This one's for Morgan, who requested a Pride and Prejudice AU. Can't promise P&P exactly, but Regency-ish I can do.

ZW 2020: Hesitancy

Katara thought Lord Zuko proud. Insufferable. He never smiled. He never danced. He lingered on the outskirts of ballrooms like a mould she wished would go away, because—

"You fancy him, don't you?"

Katara almost spat out her drink. She coughed spinning around to face Suki. "What?"

Suki's grin spread until it was reaching her ears. She nodded towards Zuko, who seemed to be examining the insides of his champagne glass as if it contained the secrets of the universe—or a carriage to spirit him away from the hall and all of its country inhabitants.

"Admit it," Suki said, elbowing her in the ribs. "You fancy Lord Zuko. I've been watching you, and you haven't taken your eyes off him hardly all night. Is it his golden eyes? His brooding—"

"Enough, enough!" Katara hissed, making desperate motions to hush her. The last thing she needed was for him to hear such lies.

Because they were lies. She did not fancy Lord Zuko. Even if he was mildly attractive. Okay, exceedingly attractive, but that did not change the fact that he was an insufferable lord from the city who had made it clear he had no time for any of them. It was a wonder how he had ever become friends with Lady Ty Lee. At least she was friendly and charming.

"I dare you to ask him to dance," Suki said, eyes twinkling.

"Not even I would be so audacious, even if I did want to." Katara arched her eyebrow. "Why don't you ask him?"

Suki leaned in close, lowering her voice as she did. "Because I'm not the one mooning over him."

"I'm not mooning—"

Suki walked off, laughing. Heat bloomed on Katara's cheeks. She glanced back at Zuko, taking in his tall frame and beautifully tailored coat and waistcoat. Even his cravat had been tied to perfection, though not in the overly ostentatious style as the dandies adopted. Lord Zuko preferred a simpler style, but he was eye-catching nonetheless and—

"Ugh," she groaned, tearing her eyes away from him. No more staring.

oOo

"I can't believe I agreed to this," Katara muttered, taking her seat in the parlour.

Aang had fallen for Ty Lee. Because of course he had. That also meant he wanted to spend more time with her, and Katara had found herself roped along as support to this quiet evening of dinner and entertainment. Not that she really needed to be here. Aang was too busy smiling and being glued to Ty Lee to notice anyone else. Zuko was brooding in the corner, of course.

"Miss Katara."

Katara jumped on her seat, hoping her wince didn't show as she turned to Li and Lo, who acted as Ty Lee's chaperones and the hostesses of tonight's entertainment.

"Why don't you play us a song?" Li (or was it Lo?) said, gesturing to the piano.

Colour drained from Katara's cheeks. "Oh. I, er—"

"You play, do you not?"

"A little, but—"

"Then play us something."

Katara stared. Li and Lo stared.

"Fine," Katara said, standing up. If they wanted a song, she would give them a song.

She sat down on the piano stool with less grace than a jellyfish flopping onto sand. But she didn't care much about grace in that moment, so she poised her fingers above the keys and began to play a slow, clunky tune. No one would call her a proficient. No one would care for her playing at all, and indeed she would not blame them. It was the kind of song a schoolgirl played while struggling to read the notes, damning her for her lack of practice.

A shadow passed over her, and she hit a wrong note as she looked up and found Zuko standing close. "Yes, Lord Zuko? Was there a song you wished to request?"

His eyes softened and the barest trace of a smile curved his lips. Her heart fluttered, treacherous thing that it was.

"You're very bold," he said softly.

She hit another wrong note, then paused altogether. "What?"

Pink dusted his cheeks and he glanced the other way. "Uh, nothing. I won't interrupt your playing further."

He scuttled off back to his corner and somehow found a book to hide behind.

Katara blinked. Was it possible that the proud, insufferable Lord Zuko was just … shy?

oOo

The ballroom was crowded—a true squeeze, as they called it. Katara weaved through the groups, careful not to step on silk trains or muslin hems. Finally, she made it to the dance floor where people glittered and swirled in their finest.

Her gaze was drawn to Zuko. He was lingering on the outskirts, as always. Their eyes locked. Something shifted in his expression, and then he was coming towards her, people moving for him as if he were some royal who'd have them locked away should they block his path. It almost made her want to laugh, but instead her heart pounded faster and she found she could not move.

"Miss Katara," he said, bowing his head slightly. "May I have the honour of the next dance?"

She swallowed, hesitating. He had shown a different side of himself at Li and Lo's party, but did that mean he was not the man she thought him? Had she just imagined that glimpse of awkwardness? And why ask her to dance now? Why her?

He held her gaze, waiting for her answer.

"You may," she said softly.

That shy little smile of his peeped out.

Oh.

She resisted the urge to place her hand against her fluttering heart. Okay, maybe she did fancy him a little.

This did not come out at all how I was expecting, but I hope you liked it all the same haha

I have one more AU setting (for "affirm") that I haven't decided upon, so hit me with requests if you want and i might just write for it