"You're annoyingly persistent." I heard through the pitch haze. "I give you props though; I didn't think you would get that far considering your wounds. But I guess that just means I'll have to be harsher with your bonds. And since you further injured yourself, I don't think you'll be trying that anytime soon."

"Uhhh…" another voice rang out.

Whose it that? Oh, it's mine…

My eyes slowly opened. Fuzz covered the corners of my eyes. The world around me sluggishly came into focus. I was in the same room as before- Zuko's room- lying on the bed. I looked around. Zuko was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at me.

My heart beat pounded inside my head. My head felt swollen and engulfed in flames of pain. It ached and screamed in pain. I felt as I did so many months ago when Zuko had knocked me unconscious at the Spirit Oasis. Dormant hatred for that battle soared through my body, once again awake and alive.

I became angry at myself and at Zuko. I wasn't angry at myself so much for losing to Zuko, but rather that I lost the battle and as a result Aang was captured. I remember being terrified for Aang. I didn't know where they went and it was in the middle of a blizzard. Zuko was a firebender, so he hadn't had any trouble staying warm, but my thoughts had raged about worrying that Aang would freeze to death. I had known that Zuko wouldn't let that happen, but as stupid and arrogant as he had been- and still was- I hadn't been sure that that thought would even occur to Zuko.

Thankfully, we had found them both in the nick of time. I remember being more than ready to face Zuko once again. And that time, I had been prepared and already know what I was going to do. I had practiced just before we had left, so my adrenaline had already been pumping. And it had paid off; I had defeated Zuko with one waterbending move.

I tried to sit up, but was held back by ropes around my wrists tied to the bed post. I assumed that fate thought it was pretty funny to see my tied up. Zuko probably did also. I glared at him, telling him with my eyes that I hated him for the ropes, for my injuries, for everything that he had done to me and Sokka and Aang.

I hated him for choosing the wrong path. I knew that Zuko knew that he could join us and help restore balance to the world, and it would be a better alternative than his father ruling on high over the entire world. Even if he did know that, then what held him back? I didn't know, but I assumed that he wanted to rule right beside his father then take his place after he died.

You don't know that, Katara. I heard Gran Gran chide me once again. It seemed that she never left me alone. Not that I didn't want to see her so badly, I truly did, but sometimes her lessons and lectures got to be boring and pestering. You don't know what goes through his mind. What if he is being blackmailed into hunting the Avatar?

All he wants is to see Aang in chains.

Yes, but what if his motive? You don't know that. He's probably hurt and confused.

Gran Gran's words sank in, making me feel a bit sorry for him. I felt some sort of remorse for the young Prince. My eyes gazed at his scar. My wounds would heal, but his would never. He would always be left with the emotional pain and despair. He would always be left with the scar. I wondered if he could still feel the pain. At that moment, I wanted to heal him. I truly did.

It was a new feeling. It felt strange, but all the while good and nice. It wasn't new to want to heal and protect something, but it was to want to heal Zuko. My enemy, the Fire Lord's son. I felt as if I needed to heal him, as if I was placed where I was so that I could heal him.

Wow, Katara, that's really lame and cheesy. 'I feel as if I need to heal him, as if I were placed where I am so that I could heal him.' Nice.

"Stop staring at me, water wench," Zuko snapped, lashing out.

Never mind. I don't want to anymore.

Zuko got up off the bed. "Uncle said that you should get rest. Your wounds aren't necessarily serious, but you did cause more damage to your other wounds from you idiotic escape attempt." He walked over to his desk and sat down.

"It wasn't idiotic; it was instincts," I mumbled, lamely defending myself. I didn't care that I sounded half- hearted, because I wasn't trying. I was tired and in pain. I wasn't in the mood to defend myself and quarrel any longer than I had already with the Fire Prince.

"And how was falling off the bed onto the metal floor while all but one of your limbs were still tied up not idiotic?" he pushed, using much more effort than necessary as he hunched over some scrolls.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out his taunting and blasphemous insults. All I needed at that moment was to relax and try to have my wounds heal as soon as possible. I didn't need Zuko breathing down my neck and insulting me every minute. It was bad enough that I was physically injured; I didn't need to be mentally injured as well.

"What were you thinking anyways?"

I shook my head. "You may not know this, Zuko, but I have people who need me. I have people who are depending on me to pull through for them. And those people are those who can't fight for themselves against your nation's soldiers. And I will never ever turn my back on people who need me. So if that means that I must do something idiotic or crazy, so be it. I will not give up. I will not give up on the weak and the victims of this war. You can do what you want with me, but I will never stop trying."

He twisted towards me, and squinted his eyes at me. "We'll see. One of these days you're going to realize that your struggles and escape attempts against me are as useless as they are against the army of the Fire Nation." Zuko turned back to his paperwork.

I shook my head once more, knowing that it was useless to continue and argue my point when he was unwilling to listen and I had just recovered from unconsciousness. My eyelids drooped and the echo of slumber crawled to the front of my mind. The siren call of sleep was too good to pass up. I closed my eyes, letting the wave of sweet slumber wash over me. Within seconds, I was fast asleep, blocking out the world of hatred and war.

The next morning I awoke with cramps in arms. I lifted my head up and scanned the room. I was all alone. Zuko must've woken up before I did. My head fell back onto the pillow as I groaned upon realizing that I was stuck tied to the bed until someone- if anyone besides Zuko- came into the room. I hoped that it would be General Iroh. He was practically the only general from the Fire Nation who understood how important it was for Aang to succeed in his mission. It was comforting to know that not all citizens of the Fire Nation wanted Ozai to succeed.

Speaking of Zuko waking up before me, where did he sleep?

Panic swept over me. My eyes widened, and my head turned to the other side of the bed. It was completely undisturbed. A wave of relief washed over me. For a second there, I thought that Zuko had slept beside me. I looked around the room.

A small and uncomfortable looking cot was set up against the far wall. It seemed almost sweet and kind that Zuko would sleep on something other than his bed. It was stirring and an awakening moment for me. It appeared that Zuko wasn't as evil and vile as I had first presumed him to be. Maybe he wasn't all that bad. Maybe he had built up walls to protect something wonderful and nice on the inside. Maybe it's all an act.

Maybe his kindness was an act also.

You do not know that, Katara. Gran Gran reminded. Give him a chance to redeem himself. Let him show you that he is not what he seems.

What if the Zuko I had known and come to see as normal was far from what he truly was? What if what I saw was all an act? Could something beautiful be inside such a rough and ugly outside?

In many ways, he reminded me of myself. We both had walls and barriers to protect what was on the inside. I guess he had more of a reason and fear of what would happen if he didn't have them. I only built walls to see who cared enough to break them down. True, it wasn't always the best of plans, and sometimes at the moment, the one who cared enough to break my walls was the one who could cause the most harm to me.

It was a sad and confusing thing. The one who cares enough and feels enough for us is the one who can hurt us the most. It's very contradicting. I learned early on that I hated it; I hated how the one who breaks down my walls is the same reason why I built them in the first place. It didn't seem far. And it wasn't; not at all.

I lay in bed until Zuko came in after what I assumed was lunch time. He came in carrying a plate with bread and grapes and a glass of water. He untied me, sure that I wouldn't escape. I was much too hurt to try anything.

I felt his eyes rest on me as I ate. It was strange and uncomfortable. It made me feel subconscious of myself. It wasn't something I normally was, but there was just something about him watching me, simply staring, that gave me goosebumps and made me recollect on important things to the least important things.

I couldn't say that anyone else had made me feel that way before. …Except for Arata… Back when I had been fourteen or thirteen, there had been a boy in my village that I had liked. He had the worst way of making me subconscious about everything and everyone. As his name suggested, he had been fresh. He hadn't let up for a second when he was around me. I can't say I didn't enjoy him taking such an interest in me; I just didn't so much enjoy his constant pick- up lines and such.

He didn't say anything the whole time I ate. Not one word. I didn't bother to say anything as well. We sat in silence. It was eerie and almost disturbing. I could feel his eyes bore into me. I could almost feel the pressure of him looking at me. His eyes were so intense and full of passion and hate and emotion. His golden eyes were like no eyes I had ever seen before in my life. They were beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

True, I preferred my Water Tribe blue eyes, but his eyes made me rethink that. I had never liked golden eyes before. They seemed to be full of hate and anger and wrath. I guess I had also been biased since only Fire Nation people had gold eyes.

When I finished eating, Zuko took my plate and cup and set them on the desk. He pulled my arms back against the headboard again. He spun around to grab the rope, but when he turned back around, he lost his footing. He slipped and fell onto the bed. On top of me.

I could feel his body heat radiating off his skin and his hot breath against my face. His right hand was touching my neck, I could feel his pulse, and he could feel mine. Our eyes locked onto each other's. We were only inches apart. We were stuck in some kind of spell, never breaking free or pulling ourselves away from each other.

My mouth opened, and our breaths mingled. I silently prayed that my breath didn't smell.

We pulled in closer, almost closing the space between us. His heat became stronger and stronger as he became closer and his pulse quickened. I could almost feel his lips against mine. I suddenly wondered if I wanted to kiss him. Did I want my first kiss to be with Zuko? Would I be turning my back on my country? My people by kissing him? He clearly didn't think so, considering he kept getting closer and closer. I frantically searched for some sort of excuse to stop what was about to happen.

I didn't hear Gran Gran get onto me or tell me to stop. I was confused and a bit frustrated at what was occurring. I was about to kiss Zuko, my enemy! It couldn't be! Could it?

My eyes instinctively closed. Here it was; my first kiss.

"Prince Zuko!" I hear the metal door screech open, and my eyes snap open as well. A soldier stood in the doorway looking alert.

Zuko had already gotten off me, standing beside the bed. Glad to know he wasn't ashamed of what almost happened. He stood with his usual masculine, I'm- in- charge bravado. He had somehow already regained his composure, whereas I, I was still blushing and trying to come to terms with had just happened. Or, well, almost happened.

A strange mix of relief and disappointment washed over me. I didn't know why I was disappointed, but I somehow was. I shouldn't have been disappointed. At least, that's what I keep telling myself. It was wrong of me to want to kiss him, and I actually did- No! I didn't like Zuko! It was wrong and betraying! He was my enemy after all! I didn't have feelings for him! He captured me! It wasn't right or fair to myself to say that I liked him.

Before I knew it, the soldier had already left and closed the door behind him. Zuko was hovering over me, tying my wrists.

"Don't fall," I smirked.

Zuko tightened the rope. Too tight. "Ow!" I yelled.

He smirked down on me in return. He stood up straight and gathered up the dishes. He strutted around the bed and made his way to the door. He heaved the door open again. He almost disappeared down the hallway, but not before I could shout out, "Fine way to treat someone injured!"

A/N: Hey guys! I am soooooo sorry that i didn't update sooner! I really am! I tried really hard to make this chapter good. I hope I didn't make any of you mad that Zuko and Katara didn't kiss. What a close call! Oh, well. It'll come sometime! Be patient! Lol

Please review!

-Neon