A/N: I don't own Avatar. Good talk, guys. Meet me at the bottom for a full Author's Note!
Rain fell in streams against the window pane. A man with strong features only a Fire Lord could possess made a fresh pot of green tea before sitting in the chair in front of the large window, meditating on his duties for the coming day. As he sipped from his porcelain cup, the rain began pour from the sky and branches from the willow tree outside lightly tapped the glass from the strength of the wind. A shock of lightning lit the room and rolling thunder behind it immediately after. He couldn't help but ponder the beautiful relationship that was a storm- the destruction it leaves, yet, the healing within. This beautiful turmoil brings about the feeling of comfort, but also of loneliness...
A faint knock sounded on the large oak door and before he could say a word the door squeaked open to let in a sliver of light from the hallways into the room lit only by the lightning from outside. He briefly wondered if it was a servant coming to prepare for the morning. With the storm just beginning outside it was hard to tell if it was morning yet or not. If it was morning, how long has he been awake for? Usually he would be the one to summon them when he needed them since they've always been considerate to not bother hi-
"Zuko, it's been so long."
That voice. Zuko nearly choked on his tea when she spoke, her voice resonating not only throughout the room but within himself as well. He felt a shiver go down his spine, as it the lightning from outside managed to creep its way into the room. The thoughts he was attempting to clear with tea and meditation pulled to the front of his mind with the sound of that voice. Even with his back turned from the door Zuko knew that voice could only belong to her.
"I can't sleep," She continued when he said nothing.
She was supposed to be in the south with her water tribe, so why is she here now? He haven't seen her in years, so why has she come to see him? Because she can't simply sleep? Question after question popped in and out of his head. There are so many questions, like how did she even gain access to the Fire Lord's, his, chambers? Zuko tried to focus on answering this one, since it was the least personal. She was the ambassador for water and fire nation relations and the most powerful water bender, so was she easily recognized by the guards and they let her in or did she intimidate them somehow?
"I had a feeling that something was wrong. I just... wanted to check up on you." Her voice, so quiet and soft, was, and still is, my biggest weakness. Silence followed after her admission, thunder rudely intruding into the conversation. Zuko foolishly attempted advice.
"Have you considered trying to preoccupy yourself?" As soon as the words left his mouth he became embarrassed and tried to correct himself. "I mean- er, doing things like water bending or taking a dip in a hot spring? There's...finally peace in the world and you shouldn't be thinking about such troubles already, Katara."
He expected her to say something, but all that he heard was a small sniffle. Oh no, are she crying? Fuck, was he condescending? He was such an idiot.
She stumbled on her words as she tried to hold back the tears. "Peace isn't that great. I've become restless... bored... and lonely. I can't be the only one like this with these concerns." She paused as a flash of lightning lit the room again, bringing out the deep red and gold of the furniture and walls,
Zuko grew uncomfortable at her bold admission. She has always been stronger than this. In times of war, even when they were pitted against each other, she was always strong, so why was she breaking in this time of peace?
Thoughts raced through his head as he mulled over her statement. Restlessness is inevitable. After war there is always someone bitter and out for blood and change. Something to go as far as-
Zuko couldn't tell her any of this- he could sense that she are still exhausted from her travels and responsibilities she has gained after the war. He was left with no choice but to lie.
"You're the only one with those concerns. There's nothing to report. Nation's leaders have shown no fear and nothing of malice, so what has surfaced these thoughts?" He stood to turn and look at Katara, but only to see her head bowed. He know he shouldn't have been so rude, but he couldn't let her know how much he had missed her, how much he liked her being there.
At least, not yet.
He couldn't help but notice how much more beautiful she had become, even in sadness.
After a long moment Katara finally looked up and captured his gaze within hers. Zuko tried to shift his eyes away, but she held firm, eyes scanning his as if she were reading him like a book. He felt drawn to her and as he moved his body closer to hers her delicate form matched his movement.
He had been afraid of those eyes that could read him so easily, as if he were her favorite book. He was afraid of what she would see, but now it was too late- she have seen everything.
"You have always been my best friend, Zuko. You can't keep anything from me. Nothing is okay- I can feel it," Katara told him as she placed a gentle hand on his arm as if urging him to hold her, to comfort her.
His heart urged him to give her what she wanted and to be the security that she needed, but he tried to resist. He knew he should resist her touch and keep a hold of the wall that had been placed between them. However, Zuko's decision to resist was broken when he saw her face and that gentleness broke him, as it always had since he realized that she was his weakness.
Taking the first step in a new direction is always the hardest, but having her fall into his arms, smelling her sweet scent, was just the reward he needed to keep moving forward. Her eyes, filled with a soul so sweet and ancient, entranced him to pull her even closer to his body. With his right hand pressed gently against her soft cheek, he lowered his lips to hers.
Their first kiss, only a few years too late
A/N: I posed this story a bit ago, but after heavy edits, I'm giving it a second go. I am still keeping the theme of having soundtracks to each chapter, some instrumental, some not- depends on what is going on in the story. It might help me, it might not. This first chapter came to me while listening to "My Favorite Book" by Stars. I tots recommend listening to it, it's kind of nice.