Katara was trying to catch Zuko all day after he left her at the fountain, he was a master at avoiding. She would find him always with someone, either Sokka, haru, or even the duke, it was the most social she's ever seen him.

"Zuk-" "Zuko I need to talk to you," Katara was cut off when Aang timidly spoke up.

She was more surprised that Aang wanted to talk to him since he still wasn't over 'zukos family' incident from a few days earlier. Katara played with the ends of her hair but kept her mouth shut when Aang started talking to the fire bender. Why did it feel harder to speak when she had so much to say.

"Oh.. is everything okay?" Zuko asked Aang softly.

"Yea it's just I've been thinking..." Aang took a deep breath to gather his strength.

"I think you should be my fire bending teacher," she heard Aang finally say and her head perked up shocked.

"I don't think your past or your blood should define you and I apologize for judging your past, I mean your family- well I mean you-" "Id be honored to help you move forward on your journey and teach you fire bending," zuko helped the young boy out and Aang was relieved with a smile.

"You know I'm not a master though right?" Zuko reminded him a little unsure.

"Even if you're not a master doesn't mean we can't learn together, and you know the basics and your combats pretty good," Aang smiled more optimistic now for learning his last element.

"We'll start tomorrow morning at sunrise then," Zuko offered and Aang nodded excited.

"Did you want to talk at all about before? I don't want you being upset about it still," Zuko offered. Now Katara hide behind the wall really not wanting to interrupt them now that they got along better.

"Well I don't know, do you really hate the fire lord enough to kill him? I mean this is killing your father, the man that raised you," aang felt guilt for bringing it up.

"It's been a long time since I thought it Ozai as a father..." Zuko rubbed the back of his neck and took a deep breath.

"It's really complicated and confusing, I don't know all of the answers myself,"

"But this is still a man that raised you, he's a monster to the world but to you he's a parent... could you forgive me for taking him away?" Aang asked a bit sad at the idea of Zuko resenting him in a way.

"There was a time I wanted to make him proud and wanted to mean something to him, be the perfect son or a prince or some sort of hero but," he looked to the side disappointed with himself for thinking such a ridiculous way in the past.

"Aang he sent me away to die in the war when I was thirteen, even before that Ozai hasn't been a father, your not taking anything away from me... if anything you'd be helping me get to my uncle, he's been the one that has been there for me and actually reached out to me since I've been away," zuko tried to console him so he wouldn't feel any guilt.

"I know you're scared, and I know this is a lot for you, the last thing we want is you to feel like your alone," he set his hand on the young boys shoulder and Aang nodded slowly.

"What about Azula?" Aang asked.

"Leave her to me, Ozai is our priority, he's the one that needs to go, leave the rest of the fire nation to me," zuko told him firmly as Aang looked up to him.

He could see it, he could see there was still a prince in his heart, the love for his nation and the pride for his people. It's a leader the fire nation needs, someone who's seen and felt the pain of the war and the flaws in its politics.

"Know what's fun about this new news? Over half of my best friends are children to their nations leader, and beifongs are a Noble family," aang nudged Zuko playfully.

"Just surrounded by princes and princesses," he giggled a little.

"You're literally the avatar," Zuko blinked.

"Yea but I've never had servants," Aang winked.

"Oi watch it," the older teen warned.

"Whatever you say prince Zuko," the avatar grinned playfully and ducked zukos hand swinging to smack him in the back of the head.

"Watch it!" Zuko called after him as Aang ran off quick before he could almost get hit again.

Zuko tsked shaking his head knowing he was unable to catch up to the airbender. He felt eyes on him and looked over his shoulder, only to see Katara patiently waiting for his attention.

They faced each other as neither of them knew how to start the conversation. Shame and regret filled the fire bender, keeping his arms crossed and pulled them tighter to his chest, he was so stupid to follow his gut or his heart, whichever was the stupid one that made that decision.

"You don't have to keep hiding from me," Katara tilted her head to the side with a soft smile.

"Can't I? It's easier," Zuko blushed embarrassed.

Katara clasped her hands behind her back and walked towards him slowly.

"Before you hide again, can I ask you something?" She asked quietly, reading him like a book.

"Do you like me Zuko? I mean like me like me?"

Zuko pursed his lips and looked at her, his eyes full of remorse, almost looking sad at her words. But he felt as if he's ruined it all, he ruined everything, his friendship, her trust.

"I don't know," he whispered.

"I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable, i should've known better than that," zuko rubbed his neck anxiously.

Kataras smile fell and grabbed his hand from his neck, rubbing small circles on the top with her thumb.

"Don't stress yourself out over that, we're good, we're okay, you didn't do anything wrong Zuko," she tried to ease his worries, keeping her eyes on his hand, a little embarrassed herself.

"I liked it," Katara whispered, blushing at her own confession. When she looked up to see zukos reaction she couldn't help but giggle at him.

His face burning red from embarrassment and confusion, the gears in his head turning.

"Do you have feelings for me by any chance?" Katara asked again softly.

"I-I-I don't know," Zuko pulled his hand back and crossed his arms, it was his way to hide his trembling hands.

"Zuko..." she lost her smile as she grew worried and regretful.

"Tara I don't know what I'm feeling, there's so much wrong in my head right now and I don't want these feelings to be wrong too," Zuko told her with wide eyes.

"When im with you I feel like I can be who I want but my heart can't calm down, and I want to be strong for you but I want you to be at my side cause I trust you have my back, but at the same time that I trust you with my life I feel like I can't breathe," Zuko gripped his shirt taking a step back from her.

"But that's the only thing that also feels right at the moment, after everything that's been happening this past fucking week even, my family, my nation, the invasion failing, this fucking group even... this feeling doesn't make me want to give up," his voice cracked at the end.

"I'm so sorry Katara," the fire bender inhaled deeply but his exhale was shaken.

Katara threw herself around him, wrapping her arms around his back and embraced her friend tightly before he could push her away.

"I'm sorry too, this isn't what we should be worrying about, these feelings are new to me too, I didn't realize this was so scary for you, it's just been exciting for me," she rested her head on his shoulder with guilt.

"The idea of you liking me... I feel like I'm on cloud nine," Kataras eyes filled with tears but didn't let him see. Zuko relaxed and hugged her back.

"This is so complicated," he tried to joke but she nodded vigorously.

"Let's just focus on the war for now, focus on Aang, not let our feelings get the best of us," katara took a deep breath herself.

"And maybe see if we're still confused by the ," she mumbled hopeful and he gave her another squeeze.

"Are we okay?" Zuko asked not letting go of her.

"We're more than okay," Katara assured smiling again.