I'm leaving this Friday... so anyone in Fort Meyers, Florida, I'll be there! Hopefully, I'll actually get a tan this time, instead of burning like I visited hell or seomthing. I'm just now finishing peeling after two weeks ago. um, yeah. On with the oneshot!

Prince of His Own:

1096 words

warnings: none

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender, no matter how hard I wish.

Katara froze, the smile slowly fading off of her plain, pretty face. The wind ruffled her hair, reminding her to collect herself. She slid into a defense pose, uncapping her skin and glaring at the young man standing not three feet in front of her.

"I don't want to fight." He growled, his golden eyes flashing with some emotion she'd never seen in him.

"Then what do you want, Zuko?" She asked warily, not moving. He stepped forward and she froze the water in her hand into a sharply pointed dagger of ice. He stopped.

"I…ne-," He looked away, closing his eyes momentarily as if not wanting to say it. His clenched fists tightened.

"Spit it out." Katara said, growing impatient. Inside, she admitted she was curious as to why Zuko would be here without fighting her.

"I need your-." His pride got in the way once more. He growled, looking up at the sky. Katara caught the swift pain shadowing his eyes before they became the same piercing gold.

"You… need my help?" She asked, just a guess. His gaze snapped to meet her oceanic eyes.

"Are you laughing at me?" He hissed, taking a step forward. She allowed the icy knife to melt and bent it back into her container. She waved her hand, dismissing his question witha weary expression crossing her face.

"Does it look like I'm laughing, Zuko?" Katara asked. He ground his teeth.

"Prince Zuko." He corrected, his eyes smoldering. He didn't know what else to say to her retort.

"What do you need my help with?" She inquired smartly, ignoring his jibe and became all business.

"My uncle… he's wounded." He said softly. Her face softened.

"Lead the way."

It didn't take Zuko long to lead the water peasant back to his camp, where his uncle lay limply, clutching his left collarbone. Katara stopped at the edge of the clearing. Zuko, who didn't figure out she stopped until he was almost to his uncle, turned to look at her.

"What's his name?" She asked softly.

Zuko's answer was equally hushed as she walked to her side. He said his name was Iroh. Katara sank down to her knees next to the elder man. Gently, she lifted the man's tunic off and examined the wound.

Blood seeped from it in a slow, but steady flow. "What happened?" She asked, looking around for fresh water. "Get me clean water, please."

Zuko explained while fetching her water. "We were ambushed by my… relative. She can bend lightening, and while my back was turned, she shot a bolt at me. Uncle took it for me. Goes to show how honorable she is, that shameful brat." He spat bitterly. His hands held a vise like grip on the bucket of water he was holding out to Katara. She pried it gently from his arms.

"I've never healed lightening wounds, but they can't be as hard as fire wounds, which I've seen plenty of." She said the last part more to herself, but it did not go unnoticed by Zuko. He watched her work.

Night fell. Katara sighed, rocking back as she tried to relax the knots in her back and shoulders. With a groan, she stood up and stretched, casting a glance at her silent companion. He was staring into the fire, lost in reminiscence. "Make sure he sleeps at least sixteen hours a day for the next week. Green tea will help him gather his strength faster."

Without another word, she made her way through the clearing to the woods. She was just under the thick shadows when Zuko spoke, still staring into his element.

"I'm banished from my nation, denoted from my throne, and known as a traitor. Do you know what it's like to have to run away from your own country? The one you would have ruled?" He asked. His voice was emotionless. It scared her more than if a deep, painful anger tainted it.

"No, but I do know what it's like to leave your loved ones behind and to run from the Fire Nation." She answered softly. Katara padded silently and sat at Zuko's side, joining his staring contest with the fire. A small, rueful smile lifted the corners of her mouth.

"Believe it or not, I'm the daughter of the Chieftain. If my father dies, Sokka will become the head of my tribe. If he dies, I will be. I know what it's like to run away from your country, if for a different purpose and state." He was looking at her now. She trained her gaze on the fire.

"So you're not a peasant?" Zuko ventured and immediately regretted his question. Princes were supposed to know everything! Katara let out a hushed peal of laughter.

"Compared to the splendor you grew up with, my family would probably be the poorest of the poor in your nation." She answered. Her gaze grew distant. "But I love helping the children of the tribe, talking with the Elders, playing with my age mates. I'd never trade my childhood for allthat wealth."

"You're starting to make me feel less of a prince than I already am." Zuko muttered so quietly Katara wasn't sure she heard right.

"Zuko, did you know there are more than four 'princes' on this earth at this time?" Katara asked, her voice taking on a curious tone.

Zuko looked at her eagerly, as if hoping she'd give up some secret his nation could use against its enemies. "In fact, there are thousands. Princes aren't titles. A prince is someone who fights for those who can't, who gives to the poor, tends to the sick." She trailed off, suddenly sheepish of her little speech.

Suddenly, she shot up out of her seat. "I've got to go! Aang and Sokka must be worried sick!" She panicked, darting to the woods. Zuko sprinted after her and caught her by the arm.

"That's not the way to your camp." He whispered gently. She could feel his chest muscles against her back. He pulled her easily in the opposite direction. Soon, they were near her camp.

"I never knew you had this side, Prince Zuko." Katara mused. He stared fixedly at her.

His gaze switched once more to the heavens. "I should go back to Uncle." He answered. He turned andfaded into shadows. Katara knew he hadn't left though.

"Am I a prince?" A voice asked. She smiled softly, her vision swimming to the moon.

"In your own way." She answered before she also melted into the shadows, out of his sight, out of his grasp.

this is my last unil I get back from Florida. Plenty mor eto come though.

As always, please review! Think of it as a, ah, going away present!

Erica