"How have You been in the city?" Katara asked genuinely concerned for the fire bender as they walked side by side.

"Adapting, hai gave me an apartment yesterday so it's nice having a bed," Zuko nodded softly.

"Good, we didn't know how or if you'd stay long with the circumstances, plus we found Azula trying to drill through to the wall," she huffed a little playing with the end of her braid.

"You what?" Zuko asked wide eyes.

"We stopped her and destroyed the drill but yea.." she pursed her lips a little.

"She's trying to get in?" He whispered crossing his arms tight against his chest.

"She won't," Katara told him.

"It's Azula, she gets what she wants," he sighed a little.

Katara looked at him to see how stressed he immediately was over the princess. But she also noticed how different he looked already, how he looked clean with no dirt on his face or clothes, he looked tired still like always and the scowl doesn't help. But he looked younger like a teenager with the less tension of being somewhere safer.

"So how did you end up in the lower rink? You seemed surprised," Zuko changed the subject.

"Iiiiii was taking a walk," she squeaked a little embarrassed.

"Youre not convincing," he stated flatly.

"Ok, fine, I was getting some air after I was really upset, I walked it off mostly and happen to get down here," Katara huffed again.

"What happened?" Zuko asked.

Katara was surprised he was actually talking to her and asking questions. Did he actually care? Were they still enemys? He seemed different then before, his attitude, his appearance, he already looked like he changed for the better.

"Im just being dumb and over thinking, I feel like I'm always taking care of my brother and the others, I mean I mother them all the time, and some times I just get sick of it and wished they actually could do things for themselves, I mean my brother is older and I still have to sew his clothes," Katara ranted now being able to say her frustrations out loud.

"I love being able to take care of people I love and I know they're just kids but sometimes I'm tired, and they get mad at me for when I tell them to do something, and I know I nag and am bossy and a mother hen but I'm just trying to take care of them," Katara choked up a little in her anger but kept walking, a little faster now even but Zuko kept up.

"They appreciate it, they just don't know how much they do," Zuko sighed. He remembered how she took the lead to get everyone out of the desert even with just losing their pet and her brother being on some juice.

"Aang did apologize for how he's been after everything but he's just a kid too so I'm not even upset over that," Katara groaned a little.

"I just- they- I don't know-"

"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, your a kid too," Zuko offered softly and she stopped in the street.

"I'm not though, I've been taking care of my brother since we were young, I've been helping women in my village and doing chores and taking responsibilities, this isn't new to me but I'm already so tired," she scoffed a little and Zuko stopped as well.

"I'll be turning 15 soon, I'm to old to be getting emotional like this, for being in a war I can't," she was irritated again but Zuko scowled this time.

"That's not fair to you," he made a face getting upset now.

Katara paused and took a deep breath.

"So what, fair or not it's how life is," she mumbled but zukos scowl turned more angry.

"That's bullshit," he snapped.

"Zuk-" "so what if your being emotional, your still a kid and you're doing more in this war than anyone in the earth kingdom and water tribe and fire nation, your the avatars fucking teacher," he motioned to her with a scoff.

"How come the avatar gets to be a kid but you have to be an adult? He's the one that's suppose to save the world?" He threw his hands in the air.

They both were quiet for a while as Zuko started to walk again and Katara followed.

"We have a lot of built up anger about that stuff don't we?" Katara spoke first as she rubbed her face nodding.

"Apparently, it was already stupid to see how childish a lot of you are when I was with ya," Zuko kept his scowl.

"I guess in a way..." she sighed a little.

"Where there others your age when you were with your brothers?" She asked curiously. Could she consider him a friend? To talk to him like just another teenager like her?

"No, the youngest was 16 but we didn't get new recruits for a while so I was the youngest since I was 14, they all called me runt," zukos face relaxed as he talked about his troops he lived with.

"You were 14 when you joined?" She whispered.

"13, but my commander made me lie and said I was older to not have suspicions, my brother lee just found out me age on my birthday," he sighed softly at the memory.

"It wasn't so bad, I would give up everything to go back to how it use to be," Zuko looked at the stars above as Katara sympathized with him.

"Do you miss your life before you were a soldier?" Katara asked curiously.

"No," he said quick.

She pursed her lips understanding there's probably a reason he joined the military so young.

"Also I'm not a child soldier, I'm just a soldier, I legally shouldn't have been but I guess I got the special treatment," he snorted a little shaking his head.

"I'm sorry that you had to join so young, you're just a kid too," she tsked a little crossing her arms.

Zuko agreed a little and looked around noticing how late it was, he didn't like the people that were starting to come out more with the sun down now. He sighed softly and turned a corner.

"Where are we going?" Katara asked confused.

"Taking you back to the upper rink, you shouldn't be out here this late, not over by me," Zuko told her with a shrug.

"I'm guessing you guys haven't found the bison?" He kept his arms crossed as they walked together under the street lamps.

"No... we haven't done anything since we got here, the earth king is impossible to talk too, and no one has been helpful with finding appa, it feels like it's on purpose almost with being no where close to getting somewhere," Katara explained rolling her eyes.

"I always feel like there's eyes around me," Zuko glanced behind them unsure.

"Just be careful with the dai lee, they're advance security but they're hardcore," she gulped a little with a nod. She felt it too.

"Do you want to come say hi to everyone? They're probably curious with what you've been up too," Katara offered to him and he shook his head.

"I didn't think I'd actually see any of you again, you attract to much attention," Zuko stuck out his tongue a little.

"We do not," she groaned.

"Right," he looked at her.

For the next few miles they walked together they made small talk, Katara told him about serpents past with sokkas friend Suki, and the baby that was born. Zuko told her he saw the family on the train in the city with their new baby.

"Oh we're almost back," Katara Recognized the area and Zuko looked around curious of the fancier homes.

"Wow these remind me of the middle class of my home," Zuko looked impressed of the houses, he was careful with his words in case ears were listening.

"Middle class? Really? I wonder what lower and upper look like then," Katara smiled in awe of what the fire nation could look like.

"Obviously no earth benders so the homes here are stronger, but you know, material is important like silk, gold, glass, architecture is more elegant and slim, different cultures and all," Zuko explained as Katara looked amused.

"Your a lot smarter than you let on," she punched his arm playfully and he raised a brow at her.

"It's common knowledge," he said.

"Yea but you sound like you know a lot about it," she smirked like it was obvious.

They got to the house and Katara saw some mail on the porch, she walked up and sorted to see what they got, she looked surprised seeing a flyer.

"Maybe things are going to start looking up after all, there's a party in the palace  tomorrow night for his pet bear," Katara gasped running back down to Zuko to show him.

"What kind of bear?" He asked.

"Uh I don't know? It says just bear," Katara read over the flyer again not seeing the specifics.

"So your going to a bear party? Have fun," Zuko shrugged thinking that's what she was going for.

"No dumbass, we can sneak in with the crowd since it'll be packed, we can finally see the earth king," she jumped excited as Zuko tilted his head to the side.

"Do you need an invite?" He asked taking the flyer.

"We can just use tophs passport again to show we're fancy or something," she waved it off.

"Yea cause You four never draw attention, you won't blend with the crowd," Zuko told her flatly. "Avatar or not, those type of people are soft spoken, nosy, diamond hungry drama queens,"

"Those type of people?" She smirked at the stereotype.

"Rich folks are the worst, your better off just breaking in the palace," he handed the flyer back.

"Where are You going?" Katara asked as he started to walk back the way they came.

"Home," he called.

Katara smiled at that word for him. She was proud he seemed to settle in the city. She never would've guessed he use to be a stone cold killing soldier.

"Hey!" She yelled at him. Zuko looked over his shoulder.

"I'll catch you soon?" She more asked the statement curious to see if he would have a reaction.

Zuko nodded confirming.

A smile spread on her face relieved she didn't embarrass herself. He kept walking back down the street as the night was still young. What an interesting experience with someone she use to hate.

"Katara your back!" Aang opened the door happy to see her returned.

"Where have You been? We were going to start looking for you," he ran down to her as Zuko was now out of sight.

"I just... went for a walk," she gulped a little holding the Flyer close and they went back inside.