Following Zuko's coronation, the Gaang had assembled at the Jasmine Dragon, and Katara had kissed Aang. It just didn't feel like before.
Immediately after, Aang had left, to search for a rumoured sky bison colony, without confirming what it was between them, and Katara did not feel upset about it. Instead, she found herself drawn to the brooding golden eyed Fire Prince.
Chapter 1
"Katara?"
The water tribe girl looked up, and glanced around the palace garden, searching for the source of the voice.
Leaning against the stone archway, settled beneath the slowly setting sun, stood the Fire Lord, in his royal regalia, which he was slowly removing, having left his coronation anniversary dinner, and seeking his best friend for comfort.
That is what Katara had become; the best friend of the Fire Lord. She was his confidante, his advisor, and one of the few in the world who knew his deepest secrets. Since he and Mai had broken up again, for good it appeared, a month after the return from Ba Sing Se, and Katara had moved into the Fire Palace to serve as spokes woman for the Southern Water Tribe, she and Zuko has reached a very amicably peace. Of course, Katara still had feelings for the golden eyed teenager across the garden from her, but over the past year, she had learnt to suppress them.
Katara stood and curtsied.
Zuko simply sighed at her and shook his head, as he closed the space between them.
"May I join you on the floor?"
"You may" Katara answered as she took her place on the floor beside the turtle ducks again.
"How come you left dinner so early?" Zuko enquired.
Katara bowed her head in slight shame. She had excused herself when an elderly member of the Fire Nation Council had brought up the subject of marriage, and how Zuko had not yet secured his throne, and would not until he had an heir. Katara could not bear it and left.
She looked into the golden eyes which were looking at her questioningly.
"I didn't feel well, I just needed some air" she lied
Zuko knitted his brow and looked at her, knowing she was lying, he just didn't know why.
"Well, I hope you feel better for the anniversary ball later, I was hoping you would save a dance for me" Zuko hurriedly said, while going red from the neck upwards, until his scar blended in.
Katara gracefully covered her mouth with her hand to cover the small laugh that escaped her as Zuko blushed.
"I would be delighted to dance with you, oh mighty Fire Lord" Katara joked, as she rose, "I must go and get dressed for the ball now, especially seen as I must impress" she flashed him a smile, and left the garden.
Zuko fell back onto the grass, sighed and blew some steam out of his nose.
High above the clouds over the Earth Kingdom, a sky bison, a flying lemur and the last airbender rode with purpose on the wind, towards the Fire Nation, determined to celebrate the year that had passed since the war had ended...and to see a certain waterbender and answer his questions of the last year.
A/N Hello people :D if you follow me, you know I've gotten a little out of practice with fanfiction - this is the beginning of a Zutara fanfic, that I started writing when I had no internet access...subsequently, I have a lot pre-written. So, diving back into the shipping marina, and away we sail
XXX