Timeline notes: Okay, we've all seen the seaon finale, right? Was it not many levels of fabulous? Anyway, I originally had this set in the middle of season 1, before the Northern Water Tribe episodes, but I was thinking that it actually works okay after the finale too. Maybe even better, from a characterization point of view.

But the difference is that in this fic, Zuko was reunited with his crew after the battle at the North Pole. We'll assume the crew didn't die from Ocean-Spirit-zilla Aang (hard to tell anyway), and that Iroh and Zuko are not considered traitors yet. Basically they're in the same situation as they were before the finale, except now Zuko's more likely to question himself and the purpose of his quest.

Why do this? Why create an AU explanation instead of just setting the fic before the finale? – Katara. I loved her battle and her confidence in the finale and I think I make her pretty confident anyway, so my characterization of her works better post-finale. She's confident in her skills as a bender and is a little more mature than she was before arriving at the North Pole.

Act 1

The Sea

Scene 2

Their second full morning lost at sea found Katara and the prince doing what they'd done most of the day before and the day before that: sitting in the tiny boat and existing. Large enough to hold four people at best, it was still crowded with two, being more of a bucket with sides than a proper craft. They had a few flasks of water left but no more food; all in all itmade for a very empty little vessel.

Fights and arguments had filled their first two days, interspersed with a great deal of sleeping, though Katara always seemed to fall asleep first and wake up last. Their initial venom had settled a bit after Zuko pushed her overboard and then jumped in after her. Civility was still beyond them, but they were able to have almost normal conversations now.

Well, Katara was able to have almost normal conversation. Zuko didn't talk much and when he did she rarely liked what she heard. This particular moment was more of the same. They lay sprawled out in the lifeboat, head on opposite sides of the raft, both lazy from the heat and lack of food. Katara was speaking, gesturing grandly as she did so, talking on and on, about this and that. Zuko had his hand up in front of him, staring at it diligently. He was busy slowly creating a flame above his fingertip, moving it from one tip to another, or lighting and moving multiple tiny flames from finger to finger, not unlike the way other people play with their hair.

"So Sokka, being stupid like all boys are, decided it would be better if we used the shorter staff instead, and I trie--what are you doing?"

"What?"

"The fire on your fingertips was moving in time to my words!"

"Are you insane?" he asked, trying to cover the fact that he had been doing exactly that.

"Is my conversation really so terrible that you can't manage common manners?"

"Yes."

Katara glowered at him across the boat, arms folded over her chest. From this distance she merely had to move her foot a little to the side to kick his leg, but she didn't think it worth the energy. "I know some people are nicer when you separate them from their jobs, but you're just a beast all of the time, aren't you?"

"I'm a beast?" Zuko's royal sensibilities found this concept more offensive than it should have been, considering the source. It was just no one had ever called him a beast before.

"This coming from a girl raised by penguins," he retorted.

"Penguins have better manners than you do, your highness."

"You would know."

"So would you if you looked at this world as anything other than something to mow down!"

So much for a peaceful, dull morning, Zuko thought, hackles rising.

"Are we back to that again? It never ends with you does it!"

"I can't believe I'm hearing this!" Katara groaned, bringing her hands to her head. "How can you be so casual about a war that's tearing the world apart!"

"The war is old news little girl. In case you penguin progeny can't keep a proper calendar, let me be the first to inform you that it's been going on fora long timenow."

"You really do only care about yourself, don't you," she said, glaring at him and the arrogance with which he dismissed everything that wasn't related to his precious Avatar.

He probably didn't even know Aang's name, she thought sourly.

"I don't care about you, if that's what you're asking."

Hardy har har. I don't like you either.

"Then why'd you try to rescue me?" she demanded, more to have something to say back than because she really cared.

Zuko looked away and muttered under his breath. "Becauseofmyuncleyoustupidlittlegirl."

"What?"

"It's nothing!"

Katara couldn't help it. He was squirming and all of a sudden she was intrigued.

"No, really, what?"

"Alright, fine," he snapped. "The reason is that sometimes, on the barest occasion, talking to you is like talking to my uncle."

Katara blinked at this odd comparison. She pondered briefly back to the old man she'd seen around Zuko, the same old firebender who'd confronted Zhoa at the oasis. The most she could remember was that he had seemed less annoying than the boy in front of her.

"He's an annoying old man," Zuko continued, "But I find myself obligated to him. And at rare moments I even feel something that might vaguely resemble a positive feeling in his general direction."

Well that was a whopping big lie, Zuko thought as soon as the words came out of his mouth. He did realize everything his uncle had done for him and he was completely grateful for his presence on the journey. But she didn't need to know about it. She could believe whatever she wanted or whatever he felt like feeding her.

"How big of you," was all Katara could think to say, not without sarcasm.

"The point is," Zuko said in a rush, deciding he wanted this conversation over, "he'd fire-lash me if I murdered someone through negligence of action. It has absolutely nothing to do with you."

"But... you just said I reminded you of him."

"That was a completely separate comment, and intended as an insult!"

Katara could only gape. "When you were growing up, did anyone ever tell you you're like a wind-up doll?"

"If anyone dared I'd burn their tongue right out of their mouth."

"Now I know you're lying."

"Why? I could burn you right now," he threatened, sitting up a little straighter.

"And I could drown you first," she returned.

"I'm faster."

"Look around."

"I could burn the raft instead," he pointed out. "Even a master waterbender would eventually drown, and you're not that good yet."

Katara's eyes blazed and for a moment she almost considered doing it: taking a wave of frosted seawater and tossing him into the drink just to remind him who'd beaten who the last time. Bastard thought he was so wonderful at bending. If it hadn't been for Aang's compassionate nature...

At the last second she reigned in her temper, and leaned back to smirk instead. This wasn't unlike fighting with her brother at times. She could be the calm one. He wasn't so scary.

"Spitefulness is a sign of immaturity, you know."

"Says the little girl."

"Stop calling me a little girl!" she yelled, instantly forgetting her plan to be mature. All day she'd ignored it, but enough was enough. She was getting so sick and tired of being called by that insulting, patronizing phrase!

"You shriek like one," Zuko replied coolly, sensing a sore spot and deciding to poke at it. "How old are you? Eleven?"

"I'm fourteen and you know it!"

"How should I know that?"

"You've got eyes don't you?"

"I wouldn't waste them looking at you for long enough to think about it."

"I hate you," she snarled.

"Remind me on the imaginary day that I start to care."