Entering her apartment, Katara kicked off her shoes as she closed the door. Darting to the kitchen, she let her bag fall to the floor. She had to hurry, her study group was meeting in fifteen minutes back on the campus.

Normally she studied alone, but after meeting with her advisor, Katara knew she was going to need additional help. The group therapy sessions were helping, but it didn't cure her of her PTSD, which meant the irritability, the poor sleep, and inability to concentrate still plagued her. The study group was hopefully going to save her from failing her tests, but it cut into her free time.

As she pulled open her fridge, Katara felt her phone buzz in her pocket. Ignoring it for the time being, she went about reheating leftovers and using the bathroom. She had some money, but eating on campus got expensive and she'd rather bring the bulk snacks she bought on the weekend than risk the campus cafe.

Leaning on the counter, Katara set her leftovers down and stirred them with a fork while she unlocked her phone. Zuko had texted her.

Calling him, she still took a bite of her food.

"Hey." Zuko said, his face appearing on the screen.

"Mmm." Katara greeted him with her mouth full.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"Just trying to shovel in some food before my study group." She replied.

"Oh. Do you have time to talk?"

"Not really. Can I call you later?"

"How much later? I've got a meeting in a little bit."

"A meeting? At this time of night?"

"There's been flooding in a rural province. I'm in charge of overseeing the relief aid."

"Yikes. Well, we'll have to see. I'll text you after my study session?"

"Yeah. Sure. Of course." Zuko said hurriedly.

"Okay, I'll talk to you later." Katara said and blew him a kiss. He smiled weakly.

"Talk to you later." He said.

Katara rushed around while trying to eat as much as she could. She had to grab her anatomy textbooks and her big water bottle; there was no point in leaving the table unless absolutely necessary. Then, after shoving things into her bag, Katara ran back out of her apartment, leaving her used dishes on her couch.

She'd get to it later.

When she did stumble back into the apartment, it was well past one in the morning. Katara dragged everything behind her, discarding things as she went. The trail of debris showed what she had gone through; her bag was open, unable to zip closed over the folded back notebooks, and popcorn fell from pockets where the opened bag had been jostled. Her coat, her shoes, and finally her pants became a snail trail leading to her bedroom.

Throwing herself onto her bed, Katara felt her eyes burn as she closed them.

Laboriously, she pulled up the hand that still held onto her phone. Zuko had texted a few times, but she hadn't been able to respond. Now that she was home, she called him.

He picked up immediately.

"I hope I didn't wake you." Katara mumbled, half of her face pressed deeply into her pillow.

"No, I was up." He said.

"How did your meeting go?" She asked.

"It went alright. They took my suggestions and we're going to start moving supplies in the morning."

"That's great." Katara said weakly.

"How was studying?"

"Exhausting."

"Did you need to get some sleep?" Zuko asked cautiously.

"Yeah, I'm really tired. But I'm glad I got to talk to you." Katara said, smiling with her eyes closed.

"Me too. I miss you."

"I miss you too."

"Can we talk tomorrow?"

Katara sighed and rolled onto her back, leaving the phone laying beside her.

"I don't know, I've got a long lab tomorrow." She said and rubbed her face with both hands. "But I'll try."

"Sure." Zuko paused and Katara started to drift.

"Katara?" He asked.

"Hmmm?"

"Never mind. Get some sleep." He said softly.

"Okay." Katara said sleepily. "Good night Zuko."

"Good night Katara."

The rest of the week pummeled Katara and she took every free moment to stuff in tutoring sessions and lab simulations. Zuko was texting less, but Katara read in the news more about the flooding he had been talking about. It was a disaster, but Katara felt a sense of pride as she saw pictures of him with a convoy of trucks.

She had read more about him; not too much to avoid crossing into creepy stalker territory, but just about his background in Fire Nation politics. He cared a lot about humanitarian efforts and Katara was surprised to learn that he had created the non-profit that assisted displaced Fire Nation colonists at the end of the war. He hadn't even turned eighteen.

Missing him was easier to handle when she knew that he was doing important work.

His arrival at Ba Sing Se University was a big shock.

"Zuko?" Katara grasped the strap of her backpack tightly as she walked up to him. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you." He said.

"Okay, but don't you have other things to do?" She questioned.

"I am. There are other people who work on these projects too." Zuko paused and looked at her. "Did you not want me to come?"

Katara rubbed her eyes and shook her head.

"It's not that. I've just got a lot to do, and I thought you did too." She explained.

He looked hurt.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"Zuko." Katara sighed and looked around. They were out in front of the medical building and clusters of students walked past, whispering together.

"Come on, let's go back to my apartment." She said.

"My car is just over there." Zuko said.

They walked to the visitor's lot and Katara got into the passenger's seat quickly. As Zuko got in, she was texting with one hand while she buckled with the other.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"I have to text my study group, tell them I'm not coming." She replied.

Zuko started the car and pulled out of his space, not saying anything. After Katara put away her phone and sat back, she sighed.

"Sorry." Zuko murmured.

"It's fine. Just, a head's up would've been nice, okay?" She asked, tilting her head to look at him. He looked worried and Katara frowned.

"My apartment's a mess, by the way." She added and sat up, looking out the window. "I haven't had time to clean."

"Is school keeping you busy?" Zuko asked.

"Yeah, I've been telling you all about it."

"I know."

They fell silent and Katara watched the translucent reflection of Zuko in her window. He looked anxious, and a knot of worry started to form in Katara's stomach. Had he come here for a reason?

When they pulled into the parking lot at her apartment complex, Zuko turned off the car but hesitated. As Katara grabbed the door handle, he turned.

"Katara?" He started. She faced him, giving him a curious look.

"Yeah?" She asked, prompting him. Zuko nervously tapped his fingers against the wheel and frowned.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"Zuko, it's fine. Now come on." Katara said and opened the car door. She grabbed her backpack and closed the door, looking over the car as Zuko got out. He still looked worried.

Walking around the car, Katara took his hand. It surprised him, and Zuko looked down at their clasped hands.

"Let's go." She said, tugging lightly on him.

They walked across the lot and into the lobby, stopping in front of the lone elevator. As they waited for it to descend, Katara shifted her bag onto one shoulder, leaning into Zuko with her other and turning her hand so their fingers were interlaced. She could feel him relax and lean into her.

The elevator opened and they stepped in; Katara used their intertwined hands to push the button for her floor. They rode up in silence and Katara led him again as they walked down the hall to her door. To retrieve her keys, Katara hitched her bag up further onto her shoulder and dug into her pocket with her free hand. She unlocked the door and pushed it open, gesturing for Zuko to enter.

He let go of her and walked in, while Katara tossed her bag on the floor inside before closing the door. As she turned back to Zuko, she threw her keys onto her bag.

"So what's-" She started but stopped as Zuko held her face in his hands. He pulled her to him, kissing her deeply. With a gasp, Katara nonetheless put her arms around his neck, pushing herself upward to meet him. His hands fell and he embraced her with his arms around her waist. He hugged her tightly and kissed her with fervor.

Zuko moved from her mouth across her cheek and down her neck before pressing his face into her shoulder, still holding her tightly.

Katara's heart was racing and every part of her felt like it had been strung tightly across a sounding board, ready to be plucked by his fingers.

"What's going on?" She breathed.

"I thought you didn't want me anymore." He mumbled into her neck and she shivered at the touch of his lips on her skin.

"What?" Katara's mind was a jumble and the confusion hurt.

Zuko stood upright and looked at her.

"We haven't been talking as much. I thought you were pulling away." He said.

"Zuko, we're both really busy!" Katara said, unintentionally sharp. She was way too charged to be calm.

Zuko looked down.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Hey, look at me."

Zuko turned back and Katara slid her arms down so that she could now take his face in her hands.

"You still owe me more dates." She said. He looked at her, hopeful.

"Now?" He asked.

"Not now." Katara said with a laugh. "I've got class."

Zuko's face fell and she kissed him lightly on the lips.

"I'm not just going to ghost you." She said. Then, tapping his chest, she stepped back when he released her.

"Let's watch something." Katara offered and Zuko nodded.

As Katara went to her couch, she blushed seeing her dirty dishes still strewn about.

"Actually, I'm going to pick up first." She blurted and grabbed up her collection of plates and cups. Zuko picked up her bag and set it against the wall by the front door.

"Need any help?" He asked.

"I would rather you not witness my shame." She called as she ran into the kitchen and tossed the dirty dishes into the sink.

Still, Katara heard him move around the apartment and she tried to think about the worst spots of her mess. It wasn't like her to be this messy, but the semester had been intense.

"You really have been busy." Zuko said from the living room.

"Told you."

Katara scrubbed and rinsed her dishes before loading her dishwasher, praying that he wouldn't find something embarrassing. The last thing she needed was for her well-dressed, royal boyfriend to stumble across a pile of used tissues or something.

"Were you reading up on me?" Zuko asked. Squeezing her eyes shut, Katara sent out a silent curse to her past self.

"I just wanted to know more about your princely side. It's a good look for you." She answered. After a moment's hesitation, she continued. "What did you find?"

"Magazine." Zuko replied, and then also continued after a moment. "What else you got?"

"I'm not answering that."

Katara heard him on the move again and smiled as he walked into the kitchen. He hugged her around the middle just as she was rinsing the last plate and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry I'm a nervous wreck." Zuko said.

"It's not something to apologize for. You should trust me though." She replied, bending awkwardly to deposit the plate in the dishwasher. After she rinsed her hands, Katara wriggled to make Zuko let her go. She lifted the dishwasher door with her foot and shut it, grabbing a towel to dry her hands as she turned.

"I've had a lot of people leave without a word. It's something I'm having a hard time dealing with." Zuko explained.

"When have you ever known me to do something quietly?" Katara scoffed and Zuko smiled. She tossed the towel on the counter and leaned back on the sink.

"We'll just have to work through it, but," She crossed her arms over her chest and eyed him. "You need to tell me when you're feeling insecure."

"I'm feeling insecure." Zuko said quickly.

"Okay, what would you like for us to do?" Katara asked.

"I want you to drop out and come live with me in the palace."

Seeing his face, Katara laughed and Zuko grinned.

"I'm serious." He said lightly.

"I know. But I also know that you know it's impossible."

"You got me."

"So what's the next best thing?"

"Is it possible for you to maybe set some time aside, just for me?"

Katara took in a breath and chewed on the inside of her cheek.

"I don't have a lot of free time." She said.

"I know, but it'd be nice."

She stared at him as she thought and Zuko stayed quiet. It was odd to see him like this; he always seemed so self-assured and confident. But perhaps he had to look that way.

"How about Sunday afternoons? None of my study groups meet on that day and I usually use it to catch up on laundry and stuff." She offered.

"Is that okay?" He questioned, sounding nervous again.

"I wouldn't suggest it if it wasn't." Katara stated. "You have to trust me that I'm not, you know, doing this begrudgingly. I miss you too, I just need different things. If this is something you need, I want to give it to you. I care about you Zuko."

"Then yes. I want your Sunday afternoons." He said.

"They're yours." Katara replied. Zuko chuckled and grabbed Katara again, hugging her with less desperation this time.

"So what different things do you need?" He asked.

"For that, we're going to need to check how messy my bedroom is." Katara replied.

Zuko made a strangled sound and she felt his fingers press into her back. Laughing, Katara only kissed his cheek.