Disclaimer: Oh how I wish...but no sorry, don't own and/or live in the world of Avatar.

"My Lady!!! Princess Azula!!" Azula's eyes snapped open and she rolled to one side of the enormous green bed to peer out the window. "Barely light out; did I not specifically give instructions to be woken later this morning? I swear these incompetent…" she continued to growl to herself as she grabbed a black, silk robe and opened the carved wooden door to her new, and former Earth King's bedroom. The Dai Li agent's fist was mid-air as he was about to continue pounding on the door, but he quickly snapped to attention at Azula's fierce expression.

"P-p-princess Azula," he stuttered seeing her scowling face, and all thoughts of urgency flying out of his head. "I'm sorry to disturb you this early, truly…"

"Spit it out!" she snapped.

"Prince Zuko, he's gone."

Azula was not one to storm and rage like her brother. Her anger was more frightening in its icy, calculating cruelty; much like her deadly but emotionless lightening bending. But now her eyes bulged, "What!!" Then narrowed again, as the Princess recollected herself and stood in the doorway quickly weighing her options.

"I'm sorry; do you want me to send a patrol after him? He was just discovered missing, your uncle as well," he suggested meekly and added, "there were a few knocked out guards, and stolen items; we're investigating right now."

Azula replied with a deadly smile and the guard had to suppress a shudder. "No, no, let my dear brother go. I can't waste valuable men and time on him." The Dai Li agent looked at her in surprise. "Finish your investigation, report your findings, and send Mai and Ty Lee to me. That will be all," she dismissed him with a careless wave of her hand.

Azula dressed quickly in her simple, militant earth garb, muttering to herself as she waited impatiently for her friends to arrive. "Maybe he's not as stupid as I thought..." Finally Mai walked in bleary eyed and yawning, followed by a cheerful-as-ever Ty Lee. "Azula do you know what time it is?" Mai asked hoarsely.

"Don't worry Mai, you'll like this. Ladies, I have a task for you."

The newly formed group slept-in late the next morning; Aang being the first to rise, and finding the sun well into the sky. He stood up and yawned widely. Then crept quietly through the camp, around the sleeping bodies, and over to the water boy's bedroll. "Sokka, Sokka," he whispered into the warrior's ear. Sokka's only response was an indistinct grumble as he shifted around in the fur. After several more unsuccessful attempts, Aang sighed and climbed to his feet. It seemed he would go on a solitary foraging expedition this morning.

An hour or so later, said Water Tribe boy bolted upright, breathing hard; he couldn't remember the exact nightmare, something about a pink-clad, bubbly contortionist. I fell asleep!!! He had failed to keep watch over the firebenders. Well no, firebender; Zuko. If anything's happened, if Katara's hurt, I'll never forgive myself. After a cursory glance around the quiet camp he sighed in relief. Phew, okay Katara's safe, everyone's here. I'll just go wake up Aang…Wait a minute, Aang!!!! Where's Aang?!!!?

Zuko groaned and rolled over, still tired and achy from the previous evening, but feeling much better for a decent night's rest. What had woken him up? And what was that annoying sound? It's getting louder. Puzzled, Zuko threw the blankets from over his head. He was greeted by the dazzling brilliance of the sun and a shrill, indistinguishable squawking.

Upon searching for Aang more carefully without any success, Sokka had one clear and irrational thought; Zuko. Zuko, still trying to find the exact source of the disturbance, rolled over and was treated to a sight which almost made him laugh, almost. The water tribe "warrior" was currently flapping his arms in irritation, rambling incoherently, and jabbing a finger in his direction while he began a haphazard advance towards the firebender.

"I knew it! I knew it! But would anyone listen to me??! Noooooo-it was all, 'We need him,' and 'let's give him a second chance!' But now look, Aang's gone!! And who do we have in our presence but the psychotic stalker himself?!!"

"Alright Zuko where is he? Where's Aang? What'd you do to him? We'll get the information out of you somehow."

His sister immediately darted in his path, blocking Sokka from the other teen. Meanwhile, the Fire Prince was still sitting on the ground, partially wrapped in folds of cloth and staring at Sokka in bewilderment. Finally rousing himself and catching the drift of Sokka's babble, he got to one knee, careful not to grimace or hiss in pain.

"What's that you're saying boy?"

"You," continued Sokka, jabbing his boomerang at him over Katara's shoulder. "Aang's gone. He was obviously here last night. We woke up this morning and poof! He's gone! Surprise, surprise, you just happen to be around. Where are you hiding him? What did you do to him?!"

"Brilliant thinking," Zuko retorted icily. "You guessed my master plan. I'm hiding the Avatar under my blankets while I sleep. Why don't you come over here and see if you can find him?" There was a few moments of tense silence, both teenage boys regarding each other fiercely.

"Hey guys!! Glad to see you're all awake. I was getting stuff for breakfast, well lunch really, and all I could some fruits, and nuts and roots but…" Aang stopped dead and trailed off seeing Katara in the middle of two hot-headed hormonal boys, Iroh and Toph hovering anxiously to one side. "Uh guys, what's going on?"

They all turned to look at the young airbender in surprise and relief. Zuko merely looked scathingly at Sokka who was turning beet-red and sputtering brokenly. "Well…I…he…Aang, where the heck were you? I woke up and you were gone."

Aang, still unsure, rolled his eyes, "I went to get some food. We're running low on everything. I tried to wake you up but you wouldn't budge, so I went on my own. Why?"

"Nothing to worry about Aang," Katara broke in, "it's just that…"

"'Warrior' here, thought I'd magically kidnapped you while I was asleep and stowed you somewhere."

Aang looked at the sheepish Water Tribe boy. "Sokka…"

"Okay, okay. So I was wrong, this time, but you know I was just looking out for your best interests, and protecting you Aang…"

Zuko snorted in amusement. "Yeah you defending the Avatar. That's a laugh. I could beat you with both hands tied behind my back, without firebending."

"Oh really, you arrogant son-of-a-bitch!"

"Sokka!!!"

He ignored his little sister's protest. "Well listen you angry pony-tailed freak! You couldn't touch me without your precious firebending. And we didn't all grow up with teachers and masters at our beck and call."

"What did you call me you Water scum? Is that a challenge?" he asked in a deadly voice.

Sokka started towards him once again, and Zuko quickly jumped to his feet and straightened. But as lightening quick as he got up, he doubled over grunting in pain, one hand braced on the ground. Aang threw out an arm to stop Sokka's advance and they all looked at the young firebender in surprise. Iroh stepped forward quickly and asked with concern, "Nephew, are you alright?"

Zuko was embarrassed and furious with himself for showing such weakness, and he gritted his teeth. "Yes Uncle, I'm fine. I stood up too quickly. It's just traveling for two days with no sleep and that fight last night…I think my back is …hurt."

Aang looked at Zuko in amazement. "Katara, could you patch him up?"

"I…well, okay. But what about breakfast?"

"This is stupid," Zuko growled. "I'm fine, just sore."

""Really I don't want…"

"Zuko, don't worry it's not a big deal. It'll take like five minutes. Katara?" Aang looked to her, and she nodded and stepped forward while he began to direct the rest of the group.

The waterbender cautiously approached the injured young man and asked him to sit down on the blankets. Zuko, still resistant, remarked sarcastically, "So what, you just do everything he tells you to?"

Katara merely took his shoulder, and pushed him to the ground, catching him off guard. He gasped in pained surprise as he hit the dirt, hard. Before he could protest, she had moved with lightening quickness and was already seated behind him, lifting the back of his shirt. He whipped his head around to look at her. "What are you doing waterbender?" he yanked his shirt down again.

She snorted. "You said that your back hurt, so I'm going to heal your back."

"Why? Because your Avatar told you to? I know it's not because you care. He gives you commands like a Polar Bear Dog."

"No, because unlike you," she said tartly, "I'm a good person, and I don't like causing unnecessary pain or watching people suffer. It's my nature to be gentle; I was born a healer."

"Yeah I can see that," he retorted caustically as she prodded him.

Zuko, half wanting to refuse her care, was by now very sore, tight, and aching. "Just so you know this is a one time thing. In the future I can take care of myself, and I don't need help from commoners."

Katara ignored these jibes, knowing that she had won a victory over him in allowing her ministrations. He must be sore as hell. She lifted the back of his shirt, this time meeting no resistance, and her eyes widened in shock; his entire back was a swollen mass of purple-black bruises. Feeling a bit contrite, she wordlessly bended a cover of water over her hand, took a deep breath, and began to concentrate.

Zuko was amazed; at first he felt only the cool water, and then the pain and swelling slowly but surely lessened until it was gone! The waterbender worked bit by bit until his back was once more pale and smooth. She nodded in satisfaction at her work and her eyes swept the entire length of his muscled back. He must be on some sort of Fire Nation steroid, seventeen year olds aren't supposed to look like this. Sokka's scrawny as I am...but he must be strong. Katara didn't know how long she sat there lost in half formed thoughts of wrapping a hand around one of his biceps, but came to when he spoke.

"By the way, what's wrong with your brother? Is he always that obnoxious."

She started, drawing her unconciously extended hand back as if burned, feeling the heat rising to her face. "Wha...Well Sokka's always had a big vendetta, understandably, against fire bending, and fire benders. That's his nature, how he reacted to what happened to us, to our village. You also just happened to have chased us around the world for your evil plans." What the hell was that Katara, snap out of it! Thankfully he had not noticed her quick movement and flaming cheeks. "Point taken," he grunted.

Healing Katara, healing. "Okay, now what about your leg? It sounded like I got you pretty good last night."

Her patient looked at her in surprise and embarrassment; he wasn't exaggerating before about where she had hit him. The injury was on his very upper thigh near the apex of his body. "What?! No, that's fine," he snapped. He started to rise, but she again pushed him back down.

"Oh no you don't! Aang needs you to be in good enough shape to train him, and I won't have you do a poor job of it. I'm going to heal all of you."

"Dammit woman!"

"Just let me see, hold still!"

"No get off of me!!"

What ensued for the next few moments was a thrashing tangle of arms and limbs as Katara struggled to cling to the arrogant boy and he tried to claw his way to his feet. Zuko himself had no idea where this skinny girl had gotten her newfound strength. As an older male he was physically stronger, but she seemed to stop him with sheer stubbornness and persistence. He had never met someone with so much tenacity besides maybe his sister or father, or himself. And he couldn't exactly hit her or injure her, her being female and technically an ally. But no matter how hard he tried to evade her hands and wrench free, she wouldn't let him. The wrestling match continued on until Katara elbowed him directly in his tender area. He stopped dead, and clutched his thigh, swearing profusely.

"Ahh there it is!" Katara spoke triumphantly. But upon looking at where his hands were placed, she realized the dilemma and blushed in mortification. Too late to turn back now. She swallowed and tried to calm her embarrassment. She was a healer, she was going to heal a part of his body, nothing more.

"Well I suppose you'll have to take off your pants. You do have underclothes on don't you?"

"Yes of course I do!" he cried in embarrassment and indignation. "If I do this, will you just leave me the hell alone?"

Katara, somewhat stung replied, "Definitely! Like I'd want to be around you for any unnecessary reason."

"Fine!"

Katara turned her head as he slowly lowered his bottoms, revealing black silk drawers, and a large, tender bleeding welt. She looked back and let out a soft 'oh' of surprise. "I really got you good didn't I?" He remained silent and stony faced as she lifted up the soft material on his right thigh, averting her eyes once she had her hand on the injury, and concentrating on the healing process. Suddenly the ridiculousness of the situation dawned on her. What if Sokka were to walk back into the campsite at this very moment? She smiled, then realized she had seen Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation; fearsome, angry, serious young man, in his undies. This time she was not so successful in stifling a giggle.

Zuko looked at her in bewilderment, until that point looking away and gritting his teeth. "You think this is funny?" Her giggling gave way to shoulder shaking, full blown laughter. He could feel her hand become unsteady on his leg. The peasant was laughing at him! But her laughter was happy and carefree, a sound he had not heard in a long time. It was kind of...nice, and infectious. His scowl slowly softened until his lips twitched and then he turned to look at her with a half smirk. Smiling blue eyes met soft gold. Their gazes locked just for a moment, and in the space of that tiny moment there was a frission of heat that ran up the spine of the Fire Prince and the Water peasant. Katara gave a start and look down at her healing hand. "Um I'm done," and she abruptly removed her appendage. They both let out an internal sigh of relief and after a beat Katara got up and crouched on her feet beside him, trying to look serious. Her face hovered near his, and both were aware of each other but they were gazing directly ahead; each watching the other out of the corner's of their eyes. The quiet, awkwad moment stretched interminably. Katara turned to look him in the face, and saw what she thought or maybe hoped was some sort of gratitude, just the briefest glimpse of it. To both of their surprise it was Katara who broke the moment.

"Pull up your pants before my brother comes back." She pulled back and gave him a look. "Or anyone else for that matter." And with that she paced away from a thoroughly confused Zuko.