Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story, just the plot idea!

Sometimes I still don't understand that waterbender. I mean, yesterday, I just asked her if she was okay and she blew up like a firebender! It's just so frustrating talking to her! So I avoided her all day yesterday. I've decided to focus on teaching Aang, and if Katara comes by, I'll let her talk first. I'm not going to instigate something with her. If I did, I'd only be proving her point that I haven't changed, and I'm trying to be a good person, which I'm very bad at, but I'm not going to give up. Argh! She's just so, grrrrrr…

Katara took one glance at Zuko, glared daggers at him, and stormed off to her bedroom. This action from her brought up memories of the previous day and what information he revealed to her, and also rekindled the anger at himself for being so stupid. So, like the day before, Zuko's fire today was hot and intense and ferocious.

Zuko's powerful fire blasts are the only sounds that came from the courtyard in the mid-morning of Zuko's second full day as part of Team Avatar. Aang watched from the sidelines as his sifu demonstrated a fierce blast for him, which was powered by his rekindled frustration with a certain Water Tribe teenager. Aang was still lacking in the actual production of fire—in fact, he hadn't produced even a candle-sized flame. So Zuko was frustrated on twp fronts, and with each new punch and kick his fire grew more wild and insane. At some point his fire blasts changed from a controlled demonstration to a great big fiery tantrum to release his frustration and excess energy. After a long while, Zuko stoped and collapseed in a heap near the fountain in exhaustion, where he sat until someone spoke up from the bedroom hallway.

"Aang's gone. Too tough to be a teacher? Wore yourself out did you?" she sneered derisively.

Without turning to her, he replied sarcastically, "Well, sor-ry. I didn't know you worried about my well-being."

"Oh, well excuse me. I was just returning the favor, hotman," she retaliated with withering sarcasm. He finally turned to her and saw her face. Her eyebrows were furrowed a bit as if she were trying to solve some puzzle.

His good eyebrow lowered in a similar expression. "Katara?" he gently prodded.

She looked up, all hostility forgotten, "Huh?"

Sitting up, he braced himself for a repeat of yesterday, and said, "Uh, you alright?"

Her puzzled look was back, "Yeah, fine." Then she stared at him with that adorable confused face. A corner of his mouth lifted up in a smirk and he chuckled once at the lack of venom coming from her at that moment. Unconsciously, the corners of her lips lifted too, and he experienced a moment of excitement at keeping her happy with him. Part of him was stunned that she even allowed herself a little smile at him that his chest swelled with a different kind of fire. He made her smile! Yay! His smirk grew to a smile at the euphoria of this sweet moment of peace between them.

But, of course, she immediately snapped out of it when an impatient young voice yelled from her bedroom, "SPARKY! WHERE ARE YOU? I DEMAND A RIDE! AND BREAKFAST!" Zuko's smile vanished at that and he inwardly groaned. He shut his eyes, pinched his nose, and took a deep breath. When he looked up again, he only glimpsed the back of Katara's retreating head. He heaved himself up and headed to give his true little sister her piggyback rides as his payment for accidently burning her feet. He stood up and retrieved his shirt.

"Coming, Toph!" He shouted back. Stupid honor-bound rides ruining Katara's smile.

I hope you enjoyed! Review, please? I'm writing and editing and publishing all in the same day, so reviews make me smile and motivate me! Thanks :)