Act 1

The Sea

Scene 1

"It's about honor! Something your ill-bred provincial mind couldn't possibly understand! I have a sworn duty to take the Avatar back to the Fire Nation!"

"You're just a puppet!" Katara shouted. "This isn't about anyone's honor! This is about war! We're trying to save the world for everyone and you're nothing more than misguided child on a wild goose chase whose idiot of a father gave him an entire navy ship to play captain with!"

"Shut up!" He reached out without thinking and pushed. Katara's body arched wildly backward over the side of the lifeboat like a slow-falling tree; with a crash she hit the water and disappeared.

Still standing in the little boat, Zuko gaped for a moment, stunned at his lack of self-control. He waited for her to come back up so he could scream at her some more, and—if he was feeling particularly generous—maybe apologize.

The problem was she wasn't coming back up.

"Don't be silly. She's a Waterbender," he said aloud to the otherwise empty raft. He waited some more, scanning the surface in case she'd drifted away.

Nothing. Not for miles.

Shit, Zuko thought, counting up the time in his head. She'd been down almost thirty seconds. Waterbenders were good swimmers; if she were conscious he could wait another three minutes at least. If she'd somehow passed out three minutes would drown her.

I'd have more water if she died.

His heart almost stopped at the insidious little thought.

No.

Taking a deep breath, the prince plunged overboard. Guilt was one thing Zuko had enough of already.

It seemed to take forever for his eyes to adjust to the pain of the salt. The stinging in his left eye was so intense he had to keep it shut, further warping his depth perception. Finally, after an agonizing period, he was able to see somewhat. The ocean that he saw was clear, and cold, and empty.

What have I done?

Something clutched his shoulder. Zuko gasped, lost half his air, and barely avoided swallowing seawater. Furiously he spun in place, arm swinging violently toward his phantom attacker.

The phantom floated a few feet away from him, hands holding onto the raft from below, watching him through the water. She didn't appear to have any difficulty holding her breath, either.

Bitch!

With a roar that neither could hear, Zuko expelled the last of his air and kicked to the surface. He hauled himself over the edge of the lifeboat and waited, seething quietly. Not too long after, Katara rejoined him.

Both soaking wet, they stared at each other across the tiny vessel.

Zuko was used to being angry or disappointed in people, so he felt he had the natural right to go first. "What the hell were you playing at?"

Katara raised her head, almost pointing her chin at him. "You pushed me."

"You're a Waterbender! It's not like it was going to hurt you!"

"Liar. You weren't even thinking at the time."

"Why did you hide down there? That's not funny, why did you do that!"

The girl lifted her eyebrows in challenge, but her words came out low and accusing. "I wanted to see if you would come and get me. If there was even a drop of honor left in the Fire Nation."

Zuko dropped his glare to the bottom of the boat, staring at the wood floor between their feet. "Don't ever play games with me," he said, softer this time. "I'm the prince of the Fire Nation. I could kill you right now if I wanted to, and it would cost me nothing. Nothing."

Katara was still for a moment, then eventually replied: "Yes, it would." The fight in her voice was gone, and her eyesgrew dull and sad as she stared into him. "It would cost you Aang."

"There you're mistaken. Having you out of the way would only make capturing him easier."

"That's not what I meant."