Disclaimer: I often wonder why we have to do this, when it's obvious that we don't own whatever it is we're writing about.

When riding on the back of Appa one has a lot of time to think. Most likely all Toph ever thought about was getting back onto solid ground. Sokka about food and more food. Iroh one of our newest companions was obsessed with tea. Aang concentrated on flying, air, wind, air bender things. Everyone's thoughts were basically written across their faces in glowing purple letters that is except for one person, Zuko. He was a mystery. His personality was complex, changing often. He was the one person I couldn't figure out. Which leads me to my thoughts; my thoughts were centered on heroes.

I, myself was considered a hero by many people around the world, but I didn't always want that title. Sometimes I didn't always deserve that title. Sure I'd saved a few lives, helped a few people, but sometimes I needed rescuing too.

'Where have all the good men gone

And where are all the gods?

Where's the street wise Hercules

To fight the rising odds?

Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?

Late at night I toss and turn and dream of what I need'

Times that I needed saving. Times when things got out of control. The question that now plagued me though, was who would save me?

I looked around once again at my companions. And ruled out Toph from the get go. It's not that I don't think that she couldn't save me; in fact I know she could, as long as there was solid ground. It's just that if I get to choose who my hero is he's going to be male.

I dismissed my brother just as quickly as I rejected Toph; he was my brother for goodness sake. Sure he could probably save me, but who wants to be rescued by their brother? It's one of those things that he would hold over my head for the rest of my life.

Aang. He was just too much like a younger brother. I know that his bending skills are great, but it would sting my pride a little too much to be rescued by someone so much younger than me.

I looked at Iroh next and quickly dismissed him as being too old. But his nephew sitting next to him he was someone I could at least consider. True that we didn't always get along.

'I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night

He's gotta be strong

And he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light

And he's gotta be sure

And it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life'

I remembered that one time in the market place. I was buying food, some days it seemed as if that's all I did. Normally I would've gone by myself, but since it was a larger city, Iroh insisted that Zuko accompany me. We were basically silent as we walked through the town. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence and I enjoyed having him near me. Especially seeing all the envious looks I was getting from all the girls. I mentally laughed at all of them because if they knew even the half of it they would quickly lose interest.

I stopped at a food stand and told Zuko to go buy some peaches from the vendor across the street. He'd nodded and walked over. I turned back the vendor selling bread. I didn't notice the man standing next to me. Or if I did I just assumed that he was there buying bread the same as me.

So I never noticed until it was too late, he grabbed me and pulled me away near an alley. I struggled and tried to get away but he was bigger stronger than me. I tried to reach for my water skin but found my arms pinned to my sides. I looked around frantically for a familiar face someone to help me. Seeing no one I closed my eyes and prayed for an opening to break free.

Suddenly the man's grip on me loosened and I felt a hand grab onto mine. I looked up to see the face of my rescuer and gasped, Zuko! He'd saved me, I heard him saying something to my attacker in a low furious voice; I tried to concentrate on what he was saying.

"If you ever come near her again, I will give you a scar to match mine and then I will kill you. Slowly."

The man not wishing to tempt fate ran away faster than I had ever seen a man run. Zuko looked down at me and asked,

"Are you okay?"

I reached up and kissed him on the cheek, the side with the scar on it and said, "Thank you for saving my life."

'Somewhere after midnight

In my wildest fantasy

Somewhere just beyond my reach

There's someone reaching back for me

Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat

It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet'

I smiled at the memory of Zuko's shocked face. I guess not many people touched his face or that he allowed very many people to touch his face either. But I'd had the element of surprise on my side. I'm not quite sure why I kissed him in the first place. It was a very un-Katara-like thing to do.

Maybe it was because he'd just saved my life or because he was still holding me close as if to reassure himself that I was still there in one piece. I can't really explain my actions.

Perhaps I kissed him because at that moment in time I realized that Zuko was a man, with a hard muscular body and quick reflexes that spoke of many years of training. It could be because I was just beginning to realize my attraction for him. Or the way he held me in his arms like I was a damsel in distress and he had just saved me from a fire breathing dragon. I looked up into his golden eyes and realized that he hadn't saved me from the fire breathing dragon, he was the dragon.

'I need a hero

I'm holding out for hero 'til the end of the night

He's gotta strong

And he's gotta be fast

And he'd gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light

He'd gotta be sure

And it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life'

I shook my head to dislodge memories I wasn't sure I wanted to remember. As reality set in one again, I had the uncomfortable sensation of someone staring at me. I looked around and found Zuko's eyes on me. An unspoken message was sent but what its contents were I couldn't tell you.

I was the first to break eye contact. I felt him rather than saw him come over and sit next to me. I was amazed at his bravery because usually when we were riding on Appa he would sit there unmoving gripping, until his knuckles turned white, the sides of Appa's saddle.

'Up where the mountains meet the heavens above

Out where the lightning splits the sea

I would swear that there's someone somewhere

Watching me

Through the wind and the chill and the rain

And the storm and the flood

I can feel his approach

Like the fire in my blood

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of then night

He's gotta strong

And he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light

He's gotta be sure

And it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be large than life.'

I glanced over at Zuko from the corner of my eye. He was staring at Appa's saddle, gritting his teeth, trying not to throw up. I reached over and grabbed his hand and squeezed. He looked up at me and I was once again reminded of a dragon. And it was at that moment that I realized that I didn't really need a hero, I needed a dragon.