Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any material related to Nickelodeon and other affiliates in any way or form.
Note: Inspired by gabzillaz's Zutara Tribute on deviantart, and Nick Lachey's "What's Left of Me". Sadly, I have not been able to watch the entire series of Avatar, and haven't been able to watch the movie. Thus, my knowledge of characters is pretty sketchy, particularly of Fire Nation characters (other than Zuko). Also, I'm not really a Zutara-shipper; Kataang is much cuter in my opinion and more relevant to my own relationship with my fiancé, so… x] Anyway, I hope you enjoy my little addition to the Zutara fandom!
You are the reason for this hunger; the reason I keep moving through all my mistakes. Why must I long for you so?
Firsts come in many forms: first word; first illness; first crush; first betrayal; first hate; first love. Zuko had thought he'd been through and understood all that when he and Mai had been together, but it was nothing like what he felt as he gazed at Katara, standing not even a foot away from him, gazing back at him with her hauntingly beautiful cerulean eyes with a mysterious depth that would put the ocean itself to shame. The firebender found himself longing to find out just what exactly went on in those depths, particularly the reason why she was looking at him the way she was.
I've been through dishonor and shame, and my companions have been anger and pain. So why do you still look at me like that?
Not for the first time, Zuko felt confused as he stood before the master waterbender, his body clad in only his pants for the sparring match he and Katara had previously been engaged in. Now, all was silent between them, and the only sound was the soft rushing of the waterfalls surrounding the sandy peninsula they stood upon. The firebender's mouth went dry as he continued to gaze silently at Katara, who had a small smile on her lips. Zuko's lips parted, struggling to give voice to his thoughts—What are you doing? Why do I feel this way for you? Do you feel that way for me?—but Katara shook her head ever so slightly, leaning closer than ever to the firebender. The Fire Nation prince felt a strange numbing calm come over him as he felt her slow, even breathing on his lips, and he knew what was about to happen without even knowing how he knew.
Will you take me, knowing how broken I've become? How your world shattered my own so irreparably, throwing us into a war we are much too young to see?
Katara's lips were soft and warm against his own, Zuko mused, topaz eyes closed as he gripped the waterbender's biceps, holding her in place against him. The girl slid her arms around the firebender's neck and they gave themselves to the kiss, knowing and feeling that this was only a stolen moment in time, one they would treasure. They remained silent as they pulled away, staring at each other once more. No words were exchanged, no promises of love and forever; it was just much too soon to say.
You are this burning hunger, the longing in my heart, the home I've never had, my earth, my sky… But will you love what's left of me?