Author's note : Thank you all so much for reviewing! As for the question about how fast I'll be updating, it kind of depends. I'm a full time college student in my senior year, plus working, plus life and my ever present lack of motivation, XD. I promise I'll try my best to update at least once a week or every two weeks if not sooner!

Disclaimer : I don't own atla.

Katara was woken painfully early the next morning, the sun barely sending light over the horizon. She would have slept for a few more hours, but the sound of a drawer slamming shut snapped her out of her slumber. With an annoyed grumble, she poked her head around the small divider that separated her from the prince.

He was standing in front of his dresser, fully clothed, with his hands clenched at his sides. As if sensing that someone was watching him, he turned towards her with a frown. His hair was pulled back in the typical fire nation style, and his clothes were a mix of different shades of red and black.

His golden eyes seemed to be assessing her, while he thought internally about what he should say. However, she beat him to it. "What?" Katara snapped, unable to help herself. She'd felt uncomfortable under his critical eye, causing her temper to flare as she ground out her question.

Eyes growing wide, he narrowed his eyes at her. "You're in no place to be demanding answers from me," he responded, his voice smoother than she expected. He took several steps closer to her, still observing as he did so.

With a small 'huf,' he said, "I'm Prince Zuko, as you probably already know."

Katara perked an eyebrow at his words, but nodded her head in acknowledgement. Obviously she knew who he was and what his name was. "And?" She responded, wondering why he even said it.

"It's common courtesy to tell me your name," Zuko replied with a simple shrug of his shoulders. His uncle had told him last night that not a person in the fire nation knew her name. Not a soul. "It will be easier to address you as my personal servant if I know your name," he added as an afterthought, already noticing the guarded expression she harbored at his words.

Katara glanced to her feet, thinking carefully. She hadn't shared her name with anyone, in fact, she'd barely spoken a word until now. He was right, she was sure. It would be easier, and it probably wouldn't be as miserable if he called her 'Katara' rather than 'servant.' She tried not to grind her teeth as she glanced back up to the prince. After what seemed like several hours she responded, "My name is Katara."

Zuko was honestly a little surprised that she'd answered his question, but he responded with a simple nod of his head. "Well, Katara, you're going to come with me to my training," Zuko said, already making his way towards the door of his bedroom.

He heard a slight protest behind him, but wasn't surprised when the sound of her soft footsteps began to follow him a few moments later. Glancing back to make sure she was keeping up, he smirked when he saw her straining to keep up with his long strides. Slowing down slightly, he turned down a hallway that lead to an open door, the wind of the outside world wafting through it.

Stepping outside, he wasn't surprised when she immediately made a run for it. Easily grabbing hold of her petite wrists, he glanced down to notice the contrast of their skin. His was pale, while hers was the darker tone of the water tribes. "I might not hurt you if you try to escape, but my father would surely kill you," he whispered, glancing up to where his father sat on the edge of the training space, his hands folded neatly in his lap as he observed the two that had just arrived.

Her blue eyes snapped to where the fire lord sat, and she gulped, nodding to Zuko, who released her hands. "Just watch from the side and bring me water when I ask for it," he instructed, shedding his shirt as he stepped into the sand that defined where he was to practice his firebending.

He waited until she backed away and sat on the edge of the clearing. Glancing to his father, he missed the moment when his uncle stepped in front of him. "Prince Zuko," he said, snapping Zuko out of his daze, "let's practice the basics once again today."

"Again?!" Zuko protested, throwing his hands up in the air. Uncle Iroh always wanted him to practice the basics, but he was sick of the basics. He wanted to learn how to bend like his father, like a true fire lord. "I know the basics!"

Katara watched silently as the two argued, but eventually fell into what looked like a familiar form of practice. They moved fluidly, but it was evident that Zuko was agitated and didn't go through the forms as smoothly as he should have. When they stopped, she flicked her crystalline gaze to the fire lord. He was glaring at his son, a look of disgust written all over his face. It wasn't what she'd expected, as she thought the prince and his uncle were doing great. Just as she was about to return her gaze to the practicing pair, the fire lord got up swiftly and left with a small scoff.

"Water!" Zuko called, clearly even more agitated than he had been. His eyes were settled on his father as he accepted the glass she offered him, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of empathy for him. It was evident that he wanted to impress his father, and he must have failed yet again, judging by the reactions around her.

After he handed the glass back, she was about to return to her seat when Iroh sent a beaming smile her way. "Lady Katara," he greeted, and she frowned as he used her name. "My nephew is going to practice with real fire now, so please be careful when you're observing us," he added, a genuine smile on his face.

With a shrug, she sat a little further back, watching the two once more. She focused on Zuko as he took in a few deep breaths, and she was amazed as it appeared that there was smoke coming from his lips. Within moments, he was wielding fire in all directions, with little control of it. He was trying, which was clear in his strained muscles, but the flames seemed to have a mind of their own.

One came dangerously close, and it started a small patch of grass on fire only a few inches from where she sat. Panicking, she moved her arms defensively before her. What she didn't see because her eyes were closed, was the water that jumped out of the bucket near her to extinguish the fire at her hand motions.

Glancing up when she noticed it was completely silent, she was surprised to see both of the firebenders stopped dead in their tracks, staring at her. Letting her arms fall to her sides, she turned to where the grass had erupted in flames. They were gone, now drenched with water. No one had gone near the bucket, and no one had gone near the fire. Realization hit her like a pound of rocks as she lifted her hands and looked at them. It was her.. She'd done it. That's why they were staring.

She was snapped out of her focus on her hands when someone bodily shoved her back towards the building. "You must go inside, Katara," Iroh's voice sounded from behind her, "and don't speak of his to anyone."

She glanced back to him, questions on her tongue, but she stilled when he shook his head to quiet her. "Follow Zuko back to his room, he will explain there."