Zuko has been freezing his ass off all day.
All. Day.
It's not that he dislikes spending time with Katara's family in the South Pole. Actually, it's quite the opposite. They're happy and inviting, considering he raided their village so many years ago.
No. What Zuko dislikes is the cold.
Right now he's shivering uncontrollably, gloved hands clutching his bowl of soup tightly. Katara is stoking the fire in the corner of their complimentary hut. The stars shine intensely outside, and even though Zuko thinks that the stars are beautiful he doesn't think it's worth it to gaze up at them if he's only going to get more snow on his cheeks.
He eyes his and Katara's fur pellets with irritation. He can never sleep well when he's cold. It is going to be a long night.
He finishes his soup and sets the bowl aside.
I hate this place, he thinks to himself. He wishes that Katara's family would visit the Fire Nation more.
He reaches for a second parka to put on top of the one he's already wearing. He doesn't see how it could hurt.
"What are you doing?" Katara asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Trying to keep warm. My inner fire can only help me so much."
"That's not the best way to get yourself warm," Katara says coyly. It's so cold that he can see her breath. "The best way to keep warm is to take off our clothes."
Zuko blinks in confusion. "What."
"All of our clothes." Katara is slipping out of her parka and then tugging at the waist of her pants.
I love this place, Zuko thinks to himself.
And hours later, when he finds himself sweating, he realizes that he truly does.