A/N: Hiya, and welcome to my new series of oneshots, created in honour of Zutara Week! :D Woo! You can be expecting a few funny ones, and the occasional dramatic/angsty one… Anyway, I hope you enjoy my take on the first prompt. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or anything related to it. I do not own Zutara Week either, but I am contributing to it with my own idea for this theme. :P

Slices of Ocean Kumquat

Zutara Week 2011

Theme 1: Mask

Fire Lord Zuko had assumed the throne with an air of purpose, decision and integrity. Like his predecessors, he knew which direction he wanted to be moving in, but unlike his predecessors, he was moving in a new direction. Things were looking up for not only himself, but the rest of the world. And although never rash, he knew exactly what he wanted and how to go about getting it.

That is, until one day before Valentine's Day.

"I, uh…" he stammered, absently rubbing the back of his head. "Well, you see…"

With folded arms Katara stood expectantly before him, tapping her fingers on her forearm. "Yes, Zuko?" she pressed, making an effort to disguise her impatience by how slowly she spoke. Even though it only added to it.

He sighed, dropping his arm to his side. "Never mind."

The waterbender opened her mouth to protest when Toph's voice beckoned her from the end of the corridor. "Coming!" she chirped back. "We'll talk later, okay?" Her arm brushed his as she scurried past him without waiting for a response.

Zuko frowned to himself, shoving his hands in his pockets and maneuvering along one of the many crimson, carpeted corridors of his home. His palace. Evening was approaching rapidly, for the servants had already drawn and secured the embroidered curtains using the usual golden ties. Things were quieter in this part of the palace with the absence of animated banter from Katara and Toph – they were most likely on their way to receive Suki at the docks. The only option now was to track down Aang and Sokka, and considering the latter's character, they were either in a dining room or about to fall off the top of a palace tower.

Back to the situation at hand – the one chasing through his mind – Zuko could now classify this attempt as another failed one. He and Katara had been advancing along quite nicely, having broken the bonds of friendship for something different and… refreshing. At first it had been an odd thing, craving approval and seeking comfort. But comfort was what they had found in one another – after travelling such a tiresome emotional journey, they discovered that they needed each other more than they thought. This applied to the other members, too, but an unseen bond joined Zuko and Katara in a special way. Almost peculiar.

Time had also certainly played its part. It had done little to change things itself, but rather allowed for growth and the establishment of said bond. Acceptance was learned by each member of Team Avatar; life was quite nearly the same, as exciting as always, just a few changes here and there. Their journey had taught them the importance of unity, never to turn against each other, and it had done good for many things – including Katara and Zuko's relationship.

"Does it still count as a relationship if I've never asked her out before?" Zuko wondered aloud. Well, given the previous encounter, it was difficult for him to do so…

"I hope you're talking abut my sister and not some noble chick."

Zuko looked up, attention snapping to the Water Tribe boy with hazel skin to match Katara's. "Hey, Sokka." Zuko uncomfortably shifted his weight to his left foot, briefly recalling the farewell between him and Mai two months prior.

"Yo." Sokka smiled lazily and nodded at Zuko to continue walking, falling into step beside his friend. "What's wrong?"

"…Why would something be wrong?"

"Valentine's Day is tomorrow and you don't have a date… and you're thinking aloud." Sokka fixed a serious gaze on the firebender, speaking with a tone identical to it. "You only do that under grave circumstances. Do you have any grave circumstances, Zuko?"

Zuko raised his only eyebrow. "In the mood for acting today, are we?"

He shrugged. "What can I say? Suki's coming – I haven't seen her in weeks. She thinks I'm a great actor, you know."

"I don't think I do. Where's Aang?"

"He followed Momo off the top of the palace tower."

"Ah."

They rounded a corner, Sokka taking the opportunity to move back to the topic Zuko had unconsciously steered him away from. "So, you've never asked my sister out?" No response. "Sooner or later she's gonna think you don't like her that much…" Sokka smirked when Zuko abruptly stopped walking, frozen. "Looks like you need a little help, Sparky."

Zuko scowled. "From you?"

"In case you haven't noticed, Your Majesty, the ladies love Sokka. I think your sister had a thing for me once," he declared.

"Azula doesn't have things," said Zuko quickly. "Now, how do you intend to help me?"

"A few tips. Nothing in exchange."

"Nothing?"

"Nope. I'll be getting free entertainment." Sokka clapped his hands together once. "Okay, you're gonna try when the girls get back from the docks. I'll just be there on the sidelines for Suki or something."

"Don't you have to ask her, too?"

"Tch, please, Zuko. It's automatic. We're sort of, not really, kinda almost engaged. No questioning that kind of commitment."

Zuko sighed. Time was not being as merciful as it had been before, and was running out the more he stood idly. Quite honestly, he did not want help with this specific subject from Sokka – or anyone. It was meant to be genuine, from the heart, but his heart was rather shy. It seemed that things would have come to this, anyway. "I know I'm going to regret this… but I'll do it." He would have to bear it for a short period. "Let's go wait for them to return."

And that was it – just the sight of her smile, as she and her companions walked along the cobbled path at the back of the palace, was enough to do it.

A weightless feeling lodged itself in his abdomen, palms moistening as he flexed his fingers behind his back. He wet his lips, a shaky breath pushing past his teeth from his now-heavy lungs, heartbeat picking up more than significantly. An unknown force rooted his feet deeply to the spot, stopping him from moving forward like Sokka did when he dashed to greet Suki. And this was Fire Lord Zuko, dressed as casually as the summer day had wanted, and turned into an iron statue outside his palace.

Even when Suki gave him a small hug and waved her hand in front of his face, calling his name, he remained stiff. Only his eyes focused on the warrior who had her head cocked at him. "Hey, Suki," he finally said. "Been a long time."

"Sure has. Are you… feeling all right, Zuko?"

Sokka tugged on her arm. "Oh, he's fine. Just those Fire Lord duties."

"Oh. Anyway, Zuko, I brought something back from the Earth Kingdom for you, but I'll give it to you later." Suki waved a hand and returned her attention back to the girls. "Are you gonna show me where my room is, or should I camp in a vase?"

"Camping in a vase sounds cool." Toph grinned before latching her hand onto the sash of Suki's full Kyoshi Warrior uniform. "C'mon, Fangirl."

The girls started in another direction, leaving a paling Zuko and a smirking Sokka standing at the foot of the steps. Until… "Katara!" Zuko choked out at last after being jabbed by his amused friend.

The master waterbender turned on the stone steps to face them, lagging behind as the other two girls went on. "Yeah?"

"Spit it out, Sparky," hissed Sokka loud enough for only Zuko to hear.

Katara placed her hands on her hips. "What is it? Something's wrong – you know you can tell me anything, right?"

Zuko swallowed. "Um, yeah. You said we were gonna talk later…"

"Yes."

There was a short pause. Zuko wet his lips and averted his eyes from her concerned blue ones. "Let's talk at dinner."

"All right." Another pause, and then Katara sighed. "Is that all?"

"Yes. It is," he said quietly.

Sokka's palm smacked to his forehead as Katara, frowning, nodded and walked away. "She's gonna think you don't like her anymore. I don't mind, of course, but I know it'll make me feel guilty anyway," he murmured.

Zuko surprised him by grabbing onto his shoulders and looking right into his eyes. "Do you have any idea how nervous I am?" he confessed. "I don't know why it keeps happening like this, but I-" Zuko stopped, conscious of how weird it would be to plainly let Sokka know of his deeper feelings. "I care about your sister a lot, Sokka. It's not that I don't. I have it all planned in my head, how to say it, what to say – everything. But when it comes to the real thing, right in front of her, it doesn't feel like I'm prepared at all.

"I don't know – does this make me less worthy? Should I just give up because I don't have… whatever the heck I need to show her how I really feel?" Zuko ignored the heated tingling at the tips of his ears. "I don't want to give up, and I also want to do this right, so please enlighten me, Sokka!"

He edged out of Zuko's grip, looking satisfied. So he cares enough about her to doubt himself and whether he is doing it the right way? He did say he would not give up, and that was certainly showing something about his feelings, considering how easily he got flustered. Well, this would have to be sorted out soon. And it would not be a difficult task. "I think I know what's up here," said Sokka. "But you've just figured it out for yourself, if you haven't noticed. Come on, Nervy – dinner's soon, and I don't like being late for dinner."

"Do you have a solution for me, Girl Magnet?"

Sokka smiled sweetly. "We'll think of something."

Dinnertime was a casual affair, not a single person aware of how anxiously the Fire Lord was waiting for it to be over. It was in one of the smaller dining rooms, with enough space around the table for the main members of Team Avatar, as well as General Iroh and Chief Hakoda. Laid out beneath the burning sconces was traditional Fire Nation cuisine, the members from other countries having adjusted to the spicy flavours and tangy tastes.

Zuko and Sokka had spent what was left of their afternoon brainstorming for new options, each of which were denied by Zuko out of the odd nerves that had overcome him earlier on. After that, they had entered a stage of silent numbness, almost, at a loss of what to do. And then Sokka had disappeared for a bit, Suki arriving in his place not far after, wanting to give Zuko the item she had brought him back from her scouting mission at Lake Laogai. Ah, thanks to that, everything had fallen into place and became the only obvious option for the unusually jittery Fire Lord.

"Hm." Zuko smirked into his cup as he drank from it; he was more confident about the new plan of action, the blood having stopped rushing to his cheeks each time he thought about it. As soon as he touched the cup back onto the table, a small hand came to rest on his wrist. He looked up into her blue eyes – and they were more dazzling than usual. She had been laughing along to a joke, noting the slight moisture at her eyelashes, the smile that curved her lips perfectly, and the blush on her cheeks that made him want to glide a finger over them. Zuko gulped.

"Will you tell me now?"

"…Huh?"

Katara pursed her lips. "You said we'd talk at dinner. And it's dinner now, last time I checked."

He opened his mouth but, sensing more stammering, decided to change the direction the topic was moving in. "Oh, that. Well, I've decided to save it for later and I'll tell you… in a different way."

"Should I be afraid?"

"You're a master waterbender – I think you can handle anything coming your way."

She giggled, seemingly content with the normal response from him, and let the topic go as she withdrew her hand. "Whatever you say, Mr. Fire Lord."

Zuko smiled again, sipping slowly from his cup.

Katara was perched atop the bed in her guest room, decorated in a typical Fire Nation style with varying shades of red and gold trimmings. She did not mind red that much anymore – having grown up in the Water Tribe, Katara was accustomed to blue… Oh, but she was rather fond of the rare purple worn mostly in the Northern Water Tribe. It was a nice change of colour for her, she thought. But that did not make her fussy about her blue, everyday clothes. Simplistic backgrounds had their advantages, indeed.

Her wrist was starting to cramp, for she had been running her brush through her dark tresses for a long time. The fire was burning low in the fireplace before the bed, and the coals used to heat the bed for her had been removed by a servant a few minutes ago; Katara had also politely declined the extinguishing of her lamps and the untying of the mosquito nets around her bed. Hm, she was brushing her hair for much longer before that. Katara sighed, flipping her feet in front of her, toes pointed at the fireplace.

"Stupid…" she muttered. She was talking about Zuko, of course. He had just rushed off after the last course without another word. More annoying, Sokka had followed him, even after her little talk with him earlier on. "If they have anything stupid planned, I swear-"

Knock, knock, knock!

She furrowed her brows – surely the servant was not offering to assist Katara again? She could manage on her own, if that was the case. There was no need to fuss over her. Hopefully she was not keeping the servant from sleep… "Coming!"

Katara rose, and on the way to the door, removed her bangles and set both them and the brush on the mantle next to the clips usually holding her hair loopies together. Tightening the sash and smoothing the wrinkles on her sleeping robe one more time, Katara opened the door – and was genuinely shocked.

"Miss Katara, I have come to deliver an important message to you, from Fire Lord Zuko," announced a husky, familiar voice… behind a dull blue mask. The bottom half of its face was curved in a wild grin, large wide fangs amongst flat teeth, nose, and cheekbones all coated in shiny white. The top half of the face proved otherwise; white almond-shaped eyes and a deeply curved brow, decorative shapes sticking to the top of the head. It was unnerving, to say the least, in the dancing shadows given off by the candelabras. Although there was something quaint about it.

"How important is it, messenger?" Her expression probably looked like a frown to him, but she was actually squinting closer to see if her initial notion had been correct. There had been a flash of gold in the dark holes where the eyes should have been, and that was a giveaway almost as obvious as the height and…

"Very important. Um, that's what he said, of course."

…that voice…

She folded her arms. "Zuko?"

The person gave a start as if an ice cube had been slipped down his shirt. "That is who sent me," he answered slowly. "I'm… uh… the Blue Spirit." He gave a short bow.

Katara was amused, smirking, and leaned against the doorframe. "Nice to meet you, Blue Spirit. What message do you have for me?" She was struggling not to burst with the laughter coiling in her chest. Really, why was Zuko playing dress-up at this hour?

"Fire Lord Zuko would like to know if you'd be able to spend the day with him tomorrow."

Katara straightened up, hands unintentionally clasping at the level of her collarbone. "You mean… like a date? For Valentine's Day?" Even though she hoped not to show too much of her eagerness, she knew it was present.

"Yes. Like a date," he said softly.

Katara blushed, hands still clasped but relaxing down. "I suppose it would be nice."

"What should I tell the Fire Lord?"

It seemed he knew that she knew, but was just not saying anything. Katara looked up, speaking evenly. "You can give him a message for me."

The Blue Spirit nodded quickly. Then Katara reached forward, placing one hand at the nape of his neck and the other behind the mask, fingertips barely touching the skin beneath. She took a step closer, leaning towards him; she drew her eyes away from the holes in the mask, briefly catching another glimpse of warm gold. Her delicate smile did not fade as she pressed her lips gently to the smooth, hard surface of the mask's cheek, fingers on the side of his head grazing rougher skin there – the rough skin of a scar.

Pulling back, Katara let her fingers fully touch the scar as she gazed at him tenderly. She did not care whether his skin was hard and rough like the scar, or smooth and cold like the mask. She cared about the person inside; the person she had come to love… She did not care if he had found himself 'unworthy', as Sokka had told her earlier this afternoon, to move to another step in their relationship because either way, she and Zuko had a precious bond that surpassed bonds in other relationships – without having to go on dates.

Katara had to admit, however, that she was quite happy that he had asked her to be his valentine, even though he had asked her in a different way. Ah, but Fire Lord Zuko was well-known for moving in new directions…

She chuckled. "Tell him that I'd be honored."

"Of course." He bowed and started down the corridor.

"Good night, Blue Spirit," she said as soon as he was at the corner.

Inside his mask, Zuko smiled, and paused to just glance over his shoulder. "Good night, Miss Katara."

A/N:

I'm not sure if it's the weather, but I'm starting to write more and more fluff-like things. :3

These oneshots aren't exactly relating to each other; I'm just grouping them together since they are part of my first Zutara Week. This can also be found on my DeviantArt account - there's a link on my profile, in case you were wanting to know. ^.^ They'll probably be getting there sooner.

Thanks for reading!