"I told you to be careful."

Zuko turned his head to the side, silent.

With a sigh, Katara resumed the task of pulling a fishing hook out of his finger. It shouldn't have been so surprising – Sokka had done the same on his first fishing trip (twice), so why would the prince of the Fire Nation's experience be any different?

"This is gonna hurt," she warned. "Ready?"

"Just get it out!"

"You're sure?"

"Ye – Ah!" his answer turned into a pained shout as she tore the sharp object free.

"I tried to warn you," she teased, tucking the bloody hook into her pocket. Drawing a stream of water from the kettle over the fire, she nodded to his wounded finger, which he cradled in his other hand. "Let me see it."

Obediently, he held his hand out toward her, silent as the water coated his finger and soother the throbbing pain. Sokka would be forever jealous of such a quick and gentle healing process, considering the one he'd had to endure.

"There!" she said, letting the bloody water splash to the floor (she could clean it up later) and examining the sealed wound. "How's it feel?"

Flexing his finger experimentally, he too studied the repaired skin. Still avoiding her gaze, he murmured, "Thank-you."

Before another word could be said, he hurried from the igloo.


Author's Notes: Uh... Not a whole lot to say about this chapter. Zuko should not be trusted to go fishing?

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Avatar' or any of its characters.