She backed away as he started to rise. She was frozen, unsure of if she should run or stay and face him. Why was he chasing her? What was he here, instead of at the palace? She met his piercing gaze. But she was not prepared for what she saw in his eyes. She saw not the blazing hatred that was there during the many battles they fought, now they had a more troubled and confused look to them. "What are you doing here!?" he said a bit taken back.
"I should be asking you the same question! Why were you following me? Why would you even come near me after you betrayed us like that!" all the rage that had been building inside her since they left the earth kingdom came pouring out. Katara then pushed him against the side of the building with her water bending, holding him prisoner in a thick block of ice.
"Oh, I know why you were chasing me," she fumed "you were going to try to use me to get to Aang! Don't you ever get tired to chasing us? Do you really want to destroy the world only hope for peace? I really though you had changed back in BaSing Se. I almost believed that there was actually some good in you! You're just like Jet, you can never change! How could you betray your uncle like that? He seemed to be more like a father to you than the fire lord ever was!
Suddenly Zuko broke through the ice. "You don't know what the hell your talking about!!" he yelled at her, hands blazing ready to fight. "Oh really!" she replied sarcastically "then please, great Prince Zuko, enlighten me in why you would take such interest in capturing a little air bender boy and two water tribe peasants!"
"Shut up! You wouldn't understand even if I tried" he snapped at her. "Oh ya? Try me," Katara mused. Zuko realized it would do no good to try and fight her. His knees buckled under him and he sank back onto an overturned wooden crate against the wall of the building.
"Three years ago I was still living in the palace." he stammered looking gravely at the ground, "One day I wanted to go into my father's war room to watch the generals plan, so that I could gain experience for when I became Fire Lord. Uncle, he warned to hold my tong, to show respect. But I didn't listen. One of the generals suggested that they put the newest recruits in the most dangerous position, to act as a decoy. He said it would be the best use of 'fresh meat'. I couldn't believe they would use innocent soldiers, who were willing to defend the nation, like that. My father was greatly angered by my out burst. He demanded I settle this argument with an Agni Kai, a fire duel. I though it was against the old general, he looked weak and easy to beat. But when I turned to face my opponent during the duel, it was not the general standing there, but my own father. I could never fight my father. I begged for his forgiveness but he would have none of it. He thought that for refusing to fight I was a weakling, a disgrace to the fire nation. He gave me this scar as punishment and banished me from the fire nation. The only way I could return was to capture the Avatar. But he thought I wasn't good enough for that task. He sent Azula to find me and uncle, to capture us, as well as the Avatar. That's why we were in BaSing Se; not searching for the Avatar, but as refuges. We were trying to start a new life. My uncle had just opened a new tea shop and things were going well, then Azula showed up. I challenged her to an Agni Kai; thinking maybe if I defeated her I would have restored a little of my honor. But she brushed me off and threw me in that cave with you. I really am sorry I betrayed you and uncle back there. But when Azula offered to restore my honor, what was I supposed to do, for 3 long years I had suffered, all I had been working for was there before me. All I wanted was my father's approval, to not be seen as such a disgrace. What was I suppose to do?"
They sat there just looking at the ground, till Katara spoke up. "Is it really all you ever wanted?" she asked. "I don't know… I guess. It's different than I expected. I thought that when I came back, father would see me as such a disappointment, but that still hasn't changed." He said with a sigh. "I really didn't want to betray uncle like that. He was the only one who though I was worth something, but I just let him down."
They just sat there in silence for a moment, both pondering the heavy thoughts that weighted down their minds. Finally Zuko looked over at Katara with a concerned face. "The avatar" he asked her, "is he still alive?" Katara looked into his eyes, they looked soft and kind. To her it was inconceivable how a person with so much good in them could choose the side of evil. "Yes, he's been hurt bad and slowly recovering." As she said this, a look of relief spread across Zuko's face. Now he was the one who met her gaze.