Chapter 1: Zuko Thinks

Alone...that's how he felt. That's how everyone felt, benders and non-benders alike. Zuko thought the worst had come and gone...Aang defeating Fire Lord Ozai...Azula being taken down...a new strain of Pentapox inciting fear and stay-at-home orders throughout the Nations. But now, news had come that Katara was being wooed by Aang, and it didn't sit right with Zuko. To make matters worse, Sokka was rooting for Aang and Katara's relationship. Zuko never felt more alone in his life- his sexually-abusive dad had been imprisoned, his sister didn't even want to acknowledge him, and his mother...has the pentapox.

The only thing that brought Zuko comfort is the tight blue sequined dress that Katara was wearing when she defeated Azula. He stared outside his window through the high powered binoculars his uncle Iroh had constructed for him. What Katara didn't know was Zuko had bought the plot of land next to her new abode. He spent days trying to get a glimpse of Katara's soft and supple skin, especially her neck. Her neck, with that enchanting sapphire necklace. He recalled the time when he held that necklace in his hands… he almost forgot about Mai in those few minutes alone with Katara in that cave- those beautiful curls, that caramel sun-kissed skin… The fire in him burned with passion thinking about that moment. He was used to channeling his inner-passion for firebending, but perhaps he could channel that passion into something new?

"Hey Zuko, you trying to get a piece of my home gurl?"

Jet, chewing on his grass, gelled his hair and brushed it backward. Zuko is stuck in quarantine with Jet. They've both been in contact with several pentapox carriers in Ba Sing Se.

Annoyed, Zuko replied,

"she's not your girl. And no, I have bigger things to worry about than some girl I only recently got on good terms with."

Some girl...a girl who could waterbend better than any bender he'd ever seen. So powerful that she could even bloodbend. Zuko remembered that evening, feeling that fiery feeling in his blood in those couple moments in prison with Katara in the cave. He was ready to go to war for her and for Aang- the guy he'd swore to fight in order to get back his honor. He could never forget when Katara offered him the vial of spirit water for the face that he had for so long been ashamed of.

THUD THUD THUD.

Someone was at the door. That's weird...no one ever came to the door, what with the Pentapox quarantine these days besides the cabbage guy.

"Wanna get that"?" Zuko gestured at Jet to get the door.

"Why don't you just firebend it open? You know I can't move", Jet replied, as Jet left the room in his wheelchair. Of course, Jet was permanently handicapped with a broken pelvis by the Dai Li, and was self-conscious about being seen by visitors. Zuko went to put on his hooded cape, and approached the door. He hid most of his face as he turned the knob and opened it slightly. "Who is it?" he asked in a deep voice. Before the visitor could answer, he realized who it was behind the face mask, and immediately fell silent.

"Wait a minute...are YOU the new neighbor?" As the words slipped out of Katara's lips, Zuko's heart started jumping up and down like a tiger monkey.

"Yeah...ummm….It's cold out. Wanna come in? I'll make you some of my uncle's jasmine tea."

Katara's heart fluttered as well. She had been visiting the neighbors to ask about some supplies, and he was the last person she had expected to see. Her mind had been on other things for so long. Aang was busy controlling his Avatar state and trying to master metal bending and blood bending, while simultaneously helping manage the post-war fire nation. Hence, Katara had been lonely at home. She tried making an igloo home and in keeping herself busy during quarantine, she had not thought about herself and her needs. She adopted some otter penguins and made sea prune soups for Aang in hope of helping Aang de-stress. But something was missing from her days. Although she was a waterbender, she needed a bit of fire in her life. Everyone did. As such, Katara willingly came inside.