A/N: Happy Zutara Week 2014, my fellow lovers of Zuko and Katara. I got a late start, because I wasn't really paying attention. Some of these prompts caused me some headaches.
Standard disclaimers apply. I don't know anything recognizable. Seriously.
Day 1: Melancholy (Takes place in/around the episode "The Old Masters")
Katara's mind wouldn't let her sleep; it played every possible scenario in which they would lose this war. She needed to move a bit, distract herself somehow. Brushing aside the tent flap, she trolled through the White Lotus camp. The few guards on watch needed her way but made no move to engage her, which she thanked the spirits for. She tried to not focus on the White Lotus and the confusion of seeing Bumi, Piandao and Master Pakku together. Katara's blue eyes searched for somewhere out of the way, but close enough to the camp so that no one would come after her; somewhere she could stretch and maybe do some yoga to clear her head. The water bender passed the edge of camp and then some, getting her arms loose and stretching her legs with each stride. It was at this point that she spotted a figure in seated on the ground ahead. Even from where she had stopped, Katara knew that it was Zuko. The cool night breeze caused a shiver to run down her spine and an involuntary hiss to escape her lips.
Zuko tensed when he heard the noise behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, his golden eyes landed upon Katara. She waved a hand hesitantly at him. He motioned with his head for her to join him. As she settled down beside him the breeze rustled her hair, locks tickling his forearm before Katara could get them under control. The fire bender sighed. He knew that he should be feeling more up lifted than he was, after meeting with his uncle. However, he couldn't shake the melancholy air about him. He felt a gentle hand upon his knee, a shared strength between them in a touch. Zuko placed his hand upon hers, giving it a light squeeze in thanks.
Katara smiled when Zuko squeezed her hand. While not what she had in intended to do to settle her mind, she felt calmer than she had before with something to do – trying to get Zuko out of the funk he was in. Not knowing that possessed her to do so, Katara laid her head upon Zuko's strong shoulder. Perhaps some silly part of her was encouraged by his response to her touch, or the thought that if a hand on his knee had brought comfort in knowing she was there being closer to him would do more. She wasn't even sure if it had been for Zuko or herself that she had done it, though it was obviously too late to play it off as an accident now. Katara held her breath, unsure as to how the fire bender would react to this latest touch.
Zuko felt his heart skip a beat when Katara's head landed on his shoulder. He most certainly hadn't expected that, to say the least. Letting go of her hand he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer to his side so that they were both more comfortable. A fresh wave of emotion came out of nowhere to assault his already weary heart. This newest feeling, on he had tried to stamp down before, was almost too much for him to handle. Everything came crashing down on him. His broken family, his banishment, the so-called quest to find his honor, the time he spent as a refugee in the Earth Kingdom, betraying his uncle and Katara in Ba Sing Se. His struggle upon realizing he needed to join the Avatar, and then getting up the courage to actually do it. Zuko felt the tell-tale sting of his sinuses, but refused to cry. He felt a shuddered breath from Katara tickle his neck as she curled closer to his side. Her soft voice broke the silence between them at last.
"I'm frightened, Zuko." She murmured, "Frightened for us, for Aang… for the whole entire world. It's all so much."
"I know, I am too." He replied, holding her tighter to his body, "We're all so young. How do they suppose we're to succeed in stopping a damn war that's been going on for a hundred years?"
"I just…" Katara's hand gripped his shirt, her voice watery, "I can't lose more people that I love. Not my family, or Aang and Toph, not you."
Zuko grabbed her around the waist with a second arm and gently laid the two of them back onto the ground. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and cried. He too let his tears fall as he kissed the crown of her head. They stayed like that for neither knew how long, lessening their sorrow by sharing it with one another. Eventually Katara propped herself up onto her elbow, sniffling away the last of her tears. Zuko reached up a hand and brushed away the tracks of water from her russet cheeks. He sat up as well, trying to meet her eyes but she refused to look up at him. Only when he placed a hand under her chin and lifted gently did she look him in the eye.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to dump all that on you when you obviously had enough on your mind." Katara apologized.
Zuko found himself suddenly very self-conscious with his hand cupped around Katara's chin. Throwing caution to the wind he closed the distance between them. Just before their lips met he glimpsed her eyes widen, and then flutter closed in anticipation of the kiss. It was a short kiss, but it was so many things rolled all into one. It was cool and yet warm. Innocent, yet with a touch of passion. Soft and firm. It took him on a wonderous journey, but somehow felt like he was coming home. Zuko pulled broke the kiss to look in her eyes, there he saw all the emotions he felt mirrored in her own.
Katara certainly hadn't expected the kiss, any more than Zuko had expected her head on his shoulder earlier. One moment Zuko's face showed that adorably awkward look she found endearing and the next his warm lips had found hers. Kissing him was like nothing she had felt or imagined before. She knew it was wrong, but she found herself comparing it to Aang's kisses. This was so very much more. Zuko's lips were rough against her, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The two kisses she had received from Aang felt extremely childish when stacked against Zuko's. When he broke the kiss, she searched his eyes as he searched hers. She was grateful that the melancholy in them had lessened.
Suddenly awkward Zuko was back, gaping like and fish and stuttering over his own boldness. She couldn't help the giggle that escaped. He rubbed the side of his neck sheepishly, but grinned back at her. Zuko pushed himself to his feet and helped her up. They walked hand in hand until they reached the outer-most edge of the camp. More than one guard had noticing their approach and joined hands. An eye brow or two were raised, though none of them said anything until the pair was out of ear shot. The Grand Master would definitely be informed in the morning of that particular development. Zuko glanced around swiftly before kissing her again once they had reached her tent.
"Sleep well, Zuko."
"You too, Katara."
