His snappish remark had her lifting a brow in semi-amusement; she half expected him to pout if she didn't comply with his words, which of course she didn't. Katara pretended to not hear him as she leaned down to pet one of the kittens who had finished drinkings its share of the milk, now curled up and purring with satisfaction at the attention it was receiving.

"Why aren't you at the ball?" It was an innocent question-- almost every other cadet at the school seemed to be in attendance when she had been in the Ballroom, though Zuko never seemed to be the social type. It was a safe topic for idle small talk though, and it was always slightly awkward to sit in complete silence with Zuko. She was so use to arguing with him that the thought of having nothing to say to him was a bit unnerving.