A/N: I wrote a few pieces for the 101kisses LJ challenge awhile ago, but I was never satisfied with the majority of them. I may post from time to time.
006. Green tea
"You know, you still surprise me." Katara sits down next to Zuko, closing her eyes and letting out a soft laugh. "I never took you to be a big tea drinker."
Zuko absently presses his lips to the rim of his cup and takes a sip. "I'm not," he finally says. "It's just... my uncle loves--loved," he corrects himself quickly, "tea. And I was thinking... maybe I should have joined him all those times he asked me too--when I still could, I mean." He falls silent again, his fingertips resting against the delicate, chipped paint.
"Do you miss him?" Katara closes her hand around the varnished bamboo handle of the teapot and pours herself a cup, which she lifts to her lips and drinks; she is not surprised by the coolness of the liquid as it spreads on her tongue, and she wonders how long he has been sitting out here. "Mm... green tea?"
"Yeah... It doesn't taste half-bad, actually." Zuko frowns slightly. When he speaks again, there is a rare vulnerability in his voice. "I just wish I could remember what his favorite tea was." His hand trembles slightly as he places his cup on its saucer, the china rattling. "It seems like something I should remember, don't you think?"
They are silent for a moment, and then Katara reaches over and brushes her fingers lightly against his, and his trembling stills.