I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters.

Shady Memories

Friend or Foe

Zuko made a sigh as he moved his legs. This time he was thankful being a firebender. When he woke up and unfroze himself his limbs were so numb he wasn't sure he could reach his bedroom without falling somewhere on the road there. But the hot water helped him indeed.

As he moved his hands underwater again his palms started to hurt… and when he looked there he remembered why. The cuts opened in the water. "Damn!"

He lifted his throbbing hands out and decided it was enough already. He got out of the water moving then minimally and dried himself half with his bending and half with a towel he grabbed.

His hands were still bleeding so he tied the towel on them while he managed to get into the clothes he put next to the tube earlier… frowning at the thought he couldn't even button up his shirt with the state of his hands.

He shoved the towel down the floor as he headed back to his room. In the low light he couldn't see a figure sitting at the far corner of the room while he stepped to the drawers next to his bathroom door looking for bandages without too much effort. He knitted his eyebrows as he opened another drawer. "Where is it…?"

"Would you need a helping hand?" Sounded a girl's voice.

"Well, sure I could use some…" He started but suddenly his eyes widened as he realized he was not alone. He whirled around and he took his fighting stance towards the girl in red though he kept his hands in an unusual way. He narrowed his eyes. "Okay, so who are you and how did you get in here?" He asked and forced his voice sound dangerous which actually ended quite well.

Katara made a smirk as she spoke. "First, I got here through that door." She said pointing there. "And second… you're bleeding." She said a bit surprised then stood up. "Let me have a look at those wounds…" She started but when she took a step he quickly spoke.

"Hey!" He pointed at her and took a step back. "You just stay there!"

She stopped and made a light frown. "You truly don't remember me, do you?"

"No, I don't." He said narrowing his eyes. "But you seem to know me. And from what I saw I can tell you're not fond of me."

Katara's eyebrows snapped together. "Believe me…" She crossed her arms. "You can only thank that to yourself!"

"You can only thank that to yourself you know." He suddenly felt dizzy as something crossed his mind. He saw an old man sitting in the dark with his back turned towards him while he heard his own voice. "We could have returned together… you could have been a hero!"

"Zuko!" He heard her voice and slowly opened his eyes. His hands held his head from the sides and he was on his knees near the drawers he stood next to just a moment ago. And she was kneeling beside him with a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm… I'm all right." He said as he looked up at her worried face.

"What is the last thing you remember?" She asked concerned as he straightened up.

"How do you know I've lost my memories?" He looked in her eyes he didn't know where he saw first… but that peaceful look in her ocean-blue eyes calmed him down. "Who are you?"

The girl made a smile. "I'm Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. Master waterbender and a healer." She said then nodded as she lifted a hand towards his and stopped it halfway. "So if I may…"

He narrowed his eyes and pulled his hands behind his back. "Last time you weren't this helpful…" He said darkly. "Why should I trust you?"

Katara made a smirk and raised an eyebrow at him. "If you're so afraid why haven't you spoke with the Dai Lee or your sister about me?"

"I'm not afraid!" He snapped then made a pout. Of course he didn't tell Azula… how could he have explained that he was hit on by a lonely waterbending girl in the middle of the Earth Kingdom's palace? He didn't want to make a total fool out of himself that was the truth.

She made a sigh and brought a bit of water out from her waterskin. He immediately leaned backwards and lifted his hands up in case he needed to defend himself. "Calm down!" She said quickly as the water surrounded her hand and it began to glow. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"What are you doing?" He asked hesitantly while he was watching the glow.

"I'll show you…" She said and pulled one of his hands closer to her with her not-glowing hand. She started healing his hand and he remained silent with opened mouth. "So what is the last thing you remember?"

He made a frown. "I'm not sure. It was quite a long time ago as I'm far too old from what I remember…" He said looking at her. "I was in the Fire Palace. And everyone was around me not just my sister…" He looked away and slowly raised a hand to the edge of his face then quickly pulled away clenching it into a fist as he closed his eyes. "I also have another memory… but I'm not sure how long ago it happened."

As she finished one of his hands he lifted it up to find it perfectly healed. "Wow…" When she reached for his other hand he stopped her with a question. "Wait. If you're a healer… could you tell me for how long have these wounds been on my hands?"

Katara looked at him surprised then bit her lip as she turned her gaze away. "For two days…"

He made a slight frown and brought a hand towards his stomach while she healed his other hand. "Are you sure…?" He asked after a long silence when she brought her gaze on him as she let his healed hand go.

Her eyes caught sight of his bruise and her face concerned as she leaned closer. She brought his shirt away from that spot to have a better look at it. As she placed her fingers on his skin he turned his head away knowing for sure his face turned red.

"What happened?" She asked and when she looked up at him she smiled lightly at his embarrassment.

Zuko's face turned stern as he thought about his realization. "I think someone took my bending away…"

Her mouth stayed open. That's why he couldn't get away. "Two days ago…" She whispered as he looked at her. "Zuko, what would you say if I told you that you can't remember your past since the last two days and that it is mostly thanks to your sister?"

"Then I would start to ask questions and decide if you're right or not." He said seriously looking straight in her eyes.

She made a nod and made herself comfortable. "Then go on."

"All right… so where did we meet?"

Her eyes narrowed at the question then she made a sigh. "You've invaded my village."

Zuko's eyes rounded then his face filled with guilt at once. "I have?"

Katara's face cleared from her previous emotion and she made a light smile as she spoke. "Yes, but I guess I've already fought out my anger towards you at the North Pole." And once I've already forgotten you…

He raised an eyebrow. "Wait a minute…" He pointed at her. "So you're saying I was on the North Pole?" When she nodded a smile spread across his face. "I've always wanted to go there!" He said happily then his smile slowly faded. "And I don't even remember it… But please tell me it's still standing!"

She chuckled lightly. "Yes, it is." This Zuko before her seemed much more carefree then his previous self.

"And the war… it's still not ended, right?" He asked with a sad frown.

"No." She said.

His face cleared as a thought came to his mind. "Katara…" He started and she couldn't help realizing that he said her name for the first time. And that she liked to hear it from his mouth… "Are you travelling with the avatar?"

The moment broke. Her face changed into for the darkest one he ever saw… Her eyes turned ice cold as water surrounded her. "How do you know?" She asked and he knew if this time he answered wrong she'd not hesitate to bring him down.

"I didn't ask that to make you mad…" He said but she only narrowed her eyes. He made a sigh as he continued. "This afternoon Ty Lee mentioned the avatar to me." He frowned. "And then I remembered something I must have seen earlier. It was about the avatar and me and…" He looked in her eyes. "You."

A chill ran down her spine and she felt the urge to look away as his eyes bore into hers but... somehow she couldn't. Only when he turned away she realized she was holding her breath. She didn't understand herself. She wanted nothing else but yell and fight with him since she last saw him. And now when she could… She faced with the same Zuko she'd meet for the first time in the catacombs of Ba Sing Sei. Even if it was only because of Azula's cruel plans.

"We were fighting." He said as she looked back. "But I guess I started it…" He frowned then shook his head as he went on. "But the reason why I asked was that maybe he could help me."

She raised an eyebrow at him before he finished. "To stop the war by speaking with my father."

"What?!" She jumped up looking at him with disbelief. "Zuko how can you believe that anyone could stop your father with just words after what he had done with the world?" Her face turned sad as she continued. "After what he had done with you?"

His forehead furrowed as he looked up at her. "What are you talking about?"

Katara blinked sometimes and knitted her eyebrows. "I thought that was what you'd talked about…" He shook his head as he didn't understand..

When she tried to continue suddenly the earth shook below her and she fell on her knees. "What…?" He started but he fell silent as words appeared before the waterbender on the ground.

Run. They've spotted us. Azula's coming towards you! With that an earth pillar slammed to the door's handle from the inside. Get back to the ground level and join us.

Toph… She knitted her eyebrows as the words disappeared. Bad news.

"What was that?" Zuko asked still glaring at the writing's previous spot.

"A friend of mine…" She smiled but she was quickly on her feet as hard knocks sounded on the door.

"Zuko!" Azula shouted on a fake worried tone. "Zuko, open the door! Uncle has escaped!"

Katara frowned hardly as she looked back at the hesitating prince. She stepped next to him with a serious face and she said on a low voice. "Zuko, it is time for you to decide…" She reached out her hand for him to accept. "Are you coming with me?"

"Zuko!" Azula shouted for at least the fifth time as she grabbed the doorknob finding it unable to move. Her eyes narrowed as she turned to her friends and the Dai Lee members then continued on a commanding tone. "The door is blocked. Open it!" She snapped and finally her gaze stopped on Ty Lee.

The girl made a nervous smile. "Maybe he's training…"

The princess narrowed her eyes even more at her. "And maybe he's remembered what happened with him and decided to continue his original plans!" She nearly never let her anger control her but this time… when everything seemed to be perfect she let him escape!

A loud crashing voice showed that the guards opened the door. "The door is opened, princess."

"Finally." She said and went inside with the others following her.

The room was empty. The bed untouched, the drawers opened. A guard brought a blood-stained towel from the bathroom. Then Azula's eyes wandered to the windows. She hurried there and looked out but he was nowhere in sight. She frowned as she turned back to the room.

The door was blocked from the inside by a stone pillar - she could easily find that out. This means earthbenders helped him. The princess narrowed her eyes as she slowly gazed at the Dai Lee guards…

When Zuko's lips curled into a smile she knew how he chose. Azula's voice still shouted from outside.

Katara looked around. "So where can we get out of here?" They were in the royal chambers… the Earth King must have had an emergency escape route. "Another door? A secret tunnel?" As she said this her thoughts wandered back to another 'secret tunnel' and a light blush came to her face as she wondered what could have happened if she had been there with a very someone she was just looking at…

"I don't know of any…" He said as he rubbed his neck. "But I can offer you a window." He waved at it then hurried there.

He already climbed outside while she just looked down from the fifth floor's window and straightened up with a dumbfounded look on her face. He made a slight frown. "Are you afraid of height?"

She scowled at him as she answered. "No, I'm just afraid of roofs!"

He smiled lightly and this time he offered her his hand. "I've trusted your words. It is your turn to trust me."

She looked at him then upwards with a sigh as she caught his hand and climbed out next to him.

"It's gonna be alright as long as you don't look down."

And for the reflex of doing what she was told not to… she looked down. As she saw her feet ended almost over the edge of the windowsill she quickly turned away and hardened her grip on his hand. "Oh, Spirits…"

"I told you not to look down…" He said with disapproval.

She knitted her eyebrows angrily. "I wouldn't have if you hadn't spoken about it!" She snapped but to her surprise he only started smiling as they started to move.

"You know it's funny…" He started and she hemmed as she found nothing funny at the situation but didn't interrupt him. "When I was a kid I was not simply afraid but terrified of height." He looked back at her as he stopped. "But I guess I grew out of it. It's interesting how people can change…"

She raised her eyebrows at his comment after he turned around to look where to go from here. She cleared her throat before she asked. "Now where?"

His eyes wandered behind them to an upper roof and as his eyes caught sight of a giant tree's branches very close to it. He pointed upwards signing they were going in that direction. They stood next to the wall and let go of her hand before he climbed up then turned back to her offering his hand again.

She narrowed her eyes. "I can do it myself, thank you." She said with a light hurt in her voice. She grabbed the roof's edge and pulled herself up using her legs. She made a smirk with crossed arms after she stood up.

He nodded and waved towards one of the tree branches. "That way…" He said looking back at her.

She made a nod and started to make step but a roof tile under her feet decided to slip away from its original place right in that moment… as her body slipped off the roof she made a scream.

But fortunately her fall ended quickly as a hand grabbed her wrist and in a blink of an eye she was brought to the prince's chest while he held her securely with his arms around her waist.

Her hands clenched his shirt as her eyes were still rounded with shock. She took deep breaths as she slowly calmed down looking straight in his worried eyes.

She let go of his shirt as her fear flew away and rested her hands on his chest when she finally spoke. "I'm fine now." She said but held their eye contact.

The worry left his face and it was replaced by another feeling she couldn't quite recognize. Even his eyes seemed to smile as he answered with a calm whisper. "I know…" He said leaving his arms where they were still holding her close.

He didn't know what happened between this girl and himself… but a feeling inside told him he was meant to hold her like this, right now. That blue eyes of hers called for him… like the sirens' song that led sailors drown in the blue depths.

She made a slight smile as she felt through his shirt his fastening heartbeat and knew well that her own wasn't slower either.

Their eyes held into each other and they weren't sure which one of them started but they slowly leaned closer… and closer…

But in the last moment her eyes widened as an earth boulder floated up right behind him. He didn't even have time to look back before it hit them fully and shoved them off the roof.

He still didn't let go of her as they fell towards the ground. There was nothing he could grab in their way and he decided that if the only thing he could do is to try and save her from the fall, then so be it…

Her eyes caught every detail around her. The palace's wall, the courtyard below them… the determined look on his face as he closed his eyes and hardened his muscles waiting for the impact. While her only thought was that he was lucky that he could see the sky instead of the nearing floor…

But when she felt water's presence her hands and mind almost worked on their own. From somewhere out of the yard several barrels exploded on a corridor and water raced towards the spot they were going to 'land'.

She bit her lower lip hard as the water finally reached underneath them and formed a perfect sphere they slammed into. His eyes opened round and bubbles ran through his mouth before he clenched it shut. As they finally slowed down he let go of her waist so she could bend properly.

She waved one last time making the sphere open and she stood on the ground at once as the water circled them. He was on his knees and coughed hardly as he forced the water out of his lungs.

The water turned into an octopus around them as she faced their attackers. Seven Dai Lee guards awaited them and another three neared towards them from a corridor.

Zuko also got to his feet and took his stance as he looked around.

The guards raised boulders in the air.

Katara and Zuko stood back to back when the last three guards ran in.

"Stop!" Yelled one of the newcomers and every eye wandered around the young voice's owner. If Zuko had been able to remember he could have recognized the guard by the name of 'Zen', who was knocked out by him when he tried to free his uncle. "We've got orders from a higher place…" He said while the other guards looked at each other then slowly back at him.

The boulders fell back to the ground. The water and firebender both stared at the guard who spoke and he removed his hat - revealing light brown hair and dark eyes - when he turned to them. Zen brought his gaze on the fire prince's face searching for any kind of realization and frowned as he found none. "You don't seem to remember me…" He started and only gained raised eyebrows from the duo. "You've spared me before and I'm about to return the favor."

Zuko only frowned at him and Katara looked from one to the other obviously trying to figure out what could have happened.

"Also, I'm delivering a message." Zen paused and waved to the other guards who relaxed in their stance. "Long Feng sends his gratitude… and his regret to you, Prince Zuko."

The prince raised his eyebrows. "Long who…?" He didn't quite know if he should be honored or happy or ashamed or… He made a scowl. "And why would I need his regret?" He asked. From the bottom of his soul he hated even the word 'regret'… mostly unconsciously ever since he had his scar.

The guard tried not to look to embarrassed. He didn't want to anger anyone… he just brought a message. "For the process Azula used against you."

Zuko opened his mouth but before he'd said anything Katara put a hand on his arm as she stepped next to him. "Are we free to leave?"

Zen started smiling and made a nod towards them as he finally recognized the blue eyed beauty then he spoke again. "And tell the Earth King that his throne will soon be ready for him to return."

She let the water fell to the ground and opened her mouth to answer diplomatically, but for both her and Zuko's shock the earth suddenly slipped them inside – under the yard – and right into the tunnel where the blind bandit waited for them.

Zuko jumped in his fighting stance as soon as he reached the ground while Katara casually stood up and dusted off her red skirt. "You know, I thought being the best earthbender on Earth would require more accuracy when you 'lift' people up or down."

Toph crossed her arms with a frown. "When your friend just surrenders to the Dai Lee, one can't think about pleasure but haste!" She snapped while Zuko relaxed as he saw they weren't attacked this time.

"They let us go." Katara answered and as the other girl only 'glared' with confusion she waved towards the prince. "It seems Zuko had a good influence on the Dai Lee. The Earth King can return soon…"

Toph hemmed as an answer and turned to Zuko. He only saw this time the girl's shady pale-green eyes.

He turned back to Katara. "Would you finally tell me what's going on here?" He asked rather annoyed. "Who is this Long Feng? And why did he send his 'regret' for the process? What process?!"

The waterbender made an apologetic look as she wanted to answer when a fourth person's voice filled the area. "Zuko!"

Iroh came from Toph's side of the underground tunnel and he was in a hurry – despite his injuries – but smiled as his nephew was alright.

Zuko's eyes rounded and Toph suddenly held out her arm stopping the old man before he could go to the prince. Iroh looked at the blind girl confused but she spoke almost immediately. "He's afraid of you."

Both Iroh and Katara looked with disbelief but they understood as they turned to the prince.

"I am not afraid!" Zuko snapped and watched the old man with narrow eyes. His fists clenched, his muscles tensed and he raised his hands into a defending stance. "Just come!"

Iroh's mouth stayed open. Katara frowned at him. "Zuko, what are you doing? He's your…"

"I perfectly know who he is!" His face darkened as he glared at the old man. "Why? Why have you done that?!" His hands burst out with flames.

"What…?" The waterbender started and he glared at her.

"My face! It hadn't always been like that!" He yelled then turned back to Iroh. "Why?!"

The old general's face was hurt and sad at the same time. "Zuko… how can you believe that I've done it?"

The prince frowned at his sincere voice but didn't erase the flames until Katara put a hand on his shoulder. "It was not him…"

Zuko looked at her. "But I remember it… it's the only memory I had!"

She slightly shook her head keeping her sad look on him. "It's fake." The boy frowned at her again but didn't say a word.

After a moment of silence Toph spoke. "All right… I guess Iroh and I will start to 'dig' back towards the camp while you two can talk." She turned on her heel and pulled at the old man's arm making him walk. "Just yell when you're done and I'll close the tunnel's end…" She waved with her hand. "You don't even need to yell. I'll feel it!"

As the two disappeared silence fell over the tunnel…

Zuko watched her. He waited for answers. This was wrong… he should have found things out himself. But this girl…

Katara's face was focused as she brought her thoughts together. She knew that he'd forgotten many, but this… She narrowed her eyes. Azula went too far… She looked up at him to see his intense eyes filled with confusion, mistrust but most of all: hurt. He thought she betrayed him with bringing him here… perhaps he was right. The real Zuko didn't choose them.

She made a sigh before she finally spoke. "You don't remember because of the same thing Long Feng sent his regret for… Azula's brainwashed you."

"But why would she…?" He started then suddenly brought a hand to his forehead as some other memory came to his mind.

Azula sat next to him when he woke up then put a hand on his shoulder as she spoke with a worried face. "It's gonna be alright Zuko…"

Then the image changed to a sooner one… This time Azula was much younger and she stood at the doorway of his room. "Dad's going to kill you…" She looked at him with an evil smile. "Really… he is."

This all happened in a second and when he opened his eyes he started to believe the girl's words.

She stepped closer to him when his face winced as he closed his eyes. She waited till he looked at her again and then answered his half question. "Because you wanted to free your uncle from the prison and leave." He raised an eyebrow questioningly. "The cuts on your hands and also that bruise that meant your bending was taken…" He looked at his hands then slowly clenched his fingers. "You've gained them that time. Two days ago."

The two weeks was truly a lie… "So, this…" He raised his hand to the left hand to his scar and slightly brushed it with his fingers but quickly broke the contact. "This was not…?"

"Your uncle has nothing to do with it." She said then looked up at him again. He didn't have to say anything. The question was on his face. Then who did it? She hated to be the one who had to tell him… but obviously she was the only one who could. She looked away as she spoke. "It was your father…"

His eyes rounded. "Dad's going to kill you…" He leaned backwards to the wall of the tunnel and slowly slumped down into a sitting position. "Really… he is." He looked up at her. "How do you know?"

Katara sat down facing him. "You've told me."

"I thought we were enemies…"

"We were." She said looking away.

"Then why?" He asked on a low voice.

She looked back at him. "We had something in common…"

His eyes met hers the way it did back at the roof. They both remained silent when her gaze slowly wandered to the left side of his face. She slowly lifted a hand towards his scar…

But he caught her wrist and slightly turned his head away. "Don't…" He whispered then continued as he made a frown. "I don't want you to touch it. It's ugly, disgusting and hateful!" He closed his eyes. "Even I don't want to…"

He couldn't say anymore as she leaned close to him and placed a light kiss on his scarred eyelid. He slowly opened his eyes unsure if it was real or not while she smiled softly at him. "Since you've told me…" She started. "I wished I'd met you sooner… so that I could have helped you somehow." She paused for a moment then made a reassuring smile at him. "But then I realized you never needed it." His grip around her wrist loosened slowly and she could finally stroke the left side of his face. "This is the sign of loyalty and bravery, that you've dared to stand out for what you thought was right. No matter what others want you to think: you're strong."

When she drew her hand away did he realize he held his breath back. He was not simply surprised… he was amazed by this girl. She was beautiful, wild and tender at the same time… His lips curled into a smile. She was truly like the ocean: dangerous in storms but still breathtakingly amazing all the time. Waterbender…

She stood up as he made a smile. His eyes didn't show doubt anymore. She reached out her arm for him to help him stand up before she said. "I promise I'll help you gain your memories back." He made a light nod as an answer and ignored the voice in his head that told him not to let go of her hand just yet…

Katara smiled up at him. "I guess we can go after the others now…"

A/N: Guess what? I've found out how to use rulers... (Great, it took you only seventeen updates to figure that out...)

Do you like it so far? It's going to end soon! ;)

Oh, and leave me reviews! Thanks:)