I absolutely adore this pairing. I feel like the five minutes they were together on the show didn't do them enough justice. Soooo here's my version. It takes place right after the kiss *squeal* and continues until... well, you'll have to read to find out! Please read and review. I would much rather have someone tell me early on that something sucks or doesn't make sense then find out like a month later.

Peace and kisses. Mwah.

The Kiss: Zuko

What had just happened?

Zuko gingerly touched his lips, the lingering imprint of the kiss still tangible. That had been a kneejerk reaction. It was like his body had disconnected from his mind for a second, acting upon the wishes of some subconscious desire…

Zuko shook his head. Don't be stupid. It was just an accident. You felt sorry for the poor girl so you gave her what she wanted. There was nothing else to it.

Zuko continued to walk through the streets of Ba Sing Se, too distracted to notice where he was going. Since he had only arrived in Ba Sing Se a week ago, the city was still unfamiliar to him. In the daylight, the vast streets and the multitude of houses were just barely discernable. But at night, under the cover of darkness, the streets twisted and turned, looking completely unfamiliar and foreign. After a while, Zuko found himself hopelessly lost.

"Damn," he cursed, trying to keep his temper under control. He resisted the urge to yell in frustration. How could he get lost so easily in this stupid city? How was he going to find his way home?

Home… A sudden nostalgia gripped him. Three years ago home meant the royal palace with his father's acceptance. Home meant the memories of his mother that permeated every room. Home meant being proud of the fact that he was the crown prince of the greatest nation in the world.

Home was all a lie…

But still, home was what he longed for.

He was a banished prince, marked forever by the vicious scar that now disfigures his face. As soon as his father's flames licked his skin, his destiny was set, his honor was lost. In a split second, because of his imprudence, his whole future was robbed from him.

Who wouldn't want redemption?

And suddenly, as clear as day, he heard his Uncle's voice. This is a chance for us to start over.

But what if he didn't want to start over? How could he, when he still clung to the past? How could he settle down in Ba Sing Se when he was always on the alert for a chance to escape? To go back to the way things used to be?

This was why he turned away from Jin.

He was from the Fire Nation. She was from the Earth Kingdom. Exiled or not, he was still a prince. She was just a common peasant. They were incompatible. Liking her would mean he was giving up on any hope of redemption. It would mean he was accepting the fact that this was his life now: a refugee who could never aspire to be anything more than a tea server. By pursuing a relationship with her, he would be laying down ties to Ba Sing Se. He would be one step closer to calling this accursed city his home.

Nevertheless… he couldn't help but feel his heart beat a little faster when he thought of her face as it inched closer and closer to his. Or how soft her lips were. Or the disappointed look in her eye when he turned away.

No, he shook his head again. No, get your head on straight. Focus on getting back to the apartment.

The streets continued to look unfamiliar. Building after building blended in with the shadows. After walking around in circles for a while, Zuko finally sat down on the sidewalk in exasperation.

If only I could have some light, he thought a little desperately. If only I could fire bend…

And then another memory wormed its way into his consciousness. The way Jin's eyes lit up when she saw the lamps were suddenly lit. She had smiled at him, and he had returned it…

Ugh! Zuko clapped a hand over his face, as if he was trying to literally knock the memory out of his head. Focus! Stop thinking about some stupid girl that you feel nothing for!

But now the memories kept coming, as if something had uncorked inside his brain.

Jin as she stepped out from behind the tea shop, the way she teasingly ruffled his hair. It took my Uncle ten minutes to do my hair…he remembered protesting. She had called him cute…

Jin as she slurped down the noodles with relish. At home, such behavior would be frowned upon. Fire Nation etiquette was strictly enforced; one toe out of line would result in temporary pariah status. But Zuko thought the gesture was endearing. She was such a refreshing change from the rigid, boring Fire Nation girls he used to associate with. He had tried to convey this to her, but instead…

He groaned out loud. Did he really say she had a big appetite? And did he really tell her that he used to be part of a travelling circus?

The more he thought about their date, the more he felt like crawling into a hole and dying. The night had been a disaster. He had made a fool out of himself.

But why do you care? He asked himself. His head was spinning in confusion.

Well, at least that one part was true, he thought wryly. It is complicated. He hadn't been lying when he told her that, after they kissed. If only she could see him now.

Suddenly Zuko noticed a familiar house on the corner of the street. He got up to take a closer look. Sure enough, on the next street over he saw the faint glow of the apartment complex. This whole time he had only been a few blocks away from his destination.

Swearing under his breath, he walked down the familiar path, too annoyed to think about anything else. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he finally reached the door of the apartment.

"How was your night," Uncle asked him as he closed the door.

Zuko thought of how he got lost, told Jin he was a circus freak, and then proceeded to call her fat. He slammed the door to his room, too frustrated to give Uncle a response.

But as he sat in the darkness, he then thought of that kiss, how gentle and… well, nice it was.

He opened the door to reply to his Uncle.

"It was nice."