Couldn't be happier with the way that this came out. I'm aware that Zuko seems a little OOC towards the end, but I believe that this is indeed the way Zuko would act towards someone he finds attractive (in denial and pushing them away). You may disagree, so review and tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: I am not the mad genius behind ATLA.

YOU'RE NOT FOOLING ANYONE

Being locked in a small cabin room gave one lots of time to think. And that's what Katara did as the ship she was imprisoned on swayed back and forth with the waves.

After looking back on it, she realized that the only person she could blame was herself. It wasn't Sokka's fault that the fire he built was what led the Fire Nation soldiers to their camp. Aang wasn't the one who decided that they should leave her behind.

No. The only person she could blame for her current incarceration was herself. It was her idea to stay behind in an attempt to slow Zuko down, which was a really stupid idea in retrospect. Her meager waterbending skills didn't stand a chance against his experience. In less than three minutes, she was on the floor in chains.

Not one of my brightest moments.

And there was no doubt in her mind that Aang and Sokka would risk capture to free her.

She sighed. Well, it can't any better that this.

"Uncle, why is the prisoner in one of the cabins and not in the brig where she's suppose to be?!"

Katara jumped at the sudden interruption. She looked around for the source of the angry voice. When she looked up, she saw a small vent in the wall that must've been venting the conversation to her modest prison. The only question was who was she eavsedropping on?

"I felt that our guest should have better accommodations," said an older sounding voice.

"She is not our guest! She is our prisoner," the first voice replied angrily.

"That is no reason to forget our manners, Prince Zuko. She is a lady and should be treated like one."

So it was Zuko's conversation she was overhearing...

"I don't care about manners! If she escapes, then we lose our best shot of capturing the Avatar!"

"Calm down, Prince Zuko. I have posted guards at her door and I do not believe that her waterbending skills are strong enough to attempt an escape attempt. She is not going anywhere," he said calmly.

She heard Zuko grunt at his Uncle's sound logic.

"She is rather pretty, wouldn't you think?" said the oldman seemingly out of nowhere. "Brave too, the way she stood up to you to protect her friends."

"She's stupid for challenging me to a fight."

Katara scowled at that comment. Well, why don't you come down here for round two and see what happens then?

"Perhaps, but you cannot deny her beauty," the uncle said with a grin that she could hear through the small vent. Katara felt her face get hot.

"Her beauty is irrelevant, Uncle. I only care about capturing the Avatar!"

"So you do think that she is beautiful...."

"Wha-no-what I-that's not what I said!" Katara could practically hear him blush through the small metal opening (which was appropriate since she had turned an even darker shade of red).

"I still do not hear you denying that you think she is beautiful."

"Shut up! Don't you have anything better to do, Uncle, than to bother me with pointless questions?"

"Yes, but I feel that as your elder, it is my responsibility to ask you pointless questions. Questions like 'what kind of tea should I bring our new guest?'"

"She's not our guest!"

"Perhaps she would like some hot jasmine," he said to himself not paying attention to Zuko's growing anger.

A second of silence passed before Katara heard the sound of a door closing, which meant that Zuko's uncle had gone to get her some tea.

I could use a hot cup of tea right now.

"Crazy old man." Apparently Zuko hadn't left with his uncle. "She's a peasent and I'm a prince," he said to himself. "She's not even that pretty...." It took all of Katara's strength not to scream into the vent.

Yeah, well you're not that good looking either...

Okay, that's kind of a lie...

What the hell am I saying?! This is Zuko!

Yeah, but still... You gotta admit that he's got that attractive bad-boy look.

Shut up shut up shut up shut up!!! He's been trying to capture one of my best friends for weeks now! He's evil and disgusting! He's Fire Nation!

Yeah, but he's still pretty good looking...

"SHUT UP!"

"Quiet it down in there," grunted one of the guards from the other side of the door.

Katara sighed.

She layed down on the small bed of her cabin. The last thing she thought before she fell asleep in the comfortable prison was 'The cute guy thinks I'm beautiful...'