Didn't See That Coming

by Rebirth of the Phoenix

Here's chapter 2. Wow 2 chapters all at once! I got carried away writting so I thought I'd post the story together. Review please, any comment or critisms are welcome, even if you just want me to clarrify something for you I'd be happy to recieve your reviews.

Disclaimer: Do I own Avatar? Is the sky pink? Can my dog do the can-can? Can I go five minutes without being sarcastic? Didn't think so.


Sokka stood on the edge of a stream, alone. After Katara had shouted at them to run and he had seen Zuko, he had pretty much just legged it out of the camp. He had no idea where Aang and Katara were but he sincerely hoped that they were safe. Sokka stooped low to the water, he scooped up some water and splashed it into his face. Behind him he heard a rustling in the bushes. Sokka stood up quickly and drew out his boomerang. He stood ready, eyes fixed in the direction of the noise. Then out of the bushes came...

"Aang!" Sokka breathed a sigh of relief, putting his boomerang away. "Thank goodness it's you. I thought for a moment that it was one of those firebenders."

Aang looked just as happy to see Sokka. "That's the weird thing though. I haven't seen any other firebenders apart from Zuko. You don't think he came to find us on his own do you?"

"Well, even if he did come into the camp alone, you can bet that he had his ship docked nearby. Hey have you seen Katara?"

Aang shook his head. " No, the last time I saw her was when she shouted at us to run. You don't think Zuko got her do you?"

Sokka looked worried. "Come on Aang we gotta go find her. Mabye she's still looking for us but we've got to know for sure. Where's Appa?"

Aang shruged. "I have no idea, but hopefully he'll find us soon."

As if on cue a shadow covered the ground in the clearing. Looking up Aang and Sokka saw the unmistakable figure of Appa flying down to meet them.

"Appa! We're sure glad see you boy." Aang ran up to meet the bison as it landed. "Come on Sokka, we'll check the island from the air. If we can't see Katara then we'll go find Zuko, just in case he's got her."

Sokka ran to Appa and got onto the saddle. He heard Aang shout "Yip Yip!" and they rose into the air. Sokka looked down on the island they had made camp on. He could see Zuko's ship pulling out of the bay and he desperately hoped Katara wasn't on the ship with him.

"Hold on Katara, hold on."


Zuko stood on the deck of his ship watching the island getting smaller and smaller. He smirked, no doubt the Avatar was worried that the water girl was nowhere to be found. It was only a matter of time before he realised that Zuko had taken her. And when he came for her, Zuko would be ready.

"Prince Zuko."

Zuko turned to see his Uncle Iroh walking across the deck to him. "What is it Uncle?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just wondering how your solo search for the Avatar went, Zuko. I was also wondering why we are leaving the island when we know the Avatar is still there? You didn't catch him did you?"

Zuko smirkd. "No Uncle, I didn't catch him. We're leaving because the Avatar will be coming after me from now on. I have something he will want back. When he comes for it I will have the advantage of battling on my home turf, as it were."

Iroh looked at his nephew, bewildered. "What have you got that he wants back?"

Zuko smirked even more. "His little water peasent friend."

"But I thought you said that that boy was the biggest and most annoying idiot you'd ever seen?"

Zuko grimaced. "Not the boy, Uncle. The girl. I have the Waterbending girl."

Iroh's face brightened. "Excellent, we have a guest! Well, where is she? Does she like tea? What's her name?" Iroh looked at Zuko expectantly.

"Firstly Uncle, she is not our guest, she's a prisioner. She is currently locked in the brig, and I have no idea if she likes tea, or what her name is."

Iroh looked appalled. "You have locked a delicate young woman in that rusty old brig and you didn't even ask for her name? Zuko, if you want to impress this girl you must try harder."

Zuko could feel himself blushing slightly. "I...I don't want to impress the stupid girl Uncle, she's bait, nothing more."

"Of course Prince Zuko. May I suggest, however, that you go and release her from her cell? I'm sure she'd apprieciate it." With this said Iroh turned and walked back towards the insde of the ship, no doubt in search of tea.

Zuko sighed and shook his head. He decided to go and get the girl, he needed to interrogate her at any rate. He set off in the direction of the brig. When he reached the cell he listened for any sounds of the girl. It occured to him that he really should find out her name, he couldn't very well keep referring to her as 'the girl' forever. The cell was silent. Zuko took the key off the hook on the wall next to the cell and unlocked the door. He pushed the door open but found it wouldn't move easily. Thinking that the girl had blocked it with something he pushed into the door with most of his weight. The door opened and Zuko, looking behind the half-opened door, saw the girl lying completely still on the floor. 'Damn', Zuko thought. He went to the girl's side and crouched next to her.


Katara had heard Zuko's footsteps approaching and had put her escape plan into action. She had spent the last few hours trying to figure out how to get away and had come up with a very shaky plan. She thought that it probably had a ninety-nine percent chance of failing but it was the best she could come up with. She lay in front of the door and waited. She heard the key turn in the lock and felt the door push her across the floor. She didn't move or make a sound, she needed Zuko to think she was out of it. It worked. She heard Zuko's footsteps approaching her and felt him crouch next to her. Katara could feel Zuko's fingers checking for a pulse on her neck; her skin flared with warmth where his fingers touched her. She opened one eyelid slightly, just enough to see Zuko's blurred form. She saw him lean over her, probably to pick her up she thought, and she seized her chance. She threw out her arms, grabbed the sides of his head, and before Zuko could react, she headbutted him... hard. Katara felt slightly dazed but didn't waste any time. She bolted to her feet and sprinted out of the now open cell. She had no idea where she ws going, but the yell of fury that sounded from the cell behind her spurred her onwards. She had to get away from Zuko, no matter what.


Zuko had no idea what had just happened. One minute he was leaning over to pick the girl up, the next he was on his back, having just been headbutted, very hard. He lay there momentarily, lights flashing before his eyes. He quickly came back to reality and heard footsteps running down the corridor. His eyes travelled to the open door and he realised the girl was gone. He hollered in fury and took off after the pesky waterbender, there was no way in hell she was going to escape him, no way at all.


Katara carried on running, adrenaline adding to her speed. She passed Fire Nation soldiers but hurtled straight past them. She reached a set of stairs and ran up them. Behind her she could hear Zuko's footsteps matching her own speed. She also heard him yelling at the guards to move out of his way. Katara kept running, expecting to feel flames licking at her body at any minute. She pulled herself up one last set of steps and found herself on the deck. It was fairly empty seeing as the ship was now quite far out to sea. Katara raced across the deck, she was almost there. Her hand reached out to the railing but she had barely gripped it when a flame shot out and set fire to her sleeve. Quickly, Katara drew up some water and doused the flames out. She spun around, her breath coming in short gasps and glared at Zuko. The Fire Prince glared back, equally breathless. Katara saw, with some satisfaction, that Zuko seemed to have a bruise blossoming on his forehead, then she realised that she was probably bruised too.

"Are you crazy! What the hell do you think you're doing setting my clothes on fire?" Katara screamed furiously.

Zuko smirked at her. "You're not burnt are you?"

"That's not the point! You are such a-"

"Temper, temper," Zuko teased. "I think I have a right to be angry seeing as how you tried to knock me out and escape from the ship."

Katara drew up a ball of water. "Let's see how angry you get when I shove this ball of water straight down your throat."

Zuko formed a ball of fire in his own hand. "Is that a challenge? " He said mockingly.

At the same moment the two teens shoved their elements forward. On contact they both extinguished each other, producing a great cloud of billowing steam.

Katara couldn't see an inch in front of her face, the steam was too thick. She spun around on the spot searching for Zuko. She knew that he had the advantage here, he was trained to be able to use his other senses to guide him. The steam didn't seem to be getting any better and Katara thought she saw and figure in the mist in front of her. She stepped backwards quickly, straight into Zuko. She felt his arms wrap around her waist holding her still. Katara struggled against his grip but he didn't let up.

"Looks like I won that round. Really, even if you did make it off the ship where would you have gone? You're in the middle of the ocean, your waterbending wouldn't have been strong enough to get you all the way back to the island."

"So what, I'm meant to be grateful or something?" Katara was furious, she had been so close to getting away, she didn't want to admit to herself that Zuko was right, and that she probably would have drowned had she jumped overboard.

Zuko laughed softly in her ear. "It couldn't hurt. You'd do better to apprieciate the protection I'm giving you."

"Protection? What the hell-?"

"Think about it. You're on a ship full of men that haven't see a member of the opposite sex up close since they left home. I'm sure you can imagine what they'll think about now that you're on board. So, you are going to go back to your cell, nice and quietly, where you'll be safe from the crew?"

Katara couldn't believe her ears. "Up yours Zuko! If you think I'm staying in that rat infested hole in the wall then you've got another thing coming."

Zuko wasn't remotely amused now, why was the girl so goddamn stubborn? "What, you want to stay in the men's qarters? I'm sure that can be arranged."

"Enough!" Katara and Zuko both looked around. Walking towards them was Uncle Iroh. He stopped in front of the two teens and smiled at Katara. "Hello, my dear, I am Zuko's uncle. You may call me Iroh." He held out his hand and realised that Katara couldn't take it as she was still in Zuko's arms. He shook his head. "Zuko, would you be so kind as to release the lovely young lady?" Zuko complied, he let go of Katara, who then shook Iroh's hand.

Iroh smiled at the girl. "What is your name dear?"

"Katara." She was taken aback at how kind the old man was. He was related to Zuko?

"Why, that is a lovely name! Now back to the little tiff the two of you were having. You both have a point. Zuko, you were correct when you said that Katara needs to be able to sleep without the threat of the crew looming over her. Katara, you had a good point. There is no way that you can be expected to sleep in the brig."

Zuko crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. "Well, thanks Uncle, you've really cleared up that little problem."

Iroh smiled slightly. "Don't worry, Zuko. I will sort out Katra's sleeping arrangements. You can go back to running the ship, leave Katara to me." He turned to Katara. "Now, tell me dear. Do you like tea?"

Katara was slightly thrown by the sudden question. "Um, sure, I guess."

Iroh beamed. "Excellent! Well dear katara, come with me and we'll have teatime. Then I will show you to your new sleeping quarters."

Zuko frowned as they walked away. His crazy Uncle. As far as Zuko was aware there were no spare rooms. The crew all slept below deck in large dormitary-style rooms. He, Uncle and other important memebers of the crew slept in private rooms on the first floor below deck. Shaking his head, Zuko started walking over to the Captain's coop, he needed to check on their course.


After Katara had drank a few cups of tea with Iroh he had led her down one flight of stairs, just below deck. He had opened a door for her telling her that the room was to be where she would sleep from now on, then he had left her, saying that he would see her at dinner. Katara looked around the room. It was very nice. It was decorated in the Fire Nation's colours of red and gold. The bed was just a large mattress, slighty raised from the ground but it looked extremely comfortable. She walked over and sat on it. The sheets were red silk and the mattress was extremely soft. Katara looked around the room again. There was a wardrobe in one corner, made of dark wood with a dragon etched into the front of it. Another door led off the room, Katata could only presume it led to a private bathroom. There was also a desk in the room, it was nailed to the floor, probably to stop it moving around in stormy waters. Katara sighed, it was a damn sight better than the cell she was held in just a few hours earlier. She had only been gone from Aang and Sokka for mabye six hours, but it felt much longer. She closed her eyes and sank back onto the bed. The warmth of the mattress surrounded her and she felt herself falling into a welcome slumber.


Zuko had a head ache. The spot on his head where Katara had hit hm throbbed slightly. Katara... the name was sort of... nice. He shook his head, where the hell had that come from? He decided that he must just have been tired. It was only three in the afternoon but he had gotten no sleep the night before. The previous night he ha waited in the forest outside the Avatar's camp for hours. He needed to make sure that everyone was asleep. He had gone into the Avatar's camp around three in the morning, had gotten Katara into her cell by four. He had spent the next few hours seeing that the ship set sail. Katara had tried to escape around eight thirty and Uncle Iroh had taken her away around about nine. He had spent the past six hours plotting a course with the Captain and meeting with various members of the crew. All in all it had been a long day and Zuko decided he wouldn't be missed if he slipped away for a quick nap. A couple hours sleep before dinner sounded like heaven. He would have to find out where his Uncle had put Katara, but that could wait. He slipped below deck and headed towards his room. He opened the door, headed over to the bed and froze. Asleep on his bed was Katara. She looked peacefull sleeping there and Zuko found himself staring at her for a good couple of minutes before he snapped himself out of it. He reached out, grabbed Katara's shoulder and roughly shook her awake.


Hmm, I fore-see an argument in the very near future. This fic will not just be a Zuko-captures-Katara-and-then-keeps-her-on-his-ship-fic. You'll have to review and carry on reading to find out how the story evolves. I have to concentrate on my Drama Portfolio this week and learn my lines for my Drama Exam. If I get enough feedback I might finish my coursework earlier and have more time to write and update. Whadda'ya think? My typing speed rests in your hands guys.

Have a great start to 2006 love from Hayley.