Katara

True to his word Zuko had gone with me to the library multiple times over the last few weeks in an attempt to increase my literacy. Unfortunately I had come down with a case of heptapox (not to be confused with pentapox) after working with some sick kids from the outer ring. So I laid in bed staring at the ceiling waiting to fall asleep.

"Can I come in?" I looked up, Zuko's head had appeared in the doorway of my room.

"Ofcourse." I told him my voice a little raw from the sickness.

"I brought you food." He held up a bowl of steaming soup, smiling sheepishly. I felt like crap but a smile found it's way to my lips as he walked across the room and put the soup on the table next to me. "Are you hungry? Do you want to try to eat?" He asked pulling up a chair from the corner of the room.

"Food would be fantastic." I told Zuko

He helped me sit up, the heavy earth nation blankets slid down me. Everything from the earth nation was sturdy and well made, but after laying in bed for half the day I missed the southern water tribe more than ever. The last time I had been this sick Gran-Gran had been the one to take care of me. I hoped she was doing well, between traveling with Aang and the war I hadn't had much time to think about home.

"Here," Zuko held a spoonful of soup to my lips.

"I can feed myself you know." I said weakly taking a bite none the less.

"I know," Zuko replied. "Just humor me."

"Fine." I gave up taking another bite of the soup.

"Do you like it?" He asked, "It's chicken-turtle soup from that restaurant a block down from Uncle's tea shop."

"It's good," I answered in between spoonfuls. "We should go sometime."

"I like that idea." Zuko smiled. "You missed something,"

I raised my hand slowly towards my face, but before I could wipe off the broth that had missed my mouth, Zuko's lips found their way to the corner of mine.

"There, I got it." Zuko sat back pleased with himself.

I smacked him, albeit half heartedly. "Quit that," I told him. "You'll get sick too." My lips were tingling where he had kissed me. I put my hand back down. Trying to focus on anything but his face.

"It would be worth it." Zuko replied unfazed despite my reaction.

I rolled my eyes, trying to shake off a feeling of being unbalanced that had settled in my chest. I tried to convince myself that it was the sickness and not Zuko's presence that had me feeling out of whack.

It didn't work. My heart just didn't seem to be with the program.

I tried to focus on the soup. The broth was nice and full, the meat was tender. Soon the bowl was empty and Zuko was walking over to the window on the far side of the room.

"You should get some sleep," he told me his eyebrows knit together in concern as he drew the curtains.

"Yes Gran-gran." I replied sarcastically.

Zuko laughed. "Seriously Katara, feel better. I'll bring you some books later if you want."

"That'd be great." I smiled back.

He left the room, and I laid back staring at the ceiling again. Zuko and I had been growing closer during our trips to the library. He helped me discover a love of poetry, I realized he was biased towards old books with fancy binding. He noticed how I bit my lip when I came to a word I couldn't get through. Sometimes when I was focused on a book I would forget he was with me and he would do something to break my concentration like tickling my ear with my braid. I would almost tell at him before realizing we were in the library and I couldn't do anything. He frustrated me to no end. But I loved spending time with him. We would always try to go to the Jasmine Dragon after the library. Sometimes we would get Iroh to tell us a story after the shop was closed up. Apparently Zuko could play the Tsugi Horn and at some point I was determined to hear him play. Maybe I could convince him later today since I was sick.

Zuko

After leaving Katara, I went back to the courtyard that Toph and I had made into Aang's personal hell. The Avatar and I had gotten off to a pretty rough start, but eventually we both realized that I was the best firebending teacher he would get. Uncle refused when Aang asked him, using his tea shop as an excuse before volunteering me for the job.

I enjoyed ordering the Avatar around more than I would admit. In any case Aang had progressed well. He wasn't afraid of fire anymore and we had gotten to the point where he could move though the basic forms and even spar a little. Once he beat me Toph and I planned to double team him and force him to fight back using only earth and firebending.

But for now Aang was with the earth King working on war preparations and I was alone in the yard. Seeing Katara sick made my head clouded with worry. I knew she was strong and would be fine, but still... It made me realize how much I cared about her. I was annoyed that the most I could do to help her was bring her soup. I shook my head and started going through some firebending forms to clear my thoughts.