"So, this is where you live?" Zuko asked as he and Katara strolled down a street of packed snow. Buildings of ice were scattered throughout the village, small and simple but a luxury compared to the huts people had lived in before the men from the North came to rebuild.
"Yeah, this is it," Katara said, mitten-covered hands fidgeting uncomfortably. What she wanted to say was "Could you go back to being nine for, like, ten seconds? Because this is a bit much."
"It's... nice," he said, stubbornly remaining sixteen.
As she struggled to convince herself it was 'just Zuko' (really – how could she be freaking out over the boy she had routinely shoved into a pond?), Sokka rushed over from where he had been ice fishing.
"Zuko! Buddy!" he shouted, slinging his arm around the other teen's shoulders. "Long time no see! Wanna go fishing with me?"
A grin found Zuko's lips. "I see your brother's still the food-obsessed oaf I remember."
Then he was up to his neck in snow, Katara standing in front of him with her hands on her hips and a smirk at her lips as he struggled to free himself ("Ah! Cold! Cold! Let me out! I'm gonna freeze to death!")
This was much more familiar territory.
Author's Notes: Not much to say about this. I do like how it patterns the first day in the Fire Nation, though.
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Avatar' or any of its characters.
