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Zuko felt bruised all over. At least now he could claim the bruise on his face was from their training and not from anything else. How could he have been so stupid! Trying to kiss her.

"Stupid, stupid.'

Zuko sat on a crate on the deck eating a bowl of rice. Katara was sitting with his uncle eating and enjoying a cup of tea. Zuko watched the two of them. Katara was talking adamantly with her hands. She must have said something funny because Uncle laughed loudly, his large belly jumping up and down.

Zuko couldn't help but smile at them. Uncle like Katara very much, which usually wouldn't be that that surprising, but the more they interacted the more he could tell his uncle liked her. Zuko watched them eat and laugh, and he felt his chest swell with warmth and happiness. After a while he walked over to them.

"Katara, we should stop for today. I don't want to wear you out too much."

Zuko didn't want to bring up the fact that she had almost killed herself trying to get away from him, but also didn't want her to argue with him.

"I'm not that tired, but you're probably right. I shouldn't push it."

"Would you want to walk around the deck with me? You've been below deck for so long. I don't want to make you go back so soon."

Zuko tried his best to smile at the girl. He could tell he was being awkward. He always was around girls he liked.

'Wait. I don't like her. I just want her to not hate me.'

"Sure..."

Zuko held out his arm for her to take. He knew she hated him. He knew she was repulsed by his touch. The very thought of him kissing her made her slug him.

Katara hesitated but took his arm. The strolled along the edge of the deck awkwardly at first. He wasn't sure what to say to her. He wanted her visible on the deck incase the Avatar was close by. He didn't want her to know his plans, so he needed to act normal, but he was also walking with a beautiful woman and powerful bender. Basically, he was doomed.

"So…" Zuko's voice sounded hoarse. He coughed to clear his throat. "The weather is finally nice. It's almost summer."
"Um. Yea…."

'Oh, yea, Zuko. Talk about the weather.'

"So... You found a master at the northern water tribe?"

Katara was looking away from him, the sun was not quite setting but it was well into the afternoon.

"Ah, yea. I did. He wouldn't teach me at first because I'm a woman though…."

Zuko stopped walking.

"What? Why?"

Katara looked up at him, passion in her blue eyes.

"I guess it's just their culture. Women are only supposed to be healers up there."

Zuko continued walking shocked.

"What happened?"

"I challenged him to fight in front of the royal family. I said, 'I'll be waiting outside if you're man enough to fight me'."

Zuko had never identified with Katara so much, as he did in that moment.

"And you won the fight?"

Katara laughed harshly.

"No, I lost. It wasn't until he saw my mother's necklace and realized who I was that he was willing to teach me."

Katara instinctively reached up to where the necklace had been. Zuko had to turn to hide his blush of embarrassment. He knew exactly where that necklace was.

Zuko coughed awkwardly.

"That was really brave, standing up for what you believe in."

"Thanks, Zuko."

Zuko looked out across the ocean.

"You know, I did something similar. I challenged a master when I thought they were wrong. We have something called an Agni Kai. It's a firebender's duel where you fight until the other person gets burned…."

Katara pulled them to halt and stared at Zuko.

"And you lost, too."

Katara reached up to touch Zuko's scar. He couldn't help shy away at first, but he let her cool fingers touch his scar. Just like she did last night. But this time he leaned his face into her palm and closed his eyes. It has been so long since someone had touched him, since he had wanted to be touched.

"Zuko...who?"

Zuko opened his eyes and saw Katara welling with tears.

"My father. Firelord Ozai took on his fourteen-year-old son in an Agni Kai."

"Zuko. I didn't know."

Zuko brushed the tear that had escaped Katara's eyes. Her cheek was so smooth and soft. Zuko felt the same feeling as he did early this morning. His whole body was steaming, he felt like he had to be near her. He had to be closer. He had to kiss her.

Zuko slid his arm behind Katara's back and pulled her closer to him. Her hand was still on his cheek, but he watched as her lips began to part. His stomach dipped, and he felt himself leaning closer. Zuko groaned inwardly as she leaned into him and closed her eyes.

"Zuko, General Iroh wanted me to ask if you would play Tsungi horn tonight for music night."

Zuko growled out loud at the intrusion. He was so close!

Kohaku was staring directly at Zuko, his stance and tone as defiant as always.

"Ah, well."

Katara slipped from Zuko's grasp.

"You know, I want to take a bath. I'll all sweaty and stuff." Zuko watched Katara hurry down below deck. He continued to look where the dark-haired girl disappeared.

"You should know I won't play Tsungi horn, Kohaku."

"I thought it might be worth a shot to ask you. Besides, I wanted to give our prisoner a chance to get away from her captor for a little bit. The men have been talking. You're keeping her in your room and everything, huh?"

Zuko could feel his temper rising.

"Nothing has happened!"

"That's not what it sounded like this morning...in fact, it didn't sound like nothing the morning before that, too."

Zuko got in Kohaku's smug face.

'How much nicer it would look dented in.'

"What I do with that girl is none of your business. Or any of the men's business. If you know what's good for you, you'll walk away."

Kohaku glared back at Zuko.

'Hit me. Do something so I can throw you off the ship.'

"Sure."

Kohaku walked away, and it took everything in Zuko not to follow him.