Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
This is my contribution to Zutara Week 2013. All seven oneshots are written in Katara's perspective. Rated T for sparse mild language. Enjoy!
Calor: Spanish word for heat.
Katara couldn't understand how anyone could possibly survive in the blazing heat of Ember Island.
The sun was high in the sky as Aang and Zuko practiced their firebending. She sat with Toph on the steps, shading them from the brunt of the golden rays that beat down on the two boys.
She knew she could be working on improving her waterbending techniques, or sparring with Toph, or even making them all lunch. It just felt so good to relax for once, after spending so long running around the world.
Katara liked watching Zuko and Aang train, unlike Toph, who was falling in and out of sleep beside her. There was something beautiful about the perfectly mastered forms, the swirl of the flames, and the power behind each punch. From this close but safe distance, fire was beautiful, and not the destructive force she knew it to be.
Zuko seemed to embody the fire, using each and every breath and twitch of his muscles to its fullest potential, unleashing a flurry of fire from his clenched fists. Sweat rolled down his sinewy form, little droplets of her own element trailing along taut, pale skin.
No, Katara, she scolded herself. You're watching the bending. Not him.
But it was impossible to keep her gaze from straying, and she again found herself admiring the exposed skin of the Fire Prince. The boys had to train shirtless in such sweltering heat, making for a quite a display of Zuko's sculpted abdominals. Katara found it difficult to believe he was a mere two years older than her, with a physique than rivaled those of fully grown men. Even his calves were strong, his legs braced as he shot a bolt of fire for Aang to dodge.
Yes, Katara could see nearly every inch of the handsome firebender. She couldn't stop her pesky thoughts from roaming to what the rest of him looked like…
"You're staring at Sparky's ass, aren't you?"
Katara gave out a yelp, and whipped her head around to look at a smirking Toph. "What? Why would you say that?" she stammered, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Well," Toph said, crossing her arms in a triumphant way, "you're sweating buckets, for one. And your heart is beating as fast as a humming-wasp's wings."
Katara felt herself grow flustered. "It's just really hot out here. Nothing else."
Toph grabbed hold of Katara's face, squeezing her cheeks. "That doesn't explain why you're blushing."
Katara brushed the earthbender's hands off. "W-what? No I'm not!"
"And stuttering."
Katara stared at her indignantly. "Well, maybe you should just mind your own business, Toph!"
Toph shrugged and relaxed back against the steps. "Maybe you should tell him how you feel, before it's too late. I know what happened between you and Aang at the play."
The waterbender was stunned speechless, staring at the blind girl with her mouth agape. She sensed the presence of someone approaching, and it was then that she realized the boys were done practicing.
"Katara! Toph! Sifu Hotman said I could take the rest of the day off!" Aang sang, bounding towards the girls. Katara stood and turned to look at Zuko, who followed Aang at a much slower pace while wiping sweat from his face with a cloth. Katara was surprised to see no annoyance cross his face at the nickname; only a slight, barely noticeable smile.
"That's great, Aang," Katara replied, but her focus was on Zuko. She could see that his breathing was labored, and he had one hand resting against a stone column. "Are you okay?"
Zuko looked up quizzically at the sound of her concerned voice. "Uh, yeah. Just need to cool down a bit."
"Here, I can help." Katara beckoned the water from a nearby fountain, and before he could respond she formed a stream of water above his head and allowed the cooling element to cascade down his neck and shoulders. Zuko appeared instantly relieved by the sensation. He opened his mouth to say something to her but was interrupted by the airbender.
"That's a great idea, Katara!" Aang chirped, gathering some of the water himself and pouring it over his head. "Ahh…"
"Thank you," Zuko murmured to her, scrubbing his hair with the cloth to dry it. His golden gaze was intense on hers, and she felted heat rise to her cheeks. It really was a hot day.
"You're welcome."
Sokka came striding across the courtyard, a half-eaten mango in hand. "Hey! Don't I get a waterbending cool-off? I've been outside too and it's hot!" he whined.
Katara gathered a ball of water and doused her brother with a cold splash. Toph and Aang snickered at the Water Tribe boy's sputtering, and even Zuko had to suppress a grin.
"Is there no love for the boomerang guy?"
Toph stood up and cracked her knuckles loudly. "I think that's Suki's job."
Sokka grinned smugly at this. Aang followed him down one of the pathways, talking earnestly to him, and Zuko went inside the house. Toph was about to pass Katara when she leaned up on her tip-toes and whispered into her ear.
"I expect to hear bed-rocking tonight. At least try to be quiet."
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