47.- Music

"Winter, spring…. Summer and fall…" The cups clicked as Zuko stacked them inside each other. The stacks of three made a lovely ceramic forest on the wooden tray he was carrying, "Four seasons… four loves… four seasons… four loves…"

"That was beautiful." The fire lord jumped in surprise. How long had Katara been standing there? He blushed furiously and turned on his heels to hurry to the back of the tea shop, "Zuko! Wait! Can't you take a compliment?"

"It's just a stupid little song Uncle sings." He grunted flatly. Katara caught up with him at the counter that divided the dining from the kitchen. She was smiling very sweetly, hands behind her back. She brushed a lock of hair away from her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. Gods, she was so beautiful up-close, it was such a tease, "He's got a bunch of dumb songs like that."

She leaned in closer, "Do you know anymore?"

"Er…" he fumbled with the cups, putting them in the sink. Katara bended some water into the basin, catching Zuko off-guard, "W-well…"

He cleared his throat, keeping his eyes down at the soapy dishes, "It's a long, long way to Ba Sing Se, but the girls in the city they look so pretty…. They kiss so sweet and I'd really like to meet… the girls from Ba Sing… Se…" His voice trailed off, the blush in his cheeks spiking the sink water's temperature. Beneath his breath, he whispered, "Though water tribe girls are nice as well.."

"What?"

"N-nothing!" He exclaimed, rushing the dishes onto the drying rack. Katara giggled and wrapped an arm around his waist, "Katara!"

"One more, do you know one more song?" She started to drag him upstairs, to the balcony. The watertribe girl enjoyed watching the sunset, so it made sense she'd want to watch while he sang.

"Ah, I do know one more… but I don't know.." Katara's 'please?' face was undeniable. No one said no to it, except for Toph… for obvious reasons.

Leaves from the vine… falling so slow, like tiny frazzled shells drifting in the foam. Little soldier boy comes marching home… brave young soldier boy… comes marching home.

"Wow…" Katara said softly.

"It's the song that Uncle sings for his son, Lu Ten. He died during the siege of Ba Sing Se. It's the most tragic death in our family." Zuko felt Katara hugging his arm again. Tears were running down her face onto his arm, increasing in speed as they sat in the silence. Katara knew, first hand, how painful it was to lose someone. He pulled her into his chest, where she burst into tears. He'd never seen her like this before, her usual response to these things were occasional tears and maybe an angry outburst. Now that he thought about it, when was the last time she'd even talked about her mother? Did Aang ever talk to her, try to comfort her? "Katara…"

"I hate it!" She coughed, "I hate his 'forgive and forget' attitude! He just doesn't understand how hard this is for me!"

Zuko held her tight, the front of his shirt drenched. Even with the uncomfortable feeling of tear-soaked cotton against his chest, he wouldn't let her go. Resting his chin on her head, he hummed a lullaby, something dredged up from his memories of his own mother. He stroked her hair gently; lowering them to the floor of the balcony as Katara's legs slowly gave way beneath her. She'd seen war, death, looked fear in the eyes and threatened it, but she was still just a child. A girl who need to be loved.

And Zuko loved her, he adored her, wanted nothing more than to be by her side at these times and in her happier moments…

"Leaves from the vines…"

END: Music