The Kiss

It was nighttime and everyone was asleep. No sound at all and no one was up. Everyone was asleep, getting a good rest to prepare for any sudden attacks. Yet, Katara could not sleep, no matter how much she tossed and turned in her bed, she just could not manage to drift off. She had tried everything but her mind was just too full of thoughts. She thought that maybe a walk outside would help. She stepped outside her tent, but turned towards the woods. She always found it more peaceful to have late night walks in the woods. As the moon shone extra bright over there.

She entered the woods, and went further in as she didn't want Toph to sense her. She closed her eyes and relaxed, but she just couldn't. Too many thoughts were in her mind. Then all of a sudden, she heard noises. Her eyes shot open and she started to look around. She heard the noises getting closer and closer, she started to waterbend, getting ready for whatever was in store for her. Then out of the shadows came a tall, pale body, with raven colored hair.

"Zuko" Katara said wondering what he was doing here. "What are you doing here?" she said. She asked herself a dozen questions as to why he would be here, they weren't exactly good friends, after all last month she despised him for his betrayal. She remembered how hurt she was, remembering that she felt so shocked, just as she thought they were starting to get along he broke it to pieces. But that was in the past, she has forgiven him but she still didn't exactly trust him. And he knew it too.

"I couldn't sleep" Zuko responded. He had no idea what he couldn't sleep about, he really didn't have a reason. His mind was clear and he felt relaxed, but his body refused to let him get a good night's rest. "Oh, me either" Katara said. Although she didn't fully trust him, it felt good to have someone to talk to late at night, even if it was Zuko. She enjoyed his company.

They got silent quickly

Katara and Zuko felt awkward, they had said only a couple words to each other but the conversation had died quickly, it was nothing new to them. Their conversations did last longer, but that was only because the team was there also in the talk, but this was late at night, the team wasn't anywhere near them. They were alone together in the woods and they couldn't even keep a conversation going for a full 30 seconds.

"Um… I'm sorry" Katara said. Zuko looked at her weirdly, what was she sorry about? "For what?" He said looking confused. "For being so harsh on you, after you betrayed us." Katara said trying not to let any tears escape. She knew how rude she was to him, as if his life couldn't be any more bad on him, she managed to make it worse, she remembered how even after the team accepted Zuko's apology for his betrayal she was still so mean to him. She wondered how it must've felt. Azula, his own sister who was constantly a threat to him. And his father, who left a scar on him for trying to do what was best for the fire nation. To then have her be so impossible towards him.

"its okay, I deserved it anyways" Zuko said while looking at her

"No, you didn't." Katara said feeling even more sad, had she made him feel like he deserved pain?

"It really is, I'm used to it anyways."

Katara looked at him with sadness. He is used to it. She felt bad. She didn't want him to feel like that.

"So um, why couldn't you sleep?" she asked him.

"I don't know, why couldn't you sleep?" He questioned. Katara had over a million answers as to why she couldn't sleep, but she couldn't tell him. She still hadn't fully trusted him. Or liked him, there was still a possibility that he could betray them again. And she didn't want to get to close to him only to what that pain again.

"I guess there is just too much going on in my head." She said truthfully. There really was a lot going through her mind. Like Aang, how did she feel about Aang? Did she like him? Did she love him? Did he like her? Were they just friends? Did she want to be friends? In all truth she did just want to be friends, she only thought of Aang as a friend, even though he thought of her of more than a friend, she didn't have feelings for him in that way.

"Like what?" Zuko said. Katara was anxious now, she couldn't just tell him that she didn't have feelings for Aang, Zuko was Aang's firebender teacher. And they were good friends, he could easily tell Aang of how Katara felt.

"Just stuff" Katara responded hoping that he wouldn't question her anymore on the subject.

"oh." Zuko said knowing well that whatever it was, she didn't want to talk about it. But his mind also crossed Aang, but for a different reason. What if aang had found them? Its not that anything was going on between them because nothing was, but it would be rather weird for Aang to spot them in the woods, as they were pretty far into the woods, and it was late at night, very late. Not to mention they were alone together.

Zuko stared at Katara, Katara was a very gorgeous woman. Hes noted it before but she looked even more beautiful under the moonlight. Katara caught him gazing at her and he quickly looked in the other direction. Giving her time to admire him also. He was so mysterious she thought, he had well toned muscles and he was the perfect definition of manly. No..! no! Katara thought to herself, she couldn't possibly be thinking of Zuko like this! All of a sudden their eyes caught each other, well aware that they were both staring, Zukos wonderful golden eyes burned straight into her soul. And her ocean like blue eyes shined brightly as the moonlight reflected off them. They started to move closer, and closer. But not breaking their gaze. All of a sudden Zuko grabbed her arm and kissed her very softly. Katara's eyes widened. She pulled away.

"No…we just can't do this Zuko" she said as she ran off.

Zuko felt pain, had he really just ruined their friendship by doing such a stupid move? Why did he even kiss her he thought angrily, he didn't even like her in that way. Just as soon as he had a chance of regaining her trust he had broken it again. His blood boiled as he got angry, he knew that what they had would always be just a friend thing, and it would always stay like that. He returned to his tent. Still not being able to sleep.

Katara kept walking, great. She told herself, just as she was beginning to feel like she could rest now she has another problem in her mind. Zuko, had kissed her. Now tons of more questions entered her mind. As she was about to enter her tent she heard something call her name.

"Katara?" said a voice.

She turned around to see Aang with a very tired expression on his face.

"what are you doing up this late?" Aang asked.

"oh.. I just went out for a walk…that's all" she said trying to sound as convincing as possible.

"Go to bed Katara, you need sleep" Aang responded.

"I will" But that was a lie, she couldn't sleep, not after what had happened.