A/N: Here's my take on Zutara. This story just might surprise you.

Takes place right after the Invasion.

Disclaimer: ATLA and all the characters aren't my property blahblahblah copyright and all that good stuff.

Siege of the Heart

Chapter 1: Hi. Zuko Here.

Life is a shit sandwich. Eat it or starve - Unknown.

Zuko wasn't happy. But then again, he was almost never happy. He was tired, he was hungry and most of all, he was confused. He had done it. The one thing that was least expected of him. He had turned on his father and decided to join the Avatar. Sure, it was a difficult decision but it hadn't seemed as foreboding as it did now. Zuko had begun to regret it more than once whenever he remembered the Waterbender-the one who gave him the first sign of a feeling he missed so much that he almost craved it, she had showed him an inkling of trust. And then of course he had to go and ruin it. He'd betrayed her.

Just the sight of her angry eyes, two pools of liquid sapphire, turned on him with amazing strength and fiery determination, that day in the crystal catacombs of Ba Sing Se, told him everything. He remembered the way she fought, the way she was ruthless when Aang was in danger.

He remembered the moment she broke down when Aang was shot full of lightning. She never said it, but there in those eyes was an unspoken accusation. It said that all the pain and terror that she had suffered, all of it, she completely and whole-heartedly blamed him for it.

But he'd make this right. He wouldn't let those eyes blame him for anything more. He'd join the Avatar. He'd fight alongside and even teach the Airbender. Zuko would try to be good. A brooding expression set into his features. How? How could Zuko possibly convince these people that he's on their side? Anger surged through the Prince. Why did everything have to be so damn complicated?

He rested his head against a tree and took a deep breath. There was no point in losing his head now. He took another breath and tried to form some sort of a plan. What would Azula do? "Listen Avatar, I can either join your group or I can do something unspeakably horrible to you and your friends," Zuko began in an uncanny imitation of his sister, "Your choice," he finished. He shook his head. Even just imitating Azula made his blood burn.

What would Uncle say? "Zuko," he began in a low rasping voice, "You must look within yourself to save yourself from your other self. Only then will your true self reveal itself." Even speaking for his Uncle, Zuko still had no idea what he meant. A loud croak behind him made him jump and Zuko launched into a roundhouse kick and hit his leg on a tree stump and fell into a row of shrubs. In that moment, all of Zuko's frustration and temper colliding with the sudden pang of pain in his big to made him burst out in hot anger.

"Why am I so bad at being GOOD!" He yelled and clutched his foot tightly. A frog jumped out from behind the tree stump and hopped onto his chest. It eyed him with a look that seemed almost like a smirk. Zuko stared at it hopelessly, his eyebrows bunched together and his frown threatening to cut even deeper lines into his face. The situation was almost comical.

It was so strange to know so surely what he had to do but be unable to do it for fear of reactions to him. He was a Prince. His father may vehemently deny him his throne, but he was still royalty. People were SUPPOSED to like him. When he had been banished, Zuko didn't have much of a social life. He had just been angsty, lonely, and unbelievably mad at, well, everything. He never HAD to make anyone trust him. And yet here he was in a situation that left him speechless and at a complete lost for having never been in such a one before. Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation was socially awkward. Of course, having spent most of his teenage years chasing after these particular people did not help. No. They all probably harbored a special hate for him and he had no idea how to get through to them.

A burst of determination went through him. He could sit around and mope all day, or he could go and do whatever it took to win over the Avatar and his friends. No. For the first time Zuko wasn't going to go in with a plan, he was going to wing it. He looked around the little clearing where he had set up camp. The Balloon he had used to get there was strewn across the grass and his fire was sending up smoke. He realized that he was being very conspicuous. Zuko would have to make a move now.

"All right, time to try and convince these people I'm on their side," he thought out loud. The sound of branches snapping made him whip his head around and Zuko found himself looking into a pair of brilliantly blue eyes.

"You know they say that the first sign of madness is talking to yourself?" Katara began, "Too bad I know you're already a psychotic prince." And with that, the Waterbender launched into her attack.