Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or its characters.

46

Katara flipped idly through the channels, torn in two mentally by the situation that now presented itself.

For once, she was alone in the apartment, and she had full, unrestricted access to the TV. She could watch whatever she wanted. That romantic comedy she'd been meaning to see, the season finale of Ba Sing Se's Most Eligible that she hadn't gotten the chance to watch yet. The news, she supposed, though she wasn't in the mood for that at all. And yet, free though she was to choose how she was going to waste her next couple hours, she felt something akin to anxiety at the freedom. So many choices- how was she going to pick one? It was almost enough stress to make her turn of the television.

More than almost. Sighing, she pressed the red button on the remote, and watched the flat screen fade to black. She tilted her head all the way back to rest on the back of the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling. Now what?

She'd been in a strange mood ever since her discussion with Aang. Things had been strange, stunted. Awkward. She still wanted him more than anything. She still found him unbearably adorable, effortlessly masculine in a way that didn't make her roll her eyes. But, he had been conspicuously absent for the last couple days. He had an interview this morning; she'd discovered that after their somewhat stunted conversation the day before.

She missed him. It was as simple as that.

"So... you're Aang," the scarred young man said.

"And you're Zuko," Aang answered, nodding. "Nice to meet you."

Zuko gave him a vague grunt before continuing. "What kind of job experience do you have? I see here that you applied for a part-time position."

"I work at the gym a few streets over."

"'Body Sing Se'?" Zuko asked, sneering.

Aang laughed. Every time he heard the name of that gym, he laughed. It was so clever. "No," he said after a moment. "The little mom and pop one further down the street."

"Oh."

There was a lull and conversation, and Aang fidgeted in his chair nervously. "So, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work here. I read through your Uncle's plans for the shop. It sounds like its going to be really nice."

Zuko shrugged. "If you like that sort of thing," he said.

"You don't?"

"I'm indifferent."

Aang laughed again, nervously this time. "...Alright," he said.

"It'll be a challenge scheduling you between your work at the gym and your classes," Zuko noted, looking down at his notepad. "Might not be the best idea to hire you. Do you know much about making tea? And please don't say you know how to put a tea bag in hot water. I've already had an applicant say that."

"It was Suki, wasn't it?"

Zuko nodded, and Aang stifled his laughter. "So, do you know much about tea or coffee?" Zuko asked again, a trifle plaintively.

"Not a ton," Aang admitted. "I just know that the temperature for white and green teas should generally be around 170 and 185 degrees, and that black and herbal teas should be somewhat closer to boiling. Oolong is in the middle somewhere. I'm a little iffy on steep times," he admitted, shrugging. "Sometimes I forget the diffuser is in there." Aang shot a nervous look at his interviewer. "But I promise I wouldn't forget at work, of course."

Zuko stared at him in surprise. "You know more than I do," he said begrudgingly. "What about coffee?"

"I don't know much about coffee," Aang answered. "I don't drink it."

"Well, between you and that one girl who knows how to make espresso, you two might be the only two qualified applicants."

"Who knows how to make espresso?"

"Some girl named Katara."

Aang smiled. "That's my girlfriend. Well... we're going through a tricky patch, but I think we'll pull through. I talked to Suki- the one who said she knows how to put tea bags in hot water-"

"I know who Suki is-"

"Anyways," Aang continued, "Suki said that I should just act normal around Katara. So I'm going to take her on a surprise rock climbing date after this. I heard there's a good gym on the other side of town."

"Thank you for that unnecessary exposition," Zuko said dryly. "I'm still a little iffy on taking you on, since your schedule is so full already-"

"You wouldn't regret hiring me," Aang cut in hopefully.

"-but, as I was going to say before you interrupted, I feel like I'm almost legally obligated to hire you since you're the only one who knows how to make tea so far." Zuko tapped the table. "Alright, you're hired. Training is in two-ish weeks, be ready to work."

Aang leaned forward to shake his hand. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Wonderful."

When she heard the lock jiggling open, Katara knew it was Aang, and her resolve hardened. Quiet contemplation had driven her to the realization that the only way forward was through. She was tired of tiptoeing around on eggshells. She wanted what they had before this mess started- a promising beginning, sweet kisses early in the morning, his hands gliding down her body late at night. His rumbling sort of laughter, his crooked smile.

Her plan was simple. When he walked in, she was going to kiss him senseless.

The door opened. Her heart pounded. She heard him toss his keys in the bowl by the door. She bounced nervously on her toes.

There he was, rounding the corner to the kitchen, a resolved look on his face. He made his way to her urgently, even as she made her way to him. They reached for each other at the same time, lips finding one another in a sweet kiss, and she sighed with content when she felt his tongue brush smoothly against her lower lip.

When they separated, he gave her a nervous little chuckle and rubbed his hand across the back of his head. "I guess we had the same idea," he said.

She nodded, and leaned forward to kiss him again. "I've missed you," she murmured before letting out a little giggle. "Is that silly?"

"Not at all," he said. His hands slid from her shoulders to grab her hands and he brought each one to his lips, kissing her knuckles gently and a hint of that smile that made her knees go weak peeked through. "Do you have anything planned for this afternoon?" he asked.

She shook her head.

"Good. Come with me."

"Where are we going?"

He grinned in earnest this time, one side of his lips quirking up, and her heart fluttered. "It's a surprise," he said.

A/N:

thank you all for your comments and advice! With everyone's help, I ultimately decided that I will be posting the sequel to the Minister as a ssecond, separate story. I will announce the name of the story here (when i think of a good one lol), and on the Minister's "about" line i will add the name of the sequel, and in the new story, I will add that it is a continuation of the Minister so that there can be minimal confusion. Thank you all again! and thank you for sticking with me for so long. It's truly SO appreciated.