The good news! I'm over my writing block for the next few chapters of this. Bad news! I've got total writer's block for my other fic, Culture Clash. Anyway, on we go. On y va!

Act 2

The Fisherman

Scene 6

When Zuko woke up the next time—he'd fallen asleep again mere minutes after their last little quarrel—it was the next afternoon. Katara was also inside, reading again, and she looked over at him from her sitting place near the cabin entrance. She watched as he sat up, rubbed his eyes, and managed to pull his hair back into its usual ponytail. Having seen for a few days now how strange he looked without it, she was almost greatful to see something familiar about his appearance.

She waited patiently to see what he'd do next, and was not disappointed. After a few seconds Zuko shoved himself off the bunk and stood, resolution crossing his features.

"Hey," she said, stopping him before he could make his way toward the deck.

"What now?" Katara sucked in her breath, calming her impulse to snipe at his tone.

"You should know, he thinks you're a soldier. I told him your name was Iroh. That's your uncle's name, right?"

Zuko's eyes narrowed and he leaned forward, scrutinizing her.

"Why," said the prince slowly, "would you tell him that?"

"I thought… I thought that…" What did he want her to say? That on some level she actually trusted her sworn enemy over a total stranger? That she was afraid for both their lives if their host knew who he was carrying?

Zuko looked her up and down and made a snide hmph sound, then turned back toward the cabin steps.

What are you doing? she asked herself, looking at his back. You're lying for a firebender. And worse, one who doesn't evenappreciate what you're doing.

"Alright," he muttered, not even speaking in her direction but somehow managing to make it clear he was talking to her. "I suppose my name is Iroh then."

Katara watched him ascend to the deck, then went to the bottom of the steps. She didn't go outside, but stood near the cabin entrance listening.

The conversation above was muddled, but some pieces seeped through. She could tell Zuko was demanding to know their destination again (in this Katara wished him all her luck), among other things. After some back and forth—most of Zuko's sentences being louder and easier to discern than the fisherman's— she heard some shuffling, the sound of something banging like a door, and then the clear statement:

"If you want to know where we are, figure it out for yourself boy."

Then suddenly Zuko was coming down the steps and Katara jumped back, looking everywhere but at him. He stormed right past and over to the bunks, tossing something metal to the side. She leaned over and picked it up, turning it carefully in both hands.

It was a sextant.