Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender copyright Dante Dimartino, Brian Konietzko and Nickelodeon Studios.


Katara remembered that smile from years ago; a cruel twist of flesh that promised malicious intent. She'd been barely fourteen the first time he'd flashed it, honeyed words hiding sinister intent as he prowled her village, looking for the Avatar. Now, like then, it scared the hell out of her.

"Zuko," she whispered, feeling ill. "No. Koh," she insisted. "How many times do you intend to use the stolen face routine?"

He smiled, lip curling over polished white teeth. A sharp pain ripped through Katara's chest, her heart momentarily freezing. For an instant, her old friend looked just like Ozai.