If you wanted…
Day 4: Lavender
Katara tossed and turned in her bed. She couldn't sleep. And she needed to sleep. Sozin's comet was coming tomorrow. Groaning, she got up out of bed and walked outside to the balcony.
She was surprised to see Zuko leaning against the railing.
"Hey," she said softly so as not to startle him. Zuko turned to look at her and gave her a shy smile.
"Hey yourself," he said. He moved over to make room for her to join him. "Can't sleep?"
Katara sighed and rested her arms on the railing next to him.
"No, I can't stop thinking about tomorrow," she said, staring over the horizon. She could see Yue glowing in the darkness. "And I'm worried about Aang," she added. Zuko nodded.
"Me, too," he said.
"He has to defeat the Fire Lord! And I know it's not going to be easy but the world doesn't have a choice, right?" She looked to Zuko for answers, for confirmation, for certainty. Zuko's face hardened and he dropped his gaze, his brow furrowing.
"All I know is that my father will not show any mercy, so Aang can't afford to either," he said, his voice low and bitter. Katara softened when she saw his face.
"How are you feeling about tomorrow?" she asked gently, asking him, inviting him to open up. Zuko lifted his gaze and his eyes softened when they met hers. They went from hardened amber to liquid gold.
"I don't know, honestly. I don't know what to expect or what to do," he said. Then his face fell slightly. "Or how I'm supposed to feel."
Katara gently placed her hand over Zuko's, and he jumped slightly, seemingly startled at the contact. He looked at her and found her eyes warm.
"I know this must be hard for you," she said softly. He gave her a grateful look but shrugged.
"It is and it isn't," he said. When Katara looked at him questioningly he elaborated. "I don't doubt what's right and wrong anymore, and I want this war to end." His eyes hardened. "And I'm done chasing after my father's approval, and my sister for that matter." Katara squeezed his hand.
"They're still your family," she said. Zuko shook his head.
"No, they aren't. They stopped being my family a long time ago." He looked at her. "My mother was my family, my uncle was more of a father to me than my real father ever was. Aang, Sokka, Toph, Suki," he met her gaze, his eyes burning. "You, Katara." Katara nearly gasped from the intensity of his eyes. "You guys are my family. And I'll do anything to keep my family safe."
To keep you safe…
Katara gaped at him for a moment, stunned by the strength and intensity of his conviction. He suddenly looked shy as if he realized how intense that was.
"Er, I mean-" he began to stammer but Katara cut him off.
"I've got your back too, Zuko," Katara said, smiling gently and squeezing his hand. "We all do. You're a part of our family too." Zuko's eyes softened and almost seemed glassy. He blinked and looked up at her shyly.
"Thank you, Katara," he said, his voice low and raspy. Katara inhaled sharply. She didn't know why his voice was making her feel so warm inside like that or when he had gotten so close.
She stared into his golden eyes and let her eyes roam his face. Over his pale skin glowing in the moonlight, the dark strands of his hair across his forehead, the redness of his scar, the softness of his lips-
Katara pulled back suddenly, not allowing herself to continue that line of thought.
"Uh, we should, um, probably get some rest soon," she stammered. Zuko's cheeks reddened and he backed away as well.
"Oh, um, right, yeah, good idea," he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Right! Um, see you in the morning?" she said, her voice a little too high and her cheeks a little too warm.
Zuko nodded quickly, avoiding her eyes.
"Yup! Um, good night!" he said.
"Good night!" Katara began to quickly walk back into the house before Zuko's voice stopped her.
"Lavender!" he said, suddenly. She turned to look at him quizically. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked down shyly. "Uh, lavender helps you sleep. I think there's some lavender tea downstairs, if you want some..." he trailed off.
Katara definitely couldn't ignore the strange warmth now especially as she felt it flood through her chest. She couldn't hold back the fond smile that grew across her face.
"I could make it for you! Only if you wanted to, of course, don't feel obligated to-"
"That would be nice," Katara said, mercifully stopping his rambling. She smiled softly at him. "Thank you, Zuko."
His eyes brightened and he smiled shyly.
"Anytime, Katara," he said. They stood still for a moment before Zuko's face flushed and he jumped off the railing. "Oh! Right, um, it's downstairs, uh, here, I'll go make it now-"
Katara giggled at his awkwardness and followed him down to the kitchen.
After brewing her a cup and walking her to her room, Katara turned to ask him something.
"Who taught you about the lavender?" she asked. Zuko's eyes grew wistful, and a little sad.
"My mother did," he said softly. "She used to do it to help me sleep when I would have nightmares." Katara felt that same warmth in her chest only this time it spread to her limbs too.
With a sudden burst of courage, Katara leaned up and planted a soft kiss on Zuko's cheek. His eyes widened in shock and he looked at her somewhat dumbfounded and Katara tried not to laugh at the sight of his face.
"Uh, what was that for?" he asked bewildered, his cheeks burning. Despite her own cheeks being red, Katara managed to meet his eyes and smile gently.
"For the tea, stupid," she teased. Zuko's face went even redder. She laughed lightly and opened her door. "Good night, Zuko," she said softly before slipping inside her room, leaving a dumbfounded, blushing fire bender on the other side.
She drank from her cup, trying to convince herself that the warmth flooding her entire body now was from the tea and not from anything else. She closed her eyes and fell asleep in minutes. She woke up feeling refreshed for the first time in a long while.
Author's Note: Haha, this was basically Zuko and Katara being open with each other and then both of them being awkward teenagers, especially Zuko because he's hopeless but we love him anyway. I hope you guys enjoyed!