Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! Hope yall had a wonderful year and the next one is ten times better!
OK, so about this story... Zuko's hair is the same as in the latest episodes and he still has his scar. (We all know Zuko's appearance is the most important thing about a Zutara story. Hehe.) He and Iroh joined the group a few weeks ago, and we'll say this takes place, uhhm... right after Appa was stolen, and they're searching for him. They are out of the desert but NOT in Ba Sing Se yet.
This will most likely remain a oneshot.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters, and I am not making any profit off of this story.
---
The group was resting for a day on their way to Ba Sing Se, as ordered by Katara, since she believed they all needed some time to recuperate. They had made camp at a small clearing in the forest and were sitting on rocks, logs, or just the ground around the small fire Zuko had made to keep them warm.
Thump thump thump thump...
Thump thump thump thump...
Thump thump thump thump...
"WILL YOU STOP THAT?!?"
"Oh, sorry, Katara." Aang meekly replied, "I'm just so bored..."
"We all are, Twinkle Toes. Katara, can't we go kick some bad guy butt or something?"
"No, we're not putting in ourselves in any more danger than we have to."
"I'm huuuungry."
"Shut up, Sokka."
"..."
thump thump thump...
A low growl escaped from Katara's throat and Aang shrank away from her out of fear. Iroh chuckled.
"Hey, I have an idea!" Aang piped up.
"I'm up for anything that'll keep us entertained." Toph answered.
"How about we play hide and seek? Or tag?"
"No way, we are not playing hide and seek." Katara said, "Remember what happened last time, Sokka?"
"Aww, Katara, do you have to bring that up again? It was a big place; it's not my fault I got lost."
"Too bad your instincts couldn't help you find the way back."
Iroh chuckled, again.
"What are you laughing at, old man?" Sokka muttered.
"Don't pick on Uncle Iroh, it's not his fault you have absolutely no sense of direction."
"Alright, fine, Katara. Let's play hide and seek, and when I find my way back and win the game we'll so who has the better instincts."
"Maybe you should take Momo with you, just in case." Katara giggled.
"So who's it?" Aang asked.
"Not me," Toph replied, "I'll find you all easily by feeling the vibrations. Pick someone else."
"Not me." chorused Katara, Aang, and Sokka.
"... Zuko?"
"No."
"Aww, please, Zuko? We need someone to be it or else it's not gonna work!" Katara said in a sing-song voice and gave him her puppy dog eyes.
"No."
"If you do, we'll never make you play games with us ever again."
"Is that a promise?"
"Well... at least not for another week."
"Fine." he muttered.
"Thank you!" Katara squealed, and they all ran in different directions as Zuko closed his eyes and began to count.
"One, two, three..."
---
Katara ran through the forest, trying to find the perfect place to hide. In a tree? No, too obvious. In the water? Who knew how long Zuko would take to find her, she might get tired of bending herself an air bubble. Behind a rock? Yeah, that'd work. Not. She scurried around when she stumbled through some vines hanging down from a tree, acting almost like a doorway, and fell to her knees inside.
While still on the ground, Katara felt water beckoning her, and heard the gentle rush of water to her left. She gasped as a small rivulet came into view; it was sparkling, practically glowing, from the sunlight pouring down on it through the canopy of trees. The spring was small and slow, trickling over small stones, a miniature waterfall near the end of it. It was probably no wider than Appa, and was as clear as the air she breathed.
Katara simply stood where she was for a while, shocked at how beautiful the water was. She closed her eyes and let air slowly enter her lungs, raising her arms and spinning in circles, happiness filling her as birds flew amongst the trees, singing their joyful songs.
She stopped spinning and looked at the trees before her, walking around a particularly beautiful one and resting her back on it while she closed her eyes and just breathed.
-----
"Forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty."
Zuko opened his eyes and took a step forward before he realized there was something he was supposed to say after he finished counting. Oh yes, that was it.
"Uhh, ready or not here I come... I guess."
He looked around him, hoping to catch someone quickly and get the game over with.
Walking a ways to his left, he heard rushing water and followed the sound, thinking maybe someone else might have done the same. Zuko walked between two large trees and saw a small river on his right. He was paralyzed for a moment by the river until he heard soft breathing to his left. He cautiously stepped towards the sound, being as quiet as possible so that he could sneak up on whoever was hiding. As Zuko moved closer, he saw a blue parka and brown hair, and realized it was Katara.
Perfect. He thought to himself, smirking and moving ever closer.
---
Katara breathed in and out rhythmically for a few minutes when she heard rustling behind her. She almost opened her eyes, but dismissed the sound and kept them shut. When she heard it again, Katara spun around to see Zuko's face only inches in front of hers.
"Found you." Zuko smirked, and put his arms on either side of Katara's body, hands on the tree behind her.
"Zuko!" she gasped, and looked around frantically for an escape.
"Afraid of me, little waterbender?"
"In your dreams." she glared.
"You're shaking."
"Am not." she retorted, though she knew very well that she was. But it wasn't so much that she was scared, it was something about how close he was to her; his breath hot on her neck, his amber eyes looking deep into her cerulean ones, that made her shiver with... anticipation? What was she anticipating? And then it hit her; Zuko had been closing the gap between them with each second that passed. His body was an inch away from hers, his face even closer. Warmth radiated off of his body and onto hers, making her eyes flutter from the feeling. Katara was shaking because she was nervous; she was anxious.
Anxious for a kiss from Zuko.
The second realization hit her, his lips were on hers, sending a thousand, no, a million bolts of electricity through her body, causing her to shiver and her knees to buckle. But Zuko caught her; held her her closer and kissed her with more passion than he knew he possessed. Kissed her like his whole life would shrivel away and disappear if he didn't. Kissed her like the sun kissed the clouds at sunset. Kissed her like the moon kissed the stars at twilight. And somehow Katara knew that he would always catch her when she fell, for his arms held her perfectly, like they were where they were made to be, and deep down she felt as if she belonged.
But they mournfully broke away, for they needed air as much as they needed each other's lips. Mournfully, for a kiss like that was one in a million, to be remembered and cherished for all their lives.
Zuko pressed his forehead to Katara's and looked into her deep blue eyes, and neither of them said a word for what seemed like hours, both in complete shock as their bodies shook against each other, hearts beating together, overwhelmed with a feeling completely new to both of them.
"Zuko, I..." Katara said in a daze, her eyelids still fluttering.
"I know."
"But we-"
"Shh..." Zuko said as he raised a hand to her cheek, caressing it gently and she closed her eyes, soaking in his warmth.
But just like that the feeling was gone. His breath no longer warmed her neck, his chest no longer pressed itself against her own, and as she opened her eyes, he was no where to be seen.
---
So, did you like it? I'm probably going to do another chapter, even though I said this was going to be a oneshot. I'll do it chapter by chapter, and see how I feel about it.
PLEASE REVIEW! HoFSoW