As they flew quickly away from the warships, Zuko replayed the fight in his mind. Slowly he started to focus on one moment, when they realized they'd been ambushed. Out of the corner of his eye the rocks above started to fall, with the petite waterbender standing below them. Without thinking, he launched himself towards Katara, grabbing her waist and rolling her to safety.
"What are you doing?" Her irritation was clear.
"Keeping rocks from crushing you." Zuko felt anger rising in his chest. He didn't expect Katara to be grateful, but why be rude about saving her life? This girl was a mystery - an impossible, frustrating one.
"Okay, I'm not crushed. You can get off me now." He jumped back quickly and released her, embarrassed that he hadn't realized he was still holding her.
Now he eyed the girl, who was lost in her own thoughts. The wind whipped her dark locks, wild and free, as her ocean eyes studied the skyline. He thought about the way her small form felt in her arms, warm and soft for the moment he held her. But Katara's irritation, her ungratefulness tainted the moment for him. Instead, he thought of their next contact, when she actually helped him. The moment they touched, he'd felt an electricity jolt through him. Sure, it could've been the rush of free falling or surviving his psychopath sister. But her soft hand sliding into his and pulling him to safety was the greatest thrill of the day.