#1: Stain

Pairing: Katara & Zuko, of course.

Summary: "Katara," he said, taking his wife's hands, "Sokka did it. Your brother kissed me."

Disclaimer: I neither own ATLA nor make any profits out of my stories up here.

AN: So I'm starting a series of non-linear, non-related ficlets, because what's there not to love about Zutara? Constructive comments are most welcome, and I hope you'll enjoy these ficlets. Thanks for stopping by.


Katara stood before her husband, a light blue shirt in her hands. "Your shirt, Zuko."

"Yes, that's my shirt," Zuko said. He had a tendency towards obliviousness. "Why?"

"There is a blob of red on your shirt."

Zuko wasn't sure how he was supposed to reply. He leaned away from Katara's angry face. "I'm sorry you have to clean the stain?"

"Zuko, we promised to be honest with each other. Who's she?"

"Who's who?" Zuko asked. He laid his newspaper aside and glanced at Katara, noting that she was still very beautiful even when her features were somewhat contorted in anger.

"You're such an idiot," Katara said, waving the shirt in Zuko's face. "Look. Why is there a lipstick stain here?"

Zuko took the shirt – there was a red stain on it, near the collar, a perfect red pout that could only have gotten there by way of a well-coloured pair of lips. "I… where did I go yesterday?"

"Are you asking me?" Katara looked ready to murder him.

Zuko transferred his glance back to the shirt. Memories flashed through his head – flashing lights, a disco ball throwing neon strips across the dark ceiling, a party with his good friends – and then, Sokka proposing a game of truth or dare. Of course, Sokka being Sokka, the plan misfired, and Toph dared Sokka to slap on some bright red lipstick.

Sokka couldn't wriggle his way out of that dare, and so he swiped the dusty tube of Lady's Red, which had been dug from the depths of Toph's bag, over his lips, leaned over to imprint the kiss on Zuko's shirt, and laughed like a hyena after the deed was done.

Zuko shook his head; that was not a good memory. "Katara," he said, taking his wife's hands, "Sokka did it. Your brother kissed me."

"He what?"

"It was a dare… Toph dared him to wear lipstick. So he did, and I don't know why but your brother kissed me."

Katara laughed – she sounded somewhat like a hyena too. But a cute hyena, Zuko thought, nothing like her crazy brother at all.