Zuko watched the waters for any sign of the pirates as his small ship made it's way back to the ship. He wouldn't put it past them to pull a dirty trick. Pirates were liars, thieves, and cheats. You were never to trust one, everyone knew that. Which is why it still confused him as to why his well trained soldiers would bring the pirate girl Katara with them when they returned to the ship. They said she had saved them, and he had seen her disownment with his own eyes, but that was no excuse to bring a potential threat onto his ship. He had a mission and he would fulfill it, girl be damned.

"Ah," his uncle's voice said behind him. "You are thinking about the girl, yes?"

Zuko straightened and clasped his hands behind his back. He didn't like people knowing his thoughts. "Why did the men bring her, Uncle? It is a risky move and one that could jeopardize our mission."

His uncle stood next to him, his hands hidden by his sleeves. "She was injured, Zuko. And she had helped your men escape those pirates; her own family. She betrayed her family for something she believed in."

Zuko's eye twitched as he heard the words. "Then she was foolish," he said. "For she was injured by her so called 'family'."

His uncle sighed but said nothing. They stood in comfortable silence for a minute of two, the only sound being the crew and their footsteps on deck. Zuko finally spoke up. "Is the Avatar secured?"

Iroh nodded. "He is in the cell, chained as you instructed. But must you be so hard on him, Prince Zuko?"

Zuko's fist tightened behind his back. "He is dangerous, uncle. He may not look it, but that girl could get loose and then we'd be in trouble."

Iroh's lips twitched in a smile. "Girl?" he asked. "I thought the Avatar was the boy. You were thinking of her."

Zuko blushed and turned to look out at the water and away from his uncle. He would not admit to thinking of that she-pirate. Distractions cost too much in the long run. He had to keep his guard up. Especially around females that could kill you with daggers and freeze your body with ice so it sank to the bottom of a river. She was more dangerous than he could imagine. A loud thunk and a foul curse drew his attention to the doorway that led to the lower deck...and the waterbender that had tripped over her own feet. Or...maybe not.

A soldier moved forward and helped her to her feet. She smiled at him in thanks. Zuko rolled his eyes at how quickly his hardened soldier was melted into a blushing blob with that one smile. She was good. Unfortunately, Jet, the soldier, was a sucker for women. Now that he'd found one, he'd never leave her side. Maybe that was a good thing.

Katara spotted him and slowly made her way over to him. He noticed that she kept her arm as motionless as possible and she tried not to bump it against anything. She stopped in front of him and he could see her shoulder was wrapped under her dress strap. Blood had dried over her skin, but she only smiled. "I'm sorry to have to impose upon your hospitality," she said, bowing a bit.

Zuko raised an eyebrow. "It's not trouble. My guards were concerned for your well being. We will drop you off at the next port and you will be free to continue with your life," he said coldly.

Katara's smile dropped and she looked at the water. "That's easier said than done, prince. It's hard to move on after something you've known all your remembered life."

Zuko stood firm. "Why not find that boy who said he was your brother? I'm sure he'll take you in."

Katara's eyes shot up. "I will not find someone who spouts nonsense. I have no proof of any connection and I would not trust my life to someone I don't know. Would you?" she said, fire in her eyes.

"No, I would not," Zuko said calmly. "And I would not endanger my crew for the likes of a wounded she-pirate. You will be dropped off at the next port."

He turned to go, but Katara reached out and touched his arm. The motion caused her to wince, but she bit it back until he turned to look at her. "I understand how you must feel. You have a strange woman on your ship full of men, I'm a former pirate, you don't know a thing about me, and you think I could kill everyone here. You're right. I could. But I need a job and everyone else will think as you do. Let me work on your ship until I am fully healed. Then you you can dump me at any port you want."

Zuko stared into her blue eyes. They shown with determination and courage. Not many people would talk back to a fire prince, let alone demand that they hire them. It gave Zuko pause. Long enough, though, for his uncle to jump in. "It is fair, Prince Zuko," he said. "The men are not so good on stitching holes in torn tunics nor cooking good meals since the chef became sick with the flu. It would only be temporary."

Zuko looked at his uncle and then back to Katara. "Fine," he said, knowing when he was beet. "But you will do whatever I order you to do."

Katara nodded. "You got it, boss," she said, smiling. Now that he was the one subject to her smile, Zuko could understand how Jet easily melted under it. Zuko stared for what seemed ages, taking in her glow, even after what she'd just gone through. But he could see the sadness in her eyes if he really stared.

"Young lady," Iroh said, drawing their attention to the fact that he was still there. "Would you like to join me in a game of Pai-sho and a nice cup of tea?"

Katara opened her mouth to answer, but looked at Zuko first. She was waiting for permission. He was about to answer, when a loud Boom filled the air and the ship lurched to the side. Katara fell over and into Zuko's arms. He steadied them against the railing, keeping his arm across her so she wouldn't fall over the edge, and looked around.

He saw a small yellow clad dot flying away into the distance. A young man ran up from the lower decks, coughing. "He's escaped!" he called out. "The Avatar used his airbending and escaped!"

Zuko growled. "You fools! How could you do such a thing?"

"I don't know how he did it," the man said. "One moment, he was bound and, the next, he was free."

"Boss," Katara said. He looked down at her. But she was pointing toward the dot. "I'm guessing that spot of blue is that boy who said he was my brother. He must have snuck onboard and freed Aang while no one was looking."

Zuko growled deep in his throat and said, "Make repairs and get us back to the ship. We need to go after them." The crew rushed to do as their leader commanded. Once everyone was in motion, Zuko looked down and realized he was still holding Katara after all this time. He dropped his arms and said, "You should return to the room you had occupied. When we reach the ship, you will be given a room and work to be done." Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away.

'Keep your guard up, boy,' he chided himself as he climbed to the top of the ship.