Intro: okay, welcome to my new drabble/oneshot series :D There are so many stories that I write but never finish, so I think I'm just gonna post things up here as no-obligation oneshots. It took me a while to decide that's what I was gonna do, only because I knew it could end up getting me less hits (I am a complete attention whore and I apologize). I finally resolved to just make the archive and work hard on the first one, to captivate the readers, etc. After that, it was just a matter of gathering the will power to sit down and type up, proofread, and edit the drabbles I had already written.

I will be posting two today. There are probably more to come, though I know the sense of obligation is just not present enough for me to really put much effort into them.

For those of you waiting for updates on any other story, eg Those Who Love You (nobody) or At a World's End (two people at most), I apologize. When I am over something, it's hard to get myself to write it. If i'm not living in the story, I can't get it done. that's just how it is. (that's also why I think i will do better with a oneshot series than anything else. shorter stories are easier for me to write.)

So, I hope you all keep reading and reviewing. This ate up my weekend.

UNIVERSAL DISCLAIMER (applies to all chapters/oneshots in the story/archive):I do not own Avatar: the last airbender. If I did, the romance would have been handled better. I am not responsible for any trauma you may experience when reading this piece of purely fan-made fiction. I make no profit off of the characters or concepts of Avatar: the last Airbender.

(...that way i won't have to keep posting it xD)

Title: Falling Slowly (yes, after the song. again.)

Rating: T, (attempt at) mild sexual themes

Word Count: 1,470 :D

Timeline: After the Zuko/Azula agni Kai, before everyone else shows up at the palace.

Category: romance/fluff mostly

Summary: The long awaited end of the war has been finalized, and it is midnight in the firenation palace. Azula's tirade has left the palace without half it's servants-Zuko and Katara have to find somewhere to sleep.

Notes: this is almost pure fluff. It was going to be the beginning of a full on story, but I decided against it. I had too much trouble deciding what exactly I wanted to do after this chapter, and how I would get my points accross. in the end, I think I just had too many ideas, and none of them were good enough for me to really love. So I never did finish it, but I loved the first chapter, so I rewrote the ending to make more sense as just a oneshot for this. I hope you like it. To all those who don't really want to read it and have gotten this far, I am craving an honest critique. This is your chance to insult me so please read and review xD

btw, this is my new header. I am excited. The intro thing will only happen once xD

Falling Slowly

After meetings for the end of the war, reports from the avatar and the air ship fleet battle, and making plans for one currently tranquilized basket case of a sister to stay in a mental institute in the capitol, Katara's eyes start to droop.

The two had been sitting in Zuko's father's war room since that afternoon and now it is past midnight. The only piece of information she still remembers is that Aang and her brother would not be at the palace until the next morning.

"…Will have no trouble with the soldiers themselves, but some of the conservatives among the higher ranks may…" Someone is talking—Katara doesn't care. "…Resentment for the new firelord and-"

The middle aged man in his dark robes stops when Katara begins to take in a very loud breath, trying to cover up her yawn to no avail.

A silence falls over the room. A blush spreads over her cheeks as everyone stares at her. She turns her head to look at Zuko, who is sitting next to her and trying not to laugh. She brings her head down.

"Hehe…Sorry about that." A soft laughter starts to bounce off the walls of the huge room. Zuko takes this opportunity to stand up with a smile on his face.

"I think this would be our cue to retire for the night. It has been a long day. Tomorrow, the Avatar will arrive and we can bring this country into a time of peace."

Now, it's Katara's turn to stare. The man speaking so regally is at such a shocking contrast to the boy she had joked around with for the past two weeks on Ember Island. She is suddenly overcome with a feeling of great inferiority as the advisors and nobles hinge on his every charismatic word.

Zuko seems to sense this, as he then brings a hand down to her saying, "Come on. Let's go find a place to stay for the night," with a kind smile. The nobles gathered around the table start to stand up and depart as Katara smiles in relief and takes his offered hand.

His touch is warm and comforting on her hand, and his smile is genuine and shows in his eyes. The combination of the two is enough to make her go breathless and she sways a little on her feet as she stands up. His smile quickly turns into a worried frown as he takes hold of her elbow with his other hand, steadying her.

"Uh, sorry." She brushes it off and makes an excuse. "To be honest, after everything that's happened, I'm kinda surprised neither of us has passed out yet." She tries to will her face to cool down, giving him a small, shy smile. "Thank you."

As soon as every noble has left the room ("A safety measure—You wouldn't want them plotting against you behind you're back would you? Don't give them the chance by providing the accommodations."), the two follow into the vast hallways of the palace.

Zuko is now frowning in thought and letting out an exasperated sigh as they turn a corner. "I think we're going to have to stay in my old room for tonight," he finally says.

She stops in her tracks for a moment as he goes on somewhat hurriedly. She gives a shake of her head before running to catch up with him, quirking her head to the side in a question. "What! Why? Don't you have, I don't know, guest quarters or something?"

He lets out an annoyed, awkward breath. "Well usually we would, yes, but my sister decided to "banish" all the servants in her tirade before we got here, and there is a shortage of people to manage that sort of thing. So unless you want to take Ozai's room…" He looks down at her, almost smirking.

She immediately starts to shake her head vigorously, looking absolutely mortified. "No!"

"That's what I thought." They turn another corner. If he notices how easily she had given in, he says nothing of it.

Soon, they come through a door to a completely secluded hallway. The windows set into the west side of the hall overlook a garden, the moon casting a bluish glow to make shadows across the floor. Zuko walks up to the next door and pulls a key out of his sleeve.

"I don't know if anyone's touched it since I left…" he says quietly. He holds in a breath as he turns the lock. Katara briefly wonders why, before it creaks open to reveal one gilded room with a gigantic bed set in the middle as if on some kind of pedestal. There is a nightstand, a dresser, a rack of some sort, and another window overlooking the pond in the garden—

And a framed portrait stands on a small table in front of the bed. A burnt out candle rests on the step next to it. Zuko lets out a shaking breath and gives a sad smile. "It's still there." He says it in barely a whisper.

He walks in and stops in front of the portrait, kneeling down. Katara follows and watches as he takes it in his hands. He stops for a moment, just looking at it. The painting is of a beautiful woman, with ivory skin and dark hair. Katara knows she has seen the face before. It's…that must be his mother, she thinks, remembering the portraits she went through at his family's beach house. He stands up, taking the candle to stow them away in his dresser.

Katara lets out an astonished sigh as she looks around the room, taking in everything. She had not idea why she was so interested in his room. Suddenly, she wants to know every thing about the way he lived before he left to join them. Suddenly, in the presence of his royal bed and gilded walls, it matters to her that this is where he slept…

There is a drawn out silence where they just look at the room—Zuko in reminiscence, Katara in awe. Then they both look at the bed. Their eyes immediately shoot to each other in what are supposed to be sneaked glances, but instead they make brief eye contact and the moment turns painfully awkward. Katara shifts uncomfortably on her feet.

Zuko takes this opportunity to start towards the opposite wall, muttering, "You can just…take the bed for now. I'll be back soon, and we'll figure something out." He walks through a door to what she can only assume is a bathroom and she is suddenly glad he is not there to see her blush.

It is then that another huge yawn hits her, reminding her of her most urgent dilemma as she rocks back on her heels. She sighs inwardly and walks to the bed, resigned. She sits down on the side facing the window, looking out to the softly lit garden. The moonlight reflects off the pond gently and her eyelids start to droop. She had meant to stay up for a little while longer, but she firmly decides that is impossible. Instead, she lies down and curls up on the bed of Prince—no, Firelord—Zuko. She is asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow.

He comes back into the room moments later to find her asleep facing the window, the soft light caressing her exposed cheek. He laughs softly before walking up to her. There is a moment where he does nothing but sigh and look at the image of her form silhouetted against his bed, smiling softly. The smile fades as he leans down, instinctively, to kiss her softly, cautiously, on the side of her cheek, right near the ear.

She smiles in her sleep and lets out a soft moan, making a certain warmth uncurl inside him. Then his chest constricts as he remembers just who she is and just who is already interested. She is probably dreaming about the avatar...

He cannot completely brush off the thought, but looking at her, bathed in moonlight, in his room, on his bed, he promptly decides that he has been on the avatar's side enough for one day, and is going to do whatever in Agni's name he wants to. So that night, Katara's dreams speak of warmth and safety for the first time, held close in the cradle of strong arms and gilded in the red and gold of the fire nation palace.

A/N: thanks for reading, and again, please review.

-Fishy