Chapter 5: Snowballing

"I don't know…I feel like I would have done the same but-"

"That's it?" Zuko stared blankly at her behind his mask.

"What do you mean that's it?! Doesn't that make me a horrible person if I didn't jump in front of the flaming blue lighting ball of fire?"

"Hey don't worry. You don't know how to deal with a strike like that."

"And you did?" She poked at his chest, specifically where his scar was.

"It wasn't my finest work, I guess both times I tried to face intense flame I got a scar, but the technique I wanted to use did allow Aang to destroy my father's ego, didn't it? Plus, if you didn't, I wouldn't be mad. You deserve to live. I've done a lot I should atone for."

"That doesn't mean your life is worth less. You've atoned for a lot. When it comes down to it, I just question my bravery. You may recklessly run into everything somewhat head on, but you at least do it with bravery. I try to be, but I wondered if I would be a buffalo-yak in headlights…"

"A buffalo yak in headlights?"

"Yea, you should see the way they freeze a bit when a big Fire nation war head tank flashes them down." She teased weakly.

Zuko shook his head. "Look, the point was, you'd protect me. You healed me. When it comes down to it, yea actions mean a lot, but your intent is there isn't it?"

"I don't want to see anyone else hurt. Ever." She felt her stomach move. Yet she emotionally annihilated Aang after their breakup. She kept moving forward though the snow focusing on the white untouched space ahead.

"Either do I. I didn't understand the weight of my actions in the past. It hangs over me every day. But don't be hard on yourself. If I recall, even in the face of your mother's killer you had mercy. You are braver than you believe yourself to be. I don't think I could have ever done that." He put his hand on her shoulder to stop her for a moment. He could tell her quick paced steps were a distraction from her thoughts – a focus on their task, however important, meant neglecting their conversation.

"You haven't killed your father yet…" She said quietly.

"I don't believe he killed her. He banished her. He screwed her over. He deserves the judgement that life deals him now. The suffering of his ego will do him better than any Agni Kai would." He pushed off his mask to his forehead. "Stop diverting this to me Katara. You don't give yourself enough credit. And if you don't jump in front of a flame for me, don't blame yourself. You don't deserve the weight of any more deaths in your life."

She saw his face again, and it reminded her of who she was talking to. Maybe it was easier disassociating him with his mask, but then, maybe it was easier to know that it was Zuko. That they had shared more than they had acknowledged in the past. That scar, those scars she wished she could heal for him.

She put her face up to the sky.

"When did life get so complicated?"

"When we decided to take down a tyrant King and grow up."

"I can't tell what was worse…"

"Yea, you know growing up kind of sucked. We were teens then, now…" Zuko caught himself staring at Katara, who almost seemed to be at one with her surroundings, her brown hair, decorated in buns and strands, whipping around her face in the wind, still looking to the sky.

"Now… spirit bending seems like the easiest thing ever when it used to be all we cared about. Physical war and fighting."

"Yep, it's the emotional and mental things isn't it?"

"Like the responsibility of trying to save my tribe when all I want to do is just make snow angels."

"Snow angels?"

"I'll show you one day."

"Is that anything like those snow balls I hear of?"

"Wait, wait, you've never had a snow ball fight?"

"No, I am a fire nation adult and Lord." He pulled his mask down again, feigning a serious demeanour.

"Sokka would be devastated to hear he missed your first snowball fight."

"Missed it?" Zuko turned around to get a snowball in the chest. "Umph-"

Katara tried to hide a laugh after so easily hitting him. "You know, I feel so stupid doing this right now, we need to get to my tribe as soon as possible." She attempted to straighten her face to seriousness.

Zuko took the cold ice in his hands and molded it into a ball. "You know I think I prefer fire balls…however these are much less deadly…" He tossed one against her shoulder.

"Not bad for a fire nation man. But this is just friendly fire."

"Then when this is over, we will have a proper one."

"Will we?" She gave him a suspicious look.

"I would like to think so…but-"

"But the Fire Lord must return to his duties. Don't worry." She smiled at him, and their eyes caught in a silent stare. For a moment they had found their childlike playfulness again, and for a moment they both realized that it could return but it might not last. But amongst it, there was a silent knowledge that they both understood each other more than they were willing to say. And that they both got caught in the vivid colours of each other's eyes a bit more than they had planned to.

"On the plus side, I think you have some hunters coming our way."

"What?" Katara looked over. She squinted. Blue parkas. Who was hunting out here? She blinked. The ice. They were over a river. Had they gone this far already? "Dad!"

Before he could say another word, Katara ran to the men.

"Katara, where have you been?" Her father, now a bit more noticeably grey was with the men, holding pelts and spears to ice fish.

"It's a long story. Basically there is a-"

"Is that a Blue Spirit Mask?" Another men belted out.

"Not quite. I come in peace." Zuko lifted his mask as he approached. "Only if you keep quiet though."

"Lord Zuko?" Hakoda looked surprised.

"Katara is trying to tell you what happened. There is a rogue fire nation group being head off by an unknown leader calling himself the Fox Lord, undoubtably after the Fire Fox. They are using your tribe's lunar cycle of nomadic movement to track you. I have been trying to infiltrate them in disguise to take them down from the root. Katara and I happened to cross paths during my pursuits. I don't mean to overstep on your land, but I think if you know a place where you can disappear or keep your people out of view of these mongrel fire men, you may be safe. I don't want to entice war. They are simply living off my father's poor ideals, and as far as I am concerned are disowned from my people."

"That was a lot to take in at once, but I see why there is an urgency to this."

"Father, I was thinking about this. If you follow the lunar path we take, but diverge into a cave upon the storm coming, you may be able to keep most people hidden."

"Storm?" Zuko asked.

"I can feel them. The water pressure in the air…" Katara gave him a short glance.

He was once again impressed – not only with her covert planning to keep her people safe, but her abilities.

"Then we will return and guide them. We were worried. But Kanna said you were own your own journey and would return. We were hoping we would find you on our hunt."

"I am safe. Or actually I am due to Zuko's bravery."

"Do I want to know?" Hakoda asked.

"An arrow to the back. He stopped it from hitting me, and once again, recklessly saves me."

"It's not reckless if I'm intending on keeping you safe and it was only an arrow."

"I had to heal it. And you were near frozen solid!"

Hakoda's face turned from concerned to a knowing grin. "When you return with us we will get you a proper parka."

"Do you want your tribe to be associated with my alter ego?"

"If the Blue Devil saved my daughter, and is stopping a fire nation group from attacking my tribe, I see no reason. I have no qualms with the fire nation, and hope that we can remain at peace."

"I am aiming for this goal." Zuko nodded.

He nodded in agreement. "Then we return now and leave as planned in the morning. I am happy to have the Blue Devil and great Fire Lord on our side."

Zuko felt a strange relief getting some form of approval from Katara's father. Perhaps it was knowing his family was responsible for his wife's death…or that for some reason, the idea of it being Katara's father felt…intimidating in a weird way to him.

"How come when my father tells you to wear our parka you agree, and yet with me, you argue?" Katara elbowed Zuko's side as they followed the Water tribe men.

"Somehow… your father is much more intimidating than you."

"You realize I am the water bender?"

"You realize I am a Fire lord."

"Do they always bicker like this sir?" Hakoda's ally asked quietly out of earshot.

"They're almost like an old married couple…" Another blurted before hesitantly looking to Hakoda for a sense of reaction.

"Perhaps. Let us just be happy we have an extra ally on our side."