♥♥♥ Living Shallow ♥♥♥

summary: Katara and Zuko have been going out secretly. When Katara begins to realize who her heart truly beats for, will it be too late?

rated: T

ships: Kataang and fake Zuatara-Taang to save the Kataang from boredom.

Chapter 1: Caught

Moonlight shone brightly on the small campsite. From the sly lemur to the boy with the arrow-tattoos, everyone was asleep. All except for one. A slender girl with wavy, chestnut hair pulled her coat on briskly and made her way to the tall trees, leaving behind an oblivious family of nomads. Heart thudding, she raced away. Her name was Katara, and this was an every night routine.

The moon always changed Katara somehow. Whether it was making her heart race with excitement, readying her for battle, or making her lip muscles twitch with impatience while waiting for a long session of makeout with a banished prince. Whatever the moon did, it always changed her. Sometimes it even pleased her boyfriend.

Scurrying through the trees skillfully, Katara almost ran into a hooded figure. he wore a long, black robe and a silky hood that was draped over his head. He pulled the black thing down, revealing a creepy scar. His face was as pale as the moon but his scar as ugly as lumpy coal, reminding Katara of an uncooked pancake with a mark of soot stuck on the side.

"Hey babe," Zuko greeted, smiling hungrily. Katara shivered at the sound of his voice. As cool as a bowl of ice cream, yet full of a mystery.

"Hey Zuko," Katara mumbled, pulling her hair out. Zuko smirked, glancing around. The wind was as still as the yew trees around them, making it easier for him to tuck Katara's loose strands of hair behind her ear.

"Soo..." he hummed tunelessly. "Want to find a cave to swap spit in?" Katara swallowed. Cave. Aang.

KATARA! YOU'RE WITH ZUKO! The words screamed in her head.

"Sorry," she whispered.

"Huh?" Zuko looked at her with a deer-in-the-headlight expression.

"Ohhh...uh, nothing Zuko...listen, I don't thing I can handle this tonight."

"Oh? Tongue cramp?" Katara glared at him with annoyance. "Sorry... It's OK. I have things to do tonight anyway." Sighing, she nodded and walked off. Wait? What kind of things? No matter. Katara wasn't interested in his fire nation plans.

Why the hell did she blow him off like that? It couldn't be Aang. Zuko had sworn that he would never kill Aang, but that wasn't exactly why she was worried. The Cave of Two Lovers had been a simple desperate act, yet Katara had enjoyed it all the same. She'd enjoyed it, which she shouldn't have. She loved Zuko, right? Or was she falling for Aan-

BAD KATARA! DON'T THINK ABOUT IT!

Pressing her palm to her forehead, Katara found herself back at camp. Aang was sitting on Appa's leg, hugging his knees. His face was a closed book, yet Katara wanted so badly to read the printed pages.

"Hey," he murmured. Katara swallowed her heart, which was threatening to jump out of her mouth and tell Aang the truth. That his enemy was her lover?

"Hey," she whispered, sitting next to him. Why did this look so romantic?

"What's up? You look depressed," Aang told her, putting a consoling arm around her shoulders. He didn't chill her, give her hunger. He gave her warmth... Katara smiled warmly. He was her best friend, and these kind of things came from a best friend, right?

"Really? Just...thinking of my mom," Your mother would be ashamed.

"Oh. You want to talk about it?" Katara hesitated.

"No, I think I'm fine..." Yeah right.

"Katara, look, I think I need to tell you some-" A voice startled the two. It was coming from behind-

"Zuko," whispered Aang, grabbing his staff. Katara felt panic rise in her chest, panic that had formed when her forbidden lover had asked if he could pull her pants off on that fifth night...what had she done then? Disinclined, of course, but now...

"Katara, we need to leave," Aang's voice called her back.

"I'll wake Sokka and Toph," was her stubborn reply. With a swift glance at the tree large unidentified animals that carried Zuko and Iroh's men, Katara rushed back to Sokka and Toph's sleeping forms.

"Sokka! Toph! We're being ATTACKED!" Katara hollered. Toph jumped up instantly, while Sokka groggily grabbed his boomerang and tossed it at Zuko. He missed, of course.

"Pathetic welp," Zuko spat, winking at Katara. Taken aback, Katara tripped over Sokka's bag. Aang glared before striking a gust of wind at the prince.

"Guys! Get on Appa! Appa, take them somewhere safe!" Aang yelled, retreating from the fireballs.

Zuko jumped from his beast.

"Avatar. Long time no see. I see your girlfriend over there is getting hotter by the day," Zuko nodded towards Katara as she helped Toph on Appa. Katara found herself reddening.

"She's not my girlfriend," Aang mumbled with scarlet cheeks. Zuko looked pleased at his words, yet furious at his blush.

"Aang! Come on!" Sokka yelled.

"Go without me!" Katara stared at Zuko, catching his eye.

"Fine," she mumbled, steering Appa away. The last she saw was Zuko grinning broadly, ordering more fire to be thrown at Aang.

"How can we just leave him?!" Toph demanded. Katara looked from her to Sokka's worried faces. "Zuko will take him to Ozai!"

"No, he won't," Katara whispered. Toph looked at her for a second before crossing her arms, light green eyes suspiciously aimed at Katara's shoulder.

"Well, we'll have to land, then I can go back for him. He was probably worried that the fire would hit Toph- and you, Katara." Katara missed his hesitation.

Back with Aang, things weren't looking good. Zuko had cornered him, anger and hatred gleaming in his eyes. It was remarkable how a scar-faced prince could look so much like a hungry cat, cornering a rat or mouse.

"My father will be happy to see you, Avatar."

Katara felt her heart race back with Sokka and Toph. Now she knew what Zuko's plans were.