Hey everyone! Sorry this took so long...my original drabble got too long to be a drabble, so I made it into a fic. Check it out, it's called Happy Ever After...and stay tuned for the epilogue!

My goal for these drabbles is to have at least twenty five reviews by the time I let out my tenth drabble...so get going! Cuz I won't update after that until I get them...come on, it's only about two or three reviews per drabble...not that much!


Can't Fight the Moonlight

Zuko looked over his shoulder at his uncle as he left the small cave they called home. He was still asleep, good. Zuko didn't want anyone watching as he bathed. That was why he waited until after sundown.

Stripping in the bushes, he wound his towel around his waist before stepping out into the bright light from the full moon. Draping his towel across the grass, he stepped into the mountain fed river. The icy water raised goosebumps all over his bare skin as he submersed himself to his neck.

Taking a deep breath to prepare himself for the shock, he ducked underwater. Zuko pulled himself along the bottom of the river, enjoying the pull of the current against his finely toned muscles. He stroked powerfully toward the surface, breaking into the air. Crystal droplets were sent shining through the moonlight as they fled his body.

A gasp startled him, and he sank up to his shoulders in the water. Zuko swept his gaze along the shoreline for the source of the sound. Oh, no . . .

It couldn't have been anyone else! But no, standing on the bank of the river, wrapped in her own towel, was Katara. Why did they always seem to meet alongside a river? You had to go and bathe tonight, Zuko's mind chided. Yet even as it did so, his eyes roamed up and down her petite figure. The towel could've been a blanket for all the skin it didn't show. Her hair tumbled down to her waist in soft chocolate waves.

"What are you doing here?" Katara asked. "No one was here a moment ago."

"I was here first!" The remark sounded childish to Zuko's ears, and he added, "I was underwater." Suddenly the fact that he was butt-naked in an almost glass-clear river hit him. "Turn around," he barked. "I'm coming out, and don't you dare look!"

In the light of the moon, he saw her face flush. "I wouldn't!" she turned her back to him pointedly.

Watching her back for any sign of movement, Zuko emerged from the water into the humid air. Still eyeing Katara, he swept his towel off the grass and tucked it firmly around his waist.

Katara listened to the rustling noises Zuko was making and wondered what he was doing. She hadn't noticed anything for him to cover himself with. She snuck a peek over her shoulder and then snapped it back around before he caught her. He was in a towel! She felt a blush creep up her neck to her face.

She'd caught him rushing to some bushes, to do Yue knew what. Katara didn't think she could keep her composure if the sounds of his relief hit her innocent ears. Instead, his voice did.

"I'm decent."

Katara turned slowly, letting her eyes travel up his trousered legs and bare chest to his face. "But I'm not, and unlike you, I didn't bring any clothes." she tried to hide her blush, but his smirk told her he'd seen it, which made her heated face flame.

Katara brought her blanket over her shoulders carefully, baring nothing. The only stuff he can see is my knees and down. She reminded herself.

Zuko shook his head at her attempt to hide her embarrassment. "Covering yourself better isn't going to convince me that you're not naked under that."

Her eyes widened. "Well I begyour pardon, your Highness. I had no idea you were so perverted."

He chuckled. "Get used to it."

Katara was trembling, he could see it. "Go away so I can bathe without any wandering eyes." it would've been threatening if it hadn't been whispered.

"Make me," Zuko shot back. He sighed inwardly, another childish comment.

She watched as he tossed something soft at her feet, then turned around. Katara picked it up without breaking her gaze from Zuko's back. It was a shirt. A long one, and very soft. Understanding what he wanted her to do, she turned and let her blanket drop.

Zuko started when the sound of cloth hitting ground reached his ears. She'd dropped her blanket, another moment . . . he spun around, fully intending to catch her naked, but found her as fully clothed as a single shirt could make you, and angry. Very angry. Zuko swallowed; fear was an alien emotion, but the feeling like he was about to die he'd become familiar with.

Katara slung icy water at his face, fully intending to freeze that smirk off. Missing, she threw more water at him, yearning to hit him in the chest and knock him over. She missed once more, but her next shot didn't. How could she, when she had half the river at her disposal?

Zuko fell to the ground, and she pounced on top of him. "How dare you, you perverted, empty-headed, arrogant, untrustworthy, idiotic . . ." he let her continue as long as her heart desired. As long as she stayed on his chest, he was fine. Although he couldn't breathe very well . . . Then she said something that struck a chord. "Your mother must've been related to a badger mole for all the sense you've got!"

His temper flared up. "What? My mother? What about your mother? She's the one who went and got herself killed!" Zuko immediately regretted those words as he saw Katara's eyes fill with tears. She pulled herself off of him, allowing him to sit up.

She knelt on the ground, her gaze at her knees. "My mother," she said, her voice wavering, "Didn't go out and get herself killed. We were attacked by the Fire Nation soldiers, and she was dragged out of our house and made an example of. Just for opposing a soldier, I had to watch her get tortured by fire, then, they left her in the snow." her shoulders were heaving as she struggled to gain control. Katara snapped her head up to stare into Zuko's eyes. "Your people killed her mercilessly, and they didn't care that they forced her daughter to watch the slaughter of her own mother!"

Zuko felt an unfamiliar feeling stir in his stomach. An almost protective urge, to keep this frail thing safe from her past and from the dark future. "Katara," he reached a hand out to lay it on her shoulder.

She drew back, almost falling. "Don't touch me!" she wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her face in them. "Just - just leave me alone."

He could hear her sobbing, and it tore at his scorched and seared heart.Why am I feeling so protective of this watertribe wench? Another part of his mind, his conscience, he supposed, said, Because you are the one who brought her tears . . . and you care for her. The earth shook at this revelation. Did he care?

Katara suddenly stiffened. "My necklace!" her hand was at her bare throat. She began to look around on the ground frantically.

Zuko swept his gaze around the area, looking for any sign of her precious heirloom. His eyes caught a shimmer in the grass, and he bent over to pick it up. The cool ivory charm nestled against it's blue silk ribbon in his palm.

Walking over to Katara, he held it out, palm up. "Here,"

Her eyes froze on it, then flickered up to his face, full of emotion. Taking it gently, she said softly, "Thank you, Zuko."

He nodded, and her eyes looked back up at him before returning to her pendant. Zuko thought he had caught a glimmer of mischief, but he couldn't be sure. "Would you mind putting it on for me?" she asked.

Zuko started, but took the proffered necklace and moved around to her back. He lifted it almost lovingly above her head before allowing it to nestle against the hollow in her throat. Tying it off swiftly, he let his hands stay on her neck for a few more moments. Katara looked over her shoulder at him, and he caught her scent of winter and lilacs. Drowning in her gaze and her smell, he forced himself to blink, breaking the trance. "There," he said, and stood. He offered her his hand, and she took it, pulling on it slightly as she got to her feet.

Zuko turned and started to walk off, then stopped and said, "Keep the shirt," before disappearing into the shadows.

Katara touched the spot on her neck where his hands had been, wondering what had caused him to be so tender. Almost as if . . . he felt it, too.


This one could have a second part...depends on if you guys want one! I am currently accepting requests for drabbles, I love writing, and I'm running out of ideas. So review, or I'll sic Zuko and a sleepy Azula on you!