A/N:

The part with Zuko walking to the dungeon cell happens at the same time as the last part of the previous chapter, just through Zuko's POV…wow, that makes basically no sense at all. Just read and hopefully you'll see what I mean…

Walking down the long stone corridor that led to the dungeon, Zuko paused. He wasn't sure if he wanted to see the people he betrayed just now. Or, ever, for that matter. What was he supposed to say to them?

In his hands he carried a bowl of water that he had brought, just in case his uncle was dehydrated from sitting in a cell for the past few hours.

If Azula knew that he was down here, she wouldn't be happy. She had expressly forbidden anyone to look in on her prisoners until tomorrow at least. Yet Zuko felt he needed to go, in an attempt to quell the horrible feeling of guilt that he had.

It isn't my fault that the Avatar's friends were stupid enough to come back to Ba Sing Se, Zuko reminded himself firmly.

No, but it was your fault they had to leave in the first place, replied a voice in the back of his mind. This voice had been cropping up ever since he had joined Azula, and Zuko assumed that it was his conscience. Whatever it was it was annoying the hell out of him.

Only because you know I'm right, his conscience muttered.

Carrying on walking, Zuko tried to run through what he would say to them. After worrying about it for a minute he decided not to say anything. You can't go wrong with not saying anything.

After all, if I hadn't said anything in my father's war chambers I wouldn't even be in this mess…

He reached what he had been told was the right door, and was about to open it when he heard the Waterbender's voice.

"Don't mind Zuko, he's just-"

She cut herself off when Zuko opened the (extremely heavy) door.

"I'm just what?" He asked.

The Waterbender (Katara, if Zuko's memory served correctly) seemed incapable of answering, so settled for glaring at him.

Stupid peasant…as if that's meant to intimidate me, Zuko thought scornfully. …Okay. You can stop now.

However, Katara didn't stop, so Zuko stepped over to his uncle. It wasn't difficult; the cell was so small that it only just contained its three prisoners. Zuko didn't look at his uncle as he set the bowl of water down in front of the old man.

"What did he just put down?" A voice asked suspiciously. Zuko turned to see the Earthbender staring at the bowl sightlessly.

"A bowl of water." He replied, edgily. It unnerved him, however much he didn't want to admit it, to be around the people he betrayed.

The Earthbender sighed and turned her head to Katara.

"What did he just put down?" She asked again.

The Waterbender stood up with difficulty, as it was no easy task considering her arms had been chained up.

"Looks like a bowl of water." She told her friend, peering to see into the bowls content.

"That's because it is a bowl of water!" Zuko snapped, his temper rising.

Whilst it was true that the girls had no reason to trust him, did they have to debate about something as trivial as this?

Katara flexed her fingers, moving her hand as much as she could inside the manacle. The water in the bowl rose a few feet. Suddenly, the Waterbender sharply jerked her hand, making the water to slap Zuko across the face.

"Yep. Definitely water." She smirked, wincing slightly as her hand movement had caused her wrist to slam against the cold side of the manacle.

Half of his head now sopping wet, Zuko clenched his fists in fury. How dare she? Stupid Water Tribe peasant, she has no right to treat royalty like that! Zuko thought, momentarily reverting back to old thoughts.

From the corner of his eye, Zuko could see his uncle watching him very carefully. Realising that his fists were still clenched, he slowly unfurled them.

"I'm not that low, Uncle. I'm not about to hit a girl who can't hit back." Zuko said, looking at Uncle Iroh, who nodded curtly.

"Oh, but tying a girl to a tree is acceptable?" The Waterbender asked indignantly.

"He tied you to a tree?" Whispered the Earthbender incredulously.

"Some other time, Toph." Katara replied, and then turned to Zuko, hoping for an answer to her question.

"When said girl isn't cooperating, then yes." He spat back, then shook his head angrily. "I didn't have to come here."

"Then why are you here?" Uncle Iroh asked, in a somewhat neutral voice.

Zuko was stuck. He couldn't tell them that he came here because he felt guilty, or came because he wanted to make sure they weren't dying of thirst.

"I…Azula told me to." He lied.

"And do you do everything your little sister tells you to do?" Katara asked, her eyebrows raised.

"Well, if your little sister can shoot lightning out of her fingertips then I think it's probably wise to." The Earthbender - Toph - murmured.

"Whose side are you on here, Toph?" Katara muttered out of the side of her mouth.

"Sorry." Toph mumbled back, smiling slightly.

Sighing, Katara faced Zuko, her eyes blazing.

"This works out well then. You don't want to be here, and we really don't want you to be here, so you can leave." She said unkindly, putting extra emphasis on the "really" part of the sentence.

"Fine." Zuko shot back, picking up the bowl of water. Just as he turned to leave, Katara shouted something, making him stop.

"You talked about honour like it was important to you! But do you really think what you're doing is honourable?"

"I'm helping my Nation win the war. In their eyes it's honourable." Zuko replied.

"In their eyes it may be honour. But in everyone else's eyes, it's murder." Katara said, her voice, to Zuko's surprise, filled with suppressed emotion.

Not having a suitable comeback, Zuko opened the heavy door and left, slamming it behind him with his free hand. Walking swiftly down the corridor, but careful not to spill the water, Zuko thought about what Katara had said. As much as he hated to admit it, her last statement had affected him. He stopped and leant against the corridor wall, placing the bowl at the side of him.

Keep it together. If you fall apart every time some Water Tribe girl accuses the Fire Nation of murder then you're not going to get anywhere. It' s a war…of course there are going to be losses. It isn't the Fire Nation's fault that they're the stronger side in battle, Zuko thought, but not really convincing himself.

Leaning down and cupping his hands together, he dipped them in the cool water. Splashing his face, Zuko tried to concentrate on something besides the war for at least two seconds.

Needless to say, it didn't work.

Zuko slammed the door shut angrily. Katara swallowed, and sat back down, shaking. She took several deep breaths before looking at Toph and Iroh, smiling.

"So, on a scale of one to ten: one being us burned alive and ten being us kicking the crap out of him, I think that was about a…?"

"Oh a five at least." Iroh said, his eyes crinkling in amusement. Toph however didn't smile, just looked confused.

"Toph, what is it?" Katara asked worriedly. Toph nodded at the door which Zuko had just stormed out of.

"He's lying." She said, a frown creasing her brow.

Katara rolled her eyes. "He's Zuko; of course he's lying." She paused. "Wait, lying about what?"

"He said Azula told him to come here. His heart rate says differently. I'm betting Azula doesn't even know he's down here." Toph told her, turning her head to Katara and Iroh as she spoke.

Katara opened her mouth to say something, but words failed her. So she settled for simply frowning slightly and looking at the door.

Someone must have told him to come down here. He's Zuko. He wouldn't come of his own accord…right? And why did he bring that water? Was it for his uncle? But why would he do that, after betraying him? After betraying all of us?

Katara shook her head at all the questions, deciding to think about it in the morning. Everything would make more sense after a few hours of sleep. She hoped.

A/N:

And that's my Christmas present to you all, lol. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to review, and have a Merry Christmas!