Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews! Lovelovelove reviews, they make me want to write more xD
Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or any of its characters
Chapter Four
Zuko POV
As Zuko was meditating in the sitting room, he could hear Katara banging around in the kitchen. When he heard another loud crash followed by a curse from Katara he decided to see if she needed any help. She really doesn't want me to meditate today, he thought.
"Everything OK in here?" he asked as he entered the room.
Katara spun around when he spoke, startled. Zuko couldn't help but laugh at her expression. That and the fact that her face was dripping with sweat and her hair so frizzed it looked like she'd been hit by lightning.
"What!" she spat
Zuko chuckled, "I'm sorry, Katara. You just look so…distressed"
"Yes well that would be because there is no more food in this house and I'm supposed to have dinner ready in an hour!"
"Okay, okay! Calm down. I have money so how about we go to the market? Dinner will be a little late but we'll have food for the rest of the week." he suggested.
"Oh! Yeah, that'd be great. Okay let me just brush my hair and write a note to the gAang and then we can go."
Zuko nodded and went to wait at the front of the house. Then it hit him. He was going to be alone with Katara.
"Okay!" Katara said, running out of the house, "I'm ready!"
They started walking down the road when they heard a shout behind them.
"HEY! WHERE ARE YOU TWO GOING?" Sokka bellowed.
"MARKET!" Katara shouted back, "LEFT A NOTE IN THE KITCHEN."
"OH, GOOD! MAKE SURE YOU GET LOTS OF MEAT!"
Katara and Zuko chuckled.
"Your brother really enjoys his meat, huh?"
"Yeah," Katara giggled, "it's a little unsettling sometimes."
Their laughter eventually eased into a comfortable silence. I don't remember the market being so far away, Zuko thought. Maybe it was just because he was with Katara, and she made him nervous. Not in a worried sort of way; more of a he-was-aware-of-every-little-thing-she-did sort of way. The way her hips swing ever so slightly when she walks, the way she brushes her hair out of her face with her fingers every so often, the way she licks her lips every two minutes. I wonder what her lips taste like… Zuko shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
"What?" Katara asked, looking up at him with confused eyes
Those eyes…Zuko thought, so big…so blue…
"Zuko?"
"Uhh…what?" he asked, Damn it, Zuko. Focus! He told himself.
"Why were you shaking your head?"
"Oh…uh…Mosquito-flies…" Mosquito-flies? Really, Zuko? Like she'll believe that.
"Oh okay."
And they were once again engulfed by silence.
Katara POV
"What do you think Zuko? Ocean Cumquats or Sea Prunes… Zuko? Zuko!" she yelled
"Uh, what," he turned back towards her.
What was he staring at? Katara turned her gaze towards where Zuko was looking earlier. She felt her chest clench.
"Ugh, real nice, Zuko. I would really appreciate it if you'd focus on all the shopping we need to get done and not those girls over there!" Why am I so jealous? It's not like we're involved or anything. Not at all. We're just friends. Although… the way he held me during our sparring earlier today didn't seem like a way one friend would hold another…ugh! Get it together, Katara.
Zuko POV
"Wha-, Katara, I wasn't. I have no interest in those girls. I didn't even notice them over there. I was looking at the meat stand." Zuko said
"Sure, whatever," Katara replied.
What's her problem? Zuko thought, I really was looking at the meat stand! Why would she care anyways if I was looking at those girls? Oh…she isn't…Zuko felt himself smirk.
"You're not…jealous?"
"What? No! Of course not! Why would I be jealous? I just think you should focus on the shopping is all. We don't want to delay dinner any longer than we have to." Katara was turning a deep crimson color, "and wipe that smirk off your face! Now! I'm NOT jealous!"
"Okay, okay! You're not jealous!" Zuko chuckled. She is soooooo jealous. Wait a second…does that mean Katara…likes me? Oh Agni…
"Good!" Katara snapped, interrupting his thoughts, "glad you understand. Now let's just finish the shopping and get back to the house."
Zuko POV
She's barely spoken to me since the whole jealous thing, Zuko thought, putting away the groceries. He looked over to where Katara was adding spices to the meat for dinner; she was standing right in front of the cupboard where the bread needed to go. Hmmmm, Zuko thought as he crossed the room. He felt Katara stiffen as he pressed himself up against her back. "Excuse me…" he whispered as he reached up and put the bread in the cupboard. Katara was in the process of turning around, her eyes boaring into Zuko's, when Sokka came stumbling into the room. The pair immediately leapt away from each other, blushing.
"Kataraaaaaaa," he whined, "When will dinner be ready? I'm STARVING."
"Relax, Sokka," Katara sighed, "It'll be ready in a few minutes. Go wash up," Katara barely had time to finish her sentence before Sokka turned around and stumbled back out of the kitchen, "AND TELL THE REST OF THE GROUP TO DO THE SAME" she yelled after him.
Katara sighed when Sokka didn't answer and went back to seasoning the meat.
"Um," Zuko cleared his throat, "I finished putting away the groceries; is there anything else you'd like me to do?"
"Yes," she answered, and Zuko smiled, "go tell the rest of the gAang to wash up." His smiled faded.
"Oh, alright."
Toph POV
"Hey there, Sifu Hotman." She said.
"Hey Toph," she heard the smile in his voice.
Toph really liked Zuko. Sure, he had chased Aang all over the world and tried to capture him, sure his family was completely nuts (except for his charming uncle, of course), and sure he was hotheaded and overzealous. But he could really hold his own in a fight, and she knew he cared about the group; Katara especially.
"So tell me, Sparky" Toph said, " how are things with Sugar Queen?"
Zuko seemed to choke on his own spit. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
Toph smirked, "You heard me, Zuko. How are things going with Katara?"
"I- I have no idea what you're talking about," Zuko said
"Oh, Sparky, Sparky, Sparky," Toph chuckled, "you forget I can tell when you're lying." Toph could feel Zuko tense up. "Oh, c'mon Zuko, you can tell me about it. I already know there's something going on. Every time you guys are near each other both your hearts start beating really fast."
Zuko stammered incoherently, "uh, I, well, uhm…" Toph giggled and Zuko took a deep breath, "her heart does that too?"
Toph smiled but before she could speak Katara's voice cut her off.
"DINNER!" she yelled.
"Let's go, Sparky," Toph said, "we wouldn't want to keep Sugar Queen waiting, now would we?" She chuckled as Zuko tensed.
Sokka POV
Sokka was playing footsies with Suki under the table while Katara put the food out.
"Does anyone know where Aang is?" Katara suddenly asked.
Sokka and Zuko snorted while everyone else shook their heads.
"I hope he's okay…" Katara mumbled.
Was that guilt I just heard in her voice? Why would Katara feel guilty?
"Katara don't worry," Sokka said around mouthfuls of food, "I'm sure Aang's fine. He'll come back when he's ready."
"Yeah," Toph said, "You know how Twinkle Toes loves to run away from problems. It's sort of his thing."
"Yeah," Sokka agreed, "He'll be fine, Katara, don't worry about it. Just sit down and eat."
"Okay," Katara said as she sat down beside Zuko, "I guess you guys are right."
Aang POV
Aang clutched his stomach as it rumbled. He'd been walking along the beach all day but he still wasn't ready to head back to the house. It'd be bad enough to face everyone after I freaked out like that…but now I have to face Katara and her rejection too. There's no way I can go back tonight. Maybe I can find some leachy nuts around here somewhere for dinner and then I can find a cave to camp out in…
Author's Note: Please review!
