Heartbeats

She doesn't have the official papers to enter the Upper Ring, so she's left with writing a letter to Aang and the others to come collect her and sort things out on her behalf. Delivery is expected the next day. Fortunately, Uncle and Zuko are nice enough to let her keep staying with them for as long as she needs. Unfortunately, there are only two beds and no spare blankets or pillows.

"I'll just sleep in the living area," Zuko offers with a shrug. "You can have my bed."

It takes her a moment to register what he's said. She's too busy comparing their heights, or rather how much she has to crane her head back to meet his eyes.

"Uh, Katara?" he prompts.

"You're pretty tall, huh?"

A blink. "I guess."

She pushes a loose lock of hair behind her ear, casting a glance at him from under her lashes. "Would you say you're a powerful bender?"

His brow creases. "Uh … I hope so. Why?"

"Oh, nothing."

She quickly hurries off to help Uncle with cooking dinner. That doesn't stop the heat from spreading over her cheeks. Zuko might want to forget the whole true love thing, but she can't help thinking about it, especially since he matches so many of the things Aunt Wu mentioned in her fortune reading. What if he really is her destined love?

"You're looking a bit flushed there," Uncle says, giving her a sly smile.

"I-I … it's just—"

He chuckles. "Don't worry, my dear. I understand."

Her blush darkens. "N-no, you've got the wrong idea. We're just friends."

"Did I say you weren't?"

That wily old man. He even has the nerve to wink at her.

"Just give me that spoon," Katara mutters, snatching it off him. "I'll stir. You get the vegetables ready."

oOo

The pillow smells like Zuko. So does the blanket. She hugs it to her, breathing in his familiar scent and missing the warmth she's got so used to snuggling at night. The bed feels cold without him. Empty.

She tosses and turns, changing positions every minute, until she gives up and slides the door open to the living area. Faint light slips through the blinds, revealing his shadowy shape on the floor.

"Zuko," she whispers.

There's a rustling of fabric and then a little flame flickers above his palm. He's curled up on his side, knees close to his chest, and has one of his tunics thrown over him like a too tiny blanket. He looks uncomfortable. "What?"

"Um." She bites her lip, glances down. "I can't sleep."

He sighs. "Me either."

"Do you … do you want to come in here?"

It's hard to tell with the soft fire glow, but it looks like his cheeks get pinker. "You mean share with you?"

"Yeah. I mean you don't look very comfortable out there, and I … I've kind of got used to having you next to me."

He's quiet for a beat. "Are you sure? You're not a cat anymore."

"I know."

There's a moment where they just stare at each other. Her heart thuds and thuds and thuds, drumming to a song she's only just beginning to understand.

"Okay," he says softly.

The flame light dances along the walls as he joins her on the futon. There isn't much space now that she's no longer a cat. She can't curl up in the little nook between his neck and shoulder or settle on his stomach. Instead, they're forced to get close so they can both fit on the mattress. He still tries to keep some distance between them, but she only shuffles closer until she's pressed against his chest. He audibly swallows.

"It's better like this," she says, wrapping her arms around him.

His heart beats so fast. Just as fast as her own. There's no way he can't feel it.

Their eyes meet and she's struck by how golden and warm his eyes are in that moment, just like the flames flickering above them. It's almost like the look he used to give her when she was a cat. Almost. There's something different in his gaze now, something that makes her stomach flutter and little strings coil and unfurl. She realises then that it doesn't matter what Aunt Wu saw in the lines of her palm or even if it was his kiss that broke her transformation. All that matters is what her heart is saying to her right now.

"Can I tell you something?" she whispers.

He nods.

"I …" Her heart pounds even harder, nerves trying to stop her tongue. "I don't think I want to be just your friend."

His eyes widen a fraction.

"The truth is I …" She leans up, close enough to feel his breath on her lips. "I think I …"

"What?"

His voice is as hushed as hers. They hold each other's gaze for a moment before she simply leans that little bit further. Their lips touch, soft as the caress of butterfly wings. When she pulls back, her face is hot. His eyes are still closed.

"Um, yeah," she mumbles, glancing down. "I guess now you—"

His hand suddenly finds her cheek and then his mouth is on hers. The flames go out. She blinks but her eyelashes soon flutter shut and she just melts into him. The kiss is sweet and fumbling, a sign of how inexperienced both of them are. Except it also doesn't stop there. The more their lips slant and part, the more their bodies brush and press against each other in the dark, the more natural it all starts to feel. Him. Her. The exchange of breath. His hand tangling in her hair and his fingers digging into her hip.

Everything becomes a blur of heartbeats and racing pulses, of rippling tingles and heat.

Zuko pulls back all of a sudden, hips angling away from hers and his hand quickly coming to rest on her shoulder as if to hold her off. He's breathing heavily, but then so is she.

"What?" she asks. "Did I do something wrong?"

"N-no. It's fine. I just … maybe we should slow down."

Her face heats. "Oh. Sure."

"We should probably try to get some sleep as well. It's pretty late."

"You're right."

She doesn't want him to be uncomfortable, and he may have a point that they'd got a little carried away. Her heart is still racing like crazy.

He lets go of her shoulder and rolls onto his back. She can hear him trying to catch his breath.

"Zuko?"

"Mm?"

"I just want you to know I'm … I'm glad you found me. I'm glad it was you."

His hand finds hers in the dark, fingers intertwining. "I'm glad too."