Prince Zuko nodded, then left. In a few moments he was back, wearing a bright red vest, lined with a golden material of some kind. Zuko's bare arms caught Katara's attention; the only times she had seen him were when he was wearing his bulky armor. He was so... Muscular. Somehow this surprised her.
"You will be training with me today, Prince Zuko. The other men insisted that they take a break," said Iroh.
...Ouch. A break? That scared Katara a bit, wondering if either Zuko held back around Aang and the others, or his men were weak.
In a few minutes, the sun was completely over the ocean. Training began. Iroh and Zuko stood, facing each other, waiting for the other to move, looking for something that would give them the advantage. None was to be found. Zuko began to shiver with anticipation, waiting for Iroh to move. Somehow, Iroh himself stood still, like a statue. Suddenly, Zuko exploded with energy, firing fireballs in Iroh's direction. Iroh crossed his arms over his face and parried the blow easily. He then shot his own array of fire at Prince Zuko.
Zuko lept out of the way, shooting a fireball in midair. Iroh was barely fast enough to block it. Katara decided to back off a bit so as not to get burned again. The fight continued, each blocking eachother's blows. Katara's eyes sparked with entertainment, watching the two throw arrays of fire punches and sparking spin-kicks. She had never seen anything like their Firebending style. She regretted she would never be able to perform moves of that fashion with water. The training session seemed to go on for hours... They both seemed tireless, young Zuko more so. Uncle Iroh is an elderly man, after all. Finally, after constant motion and fire, the two stopped. Katara wondered why, until she realized they were both in the same place and position as they were when they began. Iroh clapped his hands together and nodded. "You're getting better, but remember- Firebending is about the breath, NOT the muscle," he said. "How many times do I have to tell you that?" he said as he walked away.
Zuko fisted his hands and shivered once more. Training session was over, but he longed to make Iroh eat those words some day. He turned to look at Katara, who had obviously decided to give them a wide berth. He wasn't surprised; this session was much more "firey", active, and widely-ranged than most. He was surprised to see her not afraid, but exited.
"That was awesome..." she said shyly. Zuko smiled a little bit. Awesome... That gave him a real good feeling. On Katara's end, she wondered why Zuko held back in his past attempts to capture Aang, if he was really that good. Zuko escorted her back to the prisonhold, but when she came back, she found it... refurnished. A bright lamp had been hung on the wall, the mattress to the "bed" had been replaced, and she had a small nightstand.
Zuko decided to ask her satisfaction... "Like it? My uncle wouldn't allow me to give you a room, so I simply made this one better... if you don't mind..."
Katara smiled. "I love it! It's not so dreary anymore..." She walked to her room, and, before laying down to bed, she turned back and said, "Thanks, Prince Zuko."
"..." That was the first time she had referred to him by name. Prince Zuko! Only his uncle had ever referred to him as that since his banishment. That made him feel really good inside.
Hours passed. While Katara rested soundly, Zuko's own sleep was haunted by dreams... Dreams he did not like... Dreams of that fateful day...
/Zuko sat in his room, hand over the bandage that covered his eye. He moaned... This was all his fault. This would be the last time he'd see his room ever again, probably... And his father! How could he have done this to him? He was the prince... his son... No matter how he begged, his own father did this to him anyway. Zuko growled.../
/The Fire Lord looked into Zuko's fearful eyes, not intending to hold back. With a loud roar, he blasted Zuko in the face- Zuko barely had time to dodge it far enough for it to miss the center of his face; He howled in pain as the flame seared over the left side of his face... He could only see out of one eye... The other eye was coated with blood.../
Zuko finally awoke, holding his aching head. He peered over to his mirror. He loathed that ugly, ugly scar- It held painful memories. He wondered... Why do some people enjoy others' pain? Why do so many people see evil in Zuko? All he wanted was to go home- To be loved. But that would never happen. The Fire Lord had already crossed the line, blew it with a nuclear bomb coated with gasoline with a match tied to it...
Zuko silently passed by Katara's room, like a phantom... Hoping to find comfort. He looked into Katara's peaceful rest... Or was it? He had heard many stories, stories of Water Tribe deaths... He remembered some women casualties; that was what crossed the breaking point for Zuko's patience for the War. Perhaps Katara's family was among the casualties..? Perhaps..?
Zuko found the necklace. The one Katara referred to as "her mother's"... Perhaps this would be the perfect time to return it. As quietly as possible, Zuko slipped into the room, and left the necklace on the nightstand. It made a small "clink" noise as it was placed onto the wood, and Zuko ran off, so as not to be seen. Katara awoke, the fist thing she saw being a brown boot rounding the corner. She found the necklace and smiled as she put it on. She looked out to the hallway one last time, and, seeing no one, fell back asleep.
Zuko realized why others found him acting strangely; it was the Water Tribe girl. He was falling for her. Falling down a bottomless pit. He wondered if he should tell her... NO! Zuko slapped himself on the face. Who was he kidding? He was a brave Fire Nation prince, fighting for his honor. Katara was his hostage, his bait to capture the Avatar. He was the brutal, heartless warrior that he had looked up to as a child. He was... Falling in love.