ZUTARA WEEK 2011, Day 1: MASK

His Greatest Challenge Yet

DISCLAIMER: Avatar: the Last Airbender belongs to Bryke, but Zutara Week belongs to all Zutarians.

NOTE: Here we go, it's that time of the year once more. Welcome to Zutara Week, year 4.

I am so thrilled to be participating again this year and I'm glad that my schedule has allowed me to post some humble contributions to this wonderful celebration. The prompts this year were very intriguing and also exceedingly difficult to work with because I always strive to do something creative and unorthodox. I hope you will enjoy my work again.

Since I have found links among all the prompts, I have decided that aside from my usual one-shots, I will post a multi-chapter story with one chapter for every prompt, stringing them together in one plot. This is it.

This is set after the war and in a world where Maiko never existed.

Enjoy.

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Katara didn't know whether she should be flattered or freaked out.

As she surveyed the collection of items on her dressing table, she decided that she would settle for the former. After all, no harm had come to her from these mysterious deliveries. No harm yet.

The war was long over and Toph and Katara were currently guests of Fire Lord Zuko while Aang was busy taking care of business in other nations. The two girls were excited as they had not been able to spend time with their friend since his coronation. And he was only too happy to spare some time from his hectic schedule to catch up with his good friends – one in particular.

Toph knew immediately what was up when Zuko and Katara first shook hands but the earthbender said nothing, deciding that it was far more interesting to watch things follow their course. She was a keener observer than they gave her credit for and for the first few days she patiently waited for them to admit their feelings.

But days passed and no such confession was forthcoming. Instead, a "mysterious stranger" began leaving small gifts for Katara almost every night.

First, the little presents had been conventional enough – flowers, sweets, excerpts of a poem or two. She had been amused by these and didn't really bother finding out who they were from.

Then, the gifts became more creative – new waterbending scrolls, flower petals leading to a moonlit garden, and other similar offers. This time, Katara began to pay more attention. But try as she might, staying vigil over her bed at night, waiting and watching her door, she could not catch her mysterious admirer. Once or twice she thought she caught a glimpse of a hooded, masked figure disappearing behind a corner but by the time she got there, she would only see the curtains of the palace being tossed by the night winds.

"Wow, Katara, looks like you're little stalker's getting serious," Toph teased the waterbender one morning as they discussed the latest present – a traditional Water Tribe necklace.

"I'm not too worried about him harming me," Katara said as nonchalantly as she could manage, "he ought to know who he's dealing with. I'm just disappointed that he doesn't want to meet me in person."

"Maybe he's afraid of you?" Toph said.

"Or just really shy," Katara suggested.

"That's an understatement," Toph replied, "but have you discussed this with Zuko already? I think he ought to know what goes on in his own palace. He might even give you some clues about the suspect."

"I don't want to give him more to worry about," Katara answered, "we hardly see him around already so I don't want to give him problems. He'd probably freak out and think that there's a serious breach in security or something."

"Well, OBVIOUSLY his palace security isn't what it should be if someone can just creep into your room and leave little presents," Toph pointed out sarcastically.

"I understand that," Katara said, "but I don't want some poor guard to feel the brunt of Zuko's displeasure for something I can deal with myself."

"Fine, whatever you say," Toph conceded, "but this can't go on forever."

"I know," Katara said with a sigh, trying to imagine who was exerting all this effort to try and please her. She had to admit that she was flattered by the attention but she was also eager to learn the identity of this masked admirer.

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The Fire Lord darted around the corner and entered one of the secret passageways just in time to escape the water whip that had been aimed at him. Taking off his hood and his mask, Zuko sighed with relief. Another successful delivery, he thought with satisfaction.

With a snap of his fingers, a small flame appeared on his fingers and he lighted his way out.

"You can't keep this up forever, you know," came a voice from the dark.

A lesser person would have jumped with surprise but Zuko had been expecting a comment from this person.

"Good evening to you too, Toph," he said with a smile as the earthbender emerged from the shadows.

"You're pathetic," Toph teased with a grin.

Zuko scratched his head and shrugged.

"I know," he admitted shyly, "but for now this is all I have. I don't know what I should do."

"How about…TELL HER HOW YOU FEEL," Toph suggested sarcastically.

"Haha, Toph, it's easier said than done," Zuko replied gravely.

"So let me get this straight," Toph recapped, "you would rather outsmart your own guards and find loopholes in your security system than muster the guts to tell Katara that you're in love with her?"

"In so many words, yes," Zuko answered hesitantly, embarrassed that he was so transparent to a blind earthbender but knowing that he could trust Toph with his deepest secrets.

"You are pathetic," Toph repeated, shaking her head, "and the only reason you've avoided detection until now is because Katara is still mildly amused by your little presents. But she won't stand this masquerade much longer. And how are you going to explain yourself to her when she finds out?"

Zuko shrugged and shook his head in frustration. Toph shook her head.

"You really didn't think this through, did you?" she asked. Zuko looked away guiltily.

"I'm not, I was never really good with expressing my feelings," Zuko ventured after a minute.

"I wouldn't say that," Toph teased, "you're certainly creative enough. But you're going to need a lot more guts if you're serious about her. You are serious about her, aren't you?"

"Of course!" Zuko replied, "And I'm going to do whatever it takes to show her how I feel."

"That's the spirit!" Toph said encouragingly, "and knowing you, once you put your mind to something, there's no force in the universe that can stop you. So stop playing silly games and get down to business!"

Zuko grinned at his friend gratefully and took her advice to heart. Toph gave him a thumbs up before saying goodbye.

"Katara and I won't be here for much longer so make every day count!" she reminded him.

Taking a deep breath, the Fire Lord walked back to his chambers, his mind filled with ideas of how to tackle what he considered his greatest challenge yet.