"What. Just. Happened." Katara ground out, eyes wild. Zuko sighed.

"Many people either want my fortune, want me dead, or both. Comes with the whole King thing, apparently. They must have followed and assumed you and I to be close."

"Quite the assumption."

"It isn't often that I spar with random Water Tribe Peasants."

"Well, I'm glad I'm special, then." She joked.

"You have no idea." Zuko responded softly. "Now let me look at..." He had her turn her head so the bruises she gained were in the firelight. He sucked in a breath. "That won't feel great in the morning." He lightly traced around the bruise and she felt the aching under the rush of adrenaline.

"How long was I..." Katara started.

"Since the morning. We are a few hours past midnight." He ran a hand through his hair, wincing as his fingers caught in it.

"So Toph and Sokka know?"

"Yes, so we need to get back." He lightly grabbed her arm, and she followed him through the woods, watching as the firelight from the building faded from sight.

"Why didn't they come?" She wondered aloud.

"The ransom note. If I didn't come alone, they would kill you."

"I only saw the one guy..." She furrowed her brows then winced as pain shot through her head.

Zuko chuckled darkly. "There were others."

"Were?" She asked.

"Were." Zuko said, and she swore she saw a shadow of a smirk on his face in the dark of the night.

"You can let go of my arm..." Katara pointed out. Immediately, Zuko let go, apologizing quietly. Katara bit her lip, then grabbed his hand on a whim. He had just saved her. He was the reason she got kidnapped, but still, he saved her.

The old feelings reared up like a monster as Zuko squeezed her hand but didn't let go or push her away.

"Thank you." Katara squeaked after long moments of silence between them, only the sounds of the forest cutting through the air.

"For?"

"You saved me. You didn't have to or anything."

"There is no reason I wouldn't save you, Katara."