A/N: Hey guys! I'm so grateful for all of your encouragement and wonderful reviews :) So I attempted another chapter. It's a bit shorter this time, but that's because I just got back from my opening show of "Once On This Island." It was so much fun! Anyway, hope you enjoy and leave lots of reviews. Good and bad :)

I woke up to the sound of rushing wind. The air temple was built for wind flow and today was extremely breezy. My first thoughts as I lay in bed was of the previous night. I couldn't get Zuko's words out of my head and I even dreamed of him.

We were back in Ba Sing Se, locked together in the caves under the city. I was staring at his face, my fingertips on the very edge of his scar, just about to make the decision to see if the spirit water would work. Then I decided I would try, but right before I reached down to open the small bottle, his eyes opened and he scowled at me. He then knocked my hand from my face and stepped away from me with troubled eyes. His sister appeared from the shadows behind him and started to laugh maniacally. I suddenly couldn't move and I watched as she coiled her long fingers around his shoulders and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"She's not worth the trouble, brother. Come with me. Together, we will rule the Earth Kingdom and you will regain your honor," she purred. I knew he couldn't resist her words and I watched in horror as his face became stone. He then lunged at me and sent a fireball my way.

I knew the dream wasn't real, and I knew that the events didn't happen that way, but the dream brought back memories I didn't want to remember. I was so angry at him then, but now that I think about it, I wasn't really angry with him. I was angry at the Fire Nation, and whenever I thought of my anger for that nation, his face would appear. Now, whenever I thought of conflict or confusion, I would see him in my mind.

I slowly lifted myself from the bed and reached for my comb. As I pushed it through my hair, I wondered what I would say to Zuko when I saw him today. Maybe it would be best to just keep my distance, I thought to myself. I quickly dressed and headed for the courtyard to start breakfast.

When I got there, everyone was already there except for Aang and Zuko. I inwardly sighed in relief and guessed that they started an early morning training session. Toph and Haru were sitting next to each other, Toph bending a piece of metal and Haru staring with wide eyes at her actions. Teo was rolling around in his chair with The Duke holding on to the back laughing wildly. Sokka was staring at some papers and looked intent on what was written on them. I smiled at the peace as I made my way over to the cooking pot. I quickly started the fire and set to cooking the rice.

The sun was above the cliffside and heat was pouring into the temple when Aang landing quietly near me. He was shirtless and looked exhausted, but he smiled at me when I handed him his breakfast. Zuko walked up while he adjusted his shirt on his body and smiled calmly as he grabbed a bowl for himself.

"So how was firebending lessons?" Toph asked from her spot next to Haru.

"Great!" Aang chimed. "Zuko's a good teacher."

"Aang's a fast learner," Zuko replied calmly. I watched him chew his rice through my lashes and subtly wondered if he liked it. He glanced down at his bowl and his eyes widened slightly for a moment before he took another hungry bite. My cheeks warmed at his enthusiasm.

"So, Katara," Aang said after a moment of quiet chatter. "Do you wanna go train later?" I looked up at him and smiled at his bright eyes.

"Of course, Aang. I would love to." Aang looked exited and I smiled at him again, but Zuko snorted quietly so I quickly turned to give him a glare.

"Do you have a problem with that?" I asked him. He just smirked and shrugged before continuing to eat. His boyfriend remark popped into my head and I quickly looked away from his smug grin.

After breakfast, I quickly started to clean up as everyone ran off into the temple. I was well into my washing when Zuko brushed up against my arm to set his bowl into the bucket. When I looked up into his face, he smirked at me before turning to head towards his room, but before he got too far, I dropped my dishes and turned to him.

"Where are you going?" I asked quickly. He turned around with a confused look and stepped towards me again.

"Why do you want to know?" he asked after a moment. I didn't really know and I just stood there staying at him. Finally, I shrugged. "Do you want to come with me?"

"No," I said turning back around and grabbing a bowl to hide my flushing face. "I told you. I'm keeping an eye on you," I made up.

After a moment of silence, I glanced over my shoulder to see if he left only to jump up and drop my dishes. He was right behind me, so close I could make out the dotted freckles on his nose, with his arms crossed and his face an expressionless stone. I quickly turned around to face him, but before I could say anything, he leaned forward and loomed over me, his face only inches from mine.

"You shouldn't lie, Katara," he said smoothly.

"I-I'm not lying," I stuttered and I crossed my arms protectively. He smirked suddenly and chuckled a little. Finally, he stood up straight and stepped closer to the bucket. He slipped his fingers into the surface and took a deep breath. Suddenly, steam began to rise from the water invitingly.

"Warm water cleans better. I'm going to meditate if you want to find me." With that he turned and started towards his room again, but this time I didn't stop him. As I dipped my hands into the warm water, I scowled at the way he said want instead of need. Sometimes he was so arrogant I wanted to hit him.

The rest of the day went by slowly. I let Toph train with Aang before me so I could figure out what tricks he didn't already know. We met near one of the giant fountains and waded inside the waist deep water happily. When we finally started to train, however, I noticed how exhausted he looked and decided I would take the lesson easy. I had us start by just focusing on pushing water in a circular motion in hopes that it would ease his mind and relax his muscles.

"So how was training today?" I asked trying to spark conversation. "What did you learn?"

"Well Toph still has me blind folded when we practice and I think I'm getting better at feeling the earth. Sometimes she makes me wear it when we're just walking so I can understand what it's like when I'm not fighting," he said as he stared at his hands blankly. I nodded as I pushed the water to him.

"What about your firebending? Has Zuko lost his temper recently?" Aang shook his head and lifted his grey eyes up to meet mine.

"Not since our trip to the ruins. Lately he seems to be distracted so he's constantly having to make me do things over that he wasn't paying attention to." I blinked a couple of times and hummed to myself at this.

"But you're learning well?" I asked. He nodded and gave me a confused look. I looked down at myself and noticed that I stopped bending the water. "Sorry."

"You seem distracted, too," he said with a worried tone. I smiled, walked over to him and put my hand on his shoulder.

"I think everyone is. We have a lot on our minds and the stress is building. Maybe we all need a-" I stopped dead and stared carefully at the arm my hand was gripping. There, on Aang's left shoulder, were two burn marks the size of my index finger. I felt anger flare in my stomach and I immediately jumped out of the fountain and started to storm towards our meeting spot.

"Katara! Wait!" Aang shouted as he ran after me.

He was sitting and chatting with Sokka when I came around the corner. As I charged for them, I noticed Sokka's face pale and he quickly scooted away. Aang was tugging my arm and trying to pull me back, but I slipped away. Zuko glanced at where Sokka was and then looked up at me. He quickly stood up and tried to step back, but I pulled water from the nearby smaller fountain and slung it at him. He quickly dodged, but I was already sending another wave his way and it smacked right into his chest. He fell back and looked up through his wet hair with an scowl.

"What's you're problem!" he shouted and I quickly pulled water to me and wrapped it around my arms, ready to strike again if he moved.

"You burned Aang!" I growled. "What were you thinking? You could've seriously hurt him!" Zuko pushed himself up and got into a defensive pose as he glared at me.

"What are you talking about?" he hissed. Aang shouted my name and the others started to appear from their rooms to see the commotion.

"He has burn marks on his shoulder! Why weren't you paying attention?" I shouted and I lashed one arm out sending a whip towards his left side. He quickly ducked and rolled over in another stance.

"We were firebending! It happens!" he yelled as he dodged another lash.

"Why didn't you come get me? I could've healed him!" I said through clenched teeth as I moved closer to him, freezing the water as I went.

"Why can't you just mind your business! If he wanted you to know then he would've told you! You're not his mother, Katara."

My stance dropped slightly and I stared at the firebender for just a moment before I tensed again and shot ice his way. He blocked with a short flame and came at me, but before he got too close, I waved my arm and tried to knock him down. He stood still and right before the water hit his side, he shot a flame whip up and knocked the water from my grasp. I quickly turned to get more from the fountain, but something coiled around my wrist and jerked me back. I writhed as he wrapped his arms around mine and held me in place.

"Katara, calm down!" he hissed in my ear.

"Let me go!" I yelled.

"Only if you promise not to attack me." I held my breath and waited for him to let me go. When nothing happened, I sighed loudly and relaxed.

"Fine," I mumbled angrily. He let me go and I quickly stepped away.

"Katara. Aang and I haven't battled each other. We've only done basics. I've never thrown fire at him," he said calmly with that stone face I was beginning to hate. I turned to Aang and gave him a questioning look.

"I tried to tell you. I did it to myself when I tried to learn a new move. I forgot to ask you to heal it because it wasn't that bad," Aang said coming closer. He pulled a small amount of water to him and I carefully took it and formed it around my hand like a glove. I breathed in and when it began to glow, I placed it on his shoulder and released the air in my lungs. After a moment, pulled away and his skin was even and smooth again, like it never happened.

"There," I said letting the water slide from my hands. "You're healed." With that, I pushed through the small crowd and quickly made my way to my room.

The moment my door closed behind me, I pressed up against it and slid down in a sitting position. I pulled my knees close and rested my chin on them. I wanted to cry and shout and throw something. I was so angry at him. I knew that it was a bad idea to forgive him so easily, though, deep down I knew it wasn't really him I was mad at. It just felt better to blame somebody.

After a while, I stiff knock came from the door behind me. I lifted my head and stared over my shoulder, debating on whether or not I really wanted to answer it. Finally, I pulled myself up and yanked it from it's latch to find Zuko staring at me with his expressionless face. I scowled at him and tried to slam the door, but he put his hand up and caught it before I could get it to budge.

"What do you want?" I snapped. As I pushed away and walked further into my room, he came in and shut the door behind him. He then turned the latch that locked it in place and looked me in the eye.

"We need to talk."

A/N: I hope you liked this and that it's pulling you in. Btw, sorry for the suckish fight scene. I'm working on it. And sorry if there were any grammar problems. I'm exhausted but I really wanted to post something while it was in my head. Ever have an epiphany while in the middle of a dance number? I have X) So since you're here you might as well review and give me suggestions :) Thanks for reading!