Author's Notes: And with this chapter comes an upward movement in the rating. It's nothing bad, I just want to avoid having my fanfic taken down because of Zuko's fine ass.


Tumoltuous cobalt eyes drank in the infinite black of the horizonline. The moon had long since vanished into her bed of velvet and crystal, marking the end of a long day of endless hoping. Praying that children lost would find a way back home. Dreaming that all that had passed was little more than a nightmare. Hakoda gripped the marble banistor of his room's balcony, willing for some sign of his children.

The ship that had taken so many lives was a permanent scar on the High Chief's soul. Life and Death were dictated by invisible hands for no other purpose than personal gain. The gains of the north. The gains of those desiring a war renewed. Hakoda didn't know which was worse; the designs against the young Fire Lord and family friend Zuko, or the plots against himself and the lower chiefs. All Hakoda knew that such attempts would not stop at the sinking ship. More would come for his head. Scores more would haunt Zuko's every shadow.

His hand was all but forced it seemed. Hakoda's people could not be without leadership, and the Northern Tribes were not going to sit patiently while Hakoda put the decision to a vote. In all truth, Hakoda knew that his children were safer lost at sea than within the confines of the Fire Nation's palace. Even so, the thought of being separated from them again was as poisonous to him as any toxin an assassin could concoct. Safer did not mean without threat. Were they unharmed? Were they able to stay together in the storm? If only he could have seen the extent of High Chief Arnook's desires. If he had, Hakoda would have been able to practice more vigilance in ensuring the safety of his son and daughter. Now they were on the road again with hunters nipping at their heels.

In his other hand, Hakoda held the rough draft of Sokka's treaty. Even with his son's shorthand sprawled into the margins, it was a flawless piece of work that ensured the interests of his people. At the slightest hint of betrayal, the Southern Tribes would be a free nation again. Coniving and manipulative, it was every bit as underhanded as the pretty words useds by the Chiefs to the north. Moreso. Hidden behind the youthful exuberance of his sometimes foolish son, was the mind of a leader far more capable than Hakoda could ever hope to be. Hakoda no longer felt pride for it. Now, the father wished his fun was every bit the fool that he pretended to be. His brilliance had marked Sokka for death. His sentence already writ. There was no way the North would let such a threat be. The assassin was as much for him as it was for them.

If the document was delivered, Hakoda and the other chiefs would be spared so long as they bowed their heads to the demands of the North. War had made them blunt. They were fighters and protectors. There was no time to be a thinker when war demanded action. Sokka had years to cultivate his mind while left alone in the arctic, looking after the village as was expected of the next Chief in line. His experience had sharpened him to a fine edge. Now a sword of untold temperment, Sokka could make and destroy alliances over tea, while sharing one of his tall tales. He was too dangerous to be left alone.

Then where would they be? Who would protect Katara from the horrors of the political game? Without Sokka's intillect, who would stop the Northern Tribes from taking more from Katara than any of them were willing to give? If they were all killed before a decision could be made, then talks of amalgomation would change. What treaty would they force to annex the Southern Tribes? Would they simply take the lands as their own when no opposition was met? They would have everything then, without losing anything. Katara would be theirs, as would their lands - the more rich in resources of the two. In exchange for the fair treatment of their people, would they just leave it at blackmailing her? Would they push for more?

Katara was just as intelligient as her brother, only less cutthroat and backstabbing. She would sacrifice without a second thought for the sake of her people. As she has said many times; she'd never turn her back on anyone who needed her. Would that mean she would lay down in submission at Arnook's behest? Who was to stop them from taking more than that? Would they force her to marry, thus ensuring her obedience while they took advantage of the political power that now crowned her brow? If he and Sokka were killed, would the other chiefs even try to protect her from such a fate?

"Your children are fine, Chief Hakoda," Iroh's sagely voice assured him. The smokey tones dancing with the silence as the older man made his way into the room.

He knew this. Hakoda had faith that his children would not be beaten by the rage of a storm. They'd gone through so much already. What was one more trial? But before this, they were never the targets of such rutheless assassins. Of every faith, Hakoda didn't share Iroh's optimism in that regard. "How can you be so sure? Zuko has an assassin hunting him down. My children share in a similar fate."

Iroh stroked his beard as he drew nearer to the concerned father, gentle amber eyes drinking in every detail as he formulated his next statement. "Our young people have survived a lot more than they've shared. Assassins barely tip the scales, especially since they have each other. Zuko would never let anything happen to your children, just as they would never let anything happen to him." They were among true friends, that would sooner cast asside their own lives for the sake of their family. Some moreso than others. Zuko has faced death itself for Katara's sake, and she in turn had brought him back from the brink. Between the two of them, true hope was more than just a fanciful gamble. Then there were the others; The Avatar, Master Toph Bei Fong, Kyoshi Warrior Suki. The three were nigh untouchable with them at their back.

If only Hakoda shared in the same faith that Iroh had. The fates had cultivated so much of their time and effort for this peace. The world could not afford for the fragile peace to shatter now. The spirits guarded their steps, and as long as they walked the right path then everything would be fine. It had to be. "Come, Hakoda. You look like you could use drink, and I happen to know where my brother's secret stash has been hidden."

"Thank you, Lord Iroh," Hakoda breathed, canting his head with gratitude even as the denial formed on his lips. "But I have a treaty to write. Even if it's a slim chance, I would offer my children any chance I can at survival." Patriatism did not shield weary settlers from blizzards. It did not build homes. It did not shield babes from predators. The Northern Tribes could do that, even if they were far more frightening than wolves howling in the night. It was a small price to pay, when it meant that his people survived and the target on his children's backs would be removed. Maybe. Just maybe. Both children would be spared.

"As you wish, but the offer still stands," Iroh nodded. Hands slipping into his sleeves, Iroh turned to leave Hakoda to his work. "If you change your mind, I'll be across the hall." Hope filled his heart, but it would not stop him from joining the Fire Nation in silent vigil for their young Lord's return. The Fire Sages insist that Agni worked in mysterious ways, but the retired General would much prefer the romantic elaborations dancing on the lips of the cute kitchen maids.

How did it go again? Katara's touch brought Agni's blessings as she staved off death? It seemed one miracle was more than enough to have the Waterbending Master named a patron saint in the Fire Nation. Half the sages themselves believed it too. It was a nice fantasy to dwell on in the wee hours of the night.


Katara watched Aunt Wu enter her room and stood frozen at the entryway. She couldn't deny it to herself; she was scared. Should Katara enter? Didn't she want the answer to her problems? What if the answer is something I don't like…or want? Katara's feet moved of their own accord and before she knew it she was lowering herself onto one of the many plush cushions around a small fire pit. The flames cackled and the wood cracked, the sound distracting Katara from the words she did not know how to say.

"So tell me child, what troubles you so?" Aunt Wu began even though she already knew the answer. She could see the indecision spiraling around Katara's form like a whirlwind from the first moment she laid eyes on her earlier that day.

"I…well, you see I…" Katara stammered, searching for the right words. Katara didn't want to admit that she was having mixed emotions about hers and Aang's relationship. She didn't want to admit that she was harboring wants for Zuko. But what else could she do? "I'm so confused," she said finally. "I'm dating Aang, but I…"

"Find yourself wanting someone else?" Aunt Wu finished, grabbing a stick so she could poke and prod at the fire. It was a tale as old as time. Embers burst upwards and danced in the air before raining back down in the fire pit. "What you're feeling is completely natural and happens to everyone. So tell me about your relationship with Aang."

"What's there to tell?" Katara sighed, bringing her knees up so she could rest her chin on them. She stared into the fire with the hopes that the flames would sooth her as they usually did. Katara allowed herself to slip into a trancelike state, her mind slipping into blankness as the flames consumed her vision and erased all other sights. "Aang's great. He's sweet and loving. He's always trying to be romantic. But…it's like nothing's changed between us. I'm still chasing after him and making sure he's okay and he's…"

"Still a child?" Such was to be expected given his age, but it was not Wu's place to say as much. Not yet. This was for Katara- still very much a child herself -to learn on her own.

"Yes," Katara nodded. "I love him, but I feel as if… I don't think we're ready to be dating." She was fifteen years old. Not a full year ago, she was called a girl. Now she was approaching marrying age. It was expected of her to be courted and wooed. It was expected for her to start her search for a suitable husband that her father would approve of. But she was only fifteen years old, and yet she could feel the budding flames of her own desires as womanhood took her. Aang was not yet fourteen. Though she tried to deny it within herself, her wants did not ask for a boy.

"I see. You want him to be the man you know he could be, but you're tired of waiting for him to grow up." Aunt Wu figured as much. Katara was a maternal being and thrived on caring for those that need her regardless of who they were or how old they were. But even so, the need to mother got old after a while. "And the other boy? Zuko?"

Katara blushed profusely, her entire face heating as a red flush crept up her neck and encased her cheeks. There was someone that her wants did ask for, much to Katara's shame. "How did you…?"

"I've got eyes, and I won't lie; he's quite the catch." Aunt Wu chuckled, a certain twinkle igniting in her eyes as memories of her own youth filled her. Oh, the lovers she's had... Such fun. "The two of you seem to work well together, in more ways then one."

"We do," Katara agreed once her blush settled slightly. "He and I are so in sync with one another. We don't need to speak when we fight or do chores. We even walk in sync." Katara smiled at the memory of a few nights ago, when she and Zuko tried to break the synchronicity of their footsteps. It was silly then. When they fought, the silliness of the childhood that still clung to their shadows faded as adulthood steadied their step. Be they child or adult, the never fell out of sync. They danced as one, in the ebb and flow of their changing youth. It was comforting, even as it shattered her with a longing that should have no place in her heart.

"And do you care for him like you do the others? I get the feeling that you treat him differently." One like the Fire Lord Zuko did not need coddling, not in the way the others did. Aunt Wu would almost say that such childish things no longer swayed him as they once did. Comfort was no longer a mother's lap as she sang a lullaby. It was no longer pretty lies and shielded words.

"I don't know?" Katara admitted. "I do care for him; he's one of my friends. I can rely on him for anything now." She trusted him with so much. Her life. Her friends. Her family. Her secrets. Very few could claim to know her as he did.

"Now? You couldn't before?" Aunt Wu saw the smile Katara wore drop as darkness and sorrow wrapped around Katara like a cocoon. "Why don't you tell me about your Zuko?"

Katara didn't know where to start, so she started at the beginning. Memories spilled from her lips, rushing from them as if a river that burst through a dam. All the while Aunt Wu listened, her expressions jumping from shock and disbelief, sorrow, and then finally a secretive smile tugged at her lips. The end of Katara's story came with a yawn; she had exhausted herself in the telling of her experiences with Zuko. In so doing, Katara was able to pour out every feeling, every stress and worry, everything. Katara had kept so much bottled up within herself, unable to release the feelings she kept hidden from all, even herself. Katara wasn't even any closer to her answer than when she started, but she felt better for it.

"You really should talk to Zuko about these feelings," Aunt Wu recommended as she poured a cup of tea for the both of them. If there was anything to glean from the conversation, it was that Zuko may be experiencing the same emotional suffering she was. Wu saw the way he looked at her. Nothing in this was one sided.

"I don't know about that. I wouldn't even know where to begin, let alone how to start. It's not like I can go up to Zuko out of the blue and say 'hey, this is how you've made me feel from the moment I've met you." Katara peered into her cup, swirling the golden brown liquid with simple gestures of her fingers.

"You have a point there." Aunt Wu acquiesced with a shrug. "But even so, it sounds to me as if the two of you are really close, and not in the same way as with the others. You've come to rely on him a great deal from the sound of things. It must be nice having some of the weight of responsibility lifted from your shoulders."

"You have no idea," Katara smiled. "I don't know how I managed to take care of everyone before he came along."

"And yet you don't take care of him?" Such a self-sufficient lord, Wu thought to herself, wondering briefly how the poor lad was managing in the lap of luxury. Wu doubted the palace life suited him.

"I don't need to." Not in that way, at least. Katara looked at Aunt Wu as if the answer should have been obvious. Zuko wasn't a man that needed to be taken care of, even in the most basic of senses. "Sure we're there for each other, but I don't need to take care of him since he takes care of himself."

"He takes care of you though," Wu pointed out with a growing smile.

"Sometimes" Katara bit her lip and thought back on it. The chores. The responsibilities. The 'woman's work' as her brother would sometimes put it. Keeping the home, even when there was no real hearth to warm them. Even when he was bad at it, Zuko always did what he could to lessen her burden. Katara never had to ask, even after he'd already won her over again. He helped her keep order with the Gaang, maintaining a kind but firm hand- especially with the younger ones. Ever since his introduction to the group, the two of them have fallen into the roles of…parental units almost. The thought made Katara laugh at herself, bringing one hand up to lightly smack her forehead.

The laugh was different from what Wu was used to, but far from unpleasant. It was a pleasant chime in her ears: a small breathy chuckle. A woman's laugh. "What's so funny?"

"Earlier tonight the two of us were likened to the parents of the group. I'm the mom and Zuko's the dad." Katara gulped down the last of her tea and placed the cup onto the ground near her feet. She slowly pulled some her hair over her shoulder and began to fiddle with it. Her long curls wrapped around the braids woven into them, twisting into tight ringlets. It gave her something to focus on. So much so, that it took her a moment to realize that Aunt Wu had stood up and was making her way around the fire and over to her side.

"I can see where they would think that," Aunt Wu chuckled. Without any warning, she dropped her hands onto Katara's head before lowering them to sweep all her hair back. Aunt Wu worked her fingers through the strands and started to comb the many tangles from it, careful not to knot the beaded braids hidden there. "So tell me, how did that statement make you feel, when you were inadvertently called Zuko's wife?"

"I…I didn't really think of it that way." Katara blushed as the tension slowly eased within her body. Aunt Wu's nails raked over her scalp, sending chills down Katara's spine. It felt so wonderful to have her hair played with. "But when Toph said it I just accepted it as truth because that is how we act. I can't help but mother everyone, and Zuko took the paternal role in the group. It's not like anyone else would take the responsibility. It's not like I forced him to behave like everyone's dad."

"Maybe he feels as you do; like he needs to take care and protect everyone?" Aunt Wu's fingers expertly wove Katara's hair into one long braid, working the hair in such a way that the beads in Katara's hair would remain in place even as her signature "hair loopies" vanished. "Even you."

"I guess." When Katara's braid was placed over her shoulder she stood up and stretched her legs out. She didn't want to think that she forced Zuko into anything. It was just how Zuko was. His nature was more than just a rash and impulsive boy. It was protective, and nurturing. It's what made it possible for him to teach Aang. Even if Katara, or Aang didn't need him to be, Zuko would have probably done everything just the same. He knew no other way.

"Zuko's a good man, and I can see that you have strong feelings for him, and he for you. But you already know that. The real question is, do you want to be with him or do you want to be with Aang?" Did Katara love Aang in the way that was needed for their relationship to work? It was natural to have doubts. There was nothing wrong with lust. Problems only came when there was no love to speak of when lust came knocking at the sealed shutters of a fair maid's room.

"That's just it; I don't know. On the one hand I know Aang loves me, and it will break his heart if I leave him. But on the other I…" Katara wanted to pretend that it was just physical attraction she felt. Zuko was everything she longed for in a significant other and more. Was that enough? Was physical attraction worth it? Katara wanted to say no, because then it would be a feeling easily shelved. Such things were best left for wanton fantasies. If only it was that simple.

"You want to know what it would be like to be with Zuko." Was it a childish crush, or womanly desires that would make the ultimate decision? Man, or child? Her happiness, or the happiness of another?

That was just it, Katara knew what it would be like with him. "I…I kissed him, once." Katara blurted out without any thoughts as to how it would pertain to the conversation or how it would make her look. The heavy weight of that secret dragged her down to the depths of her dispair. She knew exactly what it would be like with Zuko. His passions would consume her, leaving her breathless and sated. Then he would hold her safe to his heart as they shared their dreams. He would not have her shelf her ambitions. Zuko would encourage her, even if he didn't like it or agree because that's what she would want. So unlike Aang, but Aang was the one that loved her. Aang was the one that spearheaded the end of war for her.

"I see…" There it was. Aunt Wu didn't have advice for Katara. There was nothing that the girl would take.

Even now, Katara floundered for some explantion as to why the kiss happened. "It was an accident, I only meant to kiss his cheek goodnight but that doesn't change the fact that we did. I can't stop playing that moment over and over in my head and I can't help but compare his kiss to…"

"…to Aang's? Have you told anyone else about it?" Probably not.

When Aang kissed her, it was a hard press of his lips. It was as if he tried to crush himself against her mouth, as if to prove his emotions to her. Katara was already sure of them, and yet he always took her kiss as if she would somehow forget. There were times when she could feel the hard lines of his teeth behind his lips as fear drove him forward. Katara didn't even know what it was that he was scared of, but no amount of touches would soothe him. He never heard her hums of pain when his teeth pressed too hard against her lip. It was so unlike Zuko's kiss.

She liked it when she felt his teeth. Katara liked it a lot. She liked how when Zuko's nipped her lips, it set her whole body on fire. She liked how his tongue knew just where to go, or what to do. Just remembering the way he suckled at her lip and neck still aroused her. More than his experience, it was how giving his kiss was. Zuko made sure to please her with his kiss. He engaged her, giving as good as he got. He didn't just take and hoped it was good enough for her.

There went another round in the downwards spiral. "No. I don't even know why I told you." No one should ever know of the feelings building in Katara's heart and body. No one.

So many things tied in with this one choice: If she chose Aang, she would live a long life of contentment. She would find happiness in her days, as she made house and home for her Avatar husband. She would bear him an airbender, and would kick start the rebirth of Aang's people. It would be a calm, and pleasant life. But it would not be the life Katara was meant for. All her dreams and aspirations would be put on hold for Aang's sake. History would forget her, no matter the accomplishments she bore in the shadows. A steep price to pay for a man she would never love in that way.

If she chose Zuko, history would recount their tale as the romance of a millenia. Songs would be written in their honor, as the two would pave the way for a love that would transcend all borders and creeds. The two would help each other pave the way for a better, brighter tomorrow. But her life would be wrought with hardships. Every day would be an uphill battle as the couple would fight for recognition, even the right to marry. Mixed marriages were not done. They were spit on, just as surely as every beautiful child the two would beget. The trials would bring their love into question, and make them wonder if it was all worth it in the end. But they would love each other. So much. "You want me to tell you what to do, don't you?" If only Wu could.

Yes. "I'm just so confused." She had to love Aang, but how could she when she yearned for Zuko?

"I wish I could tell you what to do, I really do, but this is for you to decide. I will tell you this though, do what is right for you." Sometimes love isn't worth it, if the cost was too steep. Maybe it was regardless. It was too soon to tell. Love had yet to fully form. In the end, Katara was the one to make that choice.

"But I don't know what's right for me…" Katara was only fifteen years old. She was too young to make this decision, and yet she was left with little choice. If she chose Aang, then she would be saying no to the tittle of ambassador for her people. If she chose Zuko... would she even be able to make that choice knowing that it may not even last?

"In time you will." Aunt Wu offered, pulling Katara into a comforting hug. Katara shook in her arms with conflicting emotions. The indecision was cleaving her in two and the guilt was consuming all the rest. Aunt Wu knew that everything would be so much easier for the girl if she would just do for herself, but Katara couldn't do that. She held the needs and wants of others high above her own and it was destroying her. "Go on to bed, you have a long day ahead of you and a little one to look after."

Katara nodded in understanding before bidding Aunt Wu goodnight, grateful for the ear she offered but no more closer to the answer then when she first arrived. Katara shuffled out of the room, oblivious to the world around her as she traveled down the hall.

"Floozy" a voice whispered to her right.

Katara turned sharply in time to see Meng vanish down the hall, her heart in her throat and shame coiling in her belly. Katara curled her fists into a ball as anger engulfed the shame and made her heart race. What right does she have to say such a thing? Katara seethed.

All the right in the world, the darker parts of Katara's mind answered. Was she not behaving like a 'floozy,' by harbouring such emotions for Zuko? Was Katara not to be labeled as a harlot for kissing someone while in a relationship with another? There were words used by her people for girls like her. None were kind, and none offered a happy ending to her plight. Everything she stood for could be ripped away just as quickly as it had been given. It was a new thought that stole the breath from Katara's lungs.

Turning on her heel, Katara continued her trek to the room she shared with Toph and Tom-Tom. Each step of her bare feet met the ground faster than the last, until Katara was running down the hall. She couldn't think of it anymore. Katara refused to.

The faint sound of a moan slowed her step. Low and rhythmic, it grew louder the closer she drew to the common room. By the time she reached the main room, it was easy to distinguish the low moans as belonging to a woman. Katara knew the voice, and a cold sweat beaded at her brow with the sick realization. It reminded Katara that the kiss was a one time thing that would never, ever happen again. Zuko belonged with...Mai...

Fists clenched tight as each moan grew louder in Katara's ear. All other sound faded as her masochistic heart amplified the sound. Invisible hands lifted Katara's gaze from her feet, turning her left so she could spy through the parted door. Probably accidentally left open in a hurry. It didn't matter. Katara willed her legs to keep walking towards her room, but her trecherous eyes wanted to see.

Clothes lay discarded in a crumpled pile. Pillows fell from the raised matress. Sheets twisted around a pale form, wrapped tightly around her torso even as long legs wrapped tightly around sunkissed hips. Every scar was laid bare before Katara's eyes, augmenting the beauty of his body. Muscles rippled and flexed with each movement of his body. The line of his back was completely exposed, down to dimples that danced with each thrust of his hip. Zuko didn't need protection from the cold like Mai did. She clung to his shoulders, seeking his warmth even with the blankets hanging from her shoulders. Golden hazel eyes flashed in Katara's direction, framed by long lashes.

Mai stared directly in Katara's direction. Zuko's head was cradled to her neck, and her moans grew louder as she rocked her body harder against his. Still, she held Katara's gaze. There was no attempt made to chase her away, or stop the intimate moment between Zuko and herself. There was only that stare.

The message was well received. Katara ripped her eyes away and continued to her room. Mai was not giving Zuko up, and it was wrong of Katara to even entertain the idea of it being possible.


Zuko bolted upwards into awareness. He had dreamt of his mother again. Looking around himself, Zuko scanned the room in hopes of finding something that could calm the raging of his heart. When nothing presented itself, Zuko tossed the covers from his body and began the hasty task of dressing himself. He peaked over his shoulder to see Mai still sound asleep, her bare leg tucking some of the blanket between her thighs. Zuko cursed himself and his stupidity, momentarily distracted from his dream.

He had taken a stupid risk last night when Mai insisted that he reassure her of his affections. He understood that she felt her place in his heart was threatened, but even so that should not have been an excuse. Though he has had sex with Mai many times in the past, he had always been prepared for the act. Zuko almost always had a supply of neem* on hand, or at least some other form of contraceptive. He knew that the herb still circulated through his system, so chances of Mai becoming pregnant was slim. Even so, Zuko would have to be more careful.*

Once dressed in his pants and ignoring the rest, Zuko made to leave the room. He needed to get his thoughts in order and some fresh air would do him some good. The door was almost closed behind him when he realized that it had been open the entire night. A flush painted his cheeks as new worries filled him. Did anyone hear them? Could anyone have seen them? His love life wasn't a secret, but that didn't mean he wanted to rub anyone's nose in it. Everyone was in bed by the time Mai had coaxed him out of his musings. Everyone except for... Katara... No. She must have come in later or slipped passed me without me even noticing. An impossibility, since Zuko was so hyper aware of everything Katara did. What if she did see him with Mai? What if...?

He left Aunt Wu's home and stood rooted in the center of the courtyard. Zuko just couldn't think about it. He took several deep breaths as the sun heated his skin and revitalized his energy. He lifted his arms and stretched them out before him, easing into one of his stances. The fire of his being ignited, coursing through his veins as Zuko moved seamlessly between his stances. One thing at a time.

Zuko's mind danced with the still smouldering memory of Katara's kiss. The taste of her skin. The feel of her body. The sound of her voice. Agni above, the noises she made were his undoing. The way her nails raked over his scalp and neck in the heat of her passion was his destruction. The code of honor that he maintained was brought into question by one kiss, and Zuko couldn't even bring himself to care! If she asked it, that code would have been thrown away for the sake of one glorious night with her. That's what made her so dangerous to him, but he didn't care about that either. Zuko just wanted to bring her pleasure again. He needed to hold her again, even though he knew he absolutely shouldn't. Katara belonged with Aang. To make matters worse, Zuko had foolishly offered to help.

The flames burned brighter as Zuko's fluid movements grew faster, working through the flare of heat that made up his inner being. Was it anger or lust that drove him? Zuko didn't even know. Maybe both? It infuriated him that Katara had so much control over him. It enraged him to know that she could never be his, all because of his past mistakes. He tried to get her out of his system: Tried to remind himself that he was with Mai. That alone was why he agreed to their little tryste.

What did he learn? That he was not satisfied with Mai in any way. Not even in the most carnal of ways. He viewed her as beautiful- of that there was no question. That wasn't everything. Ty Lee was beautiful. Toph and Suki were beautiful. Katara was the most beautiful person he'd ever seen. Beauty amounted to little. His lust for Mai amounted to nothing compared with how much he wanted Katara. His entire body ached for her. She alone could calm the beast that raged within him. All Zuko needed was a word. A gentle touch. The smallest nuance and Zuko would be calmed. The gentle balm of her very presence would be enough for him. It had to be, because if she wanted passion from him, then it would take even less.

Faster and faster Zuko moved. He threw his body into his kata, shattering the traditional forms when he dropped into sweeping techniques and floor work. His upper body was held parallel to the ground by the strength of his arms and back before he slowly raised his legs into a hand stand.

If only lust was the only problem he had to contend with. Lust faded after a time, or so his uncle told him. Zuko didn't put much stock in that bit of advice, but what seventeen year old did? In that moment, he wanted to believe in that. Maybe when it did, he wouldn't be so consumed with Katara: Her needs. Her happiness. Being the one that made her smile, even when the weight of the world crushed down on their shouldrs. He wanted to be for Katara, everything that she was for him. More than just her match in combat, politics, and even teaching; Zuko wanted to be her confidant, as much as he wanted to be her lover.

Zuko's feet fell over his head, dropping him back into his katas. Starting again, Zuko reminded himself that he was all that already as her friend. He did not need to be Katara's lover, even if he wanted to be so badly. There was his lust again. He was just lucky that he wasn't so consumed with the act of aleviating that particular curse that it got in the way of his responsibilities.

I'm not getting anywhere! Zuko hissed at himself, kicking off the wall of Aunt Wu's manor. He needed to box those emotions away again. He didn't have time to be consumed by Katara again. He'd outgrown that, or so Zuko wanted to keep telling himself. But if he didn't think about Katara, then he was left feeling hollow and aimless. If he thought about what happened on the ship; of all those lives lost in the pursuit to claim his, then he would have no choice but to be faced with his failures.

There were so many people that wanted him dead. He was the unlucky son given power over a nation. Surely, he would bring a curse onto his people as surely as he did his family. His sister was driven insane with unprecidented paranoia. His father was rotting away in a cage. His mother... Zuko's mind recalled with vivid clarity the dreams he'd been having about his mother. The night she left. The assassin that wore her crown like a trophy. That assassin seemed almost as familiar as the crown hidden away in his pocket, though at the time Zuko could not afford to dwell on the nostalgia.

The fading memories of his mother danced within his mind, embellished with his dream and his failure to wring her location from his father. Where could she be? Without realizing his actions, Zuko increased the intensity at which he went through his morning routine. The flames became long and serpent-like, following the movements of Zuko's limbs like dogs following their master. The searing red flames arched around him, turning the earth beneath his feet black and devouring the moisture from the air. Why was that woman wearing my mother's crown when I know my mother is alive? Why now?Questions joined into the fray that was filling Zuko's mind, blinding him to the world around him.

"Zuko," Katara's voice called, accompanied by the sound of sizzling water. A cloud of steam engulfed him for a brief moment of time before it was carried away by the wind.

Katara was revealed to him then, her braided hair draped over her shoulder and her arms crossed. The red of his under yukata parted slightly at her chest due to her crossed arms, revealing a small cleft of cleavage and the white of her under wrapping. She had chosen to forgo donning her recently purchased tunic for reasons beyond Zuko's understanding, but he really couldn't bring himself to complain. Her legs were mostly hidden from view by her shadow black pants that had been rolled up to just below her knees, exposing her calves and bare feet to Zuko's gaze. Her eyes were downcast, and her shoulders slumped under an unseen weight.

Something had upset her. Had he? "Good, morning Katara," Zuko greeted. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly when he caught sight of scorch marks along the wall behind Katara, knowing that he had let his attention slip. He didn't mean to wake or alarm her in any way.

"Morning," she parroted back to Zuko's feet. Katara had every intention of getting as much sleep as she possibly could after a night of tossing and turning. Katara had spent hours obsessing over what she'd seen, and what had been said to Aunt Wu. She wanted to forget all of it when slumber claimed her when dawn's early rays started painting the night sky. It was the smell of smoke had roused her from her fitful slumber.

The past was still heavy in her heart, and she had been up and ready to fight within seconds. Fortunately she was the only one to awaken. Katara knew she would have been teased horribly if Toph had woken up as well, which was the last thing she needed right now. The said girl was still sleeping soundly on her side of the ridiculously large bed, her arm slung over one of the pillows that boxed Tom-Tom in. When Katara saw that everything was as it should be, she pulled on her pants and Zuko's yukata. "You just startled me, is all."

Which made Zuko feel even worse. The bags under Katara's eyes had returned, even though it was only slightly. They were as plain to Zuko as the scar across his own face. Her eyes were still downcast, not meeting his face. "I'm sorry if I woke you," Zuko apologized. Was she mad at him? Did she get any sleep? "Are you okay?" She looked so miserable.

Katara's head tipped lower. "It's alright." A blatant lie, but Katara couldn't think against the action even though she instinctively knew it was the wrong one. She was just so tired from trying to get her thoughts in order. She was tired of playing that scene of Zuko and Mai over and over again in her mind. Katara was tired of dreaming of blood and death every time her mind did slip into unconsciousness. The two images danced back and forth until they blended together to create a morbid image that churned her stomach.

She slept so well the night before last. It was the best sleep she'd had in weeks, then this. Katara couldn't focus on anything with how tired she was, and then Zuko has to go and wake her up by being an early bird. She was the farthest thing from alright. She was tired, cranky, and heartbroken.

Too hot hands cupped Katara's cheeks to lift her eyes onto his own. "Hey, what is it?" Zuko pressed, drawing close so he could slip an arm around Katara's shoulder.

She was quick to shrug Zuko off, turning from him sharply as blood rushed to her cheeks. "It's nothing. I'm just tired?" So much so that she couldn't bring herself to drink in the sweetness of Zuko's honeyed gaze. After the night she had yesterday, she couldn't stomach it.

Which only made Zuko try harder. He'd worked too hard to have her open up to him, he refused to take a step backwards now. "Do you want me to make you some tea so you can go back to sleep?" Zuko slipped his hand behind Katara's back to rub soothing circles between her shoulder blades.

Katara glanced in his direction, feeling as if his uncle had somehow reached across the ocean to speak through Zuko's lips. That must have been the desired affect, since Zuko wore a small smirk. He knew exactly how he sounded. Cheeky. "I choose life." Zuko had gotten a lot better with his tea making skills during their travels together, but Katara doubted he'd been working to keep up the skill. His tea was probably toxic sludge again.

There she was, hiding just beneath the surface. Zuko was starting to get worried about how deep Katara had started retreating. Like when she first came back, Katara was hiding from everyone. "Then tell me what's wrong?"

She couldn't. Katara had no right to be bothered. She was not Zuko's girlfriend. She was not a jilted or jealous lover. Walking backwards until her back hit the wall of Aunt Wu's compound, Katara slid down to the ground and stretched her legs out. Zuko followed close next to her, his hand smoothing the tension that gripped her spine. "I just got back really late after talking with Aunt Wu. I just...had a lot on my mind." Moreso now, than before she went to talk with the woman.

The open door. "How late?" Zuko feared the answer so much that it ripped a groan from his lips. Both hands craddled his forehead, elbows braced against his knees. "You heard us, didn't you?" Zuko was really hoping that she hadn't. "Shit, I'm so sorry Katara!" Zuko insisted, unable to look back in Katara's direction. He was more than embarrassed. For the first time in a long while, Zuko felt shame heat his cheeks.

Heard. Saw. Same difference. There was no denying it since Mai was surprisingly vocal closer to the end. It was all Katara could hear even though everyone else slept right on through. It made her so mad. The slow roll of Zuko's hips was still doing weird things to her heart. The memory of his kiss was driving her insane. Katara was suffering all of this, and Zuko was having no problem getting passed it. "You don't need to apologise. It's not like we're dating. You can do...that...with whoever you want."

Zuko knew he didn't do anything wrong. He and Mai were in that kind of relationship, but he still felt bad. Terrible. Katara suffered because of him, regardless of what he was or wasn't allowed to do with his girlfriend. "I do need to apologise; I should have been more considerate." Zuko didn't have the fortitude to go through everything on his mind and have Katara mad at him on top of all that.

"You should have," Katara hissed between clenched teeth before averting her eyes again. "What's so hard about closing a door?" It was more than the door being open. The both of them knew this. Katara had to swallow the bitter pill that was her anger, reminding herself that Zuko was not hers. He was perfectly happy with Mai. He loved Mai, and he seemed to have worked out whatever issues he was having with her. That should be a good thing. What was one more night without sleep?

It was not fair of her to punish him. With a sigh, Katara forced a smile onto her lips. Even if it hurt, Katara would not let that ruin what she had with Zuko. They were friends, and she refused to let that kiss ruin that. "So, something on your mind? You looked like you were trying to figure something out."

There were a lot of things he was trying to figure out. Katara being one of them. His mother being the other. This change in subject did nothing to fix the first. If anything, it made this...thing... between Katara and himself seem all the more complicated when it shouldn't be. He and Katara were just friends, no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise.

Reaching into his pocket, Zuko pulled out his mother's crown before dropping it onto Katara's lap. He didn't say anything at first, only stared ahead since Katara wasn't quite ready to look him in the eyes again. It was probably for the best. Zuko didn't know how he felt about any part of their situation.

"What's this?" Katara asked after examining the delicate flame. Her fingers delicately pinched the edge to hold the filigreed metal up to the light, catching every intricate detail with a look of awe.

"It's my mother's crown." Zuko explained. "That assassin woman had it."

The implications were not missed. But she thought Zuko's mother was alive. He told her as much during one of their longer nights working together after the war's end. Why would an assassin have it, if not because...? "Oh Zuko, I-"

"She's not dead." Zuko told her firmly, refusing to think otherwise. His mother could not be dead after Zuko only recently found out that she was alive. It was a child's delusion; One of the last still clinging within the recesses of his mind. "She's not." Somehow, he would know if she was. He needed something more concrete than an old crown torn from an assassin's neck, even if there was nothing more definitive in the eyes of another. Zuko ran a hand through his unbound hair. "I dreamt about her. That must mean she's alive, right?"

For his sake, that had to be true. Slowly, as if not to startle him, Katara lifted one of her arms and draped it over his shoulder. Due to the difference in height, Katara had to lift herself onto her knees. This resulted in a hug that Zuko gladly sank into, his damaged ear pressing against Katara's chest with the rapid beating of her heart echoing within his cranium. "What was it about," she asked finally, running her fingers through his hair. Now was definitely not the time to be worried about romances both real and imagined.

"I…I don't really know." But the fact that he dreamed about her at all - out of everything else- had to mean something. Zuko was no prophet, or spiritual being. He didn't receive visions, but this he had to believe as meaning something. "In it I'm a child again and my mother is standing in the center of a lake. All around I can hear giant wing beats, but all I can see is my mother, looking just as she did before she…before she left." She was still as beautiful as cherry blossoms during the sunset. She was still giving him that serene smile she would always wear when with her children. Even as everything else faded with consciousness, her image remained crisp and clear. "I remember trying to run to her, but then fire started raining down on me and the water surged upwards. Everything was spinning and blurring together, but I didn't care. I ran to her anyway. But the farther I ran the farther away she was." A perfect simile to his constant failures in finding her.

"Did you reach her?" Would he suffer so if he did? Was it too late if he did, like how her nightmares usually ended? Katara knew all to well what those dreams did to old wounds. Had Zuko not helped her find her closure, she may still suffer from the loss as Zuko did. His wounds still bled from the knowledge that his mother was still lost.

Each night, the result was the same. "No. I wake up before I can." The dream was the same each time. His mother eluded him, never to be reached.

"I see. Maybe your subconscious is trying to tell you something?" Just like how Katara needed to get passed her mother's death, maybe it was high time Zuko did more than depend on the words of others to get passed this. If Zuko felt that she was still alive, then it would forever plague him until he found her.

"Like what? That I should look for her?" Could he? He wanted to. Ever since he found out that she was alive, his mother had always found a way back into his thoughts. After telling Katara and Sokka of his discovery, he'd immediately sent out search parties to scower every corner of the globe. Yes, his search parties came back empty handed, but that didn't matter. Just because they didn't find her didn't mean she was dead. They could go out and find her. He trusted his own eyes more than anyone elses.

"…Maybe we should. I mean, it's not like anyone can tell you otherwise. For all anyone in the Fire Nation would be concerned, you found her on the way home." Who would stop him? For the first time since Zuko's coronation he was granted an unprecidented amount of freedom. There was no council. No red tape. Just Zuko able to make a choice without having to ask permission. What better time was there than now? This was one of the few times where Katara still embraced the philosophy where it was better to ask forgiveness.

She was right; there was no one to stop him. He was to give all of himself to his people, but without some resolution to this mystery, how could he? She was as much a part of him now, as in the past. "Has anyone told you how brilliant you are?" Zuko asked, glad to at least have her blessing in his last conscious act of selfishness.

"It's always nice to hear," Katara giggled. It was the least she could do, given all he'd done for her and her mother. There was no telling when he'd have this opportunity again since relying on others proved ineffective. "You should probably send a messenger hawk to your uncle Iroh to keep him informed. Wouldn't want him thinking that you've died."

"I sent one yesterday alerting him of my whereabouts, but I think we should hold off on telling him about my search until we run it by the others. I don't know if they'll be too keen on the idea since we have no leads to go on." Zuko explained after a moment.

"Why wouldn't they be?" When Zuko didn't answer, Katara put two and two together. A crown wasn't much to go on after so many years. They had no clues beyond 'banished to the Earth Kingdom.' The Earth Kingdom was a massive place, full of so many secrets and relics that one would never be able to unearth them all in one lifetime. To find one person or clue amongst all that was a herculean task for even the best of trackers. They needed something more. A whisper of a rumor, would be more than enough to give them some kind of direction. What they needed was that assassin woman, and to somehow get her to cough up where she got the crown and how. "We need to find that woman again."

"Agreed." Preferably before she killed again in her pursuit of him. Such was his third problem. No assassin gave up their marks that easily. She was going to attack him again. Her and that waterbender of hers. How the two were related, Zuko could only guess since the conversation they had lead him to believe that they were not partners. It was just one of those serendipidous moments where two assassins were working the same mark. Zuko felt so special to warrant such attention. To think, all this time Zuko thought that double bookings usually meant the lesser assassin was killed off in a territorial scuffle. "We need to find her as soon as possible if we want any chance at convincing the others into agreeing."

"Before she finds you," Katara added, as if she would allow anyone to harm Zuko in any way. Any assassin who tried would be getting a swift education on the true meaning of lethal.

"Careful, waterbender" Zuko warned. "I might start thinking you like having me around." Zuko nudged his shoulder against Katara's to almost tip her over. Her arms tightened around his shoulders to keep from falling, making it easier for Zuko to slip his arm around her waist. Throwing her one of his less restrained smiles, Zuko was reminded that Katara was a true friend.

Katara risked another look down his direction to see that smirk of his. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, knowing what he was trying to do. "I dunno," Katara managed to huff, ignoring the rush of butterflies in her stomach. Her fingertips danced over the skin of Zuko's collar before her nails combed into his hair to rake over his scalp. "You are more trouble than I signed on for..."

"Is that so?" Zuko could have purred against Katara's breast, enjoying the touch more than he should. He understood why Aang was so greedy of this affectionate touch. Were it not for that deceptively sweet tone, Zuko would have surrendered himself completely to it. Insead, tension tightened his thighs as Zuko swept his feet under them. "Why is that?"

The low timbre of his voice made the butterflies dance even more in her belly, making Katara's breath hitch. This was why. When he teased and played along with her, the inflection of his voice always took a predator growl. It was dangerous to her heart as it stroked to life wanton desires. She couldn't very well say as much, even if he probably knew it by now already. "You're such a boy," was what she could say instead, bouncing onto her toes. Her other hand rested firmly over his shoulder, keeping her balance even though the act was unnecessary. Zuko's arm around her waist would never allow her to fall anywhere but forward into his chest. Safe from harm, but deeper into trouble.

"A boy, you say?" Parish the thought. Zuko did understand her meaning, even then. So far no lines had been crossed, but they were getting close. He knew he should back away. Zuko needed to work everything out. Not that long ago, Zuko knew he could just talk to Katara or Sokka about it. Now, with this thing between them, Zuko didn't really trust himself to be alone with Katara for long periods of time. They needed space. The thought made him hold Katara tighter.

Too close. Dangerously close. "Yes, a boy," Katara repeated, trying to rock backwards enough to not hover over Zuko's lap. The shift in their shared balance sank Katara onto her heels, while simultaneously lifting Zuko onto his knees to keep them from topling over. It was a step in the wrong direction. "A smooth talking, self-assured, perverted boy." Like Jet, only more potent. Girls like Katara were warned against them. The hand in Zuko's hair became a fist, pulling just as Katara's palm shoved hard against Zuko's shoulder.

Zuko didn't know if he should be insulted or flattered. He was nowhere near as confident as Katara made him seem. It shocked him so much that when Katara pushed him, he fell back with little resistance. He should have seen it coming, given the sultry sweet lilt of Katara's voice. Laying on his back, dazed and confused, Zuko watched as Katara flipped over his body to land gracefully behind him. His neck craned so he could follow her movements from his position, watching her roll onto her feet. Throwing her braid over her shoulder, Katara peeked back at Zuko with a cheeky grin.

Golden honey eyes flashed amber as the mirror image of Katara's expression tugged at his lips. There were quite a few words Zuko could use against Katara and her half of the species as well. Girls like Katara could just bat their lashes, and boys would come running to do her bidding. All the while, they sang their innocence when the boys pleaded on hands and knees for their reward. They teased, and cooed, and made even the brightest forget themselves.

Kicking his feet up and over, Zuko rolled onto his feet before turning sharply on his heel. "You're such a girl," Zuko chuckled. It was as if she came with the manual to messing with boys' heads. Did she even realize the button's she pressed? "Always getting under my skin." Taking a familiar stance, Zuko challenged Katara to a little spar.

"How do I get under your skin?" Last she checked, it was the other way around. Aquamarine eyes flashed brightly as Katara's brow quirked upwards. Turnabout was fairplay, but this was new. Though Katara knew Zuko's stances as intimately as her own, no flames danced with his fingertips. No heat radiated from his form. There was no water readily available without the risk of damaging the plants around. Then there were the wooden structures surrounding them. Surely Zuko was aware of this? Curiosity bade her to ask, but Katara's lips pressed together as she sank into her own stance.

How did Katara not get under his skin. She just had to look at him, and Zuko was bound to her whims. Zuko had known this for a long while, but was now hyper aware of the implications. "How am I a pervert?" His wrist crossed with Katara's, palms open and fingers rigid as compared to Katara's claws.

A perfect mask of boredom was pulled over Katara's face, stepping back as Zuko moved forward to close the distance. "You left the door open while you and Mai were..."

"Are we still on that?" Zuko had foolishly hoped that the event was shelved as not important. Katara was not going to let it go. "It was an accident. I would never, ever intentionally subject any of you to that. Especially when you can't even say the word." Zuko didn't even know how such a thing happened. He always closed the door behind himself whenever he entered a new room. With so many people wanting him dead, why would he risk leaving such a blatant invitation to kill him?

When Zuko stepped right, Katara moved left. The wrist of her clawed hand bumped against Zuko's as if to coax him into action. "I can too say the word," Katara argued, knowing that Zuko was not so foolish. But was Mai? She looked right at her when Katara stumbled back to the guest wing. It was as if Mai wanted for Katara to see them together so intimately, but why would she go so far?

"Say the word, Katara," Zuko baited as the two circled each other. He could see the thoughts dancing within Katara's mind. None were pleasant as they furrowed Katara's brow with confusion. The palm that did not cross with Katara's struck forward to tap her jaw, but the hand crossed with his slapped against his forearm before his palm could connect.

Katara rolled with her movement until her back found itself against Zuko's chest, her free hand snapping up to catch Zuko's cheek with a rap of her knuckles. "No," Katara flushed. She couldn't. It annoyed her when Zuko's hand stopped her at the last second, slapping against the back of her hand to throw it away from him. Katara rolled against him to find herself back in her original stance with Zuko.

"I knew that you couldn't," he continued to tease, even as his mind tried to work out the mystery of the open door. Could Mai have forgotten? When she came for him last night, Mai was behind him. Could she have forgotten, knowing how obsessive he was about such things? It was possible. She didn't share the same concerns Zuko did in his mounting paranoia. He wouldn't put it passed her. He couldn't trust her with anything, given how easily she was able to disregard his wishes in even the simplest of matters.

A frown marred Zuko's face as memories assailed him. Katara watched the shift carefully, reading Zuko's concerns. The door bothered him more than he let on, much to Katara's relief. He was rather active, but he never flaunted it in her face before like Mai did. True, Zuko and Sokka joked about the topic whenever it was just the two of them, but never when she was around. He was far too considerate for that. Yet it still bothered her that Zuko was able to engage in the act so casually with Mai. She understood how different their cultures were, but there were certain risks involved that transcended all of that. Now you're just grasping at straws, Katara told herself finally. She should just accept the fact that Zuko was happy with Mai, and they had every right to express their love. "I don't want to."

Turning sharply on her heel, Katara gripped Zuko's wrist to disturb his balance. She then swept her leg out to hook around Zuko's ankle and kick it from under him. Her form was sloppy, and untrained, making it easy for Zuko to predict the move she was trying to pull. A shuffle backwards had their legs locked together in a wide stance. "Why? What's so hard about saying the word 'sex?"

"It's indecent," and she sounded like a child for saying as much. Katara frowned as she tried to regain her footing. Sinking into her knee, Katara extended her imprisoned leg so she could pull it back, only to watch as Zuko swung his other leg around so that their opposite ankles were locked. Her grip on his wrist made it possible for Zuko to pull her closer, capturing it before she could try to pull away again.

But was that what was bothering her? "What's indecent about it? It's only natural." Katara accepted it with her brother, even though he'd been taught the same values as she'd been. Beyond the startling double standard that prevailed the Water Tribes on both continents, there wasn't much of a difference. Or so Zuko thought.

Katara didn't have an answer for Zuko since the act was one of the most natural things on the planet. Life would cease to exist without it, and yet the topic had been made taboo. Any act of intimacy was religated to marriage, never before. No one wanted to marry a woman who gave her love away to the first person who asked. That's what she'd been taught. She knew boys weren't held to such a strict standard. It's not like there was a way to prove if a piece of a boy's heart had been given away anyway. They didn't bleed. "New topic: How do we plan on finding your mom?"

The sudden change in subject came suddenly, just as Katara drew close to the answer. Zuko's step faultered, making it easy for Katara to grip Zuko's wrist again and pull. His arm was pulled straight across her front until they were side to side. Her free hand connected with his chest to push him back, knocking him down. Once he was flat on his back, Katara moved to brace her knee over his sternum. He was quick to move out of the way, rolling before Katara could successfully pin him down.

"I'm going to make you say it eventually," and maybe find out what really bothered her about last night. Until then, Zuko would not risk upsetting her like this again. His test was done. Mai had been assured. There was no need to seek out intimacy when Zuko couldn't bring himself to feel anything. When Katara's palm rushed towards his face, Zuko sidestepped to catch it. Rather than counter, he corrected Katara's form so Katara could try again. "That...seedy...merchant's peir isn't that far away. I figured, what better place to find an assassin, or a means to find certain ones?" Worst case scenario; they only pick up rumors, but it would be something.

Katara struck out again with the corrected stance, frowning when Zuko moved again to avoid getting hit. She followed the move through with a backhand, stealing the footwork from her bending. A growl curled her lips when he blocked again. "What about that waterbender that could turn invisible, what about him. It didn't seem like they were partners," or that he was after Zuko to begin with. They were working off the assumption that both assassins shared a mark, but a dark suspicioun had her thinking otherwise. That man was of the Northern Water Tribes, and the timing so close after talk of amalgamation made Katara worry for her family. The chiefs of her homeland had been blocked in intentionally. Had she and Zuko not been there, then what were the chances of them even surviving? Such were the other thoughts that plagued her mind. She'd much prefer to be obsessing over her mixed feelings and stagnant relationship.

Zuko had his own questions about that. Hence another of his many issues. "Do you think he was after me as well?" Zuko questioned, needing to think himself paranoid. It just didn't sit well that so many would be killed in pursuit of his life. What merit was there in taking the entire Southern Tribe's government with him. Did Katara know? The look that danced across her face told him that she did, or at least had more information than he did. "Talk to me."

Licking her lips, Katara debated with herself on whether or not she should say. It was too soon for any decision to be made, but if her suspiciouns were right then it would mean that the North would stop at nothing to have the Southern Tribes as their own again. "The Northern Water Tribes approached us about amalgomating our tribes to theirs."

"To what end?" Zuko's eyes narrowed as he blocked a clever combination of strikes towards his neck. He countered with soft taps against Katara's temple, slipping passed her improving defenses. To his pleasant surprise, Katara performed a perfect roundhouse to sweep Zuko's arms out of the way. Back now open, Katara exploited his fallen defenses to palm the back of his head. Good move.

Resuming their stance Katara watched Zuko's movements closely, enjoying their light sparring session. "The war almost completely destroyed our tribes, and winter is coming. There's no guarantee we'll survive it without help. We have little choice but to accept since they are offering us aid in rebuilding." Somehow, Zuko managed to snake an arm around her neck to pull her down towards his knee. She knew that he was controlling his force to keep from actually hurting her, but her reaction was just the same. Catching his thigh with her hands, Katara kicked a leg back and up to strike at Zuko's jaw.

"Sorry!" Katara exclaimed when Zuko recoiled back.

"Nice move." Rubbing his jaw, Zuko felt his grin return even with the troubling news opening up a new battery of questions. Amalgomation was an extreme step, especially for ones as patriotic as Katara and her family. They loved their people, and the loved being of the Southern Water Tribes. To go so far was to give up their identity. "What do the Northern Tribes gain beyond expanded territory? I doubt this is a completely charitable act." Zuko took his stance again, noticing briefly their growing audience as vendors were set up.

That seemed to be the real question. "Me, for one thing." Katara was slow to follow, scanning Zuko's form and reddening cheek to make sure that she didn't hurt him. He had a high pain threshold, so would often leave injuries ignored until the last possible moment. "They want to use my connections to the rest of the world and name me Ambassador to both the Northern and Southern Tribes." The thrill at the prospect still sang in her heart, even as the dread mounted.

Ambassador Katara; that was... "That's amazing news!" Zuko beamed, knowing what that could mean for Katara and her family. Her dream of helping people was close to being a reality. Then another thought occured to him. "What about Aang?" Zuko doubted the young Avatar would too keen on the idea of leaving Katara to do her own thing. A sick part of him was thrilled with the idea of what that could mean. Aang's duties would have him all over the world, never settling longer than a week in one place. That would clash with Katara's obligations, which would need her to spend months, even years in one place. Zuko knew what Katara wanted, but he feared the choice she'd make for the sake of her boyfriend. Long distance relationships rarely worked.

"I don't know," she admitted. Ducking under Zuko's arm when he moved to attack her again, Katara scissored her legs around Zuko's before twisting her hips sharply. He landed hard on his rear before Katara pulled her leg free to lightly kick at Zuko's throat.

Catching her leg, Zuko rolled to the side to force Katara closer until she sat awkwardly on his abdomen. Her palms braced over his chest to keep herself upright. The sight played into Zuko's every secret fantasy: The feel of her cool palm over his heated skin, the curves of her inner thighs as they wrapped around his hips. Biting his lip, Zuko fought back his mounting libido before gripping Katara's wrists to stretch them outwards in time for Zuko to change their positions. Pinning her down on her back, Zuko was careful not to give her the same openings like during their last sparring session. "What do you want?"

Katara tried to squirm out of Zuko's hold, arching and writhing in her attempt to throw him off. With a grunt, she stilled to glare up into Zuko's eyes. The predatory gleam was returning into his golden eyes, goading her with his victory of this round. "I don't know. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me, but I don't trust the Northern Tribes." Wrapping her legs tight around Zuko's waist to lock her ankles against his rear, Katara drew him close to her body. Memories of Zuko's body undulating in the moonlight heated her blood, making her ache with the desire to experience what that would be like. Twisting her hips, Katara managed to force her way back on top. Rather than wipe the look from his face, the gleam intensified as the grin grew.

"I don't think they're going to give you much choice." Either the Southern Tribes were going to give in willingly, or they were going to be taken by force. The result stayed the same, regardless. All the North had to do was get rid of the High Chief, Katara's father, and then the south would be won. The only opposition they would have would come from Sokka. Zuko's blood ran cold, and his smile fell. "Your family was the other target. Not just me."

Katara couldn't bring herself to say it, focusing on the starburst of scar tissue low on Zuko's chest. A familiar pinprick danced behind her eyes as Katara was faced with the worst of her problems. How could she be happy about anything, when her dad and brother had targets branded onto their backs. She wanted to be an ambassador for her people. Katara wanted to be the one to make a difference in the world, but the cost was too great. "What if that assassin is still after my dad? Or my brother? If my people say no, then..."

Zuko sat up to wrap his arms around Katara's shoulders, holding her as she composed herself. "Don't think like that. You're father is more than capable of handling himself. He's probably safe at the Fire Nation by now, playing Pai Sho with my uncle while he waits for us all to get home." Heads would roll if anything happened to Hakoda, or the other chiefs of the Southern Water Tribes. "When we reach the pier, we'll find out everything we can about both assassins." Til then, Zuko would send another messanger hawk with orders to ensure the safety of Hakoda and the chiefs that remained with him. He doubted the Northern tribes would be so foolish as to try against Hakoda again if they wanted to have a peaceful amagomation. However, it would be in everyone's best interest to prevent against accidents.

"Thank you." Katara surrendered into the hug for a moment longer before she remembered her surroundings. Now was not the time or place for political discussions of any kind. Though she was reluctant to do so, Katara pulled away from Zuko so she could stand. She held out her hand for him, offering her aid even though she knew Zuko didn't need it.

He took it with a smile, knowing that he was able to help her at least a little. "Always." Zuko just wished he could do more for her. Beyond the treaties, there was little he could give without asking for something in return. Looking at their joint hands, a few thoughts did whisper into his mind but none would dare take form. Katara's mother's necklace glinted in the morning light from his wrist, recalling to mind different kinds of unions to bind nations in peace. Such were not the thoughts that should be had, so Zuko dropped Katara's hand before the prolonged contact could be made suspect.

"I should probably give this back to you," Zuko explained as he untied the knot from his wrist. He'd been holding it hostage long enough, given how attatched to it Katara usually was. The fact that she trusted him with it this long was a monument to how far they'd come. Katara didn't trust anyone else to look after and treasure it like she did. Turning, Katara lifted her braid out of the way in a silent invetation for Zuko to put the choker back. "I could have taken it back any time," Katara lilted, feeling Zuko's body heat caress her back to combat the chilling wind that passed.

"Why didn't you?" Breeching Katara's personal space, Zuko's calloused hands brushed against Katara's neck to stretch the silk ribbon across her throat. So close, he could still see the faint outlines of his bite. Zuko almost didn't want to cover it.

"I trust you." It was a simple enough answer, even as nostalgia brought a smile to their lips. The hot cloud of Zuko's breath over her neck gave birth to a shiver of anticipation. "Is this the part where you offer to save me from the pirates?" Katara pondered as the pendant was secured around her neck.

Zuko couldn't help but laugh, wrapping his arms around Katara's shoulders. "It just might be," only this time the end result might be a bit more interesting. "I wonder; if I did offer, would you tell me to jump in the river, or push me yourself?" Zuko bumped his ruined cheek against Katara's good naturedly. It was so easy to be at ease with her, that Zuko didn't feel the normal jolt of self consciousness whenever someone drew to close to his scar.

Bumping her temple against his, Katara's grin widened. "I would definitely push you. No question." She could probably throw him into the river if motivated enough, and continuously dunk him under until he cried his defeat. Hmmm, thoughts for our next sparring match. If there was bending at all.

"You didn't even think about it," he flinched.

Rolling her eyes, Katara nudged Zuko's hip with the back of hers. "As if you wouldn't tie me to a tree again to get what you wanted." It was the only way he'd be able to get the upper hand. Soon, not even then if she learned more grapling skills.

Sucking his teeth, Zuko tread lightly around the thought. "That really depends." What did he want, and was there time enough for foreplay? Maybe he was a pervert? The thought of tying anyone else up didn't quite appeal to him as much as binding Katara.

A sharp smack on his arm drew him from his thoughts.

"You're being a boy again," Katara warned with a grin before trotting around the corner.

"I am a boy," Zuko countered lamely, knowing that he needed to figure out what it was that gave him away. There was no stopping the "boy" thoughts from forming, so he needed to find ways to hide it. Chasing after Katara, Zuko caught her from behind in a bear-hug that had her kicking and squealing against him.

"Floozy."


Author's Notes: I actually like how this bit came out since it develops more into how well Zuko and Katara communicate with each other. I also wanted to touch base on the fact that Katara is entering womanhood, and is thus starting to discover her sexuality. On a conscious level, she knows the difference between love and lust. It has been lectured into her since her first bleeding, but knowing and experiencing are two different things. She's starting to experience lust in a way that she's only heard about in passing since Aang's not doing it for her. He's still a kid, and it's going to be a few years before he becomes a handsome young man. It's a new feeling Katara has to sort through.