A/N: I did it! I persevered! I DEFEATED WRITER'S BLOCK! HUZZAH! ….um, guys? Still there? reviewers glare I'M SOOWWWWWWWWYYYYY! But I'm back with a vengeance!

Disclaimer: Me: I don't own Avatar! Gosh, that felt kinda good since I haven't done it in such a long time…..smiles

Lawyers: Sorry, doesn't count. We still have authority to take you away.

Me: Say what?

Lawyers: Punishment. For keeping these poor people waiting for so long, we're taking you away to the Happy Farm. drags SakuraLuna away

Me: NOOOOOOOOO! NOT THE HAPPY FARM!

Thanks: THANK YOU TO ALL WHO REVIEWED! SPECIAL THANKS TO ML7 FOR MAKING ME GET OFF MY LAZY BUTT AND CONTINUE!

Chapter 16: Fire- Nothing

Day 7

Zuko opened his eyes, taking in his dim surroundings with ease. He allowed himself a yawn before getting up and stretching. Thinking back on yesterday he felt a small contented feeling enveloping him from the inside. But this was overlapped with shame and disgust. He had done it. He had really done it now. His focus had drifted from the Avatar and his chance for finding what he'd lost had suffered. He needed to focus on capturing the Avatar. No silly girl would distract him from that…Wait. How many days had it been? Shouldn't the Avatar have tried a rescue attempt by now? It had been, what, six, seven days. Zuko smirked to himself. Had it really been that long? It seemed like a day to him, a very blurred day. Zuko tried to remember back to the past few days and found images of Katara persistently surfacing every few seconds. When one of the 'Katara images' appeared, he found his stomach twisting and turning and his body becoming warm, like a flickering flame.

What day is it? And in what month?

This clock never seemed so alive.

Prince Zuko smothered the flame and dressed. And with the thought of canceling morning practice today (under the excuse that he had too much work to do), he began walking toward the captain's coop. He shouldn't be focusing on stupid feelings. He should be focusing on capturing the Avatar. So he could return home. But, for some reason, this passion had become tainted. Zuko scowled. He would not let his focus slip again. He was wasting time.

I can't keep up and I can't back down

I've been losing so much time

Zuko strode into the captain's coop and ordered the captain to show him their position on the map. He called over a few more subordinates and they began discussing tactics to capture the Avatar. Zuko heard a noise and looked up, the aforementioned smothered flame flaring up. Katara.

"Sir?

Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do

Nothing to lose

"Um, sir?"

Zuko followed her with his eyes. She was practically glowing, her eyes sparking like blue fire as she talked to his uncle animatedly. She looked positively…

And it's you and me and all of the people

And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

"Sir?"

Zuko snapped out of it, staring at the captain like he had just heard him. Then his eyes narrowed, daring anybody to make something out of his lack of attention. The people surrounding him obeyed. "What is it?"

The captain proceeded to explain the amount of large rocks for the catapults they had below deck, Zuko struggling to listen. And failing miserably. Through the rest of the meeting his eyes kept flicking up to track Katara's movements, his orders and inquiries stuttered and choppy.

All of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right

I'm tripping on words

"That will be all. You're dismissed," Zuko watched his crew scurry to their jobs and made a beeline for Katara and his uncle.

His uncle noted his nephew's armor. "What, no morning practice?"

Zuko scowled. "No. I have far too much work to do. You should know that."

Zuko watched his uncle's eyebrows furrow, seeing right through Zuko's false excuse. Then his eyes roved over to Katara…Zuko felt his stomach fall.

You've got my head spinning

I don't know where to go from here

Katara's face fell, her eyes narrowing in crystal clear disappointment. Iroh also noticed this and quickly changed the subject. "Katara! Why don't you show Prince Zuko the gift I gave you."

Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do

Nothing to prove

Katara furiously blushed, shaking her head. "No, that's really okay, really."

"Oh, but I insist."

"Fine," Katara lead the way to her room, Zuko following behind, curiosity getting the best of him once more.

Cause it's you and me and all of the people

And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

They entered her room and Katara almost just as soon shooed them out so that she could change.

"Uncle, why does she need to change?"

"You'll see, Prince Zuko, you'll see," Iroh chuckled.

Katara reemerged several moments later, and Zuko felt his feet lift from the ground. She was…gorgeous…though even that hardly did her justice.

There's something about you now

I can't quite figure it out

Iroh clapped. "I knew you would look beautiful in it! Prince Zuko, doesn't she look beautiful?"

Zuko felt himself flush uncomfortably. "I-uh-…I gu-…Yes," Zuko looked down at the ground, trying to rein in his emotions, but this infuriating and beautiful girl wasn't giving him much control.

Katara smiled beautifully, her crystalline eyes shimmering like the ocean. "Thank you, Prince Zuko."

Everything she does is beautiful

Zuko was left to gag on his own tongue as Katara went back into her room to change.

"So, what's next Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked.

"You know what's next uncle, preparing for when the Avatar comes."

Iroh sighed. "You really are stubborn, aren't you?"

Zuko growled. "What do you mean by that?"

"You lo-"

"I do not. And even if I did I wouldn't act on it. The Avatar is my top priority!"

Everything she does is right

"You're lying. And, can't you pretend that pride and honor doesn't exist for one second?" Iroh began to walk away. "Now, excuse me, I want a cup of tea."

Katara walked out of her room to find Zuko in a fray. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," Zuko answered tersely.

"You don't look fine."

Cause it's you and me and all of the people

With nothing to do, nothing to lose

Zuko glared and began walking off. "You try being a banished prince for a day, see how you like it," he snarled.

Katara took a step back, startled. Then she followed him, her temper flaring to chase his own. "Why are you being like this!"

And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of

Zuko spun to face her. "Why do you need to know!"

"Why won't you answer my questions!"

You and me and all of the people

With nothing to do, nothing to prove

"Because I just want you to go away!" Zuko felt pain stab his chest.

Katara's eyes brimmed with tears, she barely noticed Iroh watching on in sadness.

"Then answer my questions, and I'll go away!"

"I-"

And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

"Prince Zuko! The Avatar!"

Zuko and Katara turned away to look with a snap, both faces widened in horror. Iroh just sighed deeply, the lines in his face were never more pronounced. There was a moment where time seemed to stop, like a dream being shattered by a horn blaring, leaving the two standing dizzy and awake among the broken fragments, having forgotten that it had ever been just a dream.

"KATARA! WE'RE COMING TO SAVE YOU!"

Zuko didn't hesitate. His features steeling, he grabbed Katara's hand, interlacing his fingers within hers and took off in the opposite direction, leaving the Avatar and his pride behind him.

What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive…

A/N: sits back Woot. I never, not in my wildest dreams, imagined this chapter could end this cool and yet so evilly. I was so irritated because I thought the song didn't fit the mood I wanted to create, and yet, it ended up doing the job to a 't'. Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I did…..And….One more thing……PLEASE REVIEW! IF YOU GUYS GET ME PAST 300 REVIEWS I'LL BE SAVED FROM THE HAPPY FARM!