Title: Reversal

Prompts: (from destructivesorceress) Scar, Changed

Words: 404

Notes: Originally from a drabble contest over in Capslock Zutara on Livejournal. Not much sense out of it, but I like how it turned out, so I didn't edit it. Also, if it looks out-of-character and impossible...it's supposed to be. : ) This is the first thing I've submitted here in five years, here's to hoping it's passable? I just like the popular idea of what Zuko will be like as Fire Lord.

DISCLAIMER:

I don't own Avatar or any of the characters/concepts in any of the following drabbles. Avatar and all related characters/terms belong to Nickelodeon, Viacom, and Bryan and Mike.

She'd certainly changed.

In some ways she was a completely different girl (woman)….he didn't remember her ever wearing Fire Nation garb, nor did he remember thinking she'd ever look so provocative in clothing that matched him. He couldn't quite recall seeing such a nice, definitive curve to her exposed waist and stomach muscles, nor did he recognize the appealing swells of her taut shirt—

The Fire Lord forced down a strangled noise unrecognizable to most humans.

It was difficult to do – he'd had quite a bit of trouble managing to keep himself in check ever since she'd been the first of the war heroes to arrive at the palace for a visit after a few years. It would have been easier to ask why she'd arrived a day before Aang, Toph, and Sokka if she hadn't pinned him to the wall on sight.

"You're looking very much the part of the Fire Lord, Zuko," she hissed, her sun-browned face inches from his.

"Funny, you're looking very much the part of someone hoping to be arrested," he answered dryly, though he was still having problems trying to retrieve his dignity.

He'd expected her to retort, but instead she leaned in close, her warm, bare arms pressing against his pale muscles as her lips made their way to his neck.

"I just wanted to tell you it suits you," purred the Waterbender, her vicelike grip relaxing and…oh, Agni, were those her hands suddenly skimming across his powerful shoulders, down over his chest, reaching for unimaginable regions? "And to ask…."

She cocked her head to the side, those gorgeous cobalt eyes predatory. "….if there's anything in the palace resembling that tree you tied me to?"

--

They emerged from the throne room hours later, clothing disheveled and hastily rearranged at the news that the rest of the gang were on their way. Zuko decided his hair wasn't worth trying to salvage and let it fall loose across his shoulders, eyeing Katara as she massaged that enticing spot where her leg and her waist met.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to make small talk with your brother now, not after…." He admired her, a little sheepish, but not without a devil of a grin.

Katara gave him her own sly smile, one that weakened him all over again. "Well, for starters, you might not want to mention that you're not the only one with a scar anymore."