Why, why, why?!

Zuko screamed at himself mentally as he stared with a blank face into his glass. He couldn't believe he'd actually tried to kiss her. It was completely against everything he'd ever been taught. And not only was it against the code of no emotion, it was against his mission. By trying to kiss her, he nearly broke his vow to the Fire Lord, ans to his nation.

Zuko glanced across the counter to where the water bender stood with his back to him. Her slim form shook slightly when she chuckled at the couple who was arguing about how they met.

"I specifically remember that the first time we were face to face, you were tied to a pole and I was getting ready to throw you to the Uniagi," The red-haired girl smirked triumphantly when she said it before taking a long drink of her juice.

"I don't know who that was but it wasn't me! There's no way a bunch of girls took us down," Sokka somewhat glowered.

"'A bunch of girls, huh? The Uniagis gonna eat well tonight'," The way she shifted her tone of voice made it clear that she was repeating something she'd told him before. He turned his eyes to Sokka whose mouth was opening and closing, unable to form an answer he grabbed his boomerang and stalked out of the room.

"I have war meeting to go to!" He yelled before slamming the front door. Zuko jumped when both other girls burst out laughing.

"Don't worry, Suki. I remember you taking us down," the water bender said still laughing. The other girl nodded chuckling, before she walked over and took one of the water benders hands.

"I'm glad you came, Kat; but I need to go to. Don't wait until you almost die to visit again, ok?" Katara nodded and the two girls embraced in a tight hug.

"Will do, Suki." He heard her mumble into her shoulder. The older girl let go and reached her hand out to Zuko, and he grasped it.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Zuko," He saw the sincerity in the women's eyes and he gave her a genuine smile.

"You as well, Miss."

They were walking back towards the apartment in silence. Neither had spoken a word since they'd left Suki's home.

Katara stared at the dirt path ahead of her, she'd decided to take a back path instead of the main road. She had had a hard enough time pretending to be happy around her brother and his girlfriend, she couldn't deal with more people right now too. She let her mind drift back to that morning.

Kuzon is a fire bender.

She didn't know what she would, what she could do. Without a teacher, he would never reach his full potential as a person. He needed to master his element, but the only other fire bender was a prisoner under suspicion. She couldn't allow him that much freedom.

Letting him almost kiss you was a lot of freedom.

Katara chided herself mentally. She didn't understand how he'd gotten to her so easily; he was going to kiss her, and she was going to let him.

Why? Why would I do that?

She couldn't help but think what Toph had said days prior.

"Do you think it could be him?"

Katara shook her head in attempt to rid her head of these thoughts. There was no way it could be him.

But what if it is?

Katara gasped as her foot caught a tree root and she fell forward; but before she could put her hands out to catch herself, strong arms wrapped around her. They lifted her back to her feet before reaching down to free her foot. When Zuko stood back up he looked her straight in the eye, his expression blank. She forced her heart to calm down and her face to turn as blank as his.

"Thank you," She said icily before turning away and continuing her walk down the path. She was about five feet ahead of him before she heard his footfalls continue, and he jogged a few steps to catch up with her.

"I want to teach the boy," Katara completely froze mid-step and he turned to face her.

"What?" She said it genuinely, not because she didn't hear what he said, but because she didn't believe she'd heard it correctly. Like he'd read her mind.

"I want to teach the boy to fire bend," the way he said it made Katara bristle. Like he was declaring it instead of asking permission as he should have been. He should have been asking her if it was even possible.

"What makes you think you'll be aloud to?" She asked crossing her arms defiantly. He narrowed his eyes and took a step towards her.

"You know as well as I do that this isn't something that I just want to do. Fire is his element, in order to become the best he can be he needs gain complete balance within himself," he paused and took another step toward her, "He needs to master his element to be everything he can be. I know that fire bending isn't really accepted around here, but he can't choose where he was born or what happened to him!" Katara felt her heart beating against her chest, she knew that he wasn't just talking about Kuzon.

Katara breathed in sharply and stepped toward him so that she was looking up into his golden gaze.

"But he can choose what he fights for," finishing with that she stepped passed him and continued walking to the nearing building.

She didn't know exactly why she'd said that. Did she really still believe that he was the enemy? Or was she offering for him to help them? Katara thought about it for a moment; she wasn't sure. But she wasn't sure of anything when it came to him.

Zuko closed his eyes out of frustration with himself before turning to follow her.

She still doesn't trust me.

If he was going to finish his mission he needed more space to work, but with the tight leash she had him on, he'd never be able to do it. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to complete his mission. How many innocents would die if he did? He had to decide soon, within two nights. Follow through and slaughter hundreds, or betray his oath and become a traitor to his homeland.

If Zuko followed his orders Kuzon, Suki, Sokka, and Katara.. they would all die. They would fight, but they would lose and be cut down where they stood. And not just the men, but women and children would be killed or sold as slaves. And he knew Katara would stand on the front line and fight to protect them. She would fight until her last breath. But Zuko knew that even she couldn't hold back the Fire Lord's armies. She would die because of him. He'd be sacrificing hundreds of lives.

If Zuko abandoned his mission, they would live. Maybe only until another was sent to replace him, but he'd still be giving them a fighting chance. But he would be an outcast. He would never again return home as a war hero, someone who all feared and admired. He would become a disgrace to the Fire Nation and to his father. He would be disowned, giving his future crown to his power hungry younger sister. Zuko knew that his nation would fall even deeper into despair under Azula's rule. He'd be sacrificing all those who dwelt in his home land to Azula's wrath.

Either way, lives would be lost. And there was nothing he could do about it.

Unless I end the war.

Zuko shook these thoughts out of his head. And focused on the back off the young women in front of him. She walked proud and strong, unafraid and ready for anything. She was courageous and strong; and under the tough skin he knew she was kind. He didn't know what had happened to make her harden her heart against the world. And he didn't know if he'd have the chance to find out.

There you go! Sorry it took so long!

Review!

Kmsitterley

Updated 12/30/12