Thanks to SleepingDragon13, freedomfightersrule, and Little Fire Bender for reviewing... well... I have one more thing to add into the story:

Zula is Age 21 k?

and I'm gonna make Meng a bit "eviler" and "sluttier" in the story then she actually is in the show..for the smoothness and purpose of my fic.

Chapter 2: Paradise Parlor

Zuko Carson lounged lazily on the black leather couch. Outside the VIP room of the night club
Paradise Parlor, ( I know corny name) he could hear the shouts of the drunken people dancing and the smell of wine and smoke drifted through the cracks of the heavily guarded door. Around him sat four giggling girls (and probably drunk too), clinging onto him and whispering empty flattery into his ear. They didn't mean anything to him, but nevertheless, some company never hurt.

"Oh Zuko, you're so big and bad," a blonde named Janelle whispered seductively into his ear while rubbing his toned chest. "I wish I had a man like you with me all the time."

Zuko sighed mentally in disgust. He didn't care for any of these sluts.

Thankfully, just when he thought he couldn't stand it anymore, another person burst into the room, a very serious expression plastered on her face.

"Get out you whores," the woman said.

"And who do you think you are?" Janelle replied viciously, clinging tighter onto Zuko's arm. "Zuko, baby, this girl is insulting me! Do something!"

Zuko scowled at Janelle, " You should do as she says."

"But Zu-"

"Don't you understand me! I said get out! My brother and I need to talk!" Janelle's head snapped up and she and the girls around her gasped at the now impatient and infuriated sister of Zuko Carson.

"Y-you're Zula? Th-the Zula Carson?"

"Unless you want to die young, I suggest you-leave-right- now!" Zula growled. Anger ran in the family, and it seemed the younger sibling's temper was worse than her brother's.

The girls yelped and quickly scrambled out of the room, leaving the two infamous siblings behind.

Zuko shrugged and leaned back into the couch even more, "you scared away my girls." he replied monotone.

Zula narrowed her eyes, "they didn't deserve you anyway. You must work on your taste, big brother."

"What is you want Zula? I'm not known for my patience."

Zula straightened and smirked. "Oh nothing really, just something concerning Jayle."

Zuko immediately sat up, "What! What is it!"

"If you had watched the news, you would have found out that he's already dead."

"What!"

"I told you already! Aang Jayle is DEAD...Need I spell it out for you?"

"When did this happen?"

"He was killed on Christmas Eve. Isn't it good news?"

"How so?"

"Zuko! He killed our father! Of course it's good news!"

"Father never loved me anyways."

Zula frowned, but quickly regained her composure. "True, he never really cared for you. He always favored me, but of course, that didn't stop you from loving him back did it? You were never good enough. That scar is the evidence."

Zuko stood up and grabbed Zula by the collar, "Never say that! It was an accident!"

"That's what you want to belive, dearest brother, but we all know what's the truth. You angered him, you emabrrased him, he took a match and burned you when you weren't looking. That's what happened."

Zuko's grip tightened on his sister, his fingers snaking around her neck. "Don't forget your place Zula, I'm the older one."

"L-let go Zuko!"

"You know what they say, like father like son."

"Please!"

Zuko's grip loosened, and let Zula onto the floor. She gasped for a few seconds but stood up again and glared. She acted as though she had never begged him to have mercy. "You're nothing like our father. You're a coward, and you don't have the heart to kill."

"Want to stay around to watch me disprove your little theory?"

"I would love to, but I don't have the time, ta-ta for now brother." Zula smirked once again, opened the door, and left.

"So, Jayle is dead, huh?" Zuko restated to himself as he stepped out into the club.

"C'mon Katara!" Suki yelled up the stairs as she tapped her foot impatiently on the hard marble floor. "We have to leave!"

"I already told you I don't want to come!" Katara yelled back as she lay on her bed.

"You have to! You've shut yourself in that stupid room of yours ever since his death! Besides, if you can't go, who's gonna come with me?"

"Call up some other girlfriends, or ask Sokka!"

"Katara! If you don't come down this instant, I'm gonna come up there and drag you down. You're coming with me, whether you like it or not!"

"Fine...I'll be right down."

A few minutes later, a very tired sad looking Katara came down the steps, she was dressed in normal clothing and only had a little eyeshadow and lip gloss on.

"You're gonna wear that? You know we're going to a club right?"

"So?"

Suki sighed, she knew that it was already a miracle that Katara had agreed to go with her. She didn't want Katara to change her mind, so she decided not to push it. "Alright, let's go."

"Give me the usual, Sam," Zuko told the bartender as he rubbed his head.

"Right away Mr. Carson," the bartender replied as he hurried away to make Zuko's Mojito. (a/u: I personally can't drink yet...so I have no idea what kind of drink a mojito is..but i know i heard it somewhere .")

"Had a rough day?" a voice came from behind him.

Zuko knew it was a girl's voice and barely bothered to glance up as a girl with braided midnight black hair and bangs sat down next to him on the stool. She seemed around 20 or 21. He only grunted.

"I suppose that's a yes," she smiled, showing a set of pretty crooked, yet white, teeth. "I'm Meng."

No reply

"And you are?"

"Just call me Mr. Carson."

"Oh surely I couldn't. I usually only call my elders Mr. and Mrs. you hardly seem much older than me. You do have a first name right?"

Zuko shut his eyes and squeezed them together. The music was pounding in his ears and his head already hurt. This girl wasn't helping at all. He had a better look at her. She was wearing a very tight pink cami, exposing a large amount of cleavage even though her chest was basically flat, not to mention the small belly she had. She was wearing short short short jeans that we ripped and had her face covered in too much makeup. I guess some people found that attractive but Zuko wasn't interested. Girls were merely a distraction in life.

"I said you can call me Mr. Car-"

"Meng?" a voice inturrupted them.

Katara reluctantly entered Paradise Parlor behind Suki. She wore her usual loose faded jeans and her gray sweatshirt. She didn't know why she had even bothered to put on any makeup at all. She was in a depressed mood, and she already wanted to go home.

"Don't worry Kat, it'll be fun." Suki said as she dissapeared into a crowd of dancing people. Katara just sighed again and made her way over to the bar, she needed some time alone.

As she approached, she noticed that everybody was out on the dance floor, and only two people sat on the stools. Probably some drunk couple. Katara thought to herself. She better avoid them in case of trouble. But as she got closer and closer, she started to get a better look at the two figures. The girl had her hair braided into two pig tails and was chatting with a boy that seemed highly uninterested.

Wow that girl looks a lot like someone I know. Who was it? Oh yes, she looks a lot like Meng.

Wait...MENG!

Katara stopped in her tracks. It was Meng! There was no mistaking it.

"Meng?" she called as she quickly hurried over, her shock and confusion turning to outrage.

The boy and Meng turned around and when Meng saw who it was, her eyes widened. "K-Katara!"

"Y-you whore! How dare you! How dare you this to him. Y-you said you loved him! And now look at you! You're already throwing yourself onto another guy!"

Meng scoffed, "Well, we all know you're the one that's a whore. You guys were cheating behind my back! He didn't deserve me anyway!"

Katara just gaped. Didn't deserve her? Didn't deserve her? Tears threatened to pour down her face as all the things that happened in the past two days re-hit her on the head.

"Aww... is little Miss Lee gonna cry? If you can't take the heat dear, you shouldn't sta-" SMACK

Katara's hand had came flying directly towards Meng cheek and hit her hard. "Y-you know he was only my best friend. He gave the best to you! He thought you loved him! I told him-I told him you were dirt, But he didn't listen. I-I hate you! You're a whore, a slut, a tramp!" Katara was breaking down, yet she wouldn't let Meng see her cry, she would be strong.

"How dare you- how dare you slap me! Oh, you're gonna get it, you bitch! I'm gonna get the guys right now. When I come back, you are so dead!" Meng got up, glared up at Katara, who was much taller than her, and stormed away.

Zuko watched all this in silence. He didn't know who this shaking girl was in front of him, and he felt like he was trapped. He didn't know why they hated each other. His guess was that they were fighting over some guy.

Before he knew what was happening, the girl had collasped on the stool next to him and was hiccuping and sobbing and even laughing at herself. She seemed hysterical at the moment. Zuko didn't if he should be afraid or worried.

"You probably think I'm crazy don't you?" Katara asked next to him. She really didn't know who he was, didn't even really know what he really looked like. Her vision was blurred. The only thing she knew, was at the moment, she needed someone to talk to, or else she would go insane.

"Uh..." was all Zuko could say. He didn't really want to make her even more upset. I mean for godsakes, he didn't even know the girl! "Do you need anything?"

"Stupid slut, all he did for her, didn't deserve it," the girl was now muttering to herself. She calmed down and wiped away the tears. With one last sniffle, she seemed back to normal. "Sorry" she murmured softly.

"For what?"

"Sorry I made your girlfriend go away. I'll be leaving now."

Zuko nearly gagged. girlfriend? If he hadn't thought this girl was crazy before, he certaintly did now. How could he like that petite, wannabe slut that called herself Meng? "She wasn't my girlfriend! She was such a nuisance, I should be thanking you, you shoo'ed her away for me."

The girl laughed bitterly. Then, she smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. Her very alluring beautiful blue eyes. Zuko blinked. Did he just think that? Must be the Mojito. he thought it's getting to my head. "I hate Meng. I'm Katara, by the way."

Oh no not again, Zuko thought as Katara sat back down. He had thought she was a different girl, but what had happened earlier with Meng was repeating itself all over again. He waited for Katara to ask him what his name was.

"I hate this club." Was what she said. Not 'what's your name?' or 'who are you?' or 'what can i call you'. Zuko was quite surprised at the statement.

"If you hated it, then why would you come here in the first place," he replied, unaware of what he was saying until it had already come out of his mouth.

Katara looked up, surprised he had actually responded. He didn't seem like a people person. "I-I was forced, well, kind of. My friend wanted me to come with her and she didn't want to go alone."

"Oh. Well, couldn't she ask someone else to come with her?" Zuko said, this girl, Katara, hadn't asked him any personal information yet. They had already been talking for 30 seconds. Wow, a new record in his book.

"That's what I told her" Katara said bitterly, "But she insisted on taking me." Katara didn't really know this guy, heck, she didn't even know his name, so she decided to leave out the part about her best friend's death and her locking herself in her room.

"Just ask it already," Zuko said. Usually he found it annoying when girl's asked him his name, but this girl, who hadn't even mentioned anything yet, was ticking him off. It was almost as though he wanted Katara to ask him.

"Ask what?"

"Aren't you going to ask me what my name is? And then you're gonna start flirting with me like there's no tomorrow, and then you're gonna ask me if I'm dating and then I'll reject you like I do to every girl."

"Uh...it never occured to me to ask you nam-"

"My name is Zuko," Zuko smacked himself inwardly. What was he doing? The girl didn't want his name, she didn't care, all she needed was someone to talk to, and yet here he was, telling some strange girl his name. He hadn't even said Mr. Carson! What was wrong with him.

"Hello...Zuko," Katara said.

"I-"

"Guess who's back!"

Katara turned around involuntarily, but Zuko didn't bother. He knew it was that Meng girl.

"Oh, it's you." Katara said bored, and was about to turn back around when she noticed three big and dirty men appear behind Meng.

"This the one causin you trouble?" one of the men growled.

"Yea" Meng said, smirking at Katara's frightened expression.

"Listen girlie, you're gonna get it for messin with Meng," the other man said. "You're coming with us." They made a grab for Katara's arm. Katara screamed, but she couldn't be heard over the loud music.

Zuko had been listening all along. He could tell by the voices of the men that they weren't friendly and Katara was going to get it. He didn't see how someone could hurt women. Painful memories re-entered his head as he remembered how his mother had died. Besides, Katara hadn't really done anything. By the sound of the conversation before, it had seemed that Meng had been the one that was cheating. Zuko knew he shouldn't intefere, but he knew it was going to come back to haunt him if he let Katara be dragged away and beaten up. "Leave her alone." he growled as he stood up from his stool and turned around.

"Who are you to tell us what to do, you bas-" The man stopped what he was about to say as he saw Zuko, "Mr. Carson, sir! What a surprise! I didn't know she was with you! Heh, I was gonna do anything h-honest!"

"Why am I not surprised Joe, and look you have Mac and Harry with you, too," Zuko said as he stared at the men in front of him. It was actually quite amusing to look at three men twice his size cower before him.

"We're s-sorry Mr. Carson, sir!" Harry replied.

Meng glared at the men, "what are you doing? what's the problem? you can beat him up too, for all I care!"

Joe looked down at Meng, "Meng, are you crazy! Don't you know who that is? He'll have our heads!"

"No, I don't know who he is, and I don't care! I want that girl gone!"

Zuko knew he shouldn't hurt women, but Meng was seriously pushing it. "Have you ever heard of the The Flames?" Zuko said maliciously.

"Th-the flames?" Meng's face whitened. "Isn't that the biggest gang in the world?It's like the mafia! Wait, Carson? That name-I've heard it before. Zuko Carson! You're Zuko Carson!"

Zuko couldn't help himself. He smirked, "the one and only."

Still in the grasps of the three men, Katara gasped. She had been talking to the Zuko Carson! He was like the biggest, baddest, most infamous gang leader living! His father-his father was Ozai! How could she not have noticed it!

"Sorry Meng, but we gotta follow Mr. Carson's orders. He's the boss," Joe told Meng.

"Let her go, Joe," Zuko said. "And you!" he pointed at Meng, "get out of my sight."

The three men quickly scattered and Meng backed away.

Zuko glanced down at Katara who was now on the ground.

"You-you're Zuko Carson?" She gasped out, not having caught her breath yet.

"Yes, is there a problem?" Zuko said. That ungrateful brat, he had just saved her life.

"You! Your a wanted criminal!"

"Is there any evidence against me!"

"Ye-well, No! But everyone knows you're guilty!"

"So?" Zuko was getting extremely annoyed. Who did this girl think she was anyways? She was talking to him without any sign of resepct. Perhaps he should have let Joe and his men take her away.

"Katara!" Suki yelled as she came up and grabbed Katara's arm. Zuko realized this must have been the friend Katara had been talking about earlier. "We have to go!"

"I-Ok," Katara replied as she let Suki lead her through the crowd. Zuko watched as Katara gave one last glimpse back at him before exiting through the doors. What a strange girl, he thought.

"So?"

Zuko looked to his right, even thought he knew who it was already, "You know you shouldn't eavesdrop Zula,"

"I couldn't help myself," Zula sneered. "It was just so fun watching all the drama. You never told me you were so good with the ladies."

"Whatever, all I did was save her life."

"Now you know you can't get soft brother, even if she was a women."

"So are you saying I can hit women?"

"If the situtation calls for it, yes."

"So if I hit you at this moment, you can't complain about morals and all that crap."

"ha ha, Zuko, very funny. But seriously, out of all those people, you had to converse with her."

"Who?"

"Don't you know who that girl is?"

"Who, Katara?"

"Yes, whatever her name is. Don't you know?"

"Just tell me already!"

"You really ought to watch the news more often. Her name is Katara Lee, NYPD officer, assigned to the case of Aang Jayle's murder. Oh, and she was his best friend."

"What!"

"You are so clueless sometimes big brother."

"It doesn't matter who she was. I'll probably never see her again."

"Whatever you say, Zuko, whatever you say."

If only Zuko knew how wrong he would be...

"Hey, who was that guy you were talking to back there in the club?" Suki asked Katara as they drove home, "He was pretty cute, except that horrible scar over his face."

"I never really noticed, "Katara replied, "and besides, I have a boyfriend already Suki!" She decided against telling Suki about who Zuko really was. Knowing Suki, she would panic.

"I know Katara," Suki said, "But you gotta admit, that guy was pretty hot, not to mention his msucles!"

"You do know that talking about another guy is considered disloyal to my brother right?" Katara joked, hoping it would cause Suki to change the subject.

"You know I love your brother and only your brother," Suki said.

"I know," Katara replied, though absentmindly,her thoughts we someplace else, more specifically on another person...

She didn't even hear Suki say, "You know Katara, tomorrow you start your job on-on Aang's murder. I wish you the best of luck."

Katara awoke to the sound of her blaring alarm clock. With one swipe of her hand, she shut it off. She didn't even remember falling asleep in bed yesterday. Slowly, the sun hadn't come up yet, and her clock read 6:01.

It was the first day on the case, and Katara was starting to regret ever agreeing on taking the case.

I'll just have to get it over with.

Katara sleepily entered the NYPD building an hour later. She was still tired, and Max was already coming towards her with another boy by his side.

"Katara!" Max said happily, though you could tell it was a fake tone, "How are you doing today?"

"Just let me do my job, Max,"Katara said as she started to go around the two men.

"But Katara, it's not just your job anymore," Max stated, "Meet your new partner, Haru." He pointed at the boy standing next to him.

"What? You can't be serious, Max!" Katara was mad now, "This is my case! I'm doing it alone!"

Max pulled Katara aside, "Now you listen, Katara," he whispered viciously,"This kid is the boss's nephew and it's his first day on the job. If I want a raise, I gotta treat the kid good. You gotta work with me here, Katara."

"But Ma-"

"I already toldyou Katara, no buts. Haru is your new partner!Good luck on your first day."

" So... " the boy named Haru began..."your my new partner huh?"

Katara whirled around. She already didn't like this boy, "Just to let you know, this is MY case. Don't try to take charge!"

"Woah, I'm just trying to help,"Katara put his hands up in defense. "Besides, I already have a suspect in custody."

"Really? Who?"

"C'mon, I'll show you, he's in the interogation room as we speak."

"How'd you get a suspect that fast?"

"Well...there isn't really much evidence against the suspect, but the NYPD does have a perfect motive as to why the suspect would want to kill Aang."

"His name his General Jayle, and you will address him as such. Only friends and family call him Aang."

"Sorry, didn't know it was that personal." Haru responded, "Anyways, I'll show you the suspect. Follow me." He started towards the interrogation room and Katara quickly followed.

"Wait! So you're telling me you put an innocent man into custody?"

"There's a 70 percent chance he's guilty, you know."

"Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, you should know that!"

Haru suddenly stopped. "Okay, listen Katara. I'm sorry if we got off on a bad start. Can we start over? After all, we're going to be partners, right?"

"I guess..."

"I'm Haru, what's your name?" It was childish, but Haru extended his hand and smiled.

"I'm...Katara. Glad to meet you, Haru." Katara replied, and they shook hands. "Now, are you going to show me the suspect or not?"

"Right this way," Haru said as he opened the door and Katara stepped inside the interrogation room.

"LET ME GO! I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" a voice immediately roared.

Katara looked up and gasped when she saw who she was looking at.

The two stared at each other for a brief moment of surprise and simultaneously yelled ,"YOU!"

Katara Lee and Zuko Carson had no idea they would ever be seeing each other again...but by the looks of it, they were going to be seeing a lot of each other...

Ok...this chapter was basically just some innocent fluff. Don't get the wrong impression that I'm making Zuko OOC cuz just becuse he saved Katara from a bad beating doesn't mean he likes her or anything. It's not exactly love at first sight. For now, they still don't have any feelings for each other...in case of confusion. Hope you liked this chapter...please review. please please please review...THX