So this is my take on the final scene of Katara and Aang kissing.


Ba Sing Se

Katara

It was a month after his coronation as Fire Lord. Despite the work he needed to do, he came to Ba Sing Se. His Uncle had graciously invited all of his to stay with him and relax for a time.

We were all enjoying tea at the Jasmine Dragon. I watched Zuko out of the corner of my eye as he served tea to us like the good little waiter he was. I had treated him coldly since that day I saw them. Then when she came with him to Ba Sing Se, my coldness increased to frigid. Yet he said nothing, did nothing. No explanations, no apologies, no nothing. He didn't even say a word when I ceased the healing sessions. I guess he had his nice little fire nation lady to "heal" him now. No use for me. Well that's fine.

Besides we weren't anything any ways. No need to defend himself against nothing. Right? So why can't I can't get him out of my head?

I stayed away from him all day. Avoidance was easier than watching him. Pretending that he was nothing to me. Pretending that these little flutters in my stomach were nothing.

But that early evening, as he came closer to serve my tea, his eyes remained diverted. The jerk couldn't even look me in the eye. But as he passed the cup to me, his hand brushed against mine. My eyes shot up at the electricity that had passed, and he was staring at me for the briefest moment. Was that an apology I saw? Before I could read further, he was gone, across the room, continuing his servitude to the others.

Catching his movements out of the corner of my eye, I was distracted. He moved with such grace and nobility. I remembered back to that magnificent body beneath those heavy robes he wore now lying on the silken bed motionless beneath my fingers as I traced imaginary patterns over the skin pretending to heal something that wasn't broken. I remembered his warm fingers running up my leg, over the curve of my backside, my lower back. A shiver just about washed over me until Sokka's voice brought me back to the present. Arguing over the drawing, I noticed Aang smiling dreamily at all of us as we stood over Sokka's stupid drawing. I watched him walk outside and I soon followed, excusing myself quietly. As I walked out, I brushed past Zuko. I felt him tense. I felt smug that I could have that effect on him.

In silence, I stood outside with Aang looking out over the city as the sun set. We turned and smiled shyly at each other. I took him in my arms, embracing this young monk who had saved the world. Then I kissed him. But as I pressed my lips to his, eyes closed tight, it was suddenly a different person I was imagining in my arms. A tall teen, with black hair and warm, scarred alabaster skin, who could set fire to more things than he could imagine. And he had. My heart, my body, smoldered for him.

Soon I felt someone watching us. I opened my eyes to see him staring at us. "See this is how it feels! Not fun is it?" I maliciously yelled at him with my eyes. I saw the indifference in his eyes but it was the dejected slump of his shoulders as he turned and went back inside that told me I hurt him.

Guilt washed over me. Was I just using this boy before me to get back at him?

Oh, well. Who cares? He started it.

Like all the other boys, he was yet another one chalked up to immature thinking. I was just being a little girl with a crush. But Aang wanted me, so I allowed myself to be taken.

Never mind it wasn't what I wanted. But I had appearances to keep up.

************************

Zuko

She and the rest of the gang left a week after the coronation. Good riddance!

I wanted to scream at her each time I saw her. What the hell was her problem anyways? Okay, so she saw me with Mai. So what? I'm not allowed to hug girls? Alright, so we kissed. Again, so what? It didn't mean that she had to be a complete bitch to me each time we were around each other. It felt like when I first joined the group all over. Like I was trying to win her approval. But this time I hadn't done anything wrong. It's not like I had cheated on her or something.

So what that I can't stop thinking about her? She isn't mine to think about, to have, to hold, to desire. So what that every time I kissed Mai, held Mai, was intimate with Mai, it was blue eyes and tan skin I imagined beneath me?

I thought I'd be happy when they left, but I wasn't. I was miserable and I took it out on Mai. I was an ass. I knew it, she knew it, everyone knew it. I blamed it on the stress of my new job when in truth it was because she wasn't there.

Uncle had invited me to visit and I took him up on the offer. A little vacation sounded nice. Mai invited herself to come with me. I hid my disappointment; I had to keep up appearances. Dressed in simple Earth Kingdom clothing I entered the city without the pomp of my title as Mai suggested I should have. "What's the fun in being Fire Lord if you can't order people about?" I looked at her in wonder. Is this really the same person I had loved once upon a time? Had I been that way too? A spoiled, self-serving, rich brat? I found that I had come to prefer the simpler life that I had led prior to my coronation.

I found my room at Uncle's house quickly discovering that everyone else was there as well. Each of us had our own rooms, although some people (cough, Suki and Sokka, cough) shared theirs. Later that evening, after everyone had settled in, we lounged around the tea shop. Uncle began playing the sungi horn; Mai had taken up a game of pai sho with Suki. I was surprised to see Katara standing behind Mai as she watched them. It gave me the perfect view of both these young women. Mai in the sickly yellow green robes and Katara in the stunning green that complemented her very well. Their robes almost epitomized my thoughts.

I took it upon myself to serve the tea Uncle had brewed. I couldn't help but notice that she still ignored me. I know how well she can hold a grudge. Well, two can play that game, so I ignored her back.

As I passed the tea to her though, I intentionally brushed her hand. See me, Katara, I'm still here and I'm not afraid of you! But I am sorry. I tried to show her but I couldn't linger. I was still the tea server after all.

Sokka told me to stop moving. What was that idiot doing? I looked down at the failed attempt to draw all of us. I look like I have a boarqpine on my head! Ugh. Idiot! I didn't notice Aang slip out, but I did notice her watching him soon following him outside.

I felt her brush past me. I tensed at the touch. It was odd that she still had that effect on me. I waited a moment and under the guise of putting the tray away, I followed. I wished I hadn't. She was holding him. She was kissing him. She was looking at me. I recognized the hurt in her eyes. She was paying me back.

I set my jaw, put on that mask of indifference that I was so used to wearing. I will not firebend his ass to oblivion. I will not firebend his ass to oblivion. I will not firebend his ass to oblivion. I turn and go inside.

I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look and there Mai is looking at me with concern. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I say, giving a small smile to reassure her.

Everything, I think.

**********************************

Katara

It had been a week since he had seen us. We still ignored each other for the most part. We were civil, certainly, but we weren't close like before. Sokka asked me what my problem was. Suki asked. Toph even asked. Aang never asked. He saw nothing wrong. I was perfect to him. I didn't know how much longer I could handle being this perfection. And we had only just begun.

I knew Zuko and Mai were leaving tomorrow. He had important work to do back home and Mai was like his poodle-monkey, always following him around.

All of us ate dinner together. I saw him glancing at me and Aang as we sat at the table, Aang's arm around my waist. I saw the darkness in his eyes. I felt the anger in my own when I saw them give little kisses to each other.

After the meal, I saw Mai get up with Zuko following her. A few moments after they left, I excused myself. Quietly, discreetly, following them, I watched him escort her to her room.

"Come inside," she offered, pulling at his robes with a devious little smile.

He shook his head. "We have to get up early tomorrow and I'd like a good night's sleep."

I felt the smile pull at my lips. I don't know why this made me so happy but it did. I watched him kiss her gently gazing into her eyes before walking to his own room. I watched her gaze after him. I could see the curiosity and disappointment in her body. She desired him too.

She slowly turned and closed her bedroom door. As soon as she did, I went to his door. Quietly knocking on it, a moment later, he opened it not even looking at who stood there, "Mai, I told you-".

Then he saw me. The shock apparent. He shrugged and turned to the pack on his bed where he returned to shoving clothes inside. I stood in the doorway after I closed it behind me.

"What are you doing?" I ask more sharply then I intended.

"Packing."

"That's not what I mean."

"Then tell me what you mean," he stops his work but does not look at me.

I can't take this anymore.

"Us. What are we doing?" I whisper.

I see him turn his head in my direction. "Nothing. You have Aang. I have Mai. We're friends."

"Are you so sure?"

He looked at me with blank eyes. "Yes."

My heart sinks. Again. What the hell am I doing? Am I a glutton for heartache or what? He obviously doesn't think of me in the same way. Just leave, Katara. Turn around and walk away. Quit while you still have some shred of dignity.

But no. Instead I stay. I walk to him. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I hear his breath hitch. I feel the muscles tense. "Don't," he warns.

Instead, I run my hand over his shoulder down his arm turning him to face me. I place my hand on his cheek, fingertips on the edge of the scar. I knew I was the only one he allowed to touch it.

"Don't," he repeats firmer than before as he closes his eyes.

"Zuko…" I don't know what to say. This is all so new. Do I tell him how I feel? Do I tell him I haven't stopped thinking about him since I left the Fire Palace? No, that'd be a lie. I haven't stopped thinking about him since he helped me find my mother's killer.

"Katara…" he echoes.

"Do you want me?" where on earth those words came from I'll never know, but they fly from my mouth.

"I don't."

I know I should leave. It's what he's telling me. So I leave. I go to my room and throwing myself on the bed I cry.

Zuko

I toss and turn in bed. I can't sleep to save my soul. Why does she have to do this to me? Take me to these places I don't want to go? I still feel her fingers on my cheek. Her breath on my skin. I still see the tears in her eyes. Why do I do this to myself?

I finally can't take anymore. I can't take this feeling. Maybe just one night with her is all I need. All she needs. Then we can all just move on. Go back to normal. The way things should be.

I throw on my shirt. I briskly go to her room and knock loudly enough for her to hear but quiet enough not to wake anyone else. She finally opens the door, her hair a tangled mess, her eyes red. I can tell she's been crying. It kills me.

I take her face in my hands and crush my lips into hers. Agni! They're softer than I ever imagined. She wraps her hands over mine pulling me closer.

I finally break away. "I'm a horrible liar," I mumbled into her neck as I hug her close. She smiles and nods. She understands. Thank Agni!

I take her in my arms and I don't let her go. Our lovemaking, like our fighting, was passionate, a struggle not for dominance but to find ourselves in each other, to make everything, every pain in our hearts, go away. We were two puzzle pieces that united in ways never before imagined. Heaven was the only word that I could come up with. My name on her lips, her name on mine, we unleashed.

The next morning, as I begrudgingly left her bed, I kissed her and said good bye. Gathering my torn clothes, I exited her room. As I closed the door behind me, a satisfied smile on my face, he saw me. I freeze.

The bald monk looked in wonder why I was leaving his girlfriend's room shirtless (she had ripped it from my body in our fervor) at such an hour. I blushed brightly. The lie quickly coming to my mouth, "She was healing my chest." It was somewhat true.

He nodded. He believed. How naïve.

That night had changed everything. And it had only just begun.

Let me know what you think. there will probably be one more chapter before it officially goes to Revenge.