"Who knew," Katara and Zuko sat in a cell together as he looked at her not impressed.

"I knew," he said flatly.

"We don't have to deal with your dad right? Your the prince so they'll just let us go?" Katara asked with a small smile.

"You took a mans pet," Zukos eyes widen as he grit his teeth.

"I didn't know!"

"It had a collar kat," he sighed resting his head back.

She mimicked him sliding down the wall more but was surprised to hear Zuko laugh a little as he sat in the corner with his arms crossed.

He laughed like that before when they ran from the guards, hand in hand while he lead her away knowing where to go, they both were laughing like children who just got in trouble. They were children who just got in trouble.

"What?" She raised a brow.

"First time I've been caught sneaking out of the palace, I wonder if we'll actually have to face my father," he grinned at her.

They snickered a little as Zuko nudged her with his foot and she kicked back. They laughed harder at their situation together.

"Hey, with what I said before, how if this is how the future is going to be," Katara scooted closer as she and Zuko sat next to each other.

"I am thankful that your who i get to spend it with, your something else Zuko," she smiled up at him and Zuko smiled back at her.

"You know you're probably the first person I've opened up to the most... and I'm grateful that I at least got a friend out of a shit situation," Zuko wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she giggled leaning against him.

"I.." he trailed off holding her close. They weren't a couple, this wasn't a romantic relationship, they were friends that were forced to marry each other, from hating the other to being this close..

"You might be one of the best things that has happened to me, and I'm thankful for you kat," he whispered and Katara looked at him softly.

"You think so?" She whispered back.

"I told you about my dad didn't I? An-and my-my plan with the tribes and aang and I just trust you a lot with it, I trust you," Zuko nodded not able to look at her.

"I trust you, and that is one of the most meaningful things I can give to you is my trust," he smiled gently and she smiled back.

"I trust you too Zuko, I think you might be my best friend, my first friend outside the water tribes," Katara leaned her head against him and Zuko inhaled deeply.

"Really?" He asked.

"You know how I use to be, I never left, and yea.. I mean it, I guess I do get to marry my best friend after all," she laughed softly closing her eyes.

"Don't be falling in love with me now," he teased.

She was silent for a moment.

"You're so dumb," Katara snorted hitting his torso and he laughed at her.

"Oh wanna play 'pat the ice'?" She sat up and scooted around so they faced each other.

"What..." he blinked and she made him put his hands up.

"Copy me," she nodded as they played paddy cake with clapping them patting their hands together, one hand, other hand, both hands and repeat.

They played with their hands patting together, they kept going till one person messed up and the other would be the winner, they kept track of who won and who messed up on the game in the sand on the side.

"Hey kids, someone said that your from the palace?" A guard walked over to their cell and Katara groaned because she messed up and lost the round. Zuko smiled that he won.

"7 to 5," Zuko put his hands in his lap and she flicked his forehead.

"Yea we're from the palace, can we go back and not tell anyone?" Zuko looked up at the guard.

"We have to let the head of the palace staff know from whatever wing your from," the man raised a brow at them.

"Uh sure, that works," Zuko shrugged standing up.

"Who's your head of staff? I'll go get them," he sighed, the sun was coming up now.

"Oh umm, hey kat, who would be our head of staff?" The prince looked back at his betrothed.

"Uh I spoke to lo and Lee, when I first came here but they're not really in charge of me, or us," Katara leaned against the wall shrugging.

"What's your position girl?" The guard looked at her unamused.

"Watch your tone with her," Zuko warned.

"Or what? She's a servant," the guard glared.

"That is ambassador Katara, representative of the southern water tribe and only daughter of the chief, also your future fire lady so watch your tone," Zuko narrowed his eyes taking a step closer.

Kataras eyes widen a little at the title, there was a thrill with the introduction, it felt respected and honored, an ambassador, she liked the sound of ambassador Katara, like she actually had a part in the nation than just the wife of the future fire lord.

"T-then... you.." the guard was shocked.

"I thought the scar would've been obvious enough that I'm the fire lords first born," Zuko said calmly looking at them annoyed.

"Prince Zuko, I-I apologize let me get you and your fiancé out of here and bring you to the fire lord," the guard fumbled with the keys as Katara got to her feet.

"Don't bother just let us out and I'll let your disrespect slid," Zuko crossed his arms as Katara held back a laugh.

"I-I- I mean I already alerted..." he gulped and Zuko closed his eyes shaking his head. His father already knew didn't he?

"Can we go now? We understand your doing your job but well handle it from here," Katara put a hand on zukos arm as she smiled at the guard.

"Yes my lady," he opened the door with shaker hands as the two got out of the cell.

—

The two collapsed in zukos room as they laid on the bed exhausted.

"Sorry we got arrested," Katara smiled over at Zuko who crawled to his pillows.

"Sorry you'll have to deal with Azula mocking us for the next few weeks," Zuko nodded back.

"Does your father know?" She asked softly.

"Probably, I'll have to go talk to him later about it," Zuko closed his eyes tiredly.

There was a knock at the door.

"Or now," he groaned getting up.

Zuko ran a hand through his hair with a sigh as Katara pulled the pillow under her head as she was tired from the whole night staying awake.

He opened the door and saw Ozai standing there glaring.

"Father I can explain," Zuko gulped a little staying calm as Katara sat up in the bed quickly wide eyes.

"You snuck out of the palace?" Ozai snarled.

"It was my fault, I made Katara come with me," Zuko pursed his lips.

"You humiliated me once again!" He barked making both teens flinch as Zuko kept his head down.

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again," Zuko whispered.

Ozai grabbed his hair harshly to raise his head and slapped him across the face before shoving Zuko to the ground. Katara gasped clasping her hand over her mouth in fear as Ozai looked disgusted at his son.

"If this happens again I'll make sure you'll be truly sorry, begging at my feet, boy," Ozai slammed the door closed as Zuko sat on the ground with his elbows under him.

Katara ran to the door and made sure it was locked before going to Zuko to make sure he was okay.

"Don't," Zuko grabbed her hand before she could hold his face to see the mark.

"Are you okay?" She whispered putting his hand down.

"I'm fine, I'm just glad it over with," Zuko sighed getting up as he went over to lay back in bed.

Katara stood up worried, he looked embarrassed and ashamed, the mark on his cheek was definitely more than a red mark like a normal slap, Ozai must've used a little bending to make it almost look like a burn. Her blood boiled that he would dare try burning his son again.

Now that she thought about it more zukos scar did almost look like a palm print against his eye... that Ozai was close and physically touched Zuko to make sure he would burn him.

"Zuko," Katara stood behind him by the bed.

"Can I stay here for a while? I don't want to go back alone..." she whispered and Zuko turned to look at her.  He nodded and flipped over to make room for her on the king size bed, not that it was going to be an issue.

She laid on the bed as their backs where pressed against each other, maybe it would be easier.

"I'm sorry you saw that," Zuko closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry I got us arrested in the first place," Katara looked across the room.

"To be fair it was the most fun I've had in a while, when we ran from the guards," he smiled turning around but Katara kept her back to him.

"I don't regret it," he eased her.

"Neither do I," she turned to him and Zuko looked at her gently.

"We're going to be okay right?" Katara asked barely above a whisper. Zuko didn't know what the was suppose to mean, he didn't understand the look in her eyes as she stared at him hoping for an answer, there was trust, she trusted his words, she trusted him. He was happy to call her his friend now, he was happy they were able to be like this, he was terrified of who he would be forced to marry but he now couldn't imagine being forced to be with anyone but her.

"We're going to be okay," Zuko smiled softly brushing her hair off her shoulder.

"Is this okay? Being this close? Because I'm probably going to fall asleep soon," he closed his eyes and Katara smiled.

"Just dont steal the blanket," she sighed but looked at the mark on zukos face that lingered from his fathers hand. She would heal it later for him.