Katara knew their love would be dangerous, and, for that reason, difficult. The moment Zuko had professed upon her the way he felt and sworn they would find a way to make things work, she became acutely aware of the fact that any romantic relationship they pursued would be riddled with secrets and lies. It didn't take long for her to realize the hunch had been right. The implications of it, however, were only just beginning to dawn on her.
Now, sitting up in bed next to a sweetly sleeping Zuko, she at last understood that, when she and her golden boy returned to the gang come sunrise, they'd have to make up some story about "getting lost while looking for a suitable supper," or something equally absurd. Katara would never be able to talk to anyone about how they'd broken away when no one was looking and booked a room at the first inn in sight. No one would ever know that she, at the tender age of fourteen, had decided to let Zuko take that which was most precious to her. She was a woman now.
Strange, she thought. She didn't feel like one, for the same reason that was keeping her from sleep. Despite how mature she supposedly was now, she was still being forced to play the "don't tell anyone" game, like a child trying to hide a transgression from a strict parent. This would be the case as long as they were together. Katara sighed. Being in love wasn't a crime. It was nothing to be ashamed of. As much as she loved Zuko – and she did, to death - she couldn't deny that she was sick of being his secret, and, relatedly, having to keep him a secret in return. He was her first love, as he claimed she was to him, and if neither of them could admit how they felt about each other to their closest friends at the very least, she didn't want to do this anymore.
Why, then, Katara mused, had she agreed to finally give him her virginity if she was just going to abandon everything they had?
As she reached over and gently brushed his cheek with the tips of her fingers, the answer came to her.
"Because I thought it would change things," she whispered into the darkness without thinking. Zuko stirred in his sleep, but, to her relief, didn't wake.
Katara hadn't understood how things could remain so covert between them after that kind of shared experience, but when Zuko brought his lips to her ear and mumbled teasingly "Our little secret?", it couldn't be more clear to her that her plan had backfired. Her prince was still a coward, and nothing would ever change.
Pushing the covers back, she very carefully slipped out of bed and got dressed quickly and quietly, pausing for just a second at the door to watch as a beam of moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating Zuko's softly smiling face.
"I'm sorry," Katara whispered. She eased the door open and stepped out, not even bothering to wipe away the single tear running down her cheek
A/N: If I get at least ten reviews, I'll write a oneshot detailing Zuko's reaction (the next morning), which will be much more in-deapth. :)