaving only the flicker and dance of the campfire for illumination.
When the bowls were once again empty, contented silence settled over the small stone courtyard.
"Wow," Aang yawned, "Platypus bear-ing really takes a lot of you. I think I'm going to make it an early night."
"I think I second that," said Sokka, "Zuko?"
"Uh, yeah. Sure." He picked up his soup bowl and stood. But instead of following right after the other two, he hesitated and looked at Katara.
"Actually...can I get the dishes for you before I go?"
Katara hid her surprise behind an impolite snicker.
"Princes do dishes?" she mocked, " My how times have changed."
The boy's expression darkened momentarily, before smoothing back into its usual state of calm indifference.
"Times have changed," he agreed, "Though unlike you, I'd like to think they've changed for the better." He walked over and retrieved the stack of dirty bowls in front of her. "I'll be back with these in a minute."
"I wait with bated breath," Katara muttered, and she felt a small trill of satisfaction when he paused just outside the ring of firelight to look back at her, his anger evident in the rigid line of his posture.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that and just add it to my list of odd ways you have of saying 'thank you,'" he said. Then, turning, he disappeared into the dark.
Sokka looked back and forth between Zuko's empty space and Katara's stormy expression.
"What's with you?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
Katara turned away and said nothing.
...
Zuko took a long time coming back, and by the time he did, she was the only one left awake. More than ready to go to bed, she sat with her arms folded, scowling into the dark. The only reason she was waiting for him was to make sure that the bowls got put back in the right place. Boys never put anything back in the right place, and she had no desire to go searching all over the temple for crockery the next morning when it came time to cook breakfast.
When he did return, she was even shorter with him than normal.
"Where have you been?" she demanded, "You only had five bowls to wash!"
Zuko turned his back to her as he packed the clean bowls away in the correct bag.
"If you must know, I was doing a little practicing. I find bending to a good alternative to arguing." Turning around, he fixed her with a level gaze. "You should try it some time."
"Oh. Really. And why is that? Because I'm argumentative?"
"You certainly have that trait whenever I am concerned."
"Oh please! I argue with everyone. You're not special."
Something that could have been a smile tugged at Zuko's lips.
"Do you hear yourself when you talk?" he asked her, "Because sometimes you really don't make sense."
"What? I always make sense! Now give me my bowls!"
"I just put them away."
"Well...fine. Go to bed then! It's late."
"I'm not tired." Zuko settled himself down on the stone by the fire once more. "I think I'm going to sit out here a little while longer. Maybe meditate."
Effectively silenced, Katara could only stare at him for a moment before turning on her heel and making to leave.
Two steps later, however, she stopped again.
"You know, you waltz in here, all 'I've changed! I want to help the Avatar!' and just expect me to act like nothing ever happened. Except I don't believe you. I can't believe you."
Zuko sighed and turned to face her.
"I know," he said, "We've had this conversation many times."
"Maybe so, but you seem to not remember that I was there the last time. I got a nice, up-close-and-personal view of the 'new and improved Zuko'. And then you went on to make me look like a complete idiot in front of all those people, including your sister."
A long and heavy silence fell over the clearing.
Katara crossed her arms, waiting.
Zuko exhaled slowly.
"So" he said at last, "That's what this is about. Ba Sing Se." He ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. "I guess Uncle was right when he said a demon hath no fury like a woman scorned."
"Well, we both always knew he was the smarter of the two of you."
Zuko shot her a dirty look.
"I made a bad decision that day," he said, ignoring the jibe, "I was being selfish, and I let that cloud my judgment. I'm sorry."
"Your sister almost killed Aang. You helped."
"I know." He looked away from her and drew a small squiggle in the stone dust by his knee. "But that's not the worst of it. You want to hear something really bad? I told myself when it was all over that I actually did Aang a favor by turning against the two of you. Because if you had used that water to heal me, Aang would be dead. But you didn't, so he's not. So in some way I did manage to do the right thing." He looked up at her with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Pretty terrible, huh? File that away for when you run out of reasons to hate me."
Katara looked back at him, silent.
"It's ok though," he went on, "I saw Aang's back. Even Spirit Oasis water can't heal scars. Funny thing, destiny. Possibly the only thing more spiteful than a girl with hurt feelings."
Katara felt her cheeks flush.
"My feelings aren't hurt," she scoffed, "I just...I didn't realize that day might have been a bad one for you."
Zuko chuckled. "Surprise," he said dryly, "Human after all. Who knew."
Katara said nothing.
The silence stretched.
"Do you want to know how I got it?" Zuko asked suddenly, "I'll tell you if you want to know."
Katara's eyes narrowed. "Got what?" she asked.
"My scar. It's the result of being punished by my father."
Katara's eyes widened.
"What?" she whispered.
"My father did it. In a war meeting, I spoke out against sacrificing a battalion of new recruits...only it wasn't my place to speak and my father took it as a personal affront. He challenged me. I refused. He burned me to prove his point."
Katara's hand covered her mouth and she felt her heart constrict within her chest.
"Oh my gods and spirits," she breathed.
"Not many people outside the fire nation know the truth," he said. He looked away from her again, and she could almost feel his internal struggle. "It's not a secret, it's just...not something I like to talk about. I should have known then that he didn't love me. I don't know why I ever thought capturing Aang or helping Azula would change that."
"Because he's your father," she said automatically, "Because he's supposed to love you, not disfigure you!"
"Yeah, well, he was never that kind of father. He left the showing of affection to my mother, then took her away from me, too."
"I remember you telling me that," Katara said, "That...that same day. And I said all those awful things to you..."
"Yeah. I remember. We really don't have the best track record when it comes to getting along, do we?"
"Not really."
"Hm." A sad smile touched his lips. "It's too bad, really. Because I really respect you. You are a worthy opponent and you're very good at what you do."
"Oh!" Katara felt her flush deepen. "I...um...thanks."
Suddenly feeling very awkward, she smoothed her skirt.
"It's really late," she said, "We should get some sleep. You coming...er going...to bed?"
"No," he replied, "I really do need to meditate. You go ahead."
"Oh. Ok. Well...good night then."
"Goodnight, Katara."
Zuko folded his legs and turned his back to her, assuming a lotus position. Katara watched the rise and fall of his shoulders for a moment longer before turning and heading to her room.