ZKM-Prejudice

The first time she saw him, he marched into her home and grabbed her Gran-Gran. She found him an arrogant, selfish brut – a perfect example of how the enemy was. His scar only showed how horrible and cruel the Fire Nation could be, even if she didn't know where it came from or how he got it. That didn't matter. What mattered was he was the enemy here to destroy everything she loved and held dear.

The next few times she saw him, she saw his incompetence. She might not have been that skilled, but even she was better than his failed attempt at capturing the Avatar. And this was their Prince? No wonder the Avatar "eluded" the Fire Nation for so long.

There were a few times over the next few months that she felt a little pity towards him and tried to help him. But that could have been because of his Uncle, who was a sweet old man, or maybe she was just emotional. Then in the caves under Ba Sing Se, she found she was being too harsh towards him. That she didn't know him as she once thought.

That lasted a few minutes before he turned around and went right back to where he was in the first place. Katara knew the prejudice she had before was justified. There was no way he could change her mind.

After the day of black sun, he appeared to have changed for good. At least that's what he said. She still wasn't sure if she trusted him or not. She still kept her guard up.

Yet, here she was, a few months later, in the company of the new Fire Lord, the former Prince she held her judgment against, and she couldn't be happier. Even as he dressed, or attempted to dress despite the injuries he had sustained, she couldn't help but smile.

"Katara, it would be nice if you would help me with my robes instead of sitting there smiling like that."

She shrugged. "I can't help it Zuko. I'm happy. I never thought I'd be here with you, yet here I am," she said as she stood to tie his robes together. "If someone told me a year ago this is where I'd be today, with you, I would have laughed. You wouldn't believe what I thought of you when you first came to my village."

"I'm sure I can imagine a few things. I thought you were a little water tribe peasant who didn't know anything about bending."

"And now?"

"I think you're my water tribe peasant who's a great bending master. And the woman that stole my heart," he said, kissing her softly.