Tiny bit of a filler, but it is necessary, sorry!

Before my thank yous, just wanted to say that I'm totally going to dance when I get to 50 reviews, and it's looking far more plausible now than ever. If I go over, hey, I may just write request oneshots for you lovely darlings. Totally not bribing.

Righto! A thank you to my regulars, and look for some more personal responses at the end!

*Also!*

An animal dies in this. It's not gruesome, detailed, or graphic. But I don't want to upset anyone. There is also a tiny mention of suicide, but it's nothing that doesn't pop up in some adaptations of Post-Avatar canon.

Zuko, Firelord and general leader of the entire Fire Nation, had at best a spotty account concerning his luck. He had been banished, abused, and betrayed more than he could count on both hands. Even as he aged, as 19 years had filled out his face and broadened his shoulders, his luck happily spiraled out of his grasp and threw itself down the deepest and darkest crevasse on a fairly regular basis. He tended not to be surprised when things messed up because of it.

It was still disappointing, though, when every attempt he made to be alone with Katara backfired. It was awful; he'd make an excuse to slip away but only make it ten feet before Sokka intercepted. Or Hakoda, or even Ulda. He was the talk of the village now that he was a part of it.

Sokka had rediscovered his passion for sword training, which was admittedly refreshing but also incredibly time consuming. It was an easy way to burn through an easy two days, and a really easy way to nearly lose a hand. Turns out when the combination of Sokka's determination met distraction by way of a certain woman, Zuko was an easy target. On the high note, Katara was right there and he was fixed up pretty quick. He managed to steal a kiss before Sokka came running back, which was as good as his luck went from that point on.

Sokka must have noticed his sister's blazing face because he stopped the training immediately, muttering unhappily under his breath.

"Sokka, what's wrong? I'm fine, you don't need to take me to a healer. Katara fixed me up...!" It was a long shot and he really just wanted to escape his grasp, maybe get back to Katara. He hadn't really spoken to her since that first kiss, hadn't had the time. But every time they passed in solitude, they were reaching for each other until he could seal his mouth over hers passionately.

The number if times he'd almost been caught would eventually give him greys, he was sure of it.

Now though, he was brought into the hunting lodge where a large amount of men waited, sharpening stones and wineskins passed around in happy abandon. They raised up a cheer when they saw Zuko, and Hakoda gestured him over. "Sit, boys! We have a task!"

Sokka obviously knew what was going on, because he dropped down and grabbed a nearby sword. He made a show of running a whetstone up the blade, all the while staring Zuko down confrontationally. Zuko kept his attention on Hakoda instead, since he didn't look on the edge of genocide.

"Sokka's wedding is in five days. As is custom, we must hunt food for the feast, as well as a pelt to mantle his bride." He slung an arm around his son and shook him lightly, a broad grin on his face. "As a new man of the tribe, you will join our hunting team. Maybe you'll even catch something to impress Katara." His grin turned swarthy with a hearty wink to match. Zuko straightened, blushing but determined. He had dreams of courting Katara properly, and he would earn the family's approval as was custom.

After that came the crash course. He didn't bother to inform them that he knew the basics, because honestly he would need every advantage to counterbalance his bad luck. Instead he sat, proud and proper, as they explained the ins and outs of hunting. He learned the method of moving as a pack, how to bring down the massive beasts of the South, even the best way to blood them. He did make a slightly uncomfortable face at that, not feeling the blood-thirst of the men around him quite as strongly as they.

The men stood as a unit, pulling him along to the great outdoors with promises of glory and fame. Hakoda caught his arm just before he was dragged out, pressing a long, sheathed dagger into his hand.

"Keep this on you, just in case. And treat it well, boy, it's been in the family for many moons."

Clutching the blade he nodded, feeling that blossom of familial love the water siblings thrived on. He smiled at Hakoda, a true and genuine one.

"I hope to keep it there, Sir." Bold, but he would prove that he was there for Katara, and he would surely fight for her.

Confirmed.

He still hated the cold.

And he was also wishing they'd given him a lesson on walking on ice, since every other step had his feet splaying out. Even more unhappily, Katara had followed the group. She'd said something about collecting seaweed for the feast, but he was pretty sure she was just along to laugh at him.

It was all she'd done so far.

He was in the process of falling on his ass for the umpteenth time when a cry went up, the men fanning out to form a loose semi-circle around a braying herd of tiger seals. The men started cutting a smaller beast out, with Sokka leading the assault. He was jabbing his spear forward when the creature shrieked, twirling on the spot to dive back into a hole in the ice. The rest of the seals fought each other as well, pushing and ramming to get beneath the frozen surface first.

Sokka moved forward in a sound of dismay, trying to catch at least one fleeing seal before they all vanished under the ice when a massive paw slammed down. He fell back, watching with a scream as a polar bear dog whirled to face him. It trundled away from the seal hole, beady black eyes locked on the man. Lips pulling back to reveal long and cruel canines, it lunged at Sokka. He only managed to stop the deathblow by jamming his spear into the open maw, but still claws caught into his hip and stained the snow read.

Zuko blasted the ground around him with heat, melting the snow to give him some form of purchase as he bolted forward. He only saw Sokka on the ground, was pretty sure he heard him screaming in fear, and the adreniline drove him. It gave him the strength needed to leap onto the bear's back, grabbing the shaft and yanking back.

"Run, I've got this!"

Katara had bolted forward the moment she'd seen that polar bear dog rise out of a snow bluff. Its pelt had blended in so well that no one had seen the danger until it was too late, until Sokka was being tossed across the tundra. The men had scrambled to surround it, clashing the spear tips against the ground to get its attention. It didn't work, she saw that right away when it ripped into Sokka's hip.

Her breath caught and was pulled from her completely when the air heated, moisture evaporating immediately. Zuko, who'd been only feet from her, was suddenly astride the bear and fighting, pulling back more and more until the massive monster reared up with a roar. The Bender was nearly on fire, steam swirling from his body and masking the death fight. She couldn't focus on him as much as she wanted, even with the sting of fear at knowing just how much danger he was in. She'd managed to help the warriors drag Sokka back, Bending the water around his hip when the sound of a crash had her head jerking up.

The polar bear dog lay on its side, tongue lolling out as its shoulders shifted oddly. Zuko pulled himself out from beneath it slowly, hand cradling the hilt of the dagger as he stumbled to his feet. He stared down, almost looking confused at the carcass at his feet. Confused and sad, she realized. Crouching down, he ran a hand over the snout and she could see his lips moving.

Watched as he brushed the silky fur and read his lips as he apologized to the violent beast he'd killed with his own hand.

It had taken him a while to clean himself up, refusing to see anyone until the red was washed away from his hands at the very least. He was still furiously scrubbing into a basin when he heard movement at the door. He knew it was Katara, but he refused to look back at her. He was afraid she'd be ashamed of him, of the deed he'd committed. When her hand laid on his shoulder he gripped the side of the basin, eyes closed. Her hand moved across the planes of his back and her cheek took place on his shoulder instead. She trailed the other down to lace her fingers in his and he finally felt his body relax.

"There's no need to feel guilty, you know. You saved Sokka and you're feeding the entire tribe. You did very well."

"I know. I understand all of that. It just felt so cruel. All I could think of was that..." His breath caught, "What if I turn out like my father?" Her hand left his back immediately to wrap around him, giving a gentle squeeze as she hugged him. He caught the hand against his stomach, holding tight as he fought for control. "I can't be like that. I won't. And if I am, I- I can't live like that. I'd rather die."

She pulled back to force him to face her, cheeks flushing with anger as she wound back and slapped him. "Never, never say that again! You're nothing like him, and you never will be! Do you think your father apologized every time he hurt someone? No, Zuko, look at me! You're so different from him that there is no comparison." He stared into her blue eyes, forced to because she refused to let go of his face. They were watery and he wanted to comfort her, wipe away the tears again, but he could feel the stream from his own eye trialing down his face. She watched it, leaning in to lightly kiss the tears away. Her eyes flicked down and away, anger burning into shyness as her voice quieted. "Besides, I could never love a man like Ozai."

He pulled her tight against him, murmuring apologies and declarations of love into her hair. He wasn't going to let her go.

Samara - I feel like Zuko would be the most uncoordinated drunk. Like, highly amusing for any and all to witness. And there will be kisses everywhere. Kisses and healing because my goodness that boy has family issues.

Melody - I'm not sure where you're from, but I have not heard the word 'oogies' before and I can't get over how very adorable it is! Fantastic! And as long as you read, well, I have to give you something to look at!

Lovedusktodawn - Funnily enough I haven't watched the show in a long, long time. One day I just had the Killer Bunny of plot ideas hit me and the characters were just so dang chatty.

Kym - After I mentioned writing more, that Killer Bunny mentioned above reproduced. I have pages of just loose planning. '_

Alison (can I shorten your user name like that?) - Don't worry, they will be together. I may be a bit mean to Zuko here and there, but he'll get the girl and they can be all adorable!

Thank you all again, and please read, review, and enjoy your day! Night. Whichever. But have a good one, eh!