Katara woke up by a suddenly thump. She shot up and looked to what it was. She smiled as she saw the sight of an asleep Zuko fallen off the bed. Daylight shone through the windows and Katara checked what the time was on Zuko's clock on a bed side clock.
Shoot.
11:00am
Katara jumped out of bed and brushed her hair with her fingers while rushing over to Zuko. She tried to haul him up but he wouldn't budge.
"Come on Zuko it's time to wake up okay?" she said in an annoying voice. Zuko grumbled and rolled over. You're so much like Sokka! She pulled him up slowly cursing under her breath and then slapped Zuko harshly. Zuko reacted immediately.
"Ow! What was that for!?" he almost yelled.
"Get up" she ordered and started to make the bed. Zuko pulled her back and reeled her in to a soft kiss. Katara felt sparks all over her body and she found herself incredibly happy.
"Good morning" he said casually. Katara smiled shyly and then went back to putting the bed sheets and pillows to their rightful place. She jumped suddenly as she heard a knocking on the door.
"Who do you think that is?" asked Zuko who had gotten off the floor and started to tidy up his awful bed hair. Katara went berserk.
"Oh no it's Mai!"
She started to race outside the door and into the kitchen quickly getting a cup and filled it with water. Zuko walked out of the bedroom.
"What's wrong?" he asked. Katara quickly put the cup on the coffee table and then pointed at the sofa.
"Quickly lie down pretend that you are exhausted or something!" she instructed whispering loud enough so he could hear her.
"Why?"
"Just do it and hurry!"
"Zuko are you in there?"
She speeded off to Zuko's apartment door and opened it up to see a impatient Mai looking like- well like how Mai always looked, depressing and unpleased. Mai saw her and then frowned disappointedly and Katara thought she could see a hint of anger
"Oh. It's you Katara. Why are you here?" she asked curiously. Katara said the first thing that came to the top of her head.
"Zuko really didn't look well last night so I decided to stay the night to make sure he was alright"
Mai gave one of those 'sure I believe you' looks at Katara and stepped inside and then looking around. Katara looked at what she was wearing. Black pants, red top with a black leather jacket on top. What on earth did Mai want to be- The Gothic Queen? She looked depressing enough already and she barely smiled either.
Mai walked over to the couch and saw Zuko lying down on the couch looking like he had the biggest hangover in the history of the world. Katara closed the door and went over to were Mai and Zuko were in time to see Zuko being kissed, looking quite reluctant. Mai turned back to Katara looking as if she just realized that she was there and then put her hand on her hips.
"Thanks you can go now I'll look after him now" she said. Katara walked silently to the door and left without a word. She remembered what happened the night before and then fast paced out of the building. She had a few things to do.
Tell Toph and Suki
Interrogate Sokka
Try to find out ways to explain to her Boss why she is very late to work
She exited the apartment and went to her car. She was in a rush today, a very big rush. Sitting in the drivers seat she got out her deep blue mobile and dialed Suki's number.
"Hello?"
"Suki its Katara"
"Where are you Katara the boss is furious! You're going to be in big trouble"
"I stayed at Zuko's last night"
"WHAT!?"
"Woah what's happening!?"
Katara could hear Toph's voice now on the phone to.
"She stayed at Zuko's place last night"
"WHAT ON EARTH!? Katara did you-
"No way!" she snapped quickly and started to warm up the car.
"Good! Why did you stay at Zuko's last night?"
"I'll explain later I need to ask Sokka something, it was apparently his and Zuko's plan"
"So are you and Zuko an item? Wait isn't Zuko with Mai?"
"Not too many questions. Yes he is"
"Be careful Katara men are awful creatures"
"Toph you haven't dated a guy before"
"Hey well at least it's safer that way unlike with you and Jet and Haru and-"
"Gee thanks"
"I'm just warning you Katara he might be trying to cheat on both you and Mai or something"
"I don't think so. And if Sokka is really apart of this then he wouldn't let Zuko do that to me"
"Good point and he knows how you felt after Jet and Haru and-"
"Toph you really don't have to remind me"
"I'm proud to be single"
"Katara?"
"What?"
Suki's voice was a worried caring voice this time.
"Do you love Zuko?"
The question hit Katara hard. She thought about it. Did she love Zuko?
"I'm not sure."
"You're not sure?"
"I have to think about it okay? But I know that when I was with Zuko it just felt so right. I knew he was dating Mai but it just felt like nothing ever before. Not like with-"
"Jet" said Toph
"and Haru" continued Suki
"and-"
"Yeah thanks guys you're really being supportive here"
"Sorry" they chimed together.
"But as I was saying, for the first time it was like something out of a fairytale. A dream come true or something like that"
"Wow. We could make this into a really soppy movie or story"
"Was it romantic?"
"He sang to me drunk to you call that romantic?"
"Very romantic compared to what Sokka does for me. Let me tell you that taking me to a monster truck rally show isn't that romantic at all"
"It isn't?"
"Very funny Toph. Umm Katara talk to us later okay the boss is giving us the evil eye"
"Okay I'll see you at work"
Katara hung up and started to drive to work. She worked at the hospital and she did feel a bit guilty for not coming to two whole shifts and leaving all those people in the burns section of the place. Healing and helping people were what Katara loved and did best of all. It was really sad to see all those people, adults and children alike who had been burned badly but forest fires, house fires and most upsetting of all the burns that had been done by abuse.
Katara drove into the staff car park smoothly parked her Porsche and then jumped out of the car and locking it before running into the hospital.
"You're late"
Katara winced and turned to her boss that was looking at her like they were ready to rip her into pieces and possibly eat them up and regurgitate her back out and the fact that her boss looked like an angry eagle anyway made it even more terrifying.
"What is the time Katara?" asked her boss. Katara looked at the hospital clock and felt her heart sink low.
"11:48 Mrs."
"And what time was your first shift today?"
"6:00am"
"Do you have any reason why you're absurdly late?"
"I was caring for an ill friend and I stayed over at their house for the night to make sure they were okay and then sort of lost track of time"
Well it was partially true.
"So as you 'sort of' lost track of time did you ever think of the consequences of your actions?"
"I couldn't I was asleep"
Katara suddenly turned blank white. She shouldn't have said that. Sokka always said she didn't think things through and now she knew what he meant. Her boss looked at her crossly thinking of what punishment she should get.
"Do you supposedly have your so called 'friend's number?"
Katara got out her mobile and dialed in Zuko's number. She had been through this case before with her boss but she thought it was going to be a bit better than last time since she wasn't late because her clean pair of underwear was still drying. Gran gran had been her witness that time. She handed the phone to her boss who glanced at the number.
"This is your friend's number?"
"Yes that's his number"
"So it's a 'he'"
Katara felt like she had fallen into a trap and watched as her boss hit the 'call' button. She crossed her fingers for luck and her boss started to talk.
"Hello I am Katara's boss and I am just wondering if you know why she is very late to work. Yes- and what illness did you have? A hangover how very appropriate. Well I suggest next time you don't drink so much. Goodbye and a good day to you"
Her boss hung up and handed the mobile back to Katara. Katara tried to figure out what her boss was thinking.
"Katara you will make up the missed to shifts by doing four shifts today. You may go now and I suggest you get out of the clothes you are wearing. Good bye"
Katara watched as her boss walked stiffly off and then rushed to the staff area to get her uniform to be interrupted by the sound of her phone ringing.
"Katara?"
"Zuko? Is that you?"
"The one and only. Was that your boss?"
"Yes"
"She scars me"
Katara tried not to laugh.
"She scares everyone"
"Are you in trouble?"
"No not really"
"Okay good I didn't want to get you in trouble"
"It's alright"
"Well I was just checking so bye"
"Bye"
"I love you"
Katara felt her heart thump in her chest as she heard the three words. She panicked. What was she supposed to say back? I love you too? But would she mean it? There was only one way to find out.
"I love you too Zuko"
Katara felt her heart leap and she started to wonder if she was saying the truth.
"I love you more" said Zuko and he hung up. Katara sighed and leaned on the wall nearby her. She was telling the truth.
Author's Note:
I couldn't stop writing and now I'm going to have to do homework in a rush.
Yes it's a story there was only two votes for one shot. So here the chappy is. I hope you enjoyed.
R&R please!