AN: Wow! I have quite a few views/visits and even a review! Thanks guys! I also have to thank my follows. I have five so far which I think is pretty damn awesome. Thanks for following, I hope I don't disappoint you!

So if you guys didn't notice, I revised chapter one. I know, I know, this author is making revisions already. I just never get too comfortable with my work and I always know I can improve. The end of the chapter felt so rushed and I wanted to add a little more spice to it. Hope it turned out better. Anyways, thanks again guys and here is chapter two! Seriously, though, if you see any mistakes please point them out and let me know!

This chapter is now also revised :)

Toph screamed. And screamed. Her shrill anger curdled through air, piercing the ears of those around her, but she was not alone. Azula had let out an infuriated yell that almost eclipsed the young earthbender. Stomping over to the guard, Azula lit a flame and blasted the Dai Li agent backwards against the wall with a loud crack. She knelt down and cried, dragging the Avatar's limp body off of the girl and into the middle of the room. Toph stayed very still. She only hoped that the longer she sat there unmoving, the longer the feeling of his warmth would last on her shoulder. She was wrong. The warmth she felt now was turning cold and sticky, and she knew she was covered in his blood. Tears streaked down her face.

Azula was curled up over the Avatar's body, screaming, but not in sadness or mourning; in rage. She looked up, the ink makeup from her eyes was smeared by tears and sweat that glistened all over her body. She closed her eyes and let her inner fire burn, smoldering and quickly evaporating the liquid droplets. She stood up, just letting the Avatar's form slip off of her and thump on the floor abruptly. She lit another fire on her finger and grabbed the monk's hand, yanking it up towards her. His body was so light. She singed into his skin, cutting a small square of flesh out that unsymmetrically displayed both beige and blue.

"Here!" She yelled at no one in particular, but a young earthbender responded, coming over to her with a small trinket box. She placed the square of skin in the box and took it from the man who bowed low to her and returned to his place among the other Dai Li agents. Azula tucked the box into her sash at her waist.

"As you all have witnessed today," she began, "the Avatar has been destroyed." She looked around making sure that the agents in the crowd around her were dripping off of her words. "After entering the Avatar state, we fought. That young Dai Li agents, Spirits rest his soul, came to my aid when the Avatar launched himself at me. He struggled against the Avatar's might but was killed by his firebending. He will be honored here for protecting his royal charge." She signaled to two agents who worked about the crowd, approaching their dead brother and carrying his body away. "So as you can see, there is no more Avatar. As you can see, the Avatar has been vanquished. Anyone who says otherwise will be found guilty of treason to the highest degree and executed immediately." She looked around again to make sure she still had them.

They were hers.

Azula walked forward to speak to her Commander. The rest of the agents went about their work cleaning the blood off the dirt floor and dragging the remaining three prisoners out of the palace to the shipped that awaited them.

Zuko sat, watching the waterbender.

Her eyes were closed, but he could not tell if she was sleeping or just resting. Her breathing always seemed to rise and fall evenly in her chest when she wasn't waterbending. Her frame was petit and her face was tilted back as her head rested against the cave wall. She swallowed and Zuko watched as the small lump traveled down her throat. He shivered. Her shoulders were thin but strong and they mirrored her chest. Her arms were defined as they wrapped around her leg. Her legs…Zuko thought long about the waterbender's legs. They were long and slender, but hard and toned. They were covered now in thin blue pants, but Zuko could imagine the reach of the smooth mocha lengths that extended from beneath her…

"Why are you watching me?"

Her voice slightly shocked him. He didn't know how to answer her. He had been very quiet for the past hour or so…Hour? Really? It felt like much longer to Katara. The only thing that punctuated the long, drawn silence was a low grumbling that intermittently shook the walls of the cave. She opened her eyes and decided she preferred to watch him back instead of feeling his hot gaze tingle in her abdomen, making her almost sick.

"What?" She asked, more fervently this time.

"Nothing, I can look at whatever I damn well please." He decided to take the defensive. Katara chuckled inwardly.

"Sure. You know, Zuko, when we make it out of here," she stated thoughtfully, "I am going to find Aang…You can still come with us."

He was about to scoff but decided against it. Yeah, sure, like he'd go with her...

And that was all she said before the low grumbling returned. She sighed and closed her eyes again, waiting for it to pass. She had it timed. Counting in her head from the start, she breathed slowly.

7…6…5…4…3…2…1…

Zuko leaned against the wall of the cave and watched as her chest pushed up and down, in time with the voiceless movement of her lips.

Katara was kind, he had to give her that. But kindness was a sign of weakness. She was loyal, though and that was a sign of strength. She was just very confusing to the young price. Ever since he had started his hunt for the Avatar, she had grown from a nuisance to a problem. Even tied to a tree and at his mercy, she refused to give up the Avatar's location. He saluted her in his mind and smiled briefly at the memory.

"Why do you say things like that?" He asked, not even realizing the words were coming out of his mouth.

"Like what?"

"'You can still come with us' and 'when we make it out of here'. You don't even know if you'll make it out of here, let alone rejoin the Avatar. If I was him, I would have left you by now." Zuko's face soured. He didn't mean for it to come out like that, but he wanted to hurt her. Burn her. But how hot was too hot?

"Shut up, Zuko. You know nothing about honor and loyalty. You were banished from your Nation, scarred and now you walk around with the sole intent to make everyone as unhappy as you!" She spat. She could play too. Her eyes were now on him, her toes pointed at him. Every part of her body was like ice, daggers piercing him with cold.

"Oh really?! Well you're only with the Avatar because you have some insane vendetta against the Fire Nation for taking your mother away! She took mine too, right from my hands! The difference between you and I, peasant, is that I have accepted the fact that she can't come back! I know she's gone while your tiny peasant brain hasn't even come to terms with the fact that your war won't bring her back! You cannot bring her back!" The fire in his tone bit her like she was standing in the middle of it. A tear started to well in her eye, but she couldn't let him see that he had won. He knew. And he was ashamed. In his mind, he could hear different voices yelling the same words back at him, and it broke him inside to hear it. She was his mother, of course he wasn't over it.

"Katara, I-"

"No, Zuko. You're right. My mother can't come back. But if she were here, I know she would be proud of me. Can you say the same?" Her voice was smooth and cold as she closed her eyes and relaxed her stature. She sunk slowly down the wall and tilted, leaning her head onto the cold cave ground. She pressed her ear onto the earth and listened to the silence.

She shivered.

Being from the Southern Water Tribe, Katara did not shiver much. Mostly from fear, or anxiety or if she hadn't eaten. But when she shivered she knew something was wrong, and at that moment it was like the universe was screaming at her to let go of something important to her. Her mother? Her freedom?

Aang…?

The floodgates opened and tears streamed down Katara's face. Zuko stared at her and thought about the words they had exchanged. Harsh, stabbing words, verbal blows exchanged and for what? The chance to make the other feel off guard? Zuko could have accepted her offer.

I have healing abilities…

He could have let her heal him, but instead he chose to fight her. He chose to defend his "honor" yet again. Maybe if he had things would be different. Maybe the two would be working together trying to find a way out of this prison.

"Katara, why did you offer to heal me?"

"What?" She was baffled.

"Why did you offer to heal me? After everything I have done to you and the Avatar and your family, why would you help me if not to gain something for yourself?"

"Zuko, what would I gain for myself by healing you?"

He paused and thought for a moment. He knew that if she were to heal him, he would be indebted to her. She would ask that he turn on his Nation and help the Avatar instead of hunting him. She would ask something of him that he isn't sure if he would…or could give her. He glanced at her and she was still laying, eyes closed, curled in a half moon on the floor. He didn't know how to answer her. He stood up and walked over to her, sitting down next to her head. She didn't even flinch. Did she trust him? Could she actually trust that he wasn't going to hurt her? He was so close to her. Why didn't she get angry? Had she given up…? He was unsure of what to do for her. He was unsure of why he was wondering what to do for her…He reached out to touch her hair-…

The walls of the cave groaned and grumbled. Zuko quickly withdrew his hand. This time the grumbling was slightly louder, but still Katara counted aloud.

"7…6…5…4…3…2…1…1…1?"

Katara's eyes flicked open. She sat up, being wary of her ankle. Why hasn't she healed it yet?... She put her hands on the ground and leaned her head in closer to it, feeling it tremble. She stood up quickly and did the same to the wall, traveling along it towards the part of the cave they had been thrown into.

"Zuko…" She sounded worried.

"What?" Zuko stood slowly, elegantly, brushing off the front of his tunic.

"That noise…it lasts seven seconds and then goes away," she kept her head pressed against the wall while she spoke. The vibrations ringing in her ears found her speaking louder than she probably needed to. "They are the same, they haven't changed since we've been down here. Seven seconds," she found herself needing to almost shout now as the rumbling grew louder. A few rocks from the cave wall started to tumble, pebbles at first and then small boulders. Katara quickly backed away and took a fighting stance, screwing the top off of her water pouch on her hip. Zuko looked at her, then followed suit, leaning into his right leg and bracing himself for what awaited the other side of the rumbling. He found himself fairly close to Katara, only a foot or two away from where she stood. She felt his closeness and looked him up and down, the small flame he produced glimmered in her wet eyes. A light started to trickle through as rocks were pulled away from the cave. Finally, the light burst through wholly and completely, blinding Katara for a moment. Zuko did not flinch, bright lights did not faze him. The figure that stood before them, however, did.

A cackle. A fierce, evil cackle.

"Azula."

Azula walked into the cave, followed by two Dai Li operatives. Much to Zuko's surprise, she strode past him and over to Katara.

He turned in their direction as Azula silently removed the box from her belt and signaled to the Dai Li agents. Each of them took one of her arms and shoved her to the floor. She grunted, but she didn't show any fear of these traitors.

"What do you want from her?" Zuko snarled.

Azula held out the box at arm's length and knelt down until she was eye lever with the water bender. Noticing the water pouch at her side, Azula snatched her arm back. She grabbed the skin from the girl's side and sniffed it's contents. Satisfied, she drank until every drop was gone.

"That's better. Thank you, waterbender. I was parched. Now," she held out her arm once more and clasped the box in her hand. "I have something…Something that you may want to see." Azula tipped the lid of the box back and revealed a small square of flesh to Katara. She stared, her earthen skin paled to the color of the yellow summer sky above them. No tears, no screaming, only fear. She collapsed, burying her face in her hands.

"What?" Zuko cried, "what is it?!"

He reached forth and snatched the box from Azula, who only laughed. When he saw the contents of the box he froze.

"You see, Zuzu, while you were down in a cave, wasting your flirtations on some pathetic waterbender," she motioned to the guards who proceeded to drag Katara's limp form out of the cave, "I was out conquering Ba Sing Se! Father will be thrilled when return to the Fire Nation…" Her eyes narrowed on Zuko.

"We?" He asked.

"Leave us." She directed the remaining guards to leave the cavern. She and Zuko were now alone. Azula stood with her back to the opening of the cave, the light flooding in from behind her casting a halo around her head. Zuko held his guard up still.

"Azula, what are you scheming?"

"Well Zuko, it's not about me anymore…It's about our nation. You see, Zuko, I want to help my brother."

Azula always lies…

"And now that the Avatar is dead, there really isn't a reason for you to be gallivanting around out here, is there?"

Azula always lies…

"No, I think you need to return, have your honor restored…"

"How can I do that? Father told me I could only have my honor restored if I brought him the Avatar…"

"And you will," she shoved the box at him, "this is all that remains of the Avatar. Solitary proof of his death. And your honor shall be restored due to your assistance in helping me kill him. And of course, in return for a favor from me…"

Azula always lies…

"What is it? What do you want from me?" It wasn't as much of an acceptance but Azula had found it was easier to see it that way.

"When the time is right, Zuko, I will come to you and ask a favor of you and you shall honor me by completing whatever task I assign to you. Now Zuko, it may be tomorrow, and it may be when I am on my deathbed, but you will be asked something of yourself to do in return for this grand gesture I offer you." She placed her hand on her brother's face, avoiding touching his scar. Zuko looked down as she pressed the box further into his chest, inciting him to take it.

Azula always lies…Right?

Where is all this doubt coming from? Doubt about the waterbending girl, doubt about my motives and intentions and now doubt about what a treacherous liar Azula can be? What is wrong with me…?

"I…I don't know…" Zuko spoke hesitantly, so as not to disturb the sensitive ground on which he stepped.

"Zuzu," she cooed, "I know it may be hard for you to trust me, but let me offer you this. Come with me to the Fire Nation, see that I will restore your crown to you, your honor, your livelihood, and then you shall make the vow for to serve me when I ask it of you. I will show you that I am not leading you into a trap, my brother." She smiled. But it was not the usual fright that adorned her face; no, this smile was genuine, true, real. And that made it all the scarier.

Zuko was torn. If he accepted his sister's offer, he would return to his crown, his nation, and be next in line for the throne. He could outlive her, become Fire Lord… But what would she ask of him? What could she possibly want from him? He silently wondered what became of the Avatar's friends. Katara's brother, the earthbending royalty that traveled with them, and Katara…What did Azula do with Katara? She had been so quiet that Zuko did not notice her being taken away. He glanced behind his sister, but there was no one. She had ordered the guards to move away. Zuko looked back to his sister, who's keen teeth showed through lips painted red. And what about…

"Uncle?" His thought fathomed itself into speech.

"Huh?" Azula's demeanor remarked her confusion.

"Where is Uncle?"

"Oh! Zuko, you did not hear? But of course, how could you…?" Her face saddened. Zuko decided that she was either being genuine or she had greatly improved her acting skills. She reached into her breastplate and pulled out a small cloth. It had been wrapped around something and as she placed it in his hands, it fell open. Inside lay a small yellow ribbon, a few pieces of copper and a pai sho chip depicting a white lotus. "Zuko, Uncle was killed…By the Avatar."

Azula always likes…Right?

He clutched the pouch in his hand. "How?"

"When the Avatar came to Ba Sing Se to find the waterbender, he interrogated Uncle as to her whereabouts. When Uncle explained to him that he did not know, the Avatar murdered him in cold blood. I am so sorry, Zuko." And then Azula pulled him into a hug.

Zuko could not remember when or if his sister had ever hugged him. He knows she was doing it now, and he felt so unclean. His body pressed against hers, her breath ticking his neck and sending a shiver down his spine. Zuko only stood and let her embrace him.

"No…No the Avatar would not do that…He is a loving-"

"Exactly." Azula stated, matter-of-factly.

"What?"

"He is loving. Of her. The Water Tribe peasant. He is in love with her. So much so that he would kill for her. To find her. To be with her. Oh, Zuko, I am so sorry." She let out a breath sob and pulled away from her brother. He stared at the ground in anger, sadness and frustration. "Zuko if you come with me, help me expand our glorious nation, you too may feel love like that someday. If you do not, your uncle will have died in vain."

He kicked a few stones around him on the cave floor and looked up, peering into his sister's eyes. He wondered if he should trust her. Hell, he wondered if he should just kill her where she stands. No, she was too powerful. He had to face the truth.

Iroh was gone. The Avatar was gone. If he refused her, where would he go? He has no one left…He would be shunned from the Fire Nation, and now the conquered Earth Nation… Where does he have left to go? The Water Tribes? When he just let the daughter of the chief of the Southern Tribe be captured? When he destroyed and terrorized the families of the tribes? He had no choice…

"I accept."

Azula's eyes widened as she slipped her arms around Zuko in another embrace. He hugged her back lightly. "I promise, Zuzu, you won't regret this!" She smiled into his shoulder and glanced at her arms encircled around him, and the hands at the end of them, and the fingers…the childishly crossed fingers that symbolized a promise that would never be kept.

AN: WOW! Okay so thanks so much to those who are reading and reviewing! I am trying to take my time with these chapters so I don't crank them out and they seem rushed. At any rate, I hope you guys are all enjoying this. Anyways, side note, I hope Azula doesn't seem too OOC. I am really trying to paint her as the conniving bitch I see her as. Please let me know how I am doing!